Melaka Trip 2013.06.29

So we got the chance to go for a short getaway trip to Melaka last week. And because hubby is officially unemployed (by choice) so he got plenty of time to plan where we're heading to in Melaka. We started with packing up some clothes and all necessary stuff the day before. I don't have the picture of that stuff but we have this. Yeah. that one you surely have to bring along. lol

So on Saturday morning 7am, we packed up and drove. Before crossing the custom we made a quick drive thru McDonalds and grabbed some meals. 3 hours later, we reached our hotel and start wandering around to have a late breakfast. Our first stop is this famous noodles. Not sure why it is so famous (alot of recommendations from other blogger, and they said that this place is good) and I think it is a bit overrated. though its quite a good meal for that kind of price :)

Next, is the roadside ice chendol. We were quite early as in no queue yet when we arrived but 15 minutes later, there were quite a number of people queueing for this ice chendol. It only open for 2 hours in a day. Quite good business I think hehe.

We managed to take a picture with a rambutan tree beside the stall.
Dooh.

Typical Singaporean (always take picture with something they don't see back at home lol)

After ice chendol, we move on to another dessert, coconut shake.

It is also by the roadside.

And of course, must take pictures with a bunch of coconuts.lol

By now, we had full stomach and quite tired. so we check-in to our hotel. The Baba House. Have a few hour rest before we continued our sight seeing. We took some pictures of the details of the hotel.

traditional baba and nyonya house

Dinner we went to this place called Capitol Satay.

It is a unique kind of feast where we have all kind of meats sticked up (it is called satay) and dipped in chillied peanut sauce (kind of thing). Well, I'm not good at describing foods but here some photos (from google) to desribe it better.

 

 

It is quite nice meal but for an hour long queue that we took before enjoying the food, I will say I won't come again next time. Just not worth the effort.

Honestly, I dont even remember what we ate that day at this place (thank God for photos and google). Haha

Move on, to Jongker Street we go. Find so many interesting arts and crafts, and alot of nice and good food also.

This one is paper crafts. This one beats all the papercrafts I've seen on other people's blogs. Hehe.

Keychains and some stuffs made of aluminium or silver wires

 

Fridge magnets. Melaka is well-known for its clogs (sandal made from wood). I know it as 'bakiak' (Indonesian language) :)

then.. have some drinks at nearby cafe.
Then we went back to our hotel to rest.

Breakfast, the next day.

Sight seeing.

This one is Casa del Rio Hotel. 

This was actually the hotel that we plan to book but its full for that particular weekend.. so maybe next time round then. :)
By 11am we drove and make a last stop at this Baba Charlie, a place where they sell nyonya cake. It is actually a house and not a shop.

And they were selling the kueh in their garage and displayed them in their 'living room' for us to choose and buy. 

Sounds awkward but its true. And I tell you, you have to try their ondeh ondeh. Its a green ballish kind of kueh with gula melaka inside and covered with grated coconut. It is so delicious! Trust me. Here is their blog.

After that we went for another 4 hour drive home to Singapore.
Tired but happy. :)
Thank You God for the good trip to Melaka.

Cycling at Changi Village

On Easter Day, we went to Changi Village and spent time together cycling. Chloe was very happy, she didn't want us to stop cycling the bike... Its a good 1 hour exercise for papa and mama.

my hubby, sis in law & mum in law

cycle together...

Chloe likes it so much

sit papa! sit here..

Chloe gripped her seat tightly.. :)


bye bye!

Year end road trip to Penang

Nearing the end of December, I had such a great holiday with our friends. We got to spent our New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Penang, Malaysia.

On 29th Dec,6am
We (my hubby, I and Chloe) start our trip from Singapore to JB, drove our car and park it at our friend's house as we will only go in one car instead of convoying :). We (and 4 of our friends) set for our first destination : breakfast at Yong Peng.




Lunch at Sekinchan

and sight seeing - paddy field

the rice factory

After another 4 hour we arrived at Ipoh and stayed 1 night at this 'famous' inn Sekeping -Kong Heng.

Ipoh - old town

 

in front of Sekeping - Kong Heng

After that, we had dinner together and got some rest. With our Chloe in tow we just relaxed in our room instead of go walked around town with them. 

dinner together with friends

The next morning, we spent by having breakfast at 4 different locations in Ipoh.

nice old town coffee at Ipoh and laksa

This trip a bit more of gourmet holiday trip because we always look for nice place to eat hehe.

We saw so many caves while driving towards Ipoh town and we managed to make a short stop by at one of the 'caves' while we were there.

amazing sculpture by nature

Next, we went to  Taiping Lake for a nice photo shoot together. 

We stopped by for lunch at Nibong Tebal.

Great seafood and reasonable price

By afternoon we arrived in Penang by ferry and straight went to hotel at Sekeping-Victoria.
This place is awesome.
Although safety is another issue here (steep staircase with no railing! and bay window with no grills for safety! weks) because I had Chloe so we kind of very cautious when we were in the room (just to make sure, the door is always locked and windows shut when Chloe is in the room)

Then we met our other friends who is from Penang so he guided us through some of the famous places in town.

morning walk in Penang

Strolling at Gurney Road

Have dinner at 2 different locations and by end of the day we are full... with food and happy memories :).
At 10pm they decided to have a drink and walk around the town but since Chloe was tired, we decided not to join them.

The next day, we went to the biggest temple in Penang called Kek Lok Si.

Had great time climbing all the stairs with Chloe in my hand. Had a nice assam penang laksa and some rojak. Then we drove around to buy some nice biscuits to bring home. Another place we visited is Blue Mansion. A very old building and World's Heritage Site. Spent our afternoon there before going back to our hotel which is in another location. Ryokan Hostel.
Dinner was at Pavillion Mall.
 
The next day is 1st January - New Year day. We had breakfast at the hostel in the morning. So happen that they had an event of big walk in town so there were lots of people on the street that morning. We continue our day by walking around nearby our hotel finding some mural paintings that's uniquely Penang style.
Took some photos of them. and set off to go back home to Singapore.
This time we went straight to Kuala Lumpur for nice lunch at this Japanese Restaurant - Starhill galley. And reach our friend's house at Kempas by 8pm.

Overall, on this holiday gathering we had such  a wonderful time. Our friend drove us for about at least 6-7 hour a day (we stopped by at a few places like Ipoh, Tai Ping, and Sekinchan to have a break from long driving) so the whole journey actually was spent on the road hehe. But that's the best part of road trip right? We have a good laugh together. Well, words can't say much of the happening time. So here are some pictures of our memories together :

Good year starts with good friends and memories :)

Happy New Year 2013!