Sunday, November 25, 2007

Sentosa - Part 2 of 2 ( Tg/Palawan Beach, Merlion)

Hopped onto a tram and headed towards Tg Beach..
Saw this massive structure ...

Sand Sea and Breeze
more Sand...
@Palawan beach, crossing the bridge



Water looked deceptively clear and clean ...

Petrochemical storage tanks glittering in the distance
indulge in Ocean vessels spotting, enjoy the breeze.. before taking tram/bus back to Beach Station


Beach Station - Merlion is a little walk away

Silhouette - Shot from the Beach station -


dip your feet into the shallow pools to cool off if you want..


Merlion - we wanted to 'climb' to the top ..


Inside the merlion at basement - static display , a short cartoon about Merlion, feed your token to merlions and obtained a mysterious gift. Then take a lift to the 10th floorfeed the token to one of the Merlions there and out spat a card - your mysterious gift


Lighting fixture 'poked' through the wall from inside.

Take a lift inside the Merlion .... 10 floors up.

Shot from the Merlion Head


back at the mainland Singapore , Vivo City - Sky Park

Shallow pools to cool off from the hot sun

Ugly Butt not welcomed!

Well we did what we ( or our kids) wanted to do : took the cable car, experienced the 'Luge', went up to the Merlion's head, strolled on the beaches from Tanjong to Palawan, rode in Sentosa Express and beach tram. Getting around in Sentosa now is much much easier and pleasant than before. For a family of 4 be prepared to fork out $200 or more for a day trip.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Sentosa Nov 24 '07 - Part 1 of 2

We started by taking the cable car ( the more expensive way) of getting to the now bridge-linked Sentosa Island : kids wanted to experience the cable car. I recalled my last ride was decades ago. Here are shots from the 'above' through a less than perfect perspex glass window)


Changing the shore line - land- filling in process - note the two barges on the lower right..

And this one - with 2 tugboat nudging the heavy load to the correct bearing.. ( streaks are from internal reflection of the cabin..)

end of the line.. and saw the Tower nearby

Base of the Carlsberg Sky Tower (height: 110 M)
' Reflections' - waiting for the gate to be opened.

The rotating Carlsberg Sky Tower had better viewing gallery offering fantastic view of the outside..
Man make islets @Siloso beachSongs - of - the Sea ?

then we wanted to try the luge ..


where gravity takes control

my boy in front of me and me trying to use camera on one hand and steering with the other


End of the ride..
Taking the skyride to get back up
A camera and flash automatically fire and your skyride shot is
ready waiting for you to preview .. our picture turned out great so we purchase it ($10).


A back view showing the two boxes housing (top) camera, (bottom) flash unit. It will fire a shot when the ride comes into predetermined position. So look at the camera and SMILE!


Carts dangling from the back of the liftchair

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Pulai Ubin - Deepavali Holiday '07


My 3rd trip to P Ubin on Deepavali holiday on Thursday. Ignoring the weathermen forecast of thunderstorm / showers - it turned out to be one of the best sunny days.
P. Ubin Courtesy of Google Earth
Click image for a closer view
( Pulau Ubin is ten minutes bumboat
ride from Changi, Singapore Main Island on the lower right.)

Pictures not in any particular order.





After 1/2 day on the inland.. time to go back

OMO Bumboat operator..
he immediately turned back to the P Ubin after offloading us around 5:15pm
more main is. bound traffic .... Queing for the bum boats ...on our return journey..Peace

A plank of wood ( tied to the bridge) provide access to
the rock as a better platform for fishing when the tide roll in at night?

Rent a bike and you are ready to explore around the island...A gentle up slope and yet most 'city' cyclists prefer to take the easy way out
- pushing the bike insteadA welcoming sign for cyclists ... YES! feel the air in your hairs


Sea grass kneaded by receding tides &
left high and dry patiently waiting for the returning tide

'Fingers' - Mangrove roots
Men at work - fancy this type of job?

Check out the 'fire-place' inside...Lets keep the fireplace going when it snows.... ( waiting for the ice age to return first)




Goddess of Mercy likeness
on the Quarry's rock face

Datuk 'gal' - German Girl Temple .. zipped by on last trip but this time
pause to take a few shots.

Another kampung-style 'rumah'

The perimeter of this Ketam (crab in malay) Quarry was fenced off ( see map above)
appeared inaccessible
... but
After a short distance of bike pushing upslope .. you 'll arrive at
a resting hut. Enjoy the quarry view either through the fence
or venture a bit inside
via the gap - even adult can squeeze through.
Tuck in your tummy...
Once inside ( dont stand too close to the vertical drop-off)
you will have a
better view of...


The pretty colorful rock surfaces
do resemble a line-up of 'face' masks

The other portion of the Ketam Quarry
Looking across ... a floating 'kelong' and HDBs in the background