29 June 2012

Kwan Im Thong Hood Che Temple 四马路观音堂

Built in 1884, the temple known as Si Ma Lu Guan Yin Tang Temple, is one of the most popular temples in Singapore due to many devotees visiting the temple to pray for blessings and asking for divinations from the Goddess of Mercy.

For more info on the history, click here.
How to get there?
Address: 178 Waterloo Street Singapore 187964

By Car –
  • Along Middle Road, turn right to Queen Street and turn left shortly into the open carpark
  • Alternatively, park at the nearby shopping malls (Fortune Centre, The Bencoolen, Fu Lu Shou Complex, Bugis+)

By Bike –
  • Along Middle Road, turn right to Queen Street and turn left shortly into the open carpark
  • Or park along Queen Street (Bike parking lots in front of Bugis+)
  • Alternatively park at the nearby shopping malls (Fu Lu Shou Complex, Burlington Sq, Bugis Junction)

By Public Transport –
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 07517 (Opp Burlington Sq) - Bus No. 64, 65, 131, 139, 147, 166, 857
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 07518 (Fortune Ctr) - Bus No. 56, 980
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 07551 (Fu Lu Shou Cplx) - Bus No. 48, 57, 170, 851, 960, 980
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 01112 (Opp Bugis Junction) - Bus No. 7, 12, 63, 80, 175, 197, 851, 960, 980

Nearest MRT Station: Bugis (10 minutes walk, pass though Bugis Street)


Opening hours
Daily from 6am to 6.30pm

How to offer your praying?
Buy the praying items like incense sticks (S$2.00) or flowers from the stall outside the temple.
You could also get the incense sticks that are placed outside the temple.
 Take 3 burning incense sticks, pray to Goddess of Mercy and place the incense sticks in the large censer.
If you are asking for divination, go into the main hall of temple and pray.
You may also make donations to the temple.

14 June 2012

Kuala Lumpur 吉隆坡

Short getaway trip to Kuala Lumpur, the city of Malaysia which I took only an hour flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

Airport
I boarded the Airasia flight which brought me to LCCT, followed by taking a bus to KL Sentral.
Some options to travel to KL Sentral:
  • Skybus (RM9 per person)
  • Aerobus (RM8 per person) - chose this option because it’s the cheapest.
  • Transport to KLIA (RM12.50), then take KLIA Express to KL Sentral (RM35) – a bit time consuming travelling to KLIA.
Hotel
I strongly recommend Hilton Hotel because of its location! Look out for the direction to the hotel.

Hilton Hotel is located right behind KL Sentral which is a transport hub that consists of:
  • KTM Intercity
  • KTM Komuter – To travel to Batu Caves Station
  • Kelana Jaya Line (KJL) - To travel to KLCC & Pasar Seni Station
  • Ampang Line
  • KLIA Ekspres - For easy/fast travel to KL International Airport
  • KLIA Transit – For travelling to KL International Airport
  • KL Monorail - Monorail is located outside of KL Sentral (10 mins walk) / To travel to Bukit Bintang, Times Square for shopping
For more details: http://www.klsentral.com.my

Shopping & Food
Petaling Street (Morning) – Travel by KJL from KL Sentral to Pasar Seni Station (5 mins walk) / RM1 per person

Before you reach Petaling Street, there’s this Guan Di Temple on the right side of the junction. Worshippers may make your prayers at the temple. Click here for more info on Guan Di.
 As you walk further down the street, some stalls are already opened (as early as 7am).

Recommendations
  • You may buy some “kuehs” and light snacks from the elder lady. The yellow / pink buns are meant for praying (Huat Kueh in the Bao = Bao Huat).
  • Another stall sells dried food like brown/white coconut & ginger, and rice dumplings too.
  • Further down, there are 2 stalls selling porridge and I chose the one on the left, simply because their steamed chicken is tasty!

Nearby, this stall sells buns and some light snacks. You could buy some snacks for tea break. 

How to go to my favourite stall for Hakka Noodles?
  • Walk inwards for about 2 minutes from the stall as shown above (the direction the man is walking to).
  • The stall is located on the left side.
  • Order the “Hakka noodles”!
Along the street, there’s this stall that sells Bee Hoon, Chee Chong Fun, Yam Kueh, etc.

And as you walk back towards the Station, along the street, you will notice this elder lady selling Ma Chi. She had been selling the Ma Chi for quite sometime. And definitely must buy the Ma Chi! Recommend to eat on the spot, not suitable to keep for long.

Flavours that she’s selling – Ribena, Mango, Lychee, Black Sesame & Pandan
Petaling Street (Night) – Travel by KJL from KL Sentral to Pasar Seni Station (5 mins walk) / RM1 per person

Hong Kee Claypot - Located at the end of the street. The claypot chicken rice is definitely good and filling. You can order grill fish to go along with.

Note: They separated the tables; if you order from the fruit drink stall, you may sit at the left side tables, otherwise you have to sit on the right side tables.

KLCC - Travel by KJL from KL Sentral to KLCC Station (RM1+ per person)
KLCC shopping mall is somewhat similar to those in Singapore. But you must definitely not miss this shop’s desserts! Must try the Sesame Snow Ice!

Batu Caves - Travel by KTM Komuter to Batu Caves Station (RM1 per person)
A place not to be missed!

Budget
Bring about RM200 should be more than enough for 3D2N trip.

02 June 2012

Hao Di Fang Meeting Place (好地方) [CLOSED]

This zi char stall has shifted from Henderson to Kim Tian. And it’s definitely one of my favourite zi char stalls that I recommend!
How to get there?
Address: Blk 127 Kim Tian Road #01-01 Singapore 160127
Tel: 6272 2186

Opening hours
Daily from 4.30pm to 11pm


By Car/Bike – 
  • Coupon parking at Blk 126 & 127 MCP (Parking is not free on Sundays)
  • Or park at Blk 131A MCP (Free parking on Sundays)

By Public Transport –
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 10151 (Ctrl Green Condo) - Bus No. 5, 16, 33, 63, 123, 195, 851
  • Alight at Bus Stop No. 10079 (Blk 201) - Bus No. 120, 147, 167, 175, 196, 197, 961, 961C

Nearest MRT Station: Tiong Bahru (15 mins walk)

Recommendations
奶皇排骨 (Royal Pork Ribs)
Must try!
铁板粉肠 (Special Sizzling Hotplate Dish)
Spicy! Must try too!
Other dishes
Budget
$50 +/- for about 3 – 4 persons, about 4 dishes (depends on what you order)