The Singapore Tube

If you ever wanted to see London tube how it should be... Go to Singapore. Feels like the tube. Sounds like the tube. But runs on time.

Of note it's so cheap. I must of used it like 8 times in 2 days and I've spent less than $10.

Gardening leave in Singapore

I don't own a Garden. But I found myself visiting a garden in Singapore. Gardens by the Bay is one of the more recent additions to Singapore. Only opened since I visited last.

If you see an advert for Marina Bay and it shows a bunch of fake trees, that is it. It's really cool. And the air conditioning is too. I only wish I had of visited in the evening when it lights up. The main paid attraction is made of 2 conservatoires, a Flower Garden, and the Cloud Forest. However the giant trees are accessible for free to walk around. There is 3rd paid attraction of a footbridge between the giant trees. But after doing the other 2 I didn't see the point, and rain was onimous at the time.

The air conditioning in the gardens area really made it the perfect attraction for Singapore.

Time to head home for me.

Street Art is the winner in Penang

When I was lining up things to do in Penang I constantly came across this particular street art. I was really interested in seeing it but I wasn't so sure how pronounced it was. All I knew was that it seemed to pop up in photos of Penang. I knew I must be on the lookout when walking around the streets.

Upon arrival I came to realise that the city has adopted this as their marketing to tourists in many ways. It's such a hit that tourist (like me) walk around hoping to find another of the collection. Apparently there must be about 8 or 9. Or well according to the fridge magnets and shirts on offer there are. 

I found only 4, and one that has been removed at the Chew Jetty. Not sure if that is permanent or due to repairs to the building. But it would be a shame if it is permanently gone. 

The art has even spwaned a fake wall art movement. 

Masterchefing the Tropical Spice Garden Cooking School

Went to another cooking school whilst travelling. My only disappointment was I cooked Indian not Malaysian here in Penang. People of Indian decent do make a good portion of the population so it is still Malaysian. I did though have my heart set on cooking Malaysian street food. Alas the schedule of the Cooking School was not in my favour. Tuesdays class didn't get the required number of bookings. So I had to delay until Wednesday. Alas Low Season on the island.

Not to worry as I eat Tandoori. By the chicken load. Tandoori, Raita,and Naan was the focus of Wednesday's class. In fact it was better than if I ended up doing some soupy fish dish. Only 4 of us in the class. A couple from NZ, and a English lady cooking for 2 (i guess her husband doesn't cook)

The Tropical Spice Garden has a good set up. They're right up away from the main drag of Batu Ferrenghi Beach. They have a small plot along the main road along the coast but are literally the only thing there but for a basic restaurant shack across the road on the beach. Great for being able to set up their own kind of edu-tourism arrangement with this whole tropical forest educational walk through, and then their focus on herbs and spices that they then use in their cooking school. Well done to them. It takes courage to develop this as opposed to the rest of Penang who have the standard basic food stall, or tacky gift shop.

Anyway my cooking school went well. The Roti with the Tandoori wasn't too tough. I went away happy and full. I didn't offer any of my Raita to the big monkeys outside. Didn't want to be attacked for not warning them it had a strong kick at the end. After all I left some of the chilli seeds in.

Meanwhile I suspect this island is quite the place for Robinson Crusoe's making their way from the rest of Malaysia on weekends. They all seem to have a second home here. There are so many new constructions going up over the place I suspect there'll be noone on the mainland soon.

It won't slow the traffic though. Even in gridlock they are driving erratically here. I know I've had enough of the drivers here now because I told off 2 motorcyclists for stalking me on the sidewalk this afternoon. Both decided that waiting in a traffic jam wasn't for them and sidewalk was free but for me. I just heard them come up from behind knowing full well it was probably going to happen, stopped, turned around to see them, and then asked them if they thought they should be there. For the second one I waited until he backed himself out backwards sheepishly. Screw them I thought. There already isn't a sidewalk half the time, and then for the rest they park on it for pedestrians to be forced onto busy roads. I've done my bit. Hopefully police and the rest of pedestrians around here get to realise that their safety could be improved.

The Penang hop on hop off and never see bus

Now in the past I have only done a few hop on hop off type buses. I generally find they are a waste of money. Taking you from B grade attraction to the next.

But I decided to give the Penang one a chance. After all I was staying at the Four Points Hotel. It's more fitting of a 4 star tourist. Yes a step up from my usual 2 star hostel or hotel. I had my reasons. I'm not a sell out. 

Anyway it's a sure sign of padding the itinerary with sponsorship when highlight for stop 18 is only the hotel. And the next 3 stops are the same. Anyway I digress... The hop on hop off buses are ok... If you can find one. 

This morning I got lucky. Walked to the stop waited 5 minutes. Since then though it's been 40mins each time. The brochure says every 20mins as there are 5 buses doing the 1.5hr Beach route. Bus drivers say every 30min. But it doesn't compute unless all 4 other buses are directly behind the bus I get.

It's so bad this afternoon I'm about to mutter the T word... taxi... Notorious here for not using meters. 

Tomorrow I think I'll take the local bus. Less than 4 Ringit it was to get from bottom of island to hotel at top of island. Slow as buggery but I've seen them. Not like this unicorn tourist bus that's costing me 45 for the day.

Names you can't call your Massage Centre

I'm guessing they know.

But really it's not not going to help attract customers if you are located on the beach strip trying to pry tourists away from the night markets across the road.

It ain't Carrot Cake.

So I don't know where it went wrong but apparently this is the correct description it this dish. Fried Carrot cake. Doesn't even look like it contains carrot

Went to the scene of Malaysian Independence

Had a day to go around and explore Kuala Lumpur. But I've seen KL several times now. So it was more a day of have coffee, do something new, walk around, hotel pool, dinner, and end with coffee.

A big flagpole marks the spot of where the Malaysian independence was declared. Of course the site was also the location of a well renoun Brittish Club complete with cricket pitch. 

From there it's actually not a huge walk to he Central Markets. It may have taken a few trips to Kuala Lumpur but I'm starting to get the layout more. Joined up City Centre to locations of the Central Markets and Chinatown this time. And the monorail has been joined by the trains as an acceptable way to get around. 

The new automatic ticket machines do need work. Accepting basically only one and maybe 5 Ringgit notes. But they're got time to fix those issues. Biggest thing in the next few years seems to be a new train line under the "golden triangle" at Bikut Bitang. It's a pedestrian nightmare and traffic gridlock as they shutdown lanes all around in order to build a new underground station under the main road. I guess it'll be bye bye for the monorail then in about 2017. No longer will one feel like an elevated sardine winding along.

I had to have a Starbucks that night as I didn't know where my next decent coffee could be. Importantly Starbucks had spelt my name right both times.

Go with what you know. Kuala Lumpur

I've taken another short Asian trip. Sure mainly for sanity. Timing was an issue. I tried to it to coincide with university holidays and Easter break. I hit neither. Damn 2014 reference calendars.

Anyway.... I'm now in Kuala Lumpur. Something old before I explore something new. I always feel comfortable travelling here. So much Western culture influence with the diving in and out of Eastern when I want.

For example take this morning. I have already ventured out from the hotel. In search of food I decided to go straight to a giant upscale shopping centre, The Pavilion. I tried looking for something filling for breakfast. Was thinking something with bread... So I got Char Kway Teow. Whoops not even close. But it is my favourite Malaysian street food. I'm now cleansing the palette with a Starbucks coffee. Something is not right with the milk flavour. It's ok. But not quite normal. But importantly I found a great barrista. She got my name right. Corrected her colleague by spelling it to him.