Nature beheld a beautiful vista before us

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Majulah Singapura! Happy 44th Birthday.

As Singapore and its citizens celebrates Singapore 44th Birthday today, my wish is...May we live in peace and enjoy the good racial harmony as we have always been blessed with till this day. MAJULAH SINGAPURA!

At 2022hrs today, all Singaporean recite the national pledge concurrently. I always prefer to say the pledge in tunes. Sadly, when i went for the NDP Preview on Aug 1st we have to say out the pledge rather than sing it :(

Anyways...here's the Singapore Pledge for the non-Sporean..

We, the citizens of Singapore
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society,
based on justice and equality,
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.

In the 80s, I have always loved and memorised by heart all NDP theme songs. Approaching the year 2Ks, I don't see any catchy songs till this year.

This year for the first time, the NDP theme song is composed and performed by local band Electrico. Its called "What Do You See?".

Here's the video clip. Enjoy....!
I bet you gonna fall in love with the song!

Labels: local

++ quoth nessie at 1:46 PM

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

NDP Preview

Where : Southern Singapore
Place : Marina Bay floating platform
When : 1-Aug-09

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In my whole life, i've never been to any NDP (National Day Parade). But i'm lucky this year. A friend couldn't make it and had given me the NDP Preview tic! I got 2pairs. And only one sister could make it. So the other pair of tickets, i've given it away to my sis's friend, XY.

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As the tic stated...gate open at 4pm and all to be seated by 5.45pm. I've reached Esplanade at 3.10pm, had KFC at Marina Sq.

Everywhere in Marina Sq, 90% are seen wearing red attire. That includes me and my sis. I was hoping that i might bumped into someone familiar. Sad...sad...no familiar face.

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When the gates open, all walk in orderly manner. All bags have to be scanned by the security personnel. Drinks and any liquid form need to be declared and no canned drinks is allowed to be brought in.

1st, is to get to the correct walkway. There's red, blue, green and yellow sector. Which path to take depends on which ticket color you are holding. Mine is blue.

2nd, to get the food...given out is Sunshine butter sugar bun.

3rd, produce your ticket to get the funpack. Its a sling bag packed with biscuits, magazine, poncho, h2o and items thats needed to participate during the NDP show.

Hand sanitizer is also given out. Prob due to the current h1n1 case. Keeping clean and healthy is important.

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Next, collect this booklet...

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and the litter bag to dump all your rubbish...

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I didnt take note what time the whole thing actually started cos too busy people-watching. Here's a snapshot of whats happen during the NDP Preview...

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As we watched the national flag flew pass, all were singing the national anthem "MAJULAH SINGAPURA"

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As the night falls, the stage is brightly and beautifully lit...loud music, funny host of suhaimi Yusoff and Mark Lee. Wonderful feeling!

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A must-have event in any NDP..FIREWORKS!

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By 8.30pm, it came to an end.

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Despite a weekend and after NDP, the road is not congested. Took a bus home. And as a matter of fact, the bus and the route that i took is so empty.

To all Singaporean..Happy 44th Birthday! May we live in peace and having good racial harmony always!

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Labels: historical, local, marina barrage

++ quoth nessie at 12:17 AM

Monday, August 3, 2009

Kg Paya, Paya Beach Dive & Spa Resort (Msia)

Where : Tioman Island,Malaysia
Place : Kg Paya, Paya Beach Dive & Spa Resort
When : 27-29 July '09

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A simple and cheap getaway. Paid S$174/person for this package of 3D2N which includes accommodation in standard chalet, two way coach transfer, two way ferry transfer, 2B-1L-2D meals and a snorkelling trip to Renggis Island.

Assembled at Golden Mile Complex, coach leaves at 0630hrs. Spore immigration clearance is tru Woodlands Checkpoint. There's a 20mins breakfast stop-over but sad to say its nothing being served except coffee and tea that i can see. Due to all previous experiences that i had,I am prepared and had in fact pack home-made egg-mayo sandwiches for ourselves! yum! yum! simple yet filling...

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Bus journey continues till we reached Mersing ferry terminal at 1000hrs. According to my tour itinerary, I’m supposed to drop at Tg Gemok Ferry Terminal. However, i had a good local tour guide, Christine who suggested that we drop at Mersing Terminal becos the ferry from this terminal would leave for Tioman at 1130hrs and the latter at 1330hrs. Good and considerate suggestion right? Not wasting time at ferry terminal doing nothing.

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Exchanged for our boarding pass was hassle free despite checking in at non-designated location. Had a good explanation from Christine and the ferry ticketing operator where and when to get off from the ferry to Kg Paya. Note: Don't forget to purchase the Marine Park conservation charges before u check-in. Its RM5 per adult. RM2 for children and senior citizen. This is a must for all pax visiting any island resorts in Malaysia.

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Had an early lunch at the nearby cooked food stalls and managed to grab three T-shirts as souvenirs from Tioman Island.

Ferry check-in time 15min before departing. Even tho we checked-in and seated by 1140hrs, the ferry only set sails at 1210hrs. The ferry was super crowded. All available seats are taken up. But luckily the air-con is working well. Otherwise it will be stuffy seyy...

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First stop-over : Kg Genting. Saw "Sun Beach Resort" from the jetty. Second stop : Kg Paya. Third stop : Berjaya Tioman. Forth stop : Kg Air Batang. Last stop : Kg Salang. Then the ferry would return to Mersing.

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Kg Salang. Seen here are skilled divers training wannabe diver

Amongst the above mentioned stop-over; Berjaya Tioman is a five-star rated resort in Tioman Island. And Kg Salang is a diver haven.

Reached Kg Paya jetty at 1330hrs... snap some pics and walk to recept for check-in. Even tho 1400hrs is the stated check-in time, but our room is ready to be occupied.

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Check-in counter

Looking for our chalet..an old man help us. Friendly uncle. Walking towards my chalet...OMG! I love what i see...

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This is where i'm staying

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This is whats in front of my chalet

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Here's how my internal unit looks like

Even tho it’s a Monday, but the resort is super crowded. As I walked towards my chalet, saw that all the standard unit are occupied.

Since this trip is a rest n relax trip…we took our own sweet time to enjoy the ambience in the room and its surrounding.

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Another chalet operator on Kg Paya

Walked around the resort, I see lotsa changes since my last visit many years ago (more than five years ago…). Firstly, I see that the resort is more crowded now. There’s more competitive resort sprung up next to it. More local stalls just outside my resort. And there’s an on-going construction of new units. Prob in my next visit, Kg Paya will be accommodating more holiday makers and be more super crowded with beach lovers and enthusiastic divers.

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Went for a swim during the day. The water was super crystal clear with fishes seen swimming near the shoreline. Big. Small. Colourful. Mono-color. WOW! So love the clear, clean seaside!

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This is my first time having a waterproof manually operated camera with me. For a film roll of 27, it cost me S$18.

The day ends with our buffet dinner, sunset watching and a stroll along the super low tide beach.

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Day 2
We plan to start our day as early as the breakfast starts i.e 0700hrs. After breakfast we went fast asleep. Kheheee….I guess the tiredness of the trip still lingers. Had a quick nap, and went we woke up, went snorkeling.

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As my partner was commenting…this is the best trip we ever had. From a “snorkel” it went “dive”. And I quote…”My morning dive is so WOW. The fish was so huge. The stone fish was staring at me!”

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Included in the package : Buffet breakfast and dinner and lunch. But only had this during lunch. Just one serving with a glass of plain water.

Went on shore; had lunch and soon we went snorkeling again. It was by then the tides come to a low tide. High or low tide..the beauty of Tioman beach is awesome.

I regret not taking an extra day leave this time. Otherwise would have extended a day stay like I always love to do when I’m go for beach vacation. Cos 2N is always not enuf. :D

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This ice kachang looks simple…no ice-cream topping, but was substituted by Milo topping. Still…its simply delicious! Its RM2.50

Day 3
So sad to think that I’m leaving Tioman after 1000hrs. As I check out and walk towards the jetty…I stop to admire the beauty of the island. Never had enough admiring its beauty! Will be visiting Tioman again….for sure!

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Ferry set sails at 1000hrs from Paya jetty. Drop by Berjaya, Air Batang and Salang for other tourists from the island. Reached Tg Gemok jetty at 1230hrs.

Upon reaching Tg Gemok, a representative from my bus company is there to pick us up. At Tg Gemok jetty, it isn’t anything like Mersing jetty. No souvenir shop. So no shopping. Boarded the bus and went for lunch, a 5min bus ride to Nusantara makan house.

Soon we’re on the bus again. Now, we’re on our way to Mersing jetty to pick up some more tourists. But we did not alight to get some goodies as we’re rushing to get back to Spore. Sad isn’t it? But I’ve bought what I needed on my first day :D

Reached Woodlands checkpoint at 1620hrs. Home sweet home? Nah! Tioman is THE home sweet home. Thats where i call My Home. Kheheee….

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Other useful notes:

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This is called Paya Lodge. Cheaper to stay here than in the standard chalet.

Even tho there's a TV in the room, but only one channel running at one time. Here's the schedule...

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Who need to watch TV anyway when u have breath-taking scenery just outside your door...

Don't expect a sundeck chair on the beach. Its has been relocated.

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There used to be so many of this on the beach for sun-tanning during my last visit. But not anymore now. This is just the one and only left, others has been relocated.

Here's a layout of the units on Kg Paya (in case you wanna select whats best for you during your visit here)

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For those who read this post...do visit Tioman at least once and enjoy the peacefulness and the beauty of nature. Njoy...

Labels: beach, food, malaysia, malaysia beach, nights, overseas, sun

++ quoth nessie at 8:05 PM

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nATuRe XpLoRer Contact Me

This blog is more of nature themed.

Here i will share my findings and observations by means of photos and narration to places that i rambles in Spore.

Beside that i will post on what i have been doing (but not so much into writing such stuff actually).

There's also post of my overseas trip, with photos and narration of course.

So, please feel free to tell me which other new places or interesting place which of nature related that I should go explore next.

Nature lover.

Hate late-comers. I dunt hv high patience level u know.

One thing that i always hold onto; wenever sometg bad happen to me, i'll nvr ask God "Why me?" Cos in times of goodness and happiness i nvr ask God "Why me?" Cos everything that happened, happens for a reason.

My favourite love quote : "Missing someone is the kind of hurt a heart should be thankful to feel."

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