i've always joked with the family - going to s'pore is an
OVERSEAS trip because you need an
international passport,
foreign currency &
roaming service on your handphone. so far, no one can prove otherwise.
so we went
overseas last weekend. it was an impromptu decision - actually the kids have been looking forward to it, except that i couldn't pre-plan a date. it was a pleasant drive without getting stopped by traffic cops & going thru customs/immigration was a breeze.
after checking in, the family had a head-start at orchard road while i met up with an ex-colleague from my training days at the Sheffield Registrars' Rotation in UK.
K has since joined private practice & we met at.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiT1KlCD3DeMZWg8LyvVje16KgwHfsNqrmTNrPJOeZVPQayLAx5fR_50Qt2ChRMioVyRrvnZDEA_B5_3eY9YPFyjbJ0AAusVnajokEDhYWDvc0s8kVLcxq6WX5k0WioJvMTFMhtg/s320/P1010101.JPG)
now that's a name i've not heard for ages. years ago when i was at the Holland Village outlet, they served a most sinful blueberry cheesecake & milkshake, & as these were sadly not on the menu this time, i settled for the set lunch which turned out to be quite formidable:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46L1NhhZBvylEvKTyQ-LH45MwipEvff0RF7rk7CBLU987MsOmgSLIjq8Xxa77aQ40z0mnl7edjwyfnGT-L8An3fYUKhM85-f7XmbFEIntVw8adsc-kyB9WrMDEqdGUTUc0tpieA/s320/Photo_120107_020.jpg)
full-flavoured home-made
mushroom soup.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VYtCpqw0IhRUsfvsq0U_5OiA66VzzJ0_7PhML4WsQRT-hnk7DE2m4_6RRNNA3Fa54zBFRDMdGnB0E3ibhZqBoF7kpKSejTC3GfVk8BGaVwyE2MPbDpE-QhJKLJ5QSAUwPRhPMQ/s320/Photo_120107_022.jpg)
a mean honey-glazed
beef rib &.......
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKPTnli0jto7fhZevPuxAf8Z-PjRMaYUawWa9YKbQpZNtyNTJdaAC9LAWs98E8eMrc5bBGPl_DRGxDi6IuwbpXDasfogENvCAYh2Ax_avf7EiWaZpokaJtjuEaZklZPcXtF_33w/s320/Photo_120107_030.jpg)
ben & jerry's
cherry garcia ice-cream...mmmm!
caught up the good old times & i'm glad he's doing well. lunch was on him but he knows when he comes a-visiting, he'll be treated to a
scrumptious ikan bakar meal, the likes of which s'pore can never hope to emulate.
caught up with the family at suntec city. i think shopping's a
cinch for guys. i was at the sports shop & selected a pair of trainers for just SGD39.99 within 20mins, while the girl is still searching for that elusive pair of
sketchers. now she said i must take her to 1-utama to get them.
it's really easy to figure out why tourists flock here. 1st, you just can't miss the
visitors' centre along orchard rd.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uc8YpaGbClmGGgO9E2IUTuhKFqH45gHmlzTDp3hxCi2c68Lyce7rS2oN6aVUDcoBgHVLTA7aQNAmZyUNNMFq19YKK4pdxzuO-Aoe3miyNuwocv8jK4J6d_7ag6DI8PHPt4s5hw/s320/P1010104.JPG)
then they take you on a
free tour......
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi1Jn0XVUGIpmGIPsOAAYlmohvV2UQ7iXsJRzwtUtIHKD_lMXLL8qNKPEa2pLshterqWV7_24ToaluYk3XX-V9hyYanvqwHPmRnOdownMixKCjLtojMN1AD3SNQnysItuLcj7Xw/s320/Photo_120107_041.jpg)
on an open-top bus .....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRm_6ZmF0UTkaJRRSJ1HWHBt40yyrGThrXBuu3Kb7rqcDerP7g_btgwEmDku1uLoGSOtjNmwmXMf2k6dDBCRWqAIfRGz9XGDfOeMbeR-FJigev0qd_98oficr9HiIFvJjRZrykg/s320/P1010127.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBG0A60sjzNh6iyQ4zUHMFdZRZJP9W79d9kVrKU3v1g2DA5Yh3soz-GS0leQh_pAIz-COP1f6mHXJ-Zo20mLjczfCzBpO7nrDGxCnxINsGqpaRpeM6hjmUVEuTfcr6pMLL0QQsQ/s320/Photo_120107_081.jpg)
to catch the x'mas trees, lights & decorations.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGh6Kplt1kTn__nZJ5bxIPsF8BwkFZG-2OaQsL_wDz2JdBbcXEgFW9G_TwKVtFZ232FoGiRFXh_HzPKAupNES5zv1SnIa2osrQ0LINWiCe07SudxzQMhJ4mKyZuAJ01nbhIxdSA/s320/Photo_120107_077.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_So0z-ezRBUkQY9MmURT2UEQngzPEDPXE8l-TOZPvolin7ov13oSrAxoM0z2KzCj6UsWDMTJ0wjcE4epM1aGadfizg8nsVZ18Hn8vIZbsQs8RnMAtgOVl0fNzPdOn5-GlfuTfg/s320/Photo_120107_045.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTHRWEJFR0FXuFrhPc75WyXjQE94uz5SQaFJyTX3gkwYA1uNtw1IW442nYs7-bL1H74VzksLrMCjZdK3aZQNLcqsws_70aarQBa7GH9vfR4Qu0wHH9yixWTJGKVNNgxYGxtl2AA/s320/Photo_120107_065.jpg)
needless to say, the street was teeming with people. some were out to make a quick buck like.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn78AzE6qjWg9ct6ZQWbD03wxirOszXdRufyFwirm9wrUvQiYm4IXBN-cSBiQn29aUYbZMC1emhbnL7ZWMvClaVzaC1sZY8cOyTjHxoSBzCoVrRbpO-jZFdYpz0KCECvNJrxxq6g/s320/Photo_120107_090.jpg)
the statue man....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJETHx8ix2GGleBUXz-Zgd-YOPb6sQH9L3kyauLGJYTWHHUA6pdaOKzf3BvqJ4gKtt32a8rhhqgumy8Yhiu_My7DKJ1WjZ8hGduu1lRughR2QBaXGLM0A8EMJs_Gk-eA1elIXyKw/s320/Photo_120107_099.jpg)
the gimmick man....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRCVWoofX6Bq23V2Q08Ai0ZhNZCFawTZiKnVqKRv4lo5u6WdyymV7Oo76m0nCzHceELVl7FY2Q1WmJEa03aqd4pAJ_5I9GObBTeMYg8NNjnGGogVli11Qza57R81fI_Uw5Bkgxg/s320/Photo_120107_112.jpg)
musicians from china.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qZyOnJgUlCrnRntkMXra-fToaDBhXjI-9aguScCwT0vsFMaU3gOU-f5kfMtGXuMEZ0z7CJGDUKRqiL1MRprEkEP1Rg3j5j7yOXvnpZeVRGS4e3X-lz5qiZucNHI1RHSYUooacw/s320/Photo_120107_093.jpg)
& latin america.
guess what else was seen on tour? the beginnings of a new mall, right smack in the middle of orchard road..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxcLzk12qH7hWHrB_tIOiKDj4mK6Gmr89vvH953sm8taKWW9j8Jc-r7iDtr-aTwXJxY1PGnLkagDjDqs-FfWuOclNFbrcKYEH722iHWSDhwQYinxJKaXmLUpnxfo8Kp4rIGHeQg/s320/P1010129-1.JPG)
the future Ion Shopping Complex.
sometimes the
heart rules over the head. that's why the next morning we started out at
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY5CfFCDMlF5ZEVjf4Y0EMeOSrM_IAGa09yQc3hAsORg6JjFkSCqH-d8FIAtv7WVVfL4fVml6l_FXhIcyh9CaTj89bkb1uYnWyFIb2cBfAFly6mZRgqaiEE15Y6hRnU3MXmgI_g/s320/Photo_120207_013.jpg)
instead of the Science Centre, because the girl was still looking out for that dream pair of shoes. the boy didn't mind as long as he got his
ride...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfbWImoYRQjhlXLVy-OpgAD81fyTennIkfx-ABcLceaDFsMBbRkZtczvCW0uRSsmZDW0a9juqegSjfHTyGjWZL-Y59SaFmnuCAt1AwMlSh-13CeO9pHVe7EU30nOZLs4vlL9mmw/s320/Photo_120107_009.jpg)
it helped that Vivo City is near Sentosa Island, because an LRT operates between the two..
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQKkoBF53h6V3tPhUrLStEHA3FCL2S1dn8l4ne1yOC-mR0FcoX8LklxvPBJRKIHMm5Ou4GWEF-00SDxpNQp1HLbvs9vYDsmMzc8gfCDTYhFTezRMJ2TG1MYWQetjBIrD_jk2bqw/s320/P1010152.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_6iaLyd3lYqO067NjQtipJJnQPX9qNpt7GedwzUkqy0HekfR6LaAr2gpSjOKdA3DZhNb-Y9QCQ9FlMRKj8lodIBvjVO_vL4jyxuuU-xJ8I6dmKrt5XEtzscwX8XP_uDhHxpesQ/s320/Photo_120207_038.jpg)
included in the ticket price is a tram-ride around Sentosa...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCslCFoMmpSR12KnuweHJRJWGig7y2L7r4-rtYFgvbUWFjnaqo7tVWo6tJY_8tdXh9E6wx_V4XUDE5AkPNIbL-ux_k0UxKklzABfoJt4D8hE4lf3FU20_0wfdJGYMihwXTDVlCcA/s320/Photo_120207_050.jpg)
& one reason why tourists feel safe here.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdHLJBDxNsCQiqCMNU__pB7hdMbU8M2F1nDU6XivCeSgO28voXVmEFZ6kfdxIMVnDvp2Mr4iZDFkG9IyGNL88nyb0zraFjxHgBDRRDin8SodH9q21SuK78v9o-HFywJuFvv3Ahw/s320/Photo_120207_060.jpg)
is the obvious presence of
tourist police patrol. just like orchard rd, it's never enough & there's evidence a new attraction is being constructed....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CfcZdOE3KtX9pXNfaW_fmRurHbS9aG3VVRfd_ZqObslDen3EAHG8vLsFyVruwGNpeDCsLhRJehUqD28YtGNSrsfxlN_Xi7k_BQJujONTpTZWNplxr_nrMEm-fLEsx9cJJ5MFiw/s320/Photo_120207_072.jpg)
for all the attractions & distractions, amidst the vibrant yuletide activities, it's reassuring that the
true spirit of christmas was not lost....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHkw3NdjHr7tGlgofgA5SQGfolkFfOa7vLX2PsfjUbvrZw0G6kSaZb7lVQ3g_J7evWFHx5ucUtNGtcV6fPoRYg7m1R1TIqe4aUm1-IknunqEwftZwJhvJlI9lrlNy12FLgJOanA/s320/P1010145-1.JPG)
for me, the only pleasure i derived at vivo city was a brief sojourn at Ben & Jerry's....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmcDPMBn0QrzlM8t9WoA0fnODvDw_Pj-Fdj3dycvDfa-CdqMGsHmQt_0yz5XODXMjKwgkn6Nbfte8eSqesxUv4HczdDSbl9qswCKubriYSojoIaxKp89PzMtJudMrr9J02nYkqw/s320/P1010155-1.JPG)
so, how would a triple-header of
cherry garcia,
raspberry chocholate chunk &...
new york fudge chunk grab ya??
so, what's new about s'pore??
(1) when a local bank opened a new branch, they
go all out...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpWOBjTkeDJPGt36xUveOCcqz9p1CjEHhIGENKTVLbjR1avybieI5w7TnX1Umln58FW_h82MkSvF8ReoAGLTt63LO1lZMJORVk3IxFEfWFh8snKaqLeyIaO_11K6oQw8qKCz38w/s320/Photo_120107_013.jpg)
(2) some of the bus-stops have
display screens that indicate the ETA of the next bus...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtD7ryJ3NXNrIo_TTcdAAQhr8zGYmiSAWg2O_ulMaW7QnPHuMrQAzYrqJS-8376ncKzcG9IA_OwpKXs3RTsQ1SKTa9FjPBkyOWR_A4nBhQs99-KML0SIZm51o6XSqb8FxKBEsTPA/s320/Photo_120107_117.jpg)
(3) at the local toy store, monopoly now comes in
electronic banking version....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLNKlSZ-j6g5TAjrS7Sv-rGOsTOFn4XSbYIWHWZhyphenhyphenEkKmHrvu-FfKq7FDQZepA1TMj5godxGmchGkIYUYifTqgpF8d9HfXRNm2dsIoXwvBZzaUAB9GS-0gmQy4QJAYuKeI6Pmag/s320/Photo_120207_075.jpg)
and (4) despite its squeaky clean image, people still
flout traffic rules...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoUXFo5dktJQIKhHFt_nvCVu7BH-JiqtW07vqfstuoxY8tj4PP9R9gFzcytTwCdK2334UHAlscbToyDihj7ngy2ggDOHaygJ4sLXIIOixxXJUezelw0PqhQhsVungSc2IXndzUQ/s320/Photo_120107_097.jpg)
i
learn new things all the time.