Jon & I decided to take a break and have a local holiday at The Beaufort, Sentosa. Initially we had planned to go for a short overseas trip, but we weren't able to get any flights, and in the end, we weren't able to get that amount of leave we needed. We decided a local holiday would still be enjoyable, and we were right!
There are quite a lot of perks to a local holiday. First, it's cheaper than going overseas! The price of a one night stay is the cost of one person's fuel surcharge. Second, it's so convenient and near, particularly since we don't stay far from Sentosa. No time wasted checking in, travelling, etc. We did pretend that our car ride was a flight :) Well, ok, I pretended haha. I gave the announcements to switch off all electronics, to buckle up, and enjoy the flight :) 
The pilot - Captain Nair!
It was a little cloudly when we first arrived, but got sunnier as the day progressed.
Third, it can feel like you're overseas anyway! We went to Tanjung Beach, and it could have been Malaysia/Thailand/Bali cos there was the sun, the sand, the sea, and the foreigners! haha :) It was a friday, so most locals were working. I think we were the only, or one of the only, locals around. Of course the sand isn't as white or as fine as what you'd find elsewhere, but still, the environment was very relaxing.
Bo lang. Very shiok.
I loved the huge deck chairs provided - space for yourself, your bag, books, and drinks to all sit comfortably together, plus with space to spare! 
Actually before heading to Beaufort we went to McDonalds for a leisurely breakfast. Check-in at the hotel was only at 12pm, so we hung around at Macs reading the papers. We went to the Queenstown outlet - the one with the pond filled with turtles. I had a lot of fun with them! haha. Let me tell you about it.
We were sitting by the railing and I suddenly realised there was a turtle staring up at me. And then I thought, "can they really see so far?". So I started waving my hand around to see if the turtle would follow it's motion, and to my delight it did! Then, I excitedly used both my hands and continued to wave as another turtle looked up and followed my hand motion. I then realised I was attracting the attention of the turtles from the other end of the pond! They can really see quite far! So they all started swimming towards me from all corners of the pond! They probably thought I was gonna throw some fries over or something. I was the Queen of the Turtles, wahaha...they follow my every command! :) (Yes yes, I was on holiday and just playing...) But it was very entertaining to see them swim over, then scramble to get the best spot under me. Some of them were stepping all over their friends to be on top of the rock, or to be at the prime spot in the water! It was hilarious :)
Anyway, after a while they realised there was no food coming their way, and slowly one-by-one they lost interest in me and swam away heh. But that shows they must have been weaned on a diet of fries, nuggets, and other food from Macs. Privileged turtles.
But back to Sentosa.
Yup, after checking into our lovely lovely room, we went to hang out by the beach for the entire afternoon. The sun had come out and it was wonderful! I have decided that Tanjung Beach is my favourite of the lot as it's not as crowded and touristy as the rest. KM8 is a nice beachside pub, and Jon enjoyed a couple of bottles of Corona while I sipped my mango juice :)
KM8 also has a pool by the beach! Yes, you would have thought that having the sea so nearby would make the pool redundant, but no! It's really very pleasant to soak in the pool cos it's clean, cool, and very refreshing! The water was a lot cooler than the sea water. It was nice dipping in it, while waiting for our snacks to be served :)
Anyway, an afternoon on the beach resulted in us having quite obvious tan-lines, which was nice given we haven't had much of a tan in the UK!
After a shower, we indulged by having dinner at The Cliff which is well-known for it's food. We had pre-dinner drinks while watching the sun set, and a subtle, tasty dinner of well-prepared fish.
Back to the hotel to watch brainless movies like James Bond and Borat :) Then a restful sleep!
Day 2 saw us taking a walk to Palawan Beach for breakfast. Then spending the rest of the morning dipping in the hotel pool and reading trashy magazines. Well, actually I was reading trashy magazines while Jon as usual read his Business Times :) If that's what he considers holiday reading, who am I to correct him? hahaha =)
Before checking out, Jon indulged me and ordered room service!! I love room service hahahaa :) Don't know why. I just think it's fun. Like how I like airplane food. Anyway I was quite reluctant to order room service cos it's not say super cheap, but Jon, being the lovely hubby he is, indulged his pregnant wife hee hee. I'm not complaining!! :O)
After checking out, we were again happy for the convenience of a local holiday - a short 15min drive back home! :) And then, as with all lazy holidays - more napping! Think we must have made up for all our lost sleep that weekend! zzzzzzZZZ :)
Think most of you would know, I'm pregnant! :) Due November 8th. I've been taking photos of my tummy to see how it's expanding haha. A bit bo liao, but just for fun lah :)
4 May 08
25 May 08
22 Jun 08
Oh my poor neglected blog! We came back to Singapore mid-April, and have been spending time settling in, cleaning up our house, moving back in, etc etc.
But there's lots more to update since my last entry (17th March)! My family came up to visit, we went for a long road trip, off to Paris, back to London. Then back in Singapore had more leisure activities! Will have to update all that, so stay tuned! (Will prob update chronologically, so look through the past months entries!)
In any case, I'm back at work. So technically I don't qualify to be called the 'unlikely lady of leisure', but still, every lady needs leisure right? :)
Guess what? We bought a car! We've always thought that once I get pregnant we'd get a car since we'll be needing one to travel around, etc. I guess we're used to the convenience of driving. And Jon didn't want me to squeeze on the MRT and bus when I'm pregnant :)
He's called Electron! Why? Cos my mum's car is called Carmen, and initially we (ok, me...Jon doesn't usually think of such silly stuff haha) thought, "Hey, doesn't mean blue is for boys. How about we name the car Electra? Then together the two cars are Carmen Electra!" But after a while, we decided that the car was more "male" than "female", and decided to change the name to Electron! And it's stuck :)
Anyway, the very day we got the car we drove to Kaki Bukit to do our first round of baby shopping! We were quite excited! Two new experiences in one day - getting a car for the first time, and baby shopping. And oh man, what a headache baby shopping is. Jon and I aren't even really the shopping kind. Add to that the whole new range of things to learn about for baby stuff - things that we've never ever looked at before in our lives! Walking into the baby shop was quite overwhelming. Prams , car seats, cots, clothes, baby monitors...woahhhh.
Bravely walking into unchartered waters...
We decided to focus only on the car seat, since we 'd definitely be needing that. But even just looking at car seats alone gave us a headache. Which brand, what material, what features, etc etc. In the end we made off with a MaxiCosi car seat in a bright cheery red/orange! :) It's so cute and small! We left pleased, but with a massive headache from feeling overwhelmed by the overload of new information!
Anyway, so the set is complete! Electron, and an infant car seat for Baby :)
A recent addition to the list of walking trails in Singapore is the Southern Ridges path. A few of us gathered to attempt the walk from the foot of Mount Faber near Harbourfront MRT to Alexandra Arches. I thought it would take really long, but was surprised when the walk was over in around slightly more than an hour or an hour-half.
It was a little too urban for my liking, and I think I still prefer the trails at Bukit Timah Hill and MacRitchie where you're really surrounded by nature. The only wild section you walk through is the climb up Mount Faber, after that it's mainly roads or concrete paths. But the bridges were quite pretty, esp Henderson Waves. It was a lot higher than I thought. Driving under it, it really didn't seem so high up.
Along the way we came across this cute monkey who was just hangin' around, posing for walkers. Think he liked the attention. Singapore's Next Top Monkey.
The other thing I thought was less than ideal was how noisy the walk was! And I don't mean the wild birds! The sound of people walking on the metal paths was very noisy, and I pity the animals in the area. I felt like we were really causing disruption in their environment with our clanging, clonging and plonking. But then again, maybe not all animals are upset (like our dear monkey).
Still, it's a nice walk with friends, taking in views of Sentosa, walking across the Henderson Waves, and on the Alexandra Arches, then finally ending with yummy zi cha dinner at Gilman Village! :) Exercise then food, how shiok.
But before that...some goofing around with a rotting dinosaur! Poor guy, lost his arm, has holes in his butt, and his tail fell off too. Anyway, he's a real softy....made of sponge!
I went to wander through parts of the East End, taking in Brick Lane and two small museums in one day.
I have actually been to Brick Lane once before, on the night Jon and I first arrived in London, but I thought I'd explore the place in the day time to see what it was really like. On the North end of Brick Lane, it's a bustling place with cosy cafes, vintage shops, and specialist stores. Quite young and trendy. Then as you progress Southwards, the place is fringed on both sides with restaurants - the Brick Lane I met on my first night. In the day time that area is much less bustling as the touts are not on duty; and the streets are filled mostly with locals going grocery shopping at the local store (which stocks all types of South Asian supplies) or emerging from the mosque after prayers.
The colours of Brick Lane
I had heard that the Brick Lane Beigel Bake had the best bagels in London, so since I was there I had to try it didn't I? I was happily munching away while wandering about the place. But I have to say, I think the best bagels I've had are still those from New York! Mmm...
I then head to the Geffyre Museum which traces the changing styles of interior design in London.
It's like peeping into people's houses cos it's basically a series of spaces decorated in the style of various periods, from 1600s to the present. Fairly interesting to see the change in styles - from simple and functional, to ornate and flowery, then on to minimalist and modern. 
The museum also showed the evolving style of chairs over the centuries. 
This chair is, I think, the most comfortable of the lot :) When you sit in it you really melt into the cushion and feel like you've become part of the chair.
The Geffyre is a small museum and quite off-the beaten track. Not really a main attraction for a passing tourist unless they're particularly interested in interior design. So having walked through the entire place without taking too long, I moved on to the last destination for the day, the White Cube. It's a minimalist art space that has changing exhibitions. The day I went there were two photography exhibitions of mild interest. I think there are probably more interesting exhibitions at other times.
Anyway, having covered everything I wanted to during the day I went home feeling mighty pleased with myself :)
