travelphotography

West Coast Park

After another long week, we finally got our one day away from the Littlest Dictator.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter. But any parents who claim not to want a break from their baby are either lying or have already gone off the deep end. Kids will do that to you. They’re like those Velociraptors in Jurassic Park, and you’ve always got to be on your toes or you’re well and truly screwed. It gets exhausting.

Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, the day off. So we headed over to West Coast Park.

I had a rough idea of where it was, but didn’t know exactly how to get there. And I wasn’t going to use Google Maps because dammit, I used to cycle past it on the way to work four or five years ago and I don’t need a damn phone to tell me how to get there.

I totally needed my phone.

We reached there eventually after walking about maybe 30 mins from the Clementi Bus Interchange.

We had a sandwich at a Subway-like place, at an newly-refurbished old, three or four-storey building in an equally old neighbourhood.

The many “licensed moneylenders” and pawnshops made it a little bit depressing. Clementi is what property agencies call a “mature estate”, which means it’s been around for longer than most, and is relatively well-developed.

The old housing estates and low buildings with shops on the ground floor and apartments on the floor above have got a kind of charm. Brings back nostalgic memories for me. And some not-so-pleasant ones.

I grew up in a tiny two-bedroom apartment, and as the years went by, slowly realised that we were on the lower portion of the income scale. Not dirt poor by any means. But yeah, quite lacking in certain areas.

By the way, as we walked through the neighbourhoods to get to the park, it only occured to me to take pictures once we’d arrived. So ah, you’re just gonna have to use your imagination for now. Put all those Sesame Street hours to good use!

After walking for a while and wondering if we were lost, and ng refusing to check my phone because I’m a man goddammit, we finally arrived!

Beautiful place. So green and windy and bright. Last time I was there, all I could remember was some tiny boats tied near the shore and nothing much else. Hadn’t been there in more than 15 years.

I was quite pleasant surprised.

Looks like it’s windy often because there were quite a few people there flying kites. Maybe one day I’ll show the Littlest Dictator how to fly one.

Usually a trip to a park in Singapore is accompanied by massive amounts of swearing and feeling like a perpetually melting chocolate bar. But this time it was pretty good. Weather was just perfect.

And even on a Saturday, there weren’t many people.

Yea I wouldn’t mind heading back there at all.

September 24, 2017 0

Visit to the Esplanade and a Few Other Places

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, months? And now on the last day of Ramadhan, I finally have a bit of time to write about some the stuff we’ve been up to.

By the way, I’m writing this while watching the Littlest Dictator feed herself.

A few weeks ago, we visited PIP’s Playbox, located on the fourth floor of The Esplanade.

It’s sort of like a little library and play space for little kids.

Yeah, it wasn’t too bad!

I did get a little annoyed by parents who allow their kids to snatch away toys from the Littlest Dictator while she’s playing with them.

I have a new policy now: if the kid snatches away a toy, I snatch it back immediately. Gently but firmly. Waiting for some parents to do the right thing is like waiting for snow to fall in the Sahara Desert. Or the nee season of Attack on Titan. Just… just trust me on this.

BUT! It was hard to stay annoyed when you’ve got one hell of a view:

Then we went for a walk outside along the river.

Hmm, let’s see where else we’ve been to. Oh yeah. LOL Playland at JCube, an indoor playground near Jurong East MRT. Can’t recall if we went before or after The Esplanade though.

Oh yeah! I went to KL for my very first business trip. First time I ever flew there, and first ever day trip. Usually it’s a major thing for me. Takes about six hours by rail, and four by car or bus.

Yeah, not too bad. an experience! The budget airline terminal looked pretty damn good.

Then we took a goddamn 45-min cab ride to a place that looked like it had been carved out of a forested area not too long ago. A pretty cool place with a hipster-ish vibe, with apartments on the upper floors of the shopping centre, and brand new houses on the other side of a narrow road.

It reminded me of a nice waterfall in the middle of a forbidding jungle.

Despite how nice it looked and… ordinary it felt, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were so far away from the city centre, let alone the airport. Wouldn’t mind going back for a short vacation though.

Let’s see… where else? Where else? Oh right. We paid Big Box a visit. It’s a humongous shopping mall/warehouse next to Jem Shopping Centre, also near Jurong East MRT.

We’d gone there previously and it was pretty underwhelming. While it may be huge, the products sold there appeared to me to be of a cheaper, poorer quality compared to what you’d find in other shopping malls.

But I’d heard of a huge indoor playground there and thought we’d check it out.

It was pretty big, that’s for sure. Might bring the Littlest Dictator here when we get th chance.

Then we checked out their humongous supermarket.

Seriously, this place was huge. It felt exhausting just trying to look at all they had to offer. The design seems a little off though. The aisles were a little too wide, and there were white spaces nearly everywhere you turned, from the ceiling to the walls to the floor. Too many white spaces. The place felt vast but strangely sparse.

It wasn’t that bad though. Might return to check out some of the stuff they have on offer there.

By the way, this is now two days after I started writing. And now I’m attempting to finish this while watching Slap on Titan, an Attack o Titan parody. Armin is one hell of a creepy dude.

June 25, 2017 0

A Glimpse at my Route Back from the Gym

My workout objectives changed a while ago, and now instead of just focusing on strength without being too concerned if I looked like a huge walking sack of organically-grown potatoes, I’ve begun to put more emphasis on functionality and flexibility and to a lesser extent, aesthetics.

I still look like a sack of potatoes, but at least now I’m a sack that has better stamina!

It’s about a 45-min walk back from the gym, so I use that as my cardio after lifting.

The gym itself is in a relatively isolated area of Singapore, with a few seedy KTVs that come alive at night.

I’d deleted the picture of the KTVs, so um, here’s a picture of a Japanese workout band or something

During the day time, it can be quite pleasant.

Unless it’s a hot day. In which case I turn into a sack of fries.

While it may be cooler after midnight, the route looks quite different then…

Like a scene from every B-grade horror movie.

It’s been about a month now, so hopefully soon I’ll be able to kick it up a notch and begin running again.

April 10, 2017 1

Brief Trip to the McDonald’s near Jurong Point

Saturday’s back, and I’ve only just remembered to post our brief recent trip to the Jurong Point area, which is a now-sprawling shopping mall that used to be just one small building. Reminds me of how my waistline has expanded over the years 😂

I particularly like the McDonald’s across the road from it, in the park.

Anyway, after a short 15-min bus ride and we arrived at Jurong Point.

It’s actually much bigger but I ah, forgot to take more pictures.

Finally emerged on the other side.

It was a nice, short trip.

March 25, 2017 13

Trip to Arab Street

We met a friend in Arab Street yesterday, and it felt almost refreshing to be out amongst adults only.

Wife missed the baby but I was like ‘YESSS! No baby! WooHoo!! FREEEDOMMMM!!’

Anyway… we took the mrt to Bugis Station.

Looking at this picture makes me feel like Hagrid.

Then headed to the creatively-named shopping centre Bugis Junction.

That guy on the right is basically every parent who makes the mistake of going shopping with the baby in tow.

There a few cool shops.

This guy did NOT skip Back Day at the gym!

Met up with the friend, grabbed a quick bite and headed to nearby Arab Street.

Saw a Cat Cafe along the way.

… but I wasn’t in the mood for cat burgers. That’s what I assume they serve. As well as other cat dishes.

My old school is near Arab Street, so in a way I grew up here. And it has changed so much, that it’s almost unrecognisable.

It used to be very quiet around the iconic Sultan Mosque area, which holds the sultan’s tomb.

But now clubs and bars and hipster-ish shops and cafes have sprung up around the area like mushrooms.

It’s cool and all, and I really like some of the cafes. But it also attracts those annoying young people from western countries who watch movies about Asia and come here to ‘find themselves’ in an ‘exotic location’. GAHHHH.

So back to the cafes. We went to an OK one called La Marelle (naturally).

I really like these old shophouses. Picturing how people used to live in them a long time ago.

The place was alright. The chicken burgers were really good, but the coffee was alright. Overall not a bad place to hang out it. The music wasn’t too loud like in some other cafes that clearly aspire to be clubs.

After that it was a short walk down to and past Sultan Mosque.

Yeah overall, not a bad day.

February 26, 2017 0

First Day Back in Singapore

After the long flight back, during which the Littlest Dictator peed all over my pants (therefore making me look like I peed) during boarding time for the final connecting flight. Ended up with pee all over me for final two hours. That… that’s gotta be a sign, right?

And the moment you step out of the airport. The very moment, no matter how brief… it gets you. The. Heat.

But it’s really not that bad. Check out the temperature today.

It’s like being in a sauna. All the time! GREAT.

We haven’t melted yet or anything! I already miss days likes these, though.

Notice the lack of people in coats passed out from heat stroke.

Anyway, we’re back. Time to rejoin the workforce, and research toddler gyms and day care centres.

The countdown to the end of this year has begun. One final trip to Busan.

February 18, 2017 0

Saying Goodbye to Haeundae Beach and the First Signs of Spring

Just one full day left and you know what’s funny? After three whole months, it feels like we’ve only just arrived.

A lot of people tend to focus on Seoul when it comes to Korea but I’m telling you man, you’re missing out if you don’t give Busan a try, especially in winter.

From the clear blue skies to the mix of evergreen and bare trees dotting the landscape, interrupted by inviting mountains, surrounded by the vast sea.

I’ve heard that the locals in Seoul can be as cold as the weather there, but here in Busan, they are incredibly friendly and helpful and kind.

Yesterday we said our goodbyes to Haeundae Beach.

I am going to miss strolling on the beach under the bright sun and not sweating from, like, everywhere.

And all around us, the first signs of spring.

Leaves have begun to grow, and here and there flowers are starting to make a comeback, as well as birds I hadn’t seen during the coldest months in December and January.

Tomorrow we leave early in the morning, well before the Littlest Dictator usually wakes up. It’s going to be a very long flight.

And it just hit me. We have our own family tradition. Every year we visit Korea and my wife’s mom in winter. And now the Littlest Dictator is a part of that. I never did have something like this as a kid. It’s pretty cool. I think.

Yea, I’ll definitely miss Busan.

February 16, 2017 0

Two More Days

It’s a beautiful Wednesday morning, and sun is shining. Well, it’s literally shining directly onto my face.

*squints* I’m still gonna miss you! *squints*

I was heading back from the gym last night and met a mom and her son in the apartment lift.

As soon as the kid saw me, he began glancing at me with an expression of nervousness and excitement.

I’m almost used to this and it reminds me of one of the more adorable things I’ll miss about this place: the Korean kids (and some adults!) who are dying just to practise their English!

It’s one of the cutest things ever haha.

Anyway, we’ll be heading down to the beach later today and maybe spend the whole day at home and spend some time with my wife’s mom on the eve of the flight.

February 14, 2017 0

Five Days Left

Here we are, at the tail-end of our epic three-month stay. And you know what? I miss Busan already!

I’m especially going to miss waking up to this view after an afternoon nap:

It’s been almost surreal. Living by the sea, with ever-changing breathtaking scenery beckoning to me just outside the window each morning.

Now sure, there are some things that I miss about Singapore. But you know what I don’t? The freakin’ heat!

What the hell, Singapore? Even at 3am? COME ON.

It’ll be like waking up from a dream once we’re back. I’ll get a regular job again, and adjust to the standard weekday schedule most people in my line of work have.

And that’s OK. It’ll be good to stretch my legs again, you know?

Oh and I’ve got a bit in the way of motivation. Looks like my mother-in-law is delaying the move to France by one more year.

That’s right, one last trip to Busan at the end of the year, baby!

WooHoo!!

February 12, 2017 1

One Weird Dude's Busan Blog

Busan in Three Months

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