Farewell... Tg.Pagar KTM Railway Station

1 July 2011 will be a day in history as the Tg. Pagar Railway Station in Singapore finally came to a close. Few years back,I always commuted from Singapore to JB via KTM trains as I found it to be one of the convenient ways to travel back to JB.This is especially that I don't have to face the traffic jam at the causeway and it took 30 mins only to reach Woodlands checkpoint. And, since  it took another 15 mins to clear the CIQ at Woodlands, you will likely reached JB in around 45 mins from Tg.Pagar. It's considered quite fast though you may not be able to get a seat on Fridays where the train is fully packed! Other than that, there are always seats during weekdays and it's a really a pleasant ride. Well, when you passed by the causeway, you will be delighted that you are moving while the vehicles stand still in the causeway jam. The furthest I went from Tg. Pagar is a night train to Tampin, almost a decade ago.

Then, there are lots of JB folks who commuted to work daily via the train till some of them know each other and they even chopped seats for one another. I felt sad for these folks who now have to take either MRTs or buses from the Woodlands checkpoint. Tg Pagar is so near the Central Business District (CBD) area and it really a convenience for those who worked around the area.

I've taken some pixs on 27 June 2011 at this railway station. Do enjoy this pictorial post and shared your experiences here if you have commuted from this railway station.

The inside of the railway station

busy ...busy ...schedule

up and below...nice mural painting! Hope they preserved it.

the place to enjoy good Malaysian food...

lots of folks there visiting the station...while the authorities busy renovating it for preservation

Looking out at the railway

this maintenance vehicle must have been there for ages

another historical stuff ..an hydraulic pump made in England in 1930

nice blue sky looking up from the railway station

the place where the passengers clears the Malaysian custom

It was unusually lots of folks during the last few days before the closure... lots of folks taking pixs here!

a long journey to Malaysia..starting from here

very old signboard

Guess this canteen was here for some time!

another mural painting

that's where they taxed u...:P

wonder what the F,M,S,R stands for?

the entrance to the beautiful station

another pix taken afar

the statues which greeted you at the entrance...again ...hope they preserve it

There are really lots of folks here having teh tarik and local Malay cuisines while enjoying the nice and peaceful scenery there during the last few days of the station. There are also lots of  photographers who tried to snap as much nice shots as they can before the closing down.

Bye Tg. Pagar Railway Station....thanks for all the good memories and convenience!

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh....

I usually had my fixed of BKT before I heads back to JB almost every Friday. This is one popular BKT among local singaporeans here as their business is really good and they have more than one branch here. However, the BKT is a bit different from those usual dark, herbal type you found in Malaysia. The soup is clearer and it's tasted like those found in pork intestines soup, with lots of pepper in it.

Though I still preferred the dark and herbs type in Malaysia, this is one I cannot miss over in Singapore. And, of course, I go for the ribs which has more lean meat. :)

Breakfast at Yew's Cafe

Yew's Cafe - Taman Molek Branch

It's really been a long while since I ate in Yew's Cafe in JB. Seeing that my wifey and I are finally alone again, as my kids are in the nursery and kindergarten this morning, I decided to bring her to 'pak tor' (dating) and had breakfast at classy Yew's Cafe. Love the freedom!!! :)

I kinda miss the breakfast there as we used to ate there regularly years ago. Anyway, they seems changed their menu but still, I end up with my favourite healthy breakfast set of scramble eggs, sausages, ham, toasts, red beans.

My favourite breakfast set ... will give me full energy for the day!

Of course....the day will never start without a cup of thick kopi!

After my breakfast, I decided to shop for a component video cable to connect my DVD player to my new 42" LCD TV where I finally got rid of my old CRT 29" TV. I decided to spend a bit to try out the component video cables instead of the usual A/V or RCA cables for better quality. :) 

Here's the the website of Yew's Cafe. Have a good weekend !

Used Morris Minis gallery...

Lots of morris minis and coopers here for parade

Well, I'm not exactly a mini car fan but somehow this parade fascinates me, especially since my kid loves them. I'm not sure if this is just an exhibit or they are here for sell as most of the cars are old and some folks were trying out the cars. Anyway, we had a good time snapping pixs on different type of models and colours ..... well, I no nothing about mini except that I love the new cooper.

yes..i love this!

love this one too.... 

nice bright carmine mini...look very antique indeed but sporty!

...or how about this blue mini ? looks cools!!

a black mini from Perak (check out the car plate...) :)

folks enjoying the parade while some could be owners... 

woah...i like this one.... i mean the colour!

Yours Truly with the orange mini... love it! *Muaccks*

 All these happened at Sutera Mall, which I guess it's the most happening mall in JB now, besides City Square Mall. There are always lots of exhibits to see here very often and reminds me of the megamalls in the Klang Valley. Nice place to visit!

Starocks Cafe and Grill, Sutera Mall, JB

Well, if you asked me is this Father's Day dinner, it's yes and no. Yes, because it's the eve of Father's Day while no because I find that it's too commercialize.  Thus, I don't really take this as Father's Day celebration..hahaha... However, will give a gift to my Dad back to Ipoh.

It was a long day in Sutera Mall last Saturday and seeing my family and I were tired, we decided to dine in the mall, at Starocks Cafe. Well, this is my first time here and I must said the environment is nice but it's really crowded on a Saturday night.

I ordered a Salmon Steak, which looks ordinary but tasted good!I like it!!

My dinner - Salmon steak with fries

My wifey seems to choose a more delicious one than me , she had the grilled dory fish. How I wish I had that but my throat not that well and I don't want to get a throat infection again.

the dory fish....half-way cooked

ok...cooked but a bit messy... but it's yummy...sizzling hot!

Here's how's the place looks like.... more like a place to chill out with a beer, right?

the entrance

the inside of the cafe

OK, quite a pleasant place to dine in.... will go there again!

local , traditional food for tea...

I thought last Saturday was Father's day cos my kid gave these to me after his Saturday school. His kindergarten usually has crafting lessons on Saturdays. And, I only knew that Sunday is Father's day after seeing wishes from my nice facebook friends.

thanks to his kindergarten;'s activity ... i like it! :)

Well, after fetching him from school and bathed him, it';s a long day out for the family. We stop-by a kopitiam to have some refreshment after taken a light lunch. And, it's really been a while since I had these local , light food as it's difficult to find it in Singapore and the places I ate in JB doesn;'t have these.... at least not nearby where I stayed.

glutinuous rice - used to be my breakfast when I was a kid

curry chee cheong fun ... used to have this during my Ipoh days... miss it!

and defnitely, this is a MUST!

My wifey trying to be 'rebelious' as she go for angmoh food instead - club sandwich .....

yummy  club sandwich ... we always have these whenever we are out for tea!

We continued our shopping later and was amazed at the activities in Sutera Mall - a free exhibition on Zheng He as well as Mini cars exhibit.

Have a great week, folks!

Second chance......

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. -Ecclesiastes 9:11

 My interpretation of Ecclesiastes 9:11 is that persistence pays! We may failed the one or second or third time, but by being persistent, I am sure we will reach our goal or some other destinations which is planned for us by the Lord. Time and chance will happens to the persistence one who keeps going.

I thought my this humble story might motivates especially teens. I didn't do too well in my SPM though I got a grade 2. Seeing that my options for further education are limited then, with lack of funds, I decided to retake my SPM in a private school. I did well in the second attempt, though it's still grade 2 but with grade 1 results. Why I said this is because I got only a Pass for my Malay and thus, relegated to grade 2 though my results are grade 1 quality. However, the second attempt pays off as I got enrolled in a local polytechnic. I got good results in the Poly. then and also retake the Malay language paper again and rewarded with a credit, finally! With this credit, I managed to obtain a place in a local university. Luck do play a part here, I guess!

I am not very successful but what prompted me to write this post was that lately, I read an article on a local daily here, that some teens committed suicides due to academic results. To me, these are young, bright and hardworking young people who thought they failed to realize their goals and thus, gave up their lives. Perhaps I may not  understand what pressures these young beings are shouldering, but it's really sad.

 Everybody deserves a second chance....especially yourself, whatever situation you may be in.  I found  some motivational verses here from the Bible -
 
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

"I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14

"For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."
Philippians 2:13 

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6


"He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."
Isaiah 40:29-31
 
Have a great mid-week!!

This is really touching..

I am sure most of you have watched this video which has a viral effect on facebook. I was curious but only watched it lately.And, well, it's really a touching one! Well, if you have not seen it, watch it and you know what I meant. *phew* ....
Btw, the host is pretty :P

Cendol Klang again....

Well, when I said again, it doesn't mean I went there daily. :)  In fact, this is the second time I had cendol there again in this famous little shop at Klang town while on the way to Kuala Selangor and Sekinchan from Puchong. It was a hot Sunday and it's really a good idea to have a refreshing bowl of delicious cendol.

there it is... I believe this shop is famous in the Klang valley...

yummy... can't wait to finish it! It tasted really good!

nice view of Klang town from this shop...traffic was slightly heavy!

looking out from the shop... lots of cars parked here. Wonder all come to enjoy the cendol?

The ice melted quickly on this hot day but it does cool us down. Ok, time to move on!