Newton Circus Food Centre @ Singapore

My first itinerary after I landed in Singapore, my superior bought us to Newton Circus Food Centre to try out local Singaporean hawkers food. Newton Circus Food Centre it's famous for tourist destination, I got to know local people less dining in here because it's label as overprice, charging base on tourist price. A bit of history from expert, newton circus renovated as open air hawker centre right in the middle of town part of the reason to promote Singapore Tourism.

Journey takes me around 20-30 min from Macpherson Road after office hour by car. Reached Newton slightly around 7PM (GMT+8 ) with hot evening. Cleaned and tiny, I started to hear loud noise ordering food here and there. I'm surprised every table it's pack with tourist. I really wonder if the food here it's good? Superior get a table for 5 of us, Immediately we had someone trying to push seafood onto us and the drinks auntie trying to get us to order a drink. I'm puzzled at the moment, not sure what do they serve, despite the ordering process I let my expert boss handle it...

After long day, I quench my throat with a cup of cold sugarcane water.. freshly made, huge cup, hot weather I desperately I need another cup of water. The moment I drink.. my stomach is yelling for food. What will they order for tonite? A lot question mark in my head... etc..

After waited around 20-25 min, here are the 3 dished being served.. Fried BBQ chicken wings, Pork and chicken Satay, Fried Carrot Cakes (sweet version) available. Hungry can't wait to eat. It's almost same the the type of food between Singapore and Malaysia, is the taste same too?? Let's try it out..

My boss told everyone to try this Grilled Sting Stay in Singapore, in Malaysia the locals always describe as Ikan Bakar. This is also one of favorite food that I love the most, Singapore have the similar version, but the sambal slightly sweeter and spicier type. Before eating it's a must to squeeze lime (limau kasturi), you will have sourish, spicy taste kicking opening appetite, hawkers grilled well, sting way was fresh. I couldn't recall from which stall no.. recommended to eat while it's still hot.

Next move on the Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings. In Singapore they use lime, but I'm used to honey version type in Malaysia. Lime taste it's a different version which it's actually not bad. Well marinated, grilled at the right heat, tender and moist.. acceptable, must eat with your hand more like finger linkin good..

Newton Circus do have Satay too! I'm rather surprised that boss ordered pork satay! First time had pork satay, well seasoned, skewered and then grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, served with peanut sauce. Also beside pork, I had chicken satay too! Oh yummy! xD

Something new for me, which is the fried carrot cakes, the versions served by hawkers in Singapore, where Teo Chews live, are typically prepared by frying the carrot cake with chopped preserved turnip, diced garlic, eggs, and Chinese fish sauce in place of soya sauce. Chopped spring onion is added just before serving

There are two variants: the "white" version does not use sweet soy sauce, and the carrot cake is fried on top of a beaten egg to form a crust; the "black" version uses sweet sauce (molasses) and the egg is simply mixed in with the carrot cake. I prefer the sweet sauce compare to white version earlier on for Singapore taste.

Last dish of the day is the fried Oyster Omelette, version very similar to Malaysia, let see if it's good. The dish consists of an omelette with a filling primarily composed of small oysters.Oyster here are huge, big and fresh, never let me down for the taste, fragrant and less oil.

Overall dining in Newton Circus it's not bad, don't complaint for the price while you eat here. Newton Circus cater mainly for tourist destination so please bear with the price hike. I'm bloated with food through out the night. Happy and enjoying eating.

Newton Food Centre (纽顿熟食中心)
Address: Newton, Singapore
Business Hours 12:00 pm – 2:00 am

Sam Poh Tong @ Gopeng Road, Ipoh

Next destination would be famous Cave Temple Sam Poh Tong after visting Kek Look Tong. Sam Poh Tong is called(Cavern of Triple Gems) whereby is a Chinese Temple constructed in a limestone cave. It is located at Gunung Rapat area and if you drive along Jalan Gopeng heading towards Simpang Pulai, you will see the Chinese Temple on your left on the limestone hill right after the Petronas station. The first Temple would be the Ling Sen Tong and you just drive straight until you see Sam Poh Tong at your left.

Cave Temple Sam Poh Tong

I remembered this place well, been here before, when I was 7 years old, my late grandfather's ashes stored here inside temple's compound. In addition to the Buddhist cave temple, the temple's compound includes a crematorium and a columbarium. This area becomes packed at Ching Ming Festival falls on 4th April every year when Chinese paying respects to their ancestors.

Everything changed, previously compare to this time. As I walk in I saw huge fencing outside Sam Poh Tong covered with marble design looks like great wall of China. And I saw a lot beggars especially old ladies been begging for money. Sympathy came across my mind without thinking so much, I took out my wallet donate a small amount to them.

Main entrance to Sam Poh Tong

Saw some monkeys climbing roof top

Beside that, got one old lady has been selling the tortoises’ feed for years. The ‘Kangkong’ leaves in a small bunches cost RM1. I never forget the memory of visiting tortoise, and I want to go again this time, I don't mind buying for the tortoises’ feed. After snapping photos, I carry on to visit tortoise inside the cave.

Tortoise feeding

Getting lesser and lesser tortoises over here

The main altar area is smaller than I expected and filled with statues of Buddha and deities. A staircase leads up to an upper level where there are a few more statues in display cases. Behind a padlocked gate are some steps leading up the hillside but the path seems abandoned and overgrown. Beyond the altar is a passage way leading out to a secluded garden containing the 'tortoise pond' and an ornate pagoda building with red roof tiles. Last time place well highlighted and it's famous for tourist destination. During the prayers timer, totally packed with people at all.

A fenced-off pool of vivid dark green water surrounded

by an assortment of turtles sitting on a drab brick pavement.

The pond was disappointing saw a fenced-off pool of muddy green water surrounded by an assortment of tortoises sitting on a drab brick pavement. Pond's water down sizing plus small portion of water for tortoise to wet their bodies.The water was changed irregularly and that the living conditions totally poor with savage smell. I purchased a bunch of kangkung (swamp spinach) from a old lady at the entrance and I threw pieces over the fence to get tortoises attractions. Wondering if they really eat this bunch of Kangkung. They seemed lazy but eventually gobbled down the food.

The pagoda building is reminiscent of Buddhist temples in Japan

The pagoda building is of Buddhist temples similar to Buddhist temples in Japan but it was also fenced off and padlocked. The whole area is completely encircled by towering cliffs and dead road exit other than the passageway back into the cave temple. It was a silent and forlorn place, not helped by the fact, and the only sounds I could hear were the tortoise doing belly-flops into the pond and the abundant mosquitoes buzzing near my ears. Sound's creepy during the night time.

Visitors taking pictures

Cave filled with limestones

A group visitors mainly are family group busy taking photos here. Really hope, they can maintain this place well so that they can attract more tourist to visit this cave again. It took me 30 min to visit here poor maintenance nothing much to visit, walked out with disappointing feelings.

Sam Poh Tong
No. 36543, Jln Raja Dr Nazrin Shah,
31350 Ipoh, Perak

Kek Look Tong @ Gunung Rapat, Ipoh

After lunch at Dai Shu Geok ( 大树脚/大树头) , we carry out our first activity visiting cave. My friend was interested outdoor activities thus he bring us to Kek Look Tong in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. Slightly 30 min drive from the Ipoh town. Rather confusing at first to find this place, because in ipoh there's a lot cave hidden out there and the road is a bit tedious, it took us sometime depending on the GPS to guide there.

The Kek Look Tong Cave Temple is a tourist attraction for cave. The cave complex comprises a central altar featuring a number of Buddhist figures as well as various deities of the Chinese pantheon. Surrounded by stunning stalactites and stalagmite formations, the cave provides a peaceful prayer site for Buddhist devotees and general enjoyment for the public. More info about the this history, read here

Popular Tourist Attractions

Kek Look Tong in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh

Walking towards entrance

Free admissions to public

Photography behind beautiful limestone

Natural beauty limestone #1

Natural beauty limestone #2

Wild life here, cute little monkey

Place of worship

Cooling place to be

Guan Yin statue behind

Taoist and Buddhist statues #1

Taoist and Buddhist statues #2

Pond with Koi Fishes

Behind backyard garden #1

Behind backyard garden #2

Behind backyard garden #3

Koi Fishes in front Garden

Photo in front garden with Guan Yin statue

Beside visiting cave, they have landscape garden, Buddhist statue, natural flora and fauna, and it's a place for Geological studies for those who're interested in geology especially in limestone. Free entrance to public, opening from 7am till 6pm daily including public holidays. For those who like nature can do drop by here.

Kek Look Tong
Gunung Rapat, Ipoh, Perak
Contact: 05-312-81129
Opening hours
Daily, 7am - 6pm,
including public holidays

Mickey Mouse @ Mid Valley

Everyone been talking about Mickey stories lately. I knew sort of out dated here, but I'm shocked to see Mickey Mouse still existing in Mid Valley Mega Mall. Recently, my visits with sister to MV is just for window shopping but some how there's large crowd surrounding this area, walked nearer see what's happening around.

Golden Mickey Mouse color

The original Mickey Mouse color

Crowd busy taking photos

Hear of camera flashing light and snapping sound, Mickey exhibition still on here. Without any delay my usual style took out camera, snapping here and there. I'm excited, because I love Mickey Mouse, one of my favorite Disney Character. Know why? I am a Mickey Mouse too. Lot's people like to tease me that I'm Mickey Mouse for ransacking kitchen. Today not going to ransack but instead of vising Mickey's colony =P

Art work of Mickey Mouse

So many contestants

Mickey in Elvis Presley theme

Sister in Mickey Exhibition Hall

The main objective to vote for the contestant who actually participating in Mickey contest. Condition, to decorate Mickey as creative as you can. Mostly are those students or kid in between 10-15 years old according to my random researched. Seriously I'm impressed with the art work. Varieties Mickey theme over here, from 80's, 90's, 20's, etc

Mickey's background

 Mickey said "May I dance with you?"

Mickey's in 30's era

Give me 5!! xD

On the other side, there's history background about Mickey stories. Some posters hanging on the wall. Some like to act Mickey's post for photo shooting, some just shooting for photography, etc. Free entrance, and open to public until contest ended. Not sure when is the dateline, I only know I enjoy myself over here. I took a chance to say "Hello to Mickey". Do you like Mickey Mouse as well? What is your favorite Disney Cartoon? ^_^

Meranti Park Suite @ Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

After the whole day outside, it's time to back hotel for rest. The Meranti Park Suites offers tranquil apartment accommodation in Berjaya Hills, near the Colmar Tropicale and Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club. Each apartment suite comes furnished in 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms along with spectacular views of the mountain scenery from the windows. The suites can be reached in a mere 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur and is just 10 km away from the East-West Karak Highway. (quoted from website)

The Meranti Park Suites can be reached by a 45-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur and is just 10 km away from the Karak Highway. The journey up the highway is a refreshing experience as it cuts through verdant rainforests and limestone cliffs. Guests coming by cab or car from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach. Warm hospitality, vibrant attractions and comfortable accommodation make the Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club the perfect place to spend your vacation; a home away from home. (quoted from website)

Entrance to Meranti Park Suites

Clean, beautiful day

Apartment Suites

Receptionist Area

Nearer view

The Meranti Park Suites offers breathtaking views of the surrouding 150-million-year-old rainforest along with comfortable accommodation. (quoted from website)

Facilities & Amenities, 30 rooms and suites, Colour TV with in-house movies, IDD telephone lines, Individual air-conditioning, En-suite bathroom with shower. Room Type, One Bedroom Apartment, Two Bedroom Suite Apartment, Three Bedroom Suite Apartment

Balcony facing Mountain

Fully furnished kitchen

Two Bedroom Suite Apartment

Walk way to the main door

Beautiful Corridor

Overall facilities here are well maintained. The balcony is facing the beautiful mountain, peaceful away from air pollution, avoided hectic KL city life style. Worth while to stay here. Enjoyed my vacation at Bukit Tinggi.

Meranti Park Suites
KM 48, Persimpangan Bertingkat Lebuhraya Karak,
28707 Bukit Tinggi, Pahang Darul Makmur