Journey to Kluang (27th July 2014)

The previous Sat (19th July), saw my blogger friend, Felvin, who is from Banting, wrote in Facebook that she's attending a wedding in Malacca on 20th July, whatsapp her that too bad Malacca and JB quite a distance, if not, wanted to ask her if she wanted to come JB meetup with the few friends (she knows one of the friend) that i am meeting previous Sun (20th July) She then reply that she will be back in Kluang over the Hari Raya holiday to celebrate her MIL birthday.  And that if i go Kluang, we could plan to go On the Road Cafe (another post).  Replied her provided i know how to go to Kluang and she ask me to ask the other friend (that friend ever went to Kluang), so i ask my friend the following day about it and was told that the journey takes around 1 1/2 hours from Johor Bahru to Kluang.  As the friend is going back to KL so at first, i was hesitating as i do not know the way there, but at the same time, i wanted very much to go also as i wanted to meetup with her and also i have never been to Kluang.

So i went to google and found the bus schedule, I informed Felvin and she mention she could pick me up from the bus terminal. And we arranged to meet last Sun (27th July) which i find is good as if the next day (28th July), i guess Causeway will be jam after long weekend and everybody will be back due to working day in Singapore, the next day, Tue.

I left my house early, as to avoid jam (if there's any) and also i ever heard that the bus do not leave in time as they wanted to wait for more passenger, etc.  After clearing Malaysia Immigration (lucky that day no jam), i took bus no. 170 to Larkin Terminal.

Random picture taken while in Bus 170, it's raining that morning as seen from the picture.

When i arrived at Larkin Terminal, there's a staff from the bus company asking people whether they want to buy bus tickets to other part of Malaysia, it's so happen i saw from his t-shirt the word Kluang, so i ask him and bought the ticket at RM10 from him.  Before i left home, i have wrote on a piece of paper, Kluang. As i am Melayu illiterate, and also to confirm that i bought right ticket to the right place, i show him the piece of paper.  Just in case, i bought ticket to Klang and i will have to call up Mama Kucing and sobsssss with her liao.  So happen i reach Larkin Terminal around 8.55am and when i ask him what time the bus leaving, he reply now, now, which is 9am, so i have to rush to board the bus and lucky the bus leaves in time, around 9.05am.

As i was the last one to board the bus, most seats are taken up and i set right behind.  Sitting beside me is a lady and i ask her how long is the journey, she reply me around 1 1/2 hours, but as it's raining, or if there's jam, it might be a bit longer.  As i switch off my data plan after clearing Singapore Immigration, worry accidentally press any key and when the phone bill come, i will be in a shock.  I sms Felvin that the bus have left Larkin Terminal and i should reach around 10.30am.

This lady also quite nice, as the bus goes by highway and when the bus out of the highway, this lady inform me it's takes around another 20 mins to reach and whether i want to call my friend to inform my friend about it.  Reply her that i have sms my friend and that i will call her when i reach.

Casually chat with her and understand that she's from Kluang and that she's in JB looking for her son.  Along the way, she introduces some places that the bus passes by.

When i reach the bus terminal at Kluang, i ask one of the guy there about the bus ticket back to Larkin, the guy ask me to go upstair as the counter in on the 2nd storey.

At first i thought i wanted to purchase when i'm going back but the guy at the counter mention, might not have many seats left, so i thought that i advance buy the ticket will be better, so bought the 4.30pm trip back to Larkin at RM10.80.

Bus schedule from Kluang to Larkin, 1/2 hour interval

One of the bus there that takes passengers to various parts of Malaysia

Saw this bus makes me think of the buses many many years back in Singapore.

Bus Terminal in Kluang

Drink stall along the streets

Foods stall along the streets

Building in Kluang

As Felvin has not arrived when i reached, i thought i will walk around racky the place while waiting for her.  Cross the bridge.

Saw this stall and i was thinking about Bazaar Ramadhan

Walk along the streets and saw a banner, there's Bazaar Ramadhan here, but i was early, so most of the stalls are not open yet.

30th July 2014

This Hup Tou Sou Cookies from Sonia is one of my bakelist to do, but lazy lah, so drag and drag till have the mood to do it.  Have shared with my friend, if not i think i will finish up all.  I have made 36 pieces using the recipe at 15g each.

Was tempted to try out Chicken Cottage Pie from Sonia blog, but i made some changes to it.  Instead of cauliflower and broccoli, i used crab stick.  Sotong me, Sonia recipe used cream of chicken, i went to the supermarket thinking it's cream of mushroom and bought a can of that, only to realise i bought wrongly when i wanted to do it. So left with no choice, i used the can of cream of mushroom.

See Small Kucing post SK card, reminds me i have not thank him for the card.  Thank you SK.

Nasi Padang

Saw East Coast Life blog about this Nasi Padang, so last Saturday, ask her if she's free to show the way to the eatery place.

Buses that passes by there

This is the place, Restoran Garuda

Many variety of dishes to choose from, hard to choose what i want

In the end, i choose Prawns, Sambal Egg, Bergedil, it's cost $6, although the price is a bit pricey, but the foods there is nice.

A close up of the prawns

Thanks to ECL for the recommendation and showing the way.

Restoran Garuda
Address : 220 East Coast Road
Tel : 6441 0220
Opening Hours : 10.30am ~ 9pm

Bazaar Ramadhan @ JB Sentral

Was very surprise to see this Bazaar Ramadhan while on the way back to Singapore, so went to take a look. It's situated near to the Malaysia Immigration Building via Woodland.

My last Bazaar Ramadhan before Hari Ray Puasa.

Compliment

After taking the pictures of the Hari Raya decorations, i went to look for my friends, i have very much wanted to walk one round at Sutera Mall, but time does not permits me to do that.

At first our gathering was plan at Coffee Valley, but we change to Old Town at Sutera Mall.

Sorry for the blurred picture i had to take a quick picture as the eatery place was quite crowded at that time.

We keeps seeing the above guy in the dining area when we realised that he's the only guy there.  One man show.  Taking customers order, serving foods to customers, clearing up tables after customers left, etc and double up as a cashier.

When we ask him to help us take pictures, he ever put on a smile and didn't gave us any black faces.

I curiously ask one of the friend who is a retired teacher if there's any events/activities where the teachers will get to meet other teachers from other states as at that time, i was thinking of Sibu Food Mayor, but she does not know him.

After the gathering, one of the friend drove me to the checkpoint via Woodland.

Hari Raya Decorations @ Sutera Mall

When the bus almost arrived at Sutera Mall, saw a row of stalls along the roadside selling foods and a stall selling durians, i was so tempting to go take a look, but time don't permits me to do that. 

The bus stops right in front of Sutera Mall entrance, saw some Hari Raya Decorations there, so took pictures of it.

I don't think i see any Hari Raya decorations at shopping centres here, except some decorations in Geylang Serai.

Random Picture (20th July 2014)

Sorry for long winded post today.

Had a gathering with friends at Sutera Mall.  I had not taken transport to Sutera Mall on my own before, as the other time i went, i got a lift from my friend. 

I understand from Causeway Link counter at Jurong East that CW3S after Malaysia immigration will goes to Sutera Mall, but after clearing immigration, i was told CW4S goes there.

I was suppose to meet my friends at 1pm, but i left my house at 10am thinking that i could go there jalan jalan if i'm early before meeting my friend.

After clearing Malaysia Immigration, it's already around 10.50am, and i was told to wait aside for the bus as the bus to Sutera Mall is not that frequent. Beside me, there's an aunty there who is earlier than me, she's also waiting for the same bus.  Waited for quite sometimes before the bus arrived, but as the bus was not crowded, it did  not leave till around 11.55am, which means i was there for about 1 hour waiting for the bus.   Beside the aunty and me taking the bus, there's also a family of 7 who's going there shopping.  As i could not speak Melayu, i had problem communicate with the driver who is a malay.  Lucky, the aunty could speak Malay.  We was told to pay RM4.70 for the trip from Malaysia Immigration to Sutera Mall.  Aunty and i was curious how come we have to pay additional RM4.70 as in Singapore, we have already paid S$4 for the trip. When i got the exact RM4.70 for him, and with the RM4 on my right hand and 70 cents on my left hand, i first gave him 70 cents, he told me no need and only collected RM4, confusing.  At first we thought that the RM4 was "pocket money" for the driver as we was not issue ticket for the amount paid.

During the journey, we were curious how come the journey is so long and the bus pass by LegoLand, Hello Kitty, Bukit Indah, etc.  Aunty went to ask the driver and he told aunty the journey will takes 1 hour to reach.  The route is decided by the transport company and if he did not follow the route, he will be eating fried cuttlefish.  Aunty also ask him about the additional RM4, he pointed to aunty a picture in the bus that there is camera in the bus and the RM4 will goes to the company.

Finally i reach Sutera Mall just in time at 1pm, which means it takes me 3 hours from Singapore to Sutera Mall.  During the journey, while chatting with aunty, i understand from aunty that her niece is doing business there selling mee, if i'm early, i thought i will follow aunty to go take a look.  

Below are pictures taken after clearing Malaysia Immigration which waiting for the transport.

Building at the Malaysia Immigration

Small shop there

Board stating the destination of the bus

Causeway Link bus

Coaches

Road along the sideway

Road leading to Malaysia

As there's timing for the bus from Sutera Mall to Singapore, i "beg" my friend to drive me from Sutera Mall to immigration using Woodland to go back.

I took bus 160 to Jurong East Interchange.  And i went to ask the counter staff, Uncle, how come your bus collected additional RM4 after Malaysia Immigration to Sutera Mall, thought the S$4 was from Singapore to Sutera Mall.  Uncle was saying this applied on Sat/Sun.  He's also quite cute, saying not my bus, if it's my bus, i will be sitting in the office, counting money.

That's all for today.

Mamee Curry Laksa Flavour Instant Noodle

I was whatsapp-ing with Mama Kucing discussing something when she mention about a brand instant noodle.  I used to eat instant noodle when i was in my younger days, but not now as age is catching up and my digestive system is not that good.  Since i was in the supermarket, lookout for the brand of instant noodle that Mama Kucing mention, but a promoter was there promoting the Mamee Chef Curry Laska Flavour instant noodle.

Bought a packet at $2.50

Inside, there's 4 small packet

The seasoning

My instant noodle with an egg and crab ball