Precious Memories: Overnight on Volendam in Singapore

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Overnight on Volendam in Singapore

Last Day on the Cruise in Singapore -- February 29, 2016

2016 HAL Volendam Asian Adventure, Day 14

Weather: Gentle breeze, partly sunny, 29C/84F

This was our last full day on board the Volendam with an overnight stay on the ship. I thought that was a wonderful arrangement so that we could spend the last day in Singapore without having to pay for a hotel room. Our ship docked at the Harbourfront Cruise Terminal at around 7:30 in the morning and we were able to get off the ship not long after.

Back to where it all began.

Harbourfront Cruise Terminal is attached to Vivo City where there is the MRT station. We boarded the train to our first destination. The train was quite empty because it's the first station on that line. We bought the regular pass which was good enough for the day.

On this first trip we took the MRT from Harbourfront to Farrer Park on the purple line.

Station at Farrer Park

Our goal was to get to one of the famous bak kut teh restaurant on Rangoon Road.

After we exit the MRT station, we thought we were on the right track so I turned my GPS off and just kept walking. Little did we know that we actually walked to the opposite direction.

We saw a lot of interesting sights on the way.

Went past this Methodist church until we got to the end of Kitchener Road. Now we realized that something was wrong. We were so busy looking at different things instead of checking where we were on the GPS, now we are lost. We then turned around and head back up to where we came from. By now we didn't think it was a good idea to look for that restaurant with such long walk.

Fortunately, we were not too far from Little India which we were not planning on coming on this day.

So I guess it was meant to be. We later found out the restaurant that we were looking for actually closes on Mondays. We would have found it closed anyway even if we walk all the way there.

Little India

Little India

Sign outside Mustafa Center in Little India.

I think Mustafa Center was where Anthony Bourdain bought his snowball. This is a huge shopping center with EVERYTHING. If you cannot find it here, it probably does not exist.

After coming out from Mustafa Center, we just walked around the neighborhood. ChC wanted to look for a couple of restaurants that he found on the internet on Racecourse Road but both restaurants were not open.

We walked past the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.

Wow!

Then we took the purple line from Little India to Chinatown.

Chinatown

MRT Chinatown exit

Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown

Lots of shopping opportunities.

Our goal was to get to the Maxwell Food Center for some Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Tian Tian Chicken Rice, the most talked about Hainanese Chicken Rice place in Singapore, was closed that day...

so we got in line for their rivalry--Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Apparently Ah Tai started its chicken rice stall right next to Tian Tian after he left his job there, starting a chicken rice war with his old boss.

We ordered half a chicken, two eggs, and two chicken rice plate sets that came with rice, soup, and vegetables. I asked for the whole legs on the two sets and they were OK with it. The chicken was very good but not as flavorful as the one we had in Malacca but more meaty. The chicken was very tender and cooked just right.

The rice that cooked in chicken soup and fat was amazing! Now, this is the kind of rice I like.

The line got longer and longer at Ah Tai. Felt sorry for the other chicken rice stalls.

We also got some Soya Beancurd from Lao Ban for dessert.

This is just a huge food center with three sections all under one roof.

Definitely a busy place!

After our satisfying lunch we walked back to South Bridge Road. Here is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple at the corner. We did not go in though.

So much to see, so little time!

The famous Chinatown Complex

From Chinatown we walked up to Upper Cross Street

Chinatown Point Mall

There is a public library on the 4th floor where we rested a little while reading the newspapers.

Then we enjoyed a meal of bak kut teh (pork ribs soup in herb) here right at the mall.

We missed the one restaurant that morning and now making it up with this one.

Song Fa is also one of the most famous ones in Singapore, I was told.

The bak kut teh here is slightly different, it's more peppery and less soy sauce. I think I like this better! So delicious! Once you ordered your bowl of soup they will keep adding more soup to your bowl until you have enough. What great value!

We also ordered some pork which I could do without.

fried dough on the side

preserved mustard green

This is a wonderful place for bak kut teh. Not only it's in a mall with air-conditioning and comfortable seating, the service was great and food was unbelievable! I am sure I'll remember Song Fa for a long time to come.

Marina Bay Sands

It was easy to catch the MRT from Chinatown Point Mall to our next point of interest--The Marina Bay Sands.

They also have the gondola rides here at the mall area.

Many high-end stores

Now you can find Din Tai Fung anywhere you go.

We stopped at the huge food court and checked out what they were offering and ended up having another shaved ice (chendol). We were still full from all the stuff that we ate.

Then we took the escalator up to the 4th or 5th floor for a walk outside the balcony.

We did not go up to the Sands.

We could see the Gardens by the Bay but that will have to wait til next time.

Singapore Flyer

Good view all around the balcony.

Then we found our way to the Helix Bridge so we could cross over to the other side of the bay.

ArtScience Museum

Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum all in one picture.

Now we are on the other side near the Marina Bay Grandstand area and Esplanade.

Heavily armed soldiers patrolling the area.

The Merlion, symbol of Singapore.

Got to have a funny picture!

A baby one at the park.

Finding our way to Clarke Quay along the Singapore River to end our day.

A fuzzy picture but these are the busy bars and pubs along the Singapore River.

From there we looked back at the Marina Bay Sands and the tall buildings in downtown.

Clarke Quay

After Clarke Quay, we were ready to go back. We debated if we should find dinner somewhere in town and decided against that idea. We were tired and going back to the ship for a nice dinner on board the Volendam sounded much more attractive than spending more money on land. We took the purple line again from the Clarke Quay station back to Harbourfront and made it back just in time for dinner. Didik was a little surprised to see us because we already said our 'goodbyes' and gave him the envelop of extra tips last night. We told him that we might not be there that evening. It was good to see them again before we depart the next morning.