Hidden Scenic Spot along Tanah Merah Coast Road [Next to SAF Yacht Club]

Back when Alex (the asshole) was training for his naval vocation at Changi Naval Base, the rest of the Gang would drive all the way to the carpark in front of the SAF Yacht Club and wait for him to book out.

And it was during that period I found this pathway next to the yacht club's entrance. Since I had plenty of time to spend, it's inevitable for me to do a lil bit of exploration.

It has been a few years ever since Alex moved over to Tuas Naval Base.

Two weekends ago, i specifically made a trip down; only to find the area barricaded! Not to worry, there are always human-sized holes along the fence for us to get in.

The above is the expansive sea view that awaits us. Of course it would be great if i could be seated within the yacht club and enjoy the scenery but as fate has it, i could not afford the membership.

To the left is the SAF Yacht Club. Look closer at the background and you should be able to see two warships that were berthed at Changi Naval Base.

On the right is an industrial jetty where you can see mainly heavy vehicles and a few excavators. What's more interesting is this rocky man-made lagoon to its side.

As you can see, there is no sand and no beach. At low tide, the base is made up of granite rocks! Be careful, there are holes that could guarantee a painful fall should you trip.

Clear water lagoon! Must be because of the lack of sand which always reduces water visibility.

At low tide, you could even walk along this slippery stone path to the jetty. When the tide is coming in, do expect splashes that could wet your pants!

Wear Croc shoes at all times! Damn, i should get my butt going on blogging the necessary items to bring on a snorkeling trip for an amateur. Croc shoes are a must!!

Like any hidden place near water, you would find anglers waiting for a good catch. Due to lack of shelter, all of them were well equipped for the weather; straw hat and long sleeved shirts.

Dad drives one those heavy vehicles that ferry sand and stones to construction sites and this jetty is no stranger to him. According to him, this is a jetty where sand is imported and sent to holding areas or construction sites.

Let's concentrate on the lagoon.

Despite the calm water, there is life beneath the surface! Spot the fish in camouflage.

There were also tiny crabs lurking near the surface. They might not be noticeable from far but once you step nearer, they scramble at top speed into the crevices.

Unlike the crabs i saw at Chek Jawa, these crabs have cute purplish claws!

Imagine my surprise when i realise the existence of the above; a sea anemone?!?!!? The ecosystem is thriving in such an area?!

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Location

Along Tanah Merah Coast Road (where Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal is located) and right next to SAF Yacht Club.

Map

As above (red star)

Additional Information

STATE LAND - Enter at your own risk! The area is not 100% fenced up. In fact, only the pathway next to the yacht club is barricaded.

Drips Bakery Cafe - Tarts for Desserts @ Tiong Poh Road [Near Tiong Bahru Market]

My elder sister has been ranting non-stop about the tarts from this newly opened cafe in the hippie Tiong Bahru district that we figured it would be a good place to have desserts after a filling meal at 2D1N Soju Bang.

You didn't read wrongly - our stomachs were full and yet we could still manage to squeeze in additional pastries to complete the dinner. That's the reason why i could not reach my target weight!

Honestly, the delicious display of aromatic bread, pastries, tarts and cakes at Drips would be sufficient to whet your appetite even if your stomach has reached its limit.

Add in the alluring smell of freshly brewed coffee, comfortable seating set in a simple, laid back decor - damn, this would be a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon!

That's provided I am able to secure the more comfy seats with cushioned back rest (and not those kopitiam style chairs at the back of the cafe). Back ache is no joke as i am reaching my 32 years old birthday.

Back to the desserts, three tarts were eventually selected by Joyce after a long while of deliberation; guess this is a problem for most patrons as almost everything looks good!

Cinnamon Pear Tart

Served warm, the shell was incredibly flaky although being flavourful did manage to save its skin. The top portion was generously covered with caramelised pear slices with a strong cinnamon aftertaste. In terms of taste, i thought it could have tasted better.

Chocolate Banana Tart

Bitter chocolate powder has the tendency to irritate my throat and this is no exception. The bananas used in the preparation of this tart are also not the type i enjoy. No prize for guessing my verdict on this tart.

Special Tart of the Day

Best of the three - fresh sugar glazed strawberries (i removed the sour blackberries) on top of a delicious layer of pastry cream that was way too addictive! Size wise, this is around the size of my palm and not the miniature ones you see most of the times.

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The price for each tart doesn't come cheap but i would likely visit Drips again to try other offerings and also to drink a cup of hot chocolate on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Location

82 Tiong Poh Road,

#01-05, Tiong Bahru Estate

Map

As above (red star)

Opening Hours

As above [don't you love scanners?]

Website

http://www.drips.com.sg/

Price

Chocolate Banana Tart - S$7.50

Cinnamon Pear Tart - S$6.80

Special Tart of the Day - S$7.50

[No GST and No Service Charge]

Additional Information

Drips sell these clutch purses, wallets and bags made of recyclable materials that would make a good gift for fun loving female friends!

Hay Dairies Goat Farm [Buy Goat's Milk] @ Kranji Countryside (Kranji Heritage Trail No 7), Lim Chu Kang Lane 4

A short health discussion between my mom and my maternal auntie eventually resulted in a decision to visit Hay Dairies goat farm after lunch at Jurong East.

Despite a four-hour sleep, i was actually excited to drive all the way back to Lim Chu Kang. The Kranji countryside has loads to offer and it would only be beneficial for those who have been supporting this blog!

Lady luck was shining on us; a busload of teenage visitors had just arrived and a farm tour shortly commenced.

Not that it matters much for my mom, uncle and auntie as the information was dispensed fluently in English; a language not grasped well by them.

An elevated platform was where most of us stood to hear the educational speech. And from there, we could have a direct view at the milking process which is available for only two hours in the morning.

With roughly 1,000 goats, the operation is small-scaled when compared to its overseas counterparts. However, it is the one and only goat farm in Singapore where you can purchase fresh goat's milk!

Six species are recognised as dairy goats and Hay Dairies maintains a mix although many are Alpine goats. The reason for keeping a higher number of Alpine is simple; alpine goats produce a lot more milk.

There is a sheltered walkway beside the platform and we happily began the exploration without the noisy crowd that would follow shortly after.

The pens housing the goats - design was basic and there is no way you can escape from smelling the goats' poo. I know shit stinks but goat's shit has a wild mustiness to them!

Kids (the term used for young goats)!! The sounds they made are extremely cute even though i bet it would turn out to be hair-pulling irritating after a while. Imagine meeh meeh meeh every few seconds.

Initially, i thought Hay Dairies was named because goats eat hay, like cows. The truth is; the family who owns this goat farm has the family name of Hay (夏 which means summer in Chinese).

Guess the use for the metal pole facing us!

Water for the goats! And they do need plenty of that given how hot the weather was on that sunny Sunday.

I was anticipating pens that were spacious with plenty of room for the goats to have some exercise. Unfortunately, that would be luxurious for Singapore's standard.

At the end of the walk is a sales counter where you can buy fresh goat's milk! This counter is in fact the first thing you see when you enter into the building where the milking process is taking place.

Pure goat's milk is easily digestibly, highly nutritious with many benefits (good for people with asthma, arthritis, eczema, jaundice and stomach ulcer) and is a good substitute for those with sensitivity towards cow's milk.

Note that goat's milk should never be boiled or microwaved! Home delivery (call 6792-0931) is available for selected locations on a weekly basis at a slightly higher price with a minimum order of 1600 millimeters (two large bottles).

You may find a seating area near the sales counter if you prefer to drink the goat's milk directly while smirking at the dairy goats that are being milked.

Be appreciative and thank them!

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Location

No 3, Lim Chu Kang Lane 3

Map

As above (red star). There is a kranji express that will bring you to the farm. Visit http://www.kranjicountryside.com/ and click "location" for its rate and schedule.

Opening Hours

From 9am till 4pm daily! Milking, as i mentioned in my first few paragraphs, is once a day from 9am till 11am.

WebsiteAdditional Information

http://www.haydairies.com.sg/

Hay Diaries is part of the Kranji Heritage Trail that features both historical and farm sites. I shall be back to cover the rest [blog label for Kranji Heritage Trail is added].

Before i forget, there is a halal certification for the Hay Dairies goat's milk and they are free of antibiotics, preservatives, pesticides and chemicals! Assuring information for health freaks conscious individuals!

Yangpunibibipbap (Big Bowl Bibipbap) @ 2D1N Soju Bang [Tanjong Pagar]

I cannot remember what was the very first Korean dish i had but it was likely to be either the bulgogi or bibimbap. Anyway, for a period of time, i was checking out all the bibimbap in Singapore; be it authentic (supposedly) Korean restaurants or hawker stalls.

So what's the difference between bibimbap and bibipbap? From my google search, it seems to mean the same thing; vegetables nicely displayed on rice with a fried egg in the centre.

Today, we are going to partake on this huge bibipbap from 2D1N Soju Bang (ala carte section). I am not exaggerating on the size; the bowl holding the ingredients is the same metallic one used to wash faces in typical Korean dramas! 

Mixing is a necessary final step with the pouring of the chilli-red paste. And given its larger than usual diameter, a more vigorous mix undertaken by the younger sister was required.

Jovyn must be in awe of my sister's skill although i believe she was waiting (impatiently) for the end of the mix when she could hopefully have a few bites!

Despite the lack of meat, this bibimbap was easily one of the better ones i have in my whole life. *note, this is coming from a person who has never been to Korea and hence, could not attest to its authenticity*

However, even my younger sister (who HAS BEEN to Korea) was impressed with it; the vegetables were cold yet fresh, the rice was pearly yet soft and the sauce was savoury without being overly spicy.

"I would be back" was her final statement.

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Price

S$20 for the yangpunibibipbap

[subject to GST and Service Charge]

For the location, contact details and my first blog post on 2D1N Soju Bang, please click the following: http://cavinteo.blogspot.com/2011/01/korean-food-2d1n-soju-bang-it-seems.html

Lost & Found - My Skirmish with The Bush

Two days ago, i posted on Facebook that i flattened a bush after walking straight in without realising it's right ahead of me. The story should have ended but i had to make my way back the following day.

It was daylight and it didn't take me long to find the poor bush; the big gap at the side was a dead give-away. Why am i back? I lost something and my suspicion told me i must have dropped the item there!

And i found it!! Blooody..  the result of my haste to pick myself up and check the surroundings quickly to ensure that no one saw me going right into the bush.

The lost and found item is the book "The Descendents" by Kaui Hart Hemmings. I had completed almost 75% of the book and could not wait to read the final showdown between the protagonist and the guy who had an affair with his wife.

Anyway, i am pleased that i am not the only one who is clumsy enough to walk straight into the bush.

From the look of the above picture, it's obvious that someone had fallen flat on another row of bushes. It's heartening to see that i am not alone.  

^_^