♥ 27 June ♥

I had 4 secret recipe cakes in 2 days.

cake number 4

cake number 3

cake number 2

*forgot to take picture of cake number 1*

Luckily I burnt back half the calories by running 21km...

on the morning of my birthday. Nice huh?? Another way of celebrating a birthday, a healthy start to being 28 I must say. hahaha...

It was a wet start for the full marathoners due to the early morning downpour. The rain only stopped by the time the half marathon category was about to start. I thought it's gonna be a gloomy morning but boy, was I wrong! The sun started to shine brightly at around 8.30am. Dang! At the rate I was running-walking, I'd cross the finishing line in an hour or so. I should've applied more sunblock. T_T 

 

I loved the route as it was different from the usual route I ran in KL. Or maybe because that was my first 21km in KL city?

 

When else will you have the chance to run in front of KL Tower, KLCC and other prominent KL landmarks? I wouldn't do that on my own for sure.

I managed to finish the run in 3'14".  Not my best, but still acceptable considering I didn't train at all since Sundown last month and I fasted consecutively from Monday till Thursday for puasa sunat Rejab to payback my 2-weeks gluttony in Russia.

I waited for the FMVs after queuing almost an hour at the luggage tent. I was so confident that Kak June or the other FMVs will cross the finishing line at around 6 hours. After waiting for almost 20 minutes, I spotted none. Are they too fast I missed spotting them or haven't they arrived? I quickly texted Kak June but received no reply from her. I actually waited until around 11.30am, and managed to cheer 1 FMV albeit I didn't know his name. When the clock at Sultan Abdul Samad building's struck 12pm, I concluded that she might left her phone at home so we decided to go back. Turned out she crossed the finishing line not long after that with an entourage of supporters. Too bad I missed it!

Anyway, while waiting for the FMVs, I spotted the Singapore Blade Runner.

I've read so much about him and always wondered how he ran the marathons. I mean, running with that blade? I wondered how he balanced his body and all. Finally, I got to see him in action and cheered him to the finishing line. Seeing him run with that artificial leg was truly inspiring! He completed 42km y'all and we the normal people always give excuses. *feels ashamed of self. I so need to start training for PBIM*

As soon as I took off my socks, I spotted 4 huge blisters under my toes. Previously, it was the cramps. Now that they were gone thanks to the ORS that I drank, I'm hunted by blisters. Haihhh... I guessed it's just the price we runners had to pay for torturing our feet running the long distance.

Despite that hurtful blisters and body ache, I still had the nerve to go out in the afternoon to celebrate my birthday with the girlfriends. Walking like a crab in the mall sure looked funny and weird, so I had to carefully controlled my walk to avoid those embarrassing stares... hahaha...

 I heart you girls!

 A year older but I still believe that age ain't nothing but a number. ;p

From Abu Dhabi to Dubai

Dubai is only around 2 hours drive from Abu Dhabi. Thus, an excursion to Dubai is a must if you fly to Abu Dhabi or vice versa.

If you want an economical way cheapskate like me to travel, taking a bus is your option.

And, it will cost you only AED15 (but from Dubai I was charged AED20 I dunno why.. ). It's either we got cheated by the bus driver or it's just that everything is more expensive traveling out of Dubai because it's the same case for taxi. Taxi fare from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is AED250 while the other way round will only cost you AED200.

main bus terminal @ Hazza bin Zayed Road (near Al Wahda Mall)

Anyway, I highly recommend you taking the bus. Better save that extra money for shopping y'all.. hehehe...

The buses run regularly, about 30 minutes interval between each buses. We arrived at the main bus terminal only to see a bus just departed, and were told to wait for the next one. Within minutes, another bus came and filled up pretty fast.

Dubai here I come

comfortable and reasonably priced

The bus will stop at Al Ghubaiba bus station in Bur Dubai area.

Al Ghubaiba bus station

We were so excited to spot Shawarma kiosks at the bus station, after failing to spot any in Abu Dhabi (weird right?).

So, had our lunch

cheap Shawarma (AED4)

 and bought the Nol Card,

AED20 including AED14 e-purse value (reloadable)

for easier traveling around the city. You can use it for Metro, bus or waterbus.

From the bus station we took taxi to the hotel. Cost us AED17. This time, we stayed at another Accor hotel chain, Ibis Deira City Centre.

It's located in front of Deira City Centre Mall, and a short walk to Dubai Metro (Deira City Centre station).

pose wajib dalan toilet.. hahaha

For USD68 per night (rates depend on season), the room is small and doesn't include breakfast. And you have to pay to get connected to the Internet. There are Wifi hotspots at the mall but you have to have Etisalat (their telecommunication service provider) account in order to use it. So I had no choice but paid AED25 per hour as I desperately needed an Internet connection to book my flight to Muscat the next day. That's freaking expensive!

But convenience is the reason we chose this hotel. With a mall directly in front of the hotel, Metro and public bus station only a few minutes walk from the main road, and if you're flying, the metro is only 2 stations away from the airport; the location is more than perfect!

Singapore hostels

We stayed at 2 different hostels during the recent trip.

The first one was Betel Box. This hostel is far from the MRT. Minus point there. The nearest station is Paya Lebar, and from there we had to walk almost 15 minutes to reach the hostel. 15 minutes sounds like an easy walk ey? Try walking while carrying a heavy backpack or lugging your big suitcase, you'll be cursing all the way until you're at the hostel door. It wasn't our first choice but since other hostels weren't available to host our big group that night, we had to settle with it. 

But this hostel is quite near to Geylang Serai food centre. Think all the good food as a compensation for your walk. ;p Then to save you from the long walk back to Paya Lebar MRT, you can take Bus No 33 from the bus stop nearby the hostel and it can take you to Bugis MRT. 

Joo Chiat Road

hostel access

informative stairs

the communal area (with my sister yang tido macam kat sofa rumah sendiri.. muahahahha)

chill...

free Internet usage

Sorry I forgot to take the room's picture. heh...

The next day, we checked out and moved to Ruck Sack Inn because everyone wanted to stay near the MRT supaya senang nak pergi shopping ke mana-mana... heheheh. It's GSS remember???

This hostel is located very near to Clarke Quay MRT. And with Central shopping centre, restaurants, G-max reverse bungy, river cruises just a couple of minutes away, the location is simply awesome.

the hostel is at the 3rd floor, the one with the 'NOW OPEN' banner

take off your shoes and make yourself at home

lobby

perfectly simple and cozy living room

let's play Rock Band yo!

dining area

the dorm

I've stayed at 3 different hostels in Singapore and so far, I love Ruck Sack the most. Will definitely come here again for my future trips.

Great Singapore Sale & Makan-makan trip...

Coincidentally, we were in Singapore on the first days of Great Singapore Sale (GSS).

my sister and I

It was madness on Orchard Road I tell ya.

Some items were dirt cheap, but would you believe me if I say I've been a good girl during the trip? I didn't buy anything at all. I went gaga in Charles and Keith, Forever 21, Cotton On... they had some nice bags and shoes but it was so crowded I lost my appetite to shop. :(

We just walked around window shopping, feasting our eyes. I laid my eyes on this..

Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness.. coolness!

As I didn't shop for anything and didn't do much of sightseeing either, I would call my trip this time as makan-makan trip. :D

the faces of hunger

The sin of gluttony....

Nasi Ayam Penyet Ria @ Lucky Plaza.. seriously, this is the best ayam penyet ever!

$1 ice cream with bread @ Orchard Road

this soup is scary.. I felt like I drank a pool of blood!

Mee Kuah @ Geylang Serai

Nasi Goreng @ Geylang Serai

Kacang Pool @ Geylang Serai ... not as yummylicious as the one I tasted in Larkin :(

Nasi Padang @ Geylang Serai

Gindaco Takoyaki @ ION Orchard

nom nom nom

Cornery @ ION Orchard

I love their butterscotch and chocolate!

I am afraid to look at the weighing scale now. (-_-)