Experience · Travel · Vietnam

Ninh Binh Trip Diary – Day 1

Woke up early for 10 am flight and realized it was domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City so I actually didn’t need to go to the airport that early. Arrived at domestic airport at 8am and while waiting for drop-in baggage saw an email from Vietnam Airline saying the flight has been reschedule to 12pm! Okay… So, I waited for my friend and we decided to check-in the baggage first and go somewhere else. My friend wanted to go to shopping mall, but at that time none opened yet.

Since I was hungry, I suggested to go have breakfast. But they’ve eaten already at home so it was just me. At first I wanted to try com tam ba gien. I’ve been wanting to try it but changed it to banh cuon (which I regretted later). The place is very close from airport. We went there by taxi. It only cost us 27k vnd but the airport surcharge is 10k. So total 37k. Only me ordered banh cuon. The place is very local. Their banh cuon was disappointing. I didn’t like it. No minced pork! Only the rice paper with fried onion on top of it. And they charge me 40k for that. I think it was a tourist price…

We went back to airport, which is very near, only 5 mins. The taxi cost 26k vnd but he asked for 10k surcharge as well! Next time if you are stranded in the airport, just stay inside unless you go back to your house/hotel which worth the cost.

We decided to wait inside and just proceed to security check. The queue was very long! Embrace yourself.. enjoy every moment… Once we got through the security, we went to food court to get snack for my friend’s son. I ordered cajun fries in the end. Too tempting. But it was around 10am already. So it was well calculated 😀 I knew we will get lunch on the plane.

By 11.20am we went to the gate and not long after we heard an announcement that our flight will have another delay to 12.30pm due to technical problem. Oh well, already waited for hours, another 30 mins was not a big deal.

Boarding the plane. They served lunch in the air so it was good. Arrived in Hanoi at 2.30pm. My friend have arranged a pick up service by Binh Minh Limousine so we just needed to wait for them. She already told them that we were gonna be late to arrive there and they knew it. She tried to get in touch and it was really hard to get in touch with them. The phone number listed in their website and facebook were not responding. I tried to look for their phone number through other website and called them. It was the same number that my friend tried earlier.

They finally picked up my call on the 3rd tries. It was already late for 1 hr since our arrival time and they asked us to wait another 10 mins. We were told before that an executive van will pick us up directly from airport and take us to our homestay. But when we arrived in Hanoi, they told us they were sending a small car to pick us up from airport and bring us to their center then we will use the limousine van. We didn’t understand why they couldn’t pick us up with the van because we saw many vans on the airport as well. They said vans are not allowed to go into the airport. After so many communication back and forth and still no car, we decided to take taxi to our homestay instead. It was more expensive but we were just too tired of waiting.

They called my friend when we were on the way in taxi. Asked my friend to hand in the phone to driver but she didn’t do it. And they hang up on her! So rude. After that, they called her many times but she didn’t pick it up. Dude, manage your business better if you don’t want to lose customer…

Can you see the goats on the mountain?

It took us 2 hrs to go to our homestay in Ninh Binh, Sierra Homestay. And the taxi cost was 1.6 mil vnd. We paid more than if we used the limo taxi. It would be 300k vnd per person if we used the limo from binh minh company. But anyway we finally arrived in Ninh Binh! Yay.

The people from our homestay are very friendly. We got our rooms and immediately headed out for the chance of taking photo before dusk. I got a few good shots. The man with the water buffalo was very nice. He couldn’t communicate with us but he still tried to get us a scene with his buffalo. He tried to tell us that the buffalo were heading to a certain direction so he asked us to wait there.

Rooftop Sierra Homestay
View from our rooftop
two people and a tree ninh binh people
They can bring anything with a motorbike (and a cart)
Buffalo taking a shower in the river Ninh Binh
Follow my lead, guys!
The buffalo guy ninh binh
Time to go home
people of ninh binh
Nice to meet you, little girl!

We didn’t know where to eat since it was just our first day here and no chance to look around yet. I ordered fried noodle with pork. It was good. But it couldn’t fill me up for long enough. I got hungry again…

Rest for 2nd day~

Night sky line of Ninh Binh Village
Good Night, everyone!
Experience · Food · Travel

Singapore Trip – Final Day

Since it passes the time so long already, I combined my 2 last days in Singapore in this post. My 4th day was basically spent in Farrer Park Medical Centre for the check up and meeting my doctor. This hospital is quite new and they have a very good imaging laboratory (for ultrasound, MRI, etc). To reach this hospital, I went to Farrer Park MRT Station, and searched for “Farrer Road Station Rd” exit. I think this one is easier than “Farrer Park Medical Centre” exit. At the exit, go to the left then turn left, and there you will see it already.

I had an appointment with them which was arranged by my doctor. The staff brought me to changing room and asked me to wear the top gown. After that I was ushered to the room. I often do this ultrasound check and they normally done in less than 30 minutes. But this one, it took 1 hour! She really did a thorough check and very detail, didn’t let the time hurried her.

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Instruction in Changing Room

After the check, I went to cashier and paid for it. Then I had about 3.5 hours before the appointment with my doctor. I contacted my friend who lives near that area and apparently she was busy with her child. So.. Let’s go to Plaza Singapura! It is very convenient since it is at the same route so I don’t need to change MRT. It is only 2 station away from Farrer Park.

I haven’t had breakfast and this started to bother me. I’ve been to Plaza Singapura before but it was many years ago, so I didn’t familiar with their layout and shops. But.. I found Old Chang Kee! My favorite snack there is the crispy squid head.I’m not a fan of squid head but for this one i love it!

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Old Chang Kee

The next plan would be finding place to sit and buy a drink. And I failed on that… Couldn’t find somewhere to sit and enjoy my morning. I was sure there is a place or two to sit, but I just wasn’t familiar with the place. I ended up sitting at the bench outside the plaze lol. Enjoying my squid head and headed back to the building. Wondered where the drink places are!

There are many interesting shop in Plaza Singapura. I don’t remember what I did there but it was suddenly already 12pm and time for lunch. I had lunch with my friend at coco ichibanya. I like japanese curry rice, and they made a good one here. It was hard to find the place though, since I wasn’t familiar with the plaza (again..). Apparently it is located at the junction area, the new plaza Singapura, connected at 3rd floor.

There were many construction area inside the plaza, so I was amazed that I could find my way back to MRT Station on my first attempt xD There were no signboard or anything to lead me to Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. Maybe I could find it because I’m used to play RPG games lol. Finding routes and such. Anyway.. I’m back at the hospital and met my doctor. After a few examination, I’m done for the day. Everything is okay according to her (hooray!).

I had about 4 hours before my dinner appointment. My bag was heavy because I brought my samsung tab. So tempted to go back to hotel and put everything away so I could walk without any burden, but there were many stores at plaza singapura that I haven’t checked it out! So I went there instead. Strolling through daisho with their halloween collection, and bought some for dog costume. Bought a game at game store. Trying out nana’s green tea.

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Finally I had a chance to open my samsun gtab and worked on my blog while enjoying this houjicha latte. It was yummy. Their place is very strategic. In the center of the plaza and big cafe as well.

After that, I continued my journey to look around more. There is paper market, where they sell MANY kind of paper for scrap book, cards, etc. They also have stamps, stickers, and other cute stuff to make paper craft. Next to it is Art Friend. There is one in Vietnam as well, but this one in Plaza Singapura is huge!

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In the end I didn’t have time to go back to hotel and put my heavy things away. Just went to meeting place directly. My friend wanted me to try Mentai udon in Matcha House. She said it is really delicious. So let’s try!

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This is the udon. It’s similar with the one I liked at Marugame Udon before they removed it from the menu. But this one has bacon as well. I mixed all of them together. Yup, calorie bomb! But it was delicious. Need to finish it quick though, or else it won’t taste good when they’re cold.

 

After dinner, I just remembered that I wanted to buy a battery charger for my camera. I emailed the store already and they gave me the price. With hight hope, I went to Center Point and went straight to camera store. It was closed. I couldn’t believe it. Before 9.00 pm and they already closed! My friend told me it was because of Monday. They normally closed the store early on Monday. Whaaa??

Last day

I had breakfast at Watanabe Coffee (again). This time I ordered banana cinnamon. Ahh.. they were sooo tasty. I normally can’t eat much for breakfast, but this one I can finish it.

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Banana Cinnamon Toast @ Watanabe Coffee

There was not much to do during last day. I already tired of walking, especially my back already sore from carrying the backpack all the time. I just visited some stores without buying anything, and just keep walking. And it was time for lunch before I knew it..

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Lucky Chicken Rice

My Singaporean friend asked me, why foreigner soo in love with their chicken rice. It’s just chicken and rice. True indeed. I also don’t know why people going crazy about this chicken rice. But one thing I know, I like their hainan rice. I used to hate hainan rice when I was in Indonesia. I still hate it though, but I love Singaporean hainan rice 😀

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There you go, all done for my trip. See you next time, Singapore. I’ll be back.

Ciao.