Shuttle train (SG – JB)

Johor Bahru (JB). Great place to find food at a reasonable price, especially with the current exchange rate (1 SGD = 2.93 RM). Typically, I get to JB by car. On the average it will take you about 30 mins to drive across including Custom clearance. However, during peak period (Public holidays, eve of Public holidays, school holidays, Friday nights), it will take you around 2 hours or so. There were times when I was stuck in the jam for about 4 hours. For current traffic conditions, log on to www.onemotoring.com.sg

So over the weekend, I decided to try out the shuttle train to go to JB. It’s now called the Terbrau Shuttle. Kids were super excited because it’s their first time travelling on a train to JB. The last time I took a train to Malaysia (Malacca to be exact) was probably 30 years back. Back in the days, almost everyone I knew took the train to Malaysia. And because travelling on 2^nd class or 1^st class cabins were too pricey for us back then, we normally took the 3^rd class cabin. Free seating. So yeah, imagine the chaos! So my memories of taking the train to Malaysia consist of smelly toilets, being pushed around to get seats, squeezing myself in between my siblings in the seat compartments, and getting yelled at for repeatedly asking “Are we there yet?!!!” Hahaha!

So back to Terbrau Shuttle. Tickets can be bought online,https://intranet.ktmb.com.my/e-ticket/login.aspx. It’s SGD 5 (one way SIN-JB), and it’s RM 5 (one way JB-SIN). Please print your e-tickets in hardcopy. The gate will open only 30 mins prior to departure time. Customs clearance will take you about 10 mins. The good thing is that at any one time, there’s only 1 train that departs from the station, so the customs clearance for both Singapore and Malaysia will not take you more than 15 minutes. The journey itself is about 5 minutes long. Yeap, no traffic jam. We did saw a long trail of cars as we passed by the link bridge, and they were probably stuck for hours since it was the Easter holidays. We took the 4.30pm train and arrived in JB at 4.35pm. It’s free seating but seats are comfortable and there’s enough seats for everyone on board. It was a very pleasant experience, and I will use the shuttle train again when I go to JB. And maybe in the near future, I’ll try taking the train to Kuala Lumpur. 🙂

Ho Chi Minh

I took a few days off and went to Chi Minh city for a shopping trip!

A few tips:

1.        Be prepared for the heat and humidity. Sunblock, sunglasses, hats are essentials. Bring along bottled water to hydrate yourself.

2.        Crossing the roads can be scary. DO NOT RUN. I repeat. DO NOT RUN. Walk slowly to cross. The vehicles will go around you instead.

3.        Food is a plenty. Halal food too. You will not starve.

4.        Best buys: Anything that’s custom made. Pants, dresses, shirts, skirts, blazers. Very affordable. Love their Japanese cotton.

5.        Vietnamese people are really lovely. If you do not wish to buy from them, just say no politely, with a smile.

6.        Bargain, bargain, bargain. Bargain really hard. 60% off the said price.

7.        Remember to try the Vietnamese rolls. To die for!

8.        If you are the type who loves to shop for branded items, this is not the place.

I had a great time shopping. And I will return. I think Ho Chi Minh has just become my favorite shopping paradise. Move over Bangkok!