Sound cocky is it? Haha, no lah. Driving to Singapore is still a trill, especially when I passed by the immigration, well they seem very serious, chill though hehe.
I just renew my passport which I applied way back in 2008. Took a quick snap at one photo outlet (just to have a new picture) and drive all the way to Wisma Persekutuan to renew my expiring passport. My passport still actually got another 6 months before it actually expired. But, I read at the back page of the passport, it states passport must have at least 6 months validity. My wife said, it should be ok for trip to Singapore but I was too fear to violate this rule so I amicably renew for future use. Wisma Persekutuan immigration office is located at level 1. Not many people there since they have moved most of their operation to Setia Tropika. Wisma Persekutuan just received your application and there is no longer 2 hours delivery policy there. But it still fast, my passport will be ready within 24 hours. I rather come the day after for collection rather having to wait for hours just to submit the form plus another 2 hours or so just to collect the passport. I settled everything within 1/2 an hour and by 3 pm the day after, the passport is ready for collection. I was told that people thought that the immigration office at Wisma Persekutuan has since been closed when the Tampoi office is opened. It was untrue, believe me, should you wish to beat the que, head up to Wisma Persekutuan.
Well, with new passport, on Sunday the same week, guess what, yes, we head again to Singapore, [bla3 - same procedure, nothing interesting]. Among all trips I made to Singapore, nothing much intriguing compared to my last trip using my old passport. I decided not to use the highways, but alight to Singapore trunk road just to have that difference. Massive construction going on for their new MRT line. Roads are bewildering but still manageble. We eventually passed through Keppel port and Marina Bay before our Garmin suddenly when crazy and endlessly 'recalculating' our routes. To my suprise, the road is new, and our Garmin was the old version. We were blind all the way but eventually manage to land somewhere in Jln Sultan. We parked at the Landmark hotel basement and tour around arab st. Our Garmin went on crazy so again I was totally blind just to identify our route back home. I decided to follow BKE or Woodlands sign as I believe it will lead us home to Woodlands checkpoint. Enough scouring through, we finally get our Garmin back when we were so near to Woodlands. We followed 'Johor' sign from Woodlands rd. and to our suprise, we wrongly enter dedicated lane for commercial van. We were stopped by an officer and was told that we have entered a wrong lane. I just told them the reason and inquire whether we can passed through. The officer gave me that 'look' and was told to re enter the checkpoint through Woodlands. Security wise, its tough. Apart from the 'look', we were asked to pass through some highly secured gates and just to make thing more thrilling, they hold on to our passport. I suddenly remember an incident last year when a Singaporean lady looking for decent supper in JB, was mistakenly enter JB without her passport being validated. Tough consequence, which include squatting (naked) all the way in Pekan Nenas immigration depoh. The news went on for quite sometime before it went off. I read from news that the lady has sweared not to enter JB anymore, and even she enters again, nobody would know haha. Ok, lesson learned, do not make mistake at the checkpoint, study the procedure carefully or simply follow the car in front of you.
I know the currency exchange might fear people to enter Singapore, but it won't cost much just for a day trip. Pre packed your meal though, if you scare to spend your money there, there are plenty McD all the way to BSI where you can pack and eat those stuff when you get hungry in Singapore. My wife for example, treat every trip like an in-car party. She would normally bought plenty junk food from a gas station before we enter Singapore and that 's what she eats all the way. Try that though, enjoy your trip!
Jam, jam, jam haha
I just renew my passport which I applied way back in 2008. Took a quick snap at one photo outlet (just to have a new picture) and drive all the way to Wisma Persekutuan to renew my expiring passport. My passport still actually got another 6 months before it actually expired. But, I read at the back page of the passport, it states passport must have at least 6 months validity. My wife said, it should be ok for trip to Singapore but I was too fear to violate this rule so I amicably renew for future use. Wisma Persekutuan immigration office is located at level 1. Not many people there since they have moved most of their operation to Setia Tropika. Wisma Persekutuan just received your application and there is no longer 2 hours delivery policy there. But it still fast, my passport will be ready within 24 hours. I rather come the day after for collection rather having to wait for hours just to submit the form plus another 2 hours or so just to collect the passport. I settled everything within 1/2 an hour and by 3 pm the day after, the passport is ready for collection. I was told that people thought that the immigration office at Wisma Persekutuan has since been closed when the Tampoi office is opened. It was untrue, believe me, should you wish to beat the que, head up to Wisma Persekutuan.
Well, with new passport, on Sunday the same week, guess what, yes, we head again to Singapore, [bla3 - same procedure, nothing interesting]. Among all trips I made to Singapore, nothing much intriguing compared to my last trip using my old passport. I decided not to use the highways, but alight to Singapore trunk road just to have that difference. Massive construction going on for their new MRT line. Roads are bewildering but still manageble. We eventually passed through Keppel port and Marina Bay before our Garmin suddenly when crazy and endlessly 'recalculating' our routes. To my suprise, the road is new, and our Garmin was the old version. We were blind all the way but eventually manage to land somewhere in Jln Sultan. We parked at the Landmark hotel basement and tour around arab st. Our Garmin went on crazy so again I was totally blind just to identify our route back home. I decided to follow BKE or Woodlands sign as I believe it will lead us home to Woodlands checkpoint. Enough scouring through, we finally get our Garmin back when we were so near to Woodlands. We followed 'Johor' sign from Woodlands rd. and to our suprise, we wrongly enter dedicated lane for commercial van. We were stopped by an officer and was told that we have entered a wrong lane. I just told them the reason and inquire whether we can passed through. The officer gave me that 'look' and was told to re enter the checkpoint through Woodlands. Security wise, its tough. Apart from the 'look', we were asked to pass through some highly secured gates and just to make thing more thrilling, they hold on to our passport. I suddenly remember an incident last year when a Singaporean lady looking for decent supper in JB, was mistakenly enter JB without her passport being validated. Tough consequence, which include squatting (naked) all the way in Pekan Nenas immigration depoh. The news went on for quite sometime before it went off. I read from news that the lady has sweared not to enter JB anymore, and even she enters again, nobody would know haha. Ok, lesson learned, do not make mistake at the checkpoint, study the procedure carefully or simply follow the car in front of you.
I know the currency exchange might fear people to enter Singapore, but it won't cost much just for a day trip. Pre packed your meal though, if you scare to spend your money there, there are plenty McD all the way to BSI where you can pack and eat those stuff when you get hungry in Singapore. My wife for example, treat every trip like an in-car party. She would normally bought plenty junk food from a gas station before we enter Singapore and that 's what she eats all the way. Try that though, enjoy your trip!
Jam, jam, jam haha
