Chimelong Safari Park 2016 - Tarzan and Jane at Madagascar

I have try to book for this trip in September and November but had delay until December to finally embark on this trip due to the Typhoon Season. December is a good month as the Weather is cooling and will not rain due to the Typhoon Season from May to October. So I book for the Tiger Airway Flight Ticket ($427) and Angel Baby Theme Hotel (676 RMB $139) from 11th December 2016 to 13th December 2016 for our visit to Chimelong Safari Park. The Park is celebrating its 15 Anniversary and free entrance for children which is below 1.5 Meter for November and December. The White Tiger Buffet Restaurant also had 15 Percent Discount for Birthday Person from 1st to 15th December.

11th Dec 2016 Sunday

We arrived at the Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 0400 hrs to check in our luggage, our Tiger Airway Flight TR 2986 take off at 0605 hrs and arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport at 0955 hrs. We have Roast Lemon Chicken Thigh at 0800 hrs on the flight for our Breakfast. We took the Line 3 Train from Airport to Panyu (9 RMB $2) and alight at Hanxi Changlong Station. The Angel Baby Theme Hotel is a Service Apartment located just South of the Chimelong Safari Park, I had book for Madagascar Theme but due to water leakage we are relocated to Doraemon Theme Room 1801 instead. It is a nice setup with Living Room and Bath Room located at below and Bedroom located at the top. I really like the hanging chair near the window and the mirror at the ceiling of the bedroom.

Angel Baby Theme Hotel

After we had check in at Angel Baby Theme Hotel at 1230 hrs, we decided to explore the area. I am surprised that there are a lot of restaurants and eatery shop below as compare to our previous trip to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom at Zhuhai. We will be able to save a lot of cost by staying at a cheaper hotel and eating at cheaper restaurants. We had Century Egg Porridge and Chicken Chop Rice for Lunch at a Taiwan Eatery Shop near to the end of the Food Street at 1330 hrs. After lunch we cross over to the other side of the Expressway by the Train Underground Pavement to Chimelong International Circus to purchase our Tickets (300 RMB $60) for tomorrow night, the Ticket will cost 80 more RMB for Weekend and Public Holidays.

We explore around Chimelong Hotel after we had purchase our circus ticket, this hotel will cost around 1098 RMB to 5298 RMB ($220 to $1060) per night. There are a few room which have balcony facing the White Tiger and Flamingo Enclosure where you can enjoy the excitement of sleeping with Tiger or Birds. We had manage to save about 75 percent of hotel stay costing by staying at service apartment which is within walking distance of the Safari Park. We proceed to purchase the Safari Park Ticket (250 RMB $50) for tomorrow but realize that the ticket could only be brought on actual day and not in advance. We also realize that the package ticket for Safari Park and Circus will get saving of 85 RMB ($17).

White Tiger Enclosure

Flamingo Enclosure

We proceed back to our hotel and brought 4 Drinks (15 RMB $3), and Toothpaste (11 RMB $2) at a convince store below at 1600 hrs and took a short afternoon nap to catch up with the sleep we lost for the early flight. We had dinner at an Italian Restaurant named COMO and order Pizza, Pasta and Sampler Plate for 174 RMB ($35). It is highly recommended to have dinner at this Italian Restaurant as I felt it had a higher standard as compare to the one we ate in Resort World Sentosa. We took a Train to Panyu Square (4 RMB $1) which is only two stations away to visit a newly open Aeon Mall. As there are nothing that interest us at the Mall, we proceed back to our hotel after I finish my Gong Cha (Imperial Tea) (18 RMB $4) at 2100 hrs. There are a few instant Karaoke Booth at the Basement of the Mall which allow couples and friends to past some time at a very cheap price.

12th December 2016 Monday

We woke up at 0700 hrs and proceed for Breakfast at 0800 hrs at a Restaurant nearby the Hotel with the Breakfast Voucher provided by the Hotel. There are Fried Noodle, Porridge, Bun, Hard Boil Egg, Sweet Potato and Soya Bean Milk, we proceed to Safari Park to purchase the ticket at 0930 hrs and start our adventure for the day. We were also offered the purchase of Ticket for Bird Park at 20 RMB ($4) which is an offer hard to be resist. The Bird Park use to be a Crocodile Farm few years ago, it is about one quarter the Safari Park and a 30 minutes Bus Trip away.

Meerkat

Panda Triplet

Koala Bear

The Hippo Show is at 1100 hrs, Elephant Show is at 1230 hrs and the Amazon Show is at 1330 hrs, but the show location is all located at the south side of the park. We should have enter the park from the north side to utilize the time saving advantage base on the design of the park layout, but as the hotel which we stay is located at the south side of the park we did not have a choice but to walk the extra mile up and down the park to cover the maximum area at the shortest time. We had Chicken Chop Rice (68 RMB $14) near the Tiger Exhibit at 1200 hrs.

Hippo Show at Hippo Theater

Elephant Show at Elephant Theater

Amazon Show at Amazon Theater

We proceed to North Entrance after the shows and took the Train Ride for the Open Safari at 1500 hrs and my camera battery went flat on me halfway through the journey, we also visited the Jurassic Trail after the Train Ride at 1530 hrs. We took the Bus at the North Entrance to go to the Bird Park at 1600 hrs, I brought a Drink at the Entrance at 1630 hrs (10 RMB $2) before we proceed for the Bird Show at 1700 hrs. We took a walk around the Bird Park after the show and took the 1800 hrs Bus back as the park closing hour is near.

Swans at Swan Lake

Vulture at Bird Enclosure

 We actually planned for a Buffet Dinner with the White Tiger at the White Tiger Buffet Restaurant which cost about 150 RMB ($30) but the time is not enough so we decided to proceed to Circus Theater instead and had Fried Dumpling (48 RMB $10) for Dinner and brought two Drinks at 18 RMB ($4). We enter the Circus Theater at 1900 hrs and there are Magic Show Performance for half hour before the actual performance start at 1930 hrs. The Circus Performance last for one and a half hour and ended at 2100 hrs, we both felt it was indeed better than the one we had watch in Zhuhai as there are a lot of Animals involve in the performance.

13th December 2016 Tuesday

We woke up early at 0530 hrs and proceed below and had Sandwich (8 RMB $2) and Drinks (11 RMB $2) at 7 Eleven as the Hotel Breakfast will not be available until 0730 hrs. To avoid the Working Crowd for the Train, we had to take Train before 0730 hrs to the Airport to ensure we had a seat in the Train. We check out of the Hotel at 0700 hrs and proceed on our journey home, we took the Tiger Airway Flight TR 2987 at 1045 hrs and arrive back in Singapore at 1500 hrs.

An Enchanted Voyage

A dream fulfilled, a fairy tale in the sea. I had spend most of my life working onboard ship, and it had always been my dream to spend a trip onboard a ship without any work involve. The main concern I had is not about the money, but mainly because of the time itself. I had been very busy with my work all these years and never really got a chance to pursuit the kind of life I really wanted. So it had come to a point where enough is enough, and I had to make a drastic decision to get myself away from my work to pursuit a dream which I had never got a chance to fulfill. My management might hate me for my decision as I am suppose to guide the new Assistance Technical Superintendent on the docking repair of the vessel Avon.

I got a very good wife, a wife which a most men could only dream of. She had been very accommodating with me on my work, and had never complaint even I had never bring her on any oversea trip for more than two years. The last trip we had was a family trip to Vietnam when I left my last company. This trip was the only compensation I could make up to her after all these years where we had been married. So I book for the trip on the internet and apply for my annual leave the next working day when I am back at the office. It was exactly one month before my birthday, and everything seem to fall right into place with the Gala Dinner onboard the cruise ship on the exact day of my birthday.

I always wanted a balcony, but my mom had destroy my dream due to her selfishness when we first renovate our new house thirteen years ago. I was very lucky as the tour agency had inform me that there is only one Ocean View State Room with Balcony left when I book for the cruise. It was a chance not to be miss, and I had made the right decision on the spot without much hesitation. I had never regret that harsh decision as both my wife and me actually enjoy the coming voyage which was so enchanting that we forgot everything we left behind back in Singapore.

The whole package cost S$2,218 for two, with Cabin Fare of S$988, Passenger Handling Charge of S$100 and Fuel Surcharge of S$21 per person. We get to enjoy priority embarkation with complimentary drinks, dinning credit of S$200, special access to SPA facilities and exclusive balcony class seat at the Theater.

Day 1 5th Dec 2010 Sunday

We arrival at 1400 hrs on 5th Dec 2010 at Singapore Cruise Center to check in our baggage, proceed to register for our access card and immigration clearance at Level 2 before we board the vessel. We arrival at our new home at about 1530 hrs and was welcome by the staffs with the complementary drinks at the Grand Piazza at Deck 7. I spend S$128 of dinning credit for a Yellow Label Champagne for the Gala Dinner, and proceed to Deck 11 to leave our bags at our Room 11036.

We were a bit late when we arrive at Lido Theater at 1615 hrs for the booking of Restaurant for the Gala Dinner, both Samurai at Deck 8 (Japanese) and Noble House at Deck 7 (Chinese) were already fully book by the queue number 30 and below, and the queue number we get for our booking is 134. So the next better choice we have is the Western Set Dinner at Bella Vista located at Deck 6. The staffs come and pester us to spend our remain dining credit on another bottle of Canalleto Pinot Grigio (Sparking White Wine) which cost S$50 and Chateau Los Boldos Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Wine) which cost S$39. I had over spend S$17 on top of my S$200 dining credit within an hour onboard the vessel, but at least I got two bottle of wine to bring back after the trip.

It was Afternoon Tea at Mediterranean at Deck 12 at 1630 hrs, then it was Carnival Opening Ceremony at Grand Piazza at Deck 7 at 1745 hrs, Sail Away Party at Parthenon Pool at Deck 12 at 1800 hrs and Ship Tour at Deck 12 Activity Center at 1830 hrs. We have our Dinner at Mediterranean at Deck 12 at 1900 hrs and return back to our Room 11036 at Deck 11 at 1945 hrs to wash up for the evening.


Carnival Opening Ceremony at Grand Piazza at Deck 7 at 1745 hrs

I actually planned for the 2015 hrs Juggling Show at Lido Theater at Deck 7 but my wife had took too much time in her shower and I had to change the plan for the evening to Line Dancing at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 2100 hrs instead. Another S$16 was spend on Cocktail Drink while we were at Galaxy Of The Star. We manage to catch the second Juggling Show at Lido Theater at Deck 7 at 2200 hrs before we call it a day at 2245 hrs.

Day 2 6th Dec 2010 Monday

We woke up the next day morning at 0730 hrs and have our Breakfast at Pavilion at Deck 6 at 0800 hrs. It was Line Dancing with Snowman at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 0930 hrs, Latin Groove at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1000 hrs and S$30,000 Bingo at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1100 hrs. I brought two set of Bingo Ticket at S$30 and get a free Bingo Ticket for Bingo Bonanza on Wednesday Morning, I also brought five Instant Win Ticket at S$20 which give one more free Instant Win Ticket. We did not manage to win the Bingo but we did manage to win S$4 from the Instant Win. We have to go all the way to Oasis Casino to claim the prize money for the Instant Win.

We have our Lunch at Pavilion at Deck 6 at 1200 hrs and prepare for our City and Shopping Tour in Penang at 1430 hrs. The vessel arrive at Penang at 1400 hrs and we gather at Lido Theater at Deck 7 at 1415 hrs for the Tour. The Tour cost S$55 per person and include Trishaw Ride, Wat Chayamankalaram Temple Visit and Shopping at Gurney Plaza. We get to buy some Local Delights at Shop and I spend RM 206 for some coffee, biscuit and medicate oil. We have our light dinner at Gurney Drive Hawker, RM 4 for Fried Kway Teow, RM 6 for Satay and RM 4 for Coconut. I brought a Ocean Blue Sapphire Pendant with Platinum Gold Chain for RM 902 at Gold Heart Jewelry at Gurney Plaza for my wife and I was entitled to 9 Lucky Draw Coupon which give me a chance to win a car.


Wat Chayamankalaram Temple at Penang Island

We arrive back at the vessel at 1930 hrs and have our Dinner at Pavilion at Deck 6 at 2000 hrs before we head back to our Room 11036 to wash up for the evening. We went for the Spotlight Crew Show at Lido Theater at Deck 7 at 2145 hrs and call it a day at 2230 hrs.


Day 3 7th Dec 2010 Tuesday

We woke up late the next day morning at 0730 hrs as my mobile phone had adjust its time to an hour later to match the Thailand Time Zone. We decided to skip breakfast and bring along the biscuit we brought yesterday and gather at Lido Theater at Deck 7 at 0745 hrs for the Elephant Riding Adventure Tour. The Tour cost S$85 per person and include visit to Cashew Nut Factory, Elephant Ride at Adventure Safari, Wat Chalong Thai Temple Visit and Thai Buffet Lunch. I spend 650 Baht for the Elephant Ride Photos, 270 Baht on Cashew Nut, 102 Baht on Tiramisu Chocolate and 800 Baht for a dress and two hand bags for wife. We manage to go for Traditional Thai Massage for Two at Grand Merlini SPA at 1500 Baht at Patong Beach and tips the Therapists 100 Baht each for their excellence services.


Cashew Nut Factory at Phuket Island

We arrive back at the vessel at 1630 hrs and wash up for the evening to prepare for the Gala Dinner that night. The evening started with Fashion Show at Grand Piazza at Deck 7 at 1755 hrs, follow by Gala Cocktails at Bellini at Deck 8 at 1815 hrs. The Gala Dinner started at Bella Vista at Deck 6 at 1845 hrs and we have Baked Escargot and Smoked Salmon and Nori for our appetizer, Ox Tail Broth and Cream Of Mushroom for our soup, Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Seafood Thermidor Style Gratin for our main course and finish with Baked Alaska for our dessert. I got a complimentary birthday cake from Blue Lagoon at Deck 7 and it was delivered to our table 55 at Bella Vista with birthday song from all the staffs there.


Gala Dinner at Bella Vista at Deck 6 at 1845 hrs

It was Gala Show Rasputin at Lido Theater at Deck 7 at 2115 hrs, Juggling Lesson with Terry Parade at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 2200 hrs, Game Show with Cruise Director JM at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 2240 hrs. I brought the Terry Parade DVD for S$25 and we call it a day at 2310 hrs and went back to our Room 11036.

Day 4 8th Dec 2010 Wednesday

We had breakfast at Bella Vista at Deck 6 at 0800 hrs the next day morning and Tinikling Traditional Filipino Bamboo Dance at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1000 hrs. I took part in the Game Show The Weakest Link at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1030 hrs and manage to survive until Round Three before I was eliminated. It was Bingo Bonanza at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1115 hrs after that and Lunch at Bella Vista at Deck 6 at 1200 hrs. We spend S$50 on the Slot Machine at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 after Lunch and my wife actually manage to get the winning to S$65 with three lucky hit. But we did not walk away and decided to finish all the credit while we wait for the S$38,000 Bingo at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1400 hrs.

It was Hip Hop Dance at Galaxy Of The Star at Deck 12 at 1500 hrs and we went back to our Room 11036 to wash up for the day at 1545 hrs and check out at Reception Counter at Deck 7 at 1630 hrs. We had our last dinner at Bella Vista at Deck 6 at 1700 hrs and get off the vessel at 1930 hrs.