Another Home (The 'Other' National Day Video)
NDP 2011 Theme Song - In A Heartbeat
Happy 46th Birthday Singapore!!
It's National Day for Singapore in another few days. I saw this video the other day and I think it is soooo cute.. Just to share with all the other Singaporeans who are away from home...
Düsseldorf
Over the last weekend, we made a short trip to Düsseldorf. As Mikka and myself has not been to this town before, we decided that it would be nice to visit. Mikka's main intention was to go to the Schüco Open 2011 which was held at the Golf Club Hubbelrath. We set off from Stuttgart at 7am and driving time was ca. 4hrs. After we arrived on Saturday, we checked-in at the Holiday-Inn Express Düsseldorf - City North which is about 5-10 mins away from the city by car... A very nice and cosy hotel but not recommended if you are not driving. It took me around an hour to walk to town... =S 
Shortly after, we made our way to the golf course to take a look in preparation for what Mikka has to expect the next day.. I have to say that the planning for the event was a little chaotic. The traffic from the parking place to the golf course itself was terrible and after we arrived, the staff seemed as clueless as all the others... After a little shuffle here and there, the players were finally introduced as the Match-Play started. Me being smaller than all those Germans was only able to sneak a peak every now and then.. lol.. It was interesting and being my first time at a Golf tournament, I had to say that its really a nice game but still too much walking for 'flat-foot' me.. We decided to go down to town to take a look before everything closes and we still had to get dinner. After a nice walk through Königsallee, the main shopping street in Düsseldorf, we made our way to the Altstadt on the other side where the River Rhein runs through. The Schifffahrt-Museum im Schlossturm is just by the river but we did not have time to visit.. Next time perhaps.. It was a really nice walk along the river, reminded me a little of Köln. Well, its the same river running through.. LOL. We finally settled at this nice little restaurant in the Altstadt - Benders Marie. 
They serve local specialities and I have to recommend the ‘Rheinische Sauerbraten mit Klössen, Rotkohl & Apfelmus’. Day 2 was as hectic... Woke up at 6am to have breakfast and Mikka left the hotel at 7am to avoid the jamm and chaos at the Golf course that is anticipated. I lazed around a little bit more and left the hotel at around 10am. I was contemplating on taking the train but decided not to as the train station didn't look very safe.. Yes, I am a scaredy cat but I would rather walk then get mugged. And so it was a loooong walk to town. My target was the Goethe Musuem which is located at the foot of the Hofgarten. I seriously had no clue where it was. Thank God for Googlemaps.. Lol.. After an hour, I finally stood at the front steps of the museum. 
The museum itself is 3 storeys and it is interesting to see the old writings, paintings and artifacts dating way back to the 1700's. I spent around 2 hours in there making so many pictures.. After I left the museum, I took a slow stroll through the Hofgarten towards the Altstadt. I was starving by the time I got there but there was definitely too much choices to decide from.. I decided that it would be nice to try something Asian in another German city.. Then a familiar name struck me.. Baan Thai... yes!! Thai food it is.. I finally had my fulfillment of my craving for Thai coffee. It may seem crazy but I was really missing it. The food is not too bad.. My most important Chilli powder is freely available so I am satisfied.. haha... By the time I had finished my meal, my legs were still aching from the long walk from the morning. I was supposed to meet up with Mikka at the other side of the Altstadt so I decided to just go there, find a nice spot to sit and read. I still find it a pity that ALL the shops in Germany are closed on Sundays.
If not I could go and get some shopping done... =( When Mikka finally appeared, we went for coffee and enjoyed the on-goings on the streets of Düsseldorf. This night, we decided on something Spanish.. yeah!! A recommendation from Four-Square landed us in Las Tapas. This restaurant is in Schneider-Wibbel-Gasse (I guess its a famous street) with at least another 3 Spanish restaurants.
Shortly after, we made our way to the golf course to take a look in preparation for what Mikka has to expect the next day.. I have to say that the planning for the event was a little chaotic. The traffic from the parking place to the golf course itself was terrible and after we arrived, the staff seemed as clueless as all the others... After a little shuffle here and there, the players were finally introduced as the Match-Play started. Me being smaller than all those Germans was only able to sneak a peak every now and then.. lol.. It was interesting and being my first time at a Golf tournament, I had to say that its really a nice game but still too much walking for 'flat-foot' me.. We decided to go down to town to take a look before everything closes and we still had to get dinner. After a nice walk through Königsallee, the main shopping street in Düsseldorf, we made our way to the Altstadt on the other side where the River Rhein runs through. The Schifffahrt-Museum im Schlossturm is just by the river but we did not have time to visit.. Next time perhaps.. It was a really nice walk along the river, reminded me a little of Köln. Well, its the same river running through.. LOL. We finally settled at this nice little restaurant in the Altstadt - Benders Marie. 
They serve local specialities and I have to recommend the ‘Rheinische Sauerbraten mit Klössen, Rotkohl & Apfelmus’. Day 2 was as hectic... Woke up at 6am to have breakfast and Mikka left the hotel at 7am to avoid the jamm and chaos at the Golf course that is anticipated. I lazed around a little bit more and left the hotel at around 10am. I was contemplating on taking the train but decided not to as the train station didn't look very safe.. Yes, I am a scaredy cat but I would rather walk then get mugged. And so it was a loooong walk to town. My target was the Goethe Musuem which is located at the foot of the Hofgarten. I seriously had no clue where it was. Thank God for Googlemaps.. Lol.. After an hour, I finally stood at the front steps of the museum. 
The museum itself is 3 storeys and it is interesting to see the old writings, paintings and artifacts dating way back to the 1700's. I spent around 2 hours in there making so many pictures.. After I left the museum, I took a slow stroll through the Hofgarten towards the Altstadt. I was starving by the time I got there but there was definitely too much choices to decide from.. I decided that it would be nice to try something Asian in another German city.. Then a familiar name struck me.. Baan Thai... yes!! Thai food it is.. I finally had my fulfillment of my craving for Thai coffee. It may seem crazy but I was really missing it. The food is not too bad.. My most important Chilli powder is freely available so I am satisfied.. haha... By the time I had finished my meal, my legs were still aching from the long walk from the morning. I was supposed to meet up with Mikka at the other side of the Altstadt so I decided to just go there, find a nice spot to sit and read. I still find it a pity that ALL the shops in Germany are closed on Sundays.
If not I could go and get some shopping done... =( When Mikka finally appeared, we went for coffee and enjoyed the on-goings on the streets of Düsseldorf. This night, we decided on something Spanish.. yeah!! A recommendation from Four-Square landed us in Las Tapas. This restaurant is in Schneider-Wibbel-Gasse (I guess its a famous street) with at least another 3 Spanish restaurants. We ordered an assortment of Tapas to fill up our not so hungry stomachs. (Unfortunately, cos we both had a late lunch.) Very relaxing and nice atmosphere although the street was a little narrow. Then it was back to the hotel and our short short trip is over and we are headed home the next day...
Here's a video of the Tee shots at the Shüco Open that Mikka made...
