Hi all, I am back from my kukup trip with my collegue (Candy ) and her big gang of relatives. Very friendly group of people to travel with. Their family relationship is close as compared to mine. There are about 45 of us for the trip and about 30 are Candy's relatives.
Map of KuKup 
Woke up at 6am to get ready to leave the place at 6:20am. The meetup is at Woodland mrt station at 7:15am. Was quite timely as we reach around 7:20am and the transport was there about 7:25am. We soon headed our way to Kukup after we passed the check points. In between, we would brought to a place for breakfast about 9am. Sad to say there is limited choice of food there. My family had roti-prata and guess what 2 plain prata and 1 egg prata only cost me RM$3. Now I know I am being over charged in Singapore for my roti-prata! Left the place for a short visit to the temple nearby and then Kukup fishing village around 9:45am. 
We reach the Kukup fishing village - Hello Leisure Resort slightly before 11am. We choose the room at the back at the house instead. Stayed in the room with Candy’s sister family. We stayed in upper deck and for the first time, my son got a chance to climb up the double deck. Only then we realised that he have been too well protected that he does not even know how to climb up and down the steps of the double decker bed! Luckily at the end of 2nd day, he already master the art of doing so.
Had our lunch at around 1pm. And this is what we have for the lunch. Thanks to Candy for taking the shots.
After lunch some of us decided to take a short walk out into the main town area to do some shopping in the small town. It is a small town that is so small that my son keeps asking where is it? When walking around the small town, you would feel like you are in the old kampong back in 1970’s or early 1980 in Singapore before those wooden houses are removed to make ways for the HDB. My grandparent used to stay in Sembawang area. Good thing about it is that there is not so much tourists around except the BIG group of us loitering around. However, if you’re into shopping for clothes, fancyful stuffs etc, you’ll probably be disappointed since the stalls mainly sell foodstuffs like cuttlefish, keropok, etc. There aren’t many shops with a few being restaurants and some selling foodstuffs and souvenirs.
We headed back to the resort after about 1 hour of shopping and were treated to the sights of fried prawn pastries by the owner. The prawn tasted sweet on the prawn pastries. 
Sunset view:
Then rest and relax until dinner time while some of them sang karaoke and played mahjong. I quite enjoyed as there is people there singing for me to listen. :P Dinner time starts only at around 8:45pm and you and expect how lunch we were then. My family didn’t managed to have a chance to eat even a stick of satay. :( Guess there are too many hungry people around. We had BBQ dinner without us getting our hands dirty! Satay, fishballs, sweet potatoes, stirred fried sotong with lady fingers, steam prawns, BBQ sting ray and last not the least BBQ chicken wings.
After dinner, we played with some crackers (a ban activities in Singapore). I brought those “PoP PoP” for my son to play, just throw on the floor it would “POPs” upon contact on the floor. Also try the one with firing 15 shoots into the sky creating like the fireworks, but a mini version one though. R&R until bed time.
Day 2, I woke up early guess the it must be the side-effect of working at NTU project site. So I walked around trying to get a picture of the sun rise at Kukup.
After breakfast, my family went back to bed to nap again until time for us to take the boat to one of the floating fish farm to see how the fishes are reared. This is my 1st time on the fish farm, quite scary due to the wooden planks that we are to walk on only.
Soon after lunch, we left for the shopping trip at Jusco. Despite of 1 hour shopping, hubby and me still manage to grab some stuffs – fertilizers & some wind screen wiper. :P
Back in Singapore at about 5:30pm despite of abit jam at the malaysia checkpoint.
On wed, we left for HongKong in early morning.
The Taxi driver even waited for my hubby to finish his email. :( He had stayed up the night to do his work..so poor thing.
On the flight of coz' he slept, but Joel and I keep disturbing him :P
DAY1
Took 0640Hrs flight to HongKong.
Reach HongKong around 1050Hrs.
Took bus and mtr to CityGate.
Lunched at CityGate and shopped abit there.
There is mainly the factory outlet for the branded stuffs.
Left city gate around 1400hrs to head for Disney Hollywood.
Reached there around 1430hrs and check into the hotel.
Left the room around 1500Hrs to go to the Disneyland.
Just in time to catch the disney characters walking down the main street at 1530Hrs.
Quite crowded and spend quite a fair bit for time queuing.
We watched the firework while having our dinner in the park.
DAY2
After checkout continue our fun at Disneyland.
Played until 1530Hrs then we start to head towards the HongKong island - Mingle wing.
This is a rather brand new hotel only 7 months old. The room is rather compact and small but very functional. Hence, we should be gladful and not to complain our HDB bedroom size!
After we have check-in, we took the mtr to Prince Edward on the advice of my good friend. Brought quite a fair bit of stuffs there...toys, bags and clothes. 
DAY3
Took the tram on the HongKong island, alighted at WanChai and walked the streets there. Managed to shop for another bag and 2 set of clothes. :P
Walked and shopped around until time to head for the airport.
We nearly miss the flight :P As by the time we went into look for our flight GATE, it was 5 mins to Gate close timing. And who knows, we actually need to take a transit to our flight gate one, somewhere between their Terminal 1 & Terminal 2. Real confusing. Anyway, we still managed to board the plane. Just that we are the last few only! Even the seats is the last row available when we check-in.
Day 1:
Took plane from Budget Terminal @ 8:15 am
Reached Phuket @ 8:55am (1 hours behind Singapore)
Took a MPV from Airport to the Baan Karting after an hour journey.
Check-in hotel
Had lunch at the hotel restaurant. Good food
Swam awhile in the hotel pool
Take hotel shuttle to the Main road (Nai Harn Beach)
Shopped at the little stores there before proceed to BIG C (30 mins drive)
Shopped and had MK steamboat at BIG C there.
Went back to the hotel at 8pm (Thai time)
Comments: This Baan Karting is far off from the tourist place of interest. Really a well-hidden beauty that have yet to be discovered! Can you imagine need to drive along a one vehicle only road without street lights as well as 2 wooden bridges that looks abit old!
Day 2:
Had breakfast and left the hotel at 1000.
Went to the following places:
1) Elephant ride, monkey show, snake show, ATV ride . We just fed the elephants there.
2) Kata Viewpoint 
3) Drove pass the Karon Beach
4) Spend 1 hour at the Patong beach (Shopped alittle there) People starts to splash water. Some of the tourist are “armed” with water gun. Happening beach can see some woman having topless while sun bathing
5) Went off to see the Kathu Waterfall. Not much water though.
6) Phuket Hilltop
7) Thai village & Orchid Garden
8) Abalone Farm & restaurant (seen and touch the fresh abalone, then of course ate them as well. Tasty.
9) Bird nest factory
10) Chalong Temple, or Wat Chalong
11) View sunset at Sunset View Point Phuket (Nai Harn Beach)
12) Seafood dinner by the Rawai Beach.
13) Back to hotel at 8pm
Day 3:
Had breakfast and left the hotel at 830.
Took transport to take speed boat to the Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi islands.
Swam with the fishes there and had lunch there as well.
Tried snokelling at Koh Yao Noi, the corals not that nice as compared to the ones I saw in Redang. But the sand is definitely nice.
As 13 Apr 2008 is their Songkran Festival (1st day of their New year!), we had experience of being get wet by those thai people along the way back.
After island hopping (1530) , we went off to the LOTUS Tesco to shop.
Had dinner at the food court.
Left LOTUS at 8pm.
Day 4:
Had early breakfast and checkout hotel
Reach the airport at 815am for our flight at 0930.
The plane took off early instead, ended up I do not have much time to shop.
DAY1 (WED) 19 Mar 2008
Leave for Darwin at Singapore Time 18:10 (FLIGHT TR 702)
Arrive in 0015Hrs next day
Check-in Hotel - Cavenagh Hotel (from 19 Mar to 23 Mar)
Airport Shuttle to Hotel @ A$20 (A$8 for Adult & A$4 for child)
DAY2 (THUR) 20 Mar 2008
Stroll walking to the following places:
Chinese Temple
Chinese Temple (Woods St). The building has quite a history. It was destroyed in the 1973 cyclone, again by the 1942 Japanese bombing raids and once more by cyclone Tracy in 1974. What was left has been incorporated in the new temple, a place where local Buddhists, Taoists and Confucians still worship.
Comments: Appears to me like a place where the Chinese place their tablets for the death family members.
Indo Pacific Marine
For those who have special fondness for the wonderful underwater world should come to the Indo Pacific Marine, a marine environmental and research center. Here they can marvel at many different displays of small underwater ecosystems, including a full living coral reef. To keep the display as natural as possible, no new fish is introduced to the ecosystem except as feed for those, which are carnivorous. The aquarium with exhibits of brilliant living coral formations is the most awarded attraction in the Northern Territory. (At least that's what they claim).
Comments: To watch a slide show followed by to see a BIG Pond which recreated the marine environment. Of coz; lots of posters display as well on the wall. Dinning available in the evening.
Australian Pearling Exhibition
Comments: Same building as Indo Pacific Marine. Different admission charges though. Got a pendant from there. :P
Darwin Wharf Precinct
The Darwin Wharf Precinct is a bustling, multi-use waterside area where commercial and public activities intermingle. The wharf plays host to visiting cruise ships and naval vessels and is also home to shops, a restaurant, alfresco eateries open from 11am to 3 pm and them from 5 pm to 9 pm daily (with live entertainment on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Comments: Quite a distance walk from the Indo Pacific Marine. Didn’t walk until that far.
WW2 Oil Tunnel
World War II Oil Storage Tunnels below the Esplanade on Kitchener Drive (look for a path and stairs down). Those are huge tunnels that have been hand dug during WWII to serve as safe oil storage tanks. Today they are nearly something like a museum with over hundred black and white photos from the area adorning the walls. Before you actually enter the caves you will be told the whole story of how they have been built.
'Survivors lookout'
Old Courthouse
The Old Courthouse and Police Station is in the same area, so are the modern Parliament House and The Government House.
Church we saw on the way. 
A garden beside the church.
Brown's Mart
The Old Ruins
The Old Ruins of the Town Hall and Brown's Mart. Both buildings were victims of cyclone Tracy. Brown's Mart had already been severely damaged in the 1897 cyclone, but has been restored both times. It's the oldest commercial building still standing and a very impressive and beautiful reminder of the Darwin of the 19th century.
Lunch at MacDonald, set meal cost A$7.50!
Did some marketing @ Woolworths for night cooking as my son is asking for RICE!
Back to Hotel, place our stuffs then took a bus to the Aquascene. Alight at the Doctor's Gully where a lovely boardwalk through one of the last remaining patches of rainforest in Darwin will take you to Aquascene. 
Doctor's Gully
While waiting for the Aquascene to OPEN which only operate during High Tide, we walked to the Bicentennial Park’s watching tower.
AQUASCENE
FISH FEEDING - Voted the most popular attractions in tourism surveys A must for any visitor to Darwin. When the tides are high, hundreds of fish come to the shore's edge in this pretty gully to be fed by hand. Species include mullet, catfish, milkfish, bream and barramundi. Feeding is for a few hours daily and the most favourable times are generally in the mornings.
Comments: we loved this place a lot. Can have lots of fish swimming around your leg. 
SKY CITY
Catch the bus ride to SKY CITY CASINO to have a look since the bus ticket is avail for 3 hours.
Cooked dinner & then rest at hotel.
DAY3 (FRI) 21 Mar 2008 (Good FRIDAY)
THE MALL
Bicentennial Park
GAMES ROOM
Only to realize ALL the shops closed today. Only 1 gift shop opened by the Chinese is opened! Hence, did nothing much for the day.
We walked over to THE MALL just 1 block away from our hotel.
Saw a shop selling art pieces and visiting the art gallery to have an in-sight to the Australia art.
Bring Joel to play at the outdoor playground within THE MALL along the Smith Street.
After lunch, we went back to hotel for a swim at the pool. 
We took a nap as well.
In the evening after dinner, we went for a walk to complete the Bicentennial Park. The sunset view is lovely.
We popped by the Holiday Inn Hotel to have a look.
While having our SUPPER, we saw a group of christians singing by the traffic lights!
Back to hotel, I checked the GAMES ROOM..cool…my favorite SLOTS machines!
DAY4 (SAT) 22 Mar 2008 (Shopping Day)
Parap Markets
Darwin’s most charming market, Parap operates throughout the year every Saturday morning. It takes over every ounce of spare space in the Parap Shopping Village.
The market operates every Saturday between 7.30 am - 1.30 pm.
Comments: We took a bus there. It looks at least to me like our night pasar malam, stalls are set up to sell their stuffs. There you can find a lot of the South East Asia food like laksa, satay, vegetables dishes, ice kachang, fruit juices, malay kuehs too etc. We saw a BIG crab selling at only A$12! Last, it was CROWDED!
Initially planned to go to Rapid Creek Water Gardens and Casuarina Coastal Reserve
Unable to locate the 1st on our bus journey and the later due to the HOT weather we decide to give it a miss. :P
Before reaching Casaurina Shopping Mall, the bus enroute to the Charles Darwin University. Looks rather old to me as compared to the ones we have here.
Casaurina Shopping Mall
Continue our bus journey to the BIGGEST shopping mall in Darwin. Can find 4 hyper mart – COLES Supermarket, WOOLSWORTH Supermarket, K-MART and BIG W.
Comments: Spent lots of $$ here as well as time. Almost 6 hours of shopping. Shopped for my gardening stuffs, some clothing, Joel’s Thomas the train books, Spencer toy train etc. Hahah :P The Japanese food here is nice.
DAY5 (SUN) 23 Mar 2008
Rest until hotel check-out
Check-in Hotel – Travelodge Mirambeena Resort
Leayner Recreational Park
Palmerton shopping area
Decide to bring Joel to the Leayner Recreational Park.
We took a bus to Casaurina, changed to bus No 9 there.
The Leayner Recreational Park was made up of playground, skating, bicycling and swimming facilities (pool and water play). Joel loves the water play park a lot and finally, he took the courage to slide down the slides (those dark tunnel ones) by himself.
After the water play, we went off to the Palmerton shopping area. It was quite disappointing as compared to Casaurina shopping area. There the TARGET store is much worst than that in US according to my husband. However, the COLES there not too bad… gotta some baking stuffs. :P
DAY6 (MON) 24 Mar 2008
THE MALL
SKY CITY- SUNSET Restaurant
Woke up late, check out hotel and leave our luggage there.
Went off to THE MALL area again to look for gift for Joel, he wants a SIGN BOARD! Do not ask me why. We brought him some luminous print T-Shirts.
We planned to go to the library however, it was closed on MON (due to Easter Monday).
Next, we catch a bus to the SKY CITY- SUNSET Restaurant for dinner. Before and after dinner, of course I went off to try out my luck again. Heheh.
Then took taxi back to hotel. Taxi there is EXPENSIVE from SKYCITY to hotel cost us A$9 which is like less than 10 mins drive!
Leave for airport at around 10pm.
Leave Darwin on 25 Mar 2008 at Time 00:55 and arrive in Singapore at 03:50.
