BPDGTravels - Building Memories Together

Taiwan Trip Day 3 - Nantou (南投) | Jiji Train Station | Che Cheng | The Grove Experience Factory | 明潭茶老爸

2019-04-04T21:45:00.003+08:00

3 December 2018

Day 3 (Part 2) - Itinerary

1) Jiji Train Station (集集火车站)

2) Che Cheng Train Station (車埕火车站)
3) The Grove Experience Factory (車埕林班道)
4) Sunset View & Ice-cream (水里二坪枝仔冰)
5) Check-in Blue Sky Bay B&B (Sun Moon Lake)
6) Dinner at 明潭茶老爸

3:05am - We are very blessed to have an experienced driver who happens to be a licensed tour guide to take us on our trip. Apart from helping us to look through our planned route, taking us to places that are less traveled by tourists, he went the extra mile to check the train departure timings, making sure we are able to catch the ride on time.

He suggested that we take the Jiji Line (集集線), a short train ride from Jiji (集集) to (車埕) to have a glimpse of the historical towns and tranquil countryside as the train chugs its way through.

We were just in time to catch the train to Che Cheng (車埕) which is setting off in 5 minutes, plus some buffer time to take pictures.

Jiji Line stretches from Ersui to Checheng. The 30km line, narrow-gauge railway takes about 50 minutes to run through the 7 stations (Ershui, Yuanquan, Zhuoshui, Longquan, Jiji, Shuili, Checheng). Many likes to take on the ride to experience the true charm of Taiwan.

For us, we took the train ride from Jiji (集集) to Checheng (車埕) which takes about 15-20 minutes. It was a short, but quaint and nostalgic rail journey as the train slowly passed through the towns.

The interior of the train is also charming! Decorated with cute Lion handles and colourful cartoon wallpapers! It seems like each train cabin has a story to tell and share.

3:30pm - Checheng Train Station - the final stop of the Jiji Line and is well-known to be the most beautiful rail station in Taiwan. This used to be a depot for trains and center for transportation of timber and logging activities. The old wood processing facilities are not longer in used and has become a local landmark and attraction.

It is a great place to take pictures with the railway tracks and trains without worrying about any incoming trains.

Checheng (車埕) - A rustic, beautiful village surrounded by mountains.

As you walked further in, you will find a beautiful pond - Cedar Pond (貯木池) is actually a storage pond used to soak the stored logs, which helps to extend the life of the wood. Now it has transformed into a beautiful landscape with fishes and ducks in the waters.

We bought some fish feed to feed the hungry fishes!

Lots of them swam towards the food

Loving the reflection of the trees in the waters. The setting sun shines onto the trees giving them an orange golden hue.

Checheng Wood Museum (車埕木業展示館) - (used to be an old sawmill) is a lovely place which is opened to public for free. It houses booths selling assorted food, an exhibition hall displaying the history of the timber industry, souvenir shop where visitors can buy wooden handicrafts and an area for visitors to create and make their own DIY woodwork.

Map of Checheng Wood Museum

Visitors can learn about the logging process here

Our kids love to hide on the second floor as they love the view and breeze from atop

My best buy! Naturally scented wood that can relax the body and mind! It can also act as a coaster too!

Visitors can go to the woodcraft factory and make their own wooden stool

As we arrived rather late, we were not able to spend a lot of time exploring the streets and the shops due to time constraint. Do allocate more time if you love trains and wish to experience more about Checheng and its logging history in depth.

4:50pm - On our way to Sun Moon Lake, our guide stopped by 水里二坪枝仔冰 to let us have an ice cream treat while we catch a beautiful sunset! Our guide shares that the ice-cream here is delicious and cheap (NT10 for one popsicle)!

Image source - Google

Sun set

5:40pm - It takes about 30 minutes drive from Checheng to Sun Moon Lake. We check-in to Blue Sky Bay B&B. which will be our accommodation for the next 2 nights. Click on the following link to learn more about our stay experience - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/03/taiwan-family-travel-stay-in-sun-moon.html

6:20pm - Sunset in Taiwan is earlier hence it was pitch dark at around 6pm. After a long day touring around Nantou, we finally settled down and am ready for dinner! There are not many eateries around Shuishe. and thankfully I did my homework and found out that 明潭茶老爸 offers good eats which is just 2 minutes walk away from our accommodation! How convenient!

We spent NT300 (~SGD14) on our dinner which consist of 4 braised pork rice/noodle bowls (NT60 each) and 1 side dish - preserved egg toufu (NT60), which is pretty reasonable.

We particularly love this dish! Just look at the yolk oozing out!

The braised pork rice topped with radish and salted vegetable is delicious as well!

We enjoyed our dinner at 茶老爸

After dinner, we decided to explore the streets of Shuishe. Next to 茶老爸 is a shop selling local cultural products. From souvenirs, handmade products to assorted local delicacies from different places in Taiwan. We spotted delicious Yam ice-cream at NT45 (SGD2). This serves as a nice dessert for everyone.

Our best find was this bottle of plum wine (梅酒) at NT350 (~SGD16)! Initially, I was a little skeptical about purchasing this as I do not really fancy plums. However, after trying a few sips, it got everyone addicted! Not only was it refreshing, we enjoyed its perfect balance of sweetness and sourness. In fact we loved it so much that we returned to purchase 2 more bottles at NT700! This served as our nightly drink before we rest for the night.

As the night falls, there aren't many places to go or activities to do at Sun Moon Lake. I guess that gives us a good reason to return to our B&B and have an early night rest before we embarked on yet another full day of activities ahead.

More photos @ BPDGTravels Facebook page

Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

Useful Links

Taiwan Railway Administration - http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/EN_QuickSearch.aspx

The Grove Experience Factory - http://grove.com.tw/
Blue Sky Bay B&B - http://www.blueskybay.com.tw/

Floral Fantasy Blossoms at Gardens by the Bay

2019-03-31T23:13:00.000+08:00

[Media Invite]

More excitement awaits at Gardens by the Bay this coming April as Floral Fantasy , the latest thematic attraction unfolds and open its doors to the public on 14 April 2019!

Located at Bayfront Plaza, next to Bayfront MRT station, the 1,500 sq m indoor floral garden with more than 3000 plants and more than 150 species, hopes visitors will have a fantastical experience.

Floral Fantasy comprises of four diverse garden landscapes, each showcasing a different artistic concept.

DANCE (花之舞)

We were welcomed by a colourful sight upon entering Floral Fantasy! Greeted by lush, brightly coloured tableau of flowering plants suspended from the ceiling, the rainbow canopy lifted our spirits instantly as we walked through the space.

As we made our way to the further in, look up and be greeted by the whimsical sight of pendulous floral balls bobbing gently up and down from the ceiling.

FLOAT (花之溪)

From the floral canopy, we transit into a wider space accompanied with the sounds of water. Unique trees and interesting forms such as twisty and drooping branches flank the space, creating a sense of intimacy with visitors.

Am delighted to find autumn leaves within Floral Fantasy

WALTZ (花之雨)

This is my favourite zone as we moved away from the flower field into a rain oasis and waterfalls of flowers. Ensconced by driftwood structures at the top and sheets of water at the sides, it felt like we have entered a rainforest.

I love the sounds of the water very much and sitting by the side watching the changing patterns of the water is extremely therapeutic and relaxing.

Do not miss the 4m wide by 2m tall poison dart frog vivarium which house tiny but eye-catching poison dart frogs !

DRIFT (花之影)

The transition from light to dark marks the entry to the fourth and final garden landscape. Reminiscent of a cavern, the semi-enclosed space is ringed with terraced rock. You will find a collection of exotic South American orchids growing here and hanging ferns draping down from the ceiling.

Before exiting, enter the 24-seater theater and take flight on a journey of a dragonfly's flight path through Gardens by the Bay. Visitors will experience the 4D effect of sight, sound, smell and touch on the stimulated journey.

Flight of the Dragonfly was conceptualised and produced by ST Engineering, and is the first 4D simulation ride conceptualised, produced and filmed in Singapore by ST Engineering.

It has been a colourful and delightful experience exploring Floral Fantasy. Click on our videos below as we walk you through the four garden landscapes once again.

FLORAL FANTASY

Officially opens to public on 14 April 2019
Time: 9am - 9pm

Location: Bayfront Plaza, next to Bayfront MRT Station
*Admission rates applies

Opening special rate, for visits to Floral Fantasy between 14 April to 13 May 2019

Image source - Gardens by the bay

Taiwan Trip Day 3 - Nantou (南投) | Xitou Monster Village | Dalunshan Ginkgo Forest | Totoro Bus Stop | Master of Mushroom

2019-03-30T15:23:00.005+08:00

3 December 2018

Day 3 (Part 1) - Itinerary

1) Totoro Bus Stop

2) Dalunshan Ginkgo Forest

3) Bamboo Forest

4) Xitou Monster Village

5) Lunch at Master of Mushroom

8:30am - It has been a restful 2 nights stay as we check out from Mini Hotel - Taichung Station. Before we journey on towards Nantou, I asked to stop by Totoro Bus Stop (大里龍貓車站) which is only 5 minutes drive away from the hotel. For Studio Ghibli's fans, this is a nice IG spot not to be missed.

Moving on is a 2 hours drive up to Dalunshan Ginkgo Forest (大崙山銀杏林). Driving along Shanlinxi Highway (杉林溪公路), we spotted signboards indicating the distance to Sun Link Sea Forest Recreation Area (南投衫林溪). This is another gorgeous nature attraction in Xitou that you can consider visiting on your way to Alishan.

10:45am - Stopped along the road to admire the green landscape

I love bamboo forest and it is nice to take our first family shot here

11:10am - We finally arrived at Ginkgo Forest (银杏森林) located in Lugu Township in Nantou County. It is hidden in the Sheep bend on the 12 Chinese Zodiac route along the Shanlinxi road.

It was noon time and the sun is blazing hot. We took on the walking trail (银杏林观景步道) where visitors can admire the Ginkgo (Maidenhair) trees on both sides and view stretches of hills in the distance. When entering Autumn, the fan-shaped blade leaves turns to yellow-red in colour.

Click on the video to check out our walking trail.

The beauty of the Ginkgo Forest lies in its depths, overlooking the mountains.

In addition to the rare ginkgo forest, is the magnificent tea plantation.

11:30am - We started our climb from here and it took us less than 10 minutes to reach the highest observation deck of Dalun Mountain Tea Garden. The trail, nicely paved with wooden planks weaved through the tea plantation making the walk a nice and relaxing one.

Scenic view along the way to the observation deck.

Stopping for some family shots.

11:40am - At 大崙山茶园观景台 (observation deck).

The view from here is gorgeous! Between October to the December months, the Ginkgo biloba leaves turn yellow attracting many tourists to come. Ginkgo trees are scattered among the tea gardens giving a different visual sensation. Unfortunately, during our visit, many leaves have fallen and we were not able to admire the sight of the golden fields. Nevertheless, it was still beautiful to stand here and admire the 270 degree view of the mountains, tea plantations, ginkgo trees and the vast skyline.

There are two observation decks and the other platform is slightly lower.

The second observation deck which also offers a captivating view of the entire landscape. If you are lucky, you may also catch the sea of clouds here!

The sun is very glaring so it was difficult to smile.

11:55am - Making our way down via the wooden plank foot path. This is also the route where visitors make their way up to the observation deck. Though the path is very steep, it only takes about 5 minutes to make our way down. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and take a step at a time.

12:05pm - On our way out from the Ginkgo Forest, we passed by a bamboo forest. Our driver cum guide kindly stopped the vehicle and we had some quick shots.

Loving the greenery and the sun!

12:30pm - Xitou Monster Village (溪頭妖怪村) is a quirky Japanese-style village built in 2011 to commemorate the friendship between Kubota (Japanese) and Matsubayashi (Taiwanese) who worked together in Xitou when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. Despite located in the remote areas in Nantou county, it is a hot tourism spot which garners many visitors daily!

Traditional Japanese Torii gate standing at the entrance of the village.

The monsters statues within the village are cute and great photo-taking spots.

Food stalls and shops can be found around the village. We did not buy any local snack as we will be moving to our next destination for lunch.

If you are planning to buy the famous 咬人猫面包 (baked ham and cheese bread), be sure to queue up at least 20 mins outside Kubota Bakery before the freshly baked bread are out from the oven at 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Since we had no luck with food, we spent our time at the souvenir shop instead.

Beside the souvenir shop is the famous Tengu sculpture with a long red sausage nose like Pinocchio .

Actually Xitou Monster Village is not very big and you can cover the area in a short time. We spent only about 35 minutes exploring the village and taking photos. Visitors come for the themed food like matcha & black sesame soft serve at Black-hearted shop, eyeball chocolate, walk around the Japanese style village and check out its unique souvenirs. It would be a waste to travel all the way for the Monster Village alone. I would think this can be pit stop if you are also exploring the other nature areas like - Xitou Nature Education Area, Sun-Link-Sea Forest Recreational Area or Ginkgo Forest.

1:25pm - Pretty hungry by now and our driver recommended us to dine at Master of Mushroom. As the name suggest, the dishes will be mostly mushrooms so make sure you LOVE them in your meal!

The interior of the restaurant used a lot of wood furnishing. Looking out of the windows is the river stream and mountains, giving diners a homely feel which is cozy and comfortable.

You can also go for alfresco dining by the balcony accompanied with a beautiful view.

Menu at Master of Mushroom

We ordered the black chicken soup set meal for 4-6 persons @ NT1880 (~SGD85) nett which includes 5 dishes, 1 big pot of chicken soup, 6 canned of fungus drinks and unlimited serving of rice. This is probably one of the better meals we had for the past 3 days even though there are mushrooms in almost every single dish!

Appetizer - cold mushroom dish

Pork Belly - One of our favourite!

Pickled plums and mushrooms - not a big fan for plums and we are not so used to the taste of this dish overall.

Assorted mushrooms to be cooked in the hot pot

Minced pork and mushroom - my personal favourite to go with the rice!

Black Chicken Soup with mushroom - I did not expect the pot to be so BIG and it is pretty tasty!

There is also a section where diners can purchase dried mushroom goods from the shelves.

I would say it is a pretty decent and nice place for a family meal especially if you have more in the group. We probably over-eat for lunch but thankfully that helped us filled our stomach till late in the night as we continued our journey ahead.

More photos @ BPDGTravels Facebook page

Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

Where to Stay in Sun Moon Lake - Blue Sky Bay BnB (藍天水灣民宿)

2019-03-18T22:48:00.001+08:00

I was pondering over a few considerations when I was booking for our room in Sun Moon Lake.

- Proximity to Ferry terminal
- Sun Rise / Sun Set View
- Easy access to Bicycle rentals
- Accessibility to eateries/minimart
- Price & Comfort

Where to stay in Sun Moon Lake?
There are 3 ferry terminals in Sun Moon Lake - Shuishe, Ita Thao and Xuan Guang. Most of the accommodation options are located near Shuishe and Ita Thao with hotels and guesthouses that are in the mid-high range pricing.

Some preferred to stay in Ita Thao (伊達邵) as it is located near Ita Thao night market offering more food options and the atmosphere in the evening is more vibrant. This area is also probably the best place to dine in Sun Moon Lake. It is also near to the waterfront where you can take a stroll and enjoy the view of the boats at the docks.

Shuishe (水社‭) though not as lively than Ita Thao, allows travelers to have greater accessibility to buses and bicycle rentals. Many buses (to Taipei/Alishan etc) arrive and depart near Shuishe Visitor's Centre including the round the lake shuttle bus around Sun Moon Lake. This allows travelers more convenience to get to their next destination. In addition, I checked with the hotels from Ita Thao, and Shuishe and it seems there is a better chance to catch the sunrise from Shuishe instead of Ita Thao.

After researching and weighing our options, I decided to settle in for an accommodation at Shuishe, mainly because of the easy transport accessibility as well as to check out the sun rise view.

There are many lodging options in Shuishe and ideally, I was looking for one that is near to Shuishe Visiting Center, offering clean and neat room with a window view of Sun Moon Lake. Unfortunately, hotels that fit those criteria comes with a hefty price.

Blue Sky Bay B&B

I chanced upon Blue Sky Bay B&B (藍天水灣民宿) which has received many wonderful reviews and decided to book our stay with them via Agoda. Paid near to SGD380 for 2 nights stay for a Quadruple room (~SGD190 per night). Our second most expensive accommodation throughout our trip. However, the great hospitality, delicious breakfast, and comfortable room made up for it. Located near to Shuishe Pier, it is only minutes walk to Shuishe Visitor Center.

We had a full day tour in the day and arrived late at Blue Sky Bay (~5.40pm). Nevertheless, the lady owner of the B&B (游女士) received us warmly and helped us settle in quickly. We stayed on the 5th floor and am delighted to be welcomed into a bright, clean and spacious room! This is by far our favourite accommodation throughout our Taiwan trip!

Check out the Video Tour of our room.

Clean and comfortable double beds

Separate toilet and bathroom

I like the idea of the bathtub being on the floor level. Ample space to put our soap and dry ourselves after bath. The children enjoy taking their bath too and does not need any reminders for us to wash up. After a long walk, it is so relaxing to soak your body and rest your feet.

Oliva del Mediterraneo shower products and toiletries provided.

Nice decor and gives a homey feeling

Blue Sky Bay has adopted a Nautical theme in their interior design. You can tell from the decor and accessories around the B&B.

Lift lobby (outside rooms) and stairways

Entrance & Breakfast area

A welcoming space as you enter the B&B. Long breakfast table where all the guests sit together to start their day.

Reception area (shape of the front boat) where lady boss sits and shares her cycling discount vouchers with stay-in guests.

Sumptuous spread of home-made breakfast for guests! Lady boss wakes up early to prepare all these just in time for the breakfast hours (8am - 10am). However, she is also very accommodating to help get the breakfast ready (~730am) should we need to leave or check-out early.

Assorted dishes (eggs, hotdogs, nuggets, hashbrowns etc)

Porridge and side dishes

Toast and spread

Soy milk / orange juice

We are always looking forward to our breakfast at Blue Sky Bay

View from our balcony at Blue Sky Bay B&B

Thank you Lady Boss for your hospitality! We really appreciate your help and advice provided and most importantly ensuring the breakfast is ready for our early check-out! We had a memorable stay at Blue Sky Bay B&B.

Summary Notes:

Room

- Free Wifi

- Air-condition

- Window view

- Flooring - Wooden

- Water Flask - available

- Safety Box - not available

- Hair Dryer - available

- Phone - available

- Mini Fridge - available

Toilet/Shower

- Bath towels are provided

- Separated Toilet and Bath/Shower room

- Hot shower available.
- Bathtub available

- Disposable toothbrush/toothpaste/comb provided

Blue Sky Bay B&B (藍天水灣民宿)

Address: No. 21, Zhongxing Road, Township, Nantou County pond

Tel: 0910-355503, 049-2856815

Website: http://www.blueskybay.com.tw/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunmoonlakeblueskybay/

Taiwan Trip Day 2 - Changhua & Taichung (彰化, 台中) | Lukang | Taiwan Glass Gallery | Glass Temple | Yizhong Street Night Market

2019-03-09T20:41:00.002+08:00

2 December 2018 (Part II)

Day 2 (Part 2) - Itinerary

1) Longshan Temple (龙山寺) - Lukang

2) Nine-Turns Lane (九曲巷)

3) Sunset at Lukang

4) Taiwan Glass Gallery

5) Glass Temple

6) Yizhong Street Night Market

It was about 25 minutes drive from Fangyuan to Lukang (鹿港). Have heard a lot about the historical town and its well-preserved cultural and heritages. Located in Changhua County, its name translate to "Deer Port" and used to be an important sea port int he 18th and 19th century.

3pm: It was a crowded Sunday and our driver advised us the easier and faster way to tour Lukang is by bicycles! So we put our riding skills to a test! It started off smoothly but we got shaky on the roads. At the end of our ride, our boy commented : 'We nearly died umpteenth of times!' It was definitely an unforgettable riding experience!

'Shanmen' - entrance to Longshan Temple

3.05pm: 鹿港龙山寺 - The largest temple in Lukang, is highly valued and awarded as the "National Monument" of Taiwan. Also known as the first Buddhist temple in Taiwan, it is well-preserved displaying fine and unique craftsmanship in its architecture. The historical temple (over 300 years old) has withstand multiple major earthquakes.

A pair of dragon poles - ascending and descending to each other.

门神 - Door God Paintings at the Five Portal Hall, with five pairs of entry doors, to protect and ward off evil spirits

Impressive carvings and colourful interiors on the octagonal shape ceiling that looks like a 'Ba Gua' (八卦) with interlocking wooden beams and supported by interlocking brackets held together without using a single nail, is raised above the roof level. It is possibly the oldest and largest existing caisson in Taiwan that helps to ward off evil spirits

The layout of the temple consist of three rows of buildings separated by two courtyards. Entering from the main gate (Shanmen), to the Five Portal Hall (Wumen) and rear Hall (Houdian). Every angle is a beauty and it is indeed a gorgeous heritage that is not to be missed visiting.

Hopping back onto our bicycles and we followed our guide closely on the main roads and into the small alleys.

Streets of Lukang

3:50pm - One of the charms of Lukang has to be the wealth of narrow and winding lanes with Nine-Turns Lane (九曲巷), now known as Chinsheng Lane (金盛巷) as the best preserved among all. In the earlier days, when villages were developed, many residents were built alongside the curve watercourse which naturally form how some of the winding lanes are today. This phenomenon helped to prevent and diminish the effects of the northwestern September wind and moderate the temperature in the winter. The crooked alleyways also confused the pirates who tend to get lost in the maze of twists and turns.

Shiyilou (十宜楼) is one of the historic sites along the Nine Turns Lane. It is the remainder of the buildings belonging to the largest ancient Amoy-Taiwan Trading Company, "Qingchang Hao", of Lukang. Shiyi (Ten amusements) refers to "Ancient Qin, Board game, Poem, Wine, Painting, Flower, Moon, Chess, Tobacco, Tea" (琴、棋、詩、酒、畫、花、月、博、煙、茶). It has been a place for poets and writers to get together in the old times.

Nearby is a gun tower functioning as street fortifications and you can also find Wine Bottle Wall (甕牆). There are a few sayings about the wine bottle walls, our guide shares that during the Japanese occupation days, the Japanese robbed the villagers of their provisions and wealth. Hence the residents will hide their rice and jewelry in the wine bottles which also act as a decoration to their homes. Another explanation is when there are babies born in the family, Shaoxing wine will be buried in the ground. If the son grows up and top the rank in the studies, Shaoxing Banquet will be hosted, called "Zhongyuanhong". If the daughter grew up and get married, the wine will be called "Daughter Red" and be used as one of the dowry items.

A hand-pumped well found in the winding lanes.

3:55pm - We probably picked the wrong day to tour Lukang as there was a huge crowd everywhere! With temple festival processions and celebrations happening, it was challenging to wriggle our way on the streets. We had to temporary 'parked' our bicycles outside the food stall while taking turns to try a bowl of vermicelli.

Sun setting at Lukang

4:20pm - Unfortunately we had little time left to explore the heritage town further as we have to make our way to catch the sunset. While waiting for our guide to get his vehicle to pick us up, we had a quick glance at 鹿港丁家古厝 which was built in the Qing Dynasty and is a national monument as well.

Feeling thirsty and quickly bought a bottled tea from 孩堤咖啡

4:40pm - I love to see the scenery outside as we moved between destinations. At times, you may spot a scene that brings a smile on your face.

4:55pm - Sun was almost setting when we reached the western coastal shores of Lukang. Thankfully, we managed to catch a glimpse of it. It was so therapeutic to just stood by the side, embracing the wind and admiring the windmills together with the orange hew of the skyline.

5:15pm - Taiwan Glass Gallery holds many glass art-crafts and its a place for Taiwan's local artists to display their work. The gallery is divided into Arts, Glass Information and Household Product halls. At times, visitors can also catch the glass craftsman demonstrate how the art glass pieces are made.

Taking pictures with the glass kaleidoscope.

Display of various glass artworks

Initially I was a little hesitant to visit the Golden Tunnel (黃金隧道). However for only NT100 (less than SGD5), you get the opportunity to experience walking through a spectacular 72m glass tunnel plus a free gift and a pair of rubber slippers! It was a steal and definitely worth a go!

*Entrance fee to the Golden Tunnel has increased to NT150 wef 1 March 2019.

Pick the type of slippers of your preference and your size. The slippers are comfortable and pretty good! All the slippers are in blue and white which are the traditional colours of Taiwan. Definitely worth a space in our luggage to take back home.

Inside the Golden Tunnel assembled by 3600 glass mirrors. Thanks to the rubber slippers and gloves, we were able to maneuver easily without scratching or placing more finger prints on the glass.

5:55pm - Hu Sheng Glass Temple (玻璃妈祖庙) is located next to Taiwan Glass Gallery and it is best viewed when the night falls. Being one of the few glass temples in the world with most of the structure transparent, it is absolutely stunning at night. During the day, the sun shines through the glass, giving it a brighter space. At night, more than 100,000 changing LED lights illuminate the temple making it beautiful and dazzling. It is an amazing architecture which can withstand strong winds as well as earthquake.

Within the temple is a small pond where we threw coins in to make a wish. Love the reflection of the lights on the water too.

Mazu is being worship in the Glass Temple and behind the statue is a glass artwork of Yushan, the highest mountain in Taiwan.

7:30pm - It was more than 1 hour drive from Lukang back to Taichung - Yizhong Street Night Market. We are very thankful to our guide who has not only brought us to various interesting places but also helped us take photographs. From this point forward, we will be exploring the night market and walking back to the hotel on our way.

Yizhong Street Night Market (一中街夜市) - Surrounded by many trendy shops selling fashionable clothing and accessories, and located near to high school and universities, it is a popular hang out for students. About 15 minutes walk away from Taichung Train Station, there is plenty to shop and eat at Yizhong Street Night Market which is more accessible by travelers if you are not staying near Feng Jia.

Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea is in the trend now and we can see this selling at almost every bubble tea shop. Decided to try our first cup for NT55 at Perfect Life tea shop (花好月圓) and we feel it is by far one of the better ones we had!

We love to explore the night markets as there are so many food options and we can picked the street food that appeal to us.

Assorted dim sum

Smelly toufu (NT70)

Cheesy Fried Chicken (NT120)

Beef Cubes (NT100) - One of my favourite street food though it comes at a higher price.

Another tea shop selling nice milk tea (NT25)

Zhuang Yuan Gao (NT80) - comes in cheese or peanut filling. The peanut filling definitely paste better.

It is not only just snacking at the night market, but also having some fun at the game stalls!

Spotted this gigantic Gachapon machine (扭蛋机) and decided to pay NT100 for the fun of it.

9:15pm - The best way to digest our food after a late night dinner, is taking a 30 minutes walk back to the hotel. We passed by Taichung Park on our way back which is the oldest park in Taichung built during the Japanese era.

Pretty landscapes in Taichung Park with arch bridge, artificial lake and pavilions.

We were back at Mini Hotel by 10pm. Looking back through our day 2. even I find it amazing how we managed to cover so many activities and destinations in a day! Plus, we even managed to wash our dirty laundry before heading off to bed.

Check out our Vlog - Day 2 (Changhua & Taichung)

Taiwan Family Travel - Day 2 @ Changhua & Taichung (彰化, 台中) Part 1 - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/02/taiwan-family-travel-day-2-changhua.html

Taiwan Family Travel - Day 3 @ Nantou (南投) Part 1
https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/03/taiwan-trip-day-3-nantou-xitou-monster.html

More photos @ BPDGTravels Facebook page
Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

Taiwan Trip Day 2 - Changhua (彰化) | Fangyuan Oyster Harvesting | Fangyuan Lighthouse

2019-02-27T23:52:00.000+08:00

2 December 2018

Day 2 (Part 1) - Itinerary

1) Breakfast - 天津苟不理湯包

2) Oyster Harvesting Experience (芳苑潮間帶旅遊)

3) Lunch - 真好呷蚵仔炸
4) Fangyuan Lighthouse

5) Wind Turbine Windmills

Woke up feeling more rested that the night before. Sun rise and sun set in Taiwan is earlier than in Singapore. You can see the clear blue sky at 6am. Everyone washed up and get ready for yet another day of fun and adventure.

6:50am - Even though free breakfast is provided by the hotel, we made our way to this famous stall selling dumpling (湯包). 天津苟不理湯包 is a very popular breakfast place among the locals. Only less than 3 mins walk from Mini Hotel - Taichung Station, it is definitely a must-eat for us!

Long queues have already formed early in the morning. You can see stacks of bamboo steamers at the front counter steaming the dumplings and the staff making more dumplings. Why is it so popular? The corner shop starts business as early as 5:30am and closes at 11:30am (operating only in the mornings). Many came here to grab a bite or packet their breakfast before heading off for work.

The menu is simple but the price is very attractive. 湯包, 素包 only cost NT16 (~SGD75cents). Each cup of soya milk, red tea is NT12 (~SGD55cents). Omelette pancake at NT20 (~ SGD90cents). Very economical to enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Even though the queue is long, the staff are very efficient as well. We got our food served piping hot pretty fast. The bigger-sized dumpling is delicious and we enjoyed having a warm breakfast in the cold morning.

The locals seems to like their omelette pancake to go with chill sauce but I like it as it is.

7:10am - Spotted interesting Chinese Zodiac floor murals as we walked around the neighbourhood after breakfast.

7:20am - Back at Mini Hotel for our second round of breakfast. It is going to be a long day ahead and having a filling meal is important for us to start our day. Mini offers basic and simple breakfast for their guests. Main dishes, porridge, salad, bread and assorted drinks.

Prior to our vacation, I have engaged drivers to drive us around for 5 days out of our 2 weeks trip in Taiwan. Generally it is to take us to places that are harder to get to by public transport and moving from one hotel to another at different areas.

8:45am - Our assigned driver arrived much earlier than our agreed time. Months and a day before our trip, he also contacted me for updates. We were delighted to know that he happens to be a licensed tour guide and I must say thanks to him, we were able to see many more beautiful places of Taichung.

Here is the route to the first half of our Day 2!

Mini Hotel > 芳苑潮間帶旅遊-阿進帶你採蚵趣 > Lunch @ 真好呷蚵仔炸 > Fangyuan Lighthouse (芳苑-王功灯塔) > 王功小型风力发电厂 > Lukang (鹿港镇)

We had an awesome experience at Gaomei Wetlands on our previous trip. This time, we decided to go a little further and learn more about oysters harvesting! Found out that Wanggong Fishing Port (王功), Changhua County, has rich natural landscapes and most of the residents are mainly engaged in offshore fishing and coastal culture, producing clams, squid, shrimp, oysters, and mullet. The fishing village has farms that host tour trips for visitors to learn and experience harvesting of the oysters and the opportunity to taste fresh oysters that is grilled on the spot!

10:15am - It was a long ride from Mini Hotel to Wanggong (王功) in Fangyuan Township (芳苑). Thankfully our driver kept us engaged through the ride sharing the wonders of Taichung and its history.

We picked 芳苑潮間帶旅遊 as the reviews from Facebook has been very positive and they are also very responsive to all our queries. The entire tour takes about 2-3 hour and it cost NT350 per pax (~SGD16). (Free for children under 3 years old)

Ox oyster-pulling cart - one of the rarer ones left.

The farm has adopted cross hanging method for their oyster cultivation based on the intertidal ecology.

We spent near to 3 hours learning about oyster farming and had fun catching crabs, picking clams and sample fresh oysters and fish!

Will write a separate post about our Oyster Harvesting Tour experience

1:20pm - Thankfully we were well-prepared and took a heavy breakfast else we will be famished by this hour. Being near to the sea, there are many restaurants and eateries selling fresh seafood dishes. Our driver brought us to 真好呷蚵仔炸 which is very famous among the locals.

Signature Dish : Fried Oyster Cake - crispy outside and lots of juicy oysters within!

Taiwanese style oyster omelette (蚵仔煎) - This is a popular street food in Taiwan topped with a sweet and sour sauce. I still prefer our local version but we ordered a plate for our kiddos to try.

Stir-fry Asparagus with Clams

This is our favourite dish! It is a type of fish and the meat is so tender and delicious. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of this dish but it is definitely the first plate to be cleared off from the table

This is probably our least favourite cos of the assorted flavour.

We spent NT1200 for our lunch which comprised of 5 dishes (~SGD55).

Onward to our journey after lunch!

1:55pm - Fangyuan Lighthouse (芳苑燈塔) is an iconic building in Wanggong Village. Built in 1983 at the eastern side of the fishing port, the octagonal shaped lighthouse painted in strips of black and white, guides and ensures the safety of the vessels.

The youngest lighthouse in Taiwan

From afar it looks like a pencil :)

More oyster farm along the coast

10 units of windmills by the shoreline

2:10pm - We stopped by and admire the gigantic windmill. Lovely reflections from the waters.

2:20pm - 王功小型风力发电厂 has become a hot IG spot recently. Many came to take photos with the wind turbines (more than 400 of them) that looks like 'eggbeater' and some even said 'trophy'.

We are also one of them that came to leave our footprints here.

We stopped by briefly and continued our road trip to Lukang (鹿港) which we will share more in our next post.

More photos @ BPDGTravels Facebook page
Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

Taiwan Trip Day 1 - Taichung (台中) | Miyahara | Calligraphy Greenway | ZhongXiao Night Market

2019-02-21T21:59:00.002+08:00

1 December 2018

It was a long awaited trip to our year-end holiday as we will be spending 2 WEEKS in Taiwan - Our longest vacation ever that we have planned for a year!

Arrived at Singapore Changi Airport at 10pm and we proceeded to check-in. Embarking on a mid-night flight was not easy as we were pretty tired after a long day at work and not able to sleep well on-board. However, we also feel good to know that we have the whole day ahead to pace ourselves and tour the country.

We touched down safely at Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 1 at 5:35am. Surprisingly there was a crowd and it took us awhile before we collected our luggage and clear the immigration at 7:15am.

HELLO TAIWAN!

First thing on our to-do list is to purchase our data sim cards. Upon exiting the arrival hall gate, turn right, walk ahead and you will find counters selling data sim cards. We purchased from Chunghwa to keep us connected throughout our trip.

It will be a couple of hours more before we reached the hotel, hence it is ideal to purchase some drinks, food and snacks. After purchasing your data sim cards, simply walk further ahead to the end and take the travelator down to Basement 1. You will find a 7-Eleven store on the left. Turn right, walk straight and you will reach the Bus Parking Bay where travelers can purchase the bus tickets to Taichung or other areas.

Prior to our trip, I have already checked the timings of the buses that can take us from Taoyuan International Airport to Taichung Train Station.

UBus (1623) - http://www.ubus.com.tw/html/line/show.php?num=31
Kuo Kuang (1860) - http://www.kingbus.com.tw/ticketPriceResult.php?sid=191

We bought Ubus tickets (NT$280 per adult) and waited for bus number 1623 at bus bay 13 which departs at 8:05am sharp. Do note that the buses leave on time and make sure you arrive punctually.

The total journey from Taoyuan International Airport to Taichung Train Station took about 2 hours plus. I thought it will be quite tiring but surprisingly it was a comfortable and pleasant ride as the leg space between seats are wide and Hubby and I were able to catch some sleep! Our teens are happy as well as Ubus provide free WIFI onboard and there is also charging point at each seat! They get to stay connected and mobile devices charged at the same time!

10:30am - Arrived at Taichung Train Station!

Taiwan Railway Bento Box (台铁便当) seems to be very popular among the locals and we decided to join in the queue to purchase a box to try. I picked the fish set selling at NT80 which is delicious and filling.

My initial plan was to purchase the Sun Moon Lake pass (which is a package deal for you to take the ropeway, boat and bus ride at a cheaper price) at Taichung Train Station but apparently it was only on sale at Nantou Bus Ticketing (南投客运) which is located a few streets away.

Map provided to us by the kind staff at the train station

We decided to make our way back to the hotel instead. Thanks to Google Map, we found our way and reached our destination safely. It was still too early to check-in to our room hence we drop our luggage at the lobby area.

11am - Reached Mini Hotels - Taichung Station Branch

Read more about stay at Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch) here - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2018/12/taiwan-family-travel-stay-in-taichung.html

After loading off our baggage at the hotel and go for our toilet break, we set off to tour Taichung city by foot. Below is our route that for Day 1.

Mini Hotel > Taichung 3rd Market > 85°C Daily Cafe > Miyahara > Fourth Credit Union > Nantou B Bus Ticketing > Calligraphy Greenway > Taichung Station > Mini Hotel

Mini Hotel > ZhongXiao Night Market > Taroko Mall > Mini Hotel

11:30am - Our first stop is Taichung City 3rd Market (臺中市第三市場) which is walking distance from Mini Hotel. Our stomachs were pretty empty since arrival, hence we planned to 边走边吃 (walk and eat) along the way.

Taichung City 3rd Market is a local street market less visited by tourists. Apart from the wet market stalls selling vegetables and meat, there are also stalls selling assorted local food delicacies and clothing.

Love the colourful streamers as it not only brightens the market but also helped to block the sun rays, and provide more shade.

12pm - 85°C Daily Cafe, an international retailer chain selling coffee, tea, assorted cakes and bakery products. Pit stop for us to buy some drinks and boost our energy.

12:20pm - We missed visiting Miyahara (宮原眼科) on our previous trip! Hence I am making sure we do not missed it this time! Formally a ophthalmic hospital during the Japanese Occupation, Miyahara has transformed into a retail store selling souvenirs, tea, pastries with the most popular being its ice-cream.

As expected, there was a long queue for the ice-cream and I am totally clueless what to pick as there are so many assorted flavours to choose from! Price is not cheap but we decided to go for 2 ice-cream scoop + waffle cup + toppings at NT240 which is about SGD11! At least the children were happy with their ice-cream treat.

1pm: Further down the street is Fourth Credit Union (台中市第四信用合作社). This is actually the second outlet opened after Miyahara in 2013. The three-storey cafe and restaurant was formally an old bank and it offers a larger dining space within. Hence, if you want to avoid the crazy queue at Miyahara and have a place to rest your feet, give Fourth Credit Union a try as it sells exactly the same thing as Miyahara!

Posing in front of the original bank vault doors

We found a seat and decided to have our second round of dessert! Set of Waffle + Drink (NT320).

1.50pm - It is time to burn off some calories. We walked to Nantou Bus Ticketing to purchase the Sun Moon Lake passes. The super-value vouchers will enable us to take on the various transportation to scenic spots around Sun Moon Lake at a discounted price. Worth making a trip down to save some cost.

For more information, visit : http://www.ntbus.com.tw/en-p-1.html

3pm - It took us awhile asking around before we figured our way to Calligraphy Greenway (草悟道廣場). First time taking the public bus (Bus 81) in Taichung and thankfully we purchased our Easy Card (悠遊卡) at 7-Eleven which enables us to travel on Metro and Buses conveniently in Taiwan.

Calligraphy Greenway is a green corridor in the heart of the city, with open space dedicated to arts and culture. There are street performers, organic food vendors and stalls selling assorted artworks. A lovely place to hang out, slow down to spend a quiet afternoon exploring the artsy neighbourhood.

Spotted these beautiful leather key chains and accessories and kinda regret not getting one.

3:50pm - Chun Shui Tang Teahouse (春水堂), believed to be the origin of bubble tea. True or not I am not certain but it is a must-try in Taichung for us since we have heard so much about it. We ordered a bubble milk tea for NT110 (~SGD5), waited for more than 10 minutes before we received our cup. Tea is delicious and fragrant but price is on a higher side.

4:30pm - Sun sets earlier in Taiwan and we decided to hop on back on the public bus to bring us back to Taichung Train Station. The brick building, formally Taichung Railway Station is a product of the Japanese government's Meiji-period reform movement. The city landmark has witnessed through the development and transformation of Taichung city and is now preserved as a historical site.

We stopped by to enjoy the beautiful performance by this talented Japanese street performer - @Shinshin1512

4:50pm - Checked-in to Mini-Hotel and settled in comfortably in our family room.

6pm - ZhongXiao Night Market (忠孝夜市)

Walking from Mini Hotel to Zhong Xiao Night Market takes about 10-15 minutes. We followed Google Map and only figured that we have reached our destination seeing the food stalls along the sides of the roads. Unlike the other night markets, it is not cordoned off hence you have to keep a look out for motorbikes and vehicles while exploring your food options.

Hubby and our girl had craving for stinky toufu as it is not easily available in Singapore.

Crispy and hot Stinky Toufu for NT40

徐徐大姊炸香香 seems to be pretty popular among the locals. Assorted sticks of meat and vegetable that looks like our Lok Lok style.

正老牌麵線糊 - A famous stall in Zhongxiao Night Market selling stinky toufu and vermicelli noodle paste for over 40 years. It has been passed down to the third generation and you can locate the stall easily by looking out for the Thumbs Up signboard.

We had a plate of stinky toufu (NT50) and Oyster vermicelli noodle paste (NT55). The stinky toufu is crispy and topped with cucumber slices and Taiwanese style kimchi vegetable with salty and spicy garlic sauce. A combination of sweet, sour and salty taste all within.

Oyster Vermicelli Noodle Paste has big oysters and the vermicelli is smooth and silky. Taste a bit different from the one we had in Taipei - Ximending, but worth to give a try.

I love sugarcane but what if it is mixed with milk? We bought a cup from Ming Yang Sugarcane Milk King (茗陽甘蔗牛奶大王) and I must say I still prefer the original sugarcane drink.

沙茶魷魚焿 - Hubby spotted the long queue for this (till now I not sure what it is call in English) and we decided to join the line. After waiting for more than 15 minutes, we started to realise the queue is for take away. If you want to dine-in, you can try to find a seat within the small shop space and order directly from the owners. We figured out too late and end up waited more than 40 minutes for our orders. It is a bowl filled with lots of ingredients but I guess we were not very accustom to the taste.

Feeling thirsty? This drink stall is very famous for selling 1000cc drinks at NT25 only!! What? It is less than SGD1.20 for the big cup!

Exploring Zhong Xiao Night Market

8:25pm - We walked our way back to Taroko Mall which is a few buildings next to Mini Hotel. One of the biggest shopping mall in Taichung, it comprises of six basement floors and eleven floors above. Entertainment, dining, retail, lifestyle, cinema, fashion and hypermart are all house within the shopping mall.

9:30pm - Back at Mini Hotel to rest.

We utilized our day to purchase our data sim cards, easy cards and sun moon lake passes while touring around Taichung city. A good start to kick off our 2 weeks vacation ahead.

Day 2 - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/02/taiwan-family-travel-day-2-changhua.html

More photos @ BPDGTravels Facebook page

Check out our 2 Weeks Taiwan Itinerary Family Trip here

Useful Links

UBus (1623) - http://www.ubus.com.tw/html/line/show.php?num=31

Kuo Kuang (1860) - http://www.kingbus.com.tw/ticketPriceResult.php?sid=191

Taichung City Bus - http://citybus.taichung.gov.tw/cms/en/

Easy Card (悠遊卡) - https://www.easycard.com.tw/

Nantou Bus Ticketing - http://www.ntbus.com.tw/en-p-1.html

Taiwan Travel Guide - 2 Weeks Itinerary Family Trip

2019-02-14T20:50:00.000+08:00

Planning for a 2 weeks family trip to Taiwan is a big challenge for me. From accommodation, places of interests, to transport and travel routes. It took me months to research on the internet, read various travel blogs, brochures, and hotel reviews and even checked out the google maps before I pieced out all the information together.

It is not an easy feet to tailor to everyone's needs, but a well-planned itinerary is helpful to manage everyone's expectations and we are able to keep ourselves occupied through the day with the flexibility to modify our schedule as well.

Air Tickets
Air tickets to Taiwan were booked via Scoot which costs about SGD2322 for our family (~SGD580 per pax). Pricing is higher during the December holiday period, but we like the flight timings (i.e Midnight flight to Taiwan, afternoon return flight to Singapore)

Getting Around
There are many modes of transport to take you to different parts of Taiwan. Depending on your itinerary plans, budget, time and special considerations if you have older folks/younger children travelling along. Here are some of the useful links to help you getting around in Taiwan.

High Speed Train (HSR) - https://www.thsrc.com.tw/index_en.html
Taiwan Rail Administration (TRA) - https://www.railway.gov.tw/en/index.aspx
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus (台灣好行) - https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/
Bus - https://www.taiwanbus.tw/Express.aspx?Lang=En
Metro - Taipei, Kaoshiung
Bike Rental
Car Hire/Rental
Taxi

For our 16 days trip, we took HSR, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus, Public Bus, Metro, hired a car to take us around for 5 days and also had bike ride in Taipei and Sun Moon Lake.

To save time, we engaged Mr Liu's service once again to take our family in between destinations and sight-seeing.

Name: 刘先生

Contact: +886 927 888 032

Vehicle Type: Toyota Wish / Private Car (Depending on drivers engaged)

As usual, Mr Liu is very prompt in his response via Whatsapp. I communicated with him in Chinese and Mr Liu helped to review the destinations that we wish to visit and gave us some advice. Our assigned driver(s) are very responsible and contacted us prior to our pick up date.

Prepaid SIM Card
Getting connected has become an essential part of travelling. Not only for adults but also for our growing teens! Hence, upon touching down at Taoyuan International Airport, purchasing the prepaid cards to keep us connected for the next 2 weeks is utmost important. There are several telecommunication service providers with sales counters at the airport and we decided to go for Chunghwa.

Upon exit from the Arrival Hall at Terminal 1, turn right and walk ahead and you can see some sales counters selling data sim cards. We took the midnight flight and arrived in Taiwan in the early hours. Thankfully, Chunghwa sales counters were opened when we arrived at 7:15am. We purchase 3 prepaid cards (15 days unlimited data x 2 cards - NTD700 each and 30 days unlimited data x 1 card - NTD1000). Since we are spending 2 weeks in Taiwan, Hubby decided to spend more money for the children to enjoy unlimited data connection.

Here is our DIY 16 days 15 nights itinerary covering Taichung, Changhua, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Tainan, Kaoshiung and Taipei. Going for holidays is about spending time with your love ones and enjoying yourselves. While we try to follow the itinerary, we also had the flexibility to change it accordingly.

(Self-Travel)

Taoyuan International Airport > Taichung Rail Station > Mini Hotel Taichung Station Branch > Walking Trail around Taichung (Taichung 3rd Market, 85°C Daily Cafe, Miyahara, Fourth Credit Union, Calligraphy Greenway) > Taroko Mall > Zhong Xiao Night Market

DAY 1 - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/02/taiwan-family-travel-day-1-taichung.html

(Chartered Car)

Fangyuan Oyster Plucking (芳苑潮間採蚵) > Fangyuan Lighthouse > Changhua Fangyuan Wind Turbines > Lukang Old Street (鹿港老街) > Taiwan Glass Museum (玻璃博物館) > Glass Temple > Yizhong Street Night Market > Taichung Park Pavilion

DAY 2 (Part 1) - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/02/taiwan-family-travel-day-2-changhua.html
DAY 2 (Part 2) - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/03/taiwan-family-travel-day-2-changhua.html

(Chartered Car)
Totoro Bus Stop (大里龍貓車站) > Ginkgo Forest (銀杏森林) > Monster Village (妖怪村) > Master of Mushroom (菇神鹿谷) - Lunch > Jiji Train Station (集集火车站) to Checheng Train Station (车程火车站) > The Grove (林班道) > Blue Sky Bay BnB (藍天水灣民宿) > 茶老爸麵館 - Dinner

DAY 3 (Part 1) - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/03/taiwan-trip-day-3-nantou-xitou-monster.html
DAY 3 (Part 2) - https://bpdgtravels.blogspot.com/2019/04/taiwan-trip-day-3-nantou-jiji-train.html

(Self-Travel)
Sun Rise Watching (涵碧步道) > Bicycle Ride between Shuishe & Xiangshan (Xiangshan Visitor Center) > Boat Ride to XuanGuang Pier (玄光码头) > Walking Trail to Ci-En Pagoda (慈恩塔) > Boat Ride to Ita Thao Pier (伊达邵码头) > Ita Thao Shopping Street > Sun Moon Lake Ropeway > Wenwu Temple (日月潭文武庙)

(Chartered Car)
Toushe Reservoir (頭社水厙) > 嘉义火鸡肉饭 - Lunch > 天长地久吊桥 > XiDing > Fenchihu (奋起湖) > David's House (茶米屋) > Eryanping Trail (二延平步道) > 云瀑谷 - Dinner > Aiyu Jelly Making @ David's House

(Self-Travel)
Sun Rise Watching (隙頂國小) > Alishan Walking Trail (沼平公园 - 天空步道, 姐妹潭 - 三兄弟 - 四姐妹 - 金猪报喜 - 永结同心 - 象鼻木 - 三代木 - 樹靈塔 - 香林神木 - 阿里山神木遗迹 - 神木車站) > Alishan Post Office > Eryanping Trail (二延平步道)

(Chartered Car)
钱来也杂货店 > Beimen Visitor Centre > Beimen Crystal Church (北門水晶教堂) > Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields (井仔腳鹽田) > Qigu Salt Mountain (七股鹽山) > Sicao Green Tunnel (四草綠色隧道) > Anping Fort (安平古堡) > Anping Street (安平老街) > Anping Treehouse (安平树屋) > Fushin Hotel Tainan (台南富信大饭店) > Dadong Night Market (大东夜市)

(Self-Travel)
Yongle Market (永樂市場) > Baoan Food Street (保安路) > Blueprint Culture & Creative Park (藍曬圖) > Hayashi Department (林百货) > 衛民街巨大扭蛋機貨櫃市集 > Sosee Coffee (首璽咖啡) > Chihkan Tower (赤崁楼) > Garden Night Market (花園夜市)

(Chartered Car)
Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) > Cijin Island (旗津島) > The British Consulate at Takao (打狗英国领事馆文化园区) > Jia's Inn (佳适旅舍) > Liuhe Night Market (六合夜市)

(Self-Travel)
The Pier-2 Art Centre (駁二藝術特區) > Dream Mall (梦时代购物中心) > Dragon Tiger Pagoda (龍虎塔) > Lotus Pond (蓮池潭) > Habour Restaurant (漢來海港) - Dinner > Formosa Boulevard Station (美丽岛站)

(Self-Travel)
Movie @ FE21 Megal Mall (高雄大遠百) > Taroko Park (大鲁阁草衙道) > Ruifeng Night Market (瑞丰夜市) - Dinner

(Self-Travel)
Taipei City Mall - Anime/Manga > Ximending (西门町) > Taipei H Imperial Hotel (台北大亚帝国) > Chien-Yen Hot Pot (千叶火锅) - Dinner

(Self-Travel)
Wulai (烏來) > Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂) > Elephant Mountain (象山)

(Self-Travel)
Xinbeitou (新北投) > Beitou Thermal Valley (地热谷) > Quanyuan Park Foot Bath (泉源公园温泉泡脚池园区) > Cycling @ Tamsui (淡水) > Raohe Night Market (饶河夜市)

(Self-Travel)
Huashan 1914 Creative Park (华山1914文创园区) > Syntrend (三创生活园区) > Shin Yeh Japanese Restaurant (欣叶日本料理)

(Self-Travel)
Free & Easy (Packing, Last minute shopping) > Home Sweet Home

Out of the 16D15N trip in Taiwan, we hired car to take our family around for 5 days. The rest of the days we traveled on our own by bus, MRT or HSR.

It has been an extremely fruitful and enjoyable trip and I actually felt it was one of the best that I ever had with lots of beautiful memories to take away. No doubt there were disappointments with us not able to catch a clear view of Taipei 101 at Elephant Mountain and the sea of clouds at Alishan due to weather conditions, we explored many places, ate a lot, cycled, and tried so many fun and new things together.

TAIWAN - We will be BACK!

Dahlia Dreams @ Gardens by the Bay

2019-02-06T21:45:00.000+08:00

This year's Chinese New Year holidays seems to pass very fast as it falls on the mid-week and we have to squeeze in our visits to the temples and relatives within the short span of two days. Still, we allocated some time to check out the beautiful blossoms at the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay. It has gradually become part of our annual family event during the Chinese New Year festive period for the past 4 years.

Dahlia Dreams is back again with auspicious and festive plants like chrysanthemum, narcissus and cymbidium. Look out for the exquisite "Thousand Blooms" chrysanthemum arrangements which have been painstakingly cultivated over a period of at least one year to present the magnificent display of 500-1500 flowers blooming from a single plant!

Take a stroll underneath a gorgeous 35-metre-long archway of red lanterns and admire the Dahilas blooms alongside. I really enjoy walking through the walkway and immersing myself in the festive season. It should look very vibrant at night when the lanterns are lighted. A lovely instagram worthy spot too with your family or loved ones. Beware of photo bombs as there are a lot of people. I managed to squeeze in this family portrait fairly quick as we almost blocked the archway!

There are many scenic spots around the Flower Dome - from lanterns, floral display, elegant pavilions to rotating water wheels.

We were lucky to be able to take a family photo at the pavilion as it was closed shortly after our turn. Crowd is expected hence visitors have to be a little patient. Thank you to the GBTB staff for helping us to take this picture.

Spotted black pigs and we have to squeeze in for a family picture together.

Besides taking family portraits, I love to take pictures of the children. It is for keep-sake and memories to see how much they have grown. Particularly now that they are older, its even harder to get them to 'co-operate' and pose in front of the camera.

I love this photo of our boy against the trees backdrop.

Attempting to capture some cool looking facial expression.of our girl. Got model look and seh?

Wishing everyone a Prosperous, Healthy and Smooth-sailing Year of the Oink Oink ahead!

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

Dahlia Dreams

Date: 18 January - 24 February 2019

Time: 9am - 9pm

Location: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
*Admission charge to conservatories applies

River Hongbao 2019

2019-02-04T21:34:00.000+08:00

We have many things on our bucket lists to do during Chinese New Year period and visiting River Hongbao is one of them. This year, I won some tickets to POSB River Hongbao Night 2019 and our family get to be seated to catch the performances and fireworks.

It was a windy evening and it was actually very relaxing and cooling to be seated! The wide screen is super clear despite us being seated far behind.

We witnessed the official opening of River Hongbao by Guest-of-Honour Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, followed by the dazzling 1 minuted display of fireworks.

With the lanterns lighted up, we took a stroll to see what installations River Hongbao 2019 has. This year marks the Bicentennial Commemoration of Singapore. Hence, guests are welcomed by a majestic dragon forming the shape of "200" as a grand arch.

Enter the 30m entrance walkway with hanging lanterns and bird cages. This is a favourite spot for many to take pictures against the rows of colourful lights.

We had our family photo here too!

Its not easy to take group photos when there is a crowd who also wanted to have their pictures taken. Nevertheless, we managed to take at some spots.

The largest lantern set on the Float is at 60m long and 10m tall with the theme - Our Garden, Our Home.

Spanning across the lantern (from left to right) are scenes of Sang Nila Utama who found Singapura, to the signing of 1819 treaty between Stamford Raffles and Sultan Hussein to the building and development of Singapore into a modern Garden City to the transformation into a smart nation.

Take a closer look on the lanterns and we noticed how we are so attached to gadgets like mobile phones and laptops. Definitely a deep resemblance on what's happening currently.

Checking our fortunes against our zodiac animal. It is also a must for me to take the 12 zodiac animals at River Hongbao every year.

This majestic peacock lantern is my favourite at this year's River Hongbao. Peacock symbolises beauty, dignity and optimism while the red-hued lanterns signify happiness, good fortune and bright future. Definitely what I hope for the new year!

Cute Fortune Cat for good luck and fortune!

Every year, we will bring our annual savings of 5 cents coins for everyone to throw the coins and hit the bells of blessings at the Wishing Fountain. Apart from hoping we have a smooth-sailing year ahead, all money collected will be donated to charity.

The God of Fortune is River Hongbao's main lantern attraction. Standing at 18m tall, this year's God of Fortune is carrying a Ruyi ceremonial sceptre on his raised right hand and a chinese scroll on his left to wish everyone a prosperous year ahead. God of Fortune will also have his Fortune shower at 6.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Fireworks is another key highlight of this year's River Hongbao as award-winning fireworks artists from across the globe will light up the night sky of Marina Bay with fireworks combined with pyrotechnic art, colours, lights and sounds!

We stayed for all the firework sessions at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm with the final finale worth 10 minutes of spectacular fireworks display! If you missed it, you can catch it on 4th Feb, midnight or 9th & 10th Feb, 10pm! There are also nightly fireworks at 10pm at River Hongbao.

Here are some of my favourite takes.

Clips of the 10mins Fireworks at River Hongbao 2019

Wishing everyone a Prosperous Year of the Pig with Good Health and Happiness.

River Hongbao 2019

Date: 3 Feb - 10 Feb 2019

Opening Hours: 2pm - 11pm

Address: The Float@Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Avenue. S039805
Website: http://riverhongbao.sg/

Free Admission

Outdoor Family Photoshoot with Bespoke Photography

2019-01-30T19:39:00.000+08:00

The last time we ever had a family portrait together was when our daughter was born 12 years ago. I vividly recalled it was just a single shot taken within the studio and we only had a hard copy of the photograph. Time flies and now our children have grown up to be teenagers. I definitely missed the times when they were younger and a little regretful not to have another family portrait taken then.

Hence, you can imagine how excited I was when we had our very first outdoor family photoshoot with Bespoke Photography. We decided to go to Botanic Gardens since I have a preference for nature and greenery. It is also a place where we have brought our children to for walks a couple of times.

Prior to the photoshoot, I was pretty clueless. Thankfully, our assigned photographer (from Bespoke) contacted me and gave us some helpful tips for our attire. Most importantly to be ourselves and have plenty of rest. We went ahead with matching coloured tops, jeans and covered shoes. (and I thought it blends in pretty well with the greenery). We also decided to bring along our daughter's favourite cuddly toy dog - Doopy to be part of our family photoshoot as 'he' has contributed to many fun and loving memories.

On the day of our photoshoot, we met up with the photographer from Bespoke who is soft spoken, friendly and accommodating. He guided us on how to pose and when I asked if the children can have some jump shots, he was quick to fulfill our request. We feel very at ease throughout the 1 hour session and he will sneak some candid shots to capture our most natural moments.

The edited photos were ready and shared with us 2 weeks after our photography session! We love all the pictures and here are some of our favourites!

A proper family portrait is a must and I love how everyone looks natural, bright and cheery.

The children are growing so fast that they are so much taller than I now.

Would love to have these scenes reenact whenever we go out for walks or outings. The more realistic scene would be the children walking behind us with their eyes on their mobile phones! Having family photoshoot together is also a good excuse for quality family time!

Apart from family portraits, Bespoke photographer also reserved a few shots for couples and siblings as well as individual poses which is very thoughtful!

I came to realize having siblings to take pictures together is not an easy feat! They tend to squabble, make fun of each other, and feel awkward posing. My boy in particular does not seem to be able to smile naturally and it took a few tickles, jokes, patience and quick response from the photographer to capture the right moment.

Loving the sun ray effect

Individual pose - display of personal character and style

Doopy coming in handy for special poses :) I must say 'he' too helped us to relax and have some fun!

Children taking on the jump shots towards the end of the photoshoot session.

It has been a memorable experience for our family and we are thankful that the pictures turn out amazingly well. These timeless pictures will be treasured and have a special piece of memory in our family's album.

Apart from Family Photography, Bespoke also offers photography for various events - Wedding, Maternity, Newborn, Graduation, Birthday etc
Check out their rates here: https://www.bespokephotography.sg/photography-rates-singapore/

BESPOKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Contact: 9651 9810

Email: Hello@bespokephotography.sg

Website: https://www.bespokephotography.sg/

Instagram: @Bespokephotograhysg

* Disclosure: Our family went for a complimentary 1 hour outdoor family photoshoot with Bespoke Photography for review purposes. All comments and opinions are personal and no monetary compensation was received.

Chinese New Year Goodies by CNYDELIVERY

2019-01-22T22:27:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year is my favourite festive season as it is a time where family and friends gather together and catch up with one another. Apart from spring cleaning and getting new clothing, shopping for delicious CNY goodies and snack is also important to welcome our guests.

Poon Confectionary is one of the oldest makers of homemade tidbits and Chinese New Year Goodies since 1971 with its first bakery in Pahang. But even before that, they have been famous for their Muah Chee and Pineapple Tarts during their days at the hawker stalls in the streets of Malaysia.

With the help of their partners in Singapore, Poon expanded to Singapore in 2018 and launched operations online (CNYDelivery.com). Shopping for CNY Goodies is now made more convenient with just a few clicks away.

All Chinese New Year Goodies are HOMEMADE, contains No Preservatives, No Added Flavouring & MSG and are Freshly Baked a few days before being delivered to customers. If you like to sample their goodies, Free Tasting is also available @ 502 Macpherson Road, S368204

We are thankful to sample some of the CNY Goodies from Poon Confectionery and our personal favourite are the Green Pea Cookies, Almond Cookies, Kueh Bangkit and Golden Pillow Pineapple Tarts.

Green Pea Cookies & Almond Cookies are fragrant and crunchy. They are not overly sweet which we preferred. If you do not like Almond cookies, Green Pea cookies is a nice alternative.

Kueh Bangkit is my personal favourite as I like to pop one into my mouth and let it melt naturally within. Golden Pillow Pineapple Tarts has a more buttery flavour, would love it more if there is a stronger pineapple taste.

Salted Egg Lotus Root has a unique flavour which is different from the usual salted egg chips. Something different for a change.

Pork Floss Roll is also another special CNY snack to have but unfortunately it did not win the votes from our kiddos.

No time to shop for your CNY Goodies yet? Check out CNYDelivery.com and you may just find some homemade goodies to your liking.

Delivery timing of CNY Orders can be selected with 3 time slots

10am - 2pm

2pm - 6pm

6pm - 10pm

Free delivery for orders above $100 and a delivery charge of $6.90 for orders below $100

POON CONFECTIONARY

WhatsApp/Text: 9762 6523

Email: admin@cnydelivery.com

Website: https://cnydelivery.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnydeliverysg/

Instagram: @cnydeliverysg

* Disclosure: We received some CNY goodies from Poon Confectionary for review purpose. All comments and opinions are personal and no monetary compensation was received.

Where to Stay in Taichung - Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch)

2018-12-21T23:40:00.001+08:00

When I was planning for our year end family trip to Taiwan, it was not an easy feat to draft out the itinerary. Choosing a comfortable accommodation at a convenient location that fits our budget is another challenging task. Thankfully, we get to return to cosy rooms and have plenty of restful nights throughout our travel.

Mini Hotel (Taichung Train Station,台中火车站馆)

Date of Stay : 1 - 2 December 2018

Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch) was booked via Agoda and we paid NT,$5716.50 (~SGD260) for a Family room for 2 nights. Strategically located near Taichung Train Station (~500m away), it is walking distance to Taroko Mall, Taichung 3rd Market, Miyahara (宮原眼科) and Zhong Xiao Night Market (忠孝夜市)

Upon arrival at Taichung Train Station, we took a little longer than usual to reach Mini Hotel (~25 minutes) as we were not sure of our walking route after alighting at the bus terminal (From Taoyuan Airport) and we took a break to take photo and stopped to buy train bento box (火车便当). Thanks to Google Map, we reached Mini Hotel!

Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch) - DAY

Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch) - NIGHT

Lobby area is spacious and welcoming with many Elk logo and ornaments everywhere!

Cosy interiors and I love the design of the chairs for guests which are also wonderful photography spots.

View of the back car seat

Front view of the car

Drink bar where guests can enjoy free flow of drinks anytime of the day and night

Lovely resting area beside the drink bar where we will sit down to enjoy a cup of hot drink and eat the food that we packet back from the night market.

Two computer stations for guests who needs to get online

Lift lobby with more Elk design

Every floor has a different wallpaper theme. We stayed at level 3, which in my opinion is the prettiest among all levels - Polar Bear theme.

Let's check out our Family Room > Room 309

Maybe as the name of the hotel indicates, Mini Hotel's Family room is not the most spacious room that we have been in. There isn't much walking space between the beds to the TV area but we are able to place 3 big luggage within and stay comfortable in the room. Wifi signal is relatively acceptable though not the strongest.

Basic amenities and toiletries are provided and there is a mini fridge tucked nicely at the corner. I love the coloured wooden flooring and design of the room.

Sitting corner (beside the toilet)

Toilet/shower room is bright, spacious and clean!

Breakfast is at Level 2 which starts at 7am. Mini Hotel offers a basic spread of food like toast, porridge, braised pork rice, salad and assorted cooked dishes.

One of the important criteria when choosing a hotel is the availability of washer and dryer. To avoid packing too many clothes for our 2 weeks trip, we need to wash our dirty laundry every 2 days. Mini has 2 washers and dryers in the laundry room on the 8th floor which opens from 10am to 11pm. The machines are coin-operated which cost NT$30 per usage of dryer or washer.

Relaxation zone at the rooftop if you feel like chilling out during the day or night

I really adore the Elk rocking chair placed at the entrance of the hotel, which is a picture perfect spot against the snowy background. We took a family photo prior to check-out.

We had a wonderful stay at Mini Hotel (Taichung Station Branch). Till we meet again!

Summary Notes:

Room

- Free Wifi

- Air-condition

- Window view - depends on room type

- Flooring - Wooden

- Water Flask - available

- Safety Box - not available

- Hair Dryer - available

- Phone - available

- Mini Fridge - available

Toilet/Shower

- Bath towels are provided

- Combined Toilet and Shower room

- Hot shower available.

- Disposable toothbrush/toothpaste/comb provided

Mini Hotel (台中火车站馆)

Address: NO.69, Dayong St, East Dist, Taichung, Taiwan, East District, Taichung, Taiwan, 40144

Website: http://www.minihotels.com.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MINIHOTELSTAIWAN/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MINIHOTELSTSBR/

Kamii Sushi Restaurant (上井壽司懷石) Our favourite Japanese Restaurant @ Taman Sutera Utama (JB)

2018-11-15T11:53:00.001+08:00

We have been blogging about the various good food in Johor Bahru and yet I realised I did not share about our favourite Japanese restaurant! For the past 3-4 years, we have become die-hard fans of Kamii Sushi Restaurant (上井壽司懷石) - one of the best Japanese restaurant in Johor Bahru (in my opinion). Located at Taman Sutera Utama, Kamii is tucked quietly around the corner along the shophouses. It is not along the popular streets and hence many may have missed this gem!

Kamii Sushi Restaurant, tag as JB only Kaiseki Ryori, it offers diners a cozy and relax environment to have their meals. Kaiseki cuisine originated in Kyoto and it was a dish that monks enjoyed before tea ceremony to avoid tea drunk (茶醉). As the tea ceremony gradually penetrated into the aristocratic class, Kaiseki cuisine became richer. From a small cuisine to 'one soup and three dishes' - a Japanese soup, a sashimi, a cooked dish, and a grilled or fried dish.

Over the years, we made friends with the friendly staff and feel at home on each of our visit. Though we love to try out new food/restaurant in JB, Kamii always draws our family back for a meal at least twice a year.

Hot towel , warm or cold green tea served before you start your meal.

Kaiseki cuisine emphasizes on elegance, hence we always find Kamii making the effort to present the dishes to their customers beautifully. Apart from the lovely display, the freshness of their sashimi and quality of food have been the main reasons why we keep coming back.

Fresh sashimi and sushi on each of our visit for 3 years at different period of time

Kamii offers a lot of selection on their menu and their side dishes are equally as good!

For our family, we love to go for Kamii's set meals. Apart from the standard set meal pricing on their menu, Kamii often offers special set meal at 50% discount price everyday!! Pricing can range from RM12 to RM28 (~SGD4 - SGD10) for a hearty, good authentic Japanese meal.

Re-looking at how many set meals we have repeatedly taken at Kamii, simply shows how much we love the food there. :) In fact, we love it so much that we even brought our friends there to try.

Tempura Maki Set

Denver's favourite set meal!

Apart from the standard sets, Kamii Sushi continues to introduce seasonal dish on their menu. We will definitely be back again very soon!

Kamii Sushi Restaurant (上井壽司懷石)

Address: 7,Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2,Taman Sutera Utama,81300 Skudai,Johor. Johor Bahru

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamiisushi/
Visit Date : 2016 - Current

Babu Ice Shave Ice Dessert - Bandar Dato Onn [JB]

2018-11-09T17:41:00.000+08:00

In our little trips to Johor Bahru, we like to go cafe hopping or try out the different types of dessert. After shopping at AEON @ Bandar Dato Oon, we drove by Jln Perkoramam which is about 5 mins drive away. Babu Ice is tucked quietly at a corner along the stretch of shop houses.

The interior is spacious, clean and vibrantly welcoming.

It was difficult to decide what to choose from the menu as everything looks so delicious. We finally set on sharing 1 drink , 1 ice-cream and 1 plate of fries.

Orea Milkshake

One of the key highlights at Babu Ice is the huge range of toppings and syrup sauces that you can choose for your dessert in a buffet style! Yes!! All for FREE!!

So many to choose from and there is definitely one that will suit your taste bud.

Popcorn Shave Ice with our choices of fruits :) Babu Ice shave ice is homemade and very fine. :) A nice treat to indulge in at anytime of the day.

Signature french fries with different toppings

I would say Babu Ice is one of the more unique Ice Dessert stall that we have been to. The dessert is refreshing and shave ice is very fine. Free toppings and sauce is a big attraction and they also offer other main dish on their menu apart from dessert.

After shopping at Aeon Bandar Data Oon, you may want to drive over for dessert and continue shopping at a big stationary store (occupying 2 storeys) - 'BOOK TALK' that is located along the same stretch of shophouse where I love to get some pens/colouring materials there.

Babu Ice

Address: 69, Jln Perkoramam 15/1, Bandar Dato Onn, Johor Bahru

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babuice69/

Must Try Food Stalls @ Cedar Point Food Court (食得福美食中心) - [JB]

2018-10-23T19:26:00.000+08:00

Cedar Point Food Court is a great place to go whenever we have cravings for local delicacies. Comfort food and local flavour that you cannot find in restaurants or cafe. If you are there in the morning, there are only a few stalls open and we usually have Kway Tiao Kia. Visit during the night is recommended with most of the food stalls opening in the evening through the late nights.

Tucked next to Grand Paragon Hotel and only minutes walk away from KSL shopping mall, Cedar Point Food Court is very popular among locals and tourists. Though there are many parking lots in front of the food court, it can get pretty packed during dinner time.

After multiple visits to Cedar Point Food Court, here are some of our favourite stalls that is worth to try.

1. Drink Stall - Sugar Cane

One big glass of sugar cane cost only RM6 (~SGD2) and this gigantic cup is enough for 2-3 person to share. Definitely one of our must order to quench our thirst.

2. Tampoi Satay

The most famous pork satay in town since 1972. Sweet and tender meat dipped into a delicious mix of peanut sauce enhance the flavour of the meat. Apart from the pork satay, we also fancy the sweet and juicy mutton.

Tampoi Satay - Mutton & Pork (30 satay sticks and 2 rice - Rm32)

3. Gerai Makanan Ipoh Fried Kueh Teow

I like my fried kway teow to be a little wet and sweet. I think this one fits my taste bud well though it is not the best that I had tried but possibly one of the better ones in Johor Bahru.

Large plate - RM7

4. Hong Kee BBQ Chicken Wing

Hubby love chicken wings and we often 'tapao' (packet) some to take along with us to munch on our trips. Comfort food that is well like by children and adults. Add some lime over it and it adds on to the flavour.

4 pieces of BBQ Chicken Wings - RM8.80

There are two stalls selling curry fish head that has its own unique flavour and taste. We tried and find both are delicious and worth a try.

5. Century Curry Fish Head

Gladys and I cannot take spicy food very well and hence when it comes to curry fish head, we usually prepared ourselves with lots of rice and cold drink to go with the curry. Surprisingly, the curry fish head from Century is not too spicy and we can finally enjoy a good curry fish head dish without having burning tongues.

Curry Fish head with 4 plates of rice - Rm56

6. 77 Curry Fish Head

On another occasion, we tried the curry fish head from 77 (Stall 16) and it tasted just as good! A little more spicy compared to Century but a different flavour entirely - lesser of the coconut and milk content.

Small pot with 4 plates of rice - RM36

7. Ikan Bakar Sin Kee

BBQ stingray and sotong are our favourite and must order even though I know I am not able to hold the sambal chilli well. It is spicy but delicious and the meat is tender and fresh.

Grilled stingray and sotong - Rm42

Cedar Point Food Court - a gem near JB city centre. Worth a visit if you are shopping at KSL. If you are lucky, you may be entertained by the 'live' singing from the small stage. Do note that the food court is half sheltered. On clear nights, you get to dine under the night sky where it is more airy, however seating tends to be limited on rainy days.

Cedar Point Food Court (食得福美食中心)

Address: Jalan Musang Bulan 2-16, Taman Century, 80250 Johor Bahru

(Near Grand Paragon Hotel)

GPS: 1.4811569,103.7607939

Visit Date: Jun 2018

TANBA Japanese BBQ (炭馬烧肉专门店) @ Taman Molek & Twin Galaxy - [JB]

2018-10-21T11:39:00.002+08:00

We have been hunting for good Japanese Buffet in Johor Bahru but unfortunately there are not many available. Thanks to Tony (Johor Kaki), he recommended us to go to TANBA - Japanese BBQ (available in buffet as well as ala carte style). There are 2 outlets in JB - Taman Molek and Twin Galaxy @ Jalan Dato' Abdullah Tahir. We have been to both outlets and I would say both offer rather prompt service and similar food quality. In terms of the interior of the restaurant, the outlet at Twin Galaxy stands out more which offers more seating, plus it is closer to JB CIQ, hence it is more accessible for those who are shopping around City Square and KSL shopping malls.

In terms of parking, there are ample parking lots directly outside the outlet at Taman Molek. If you are driving to Twin Galaxy, there are a few parking lots at the ground level (outside TANBA), we were lucky to secure a lot and paid the man managing the parking lots RM5. Otherwise, I believe there are also parking lots available in the basement levels.

TANBA @ Taman Molek

Interior of TANBA - Taman Molek

Even though age is catching up on us and we may not be able to eat as much as we can like before, buffet still offers an all in option at a fixed price where we can eat to our hearts content without worrying about ordering too much and end up paying more than we would like to.

TANBA Menu and Price information

Dinner pricing is about RM98++ (~SGD35) per pax which is a very attractive and affordable as you can pick all the items on the 2-page buffet menu which includes salad, bbq vegetables, sashimi, sushi, handrolls, soups, rice, fried food, dessert and a wide variety of meat selection (including Top A5 graded Wagyu Beef)! From premium beef karubi, lamb shank, ostrich meat to beef short plate, pork belly, pork neck, grill chicken, scallops, tiger prawns and many more! Free flow of green tea (cold or hot) is available as well.

What is even more heartening to know is TANBA BBQ uses charcoal for customers to grill their food! This definitely ensure our food are cooked to the best flavour! Each BBQ pit has its own air vent to suck out the smoke from the grilling so it is not overly smoky when dining at the air-conditioned restaurant. Plus staff are pretty prompt in changing the grilling mesh and charcoal when requested.

Lets take a look at the food selection!

You can choose to BBQ your own vegetables - and they have a good selection of it. (Brocooli, miso ladies finger, shitake mushroom, butter pumkin etc). We prefer to order the cooked ones to leave the grilling space for our meat! Each dish comes in small portion that is enough for our pax of 4 to share. So far all the cooked dishes are very delicious (especially if you love the buttery taste) and it is a good starter while waiting for our meat to be cooked.

Bacon Roll with Broccoli (BBQ)

Bacon Roll with Enoki Mushroom (BBQ)

Butter Broccoli (Cooked)

Butter Abalone Mushroom (Cooked)

Creamy Spinach

Other fried food are also tasty to order! I love the Takoyaki most!

Fried Fish Skin

Takoyaki

Tori Karaage

Duck Man (Smoked Duck Bun)

Japanese buffet is never complete without sashimi and sushi! TANBA offers four fresh selection of sashimi - Salmon Sashimi, Salmon Belly Sashimi (limited stock), Maguro Sahimi, and Shiro Maguro Sashimi. Thick and fresh slices to satisfy our craving for sashimi!

Their sushi and handrolls are also good! As we have to reserve our tummies for our grilled meat, sushi are not our main orders.

Aburi Salmon Sushi

TANBA offers Fried Salmon, California and Soft Shell Crab Temaki

There are also soup selection - Kimchi, Miso and Tamago. A good choice to go with rice.

The main highlight of TANBA BBQ for me is their meat selection! Apart from choosing your choices of meat, you can also choose the sauce to go with it (garlic, sweet sauce, shichuan mala, korean spicy, black pepper etc).

Smoked Duck

Honestly, I got confused when all the meat dishes are served on our table. We ordered a variety of pork and beef combi with different sauces! Normally I prefer to eat the meat in its natural flavour but the sauces does make the meat taste sweeter so I have no complains. Each meat is thinly sliced which make it easy to be cooked.

Grill Surume Ika, Grill Dorry Fish and Grill Salmon Cubes

Usually we try not to order rice as it makes us feel fuller but I thought a small bowl of Bacon Garlic Fried Rice would not harm. You can also choose Kimchi Fried Rice, , Rice with BBQ Sauce or plain white rice.

Grilling in process.

To date, we have visited TANBA on three different occasions to celebrate our birthday months and we really love the food and the ambiance of the restaurant. There are so much more that we have yet to try but we are sure to be back again.

TANBA (炭馬烧肉专门店)

Address:

Outlet 1: Twin Galaxy, Jalan Dato' Abdullah Tahir, Johor Bahru (GPS: 1.4779647,103.7608974)

Outlet 2: 31, Jalan Molek 3/20, Taman Molek, Johor Bahru (GPS: 1.5194588,103.7836396)

Buffet Pricing

Weekday (Monday - Friday)

Lunch : RM78++ (12pm - 5pm)

Dinner: RM98++ (5pm - 11pm)

Weekend & Public Holiday

Lunch : RM88++ (12pm - 5pm)

Dinner: RM98++ (5pm - 11pm)

Children (0-5yo) - FREE

Primary Student (6-12yo) - Half Price

Elderly (60yo & Above) - 10% Discount

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanbabbq/

Visited: May, Jun, Aug 2018

[SG] Neon Jungle Date with Hubby @ Supertree Grove (Gardens by the Bay)

2018-10-20T10:58:00.000+08:00

[Media Invite]

Hubby and I rarely have couple time as we often bring our children along wherever we go. Hence, it was a rare opportunity where we get to spend our Friday night together. We headed down to Gardens by the Bay to check out whats happening at the Supertree Grove as we heard endangered wildlife animals from Southeast Asia have step into the Neon Jungle.

It was a night of music, food, live performances and fun. You will find neon illuminations surrounding the Supertree Grove.

Neon Night Market has booths offering handmade goods, upcycled creations, eco-friendly products and bites/snacks.

Cute & lovely handmade goods

Venom + Spidey! Plus other character keychains

VR Game + Halloween Mask creation

Annette Ice-Cream on Wheels caught our eyes and we could not resist trying their Merlion Ice-cream that comes in 5 different flavours at $5 each. Hubby got the Durian flavour while I picked Mango.

Do not miss the Neon Room where you can have a game of Neon Jenga or touch up the Neon Wall with your drawings or pen down your notes.

At the Supertree Grove lawn, you will find food/beverage booths. Visitors can snack and enjoy a drink as they immerse into the tunes from popular musical numbers under the spectacular Supertrees as they illuminate the night sky.

We grabbed ourselves a cup of Saiko Butter Brew! Absolutely butter-licious and refreshing!

Hubby and I enjoying the Live stage performances by young local talents!

Garden Rhapsody is forever enchanting and mesmerizing as crowd gather at the Supertree Grove Lawn nightly. (Daily performances at 7.45pm & 8.45pm). It was an evening of musical theatre as we hear familiar musical numbers like Les Miserables, and Chicago.

Hubby and I strolled through Supertree Grove to check out the various neon light installations in the form of endangered animals. This help to raises awareness of how deforestation causes imbalance in the ecosystem and puts more than 100 wildlife species at the risk of extinction.

More Neon Lights

Hubby and I enjoyed the ice-cream treat and had a relaxing evening chilling out! It's nice to have some personal time for ourselves without needing to rush.

More exciting activities happening at Supertree Grove these two weekends! From Circus Street Performances by Bornfire Singapore, Recycling Jam, Jungle Beats with DJ Fadz to SGIFF Moonlight Cinema where there are two outdoor free screenings of coming-of-age films.

For full programme, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/neonjungle

NEON JUNGLE

Date: 19 October - 28 October 2018

Time: 430pm - 11pm (19 - 21 Oct), 6pm - 11pm (22 - 28 Oct)
Location: Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay

[SG] Arbora - New Hilltop Dining @ Faber Peak Singapore

2018-10-14T14:27:00.000+08:00

[Media Invite]

12 October 2018 - Perched atop the lush greenery of Mount Faber Park is ARBORA (formally known as Spuds & Apron) - a new unique hilltop garden dining experience sets in the nautral setting of tranquility and photo-perfect skyline backdrop. Behold the majestic views of the rainforest hillside, Harbourfront and Sentosa from its vantage location.

Arbora is inspired by the Latin word 'arbor' which refers to trees or a leafy enclosure formed by shrubs and tree branches. Surrounded by Mount Faber Park which sprawls over 40 hectares of verdant treetops and home to a variety of flora and fauna, the name fits perfectly with its distinguished location

We are delighted to witness the launch of Arbora where guests can look forward to a (re)treat at the new all-day garden dining restaurant.

Wonderful performance by Shili & Adi - the talented duo who have such versatility in different genres of music! They even had a new rendition of Baby Shark!

Our family was particularly excited to be back as everyone has been so tied up with work and studies for the past few months. It is indeed a perfect place to escape from the city to relax and enjoy a breather at the hilltop sanctuary.

New floral garden theme feature wall at the Koi pond. Great place to take pictures with your loved ones.

Arbora offers a variety of refreshing drinks - fresh-pressed juices, craft beers and botanical-inspired cocktails making in an ideal place to hang out for the health-conscious, as well as craft beer lovers and cocktail connoisseurs.

I find Arbora's Signature Cocktail - Botanic Zest a delight as it is extremely easy, breezy and refreshing. Featuring juniper berries and fresh young julienned ginger infused with honey mixed in Roku Gin (crafted from 6 unique Japanese botanicals), the cocktail holds all the goodness of a spirits with none of that burn.

Arbora now offers an all-day dining menu with more than 35 selections that includes delectable starters, entrees, and desserts created by Executive Chef Kenny Yeo. Let's check out what are some of the chef's recommendation!

DESSERT

Chempedak Bread & Butter - A sweet dessert that infused local fruit Chempedak into the croissant bread & butter pudding. Even though I do not fancy the scent and taste of Chempedak on its own, I was rather surprised by how the flavour blends in which is not overpowering.

SALADS

Garlic Tiger Prawns - my personal favourite starter! Sauteed sea prawns with salad leaves, olive oil and garlic!

Classic Caesar Salad - an all time favourite filled with delights. Romaine lettuce, bacon steak, quail eggs, croutons top with caesar dressing. An awesome choice to start your meal.

Wild Mushroom - assorted mushrooms with salad leaves

MAINS

Braised Beef Cheek - Tender beef with slow-braised Au Jus, and seasonal vegetables and mashed potato.

Rack of Lamb - Char-grilled lamb rack top with prune sauce and serve with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes.

Tomahawk Pork Rib - This is our family's favourite mains! The premium tomahawk meat is so tender-licious, juicy and delectable that we had to go for more servings.

PASTAS

I can safely say if my children were to revisit Arbora, this will definitely be the dish they will order - Smoked Duck Mushroom Ragout! They love it so much that they had a few more plates before they had to put a stop cos of an extremely filled tummy. The aroma from the cream sauce mixed with mushrooms and spinach leaves already enticed our stomachs from afar. Plus topping it with slice of smoke duck and cheese, we could not resist our temptations. Taste of the creamy spaghetti is awesome without a doubt and definitely one of the best pasta we had for a long while.

Dining at Arbora is causal and relaxing, suitable for families and friends to gather and wind down. Arbora's interior decor blends in with the nature allowing the natural surroundings to take centre stage. Whether it is day or night, you get panoramic views of HarbourFront & Sentosa. It has indoors and alfresco seating and is open for private bookings.

OPENING PROMOTIONS

To celebrate the opening of Arbora, the restaurant is offering a complimentary snack or salad to diners who order any two mains from the menu. On top of that, diners can also take this opportunity to try the signature Arbora craft beers at a promotional price of S$30++ for 3 bottles (U.P. S$36++). Visit www.onefabergroup.com/arbora to find out more details on the promotions.

Getting There
- Hop onto the Singapore Cable Car from HarbourFrong Tower 2 [5-minute walk via HarbourFront MRT Exit B] to Mount Faber Station.
- Drive up Mount Faber Road to Faber Peak Singapore, located just 15-minute from the city.

ARBORA

Address: 109 Mount Faber Road, S099203 (Level 2)

Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm (Daily)

Tel: (65) 6377 9688

Website: https://www.onefabergroup.com/arbora

[SG] Newly Rebranded Orchard Rendezvous Hotel Unveils

2018-09-23T15:07:00.000+08:00

[Media Invite]

19 September 2018 - Orchard Rendezvous Hotel (formally known as Orchard Parade Hotel) has recently completed its refurbishment project, giving the rooms a brand new refreshed look and comfort for all travellers.

Strategically located at the start of Orchard Road, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel is close proximity to MRT, Orchard shopping district and UNESCO World Heritage Site - Singapore Botanic Gardens. Drawing inspirations from neighbouring Botanical Gardens, the botanical theme hotel offers guests a garden-like retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Orchard Rendezvous Hotel will be the second property under the Rendezvous brand in Singapore.

The original hotel building was developed on a plot of old pepper plantation, hence the interiors of the new Orchard Rendezvous Hotel drew inspiration from this historical significance and incorporated elements of the pepper plant within the premises. As you step into the hotel lobby, look up and you will find the pepper leaf chandelier. Not forgetting the pepper plant motif in all the 388 rooms.

To commemorate the rebranding, Far East Hospitality has worked with the Orchid Society of South East Asia (OSSEA) to commission an orchid for Orchard Rendezvouse Hotel - Vanda Orchard Rendezvous. The orchid is a two-toned cross-hybrid of Vanda Pieces of Eight and Vanda Rasri Gold. You can find them on level six - outdoor swimming pool area.

Orchard Rendezvous Hotel is also partnering local art organisation, Sense of Arts, for handmade and personalised pressed orchid products like cards and stationeries which guests can bring home and memorialise their stay.

Enjoy a dip in the newly upgraded outdoor swimming pool which opens from 7am to 11pm

Hubby and I attended the Media Preview and this is the welcome drink for the night - Verbena Bloom - a light mix of verbena flower tea and orange juice.

We went on a room tour to check out what are conceal beneath the orche facade of the hotel.

I must applaud for the spacious rooms (from 26 sqm to 68 sqm) Orchard Rendezvous Hotel has to offer. It gives travellers (especially family travellers like us) ample walking space and place to hold our luggage. The modern contemporary classic designed rooms are bright, clean and cozy.

Club Room (Level 15 - 17) - 30sqm

Club Suite - 43sqm

Apart from the bigger rooms, even the toilets are spacious! Apart from the walk-in wardrobe, it also felt like a walk-in bathroom!

Guests who stay in Club Room or Club Suite has access to the Club Lounge with daily breakfast and enjoy cocktails at night.

Superior Room - 26sqm

Family Room is my personal favourite configuration in the hotel. You feel back at home upon entering the spacious interior which also has a separate TV and dining area! Family with younger children can go for the bunk bed or you can choose to have single beds for larger families. Soft toys and black board in the room adds a soft touch to the space and makes it so welcoming for the little ones.

Family Room with Bunk Bed - 50sqm

The bathroom is equally spacious with separate shower and bathing area. Children will enjoy their bubble bath with the little rubber ducky by the tub!

One Bedroom Deluxe Suite - 57sqm

This room is a gem as it is like an apartment which comes with kitchenette, including a full-size fridge, microwave and coffee/tea-making facilities. suitable for travellers on longer extended stay. Bathroom is extremely spacious and it has separated shower and bathroom areas.

Video tour of the newly refurbished rooms in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel

ORCHARD RENDEZVOUS HOTEL

1 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247905

Hotel: +65 6737 1133

Website: http://www.stayfareast.com/en/hotels/orchard-rendezvous-hotel

Claypot meals @ Goody Soup Restaurant (好汤头) - Johor Jaya - [JB]

2018-08-24T21:17:00.000+08:00

There are many great eateries around Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Austin Heights. If you like claypot dishes, Goody Soup Restaurant (好汤头) is a good choice that you can consider. We arrived a little late that afternoon, about half an hour before they close for resting. Even so, there are still customers coming in after us and placing their orders.

Goody Soup has a variety of claypot dishes and we ordered a nice hot pot filled with mixed vegetable, mushroom and meat. Taste is pretty good and not overly salty. It is perfect to go with rice.

東坡肉 (Dongpo Meat) is one of our favourite dish and a must order.

Instead of plain rice, Goody Soup comes with minced meat rice!

A simple and warm home cook meal for all to share and it is reasonably priced. Total Spending - RM42 (~SGD14.50)

Goody Soup Restaurant

Opening Hours: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Address: 96 Jalan Ros Merah 2/17 Taman Johor Jaya Johor Bahru 81100 Malaysia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlhy89.yahoo.com.sg/

GPS: 1.5360091, 103.7927152

Visit Date: Mar 2018

Sweet Delights at The Sunbird Cafe @ Johor Jaya - [JB]

2018-08-22T12:12:00.002+08:00

Crossing the border to Johor Bahru always feel like a staycation for our family. We love to go food hunting and cafe hopping to relax our bodies, minds and tummies. On one of our trips, we found a delightful place where you can enjoy good homemade desserts and light meals.

The Sunbird Cafe is a hidden gem tucked quietly on the 2nd floor along the shophouses at Taman Johor Jaya. Do keep a look out for the signboard in order not to miss it, and it's truly worth climbing that flight of stairs up as surprises begin to unfold.

Stepping into the cafe, I love how the light colours and natural lighting blends in beautifully with the wooden furniture. Its simple decor with personal touches added to every corner and space, gave the cafe a cozy and homely feel.

We arrived early on a Sunday morning for our brunch, and am happy to spend some quiet moments before we drive home. Though the list on the menu is simple, I applaud the owners for the thoughtfulness they have put in to present each dish.

We had some drinks first before digging into our rice bowls and dessert.

Earl Grey Milk Tea - RM 9

Korea AppleTea - RM9, Lemon Tea - RM8

Elderflower Lemonade - RM12

My personal favourite drink and it is refreshing and fizzy!

Rice Bowls from The Sunbird Cafe. Pretty filling and all of them are delicious!

"Cat Style" Fish Rice (猫饭) - RM19.90

Fragrant savory rice filled with chopped fish and topped with homemade cucumber pickles.

Chicken & Corn Rice (鸡吃玉米饭) - RM16.90

Nice choice for children who loves corn and chicken!

Spicy Thai Minced Pork Rice (泰式猪肉碎饭) - RM15.90

This reminds me of the spicy version of Taiwanese braised pork rice

Ah Sao's Pork Dumpling (阿嫂猪肉饺子) - RM12.90

Delicious plate of dumplings for all to share.

Apart from the list on the menu, do go forward to the dessert counter and check out the delicious dessert! One of them is Chendol Cheesecake! I like how our favourite local dessert is mixed with cheesecake. Sweetness from the gula melaka with bites of chendol within, combined with the richness of the cheese, give the overall taste, texture and flavour an added boost.

Matcha Cake - Hubby likes this too as it is not overly sweet and the texture is just nice.

I like the ambiance and food at The Sunbird Cafe. Would love to come back again for their cakes and dessert.

The Sunbird Cafe

Address: 23-01, Jalan Ros Merah 2/8, Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru

GPS: 1.532052, 103.793370

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesunbirdcafe.my/

Visit Date: Jun 2018

Review - W EYExperience with WOptics

2018-08-18T14:38:00.000+08:00

We often say "The eyes are the windows to the soul". The human eye is a vital organ which plays an important role to give us the sense of sight, connecting us to the surroundings. As parents, we are very concerned with how our children's eye conditions are progressing but oddly, we tend to overlook ourselves - and our eyes.

Hubby and I are over 40 years old and have been wearing glasses for more than 20 years. We go for our health screening regularly once we hit the 40 mark, but our eyes being an important part of our body, should not be forgotten and should require regular eye care and checks as well.

Do you know that as we age (especially aged 40 and above), our eyes are more susceptible to eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy which may not have any symptoms in the early stages. Hence, regular eye examination is essential for early detection and effective treatment.

Hubby and I have been wearing our current pair of glasses for more than 1.5 years and you know it is time to change your glasses when you are squinting and your lenses are scuffed or scratched. We are excited to visit W OPTICS - Suntec City outlet to make our new pair of glasses and have our eyes examined!

W Optics offers eye examination that is tailored to an individual's lifestyle and vision needs. The W
EYExperience - is a comprehensive 30-minute eye examination (SGD 80) that takes the patient through a battery of six tests, which includes 5 clinical grade equipment. This latest service demonstrates W Optics commitment in placing customer's eye health first and foremost. Customers are advised to book an appointment prior to visiting to avoid disappointment. Hubby and I arrived earlier than the designated time, hence we explored the store while waiting for our eye examination.

W OPTICS SUNTEC CITY - Stepping into the 5000 sq ft flagship store located at #01-400 (West Wing), I was pretty impressed by its bright, spacious and cozy layout. Customers will be spoiled for choices with the myriad of vision solutions brands available to pick from.

There are sofas at the back of the store for customers to rest while waiting to be attended to. It also acts as a forum space for holding public talks!

Kids' Corner is a dedicated space for the younger ones where they can interact with the interactive wall visuals and learn about myopia and how to keep it under control. W Optics is one of the few optical retail chains in Singapore to offer myopia control services for children in its Myopia Control Centre, located at this flagship store.

Customers can also check out the various lens solutions available to suit their needs and consult with an eyecare professional.

Essilor Nautilus VR Experience - Experience the different effects of lenses through augmented reality. This is only available at Suntec City store, which, unlike traditional optical stores, offers experiential and interactive zones. They also have another area called the VR Vision Studio.

W EYExperience

We did not wait for long before our assigned optometrists welcome us warmly. W Optics optometrists have an average of 14.7 years of job experience with the longest tagged at 31 years. I was examined by a senior optometrist who has about 30 years of experience in the field.

First, our current spectacles are checked and personal particulars noted down.

History taking is important and essential as the optometrist checked on our eye condition, medical history and life-style.

What are the 6 Tests of the W Optic's Comprehensive Eye Examination and what it does?

1. Objective & Subjective Refraction

2. Vision Function

3. Amsler Grid

4. Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy

5. Tonometry

6. Fundus Photography

Objective Refraction - checking the eyes for auto refraction and perform Keratometry reading to measure corneal curvature.

Subjective Refraction - we proceed to another room where we were asked to read from a Snellen Chart and a series of questions were directed at us, coupled with the optometrist trying on different combination of lenses to get the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Throughout the process, the optometrists were patient and detailed as they check for myopia/hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, pupillary distance and dominant eye.

The optometrists were approachable and patient in answering my queries.

I was worried that I am developing presbyopia (老花眼) already as I was not able to see the smaller prints at reading distance. Thankfully, the optometrist only mentioned that my myopia condition has not escalated even though there is a slight increase in astigmatism.

Hubby has already developed presbyopia and needs to do more checks.

Vision Function - checks for squint eye, lazy eye and colour deficiency

Amsler Grid - helps to test for macular degeneration. Consult your eye care professional if you spot holes/blurry spots or if the lines appear wavy, distorted or broken when you focus on the black dot with one side of the eye covered.

Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy - this instrument examines our eyes for abnormalities, aiding in checking contact lens fitting, cornea integrity, dry eyes, anterior chamber angle, eye lids condition and crystalline lens health (cataract).

Tonometry - this instrument checks for eye pressure (Intraocular pressure) by administering a puff of air into each eye. The reading is important as it helps to evaluate if we are at risk of glaucoma or vision condition. Having too high or too low range is not normal!

Fundus Photography - Based on the photograph of the interior surface of my eye, the optometrist checks on my retina and macular health. Good news that my eyes are still in good state of health!

We took more than 30 minutes (~ 45 to 60 mins) to complete our comprehensive eye examination! Hubby and I were impressed by the professionalism of the optometrists who made the entire process smooth and swift. Along the way we had queries but they were all patiently answered and explained. Through this eye examination, I have also gained more knowledge and awareness on which is my dominant eye and how is the condition of my eyes/vision.

OUR OPTICAL SOLUTION

After our eye examination, the optometrists provided us with optical solutions suitable for our visual needs. As I spend a fair amount of time on digital screens, Crizal Eyezen is the most beneficial in protecting my eyes by filtering out the harmful blue light and relax my eyes in front of screens, helping me to see more clearly and comfortably.

Hubby, on the other hand, needs progressive lenses as he has presbyopia. Varilux® X series is currently Varilux's best progressive lens allowing you to seamlessly capture every detail within arm's reach or beyond with high precision. It allows spectacles wearers to enjoy the sharpness, continuous vision and fluidity from near to far. Hubby is looking forward to enjoy perfect vision regardless the distance.

We were hesitant when it comes to choosing the right frame and this took a lot of time! It was already rather late into the night but the optometrist and the staff were very patient and did not rush us.

We were looking at STEALER Eyewear - an upcoming Korean brand offering stainless steel and titanium glasses to give an industrial and modern look.

We have been wearing rectangular frames for ages and this time we did a switch and picked round frames instead. Hopefully we still look young and good!

COLLECTION OF GLASSES

After about 2 weeks, we received a text message informing us our glasses are ready for collection! We headed down to W Optics and am happy to try out our new glasses! I thought Hubby looks cuter with his new frame.

I think the round frame softens my look and makes me look more gentle and approachable.

We were awed as it has been so long since we had such clear vision! The surroundings appear brighter and sharper. I can even read the smallest letters (N5) at reading distance with ease!

The optometrist helped us with the final adjustments needed for our glasses: we were prescribed the Varilux X Track + Crizal Transition Lens - it even comes with a card to test how sharp our vision had became!

Thank you W Optics for the wonderful experience and the very much needed optical solution to improve our lifestyle!

W Optics have several outlets around Singapore. Check out their website for more details.

W Optics

Suntec City Store

3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-400, Suntec City, S038983

Website: http://woptics.sg/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/woptics

Instagram: @woptics
Official Hashtags: #WOptics, #WEYExperienceSG

* Disclosure: We were provided with comprehensive eye examinations and spectacles for review purpose. All comments and opinions are personal and no monetary compensation was received.

Taiwan 8D7N Free & Easy Tour - MaoKong (猫空)

2018-08-14T19:29:00.002+08:00

Finally.. into our last league of our 8D7N free and easy tour in Taiwan. It took me longer than expected to finish this but that's alright because it has been a wonderful journey recalling our wonderful trip back then and we are going for another exciting trip this December!

Visiting MaoKong (猫空) on our second last day in Taiwan. The quaint village, popular for tea culture is situated at the top of a mountain. It is also a great place to catch the scenic view of Taipei city.

We took the Wenshan-Neihu (Brown) Line to Taipei Zoo Station.

Take Exit 2 to Maokong Gondola Station

It is about 350 meters walk to the entrance of Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station.

Maokong Gondola was built in 2007 and it is Taipei City first gondola system. Since then, it has been a popular attraction providing stunning views of Taipei City.

Mountain view

View of Taipei 101

View of Taipei City

Maokong - 猫空

It was a sunny day and we just need to have an ice-cream first before we start our walk.

There are a few walking trails at Maokong and many like to come here to hike as well. Unfortunately, due to time constrain, we did not walk very deep and far into the trail.

猫空樟树步道 - This is the nearest trail to the Maokong station. It is also very well paved and easy for us to walk. Unfortunately, there are not many trees along the pathways to shelter us from the heat. An evening walk by this path should be more relaxing.

Awesome scenery along the trail

View of Taipei 101 within our sight.

This is the furthest we walked as we need to U-turn and head down to Taipei 101 later that day. Would suggest you set more hours aside if you plan to explore Maokong.

Trying to have some fun shots as we got tired of walking :)

Jump shots at Maokong Station

We took the "Eyes of Maokong Gondola" aka crystal (glass bottom) cabin on our return trip. Not for the faint-hearted especially those fearful of heights. However, the experience is indescribable as you get a clear view of the landscape through the see through glass as it climbs over the mountains.

Astonishing view of Taipei city. I can imagine how gorgeous it will be when the lights lit up at night.

Maokong Gondola Cabin

We will miss the scenery from the top. If you are not sure what to do at Maokong, check out this link which included a few sample travel plans that might suit you on your next visit.

Check out our Taiwan 8D7N itinerary

Maokong Gondola

Website - https://www.gondola.taipei/

Visited in Nov 2016

[SG] - Japan Park Singapore 2018

2018-08-03T23:11:00.000+08:00

[Media Invite]

Japan - is always one of the top country on our kiddos' mind when it comes to the next destination of travel. Apart from being a big fan of Japanese cuisine, the children grew up playing Vanguard cards, watching manga and our girl is deeply immerse in anime.

JAPAN PARK SINGAPORE, an all-in-one Japan event allows you to experience Japanese food, travel, traditional culture, entertainment, sports at the same time! Held at Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, the 2-day convention brings an assembly of the best offerings from Japan’s 47 Prefectures curated into 6 Zones, namely WA-Shiok Gourmet Festa, Discover Japan, Technology & Lifestyle, Omakase Stage, Kids Sports and CharaExpo Mini.

JPSG 2018 Group Photo

Check out the timetable so that you won't miss your favourite event! Catch Joseph Schooling at JPSG tomorrow at 1pm! If you are into cosplay, do not miss the talk show by Kaname & Enako on Sunday!

Learn about the 47 prefectures at JPSG

CharaExpo Mini Zone

Our boy grew up with Vanguard ! We still hold the first edition of the cards when it started in 2011. Time flies!

WA-Shiok Gourmet Festa - Do not miss out Keisuke's booth serving Queen & King Ramen on Saturday and Sunday respectively! Do note that there are only 500 bowls each day! Head for this first to avoid disappointment.

This bowl of Queen Ramen is filled with goodness! The soup base is made with chicken broth and 5 kinds of clams giving a very rich seafood flavour! Served with thick slices of Kagoshima Black Pork Chashu, every bite is simply heavenly! Did I mention the fish ball with clams is so tender and tasty? Not forgetting the Osyter Confit, Mussel steam with sake and onsen egg that is made to perfection.

Thumbs up for Queen Ramen!

Ginza Lion's Roast Beef Don - perfect for those who like rice bowl

Lots of roast beef slices top with wasabi sauce and egg.

Teppei Syokudo - Chicken Nanban served with rice is also pretty delicious. Good choice for the little ones.

Omakase Stage - A series of performances (including talk shows, songs and dance, Sumi Art Live Drawing etc) will be happening at the stage area during the weekend.

We are privilege to catch the Japanese traditional dance performance by legendary figure, Nishikawa Ukon along with his students.

The children also enjoyed live performance by Kiwako Ashimine, an aspiring 20 year old Okinawan singer.

Discover Japan - Fell in love with the Daruma when we passed by Takasaki booth! If only I can bring one back home :)

Do you know that Daruma's eyebrows are represented by crames, its beard by turtles and its round shape represents happiness? Notice that the eyes are white? Colour in the right eye (as it is facing you) with black ink. This is called "Kaigan", meaning the "eye opening". Once your wish is fufilled, colour in the other eye of your Daruma to show your appreciation, thus "opening" both its eyes. Each colour also has a different charm. For example : Red is for safety, good fortune and victory while a blue Daruma represent successful life, independent and job securement.

We heard a lot about Ninja, but never knew there is actually a city of Ninja! At Koka City booth, you can also try your aiming skill with the shurikens.

What attracted me more are these cuties! Aren't they adorable!

Lifestyle & Technology - Learn the discipline and process of Japanese Tea Ceremony at the SAMURAI Room.

Play, Get and Taste a selection from 47 prefectures at Japan Park Singapore 2018!

JAPAN PARK SINGAPORE 2018

Date: 4 - 5 August 2018

Location: Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, Level 4, Halls 403 and 404

Admission: Ticketing Prices applies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japanparksg/

Website: https://jpsg.asia/