Holiday travel tips and experiences

Uniquely Singapore - Chinatown Singapore Attraction

2018-12-02T20:50:00.000+08:00

A short stroll in Chinatown Singapore

Chinatown Singapore - a man resting

Chinatown Singapore is a historical settlement area for many Chinese immigrants. Today Chinatown Singapore is a tourist attraction that is considered a uniquely Singapore attraction.

Street of Chinatown - lantern festival

Lanterns adorn the street

Lanterns everywhere

Here you can discover restaurants aplenty, tourist attractions and many other interesting finds.

Some interesting finds

If you start from URA centre at Maxwell Road, you can check out the enormous model replica of Singapore at the Singapore City Gallery. Situated between historic Chinatown Singapore and the Central Business District, this allows visitors to get a complete view of the Central Area of Singapore and also the city’s physical transformation past, present and future.

Moving on to South Bridge Road, you will be greeted by a few religious buildings within walking distance from each other.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is immediately noticeable with its solid gold two-metre stupa on the fourth floor where its sacred relic is kept. This Singapore attraction Buddhist Temple houses 300 Buddhist artefacts from Asia. If you would like to know more, you can join the free English language tour which is conducted every Tuesday and Thursday. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Buddha Tooth Relic temple against a backdrop of public housing

Located on Smith Street, Chinatown Food Street provides alfresco dining. The high ceiling glass canopy provides shelter from the weather elements. The Chinatown Food Street seeks to bring back the nostalgic street dining from yesteryears.

View of Sri Mariamman Temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Moving a short distance along South Bridge Road near Pagoda Street, you will come across the Sri Mariamman Temple. One of the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore, this uniquely Singapore tourist attraction stands out for its many colourful sculptures of Hindu deities making a great photo opportunity, especially the landmark entrance tower. The fire-walking festival, Theemithi, is celebrated at this temple annually.

Sri Mariamman Temple - landmark entrance tower

Sri Mariamman temple surrounding

Trengganu Street is now a pedestrian mall where you can find stalls selling knick knacks of sorts. Soak in the atmosphere of the old Chinatown as you search for that special souvenir for your loved ones.

Chinatown Singapore

Peranakan influence

Shops

Entrance to the food street

Antiques

Busy Chinatown street

Chinatown mosque - Masjid Jamae

One of Singapore’s oldest mosque, Masjid Jamae or Masjid Chulia is another Singapore landmark. Established in 1826, Masjid Jamae is one of the approved mosques in Singapore to conduct the yearly sacrificial event.

Old shophouses

One of the new kid on the block - a shopping centre

Chinatown Singapore used to be where the Chinese immigrants gathered and settled in the early years. Rich in history, you will find souvenir shops, antiques and boutiques as you stroll through the area which is a uniquely Singapore tourist attraction.

London Four Seasons Restaurant - London Hidden Gems

2018-10-07T21:17:00.003+08:00

Four Seasons Restaurant London

When in London eating is a big thing. We were given a list of the London hidden gems that we needed to try and London Four Seasons Restaurant was on that list. :)

Interior

We visited the Baywater branch and being the second day of Chinese New Year, this London Chinese restaurant was almost fully booked as expected.

Four Seasons Restaurant menu

Reservations was made for an early 5.30pm dinner. As it was still early, the restaurant was still quite empty. We were ushered to a table near the back where the three of us had to squeeze in between two occupied tables and it was very cramped. Fortunately they accommodated our request to be shifted to another table, albeit with great reluctance.

Vegetable menu

History of Four Seasons Restaurant

Table setting

Service seemed to be somewhat rough. As we were seated near the entrance, we witnessed a few incidences where we felt that the service standard could be improved.

Peking duck

Peking duck with its condiments

Fried rice

Vegetable dish

Noodles

Roast duck - yummy

As the restaurant is famous for their duck dishes, we ordered the peking duck, roasted duck, a vegetable dish, fried rice and noodles. This was a bit overdoing it and not surprising that we could not do justice to the dishes.

Our dishes

The roasted duck was good! This is what they are known for and if you like duck, this would be a great dish. Peking duck is the duck skin which is cooked to a crisp and wrapped in a crepe skin with cucumber, spring onion and black sauce. Felt that the skin was not as crisp as it could be.

Menu at entrance

Chinese New Year menu

Other than that, other dishes were alright and heard that there are other London hidden gems of food outlets that would create a better London eating experience.

Roasted meat as can be seen from the roadside

Windpoint Lighthouse - Racine

2018-09-23T21:54:00.001+08:00

WInd Point Lighthouse Racine

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wind Point Lighthouse Racine is one of the oldest and tallest active lighthouses on the Great Lakes. It is located in the Village of Windpoint in Racine County, USA.

Wind Point Lighthouse - National Register of Historic Places

Built in 1880, the Windpoint Lighthouse stands at 108 feet tall with 144 cast iron steps. November 15, 1880 marks the day that the Lighthouse was lit for the very first time.

Wind Point Lighthouse

Foghorn Museum

Brick garden walkway

We were there during the winter and thus was not able to view the beautiful brick garden walkway near the lakeshore.

Fuel Building

Fuel House

In the olden days, Lighthouse keepers and their assistants took turns to ensure that the light of the Lighthouse remained on. Fuel for the kerosene lamp had to be carried up daily until 1924 when the lights were electrified. In 1964, the lights were automated so that Lighthouse keepers were no longer required.

View of Lake Michigan

Beautiful views

If you are planning a visit to the Windpoint Lighthouse in Racine, would highly recommend making a reservation to visit the Wingspread House by Frank Lloyd Wright, another historic site, and then dropping by the Windpoint Lighthouse which is just a short distance away.

Borough Market - London Hidden Gems

2018-07-29T21:31:00.000+08:00

Borough Market

One of London's most renowned wholesale and retail market, Borough Market is located in Southwark, London, England. Within walking distance from the London Bridge, Borough Market is one of the oldest and largest food market in London, making it a popular tourist destination.

Another entrance to Borough Market

Still early in the morning and not fully set up yet

Starting to set up

Various international cuisine

Indian food

Asian food

Freshly baked bread

Baking lessons available too

Food....

Here you can find lots of stalls and shops with cuisines from all over the world. A number of specialty stalls sell oysters, cheese, chocolates, truffles, and many more.

Meats...

Free smell... truffle

More bread

Fresh fruits

Borough Market

More meats

Borough Market retail operating hours

Cheese

And more cheese

You will likely find a queue comprising Londoners as well as tourists at the Monmouth Coffee Company.

Monmouth Coffee Company

The queue outside Monmouth

Besides food, you can also find fresh flowers and gift ideas.

Flowers

Part of the interior of Borough Market

Fresh fruits

Cheeses

Free smells for truffle available. :P

Truffle

Free smell allowed

Fresh vegetables

Yummy oysters

Malaysian food

Juices

With an amazing array of food, Borough Market, London, England, is a must-visit for foodies, as it specializes mainly in speciality foods. Full of life and great choices!

Duck and Waffle, London : Breakfast with a view

2018-07-17T22:00:00.004+08:00

Duck & Waffle

Situated atop the 40th floor of Heron Tower in London, England, Duck and Waffle is a wonderful place to go for awesome views. Remember to make your reservations way in advance. We made a reservation almost a week in advance and only able to get an early 7.15am breakfast slot on a Friday.

Duck & Waffle breakfast menu

Duck & Waffle dish with Hojicha Stem Green Tea Pairing

Interior

View from the top

View from another angle

Awesome views

More aerial views

Fortunately we had wonderful weather and enjoyed a lovely breakfast with a view of the sunrise. Great start to the day.

Stunning sunrise

Service staff were prompt and friendly. Our family of three decided to go for their signature dish - the duck and waffle. It was a lovely breakfast and did not disappoint though we should have ordered a variety of dishes to try.

Duck & Waffle

The signature dish

Our waiter also recommended the sweeter version of the Hojicha green tea pairing for the lady in our group and this was a winner.

Hojicha stem green tea

Enjoyed our breakfast at the Duck and Waffle, especially the awesome views. Great experience!

Views of the area

Bar aera

Duck & Waffle Restaurant entrance

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

2018-07-01T21:52:00.001+08:00

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, more popularly known as Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in Southwest London spread over more than 130 hectares of landscape. Located in the outskirts of London, Kew Gardens is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

1772 marked the origin of the Kew Gardens when the royal estates of Richmond and Kew merged. Since then, the Botanic Gardens of Kew have become renowned in the field of botany.

Thai inspired orchid festival at Kew Gardens


Victoria Gate entrance

One of the largest botanical gardens in the world, Kew Gardens is wheelchair accessible.
The temperate house was closed for a five years renovation and recently opened in May 2018.

If you purchase tickets online, you will enjoy reduced pricing and fast track entry at Victoria Gate. Online tickets are flexible and valid for a single visit within 30 days from the date selected at time of booking. Friends of Kew enjoy free entry to Kew Gardens.

Victoria Gate entrance

Enjoyed the stroll and the lovely scenery...

We booked the tram ride as well so that we could ride around as much of the gardens before deciding which area we would like to explore further on foot.

Tram ride

Some interesting facts:

Treetopwalk

The treetop walkway will take you 200 metres above the ground and allow you a bird's eye view of the gardens.

The great pagoda was also under renovation when we were there and thus not able to see much of it.

Great Pagoda

Hive

Palm House

Japanese Pagoda Tree

Some pictures from the Thai-inspired orchid festival... Lovely, beautiful, colourful.. Was a blessing that we were able to make it for this event. This was held at the Princess of Wales Conservatory. You could try your hand at the Thai silk printing too...

The Davies Alpine House is an arch-shaped greenhouse designed to provide the ideal, cool and dry conditions for the alpine plants. The following are some of the plants found in there.

The Davies Alpine House

Take a stroll around the gardens and enjoy the nature and the greenery.

The Palm House at Kew Gardens recreates a tropical rainforest. However the Marine Display is no longer available.

The Kitchen Garden was voted Most Inspirational Garden in 2016 by the Great British Growing Awards.

Here's the Temple of Aeolus, in an area designed to emulate a natural woodland.

So peaceful watching the birds go by...

Interestingly, there is a Japanese wooden house called the Minka House in the bamboo garden. Originally located in Japan and erected around 1900, the Minka House was erected in the Kew Gardens in 2001.

Minka House

Be prepared to spend almost the whole day if you wish to explore the whole Kew Gardens. Rest at any of the food & beverage outlets when your feet grow weary. If you have never been to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, it would be an eye opener.

Wingspread House by Frank Lloyd Wright

2018-06-17T21:44:00.002+08:00

Wingspread House

Wingspread House was a family home that third generation SC Johnson leader H.F. Johnson Jr. commissioned with Frank Lloyd Wright, a radical designer and architect, in 1936. This home was aptly named Wingspread as it has four wings that spread out from the central living area.

Huge garden

Wingspread House now run by the Johnson Foundation

Garden

Located in Racine, Wisconsin, home to SC Johnson the founder, Wingspread was donated to The Johnson Foundation in the 1950s and now hosts educational conferences.

30 ft chimney

Expansive living area

Full height doors

Music area

One of the fire places

Steps to the cantilevered balcony

Free tours to the Wingspread House are available and you get a chance to step into a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, sit on his specially designed chairs and see what unlimited funds can create.

History

Wingspread History

Gardens

Wright designed chairs - these can also be seen in the SC Johnson Administrative Building…

The original Frank Lloyd Wright designed chairs had three legs but as you can imagine, they were not practical and thus were later fitted with four legs.

Part of the living room area

View from level 2

Close up of the steps to the cantilevered balcony

One of the bedrooms

If you would like to visit and admire the famed Frank Lloyd Wright architecture of the Wingspread House that is now designated as a National Historic Landmark, you can do so. However, they do not entertain walk ins and you will need to make an appointment. Best to reserve early as these free tours do get fully booked.

You might like to also include a visit to the nearby Wing Point Lighthouse or to SC Johnson Administrative Building, another Frank Lloyd Wright design.

Changi International Airport Butterfly Garden

2018-06-03T14:13:00.001+08:00

Located at the Departure transit lounge of Singapore Changi International Airport Terminal 3 on Levels 2 and 3, the Butterfly Garden is the first in an airport and home to more than 1000 butterflies. Be prepared to be enthralled by the various colorful butterflies flying around and learn about their life cycle whilst waiting for your flight out of Changi International Airport.

Changi International Airport Terminal 3 Butterfly Garden

Capacity of the Butterfly Garden

If you are on transit in Singapore and a nature lover, Singapore Changi International Airport allows you to slow down and take some time to refresh yourself with the soothing calls of nature no matter which terminal you are in.

Butterfly Garden - lovely colours

Butterfly Garden - lovely designs

Terminal 1 boasts the Cactus Rooftop Garden and Water Lily Garden. The Sunflower Rooftop Garden and Orchid Garden are sure to cheer you up in Terminal 2. Not to be outdone, Terminal 3 has its own Koi Pond and Butterfly Garden.

Beautiful design

Lovely colours

Iridescent colors

Great patterns on wings

Colours, colours everywhere

At the Butterfly Garden, be greeted by as many as 40 species of butterflies during the various seasons of the year.

Butterfly feeding

Immerse yourself in the lush greenery and appreciate the various flowering plants. Look out for some of the carnivorous plants of Singapore.

Carnivorous plants at the Butterfly Garden

A great haven especially for nature photographers where you can get pictures of the butterflies up close resting, flying and feeding.

Butterflies feeding

Admired up close

Check out the 6-metre grotto waterfall, a lovely treasure of a gem.

Grotto waterfall

Spanning two floors

Learn more about the life cycle of butterflies at the educational corner.

Butterfly pupa

Butterfly just out of pupa

Butterfly just out of pupa, waiting for wings to dry

Do note that the butterflies are most active between 10am - 4pm.

Feeding time at the Butterfly Garden

Great place to admire the butterflies close up

Love admiring the patterns and designs of the wings

More about the butterflies' wings

If you are fortunate enough, you may have a butterfly or two landing on you.

Butterfly on head

Don't miss the Butterfly Garden at Singapore Changi International Airport. Best of all, there is no admission fee. A great unique experience indeed!

Singapore Changi International Airport Butterfly Garden

Original Ice Hotel Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

2018-05-18T23:50:00.001+08:00

Original Ice Hotel Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

The original Ice Hotel is located in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, 200km north of the Arctic Circle. Interestingly, the Ice Hotel is constructed from the frozen Torne River. Rebuilt each year from snice (a mixture of snow and ice), this Ice Hotel in northern Sweden is the world's first ice hotel. The Ice Hotel is literally breath-taking and has to be seen to be believed!

Reception

Near the Reception

Seasonal Icehotel in Kiruna, Sweden

Ever since 1990, the Ice Hotel is built in the winter with ice from the Torne River and when it melts in the summer, the water returns back to the Torne River. What is interesting is that the whole structure, including the 'chandeliers', decorations, chairs and even beds are all constructed of ice.

Decorations - ice sculpture

Chandelier

Decor

Icebar

Outside decor

Every year, carefully selected artists use frozen water from the Torne River to create a structure; forming a 'temporary' hotel before it's left to melt back into the river the following spring. No two designs are ever the same, ensuring visitors get a unique experience. There are different room options available, from an Ice room up to the Art Suites.

Some of the Art suites of the IceHotel

Check out the various ice sculptures

Astronaut themed Art Suite

White Rabbit Art Suite

More Art Suite designs

The Ice Church where baptisms and weddings take place

Art sculptures

The Ice Hotel used to be a temporary structure as it was dependent on the temperatures. However, at the original Ice Hotel Jukkasjarvi in Sweden, they have now come up with the IceHotel 365. The name speaks for itself as it is the world's first permanent ice and snow hotel and has been around since December 2016.

IceHotel 28 - 28th year that the seasonal ice hotel has been constructed

Newly opened Icehotel 365

Featuring 20 rooms, an ice bar and an art gallery, people are now able to enjoy the experience of staying in an Ice Hotel 365 days of the year, thanks to the solar-powered refrigerating plants that are used to keep the hotel cool during the summer months. Even the drinking glasses at the Icebar are made of, you guessed it, ice.

IceHotel 365

Glasses made from ice

The temperature in the original Ice Hotel is kept at a constant -5 degrees Celsius. Winter clothing is provided for your stay at the Ice Hotel, including a warm overall, boots, mittens and balaclava. It is recommended to use the clothing in cold conditions and especially when taking part in winter activities. Some activities offered are snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice sculpting and reindeer sledding.

Sleeping in the original Ice Hotel on a bed of ice

Interestingly, the Ice hotel is open to the public between 10am and 6pm. Visitors and guests can walk through the Ice Hotel and check out the various rooms and snap as many pictures as they want. There is also a guided tour where the history of Ice Hotel and how the Ice Hotel is made is explained. Visitors who are not staying at the Ice Hotel need to pay an entrance fee to tour the Ice Hotel. Guests staying overnight at the Ice Hotel are encouraged to vacate their rooms by 10am or they might be surprised by some stranger walking in on them.

For most people, staying just one night in the Ice Hotel is sufficient. The other night or nights, depending on how many days the length of stay, can be spent at the kaamos or warm rooms. These rooms are just like any chalets.

Warm room (kaamos) at Icehotel Kiruna, Sweden

Lobby area of the building housing the kaamos

Water from the River Torne

Situated 200km north of the Arctic Circle, we had a truly wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime surreal experience at this original Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden.

Glass Blowing Workshop at Hot Shop Glass Racine

2018-05-06T17:25:00.000+08:00

Was in Racine for some training and decided to book ourselves a glass blowing workshop with Hot Shop Glass. This was our second time here as we had so enjoyed our first workshop with Amanda that we made sure we reserved our place way in advance.

Hot Shop Glass - established in 2005

You can purchase some of the glass creations at the gallery or, better still, learn the fundamentals of glass creation and under the guidance of the experts, create your very own glass paperweight or a unique gift of your choice.

Hot Shop Glass gallery - glass creation in Racine for purchase

For our first workshop, the four of us each made a glass paperweight as that was the simplest. However the colours and designs were so varied and it was a real joy to see your very own glass creation in Racine come alive. This is truly a wonderful experience.

Our glass paperweight - created at Hot Shop Glass

Furnace where the clear glass is melted, also known as crucible of molten glass

Interestingly, glass is one of the world's oldest and versatile human-created material.

Amanda giving us a demonstration for the glass blowing workshop... getting the colours ready

Many colours to choose from

Blowpipes

Amanda of Hot Shop Glass showing us the art of blowing glass in one of the glass blowing techniques

Glass paperweight in the making

Colours will only appear after the glass creation has been placed in an annealing oven to slowly cool down

Creating designs

Colour has been added and now creating the shape

The glory hole used to reheat the glass as you work on it

Using a wooden block to shape the glass creation

Shaping the glass paperweight

Creating the slit to knock off the piece of glass creation

Final touches to this special glass creation in Racine

Creating the base of the glass paperweight

Hot Shop Glass Creation Racine - flower

Here are some glass paperweight designs that we modelled ours after.

Hot Shop Glass creation Racine - flower on a lighted base

Hot Shop Glass creation -garden

Hot Shop Glass creation -garden on a lighted base

Hot Shop Glass creation -wave

Hot Shop Glass creation -wave on a lighted base

Hot Shop Glass creation -bubbles

Hot Shop Glass creation -bubbles on a lighted base

We so enjoyed ourselves at Hot Shop Glass where we could make for ourselves unique gifts to bring home. A truly wonderful experience which we would highly recommend. Do remember to make your reservations way in advance so as not to be disappointed.

Holiday Gems in Kobe - Animal Kingdom

2015-06-28T17:32:00.000+08:00

During a recent visit to Osaka, Japan, we discovered some holiday gems when we took a day trip to Kobe. Among a few holiday gems that we discovered in Kobe, this was by far the highlight of our trip. We are not only animal lovers but nature lovers too and this Kobe attraction Animal Kingdom definitely combines the best of both worlds.

One of Japan's Holiday Gems in Kobe

Admission prices for Animal Kingdom

If you are in Osaka, you could make day trips to various areas such as Kobe, Kyoto or Nara. They are really interesting places and we shall cover some of the holiday gems found in those areas in another post.

Let's get back to Kobe! We were deciding between the Nunobiki Herb Garden and the Animal Kingdom. Hubby chose the latter and we had no regrets at all except that we did not spend enough time there as we also had Mt. Rokko as part of our itinerary for the day.

Inside Animal Kingdom

Some of the animal names - very educational

Just like most zoos, though this is not really a zoo, there are many live performances where you can view the handlers with the animals. Some even allow you to interact with the animals such as feeding of the penguins.

For ¥100, you can also purchase food to feed the animals and this can be super rewarding especially when the animals feed direct from your hands or, in the case of the toucan, perch on your arms to take the food from the little cup that you will be holding.

Feeding the capybara

Feeding the toucan

Up close with the ducks

You can see many varieties and colours of ducks, owls, birds, etc... Awesomely interesting and educational too. A wonderful place, not only for the young kids, but for the big kids like us too.

Pelican Lagoon

Alpaca

A staff looking after the joey

Majestic camel

Mara

Capybara

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

Toco Toucan

Channel Billed Toucan

Milky Eagle Owl

Big Bill

Owl

Another reason we love to discover holiday gems and this is no exception! At the Animal Kingdom, numerous brightly coloured flowers greet you. Truly a wonderful sight! The lily valley also has tons of varieties of lilies that you can see and identify from the names placed next to the flowers.

Flowers

Beautiful

Lily


Lily Valley

Love the dual colour

Getting to Animal Kingdom from Osaka

What we did:-
Catch the Hankyu rapid train from Umeda to Sannomiya (approximately 30 mins)
Walk to the Port Liner station and take the Port Liner train to K Computer Mae station
Look out for direction to Animal Kingdom and you will find it located just as you get down the steps from the station building.

Port Liner stations

While traveling on the Port Liner, you can also get some great views of the Kobe port.

View from the Port Liner

Kobe Port

You can also get to Nunobiki Herb Garden from Sannomiya station, so you might want to visit both these Kobe attractions on the same day.

Colourful, beautiful flowers in Animal Kingdom Kobe... brightens up the day

Can't stop admiring the lovely plants

You can enjoy a meal in this beautiful surrounding

For ¥1500 admission fee for an adult, this is worth every cent and we will definitely want to visit the Animal Kingdom again amongst other holiday gems in Kobe.

Finally... Am Back...

2015-05-29T22:51:00.001+08:00

It has been awhile since I last posted here on this blog. Believe or not, I could not remember my login for a period of time. That's how forgetful I've been.

And I have been really busy getting back to work as well as adopting my four-legged boy who has kept me fully occupied as well as given me hours of pure joy.

My boy with his girlfriend. :)

Have finally remembered how to get into the site and will definitely be back with reviews of my recent trips to US, Israel as well as Japan.

Beautiful Great Lakes - Racine on the Lake

Look forward to meeting all of you again.

Resort World Sentosa - Crockfords Tower

2012-12-28T17:15:00.004+08:00

Two nights stay at the Crockfords Tower in Resort World Sentosa, also known as the Sentosa integrated resort on Sentosa Island Singapore. WOW!

This all-suite hotel is a 'by-invitation' only hotel.

Was originally planning to spend 2 nights at the Festive Hotel, compliments of my brother-in-law. However, he received a call to be upgraded to the Crockfords Tower. Was a wonderful birthday present for me... LOL.

The bathroom was equipped with a personal steam room, a huge bath tub, a 'magic TV', Bvalgari amenities amidst classic marble flooring.

Face towels and a Bvlgari hand soap

Huge bath tub

Bath Menu

We decided to test out the bath menu and requested for the Romantic Moments - fragrant bath crystals with rose petals with lots of bubbles...

Romantic Moments

We found it amazing that the dresser mirror also acted as a television screen...

The dresser mirror which also acts as a TV screen...

The 'Magic TV'

Embroidered logo on bathrobe

Bvlgari amenities

Instructions for our personal steam room

Vanity counter

CD player

Laundry bag in a golden pouch

Bathrobes and bedroom slippers

Bedroom

Closet with the safe box

One seater sofa in the bedroom

The bedroom is elegantly outfitted in red and gold. There is also a pillow menu where you can select pillows of choice for your comfort.

King bed

Living room with writing desk

Tea cups

Tea pot

Colourful vase

Antiques

We had a great time and enjoyed the 24 hour butler service as well as the various amenities in Crockfords Tower, one of the Resort World Sentosa's hotel on Sentosa island. Here, you can be assured of the best!

Uniquely Singapore - Gardens By The Bay - Cloud Forest

2012-11-04T22:20:00.002+08:00

The waterfall

Upon entering the uniquely Singapore Cloud Forest dome, you will be greeted by a spectacular 35-metre tall 'mountain' complete with the tallest indoor waterfall amidst lush vegetation. The waterfall provides visitors with refreshing cool air, great to escape from the heat of Singapore's weather.

Here you get to learn about the cool-moist climate found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level, such as Mt Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, and high elevation areas in South America.

The Cloud Forest Dome, at 0.8 hectares, features a ‘Cloud Mountain’, accessible by an elevator, and visitors will be able to descend the mountain via a circular path and enjoy the cool fresh air.

Both the Conservatories, the Flower Dome as well as the Cloud Forest Dome, use a suite of technologies to achieve at least 30% saving in energy consumption, compared to conventional cooling technologies. As a result the energy consumption for the Conservatories is comparable to that of an average commercial building in Singapore of the same footprint and height. To optimise energy efficiency, the following key architectural and engineering strategies were implemented:

Spectrally selective glass and light sensor-operated shadings minimize the solar heat gain and allow maximum light to plants.
Thermal stratification to ensure cool air settles at the lower occupied zone and warm air is allowed to rise and vented out at high levels.
The efficient de-humidification cooling process is de-coupled first into de-humidifying of the air with a liquid desiccant and then cooling the dry air.
A Combined Heat Power (CHP) biomass steam turbine generates electricity to run the electric chillers that produce chilled water to cool the Conservatories. Waste heat is captured in the process to regenerate the liquid desiccant.

Here are some of the beautiful flowers and vegetation that you can find in the Cloud Forest.

Giant orchid

Beautiful flowers

Pitcher plant

Flower with interesting centre

Pink flower

At the 'top' of the mountain

Bunch of flowers

Prett flowers

Decorative statues

Interesting bench

Interesting flower

Nice variegated leaf

Pitcher plant

Family of snails

Waterfall from the other end

Crystal Mountain

Lots to see and do at the Cloud Forest in Gardens By The Bay. Best way to see as much as possible would be to take a lift up to the very top and then walk down the walkway and take your time to take in the many beautiful sights as well as enjoy the cool air.

CLOUD FOREST Hours & Admission Fees

Hours:

Opens 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily
Last ticket sale at 8:00 PM daily
Last admission at 8:30 PM daily

Local Resident Admission:

Adult	$12
Senior Citizen*	$8
Child**	$8

Local Resident Admission
(includes entry to Flower Dome):

Adult	$20
Senior Citizen*	$15
Child**	$12

Standard Admission
(includes entry to Flower Dome):

Adult	$28
Senior Citizen*	$28
Child**	$15

* Senior Citizen (≥ 60 years old)
** Child (3 – 12 years old)

Uniquely Singapore - Gardens By The Bay - Flower Dome

2012-10-07T14:18:00.001+08:00

Gardens By The Bay - Uniquely Singapore

Ticket to the Cooled Conservatories

Flower Dome - one of the two conservatories

The iconic features of the Gardens, the Cooled Conservatories, are the jewel in the crown of the gardens, and appear like an exotic outcrop on the edge of the Marina. The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest represent an innovative amalgamation of architecture, structural ingenuity, environmental engineering and landscape design. They showcase the application of sustainable energy solutions and tell the story of plants and their intimate relationships with man and the ecosystem. At the same time their 2 Hectare area offers a spectacular visual and spatial experience for visitors.

View of Flower Dome interior from the upper level

One of the many relationships to learn about

View of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort from Gardens By The Bay

One of the themed gardens

Replicating the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean and semi-arid sub-tropical regions such as South Africa and parts of Europe like Spain and Italy, the Flower Dome boasts a permanent display of such plants as well as a changing display field that enables flower shows and displays to be held within the Conservatory.

Another themed garden

Check out the size of this giant hibiscus... :D

This is my favourite section though... The Autumn Harvest display

Guess I'm still a child at heart, thus the above displays are really heart warming. :D

Here are some flowers which I thought were pretty unique...

A little like a dancing ballerina

Dainty...

So if you like to experience something uniquely Singapore, check out the latest attraction Gardens By The Bay and be sure to visit the Flower Dome as well as the Cloud Forest. :D

Sepang Gold Coast Resort - Bagan Lalang Part 3

2012-09-20T21:59:00.000+08:00

Sepang Gold Coast Resort - Bagan Lalang

The wonderfully beautiful and spacious Golden Palm Tree Resort Malaysia located on Sepang Gold Coast, also known as the Bagan Lalang area, is a great resort to spend with the family. With 392 villas built on stilts above the sea in the shape of a palm tree, this Malaysia Gold Coast Sepang Resort is supposed to be the first eco-friendly sea-hotel in the world.

In Part 3 of this series, we highlight some activities that you can immerse yourselves in whilst staying in this Golden Palm Resort.

All activities are non-chargeable unless otherwise stated.

Get ready for some eco-adventure...

Cycling - choose from the beginners or intermediate session. A guide will bring you around the nearby Malay village and palm oil farms. You can experience the local wildlife, flora and fauna of Malaysia.

Cycling

Photo session

Stop by for a photo-taking session with the Golden Palm Tree Resort in the background.

Monkeys

Spot monkeys along the way...

Keropok (crackers)

Short break at the provision shop which sells lots of local snacks such as crackers or better known locally as keropok.

Snack shop

No fishing please...

No Fishing

During Christmas, Santa did his part in distributing presents to the children.

Santa Claus

You can also enjoy some non-motorized water sports in the sheltered waters of the Straits of Malacca.

Wind surfing

A great water sport ideal for both adults and children, you can enjoy a free and easy day by the shore canoeing.

Canoeing

More watersports...

Stand up paddling is great for beginners and children. Here you can learn to ride the wave standing on the surf board with a single-blade paddle.

Stand up paddling

Catch the wind in your sails during high tide.

Sailing

Experience cart sailing during low tide with this modern land yacht, a three-wheeled craft with a wing mast that offers a safer option to sailing especially for those not keen on getting wet. This activity depends on the wind level...

Cart Sailing

Speed sailing is an advanced level to cart sailing and is enjoyed standing up.

Speed Sailing

Flying a kite is an activity enjoyed during low tide.

Flying a kite

Or just have fun and relax by playing with the waves...

A popular beachfront pass time, beach soccer is offered here at tournament level or just a lazy game with friends and Golden Palm Tree Iconic Resort and Spa staff.


Beach soccer

Another landsport by the beach is the beach volleyball.

Beach volleyball

If you have never thrown a frisbee before, go ahead and get the staff to give you some tips and tricks.

Frisbee

Some other eco-friendly activities include bottle painting and batik painting.

Bottle painting

Relax in the infinity pool or go on a mangrove tour (chargeable).

Swimming and watching the boat bringing the guests on a mangrove tour

Relaxing by the poolside

If you love nature, check out the shoreline during low tide...

With the new Extreme Park @ GPT, you can now get your heart pumping with adrenalin as you rev up on the ATV, battle with paintball, race on the go kart and test your archery marksmanship.

Not up for such adventure? You can also work out at the gym...

Gym

Or just allow yourself to be pampered by one of the luxurious spa treatments at the Escapade Spa where you can select from a range of spa therapies with various pricing to suit your budget.

Relaxing with one of the spa therapies

Game to try the local food at one of the local restaurants out of Golden Palm Tree Resort? Just a short 5 - 10 minutes walk from the resort is Bayu Malam Restaurant which serves barbeque seafood.
We decided to have dinner here and must say that the prices are value for money.

Barbeque fish wrapped in banana leaf

Bayu Malam Restaurant

Vegetables

Another vegetable dish

The vegetable dishes were nothing fantastic...

Tom yam soup

Tom yam soup was quite tasty with lots of ingredients...

Fried cuttlefish in batter

The fried cuttlefish was pretty chewy and we had problems finishing it up.

Nasi lemak (coconut rice)

The cheapest of all was the nasi lemak, rice cooked in coconut and served with and egg and some chilli which was great tasting!

Prices of the seafood (by weight)

Range of seafood to select from

Bayu Malam Restaurant

The food here was alright given the price, though we expected local food to taste much better. :D Of course, you cannot compare the price of the food here with that found in Golden Palm Tree Resort.

Golden Palm Tree Iconic Resort and Spa
No. 67, Jalan Pantai Bagan Lalang,
Kg Bagan Lalang,
43950
Sungai Pelek, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the Golden Palm Tree Resort and that was why we visited the resort a second time within three short months.

Malacca Food - Yung Lai Siang

2012-09-16T14:24:00.001+08:00

If it were not for a friend's recommendation, we would never have found this Malacca food eating place called Yung Lai Siang((永来香茶餐室).

Yung Lai Siang Coffee House

Tucked away in a quiet corner along Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai near the Putra Specialist Hospital in Malaysia Malacca is a small coffeeshop - Yung Lai Siang. Not one of those bright and modern eating houses, Yung Lai Siang boasts Malacca famous food such as the great tasting curry puffs bursting at the seams with its filling of meat or potato. Costing RM0.80 (USD0.26) to RM1.00 (USD0.33) each, these Grandpa's curry puffs are value for money.

Curry puffs

Red bean and yam puffs are also available if you wish to have something different.

Curry puffs ready for sale

The signature dish here is the Hokkien prawn noodles. There are two versions available: the dry Hokkien prawn noodles and the Hokkien prawn noodles soup.

Dry Hokkien prawn noodles

The dry version of the Hokkien prawn noodles is mixed with soy sauce which I personally did not like.

The Hokkien prawn noodles makes for a wonderful Malacca breakfast or brunch.

Hokkien prawn noodles soup

The soup version is richly red and can be quite hot and spicy for those who are not used to too much spicy food. You get prawns, kang kong as well as some strips of crispy deep fried cruellers.

Laksa is also available though we did not try it. Maybe next time, when we visit the place again.

Newspaper write up on Yung Lai Siang

Kedai Kopi & Makanan Yung Lai Siang
229, Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai

Sepang Gold Coast Resort - Bagan Lalang Part 2

2012-09-04T12:43:00.002+08:00

Golden Palm Tree Resort in Sepang Gold Coast

More pictures taken at the Golden Palm Tree Resort, Malaysia. Also known as an eco resort due to their efforts to go green, this resort in Malaysia is situated in Bagan Lalang, near Sepang Gold Coast, the Formula One race area.

With a few restaurants in the resort, you can have your choicest picks...

Sepoi Sepoi

This cafe outlet facing the beach is located at the arrival entrance area to Golden Palm Tree Resort and Spa.

Check out the traditional alang-alang thatch roofing...

Sepoi Sepoi

And the huge shell chandelier hanging from the high dome shaped ceiling...

Very high ceiling

Here at Sepoi Sepoi, you can dine to the gentle nudges of the sea breeze.

We had the Christmas set lunch here at the Sepoi Sepoi.

Appetizer

Poached Prawn with Avocado Salad with Lime Aioli

Butter Salmon Cream with Lemon Dressed Salad Leaves

Main Entrees

Red Mullet Fish Filet on Green Peas Puree

Orange and Marmalade Roast Turkey with Cranberry Stuffing

Dessert

Soft Pavlova Roll with Liquer Mascarpone and Berry Compote

Christmas Pudding with Rum Butter

Perahu

Yet another beachfront dining outlet that provides a spectacular view of the sunset and great vantage point of the sea villas from Sunset Beach.

Choose from indoor dining under thatched roof or on the deck where the sea breeze keeps you company.

Perahu, with a view of the sea

Perahu specializes in Malay-style Barbeque and grilled seafood with local spices and wraps. In the evening, you will be serenaded by the live band.

Bila Bila

This a-la-carte buffet restaurant is located at the Resort Club House, just next to the poolside. Here, you can dine in air-conditioned comfort or al fresco where you can enjoy the natural sea breeze.

Appetizer

Barbeque food

Sample dishes

Desserts

Colourful desserts

Salad

Condiments

Fruits galore

Cold dish

More desserts

Stimbot

Interestingly, the Stimbot Restaurant in Golden Palm Tree resort is quite popular.

Here, food is cooked steamboat style, similar to a fondue where all the ingredients are placed into the metal pot filled with simmering stock in the centre of the table and cooked.

Variety of dishes at the Stimbot Restaurant

Sunset Garden

Sunset Garden

A stone engraved with the Golden Palm Tree

Flowers in the garden

Interesting red flowers

Red hibiscus

White hibiscus

Love the dual colour

Sunset Garden

Frangipani in bloom

Bougainvillea

Sea Villas

The Golden Palm Tree Resort stretches along the Sepang coast line and is a five-start sea resort. The luxuriously appointed and spacious sea villas on kelong-style stilts extend out nearly a kilometer into the sea and faces the sheltered waters of the straits of Malacca.

There are a total of almost 400 sea villas shaped in a palm tree with five different room types.

Lovely view of the sea villas

Along the 'trunk' of the palm leading to the Resort Club House

A buggy that transports you from the lobby to the Resort Club House

Along one of the 'branches' of the palm

Sea Villas

Another 'branch'

One of the villas along the 'trunk' of the palm

Low tide

High tide

Artwork

Outdoor private terrace

View from the private terrace in the sea villa

Thatched roofs

Poolside

This Gold Coast Sepang Resort boasts an exclusive infinity pool...

Beautiful view of the Infinity pool and the sea

Poolside

Lounging by the poolside

Cabanas

Golden Palm Tree Resort - the Iconic Vacation Club

Smiley Beach

Smiley Beach

Smiley Beach has various beach activities including land sports such as cycling and ball games as well as beach sports such as sailing, cart sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, stand-up paddle, etc...

Smiley Beach

Smiley beach - low tide

Ball games available

For fans of Angry bird

Ball games at the beach

Angry Bird?

Fun play

Deck chairs to relax by the beach

Eco-friendly

Go Green - recycling area

Educational Go Green signage

Green Corner

Still a very new resort

Christmas at Golden Palm Tree Resort

Christmas season

Deepavali at Sepang Gold Coast Resort

Deepavali celebration

Driveway to Golden Palm Tree Resort, Sepang Gold Coast

Entrance water feature

Singing entertainment at night

The Golden Palm Tree Resort and Spa, the first eco-friendly sea-hotel in the world, is located in the district of Sepang where the Malaysian leg of the F1 race was recently held.

Sepang Gold Coast Resort - Bagan Lalang Part 1

2012-08-15T13:09:00.002+08:00

It is interesting how we got to know about Golden Palm Tree Resort Malaysia. It so happened that whilst we were on one of our short Malaysia holiday trips, we met Erwin, co-owner of Bess Kitchen in Malacca where we visit regularly for their special laksa and peanut butter bread. Erwin was telling us that he was going on a short trip with his extended family to a beautiful place known as Golden Palm Resort Malaysia and that it was a beautiful place in the shape of a palm tree on the water.

Golden Palm Tree Resort

During that same trip, we met another friend, Fong, in Kuala Lumpur. Fong is the owner of Passion Cafe in Mahkota Cheras area and he mentioned about a place known as Bagan Lalang where the resort was really beautiful. Little did we realise that this beautiful place in Bagan Lalang is the same place as the Golden Palm Tree Resort Malaysia.

A bird's eye view of the Golden Palm Tree Resort

Third co-incidence! Another friend of ours in KL whom we met up during that same Malaysia holiday trip happened to mention about a 'Sepang Gold Coast resort'. BINGO! This Gold Coast Sepang resort was none other than the same Bagan Lalang resort which also pointed to the Golden Palm Tree Resort in Malaysia.

Three mentions of the same resort in a row... how could we not try it out? We did some research on the internet and booked a night in this place that everyone seemed to be talking about.

Golden Palm Tree Resort, Sepang Gold Coast, Bagan Lalang... here we come.

Golden Palm Tree Resort and Spa Sdn Bhd
No. 67, Jalan Pantai Bagan Lalang,
Kg Bagan Lalang,
43950 Sungai Pelek,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

:	+603 3182 3600
:	+603 3182 3700

15 Minutes drive from Sungai Pelek

35 Minutes drive from Sepang International F1 Circuit

41 Minutes drive from Sepang

41 Minutes drive from Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)

43 Minutes drive from Morib

46 Minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

47 Minutes drive from Port Dickson

57 Minutes drive from Banting

62 Minutes drive from Cyberjaya

64 Minutes drive from Putrajaya

85 Minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur

Directions to Golden Palm Tree Resort

Sepang Gold Coast Resort

Bagan Lalang, Golden Palm Tree Sepang Goldcoast

Getting closer to our destination...

Signboard leading to Sepang Gold Coast Resort

Our first view of the Golden Palm Tree Resort

Lobby

Lobby area overlooking the sea and villas

Deepavali decoration in the lobby

Close up of the Deepavali decoration

Christmas decoration in the lobby

We fell in love with the paradise-like Golden Palm Tree resort and yes, we visited the place twice within a span of 3 months. Have compiled the pictures here...

What we enjoyed most about this Sepang Gold Coast resort is that it is an eco resort and they take extra effort to be green. There is even a 'Green Corner'...

Premier Travelers Palm Villa

These 52 square metre villas are one of the lower end villas in the resort, yet they are equally luxurious and spacious and we just loved the feel and the ambience.

Intriguing 4 poster king sized bed

Desk area overlooking the sea and outdoor private terrace

Can you guess what the bamboo ladder in the outdoor private terrace is for?

Outdoor private terrace

We asked one of the staff and were told that it is for hanging our wet clothes... So next time you see a ladder, it is not necessarily just for reaching high areas. :D

Closet

Slippers provided

View from our private outdoor terrace

Outdoor private terrace

Another area which could be used for lounging the day away

Shower area overlooking the sea

Vanity area

Canary Palm Villa

Raised on stilts, these 82 square metre villas feature two bedrooms separated by a living room.

Bedroom 1

King sized bed

Private outdoor terrace

Lounge chair

Bathroom

Living room

Artwork to brighten up the ambience

Umbrella stand

Sitting area

Place to relax

Fruit platter

Bedroom 2

Queen bed

Shower room

Vanity area

Bathtub

Once we had settled our things in our villa, we eagerly went to check out the resort. Lookout for Sepang Gold Coast Resort - Bagan Lalang Part 2 for more pictures and information on this beautiful eco resort which you simply have to experience at least once during your Malaysia holiday.

Strawberry Picking Farms - Strawberry Farm Genting Highlands Malaysia

2012-08-09T12:41:00.000+08:00

Had lots of fun whilst we were in Genting Highlands resort. On the way down, we stopped by the Strawberry Farm Genting Highlands near Gohtong Jaya and had a great time strawberry picking at the farm...An exciting time where we were like kids again. :D

As we do not even have strawberry plants back in Singapore, it was a pleasure seeing so many strawberry plants as well as bright red fresh strawberries.

A wonderful treat especially for kids from tropical countries where they do not have such an experience back home.

Gardens By The Bay - Heritage Gardens

2012-08-04T08:51:00.000+08:00

Gardens By The Bay is the newest of Singapore's tourist attraction comprising over 100 hectares of a superpark.

To access Gardens By The Bay from Marina Bay Sands Hotel, you need to cross the Lions Bridge which brings you into the park surroundings.


Lions Bridge

Gardens By The Bay - Bay South

Gardens by the Bay is a development comprising three distinct waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. Currently, only Bay South is open. Conceptualized as Singapore’s premier urban outdoor recreation space as well as a Singapore tourist attraction, Gardens By The Bay recently opened its doors on June 29th, 2012.

As you enter the Gardens By The Bay via the Lions Bridge, you will see the Dragonfly Lake.

Dragonfly Lake

Dragonfly

As you stroll along the 440 metre boardwalk, you can find out how the Dragonfly Lake plays an important role in supporting the ecosystem vital to the Gardens' sustainability.

Horticultural Themed Gardens

There are two distinctly different sets of Horticultural Themed Gardens, which centre on the relationships between ‘Plants and People’ and ‘Plants and Planet’. They are an important part of the Gardens’ edutainment programme, which aims to bring plant knowledge to the public.

Heritage Gardens - Plants and People theme

Themed gardens such as the Heritage Gardens at the Gardens By The Bay allows one to get to understand more about Singapore's culture through the fascinating story of plants. Here, you get to discover how plants play a part in the culture of Singapore's main ethnic groups, as well as their historical significance in the city-state's colonial heritage. The Heritage Garden also focuses on economically important plants to Singapore and South East Asia.

Heritage Gardens

Four Horticultural Treasures

Have you ever wondered why the British chose Singapore as a trading port, or how the indigenous Malays lived in pre-colonial Singapore? What is the connection between literature and poetry in China, or religion and reflection in India? Explore the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Colonial-themed gardens and unearth the roots of Singapore's diverse history and culture through the fascinating story of plants.

Horticultural Themed Gardens

There are two distinctly different sets of Horticultural Themed Gardens, which centre on the relationships between ‘Plants and People’ and ‘Plants and Planet’. They are an important part of the Gardens’ edutainment programme, which aims to bring plant knowledge to the public.
The ‘Plants and People’ theme features a Heritage Garden that highlights the various cultural groups in Singapore and the important role that plants play in their respective cultures, as well as the country’s colonial history. It also focuses on economically important plants to Singapore and South East Asia.

Malay Garden

Colonial Garden

Coffee berries


Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781 - 1826) Colonial Governor and Zoologist

Due to time constraint, was not able to visit the Chinese Garden and Indian Garden. Will post on Heritage Gardens Part 2 when I do visit. Thank you...

Uniquely Singapore: 10 Things To Do

2012-08-02T12:15:00.000+08:00

Time Travel

Daven Wu

http://www.time.com

Singapore city view - by Moodboard / Corbis

Singaporeans moan that besides shopping, dining and the movies, there's not a lot you can do here. Ignore them. The must-see list for the one-day visitor to Singapore, especially the first-timer, is absorbingly long. There is very little chance you'll get bored. Most tourists tend to gravitate first towards the famed retail stretch of Orchard Road. Fine, get your fix of bold-faced names like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and every other couture label under the sun. When you've gotten that out of your system, dump your purchases back at the hotel and head out into the 'burbs where the real charm of Singapore lies. We're here to guide you to the top 10 places where tourists don't normally go; in short, the places where Singaporeans in the know live and play.

1. Singapore Botanic Gardens

So, you've arrived. It's early and nothing really opens for business until around 11 a.m., so how are you going to kill time? Slip on the trainers and head out to the Botanic Gardens (open 5 a.m. to midnight). At this time of the day, downtown Singapore's last remaining green lung is a cool, bucolic retreat filled with joggers, dogs and tai-chi practitioners. Wander through the swaths of virgin rainforest (the main boardwalk through it is entered from Upper Palm Valley Road) and then take in the National Orchid Garden's many-colored collection of 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids. When you're done, drop into the food court near Tanglin Gate for a traditional local breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, coffee and toast slathered with coconut jam.

Singapore Botanic Gardens
1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569; 65-6471-7361 sbg.org.sg

2. Artwork at the Ritz-Carlton

It may seem a little strange to head to a hotel to look at artwork, but the Ritz-Carlton is no ordinary hotel. The massive three-ton Frank Stella installation at the entrance and the pair of Dale Chihuly crystal glass sculptures that anchor both wings of the building kick off one of Southeast Asia's finest (and under the radar) collections of modern and contemporary art. The majority of the pieces were specially commissioned for the public spaces and guest suites. The treasures on view include Andy Warhol and David Hockney's exuberant colors, Rainer Gross's geometric compositions, Henry Moore's restrained monochromatics and the lush botanicals of Robert Zakanitch. It's all free to view, and you even get an iPod-guided tour.

The Ritz-Carlton Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799; 65-6337-8888 ritzcarlton.com

3. Chinatown Heritage Centre

Let the other tourist hordes charge over to the newly minted Peranakan Museum or the gloomy Asian Civilisations Museum. If you do only one cultural thing during your 24-hour Singapore layover, it must be a tour of the unheralded Chinatown Heritage Centre, where entire sets of bedrooms, kitchens and street scenes from the late-19th century and early-20th century have been faithfully recreated. It's an authentic slice of Singapore's history that's made all the more fascinating by the gleaming skyscrapers just a few blocks away. And if you must, pick up a kitschy souvenir from the gift shop on your way out.

Peranakan Museum
39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941; 6332-7591 peranakanmuseum.sg
Asian Civilisations Museum
1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555; 65-6332-7798 acm.org.sg

4. Plastic Surgery

In case you missed the memo, the place for plastic surgery is Asia. While many people head to Bangkok and Seoul for assorted nips and tucks, the locals make a beeline for the ultra-swish, Richard Meier–designed Camden Medical Centre. You may not have time for a full makeover, but squeeze in a spot of Botox or a non-surgical facelift with local celebrity surgeon Woffles Wu. And then adjourn downstairs for snapper pie and Pavlova at Whitebait and Kale.

Camden Medical Centre
1 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248649; 65-6887-3210 camdenmedical.com
Woffles Wu
1 Orchard Boulevard, #09-02, Singapore 248649; 65-6733-9771 woffleswu.com
Whitebait and Kale
1 Orchard Boulevard, #01-01, Singapore 248649; 65-6333-8697 whitebaitandkale.com

5. Electronics for Cheap

Tokyo may have the latest in electronic gadgets, but Singapore has the widest range, and luckily for the time-pressed shopper, they're all clustered in two massive multistory emporia. Handicams, portable DVD players, mobile phones, hi-tech cameras, MP3 players and laptops in just about every imaginable configuration are up for grabs at Funan Digitalife Mall and Sim Lim Square. The prices are usually about 10% to 20% cheaper than at other commercial outlets. At Sim Lim Square especially, good deals can be had with some serious haggling, and many retailers will knock off a few extra dollars if you pay in cash.

Funan Digitalife Mall
109 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179097; 65-6336-8327 funan.com.sg
Sim Lim Square
1 Rochor Canal Road, Singapore; 65-6332-5839

6. Haji Lane

This tiny lane, hidden away in the heart of the Muslim quarter, is a fashionista's paradise. With very little fanfare, the collection of narrow shop-houses have, in less than a year, been transformed into an aggressively hip retail stretch recalling Le Marais in Paris or New York's Meatpacking District. Know It Nothing is a stylish industrial space that stocks beautifully tailored dress shirts stitched with silver skull buttons by Japanese label Garni. Next, pop into Pluck for its shabby chic collection of Austin Powers–inspired cushion covers and a cute ice-cream parlor. A few doors down, Salad boasts a range of home accessories like laser-cut table mats and Hong Kong–based Carrie Chau's quirky postcards. If you're feeling peckish, have an authentic Middle Eastern lunch around the corner at Cafe le Caire.

Know It Nothing
51 Haji Lane, Singapore 189244; 65-6392-5475 knowitnothing.com
Pluck
31 Haji Lane, Singapore 189244 pluck.com.sg
Salad
25 Haji Lane, Singapore 189244; 65-6299-5805
Café le Caire
39 Arab Street, Singapore 199738; 65-6292-0979

7. The Singapore Flyer

The 165-meter-high Flyer is Singapore's answer to the London Eye. For the moment, it is the world's largest observation wheel (that title will go to Las Vegas' High Roller when its version opens in 2013). Despite much fanfare and hype, the locals have never really taken to the Flyer, grousing that it's too far from anywhere (it's not) and S$29.50 is a lot of money to pay for a 30-minute ride. Lucky you, since this means you'll almost never have to wait in line. The best time to hitch a ride is at dusk when the entire row of downtown skyscrapers is softly lit. Back on the ground, head for a dinner of chili crabs at Seafood Paradise.

Singapore Flyer
30 Raffles Avenue, #01-07, Singapore 039803; 65-6333-3311 singaporeflyer.com
Seafood Paradise
30 Raffles Avenue, #01-01, Singapore 039803; 65-6336-5101 seafoodparadise.com.sg

8. The White Rabbit

Back in the '50s, Dempsey Hill was home to the British Army. These days, the former barracks, set amidst lush jungle, have been transformed into a fine collection of restaurants, bars, art galleries, epiceries and spas. Recently, the long abandoned garrison church was reopened as the White Rabbit, a restaurant and bar serving up Euro comfort food. After extensive renovations, its lofty interiors are now a mood-lit bolt-hole that heaves with tout le monde. When people aren't busy air-kissing and waving to one another across the crowded dining space, they're tucking into chef Daniel Sia's cleverly re-imagined classics, like macaroni and cheese drizzled with truffle sauce and a deconstructed Black Forest cake. After dinner, head up the hill for a chilled mojito at Margarita's.

The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road, Singapore 249541; 65-6473-9965 thewhiterabbit.com.sg
Margarita's
Block 11, Dempsey Road, #01-19, Singapore 249673; 65-6471-3228

9. Geylang

Once upon a time, Bugis Street was Singapore's premier red light district (and forever immortalized in Peter Bogdanovich's Saint Jack), but the crown has long since passed to Geylang, an atmospheric quarter on Singapore's east coast that bristles with great period architecture, leggy street walkers and some of the best local food on the island. On offer is a greedy grab of Peranakan, Indian, Malay and regional Chinese standards including the coconut rice and curry chicken at Bali Nasi Lemak, spicy noodles with roast pork and prawns at Kuching Kolo Mee and the Hakka favourite of rice, vegetables, tofu and peanuts in a tea-based broth at Lei Cha Fan.

Bali Nasi Lemak
2 Lorong 15 Geylang, Singapore 388603
Kuching Kolo Mee (Soon Seng Coffeeshop)
Lorong 17 Geylang & Geylang Rd, Singapore 388603
Lei Cha Fan
134 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387456

10. Zouk

Despite its prim, straight-laced reputation, Singapore's nightlife is actually quite racy, though compared to Barcelona or New York, the party ends early (around 3 a.m.). After nearly two decades, Zouk is still the throbbing heart of the action. The pulsating institution is a strobe-lit, rambling warren of dance floors, figure-hugging outfits, swagger and seasoned moves. For many of the pretty young hipsters here, it's a rite of passage. If it isn't enough to satisfy your urge to groove, drop into the mammoth Ministry of Sound for a quick shimmy.

Zouk
17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420; 65-6738-2988 zoukclub.com
Ministry of Sound
Cannery, Block C, #01-02, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179022; 6235-2292 ministryofsound.com

Uniquely Singapore - Singapore Botanic Gardens Part 3

2012-07-31T22:24:00.000+08:00

Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is uniquely Singapore where you will find a 74 hectare of dynamic and living tropical garden. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 0500 hrs to 0000 hrs every single day of the year and is free to all visitors except for the National Singapore Orchid Garden.

National Orchid Garden

Here is one of the swans at the Eco-Lake.

Flight of the Swans sculpture at the Eco-Lake

One of the in-house swans

It is very common to find owners walking their dogs in the Singapore Botanic Gardens as can be seen in the picture below.

We were pleasantly surprised to see more than five couples having their wedding photography shots taken at the Gardens as well.

If you should pay the entrance fee into the National Orchid Garden, do not miss checking out the misthouse as you will not regret the experience. Here you will many wonderful and uniques flowers and we were wowed by them. :D

Misthouse

Founded in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has come a long way and is now committed to making Singapore a Garden City as well as meeting recreational needs.

The aim of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is to be at the forefront of the botanical and horticultural activity by the 21st century as well as a key Singapore tourist attraction.

Uniquely Singapore - Tiong Bahru's Old-New Vibe

2012-07-30T16:56:00.000+08:00

The Sunday Times, July 29, 2012

By Cheryl Faith Wee

Long-time residents and family businesses in the estate co-exist alongside cool new cafes and eateries, drawing the attention of locals and tourists

Once a sleepy residential area, Tiong Bahru has roused from its slumber with at least one new shop opening in the neighbourhood every other month.

Its reputation for being an upper-class estate where wealthy businessmen housed their mistresses in the 1930s and early 1940s gave way to a tight-knit middle-class estate with a kampung feel after World War II.

And now, besides housing long-time residents and famed eateries that go back decades, the distinct 1930s Art Deco-style buildings of the neighbourhood are also home to quaint cafes, indie boutiques and hip working professionals.

The estate's revival has drawn both locals and tourists, who on weekends, comb the main streets and back lanes of the sprawling residential area turned trendy destination.

The neighbourhood's rejuvenation in the last decade has also made those abroad sit up and take notice. In the past five years, international publications such as American daily newspaper The New York Times and travel news website CNNGo have lauded the estate's beautiful architecture and unique mix of old- and new-world charms.

Premium coffee joint 40 Hands in Yong Siak Street is often attributed as the catalyst that drew all eyes to Tiong Bahru. It opened in 2010 and the owners helped persuade seven-year-old independent bookstore Books Actually to move from Ann Siang Hill to just across the road the following year.

Within months, quirky boutique Strangelets, the bistro Open Door Policy and the restaurant SocialHaus opened alongside them.

Yong Siak Street, which takes just two minutes to walk from one end to the other, has a total of five eateries and counting - Japanese restaurant Ikyu is expected to open there next month.

Just this week, PS Cafe, which has four outlets here, started operating a 1,000-plus sq ft food and dessert test kitchen in Guan Chuan Street nearby. While the kitchen does not retail food yet, PS Cafe says that it is developing a retail element.

There are currently 21 food and beverage outlets among the 64 HDB commercial properties in the Tiong Bahru estate.

The Housing Board evaluates requests to convert a shop into an eating establishment based on criteria such as the layout and concept of the unit.

Private buildings in the area fall under the purview of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, whose criteria for change-of-use applications are similar to HDB's.

In spite of the F&B outlets that seem to have taken over the area, the enclave of conserved private pre-war homes, located just minutes away from the Central Business District, was popular as a residential area first.

It attracted young working professionals such as Ms Georgina Koh, 32, who moved into the area six years ago when she got married. She says: 'Back then, it was very sleepy here but I loved its kampung feel.'

Ms Koh, who works at the Singapore Tourism Board and is also a co-founder of fashion boutique Nana & Bird in Yong Siak Street, paid around $200,000 for a 947 sq ft three-room post-war flat in 2006. These days, the same post-war flat would cost $600,000 to $680,000.

And a 1,000 sq ft private pre-war flat with about 53 years left on a 99-year lease would set a buyer back by about $1 million now.

Rental flats here are popular too, especially with expatriates. Property agent Alvin Yeo, 41, who deals primarily in Tiong Bahru homes, says rents for a typical 1,000 sq ft unit can hit $3,500 or $4,000 a month.

Rising rents in the area have also hit businesses. Shop space rentals go for more than $7 psf a month, up from around $4 about two years ago. And the numbers are still climbing.

The owner of Books Actually, Mr Kenny Leck, 34, expects his mid-four-figure-sum rent to double when the two-year lease on his 2,100 sq ft unit expires next year.

He says: 'This area is hot and it is the landlord's prerogative to make money in a free market. I am 50-50 about moving again, but the thought of moving all my stock is a nightmare.'

Commercial space in the area is in such demand that mom-and-pop shops in Seng Poh Road, such as 74-year-old provision shop iEcon and 19-year-old hardware store Hock Eng Hin, receive offers from keen buyers every other week.

Mr Michael Chan, 64, is part of family- run business Hock Eng Hin that occupies a 1,300 sq ft unit. He says: 'We bought the unit for around $570,000 in 1993. Now it's worth around $2 million.'

He adds: 'A lot of old shops have closed and sold off their business but we tell the interested buyers 'no' because our hardware store can still survive.'

At nearby iEcon, Mr Rodney Goh, 57, says: 'The shop has sentimental value - it was handed down by my grandfather. Even if my children do not want to run a provision shop in the future, they can have the space to do other kinds of business.'

Some eventually give in to these offers. One former owner is 60-year-old delivery man Wee Chye Guan. For more than a decade, he owned a provision shop in 78 Yong Siak Street, but sold the under 1,000 sq ft space earlier this year for what is said to be around $1.4 million. Mr Wee declined to confirm this.

He still lives in Tiong Bahru and notes: 'It is hard to make a living from a provision shop these days.'

The new landlord has rented the space to a cafe called PoTeaTo.

Some residents are apprehensive about the growing number of F&B outlets. Earlier this year, a resident called the police about it being too noisy at night, while others reportedly were unhappy about parking congestion on weekends.

Businesses in the area have tried to be mindful of residents. For instance, SocialHaus added noise-absorbing velvet curtains to its windows to contain the music.

A member of the Seng Poh Residents' Committee, Mr Kelvin Ang, 40, who has lived in Tiong Bahru for the past seven years, says: 'Newcomers are welcome but instead of just coming here to leech off the community, they should balance how they can do a business and contribute.'

One example of how the new co-exists with the old is 40-plus-years stall Ah Chiang's Porridge in Tiong Poh Road.

Mr Cher Kee Chiang, 65, who has been selling porridge cooked over traditional charcoal stoves since the 1970s, sold his business for a five-figure sum to Mr Eddie Tan, 41, and his partners in 2005.

Mr Cher says: 'My children were not interested in taking over the business and I felt it would be a lost opportunity if I did not sell it.'

In Mr Tan's hands, the small stall grew to occupy the entire coffee shop. Modern equipment, such as gas stoves, are now used in combination with charcoal ones to shorten customers' waiting time, but Mr Cher still works at the stall every day.

Even retired cleaner Ng Siew Tock, who is almost 90 years old and has lived in Tiong Bahru since 1980, has few problems with the changes in the neighbourhood. She says: 'It used to be very quiet, but now it is very lively. We need such new blood.'

cherylw@sph.com.sg

Hanging out in Tiong Bahru

SundayLife! picks 10 places to visit

1. Socialhaus

What: Grab a bite at this laid-back watering hole which serves bar food such as Bob's Burger ($16) and fish and chips ($14.50). Weekend brunch items include sauteed mushrooms and bacon (from $10.50 a plate)
Where: 11 Yong Siak Street
Open: Noon to 11.30pm (Mondays to Thursdays, except Tuesdays). noon to midnight (Fridays), 11am to midnight (Saturdays), 11am to 10.30pm (Sundays), closed on Tuesdays, call 6557-0286

2. Bhutan Shop

What: Owned by three individuals wth an interest in Bhutan, this lifestyle and home decor shop stocks Bhutanese items such as paintings, andicraft and organic oney and lemongrass oil. It also carries products from Europe and South-east Asia. Prices range from $8 for a Bhutanese flag magnet to $500 for a hand-woven carpet.
Where: 1D Yong Siak Street
Open: 10am to 6pm daily, closed on Mondays, call 6236-0750

3. Nana & Bird

What: A hole-in-the-wall boutique selling indie brands from London, Shanghai, New York and more. Prices range from $50 for a ring to $700 for a silk dress.
Where: 79 Chay Yan Street, 01-02
Open: Noon to 7pm (Wednesdays to Fridays), 11am to 7pm (Saturdays and Sundays), closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, call 9117-0430 or go to nanaandbird.com

4. Pre-war Singapore Improvement Trust Blocks

What: The pre-war walk-up flats built by the defunct Singapore Improvement Trust lend vintage charm to the neighbourhood. The roofs, rounded balconies and spiral staircases are distinctive architectural features.
Where: There are 20 conserved pre-war blocks. Some examples include the row of buildings along Seng Poh Road, starting from block 77.

5. Ah Chiang's Porridge

What: Dig into a bowl of fish or pork porridge (from $3.75) cooked over gas and traditional charcoal fire in this 1970s stall. It serves up more than 1,000 bowls on weekends. The "Ah Chiang" in the eatery's name is Mr Cher Kee Chiang, 65, who sold his business seven years ago to current owner Eddie Tan, 41. Mr Cher still helps out at the store and ensures that the porridge and side dishes, such as yusheng, are freshly prepared daily from 4am.
Where: 65 Tiong Poh Road, 01-38
Open: 7am to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to midnight daily, call 6557-0084

6. Flea and Trees

What: Pore over buttons from the 1960s and men's and women's clothes from past decades, int his carefully curated vintage shop. Interior designer-lecturer Terence Yeung, 42, and fashion consultant Nella Koh, 31, are the husband-and-wife owners who live in the neighbourhood. Prices range from $2 for an enamel spoon to about $600 for a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes.
Where: 68 Seng Poh Lane
Open: 6 to 10pm (Tuesdays to Fridays), 10am to 10pm (Saturdays and Sundays), closed on Mondays, call 8139-1133

7. Qi Tian Gong Temple

What: Stop by one of the oldest buildings in the neighbourhood - a 74-year-old temple dedicated to the monkey god, Sun Wukong. Built in the late 1930s with donations from devotees and business owners int ehTiong Bahru area, it was revamped in 1992.

Where: 44 Eng Hoon Street

Open: 7am to 5pm daily, call 6220-2469 or go to www.qitiangongcom

8. Tiong Bahru Bakery

What: An artisan bakery by French baker Gontran Cherrier that has been a hit since it opened in May. Some foodies say it serves the best croissants (42.50) in town. Other must-trys: the lemon and calamansi tart ($5.50) and the bacon and cheese bread ($3.20).

Where: 56 Eng Hoon Street, 01-70

Open: 8am to 8pm daily, closed on Tuesdays, call 6220-3430 or go to www.tiongbahrubakery.com

9. Loo's Hainanese Curry Rice

What: The thick curry slathered on the rice here takes three days to prepare. Stall owner Loo Kia Chee, who is in his 50s inherited the recipe from his father. Around 20 dishes are available, including assam fish and pork chop. From $2.70 for rice and two dishes.

Where: 57 Eng Hoon Street, 01-88
Open: 7.45am to 2.30pm daily, closed on alternate Thursdays, call 6225-3762

10. Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre

What: Hawkers who used to ply the streets in the area are now housed on the second-floor of this airy market, built in the 1950s. Visit the famous Tiong Bahru Pau, with a history of more than 40 years; and Koh Brother Pig's Organ Soup, in business form more than half a century. The market went through a $16.8 million revamp between 2004 and 2006

Where: 83 Seng Poh Road, Tiong Bahru Pau is at 02-18/19 and Koh Broher Pigs Organ Soup is at 02-29
Open: Tiong Bahru Pau is open 7am to 9pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays and 7am to 5pm on Sundays, closed on Mondays; Koh Brother Pig's Organ Soup is open from 8am to 3pm daily, closed on Mondays. Opening hours for other stalls vary.

Uniquely Singapore - Singapore Botanic Gardens Part 2

2012-07-28T08:57:00.000+08:00

Singapore Botanic Gardens Orchids - Singapore Orchid Garden

National Orchid Garden Singapore

Holiday Travel Tips:-
Look out for these Photo Spot signages for great and memorable pictures... though there are other wonderful spots to snap as well.

Photo spot

One such photo spot

Kudos...

The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction within the Singapore Botanic Gardens with a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids. Presenting a comprehensive permanent display of orchid culture spread over 3 hectares of landscaped terraces, you will be treated to orchids from around the world, rare species as well as orchids bred by the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Opening Hours:-
8am - 7pm daily
Last ticket sales at 6.30pm

Admission Charges:-
Adult - $5
Children (12 years and below) - Free
Senior Citizens (60 years and above) and Students - $1

Pets, rollerblading and tricycles are not permitted in the National Orchid Garden though they are allowed in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Promotions:-
July 2012 - Free entry into National Orchid Garden for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents
Aug 2012 - 10% discount for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents at The library Shop and The Garden Shop
Sep - Dec 2012 - 10% discount on Singapore Botanic Gardens Adults' Gardening Workshops

Burkill Hall

The Burkill Hall is a colonial plantation bungalow that was constructed in 1886. You can view the exhibition area showcasing information on the various orchid hybrids on the ground level.

Burkill Hall - picture from sbg.org.sg

VIP Orchid Garden

At the VIP Orchid Garden, you will be able to see various hybrids of orchids that have been named after celebrity VIPS.

Here are some of the VIP orchids that we managed to snap.

Queen Elizabeth

Sydney Brenner

Andrea Bocelli

Stefanie Sun

In fact, if we were to compare the Dendrobium Stefanie Sun orchid and Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana as seen below, we thought that the Stefanie Sun orchid had a more luxurious feel. :D

Bae Yong Jun

Memoria Princess Diana

Paloma Picasso

Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse

Here at the Misthouse, you will be treated to a colourful collection of various orchid hybrids as well as a small collection of fragrant orchids.

Holiday Travel Tips:-
If you do not have much time to tour the whole National Orchid Garden, you must at least make time to visit the Mist House. We were amazed at the many unique, lovely flowers and orchids that we saw here.

We basically went 'gaga' over the various orchids at the Misthouse and were wowed by the many unique and interesting varieties of orchids over here.

Rare orchid cultivars from the Gardens' extensive collection are displayed in the mist house. These award-winning specimens are set amidst a lush setting of tropical foliage and cultural artifacts from centres of orchid distribution around the world.

This must have been one of the most wonderful outings in a long while, being able to have a first-hand experience of viewing these awesome orchids ...

Oh! I forgot to mention that I just love dual colours and as you can see, many of the orchids here have at least two colours or even more. What a delight!

Coolhouse

The Coolhouse recreates an environment of the tropical highland forest and showcases orchids that are frequently found there.

Medusa

Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad House

As the name suggests, here you will get to see a collection of bromeliads on display. We regret that we did not have much time to visit the Bromeliad House as we had another appointment, thus gave it a miss.

Bromeliad House ... picture from sbg.org.sg

It was truly a wonderful time at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - National Orchid Garden where we could see the orchids in a tropical garden setting in what is uniquely Singapore. :D Definitely worth visiting if you are a plant lover...

And don't be surprised if you do spot some furry friends as well.

Spot the bushy tail?