Category

Travel

Category

A Comprehensive Guide to Batam, Indonesia

By

Editor’s Note: It has been awhile since we last blogged and for that, we do apologise for being away for too long. After all, we do deserve a break especially after the hectic year that we had!
With so many media events, food tastings, and things to do, the month of December has certainly been a very busy month for us. Thankfully, we managed to take some time off and embark on a 3 days 2 nights adventure in Batam, Indonesia.

I have to admit that when I first went to Batam, I was very apprehensive about going there as I didn’t have a positive impression of the place. Any information that I had about Batam were pretty negative but after my virgin trip there, I decided that Batam isn’t too bad a place for a good relaxing vacation and so, we decided to make a second trip.

Although prostitution in Batam is illegal, the island has always been a place that is associated with sex tourism; even till now. This would probably explain why people would occasionally give me a weird look when I tell them that I’m going to Batam for a holiday.

In this blog post, we will be mainly sharing about our virgin trip to Batam, the spas that we visited, the cafes that we dined at, the hotels that we stayed at, and the activities that we did.

Virgin Experience to Batam

When we first went to Batam, we booked for a half-day tour around the city and because we were newbies to Batam, we went to places where tour guides can earn commissions from us.

The hotel that we stayed at was Gideon Hotel Batam and the half-day tour included a lunch at Golden Prawn 933 Restaurant.

The Superior Room at Gideon Hotel Batam is really quite crammed and small. Location wise, it is near Nagoya Hill but a distance to Batam Center Ferry Terminal. The level of service met our expectations but if you were to ask whether we would stay at Gideon Hotel Batam for future visits, we would definitely not as there are way better properties than this!

City View from Gideon Hotel Batam

The food at Golden Prawn 933 Restaurant is nothing to shout about and so, if you are planning to dine there, save the trip and money for something else. Golden Prawn 933 Restaurant is way too touristy for our liking.

In our most honest opinions, our first virgin trip to Batam was such a waste of time and money because of visits to places that were unnecessary. As such, we highly recommend travellers to go free-and-easy if they choose to visit Batam. After all, information is readily available on the Internet and when we planned for our second trip to Batam; Tripadvisor, Agoda, and Blogs, were really our best tools.

For our second trip to Batam, all we wanted to do was eat good food, do some shopping, and unwind. It wasn’t so much of a cultural or sight-seeing trip although we might plan for that in future. Hence, we hereby present to your our comprehensive free-and-easy travel guide to Batam.

Currency Exchange

The rupiah [Rp] is the official currency of Indonesia and the current exchange rate [updated as of 12 December 2014] is approximately SGD$1 to 9216 Rp. There are talks that the existing rupiah would be phased out by the end of 2018 but during the transition period, the old and new currency notes will stay valid.

Ferry To Batam

There are a number of ferry operators available but the more popular ones are WaveMaster, Batam Fast, and Sindo Ferry. For our second trip to Batam, we took the WaveMaster and ticket prices for a return trip cost SGD$38 per person. There really isn’t much to compare between the three ferry operators as the level of service is decent enough to bring you from Singapore to Batam and vice-versa. However, the ticket prices will differ so do check out the three and choose the cheapest one.

Web check-in is available for WaveMaster, Batam Fast, and Sindo Ferry so you don’t have to go collect your boarding passes if you have booked your ferry tickets online. However, do ask your ferry operator for the disembarkation / embarkation card as we had to rush and collect ours at the Batam Center Ferry Terminal.

A typical journey from Singapore Harbourfront Centre to Batam Center Ferry Terminal will take about 45 minutes. We recommend visitors to travel to Batam during the weekdays instead of the weekends as it may get too crowded.

When returning back to Singapore during the weekends, make sure you arrive early at Batam Centre as the queue at the immigration counters can get quite long.

Batam Ferry Terminal

Upon arrival at the Ferry Terminal, do observe the rules and regulations. The immigration officers at the Ferry Terminal are especially strict and they expect visitors to be silent while waiting in line to get their passports chopped. We have observed instances where visitors were sent back to Singapore for not adhering to the rules and regulations.

Indonesia’s Prepaid SIM Card

After you have cleared immigrations, you would be at the arrival area and that is where you can purchase a prepaid SIM card to get you connected. We purchased the Indosat Mentari 3GB SIM Card and it comes with 3GB Internet and 25 minutes local talktime. All that for only 75000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$9]. To be on the safe side, we purchased an additional top-up card that cost 50000 Rp and we still had some leftover balance upon returning to Singapore.

Our Preferred Accommodation In Batam- Harris Hotel Batam Center

It was our first time staying at Harris Hotel Batam Center and we will definitely be considering to stay there for future visits to Batam.

Harris Hotel Batam Center is conveniently located beside Batam Center Ferry Terminal and it is very safe as checks are routinely done for every vehicle that enters the hotel’s compound. The level of guest service has over exceeded our expectations and we were very impressed with the facilities that are available at the hotel.

The Harris Hotel branding advocates a healthy and active lifestyle and we really like its Simple-Unique-Friendly concept. Upon checking-in, we were even served with welcome drinks. Hotel facilities such as the gym and swimming pool are also available for hotel guests to utilise.

There is only one room type at Harris Hotel Batam Center and the views from the hotel room are either city view or sea view. We opted for the room that offers sea view and when we entered our room, we were greeted by the pleasant aroma that was coming from the scented oil.

Sea View From The Harris Hotel Batam Center Room

City View From The Harris Hotel Batam Center Room

Breakfast at Harris Hotel Batam Center was also a hearty affair. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are available upon request at no charge and the sumptuous food fare left hotel guests spoilt for choices.

Address: Jl. Engku Putri, Batam Center, Kepulauan Riau 29641, IndonesiaPhone: +62 778 7498888

Our Preferred Mode of Transportation Around Batam- Silver Cab

Learning from our virgin trip to Batam, we decided that Silver Cab was going to be our only mode of transportation around Batam because they charge by the meter. The flag-down rate for Silver Cab is 7000 Rp and every 110 metres will see the fare jump by 500 Rp. From Batam Center Ferry Terminal to Nagoya Hill, the cab fare will cost around 50000 Rp [inclusive of parking fees that cost 2000 Rp]. Our most expensive cab fare was the trip from Harris Hotel Batam Center to Turi Beach Resort as it costs us about 130000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$15].

Do note that there are a couple of Silver Cab lookalikes in Batam so instead of flagging down cabs as and when you like, always call and book. The cab will usually take about 20 minutes to arrive.

We are sure many of you might be puzzled as to why we didn’t rent a car with a personal driver but it is only because after calculating the approximate cab fares that we would be spending on, taking a cab is way cheaper than having a driver at our disposal.

To calculate approximate cab fares, what you can do is to measure the distance from one place to another using Google Maps and then for every 110 metres, add 500 Rp. After which, you add another 7000 Rp for the flag-down rate and top it up with 30,000 Rp for contingency planning. The flag-down rate of 7000 Rp is correct as of December 2014.

For example, to travel from Harris Hotel Batam Center to Turi Beach Resort, the distance calculated on Google Maps is about 21.2 KM.

Step 1: 21.2 KM X 1000 = 21200 Metres

Step 2: 21200 / 110 = 193 [rounded up]

Step 3: 193 X 500 Rp = 96500 Rp

Step 4: 96500 Rp + 7000 Rp + 30000 Rp = 133500 Rp

Silver Cab Booking Hotline: +62 778 461000

Shopping In Batam

There are a few malls where you can do some shopping in Batam. However, if you are shopping for the latest trendy and fashionable apparels, Batam is not the place for it. Most of the branded goods in Batam are either outdated or of poor quality. Some branded goods may even not be authentic so do be wary before purchasing any branded goods. However, grocery shopping is at the top of our priority list whenever we visit Batam because the prices are really affordable.

Nagoya Hill

Nagoya Hill is Batam’s largest shopping mall and there are many retail stores that sell branded goods. However, do be aware that some of the branded goods at Nagoya Hill are not authentic. If you are looking for places to dine at, Nagoya Hill would be the best place as they offer more dining options as compared to Mega Mall Batam Centre. Nagoya Hill also has a Cinema where you can catch some movies too. Personally, we feel that Nagoya Hill would be a better place for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Mega Mall Batam Centre

Located just opposite Batam Center Ferry Terminal, Mega Mall Batam Centre offers a couple of dining and shopping options. Though not as big as Nagoya Hill, Mega Mall Batam still has a fairly decent number of retailers for visitors to do some last minute shopping before departure. One of the places that we will always shop at Mega Mall Batam Centre is the Hypermart because that is where we could stock up on our daily amenities such as facial cleansers, shampoos, shower gels, and many more. If you have too much time to kill while waiting for your ferry, Mega Mall Batam Centre has a cinema where you can watch some movies.

Batam Factory Outlets

Most tours will include shopping at the various factory outlets and some of the brands include Polo Ralph, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci and etc. Personally, we are not a fan of branded goods and if you’re like us, you can give a visit to the factory outlets a miss. Furthermore, most of the designs are either outdated or not authentic.

Dining

In Batam, there are many places you can dine at. Whether it is Italian, Thai, Japanese, or Indonesian cuisines, Batam has them and you can be spoilt for choices as the prices can be very affordable. We generally don’t recommend visitors to patronise roadside food stores as hygiene may not be so ideal.

Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Batam

Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Batam has been rated as the num
ber 1 restaurant in Batam on Tripadvisor and truly, it really is! We have always enjoyed dining there ever since we first came to Batam and the food there is top notch.

Our favourites at Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Batam include the freshly shucked oysters, the piping hot wild mushroom soup, the Hawaiian pizza, the linguine marinara pasta, and the flaming chocolate lava cake with liqueur. The serving portions are also quite big!

Although Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Batam is a fine dining restaurant, it is ok to dress down and be casual. If you call in advance to make a table reservation, the waiters will specially lay the table with table cloth and place a table centrepiece.

A dinner at Bella Italia Pizzeria Ristorante Batam with all of our favourite dishes will cost less than SGD$40. We know it sounds pretty pricey but for a high quality meal like this in Singapore, it will cost about SGD$100+.

Rezeki Seafood Restaurant Batam

Seafood restaurants in Batam is aplenty and so far, we have been to Golden Prawn 933 Seafood Restaurant and Wey Wey Live Seafood Restaurant. Rezeki Seafood Restaurant Batam is the third seafood restaurant that we have visited in Batam and so far, it is the best as compared to the other two that we have visited. Just a note, hygiene at Wey Wey Live Seafood Restaurant isn’t so ideal and coupled with the pungent smell of sulphur lingering in the air, dining at Wey Wey Live Seafood Restaurant is a total turn-off.

Although Rezeki Seafood Restaurant Batam is located a distance away from Batam Center, the quality of the seafood there is relatively good.

When we were dining there, there were many locals and not so much foreigners. The price is also rather reasonable. Although the prawns and crabs are quite small in size, they are extremely fresh!

Scenic View From Rezeki Seafood Restaurant

For a lunch which consist of 4 grilled scallops, 1 crab, prawns, sambal kang kong, seafood fried rice, hot plate tofu, and some beverages, it cost us less than SGD$50.

Address: Batu Besar, RT.01/RW.02, Nongsa, BatamPhone: +62 778 761 180 or +62 812 7023 942

Caffein Café

Caffein Café is one of the cafes that we visited in Batam and there, we had their breaded chicken, fish & chips, a slice of red velvet cake, a slice of dark chocolate cakes, and some hot beverages.

The quality of food there is pretty decent and it is one of the better cafes in Batam that visitors could add to their café hopping adventure. In total, lunch at Caffein Café cost us less than SGD$25.

Address: Komp. Ruko Nagoya Hill blok R3-A3A, Batam, Riau, IndonesiaTelephone and Reservation No: +62 778 7493712

Black Canyon Coffee @ Mega Mall Batam

Black Canyon Coffee is a semi-café restaurant in Mega Mall Batam that serves Thai fusion food. We had their Thai mango salad, chicken wings, fried rice with salted fish, and the dinner in total cost less than SGD$18.

Visitors can consider dining at Black Canyon Coffee if they would like to have some Thai food.

Coffee Story Co.

Coffee Story Co. is located near Nagoya Hill and no offence but it is one of the worst cafes that we have visited in Batam. The quality of the food is really bad and the level of hygiene didn’t quite meet our expectations as we saw ants crawling around most of the tables on the second level.

We were quite disappointed with the food that we didn’t even finish half of it. To be fair, we have to comment that their hot beverages isn’t too bad.

Out of the 3 dishes that we ordered, the fries is the only palatable food.

The food was too much for us to take that we gave up eating altogether!

In total, we spend less than SGD$18 but it wouldn’t be a café that we would recommend to visitors.

Massage & Spa

Massage & Spa Parlours in Batam can be quite sleazy and if you are looking for a genuine and authentic massage & spa experience, you need to go to the right places. Just make sure you do your research before visiting any of the Massage & Spa Parlours in Batam to prevent yourself from being ripped off.

The Spa Secret Batam

The Spa Secret Batam is one of the highest rated Massage & Spa Parlours in Batam with close to 190 reviews on Tripadvisor. The level of service and spa treatment is truly commendable and the place is extremely clean. The therapists are very professional and a variety of body spa treatments are available.

Jacqueline did The Coffee Body Spa Treatment which consist of a sea salt foot bath, body cleansing, relaxing body massage, coffee body lulur, body steam, body yogurt polish, soaking in bath foam Jacuzzi pool, and V-Ratus treatment while I did The Balinese Aromatic Body Spa Treatment which included a sea salt foot bath, body cleansing, aromatic body massage, aromatic body scrub, body steam, body yogurt polish, soaking in bath foam Jacuzzi pool, and a back & shoulder massage.

In total, we spent about SGD$160 for 2 persons and it was really worth the money. In Singapore, such body spa treatments can cost about SGD$400+!

Address: Komp. Nagoya Garden Phase I Blok D No. 1-2-3, Riau 29432, IndonesiaPhone: +62 778 423123

Spa Central Batam (Updated)

Spa Central Batam is also one of the highest rated Massage & Spa Parlours in Batam on Tripadvisor. There, we did the Vitamin-C Facial, a 1-hour Foot Reflexology for me, and a 1-hour Hair Cream Bath for Jacqueline.

The level of service and treatment exceeded our expectations and we were quite pleased with the experience. The place was also very clean and we had an enjoyable time over there.

In total, we spent about SGD$71 for all these treatments that we just mentioned and the prices are very reasonable because in Singapore, such treatments will cost two to three times more!

Address: 2nd Floor Clubhouse @ Central Sukajadi, The Central Sukajadi, Batam – 29444 Phone: +62 [778] 736 7512 or +62 821 69900341 (WhatsApp)

Water Activities @ Turi Beach Resort

There used to be two location for water activities in Batam; one at Harris Resort Waterfront and the other at Turi Beach Resort. However, Harris Resort Waterfront no longer carry out any water activities and the only place that is available to do water activities in Batam would be Turi Beach Resort.

Turi Beach Resort is quite a distance away from Batam Center and the cab fare cost us about SGD$15. If you’re planning a visit to Turi Beach Resort, we recommend that you drop by Rezeki Restaurant as they are both located around the same vicinity.

Turi Beach Resort is a really nice place to relax and unwind, away from the urban civilisation.

Water activities such as Para Sailing, Jet Skiing, and Banana Boat are available at Turi Beach Resort and they can be pretty pricey. When I did the Para Sailing and Jet Skiing, it cost me about SGD$108 but I personally felt that it was worth the money for satisfying the adrenaline junkie me.

If you are planning to do the water activities at Turi Beach Resort, do call and make a reservation beforehand and also enquire on the weather status. If it is low tide or when there’s an impending storm, there will be no water activities carried out for guests’ safety. From the information that we have gathered from the staffs at Turi Beach Resort, the best time for Para Sailing or Jet Skiing would be in the morning before 12pm but it is subjected to weather conditions.

Address: Jalan Hang Lekiu, Nongsa, Kepulauan Riau 29465, Indonesia Phone: +62 778 761080

Batam Specialty Products

There are two Batam specialty products that visitors should get as souvenirs for family members and friends and they are the Kueh Lapis [Layer Cake] and Bika Ambon [Honeycomb Cake]. Although Singapore do have Kueh Lapis and Bika Ambon, the prices are almost twice of those in Batam.

Kueh Lapis / Layer Cake

Kueh Lapis also known as Layer Cakes are pretty popular with tourists visiting Batam. In Singapore, Kueh Lapis is extremely costly but in Batam, it is almost half the price. Hence, it is no surprise that visitors will horde boxes of Kueh Lapis to bring back to Singapore.

There are many retailers selling Kueh Lapis but we will always buy from Diana Layer Cake Batam as we personal
ly feel that their homemade layer cakes is the best in Batam. Diana Layer Cake Batam only offers two types of traditional layer cakes; original and prunes. A kilogram of the original layer cake will cost 250000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$28] and a kilogram of the prunes layer cake will cost 300000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$33].

If you would like to order layer cakes from Diana Layer Cake Batam, do give them a call at least one day in advance. As we were staying at Harris Hotel Batam Center, we had our layer cakes personally delivered to us at the hotel.

Address: Taman Seruni Indah Blok G No. 10, Batam Centre Telephone: +62 778 466906

Honeycomb Cake / Bika Ambon

The Honeycomb Cake also known as Bika Ambon is also another popular specialty product of Batam. My mum personally likes it a lot and she is pretty satisfied with the Honeycomb Cake that we purchased at Nagoya Hill. Prior to the purchase, we did a few comparisons and sample tastings and found that the retailer, The Master, offers the best Honeycomb Cake in our opinion.

The Honeycomb Cake cost 70000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$8] for half a kilogram and 130000 Rp [equivalent to about SGD$15] for a kilogram.

Name of Retailer: The MasterAddress: Food Street Nagoya Hill [beside the Hypermart Escalator] The Master Telephone: +62 085271388585 or +62 085272099109

In Summary

Batam isn’t so bad a place for a good relaxing vacation. In our future trips to Batam, we will be looking to explore more on the cultural side of the city. Should you have any questions about our comprehensive guide to Batam, do not hesitate to drop us an email! We hope that this comprehensive guide by us has been helpful!

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
google_ad_client: “ca-pub-8988049446545207”,
enable_page_level_ads: true
});

by
Keep Reading

An Inaugural Epicurean Event At Plaza Singapura For Everyone

By

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Plaza Singapura has partnered with Cold Storage to organise an inaugural epicurean event that will be taking place from 22 October 2014 to 2 November 2014 at the mall’s Main Atrium on Level 1.

Presenting an array of international gourmet delights, “Flavours of the World” will feature an oyster bar, exquisite meat carving stations, an extensive selection of beers, ciders and wines, and as well as the exclusive launches of new-to-market food and beverage brands and products.

In addition to indulging in freshly shucked oysters, Wagyu beef, and gourmet sausages, visitors can also enjoy wine tastings, live jazz performances, and interactive games during the event.

Wine connoisseurs can look forward to sampling new and exclusive labels such as Terra Vega from the award-winning Chilean wine producer Luis Felipe Edwards, while beer lovers can anticipate the arrival of the limited edition and highly sought-after Rekorderlig Winter Brew, which is making its first appearance in Singapore at the event.

This is the first time Cold Storage is organising a live gourmet event of such a scale in a shopping mall and there will be many special offers that visitors can look forward to.

What We Think Of “Flavours of the World” Event?

It is truly a world-class “Flavours of the World” event as we saw many food and beverage brands and products from all over the world. We enjoyed ourselves very much and it was a very delightful time to indulge in some freshly shucked US oysters that are going for SGD$15 for 6 pieces.

The tantalising and exclusive Hoegaarden Rosée beer is also available on tap at the event and you have to try it because this raspberry infused Belgian white beer is very refreshing!

Just in case you are wondering, you will be able to purchase the Hoegaarden Rosée beer can for the coming Christmas season and it is only exclusively available on-the-shelf in Cold Storage.

There are also quite a number of special offers for wines, beers, and ciders, and with Christmas just 2 months away, it is a pretty apt time to stock up on some booze and end the year with a big bang.

We also bought some chips that are exclusively available at Cold Storage and if you are a big fan of truffle fries, the Torres Black Truffles Chips is simply irresistible!

As the event is open to public, the walkways might be a little tight and crammed but it is all worth the effort because there are many remarkable offers that are truly a first! If you are a UOB Cardholder, you will be entitled to a 5% rebate on all spending.

“Flavours of the World” will be ongoing from now till 2 November 2014 at Plaza Singapura’s Main Atrium on Level 1 from 10am to 10pm daily. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get some awesome deals!

by
Keep Reading

[Attraction Review]- Halloween Horror Nights 4 @ Universal Studios Singapore

By

Just last Friday, both Jacqueline and I were at Universal Studios Singapore for Halloween Horror Nights 4 and we had a rather exhaustive night of queuing up and getting spooked by the scare-actors. When we were there at 7.45pm, it was already crowded with many people and out of the 4 haunted houses that are available, we only managed to go for two because the rest of the haunted houses had long lines of people!

Apart from the 2 haunted houses [The L.A.B & Jing’s Revenge] that we tried, we also managed to experience 3 out of the 4 scare zones; Demoncracy, Canyon of the Cursed, and Scary Tales. We also had the time to check out Jack’s Nightmare Circus, a show that you truly mustn’t miss!

So without further ado, here’s our personal opinion/review of Halloween Horror Nights 4 @ Universal Studios Singapore…

Haunted Houses

The L.A.B [Laboratory of Alien Breeding]


Image Credits to Dejiki.com

The topic about Aliens is a rather mysterious one and there is little information about what we know of its existence. If your impression of an Alien resembles that of the E.T. movie, you will be so wrong when you check out The L.A.B at Halloween Horror Nights 4. We waited for a rather long time just to experience The L.A.B and in all honesty, the wait wasn’t quite worth it because it was not as scary as we imagined it to be. There are a couple of jump scares and special effects but it is not so spooky because the interior is quite bright and you can see what is about to come round the corner.

Jing’s Revenge


Image Credits to Dejiki.com

There are quite a number of ghost stories that are set in a school-based setting and usually, these stories happen in the school toilets or some secluded school block that not many people go to. Well, in Jing’s Revenge, the whole school is literally haunted and it really scared the wits out of us! The interior is rather dim and there are many hidden corners where the scare actors can jump out from. Jing’s Revenge is definitely one of the scariest haunted houses at Halloween Horror Nights 4 but we can’t say for sure because we did not have the time to check out Mati Camp or Jack’s 3-Dementia.

Scare Zones

In 3 out of the 4 scare zones that we went to, it wasn’t so scary because they are staged in open spaces where there are a lot of people. However, it was not a surprise when we heard some ladies screaming as there were props where the scare actors could hide in and perform jump scares on the passer-by. Most of the scare actors at the Scare Zones are also quite obliging when it comes to picture-taking so don’t hesitate to snap a picture or two for keepsake.

A photo of Jacqueline with one of the many scare actors.

Demoncracy

All hell has broken loose at the New York Zone and the earth has been torn asunder by diabolical forces! Freaky friends of the underworld will unleash their prowess and wipe out all humans from the face of this earth.

Canyon of the Cursed


Image Credits to Dejiki.com

Treasure hunters in the wild west had long been drawn to a place that is unmarked on any map and believed to be buried with the gold of the Nevuro tribe. Ignoring the warnings of how this place was guarded by spirits and protected by an ancient chieftain’s curse, these rapacious men and women rode into the unknown and were never seen again until now.

Scary Tales


Image Credits to Dejiki.com

The forest of disenchantment has ensnared favourite fairy tales and twisted them into nightmares; warping familiar characters into something that is almost beyond recognition. You will never see Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood in the same light ever again.

Show

Jack’s Nightmare Circus

Jack’s Nightmare Circus is largely entertaining as there are a lot of wacky performing acts and usage of pyrotechnics. However, there are only 3 shows a night so make sure you queue up early [15 minutes before showtime] to avoid disappointment.

Overall

Our virgin experience to Halloween Horror Nights 4 is a rather tiring one. As we didn’t purchase the Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass which cost SGD$50 per person, we had to queue and stand at least 35 minutes on average for the haunted houses and relied on our mobile phones to occupy ourselves.

Although we found the scare level of Halloween Horror Nights 4 to be within our comfort zone, we generally don’t recommend it for children under 13 years of age as the event might be too intense.

Tickets to Halloween Horror Nights 4 are still available for October 10, 11, 17, 18, 22-25, 31 and November 1 so if you are interested to give yourself a good scare, you can purchase your tickets directly from the Halloween Horror Nights 4 Website.

For a more detailed and comprehensive review of Halloween Horror Nights 4, we highly recommend that you check out Dejiki’s Blog where there are quite a number of helpful tips.

by
Keep Reading

[Staycation Review]- Bunc Hostel @ Little India

By

Founded by a collective of enthusiasts long smitten with the charm behind the concept of a hostel stay, Bunc@Radius is the re-imagination of the Singapore hostel, a vision brought to life by carefully refining and reassembling the essential elements of a hostel. Bunc@Radius unifies the function luxuries of a boutique hotel with the cultures of a hostel, making it a conducive meeting space for the like-minded traveller.

We were recently invited by Bunc@Radius to have a staycation at their Little India Hostel and because we were assigned a 6 Bed Dormitory and had an event deck for our usage, we invited my Basic Military Training [BMT] Mates for a casual sleepover and Barbecue [BBQ] gathering.

In this blogpost, we will be using the term, “Bunc Hostel @ Little India” to refer to the Bunc@Radius’s Hostel at Little India as they recently opened another hostel at Clarke Quay.

In all honesty, we were initially quite apprehensive about having a staycation at a hostel because of the many horror stories involving hostels. Furthermore, we have always had the impression that hostels being budget-oriented, are quite run-down, dirty, and lacking in facilities.

When we arrived at Bunc Hostel @ Little India, we were pleasantly surprised at the clean and organised floor layout of the reception area and the communal dining area. From the outside, the glass door entrance that leads to the reception area is very welcoming and sports a professional executive look.

We believe painstaking planning and effort have been taken to ensure that all guests are well taken care of and have their needs met. For instance, the staffs at Bunc Hostel @ Little India created mini information boards where first-time guests to Singapore can find out where to go and what to eat. Furthermore, to enhance guests’ experience, mini activities are organised daily to give guests a snippet of what Singapore entails.

Although there isn’t a dedicated concierge at Bunc Hostel @ Little India, a corner has been specially set up where guests can take their time to browse through brochures and plan their itinerary for the day.

The communal dining area is where guests can mingle with one another in an informal setting and here, simple breakfast fare consisting of bread, jams, cereals, and milk are served every morning. If guests would like to prepare their own breakfast, there is a communal kitchenette area for the storing and cooking of food.

When walking to our assigned dormitory, we were quite impressed with the clean and immaculate common walkway that was rather spacious. State of the art monitoring and access systems are used throughout the hostel, and guests will only be allowed entry to the floor where their rooms are located. Even the restrooms and bathrooms feature access controls and for the ladies, Bunc Hostel @ Little India do offer ladies-only dormitory!

Bunc Hostel @ Little India has a few accommodation types, a Double Room Private Ensuite, a 6 Bed Dormitory, a 12 Bed Dormitory, and a 16 Bed Dormitory. Each accommodation type has a different rate and some offer double beds. Rates for a single bed starts from SGD$20 a night whereas for double beds, it starts from SGD$40 a night.

This is the 6 Bed Dormitory that we stayed in for a night and it was really spacious! The dormitory was extremely clean and there were no signs of stale or mouldy air.

There is maximum privacy as each bed area will be a self-contained zone with integrated lockers, tables, hanging tools, LED reading lights and custom-mounted electric plugs; all for total convenience. The mattresses and pillows are all sealed with anti-bug covers so you wouldn’t have to worry about nasty bed bugs.

For the BBQ gathering, we held it at the event deck and we were mightily impressed with the modern facilities that were available. There’s a superior sound system that came along with a projector and an XBOX 360 Kinect Gaming Console and it provided much entertainment while the food were being cooked.

Just so you know, these are the 3 games that are currently available and you are welcome to bring your own games as well.

However, if your guests are into board games, they can either bring it along or loan it from the Reception Desk.

The event deck is definitely a perfect setting for those whom are seeking venues for birthdays, gatherings, parties, and reunions. Available at the price of SGD$400 onwards for a block of 5 hours usage, the event deck will also come with the BBQ Pit and Wire Mesh for you to do some BBQ-ing.

We believe that very soon, chalets will no longer be as trendy as bunking into a hostel. So for all your family or school gatherings, you might want to consider staying in a hostel as opposed to the usual chalets and hotels.

For foreigners whom are travelling to Singapore and are on a tight budget, Bunc Hostel @ Little India is a fantastic place to stay because of the fantastic price and fantastic location. Bunc Hostel @ Little India is conveniently located in the culturally rich Little India Historical District, an ethnic quarter that is filled with exotics sights while retaining its true charm and authentic distinct identity. The precinct is filled with numerous little bargain shops, eateries, and in close walking distance to large malls, tourist attractions, and transport hubs.

[Image Credits to Wikipedia]

Bunc@Radius Backpacker Hostel has been ranked and reviewed consistently as the Top brand for boutique hostels on Holiday Check and Trip Advisor. If you are interested to find out more information, do “like” Bunc Hostel’s Facebook Page or check out Bunc Hostel’s Official Website!

by
Keep Reading

[Blog Giveaway]- Tickets To Juventus FC VS Singapore @ Singapore Sports Hub

By

After a record breaking season, Juventus FC, the most successful Italian football club in history, will bring their classic attacking style to Singapore on 16 August 2014 to play a Singapore Selection side made up of the Lions and foreign stars from the S.League at the new Singapore Sports Hub [Singapore National Stadium]. The highly anticipated clash will feature the Juventus FC first team, including stars such as creative midfielder Andrea Pirlo, legendary goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon and Argentine striker Carlos Tevez.

The Juventus FC VS Singapore Selection game is the first major event to be held at the brand new Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore’s new crown jewel, and we are expecting that it will be quite an exciting match where tickets will be selling like hot cakes. The event will serve as a rallying call to Singaporeans to bring back the feared Kallang Roar, giving support to the Lions amongst other International players from the S League in our Singapore Selection team. Juventus is historically the most successful club in Italian football and one of the most acclaimed globally. They have won major competitions like the Union of European Football Associates: European Champions’ Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Cup.

We are very pleased to announce that we will be giving away 2 pairs of tickets [worth SGD$45/ticket] to all you readers and all you have to do is simply “like” this image, share the post with your favourite football moment, and tag 5 of your friends to stand a chance to win the tickets!

If you are interested to purchase the match tickets online, you can do so here and key in the promo code, “insurgence” under the “Special Discounts” column and get a 10% off the price for the tickets.

So who will you be rooting for and who will win the game?

Juventus FC or Singapore?

by
Keep Reading

Travel Hacking: How to Make the Most of it on Your Next Trip Abroad

By

Travel hacking is a term that is used to describe ways that travelers can save by using free deals, airline miles, elite benefits, and rewards. Traveling abroad can be very expensive; however, by using various methods for saving before and during your travels, it is possible to save a significant amount of cash. Travel hackers save while using rewards and miles, when checking into motels, while dining out, on transportation, and the secret is to know how!

The following tips are designed to help you make the most of ‘travel hacking’ on your next trip abroad.

Hacking Flights:

There are several ways to save money on airline tickets. The best way is to combine numerous strategies. Watch for great deals; many specials are available for short periods of time so it helps to stay flexible and open to the best opportunities. Use airline aggregators to check multiple sites and play with dates and times when you search. Once you have found a deal, go to the airline’s site to see if they offer even lower prices. Compare currencies, altered routes, and less familiar carriers that fly into smaller airports. Use frequent-flier credits when possible and fly for free! Many credit cards and member groups such as the PPS club provide exclusive benefits and privileges for travelers.

Hacking Accommodations:

Next to the cost of airfare, your accommodations are a major expense. Once again, there are several ways to ‘hack’ the costs. One way is to bid online for great rates through a travel navigating site. Once you’ve established the dates, start comparing other user’s winning bids on rooms and start bidding accordingly. Many credit cards provide bonus-points that can be redeemed, sometimes for cost-free accommodation. Additionally, ‘couch-surfing’ and ‘freeloading’ sites may help match you up with an amenable host. Other options include staying in hostels, house-sitting, ‘garden-camping’, and working for free room and board.

Hacking Food:

A good ways to save on food is to eat where the locals eat and purchase food from street vendors and local shops. Often you will experience some of the world’s best dining while seated in an outdoor café or in a ‘street stall.’ Many restaurants provide lunch specials and buffets. By moving your main meal to midday, it’s possible to save a significant amount. Whenever possible, buy fresh foods from markets and prepare your own dinners.

Hacking Transportation:

Tourist cards offer an ideal way to hack transportation expenses. Many of these cards provide free transportation around the cities via tramways, trains, ferries, and buses. Or you might want to share a rental car and split the costs, or get paid to move someone else’s car from one location to another. Whenever possible, walk!

Hacking the Extras:

Many credit cards provide bonuses on tourist attractions and amenities. It’s easy to hack the price of extras by watching for specials, locating free events, and by purchasing tourist cards for the cities where you plan to stay.

Plan ahead, save on airfare, check out the best deals, use credit card discounts, rewards, and exclusive benefits, and watch for free deals. Travel hacking has never been easier. Not only will you be able to make the most of it on your next trip abroad, the amount that you save can help you save toward future travels!

by
Keep Reading

Guess The Price & Win Scoot Travel Vouchers To Sydney, Australia

By

I have been to two Australian cities, Gold Coast and Rockhampton, and on those two separate trips that I made, it has left such a deep and lasting impression on me that I would definitely want to visit Australia again.
Although I have never visited Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, I have heard so much about the place and should there be an opportunity available for me to have an all-expense paid trip to Sydney, I would definitely jump at the chance without any hesitation.

If I get to go on a 5 Days 4 Nights trip to Sydney, here’s 5 things that I must absolutely do:

• BridgeClimb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge for breath-taking views of the harbour.

[Image Credits to BridgeClimb]

• Savour fresh seafood at Sydney Fish Market, the second largest fish market in the world.

[Image Credits to EveLovelle]

• Relax and enjoy a pampering overnight stay in a Bed & Breakfast nestled on the edge of the magnificent Jamison Valley overlooking the Blue Mountains National Park.

[Image Credits to ATN]

• Float away in a Hot Air Balloon in the early morning sunrise over the Hunter Valley.

[Image Credits to Balloon Safaris]

• Feel the adrenaline pumping by jumping from 14,000 feet with Skydive the Beach.

[Image Credits to Skydive the Beach]

As you probably can see, I am an adventurous adrenaline-junkie whom adores the nature a lot and if you’re like me, how would you like if you can win some Scoot travel vouchers to Sydney?

Follow Scoot’s globetrotters, Paula and Dominic, for a ball of a time in Sydney & Surrounds at Fly Scoot’s Website and you can win a trip to Sydney just by guessing the amount of dollars [down to the cents] that Dom & Paula have spent on both Stretch and as well as Splurge activities for each episode.

Who knows, you might just be one of the two lucky winners to win the exact activities that you’ve guessed the price for plus Scoot travel vouchers to Sydney for every episode!

Here’s the first episode of Dom & Paula having a blast in Sydney, Australia and just so you know, there are 4 more days till the first contest ends.

Should you you miss out on the first contest; fret not because there will be 3 other remaining contests that will be taking place. Just be sure that you don’t miss out on the subsequent episodes which will be released on the following dates:

Episode #2: 19th May 2014 – 1st June 2014
Episode #3: 30th June 2014 – 13th July 2014
Episode #4: To Be Announced Soon!

Since there are 4 episodes altogether, that gives you 4X the chances to win so do “like” Fly Scoot’s Facebook Page to be kept updated about the contest.

Have fun guessing and good luck!

by
Keep Reading

[Attraction Review]- River Safari Singapore, Asia’s First and Only River-Themed Wildlife Park

By

River Safari is the newest addition to Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s portfolio of award-winning parks. Nestled between Singapore’s two award-winning wildlife parks, the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari, River Safari offers an unforgettable adventure inspired by the world’s most iconic rivers.
[Image Credits to Tourist In My Own Land]

This $160-million attraction features state-of-the-art exhibit design, Southeast Asia’s largest panda exhibit and as well as the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. Housing one of the world’s largest collections of freshwater fauna, the park features over 6,000 animals including 40 threatened species.

With the pristine Upper Seletar Reservoir as a backdrop, River Safari is also home to the Giant Panda Forest, Squirrel Monkey Forest and the enchanting Amazon Flooded Forest.

Our Review of the Attraction

To be honest, we feel that River Safari is rather overrated. Apart from the Giant Panda Forest Exhibit which features Singapore’s resident giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, the rest of the exhibits are very much like what you will see at Resorts World Sentosa’s SEA Aquarium, less the pandas, monkeys, beavers, and reptiles.

We guess the only reason why people would probably want to visit River Safari is because of the Giant Panda Forest Exhibit where visitors can get to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia. Other than that, the rest of the exhibits are a bore because they lack interactivity.

Jia Jia enjoying some bamboo shoots.

While Kai Kai takes a morning nap!

The very shy and emo Red Panda at the Giant Panda Forest

Squirrel Monkey at the Squirrel Monkey Forest

As more than 75% of the exhibits are housed within a see-through glass enclosure, taking pictures of the exhibits is extremely challenging given the poor lighting and multiple reflections.

Sights like this is a very common theme throughout River Safari . If you’re a fan of river-related fishes and animals, then you will probably enjoy the River Safari experience.

There are two dining locations available at River Safari; Mama Panda Kitchen at the Giant Panda Forest and River Safari Tea House at the River Safari Entrance Plaza. In terms of food & beverage pricing, it is rather expensive even though it might be an experience to feast on panda-themed bites like Panda Pau and Bamboo Rice.

[Image Credits to River Safari Singapore]

Souvenirs at the House of Kai Kai & Jia Jia and the River Safari Shop are costly. If it is going to be your first and last visit to River Safari Singapore, you might just want to consider getting some souvenirs such as tee-shirts, mugs, or caps for memorial sake.

Costing SGD$5 per adult and SGD$3 per child [3 to 12 years old], the Amazon River Quest is really a waste of money and time. There are not much animals/exhibits to look at and the duration of the ride is extremely short. Slow moving, the boat ride is suitable for the faint-hearted and if you want to stay completely dry, just take the seats in the 2nd and 3rd row of the boat.

Overall, we will rate River Safari 3 out of 5 as we honestly feel that the attraction is not value for money. For the price of SGD$25 per adult and SGD$16 per child [3-12 years old], we rather you pay a few more dollars to visit the Singapore Zoo. As mentioned, the only highlight of River Safari is the Giant Panda Forest and if you visit River Safari without checking out the Pandas, then your trip is a very wasted one.

Well, if you are planning a trip to River Safari, we recommend that you avoid going during the weekends as it is jam-packed with people and you will find it extremely frustrating to get good snapshots of the exhibits.

by
Keep Reading

Learn To Swing Like Tarzan At Forest Adventure, Bedok Reservoir Park

By

Last weekend, we learnt to swing like Tarzan and Jane at Forest Adventure and we had a swinging good time!

Located at Bedok Reservoir Park, Forest Adventure is the only Tree Top Course here in Singapore and they offer two types of courses; the Kids Course that is specially designed for children with a minimum height of 1.1m and ages 5 to 10 years old, and the Grand Course that is designed for visitors with a minimum height of 1.4m and whom are above the age of 11.

The Kids Course has 16 crossings and it finishes with one awesome zip line. Priced at SGD$32 per hour, the Kids Course is a fun and rewarding experience for every little adventurer. As children are attached to an on-going safety line which can only be detached when they reach the ground, they can swing in the trees in all safety! There’s no need to worry about having to hook up gears such as the carabiner as the friendly instructor is on site to assist your children!

Visitors can also plan for a Forest Adventure Birthday Party for their children.

As we are slightly too old for the Kids Course, we went for the Grand Course where we had to tackle 34 different obstacles including bridges, trapezes, logs, a leap of faith, and 4 giant zip lines that allowed us to fly over the scenic reservoir! Priced at SGD$44 per adult, the Grand Course offers 2.5 hours of exhilarating fun in the trees!

What We Like About Forest Adventure:

1. When journeying from Site 1 to Site 4 on the Grand Course, the level of difficulty is progressive and it builds up the confidence of visitors from site to site. The most challenging and the most scary obstacle would probably be the leap of faith at Site 4 as visitors will experience a 2 second freefall.

2. Visitors can take their time to journey from site to site and they are free to roam around the Tree Top Course. Once up, there’s no way down and visitors will have to pluck up their courage to conquer all the obstacles. This helps to instill confidence in the visitors and although there are no instructors up on the course, there will be instructors on the ground whom will be there to give help and moral support.

3. As safety is a top priority at Forest Adventure, every visitor will have to go through a thorough 30 minutes safety briefing and the instructors on the ground will check on the visitor’s helmet, harness, and equipment before allowing them to go up on the Tree Top Course.

Important Points to Note:

1. For safety reasons, visitor who weigh more than 130KG are not allowed to go up on the Tree Top Course and visitors whom are under the age of 18 will have to be accompanied by a participating adult whom must be above the age of 21.

2. If you want to take pictures of yourself up on the Tree Top Course, you can bring along a compact camera but make sure it comes with a strap and that it is well protected as you do not want fine sand to scratch your camera lens or go into your mobile devices. GoPro Cameras are best suited for this kinda adventure-related activity.

3. For maximum comfort up on the Tree Top Course, bring along a bandana so that you can wear it under your helmet and as for your attire, wear a comfy light-coloured t-shirt with track pants. Hand gloves would also come in handy and we highly recommend it.

The Grand Course at Forest Adventure is open every day except Monday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and the last available slot would be at 4.30 pm. As for the Kids Course, it is only open during the weekends and school and public holidays from 10 am to 6 pm. The last available slot would be at 5.00 pm. However, Forest Adventure will take bookings for the Kids Course with a minimum of 20 children during the weekdays and if you are thinking of bringing your children down for some fun, do check with Forest Adventure about the availability.

Forest Adventure is located inside Bedok Reservoir Park and if you park your vehicle at the Bedok Reservoir Park Carpark A, Forest Adventure is about 10 minutes walking distance.

We really enjoyed our time at Forest Adventure and yes, we will definitely be back for more!

To make your Forest Adventure booking, do visit Forest Adventure Official Website and if you have a Facebook Account, do “like” the Forest Adventure Facebook Page to be kept updated with their latest happenings and promotions!

by
Keep Reading

[Attraction Review]- Dolphin Island, Resorts World Sentosa Singapore

By

The Dolphin Island at Resorts World Sentosa [Singapore] is a relatively new attraction that opened its doors just 3 months ago. At the Dolphin Island, you can meet the magnificent Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and there are 6 types of Dolphin Interact Programmes that are available to give you the opportunity to meet the dolphins up-close and personal.
To celebrate our 3 years anniversary, I brought Jacqueline to the Dolphin Discovery Programme where we waded into the waist-deep waters of the dolphin lagoon to meet the dolphins.

The entire Dolphin Discovery Programme lasted 90 minutes and it includes 30 minutes of up-close and personal interaction with the dolphins. The Dolphin Discovery Programme is also suitable for non-swimmers as well.

Prior to the commencement of the actual interaction with the dolphins, we had to change into the wetsuits that were provided and when we put them on, we looked really slim because our fats were all tightly compressed!

After getting ourselves all changed-up, we had a compulsory safety briefing and there, we learnt some interesting facts about dolphins.

  • Fact #1: Dolphins are mammals.
  • Fact #2: Dolphins have hairs.
  • Fact #3: Dolphins will eat about 4-9% of its body weight in fish
  • Fact #4: Dolphins sleep with one eye open at the surface
  • Fact #5: Dolphins obtain their sources of water from the fishes that they eat

We even learnt how to differentiate between a shark and a dolphin just by observing the way shark and dolphin swim in the water!

The dolphins at Dolphin Island are well taken care off and they are not obliged to take photographs with guests if they are just not in the mood for it. With that said, our experience at the Dolphin Island was nothing short of an amazing experience.

Having gone through the safety briefing, we went down to the waters with our marine mammal trainer and started our interaction with the dolphins. As we were not allowed to bring our own image-capturing devices, there was an official photographer with us throughout to capture our special moments with the dolphins.

When the interaction with the dolphin started, we were introduced to Suria, a female dolphin whom had a child-like personality and she was really playful. We fed her some fishes, felt her smooth rubbery skin on our hands, and she even showed us some tricks.

For the Dolphin Discovery Programme, it will cost SGD$198 per adult [age 13-59 years old] and it includes an entrance ticket to Adventure Cove Waterpark and a Set Meal Voucher at Bay Restaurant. Children [age 4-12 years old] and Senior [age 60 years and above] will pay only SGD$188 for the experience. However, do note that children below 4 years old are not allowed to participate for safety reasons and guests must be at least 122cm tall.

Also, for the photographs that were taken, we had to pay SGD$150 for 75 photographs and it comes with 1 large photo print and 2 medium photo prints. That really cost a bomb so be prepared for it!

If you are interested to make a booking for the Dolphin Interaction Programme, you can send your enquiry on Dolphin Island’s Website. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime experience to interact with a dolphin up-close and personal!

by
Keep Reading