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5 Reasons Why Hokkaido Is Asia’s Top Winter Destination

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Winter isn’t just about celebrating Christmas. It’s also about having fun on the snow, with various fun activities that make people flock to the mountain resorts. One of the best places to go during this season is Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island.
Image Credit: Kiroro

Although we haven’t been to Hokkaido yet, here are 5 best reasons why we think Hokkaido is Asia’s best winter destination.

1. Tons of resorts to choose from

Image Credit: Kiroro

Japan is a mountainous region with more than a hundred resorts to choose from and the best ones are located in Hokkaido, since it has a cold climate that is longer in duration. Hence, it’s no surprise why many foreigners are also frequent visitors to this part of the country. This is also the reason why most of these retreats, such as the five-star Kiroro Ski Resort, have English-speaking staff. Don’t let the language barrier intimidate and stop you from booking a vacation in Hokkaido.

2. Consistent level of powder snow

Image Credit: Kiroro

Japan is known for its high quality powder snow, which falls in great amounts and has a perfect texture for skiing. This is thanks to the cold winds coming from Siberia which picks up moisture from the sea and falls as snow on the mountains. Since Hokkaido is in the archipelago’s northern area, it is one of the first islands to receive this much snowfall, especially during December and January. This means you won’t have to wait long to see a fresh patch of powder snow on the ground as it’s always there for eager skiers and snowboarders.

3. Wide range of winter activities

Image Credit: Kiroro

If you’re looking for something other than skiing and snowboarding, you can take a walk around the slopes and mountains of Japan. Forest tours, snowmobile rides, and snow park games are just some of the top winter activities in Hokkaido that you can enjoy. The frozen landscape is a treat for the eyes, especially for nature lovers. These tours are done in groups too, so it’s advisable to bring your friends along for a fun-filled experience in exploring Japan’s winter scenes.

4. Hot springs

These geothermal baths are a point of pride for the Japanese, especially in Hokkaido, which has several of them. For one, these waters have a high mineral content. No wonder people believe that these springs can heal a number of illnesses, such as hypertension and rheumatism. That’s why these natural hot springs are perfect for soothing tired muscles after a long day at the slopes and make Hokkaido a top wellness destination even for locals.

5. Japanese food

Since the resorts in Hokkaido cater to an international clientele, you can expect them to serve a fusion of Western and Asian dishes. However, trying the local fare is always a good experience. Ramen, seafood and sushi are some of the island’s must-try eats. Hokkaido is known for its miso ramen, which is composed of wheat noodles and pork slices. This is completed with a soybean-based broth to give the dish its distinctive flavor. You can even pair it with a mug of local beer for a great dining experience.

If you’re looking to visit a place with interesting activities and good food, Hokkaido is your best option. The quality of snow, the different kinds of food, and the famous hot springs all contribute to a complete winter experience that anybody young or old will appreciate.

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Make Good Merit When Travelling To Bangkok, Thailand

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Bangkok is a city in Thailand that’s frequently visited by Singaporeans and most of us would usually go there to shop, eat, and sightsee.
During my recent trip to Bangkok, we wanted to make merit and do some good; hence, we went to Yi De Tang (otherwise informally known as the Coffin Temple where Ruamkatanyu Foundation is based) to donate money so that coffins can be purchased to help in the burial of dead bodies that are found and unclaimed by family members.

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

When a death occurs at an accident scene, the rescue team from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation will help to clear and clean up the site. For victims who are without relatives, coffins will be provided from the funds that are donated by donors. Most of the people working at Ruamkatanyu Foundation are voluntary workers and although the devotees are mostly Thai people, there are also a sizeable number of devotees that come from Malaysia, Singapore and many other places.

Many Thai people believe that coffin donation for the dead is the act of making merit because the coffin is meant for the unclaimed or unidentified bodies so as to give them a proper burial. The amount of monetary contribution is according to one’s free will and it is said that the expenses required for burial or cremation and rituals with a piece of white cloth amount to 500 Thai Baht.

If you’re travelling to Bangkok and you would like to do some good merit by donating money out of goodwill; do visit Ruamkatanyu Foundation at Yi De Tang. They are open 24 hours a day although most people would prefer to visit during the day.

How To Get There

You can take the Metro and alight at Sam Yan station. Thereafter, head towards exit 1. Another famous temple among local Thai, Wat Hua Lamphong is located next to Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation).

Step-By-Step Guide To Making Merit at Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation)

Step 1:

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Upon arrival at the temple, head to the counters on the left and wait in line if there’s a queue. At the counter, tell the person attending to you that you wish to donate money for the purchasing of coffins and let him/her know of the amount that you wish to donate. When making the monetary contribution, a pink colour merit slip will be provided to you to fill up your name and signature, together with a duplicate of the official receipt.

Step 2:

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Enter the passage on the right of the donation counter where the wooden coffins are displayed and at the stationery counter where you see glues, apply glue on the back of the pink colour merit slip. Once done, make your requests and wishes by prayer before the coffins and then paste the pink colour merit slip onto any coffin.

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Step 3:

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Hold onto the duplicate official receipt and pick 20 incense sticks from the incense rack to offer prayers to the deities inside the temple at the right side of the donation hall.

Step 4:

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Offer 1 incense stick each at the left and right side of the temple’s main entrance, and then offer 3 incense sticks to all the deities inside the temple according to the number sequence in ascending order.

Step 5:

Yi De Tang (Ruamkatanyu Foundation) in Bangkok, Thailand for Coffin Donation and Merit Making.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Once all the joss sticks have been offered, burn the duplicate official receipt into the incense bowl that is placed at the right side of the altar. If you cannot find the incense bowl, you may ask someone from the temple. Finally, strike the 3 hanging bells 3 times each followed by the drum and then end your prayer.

Since you’re at Yi De Tang making merit, you might as well seize the opportunity to visit Wat Hua Lamphong as they are located adjacent to one another.

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A Winsome Life Now Offers VIP Luxury Travel Experiences!

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What’s the best way to discover a new country?
Or, better yet, what’s the best way of experiencing a new part of a city that you thought you already knew?

Well, if you want high class service and unforgettable and unique experiences, lifestyle management services are for you.

Fancy having a putting lesson with Tiger Woods? Or how about getting onboard a submarine to explore ancient shipwrecks and coral reefs in Western Australia?

We at A Winsome Life are pleased and excited to announce the launch of our new luxury concierge services!

What’s The Excitement All About?

With immediate effect, we will be offering our valuable clients a multitude of luxurious and exclusive VIP lifestyle management and travel services.

What Sort of VIP Lifestyle Management and Travel Services?

The possibilities are endless. Some of the luxurious and exclusive VIP travel experiences can include the following:

Spend the day at the Rolex headquarters and Meet the CEO

Pioneer of the wristwatch since 1905, Rolex is at the origin of landmark innovations in watchmaking, including the first waterproof wristwatch- the Oyster. Visit the Rolex headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to learn about the company’s brand, design and manufacture. Then, spend a few hours with the CEO, Mr Jean Frederic Dufour.

Price: P.O.A

Private Video Message from Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano is one of the biggest names in professional soccer, and one of the biggest sports stars in the world. He is the most expensive soccer player in history thanks to his huge, record-setting 80-million EUD transfer contract. Get the chance to have a customised private video message from the global soccer star and Portuguese international player.

Price: P.O.A

Paris VIP Travel Experience

  • Welcome reception at Chanel high-end Jewelry store on Place Vendome and personalised shopping experience.
  • Private visit of the Coco Chanel apartment at the Ritz Paris (subject to availability).
  • Exclusive private tour of the Coco Chanel private apartment on top of the Chanel boutique Rue Cambon.
  • New Michelin-star dining experience.
  • VIP tickets to the Opera Garnier and behind-the-scene tour.
  • One-of-a-kind after hour visit of the renowned Chateau de Versailles.
  • Luxury private transfer to/from hotel.

Price: From 16,500 EUD per person

*Accommodation is not included in this package.

Hong Kong VIP Travel Experience (New Year Eve Special)

  • Private guided walking tour of Hong Kong landmarks to learn about its history.
  • Roundtrip helicopter transfer to Macau and full day private guided tour of the old Portuguese colony with local expert (lunch incl).
  • New Year Eve Michelin-star dining experience.
  • Private shopping session with a personal shopper to discover Hong Kong’s fashion.
  • Private Tai Chi session with a Grandmaster.
  • Full day private yacht charter to discover islands around Hong Kong.
  • Private harbour cruise against the backdrop of the spectacular Hong Kong Symphony of Lights show.
  • Luxury private transfer to/from hotel.

Price: From 9515 USD Per Person

*Accommodation is not included in this package.

London VIP Travel Experience

  • VIP tickets to a London Opera or Theatre with pre-show dining and after show behind-the-scene tour.
  • Exclusive private after-hours tour of the National Gallery followed by cocktails and canapes in the private Trafalgar Room.
  • Private shopping session with a personal shopper in a luxury Bentley.
  • Michelin-star dining experience with private tour of the kitchen and meet and greet with the chef.
  • New Year Eve Michelin-star dining experience.
  • 2-hour private consultation at Floris London to create own fragrance.
  • Private tour of the Windsor Castle with expert guide (transfer inclusive).
  • Private 30 minutes helicopter tour of London (at night or during the stay).
  • Luxury private transfer to/from hotel.

Price: From 8745 GBP per person.

*Accommodation is not included in this package.

These are just some of the endless possibilities that we will be able to offer to our clients and we are confident that demands for such exclusive travel experiences will increase over time in Singapore.

Why settle for less when you can experience world class lifestyle concierge that includes everything from shopping, restaurant arrangements to transportation (yes, we can even charter a private jet for you)?

As a busy professional, you understand the need to be efficient and effective with your time. After all, it’s probably what got you where you are already. With lifestyle concierge, you don’t have to worry about tedious tasks or time consuming waits. You have a professional – someone committed to you – that you can trust and rely on. Lifestyles management is exactly that; someone to manage and book things while you concentrate on maintaining your status and lifestyle. Think of it as a personal team who is dedicated to your exact needs.

Best of all, you can use lifestyle management services for so many aspects of your life. It’s not limited to solely business or travel, but an overarching service that you can always fall back on. That means while you’re out there taking care of business or having fun, your team is behind the scenes working around the clock to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

When it comes to finding the great things in life, Singapore lifestyle influencers like us are the way to go as well. We’re talking about real people, ones that understand your needs and ones that you can relate to, with a little bit of flair thrown in. So if there’s something that you need or if you need to be inspired, look to us for the right influence.

Who knows, pretty soon you may be the one influencing the life of others!

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From Singapore to Peru

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I am extremely sorry that I have been neglecting this space for quite some time as I have been travelling quite a fair bit in the last few months and I did not have much time to blog about all that has been happening so far.
In this post, I will be sharing about my recent trip to Peru, a country that is located in the continent of South America.

The Super Long Haul Flight

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To fly to Peru from Singapore, I took a Singapore Airlines flight to Los Angeles, USA and then took another flight with Lan Chile Airlines from Los Angeles, USA to Lima, Peru. The flight duration from Singapore to Los Angeles, USA was about 19 hours 30 minutes and the flight duration from Los Angeles, USA to Lima, Peru was about 8 hours and 25 minutes. Overall, the total flight duration from Singapore to Peru was about 27 hours and 55 minutes.

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A little side track here…

Layover in Los Angeles, USA

I had a layover of 7-8 hours in Los Angeles and I seized the opportunity to explore Santa Monica and Citadel Outlets; both of which were close enough for me to visit without missing my flight.

So… not only did I travelled to Peru, I also visited USA and even stayed one night in Los Angeles (due to a flight delay). Although Singaporeans do not require a Visa to travel to USA; do note that you will have to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization two days before your departure. Failure to apply for ESTA may result you in being denied entry to the US.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a beachfront city west of downtown Los Angeles. Santa Monica Beach is fringed by Palisades Park, with views over the Pacific Ocean. The storied Santa Monica Pier is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, historic Looff Hippodrome Carousel and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Next to the pier is Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym established in the 1930s. In the city center, Bergamot Station houses several art galleries.

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To get to Santa Monica from Los Angeles International Airport, take the Airport Shuttle Bus to Lot C Bus Terminal and board Big Blue Bus Rapid 3 that will take you all the way there. It cost just $1.25 USD for a single trip ticket; which is way cheaper than if you take a taxi or Uber.

For a visual understanding of where and how to get to Santa Monica from Los Angeles International Airport, check this out.

What I really enjoyed during my trip to Santa Monica was having the opportunity to soak in the local atmosphere and to see for myself the beautiful beach that Baywatch was filmed at. If you need a quick meal, Santa Monica also has some nice bistros and diners around.

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The best part?

It’s not too far from Los Angeles International Airport.

Citadel Outlets

Citadel Outlets is a 700,000 square foot mixed-use commercial property, featuring a hotel, four office buildings, and Los Angeles’ only retail outlet centre. The historical façade was built more than 75 years ago and is located just 10 minutes south of Downtown Los Angeles.

Citadel Outlets boasts 130 brand name stores offering 30%-70% off retail prices and a variety of fashions and accessories can be found at Michael Kors, H&M, Kipling, COACH, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, kate spade, Tilly’s, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, BCBGMAXAZRIA and MAXSTUDIO.COM.

Sportswear abounds at well-known manufacturers like Under Armour, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Reebok, Puma and Nike. Young adult shoppers thrill at the up-to-date selection at Guess Factory Store, Converse, Quiksilver Factory Store and Hurley. New fashions for children are offered at The Children’s Place, Gymboree and OshKosh and families love Old Navy and Gap Outlets.

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Food choices are plentiful at Citadel Outlets with over 16 food choices including Starbucks, Ruby’s Diner and Pronto Café.

Although it is cheaper to take the public transport to Citadel Outlets, the journey from Los Angeles International Airport will take at least 1.5 hours and it is better to save some time by taking Uber or Lyft. A single trip by Lyft will cost about $32 USD .

New to Uber? Sign up for an account here and key in z06ob (z zero six o b) under the ‘Invite Code” column to get your first free ride!

Since I had time to kill, I went on a major Christmas shopping spree and bought lots of gifts and souvenirs at Citadel Outlets. I must say, the deals and offers are simply so irresistible that I spent my entire layover time at Citadel Outlets.

If shopping is your cup of tea, you definitely should swing by Citadel Outlets during your layover; just don’t forget to buffer some travelling time to avoid missing your flight.

Citadel Outlets is open Monday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m.
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Currency

The Sol is the currency of Peru and it is interesting to note that the money changers in Singapore do not offer the Peruvian Sol. You can either exchange US Dollars for the Peruvian Sol when you transit at USA, withdraw Peruvian Soles from the ATM in Peru or change it with the money changers at Jorge Chávez International Airport upon arrival in Peru.

If you do withdraw cash from the ATM in Peru, do be wary of card skimming crimes and always cover the number pad when keying in your pin number.

Although some retail shops accept US Dollars, I will recommend that you pay in Soles. In fact, I changed my US Dollars to Soles at Los Angeles International Airport and I got a pretty good rate for it.

Language

The official language used in Peru is Spanish and unless you speak and understand Spanish, you might have a hard time trying to communicate with the locals in English. This is the time when Google Translate comes to the rescue.

Speaking of which, I would really love to learn Spanish. Does anyone know of any reputable places where I can learn Spanish?

Communication

Upon arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport, there’s a mobile telco counter (Claro) where I rented a mobile data SIM card. Although prepaid SIM cards were available; I was told that they were only meant for Peruvian citizens. For 10 days of usage with a maximum data cap of 3GB, it cost $64 USD; which I considered to be slightly expensive as I don’t really spend that much on communication when I was travelling around Asia. Nonetheless, $64 USD is still cheaper than my telco’s (Starhub) international data roaming rate.

Transportation

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I erred on the safe side when I was in Peru and avoided hailing taxis from the street. In fact, if I needed to get from one place to another, I walked (if the place I wanted to go was close by) or used Uber (yes, Uber works there). Traffic can be quite congested during the day time and I mean it because for a 14km journey, it can take 1 to 1.5 hours!

The Places That I Visited In Peru

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I was in Lima throughout my trip and I hardly ventured far from the capital of Peru as I did not have the luxury of time. While most people I know would visit Peru because of Machu Picchu; I sadly did not have the opportunity to do so and I hope to visit Peru again to get a complete experience.

Nevertheless, here are some information about the places that I visited when I was in Peru.

Miraflores

Miraflores is a district of the Lima Province in Peru and it is an exclusive residential and upscale shopping district south of downtown Lima. It is also one of the most affluent districts that make up the city of Lima. In fact, Miraflores is one of the main tourist attractions in Lima and is somewhat safer than other regions in Peru.

I stayed at Hotel Señorial, a 3-star hotel which is located only three blocks away from Larcomar and in case you are wondering, a night’s stay cost about $81 USD inclusive of a simple buffet breakfast. What makes Hotel Señorial an attractive choice of accommodation is the fact that it is nearby to many places of interest (some of which are within walking distance).

Larcomar

The Larcomar is a shopping centre in the Miraflores district of Lima owned by Chilean company Parque Arauco S.A. It is frequently visited by international tourists, as well as by locals from Miraflores and other parts of Lima. It is located on Avenida Jose Larco, and it is along the cliff next to the ocean (mar means ‘sea’ in Spanish) thus the name Larcomar.

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The Larcomar has indoor and outdoor areas and includes a cinema, bowling lanes, a food court, museum, tourist shops, Tony Roma’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, and Chili’s restaurants, book stores, clothing stores, and electronics stores.

What I really like about Larcorma is that it overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers a breathtaking view for some really photogenic shots. However, do note that shopping and dining at Larcorma is relatively more expensive than downtown Lima.

Monastery of San Francisco

Convento de San Francisco is the Spanish name for Saint Francis Monastery located in Lima. The church and convent are part of the Historic Centre of Lima, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. Aside from being a church and monastery; it also contains a library and catacombs.

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I visited the catacombs and even as I typed this, I could still recall the solemn and eerie experience that I had there. The catacombs were actually part of Lima’s original cemeteries, which were built under churches. Tour guides say an estimated 75,000 bodies are buried under the Monastery of San Francisco alone, and many of the remains are exposed, stacked in strange patterns in circular stone pits. The catacomb tour is certainly not for the squeamish or the claustrophobic.

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As photography was not allowed, I didn’t manage to capture any images but a Google Search actually revealed some photos which other visitors took.

If you are a history fanatic, you will definitely want to include a visit to the Monastery of San Francisco into your itinerary.

Government Palace

The Government Palace (also known as House of Pizarro) is the seat of the executive branch of the Peruvian Government and the official residence of the President of Peru. It was erected in 1535 over a huge huaca that had a shrine of the old Lima valley’s cacique Taulichusco and it has undergone many transformations over the years.

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The palace is a stately government building with a set of ornamental guards and it is recognisable by the large wrought iron fence that surrounds the building and lines one side of the Plaza Mayor behind the Rímac River. Although access to the palace is strictly restricted, you can see the changing of the palace guards which takes place each day precisely at noon.

Huaca Pucllana

The Huaca Pucllana is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima, built from seven staggered platforms. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative centre for the advancement of the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD.

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With the intended purpose of having the elite clergymen (who politically governed several valleys in the area) express their complete religious power and ability to control the use of all the natural water resources (saltwater and freshwater) of the zone, a Great Pyramid was constructed in the Huaca.

As I wasn’t able to go to Machu Picchu, visiting the Huaca Pucllana was the next best alternative to check out some Incan ruin.

Barranco District

Barranco is one of 43 districts in Lima, Peru. The district is considered to be the city’s most romantic and bohemian, being the home and working place of many of Peru’s leading artists, musicians, designers and photographers.

In the 19th-century, it was a very fashionable beach resort for the Limeño aristocracy, and many people used to spend the summer here and in neighboring Chorrillos. Today, Barranco’s beaches are among the most popular within the worldwide surfing community, and a marina completed in 2008 provides state-of-the-art services for its yacht club.

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The name Barranco (Spanish for ravine) is descriptive of its topography, featuring homes and restaurants in and around a ravine near a cliff overlooking a sand strip which runs from the Miraflores District to Chorrillos (now flanked by a highway, Costa Verde Ave.)

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Barranco has many houses in the colonial and Republican style (called “casonas”), flower-filled parks and streets, and appealing beachfront areas. Lima’s contemporary art museum, the MAC, is located in Barranco, as well as the Museo Pedro de Osma, which hosts one of the best collections of colonial art and is itself one of Barranco’s best kept examples of late-19th-century architectural style. The district includes numerous restaurants, nightclubs, discos, bars and peñas, where one can appreciate Peruvian music shows.

Callao

El Callao is the chief seaport of Peru. The city is also called Provincia Constitucional (Constitutional Province), the only province of the Callao Region. The Historic Centre of Callao is located 15 km west of Historic Centre of Lima, the country’s capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area. Callao borders Lima Province on the north, east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

Jorge Chávez International Airport is located in Callao.

Inca Market

Inca Market is located in Miraflores and many foreign tourists come here to do their shopping because it offers many kinds of Peruvian products and souvenirs that will suit everyone’s liking. From the Peruvian poncho, to handbags, jewellery or even musical instruments; you will be able to find all sorts of Peruvian handicrafts to bring home. As many tourists come here to shop; do expect prices to be marked up significantly and if you’re keen to purchase an item, do bargain for at least half or one-third of the selling price.

What to Buy

If you’re visiting Peru and you’re wondering what souvenirs or gifts to bring home for your friends and loved ones; I would suggest any of the following:

Ceramics | Alpaca Scarf | Art Painting | Musical Instruments (Cajon) | Pisco | Chocolate

I would recommend that you get souvenirs from Inca Market because you can get some really good deals there; just don’t forget to do some bargaining. Also, avoid getting souvenirs from Jorge Chávez International Airport as they can be really expensive and overpriced. If you have no choice but to do some last minute shopping at the airport; do so only when you have cleared immigration as there are some souvenir shops near the boarding gates that are friendly on the wallet.

As for me, I was crazy enough to buy six 1.5 Litres bottles of Inca Kola to bring back to Singapore.

Afterthoughts

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Although the journey to Peru was a long one for me, I honestly enjoyed my trip to Peru and I really hope to bring the Mrs there one day. Since my journey to Peru is not complete; it is also my wish that I visit Peru again just so that I can check out Machu Picchu in this lifetime. Peru is indeed a beautiful country with a rich and dynamic culture and heritage and I would recommend avid travellers to include this country into their bucket list of countries to visit in this lifetime!

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Money Saving Tips When Travelling In Singapore

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Singapore is truly a must-visit destination because it offers an exciting and interesting travelling experience; although sometimes the price to pay can be a little too high. In order to enjoy Singapore at an affordable price, travellers should book their transportation and accommodation online and make the most out of various promo codes and coupons. Moreover, when traveling in Singapore, the adventurers at heart can fully enjoy themselves at a lower price, if they follow these money saving tips:
Image result for singapore

1. Booking Accommodation Through A Specialised Website Like booking.com

For the best accommodation deals in Singapore, it is advisable to consult a website for booking hotels and other similar accommodation. The best of such websites is Hotels.com, which offers an exquisite amount of accommodation possibilities for any place in the world, Singapore included. Travellers can make a telephone call or create an account and then search for the most affordable hotels, apartments or resorts on the desired dates in the year. to get the most out of the website, one can indicate the desired hotel class and guest rating, as well as the preferred facilities within the accommodation. Once all of this has been decided, detailed descriptions of all available accommodations in Singapore will be presented and one can choose the most appropriate option. Hotels.com also offers reviews from previous visitors, so travellers can get acquainted with these first-hand impressions on a place of stay and be certain of the sincerity of its overall review score. When choosing a district of stay in Singapore, it is advisable to look specifically in the area of Little India, where lodgings are especially affordable.

Bunc Hostel @ Little India

2. Careful Planning Of The Transportation

Another vital point to consider when travelling in Singapore is to book for a cheaper form of transportation so that you can save some money for other activities. The most inexpensive option is to book for a transportation with Avis, a company which specialises in providing travellers with easy car rentals. All one needs to do is to indicate the pick-up location and the location of return, the dates and times of the pick-up and return, and then proceed to select a suitable vehicle. By renting a car from Avis, one can save money and have complete freedom in deciding exactly what landmarks in Singapore to visit, and also when to visit. Furthermore, using the available coupons and promo codes for companies like Avis will further cut the travel costs in Singapore and ensure that travellers can get the best discounts.

3. Careful Consideration Of The Choice Of Food And Drinks

In Singapore, it is advisable to avoid alcohol, fancy restaurants, and as well as bottled water, because they can be quite expensive. To save money, it is best to drink from the tap, which is considered safe, and if you wish to, drink alcohol only during happy hours, as there are many discounts and offers available during the happy hours period. For inexpensive meals, one can turn to the local hawker centres, wet markets and Chinatown, all of which offer delicious food at reasonable prices.

Chinatown Complex Food Centre

4. Finding Free Fun

Visitors can find many different activities in Singapore which are free of charge, but yet interesting. For anyone who enjoys exploring the nature, entrance to the Singapore Botanical Gardens is free of charge and there are many unique native flora that you can find there. Culture enthusiasts can enjoy free concerts and occasional art exhibits at the Esplandade over the weekends. At Marina Bays Sands, travellers can take pleasure in amazing light shows and experience the wonders of Singapore at nightfall.

Singapore Botanical Gardens

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3 Cafés For Café Hopping in Bangkok, Thailand

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Bangkok is changing so rapidly that even the best travel guides out there have to constantly update their content or risk losing out to their competitors. As for us, we don’t really have this concern because firstly, we are not competing for web traffic and secondly, we use this outlet to remind us of the places that we’ve been to, how much we’ve grown; and of course to share important and relevant information to anyone who’s keen to read.
So, recently, we’ve just returned from our trip to Bangkok and over our 1 week stay there, we explored a couple of cafés, did some shopping, and of course learnt a thing or two about the Thai culture (we also learnt to make Luk Chup).

If café hopping in Singapore is getting a little boring for you, then this blog post is for you!

In this blog post, we’ll be sharing with you 3 cafes that we think you ought to visit if you plan to do some café hopping in Bangkok.

Little Zoo Café

Little Zoo Café is located slightly north of Bangkok and you will need to take a taxi to get there. If you’re a tech-savvy person, you can utilise Uber or Grab to get you there. As for us, we took the BTS Skytrain to Mo Chit and then took a taxi to Little Zoo Café.

Do note that Little Zoo Café does offer a shuttle van service but it is generally not reliable. It would be a better option for you to find your way there. The journey from Mo Chi BTS Station to Little Zoo Café should take you no more than 40 minutes.

As its name suggest, you would probably expect Little Zoo Café to be somewhat like a mini zoo with all sorts of unique (perhaps exotic) animals that you can interact and play with. This is somewhat true as we had the chance to interact with a raccoon, 2 cats, 1 dog, 1 bird, a couple of foxes and even meerkats.

2016 Bangkok Trip | Little Zoo Cafe | On The River Cafe | Thailand Luk Chup Lesson In Bangkok//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Unlike some other animal cafes which expect some sort of an entrance fee; there really isn’t any entrance fee when you visit Little Zoo Café with the exception that guests are expected to order a main course meal and drinks. While the food and drinks aren’t that expensive, we wouldn’t say it is cheap either. For a plate of fish and chips and a glass of lemonade, expect to pay about 285 Thai Baht (about SGD$12).

Personally, we felt that the quality of the food and beverage were just about average and the main drawing point for people to visit the café is the animals. There are two separate play rooms; one for the foxes and the other for the meerkats; and there are restrictions in place as to the number of people allowed in the play room at any given time. In fact, guests may not get to interact with all the animals as the staff treats the welfare of the animals seriously. If any animal is feeling unwell, they will not be taken out for any interaction and even during play time, the staff is always present to ensure that guests handle the animals properly.

2016 Bangkok Trip | Little Zoo Cafe | On The River Cafe | Thailand Luk Chup Lesson In Bangkok//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

While the animals that we interacted with are friendly, do note that they too have their own temperaments and bad days too. There’s no guarantee to say that you won’t be scratched or nibbled at but so far, they haven’t had any serious incidents. Then again, we really don’t recommend this café for families with very young children.

2016 Bangkok Trip | Little Zoo Cafe | On The River Cafe | Thailand Luk Chup Lesson In Bangkok//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

If you’re travelling by taxi; just show this to the taxi driver.

ลงทางด่วนแจ้งวัฒนะ แล้วเบี่ยงออกซ้ายตามป้ายปากเกร็ด จากนั้นเลี้ยวขวาตรงไฟแดงแรกใต้สะพานเพื่อเข้ามาในเมืองทองธานี ขับตรงมาเรื่อยๆจนเลยสามแยกหน้ามใสุโขทัยธรรมาธิราช โครงการชื่อสุโขทัย99 จะอยู่ทางขวามือ เลี้ยวขวาผ่านป้อมยามเข้ามา ร้านเราจะอยู่ซ้ายมือร้านแรกค่ะ

If you’re travelling by Uber/Grab, you can just key in Little Zoo Café.

Operating Hours:
Mondays – Sundays : 10:30am to 7:00pm

Contact Details: +66924481116

On The River Café

On The River Café is located slightly north of Little Zoo Café so if you’re planning to visit either Little Zoo Café or On The River Café; you might as well just include both these cafés in your itinerary. From Little Zoo Café to On The River Café, the taxi journey should take you no more than 30 minutes.

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As its name suggest, On The River Café is literally a café that sits on the Chao Phraya River. Introverts who prefer to have some reading time will love this café because it is quiet and scenic. Though the structure is pretty sturdy, people who are easily susceptible to motion sickness may find it uncomfortable when there are strong winds and waves.

What is interesting about On The River Café is that they have an area for basking in the sun although we have to admit that the murky brown water don’t exactly make a nice background for some photos.

2016 Bangkok Trip | Little Zoo Cafe | On The River Cafe | Thailand Luk Chup Lesson In Bangkok//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

We had their Nutella and Peanut Butter Waffle with Ice-Cream and a Mango Tango Smoothie; both of which were really good and cost us about SGD$15 or lesser.

2016 Bangkok Trip | Little Zoo Cafe | On The River Cafe | Thailand Luk Chup Lesson In Bangkok//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

If you’re travelling by Uber/Grab, you can just key in On The River Café.

Operating Hours:
Mondays – Sundays : 11:00am to 11:00pm

Contact Details:
+66814809661

Rabbito Café

There used to be a rabbit café in Bangkok but unfortunately, they have shifted to Chiang Mai.

Recently, we stumbled upon another rabbit café and much to our delight, it is located near the Airbnb apartment that we stayed at. To get there, you can take the BTS Skytrain to Udom Suk and walk for about 15 minutes towards Soi 101/1.

Day 3 Of Our 2016 Bangkok Trip//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The rabbits are really friendly and they are really gentle too; hence, Rabbito Café makes a pretty children-friendly café. But of course, do exercise caution and supervise your children when handling the rabbits.

Day 3 Of Our 2016 Bangkok Trip//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

As for the food and beverage there; they are surprisingly good and the price is pretty reasonable. What we really like about Rabbito Café is the fact that we could purchase some healthy bunny cookies and treats for our pet rabbit.

Day 3 Of Our 2016 Bangkok Trip//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

If you’re travelling by Uber/Grab, you can just key in Rabbito Café.

Operating Hours:
Tuesdays – Sundays : 12:00pm to 8:00pm
They are closed on Mondays

Contact Details:
+6661632 2365

If you have any questions for us, please feel free to email us at admin@awinsomelife.org and if you have not checked out our travel guide to Hua Hin, you can read more about it here!

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A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Hua Hin, Thailand

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Editor’s Note: This is going to be a super long blog post with quite a lot of pictures.

We travelled to Hua Hin, Thailand for our honeymoon and it is a really scenic place with pristine beaches all over the coastal area.

Currency

The Thai Baht is the currency of Thailand and like the pound, it originated from a traditional unit of mass. At the time of writing, we assume 1 Singapore Dollar to be approximately 25 Thai Baht. For the best exchange rate, consider heading down to The Arcade at Collyer Quay.

Getting to Hua Hin

If you want to get to Hua Hin from Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can purchase bus tickets from the ticketing counter that is located at Level 1 Gate 8 of the airport; alternatively, an easier option is to book your bus tickets online (which we did) via Airport Hua Hin Bus.

The bus service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin operates daily with 6 departure times and early booking is recommended.

What amazed us about the bus service is the 24-seater luxury coach itself. It is really comfortable and there’s more than sufficient leg space. There’s even a toilet on board the coach.

In case you’re wondering, the journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin Bus Station took about 3 hours. While there are other alternative forms of transport to Hua Hin (e.g. car), we found taking the bus to be the most economical and the most comfortable.

Travel Tip #1: Before you take the bus to Hua Hin, go to the nearby convenience shop and stock up some snacks and drinks to munch on during the long bus journey as there are no pit-stops during the bus ride.

Getting Around Hua Hin

We arrived at Hua Hin Bus Station in the evening and went to Villa Market Hua Hin to pick up the Nissan Elmera Eco that we rented to get around Hua Hin. The car rental rate that we paid was SGD$220 for 4 days of usage.

Driving in Hua Hin is relatively safe (even safer than driving in Bangkok). The roads are easy to navigate around and Google Maps worked quite well for us to get around Hua Hin and Cha-Am (a district north of Hua Hin). In case you’re wondering, Thailand practises the right hand drive so if you have been driving around Asian countries, it shouldn’t be a problem. Drivers in Hua Hin aren’t that aggressive but as always, practise defensive driving and always check your blind spots!

Travel Tip #2: If you have already decided on the places that you want to visit in Hua Hin, open up Google Maps and saved all these places before your trip so that it will be easy for you to navigate around. With Google Maps on your mobile phone, you save money by not having to rent a GPS set from the car rental company.

Accommodation

For our accommodation, we took the path less travelled and stayed at The Restro Hotel, a boutique hotel with a retro theme to it. We booked a superior room for 3 nights of stay through Agoda and in total, we paid SGD$285 which is inclusive of breakfast.

The owner of the hotel is a young gentlemen and he was very polite and thoughtful. Breakfast was also a hearty affair and the room that was assigned to us had an industrial theme. The last we heard, the hotel now has a pool and if you are keen to stay there, do book early because they are always running at a 100% occupancy rate!

Local Attractions

There are plenty of attractions in Hua Hin and it was a pity that we did not have enough time to explore Hua Hin. There were so many things that we wanted to do in Hua Hin and getting around was easy since we rented a car to drive there.

For The Shopaholics

There are a couple of night markets in Hua Hin and when we were there, we visited two night markets; the Grand Night Market and the Cicada Market. The Grand Night Market is small and quite typical of most Thai Night Markets. The souvenirs are quite common and there wasn’t anything much that were unique. Street food vendors are abundant if you’re shopping for food.

In case you’re wondering, the Grand Night Market is situated next to the Grand Hotel on Petchkasem Road and is open daily from 5pm to 11pm. Do note that they are closed on Tuesdays though.

As for the Cicada Market, we enjoyed shopping over there because there are some pretty unique finds over there. What’s more, it is the place for the artsy fartsy! The only downside is that Cicada Markets only opens on Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 11pm and Sundays 4pm to 10pm; so if you want to visit, be in Hua Hin over the weekends. If you’re staying at The Restro Hotel, you can walk to the Cicada Market and it should take you no more than 15 minutes .

For The Thrill Seekers

If you’re a thrill-seeker and you are planning a visit to Hua Hin, you can consider visiting Siam Milsim and Sky Club Asia.

SIAM MILSIM

At SIAM MILSIM, we went for the ATV Tour and we had a go at their shooting range. It was a pity that we missed SIAM MILSIM’s Zombie Infection event because it is their signature event which is essentially a full 9-hour war simulation game complete with authentic combat uniform, big airsoft guns, boat, jeeps, truck, real zombies (actors) and yes even insurance too.

I must say; safety was well observed throughout and Damien who was our instructor at SIAM MILSIM, makes sure that we know the weapon handling commands and safety procedures before we enter the shooting range to do some shooting. Personal protection equipment were also issued prior to the shoot and there will always be an instructor next to us to ensure that we were doing the right stuff.

As for the 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) ATV Tour, it was an entirely new experience for both Jacqueline and I. We really enjoyed ourselves and we had a great time admiring the beautiful scenery around Hua Hin’s mountain. Yes, we rode up the mountain!

What is super amazing about SIAM MILSIM is that for most of the activities less the shooting range; they will have a dedicated staff who will take pictures and videos of you which you can then share on your own personal social media platforms after your visit; and yes, its complimentary. We definitely hope to visit SIAM MILSIM again!

SIAM MILSIM Open Every Day : 10am – 7 pm Address: 10/469 Huahin 94, HuaHin, 77110 Prachuap Kirikhan Thailand Telephone: 091-6970821 Email: info@siammilsim.com

Sky Club Asia

If you want to soar into the sky for a truly amazing flight experience; you might want to consider checking out Sky Club Asia, a paramotor flying training centre in Thailand. For just 3,900 Thai Baht (approximately SGD$150), you get a 20-minute safe, comfortable, and exciting flight experience where you can enjoy panoramic views of Sam Roi Yod National Park and along the beaches of Dolphin Bay, Pranburi.

To be honest, we were extremely lucky that we got the chance to fly because the weather was rather erratic when we visited Hua Hin. In order for us to have a chance to fly, we had to change our itinerary a couple of times so that we can accommodate the ideal day and time for flying which was very much dependent on the weather conditions as well. The flight takes off at one of the air strip in Hua Hin (which is a 25-minute drive from Hua Hin City Centre).

If you want to fly with Sky Club Asia, do contact them way in advance so that they can advise you on the possible flight dates and times when you visit Hua Hin. Should you not be able to secure a flight or should your flight be cancelled at the eleventh hour, do not despair because the pilot truly cares for your safety and will only fly when the weather permits.

Sky Club Asia Operating Hours: Appointment Only Phone: 08 740 11113 Email: info@skyclubasia.com

For The Nature and History Buff

Pansook Farm

We drove North of Hua Hin to Cha-Am and stopped by Pansook Farm (also known as 1000 Sook Food and Farm on TripAdvisor) where we spent half a day there for some photo opportunities. From its name, one could well guess that Pansook Farm is an actual farm and just so you know, there is an entrance fee which will cost 50 Thai Baht (approximately SGD$2) for an adult.

At Pansook Farm, there are many different kinds of animals and you can actually feed and touch them. In fact, there are many such farms in Cha-Am but in the interest of time, we only managed to visit Pansook Farm.

If visiting farms isn’t really your kind of thing, you can visit the many pristine beaches at Hua Hin. Takiab Beach is one such beach and it is within walking distance from The Restro Hotel.

The Hua Hin Railway Station which is still operating as a legit train station is also an attraction not to be missed.

For The MasterChef Wannabes

We have always enjoyed eating Thai food and because we really wanted to learn to cook some authentic Thai food, we enrolled ourselves into a 1 Day Thai cooking course with Thai Cooking Course Hua Hin.

Although there are 3 menus available, there is no fixed schedule as to when a particular menu will be taught. For the course that we attended, we learnt to cook and prepare Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, Thai Green Curry with Chicken, and Khanom Lod Chong (a jackfruit and coconut dessert).

The course fee for 1 adult is 1500 Thai Baht (approximately SGD$60) and it includes a morning guided tour at Hua Hin’s Local Market, a recipe book, a certificate of completion, transportation to and fro the hotel (if it is located within Hua Hin Town), and a sumptuous 4-course Thai meal.

What we really love about the cooking class is the fact that we got an entirely hands-on session after a demonstration by Beau (our instructor). The class size is kept small and this allows for maximum class participation and guidance by the instructor who was really patient with answering all the questions that we had.

After the class, we could not wait to hone our culinary skills and we are really glad to have attended the course because we can now cook authentic Thai food by ourselves. Just so you know, all of the Thai ingredients that we used at the cooking class can be found in Singapore too!

In Summary

Honestly, we enjoyed ourselves in Hua Hin and we really wished we could have spent more time there. In fact, we will definitely consider visiting Hua Hin again and check out other places that we have not had the chance to visit. We hope that this comprehensive travel guide to Hua Hin, Thailand has been really useful and if you have any questions or comments for us, do feel free to do so below!

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Asia’s Most Comprehensive Guide to Batam

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Our comprehensive guide to Batam has been a hit with many Singaporeans and we want to thank everyone for all the questions that have been constantly pouring in.
In this blog post, we will be sharing with you some recent key updates and developments in Batam and some of the new and interesting places that we have just visited last weekend.

Apart from that, we will also be addressing some of the most common questions that we get from our readers about Batam.

To begin with, here are some common questions that we have received about Batam:

How much do you need for a 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam?

For a 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam, you don’t exactly need to bring a lot of money unless you intend to buy a lot of things back. In fact, changing SGD$250 to spend in Batam is more than sufficient.

Do you have any contacts for Traditional Kueh Lapis (Layered Cakes) in Batam?

Yes, we often buy our Traditional Kueh Lapis (Layered Cakes) from Diana Layer Cakes Batam and you can contact them via the phone at +62 778 466906. In our previous post about Batam, we mentioned that Diana Layer Cakes Batam accept Singapore Dollars but do note that as of last year, they have stopped collecting Singapore Dollars and they only accept Indonesian Rupiah now. The reason why we always buy from Diana Layer Cakes Batam is because they offer free delivery to our hotel and their layer cakes are the best that we have tasted so far. A 1KG original  Kueh Lapis cost 250000 Rupiah (SGD$26) and a 1KG prune Kueh Lapis cost 300000 Rupiah (SGD$31).

Is it easy to get around in Batam?

Yes, it is easy to get around in Batam. Taxis are abundant but like we always say; don’t flag off the taxis that are plying the roads. Always book a taxi or approach a taxi counter to get a taxi. Do note that taxis have a minimum fare of 25000 Rupiah (SGD$2.60) and taxis from Silver Cab or Blue Bird can no longer stop at Nagoya Hill . There are taxi counters available at most hotels or shopping Centres and you can just probably go there to pay for your cab fare in advance. It’s more expensive but better than having to haggle the prices.

So last weekend, we went on a short 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam and we visited some new dining places (at our own expense) and tried doing some new stuffs like watching a movie at their local cinema.

We arrived in Batam at about 0915, cleared the immigrations that took about 45 minutes (weekends are always the peak season), and the very first thing we did was to make sure that we got a prepaid mobile line at the counter.

With a prepaid mobile line, getting around Batam is a breeze because the taxi is just a phone call away.

We walked to our hotel (Harris Hotel Batam Centre) which was nearby the ferry terminal to pick up the Kueh Lapis that we have ordered just 2 days before and since there weren’t any rooms available just yet, we headed to the nearby Mega Mall Batam Centre to walk about. By the way, if you plan to book a room at Harris Hotel Batam Centre, it will be cheaper to book through Agoda than via the Hotel Website direct and opt for just the room only because the hotel’s buffet breakfast isn’t that fantastic as compared to the food you could get at the nearby shopping malls.

For lunch, we went to Barletta Dining and Lounge at Da Vienna Boutique Hotel and from the table setting to the personalised service, we could tell that it was somewhat a place for fine dining. The food however, was a real disappointment. An online search revealed some positive reviews about the restaurant but seriously, we won’t want to dine there again because the quality of the food is so-so and isn’t value for money.

After lunch, we booked a taxi to Nagoya Hill where we spent the entire day there. Contrary to what most people would plan to do in Batam (go-karting, sea sports, and the likes), our plan was to simply eat, shop, and relax.

At Nagoya Hill, we went to catch the movie, “Independence Day: Resurgence” at Cinema 21 and the price for a movie ticket is just 35,000 Rupiah (SGD$3.50) per ticket! The fabric seats are comfortable and the theatre is not as run down as we thought it to be.

The cinema is located at the top floor of Nagoya Hill Mall and here’s a picture of the entrance leading to the cinema.

There is a small arcade corner located near the tickets counter but I wouldn’t suggest having a go at it because the (shooting games especially) controls are faulty.

Since we had a lot of time to kill, I decided to be more adventurous and went for a haircut at Willy Salon in Nagoya Mall. The haircut which includes washing cost me 120000 Rupiah (SGD$13) and I must say, it was overall a pleasant experience!

Bule, my hairstylist; is pretty good and if you happen to go to Willy Salon, look for him!

That radiant and fresh look after a refreshing haircut.

For dinner, we went to Taste The Crab @ Hill Cafe Batam which is within walking distance from Nagoya Hill. The food there is pretty awesome and we had the medium seafood combo which consist of prawns, clams, squid rings, and crab. In case you’re wondering, the medium seafood combo cost 190000 Rupiah (SGD$20) and the portion was actually rather small for us. The next time we visit, we will definitely get the large seafood combo which cost only 220000 Rupiah (SGD$23).

Oh, and having a pint of beer is a must because it really goes well with the seafood and it cost only 40000 Rupiah (SGD$4.20)!

The dinner pretty much concluded our first day in Batam.

For our second day in Batam, we booked for a half-day spa package with Spa Central Batam which cost SGD$88 per person for 3 hours. It was our 2nd time visiting Spa Central Batam and there are quite a number of changes since the last time we were there. Even the spa package and service menu has been updated and we were quite surprised to learn that the ownership of the boutique spa has been taken over by a Singaporean (yes you read that right).

The half-day spa package included a foot bath, our choice of 3 different categories of treatments (1 x 90 minute massage and 2 other treatments (one at 30 minutes and the other at 60 minutes excluding Galvanic Facial) from their spa menu. The half-day spa package also include free transfers to and fro the spa by taxi (only if you have a minimum of 2 people taking up a 2-hour treatment session).

The treatment room is very comfortable and clean. For couples, couple room is available as well.

If you plan to visit Batam on a free-and-easy basis and have the intention to include a spa treatment package on your itinerary; I would suggest that you book your ferry tickets directly with Spa Central Batam because it cost SGD$38 nett 2-way instead of the usual SGD$48. That is SGD$10 off in savings which you can use to spend on sumptuous food in Batam!

Needless to say, we ended our trip to Batam with our usual ritual of having an A&W meal!

For more information about Spa Central Batam, do visit their website where you can find more details about the various kind of spa package they have and the costs for the different treatments as well.

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An Exciting & Exhilarating Week!

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It has been an exciting and exhilarating week so far and I am really glad that in 5 days’ time, I will be taking a long break away from work because I have been away from home almost every week.
Just yesterday, Jacqueline and I were at The Music Run by AIA and this year’s edition saw a vast improvement as compared to last year’s! The fringe activities along the running route were very engaging and while I’m not the sort of runner who will stop to take pictures, I was really glad that there was sufficient space that catered to both the walkers and the runners.

The entertainment likewise was superb and we had lots of fun swaying to the beats and tunes of The Sam Willows and DJ Sam Withers. Despite it being my first 5k run for the year, I was really pleased with the fact that I completed the whole run in 34 minutes without any formal training. The Music Run is definitely a good start to my two other upcoming runs that I will be participating in.

As mentioned, I will be flying off in 5 days’ time and for my coming trip, I will be heading to Taiwan with Jacqueline. We will be taking a direct flight to Kaoshiung via Scoot and then we will be returning to Singapore from Taipei via Jet Star. It has been quite a long while since our last visit to Taiwan and this time round, we will be heading to Kenting, Kaoshiung, and then northwards to Taipei.

As usual, we will often compare prices for our accommodation and boy were we glad that we chanced upon HotelsCombined because it has helped us to find the best accommodation deals in seconds! In case you’re mistaken, HotelsCombined is not a booking site but a research tool that helps travellers make the right accommodation decisions.

Their leading price comparison technology allows travellers to easily find the best price online from all the top travel sites (like Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, etc) plus many other credible sites you’ve probably never hear of too (like Amoma, Hotelopia, Skoosh, etc).

With HotelsCombined app, travellers can now have the convenience of being able to always find the best deal in seconds without having to install so many apps to compare deals one-by-one.

Since Mothers’ Day is also round the corner in about two weeks time, I’m pretty sure many people are making plans to spend quality time with their family and if you’re thinking of bringing the whole family for a classic dim sum dining experience that won’t burn a big hole in your pocket, you might want to consider making a reservation at Yum Cha Restaurant.

My family always frequent the outlet at Serangoon Gardens Country Club but unfortunately, the Yum Cha Restaurant there is no longer in operation and the only available outlets are the ones located at Chinatown and Changi Business Park. For Mothers’ Day this year, Yum Cha Restaurant is launching 3 special items that seeks to re-create the long-lost taste of traditional Chinese dishes that mothers and grandmothers would remember with nostalgia of their hometowns.

The three special items are the Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, the Pan-fried Salted Fish Bun, and the Almond Tarts.

Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables

A notable classic Chinese dish, this delicious bun which was easily carried around in the past, was eaten for days while our ancestors were fleeing the war in China before settling down in different parts of Asia. Quality tender pork belly is braised in a secret recipe sauce for hours to create a sweet and succulent taste that is balanced by a soft steamed bun.

Pan-fried Salted Fish Bun

A traditional Chinese dish originating from the Guangdong province, this salted fish bun used to be a favourite of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty. The bottom of the bun is seared to golden brown, with a flavourful filling made from salted fish paste and minced meat. To enhance its flavour, a secret seasoning is added for a more savory experience.

Almond Tart

The classic Almond Tart has a soft and flaky texture. Served warm, its sweet taste will definitely bring back fond memories of the old days in Hong Kong.

How will you celebrate Mothers’ Day?

That’s all from us for now and it sure looks like the coming month of May is going to be quite an exciting one too!

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Bangkok Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa

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It has been a tough start to the New Year and I really miss the carefree lifestyle that I had when I was in Thailand last December. No worries, no stress, and no complicated problems to solve. Just simply living and living simply.

One of the highlights during our recent trip to Bangkok, Thailand was visiting Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa, and we spent close to 4 hours at the spa just to unwind and pamper ourselves. Just so you know, Kashikiri has two locations but the one we went to was the one located in Sukhumvit.

If you are heading to Bangkok for a vacation, you might want to read on and find out what we think of Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa and why you should give this spa a visit.

Atmosphere & Ambience

Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa offers guests a very luxurious, private, and exclusive atmosphere and ambience. From its name, you could probably derive that the spa is a Japanese spa but what is surprising to note is that the owner of the spa is actually a Thai.

Although we have yet to visit Japan, the authentic Japanese furniture and fixtures made us feel like we were in Japan. There are 3 aromatherapy rooms, 1 suite room, 1 Thai massage room and they are all very spacious.

The Spa Experience

From the moment we stepped into the spa to the moment we left, the entire spa experience was a pleasant and welcoming one. We were warmly greeted by the therapists and the level of service provided was way beyond exceptional.

We chose the Kashikiri Signature Ultimate Therapies treatment which consist of a 30 minutes private onsen, 60 minutes body scrub and mask, 75 minutes aroma hot oil massage with bamboo muscle relaxant, and a 60 minutes anti-aging facial treatment.

The aroma hot oil massage with bamboo muscle relaxant is a kind of skilful massage treatment where the therapist makes use of warm bamboo poles to massage the body. As for the anti-aging facial treatment, we honestly thought that it would be a full-scale facial treatment with the removal of blackheads and all but rather, it was somewhat like a facial massage instead.

For this particular treatment that we chose, the price is 4,950 baht (about SGD$200) for one person and it is the most expensive spa treatment on the menu. If you are on a shoestring budget and would like some wallet-friendly options, Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa has many other affordable options like the Back, Neck, Shoulders, and Head Massage which cost just 800 baht (SGD$32) for 1 hour of massage, which is half the price of what you would be paying for in Singapore.

Having opened for less than a year, Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa is relatively new and the facilities are all in pristine condition. Treatment wise, it was very fulfilling and we could only hope that the session was longer as we enjoyed the treatment process.

Keen To Visit?

Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa is located at 84 Sukhumvit Soi 49 and it is about 1.2km away from Phrom Phong, the nearest BTS (Bangkok SkyTrain). Be sure to make a reservation before you head down to avoid any disappointment.

Phone
081-268-4624
02 – 258-7902

E-mail
info@kashikirionsenandspa.com

Operating Hours
09:30-22:30
Monday – Sunday

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