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In Travel 10 Mins Read

A Comprehensive Travel Guide to Hua Hin, Thailand

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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In Food 7 Mins Read

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Guide to Batam

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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In Food 4 Mins Read

An Exciting & Exhilarating Week!

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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In Travel 3 Mins Read

Bangkok Kashikiri 49 Soda Onsen and Spa

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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In Gift Ideas 4 Mins Read

Enjoy Travelling? Here Are 3 Services That You Might Find Worthwhile!

Ok, I know the title of this blog post might sound rather cheesy or maybe I sound like I am going to market and sell WorldVentures DreamTrips but no, I am not going to do that. Rather, I am going to share 3 travel services that you might find useful when planning for your next staycation/vacation/holiday or whatever you call it.
Klook

I first chanced upon Klook in August this year and I must say, it was and is still a worthy find because they offer some very interesting itineraries and attractions at really attractive prices. For my upcoming honeymoon to Thailand, I bought entrance tickets to Art in Paradise Bangkok, Nanta Show, and Safari World Bangkok and they were pretty value for money.

Honestly, what I really love about Klook is that they also offer some out-of-the-ordinary itineraries and tours. Some of such itineraries and tours include a Hangover Tour in Bangkok, a Submarine Adventure in Jeju, South Korea, and a Tokyo, Japan Helicopter Cruise!

In 6 days’ time, I will be going for a Paramotor Flight in Hua Hin, Thailand and I am very excited about it. Can’t wait to share our honeymoon itinerary when we’re back from Thailand!

Well, if you are planning for a unique holiday, you might want to consider booking some of the unique tours that Klook has to offer! I’m sure Klook has something that will interest you.

OneThreeOneFour

Want to book your dream wedding photoshoot anywhere in the world but don’t know where to begin?

OneThreeOneFour comes to the rescue! Founded by the dynamic couple, Scott and Eve, OneThreeOneFour is a Singapore-based start-up that allows couples to discover and book wedding photographers from anywhere in the world.

I know some couples (us included) like their wedding photos to be taken overseas and it can be quite a tedious process to search for a trustworthy and reliable wedding photographer especially when they’re based overseas. If you have been to wedding shows, you might have come across some overseas wedding studios selling their wedding photography packages but what you are probably concern about is whether they will close shop and part with your hard earned money.

With OneThreeOneFour, you can find specially hand-picked and verified wedding photographers from around the world and browse through their portfolios. What’s more, you can chat with the photographers, confirm the photoshoot date, book and make payment all on OneThreeOneFour!

So… if you are planning to have your wedding photos taken overseas, OneThreeOneFour might be just the platform to begin your search and when you’re done with all those photoshoot, be sure to also check out Klook for some wacky tours and itineraries.

ZenPass

How would you like if you could receive four mysterious 3 Days 2 Nights travel holidays a year for just SGD$99 a month (SGD$1188 a year)?

Well, the idea of a subscription service is not new especially since subscription boxes are a pretty big hit but a travel subscription is almost unheard of and what makes ZenPass so interesting is that you won’t quite know what you will be receiving or where you will be going until 1 month before your flight.

Every three months (subscribers would have paid SGD$297 by then), subscribers will receive 3 different combinations of 3 Days 2 Nights package that includes flights and accommodations to a destination in Southeast Asia and there won’t be any itinerary. Out of those 3 different choices, all you have to do is just choose one and you’re ready to go!

And what if none of the 3 Days 2 Nights package offered isn’t to your liking?

ZenPass guarantees that you can get all your money back if you don’t like the options presented to you and you are given the flexibility to cancel anytime!

Should you like the idea of a mysterious 3 Days 2 Nights flight and accommodation package that cost SGD$297, do also set some realistic expectations because for such a price, I hope you are not expecting 5-star accommodations and first class flights.

Want to be well-travelled?

Sign up for ZenPass here and because you’re travelling somewhere with no itinerary, you might want to check out Klook to see if they offer any interesting tours at your destination!

Ok, in case you’re wondering, I’m not trying to hard sell Klook or anything like that. In fact, Klook, OneThreeOneFour, and ZenPass are all start-ups and I feel that all three of them complement each other really well.

In fact, A Winsome Life (our start-up that provides Personal Concierge Services) complements all three start-ups too and it is with great pleasure that we share about their intriguing and useful services!

Alright, that’s all for now.

Counting down to 3 more days before we leave for our honeymoon!

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In Food 3 Mins Read

Snap Food Photos & Win SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher & SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card

We all know that Singapore is a food haven and there is absolutely no way anyone could go hungry in Singapore as there are so many dining options that are available for people to choose from. However, what really troubles us Singaporeans are often the questions, “What should we eat?” and “Where should we eat?”
We know it is funny but it is also very true that sometimes we even argue with one another over what to eat and where to eat! This is the dilemma that we constantly face every day and making dining decisions can be really tough at times.

What about you? Do you often find yourself asking where to eat in Singapore?

Well, with the OpenSnap App, this problem can now be solved and what is even more intriguing to us about the OpenSnap App is that it gives us pretty good suggestions as to which Restaurants and Dishes in Singapore we should try!

Not only that, the dish rating system in the OpenSnap App is really helpful as it guides us to decide what we ought to order at a restaurant!

One feature that we like about the OpenSnap App is that it allows us to bookmark our favourite topics, offers, restaurants and photos so that we can revisit the bookmarks as and when we wish and find out what are the latest promotions and offers that are available.

What we like the most about the OpenSnap App is that it also features restaurants and dishes from other regional countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries! This is truly one app you don’t want to go without if you are a frequent traveller to Asian countries!

Also, just for all you foodies and food photographers, we are organising a special giveaway for all of you and this is a giveaway you don’t want to miss because if you frequently take photos of your food dishes at restaurants and even hawker centres, winning this giveaway is going to be a stroll in the park for you!

All you have to do is just download the OpenSnap App, snap photos of what you’re eating, upload the photo, and hashtag #awinsomelife! It’s really that easy and this time round, we will be giving away two prizes; a SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher and a SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

As long as you download the OpenSnap App, snap photos of what you’re eating, upload the photo, and hashtag #awinsomelife; you will stand a chance to win the SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher through a random lucky draw and if you don’t feel that lucky at all; fret not because if you upload the most photos, you will walk away with the SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

Just make sure you remember to use the hashtag #awinsomelife so that we can keep track and tally the number of photos taken using the OpenSnap App!

All photos uploaded from 24 July 2015 to 24 August 2015 will be considered for the contest and the person who uploads the most food pictures and uses the hashtag #awinsomelife will walk away with the SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

So what are you waiting for?

Download the OpenSnap App and start snapping away!

For Android Users | For iPhone Users

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In Travel 3 Mins Read

FUN TAIPEI Pop-Up Café At Bugis+ Atrium From Now Till 19 July 2015

Although Jacqueline and I are regular visitors to Taiwan, it has been a long while since we last wrote about this beautiful country and during a recent media event that was held at Bugis+, we had the opportunity to listen to officials from the Taipei City Government who introduced to us four new FUN TAIPEI ‘Free and Easy’ itineraries.

With the introduction of the four new FUN TAIPEI ‘Free and Easy’ itineraries; the Taipei City Government has also worked with travel partners such as China Airlines and Scoot to roll out travel packages with deals and savings worth up to SGDS$1,950 and if you sign up for the travel package from today till end-November, you will also take home a limited-edition FUN TAIPEI Energy Pack that contains F&B and shopping vouchers and as well as an EasyCard [our EZ-Link equivalent].

If you are keen to find out more information and get a preview of selected street-culture highlights from the four new travel itineraries, do drop by the FUN TAIPEI Pop-Up Café at Bugis+ Atrium from 17 July 2015 to 19 July 2015.

At the FUN TAIPEI Pop-Up Café, you can look forward to hands-on sessions with a stamp-making craftsman and a tie-dye print expert from Studio inBloom, and take home unique pieces of creative Taiwan art.

You can also get another taste of the local cultural scene as renowned Taipei street performers Jiang Mu Chen and Jacky Ho will wow audiences with their sensational performances.

Foodies can get an update on the latest trending street foods in Taipei, as handpicked vendors such as Sun Merry Bakery, SUGAR & SPICE Nougat, and Mao Kong Da Cha Hu will share their most delectable snack offerings with visitors.

With the aim of drawing travellers to enjoy the vibrant Asian city through its unique street culture; travellers on the lookout for new experiences can now count on Taipei City to offer novel sights and sounds to add to the already never-ending list of things to do in the city.

Just so you know, the first 30 travellers who sign up for any of the FUN TAIPEI ‘Free and Easy’ packages at each day of the roadshow will bring home an additional goodie bag worth SGD$50 and as well as the opportunity to take part in a lucky draw where the winner will walk away with a pair of return air tickets to Taipei!


Image Credits to FUN TAIPEI In Singapore

If you are heading down to the FUN TAIPEI Pop-Up Café, pop over to the “Fun Taipei in Singapore” Facebook Page, ‘Like’ the page, and you can redeem a free cup of bubble-milk tea at the Pop-Up Café.

For more information about the new travel itineraries, you can either visit FUN TAIPEI Official Website or tune in to the widely popular variety show, “Super Taste” also known as 食尚玩家 in Mandarin, during which the hosts will share their experiences as they discover novel sights and sounds around Taipei City. These episodes will air in August on the TVBS Asia cable channel.

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In Travel 3 Mins Read

Launch Of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future

A few days ago, I was very privileged to have been invited to cover the launch of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past Present Future at Nanyang Polytechnic and I am glad that I was there!
Image Credit to Nanyang Polytechnic

Author of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future, Executive Chef Tony Khoo [Marina Mandarin Singapore], signing the new cookbook at the event

In celebration of Singapore’s 50th year of independence, Nanyang Polytechnic launched The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future, to pay homage to Singapore’s food culture, in particular, hawker food.

Authored by Tony Khoo, Executive Chef of Marina Mandarin Singapore and co-authored by Dr Leslie Tay, Singapore’s profound Food Blogger; the 240-page cookbook showcases the history and original recipes of 12 popular dishes and how Singaporeans enjoy these dishes today. These include the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice, Old-style Chilli Crab and Oyster Omelette, also known as “Orh Luak”.

Image Credit to Nanyang Polytechnic

Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Food & Beverage Business student, Mohamed Noorhadi Bin Habib Mohameed, searing lamp flaps for his re-interpretation of the Kampong Satay dish at the launch of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future event

Looking to the future, it also features avant-garde re-interpretations of classic local dishes by two Nanyang Polytechnic students and 10 renowned local chefs.

Image Credit to Nanyang Polytechnic

The futuristic re-interpretation of the Kampong Satay dish by Nanyang Polytechnic Diploma in Food & Beverage Business student, Mohamed Noorhadi Bin Habib Mohameed

My Opinion Of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future?

Having read the entire 240-page cookbook page-by-page, I felt really emotional because it reminded me of my growing-up days. I recalled how my mum would cook our favourite chilli crab using fresh live crabs from the wet market and how she would also skilfully use charcoal to cook claypot rice. My mum does not believe in taking shortcuts when cooking in the kitchen and even till today, she still continues to whip up delightful meals for the family.

As an educator teaching youths how to cook and bake, it has never cross my mind to teach people how to cook local dishes but having attended the launch of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future at Nanyang Polytechnic, it has strengthened my resolve to include some local dishes in my lessons.

What is also very interesting about the cookbook is that it traces the history of each dish and evolution to its present form, and explores how it can be invigorated for the future through new and exciting re-interpretations.

I certainly hope that there will be considerations to make The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future available for retail. From what I understand, The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future is currently only up for auction and proceeds from the auction will be donated to various beneficiaries.

Image Credit to Nanyang Polytechnic

Author of The Singapore Heritage Cookbook: Past, Present, Future, Executive Chef Tony Khoo from Marina Mandarin Singapore [left], together with Mr Peter Knipp from Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd [right], presenting the cookbook to Mr Chan Lee Mun, Principal & CEO of Nanyang Polytechnic [middle]

Just so you know, the Singapore Heritage Cookbook is published by Food2Print Asia, the publishing arm of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd and I am very privileged to own a copy of the cookbook which will aid me greatly when I teach about local dishes. While I am not exactly sure when and where it will be available, I really believe that this is the cookbook that every Singaporean household should have in their bookshelf!

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In Entertainment 5 Mins Read

5 Places You Can Visit In Singapore During The June School Holidays!

Not sure where to bring your children now that the June School Holidays is here?
Well, fret not because we will be sharing with you 5 places in Singapore where you can go to spend some fruitful quality time with your children without burning a big hole in your pocket!

1. Singapore Changi Airport [for the little ones]

Image Credits to Changi Airport Group

The Singapore Changi Airport is not just a place for departures and arrivals. With so many dining, shopping, and entertainment options to choose from, the Singapore Changi Airport can also be an ideal place for a family outing. While your children are plane spotting at the viewing deck, your wife can also do some shopping! What’s more, she can save 7% GST on her purchases at participating retail stores and earn some points which can be used to redeem for travel miles and tickets to local attractions. And when your wife is done shopping, tell her to bring the kids to the wood block rubbing station or Singapore’s tallest slide to have some fun while you go check out the spectacularly new wines and spirits flagship duplex store by the DFS Group at Terminal 3.

Image Credits to DFS Group

Don’t miss this as it is the first of its kind in the world.

2. Singapore Expo [for the little ones and the not so little ones]


Image Credits to Singapore Expo

The Singapore Expo is just one MRT station away from Singapore Changi Airport and though there isn’t much dining options to choose from, food is probably your secondary priority because what you should be seeking for are the great deals and bargains that are available. Just so you know, there are many great sales happening in the month of June and we’re sure you won’t want to miss out on them. Some pretty awesome sale events happening in the month of June include The PC Show 2015, Robinsons Expo Sale, MPH Book Sale, Yummy Food Expo 2015, BHG Expo Sale, Baby Expo 2015 and many more! If your children enjoys shopping like you do, going to the Singapore Expo can be quite an interesting family outing that can occupy the whole of June.

For more information about the dates for the various sales, click here.

3. The Cinemas [for the little ones and the not so little ones]


Image Credits to Tech Goondu

We’re pretty sure everyone enjoys watching movies and if you want to reward your children with an outing to the cinemas, consider going during the weekdays as the ticket prices will be cheaper. If you hold a HSBC Credit Card, the HSBC’s Movie Card [All Day] is a really great promotion by Golden Village should you prefer to visit the cinemas during the weekends. If you are a SAFRA Card Member, you can enjoy daily discounted tickets at Shaw Theatres.

Some movies that will be releasing in June include Jurassic World, Minions, Barely Lethal, and Terminator: Genysis

4. Mount Faber Park [for the little ones]

Image Credits to Mount Faber Leisure Group

There are lot of things you can do at Mount Faber Park. One of the oldest parks in Singapore, Mount Faber Park is also part of the Southern Ridges, which also comprises Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve.

Boasting panoramic viewpoints of the Southern Waterfront including Sentosa and other Southern Islands, and as well as Singapore’s Central Business District and iconic HDB estates, Mount Faber Park offers various walking trails that will give your family a good workout.

Whether you decide to do some nature appreciation, bird watching, or hop onto the cable car to enjoy the stunning view of the horizon from above, we’re sure your children will definitely enjoy themselves and not forgetting the fact that there are a couple of dining options such as Spuds and Aprons at Faber Peak Singapore.

For some ‘hands on’ activities at Mount Faber Park, there are the Singapore Cable Car Wooden Keychain Workshop and the Singapore Cable Car Sand Art Workshop available for your little ones.


Image Credits to Mount Faber Leisure Group

Singapore Cable Car Wooden Keychain Workshop

Date: 6 June 2015, Saturday and 7 June 2015, Sunday
Time: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Venue: The Lookout, Level 2

Singapore Cable Car Sand Art Workshop

Date: 20 June 2015, Saturday and 21 June 2015, Sunday
Time: 11.00am to 4.00pm
Venue: The Lookout, Level 2

5. Downtown East [for the little ones and the not so little ones]


Image Credits to Downtown East

Home to Costa Sands Resort, Singaporeans’ favourite resort away from home, and the popular water park, Wild Wild Wet; Downtown East is Singapore’s premier lifestyle, recreational and entertainment hub catering to the wide interests of modern youths and families by bringing exciting activities and fun facilities all under one roof.

The entertainment and leisure centre E!hub features a cinema, an arcade, a bowling alley, and eXplorerkid, one of Singapore’s largest indoor family playground.

Singapore’s slimiest integrated sports festival, the Nickelodeon Slime Cup, will also be taking place at Downtown East from Saturday, 6 June 2015 to Sunday, 7 June 2015. The event aims to encourage children and their parents to bond and get active through play.

Besides meeting Dora the Explorer, Diego; SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star; and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, your children can also stand a chance to take home some Nickelodeon goodie bags and instant photos.

For more information about the Nickelodeon Slime Cup, do visit the Nickelodeon Slime Cup Official Website!

So there you go, we present to you the 5 places that you can bring your children to during the June School Holidays to spend some quality family time!

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In Travel 3 Mins Read

[Bridal Studio Review]- Destino Bridal Gallery @ Johor Bahru

Taking up a bridal studio package overseas has its own set of pros and cons and it can even be rather risky too. There were many what-ifs when we signed up for our bridal photography package at Destino Bridal Gallery but we went along with it anyway.

We felt that it would have been useful if Destino Bridal Gallery has a website but all they have is only a Facebook Page when we did a Google Search. Our guess is that they market themselves on a word-of-mouth basis or they probably have got no time to maintain a website.

When we first arrived at Destino Bridal Gallery, we were very impressed with its large compounds and what impressed us the most was the two-storey photography studio space they have for indoor photography! Inside the two-storey photography studio space, there are many different backdrops and decorations that are real [not those pull-down paper backdrop] and Destino Bridal Gallery changes the theme of the backdrops every 6 months.

The bridal package that we took up is pretty standard and common but highly customisable according to our needs. Being practical people, we took out some items in the package and got them replaced with other items that we thought were more practical and useful for us.

What We Like About Destino Bridal Gallery:

• Very affordable [about SGD$2700 after taking into account the currency exchange rate]
• Destino Bridal Gallery has a very good reputation and is an award-winning bridal studio
• The photographers and assistants are all very helpful, patient, and understanding
• The photography props and background are all real
• The outdoor photography locations are beautiful and scenic
• The indoor photography studio space is cosy and comfortable
• Make-up and hairstyling are all done in-house
• Car park space is available and the place is quite safe and secure
• All wedding gowns and suits at the bridal studio is not restrictive and available for selection
• Our indoor photography photos turned out well [the photographer was Keith]

What We Don’t Like About Destino Bridal Gallery:

• Long travelling time from Singapore to Johor Bahru, especially during the weekends
• At least 7-8 trips to Johor Bahru required
• The video montage did not meet our expectations; hence, we created one on our own
• Our outdoor photography photos did not turned out so well [the photographer was Ah Hui]

Their Video Montage [which looks like it was produced by amateurs using Windows Movie Maker]

Our Video Montage [after we do some DIY ourselves]

Overall, we were very pleased with the bridal photography experience at Destino Bridal Gallery and if you don’t mind the frequent trips to Johor Bahru and have planned to do your bridal photography in Malaysia, we will definitely recommend them.

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