Matchbox 20 (now known as Matchbox Twenty) was live in Singapore 10 years ago (2003) and performed only 1 song at the MTV awards.
“This (sell out concert) is much better” quipped lead singer Robert Kelly Thomas, otherwise known as Rob Thomas. Matchbox Twenty was live in Singapore on 10 November 2013 and it was by purpose that the concert started at 8:20pm with 20 of their favourite hit songs performed.
From their humble beginnings as Tabitha’s Secret, Matchbox Twenty burst on to the scenes with their first album “Yourself or Someone Like You” with well-known hits such as “Push” and “3am” to today’s multi-platinum band. But from yesterday’s performance, you could sense that the band still remained humble and just enjoyed good music. You could also see that they have practiced their gigs with the sounds and lighting in synchro throughout the entire concert. Im starting to think that they have a lighting designer that follows them on tours because the timing was impeccable. With that kind of accuracy, the lighting designer is either very familiar with all of Matchbox 20’s songs, or, is simply a huge fan. Perhaps both?
Matchbox Twenty Live in Singapore!
Songs performed by Matchbox Twenty Live in Singapore
And here are the twenty songs and lyrics performed by Matchbox Twenty during their performance at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 10 November 2013.
1. Parade 2. Bent
One of our favourite hits from the band. It was from this song that we picked up “twisting of words” such as Bent (biee ent), Scared (scaaare ed), Together (To gae ther) etc. Of course, the starting notes of the songs are as iconic as the song itself.
3. Disease 4. She’s so mean 5. How Far We’ve Come – Indeed the band has come a long way to attaining their status today 6. 3am 7. Real World 8. If You’re Gone 9. Long Day 10. Girl Like That – According to Rob, many girls have told him that the song is really nice but the truth is that the song was written about a “horrible bi@#$” 11. I Will 12. Unwell 13. Radio 14. So Sad So Lonely 15. English Town
Our favourite song from the latest album “North”. Apparently not echoed by others in the stadium (notice the movement in the videos…) Do look out for the last part where Paul hits on the drums emphatically and throws the drumsticks backwards in the air at the last beat!
16. Bright Lights 17. A song that we dont know! Ah!! Can someone help us complete this list? 18. Downfall 19. Back 2 Good – Rob commented that there are 2 things that even intelligent people get confused with and they’re matters of the heart and sex. This song is about going back to where it was before those decisions were made. 20. Push – Back to 1996! The whole stadium stood up and had a huge sing-a-long session!
Matchbox Twenty Live in Singapore – In Conclusion
In conclusion, we thoroughly enjoyed Matchbox Twenty’s performance. For one, they really rehearsed for each and every song. The precision could be seen from the timings and coordination of the band, the sounds and the light.
Secondly, but more importantly, the band continues to be itself even after gaining popularity. I mean have you seen how Rob Thomas dances?! But the sounds still remain true to Matchbox 20 and because of that we noticed that their following is not only limited to the demographics of those in the 30s. There were many youths as well as older folks (in the 50s) as well.
Well done and kudos to Matchbox 20 for delivering on their promise of a “night to remember”!
Tips while watching concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium
We thought we’ll just end off with some tips of watching concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium
1. Toilet. If there’s an opportunity to go to the toilet, go. The concert wont start until you hear the screaming fans scream. In this case, the concert started at 8:20pm.
2. Get some water. You may want to purchase a bottle of water. Eventhough its $3, it’s nothing compared to the price of the tickets that you’ve paid right? Have a sip throughout the show so that your throat gets relieved after all that singing. Oh, speaking of bottles, did you know that the vendors remove the bottle caps of all drinks (including mineral water)? According to them, its because they’re wary of concert-goers throwing things at the artistes. And from our point of view, it translates to easier cleaning as well.
3. Where to park. You may wish to park at the Kallang Leisure Park instead of the open air carpark at the indoor stadium. It’s 1/3 the price. $2.10 per entry vs $6 per entry. Plus, you can grab a cuppa at Starbucks (like we did) to boost your energy for the concert!
4. About cameras. Professional cameras are not allowed. Point and shoot along with camera phones may pass through. Which is why you see many people holding up their handphones in front of the stage…
Camera Handphones at Matchbox Twenty Live in Singapore
Matchbox Twenty Live in Singapore
Enjoy your next concert and for Matchbox 20? We’ll definitely be there for their next concert in Singapore!
New China Yan Yan Guest House was our choice of stay for new year’s eve count down. Like Comfort Jordan Inn, we chose it because we knew that we would not spend much time in it (more time spent shopping and eating!) and budget wise it would be a more prudent choice…
About New China Yan Yan Guesthouse at Chung King Mansion
Located near the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, Yan Yan Guesthouse is one of the many hostels in Chung King Mansion…
Chung King Mansion New China Yan Yan HotelDirectory of block E Chung King Mansion
One of the reasons why we chose Yan Yan Guesthouse was because of its prime location. It is just a short walk from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station and is a great base for shopping and has close proximity (well walking distance for Kate and I) to the Victoria Harbour.
The tricky thing about locating New China Yan Yan is that Chung King Mansion itself is like a maze! Well, after circling the first level for like a 100 times, we realised that its layout is like a square with blocks located at its corner and centre of the widths.
The other thing is that the registration block may not be where your final room is. In our case, we registered at Block D level 9 before checking into our room at Block E level 8! The hotel is owned by Mr Stephen Lau who allowed us choice of the two remaining rooms. One was slightly bigger but was exposed (i.e. has a window to the streets) while the other room was smaller but had insulation from the cold as it was located on the inside of the building. We eventually chose the insulated one as it was the end of the year and it was getting quite chilly.
Guest room at New China Yan Yan Guesthouse
Small but effective room at New China Yan Yan Guest HouseRoom with TV and attached Toilet at Yan Yan Guesthouse Shower and toilet in room of New China Yan Yan Hostel
The room is actually quite small, maybe about 8sqm. However, we think it is a “small but effective” room because it actually has a comfortable bed, a TV and an attached bathroom. The bathroom is small, you may have to squeeze quite a bit while bathing. Still, it had a privacy we preferred and was able to serve its purpose as a “sleeping” room as we headed out for Ocean Park!
How to get to New China Yan Yan Hostel Chung King Mansion
Map of Chung King Mansion – New China Yan Yan Hostel
View of Tsuen Wan Harbour from L Hotel Nina Convention Centre Hong Kong
Kate is our usual travel planner and she decided that during this trip, we should have a mix of hostels and good hotels. Hence, we settled on L Hotel at the Nina Convention Centre.
L Hotel Nina Convention Harbour View Room
Our room was located at the 40th level, overlooking the Tsuen Wan harbour. The views were simply magnificent…
Another view of the harbour from L Hotel Nina Convention Harbour View RoomTV in Room at L Hotel Nina Convention Tsuen WanKing Sized Bed in Harbour View Room Tsuen Wan Bathtub and shower capsule with view of Tsuen Wan Harbour
Although we visited Hong Kong during the “winter” season, we must say that the pool must be really inviting during the summer months…
Outdoor swimming pool at L Hotel Tsuen Wan Nina Convention (under maintenance in winter months)
We did manage to have a dip at the indoor heated pool. Still, it was COLD. Kate and I had to weather the cold because the short walk from the lift lobby to the indoor swimming pool WAS UNSHELTERED! Which means, you really have to weather the elements to reach the pool! Other than the pools, L Hotel also has a decent gym…
Gym at L Hotel Nina Convention
Why we enjoyed our stay at L Hotel La Nina Convention Hong Kong
There are several reasons why we enjoyed our stay at the L Hotel Nina Convention.
1. Magnificent View. Tom had a request put forth to Kate during her planning and it was that the room should have a great view of a harbour. Kate put that into consideration and the result was a stay at the L Hotel Nina Convention. The room was nothing short of breath-taking. Even while you are in the bath tub, because of its orientation, you can still enjoy the views while taking a dip. Cool!
2. Shopping at Citywalk. Kate and I always enjoy a hotel with shopping & amenities nearby. With connection to Citywalk 2, L Hotel offers an excellent base for shopping, restaurants and entertainment!
Shopping options at Citywalk Hong Kong
3. Eating Options near Tsuen Wan Station. When you exit from Tsuen Wan station, there is a slew of restaurants and eating joints to choose from. Here we had various street food options such as…
Waffles (7 HKD) in the form of small egg like shapes Hong KongEgg Waffles Hong Kong for 7 HKD – Crispy on the outside and chewy on the insideHong Kong Fishballs in curry – 6 for 5HKDDumplings aka guo tie – 12HKD for 5Fried stuff at Tokyo station – LONG QUEUE!Tried the fried squid = 15HKD for a small bagFood street at Tsuen Wan
4. Tsuen Wan Park. Tsuen Wan Park is a really nice place to go to for an early morning exercise or a post-dinner walk. We did one of these walks after dinner and boy was it beautiful…
Map of Tsuen Wan Park beside L Hotel Nina Convention
P.S. The breakfast the next morning was not really good. Though the spread looked good, the taste was found wanting. Therefore, just adjust your expectations accordingly yah?
Breakfast at L Hotel Nina Convention from 0630 to 1030Breakfast spread at L Hotel Hong Kong
All in all, we totally enjoyed our stay at Tsuen Wan’s L Hotel Nina Convention. Have you had a stay here? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below!
You will notice that this particular shop is called Hai Xing Porridge Shop. It means that although it serves staples like toast and milk tea for breakfast, its signature is porridge! We ordered the boatsman congee and it was one of the best congee we’ve ever eaten!
Boatsman Congee Hong Kong Cafe
Legend has it that in the past, to make a quick meal, fishermen or boatsman would throw rice and everything else they could find into a pot and let it simmer. The result is an enjoyable bowl of boatsman congee. This version has century eggs, pork, pork stomach, chicken, tendon, squid along with a really enjoyable milky taste!
We also had fried dough (you tiao), soyabean milk as well as a peanut butter toast…
Hong Kong Cafe Fried dough that remained crispy after dipping into soyabean milk – 11 HKDHong Kong Cafe Char Chan Teng Peanut butter and condensed milk toast – 11 HKD
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So the secret is out, to enjoy the best of Hong Kong Cafes, note what is their specialty and order it. That way, each meal at a Hong Kong Cafe will be thoroughly enjoyed! Read also our post on “What a typical Hong Kong Cafe is like” for a better understanding of the HK Cafe culture!
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Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop (麦文记面家) is said to have one of the best wanton and beef noodles in Hong Kong. Kate did some research online and found that Mak Mun Kee has been around for some time now and has been attracting queues regularly. So we decided to check out the noodles here…
Best Wanton Noodles in Hong Kong belongs to Mak Mun Kee?
Entrance of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop at Parkes Street Hong Kong
Mak Mun Kee opens for lunch at only 12pm till 1230am. Kate and I were there slightly after opening hours and the restaurant was almost full! We took a quick glance at the menu and ordered the specialties here – the wanton and beef noodles!
Menu and Introduction of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop Hong Kong
According to its introduction, there is ONLY ONE BRANCH OF MAK MUN KEE IN HONG KONG AT PARKES STREET! We were sat close to the entrance of the shop and we were able to observe the skills of the chef. Steam was rising up as the chef tossed the noodles in the air. Before long, our noodles were served…
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38Wantoon Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
Let’s talk about the noodles first. One word. YEASTY! Kate and I dont really like the yeasty taste in most yellow noodles and this was one of the yeastiest noodles we’ve had. To be fair, we were having the dry version. Perhaps the soup version would be less yeasty? The texture on the hand was springy and chewy – what the Taiwanese would say : “Q!” The portion was also very generous.
In terms of taste, the beef brisket was a clear winner. The beef was tender, mixed with portions of tendons that left that savoury taste in your mouth, leaving you wanting for more….
Wantons on the other hand HAD 2 PRAWNS IN EACH WANTON!! 😮 Usually we will have minced pork with (sometimes half) a prawn in our wantons in Singapore. But this version had 2 huge and succulent prawns!
Overall, the beef brisket noodles is a “must-try” while if you’re going for wanton noodles, try the soup version and let us know how it is.
How to get to Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop Hong Kong
Map of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop at Parkes Street
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Elements is a fancy high class shopping mall located beside Kowloon MTR. The entire shopping mall is divided into 5 zones (the 5 elements – hence its name) including Metal, Water, Fire, Earth and Wood Zones. Different zones offers different aspects of a shopping mall including luxury brands at Metal, health beauty and lifestyle at Wood, international cuisines at Water, Fashion at Earth and Entertainment at Fire.
Things to see and do in Elements Shopping Mall Kowloon Hong Kong
Entrance to Elements Shopping Mall from Kowloon MTRIce skating rink @ Fire Zone Elements Shopping Mall Hong Kong
Kate and I were wondering through this huge mall when we come upon this tree…
Cute tree made of many many stuffed toys!
While we were there, there was an exhibition by Olek – the crochet Queen. She’s listed as one of the top 25 artists in the world and was invited to place her crochet art at Elements. We took some of the shots…
Background to Olek the Crochet QueenCrochet House by OlekCrochet world for Thumbelina
How to get to Elements Shopping Mall Hong Kong
Map of Elements Shopping Mall Hong Kong beside Kowloon MTR
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Hong Kong cafes in Hong Kong are not what you typically see in Singapore. In Singapore, you see classy Hong Kong cafes. They have themes and are well-renovated. Prices are EXPENSIVE as well!
However in Hong Kong, Hong Kong cafes are more like a way of life. At almost every corner you turn, there’s sure to be a friendly Hong Kong cafe nearby…
A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)
So on the 2nd morning of our trip in Hong Kong, we decided to pop by a Hong Kong cafe to have a typical Hong Konger breakfast. There are a few things that we noticed when we ate at Hong Kong cafes in Hong Kong.
1. Spoilt for choice. Somehow this humble HK cafe manages to serve up MANY types of food each day. For morning, they serve the typical noodles, toast, bun sets. But if you’re game enough (for breakfast), they do serve spaghetti, chicken chop, cutlets and more. This morning, we went for the typical Hong Kong breakfast – bo luo bun, spaghetti soup, toast and milk tea (a must-have in HK)…
Bo Luo You & Milk Tea for 18 HKD ($3 SGD) at Hong Cafe Cha Chan Teng
The bo luo you (butter in bo luo bun – an oven toasted bun with mildly sweet crispy top coating) is a typical snack/breakfast mate. The milk tea is also a typical breakfast staple. But somehow, it tastes alot thicker in Hong Kong. Nicer but may be a be jerlat (too much) if you take more than 2 cups a day.
Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng Cafe Milk TeaHong Kong Cafe Char Siew Spaghetti Noodles and Ham & Eggs Sandwich
2. Old World Charm. When you enter a typical Hong Kong cafe, you will find that most exuberate a charm from yester years. Table arrangements, kitchen, waiters still reminds patrons of how it was like in the 80s to have a friendly breakfast at the local joint. Food choices may have increased in variety, but familiar tastes such as the toast, bo luo bun and of course the milk tea has “nostalgia” written all over it…
3. Fast service. Maybe a little too fast. The pace of living in Hong Kong has greatly risen in the past decade. In many restaurants, you will find that food is just meant to be energy for the body. You eat and you go. The humble Hong Kong cafe has not been able to avoid the brunt of this fast-paced development. Even in the most traditional HK cafe, waiters will circle around tables (like hyenas or vultures), swooping in when they spot an empty plate or when a patron has just finished the last sip of his milk tea. The glaring eyes of the waiters also beams on you should you so decide to enjoy your cup of coffee with the morning newspapers.
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Our very first hostel stay in Hong Kong was at the Jordan Comfort Inn. It was the peak period at the end of the year so it was quite difficult to find a cheap and good hotel. In fact, many hotels were fully booked. The next best thing was to look at hostels.
We were actually quite surprised how expensive hostels in Hong Kong can be. The hostel stay cost $112 SGD for a night. Plus it was small. How small? Approximately 8sqm, take a look…
Small bed beside the entrance to the room Attached bathroom at Jordan Comfort Inn
It was also quite difficult to locate Jordan Comfort Inn. As it turns out, there are many hostels in buildings such as the New Lucky House.
Facade of New Lucky HouseEntrance to New Lucky House
In buildings such as this, there are many many hostels. They are sub-divided into rooms and rented as hostels. Most of these rooms have no views at all. They are mostly rooms with no windows. The only view you get is outside the hostel. This was the view outside Jordan Comfort Inn…
View outside Jordan Comfort Inn
Well, the good thing is that our room had air conditioning, an attached bathroom and even a wall mounted TV. There’s also complimentary water available for top up.
But the best part of Jordan Comfort Inn is its location. Temple Street and other famous eateries are within walking distance. We also took a walk to Victoria Harbour that evening. Guess, we’re paying for the location and not the room per se. That really should be the way right? Since you are in Hong Kong, you should be spending most of your time out of your room, shopping and eating!
How to get to Jordan Comfort Inn Hong Kong
Map of Jordan Comfort Inn Hong Kong
Jordan Comfort Inn is located at New Lucky Building, a short walk from the Jordan MTR. To reach here, we took the E21 from the airport and alighted nearby. The ride itself was about an hour from the airport to Prince Edward. Just ask the friendly bus uncles and they will let you know exactly where to stop.
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The room may not be that cheap but the small room does come with an attached bathroom and TV. Hence, for an excellent location, we will recommend no-frills stay at the Jordan Comfort Inn!
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Entrance to Temple Street 庙街 Jordan, Hong KongNight Market at Temple Street
This was our first glimpse into the night markets of Hong Kong! Well, the key noticeable difference was that there was no food stalls! 😮 Yes, we were quite surprised as well! Well, for the avid shoppers, it means that there’s reduced possibility of stench on your clothes as you shop!
But for you foodies out there, no worries. At almost every corner of the streets in HK, there should be a Hong Kong cafe (茶餐厅) nearby. Near, Temple street, eateries also “expand their territories” at night by placing more chairs on the sidewalks. So you’ll still be able to get food along the roads perpendicular to Temple Street.
Bowring Street – An extension of the night markets
Temple street sells all sorts of “ling ling long long” (as Kate calls them). “Ling ling long long” usually equate to smallish cute things that usually doesnt have much practical use. Good as gifts though. When your friends receive them, they’ll be like “Awww…this is so cute! Thanks!” and places them in a drawer,somewhere at home, never to see the light of day again…(sinister laugh)
Ok, we digressed.
But still, you may be able to find gems at night markets such as this. You can get souvenirs such as shirts, umbrellas, magnets, display items etc. But a word of advice for visitors, COMPARE PRICES! We overheard one stall quoting quite an expensive price to an unsuspecting tourist! As you’ll soon find that the items/stalls repeats itself as you walk along the street, do take time to compare the various prices and snatch a good deal for yourself!
There’s also a similar market along Bowring street , perpendicular to Temple street, that you can check out as well.
As we ventured on, we started to feel peckish and we chanced upon a roast meat (烧腊) stall, along Shanghai street (an adjacent street)…
Roasted Meat Stall at Shanghai Street Hong Kong
The queue must mean something right? As with the Australian Diary Company, we saw a queue and joined it! Again, we were quite happy with what we found…
Oily Chicken and Roasted Duck RiceChar Siew Roasted Pork Rice
The greatest part about this meal is that it costs only 48HKD!! That’s inclusive of this great tasting boiled soup as well!
Soup to help neutralise any “gelatness” from the roasted meats
I think the main draw itself was the price. We noticed many old uncles coming in to have a meal and most came alone 🙁 The price was great and the portions were huge. With the soup and free drink, the deal seemed even more enticing.
The only draw back was that most of the meats were too salty. Hence, the rice to go with it. Oh, the char siew tasted great though. Sweet with a tinge of burnt roasted taste. Good part of the pork as well. Tender with a little bit of fattiness. The accompanying vege with green onions were a great condiment to the rice as well.
How to get to Temple Street 庙街 Hong Kong
Map of Temple Street 庙街 Hong Kong
Temple Street is a short walk away from Jordan MTR. If you take the exit A, it is just a short 2 minutes walk along Jordan Road.
At night, the street is easily recognisable by this long stretch of night market!
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After a relaxing walk along Temple street and a great meal at the local roasted meat stall, our first night in Hong Kong was turning out to be a great start to our HK trip!
So what was your experience like visiting the night markets at Temple Street 庙街 Hong Kong ?
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Yes, we’re also wondering why it’s called the Australian Dairy Company when IT IS ACTUALLY IN HONG KONG!! The Australian Dairy Company also known as 澳洲牛奶公司 in Chinese is sort of like a Hong Kong cafe (茶餐厅) which serves typical Hong Kong breakfast fare (think tea, toast and eggs).
Typical long queue outside Australian Dairy Company @ Jordan Hong Kong
is none other than the desserts!
What desserts to eat at Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司
To be honest, we were actually heading to Mak Man Kee (wanton noodles place at Parke street) to find out its exact location the night before so that we would easily locate it during lunch the next day. BUT, as kiasu Singaporeans, we cant help but notice a long queue outside the Australian Dairy Company.
Then we saw that it had some pictures of desserts. We just had dinner, not a bad idea to have some desserts right? Little did we know that we stumbled upon one of the best dessert stalls in Hong Kong!
After queuing for 15 minutes (surprisingly short queue that evening – picture above is the queue the next day as we headed to Mak Man Kee!), we were promptly sat down. The menu was right before us but we still took some time to figure out the Chinese words on the menu. Thankfully, the aunty who sat beside us, saw that we were struggling and ordered the 2 main favourites for us!
The famous desserts at the Australian Dairy Company are the steamed egg white milk pudding (蛋白炖鲜奶) as well as the steamed almond egg pudding (杏汁炖蛋)…
Steamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong KongSteamed Egg white with fresh milk at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong (蛋白炖鲜奶)
The steamed egg white milk pudding (蛋白炖鲜奶) was shiok! I really think Hong Kongers are foodie genius! Would you have thought of combining egg white , milk and STEAM it?! I know I wouldnt. Yet the result is OH SO DELICIOUS!
The texture was soft and when it enters your mouth, it just melts and spreads. Ah… The taste was rich, flavourful and not too sweet. You can actually taste the egg white and milk all at the same time! Just so yummilicious!
The steamed almond egg pudding on the other hand had a stronger taste of the egg yolk. Again, from the business sense, the creation is a work of genius. You use the white and yolk separately. Create 2 desserts and have no wastage. Genius!
However, we liked the yellow less (not to be confused with yellow yellow – aka durian in the southeast asia region) and the white much more. The yellow had an overpowering yolk taste. For fans of egg yolk, this would be a favourite. But for Kate and I? Well…let’s just say that we managed to finish it.
Just one last comment, like most Hong Kong Cafe, the waiters act fast! So dont expect to leisurely enjoy your desserts cause they’ll be eyeing your bowl every step of the way! Once you’re done, you’re outta here!
How to get to Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 Hong Kong
Map of Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 , Jordan Hong Kong
The Australian Dairy Company is located at 47-49 Parke Street. If you alight from the Jordan MTR, it is just a short 2 minutes walk away via exit C2. Once at Parke Street, you wont miss the long queue there.
Oh, there could be 2 long queues at Parke Street, the other at Mak Mun Kee. But you definitely wont miss it!
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If you take a look at this map of Hong Kong, Tung Chung is located at the lower left side of the map and is really close to the Hong Kong International Airport! This is why, Kate arranged for Citygate Outlets to be our first stop in Hong Kong!
Shopping galore at Citygate Outlets Hong Kong!
Citygate Outlets is home to more than 80 international brands that offers 30% to 70% discounts all year round! What’s more, it is also a family friendly destination with restaurants, an outdoor fountain and even a cinema!
Initially, we thought that the sales must be “so-so” but as we continued to shop, we realised that some of the prices are much better than the country it originated from. But do note that if the prices are good, more likely than not, they would be off-season products.
But hey, if it’s cheap, just buy lah :p (Yes, Kate bought quite a bit)
After all that shopping, you will most certainly be HUNGRY! There is a food court (Food Republic) located at level 2 where you can try some of the Hong Kong delicacies. However, do note that the prices are not exactly cheap and the quality is not like those in the city. Still, it gives you the energy to shop more right?
So our first wanton noodle from Hong Kong was from Citygate Outlets!
Wanton mee and porridge from this stall at Food Republic Citygate OutletsPork and Pork Stomach Congee with Fried Dough Stick (44HKD!!!)Dumpling Noodles with many dumplings (42hkd) at Citygate Outlets Tung Chung
The noodles were quite normal but we were pleasantly surprised by the “shrimp only” wanton, which we later came to realise is a normal part of Hong Kong dumplings. The congee on the other hand was plain and bland – DONT BUY!
How to get to Citygate Outlets Tung Chung
Map of Citygate Outlets , Tung Chung Hong Kong
It is really quite simple to get to Citygate Outlets Tung Chung from the Hong Kong International Airport. All you have to do is
1. Purchase your Octopus card (150HKD with 100HKD value and 50HKD deposit)
2. Take E21 (costs 14HKD) , S1 or S64. Bus ride takes about 15 minutes.
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Orchard Road is Singapore’s premier shopping belt and like most of the shopping districts in the world (think Champ Elysees in Paris, Oxford street in UK and Nathan Road in Hongkong), Orchard Road is a 2.3km shopping belt that caters to the needs of all shoppers from the high end (at Paragon) to the trendy teens (at Far East).
If you’re travelling to Singapore, Orchard Road is definitely a place you must visit!
Map of Orchard Road – Singapore’s Shopping Belt
The whole Orchard Road stretch actually starts from Forum (or Orchard Adelphi) all the way to Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) on the other end (together with Cathay movie theatres). However, as Plaza Singapura is sort of de-linked from the rest of Orchard Road (hopefully the whole Orchard Road gets linked up with sheltered walkways in the future), therefore we started our walk down Orchard from Orchard Central.
Orchard Central @ Orchard Road Singapore
Opened in 2009, Orchard Central is the tallest shopping centre along Orchard Road. Although shopping has not really picked up since its opening days, it has carved a niche for itself in the wellness (many beauty salons and hair salons there) as well as the F&B arenas with many choices of restaurants there.
Centrepoint Orchard Road
On the opposite side of the road, you will see Centrepoint. The anchor store here is Robinsons (watch out for the Robinson Sales) as well as the Cold Storage Supermarket.
Orchard Road – 313 Somerset
313 Somerset (right at the doorsteps of Somerset MRT) is one of the busiest shopping centres in the whole of Orchard Road. It boasts of all brands that appeal to the masses (like Zara, Forever 21 etc) and excellent accessibility to the Somerset MRT station.
Orchard Road Singapore – Mandarin Gallery
Mandarin Gallery is a high end shopping mall beneath the Meritus Mandarin hotel. It boasts of high end brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs & Emporio Armani. Singapore’s world renowned fashion designer Ashley Isham also has a boutique of the same name there. Many teens also flock to Antoinette – a boutique cafe, to enjoy their pastries and cakes!
Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza Orchard Road Singapore
Ngee Ann City or better known locals as Taka (short for Takashimaya, the anchor shopping tenant) has always been the iconic landmark of Orchard Road. It has a good mix of shops catering to the needs of the well-heeled as well as the masses. Plus, many activities takes place at the open area – Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, such as the annual Subaru Challenge.
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
Wisma Atria has always been considered a “sister” shopping centre to Ngee Ann City because of the link that connects both shopping centres. Traffic would flow from Ngee Ann City to Wisma Atria and vice versa. Recently revamped, Wisma caters to a similar crowd as that of Ngee Ann City.
Ion Orchard – Singapore’s most iconic shopping centre
Ion Orchard is definitely Singapore’s most iconic shopping centre (Vivo City comes in a close 2nd). Like Ngee Ann City, it boasts of all the top brands and caters to the needs of all shoppers. With it’s excellent location (connecting to Orchard Road MRT Station), Ion Orchard is also one of the busiest shopping malls in Orchard Road. The next time you visit Ion Orchard, see if you notice this trend. The more affordable shops are actually located beneath the surface (B1 and below) while the expensive and high ends shops are above the surface…
Far East Plaza
Far East Plaza is one of the top spots for teens and young adults to shop at because of its B1 shops that offers chic fashion at reasonable prices.
Other notable shopping malls include Tangs, Scotts Square and Wheelock Place…
View from Deluxe Room of Singapore Marriott Tangs Plaza Hotel
Wheelock Place
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation Full Review
Tangs
Village Hotel Changi was our base from which we did our staycation and explored the various attractions in Changi! From here you will be able to explore the rural island of Pulau Ubin and its natural marine bio-diversity at Chek Jawa. Village Hotel Changi also allows you to check out the various attractions in Changi such as Changi Village, Changi Boardwalk, the Changi Museum, Changi Beach as well as the famous Changi Village Food Centre!
Village Hotel Changi itself provided rooms (with sea views!), great facilities and excellent service as well!
Before checking in, we decided to start the day early and have breakfast at Changi Village before heading to Pulau Ubin for our day trip…
Why do a Staycation at Village Hotel Changi?
1. Breakfast at Changi Village
Buffet Breakfast at Village Hotel ChangiPrata Breakfast at Changi Village
There are several stalls that offer great breakfast options in Changi Village, just check out the size of that murtabak! We also caught a “live” match of the confederations cup between Nigeria and Uruguay. Goals with breakfast. Cool!
2. Day trip to Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa
Pulau Ubin Day TripPulau Ubin JettyPulau Ubin Directional SignPulau UbinPulau Ubin Board WalkPulau Ubin Monkeys
Village Hotel Changi offers a great base for a day trip to Pulau Ubin because of its close proximity to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal (just a 3 minutes walk away). From there, you can take a ferry to Pulau Ubin at a cost of $2.5 per person per trip – only 10 minutes away from mainland Singapore.
At Pulau Ubin, we checked out the kampung community, trekked, explored Chek Jawa and even saw some native inhabitants of the island – monkeys, wild boars and monitor lizards! :p
3. Amenities at Village Hotel Changi
Check in time at Village Hotel Changi was 12pm. Though we were a little early, the staff at the reception quickly made arrangements to ensure that our room was ready. All the while maintaining professional service and smiles all round. We also got the coupon for our car. At the same time, we were specially reminded to place the ticket in before the cash card upon exit of the carpark. Special thanks to Zaw and Habibah for making our check-in a smooth and effortless one 🙂 As I was checking in, Kate went about the lobby of Village Hotel Changi to take some photos…
Village Hotel Changi Staycation SingaporeVillage Hotel Changi LobbyVillage Hotel Changi Lift LobbyVillage Hotel Changi Reception (Custom)Village Hotel Changi offers daily bus transfers to Changi AirportVillage Hotel Changi offers daily bus transfers to Changi AirportVillage Hotel Changi – La Cantina Italian RestaurantVillage Hotel Changi – Chou Bei Japanese RestaurantKoi Pond at level 6 of Village Hotel Changi – feeding available at $2 SGDExecutive Club Room with attached balcony, bathroom and sea view at Village Hotel Changi!Executive Club Room InteriorExecutive Club Room Balcony
While you’re here at the Village Hotel Changi, we would advise you to upgrade to the Executive Club Room. This is because, you will be able to stay on the executive floor, enjoy food and drinks at the executive lounge (which we’ll talk about later) PLUS, rooms with an attached balcony, overlooking the sea! All day sea view!
Kate commented that the balcony & sea view resembled our cruises. If you lie down, seeing the sea, you’d have a feel as though you’re on a cruise! The other cool thing about the room is that there’s a glass window from the bathroom where you can have great sea views while enjoying the bath. Great for couples 🙂
A recommendation would be to add a mirror on top of the shower point so that when you lie down in the bath tub, you can still watch TV from the bathroom!
As it was Tom’s birthday, a cake was also specially delivered to our room after we checked out our room. A huge chocolate mousse cake. A nice gesture from the hotel! Needless to say, the bed was SUPER COMFY! After turning in, the next moment I opened my eyes, it was already morning! Greetings from the blue waters of the sea also made the rest in the room, extra special.
Privileges of the Executive Club Lounge of Village Hotel Changi
Executive Lounge of Village Hotel Changi Alcohol SelectionExecutive Lounge of Village Hotel Changi Coffee and DrinksExecutive Lounge of Village Hotel Changi Food
We were saying earlier that you will have to upgrade to the executive club room for a staycation at Village Hotel Changi. This is because, for most parts of the day, you will be able to enjoy drinks (orange,apple,guava,milk,soda,ginger beer,water,coffee and tea) as well as snacks (nuts,cookies,fruits). Free flow! Haha, the real Singaporean…
In addition, from 6pm to 8pm daily, there’s a cocktail session at the executive lounge!
At the cocktail, you will be able to enjoy beers (Tiger,VB,Foster’s), red wine, white wine and champagne. There are also classy tapas such as the seafood croquette, smoked salmon and a local delight – satay (barbecued meat on a stick). Yes, drinks are free-flow! (True Singaporean once again) So if you add the privileges, it is actually worth more than the price of upgrade ($50++). You can treat the cocktail as a meal, saving on a meal altogether. From our perspective, this is quite a good deal 🙂
For a staycation to be an excellent one, the swimming pool must come up tops! You wont believe this but THERE ARE 2 SWIMMING POOLS AT VILLAGE HOTEL CHANGI!
Village Hotel Changi Staycation Rooftop PoolVillage Hotel Changi Staycation Swimming PoolVillage Hotel Changi Staycation Gym
The first swimming pool is at level 1, beside the Saltwater Cafe. The cool thing about this pool is that it is like a fish tank! Plus, there’s a bar beside the pool for you to enjoy a drink immersing in the idyllic atmosphere. We were told that the swimming pool, located at level 8 is modelled after the infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands. There’s a jacuzzi at the infinity pool as well. The best part of the infinity pool is that you can lie on an elevated platform overlooking ocean views and Pulau Ubin! Kate said I looked like a beached whale…*sob sob* :p
Breakfast at Village Hotel Changi
Buffet Breakfast at Village Hotel ChangiBuffet Breakfast at Village Hotel Changi 3Buffet Breakfast at Village Hotel Changi 2
The breakfast at Village Hotel Changi serves up a typical hotel buffet, serving cereals and breads as well as local delights such as nasi lemak and buns. Food was simple but the service was great! We were promptly seated down at a seat overlooking the pool and asked if we would like coffee or tea for our breakfast. We gently declined, preferring it at the end of our meal (so that it remained hot). Along the way, plates were cleared promptly with a huge smile. At the end of our breakfast, when we finally overturned our coffee cups, we were promptly served our coffee and tea! We then proceeded up to the executive lounge to continue with more gourmet coffee, waffles and my daily dosage of the newspapers. Sometimes, its really nice just to enjoy a cuppa, take in the morning sunlight with crisp morning papers in hand. Simple and nice. 🙂
4. Changi Village Food Centre
Changi Village Hawker Centre 2020
Changi Village Food Centre is just a stone’s throw away (almost literally!) from Village Hotel Changi! It is a famous spot for excellent local fare in Singapore. Check out our post about the nasi lemak, longan red tea pudding as well as the crispy chicken chop ipoh hor fun! Hungry already!
Staycation at the Village Hotel Changi Singapore
For a quick summary, here’s why we think you should try out a staycation at the Village Hotel Changi!
1. Enjoy Village Hotel Changi’s facilities and Club Lounge facilities. 2 swimming pools! Great for the kids and couples for a staycation.
2. Changi Village. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the board walk, go bar-hopping or try out the various eateries there.
3. Changi Village Food Centre. One of the best hawker joints in Singapore
4. Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa. Rediscover Singapore’s gem and its rural beauty!
There are also other attractions such as the Changi Museum and Changi Beach that you can check out as well! Having a staycation at the Village Hotel Changi, offers you a great place to start exploring our gems of the east!
How to get to Village Hotel Changi
Take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. The bus ride stops outside Village Hotel Changi. Alternatively, you can drive there as parking is complimentary.
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Village Hotel Changi Staycation
Enjoy your staycation at Village Hotel Changi and rediscover the idyllic gems of Singapore right here!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Far East Hospitality for making this staycation possible!
What’s there to eat at Changi Village Food Centre?
Nasi Lemak and Longan Red Tea Pudding at Changi Village Food Centre
There are many Nasi Lemak stalls at the Changi Village Food Centre and we came upon the international muslim food stall’s nasi lemak because of its long queue! Long queues equal good food right? So we joined to find out. The wait was only slightly more than 5 minutes and we ordered the fried chicken set. The price was quite steep at $3.50. In terms of quantity, you get an additional piece of drumlet. The chicken was excellent! Crispy on the outside and tender yet juicy on the inside. Im actually salivating as I write this! The rice and chili was quite common. Hence, overall, we’re not really sure if it’s worth $3.5. If it was $2.5, even with 1 less drumlet, we’d definitely recommend it.
Next, we tried the Longan Red Tea Pudding. Yet another famous dessert you must try at the Changi Village Food Centre. Again for $2 bucks, it was a little expensive. But we do recommend it. The taste of red tea in the form of a pudding/jelly was indeed refreshing. Coupled with the evaporated milk, it presented a different form of milk tea altogether!
Battle of the Chicken Chop Ipoh Hor Fun at Changi Village Hawker Centre
Located right in the middle of the hawker centre, there are 2 stalls that sells the delectable chicken chop Ipoh Hor Fun. If you do not notice carefully, you would think that the 2 stalls are one and the same since the signs on the stalls are very very similar. However, we asked the uncle of stall 1 and he said
“No, we are opposition. It is like Samsung, you have and I have.”
There you have it. Since they are “opposition”, we’ve got to settle this dispute right? For Kate, she thoroughly enjoyed stall 1. Actually, stall 1’s chicken resembled that of the taiwanese fried chicken. However, I tell you (overwriting Kate’s recommendation), Amigo’s Chicken Chop Hor Fun is definitely better. Firstly, you see the amount of chicken, it has almost double the amount for the same price of $3.50. Secondly, the chilli is spicy, sweet and aromatic. Thirdly, the chicken itself was crispy, flavourful, chunky and juicy. Last but not least, there was a queue of young army boys there!
So Amigo’s chicken chop ipoh hor fun comes out top in this battle!
Yup, it’s the left one!
Other foods in the vicinity
Mutton Murtabak, Egg and Plain Prata at Changi Village
The total price of the mutton murtabak, egg prata, plain prata and iced coffee was only $10. Have you seen the size of this generous mutton murtabak? The prata and murtabak were all CRISPY!!! The curry was rich, bursting with meaty flavours. A little spicy but it perfectly complemented the crispy and fresh pratas. Yummilicious!
How to get to Changi Village Food Centre
To get to Changi Village Food Centre, you will have to first take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. After a long bus ride, you will reach Changi Village Hawker Centre. However, to avoid all the travelling, why not consider a staycation at Village Hotel Changi? It is just a 3 minutes walk to the food centre and there you can enjoy all the great Singaporean Hawker foods that this famous food centre has to offer!
Pulau Ubin is one of the few remaining rural places in Singapore and is home to some Singaporeans who still live in Kampungs (village in Malay). Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is located to the northwest of mainland Singapore and is one of the places that Kate has not visited before. Since it was Tom’s birthday, Kate decided to arrange a trip that includes a visit to Chek Jawa as well! Unfortunately, we visited Pulau Ubin on the worst day ever in Singapore’s history – the day that the haze hit 400PSI! (Ta ta ta! – eerie background music)
Changi Point Ferry TerminalAround Changi Point Ferry Terminal
To get to Pulau Ubin, you will have to take a ferry from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. The ferry ride from main land Singapore to Pulau Ubin takes about 10 minutes and costs $2.50 per person per trip. So it is $5 for a return trip per person.
Bumboat to Pulau UbinWaiting Area for Bumboat to Pulau UbinCaptain of our Ferry to Pulau Ubin from Changi Point Ferry TerminalFerry to Pulau Ubin from Changi Point Ferry Terminal
The catch is, THERE IS NO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE! You will have to wait patiently on one of these benches (see Uncle sitting on the bench?) and wait for 12 people to take the ferry together. I think we were relatively unlucky because we waited for an hour from 8 to 9am. Apparently, we just missed the ferry when we reached at 8am – but the prata / murtabak breakfast was really worth it (this we will discuss in the next post). Heh. Alternatively, you may wish to “book the entire ferry” by paying $30 for a single trip to Pulau Ubin.
Since we visited Pulau Ubin on the day the PSI hit 400, the ferry ride to Pulau Ubin was “exceptionally exciting”! Did you notice the visibility from the ferry in video? Almost ZERO! AND…the uncle was steering “hands-free” sometimes and drinking water with both hands, making the ferry ride more “thrilling” than it ought to be…
Well, actually Uncle’s steering was quite good and we had a smooth experience coming alongside Ubin. Soon we reached the entrance to Pulau Ubin!
Things to do at Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin Day TripPulau UbinMap of Pulau Ubin
After passing through the entrance and making a left turn, you will come upon the kampung itself. From the shops along the street, you can see that time has actually stopped in the 1970s – one of the beauties of this island. Most of these shops are bicycles shops or eateries.
It is also very easy to navigate Pulau Ubin. In fact, there are brown signs like these showing the directions/distances to the various attractions on the island.
Pulau Ubin Directional Sign
There are 3 main modes of transport on the island of Pulau Ubin.
The van is the fastest and costs $2 per person per ride. Bicycles costs $3 (and up) and is the most well-loved manner of exploring the island. The last mode…WALK! And walk we did to Chek Jawa, all 3.3 kilometres of it! Yes, the distance to walk from Pulau Ubin jetty to Chek Jawa mangrove/coastal board walk is 3.3km!
Nature on Pulau UbinOld Quarry of Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin was an island where quarrying and mining of granite used to be the main stay. Along the way, mining ceased but the quarry sites became lakes (quarry lakes) which you see today (bottom right hand corner of picture above).
What to see at Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa
After walking for about 40 minutes, we finally came to the entrance to Chek Jawa’s board walks. However, there were WILD BOARS at the entrance to the mangrove board walk! According to the safety caution sign for wild boars, you will just have to walk slowly, not have any sudden movements as you cross them. However, since Kate was afraid of the wild boars, we avoided the board walks at first and visited the Chek Jawa visitor centre…
Chek Jawa Visitor CentreAbout Chek Jawa Visitor Centre
Map of Chek Jawa Wetlands
The Chek Jawa Visitor Centre is located inside “House No. 1” – a beach front holiday house of a former government official during the colonial era. Inside, you’ll be introduced to the history of Chek Jawa as well as the rich bio-diversity that it offers. The visitor centre is also connected to the viewing jetty. On a clear day, you can enjoy great views of Chek Jawa as well!
As we stepped out of “House No. 1”, a baby wild boar spotted us and scampered away really quickly into the bushes! We were just as startled as it was! Then we noticed its family blocking our path back to the mangrove boardwalk! Hence, Kate closed her eyes and hugged close to me while I led her slowly and calmly past the wild boars!
Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove BoardwalkPulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove Boardwalk Tower
As you enter the board walk, you will notice a really tall tower. You can ascend it and enjoy cool sea views. But the climb itself is quite tiring and the tower sways a little. And if you are afraid of heights, we advise you not to do the climb because you can see through the steps to the ground level…scary sia…
Pulau Ubin Board WalkPulau Ubin Monkeys
As you walk along the boardwalk of Chek Jawa, you will be able to see the marine bio-diversity that it offers. Of course, the best time would be to visit during the low-tide where you can see hermit crabs, star fish and many other marine life forms! Unfortunately, we visited when it was high tide. However, we did catch several schools of fish of different species. LOTS OF THEM!
After visiting Chek Jawa, we began to walk back to the Ubin jetty. Guess what?! We saw monkeys and monitor lizards along the way! Hence, on this first visit for Kate, she saw all 3 natives of the island of Pulau Ubin – wild boars, monkeys and monitor lizards!
How to get to Pulau Ubin
To get to Pulau Ubin, you will have to first take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. After a long bus ride, you will reach Changi Point Ferry Terminal where you can take a ferry ride to Pulau Ubin for $2.5 per person per trip. However, to avoid all the travelling, why not consider a staycation at Village Hotel Changi? It is just a 3 minutes walk to the ferry terminal and you can enjoy all the facilities that the hotel offers! 2 swimming pools at that!
There are actually so many things to do in Singapore! There are major attractions you can visit, shopping, food, heritage and so much more! As Singaporeans, it is only right for us to introduce what Singapore has to offer and so we decided to create a list of the top 101 things to do and attractions in Singapore! As a Singapore Travel Blog, it is our pleasure to bring you the 101 things to do in Singapore! This post is likely to be our longest post ever!
Sentosa is a major tourist attraction in Singapore. It offers one of Singapore’s most beautiful beaches (at Siloso, Tanjong and Palawan Beach), fun activities, food, Singapore’s major attractions and even a Singapore staycation options for Singaporeans! So the things to do at Sentosa includes
1. Merlion. The merlion is a mystical animal of a cross between a mermaid and the lion. Word has it that a Palembang Prince, Sang Nila Utama spotted a tiger but mistook it for a lion and named the city “Singapura” aka “Lion City”. That is why our soccer team is today knowned as “the Lions”. But back to the merlion, it looks pretty much like this…
This merlion at Sentosa is the largest merlion in Singapore (The one that spurts water is at Marina Bay) and you can ascend it as well.
Merlion Sentosa Singapore
2. Universal Studios Singapore. Universal Studios Singapore is by itself a major attraction in Singapore. Located at the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Universal Studios Singapore boasts of rides, shows and activities for the entire family (get up close with Shrek!). There is even “Transformers the Ride : Ultimate 3D Battle” exclusive to Universal Studios Singapore.
3. Tiger Sky Tower. Ascend to the top of the Tiger Sky Tower and enjoy panoramic views of Sentosa, the ocean views and even the Singapore City skyline!
4. Fort Siloso. Learn about the history of Singapore and how the guns at Siloso were used to defend the city during World War 2. There is also a series of wax displays including this infamous replica of the photo taken during the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese during WW2…
5. Images of Singapore. Images of Singapore is a museum that depicts the history of Singapore from simple days (pre-modern era) to the modern Singapore as we know today.
6. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. Fans of beautiful butterflies? Then come close to these lovely creatures and other interesting insects at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom!
7. Segway Eco Adventure. If you have not tried the Segway (think “Paul Blart : Mall Cop”), Sentosa offers you an opportunity to learn to handle this transportation tool and even letting you try to scale and descend some terrains (with guides of course). Once you’re comfortable, you can also opt to go on a tour of the island on the Segway!
8. Luge and Sky Ride. Feel a little need for speed? The Luge allows you travel at high speeds down the slopes! You can race a friend or just enjoy a leisurely descent through this 1.2km track. To ascend to the top of the track, you can also take the Sky Ride where you can enjoy views of the island (and maybe some thrills if you’re a little scared of heights).
9. 4D Magix. 4D is actually an expression of 3D images + physical experience of movement and/or effects. At 4D magix, you can enjoy movies, a 4D ride or even a 4D shooting game. Desperados (a 4D shooting game) is not as easy as it seems!!
10. Wavehouse Surfing.Surf’s up at the Wavehouse in Sentosa Island! Here you can ride the waves up to 10 foot in height!
11. Sentosa Beaches. Singapore is not known for its beaches and the best beaches in Singapore are at Sentosa. Siloso, Tanjong and Palawan are the major beaches with fine (man-made we suppose) sands that are suitable for chilling out or even beach activities such as volleyball, frisbee or soccer!
Beautiful day at Palawan Beach Sentosa
Enjoy a leisurely stroll down the beach or if you’re a real beach bum, you can take the beach tram to save some time (and effort)!
12. Ifly Singapore. Take flight at the world’s longest wind tunnel. The wind tunnel is used to simulate the “flying effect”, somewhat like a jump off a plane before you pull the parachute. Classes are also available for the kids. Some of them are really really pro!
13. Staycation in Sentosa. One of the many things to do in Singapore is to do a staycation in Singapore. Where else than the iconic Sentosa? Kate and I have enjoyed 2 staycations at Sentosa and we totally enjoyed ourselves! Our stays at Hard Rock Hotel as well as the Amara Sanctuary Resort were staycations that were really memorable. Take a look at the pool at Hard Rock Hotel!
Staycation at the Deluxe Pool View room of Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa
Pool of Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa
14. Marine Life Park and Adventure Cove Water Park. The latest addition to Resorts World Sentosa, the Marine Life Park (world’s largest oceanarium) and Adventure Cove Water Park are major attractions in their own rights. The S.E.A Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium as accredited by Guinness World Records with more than 100,000 marine life across 49 habitats! The Adventure Cove Water Park offers endless splashing fun with thrilling slides, relaxing lazy river and you can even experience a close encounter with rays.
15. Many other attractions in Sentosa! There are many many many other attractions in Sentosa such as the Maritime Experential Museum, Underwater World, Megazip Adventure, Flying Trapeze, Nature Discovery, Cable Car Ride, Malaysian Food Street Songs of the Sea and much much more!
Besides Sentosa, there are several major attractions in Singapore that you MUST VISIT!! This section will cover our favourite ones 🙂
Marina Bay
16. As one of the top things to do in Singapore, chinMarina Bay Sands.MBS is one of the most iconic structures in Singapore with its shape like a vessel on top of the 3 curved supporting structure. At the top of MBS is the Marina Bay Sands Sky Park. From here you can enjoy views of the Singapore city sky line as well as the Marina Bay region…
Close up view of Marina Bay Sands
17. Singapore Flyer. Singapore Flyer is currently the world’s largest observation wheel. The ride takes approximately 30 minutes and at the highest point, you can enjoy great views of the Marina Bay as well as other attractions in the area…
Singapore Flyer – The World’s Largest Giant Observation Wheel
18. Art Science Museum. The Art Science Museum is an iconic lotus shaped (to us, it’s really a hand) structure that features famous exhibitions from across the world such as Titanic, Harry Potter and Van Gogh.
19. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The Esplanade is yet another iconic structure in the Marina Bay Area. Affectionately known as “Durian” to the locals (cause they are shaped like durians dont they?), the Esplanade http://www.esplanade.com/index.jspis a performing arts avenue where we have caught several live performances and even the Phantom of the Opera!
View of Marina Bay and Esplanade from Lavo Italian Rooftop RestaurantFree Performances at the Esplanade
20. Marina Bay Merlion. This merlion at the Marina Bay is probably the most visited of all the merlions in Singapore. Yup, simply because it is easily accessible, free and spurts water! :p
Merlion @ Marina Bay
Singapore’s Tourism Icon – The Merlion
21. Marina Barrage. As part of Singapore’s strategy to control flood and to set up another water catchment area, the Marina Barrage was set up at the mouth of the Marina Bay. Besides these function, the Marina Barrage also offers a venue for locals to enjoy activities such as kayaking and kite flying. Events are also often held at the Barrage. The Barrage is also our favourite picnic site to enjoy views of the Marina Bay Sands!
Sunset @ Marina Barrage
22. Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is a major accomplishment by Singapore to have a garden right in the heart of the city! At Gardens by the Bay, there is the indoor Flower Dome and Cloud Forest gardens as well as the iconic Supertrees with its light displays in the evening. The OCBC Skyway at the Supertree grove offers visitors panoramic views of the gardens.
Iconic Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay with Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop
23. Duck Tours River Cruise along Singapore River. To cover all the attractions at the Marina Bay, you can take a leisurely cruise along the Singapore River. The cruise along the Singapore River can take you to other attractions such as Clarke Quay and Boat Quay as well!
24. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are favourite night spots for locals and foreigners alike. With the Singapore River as the backdrop, evenings come alive with bustling dining outlets, pubs and live performances. A firm favourite with the night owls!
2bearbear at Ni Pang Zi Grilled Fish Boat Quay
25. Raffles Hotel Singapore A short walk away towards Raffles City, you will find the iconic Raffles Hotel. The hotel is the oldest in Singapore and has its roots closely linked to Singapore’s history. This exclusive hotel is where foreign dignitaries, celebrities and famous people stay (Think Prince William, Queen of England, Jackie Chan and Michael Jackson). You will also see the famous Sikh doorman at the main lobby of Raffles hotel as well!
Zoos and Bird Park in Singapore
Although Singapore is small, we have some of the best animal conservatories in the world. If you have only time for one paid attractions, this Singapore Travel Blog recommends the Singapore Zoo…
26. Singapore Zoo. After visiting several zoos across the world, we still think that the Singapore Zoo is one of the best around. Not only does it have animals from various parts of the world, there are shows and activities for the entire family. One of the best things we like about the Singapore Zoo is that there are snippets of information sprinkled all around the zoo for the kids to learn.
Singapore Zoo Entrance
27. Night Safari. Can you believe that the world’s first night safari is located here in Singapore? The night safari comes alive when the sun goes down and the nocturnal animals come out to play. Some of the animals are even allowed to come close to you. So expect a little excitement at the Night Safari in Singapore!
28. River Safari. River Safari is the latest addition to the conservatories in Singapore. Inspired by the 8 most iconic rivers in the world, visitors will be able to see animals from the Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray, Mekong, Yangtze and Amazon Rivers. In addition, the Giant Panda forest is also home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia – a pair of pandas from China.
River Safari Singapore Zoo
29. Jurong Bird Park. The Jurong Bird Park is definitely one of the best aviaries in the world. More than 5000 birds and over 350 species can be found here. There is even a 30m high waterfall to re-create an environment for the bird species. Bird shows are also interesting with birds flying over you at close proximity!
Singapore’s Culture & Heritage
The Singapore culture is an amalgamation of different cultures in our society. When Singapore was founded, different enclaves were formed according to the various races then. Today, these enclaves are part of our national identity and you can visit them to find out more about Singapore’s history!
30. Chinatown. Another top things to do in Singapore is to visit Chinatown. staycatiChinatown was an area where Chinese gathered in the past. It also has an alternate name – Cow-driven Water Cart (牛车水). This is because, in the past, water was delivered from house to house in a cow-driven water cart. Today, Chinatown still has Chinese-inspired buildings from times past and alot of shopping and eateries have sprouted, bringing new life to the area. Chinatown is right at the doorstep of the Chinatown MRT station.
Chinatown with Chinese New Year decorations
31. Kampong Glam. Kampong Glam is a ethnic quarter to experience the hospitality of the Malay people. As you enter the quarter, you will notice that the area still has the feel of the olden days while shopping and eating options are aplenty. Kampong Glam is a short walk from Bugis MRT station.
32. Little India. Another enclave not to be missed is Little India. Located at the Little India MRT (Serangoon Road), you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Indian community. Enjoy Indian specialties such as the prata, thosai and various curries.
Little India Singapore’s Cultural Heritage
33. Mustafa Shopping Centre. For reasonable 24 hour shopping, head down to Mustafa Shopping Centre at the other end of Little India. Mustafa is really like a Singapore equivalent of Wal-mart but it opens 24 hours a day. For last minute no-frills shopping, look no further than Mustafa (even at 3am in the morning!)
34. Peranakan Culture. Rich Chinese traders in the past descended upon Singapore from the Malay archipelago and inter-married with the locals in Singapore. Their culture is a rich mix of Chinese and Malay cultures. Today, Peranakan plays an important part in Singapore’s culture and is typically well-known for nonya cuisines. You can visit the Peranakan culture in the Katong, Joo Chiat area and also follow the Peranakan heritage trail.
35. Eurasian Culture. Though the Eurasians have a small population in Singapore but they have let a huge mark. For more information about the history and contribution of the Eurasians to Singapore, visit the European community house at 139 Ceylon Road.
36. Singapore Botanic Gardens The Singapore Botanic Garden is the biggest park and gardens in Singapore and it boasts of many species of plants suitable for growth in the tropical climate. The iconic features will include the gazebo, swan lake, a performance arena, HUGE trees as well as a tree with its lowest branch almost touching the ground – a site where many couples take their wedding shots!
Morning walk to Botanical Gardens from Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Museums in Singapore
The National Heritage Board has been working hard to promote museums in recent years. During certain festivals or major holidays, the museums may have FREE ENTRY! Over the years, the free entries has started an appreciation for the arts in Singapore.
37. National Museum of Singapore. If you only have time for 1 museum, VISIT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE! You can see resident exhibitions such as the national treasures of gold ornaments from the 14th century as well as Singapore History sections. The museum opened in 1887 and is also a national monument itself. We thoroughly enjoyed the Singapore History section and it brought back memories of things when we were younger. The exhibits also shows how Singapore grew from a small fishing village to a modern, first world country that it is today.
National Museum of Singapore
38. Asian Civilisations Museum The Asian Civilisations Museum partners with museums from all over the world to show case exhibits primarily in 4 zones including China, India, Southeast Asia and the Islamic world.
39. Singapore Art Museum. The Singapore Art Museum houses and preserves modern contemporary art from Singapore and Southeast Asia.
40. Peranakan Museum. The Peranakan museum is a very interesting museum that showcases the Peranakan culture and cuisine. You will be able to learn more about their customs, their way of life, what they wear and how they lived in the past.
41. Singapore Philatelic Museum. Remember those first day covers that you collected as a child? THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM HERE! You can see all the various kinds of stamps from different genres and even limited editions as well! Stamp fans will definitely go crazy here!
42. Reflections at Bukit Chandu. Reflections at Bukit Chandu recounts the last major battle during World War 2 where the Malay Regiment put up a heroic fight against the Japanese at the Battle of Pasir Panjang.
43. Memories at Old Ford Factory. The Old Ford Factory was where the British (Gen Percival) surrendered to the Japanese (General Yamashita) during World War 2. The exhibitions has first hand accounts of the occupation up to the surrender of the Japanese forces in 1945.
Shopping in Singapore
Besides eating, Singaporeans’ favourite past time is SHOPPING! There are no lack of shopping options here in Singapore and we introduce a few to you here!
44. Orchard Road Shopping Belt. If you ask anyone in the streets, where to shop in Singapore, Orchard Road would definitely be the first place that comes to mind. At Orchard, you can find all kinds of goods from luxury to the trendy. It is like Singapore’s own version of Champs Elysees (of Paris) and Oxford Street (of London).
45. Shopping at Marina / Raffles City. Another favourite place to shop is the Marina / City Hall area. This is because, once you step out of the City Hall MRT station, you can either visit Raffles City Shopping Mall, or take a walk along Citylink mall where there are further shopping options. Citylink mall can then take you to Marina Square or Esplanade (MORE SHOPPING OPTIONS!). Finally from Marina Square you can take a short walk across the road to, yes you’ve guessed it, Marina Bay Sands!
46. VivoCity. VivoCity is a mid-range shopping centre where you can get pretty much everything. There’s even a cinema and hyper mart to complete the entire shopping experience. Located outside Sentosa island, it can be reached via the Harbour Front MRT station. From there, you can take a short walk across the board walk to reach Sentosa. Entry via the board walk is only $1!
47. Bugis. For shopping options for the young and trendy, head on down to Bugis street. Here you will find a wide selection of merchandise at competitive prices. If you have had enough of street shopping, Bugis junction and Bugis plus is just a stone’s throw away!
48. IT Shopping. For all your IT shopping needs, head on down to Funan the IT mall or Sim Lim Square. Funan is a reputable shopping mall where you will get IT products at relatively good prices. Sim Lim is more like a consolidation of small computer/IT-related shops and prices are usually lower simply because you never know where the items come from…But still, if you’re looking to build your own computer or replace certain parts like ram, hard disk etc. This is the place to be.
49. Souvenir Shopping. If you want shirts that says “My friend went to Singapore and got me this stupid shirt” OR “Singapore is a FINE City”, this is the place to be. You will be able to find magnets, fans, shirts and many many more at competitive prices. A good place to shop for souvenirs for your friends before you head home! Oh, while you’re there, you may consider taking up some snacks such as bak kwa (BBQ pork) or pastries for your friends as well. 🙂
50. Singapore Expo. The Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre is another great place to shop when sales are on. From time to time, you may have sales ranging from sporting products to furniture to children products and even foods! Be sure to check out whats on during the weekend that you’re here!
Food in Singapore
Singapore’s favourite national past time is FOOD!! Did you know that Singaporeans spends the highest per person (on average) for food in the world?! This section will introduce you to the various kinds of food that we enjoy here in Singapore!
Street Foods Street foods (known as hawker food to the locals) play an intimate part of the everyday Singaporean. In this portion, we will introduce you to the various street foods that you should try when you’re here in Singapore!
51. Chicken Rice. The humble chicken rice (sometimes known as Hainanese chicken rice) is the most international street food – that is to say, so far, all of our overseas friends loved it! Typically, there are 2 types of chickens that you can choose from. Steamed or roasted. Let us know which is your favourite in the comments section below! Rice is usually steamed with pandan leaves and flavours from the chicken to give that extra fragrance!
Flavourful steamed chicken rice
52. Minced Meat Noodles. As the name suggests, the noodles (choice of yellow noodles thin aka mee kia/thick, flat white noodles or flat yellow noodles aka mee pok) is usually mixed with a braised meat sauce, chilli (or ketchup), vinegar, soya sauce and served with minced meat, sometimes with a little pit of pig liver and mushrooms.
Minced Meat Mee Kia Teo Hong Fishball Minced Meat Noodles Fengshan Market
53. Wanton noodles. Another local favourite is the wanton noodles. Wanton is actually a small version of the meat dumpling and the noodles is also usually served with char siew (roasted pork).
54. Roasted meat with rice. The roasted pork combination (crispy skin pork and roasted pork aka 叉烧烧肉饭) with rice is a common staple in Singapore. Sweet with the char siew and savoury with the crispy roasted pork. Yummy!
55. Laksa. Thick white noodles are served in a rich and spicy coconut gravy, usually topped with cockles, sliced fish cake and sometimes chicken/ prawns (if it is a classy joint).
DIY Laksa which was not bad with huge fresh (peeled!) prawns
56. Mee Rebus. Since we’re at the spicy section of the street foods, let’s move on to the Malay dishes. The Mee Rebus is a yellow noodles dish served in a slightly sweet curry sauce with a peanut twist. Sliced green chilli and an egg usually completes this dish.
57. Mee Siam. Another popular Malay street food. Thin vermicelli is served in a mildly spicy and sour, soup-based gravy. Egg and tau pok (beancurd) completes the meal.
58. Roti Prata. Roti prata is one of our favourite meals for a breakfast on the weekends. It is essentially fried flour made to the shape of a pancake. It is crispy,fluffy, savoury and served with an Indian curry (could be fish, mutton or chicken). Some like to put sugar on it for a different taste 🙂
Prata Breakfast at Changi Village
59. Ice Kachang. Moving on to desserts, the ice kachang is a local favourite. It is shaved ice served with red bean, palm seeds, corn, jelly and topped with coloured sweet syrup and condensed milk. Nowadays, there are several variations to it including mango and even durian ice kachang!
60. Chendol. Another favourite Peranakan dessert is the chendol. The chendol is also shaved ice served with green starched jelly, coconut milk and the all important gula melaka (brown sugar syrup).
61. Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant. There are actually alot more street foods such as the char kuay teow, hokkien mee, prawn noodles and more! But they are more of an acquired taste and not all of our overseas like them. Let’s move on to a hot favourite in town, Tim Ho Wan’s dim sum. It is touted as the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant! Other than Hong Kong, Singapore is the only other country to have its franchise and if you’re here, why not give it a try. Tim Ho Wan Singapore is located at Plaza Singapura and you can reach there via the Dhoby Ghaut MRT.
62. Sunday Buffet Brunch. Sunday Buffet Brunches are a recent trend and these brunches are typically classy late morning lunches that stretches to 3pm in the afternoon. They are characterised by high quality food (think foie gras, seafood and prime ribs), champagnes, great tasting/innovative dishes and excellent service. We have tried the Raffles Hotel’s Bar & Billiard Room, Lime @ Parkroyal on Pickering as well as Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Buffet Brunch. Dont forget the champagne or beer!
Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch Pan Fried Foie Gras
Where to party in Singapore
If you’re thinking about where you can enjoy a great night out and party or chill out with your friends, here are some suggestions.
63. Clarke Quay. Clarke Quay is also home to some of the best clubs in Singapore including Zirca and Attica. If you’re thinking of just having some drinks, consider Brewerkz with its own crafted beers. Ah….
Clarke Quay at Night
64. Mohammad Sultan Road. Clubs and pubs line the streets of this “old” (old because people have been clubbing here since we were still wearing our diapers!) hangout place. If you’re thinking, of chilling out, the wine bars are also available!
65. Holland Village. Affectionately known to the locals as Holland V, this stretch of road is cordon off in the evenings to allow revelers to walk down the roads freely (especially after a drink or two). If you’re into live bands, Wala Wala starts the party with support of local acts. 1-for-1 beers go for as low as $16 (i.e. $8 a pint!). If you want to take it down a notch, Haagen Dazs and Cold Rock Ice Creamery can offer a cooling relieve on some humid evenings!
66. St. James Power Station. Although not as crowded as compared to its heydays, St. James Power Station is still worth a mention. Conveniently located beside VivoCity, visitors can catch a movie and just hop over to St. James (literally across the road) and party at its various venues. You can party, enjoy some live performances, chill to some light tunes or simply enjoy a drink or 2 at the sports bar with the bros!
67. Zouk. You simply cannot write off Zouk can you? When you talk about the local club scene, Zouk comes to mind and there must be something about it to have survived for more than 20 years in Singapore! Located at Jiak Kim street beside the Grand Corpthorne Waterfront Hotel, it has been injecting life into the clubbing scene of Singapore since inception. Do check it out!
Cruises from Singapore
With the opening of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the cruise industry in Singapore is set for further growth. We have gone on a couple of cruises before and have really enjoyed ourselves!
68. Royal Caribbean Cruise. We have tried both RCC and Starcruise and we must say that RCC definitely comes out tops for us. There never seems to be a dull moment onboard eventhough we went for a longer cruise here. PLUS the food is so much better! Visit the fine dining daily! Visit our post and find out why!
Royal Caribbean Cruise – 8D7N Semarang, Bali (Kuta Nusa Dua), Lombok onboard Legend of the Seas
69. Starcruise. Before Royal Caribbean Cruise came online, there was Starcruise and we went on the Star Virgo as well. The cool thing about cruises is that you’ll just eat, play, sleep, repeat and the next thing you know, you’re at the next port! No lugging of luggage, catching of planes. Customs are a breeze as well. As for Star Virgo, it was a bit old when we were onboard but otherwise, the experience was still a positive one.
Besides Singapore itself, there are short trips that you can take from Singapore to visit nearby cities and islands!
70. Desaru. Less than 2 hours away by car is Desaru. Here you can enjoy beach activities, enjoy a spa, visit the Desaru fruit farm or watch fireflies by night!
Jet skis at Sand and Sandals Desaru
71. Legoland Malaysia. The newly opened Legoland Malaysia is also a mere 45 minutes drive away from Singapore. Kids will have so much fun while adults can seek thrills on the dragon ride as well!
Legoland Malaysia
72. Cameron Highlands. The drive to Cameron Highlands is about 3 hours and after that exhausting drive, you can reward yourself with fresh mountainous air! Here you can also pick your own strawberries or enjoy the world famous Boh tea.
73. Batam. Batam is a quick getaway for Singaporeans. After a ferry ride of 45 minutes, you’ll arrive in a different country, spend a little less and be able to pamper yourself to spas and seafood! All with the Singapore city skyline in sight!
74. Pulau Ubin. Other than the main island of Singapore, there are residents living on the island of Pulau Ubin. At Pulau Ubin, life seems to remain in the good old days of kampung life (village living) where neighbours know each other well and look out for each other. Visitors usually head to Pulau Ubin for bike trails, nature trails (Chek Jawa) or just cheap(er) seafood!
Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa Mangrove Boardwalk
Staycations in Singapore
Given the high number of luxury hotels concentrated on our small island, staycation at these Singapore luxury hotels seem to make a great relaxing getaway – quickly! We did some staycations and here they are…
75. Raffles Hotel Singapore Staycation.Arguably one of our best staycations in Singapore, the Raffles Hotel offers personalised service and exclusivity like no other. Did we mention that there are only suites in Raffles Hotel and that the staff actually remembers our preferences such as coffee, orange juice and Straits Times Newspapers?!
Iconic Sikh Doorman of the Raffles Hotel
76. Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore Staycation.Again, service was excellent. We recalled being brought to our seats at the pool and when it rained, being sheltered individually back to the changing rooms!
Swimming Pool at Ritz Carlton Singapore
77. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa Staycation.The private plunge pool made the difference for us. Imagine being able to just step out of bed , right into the pool. Shiok.
Events Held in Singapore
There are many events held in Singapore each year. However, we are going to highlight a few of the prominent ones on our events calendar.
78. Singapore Formula One F1 Grand Prix. Definitely one of the top things to do in Singapore, Catch the thrills and spills (sounds so commercialised hor) at the Singapore Grand Prix. For non-F1 fans, you can also have the opportunity to catch world-famous acts performing live in Singapore! The Singapore Grand Prix is also currently the only night race on the F1 circuit!
Formula One (F1) Grand Prix Night Race Singapore
79. Chingay Street Parade. Each year, thousands of performers will take to the streets to showcase the Chingay Street Festival. The street parade is characterised by its vibrant colours, entertaining performances and topped off with fire works at the Bay.
Chingay Parade and Festival Singapore – Street Parade Culmination and Melting Pot of Cultures, Street Performances and Displays
80. Halloween Horror Nights.Each year, Universal Studios Singapore will organise the Halloween Horror Nights. The scare-actors are REALLY scary! The good thing is that they have a policy that they cannot touch you (and vice versa). We would have been frightened stiff if they could! The cool thing is that for the price of entry, you can also enjoy some of the usual rides at USS such as Battlestar Galactica!
81. Great Singapore Sale! During the months of June and July each year, the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) takes place where suppliers pull out all stops to woo consumers at this annual sales bonanza!
82. River Hongbao. During the Chinese New Year period, festivities termed as “River Hongbao” takes place at the floating platform of the Marina Bay. Here you will see familiar Chinese Zodiac animals (and their predictions for the year) as well as fun activities, well mostly for the kids. We will usually go there just to soak in the CNY atmosphere and ring in the new year!
Other Things to do in Singapore
83. Singapore Discovery Centre.Find out more about how Singapore came to be, the campaigns that we used to have (speak good English/Courtesy) and how we have developed over the years to become a first world country in a short span of 40 years. Plus, you will be able to catch some 3D movies at a cheaper rate ($9 vs $12) at the theatre at SDC.
84. Snow City. Missing snow? Snow City offers you an opportunity to experience snow in Singapore! Enjoy snow falling upon you as winter descends and there’s even a long ice slide where you can slide down using rubber tyres!
85. Ice skating rinks. Still on the theme of cold weathers, did you know that there are 3 ice skating rinks in Singapore? The ice skating rinks are located at Leisure Park Kallang, Jcube as well as Marina Bay Sands.
86. Singapore Science Centre. Singapore Science Centre is a bundle of fun for the kids. They will be exposed to simple theories in science through interactive activities.
87. MacRitchie Nature Trail Located at the MacRitchie reservoir, the nature trail takes you through the tropical forest that Singapore has preserved. You can also ascend to challenge the Tree Top walk – definitely not for the faint of hearts!
88. Southern Ridges. Still staying close to nature, the Southern ridges connects various popular parts of Singapore including Mount Faber and Harbour Front. Highlights include Faber Walk, Henderson Waves and Canopy Walk.
89. East Coast Park. On weekends, you will see East Coast Park FULL OF PEOPLE! Many head to East Coast Park to enjoy morning walks, leisure runs, rollerblade, cycle, kite flying, fishing, camping (yes! just need to apply permit easily via axs), BBQ and even cable skiing!
Viewing deck of Amber Beacon Tower (aka East Coast Park Yellow Tower)
90. Lau Pa Sat. Before Gluttons Bay and Malaysia Food Street, the first attempt to bring the best foods in Singapore under one roof was at Lau Pa Sat. Today, it is also home to the Satay Club.
91. Mount Faber. Mount Faber was where Kate and I used to date. Still remember the love sandwiches she made for me…ah…It is also here where you can catch fantastic views of sunrise in Singapore…
Mount Faber City view before sunrise Sunrise over City
92. Wild Wild WetWild Wild Wet is a water theme park in the east of Singapore. Taking the MRT to Pasir Ris MRT station, you can take the free shuttle bus to Wild Wild Wet. After completing a $2 million revamp, Wild Wild Wet has now a new ride known as Torpedo. Stationed at a 18 metre high capsule, you’ll drop almost vertically and reach speeds of up to 70km/h! The slide is over in 7 seconds flat!
Ular-Lah The Water Works Torpedo @ Wild Wild Wet Downtown East
93. Visit the Heartlands. If it’s your first time in Singapore, visit our heartlands! HDB (Housing and Development Board) flats are public housing that houses 80% of Singaporeans! Knowing the heartlands will definitely draw you closer to this island we call home!
94. Enjoy a cup of “Kopi” at a local coffeeshop. Firstly, the Singapore coffee is very different from what you drink anywhere else in the world. Some of our overseas friends swear by it. Yes, we too adore it. Goes perfectly with my morning newspapers. If you are from overseas, say “Kopi” (for coffee with milk and sugar) or “Kopi siew dai” (coffee with less sugar) and see the reaction of the stall owner. She may be amazed that you can order coffee – Singapore style!
95. Leisurely walk along the Singapore River.Besides the taking the river cruise, you can actually enjoy a leisurely walk along the Singapore river that takes you through Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Fullerton and finally the Marina Bay!
Tall colonial-era pillars as seen from the swimming pool of the Fullerton Singapore Hotel
96. NEWater Visitor Centre.At the NEWater Visitor Centre, you can find out how Singapore harnesses technology to open yet another “tap” in Singapore’s quest for water independence.
97. Visit to Asia Pacific Breweries. Ever heard of Tiger Beer? Did you also know that Tiger Beer is produced in Singapore? Visit APB and find out how Tiger Beer is created, bottled and finally delivered to you! Includes tasting of fresh Tiger Beer at the end of the visit!
98. Prawning.The activity of prawning has gathered steam in recent years, sprouting many outlets all across the island. The excitement is really when you catch one – especially after waiting for some time. Experts can catch almost one every 2 minutes on average!
99. Enjoy a Singapore Sling. The famous Singapore Sling was created by a bartender of the Raffles Hotel around 1915. It was said that women of the time were not allowed to drink alcoholic drinks in public. So this bartender decided to create a drink specially for the ladies under the guise of a nice bright colour and ladies really loved it. Guys on the other hand were also happy that there was a drink that they could get for their ladies. Win-win!
The Original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
100. Reverse Bungy. At Clarke Quay, you can experience Bungy – in an opposite direction! The GMAX propels you 60 metres into the air at speeds of up to 200km/hr! Dropping down is another thrill by itself!
Reverse Bungee at Clarke Quay
101 Things to do in Singapore
101. This last one is for you to fill in. There are simply so many things to do and attractions in Singapore, tell us what you have enjoyed in the comments section below!
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A Staycation at Raffles Hotel Singapore would definitely not be complete without a taste of the original Singapore Sling from Long Bar Raffles Hotel!
The Original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
The original Singapore Sling was created by Mr Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at Raffles Hotel around 1915.
Legend has it that the Singapore Sling was created because ladies of the time were not supposed to consume alcohols in public. So the Singapore Sling was concocted to conceal the light alcohol in a bright fancy colour. The ladies were then happy that there was a drink available to them and the men were happy that they could buy drinks for their ladies! Win-win!
We were invited to a staycation at the Raffles Hotel Singapore and this little story was shared to us by the Resident Historian – Mr Leslie Danker. Cool huh? Let’s now find out what’s in this national drink of Singapore…
Ingredients of the Original Singapore Sling
The ingredients of the Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel are
30ml Gin
15ml Cherry Heering
7.5ml Dom Benedictine
7.5ml Cointreau
120ml Sarawak Pineapple Juice
15ml Lime Juice
10ml Grenadine
A dash of Angostura Bitters
Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry
How to make the Original Singapore Sling
If you’re interested to find out how to make the original Singapore Sling, here’s a demonstration done by a bartender at Long Bar Raffles Hotel during our staycation there.
As part of the demonstration to us, we were also shown how the slings of Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Philippines and Seychelles were made. Each of them are named after a Raffles Hotel in each of these countries.
Singapore Sling and the drinks of Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Philippines and Seychelles
If you have not tried the original Singapore Sling before, you have got to try it because it most definitely does not resemble ANY KIND of Singapore Sling we have tried before, ANYWHERE! Nope it does not resemble the ones at Clarke Quay or onboard SQ flights…
You have just read a post from the complete coverage of our staycation at the Raffles Hotel. You can find the rest of the posts here…
The Maritime Experiential Museum at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is a must visit for the whole family! It not only has alot of information about the maritime history of asia, there are also interactive points throughout the museum that kids can enjoy! The best part is that the price is relatively cheap as well!
Things to do at the Maritime Experiential Museum
The Maritime Experential Museum Level 1
The Maritime Experential Museum Level 1
At the entrance of the museum, you will see the Bao Chuan…
Bao Chuan – Zheng He’s treasure ship
Bao Chuan – Zheng He’s treasure ship
Bao Chuan is actually the treasure ship of Zheng He’s fleet of ships. Its main symbol is the figurine called Bi Shu (did we spell that right?). Legend has it that Bi Shu stole treasure, kept it to himself but was discovered by Zheng He. Zheng He then punished Bi Shu and placed him to guard the treasure. Hence, now Bi Shu is associated with guardian of wealth, well…it’s all just a myth. The cool part is that it actually moves during the start of the show. The light brown portion will show a short clip about Zheng He and his expedition to this part of the world!
Moving to the left, you will see “The Souk” exhibition.
The Souk – Ports along the Maritime Silk Route
The Souk – Ports along the Maritime Silk Route
The Souk covers ports along the maritime silk route such as Quanzhou, Qui Nhon, Palembang, Malacca, Galle, Calicut, Muscat and Malindi.
Along the Souk
Along the Souk
Here, kids can play the various interactive games such as learning to trade in a port, taking photos superimposed on a traditional costume and watching video of the construction of the Omani Dhow (Jewel of Muscat)
Dhow – A gift from the government of Oman to Singapore
Dhow – A gift from the government of Oman to Singapore
The Dhow (aka Jewel of Muscat) is a centre piece in the Maritime Experiential Museum. It is a gift from Oman and it is entirely constructed out of organic material (i.e. no nails!). Fibres are interwoven and these strong fibres are then used to hold the pieces of wood that form the ship. After construction, the ship actually took the journey that the forefathers took and finally arrived in Singapore! Then President Nathan accepted the gift on behalf of the people of Singapore!
Information about the Dhow
Information about the Dhow
The other main attraction at the Maritime Experiential Museum is the Typhoon Theatre.
Entrance to the Typhoon Theatre
Entrance to the Typhoon Theatre
The story starts with a chinese trading/sea faring company being entrusted with carrying a gift from China to Oman.
Storyline of the Typhoon Theatre
Storyline of the Typhoon Theatre
The father (captain) and son (first mate) together with the ambassador takes the golden cup and begins on the journey. You will then enter the typhoon theatre which is actually a 4D show. The ship then enters a storm and eventually sinks, leaving the treasure at the bottom of the ocean. During the storm, you will feel the wind, droplets of water as well as the platform on which you’re seated, move a little.
The show nicely leads to S.E.A Aquarium – The World’s Largest Aquarium…
Sunken Ship at the S.E.A Aquarium – World’s Largest Aquarium
Sunken Ship at the S.E.A Aquarium – World’s Largest Aquarium
It is like a preview of the aquarium (enticing you to pay to go into the aquarium itself) where the sunken ship from the 4D movie is shown in the tank together with marine life inside.
Viewing point of the S.E.A Aquarium
Viewing point of the S.E.A Aquarium
Paying the low price to the maritime experiential museum, we think it is well worth it to enjoy the aquarium at these 2 viewing areas. You will be able to sea the sharks, hammer head at that plus all other smaller and interesting fish.
The Maritime Experential Museum Level B1
The Maritime Experential Museum Level B1
Moving on, you will arrive at the Maritime Archaeology Gallery. Here you will see artefacts from the Bakau and Temasek shipwrecks. Nearby is another main attraction of the museum – the Bao Chuan Cutaway
Bao Chuan Cutaway
Bao Chuan Cutaway
It is a cross-section of the ship showing its treasures such as the giraffe that Zheng He brought back to show to the emperor. Below which, there is also the pirates and pirate hunters exhibit. Zheng He was also a pirate hunter in pirate infested waters.
The Maritime Experiential Museum Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
Ticket Prices of the Maritime Experiential Museum
Adults : $5
Child (4-12) : $2
Seniors (>60) : $3
Ticket Prices Typhoon Theatre
Adults : $6
Child (4-12) : $4
Seniors (>60) : $3
The ticket prices of the Maritime Experiential Museum are quite cheap right?!
Opening Hours of the Maritime Experiential Museum
The opening hours of the Maritime Experiential Museum varies according to the time of the year. But mostly, it should be open from 10am to 8pm. The typhoon theatre will close 1 hour before the museum closes.
Nestled at the corner of level 2 at Parkway Parade is Toby’s the Dessert Asylum. Kate and I saw the unpretentious ambience of the place and decided to give it a try.
Toby’s the Dessert Asylum @ Parkway Parade
Toby’s the Dessert Asylum @ Parkway Parade
The first thing we noticed was that the crew did not have any uniform or same-coloured polo-T. Everyone wore their own shirts to work. Everyone was able to be cashier, serve the food and clear the tables. Talk about empowering! Perhaps it’s a family owned business? Anyone care to comment?
We took some time to scan through the menu as there were simply too many items to choose from!
Mains Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
Mains Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
The blue lightning beside some of the dish represents “Chef’s recommendation” or something along those lines. This day, we decided to have one mains and one dessert to share, so we went with the pork stew baked rice.
Pork Stew Baked Rice with Chardonnay @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
Pork Stew Baked Rice with Chardonnay @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The pork stew somewhat resembled the chinese mei cai kou rou. Surprisingly, this east (pork stew) meets west (baked rice with cheese) combination, worked really well and we tucked into it readily!
Next we had our dessert.
Dessert Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
Dessert Menu @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum
We scanned through the menu and decided to go for another chef’s recommendation that needed 15 minutes of waiting time – The Leaning Tower of Toby.
The Leaning Tower of Toby @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The Leaning Tower of Toby @ Toby’s the Dessert Asylum – $12.95
The tower was made up of 2 squarish pastries, sandwiched between a strawberry / whipped cream layer as well as a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with another roll-like pastry.
The highlight of this dessert would be the fresh cream that went really well with the pastry and berries (there were blue berries as well). We think that the taste and presentation was good. But the price was a little steep.
We also ordered a bottle of Chardonnay ($28.95) to accompany our meal and dessert.
All in all, Toby’s the Dessert Asylum offers good service (friendly staff), warm and welcoming ambience. Standard of food is somewhat comparable to most western joints. Good place to hang out with friends!
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We’ve been told many times about the difficulty of crossing roads in Vietnam especially in Hanoi. So we decided to create a post on “How to cross the roads safely in Hanoi Vietnam” so as to allow all our readers to know the tricks while crossing the roads there.
The thing about the roads in Hanoi is that there are SO MANY MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROADS! As a tourist or visitor there, it may seem like a daunting task to cross the roads.
Motorcycles galore in Hanoi
Even at traffic lights (IF you happen to come across them), you may feel as though you’re targetted by a huge swarm of bees as you attempt to cross the roads.
So how can you then cross the roads safely in Hanoi Vietnam? Do consider these tips when you attempt to cross the roads there…
1. Walk at a steady predictable pace.
This was a tip given to us by the locals at our hotel when we were in Hanoi. The thing is, motorcyclists in Hanoi are used to jay-walkers (people who cross the roads anywhere anyhow), so they will be on the look out for them. If you walk at a steady and predictable pace, they will then try to “negotiate” you as an “obstacle”, swerving in front or behind you. So it is of paramount importance to cross the roads in Hanoi at a steady and predictable pace. That leads us to the 2nd point…
2. Do not become anxious and make a dash for it!
DO NOT MAKE SUDDEN MOVEMENTS! As the motorcycles cross in front or behind you, there is a tendency to want to make a dash for it or just stop right there. DO NOT DO THAT. Continue to walk at that same pace. If you stop or make a dash for it, the motorcyclists that predicted your movement as they drive, may be too fast or too slow when you change your pace and may possibly run into you.
3. Follow the locals
If all else fails, just follow the locals. Well, not behind them, but beside them. If the oncoming traffic is from left to right, stand on the right of the locals. Walk and maintain the same steady pace as them and they will be able to guide you through this forest of motorcycles.
We hope that this quick guide to crossing the roads safely in Hanoi, Vietnam can give you that confidence in crossing the roads there. After several crossings, you’ll be able to muster the courage to cross the roads – just like the locals!
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The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the main attractions in Singapore and houses the biggest Orchid display in the world. Here, you can unwind amidst the natural surroundings and if you’re lucky, spot the swans in its natural habitat or squirrels dashing right past you!
The Singapore Botanic Gardens was established by a horticultural society on a piece of abandoned land in 1859. It was handed over to be managed by the government in 1875 and since then it has evolved to include research, education, conservation as well as recreation.
Entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens at Cluny Road
History of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
There are many attractions at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. You can visit the largest display of Orchids in the world (over 60,000 varieties) at the National Orchid Garden ($5 per entry)
National Orchid Garden @ the Singapore Botanical Gardens
Enjoy performances at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage (only on selected dates)
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage @ Singapore Botanic Gardens
Visit the Swan Lake
Swan Lake at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
A pair of swans at the Swan Lake
Or just simply relax at the gazebo and watch as others enjoy the greenery…
Gazebo where many couples took their wedding photos in Singapore
Directional signs in the Singapore Botanical Gardens
Common folks enjoying the gardens
How to get to the Singapore Botanic Gardens & Opening Hours
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is open from 5am to 12am daily.
Map of the Singapore Botanical Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is located along Holland road and Cluny Road. You can reach there by buses 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123 and 174.
Legoland Malaysia has another major attraction – Lego Technic! Here you will be able to find the famous Project X ride as well as other attractions such as the Lego Academy as well as the Aquazone Wave Racers & Technic Twister!
Attractions at Lego Technic Legoland Malaysia
Lego Technic is one of the educational zones for the kids (in addition to the rides of course). Here you will be able to find the Lego Academy as well as the Lego MINDSTORMS.
Lego Academy @ Legoland Malaysia
At the entrance of Lego Academy, you will be able to find this huge lego-built Albert Einstein! Of course, it is here that kids will be guided to build their own lego models. At Lego MINDSTORMS, lego robots can be built as well.
Rides at Lego Technic Legoland Malaysia
For the thrill seekers, there are several rides such as the Technic Twister, Aquazone Wave Racers as well as the famous Project X! Technic Twister is basically a “futuristic-looking” version of the teacup rides we used to go on when we were young? Remember those teacups going round and round and spinning on its own axis? Yup, thats the one! The only difference now is that you can control a wheel determine how you want your ride to be…
Aquazone Wave Racers Legoland Malaysia
Aquazone Wave Racers is like a merry-go-round on water. Using the theory of centrifugal forces, you can control how far you are from the centre by controlling the steering wheel. By our feeling (not sure if its scientifically proven) it seems that if you extend fully (away from the centre), the ride seems to be faster. Nearer to the centre, slower. Also for this ride, you may get wet because of the water splash around the ride. Passer by may just activate the “mines” that explodes beneath the water or use the water guns to spray at you! The wait for the ride was quite long as it can only accommodate 6 riders at a go…
Lego Technic’s main attraction : Project X
Project X , Lego Technic, Legoland
Project X is one of the main attractions not only at Lego Technic but also Legoland itself. It has a huge drop from a height of 18m which is quite exciting (definitely not for the faint of heart). After it descends, it ascends to a lower height and twists from left to right while you enjoy a great view of Legoland.
At first we thought that the ride looked like a kids ride, but dont under-estimate it!
Chomp Chomp Food Centre has been one of the hawker centres that we have always wanted to visit since time immemorial! (Cheem ah “time immemorial”, teens can consider using it in essays…) Well, for several reasons…
Firstly, if you take a look at the location of Chomp Chomp Food Centre (at 20 Kensington Park Rd) below
You’ll realise that the Serangoon Garden area is a nice little enclave that has amenities (banking, food, supermarket etc.) for the community that lives there. Quaint. Much akin to Holland Village.
Secondly, it is also a nice hangout area for teens and young adults. The al fresco setting, cheap hawker food and the unpretentious vibe, makes Chomp Chomp a great place to meet up with friends.
Last but not least, the food! We’ve tried the Hokkien Mee, BBQ Chicken Wings and Pizza from the first row of stalls…stalls 1,2 and 5 to be precise. Here’s the low down…
What’s there to eat at Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Legend has it that one of the best Hokkien Mee in Singapore is at Chomp Chomp Food Centre. We have yet to try it. Well, it means that the hokkien mee above is not it. Anyone knows which is the one that we should try?
This hokkien mee from stall 1 looks the part. Well arranged with lime at the side, bright red chili and even the thin white noodles that we prefer. However, it lacked the taste. The flavour of the stock was not infused into the noodles and it was the first thing we noticed right off the cuff. The chili was also too spicy! We take chili padi quite often and this chili is definitely not for the faint of heart (or tongue for that matter).
Dear reader, if you stay in the vicinity, please point us to the legendary hokkien mee!
Though not one of the best we’ve eaten, the BBQ wings at stall 2 is worth a try. The meat is still moist with some juices and the chili complimented the taste quite well. At $1.2 per piece, it is in line with the general prices of BBQ chicken wings.
The other main reason for our visit to Chomp Chomp Food Centre this time round is because of stall 5’s pizza. Friends have shared with us that the pizzas are only going for $3.90 each and there is also a variety of tastes to choose from. We chose the Tom Yam as well as the BBQ chicken and nope they did not disappoint.
The crust was thin and crispy while the Tom Yam flavour was mild but intriguing. No worries, no “hot” and “sudden” punch here. The prawn was also quite fresh. As for the BBQ chicken, there was a chunky piece of meat on each slice. Yum. Do give it a try and support the entrepreneurs who started this idea!
How to get to Chomp Chomp Food Centre
If you are driving, head to Serangoon Gardens. It is located at 20 Kensington Park Road. If you are going by public, buses 73, 136, 315 and 317 serves the area.
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Chomp Chomp Food Centre
If you have a great stall to recommend at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, do tell us in the comments section below! Enjoy your next makan at Chomp Chomp Food Centre, we will be sure to visit it again soon!
Legoland Malaysia has a main attraction called Miniland! It shows intricately crafted lego sculptures of world renowned landmarks, all by piecing Lego bricks (that you and I know of) together!
World Famous Attractions at Miniland Legoland Malaysia!
At Legoland Malaysia Miniland, you will be able to find world famous attractions made into a exquisite work of art where visitors can enjoy and take photos with! Here are some of these amazing works of art…
Kuala Lumpur with Petronas TowersMiniland @ Legoland Malaysia Singapore River & Fullerton Hotel @ MinilandForbidden City China @ Miniland
Besides these world renowned attractions, there are also themed displays such as the pirates and medieval castles!
Pirates & Castles at Miniland Legoland Malaysia
Interactive displays at Legoland Malaysia Miniland
At the Miniland exhibition, you will also notice some ships moving and even trains moving in and out of train stations. These trains may even move from landmarks to landmarks! In addition, there may also be some interactive buttons for visitors to press. We recall pressing one of the buttons and “workers” on the tarmac began to lift a car and make a grunting sound! Another button at the Singapore section, changed the direction of the water that comes out of the Merlion, directing the water at where the button was!
Picture opportunities abound here and you will be amazed at how these little pieces of Lego can actually come together to form these realistic structures! The designers must have placed alot of time and effort to bring all these world attractions together!
We shall now leave you with a video of Legoland Malaysia Miniland! Enjoy!
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Legoland Malaysia has many cute characters made of Lego! It is such a wonder to see these characters as they’re entirely made out of Lego Bricks! These characters are scattered throughout the theme park and most of them form great picture moments. Some like the Steven Spielberg character is hidden at the top of the 4D animation theatre so do watch out for it as well! Enjoy!
Cute Characters at Legoland Malaysia
Guy peering at the waters at Legoland MalaysiaLady feeding pigeons at Legoland MalaysiaTourist with bags of goodies coming out of The Big Shop at Legoland Malaysia
The Tourist is a really cute character just outside The Big Shop. The Big Shop is actually the souvenir/gift shop of Legoland Malaysia and you can find all sorts of Lego products ranging from Star Wars, Medieval Kingdoms to traditional Lego bricks. There are also shirts, magnets and other forms of souvenir as well. The Tourist is really cute because it shows him happy and satisfied as he leaves the Big Shop!
Giant Octopus with its victims at Legoland MalaysiaLego Academy @ Legoland MalaysiaDirector calling for water to be splashed at Legoland MalaysiaCan you spot Steven Spielberg?
If you observe closely, the director sitting on the director’s seat is actually Steven Spielberg, characterised by his beard! Haha!
Camel in front of Lost Kingdom Adventure Legoland Malaysia
Photo Moments with Legoland Malaysia Characters
Arent these creations made out of Lego amazing? As you enjoy the rides, shows and games at Legoland, do take time to take some pictures with these gorgeous creations! Although we did not get to catch Lego Buddy, we did see the dragon from Lego Kingdoms!
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Legoland Malaysia has a zone called Lego Kingdoms which is a spin off from its lego series. The main attraction at Lego Kingdoms Legoland Malaysia is the Dragon! The Dragon is of course the highest rollercoaster in all of Legoland!
Lego Kingdoms at Legoland Malaysia
Lego Kingdoms has several interesting attractions such as the Dragon’s Apprentice (smaller version of the Dragon albeit has its exciting moments on the ride), Royal Joust (kid’s ride on a mechanical horse), Merlin’s Challenge (high speed carousel), Castle Games (shooting/throwing games $/play), The Forestmen’s Hideout (a medieval playground) as well as the DRAGON!
Entrance to The Dragon Roller Coaster Ride The Dragon Roller Coaster Ride at Legoland Malaysia
After conquering the Dragon, you can also take some time to take photos with the castle as well as the medieval surroundings. Kids will also enjoy their time on the Royal Joust. The waiting time may be a little long…
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Legoland Malaysia’s Lego City is yet another zone which kids will have lots of fun here at Legoland! Here kids can learn to drive, captain a boat and even put out “fires” at the Rescue Academy!
Legoland Malaysia Driving School
Driving School Legoland MalaysiaDriving School @ Legoland Malaysia
At the driving school, kids are divided into the Junior Driving School (Ages 3 to 5) as well as the Driving School (Ages 6 to 13). Here kids can not only learn to drive, learn the traffic rules but also get their very own Legoland license! Sorry, adults are not allowed on the vehicles!
Legoland Malaysia Boating School
At the boating school, kids can learn to control a boat on water, adults can also join in if they wish to.
Legoland Malaysia Boating School
If you steer well, the lanes demarcated should be easy to navigate through. Otherwise, it may become “bumper cars” on water!
Legoland Malaysia Rescue Academy
At the rescue academy, teams can race against each other to put out “fires” at the other end of the academy. Teams must first pump the mechanical device on their rescue vehicles. When they reach their destination, they will alight and pump the water towards a building on “fire”. Once the Lego Fireman appears, return to the rescue vehicle and head back to base. The first team to return wins!
Legoland Malaysia Rescue Academy
Other Attractions at Lego City Legoland Malaysia
You can also hop on the Legoland Express, which is a train ride all around Legoland. Kids can also visit the Shipyard which is an outdoor playground.
Legoland ExpressThe Shipyard Legoland Malaysia
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Sunway Lagoon actually has 5 parks in itself. All these while, we thought that it’s just another water themed park. We were wrong.
Sunway Lagoon consists of the Amusement Park, Water Park, Extreme Park, Wildlife Park (Zoo) and even a horror-themed Scream Park! We shall now take you through our trip to Sunway Lagoon!
Entrance of Sunway Lagoon
Entrance of Sunway Lagoon
Sunway Lagoon is opened daily from 10am to 6pm. They’re closed on Tuesdays, perhaps for maintenance on the lowest traffic day of the week? We were there on a weekday and surprisingly there was ALOT of people at the queue line at 10am!
Long Queues @ Sunway Lagoon
Long Queues @ Sunway Lagoon
The rates of Sunway Lagoon for adults is 100RM for all 5 parks OR 80RM for 3 parks (does not include scream and extreme parks). There are usually some ongoing discounts with certain credit cards. Malaysians get 25% off as well.
Rates at Sunway Lagoon Malaysia
Rates at Sunway Lagoon Malaysia
Attractions at Sunway Lagoon
Amusement Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Amusement Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Amusement Park
We headed first to the Amusement park and we conquered several rides including the Lost City and a water slide.
Lost City of Gold Sunway Lagoon
Lost City of Gold
Roller Coaster Ride at Sunway Lagoon
Roller Coaster Ride
We must say that the rides here are not really that exciting. For real extreme roller coaster rides, you can visit Universal Studios Singapore OR Busch Gardens. That is what we call a real roller coaster ride! There are also rides at wild wild west section for the kids to enjoy.
One ride that caught our eyes was the Viking. This one’s quite scary. Usually, you’d think that the Viking would just go back and forth right? WRONG! This Viking goes 360 degrees! One whole loop! 😮 You may even “hear” the screams from the following pictures!
Viking approaching the top almost inverting!
Viking approaching the top almost inverting!
Viking reaches the top and goes over to the other side!
Viking reaches the top and goes over to the other side!
Wildlife Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Wildlife Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Wildlife Park
Next we headed to the Wildlife Park. It’s actually quite a cool place with close encounters with the birds, huge crocodiles that look like that can leap out of the sanctuary and touch interaction with rabbits.
Can you spot the Owl sleeping
Can you spot the Owl sleeping?
An eagle at the spot where it ought to be
An eagle at the spot where it ought to be
As we walked past the birds sanctuary, we noticed that the birds were at the position that they’re supposed to be! No chains could be seen. We were speculating whether the birds have been clipped at its wings. Else we really cant understand how every bird was in its place as we walked past. Maybe we were lucky?
Huge Crocodiles @ Wildlife Park Sunway Lagoon
Huge Crocodiles @ Wildlife Park Sunway Lagoon
Rabbits that you could pat at the touch section of the Wildlife Park
Rabbits that you could pat at the touch section of the Wildlife Park
Scream Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Scream Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Scream Park
Entrance to Scream Park
Entrance to Scream Park
The Scream Park at Sunway Lagoon was scary. Not as scary as the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore. Still, it was scary enough for people to drop out at the entrance of the park. What happened was after all the safety brief, a man just rushed out from behind the doors! Some girls cried and some (even guys) left. As with all horror-themed parks, no touching is allowed. That is to say that visitors are not allowed to touch the scare actors and the scare actors are not allowed to touch the visitors.
At the start of the park, visitors are led to view a video clip. The video sets the background of the theme park. It’s about a couple who ventured into Sunway Lagoon when it’s closed (never a good sign). Somehow some pontianaks started to appear and scare them. Thinking that they’ve found a good hiding place in a run-down shack entrance (wassup man? just run out of the park already!), they went inside. And that’s where the guy who saws people up stores his corpses! And thats where the visitors are going.
Inside the park, there are scare actors, scary art and dungeon like settings. After the initial scares, you’ll get used to it. But beware of the final scare towards the end…
Extreme Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Extreme Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Extreme Park
Next we headed to the Extreme Park to try out some of the activities there. Do note that not all of the activities are free. We tried out the air gun (10 pellets), ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) as well as Archery (5 arrows). The rest of the activities such as bungy jumping, flying fox, paint ball and go-kart needs a little bit of top up.
We thoroughly enjoyed the ATV. Though it was a short ride, the slopes were quite steep. This made climbing and descending these slopes a little bit challenging. Some of the instructors had to get out of their own ATV and ride on the ATVs of those who were stuck.
Water Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Water Park
Map of Sunway Lagoon – Location of Water Park
Last but not least, we arrived at the most desired destination of Sunway Lagoon – The Water Park!
Entrance to the Water Park @ Sunway Lagoon
Entrance to the Water Park @ Sunway Lagoon
The coolest part of the Water Park was the slides. Some slides required a map and some floats. And all of them were exciting! Just that you may have to wait about 10 minutes (sometimes) for your turn on the ride due to the large crowds. There could be a longer waiting time during the weekends.
If you are not the kind that enjoy extreme rides, you can always chill out at the wave pool as well. There are also water playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
Recommended Hotels near Sunway Lagoon Water Park
There are essentially 3 recommended hotels if you want to have easy access to Sunway Lagoon Water Park. They are…
The Villas Sunway Resort Kuala LumpurSunway Resort Hotel and SpaSunway Pyramid Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Last Words
Sunway Lagoon in Malaysia is definitely a visit well worth it. There are tonnes of entertainment for the young and old alike. Do check out ongoing promotions to get the best deal at Sunway Lagoon!
If you are planning to visit Kuala Lumpur KL and not sure what to eat there, here’s a low down of the things to eat in KL!
Famous Chilli Pan Mee in KL
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee or dry chilli noodles has been a creation that originated in KL. Here in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (just a short walk from Chow Kit station), you can try the famous chilli pan mee from both Restoran Kin Kin or Restoran Super Kitchen.
Roti Babi Anyone?
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi is synonymous with Yut Kee Kopitiam – one of the oldest surviving kopitiam in KL. While you’re here, why not try the hainanese pork chop and a cuppa as well?
Lot 10 Hutong
Lot 10 Hu Tong – Best Street Foods in Malaysia
If you are a fan of Malaysian Street Food, look no further than Lot 10’s Hu Tong! Here you will be able to savour some of the best street foods that Malaysia has to offer! Famous delights such as Penang Char Kway Teow and KL Fried Hokkien Mee will definitely delight your palate!
Recently, 2 taiwanese dessert stalls opened at the restaurant level of the Pavilion! Not only can you enjoy people watching over the atrium, you will also be able to savour some healthy and delectable dessert to cool you down from the heat of the day!
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
The Taiwanese are geniuses at food! This bowl of bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice really left us craving for more!
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this list of what and where to eat in KL. Do add on to this list through our comments page below!
If you are a street food foodie and you’re too lazy to go all over Malaysia to look for the best street food, then look no further than Hu Tong @ Lot 10 Shopping Centre!
Hu Tong @ Lot 10
Interior of Hutong @ Lot 10 shopping Centre
Famous Street Foods @ Hu Tong Lot 10 KL
At Hutong Lot 10, you’ll be able to try out all the best street food all over Malaysia! Here you can try out best street foods specialties such as
