Glockenspiel Munich, also known as the Clock Tower in Munich is one of the major attractions in Munich. Much like the Astronomical Clock in Prague, it is one of the top 10 must-visit tower clocks in the world! We visited the clock for the 11am performance…
Glockenspiel Munich – Top 10 Clock Towers in the World!
Rathaus Glockenspiel @ Marienplatz MunichRathaus and the statue in the middle of Marienplatz
The clock tower is part of the city hall or Rathaus. Hence its name of Rathaus Glockenspiel (City Hall Clock Tower).
There are 2 stories being told by the clock. The first part of the story (top portion) tells of a marriage which ends with a jousting match. The second part of the story (bottom portion) is a legend that depicts a dance that was suppose to ward off a plague.
The entire performance lasts about 15 minutes. It is actually quite tiring to hold the camera up for such a long time (thanks Kate!). Hence, here’s a shortened version of the performance for you!
How to get to Glockenspiel Munich
Map of Rathaus Glockenspiel Clock Tower in Munich
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Berlin Hof Hotel is a great starting point to explore Berlin. Located near to Berlin Hof Hotel are attractions such as the Gedachtniskirche, KaDeWe (Kaufhof Des Westerns – Shopping Mall of the West, biggest shopping mall in Europe) and the Berlin Zoo!
Gadachtniskirche – A symbol of the West Berlin during Cold WarAnother view of the Gedachtniskirche – Today it is a museum & anti-war monument
It was initially a challenge to locate the Berliner Hof. We walked up and down Tauentzienstrasse (Tauentzien Street) asking several passers-by and was still not able to find it. Finally, we asked the lady at the newspaper stand. She spoke to us in German but pointed in a general direction. We followed her direction and finally found it! Yup the Berliner Hof was undergoing renovation.
Hence the iconic Berliner Hof Bear also stayed indoorsReception of the Berliner Hof at the 2nd level
As we were there early that morning, we left our luggage with the reception and visited the Berlin Zoo! We only checked in after the zoo and we were completely surprised by the size of the room!
Large Room at the Berliner Hof Berlin Hotel
Berliner Hof Huge room with beds and living area!Living area with a sofa Berliner Hof HotelView of the main street from the living area from Berliner Hof Hotel
The room is REALLY HUGE! There is even an additional living space with a long work desk as well as a sofa. The TV is movable, allowing you to choose between watching at the living room or just laze in bed. We watched Big Bang Theory in German! 🙂
Toilet separated from the bath tubBathtub at the Berliner Hof Berlin Hotel
Although the room has a oldish look to it. The room was clean and kept in good condition. Because of the location of the hotel, you can overlook the shopping street right from the living room area. Did we also mention that the room was huge?
KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westerns) – Shopping Mall of the West
KaDeWe is a short walk from the Berliner Hof. It is not only the largest shopping mall in Europe but also the 5th largest shopping mall in the world! With 60,000sqm of shopping space and more than 2000 employees, you’ll be spoilt for choice here! We also got our nespresso machine here which was on additional offer. If you’re a nespresso lover, check out the Nespresso outlets in Europe as they offer better prices for both the machine and capsules!
Map of the Berliner Hof Hotel
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Just a quick post to explain why we totally love the Berlin Hauptbahnhof – Berlin’s central railway train station!
Futuristic Berlin Central Station (Hauptbahnhof)
The Berlin Hauptbahnhof was completed in 2006 and even today, it exudes that futuristic look. The exterior of the train station is covered with glass panels, allowing sunlight to enter during the day, minimising electrical use, adding to the green factor.
In addition to the inter-state and inter-city train lines, there are also restaurants and shops in the train station. There are also picturesque scenes of the Spree River beside the Berlin Central Station. Taking a walk along the Spree River can also bring you to sights such as the Berliner Dom, Berlin TV Station as well as the St. Mary’s Church (Marien Kirche) at Alexanderplatz.
View of the Spree River in front of Berlin Central StationRiver Cruise along the Spree River
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The Berlin Central Station does leave an impression doesn’t it? To us, the Berlin Hauptbahnhof is definitely one of the most iconic train stations we’ve seen!
On our first day in Berlin, we visited Alexanderplatz along with many significant architectures such as the Brandenburg Gate as well as the Holocaust Memorial. To put all the hype and speculation at ease, we also tried the Berliner curry wurst. After checking into Hotel Amelie Berlin, we took a leisure walk along the Spree River to the Berlin TV Tower…
Walking along Spree River to Berlin TV Tower – Past the Boden Museum
Things to do at Alexanderplatz Berlin
As we approached Alexanderplatz, we also came across these…
Berliner Dom – Not to be mistaken with the Boden MuseumRed City Hall Berlin – Seat of the Berlin City Council and MayorAlexanderplatz and its iconic King Neptune SculptureMarienkirche – Church dating back to 1294
Alexanderplatz Berlin
We also took a walk to the Berlin TV Tower and found out that the entry to the top of the tower is 12Euros. There’s also a restaurant there. However, do not be mistaken that there would be free entry if you are visiting the restaurant. According to the receptionist, you will still have to pay for the entrance fee. The good thing is that the dinner at the restaurant is not too expensive, at about 20Euros.
That evening, we walked past the Block House steak restaurant. So we crossed back the street across Marienkirche to the al fresco Block House…
Al fresco dining at Block House steak restaurantMenu of Block House BerlinSalad and Erdinger @ Block House BerlinT-Bone steak with sour cream & garlic cheese for the potato
We finally settled for the 500g T-bone steak which comes with the salad as well as the potato which is good for 2 to share. Besides the steak, the restaurant is also famous for its home made sour cream and garlic cheese. We must say that the sour cream was really good. Not too over-powering yet beautifully compliments the potato, which in turn compliments the steak. Marvelous meal!
After the dinner, we took a leisurely walk back along the Spree River and walked past the Ampfelman traffic light restaurant, taking in the nice scenery along the river as well. Alexanderplatz Berlin was indeed a wonderful day out!
InterContinental Warszawa (Warsaw) is arguably one of the best 5 stars Hotel in Warsaw Poland! Kate and I had the opportunity to enjoy a night at this marvelous hotel and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.
As always, we requested for a high floor at the Intercontinental Warsaw and we were met with this view when we first entered the room…
Spacious room with a view at Intercontinental Warsaw Hotel
View of the Old City from Intercontinental Warsaw
Besides the amazing view, the room itself was spacious, comfortable and very well equipped…
Pseudo wine bar with beer and wine glass + chocolate/coffee/tea with boiling facility at Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw PolandA work desk for the business travellers (Intercontinental Warsaw)Shower with bathtub at Intercontinental Warsaw PolandClose up of the shower set in the bathroom (Intercontinental Warsaw)Spacious room with nice comfy bed at the Intercontinental Warsaw
But as avid readers of 2bearbear.com, you would have known by now that Kate and I dont easily get “wowed” unless it’s like Ritz Carlton Singapore or amazing views like this…
Panoramic Views of Warsaw from the 43/44 storey Wellness Centre of Intercontinental Warszawa
Palace of Culture and Science from Intercontinental Warsaw PolandNational Stadium Warsaw Poland – Euro 2012!
YES! One of the main selling points of the InterContinental Warsaw Hotel is the magnificent views of Warsaw from the Wellness Centre. You will be able to see the Palace of Culture and Science and of course the National Stadium Warsaw, Poland!
Did you know that the Palace of Culture and Science was a gift from Soviet Union to the people of Poland and even today, some still detest it because of its mark of Soviet domination. It also has a nick name – the Wedding Cake because of its design.
On a lighter note, the National Stadium was built in time for the Euro 2012! The opening match was played at this venue!
Pool and Gym of Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw
The highlight of the wellness centre is of course the gym and the pool!
Gym with magnificent views over Warsaw from Intercontinental Warsaw!
You’ll be able to enjoy views of the Palace of Culture & Science as well the entire city of Warsaw right from the comforts of the swimming pool, hot tub or right at the gym!
The wellness centre is also open in the evenings and early mornings. At night, you can enjoy night views of the city…
Night view of the Palace of Culture and Science from Intercontinental Warsaw Swimming Pool
There is a neat little elevation at the edge of the pool where you can stand on and have a better view. The other cool thing about visiting the wellness centre in the morning is that there is an excellent view of the sunrise each morning! We were chatting with the instructor at the gym and he showed us the photos he took that particular morning which was absolutely amazing! At the Riverview Wellness Centre, you can also enjoya sauna, steam bath and even massages! Do check it out!
Best Buffet Breakfast in Warsaw – Downtown Restaurant InterContinental Warsaw
Downtown Restaurant (Intercontinental Warsaw) overlooking the main street in WarsawBreakfast Buffet @ Downtown Restaurant Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw
Many have touted Downtown Restaurant at Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw to have the best buffet breakfast in Warsaw. We were impressed but whether it’s the best…well…take a look and you can decide
Live music of the harp for breakfast at Intercontinental Warsaw Downtown Restaurant?! Class and elegance…
We were impressed by the ambience and class of Downtown Restaurant. It was spacious, sun-lit and elegantly decorated. The live music on the harp definitely added to the class. There’s even a view of the main street at the windows seats. There was also a good spread…
Downtown Restaurant Intercontinental Warsaw Breakfast spread of cereals and breadDowntown Restaurant Intercontinental Warsaw Poland: Doughnuts fruits and asian spring rollsIntercontinental Warsaw Downtown Restaurant: Cold dish and Egg Station
Truth be told, the spread was good but it was still classic European buffet breakfast, nothing really stood out from the spread.
Intercontinental Warsaw Downtown Restaurant Breakfast Buffet: Typical hams, sausage, eggs, hash brownDowntown Restaurant Intercontinental Warsaw Breakfast: Breakfast Cereals for Kate
Well, we cannot confirm plus chop, say that the Downtown Restaurant has the best buffet breakfast in all of Warsaw. However, the class, ambience and elegance of the restaurant does set it apart from its competitors. Tell us if you know better buffet breakfasts in Warsaw below in the comments section!
Map of InterContinental Warsaw Hotel Poland
Another great thing about the Intercontinental Warsaw Hotel is that it is a short walking distance from the Warsaw Central Railway Station. In addition, the Zlote Tarasy (Golden Terraces), a huge shopping mall is just a 5 minutes walk away!
Modern Zlote Tarasy (Golden Terraces) Shopping Mall Warsaw PolandCute zebra crossing in front of Zlote Tarasy mall Warsaw Poland – Remembrance of Chopin
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There are 2 things that you must see when you go to Mittenwald and Oberammergau in Germany. Wait…at this point you must be thinking, “Where the @$#%#@$$ is Mittenwald and Oberammergau?!”
For those of you who are travel show enthusiasts (or simply Lord of the Remote Controls), you may have seen Oberammergau featured several times on several travel shows. In this post, we will tell you the 2 main reasons :
1. The Bavarian Alps
2. Mural Art
(Yes, I understand. Mural art is defined as a large painting usually done on walls)
Our journey to Mittenwald and Oberammergau in Germany!
After completing our trip from Berlin to Munich via a stopover at Dresden, we decided to do a day trip to visit attractions around Munich. Originally, we wanted to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle. However, we googled and found out that it was the renovation period and visitors were informed that parts of the castle would be obscured due to the restoration work.
Hence, the next option was to embark on the Mittenwald, Oberammergau journey!
The catch is that this day trip would really take the entire day. This is because the journey from Munich to Mittenwald would take about 2 hours and Mittenwald to Oberammergau via Murnau would take another 2 hours. So 2 hours here and 2 hours there PLUS the return trip. That doesn’t leave much time for a day trip.
Hence, we would really advice for you to stay a night in Oberammergau (there are excellent views of the Alps from some of the lodges – imagine waking up to the Alps…) and try to avoid this itinerary. That is unless you think “been there done that”…
The trip started with a train ride first to Mittenwald. To get our properly geared up, we had croissant with a cookie crumble top, apple strudel with real slices of apple and our morning coffee.
Croissant with cookie crumble at the topApple Strudel with real apple slices!
We had some trouble at first trying to confirm that we were on the right train. Eventhough we were informed by the receptionist at the counter that we were on the right train, the sign board did not mention Mittenwald. So we asked some passengers on the train just to confirm. In addition, many seniors with hiking sticks confirmed that we should be headed in the right direction (hiking in the Alps right?)
Bus from Tutzing to Welheim
Unfortunately, due to construction on the tracks, we had to alight at Tutzing for a bus transfer to Welheim. The good thing about travelling in Germany is that if such diversions occur, there would be many people directing you and many buses awaiting to bring to the next available station for you to continue your journey.
The following video shows our departure from one of the smaller stations, shows our readers a glimpse of the countryside in Europe…
Departing a station in the countryside of Europe
Before long, the first view of the Bavarian Alps was in sight and we arrived at Mittenwald after several scenic stops…
First view of the Bavarian AlpsAnother view of the Alps from Ohlstadt StationMittenwald Train Station
Due to our low quality camera (any sponsors out there?), slow reaction and fast moving pace of the train, we were not able to capture some spectacular views of the views overlooking the fields and villages. However, we did capture a close up view of the Alps at Mittenwald station…
Close up view of the Bavarian Alps from Mittenwald
Fantastic Views at Mittenwald Germany
Here are some of the fantastic views of Mittenwald. To think that we actually contemplated to skip it to go to Oberammergau only!
Main street of Mittenwald – Cool thing about Mittenwald is that it winds between the alps and it built close to it, REALLY CLOSE!Church in the background and Mural building in the foregroundRestaurant Street at MittenwaldStreet with Alps in the background – Artistically taken by Kate!Restaurant with Mural art – Check out the crowd dining here!Street with view of the Church in the middleStory of the Spaghetti (ice cream) at Mittenwald…
A small little incident occurred when we ordered our spaghetti at this particular restaurant. After ordering our spaghetti and having waited for about 5 minutes for it, we were served with…wait for it…ICE CREAM!! IN THE FORM OF SPAGHETTI!!!
Of course it was not what we ordered. But we later realised that the waitress must have said “Spaghetti Eis (pronounced as ice)” which meant spaghetti ice cream! And we must have nodded! The waitress’ face went black for a moment but she was kind enough to finally deliver us our spaghetti. Judging from the half-filled beer, you can guess that we waited for quite a bit. Even had to rush the spaghetti down so that we would not miss our next train to Oberammergau…
Train leaving Mittenwald to Murnau, change of trains to Oberammergau
Arriving at Oberammergau
After another 2 hours ride (maybe slightly less), we finally arrived at Oberammergau!
View of the alps while leaving MittenwaldAlps and fieldsMini train taking us from Murnau to OberammergauBavarian Alps and crystal clear waters of the rivers at Oberammergau (Kofel Oberammergau Matterhorn in the background)City Map of Oberammergau
After stepping out of the station, there was a huge crowd of people that turned right (facing the main street). However, Kate and I analysed the map and decided to turn left instead. And it was the right direction! Turning left took us to the heart of the city!
So remember to turn left when you leave the train station, facing the main street!!
Here are some of our memorable moments at Oberammergau!
Alps (The Kofel : Oberammergau Matterhorn) and the ice cream shopRealistic Mural Art – 3D effect!Motorcycle or planes for kids to ride on!House with mural art and a nice gardenMore Mural Buildings!
Oberammergau City Centre – Murals Galore!
A Catholic Church OberammergauChurch and the iconic alps (Kofel aka Oberammergau Matterhorn)Another shot of the Bavarian Alps from Oberammergau Matterhorn (The Kofel)
Oberammergau Restaurants and Mural Art!
We had dinner at one of the restaurants in the city centre and it was actually quite tasty. The dinner costs 25Euros inclusive of taxes and tips. The pork sausage with onion rings and pickles was a good starter that worked up our appetite. The roasted pork with dumpling was quite good. The taste was flavourful. Eventhough it was a little bit salty, taken together with the dumpling, the taste was perfect.
Food and Drinks MenuRoasted pork with drumpling and krautPork sausage salad with onion rings and picklesRathaus or City Hall of OberammergauCuckoo Clock Shop Oberammergau
Although we couldnt afford the cuckoo clocks, we did learn a thing or two from the shop assistant. Turns out that the price of the cuckoo clocks depends on
1. Whether it is an actual one (that has mechanisms built in) or an imitation
2. Size (Hence, the longer it can go without winding)
3. Music / Intricacy
So these factors come together to determine prices of the cuckoo clocks that can go as high as 2000 euros! 😮
Souvenir shop in OberammergauPassion Playhouse Oberammergau
We hope that you have enjoyed this post (one of our longest EVER!) about our day trip from Munich to Mittenwald and Oberammergau! Do leave us your comments below!
We’ll now leave you with a video of the sunset at Oberammergau!
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Bavarian Alps Oberammergau Mittenwald
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Munich, Mittenwald and Berlin right here!
Our stay at the Hotel Amelie Berlin was a pleasant one marred by only one incident which we will recall later in this post…
Hotel Amelie Berlin
The Hotel Amelie Berlin is within walking distance from the Friedrichstrasse (affectionately known to us as Fried Rice Station) or Oranienburger Tor U-bahn station. The price of the hotel was about 70euros inclusive of breakfast which was quite ok.
When we arrived at the hotel, a well-mannered receptionist who spoke with good English served us. We arrived early and placed our luggage there. She also showed us how to get to all the attractions on the map.
Hotel Amelie Berlin – 2 single beds
The room was small but clean and decent. The toilet was nice and clean with an attached shower.
Clean toilet with hot water at Hotel Amelie Berlin
The only thing about the toilet is that the mirror is placed very high up. According to our estimations, anyone less than the height of 1.7metres, will not be able to see themselves in the mirrors of the bathroom.
Funny choice of height to place the mirrors dont you think?
So far, our experience have been good. The breakfast served was also typical european with bread, cheese, milk, hams and eggs…
Breakfast at Hotel Amelie BerlinBreakfast at Hotel Amelie Berlin from 8 to 10am
Then the “incident” happened…
After breakfast, we wanted to ask the receptionist what was the building across the road (it looked like some kind of a prison). At first, she ignored us. Then we realised why. She was not able to speak English! So she continued to do her calculations (should be summing up the profits for the night) and ignored us.
So this episode sort of turned our experience at Hotel Amelie. Well,
Firstly, shouldnt the receptionist be able to speak English just like the receptionist who spoke excellent English the day before?
Secondly, even if she could not speak well, she should have asked someone to help instead of just ignoring us.
Other than this “episode”, the stay was nonetheless a good one, because of its price as well as its proximity to attractions nearby.
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Staycation or short overseas trip? That was the question for the Hari Raya / National Day long weekend last week. As it was also Kate’s birthday, we decided that a staycation at Regent Singapore at the Regent Club Deluxe Room was in order!
Staycation at the Regent Hotel Singapore!
Staycation at the Regent SingaporeRegent Singapore Facade and Hotel Lobby
The facade of the hotel didn’t seem much, a little oldish looking in fact. However, when we stepped into the hotel lobby, everything changed! A classy ambience and spacious lobby invitingly greeted us as we stepped in. The lounge piano music serenaded guests at this 5 star hotel. The lounge piano music was LIVE!
Live piano tunes in Regent Hotel Lobby!
We were promptly greeted by Margaret as we arrived at the reception. She seemed very knowledgeable, giving us a quick run down of the facilities, breakfast timings and the all-important cocktails plus pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres @ the Regent Club from 5:30pm to 8:00pm daily! You’re wondering what is hor d’oeuvres now aren’t you? We’ll give you a tour of the Regent Club in a bit!
We also asked for our complimentary parking ticket, which Margaret promptly got from the concierge for us. After passing us the keys, she actually walked out of the reception and showed us ALL THE WAY TO THE LIFT LOBBY! That’s great service right there! Thanks Margaret!
We were filled with anticipation as we walked from the lift lobby to our room and we were pleasantly surprised…
Regent Singapore Club Deluxe Room Staycation
The Deluxe room boasted of a generous living space, a sofa for two as well as a comfortably inviting King-sized bed!
King Size Bed in Deluxe Room of Regent Singapore
The room exuberated class and was equipped with an essential of staycations in Singapore – A bath tub!
Deluxe room of the RegentView from Regent Hotel Singapore
After we checked in, we went for a swim at the pool and when we returned, there was a rostrum of treats waiting for us! The hotel knew about Kate’s birthday and made arrangements to send up these treats that included macaroon, cakes, creme brulee and fruity mousse shots. Thanks for the thoughtful gesture Regent!
Regent Singapore Staycation – The Facilities!
Facilities at Regent Singapore (Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Steam bath, Sauna & Gym)
As we have mentioned in previous posts, the swimming pool of the hotel makes or breaks a staycation. Well, the swimming pool of Regent Hotel JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUST made the mark. It was by 5 star standards, well, small. However, the deck chairs were well laid out and the service by the pool was prompt. Towels were laid for us while complimentary smoothies were dished out by the pool as well!
While we were relaxing by the pool, we also noticed that the staff was also kept really busy, serving drinks, clearing towels, setting deck chairs – all in a day’s work!
You can also access the other facilities such as the Jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna via the gym or through the washroom by the pool. We’ve got to say that the hotel has all the facilities ready for a staycation. The fitness centre also has 2 massage treatment rooms with soothing treatment options to ease you into your staycation!
The Regent Club – A Perfect Complement to the Regent Staycation
Regent Club at level 11 of Regent Singapore
Soon it was time for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Regent Club located on the 11th floor of the Regent Singapore. The cocktail at Regent Club goes on from 5:30pm to 8pm daily!
Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres at the Regent Club
Hors d’oeuvres actually mean appetizers in French. But do not be fooled, the spread at the Regent Club is REALLY A SPREAD…
Salad, Cold Dishes, Sushi and Beef Salami SandwichSelection of Cheeses and BreadPizza, Springrolls, Paus and Duck wrapped with PotatoSelection of Alcoholic drinksBeers to choose from
As Kate would put it, “It really is a meal!”. The drinks which included a alcoholic selection, beers and wines (both red and white) made the cocktail a classy yet relaxed one.
As it was also National Day, we tuned in to Channel 5 to watch the National Day Parade. Sean who worked at the Regent Club this evening checked back with us from time to time asking us how the evening was and whether we needed to turn up the volume for the NDP. The remote was also passed to us so that we could hear the proceedings audibly! Thanks Sean, it’s small gestures like this that made our stay all that unique!
Breakfast at the Regent Singapore
The breakfast spread at Regent Singapore was the common international buffet…
Breakfast Buffet Spread at Basilico Regent SingaporeFish porridge , salads, eggs and hamPatries! Kate’s favourite section!
The breakfast we’ve got to say was quite normal. Given that the usual price for the buffet (if you walk-in) is $40++ per person, one would have expected more. Perhaps a partial buffet and set menu with choices such as the egg benedict and turkey sandwich?
But, the service was still impeccable. Why?
1. We were greeted with the widest smile (always a great start to the morning), seated promptly and served with coffee and juice almost as soon as we were seated.
2. Tom dropped his tea spoon (not on purpose!!) and one of the staff saw it and IMMEDIATELY replaced his spoon! 😮
Again, small little gestures. But it shows that the hotel pays attention even to the smallest details. Kudos to that!
Why a Staycation at the Regent Hotel?
There are 3 reasons why we think that Regent makes a good staycation in Singapore.
1. Location. Located near the start of Orchard Road, Regent Hotel offers a great base to shopping and dining at Singapore’s premier shopping belt. Just a short walk away, we went for Ramen at Bari Uma
Ramen Bari Uma – A short walk from Regent Singapore
Kate thought the chef was cute – *sob sob*
Signature Ramen and Chaofan
We also headed to Orchard Road to do some shopping. Plus, Hard Rock Cafe is also a short walk away from the hotel’s premise.
2. Regent Club. We’ve been to a couple of cocktails at Club Lounges but the spread at Regent Club was really much better than the rest. A meal really. Drink selection was also excellent. If the beers had more than 2 selection, that would have been AWESOME!
3. Luxurious Rooms. A classy, luxurious, spacious and comfortable room. Need we say more?
A shout out to Irene, Sean and Margaret for making our stay all that unique!
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As we travelled about in Berlin, we came across many MANY currywurst shops and again MANY say that they’re the ORIGINAL Berliner Currywurst. So to put all this hype to rest, Kate and I investigated the Berliner Currywurst…
Everyone also say they have the Original Berliner Curry Wurst
So we took out our 1.5euros and ordered the currywurst at this particular shop. It took all of 1 minute before the owner came out from his kitchen and served us this piping hot wurst…
Our first Berliner Currywurst
The thing is, there’s really nothing to shout about here. The reddish sauce is really a tomato based sauce poured over the wurst. The yellowish curry powder sprinkled on the top was the only thing “curry” about the wurst.
What salvaged this dish was that it was cold (about 10 degrees in the morning) and that the wurst was piping hot. Taste though, was quite normal really.
So. To put all the hype about Berlin Curry Wurst to rest, there is really nothing to shout about here. Just good old wurst in the cover of another mildly flavoured sauce.
A blessing in disguise? You decide!
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Dresden was our chosen stopover as we travelled from Berlin to Munich to join the Oktoberfest. We did not know much about Dresden (not that we do now) but it was one of the more prominent cities on the map and we thought it would be good to make a stopover, breaking the 7 hours train ride into well…a more “bear”able journey! 🙂
We woke up early that morning and had breakfast at Le Crosbag for 7euros…
Breakfast of croissant & coffee at Le Crosbag
We even got to see the sunrise at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)!
Sunrise at Berlin HBF
We caught the train to Cottbus @ 7:35am (don’t worry, if you are not sure of the timings, the friendly staff of Bahn will print out the itinerary and guide you on where exactly to catch the trains) and transferred to platform 10 for the train to Dresden. It was a bit of a rush since we only had minutes to catch the next train – a little bit like the Amazing Race…de de de…
Train from Berlin HBF to Cottbus at 735amTrain to Dresden at 915am
If you’re wondering why we’re changing trains here and there, the reasons are
1. Happy Weekend (Schones Wochende) Tickets are ALOT cheaper. For 42euros, you can travel in a group of 5 (YES! 5 PEOPLE!!) within a slightly more than 24 hours window ANYWHERE in the country. The catch is that you cannot take the fast trains like ICE. Hence, our journey was lengthened to about 9 hours instead of 6.5 hours with ICE. Well, ICE costs 120euros per person…that’s 240euros for both Kate and I. Compared to 240euros, 42euros seemed like a good choice…
2. Stopovers / Day trips. The longer journey allowed us to enjoy the countryside and make a stop over at Dresden. So that we can bring you this post about Dresden right?
Whats there to do at Dresden?
Dresden Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)
The old city (or Alte Stadt) of Dresden is just a short 10 minutes walk from the Dresden HBF. Once out of the train station, look for directions to Prager Strasse (or Prager Street). This is a row of shops, mall and arcades along the way to the old city. Modern before the classics. Nice.
Prager Street – Shopping galore!
One of the things that caught our attention was a lady instead of a man on the traffic lights…
There are many other interesting historical architectures that caught our attention…
Semperoper Opera House – Experience Opera at its best!
Watch this video of Theatreplatz in Dresden!
Statue of King Johann in front of the SemperoperKathedrale @ Old City of DresdenZwinger Palace Dresden
Take a 360 view of Zwinger Palace in Dresden!
View from the Augustus Bridge (River Elbe)View of the River Elbe DresdenFürstenzug aka Procession of Princes – A 102 metres long mural!Frauenkirche with Statue of Martin Luther – Possibly the most famous building in Dresden
Neumarkt and Frauenkirche
On the way back to the train station, we decided to stop by the Herbstmarkt (or Autumn Market) for lunch…
Entrance of Herbstmarkt Dresden
Feel the vibe at the Dresden Herbstmarkt!
One of the many food stalls at Dresden Herbstmarkt
There were many stalls at the Herbstmarkt. There were stalls that sells food (of course), souvenirs, snacks (like nuts that we snacked on) and open air seating areas. If you’ve seen the video, you would have heard the loud music in the background as well!
We finally settled on this stall – that many people visited (you wont go wrong with crowds)
Stall where we bought our lunch
So here’s what we had – champignons (mushrooms), pork patty, potatoes and beer. All for 10euros! The mushrooms was really flavourful. The yoghurt topping really blended well with all that flavour. The pork was chunky and meaty and the potatoes were well “marinated” on that big giant flat pan that they use in the tents.
Lunch of mushrooms, pork patty, potatoes and beer for 10euros
Do note that at some pubs, there is a deposit (called Pfand) for beer mugs. Could be like 2euros. Once you finished drinking and return the mugs, you’ll get your deposit back.
On the way back, we stopped by the old city and got ourselves a cookies and cream ice cream. A large one for 1.70euros.
One for the road – Cookies and Cream Ice Cream!
All in all, it was a great day trip that Kate planned (Thanks!) and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves revelling in the history of Dresden as well as taking part in the festivities at the Herbstmarkt. The meal there was particularly enjoyable. Picture the cool weather with the sun shining brightly, lively music in the background and great food.
All the perfect ingredients to a great meal and a great stopover at Dresden!
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Have you ever wanted a staycation where you and your family (including the kids) can really rejuvenate, relax and just have a great time? Look no further than a staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Singapore!
Singapore Staycation at the Rasa Sentosa ResortStaycation at the Deluxe Pool View room of Shangri La’s Rasa SentosaIn and Around Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore
We have heard all about the family-oriented features and programmes at the Rasa Sentosa but this time, we finally got the opportunity to check it out for ourselves! After a smooth check-in, we were brought to our rooms by one of the receptionist and the room was just nothing short of amazing…check this out!
Family Staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort
Deluxe Pool View Room at the Rasa Sentosa Resort
The room was a sanctuary and gave us an excellent vibe to the start of a staycation. The room was spacious with a pastel coloured theme. You know we sometimes complain about bathrooms that DONT allow you to bathe while you watch TV? With the swivel TV and “windows” at the bathroom, you can relax and enjoy your bath while watching your favourite shows! The kids can also enjoy their bath while staying tuned to Cartoon Network! 🙂
Amenities in the Deluxe room of Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort
The room is well-stocked and you have a small selection of teas and coffees. The hotel’s turndown service was also a thoughtful gesture whereby they re-arranged our rooms and brought in their nonya kueh kuehs while we were at the pool!
The kids can access stationery for their art and crafts if they need to!
Take a tour around our Deluxe Pool View Room at Rasa Sentosa Resort here…
Hotel Information of the Rasa Sentosa Resort
Nope, we did not spot the monkeys. Beautiful peahens did make their appearance though.
Hotel Information of the Rasa Sentosa Resort
From the lift buttons you can see that the gym is located at level 5 while the swimming pool and cool zone (for the kids) are at level 1. The restaurants and chill out bars are scattered throughout the premise.
Map of the premise at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa ResortGym of Rasa Sentosa Singapore
Tom took a 5km run on the treadmill at the gym and lifted some weights using the various machines available. After the gym, it was time to hit the pools! (After a quick shower of course – dont EVER jump into the pool after a sweaty work out people!)
Swimming pool of the Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore
As we have mentioned many times, the swimming pool makes or breaks a staycation! The pool at Rasa Sentosa certainly made our staycation GRRRRRRREAT! (To the sound of Kellogg’s) We have been to Siloso Beach at Sentosa many times but we never realised that the pool of Rasa Sentosa Resort was actually HUGE!
Huge pool for staycation at the Rasa Sentosa Resort
Staycation for the Kids at Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore
Plus, there are dedicated play areas for the kids! There are slides, splash areas just for the kids. What’s more, Toot’s Club (Kids club at Rasa Sentosa) actually plans programmes for the kids for the ENTIRE day! A typical day goes like this
9.30am : Welcome
10.00am : Cirque Du Rasa (A variety of Circus skills for the children to enjoy daily)
11.00am : Garden Games / Island Tour
1.00pm : Art and Craft
2.00pm : Fun at Siloso Beach (Beach Games)
3.00pm : Pool Games
4.00pm : Special Event of the Day
5.00pm : Shower Break
7.00pm : Evening at Cool Zone
9.00pm : See you Tomorrow!
Activities available at Toots Club – Staycation for the Kids!Games Zone of Toot’s Club
While we were at the pool, we saw staff getting the kids to play games and they really listened attentively to the instructions! From the way they played, we could see that the kids were really enjoying themselves!
There’s even an advice that goes
“Adults are discouraged to stay with the children so as to allow direct interaction between the children and their new friends.”
HOW COOL IS THAT?! After leaving your kids in the good hands of the staff at Rasa Sentosa, it is now time for the “worn-out” parents to enjoy a great time at the jacuzzi of the pool, sweat it out at the gym or just relax at “Chi” – the Spa at Shangri-La…
Spa at Chi will make your staycation at Rasa Sentosa that much more enjoyable!
Food Staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa
If Spas are not your thing, food definitely is right? And there is a variety of options for your staycation at Shangri-La Sentosa!
Spa at Chi will make your staycation at Rasa Sentosa that much more enjoyable!
Dine on 3 offers dining options at Barnacles Restaurant (which features delectable seafood and grill, Western and Asian cuisines for dinner), 8 Noodles (with its quality and affordable selection of Asian noodles specialities and roast meats), Casserole (for its international spread) and Bubble Bar (great for pre or post dinner drinks).
Rasa Sentosa’s Bubble Bar and 8 Noodles restaurantBuffet Spreads at Rasa SentosaNo lack of food options at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort!
For exclusivity, we had the option of having our breakfast at the business lounge…
Breakfast at the Rasa Business Lounge of Rasa Sentosa SingaporeMore options at the Rasa Business Lounge of Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort
For lunch we had an out-door dining experience along Siloso Beach at Trapizza
Trapizza Out-Door Dining along Siloso Beach
Trapizza is famous for its wood-fired thin crust pizzas and pastas. We were served traditional Italian fare and we were pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and freshness of its ingredients. Prawns were especially succulent and fresh!
Great food , great views (overlooking the sea) and great service… makes us want to just say…mama mia!
Pasta and Pizza at Trapizza Rasa Sentosa Resort
In all of these, the kids are never left out! There’s a kids menu at Trapizza and even a scaled-to-height buffet area just for the kids at Silver Shell Cafe! How thoughtful!
Kids Dining at the Silver Shell Cafe
After our staycation at Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa, we were thoroughly rejuvenated! And while we were there, we decided to KPO (kay poh) a bit and had a sneak peak into the Deluxe Sea View Suite…
Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort Deluxe Sea View Suite
The suite just oozes class and luxury altogether. The next time you decide to pamper yourself with a Singapore Staycation, the Suites at Rasa Sentosa can be an option as well.
Why you should do a Rasa Sentosa Resort Family Staycation
There are certainly many reasons why you should do a family staycation at Rasa Sentosa. At Sentosa, you can enjoy all the attractions that the island has to offer. Universal Studios is always a hit with the kids.
However, the biggest draw for a family staycation here is definitely the programme, facilities and even food that revolves around the kids. In all our years of travelling and staying in hotels, we have never come across a hotel that has paid so much attention and detail to make sure that the kids are well taken care of.
And when the kids are well taken care of, the parents can finally enjoy their 2gether time! (time for 2 people if you didnt get the drift…)
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Hofbrauhaus or Hof brew house (Brewery) is one of the must-visit attractions in Munich! On every Munich tourist brochure we received, the iconic HB (Hof Brau) will definitely be mentioned and we’re gonna tell you why…
Why visit Hofbrauhaus Munich?
Hofbrauhaus am Platzl in Munich
If you are visiting Munich but happen to miss the Oktoberfest, no worries. The Hofbrauhaus is a restaurant in the heart of Munich where the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest happens every night!
There are 2 portions to Hofbrauhaus, namely the restaurant area…
Inside the restaurant area of Hofbrauhaus
as well as the “happening fest” area / open air area
View from the restaurant into the open air area
There is a performance area where live Oktoberfest music is played nightly at the fest area. Hence, if you missed the Oktoberfest proper, Hofbrauhaus is definitely one of the places you must go to catch up on the atmosphere of the festivals.
What to eat & drink at Hofbrauhaus am Platzl Munich
Drinks and Food Menu at Hofbrauhaus
For drinks, you can choose from the usual wheat beers (at about 4euros for 0.5litres) such as light, dark or the Oktoberfest brew (only during Oktoberfest period) specially brewed for the Oktoberfests.
But the highlight of the menu has got to be pork knuckle (or Schwein Haxe)!
Best pork knuckle ever @ Hofbrauhaus Munchen
First and foremost, the skin was crispy yet not the overly crispy type where you feel it is almost burnt. The fatty bits was not too fatty but just nice, allowing you to bite off. There are some versions where the fatty bits are not well done and you will find it very hard to chew off.
The meat itself was flavourful and juicy, infused with the herb taste. If you take 1 mouth of the crispy skin, fatty bit and flavourful meat, it would just be “Ah….”
One word for the pork knuckle – Yummilicious! (That’s when you need to combine yummy and delicious into one word)
And it really was…
The ambience inside the restaurant was also fantastic. We were seated at one corner of the restaurant with views out to the pathway outside the restaurant…
Window seats at Hofbrauhaus Munich
In addition, the tables we were seated at were traditional, made out of wood and even had supports for our feet. The service was also great. The waiter took care to speak to us in good English and was meticulous in his service. Eventhough we only ordered one portion of the pork knuckle to share, he automatically got an extra plate for us and often checked back with us from time to time to ensure that we were really well taken care of.
All in all, our experience at Hofbrauhaus was nothing short of excellent. And you would think that the bill would run sky high? Nope. We only spent 20.20Euros that evening and enjoyed a wonderful meal with excellent service at that!
Total bill at Hofbrauhaus – Well worth every cent!
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Actually, Kate and I sort of stumbled upon the East Side Gallery. We were kind of searching for it in a general direction but did not know exactly where we were going. So we walked 2 long streets and were thinking to ourselves “Are we in the right direction?”. Just then, we saw a long stretch of wall and we knew we had arrived at the East Side Gallery!
Berlin Wall East Side Gallery Information
The East Side Gallery is actually a collection of art work from artists all over the world. It was started in 1990 and now consists of 105 pieces of art at this open air gallery.
Cute Watch Tower @ Berlin Wall East Side GalleryDepiction at Checkpoint Charlie
The above 2 pictures are the most iconic drawings at the East Side Gallery. We often see it on the postcards in Berlin. There are also many other cute, interesting and though-provoking artworks at the East Side Gallery…
Murals on the Berlin WallEast Side Gallery as we walked from Warschauer Street
Chill by the river at the East Side Gallery
As we continued to stroll along the East Side Gallery, we noticed a boat that resembled a floating hostel…
Eastern Comfort Hostel – East Side Gallery
Turns out that the Eastern Comfort Hostel was a vessel that has been refurbished to become a floating hostel. So Kate and I decided to have a drink at the Floating Lounge…
Floating Lounge of Eastern Comfort Hostel
The prices at the floating lounge was quite reasonable. We had a cider and one of the beers on tap. The cool thing about drinks in Germany is that the drinks are usually served in the glasses of the same name! (Yes, we drank Bulmers cider and Rothaus beer)
Bulmers Cider and Rothaus Beer at Eastern Comfort Hostel Floating Lounge
The atmosphere was relaxed, unpretentious and chill. There were others seated around us, catching up with one another and enjoying jokes among themselves. Coupled with the view of the river, that was really a simple, lazy yet unforgettable afternoon…
View of the river from the floating lounge @ East Side Gallery
Map of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery
Map of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery
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NH Dornach Munich was where we stayed at during the Oktoberfest period. Well, there were several reasons why we ended up at the NH Dornach…
1. Procrastination. We did not know if we were going to Europe in the very first place. To go or not to go. To go or not to go. This went on for about forever before we concluded that we should go to the Oktoberfest. By then, many of the hotels in the city have been fully booked!
2. Price. If you think that the $245SGD we paid for this room was expensive. It really was not. 4 star hotels in the city easily went for more than $300 during the Oktoberfest period. And they’re sold fast, so plan early if you’re heading there. (Find out about the Things to do and attractions at Oktoberfest right here.)
3. Accessibility. With its location near to the S-Bahn – Riem station, the NH Dornach was a mere 15 minutes ride to the city. This made NH Dornach a good choice for Oktoberfest revelers.
Exterior of NH Dornach Munich
Standard Room at NH Munchen Dornach
The room was clean and spacious. The bed was also comfortable, giving Oktoberfest revelers a good rest to recharge for the next day. The was also a bath tub in the bathroom…
Bathroom @ NH Munchen Dornach
Again, the bathroom was clean and since the hotel does not have a swimming pool, the bath tub offers the choice of relaxing in the water in the comforts of your room. The hotel does offer a gym for those who would like to keep fit as well. Especially for those who feels guilty after the festivals…
All in all, the stay at NH Munchen Dornach was a good one. Given our limited choices at that point in time, we’re quite glad that we’re able to get a room here.
Statue on the way from Riem station to NH Dornach
Remember also that there is a short cut to the station right opposite the entrance of the hotel. Following this path will save you about 5 minutes as compared to walking along the main road to the train station. Yup, along the way you will see the above statue and you know that you have arrived at the train station!
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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
Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin was the only point for foreigners to do border crossing into East Berlin during the Cold War. The most infamous incident that took place at Checkpoint Charlie was in October 1961 where there was a stand-off between 10 tanks from both American and Soviet troops. Today, Checkpoint Charlie is a major tourist attraction when visitors come to Berlin.
The name “Charlie” came from the letter “C” used in the military where “A” stands for “Alpha”, “B” for “Bravo” & “C” for “Charlie” etc.
You would recognise Checkpoint Charlie easily because of the checkpoint itself, sandbags, guards as well as a large poster of a soldier (American or Soviet depending on which side you are at)
If you are on the Soviet side entering into the Allies (American) sector, you would see a picture of the American soldier at Checkpoint Charlie…
Checkpoint Charlie : American soldier as you enter the Allies American Sector
Conversely, if you are on the American sector, entering into the Soviet side, you would see a picture of the Soviet soldier as well as the famous words “YOU ARE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR“…
Checkpoint Charlie : Soviet Soldier as you enter the Soviet SectorAerial view of Checkpoint Charle : West Berlin at the top and East Berlin at the bottom
This picture shows the aerial view of Checkpoint Charlie during the Cold War era. Notice the many lanes after crossing Checkpoint Charlie and even an area set aside for checking of cars entering into East Berlin.
Today, Checkpoint Charlie is a huge tourist attraction where you can learn more about the Berlin Wall through the museums, have a bite at the nearby cafes or even take a photo with uniform guards and have your passport chopped by the Soviet and American border controls!
Exhibition about the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint CharlieThurmann Bakery @ Checkpoint Charlie : Coffee, Sandwich and CakeUniformed Soldier guarding the CheckpointGetting your passport stamped for a small price of $5Euros
Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is always accessible but the uniformed guards will be there during normal working hours. If you would like to take a picture with the guards or have your passport stamped, a nominal fee of $5euros would apply.
How to get to Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin
Map of Checkpoint Charlie Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie is located at the intersection of Friedrichstrasse (Friedrich Street) and Niederkirchnerstrasse (Niederkirchner Street) and is just a short walk from the nearest U-Bahn – Koch Strasse Station.
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Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe is actually a Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. The 2711 (two thousand seven hundred and eleven) grey concrete slabs which resembles coffins are a stark reminder of the pain and suffering that the Jews gone through during the world war period.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe : A Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
The memorial is a short walk south of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, along Behren and Eber Strasse (Street). It is a solemn sight looking at the memorial. It creates a backdrop before visitors enter into the information centre.
Opening Hours of the Information Centre of Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe
The opening hours of the information centre is 10am to 7 or 8pm (depending on the time of the year). Inside, accounts of the victims will be depicted and you will get to understand the pain and sufferings of the Jews during this dark period. The memorial also recalled our visit to Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, which depicts the time when Anne Frank and her family were similarly persecuted during World War 2.
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Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Admission is free. However, they will be a need to queue and also carry out a quick check of your belongings before entering.
The memorial is open daily from 10am to 7 or 8pm depending on the time of the year.
How to get to Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin
It is relatively easy to get to the memorial. Once you are at Brandenburg gate, look for Eber Strasse (Eber Street) and walk along it. It is located at the corner of Eber and Behren Strasse.
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A word of advice, do not walk on the top of the concrete slabs. They vary in height and some may be a few metres in height. Do take care of this especially for young children. Falling from this great height may be catastrophic.
Enjoy this solemn but richly educational visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe, right here in Berlin!
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin has got to be one of the must-visit attractions when you visit the capital of Germany – Berlin!
Brandenburg Gate Berlin Germany
Brandenburg Gate was constructed in the 18th century and is synonymous with Germany because of the major events that it has seen. Napoleon passed through it, while more recently (although not so recent) East and West Germany were separated by it. Today, it is a major tourist attraction not only because of its significance to the history of Germany but also because of its location.
If you take a walk along Unter den Linden towards the Brandenburg Gate, you will find that it is home to many Embassies such as the Russian and British Embassy. Many famous architectures are also located in the vicinity of Unter den Linden which includes the Adlon Hotel, Berlin State Opera, Crown Prince’s Palace, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral as well as the Historical Museum.
Brandenburg Gate – Venue for Major Events in Berlin & Germany
Events are also often held at the Brandenburg Gate today. During our recent visit, we witnessed the Berlin Marathon as well as some panda activists (we think?) doing a video shoot!
Panda Activists at the Brandenburg Gate
Pandas passing through Brandenburg Gate GermanyDirector telling the pandas how the shoot should be doneFinishing Point of the Berlin Marathon at Brandenburg Gate
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How to get to Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
It is relatively easy to get to Brandenburg Gate. Located at Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin Mitte, you can reach there easily via the U or S bahn stopping at “Brandenburger Tor”.
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!
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!
The Berlin Zoo is one of the main attractions and things to do in Berlin! We have heard many things about the Berlin Zoo and its comparison to the Singapore Zoo and since we were staying nearby, we decided to check it out!
Opening Hours of Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoo has different opening hours throughout the year, make sure you check out the following before you visit!
1st, January to 15th, March:
9 am – 5.00 pm 16th, March to 23rd, March:
9 am – 7.30 pm 24th March to 08th September:
9 am – 7.00 pm 09th September to 20th Okctober:
9 am – 6.30 pm 21st, October to 31st, December:
9 am – 5.00 pm 24th December:
9 am – 2 pm 31st December:
9 am – 5 pm
Admission Ticket Prices to the Berlin Zoo
For visitors, admission to the Berlin Zoo costs 13Euros, not exactly cheap. However, if you get the bundle with the aquarium, the price is 20Euros.
Things to do and Attractions in Berlin Zoo
Our first impression of the Berlin Zoo was that it is more of a garden than a Zoo. There are lots of greenery and spaces for people to stroll and just enjoy nature.
Fountain and Garden View in Berlin Zoo
We later found out that the Berlin Zoo is actually huge. 34 hectares huge! It is also one of the oldest zoo around, opened in 1844! 😮 Check out the map of Berlin Zoo!
Map of the Berlin ZooBerlin Zoo Tickets & Brochure
As we ventured deeper into the zoo, we kept hearing these loud animal calls. Turns out to be a species of monkey will throats that bulge as they go about doing their mating calls!
Touch Zoo
Besides the animals, there is also a touch zoo where kids can interact and feeds goats and little ponies.
Goat hanging around the feed machine at the Touch Zoo
This smart goat knows that visitors have to buy their feeds from this machine and it just hangs around the feed machine waiting for visitors to come!
Restaurants & Playground
Children’s play area at the Berlin Zoo
Beside the children’s play area, there’s small cafes/restaurants where you can get your fill and continue to visit the rest of the zoo. Here, at one of the restaurants we had a germknodel for 5euros…
Germknodel – Warm Prune Dumpling with Cold Vanilla Sauce 5Euros
It started out at something that we were not used to. But it turned out to be fairly addictive! The vanilla sauce was slightly sweet which matches the dumpling and the prunes were slightly sour that gives it a tangy feel. Not bad. Not bad at all… 🙂
Inside the germknodel
Animals at the Berlin Zoo
After talking so much about the zoo itself, we shall finally visit the stars of the Berlin Zoo, the animals! Here are the list of animals that we felt were quite interesting…
We called this animal “Chomp Chomp” because it just chows down every fruit in its path! The fruits were distributed all over the sanctuary but it just scans the entire area and chows down all the fruits, leaving next to none for it’s companions!
A pack of wolves running past usA Huge Condor with Large Feet!The Okapi!
Whats a visit to the zoo without see the king of the jungle! The Lion! Here you see it prowling up and down while the Lioness just sleeps in oblivion! The next picture was a rare catch. Kate caught the lion yawning…and the next moment, it just falls asleep!
Lion Yawns…and falls asleep!
But when you’re there, dont stay too close to the cages. This signs warns visitors of the “showers” they may get if they’re too near the lions!
Warns people that lions may pee past the barrier!3 Polar Bears napping in the sun!King Penguins and Penguins with hairy eyebrows like those in Happy Feet!Chimpanzees doing acrobatics on the ropesHabitat of the Giraffes1 month old Anchali with its mother enjoying a strollThe Alkapa at the entrance of the Berlin Zoo!
We’ll leave you now with a video of the sea lion that sits proudly on a rock having its sun tan , while the rest can do nothing but watch and wait for their turn…
Related Posts
You have just finished a post from our Berlin Travels. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
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Berlin Zoologischer Garten
How to get to the Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoo is located at Budapester Straße 32 which is actually right beside the Zoologischer Garten station for both U-bahn and S-bahn. Hence, just alight at these stations and the Zoo is just a short walk away.
The Berlin Zoo is actually not as good as the Singapore Zoo in terms of educational value and visitor attractions. However, it does have a few animals that are unique to temperate countries. So do enjoy the Berlin Zoo the next time you visit Berlin!
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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P.S. Should you have further queries about your visit to Singapore or would like to have a group/private guided tour on your next trip here, feel free to drop us a mail through contact@2bearbear.com!
There are so many things to do and attractions in Amsterdam! If you’re looking for a Amsterdam Travel Blog that tells you all the top must do things in Amsterdam, you’re at the right place! Let’s find out what are some of the things that you can do right here in Amsterdam!
Things to do and Attractions in Amsterdam
1. Amsterdam Canal Cruises
View of the Amsterdam Canals
Ditch the bike (or your shoes) and hop on the Amsterdam Canal Cruises! By taking this cruise, you will be able to cover all the major attractions in Amsterdam, all in the comfort of your seat onboard the cruise!
2. Visit to the Flower Markets (Bloemenmarkt) in Amsterdam
Flower Market Amsterdam
Along Singel, you will be able to find the Bloemenmarkt (aka Flower Market) in Amsterdam! Here you will be able to find many different varieties of the famous flower export of the Netherlands – Tulips!
3. Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
Anne Frank’s Statue @ Church near Anne Frank House
Interested in history? Anne Frank House will allow you to step back in time via Anne Frank’s diary that depicts the occupation of Nazi Germany during WW2!
4. Zaanse Schans to see Traditional Windmills near Amsterdam
Traditional Windmills Zaanse Schans
A short ride away from Amsterdam Central Station is Zaanse Schans (stop at Koog Zaandijk Station). At Zaanse Schans, you can have the opportunity to see these traditional windmills that still works today!
5. Oldest Albert Heijn in the Netherlands
Oldest Albert Heijn in the Netherlands Zaanse Schans
While you’re in Zaanse Schans, why not visit the oldest Albert Heijn in the Netherlands that was established since 1887? It is today a museum but still serves good coffee (go to the back!) – the bedrock of this household supermarket chain in the Netherlands!
6. Of Clogs and Wooden Shoes
Rows of Clogs Zaanse Schans
Visit the clog making demonstrations at Zaanse Schans and you’ll be amazed at how these simple soft woods can become colourful and intricately designed clogs worn in the Netherlands!
7. Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
Nicely Warmed Swimming pool at Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
Pamper youself at the Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam! Here you can choose to stay at the new Urban wing or the traditional Victoria Wing. Whatever your choice, you’ll enjoy the heated indoor pool with a glass roof even as it snows in the deep winter night!
8. Your pick of La Place Amsterdam OR Japanese “All You Can Eat” Buffet in Amsterdam!
La Place Amsterdam
La Place is Amsterdam’s version of Marche in Singapore! Here you can find a large variety of food that includes meats, pasta, pastries and desserts!
Salmon Avocado & Tuna Sushi at Amsterdam Buffet
Fancy a buffet while you’re in the Netherlands? Why not try the Japanese “All You Can Eat” buffet in Amsterdam? You’ll be surprised by the rules that they have and also pleasantly enticed by the quality of food that they serve up!
9. Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam Street Markets!
Arriving at Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam!
If street market is your thing, remember to visit the Albert Cuyp Market in Amsterdam! Here you can try out the street food such as stroopwafels or fried fries and even source out for the best deals at the many different street stalls here!
10. Museums & Shopping in Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam – Did you notice the ice skating rink?
Museums such as Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum at the Amsterdam Museum Square are the evergreens in Amsterdam. Here you can personally view the famous “Sunflowers” as drawn by Van Gogh himself! If art is not your cup of tea, maybe shopping is? You will be spoilt for choice at the shopping streets in Amsterdam from Nieuwendijk to Kalverstraat!
Amsterdam Shopping Streets
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We finally rounded off our 10 day Europe Trip with Amsterdam City on Day 9 and 10! On Day 9, we started off early to visit Anne Frank House. It was about a 20 minutes walk away. Eventhough it was drizzling that morning, there was still a crowd when we reached there in the morning!
Crowd outside Anne Frank House
After Anne Frank Huis, we visited the shopping street in Amsterdam. There we took a break at La Place, the Amsterdam equivalent of Marche…
La Place Amsterdam
As it was a cold day, the mustard soup really energised us and warmed us up for the rest of the shopping in Amsterdam! Kate can tell you all about the H&Ms there and where to get the best deals! (read : Go to red label section!)
As it was CNY, we ended off the evening with an excellent Japanese “All You Can Eat” Buffet in the heart of the city! It turned out to be great except that Tom had the runs that evening…read more about Japanese Buffet in Amsterdam here….
Excellent Japanese Buffet in Amsterdam
The next morning, after much contemplation, we decided to go for the Amsterdam Canal Cruise to catch all the attractions in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam Canal Cruise to see all the attractions of Amsterdam!
Turns out that the cruise was an excellent choice and the running commentary led us to better understand this city of canals – Amsterdam!
As we winded down to the last hours before our departure back to Singapore, we stopped by a local pub for some drinks.
Last pint of ice cold Heineken @ Cafe Del Mondo
It was here that I went across to the open markets and got a white Gerbera for Kate! But still she feasted her eyes on the bartender at Cafe Del Mondo…sigh…
Handsome Bartender @ Cafe Del Mondo
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All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed these 10 days trip in Europe! We hope you’ve enjoyed our journey through Europe as much as we have enjoyed writing them! Oh! Remember to stock up on the stroopwafels and choco waffles before you return! Do visit us for more travel ideas, the next time you visit Europe!
Grand Mercure Roxy is an hotel that is ideal for a staycation because of its proximity to shopping areas such as the 112 Katong as well as the Parkway Parade Shopping Centre! To wind things down a little, you can also choose to visit the nearby Marine Parade Road Park or take a short walk to the East Coast Park where you can enjoy a wide array of activities such as cycling, BBQ, fishing, cable-skiing or simply chill by the sea side!
Staycation at the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Singapore
Staycation at the Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore
As we entered our room, we were pleasantly surprised by the relaxed ambience created by the pastel colours. Soon, the comfy bed was calling out to us… For couch potatoes, you’ll definitely enjoy the bed! While relaxing in bed, you’ll get to enjoy cable network as well!
Decorations in GMR Standard Room
The bathroom was spacious and there was a bathtub!! Woohoo!! We also noticed a peranakan feel to the decoration with the tea setting… We were wondering why and soon we found out that GMR has been lining up peranakan food and experiences throughout the hotel as well…
Feast @ East Restaurant with Authentic Peranakan Food!
Besides the Peranakan storm whipped up by Mrs Jane Quek (a Peranakan herself), there are also cute and intricate Peranakan barang barang available for purchase!
Peranakan souvenirs on sale @ Grand Mercure Roxy!
Facilities at the Grand Mercure Roxy
The pool of a hotel usually make or break a staycation for us (and of course the weather – imagine a rainy staycation…*bleaH) and the pool at GMR was just excellent for soaking up the sun!
Awesome swimming pool at Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel – Perfect for a Staycation!
You can simply enjoy the sun (the dude’s really enjoying the sun isnt he?) or just chill at pool. Whichever, whenever, whatever. There’s even a bar right beside the pool for you to chillax with your mates! With the newly re-vamped GMR, there are also rooms right beside the pool. Pool at your doorstep…cool huh?
Facilities at Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel
For the fitness junkies, you’ll be happy to find a gym available. Well, not so much for us lah…”Eat Sleep Play Repeat”, remember? Not “Eat Sleep Play Keep Fit Repeat”…for conferences and meetings, there are also meeting rooms available.
Explore Singapore with Grand Mercure Roxy Package
With the Explore Singapore package, guests will be given able to enjoy a hop-on, hop-off ride on the Fun-Vee Singapore Explorer!
Funvee Ride with Explore Singapore Package!
We think that the package originally targets visitors to Singapore. With a stay, you’ll also be able to visit major attractions in Singapore. In fact, there are 3 routes to choose from. The Green Route – City Hopper, The Orange Route – Marina and Heritage Hopper and the Red Route – Sentosa Hopper.
However, we thought that as Singaporeans, a staycation can also be an awesome way to see what Singapore has to offer! Through the package, we were able to visit major attractions in Singapore!
Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay and One Fullerton!The City and the Singapore Art MuseumClarke Quay and the Singapore RiverBotanical Gardens and Orchard Road!
For visitors, this is definitely a good deal! Covering all of Singapore’s attractions with a stay at the GMR. Not bad indeed.
Dinner Set Menu at the Breez Bistro.Bar
One of the highlights of our staycation (besides the pool and Singapore Explorer), was the dinner set menu at the Breez Bistro.Bar. One must be thinking, “How good can the food be at a Bistro/Bar?” With dinner set menu priced at $58 (not cheap hor), the visit seemed to be heading in a wrong direction…(yeah, the price usually sets the direction)
However, we were OH SO WRONG!
Menu of set dinner at Breez Bistro.Bar
The menu consists of a 4 course meal, an appetizer, soup, mains and dessert. You can also have a choice of house wine, beer, mocktail or fruit juice. After deciding on our orders of the Grilled Rib Eye and Pan-seared Salmon, we were promptly served our starters…
Prawn Cocktail and Wild Mushroom Soup
The prawn was simply fresh and succulent! Together with the garden greens, it really worked up our appetite for the rest of the meal! The wild mushroom soup was also rich with subtle surprises with each mouth taken! The cool part about the entire meal is that each dish is served up so intricately arranged – talk about fine dining!
Grilled Rib Eye, Pan-seared Salmon and dessert
First off, the portions were huge! Great for big appetites like us! But the highlight was the taste. Tender and juicy, flavours flowed with each bite of the rib eye. From our “years of experience”, this could only be achieved by using the freshest ingredients with an absolute control of temperatures and timing. Likewise for the salmon, just sweet tasting good ol’ salmon. The red wine for the rib eye and white for the salmon was a great complement to the meal as well! For an exceptional meal, we just had to meet the man behind the absolutely satisfying meal! Great job Chef Eric!
Chef Eric behind the latest set meals at Grand Mercure Roxy’s Breez Bistro.Bar
Sometimes, we think that for the same price on a buffet, we may overeat and miss out on quality food. If you’re thinking likewise this day, do not miss the set menus at the Breez Bistro.Bar of Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore! Oh, do also check out the cool mocktails from the bar as well! The bartenders are really innovative, whipping up their own take on creative mocktails! Thanks for the mocktail demonstration Eddy!
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With the good food, excellent pool, great staycation package that includes a tour of Singapore, we definitely had a great staycation at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Grand Mercure Roxy for making this staycation possible!
Click on the following posts to see all our Singapore Staycation Reviews!
Raffles Hotel has finally launched its Summer Staycation Package 2013! If it’s history, luxury and impeccable service you’re looking for, Raffles Hotel is definitely the place to enjoy a Singapore staycation!
Iconic Sikh Doorman of the Raffles Hotel
The Raffles Hotel is really an exclusive hotel! Guests are known as “Residents” at the hotel and every person that passes through the main lobby will be screened. Non-residents can only view the classy lobby from the doors of the hotel…
Posh Lobby of Raffles HotelLavish stairs of main lobby Raffles HotelNatural sunlight brightens the lobby of the Raffles Hotel
Here’s a low down of our itinerary for the staycation at Raffles Hotel
– Breakfast @ Tiffin Room
– Tour of the hotel by Resident Historian Mr Leslie Danker
(Inspired us to write the post about “10 Interesting facts You never knew about Raffles Hotel“)
– Famous Northern Indian Curry Buffet @ Tiffin Room
– Raffles Spa Experience
– Dinner at the Empire Cafe
Rich History combined with colonial luxury at the Raffles Hotel Singapore
Courtyard Suite of the Raffles Hotel
For our readers who are still not aware, Raffles Hotel only has suites! There are 103 suites including Courtyard Suites, Palmcourt Suites, Personality Suites, Grand Hotel Suites and the Presidential Suites. Suites starts at about $700 per night to as much as $10,000 per night for the Presidential Suite (floor area of 280 square meters)!
We were pleasantly surprised by our Courtyard Suite. It had a dining space, a living area, the huge room and an even more surprisingly big bathroom! All with a high ceiling and colonial style decorations!
Dining area of Courtyard SuiteParlour (aka Living Area) of the SuiteColonial styled decoration at Raffles Hotel SingaporeKing size bed and porcelain lamp stands in the bedroomCabinets with hidden TVFor Him and For Her basinsToilet Amenities in Raffles HotelSpacious bathroom with bathtub and separate shower point of Raffles Hotel SuiteSneak peak of bedroom in Raffles Hotel SuitePersonalised, Hand Written Welcome Note of Raffles HotelWelcome gifts including a fruit basket, $500 voucher and Raffles Room Spray
Tour of the Courtyard Suite of the Raffles Hotel
The entire suite exudes charm and class. The attention to details can be seen from the porcelain lamp stands, porcelain elephant in the bathroom, colonial era cabinets and of course the signature 14 foot high ceilings. There were actually 2 televisions in the room. The only comment is that the TVs are granny TVs. We found out from our hosts that the TVs were actually the top of the line in 1991. The cabinets were also custom made to fit the TVs. If you notice, the TVs are actually flat screens as well. We’ll be sure to look out for the upgrade during the next renovation!
Beside our suite is the hall of fame…
Hall of Fame – Photos of Famous Personalities who Stayed here at Raffles Hotel
Celebrities and foreign dignitaries often check in with the Raffles Hotel. These famous people include the Queen of England, Netherlands, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Michael Jackson, Sting, Michael Bolton, Karen Mok, Maggie Cheung and Jackie Chan!
Staycation for the Kids @ Raffles Hotel Singapore
My Adventure Passport – Kids Staycation @ Raffles Hotel Singapore!
If you’re wondering what will the kids be doing during their staycation at the Raffles Hotel, fret not! There is a suite of activities inside the “My Adventure Passport”, specially created to keep the kids entertained!
Kids will be on mini quests whereby there will accomplish missions such as taking a photo with the doorman of the Raffles Hotel. For each mission completed, a stamp is given and upon completion of a number of missions, they will be rewarded with ice creams, pizza making sessions and more!
Facilities of the Raffles Hotel Singapore
The Raffles Hotel is huge! 300,000 square feet in land area and 25% of it is dedicated to its lush greeneries
The Lawn @ Raffles Hotel SingaporeCourtyard and Gardens of Raffles HotelFacade of the Raffles Hotel to show how extensive it is
It is actually very possible to get lost. Or to take a long time to find your way around. For instance, Kate and I actually got lost when we tried to locate restaurants of the hotel! Whenever, we wanted to find the Lawn, it almost always seemed illusive. Maybe we’re just blind – directionally.
The Raffles Hotel has all the facilities you’d expect of a luxury class hotel that includes a beautiful swimming pool, a gym, sauna, steam bath and also a in house spa known as Raffles Amrita Spa.
Raffles Hotel Swimming Pool!Jacuzzi at Raffles Hotel Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool of Raffles hotel Singapore
Entrance to Raffles Amrita Spa
Dinner at Raffles Courtyard
After a relaxing check-in, we headed to the Raffles Courtyard to check out the new Italian menu.
Night view of Raffles Courtyard
In addition to our previous trip to Raffles Courtyard, we would like to highlight the carpaccio, lasagna as well as the vanilla ice cream!
The beef carpaccio tasted really refreshing! Although it was our second time trying it, the fresh taste of the herbs, lime and beef once again caught our attention. The lasagna was strongly recommended by our host and it did not disappoint. The rich flavours of the marinated beef together with the cheese complemented the fresh pasta to give us that “Oh” reaction. (“Oh” means “Oh, this is quite good!”). Last but not least, the vanilla is the real deal. Try it and you may just get addicted to it. Maybe the next time you walk past Raffles Courtyard, you’ll be tempted to take away a scoop of the vanilla ice cream…beware of its charms…
Cocktails and Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
Long Bar is home to the original Singapore Sling. Created around 1915 by Mr Ngiam Tong Boon, the drink was created to allow ladies of that time to have a drink under the disguise of a fancy coloured cocktail.
The Original Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
There was also a demonstration set up just for us to show the concoction of drinks named after the countries where Raffles Hotels are…
Liquors set up for the demonstration
How to make the Original Singapore Sling
Singapore Sling and the drinks of Cambodia, France, Indonesia, Philippines and Seychelles
Our favourite was Seychelles and the Singapore Sling. You must try the Singapore Sling! Frankly speaking, we have not tried anything like it. All the other “Singapore Slings” that we have ever tried, does not even come close to the original one!
Breakfast and Lunch at the Tiffin Room
Tiffin Room is a classy restaurant (dress code to go along) that offers good food with exceptional service. I mean, our waiter actually remembered what we ordered the day before! 😮
Interior of the Tiffin Room @ Raffles Hotel Singapore
The breakfast at Tiffin room is a semi-buffet where you can order some main courses from the menu and enjoy the rest of the buffet from the spread…
Menu of the semi-buffet breakfast at Tiffin RoomEggs Benedict from Raffles Hotel Singapore
Our favourite has got to be the egg benedict. Really makes us wonder how the chef can create such a complex dish from such a humble ingredient. Firm on the outside but runny on the inside (the yolk literally exploded when we went in). Remarkable control of the temperatures!
The Northern Indian Curry Buffet from the Tiffin Room is also a famous main stay of the Raffles Hotel.
Tiffin Room Buffet Lunch at Raffles Hotel SingaporeTiffin Room Wines recommended by Sommelier or wine steward
The curries, sweets and desserts have made a name for themselves. Our favourite was the raisin ice cream (aka raisin kulfi)
Famous raisin ice cream aka raisin kulfi @ Tiffin RoomTea after the lunch at Tiffin Room
The tea after lunch served up in colonial era tea pot added a touch to the stylish buffet lunch!
Tour around Raffles Hotel
Mr Leslie Danker, the resident historian with more than 40 years of experience took us on a tour around Raffles Hotel.
Mr Leslie Danker @ the Raffles Grill
The Raffles Grill was redecorated to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The cabinet (at the end of the Grill) as well as the design was done to celebrate the event. In the Grill, there is also a story about the Silver Wagon which was buried during WW2 to prevent it from being taken by the Japanese. It was then re-discovered and now displayed prominently in its former glory, in the Grill.
The Buried Silver Wagon at Grill Raffles HotelClock in the lobby over 40 years old!Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel
The famous story of a tiger shot dead under the Bar & Billiard Room of the Raffles Hotel is TRUE! In 1902, there was a travelling circus near beach road. In those days, beach road was really close to the beach and a tiger escaped from the circus and went for a dip.
After the dip, the tiger rested BENEATH the Bar and Billiard Room of the Raffles Hotel. One of the hotel staff saw the tiger and went to a school opposite to ask the principal (Mr Charles Phillips) to help kill the tiger. Charles also happened to be a hunter.
Initially, Charles declined because he attended a function that evening and got a bit tipsy. But since it was a matter of life and death, he agreed and went over, still in his pyjamas. On his first attempt, he took 3 shots and COMPLETELY MISSED THE TIGER! Well, partially due to the alcohol and also that it was quite dark.
Then the tiger turned over. With its eyes gleaming in the dark, Charles took another shot and this time it went right between its eyes. This news was true and was featured in the local newspapers in 1902.
Tiger killed beneath the billiard table Where where
But people often mistaken this story to have taken place beneath the billiard table in the Bar and Billiard Room. (The tiger was shot beneath the room, not the table) Today, you may still find many visitors peering beneath the billiard tables, trying to find out the truth to this story…
As part of the tour, we were shown the Presidential Suite (also known as Sir Stamford Raffles Suite) of the Raffles Hotel! All the bloggers went trigger crazy!
Living Room of the Presidential SuiteDining area of the Presidential Suite Raffles HotelBedroom 1 of Presidential Suite Raffles HotelBedroom 2 of Presidential Suite RaffleS Hotel
Tour of the Raffles Hotel Presidential Suite
The Presidential Suite was simply luxurious! Now we know how the rich and famous really live it up in style and class! :p
Dinner at the Empire Cafe Raffles Hotel
The Empire Cafe is famed for its local delights. We were introduced to the dim sum, curry as well as its famed laksa that even Jackie Chan craves for!
Inside Empire Cafe Raffles HotelMenu for the evening at Empire CafeStarting with the Teh Tarik
Of the dim sums, we really enjoyed the siew mai and the seafood spring roll. The siew mai had an additional seasoning that made the overall taste that much sweeter. The seafood spring roll was fresh on the inside and crispy on the outside. Not oily at all.
Siew Mai Empire Cafe Raffles HotelSeafood Spring RollChicken Curry at Empire CafeJackie Chan’s favourite Laksa @ Raffles Hotel Empire Cafe
The chicken curry was not as rich as we expected. However, it was also adequately salted unlike many curries that would be too salty. As with most curries, the gravy went well with the rice that was served. The laksa had another story to it…
According to our host (Kenny), the laksa at Empire Cafe is Jackie Chan’s favourite. When Jackie Chan enters Empire Cafe, his colleauges would tell him “Your Mr Chan is here…”
Jackie Chan would then proceed to consume his laksa and even go for seconds with just the gravy and tau pok. With the fresh ingredients, the laksa was good. But we prefer the rich tasting ones, think Katong…
Sago Gula Melaka
The important thing about this dish is ability of the sago to retain its small granular texture. This sago did. After taking the advice from Kenny to mix all the coconut and gula melaka in, the sago did taste quite good. Not the best we’ve had but good nonetheless.
Sunday Brunch @ Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel
On our 3rd day, we went for the highlight of our staycation – the Sunday Champagne Brunch @ the Bar and Billiard Room.
To us, this was definitely the Best Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet in Singapore. Here’s why…
1. Variety. It is quite impossible to try all the foods at this Sunday Brunch. It boasts of a huge selection of foods from appetizers to carvings to pastries to mains to sea food and even a huge dessert buffet! If you ever get to try all the dish from this buffet – Respect man.
Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch
2. Quality. Having tasted many cuisines worldwide, it is not easy to “wow” us and at this buffet, we were “wowed” several times! The lamb, pork, oyster, foie gras, ravioli and dessert spread were some of the food that caught our attention.
Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch Fresh Oysters Maine LobsterBar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch Pan Fried Foie Gras
3. Bubbly. Since we are on words that end with “y”…The Champagne added a touch of class to this Sunday Brunch. It is no ordinary champagne but the Billecart-Salmon Champagne. This champagne has a rich history that complements the rich history of the Raffles Hotel and the class of the Bar and Billiard Room.
Billecart-Salmon Champagne at the Raffles Hotel Bar and Billiard Room Sunday Brunch (Custom)Free Flow of Champagne and Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch
4. Classy. The colonial decoration, excellent quality of food and personalised service really made this Sunday Brunch stand out from its competitors. A class above.
Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel Sunday Brunch Rack of VealDessert Spread at the Sunday Brunch of Bar and Billiard RoomSunday Brunch of Bar and Billiard Room More Yummy Desserts
If you’re thinking that you may be priced out to enjoy a staycation at Raffles Hotel, here’s great news for you! The newly launched summer staycation package costs only $550++ (per suite per night) and includes the following
– Children below the age of 12 stay (using existing beddings) and dine for free with their parents at Hotel-operated restaurants (adults must dine at the restaurant)
– Welcome Singapore Slings and fruit upon arrival, while children will enjoy fruit smoothies and cookies
– Complimentary breakfast at Tiffin Room on the first morning
– Complimentary Buffet Dinner at Bar & Billiard Room or Tiffin Room (once during the stay)
– Complimentary in-suite internet access
– 24-hour Butler Service
– Complimentary S$500 Raffles Hotel Arcade Shopping Discount Vouchers
– Complimentary late check-out until 6pm
– Complimentary parking
The special rate is extended to residents in Singapore, including Singapore Citizens, PRs, and work pass holders. The Suite Package will be valid only during the Weekends from 1 September 2013 onwards.
After calculation, it is actually quite hua (worth it) to enjoy the staycation package at the Raffles Hotel. The welcome drinks and smoothies will cost about $100 (for a family of 5 inclusive of 3 kids / Singapore Sling costs $26++). Breakfast at Tiffin is usually $45++ per person. While dinner at B&B is $75++ per person.
Conclusion : If you include the meals of a family of 5, the suite is practically free! 😮
What are you waiting for? For enquiries or reservations on the Staycation Package, please contact the Reservations Department at (65) 6412 1244 or email roomreservation@raffles.com.
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