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What do you look for in a Travel Vacation?

What do you look for when you travel

Just thought it would be interesting to find out what all of us look for when we go for our vacations. That is to say, when we travel, what are some of the things that we look forward to during our vacations?

In this post, we will discuss some of the things that we look out for and if you have other perspectives, why not share with us in the comments section below?

Here are some of the things we (at 2bearbear.com) look forward to in our travels…

Nature

As city dwellers in sunny Singapore, it is really a luxury to just get away from it all and travel to scenic spots to simply relax. It can be awe-inspiring to re-connect with nature as well. For instance, during our visit to the Grand Canyon as well as the Niagara Falls, not only did we feel completely relaxed, we were also awe-struck by how magnificent nature can be!

Tourist Attractions

As typical tourists, many a times, we adopt the “been-there-done-that” mentality. I mean, how can you visit Paris without going to the Eiffel Tower or visit New York City without going to the Empire State Building right? So when we visit a certain location, we would be sure to find out from websites such as 2bearbear.com (a very good travel site I must say) about the things to do in that place. If the reviews are good, we’ll definitely pay a visit to these attractions.

Shopping

With Kate around, shopping is a must. But it doesnt mean that it should burn a hole in your pocket. This is because each country has its own produce or specialties to purchase. For instance, many would visit Indonesia to buy handicrafts, Vietnam for paintings and of course New York for Coach, Kate Spade (think Woodbury Common Premium Outlet). Outlet malls such as the Johor Premium Outlet can also be great places to catch a steal. When you get these specialties from the countries of origin, chances are that the prices would be cheaper as well.

Food!

Notice the exclamation mark for “Food!”!! Food is one of those things that help us connect to the local culture. Plus, since Singapore is a place where many cultures gather, we are very receptive of food from different cultures. One of our most memorable food trips has got to be in USA where we tasted some of the best french-dipped sandwiches and nachos in Philadelphia… BEST EVER!

Asian food trips to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong made our day as well!

Staycations

Nowadays, staycation is a hot buzz word. Instead of travelling half way round the world to enjoy amenities that you may scrimp on, why not save on that air ticket and enjoy the excellent hotel facilities back home? Hence, we did several staycations in Singapore and found ourselves thoroughly relaxed and rejuvenated after these staycations!

Tell us about your trips!

Now it’s your turn to tell us what you look forward to in a trip! Leave us your thoughts and perspectives in our comments section below!

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What do you look for when you travel

So what do you look for in your travels and vacations?

Things to do in Amsterdam : Amsterdam Canal Cruises!

Locks of gates in Amsterdam Canals

There are actually so many things to do in Amsterdam! Today, we are going to talk about the Amsterdam Canal Cruise! One cruise to see them all – all the attractions in Amsterdam!

On our last day in Amsterdam, we finally decided to take the river cruise to enjoy the canals of Amsterdam. Partly because Tom wanted to go on the cruise but mainly because it was a nice and sunny day (eventhough the temperature was about 10 degrees Celsius). The price of of the river cruise ticket in Amsterdam was 13 euros (approximately 20SGD) per person. Quite expensive for asian standards but what the heck. One ride to see them all…(sounds like one ring to rule them all…)

Price of tickets to Amsterdam River Cruise
Price of tickets to Amsterdam River Cruise
Amsterdam Canal Cruise to see all the attractions of Amsterdam!
Amsterdam Canal Cruise to see all the attractions of Amsterdam!

It was quite spacious inside the river cruise boat. You can choose to face backwards, forwards, to the left or to the right side of the boat. Window seats would be best cause you can take pictures and videos without other passengers onboard disrupting you! :p The boat also had transparent roofs to allow sunlight through which really brightened up the internals of the boat. This is a really good idea considering that the river cruise takes about an hour (1 hour) to complete.

View of the Amsterdam Canals
View of the Amsterdam Canals

Things to do in Amsterdam – Amsterdam Canal Cruises!

The cruise started with a great view of the canals (see above). Along the way, there would be running commentaries (in different languages) that tells you what to look out for such as these locks of gates…

Locks of gates in Amsterdam Canals
Locks of gates in Amsterdam Canals

These locks of gates in the canals of Amsterdam help to regulate the flood situations by keeping high tides out. Along the way, you would also see the typical skinny Amsterdam houses (some as thin as 2 metres!) as well as bridges that link the various parts of the waterways.

Typical skinny buildings along the canals of Amsterdam
Typical skinny buildings along the canals of Amsterdam


Video of wide houses in contrast to skinny ones

Bridge linking various parts of the waterways
Bridge linking various parts of the waterways
Bridge along the Princess Canal
Bridge along the Princess Canal

One of the main attractions or things to do in Amsterdam would be to see the boat houses along the canals of Amsterdam!

Boat House with Beer Bottles as Decorations
Boat House with Beer Bottles as Decorations
Modern Looking Boat House
Modern Looking Boat House

It was said that these boat houses used to be “parked” along the canals in an unorderly fashion. To regulate things a little, the authorities relocated the boat houses here and gave them leases as well. Enjoy this short video of the boat houses along Amsterdam Canal!


Boat Houses along the canals of Amsterdam

Another interesting thing that we saw was someone shifting into a unit along the canals. You will then notice that each building along the canals have some sort of a hoist at the top of the building…

Hoist at the top of each building
Hoist at the top of each building
A family shifting in
A family shifting in

The hoists are points where pulleys can be used to lift heavy and bulky items such as furniture and refrigerators into the house. As the stairs are too narrow, this is the usual way of shifting stuff in and out! The other way would be to use ladders or lifts (or in this picture a combination of both) to bring items in and out of the unit.

7 Arches or 7 Bridges along Reguliers Canal Amsterdam
7 Arches or 7 Bridges along Reguliers Canal Amsterdam

The other must see is the 7 arches or 7 bridges along Reguliers Canal. Here you can have a view of all 7 bridges lined up in 1 row! Don’t worry if you’re seated on the wrong side of the boat cause the captain will slow things down for passengers to take a shot here.

Other Attractions in Amsterdam

There are many other attractions that you can see from the Amsterdam Canal Cruise…

Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House
Oldest Protestant Church in Amsterdam
Oldest Protestant Church in Amsterdam
Office of the Mayor of Amsterdam
Office of the Mayor of Amsterdam
City Hall & Opera House Amsterdam
City Hall & Opera House Amsterdam
The Skinny Bridge Amsterdam
The Skinny Bridge Amsterdam
The Mint Tower Amsterdam
The Mint Tower Amsterdam
The oldest financial institution in Amsterdam
The oldest financial institution in Amsterdam
The oldest church in Amsterdam
The oldest church in Amsterdam
Sea Palace - A Chinese Restaurant Amsterdam
Sea Palace – A Chinese Restaurant Amsterdam
The Library Amsterdam
The Library Amsterdam
The Nemo - Science Centre Amsterdam
The Nemo – Science Centre Amsterdam

As the boat circles out of the canals, the waters get a little choppy. Here you can get great views of the harbour…

Looking back at Amsterdam City
Looking back at Amsterdam City
View of the Amsterdam Central Station
View of the Amsterdam Central Station
Map of Canal Cruise with outline of the route
Map of Canal Cruise with outline of the route

The map above outlines the route that the canal cruise took. Basically, you will circle the canals (1 round) from Prinsengracht to Herengracht to Rokin, Damrak, out to the sheltered waters and back.

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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Amsterdam right here!

We hope you have enjoyed this post about the Amsterdam River Canal Cruise! There are so many things to do in Amsterdam, be sure to check them out the next time you’re in Amsterdam!

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Top 10 Things To Do In Sri Lanka!

Entrance of Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Top 10 Things To Do In Sri Lanka

There are so many things to do in Sri Lanka! This post will show you the top 10 things to do right here in Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka is an exotic destination for travelers who are adventurous, loves the nature, appreciates history, and enjoys good food. It has an eclectic mix of attractions that will suit everyone. Sri Lanka is best explored through a free & easy trip, with a rented car and a driver. Or if you have time to spare, you can also use the public transport.

Map of Sri Lanka
Map of Sri Lanka

Map of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tear-drop-shaped country with awesome beaches, wildlife national parks, and a central mountainous area. Below are the Top 10 Things to do in Sri Lanka:

1. Galle Fort

Lighthouse at Galle Fort
Lighthouse at Galle Fort

Light house at Galle Fort

2. Yala National Park

The first animal to greet us
The first animal to greet us

The first animal to greet us at Yala National Park

3. Famous Temples: Kataragama Temple, Sacred Temple of The Tooth Relic, Rock Temple

Tissamaharama Temple
Tissamaharama Temple

Tissamaharama Temple

4. Hummanaya Blow Hole

Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 3
Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 3

Things to do in Sri Lanka – Hummanaya Blowhole

5. Sigiriya Rock

Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya Rock

Things to do in Sri Lanka – Sigiriya Rock

6. Waterfalls

Another angle of Bakers Falls
Another angle of Bakers Falls

Another angle of Bakers Falls

7. Horton Plains

One of the easier-to-walk-flat-ground at Horton Plains National Park
One of the easier-to-walk-flat-ground at Horton Plains National Park

Things to do in Sri Lanka -Horton Plains National Park

8. Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Pretty arrangement of flowers at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Pretty arrangement of flowers at Hakgala Botanical Gardens

Things to do in Sri Lanka – Hakgala Botanical Gardens

9. Trincomalee

Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 5
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 5

Things to do in Sri Lanka – Trincomalee

10. Experience homestay with local Sri Lankan family

Living room in Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow
Living room in Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow

Experience a homestay

For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Sri Lanka right here!

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River Maas Maastricht : Enjoy the sights along this famous river

Sint Servaasbrug Maastricht

The river Maas is the main river of Holland that passes many states and provinces. Yes, it passes through Maastricht as well!

As we walked along river Maas (aka Meuse), we enjoyed all the sights that the walk along the river has to offer. Here are some of the more notable sights along the river…

Sint Servaasbrug

Sint Servaasbrug Maastricht
Sint Servaasbrug Maastricht

Sint Servaasbrug is one of the bridges that connects from the train station side of the city to the old city/city centre itself (i.e. east to west side of the city). The bridge is characterised by the limestones used in its construction as well as the arches of channels that it has under it.

Hoge Brug

Hoge Brug Maastricht
Hoge Brug Maastricht

Hoge Brug is the bridge between the Sint Servaasbrug and JFK bridge. It is characterised by its modern single arch stretching from one side of the river to the other.

Medieval Remnants

Remnant of Medieval Wall Maastricht
Remnant of Medieval Wall Maastricht

There is no actual name for this remnant along the river (or is there? can the locals tell us?) but as with the other medieval fortifications in Maastricht, it is a great area to have a picturesque photo along the river.

Beluga Restaurant Maastricht

Beluga Michelin Restaurant Maastricht
Beluga Michelin Restaurant Maastricht

Beluga is one of the most famous Michelin restaurants in Maastricht. Given its location as well as the excellent choice of foods that it serves, Beluga draws visitors and locals alike to its premise.

Charles Eyck Park

Charles Eyck Park Maastricht
Charles Eyck Park Maastricht

As you continue to walk along the river (southwards), you will come across the Charles Eyck Park. It is a nice little area to chill, enjoy the views of the river as well as the bridges that spans the river Maas.

Bonnefanten Museum

Bonnefanten Museum along River Maas
Bonnefanten Museum along River Maas

Strange as it looks, Bonnefanten Museum is one of the most famous museums in Maastricht. Today, it houses one of the most interesting collections of old art as well as contemporary art.

The sunshine, sounds of the river as well as the cool atmosphere concocts a relaxing holiday, waiting for you to enjoy, here in Maastricht!

We shall now leave you with the sights and sounds along the river Maas (Meuse) in Maastricht!


Birds cruising along the river Maas in Maastricht


Sights along the river Maas in Maastricht

For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Maastricht right here!

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Things to do in Amsterdam : Day 1 of Europe Trip

Amsterdam Central Station

Yes! It is the start of our Europe trip! Our starting point was Amsterdam. After arriving at Schipol airport in Amsterdam, we transferred to the train to Amsterdam Central.

The location of the train station is right beside the airport (within walking distance) so that’s very convenient. You can buy tickets for the train from the service counter or one of the ticketing machines. However, do note that tickets over the counter costs an additional 50cents. On the flip side, if you do buy from the machines, make sure that you have enough coins as some (or most in Holland) ticketing machines do not accept notes. The ticket prices from Schipol Amsterdam to Amsterdam Central costs 3.80Euro. The return should cost the same as well.

Well, enough about tickets right? Back to the trip proper!

We then took the train to Amsterdam Centraal (as they call it)

Artistic shot from the train from Schipol Amsterdam to Amsterdam Central taken by Kate
Artistic shot from the train from Schipol Amsterdam to Amsterdam Central taken by Kate

The train ride’s only about 20 minutes.

As we walked out of the train station, we were greeted by the grandeur of the Amsterdam Train Station itself!

Amsterdam Central Station
Amsterdam Central Station

The next thing we did was to locate our hostel. We chose Dam Hotel as it was within walking distance from the train station. In addition, it was cheap! A triple sharing room costs only 80euros…

Triple Sharing in Dam Hotel Amsterdam
Triple Sharing in Dam Hotel Amsterdam

We did however had some trouble locating it on Dam Straat. The important thing here is to MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ADDRESS and NEVER GIVE UP. After 10 minutes, we were able to locate its small entrance. 🙂

Decent Toilet and Shower in Dam Hotel Amsterdam
Decent Toilet and Shower in Dam Hotel Amsterdam
Flat screen TV with poor reception Dam Hotel Amsterdam
Flat screen TV with poor reception Dam Hotel Amsterdam

Overall, the room was pretty decent. Although the TV didnt work well, you will find it hard to overlook the fact that it is near to the train station and very reasonably priced.

After settling in, we began roaming the streets! We continued to walk along Dam Straat towards Dam Square when we saw C&A. C&A is actually a departmental store suited for low-mid budget population. (Hey, that’s us!) Hence, we took a short by-pass into C&A.

As we took the escalator up to the next level, we saw an advertisement for a green-coloured soup. It looked quite attractive (yah, we know, how can green soup be attractive right?) with the sliced sausages, so we decided to try it at the cafe of C&A…

Cafe in C&A Amsterdam
Cafe in C&A Amsterdam
Erwtensoep - Traditional Dutch Pea Soup (3.95 euros)
Erwtensoep – Traditional Dutch Pea Soup (3.95 euros)
What's in the Dutch Pea Soup
What’s in the Dutch Pea Soup
Applebrood aka Apple Bread Amsterdam (2.95 euros)
Applebrood aka Apple Bread Amsterdam (2.95 euros)

The soup costs 5euro and comes with a traditional bread covered with bacon and butter. The taste was actually quite good. It was rich in texture and full of food bits for you to pick on. Interesting and definitely palatable for asians. In addition, we also tried out the apple bread. The cinnamon and apple combined magically! Coupled with the chewy-ness of the bread, the apple bread was an excellent end to the snack/meal.

Moving on from C&A (after a long while due to Kate’s shopping needs), we ventured on to Dam Square and we laid our eyes upon the Royal Palace of Amsterdam as well as the National Monument. These are picturesque structures so do take time to shoot a photo or 2.

Dam Square Amsterdam
Dam Square Amsterdam

The thing about Dam Square is that it’s so full of life! You can hear people of different nationalities pass by you, watch buskers entertain or just stare at the long queue at Madame Tussauds.

Continuing on the same path, we entered into the shopping streets of Amsterdam! From Nieuwendijk all the way to Kalverstraat are shops that line these streets. This shopping experience is definitely very different for us here in Singapore where there’s mainly shopping malls and not so many of these shopping streets. Given the cold weather, shopping here is a whole new experience altogether as you have another motivation to shop – To keep yourself warm!!

Amsterdam Shopping Streets
Amsterdam Shopping Streets

We then saw this interesting eatery place where ALOT of people walked in out and of…it’s called La Place

La Place Bakery Amsterdam
La Place Bakery Amsterdam

La Place works pretty much like Marche, in that there are many stalls in the entire place and if you like something, you just pay for it and go. In La Place, there is an entire bakery section with enticing buns and sandwiches (as seen above). Of course there are meats, pastas and seafood as well.

Inside La Place Amsterdam
Inside La Place Amsterdam

As we carried on walking along the shopping streets, we reached the Flower Markets of Amsterdam!

Flower Market Amsterdam along Singel
Flower Market Amsterdam along Singel

Here, you can find all sorts of tulips (that Holland is famous for) as well as many other flowers, bulbs and seeds as well…

Flower Market Amsterdam
Flower Market Amsterdam

Albert Cuypmarkt was our next stop. As we ventured on, we passed by THE Heineken Brewery. The last time we were there, we enjoyed one of the best beers ever!

Heineken Brewery Amsterdam
Heineken Brewery Amsterdam

The Albert Cuypmarkt is one of the most famous markets in Holland. It houses all sorts of stalls selling stuff ranging from clothes to cheese to toys to chocolates. You should be able to find all your necessities there.

Arriving at Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam!
Arriving at Albert Cuyp Market Amsterdam!

There we took time to enjoy what the locals ate such as this freshly made stroopwafel…

Stroopwafle stall Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam
Stroopwafle stall Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam
Freshly Made Stroopwafel - Thin waffel slices with honey/sugar syrup in between
Freshly Made Stroopwafel – Thin waffel slices with honey/sugar syrup in between

and Fries!

Frites stall Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam
Frites stall Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam
Large frites with special sauce (3.3 euros) Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam
Large frites with special sauce (3.3 euros) Albert Cuypmarkt Amsterdam

Till now, we still cannot explain why people enjoy eating the fries so much. A family of 3 (parents and kid in a pram) can have 3 cones of fries! Kate and I were literally FULL after finishing 1 cone of fries. But we must say that the feeling was really good, eating something piping hot in the cold weather.

Moving on, we headed to the Museum Plein Amsterdam (aka Museum Square)

Museumplein Amsterdam
Museumplein Amsterdam

We thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely stroll in and around the museumplein, simply because of the space and sunlight that illuminated the entire square.

Beautiful Museumplein Amsterdam
Beautiful Museumplein Amsterdam

Of course the highlight here are the museums. We did see some of the most famous paintings of Van Gogh and Rijks the last time we were here. Do spend time to visit either the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum if you are able to!

After walking all this way (5km we reckon), we decided to reward ourselves with a movie date that evening. Tickets at Pathe Cinema costs 10Euro.

Movie Listings at Pathe Cinema Amsterdam
Movie Listings at Pathe Cinema Amsterdam
Cute Clock in Pathe Cinema Amsterdam
Cute Clock in Pathe Cinema Amsterdam
Inside Pathe Cinema Amsterdam
Inside Pathe Cinema Amsterdam

We bought tickets for New Year’s Eve and headed for dinner…

Tickets for New Year's Eve at Pathe Cinema Amsterdam (10 Euros)
Tickets for New Year’s Eve at Pathe Cinema Amsterdam (10 Euros)
Dinner at Cafe Oli Amsterdam
Dinner at Cafe Oli Amsterdam

We sat beside a cat at Cafe Oli!

Indoor and Outdoor setting of Cafe Oli Amsterdam
Indoor and Outdoor setting of Cafe Oli Amsterdam
Smart cat at Cafe Oli
Smart cat at Cafe Oli

The cat was really used to the presence of people. It just continued to lie there as we sat down , opened an eye to peer at us and continued to sleep. We then ordered a hot chocolate, chicken and tuna sandwich…

Hot Chocolate Oli Cafe Amsterdam
Hot Chocolate Oli Cafe Amsterdam
Tuna salad grilled panini sandwich @ 4.90euros Oli Cafe Amsterdam
Tuna salad grilled panini sandwich @ 4.90euros Oli Cafe Amsterdam
Chicken with pesto grilled panini sandwich Oli Cafe Amsterdam
Chicken with pesto grilled panini sandwich Oli Cafe Amsterdam

After dinner, we caught the movie New Year’s Eve which Kate slept from beginning to the end! (Can you believe it?!) 10 Euros gone just like that…

We then enjoyed a leisurely stroll under the night skies of Amsterdam…

Pretty lightings along Damrak Amsterdam
Pretty lightings along Damrak Amsterdam
Night lights along shopping mall street near Dam Square Amsterdam
Night lights along shopping mall street near Dam Square Amsterdam

We really did make full use of our 1st day in Amsterdam didnt we? On day 2, we travelled to Maastricht…so stay tune!

For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Amsterdam right here!

If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!

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Things to do and Attractions in Rotterdam, The Netherlands!

Euromast Brasserie Rotterdam

There are so many things to do and attractions in Rotterdam! This post will give you a low down on all the things to do and attractions right here in Rotterdam! you’ll just be spoilt for choice. Here are just some to choose from…

1. Architecture Gazing

Kubuswoning Rotterdam aka Cube Houses
Kubuswoning Rotterdam aka Cube Houses

Home to an array of amazing architectures, Rotterdam will wow your senses with its modern take on architectures. Find out more here.

2. Taking in the Sights


Stunning views of Rotterdam from Euromast

Take in all the sights of Rotterdam at the Euromast. You wont regret it!

3. Shopping!!

More shopping in Rotterdam!
More shopping in Rotterdam!

With the Hoogstraat (High Street) so well connected in the city centre, you can literally shop till you drop!

4. Leisurely stroll along the River Maas

Erasmus Bridge at Sunset
Erasmus Bridge at Sunset

If you just want to take things slow, why not enjoy a leisurely stroll along the River Maas. It is afterall the “life line” of the Netherlands, intertwining several cities (including Rotterdam) along its path.

5. Football Fan?

Close up view of Feyenoord Stadium
Close up view of Feyenoord Stadium

If you are a football fan, why not visit the Feyenoord Stadion (affectionately known as De Kuip by the locals) and catch a match. It will definitely be an experience you won’t soon forget.

Check out these things to do and attractions in Rotterdam and share your comments with us!

For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Rotterdam right here!

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Top Attractions and Things to do in Melaka : World Heritage City

Melaka - World Heritage City

There are so many things to do and attractions in Melaka! Let’s find out what are the things you can do right here in Melaka!

Just for our readers, this is a quick summary of the Melaka attractions in this world heritage city…

1. Traditional Trishaw Rides

Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys / Christ Church Melaka
Trishaw Rides at Stadhuys / Christ Church Melaka

One of the best ways to cover Melaka has got to be the trishaw rides. You can hope on one of these brightly decorated trishaws at Stadhuys and your trishaw guide will bring you to the tourist attractions in Melaka!

2. Authentic Peranakan Food

Restoran Ole Sayang Malacca Peranakan Restaurant
Restoran Ole Sayang Malacca Peranakan Restaurant

One of the most authentic and well known peranakan restaurants in Melaka, Ole Sayang serves up some of the best nonya foods at affordable prices. Dont forget to take away some of its famous keropok while you’re there!

3. Historical Museums

Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum
Melaka Maritime Museum
Melaka Maritime Museum

To learn some interesting history of how Melaka came to be, the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum as well as the Melaka Maritime Museum are 2 of the many museums that are strongly recommended!

4. A Famosa Fort

A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago

One of the most famous ruins in Melaka, the A Famosa Fort is a must visit attraction!

5. St. Paul’s Church

Interior of St. Paul's Church Malacca
Interior of St. Paul’s Church Malacca

A short walk up the hill from A Famosa is the St. Paul’s Church. From here, you can visit this Melaka Attraction and have a splendid view of the city as well!

6. Jonker Street

Jonker Street Melaka
Jonker Street Melaka

To savour some of the best local delicacies, why not head to Jonker Street? Here, you will be able to savour one of the best chicken rice in Melaka and also try out some street foods in the evening. Quaint shops along the street will get your attention as well!

7. Stadhuys aka Red Square

Stadhuys Melaka
Stadhuys Melaka

Another must visit attraction here in Melaka has got to be the Stadhuys. Here you can also see one of the oldest church – Christ Church Melaka and also hop on to one of the well-decorated trishaws for a ride about town!

8. Leisurely Stroll along the Melaka River

Graffiti art on houses along Melaka River
Graffiti art on houses along Melaka River

To make your Melaka trip more memorable, why not hope on the cruise down the Melaka river? A walk along the river is also strongly recommended!

For your convenience, you can now check out the best hotel deals in Malacca right here!

Related posts

This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!

Top 3 Things to do at Jonker Street aka Jonker Walk
Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Stadhuys Melaka aka Red Square or Dutch square
Best 5 stars hotel in Melaka : Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Battle of the Malacca (Melaka) Jonker Street Chicken Rice Balls : Which is better? Chung Wah Chicken Rice or Hoe Kee Chicken Rice?
Weekend Getaway and Staycation @ Philea Resort Melaka (Malacca)
Top Attractions and Things to do in Melaka : World Heritage City
A Leisure Stroll along the Melaka River
Trishaw Rides in Melaka : A Must-Do Activity!
Traffic Jams in Melaka : How bad is it really?
Restoran Ole Sayang – One of the most reputable Peranakan Restaurant in Malacca
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum – Built without nails!
Melaka Maritime Museum – Museum within a Ship
A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
St. Paul’s Church

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Top 3 Things to do at Jonker Street aka Jonker Walk | Malacca Attractions

Jonker Street Melaka

There are so many things to do at Jonker Street! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Jonker Street Malacca! If you have read our last few posts, there are actually many things to do here at Jonker Street (aka Jonker Walk)…

Jonker Street Melaka
Jonker Street Melaka

Well, in this post, we are going highlight our top 3 things to do at Jonker Street!

1. Find out which chicken rice is the best.

Quarter Chicken at Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
Quarter Chicken at Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls

Malacca is of course famous for its chicken rice balls. There are so many of them in Malacca, so which one do you go for?

Fret not! 2bearbear.com has tasted the top 2 rated malacca chicken rice ball stalls to give you the lowdown on Hoe Kee and Chung Wah.

Once you have tasted them, why not leave a comment below to tell us all what you think about it?

2. Try out baba/nonya dishes and desserts at Jonker 88.

Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Interior of Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street

Malacca is all about food isnt it? Yet another foodie thing to do on this street is to makan at Jonker 88. If you’re the type who just want to try the street kinda nonya/baba food, you’ll find them right here.

The desserts are also hot sellers here. From afar, if you see a queue, it’s quite likely that the queue’s at Jonker 88.

3. Enjoy the night market!

Jonker Street Melaka
Jonker Street Melaka

When night descends upon Jonker Street, stalls come out to play! At about 6pm, hawker stalls and stalls selling all sorts of things are seen along Jonker Street.

From afar you should be able to hear the “kok kok” candy man who is separating malted sugar (with peanuts) using his tools, effecting the familiar “kok kok” sound.

Then there are stalls selling mee sua (a type of vermicelli) which Malacca is famous for. We’ve bought some and they’re really good and dont “disintegrate” like most other brands.

You can also choose to just chillax at Geographer cafe – a pub that also serves up local delights. The drinks are rather expensive but a small pint wont do much harm right?

Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka
Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka
Interior of Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka
Interior of Geographer Cafe Jonker Street Melaka

Of course there are street foods that you should savour as well. On this occasion, we saved our tummy for Fried Oyster aka Orh Lua!

We’ve even asked permission from Aunty to take a video on how to make fried oysters!


How to make fried oysters

You can see that we actually strafe left to avoid the smoke coming from the fried oysters. The wind was blowing in our direction!

But still, the whole process was captured and here is the final product…

Fried Oyster aka Orh Lua at Jonker Street Melaka
Fried Oyster aka Orh Lua at Jonker Street Melaka

For your convenience, you can now check out the best hotel deals in Malacca right here!

Related posts

This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!

Top 3 Things to do at Jonker Street aka Jonker Walk
Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Stadhuys Melaka aka Red Square or Dutch square
Best 5 stars hotel in Melaka : Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Battle of the Malacca (Melaka) Jonker Street Chicken Rice Balls : Which is better? Chung Wah Chicken Rice or Hoe Kee Chicken Rice?
Weekend Getaway and Staycation @ Philea Resort Melaka (Malacca)
Top Attractions and Things to do in Melaka : World Heritage City
A Leisure Stroll along the Melaka River
Trishaw Rides in Melaka : A Must-Do Activity!
Traffic Jams in Melaka : How bad is it really?
Restoran Ole Sayang – One of the most reputable Peranakan Restaurant in Malacca
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum – Built without nails!
Melaka Maritime Museum – Museum within a Ship
A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
St. Paul’s Church

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Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!

Interesting Things to do in LA

Interesting Things to do in LA

There are so many top things to do in LA! Let’s find out what are some of the things to do right here in Los Angeles LA! For our readers, we have listed this top things to do in LA in no particular order…

Top things to do in LA: Enjoy the sights and sounds at Santa Monica Pier

View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)

That’s right! One of the top things to do in LA is just to kick back and relax along the beaches of Santa Monica. If the kids are with you, you can simply let them have a ball of a good time at the amusement park complete with ferris wheel and roller coaster. For couples, a stroll along the beach at sunset would be unforgettable!

Top things to do in LA: Watch an LA NBA match at Staples Center.

Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center
Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center

Another one of the top things to do in LA would definitely be to watch an NBA match at Staples Center. The world renowned Staples Center is home to the LA Lakers and LA Clippers. If you prefer ice hockey or WNBA, Staples Center is also home to LA Kings and LA Sparks!

Top things to do in LA: Catch a celebrity at Hollywood

Grauman's Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard

With premiers often held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, you can be sure to catch a glimmer of these stars as they attend their gala premiers!

Top things to do in LA: Live the high life!

Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive

You can really live it up and enjoy the high life at Rodeo Drive. Luxury items abound along this road for the rich and famous. You may also want to take a ride to Beverly Hills and see how huge these mansions can really be!

Top things to do in LA: Do all the Hollywood Touristy Staff

Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive
Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive

Of course one of the top things to do in LA is to visit Hollywood! Here you can visit the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood sign and much much more!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick review about the top things to do in LA!

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Things to do, Places of Interest and Attractions in Los Angeles California

Things to do Places of Interest and Attractions in Los Angeles California

There are so many things to do and attractions in Los Angeles California! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in LA! If you have been following our posts, we did mention that we sneaked a short tour out of Las Vegas to visit Los Angeles California!

Road Trip to Los Angeles California!
Road Trip to Los Angeles California!

For a Singaporean, it is not common to see deserts or mountain ranges. So it was really a different experience as we rode across the desert terrain…

Desert Terrain on route to Los Angeles California
Desert Terrain on route to Los Angeles California

The distance from Las Vegas to Los Angeles was about 400km and it took us about 3 hours or so to reach there. Hmm, just a thought…wonder how long it would take for people to shift stuff from your house from Vegas to LA and vice versa…

Arriving in Los Angeles
Arriving in Los Angeles

Santa Monica

Our first stop in California is Santa Monica! Kate and I (well…mostly Kate) wanted very much to visit Santa Monica because of the many many times this venue has been featured in movies and partly because of the Savage Garden song of the same name. The following should be some familiar views of the Santa Monica Pier…

View of Santa Monica Beach from end of Santa Monica Pier
View of Santa Monica Beach from end of Santa Monica Pier
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)

There, we had a romantic walk down the beach and of course along the Santa Monica Pier and to see the iconic ferris wheel. To end the day, we enjoyed the sunset along with corn dogs (excellent creation btw) and drinks…

Breath Taking Sunset @ Santa Monica
Breath Taking Sunset @ Santa Monica

Hollywood Sign

The following day, we set out to see the famous Hollywood Sign. We did some research on our own and found out that great views could be seen from Mulholland Drive.

Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive
Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive

From this picture, it seems a little small. This is mainly due to our not so professional camera (any sponsors out there?) However, with the naked eye, the view was breath-taking. There was also excellent views of the LA city skyline…

View of Downtown LA from Mulholland Drive Scenic Point
View of Downtown LA from Mulholland Drive Scenic Point

Hollywood Boulevard

Since we were at Hollywood, the most famous street there has got to be Hollywood Boulevard. There we visited the famous Kodak Theatre where we had a good view of the Hollywood sign as well. The Kodak Theatre is also home to the Oscars as well as the American Idol…

View of the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre
View of the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre

The nearby Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is also a famous tourist attraction not only because it is a prime venue for Hollywood movie premieres but also of its tradition of imprinting the hands and feets of celebrities at its fore court.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
Movie Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Movie Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

We also managed to catch a glimpse of some B list celebrities (Basically those whom you know are celebrities as you have seen them in movies but cant really pin point there names because they just played that odd role in the movie you’ve watched. ) at the movie premiere of Going the Distance (starring Justin Long and Drew Barrymore). Nope, we did not see either of the stars but we did see many limousines picking up well dressed people (directors, producers and rich people we reckon) and of course screaming fans.

Walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we managed to also identify familiar stars of our favourite celebrities. Here we found out that celebrities were classified according to the 5 categories namely; Movies,TV,Radio,Theatre and Music

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories
The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories

There are also other sights that you ought to catch when you’re here in Hollywood…

Beverly Hills Sign
Beverly Hills Sign

Where the rich and famous live. This district was made famous by a TV series of the same name Beverly Hills 90210

Sunset Boulevard California
Sunset Boulevard California

A great hangout place to just chill and enjoy the sunset.

Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive

Luxury brands can be found here. Though many shopping belts like Oxford Street, Champs Elysees and even Orchard Road carry these luxury brand names, Rodeo Drive offers a classy feel and even a hope of a glimpse of celebrities!

Los Angeles California

Kate then planned a walking tour of Los Angeles city. I just told her that we have got to visit the Staples Centre, the rest was up to her.

First, we visited Chinatown

Chinatown from the station (Los Angeles)
Chinatown from the station (Los Angeles)
Map of Chinatown Los Angeles, California
Map of Chinatown Los Angeles, California
Shops in Chinatown Los Angeles, California
Shops in Chinatown Los Angeles, California

Passing by a cantonese dim sum shop, we dropped by to have some egg tarts and char siew bao. They tasted nice, but in a different way.

Char Siew Bao from Chinatown LA
Char Siew Bao from Chinatown LA

A short walk away was the famous Philippe Original French Dipped Sandwich which we saw from Man vs Food on Travel Channel. We had to try it not only because it was recommended on MVF, but also because we had tried another version at Di Nic’s @ Reading Terminal Philadelphia.

Counter of Philippe - The Original French Dipped Sandwich
Counter of Philippe – The Original French Dipped Sandwich
Pork Sandwich from Philippe
Pork Sandwich from Philippe

After the food tasting, we pronounced Di Nic’s the winner. The sandwich from Philippe was quite tough even after the dip. The roast was also not as tasty as that of Di Nic’s as well.

Next begun our city tour!

Fountains Los Angeles
Fountains Los Angeles
LA City Skyline
LA City Skyline

We also armed ourselves with Starbucks coffee which tasted really good at an affordable price as well (slightly less than 3 bucks a cuppa)

Java Chip Frap and Ice Coffee with Milk
Java Chip Frap and Ice Coffee with Milk

We then arrived at the Staples Center…

Staples Center Los Angeles California
Staples Center Los Angeles California

We were at the home of the LA Lakers! (think Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson).

Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center
Statue of Magic Johnson at Staples Center

At the souvenir shop, we realised that the Staples Center was home to 4 teams – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks!

We also popped by the Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market Los Angeles California
Grand Central Market Los Angeles California

and Little Tokyo…

Streets of Little Tokyo Los Angeles California
Streets of Little Tokyo Los Angeles California
Tower at Little Tokyo Los Angeles California
Tower at Little Tokyo Los Angeles California

When you see this tower, you know that you are at Little Tokyo. Here, you’ve got to try some Japanese food. We had a salad, the Char Su Ramen (Extra Large at 9.7USD) as well as the Pork Curry Rice at 8.20USD. The servings were huge and the taste was great! The Char Su was full of flavour and had a succulent texture to it! Yum!

Yummy Salad Little Tokyo Los Angeles
Yummy Salad Little Tokyo Los Angeles
Cha Su Ramen Little Tokyo Los Angeles
Cha Su Ramen Little Tokyo Los Angeles
Pork Curry Rice Little Tokyo Los Angeles
Pork Curry Rice Little Tokyo Los Angeles

We also had a nice stroll through the Mexican Market at Olvera Street where you would see mexican souvenirs, small guitars and traditional costumes. The walk through was shaded and had some lanes that you can visit and explore as well…

Mexican Market at Olvera Street
Mexican Market at Olvera Street

Nearby was the Union Station

Union Station Los Angeles California
Union Station Los Angeles California
Interior of the Union Station
Interior of the Union Station

Verdict

There are so many things to do, places of interest as well as attractions in California. The city of Los Angeles can provide nice walking tours while Hollywood exudes a different class of its own.

Be it the beach, the high life or the city, Los Angeles certainly makes a great visit for tourists and locals alike!

P.S. Did you know that Los Angeles means “The Angels” which is why the city has also a nickname of “The city of Angels”

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Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories

After visiting Grauman’s Chinese Theatre as well as the Kodak Theatre, Kate and I took a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame…

Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for about 2km it consists of mainly a star bearing an artiste or celebrities’ name that formally comes from these 5 categories

1. Movies
2. TV
3. Radio
4. Music
5. Theatre/Live Performance

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories
The Hollywood Walk of Fame and its 5 categories

Turns out that as we walked along the Hollywood walk of fame, we were so distracted and kept looking at the floor, thinking which celebrity would be next! Sometimes we would barely avoid oncoming pedestrians who must have thought, “What are these crazy tourists doing? Dont walk and look down at the same time!”

But that’s what we did!

It was fun to find stars that we know (because there were so many of them!) and these are just a few that we spotted…

Eva Marie's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Eva Marie’s Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Star of Elvis Presley along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Star of Elvis Presley along the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The next time you are at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, try to locate the stars of your favourite artistes/celebrities. BUT! Be careful of oncoming (pedestrian) traffic!

Tourists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Tourists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

P.S. You may also like to know that you need not travel all the way to Hollywood to see the walk of fame. There are also replicas at your nearest Universal Studios!

P.S.s. Did you know that stars are given only nominated artistes and these artistes can be nominated by anyone. However, there are 2 catches. 1. Groups or people who nominate must pay about $30,000 for the fabrication of the stars. 2. The celebrity must attend the ceremony. If deceased, family members must attend on his/her behalf. No one really knows how the selection goes (done by a selection committee) after the nomination…

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Amazing Glassmaking Craftsmanship of Murano, Venice

Glassmaking Craftsmanship of Murano Venice

Venice is definitely one of the “must visit” destination of all travel itineraries, not only because of its gondolas and one of a kind canals but also because of the feel that Venice exudes at the mention of its name.

In addition, research has also shown that Venice is sinking at a rate faster than previously predicted. Venice could potentially go under in the years to come and that makes it a stronger point than ever to experience this beautiful city.

Venice island hopping tours includes visits to Murano, Burano and Torcello. In this post, we will talk about one of the islands in Venice, Murano. Glass making is an art form that started in Murano. The names murano glass and venetian glass are therefore synonymous with each other.

We were led by our tour guide to the glass making factory and we were treated to a performance whereby the shifu (master) created this beautiful horse out of glass in mere seconds!

Glassmaking Factory in Murano Venice
Glassmaking Factory in Murano Venice
Murano Glass Making Shifu (Master) at work
Murano Glass Making Shifu (Master) at work


Murano Glass Making Shifu forming a glass horse in seconds!

We were all very surprised at the skill that the shifu demonstrates in making this glass horse. He had to craft the horse in the seconds that that glass was hot enough to be crafted yet cool enough to be held in place quickly. According to the guide, he had merely 30 seconds to make each portion quickly and accurately. The finished product…

Glassmaking Murano Venice Sculpting
Glassmaking Murano Venice Sculpting
Finished Murano Glass Horse
Finished Murano Glass Horse

As shown in the video, it was a pity that this horse fell off the table and broke. However, it was definitely an eye-opener to be able to witness such skills in glass making.

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Hope you have enjoyed our post on glass making in Murano, Venice!

Great View and Great Taste at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant Keppel Road

Peking Duck at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant is located at 201 Keppel Road. It is a Chinese sit-down restaurant and opens daily for Lunch and Dinner.

Direction to Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Direction to Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

Of course, the main draw of the restaurant is that it revolves! In this video you can see the floor of the restaurant revolving…


Rotation of the Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

Because of its centralised location at Keppel, visitors of Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant can be treated to excellent views of our port, our city skyline as well as fire works (from Sentosa) in the evenings…

View of the City Skyline from Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
View of the City Skyline from Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
View of the Port from Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
View of the Port from Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Firework picture seen from Prima Tower
Firework picture seen from Prima Tower


Fireworks from Sentosa as seen from Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

Of course, besides the excellent views, the restaurant does have its own draws such as

Peking Duck at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Peking Duck at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

The meat is usually served with noodles while the crispy yet tasty skin is wrapped with cucumber and sweet sauce (green onions if you like some). Remember to choose the egg wraps!

Fried Toffee Banana at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Fried Toffee Banana at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

This is a creation of the restaurant and involves frying the banana and coating it with sugar before cooling it in water (performed before the customers). The result is a crispy sweet and innovative dessert.

Another item on the menu that we liked was this

Crab with Egg White at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Crab with Egg White at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

This dish doesnt look like much but it does taste much more than it looks. Somehow the egg whites are separated into small parts (instead of sticking all together or being too small to feel the texture). The crab meat was fresh and the combination was well…refreshing.

We also tried the lobster and the fried fish in sweet and sour sauce as well but arent much to rave about.

Fried Garoupa
Fried Garoupa
Chilli Lobster
Chilli Lobster
Fish Maw soup
Fish Maw soup

Overall, the restaurant is an excellent place to bring your foreign friends. This is because, not only is it a classy restaurant, you can while dining, introduce them to parts of the city right from the restaurant as it rotates.

Classy Restaurant
Classy Restaurant

As for food, stick to the recommended ones!

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Hope you have enjoyed our review of the great views and tastes at Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant!

Things to do and Attractions in Las Vegas

View of the Strip - Paris and Planet Hollywood

There are so many things to do and attractions in Las Vegas! Let’s find out what are the things to do right here in Las Vegas! Las Vegas is really an amazing place and should be one of your places to visit if you havent been there. It is quite literally an oasis, an entertainment capital right smack in the middle of a desert!

There are of course many things to do (besides the obvious which we at 2bearbear.com do not advocate) in Las Vegas, so check out what we have recommended here…

1. Las Vegas Strip aka The Strip

Things to do and Attractions in Las Vegas
Things to do and Attractions in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip itself has become an icon synonymous with Las Vegas. Affectionately known as The Strip, the main street in the city of Las Vegas boasts of many well known structures around the world such as the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and even the Pyramids. All these right in the middle of a desert!

2. Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon

If you are a fan of nature, the Grand Canyon will not disappoint. The majestic combination of ridges and ranges is a beautiful sight to behold. You can also have the option to walk over the Canyon @ the Skywalk or even descend to its valley via a helicopter tour.

3. Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam - Side Trip from Las Vegas
Hoover Dam – Side Trip from Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam is one of the most well known dams in the world. Having appeared in movies such as “Transformers” and “Superman”, it gives you a sense of familiarity. Yet you would be awe-struck by its sheer size.

4. Fountain Show at Bellagio

Fountains of Bellagio
Fountains of Bellagio

At the front of the Bellagio Hotel, there is a fountain that comes to life and dances with the music daily! Enjoy the spectacular fountain show that has captivated the many visitors to Las Vegas.

5. Good Food

Man vs Food Las Vegas – Hash House a Go Go and Nascar Cafe
Man vs Food Las Vegas – Hash House a Go Go and Nascar Cafe

There are so many buffets, good eateries and fine dining here in Vegas. Take your pick and you’ll be spoilt by the choices the city of Las Vegas has to offer.

6. Musicals and Performances

Banners of Musicals and Performances in Vegas
Banners of Musicals and Performances in Vegas

Not to be outdone by Broadway, Vegas regularly brings in international acts and musicals to be at the centre stage of Las Vegas. Remember to check out the discounted tickets and discounts from the hotels you stay with when attending these shows!

There are of course many other attractions and things to do in Vegas such as visiting the MGM (descendants of the world-renowned MGM lions – the one that roars when you watch movies), ridiculously huge swimming pools / man-made beaches (described in hectares!) and even rides such as that at the Stratosphere hotel!

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Staycation / Holiday / Vacation at Sentosa Singapore – Things to do and attractions at Sentosa Island Singapore

things to do and attractions in Sentosa Island Singapore

Nowadays, “staycation” (the combination of stay and vacation – meaning to stay in one’s country to have a vacation) is very popular in Singapore, given the rising number of chic hotels and new establishments sprouting in many corners all over Singapore.

So Kate and I decided to do so as well. We took our pick to stay at the newly constructed Hard Rock Hotel at Sentosa (Resorts World Sentosa, RWS). There are several hotels now in Resorts World Sentosa, namely, Festive Hotel, Hotel Michael, Crockfords Tower (by invitation only) as well as Hard Rock Hotel.

Introduction about Sentosa

Sentosa was formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati which translates directly as Island, Behind, Dead otherwise known as the Island of the dead. However, in 1972, Sentosa was mooted to become a popular tourist destination and was renamed Sentosa, meaning, “Peace and Tranquility”.

The island is just located 0.5km south of the main island and is now connected via cable car, a link bridge as well as Sentosa pedestrian board walk.

The Sentosa board walk has now several ‘hang out’ places like the Queens (with happy hour drinks and cakes), Venezia (Italian ice cream), Wine Company and a crepes shop. Also you can shop at the Frangipani Creations (theme of frangipani for bags, hair pins, paintings) and a Sentosa souvenir shop.

Admission to Sentosa Island

If you are staying at one of the hotels at Sentosa, admission is usually complimentary. What you would need to do is to check with your hotel on how to gain complimentary entry into the island. This differs slightly from hotels on the island itself and hotels in RWS (Resorts World Sentosa).

By Foot/Walking ($1)

To gain entry via the new boardwalk, it is only $1 per person to enter and you get to enjoy a nice little walk, about 5-7 minutes along the newly constructed boardwalk.

Sentosa broadwalk
Sentosa broadwalk

By Sentosa Express ($3)

The Sentosa express is the new monorail that transits all across the island of Sentosa and back to the main island at Vivocity (a shopping mall). This ride costs $3.

Sentosa Monorail
Sentosa Monorail

By Car

The rates for entry can be found on the website of Sentosa and it is usually cheaper to car pool and go into the island as a group. If you are driving into RWS like we did, remember to keep left as you enter the roads to Sentosa. If you are driving into Hard Rock (near the convention centre), keep left again.

Driving via the bridge that connects to Sentosa
Driving via the bridge that connects to Sentosa

Once you are on the island, all buses and monorail rides are free. Yup, even if you paid only $1 to enter via the boardwalk!

Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa

We first checked into our room at Hard Rock Sentosa. It was located on the top floor, overlooking the entire pool area.

Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Lift Lobby
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Lift Lobby
Couch in Hard Rock Hotel Room
Couch in Hard Rock Hotel Room
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room 2
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room 2
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room:FLat Screen TV with surround sound system
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Room:FLat Screen TV with surround sound system

The pool is one of the best things about Hard Rock Hotels. It is always a surprise for me to see how chill the Hard Rock Pool is and this pool didn’t disappoint. Check out this video of the pool!

Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Singapore and swimming pool
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa Singapore and swimming pool

The pool at the Hard Rock Hotel consists of so many segments. From my memory, I can recall an infinity pool (or lap pool), a children’s play area (complete with water guns, fountains and a slide), a jacuzzi, a lazy pool, a pool by the bar, as well as, you’ve guessed it, the beach pool complete with soft white Australian-imported sand!

Resorts World Sentosa

After lazying in the pool for a while, we decided to grab some dinner at Vivocity. Each room at the Hard Rock is entitled to 2 parking tickets as well as monorail tickets on the Sentosa Express (unlimited rides from Sentosa to Vivo for 3 consecutive days once activated). As we ventured out, we took some of these pictures.

Sentosa in the evening
Sentosa in the evening
The Queen at The Sentosa Broadwalk
The Queen at The Sentosa Broadwalk
Deco at The Queen
Deco at The Queen
Strawberry tiramisu with wine at The Queen
Strawberry tiramisu with wine at The Queen

After dinner, we decided to chill out at one of the new restaurants along the boardwalk. We had some wine and shared a strawberry tiramisu. The food was ok, but the nice laidback music accompanied by views of RWS more than made up for it. We wanted to catch the animatronics Crane Dance show (9pm), but to our horror, it was under repairs! So we headed for the 9:30pm fountain show at the Lake of Dreams.

We did catch the crane dance animatronics some time before and here it is

There is nothing much to say about the show except, DO NOT GO! Please view our video that we painstakingly recorded for you (for you to fast forward) so that you can save 15 minutes of your precious time. Towards the end of the show, many people started to walk away (hence you see many movements in the video at the end). The show ended without a finale or whatsover. It just faded out…it has to be one of the worst fountain shows ever.

Sentosa Day Play Pass

On the second day, we decided to go for the day play pass and it was a fruitful 10 hours. The day play pass is a packaged deal where you pay $63.90/Adult , $47.90/Child  (Weekdays) and $69.90/Adult, $51.90/child (Weekends) to enjoy 13 attractions from 9am to 7pm. It is really worth it because you get to cover:

1. Fort Siloso

2. Bi-Pedal Bicyle (1 hr)

3. Segway Fun Ride (Beginner’s practice and trail)

4. The Flying Trapeze

5. Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides

6. Images of Singapore

7. Sentosa 4D Magix

8. Sentosa Nature Discovery

9. Sentosa Cineblast

10. Desperados

11. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom

12. Tiger Sky Tower

13. The Merlion

But to complete all the attractions (which we almost did), you have to plan your time properly to avoid the crowd. So we suggest you cover like we did!

Images of Singapore

Initially, we wanted to start off our day at the 4D magix, Cineblast as well as Desperados. However, on the way up, we realised that Images of Singapore was already opened. So the first stop was here

Images of Singapore Sentosa
Images of Singapore Sentosa
Images of Singapore Video part
Images of Singapore Video part
Mid Autumn Festival aka Mooncake Festival
Mid Autumn Festival aka Mooncake Festival

It was a pleasant surprise because we really didn’t think the Images of Singapore would be such a huge place. It will probably take perhaps 1-2 hours if you read all the information. The whole museum is full of figurines, statues and displays. It depicts how Singapore came about (with the discovery of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles – Nowadays the brand Raffles is associated with everything high class or “Atas” as we would say) and how we thrived from a small fishing village to the cosmopolitan city we are today. Certainly worth visiting.

Cineblast (Extreme Log Ride) / 4D Magix (Pirates) / Desperados

It is good to start off the day at the rides and movies because the queues would usually pick up and you will be wasting precious time queuing. When we reached there, we were first for all the rides and shows! Yay!

Cineblast

Price chart for Pirates, Extreme Log Ride and Desperados
Price chart for Pirates, Extreme Log Ride and Desperados
Entrance to Extreme Log ride
Entrance to Extreme Log ride

We first went for the Extreme Log Ride. It was very realistic! One of the best 3D rides I have been on. It brings you through Himalaymazon. You’ve heard me right! Not the Himalayas nor the Amazon. Haha…not for the faint-hearted though.

Desperados

Desperados Sentosa
Desperados Sentosa

Desperados is a 3D shooting game whereby you are an assistant to the Sheriff and to take out the bad guys. You are seated on a saddle that moves according to the game. Holding on to the pistol with one hand and the saddle with the other, you have 2 rounds of trying to top the score. Enjoyed this one as well. Try to shoot well, else your face would be flashed across the screen as a bobo shooter…

4D Magix – Pirates

Kate and I have been to 4D shows previously and this was nothing new. Basically a 15 minutes show with 4D effects like wind blown by your ears, water sprinkling at you, in your face bees and insects crawling from under your seats. Yup, all the effects accompanied by the 3D movie. Enjoy!

Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides

Luge and Skyride Sentosa
Luge and Skyride Sentosa
Waiting to do the Luge ride
Waiting to do the Luge ride
Yay! Did the Luge at Sentosa!
Yay! Did the Luge at Sentosa!

Next, we went for the Luge. We didnt know at first that the Luge Ride came with 1 skyride. Still, we chose the Luge. So from Imbiah, we Luged down to the beach. The new trail, Dragon Trail just completed construction not long ago and it was an exciting, winding ride. The slogan is true : Once is never enough. But we had another attractions to enjoy.

Oilio cafe at Imbiah Sentosa
Oilio cafe at Imbiah Sentosa
Chicken Chop spaghetti
Chicken Chop spaghetti
Fish & Chips
Fish & Chips

We were there shortly after lunch, so we beat the crowd and waited only about 5 minutes. Lunch was cheap (@Olio Bites considering prices at Sentosa) and good. We had spaghetti and Fish & Chips. Yum. Enjoy the thrilling Luge!

Segway Fun Ride

Beach Tram Sentosa
Beach Tram Sentosa

After the Luge, we wanted to rent the bicycle and ride into Fort Siloso. However, we were dismayed to find that we couldn’t and we were stopped at the tram station at the entrance of Fort Siloso. So we had to cycle back to return our bikes and head back to Fort Siloso. There were 2 guided tours that day (12.30pm and 3.30pm) but when we finally got back to Fort Siloso, we realised that we just missed the first guided tour! So we were advised by the friendly staff of Sentosa to complete Segway first, which we did.

Segway Crew who will help you familiarise with the Segway
Segway Crew who will help you familiarise with the Segway

We waited a short while before it was our turn. As with the Luge, you would have to don the helmet provided. The first practice session was basically to familiarise yourself with the Segway. The instructor would tell you how to move ahead, backwards and left/right by leaning your body (forwards/backwards) and tilting the handles to the desired direction. It was quite easy actually. But you would be envious when you see the instructors being able to move fast and drift! They would then ask you to ride towards a tree, go round it, and return back to the instructor.

Segway Circuit Sentosa
Segway Circuit Sentosa

The trail is much like a garden walk. On the Segway, it was over in 5 minutes. But it was still fun to go at a leisure speed and try to traverse small humps and engage slopes upwards and downwards. Overall, it was a nice refreshing albeit “risky” experience.

Sentosa Nature Discovery

Sentosa Nature Discovery
Sentosa Nature Discovery
Pretty flowers in the afternoon sun
Pretty flowers in the afternoon sun

We also attended the guided tour here. This area is basically free but with the guided tour, it makes the visit extra educational. The tour covered the types of trees and animals/birds that may be encountered and includes a short treetop/canopy walk. Nature lovers would enjoy this one.

Fort Siloso

At the start of the Fort Siloso tour
At the start of the Fort Siloso tour
British surrendering to the Japanese
British surrendering to the Japanese

Fort Siloso is a museum at Sentosa that covers the defence of Singapore during the colonial and WW2 era. It was really worthwhile to hear the stories that the guide had, and to learn about how it was like during the pre-war and war era.

The tour covered the guns, surrender chambers, life during WW2 under Japanese occupation and the surrender of Japanese back to the allied forces.

This is a really good tour (about an hour or so) for those who are interested in history and WW2. You can board the bus for the tour either at Imbiah or at the entrance of Fort Siloso. It departs slightly earlier, do check with the friendly staff for the exact timings.

The Merlion

Sentosa Merlion
Sentosa Merlion
Merlion Park Sentosa
Merlion Park Sentosa

As we entered, we were given a token at the entrance. It was a gold coin. We were then ushered into a small theatre to watch a short clip of how the “Merlion” came about. After the movie, we dropped our coin into one of the many merlions at the entrance of the lift and exchanged for a gift card. You can then claim your gift at the souvenier shop as you exit the Merlion.

We went to level 10 where the teeth of the Merlion was. We caught several shots here.

Stairs from the mouth of the Merlion to the head
Stairs from the mouth of the Merlion to the head
View Through the Merlion's teeth
View Through the Merlion’s teeth
The cyclone (view from the merlion)
The cyclone (view from the merlion)
View from the merlion's head
View from the merlion’s head

There was also a staff there ready to take a picture for you. After that, we went to the top of the Merlion. The view was spectacular. It covered the whole of Sentosa, including the rides and castle at the Universal Studios, the hotels at Resorts World, a golf course, the cable car ride, the sky tower. Over the distance, we could see our Central Business District (the CBD) as well as views of the ocean and our world famous sea port. Take a look at this video!

We took the lift and exited the Merlion. We were directed to exchange our gift cards for a souvenir and we got 2 hand held fans with Merlion imprinted on it.

Tiger Sky Tower

Tiger Tower
Tiger Tower
Tiger Gondola
Tiger Gondola

Our last stop was the Tiger Sky Tower. It wasn’t our first time but we still enjoyed the spectacular views that it offered. Enjoy these pictures!

Harbourfront from the Tiger Tower
Harbourfront from the Tiger Tower
Merlion from the Tiger Tower
Merlion from the Tiger Tower
Rasa Sentosa from the Tiger Tower
Rasa Sentosa from the Tiger Tower
Reflections at the Bay and Keppel Club from the Tiger Tower
Reflections at the Bay and Keppel Club from the Tiger Tower
Skyride from the Tiger Tower
Skyride from the Tiger Tower
View from the Tiger Tower
View from the Tiger Tower
View of Sea from the Tiger TOwer
View of Sea from the Tiger TOwer
Sunset view from the Tiger Tower
Sunset view from the Tiger Tower

Dinner @ Ramenplay

We went back to the hotel and lazed in the pool again before heading out for dinner. We wanted to catch the butterfly park but missed it as it was closed at 6:30pm. We had visited the one in Cameron Highlands before, so not much regrets there. We missed the trapeze because we aren’t that adventurous. For those who have tried it, do leave a comment on how it went!

We decided to stay in Sentosa for dinner and we ate at Ramenplay. There was a deal with DBS cards. If you order 2 mains, you’d receive a plate of 2 fried meat balls (Dango). The ramen was good. Remember to order the one that comes with the pork broth because it is simmered for a long time to achieve that taste. The meat was generous and the ramen was Q (also known as springy). The Unagi hot pot was not fantastic, but the unagi itself was delicious. Though a little bit on the expensive side, the meal was thoroughly satisfying. We also ordered the bamboo chicken and Chicken/Leek Yakitori to complete the meal. Yum.

Bamboo chicken Ramenplay
Bamboo chicken Ramenplay
Chicken and Leek Yakitori Ramenplay
Chicken and Leek Yakitori Ramenplay
Yummy ramen at Ramen Play
Yummy ramen at Ramen Play
Yummy Unagi from Ramenplay
Yummy Unagi from Ramenplay

Overall, it was an excellent staycation and we enjoyed all the attractions that Sentosa has to offer with the Day Play Pass. Go stay in the hotels at Resorts World Sentosa while they are still new and nice!

For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in and around Sentosa right here!

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