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Bohol is about 1 hour 40 mins away from Cebu if you take the fast craft ferry. The tourist class ticket for Oceanjet is 1000 peso per person (return ticket). I understand that there are other ferries or boats that will cost a lot cheaper than 500 peso (one way) but if you want comfort and safety, I highly recommend Oceanjet. Different ferry companies dock at different piers, so remember to double-check so that your taxi driver can drop you off at the right pier. Also, if you choose to alight outside of the gate of the pier, you do not have to pay a fee. Can’t remember how much it was…probably a very small amount but it was really not necessary to alight inside unless you have a lot of luggage.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
How to get from Cebu to Bohol
The check-in procedure was simple and fast. Soon we were waiting at Gate 1 for our ferry.
There are seats allocated so you do not have to rush to board. But there’s something I do not understand: there are sooooooo many people who just can’t sit in their designated seats! Either they can’t read the alphabet and numbers on their tickets or they ignore it. The Oceanjet staff was friendly and patient to get everyone in their right seats. And soon we were off!
Pier 3 Boarding Area
People waiting to board Ocean Jet from Cebu to Bohol
Inside Oceanjet 2 hours ride to Bohol from Cebu
Inside Oceanjet – 2 hours ride where we watched Hell Boy
Views from Cebu to Bohol
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Blue skies and clear waters with the hills as the back drop made the ride really relaxing and we can’t wait for what was in store for us in Bohol!
Oceanjet from Cebu to Bohol
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Our very first hostel stay in Hong Kong was at the Jordan Comfort Inn. It was the peak period at the end of the year so it was quite difficult to find a cheap and good hotel. In fact, many hotels were fully booked. The next best thing was to look at hostels.
We were actually quite surprised how expensive hostels in Hong Kong can be. The hostel stay cost $112 SGD for a night. Plus it was small. How small? Approximately 8sqm, take a look…
Small bed beside the entrance to the room Attached bathroom at Jordan Comfort Inn
It was also quite difficult to locate Jordan Comfort Inn. As it turns out, there are many hostels in buildings such as the New Lucky House.
Facade of New Lucky HouseEntrance to New Lucky House
In buildings such as this, there are many many hostels. They are sub-divided into rooms and rented as hostels. Most of these rooms have no views at all. They are mostly rooms with no windows. The only view you get is outside the hostel. This was the view outside Jordan Comfort Inn…
View outside Jordan Comfort Inn
Well, the good thing is that our room had air conditioning, an attached bathroom and even a wall mounted TV. There’s also complimentary water available for top up.
But the best part of Jordan Comfort Inn is its location. Temple Street and other famous eateries are within walking distance. We also took a walk to Victoria Harbour that evening. Guess, we’re paying for the location and not the room per se. That really should be the way right? Since you are in Hong Kong, you should be spending most of your time out of your room, shopping and eating!
How to get to Jordan Comfort Inn Hong Kong
Map of Jordan Comfort Inn Hong Kong
Jordan Comfort Inn is located at New Lucky Building, a short walk from the Jordan MTR. To reach here, we took the E21 from the airport and alighted nearby. The ride itself was about an hour from the airport to Prince Edward. Just ask the friendly bus uncles and they will let you know exactly where to stop.
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The room may not be that cheap but the small room does come with an attached bathroom and TV. Hence, for an excellent location, we will recommend no-frills stay at the Jordan Comfort Inn!
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You have just finished a post on our 9 day trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shen Zhen. Read on to find out more about our adventures during this trip!
If you take a look at this map of Hong Kong, Tung Chung is located at the lower left side of the map and is really close to the Hong Kong International Airport! This is why, Kate arranged for Citygate Outlets to be our first stop in Hong Kong!
Shopping galore at Citygate Outlets Hong Kong!
Citygate Outlets is home to more than 80 international brands that offers 30% to 70% discounts all year round! What’s more, it is also a family friendly destination with restaurants, an outdoor fountain and even a cinema!
Initially, we thought that the sales must be “so-so” but as we continued to shop, we realised that some of the prices are much better than the country it originated from. But do note that if the prices are good, more likely than not, they would be off-season products.
But hey, if it’s cheap, just buy lah :p (Yes, Kate bought quite a bit)
After all that shopping, you will most certainly be HUNGRY! There is a food court (Food Republic) located at level 2 where you can try some of the Hong Kong delicacies. However, do note that the prices are not exactly cheap and the quality is not like those in the city. Still, it gives you the energy to shop more right?
So our first wanton noodle from Hong Kong was from Citygate Outlets!
Wanton mee and porridge from this stall at Food Republic Citygate OutletsPork and Pork Stomach Congee with Fried Dough Stick (44HKD!!!)Dumpling Noodles with many dumplings (42hkd) at Citygate Outlets Tung Chung
The noodles were quite normal but we were pleasantly surprised by the “shrimp only” wanton, which we later came to realise is a normal part of Hong Kong dumplings. The congee on the other hand was plain and bland – DONT BUY!
How to get to Citygate Outlets Tung Chung
Map of Citygate Outlets , Tung Chung Hong Kong
It is really quite simple to get to Citygate Outlets Tung Chung from the Hong Kong International Airport. All you have to do is
1. Purchase your Octopus card (150HKD with 100HKD value and 50HKD deposit)
2. Take E21 (costs 14HKD) , S1 or S64. Bus ride takes about 15 minutes.
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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!
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.
You have just read a post from the complete coverage of our staycation at the Raffles Hotel. You can find the rest of the posts here…
The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was built in 1927 and resides along Hollywood Boulevard. It is actually a movie theatre and today still holds premiere for many of Hollywood’s most anticipated movies!
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Boulevard
The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was built by none other than Sid Grauman. He is also credited with the building of the Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre just further down the road.
The reason why the Chinese Theatre is alot of more famous and popular than its Egyptian counterpart is not only because of its uniquely classy traditional Chinese structure, but also because its fore court is home to the various handprints, footprints and signatures of artistes and celebrities.
Donald Duck’s Footprint at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Famous characters such as Donald Duck also got their chance to leave their mark at the fore court of the Chinese Theatre. This means that now, not only real life celebrities get to imprint their mark on the fore court of the Chinese Theatre, as long as your’re famous, you might have the chance to do so! *The Kind of Pop, Michael Jackson will also be immortalised on 26 Jan 2012.
Julie Andrews Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
At the fore court of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, there is usually a HUGE crowd gathered there. Most are trying to take a photo with the imprints of their favourite celebrities while others are on tours of the Chinese Theatre, listening intently to the stories of their tour guides.
There are several stories as to how this tradition of immortalising handprints/footprints/signatures of celebrities/famous people started. The more common one often refer to a female celebrity who happened to step on the cement of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre during construction. Sid Grauman thought that this was a good idea for famous people to leave their mark, then started this tradition.
The other version says that Sid himself made the mark and started the tradition. Whatever the story, today, it is a well loved tourist attractions for fans and tourists alike to get “close” to their beloved celebrities.
The huge crowd also presented a problem for Kate as she went about to take the photos. People were everywhere! Hence, this Harry Potter imprint had other avid potter fans in it as well…
Main Casts of Harry Potter Imprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Besides trying to haunt and hound your favourite celebrities in Hollywood, you might like to try catching them at the movie premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. An easy way to do so is to look up the dates of upcoming premieres at the Chinese Theatre’s website and be there really early to get a good spot. Premieres are usually star studded events and fans will not be disappointed.
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You know how the lyrics “Santa Monica, in the winter time” by Savage Garden always conjures an image of a cold chilly city in our heads? Especially when it’s coupled with a hypnotically slow beat tune?
However, this trip changed all that and more!
Iconic rides @ Santa Monica
From our hotel, we keyed in “Santa Monica” into our GPS and reached our destination in about half an hour. We took some time circling the vicinity before deciding to park at a public carpark, placing 2 hours worth of coins into the meter.
The first thing we noticed about Santa Monica were the quaint little shops lining the inner streets from the beach. They range from pubs to convenient stores to shops that sell cute little items. It was quite enjoyable walking down the street not knowing whats in store at the next shop.
As we approached the sea front, we were greeted by the sound of the waves as well as this set of instructions to comply with…
Rules at Santa Monica Beach
As we walked along the beach, we enjoyed the fine sand sifting through our feet as we headed towards the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
Before long, we reached the Santa Monica pier and as we walked along the board walk of Santa Monica pier, we saw sesame characters such as Elmo and Oscar…
Oscar and Elmo at Santa Monica Pier
Kids were given the opportunity to take photos with their favourite sesame street characters.
On the board walk, endless throngs of people traverse along this scenic boardwalk enjoying rides (such as the historic carousel, iconic ferris wheel) from the amusement park, eateries and restaurants along the pier or even just laying back and enjoying the sights and sounds…
Throngs of people passing by the Santa Monica PierIconic solar powered Ferris Wheel at Santa MonicaRoller Coaster @ Santa Monica Amusement ParkBumper Float @ Santa Monica Amusement ParkView of the Santa Monica Beach from Santa Monica Pier
Along the way, we also passed by a shop that is dedicated to the famous Route 66…
Outside of Route 66 shop @ Santa Monica
Here, you can take home some souvenirs and learn more about the history of this iconic and historic route.
At the end of the pier, we took a shot (pictorial) back towards the beach…
View of Santa Monica Beach from end of Santa Monica Pier
As the day drew to a close, we indulged in a cone dog (the person who invented this is a genius!) and enjoyed the breath taking sunset…
Breath Taking Sunset @ Santa Monica
With that, we concluded a leisurely yet thoroughly enjoyable visit to Santa Monica. And with regard to the Savage Garden song, it totally changed our perception altogether. The gloomy image has transformed into a cheerful and family oriented destination!
We’ll leave you now to decide which of these iconic ferris wheel you love best. With lights or without lights?
View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (With Light)View of Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster at Santa Monica (Without Light)
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The sun? The beach? The people? Or just the image of chilling with a drink while taking it slow?
Well…for many people, California is the state of the movie capital of the world! Hollywood! (Hollywood, California – Rings a bell right?)
And when you think about Hollywood, you would want to see the famous HOLLYWOOD sign!
Hollywood Sign as seen from Mulholland Drive
Today, we are going to share with our readers, the best spot to see the Hollywood sign and that is Mulholland Drive!
Mulholland Drive Scenic Point – Best view of the Hollywood Sign!
Do a quick search on google and you will be able to find Mulholland Drive scenic point. Not only does this lookout point provide splendid views of the Hollywood sign, it also gives breath taking views of Downtown LA!
View of Downtown LA from Mulholland Drive Scenic Point
From Mulholland Drive, you can also have a clear and unobstructed view of the Hollywood Bowl…
View of Hollywood Bowl from Mulholland Drive
The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States of America!
However, if you are one who just wants to have “been there done that”, the Kodak theatre also provides a good view of the Hollywood sign…
View of the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre
Other than that, the Griffith Park Observatory also has an excellent view from the right side of the Hollywood sign.
However, the recommendation from 2bearbear.com is that if you are able to, make a trip to Mulholland Drive and enjoy the scenic, breath taking view that Hollywood has to offer!
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As usual, Kate did ALL the planning! But it is important to note these few points as they can really help you stretch your buck…
Hotels
Did you know that the price differs ALOT if you stay in the same hotel on weekdays compared to weekends? Prices can differ by as much as up to 50%! Usually, hotel rates are cheaper from Sundays to Thursdays (mondays to thursdays for some hotels) and the prices sky rocket over the weekends (for obvious reasons – weekend getaways!)
Also, there are many fabulous hotels that do not cost a bomb. Try searching for hotels in Vegas and list them according to price. You will realise that cheap hotels that have excellent hotel facilities do exist in Vegas. This is because they usually attract tourists with low priced stays and free tickets to headline shows so that you will spend at their “you know what”. So try to snatch those good deals but dont fall prey to “you know what”!
Car Rental
It is advisable to rent a car in Las Vegas, simply because walking in the hot Nevada sun is not what you want to do, especially in the summer months.
In addition, with the mobility of a transport, you can visit hotels and restaurants outside of the strip which Kate and I were able to do.
Plus, parking is usually free at the hotels!
You can do so by visiting the car rental companies online and look for cheapest rate available. Also, you can just pop by the car rental booths when you land at the airport. Booking online could be cheaper given that there are deals going on every now and then. You could also save the hassle of wondering whether there are cars in the cheaper categories available.
Btw, it would be good to download USA maps to your GPS so that you would travel easy as well.
Tour Packages
If you are visiting Vegas for the first time (and probably the last time if you are from a distant land), make sure you sign up for the visit to Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam! The prices are relatively acceptable and they offer you a hassle free option to visit these world-renowned locations!
Having given some tips before hand, this is the low down of where we visited…
The Lowdown
Kate and I landed at the McCarran International Airport and got the keys to our car at the car rental booth. It’s a breeze if you have booked it online in advance.
We tried several hotels this time round and spent our first night at Hooters Hotel…
Room at Hooters Resort Las Vegas
The view from our room was awesome as well…
View of New York New York and Excalibur from Hooters Hotel
As it was the summer season, the water in the pool was exceptionally cold! We think it was purposely chilled to make sure that the guests were not chao ta (smelly dry or burnt in hokkien) under the hot sun…
Swimming pool of Hooters Hotel Las Vegas
After a nice refreshing swim and some drinks by the pool, we headed out to see the sights on the Strip…
M&Ms World Las VegasHarley Davidson Cafe Las VegasView of the Strip – Paris and Planet HollywoodAnother View of the Las Vegas Strip Fountains of BellagioExterior of the Hooters Hotel at night
We returned back and enjoyed the famous hot wings from Hooters
Yummy wings with Hot Sauce from Hooters Hotel
**After the first night in Vegas, we actually drove to California before returning back to spend a few more nights in Vegas. We will talk about LA,Hollywood and Santa Monica in another post…
The next day, we headed out to Hash House a Go Go to check out this restaurant as introduced by Man vs Food on travel channel.
Big O’crispy hand hammered pork tenderlion sandwich with Macaroni and Cheese on the side (Hash House a Go Go Las Vegas)
For more about the whole experience, check out the entire post here.
The following day, we checked into the Excalibur (increasingly better hotel each day; and thus the cost)…
Room of the Excalibur Hotel Las VegasView from the room of the Excalibur Las Vegas
At this juncture, we should remind our readers to always try to “negotiate” with the receptionist for a better/higher room with a good view of the strip. They are almost always able to do so on weekdays and off peak periods when occupancy is low.
View of the pool of the ExcaliburExternal View of the Excalibur
At various hotels, they have various affliation with shows about town. At the Excalibur, we were able to get half priced deals for the stand up comedy “Defending the Caveman”…it was pretty much enjoyable although we dont really recall much about the show today…really one of those shows where you want to have a good laugh and let your hair down…
Defending the Caveman by Kevin Burke
The next day, we took the option of going to visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Along the way, there was an opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam as well…
Iconic Hoover Dam on route to Grand CanyonHoover Dam SignMajestic Grand Canyon – South Rim’s Widest and Deepest portion
For more about what we did at the Grand Canyon tour, click here.
The last hotel we visited was the MGM. The best of the 3 hotels on our list this time round…
Room of MGM Hotel Las Vegas
There was even a day bed in the room which added to the chic factor…
Spacious living space at MGM Hotel Las Vegas
MGM Hotel has the best swimming pool on this trip to Vegas. It boasts of a 6.6 acre swimming area!! That is about 6-7 football fields!! We had an enjoyable time in the lazy pool and visiting different themed pools which was really cool…
On the way back, we were invited to rate an upcoming TV serial and vouchers were given to us in return. So we set down and were greeted by this…
Device to rate TV serials
It was really quite simple, all of us would watch the show (this time it was Hawaii Five O!) and rate it by turning the knob according the how good each part of the show was.
We recalled that the show was quite raw in that not all the special effects and sound effects had been added in. There were some parts that were quite boring as well (that was when we turned the knob to 0). However, the show eventually screened and is into its second season!
Remember at the start of every MGM movie, there was a lion bursting unto the scene? These are his grandchildren at MGM!
Grandchildren of the original MGM Lion
We understand that they do not reside there but at a nearby facility and brought over to the hotel…
In the evening, we caught a magic show by Nathan Burton…it combined magic with comedy and was pretty much enjoyable.
Magic Show by Nathan Burton
On our last night, we enjoyed the famous fountain show at Bellagio…
Fountains of Bellagio
For more details of the Fountains of Bellagio, click here.
Overall, Las Vegas is a great place to spend your holidays. Food and stays are relatively cheap and plenty of international shows and musicals abound. Just make sure that you limit your time at the tables and you’d surely enjoy the holidays at Vegas!
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The Fountains of Bellagio is definitely a must see attraction in Las Vegas!
Fountains of BellagioFountains of Bellagio Las Vegas as seen from a distance
Pictures do speak a thousand words doesn’t it? The lightings of the Fountains of Bellagio synchronises with music and the sound of the water jets to create an unique viewing experience!
Take a look at this video of the Fountains of Bellagio and enjoy the front row seats of the Fountains of Bellagio! (We were so close that we could feel the water mist from time to time!)
Fountains of Bellagio Show – Viva Las Vegas
Show Times of the Fountains of Bellagio
Monday – Friday
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
show every 1/2 hour
7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
show every 15 minutes
Saturdays, Sundays* and Holidays
12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
show every 1/2 hour
7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
show every 15 minutes
*On Sundays Fountain show times begin at 11 a.m. and run every 15 minutes for the Fountains Brunch at Jasmine.
Even before one sets foot in Las Vegas, the fame of the Fountains of Bellagio must have preceded! The Fountains of Bellagio is so majestic and massive! It makes a statement from a distance away and even from the aerial view! You would thoroughly enjoy the Fountains of Bellagio if you were taking a helicopter ride down the Las Vegas Strip as well!
However, the best part about the Fountains of Bellagio, is that its FREE!! Visitors can just take a look at the timings of the Fountains of Bellagio and be there about 5 minutes before the start of the shows to enjoy!
The Fountains of Bellagio dance to many different tunes. Famous tunes such as “Fly me to the Moon” as well as “Viva Las Vegas” are favourites of the Fountains of Bellagio. The water jets of the Fountains of Bellagio time their bursts according to the tune of the music and synchronises the sounds and the lightings to create an unique and captivating water show!
The Fountains of Bellagio is definitely a water show not to be missed when you are in Las Vegas!
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Finally, Kate and I got to board the Singapore Flyer! It is currently the world’s largest giant observation wheel standing at a height of 165m!
We are so proud to have finally “flew” on the Singapore Flyer and I must applaud Kate for the courage of taking the flight because of her fear of heights and general dislike for thrill rides (see Busch Gardens and Universal Studios Singapore post)
Before we begin, we know that visitors would like to know the price and opening hours of the Singapore Flyer…
Opening Hours : 8:30am – 10:30pm (With the last admission at 10:15pm) Ticket Sales : 8:00am – 10:00pm
Ticket Prices
Adults (13 yrs and above) : $29.50
Children (3-12 yrs) : $20.65(Children below 3yrs : Free)
Senior Citizens (60 yrs and above): $23.60 (Singaporeans/PR)
Getting There
Of course, the most straight forward way is to call a cab and tell the cabby to take you to “Singapore Flyer”.
There are also buses where you will need to alight at Temasek Avenue. The buses are 106, 111, 133.
But we prefer the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). You have basically 2 options. The first is to alight at Promenade MRT Station which is just a 5 minutes walk from the Singapore Flyer.
We prefer option 2 though. And on this trip, we took this option and really enjoyed the walk. Taking this option meant that you would alight at City Hall Interchange and walk along City Link Mall, cross over to Esplanade and walk along the River Front. This is about a 20 minutes walk…but along the way, you will enjoy these views…
View of the Singapore City Skyline @ Marina Bay
View of the Singapore City Skyline @ Marina Bay
To allow our readers to see the benefits of this walk to the Singapore Flyer, here is a video of the views of Marina Bay…
As seen in the video, you would be able to take pictures of the Marina Bay Sands, Artscience Museum, Helix Bridge, Singapore City Skyline, Fullerton Hotel as well as the Singapore Tourism Icon – The Merlion!
After this nice leisurely walk, we were greeted by the Singapore Flyer…
The Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer
We got our tickets in advance and headed straight to the entrance of the Singapore Flyer. There are scans as you enter so it may take some time during peak hours (i.e. sunset, school holidays, morning tour groups).
You would first be led into the Journey of Dreams. The Journey of Dreams is inclusive in the ticket price of the Singapore Flyer and it is basically a series of exhibits and multimedia interactives that allow visitors to know more about the Singapore Story as well as the Singapore Flyer itself…
3D Map of the Singapore Flyer and its vicinity
3D Map of the Singapore Flyer and its vicinity
Did you know that so many parts of Singapore is actually reclaimed land (Those in green are reclaimed land)
Did you know that so many parts of Singapore is actually reclaimed land? (Those in green are reclaimed land)
Fragment of Dreams – Use the “torch” and reveal portions of the screen!
Fragment of Dreams – Use the “torch” and reveal portions of the screen!
Reservoir of Dreams at the Singapore Flyer
Reservoir of Dreams
At the Reservoir of Dreams, you will see 3 giant spheres that are basically artistic displays. The first one is Oneiroi’s Orb that depicts the Flyer’s spherical shape through circular artifacts. The next is The Planet which is the first inflated PufferSphere using internal projection in Asia…
Description of the Planet @ Singapore Flyer
Description of the Planet @ Singapore Flyer
The Planet @ Singapore Flyer
The last is the Numeric that displays all numbers (Facts, Figures, Physique) associated with the Singapore Flyer.
After the Journey of Dreams, you would enter a tunnel that has numbers on the side that blinks 5,4,3,2,1 that is somewhat like astronauts entering the tunnel to their space flight with the numbers signifying the countdown to blast off!
As you approach the capsules, please note the curvature of the platform so that you wouldnt trip and fall. Recently, a dad did not hold on to his stroller and the kid was caught by the safety net…
The other thing you would notice is that smaller wheels (like tyres) that are used to rotate the Singapore Flyer itself. This is the mechanism used to turn the larger wheel (Singapore Flyer) using smaller wheels (tyres)…
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
Though it is not really clear, but you can also vaguely see the demonstration of the smaller wheels turning the Singapore Flyer here in this video…
Mechanism of turning the Singapore Flyer
You can also at this moment, opt to board a flyer with lesser people, but it really depends on the people who are enjoying the Journey of Dreams. If they stay there and you let the passengers behind you board first, you might just have a whole capsule of the Singapore Flyer to yourself! In our case, we shared with 2 others which was very enjoyable and private
At the top of the Singapore Flyer, you will enjoy basically 2 views…to the east, the shipping lanes and ALOT of HDB flats (HDB flats are Singapore’s public housing) and to the west, the Marina Barrage, Marina Bay Sands, parts of the port. And of course, a breath-taking view of the Marina Bay itself…
Residential Buildings to the East
Residential Buildings to the East
Marina Bay Sands seen from the Singapore Flyer
Marina Bay Sands
Shipping lanes and Gardens by the BayBreath-Taking Views of Marina Bay Singapore
Breath-Taking Views of Marina Bay Singapore
An Artistic Shot of the Singapore Flyer Capsule
An Artistic Shot of the Singapore Flyer Capsule
We’ve also captured a 360degrees view from the top of the Singapore Flyer for our readers…
360degrees view from the Top of the Singapore Flyer
We were also able to see the aerial view of the marina bay where the wishes of Singaporeans are written on round inflated balls and lined up in the waters. Still cant figure out what it is meant to shape like though…(The island of Singapore maybe?)
After the flight, remember to disembark with care as there is curvature of the platform that you would need to look out for.
Kate and I then proceeded to the Singapore Food Trails for a sumptuous meal!
Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Singapore Food Trail
The Singapore Food Trail is actually a project undertaken by the Singapore Tourism Board to recreate the old street food hawkers of the 1960s…
Stalls at the Singapore Food Trail
Stalls at the Singapore Food Trail
Alot of effort (and money) have been placed into recreating the feel of the 1960s. The design of the stalls, the furniture and even the floor (made of tarmac to represent the road) have been meticulously thought through.
The best part about the Singapore Food Trails is its food!! It has a collection of some of the best hawker foods in Singapore! What’s more, the price is still within the acceptable range (though it is of course cheaper at the food centres)! Given that you just have to go to one destination to taste all the best hawker food in Singapore, the price is really well worth it. Today, we tried the following…
Drinks from authentic chinese cups of the 60s
Drinks from authentic chinese cups of the 60s
Fried Hokkien Mee at Singapore Food Trail Singapore FlyerSatay Beehoon from Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Satay Beehoon
Orh Lua (or Fried Oysters) Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer
Orh Lua (or Fried Oysters)
Ice Kachang (or Iced Ball with Sweet Syrup) Singapore Food Trail Singapore Flyer
Ice Kachang (or Iced Ball with Sweet Syrup)
What a sumptuous meal, all for less than $20!!
During this festive season, if you ride on the Singapore Flyer, you can also enter this snow dome to take some pictures with Santa!
Life Size Snow Dome
Snow Dome
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Singapore Flyer and all it has to offer! The views were splendid and the ride was enjoyable! Remember to pop by the Singapore Food Trail when you’re there, you’ll enjoy it as well!
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Saizeriya is a Japanese owned Italian-styled family restaurant.
No wonder it seemed so familiar when we first saw its sign from a distance away. The green and red colours of the logos immediately reminded us of the same chain of restaurants we saw in Japan…Now Saizeriya has hit our shores in Singapore as well!
The thing we love about Saizeriya is its price! It is truly a family oriented restaurant with budget of the family as its priority. Pastas, pizzas and dorias average about $8 and there are some that go as low as $4-5 bucks!
There are also lots of sides for the family to choose from, such as the chicken wings and escargots
Popular Saizeriya Chicken Wings
Popular Saizeriya Chicken Wings
This Saizeriya we went to is located at Liang Court. It is usually crowded during meal times but the crowd clears very quickly because of its no frills eat-and-beat-it concept.
Saizeriya has recently installed a new system that allows customers to call for the waiter/waitress when they’re ready to order…
System to call for service
System to call for service
Much like the bell you use onboard planes or for that matter in hospitals, once you press the bell, a ring tone would be heard and your table number flashed on a board, informing the waiter that you are calling for them. This system of course makes it more efficient but it can get kind of irritating sometimes. But, the cheap and good food more than make up for any discomfort of this sort
A quick look at the menu…
Saizeriya Menu
Saizeriya Menu
We ordered the pork and beef meal as well as a spinach pizza ($7.90 nett for the pizza). We also ordered a pasta as well as the wings (we really cant remember the rest of the prices but rest assured they are competitively priced).
Pork and Beef Meal
Pork and Beef Meal
Spinach Pizza Saizeriya Singapore
Spinach Pizza
Pasta Saizeriya Singapore
Pasta
We thoroughly enjoyed the meats, pasta and pizza. Though the pasta may look simple, it was full of flavour and the texture of the pasta was perfect! Not overcooked and still slightly springy (QQ as the chinese would say) in texture. Yum!
The pizza was also overlayed with generous portions of the spinach! The meats were again generous and juicy, not dried unlike some restaurants.
The highlight of eating at Saizeriya has got to be its drink bar where you can have coffee, milo, juice and other soft drinks, FREE FLOW for around $3! Hence, it is a good place for friends to have a meal and catch up over a cup of coffee (or many cups for that matter) without burning a hole in the pocket.
Drink Bar in Saizeriya
Drink Bar in Saizeriya
Overall, Saizeriya definitely rates highly for price and serving portions. The food at Saizeriya can be considered cheap for a restaurant, yet the portion and standard it delivers is comparable or much better than most other restaurants! Whats more, the price you see on the menu is the price you pay! Because there is no GST or Service Charge on top of the price you see on the menu, all prices are NETT prices!
The only setback would be that it could get rather noisy during peak hours. Other than that, Saizeriya is definitely a great place to hang out with friends or to have a no-frills meal with your loved ones!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Slice - The Pizza ReformKate and I stumbled upon a new chain of fast food named “Slice”. As the name suggests (and shown on the take away counter), the restaurant serves slices of pizza.
The concept is that pizzas are served in slices which allows customers the flexibility of choice in choosing their favourite flavours, in contrast to the more traditional pizza restaurants where you’ll have to order a whole round pizza.
Ambience
The restaurant has a trendy feel to it and features many revolutionary figures such as Ghandi and this famous “We want you” poster from WW2
Slice Poster
Other than that, it resembles most fast food restaurants which is the part that stands out. It resembles a fast food restaurant yet serving “slow food” such as pizzas.
Counter of Slice (Poor shot because of lousy camera – Any sponsors?)
Taste
Kate and I ordered 3 items off the menu (all 3 items were chef’s recommendations). The Cheese Steak…
Cheese Steak
The Cheese Steak (cant remember it’s actual name) is rich in mushroom and the beef has the traditional American beef taste that we enjoyed.
The Avocado Chicken…
Avocado Chicken
The Avocado was really fresh and had a tangy taste to it. It complimented the chicken and cheese really well to produce a good mix of flavours.
The Yummy Gummy Milkshake…
Yummy Gummy Milkshake
The yummy gummy was quite original in that real gummy bears were blended into the milkshake (“ouch” for the gummies) and produced a interesting blend of vanilla with sweetness, chewy”ness” and fruity”ness”.
Verdict
Overall, the pizzas did not disappoint. The portions were big and were priced competitively. We missed out on the soups because they were sold out. The only complaint was that the milkshake could be richer in taste.
Otherwise, the overall experience was great. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends over a great meal.
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