There are several nice beaches in Cebu but most of them require at least a 4 hour car or bus ride to get to the north of Cebu. We reckon that Bohol is a decent distance away and it has a good mix of countryside and beach activities so we booked our Oceanjet ferry from Cebu to Bohol on the 3rd day of our trip.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to BoholInside Oceanjet 2 hours ride to Bohol from Cebu
Our driver from Peacock Garden greeted us at the arrival gate of Taglibaran City seaport with a nice wooden signage with our names on it. It really stood out as the other hotels used paper or whiteboard (starting to raise our expectation of this luxury hotel). The journey to Peacock Garden was about 20mins and we really liked the peaceful surroundings of the hotel. We spent the first hour walking around the compound and taking photos of the facade, fountains, garden and of course the view at the swimming pool.
Peacock Garden Receptionist who took us around the resort and welcomed usWelcoming bed at the peacock garden premier infinity and sea view
Peacock Gardeb – right in front of the infinity pool and ocean view
Magnificent view over the infinity pool and ocean!
Peacock Garden Infinity poolArty shot of the infinity pool at Peacock Garden
Kate then decided to splurge at Fontana Aurelia Spa and chose the Signature Indulgence: Gift of Gaea (3950 peso) because it has 2 of her favourite food: coffee and chocolate! While she was being pampered for 3 hours, I stayed in the infinity pool and was mesmerised by the different shades of blue: the sky, the sea, the pool (which inspired our “Guess and Win – Paradise” contest).
Fontana Aurelia Spa at Peacock Garden BoholFontana Aurelia Spa in peacock garden hotelPeacock Garden Massage tablePrice list at Fontana Aurelia Spa Peacock Garden
Dinner at the Old Heidelberg was exquisite. Classy and tasty (usually you get either or but at Old Heidelberg, you get both!) The hotel staff also prepared for us a heart-shaped chocolate cake for our wedding anniversary when we were done with our main course.
Inside Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock GardenChefs Recommendation at Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock GardenChoice of breads of great butter and spreadKalderatang Baka Filipino Beef Stew 480 pesoJaegerschnitzel with spaeztle 540 pesoComplimentary heart-shaped anniversary cake courtesy of Peacock Garden Hotel
After dinner, we strolled past the swimming pool and took a couple of night shots. Back in the room, we were pleasantly surprised by the turndown service and we love Peanut Kisses!!! Yummy!
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What a relaxing time on the 3rd day of our Cebu/Bohol trip! We’re almost at the halfway mark of our Cebu/Bohol trip. But more awaits on day 4 of our trip! Stay tuned tomorrow to find out more!
There was so much planned for the second day of our trip! We had arranged to meet Long at the hotel’s lobby at 10.30am for our Cebu City private day tour but we wanted to explore the neighbourhood too so we woke up early and went for a stroll, looking for breakfast. We eventually settle for Alberto’s Pizza (nope, we did not have pizza, check out what we had by clicking on the link). We headed back in time to the hotel to meet Long, and our first stop was CnT Lechon! Haha…more food! Ahhh…i miss the crispy skin and tender meat *dreamy look*
Alberto’s Pizza HUngarian and Cheese Krainer with garlic rice and egg for 75 peso eachHalf kg of CnT lechon. crispy skin.juicy meat. 200 peso
Half kg of delectable crispy skin and juicy meat at CnT Lechon! – You may be visiting 2fatbears.com in the near future if we keep up our eating antics! :p
Soon we began our trip proper and learned about Cebu’s history at our first stop: Cebu Monument. As we could not stop along Colon street, we took a couple of photos and videos of the old street. The City Hall, Magellan Cross and Basilica del Santo Nino were around the same area so we covered these fairly quickly. It also started to drizzle very lightly but when we reached Fort San Pedro, the rain had stopped. We tried to remember the dates in Cebu’s history when we were walking around the Independence Plaza but found it really hard 🙁 We then spent about an hour and a half at Cebu Museum as there were 6 different galleries that showcased the different periods of Cebu’s history. We were not very keen to visit the Taoist temple but we were curious about the “Berverly Hills of Cebu” and wanted to check out the huge and expensive bungalows. The view from the temple was nice but it was nothing compared to the view from Tops. We wanted to stay till it was dark for a night shot but it was getting chilly and we did not pack a light jacket in our bag. But we still enjoyed ourselves, watching the skies changed colours as the sun set, enjoying our chilled San Miguel Lemon flavoured beer and SML.
Cebu MonumentCebu Metropolitan CathedralThe Magellan CrossFort San PedroCannon in fort with the remnants of the wallCebu Capitol BuildingOur driver for the day Long with his cab on TopsView from Tops. Mactan IslandSan Miguel at 60 peso each on TopsArty shot of seating area on TopsNight view from Tops
Long drove us back to our hotel by 8.30pm. We wanted to pamper ourselves so we went up to the Twin Peaks Spa for facial at only 400 peso each. Kate had the extra indulgence of pedicure at 100 peso and had her nails painted bright fushcia pink 🙂
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People usually think that Cebu is all about beaches and clear waters. But in fact, there are also other interesting attractions, history and food to indulge in. Stay tuned for the 3rd day of our Cebu/Bohol trip tomorrow!
It’s more fun in the Philippines!! The tarsier’s eyes do freak me out when I see the advert on the tourism board webpage. But since we have never been there before, SGD is strong, the people speak english; and we want to go somewhere that is not crowded, nice scenery, laze on a beach, we decided to visit Cebu/Bohol. Many people ask why are we not going to Boracay instead…well, it’s more convenient to do Cebu/Bohol and everyone else has probably already visited Boracay. Cebu/Bohol has a good mix of everything – history, countryside, beach; and we definitely enjoyed every moment of our 8 days there!
We took Silkair ($774 including travel insurance) because of the flight timings.
It was easy to get around with the abundant metered white taxis (How to get from Cebu to Singapore). Our driver Long (yes, that’s his name!) was friendly and seemed honest. He asked us if we want to book his taxi for a day tour; we negotiated the itinerary and price and arranged to meet at 10.30am the next day at the Castle Peak Hotel lobby.
White Cab at Domestic Departure Cebu Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
The room in Castle Peak Hotel was not ready yet when we arrived at 1.30pm but we were pleasantly surprised by the newly renovated Twin Peak Spa. Kate went for a one-hour massage while waiting for the room to be ready. After the massage, we were ready to check out what Cebu had to offer!
Huge bed in Deluxe room of Castle Peak HotelBath Tub in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
We chose to walk to Ayala Mall (even though our taxi driver mentioned that it may not be that safe) because it was still bright daylight and the mall could be seen from our hotel room so we reckon it is not that far. The walk took us 15 mins and there were proper traffic lights to allow us to cross the roads safely. The only gripe we had was that the pavements were narrow and uneven; and at times we had to walk on the road.
As it was a weekday afternoon, Ayala Mall was fairly quiet. We window-shopped and decided to catch a movie! While waiting for the show, we challenged each other at shooting hoops in the arcade. And of course I thrashed Kate …I am the best! *evil laugh*
Movie and snacks at Ayala MallMovie and snacks at Ayala Mall Snacks stall. hot dog 70 peso. popcorn and coke 100 pesoAyala Mall 4 storeys of shopping
Even though we were kinda full from the hotdog and popcorn, we can’t wait to try the local dishes! We quickly flag down a taxi and soon we arrived at Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant. The food was delicious and the price was reasonable. Washing the food down with cold San Miguel beer made it even better! With our tummy filled, we took a cab back to Castle Peak Hotel and rest for the night; in preparation for the city day tour the next day.
Times fly when you’re having fun and this quickly rounded up our first day in the Philippines. Stay tuned tomorrow for the 2nd day of our Cebu/Bohol Trip!
City Suites Ramos Tower is an apartment building with some units available for guests to book for accommodation while travelling in Cebu. Our first Cebu hotel, Castle Peak Hotel, is on the east of Cebu. So for the second leg of our Cebu trip, we wanted a hotel nearer to the Fuente Osmena Circle; and City Suites Ramos Tower seems ideal. The rates for one night is $73 which may be a little pricey as the unit is small with 2 twin beds and only standing shower but check out the view from the 20th floor!
Sunset and Tops Hill seen from our room at Ramos Tower City Suites
Sunset from our room at Ramos Tower City Suites orangey sky
Awesome view from the balcony of the 20th floor at City Suites Ramos Tower!
City Suites $73 double super single beds
Small but well-equipped room at City Suites Ramos Tower
Video tour of room at City Suites Ramos Tower
We did not want to “waste” the view so we ordered in pizza and beer for dinner and sat at the balcony to enjoy the awesome view and equally awesome food 🙂
Huge all meat pizza and 4 SMB for 448 pesos cheaper than dominoes. Thin crust and yummy!
Turrones De Cebu for 75 pesos but the one at Amorita was better and crunchier
All meat pizza and Turrones de Cebu for dinner while enjoying the sunset view at the balcony
While enjoying the pizza, we also caught a re-run of Matrix Revolution! One of Tom’s favourite movie! (while Kate just doze away in dreamyland) Think the movie bumped up our stay by a notch 😉
City Suites Ramos Tower Cebu
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Do note that there are residents staying at the Ramos Tower. It is like a serviced apartment with some rooms rented out while others have residential occupants.
The awesome thing about our room is its view (overlooking tops and Crown Regency Hotel that offers “sky experience”), room service (cheap and good pizza, with surprisingly tasty Turrones – must try!) and comfort. If you’re here in Cebu on a budget, City Suites Ramos Tower is definitely an excellent choice!
Ayala Mall is a short 15 minutes walk from our where we stayed – Castle Peak Hotel and it is a NEW mall that offers many shops and eateries!
How to get to Ayala Mall
Means of transport in Cebu – White cabs and Jeepney
Means of transport in Cebu – White cabs and Jeepney
Ayala Mall (also known as Ayala Center) is located at Cebu Business Park, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City 6000, Metro Cebu. Besides taking a short walk, you can also choose the various means of transport including the Jeepney (which follows a fixed route but costs only 8 pesos!) or the white cabs (safest form of taxi transport in Cebu)
What to do at Ayala Mall
We spent the evening at Ayala Mall just like the locals. Shopping, played the arcade and caught a movie – the Heat!
Ayala Mall 4 storeys of shopping
Shopping options & Alfresco Dining at Ayala Mall
Movie and snacks at Ayala Mall Snacks stall. hot dog 70 peso. popcorn and coke 100 peso
Movie and snacks at Ayala Mall
Here’s what we did…
Arcade
7 peso per game
For 50 peso, we get to shoot hoops for 30 mins and enough “tickets” to exchange for 2 Hello Kitty erasers! 🙂
Movie
180 peso per ticket
Huge cinema (Hall 4, with toilets inside!)
Snacks for Movie
Hotdog 70 peso
Popcorn and Coke 100 peso
Kate usually needs her snacks to stay awake during the movie but The Heat is hilarious!
After our enjoyable evening at Ayala Mall, we headed next to Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant (arguably one of the MUST TRY restaurants in Cebu) for dinner!
Ayala Mall Cebu
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On the 2nd day of our Cebu trip, we had a private day tour of Cebu City by our friendly local guide – Long. But before we talk about the Cebu City Tour proper, here is a little background on how we got to meet Long
How to arrange a Cebu City Private Day Tour
Our taxi driver, Long, who drove us from the airport to Castle Peak Hotel seemed friendly and honest, so when he asked us if we wanted to book his car for a day tour, we agreed. His first quote for the day trip was 2000 peso, and when we wanted to add Tops into the itinerary, he increased it to 3000 peso. (The market rate for the taxi fare to and fro Tops from Cebu city is 1000 peso, according to our online research 😛 ) When we replied “too much”, he then asked us “how much?”. With our “experience from bargaining in vietnam/Indonesia”, we said “2000 peso”. Long then said “Ohhhh…cannot. Too little. Tops is very far. 2500 peso”. Kate and I decided that we do not really want to see the Mactan shrine and that would also take up some time due to the traffic to lapu-lapu city, we re-negotiated with Long and counter-offered “Okay, don’t want Mactan shrine. 2000 peso”. He turned around, smiled, and said “Okay. Tomorrow what time?” (After chatting with Long for the whole day, we knew more about his family, and decided to treat his family to a box of Dunkin Donuts. A great way to end the day.)
Attractions Cebu City Private Day Tour
Well, the great part of a Cebu City Private Day Tour is that you have the flexibility of where you want to go and how long you want to stay at one place. So these were some of the attractions that we visited in Cebu City…
Cebu Monument
Cebu Monument
Cebu Monument
The Cebu Monument is a structural representation that depicts all the major events that took place in Cebu beginning with the famous event of how a native chieftain by the name of Lapu Lapu killed the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
University of Visayas (Oldest University) & Colon Street (Oldest Road in the Philippines)
University of Visayas Oldest University in Cebu – Owned by a politician
University of Visayas Oldest University in Cebu – Owned by a politician
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 1)
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 2)
City Hall – Right across from Magellan’s Cross
City Hall – Right across from Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross
The Magellan Cross
Magellan’s Cross Cebu
It was said that Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, ordered the cross to be planted in Cebu. His quest was actually to prove that the earth was round and could be circum-navigated (i.e. sail round the world in one direction and return home). Eventually, his crew did prove that. However, he was killed by Lapu Lapu and he died in the Philippines.
Basilica del Santo Nino
Basilica del Santo Nino – Short walk from Magellan’s Cross
Basilica del Santo Nino – Short walk from Magellan’s Cross
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro – Entrance fee of 30 pesos
Fort San Pedro, built in 1738 is a small triangular (yes, unique shape for a fort) bastion fort built by the Spanish settlers in defence against Muslim invaders. Cost of entry is 30 pesos and you can also ask a guide to give you a tour of the compound. It takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to cover the fort.
Miguel Lopez Monument at Independence Plaza (Opposite Fort San Pedro)
Miguel Lopez Monument
Miguel Lopez Monument
Around Independence Plaza
Museo Sugbo – Cebu’s largest Museum
Cebu Museum. 75 peso each.
Entrance of Museo Sugbo – Entrance fee of 75 pesos
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Tops Cebu Lookout
Our driver for the day Long with his cab on Tops
Tops San Miguel and our driver Long
View from Tops. Mactan Island
San Miguel at 60 peso each on Tops
View of Cebu City from Tops in the Day and after Sunset
Video from Tops Observation Lookout – Day Time
Video from Tops Lookout – After Sunset
Cebu City Private Day Tour
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The day’s tour was essentially a stop for lunch at CnT Lechon, followed by the attractions above. After Tops, Long actually waited for us when we went to the supermarket to replenish our stock of mineral water and snacks. The great thing about having Long bringing us around is that the timing was very flexible. We could spend however long or short period of time at each stop.
Kate noticed Bo’s Coffee striking logo in the streets of Cebu and decided that we should try the coffee and food there. There is one branch near City Suites Ramos Tower so that was what we had for breakfast on our last day in Cebu. Established in Cebu in 1996, Bo’s Coffee was founded by coffee enthusiast and entrepreneur Steve Benitez. The deco in Bo’s Coffee is warm and inviting; and the selection of food was also fairly extensive. We took some time to decide what to have for breakfast. We were also tempted by the cakes and pastries but unfortunately we were too full after our mains 🙁
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee mushroom and cheese omelette with toast 150 peso
Bo’s Coffee corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancakes 175 peso
Drip Coffee (10 pesos with any order of mains), Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with Toast (150 pesos) & Corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancake (175 pesos)
It was definitely a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries while people-watch as the locals make their way to work and the students heading off to school.
Bo’s Coffee Cebu
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Lechon (pronounced as lay-xi-on) is simply roasted pork and the most famous of them all? CnT Lechon!
Females chopping up whole pigs at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon – Best Lechon in Cebu
According to locals (including our driver Long), CnT Lechon is arguably one of the best Lechon in the whole of Cebu. When you even mention Lechon, everyone will point you here…
CnT Lechon beside SM Mall. best pig ever according to anthony bourdainOther side dishes at CnT Lechon
For us, it was actually quite surprising to see only ladies at this joint. Have you seen how big the pigs are? They actually start with whole pigs and chopping them up according to the weight that customers want…check out this video of the strong women chopping up the lechon! In the video you may also notice this rather impatient guy standing in front of us whose head kept popping up because he wants to know if his food is ready! 🙂
We decided to go for the half kg (for only 200 pesos – $6 SGD!) for the 3 of us to share (including our driver Long). Not too much else we would have to run many hours on the treadmill to burn off the fats! Worst of all, we may have to rename our site to 2fatbears.com! Haha!
And here’s our half kg of lechon!
Half kg of lechon. crispy skin.juicy meat. 200 peso at CnT Lechon
As the caption says, the skin was so crispy! It’s actually Tom’s favourite part. Crispy and slightly saltish, goes really well with plain rice and a dash of the sauce provided. The meat was also tender and juicy. It was good. However, not the best for us. The best pig? If you’re referring to pork knuckle, it has got to be the pork knuckle from Hofbrauhaus Munich. As for roasted suckling pig, the one at Serenity tops our list.
Nonetheless, for the value and quality, it is still a must try when you’re in Cebu!
What else to eat at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon mixed veg at 30 peso per servingCnT Lechon Fresh lumpia or popiah at 12 peso each
In addition to the lechon, we also had mixed vegetables (30 pesos per portion) and fresh lumpia (12 pesos each)
The lumpia is a little like our popiah in Singapore. Vegetables wrapped in a fresh flour based sheet. Not too bad.
Receipt for lunch at CnT Lechon
Location and Opening Hours of CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon is located at V. Rama Ave, Cebu City and its opening hours are from 8am to 6pm. Be there early as the lechon often gets sold out by mid-afternoon!
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The sun rises fairly early in Cebu and we were up by 6am. After washing up, we strolled around the neighbourhood to look for breakfast. We wanted something local but weren’t sure what to eat. Not far from Castle Peak Hotel, we chanced upon Alberto’s Pizza. The menu was decent and the price was reasonable. And although it was Alberto’s Pizza, we went for the local breakfasts instead! We choose the Hungarian and Cheese Krainer, each at 75 pesos (about $2!).
Alberto’s Pizza HUngarian and Cheese Krainer with garlic rice and egg for 75 peso each
Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Each set came with a sunny-side up and garlic rice! Yum! However, the Hungarian sausage was a little too salty for our taste.
Alberto’s Pizza Breakfast Set
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The title of this post speaks for itself 🙂 We walked to the Fuente Osmena Circle from City Suite Ramos Tower and shopped in almost all the malls around it. Some of the buildings looked rundown and we did not dare to enter. Oh! Did we mentioned that there are security guards checking your bags when you enter the malls? We were not used to that. We also ate at Jollibee and KFC to see if there is any difference in the food served here and in Singapore.
Shopping at Fuente Osmena Circle
KFC in Cebu Philippines – 150pesos ($4.5)
KFC in Cebu Philippines – 150pesos ($4.5)
For KFC, the price is definitely cheaper as compared to Singapore. They do have unique items such as the cookies and cream drink which we tried on the hot afternoon. The not so good thing? The chicken was pretty small!
Our first visit to Jollibee in Cebu!
Spaghetti meal with one piece chicken and coke at Jollibee
Jollibee in Cebu Philippines – 108 Pesos ($3?!)
The standard of Jollibee in Cebu is pretty much the same as in Singapore (yes, we got to try the Singapore one after spending much time in the queue). Portion was quite generous as well. The only difference we thought was that the spaghettic sauce was a tad bit sweeter than the Singapore version. Perhaps they changed it a little to suit the local taste.
Shop Eat Cebu
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You may wish to note that there are several shopping centres such as the Robinsons Cybergate as well as Robinson’s place around Fuente Osmena Circle. Tell us more about your experience at Cebu in the comments section below!
One of the best restaurants in the Philippines is the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. Known officially as the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant, it serves up authentic Filipino food at a very reasonable price in a restaurant setting…
Interior of Golden Cowrie
Inside Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Restaurant – Best Filipino Restaurant Cebu
Touted as the best Filipino restaurant in Cebu, Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant embodies the pride in filipino cuisine and is one of our must-try when you visit Cebu (pronounced as SEE BOO). The funny thing was that although there was a Golden Cowrie Restaurant at Ayala Mall, we did not know about it at that time (so near and yet so far)! Therefore, we took a 10 minutes taxi ride from Ayala Mall to the Golden Cowrie Lahug @ Salinas Drive…
Our server Precious at Golden Cowrie
As we pulled up at Golden Cowrie, we were ushered by a security guard (meaning its a decent joint) who opened these big wooden doors for us to enter into the restaurant. The deco was nice, warm and inviting. Much like coming home. It has an alfresco dining area outside as well.
After being seated, our server Precious (see inset above), asked us politely if it was our first time here. She was friendly and patient in explaining the various local dishes (some of the dishes had Filipino names) while recommending some of the best sellers. Good service is always a great start to a meal isnt it?
What to eat at Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Precious then recommended for us to have the crispy pata (pork knuckle!!), squid in coco sauce, kang kong and shrimps with garlic. This was accompanied by garlic rice and free flow white rice! Oh, every order of normal rice is free flow. And you know what? We don’t usually eat that much white rice, but surprisingly, the rice was especially fragrant while the texture of grains full of goodness! No wonder even ladies pile up on the rice while eating at Golden Cowrie Restaurant! Yes, even Kate!
Golden Cowrie Squid in coco sauce 179
Crispy pata and Squid in coco sauce – Must try from Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
Golden Cowrie Cebu Kangkong 79
Kang Kong and Shrimps with garlic Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Cebu Garlic Rice 39Golden Cowrie Cebu Shrimps with garlic 89Golden Cowrie Small crispy pata 295
Guess what? EVERY DISH WAS GOOD!! The serving of the crispy pata was HUGE and when you take in a piece of meat together with the crispy skin, accompanied by the garlic rice? Simply SHIOK! Now we understand why many Filipinos enjoy garlic rice. It’s not only the fried garlicky taste that attracts you. When mixed in, it gives a different mild crunchy texture with every mouth. Yum!
Served sizzling hot, the squid in coco sauce was fresh and succulent, not the rubbery kind but the Q type with a refreshing taste of spices and charred taste. With a little chili on the side (not too much cause their version is actually quite spicy), it was just a perfect combination with the fragrant white rice.
The kang kong and shrimps with garlic also accompanied the rice really well. After typing for the last few paragraphs, we’re starting to wonder if dishes revolve around the rice? Because they complemented each other oh oh oh so well! Haven’t had this much rice in such a long time – SERIOUSLY!
Okok, here comes the best part. Our total damage? Only 824 pesos (including drinks) which is about $25 SGD!! This is less than a third of what you would have paid at a zi char stall in Singapore!
Where to find a Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Cebu
Here is a list of Golden Cowrie Restaurants in Cebu.
Ayala Terraces
Cebu Business Park, Biliran Road
Cebu City
Golden Cowrie Lahug (The one that we went to!)
Salinas Drive, Lahug
Cebu City
6000
Parkmall
Ouano Ave. North Reclamation Area
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie A.S. Fortuna
A. S. Fortuna St
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie SM Cebu
Lower Ground Floor, SM City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Cybergate
Robinsons Cybergate, Fuente
Cebu City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Mactan Marina Mall
Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Restaurant is opened at lunch from 11am to 2pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10pm.
Golden Cowrie Restaurant
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Although we have already seen dolphins during our trip in Perth/Bunbury, we were excited to go for this dolphin and island hopping tour as we will be able to see the dolphins swim care-freely in the sea. We paid 2,900 pesos ($85 SGD) per pax for this 9hr tour (i know….many of you would comment that it is pricey. And I have read blogs written by the locals that they only pay probably the same amount for a 3D2N itinerary but we liked the fact that there’s only 2 of us in the boat, and the timing is very flexible. We can stay however long we want at each stop.) And anyways, we would like to think that we have boosted the tourism economy of Philippines 🙂
The day started early at 5.30am. The hotel staff at Amorita Resort greeted us at the beach gate with our packed breakfast for the journey which included a gourmet sandwich and a bottle of chilled water. The staff also carried our snorkeling equipment and life vests to the boat. We were then introduced to our boatman and his helper (who is his younger cousin). Not long after, we were ready to go look for our dolphins!
Headed towards Balicasag island catching the dolphins first then going to the island for snorkeling followed by sand bar at Virgin island
Leaving at 530 for dolphin watching!
Video taken from boat enroute to “Dolphin Hunting”!
We were one of the earliest boats to arrive at the location where the dolphins are frequently sighted. However, we were not so lucky this morning. After an hour of waiting, more boats joined us and we were all eager to see who could spot the dolphins first. Suddenly, like an action-packed movie (along with amazing race theme song), the boatman skillfully made a sharp right turn, gained speed, and told us where the dolphins were! It was initially hard to differentiate the reflection of the morning sun on the waters and the movement of the dolphins. But soon we were experts 🙂 We managed to spot more dolphins, including the spinner dolphins as we were making our way to Balicasag Island.
Finally! Whole school of dolphins sighted!
Dolphins sighted!
First glimpse of the dolphins at Bohol! Notice how our boatsman uses whistle to attract their attention
Clapping works too…
Snorkeling in the waters around Balicasag Island was next on the itinerary. The guide recommended that we rent the waterproof cover for our camera for 300 pesos ($9 – Quite ex for a cover no?). Initially we were reluctant but well, we had already come all the way here, why scrimp on this and miss the chance to take photos underwater? Our guide was very hardworking and was on a lookout for turtles for us. Twice he shouted “Turtle! Turtle!” and we could see the turtle but was not fast enough to take a photo of it.
Our Guide at Balicasag who worked very hard to steer our boat and look for interesting fish turtles at the edge of the corals
Our guide who fixed the waterproof casing for us and points out all interesting sights to us!
Clear blue water at Balicasag Island
Balicasag Island where we got to snorkel and see fish and turtles!
Snorkelling off Balicasag Island – Corals
Tom with corals and fish!
Snorkelling off Balicasag Island
More corals and fish at Balicasag Island!
We were soon hungry and was informed that there is no food on Virgin Island (our next stop), so we settled for a cold bottle of Coke and a plate of fried bihoon (but it is actually our “dang hoon” – green bean vermicelli) at Balicasag.
Small shops on the island
Fried Bihoon at 200 pesos and coke at 30 pesos
Shops selling trinkets and beach wear / HUGE plate of Bihoon
Virgin Island has very fine soft white sand and clear waters. One can just sit/lie on the sandbar and not worry about a thing in the world. Once again, we were one of the first few to arrive at the sandbar. This was good because we left before the place got really crowded with tourists.
Virgin Island Sandbar
Temporary stalls at the sand bar of Virgin Island
Virgin Island Sandbar with locals selling coconuts and sea urchins
Bohol Island Hopping Snorkelling and Dolphin Watching
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The day trip was about $200SGD in total. But was it too expensive? For us, it was a tad on the high side. But the exclusivity, privacy and convenience we got was certainly quite worth it. Our guide took us wherever we wanted to go and allowed us to stay however long (or short) we would like at all the spots. This allowed us to stay longer for the dolphins and sandbar while shorter for the snorkeling (cause Kate did not like snorkeling – leaving earlier meants she “tanned” for a shorter time). If you ask us if we would do it again? We certainly would!
There are many hotels in Bohol that claimed to be beachfront and it is really quite hard to tell how the actual conditions of hotels/resorts are. Pictures can sometimes be REALLY deceiving… We finally chose Amorita Resort in Bohol because of its location and facilities (and also because Kate loves the fuschia pink logo! Hee.) We booked thru Agoda and the rate per night was about $224 (including tax).
Amorita Resort is about 30mins away from Peacock Garden Bohol. The entrance is a huge heavy gate at the end of the road that is guarded by a security guard. He dutifully checked our room reservation against a list that he had for the day before he let us in. We were impressed by the level of security at Amorita Resort.
Facilities of Amorita Resort Bohol
Lobby of Amorita Resort
Lobby and surroundings of Amorita Resort
View of the beach from the pool at Amorita Resort
Swimming pool of Amorita Resort
View of the bohol sea from the infinity pool Amorita Resort
Swimming pool and view of Alona Beach from Amorita Resort Bohol
See how clear the waters and how blue the skies are at Alona Beach Bohol
Amorita Resort Bohol – Deluxe Room
Flower deco for anniversary at Amorita Resort Bohol
Welcome cookies and customised anniversary balloon decorations at Amorita Resort Bohol
Video of Deluxe Room Amorita Resort
Kate arranged for a surprise for Tom at Amorita Resort. As we entered, we were greeted by a HUGE balloon decoration as well as petal arrangements on the bed for our anniversary! There were also welcome cookies (which we devoured promptly) along with some fruits as well.
After checking out the room, we left our luggage in the room and went for a stroll along the beach with the balloons! On the 2nd day, Tom went to the beach again with the balloons and started to give them out 1 by 1. People were quite reluctant at first but as others watched many before them taking balloons from Tom, many started to approach to get for their kids. Some even asked us what the occasion was and congratulated us 🙂
Video taken on Alona Beach
The great thing about Alona Beach is that the sand is so fine that when mixed with the sea water, it becomes like a clay/mud. Tom started applying on his body and many others followed suit. It could be psychological, but the skin somehow felt smoother! The best part was, once you immerse yourself in water, the sand comes right off! As we were strolling on,there were many boat operators asking if we wanted to book a trip to the islands or hire a boat to catch the sunset. We also noticed several “divers” looking for something beneath the water. While Kate was doing her massage, Tom went and searched for…sea urchin! There were many old ladies with their baskets scouring for sea urchins. Tom managed to find one with the help of a local and savoured a freshly opened sea urchin – this is as fresh as it gets, eating in the ocean!
However, do be aware of the correct species of sea urchins (as well as the edible bits) before going to catch one on your own. Otherwise, approach one of the friendly locals and they will kindly help you out as well 🙂
Alona Beach from the garden deck of Amorita Resort
Alona Beach and Kate enjoying a massage by the beach
Grill Buffet Dinner at Saffron Amorita Resort Bohol
The Grill at Amorita Resort
Grill Buffet Dinner at Amorita Resort
BBQ dinner at Amorita Resort: Grilled sotong pork ribs which was VERY tender bone fell off succulent and fresh prawn shrimp macNcheese meat on stick cheese croquette and favourite adobo drumlets
White chocolate mousse anniversary cake placed in our room when we went out for dinner SURPRISE!
Yummy grills and desserts – especially the sweet icy cold mangoes!
For Saturday nights, the hotel has grill buffet dinner (at 750pesos++ which is about $25SGD for seafood buffet!) and it was well-received by the hotel guests. The restaurant was full of guests by 6.30pm and the smell of grilled meats waft through the restaurant.
Setting at the Garden Deck for our dinner at Amorita Resort
Marvellous view of the setting and evening of the beach at Amorita Resort
Romantic Dinner for 2 at the Deck overlooking Alona Beach
We had a table reserved at The Deck, overlooking Alona Beach…a romantic setting at sunset and as the candles kicked in after dark, it marked out a special place for 2. The seafood was really fresh. You definitely wont go wrong with additional servings of the prawns! After we finished our mains, we headed back to the restaurant for desserts!
Breakfast at Amorita Resort Bohol
Amorita Resort Breakfast Egg station
Amorita Resort Breakfast Salad and cold cuts
Omelette Station and Buffet spread at Amorita Resort
Fruits and fresh mango and watermelon juice.
Mains and Fruits – LOOOOOOOVE the mangoes!
Arroz porridge. savoury chicken porridge
Arroz porridge and mains
Breakfast at Amorita was pretty decent. You can choose from the various egg choices at the omelette station and have the usual western fare of milk, toast and bacon. Or you can have some rice with fish (side note : the fish looks terrible but tastes AWESOMELY FRESH!) or some local porridge. After which you can top it off with some of the sweetest and juiciest mangoes around! Not too bad for an idyllic breakfast overlooking the sun-blessed ocean!
Amorita Resort Bohol
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There are so many things we loved about staying at Amorita Resort Bohol. The close access to the beach, great base for island hopping, great views, fantastic food, excellent service and just that idyllic holiday resort feel in Bohol…give Amorita Resort Bohol a try the next time you’re there, you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!
Bohol is the home of the Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. We definitely cannot visit Bohol without signing up for the Bohol Countryside Tour. We chose to book the tour with Peacock Garden even though it is slightly pricier (4,200 peso for 2 people) because we can trust the quality of the transport and the experience of the tour guide.
Bohol is known for its clear blue waters,beaches and fantastic snorkeling/dive spots. However, Bohol is also known for attractions on land. In fact, after we introduce the following attractions we saw during our Bohol countryside tour, you’ll go “Orh…I know them!”
Attractions in Bohol Countryside Tour
Rice fields Bohol one of the 2 main agriculture of bohol the other is fishing 4 sidelines include tyre recycling pottery jam making and bolo
Bohol Manmade forest 800ha
Bolo making, Beautiful Rice Field and the Manmade Mahogany Forest
Bolo is a traditional filipino knife or sword that is still being hand made today. This was one of the bolo making process that we saw during our Bohol Countryside Tour. In addition, we also came across this beautiful rice field that our guide insisted that we took a photo of…
One of the attractions that would make you go “Orh…” is this…the Manmade Mahogany Forest…
Manmade Mahogany Forest
Video of Manmade Mahogany Forest
Some scenic shots have been taken at this forest because of its peculiar growth (straight and high). It was initially an idea to re-forest the area to stabilise the soil (to prevent soil erosion). At first, the area was just “dead” in that there was only trees and no eco-system per se. So slowly, animals, insects and various plant species were introduced and the area sprung back to “life”. Today, it is a picturesque area for locals to enjoy and tourist to take some iconic pictures!
Chocolate Hills
Everyones favourite iconic chocolate hills Bohol
Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Chocolate Hills got its name because in the summer months (or dry months), the vegetation atop the hills would wither, revealing the soil or “brown” of the hills. With a sea of brown hills, the name Chocolate Hills was coined. As to the story of whether Chocolate Hills or Hershey’s Chocolate (which is shaped like the Chocolate HIlls in Bohol) came first, we tend to believe that the former came first and inspired the latter. What do you think?
Video of the Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Oh and do remember, if you’re bringing kids to the Chocolate Hills, remember to bring chocolate candies (Hershey’s if possible). Our guide told us that many a times, kids would literally cry when they come to know that there’s no actual chocolates at Chocolate Hills Bohol. So parents, go prepared!
Shiphaus
Filipino sailor who came back and built a house called shiphaus turned out to be an attraction to tourists and now is a hotel and restaurant
Shiphaus Bohol
The Shiphaus was originally built by a Filipino sailor (sailors used to earn alot more than locals in the past) and when he came back to Bohol, he decided to build himself a house that is shaped like a ship. We guess that it is named “Shiphaus” and not “Shiphouse”, probably because he visited Germany during one of his many voyages.
Today, the Shiphaus is not only a tourist attractions (many visitors, including us, stop by the roadside to take a photo – remember to park safely and not disrupt traffic!) but also a hotel and restaurant all rolled into one!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre
Butterfly Park – Bohol: Bear flying off as tinkerbell!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre and our very knowledgeable guide Peter
Thanks to Peter our guide for the day, he showed us many interesting things about Butterflies. For one, we realised that there’s one easy way to differentiate between moths and butterflies. Moths usually have “feathery”-like antennae while butterflies do not. Of course, there are other ways as well. For instance, butterflies are USUALLY more vividly coloured (there are dull ones too) compared to the moths and they rest with their wings closed while moths rest flat with their wings open.
Peter also took pictures of us “in-flight”. Think Tinkerbell. We stood a distance away from some butterfly specimen and were told to jump. As it turns out, he’s excellent at it and it really seemed like we were flying! Remember to say “Hi” to Peter if you see him at the Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre!
Butterflies mate for 6 hours when predators come only the female fly
Caterpillar and more pretty butterflies
Tarsier Conservation Centre
Tarsiers mate for only 3 to 5 seconds
Our guide Alice paying for entry into the Tarsier Conservation Area – 60pesos per person
Tarsiers are just a badly mistaken species. Because of its long tail and body shape in general, they were mistaken in the past as rodents or rats. Which meant that they were frequently hunted and killed. The number of tarsiers quickly plummeted. So conservation efforts started. However, at first, people started by taking care of them at home. But they did not realise they are actually creatures that are pretty hard to take care of. Firstly, they are nocturnal and are pretty adverse to noise and sunlight. Noise especially. Hence, we were told to keep real quiet at the conservation area. There have been instances where high noise levels have driven tarsiers to be so stressed out that they take their own lives! The other thing is that they dont eat fruits. In fact, they are helpful to people in that they eat insects, live ones, as their main staple. So in the past, when fruits were fed, they did not take them readily and also started to die due to their diet.
Close up of Tarsier in Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
Cute Tarsiers in Bohol soundly asleep
But with proper conservation techniques and extra care, tarsiers in Bohol are well taken care of. Look at how cute they are! It is also said that these are the creatures that gave inspiration to Steve Spielberg’s movie, ET in 1982.
Loboc River Cruise
As part of the Bohol Countryside Tour, we were treated to a seafood meal, great music, marvelous scenery and fantastic performances by the natives on the Loboc River Cruise!
Loboc river cruise
Buffet lunch included
Loboc River Cruise and Buffet Lunch
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
We thoroughly enjoyed this leisurely cruise. The music was fantastic! Great voice and guitar playing! I think his singing really made the difference to an idyllic river cruise 🙂
Buffet with musical accompaniment onboard the Loboc River Cruise
Bamboo dance with the Natives
Singing performance by the Natives
Baclayon Church
Original pulpit where the message was said the structure on top was said to be like an amplifier at Baclayon Church Bohol
Can you see the picture of saint pio formed under weathering at Baclayon Church Bohol
Baclayon Church – The Oldest Coral Stone Church in the Region of Bohol
The Baclayon Church is not only the oldest coral stone church in the region. It also has an uniqueness to the facade of the church. If you look closely enough at the wall in the picture above. You will notice that there is a man there. Locals see him as Saint Pio. Strangely enough, there was no paint work whatsoever. Simply weathering taking place. Miraculous eh?
Blood Compact Memorial
Blood compact memorial shrine they had to drink each others blood to be friends
Blood Compact Memorial
The blood compact memorial was erected as a remembrance of the initial compact between the early spanish explorers and the chieftain of Bohol. It was said that “drinking of one blood” is a sign of friendship which was done at this blood compact.
The controversy that surrounds the Blood Compact Memorial itself is its location. Apparently, there are 2 places that resembled a picture that was painted when the compact took place. So the current location may be eventually shifted.
Bohol Countryside Tour
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It costs us about SGD240 per night inclusive of taxes, and it was worth every single cent of it!
Peacock Garden Receptionist who took us around the resort and welcomed us
Welcome drinks at Peacock Resort 250sgd a night
Reception at lobby of Peacock Garden and Welcome drinks
Map of the entire Peacock Garden hotel
Map of Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Bohol – Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room
Peacock Garden Infinity pool
Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room Peacock Garden Bohol
The Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room is simply the best room at Peacock Garden. Not only do you get to enjoy the luxuries of a huge bedroom (staff even decorated our bed for our anniversary!), classy bathroom, cable TV, L’Occitane toiletries and of course this…
Peacock Gardeb – right in front of the infinity pool and ocean view
Magnificent view over the infinity pool and ocean!
Tour of the Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room at Peacock Garden Bohol
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
During our stay, we learnt something new (or at least Tom learnt something new). And that is turndown service. Turndown service is usually the practice of the housekeeping staff to make your bed and basically tidy up your room. However, at some hotels (such as Peacock Garden), they will leave an item of confectionery or chocolate and this time we got Bohol Kisses, a peanut based snack!
Facilities at Peacock Garden Bohol
Infinity Pool and Jacuzzi of Peacock Garden
Jacuzzi aka hot tub
Infinity pool and jaccuzi
Remember the contest we opened some time back? The video above was taken from the infinity pool and we asked our readers to guess where the video was taken from to win some memorabilia from 2bearbear.com. Unfortunately, the prizes were left unclaimed. Do look out for our next contest yah?
When you enter into the hotel
Interior and Exterior of Peacock Garden
As you approach Peacock Garden Bohol Hotel, you will notice the beautiful fountain lined by these lion figure heads. As you enter the lobby, you’d notice the collection of german mugs of the owners. There’s also a chess set – which we had a game on. Kate surprisingly does not know how to play international chess! Things we learn about each other on our travels… :p
Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Inside Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Interior of Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Moving in, you’ll see the bar as well as the Old Heidelberg Restaurant where they serve quality german cuisine and of course local ones as well.
Angus the Peacock
Angus the peacock
Angus the peacock
Probably why Peacock Garden Hotel is named as such. Angus is the resident peacock and you’ll be able to see him walking around sometimes…
Fontana Aurelia Spa
Fontana Aurelia Spa in peacock garden hotel
Fontana Aurelia Spa at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Massage table
Interior of Fontana Aurelia Spa
Kate experienced a massage at the Fontana Aurelia Spa and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The interior of the spa was classy and one of the rooms has an angle view of the ocean as well. After the massage, there’s also a bath and foot spa treatments available. A great way to enjoy a staycation.
Dinner at Old Heidelberg
Speaking of staycations, to do so, the restaurants ought to have great food right? And at the Old Heidelberg, we were surprised by the excellent standard (really close in terms of authenticity to german fare) and we had 2 nights of dinner here…
Chefs Recommendation at Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Menu and server with selection of bread at Old Heidelberg Restaurant Peacock Garden
Kalderatang Baka Filipino Beef Stew 480 peso
Kaderatang Baka – Filipino Beef Stew and Jaeger Schnitzel with Spaeztle – stewed pork with a type of starchy pasta
Mojito and Apple Pie at Heidelberg Restaurant of Peacock Garden Bohol
Complimentary heart-shaped anniversary cake courtesy of Peacock Garden Hotel
Complimentary Anniversary Cake, banana chocolate cake and apple pie with ice cream – with Mojito and Cappucino!
Frozen margarita and SML
Frozen Margarita/San Miguel with selection of breads with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pork fat garlic mushroom apple sauce with clear chicken soup
500peso for chicken cordon blue with fries and veggies. yummy.
750 peso for set dinner. norweigen salmon with prawns in dill sauce. yummy. salmon was soft unlike dry hard ones
Chicken Cordon Bleu and Norwegian Salmon with Prawns in dill sauce / Mango ice cream with cream of cassis
All the meals at Old Heidelberg Restaurant were a pleasant surprise. All of the above tasted great. In addition, the prawns were exceptionally fresh and succulent. The cream of cassis was also something new for us. Turned out that the liquer-based cream went really well with the mango ice cream – who knew?
Breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden may be not so accessible, tucked away in the countryside, but you do not have to worry about going hungry or finding good food. I think we cannot stress enough how delicious the food is at Peacock Garden. What we loved about the breakfast is that it is semi-buffet style. You can order your hot mains with the choice of different sides, and while waiting for your food, you can try the selection of cheese and cold cuts, cereals, and native sweets.
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cereals, nuts and juices
Peacock Garden Breakfast Salty cream dory with tomato, mushrooms, ham and cheese omelette and pancake
Healthy and yummy breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cheese and cold cut. gherkins
Like the breakfast at Raffles Hotel, Peacock Garden Bohol offers a semi-buffet style where you can choose from a few choice of mains and enjoy the cold buffet/dessert separately. Food was great but dont try the chocolate rice porridge – unless you’re in an adventurous mood…
Peacock Garden Bohol
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The truth is, Peacock Garden could well be one of the best hotels that we’ve stayed in so far. The views from our room, the infinity pool, classy atmosphere, excellent food and impeccable service (did we mention that we were almost always greeted by all the staff in the hotel?). If you’re in Bohol and perhaps celebrating an anniversary like us, check in at Peacock Garden Bohol, you will certainly have a memorable time!
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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Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu Philippines is one of the many boutique hotels that have sprung up in recent times. Kate scrolled through Agoda and found that the room is very affordable, has bathtub (always a plus!) and have amenities such as a spa, gym and dip pool! In addition it is just a 15 mins walk to Ayala Mall!
Huge bed in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Entrance and lobby of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
The deluxe room at Castle Peak Hotel only costs $57! The great thing is that the new wing is newly renovated and everything had a new feel to it…
Bath Tub in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Watching TV while having a bath!
Take a tour of the Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel with our video!
Facilities and Amenities of Castle Peak Hotel
The best part of Castle Peak Hotel’s facilities has got to be the SPA!! This is because, the massage costs only 400 pesos ($11.50SGD!) while the manicure and pedicure costs only 100 pesos! Here’s the best bit…the spa closes at 2am! Which means that you can head out to Ayala Mall to shop, have your dinner, chill and have some drinks before going back to Castle Peak to unwind with a massage! Shiok!
Dipping pool at the Spa
In addition, for a price of between 200 to 450 pesos, you can use the gym as well as the dipping pool of Castle Peak Hotel. Breakfast was also relatively decent at 200 pesos per person. Although we did not like their chocolate rice porridge, we loved their dang hoon (green bean vermicelli)!
Buffet Breakfast at Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Castle Peak Hotel Cebu Philippines
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If you’re plannning to get from Singapore to Cebu, this post can give you a glimpse of how the planning can be done…
Flights from Singapore to Cebu
There are several flights from Singapore to Cebu which includes Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and China Eastern. Direct flights will take about 4 hours while non-direct flights with stop over at Manila may take up to 8 hours.
Shorter flight times usually translate to a higher cost. But sometimes, the additional time in Cebu may be well worth the cost (think both ways!)
From Changi Airport Singapore to Mactan Cebu International Airport
White Cab at Domestic Departure Cebu Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport
The Mactan Cebu International Airport is a small airport. So you dont have worry about losing your way after the customs. There are actually only 3 carousels for our luggage. However, we did wait for quite a while before our luggage came out. For a moment, we thought that we might actually have to activate our travel insurance!
How to get a taxi at Mactan Cebu International Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
There are some “taxis” waiting for you at the arrival area. HOWEVER, the official area to catch a cab is at the domestic departure area – the building opposite! So what you will have to do is to
1. Cross the road from the Arrival Hall
2. Walk up a slope and enter the next building
3. Continue walking along the path till you exit the building
4. If you’re lost, ask the friendly security guard for the “White Taxis”
You will then see this row of white cabs and there will be a guard standing at the front of the line to write down the license plates of the taxis. He will then pass you the slip of paper…
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
This slip of paper actually helps to ensure that you are charged at the correct price and if you have any complaints against the cab, you can raise it to the appropriate authorities.
If you see that the cab is clean and the uncle speaks good English, you wish to hire him for a day tour. That’s where your negotiation skills come into play…
Flight from Singapore to Cebu
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Katong & Joo Chiat is an idyllic, culturally and historically rich area set in the eastern part of Singapore. There are actually quite a number of things you can do in Katong and this post will cover some of the interesting parts of this heritage area in Singapore.
Introduction to the Katong and Joo Chiat Area
As we exited ECP and entered into the Katong area, there was a breath of tranquility that filled the air. The contrast was stark because of the “hustle” of the traffic on the expressway and when you enter the precinct, it seems like time has gone back to a more serene era filled with old world charms.
According to the introduction, the area used to be a sea-side resort for the rich in the 18th to 19th century. Today, the Marine Parade Road marks where the original shore line was. Imagine the amount of land we reclaimed!
Old World Charms in Katong
We started off the morning with breakfast at Chin Mee Chin confectionary.
Traditional setting in Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
CMC is an old-school kopitiam that serves up traditional kaya and butter toasts. The unique part is that the toasts are on buns and the kaya is home-made, preserving that eggy (not the sweet overpowering type) taste of kaya. Our favourite was the cream cone. Really light for the cream (a little saltish) which went really well with the crispy outer layer of the cone and the kopi…
Breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
After the hearty breakfast, we continued on our walk around Joo Chiat and came across some architectures that were an unique fusion of chinese, malay, peranakan, colonial british and other old world charms…
Stretch of Peranakan-styled houses at Koon Seng road5 foot walkway – an iconic feature of chinese architectureFusion of colonial British and Peranakan architectureFurniture shop – using rattan as the main material!Haven’t seen one these 10cents coin telephone for a whileRow of shop houses in the dayEateries along the shop houses at nightUnderground walkways connecting Katong to East Coast Park – Notice the old-school tiles!
What to eat in Katong
When it comes to food, Katong has build quite a reputation for itself. This is a quick snapshot of the famous eateries in Katong and you should give them a try. They’re really quite good…
328 Katong Laksa
328 Katong LaksaActual stall of 328 Katong Laksa
There are two 328 Katong Laksa along Marine Parade Road and the unique thing about Katong Laksa? Yes, you can eat it by using a spoon because the vermicelli has been cut to “spoon-enabled” lengths…
328 Katong Laksa – great with its sedap chili!
Sometimes, when a stall is famous, you become skeptical. Especially for local hawker fare. Why? Well, simply because I have my favourites and you have yours. But this version? It’s REALLY GOOD. Here’s why.
First of all, the laksa soup is flavourful, rich with traces of shrimps and spices. By itself, it is not too spicy. But there are containers-full of home-made chili on the table for those of you who likes to spice it up a little. Speaking of the chili, it is the other main draw. The chili packs a punch and you can taste the hei bi (little shrimps) infused into the chili. Mixed into the soup? Simply sedap! Last but not least, for $4.50, one would think that you’ve been ripped off. But the fact is, there are alot of cockles, 3 prawns and seemingly endless amount of sliced fish cake that makes every spoon a chock-full of goodness! Now we understand why its so famous…
Marine Parade Food Centre
Yummy things to eat at Marine Parade Food Center Katong!
There are so MANY things to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre that we wrote a separate post just to cover “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre“. The standard of hawker food is quite high. But along with that, the prices as well. We noticed that in general, for a hawker centre, the prices are above average with char kway teow prices starting at $3. Perhaps it is due to the “atas” (high class) clientele in the area of Katong and Joo Chiat. But still, food such as the economical rice, curry puff, char kway teow and beef noodles are still worth a visit!
Yong’s Teochew Kueh
Yong’s Teochew Kueh Katong
Teochew oldies swear by this brand and you can often see them as gifts among friends. This is because of the tasty kuehs such as soon kueh (vege filled insides wrapped with a white outer layer) and peng kueh (rice filled insides with the iconic pink outer layer shaped like a tear-drop) that they offer. We prefer the fried version of peng kueh, cant really beat the taste when its fresh off the kwali (aka wok).
Ampang Niang Tou Fu
Ampang Niang Tou Fu Katong
The first time we tasted Ampang Niang Tou Fu was eons ago. But the taste was really unique and we can still remember it today. It is the sauce that makes this Hakka version of the Niang Tou Fu so special. Price wise, not as cheap as your regular yong tau fu. But you will enjoy the sauce in which it is prepared which goes especially well with the rice.
Peramakan
Peramakan at Santa Grand Hotel Katong
For a taste of traditional Peranakan food, head to Peramakan – a nonya family restaurant. Essentially, everything there is good. SERIOUS! Every dish was a surprise and with the fragrant (unlimited) rice, it just all came together. Ideas of family, home-cooked food, rich peranakan heritage all infused into the food served at Peramakan.
But if we really have to choose, we’ll highlight the Ikan Garam Assam, Beef Rendang, Nonya Chap Chye, Ayam Buah Keluak and durian pengat as the must-try at Peramakan!
What to do in Katong
East Coast Park
East Coast Park is within walking distance of the Katong precinct and is an excellent venue for the family. For physical activities, you can choose to bike, blade or jog along the long stretch of path along the beach. For those who are into extreme sports, you can opt for wake boarding (aka cable skiing) at Ski 360.
For the older folks who want to take it down a notch, BBQ is always a favourite. Fishing and camping by the beach are other things you can enjoy at East Coast Park. For us, the best part of East Coast Park? Enjoying the views by the beach and the sea breeze…
Views by the beach at East Coast Park
360 Tour of East Coast Park with views of Marina Bay Sands
I12 Katong (Not 112 Katong!!) – For movies, shopping and diningParkway Parade Shopping CentreVillage Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerShopping in the Marine Parade Heartlands!
Night Life in Katong
If you’re thinking of having a night out, the area near I12 Katong has some options including Alibabar and Brotzeit. We had some drinks ($9.90 nett) and the char kway teow ($5) which by the way was quite tasty and the portion was huge! Good for 2 to share.
Alibabar at KatongInside Alibabar Char kway teow and beers at Alibabar
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There are many things to do in Macao and many attractions as well. But if you ask me what are the MUST do things in Macao, this is our list of the top 5 MUST DO things in Macao…
Macau’s famous Portuguese eggtartThis version has a slightly salty but flavourful pork with fatty bits and chewy bun – 20MOP
Portuguese egg tarts are world renowned because of its crispy yet flaky outer crust with its rich egg tart fillings. Pork buns on the other hand is flavourful with a tinge of fatty guilt. Yum!
Travel Tip : When you see a stall with portuguese egg tarts or pork buns, DO NOT WAIT TO TRY THEM! Just stop, get one to share. Otherwise, you may just tell yourself that “there will be another stall” and eventually when you leave Macao, you may not have tried them at all!
3. MUST TRY – Sampling at Koi Kei Bakery (鉅記)
Koi Kei Pastry (鉅記) Macau – Dont forget to try the almond cookies & seaweed eggrolls!
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many Koi Kei Bakery stalls in Macao and at almost every turn of the street in the city centre, you may stumble upon one! The best part is that sampling at Koi Kei Bakery is free! There are so many products to choose from including almond, cashew, walnut cookies and an assortment of candies and gifts. But our favourite is the Egg Roll With Seaweed And Shredded Pork. Especially when it is freshly made!
Travel Tip 1 : You will have to lurk inconspicuously while maintaining “surveillance” over the tables as the chefs out on their final touches before the cookies, candies or egg rolls are complete. In this way, you will be able to sample the freshest bakes from Koi Kei!
Travel Tip 2 : Always go Koi Kei on an empty stomach (a cup of coffee is preferred). You may be tempted to try so many of its products that it can actually become a light meal!
4. MUST SEE – Cotai Strip
The Venetian Macau Cotai Strip
Modelled after the Strip in Las Vegas USA, Cotai Strip is the entertainment arena of Macao. With shows, shopping and many top notch restaurants here, you will be spoilt for choice on what to do next in Macao.
5. MUST ENJOY – Luxury Hotels
Indoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!
Pamper yourself in one of the many luxury hotels in Macao. Our stay at the Hotel Royal Macau was an enjoyable and it did not cost us a bomb. So kick back, relax and lap up the life of luxury in Macao!
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There are actually many things to do in Hong Kong. Attractions in Hong Kong abound as well! But to sum up our recent trip, here are 21 Amazing Travel Experiences in Hong Kong you ought to check out!
Things to do, Attractions and Travel Experiences in Hong Kong
1. Breathtaking views overlooking Victoria Harbour
View overlooking Sky 100 from Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan
For a room with the best views over Victoria Harbour, look no further than Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan. The rooms are decent and the price is reasonable. A night here will make your stay in Hong Kong a very much memorable one.
Read more about our stay at Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan.
2. How about views over Tsuen Wan Harbour?
Bathtub and shower capsule with view of Tsuen Wan Harbour
Bruce Lee’s statue added in 2005 to the Avenue of Stars
Many would say a visit to Hong Kong would not be complete without a visit to the Avenue of the Stars. With stars such as the “Four Heavenly Kings” (who can both sing and act by the way) among the many Hong Kong celebrities, who can dispute that Hong Kong is indeed the Hollywood of the East?
4. Ocean Park
Ocean Park Ocean Theatre Dolphins leaping beside its trainers
Having been around for 40 years, is Ocean Park still worth a visit? Our answer is a resounding YES! With shows, rides, attractions and play area for the kids, Ocean Park is really an attraction in Hong Kong for the entire family!
5. Countdown at Victoria Harbour
Crowd waiting for fireworks and countdown at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
Start of Mid Level Escalator Stairs at Queens Road
Originally built to reduce travelling time between Queens Road and Conduit Road, this 800 metre stretch of escalator and walkway system in the longest in the world. Through this walkway, the Mid Level Escalators also cover an ascent of 135 metres. Today, it is very much a tourist attraction as it is a form of commute for Hong Kongers.
Where to shop in Hong Kong
People always say Hong Kong is about 买东西,吃东西 (buy stuff, eat stuff). It’s true! And here’s a low down of where you can shop till your heart’s content in Hong Kong…
7. Temple Street Market
Night Market at Temple Street
There are several night markets in Hong Kong and Temple Street is one of the more prominent ones. Here you can pick up clothings, bags, souvenirs and gifts. Just remember to haggle a bit and compare prices before making the deal!
8. Ladies Street
Ladies Street near to Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
Another prominent market is Ladies Street at Mong Kok. Do not be fooled by the name as the stalls here do not only offer products for ladies. Like Temple Street, Ladies Street offer a 1 kilometre stretch of shopping options that caters to your bargaining desires!
Entrance to Elements Shopping Mall from Kowloon MTR
For more conventional shopping options, visit Elements Shopping Mall at Kowloon. With its 5 different zones (Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire, Water) and a myriad of shopping options, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you visit Elements.
10. Citygate Outlet Mall Tung Chung
Shopping galore at Citygate Outlets Hong Kong!
For luxury shopping at affordable prices, head on down to Citygate Outlet Mall at Tung Chung. Having been to Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet in the USA, we did not think that we would be doing much shopping here. We were wrong. Prices were quite attractive but do note that they could be off-season items. Nonetheless, a good shopping destination in Hong Kong.
Where to eat in Hong Kong
11. Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Touted as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan serves up dim sum the way it is supposed to be. Do not miss the “Four Heavenly Kings” that include the famous baked bun with BBQ Pork (above). Definitely better than the one that has opened in Singapore. Do check out our Minimalist Guide to Eating at Tim Ho Wan.
12. Lei Garden (Atas Chinese Food)
Baked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Lei Garden Hong Kong
You may expect to pay a little bit more at Lei Garden, but you will not regret the experience. We were pleasantly surprised and were eagerly anticipating how the next dish would turn out as we tucked into a sumptious meal here. Great service and ambience too!
13. Lan Fong Yuen Milk Tea
Lan Fong Yuen Hong Kong Butter Po Luo You and Milk Tea at 13hkd and 16 hkd respectively
Serving up cups of milk tea since 1952, Lan Fong Yuen is the place to go to enjoy a taste of traditional milk tea at a traditional setting (old kopitiam style). While at it, do try out their bo luo you (but maybe not the pork bun…)
14. Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop (麦文记面家)
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
For some of the best noodles that Hong Kong has to offer, head right on to Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop. I tell you, the noodles are Q (springy), ingredients are fresh and generous. One word to sum it up. SHIOK!
15. Desserts at Austraian Dairy Company
Steamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong
Still have no idea why its called Australian Dairy Company (when it’s in Hong Kong!!). But you’ve got to try their steamed egg puddings. Both white and yellow versions are unique experiences that we’ve tried for the first time here. Creation of a genius.
16. Dim Sum at Lian Xiang Ju
Traditional setting at Lian Xiang Ju – Can you spot the Ang Mo in this photo
For a more traditional setting for dim sum, Lian Xiang Ju is a great place that we accidentally stumbled upon (by stalking an old aunty no less). No regrets here. Great food, old world charm in its setting at a great price. Even ang mos visit! Maybe we should continue stalking old aunties and uncles? :p Read more about our visit to Lian Xiang Ju here.
This is a special mention for the best congee we’ve ever eaten. It is from Hai Xing Congee shop. No, we do not know where it is (ah!!) because we just headed into a place for breakfast and that was it. But the taste was just ma ma mia! Rich, flavourful and milky (yes we do not know how they do it but it is really milky in a savoury, nice kind of way). Definitely an unforgettable experience.
PLEASE tell us its location in the comments section below if you know where it is!!
18. How about some street food?
Hong Kong Fishballs in curry – 6 for 5HKDEgg Waffles Hong Kong for 7 HKD – Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside
Tuck into street foods such as curry fishballs, lok lok, instant noodles and those small round egg waffles known as 鸡蛋仔. You’ll know it when you see it, just follow your senses (yes, sense of smell).
19. How a typical Hong Kong Cafe is like
A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)
You have not been to Hong Kong unless you’ve visited a Hong Kong Cafe. Feel the vibe, order the toast, milk tea and instant noodles. Feel how the waiters hover over your tables, like bald eagles, waiting to swoop in when your plates and cups are empty. That is the way of life dude.
Side trips from Hong Kong
20. Shen Zhen
Entrance to Old Dong Men Shopping District (老东门商城)
You may want to make only 1 trip to Shen Zhen while you’re in Hong Kong. Just to shop and eat at a much cheaper price across the border. Nonetheless, being restricted in use of credit cards was a first for us (VISA and MASTERCARDS are not accepted in Shen Zhen or at least not commonly). Makes you re-think how much you rely on your cards these days.
21. Macao
Ruins of St Paul with long flight of stairs – middle of stairs
There are so many things to do and attractions in Macau! Visit the historic centre of Macao, tuck into the famous portuguese egg tart or simply take in the sights and sounds. Macau is definitely an excellent side trip from Hong Kong.
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Kluang is a district located in the state of Johor in Malaysia and there are in fact several things to do and attractions in Kluang which we were introduced to by Tourism Malaysia during a recent familiarisation trip.
It wasn’t initially like that though. In fact, our first thought when we saw the email invite was…
“Kluang? Hm…let me just check that again. Maybe they just mispelt ‘Klang’?”
Well, the difference is just a letter “u” which can be easily, accidentally added in right? But the truth is, after the trip, we actually kind of enjoyed ourselves and this is a low-down of all the places of interest in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia!
Kluang RailCoffee
Inside Kluang RailCoffee
Kluang RailCoffee is a traditional coffee joint located at Kluang railway station. Opened since 1938 by the Lim family (now operated by the 3rd generation and at the exact same location no less), this local’s favourite is famous for its coffee, toast and nasi lemak!
Iced Coffee , Kopi with Peanut Butter and traditional Kaya Butter Toast at Kluang RailCoffeeKluang RailCoffee’s famous nasi lemak served at the tables – no frills just plain old nasi with awesome sambal
After tasting the toast and coffee, we totally understood why the locals enjoyed it here. We went for both the iced version as well as the traditional kopi. Even with the ice, the taste did not diminish and still presented itself with that traditional taste. The toast on the other hand was lightly crusted on the outside and fluffy on the inside with thick slices of the butter. Sinful but oh so yummy with the kaya. Plus, the prices are really REALLY decent. Just check out the prices…
Menu of Kluang RailCoffee
With that kind of price coupled with good old fashioned coffee and toast, it’s no wonder that Kluang RailCoffee’s pulling in the crowd daily…
Kluang RailCoffee – A favourite breakfast joint for locals!
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen
Tucked away at no. 76, Jalan Besar, Kluang, Johor, 86000 is Kluang’s most famous factory – Kluang Coffee Powder Factory which produces the famous Kopi Cap Televisyen (aka Television Brand Coffee).
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen aka Television Brand Coffee
Legend has it that the Sultan of Johor is one of its biggest fans and has been drinking this coffee for the last 20 years! Opened since 1966 by Mr Goh Tong Tor, the factory is now operated by the next generation of the Goh family and the factory actually supplies 90% of Kluang’s coffee.
Guided tour of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
Coffee Making Process of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
The whole process starts here with these 3 types of coffee beans
Television Brand Coffee made from Arabica Liberica and Robus coffee beans
Of course, the proportion is secret.
Next, we learnt something new here (yes, we’re quite suaku about the coffee making process). We actually learnt that the coffee beans are roasted in 2 manner. Traditional roasting is done with sugar and margarine added to enhance the aroma. While white coffee is roasted just by itself. Bet you did not know that did ya?
Cooling process after roasting
After roasting, the beans are placed on a cooling plate where the staff would stir and separate them while bringing down its temperature (see video). After which, the beans go into a machine that separates them back into individual beans. Thereafter, they go into the grinder to form the coffee powder that you and I know.
Roasted and separated coffee beans being poured into the grinder from the topCoffee powder being packed into tins
And the end product…voila!
Kopi Cap Televisyen – Kluang’s Famous Television Brand Coffee Powder
Kluang’s Television Coffee Taste Test
Well, enough of all the technicalities of producing coffee. Let’s go try out the coffee itself!
Setting where we got to test the Television Brand Coffee
While we were sitting down, a really awkward situation took place. We asked a staff how long he had worked in a factory. Seemed like a harmless question right?
NO!!!
After reading the many newspaper cuttings on the walls of the factory, we realised that we actually posed the question to the boss of the factory!! Now we realise why the answer was an awkward and delayed “erm…20 years…” But not to justify ourselves, the boss has really slimmed down quite a bit! Through our conversations, we also realise that the family holds dear to the fact that coffee should be enjoyed with just hot water and sugar. No condensed milk (or any other milk for that matter) because the milk actually diminishes the taste of the coffee.
So how does the coffee really taste?
The taste test of Kluang’s Television Brand Coffee
Well, we have to say that the version concocted for us was a tad bit sweet. Nonetheless, the coffee was REALLY aromatic. That special concoction/proportion thingy going on with the beans really paid off handsomely with an unique yet traditional taste. This is notwithstanding the fact that we love our coffee with milk. The taste test actually changed our perception of 2-in-1 coffee (yeah, we normally go for 3-in-1’s)
UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang
UK Farm Agro Resort is Malaysia’s largest goat and sheep farm with 100 acres of grazing land and 15 acres of land for passion fruit…
Entrance of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMap of UK Farm Agro Resort
The tour of UK farm got off to a great start and by that we mean…A GREAT MEAL!!!
H.E. High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob looking on at the roasted lamb
Tourism Malaysia actually placed alot of emphasis on this tour. Not only was this lamb of 1200++ RM laid out for us, the High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob was also a Guest-of-Honour, lending weight to the entire familiarisation trip!
Slicing of the roasted lamb at UK FarmDividing the roasted lambExcellent lunch of bee hoon, curry vegetable, omelette and roasted lamb at UK Agro Resort FarmFood Menu at UK Farm Agro Resort
The highlight is of course the lamb. Marinated with a special secret sauce, the meat was tender, smoky while being sweet and crusted on the outside. The lamb was also really tender. No gamey taste as well. Just good roasted tender lamb. Yum.
Did we mention that the lamb was really tender?
Activities at UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang Malaysia
Activities available at UK Farm
For 270++ per person, you will be able to stay a night at the farm and enjoy the various activities that UK farm offers…
Feedstock Processing Factory
Mr Goh Un Keng (Mr UK himself) briefing us at the feedstock processing factory aka sheep canteen
We were briefed by the boss of UK farm, Mr Goh himself (yes, UK comes from his initials) starting at the feedstock processing factory. Mr Goh is really into green farming and natural cycles. At his farm, he uses the peels of his passion fruits mixed with the soya bean kernels (which he imports from Yeo’s Singapore) as feed for the sheep. In this way, there’s no wastage and surprisingly the goat pen itself doesn’t smell that bad. PLUS, to complete the cycle, droppings from the sheep and goats are used as fertilisers for the passion fruits and coconuts that the farm produces. Organic stuff. No pesticides involved. All natural!
The other thing that Mr Goh told us was how he managed to attract swallows into his farm successfully thus eliminating the problem of flies naturally. These swallows “swallow” up to 600 flies a day! Probing further on how he does it, he just cites that its “trade secret” and that its also a big problem in Australia…
Goat Pen
Across the sheep’s canteen is the goat pen. As mentioned earlier, and much to our amazement as well, it doesn’t smell. According to Mr Goh, its due to the natural processes and food that is fed to the sheep and goats. Stark difference from the farms we’ve visited in Australia – smells quite a bit there…
Milk feeding of the goats in the goat penCarrying cute baby goats!
At the goat pen, you get an opportunity to feed the goats. Greedy bunch but really cute! Some are more greedy than others though. So we try to feed them as equally as we possibly can. But it can be a challenge to pull the bottle out of one goat to feed the next – no concept of sharing there…
You’ll also be able to get photo opportunities with the baby goats. These cute little creatures are cuddly and some even slept in the arms of some of the members in our media group!
Goat Milk Processing Centre
At the next stop, we were shown how milk is extracted at the goat milk processing centre.
Milking the goats at UK Agro Resort Farm
We were told that the mother goats had to be milked TWICE A DAY! This is because if they do not do so, the glands would swell up and cause the goats to fall sick. In addition, the timing of the mating is properly done so that they produce milk for 6 months, mate and continue producing milk after getting pregnant! That’s alot of milk for Mr Goh…$Ka Ching$!
Mr Goh is also really proud of the technique used here. In fact, he is one of only 6 sheep farms in the world to have received the HACCP certification. Which is why each and every step done and demonstrated to us is in accordance with the procedures.
Milking goat in accordance with HACCP certification at UK Farm Agro Resort
The ingenuity of Mr Goh extends not only to the achievements at the farm but also to the products sold here…
Products sold includes goats milk, ice cream, skin lotion and shampoo
After the milk tasting (which was somehow a little gamey for us), we adjourned to see another idea that Mr Goh devised…
Innovative manner of feeding the young goats
According to Mr Goh, it would be really inefficient to feed each one of them individually. Hence the milk that was milked? It gets transferred to this container that allows the young goats to be fed quickly and efficiently!
UK Farm Resort Stay
Next, we moved on to visit the resort stay at UK farm. Lucky for us, room 106 was not occupied and we were able to visit the room…
Beds inside the resort at UK FarmFridge, TV, Wifi and boiling facilitiesWith attached bathroom
The resort is actually equipped to meet the needs of modern travellers. Wi-fi even. Really wonder how Mr Goh pulled cables all the way to the farm just to provide wi-fi for the visitors. All within just a short span of 3 years!
Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade at UK Agro Resort FarmRelaxed setting inside Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade is an area with visitors can relax, buy some souvenirs and fruits while enjoying them fresh. It was here where we enjoyed our organic coconut…
Freshly cut organic coconut from UK farm
The other members of the media also took the opportunity to grab an interview with Mr Goh here…
Interviewing Mr Goh – Owner of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMr Goh Un Keng – The man himself
We also had a short conversation with Mr Goh and we realised that all the ideas (organic/green farming, getting rid of flies via swallows, efficiency at the farm and even the lovely setting at Tropical Arcade) were from Mr Goh himself! He told us that he stopped schooling since primary 5 and all he could do was to put in hard work. Hard work he did and today UK farm is one of the best known farms in the country (and of course in the world of sheep farming).
On a side note, he did joke about students learning about “green techniques” in school when in actual fact, he’s doing green farming “practical” every single day!
Sheep Challenge
Sheep Challenge UK Farm Agro Resort
Sheep challenge is a major attraction at UK Farm whereby 3 to 5 participants would enter the pen and attempt to catch a sheep within a time of 3 minutes. If you are able to do so, you’ll receive the legendary UK medal…
Catch a sheep, get an UK medal
The key is to work together as a team. Approach the sheep slowly in a ring-like manner and trap them into a corner. But if you’re not able to do so, you’ll probably end up like what we did – running around aimlessly in the pen…
Trying our best to catch a sheep
Though we failed to catch a sheep, we really did have fun! Almost caught them a couple of times. They run real fast these sheeps. Nonetheless, there were high fives all round as we concluded the game.
Kluang local delicacies
As we rounded up our familiarisation trip of Kluang, we headed to Ayer Hitam – a town known for its pottery and crafts. This time, we tasted some local delicacies – Putu Bambu and Cendol
Making of Putu Bambu at Ayer Hitam Kluang
Close up of Putu BambuCendol – A great way to cool down on a hot sunny afternoon
Putu Bambu is a rice-based dessert steamed in small little bamboos. They are then extracted (as shown in the video) and covered with generous topping of grated coconut. Delicious while eaten warm. No wonder there’s a queue at this particular stall in Ayer Hitam. The cendol was also a great dessert – shaved ice with gula melaka (brown sugar) and rich ingredients such as jelly noodles and red bean.
How we got to Kluang Johor Malaysia
Tourism Malaysia collaborated with KTM to bring us this familiarisation trip and this time round, we took the rail to Kluang!
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
To take the train to Kluang, you will have to go by the Woodlands Train Checkpoint. To reach here, there are essentially 2 ways. The first way is to take the MRT to Marsiling Station and take bus 856 or Kranji MRT Station and take bus 170/178. As we were running late that morning, we took the 2nd way – Taxi! There is a taxi stand right beside Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
The thing we love about taking the train is that it was CLEAR at the immigration on a Saturday morning! Within minutes, we cleared both the Singapore and Malaysian customs and boarded the train!
We were hosted on the “event carriage” of the train (costs about 3000RM per trip) which features a large space for catering or performances, attached toilets (notice the plural) as well as the latest karaoke system that features more than 3000 songs! The screen’s pretty much like K Box (easy to search songs in Mandarin,English,Malay or foreign languages), that’s how modern the system is…
Enjoying a moment of Karaoke Singing onboard KTM train to Kluang
If you’re going for luxury, there’s also a VIP carriage for more privacy and comfort…
VIP carriage onboard KTM train with queen-sized bedSame room with attached basinAnother VIP room with two single bedsCorridor of VIP carriage with private function room at the end
To our surprise, the High Commissioner of Malaysia, Dato’ Husni Zai Yaacob also joined us for the event! This lent great emphasis to this media familiarisation trip and we were thoroughly honoured to have the High Commissioner being part of the event! KTM’s General Manager also took time off for an opening speech where he emphasised on the concept of Railway Tourism. Something which we think will really take off once the High Speed Rails come online.
Photo taking session with the High Commissioner of MalaysiaIntroductory speech by High Commissioner showing his emphasis on tourism in Malaysia
The price of travelling to Kluang costs $15 one way (when you purchase your tickets in Singapore) and 15RM one way when you purchase your tickets in Kluang.
Transportation in and around Kluang
Taxis are readily available in Kluang and there are also private cars for hire (you will need to feature your negotiation skills). If you’re heading to UK Farm Agro Resort, they do charter a bus which costs 20RM per person (round trip), taking you from Kluang Railway Station and back.
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We hope that this post has helped you to understand more about the attractions and things to do in Kluang Malaysia. Looking back, we’d definitely take a trip back to UK Farm which is cleaner, nearer and cheaper than its Australian counterparts. Enroute, you may also want to stop for a durian feast. Sounds like a great weekend trip already!
When you think of Batu Pahat in Malaysia, the caves may come to mind first. Today, we’ll cover the things to do and attractions in the town of Batu Pahat!
Things to do and attractions in Batu Pahat
1. Where to stay in Batu Pahat?
The Katerina Hotel Batu Pahat
We checked in at the 4-stars Katerina Hotel and we were treated to a comfortable stay which offered a good base from which we visited the attractions in Batu Pahat. Read more about our stay at the Katerina Hotel here.
King Size Bed Katerina Hotel Batu PahatKaterina Hotel Batu Pahat TVView from Batu Pahat Katerina Hotel
2. What to eat at Batu Pahat?
Chop See Kee Wanton Noodles
Chop See Kee wanton noodles (affectionately known by the locals at Ah See Wanton Mee) is a local favourite. Located at 2 Jalan Jenang, Chop See Kee wanton noodles has served generations of food lovers since the 1940s. Its fame has travelled far and wide and many in Malaysia while passing through Batu Pahat, would stop by for a bowl of nostalgia. Singaporeans included.
Chop See Kee Wanton NoodlesCrowd at Chop See Kee Wanton NoodlesAh See Wanton Mee Batu Pahat
Ship Village Seafood Restaurant
Located No 68 Kg Segenting, Jalan Minyak Beku 83000 Batu Pahat, Ship Village Seafood Restaurant serves up the freshest seafood at affordable prices. Not only is its structure unique (shaped like a ship), it also overlooks the sea, allowing patrons to enjoy splendid views paired with excellent food!
Ship Village Seafood Restaurant Batu PahatShip Structure Ship Village Batu PahatSalted Egg Yolk Crab Ship Village Batu PahatCereal Prawns Ship Village Seafood Restaurant Batu Pahat
Glutton Square
Located at Jalan Peng Kai, Jalan Soga, Glutton Square is THE PLACE to go for the best of local hawker food in Batu Pahat.
Glutton Square Batu PahatBBQ Wings Batu Pahat Glutton SquareOyster Omelette Glutton Square Batu Pahat
3. What to do at Batu Pahat?
Wet World Batu Pahat
Though Wet World is actually quite an old attraction now, it still provides a nice spot for visitors to relax, kids to play in and just enjoy a day out. Do be careful of the floor of the pools, they are anti-slip in nature but may cause scratches (which Kate and I kenna) if you’re not careful. Also, we were there on a Sunday and there was a massive gathering of people fishing at the ponds outside Wet World. So do expect a jam if you’re travelling on these dates.
Wet World Batu Pahat Village ResortWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Entrance FeeWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort WW ResortWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Wave PoolWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort SlidesWet World Batu Pahat Village Resort Lazy River
Batu Pahat Mall
For all your shopping needs, look no further than Batu Pahat Mall. It is the largest mall in Batu Pahat and has outlets ranging from food, fashion to daily necessities. If there’s something you want to buy, Batu Pahat Mall would be your best bet in Batu Pahat.
Batu Pahat Mall
Explore Batu Pahat!
Lastly, take time to explore the hidden gems of Batu Pahat. For instance, while searching for Ship Village Seafood Restaurant, we also visited the seaside where we enjoyed views of the sea. While searching for Chop See Kee Wanton Noodles, we chanced upon a mom-and-pop shop, much like the mama shops commonly seen in Singapore in the 80s and 90s…
Seaside View at Batu PahatOld world charms at Batu Pahat
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What’s there to eat at Changi Village Food Centre?
Nasi Lemak and Longan Red Tea Pudding at Changi Village Food Centre
There are many Nasi Lemak stalls at the Changi Village Food Centre and we came upon the international muslim food stall’s nasi lemak because of its long queue! Long queues equal good food right? So we joined to find out. The wait was only slightly more than 5 minutes and we ordered the fried chicken set. The price was quite steep at $3.50. In terms of quantity, you get an additional piece of drumlet. The chicken was excellent! Crispy on the outside and tender yet juicy on the inside. Im actually salivating as I write this! The rice and chili was quite common. Hence, overall, we’re not really sure if it’s worth $3.5. If it was $2.5, even with 1 less drumlet, we’d definitely recommend it.
Next, we tried the Longan Red Tea Pudding. Yet another famous dessert you must try at the Changi Village Food Centre. Again for $2 bucks, it was a little expensive. But we do recommend it. The taste of red tea in the form of a pudding/jelly was indeed refreshing. Coupled with the evaporated milk, it presented a different form of milk tea altogether!
Battle of the Chicken Chop Ipoh Hor Fun at Changi Village Hawker Centre
Located right in the middle of the hawker centre, there are 2 stalls that sells the delectable chicken chop Ipoh Hor Fun. If you do not notice carefully, you would think that the 2 stalls are one and the same since the signs on the stalls are very very similar. However, we asked the uncle of stall 1 and he said
“No, we are opposition. It is like Samsung, you have and I have.”
There you have it. Since they are “opposition”, we’ve got to settle this dispute right? For Kate, she thoroughly enjoyed stall 1. Actually, stall 1’s chicken resembled that of the taiwanese fried chicken. However, I tell you (overwriting Kate’s recommendation), Amigo’s Chicken Chop Hor Fun is definitely better. Firstly, you see the amount of chicken, it has almost double the amount for the same price of $3.50. Secondly, the chilli is spicy, sweet and aromatic. Thirdly, the chicken itself was crispy, flavourful, chunky and juicy. Last but not least, there was a queue of young army boys there!
So Amigo’s chicken chop ipoh hor fun comes out top in this battle!
Yup, it’s the left one!
Other foods in the vicinity
Mutton Murtabak, Egg and Plain Prata at Changi Village
The total price of the mutton murtabak, egg prata, plain prata and iced coffee was only $10. Have you seen the size of this generous mutton murtabak? The prata and murtabak were all CRISPY!!! The curry was rich, bursting with meaty flavours. A little spicy but it perfectly complemented the crispy and fresh pratas. Yummilicious!
How to get to Changi Village Food Centre
To get to Changi Village Food Centre, you will have to first take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. After a long bus ride, you will reach Changi Village Hawker Centre. However, to avoid all the travelling, why not consider a staycation at Village Hotel Changi? It is just a 3 minutes walk to the food centre and there you can enjoy all the great Singaporean Hawker foods that this famous food centre has to offer!
If you are planning to visit Kuala Lumpur KL and not sure what to eat there, here’s a low down of the things to eat in KL!
Famous Chilli Pan Mee in KL
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee at Restoran Kin Kin
Chilli Pan Mee or dry chilli noodles has been a creation that originated in KL. Here in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (just a short walk from Chow Kit station), you can try the famous chilli pan mee from both Restoran Kin Kin or Restoran Super Kitchen.
Roti Babi Anyone?
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi at Yut Kee Kopitiam KL
Roti Babi is synonymous with Yut Kee Kopitiam – one of the oldest surviving kopitiam in KL. While you’re here, why not try the hainanese pork chop and a cuppa as well?
Lot 10 Hutong
Lot 10 Hu Tong – Best Street Foods in Malaysia
If you are a fan of Malaysian Street Food, look no further than Lot 10’s Hu Tong! Here you will be able to savour some of the best street foods that Malaysia has to offer! Famous delights such as Penang Char Kway Teow and KL Fried Hokkien Mee will definitely delight your palate!
Recently, 2 taiwanese dessert stalls opened at the restaurant level of the Pavilion! Not only can you enjoy people watching over the atrium, you will also be able to savour some healthy and delectable dessert to cool you down from the heat of the day!
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
View of the Atrium from Taiwanese Dessert Place
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
Bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice!
The Taiwanese are geniuses at food! This bowl of bean curd, taro, red bean with shaved milk ice really left us craving for more!
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this list of what and where to eat in KL. Do add on to this list through our comments page below!
Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s latest attraction located right in the heart of the city! You can also easily access Gardens by the Bay via Dragonfly Bridge, a link bridge from Marina Bay Sands!
Entrance to Gardens by the Bay
About Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is the amalgamation of a vision of Nparks (National Parks Singapore) – To have a city in a garden. In 2006, a competition was held to shortlist the design ideas for gardens by the bay and in 2007, the gardens broke ground. In 2011, a preview of Gardens by the Bay, including the Flower Dome, was held in conjunction with the 20th World Orchid Conference. Since then artistes such as Jason Mraz has entertained at the Gardens as well.
Things to do & Attractions at Gardens by the Bay
Map of Gardens by the Bay
There are many note-worthy attractions at Gardens by the Bay, namely
Gardens by the Bay – Flower Dome
The Flower Dome houses unique and unusual species such as the Baobabs and other floral displays that changes with the seasons. You can see some pictures of the Baobabs here. Species here belong to the cool-dry regions.
Gardens by the Bay – Cloud Forest
Cloud Forest houses the plant species of the highlands such as orchids, ferns and pitcher plants. There’s also a 35metres man-made waterfall and mountain. Species here belong to the cool-moist regions.
Man-made Waterfall at Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay – The Supertrees
One of the main attractions of Gardens by the Bay is the Supertrees! Here you can enjoy magnificent views from the Skyway or just sit back, relax and enjoy the Rhapsody (show of light and sounds) that takes place each night at 7:45pm and 8:45pm!
Supertrees and the Skyway at Gardens by the Bay Singapore
Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay in the evening
Supertrees during the light and sound show Rhapsody
There are also dining options at the Supertree such as Hill Street Coffee Shop, Peach Garden Noodle House, Texas Chicken, Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie and Casa Verde.
Dining options available at the Supertree Grove
Gardens by the Bay – Heritage Gardens
The Heritage Gardens showcases the plants that are closely linked to the different ethnic groups in Singapore. Here you can visit the Indian Garden, Chinese Garden as well as the Malay Garden.
Chinese Garden with Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as the backdrop
Gardens by the Bay – Dragonfly Lake
The Dragonfly Lake plays an integral part in sustaining the ecosystem @ Gardens by the Bay. Here you can also catch spectacular views of the domes, Supertrees as well as the Singapore Flyer!
View of the Singapore Flyer, Supertrees & Domes from Dragonfly Bridge
Dragonfly Island @ Gardens by the Bay
Admission Rates to Gardens by the Bay
Admission to the outdoor gardens are free while there are charges to the Conservatories (Flower Dome and Cloud Forest) & Skyway.
You can either take the MRT to Bay Front MRT Station and take a short walk from Marina Bay Sands across the Dragonfly Bridge
By Foot :
If you are at the Helix Bridge, you can take a short walk leading under the ECP bringing you to Bay South Garden.
Verdict
Gardens by the Bay is definitely a must visit attraction in Singapore. There are so many things to do here at Gardens by the Bay! You can check out the interesting species inside the 2 conservatories, enjoy views from the Skyway, leisure cruise on the Garden Cruiser or just check out the free gardens at your own pace. Definitely a must visit for visitors young and old!
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
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:
There are so many things to do in Singapore over the weekend! Here are the top 10 things you can do in Singapore this weekend!
10. Catch the Sunrise @ Mount Faber
Sunrise @ Mount Faber
At no. 10 of our Top 10 things to do in Singapore over weekend is to catch the sunrise @ Mount Faber! One of the highest view points in Singapore, Mount Faber boasts of views of the southern part of Singapore. Daily sunrise is between 6:50 to 7:20am.
9. Staycation in Singapore
Did you know that there are more than 200 hotels in Singapore? With such stiff competition, it is no wonder that hotels are trying ways and means to catch hold of not only visiting tourists but Singaporeans as well. Kate and I have done our fair share of staycations in Singapore. Check out our stays at Amara Sanctuary, Hard Rock Hotel & Ritz Carlton Singapore!
Infinity Pool @ Amara Sanctuary
Hard Rock Hotel Singapore
Hotels in Singapore boasts of spas, pools with views and so much more! What are you waiting for?
To catch the best views of Singapore, look no further than the Singapore Flyer. At 165m, it is not only Singapore’s highest observatory but also the World’s Largest Giant Observatory Wheel!
Singapore Flyer
View from the Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer also boasts of restaurants as well as the Singapore Food Trail where you can find the best of Singapore local delicacies right under one roof!
Coming in at number 7 is the Marina Barrage right in the heart of our city!
View from Marina Barrage
The Marina Barrage is primarily a water catchment area and is the largest one in Singapore. However, it is now also an integrated lifestyle destination where one can enjoy water sports, picnics, fly kites and enjoy a spectacular view of the Singapore city skyline!
Dont mistake them as some sort of alien invasion! These “Supertrees” are the iconic structures of the Gardens by the Bay. Built at a cost of $1 billion SGD to bring to reality the vision of “City in a Garden”, the gardens is the latest icon added to the Marina Bay and is an attraction not to be missed!
Have you experienced an amphibious vehicle that travels on the roads and cruises on the water? If not, why not hop on the Duck Tours?
Ducktours – The “Duck”
The “ducks” are retrofitted from WW2 amphibious vehicles that allow mobility on both the land and sea. This allows visitors to visit iconic landmarks such as the Swissotel (highest hotel in southeast asia) and views of the Merlion from the mouth of the Singapore River.
Coming in at number 4 is one of our 2 integrated resorts in Singapore – Resorts World Sentosa. The main attraction at Resorts World Sentosa is definitely the Universal Studios Singapore aka USS. Many travelers from neighborhood cities such as the beautiful Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and Melaka come to spend their weekend in USS
View of Universal Studios Singapore
There are also other attractions such as the Maritime Experential Museum, the Marine Life Park as well as the Malaysian Food Street!
Malaysian Food Street Resorts World Sentosa
There are of course several hotels that you can choose from @ Resorts World Sentosa such as Hard Rock Hotel, Hotel Michael, Crockfords Tower, Festive Hotel and Aquarius Hotel.
With 57 floors at the height of 194m, Marina Bay Sands is the most iconic structure in Singapore! It boasts of the largest sky pool, an ice skating rink, a huge shopping complex, performance theatres (here we caught “A Chorus Line“) and of course the spectacular it offers from the Sands Skypark!
Swimming Pool Marina Bay Sands
Sands SKy Park Sunset
Nightly stay at Marina Bay Sands starts at over $300USD, but you may be able to pick up some special deals from Agoda.
How about a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of it all? As they say, the seas are calling and there are really many choices of weekend cruises here in Singapore! With the establishment of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, visitors and Singaporeans will be spoilt for choice for cruises out of Singapore!
There are actually many reasons why we chose Singapore as the top attraction and things to do at the weekend. First of all, it has a combination of a few parks such as the zoo itself, the night safari as well as the latest river safari. There are therefore MANY species of animals for visitors to see and learn. Speaking of learning, the educational factor is really high as well. There are informative sign boards, statistics and interesting snippets all around the entire zoo. Even as an adult, there are lots of things we bet you did not know as well!
Last but most importantly, for families with kids, it is a family destination as well! Kids can learn and play all under 1 roof! With many interesting kids programmes as well as the Kidzworld, the children will definitely be entertained throughout their visit!
With so many attractions and things to do in Singapore this weekend, we hope you will have loads of fun! Share with us other things to do and attractions in Singapore that you have enjoyed in our comment box below!
What would a visit to Desaru be like without a visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm?
Not only will you be able to savour all the different kinds of food available at the Desaru Fruit Farm, the tour guides will also tell you the benefits of all the different kinds of fruit and the quantity that you should take to achieve the benefits.
To top things off, there’s even a sumptuous meal thrown in (inclusive of crabs and crayfish)!
Things to do and attractions in Desaru – Desaru Fruit Farm
*Please note that the food served depends on the package that you go for. Kate and I had two meals at the fruit farm and we enjoyed western for our other meal there.
A visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm is not only educational but satisfying for the palettes! Great place to visit with the kids as well!
Firefly River Cruise Tour
Another must visit attraction at Desaru is the Firefly River Cruise Tour!
If you have not tried this river cruise, this Singapore Travel Blog recommends that you experience this magical journey down the river since it is just an hour away. Once you check in to your Desaru Hotel, make sure to check out times so that you can coordinate your evening. This cruise is very popular among nomads traveling from countries like the Philippines and other parts of Malaysia since it gives a different perspective of Desaru. It will expose you to your other senses under the darkness of the night.You become more aware of your surroundings and the sounds of the night as well as the waves of the river (and of course the motor of the boat).
As you approach the fireflies, the boat stops its engines to get you up close. If you’re daring enough, you can even place them in the palm for a photo shot! Unfortunately, our cameras are not up to the mark for night shots… (*hint hint* to potential sponsors!)
Beach Activities at Desaru
One of the main attractions of Desaru is of course its coastline formed with the South China Sea. The pristine beaches offers picturesque views of sunrise…
Sunrise at DesaruJet skis at Sand and Sandals Desaru
The clear blue waters also plays host to an array of water activities such as kayaking, banana boat rides and even parasailing!
There are actually 2 ways to get there from Singapore.
Ferry
The ferry from Singapore to Desaru takes about 45 minutes and you can hop onto the ferry at the Changi Ferry Terminal.
Via the Senai Desaru Expressway
The drive time from Singapore to Desaru has been greatly reduced with the completion of the Senai Desaru Expressway. No longer do you need to make a trip north to Kota Tinggi then south back to Desaru. With the Senai Desaru Expressway, the drive time is cut to about 45 minutes (this excludes the waiting time at the causeway jam!)
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Things to do and attractions in Desaru - Desaru Fruit Farm
There are actually so many things to do in Singapore! You can enjoy the views of the city by taking a ride on the Singapore Flyer or enjoy some picnic time at the Marina Barrage. Of course there’s always something for everyone at Resorts World Sentosa such as the Malaysian Food Street and the Universal Studios.
Today, we’re gonna show you the Singapore Zoo!
Signs directing you to the Singapore Zoo
Just as we stopped at the traffic light, Kate managed to take this shot of the entrance! Speedy gonzales…andele andele yiba yiba…
Singapore Zoo Entrance
The parking area is currently under construction. So you would have to make one big round before you can park close to the KFC. Parking at the Singapore Zoo is $4 per entry with 10 minutes grace period.
We headed to the ticketing counter and bought the Zoo-per-saver. Tom was quite slow in realising that Zoo-per-saver meant “Super Saver”!
Ticketing Counter of the Singapore Zoo
Ticket Prices at the Singapore Zoo
Zoo-per-Saver : $27 for adults , $17 for children aged 3-12
(inclusive of admission, unlimited tram and boat rides)
Zoo Admission ONLY : $20 for adults , $13 for children
Zoo Admission with Tram : $25 for adults , $16 for children
Just for comparison, here are the rates of the Tram and Boat rides
Unlimited Boat Rides : $6 for adults , $3.5 for children
Unlimited Tram Rides : $5 for adults , $3 for children
So after all this comparison, we decided that the Zoo-per-Saver was a good deal, in case we want to tram around or just enjoy a boat ride. This we eventually FULLY UTILISED but we’ll talk about it in a bit.
The next thing that you really need to grab hold of is the Map of the Singapore Zoo
Map of the Singapore Zoo
With the map, we were able to locate the show times of all the shows at the Singapore Zoo. Then we were able to plan our path on where to take the boat rides and how to make it in time for all the shows.
As you enter the entrance of the Zoo, you would be led by the paths to the Treetops Trail
Treetops Trail at the Singapore Zoo
And the very first animal that we encountered this day was the greater mousedeer!
Greater Mouse Deer at the Singapore Zoo
As we walked towards the boat dock to check on the timing, we saw the Babirusa. It is from the pig family and has horns that makes it look real fierce.
Babirusa at the Singapore Zoo
Turns out that the boat ride starts at 9:15am (although we were very kiasu [Singapore slang for scared of losing] and arrived at 8:30am). The frequency of the boat rides are at intervals of 15 minutes.
Boat Dock Singapore ZooBoat ride at the Singapore Zoo
Since we were still early, we decided to walk around the vicinity of Boat Dock 1. We saw the Tapir and took a video of their feeding…
Feeding time for the Tapirs at the Singapore Zoo
Kate was really upset that Tom took a 50seconds video because our camera can only last for a very short time and we had to conserve our battery life. (Are there any camera sponsors out there?) Well, for our viewers right? Please comment that Tom did the right thing if you have not seen a Tapir before…
We also caught a glimpse of the White Tiger as it prowls in its vicinity. We came to find out that there were originally 3 white tigers and one of them, called Jippie was terminally ill and died quite recently.
White Tigers at the Singapore Zoo
Boat Ride at the Singapore Zoo
After taking the boat ride, we arrived at the northern part of the Zoo where boat dock 2 is located. Boat dock 2 is near to the Rainforest Kidzworld and we took a peek inside…
There are actually so many things for the kids to do here! Kids can play in the waters, sweat it out at the adventureland or take a ride on a pony! There’s also an Animal Friends Show here.
Wet arena at the kidzworld Singapore ZooMini adventure park at Kidzworld Singapore ZooPony Ride?
For those who do not know, Ah Meng was a well loved and iconic Orang Utan at the Singapore Zoo. It died several years ago but still remain very much in the hearts of Singaporeans because of the ambassador work that it had done. Still remember the breakfasts with Ah Meng – Anyone have pictures of breakfast with Ah Meng?
Ah Meng Memorial at the Singapore Zoo
Today, a memorial is erected next to the gardens and Splash Safari Show.
The first show we caught today was the Splash Safari show. Not to be a spoiler or anything, the Splash Safari has got to be the best show at the Singapore Zoo! You can really feel the bond between the sea lion and the trainer. Watch…
Splash Safari Show at the Singapore Zoo
As we travelled to the next show, we were almost caught in the pee of an orang utan at the free ranging oran utan island…
This orang utan “tight-roped” across above us and reached the other side of the island. Suddenly we heard trickles of water and we thought it was raining. No! The Orang Utan was peeing above us! Heng, we were a distance away. A word of caution to visitors, please be aware of the location of the Orang Utans as you cross this path.
“Free Ranging” Orang Utans
Before our next show (Elephants of Asia), we covered the primate kingdom as well as the Nubian Ibex and Hamadryas Baboon.
Crested Macaque at the Singapore ZooPatas Monkey at the Singapore Zoo Douc Langur at the Singapore Zoo
We were also in time for a feeding session of the Arapaima at the primate kingdom. These huge fish (and other small fish) are able to keep the waters in the Singapore Zoo free from the infestation of mosquitoes.
Feeding of the Arapaima at the Singapore ZooNubian Ibex at the Singapore ZooHamadryas Baboon at the Singapore Zoo
If you notice closely, you’ll see the Hamadryas Baboon (bottom left) staring into space in deep thoughts. Click here to find out what we think she was thinking about…
We managed to catch the Elephants of Asia Show
Elephants of Asia at the Singapore Zoo
How to mount an Elephant
and the Rainforest Fights back Show…
Peacock attracting the Peahen
We still wonder how they train the peacock to open up its feathers to attract the peahen…
Then…the unthinkable happened… IT STARTED TO POUR!! But, because we took the Zoo-per-Saver, we were able to have unlimited rides around the zoo while waiting for the rain to stop. We spent an hour or so (about 3 rounds) on the tram as it was way too crowded everywhere else (at the stations, at the restaurant, at any shelter).
Still, we managed to catch all the shows and see all the animals that we wanted to see. Even the sun bear came out to greet us!
Sun bear at the Singapore Zoo
Last show of the day – The Animal Friends Show at Kidzworld
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Singapore Zoo and we really hope you’ll enjoy your next visit to the Singapore Zoo as well!
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
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
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 MuseumMelaka Maritime Museum
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
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
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
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
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!
