Seoul Jan'17: 5 Cafes To Visit At Garosu-Gil!

February 15, 2017, 6:23 am

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One of my favourite places to roam in Seoul is Garosu-gil at Sinsa-Dong. The name Garosu-gil comes from the Korean word meaning "tree-lined streets", as the area is adorned with ginkgo trees, making it one of the most picturesque and Instagram-worthy parts of town in Seoul!


Garosu-gil is also famous for the many stylish cafes, boutiques and restaurants it is home to. Armed with our cameras and empty stomachs, my girlfriend Tammi and I set out for a day of cafe-hopping down the streets of Garosu-gil!

My camera of choice is the Olympus E-PL8 - The perfect travel companion with its lightweight and compact build as well as features like Built-In Wifi, Art Filters and an 180 degree-flip down LCD screen optimised for selfies!

5 Cafes To Visit At Garosu-Gil

As I've mentioned, Garosu-gil is practically the cafe capital of Seoul - There are so many cafes along Garosu-Gil that it's impossible to visit them all in one day! We spent an entire day at Garosu-gil and here are the five cafes that we visited and loved - With gorgeous interiors and delicious food, these cafes will be a treat for both your Instagram and your tummy! Hehe.

Directions to Garosu-Gil

Take the Seoul subway to Sinsa Station (Line 3).
From exit 8, walk straight for about 5 minutes - The second intersecting street is Garosugil.

1. Line Friends Store & Cafe

535-15 Sinsa-dong,

Gangnam-Gu, Seoul

Line Friends Store & Cafe is without a doubt one of the most charming cafes you'll step foot in on the street of Garosu-gil - Even for a non-Line fan like me, I found the Line-themed merchandise and food irresistibly cute! Just look at this huuuuuge Brown bear that everyone was queuing up to take a photo with!

Browse the merchandise if you will, but be warned that everything is ridiculously priced and costs a pretty penny - I really liked some of the merchandise but couldn't bear to spend my precious Korean won on them.

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Pinhole Mode

Head downstairs to the basement, and you'll find the endearing Line Friends Cafe!

Where you can dine with a life-sized "Brown" next to you, or choose from lots of cutesy Line-themed desserts, cakes, and food!

I bought myself a "Coney"-themed soft serve that was surprisingly delicious and waaaayyyy tooooo cute! Gotta say I wasn't expecting much, but this was goooood. (And it garnered me 1500 likes on Instagram too, what is this obsession with cute food?!)

2. The Hwawon @ Eight Seconds

535-12 Sinsa-dong,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul

For those of you who love eclectic decor and botanicals, pop by The Hwawon @ Eight Seconds!

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Vintage Mode

With its dimly-lit and cozy interior that's been spiced up with little potted plants, colourful Middle-Eastern tapestry and an entire ceiling-full of dried flower bouquets, The Hwawon makes you feel like you've stepped into another universe altogether.

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Vintage Mode

It was the perfect hide-out from the freezing temperatures outdoors as we indulged in hot tea and honey bread!

Here's the perfect shot of our Honey Toast - Served toasty warm, drizzled with honey and then topped with whipped cream and cacao nibs!

Confession: Despite struggling with our frozen fingers, we brought this outdoors to the very pretty coffee table right outside the entrance for its own editorial shoot just because outdoor lighting is full of win. Don't judge us.

3. Deux Crèmes

45, Dosan-Daero 15-Gil,
Gangnam-Gu, Seoul

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Pop Art Mode

Deux Crèmes might not look like much from the outside, but I highly highly recommend this cafe if you love tarts and pastries - They do an incredible selection of fresh fruit pies that taste as good as they look!

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Partial Color Mode

Oh, and they also have gorgeous full-length windows with a great view for people-watching as well as perfect lighting for portrait and food shots! Definitely a win!

Here's a tip for your table flat-lay photos: It always looks better with a bit of human action, so get a hand (or two) into the frame for a more enticing shot!

We had the strawberry pistachio tart, and it was delicious! The crust was light and flaky, and the fresh strawberries complemented the light cream and nutty pistachio filling so well. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tart, crisp and creamy.

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Partial Color Mode

See what I mean about the full-length windows for beautiful portrait lighting conditions? ;) The use of the Partial Color Art Filter really brought out the feels for this photo too!

4. Skin Food Store & Cafe

12-37 Apgujeong-ro, Sinsa-dong, 
Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Walking further down Garosu-gil, we stumbled upon Skinfood Cafe right above its concept store on Level 1 - Both Tammi and I are Skinfood fans, and we had to head upstairs to check out the cafe!


I LOVED the cheerful and happy atmosphere with sunny yellow and white accents all over! There's a little section where you get to play with Skinfood's skincare products and another where different makeup products are all laid out too. Really fun and chirpy vibes going on that's totally in line with Skinfood's branding.

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Cross Process Mode

They sure know how to make a place photogenic. Definitely my kind of #interiorgoals!

Food-wise, the menu is refreshing and reflects Skinfood's healthy brand philosophy - Great for health-conscious eaters. It's not mind-blowing by any means, but the cafe is a lovely and cheery place to rest the feet after an intense Skinfood marathon shopping downstairs on Level 1!

PS. I bought the Skin Food Avocado & Honey Lip Serum SPF8 and really, really like it. Moisturises well and gives my lips a natural reddish tint!

A quick selfie made easy with the 180 deg flip down screen on my Olympus E-PL8 - We all deserve to be a little narcissistic sometimes, yes? (Note: There's actually an E-Portrait mode on the Olympus E-PL8 for flawless skin too!)

5. O'Sulloc Tea House

580-5 Sinsa-dong,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Osulloc Tea House is one of those cafes that I've heard a lot of raves about, so naturally, we made it our last stop for the day. They actually do have a few different outlets - One in Myeongdong and another one at Insadong if I'm not mistaken.

Green tea and matcha fanatics should give Osulloc Tea House a visit because just about every single thing on its menu is green tea flavoured! The green tea used in their products is organically grown and comes from Jeju Island.

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Light Tone Mode

All kinds of green tea goodness on our tray. Yay!

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Light Tone Mode

We both loved the Green Tea Latte - It was creamy and frothy with exactly the right taste of matcha that was neither too bitter nor too artificial. Good stuff!! 

Tammi preferred the Green Tea Roll Cake while I liked the Green Tea Torte. The roll cake was sort of bland and didn't have a strong enough matcha kick to me, while the Green Tea Torte was sweeter and richer.

Pretty much done with the sweet stuff by the time we finished up at Osulloc Tea House, but it was a super fun day together with Tammi!

Five cafes in one day - Sounds hectic, but we really had a very relaxed time, and I would have loved to visit even more cafes, had we the stomach space to try more food!

Even if you don't follow my cafe recommendations above, do set aside a day in your itinerary to head over to Garosu-gil to explore the area. It's a treasure trove of hidden gem cafes, cool boutiques and interesting shops to uncover!

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Pop Art Mode

It was evening time when we left Garosu-Gil to the sight of a cloudless canvas of brilliant hues as the sun set. Dazzling, ain't it?

Olympus E-PL8 Art Filter - Partial Color Mode

Pictures used for illustrations in this entry were taken with my Olympus E-PL8.

Hope you enjoyed the read, and let me know if you've got any cool cafes to recommend around Garosu-Gil! Psst. More Seoul travel posts are coming this way, so keep a look out! ;)

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Primo Garcinia Diet Pills - Scam Alert!

February 21, 2017, 4:01 am

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"Grad Student Reveals How She Lost 16 KG In Just 6 Weeks With These 2 Simple Tricks!"

Recognise these images? You might have seen them on Facebook or Instagram recently, on a weight loss ad claiming: "Grad Student Reveals How She Lost 16 KG In Just 6 Weeks With These 2 Simple Tricks!"

http://lifestyleasia.com-article.co/student-from-national-university-of-singapore-cuts-16kg-on-university-budget/

The compelling before-&-after pictures and catchy title might have piqued your interest, because all of us want to lose those holiday pounds we piled on, right? So you click on this ad, which brings you to an online magazine article on Lifestyleasia, where Cathy Lim tells you about how Primo Garcinia helped her lose 16kg in six weeks.

Sounds amazing and convincing really, except that: 

1. The pictures are of me and I am definitely not Cathy Lim nor am I a grad student nor did I lose 16kg in 6 weeks

2. Those pictures are originally from my 2015 blog post - My Weight Loss Story: How I Lost 8kg In 2 Months talking about my weight loss achieved with TCM Slimming Treatments at Slim Couture

3. I have never heard of Primo Garcinia let alone tried this miracle weight-loss product, ever

These ads have been circulating in various forms with different subjects on both Facebook and Instagram, under strange account names like "Beatles Parodies" and "Silly Surprises" and "Cover It All Blog".

I've been receiving so many emails, messages and comments (thank you so much to all my friends, readers and followers who were concerned and contacted me!) regarding my photos being misused for false advertising online that I feel that I need to set the record straight and put something online publicly to warn consumers not to fall for Primo Garcinia's false selling and advertising - It's a scam!

Fake Mirror Website Used

I was first alerted to the weight-loss images of myself and my husband being mis-used on a fake mirror website of Lifestyleasia.com (an online lifestyle portal in Singapore, sounds legit) - If you look carefully at the URL though, it is actually Lifestyleasia.com-article.co instead of Lifestyleasia.com, VERY misleading indeed.

Look closely at these pictures and you'll see the "ba guan" marks on the tummy area due to the TCM treatment at Slim Couture.

Fake Identities & Stolen Pictures

In the first version of this fake ad by Primo Garcinia, I was named Mira and YZ was named Aiman. Nice, very very indie names.

In the second version of this fake article on Lifestyleasia-article.co, I have been renamed to Cathy Lim and YZ is now Ryan Goh - I guess they did a little more research before they did up this second article.

There's even a realistic interview about how Fann Wong was "my" inspiration to try Primo Garcinia, and the article ends with Cathy/myself "working with the official suppliers of Primo Garcinia to provide free 1 month supplies for readers".

Once again, I repeat, the Primo Garcinia website is a scam!

Clicking on one of the links from the article then brings you through a series of redirects before you end up on a convincing-looking website selling Primo Garcinia, a miracle weight-loss product claiming to be voted #1 Fat Burning Product In Singapore.

Except that it isn't quite as legit as it looks.

There are even testimonials with weight-loss pictures of Caucasian women, who stay in Tampines and Bukit Batok. LOL like seriously?

Beware The Free Trial!

Entering your details brings you to this page where you get "1 Free Bottle Confirmed", and you're then asked to fill in your credit card details.

A quick Google search turned up multiple names for "Primo Garcinia" and multiple websites that all looked very very similar and dubious, as well as websites calling out these "free" trials for what they are - scams. 

Once you provide your credit card details, you will be sent one month's supply for free, but if you do not cancel within 14 days of your order, you will be enrolled in an "auto-shipment program" which sends you a 1 month supply every 30 days for $133.76 + $8.04 every month, unless cancelled!

They are SO good at this. Freaking fine print on the website tells you all these, but would a consumer who's been beguiled by those persuasive weight-loss pictures and promises of a free trial even read the tiny text or think twice before providing their credit card details?

I Tried To Contact Primo Garcinia

Primo Garcinia's level of dodginess is just incredible.

Firstly, my Facebook friend Dexter tried doing a domain name look up for me.
This is what we got from the search:

Domain Name: COM-ARTICLE.CO
Domain ID: D172444262-CO
Sponsoring Registrar: NAMECHEAP, INC.
Sponsoring Registrar IANA ID: 1068
Registrar URL (registration services):  http://www.namecheap.com
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registrant ID: F4CI334RTITIYTEP
Registrant Name: WhoisGuard Protected
Registrant Organization: WhoisGuard, Inc.
Registrant Address1: P.O. Box 0823-03411
Registrant City: Panama
Registrant State/Province: Panama
Registrant Postal Code: 0
Registrant Country: Panama
Registrant Country Code: PA
Registrant Phone Number: +507.8365503
Registrant Facsimile Number: +51.17057182
Registrant Email: email@whoisguard.com

A Google on WhoisGuard brought up that WhoisGuard is a privacy protection service that prevents people from seeing your name, address, phone number and email when they do a Whois search on your domain. It puts its address information to the public instead of yours to protect you from potential spam and even identity theft.

WTF, apparently WhoisGuard also protects spammers and identity thieves also lah! The company behind Primo Garcinia got their domain name protected with WhoisGuard, very clever of them.

I called the hotline listed on the website next.

Phone support for Singapore was listed on the website, so I called the number provided: 800-852-3931 and I got put through to a "customer service officer".

I told her that my photos had been misused on an advertisement for Primo Garcinia, and she told me that "we do not sell any products in our company" and that I might have gotten the number wrong (which wasn't the case because I tapped directly on the number from my mobile Safari). She then said that her company sold "Home Care Packages" (?????) wtf?

Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I then asked for an email in which I could contact her company as this particular number was wrongly listed on a website selling weight-loss products, and I would like to alert her company to it, right? She told me that "she was unable to assist me as I was not a customer". I hung up shortly after because this phone call was obviously going nowhere.

WTF?

There is just some high-level dodgy shit going on there seriously.

So one last point to note on Primo Garcinia and its high-level dodginess is another tiny fine print on its website:

The last paragraph is just full of win. 

"We are not responsible for any reviews, reports, emails, advertisements or blogs that may have led you to this page. If you feel any of these 3rd party reviews, advertisements, blogs or reports may be inaccurate, please contact us immediately. We do not condone or endorse any inaccurate information, statistics and/or claims made by 3rd parties in regards to our product."

Win liao lor so my photos anyhow use on your fake advertisement is none of your business or responsibility right.  I have emailed Primo Garcinia's email address but I doubt I will get a response.

I have also contacted Lifestyleasia.com (the real website) and their response is below:

Do Not Fall For This Scam!

I am sincerely worried about unsuspecting consumers believing these ads on Primo Garcinia and then getting scammed into providing their credit card details because many friends have sent me screenshots of their Facebook friends / Instagram friends sharing this link and discussing about it.

Read these articles as well if you're not convinced.

An article on Stuff.co.nz: Warning of diet pill scam as a review of Garcinia Lean XTreme on Highya.com which I assume is another name for the same product/scam.

??? Confused ???

Q: Are those real weight-loss images, then?

Yes, they are my real weight-loss images, but put in false context! The only slimming treatment that I've endorsed is Slim Couture's TCM Treatments and those images are from my blog post sharing my experience at Slim Couture. They are not photoshopped images lol but NO THE WEIGHT LOSS IS NOT FROM PRIMO GARCINIA!!!

Q: But I see Primo Garcinia in supplement stores?!

Well, I did some research on Primo Garcinia and it seems to be a (somewhat) legit supplement that is available in local supplement stores, but you SHOULD NOT purchase it from dodgy websites that use stolen images and con you into providing your credit card details for an "auto-shipment" program!!!

***

The bottomline is, do not believe anything on the internet that seems too good to be true, and always be savvy when providing your credit card details online! There are other similar websites/scams online and many of them cleverly use consumer psychology to tap into your psyche and coerce you into these scams and gimmicks.

If you can, please share this article on your Facebook page or WhatsApp groups to warn your friends not to fall for it as well - I have no idea how I can get my images removed from the fake ad so the only way I can promote awareness of this scam is through my blog post. It would be great if you could also report these ads as spam whenever they show up on your Facebook or Instagram feed! If any one knows how I can report the false advertising or get anything done about it at all, please contact me via email. 

THANK YOU!

Look for me on my other social media platforms here:

 Twitter   Instagram   Dayre    Youtube

DBS Visa Debit Card X Multi-Currency Account: Fuss-free Shopping Online & Overseas!

March 10, 2017, 10:37 pm

≫ Next: Seoul Jan'17: Best Value-For-Money Korean BBQ at Hongdae - Dally So

≪ Previous: Primo Garcinia Diet Pills - Scam Alert!

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Do you travel the world frequently, or are you a savvy online shopper, like I am? ;) If you're like me, I'm sure you totally understand the frustration and pains of shopping and paying in foreign currencies both online and overseas - I sometimes get a rude shock when I see the poor foreign exchange rates and high conversion fees on my purchases! :(

One of my favourite overseas-based online shops!

For instance, Shopbop is one of my favourite overseas-based online shops, but it only charges in $USD, and we all know how much the USD can fluctuate from time to time.



I really don't have patience when it comes to shopping. When I want something, I want it straight away, and usually just bite the bullet to buy what I want at a more expensive price even when the foreign exchange rates aren't the best or the conversion fees are high HAHA.

It's just not ideal to wait for exchange rates to drop or the most favorable time to shop from my favourite online websites (what if the item I want goes out of stock???), you know what I mean? It's like Murphy's Law - Those darn foreign exchange rates always soar sky-high just when you're about to need that particular currency, yet when they're at their all-time lows, you have no use for them! I've experienced this phenomenon more than once, and it's downright frustrating!

Here's where DBS x Visa's overseas payment solution for travellers and e-commerce shoppers, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, comes into the picture - It's an easy, fuss-free and smart way to shop online and overseas!

Skip FX fees & Conversion Charges with DBS x VISA!

All you need is aDBS Visa Debit Card linked to a DBS Multi-Currency Account (MCA), and you'll no longer need to fuss over foreign exchange (FX) fees and conversion charges for cross-border payments - Ultra convenient when it comes to online shopping or even shopping overseas!! D:

Best of all, it's so simple to apply for a Multi-Currency Account (MCA) and DBS Visa Debit Card!

Step 1. Sign Up For A Multi-Currency Account!

I already have a DBS account, so it was easy peasy to sign up for my Multi-Currency Account. For existing DBS/POSB customers, your MCA Account will be opened instantly online.

You can even link your MCA to an existing ATM/Debit Card so that it's totally fuss-free! 

With your MCA account, you can access up to 12 foreign currencies and the Singapore dollar conveniently with one account and transact at your preferred rates wherever you are.

The 12 foreign currencies are Australian Dollar (AUD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Euro (EUR), Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Japanese Yen (JPY), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), Norwegian Kroner (NOK), Sterling Pound (GBP), Swedish Kroner (SEK), Thai Baht (THB), US Dollar (USD) and CNH (Renminbi).

Note: CNH (Renminbi) is not available for direct Visa Debit payments as it is a restricted currency. 

I also applied for my DBS Visa Debit Card, which was sent to me within a few days time. 

Do make sure that your DBS MCA is linked to your DBS Visa Debit Card as a primary account! When applying for the visa debit card, just select your MCA in the primary account field to link your new DBS Visa Debit Card to your MCA account.

YAY! (And also my new DBS Visa Debit Card has Visa PayWave, ultra convenient woohoo!)

Step 2. Do A Foreign Currency Fund Transfer Into Your MCA To Lock In The Rates

No need for any hassle, it can be done via DBS iBanking or mBanking! There is no waiting or processing time, the fund transfers will happen instantly.

It really is straight forward, just keep an eye on the foreign currency exchange rates (you can find them on DBS's website) and once you see favourable rates for the foreign currency you wish to purchase, you can then transfer from your own savings account in SGD to your Multi-Currency Account and select the foreign currency to hold in your MCA!

For instance, I did a fund transfer into my MCA for Thai Baht - I frequently travel to Thailand, so if the exchange rates are good, it's definitely a good idea to keep my money in Thai currency for my future spending ;)

You'll also be shown the exchange rate as well as the transfer currency's equivalent amount.

With these foreign currencies held in your MCA, you can then transact directly in foreign currency with your DBS Visa Debit Card!

All Ready To Go!

Be it overseas and online purchases as well as cash withdrawals from global ATMs, you won't have to bear any foreign exchange conversion fees ever again, or worry about carrying huge amounts of cash in foreign currencies on you! You can also check your transactions and balances on-the-go via mBanking, no matter where you are.

For example, if I know that I'll be heading to Europe later this year, I can choose to do a fund transfer to my MCA and hold EUR currency at any point of time in advance. If I wish to make a EUR300 purchase in Italy using my MCA linked DBS Visa Debit Card, this EUR300 purchase will be deducted directly from the funds in my EUR wallet, with no foreign exchange conversion fees and additional FX administrative card fees at purchase! :)

One huge benefit I really enjoy from using my MCA and DBS Visa Debit Card is that I can access and convert Singapore dollar and foreign currencies conveniently no matter where I am, and at the best possible rates simply via DBS iBanking or mBanking!

For a frequent traveller like me, it saves me a whole lot trouble because I don't need to waste time making trips to the money changer, or even looking for money changers when I run out of foreign currency abroad!

Shopping made easy no matter where you are. Gotta love that!

Online shopping just got a whole lot better and more convenient too! You can bet that I'm waiting for the next time the USD and AUD dips so that I can buy in on those currencies and shop to my heart's content hehehehe.

This DBS x Visa Debit Card that's linked to my MCA is going with me where ever I am!

Keen to sign up for your own Multi-Currency Account and DBS Visa Debit Card too? Find out how you can skip FX fees and conversion charges with DBS x VISA and visit DBS's website here to sign up straight away! :)

Seoul Jan'17: Best Value-For-Money Korean BBQ at Hongdae - Dally So

March 15, 2017, 3:14 am

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MEAT, MEAT AND MORE MEAT!

You must must must have Korean BBQ when you visit Seoul, it's practically a crime not to! I'm a little sad that I only had two BBQ meals when I was in Seoul this time because I loveeee meat almost to the point of insanity. (Can't imagine turning vegetarian. Really.)

A good day in Seoul despite the freezing winter temperatures

Seoul is filled with BBQ joints all over, but Hongdae, in particular is famous for its "Meat Street" where the enticing aroma of grilled meat permeates the air from a distance - It's the most mouth-watering smell, ever!

One great tip for finding good food when you're overseas is to simply ask the locals. I find it especially useful to ask shop assistants while I'm shopping because most of them know the area so well! It's a more or less fail-proof plan for affordable and delicious recommendations.

A recommendation from a Chinese-speaking staff at Etude House, Hongdae brought me to Dally So for value-for-money Korean BBQ, super legit!

Dally So 하회마을시즌투

Directions: 
100m away from Hongdae station.
At Hongdae station, Exit 9.
Turn left, walk straight pass KFC, cross 2 small roads.
Dally So 하회마을시즌투 will be on your left hand side.

If you have at least 3-4 pax, please dont think twice, GO FOR THE KILL and order the 1.2kg Assorted Beef at just 39,000 won!!! That's less than SGD50, yall, for a giant 1.2kg platter of assorted beef!

There's also pork and chicken on the menu, but trust me when I say that 1.2kg of beef is more than enough for 3 pax and so that was all we ordered (plus a side dish of steamed omelette).

PS. There is a "setting charge" of 2000 won per pax so remember to factor that in! You get free-flow ban chan, and also kimchi stew so I think it's rather worth it.


Our jaws literally hit the floor when the meat arrived at our table. Just look at the generous portion of meat! 39,000 won is totally worth it.

Technically, you ought to start with the thinly sliced beef slices before moving on in sequence to the other cuts - It just gets better and better when you hit the thick juicy beef chunks of meaty goodness!


And remember not to over-cook your beef please, medium rare is the way to go!


So so so so so satisfed with dinner!

I'd most definitely recommend hitting up Dally So at Hongdae, it's probably one of the best value-for-money ala carte Korean BBQ places around! Go go go!

Review: Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation

April 9, 2017, 11:23 am

≫ Next: Bangkok May'17: Staying at Park Hyatt Bangkok

≪ Previous: Seoul Jan'17: Best Value-For-Money Korean BBQ at Hongdae - Dally So

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The modest-looking Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation got me sold immediately the first time I tried it. For my normal/dry skin, liquid foundations work best, and I love my foundations natural, radiant and light-weight. Shu Uemura's Petal Skin Fluid Foundation checks all those boxes and more!

Ok, I admit it. 

I was already sold the moment I saw my idol Pony (a Korean makeup blogger turned celebrity) use the Petal Skin Fluid Foundation in one of her makeup tutorials HAHAHA! The foundation looked absolutely flawless on her, and I couldn't wait to try it out on myself!

Why is Pony so perfect?? You need to watch this video to see what I mean. This is what I call an effortless-looking natural finish!

Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation (SPF 20 PA++)

Inspired by the beauty of petals, the new petal skin fluid foundation features a unique and innovative combination of semi-matte and semi-glow characteristics in one beautiful formula. The unique petal skin technology within the foundation contains mineral fine-pigments with high skin affinity, hence offering a natural poreless coverage that emits soft radiance.

Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation comes in 11 shades - I wear shade 564 (medium beige sand), which is a perfect match for my skin tone.

Available in 11 shades \\ $68 (30ml)

Texture-wise, Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation is amazing. It's extremely light-weight, and spreads easily, with no cakiness or settling into lines. It also feels moisturizing and comfortable, almost like wearing nothing on your skin at all!

Look at how the Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation blends into my skin so imperceptibly!

It contains mineral fine pigments that have high skin affinity to achieve a thin and smooth layer with natural powerless coverage, evens out complexion and signs of imperfections.

Petal Skin Fluid Foundation also contains the following plant extracts: 

*Botanic oleo-veil (soothes skin)

*White jasmine extract (boosts skin clarity for a bright and radiant complexion) 

*White lily extract (hydrates skin).

Shu Uemura Petal 55 Brush \\ $80

For best results, I highly recommend Shu Uemura's Petal 55 Brush together with Petal Skin Fluid Foundation for seamless coverage with just a few strokes.

The hairs on this brush are so incredibly soft and luxurious! Its unique ergonomic shape also allows for both precise and even application on your entire face, even around the eyes and nose.

Using the Shu Uemura Petal 55 Brush is really easy, just use long sweeping strokes in the directions indicated by the arrows in this picture. It's quite intuitive, really.

This brush can also be used for any foundation texture, regardless of whether it's liquid, cream or powder. I love how the brush feels so gentle on my skin, and it does such a good job with application of the Petal Skin Fluid Foundation.

Before/After: My overall skin tone has been evened out and redness around the nose, as well as my dark eye rings, are a lot less pronounced. One pump for my entire face gives me a natural-looking medium coverage.

The breakthrough petal skin technology also diffuses light from skin to give the appearance of a soft, poreless finish! It looks almost like my skin got magically airbrushed to become petal soft and radiant.

I'm in love with the semi-matte, velvety and poreless finish that feels and looks like second skin! The lightweight finish is perfect for everyday usage.

As I have normal/dry skin, I find that the Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation looks great on its own, but I recommend setting it with loose powder if you tend towards combination/oily skin. 

Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation has also been tested in Singapore weather to ensure that it's humidity and heat resistant, and I was impressed with how the foundation held up throughout the day with no oxidation or "sliding off"! 

Finshing off my everyday to-go look with a light touch - A bit of concealer around my eyes, eyebrow pencil, subtle eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush and lip color! 

Wearing Shu Uemura's Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in shade PK 354!

And here's my completed everyday look with petal soft skin, thanks to Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation!

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To sign up for a one-on-one session, register to pick a preferred date and time slot here: http://www.shuuemura.com.sg/whats-new/petal-skin-fluid-foundation/

xx

Bangkok May'17: Staying at Park Hyatt Bangkok

May 27, 2017, 8:06 am

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Hello, Park Hyatt Bangkok!

Leaving on a jet plane yet again - Bangkok is one of those cities I never tire of, but checking into the brand new Park Hyatt Bangkok made it even better and was an exceptionally amazing experience!

Located right in the heart of Bangkok, Park Hyatt Bangkok feels like you're in an exclusively secluded space made just for you - every single inch of this five-star luxury hotel is tastefully put together, elegant and posh, and yet feels utterly welcoming.

The best part? All it takes is one elevator ride and you find yourself at Central Embassy, a luxury shopping mall that's home to huge names like Hermes, Prada and Chanel, alongside high street labels, local Thai designers and lots and lots of food choices! The hotel is also directly connected to Chidlom BTS Station, which makes it convenient to get to anywhere via BTS.

Staying at Park Hyatt Bangkok

I stayed two nights at Park Hyatt Bangkok to attend the gala opening of Park Hyatt Bangkok as well as the completion of Central Embassy and it was legit one of the best stays I've experienced in Bangkok - Every aspect of my stay was nothing short of impeccable.

Let me share a personal anecdote. I "lost" a pair of socks that I carelessly left rolled up inside one of my used bath towels that got cleared away by housekeeping on my first night and expected never to see those socks again in my life. Housekeeping miraculously recovered the socks a couple days later and even sent me an email to personally inform me of the good news so that I could collect my socks back. Hurrah!


If you like tall, airy, spaces, you'll love Park Hyatt Bangkok and its minimalistic and refined interior decor that is classy chic without being overbearingly ostentatious or opulent.

Everything feels discreet and exclusive, from the minimally-furnished hotel entrance to the modern, polished-looking reception and common areas, as well as the top-notch service of the extremely attentive hotel staff who greeted me warmly everywhere I went and assisted me during my stay.






My room was stylish and spacious - Most importantly, the bed was utterly luxurious and comfortable.
With universal power sockets and USB outlets located beside the bed and at the study table, I didn't once have to worry about charging up my devices (cameras, phones, power banks and the likes), which was a huge convenience for me.

I particularly adored the motorised curtains that I could control with the touch of a switch even while lounging in bed half-awake. It may seem like a small detail, but feels like the most luxurious thing on earth on a lazy morning ;)

Did I also mention the fantastic surround sound system (there are speakers even in the bathroom!) and BlueTooth-enabled speaker that allowed me to connect my phone wirelessly and blast my Coldplay tunes on repeat?




The bathroom area is a dream come true. You can't get any better than two sinks with two mirrors, separate cubicles for the (huge) shower area and toilet as well as a huge bath tub, topped off with a spectacular view of Bangkok city.

La Labo amenities were provided, and I love love love the bergamot fragrance in them!


Woke up to this view on Day 2 - And yes I drew those curtains electronically while I was still lounging in bed!

Breakfast was such a delectable affair. You get to pick your breakfast of choice from a menu, as well as a wide array of offerings from the pantry area - there was parma ham, fresh fruits, yogurt, cold pressed juices, freshly-baked bread, and the likes!

I was very very happy with the breakfast - Everything was delicious, and I ate so much that I hardly had space for lunch! Some personal favourites include the rice congee, eggs benedict as well as the selection of different fresh fruits available every day.

There's also a bar and a grill located within Park Hyatt Bangkok should you choose to dine in the comfort of the hotel, though we had most of our meals just downstairs at Central Embassy.




If you have time, take a soak in Grand Hyatt Bangkok's infinity pool as well. The view is lovely, it's decently-sized, and better yet, the pool is heated, so you don't have to dread the icy cold water!

There's also state-of-the-art gym facilities as well as a spa (soon to be opened) at Park Hyatt Bangkok, but I was too busy luxuriating and lazing about to even step into the gym - I'm sorry!

I highly recommend Park Hyatt Bangkok for those looking for a tranquil and exclusive retreat in the middle of the city - One night goes for 300SGD and up (depending on your booking dates) and it may be pricier than the standard Bangkok accommodation but you're certainly paying for your money's worth.

Gala Opening of Park Hyatt Bangkok & Completion of Central Embassy

I was looking forward to attending the gala opening - It was a black tie event with 700 guests made up of celebrities, media, well-known personalities and affluent society all coming together to celebrate the completion of Central Embassy and the opening of Park Hyatt Bangkok!






On the red carpet with my fellow ladies from Singapore, gorgeous Francesca and Rachel!


Just for the occasion, I got my hair styled at a salon just downstairs in Central Embassy, and dressed up in this piece from Sheike, an Australian label I like very much!












It was a spectacular night despite the achy feet from being up and about all evening in my heels - It has been some time since I last savored such an agreeable time with the loveliest ladies. What great fun!

Thank you for hosting me, Park Hyatt Bangkok! A special thank you to Eclair for extending the invitation and taking such great care of us. I'm looking forward to the next time I'm back!

 

PARK HYATT BANGKOK

Central Embassy, 88 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok,  Thailand, 10330

Tel: +66 2 012 1234

http://www.park.hyatt.com/en/parkhyatt.html

The Beginning of an End

May 28, 2017, 9:48 pm

≫ Next: Melbourne April'17: Great Ocean Road Day Trip

≪ Previous: Bangkok May'17: Staying at Park Hyatt Bangkok

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I don't really know where to begin, but I know I want to put something down into words about this.

Over the past few months, a lot of people I know and probably many more that I don't know have been asking and speculating about what has been happening with my personal life.

I don't care about the gossip mongers, but I do care about the friends and readers who sincerely wish me well and are genuinely concerned for me as a person.

I'd rather you all hear it straight from me than other uninvolved parties, so let this serve as closure.

We've officially separated.

The decision has been extremely hard to make, because it doesn't just impact two lives majorly, but also the many people around me like family and mutual friends...

I wish I could speak unrestrainedly about why our relationship broke down, but it probably isn't a good idea to do so.

All I can say is, I think we both tried to make our relationship work over the years, but there were too many fundamental issues that were swept under the rug over the years, and these seemingly little things eventually festered and grew into huge, painful sores that could never go away.

No matter what, please remember that you should always love yourself first, no matter what kind of a relationship you're in.

No one is perfect, that's for sure. But make sure you know what your deal breakers are, and what kind of shortcomings you want to deal with.

I saw a quote on IG the other day.

The quote was "You don't give up on someone you love."

I really wanted to agree with this quote. It sounded damn bloody romantic and oh-so-sweet.

But is it really really true?

I don't know la. For someone who's been in one relationship for 9 years, I'd say that there's a breaking point somewhere when it becomes irrevocably damaged.

I'm sorry that it didn't work out.

I'm especially sorry to my parents, to my dad who doesn't know how to break the news to relatives and acquaintances who are asking him "几时抱个孙子?"

To my in-laws who treated me so very well and were a second family to me.

And to the man I took my marriage vows with and whom I thought would be my forever.

I'm sorry that we didn't work out.

-

It's been almost three months since this happened, and now you know why I've been posting much lesser on social media the past few months.

I also took the opportunity to travel and do more of what I love, and spend more time with my dearest friends who have been such a constant source of support and love.

I'm blessed, really.

And now, I'll put myself first, love myself more.

I'm telling myself this: It's okay to fail in relationships and even a marriage.

A failed relationship or a divorce does not mean that you're a failure. Everyone deserves to be truly happy and to be loved in the right way.

PS. I won't be affected by hate comments and trolls because you anonymous keyboard warriors totally don't know anything at all and your absurd accusations are just laughable, so go ahead, say whatever you want :)

Thank you for reading, and for your virtual hugs and kisses. ❤️ I'm okay!

Melbourne April'17: Great Ocean Road Day Trip

June 7, 2017, 11:03 pm

≫ Next: Browhaus: Brow Resurrection Review + Promotion!

≪ Previous: The Beginning of an End

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"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."

I've never once felt that travel was a form of escapism. Setting foot in an entirely brand new foreign land, soaking in new sights and sounds.. It's an experience like no other. 

As you know, life has been kind of a rollercoaster lately. It was no better time, really, to get some fresh air, take time out and clear the mind, so I booked a ticket on a whim and flew out seven hours to Melbourne - A city that I've been meaning to see for the longest, longest time.

Thank god for BFFs too, because Tammi (who stays in Sydney) readily agreed to take a few days off to spend together with me in Melbourne! We booked a nice, cosy hotel room in the middle of the city and had so much great fun catching up, exploring Melbourne, shopping and eating.

Our initial idea was to do a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, but had to scrap those plans because Tammi had to return to Sydney for a couple of days due to last minute work commitments, which was quite a bummer. 

It must have been serendipity, because Tammi and I stumbled upon a little travel agency along the streets one day, and I ended up walking in and booking myself a day trip out to the Great Ocean Road with Bunyip Tours! 

Greatest decision ever.

1 Day Classic Great Ocean Road Tour - Bunyip Tours

I didn't do any research prior to booking my day trip/tour, but I went with the Classic Great Ocean Tour which is really really affordable at AUD130 with lunch inclusive. 

I took the following information from Bunyip Tours' website for easy reference!

***

HIGHLIGHTS

Beach stop on long golden surf beach with glorious views
Coastal towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay
Iconic Cape Otway Lighthouse dominates towering cliffs where Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean collide. Learn the ancient history of the Aboriginal owners, the Gadubanud people.
Look for koalas & native birds in the wild!
Aussie lunch provided
Rainforest Experience - Take in the luscious green surrounds of Otway Rangers rainforests and some of Australia`s tallest eucalyptus trees. Step down to the beach at Gibson`s Steps, gateway to the 12 Apostles
Loch Ard Gorge the history of the cruel Shipwreck Coast unfolds on a stroll along this historic beach
World famous 12 Apostles - This is what you've been waiting for! You'll be dwarfed by the soaring cliffs and the mysterious limestone towers that were created by erosion of the cliffs.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All park entrance fees
Aussie lunch (sausages and salad)
Tea / coffee / biscuits
Friendly and informative tour guide

***

After much consideration and indecision, I paid an additional AUD145 for a 15 minutes long helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles because YOLOOOOO. Might as well go all the way and enjoy the Great Ocean Road to the fullest, yes? AUD145 seemed like a reasonable price to pay for a bird's eye view of the 12 Apostles and a cool heli ride. Leggo! 

I woke up bleary-eyed and sleepy at the ungodly hour of 5am to prep and get ready on the day of my Great Ocean Road Tour - The tour bus was to depart at 7.15am from Bunyip Tour Office along Flinders Street. No breakfast provided so I grabbed a sandwich from 7-11 along the way from my hotel to the pick-up point.

The weather was SUPER foggy in the morning and that made me so worried. Fortunoa the weather cleared up in the afternoon! Remember to check the weather forecast before booking your day trip/tour because you wanna get good weather, ideally.


Off we go!! Expect a fair bit of travelling time in the tour bus along the course of the day which I gladly welcomed, it was the perfect opportunity to catch up on some shut-eye haha.




First stop at Anglesea Lookout! Some biscuits and hot tea did a whole lot to warm my tummy and keep me in good cheer despite the cold, dreary morning.


Here's the famous "Great Ocean Road" sign where the road officially begins!






I signed up for the tour alone which I was slightly apprehensive about, but happily made a couple of friends along the way! If you're taking the tour alone like me, just be friendly and strike up a conversation with your fellow tour group mates, it'll make your day a lot more enjoyable :)




We spotted lazy sleeping koalas along the way at Kennett River, but most of them were so high up that you really don't see anything more than a clump of fur in the trees lol.






Lunch was provided for us at the Cape Otway Lighthouse - A light lunch of sausages, salad and pasta.

I'm always worried about getting hungry so I packed along some chips and also brought my own water along that day, which proved to be a good decision because I did get hungry along the way lol :D




Cape Otway Lighthouse is mainland Australia's oldest lighthouse and overlooks a magnificent view of the coast!










The best fifteen minutes of my day was the heli ride at Gibson's Steps, where I got to admire the 12 Apostles from a bird's eye vantage!






The helicopter seats around 7 passengers, so I requested to sit at the side so that I had a better view to take pictures :)

It was so magical! The cloudy and foggy skies from earlier cleared up slightly, leaving behind a misty, surreal veil across the 12 Apostles that made the gorgeous panoramic view look like it came right out of a fantasy setting.

Did you know that there were only ever nine "Apostles" limestone stacks? Right now, there are only eight left due to erosion from the waves. 

The heli ride was super fun and I was really sad that it lasted only 15 minutes :( For AUD145, that works out to be almost 10 bucks a minute lol but the view was so worth-while.

Loch Ard Gorge, another scenic stop along the Great Ocean Road. The rock formations here are amazing! This was the site of a tragic shipwreck in 1878 where only two teenagers survived.




I really enjoyed the one day Great Ocean Road experience and I'm glad I didn't miss the Great Ocean Road despite not being able to drive out on my own road trip! Highly recommended if you're travelling solo or you just don't want the hassle and fuss of taking your own road trip.

I booked my day trip via a walk-in at a travel agency, but I think you can also book directly from Bunyip Tours' website here.




Ending off with pictures of the cutest possums chilling at a park on my way back to my apartment after my day out at the Great Ocean Road ;) So cute aiyoooo.

It was a really good day, and sometimes, we just have to go through life, a day at a time.

---

Browhaus: Brow Resurrection Review + Promotion!

June 20, 2017, 7:37 am

≫ Next: Bhutan June'17: Pursuing Happiness In The Last Shangri-La (Part 1)

≪ Previous: Melbourne April'17: Great Ocean Road Day Trip

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It is said that eyes are windows to the soul, and that makes our eyebrows just as important - A pair of well-defined and perfectly shaped eyebrows are critical for a groomed and polished appearance.


I know a lot of girls face similar brow issues as I do - My brows are sparse and not as full or defined as I'd like them to be.

I usually spend so much time drawing in my brows daily with a variety of brow products from brow powder, brow liner to brow mascara, until Browhaus saved the day with its semi-permanent solution - Brow Resurrection. Getting semi-permanent brows done will be one of the best decisions you'll ever make for yourself!

Browhaus, the experts in semi-permanent will design the perfect brows that suit your face :D

Browhaus has come up with a comprehensive menu for natural-looking semi-permanent brows. You'll get a personal “Brow Print”, a digitised consultation that your skin, brow type and desired results are considered to obtain the brow design that suits you.

There used to be only BR Define and BR Natural, but now, you can pick from four different kinds of Brow Resurrection:

- BR Classic (formerly known as BR Define)
For a Natural, Bold, Defined and Strong look $1200 

- BR Soft (formerly known as BR Natural)
For a Natural, Light and Soft Look $1500 

- BR Full (new)
For a Natural and Full Look $1800

- BR Ombre (new)
For a Natural, Full Look with a Gradient base effect $2000

I was deciding between BR Full or BR Ombre, but after some consultation with the brow experts at Browhaus, I decided to go for BR Ombre, recommended for ladies who prefer to draw in their brows. The gradient base creates the effect of "drawn" brows, which sounded ideal for me :)

Brow Resurrection creates realistic hair strands from root to tip to give you perfect brows! Unique only to Browhaus, this treatment uses an advance embroidery technique to create natural-looking strokes, resulting in a finer finish compared to other semi-permanent brow treatments that simply weave in parallel hair strands.

Ready for my BR Ombre procedure!

Numbing cream being applied before the procedure! The actual process of brow resurrection took around 2 hours or slightly lesser, and was relatively painless.

Before and After Brow Resurrection Ombre - I love the natural and full look created by Tody, my brow therapist at Browhaus Plaza Singapura!

Expect a bit of scabbing and some time for your brows to heal - Get the "Aftercare System" that's sold separately at $160.50 to help your brows heal well so that the effects of Brow Resurrection last the longest!

One week after my Brow Resurrection Ombre - Love the effects of BR Ombre and how natural my brows look!

I no longer have to spend time drawing in my brows in the mornings - What a life saver!

I highly recommend Brow Resurrection to solve all of your brow woes ;)

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For more information on Brow Resurrection, visit Browhaus's website here!

Bhutan June'17: Pursuing Happiness In The Last Shangri-La (Part 1)

July 16, 2017, 8:13 am

≫ Next: Bhutan June'17: Conquering Tiger's Nest, Punakha & Paro (Part 2)

≪ Previous: Browhaus: Brow Resurrection Review + Promotion!

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Me to people around me:"I'm going to Bhutan to draw and paint."

People around me:"Where? To do what??"

Me: "You know, Bhutan! The happiest country on earth? The one with the handsome King and beautiful Queen that just gave birth to the cutest kid?"

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesa Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Jetsun Pema with their newborn baby son. Basically the perfect royal family.

With zero expectations and very little prior research, I embarked on a truly magical travel sketch journey with Erwin and DrukAsia in this unique country that measures its development through something called GNH - Gross National Happiness Index. That's just how otherworldly Bhutan, this tiny Himalayan nation nestled in between China and India, is.

All essential sketching and painting materials provided by Drukasia for #SketchBhutan

#SketchBhutan // Travel Sketch to Bhutan with Erwin Lian and Drukasia

Upon hearing my news, some people looked at me with bewilderment and asked me, "Why the heck are you going to such an ulu (meaning unknown in Singlish slang) place to draw and paint?"

"I don't know why, exactly," I answered them. "But I love sketching and painting, and wouldn't it be cool to do something absolutely out-of-this-world instead of just travelling to the usual touristy hotspots and just shopping/eating/sightseeing like I always do?"

Most casual readers are probably not aware that I used to be a digital illustrator, and studied art and design for three years before working in the industry for two years. Although I've been out of touch with drawing and the arts for a super long time, I'd attended a botanical watercolor painting class at Bynd Artisan with Erwin last year, and enjoyed getting in touch with my rusty painting skills tremendously.

Thus, when Erwin invited me along for #SketchBhutan - a 7D6N travel sketch trip to Bhutan, I said YES!!! almost immediately! :) Goodbye Singapore, HELLO exotic Himalayan nation!

Disclaimer: Druk Asia kindly sponsored my meals and accommodation - I paid for my flight tickets in and out of Bhutan. Thank you, Druk Asia! 

Travelling To Bhutan with Druk Asia

Bhutan has historically been known to be closed-up when it comes to tourism. The first tourists were only permitted to travel to Bhutan in 1974, and all travellers require a visa (unless you hold an Indian passport, I believe) to enter the country.

Independent travel is forbidden, and the only way to travel to Bhutan is via a licensed operator, while you will need to be accompanied by a guide and driver everywhere you go within the country.

It is also mandatory that every tourist has to pay a minimum daily tariff of USD250 (USD200 for 0ff-peak seasons) via their licensed operator to travel in Bhutan. This fee covers accommodation, food, guide and vehicle with driver, or basically, the entire travel expenses and payment has to be made upfront for your visa to be processed.

This explains why travelling to Bhutan isn't cheap in the slightest - Be prepared to spend 4-5K SGD for a seven days trip to Bhutan during peak season (March, April, May, September, October & November).

I highly recommend Druk Asia - Druk Asia specializes in Bhutan travel and is also Druk Air's (Bhutanese airline) representative in Singapore with over a decade of experience. Druk Asia also ensures guaranteed Visa approval for all travellers and has excellent customer service and great reviews.

Travelling to Bhutan in June

According to websites and weather forecasts, June isn't the best time to visit Bhutan as it is the monsoon season. A word of advice - Don't trust the online weather forecasts! I packed in my coats and knits because I thought it would be cold and rainy, but ended up being severely over-dressed and spent most days in my tee-shirts and jeans only. Also, it didn't rain half as much as was forecasted, thank goodness! We actually had perfect weather on most days, and lots of sun too.

As June is a non-peak season, it's cheaper than travelling during other months (mentioned above), and another plus point is that there are also much lesser tourists around, which makes the entire travel experience so much pleasanter!

Arriving at Paro Airport

Here's a little bit of trivia: Did you know that only EIGHT pilots in the entire world are qualified to land at Paro Airport, one of the world's most difficult for takeoffs and landings?

That's due to its short runway in a narrow valley that's surrounded by the Himalayan mountains - Flights to and from Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset due to how challenging it is.

That sounds scary, but our flight from Changi Airport to Paro Airport (stop-over at Kolkata - No need to disembark) had little turbulence and a very smooth landing with no cause for terror at all. Take a window seat on the left for the best view of Mount Everest as you descend into Paro Airport, the most scenic airport I've ever landed at.

Changing Bhutanese Currency & Getting Wifi Connectivity

The Bhutanese currency is the Ngultrum, which is pegged to the Indian rupee, so 1 ngultrum = 1 rupee. Most hotels and some tourist shops accept USD as well.

Change your currencies from SGD or USD at Paro Airport, and if you have any remaining ngultrum at the end of the trip, you can have it changed back into USD only at Paro Airport when you depart. (Remember to keep the money changer's receipt until the end of your trip cos you'll need it to change any unused ngultrums back into USD!)

As your entire tour package would have been paid for beforehand, you won't need much money at all - I barely spent 150 USD while I was in Bhutan. That included tips for the guide and driver (which you can also give in USD or SGD) as well as splurging on a shawl made of baby yak wool and a massage session at one of the resorts we stayed at.

Stay connected with the rest of the world by purchasing a pre-paid sim card at the airport (right next to the money changer) - I got myself a sim card with a 5GB data plan for something like SGD20? I can't remember how much exactly but it wasn't costly at all! Tashi Mobile is recommended for the best data network.

Note: Most hotels offer free WIFI but be warned that connectivity is weak and patchy in many places.

My accommodation in Thimpu - So gorgeous!

Accommodation & Meals

I didn't have any issues with the accommodation booked for us through Druk Asia - All of the hotels and resorts are 3-star accommodations and more than decent. My favourite accommodations were Hotel Lobesa (in Punakha) and Metta Resort & Spa (in Paro)! :) Most of the rooms were gorgeous and spacious with a rustic, traditional character that came through strongly in the wooden structures and woven tapestries. Everything was clean and well-maintained, hot running water wasn't a problem, and the beds were comfortable and restful.

Some of the hotels/resorts even provide in-house massage and spa services at affordable prices, which was a treat after a long day!

A typical Bhutanese meal comprising of rice with veggies cooked with cheese or chilli

Food-wise, Bhutanese cuisine is strongly influenced by Chinese, Tibetan and Indian culture, so it wasn't too much of a departure from what I'm used to. We were mostly served rice with dishes of veggies and meat that were cooked simply with no extra frills. Everything was so healthy and yet tasted hearty and delicious! Most meals were served in buffet style, which I quite liked because I could pick what I wanted to eat more of :D

If you're not a fan of chillies or cheese though, watch out!! Expect to find cheese and spicy hot chilli in some dishes, the Bhutanese LOVE their cheese and chilli!

***

Bhutan Day 1: From Paro Airport to Thimpu City

Now that I've covered most of the basics, I'm now going to share some of the highlights of my trip - I'm splitting the images into two posts, starting with Days 1-3!! :) I'll also be sharing bits of trivia about Bhutan that I learned about from our Bhutanese guide, Kuenzhang!


Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge
This pit stop we made in between Paro to Thimpu was my first taste of Bhutan's breath-taking scenery, and words can't describe how liberating it felt to be surrounded by so much nature all around, from the flowing blue waters to the distant peaks and lush greenery.


There's quite a bit of history behind the (old) iron suspension bridge across the river which is no longer open to the public as it's too dangerous, but the newly constructed bridge is just as pleasing to the eyes. Adorned with a multitude of prayer flags, it was a colorful sight that would be common all over Bhutan during my one week there.


"Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space."


Gorgeous, isn't it?

First taste of Bhutanese food - Nothing fancy to shout about, but the food was hearty and kept us full.

Checked into our accommodation at Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan!

Love the rustic wooden elements and colourful tapestries!


Buddha Point
After a short rest at our hotel, we drove up to the famous Kuensel Phodrang, or Buddha Point. It is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue - the largest Buddha statue in the entire country! The massive three-storey base houses a large chapel, while the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha.


If you noticed, the entire area is still under construction, but that doesn't detract from how imposing and grand the huge Buddha statue is, as well as the magnificent view of Thimpu City from Buddha Point.



Thimphu City
Despite being the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu feels more like a small town that still retains much of its backward charm. The streets are lined with mom-and-pop shops ranging from tiny pharmacies to handicraft stores and convenience stores that'll make you feel like you've stepped back in time to the 80s.




Did you know that Thimpu is the only capital in the world with not a single traffic light at all? Apparently, traffic lights were once installed in the year 1995 but received so many complaints from the public that they were done away with completely and the Royal Bhutan Police traffic controllers put back in place as human traffic lights. Haha!

We witnessed how one expert policeman guided traffic from all directions with his efficient gestures - When we waved to him and shouted a hello, he didn't miss a single beat and waved right back with a straight face while calmly continuing to keep the traffic flowing smoothly! Salute!


In fact, the whole of Bhutan has a population of just 776,000 - That's 18 people per square kilometer, which is one of the lowest population densities in the world. Quite a mind-boggling fact especially for us Singaporeans - Singapore has a population density of 7,987.52 people per square kilometer!

A small mom-and-pop store selling sweets, toys and other knick knacks.

Jewelry being made in the backroom of a small jewelry store.

One of the most distinctive features of the Bhutanese is their traditional dress, unique garments that have evolved over thousands of years. Men wear the Gho, a knee-length robe, while ladies wear a kimono that is tied at the waist by a traditional belt known as Kira.

In 1989 a strict dress code was enforced across Bhutan, with violators subject to hefty fines. Men were required to wear the Gho, and women the Kira.

These days the rules are more relaxed - uniform is now only mandatory in government offices, schools, monasteries and during important functions - and Western fashion influences are beginning to seep through into the national dress.

A Bhutanese lady on the street of Thimphu dressed in her traditional Kira and looking at her mobile phone - What a juxtaposition!

Our first day was rather relaxed, and we retired after dinner to rest so that we would be ready for a good start the next day! :)

Bhutan Day 2: Changangkha Lhakhang, Centenary Farmers’ Market & Tashi Chho Dzong
Breakfast was a quick affair at the hotel before we set off for the day! I was all revved up to get the sketching started - First stop was Thimphu Eco Park that has a great view of Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple of Thimphu!

Changangkha Lhakhang was built in the 12th century and is where many pilgrims take their children for blessings or to receive names for newborns.

Armed with the art supplies prepared for us by Erwin, we kicked off the sketch journey by warming up with some pencil drawing at Thimphu Eco Park! Erwin as well as co-teacher - local Bhutanese artist, Rajesh, helped us along to get our attempts right :)

It was two hours of solid concentration as I struggled to get my rusty sketching skills all warmed up again, but also extremely gratifying at the same time.

We ended our morning session in time for lunch and a short stroll around the area!


We stumbled upon a small outdoor bazaar selling an assortment of drinks and goods outside the local hospital - Do you see those hanging strands of cream coloured cubes? Those are dried yak cheese strung up for sale! In case you're wondering, nope I didn't try, and I don't know what it tastes like!


Notice how the bags of chips are all puffed up like plump pillows due to the high altitude in Bhutan?


Passed by a street-side vendor selling prayer beads and incense.


I love seeing the Bhutanese dressed up in their traditional garb :)


The little kids are especially adorable when wearing the national dress!


Centenary Farmers’ Market
An interesting place to people-watch and soak in the local atmosphere is the Centenary Farmers’ Market held on the weekends, where villagers from the valley and other nearby areas come to sell their range of agricultural produce. This market is by far the largest domestic market in Bhutan!




We also did a spot of sketching at the market and attracted a fair bit of attention from the curious locals who were wondering what we were up to! ;)


Tashi Chho Dzong
Our final stop of the day was this beautiful garden from where we got an excellent view of the  Tashi Chho Dzong, which presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the cabinet secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance.




From this view, we embarked on our first water-colour painting session of the Dzong, with the guidance of Erwin and Rajesh!


The entire group was hard at work and completely immersed in capturing the beauty of the Dzong in ink and water-colours.


Pleased with my first ink-and-wash drawing of the Dzong! :)

Bhutan Day 3: Live Portraiture Class at VAST, Dochula Pass & Punakha Valley

I was looking forward to Day 3, where we had a live portraiture class at VAST, short for Voluntary Artists' Studio, Thimphu!


Our adorable little Bhutanese model!


Rajesh doing a demonstration on how to capture live portraiture right :) Though it was obviously a lot easier watching him sketch with his experienced hand as opposed to when we attempted our own renditions!

With the beautiful Mindu and her adorable daughter who did portrait sittings for us!

Sketches done by the entire class all put together!

We then departed Thimphu City via a 2.5-hour long drive on the National Highway and over the Dochula Pass, to get from the cool heights of Thimphu to the warmer and lush landscapes of beautiful Punakha Valley.

The journey can get a little uncomfortable because of the change in altitude and some slight bumpiness on the roads - I recommend getting motion sickness and altitude sickness medication on standby if you're prone to either one.


Dochula Pass
Along the way, we made a stop for lunch at Dochula pass, a popular location between Thimphu and Punakha as it offers a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range on a clear day. We weren't so fortunate, however, as it was a foggy and drizzly day and all we saw was a sea of fog obscuring the mountains and view.

The 108 stupas/chortens seen in the above image - known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens - were commissioned by the eldest Queen Mother, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk and were a stunning sight even amidst the fog.


I've never seen as many stray dogs in Bhutan as I have anywhere else!

Druk Wangyal Lhakhang Temple - A small but picturesque temple at Dochula Pass built in honour of the fourth Druk Gyalpo (head of the state of Bhutan).


Carrying on our journey - We stopped for some grilled corn by the roadside!




Snapshots of some of the Bhutanese locals we interacted with - From a wizened old grandmother with betel-nut stained teeth to these adorable young girls who said their thanks shyly when Sarah (one of the girls in our group) gave them some chocolates :)


We finally arrived at the crazy beautiful Punakha Valley!


Punakha Valley
We walked through these terraced rice fields to the temple of Chimi Lhakhang: Located on a hillock, this temple is dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenlay, an eccentric religious teacher of the 15th-century who used humor, songs and outrageous behavior to share his teachings, earning him the title of "The Divine Madman".


Just another adorable stray that we ran into along the way, he was such a cutie :)


An especially outstanding trait of the houses of Punakha Valley is the depiction of phallic images abound - Bhutanese paint phalluses on their homes to protect their families from evil spirits and to promote fertility.

Flying phalluses are also tributes to the adored religious teacher and master of Mahamudra Buddhism, “The Divine Madman”.

I was pretty amused by the way the penises were depicted, some had eyes and resembled dragons, while others came complete with hairy testicles and ejaculation wtf.




The walk through the valley was lovely. Fields upon fields of cultivated paddy fields swayed serenely in the breeze as we made our way leisurely to Chimi Lhakhang, the famous temple of "The Divine Madman".


The greenery of vast terraced fields framed in on all sides by gently sloping mountains was absolutely stunning to take in. Walking through the valley and experiencing the beauty of all that nature evoked a profound serenity within me and I'd never felt so peaceful as I did at that moment.




Rajesh was working on a water-colour painting on-the-spot, and I love the colors and feel that were captured with every stroke of his paintbrush!

We reached Chimi Lhakhang just before the temple closed for the day. This tiny temple on top of a hillock is said to resemble the breast of a woman - Hundreds of childless Bhutanese couples make pilgrimages to Chimi Lhakhang, where a giant wooden phallus is used to "bless" and bring forth fertility, as comical as it sounds.


As the evening drew to an end, we rested under the spreading canopy of the Bodhi tree outside Chimi Llakang. This Bodhi tree is said to be the same species that Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who later became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment under.

Ended off a lovely Day 3 and checked into Hotel Lobesa that overlooks Punakha Valley and has a marvellously panoramic view of the beautiful surroundings!

Therein ends my Days 1-3 travelogue in Bhutan - I'll carry on with Part 2 in a separate post so stay tuned!

If you'd like to find out more about Druk Asia or sign up for the next Travel Sketch to Bhutan that's happening in September, head over to Druk Asia's website!

xoxo


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BHUTAN JUNE'17: CONQUERING TIGER'S NEST, PUNAKHA & PARO (PART 2)

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Bhutan June'17: Conquering Tiger's Nest, Punakha & Paro (Part 2)

July 18, 2017, 10:52 am

≫ Next: 2 Days in Hualien: Taroko National Park - Going Off The Beaten Path (Day 1)

≪ Previous: Bhutan June'17: Pursuing Happiness In The Last Shangri-La (Part 1)

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On one of our many long coach rides around the countryside of Bhutan, fellow traveller Audrey (who is bubbly and inquisitive and adorable) once questioned our Bhutanese guide Kuenzang and Bhutanese co-teacher/artist Rajesh about happiness - Bhutan is after all nicknamed to be "The Happiest Country In The World"- So how exactly do the Bhutanese know that they're happy?

Our newfound Bhutanese friends stared at us wordlessly for a few seconds and then Rajesh came up with a reply that I won't forget:

"We don't question our happiness, we just are!"

What a stunningly simple answer that made absolute sense - When you're truly happy, do you question yourself and ask if you are? 

During the course of seven days in Bhutan, I came up with my own conclusions as to why the Bhutanese are so happy. Much of it has to do with just how beautiful Bhutan is, and another quintessential part is to do with the deeply entrenched teachings of Buddha that the Bhutanese people grow up with and live their lives by. 

Bhutan Day 4: Punakha Dzong & Suspension Bridge
We rose early to catch the morning light, as all of us were eager to begin sketching and painting for the day! The huge balcony/observatory deck at the hotel had a splendid view of the valley and far-off Chimi Lhakhang, the subject of our morning art jam session.

It was a hot and balmy morning - Don't forget that temperatures are much warmer down in Punakha, so don't forget your sun protection, sunblock, and hats!


Here's Erwin demonstrating how to work with light and cool tones to bring out tonal values in watercolor! The technique looked effortless but was real frustrating to achieve.

Nonetheless, we had a gratifying morning session and then it was time to move on to the highlight of the day, painting the famed Punakha Dzong as well as exploring its grounds!

Painting Punakha Dzong

Sitting at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Punakha Dzong is a stunning example of Bhutanese architecture. Built in 1637, it is the second oldest and second largest Dzong in Bhutan. This massive structure is six stories high with a central utse (tower) that stands 3, 900 feet tall!

Halfway through painting the Dzong! Everyone was utterly absorbed in their painting, and I almost couldn't bear to stop for lunch, which would have been a grave mistake; lunch was so so good!

Our outdoor lunch prepared and set-up for us right on the spot! The food was delicious!

Lunch was so flavourful and hearty - Everyone dug in hungrily and even went for second and third portions!

My completed painting of Punakha Dzong!

Moving on to our next activity, which was probably the most touristy thing that we did hehe. Everyone was game to don on the Bhutanese Gho and Kira (provided by Druk Asia) despite the hot weather, so we had to take this group photo in front of the Punakha Dzong!

Spot the two real Bhutanese men - Rajesh and Kuenzang! I have to say that everyone looked really splendid in the Kira and Gho, love the traditional ethnic patterns and bold colors!

Here's my touristy shot! :D

Exploring Punakha Dzong



We spent the afternoon exploring the Dzong with our guide Kuenzang, who was dressed in his Gho together with a long scarf called a "kabney" - This attire is mandatory for the Bhutanese when visiting Dzongs and other administrative centers.


Notice those gigantic honeycombs under the roofs of the Dzong? Those bee hives are said to be auspicious!


One of two massive prayer wheels that flank the main entrance into Punakha Dzong.

These impressive-looking cylindrical wheels commonly seen at temples and dzongs contain scrolls that are inscribed with mantras. It is believed that by turning the prayer wheels clockwise, mantras inside are activated and released. The mantras are said to purify negativity, generate compassion, remove barriers to enlightenment and bring benefit to all sentient beings.


A wall decoration depicting the Zodiac Calendar.


As in most dzongs and holy places, we were not allowed to take pictures within the temple due to strict restrictions.

Please do step in, because the interior of the temple is stunning, with mammoth effigies of Buddha, flanked by Guru Rinpoche (who is widely celebrated for bringing Buddhism into the kingdom of Bhutan) and a colorful myriad of sculptures and statues that I did not recognise.

We were lucky enough to be given permission to sketch and draw within the temple, thanks to Kuenzang. A good one hour was spent sitting on the cool wooden flooring in silence and rapt attention as I watched Erwin bring the Buddha effigies to life with his pen and brush!


Posing with Rajesh (who cut a dashing figure in his Gho!) at the traditional wooden staircase leading up to the temple in the six-storeyed Utse, the central tower of Punakha Dzong.

You absolutely must visit Punakha Dzong :)


Suspension Bridge at Mo Chhu River

Apart from Punakha Dzong, my personal favourite spot would have to be the suspension bridge at Mo Chhu River, also known as the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan!


For those who have a fear of heights, crossing the long suspension bridge may seem intimidating. I was utterly in love with the view from the bridge, especially as we had particularly brilliant weather that day. The clear blue skies and muted sunlight filtering in through the veil of slow moving clouds made for a spectacular view as we crossed the suspension bridge.

Look at those prayer flags merrily dancing in the cool breeze that lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face :)

A postcard-worthy image of two elderly monks crossing the bridge ahead of me - They were just as enamored with the beauty of the scene and were about to take a picture right there.

The bridge connects the town of Punakha and the Punakha Dzong, mainly used by locals from the other side of the town as a shortcut to Punakha Dzong.


A bright-eyed pup enjoying the breeze on the other side of the suspension bridge as we sat there, savouring the glorious weather and great view!


It was a productive and well-spent day, and we returned to the hotel in good cheer for a wonderfully wholesome dinner!


Doesn't dinner look so good? :)


We were able to admire the gorgeous landscape of Punakha Valley right from the hotel balcony!

Bhutan Day 5: Punakha to Paro 

All of us were reluctant to depart from lovely Punakha, but it was time to pack up and leave to head back to Paro, where we would be spending our last two nights in Bhutan.

My last breakfast in Punakha - This homemade bun that's deep-fried and has a soft, fluffy texture was so good! Eat it whichever way you want; I filled mine up with the potato dish that was served up for breakfast and it was so satiating.

Our coach drove us back through Thimpu City along the way to Paro, where we commenced for lunch and also visited the local Post Office!


I had these customised stamps made at the Post Office :) Serves as an excellent keepsake and souvenir of the trip!


Old buildings in Bhutanese architectural style just across the Post Office, and two Bhutanese ladies in their kiras doing a spot of shopping.


An adorable stray dog - One of the many that stole my heart in Bhutan!

Paro Town
We hit the road again after lunch and soon arrived at Paro Town, which is a good place to stop by if you're looking for quirky souvenirs or gifts to buy home.

For instance, religious ornaments like erm phallic wooden statues and the likes?


I fell in love with this soft baby yak wool shawl and bought it for myself :) It was around SGD50 if I remember correctly! Not cheap eh, but since I didn't get anything else on the trip....


Kyichu Lhakhang
Our last destination for the day was one of the oldest and most beautiful monasteries in the country - Kyichu Lhakhang.

The temple is popularly believed to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, to pin down the left foot of a giant demoness who was thwarting the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. It's one of 108 temples King Songsten Gampo built throughout his reign, and each temple is said to correspond to a point on the body of the demoness.


One interesting feature you may notice within the temple grounds is the presence of two orange trees which bear orange fruit: This is particularly rare as orange trees do not grow at such high altitudes, and the trees are rumored to bear fruit all year round as they are blessed trees!

I might not buy completely into all the mythology and lore told to us by Kuenzang, but it was fascinating to know the stories behind each and every temple and monastery.


Caught these two monks in the act of taking a selfie, I guess monks also progress with the times, don't they?


Love these colorful tasseled banners!


A row of prayer wheels surrounding the compound.

Did another ink and wash illustration of some of the distinctive Bhutanese architectural details that I liked a lot :)


We checked into Metta Resort & Spa, another charming hotel that had meticulously-kept gardens in full bloom and lush views of mountains all around!


My huge and spacious room for two nights!

Bhutan Day 6: Ascending Tiger's Nest 

On the sixth and last day of our time in Bhutan, it was finally time for the highlight of the trip - The ascend up to Tiger's Nest, one of the most recognizable sites in Bhutan.

Tiger's Nest, also known as Taktsang Gompa is believed to be built on the site where Guru Rinpoche meditated in a cave having arrived there on a flying tiger. Built precariously on a hillside cliff, it sits more than 10,000 feet above sea level and is accessible only by a foot path.

Although the trek up to Tiger's Nest takes at least 2-3 hours (depending on weather conditions and your fitness level), it was most definitely one of the most memorable parts of the trip and well worth the climb!


The coach brought us to the starting point of the trek, where I'd also recommend you to purchase one of the wooden walking sticks (if you don't have your own hiking pole) being sold at the little stalls set up there.


You can also choose to pay and ride horseback for two-thirds of the journey, but none of us did that - the poor horses, although magnificent creatures, looked rather worn out and forlorn as they trudged along the steep path up to Tiger's Nest.


The trek up got fairly steep, and I highly recommend trekking shoes if you have them! The weather wasn't so fine that day, the skies were overcast, and it even started raining rather heavily at some point of the day.

Nonetheless, the trek up to Tiger's Nest is still very manageable - Just take it slow and steady when you start getting tired or out-of-breath!


Old man's beard lichen, which is said to grow only in places with clean and pure surroundings. Don't they almost look like fairy lights with the little droplets of moisture on them?




About halfway up the mountain!


Even along the mountain paths, we ran into many stray dogs who weren't at all afraid of us. Prayer flags were also strung up everywhere, making for a pleasant and cheerful sight.


Horses had to stop at a certain point, where you'll need to carry on by foot. So I took the opportunity to get a picture with one of the pretty horses hahaha.


The higher you climb, the better a view you get of Paro, looking like minuscule little white specks far below!


At a little cafe halfway through, where you can stop to catch your breath and take a coffee break. On a good day, you'd be able to see Tiger's Nest distinctly, but it was way too cloudy, and we could barely make out the outlines of the monastery still a great distance away!

Back to the path. Thank goodness I was prepared with a disposable poncho that kept me relatively dry when it started to rain!


It was raining quite persistently at this point in time, and the entire mountain was shrouded in thick clouds.

The skies must have heard our prayers, because just as we reached one of the best view points along the trail, the passing clouds suddenly cleared away, leaving us with a magical view of Tiger's Nest!


Doesn't it look unreal?

We quickly snapped away with our cameras, admiring the surreal sight before us and marvelling at it in wonder.

It took another 20-30 minutes of climbing up and down flights of steps along the cliff edge before we reached Tiger's Nest, at long last!


Passing by a huge waterfall right before the steps lead upwards again to the final ascend to Tiger's Nest.

After removing our shoes and being stripped of all recording devices (including your mobile phone!), we entered the monastery, where Kuenzang showed us around the various holy sites in hushed tones of reverence. You can also bring along some money for offerings, or even purchasing a butter lamp to burn for blessings.

When the rain cleared up, we started to make our way down to get back to the car park where we started out from. This would have been a lot easier on a dry day, but due to the rain, the ground was wet and muddy and made going downwards challenging. Some of us slipped and fell due to how slippery it was! :(

The wet conditions we faced - My UGG snow boots that were waterproof and had extra traction helped me greatly, thankful for packing them along!


We took a break for lunch while halfway down, never been happier to see food in my life! The food was brought up piping hot for us on the back of a Bhutanese local, how amazing is that?

We gobbled down the food like we'd never eaten before lol.


A vegetarian meal that never tasted better even without any meat!

That look of joy on my face when I'd finally, finally reached the base and located our coach! YASSSSS!

Our total journey up and down Tiger's Nest (inclusive of our time spent inside the monastery, break time and lunch time) took us close to six hours, and it was late afternoon by the time everyone made it down.

It was absolutely exhausting, but the awe-inspiring view was worth all the effort!

We returned back to our hotel knackered and tired, though a hot shower soon set me right again. I even had the energy to join Erwin and few of the other girls in a short botanical painting session before our evening programme started.

In the process of laying down graduated color washes - Definitely not an easy task!


What better way to round up the last night of the trip, then with a cultural dance performance of traditional Bhutanese song and dance? We laughed, clapped and cheered along to the dancing next to a crackling campfire, moods buoyant and spirits upbeat. That being said, there was a palpable tinge of sadness in the knowledge that this otherworldly experience was coming to an end, and we would be leaving Bhutan too soon.



All in all, Bhutan is one of the places I'm very glad to have checked off the bucket list. It was truly an experience like no other, and I can understand better now, why Bhutan is nicknamed "The Happiest Country In The World". I feel like I left Bhutan a lot more spiritually enriched, and a little more at peace with myself.

Big thanks to Erwin and Druk Asia for such a memorable one-of-a-kind trip, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will have fond memories of beautiful Bhutan for many years to come!

If you'd like to find out more about Druk Asia or sign up for the next Travel Sketch to Bhutan that's happening in September, head over to Druk Asia's website!

xoxo


Read:
BHUTAN JUNE'17: PURSUING HAPPINESS IN THE LAST SHANGRI-LA (PART 1)

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2 Days in Hualien: Taroko National Park - Going Off The Beaten Path (Day 1)

September 5, 2017, 3:05 am

≫ Next: 2 Days in Hualien: The Incredibly Beautiful East Coast of Taiwan (Day 2)

≪ Previous: Bhutan June'17: Conquering Tiger's Nest, Punakha & Paro (Part 2)

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Ask any local Taiwanese what their favourite place in Taiwan is, and many will give you the same answer - Hualien.

Hualien is a three hours drive or two and a half hours train ride from Taipei, and is one of those must-visit places if you have a few days to spare - It is so far removed from Taipei's city life and absolutely scenic and gorgeous.

As I was so privileged to be in Taiwan for a FANCL press event last month, I took the opportunity to extend my time in Taiwan and decided I HAD to see Hualien!

From beautiful cliffs and gorges at Taroko National Park to the maginificent sea view along the East Coast, I spent an unforgettable two days in Hualien together with my guide and driver Ivan who brought me off the beaten path as we traversed "Do Not Enter" signs and climbed down unmarked paths to seek out the most beautiful and isolated spots around Hualien!

It was an unforgettable experience and made all the more memorable with the enthusiasiam and great hospitality of my guide, Ivan!

I only had two days to spend in Hualien - which is the minimum number of days I would recommend for Hualien. Even with two entire days in Hualien, you'd barely touch the tip of the ice berg because Hualien has so much to offer!

Getting A Local Guide/Driver

First of all, I highly recommend visiting Hualien with a local guide. Hualien is huge and you definitely need a mode of transport when travelling in Hualien. Some people choose to just hire a "driver", who will ferry you around from place to place, but thanks to Elaine's great recommendation, I decided to go with Ivan, who'll show you around and bring you places, not just drive you from location to location!

It was probably the best decision that I made for Hualien, I gotta say. Ivan was great fun to be with, and his vicacity and love for Hualien most certainly rubbed off me!

I know that many of you will ask for Ivan's contact so here it is! 

You can WhatsApp Ivan at the above number to enquire about available dates and rates :) Oh, Ivan also speaks English well so if you're not proficient in Chinese, it won't be a problem. 

Tell Ivan exactly what kind of experience you'd like, and he'll customise the best kind of tour/experience for you!! If you're more of an adventure seeker and willing to go off the beaten path, let Ivan know and he'll be much more adventurous - The experience is very worth-while!

His rates are very reasonable and the service and experience I got well-merited the amount that I paid. Would I do it again? Yes, all over in a heartbeat!

Accommodation in Hualien

I booked a B&B - 一九九九民俗 (1999 B&B) from Booking.com - This minsu was located in Hualien City and met all my requirements for a great accommodation - clean, nicely furnished and comfortable at an affordable price.

Of course, if you're looking for a more scenic view, there are B&Bs with sea views or even smack in the middle of lush greenery, those are a little more out of the way but very lovely. I was just looking for something nice and convenient, so I chose to stay in Hualien City.


This BnB is relatively new from what I know and it was a very pleasant place to stay for two nights! The staff were friendly and helpful, and I really enjoyed my stay. It isn't located too far away from the train station or the local night market, all within walking distance! :)




Loved the aestheically-pleasing London-inspired interior decor!


My room was huge and came with a bath tub too :D Lovely! Everything was clean and well-maintained, and they even had some complimentary drinks and snacks available. Breakfast was prepared for us at the minsu for the two mornings that we were there as well!

You can book 1999 B&B via this link here. 

From Taipei to Hualien

One of the trickiest bits about Hualien is actually getting to Hualien from Taipei City.

The most popular mode of transport is via the Taiwan High Speed Rail, which brings you from Taipei City to Hualien in just 2.5 hours! However, the train tickets are SUPER popular and hard to get, and I've heard of many people camping for the tickets (they only go on sale two days before your travel date) and not being able to get them.

I was very fortunate to have the help of my guide - The tickets were booked for me and all I had to do was to log in online with the booking number to make payment online with no hassle or fuss! I then redeemed my tickets from a machine at 7-11, it was as simple as that.

If you'll be hiring a local guide/booking with local tour companies, do check with them to see what they can do to assist you with getting the tickets from Taipei City to Hualien.


If not, you can also consider the following alternatives:
1. Combo ticket - utilising shuttle bus and train (The combo ticket can only be purchased in person at Taipei City Hall Bus Station. You can't get it online nor can you book it in advance but it is always available and won't get sold out unlike the HSR direct train ticket)

2. Domestic flight - via domestic carrier UniAir (Flights in between Taipei City and Hualien take about 50 minutes. The website is completely in chinese though which might be a problem for some)


Woke up bright and early to get on the 7.08AM train from Taipei Main Station!


There are reserved seating on the train, so you don't have to worry about not getting a seat once you have your tickets.


The train journey took around 2.5 hours, and I arrived at Xincheng Train Station before 10am to the loveliest blue skies and beautiful weather!

If you're wondering why I alighted at Xincheng Train Station instead of Hualien Train Station, it is because Xincheng Train Station is much closer to Taroko Gorge, where my guide would be bringing me on my first day in Hualien!

Ivan picked me up straight away from Xincheng Train Station, and off we began on our Hualien adventure!

Day 1 - Taroko National Park

On the way to Taroko National Park!

Our first adventure begain along the highway - Ivan parked right outside the highway tunnel and we started walking through the tunnel, much to my trepidation and also the bemusement of the many cars that whizzed past us as I followed Ivan's nimble footsteps along the narrow pavement along the tunnel.

It took us ten minutes of walking before we exited the tunnel along an old forgotten side entrance no longer in use, and the view truly took my breath away!


This path apparently used to be the old highway - It was much narrower and nearer to the edge of the cliffs as compared to the current highway in operation. Check out the natural marble rock cliffs, aren't they amazing?


Qingshui Cliff (清水断崖) is famous for its blue blue waters that changes every day depending on the weather. Due to the water currents and difference in water temperatures, you can see the sea ranging in several shades of blue in a surreal fashion.


The sea was so crazy blue that it looked almost unreal!


Another stop we made along the drive was to this hidden spot right above a railway track! We actually had to climb past the road barrier and then down through some undergrowth to reach this view where the train tracks ran right along the sea - It was such a picturesque sight!


Also spotted a huge spider in its enormous web above us as we made our way back up to the road! Yikes..

Drove past this interesting painting on a house, and Ivan stopped to briefly explain the rich history of the Taiwanese aboriginals. Tattoos used to be a highly regarded mark of status - Only women who were well-versed in weaving would be allowed to go through the procedure of having their cheeks tattooed, for men, headhunters and hunters were honoured the prestige of forehead and chin tattoos!

Cheek tattoos to signify the status of a skilled weaver in the Taiwanese aboriginals

The practice died out after the Japanese occupation around 1920-1935 as the Japanese outlawed it, and there are only a few aboriginals in the whole of Taiwan now with these incredible tattoos!


Finally within the heart of Taroko National Park!

Taroko Gorge might be one of the most majestic places of nature in the whole of Taiwan. It was created by the continual rising of the mountains combined with the erosive power of the Liwu River, Taroko Gorge with its tall, almost flat walls are a true marvel to view.

Besides the gorge, other attractions include aboriginal settlements, temples, museums, and numerous hiking trails for visitors to experience the true beauty of mountainous Hualien County and eastern Taiwan.


Making our way through thick undergrowth and a precarious unmarked path..


To get to this amazing little secluded spot that had the most pristine blue waters!


The water was so delightfully cold and refreshing that I really wanted to hop right in! I could only make do with dipping my feet into the clear water - What a lovely way to beat the heat.


One of the iconic sights in Taroko National Park is the striking crimson Cimu Bridge.

Cimu in Chinese means “motherly devotion”. Legend says that in this area known as Heliu (合流) where the two rivers meet, a child was near to the river edge and swept away by a large current. Every day, the child’s mother would go to the river to wish for her child’s safe and quick return to her.


This rock formation next to Cimu Bridge is famously known as The Frog Prince! Do you see the side profile of a frog with a crown on its head?

The pavilion was constructed to become the crown for the "frog" in memory of President Chiang Ching-kuo’s mother.

We also climbed up a short distance to the 鐘樓 (Bell Tower) above Eternal Springs Shrine where you get a really gorgeous view of Taroko National Park!

We took a break for lunch at a restaurant inside Taroko National Park just as it started to rain. Thank goodness the rain only lasted less than two hours and didn't spoil our plans that much!


Zhu tung fan (glutinous rice steamed in bamboo) is a local aboriginal specialty and it was surprisingly tasty!


Ivan also ordered this Taiwanese local produce - Stir-fried Bird's Nest Fern (炒山蘇). It had a strangely crunchy yet smooth texture and was really good!


One of the most memorable parts of exploring Taroko National Park for me was most definitely the visit to Wenshan Hot Spring (文山溫泉).

Wenshan Hot Spring used to be one of the most famous natural attractions in Taroko Gorge ever since the hot springs were discovered in 1914, but a rockslide above Wenshan Hot Spring resulted in one death and seven injuries in the year of 2005.

In summer of the same year, the Hualian region was lashed by four powerful typhoons, resulting in further destruction of Wenshan Hot Spring.

Considering that landslides tend to happen in succession, the national park administration decided to close off the hot springs to the public due to the threat of more landslides.

What Wenshan Hot Spring looked like before 2005 - Image source

The entire area is now cordoned off by metal grilles, but I was game for an adventure with Ivan!


It took a 15-20 minutes walk from the highway where we were parked to reach the prohibited area from which a steep flight of stairs led down to Wenshan Hot Spring.

Stairs leading down to Wenshan Hot Spring before 2005

This is the same flight of stairs that we climbed - Except that the stairs were almost completely destroyed, from the railings to the steps, leaving behind worn out ledges of rock that we climbed down cautiously, worried that we would miss our footing on the slippery rock.


We finally made it down unscathed to what remained of Wenshan Hot Spring! To our surprise, there were some other visitors as well who had managed to seek out this now forgotten spot and had even brought along their swim wear for a soak in the river side.


The surrounding view of Dasha River Valley was truly spectacular!


Look at those natural marble ravines that have been created by the incredible force of the river over the course of the years.


Isn't it beautiful?




There are two small riverside pools (partially destroyed) where you could still soak in, but just go around the corner to discover a tiny cave where the hot springs have formed a pool that is piping hot at 48 degrees celsius!

This pool was so hot that I could barely handle soaking my feet into the water! There was a middle-aged Taiwanese uncle soaking his entire body in the pool and I have no idea how he managed to withstand the crazy hot water.

Wenshan Hot Spring was one of my favourite parts of the day at Taroko National Park, and extremely unforgettable!

However, do bear in mind that there is a reason the hot springs are not recommended for visiting as landslides are possible at anytime. Visit at your own risk, and don't go during or after heavy rains.

One other popular spot we visited was Swallow's Grotto - 燕子口步道. This trail gives you a great view of the river, canyon and gorge.

After Swallow's Grotto, it was time to drive to Hualien City and check into my accommodation! Ivan had a little surprise up his sleeve along the way though.. A specialty snack of Hualien - 炸蛋蔥油餅!


Check out the insane crowds of people queuing!!

炸彈蔥油餅
花蓮縣花蓮市復興街102號

Address: No. 102, Fuxing Street, Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan 970


For this snack that was completely utterly out-of-this-word. 炸蛋蔥油餅 - Literally translated to Egg Bomb Scallion Pancake!

I can't begin to describe HOW GOOD this was.

Messy, glorious and delicious - This 炸弹葱油饼 is literally DA BOMB!!! It was so good that I requested Ivan to drive us down again on Day 2 so that I could have it again haha!

I have no idea what secret ingredients they put in this thing but it was soooo delicious especially eaten piping hot! The thin crisp fried pancake is made from glutinous rice flour which gives it a nice chewy texture, while sandwiched in it is a sinfully deep-fried egg made perfect with runny yolk in the middle.... The entire thing is then liberally dusted with some magical powder seasoning that makes it addictively tasty! OMG. You must try this when you come to Hualien!


Checked into 一九九九民俗 (1999 B&B) and I was so tired that I took a nap once I'd settled into my room!

I didn't actually get to explore Hualien City that much - I did visit the night market (花蓮東大門觀光夜市) but it isn't very impressive, especially if you've already been to a few night markets in Taipei itself. My favourite night market is still Ning Xia Night Market!

This blog entry is getting lengthy so I'll talk about Hualien Day 2 in the next post - We went jade picking and drove along the crazy beautiful East Coast! Read more here! :)

Read other Taiwan travelogues below:

2 DAYS IN HUALIEN: THE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL EAST COAST OF TAIWAN (DAY 2)
TAIPEI JAN'15: 十分放天灯! RELEASING SKY LANTERNS AT SHIFEN
TAIPEI JAN'15: 寧夏夜市! FOOD TRAIL AT NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET
TAIPEI JAN'15: STAYING AT W TAIPEI
TAIPEI JAN'15: JIN FENG, BEST BRAISED PORK RICE IN TAIWAN! 金峰, 台北最好吃的卤肉饭!
TAIPEI JAN'17: MAN TANG HONG 滿堂紅 - BEST CHEAP HOTPOT BUFFET IN TAIPEI

xoxo

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2 Days in Hualien: The Incredibly Beautiful East Coast of Taiwan (Day 2)

September 8, 2017, 9:24 am

≫ Next: Less is More: A Holistic Journey In Taipei with FANCL & Janine Chang

≪ Previous: 2 Days in Hualien: Taroko National Park - Going Off The Beaten Path (Day 1)

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Continuing on from Day 1 of my Hualien travelogue, let's now move on to Day 2 of Hualien - We went jade picking, drove along the beautiful East Coast and visited some stunning spots that I would never imagine finding in Taiwan!

If you're looking for details on guide/driver recommendations, how to get from Taipei to Hualien and also my accommodation in Hualien, refer to my blog post on Hualien Day 1 for more information!


Day Two - Jade Picking & East Coast Drive

I got a good night's rest and rose early for Day 2 in Hualien! Breakfast was prepared with love by my minsu  一九九九民俗 (1999 B&B) from Booking.com! Pretty awesome I must say. The BnB staff were so warm-hearted and friendly too!

Jade Picking at Bai Bao Creek

Ivan had told me excitedly about this part of the itinerary the day before, and I was really intrigued by it. An opportunity to pick my own jade from a river? Sounds really cool and fun!

At Bai Bao Creek (白鮑溪), you can seek treasure literally from the river bed! The source of the stream flows from an old jade mine, which used to be a booming industry back in Taiwan's hey days of jade production.

We spent about an hour in the creek foraging through the river bed and overturning rocks and gravel to look for pieces of jade! There were quite a few times when I thought I found jade, only for it to be some odd green non-jade piece of rock, yikes.


Although Ivan taught me how to distinguish jade from other rocks, it was still a challenge to differentiate between plain ole' rock and jade... Hahaha. I managed to find quite a few small pieces though, but Ivan found a really huge one (the one on the left)! What a sense of achievement!


If you pick a good-sized jade, you can bring it to Lu-Fung Jade Workshop nearby to process and polish the piece of jade! Unfortunately though, the master at the workshop told us that our jade pieces were not suitable for processing because they were either too small or too soft.

You can also select a piece of unprocessed jade at the workshop itself and then go through the DIY session of jade polishing and shaping with the help of the workshop staff! A very meaningful activity because you'll have a lovely keepsake that you created by yourself as a great momento of Hualien.

Danongdafu Forest Park

Along the route to East Coast, we first drove to Danongdafu Forest Park (大農大富平地森林園區)

This forest park stretches over 1,250 hectares (more than 1,250 soccer fields) and is breathtaking with its vast open spaces and spectacular mountains.


It was very relaxing to stroll around the fields and take in the fresh air, something we don't get to do often in the city, for sure.


It's not just a scenic spot - This place is an ecological and recreation park and designed to focus on recreation, organic production, environmental healing and sustainable cultural development in the Rift Valley.


Do visit the picturesque maple-tree lined trail at Danongdafu Forest Park for a lovely walk under the tall lush trees under the dappled sunlight. Such a simple pleasure in life!


We made a quick stop for a bento lunch along the way - Gotta love Taiwan's little bento shops that serve up cheap and delicious bento meals that are great on-the-go!

East Coast Tour & Drive

From the mountains to the seas - It's amazing how much the landscape of Taiwan can change with just a short drive! One of the best parts of Hualien for me was the drive along the East Coast, where we were treated to splendid views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged rock formations.

Shi Ti Ping 石梯坪

The entire drive is incredibly scenic, but one particularly outstanding spot is Shitiping, a popular camping site 70km south of Hualien!

I didn't do any camping of course, hopefully I'll have more time in Hualien the next time so that I can do more. There are also other outdoor activities you can do at Shi Ti Ping such as scuba diving and dolphin-watching, too!


The major attraction at Shi Ti Ping is the unique coastline formed by erosion and raised coral reefs - It's absolutely beautiful! "Shi Ti Ping" means stone steps, and the terraced volcanic rock and coral formations look like a huge staircase rising out to the sea.


We were fortunate to have fantastic weather that made the rugged beauty of the naturescape even more breathtaking.


There is something very mesmerizing about watching and hearing the sea come to life. Look at those waves crash into the shore and dissipate into white foamy spray in the air!


Love this view!

The waters can get rough around here, so swimming is strictly prohibited, though you may spot fishermen trying their luck at fishing! In fact, the waters are so clear that you'll be able to spot schools of little fish darting about underwater if you look closely.

Xinshe Coastal Rice Terraces

We wrapped up the day with a final stop at Xinshe Coastal Rice Terraces, which Ivan was really excited about! I understood his enthusiasm once we arrived - The golden rice fields set against the vast backdrop of the aquamarine Pacific Ocean and distant mountain ranges truly make for a magnificent sight!


The Xin She Coastal Rice Terraces are most beautiful in summer right before the fields are harvested, but you can visit in other seasons (sunflowers are grown here in the winter time) as well.

We drove back to Hualien City from Xin She, concluding the end of my two days itinerary in Hualien with Ivan, but not before I begged Ivan to bring me back for my 炸蛋蔥油餅!

Bomb diggity!!

Here's a parting shot with Ivan - Thank you for the wonderful two days in Hualien! Ivan's contact details are in my earlier post if you need them!

On a side-note, I got well-roasted after just two days in the unrelenting summer sun, so remember to hydrate with lots of water and don't forget to apply your sunscreen religiously whenever possible!

Leaving Hualien

Said my goodbyes to Hualien and departed the same way I arrived - via the train back to Taipei City.

Although it was a short two days in Hualien, I enjoyed my time there immensely, and highly recommend anyone visiting Taiwan to fit in a few days for Hualien into your itinerary! With its rich history and diverse landscapes, Hualien will be a pleasant respite from the city, leaving you with nothing but the best memories of its natural beauty and quiet charm.

I'll be back for more next time, Hualien!

Read other Taiwan travelogues below:

2 DAYS IN HUALIEN: TAROKO NATIONAL PARK - GOING OFF THE BEATEN PATH (DAY 1)
TAIPEI JAN'15: 十分放天灯! RELEASING SKY LANTERNS AT SHIFEN
TAIPEI JAN'15: 寧夏夜市! FOOD TRAIL AT NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET
TAIPEI JAN'15: STAYING AT W TAIPEI
TAIPEI JAN'15: JIN FENG, BEST BRAISED PORK RICE IN TAIWAN! 金峰, 台北最好吃的卤肉饭!
TAIPEI JAN'17: MAN TANG HONG 滿堂紅 - BEST CHEAP HOTPOT BUFFET IN TAIPEI

xoxo

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Less is More: A Holistic Journey In Taipei with FANCL & Janine Chang

September 13, 2017, 7:22 am

≫ Next: Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 1)

≪ Previous: 2 Days in Hualien: The Incredibly Beautiful East Coast of Taiwan (Day 2)

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Do you agree that Less is More?

It seems that as the years pass, less is indeed becoming more to me - I'm wearing lesser makeup, I care less about people/things that shouldn't matter to me, and I'm learning to appreciate the simpler things in life, paring life down to its basic essentials with no unnecessary frills nor drama.

FANCL's no preservatives philosphy has always resonated strongly with me, and I was glad for this opportunity to spend time in Taipei to realign myself holistically, together with FANCL!

FANCL Taipei Media Press Trip 2017

It was with great excitment that we flew into Taipei, Taiwan from Singapore for FANCL's media conference with media and press from all over the region!

Checking into Le Meridien Taipei

I loved the central location and luxurious ambience of Le Meridien Taipei, where we were put up for two nights! Le Meridien Taipei is known to be one of the best hotels in Taipei for their excellent hospitality and posh facilities.


Of course, our stay was made all the better with FANCL products prepared for us by the wonderful team. From FANCL's iconic Washing Powder, Cleansing Oil to their Amino Shampoo and Conditioner!

Dinner at Mountain and Sea House 山海樓

We had an intimate dinner with the FANCL team at Mountain and Sea House Restaurant, renown for their vintage Taiwanese cuisine!


The FANCL team kindly prepared some treats for us!

One of the best-kept beauty secrets around? FANCL's best-selling TENSE UP collagen drink for more youthful and suppler skin!

Thank goodness for the two slimming supplements too - Calorie Cut and Fat Burner for blocking calories and burning fats for us to eat guilt-free!


We enjoyed a course of delicious dishes prepared with the healthy ingredients and fresh local produce that 山海樓 is known for. All the dishes were simply prepared but delicious and wholesome!


In line with FANCL's no-preservatives ideology, every dish is made with ingredients that are completely organic and sourced entirely from local farms!

I truly enjoyed Mountain and Sea House's traditional Taiwanese cuisine that was so delicate and exquisite, miles apart from Taiwan's street food, but utterly delicious!

FANCL Press Conference

Ready for the FANCL press conference with my BBF Evonne!


FANCL's signature products: Facial Washing Powder, Mild Cleansing Old, Moisturising Emulsion and Moisturising Lotion! These star products are some of my favourites too!

I think FANCL did an excellent job of picking their brand ambassador - Janine Chang (張鈞甯) exudes such a pure, natural and healthy vibe, and embodies FANCL and its "Less is more" philosophy perfectly!

By taking a preservative-free approach towards her life and skincare, gorgeous Janine believes in being empowered to make the conscious choice to choose pollutant-free beauty - FANCL.

Fine Dining Dinner at RAW Taipei

Dinner after the press conference was at Raw by Andre Chiang, one of the best contemporary fine-dining restaurants in Taipei!




In fact, we happened to be there at the same time as popular Taiwanese host 小S (which we only found out after we left....) - Do you spot her in this picture above?


Watching the chefs work their magic in the open-concept kitchen, which we were seated right in front of!


Every morsel of food truly blew me away! I enjoyed each course immensely, from its presentation to how different flavours and ingredients came together in a playful and creative manner that kept all my senses intrigued and entertained. Definitely worth a second visit the next time I'm in Taipei!

Tea Appreciation & Lunch at 食养山房 Shi-Yang Culture Restaurant

On our last day together, we spent a serene afternoon at 食养山房, a quaint and peaceful tea house tucked away into the picturesque mountainous wilderness of Yang Ming Shan.






The art of tea appreciation lies in the ritualistic and careful preparation of tea, brewed from the finest aromatic leaves that calms the senses and relaxes the soul.

Lunch at 食养山房 was so good! The zen atmosphere combined with the beautifully presented dishes that were so healthfully prepared made for an extremely memorable meal. Every dish came plated like a work of art and tasted just as wonderful. Or maybe it was just the mountain air that made everything extra appetizing.

If you happen to be in Taipei and you're looking for a retreat away from the stress and noise of daily life, do spend some time at 食养山房 to rejuvenate and nourish the soul!


More of these essential health supplements - I really need to stock up on my Tense Up drinks and slimming supplements soon!


Although this was a very short trip, I truly had an enlightening time exploring the essence of FANCL's"no preservative" approach that can be applied in so many aspects of living! Every conscious effort goes a long way towards nuturing a healthy mind, body and soul.

Here's one with the entire Singapore team - Thank you for sending us over, FANCL!

FANCL is available at the following locations:

Bugis Junction

313@somerset

VivoCity

Suntec City

Robinsons 

Raffles City

Isetan Scotts

You can also take a look at FANCL Singapore's website to check out the range of products available!

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Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 1)

October 3, 2017, 3:13 am

≫ Next: Hokkaido Aug'17: 12D11N Summer Road Trip Itinerary

≪ Previous: Less is More: A Holistic Journey In Taipei with FANCL & Janine Chang

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I've been wanting to learn diving for the longest longest time and I finally got down to it!

*Disclaimer - Not a sponsored post* 

SSI vs PADI

There are two different international diving organisations / dive companies that conducts dive courses - SSI and PADI. Apparently each one has their merits but there isn't a huge difference. You can dive no matter which company you choose to get certified with! There are companies in Singapore that offer either SSI or PADI - I picked Gill Divers (SSI) only because I have friends diving with Gill Divers previously haha. I didn't do that much research TBH.

Open Water Diver Course

This globally-recognized certification program is the best way to begin your life-long adventure as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

To get certified for Open Water Diving, you simply go through the following:
1. Online learning (six chapters)
2. Theory session with test at the end (3.5h)
3. Pool session (7h)
4. Weekend Trip (Bintan/Tioman - I chose Tioman!)

Price: $ 599

Includes: Theory Session, Pool Session, Weekend Trip - Transport, Accommodation, Meals, Equipment Rental
Does not include: Travel Insurance / Marine Park Fee (If applicable) / VISA on Arrival (If applicable)

Online Learning / Theory Session

Let's start with the Online Learning / Theory session!

You basically log into a website where there are some learning materials to go through - From the history of scuba diving to some physics and theory science behind diving (like water pressure, weight of water etc....)

There are quizzes at the end of every chapter which you have to complete and score at least 8/10. During the theory session, an instructor will run you through the material briefly, and then you do a test at the end.

The class was conducted in the evening at Gill Divers at Hong Kong Street - After work hours so no worries for those working office hours!

The passing mark is actually 45/50 - But even if you score slightly lesser, it's ok! The instructor personally will run through the questions you flunked and you're good to go.

Pool Session

Pool session was on a Sunday, reporting time at 9am! Way too early for a Sunday.

Received this reminder email in my inbox with information for pool sesh and obviously my eyes glazed over all the important parts cos the only things I picked out from from this email was "bring your own lunch and water" LOL.

Smart ass me happily appeared for pool session without my swimwear. What a bimbotic moment! I thought that perhaps we would slip into our wetsuits straight away and not have to wear swimwear maybe.

Thankfully I had a set of sportswear in the car so HAHAHA I ended up wearing my sports bra and exercise tights into the pool!

In order to pass the pool session, you have to be able to swim 200m / snorkel 300m and tread / float for 10 minutes!

It was a SUPER hot day goodness!

Please remember to spam on the sunblock like crazy!!! Waterproof sunblock alright. And take oral sunblock too (Like Heliocare) if you have it! I put on sunblock on my face, sprayed sunblock on my arms and even took my IDS Lyco-white pills.... But...

Those tan lines after an entire day in the pool SIGH. On the bright side, I didn't get sunburnt, just extremely tanned.

Lunch break!! Got my priorities so right. I woke up early in the morning just to prep lunch! Toasted hot dogs, prepared buns and even brought condiments along HAHAHAHAHAHA. What a picnic!

Shiok!!

During the course of the day, we were taught how to put on/take off our gear, how to control our buoyancy and other stuff like clearing our masks while underwater and how to do emergency ascends.

The gear was super heavy man. The oxygen tank weighs about 10kg and putting on the buoyancy control device with the tank was a huge weight on the shoulders and restricted my movement so much. It took a bit of practice to get used to breathing through my mouth, as well as get used to staying in the water for such an extended period.

I hated climbing out of the pool most because the gear was so heavy that my knees were nearly buckling under the weight as I struggled up the pool ladder!

So far so good, I've cleared the theory and pool session and what's remaining is the weekend trip to Tioman for the actual open water diving! I hope I won't panic in the water or accidentally do something wrong with my gear. The pool session also made me realise what a hassle diving is! The gear and all that are really no joke.

About the equipment

Basically, Gill Divers provides all the equipment you'll need on a rental basis, but the wetsuits, buoyancy vests and regulators aren't in new condition so some of the gear like the regulators (breathing apparatus) might have really worn out parts like mouth pieces that are grimy or a bit chewed off and stuff lol. Sounds quite gross but oh well it's rental equipment so be prepared!

I also had issues with water entering my mask and I'm considering if I should get my own personal mask!

I think I may also get a full body rash guard because the company only provides us with the short sleeved ones which I don't prefer cos... TAN LINES hahaha. Plus full body ones give more protection!

Generally though, I feel that $600 is a great price to learn a new life skill - Covering everything from theory to pool to the cost of the entire trip!

Even if I don't fall in love with diving and want to go on dive trips all the time, I'm sure I'll enjoy the fact that I CAN dive and will be able to if I happen to visit places with great diving sites such as Fiji or Philippines or even Maldives!!

Can't wait to get fully certified real soon, stay tuned for my Tioman update!

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Hokkaido Aug'17: 12D11N Summer Road Trip Itinerary

October 8, 2017, 8:22 am

≫ Next: Europe/UK Sep'17: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London

≪ Previous: Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 1)

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Konichiwa, folks! 

As you might already know, Japan is one of my top favourite destinations in the world! To date, I've been to Japan eight times, and I am still not tired of the country, what with its crazy amazing food, unique culture and gorgeous countryside/nature. Japan just has so much to offer, and every trip is always a brand new experience.

I have always, always wanted to visit Hokkaido, and I'm really glad that I made it happen this summer! 

Although Hokkaido is famous for its winter and ski resorts, it's an absolutely splendid place to visit during summer time. Summers on the island of Hokkaido are mild and cool, with beautiful weather  as well as their famous fields of flowers and lavender in full bloom!

I'll be sharing my 12D11N self-drive itinerary in this post, and will be following up with more detailed posts on each area and what they have to offer - I am certain that you'd fall in love with Hokkaido in summer, just as I did.

Basically sums up my time in Hokkaido. Lots of pretty flowers, onsen & soft serve ice cream - What is there not to love?

Flights to Hokkaido

First things first, flights to Hokkaido! There are no direct flights from Singapore to New Chitose Airport, and your best option is to do a layover at either Narita or Haneda Airport, before another short domestic flight to New Chitose Airport, located near Sapporo. Both ANA and JAL offer flights to New Chitose Airport, but tickets usually cost at least SGD800 and above for a return trip.

The next best option in my opinion is to fly via Thai Airways, which consists of a ten-hour layover at Bangkok, but costs less than $600. If you book early and there's a good promo going on, flights could be even cheaper than $400!

This could be a good option for you if a 10-hour layover at Bangkok isn't a problem - You even get to squeeze in some Thai massage and mango sticky rice before/after your Hokkaido trip!

I use Skyscanner to check for the cheapest ticket prices in the vicinity of my travel dates. Basically, SkyScanner searches for the cheapest airfares across 1,200 airline and travel sites, and there's also a feature that tells you exactly which dates offer the cheapest flights in that month, which is great to know, especially if you have slightly flexible travel dates.

How Long To Spend In Hokkaido?

Of course, when you book your flight, you need to have an idea of how many days you're going to be spending in Hokkaido. In my opinion, anything less than 7 days is really too short, because Hokkaido is huge and there are so many different, interesting areas to explore! Getting around from destination to destination also takes time, with our longest drive being over 2.5 hours long.

I had initially planned for a 7-day stay in Hokkaido, but found myself wanting to stay on longer and revised my plans! It also depends on what kind of vacation you prefer, do you want to just touch-and-go throughout the different areas (perhaps stay in Sapporo and do day trips throughout) or really travel around, staying overnight and experiencing what each area has to offer?

I went for the latter, taking my time to experience and indulge in what Hokkaido had to offer. It was a rejuvenating and highly gratifying experience that fulfilled the wanderlust in me and fed my soul.

Car Rental/Self-Drive in Hokkaido

Why choose to self-drive in Hokkaido? Unlike Tokyo or other parts of Japan, Hokkaido is a wild island that is a lot more sparsely populated, and getting around from destination to destination is so much more convenient with your own car!

It's not difficult to drive around in Hokkaido as most of the roads are well-maintained and traffic is friendly. Gas stations are aplenty and at no point in time did we run into any trouble on the roads.

Apart from the picturesque scenery along the roads, if you're fortunate enough, you might even run into wild foxes on the road, as I did!

This beauty was right smack in the middle of the quiet road that we were driving on - Instead of running away, it even approached the car as we slowed down to take pictures and say hi!

We rented our car online from RentalCars.com. For roughly SGD100 a day, you'll get yourself a decent Japanese car - In our case a Honda Fit. We picked up the car from a counter at New Chitose Airport (after which you'll be brought via shuttle bus to the car rental company to pick up your car).

You can decide on a few different locations to pick up and return your car, and we decided on returning the car at Sapporo (our last destination) as it's more fuss-free to travel around Sapporo City via public transport/walking. This way, we could also take the train from Sapporo to New Chitose Airport, saving on a couple days of car rental expenses.

Do remember to apply for your IDP (International Driving Permit) beforehand in Singapore and bring both your driver's license and IDP along when you pick up your car! You might not be allowed to pick up your car without these necessary documents.

The staff at the counter briefed us on how to use the built-in GPS, instructions on fuelling up the tank and numbers to contact in case of any emergencies, but we didn't have any issues with the car at all. ;)

Accommodation in Hokkaido

Hokkaido has got a plethora of unique accommodation options to offer, from ryokans (traditional Japanese styled rooms), pensions (sort of like b&bs), resorts and hotels. Prices can differ drastically - from SGD800 for a room with private onsen in Noboribetsu to under SGD100 for a small hotel room in Sapporo City.

Some of the websites I booked my accommodation from include JapanICan.com, Bookings.com, Agoda.com and Hotels.com! Here's a list of the various accommodations I booked for Hokkaido below.

*Starred accommdations are the highly recommended ones! Do also note that I booked my hotels quite late so they got pretty expensive. If possible, try to book as early as you can for the best prices!

Area	Accommodation	Price Per Night (2 Pax/1 Room)
Noboribetsu	Ryotei Hanayura (Private Onsen)*	787.57
Hakodate	La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel*	308.59
Furano/Biel	petit hotel MELON Furano	273.5
Lake Toya	The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort*	371.77
Jozankei	Jozankei Hotel	221.22
Sapporo/Otaru	Hotel LiVEMAX Sapporo Eki-mae	86.99

WiFi Connectivity in Hokkaido

I stayed connected via my pocket wifi device from Changi Recommends!

This device can be booked online viaChangi Recommends' website, then picked up and dropped off at Changi Airport on your day of departure and arrival. Extremely convenient and fuss-free! The network was very strong, save for some mountainous roads and areas where there was no reception. You can connect multiple devices to one pocket wifi too!

Hokkaido 12D11N Summer Road Trip Itinerary

The trickiest part about planning my self-drive road trip was determining the sequence and driving routes to make for the most time-efficient and sensible itinerary, as many of the places I wanted to visit were located all over the island of Hokkaido.

Some highlights of my itinerary include: the private onsen at Noboribetsu, fruit picking at Jozankei, traditional wagyu sukuyaki lunch at Hakodate, Furano's gorgeous flower farms and our day trip to beautiful Otaru!

There's really loads more to do in Hokkaido that I didn't get the opportunity to explore, from checking out the amazing coastal view at Shakotan/Cape Kamui to dolphine/whale watching at Shiretoko National Park.. Hokkaido is one of those places you really don't mind visiting again and again!

After studying the map for the longest time and lots of consideration and intensive brain work, I decided on the below itinerary:

Hokkaido 
12D11N Itinerary
1 August - 12 August 2017

Day 1 - Chitose to Noboribetsu

Arrive at New Chitose Airport
Pick up rental car
Lunch at Wagyu Bibi Log House
Drive to Noboribetsu (58min)
Accommodation at Ryotei Hanayura (Private Onsen)
Kaiseki Dinner at Ryotei Hanayura

Day 2 - Noboribetsu to Hakodate

Breakfast at Ryotei Hanayura
Explore Jigokudani (Hell Valley) at Noboribetsu
Drive to Hakodate - Lunch stop along the way (2h 34min)
Accomodation at La Vista Hakodate Bay
Dinner at Uni Murakami (sea urchin restaurant)

Day 3 - Hakodate

Explore Hakodate Morning Market
Lunch at Asari Honten (wagyu beef sukuyaki)
Explore Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse area
Go on Mount Hakodate Ropeway
Dinner at Lucky Pierrot

Day 4 - Hakodate to Lake Toya

Breakfast at La Vista Hakodate Bay
Drive to Lake Toya (2h 32min)
Accommodation at Lake Toya Nonokaze Resort
Buffet dinner at Lake Toya Nonokaze Resort
Watch summer fireworks by the lake

Day 5 - Lake Toya to Jozankei

Breakfast at Lake Toya Nonokaze Resort
Lunch at Sendoan (scallop & seafood)
Stop for ice cream at Lake Hill Farm
Drive to Jozankei (1h 6min)
Cherry picking at Jozankei Farm
Foot spa at Kokoro No Sato Morino Bettei 
Accommodation at Jozankei Hotel
Dinner at Jozankei Hotel

Day 6 - Jozankei to Yubari to Furano

Drive to Yubari (1h 51min)
Stop for yubari melons at Yubari
Drive to Furano (1h 42min)
Accommodation at petit hotel MELON Furano
Dinner near petit hotel MELON Furano

Day 7 - Furano/Biel

Visit Tomita Farm
- Eat Lavender Ice Cream
Visit Shikisai No Oka
- Alpaca Farm
Lunch at Fukuzushi (giant sushi)
Visit Blue Pond at Biel
Family Mart Combini Dinner

Day 8 - Furano to Sapporo

Jam making at Furano Jam Garden
Visit Rokutei Viewing Platform
Lunch at Campana Rokkatei 
Drive to Sapporo (1h 50min)
Accommodation at Hotel LiVEMAX Sapporo Eki-mae
Drop off rental car
Explore Sapporo City
Oysters & scallops at Gotsubo
Ramen at Aji No Karyu

Day 9 - Sapporo to Otaru

Train from Sapporo to Otaru (58min)
Take a bus to visit Otaru Aquarium
Lunch at Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten
Explore Otaru Canal 
Explore Sakaimachi Street
Visit Otaru Music Box Museum
Dinner at MOS Burger
Train from Otaru to Sapporo (58min)

Day 10 - Sapporo to Shiroi Koibito Park

Combini Breakfast
Train from Sapporo to Shiroi Koibito Park (32min)
Explore Shiroi Koibito Park
Eat Shiroi Koibito Soft Serve
Train from Shiroi Koibito Park to Sapporo (32min)
Dinner at Yoshinoya

Day 11 - Sapporo

Coffee at Streamer Coffee Company
Shopping at Sapporo Station
Lunch at Sutadonya
Explore Susukino area
Dinner at Onya-sai (shabu shabu sukiyaki buffet)

Day 12 - Sapporo to Chitose

Train from Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (49min)
Last minute shopping for snacks and omiyage
Flight back home

View downloadable itinerary here.

***

Hopefully, this will be a useful reference for your own Hokkaido road trip planning - I'd be glad to know that all the effort I put into planning my trip and writing these blog posts are of help to others!

I'll be going in-depth in the upcoming Hokkaido blog posts, so remember to hit subscribe on my blog feed if you'd like to be updated when new updates are up!

Until the next update, see you in a bit!

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Europe/UK Sep'17: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London

November 30, 2017, 1:52 am

≫ Next: Europe/UK Sep'17: Fraser Suites Queens Gate, London

≪ Previous: Hokkaido Aug'17: 12D11N Summer Road Trip Itinerary

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Welcome to the first of my Europe/UK travelogues!!!


As I'm sitting in a cafe along Keong Sai Road in little Singapore and typing this post, there is so much that I am missing about Europe and London!

Thanks to Frasers Hospitality, I was whisked away to Europe and the United Kingdom for the time of my life - Did you know that Frasers Hospitality (a home-grown brand) has managed to grow from just two properties in Singapore in 1998 to now over 140 properties in more than 80 key cities around the world?

Apart from well-known brands like Fraser Suites, Fraser Place, Modena by Fraser and more, Frasers Hospitality's portfolio also includes beautiful boutique luxury hotel brands like Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, in the United Kingdom.

During my time in Europe and the United Kingdom, I was very privileged to experience some of Frasers Hospitality's best properties, starting with Hotel du Vin, Wimbledon!

Hotel du Vin Wimbledon

If you're looking for a laid-back yet accessible countryside stay that makes the best of British heritage and tradition, you are so gonna love Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon!

Wimbledon may be world-famous for its tennis, but what I truly appreciated about beautiful Wimbledon was its tranquil, quiet surroundings with the huge expanse of parkland and Wimbledon Village, home to a blend of chic shops, cafes and bars set amongst charming period buildings just a stone's throw away from Hotel Du Vin.

Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon at Cannizaro House is a 19th Century house bursting with so much character and historic charm.


As with all Hotel Du Vin properties, Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon was lovingly converted from a 19th Century house with all of its individual character and historic charm. Its rich heritage shone through the moment I stepped into the property, with its luxurious yet cozy furnishings throughout.

The Rooms

There are 48 luxury hotel rooms and suites in Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon, each individually and uniquely decorated. I love the distinctively British look with its muted colors, leather furnishings and wallpaper!

Every single room is different, but this particular suite that overlooks the parks with its stand-alone bathtub had me in love.

The Orangerie

My favourite part of Hotel Du Vin, Wimbledon has GOT to be the Orangerie, with its full-length glass windows and cool airy space where you can sit and chill all day, from morning coffee to afternoon tea to post-dinner drinks! The real reason for my love though, is the amazing breakfast spread and great menu!

From little breakfast jars of yogurt, fresh fruit juices, warm baked goods and cereal to a delicious menu of cooked-upon-request dishes, the breakfast was scrumptious and just so delicious!






Perhaps I was just famished after a long flight, but everything at The Orangerie tasted amazing, from the perfectly-done eggs benedict with smoked salmon to the overnight oats that came served prettily in little glass jars!

Cannizaro Park

The Orangerie also overlooks Cannizaro Park and it was a delight to see huge dogs running freely through the grassy plains as they engaged in a robust game of fetch with their owners!




Beautifully-landscaped gardens right outside the Orangerie!




It was such a pleasant morning strolling about Cannizaro Park, and look at these little visitors I spotted among the flowerbeds ;)


Public aviaries are now a rare sight, so I absolutely adored this gorgeous Italian-styled bird house at the park with these inquisitive cockatiels!

Wimbledon Village

Don't forget to pay nearby Wimbledon Village a visit! The beautiful streets here house quaint little boutiques, traditional British bars and cafes and more :)




You might even spot horses from Wimbledon Village Stables, where one can attend horse riding lessons!


Love the tranquil countryside feel and laid-back living at Wimbledon!

If I have the opportunity to in future, I would definitely definitely want to return to Hotel Du Vin at Wimbledon and spend at least a weekend out at Wimbledon just to enjoy the slower pace of living and holidaying! :)

About Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Cannizaro House, West Side Common, Wimbledon, London SW19 4UE, UK
Phone: +44 330 024 0706
Website here

Hotel Du Vin at Wimbledon is just one of many gorgeous properties managed by Frasers Hospitality. Thank you, Frasers Hospitality for putting me up! I'll be sharing on more properties across UK/Europe, so stay tuned :)

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Europe/UK Sep'17: Fraser Suites Queens Gate, London

December 18, 2017, 11:31 pm

≫ Next: A Tropical Girl's Guide To Dressing Up Fashionably Warm For Winter

≪ Previous: Europe/UK Sep'17: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London

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This trip to Europe and the United Kingdom encompasses a series of firsts for me. My first Europe road trip (drove inter-country from Berlin to Prague!), my first time in London (yeap that's right!), my first time watching a musical on West End, and also, my first time staying in serviced apartments - I'm now a convert, thanks to Frasers Hospitality!

I was put up at Fraser Suites Queens Gate for a few days during my time in London - My first taste of what staying in a serviced apartment feels like, and boy, could I get used to it! ;)

Why stay in a serviced apartment?

It being my first time staying in serviced apartments in all of my thirty years, I have to rave about how complete the entire experience felt - It was the luxury of a hotel with the comforts and facilities of home married together in one space!

Hotels are a wonderfully indulgent experience and great to stay in for short periods, but those travelling on longer trips (be it for leisure or business), will most definitely enjoy the flexibility and space a serviced apartment can offer you.

*Feels like home, but even better

With a larger square area to boot, separate spaces like a kitchen/bedroom/living area, a serviced apartment was such a pleasant change and felt like I was coming "home" every day although I was in a foreign country!

*Increased productivity

The separate living spaces also aided productivity somehow, instead of going straight to my hotel bed and going straight to sleep like I usually do, it was possible to set up a comfortable work space in the living room away from the bed.

*Home-cooked meals

When staying in a foreign country for an extended period of time, chances are that you'll really start to miss the comforts of home-cooked food! What with the amazing array of produce available in London, we were able to whip up our own dinners and suppers that were both economical and delicious.

*More bang for your buck

For long-term stays, a 4* serviced apartment might cost the same or even slightly lower than a 4* hotel room, yet you get so much more space and additional amenities/faclities! This makes even more sense if you're travelling as a family or in a small group of 3-4 pax, which will lower the costs per head even further.

Fraser Suites Queens Gate

Back to Fraser Suites Queens Gate! I really enjoyed my stay at both Fraser Suites Queens Gate and Fraser Suites Kensington (minimum stay policy of 7 days - I'll be talking about this property in a later post), both are located just a short 3-minute walk away from Gloucester Road tube station, an 8-minute walk from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and 10-minute walk from Kensington Gardens park.


Dressed in: Uniqlo coat, Uniqlo turtleneck, American Eagle jeans, Zara booties

Taken outside Fraser Suites Queens Gate, in a gorgeous neighbourhood with stunning Victorian architecture that exudes a timeless classic charm reminiscent of the 19th-century heritage and ambience.


I stayed in Fraser Suites Queens Gate's One Bedroom Apartment - Suitable for business travellers with smaller family units, and extremely spacious for two pax with separate living, dining, kitchen and bedroom areas.

Home away from home was made even better with complimentary Wi-Fi access, daily housekeeping services, 24/7 reception and concierge services, 24/7 security and CCTV surveillance. My stay was completely worry-free as the apartment was well-equipped and I felt safe and secure at all times, knowing that I could call on reception around the clock.


My eyes lit up upon setting foot into the bathroom! I always appreciate the luxury of a bath tub when I'm overseas, a hot bath is the best thing to look forward to after an entire day out travelling and exploring. The bathroom was spotlessly clean and well-maintained with a stack of white fluffy towels and a shelf-full of amenities.


L'Occitan toiletries provided for the utmost indulgence, so very much appreciated!

What sets a serviced apartment apart from just a regular hotel room, of course, is the kitchen facilities.

The kitchenette at  Fraser Suites Queens Gate doesn't just come with a convection stove and a microwave, but even a kettle, a toaster and a set of knives! Should you need to heat up food or prep a simple meal, you're all set.

If you're staying at Fraser Suites Queens Gate, you might also be happy to know that there is also a breakfast selection available at The Dining Room as well!


My favourite part of the entire apartment of course, the bedroom. I got an excellent night's sleep on the luxuriously comfortable bed that I almost didn't want to get up from in the morning.




View from the balcony!


Just a few minutes walk away, you'd reach Gloucester Road station, from which the rest of London is easily accessible! We took the tube to Camden Market and Oxford Street, and I'll be sharing in another upcoming entry about my quick and dirty guide to spending a few days in London. More to come on that!


First time in the tube deserves a picture :D

Although I've promised that I'll be sharing my quick and dirty guide to London shortly, I need to talk about this restaurant, because it's just within walking distance to Fraser Suites Queens Gate and is so good!

A big thank you to Justina from Fraser Suites for bringing us out for dinner at this lovely tapas restaurant, it was a wonderful meal. If you're staying at Kensington, you really ought to spend an evening in this place!

Casa Brindisa South Kensington

7-9 Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2HE, UK
Phone: +44 20 7590 0008

Classic Spanish tapas and charcuterie in a lively, glass-fronted restaurant with an open kitchen.








We had an array of tapas, which are little plates/snacks in Spanish cuisine, now evolved into a sophisticated art such that tapas restaurants such as Casa Brindisa serve up an entire menu of tapas to make a full meal.

I loved every single dish - Each one was executed with perfect culinary precision and exceedingly well-balanced, from the textures to its rich flavours. They say that London is the melting pot of Europe and I really can't disagree, this was as good as I ever had in the original tapas city of Barcelona, Spain. Highly-recommended!

After a deeply satisfying meal, it was just a ten minutes walk back to Fraser Suites Queens Gate, where my night was spent in sweet slumber.

London has turned out to be one of my favourite cities on the continent of Europe, and I've fallen in love with the charm of this old yet modern city, with its rich culture, diverse history and beautiful sights. If you're looking for a great place to stay in London, Fraser Suites Queens Gate is a lovely property that will most definitely make London feel like your second home.

About Fraser Suites Queens Gate

39B Queen's Gate Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 5RR, UK
Phone: +44 20 7969 3555

Website here

Fraser Suites Queens Gate is just one of many gorgeous properties managed by Frasers Hospitality. Thank you, Frasers Hospitality for putting me up! I'll be sharing on more properties across UK/Europe, so stay tuned :)

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A Tropical Girl's Guide To Dressing Up Fashionably Warm For Winter

December 23, 2017, 3:31 am

≫ Next: Tioman: Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 2)

≪ Previous: Europe/UK Sep'17: Fraser Suites Queens Gate, London

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Hey all!

I've been receiving a lot of enquiries from readers wondering how to dress for winter, especially when it’s sub-zero temperatures in places like Seoul!

Yes, I'm a tropical Singaporean girl through and through. But with the amount of travelling I do and experiencing winter so frequently (I did subzero temperatures twice, this year alone), I feel somewhat qualified to speak my piece. I've amassed a bit of experience and a whole lot of tips and hacks in my arsenal on how to look stylish and still stay warm, even at -5 degrees!

So here you go:

A Tropical Girl's Guide to Dressing Up Fashionably for Winter!

I have a confession to make.

I friggin’ HATE winter puffer jackets that make me look like a bazhang (aka dumpling). I just cannot. I know they are amazing when it comes to keeping me warm, but looking like a dumpling is not an option.

[Coat from Uniqlo, scarf from ZARA]

I only own ONE puffy jacket from Uniqlo and I think it looks amazing for a puffy jacket lol.

But I usually keep it for situations like:

1. It’s so cold that I don’t really care even if I’m looking like a ba zhang

2. I’m somewhere in the wilderness cos then i think it’s acceptable to look non-fashionable - Puffy jackets do have a rather sporty appeal to them isn’t it?

[Coat from ZARA, snood from Hong Kong, thermal inner wear from Uniqlo]

But if I could look like THIS at -5 degrees (i.e. meaning to say somewhat fashionably stylish) then Y NOT, right?

I’m actually a very basic kinda girl. Not really the most adventurous when it comes to winter dressing, but let me share with you what works for me.

1. Find a great coat!

As seeing how your coat is the one main staple of any winter outfit, it is of paramount importance that you find a good-looking coat that fits you to a T!

Down jackets are more than warm, but a chic coat in a good fabric like wool or cashmere, or even fleece-lined offers the benefits of both decent protection from the cold, as well as keeping you stylish. On the downside, wool coats and the likes usually tend to be heavier, but it’s a trade-off for me haha I rather look a little more glamorous on my holidays, thank you very much.

[Coat from ZARA]

I love coats with detachable hoods! You can switch them up for different looks. This is the same coat as the one in the first picture of this post! Looks very different without the fur hood doesn’t it?

I own quite a few winter coats. Every time I see one I really like and it’s within budget, I’ll tell myself OK LETS BUY ITTTT. It’s quite difficult (IMO) to find a good winter coat that fits well and looks stylish at the same time. In Singapore, there are only a few places that sell fashionable winter wear at affordable prices, and I always find myself back at ZARA for their stylish range of winter wear!

You'll have so much more selection when shopping overseas, especially during winter season.

Tip: Remember to get your coat in the right size - It should be just slightly too big for you. You want to be able to layer under the coat without it feeling suffocatingly tight on the shoulders/arms!

[Coat from Taiwan, beanie from F21, turtleneck/knit dress from Seoul]

I got this coat from Taiwan! It’s made of wool and is fairly thick. I wore it on my last trip to Seoul in January when it was about -5 deg. Of course, the trick to really staying warm in subzero temperatures brings me to my next point...

2. Thermal wear is a must

No way you can wear one of these coats with just one layer inside and expect to stay warm. I’m sure you already know mine and everyone else’s open secret. Uniqlo's Heattech wear!

Their thermal wear is really affordable, and comes in a variety of colors and styles. I’m basic so I just go for the regular black scoop neck design and black leggings. 

More importantly, they have the regular version, extra warm version and ultra warm version! If you’re really really afraid of the cold, layer your heat tech!

I only have the regular and extra warm versions, so on days that I really needed to bundle up, I actually layered two layers of thermal wear inside. On top of that, I wore another knit piece or sweater! Uniqlo also does heat tech fleece turtle necks and tops which help to keep warm too.

[Fleece turtleneck top and cashmere coat, both from Uniqlo]

Some readers have also recommended me fleece-lined leggings from Taobao/Qoo10 that keep warm even in -20 deg! I probably need to get myself a pair of those leggings to see how well they work.

3. Keep your extremities warm by accessorising

[Scarf and coat from ZARA, cute beanie from random shop in Hongkong]

When you’re looking at subzero temperatures, one of my preferred layering options might be:

Regular heat tech (top and leggings)

Extra warm heat tech (top and leggings)

Knit sweater

Coat

But all that is not enough, because the parts of your body exposed to the air as well as your extremities (that lose body warmth the fastest) will be the coldesttttt when you’re in such freezing conditions.

You’ll definitely need the following to help keep yourself warm:

Scarves 

Ear muffs

Beanies/Hats

Face mask

Gloves

Thick socks

[Beanie from GU (Japan)]

You might end up like this when it gets too too cold. Beanie to protect ears, face mask to cover face. Don’t underestimate how much they help!

I have a variety of cute beanies and colourful scarves to keep me warm cos I think it’s the best way to add a pop of color to your winter outfit. Generally I like a bit of color though some people can pull off monochromatic outfits very well. With a bright color or print on you, you’ll stand out more in pictures too.

Tip: Remember to look for gloves with touch-screen capabilities - This will allow you to use your phone without removing your gloves and freezing your digits!

4. What to wear under your coat?

Tops

If you’re wondering what kinds of tops to wear over your heat tech, the best options are long-sleeved knit sweaters, turtleneck style tops and thick wool fabrics. I like turtleneck tops for winter because they offer an extra layer of protection around my neck - When it gets real cold, that extra bit of fabric really helps!

Knit sweaters can be really cute too, and I love this one that I bought in Hongdae, Seoul, paired together with a wool pencil skirt. Just remember that most of the time, what you wear inside won’t even be visible because it’d be under your thick coat and scarf anyway.

Bottoms

Jeans, leggings or skirts?

This is always a dilemma when it comes to packing for winter. I usually bring along a combination of all three! Let me share a little on how I layer them!

Jeans are a basic and generally go with most outfits.

I usually go for a basic dark wash cos that’s the most versatile. You probably don’t want to wear jeans on it’s own because the fabric doesn’t really block out the cold, so what you can do is to layer one heattech leggings, followed by jeans. It’s a hassle to go to the loo cos you’re gonna have to button/unbutton/unzip, so I’m warning you first!

Jeans made of a more elastic fabric will also work better cos you’ll have one more layer of heattech inside your jeans! Even better if you find drawstring elasticsed jeans because they can’t be seen underneath your tops/coats anyway. I usually do jeans if I’m going for a less girly look.

Skirts can be a little trickier for layering and I’ll break it down into two types, fitted skirts and flare skirts.

With flare skirts, they are a little more challenging to layer because you don’t get a good silhouette if you have longer coats! 

Flare skirts go really well with shorter jackets, though! Of course, you still wanna layer with heattech leggings underneath! (Side-note, this leather jacket was definitely not enough to keep me warm at -5 degrees. I brought out a large coat to layer over this after I got the shot I wanted :D)

Fitted skirts work way better with long coats, on the contrary.

Most convenient of all bottoms are leggings and leggings on their own! You can pull off leggings as pants if you are wearing either a long top or a long-ish jacket. Or you could layer a long tee shirt on top, as long as it covers the butt, you’ll look decent!

(My ridiculous fur shrug is from ZARA, on sale. I mean, how often do I get to wear cute furry things? I relish every opportunity to.)

Leggings on their own are great cos going to the toilet is so easy. It also feels much less restrictive! I layered up two heattech leggings this time in Seoul and it worked for me.

Dresses

I don’t do dresses as much in winter because I generally find it easier to just layer tops with jeans/leggings, but wearing dresses pinafore style with a turtleneck inside can be a stylish way to wear a dress during winter!

Another pinafore with turtleneck inside combi!You can also tell that I recycle my winter accessories a fair bit, like this printed scarf I got in MNG Spain some time ago, it’s one of my favourites.

5. Footwear

I’m definitely a boots person when it comes to cold weather!

Boots help to block out the wind, and of course because I can’t wear them in Singapore, so I try to utilise them to the maximum whenever I get the opportunity to.

Boots come in a huge variety of styles and patterns!

I have boots like these: Under the knee leather boots, got these in Taiwan earlier this year! Tall boots are great because they also serve the function of being able to block out the wind and cold, another layer of protection against the freezing cold!

These are lifesavers! UGG boots that are fur-lined, water-proof and also give me good footing even on snowy or wet ground. Good for even subzero temperatures. They are not super pretty but have a rugged charm. I've also worn them even for trekking in the snow before, that’s how hardy they are!

I also own a pair of Hunter boots: I got them online on shopbop at least 2-3 years ago and I wear them very often, especially in autumn to mild winter climates.

Hunter boots are great cos they’re waterproof and are so easy to wear. On the negative side, they are a bit heavier than regular boots and they might not work so well for icy grounds cos they’re not slip proof like my UGGs. I sized up half a size and it fits me with allowance, which is necessary for wearing thick socks in cold climates.

Low booties like these are great for normal walking around in city areas!

I especially like black suede booties cos they are most flattering when worn with black leggings. Bought these two pairs from Hongdae in Seoul! The black ones go with everything and are comfy enough for me to walk about the entire day.

Sneakers go well with coats/jeans/leggings too, but I personally prefer boots for their style factor!

6. Not warm enough? Heat packs to the rescue!

If you’re really really afraid of the cold, just do whatever it takes to stay warm, even if it means being all wrapped up from head to toe!

What works for me might not work as well for you, and it all depends on your personal tolerance to the cold. Still not warm enough? Don't forget to stock up on these useful little packets that can be slotted into your pockets for extra warmth. These are lifesavers especially for freezing fingers that feel like they're about to drop off!

7. Bonus Tip! Keep a bottle of fabric freshener handy

On a somewhat-related note, a small bottle of fabric freshener could be your best friend on your winter vacation! You will be re-wearing your thermal wear and coats plenty of times, and that stale smell of Korean BBQ lingering on your clothes won't be pleasant when you have to don on the same coat the next day.

Air your coats well by hanging them up in the open, and be liberal with the use of fabric freshener that helps to kill bacteria and remove odours to keep you smelling fresh all the time. Because one just can't stay away from Korean BBQ, especially in winter, can they?

Closing Note

No-one ever said that you had to choose between looking stylish and staying warm! On this ending note, I hope this post has been useful somewhat for all the tropical girls out there! 

If I’ve missed out anything you wanna know more about, or if you’ve got your own hacks and tips to share, please leave a comment! Meanwhile, stay toasty and stylish this winter!

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Tioman: Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 2)

January 29, 2018, 9:38 pm

≫ Next: Europe/UK Sep'17: Malmaison Oxford - A Luxurious Prison Stay

≪ Previous: A Tropical Girl's Guide To Dressing Up Fashionably Warm For Winter

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Hello yall!

I'm here to share about my weekend in Tioman when I got certified for my SSI Open Water Diver course! Boy, was it a tiring weekend. All went good though and I am now officially certified as a SSI Open Water Diver!

It was a very short weekend trip - We left Singapore via coach on Friday night, caught the boat from Mersing Jetty, arrived at Tioman around 3am and woke up at 8am to have breakfast and depart for the first dive.

We arrived for 6pm assembly on Friday evening at the dive shop at York Hill! These are the bags containing our dive gear - buoyancy suit, regulators, fins and wetsuit! You'll need to handle your own dive gear and they get real heavy especially by the end of the trip when they're all wet and waterlogged. Not fun, but noone ever said that diving was a glamorous hobby.

The coach ride was quite a nightmare honestly. Heavy traffic all along the way from Singapore through immigrations and all the way to Mersing. Expect a lot of jam braking and sudden acceleration because the driver was winding through and cutting lanes whenever he could.

We took a pit stop along the way to Mersing Jetty for dinner and I had some fish soup. Dinner is a must cos it would be 3am by the time we reached the resort and I'm sure everyone would be too tired to do anything else but go straight to bed!

We finally arrived at Mersing Harbour Center safely and got on the boat that would take us all the way to Tioman Island! It was a pretty rough ride, I would say. Most of us tried to sleep a little on the boat but it wasn't the most comfortable. Also, motion sickness pills highly recommended if you're prone to sea sickness.

When we arrived at the island, it was pitch dark with not a soul in sight. Went straight to our resort to crash for the night!

Inside our room for the weekend! The word "resort" is a bit of a stretch because Tioman is no luxury holiday island, so don't expect any four star accommodation - we were bunking in four to a room in a very basic, no-frills setting with two double beds. Apparently though, you can get better accomodation if you top up extra for the best resort on the island: Berjaya Tioman Resort.

For the basic accommodation package though, this is as good as it gets, two beds for four pax and one bathroom. No toiletries provided so please come prepared!

Obviously we were too tired to care much - None of us even took a shower and all of us went straight to sleep, as seeing how we only had five hours or so to rest up for the next day. I apparently slept so soundly that the morning prayers at 5am didn't even wake me up.

A short five hours later, we had to drag ourselves reluctantly out of bed to get breakfast and leave for our dives!

Sharing my oral sun protection - Heliocare Ultra. I am super anal about sun protection so I always take oral sunblock capsules and on top of that I still apply topical sunblock on the exposed areas of my body!

My advice is to go easy on the breakfast - Just have some food to fill up your tummy but don't overeat, because you might end up feeling sick on the sea or feel weird in the water because of all the weird gases expanding and compressing in your stomach lol.

The nasi lemak and beehoon soup were surprisingly yummy though! So I did overeat which serves me right because I ended up puking later.

These cute felines were all around the island!

Off to the jetty to get on our boat!

Usually, Tioman is a lot less crowded in November due to the start of the monsoon season, so there were only a few other dive groups apart from ours. IMO a good thing to have less people around but then again it also means poorer dive conditions and visibility underwater, so it's a trade off.

At least the sun didn't come bearing down so strongly on us, which means I didn't get too tanned!


We had rather cloudy weather with choppy waters, so I got really seasick on the first day and ended up puking into the sea. Urrrghhhh.

Thank goodness I felt much better from the third dive onwards and was able to enjoy myself so much more!

These compressed air tanks (bane of my life, it's so heavy oh my god) and buoyancy control suits - Suiting on these equipment and my fins are my most unfavourite part of diving.

The first time I jumped into the sea was quite a scary moment, but once I got over the initial wave of mild panic, everything felt a lot more comfortable, even when we had to remove our masks underwater and put them back on and clear them.

I also swallowed a fair share of sea water like the beginner that I am.

We did four dives on the first day, and a fifth dive on the second day - That's a total of 5 dives over the weekend.

During the dives, we were guided through the basic skills assessment we were taught in the pool session, like mask clearing, alternate air source (sharing a regulator with your buddy), and how to recognise and use hand signals underwater - All these are essential skills in diving so it's important to feel comfortable with the skills and techniques used to prevent any potentially life-threatening situations underwater.

By the end of a few dives, I was feeling so much more confident in the water! Most importantly, do not panick underwater and stay calm no matter what. Your instructor and dive master are there to take care of you and guide you.

The lovely Renggis Island which is a popular dive spot for spotting black tipped sharks - We didn't get to see any sharks, but saw a huge turtle which totally made my day!!!!

I bought this rashguard swimwear set from Fiji more than a year ago and I'm glad I got to put it to good use while diving in Tioman!!!

Not sure about other dive companies but Gill Divers only provide a 3mm "shortie" aka a short sleeved wetsuit during our Open Waters course, and I wanted to avoid that horrid half sleeve/half thigh tan so I wore my own long sleeved rash guard AND a pair of long tights, which was probably my best purchase for this trip.

After completing four dives on Day 1. Whoop whoop!


One of my most dreaded moments is climbing up that ladder with what feels like ten tonnes of gear on me.

The diving itself was actually very enjoyable, especially when we swam right above and through the corals with all those tiny little fishes darting about around us, and even spotted stingrays, turtles and huge parrot fish and bat fish!

What I didn't enjoy was when I got seasick due to the choppy sea conditions and how difficult it was to equalise my ears on the first few tries.

Tioman Island has got a grand total of ONE convenience store - It's practically the only form of civilisation on the island and this place was a godsend for biscuits (to bring on board for snacking in between dives) and cold drinks after a long day of dives.

Apart from the convenience store, you musttttt have prata at this prata shop!!!


Damn solid prata bomb with condensed milk and sugar. It was SO good!

We retired around 10pm on Day 1 to wake up at 5.30am on Day 2 for one last dive before we had to head back to Singapore.

Can't believe I actually woke up at 5.30am just to dive.

This is the view as we were going towards Renggis Island again for our last dive - It was so early that the moon was still out in its full glory!

It rained twice that morning so visibility wasn't so good, unfortunately.

The multiple dive attempts really made me more confident and sure in the water, although I had a lot of trouble with trying to stay in the water because I'm SO NATURALLY BUOYANT I KEPT FLOATING UP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE WATER. Whenever I took a deeper breath than usual, I started feeling myself drifting upwards hahahahahaha #fail

It was very enjoyable overall and I hope my future dives will be even better with more underwater discoveries! That moment when we chanced upon that giant sea turtle felt so magical.

Gonna share some of the images taken by my dive instructor from Gill Divers, Ephraim!

We surfaced from our last dive on Saturday to come up to a beautiful double rainbow after the rain ended. What a perfect end to our day!

Saw so many of these clownfish darting about amongst the anemone underwater. The tiniest one I saw was no bigger than the nail on my little finger, can you imagine? How adorable!

Always been partial to clownfish thanks to Finding Nemo. Hahahahaha. They are a pretty common sight but seeing them still brings a thrill to me.


Possibly one of my most exciting moments on Dive 3 was running into a lone blue spotted stingray!!!

It was camouflaging very well on the seabed as the visibility was quite poor that day. I spotted it swimming in front of Eph and gestured at Eph to take notice of the ray so that he could photograph it. This shot turned out really good!!!


That’s me underwater looking very happy, indeed I was but what you don’t see is my constant struggle to NOT stay afloat hahahaha it was like *takes in deep breath*..... *slowly starts floating upwards like a helium balloon*

Eph had to resort to tugging me downwards by my ankle whenever I inadvertently started drifting back up to the surface. Yikes.

A nudibranch! Or sea slug hehe. These are small little molluscs and come in a huge variety of colours and patterns, super cute!!

The one we saw was black with white spiky thorns all over.

Lastly...

We’ve been wanting to learn something together and this is what we decided on: Diving! Having someone by your side who’s willing to go on unknown adventures with you must be one of the best things in life. Our first underwater expedition and hopefully more to come!

I'm looking forward to getting my advanced open water certification soon, so that I'm able to explore more dive sites. Absolutely can't wait! :)

#YINAtheTUNA

Read about my diving adventures!
Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 1)
Tioman: Open Water Diving with Gill Divers! (Part 2)

I got certified with Gill Divers - Gill Divers website here.

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