Singapore & Malaysia Trip with Family

Singapore and Malaysia has always been in my bucket list and the place I always I wanted to visit. I was lucky enough that my family have decided to have vacation in Singapore for 3 days and a 1 day tour in Malaysia. This was the first family trip we had since 2013, which was quite a long time ago. 

SINGAPORE

The So clan

From left - My sister Grace, Me, My mother Rolly, My aunts Anita and Ana, my cousins Janet and Jeannie

I have heard so many positive things about Singapore. I would say 80% of what I heard are all true. The people in Singapore are nice, polite and very helpful. Most of the people speaks both English and Mandarin Chinese. The surroundings are very clean. It is definitely a wonderful city to go to. A few local Singaporeans have told us that there are many people who come to Singapore to work and they never want to leave Singapore anymore as the living standard and lifestyle are very good, although it is quite expensive to live in Singapore but it is very safe and diverse, 

SINGAPORE: STATUE OF MERLION

The Merlion 

The Merlion can be seen in posters, tourism advertising, signs, Merlion cookies and many more as Merlion is the national personification of Singapore. The Merlion is in a mythical creature with a lion head and a body of a fish. When you walk pass by the Merlion statue, you can feel the wind breeze with a bit of water splash from the mouth "fountain" of the Merlion statue. Take some time to walk around the park and take lots of pictures with the Merlion statue in different angles.

The Statue of Merlion

SINGAPORE: MARINA BAY SANDS

Overlooking Marina Bay Sands and The Merlion Park

The Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort in Singapore located in Bayfront Avenue. It has 2,500 rooms, the largest atrium casino in the world that consists of 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines, 2 large theatres and an infinity pool with panoramic view. 

The Marina Bay Sands

SINGAPORE: SIN SWEE KEE

Sin Swee Kee is located in Seah Street. This restart offers one of the best Hainan Chicken in the city. It is a must to try their chicken when you visit Singapore. 

Sin Swee Kee, one of the best chicken restaurant in Singapore

Dining at Sin Swee Kee

SINGAPORE: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Universal Studios is located in Sentosa and it is one of Singapore's top attractions for tourists. There are many attractions, shows, souvenir shops, food stall and fast food restaurant in the park. The price for Child aged 4-12 is S$56, for Adults aged 13-59 is S$74 and for Seniors aged 60 and above is S$36. My favourite attractions/ shows are the Transformers Ride 4D, The Puss in Boot Giant Journey and the Steve Spielberg "Lights, camera, action!" show. Universal Studios is one of the best amusement park I ever been to.

The Universal Studios Singapore

Inside Universal Studios Singapore

Attractions & Shop at Universal Studios 

From Left- Minions Mini Mart, Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase, The Revenge of the Mummy and Far Far Away Land (Shrek 4D)

Attractions at Universal Studios

From Left top - Jurassic Park, Madagascar, The Puss in Boots and Sesame Street Live Musical Show: When I Grow Up

One of the best attraction at Universal Studios, Transformers 4D Ride

I found Audrey Hepburn

SINGAPORE: Ser Seng Herbs Restaurant (PASIR RIS)

Ser Seng Herbs Restaurant is located in Tai Thong Crescent in Pasir Ris. This restaurant is famour for their traditional Turtle Soup and Black Chicken Soup. Yam rice is also highly recommended when you order any soup to match with the delicious meal.

Black Chicken Soup with Yam Rice

SINGAPORE: CHINATOWN

Chinatown has plenty of food stall and night markets that sells souvenirs and goodies to bring home to your hometown before leaving Singapore. You may bargain with the shop keepers and they will definitely offer you a cheaper price with other reasonable deals. 

MALAYSIA

Getting to Malaysia from Singapore is easy. All you need to do is take a bus or rent a van to get there by passing the border to Johor Bahru. It is only 1 hour car ride to Malaysia. The custom check is quite easy as all you need to do is sit down the car and pass your documents through the side counter. We decided to book a van with a Malaysian-Chinese driver to tour us in Malaysia for one day with the price of S$300.

The Palace of the Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor

People are prohibited to enter the palace, so you may only take pictures outside the gate

MALAYSIA: JOHOR PREMIUM OUTLETS

Our first stop is at Johor Premium Outlets, where all the famous brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Victoria Secrets, Gucci, Armani, Adidas and many more are open for sale with special and add ons discount. 

Selfie with the So family in Johor Premium Outlets

MALAYSIA: SOON HUAT BAK KUT TEH

Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh is located in Bedok, Johor. This restaurant is a mixture of both Malaysian and Singapore flavours of Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Tea), their signature dish. The food was very delicious and their staff were very attentive and polite. The Bak Kut The was very unforgettable and you may ask for soup refill for free whenever you wish to have more soup.

Yummy food

From Left top - Stir Fry Vegetables with Fried Garlic, Tofu and Fish Fillet and Pork Bone Soup

MALAYSIA: LEGOLAND 

Legoland Malaysia is located in Iskandar Puteri in Johor. We did not manage to get inside Legoland as we only have limited time and we just simply had a quick drop by and took pictures. The price for Legoland is RM126 for adults ages 12-59 and RM102 for child ages 3-11 and seniors ages 60 and above.

The Legoland Malaysia

Made out of legos

MALAYSIA: DC COMICS SUPER HEROES CAFE

The DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe is located in Puteri Harbour in Johor. The Cafe shop includes figurings, superheroes posters, life size superheroes figure models around the shop and T-shirts with superheroes symbols for sale.

MALAYSIA: RESTORAN TODAK (ORANG ASLI)

Orang Asli is located in Johor Bahru. It is located in the seaside and you may select your own fish, crab or lobster to cook for your meal. The food was deliciously cook, however the service was quite poor and slow. We were lucky to have our guide/ driver Roy to dine with us and to help us translate as some of the waiting staff are not able to communicate in both English or Chinese Mandarin.

Seafood restaurant by the sea

SEAFOOD!!!

Local seafood dishes

From Left Top - Steamed Fish, Spicy Stir Fry Shrimp with Fried Garlic, and Crab

Group picture with our driver & guide Roy

Overall, the 4 days trip was very unforgettable. It is the best family trip I ever had and hopefully this will become a yearly trip for us to bond. I will definitely go back to Singapore and Malaysia to visit the places I haven't been to. 

Yours Truly, 

Michelle Chan

Travel Tips - How To Pack Like A Pro (Luggage)

Are you having trouble on what to pack for your holiday? Let's be honest, packing has many complications. Sometimes you over bring things, sometimes you are short of some items. It is advisable to take some time to plan on what to bring and what you need to buy before heading off to your holiday. Here's a list of tips I would like to share and to help you organise yourself.

TIP #1: MAKE A LIST OF THE THINGS YOU NEED

It is important to list down the things you need for your holiday. The reason for this is that you can avoid forgetting something and you foresee whether you may be bringing too much or too less. Making a list is a must when you are traveling for more than 2 weeks to help and organise yourself. This can also help you know what items you are missing such as, your shampoo is almost running out or your waterproof bag is still with your friend. Making a list of things to bring need to be done 2-3 weeks before your initial trip. It may sound too advance but trust me, it is better to plan early than too late. 

Sample of "Things to bring" for your holiday. This sample list is good for 1-2 weeks of travel time. 

TIP #2: TAKE SOME TIME TO BUY THE THINGS YOU ARE MISSING FOR YOUR TRIP

When you finish listing down the things you need to bring, take some time to buy the missing items that you need. For example, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, cologne, perfume, clothing, sunblock lotion, maps and many others. 

TIP #3: PICK THE RIGHT LUGGAGE

You must make sure to pick the right luggage. This is where you are going to place all your belongings and picking the unsuitable luggage may cause you to hassle for re-packing or having to carry 1-2 more extra bags. I would suggest you pick the largest luggage you have and in case you do not have any large luggage, try borrowing from your family members, friends or simply buy your own luggage (Only if you have the spare budget for that). Please also note that you need to check how many KG you are allowed to bring to the plane, this will make it easier for you to know what kind of luggage you should bring

TIP #4: START ORGANISING THE THINGS YOU NEED

Before packing your belongings, I would reckon you to organise your belongings separately in a large shopping bags. You may separate it to 5 shopping bags - Tops/ Dresses, Bottoms, Shoes, Amenities and Others (chargers, camera, equipments, books, etc). You may randomly pick the clothing you wish to bring and you can decide later when you are packing whether you need it to not. 

Sample on organising your belongings by separating them to different shopping bags

TIP #5: FIND THE RIGHT TIME TO PACK YOUR BELONGINGS

Findling the right time to pack is also important. Normally you may need to pack 2-3 times. The first is when you compile all the belongings that are ready to be place in your luggage, the second is when you place all your newly washed clothes and the third is when you will place your "last minute" things such as, amenities, snacks, chargers and other necessities. 

TIP #6: HOW TO PACK YOUR BELONGINGS LIKE A PRO

This is the part where it may became challenging for you. Packing is like trying to complete a puzzle. You must try your best to fill in the things inside the luggage and find a spot to place your remaining belongings. There are many techniques on how to pack and fit all your belongings in your luggage.

A. Roll all your clothes, DO NOT FOLD!

Rolling your clothes and pile it up in vertical or horizontal lines will make your life easier as it consume space and easier for you to see what you have. You may squeeze as many clothes as long as it can still fit.

Roll them all

B.  Bras, Socks and Underwear

These are the clothing that you cannot fold. However, you may squeeze your underwear in the tiny remaining spots. You may fold your bra into half and place them on the side of your luggage. You may place your socks into your sneakers to save space, you may place at least 2 pairs in 1 shoe.

C. Place all your amenities in a big pouch

Since most of your amenities could be liquid, it is best if you place them in a separate bag with zipper to avoid any leakage. 1 medium or big pouch should be enough to store all your amenities. That is possible as long as you place all your liquid things such as, shampoo, bath soap, toothpaste, lotion, cologne, perfume and facial wash in a small plastic containers. You can find these containers in Health & Beauty stores or Supermarket such as, Watsons, Mannings, Japan Home and many more.

D. Place all your non-clothing belongings on the front side of the luggage

It is wise to separate your clothing and your other belongings such as, shoes, bags, amenities and other things. It will be easier for you to look for your belongings.

TIP #7: DO A LAST MINUTE CHECK OF YOUR BELONGINGS

Before locking your luggage, make sure that you do your final checklist of your belongings. You must check if have missed anything important or you might have place something that you may not need and it is taking up spaces. Remember that once you reach the Airport, you may not be able to catch back home to pick up the things that you have forgotten to bring. 

TIP #8: WEIGHT YOUR LUGGAGE, USE LUGGAGE PROTECTOR AND TAGS

Before leaving your home, make sure to weight your luggage, whether you can on the right KG or you have exceeded to your KG limit. The advantage of checking your luggage weight is that you have time to remove some belongings that it is heavy or something that you do not really need to bring. I would also highly recommend you to use a luggage protector to secure your luggage and a tag in case of lost & found for your luggage. 

Always remember not to over bring your belongings, simply bring the things that you really need for your trip. Best of luck in packing your luggage

Yours Truly,

Michelle Chan

Unforgettable Night at Upper Modern Bistro (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

Upper Modern Bistro is owned by French Michelin-Starred Chef Philippe Orrico. Upper Modern Bistro is his first restaurant in Hong Kong opened since 2013. 

Upper Modern Bistro is located at Upper Station Street (end of Hollywood road) in Sheung Wan. It is 10 minutes walk from Sheung Wan MTR station. Take note that it is required to walk up stairs and high slope to get to the restaurant. Alternatively, you may take a taxi or grab a Uber to get there conveniently. Making a reservation is highly recommended, especially during the weekends and festive dates. I reserved a table for 2 people for dinner with my boyfriend Ryan and we were lucky to be seated in a window seat.

We start off with a Crispy Squid with Black Sesame & Lime Dip, a Vintage Negroni (their signature) and a glass of Chateau Roubine Rose 2014.

Crispy Squid

For starters, we had a Beef Tartare with Burattina, Blueberry & Roasted Hazelnut, a Scallop Carpaccio with Japanese Turnips, Pecan Nuts & Pear Vinaigrette and one of their signature dish Egg Onsen with King Crab, Beans & Piperade Emulsion.

Beef Tartare

Egg Onsen

For main courses, we had a Fassone Milk Fed Veal Chop with Roasted Eggplant Caviar Teriyaki & Sauteed Vegetables and an Atlantic Cod with Lobster Sauce.

Fassone Milk Fed Veal Chop

Atlantic Cod

For dessert, we had an Upper Chocolate and 5 Upper Cheese Selection.

Upper Cheese Selection

Overall, the food and service were excellent and very unforgettable. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I will definitely try their brunch very soon!

Food: The Egg Onsen was known to be their signature dish and it did not disappoint me. The taste was a mixture of sweet and savoury. The presentation was exhilarating. The Veal Chop was very tasty and the sauce was fantastic. Lastly, I would give a thumbs up for the Cheese selection. I would say Upper Modern Bistro got the best cheese in town! 

Beverage: The Sommelier, Reeze have recommended us a very good wine pairing with our main course. Feel free to ask for his assistance.

Service: The service was very efficient, attentive staff and unforgettable. 

Ambiance: The interior of the restaurant is quite unique and relaxing. They have 3 different sections, the main dining, the coffee tables and the Chef's table (high table). All 3 sections seems to be pretty good to me. 
 

Yours Truly,

Michelle Chan

Late Dinner at 22 Ships (Wan Chai, Hong Kong)

22 Ships is located at 22 Ships Street in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island. This bar-restaurant is named after the street were they are located. The place has a chilling vibe and although the place is quite small the staff were attentive and they still accepted us even though we almost reach the last order time. 

We ordered Spanish Breakfast, Beef Tartare, Seafood Platter, Peanut Butter with Condensed Milk Banana and 2 glasses of White Wine.

Spanish Breakfast

Wild Hereford Beef Tartare with Egg Yolk and Crips

Seafood Paella with Fava Beans and Crispy Bacon

Overall, the experience was average. Although the food portion was quite small but the price was quite reasonable. I will definitely come back here for drinks but probably not for dinner.

PS: They do not have 10% service charge! It's a guarantee that all cash or credit card tips will go to all of the hardworking staff.

Yours Sincerely,

Michelle Chan

Cruiser Boat Party 2016 at Clear Water Bay (Hong Kong)

The day has finally come to our 2016 Boat Party. This is me and my boyfriend Ryan's 4th year to organize a junk trip. It has always been a pleasure to organize and gather people around in one boat for a one whole day of adventure.

Watch our Boat Party video (Dji Phantom 3) by Ryan Alfon

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong in our yearly boat trip at Clear Water Bay along with 45 lovely people. My first video shot with Dji Phantom 3 Standard. Song: You're On by Madeon ft. Kyan

Our boat has arrived

Waiting for the rest of the guest to arrive before boarding

This year, we rented a Cruiser boat with a waterside, a sea flyer float and 1 speed boat (banana boat and wake-boarding). The cruiser includes 2 toilets, 1 bedroom, bar area, karaoke and music system, sun deck area and an indoor air-conditioned lounge area. We rented the boat from "Hoi Fai Boating". The boat looks pretty luxurious and the boat staff were very helpful. 

Western Cruiser with Water Slide

We had 48 people on board and we boarded the boat by 10:30am. We reached Clear Water Bay around 11:30am. Our first choice was to go to Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung but unfortunately it was too far to get there. Clear Water Bay is actually pretty nice too and the scenery is worth the ride.

Clear Water Bay

For the booze we prepared a wide range of beverage choices. For beers, we had Corona, Peroni, Endeavour and Strongbow Ciders. For spirits, we had Finlandia Vodka, Jim Beams Whiskey, Patron Tequila XO Cafe & Dark Cocoa, White Rum and Bombay Gin. Ryan prepared Apperol Spritz for everyone as a welcome drink on board. On the other hand, I have prepared 200 pieces of Jello Shots with 4 different flavors and each have a name in it. The flavors are Strawberry (StrawBello), Lime (Wildfire), Blackcurrant (Rock & Roll) and Pineapple (Tiki Tiki). We also had Champagne, White and Red Wines, Sodas, Juices and of course Water.

Apperol Spritz

Diana grabbing some booze!

Jello Shots 

4 flavours - Strawberry (StrawBello), Lime (Wildfire), Pineapple (Tiki Tiki), Blackcurrant (Rock & Roll) 

Beware of Michelle's Jello Shots

For the food, we have also prepared different selections of food such as, Meatballs with Cheese and Tomato Sauce, Shrimp Salad with Caesar Dressing and Vegetables (Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuce, Corn, and Green Beans), Mini Roll Sushi (Avocado, Crab and Cucumber), Tuna Sandwich, Whole Chicken from La Rotisserie, Chicken & Veggie Wrap, Fruit Platter (Strawberry, Green & Red Grapes and Oranges), Fishball (Soi-mai), Mini Sausages and some Chips.

Nom nom

Here are some of the pictures taken from the trip

Dancing time

As mentioned earlier, it has always been a pleasure for us both to organize a boat trip every year. We feel very happy whenever we see how happy and drunk the people are. It was an another successful boat trip. We can't wait to organize 2017 boat trip!

Yours Sincerely,

Michelle Chan