1/26/14

Hoi An: Haven of Peace

Part of the UNESCO heritage, Hoi An is a haven of peace in the midst of a noisy country. I had a crush for that little city, where time had stopped for a while.

Cars are forbidden in the city, which makes it perfect for tourists to visit it by bike or walk. 
The town is very small, you only have two main streets, but it doesn't mean you will be bored in here. 


The main attractions are around lanterns and tailors. Hence, you will probably find yourself spending minutes, that become hours in one of these shops. 
If you have a specific idea of the clothes you'd like to have, come with pictures of your items and let the tailor operates! 


Apart from shopping, Hoi An is a melting pot that kept advantages of every civilization that came in the city. You will eat a French Baguette with the traditional Cau Lao, pass the Japanese Bridge, and admire Chinese temples. 


They propose a good option that allows you to visit 5 places in town for 25 USD. 





Among all the places you can visit thanks to the pass, I'd recommend the Chinese temple, and the japanese bridge that will bring you to the oldest house in Hoi An (right after the bridge, on your right). 


At night, the only thing you need to do is: open your eyes! 
The lanterns rekindle the city harmoniously and provide a peaceful atmosphere.

You can walk around and enjoy a tasteful mango ice cream near by the river.


For the next days: 
Once your shopping and cultural activities are done, you have several choices. You can either rent a bike and drive 3km to the first beach, or spend the day visiting My Son or the Marble Mountain. 
However, if you have more time, you may go visit the imperial city: Hué. 


How to go?
Jetstar - Thursday to Sunday
  • Tursday: Singapore - Ho Chi Minh - 7.35pm - 20.35pm
  • Friday: Ho Chi Minh - Da Nang - 6.15am - 7.30am  
  • Sunday: Da Nang - HCMC - 2.40pm - 3.55pm
  • HCMC - Singapore - 6pm - 8.55pm with Tiger Air

Where to eat?
  • Bazar Café - 36 Tran Phu
  • For a French Croissant or 'Pain au Chocolat' - Cargo Club - 107 NGuyen Thai Hoc Street
  • Hai Café - 111 Tran Phu Street

For a French speaking tailor?
Van Cloth Shop - 113 Tran Phu Street

Where to sleep?
Vinh Hung Emerald Resort



1/25/14

Hong Kong Delights

Breakfast & Brunch:
Oolaa, Bridges Street, Centre Stage - Soho
http://www.casteloconcepts.com/locations/hong-kong/oolaa-hong-kong

If you are a coffee lover, don't try finding another coffee shop, you simply need to go there. They also have a great brunch & breakfast menu. From eggs benedict, to muesli, muffins and even more.
The dishes are great but big, don't bite off more than you can chew!



Lunch & Dinner:
Tim Ho Wan - Various locations
http://www.timhowan.com/
If you end up going to Hong Kong and not trying the fabulous Dim Sum, you missed something. Tim Ho Wan happened to be the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world and nonetheless amazing. You may have to queue a long time if you are at the front door during the peak hours. However the food worths the wait. Try out the BBQ pork buns (around 5$ for 3 buns) and the Har Gow. For the rest, go with your intuition!



Drinks & Dinner:
Brickhouse, 20A d'Aguilar Street via Brick Lane Central
https://www.facebook.com/brickhousehk

Hidden behind the craziness of Lan Kwai Fong, this tiny mexican place is the hot spot of the expats.

Enjoy a well balanced margarita accompanied by some tacos. The guacamole is hand made, and the beef is tender as you can imagine.
On top of everything, they play some good music for the happiness of your ears!
They don't take any reservations, show up earlier than the crowd!



Dinner:
Yardbird, 33 Bridges Street, Centre Stage - Soho
http://www.yardbirdrestaurant.com/
Located in the lovely district of Soho, this yakitori restaurant serves small plates with taste. I would recommend to order various dishes and share them among the persons at your table. The sweet corn tempura is their specialty, and the liver mousse, served with milk bread is delightful. You may ask the waitress for advise. Don't be scared by the weird looking menu, everything's meant to liven up your taste buds!



1/24/14

Cruising in Langkawi

Tiger Air just opened a new flight from Singapore to Langkawi. On a whim, we decided to go there for a weekend without knowing much what we could do in the - not so small - island.



I must admit, two of our ideas changed the perception of our weekend.

1. Rent a car: taxis are quite expensive and distances are longer than what you can have in mind. You'll save a lot of money and time by doing so. Plus you will be able to go on every beach, and stop at every corner you fancy.

2. Book a cruise with Blue Water Star Sailing (and no, I'm not working for them). But we had an amazing experience. The price might seem a bit high, but when you compare it to the overall appreciation of the island, you will see that you get what you pay for.
We went for the Southern Islands Sunset Cruise, from 3pm to 8pm. That includes a huge open bar, and a delightful open buffet. Apart from the 'catering', the landscapes are beautiful and slightly similar to what you can see in Koh Phi Phi. Lucky us, we even had the chance to see a dolphin for few seconds while we were watching the sunset!




Flight details:
Tiger Air - 120 SGD round trip
Friday 8.15pm -  9.45pm
Sunday 10.25pm - 11.55pm

Cruise - Blue Water Star Sailing
http://www.bluewaterstarsailing.com/index.html

Best beach: Tanjung Rhu