Previously recognised simply as Bali’s sister island, Lombok is now a full-grown destination with its own set of charms. Each year, more people are skipping Bali for Lombok’s pristine, unspoiled nature. Some say Lombok’s exotic beaches remind them of what Bali looked like decades ago – and that doesn’t include the island’s hidden, untouched spots …
continue reading »
Jetstar Asia Airways Pte Ltd (operating as Jetstar Asia) is a low-cost airline based in Singapore. It is one of the Asian offshoots of parent Jetstar Airways, the low-cost subsidiary airline of Australia’s Qantas airline. It operates services to regional destinations in Southeast Asia to countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and …
continue reading »
Trip Report : Rome – Singapore (Via Copenhagen) on Singapore Airlines Airlines: Singapore AirlinesFlight : SQ353 FCO-CPH-SINAircraft: Airbus 350-900Departure – FCO 08:40Arrival – SIN 07:30Flight time : 15 hours 50 minutesDistance : 10,060 kilometers It was during the period of Vaccinated Travel Lanes and Singapore only had limited offerings with countries for quarantine-free travel last …
continue reading »
Our second time staying at Grand Park City Hall, after our wedding, so it brought back wonderful memories. For most parts of the pandemic, the hotel remained closed to leisure tourists as it functioned as a quarantine place. We waited in line for about 5 minutes before it was our turn to check in. During …
continue reading »
The second leg of our flight with Fiji Airways, this time as we head back to Singapore. Flight: FJ36118 June 2022Departs: 11.45amArrives: 6.15pmDuration: 10 hours 30 minutesAircraft: A332 Thanks to our new friends, they told us to use the self check-in machine and we could skip the long queues. With our boarding passes, we headed …
continue reading »
After checking out all the water sports and island hopping in Fiji, perhaps it is time to discover some of the natural attractions that the country has to offer inland. Discover the Fiji Highlands on this adventure-packed tour. First, take a longboat ride up the scenic Navua River, which offers views of cascading waterfalls, tropical …
continue reading »
Set sail by tall ship to the island sanctuary of Tivua, a small but pristine tropical island in Fiji. Be greeted with a kava welcome ceremony, then spend plenty of free time sunbathing, snorkeling or exploring the tropical waters by canoe or on a glass-bottom boat tour. Morning and afternoon tea, a barbecue buffet lunch, …
continue reading »
Surrounded by Fiji’s famous crystal-clear waters, Malamala Beach Club is the world’s first beach club located on its very own island, situated just 25 minutes from Port Denarau. Perfect for those looking for things to do in Fiji, you can enjoy the beach club with a day pass and experience white sand beaches, Beachside Cabanas, …
continue reading »
After a relaxing evening at Peninsula Hot Springs, I drove the approximately 120km to Melbourne airport to catch our midnight flight. This route usually takes 1.5 hours, but as it was a long weekend and we met with the evening traffic rush, it became a 2 hour journey. We quickly returned the rental car and …
continue reading »
Melbourne is often dubbed the most ‘European’ of Australian cities – indeed the eastern, designer section of Collins St was crowned the ‘Paris End’ in the 1950s. There’s also a mini New York vibe here, thanks to the city’s well-ordered grid and scattering of art-deco high-rises. Much of that is due to the 230-plus laneways …
continue reading »
Located 58km away from Melbourne, visiting Yarra Valley is yet another convenient day trip to make. The traditional land of the Wurundjeri people, scenic Yarra Valley is now Victoria’s premier wine region and weekend getaway – partly for its close proximity to Melbourne, but mainly for its wineries, superb restaurants, national parks and wildlife-viewing opportunities. …
continue reading »
Synonymous with penguins and petrolheads, Phillip Island attracts a curious mix of holidaymakers and tourists. At its heart, the island is still a farming community, but nature has conspired to turn it into one of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations. Apart from the major draws of the Penguin Parade and the annual Motorcycle Grand Prix, …
continue reading »
There are several zoos to visit in Melbourne and beyond, some public and some privately owned. If you are around the Grampians National Park, you can visit this top-notch wildlife park – Halls Gap Zoo – with breeding and conservation programs and a natural bush setting. Here you can get up close to Australian native …
continue reading »
Rising from the pastoral land of Victoria’s west are the Grampians – a playground for adventurers and haven for food and wine lovers, with a fascinating Aboriginal story to tell. The Grampians National Park is home to an incredible mountain landscape dotted with small towns such as Dunkeld, Stawell, Halls Gap, Wartook Valley and Beaufort. With …
continue reading »
Upon arrival in Melbourne and after clearing immigration, we went to pick up our rental car. Since our first night accommodation is not in Melbourne but in Grampians National Park which is about 3 hours drive away, we decided to head out of town in the direction of the Grampians. We stopped by in the …
continue reading »
Trip Report : Singapore – Melbourne on Singapore Airlines Airlines: Singapore AirlinesFlight : SQ237 SIN – MELAircraft: Boeing 777Departure – SIN : 00:25 Arrival – Mel : 09:50Flight time : 7 hours 25 minutesDistance : 6,057 kilometers It was a red-eye flight as we wanted to have more time to spend exploring Melbourne. We set …
continue reading »
SQ378 SIN- MXP – BCN Depart: 23:45 Arrive: 08:30 (+1)Aircraft: Airbus 350-900 Flying during Covid-19 period was really stressful because there were many documents to check. Following the opening up of borders and the launch of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) in Singapore, we were deciding between a trip to South Korea or to Europe. Since …
continue reading »
Credits: Straits Times All travellers vaccinated against Covid-19 and children aged 12 and below will be able to enter Singapore with just a pre-departure Covid-19 test from 11.59pm on March 31. In Singapore’s most significant move to reopen its borders, travellers will no longer be required to take only designated flights to enter Singapore quarantine-free, …
continue reading »
It was my first time trying out Capitol Kempinski hotel in Singapore. I remember staying at the Kempinski Munich airport hotel many years ago on a family trip. I was supposed to go on this staycation with my wife, but due to last minute contingencies, I went with the kids instead. To say that we …
continue reading »
ITA Airways is a relatively new airline, which commenced only in October 2021 and I was lucky to be able to fly with them in Nov 2021. A little bit of history about this airline, which used to be known as Alitalia. Italy’s flag carrier Alitalia had been in operations since 1946. It was owned by the Italian …
continue reading »
As you know, Singapore had this concept of Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) since the second half of last year. These flights are only available for those who are fully vaccinated according to WHO requirements. I was fortunate enough to visit Italy and Spain in Nov/ Dec 2021, and to come back on a VTL. If …
continue reading »
Situated on the Bay of Naples in the southern Italian region of Campania, Pompeii was originally founded by an Italic tribe known as the Osci. Over the following centuries it fell to the Greeks, Etruscans and Samnites, before being incorporated into the Roman world in the 1st century BC. Neither rich nor poor, Pompeii was a typical …
continue reading »
Naples is a holiday destination in its own right. It’s an ancient city that will dazzle you with its outstanding position on the coast affording commanding views over Mount Vesuvius and Capri – making it the lucky subject of unforgettable fiery sunsets. Then there’s the food – from family-run trattorias to world-famous pizzerias – served with …
continue reading »
Vineyard tour and wine tasting Tuscany attracts art lovers and foodies in equal measure to grand cities, like Florence and Siena, but also the ancient villages that pepper the landscape. Taking the time to tour the country lanes of Tuscany unveils green rolling hills, quaint vineyards and grand Tuscan villas. Tuscany is one of the most …
continue reading »