With plenty of intact pre-WW2 architecture, Hrodna (Grodno in Russian) is arguably Belarus’ prettiest city. It has a decidedly European flavour, much of it derived from its central pedestrianised street, ironically named vul Savetskaya (Soviet St). The Soviets demolished many of the city’s beautiful old churches after the war. Several have been rebuilt since, and …
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Who knew that you could ski in Ukraine, home to the Carpathian Mountains? This mountain range is stretched across Central and Eastern Europe, making it the third largest mountain range after the Urals (Russia) and Scandinavian mountains (Norway, Sweden). The Carpathians and their foothills also have many thermal and mineral waters, with Romania having one-third of the European total. Bukovel …
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Welcome to Belarus! Long regarded by travellers as little more than a curiosity, Belarus has suddenly emerged as one of Europe’s ‘it’ destinations. Fuelling that rise are relaxed visa requirements, a sneaky-good art and cafe scene, and hospitable locals. While political dissent remains muted, the country seems to be having fun again. Minsk is where …
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Having visited Kiev and Chernobyl, Lviv will come across as un-Ukrainian to the visitor. Mysterious and architecturally lovely, this Unesco-listed city is the country’s least Soviet and exudes the same authentic Central European charm as pre-tourism Prague or Kraków once did. Its quaint cobbles, bean-perfumed coffeehouses and rattling trams are a continent away from the …
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History of the incident 26 April 1986. The fateful day of the Chernobyl disaster, a catastrophic nuclear accident. Shortly after midnight at the no. 4 light water graphite moderated reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, an inadvertent explosion of the core reactor during an emergency shutdown of the reactor while undergoing a power failure test. It occurred near the now-abandoned …
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Kiev is the largest city and capital of Ukraine. It was said to be the birthplace of the Slavic people, becoming the former capital of a united Soviet Ukraine in 1934, before standing on its own when the Soviet Republic dissolved in 1991. Its natural beauty remains intact, with the scenic Dnipro River cutting through …
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London is a year-round destination, suitable for all ages and traveler groups. One of the world’s most visited cities, London has something for everyone: from history and culture to fine food and good times. Despite having visited London twice previously, I had yet to visit the Buckingham Palace, so I set out to do it …
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If you think that Guam is just about relaxing by the beach at Tumon Bay or outlet shopping, then you are wrong. There is more than meets the eye here, in terms of the nature and some secluded beaches where you would find you’re the only one swimming in the area. This place is known as …
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The Colombian capital is a vast, noisy, and intense city, but Bogota has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye, and not just for solo travellers. It caters to all groups of visitors, be it the business tourist there for a business meeting, a backpacker touring his/her way down the length of …
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Cuisine: Japanese Address: 76 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 048464 Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (Downtown Line) / Chinatown (Downtown/ North-east Line) A colleague recommended me to go to this Japanese restaurant using the Eatigo discount. They used to have 50% off main food items during dinner but now it has been reduced to 40%. It is still …
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The state capital of Uttar Pradesh in northern India was once the “city of the Nawabs”, a place renowned for culture and the arts. The Mughal Empire ruled India from the 16th to mid-18th centuries and established native governors – nawabs – as semi-autonomous rulers of its states. Lucknow became the seat of power of …
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In December 2015, the West Line of Hainan’s much-publicised high-speed railway looped with the East Line in Haikou, creating the world’s first round-island high-speed railway. Departing from Haikou station, we pick a few intriguing spots that prove Hainan is so much more than beaches and pool bars. Wenchang Station/ Eastern Ring With half of the …
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Cuisine: Japanese Address: 16 Raffles Quay #B1-33 Hong Leong Building, S 048581 Nearest MRT: Raffles Place, Downtown or Telok Ayer stations Helmed by the team that brought us sake gastrobar Kabuke, each bowl is made with fresh ingredients and elegantly simple techniques that come together for a naturally flavourful serving of beef don. Under the direction …
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For first time visitors to Krabi, Thailand, it is always a dilemma choosing where to stay, between Ao nang beach or Railay beach. Railay is known mainly for its great beaches and huge limestone cliffs. Visitors mainly come either for the beaches or for rock climbing. While connected to mainland Thailand, Railay is only accessible …
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Macau, also spelled Macao, is a tiny Chinese territory that is about 30 square kilometers in size. It is a fusion of East and West in lifestyles, architecture, and food. Known for its huge casinos and being the world’s top gambling city, it boasts some popular attractions for tourists to visit. Whether you are into …
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At the Pasar Bawah, the undercover market of Pekanbaru, baskets are piled ceiling high with the spices and other flavours that make up the local Padang cuisine famous to West Sumatra: ginger, galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, cassava chips, garlic, shallots, shrimp and chilli. Together, they spice up the most iconic dishes of masakan padang: rendang daging …
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The Thai capital’s artisanal cafes will satisfy even the fussiest coffee fanatics. Roots coffee Address: theCOMMONS (Market Floor), Thonglor 17, Sukhumvit Rd. Formerly known as Wattana, Roots has opened an outlet at The Commons. You’ll still be able to choose from a great range of espresso and filter coffees, and pour-over or French-press methods. Conveniently, you” …
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While Chile’s exotic landscapes of Patagonia and the Atacama Desert tend to capture much of the world’s attention, the UNESCO World Heritage port city of Valparaiso is an under-the-radar gem. Situated on The Central coast just two hours west from the capital Santiago, the city’s poetically sloping streets of colourful, corrugated metal-sided houses are worth …
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Name: La Petite Cuisine Cuisine: French Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (Downtown / Circle line) Address: 10 Jalan Serene, 258748 One of my favourite to-go places for French food, La Petite Cuisine has been around for at least 10 over years. The restaurant serves food at affordable and comfortable prices with good quality of fresh products. The concept is …
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PR508 Singapore to Manila Flight time: 3h 50min PR110 Manila to Guam Flight time: 3h 30min This is my first time flying with Philippine Airlines. When we reached the airport around two hours before the flight time, there was a long queue at the checkin counter, even for web checkin customers. Not wanting …
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Elemen元素Millenia Walk #01-75A/76 9 Raffles Boulevard Singapore 039596 Nearest MRT: Promenade (Downtown / Circle Line)Tel: +65 6238 0511Opening Hours: 11:30am – 4:00pm Last Order 3:00pm, 5:30pm – 10:00pm, Last Order 9:00pm (Mon – Sun) Though I am not a full-time vegetarian, I do indulge in vegetarian cuisine at least twice a month, as my mum …
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Roam like a local Want to see the city through a local’s eyes? Take one of the many trishaws that fill the streets. Of course, a taxi is a much faster way to get around- but where’s the fun in that? Although trishaws have no meters, the rates are modest: prices start at 2000 kyat …
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Buenos Aires, geographically located in Latin America but it feels like I have stepped into Europe. People dress like chic Parisians while uttering a dialect of Spanish which I have to try hard to interpret them, with Italian style architecture surrounding the city. There is a mix of elegant mansions lining cobblestone streets to slum …
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A one-hour ferry ride across the Rio de la Plate from Buenos Aires and few hours’ drive from Montevideo, Colonia del Scaramento is a Uruguayan town stuck in time. Anchoring the city is the Barrio Historico, the original, irregular street plan built by the Portuguese that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, azulejo …
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