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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Address: Bedok Point, 799 New Upper Changi Rd, #01-01, Singapore 467351 Nearest MRT: Bedok Cuisine: Japanese / Western fusion Hoshino Coffee is a Japanese chain of restaurants with nine outlets in Singapore. Today the food review will be based on the Bedok Point outlet that I went to. Hoshino Coffee is originally fom Japan, a …
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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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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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Cuisine: Western Address: #01-01/02 Park Avenue Rochester, 31 Rochester Drive, 138637 Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (East-West and Circle Line) Tucked away in Rochester Park is a little glassed-in cafe bursting with natural light, chic eclectic decor, and good vibes. We doubt any spot in Singapore could be more Californian than this bistro-cafe that serves up comforting American grub …
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Cuisine: Chinese Address: 22 Jln Tampang, Singapore 758966 Nearest MRT: Sembawang or Yishun (North-South line) Since we were around the Sembawang area, me and my friends decided to pop by Sembawang White Bee Hoon for lunch. It used to be called White Bee Hoon, but probably it is a mouthful to pronounce, so the official name …
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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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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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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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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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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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A little bit of history into Guam cuisine: The native food of Guam is largely based on what early ancestors could gather, grow and hunt from the land, plus what they could catch and harvest from the ocean. The Tree of Life, the coconut, offered much in the way of copra, oil, coconut water and …
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When I told my friends that I was going to Guam for holiday, many of them gave me a blank look because they did not know where in the world is Guam. It is off the tourist path for Singaporeans, but definitely not for the hordes of Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese tourists that we saw …
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Construction cranes have become a constant in Mexico City a ultramodern office towers rise at a rapid rate, with restaurants, hotels and museums taking shape in their shadows. Amid the bustle, the Museo Soumaya – home to the art collection of Carlos Slim, one of the world’s wealthiest men – now ranks as the country’s …
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South Africa is the perfect mix-and-match destination. Culture, nature, romance and adventure – it’s all here, but with more diversity and quality than you will find practically anywhere else. Maybe you want to shop the top five markets in the country, sample the fare at the top five restaurants or see five of the most …
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“If you’re curious, London is an amazing place.” And curiosity can be top level. For the first-time visitor, the London bucket list might include a visit to a royal palace, shopping and a dash of culture. Perhaps a pot of tea. And a photo with a Beefeater. Think Buckingham Palace and the changing of the …
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