Seeing Singapore

Supertree and me
 

Singapore wasn’t like anywhere else we went in Asia. Wealth pours from this city with its Skyscrapers, mega malls and underground which runs like clockwork.

One of my favourite attractions of our whole trip was the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The Supertree grove is a spectacular sight. These trees that stand 22 meters high are beautiful and unique during the day, but at night when they are lit up it is a whole new sight. The Garden Rhapsody show is a light and music show run daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm and are very busy so make sure to leave enough time to get a good spot. Furthermore, you can even walk amongst the top branches if you buy a ticket for the sky walkway.  (Tip. We bought a ticket during the day but came back at night and did the walkway to avoid the ticket queue later on.)  

Now if you love to shop I highly recommend heading over to Bugis Street Market, let’s say we fell down the rabbit hole when we visited this market. The market is crammed in between little India and Marina Bay and is a short walk from Rochor MRT station. The market is composed of hundreds of little stalls and offers a range of products and services alongside clothes such as eateries, electronics and beauty services.

Lastly, we visited Singapore Zoo which is slightly out of the way but easy and cheap to get to if you get the Singapore Tourist Pass. This allows you unlimited access on the Bus, MRT and LRT for $20 for 3 days with $10 deposit which you get back when you return the card. Be prepared to walk in the zoo because it is massive and offers a large variety of animals to see and interact with which is exciting for young kids.

Singapore Gardens

Supertrees at night

 

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!

The many dishes of Asia

When in Asia I highly recommend trying these foods/snacks or else you’re missing out

1.      Pho: Vietnam

-          In nearly every restaurant in Vietnam you will find Pho on the menu, this noddle soup dish is a favourite amongst the locals. It can be made with either chicken or beef but can be made without meat if you're vegetarian.

2.      Num Pang Cambodian Sandwich

-          If you don’t want to stray too far from Western food then this sandwich is for you. This sandwich is traditionally made from ham or pork and served with cucumber, chives, onions and carrots, it can easily be bought from many street venders carts.

3.      Sticky rice and Mango: Thailand

-          This traditional Thai dessert was a favourite of mine. Made simply with glutinous rice which is typically grown in South and East Asia, fresh mangos and coconut rice. I loved it so much I learned how to make it myself from the goodfood website linked here.

4.      Mie Goreng: Indonesia

-          Mie Goreng also referred to as Bakmi Goreng is a flavour filled fried noodle dish usually served with either chicken, beef or prawns. It is very popular and can be found in almost all restaurants in Indonesia.

 

5.      Scorpion/Spider: Thailand

-          If you really want to step out of your comfort zone then I highly recommend trying one of the various insect you can find from street vendors in Thailand especially a Scorpion or a Spider if you’re looking to be really adventurous. I myself tried a Scorpion and can tell you it does not taste like chicken, you can see my reaction in the video below, enjoy:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! 

Capturing Cambodia

Cambodia was one of the most beautiful countries we visited. What it lacks in infrastructure it makes up for with its beautiful ancient temples and breath-taking sunsets. Here are my top 3 trips to do in Cambodia:

1..One of the first places we visited was Koh Ker Temple which is situated 2 hours outside of Siem Reap in the abandoned forests of the north. On the way, there are several small temples which have all been engulfed by the surrounding forest making them quirky and unique.  The main temple itself is pyramid in shape toppled with wild greenery and remains relatively well intact for being built in the 10th century. It was originally built for the King himself whereas most of the others were built for the Gods, which makes it rather unique and worth visiting. 

2.     I highly recommend dragging yourself out of bed and going to the Angkor Wat sunrise tour. It starts around 4.30am when your picked up from your accommodation and driven in a rickety old bus to the ticket office with tickets costing around $37. From there you are driven to the temple to await the sunrise. (Tip: make sure you watch the sunrise from outside rather than inside the temple it’s a far better sight). After the sunrise, you are taken to see Bayon Temple which is covered in happy Buddha faces which is quite a sight.

3.     Kampong Phluk also referred to as the floating village is a must see. Floating slowly down the river through the village in an old-style fishing boat driven by one of the locals passed men fishing with string on the embankment and children playing in the water is a look into the true way people live in Cambodia. The tour I was on ended with watching the sun set over lake Tonle Sap Lake.

Also if you would like to read my favourite travel blogger click the link here , the blog is called Normadic Matt and is filled with useful information and great money saving tips!

Thank for reading, hope you enjoyed!

Hanoi Hotspots

One of the first places I visited on my Asian Adventure was Hanoi in Vietnam. Hanoi was one of my favourite places on my trip. Its evident its becoming more of a tourist destination like Thailand and Bali with its introduction of English food on their menus and souvenirs but its traditions and customs still remain fully intact for the time being.

Hanoi’s crowded streets and suicidal drivers creates an exciting buzz within the city and results in an interesting adventure on foot especially as they have conveniently put their attractions at polar ends of the city. However, I highly recommend you tour the city on foot as we stumbled across some amazing forgotten old style temples, which clearly had withstood the test of time and some of the best Pho (A Vietnamese noodle dish) whilst getting lost on our way.

For me one the most interesting places we visited in Hanoi was Hao Lo Prison where Vietnamese political prisoners were kept during the French colonisation of Vietnam and later American prisoners of war during the Vietnamese war. The place had a very eerie feel to it but was very interesting and insightful and I would highly recommend it.

Should you want to escape the city, paradise is just 3 hours away by bus. The very beautiful Ha long Bay with its clear blue waters and limestone islands perfectly fits the definition of paradise, weaving through the hundreds of islands topped with lush forestation and monkeys swinging between the branches is a sight you won’t easily forget.

As a result of the journey time I’d suggest either doing a two or three-day trip, it’s definitely worth it. They offer a wide range of activities such as kayaking between the islands or exploring some of the caves on the islands alternatively should you want to relax you can take a dip in the cool clear water.

Tips To Travel

1.Bag everything in your bag

This may sound like a very simple thing but trust me it is magical when your in a rush! Having your socks in one plastic bag and your t-shirts in another allows you to easily get to the bottom of your bag instantly.

2.Currency Converter App

A currency converter apps is by far one of the most useful tools you can have when travelling. As you go from place to place the currency changes, this apps helps to ensure not only that your receiving the best exchange rate but also helps to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount. I personally used one called Currency which can easily be downloaded on the Apple App store for free.

3. Travelers guide

Although almost everything can be accessed by the internet a travellers guide is a handy thing to have. It is written by reliable people who have done their research and not only recommends great places to eat and stay at different price ranges but also specifies the opening hours and prices of museums and activities which is very useful for planning your days when you only have a short stay in a certain destination. I personally used the Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a shoestring guide which can be purchased on amazon via the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Planet-Southeast-shoestring-Travel-ebook/dp/B01LE7F0E8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1506974712&sr=8-2&keywords=southeast+asia+lonely+planet

4. Separate your money

One thing you often hear from other people who have travelled Asia is about money being stolen or going missing therefore it is a good idea to keep only a little amount of cash on you at any one time and makes sure its concealed, a money pouch for under you clothes is a worthwhile investment.

5. Haggling

Asia isn’t like most European countries were the price is set, haggling is an integral part of the way business is conducted. The best way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off is to stick to the rule that usually you can get the price down to at least half of what they initially offer and if this still doesn’t suit you, don’t be afraid to walk away and try somewhere else.