Category Archives: travel

Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa (with 2 featured recipes)

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Since January 2012, Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa has been indulging visitors with a mouth-watering plethora of Malaysia’s flavourful hawker fare.

Stalls whipping up dishes from around the Peninsula include KL Claypot Rice and Klang Bak Kut. There are over 20 stalls, some of which are halal-certified, such as the Kampung Nasi Lemak stall ($5-$6.50) and the Roti Canai & Nasi Briyani stall (under $7.50). Penang Char Koay Teow has consistently been the bestselling dish.

To keep things exciting, there’s the monthly special. The featured dish is available only throughout that particular month. Last month in September, Durian Chendol ($4.50) took centre stage. Thick and creamy durian puree crowns the standard dessert of shaved ice with red beans, green jelly, coconut milk and palm sugar. The green chendol jelly found in this Malaysian dessert is made from scratch here. This dish evoked memories of RWS’s annual Durian Fest –nothing quells durian cravings like it does.


Duck Satay ($13 for 10 sticks)

This October, guests to Malaysian Food Street are in for a special treat. If you find chicken, pork and beef satays too “mainstream”, the duck satay may come as a delightful diversion. I’m not an ardent fan of duck meat, but this duck satay is one of the best satays I’ve had, so juicy and succulent. Chunks of duck meat are marinated overnight with turmeric, onion, garlic, lemongrass, salt and sugar before they are barbecued over charcoal fire still slightly charred. The duck satay is paired with a specially concocted sauce made of crushed peanut and fresh pineapple puree. This is a must-try!
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(Recommended accommodation in Johor Bahru, Malaysia) DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru

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DoubleTree by Hilton expands its presence with the launch of its Johor Bahru property to meet the growing demand for upscale hotels in Malaysia’s southern region. One distinctive trait of the hotel chain is its hospitality that begins with a warm chocolate chip cookie upon arrival, which characterises welcome and care in DoubleTree by Hilton’s culture. The hotel chain has been baking these signature chocolate chip cookies for travellers all over the world for the past 25 years.

Fact: DoubleTree by Hilton gives out approximately 60,000 chocolate chip cookies to guests each day, adding up to more than 21 million cookies annually.

Since the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru in July, more than 10,000 chocolate chip cookies have been given out to guests.

Located in the Central Business District of Johor Bahru, the hotel is less than 5 kilometres from the Johor-Singapore Immigration Checkpoint, and 25 kilometres from the Senai International Airport. Its accessibility to Singapore and Changi International Airport is a major plus to international travellers.

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Jetstar launches new inflight menu

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Flying with a budget airline is a great opportunity to save money, and it need not be a nettlesome experience. Jetstar is recognised as one of the best low cost carrier in the region, having received numerous awards over the years. My flight experiences with Jetstar have always been pleasant.

This month, I travel to Bangkok for leisure. Catching wind of the news about Jetstar’s new inflight menu, my grounds for flying with Jetstar mount up. Continue reading →

Weekend Stay and Seafood Buffet at Harbour Café of Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour, Johor, Malaysia

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Singapore is just a causeway apart from Malaysia, which explains high figures of Singaporeans travelling into Malaysia –some just for makan (eating) or a day of shopping in Johor Bahru. I myself travel to Johor Bahru frequently, mostly for the enticing food.

In desperate need of a holiday, away from home without having to board a plane, Malaysia makes an ideal destination. Puteri Harbour is a destination in itself. Spend a weekend at this peaceful and tranquil locale booming with restaurants, retail outlets and popular attraction Sanrio Hello Kitty Town (its first outside Japan).

Easily accessible from Singapore’s Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints and only 20 minutes from Senai International Airport, Traders Hotel at Puteri Harbour offers comfort with 283 rooms in total. Continue reading →

Recommended Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo, Japan: Hilton Tokyo

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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When I returned to Singapore from Japan, I couldn’t stop raving about the spectacular experience I had at Hilton Tokyo. It was by far my most memorable hotel stay.

Hilton Tokyo resides in the west side of Shinjuku, an area home to Tokyo’s largest concentration of skyscrapers including several of the tallest buildings in Tokyo such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, KDDI Building and Park Tower.

Its close proximity to Shinjuku Station means easy access to restaurants, entertainment and shopping. The hotel multiplies the level of convenience by providing complimentary shuttle bus service to Shinjuku Station throughout the day.

Clustered within the bustling Shinjuku district are departmental stores, malls, boutiques, electronic shops and more.

Along the tracks northwest of Shinjuku Station is Omoide Yokocho (memory lane). The narrow lanes and alleys are filled with tiny eateries serving yakitori, ramen and more.

Return from a day of sightseeing, shopping and eating to the spacious and luxurious hotel room in Hilton Tokyo. The King JR Suite Executive, spanning across 474 square feet of space, is where I wallowed in. Continue reading →

Dessert Buffet at Marble Lounge, Hilton Tokyo

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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One of the highlights from my recent trip to Tokyo would be the dessert buffet at Marble Lounge, Hilton Tokyo’s 24-hour restaurant nestled on the first floor of the hotel.

In the mornings, this is where guests take their pick from the sumptuous breakfast buffet. From 2.30pm to 6pm, the setting is inundated with all-things-pretty –dessert.

The theme changes every few months. This season, strawberries take centre stage. Plump, red, juicy and sweet –strawberries cultivated in Japan are known for that. Continue reading →

(News) Great savings, up to 50% off, at 300 Accor hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific

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Accor’s Super Sale is back to knock your socks off with discounts of 40% at 300 participating hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific, offering great deals at Accor’s Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, ibus and ibis Styles brands with rates starting as low as US$20 per night. Members of Accor Advantage Plus enjoy a greater discount of 50%!

Be it a shopping expedition in Hong Kong or Seoul, a golf vacation in Bogor or Krabi, a relaxing getaway in Bali or Phuket, or a family bonding trip to Sydney or Auckland, Accor’s Super Sale is the affordable way to go for every traveller.

The sale applies to bookings made online at www.accorhotels.com between 18 and 23 April for stays from 18 April to 30 August 2014.

Zenxin Organic Park in Kluang, Malaysia

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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What better way to spend a weekend after a gruelling stressful week at work, than with Mother Nature herself? If you’re looking for a mini getaway, a day trip out of Singapore to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of city life, you can consider exploring Zenxin Organic Park in Kluang, Malaysia, an hour and a half’s drive from Singapore.

By the way doesn’t the name “Zenxin Organic Food” ring a bell? I can imagine enthusiastic nods from the health-conscious group. Its label is ubiquitous at leading supermarkets in Singapore. Continue reading →

(Christmas Feature 2013) Resorts World Sentosa; “Snow Chocolate” Log Cake; Universal Studios Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Resorts World Sentosa brings a myriad of festive deals and activities across the resort at its numerous F&B outlets and attractions.


“Snow Chocolate” Mango and Candied Lemon, Ivory Cheese Cream, Coconut Hazelnut Crunch ($70 for 1kg)

A slew of celebratory treats have been lined up at Resorts World Sentosa’s dining outlets, including festive pastries from Universal Studios Singapore and Christmas menus from Joel Robuchon Restaurant, Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora, Feng Shui Inn, Osia, Forest and Palio. Continue reading →

Places to dine at and visit in Sydney –within easy reach from Hilton Sydney

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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I concur that food is a huge determining factor in the destination travellers choose to embark on, as I for one would travel the distance for the love of food.

Most travellers would venture out in search for local culinary gems, as opposed to dining-in at the hotel –apart from maybe breakfast. In the aspects of food, many would seek variety as well as quality, and a whole lot of exploring, discoveries and adventure while on vacation.

A great way to experience the culture of a country is via the palate.

In this post, I will share some food gems in Sydney that are within easy reach from Hilton Sydney where I stayed, which includes a diversity of authentic street fare, comfort food and fine dining.

Arriving at Hilton Sydney at 10am from a 6-hour flight, we proceeded to the Executive Lounge for breakfast while waiting to check in. Continue reading →

Enjoy smooth and unworried travels with new TravelAlert Service by DBS TravellerShield

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Travel insurance is one of the most essential needs for smart travellers. DBS TravellerShield, a comprehensive travel insurance plan, recently expanded its offerings to give jet-setters more assistance with Singapore’s first ever complimentary Travel Alert Service. Travellers can now stay ahead of the unexpected with free situation updates during the trip.

My most recent trip was to Boracay in the Philippines –a tropical beach destination with temperamental weather. Continue reading →

(Staycation) Hotel Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Hotel Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore is conveniently located in the heart of Katong, a historical area on the East Coast of Singapore, just opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre.

Guests have easy access to authentic local cuisine, shopping and recreation, such as Marine Parade and East Coast Food Centres, Katong and Joo Chiat Area, and East Coast Park, within walking distance.

This four-star hotel offers a home-away-from-home experience with 576 family-friendly and spacious guestrooms, lavishly designed with room types ranging from superior and deluxe rooms to various suites. Continue reading →

(Travel Feature) What to do in Boracay

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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So you’ve seen the breath-taking possibilities of Boracay, and taken down notes on where to stay. Finally, it’s time for some itinerary planning. Here’s a list of activities you can consider filling your days and nights in Boracay with, on land and at sea.

The tempting crystal-blue waters surrounding the island beckons for a relaxing dip Continue reading →

(Dream Destination: Boracay) Travel and Flight Information

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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If I could paint a picture of a dream destination on a blank canvas, I would paint a seaside scene –rendering gradual shades of blue and turquoise to portray the soothing gradients of the clear seawaters, interspersed with gentle swirling blobs depicting the mild crashing of waves that juxtapose white sandy beaches imprinted with footprints; applying stiff bristled strokes of green and brown delineating sleek palm trees and the striking lush foliage; and smothering the remaining space on the canvas with a thin wash of baby blue, chaperoned by a nimble dabbing of white to represent the wispy passing clouds against the baby blue sky.

This is exactly how I would describe Boracay.

I blogged about how much I was looking forward to my trip to Boracay (read here), and coming back to Singapore, I bring with me an abundance of memories of that beautiful island, and I hope to share that with you through a series of blog posts.

In this post, I will share some general information about Boracay and the available routes from Singapore to Boracay.

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