It’s to the benefit of Singapore that it contains completely different cultures within reach of a train ride. Walking tourists can thus experience a little bit of Asia all within one island. Such a great example would be the community of Little India.

Little India started off as the designated community for Indian laborers and immigrants under the urban planning of Sir Stanford Raffles back in the 19th century. Although the Indian populace is longer required to reside in this area, efforts have been made to keep the cultural heritage of this place alive. Little India is now the focal point of the Indian community of Singapore, and the last area where many of the traditional trades and practices still thrive.

The best place to start your walk is right off Little India MRT station at Exit C, facing Bukit Timah Road. A few shops down the path and you will see Tekka Market, a wet market that provides for the daily needs of the residents in the area. Along Dunlop Street is the Masjid Abdul Gapoor, a mosque that is fitted with a sundial at the entrance. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

I am still a kid… at heart, that is. I am fascinated by simple things like cotton candies, rainbows, chocolates, crayons and fireworks. I still watch cartoons and I still go to amusement parks. Yup, amusement parks! Whenever I visit a new country, I usually make it a point to include a visit to the amusement park in my travel itinerary.

So when I found myself in Indonesia, I didn’t stay in my Jakarta hotel long. I immediately headed off to one of their famous tourist spots – TAMAN IMPIAN JAYA ANCOL. It is highly recommended to bring a car or rent a private car that will bring you there. For foreign visitors, there is a taxi line available or you can simply call a taxi company like in order to arrange your trip to and from Ancol.

This amusement park, known as the largest in Jakarta, is located North of Jakarta and is said to be built on reclaimed land. There is an entrance free of Rp 10, 000 (US$ 1) per person and Rp 10, 000 (US$ 1) for each car. This recreation park offers both outdoor and indoor activities. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Indonesia |

Japan has a Great Three of about everything. It has its three great views, three great castles, three great night views and just about every three great something anyone could think of. One of the most impressive out of these three great everything is Japan’s three great mountains. These three mountains are considered the greatest among Japan’s numerous peaks and mountain ranges. Namely, these mountains are Mount Fuji, Mount Haku and Mount Tate. The Japanese term for Mountain is ‘Yama’ so Mount Fuji is also called Fujiyama, Mount Haku is Hakuyama, and Mount Tate is Tateyama. Sometimes, the ‘Mount’ is not removed so they can also be called Mount Fujiyama, Mount Hakuyama and Mount Tateyama (which seems very redundant).

Mount Fuji needs no introduction. It is one of the most famous mountains in the world. With its majestic cone, this dormant volcano has been depicted in countless photographs and artworks over the years. Mount Fuji is the tallest among Japan’s three great mountains and all other mountains in Japan, towering at 12.388 feet above the ground.

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Posted in Attractions, Japan |

Are you in the mood for a different kind of adventure? Would you like to experience caves with challenging twists and turns, see breathtaking vertical cliffs and limestone formations? Then you should definitely leave for that long overdue vacation and head over to the wonderful Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Gunung Mulu National Park is Sarawak’s World Heritage Site. The Park was included in the prominent list back in November 2000 mainly because of its notable contribution to the understanding of earth’s history, plush flora and fauna, and rich biodiversity.

There are a number of ways to reach the Park. There are flights from Miri, Kota Kinabalu and even Kuching. Unfortunately, it is not possible to travel to Mulu by land. The only way to get to the Park is by boat. From my hotel in Kota Kinabalu, I rode a taxi to the airport so that I can catch a flight to Miri. From Miri, the trip will take up to about ten hours departing from Kuala Baram, on the Baram River, by speed boat to Marudi. From Marudi, you have to get another boat to Long Terawan or Long Kabong and this is where you have to make reservations for a ride in longboats that will bring you directly to the Park’s headquarters. The trip may be long and tiring but it is definitely worth it. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia |

Among the Asian cities I’ve traveled to so far, it is The Lion City that has most gone out of its way to welcome visitors like me. Through the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, this island-state offers a wide array of means to see the sights. From DUCKTours to bumboat rides, any tourist with even a few hours to spare can check out the cool places and historical sites Singapore has to offer.

For travelers who wish to immerse themselves into the true SG experience, nothing beats a walking tour among its heritage spots. And one essential place for any SG walking tour would have to be Chinatown. Singapore’s Chinatown is unique in that its middle kingdom culture has harmoniously blended in with the other ethnic groups in the small island to create a wonderful blend of Asian influences.

A good spot to start your personal exploration is right off the Chinatown MRT station along the blue line. From Exit A, visitors will immediately see Pagoda Street, so-named because of the Sri Mariamnam Temple located at its end. This festive street is bedecked with colorful red lanterns criss-crossing along its length, and packed with an assortment of Chinese shops on both sides. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Singapore, Things to do |

Your ultimate Asian tour will never be complete without stopping by Malaysia. You can sample Malaysian culture and tradition by visiting its wonderful capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL).

As a first time visitor in KL, I can still recall my excitement when I was on-board my flight to KL from Manila when the plane’s captain announced that plane would be landing in a few minutes. I immediately looked out of my window and strained my neck to catch a glimpse of the famous Petronas Twin Towers of KL. I was disappointed when I didn’t get to see the Petronas Towers. I must have been seated on the wrong side of the plane.

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Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do |

Pen and Paper. Peanut butter and jelly. Porcelain and food. If you think about it, the history of the last pair has been intertwined ever since humanity came up with the idea of cuisine. Porcelain is used to create not only the dishes which hold the food we eat, but also the toilets to hold the food we excrete. And now, from a culture that celebrates both porcelain and food, comes a restaurant devoted to the dual role of porcelain in our digestive cycle.

Marton Modern Toilet (Marton is derived from Matong, the chinese term for ‘toilet’) is a chain of a dozen or so theme dining establishments that revolves around toilets and urinals. Based in the Shilin district of Taipei and other major cities of Taiwan, this restaurant group stuns diners with interior decoration that continually remind them that the food we eat will eventually come out.

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Posted in Attractions, Food, Taiwan |

In Discover a Slice of Paradise in Sentosa Part 1, you learned how to get to Sentosa. You were also introduced to some of the popular attractions in this little island in Singapore like the Animal and Bird Encounter, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Underwater World and the Dolphin Lagoon. But there are more attractions and activities to choose fromw…

THE MERLION & MERLION WALK - When you step outside of the Images of Singapore museum, you will be led to the Merlion and Merlion Walk. Here you will find the biggest Merlion replica. The Sentosa Merlion, which is half lion and half fish, is about 37 meters high. You can take the lift to the top floor and enjoy a panoramic view of Singapore and other nearby islands. The scales on the Sentosa Merlion are also known to glow with different colors at night. At the back of this gigantic Merlion is a 120-meter long walkway which is referred to as the Merlion Walk. The Merlion Walk is lined with thousands of tiny bulbs and that is something that you should definitely see during your night stroll in Sentosa.

FORT SILOSO TOURS - Fort Siloso is a concrete reminder of the World War II in Singapore. Here, you’ll be able to see life-sized wax replicas of people who played an important role in the Japanese surrender. Visitors can view entertaining interactive exhibits like the Surrender Chambers, Voices of Singapore, etc. You can browse through memorabilia like old photographs, documents and film clips are being displayed. Furthermore, one can explore the old tunnels. That’s a different kind of adventure in itself. There are also real cannons and a lot of guns from the 17^th century that can be explored. As an added bonus, you can also view some docudramas about the war that can help visitors better understand Singapore’s unique history. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Beaches, Singapore |

Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region of the island of Honshu, one of the islands of Japan. It is often said that “Sendai is just right”, as it is close to both the seas and mountains. Even the weather in Sendai is just right, not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter. Locals have also said that it is a very comfortable place to live in. A thing worthy of noting about Sendai is the fusion of its greenery and the industry that makes it the city that it is. It is a city where the streets are cemented and wide yet the view is also very green, trees can be found everywhere. As a matter of fact, Sendai’s other name is Mori no Miyako, or City of Forest. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Japan |

The first question that entered my mind as I approach the majestic gateway to Hong Kong Disneyland was, “How could any theme park mascot stand this HEAT?”

My group got day tickets to HKDL for what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year in the former British colony. Now, going to the latest addition to Disney’s resorts was a breeze. Literally. The MTR trains in Hong Kong are air-conditioned, and a mild gust blows throughout the cabin interior whenever the train moves from station to station, as if there were open vents built into the roof. Even the above-ground transfer station from the main line to the special Disney Resort Line in Lantau Island had a roof to shield us from the glaring sun, with only the hot wind blowing on our faces as a hint of the furnace that was to follow. The train was already an attraction in itself, with large Disney character figurines behind glass cases adorning each cab.

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Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |