Over the past Saturday, some 20-odd riders from the SGNC7 group went up to Malaysia over a day/evening trip which we call West-East-West ride (WEW ride). Four of the riders had pillions with them (yay!) so I had some female company!
Category: Asia
Review: Ahleeyado — Mesilau, Kundasang, Sabah (Malaysia)
Whew! I just came back from a 5D4N trip to Sabah, Malaysia with my mum. Safe to say, I will be back again, Sabah!
For this trip, I’d love to share with you guys where we stayed and what we did — Sabah is really an interesting Malaysian state, very much different from Peninsular (Semenanjung) Malaysia. For the third and fourth night, we stayed in Ahleeyado, a property located in the Mesilau highlands. (more…)
Desaru International Bike Week 2023
Recently, I went up to Desaru for a day trip to visit the Desaru International Bike Week. I went on a short day trip alone, just to see what’s there. My friends couldn’t make it, so I made the trip alone.
Motorcycling through Taiwan’s East Coast — 2018
As I am growing older and my penchant for solo adventurous trips has reduced, I often reminisce about the interesting parts of those trips. Back in 2018, I rented a 125cc and explored the East Coast of Taiwan on my own. I was only 1 year and a few months into riding, have yet to own a Class 2A license and was still a poor student, so a 125cc scooter was all I could rent. (more…)
Going Solo in Hong Kong — 2018
Back in January 2018, I went on a solo trip to Hong Kong. During this trip, it was more of hiking, eating and meeting my old friend from Summer Exchange, Toby! (more…)
Review: Wanderlust, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood
Hi friends! I’ll be reviewing my staycation at the Wanderlust Hotel, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood. Located in Little India, it is a perfect short getaway from the city’s hustle but right in the heart of a beautiful culture.
The Wanderlust Hotel recently had a birthday offer in March, and my friends and I stayed in one of their Studio Lofts! Overall, it was a wonderful stay, although I had a few qualms. We had stayed at Oakwood AMTD earlier in January and loved our stay there.
Read more about my experience at Oakwood AMTD here!
The hotel had a beautiful clean front, with a huge door which you had to push quite hard. The steps down to road level were a little steep, so be careful! The concierge was excellent and friendly, and we received our room cards quickly.
Room
Our room was on level 4 (topmost) and faced the Bugis area in the distance. The room has rather a weird sound insulation – we couldn’t hear the street noise, but we could somewhat hear the people next door.
My friends and I are fans of cooking, so having a fully equipped kitchenette is a godsend (which is why we love to have a staycation in places with kitchenettes!).
Read more about my experience at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road here!
However, we were a little disappointed by the array of kitchen utensils (or the lack of them). There weren’t any kitchen scissors, which we found was an absolute basic. Perhaps it was missed out in our room. There were no other utensils such as a colander, more giant bowls and even a peeler.
The toilet had a bidet – this is a massive plus for us because… #bidetforlife!
As for the room itself, the bottom floor was perfectly sized. I wasn’t so sure about the tiles on the floor – it does get quite cold and sometimes slippery. However, with the kitchen and living area sharing the space, it makes sense.
We did have some problems connecting our Macbook to the SmartTV. Hence we just opted for the HDMI wire after half an hour of trying to set it up. (Clearly, at this point, we aren’t fans of calling room service to solve our problems).
As for the bed area, the space to walk around was very narrow. One thing I disliked about lofts was the lack of plugs and the inability to control the room’s temperature. For this one, the Studio Loft had a good number of plugs on each side of the bed and the ability to control the master lights. It is pretty troublesome to head down to adjust the temperature as the thermostat is on the bottom floor.
There was a small pool which we didn’t go for as it was just a dip pool.
Amenities
This was where Wanderlust Hotel shined. Although my friends and I preferred to have an in-room washing machine, we knew it wasn’t convenient to have that (during room service between guests). There were multiple washers and dryers on the second floor that guests could use for free without bringing any detergent!
That floor also had a pantry to stock up on coffee/tea, sugar sticks and a water dispensing machine. What’s remarkable is that there was a sparkling water dispenser option!
Would I stay here again?
Unfortunately, we probably would not stay at Wanderlust, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood. However, we were pretty pleased with the location since Mustafa Centre is nearby. If you’re not keen on cooking (like us!), there are tons of Indian eateries (both North and South Indian cuisines) to tickle your fancy. It’s pretty accessible via public transport too, but other than that, the rooms are pretty average.
Review: Spize Rifle Range @ Temasek Club
I have been to Spize Rifle Range @ Temasek Club multiple times, and it never failed to amaze me. I love the food, the service and the ambience. Overlooking the swimming pools and the beautiful greenery of Bukit Timah Nature Park, I highly recommend this restaurant for your next visit.
The most recent experience I had eating here was with my secondary school friend, Maisarah. We went during the month of Ramadan. As expected, it was pretty full-house. Luckily, I managed to reserve two seats for us for iftar.
Do you need a reservation?
Most of the time, you can get seats pretty quickly without any reservation. However, it is highly recommended to do so during peak hours (lunch and dinner). Even though Spize Rifle Range @ Temasek Club is pretty out of the way (literally in the middle of a Nature Reserve!), other users of the country club do patronise the restaurant because of the delicious food.
How to get there?
There are no public buses that directly drops off at Temasek Club. You can either:
- Drive
- Take the shuttle bus from Beauty World MRT – check out the times here.
- Drop off at the nearest bus stop and walk (uphill!)
My Recommendations
My favourite was the Wagyu & Portobello Stack Burger. I simply have a love for grilled portobello mushrooms in my food. The flavours are elevated – I highly recommend it! Sadly, the mushrooms were unavailable when I returned in April this year. Hence, I opted for the “Angus Royale”. It’s absolutely delicious and great for those who love caramelised onions.
The prices were pretty fair for a restaurant, though it would be better to dine in with more than three pax to share meals. The portions were average, though slightly on the larger side.
I have never ordered any other beverage other than their Iced Yuzu Black Tea. Somehow my sister and mother don’t like the taste. I love how perfectly bitter and savoury these two combinations can get. I can never replicate it in my own kitchen.
Maisarah had the Moroccan Roast Chicken, and we both had the hummus to share. The hummus arrived first, so that was a great appetiser to start when we both broke our fasts.
Would I recommend this place?
Absolutely. It’s a perfect place for a date, a work appointment, a family gathering and so on! Barring the out-of-the-way location, I still think that Spize Rifle Range should be on your list of to-go places. While my food review is rather subjective, the ambience of the restaurant is worth visiting once.
Check out their menu here (June 2022).
Address: 131 Rifle Range Rd, #03-04, Singapore 588406
Opening Hours: 8.30AM-10.30PM (Sundays – Thursdays), 8.30AM-11PM (Fridays and Saturdays)
Review: Lola Faye Café
My partner and I were craving something in the late evenings. Most cafés in Singapore close around 10 pm – which is pretty acceptable, but we just… wanted to get fat (haha!). Add a halal-certified cafe to the mix, and you get Lola Faye Café!
Lola Faye Café
It is a little bit far for us since we both stay in Jurong. However, we were chilling by East Coast Park, and the café was convenient to go to!
- Address: 35 Hamilton Rd, Singapore 209204
- Opening Hours: 2 pm to 2 am every day, closed on Mondays
Surprise, surprise! This café’s operating hours start at 2 pm, and end at 2 am. Perfect for those who like to chill in the middle of the night. I’m so envious of those staying in the East…
The area is also peppered with bars and other cafés and Mamak shops. You’re also a stone’s throw away from Jalan Besar Stadium and *cough* my ex-workplace (People’s Association) *cough*. I’d chill around these areas more often to explore the other cafés (mostly non-halal-certified).
When we arrived around 10 pm, there was a pretty long queue. Good thing for us, we were only two people, and seats were almost available after 15 minutes of waiting. The café’s ambiance was cozy for customers, and the aesthetics were excellent for Instagrammers.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take photos of the café, but I did take pictures of the food…
What did we have?
- Peachy Peaches Milkshake
- Oreo Strawberry Milkshake
- Biscotti Ice cream with Buttermilk Waffle
- Hokkaido Milk Ice cream with Charcoal Waffle and Chocolate Drizzle
Do We Recommend?
Yup! I think it’s a solid 4 out of 5 for me. The Buttermilk Waffle was slightly chewier than the Charcoal Waffle. The combination of the ice cream and waffle was a hit. I would skip the Chocolate Drizzle (a top-up of $1) because it overwhelms the Hokkaido Milk ice cream.
The drinks were a little sweet for my taste, but I’m so used to drinking 25% and 0% bubble teas, so there’s a bit of a bias there. Note: I’m not a food reviewer by any means, so please take my review with a pinch of salt!
Review: The Cat Cafe (Bukit Timah)
I adore cats and had the opportunity to play with them recently at The Cat Cafe (Bukit Timah)! It’s pretty close to home and airconditioned, so it’s a perfect family-friendly place for us. The Cat Cafe has 2 outlets in total, the other located in Bugis!
Admission Rates
The Cat Cafe is located in Rail Mall, Bukit Timah. The facade of The Cat Cafe had cats chilling in the rest area. We had to remove our shoes and pay for our entry. Luckily we made a reservation online as there are limited slots per session. The fee was $16 for the first 2 hours, with one complimentary soft drink. For the subsequent 1/2 hours, it’s an additional $4 for every 30 minutes. To me, the entrance fee was affordable.
There are other drinks like tea, coffee and chocolate, which you can swap your complimentary soft drink for an additional fee. There are also cakes and pastries, but none of them tickled our fancy.
Fun?
However, we felt a little bored in the second hour as most of the cats were either sleeping or hiding in the resting area at the shop’s facade (which patrons are not allowed to enter). There is also the warmest area in the entire cafe. If you didn’t know, cats love warm areas!
I loved this concept cafe because the cats are all strays or re-homed. The vision gives cats another chance at living a comfortable life. My favourite cat was Sushi. Sushi is a lap cat, so she sat on my friend for at least 45 minutes! Talk about being lucky!
Tips
One tip I’d give is to visit in the evenings when the sun has set. Cats are pretty nocturnal, so they are more active then. We went right when the cafe was open at 3 pm. As I mentioned, we were bored and had to wait out our 2 hours to make our money’s worth (haha).
I had upgraded my soft drink to tea and felt that it was a little overpriced. There are several eateries along Rail Mall, so I’d recommend you to stick to the complimentary soft drink and eat somewhere else.
Would I go again?
Not really! I think there are more exciting cat cafes/cat-related activities such as the Kitten Sanctuary and the Cat Museum. Even though the admission prices are pretty affordable at $8/hour, the cats are inactive if you visit during the day. The whole concept is more of a cafe, and the cats are just a pretty decoration to the side. Maybe we should have tried the cakes to see if it was worth a visit…
Make a Reservation at The Cat Cafe here.
- The Cat Cafe (Bukit Timah) – Rail Mall, 392 Upper Bukit Timah Road
- The Cat Cafe (Bugis) – 241B Victoria Street Level 3
Review: Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road (January 2022)
Hello everyone.
It has been a while since I touched this space. I want to share my staycation experience at Pan Pacific Service Suites Beach Road with you. Both my friends and I stayed there from 12 to 14 January 2022. We wanted more holiday, even though December had just passed. Plus, who can say no to a fun experience at a serviced apartment hotel?
Checking In
Based on the reviews we saw on Google and Agoda, the check-in process was relatively slow. Officially, the check-in time was at 3 pm. I felt that it was true. We had to wait a long time in the lobby, and some of the staff were unsure what to do with the documentation. There was only two concierge staff, and I could feel that they were stressed.
We only managed to check-in at 5 pm – but that was because we requested a bathtub. A previous guest was staying in the room we were to stay in. The concierge offered us access to the pool and gym while waiting, but we were already hungry. We left our luggage and went for a late lunch around the area. The concierge claimed that she tried to call us on my mobile around 4 pm when we came back. But I did not receive any notifications whatsoever… but it’s okay.
We stayed in room 1008 (10th floor). We had a sliced view of the Singapore Flyer and the constructions along Nicoll Highway. Despite the construction works, we did not hear much of it – which was awesome!
Quality of Stay
We stayed in a One Bedroom Deluxe Suite with King Bed and had our request for a bathtub fulfilled. Only the Deluxe rooms (which were the cheapest) had bathtubs. However, not all of the Deluxe rooms had bathtubs —request for it, subject to availability.
The rooms were dated – a bit of the laminate on the walls was peeled, and the carpeted floorings along corridors were dirty. Some of the wall edges in the room were chipped. We weren’t very picky, but there has to be a refresh of the carpets.
What we loved was the kitchenette. That was the primary purpose of our stay! We had most of our meals here. Cooking with friends was a fun activity, especially when the current Safe Management Measures didn’t allow BBQ in public parks yet.
The kitchenette facilities and utensils were just enough for us. However, we noticed that one of the two induction stoves didn’t work. We never figured out whether it was faulty or deactivated due to a safety feature.
One highlight of our stay was the infinity pool. Located on the top floor next to the 24-hour gym, the pool faces the sunrise. So imagine me – pulling my friends up in the wee hours of the morning to go for a sunrise swim! Bonus points – we were the only ones on the top floor (gym and pool!).
Vicinity
I would recommend a stay here if you are a foodie like me. Located just a street away from the famed Arab Street, tons of food options are available. Note that the hours are shortened due to COVID-19, and none of the stalls are open 24 hours. The only open shops are 7-11… which is also right in the middle of the Arab Street area.
Food/Beverages to Try (in no particular order):
- The Dim Sum Place
- The Ramen Stall
- Zam Zam or Victory
- fika
- Bhai Sarbat
Would I stay here again?
For sure. I would book the same room type to enjoy the bathtub experience and cooking with family or friends. Or go with a significant other. The sunrise swim was a romantic experience.
I didn’t mind that the room type was on a ‘lower’ floor. Level 10 was high enough to see the surroundings. Even though our stay was during the weekdays, there were lots of people checking in. I cannot imagine what the service would be like during the weekends.
So yes, (cheaper) weekday stays!