Day Trip to Sintra
Besides Cascais, Sintra is one of the best places to go on a day trip from Lisbon. Not only is it a UNESCO Heritage Site but it is practically a fairy tale come to life. There are multiple castles to see (each very different from…
Author: admin
Long Weekend in Ubud, Bali
Ubud is hands-down the crown jewel of Bali. While the beaches here enjoy a great reputation, the moss-covered temples deep within the jungles of Ubud are absolutely incredible. As many people say, this place is the sacred, spiritual heart of the region. Even if you…
Cooking Class in Ubud
I believe wholeheartedly that cooking classes are the best way to get to know a culture! My husband and I both love to cook, try new cuisines, and as a result have had the joy of taking cooking classes all over the world. Bali is no exception and we learned a great deal about what ingredients (and flavor profiles) are key to Balinese cuisine. Many of the ingredients are quite unusual for the West – ever tried cooking with galangal, coconut oil, lemongrass, and kaffir lime? All I can say it’s a feast for the senses!
Periuk Bali
We had the luck of having our cooking class with Periuk Bali. This post is not sponsored. I absolutely recommend Periuk as it was an intimate, fun, and insightful experience. It was so great that my husband still makes Balinese chicken soup and curry from the class! Our instructor was super friendly and brought us to a local rice paddy first thing to show us how rice is made and then to a local wet market.
For the actual cooking class we went to our instructor’s home, which is a traditional Balinese dwelling with multiple houses and an official family shrine. He even explained the concept of a traditional home and his daughter assisted us throughout the class, a truly cozy and intimate feel. We even learned how to make a Balinese offering before our class. You can see the small offerings of flowers and incense scattered throughout temples in Bali! Our class was also small, only three of us (including my husband), which was perfect. We got to know each other well and had some fun!
Balinese Cuisine
Balinese cuisine consists of plenty of fresh produce and spices. However, I found the food here to be clean-tasting, light and never processed (though always incredibly tasty)! Balinese cooking is largely done with coconut oil, which gives the food such a light and grease-free taste. At the start of our lesson we were even taught how coconut oil is made from scratch. Some other key ingredients commonly used in Balinese cooking are: garlic, red chili peppers, shallots, nutmeg, ginger, galangal, kaffir lime, turmeric, palm sugar, cumin, shrimp paste and salam leaves (Indonesian bayleaf). If you are visually curious, here is a fantastic clip of food blogger Mark Wiens documenting Royal Balinese cooking in the kitchen!
As for our own cooking experience, here is an expansive list (along with pictures) of delicious things we made from appetizer to dessert! The class took up roughly half a day and we were able to enjoy the fruits of our labor at the very end while enjoying the lush views of the jungle below.
Chicken Satay and Peanut Sauce
Sambal Ulek (Balinese spicy sauce)
Balinese Chicken Curry
Pepes Ikan (steam fish in banana leaves)
Tempe Manis (deep fried tempe in sweet soy sauce)
Sayur Urab (Balinese vegetable salad)
Soup Ayam (Balinese chicken soup)
Kue Dadar Gulung (pancake roll)
The Verdict
The best part is the fact we were given all of the recipes in print at the end of the class. So you can easily replicate all of the deliciousness from satay to dessert! Although some of these ingredients can be difficult to source outside of Southeast Asia many can be substituted. Rob and I have enjoyed delicious renderings of these dishes in Singapore and now in Lisbon! I am sure there many other cooking classes in Ubud but this one comes highly recommended.
If you are like us and love to explore a culture through food you need to sign up for a cooking class on your next trip! Southeast Asia is a perfect region to do so and someday I hope to do a cooking course in Tuscany. Check out my posts on cooking classes in Rajasthan, Hanoi, and Changmai!
Review: Bambu Indah, Ubud, Bali
We stayed in two different resorts for each trip but Bambu Indah was hands down our favorite! Not only is Bambu an eco-resort but it is absolutely gorgeous! You can choose from a variety of different rooms, each being wholly unique. Some are transplanted antique,…
Weekend in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Georgetown, Penang Penang is a great weekend getaway option from Singapore. Not only is it nearby but it is also budget-friendly. Flights are $50-70 flying out of Changi Airport and are a little over an hour long. Top reasons for visiting Georgetown, Penang include the…
Best Places to Visit in Singapore
Singapore
Living in Singapore for three years has been quite an adventure! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up here, a city state of multiculturalism and progressive policymaking. Not only is Singapore extremely clean thanks to its ban on littering and efficient but it is unbelievably green and has lots to explore. From culture, shopping, to nature, there is a whole lot to do.
Singapore is located in the Straits of Malacca, which has a unique history of trade and cultural fusion. This city state was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles and key trading port for the British East India Company. Eventually this meant Singapore came under direct British control. You will see many colonial-style buildings throughout the city state like the famous Raffles Hotel. Even the shophouses in Chinatown and Emerald Hill have an element of colonial influence.
To this day, the main ethnic groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, and Indian. As you can guess this means the heritage of this city-state is rich and the food tasty! However, did you know there is a community of people called Peranakans that are unique to this part of the world? Peranakans are individuals with a fusion of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage and can trace their ancestry to the 15th century to Chinese traders who married local Malay women.
The Peranakan community has its own traditions and even cuisine! Check out my post on some of my favorite Perankan restaurants in Singapore including afternoon tea at Violet Oon. If you are interested in the history of the Straits, I highly recommend some museums (below) and a visit to neighboring Penang, Malaysia. Check out my post on Georgetown, Penang.
Here are some of my most favorite places in Singapore, old and new!
Marina Bay
Undoubtedly the most iconic place in Singapore. There is a lovely park and walkway along the bay where you can enjoy spectacular views of the skyline. I especially recommend coming here at sunset or evening to enjoy the balmy summer breezes that bless Singapore all year long. There are some restaurants and bars that line the water, which are great places to hang out and enjoy the view.
Of course, a key landmark is the Merlion fountain! This mythical creature is the official mascot of Singapore and has the head of a lion and body of a fish. Did you know Singapore has multiple merlion statues throughout? However, the fountain located in Marina Bay is definitely the most famous. Many people like to run, bike, and scooter, along the Merlion Park in the evening. You can also easily walk to the Marina Bay Sands Mall for some luxury shopping, dining, or access the lush Gardens by the Bay.
Be sure to admire the Marina Bay Sands Hotel that towers over Marina Bay. The hotel houses a famous infinity pool at the very top, shaped like a surfboard. Check out my review of our stay there! If you can’t stay in the hotel, you can also enjoy a cocktail (perhaps a Singapore Sling?) at the CÉ LA VI Restaurant and Bar, which is located just adjacent to the infinity pool. Mind you, it isn’t the same but you can at least admire the breathtaking view.
Gardens by the Bay
One of my favorite aspects of Singapore is that it is so green! There are numerous parks where you can hike, bike or run and then there are the “futuristic” gardens. By this I mean Gardens by the Bay. In addition to a beautifully, landscaped park you have the magnificent Super Trees, which are are essentially illuminated towers of tropical plants and orchids. These remind me so much of Avatar on many levels (and I am not the only one)! Lateral gardens are also something Singapore really champions in its aims to be a green city. Check out the Oasia Hotel in Tanjong Pagar as well as the Park Royal Hotel for other lateral garden concepts throughout Singapore.
There are also two domed greenhouses located wihin the Gardens by the Bay that are absolutely stunning – the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The latter is especially my favorite but both are worth the visit! You will need two separate tickets for each site and because they are quite big you can elect to see one and not the other if you prefer. But if you have time, I recommend purchasing the ticket bundle to both conservatories at S$28. These domes are also a refreshing way to be in “nature” while remaining cool on a hot day.
The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome houses different themed exhibitions every now and then so be on the lookout. Unlike the Cloud Forest, the flower displays change quite drastically. When we were last there calendulas were in bloom and carpeted the whole place! What I absolutely loved was were the soaring, glass ceilings – super modern and architecturally beautiful through and through. Did you know the Flower Dome is 38 meters (125 ft) high? While the Cloud Forest emulates the ecosystem of a rainforest the Flower Dome houses plants found in the Mediterranean and semi-arid tropical parts of the world.
Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest is an impressive feat of architecture and science. This “mountain” of greenery is meant to be climbed via various airborne walkways that lead inside and directly underneath a massive waterfall. You won’t believe how many tropical plants and orchids are thriving here. If you are an orchid lover, this place would thrill you! Whenever I visit, I marvel at how this ecosystem is completely manmade and was undoubtedly created by some brilliant, collaborative minds.
Did you know the size of the Cloud Forest is approximately as big as 60 Olympic-sized pools? The greenhouse also requires 2,577 individual glass panels in 690 different shapes and sizes. Can you imagine how many species of plants reside here? Tell me your guess once you see this place!
If you can’t get enough of the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest and want to see some more check out Floral Fantasy, another gorgeous floral/plant exhibition!
The National Gallery
Singapore has many wonderful museums from the National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilizations Museum, to the Arts Science Museum. But my favorite, as an art lover, is the National Gallery. This museum houses artwork from some of the most preeminent artists of the world and also that of celebrated regional artists. There are also some great exhibits that delve into Singapore’s colonial past. The building itself is also fascinating as a historic building that has adopted a modern wing. A great example of harmony between old and new architecture!
Considering how large this museum is you can easily spend a good part of the day here. If you are curious particularly about regional history, the Asian Civilizations Museum is filled with artifacts and is more of a history museum rather than art. Sometimes they have workshops and hands-on activities, like the opportunity to draw a self portrait (below). FYI my sketch is definitely not complete but something roughly done in 20 mins!
Haji Lane
Considering the amount of cultural diversity in Singapore, there are various cultural districts that you must visit! These include Chinatown, Little India and the Arab quarter (which includes Haji Lane)! In this post, for the sake of brevity, I will not cover the first two but the latter is my favorite. Haji Lane, is a little street that is located right by the beautiful Masjid Sultan mosque. If you are a hipster of sorts or just enjoy cute boutiques this is the place for you. Not only is this street absolutely instagram-able but this is where you can find local designer labels. Some of my favorite shops include:
Sifir Aromatics – Amazing little perfume shop that sells premium scents at an affordable price. You can also opt to have a private consultation and create an exclusive personalized scent!
The Nail Social – My favorite nail salon in Singapore that offers comfy chairs, an iPad for catching up on Netflix and complimentary iced tea (a glass of wine on the weekends). You can also order other drinks off the menu including cider. Best of all, this salon is a social enterprise, and uses non-toxic polish so you’re doing good (for yourself and others)!
Bellakini – This shop has the most beautiful swimsuits ever! Not only that but its shop attendants are so informative and helpful. You need a well-trained eye and helpful suggestions to find your next beachwear and Bellakini provides that. Try to be open-minded and ask an attendant what they recommend for your body type.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has a special place in my heart! If you didn’t know I received my Masters Degree in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore, which is literally nestled in the gardens. This meant I had the luck of taking at least one nature walk a day. That being said, Singapore can get quite humid and blazing hot. So the gardens are only really pleasant when it is cooler. If you can, avoid visiting midday – come in the morning or late afternoon!
This place is huge so plan accordingly but no worries if you prefer to wander around and get lost. The beauty of this place is that it has so many beautiful areas! There are herb gardens, a play garden for kids, and a spectacular orchid garden. Flower lovers, absolutely do not miss the Orchid Garden. There is a reason why the official flower of Singapore is an orchid. In all there are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids displayed throughout. All of the orchid gardens I have been to in the US were always indoors and in greenhouses. But because Singapore is humid and tropical this garden is completely outdoors! There are also various sections to explore that showcase rare species to special hybrids that are dedicated to famous people. Tickets to the Orchid Garden are S$5 for adults and free for children under 12 years old. Hours are from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM daily (last ticket sales and entry are at 6 PM).
If you prefer, you could also drop by for lunch at one of the many delicious eateries here. The gardens make for a wonderful, romantic atmosphere. Picnics are also always an option – near the Botanic Gardens MRT you will find a Da Paolo Gastronomia, which sells an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and meals perfect for a takeaway meal.
For Casual Lunch: Bee’s Knees, Cafe by the gift shop
For Special Occasions: The Corner House, The Halia, Botanico
Palau Ubin
You need not go far to experience how Singapore looked way back when it was a fishing village! If you are craving some peace and quiet, and a bit of nature, take a bumboat to Palau Ubin ($3 per person). You should be able to easily find a boat in the harbor but will need to wait a bit for it to fill up with other passengers. Since land is precious in Singapore the government has been trying to reclaim the island for development. But Singaporeans have pushed back given Palau Ubin’s unique, natural habitats, which include mangroves, jungles, and coastlines. We managed to see wild boar and monkeys during our day out as well! Not to mention, there are also some eclectic taoist shrines scattered throughout.
I highly recommend renting a bike to get around the island. That way you can easily move around the island to view all the sights (especially considering the heat). Bike rentals cost around $7-10 for a full day. Make sure you ask for a lock though, as in certain areas like Chek Jawa (below) you are not allowed to bring your bike along. Though it is not large, with a bike you can see some key sights (below) with relative ease. Again, it is also bound to be sunny and humid so walking the whole distance would probably not be the most pleasant thing to do.
Highlights include:
Chek Jawa – the wetlands that are one of this island’s main attractions! You can admire the mangroves, find sea creatures lurking during low-tide (e.g. mudskippers, small fish, crabs), and check out the boardwalk. This is a great place to admire the mangroves, which play an integral part of this island’s ecosystem.
German Girl Shrine – This shrine is probably the quirkiest one, housed in a wooden structure. Legend says the daughter of a German plantation owner was running away from British troops during WWI and fell to her death in a quarry. Over time this girl transformed into a Taoist deity, who some believe can grant good health and lucky lottery numbers. What I found fascinating were the offerings in the shrine, which included dolls and other toys.
Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple – Another interesting shrine, which we found very eerie but worth a peek. This 80-year old temple is covered in colorful prayer flags with chanting heard throughout the complex. Picture above.
That is all for this blog post folks! But there are so many more wonderful places to explore in Singapore. I may be adding to this list over time so please feel free to check back in! Also be sure to check out my other posts about Singapore food and other experiences!
Review: Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Living in Singapore for three years, one of my biggest dreams was to experience what it is like staying in the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This iconic hotel is impossible to miss when gazing at the Singapore skyline – it has a unique surfboard…
Review: Violet Oon Afternoon Tea
As someone who absolutely loves high tea, I was delighted to know that Singapore really embraces the tradition. This makes complete sense considering Singapore was a former British colony. Although there are many amazing places to enjoy high tea in this city state one of…
Siem Reap in Two Days
This past spring we had the amazing opportunity to visit Siem Reap, which is just over two hours by flight from Singapore. Siem Reap is world famous for its Ankor Wat complex, which was built during the time of the Khmer empire at the end of the 12th century and absolutely does not disappoint! Although I had dreamed of visiting Angkor Wat one day, I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would be so beautiful and unlike what I have ever seen.
Angkor Wat is the perfect place to explore for hours at a time, with lots of nooks and crannies, sprawling jungle and ancient structures that remind you of how insignificant you are in a humbling way. Meandering through these awesome ruins is a reminder that even the greatest of civilizations follow a cyclical path. What goes up must come down. What I delightfully discovered is that the complex is filled with hundreds of smaller temples, each unique and memorable. It is absolutely worth visiting as many temples as possible aside from the main one and when I look back on our trip, I have particularly lovely memories of “discovering” various ruins like an archaeologist! Especially with the smaller temples you will find yourself often times completely alone.
From Singapore, Angkor Wat is an easy weekend trip. We decided to travel right at the beginning of their rainy season. I highly suggest this because the weather is much cooler and there are less tourists. Many people I spoke to who have been to Angkor Wat warned me of the crowds – but we really lucked out because of our decision.
Navutu Dreams Hotel
Apparently, according to my husband, I have a knack for choosing great hotels including where we stayed in Siem Reap, Navutu Dreams Resort and Wellness! The resort has a rambling garden, two beautiful infinity pools, as well as cheerful rooms with round windows and a luxe bath tub. Although Navutu is a five star hotel, like many resorts in South East Asia, it was absolutely affordable at $148 per night. We even got upgraded upon check-in to the Grand Double Room, which is spacious (huge bathroom, sitting area, patio, and beautiful bathtub overlooking an interior, private garden).
The breakfasts were delicious – for mains you can choose either Western or Cambodian (definitely recommend this)! They also serve breakfast pastries, fresh fruits and juices along with every meal. After each day it was also so nice to be able to take a dip in the pool to relax. Whatever you do, make sure your resort has a chill area and a pool because you end up walking a LOT in the heat!
Main Complex
On our first day we hired a guide and driver to take us around from temple to temple. This is essential because the entire complex is so huge. The main complex is what you usually see in pictures but in reality it is only one of many. We took a tuk tuk rather than a car, which I also advise! It’s really fun to ride al fresco especially when it is hot out. To view the entire complex you need to purchase an all-access ticket. They offer day or multi-day options. Since we were going to be there for two whole days we purchased the 3-day at $62. Oddly enough, they don’t offer 2-day tickets (probably not a coincidence…) so we had to pay more than we should have! If it rains and your paper ticket gets wet and illegible, you will need to purchase a new one. So make sure your backpack is at least semi-waterproof and keep the ticket safe. Note: every temple complex you go to the guards will be checking your pass!
I absolutely suggest you begin with the main complex in the morning. Lots of people like to view the sunrise from here but it was overcast the whole time we were there and honestly, it’s probably beautiful but not a must do. I hear in may cases it is also overcrowded.
Highly suggest you bring the following items for your day of exploration:
Sunglasses
Hat or umbrella (parasol)
Semi-waterproof backpack
Water bottle(s)
A snack
Sunscreen (make sure you reapply!)
Comfortable sneakers
Smaller Complexes
After viewing the main complex, we proceeded to visit some smaller ones. I personally enjoyed the side-trips to smaller temples as they were each so unique and memorable. The second day we continued to view these smaller temples. Here are my top three favorite:
Bayon
This temple is particularly noteworthy for its “faces” carved into the top “spires” of the complex. There are multiple faces that can be viewed from different angles as you explore the inner sanctum, which makes it fascinating. I couldn’t enough of some of the carvings, which remain in impeccable condition with so much detail. Bayon has a labyrinth-like feel to it, particularly the further you go in. From the outside it all looks very impressive. However ancient Angkor Wat is, you can see that these temples continue to be worshipped by the local people even today, which is truly special. When we visited there were incense and various offerings laid outside and within the temple.
Preah Khan
This temple complex is best known for the incredible trees that have sprouted and sprawled themselves atop the buildings over time! What a powerful metaphor for nature’s power and a salient reminder that we are all inevitably a part of nature. There is one specific tree, growing on the roof of a temple ruin that is especially famous (top left photo). But I found that there are plenty of other parts of Preah Khan that are just as (if not more) incredible and without crowds. As I was walking through Preah Khan, what I realized was although these ruins are indisputably ancient, the jungles surrounding them are much older. Isn’t that a marvelous thought?
Pre Rup
The very last temple complex we visited was also quite unique and built by Khmer king Rajendravarman in 961 or 962. What makes Pre Rup stand out is its glorious, reddish color. Mind you, the main stairway is quite steep and has no handrails. Although i’ve watched various monks and locals climbing upright (the normal way) I ended up climbing up (embarrassingly) on all fours. Although the climb is a bit unnerving the view is really something (check out photo at the top of this post). FYI once you get to the top you will notice there are no railings at all – be careful. The lion statues perched on all four corners are quite beautiful. After viewing Pre Rup we were quite exhausted and headed back to our resort. A dip in the pool was in order and was a perfectly wonderful way to end the day. That and some cool coconut water!
Have you been to Siem Reap before? Which temples were your favorites? How many smaller temple complexes did you manage to hit?
Best Teahouses in Singapore
After returning from a great trip to China, I found myself obsessed with traditional Chinese tea. Read about my lovely, rainy afternoon at the Huxinting Teahouse in the Yu Gardens of Shangai. Although tea is celebrated throughout the Eastern and Western world alike it originated…