Did you know that Hotel Seine Cafe is a filming location for popular K drama Hotel Del Luna? Xinyi and I visited this beautiful cafe that spans 4 levels during our recent MFP trip to Seoul! Located at Ikseon-dong (read the article I wrote about this instagrammable neighbourhood), this cafe appeared in episode 11 of Hotel Del Luna, when the hotel received their first pair of human guests who were on honeymoon. To complete the experience and fit in with the cafe vibes, you may wish to consider renting a vintage dress from Ikseon Boutique, just like what we did!

On first impression, the pink building may not look like much on the outside. When you take a step inside however, be prepared to be wowed by the luxurious baroque decor as seen in Hotel Del Luna.

Doesn’t this concierge ring a bell? Contrary to what is depicted in the drama, this isn’t exactly a concierge. It is a counter where customers pick up their drinks and food.

Take your pick from an array of cakes and breads on level one, order a drink or two and chill out at a photoworthy spot of your choice on any of the 4 levels. The food and drinks are pretty average but come on, that’s not what we are here for right?

Here’s what every level looks like:

Level 1 Seating Area:

Level 2 Seating Area:

Level 3 Seating Area:

We decided on level 3 as there are more photo spots here!

Level 4 Full Moon Bar:

What’s a Hotel Del Luna inspired cafe without its very own Full Moon Bar? Now, you too can reenact some of those magical romantic moments between Hotel Del Luna CEO Jang Man Wol and General Manager Goo Chang Sung at this bar, particularly at the balcony overlooking the traditional hanoks of Ikseon-dong.

Here’s how you can get there:

As it’s located within Ikseon-dong, take the subway to Jongno-3-ga station, walk out via exit 4 and cross the road.

Address: 28-5 Donhwamun-ro 11-gil, Nakwon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: 12pm – 10pm daily

One of the things that I worry about whenever I travel overseas for an extended period of time is my mail. Who’s going to check my mailbox? What if I forget to pay my insurance or credit card bills? Truth be told, this has happened to me more than once this year as I was overseas most of the time.

Don’t even get me started on the late payment charges. Call me old-school but while I am aware that I can always opt for GIRO, I like to check my bills before making payment. I mean, haven’t you spotted mistakes in your bills? I know I have.

Fortunately, ScanMail by Singapore Post takes care of my mail for me now! With ScanMail, I can view all my bills and letters at a glance via the SAM app. An easy touch of a button is all you need to convert snail mail to digital mail.

Here’s an example of a bank statement I received this month.

Some other benefits that you’ll stand to gain from using ScanMail are:

1) Never miss out letters/bills again!

Erm, but don’t service providers offer digital mail service now as well? Sure, they do, but you’ll have to approach each service provider individually and make sure that you check your e-mail on a timely basis without missing out on any mails. That’s no mean feat especially when I constantly have an avalanche of emails waiting for me in my inbox.

ScanMail offers a single point of access for all your mails. Now, all I need to do is open up my SAM app and I’ll see every bill and letter that requires my attention. I’ll never miss another bill payment again!

2) Store all your mails digitally for up to 7 years!

Here’s another perk. Your ScanMail can be stored up to 7 years so you can trace all your letters and bills without having to file any hardcopies. Going paperless gives you easy access to everything you need right at your fingertips!

3) Pay bills directly through SAM’s Integrated payment platform

Pay your bills immediately using your phone, tablet or laptop through the integrated payment platform which is equipped with bank-grade security and encryption technology.

4) Get extra digital storage for personal items such as receipts etc.

ScanMail offers secure digital storage to sort other personal stuff such as receipts and documents. You can even customise your folders accordingly. Yup, time to throw out those dusty files on your bookshelves!

5) Settle your parents’ bills on their behalf

Being the filial daughter or son that you and I probably are, you may wish to settle your parents’ bill payments on their behalf even when you’re away. With ScanMail, you can easily link up your account with that of your parents’ to receive their bills digitally. How convenient!

Now, here’s the million dollar question. How much does it cost?

There are three options depending on the number of bills and letters that you wish to keep track of every month. Personally, I find that the Lite plan (up to 10 mail per month) is sufficient for me.And you know what the best part is? There is currently a limited time offer at just S$19.90!

Click here to find out more details!

Thanks to ScanMail, I can finally travel with peace of mind as I now have easy access to all my bills and letters at the touch of a button!

Singapore may be a little red dot, but you’ll be surprised that beyond the usual tourist attractions, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered! That is the reason why Park Regis Singapore recently developed #sginsiders,  a walking guide covering lifestyle spots in the Clarke Quay and Chinatown enclaves. These spots are within 15 minutes walking distance from the hotel and guests are able to go on a self-guided trail to explore the surroundings from a local perspective.

1. Fun & Adventure: Battlebox at Fort Canning

It was an eye-opening experience to say the least, and one of the most interesting attractions I visited was Battlebox at Fort Canning. It used to be a WWII British underground command centre and it was here that the British decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese. History buffs would be pleased to know that Battlebox is now a museum. If you’re interested in how Malaya and Singapore fell into the hands of the Japanese in WWII as well as how an underground command centre functioned during a war, this is the place for you.

 If shooting 60km up into the skies at 200km/h is your idea of fun, pop by G-Max Reverse Bungy for some adrenalin pumping action and catch a splendid view of the Singapore River while you’re at it! You could also play some board games at Settler’s Cafe or visit the weekend flea market at China Square Central (great for those of you who prefer tamer activites!).

2. Arts/Lifestyle: Matter Prints

For comfortable clothes that tell a story, Matter Prints at Pagoda Street will not disappoint. Matter Prints is a socially driven brand that champions alternative production models for textile artisans around the world. By supporting Matter Prints, you’ll make a difference to society. Doesn’t that sound meaningful? Happy shopping!

For other cultural activities, be sure to visit Chinatown, Peranakan Museum and Asian Civilisations Museum too.

3.  Nightlife: Hive by Wala Wala

I have always been a fan of Wala Wala for their fabulous live music. Hive is the sister outlet of Wala Wala at Holland Village, so if you’re staying at Park Regis, you can stroll over for a drink and get your live band fix in just 15 minutes! They open till 1am from Mondays to Saturdays and till midnight on Sundays.

Fancy a little club hopping? Be sure to check out the other cool nightspots such as 28 Hong Kong Street (named best bar in Asia!) and Timbre @Substation, all within walking distance from Park Regis Hotel.

Park Regis Hotel #sginsiders Weekend Package

In conjunction with the launch of the #sginsiders guide, Park Regis Hotel has introduced a new weekend package for local staycation lovers and travellers!

Available from S$199++, the package includes:

• Complimentary room upgrade
• Specially concocted Regis Insiders Mocktail for two
• Buffet breakfast for two
• Wi-Fi internet access
• Late checkout until 2pm
• Complimentary two hours bicycle rental for up to two pax

Located in the heart of the Central Business District, Park Regis Singapore is a stone’s throw from Clarke Quay MRT and is popular among both business and leisure travellers alike. I loved the cozy open-concept room that came complete with a koala bear, true to the hotel’s Australian heritage.

I have another piece of good news. From October to December 2016, guests can also look forward to complimentary yoga sessions!

I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely the perfect way for me to start the day.

For more details about Park Regis Singapore and the #sginsiders guide, do check out their website here.

I had a ball of a time at Kuala Lumpur Bird Park recently. I’ve been to many bird parks around the world but I’ve never seen so many birds roaming around freely, as if they were in their natural habitat. Well, call me ignorant but it was only then that I realized that KL Bird Park is the world’s largest free-flight walk-in aviary!

Bird lovers and photography enthusiasts can rejoice at the numerous opportunities to get up close and personal with these birds. Be there at the feeding times and you’ll see birds darting across the skies, swooping down and flocking towards the fishes in unison. It was such a surreal and unforgettable experience. Naturally, I had to whip out my camera to catch all the action.

Capturing peacocks, egrets and milky storks in their full glory.

Over 200 species of birds can be found here. Did you know that 90% are local breeds while the remaining 10% are imported? Here are just some of my favourite breeds captured on camera.

Here’s another reasons to rejoice. From now till 31 Dec, purchase 2 adult tickets and you’ll get 1 child ticket free! Now that the school holidays are just around the corner, perhaps it’s time for all you mummies and daddies to plan a trip with the little one in tow. 😉

If you’re heading there, you have to drop by Restoran Rebung (click here to read more about where to eat in KL for authentic Malaysian cuisine) which is just a stone’s throw away.

Meanwhile, have a great week ahead!

**This post was brought to you in collaboration with Gaya Travel and Ministry of Tourism & Culture Malaysia.**

Before we went to Xinjiang, we were warned by everyone we knew that we were venturing  into dangerous territory. Well, we certainly were. If you so decide to follow our footsteps and embark on journey to the west, here are some tips that you might find useful:

1) Don’t eat the fruits

Because they’re so sweet, you can never get used to fruits from other parts of the world (not even Japan) ever again. The fruits here are sweeter than their counterparts from the rest of the world because of the arid climate which results in more sugar deposits. To give you an idea of how yummy the fruits are, we had grapes and cantaloupes everyday, at every meal.

2) Don’t talk to the Uyghurs

Uyghurs are the indigenous population of Xinjiang. Try not to talk to them because you’ll be so enamoured by their sharp features and striking good looks thanks to their Turkish and Central European heritage, you’ll never want to leave their company (look at how adorable the children are!). Don’t even get me started on how friendly and personable they are. Contrary to popular belief that they are hostile and unfriendly, we were greeted with warm smiles and showered with nothing but kindness  throughout our stay in Xinjiang.

3) Don’t try the lamb

The lamb is tender and well marinated with a complex mix of spices. If tastes so amazing, I assure you you’ll never see lamb in the same light or taste lamb that is this good ever again.

4) Don’t visit the ruins

Why? It’s going to be hard to find similar spots anywhere else in the world. Photography enthusiasts and history buffs will be blown away by the enigmatic beauty and rich historical background of beautiful ruins such as Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins. The best thing about these places is that they are not touristy at all, which means that you have all the time in the world to soak in the splendour of your surroundings.

Gaochang was once the biggest city in Xinjiang and served as an important commercial and cultural center on the northern edge of the Silk Road. It was also an important religious center. Fans of the novel Journey To The West may also recall that this was where Buddhist monk Xuanzang spent several years teaching Buddhism while he was on his way to India.

Jiaohe Ruins is another important UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Silk Road. Slightly less than 2000 years old, the city was home to 7000 residents before it was destroyed when Genghis Khan led an invasion in the 13th century. This to me, is the Pompeii of the East. Beautiful isn’t it?

5) Don’t dress like a Uyghur

I wore traditional Uyghur dresses to some of the places of attraction. These dresses are instant conversation-starters and drew many compliments from the friendly Uyghur community – a great way to break the ice if you ask me.

However, if you think dressing up like a Uyghur will help you to fit in, especially when you’re taking domestic flights to another city in Xinjiang or other Chinese cities, you can’t be more wrong. I absolutely adore their traditional dresses and decided to wear one of them on board a flight from Kashgar to Urumqi. Thanks to the way I was dressed (and probably due to my supposedly non-Chinese and more Uyghur appearance), I was subjected to much a stricter security screening process as I was viewed as a security threat. The female security officer, who was a Uyghur by the way, singled me out and reached her hands into my undergarments, in the hope of finding perhaps a knife or a bomb attached to my body. The minute I muttered a few words in English (probably expletives), she stopped searching and exclaimed aloud “She is not a Uyghur” in Chinese to her colleague.

That sums up my first-hand experience of discrimination against Uyghurs by Uyghurs.

Now, if you haven’t already realised by now, tip no. 5 is  the only “do not do this” tip that you should abide by.

Xinjiang is such a charming destination and definitely one of my favourite places on the map thus far. It breaks my heart to know that the Uyghurs are treated as strangers in their own land, but let’s save the rest of that story for another day.

Most of us Singaporeans are familiar with Kuala Lumpur (KL), but do you know where to go for authentic Malaysian cuisine besides Jalan Alor? The rule of thumb is always to ask for recommendations from the locals, so before I popped by a few weekends ago, I spoke to my Malaysian friend. One of the restaurants that she recommended was Restoran Rebung by internationally renowned Dato’ Chef Ismail.

Lady luck must have been shining on me because the lovely team from Gaya Travel and Ministry of Tourism & Culture Malaysia already had it all planned!

1. Restoran Rebung

We were personally greeted by the affable Dato’ Chef Ismail who gave us a thorough explanation of all the dishes we had to try (and also gamely posed for the camera with a huge pot of dodol!). You can choose between the ala carte menu or the buffet, but if you want a taste of authentic Malay cuisine in its full glory, I would highly recommend the buffet.

As a Singaporean, most of us are no stranger to delicious Malay food, but believe me, dining at Restoran Rebung is an eye-opening experience, and a very memorable one at that.

We were spoilt for choice with the endless selection of savoury curries and delicacies such as nasi lemak, assam laksa and roti jala. Plus, who could forget the wonderful dessert spread that ended our meal on a sweet note? At a pocket-friendly price of just RM75++ per pax, you can eat to your heart’s delight without worrying about bursting your budget (well, do beware of bursting seams though).

Restoran Rebung

Address:

5-2, Aras 5, Parkir Bertingkat Bukit Aman

No. 1 Jalan Tanglin

Taman Botani Perdana

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours:

Mon – Sun 7am – 10pm

2. Coliseum Cafe & Grill Room

Take a walk down memory lane at Coliseum Cafe & Grill Room, a restaurant that has been serving colonial heritage Hainanese cuisine since 1921. Much of Coliseum’s interior remains reminiscent of the colonial days and evokes a nostalgic feel. Coliseum Cafe and the beautiful building that it is housed in are gems, especially in this day and age when old buildings are torn down at lightning speed to make way for new ones.

When it comes to Hainanese cuisine, Hainanese pork chop is one dish that you can’t miss out on. All it took was one bite into the crispy crust that enveloped the succulent meat within for me to fall in love with Coliseum’s version of Hainanese pork chop. Popular among both Malaysians and tourists alike, Coliseum is a must-visit for those of us who fancy comfort food, photography enthusiasts and history buffs.

Coliseum Cafe & Grill Room

3. Street Food at Jalan Masjid Night Market

I don’t know about you, but I love night markets (also known as pasar malams) in Malaysia, especially in KL. I visited the pasar malam along Jalan Masjid recently as part of the KL Heritage Night Walk. The street food is amazing, you get to savour old school snacks and the stalls open till late.

I was completely bowled over by the delicious pancakes that were pan-fried to perfection. It left a lasting impression as I haven’t had anything quite like this in Singapore. Now you know where to head to the next time your stomach growls way past dinner time!

*****

Have you tried these places? If there’re any other food haunts that you would recommend, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail!

**This post was brought to you in collaboration with Gaya Travel and Ministry of Tourism & Culture Malaysia.**

I rely heavily on my DSLR camera most of the time but whenever my arms need a break, I never fail to turn to Casio. I already own the Casio Exilim EX-ZR3600 and TR70, but I’m excited to announce that a new camera model has since been released and it’s none other than the Casio EX-ZR5000!

What’s different about this model is its super wide angle lens (19mm) which is just perfect for capturing expansive landscape scenery, even when taking wefies or selfies! If you used to have difficulties fitting in the background without cutting yourself or your friends out, you’ll never have to worry about this issue again.

Besides the wide angle lens, I’ll be highlighting some of my favourite features of this camera that will cater to all your photography needs. None of these photos/videos are edited so you can be assured that what you see is truly what you get.

Travel

I love the time lapse function on this camera. Thanks to this amazing feature, I managed to capture the beautiful transition between sunset and nightfall in its full glory from Nobu restaurant at the Petronas Tower during my recent media trip to KL. I basically just left the camera on the table and let it work its magic while I indulged in Nobu’s delectable Japanese fusion dishes. The reflection from the glass window was greatly reduced thanks to the bright F2.7 moulded glass lens of the camera, which not only reduces surface reflection but corrects optical aberration too in order to produce sharper images with higher resolution.

The wide angle lens also gave me the flexibility to shoot at a closer proximity to my subject. Case in point: I could easily fit the two magnificent Petronas towers into one frame!

You can also instantly create and share eye-catching travel highlights with the camera’s Highlight Movie and Highlight Photo functions. Here’re some highlights from my recent media trip to KL:

Food

If you’re a foodie and enjoy taking photos of food, you’re in for a treat. Check out the blurred background function of this camera (don’t the otak otak fish & chips from Wonder Mama in KL look so tantalizing?), which literally makes your food come alive even in low light conditions.

Blurred Background

Low-light conditions at Nobu Restaurant@KL

Selfie

Casio’s selfie function doesn’t need any introduction. Besides the makeup mode, the camera comes with different selfie art modes to help you to achieve the selfie of your dreams.

My favourite selfie art scene is Elegant, as it gives the illusion that light is streaming in through the windows.

There is a total of five selfie art scenes that you can choose from, depending on what tickles your fancy.

These are the other four scenes:

Thanks to the EX-ZR5000’s inverted processing feature, you’ll never have to manually flip your selfies again. It is automatically inverted from left to right to process the image as it appears on screen.

Like it’s predecessor, it is also equipped with the Motion Shutter detector, which means you can easily activate the shutter by just waving your hand in front of the camera!

Product Shots

I take product shots for advertorials all the time and I absolutely adore the camera’s various art modes for close-up shots. Just let your creative juices flow and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the images produced.

My personal favourite has got to be the miniature scene as the bokeh is beyond stunning. Doesn’t this shot look like it was taken with a DSLR?

Here’s another perk for Instagram addicts who are aiming for a more cohesive feed. You can easily do so with the ZR5000 without any post editing!

Check out these other scenes:

Saturation

Toy Camera

Soft Focus

Light Tone

Don’t you agree that Casio EX-ZR5000 is the most versatile camera around? Plus, it is so compact and handy, I can take it with me everywhere!

The Casio EXILIM EX-ZR5000 is now available at the Casio Concept Store in Tampines and licensed retailers. It retails at S$629 and comes in White, Green and Pink. There is also a limited edition model that comes in Black which retails at S$699.

Staycations in Singapore are perhaps the best alternative to traveling overseas. JW and I are addicted to staycations and we are always on the lookout for unique experiences. While we certainly appreciate well-established luxury 4-5 star hotels, there are times when we prefer to take the path less travelled.

Today, I will be sharing some staycation ideas that will invoke a sense of nostalgia by transporting you back to Singapore in the old days and are equally instagram-worthy too.

1. Kam Leng Hotel

I have always been intrigued by old Singapore architecture and shophouses. Conserved buildings are rare in Singapore, much less conserved buildings that serve as hotels. Kam Leng Hotel was established in 1927 (I bet some of your grandparents weren’t even born yet!) and was apparently a hot favourite among tourists then.

It reopened in 2002 as a heritage budget hotel (prices can be as low as $90 and below). Although it has been refurbished, the interior still reflects an old-world charm reminiscent of the 1920s. Thanks to the no-frills amenities (with the exception of a flat-screen TV and air-conditioning), the entire back-to-basics experience is pretty authentic too. I felt like I was instantly transported back to the 1920s as I walked along the dimly lit corridors, complete with peeling walls and vintage paintings.

It is not exactly the best place to go if you intend to live it up, but the rooms are neat and clean. If you love vintage decor or photography and don’t mind roughing it out just a little, you would love it!

2. Petain Road

 There are some noteworthy shophouses that you can book via Airbnb. We booked a retro themed apartment in this gorgeous 4-storey shophouse along Petain Road recently.

Every room has a different theme, but you know me, retro rocks my boat any day.

Dress from Acne Studios

The rooms are very spacious and extremely photogenic. We definitely had a very comfortable stay here. Oh and did I mention that every room is equipped with Netflix?

You can stay in and cook if you want to, or better still, pop over to the Punggol Nasi Lemak stall or the famous Lavender Wanton Noodles stall around the corner to satiate your hunger pangs. For the best coffee in Singapore, I would highly recommend The Pourover Bar at 3 Petain Road. They share the same premises as Ollella, a cafe that serves up delicious chouquettes.

3. Hotel 1929

Hotel 1929 is another heritage hotel where the old and new coexist in harmony. Located right in the heart of Tiong Bahru along Keong Siak Road, there are 32 individually designed rooms in 5 room categories. Tiong Bahru is one of my favourite districts in Singapore as there are many lovely cafes housed within conserved heritage buildings. For those of you who would love to make a trip down memory lane, you might want to consider staying here.

Image Credit: Hotel 1929

4. New Majestic Hotel

New Majestic Hotel is probably one of the more luxurious heritage hotels in Singapore. Located in bustling Chinatown, it has a strong focus on design, local culture and the Arts. Think colonial furniture from Singapore in the 1920s – 1960s, restored vintage Compton fans and a mix of designer and vintage furniture in every room. In my opinion, this is the epitome of heritage chic.

Image credit: New Majestic Hotel

5. The Scarlet Singapore

Known as Singapore’s first luxury boutique hotel, The Scarlet Singapore is housed within an original 1924 Art Deco Building along vibrant Club Street, where you’ll find specialty shops, cafes, wine bars, art galleries and antique shops. Every room is dressed in jewellery-inspired colours and evoke passion, splendour and opulence. Prefer something even more luxurious? Book one of their 5 individually themed suites!

Image credit: The Scarlet

I hope this post comes in useful, especially if you’re planning a staycation soon and wish to experience a different side of Singapore! Meanwhile, have a great weekend ahead!

*All images belong to the author, unless otherwise stated*