Posts

Featured Post

Travel Bits: June 2026

By -
Image
Next trip.......  I had just returned from a short weekend getaway to Hong Kong, my second trip to the city this year. While there will likely to be at least a couple more trips to Hong Kong again this year, I am thinking of what other cities I can and should visit next. Because these will mainly be short 4-5 days getaways including over the weekends, there can be no faraway destinations relative to my home city, Singapore. This effectively rules out any sojourns to Europe or North America. Candidates for such short getaway trips thus include only regional destinations such as Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Shenzhen, all of which I had previously visited multiple times over the years. Manila, which I have never before visited, is a prime consideration. But any visit to Manila will have to be towards the end of the year because the paranoid traveller in me want to avoid the typhoon season that usually occurs in the middle of the year and we are currently in the middle ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Japan, Kyoto - Edo-style Starbucks Store

By -
Image
Not all Starbucks we encountered during our travels are the same. Many times, the Starbucks stores blend themselves into the local culture and style. One such example is the Starbucks store I encountered when visiting Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera.  Nestled amongst the narrow lanes in the neighbourhood of the famous temple , this store blended itself into the local architecture so seamlessly that I almost missed it except for the familiar logo mounted at the side of the small building structure. An Edo-style Starbucks? Definitely looks like to me! 🏯 Edo-style Starbucks, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (2026)
Post a Comment
Read more

Travel Bits: May 2026

By -
Image
Finally, time for short trips.......  My hectic work schedule has slowed down a fair bit in May. This allowed me some time to travel. First up was a short trip to Taipei, actually a working trip but with some free time in the evenings for a bit of sight-seeing and eating. This trip on the first week of the month the of May was my first time visiting Taipei in more than 8 years. I could not remember much of the airport on arrival or how to find my way from the airport to the city via public transport. Thankfully, my colleague who is a more frequent visitor to the city, was on the trip with me and I just played "followed the leader" as we made our way to the city centre by the express metro train (a.k.a MRT). Arriving at the Taipei Main Station, we walked to Beimen before taking the MRT to Ximen where our booked accommodation was located. Arriving at Ximending, things started to be more familiar. The usual malls are still standing, the large department stores still having a str...
Post a Comment
Read more

Taiwan, Taipei - Taipei 101

By -
Image
Visiting Taipei again after 8 long years, there is nothing more iconic to mark my return visit than to post a photo I had taken with my mobile phone of the Taipei 101 skyscraper.  Located in and around the area are lots of shopping and dining establishments for the visitors. As a tourist, I went to the area for both shopping and food. Seeing the Taipei 101 in all its lighted spectacle at night was a bonus, a photo moment not to be missed. Taipei 101, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan (2026)
Post a Comment
Read more

Malaysia, Penang - View of Georgetown onboard a Cruise Ship

By -
Image
Over the past couple of years, I have become some kind of regular for cruises originating from Singapore to Penang (Georgetown) and Phuket. Thus, I seldom find the need to disembark during port days. Instead, I utilised the port days to swim in the pools onboard, when everyone else are on their show visits. After my swim, I will usually walk around the top deck (Deck 15 of Quantum Class ships) and enjoy the bird's eye views of the port and the surrounding areas. This photo I took with my mobile phone shows Georgetown as viewed from the top deck of Ovation of the Seas as the ship was berthed at Swettenham Pier. Bird's eye view of Georgetown as seen from Swettenham Pier, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia (2026)  
Post a Comment
Read more

Japan, Osaka - Dōtonbori

By -
Image
Anyone visiting Osaka or who had visited the city will know about Dōtonbori. This is the place in Osaka where people gather for entertainment, shopping and food. The bright lights of Dōtonbori at night is a sight to behold, with large creative signboards advertising everything and anything. On my second visit to Osaka in January 2026, I did the touristy thing and visited Dōtonbori for dinner and sightseeing on Day 2 of my trip. I was not disappointed. While the crowd was indeed overwhelming, the visual spectacles more than made up for the squeeze of humanity. Dōtonbori at night is truly a five senses extravaganza. Dōtonbori at night, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (2026)
Post a Comment
Read more

Travel Bits: April 2026

By -
Image
Travel taking backseat to work.......  I have been really busy with work since the beginning of the 2026. Work has been so hectic that I have been working 7 days a week, every week since the start of the year. The only break I had was a short 5-night trip to Hong Kong in February. In the midst of trying to beat each advancing deadlines, I often looked back longingly on my Japan trip during the first week of January when I visited Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. Another Japan trip at the end of the year maybe, if I can find the time and budget. Things on the work front should be settling down a bit after this month, April 2026. I have another short 5-night trip to Hong Kong booked for the last week of May 2026. During this trip, I intend to spend some time cafe hopping and exploring more of the Sham Shui Po area, to check out interesting shops (fountain pens shops of course) and hunting around for delicious local food. This trip, I will be flying to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and staying ...
Post a Comment
Read more