越来越南走 ～ 河内 Day 2

Day 2 need to wake up very early, as we need to travel 4 hours car ride to Ha long bay. Hubby booked the bus at 7.30am, we went down hotel for breakfast at 7am. But the bus came very early, we just quickly finish our food and went up and take our luggage to check out. 

Our hotel breakfast...not bad leh.

Hubby booked a 7 seater car which is consider quite good very spacious. The driver picked us up 1st and went to another hotel to pick up another 5 ang mo. We get to choose our seats! Heng he picked us first so we took up the front seats, more spacious and we can even charge our handphone. I basically slept through out the whole 4hours car ride which is very good I wouldn't get car sick or sea sick later. Of cause I took medicine to prevent having car sick. I'm those type cannot sit inside the car for too long and will get motion sickness one. 

The 7 seater car....

There's toilet break after 2 hours at the tourist stop, many car stop there. We just went toilet and walk around to wait for our driver to come back from his break. 

Reached the harbour around 12pm and wait for our ship to come. We boarded the small ship to travel to the cruise. After boarded the cruise we had a little brief on our itinerary for the 2day1night cruise before we check into our room. Our room comes with a balcony and jacuzzi bath tub. We didn't use the jacuzzi bath tub as hubby said when on dirty water comes out. On well doesn't matter lah didn't call the staff to check as I didn't intend to use it. We then had our buffet lunch before we go to Co cave. 

Our cruise look like this...

On the small boat need to wear life jacket....

Our room

At the top deck of our cruise...

We went to Co Cove around 2.30pm, then went back to the cruise around 4pm. There's Kayaking available but you need to book with the guide. We decided not to go for Kayaking, we had a drink at the bar since there's happy hour. After that we just rest and relax in our room. 

In the night there's cooking demo at 6pm at the top deck of the cruise. All went up to see the demo, they teach you how to make Vietnam traditional spring roll. 

The spring roll taste so yummy as it was just out from the hot oil so it's super nice to eat when it's so cold in the night at the top deck. I'm so going to try cooking this in SG when I'm back. haha 

After the demo we went down for dinner, Hubby and I was thinking if the staff thought we were china people. Our dinner was served very different from the ang mo. The ang mo had only one pumpkin soup, one prawn starter, one plate of main course (one small potion rice, meat, vege). But our potion is so different like served in chinese restaurant and we got one extra chinese herb chicken soup that the ang mo doesn't have. Both hubby & me were laughing at our potion as we really couldn't finish all. I thought it's quite nice they did take note that we are chinese and decided to change the potion for us thinking we are bigger eater than the ang mo...don't know why they have this thinking. But on the other hand I still hope we was served with the same potion as the ang mo.... hahaha 

During the dinner, cruise staff will sing and dance for the guest. Even the tour guide will also join in, so happening. They seems to enjoy their job which is very good! One like for them. Good job! 

After dinner we went back to room and shower and rest for the night. Very relaxing day. 

越来越南走 ～ 河内 Day 1

Told Hubby I wanted a holiday, we actually wanted to plan in end Dec to celebrate our 10 year of togetherness. Hubby wanted to bring me see fireworks countdown 2017 but the plan didn't happened due to some reason. 

March is Hubby's birthday, so let's go out! Hubby give me a few choice, Dubai, Hanoi and one more country I forgotten where. I told him I don't want to spend too much for this trip I just want to get away. So after some calculation we shall go Hanoi. Hanoi is one of the country we thought of bringing my mom there so Hubby did some research of that place before. But in the end mom choose Beijing, but never mind the planning still works for us. 

From decision to travel till booking the tickets and hotel was quite fast. We booked our air tickets from Vietnam airline. Our 1st time taking Vietnam airline my expectation maybe same as budget airline loh. Hubby keep saying it's not budget airline hor got flight meal for us ok? 

So having not much expectation, up we go on Vietnam airline. Departure time 1.30pm the flight depart on time didn't delay. We felt everything was done very nicely and quick. 

Reach Hanoi airport around 4pm, got our luggage and went to purchase sim card. There's a few booth at the airport, they provide transportation to your hotel staff sell hubby the service. Although it might be slightly more expensive if you try to get cab outside he decided to take the offer. He also booked the car for going back to Sin as our timing to reach airport is quite early. So we have 1 thing less to worry about, the car that picked us up was a big car very comfortable. 

Reached our hotel for one night around 5.15pm, checked in the hotel and went to the restaurant (Madame Hien) opposite our hotel for early dinner. Hubby say it's a expensive restaurant many tourist will come, but since he didn't know what to eat for 1st day we shall do the tourist thing. Play safe as I'm not a street food eater, not to mention even eat at the local small eatery where they sit along the road and eat.... I told hubby to try his best to only eat in restaurant here.  

Although the food might be expensive, the food is very nice! I must said it changed my thinking about vietnam food. It's really very yummy and indeed all the diners in the restaurant are tourists. 

After dinner it was still early we went to one tourist location, the St Joseph Cathedral since it's very near the restaurant. When we check in hotel, hotel staff told us that there will be a weekend night market at one of the street if we got time we can visit. Which hubby didn't know there's a weekend night market, thanks you for telling us else we will just nua in hotel room. Night market! Shopping time! 

The things they sell at the night market is quite almost the same from store to store. We didn't finish walking the whole street, as we need to walk back from where we came back to hotel. Didn't purchase a lot of things just a few key chain that I find them cute. We went back hotel to rest as next day we need to wake up early to travel to Ha long bay. 

New hobby

I was always interested in amigurumi dolls, my 7th aunty is a pro in this but I didn't learn it from her. I did knitting during my school days, that is many many years ago loh. hahaha. Recently I got the urged to go for amigurumi course but these course are so expensive! Plus some of the courses you get to learn very simple design amigurumi toy. 

So I did a little search online and found a youtube video from HappyBerry. She did a very detail tutorial online even gives the patterns to download, so I decided to give it a try. The beginning is always the painful part, I couldn't really feel my fingers after doing part of the head....

Here's the beginning....Gotten the materials from China town shop. 

Then I rested for a few days before I continue on.... fingers still painful after that. 

Then slowly I finish up the bunny. Only after that I realise the head & body part I did it wrongly! hahaha well it's the first one without any people teaching and practice I think it is still consider not bad liao bah. 

Decided to make some changes to the bunny, still making in process. Will continue with this hobby and hopefully wouldn't give up so easily. Brought some other materials from Taobao waiting for it to be delivered. Hopefully can make a nicer bunny. Can't wait.  

Back dated happenings in March

Just came back from a short holiday, will be blogging about my hanoi trip when I sort out my photos. 

There has been a few happenings in March I haven't blog about.

As 清明节 is coming, Sis in law texted us to make a date to pray mother-in-law. 1st time we need to prepare for 扫墓 , didn't know what we need to get. Sis in law send us a photo of food to purchase. In stead of buying ready cooked food from different food store I decided to make it myself. Hummmm it's only one whole chicken, one fish, one pork and some fish cake. Not so difficult to do actually. The only challenge is the chicken cause I didn't know how to cook the chicken I know is just use water boil lah. hahaha Asked my mother how to do and how long need to cook the chicken and I think I'm good. 

Wake up early to get the food ready, and meet sis in law at temple. I had a little argument with a Aunty there who took the whole 2 tables for praying, she refuse to move some of her stuff to let us pray too. Super selfish Aunty, I was super angry but I didn't throw my temper there. In the end we use the other side, but I am still angry with the Aunty. > <

The praying stuff we prepared.... and I forgotten a bowl of rice is needed so hubby & sis in law went to buy. 

After the praying we bring home some of the food and we had it for lunch. The chicken is nice hahaha in future I'll have no problem to cook that chicken. :P 

Then past few weeks I was coughing badly, sis in law ask us to see TCM. She introduce one that is very good at Jurong, yes Jurong! So damn far! Hubby has been nagging about my health, keep complaining about my cough. Somemore my asthma came back to visit quite often recently. So no choice loh I went to the TCM on a weekday. Knowing me, I didn't like to visit TCM had bad experience in my childhood. So I only believe in western doctors, but I do believe some of the herbs are good for woman lah. Somemore now need to travel all the way to Jurong! It's like asking me to do 2 things I hate at a same time. Travel far and see TCM. 

In the end I called car from grab to travel there, the grab car uncle was quite nice to talk to. I told him I'm going to a TCM there and he said he did bring his daughter to a TCM in Jurong before and the doctor was very good. He dropped me at the location and he came to the clinic also he said its the same clinic and he took a name card from the staff so that he can recommend people there. Hahaha well thanks for giving me more confident to see this doctor. 

The clinic is a small old style shop, wasn't crowded on a weekday. Or I should said I'm the only one there? I waited one patient come out and it's my turn. The doctor is a woman doctor, talk super fast sometimes I can't really catch what she was saying. But she seems quite good, and explained very clear and make sure I understand. Keep telling me to cut down on my carb intake, not to drink fruit juice, not to drink soya milk, need to exercise. She say my body get fat easily, so need to reduce carb. Whole process was very fast, even staff who gave me the medicine talk super fast. 

I saw some online review about this TCM, not very good review saying she will recommend people to one doctor for medical check up before she will see them. But for my case since I already have done all my checks she didn't ask me to go any doctor. Maybe will see her again one more time and see what she will say. The medicine wasn't very expensive for the one week she has given me.  

This year I really did a lot of adjustment to my eating habit, I even changed my rice to mixed brown rice. This week I also reduce to eat lesser rice too, and I went exercise 3 times within one week. hahaha couldn't believe myself too. Anyway just hope that my body will be healthy from now on.

Food Food Food again

Some of my friends will know I am a food blogger, I did a food blog before but I gave up. Didn't have much time back then when I was working as I was just too tired to do the photo editing and review. Not to mention to keep on going around to try new food and explore places for hidden gem. 

I'll just post food photo in my Instagram and now I decided to post in my current blog as well. Since now there's so many apps to help to collage my food photo. I just need to combine them when I am watching tv or on train, then I just need to blog in later. 

So what's this week food post?

Went Millenia walk on Friday with my girlfriends for dinner, wanted to go for ramen in the end I saw this restaurant that seems quite nice to me. So I decided to ask them to try it out. 

Tengawa Hokkaido White Curry
Millenia walk #02-16
9 Raffles Blvd, Singapore 039596

A very small restaurant, you got to wait for seats if you are in a big group. They only serve 3 different set meals, not much selection. They offer free top up of rice and miso soup, plus point right? But the shop was shorthanded, I have problem getting the staff to refill my rice and miso soup. One of the staff is quite rude as well when she serve me the refill rice. They need improvement on their service and increase service staff if they want to offer free refill rice & miso soup. There's only 2 service staff and 2 kitchen staff there. 

Food is quite ok, the rice is really Japanese rice which is very nice. But potion a little small, I guess that's why they offer free top up rice. But if they can increase the amount of rice slightly people might not ask for refill then the staff wouldn't be so busy. Curry gravy is creamy and sweet. It will be better if the serving of the gravy be more too. Overall I'm still disappointed with their service. 

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 Soi 47 Thai Food
47 Toa Payoh Lor 6
Singapore 310047
Close on Monday

Introduced by hubby friend, friend's colleague's shop. Newly opened. Heard they have nice Thai Food, cooked by Thai. And NO MSG. 

Food is good, very home cooked style. Price is very friendly too. We ordered quite a few dish to shared and we simply love the olive fried rice. Not to mention they have nice Thai milk tea too. Overall I am happy to find a good Thai Food restaurant in the Toa Payoh neighbourhood, next time maybe can bring my mom here for dinner. 

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Hattendo Cafe 

7 Wallich Street, 

Tanjong Pagar Centre 

#01-05 Singapore 078884 

Introduced by hubby, he say he wanted to try this cream bun. So we went in the afternoon on a Saturday. Even through it's a weekend at a CBD area, the cafe is quite crowded. We order a set, a bun with a drink cost $5. 

If you have ate beard papa it is something similar, just that the this is a butter bread with cream. I'm not a fan of cream bun, I find it expensive. Haha just one try bah. wouldn't buy again. 

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Boat Quay (Original) Mushroom Noodle

Blk 312 Sumang Link

Saw Miss Tam Chiak post in Fb introducing this mushroom noodle. Looks quite nice and it's quite near my place. Show hubby and we went there for lunch on Sunday. It's newly opened and heard it's quite famous for it's handmade Teochew fishball, meatball and dumpling. 

A short queue when we reach there, so we didn't wait quite long for our noodles. But not sure if it will be more crowded after more people see Miss Tam Chiak post. We ordered their Signature Noodles for $5, which there's 3 fishball, 2 dumpling and 1 yujiao. The potion is quite big and definitely worth the price of $5! We were so full after one bowl of noodles, and the fishball is really yummy! I'll definitely come back for this again. Great found in punggol!

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Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta - Tai Seng
18 Tai Seng Street
#01-01 Singapore 539775

From Tokyo, world's first Michelin-starred ramen. Wow michelin-starred leh. This new mall has got a few restaurant that is michelin-starred, this ramen is one of them. A very small restaurant, be prepared to queue for your seats. It's a bar table concept restaurant, so you will have problem if you are in big group.  

They serve 2 different soup base only, Miso or Shoyu, hubby ordered miso, I got the Shoyu. Usually I prefer Shio base but they don't have. But luckily I got the Shoyu, it's nice! It actually have truffle in the soup and it just smell so nice! Hubby didn't like the miso after trying mine hahaha too bad. Their char siu and ajitama egg taste good also. Overall I like it! I even finished the whole bowl of soup, which hubby was surprised. Usually I don't finish all the soup, so you can imagine how much I love the soup. hahaha. 

Alright that's all for now, my food post might need to stop for the time being as I'll be away! Yes finally a holiday trip with Hubby. Will blog about my trip when I'm back. 

Weekend activities ~ March school holiday part 2

Another weekend activities post as the previous one is too long. Other event I decided to went for is the Sea of wonder at Marina Square. It's happening at the event hall in Marina Square, as expected it will be crowded with families. Children playing with the balloons! The thought of it I will think twice if I should go..... What if the children play with the balloons and the balloons start blasting! I'm scare of balloon blast in front of me. 

Aiya they can do such event definitely will have think about it right? They can't be replacing the balloons on and off right? Hahaha yes the balloons they use must be some different type we usually see, suitable for balloon structure. 

So here I go!

The most impressive one is of cause the giant octopus!

I personally prefer the Pororo design, cute!

An event suitable for adults and children! Give a like to the event organizer.

Weekend activities ~ March school holiday

This March school holiday are full of events, as many would have know there's the Art Zoo happening at Floating platform. Quite a few friends went with children to enjoy the giant inflatable balloon set up. When I first get to know the event I also wanted to ask Hubby to bring me go. But after much thought I decided to give it a miss. Reason being there will be full of children and parents, you will in the end knock into someone without knowing and accident may happened. Especially with the clumpy me for those who know. Secondly if I want to go there is for what purpose? Take photo? Well it will be just too crowded and bouncy that I wouldn't end up with good photos. So Ok shall give it a miss. 

But not to worried, there's still a few events going on that I wouldn't miss. One of it is the ilight Marina Bay. We went last year, this is our 2nd year going for the event. Basically are the lighting art installation that we will be looking for. We started walking from Marina Square down to Fullerton Hotel. For the Merlion as the first stop, this year Merlion has got a new lighting on it. 

Well as per expected with lots of Singaporean and Tourist all crowded there taking photo with our Merlion. Just be extra careful with your belongings, I basically was just carrying my handphone taking photos. 

Some photos of my Merlion...

We continue walk down towards Fullerton Hotel, where there's a few lighting installation. A tree and some flowers before we go for our 1st toilet break at the hotel. Another tips is to bring extra water with you, as you know walking such a long way in Singapore's weather you wouldn't want to dehydrate yourself. Although there's places where you can buy drinks but it also quite expensive. 

The butterfly tree & flowers photo.,,,

We then continue walking down towards Marina Bay, there's a few more lighting installation along the way. Some I didn't bother to take any photos, as it didn't turn out well in picture. Example: Eyeballs.....hummmmm 

Of cause if you search on the internet, you will see lots of people taking photo with the moonflower. I was hoping to take nice photo of the moonflower as you can see from  photo I got from Channel newsasia.... 

Photo source from: Channel newsasia

But in fact what you see is full of people in your photo, you simply can't get a nice big plot land full of moonflower photo without people in it.

I can only try my best to get a small plot of land like this....

The funniest part was when the moonflower light turns blue, you start to hear the ladies around you start screaming "Ah!!! Oh!!! WOW!!! Faster!!! Take photo!!! Hurry up!!!" I just quickly take another few shoot of the flowers and left the place. 

The next favourite spot will be the glowing rubber band. Pretty interesting to how the glowing rubber bands will turn out in your photos. Many people taking photos of it as well as selfie. Everyone was just trying to get their best artistic photo with the rubber bands. 

The other interesting lighting installation photo.

One of the installation you will see people queuing, well you do what people do. We queue also loh....What you will be queuing for is I call it the "onion head"....Once you get into one of it...you start to think how should my photo be? People start to use their best artistic angle to take photo, but we were there keep asking ourselves take what huh? Then being a Singaporean, I die die must have a photo of me in the "onion head". So that's how my photo looks like. LOL! 

We ended at Marina Bay Sand, super tired, wanted to go for a drink but the mall is also crowded with people thus we decided to go home straight. It was a great walk at night taking photo at the same time. If you have nothing to do you can go for a walk just like us.