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Fulfilling a Dream: How We Learnt to Dive in Tioman with Eko Divers
Learning to dive has been a lifelong dream of mine. But for some reason, my plans to learn have been thwarted year after year by superstitious parents (“this year is not good for Dragons to be in the water”?!) and hectic schedules, until I realised ENOUGH. IS. ENOUGH. So I dragged ET to the Asia Diving Expo, and we signed up for a really affordable package to get PADI-certified with Eko Divers! For $425, our package included: 1. Theory lessons and test (covered over 2 evening lessons from 7-10pm) 2. Pool session (covered in one afternoon at the Outram Sec pool) 3. Practical lessons and test in Tioman (Bintan was the other,…
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ETSY Explores Turns ONE! Win a 2D1N Staycation Giveaway at Wanderlust Hotel!
Those of you who have followed our journey in the past year will know that we have an insatiable attraction to hidden gems that are quirky, off the beaten path, pay great attention to detail and hopefully, provide access to good food. So imagine our delight when we realised that there is a place in Singapore that happens to encapsulate all these awesome elements in a funky refurbished 1920s shophouse – the Wanderlust Hotel! As we turn one, we want to celebrate a year of discovery and joy by sharing this incredible opportunity for one of you – our awesome readers – to enjoy a staycation at the wonderfully whimsical Wanderlust Hotel. Read on…
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Silks Place Taroko Review: Heaven on Earth
Silks Place Taroko is the only luxury accommodation you can find nestled in the middle of Taroko Gorge. Inspired by Japanese zen, the minimalist nature of the hotel fills you with a sense of peace and calm. The 3 days that we spent there were truly a much-needed reprieve from the madness of work and the hustle and bustle of city life. Service standards were impeccable right from the pick up at the Hualien train station where we were each given a bottle of water for the hour-long journey. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were promptly served with a welcome drink. ROOMS We opted for a room with a view…
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Amsterdam Through the Local Lens: Rachael from Hungry Birds and Brews & Tales
Amsterdam is notoriously known for being Europe’s capital of sin and debauchery, but our experience there revealed that this gorgeous city has so much more than pot and prostitutes. We speak to Rachael, who had brought us on a gastronomic tour around Amsterdam, forever debunking the myth that the only thing worth eating there are stroopwafels. What makes Rachael special to us is the fact that she’s Singaporean as well! Despite only moving to Amsterdam two years ago, her job as a Hungry Birds Food Tour guide has led her to become a local expert, so much so that she was inspired to set up her own tour! Read on for her candid answers…
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We’ve Been Nominated for the Liebster Award!
About a month ago, we received notification on Twitter that Chris from Repeat Traveller had nominated us for the Liebster Award! (Thank you Chris!) I have to admit that I was pretty excited because, well, I’m shallow that way. Then I found out that it wasn’t actually an award, but a pseudo chain letter, and I got even more excited because chain letters are always fun! (Unless they threaten to cause your death if you don’t forward them to your entire extended family.) So anyway, the origins of the Liebster Award are a bit of an enigma because no one really knows where they came from. The word liebster means dearest in German,…
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Review: Violet Oon’s Kitchen
So, I just had one of my best meals of the year at Violet Oon’s Kitchen. I’m not even kidding. My gastrorgasm levels are off the charts now because every dish was So. Damn. Good. But I always tell ET that it’s important not to raise expectations when gushing about food so I wanna set a disclaimer that this could have been due to a variety of factors: 1) we were famished from only having had breakfast, 2) we didn’t have any expectations and didn’t even consult Hungrygowhere 3) maybe even groupthink because we were bouncing off each other’s happiness In any case, I will try my best to objectively…
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Barcelona Through the Local Lens: Cristina & Guillermo from Barcelona Slow Travel
One of the highlights of our trip to Barcelona was our EatWith experience with Guillermo & Cristina as they gave as an insightful introduction to one of the city’s many markets and made our tummies very happy with their tapas and paella cooking class. This amazing couple are also the founders of Barcelona Slow Travel, a tour company that seeks to allow tourists to experience this amazing city as authentically as possible. In this version of “Through the Local Lens”, we are really excited to share their very candid responses to the tips and tricks for visitors to Barcelona and some amazing food and cultural recommendations! Enjoy (:
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5 Reasons Why You Should Stay at W Singapore Sentosa Cove
I might be biased, but having had the privilege to celebrate my hen’s night AND birthday at W Singapore Sentosa Cove last year has convinced me that it’s one of the best hotels in Singapore to have a staycation in. Located in the exclusive enclave of Sentosa Cove, the luxurious W Singapore Sentosa Cove is truly in a class of its own. This is apparent once you enter the lobby, where plush lounges and hanging egg swings hint at its decadence. There are even two lifts to transport you from the entrance to the lobby, or the equivalent of about 20 steps on the staircase. Here are five reasons why you…
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Thank You Mr Lee Kuan Yew: How Singaporeans Say Goodbye
This post was initially written as a Facebook status after a night of queuing at the Padang. It has since been updated to include reflections on my experience at the State Funeral Procession. For the uninitiated, they would probably think that Singaporeans are an impractical lot. Thousands of people, at all times of the day, some choosing to endure the blazing sun (my full respect to you), others willingly sacrificing sleep, with their picnic mats and ponchos, portable chairs and chargers, trusty iPhones and iPads loaded with games and movies. Many simply had multi-functional pieces of cardboard. Legs tired? Sit on it. Too hot? Use to fan. Amidst warning after…
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OH! Open House Joo Chiat: It Will Surprise You.
The OH! Open House Joo Chiat Art Tour is truly one of a kind in Singapore, and perhaps even around the world (at least I haven’t encountered similar tours yet). The tour is interactive, extremely satisfying for voyeurs, and best of all, leaves you more fascinated, intrigued and curious about Joo Chiat after the tour than before it.
