Tag: holiday

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Spots to spot around London Bridge and Tower Bridge

Here’s a throwback post to my trip in the UK and more specifically in London on one of those days in 2016. Before the Tower of London, which was the next stop on our itinerary, we took a stroll between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, along the River Thames. Here are some spots to spot around the bridges.

London Bridge

On the London Bridge heading towards south of the River Thames

The Golden Hinde

Golden Hinde was a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580. She was originally known as Pelican, but Drake renamed her mid-voyage in 1578, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose crest was a golden hind (a female red deer). Hatton was one of the principal sponsors of Drake’s world voyage. A full-sized, seaworthy reconstruction of the Golden Hinde is in London, on the south bank of the Thames.

You can visit the Golden Hinde’s website here.

London Bridge City Pier

London Bridge City Pier (also known as London Bridge Pier and City Pier) is situated on the south bank of the River Thames, beside London Bridge and HMS Belfast.

Conduct a self-tour and river commute around the River Thames. River Bus from the pier departs eastbound towards Canary Wharf, Greenwich and Barking Riverside, and westbound towards Westminster, Battersea Power Station and Putney.

You can find more information about London Bridge City Pier, how to plan your journey, and ticket purchases here. Below is a route map to help you plan your journey along the Thames.

HMS Belfast

Next to the London City Bridge Pier, it’s obvious not to miss the 9-deck WWII warship-turned-museum with naval guns, that is permanently moored on the Thames.

There’s so much to see and do on board HMS Belfast. Visit HMS Belfast – Imperial War Museum here and get to know more about it’s history here.

The Queen’s Walk

Take a stroll along the Thames on The Queen’s Walk. This is a convenient route of several miles for tourists to walk from the London Eye Ferris wheel past numerous attractions to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge

The next bridge after the London Bridge is the Tower Bridge (below photo). Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.

Discover Tower Bridge here.

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Terminal 21 Mall in Bangkok

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As the name suggests, Terminal 21 sounds like another airport-themed spot. True to it’s name, it is an airport-themed shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand.

How to Get to Terminal 21

There are 3 Terminal 21 malls in Thailand: Bangkok, Korat, and Pattaya. The “Terminal 21” in reference is the first Terminal 21 and it is in Bangkok. It is at Soi Sukhumvit 21, by the Asoke intersection, in Watthana District of Bangkok. Hence, the number “21”. Then, the name “Terminal 21” is meant to represent the concept that each retail floor represents different touristic cities.

This Terminal 21 in Bangkok is linked to BTS Skytrain and MRT with a skywalk, at Asok Station and Sukhumvit Station.

Terminal 21

Each floor is decorated based on touristic cities and locations around the world. At each escalator there’s a arch showing your arrival and departure city.

From Istanbul at Level 3, we can either depart up to San Francisco or depart back down to Paris.

Let’s depart up to San Francisco on Level 4.

Above San Francisco is the food court: Pier 21.

At Pier 21 is where you’ll come across the famous red San Francisco bridge.

Let’s depart down to London. Before our arrival at London on Level 2.

Spot the red London bus #21 on the Piccadilly Circus stopping at Camden Town, Covent Garden, and Bond Street.

In the Underground at 1/1 Street, Charing Cross station, and the rest room.

Pointing you around London in the Terminal.

Let’s depart for Tokyo on Level 1. Then upon arrival at Tokyo.

Let’s depart for Paris on Level M. Then upon our arrival at Paris.

Let’s depart for Rome on Level G.

Let’s depart for the Caribbeans on Level LG.

Bonus: this Terminal 21 in Bangkok has the longest escalators in Thailand, up to 36 meters long.

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Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok Thailand

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One of the top 10 malls to visit in Bangkok, Thailand is Asiatique The Riverfront. It is a large open-air mall by a river.

Modeled after Bangkok’s four major trade districts, Asiatique weaves together all the essential elements that define what Bangkok was, as well as redefine what it is and what it will become in the near future.

If you started your day at Chatuchak Market, you might want to end your day at Asiatique.

How to Get to Asiatique

Asiatique The Riverfront as it’s name states, is along the Chao Phraya River.

To get to Asiatique by public transport, the nearest train station is Saphan Taksin Station. From the station, go down to Sathorn Pier. From there, you can take the free shuttle boat and ferry to Asiatique in 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take Grab, or drive and park at the parking lots next to and opposite Asiatique.

Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique operates as an open-air night market from 3pm till midnight daily. It features 1,500 shops and stalls and 40 restaurants.

Asiatique is divided into four sections called districts:

  1. Chareonkrung District
  2. Town Square District
  3. Factory District
  4. Waterfront District

Chareonkrung District is named after Charoen Krung Road. It contains performing venues for shows and live performances, as well as shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs. 

Town Square District blends Thai and Western ways of life, featuring foreign restaurants and sports bars. 

Factory District is the area that focuses on trendy fashions, a hip dining scene, and shops selling all kinds of design products from clothing to gadgets. 

Waterfront District is along the Chao Phraya River with several riverside restaurants and a large event space used for concerts, festivals and New Year celebrations. At 300 metres (980 ft) long, it is claimed to be Bangkok’s longest waterfront promenade. Asiatique Sky, the tallest Ferris wheel in Bangkok at 60 metres (200 ft) can be found at the Waterfront District.

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Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

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How to start the weekend in Bangkok? For us, it was the second day (Saturday) of our holiday in Bangkok. And after a fulfilling buffet the previous night at Baiyoke Sky Hotel, we needed to burn some calories. 

How to Get to Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market is on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok.

In addition to taking Grab or taxi around Bangkok, you can also ride the train, and get off at Kamphaeng Phet MRT station on the MRT blue line or the Saphan Khwai on the BTS Sukhumvit Line.

There are 3 entrances:

  • Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
  • Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road
  • Phahonyothin Road

Chatuchak Weekend Market

The market spans about 35 acres with more than 15,000 stalls and 11,000 vendors, divided into 27 sections. In Chatuchak Market, you can find many different kinds of goods, including antique collections, accessories, thai instruments, books, teen clothing and accessories, used clothing and shoes, arts, paintings, carvings, spas, incenses, handcrafts, artificial flowers, clothing accessories, shoes, postcard souvenirs, pets, tablewares, ceramics, silver and home decorations, dried food, clothing, hiking equipments and leather, silk, photo frames, handicrafts, miscellaneous, and others.

Below are photos of Chatuchak Market in 2018. Sharing memories and recommendations of my 2018 holiday in Bangkok with ya’ll. Even though photos are dated (old) but the content are relevant.

Grab a quick bite before starting the self-walking tour in the market.

Most parts of the market have sheltered walkways, so you can shop under protection from the sun and the rain. In the covered sections, you can find stalls that sell flowers, spices, clothes, and more.

Not to be missed for the gram is the clock tower in the middle of Chatuchak Market.

After a long walk around the market, it’s time to cool down from the heat. Why not end the journey with coconut ice cream!

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Sky Dining Buffet in Baiyoke Sky Hotel Bangkok

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Baiyoke Sky Hotel – Thailand’s tallest hotel, soaring 88 stories above Bangkok. Enjoy dynamic and panoramic views of Pratunam and Bangkok.

How to Get to Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Baiyoke Sky Hotel is just a 3 minutes walk from Ratchapraprop train station on the Airport City Line. If you’re touching down at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, take the train on this line to the Ratchapraprop station.

From the ground floor of the building, take the elevator to the main lobby lounge on the 18th floor. The elevators are split into low zone and high zone.

To go to the 69th and 75th to 83rd floor, you’ve to use the Sky Zone Elevators. The Sky Zone Elevators go to the 69 Seafood Buffet, Baiyoke Floating Market, Bangkok Sky Restaurant, Observation Deck, Stella Palace, Bangkok Balcony, Crystal Grill, the Roof Top Bar, and Revolving View Point.

Sky Dining Buffet at Bangkok Sky Restaurant

The Sky Dining Buffet is at Bangkok Sky Restaurant on the 76th floor. Enjoy an extensive buffet of seafood, Thai dishes, sushi, salads, pizza, pasta, cheese, and desserts in the sky.

From where we were dining, we could see Novotel, Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok, The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Platinum Fashion Mall and Bangkok.

Book with Klook to enjoy Sky Dining Buffet and Observation Deck Admission.

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Observation Deck and Revolving Roof Deck

Then go up one floor to the Observation Deck on the 77th floor – arguably the best place to view the Bangkok skyline. There’s a chart ranking of the world’s tallest buildings. Baiyoke Tower II where Baiyoke Sky Hotel is, is the 48th tallest building in the world at 304 meters high.

Continue up by taking the elevator up to the Revolving Roof Deck on the 84th floor. The deck is a external metal plate which moves very slowly clockwise. The motion makes a loud mechanical noise in the background. Nevertheless, marvel in the 360-degree view of Bangkok from the revolving view point.

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What to Eat and Do in Jonker Street Melaka

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Jonker Street or also known as Jonker Walk, is the Chinatown street of Melaka. It is an old, beautiful heritage street in Malacca City in Malacca (Melaka), Malaysia.

It is a street filled with 17th century historical houses. You can start your journey at either ends of the street. On one end is the Jonker Walk Arch. The other end is at the Tan Kim Seng Bridge. The landmarks are H&M or San Shu Gong.

From Friday to Sunday from 6.00 p.m. until 12 midnight, the street becomes Jonker Street Night Market – a vibrant outdoor hub of food and goods. The street will be closed to vehicles. Hence, it becomes easy to walk and roam the street on foot. It can be crowded and busy with activity.

At night, the street can good for night street photography as the Jonker Walk Arch and the street are lighted up.

To avoid the crowd, go early in the morning and on weekdays. Much better walking around when there are fewer people.

What to Eat in 1 Day in Jonker Street

Breakfast or Brunch 

The Daily Fix Cafe

A proudly Malaccan cafe in the middle of Jonker Street since 2014. The Daily Fix Cafe opens daily from 9.45am to 5.30pm.

Lunch

Famosa Chicken Rice Ball

There are 2 Famosa Chicken Rice Ball restaurants. There’s one along Jalan Hang Jebat and another at Lorong Hang Jebat. Order your fill of chicken rice balls, steam chicken, pork, and vegetables.

Tea

East & West Rendezvous

Off Jalan Hang Jebat at Lorong Hang Jebat, enjoy nyonya cendol in this dessert shop.

Jonker 88

Jonker 88 is just a short walk from Daily Fix Cafe along Jalan Hang Jebat. Enjoy bowls of curry laksa, assam laksa, cendol, and shaved ice for late lunch and tea.

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Kuih Nyonya Kim Batu Berendam @ Melaka

Flying in into Melaka? On the way down to Pusat Bandaraya? Stop by for some kuih at Kuih Nyonya Kim Batu Berendam.

There is a great variety of authentic and very tasty nyonya kuih. 

How to Get to Kuih Nyonya Kim Batu Berendam

Also known as Aunty Kim’s Nyonya, it is located along Jalan Mohd Zine Dsh. As it is a main road, it can be busy and hard to park in front of the shop. You can park at the shops further down the road or at Jalan SB 1.

They’re open for half a day from Wednesdays to Sundays, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Thursday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Friday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Saturday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Sunday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Kuih Nyonya Kim Batu Berendam

We had a basket of kuih muih. 

Inside were kuih lapis, kuih seri muka, kuih sago, kuih ubi, kuih kochi, rempah udang, kuih koo green bean paste, kuih keria, lepat kacang, kuih ko swee, pulut tekan, abok sago, curry puff, and sweet potatoes.

Early in the morning, they also serve mee siam, nasi kunyit, nasi lemak, mee goreng, and mee hoon goreng – until they’re fully sold out!

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Samfu Nyonya Restaurant at Melaka, Malaysia

Just a short 10 minutes walk to and from Jonker Street is Samfu Restaurant in Malacca (Melaka). If you’re craving for Nyonya food, you’ll be glad to know that Samfu Restaurant serves Nyonya food.

Samfu Restaurant is not like most other restaurants in a shoplot along the (main) road. Only people who know the location or Google it, would be able to find it; as it is found inside a hotel – Mimosa Hotel.

Samfu Restaurant is on the ground floor of the hotel and just past the reception and lobby area.

How to get to Samfu Restaurant

If you’re driving, parking is available for free for 1 hour in Mimosa Hotel.

Do take note that Jalan Bunga Raya is a one-way street. If you missed the hotel, you can turn into Jalan Kee Ann or further up at Jalan Munshi Abdullah. You can park along the roads where they’re paid parking – even on Sundays.

Download the Smart Vehicle Parking Melaka 2 or SVP Melaka app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Tap the building icon at the bottom and then go to the “OnStreet Parking” and “All Council”. Then “Choose Vehicle” and “Choose Hourly Pass”. Parking is from as little as RM0.40 for half an hour to RM0.60 per hour, on an hourly basis.

To add your vehicle, tap the profile icon at the bottom right and then tap “Vehicle” to “Add Vehicle”. To purchase parking credits, tap the wallet icon in the middle and then you can reload from as little as RM5.00 to as much as RM50.00 with online banking or debit/credit card.

However, if you’re walking from Jonker Street, you can walk along Jalan Hang Kasturi and enjoy the back-lanes of one of Malacca’s street. Then walk along Jalan Kampung Pantai towards the Jambatan Kg Jawa. It is one of the go-to spots to pose with the Malacca River as your background. Then cross the mini-bridge to Jalan Jawa and then to Jalan Bunga Raya, where Samfu Restaurant is at.

Jambatan Kampung Jawa

Alternatively, from Jonker Street, cross the Tan Kim Seng Bridge and take a stroll along the Malacca River. While at it, you can also tour the Dutch Square (Red Square) Melaka and Christ Church Melaka. Then from Jalan Laksamana (the main road), continue walking down towards Jalan Bunga Raya. Samfu Restaurant is at the junction at Jalan Kee Ann. 

Samfu Restaurant

Samfu Restaurant has a feel of elegance and class in it. There is ample space and tables for 4 to 8 people per table. There is also a small private room with 2 round tables for 16 people.

Start off with the lemon grass with ginger tea to quench your thirsts. The tea is served in those old-fashioned flasks. 

We ordered omelette, otak-otak, babi chili garam, pongteh, masak lemak nenas prawns, steamed okra with dried chili paste, and fried eggplant with ebi.

The babi chili garam was very small slices of pork meat in chili garam. The pongteh was unique, as it was usually either pongteh chicken or pongteh pork. This was a combination of pork and chicken in a dish. The masak lemak nenas prawns is also a recommended dish because it’s a curry replacement and adds a sweet and spicy flavour to the rice.

End the meal with a bowl of cendol. 

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Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

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McDonalds have their drive thrus. Touch N Go is literally touch and go at tolls. In Penang, we’ve a eat and go cendol – Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul.

The famous Teochew chendul is easily recognisable by it’s pushcart and incredibly long queue. Being located along Lebuh Keng Kwee, a small road just off Jalan Penang, there are no tables and chairs to sit and eat. You’ve to stand by the roadside and eat, or tapau (take-away). 

Queues are super long, but because it is fast moving, it won’t take long to be your turn.

Lebuh Keng Kwee in 2018
Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul in 2018
Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul in 2014. Compare the prices then and now.

A timeless Malaysian dessert of shaved ice dessert with soft fresh pandan-flavoured palm flour noodles immersed in light coconut milk, sweetened by gula melaka and kidney beans thoroughly boiled in 4 hours.

A must try specialty for you to know why it’s become famous.

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

Especially during a hot day, it’s something to quench your thirst! Definitely will also cool you down in this hot, humid Malaysian weather.

From Penang to the Klang Valley

Founded in 1936 and with more than 80 years of history, Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul has come a long way. Undeniably, it is one of the popular cendol places even with franchises throughout Klang Valley. 

For the non-Penangites, you can still indulge in the famous cendol in the franchises in the Klang Valley in Selangor, Malaysia. Of course, nothing beats the original. When in Penang, why not head directly to THE Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul itself in Lebuh Keng Kwee.

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Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow at George Town, Penang

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In Penang, it is a must to eat Char Kuey Teow. When you ask the Grab driver where to get “good” Char Kuey Teow; the commonly, famous recommendation would be at Lorong Selamat. 

Where is the Char Kuey Teow

Locally known as Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow, it is located in Kafe Heng Huat, a coffee shop along Lorong Selamat in George Town. 

Kafe Heng Huat in 2014
Kafe Heng Huat in 2014

The Char Kuey Teow

The Char Kuey Teow (CKT) in Kafe Heng Huat is controversial for it’s mixed reviews from the service to the taste, to the size of the prawns, and to the price.

Furthermore, because it is a recommendation, be prepared for the long waiting time. Hence, you should plan your journey to avoid waiting, just for a plate of Char Kuey Teow.

Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow (RM11.00)

Aside from Char Kuey Teow, there’s also Oh Chien (Oyster Omelet).

Oh Chien (Oyster Omelet)
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