Singapore - To Eat 20Sep24 (LAUT)

 Singapore - To Stay
Singapore - To Eat
Singapore - To Do

Singapore - To Eat
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Laut
(PERMANANTLY CLOSED NOW A THAI MOOKTA PLACE WITH GREAT SEASIDE VIEWS)
(located at Changi Beach Club)

*Reviews online have touted this place to lack in the cooked food section and not being topped up. We did however arrive at 6pm on a Friday and weren't faced with that problem. The cooked section is pretty decent. The beef brisket and lamb were pretty well done too*

*Condiments and soup stock were pretty good. Soup offered for steamboat section were basically tomtao, mala or Collagen.*

Fed 5 at 150SGD+ *Great thing is kids 6 and under eat free*
Food 2.5/5
The meats

*Good marination. Google reviews have shared that some were over salted but that wasn't the case on our visit. The marinade were great and a special shout out specifically for the beef rib marinated cuts. The cuts for the steamboat section could be thinner but still passable/*
The Seafood

*A total miss. NOT FRESH. The blue swimmer crab's meat were mushy. The rest weren't that impressive. Probably the most enjoyable if at all were the fresh water prawns. The charcoal section would have a tough time cooking up non-flat dishes like the oysters and abalone.*

Service 3/5
*Seemingly very strict on 2hour dine limit. Our gas canister for the steamboat had run out and a fresh canister was provided on the table for self replacement. Somewhat dismissive and payment is done up front. 

Value 3/5
*Depends on you picking the right meats and loading up on it. For variety, set-up and view.
Ambience 4/5

*This is pretty much what you are paying for.*

Conceptually its really pleasant. Stick to the meats and you'd probably be fine. The cooked stuff is pretty decent. The seafood take at your own risk.

Shout-out to their marinated beef short ribs and silken tofu dessert. These were excellent. There's lots of areas lacking by way of service, topping up of food or clearing of dishes. Nice location. Food is marginal depending on what you pick. Its great that children aged 6 and under were not charged, else the place is totally not worth it.

Can't trust social media adverts at all. What happened to honest reviews.
You might want to check the Changi Board-Walk. Its quite worth for sunset exploration.
Click here for ABBA location Laut

Singapore - To Do 08Sep24 (Bidadari Park)

Singapore - To Stay
Singapore - To Eat
Singapore - To Do

Singapore - To Do
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Bidadari Park

The latest addition to the many beautiful parks and green spaces in Singapore.
- Fairly decent parking available on-site. Plenty of parking with the surrounding HDBs.
- Direct access over a pedestrian walk-way to the mall and hawker center across.
- Great for bird watching and beautifully curated space that's suitable for a leisurely walk and some cycling (maybe a little small for cycling)

*Fantastic center piece. Sand playground with adjoining flying fox play area*

*Nice center piece body of water where loads of Dragon Flies roam freely. The feature also acts as a first-of-its-kind lake that also doubles up as a storm water holding pond to prevent flash floods during heavy rain*

 

*Fireflies I seen pretty much every where.*

*Smart use of overhead walk-ways to connect residences directly to the park.*

*The raised boardwalk marshland area to check out*

Toilets are available on-site. The place is just right. Not too big and perfect for a leisurely stroll amongst nature and do some active bird watching. A good mix of all features which makes this place a little unique compared to other parks in Singapore without having to track too far for a change of scenery and wildlife. 
Click here for Bidadari Park Carpark

Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre located just across for all your dining needs

and many more.
You might also be interested in these slightly more unique parks located around Singapore for a taste of nature and walks
- Rifel Range Park (New Addition with a rewarding view at the top)
- Bukit Batok Nature Park
- Windsor Nature Park (Very nice brooks and easy trails which links up to Macritchie Treetop Walk)

- Pasir Ris Park Mangroove Boardwalk (Loads of animal and bird spotting. Another Easy loop to try out)

- Changi Board Walk
- Thomson Nature Park once (Bustling Hainan Village)

- Sengkang Floating Wetland 

- Lower Pierce Reservoir Park (Short, simple and scenic with great opportunity to catch a glimpse of Singapore Wildlife)

- Upper Seletar Reservoir Nature Park (For its iconic spaceship shaped tower and often photographed tree)

Singapore - To Do 25Aug24 (Tiong Bahru Self-Guided Heritage Walk)

Singapore - To Stay
Singapore - To Eat
Singapore - To Do

Singapore - To Do
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Tiong Bahru Heritage Walk

Simple, easy to follow with a little internet and googling you get to learn a little bit more of Singapore's history. Recommended time of 2-3hrs, topping it off with a Lunch in at the iconic Tiong Bahru Market. 

Design of Tiong Bahru's Post-war flats

*From Sarawak-born sculptor who also sculpted the Merlion.
Commissioned in 1972- The Dancing Girl Sculpture.*

The horse-show block. Also houses the first air raid shelter to be included as part of a public housing project.

*Monkey God Temple The first temple dedicated to the worship of the monkey god*

A great insight to this side of town and check out the neighborhood in all its glory. A little more time required if planning to check out all the key features as indicated in the map.
Click here for Tiong Bahru

Christchurch - To Do 13Sep24 (Cardboard Cathedral, CTV Earthquake Memorial Park, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Christchurch Murals)

Christchurch - To Stay
Christchurch - To Eat
Christchurch - To Do

Christchurch - To Do

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Cardboard Cathedral

The Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch, designed by Japanese Architect Shigeru Ban, is a unique and durable structure made from cardboard tubes, built as a temporary yet resilient symbol of recovery after the 2011 earthquake. The structured is expected to last 50years. 

*Features stained glass art from the still under construction Christchurch Cathedral that was hit by the Feb2011 earth quake.
*Click here for visuals of the church in 2016 and 2024 in comparison*

A really unique Cathedral to checkout. A very different take and feel from the ornate and intricately designed ones from Europe. The container boxes line the sides to form offices and various functions. A beautiful temporary church as a place of worship. 

Click here for ABBA location of the Cardboard Cathedral

 

CTV Earthquake Memorial Park

CTV Memorial Park in Christchurch honors the 115 victims of the 2011 earthquake who died in the Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapse (accounting for about 60% of the victims from the tragic earthquake)

A tranquil location to reflect and in remembrance of the tragic loss of life that day.
Similar to other memorials to remember significant events in history like the 9/11 memorial and museum.
Click here for location of CTV Earthquake Memorial Park

 

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

Free to enter. Free Wifi as well.

Check out the arts and the connections the artist have with the land and their culture. In all honesty the various street arts were more engaging.
Click here for ABBA location of Christchurch Art Gallery

 

Various beautiful Street Art Murals around Christchurch City

You maybe interested in Haji lane, the street art of Singapore, or Hosier Lane in Melbourne.