Singapore - To Do 13Aug25 (Green Corridor Cycle Hillview - Buno Vista)

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

Singapore - To Do
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Green Corridor Cycle
13Aug25

We finally got the opportunity to try out this routing along part of the Green Corridor. 

You maybe interested to check out these other cycling routes with a variety of views and varying difficulty for young families. The Green Corridor traces Singapore’s former KTM railway line, now a lush 24 km trail teeming with wildlife.

We had parked at Dairy Farm Rd Car Park A and rented from Ride Sharing bicycle found around the MRT station. There are many entry points to the Green Corridor along the way.
ABBATip:
- Probably start after Rail mall/ King Albert Park MRT Station for a smooth SOUTHERLY ride from Rail Corridor park. (Click here for full review) along the Green Corridor. 
We entered via Hillview MRT and exited via Buona Vista. The road conditions were pretty uneven with bumps and humps and smoothed out closer to  the Rail Corridor. 

*Rougher road conditions up until nearing Rail Corridor park.*

*Rough ride for the first third.*

*Smooth riding as it reaches the Rail Corridor park and beyond. That's pretty much the scenery all the way with some variations.*

Pros:
- Nice long stretches of unblocked cycling. 
- Surrounded entirely by nature. 
- Riding along a piece of Singapore's history and able to checkout the Former Bukit Timah Station.
- Easy access with multiple entry and exit points along the green corridor.
Cons:

- Too narrow. With hikers on one side and pretty much single lane traffic its a tight squeeze.
- From where we started and ended, probably the first third was bumpy and quite unpleasant to ride. So much so we took public back to our start point.
- Not much variation to the scenery. In fact we made a slight detour along Holland Green Linear Park for some nice paved cycling track and variations in the view. 

*Nice stretch with beautiful wide longkang along Holland Green Linear Park.*

Other scenic cycling routes that you may wanna try out.
- Sentosa Cycle - Views of the beaches but without a car, much slopes to conquer to get to the marina.

- Singapore River Cycle- Loads of key view spots and key attraction in Singapore
- MBS - Flyer - OCBC Cycle - To me probably one of the more iconic and enjoyable cycles
- Jurassic Mile - East Coast Cycle

Haneda - To Do 09Aug25 (Meiji Jingu Inner Garden, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado)

Haneda - To Stay
Haneda - To Do
Haneda - To Eat
Japan - To Buy

Haneda - To Do

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Meji Jingu Inner Garden
(Harajuku Area) in addition to Meji Shrine
¥500 for upkeep of the gardens

The Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (also called the Gyoen) is a peaceful, landscaped garden within Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine grounds. Originally part of the imperial estate, it’s known for its Iris Garden (blooming in June), a central pond with koi, seasonal flowers, and a tea house. 

*Historical and famous well that churns up 15degree C spring water all year round.*

The route is easy to follow with loads of signages and the write-ups simple enough to add depth and story to the visit. A nice little inner sanctum that one would miss if the fee was a barrier. Worth it in my opinion.

Harajuku is located just across and great for fashion, and loads of animal cafes from piglets to otters, to capybaras and more. Click here for full write-up.

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado
(Harajuku Area)


*Coffee at Bills on the top floor. A good place to hang whilst waiting for the mall to open.

It’s an iconic Harajuku spot selling trendy fashion, known for its mirrored entrance that creates a kaleidoscope view. The shops open at 11am but the coffee and bistro on the top floors open much earlier. Went there for the view and chill before doors open.

Click here for ABBA location of Tokyu Plaza

Haneda - To Eat 09Aug25 (Roast Beef Ohno Harajuku Branch)

Haneda - To Stay
Haneda - To Do
Haneda - To Eat

Haneda - To Eat

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Roast Beef Ohno
(Chain establishment Harajuku Branch)

Small simple and delicious. The place fills up fast!

Ordered On:
09Aug25
Small Beef Set with Soy Sauce with onion condiment
served with Cream cheese and Horse Radish 2,200Yen


The Soy sauce and onion was a little overpowering and the cooked cabbage at the side didn't add much to the overall dish. The yolk and everything else worked perfectly and allowed for multiple ways to enjoy the dish. 

ABBATip:
- The condiment selection is paired together with the sauce selection. You can't ask for the other condiment after you order. I went for the bream cheese with miso condiment which gives an overall richer and filling taste. The horse radish does help bring out the flavor a little more. 

Food 4/5
Service na
Ambience 3/5
Value 3/5

The closest comparison would be Red Rock in Osaka which just hits different in a bigger way! Highly recommended. Click here for full review. Here offers a more luxurious meat cut which was served cold. If it was a little warmed up I think overall much better. The beef tail soup sounded great but lack in flavor honestly. They do allow for condiment and soup top-ups but that wasn't needed.

A nice roast beef bowl with multiple ways of enjoying which is a huge plus. Kind of like enjoying an inviting bowl of Hitsumabushi in Nagoya - Yo Neh Yi Chi, another must.

Click here for ABBA location of Roast Beef Ohno, Harajuku Branch

Paris - To Do 30July25 (Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Le Bon Marche, Musée d'Orsay)

Paris - To Do
Paris - To Eat

Paris - To Do
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Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Opens daily form 745am.

*The first attendees for the first mass in the morning at 8am.

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris is famous as the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré in 1830, giving her the design for the Miraculous Medal, a devotional item worn by millions of Catholics worldwide.

Reasons to visit this particular Church whilst in Paris.

Marian Apparitions – Saint Catherine Labouré is known for receiving Marian apparitions in 1830 that led to the creation of the Miraculous Medal. She lived a humble life of service, caring for the sick while remaining anonymous, and is revered for her faith and humility.

Pilgrimage Site – It's one of the most visited Marian shrines in Paris, drawing pilgrims seeking healing and spiritual grace.

*Saint Catherine Laboure*

Saint’s Incorrupt Body – Saint Catherine’s body lies beneath the altar, reportedly incorrupt, which many see as a sign of sanctity.

*Mass which last about 30mins and after which mass blessings of Medals or other personal belongings.*

*Getting your Miraculous Medals blessed. The Miraculous Medal is a Catholic devotional medal believed to bring graces, protection, and conversions to those who wear it with faith.*

ABBATip:
- Shops opens at 9am only. So if you'd like your charms to be blessed, attend the service after purchase which was at 1030am, after communion. Each service is about 30mins. 
There's service daily and it is a pilgrimage for many Catholics. The exterior is unassuming between the link bridge for the fancy Le Bon Marche. It quite obvious at doors open due to the long queue of people. 

*These are the more fancy which are available only at the counter. However the miraculous medals start as low as €0.50 and the pretty decent sized sized ones around €4.0 each. There's something within anyone's budget.*

The interior is absolutely beautiful but it may not be as fancy as some of the other Churches but has it own unique charm and history which makes this a must visit especially for Catholics. 
You maybe interested in some of these other Churches in the City of Paris

- Sacre Coeur - The heart of Paris with amazing Sunset views & also used in the Finale Scene of John Wick 4.
- Notre-dame where the Crown of Thornes which was put on Jesus's head is homed. 
- The Curch of Saint Etienne du Mont and Glise Saint-Sulpice (some of the lesser known but beautiful churches in the area.)
Click here for ABBA location of Chapel Of Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal.

Le Bon Marche
(Fancy Shops)

Fancy shopping mall with fancy supermarket. Purely to get Le Beurre Bordier (some say the best or one of the best butters in the world) and they have it here! They even provide a vacuum service after payment for a nominal fee.
Its not as famous as Gallarie La Fayette and especially their roof top view but worth to pop-by whilst in the area. 

Click here for full write up of Gallarie La Fayette which ends after a day trip out at Sacre Coure.

Click here for ABBA location of Le Bon Marche

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay is a renowned Paris museum housed in a former train station, famous for its vast collection of 19th- and early 20th-century art, especially Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. It bridges the gap between the Louvre and modern art museums.
ABBATip:
- Start from the top and work your way down.
- Queue for tickets fairly long but fast moving. €14/adult
- Fee Wifi is available on-site
- Try to have a must see list of pictures before going as it maybe overwhelming.
This place absolutely delivers. Though the place is massive, the arts works are largely on the top floor and on the ground level. Loads of amazing art works by legends like Degas, Manet, Van Gough and many many more.

Level 5 art works

*Van Gogh, La Nuit Étoilée

Starry Night Over the Rhone is a perfect example of what makes van Gogh so popular.*

*Renoir, Bal du Moulin de la Galette – 1876

Not only Renoir's most well-known work, Bal du Moulin is one of the most popular of all Impressionist paintings. First shown at the third Impressionist exhibition in 1877, it depicts a weekend dance part in the courtyard of the Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre.*

*Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies - Cluade Monet 1899*

*Matching pallet of colors.*
Lower Floors

*Nature Unveiling herself before Science.1899. The original.*

*The Abyss, 1901 marble sculpture.*


*Auguste Rodin, The Gates of Hell (1880-1917) Plaster cast made from the 1917 bronze is on long-term loan to the Musée d’Orsay, on the ground it was originally meant to occupy.*

*Miniature of The Thinker.*

*La Douleur" (Grief) by Jean-Joseph Perraud, created in 1867*

*Whistler's Mother as featured in the Mr Bean Movie. A symbol of motherhood, artistic innovation and cultural icon as a symbol of endurance during the great depression.*

*As featured in the Mr Bean Movie.*

*Manet’s The Fifer broke with tradition through its flat composition, minimal background, and modern subject, paving the way for future avant-garde movements in art.*

*Manet's Olympia (1863) is famous for its bold realism and modernity. It shocked viewers with its portrayal of a confident nude woman, challenged traditional ideals of beauty, and included racial and class commentary through the presence of a Black maid. The painting marked a turning point in modern art and influenced generations of artists.*
*Cumo Amiet 1868-1961 Snow Landscape*
The Architecture itself and the space.

*The Romans in their decadence 1847*

*Like something like this you may wanna check out

in Munich Residenz and Munich & Nyphenburg Palace also in Munich. These are stunning and inspired by the mirrored halls of Versailles' in Paris.*

*You can see the Peak of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides which houses the tomb of the Great Napoleon. Click for full review.*

A really great selection with many, many recognizable top hit on the top floor, along with their iconic clock face with views of Paris in the background. 

Loving the curated pieces here which cover a wide range of mediums and genres. Here are some other really note worthy Museums that I'd recommend which really captivated emotions and featured famous works which are well worth to check out.
> MOMA in NYC - Starry Night, Salvador Dali, Warhol, Monet.  A real pleasant surprise especially to see so many iconic pieces..
> Paris - The Lourve of Course. 
> Van Gough Museum in AMS

> Rome - The amazing collection and murals at the Sistine Chapel

> AMS - For impressive street art murals in a grungy and cool location, one has to check out Straat Museum. More modern and definitely worth the entry charge!
Click here for ABBA location of Musée d'Orsay