Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Manchester - To Do 11Sept23 (St. Marys Catholic Church The Hidden Gem, Bridge Water Canal, Manchester Art Gallery)

Manchester - To Do
Manchester - To Eat

Manchester - To Do

The Hidden Gem
St. Marys Catholic Church

The Hidden Gem, founded in 1794 as the first Catholic church post-Reformation and for over 200 years, it has witnessed Manchester's transformation from slums to a modern commercial hub, and recent city center regeneration has rejuvenated its historic Victorian core.
 
Bridge Water Canal
The Bridgewater Canal at Hulme Locks is historically significant as one of the world's first purpose-built transportation canals. 
The place is nice to take explore for its picturesque setting where there is a blending of history with modern urban development.

It's a mix of vibes. A little of Amsterdam canals, Copehagen's Nyhaven, and a blend of modern transportation with their beautiful bridges and arcs like New York's Manhattan Bridge area.
Really nice and well worth to take a stroll down this area.
 Click here for ABBA location of Bridge Water Canal

Manchester Art Gallery
(Free entry)
Like many of the fantastic museums in London, the Manchester Art Gallery thou small, packs a very nice curation of pieces over a variety of genres and times. All of which, with their write-ups provide a casual and enjoyable walk through. 
*Playing on light and shadow as the man looks in on the woman he loves.*
*Where's Wally?*
*Depiction of Jesus foreshadowing what was to come through symbolic representation of the play of light and items laid around him.*
The tied head piece was purposefully included to draw attention and accent the fur texture.*
*A close up of the attention to detail. A death-head moth in one hand. The moth in silence of the lambs movie poster.
A really nice, quaint curation that's worth a pop-in to see a different artistic perspective or hide from the weather. Free Wifi available on-site.
Click here for ABBA location of Manchester Art Gallery
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Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Singapore - To Do 10Sep23 (RSAF55 Open House)

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


RSAF 55 Open House
An event sharing for posterity. Finally an open house after 7years
You might also be interested in the Singapore Airshow.
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Sunday, September 3, 2023

San Francisco - 31AUG23 To Eat (The Melt, HINODEYA Ramen, Good Mongkok Bakery)

San Francisco - To Stay
San Francisco - To Do
San Francisco - To Eat

SFO - To Eat
 Check out our Instagram #abbatravel @ABBATRAVELS
The Melt
(Recommended by Nic T.BH)
Opens daily and till late! Closes at 2am
 
Looking for alternatives that are close by, and open till late that isn't Carls Jr or Burger King?The Melt offers a great alternative for your late night eats.
Its along Market street and still relatively well lit. Though the environment maybe a little suss, staff to make the effort to keep the place safe and enjoyable for dining guests.
Ordered On:
31Aug23
Swiss & Shroom Melt Burger USD9.99
 *Option of Medium or Well done patties only. The vegetables are really fresh and good serving of Umami packed mushrooms. The burger patty itself is a good solid chunk of meat but it lacks, in my opinion seasoning. It more akin to cleaner burger like another popular joint, Han Im Gluck (MUC). Still good and filling.*
Garlic Parmesan Fries USD4.79
 Smells great, looks great but falls short of having that punch of garlic flavor. Super Duper's garlic fries still takes the top spot and a must try.
Food 4/5
Service na
Ambience 3.5/5
Value 3.5/5
 
HINODEYA Ramen Union Square
200m away for Ramen
The place used to be Dojima Ann (Permanently closed) which used to serve up great Eel and is now replaced with this Ramen shop. 
Ordered On:
01SEP23
Spicy Miso Butter Corn USD20
 
*The lvl1 spicy miso was near nonexistent. The pork does have a gamy flavor to it which some people may not take to. The broth pretty standard. A pretty decent bowl of ramen.*
Special mentions to their sides
- Their fried squid is good. The fried chillies were so-so but could have packed more heat.
Food 3.5/5
*Didn't really favor the texture of the ramen, which was more starchy. Something in between the familiar yellow noodles and that often used in Ban Mian.*
Service na
Ambience 3.5/5
Value 3/5
*I'd say a little more on the pricier side.*

Fed per pax approximately USD27-35+ with drinks and sides
Conveniently located a short distance from the hotel if looking for something soupy and not burger.
Click here for ABBA location of Hinodeya Ramen
 
Good Mongkok Bakery
*The immediate queue after I had made my order as the second customer. The long lines confirm its status as a must go for C&G Dim Sum.*
*TAKE AWAY ONLY!*
Arriving at 7am opening and there was already a long queue formed behind.
The queue moves relatively slowly. Though tiny, the place is packed with stacks of dim sum as the staff process each persons order one by one. 
The quintessential must go for cheap, good, quick and easy (Take-away only) dim sum when in SFO Chinatown, the most densely populated area west of Manhattan. Don't fret arriving just before 7am. It looked bare but very quickly filled with huge trays and trays of delicious dim sum.
Ordered On:
02SEP23
BBQ Pork Bun USD1.70
*HUGE! There's a bit of gaminess from the pork and its not as minced up like what one maybe used to. Still very delectable, filling and hearty with a delicious, meaty filling.*
Beef Xiu Mai USD3.20x4 and Harkow USD3.20x3

*The beef sui mai was dense and delicious. The Har Kow also very big, but don't expect for these steal prices to get super thin skin over. The skin is a little thick but at USD3.20 for 3 pieces, what would one expect.*
x1 Century Egg Pork Porridge USD2.80 (S)
*Simple, warming and chock full of ingredients. Think choke. Would have gone fantastic with a raw egg and condiments but its a warm filling meal.*
Total USD10.90
Food 3.5/5
Service na
Ambience  na
Value 4.5/5
Well worth it and especially to share! US does everything up-sized and the portions are great. Good value and quick eats when in the area and especially worth visiting the establishment when passing through or visiting China Town.
*Note the Portuguese egg tarts are only served from 10am on-wards.*
Click here for ABBA location of Good Mongkok Bakery
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Saturday, September 2, 2023

San Francisco - To Do 01SEP23 (Sausalito, Floating Houses, Blue&Gold Ferry)

San Francisco - To Stay
San Francisco - To Do
 San Francisco - To Eat

SFO - To Do
 Check out our Instagram #abbatravel @ABBATRAVELS
 
Sausalito Round-trip

If via public bus there's a direct bus at USD8/way that takes about 40-55mins (pending time of travel). As we were a larger group of 5, taking Uber XL was cheaper and half the travel time at 20mins. All routes will bring you across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Sausalito - To Eat
Bayside Cafe
Ordered On:
01Sep2023

Food 3.5/5
Servie 4/5
Ambience 3/5
Value 3.5/5
Approximately 22USD with tip/pax. Pretty standard American fair
but well portioned and enjoyed by all.

We ate Bayside Cafe for a classic American Breakfast. Good google rating as well as a good starting point to walk the 3.1km (Aproximately 37mins walk) stretch of Sausalito to the eventual ferry terminal to ride the Blue & Gold fleet leading back to the Pier for more iconic attractions. 

Floating Houses at Suasalito

*Feel free to walk down each of the piers and the unique architectures and
artistic take of each home.*
The floating houses offer a diverse range of personal style and unique design characteristics. Due to the close-knit and artistic residents many artists, musicians, and creative individuals have been drawn to this unique way of life, fostering a vibrant and eclectic community and it definitely shows in their designs and personal flare.

The area also provides a scenic waterfront location, stunning views of San Francisco and a serene waterfront lifestyle. Interestingly also, the floating houses are better able to adapt in light rain storms due to their ability to float up and down with the water levels to avoid flooding.
Click here for ABBA location of Floating Homes

Blue&Gold To Pier 41
Click here for schedule

*Ticket can be bought on board. No worries.*


*Alcatraz island*
14.50USD/pax, per way. Tickets can be bought individually on board. So just enjoy the leisurely cruise with views of the golden gate bridge, the bay city skyline, Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz island (Click for full tour write-up). It stops conveniently in between Pier 39 and Pier 45. Click here for full write up of things not to miss over at Pier 39 and Pier 45. 
*Pier 39 as we are docking in.*
*Over at Pier 45*
Their iconic cable car ride is also just a short walk from Pier 45. The Cable car museum also a worth while visit to see how the heart of this iconic transport runs throughout the city.

A little pricey but one of the classic crossings that's been running for years.
You might also be interested in these other iconic boat rides in these other famous cities.
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