SFO - To Eat 26April25 (Darren's Cafe)

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

SFO - To Eat

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Darren's Cafe
Opens 730am-130pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Recommended by Daniel.T

A café that serves up American and surprisingly Asian food fare as well. And all-in-one location if you're in the mood for either a classic American breakfast or to fill that Asian craving with much talked about Pho. 

Ordered On:
27April25
Beef Pho with and without Beef Balls USD19.95 & USD17.95

*Scooping from the legit pot of Pho broth.*

*Good soup base. Not overly sweet and a hearty portion. The beef cuts were too fatty in their cuts, however their beef balls have a great bite and unique flavor to them in a great way. Decent serving of fresh veggies and condiments to go with.*
Food 3.5/5
Service 3/5
Ambience 3/5
Value 3.5/5

Opens early at 730am and has both options of American and Asian cuisine to fulfill either of the craving. Their pho was positively reviewed which I'd recommend to have on a cold day. I'd come back to try their all American breakfast another time before hitting the attractions of SFO! The place was packed within a 15mins of our arrival on a Sat.

Click here for ABBA location of Darren's Cafe

Singapore - To Do 08April25 (FHA25)

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

Singapore - To Do
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FHA 2025

Food Hotel Asia (FHA) is Asia’s leading trade event showcasing the latest in food, beverage, and hospitality innovations, connecting global suppliers with key industry buyers. This event is held annual in Singapore and for this year's ticket prices are at 90SGD. The event is on from the 08-11 Of April.

*Fancy some fancy quality charcoal?*

*China having a strong presence in this year's fare and featuring some braised rabbit.*

*Fancy some amazing shao xin marinated Hairy Crabs?*

*Unfortunately no sampling here.*

*Get your coffee on paired with milk life, a new player in the SG market.*

*Interesting product promoting health benefits.*

*High real fruit content in these alcohols.*

*Always one more Japanese strawberries please.*

*An interesting product. Made with brown rice, Zero caffeine but taste like black coffee.*

*All vegetarian. Soy based instant, sweet and creamy soups.*

*An interesting product. As a snack but completely transforms when boiled and heated up. The texture changes completely.*

*Ever had a drink of Kit Kat?*

*Try some classic spanish snacks.*

*Amazingly crispy, tender pork. Traditionally cut with a plate when served at restaurants.*

*Uniquely textured Caviar that has a lot more bounce and bite to them.*

*Fresh, raw lobsters and langoustines to try.*

*Famous white peppers from Sarawak.*

*Sampling of some waygu beef.*

*Pork loin and cuts from Spain being featured.*

*Meltique Beef samples being whisked away.*

*Olsson's salts! Amazing and available from woolies.*

Loads to see and check out with too much to offer from literally all over the world. Spanning from Halls 3-8, it was indeed a feasting and drinking sampling extravaganza to check out new products that have plans to debut in due time. 
Click here for full details of FHA and watch out for the next one next year!

Singapore - To Do 29Mar25/05Apr25 (Sentosa Fire Station & SG Naval Museum)

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

Singapore - To Do
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Sentosa Fire Station
Every Sat 9am/10am time slots
Click here for full list of fire station to visit.

Many of the Fire Stations in Singapore are open for visit every Saturday with sessions at 9am and 10am. Each station may have slightly different equipment on hand and offer different experiences. For most the fire engine visit, suiting up for a fire fight, quick response vehicles are staples. Not all, but most have the every popular opportunity to play with the firehose. 
(Click here for what to expect at most of the Fire stations)

Pros:
- Intimate Group Setting
- More exclusive experience and you can pretty much questions as you want and learn much about the SCDF and what they do. 

- Great as an add on activity to what's there to do in Sentosa. Closest beach to the station is Palawan Beach which near the giant trolls by Danish artist and the home to the southern most tip of Singapore. 
Cons:
- More of a challenge to get to without a car.  

You maybe interested to on what to expect at most of the Fire Station visit. (Ang Mo Kio Fire Station) The iconic and historic Central Fire Station is worth checking out to learn about the history of SCDF. (Click for full write up) 
Not all fire stations are made equal and most of them have their own unique charm. In Sentosa's outpost a more exclusive and intimate experience. Best combined with some beach time after or some post Sentosa activities. 
Click here for ABBA location of Sentosa Fire Station.

SG Naval Museum

Free to enter for citizens and residents/nominal sum for others. Click here for full details. 

The exhibitions itself is a little wordy. The thing that hit it off with the kids were the free to interact with guns that were once on the ships. These were the main highlights and you get pretty much exclusive free play over you would at a Navy open house. 

Three stories of Naval History that can be a little wordy but still very informative in various aspects. Some displays which resonated particularly were the plaque of some of the decommissioned ships as well as the various international exercises which the Singapore Navy participated in. 

The gaming module with free toys after was a nice touch and the kids really liked it. 

A nice 1.5hrs of getting to understand the Singapore Naval force. The highlight is definitely the gun displays on the outside where you have free reign. 
Click here for ABBA location of Singapore Navy Museum.

New York - To Do 01April25 (Brooklyn Coney Island)

New York - To Do
New York - To Eat

NYC - To Do

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Coney Island Day Trip
 Transport time from Downtown/Uptown to Coney Island is about an hour door to door. 
The ride is USD2.90 one way. 

Coney Island in Brooklyn became a major amusement hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its iconic parks and rides. The season needs to be right for the rides and entry to the parks and lights are on (Will revisit at night and when rides are open) This trip was more of a walking through history and checking historic shops and their stories.

*Beautiful glass art outside of the main train staiton.*

*Taken outside the NYC Aquarium*

*Coney Island was also home to some bizarre yet significant moments in history. In the early 1900s, Dr. Martin Couney’s Baby Incubator Exhibit saved countless premature infants by displaying them in a sideshow, helping to revolutionize neonatal care. On a darker note, in 1903, the circus elephant Topsy was sentenced to death after killing an abusive trainer. Thomas Edison orchestrated her electrocution to discredit AC electricity, turning the execution into a grim spectacle caught on film. 

Parkview Diner
(Open24hrs)
Voted best of Brooklyn several years in a row.

Parkview Diner in Coney Island is famous for being a classic old-school diner with huge portions, affordable prices, and a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. It’s one of the few 24-hour diners in the area, making it a go-to spot for locals, truckers, and night owls alike.

Ordered On:
01April25
Cabo Omelette USD18
Bagel & Lox with cream cheese USD15.75
x2 Coffee

Fed 2 at US52 with tip.
Food 4/5
Service 3/5
Ambience 3/5
Value 3.5/5

Looking to get your All-American breakfast fix, this place got it down and delivers. Open 24hrs. you can start your day anytime you want!
Click here for ABBA location of Parkview Diner

The Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument

The Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument (both Baseball legends) at MCU Park in Brooklyn honors the moment in 1947 when Pee Wee Reese supported Jackie Robinson as he broke baseball's color barrier. The statue symbolizes their friendship and their impact on civil rights and the integration of baseball.
Click here for ABBA location of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument 

Wall of Remembrance

The Wall of Remembrance is a powerful 9/11 memorial located outside Maimonides Park (home of the Brooklyn Cyclones) in Coney Island. It’s a 40-foot-long granite wall featuring etched portraits of the 417 first responders who lost their lives during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
You may want to visit the 911 memorial located in Downtown as well as the beautifully done and maintained 9/11 Memorial Pools. Click here for full write up.

The Parachute Jump

The Parachute Jump at Coney Island, built in 1939 for the New York World's Fair, was originally a ride where visitors experienced a simulated parachute jump. Standing 262 feet/79m tall, it was once the tallest attraction in the area. Although the ride closed in 1968, the tower remains an iconic feature, appearing in films and pop culture. Locally, it's often called the "Eiffel Tower of Coney Island" due to its towering presence.

You maybe interested in real deal where to get some of the best views of the real Eiffel Tower in Paris and a ride up as well
or other places which like Osaka - the Tsutenkaku Tower, the focal point of the Shinsekai neighborhood in Osaka, was modeled after the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Click here for ABBA location of Parachute Jump at Coney Island

Nathan's Famous

The Birthplace of the American Hot Dog Legend – Nathan’s Famous started as a small hot dog stand in 1916 by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker. It’s an iconic NYC institution and home to the annual hot dog eating contest held at Nathan's as well.

Ordered on:
01April25
Chili Hot Dog & 1/2 Dozen Large Clams
Food 3/5
Service na
Ambience 3/5
Value 3/5

The food is meh to be honest. A common street dog would have cost about USD4. The large Clams were really nice and really enjoyed. More for the history of the place than for the actual food. 
Click here for ABBA location of Nathan's Famous

Williams Candy Shop
(To see one of the last remaining traditional candy stores in Coney Island)

It was much smaller than what was envisioned. 
Click here for ABBA Location of Williams Candy Shop

Cyclone Roller Coaster
(Iconic historic rides)

The Cyclone roller coaster, opened in 1927, is one of the oldest wooden coasters still running. It features an 85-foot drop, speeds up to 60 mph, and 27 elevation changes. Saved from demolition in the 1960s, it became a NYC Landmark in 1988. NASA once used it for astronaut training, and it remains a pop culture icon.
Click here for ABBA location of the Cyclone Roller coaster.

Wonder Wheel
(Iconic historic rides)

Coney Island Art Walls

I think its free to enter. It was supposed to be open as listed. But still managed to catch lots of nice views of the street art in and around Coney Island. Apparently when in season, there are side shows, performances and much more carnival like atmosphere. 
For really amazing street art, highly recommended to check Straat Museum in Amsterdam!

Click here for ABBA location of Coney Art Walls 

White Castle

White Castle, founded in 1921, was the first fast-food burger chain. Their small, square Sliders are steam-grilled over onions, with a unique five-hole design for fast cooking. They've gained a cult following and pop culture fame, notably in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

Ordered On:
01April25
Original 1921 Slider and classic slider without cheese.
Total about USD5.

Food 3.5/5
Ambience 3/5
Value 4.5/5
Service Na
*Surprsingly really really good. The meat is nice, perfect with the soft onions and the pickles just tops it off. I'd rank this above In-N-Out actually for what you actually pay and how much value. Really flavorful sliders and super value for your money. Well worth and would recommend for others to try cause of its pop culture reference to the movie and cheap and good mini-sliders!*

We ending of the day with our Harold and Kumar moment at white castle to top of the day's activities. 

Coney island. Highly recommended to have a step back into the past and will return in the evening, especially to check out the lights and festivities when the parks are open! A great piece of American history and to enjoy some famous iconic rides. 
Click here for ABBA location of White Castle.
Click here for ABBA location of Coney Island

You may also be interested to check out an off the beaten track, Governor's island during the warmer season for something a little closer to New York and be in the green.

These are some other 1hr off the beaten path side trips from one's usual enclaves to explore
Japan - Narita - Sarawa (Small water town)

London - Brighton