Singapore Trip: The "Must-Visit" Merlion Statue

If you've visited Merlion, then it means you've visited Singapore. Well at least that's the "must-visit" spot whenever I accompany somebody new to Singapore. This time I accompany my sister for her first time to Singapore and she obliged me to visit Merlion statue, the one across Marina Bay Sands to be exact.

We visited Singapore last August, one week before Singapore celebrate its 50th national day, so a huge celebration is being prepared everywhere in Singapore during our stay in Singapore at that time. On of them can be seen by young troops patrol around Merlion statue.

During my visit, the new bridge that connected Esplanade to Merlion statue has been opened for public, so this new bridge shortened the walk from the exit of Esplanade MRT station to the Merlion statue. When we almost closed to the Merlion, I can see lots of buses being parked, which means many tourists are visiting Merlion at the same time as me.

Across Merlion: Marina Bay Sand with cloudy sky

At that time, it's kinda hard to get good picture since the place was too crowded. Peoples are all over the place, even in the place that do not cross sign.

After visiting Merlion, I just realized that i was wearing a t-shirt with similar abbreviation with Merlion. Merlion is coming from the words "Mermaid" and "Lion", while at that time I wore Mermeow t-shirt, which coming from the words "Mermaid" and "Meow". What a coincidence :p

XOXO,
The Tourist

Hong Kong Trip: Avenue of the Stars

When we travelled from Seoul to Jakarta, we had to transit at Hong Kong first. We intentionally pick a long transit time (about 7 hours) so we can had some time to getting to know Hong Kong. Both my sister and I never visit Hong Kong before, so with limited time that we had, we wanted to visit the most popular place in Hong Kong which is Avenue of the Stars.

To get to Avenue of the Stars, we took an airport express from Hong Kong airport to Central station. From there, we continue using MRT to Tsim Sha Tsui. We took exit J, then we cross the Salisbury road and arrived at Avenue of the Stars.

View of Nathan Road after crossing Salisbury Road

When entering Avenue of the Stars, we're welcomed by HKFAA statue. Then the first view of avenue of the stars is the high rise at the Hong Kong island.

the HKFAA statue

view of the building at Hong Kong island

Fortunately when we're looking to the building at the Hong Kong island, there's a boat with red sail crossing our view which make the view even better.

The boat with its red sail add some magic to the view

When you're in Avenue of the Stars, don't forget to check out the stars's hall of fame with their hand prints, movie attributes, descriptive milestones, and the famous Jet Li statue.

with my favorite mandarin star's hall of fame

movie attributes

the milestones

the famous Jet Li statue

During our walk along Avenue of the Stars, we smell something so delicious, then we found out that it was shredded squid. We walk to one of the squid kiosk and buy one shredded squid for HK$30.

Shredded Squid kiosk

my sister and the shredded squid

From Avenue of the Stars, we continue our walk to Clock Tower. Before arrived at Clock Tower, we found a newly wed couple, complete withe their bridesmaid and groomsmen. Such a lovely view. Near Clock Tower, there was a Korean Forest Products festival, We have no interest to visit since we just visited Korea by our selves.

the newly wed

the Clock Tower

Korean Forest Products

Nearby the Clock Tower, we can find the Star Ferry Pier, but before then we bought an ice cream near the pier. The weather that day was so hot. Really contrast to Seoul weather.

one ice cream please

Star Ferry Pier

Star Ferry Pier entrance

Next to Star Ferry pier, there were ocean terminal. At the ocean terminal, we can spot two huge cruise ships. They're look amazing. Along the street from Star Ferry Pier to Ocean Terminal there's a Christmas ornaments which make the street looks bling bling.

the amazing cruise ships

Christmas ornament along the street to Ocean terminal

Since our feet already too tired to walk, we decided to come back to the station and take a train to airport. During our walk to the station we found a double-decker bus (it seems like most bus in Hong Kong is double-decker), and we also met with the newly wed wedding car with Homer and Marge Simpsons at the front.

the double-decker bus

cute Simpsons-theme wedding car

From Tsim Sha Tsui, we took MRT to Central Station and continue with Airport Express to Hong Kong Airport. From inside the train, we could see that Hong Kong is never stop building. Like the apartments complex that are still under construction at the picture below.

Airport Express ticket

inside the express train

the view from inside the train

Finally we arrived at Hong Kong airport again, and its time to come back home. But before then, we had our last dinner in Hong Kong. My sister bought a bibimbap while I just enjoy a desert.

Last dessert I enjoyed at Hong Kong airport. Like a mix of panacota, strawberry jam, orange peel candy, and chocolate crust at the botom. love it!

XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: School Food, Twosome Place, and Rio Cafe

During our trip in Seoul, we visited some restaurants and cafes. From them all, I had three recommended places to visit during your stay in Seoul:

1. School Food

We visited School Food at M Plaza in Myeong-dong. It was at lunch time and we just finished our hanbok photo session. We ordered toppoki, kimbap, and tofu ramen.

School Food

toppoki

Kimbap

Tofu Ramen

Massida!

All the foods were delicious and the taste was not too spice nor plain. The atmosphere was right for lunch time and it was not too crowded. We also saw some young girls at there too, which seems like a favorite lunch place. The price was affordable and we was really happy to fill our stomach there.


2. Twosome Place cafe

We visited Twosome Place near our hostel in Myeong-dong. The first reason why we visited this cafe was because it has Lee Min Ho picture on front of the cafe. My sister is a huge fan of Lee Min Ho, so we entered the cafe and ordered a coffee and desert. I forget the name of the desert, all I remember is the dessert was delicious, not too sweet, and just right. The coffee was good too, I forget whether we order cappuccino or mocha latte, but it was in the right composition too.

it looks good and taste good!

my sister and her Lee Min Ho :P

The consumer who entered the cafe are various, but most of them are in the early 20's or late 20's.

Definitely will stop by if I found a Twosome Place cafe again nearby.


3. Rio Cafe

We visit Rio Cafe at Hangang Bridge. Originally we just want to visit any cafe at the bridge that has futuristic look. This idea was inspired by a korean series called "Missing You". We were so amuse by the look of the cafe and decided to visit such cafe when we travel to Seoul.

Even though the original cafe that was in the Missing You series is not Rio Cafe (it was Gureum Cafe), but it still amazing for us to see how sophisticated the look of the cafe.

Rio Cafe

the cashier

our cups of coffee

I ordered tiramisu cake as desert, cappuccino, and a unique coffee name that I don't remember. The coffee was good, the ambiance was calm and peaceful, and the view from inside the cafe was good (but not stunning).

I recommend you to visit any of the cafe nearby Hangang, Banpo, Hannam, or Jamsil bridge. The looks of those cafe will amuse you or at least make you feel like you're going to the future for a while.



XOXO,
The Tourist