KAWS:HOLIDAY at The Float @ Marina Bay, Singapore

KAWS:HOLIDAY at The Float @ Marina Bay, Singapore

KAWS: HOLIDAY has landed in Singapore with a 42 metre-long inflatable installation at The Float @ Marina Bay. The artwork features KAWS's signature character COMPANION, posed in a reclining position as it holds a mini version of itself.

KAWS:HOLIDAY is a collaboration between the American artist Brian Donnelly (known as KAWS) and organiser AllRightsReserved (ARR). Singapore is their seventh stop and the exhibition will run from 13th to 21st November 2021, supported by Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

10 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in South Korea

As the spring wind blows, the pinkish white petals magically scatter and slowly spread out on the ground; these are cherry blossoms (벗꽃), the delicate and ephemeral flowers that many people chase for. When the cherry blossom season arrives, it also marks the end of winter as the temperature become mild and pleasant, and the people start to go outdoors and the streets become lively again. Cherry blossom viewing certainly has become one of the top activities in Korea during the spring season.

The Magical Moment at Sasang Park

Typically, the blooming starts in the Southern region in late March and then move into the Northern region in mid-April. Seeing cherry blossoms in Korea is not as difficult as you might think; in fact, it is almost anywhere along the streets and especially in the parks.

8 Places For The Soul-Satisfying Local Foods In Taipei, Taiwan

Whenever someone is talking about their Taiwan trip, food is the topic that never runs out of things to say in the conversation. Taiwan, being one of the top food destinations in the world, and there is no surprise that listing down where to eat and what to eat are as significant as the places of interest in the destination when planning an itinerary. If you are one of the traveling foodies, the best place to start the food hunting trail is none other than Taipei city, the capital and the heartbeat of Taiwan.

Taipei is a lively modern city that never sleeps; if a city never sleeps, so do the food places. In this post, let's try to escape from the usual tourist hot-spots and explore some of the local's favourite food places in Taipei.

Celebrating Chinese New Year With Bicentennial Fireworks Display, Singapore

We don't get to see fireworks everyday, but if we do, it must be some major events with big celebrations going on. Without a doubt, the fireworks are the most anticipated element that brings any celebrations to a climax always. This year, we decided to hang out at the River Hongbao festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some spectacular fireworks display.

The River Hongbao has been an annual Chinese New Year event held in Singapore since 1987. This year with the Bicentennial Edition, the 8 days of celebration featured some massive lantern displays, performances, exhibitions, carnival games, street food and of course the main highlight of the festival, which is the bicentennial fireworks display by award-winning fireworks artists from USA, China, Italy and Australia. Thanks to the generous fireworks schedule from the organizers, the people get to enjoy the spectacular fireworks display not only one or two evenings, but every evening throughout the 8 days.

The Magical Fairy Tale Town of Alberobello, Italy

When I first saw the pictures of Alberobello over the internet a couple of years back, I thought it was a fairy tale theme park somewhere in the world. After reading up more, then I realized that Alberobello in fact is a heritage town in the south of Italy, not far from the city of Bari. Since then, I have told myself that I must visit this magical place one day. And it doesn't take long for my dream to come true, I made it this year's spring during my trip around the southern Italy.

About Alberobello
Alberobello is a little town situated in the southern region of Puglia, which is famous for its fairytale-like trulli, traditional dry stone huts with cone-shaped roofs dating back as early as the 14th century. The story behind these unique architectural structures has two sides; some believe that these buildings are constructed because of its geographical conditions and the abundant limestone materials, and some believe that it is constructed for easy dismantling and assembling to avoid paying taxes to the Kingdom of Naples. Today, some of the trulli are converted into souvenir shops, museums, restaurants and lodgings, but there are many still populated with the local residents. In 1996, the town of Alberobello with a great collection of more than 1500 beautifully preserved trulli in the region was designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Pastel Colors of Procida, Italy

I feel holiday the moment I get off the boat. "Il tempo è così bello", the weather is so beautiful and the surreal pastel-colored houses on the waterfront reflect my mood. The cobbled streets are calm and the locals live their lives at their own pace. I suppose we are the busiest people on the island, busy taking pictures. Welcome to Procida island, the little pastel world.

Procida is the smallest island in the Gulf of Naples and it is also one of the most underrated destinations in Italy. Although the island is only less than an hour ferry ride from the city of Naples, many tourists choose to visit the other neighbouring islands like Ischia and Capri. In other words, you can laid-back and explore this less travelled island without having to battle the crowds; soak up the local atmosphere with an authentic Italian experience and immerse yourself in the true culture of Procida.

30 Things to Do in Cebu, Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago that is made up of more than 7000 islands located in the Southeast Asia; one of the countries with the most island in the world. This is our very first time visiting the Philippines; with so many islands to choose from, we have randomly chosen Cebu to be our first destination in the Philippines. My first impression of the Philippines was rather surprised as I could see many churches; maybe because I have been traveling around the other Southeast Asian countries and mostly what I saw was the Buddhist culture and temples. Also, unlike her neighbouring countries, the Philippines is strongly influenced by the western culture due to the long history with the Spaniards and the Americans.

Cebu is a long and narrow island located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, and the largest city on this island is the Cebu City, also known as the Queen City of the South. Cebu city is a booming metropolis, if you desire a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life, you should simply travel out of the city. It is not difficult to find a good place to relax in Cebu as there are plenty of beautiful beaches and untouched nature surrounding this lovely Filipino island.

The Henry Cebu: A Hotel For The Art Lovers (Philippines)

When I was researching for our accommodation in Cebu city, I came across quite a number of beautiful hotels, but The Henry is the only hotel that leaves me a very deep impression. Why? The Henry is unlike any other hotel in Cebu, because it doesn't look like a hotel, it looks more like an art museum to me. With that, we decided to stay at The Henry Cebu for one night.

The Henry Cebu (formally known as The House of Cebu) is a boutique art hotel located in the city centre of Cebu offering 38 spacious rooms with unique furnishings, stunning murals and quirky decor. Every room is unique, featuring a different mural artwork by the Cebuano artist Mark Luzon, and that makes the stay here more special and unforgettable.

Comino Island: The Paradise In The Blue Mediterranean Sea, Malta

Set in the idyllic Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by azure colored water, the island of Comino away from everything is another paradise that we have found after we discovered the Balos Lagoon a couple of years back.

Comino is the smallest inhabited island in the Maltese Archipelago with an area of only 3.5 square kilometers and a population of only four residents. In Comino, there's no traffic, no hustle, no bustle; only unspoilt nature, the sound of the wind and the smell of the sea. The island's tranquillity and isolation, making it an ideal place to escape everyday life.

Today, Comino island is a bird sanctuary and nature preserve, also a little piece of heaven for the day-trippers who love swimming, snorkeling, walking and diving.

8 Authentic Local Restaurants In Fukuoka City, Japan

Most of the people who visit Japan for the first time would probably skip Fukuoka for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or even Hokkaido, and it's no surprise that I'm one of them! However, ever since I first set my foot on the soil of Fukuoka, I totally fell in love with this amazing city, especially their delicious local delicacies.

Fukuoka is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and the largest city on the Kyushu island. Fukuoka is famous for its local specialty Tonkotsu (豚骨) Ramen, a noodle dish with rich and creamy pork-bone broth. Besides Ramen, Fukuoka is also well known for its Yatai (屋台), the mobile food stalls that provide an atmospheric outdoor dining experience in the evening throughout the night.

Lewin Terrace: Dining In The Lush Greenery, Singapore

"By the way, welcome back", one of the waiters whispered to us after taking down our order. Not frequently, perhaps once a year and we were back in the Lewin Terrace again for our second wedding anniversary celebration. And every time, I feel so blissful to step into Lewin Terrace; escape from the bustling city for a couple of hours, indulge in the fine dining experience, unwind in a relaxed atmosphere and also to see the familiar faces of the L.T. Team.          

Perched on a peaceful location at Fort Canning Hill, Lewin Terrace is a destination restaurant serving Japanese-French fusion fine dining cuisine with an excellent Japanese hospitality. One thing I'm amazed by Lewin Terrace is they always deliver unexpected, fresh and innovative menu regularly; and during our visit, they had rolled out the Ichigo Delight Strawberry Dessert Buffet, featuring a wide range of desserts made from the tasty premium Chitose strawberries.

Tamaseseri: A Traditional New Year Festival In Fukuoka, Japan

Attending a festival is the best way to get close to the local community and learn more about their culture and tradition. If you are planning to visit Kyushu for your upcoming new year celebrations, consider sparing yourself half a day to watch a group of men who brave themselves in the cold to celebrate the Tamaseseri, a traditional new year festival in Fukuoka.

Tamaseseri or Ball-Catching Festival is a traditional event that is held in the Hakozaki Shrine every year on the third of January. This festival is considered one of the major festivals of Kyushu and it has been around for more than 500 years since the Muromachi period. In a cold winter weather, the half-naked men in Shimekomi (loincloths) compete for an 8-kg wooden ball while getting showered with cold water. This purified wooden ball is believed that it can bring good luck and success to the person who can grab the ball and lift it high above his head.

Here are the highlights of the Tamaseseri festival 2017 that might interest you:

Komyozenji Temple: The Beauty of Japanese Autumn, Japan

As the summer heat slowly gives way to the crisp cool breezes of autumn, the cities across Japan will be slowly taken over by the striking shades of orange and red as the autumn leaves changed its color. This is the most anticipated moment where most of the people, especially the nature lovers and photographers are waiting for.

When the autumn season arrived, I love going outdoors and hunt down as many places as possible for the amazing fall foliage. So far, the most beautiful autumn that I saw in Japan was the serene rear garden at the Komyozenji, a Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Dazaifu in the Fukuoka Prefecture. Komyozenji Temple is famous for its Karesansui (枯山水) Garden, commonly known as Japanese Rock Garden or Japanese Zen Garden.

K Maison Boutique Hotel: The Hidden Gem of Bangkok (Thailand)

K Maison is a stylish boutique hotel tucked away in the quiet alley of Soi Rum Chi in the neighbourhood of Ratchathewi. This four-storey hotel is not easy to spot since it is well hidden away from plain sight, and furthermore it has a simple white exterior design that humbly blends into the surrounding old buildings. In contrast to the exterior, the interior of the hotel is decorated in timeless oriental elegance and modern Thai classic, which create a luxurious ambience. K Maison is truly one of the hidden gems in Bangkok, where you can relax in a cozy atmosphere, yet enjoys the bustling city just a couple of steps away.

Explore The Old Town of Heraklion In Half-Day, Greece

After seeing the magical and romantic island of Santorini, we headed further south to Crete, the largest island in Greece. We took a ferry at the Thira Port in Santorini, and arrived at Heraklion Port in less than 2 hours. The traveling time will depend on the type of vessel you use, and for us, we embarked our journey with Hellenic Seaways, which was much faster than conventional ferries.

Heraklion or Iraklion is the capital and largest city of Crete. Heraklion may not be the most appealing city or your quintessential island destination, but still an interesting place filled with beautiful historical buildings, Byzantine churches and a well-preserved Venetian wall and fortress from the 15th century. To discover all these remarkable landmarks, you just have to wander around the Old Town in the city.

A Journey on the Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar

If you are going to visit Yangon for the first time and want a quick introduction of the city without any tour or local guides, you could simply hop on the Yangon Circular Train for a nostalgic journey around the city, where you can get a close up on the daily life of the Myanmar people and also capture some beautiful images of the changing landscapes.

The Yangon Circular Railway was built by the British during the colonial times back in 1954. The railway track loop consists of 39 stations and it covers a distance of 45.9km; the slow moving train that runs through urban, suburban and rural areas takes about 3 hours to complete a single circuit journey. Today, the railway has about 200 coaches, and it runs 20 times a day with up to 150,000 tickets sold daily. The circular railway is the cheapest way to travel around Yangon and it is mainly used by the lower income passengers to get from one place to another along the course. In recent years, taking a train ride on the Yangon Circular Railway has become one of the top things to do in Yangon.

Mandala Ou Resort: Relax . Recharge . Yoga (Laos)

After exploring the ancient town of Luang Prabang, we made our way to Nong Khiaw, a small beautiful village on the bank of the Nam Ou River in Laos. Nong Khiaw is famous for its amazing limestone karst mountain scenery, unspoiled virgin rainforest and the tranquil river of the Nam Ou. From Luang Prabang, we took a public minibus and we arrived at the Nong Khiaw bus station after 4 hours of journey through the beautiful landscape of Laos. Our first impression of Nong Khiaw was very peaceful and laid-back, and we didn't see any tour buses or tourist crowds like what we saw in Luang Prabang.

The unspoiled virgin rainforest and the tranquil river of the Nam Ou

Limestone karst mountain scenery

The Street of Nong Khiaw Village

Just a short 5 minute walk from the bus station, we arrived at the Mandala Ou Resort, the place where we stayed for 2 nights. We chose Mandala Ou Resort because it was one of the most charming and exclusive accommodation in Nong Khiaw. The Mandala Ou Resort is a boutique accommodation situated along the idyllic Nam Ou river offering 10 spacious and comfy bungalows with an eco-friendly room design and modern conveniences. The main features of this resort are the infinity edge pool, river side Yoga Sala, poolside bar, covered restaurant serving Lao, Thai and Western cuisine, and free Lao herbal steam sauna during the winter months.

Balos Lagoon: The Turquoise Paradise in Crete, Greece

Paradise is a place of great happiness and beauty.
Paradise is a place that has a complete peace of mind.

Paradise is a place where you came, you saw and you loved, 

But no choice have to leave when the time is up.

Paradise is the best word that I could think of to describe the exotic beach lagoon of Balos. Love at first sight, Balos lagoon looked exactly like those beautiful places in the postcards; surrounded by clean turquoise waters, white sandy beach, stunning landscape scenery, and this breathtaking turquoise paradise is absolutely one of the most photogenic beaches in Greece, or even in the whole world.

8 Delicious Local Eateries in Ayutthaya, Thailand

About 80km north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya is renowned for its great number of majestic temple ruins and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1991. This ancient city with a rich historical and cultural background provides a unique experience for the travellers who love history and architecture of the ancient times. Besides exploring the historical attractions, tasting the Thai cuisines from the locally owned eateries is also one of the activities in Ayutthaya.

When you visit Ayutthaya, do try their famous foods like Kuay Tiaw Reua (Boat Noodles), Roti Sai Mai (Rolled Pancakes with Candy Floss) which can be easily found along the U-Thong Road, Khao Mok Kai which is a Muslim dish consists of yellow rice and also the Grilled Giant River Prawns which can be commonly found in many of the Thai seafood restaurants.

In this post, we would like to share with you the 8 local eating places that we had hunted down during our stay in Ayutthaya.

iuDia On The River: Experience The Tranquillity Of Old Siam (Thailand)

After years of procrastination, finally I have landed myself in the historic city of Ayutthaya, an ancient capital in the Central region of Thailand. Today, known as the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, is one of the most remarkable ruined cities in Southeast Asia. Although Ayutthaya is only one hour drive from Bangkok and most of the main attractions can be covered within a day, we chose to stay in this beautiful city for 3 days, so that we can slowly explore the ruined temples and experience the city fully without rushing.

When come to choosing an accommodation, I always find it interesting to look at the boutique hotels, because I like to admire how a boutique hotel is uniquely set up and usually come with a theme and awe-inspiring style. When we were in Ayutthaya, we stayed with iuDia On The River, a cultured, refined and elegantly furnished boutique hotel located in the heart of the ancient Ayutthaya ruins.