Mention Singapore and a few things come to mind: cleanliness, skyscrapers, food. These are some of the things Asia’s ‘little red dot’ is known around the world for. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a dearth of unexplored and untold wonder in the tiny island-city.

Here are five things we suggest you know about the city before you head to the island:

Sleepless in Singapore

Singaporeans may spend hundreds of dollars on expensive mattresses and beds, but very few actually spend eight hours in them everyday.

Supper is a very important social activity for Singaporeans, and many choose to catch up with friends (and food) after a hard day’s work. Many eateries proudly open their doors for 24 hours, and finding Prata or Hokkien mee at 3am takes no effort at all.

Shopping is also done in the wee hours of the morning, and megastore Mustafa caters specifically to this. Selling just about anything and everything (and often at low prices), the store in Little India is perfect for sleepless shopaholics.

Mustafa Centre Singapore
Address: 145 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207704
Phone: +65 6295-5855
Getting There: Alight at Farrer Park MRT Station (NE8). Walk against traffic along Seragoon Road and turn left onto Syed Alwi Road

Animal Celebrities

Forget Michael and Janet Jackson; the two biggest sibling celebrities in Singapore are a pair of giant pandas. Kai Kai and Jia Jia became instant overnight sensations and received considerable media attention upon their arrival at Singapore Panda Enclosure in September.

Panda-mania has since swept the country and it isn’t hard to find giant pandas emblazoned on just about every imaginable object: phone covers, mugs, t-shirts… you name it.

The panda-monium all makes sense when you see them up close at the Singapore Zoological Gardens or River Safari Singapore. The sight of the two pandas eating giant bamboo shoots and playing with one another is enough to make even the hardest of men go out and buy themselves a ‘I love Kai Kai & Jia Jia’ t-shirt.

River Safari Singapore
Addresss: 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
Phone: +65 6269-3411
Getting There: Take a train to the following MRT stations on the North-South line (Red) and change to the respective connecting public buses:

(*Bus No.926 only available on Sundays and Public Holidays.)

Green in Grey

Despite its size and level of development, Singapore truly lives up to its ‘Garden City’ reputation. There are plenty of nature reserves that offer adventure and tranquillity seekers a break from the concrete and glass of the city.

Macritchie Reservoir Park is a lush, green ‘rainforest’ located in the heart of the city and is easily accessible. The park offers trails of varying distances and difficulties, so there truly is a trail for everyone.

Stepping into the park, it’s easy to forget that you’re in one of the world’s leading financial centres, as the roar of buses and cars is slowly replaced with the constant chirping of crickets and birds.

Visitors are also treated to stunning views of the reservoir and the lucky (or to some, unlucky) ones will also get a glimpse of the reservoir’s infamous monkeys. Be sure to avoid feeding them though, as they can get quite vicious.

Macritchie Reservoir Park
By Bus: Take Bus No. 132, 163, 165, 166, 167, 640, 52 or 980 and alight at the bus stops along Upper Thomson Road.
By MRT: Nearest MRT station at Marymount MRT (Circle line – CC16) located 2km away from MacRitchie Reservoir Park.

Keep It Moving…

Singapore is a city obsessed with speed – take a leisurely stroll down its main shopping belt Orchard Road and a few impatient, fast-paced Singaporeans might overtake you.

A 2007 report by the New York Times found that Singaporeans are the fastest walkers in the world, clocking at least 6km per hour.

They do everything else just as quickly; credit cards are pulled out of wallets and meals are chosen well before reaching the cashier.

But if nice and slow is your way of life, be sure to step aside and let the faster ones move ahead while you step back into 60s (see next section).

…Or Take It Slow

After Singapore’s independence in 1965, its government decided to move the population out of Malay-styled villages, or kampongs, to high-rise apartments.

However, Kampong Buangkok, popularly known as Singapore’s last kampong (means village in Malay), survived the move and at least 25 families call it home.

The village is snuggled between a construction site and a canal, so the undiscerning visitor might walk right past it. A few hand painted signs along a dirt road leads to the heart of the village.

Residents live in classic zinc-roofed houses and instead of cars, park bicycles outside their gates. The village has an informal ‘open-door’ policy and residents are more than happy to spend a few minutes chatting.

Kampong Buangkok
Getting There: Go to Serangoon MRT station (NE12/CC13), then take Bus No:103 and alight at the bus stop at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul on Yio Chu Kang Road. Cross Yio Chu Kang road and you should see a bridge. The bridge will bring you across the canal to Gerald Drive. Follow the unpaved road behind the jogging trail that leads into a tree-filled area, and you’ll eventually see the hand-written Kampong Buangkok sign.

The post The 5 things You Need to Know about Visiting Singapore appeared first on GoingPlaces.sg - Travel Tips and Travel Deals.

The Ladies & Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton

A few years ago I was staying at a hostel in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a 10-bedded room and there was some late night drama involving a middle-aged woman and some Aussie guys. To cut a long story short, those Aussie guys made a mess of the bathroom floor and the woman kicked up a huge fuss, waking everyone up. After giving those guys a piece of her mind, one of them retorted sarcastically, “Geez! I didn’t know we are staying at The Ritz!”

That was probably the most memorable reference to The Ritz I’ve ever heard.

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

In the last couple of years I’ve had the opportunity to stay at some of the best hotels in Singapore. Most of them are well-renowned international hotel chains. Two months ago, I finally got my chance to stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. Of all these experiences, I must say The Ritz-Carlton has certainly lived up to its repute as a luxury hotel that provides the finest care and service to its guests.

The Service

If there were one thing that left a lasting impression on my stay at The Ritz Carlton Singapore, it was definitely the warmth and sincerity of the hotel staff. From the moment I checked-in, the receptionist greeted and welcomed me with a beaming face. She confirmed my reservation with great professionalism before offering to show me my room. I don’t know why, but I liked it when she stepped out from behind the reception desk to speak with me. I suppose it felt more personal, and that certainly made the difference.

Whenever I had to ask for directions, in addition to pointing me to the right way, the hotel staff would personally walk me to the door. The checkout process on my day of departure was also very prompt. Without being asked, the receptionist even offered to call me a cab, and I thought my needs were well anticipated. As I was leaving the hotel premises, I was also pleasantly surprised when hotel staff addressed me by my name, as they said their goodbyes.

I must say I was truly impressed.

Ritz Carlton Singapore Deluxe Room

Room with Spectacular MBS Views

The Deluxe Room, despite being one of the most basic rooms the hotel has to offer, is nothing short of spacious. Apart from housing a king-sized bed, the room also accommodates a couch, a coffee table, a working desk, a walk-in wardrobe and a mini-bar – and yet I am still left with plenty of space. Absolutely no complaints on the room size!

As I stepped into my room, I was totally blown away by the magnificent view of Marina Bay, which now includes the supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, the iconic towers of Marina Bay Sands, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum, the panoramic Singapore skyline, and the durian shells of the Esplanade.

The Ritz-Carlton also overlooks The Float@Marina Bay, making it an ideal vantage to catch events such as the National Day fireworks display. It is also the perfect spot to witness the F1 Grand Prix – that is if you are lucky enough to book a room then. With the bed strategically positioned to face the humongous glass window that stretches across the length of the room, you’d be greeted by that incredulous view as you awake from sleep.

The bathroom is another world of its own. A Ritz-Carlton signature, the enormous hexagonal window situated beside the bathtub, allows for plenty of natural light to stream through, creating a refreshing atmosphere. The view through that window, especially mesmerising at dusk, is the perfect excuse to enjoy an extended bubble bath.

Did I forget to mention that shower amenities are from Asprey London? I’m normally not very particular about soap and shampoo, but the Asprey Purple Water series definitely deserves a mention.

Fine Touches

What I genuinely appreciate about The Ritz-Carlton are the fine touches that extend beyond good sense – a handwritten welcome card, an assortment of fresh tropical fruits, and a complimentary box of chocolate truffles. Freebies aside, I was truly awed by the room furbishing and the thought-process placed into its design. There were power sockets installed within bedside drawers, perfect for charging your mobile phones; a rubber pillow attached to the bathtub, forming a comfortable headrest for your bubble bath; ample bath mats in the bathroom, with one that stretches the length of the bathroom counter. You know how we all hate wet bathroom floors!

Ritz Carlton Staycation Package – Time to Getaway

If you are looking to take a break from your hectic schedule; or perhaps you might just want to pamper yourself; or you’d like to give that special someone a little treat, possibly for a special occasion; or you could just be keen on having a sleepover with your besties, or a guys’ weekend away with your buddies, except that it’ll be done in a lot more style. A weekend staycation at The Ritz-Carlton will be something worth considering.

Ritz Carlton Greenhouse

The hotel is equipped with facilities you’d typically expect – a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, lounge bar etc. Personally, apart from eating my heart out at the Greenhouse, which serves an international array of cuisine in buffet style, I’d much rather soak in the comfort of my own room. To me, it is perfect to simply laze in bed, snug with numerous feather pillows, watch cable TV, take a long bath, enjoy the view, order room service, and have breakfast with the morning papers delivered to your doorstep.

That is luxury, and that’s The Ritz-Carlton.

Aptly themed “Time to Getaway”, The Ritz-Carlton Singapore is currently offering a staycation package for a one-night weekend stay at their Deluxe Room. The promotion includes in-room American breakfast for two and a S$50 hotel credit. For more details, you might want to visit Ritz Carlton Singapore Hotel’s Website.

Ritz Carlton Breakfast

Having spent a night at this luxury hotel, I must say the service quality resonates with its internationally acclaimed branding. I personally vouch for their excellence and certainly agree that each hotel staff I’ve encountered strives to provide the finest service to their guests. They are indeed the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton.

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I don’t normally do this – plan itinerary & organize customized tour to bring ‘customers’ out of Singapore to their dream destination. But, when it comes to my siblings, I succumbed to their request. When I’d agreed to bringing three families (including mine), a total of nine persons – age from 10 to 55 for a 9 Days Hong Kong & Macau tour, I knew I am gaming for a mission-near-impossible.

Why?

Challenge No. 1 – My siblings’ families are familiar with Hong Kong and they can speak Cantonese better than I do. Strictly speaking, they do not need a ‘tour guide’ in Hong Kong. Hence, my tailored itinerary has to be special and appealing to them. It has to offer them a different perspective of Hong Kong they’d never seen – that Hong Kong is not just about Koowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui and Temple Street.

I deliberately planned the itinerary for them to experience the rustic country side of Hong Kong, yet at the same time, cater ample time for shopping, visiting theme park and sampling the best food in Hong Kong & Macau in 9 days.

Challenge No. 2 – Look for spacious yet affordable hotel rooms during December school holidays season. Hotels in Hong Kong are not cheap and to search for cheap & good hotels in Hong Kong during December peak season is definitely an up-hill task. I browsed through more than 50 hotels based on these stringent requirements:
- Spacious room
- Value-for-money (below S$160 a night)
- Free Wi-Fi

I finally found these two ‘gem’ hotels: 60 West Hotel and Gold Coast Hotel that met the above criteria.

60 West Hotel

Gold Coast Hotel

Picking a Macau hotel was easy. Their kids glued their eyes on Venetian Macau Resort Hotel, so the parents were obliged to them. Though the room rates may seem expensive (around S$360 a night), when you squeezed four persons into a suite room, it’s all worthwhile!

Highlights of Hong Kong and Macau Itinerary

Before the trip, I presented the tour itinerary in powerpoint slides to my siblings and they were all impressed with this ‘Michelin-Chase-Food-Safari” itinerary. The highlights of the Hong Kong tour include:

• To eat the best food in Hong Kong: Roasted Goose, Seafood, Dim Sum, Street Food, Roasted Pigeon and Wanton Mee
• To buy the best Lao Po Bing (老婆餅) and Pineapple Tarts
• To eat the best burger
• To shop at the best factory outlets in Hong Kong

For the 2-day Macau itinerary, I recommended to eat at a Michelin-starred Portuguese restaurant, the best egg tarts and a high-tea at Macau’s highest revolving restaurant with panoramic view of Macau.

Now, read more on the 9D8N Hong Kong & Macau Itinerary.

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A few weeks ago, I decided that I had had enough of the stickiness of Singapore’s endless summer – it was time for a holiday.

Finding a place to visit seemed almost impossible – most regional destinations were smack in the middle of their own sticky summers, so I cast my net further out, eventually deciding on the eternal city of love, light and glamour: Paris.

Getting to Paris from Singapore seems easy enough – a host of airlines provide direct flights, including reliable ones like Singapore Airlines and Air France. Zuji, however, suggested that I fly Finnair, claiming that I’d be able to save at least $500 on my airfare.

Intrigued, I went on to Finnair’s website and true enough, I was able to book a round-trip ticket to Paris for $1,070. Sure, it wasn’t a direct flight (I would make a connection at Helsinki), but I’d still get to Paris, for a whole lot less.

Finnair offered great flexibility and convenience for the connecting flights. On my journey to Paris, I decided that I’d take the shortest connection, and on my journey back, I opted for a connection that allowed me to spend close to 15 hours in Helsinki.

Finnair – Quick, Fuss-Free Flight

When I got to Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 to check-in for my flight, I realised that most passengers were indeed flying through Helsinki to another European destination. The young couple in front of me took advantage of Finnair’s deal to make London their honeymoon destination, while the single man behind me was ready to live it up in Barcelona.

I was initially worried about making a connection in a relatively foreign country, but other passengers assured me that it was quick, fuss-free and idiot-proof. My bags were tagged straight to Paris, and I was presented with my boarding pass for both flights at Changi itself, which saved me the trouble of checking in again in Helsinki.

I braced myself for a somewhat uncomfortable 11-hour journey to Helsinki, considering the flight was full. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had enough personal space, and comfortably enjoyed Finnair’s in-flight entertainment system. While it pales in comparison to Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld, it does its job and during my flight, I manage to watch Adele ‘live’ at the Royal Albert Hall and learn how to count from one to 10 in Finnish. Useful skills for my return journey, I thought to myself.

I was hoping for an exotic taste of Finnish food but was instead treated to mediocre pasta and chicken. While the food was nothing to rave about, the wine was splendid and flight attendants were more than happy to refill my glass once, twice, and thrice.

Landing in Helsinki is a special experience – Finland’s lakes look majestic from the sky, and there were plenty of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from other passengers, who, like me, had clearly never been to a Northern European country.

After a smooth touchdown, we’re whisked out of the aircraft and directed to customs, where we greet immigration officers who look more like models. They politely ask me whether I’d be sightseeing in Helsinki, and I let out a groggy ‘yes’. Enjoy myself, they tell me, and be careful of muggers in Paris. More useful information.

Navigating the airport is easy, and soon enough, I’m on an A319, in between two friendly Finnish boys, also on their way to Paris. Two hours later, I’m in Charles de Gaulle Airport, and I smile as my holiday begins for real.

Hei, Helsinki

Coming back to Helsinki after two weeks in Paris was therapeutic – I had a case of post-Paris blues on the flight back, but was excited about my 15 hours in Helsinki. I carefully studied Blue Wings, the airline’s English-language in-flight magazine, planning my day in the city and picking out things I wanted to do. I would arrive in Helsinki at 8am, and my flight back to Singapore wasn’t until 11pm.

It’s easy to get out of Vantaa airport – a Finnair-chartered bus departs every 20 minutes for the city centre for just 6 euros, and a wide range of payment options are available. Public transport is a cheaper alternative, although knowing which bus to take and where to get off can be tricky.

Half an hour later, I’m in the heart of Helsinki, walking around with no real destination in mind. There’s plenty to see: centuries-old churches, charming harbours and lakes, modern art installations… the city is breath-taking. Shopping is also fantastic here – there’s an H&M everywhere you turn and I pick up a couple of classic books for a few euros at a lovely used bookstore.

I fall in love the most, however, with Helsinki’s weather: romantic, cold, and foggy. I leave for Vantaa airport a few hours later with a heavy heart when I realise that I would soon be back to the heat and humidity of Singapore.

As we touch down at Changi Airport, the flight steward proudly calls Finnair the best way to fly between Asia and Europe, and as I think of the past two weeks in Paris and Helsinki, I can’t help but agree.

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During my recent Hong Kong and Macau trip, I get to experience the feel of Las Vegas at The Venetian – a luxury hotel and casino resort owned by Las Vegas Sands. The Venetian offers world class dining, shopping and entertainment and luxurious suite rooms all under one big roof. Big may be an understatement. It’s gigantic! There is definitely something for everyone regardless of the young or the old, that’s why Venetian Macao Resort Hotel has become one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Macau.

The Venetian also plays host yearly to many world renowned concerts and exhibitions such as The Titanic Exhibition, Human Bodies exhibition and Korean group 2PM concert. For the budget conscious, don’t fret! There are many mid-range shops in The Venetian, as well as a food court that offers an international selection of cuisine. While the food there may not be wholly authentic or very delicious, it is definitely decent enough to whet your appetite. To try best eggs tarts in Macau from Lord Stow’s bakery needs not go too far – it has an outlet in Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, located at 2119a, Level 3, Shoppes Grand Canal.

The Venetian also provides a picturesque background for taking pictures or simply breathtaking viewing pleasure, especially in the night when it is alight with colourful lights and decorations. It also imitates the feel of Venice with its canals and gondoliers within The Venetian.

Venetian Macau Hotel Rates

To book your accommodation at The Venetian Macau Hotel, I would recommend booking through Agoda. My tour groups were able to get a special request through Agoda for earlier check-in into the hotel at 11am. The normal check-in time is 3pm. Agoda’s wonderful service helped us to settle into Macau comfortably.

On top of that, we got upgraded from Royale suite rooms to Bella suite rooms! Venetian Macau suite room is so spacious, we have no problem sleeping four persons comfortably in a 70 square meter room. At the current rate of USD185 a night, it’s a steal!

City of Dreams and The House of Dancing Water

There is no better place to situate the theatre of the House of Dancing Water than at the City of Dreams located just opposite of The Venetian. True to its name, the City of Dreams is indeed where dreams come true with the magical beauty of the House of Dancing Water. The House of Dancing Water is the highlight of the entertainment scene in Macau and it is a spectacular show that is definitely not to be missed!

The show is the masterpiece of the world’s greatest showmaker Mr Franco Dragone and costs over HKD 2 billion (USD 250 million) in production. The perfect harmony and extravaganza of theatre, dance and water gymnastic artistry will leave the audience awe-struck and astounded. With a 270 degree- view theatre, you can get a good view of the performance at every part of the theatre, even at the lowest priced seats!

To get tickets for the show, you can either book online at http://thehouseofdancingwater.com/en/ or buy directly at the Box Office located just outside of the theatre in City of Dreams. I would advise you to book tickets online to secure the best seats and to avoid long queues at the box office.

Exploring Macau City

Away from the hotels and casinos district exists distinctly Macau streets with its neo-classical style buildings and Churches. This place is none other than San Ma Lo in the very heart of Macau city. This place is always bustling with people and activity. At the marketplace, you can try many Macau specialties such as barbequed beef and pork, Portuguese egg tarts, Macanese cookies, Turkish ice-cream and many more! There are also several museums around for those who are interested in Art and History to visit.

Nearby San Ma Lo is the famous Ruins of St. Paul’s, a World Heritage Site and Macau’s most famous tourist attraction. St Paul’s cathedral retains its rich history and artefacts till this day, representing the connection between history and present day. Feel history come alive with the magic of St Paul’s as you find yourself standing in the legacy left behind.

The best time to visit St Paul’s is in the morning or evening. It would be good to avoid the afternoon Sun as much as possible if you wish to take nice photographs at St Paul’s as the cathedral is very much exposed to the weather.

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That’s a fact. Singaporeans love to travel. After the recent NATAS Travel Fair held at Expo that had drawn throng of visitors, the next mega travel fair – Travel Carnival 2013 will be held from 22 – 24 March at Singapore Expo Hall 6 from 11am till 9pm. The good news is admission is free unlike NATAS fair which charges S$4 per entry.

Date: 22 (Fri) – 24 (Sun) March 2013
Time: 11am – 9pm
Venue: Singapore Expo Hall 6

The exclusive partner for Travel Carnival exhibition is ACE Travel insurance and other supporting partners include Malaysia Tourism Board and Resorts World Genting. There are at least 10 travel agencies participating in this event to showcase their fabulous travel deals.

Daily Lucky Draws

For every S$50 spent at Travel Carnival 2013, you will get a chance to try your luck in the daily lucky draw. Prizes include 2-night Malacca/Redang cruise for 2 on SuperStar Virgo, Health and wellness evaluation for 4 and iPad mini etc.

In conjunction with 50plus EXPO 2013, senior Citizens will enjoy further discount and privileges when they purchase a travel package. Gifts such as toiletry bags and multi-wheeler hardcase luggage can be redeemed with minimum spending of S$1200 onwards.

Travel Agencies at Travel Carnival

The list of travel agencies participating in the Travel Carnival Fair:

• Five Stars Tours
• Konsortium Express and Tours
• WTS Travel and Tours
• Asia-Euro Holidays
• Nam Ho Travel Service
• Giamso International Tours
• Jun-Air Travel
• AD Travel
• EU Holidays

Though Travel Carnival may not be as large scale as NATAS Fair, it is still worth checking out the deals there especially those are looking for cheap travel deals to Malaysia. By the way, Robinson is also having its Expo Sales 2013 next door!

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Lunch at Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball

Next day, we requested our driver to bring us to the Malacca’s famous chicken rice balls before we heading back to Singapore. The driver brought us to a restaurant called Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball (和記雞粒飯) that is right beside San Shu Gong on Jonker Street. The queue was quite long and we waited 15 minutes for our table.

The restaurant is housed inside a huge double-storey house and I named it – charming old mansion. It definitely has seen better times but I find it full of character. Having chicken rice balls in this old restaurant makes you feel like stepping back into the 60’s. We ordered enough for 9 adults and it costs about RM$90. Not exactly cheap.

I find the rice balls cool to look at but the rice isn’t really fragrant. I prefer the oily and yellowish but aromatic chicken rice back in Singapore. The chicken meat is tough yet quite tasty.

Overall I would rate the chicken rice meal 6.5/10 as I still prefer my Wee Nam Kee back in Singapore! After lunch, we bundled up onto our mini-bus and took a long ride back home.

This is my second trip to Malacca and the first trip was made nearly 20 years ago. Nothing much have changed in Malacca while I recalled my memories but definitely there are more better and modern hotels to choose from. Overall, it’s a great way to spend an weekend in Malacca.

Opening Hours & Address
Address: 468 Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Malacca
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm Daily except last Wed of the month
Phone: (606) 283-4751

Read the full blog on Malacca Weekend Trip by Minibus…

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Red House

After the not-so-fulfilling Satay Lok Lok‘s adventure, we decided to visit to the famous Red Building to continue our food hunting. We called our driver and he came over to pick us up in a jiffy! That’s the advantage and convenience of paying extra to have a dedicated driver for a small group.

The Red Building or Red Square (also known as Stadhuys in Dutch) is probably the oldest historical structure in Malacca and was built in 1650. Visitors come here in droves to take photos of this iconic building as it makes a good backdrop for nice photos. There are a row of souvenir stalls line outside the Red Building but I think they are mostly tourist traps.

There are many colourful trishaws plying their trade here. When the night falls, the trishaws will be all lighted up in flashing LED colours that surely catch the tourists’ attention! If the weather is too humid or you don’t feel like walking, the best thing to do is to hop onto a trishaw and let the friendly trishaw uncle brings you around Malacca.

Jonker Street Night Market

After the short stop at the Red Building, it’s about 7pm and we proceeded to the famous Jonker Street (also known as Jalan Hang Jebat) where the Jonker Walk Night Market opens for business. During day time, Jonker Street is a stretch of shop houses selling antiques, crafts, food and local produce. At night, the makeshift stalls will take over and line on each side of the street hawking all sorts of stuff you typically see in a night market.

Our driver dropped us at the start of Jonker Street where the Hard Rock Cafe is located. The building that stands out is a two-storey red shop house and it’s teeming with people. This shop house is called San Shu Gong (三叔公) and it sells all sorts of local delicacies – tidbits, biscuits, coffee powder, sauces, crackers, etc. We spent about 30 minutes there going through all the stuff and my wife bought 5 bottles of their shrimp paste chili for a friend who swears it’s the best she has ever tasted. I bought many 2-in-1 white coffee after sampled theirs and found the coffee to be very aromatic. Be careful that you may unwittingly load up your basket with all the goodies till you get a shock at the cashier. One good thing is the shop has a toilet on the second floor and it’s free to use. My advice is go to the toilet there before you start walking down Jonker Street as there isn’t any public toilets along the way.

The atmosphere in Jonker Walk Night Market is similar to the famous Taiwan Shilin Night Market. It’s crowded with locals and tourists. Noisy, stuffy, lots of food smells wafting around, interesting sights and we even spotted a martial art exponent showing off his Kungfu! It would have been perfect if the weather in Malacca was like Taiwan’s winter time – cooling and breezily. Thanks for the hot and humid weather, I was sweating profusely while walking along the Jonker Street.

Finally after 2 hours of walking, food sampling & souvenir shopping, we reached the end of Jonker Street. We didn’t buy much stuff except picking up some tidbits along the way. I bought a small packet of charcoal-grilled squid for RM$8 and it was tasty – literally can taste the freshness of the squid! The local arts and crafts, unfortunately, do not appeal to us. We called our driver and he picked us up after 30 minutes wait due to the heavy traffic. We all headed back to our hotel and ended our first day of the 2D1N Malacca weekend trip.

Jonker Street Night Market’s Opening Hours
Address: Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 6pm – 12am on Fridays to Sundays & Public Holidays.

Read on… Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls for lunch before returning Singapore

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Dinner Time – Satay Lok Lok

Okay, I need to confess. I do have a personal agenda for this Malacca weekend trip – to try the famous Satay Lok Lok or Satay Celup (skewered meat dipped in piping hot secret Satay sauce) in Malacca. I have watched Satay Lok Lok being featured on travel programs and also heard rave reviews from friends. So, I convinced the group to have dinner at Restoran Ban Lee Siang Satay Celup @ Jalan Ong Kim Wee.

As early as 5.30pm, we arrived to the restaurant but it was already fully packed! Luckily, the waiter led us through their kitchen to the rear of the shophouse where there were some empty tables. We split into two tables and in no time we were all sweating. The place was too stuffy with no air-con. I can’t imagine if the weather is hotter, the feeling would be like dinning in an oven.

Satay gravy in the pot

The seasoned waiter quickly came and took orders for drinks while he poured the Satay gravy into the flushed metal container on the table’s center. He lit the fire to heat up the gravy and told us we could start our feast now – just go to the front counter where the big fridges are and pick whatever we like. Each skewer costs RM$0.60.

Skewered Meat And Vegetables

Off we vanished. Soon we returned with different kinds of meat and seafood like prawns and I picked up a lot of abalone sticks. In the end, our table devoured about 60 sticks of skewered meat.

Satay Lok Lok

Frankly, I do not find this famous Satay Lok Lok sensational. It is just okay for me as the Satay gravy is too diluted. The shocker came when we were about to leave – instead of clearing the use pot of gravy, the waiter continues to top up Satay gravy into the same metal container for the next customer! So imagine if I had dipped my half-eaten skewer of meat into the gravy pot, the next customer would be tasting my saliva! Yikes!

Opening Hours & Address
Address: 45-E, Jalan Ong Kim Wee, 75300, Melaka
Opening Hours: 5pm – 12am Daily
Phone: (606) 284-1935

Read on… Malacca Attractions – Red House and Jonker Street

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Equatorial Hotel Malacca Check-in

After lunch, we headed to Hotel Equatorial Malacca for check-in at around 2pm. The hotel looks dated from the outside while the interior looks refurbished. I would rate it a 3.5 star hotel by my standard.

The standard check-in time is 3pm but we arrived early, hoping to try our luck to check in early. Against our wish, the hotel reception only managed to give us one room out of the four rooms we had booked. All of us had to squeeze into one room for washing up while waiting for the rest of the rooms to be tidied up. But the wait was too long – we waited nearly till 4pm before all of us finally got our rooms. By then, the kids and toddlers were tired and needed their milk and naps.

To compensate the long wait for checking in, the hotel provided free internet access in our rooms so that our Malacca weekend trip was not ‘marred’.

Shopping at Malacca – Melaka Megamall vs Mahkota Parade

As my wife and I were not too tired, we decided to check out the shopping centers nearby before meeting the rest for dinner. We walked to a mall just next to our hotel and found nothing really interesting there except it has a Macdonald’s. This mall is linked to another mall called Melaka Megamall (Dataran Pahlawan) that houses some discount outlets. Despite Melaka Megamall being the largest shopping center in Malacca City, we bought nothing there too. As most of the stuff in Melaka Megamall carried what we have in Singapore. Being food enthusiast, we are really more interested in the sampling the food than to shop!

So, we crossed over to another big mall called the Mahkota Parade – probably the grandest mall in Malacca. Popular brands and stores like Giant supermarket, Parkson departmental store, Gong-cha (popular Taiwan chain bubble tea shop), Starbucks and Old Town Coffee can be found there. We bought some beverages from Old Town Coffee but don’t expect to gain much from the currency exchange as the prices are almost the same as in terms of Singapore dollars.

Read on… Satay Lok Lok for dinner

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