Tag Archives: travel

Destination Vietnam | Hanoi Day 2

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After a mere breakfast at the hotel, I took the camera, GoPro, iPhone and went for a walk in the city focusing primarily on the Old Quarter and the French quarter.

The Old quarter is a touristic area and as such has a backpack street Ngo Huyen Street located near the St Joseph’s Cathedral. In this part of the city, you will find a bit of everything and nothing, from very useful to very useless. You can buy handmade crafts, paintings, cards – you can have street food, fresh juice, or go to the barbershop for a quick fix.

singapbyart.com-hanoi-hoankiemlake.jpgI was walking toward the Hoan Kiem Lake, a landmark in Hanoi. This is where they showcased the fireworks the night before celebrating the 60th anniversary of Hanoi independence from the French. While walking on the west bank of the Lake towards the French quarter, I was suddenly hungry and craved for Pho Bo, my first one in the country well-known for this dish.

Somehow, right next to me there was a Pho Bo shop that appears to only attract Tourists. I went in — the food was OK, but I don’t recommend it. I hope to have better Pho Bo during my visit in Vietnam.

Pass the lake on the Southeast; you walk into the French Quarter. The area is quite distinctive from the Old Quarter. Back then, the French Continue reading →

Destination Vietnam | Hanoi Day 1

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I landed at Hanoi Noi Bai International airport on a Friday around noon. I took a cab to the city for 350k VND (a bit of negotiating, don’t go above 400k VND). I told the taxi driver that I didn’t have any hotel and asked him to drop me somewhere in the Old Quarter. Of course, they all are connected; the driver dropped me at a hotel with the price range between 10 to 15 USD. The room was ok, so I decided to stay there.

After resting a bit and talking to the hotel manager already trying to sell me tourist packages, I decided to walk around the neighborhood to get my first impression of the city.

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As anyone expect, it is a fantastic first impression. Hanoi is an animated city (at least on the weekends). There are people everywhere on

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On the road…

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Vacaciones much needed!! I’m leaving the island of Singapore for a few days and off to a much anticipated south east asian country.
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Where am I going?

The city is famously known for having different influence including Chinese, French, and of course the country itself.

In 2014, it is ranked #8 by a famous travel website as the World Best Destinations (by Traveller’s choice).

Lastly and (just in case the google search didn’t give you any result) the city is known as one of the best place to find one of the most famous dish of the country known worlwide.

Can you guess the country, the city, and even better, the dish?

Cheers.

Destination Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur

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Few weeks ago I took a long week-end from work and went to Kuala Lumpur. Before arriving in the capital, I knew there was not much to do except shopping, eating, or simply wandering around; nonetheless, my first impression of the city was positive, a crowded place with a variety in faces, in dresses, and in food.

Saturday:

Since my hotel was located nearby a major shopping area, my first trip outside the hotel was at the SOGO Kuala Lumpur (Japanese department chain store). I spend few hours in there; nothing much to say, if you like shopping you’ll adore it if you don’t like shopping don’t go there. (For all the pictures below, click to enlarge)

Next I went outside to see the very few landmarks of Kuala Lumpur or KL as the local call it. I went to the Old Centre, also checked-in at Pedaling Street, Central Market, and other places in the center of the capital.

Later in the night I went to Bukit Bintang, an area quite famous for tourists. It is the centerpiece of Kuala Lumpur when it comes to shopping, eating, drinking, clubbing, and sexing. I checked in at several Continue reading →