Mangwon Market - Fewer Tourists, More Food, Loved by the Seoulites

Mangwon Market is loved by the locals. There are way fewer tourists here as compared to Gwangjang Market, or Noryangjin Market. I found the food offerings here to be more appealing than those available at the other markets. If you're thinking of coming by, this post on the must eats, or what to eat at Mangwon Market might be useful!

19 Cafes with Good Vibes and the Best Coffee in Melbourne

If you're a coffee-lover, like me, you'd be no stranger to names such as Nylon, Liberty, and Sarnies. I love my lattes rich, robust, creamy, smooth, and with as little sourness or acidity, and bitterness as possible. Hence, my all-time favourite coffee place in Singapore is Nylon. I used to love Assembly Coffee, and Pacamara too. I travelled to Melbourne for 3 weeks recently, and visited a total of 21 cafes - including famous coffee houses such as Market Lane Coffee, Industry Beans, and Manchester Press. Here are 15 gorgeous cafes that brew awesome coffee. And if you love Nylon, Liberty, or Sarnies, I'm confident that you'll love the coffee at these cafes too.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route - Amazing Snow Wall in Japan

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which is accessible from different prefectures, is known as the “Roof of Japan”. The entire route is 90km long, and it's not open throughout the year. There are many beautiful and breathtaking sights along the way. You can even stay at one of the hotels, if you're interested. In April, the roads up Mount Tateyama(which experiences some of the heaviest snowfalls in the world) are cleared and a snow canyon is, hence, formed. The majestic snow wall, which draws thousands of visitors who are willing to brave the long journey, is only open from mid April to mid June. Our journey from Takayama to the snow canyon took about 5 hours, and involved train rides, cable car rides and bus rides. The route closes pretty early so be sure to get here as early as possible so that you can spend ample time here.

Narikura - Best Tonkatsu in Tokyo (Be Prepared to Queue!)

Tokyo is home to tons of famous restaurants and is especially known for awesome sushi, addictive ramen, and fresh sashimi. But don't you come to Tokyo and not dine at Bib Gourmand awardee Narikura! I've always been a huge fan of tonkatsu, and I frequent Tonkatsu by Ma Maison in Singapore quite a fair bit. But honestly, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison has nothing on Narikura.

Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima - Traditional Japanese Dinner at the "Cheapest" Michelin-Starred Restaurant in Tokyo

Have been dying to dine here ever since I heard that it's the cheapest One-Michelin-Starred establishment in Tokyo. Everyone raves about their sardine lunch sets which are insanely affordable. Because I didn't do my research properly, I made a booking here for dinner, thinking that the sardine sets will be available too. Unfortunately, the sardine sets are only available during lunch and the queues are crazy everyday. So, I unknowingly booked myself a traditional Japanese dinner at this fine-dining restaurant.

Hair Removal Treatment (IPL vs SHR vs Laser) : Singapore vs Melbourne

IPL vs SHR vs Laser 
I think alot of us very commonly make the mistake of saying we are going for laser hair removal. But IPL and SHR treatment are NOT laser treatments. And they're not as effective as laser treatments.


credit : https://theaestheticscentre.com/laser-hair-removal-vs-ipl/

I'll be sharing about my experiences with hair removal in this post.

3-Day Road Trip - Melbourne to Adelaide (Stopovers at Robe & Victor Harbour)

I was in Melbourne for 3 weeks, so I thought, "hey why not go on a long roadtrip, and a not-so-typical one?" So, my friend and I rented a car from Thrifty at Southern Cross and drove all the way to Adelaide, before hopping on a flight back to Melbourne. Have you any intention of doing a road trip but you wanna skip the usual Great Ocean Road drive? Well, you might wanna consider crossing states then! If driving from Melbourne to Adelaide, with stopovers at coastal towns, sounds like something you'll like to do, then bookmark this page!

Unkai Terrace - Get Above a Beautiful Sea of Clouds in Hokkaido

Cloud Walk : risonare.com 

The Unkai Terrace in Hokkaido promises a mind-blowing and breathtaking sight. Go on a gondola ride up the mountain, be prepared to arrive above a sea of moving clouds, and be treated to one of the most beautiful sights. The journey here is definitely not an easy one, but good things are worth working for, right? The terrace is only open from mid May to mid October, and I'll recommend that you go in August or September for the best possible view. The type of unkai that you'll see depends on a variety of factors such as humidity and temperature.

What to Eat in Poland - 10 Dishes You Must Try!

Little known to many is the fact that Poland has incredibly rich culinary traditions and some of the most amazing food in the world. If you're planning to visit a beautiful destination in Europe, definitely consider Poland! Come visit before the country gets too popular. Here are 10 dishes that you must try when you're in Poland!

Hitachi Seaside Park - The Most Beautiful Flower Park in Japan

Tucked away in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, is the famous and iconic Hitachi Seaside Park that draws thousands of tourists and locals throughout the year. The park is located on the Pacific Ocean side of the Japanese coast and occupies a total area of 350 hectares. Japan experiences four seasons a year, and the Hitachi Seaside Park reflects the transition and change of season through the blooms that span the vast land. The blue flowers that you see here are called Nemophila. They appear in April and stay for about a month. The park is blanketed in a variety of colours(depending on which flower is in bloom at that moment) as the seasons come and go. If you're wondering what other flowers you can spot here, Hitachi Seaside park sees the full glory of roses, tulips, kochia, poppies, sunflowers, and more! So, you gotta be sure which flowers you wanna catch before you plan your trip!

Sushi Kimura - One-Michelin-Starred Sushi Omakase Restaurant in Singapore

One-Michelin-Starred Sushi Kimura is tucked away in a quiet corner of Palais Renaissance. The fine dining sushi restaurant focuses on Edomae-style sushi that's made with fish air-flown from Tsukiji Fish Market, sushi rice from a specific farm in Yamagata prefecture, and only premium ingredients imported from Japan.

Master Chef Tomoo Kimura, who has had stints at numerous fine-dining and Michelin-starred establishments, must be a perfectionist because he ensures that every item is made with only the finest ingredients and presented beautifully. He cooks his specially-sourced sushi rice in Hokkaido spring water, and not just any water. A master in the ageing of fish, Chef Kimura chooses to introduce fish that is rarely found on the menus of Japanese restaurants in Singapore. The amiable chef attends to his guests with a big bright smile and explains every dish succinctly.

17 Must Eats in Taipei - The Best Food You Can't Miss!

Two weeks in Taipei saw me put on a few pounds but its true that you just can't stop eating because everything looks and tastes so good! So here's a short guide to the must eats in Taipei!

Polish-Inspired Fish Salad - Simple Recipe that can be Whipped Up in 20 Minutes!

 
My trip to Poland was truly eye-opening. Apart from being exposed to Polish cuisine, and learning about their produce, I had a small glimpse of how beautiful the country really is. I attended a culinary workshop by Chef Malgorzata Pindych at Baccaro Studio in Lødz, and the theme was regional cuisine focused on zero waste! Our party was divided into groups which were tasked to prepare a dish each. Zero waste meant that the leftover ingredients from the preparation of one dish can be used to prepare another dish! Here's a recipe that's inspired by the cured herring dish that I learnt at the workshop.

7 of the Best Cocktail Bars in Seoul

Seoul's cocktail scene is definitely one to watch. From chill hideouts, to speakeasies, Seoul promises a good time for all those in search of a delectable drink. We bring you 7 of the best cocktail bars in Seoul, and we hope that you'll enjoy the cocktails as much as we did.

Poland - Largest Exporter of Goose in the European Union & Producer of Vodka, Cheese & Honey

Poland might not be the first country that comes to mind when we talk about Europe, but the beautiful country definitely warrants a visit. Still relatively unexplored by the world, Poland has a rich history and unique culinary traditions. Poland is probably most famous for their Polish vodka, which the Polish are incredibly proud of, and with good reason. The agricultural scene also sees the production of cheese, honey, and pickles. Little known to many, Poland is actually the biggest exporter of goose in the European Union. We don't get fresh goose in Singapore, and most of us head to Hong Kong to get our fill of roast goose. But no one does Goose like Poland. If you're a huge fan of goose, like me, then you must witness the long-standing Polish way of enjoying goose!

The Best 2-Day Itinerary that You'll Need for Ibaraki(Japan)

Ibaraki might just be the most underrated prefecture in Japan. It's pretty near Tokyo (about 2 hours away) and it's easy to get here. You can choose to take a train or bus to Ibaraki. Most people visit Ibaraki for two reasons — Kairakuen (especially during plum season) and the Hitachi Seaside Park. However, there's a dog amusement park, castle ruins, Tsukuba Space Centre, Fukuroda waterfall, museums, shrines, Mount Tsukuba, and many more attractions. Ibaraki's close proximity to Tokyo allows it to be the destination of a quick day trip from Tokyo. However, if you have time, we will recommend that you spend at least 2 fulls days here. We were in Ibaraki for 2 days, and we used Mito, the capital city, as a base to explore.