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February 07, 2024 No comments

48 Hours in Singapore - today we will be featuring my home city - Singapore. We wouldn't really say Singapore is a country. It is rather a city state. First and foremost, Singapore is so so small with 710 km² land area that you can hardly see it on the world map. Perhaps the text 'Singapore' label on the map is way bigger than the dot-sized area of Singapore itself.

Contradictorily, this "small dot" is quite an impressive city being so advanced and progressive. Compared to the other Asian countries, cities or European capitals, the artistry of Singapore's tourism efforts also makes it deserving an online guide of how to optimize your stay. In case you are planning a 48 Hour trip to Singapore, we hope the following notes help. So let's cut to the chase and start with

Watch this before you go Singapore: Jewel

Jewel Changi Airport (also known as Jewel or Jewel Changi) is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex on the land side of Changi Airport, Singapore. Linked to three of its passenger terminals, the centrepiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, named the Rain Vortex, which is surrounded by a terraced forest setting. Jewel includes gardens, attractions, a hotel, aviation facilities and more than 300 retail and dining facilities. It covers a total gross floor area of 135,700 m2, spanning 10 storeys – five above-ground and five basement levels. Its attractions also include the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden spanning five storeys, the Canopy Park at the topmost level, featuring more gardens and leisure facilities.
8 P.M. Esplanade Theatres on the Bay

Singapore - Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

flickr/Leo-Wu

Esplanade is where you can experience a real lifestyle – shopping, dining and performing arts. The remarkable and unique architecture, what locally people called it the fruit 'Durian'. There is a roof-top garden, library@esplanade, cafes as well as an outside food court offering the best Singaporean cuisines. Clean, well-maintained yet beautiful sights and well-lighted place. This is a good place for relaxation after a busy day and best to go after the Merlion Park. Next morning, how about a swim at the Infinity Pool?

flickr/woo siang boon

Then start the morning with Singaporean favourite breakfast item - Roti Prata!

7 A.M. Roti Prata

flickr/rpslee

Some people might disagree with me that this is a snack. It is a common breakfast item with its recipe deriving from the original pancake recipes from India and Pakistan. People also eat it as a supper item. In case if you do not know yet, Singapore is a multi-racial society, pretty cosmopolitan place - and a melting pot of British (Eurasians), Indian, Malay and mainly Chinese cultures.

Today, Singaporeans enjoy our diversity in particular the influences onto our meals from different cultures, be it Indian, or Malay, Chinese or Western. The places you can find Roti Prata upon touching down is the Changi Airport Departure Transit Lounges at Terminal 1 & 3. It is 24 hours, so proceed straight to Level 3 for your first crispy Roti Prata.

8 A.M. Marina Bay

flickr/woo siang boon

Then have a morning walk in the Marina Bay area and then walk to the Central Business District, Tanjong Pagar, Club Street and Singapore River. Head to the Gillman's Centre for Contemporary Art if you want to see some exhibitions and artist-in-residence programs. From Gillman’s Centre for Contemporary Art, take a 30-minutes walk to reach the 274-metre steel ribs and local wood bridge called Henderson Waves.

Next to Chinatown area and smoke into its original charm. There several streets such as Smith Street and Pagoda Street, the oldest Hokkien temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street. Procced next to the URA Gallery at Maxwell Road then have a lunch at Maxwell Food Centre along South Bridge Road.

12 P.M. Char Kway Teow

flickr/Sanctu

One of the recommended national favourite dishes to try is Char Kway Teow. Kway Teow are flattened rice noodles and cut into strips. So 'Char' is a cooking style that means 'to stir-fry' over very high heat. This national favourite is a popular noodle dish. Mainly the ingredients are bean sprouts, prawns, deshelled cockles, small wallop of belachan, chilli, dark soy sauce that gives it a dark colouring, light soy sauce, chopped chives, stir-fried egg, fishcake, Chinese sausage, pork lard croutons.

2 P.M. Food Republic

flickr/Dr Norbert Heidenbluth

Go for a personable brunch or lunch experience with multi-cultural food offerings at the best of hawker fare and restaurant dining. Here at Food Republic, only food from highly rated and well sought-after food stalls are offered. Whether if you just want a coffee or some small snacks, you can find out the best local food all at one stop.

Or have a High-tea Dim Sum and Dim Sum places in Singapore:

Asia Grand Restaurant at Odeon Towers (North Bridge Road) #01-02
Bosses at VivoCity (Harbourfront Walk) #02-156
Cherry Garden Chinese Restaurant at Mandarin Oriental (Raffles Avenue) 5F
Crystal Jade Palace at Ngee Ann City (Orchard Road) #04-19
Din Tai Fung at Paragon (Orchard Road) #B1-03
Yum Cha at Chinatown (Trengganu Street) #02-01
Yum Cha Garden at Serangoon Garden Country Club (Kensington Park Road) 22

6 P.M. Singapore River

The Singapore River @ Clarke Quay Singapore

flickr/William cho

Singapore River and the most beautiful part of this area is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Do explore the Chinatown Heritage Centre, visit the oldest mosque Jamae Mosque at South Bridge road, Pinnacle@Duxton Skybridge, Red Dot Design Museum, Singapore Coin and Notes Museum which features the local commemorative coins, history of coinage and local currency. The most important Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple. Peranakan culture and traditional Straits Chinese households furnishings at Neil Road's Baba House. For history buffs, do check out the Sir Stamford Raffles’ Landing Site, Boat Quay and Perankan Museum on Armenian Street.

7 P.M. Merlion Landmark

flickr/woo siang boon

Head on to the Merlion landmark at One Fullerton Merlion Park. Enjoy the breeze and experience the night view at the vantage point for the Singapore Flyer, Esplanade theatres and Marina Bay Sands. Grab an ice-cream wafer or ice-cream sandwich to recapture a retro experience next to the waterfront promenade.

9 P.M. Chilli Crab

flickr/Joao tam

9PM might be considered late night eating (but it really depends on your culture) for some may not. If you are not used to having late night bites, you may want to skip this, but supper hot spots in Singapore is pretty common.

Some people eat Dim Sum like paper-wrapped curry chicken, phoenix prawn, stir-fried dishes from zi char establishments, Fried Brinjal with pork floss, Salted Egg and Butter Pork Ribs, the Roti Prata, Bee Hoon, Porridge, Chicken Pie, Frappe or 3-colour milk tea (of coconut sugar, fresh milk and tea), ice homemade barley drinks, Nasi Lemak, Mee Rebus, Nasi Padang, Grilled seafood, Korean Barbeque, Hong Kong style porridge and desserts such as sesame paste.

Bak Chor Mee, Sliced Fish Been Hoon, Ban Mian, Wanton Dumpling Noodles, Ampang Yong Tau Foo, the peppery Pork Ribs Soup (Bak Kut teh), Fish head steamboat, seafood like pomfret, red garouper, Doubled-boiled brewed soup. Roasted spring chicken, Baked fresh prawns. Meatballs and fishballs. Kambing Soup, Mutton Cheese Murtabak, Teh Tarik, Teh halia, Ramen in chicken or pork broth. Singapore is a food paradise, so you can find these almost any part of the island.

10 P.M. Super Trees Grove

flickr/tommy ga-ken wan

Supertrees are vertical gardens with environmentally sustainable functions up as high as 50 metres high. There are photovoltaic cells embedded on these trees to harvest solar energy. Large canopies as high as 16 storeys high. Besides, there three other parts namely, the reinforcement concrete core, planting panels of the living skin and its trunk.

At Supertree Grove and the Golden and Silver Gardens, there are altogether are 18 of these super trees. One recommendation is to stroll along the 128-metre OCBC Skyway at the height of 22-metres to take in the views of the Gardens. There are over 162,900 plants, ferns, orchids, tropical flowering climbers and many varieties of bromeliads (monocot flowering plants). In addition, there is a bistro for chilling and capturing panoramic views of the surrounding Marina Bay area.

11 P.M. Double Helix Bridge

flickr/Eiti Kimura

This pedestrian only bridge itself offers a good photography opportunity when it is lighted at night in particular. It is not just an engineering and architecture marvel. It gives a very futuristic appeal too. You may observe from the viewing platforms for the Singapore skyline along the waterfront from the bridge that connects Ritz Hotel and the Shoppes at MBS. Walk four kilometers around the bay from the Helix Bridge and you can cover: Singapore Flyer ferris wheel, Flight Experience Flight Simulator, Marina Bay Sands Skypark, Makansutra Glutton’s Bay, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

Day 2. Tropical Fruits Paradise

flickr/Jon seigel

Finally, we also want to highlight to you that Singapore is tropical fruits paradise. It is possible to organize a tropical fruits tour, tasting out all the fruits – The full list of “Singapore's Must-Try Fruits” is available here.

Blue Cloudy Night @ Singapore Chinatown_3274

flickr/woo siang boon

If it is beautiful of any sights mentioned above, you need not do all of them within one day. Leave some for Day 2, or you can checkout the night version (or the day version vice versa) for more coverage. Other interesting culture related sights includes: Arab Quarter, Haji Lane, Little India, Asian Civilisations Museums at Empress Place, Tiffin Room high tea at Raffles Hotel and Jumbo Seafood. Might be good to see those old shophouses at Ann Siang Hill and Club Street, Keong Saik Road, Yong Siak Street and try the highly recommended "Tim Ho Wan" Dim sum at Orchard Road.

If you still have sometime in the evenings, chill with some drinks at Clarke Quay which is lined full with pubs and restaurants. Have a beautiful lookout over the glittery pulse of the area.

Extending your trip a little later into the night? Then watch a light show at night from Ku De Ta - the finest entertainment destination in Southeast Asia. We hope you enjoy a great 48 Hours of rich cultural tapestry, vibrant arts scene, great food and amazing street life that we have in Singapore.

February 07, 2024 2 comments

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September 24, 2019 No comments

It is right that the parachute's inventor one Faust Vrančić, in case you are asking -- has been born in Šibenik, because of this particular Croatian backwater has its feet firmly on the floor. Possessing a current history of conflict and bombs will do this to a little city.

Only 40 minutes up the coast from Split's international airport, Šibenik's journey résumé incorporates great beaches on its own Dalmatian coast, inland hiking and waterfalls, trendy music festivals, and an evocative old city, fine diningroom, a UNESCO-protected cathedral and fortresses utilised in Game of Thrones.

Now, crucially, a top notch hotel could be added to this listing. Formerly, as composed in the Rough Guide to Croatia, Šibenik's only drawback has been its comparative lack of lodging. However, the coming of the whitewashed D-Resort Šibenik has changed that: courtesy of Turkish conglomerate Dogus, luxury digs lately anticipate.

Glinting red-tile roofs sprawl mainly uphill, together with the early St Michael's Fortress keeping watch over event.

Research a quartet of fortresses

St Michael's is just one of four fortresses around Šibenik. Once, a chair to the king, its own defensive castles were still used by natives as recently as 20 decades back, providing shelter throughout the Croatian War of Independence. Now, thankfully, a continuing restoration programme has them bringing tourists rather.

Over into the southeast, Barone's new audiovisual screen shows what fortress life was like because of its seventeenth-century soldiers.

In terms of St Michael's, around which Šibenik first appeared up, rings have substituted bullets: its own eleventh-century stonework and myriad enhancements today play host to a terraced, 1077-capacity concert place, one costing a trendy #1.2 million.

See a Traditional Croatian cathedral

Šibenik's real historic gem, however, is its own UNESCO-protected St James's Cathedral. A lot of this Dalmatian Coast's greatest structure was made by Juraj Dalmatinac from the mid-1400s, also this entirely-stone-built Gothic Renaissance edifice is known as his crowning glory, even though it was not completed until 1536.

Praise be, particularly, for the silvery dome, representing light from way around. Watch out, too, to get a 71-head frieze, comprising strange caricatures of all fifteenth-century locals. Adam and Eve are there also, looking utterly sick at ease in being really clearly starkers.

Indoors, English-language brochures allow self-guided tours. The highlight is that the little baptistry, and its own sublimely-carved roof and mischievous cherubs.

Amble across the Old Town

In the cathedral's square slinks off Kralja Tomislava (Kalelarga to sailors ), Šibenik's most important street. Suddenly fancy boutiques sit some more predictable stores hawking tourist tat.

What really appeals is the way Šibenik feels really lived-in. Some alleys are abandoned nearly dim under canopies of clothing lines and wires. Old men sit on stools out their houses, wild rosemary develops and wafts of house cooking encounter. Inside telephone boxes, a spiritual sticker promotes salvation.

September 14, 2019 No comments

The narrowest nation worldwide loads a punch when it involves all-natural destinations. From north to south, Chile's diverse terrain includes lunar landscapes, rolling hills, volcanoes as well as snow-capped mountains. Below is Insightguides overview to where to see Chile's most stunning all-natural attractions.

Moonscapes in the Atacama Desert

North Chile's magnificent Atacama Desert harbours amazing otherworldly landscapes at more than 2,500 metres above water level. The town of San Pedro de Atacama remains on a high Andean plateau surrounded by surface including expansive salt apartments, thermal springs, and also extremely blue lagoons that sustain a wealth of bird life.

At the nearby Los Flamencos National Reserve, you can absorb peaceful shallows dotted with plenty of pink flamingos, while Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) is an all-natural wonder of extraordinary rock developments where you can climb vast dune to enjoy the sunset as rainbow colours wash over the landscape against a background of remote hill tops. While Atacama is considered to be the driest desert in the world, rainfall does periodically drop throughout the cold weather (June-- Aug), creating this usually arid landscape to flower with quite pink perennials, creating an unexpected flowering desert carpet that just a fortunate few reach see every few years. Be aware when travelling around Chile that earthquakes can occur, due to the nation's Andean location and also geological framework. Earthquake track details new quakes around the world as they occur.

Torres del Paine

A Unesco biosphere reserve because 1978, Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park is dominated by the 3 significant granite peaks of the Torres del Paine (Towers of Paine) that increase over it. Encompassing some of one of the most awe-inspiring examples of Mother earth's appeal in Chile, if not every one of South America, the park's towering hills are enhanced by blue-green lakes, large grasslands and substantial ice areas. Four- to ten-day trekking circuits with valleys as well as forests take in optimals, plains and also icy rivers, with difficult ascents compensated by spectacular views over the parks several lakes.

For those with much less time, shorter hikes to see the windy shores of Lago Grey, or watercraft journeys to obtain close to the large, sky-blue, icy mass of Glacier Grey, can be equally as amazing. Lodging alternatives are available within the park itself or in the small town of Puerto Natales, around a two-hour repel.

The mysteries of Easter Island

While many visitors to Rapa Nui, additionally known as Isla de Pascua (Easter Island), commonly make a beeline to the Ahu Tongariki team of big moai statues to witness for themselves the secrets of this most remote spot in the South Pacific Sea, the island is an awesome all-natural tourist attraction by itself.

Virtually fifty percent of this Unesco Globe Heritage Site's land mass, located a five-and-a-half hr trip away from Santiago, is safeguarded as Rapa Nui National Forest. Three extinct volcanoes make up most of the island consisting of Rano Kao, which contains a spectacular freshwater lake within its crater. There are numerous volcanic caverns and also lava tubes to discover, as well as the Rano Raraku crater, that for hundreds of years was the quarry where the Rapa Nui people took the rock that was made use of to take their spiritual monolithic statuaries, several of which still lie half-buried in the ground today.

The Chiloé Island chain

The picturesque 17th-century wooden churches of Chiloé-- 16 of which are Unesco World Heritage Sites-- and also colourful houses supported on stilts above the water, referred to as palafitos, inform the human building story of Chiloé Island. Yet lovers of the great outdoors will likewise be bewitched by the location's all-natural style. The archipelago's area in Los Lagos (The Lakes) region of Chile comprises a riches of incredible all-natural charm, from pristine fjörds and sea networks, to lavish jungles within Chiloé as well as Tantauco National Parks, that can be checked out on trekking tracks causing beaches where you can find wild animals including sea lions, penguins and also aquatic otters at play in the freezing waters.

Valle Nevado

A 90-minute drive from the capital Santiago, Valle Nevado is Chile's leading hotel for winter months snowboarding as well as snowboarding many thanks to its top notch powder snow-- as well as what greater adventure than conquering one of the world's highest mountain ranges, the Andes? Found in the shadows of the majestic 6,000-metre-high Nevado del Plomo hill and extending throughout the its foothills, the resort's ski season runs from late June up until late September. Beginners can take classes at Valle Nevado ski as well as snowboard school, while accomplished skiers as well as adrenaline junkies and also can select a heli-skiing trip, landing on alpine reaches to tackle beautiful inclines with upright decreases of approximately 2,000 metres on any provided run.

August 28, 2019 No comments

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For the last few years, Jacques Poujade has served as the Maanaging Partner for LendPlus, an alternative mortgage lender in California. While he spends a lot of time working and helping out others, he is also enjoys traveling all around the world. He answered a few questions for us on his daily life with work, as well as what he enjoys most when traveling.

Tell Us a Little More About Your Company, LendPlus

We are an alternative mortgage lender, offering finance options for those who may not qualify for more traditional mortgage options. We are based in California and currently are licensed to operate there, as well as, as several other states around the country. We love seeing people walk in our doors and leaving with an approval for a mortgage to buy their dream home.

Get a mortgage lender you can trust, with Jacques Poujade and LendPlus! https://t.co/fS1OohnXFI pic.twitter.com/b5wP0SlZe2

— Jacques Poujade (@PoujadeJacques) April 7, 2019

Why Do You Believe Travel is So Important for Business Leaders?

Anyone who is working long hours every single day needs a little bit of break here and there. One of the best ways to relax and get away from everything is to travel to other parts of the world. Not everyone enjoys traveling, but most can get something out of seeing a different perspective in a different part of the world.

With how affordable traveling is these days, it seems like a no brainer to at least go a few different areas around the world.

Where is Your Favorite Place on Earth?

I am always going to be partial to California, just because there are so many different areas within the state to visit. You can ski one day, and then hit up the beaches and work on a tan the next.

Outside of California and the United States, I have always been partial to different parts of Europe. I really enjoy the history of the continent, and the major cities like Paris, London, and Barcelona.

What is One Thing You Must Have in Your Suitcase?

Since I do always need to stay somewhat plugged in, I always have my laptop with me in my suitcase. I think most business leaders these days do the same kind of thing. It is just a very efficient way to check up on things without really using too much time in general. As long as you are not spending hours and hours each day on the laptop, it is fine to bring along.

As far as a fun item is concerned, I am big on dressing like I am a local more than a visitor. That is why you will find a lot of locally inspired clothing in my suitcase either upon arrival, or as I am going back since I purchased some clothing there.

Are You the Plan Months Ahead Type of Person, or Wing it When You Get There Type?

I like to plan ahead to a certain degree, mostly because you can usually find a pretty good deal in general. However, there are also some pretty good deals to be found if you wait last minute. I have never been one to want to spend a lot of money on air travel, simply because most of it is going to be relatively the same in my opinion. I would rather save my money on having enjoyment once I land.

How Can Readers Learn More About You and Your Company?

I have a personal social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook. For those wanting to find out more about LendPlus, you can learn more by visiting my company’s website, lendplus.com. You can also follow my blog for mortgage lending and real estate insights at JacquesPoujade.com.

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Research a quartet of fortresses

See a Traditional Croatian cathedral

Amble across the Old Town

Moonscapes in the Atacama Desert

Torres del Paine

The mysteries of Easter Island

The Chiloé Island chain

Valle Nevado

Notre-Dame de Paris, France | Cathédrale | Notre-Dame Cathedral

Tell Us a Little More About Your Company, LendPlus

Why Do You Believe Travel is So Important for Business Leaders?

Where is Your Favorite Place on Earth?

What is One Thing You Must Have in Your Suitcase?

Are You the Plan Months Ahead Type of Person, or Wing it When You Get There Type?

How Can Readers Learn More About You and Your Company?

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