Night life in Singapore

The sun may dim but the fun doesn’t! As night falls, life begins in many quarters of Singapore. Whether you’re a party animal, a 24-hour foodie or just a night owl craving adventure around the clock, there are many sizzling surprises to keep your senses satiated till the wee hours of the morning. In fact, Singapore has the added advantage of being one of the safest countries in the world for you to hit the streets at night.

You don’t have to be a hard-partying hedonist to appreciate the colourful and exciting nightlife in Singapore. Sleep will never be further from your mind as you check out the ultra-chic bars, classy jazz lounges, or move to the groove at hip dance clubs. In line with efforts to improve the nightlife experience for all, there are smoking restrictions on entertainment outlets. Smoking is no longer allowed in all pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots, unless within approved smoking rooms or smoking corners.

The food paradise too does not slumber – 24-hour coffee houses dot the island to satisfy the rumblings of the stomach with a range of local fare that boggles the mind. Teochew porridge, caramel bean curd, or just coffee and cake – you name it, we have it!

Even shoppers have no respite! Singapore is one of the few countries where late night shopping is not an exception. And if you’re bitten by the shopping bug in the wee hours of the morning, there’s always Mustafa Centre – Singapore’s only 24-hour shopping mall. In Singapore, there are no limits to having a great time!

Read More …

Top 6 to do in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

1. War Remnants Museum - 28 Vo Van Tan. One of the best museum’s in Vietnam. There is an outdoor display with aircraft, tanks, bombs and other military hardware, as well as an indoor photographic display. Photos were taken by war correspondents during the French and Vietnam Wars. Very moving and extremely powerful images, a must for all.

2. Reunification Palace – 106 Nguyen Du. Along with the War Remnants Museum, this is on of the best places to visit in HCMC. The former HQ of the South Vietnamese Government, the Palace was taken by the North in April 1975. Now you visit the site, have a free guided tour and check out a great video at the end. Worth the effort!

3. Ben Thanh Markets – Even if your not into shopping, Ben Thanh Markets are something else. Small isles, huge variety and tough sellers make for an action packed visit! If you are into shopping and bargaining this is heaven! In the evening the markets close and the night Food Market opens. Cheap and tasty food is a great way to end the day!

4. Giac Vien Pagoda – 247 Lac Long Quan. Founded some 200 years ago, this is one of my favorite pagoda’s to visit. Set in District 11, it’s a bit of an effort to get out there, but as they say “it’s not just about the destination; it’s also about the journey!” The easiest way there is to get a Motor Bike Taxi (Xe Om). The pagoda is open from 7am – 7pm.

5. Cafe Hopping – HCMC has grown in size and in population. Business is booming and the younger generation is making some good money. With that, there are now many trendy and funky cafes all around the District 1 area. A great way to spend an hour or two is simply by having a coffee and watching the passing people. You could seriously be in Sydney or Melbourne!

6. Cyclo Ride – A must for all visitors to HCMC! Jump in and go for an hour around the city. Best time for me is at 5pm’ish to enjoy the peak and finish at one of the riverside Hotels for a rooftop cocktail!

Read More …

World's first Bats monitoring in Deer Cave, Sarawak

Prince Albert II of Monaco, who is on a three-day visit to Sarawak, the other Malaysian state on Borneo Island, today launched the world’s first digital remote-controlled bats monitoring system at Deer Cave, one of the many caves within the Mulu national park.

The RM800,000 (US$254,000) system, also known as the Mulu BatCam, utilises five remote controlled television cameras and infra-red lighting inside the cave. The system will be able to show spectacular details of the bat colonies inside. The system is developed by an Australian company and enables visitors to observe the bats regardless of the weather conditions.

The Deer Cave has the largest cave passage in the world and is the only known place in the world to have 12 different species of bats. The Mulu national park, which has the largest cave system in the world, is one of two World Heritage Sites in Malaysia.

Read More …

Seoul Youth Hostel

I have never stayed personally here but when I was looking around for another alternative budget place to stay around Myeongdong area; Seoul Youth Hostel sprung directly right in front of me eyes after a few Google searches. It is just the right option for a shoe string budget traveler like me. ^^

Pictures courtesy of Seoul Youth Hostel

Official website: http://www.seoulyh.go.kr/english/info_1.php

Booking: Must be done through http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel034080.en.htm

Membership Rate: Youth :15,000 won / Adult: 17,000 won
Non-Membership Rate: Youth :17,000 won / Adult: 19,000 won

Available rooms: 6 beds per room / 8 beds per room / 10 beds per room


Hours of Operation: Rooms Check-in- 1 p.m./Check-out- 10 a.m.


Restaurants: Breakfast: 7a.m.-9a.m./ Lunch: 12 p.m.-2p.m./Dinner: 6p.m.-9p.m./ Beverages- 10 a.m.-10p.m.


Address: 4-5, San, Yejang Dong, Jung gu, Seoul, Korea


Telephone No: +82-2-319-1318

E-MAIL: seoulyh@seoulyh.go.kr

Note: Please leave a message at their discussion board to check for available room before booking via HiHostels.

My opinion: Judging by the available rooms offered; if you are coming to Korea with a group of 6/8/10 people then Seoul Youth Hostel would be the best, clean, safe and accommodating place for budget travelers. The only problem is that the place is fully booked most of the time so you have to book real early.

How to become a Youth Hostel member? 
I will explain it in another post. ^^

Read More …