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Why Any Millennial Will Feel At Home In Singapore

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 katongkidsinc

Western millennials are having a huge impact on modern life. They aren’t expected to live the same sorts of lives their parents did as the world has become freer and technologically advanced. The major narrative of a generation home ownership. However since the populations of every city in every country have skyrocketed since the 70s and 80s, that is one prospect the younger generation may have to wait for. Thankfully, governments are adapting to this, some quicker than others. This is allowing millennials all kinds of options on where to live but most of all, work. People in their 20s and early 30s are more concerned with living, rather than settling. Their appetite for travel, experiencing new cultures and leading different lives is their driving force. With these things in mind, where could you see yourself living if not for where you are right now? This question is always an odd one to answer, but it you could pack your things up and move to a foreign land, where would you go? If you want a nation that is modern, aspiring, readily invites in young people, where cutting-edge technology plays a huge role, careers are nurtured and developed by employers and there are lots of leisurely things to do, look no further than that faraway city-state of property, Singapore.

Forging Your Own Path

Singapore is the financial gateway into Asia. Its remarkable power to attract businesses, companies, banks and financial firms to it’s small but robust city has long-since been respected by all the major economies. Hence why, although it only has around 5.7 million people and curates around 555 billion in GDP, it has been invited to attend the G20 summits where the heads of government and state, discuss the global economy. So, if you are young, want to be an entrepreneur and start your own business of any kind, want to work in the financial industry, in marketing, sales, technology or tourism, Singapore is ready to welcome you with open arms.

Many companies offer apprenticeships as they wish to keep themselves stocked with the brightest and best talent from all over the world. Rest assured that if you have a degree in business and or some kind of financial discipline such as accounting or investing, then any of the top financial corporations would be your best bet to get a job. By 2020 at least 1/3 of the workforce will be a millennial, which will be staggering since the population of the city-state isn’t that large. This just shows that any young person with the determination to succeed in one of the aforementioned fields, can and should see Singapore as a safe haven where they will be desired by the top recruiters.

A Place To Call Your Own

Moving thousands of miles from home should be worth it as your new residents should be somewhat similar as that you could have found in your own country right? Well, Singapore is perhaps the most Westernized country in all of Asia, and perhaps only rivalled by Hong Kong in this respect. There are lots of options for a young couple or a single bachelor. The skyline is known all over the world for being on of the best and that’s not just because of the financial district where many headquarters are. Malaysia and Singapore have worked together to make sure they are offering all kinds of good, affordable properties to people from all over the world with varying money situations.

Look at one of the portals of iproperty and you’ll find some excellent styles of renting and buying options. Bear in mind that the high-rise buildings that have been designed and built for a large tenancy community also have some of the best services around. Condominiums are perhaps for the more affluent that have a good salary making it easy to pay for their own place in a somewhat closed community. However, if you are someone that wants to live modestly you can get a room or flat to rent in the high-rise estates. Expect to get your own room, shower room and share an open plan kitchen and dining area. It’s advisable that you learn about the different areas of Singapore before you plant your flag. Each district has its own characteristics, such as being in the heart of the city, as opposed to further into the countryside. Garnering the distances to and from your work is vital for the daily commute.

A Day Out to Leisure

When you’re young and have cup-fulls of energy, you need to live somewhere where there are like-minded people around you. If you are considering moving to Singapore, then you need to know what it has to offer in terms of leisure. Sentosa Island is an island resort where there are roller coasters, restaurants, hotels, spas, events and a great nightlife.

Mega Adventure Park is near Mount Imbiah and features a tall zip line that participants in the park must get to after a series of challenges. One must traverse through the park, that is situated among vegetation. You laterally navigate through climbing rope and using your daringness and balance to get to one station to the next. At the end there is zip wire that you travel back down toward the start and finish line. Great fun for a group of friends that want a challenge for the day.

Universal Studios on the island has a Jurassic Park, with dinosaur models and tours that show this time period in a fun but educational manner. Of course there are also roller coasters to ride as well as water rapid rides that soak you as you plunge through the water. There’s also a luge and sky ride that has you get on a small go-kart-like vehicle and race to the end of the track against your friends.

Artify Studio is where you can discover if you have some shade of talent regarding painting and artwork. Anyone can come and try at one of the sessions. Great for groups or to go by yourself in order to hopefully meet some new people and make friends. Here you’ll learn about portrait painting and using all the colors in the rainbow, with good effect. The studio in which you do your painting is large and neutral, so it’s rather calming and homely.

Moving with Movements

Millennials have one thing that sets them apart from their parents mostly, and it’s about politics and social issues. The younger generation is much more active in political and cultural problems because of social media. We’re not bombarded with all kinds of information so we learn about things that would have to seek out, just by being online. Singapore is no different and since it is an autonomous city-state, it must look after itself. The Sustainable Singapore Movement deals with just this as, environmental and green energy issues are at the forefront and main purpose of this group.

You can become involved and start to do you bit. By attending different meetings and talks, you can learn about what kind of problems are facing the millions of people that live in Singapore. Although the mainstay of the economy is the financial services aspect, lots of businesses such as in retail and technology sell physical products. This means that there is an intake of plastics, metals and different materials that are not quite naturally mined and drilled for by Singapore. As well as disposing issues, clean water is another hot topic that should be of concern, especially to the millennials. Feeling as if you need to be involved somehow in the wider-reaching issues in Singapore once you have landed and situated yourself, you can go on group-events that tackle issues of littering and a lack of knowledge among local people about green energy etc. Recycling initiatives are high up on the agenda as they are key in developing a sustainable Singapore.

Eating and Cuisine

You’re in Asia, or just at the front door anyway. Therefore you’ll be surrounded by spices, sourness and hot flames. Like many East Asian food cultures, seafood and rice are the main foods consumed by the populace. For anyone new, they should know that rice and seafood is relatively inexpensive in grocery stores so you can expect to not spend a lot of money on the weekly shop.

Restaurants have indeed adapted to the Western palate but mostly, have keep to the traditions of cuisine that loves spices and herbs. You can find just about any kind of food you like here. From diner-style American, classic British, or good wholesome hearty Cantonese food. Since Singapore is bordered by Malaysia, there are lots of different influences in the food such as curries, noodles, grilled meats and fish broths.

Image Credit: http://inc-asean.com/the-inc-life/this-new-study-offers-7-startling-revelations-about-millennials-one-is-a-little-too-much/

Singapore is going to be one of the most desired destinations for millennials because it’s becoming more and more affordable. There are lots of career opportunities for someone who is young and ready to learn while climbing the corporate ladder. On the other hand you can, of course, start you own business, working in a business or apply to work in the tech industry. Singapore has lots of things to do for fun as well, with areas of the city-state dedicated purely to leisure and entertainment. Renting or buying, you have different options of properties to make your stay enjoyable and flexible.

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D’BUN 利满: CAFE@356 in Joo Chiat

August 18, 2018August 18, 2018 katongkidsinc

True-blue foodies are willing to travel great distances in search of good eats. In the heart of Joo Chiat, there are no lack of culinary hotspots and most recently, D’bun (the bun specialist) newly opened Cafe@356, a cosy, homely concept that delivers the best home cooked flavours.

We know the weather can be unforgiving in the afternoon, with the sun scorching down on us. With the air-conditioned ambience, the cafe provides a great respite for customers.

Not forsaking its traditional product offerings, one can expect to find authentic light-bites. The owner shared that they aimed to make their foods with fresh, subtle and natural tasting flavours. As such, the products from our kitchens are hand made in small batches using quality ingredients.

From the way they are, the products simply doesn’t need any further embellishment.

With the mid-autumn approaching, would you like to try D’Bun Mooncakes which are baked fresh using fillings blended so that they are not overwhelmingly sweet and come in several traditional varieties. The suite of mooncake comes in these styles – snow skin, traditional baked and baked pastry.

Trying out their ever popular freshly made buns. Your first bite will be a revelation. We are not sure if they are absolutely addictive, but you just can’t give it a miss.

CHAN2 (1)

Absolutely love these light-bites, served in pretty generous portion! The soya-bean milk is a thirst-quencher.

Their shop cannot be easily missed when you step into Joo Chiat Road.

Main Branch
358 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427603
Open Daily 8am – 10pm
T: +65 6345 8220
F: +65 6344 8110

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7 Cool Things to Do with Your Girlfriend in Singapore

June 7, 2018 katongkidsinc

Someone says that Singapore is a technology miracle, another one claims that it is the front window of Asia because it is an energetic and inspiring place, which has managed to become one of the best. Singapore is many-faced and magnificent like Ukrainian girls. You can choose many different epithets for the island-city-state of Singapore, but all of them will surely be vivid and not ordinary. Singapore remains one of the greenest cities in the world, having so many astounding futuristic buildings and attracting a big number of people from all over the world. So, what can you do with your girlfriend in Singapore?

1. Look to the Future

The future of science fiction movies will come in Singapore very soon when the first spaceplanes start landing in the airport Changi, and robots say, “Next in line, please!” You should surely look at the steel baobabs of the Gardens by the Bay. In the evening, the lights are turned on, and the magic garden begins to shimmer with colored lights, just like in the Avatar. At an altitude of 22 meters, supertrees are connected by the sky bridge, from which the domes of futuristic greenhouses are visible.

2. Relax on the Beach

When the brain melts because of the heat, you can escape from the stone jungle to the beaches of the tropical island of Sentosa. You can visit each of them during the day because a free tram runs along the coast. If both of you prefer a relaxing holiday in the hammocks under the palm trees, go to Tanjong beach, and if you want to suf and play volleyball, go to the beach of Silos. You can also visit the mangrove thickets of the island of Pulau Ubin. In this Singaporean village, you can ride a bicycle through rubber groves, eat grilled shrimps and look out for rare birds from wooden bridges.

3. Update your Wardrobe

In Singapore, you can find ten boutiques per square meter because local people like brand-name things. Good dressers with packages of Chanel and Louis VUitton go from one showcase to another. If you do not have enough money to buy a Prada handbag, go to Bugis Street, and you will buy the same but from Chinese masters. tripadvisor.jp

4. Shake the Paw of the Lemur

The Singapore Zoo is one fo the most advanced in the world. More than 300 species of animals walk freely through the rainforest. Here, you can have breakfast with organutans, feed the giraffe or dwarf hippo during lunch, and watch the dinner of predators in the evening. Both of you will be excited like kids.

5. Take a Photo on the Edge of the Abyss

Only a lazy person did not see the pictures of the hotel Marina Bay Sands on the Internet. Three 200-meter towers, crowned with a gondola, perfectly fit into the landscape of Singapore’s space harbor. Many people go here to take a photo in the famous swimming pool on the roof, here the water seems to pour over the sides to the abyss. What a stunning view of the bay you will be able to enjoy there!

6. Look at Singapore from a Height

To see whole banana-lemon Singapore at your feet, don’t miss a chance to ride the Ferris Wheel. From the height of a 55-storey building, you will be able to distinguish even the Indonesian islands on the horizon. In the evening, the city lights up with millions of light bulbs, and you feel like superheros on top of the world. If you have a special evening, you can book a separate booth with champagne and dinner for two.

7. Try “Star” Noodles on the Street

Chinese rice with slices of duck is friend in soy sauce on every corner of Chinatown, but you need to stand a kilometer line to try noodles with chicken from the street chef Chan Hong Menga, his street tent has been awarded a Michelin star. If you are fond of spicy chili, go to the Indian city block.

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The Best Places to Introduce Your Kids to Thai Food in Singapore

May 24, 2018May 25, 2018 katongkidsinc

There’s something quite charming about eating Thai cuisine. In Thailand, dining is a family thing. All dishes are shared at the table at once, allowing brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers to enjoy the fragrant flavours of Thai cooking together. On the whole, Thai food relies heavily on its combination of spicy and sour flavours. Of course, there are many other ingredients that add further subtle dimensions and aromas, but Thai food is certainly considered some of the spiciest in south-east Asia. If you’re thinking of helping your children become acquainted with delicious Thai food, you’ll be pleased to know there are many fantastic Thai restaurants throughout the Lion City.

“Thai J泰J花園泰式創意料理065” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by 羽諾

One major bonus for Thai over other Asian cuisines such as Chinese is that it’s easier for youngsters to eat. Traditionally, Chinese food is eaten with chopsticks, which can be somewhat off-putting for little ones that can’t get to grips – quite literally – with their new found eating devices. Meanwhile, Thai food is more often eaten with forks and spoons, with chopsticks only used to eat noodle-based soups and broths. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best family-friendly Thai restaurants in Singapore.

“Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum” (CC BY 2.0) by kewl

Jai Thai Restaurant, Purvis Street

If you’re looking for a wide range of dining options, look no further than Jai Thai’s extensive menu offering over 100 Thai dishes. They also offer individual set menus for families that aren’t overly fussed about sharing different plates. The restaurant’s specialities include Pandan Chicken and a mesmerising Thai Green Curry that goes down perectly with a side of sticky pineapple rice.

Joe’s Kitchen, Bukit Merah Lane

As casual, laid-back Thai restaurants go, Joe’s Kitchen must be up there with the best. Established for more than a decade, Joe’s Kitchen has become a go-to eatery for families looking for authentic Thai snacks at reasonable rates. Joe and his team can also tailor the spiciness in each dish depending on the tastes of you and your bambinos. Their stuffed chicken wings are the ultimate fun Thai-style finger food!

Aroy Dee Thai Kitchen, Middle Road

Specialising in north-eastern Thai cuisine, Aroy Dee Thai Kitchen offers a great-value hawker centre-style dining experience. Lots of Singaporean and Thai families like to convene here, with their generous portions, as well as extensive starter and main options. Better still, you’re more than likely to get change from $10 per head here.

E-Sarn, Ridgewood Close

Nestled away neatly in a quiet cul-de-sac near North Buona Vista Road is the casual family-run E-Sarn Thai restaurant. At the front of house, mother Neng and son Guy are extremely accommodating when it comes to recommending dishes and adhering to requests on levels of spice. If your family are fish fiends, they’ll love tucking into the steamed sea bass, topped with toasted coconuts, lime and fried baby shrimp.

Of course, an alternative option would be let your kids experience Thai food and flavours in the comfort of you family home first. Deliveroo deliver restaurant-ready Thai food to homes across the city state. This allows your children to sample the dishes they do and don’t like without the trauma of going out to eat in a busy restaurant. Once you’re aware of their likes and dislikes, it will make ordering out at your favourite Thai joint that much easier – and cost-effective too!

As Singapore is in the same peninsular as tropical Thailand it’s unsurprising that the Lion City specialises in Thai flavours. Who knows, if your children fall in love with Thai cuisine just as much as you do, it could transform extra-special occasions in the future.

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Katong Point: Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee Lifestyle Concept Cafe

May 6, 2018May 8, 2018 katongkidsinc

Slowly but surely, Katong Point is going to be developed into a favourite hunt for the cafe-hoppers. Located at Level 1, Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee is a lifestyle concept shop/cafe/bar that offers a relaxed DIY atmosphere to enjoy specialty coffee, craft beers, or to browse through the selection of vinyl records.

When coffee is your way of life, the specialty coffee that comes in a hand-stamped takeaway cup will make you love it from the bottom of your heart. Beneath the aroma features a blend of the finest beans from Brazil, Honduras, and Ethiopia that gatecrash their way into the menu. The cafe also offers teas from T2, organic hot chocolate, organic sodas from Melbourne Soda Co., spiced chai and matcha lattes.

Fashion isn’t just about big names. Check out the various apparel designs that suits your personal style.

Choice Cuts touts itself as a place for coffee, beers & music lovers who have a penchant for anything funk and soul inspired. Brought to you by the DJs from Matteblacc / Blaccsmith.

Like-minded folks with penchant for vintage records will surely love this.

Choice Cuts will also be serving up new breakfast items:
– peanut butter & jam, banana toast
– smashed avocado marmite cheese melt
– granola bowls: vanilla bean greek yoghurt, with choice of matcha w/ banana & blueberries or peanut butter chocolate w/ mango & blueberries
Our healthy range of artisanal baked goods from Muncha Bunch will also available:
– Chia Seed & Goji Berry Energy Bar
– Carrot Cake Turnover
– Banana Bread with Walnut & Chia Seed
– Flourless Almond Beetroot Brownie

Carrot cake muffin

Banana Walnut Chia Seed Muffins.

Chia Seed & Goji Berry Energy Bar.

Need that specialty coffee to perk up your weekend, Choice Cuts is now open at 9am.

Address: 451 Joo Chiat Road, #01-07, Katong Point, Singapore 427664

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/choicecutsgoods/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/choicecutsgoods

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Affordable Western Food You Must Try at Katong Point: STREETS OF LONDON

April 21, 2018April 21, 2018 katongkidsinc

The Katong restaurant and cafe scene never stops to attract hungry food lovers. While there are many eateries to choose from, we would like to recommend a wallet-friendly cafe (important consideration) offering no-frills, authentic dining experience right at Katong Point.

Streets of London cafe offers a scrumptious menu that includes fresh and delicious dishes and hey, talk about Instagram worthy food!

A peek at the menu which will definitely pique your interest. The spread includes the ever popular Fish and Chips, Pasta (with seafood option), Baked Fish, Babyback Ribs, London pride IPA Chicken and many more. What a way to experience communal dining in Katong without spending a bomb.

Driven by his passion for food and cooking, Chef Thomas takes pride in delivering freshly-prepared comfort meals for customers to indulge everyday.

We thought Streets of London has a very beautiful and large interior that bodes well for a good family (kids’ friendly) and friends’ gathering, not to mention a suitable go-to-spot for the Millennial to hang out. The decor looks cosy, calm and hip to customers.

Cute miniatures all the way from London just made it hard for anyone to resist whipping their phone out to take a quick picture. For the Instagrammers, Streets of London cafe certainly meets the criteria to be one of the most instagrammed place in Katong (Joo Chiat Road).

A healthier choice – Baked Fish ($12.80).

Mid-joint wings marinated with a touch of Green Devil IPA, an American IPA style beer (7 pc for $8).

Did we forget to mention you can enjoy fabulous food and drinks at Streets of London with no GST and no service charge? Yup, you don’t need a silver fork to enjoy great food – all at the Streets of London cafe!

STREETS OF LONDON

Address: 451 Joo Chiat Road Katong Point Mall 01-01 Singapore

Contact Info: 9754 7716 | streetsoflondon.co@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Streets-of-London-305385316190806/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weibinthomas/

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Travel to Vietnam: Ben Thanh Market @ Ho Chi Minh City

April 12, 2018April 13, 2018 katongkidsinc

A must-see attraction in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh market is a bustling attraction where tourists could just shop and taste real Vietnamese food. There is a number of vendors displaying eye-catching local handicrafts, apparels, souvenirs, silk fabrics, embroidery and brocade and many more cute gifts that tourists can bring back to friends and family.

Vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offers guests dishes freshly made to the order. Here, one can taste various kinds of local dishes.

The food court is open from dawn and the most vibrant at nightlife. Starting from 7 pm daily, over 170 stalls concentrate along Phan Boi Chau Street and Phan Chu Trinh Street.

Goods for daily use. Looking nice but Ben Thanh market is known for inflating the prices up to two or three times the original value.

Shops selling spices, grocery, cosmetics and colorful candies and great Vietnamese coffee bean/powder.

It is no secret that Ben Thanh Market is possibly the most visited place in Ho Chi Minh City. While it may not be the best location for shopping, every tourist knows their trip to Ho Chi Minh City cannot be completed without a visit to Ben Thanh market to experience Vietnam at its original.

Address: Ben Thanh Market, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam (Intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai Street, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam)

Nearby Attractions: https://www.skyscanner.net/trip/ho-chi-minh-city/things-to-do/ben-thanh-market/nearby-things-to-do

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Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 4): Scoot Off to The Wintriest Harbin with Kids!

March 26, 2018December 20, 2019 katongkidsinc

Nothing lends whimsy and mystique to a picture quite like a snowy day. Frosty weather is not uncommon in Harbin during winter. First-timers to Harbin 哈尔滨 ought to take a pause and experience the local scene in its originality. It might be 7:30am in the morning but the city had already taken a life of its own.

A Walk on the Streets

Freezing cold at -24°C. Infamous for its very cold winters, bring more clothes than you will think you will need to Harbin so that you can layer.

Food of Harbin has so many kinds of specialities around Central street and Hongbo Century Square that even if we want, we could not finish trying all of them.

One of the best street food, the sweetness and piping hot sweet potatoes will make you fall in love with Harbin.

We explored the side alleys of Central Street and had our simple breakfast in this restaurant.

Broccoli, tofu, rice cake, egg tart and glutinous rice made up our breakfast. We were holding back from ordering more dishes so that we could reserve our stomach for other delicacies.

Guandong Ancient Lane

We met an unfriendly taxi driver who refused to alight us outside Guandong Ancient Lane, which was one of our much anticipated attraction in the itinerary. We were told to walk by ourselves which would take us about 3 mins. We read from a blog that visitors would need to pay but that wasn’t the case. Entry is FOC.

Full of traditional delicacies, Harbin Guandong ancient lane displays culture of the ‘Guandong migration’ period, which refers to the historical period when people migrated from the central part of China to the Northeast. How majestic is this building!

Everything here is indoor. The place displays an ancient feel and there is a sense of unhurried-ness. With a myriad of different dining options and picturesque spots, this might be one of the few places in Harbin where visitors can snack and relax at the same time.

Many pictures taken and will let them do the talking.

Russian chocolates.

We tried peanut candies!

Dragon’s beard candy (or Chinese cotton candy) is a handmade traditional art of China. It is also a traditional Chinese sweet similar to floss halva or Cotton candy.

There is a foodcourt selling classic Chinese dishes.

A great food haunt where dishes are freshly cooked in front of you. We have to admit that they look really appetising.

What A Big Catch!

Located right beside Guandong Ancient Lane is a huge shopping mall. Our first impression was akin to The Paragon where everything would be expensive but after some exploring we thought this mall was a place for bargain hunting.

More than just fashion shops, the mall is a suitable hangout for families with kids.

Plenty of pop-up cafes to have a drink and just chill.

Located at the basement was a huge marketplace for shoppers to shop for groceries and dine.

Freshly squeezed fruit juice with cute bottles.

What a big catch! We were pleasantly surprised that we could order seafood and had them cooked on the spot for us to dine. What till we see the price 🙂

Here’s our order – a lobster (CNY50 = SGD10)

Seabass (CNY30 = SGD6)

皮皮虾 (CNY31 = SGD6)

The chef ushered us to this cosy dining area while we waited for the food.

The restaurant exhibited a homely feeling which made it a favourite place for shoppers to have a respite and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The decor and furnishing were contemporary and inviting.

Everything was hot and fresh! Our seafood craving was satisfied in the most economical way.

Including the cooking cost, the total bill came to CNY137.90 = SGD27.60.

Hey, did we mention our food hunting continue after savouring the seafood?

Big and Small M trying the soya bean milk.

Crispy chinese pan fried dumpling (鍋貼).

Chinese flat bread (发面饼).

Cute animal buns!

Time Kingdom

If your little ones enjoy KidZania, they will surely fall in love with Time Kingdom. Akin to KidZania theme style of play, Time Kingdom is also an interactive city made for 3 – 15 year old kids who can immerse themselves into lots of fun through realistic role-play in Harbin.

The Wintriest Harbin

Harbin 哈尔滨, which is nestled in the heart of China’s historical Manchuria region, is still a place less travelled. Apart from its freezing weather during winter, taking a walk in the back alleys allowed us to see these visually pleasing buildings that transported us to a place where time seemed to have been frozen for 40 years, a flashback to a simpler and more peaceful time.

In a mood for supper? Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街 has no lack of eatery options.

Small M was wondering why the chef had to use such a big pot to place the dish.

A thriving late-night dessert culture has taken grasp of Harbin especially among the youngsters. We were surprised that Harbin offers one of the best places to be tempted by decadent desserts.

While Small M trying in vain to search for free Wi-Fi amidst the Great “Wall” of China…

Big M knows it is still possible for a selfie.

Sweet dessert for us! It would be blasphemous to talk about cafe hopping without including them during your visit to Harbin.

We have tasted the wonders of Lapland and in our first trip to China and Harbin, this trip was nothing short of amazing. The locals are warm and approachable and Harbin is safe with a lot of securities. All thanks to Scoot introducing the direct flight to Harbin, we came and captured the raw beauty of this ‘Ice City’. Harbin 哈尔滨, we will be reunited soon!

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Phuket Food Recommendation – First Seafood Restaurant (Thai Food Number 5)

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 katongkidsinc

Searching for wallet-friendly Thai food could not be better than First Seafood Restaurant in Patong. A little gem hidden off the beach side of Rat-U-Thit road, First Seafood Restaurant at first glance may not look classy but it sure attracts many hungry customers especially the tourists.

We were wondering why so many customers were dining here and not the neighbouring restaurants and decided to give it a try.

The menu was extensive and seafood were fresh. Customers can choose to pick your own seafood from the tanks and price will be quoted after the catch. Seafood is to be found aplenty on Phuket Island and delicacies are to be indulged in. The restaurant chef will cook fish, prawns, squid, crabs, shellfish, lobster and other items in local Thai styles. The prices for are generally reasonable and dishes come with fairly generous serving.

Thai Steamed Seabass – our favourite!

Tom Yam Seafood Soup.

Stir-Fried Baby Kai Lan with Garlic.

Stir-fried Minced Meat with Long Beans and Tomatoes.

Steamed Crab with Garlic.

Mango Sticky Rice.

First Seafood Restaurant is located at Off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand. Click here for the TripAdvisor recommendation.

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Harbin 哈尔滨 Travelogue – (Part 3): Russian Town, Harbin 哈尔滨植物園, Ji Le Temple 极乐寺, Confucius Temple 哈尔滨文庙 and Teresa Teng Music Restaurant

February 18, 2018December 20, 2019 katongkidsinc

A brand new morning, a brand new experience. We hopped onto a cab outside our hotel after agreeing to a fare of CNY240 for a day trip. The Harbin of today is still very much influenced by its Russian past. Due to the strong decades’ presence of Soviet Russians, it is not uncommon to see glimpses of Russian style in architecture, education, art, food, clothing, language and more aspects of life.

Our first stop was to visit the Russian Village which was located near to Sun Island.

The river was literally frozen.

Russian Village

Russian Style Town or Artist Village in Harbin Sun Island by the north bank of the Songhua River, is a Russian architecturally-styled village with small detached houses within. During winter, this place seemed more like a ghost town albeit with curious tourists coming to explore the vincinity and experiencing Russian foods and products.

We were discouraged from entering the Russian Village by our driver as this attraction was quiet and nothing much exciting to explore. He did, however, drove us around the outskirts of the Russian Village to take a view from the outside.

Some sights at the entrance…

Food vendors selling sweet potatoes, sausages and Bing Tanghulu Candied Hawthorn Stick or 冰糖葫蘆.

Bicycle rental available.

Address: China, Heilongjiang, Harbin, Songbei, Pingyuan St, 平原街

Harbin 哈尔滨植物園

It was a weekend and the traffic was quite bad in the morning. It took us one hour to reach the next destination which was appealing to Big and Small M. What’s in store here?

Visitors who want to visit Harbin 哈尔滨植物園 definitely have to come with reserved transport as after entering, you would need to drive up to 1km before reaching the spot with fun-filled activities.

This is the only restaurant here for us to catch a lunch.

Our order – a tad salty and not very appealing though it did fill our stomaches.

And we had fun after that! Building a snowman 🙂

During winter in Harbin, the temperature is usually below 20 degrees. One of the most popular activites is the winter swimming event which is a physical activity showing off the strong physique and iron of local Harbin people. Over here, the swimming pool was dug for winter swimming.

The performance takes place every hour. We were standing in the freezing cold awaiting for the show to start.

Would you dare to try this? Certainly not us!

Dog sledding but we did not try as we would need to pay extra (which we didn’t know after paying an exorbitant price for the tickets). We had no regrets not trying dog sleeding as the dogs did not look excited to run at all, so unlike of our experience in Finland where every husky were given a name, trained to perform a specific role in sleigh-ridding and much more excited to run.

Pony ride.

Family-friendly rides that we get to enjoy here.

Alas, we wished we could stay longer to maximuse the ticket value but the temperature was really overwhelming today at -24°C. Our bodies were smarting from the cold. We had to cut short our fun and returned to the car.

Ji Le Temple 极乐寺

Who says visiting Harbin is all about ice and snow?

Ji Le Temple or Temple of Bliss is located at the end of Dongdazhi Street, Nangang District in Harbin. It is the biggest Buddhist building complex in the Heilongjiang province. The entrance gate, Hall of Heavenly King, Grand Hall, Sacred Hall, Sutra Depository, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the Seven-storey Buddhist Pagoda are the main buildings.

The entire building of Temple of Bliss is magnificent, elegant and dignified, retains the style and features of temple architecture of China. Before reaching here, our driver brought us to his neighbourhood to buy a winter coat for Big M. It was a good buy as the price was almost half of what we need to pay at shopping malls. It was about 4pm when we reached here and the temple was already closed, unfortunately.

We thought it is a lovely temple that offers a peaceful break from the busyness of the city where one can soak in its tranquility and understand more about Chinese Buddhism. Big M wearing her new winter coat 🙂

Along the streets were lined with shops selling Buddhist wares.

Address: 9 Dongdazhi St, Nangang Qu, Haerbin Shi, Heilongjiang Sheng, China, 150001

Harbin Confucius Temple 哈尔滨文庙

Harbin Confucius Temple was built in 1926 and completed in 1929. The temple ground occupies an area of 25,000 square meters and its construction area is 5,674 square meters. In 1996, the temple was listed on the key historical sites under state protection.

The temple’s symmetrical structure consists of three courtyards dotted with old trees and rare flowers. Due to its likeness to the Imperial Palace, it has earned the moniker “the Forbidden City of Harbin”.

heilongjiang confucian temple — Photo Credit: Harbinice.com

inside the Confucian Temple — Photo Credit: Harbinice.com

Address: 25 Wenmiao St, Nangang Qu, Haerbin Shi, Heilongjiang Sheng, China

Harbin Food at Its Best

Night falls and we were craving for food. The best time to try chinese hotpot is during winter and our driver brought us to this restaurant.

Great service – the staff opened the door for us when he saw us walking up the stairs.

Chinese hotpot 火锅 , also known as Chinese fondue, is one of the most popular meals in China. It consists of a simmering metal pot with broth at the center of a table, and all raw ingredients placed beside the metal pot, so people can add and cook whatever they like in the broth.

A hearty meal for us after a long day out!

The spirit of Northern Chinese cuisine lives on the wholesome goodness at Lao Beijing Roasted Duck 老北京明炉烤鸭. We took a stroll at the streets and caught the sight of a chef roasting the duck which inevitably drawn us into the store.

Specially-bred and fattened ducks are glazed and hung in a wood fire to roast until the browned skin is crisp and the meat succulent.

Noticed the QR code below? Everyone is using e-payment in China now. The presentation of the duck was just like any other chinese restaurant in which the chef carved the duck in front of us.

Heavenly goodness at its best.

The price of a whole duck including the wraps and sauces – SGD 12.

The Heart of Harbin

Not to be outdone by the likes of bigger stores such as Mykal Supermarket, the supermarkets in the heartland are possibly one of Harbin’s best-kept treasures. It was a pleasant experience browsing through the store products and discovering the local produces.

Most of the product prices were much cheaper compared to those in the shopping malls.

Salted promfret fish.

Mantou, often referred to as Chinese steamed bun, is a type of cloud-like steamed bread or bun popular in Northern China. The name mantou is said to have originated from a tale about Zhuge Liang.

Some sights during our walk.

Bing Tanghulu Candied Hawthorn Stick or 冰糖葫蘆. These two guys were shouting at the top of their voice to attract customers to their store. A nice try. We stopped and bought one to try out.

Teresa Teng Music Restaurant

We blogged about Teresa Teng during our trip to Taiwan 金寶山 Chin Pao San which you can read it here. Our Harbin trip brought us back to the memory lanes where Teresa Teng Music Restaurant allows fans to reminisce the evergreen hits of 邓丽君that bring you back to the 70’s and 80’s.

Dine, wine and enjoy live performance of her songs.

Harbin’s charm lies in the way it yields glimpses of a timeless China. Our experience thus far has been magical. Planning to visit China? Try Harbin 哈尔滨.