Trip to Singapore- Day 5- Sentosa Island and back to Chennai

When you think of fun things to do in Singapore, Sentosa island is the thing that comes first to most of our minds. Sentosa  island has something for everybody be it it's beautiful beaches, casinos , amusement parks or its other varied attractions. So post our visit to Sentosa on day 3 when we visited Universal Studios we wanted to spend our last day in Singapore to enjoy the other attractions in Sentosa island. 

 

Cable Car to Sentosa :

Cable Car- Courtesy-www.goingplaces.sg

Since we had taken the monorail from Vivo City mall during our visit to Universal Studios Singapore we decided to take the cable car to Sentosa this time around. The cable car ride is a 15 minute ride and on the way to the island we had noticed the newly opened Adventure Cove Water Park  which we were not aware of.

Tip : If you want to see all attraction of Sentosa and also visit the water park you would need at least 2 days. Since it was our last day in Singapore we tried to squeeze in as much as we could that day.

Trip to Singapore Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park and Marina Bay Sands Observatory Desk

Jurong Bird Park :

Entrance to Jurong Bird Park

So after visiting the Singapore Zoo the previous day we decided to visit the other famous attraction in Singapore – Jurong Bird Park. Post a really hectic day this was a place to go enjoy nature and all birds at a leisurely pace spending half a day.

We spent the first 1-2 hours walking around enjoying the various attractions the park had to offer.

Tip : Use the mono rail in the park to shorten your walking times between attractions.

Here are some of the snaps from the park.

Flamingo-Young ones

Trip to Singapore- Day 3, A magical experience in Universal Studios

Day 3 in Singapore dawned bright and we were happy that the skies were clear as we were going to visit Universal Studios Singapore at Sentosa Island. It was our visit to any Universal studios and we were literally jumping with excitement after reading all the reviews. We took a taxi from Oasia Hotel to the famous Vivo City Mall which is the gateway to Sentosa via the monorail.

Sentosa Monorail Station in Vivo City mall

Universal Studios Singapore is a smaller version of the parks in the US but do not be fooled by its size as there lots of rides and shows to keep you entertained for the whole day. Universal Studios Singapore is mainly divided into 7 Zones and I will list down the zones n order of my preferences  and  the order in which we covered the rides.

The Entrance to the Magical World of Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore

Trip to Singapore Day 2 - Singapore Zoo & Orchard Road

Singapore Day 2

There is something about swimming pools that fascinate both hubby and me and when we travel our first routine in the morning is to dive into the pool. Oasia Hotel Singapore had a good seized swimming pool and the morning swim had helped us work up some appetite.  Post a delicious breakfast ( do not miss out on the fresh waffles ) we were all ready to go to the Singapore Zoo.

Australian Kangaroo

Trip to the Singapore Zoo :

Thats Me 17 years back in Singapore Zoo

It has been almost 17 years since I last visited the Singapore Zoo. It was the 90’s , dad was working for a firm in Singapore and we were visiting in my summer hols.  Even in the 90’s the Singapore Zoo was one of the best attractions in Singapore and not much has changed since then and in fact it has only become better.  This is a place to visit with family and somewhere you can easily spend half a day.

Giant Panda in its enclosure

How to get to the Singapore Zoo :  

The cheapest way to get there is by using the Singapore MRT system which is excellent .But a word of caution , do expect to spend atleast an hour for one way travel as the Singapore Zoo is in the outskirts of the city. So my suggestion is that if you are travelling as a large group with kids and elders a taxi is the fastest and most convenient way to reach quickly.

Trip to Singapore - Day 1 (Shopping at Bugis Market & Visiting the Marina Bay Sands )

Singapore Travel Blog

Singapore or Singapura (the “ Lion City “ ) over the last 40 years has transformed itself from a sleepy little island to one among the world’s best countries. Be it the amazing infrastructure, excellent public transport, its status as a financial hub or its party scene Singapore has something for everyone. We were fortunate to visit Singapore during Jan 2013 during the Pongal Holidays in Chennai and we spent 5 wonderful days in this bustling little country so full of life.

Arrival in Singapore :  

We had booked the late night Air India flight from Chennai to Singapore which would arrive in Singapore early Saturday morning, thus giving us full 5 days. First impressions as soon as we arrived in Changi Airport were WoW!!!  We have been to quite a few airports around the world but Changi Airport is easily the best. From its large number of duty free shops selling everything that you can think of at reasonable prices to its varied entertainment opportunities to keep you occupied, Changi is where you can easily spend a few hours without getting bored.. We had a quick breakfast at Adyar Ananda Bhavan ( a famous South Indian veg restaurant chain similar to Saravana Bhavan ) and headed off to our hotel in a taxi as we were carrying a lot of luggage.

Changi Airport, Singapore

Photo Courtesy : Internet

Tip : Though we took the taxi , it is advisable that you take the Airport Express line from the Changi Aiport which is probably the best and fastest way to reach your destination.

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon - Day 5,Day 6 and Bidding Farewell to Kurumba Maldives

Since it was our honeymoon my hubby wanted to make it extra special and he had booked a luxurious pool villa for our stay for the last 2 days. After a quick breakfast and some snorkeling our bags were all packed and we were ready to move to our Pool Villa.

Checking into Kurumba Maldives Pool Villa – No 278

We were lucky to check into our Pool villa at 12 Noon as earlier residents had checked out early. Hubby and me had seen a lot of photos of the room in the Kurumba website but we still were not prepared for the difference in class and luxury as we first walked in and this is by far the most luxurious room (and the largest room) that we have stayed in.   It really was an experience to stay in a room which was bigger than the apartments back home with its own swimming pool and beautiful furnishing. It was as if we had stepped back in time and had entered a beautiful palace which was going to be ours for 2 days.

Kurumba Maldives- Pool Villa

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon - Day 3 and 4

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon –Day 3 and Day 4

Two days in paradise had just whizzed by and after the tropical storm had blown its course we were set for 2 bright and sunny days with occasional light rainfall in the evenings. 

Getting up early in the morning to wait for the sunrise , a slow romantic  morning walk around the island enjoying the views , a quick swim and amazing buffet breakfast at Vihamana ( along with special attention from Mr. Fernando ) had become our daily routine. 

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon- Activities on Day 3 and Day 4 :

Water Sports Center :  

Neither hubby nor I have earlier done much of water sports activities prior to the experience in Kurumba Maldives and hence probably cannot compare, but we really did find the watersports centre top notch. There are a variety of activities to suit the novice as well as the experienced and it was an amazing just to try out the various water sports. Kurumba has both motorized and non motorized water sports  ( many Maldives islands do not have motorized water sports and also have special packages for beginners to get a hang of water skiing or wake boarding or knee boarding.

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon - Day 2

I have read in many travel blogs that words cannot describe the beauty of the rising sun when its first rays strike the beautiful waters of Maldives. So we began day 2 in feverish excitement, almost unable to sleep, waiting in anticipation to enjoy our early morning walk.

Sunrise at Kurumba Maldives

When we stepped out of our beach Bungalow the first sights that greeted us was mind-blowing. Not a day has passed by without hubby and me taking a look at those snaps from that morning.  

White sandy beach outside beach bungalow

View outside beach bungalow during morning walk

Though Kurumba Maldives is in one of the larger islands it took us only 1 hr to walk at a leisurely pace around the island. Post our walk we were ready to take a quick dip at the resort’s swimming pool. Kurumba unlike many other Maldives resorts, does not have an infinity pool, but the in house pool is large and good to burn a few calories (before you gorge on the delicious food ).

Kurumba Maldives Swimming Pool- Good place to burn a few calories.

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon Breakfast Buffet @ Vihamana 

We had booked for a B&B package and hence the buffet breakfast was complimentary with the room. The breakfast spread was very satisfactory and had a good selection of food items for both Vegetarian and Non Vegetarians and we never got tired of the food during our stay of 7 days

Tip : It is better to choose the B &B package as this gives you the option of trying out Kurumba’s signature restaurants for dinner.  Half board and full board packages have lunch and dinner included only at Vihamana restaurant which can get a little repetitive.

Kurumba Maldives - Activities on Day 2

Glass Bottom Boat: 

Kurumba Maldives has a lot of inhouse activities/excursions and the details of the same is communicated via a newsletter the previous day, post which you can reserve your participation. Some activities repeat itself 2-3 times per week and you can chose the same based on weather conditions.

The day was bright and sunny and we decided to try the glass bottom boat tour around Kurumba Maldives. This is the best alternative for non divers / snorkelers to get up close with the brilliant aquatic life in the Kurumba reef as the glass bottom boat offers clear views of the varied marine life. The excursion is for 1 hour as the boat slowly takes you around the island and since it was a clear day we really enjoyed the experience. Definitely one to try when the sun is out.  

Kurumba Maldives- Exploring the island

Post our glass bottom boat ride we wanted to explore the island and the various in-house facilities of Kurumba Maldives.

The Sand Bar :  The beach bar is located on the opposite side of the island closer to beach bungalows 160-175 ( 2 min walk ) and they serve a  variety of cocktails and finger food to appease your hunger all through the day . Do not forget to try the cocktail of the day. 

Kurumba Maldives Sand Bar

Enjoying the views from the Beach Bar

Kurumba Maldives -Renewal of Vows :

Been married for long and want to reaffirm your commitment to each other then why not renew your vows in traditional Maldivian style with white sand beneath your feet and the gentle sound of the waves.  The place where the renewal of vows ceremony takes place is really beautiful and probably some day if I return would like to try it out.

Renewal of Vows- Altar

Candlelight dinner after ceremony

More info on packages can be found here

However our outdoor activities and exploration were cut short by the huge tropical storm that hit us all of a sudden in the evening. It rained for nearly 2 hours in the evening it really was a sight to watch the coconut trees swaying dangerously in the winds.

Storm approaching Kurumba Maldives

Dinner on Day 2 @ Kurumba Mahal:

So post our Italian fiasco on day 1 we wanted to play it safe and chose Kurumba Mahal, the signature Indian restaurant, for dinner and it did not disappoint. The ambience was excellent and the dishes that we tried were as tasty as any that we have tried in some of the better north Indian restaurants in India.

Outside Kurumba Mahal- Indian Restaurant

Full menu of Kurumba Mahal  can be found here

A special thanks to Mr. Fernando ( F & B ) who takes care of the Indian restaurant for making the dinner and our stay memorable.

Thus came to an end to a hectic day 2 of our stay and we just could not wait for day 3 to begin. 

Trip to Maldives- Honeymoon Special- Day 1- Landing At Male & Arriving at Kurumba Maldives

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon 

Well I am back with a post in the travel section with my honeymoon experiences at one of the most beautiful countries in the world and one that everyone would love to visit- MALDIVES.

Post our sangeet,wedding and reception we really needed a break to relax and what better place than Maldives with its white sandy beaches and azure light blue waters. We had been planning for the honeymoon well in advance and Maldives was our first choice. However choosing a resort in Maldives was not easy with more than 100 resorts each with its uniqueness and beauty catering to different budgets. I will probably do a post later on – How to choose a resort in Maldives.

Post a lot of research and reading tons of reviews in tripadvisor we finally booked 6 nights and 7 days at Kurumba Maldives. We booked the flights and the hotel through the COX&KINGS in Chennai  who gave us excellent rates ( It was not a package deal ). We had booked 4 nights in an ocean front beach bungalow and 2 nights in a pool villa.

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon -September 1, 2012 : The day of our trip finally arrived and we could hardly wait to reach Male. Our Air India flight was delayed by almost 3 hours at Trivandrum ( By the way never ever book Air India !!! )  and finally we were airborne.. Do try to get a seat by the window as the views that greet you as you fly into Male are just amazing!!!

Views as we approach Male

 Male Airport (Ibrahim Nasir International Airport):

Male airport though small truly captures the spirit of Maldives with its serene beauty.Crystal clear blue waters greeted us as soon as we reached Male airport. Post our checkout and collecting our baggage we headed out and were greeted by our representative from Kurumba Maldives who whisked us off to our private speed boat to take us to the resort.

PS:  It is better to buy a local sim from outside the airport as calling from the resorts are costly. A local sim with a USD 20 recharge would suffice as calling rates are not that costly. 

Clockwise : From L to R: Male Airport, Speed Boat Maldives, Kurumba Maldives' Pier, Entrance to Kurumba Maldives,Front Desk

 Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon - Airport Transfer and First views of Kurumba Maldives:

Male International Airport is on the main island and you are transferred to the resorts either via a speed boat or a sea plane (for resorts far away from the airport ). Kurumba Maldives is just a 10 minute speed boat ride from the airport jetty and our speed boat was waiting for us as soon as we landed. The speed boat was more like a small luxury yacht which we shared with a Japanese couple and in 10 minutes we had our first views of paradise.

Different shades of blue- So beautiful

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon -The Resort and Check in to our beach bungalow ( Room no 175 ):

Kurumba in Dhivehi ( Maldivian language ) means coconut and the resort is dotted with beautiful coconut trees and white sands accentuating the effect of paradise. Kurumba is the oldest of the resorts in Maldives and the resort that introduced Maldives as a tourist Hot spot to the world.

Kurumba Maldives Jetty

We were greeted at the reception with wet towels and coconut icecream by Mr. Hassan who by the way was the perfect host during our entire stay . After a quick checkin  we were transferred to our Deluxe beach front bungalow  via the beach buggy. Our room was just a stone’s throw away from the beach and was very spacious and had all the necessary amenities we were looking for.

Beach Front Deluxe bungalow- Room no 175

Beach Front Deluxe bungalow- Room no 175

Kurumba Maldives Honeymoon -Fun at the Beach and Dinner @La Cucina  Kurumba Maldives:

The first thing post our checkin in was to change into our beach wear and head straight to the water as the clear waters were really tempting. We did not snorkel on day 1 as we did not have the equipment , but post a lot of playing around and swimming  we were really tired and had worked up a big appetite.

Can you see the beach just outside room ?

Just outside our beach bungalow

Since both hubby and me are crazy about Italian food we first tried out the Italian restaurant- La Cucina. The ambience in the restaurant was perfect and food that we ordered was delicious.  Unfortunately we found out that selection for vegetarian was very minimal and the portions served were not value for money. This was probably the only low point during our whole stay.

Kurumba swimming pool @ night

Our day 1 in paradise came to a close with a walk around the resort and off to bed early as we were tired. We just could not wait for day 2 to dawn. 

Trip to Macau and Hongkong- Day 8, Part 2 Ladies Market, Mongkok & Bidding Adieu to Hongkong

                                   Hongkong Macau Travel Blog

The ladies market is located on the Tung Choi Street in Mongkok which is part of Old Hongkong. This whole place is so lively, colorful at all times and is one of the most densely populated areas in Hongkong.



The ladies market is famous especially for leather goods, apparels, souvenirs and good street food all at very affordable prices.. The market is flooded with small shops all selling almost similar items but at different prices, hence one needs to be careful that we do not overpay for any item.  There is also a flower market & gold fish market close by to ladies market, but we did not have time to check them out.

Mongkok Market, Hongkong- How to get there?

The ladies market is about 5 mins walk from Mongkok , Mongkok East & Yau Ma Tei stations. Depending on the line you take you can get down at any of the 3 stations & follow the exit signs leading to Ladies Market.

Crowded Street outside Bonjour

Mongkok Market Hongkong-What I bought from Ladies Market ?

1.  A clutch
2.  A pair of bead studded slippers for HKD 100 (refer to my post here) (wondering y I stopped with one as they are extremely comfortable)
3.  4 Hongkong T shirts for Women for HKD 100
4.  5 Hongkong T shirts for Men for HKD 100
5.  Some souvenirs

My Clutch

T Shirts

Footwear

Above 2 Photos Courtesy : Internet

General Shopping Tips in Hongkong :

1. Branded perfumes are a much cheaper there than India especially brands  such as Estee Lauder & Dior.
2. You need to start  bargaining from at least half the price of what is quoted in the local street markets which will allow you to get a good deal. 
3. Bonjour & Sasa have sample branded perfumes for sale.. Those who want to try out many brands can buy them.
4. Face masks are a must buy from Bonjour.
5. Skincare products are better than cosmetics in Hongkong.

Post a lot of walking and shopping we were really tired and thirsty and what better way to quench your thirst than a delightfully fresh juice. Litchi is our favorite fruit and the litchi juice we had from one of the shops tasted heavenly. Really could not stop with one :) … 

Crossing the Victoria Harbour  by Ferry:

This is one among the most recommended things to do while in Hongkong and we were unable to do the same during our first day due to foggy / smoggy weather. Thankfully we finally got the opportunity to cross the Harbour while heading back to the hotel. We took the ferry from the Hongkong side to Kowloon and thanks to the clear conditions we enjoyed some breathtaking views of the Hongkong skyline during the 10 minute ride. Really something not to miss and if I had more time would have done it again and again!!!

Maritime Museum

Skyline view from ferry

We went back to the Hotel, collected our luggage from the concierge & took the shuttle to the Kowloon station to take the Airport Express train to the Airport…

I felt terrible to leave this lovely country and to get back to work the next day after such a beautiful vacation.

Hongkong Airport Express Train:

The Hongkong International airport is located on Lantau Island and it might take more than an hour to reach by taxi or bus. So we decided to take the Airport Express train from Kowloon which would reach the Airport in half an hour. Like in Delhi  we can check in our baggage at any of the stations where Airport Express Train stops ( Hongkong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi ). We checked in our luggage at the Cathay Pacific counter in the Kowloon MTR and proceeded to the Airport Express Train & reached the Airport pretty early.

Hongkong Airport Express Train

Photo Courtesy : Internet

Hongkong International Airport (also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport ) is one of the busiest airports in the world with 66 boarding gates and a lot of branded shops to shop from. We spent our rest of the time walking around the Airport & I had tears in my eyes with  the trip finally came to an end at 10 : 35 pm when the flight took off...

Coming up next in Travel section : My Trip To Maldives

Trip to Macau & Hongkong - Day 8, Part1 - Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens Hongkong

Trip to Macau & Hongkong Day 8 – Part 1, Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens

Hongkong Macau Travel Blog

Our last day in Hongkong dawned bright and sunny and what a week it has been. This small little country has really captured my imagination and I have enjoyed every minute of my stay here. On our last day we had loads planned as our flight was only departing at 10 :30 in the night.

So after a relaxing early morning swim and some light snacks (we were saving up for the big lunch) we checked out and bid farewell to Eaton Hongkong. Eaton Hongkong is probably not the most luxurious we have stayed at, but we did enjoy our 5 day stay.

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden Hongkong :

A serene 33000 sq ft lush garden built in 1934 with a Nunnery, Buddhist Temple and vegetarian restaurant located among the hustle & bustle of the Kowloon city. The entire Nunnery and Nan Lian garden Hongkong was built based on Tang Dynasty Architecture where no iron nails were used & the complete structure was made using wood.

An oasis at the center of the city- All lush and green

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens Hongkong- How to get there?

The best way to get there is via the MTR. From any destination take the MTR to Diamond Hill station which is on Kwun Tong Line.  Entrance to garden is about 5 minutes walk from exit C2 (Plaza Hollywood) at 60 Fung Tak Road (under flyover). There are tourist direction signs from the station exit. 

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens-Our Experience: (Spiritual though)

The minute we stepped into the Chi Lin Nunnery, the sounds of the road faded away & we heard mild traditional Chinese instrumental music which was so pleasant and the whole thing seemed like a dream. There were lily ponds, bonsai trees & some rocks placed with artificial geyser. What more do we need for the finale :)

Hubby in front of geyser

Inside Nan Lian Gardens

Hall of Celestial Kings

We took some pics around the Nan Lian Gardens with the sky scrapping buildings as background and the Hall of Celestial kings where statues of Sakyamuni Buddha are located. We prayed in the temple & roamed around the Lotus Pond & took beautiful pictures. We had an excellent lunch at the vegetarian restaurant inside the Nunnery which served Authentic Chinese Veg food. The backdrop of the restaurant was an artificially created small waterfall. It looked as though we were sitting a midst mountains.

Amazing views of surrounding landscape

Veg Restaurant is behind the Waterfall

We left the place after spending sometime there & headed to Mongkok for some shopping in the Ladies Market….

Stay Tuned Ladies  :)