**把我的脚印留在世界各地**: October 2010

Saturday, 23 October 2010

Wanderlust Hotel

We had a staycation at Wanderlust hotel to celebrate my belated birthday since I came back on the weekend of my birthday. YQ choose this hotel cos we happened to pass by Wanderlust one day when we were walking around that area and I told him that this is a newly open boutique hotel. YQ booked a Pantone room package which includes breakfast at $180++. For your information, Wanderlust hotel, Hotel 1929 and Majestic Hotel belong to the same group which is own by hotelier, Loh Lik Peng.

Wanderlust hotel

Front desk

Everyone took photo with this background so why should we be the exception?

We reached the hotel at around 2pm but we couldnt check in as the room is being clean at the moment. We waited for almost an hour before we can check in at 3pm.

Lobby area

Barber chair

Different hues

A hotel staff escort us to our room at level 2 which is the Eccentricity theme with each rooms rendered in unique hue. She explained to us the facilities in the room and YQ asked her if there is soccer channel in the room. =_=" We were given a purple room and I thought that YQ has requested for a purple room but he didnt. In my opinion, purple colour is associate with sense of mystery.

The room is quite small hence the bathroom, toilet and basin are separated. On the website, I saw that the toilets are transparent but luckily it's translucent. I don't think that this room is suitable for tourist as there are no space for luggages.

I like that the bed is on a platform and the long pillow too. This means we don't have to fight for pillows, haha...

Wow, all the drinks in the mini-bar are complimentary and we indeed help ourselves to the drinks.

Purple room

The staff give us a small notebook which introduces the hotel facilities, the surrounding area, the transport etc. This is similar to the hostel in Kyoto and Hiroshima; and this gives the guest a more personal touch.

Booklet from Wanderlust

Did I went to so many countries?

We took a short rest in the room before heading for dinner at around 5.30pm. We also found that the TV has reception problem and we notify the hotel before we went out. Had I know earlier that we will be staying in Wanderlust hotel, I would have asked YQ to make reservation at Cocotte which is located inside the hotel. I only knew it on Friday night and the restaurant is full house. Shall visit this restaurant in the future as the reviews are quite good.

We walked to Muthu's Curry which is within walking distance at Race Course Road. Hmm... I commented that YQ is so unromantic cos he bought me here for my birthday dinner but he rebutted that shouldn't we have a change too?

Muthu's Curry

They even have their own catering lorry

Flowers are neatly arranged

Not a bad ambiance

Curries

Saw the big pot surround by ropes? It's use for baking naan.

We ordered the signature dish - Fish head curry, nasi briyani and plain naan. Complimentary crackers, vegetables and egg plant are served. The curry was not bad but the fish was not really fresh. I'm not great craver of curry so maybe once is enough.

Fish head curry and crackers

Nasi briyani on banana leaves

Yummy plain naan

We strolled along Little India on the way back to The Verge to buy a cake for candle blowing later. There are so many Indians and we look like aliens here.

Lighting up of Little India at night

Nice car decal

Brisk business in this jewellery shop

Another new boutique hotel - Moon hotel is also located at Dickson Road

Facade of Wanderlust hotel at night

When we came back, the hotel staff asked us whether we want to change to another room on the same level since the reception problem of the TV in our room couldnt be resolved yet. Why not since it is complimentary?

Cyan room

Happy Birthday to me!

YQ watched BPL on the soccer channel while I played with my new iphone and load games into his iphone. Haha... we keep ourselves occupied with activities. I woke up at around 3am cos it's so nosiy at the alley. YQ called the reception and complained. It doesnt seems to help as the noise continue and we had no choice but to bear with the noise until we fall asleep.

We woke up at around 9am and went downstair for breakfast. Breakfast is served from 7.30am - 10.30am.

Cocotte restaurant

Love these retro deco

Breakfast is semi-buffet style. Every guest can choose one main from the 3 choices below.

Breakfast menu

Norwegien smoked salmon and cream cheese chive bagel

Omelette, bacon, grilled mushroom and tomato

Buffet spread variety

YQ wanted to eat cereals but couldnt find bowls so he asked the hotel staff. To his surprise, the hotel staff told him to choose his choice of cereal and just pour milk into the glass bottle. This is indeed an unique way!

Cereals variety

After our breakfast, we went to level 3 & 4 to explore. Level 3 is the Origami theme. It's so coincidence that one of the room is being housekeeping hence we have a chance to view the room.

I like the black and while tiles on the wall

The 4th level is the loft room but too bad, none of the room was being housekeeped at this moment so we cant view them.

Creative comfort theme

I didnt know that there is a jacuzzi in the hotel, otherwise I'll have brought my swimsuit along.

Jacuzzi and garden

We went back to our room and took a rest. I decided to use the coffee machine and tried all the 3 types of coffee - Expresso, Lungo & Decaffeinato. I like Decaffeinato the best as there is a fruity taste.

Coffee machine and the type of coffees

We checked out at 12pm and went for lunch at Bugis before heading to Tiong Bahru to watch Detective Dee. Then we went to Anchorpoint to buy my present cos YQ left it on the bus. ><"

Thank you dear dear for the planning and the present. I appreciate it!

My birthday present

Sunday, 17 October 2010

Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Kobe-Okayama-Hiroshima trip – Useful links

Saturday, 16 October 2010

Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Kobe-Okayama-Hiroshima trip – Epilogue

One of my biggest concern when planning the trip to Japan is language barrier. However, I'm still able to survive in Japan for 2 weeks even though I have almost zero Japanese language knowledge except the common ones such as arigato (thank you), chotto (wait), sumimasen (excuse me). =p

The Japanese are really very friendly people, they would try their best if you ask them for directions. Just a simple left or right is sufficient for us to navigate around. Some even stop and ask us where we are going when they sense that we are lost. It's hard to find such people in Singapore. I do admit that I wouldnt purposely stop to ask a foreigner in Singapore if he is lost.

It's ímportant to do ur homework if you intend to travel on your own cos their trains are very confusing especially in major stations where there are numerous platforms. Luckily I did mine and yet I still have some difficulties in taking the trains. I can't imagine if I didnt do any research at all. However I have to kudos Japan as the station name are displayed in Kanji and English on top of Hiragana words. The major stations will also announce in English in the trains.

The Japanese food is not as nice as what I have thought, the Japanese food in Singapore taste better. Probably it's because the Japanese food in Singapore are catered to our taste buds. It's a disappointment that the food in Osaka is not nice at all even though Osaka is known for it's food culture.

I really love those toilets with water spray to wash the hip and bidet. Cool! The toilets in Japan are generally clean compared to the ones in Singapore. Shame on Singaporean.

Things are really very expensive in Japan, be it food, transport etc. A meal alone cost at least S$15. With this amount, I can have 5 meals in Singapore. I wondered how much a white collar worker earns in Japan since their standard of living is so high. Many people were surprised when they heard that I only spent ~S$2,500 on airtix, accomodation, transport, meals etc for 12 days!!! It's not that I'm thrift but my detailed planning that should claim the credit. =p

There are so many places in Japan which I have yet to visit and I'll back again.

Friday, 15 October 2010

Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Kobe-Okayama-Hiroshima trip – 15 Oct 10

Today is our last day In Japan and we decided to have try the breakfast at the eatery which the hotel ties up with. We purchased the breakfast coupon which cost ¥500 ~ $8 from the hotel reception. The eatery is within walking distance which is further down the same street.

Staircase to the restaurant below

Breakfast voucher

I like the bottles displayed at the counter

The breakfast set consist of a main dish, rice/ porridge/ bread, a side dish and miso soup/ salad or omlette. I chose grilled salmon from a choice of 5 main dish.

Menu

Scrumptious breakfast

After breakfast, I went to the nearby convenience store to buy 1kg of Japanese rice back to Singapore as Japan normally don't sell their rice aboard.

Aint the scarf a unique way for the teachers to recognise their students?

We checked out and board JR train to Tennoji before change a train to Kansai airport. I didn't took Nankai train from Shinimamiya as I can utilised my Sanyo pass.

The carriage number is indicated on the raiway track

Inside the Airport express train

We reached Kansai airport at around 11am even though our flight departs at 5pm. We explored the airport first and also shopped around for souvenirs.

Departure hall

I like these planes which moves whenever there is wind

View from the arrival hall

Control tower

This signage is so cute

Toys and cultural items on display

Paid Internet access

Paid hp charging station

Colourful coke advertisement

Are the chocolate really from these countries?

We ate at a small eatery and I ordered cha soba. It doesnt taste nice at all. =(

Tempura soba

It's so environmental friendly here

Souvenirs shops

How can I miss out buying Royce chocolate in Japan? I regretted that I only bought 3 boxes as all are consumed within a week. =( It's cheaper in Japan as it cost ¥693 ~ S$11 per box here. I would recommend buying the souvenir after clearing the custom as it's duty free. I didnt knew it and I purchased at the departure hall which is more expensive.