Before sharing our accommodation experiences in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, there are 5 things that you must know before arriving in Russia and it is advisable to get them done early. Booking an accommodation in Russia isn’t the same as booking one in other countries where you can easily get it done with just a few mouse clicks. There are some additional items that you need to check before you can book a place to stay in Russia.
With less than 50 minutes before the start of a movie and out of dining ideas, we came across this restaurant located within the same floor of GSC Mid Valley Megamall. They have the cutest name ever, House of Pok (小猪猪) and this attracted us to give it a try.
Helsinki, the capital of Finland is where we experience the city vibes after visiting the medieval town of Porvoo and meeting Santa Claus and his reindeer at Lapland (northernmost region of Finland) near the Arctic Circle. It may look like an ordinary capital with plenty of modern buildings and busy streets but our impression of it is more towards a peaceful, cool, introverted and quiet city. Well, this sounds boring but there are actually many hidden gems within this beautiful city giving us a relaxing, friendly and comfortable feeling as we explored it. As we wandered along the streets, we learnt to appreciate the tasty local foods, the friendliness of the Finnish people and the incredible details of the architectural works!
Yakitori is a type of Japanese skewered chicken grilled over charcoal fire and seasoned with sauce or salt. Nowadays, some of them are also grilled with other types of meat, tofu, mushroom or seafood. In Japan, yakitori is usually paired with alcoholic beverages or liquor as a side dish. It will surely be quite costly if you are having these as a main meal to fill up your stomach.
While exploring the Petaling Jaya (PJ) area for food recently, we came across Omulab which has a similar concept to the famous Japanese style omurice in Kyoto, Japan. From what we know, the famous omurice in Kyoto is so popular that it is compulsory to make a reservation to visit the restaurant. Since we didn’t have any plan to visit Japan yet, we will just try this Malaysia’s version of omurice first.
Apart from trying the new or popular foods in Singapore, we are always scratching our heads for places to visit. In our recent trip to Singapore, we were glad that we found some fun surprises around Marina Bay and they are all impressive regardless whether it is in the day or at night. Most importantly, there are NO ADMISSION FEES!
Keong Kee Herbal Soup (强记补品) has neither a fancy concept nor an air-conditioning dining environment but they definitely have the best Chinese herbal soup in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Besides serving the customers with a bowl of warm tonic soup and the taste of home cooked dishes, they also relive the olden day’s memories of the Kuala Lumpur folks.
The northernmost region of Finland called Lapland is the home of Santa Claus as well as the place for people to hunt for the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis). There are actually many exciting activities to do there such as taking the reindeer or husky ride, experiencing the midnight sun, ice floating, ice fishing and many more. During our autumn visit, we enjoyed watching the colorful and beautiful autumn trees along the road trip, as well as visiting Santa Claus and had a quick chat with him! Well, these were more than enough for our 2 days at Lapland.
Whenever we planned to visit Singapore, we will always try the recent most popular food or something which can only be found there. Even though the foods in Singapore and Malaysia are quite similar, some are only available in one of them. Nevertheless, it can’t be denied that some foods are better in Singapore while some are better in Malaysia.
Liao Fan Hawker Chan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodles had successfully made the locals as well as the tourists queuing for the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal after being awarded a star in the 2016’s Michelin Guide. Even with the long queue for just a plate of chicken rice with some braised peanut, it didn’t stop us from visiting for a second time. The reason was simple. This is indeed the cheapest Michelin-starred meal with prices almost similar (just slightly higher) to the food that you get at a hawker center. So, why not?
Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland, has been magnetizing people to fall in love with it. The strongest attraction would probably be from the medieval town’s signature red ochre painted riverside warehouses.
The sea fortress, Suomenlinna, which is located at 15-20 minutes of ferry distance from the capital city of Finland, Helsinki, has become a popular sight due to its unique monument of military architecture. It has also been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Hence, there is simply no reason for us not to pay this amazing fortress a visit.
Margaret River Bakery is something that you definitely cannot miss if you are traveling southbound from Perth. Well, it might be a little difficult searching for its signboard but they are actually located at the start of the busiest street of Margaret River. In fact, you can hardly miss it as you drive into the town coming from the north.
You might have probably heard of Jamie Oliver if you watch cooking programs on TV or wander around the culinary section of bookstores where you could easily find his books. He is one of the talented and famous celebrity chefs that many people would know. Sometimes, we do watch his cooking shows but never did we think that we would have the chance to dine at his restaurant. At the time of writing, his restaurant known as Jamie’s Italian is opened in more than 20 countries around the world.
