Marina Bay Sands Singapore Part 1

Feeling under pressured for more than two years not be able to travel overseas, now that the pandemic has eased down and more and more countries are slowly opening back their border.  Yayyy!!!  That means time for us to travel the world again.  The traveling procedures are slightly different from pre-pandemic, however it is not that complicated though.  Basically, there are a few more documents that we need to prepare before flying.  Also, mask should be on at all time during the flight.  The first country we've chosen to visit is Singapore.  As it will be my daughter first time overseas too. so we pick somewhere near and a place that is family-friendly.  

Each country, sometime has different entry requirements.  Therefore, you must check into the country-you-will-visit's government website to ensure you tick all the conditions.  For Singapore as at June 2022, these are pre-departure checklists we need to obtain:

• Obtain proof of vaccination (or in Thailand is called Vaccine Passport)
• Purchase a return ticket to Singapore
• Download the TraceTogether app and register your profile
• This is A-MUST do and should be done online: 3 days before departure, you need to submit SG Arrival Card and e-health declaration on the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website. 

For the rest of the process from check-in at the airport to board the plane are pretty much the same with the past.  So, off we go....

We booked a private airport transfer from Changi airport to our hotel.  We will be staying at Singapore's most iconic hotel, Marina Bay Sands, for a night.  The service includes helping us with clearing custom until leading us to the limousine car and taking us to our hotel.  It took arond 25 minutes from airport to hotel and it costs 120SGD.
 

Not only that, with this VIP transfer, we don't need to actually queueing at the hotel reception for check-in.  There was this one lady of hotel representative, took us straight to our room for the night and clearing all the check-in process in our room.  Super convenient and feeling privileged. 

As this stay was also part of our anniversary, the hotel nicely decorated our room with ballons (which made my kids totally gone over the moon) and gave us a yummy chocolate cake as well.

Another worthy reason staying here is that all drinks and snacks in our mini bar, they all there for us to enjoy for FREE.  Sweettttt....

Something to remember for sure

What a stunning view from our balcony!!!

Marina Bay Sands Singapore

10 Bayfront Avenue

Ph: +65 6688 8888

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Marina Bay Sands:

Marina Bay Sands Singapore Part 2

Last Day of Our Grand Northern Thailand Trip

Previously:

Holatel and Wirot Restaurant, Phitsanulok

By 7:30 in the morning, this plastic bag full of our breakfast was dropped in front of our door.  In the pandemic era, I think this way is a brilliant idea.  You can enjoy it in your own room or ready to take away.  They were actually a pretty decent breakfast. 

On the way back to Bangkok, we made a brief stop at Crocodile Pit in Phichit.  No show or no nothing, just looking at those lazy crocs sunbathing and chilling out on the water.  There is also a local aquarium in the area, but don't expect to meet any foreign tourists here, only locals.  

We totally had a great time in the past ten days for our road trip in Northern Thailand.  We always love going up there.  No matter how many times, they still excites us every single time we're there.  Especially, this was our first time with my liltle one.  At first, I thought it might be super tiring but nah.... she was well behave and she seems to have enjoyed this trip too.  

Til we meet again... Octie Appetie..... 

Holatel and Wirot Restaurant, Phitsanulok

Previously:

Tham Luang - Khun Nam Nang Non Cave and Wat Rong Suea Ten, Chiang Rai

To break our long driving journey, we stayed overnight in Phitsanulok, the city right in the middle between Chiang Rai and Bangkok.  The hotel we stayed is located on the Mittraphap road and is called Holatel.  It is a business-style hotel and is surprisingly equipped with modern technology for their lighting system.  Another best thing was the hotel snack bar is all free.  Love this hotel already.

We had dinner at Wirot restaurant, about five minutes drive from the hotel we stayed.  It is a 'kao tom' or Thai-style boiled rice restaurant.  To whose have been to Thailand before, I believe you get what I mean by kao tom restaurant.  This type of place is very popular for Thais to devour at dinner and supper.  The shop that sell quite a lot of Thai/Chinese dishes to be enjoyed with boiled rice, however steamed rice is also available for those who wants something heavier.  

This Wirot restaurant is famous with their stir fry morning glory.  Not particularly for the taste but more for their show.  Once the chef finished cooking the dish, he will then throw it in the air to be caught up by another person who are already stood by on the high standing steel.  You can watch some of videos about this in Youtube.  

Beside the show, the food in here are actually very delicious.  In a matter of minutes, we managed to scrap all out and clean.  

            

 

Holatel Phitsanulok

5 Mittraphap Road, Tambon Nai Meuang,

Phitsanulok  

 

ผักบุ้งเหิรฟ้า Wirot Restaurant 

690 Mittraphap 6, Phitsanulok 

Open: everyday from 5pm - 1am

Stay tuned for the next blog in Phichit:

Last Day of Our Grand Northern Thailand Trip 

 

 

Tham Luang - Khun Nam Nang Non Cave and Wat Rong Suea Ten, Chiang Rai

Previously:

Imperial Hotel, Singha Park, and Wat Huay Pla Kang, Chiang Rai

As the hotel has not much guests, breakfast was served as ala carte.  In spite of that, you can order unlimited side dishes from the menu.  We then spent half our day in Khun Nam Nang Non National Park.  This cave lies beneath Nang Non mountain sharing the border with Myanmar and more than 10 kilometers in length.  The cave was brought to global attentions around four years ago when thirteen junior football players trapped inside for 18 days.  Long story short, two Thai recue divers died in this incident, but those thirteen people got out safely.  

Back to our hotel, in-room dining sounded perfect for us after a long tiring day.  Yet again, the food satisfied our grumbling tummy.  After our dinner, we gave Chiang Rai night bazaar a go again.  Just for one reason, their famous bua loy (glutinuos rice balls in coconut milk).  Yay... this 'legend' is still there yet as busy as always.  We got one bowl for each of us.  Although I know it won't be enough but after big dinner, I litterally couldn't handle more.  

Bua loy (glutinuos rice balls in coconut milk) 20B

If you like a warm dessert, you need to give this a try.  The coconut milk itself is not so sweet and paired with chewy dumplings and a few shaved fresh coconut as well as some roasted sesame.  This is a perfect match made in heaven.

On the way back, we made a quick stop at this blue temple, called Wat Rong Suea Ten.  It is only a stone away from Imperial hotel.  In day time, you can see that this temple is all painted in blue color and it is no-doubt beautiful.  But at night, this place looks even more stunning from the light reflections.  Blue in here definitely means the opposite of depression.  Because it makes me happy just by looking at this eye-catching assembly. 

The next day there were more guests in the hotel. so breakfast was served as buffet.  The menu, however, not so much deifferent with ala carte anyway. 

Stay tuned for the next Northern Thai trip:

Holatel and Wirot Restaurant, Phitsanulok