Monday, May 01, 2023

Taiwan Trails


What happens when a group of six school friends from Class of 1987 travel to Taiwan together?  If you're expecting mature elegance and sophistication, you'd be dead wrong!  Read on if you're open to a dose of laughter, silliness and map-cap adventures.

Day 1 in Ximending, the hippest, happening shopping district which was our landing base in Taipei. You can tell we were all very happy to be there!  


While the capital city held all the bright lights and excitement, Taiwan really began to shine for me when we ventured out to the countryside.  The mountain vistas, nature parks and waterfalls were exactly what I needed to let go of work stresses and start relaxing with my friends.  

I wasn't quite ready for the all the walking and trekking that was planned but very glad I went along with the itinerary.  The fresh air and exercise was exhilarating and once I got started, it was quite hard to stop.  Even for photos.

But here's one for the books.  Proof that I really did enjoy the hike to the waterfalls and back!


No trip to Taiwan would be complete without food.  And we certainly had plenty of it!  From night market street snacks; to Instagrammable staples in heart of tourist traps; to a surprising seafood feast in a quiet fishing village.  

We enjoyed the good stuff and laughed away the not-so-good.  There's a deep enduring joy that comes from sharing the highs and lows. Not just of food and travel, but life experiences too.  A true reflection of our friendship over the years.  


There's a quirky charm in many parts of Taiwan. Jimmy Park in Yilan City stands out in particular. Home of a famous illustrator, the colourful whimsical art installations provided us with a full morning of entertainment.  

Some of us are very good at sharing burdens...

...while others are less inclined. Sigh; once a diva, always a diva!

A big thank you to:
  • Pat & Jean for planning the itinerary and all the heavy lifting with the logistics
  • Pek Yee for being our human we-fie stick and photo editor throughout the trip
  • Lu Meng, my long-suffering room mate who has to put up with my idiosyncracies
  • Siok Chu, for your endearing nature. You're so funny without even trying:)

I am thankful to have grown up with all of you and even more grateful that we can age disgracefully together.  

I thank my God for every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3

Friday, April 07, 2023

Singapore Eats


Sharing a list of my favourite Singapore eats.  Curated for my colleagues visiting our Singapore hub and I thought why not update this blog as well since it's been a while :)

  • Smith St Taps | Craft beer on tap from local and international breweries located in Chinatown hawker centre | 335 Smith St, #02-062, Singapore 050335 | $$
  • National Kitchen Violet Oon | Peranakan heritage cuisine at the National Art Gallery of Singapore - historical building previous venue for City Hall & Supreme Court | 1 St Andrew’s Road, National Gallery #02-01 | $$$
  • Fatty Wing Seong | Best Cantonese food in town: sweet & sour pork, kung pao chicken, ginger beef, roast duck, chilli crab, steamed fish | 175 Bencoolen St | $$
  • Killiney Kopitiam | Home of traditional Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and local coffee/tea. Established in 1919 | Various outlet : 67 Killiney Road outlet is the original location | $
  • British Hainan | The Hainanese are a Chinese dialect group who worked as cooks for the British during the colonial era and created a unique style of western dishes with a Hainanese twist. | Various outlets: 23 Purvis St is nearest city centre | $$
  • Warung M Nasir | Indonesian Malay dishes: Beef rendang, ayam masak merah (chicken in spicy tomato sauce), tahu goreng (stir fried tofu), sayur lodeh (veg in coconut curry) are must tries | 69 Killiney Road  | $
  • Murugan’s Idli Shop | South Indian steamed rice cakes with chutney and dhal curry. In the heart of Little India. Vegetarian | 76 Syed Alwi Road | $
  • Delhi6 | North Indian : Butter chicken, Chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, dhal makhni, tandoor brocolli are highly recommended | 22 Race Course Road | $$
  • Le Bistrot du Sommelier | Country-style French : Rillete, terrine, pate, saucisson are all made in-house. Tucked away in a lovely old shophouse in the historic civic district | 53 Armenian St | $$
  • Braci | Contemporary Italian Michelin star degustation menu. Foie gras semi freddo is a must try | 52 Boat Quay #05-01 | $$$$
  • Jade | Weekend dim sum brunch is a wonderful deal for only SGD55. Advance booking required | Fullerton Hotel - 1 Fullerton Square | $$$

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Sensational Saigon

Xin Chao. Welcome to Aunty Jojo's new world in Vietnam.



My Favourite Food Places

Bánh Xèo 46A Đinh Công Tráng
46A Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Bahn xeo (Vietnamese pancake) is my all time favourite dish. Had to try this place which comes highly recommended. Served piping hot and super crispy with heaps of fresh herbs and vegetables - to make you feel less guilty about having deep fried pancake 😬😊 So so good!

Bánh mì 362
25 Trần Cao Vân, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

My go-to shop whenever I'm craving a good bahn mi.  Love the grilled pork (thit nuong) baguette with all the veggies.  Chilli is counted as a vegetable so be careful to omit if you're not keen on tongue-numbing goodness! Try the lemongrass-lime juice at half price when you order a bahn mi.  The air-conditioned mezannine area is perfect to enjoy your sandwich and watch the world go by.

Banh mi Huynh Hoa
26 Le Thi Rieng, District 1 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
https://goo.gl/maps/RXQH7Pn3vXt

Now I know why they call this the best banh mi in Saigon.  It's a giant baguette stuffed with delicious pate, piles of meat, pickles, cucumbers and cilantro.  It usually takes me 10 minutes to finish an average banh mi but this one took me 30 minutes!  My digestive tract was officially closed for 48 hours after that.

Bánh khọt Cô Ba Vũng Tàu
40B Trần Cao Vân, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Order a mixed platter of bahn khot (mini pancakes) and pomelo/grapefruit salad. You won't regret it. Other local dishes good too. Nearby Turtle Lake has lots of coffee and bubble tea options. 

Nhà hàng Hoàng Ty
70-72 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

Very unique local Vietnamese cuisine. You will get a pile of rice paper, huge tray of herbs, thinly slices pork/beef, pickled carrots and daikon - and you get to make your own rice paper rolls. The chewy texture of the rice paper and special fish sauce is a delight to the senses. Super healthy and tasty option when you're pho'd up 😬


Quán Bánh Cuốn Tây Hồ
127 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Excellent bahn cuon (steamed rice rolls filled with pork & mushrooms) Similar to Chinese cheong fun but has a very distinctive twist with the addition of fish sauce/chilli dipping sauce. I ordered the Special - 4 rolls for VND48000. The bahn cuon was bursting with meaty goodness. So so yummy!

Villa Royale Downtown Antiques & Tea Room
Level 1, 25 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bìn, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Beautiful quiet spot on the first floor of an old apartment building. If you want to be transported into a dining room of old-world elegance, this is the place to be. Perfect English high tea with proper pots of Earl Grey tea, cucumber sandwiches, salmon sandwiches, cheesecake, lamingtons and scones - with clotted cream and strawberry preserves! Tracy the owner is wonderfully friendly and welcoming.

Phở Hòa Pasteur
260C Pasteur, Phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Seriously, any pho is a good pho. If you insist on a recommendation, this is one of the well-known joints in town.

Nhà hàng Ngon
160 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

An ideal place to sample all the street foods of Saigon in one location. Old villa with charming decor. Good for first time visitors to Vietnam. Hardly go there anymore because I eat real street food now 😉. 

My favourite Spas

Sả Spa
40B Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Fabulous experience. It was like stepping into the film set of Indochine with gorgeous interior and furnishings. Masseuse was excellent hitting all the right spots. The yogurt and hot chrysanthemum tea at the end added a nice finishing touch. Highly recommended. Tell Vy the manager that Miss Jo sent you. 


La Maison de L' Apothiquaire Spa Saigon District 3
64A Trương Định, Phường 7, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

I may have just found my favourite spa in Saigon. Old world elegance meets spa perfection. A canopy of trees lines a path that leads to a beautiful French-villa  that was the home of the architect who designed the Independence Palace. The treatment was very good too. Prices are higher compared to other spas in the city. But it’s definitely worth every VND. 😊

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Gyeongbukgong Palace

Re-enacting a scene from my favourite sageuk Korean dramas at the beautiful Gyeongbukgong Palace in Seoul


Tall, strong and silent.  Exactly how I like my men. 


Enjoying the historical sights of Bukchon Village with Hanoks (traditional Korean houses) dating from the Joseon era.


Big thank you to Yong Jin for showing us around Seoul. It was fantastic to see the city through the eyes of a local.  We especially enjoyed the Gangnam plastic surgery district, Hang Gang park and the super-authentic jajjangmyeon and tangsuyuk from your favourite Chinese restaurant in Jongno.

Kdrama filming sites

 


Nami Island - where the mother of all Korean dramas "Winter Sonata"- was filmed


Film site for Park Bo Gum's highly successful "Love in the Moonlight" kdrama



Garden of the Morning Calm is really a beautiful place to visit.  This arboretum located in Gyeonggi province houses 5000 species of plants.  It's a popular location for filming of kdramas.