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Traveling Seafood |
One of the best things I make plans for when traveling anywhere is to find and savor the authentic local cuisine. The simplest food to a local can very well be a gem of a find to travelers like us. We love good food and believe that good food need not be expensive.
Eating and traveling goes hand in hand in my opinion and if you want authentic and unique cuisine, my ex-boss had told me once that I needed to travel for it. Well, I beg to differ because you now can get fresh crab meat flown to you from Louisiana seafood. You will be really pleased to know that they deliver it fresh to your doorstep, what more can one ask for, right?
Of course they do have more than just crab meat; they have oysters, shrimp and Louisiana’s famous craw fish. Ordering online is so easy, even my mother knows how to do it. As for pricing, one can expect really competitive pricing and good value for their money, plus excellent customer service. Their assurance to you, the consumer, is nothing less than top quality, if you are not happy about the quality when it is delivered, be sure to call and let them know and they will take care of it for you (although I know they rarely get these kinds of calls). Want fresh seafood? You don’t have to travel around the world for it, order it online like I do (especially now that I don’t get to travel so much).
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Be Careful What You Say On Board |
A Muslim - American family was booted outta the plane yesterday .. just because they said ” they were looking for the safest place to sit” on the plane. FBIs were involved.. and the plane marshall escorted the family off the plane.. and was quarantined for a few hours .. before they were cleared. So when you are boarding an airplane.. please remember to watch what you say. Here’s an interview with CNN.
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Traveling Light |
My girlfriends asked me.. about what they should bring when they are only going away for the weekend with their boyfriends. Well.. first thing one has to remember is never to bring 10 luggages .. on a romantic weekend away.. for the boyfriend is gonna think that you must be high maintenance. Surely, that is not the impression you want to give him.. after all, he might be the potential husband right..??
A weekend getaway with the boyfriend means.. 1 duffel bag.. and that’s it. But why a duffel bag instead of a suitcase..?? well.. it’s easy to carry around.. and you don’t have to check it in.. nor wait for it in the carousel of luggages.. and waste time. Plus a duffel bag is easy to store away in the airplane.. unlike bulky suitcases despite only 1.
Bring only the necessities but never forget the sexy lingerie afterall, it’s the weekend.. you need to impress right..?? Sunscreen very important.. if you are anywhere that has got the sun. As much as I loved the comfort of using my own shampoos and body conditional.. I leave them behind.. on short getaways .. those things wear a ton..!! and i’ve no room for them. Using other shampoos for a day or two.. isn’t gonna damage your hair. So donch sweat the small stuff.. and think of the big picture.
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The Golden Bridge Drive In A Sports Car Filed under:
Interesting, Places Of Interest, San Francisco, Things Must Do, Transportation, Traveling Tips, Useful Links 101, Vacations on
27
Dec
|
Yes.. we drove across the Golden Bridge in San Francisco in a convertible just because. We rented a red convertible from Thrifty Rental but thought later that it need a new air conditioning compressor. But that’s another story for another day. Having worked in United States, in different cities, we thought it would be a good idea to do it .. just this once.
But one should know that renting a car in San Frans is a lot more expensive than in other cities.. which we didn’t really think of at first. But we had a few people with us.. so we just chipped in .. and it was alright.. plus don’t you forget to get that insurance paper and all.
The inside of our convertible that sat 4 of us comfortably .. but if you have a familywith kids, please don’t get a convertible, it can get really messy especially if you go visit San Franscico in September like we did.
A view of the Golden Bridge from our sports car.
On the golden bridge now. As you can see a lot of ppl do walk on the side of the bridge. Unlike our Mackay Bridge and Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia.. i definitely haven’t seen anyone walking on it.
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Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore |
Marina Mandarin Hotel is not as old as her parent hotel - the Mandarin Hotel at Orchard Road but it is neither new too, I think it had to be up and running for a good 20 yrs now. But a 5 star hotel it is .. that’s for sure.. but the Marina Mandarin is definitely a modern version of the Mandarin Hotel. Owned by bankers if i am not wrong.. I think Alfred Lien is still at the helm. And if you know Mr Lien .. not the older one.. but the younger Lien, you would come to like him a lot too.
Of course, not all the rooms looked like that.. this is the bridal suite.. but the Marina Mandarin had gone thru’ several renovations.. and had kept this property up to date, even the bathrooms are equipped with Hansgrohe shower faucets, if i am not wrong.
Although claimed to be in the heart of the city, I beg to differ .. because if you are not driving .. it can be quite a walk.. and if you are it is quite a roundabout turn to get to the hotel. But there are buses and the train to get you to Marina Mandarin.. but if you were a tourist .. you kinda have to depend on taxis.. and taxis although compared to other countries.. Singapore taxi or cab services are pretty reasonable.. but one cannot say it is cheap either.
Marina Mandarin Hotel Singapore is a 5 star luxury hotel and is the only member of The Leading Hotels of the World® in Singapore. It does have a breathtaking view of the Marina Bay and near to the financial district and if i am not wrong, they own the Marina Square shopping mall that one can access to directly from the hotel. 21 level with more than 500 rooms to house your whole company’s function or conference, I think they do tour groups as well.
Amazing architectural inside of the hotel which always leaves me in awe whenever i am visiting the lounge or staying for the weekend during business trips. The atrium lounge always had someone playing the piano.. where one can sit and relax after a long day of business meeting and savor some wonderful pastries and mini sandwiches. They also have a chinese restaurant called Peach Blossom that serves dim sum and cantonese fare. I especially like the concierge service .. although i have to let you all know that locals are not served the same as the expats. Be prepared to pay as much as $200 for a standard size room. Yes, they have business centers and the works.. and although i also enjoy the italian restaurant .. i have to say.. i’ve tasted better elsewhere and less expensive.
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Traveling Insurance |
I’ve been asked many a times, if traveling insurance is a necessity. Afterall, if you die, you die right..?? wrong..!! because if you die, what about your family and the people you leave behind. Like term life insurance quotes , traveling insurance need not be expensive at all. Sure we don’t hope anything bad to happen, but when i does, you want those you leave behind to be able to carry on without any financial burden. So yes, if you are traveling, be it on vacation or for work, make sure you get your traveling insurance.
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Souvenirs |
Some people collect promotional pens as souvenirs when they travel either for vacation or for work but I collect Hard Rock Cafe Bears wherever i am. No matter how busy I am, I will definitely find a Hard Rock Cafe to bear a bear for myself and a cap for the spouse. He has 2 bagfuls of them in the basement.. because he can’t appreciate it .. while my bears are in their own glass cabinets. What about you ..?? what do you collect as souvenirs for your trips.
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London’s Madame Tussard |
One of London’s most famous attraction is Madame Tussard Wax Museum. You haven’t been to London.. if you don’t visit the Wax Museum. It’s an awesome experience … to see these life like figurines.. and if you are alone in the same room with some of them.. some ppl say .. you can hear them whisper to you .. hahhaha!! You can book online for your tickets.. or check with your hotel concierge for tickets. Open daily from 9am - 5pm. You can get there by the tube at Baker St underground station, easy to reach from just about anywhere on the central London tube network. 400 lifesize of the rich and famous are being exhibited at any one time. Lifesize replicas of stars of the stage and screen, musicians and monarchs are displayed alongside footballers and politicians. Have fun.. ! and take pictures.. with your favorite idol..!
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Hatyai, Thailand |
The very first country that I had traveled to was Hatyai, Thailand. It was many years ago.. and i flew with Thai Airways then, economy class. It was a 2 hrs flight from Singapore.. and the flight was quite pleasant if i remembered correctly. It was in April that i went with a group of friends .. and it was during Songkla (the water festival), all the friends that i went with were men .. except for another girl who was the girlfriend of a guy.
Hatyai is a men’s paradise, everywhere you turned .. every corner you might go to.. are working gals.. and bars and night clubs .. and more gals. Everything was extremely cheap of course. Food, shopping .. t-shirts were like a dollar each. Yet you can bargain if you liked. The hotel that we had stayed in was a 3 star hotel.. but it looked like the guys were regular there.
Some of the working gals were so young, i felt really bad for them.. especially when you see them with a much older guy .. who was old enough to be her grandfather. The ppl are nice. .the weather was extremely hot.. but it was a fun experience.. and a real eye opener for me. Massages were aplenty and you can even date the massage girls if you liked. The night clubs were like 3 storey tall .. and you get to see naked gals/models parade in front of you .. while you stick money on their body by buying a garland make of money.
Of course for sightseeing, you can visit the many temples they have there.. and also the famous beach . .with a statue of a mermaid on it. I can’t remember the name of beach.. but there’s only one.. so you won’t miss it.
Street food..! i rarely try them but if you are adventurous enough .. go right ahead.
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Hotel Tips Filed under:
Accommodation, Around The World, General Info, Traveling Tips, Useful Links 101, Vacations on
10
Dec
|
I was asked a very funny question by a girlfriend from home today. I think it is because I had been in the hotel industry for 15 yrs, therefore I can understand why they would ask me these question. They wanna know if they should bring their own towels.. for showering and you know what.. i get this question often. Well, if you are not with kids.. of course .. go right ahead.. and get your own towels.. but you know when it comes to luggages.. you can only bring so much. Although i myself do not use hotel towels.. because they are truly extremely dirty.. and goes just about everywhere.. from floor to toilet bowl to vomit.. well you get the idea right..? So yes. .love hotels.. love their going green thingie .. with every hotel these days.. and their led light bulbs but never use their towels.. or their comforter. Trust me .. i know ..!
