The Datai Langkawi: The Tropical Paradise You’ve Always Dreamed Of

The Datai Langkawi The Datai Langkawi The Datai Langkawi

There are so many things we loved about The Datai Langkawi —

The fact that it is surrounded by lush virgin rainforest. The abundance of wildlife, including tame dusky leaf monkeys and cheeky macaques intent on climbing through the guestroom balcony window. The constant cicada noises that echo through the surrounding forest. The balmy sea breezes that cocoon you in tropical bliss. The sound of calm waves washing along the shore by the Beach Club. The sunbirds and swallows and hornbills that drop in to say hello. The resort’s dark wood furniture and modern touches here and there. The pretty orchid blossoms that are thoughtfully placed throughout the bedroom and bathroom. The little green frogs in the lilypad pond by the Lobby Lounge that insist on hopping all over the place — up pillars and down corridors. The panoramic view of the Thai islands belonging to Tarutao National Park in the distance (we were that close to the border!). The two swimming pools — the smaller ‘family’ pool by the beach and the larger one that the lobby overlooks. The fancy breakfasts each morning at The Dining Room (think DIY cocktails and à la minute signature dishes, among a decent buffet spread). The much-needed peace and quiet. And, as a cherry on top: the fact that there is high-speed wifi pretty much everywhere. Including down at the beach, and at every far-reaching restaurant of this sprawling place, so you can do your work wherever you are!

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Photo Diary, 23 April : Joo Chiat Road – Koon Seng Road – Tembeling Road (Singapore)

Singapore Singapore Singapore

It’s always a pleasure exploring areas of this country that we’ve never been to. Joo Chiat and its surrounding streets are pretty photogenic. Koon Seng Road is famous for its vibrant shophouse style terrace homes, many of them decked out in Peranakan tiles and traditional embellishment, so that was a treat to photograph. As with most old neighbourhoods, it didn’t surprise me that we managed to locate a few grungier side roads and back alleys with the usual chaos of peeling paint, air-con compressors and abandoned furniture.

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Weekends with Angie & James | Part X: Easter Staycation @ Hotel Fort Canning, Singapore

Hotel Fort Canning Hotel Fort Canning Hotel Fort Canning

Hey, long time no blog! I’ve decided to keep going with the Weekends Series (no, I haven’t been lazy, don’t look at me like that). Something a little different from our usual routine (or maybe not so different, since we love our staycations) – we checked ourselves into the elegant Hotel Fort Canning for a couple of nights over the Easter long weekend. Never heard of HFC? It’s one of Singapore’s lesser-known colonial style hotels (lesser-known because it’s tucked away in a lush heritage park instead of located along the streets of the central business district, so people never really get to see it in all its sprawling glory).

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Whisk & Paddle @ Tebing Lane, Singapore // For nature lovers with a penchant for waterfront dining

Whisk & Paddle, Singapore Whisk & Paddle, Singapore Whisk & Paddle, Singapore

In the middle of nowhere, set amongst a backdrop of lush greenery, located on the banks of the tranquil Punggol Serangoon Reservoir, Whisk & Paddle ticks all the away-from-the-bustling-city boxes, plus they dish up some good grub and lip-smacking beverages to make any discerning foodie want to fork out some serious cash here. With such an extensive menu and plenty of tables to go around, it’s the perfect place to bring a group of friends for a hearty brunch. And yes, that’s pretty much what we did over the weekend.

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Japan 2016: Enjoying the crisp Autumn air of Nakameguro in November

Meguro River, Nakameguro, Tokyo Nakameguro, Tokyo, Japan Nakameguro, Tokyo, Japan

Since we’d already been to all the essential must-visit spots around Tokyo over the last few years (y’know, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, and all that), we made it our priority this time around to avoid the well-trodden areas and to hit up more obscure parts of the city. Cue Nakameguro, which is pretty famous for its cherry tree-lined river and tranquil streets.

The area around the Meguro River is enchanting in Autumn, when the hidden late morning sun shrouds the quiet walkways in silver light. While Nakameguro certainly is a bit of a ghost town on weekdays, James and I quite enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, plus it was something we probably needed at the start of our week-long finally-some-time-away-from-work vacation in Japan.

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Hiking up Mount Takao (高尾山, Takaosan) will literally take your breath away

Takaosan, Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan Takaosan, Hachiōji, Tokyo, JapanTakaosan, Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan

If you’re in the mega-city of Tokyo for a week and need to get away from the concrete and crowds for a moment, there’s no better place to go than on a nature-filled hike up picturesque Takaosan 高尾山 (“Mount Takao”). Only 50 minutes by train from Shinjuku, it makes for a convenient and memorable day trip for anyone with a penchant for the outdoors. In fact, plenty of Tokyoites make the journey to Takaosan because of its accessibility (yes, believe it or not, the mountain is still actually considered part of metropolitan Tokyo), and because it’s just really, really pretty up there.

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Common Man Coffee Roasters @ Martin Road, Singapore // Hipsters of Robertson Quay

Common Man Coffee Roasters, Singapore Common Man Coffee Roasters, Singapore Common Man Coffee Roasters, Singapore

Overpriced perhaps, but home to a unique enough menu that stands out from the typical Eggs Bennys of today’s saturated cafe scene in Singapore. And really, those steep prices are probably to cover the cost of the cafe being in such an upmarket location. That said, Robertson Quay offers a handful of other decent cafes – Toby’s Estate and The Book Cafe come to mind. But I think Common Man has been on everyone’s radar for a while. Anyway, I chanced upon the cafe during a work thing, and because it looked so gosh darn pretty, I decided to go back to try the coffee and food that very same week with James.

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The Coffee Daily @ Brighton Crescent, Singapore // Nostalgic neighbourhood fix

The Coffee Daily, Singapore The Coffee Daily, Singapore The Coffee Daily, Singapore

Just over a decade ago, I lived in a house just a stone’s throw away from Brighton Crescent. The Coffee Daily wasn’t around then (they launched in 2012, I believe). Today, the row of shophouses there have evolved somewhat. While the area is still a quiet and sleepy one, despite its close proximity to Serangoon Gardens, there’s definitely a reason to make a trip down, if only to see what the cafes here have to offer. Continue reading “The Coffee Daily @ Brighton Crescent, Singapore // Nostalgic neighbourhood fix”