I Wander

Travel Blog, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

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The Perfect Hanoi Itinerary (2023) Travel Guide for Vietnam’s Capital

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Vietnam’s capital may be known more than anything for its chaotic and motorbike-filled streets but I have to say that Hanoi remains to be one of my favorite Southeast Asian capitals. There is something about the city that always puts it at the back of my mind as a destination I’d want to visit again. It may be the excellent food or the fascinating history or simply the pulsating and distinctively Vietnamese energy. Whatever it is, each visit to Hanoi always leaves me with new finds and restaurants that I won’t hesitate recommending to friends.

For those looking to visit, I have come up with this suggested Hanoi itinerary. Depending on whether you intend to visit Ha Long Bay and Tam Coc, this itinerary is something you can execute in as little as 2 days if you’re coming here only for the weekend or up to 4 days if you intend to make it a short getaway.

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The Perfect Bangkok Itinerary To Do in 2-days, 3-days or 4-days (2023 Travel Guide)

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As one of Asia’s best value and most popular destinations, Bangkok offers a plethora of things to see and do. Filled with many spectacular Buddhist temples and ornate buildings, the city is at once exotic and at the same time modern with all the creature comforts that one can imagine. Bangkok is also known as a shopping haven, with mass consumerism juxtaposing against a strong market culture. The city’s streets are always buzzing and teeming with life.

I have been to Bangkok quite a few times and always enjoy coming here for the unbeatable value, delicious Thai food and fascinating things to see in the city’s streets. Whether you’re a first-timer, a regular or even a shopaholic, here is my itinerary suggestion on a trip to Bangkok that you can easily break down into 2-days, 3-days or 4-days depending on the length of time you are there. I’ve made the duration flexible to make the itinerary easy to execute during weekends or during longer visits. For some other ideas, you can also check out this Bangkok travel guide.

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The Perfect Ipoh Itinerary Plus Taiping & Kuala Kangsar – Sightseeing & Food Highlights of Perak, Malaysia

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The state of Perak in Malaysia, and by extension, its main cities of Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar, is a somewhat underrated destination despite being one of Malaysia’s gems. While many flock to the nearby city of Penang or head down to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, Perak is only starting to gain recognition as a tourist destination in its own right. This corner of the peninsula is a personal favorite and I love the wealth of heritage architecture, delicious food, friendly folk as well as the overall variety of attractions in Ipoh and the state of Perak.

This itinerary for Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar shows you how you can combine these cities on a trip that lasts from 3 to 4 days. This itinerary is also flexible in the sense that if you only have 2 days to spare for a weekend trip and are only interested in Ipoh, you can easily trim this itinerary depending on your needs. Aside from providing the recommended places to visit, I also documented some of my favorite places to eat in these cities.

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Best Hari Raya Goodies & Cookies 2023 in Singapore With Free Delivery

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Hari Raya Puasa or Eid al-Fitr this year falls on 22nd April 2023. This is a major holiday for the Islamic community because it marks the end of a month-long fasting from dawn until sunset during Ramadan. This is the time when people visit their families in what is known as balik kampung. In larger countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, people would travel hundreds of miles back to their hometown. In Singapore, it’s a lot simpler, often requiring a bus or MRT ride back to their elders’ homes. By custom, people gather during this time and ask for forgiveness from parents and grandparents.

Gatherings usually involves eating plenty of goodies or kuih raya – whether those given as gifts or those laid out for visitors to sample. Traditional cookies include Kuih Semperit (Custard Butter Cookies), Kuih Bangkit (Tapioca Cookies) and Kuih Makmur (Peanut Cookies) although a lot of creative variations have popped up over the years. 

Below you will find a list of some of the more unique hari raya cookies I have found along with traditional ones. This will be a growing list, with new items and shops listed as the season progresses.

You can also join our newly-launched telegram channel here and receive updates on F&B promotions as well as other flash deals and offers in F&B and travel.

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5 Hidden Gems to Add to Your Bucket List in 2023

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With the almost full restoration of pre-2020 travel regimes, most travelers have likely already made their rounds to favorite destinations such as Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, Bali and Kuala Lumpur in the past 12 months. If you are looking for other ideas on where to go in 2023, check out this list for some of my recommendations on lesser known but accessible destinations to add to your bucket list. Most of these places are situated in countries and territories that are frequently visited and/or have easy flight connections from Singapore.

To help you save on these trips, use your Citi Credit Card to uncover these travel deals:

  • 20% off hotel bookings worldwide with Expedia
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  • Up to S$100 off on flights with Trip.com

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NEW: Hanazen by Yusuke Takada – Charcoal-Grilled Omakase From 2-Michelin Starred Chef in Chijmes

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Hanazen by Yukuse Takada is a new concept opened on the 12th of March 2023 in Chijmes. The restaurant was founded by Chef Yusuke Takada who is known for the 2-Michelin starred La Cime in Osaka. While La Cime is a French brasserie, Hanazen takes on a different approach. In Hanazen, the kitchen is helmed by Chef Karasawa, the head chef in Singapore.

Hanazen focuses on char-grilled items for its dinner omakase, which it offers for S$250++ for 16 items. The restaurant also has an alfresco space which is planned for serving brasserie-style lunches in the future.

The char-grilled dishes at Hanazen are prepared with French touches. This means that sauces figure heavily in each dish, and as much considered as highlights in their own right. Ingredients are air-flown from Japan multiple times each week so items in the omakase may change from time to time. The dishes mentioned here are representative of the dinner I had at the time of my visit during a preview a couple of days before the restaurant officially opened.

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Review: Path Restaurant (2023) – Charting a New Direction with the 8-Course Expedition Menu

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Path opened to great fanfare in February 2022 in MBFC Tower 3. Back then, it was considered a rather daring move to open right at the heart of the CBD, with only offices surrounding the restaurant. Working from home was still considered commonplace in early 2022 and the Raffles Place / Downtown area was still relatively quiet even during office hours.

Fast forward to today, Path has proved itself to be a dining destination in its own right and has thrived under both the “work from home” and “back to office” regimes. With the passing of a year, the restaurant has also undergone a bit of a refresh – both in the physical and culinary context. The lighting is slightly dimmer, with a slight decrease in the number of tables as well as a new private dining space at the end.

I returned to Path for dinner almost exactly a year after I went for their inaugural menu. The evening meal at the restaurant is now a set menu affair with 2 sets to choose from. Opt for either the 6-course Voyage (S$188++) or 8-course Expedition (S$228++) menu if you wish to explore the best of Path’s offerings. During my visit, I tried the Voyage menu. Aside from the 8-courses, it also included snacks, pre-dessert as well as petit fours.

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The Perfect 3-Day Taipei Itinerary (2023 Updated Travel Guide)

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Taipei has long been an attractive travel destination for travelers from neighboring countries. While it has never really established itself in the backpackers’ trail, the city attracts plenty of midrange and high-end tourists looking to sample the local street food, shop in the night markets, soak in the hot springs and interact with the highly hospitable locals. Personally, Taipei is a feel-good place. I don’t go there expecting to see some mind-boggling sights. Like Tokyo, I go there time and time again for the wonderful ambiance.

If you are heading down south, also check out this Kaohsiung and Tainan itinerary.

Here is a well-balanced itinerary for Taipei that you can do in 3-days. It offers a fine mix between sights, eating and shopping and also has a few off-the-beaten path attractions thrown in.

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