North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 28, 2018 by missuschewy

There are many things to see and do in Kota Kinabalu, and embarking on North Borneo Cruises will give you an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, sailing across the South China Sea, while indulging in an International buffet with live entertainment onboard.

The North Borneo Cruises is the first of its kind in Sabah, taking guests on a 2-hour scenic cruise past the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park and down the central coast gliding along the city’s famous Waterfront. There are two different sessions daily starting from 4:30pm to 7:00pm for the Sunset Dinner Cruise and from 7:30pm to 9:45pm for the KK Night City Buffet Dinner Cruise.

Since we were travelling with a bunch of kids, the earlier timing for the sunset cruise worked better for all of us, plus we wanted to catch the beautiful sunset for a more memorable exxperience!

Boarding North Borneo Cruises! Passengers in baby strollers or wheelchairs can board the cruise via the ramp.

We were first ushered to the main deck and shown to our respective tables. The International buffet spread was already waiting for us! Haha.

Free flow coffee, tea and water are included. Currently, there is Happy Hour promotion of 50% off beverages, not applicable for peak season, public holidays and eve of public holidays. Terms and conditions apply.

All guests had to be seated and listen to the important safety briefing before we were allowed to roam around.

Complimentary orange juice and Muruku fish crackers were served to all tables. We really like the intimate and cosy dining setting.

Dinner is served! The variety is very wide and you will definitely get to eat your fill.

North Borneo Cruises’ resident band offers daily stellar live musical performances in different genres and languages while you enjoy your sumptuous dinner. Feel free to join in the fun and dance the night away! The band also accepts song requests.

Guests are welcome to explore the remaining decks and snap many photos while they are at it.

Even the North Borneo Cruises staff all seem to have plenty of fun! Their energy is simply infectious!

The sun-deck is very popular as it offers a beautiful unobscured view of the sea and beyond.

If you want to catch a glimpse of sunset, be sure to arrive at the sun-deck early to grab a good spot. We enjoyed the sea breeze blowing in our faces.

Even without joining the KK City Night Dinner Cruise, we could still experience nightfall while out at sea.

If you have a large group or celebrating a special occasion, North Borneo Cruise offers private VIP room which seats 20 to 25 pax comfortably, and the room is also equipped with a karaoke system.

North Borneo Cruises is offering a Buy 3 Free 1 promotion, book and enjoy by 30th December 2018. For more information on the cruise and rates, visit their website here.

We have come to the end of our Kota Kinbalu series of blog posts! We would like to sincerely thank the following for their kind hospitality and for making this trip a splendid one for all of us:

Flights – AirAsia
Accommodation – Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
Activities – Sabah Tourism Board

THANK YOU! 🙂

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu

Posted on July 17, 2018 by missuschewy

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

The Chewys had a fabulous and unforgettable three-night stay at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa when we travelled to Kota Kinabalu two weeks ago. Apart from its close proximity of around 6.5km from Kota Kinabalu Airport, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa is located just 10 minutes away from the city. For families with young children, the resort’s ideal location serves as a convenient base for exploring Borneo’s rich cultural heritage.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

Just two and a half hours by air from Singapore, we flew with AirAsia and arrived Kota Kinabalu without any hiccups. Upon stepping into Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, we were warmly greeted with nice refreshing welcome drinks and were then led the way to our rooms at the Kinabalu Wing.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

It was a pleasant surprise for all of us when we entered our Kinabalu Club Family Room. The kids were particularly excited by the children’s room. Each Family Room offers 66 square meters of luxury and comfortably accommodates 2 adults and 2 children, with plenty of extra space. All guests of Kinabalu Club rooms will get to enjoy personalised services and added privileges such as complimentary daily buffet breakfast, complimentary beverages all day, and evening drinks with predetermined hours, at the Kinabalu Club Lounge.

We appreciate waking up to the beautiful and tranquil sea view from our hotel room every morning.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

The children’s room is equipped with a bunk bed and child-friendly furniture. One can also expect children’s amenities and welcome packs.

Little misschewy and Mini misschewy were so excited that they clambered up the bunk bed and made themselves comfortable there while misterchewy and I checked out the parents’ room with balcony, ensuite bathroom with extra towels, separate shower and soaking tub.

The kids were allowed to watch cartoon every morning and night, but only because we were on holiday!

The Kinabalu Club Lounge is where most of the magic happens! We had our breakfast there every morning during our stay. We loved the experience as it was exclusive to Club room guests and we received detailed attention from the staff.

I was too occupied with eating that I forgot to take photos. The breakfast buffet spread at the Kinabalu Club Lounge is actually very impressive! We had smoked salmon, seafood congee, potato wedges, sauteed mushrooms, sushi, omelette, along with various buns and pastries. The kids usually chose bread or cereal with milk.

We also got the opportunity to have dinner at Shang Palace with the lovely Comms ladies Claudina and Daphne.

Living up to its name, the food at Shang Palace was delectable and exquisite. We chatted and ate to our hearts’ content. Some of my favorites include the Marinated Cantonese “Qingyan” Chicken, Braised Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms, Stir-fried Sliced Grouper Fillets with Ginger, Scallions and Pepper, and Dry Butter Style Crab. The kids were not forgotten and had comforting bowls of minced pork porridge with salted egg and dough fritters on the side. Shang Palace is definitely a family-friendly restaurant in Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa that serves quality food.

*Ahem..* And if the other half allows, adjourn to the Kinabalu Club Lounge for complimentary evening drinks. The husband was thrilled to see a variety of alcoholic beverages such as beer, whisky and hard liquor. Of course he had the company of a fellow Daddy friend as his drinking partner while the mummies stayed in the rooms to take care of the little ones.

Photo credit: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

Mummies need their “me time” too and there is no better way to pamper ourselves than indulging in a spa session at CHI, The Spa!

The spa design concept is certainly very unique, with a standalone spa village sitting on an island connected to the hotel by a private causeway. It is also interesting to note that traditional Borneo treatments on the spa menu are plant-based in nature, energy aware and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of the region.

Advance booking prior to treatment time is recommended. Spa wear will be provided in your treatment suite.

CHI, The Spa has a very comprehensive spa menu offering five categories of treatments – Wellness Journeys, Body Treatments (Scrubs), Body Treatments (Wraps), Massages and Facial Treatments. If you are a mummy like me, who often feel tightness in the back, neck and shoulders, I highly recommend the Signature Malaysian Re-energizing Massage! My therapist Zetty was very skillful in easing out all the tight knots within the one hour session.

If an hour is all you can spare, I say, go for the massage and you will definitely not regret it! I felt so rejuvenated and alive after the session!

Happy mummies who couldn’t wait to get back to the kids!

It was reassuring to know that our kids had a ball of fun at the Cool Zone when the mummies were away at the spa!

Upon entering the Cool Zone, the beautifully hand-painted walls, featuring aquatic and land animals found only in Sabah, provide a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for both children and their parents.

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa provides babysitting services at MYR 30 per hour for children aged five and above only when the Kids Club is not open. It is advisable that bookings are to be made at least one day in advance. Parents can drop their children off anytime between 10am to 6pm and the resort’s professionally trained, English speaking staff will supervise and keep the children entertained while parents relax in the sun or explore the sights of Sabah.

The Cool Zone is divided into different areas such as the toddler section, creativity area for painting and craftwork, and the computer & TV room.

I’m glad that the husband managed to snap some photos as evidence that Little misschewy and Mini misschewy enjoyed playing with the toys at the Cool Zone!

The first and only one of its kind in Borneo, the water play area at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa comprises of a dedicated section for toddlers, teenagers and an interactive area for all ages. Guests of all ages can enjoy the theme-park-quality water slides measuring a total length of 100 metres. Other fun facilities include water battle stations with water balloon launchers, a 2,000-sqm swimming pool with a tapered shoreline for children and an infinity pool section for adults.

Due to our packed itinerary, we didn’t have much time to explore the beautiful resort but we managed to squeeze time out after breakfast for a couple of photos.

Click here to find out more about Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa’s Family Fun Package! It includes many perks such as complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort, complimentary buffet breakfast and buffet dinner at Café TATU, unlimited water balloon fights, unlimited entry to Cool Zone, etc. The offer is available now till 31 December 2018. Also, there is 20% discount for Café TATU buffet dinner when you book direct with their Best Available Rate or Advance Purchase offers on www.shangri-la.com or through the Shangri-La Mobile App. 🙂

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
No. 20 Jalan Aru,
Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, 88100, Malaysia
Tel: (60 88) 327 888
Email: reservations.tah@shangri-la.com

4D3N Pattaya Trip with Klook Travel

Posted on May 30, 2018 by missuschewy

Can you guys believe it? We are almost done with the first half of 2018! Fellow mummies and daddies, please give yourselves a pat on the back because you have worked hard and sacrificed for your family. If anything, you totally deserve a break and go on a holiday with your loved ones this summer! Trust me, you don’t have to travel far to have a shiok overseas trip. The Chewys flew to Pattaya for a short 4D3N getaway and we came back fully recharged! Pattaya has always struck me as a beach place with nothing but water sports activities but boy, was I wrong. Even though Pattaya is known as a resort city in Thailand, there are actually plenty of kid-friendly activities that you can plan, which I will cover in this blog post 🙂 It was a total breeze for us as we booked our airport transfers and activities via Klook Travel, Asia’s largest travel services booking platform with over 35000 activities.

PATTAYA DAY ONE

Prior to departing Singapore, I received an email with very clear instructions as to where to locate the Klook staff and upon touching down at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we boarded the van without any delays. We also received our data SIM cards from our driver without having to go through the hassle of queuing at the booth. It is especially crucial for us that we reach Pattaya in the shortest possible time since we were travelling with two young children and thankfully, the journey was a smooth one!

Book your airport transfer here.

After checking into our accommodation, we took a short break before visiting Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya. I’m glad we made this our one and only activity for the first day of our trip so that we could take our time to explore the farm.

The kids were so excited to see the animals up close too!

The cost of the admission ticket also includes food for the animals and Little misschewy just couldn’t get enough of feeding the goat, sheep and horses!

Apart from animal feeding, Little misschewy totally digged the horse ride!

Book your tickets for Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya here.

PATTAYA DAY TWO

We visited The Sanctuary of Truth, a religious all-wood construction. Apart from appreciating the beauty of the intricate Thai architecture, we were surprised that there were quite a number of activities to make your trip worthwhile.

It was the girls’ first time on a horse carriage ride and they were shrieking in excitement. As for me, I enjoyed admiring the beauty of the temple as the horse galloped away.

Book your tickets for The Sanctuary of Truth here.

In the afteroon, we headed to Pattaya Mini Siam, which is located near The Sanctuary of Truth, hence I planned these two destinations on the same day. The place was relatively empty, much to our surprise. At Mini Siam, you get to experience Thailand and Europe all in one place.

Plenty of photo opportunities and I’m glad we brought our tripod along to capture these precious moments! If you enjoy taking photos, be prepared to spend at least two hours there. Book your tickets for Pattaya Mini Siam here.

PATTAYA DAY THREE

We decided to take things nice and slow, hence we dedicated one full day to visiting Khao Kheow Open Zoo. It is not called an OPEN ZOO for nothing. Some of the animals are left to roam about rather freely and visitors have the opportunity to interact with them.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo certainly feels different from any other zoos, which is a pretty eye-opening experience for us! The zoo is quite big, so it’s highly recommended that you rent a buggy there to minimize exploring on foot, or arrange a private driver to take you around the premises. Book your tickets for Khao Kheow Open Zoo here.

PATTAYA DAY FOUR

Before checking out of our accommodation, we managed to squeeze in a visit to Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya, which is a must-visit if you and your children love teddy bears!

There are various zones with over 2000 teddy bears! We had so much fun posing for photos with the bears at the museum. Book your tickets for Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya here.

Klook Travel is having a Summer Sale!
Take $12 off $150 spent on Klook with promo code YOURWAY.
Upsize your savings with $50 off $450 spent on Klook with promo code YOURWAY50.
For more details, click here.
Additionally, take part in Klook’s giveaway and win a FREE 4D3N trip to Pattaya!
Fill up the travel chit and tag @klooktravel in your Instagram story!
Contest ends on 31 May 2018. Good luck! 🙂

Mother’s Day Photoshoot by ChicChug Creations

Posted on May 2, 2018 by missuschewy

On Sunday, we went for a Mother’s Day photoshoot with ChicChug Creations, a lifestyle home based studio located along Gangsa Road. The name ChicChug was inspired by a simple old way of making a shutter sound when the older generation improvised a camera shape with their fingers before they said “Chit-Chuck”.

Wayne and Geraldine, photographer husband and wife duo specialise in newborn, baby, maternity, cake smash and family lifestyle photography in Singapore. They place strong emphasis on the importance of storytelling and emotion, capturing the intimate relationships between couples and among family members.

For this Mother’s Day mini photoshoot session, the floral setup is done by Le Fairy Meadow. It is classic and elegant, which is very befitting of a Mother’s Day celebration.

I was initially worried that the girls would be cranky because they did not manage to nap before the shoot. Thankfully, they warmed up really quickly as Geraldine was good with kids and they kept smiling as Wayne fired away on his camera. I’m sure having plenty of professional experience helps too! I have never seen the kids being so cooperative before!

We certainly had a very enjoyable photoshoot and highly recommend ChicChug to everyone who wants to have their precious moments captured at an affordable rate!

ChicChug is accepting limited slots on 12th and 13th May 2018.

Session package details:

– Location: ChicChug life-style home based studio (at Gangsa Road)
– $250 nett rate
– 3 generations photoshoot moments
– Formal to casual candid moments
– In permutations and combinations
– Up to 15 high resolution edited soft copies return in DVD
– 1 x A4 fine art print in frame
– A deposit of $50 to lock the time slot and date Booking with ChicChug Creations

To book a slot, email info@chicchug.com by 6th May 2018!

Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: Recommended 5D4N Itinerary

Posted on April 18, 2018 by missuschewy

This is our final Bangkok 2018 travelogue, where I provide my 5 days 4 nights itinerary for your reference. I hope this Recommended Bangkok Itinerary for Families Travelling with Kids will come in handy especially if you are travelling with young kids like ours. As parents, we find ourselves asking what are some of the things to do in Bangkok with kids. A fair bit of thought and research went into creating this itinerary from scratch because I wanted to have a good mix of eating, sightseeing and shopping for everyone in our group as we were also travelling with my in laws.

BANGKOK DAY ONE

SIN to BKK

Ours was an afternoon flight and we reached BKK at around 3pm ICT. Good timing for us as compared to our 7am flight to Hong Kong last November. LOL.

Airport Transfer

Prior our trip, I had arranged for airport transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The large van could accommodate all 7 adults, 2 children and 8 suitcases. There was a very bad jam on the way to our hotel. Journey took more than one hour.

Check-in at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

Address: 259 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 207 8000
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

Our hotel is very conveniently located across Asoke BTS station, as well as Terminal 21 shopping mall. Our well-appointed rooms were spacious, cosy and reasonably priced. Slightly more expensive than most average hotels but it’s definitely worth it given its convenient location and esteemed reputation.

Pa Yak Boat Noodles

Address: สามเสนในอนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ ถนนพหลโยธิน พญาไท กรุงเทพฯ Khwaeng Samsen Nai, Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Victory Monument

We have been there for countless bowls of boat noodles for our past two trips to BKK too! Don’t order too many bowls if you want to leave some stomach space for other food elsewhere.

Shopping at Siam Square One

Address: 991 ถนน พระราม 1 Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

After You Dessert Cafe

Address: Siam Square One, Ground floor
Tel: +66 02 115 1949
Opening Hours: 12pm – midnight (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY TWO

Erawan Shrine

Address: Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 6am – 11pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

We make it a point to stop by Erawan Shrine to pray and pay our respects each time we visit Bangkok.

Burger & Lobster

Address: 999 Phloen Chit Rd, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 656 1111
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm (Sun to Wed), 11am – 11pm (Thu to Sat)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Burger & Lobster is just across Erawan Shrine (one minute walk). If you can’t have it in London, go for it in Bangkok! There’s one in Genting too but my MIL said that it pales in comparison to what we had in Bangkok.

Shopping at Siam Paragon

Address: 991/1 ถนนพระราม 1 แขวงปทุมวัน Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

Chocolate Ville

Address: Soi Kaset-Nawamin, Khwaeng Ram Inthra, Bueng Kum, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10240, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from central Bangkok by car: 30 to 45 minutes

Beautiful and romantic place in Bangkok that you must visit! You can also choose to have dinner there and watch the sunset.

Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

Address: ถนน ศรีนครินทร์ Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Thu to Sun)
Travel time from Chocolate Ville by car: 45 minute to 1 hour

Claypot River Prawn Tom Yam Porridge

Address: ตรง ข้าม พาราไดซ์ พาร์ ค ศรีนครินทร์, แขวง หนองบอน เขต ประเวศ กรุงเทพมหานคร 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.15am – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin by car: 10 to 15 minutes

Even though we didn’t manage to stop by Claypot River Prawn Tomyam Porridge place for supper, I would still recommend that you give it a try as it is super near Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Night Market. Photographed above was what we kept having for our supper on most nights of our trip, which was from a stall opposite our hotel.

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY THREE

Afteroon Tea at Authors’ Lounge, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Address: 48 Oriental Avenue, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 659 9000
Nearest BTS Station: Taksin (Take a complimentary shuttle ferry to the hotel)

Shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall

Address: 644/3 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Ratchathewi or Chit Lom (10 minute walk)

We couldn’t quite agree with the fashion at Platinum Mall but I managed to purchase 20 pairs of contact lens from Dazzle Me. If you have thing for tees with logos or slogans, you can get them easily at about $4 per piece.

Shopping at MBK Center

Address: Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS station: National Stadium

Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant

Address: 444 Phayathai Rd, Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand (Second floor of Pathumwan Princess Hotel)
Tel: +66 2 048 4755
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest BTS Station: National Stadium

Since Pathumwan Princess Hotel is right next to MBK Center, you can do more shopping after your dinner!

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FOUR

Maeklong Railway Market

Address: Mae Klong, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm (Daily)
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market

Address: Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 2 – 8pm
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market and Mae Klong Railway Market are actually situated very near to each other, so I would definitely suggest that you dedicate at least half a day to visit these two spots.

Wat Bang Kung

Address: Sakae Krang, Mueang Uthai Thani District, Uthai Thani 61000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 24/7
Travelling time from Amphawa Floating Market or Mae Klong Railway Market: 10 to 15 minutes

It’s a temple worth visiting if you are in the area.

Chinatown 中華街

Address: 300 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Travelling time from Maeklong Railway Market or Amphawa Floating Market by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Dinner at Chinatown 海外天

Address: 461 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 3029

Plaeng Nam Shark Fin-Bird’s Nest

Address: 47 Plaeng Nam Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 8716

W.T Bird’s Nest Company 泰國運通燕窩

Address: 90 Soi Langsuan, Phloenchit Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok
Tel：+66 (0) 2253-1888

If you are not heading to Chinatown, there’s also W.T Bird’s Nest Company at Pathumwan area where you can go for the birds nest in coconut. Delicious stuff!

Talad Neon Night Market
Address: 1087 New Petchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Wed to Sun)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FIVE

After You Dessert Cafe

Address: 15 1/F Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 061 5545
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

YAAAAAS! After You Dessert Cafe again! Must have it before we go back home! Happy that there’s one directly across our hotel at Terminal 21!

Check out of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

We got our pocket wifi device from Roaming Man, which offers free delivery and wifi rental starts from just $3 a day. Very affordable and convenient! We were also very impressed by the super long-lasting battery life. It could last the entire day and we only had to charge it overnight for the next’s day usage. Connectivity is also very stable and reliable. Roaming Man wifi device helped us to stay connected throughout our trip, even along our journey to the airport after checking out of the hotel.

Home Sweet Home

Many people have this misconception that Bangkok isn’t kid-friendly, which definitely isn’t true. This was our third time travelling to Bangkok with kids and for each trip, there was still so much to see and do. Hope you find our recommended 5D4N Bangkok itinerary useful if you have always wondered what are the things to do in Bangkok with kids! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville: Most Romantic Place in Bangkok

Posted on April 4, 2018 by missuschewy

Hello everyone! I figured I need to finish up my Bangkok travelogues so here I am! I had many friends and followers asking me about Chocolate Ville when I posted IG stories during our trip so this post is for all of you who are keen to know more about this beautiful place! Some had asked if Chocolate Ville is located in Hua Hin and the answer is no. Chocolate Ville is also not exactly in Bangkok, but it is rather near Bangkok. Depending on traffic conditions, it would take about 30 to 45 minutes’ journey by car from Pratunam area.

We had a private driver for our trip and since Chocolate Ville operates only from 4pm onwards, we got our driver to pick us up at around 3pm so that we would have ample time to walk around for photos before having dinner there.

Being the unofficial planner for our trip, I had to find places that are suitable for all three generations. In one of my previous posts, I blogged about our day trip to Maeklong Railway Market which was not particularly well-received by the group. Good thing everyone liked Chocolate Ville because of the pretty and romantic European village theme which has a unique “Dining in the Park” concept.

I mean honestly, who would have thought that such a place exists around Bangkok? It is so not Bangkok at all, if you know what I mean! And also, did I mention that admission is FREE?!

Even my in laws could not resist having their photos taken with their grandchildren!

There are many nice photo spots around Chocolate Ville so it is really important to arrive early to give yourself time for photos, as well as avoid the potential crowds that might start to stream in during dinner time. Also, the entire place is quite huge!

I observed that the crowds came in at around 6ish even on a weekday but it could be that Chocolate Ville is a popular choice on Valentine’s Day (yup we visited on 14th Feb!). Heh not surprising at all since I reckon Chocolate Ville is the most romantic place in Bangkok!

Besides arriving early to avoid the crowd, good and bright lighting makes your photos turn out really nicely!

As with the rest of Bangkok, it was also a little hot and humid over at Chocolate Ville. I strongly recommend wearing light, breathable clothing there. Thankfully, my nursing dress from JumpEatCry is made of polyester material which is very soft and cooling to wear.

I love that there are numerous bears of different shapes and sizes scattered around Chocolate Ville. This is one of my favorites!

Yup it happens. Just another unglam moment lol.

I strongly advise that you make reservations if you are keen to dine at Chocolate Ville as the entire place gets filled up pretty quickly. I copied what everyone else did, which was to leave on Chocolate Ville’s Facebook page, a 5-star rating with a specific template:

Dear Chocolate Ville,
I would like to reserve a table for (number of) adults on (date)
Please find the details as below for your reference :
Guest name: XXX
Date: XXX
Time: XXX
Preference: non-smoking area, Riverside, and sunset view.

Thank you so much!
This is the first time we visit Chocolate Ville.
We’ve learned from friends recommendation that Chocolate Ville provides delicious food and nice scenery.
We hope we can have a great time in here.
We understand that you will cancel the booking without notification if we come late.
So that would be great if you can confirm the booking for us so that we can mark it down on our schedule.
Thanks a lot for your assistance in advance.
Have a nice day.
I hope to get your reply soon.
Thanks.

The above is cute and funny but hey, it works. Someone from Chocolate Ville will confirm your reservation by providing a reply to your comment.

As it is a central restaurant, the same food menu will be provided regardless of where you choose to dine in Chocolate Ville.

I was feeling quite ravenous from all the walking around Chocolate Ville and managed to only take photos of half of what we had for dinner. The food was quite good and also reasonably priced. The menu features a good mix of Thai and Western food. Alcohol is strictly served only after 6pm.

Since the night is still young, it is a good idea to head over to Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin night market which is about 30 minutes by taxi. Estimated taxi fare is around THB 350 to 400. There’s also Grab in Bangkok if you prefer!

A quick recap:

– Make reservations on Facebook if you intend to dine at Chocolate Ville.
– Wear light and breathable clothing.
– Remember to bring along your camera.
– Chocolate Ville opens only at 4pm.
– Take a taxi around 3.30pm and aim to arrive around 4pm for ample time to explore.
– Alcohol is served only after 6pm.

Would you be keen to visit Chocolate Ville during your next holiday to Bangkok? Let us know! Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville
Soi Nawamin 74, Yak 3-8, Kaset-Nawamin Road
Klong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District
Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Opening Hours:
Daily
4pm – 12 midnight

TrollsTopia at Universal Studios Singapore

Posted on April 2, 2018 by missuschewy

Getting the Universal Studios Singapore season pass is one of the best decisions we have ever made and to date, we had visited the theme park on multiple occasions since the pass gives us unlimited access in a span of 6 months. On Chanelle’s 4th birthday, we decided to check out the TrollsTopia event which commenced early March and will last till end April.

We thought that face painting would be a good idea for the birthday girl and Chanelle was excited because she was eager to put on some “makeup” lol. It costs $10 for eye design and $20 for half face. Alternatively, there is also hand painting at $10. Chanelle went for the half face painting which actually looked like a full face painting to me. Perhaps her face is too small. Hahaha.

The designs are all Trolls-inspired and you can let the artist know your choice from the design board.

I was quite amused to see Chanelle interact with the artist in her own ways. Not sure if they were talking but I caught her winking at the artist many times and the artist was trying hard not to laugh out loud!

Almost done!

Applying some finishing touches!

Tadaaaaah! Chanelle was really pleased! It took her awhile to realise that she really had “makeup” on and that she wasn’t dreaming!

We popped over for a mini photoshoot which was also Trolls-themed of course! There were Trolls hair of various colors to choose from.

Cayla decided she was too cool for Trolls hair and proceeded to chuck the wig aside lol.

For anyone who’s interested, you can get your Trolls face and hand paintings done at Trollify Yourself!

How could we miss the TrollsTopia musical performance? It’s important to grab a programme sheet as soon as you enter USS to keep yourself updated on the show timings. We assembled ourselves in front of the stage 5 minutes beforehand to get a relatively good spot. The performance was entertaining with songs and dances.

Hahaha I didn’t know that misterchewy stood so far away from us until I viewed the photo and he said that Shrek pulled him close.

The Madagascar carousel ride is always a must for the girls!

We couldn’t stay around for long because we had to send Cayla for the class. Will definitely be back soon for TrollsTopia which ends on 29 April! 🙂 Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy

The Chewys’ 5th Customary Wedding Anniversary Dinner at Kyuu by Shunsui

Posted on March 7, 2018 by missuschewy

The hubs and I celebrated our 5th customary wedding anniversary last Saturday, 3rd of March. We (or rather, misterchewy) already had plans to go ahead without the kids but I conducted a poll on my IG story just for the fun of it and more than 70% voted that we should “dump the kids” instead of taking them along with us. LOL! Well.. It was a good idea because we managed to catch Black Panther before dinner!

Located along Keong Saik Road, Kyuu by Shunsui opened late last year and had been on my list of restaurants to visit. This place only operates during dinner time, offering a ten-course sashimi and robatayaki course menu from 6pm to 8pm, and a la carte menu from 8pm to 12am.

We went for the Omakase Kyuu Course ($129++ per pax) and started off with 3 Kinds of Assorted Appetizers – Red Snapper And Japanese Ginger With Sumiso, Home-made Sesame Tofu covered With Starchy Sauce And Wasabi, and Soft Simmered Duck Topped With Home-made Miso. We weren’t quite blown away yet but these were enough to tantalize our taste buds and look forward to the rest of the dishes.

Instead of 7 kinds of sashimi, we opted for the Assorted 9 kinds of Sashimi (+$15 per pax). It was a visual feast! Some of my favorites were the ikura, uni, scallop, red shrimp and tuna belly!

Six out of the ten courses were Robatayaki dishes.

Upon biting into the Eggplant with Sweet Red Miso, misterchewy and I were quite amused that the sauce reminded us of chee cheong fun; it was too strong for my liking and covered up the taste of the grilled eggplant.

I really like the doneness of the Tuna Belly with Truffle Ponzu Sauce; slightly raw with a bit of bite, soaking up the delicious savory sauce, although the taste of truffle was indiscernible.

My love for mushrooms is heightened thanks to Kyuu’s King Oyster Mushroom with Sweet Soy Sauce. Crunchy and very juicy!

The King Crab with Vinegar and Sudachi Lime was a slight disappointment as we had a fairly difficult time extracting the meat from the shell. Also, the meat seemed to be a little too over grilled. The saving grace was the home-made dipping sauce.

We noticed that the Fruits Tomato with Setouchi Seaweed Salt had been sitting on the grill for the longest time! It was bursting with the sweetest flavors and went really well with the accompanying salt.

As misterchewy and I don’t take beef, we were offered the Snapper with Teriyaki Sauce, which was moist and flaky. My only complaint is that the portion is too small for a Kagoshima A4 Wagyu Beef substitute. LOL!

Next dish on the menu was the Hokkaido Nanatsuboshi Rice with Salmon Roe and Sea Urchin (+$29 per pax). Initially, we were puzzled when the waitress placed three empty bowls in front of us. We were then asked to choose small, medium or large for our serving of rice. This is medium size!

This was definitely the highlight of the night! The waitress told us that she would be scooping ikura onto our bowls of rice and to let her know when it was enough.

"YOISHO! YOISHO! YOISHO!" It was definitely fun and exhilarating watching the kimono-clad waitress pile ikura onto the Hokkaido nanatsuboshi rice until we shout "ENOUGH!" @kyuubyshunsui . . 📍29 Keong Saik Road, S089136

A post shared by Charlene Chew 🇸🇬 (@missuschewy) on Mar 5, 2018 at 5:09am PST

Watch the video here!

With every spoonful we took, we were sent to ikura and uni heaven!

A simple Home-made Green Tea Ice Cream to end our 10-course dinner!

Thanks misterchewy for the memorable dinner treat! :333

Kyuu by Shunsui
29 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089136
Tel: 6221 7098

Opening Hours:
Tue to Sun
6pm – 1am (Last order 12am)
Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Afternoon Tea Review

Posted on February 27, 2018 by missuschewy

To some Singaporeans, Bangkok is all about shopping, shopping and more shopping. Foodies like us value eating more than anything else. On the third day of our Bangkok trip, The Chewys had the luxury of sleeping in and subsequently took a Grab car to Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. We were staying at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit and the journey from our hotel took about 20 minutes due to a slight midday traffic jam.

Thankfully, the girls were pretty well-behaved along our way there and upon reaching Mandarin Oriental, we were captivated by the beautiful and luxurious hotel interior.

Overlooking the Chao Phraya river, the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental is one of Bangkok’s most photographed locations. It was originally an open roofed garden with a tortoise pond and since 1976, the Authors’ Lounge features a glass roof and is the place to enjoy afternoon tea. Over the last three centuries, many famous writers have stayed at the hotel and their photographs are showcased in the newly restored Authors’ Lounge. The ‘Heritage Authors’ Noël Coward, James Michener, Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad are now immortalised in four new private lounges.

I am always cautious and want to avoid any disappointment when it comes to holiday planning, so I reserved a table for the four of us a couple of weeks before our trip. I booked the earliest slot for afternoon tea at 12pm and perhaps it was a weekday, we got to choose where we wanted to sit. What I didn’t like was that Mini misschewy started to whine because it was close to her nap time and one of the staff forewarned us that if Cayla continued to make noise, we would have to be moved to a table at a corner as it would disturb other (non-existent) guests. I mean young children are bound to laugh, cry or talk loudly. She could have ushered us to a corner table in the first place. It resulted in us jumping up every time one of the girls let out any form of sound exceeding 60 to 75 decibels and we had to constantly shush them. LOLOLOL.

Moving on..! The Author’s Lounge offers three types of afternoon tea sets. If you are a vegetarian, there’s something for you! Apart from that, there is a choice of Western Afternoon Tea Set and The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. If you are dining alone, I would definitely recommend that you go for the Oriental set where the items are traditionally Thai. Dining with friends? Then you should have the best of both worlds! Each set costs ฿1450++ per person and is inclusive of free flow tea of coffee.

My choice of tea: Pink Garden Tea – Regal garden roses accent this green tea blended with notes of Provencal red fruits. A blooming bouquet as blissful as a summer day.

His choice of tea (without even having to look at the menu): Moroccan Mint Tea – A great favourite, this fine TWG Tea green tea is perfectly blended with suave and strong Sahara mint. A timeless classic.

We didn’t have to wait long for both the afternoon tea sets to be served. Yaaay! And look! So Instagram-worthy!

Little Tai Tais in training 😛

I love the use of ceramic tiered tiffin to present the oriental set! Traditional with a touch of class.

We really enjoyed The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. Most of our favorites were the savory food items such as:

– Lime-marinated crabmeat sandwich with lemongrass and chilli
– Minced chicken, chilli and black olive sandwich
– Roasted pandan chicken
– Steamed Thai dumplings

From the selection of pastries, these were pretty unforgettable:

– Kanom Sai Sai, sweet coconut pudding wrapped in banana leaf
– Steamed pumpkin custard
– Mango tartlet with vanilla cream
– Candy bale fruit chiffon cake

We were impressed by the Oriental set but that doesn’t mean we paid any less attention to the Western Afternoon Tea Set.

Here are some of the finger sandwiches that we reckon are worthy of mention:

– Green asparagus dips in clear tomato aspic on white sour dough bread
– Smoked ham, sun dried tomato and honeydew melon
– Open-faced smoked salmon, sour cream and beetroot sandwich
– Cucumber, dill and cream cheese on oat bread

Apart from the chocolate desserts, these were quite nice and refreshing:

– Minted light cream and strawberry sphere
– Vanilla yoghurt cream, streusel and pineapple chutney

If you only have time to indulge in one afternoon tea session in Bangkok, make the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental your choice! Hope you guys have enjoyed our Mandarin Oriental Bangkok afternoon tea review! Stay connected with us on Facebook and on Instagram 🙂

Authors’ Lounge
48 Oriental Avenue
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel: +66 (2) 659 9000 ext 7390-4
Email: mobkk-reservations@mohg.com

Afternoon tea timing:
12pm – 6pm (Last order at 5.30pm)

Hong Kong Photoshoot with Shoot My Travel

Posted on February 21, 2018 by missuschewy

During our Hong Kong trip late last year, we dedicated some time to a casual family photoshoot in Central area. We wanted a little tour around the area as well, and what better way than to engage a freelance photographer via Shoot My Travel? It’s the perfect way to experience the city through the lens of a local photographer! Shoot My Travel photographers are available in over 250 destinations so you can always easily engage one wherever you go. Wylie was our photographer and we communicated via emails and subsequently whatsapp prior our trip.

It is very important to discuss your preferences and expectations with your photographer so that you can have a smooth photoshoot on the day itself. Based on previous experiences, a shoot in the morning is better for us because the kids are chirpy and smiley, before their nap time that is. After deciding on the date and time of the shoot, we moved on to settle the location of the shoot. I told Wylie that I wanted to avoid modern architecture as I preferred Hong Kong’s colonial charm. She provided some really good suggestions and Central appealed the most to me.

I totally forgot about planning our outfits for the shoot and was about to haphazardly throw in some clothes into our luggage when Wylie texted to ask if we will be in matching attires. It was difficult to pick out something coordinated which we have not worn before in previous shoots but I finally managed to go for a neutral-colored theme, with the girls watching matching dresses. I think we look pretty ok in the photos!

Wylie went the extra mile and got her assistant to help us with our bags and stroller so it really lightened our load during the shoot. They arrived early and we got to commence the photoshoot right away. This is very crucial especially when you have young children! Every second counts! LOL.

The shoot was a relaxing one and we got to explore the area which we couldn’t have done so without Wylie showing us around. It was a pity we could only one hour because the kids usually get restless very quickly! I would definitely recommend going for at least a two-hour shoot if you can afford the time. Shoot My Travel has various packages that can cater to your needs.

Rates start from USD$234 and gift cards are also available to surprise your friends or loved ones! For more information or to book a photographer, visit https://www.shootmytravel.com/

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Category Archives: #Dating & Marriage

North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

4D3N Pattaya Trip with Klook Travel

Mother’s Day Photoshoot by ChicChug Creations

Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: Recommended 5D4N Itinerary

Chocolate Ville: Most Romantic Place in Bangkok

TrollsTopia at Universal Studios Singapore

The Chewys’ 5th Customary Wedding Anniversary Dinner at Kyuu by Shunsui

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Afternoon Tea Review

Hong Kong Photoshoot with Shoot My Travel

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