Hong Kong Disneyland November 2017 Part 1 of 2/ Main Street/ Tomorrowland/ Fantasyland/ Adventureland/ Grizzly Gulch/ Family Travelogue

Hong Kong Disney Railroad Station at Main Street USA

The Hong Kong Disney Railroad Station at Main Street USA and  the garden with Mickey Mouse face are the first thing we see upon entering the park.  The Disney Railroads are seen at all Disney Parks around the world with an alternate stop at Fantasyland.

Tarzan Treehouse at Hong Kong Disneyland Adventureland / Family Travelogue 21 November 2017

Tarzan's Treehouse is one of the attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland, Adventureland themed area. Need to take the log raft to get there. The raft starts near the theatre in the wild where the Festival of

St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, Rome, Italy/ Family Travelogue 08 June 2015

Central aisle, St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, Rome, Italy

St Peter Basilica is so far the largest and the most fascinating Catholic church in the world.  We were at the St Peter's square the day before, Sunday, and the queue to go in was so long.  Fortunately,  we had joined the early morning  Vatican tour (Monday).  We were inside the Vatican museum before the normal opening hours.  A tour inside the church followed. 

ROME ITALY St Peter's Square/ Family Travelogue 07 June 2015

St Peter's Square in the Vatican City, Rome, Italy

St Peter's Square is one of the most beautiful and largest squares in the world.  It is located in front of the St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, Rome, Italy.  It was built by Bernini, entrusted by Pope

The Best of Tuscany Tour, Italy: Siena, Chianti, San Gimignano and PISA/ Family Travelogue 09 June 2015

Scenic country drive to the historical buildings on top of the hills, picturesque landscapes, great works of the great artists in the renaissance, organic farm lunch, wines... All in ONE DAY!

Siena Duomo Cathedral, Italy- Best of Tuscany tour/ Family Travelogue 09 June 2015

Siena Duomo Cathedral, Italy (West Facade)

Siena Cathedral, or Duomo di Siena in Italian,  is one of the medieval churches in Italy located in Siena dedicated to the Assumption of Mary  The church is considered to be one of the most significant examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic Cathedrals.  .  It is filled with amazing artworks by Pisano, Donatello, Michelangelo and of course, not to miss the frescoes by Pinturicchio.  The construction of the church begun in 1229 and the cupola was completed in 1263.  The Cathedral's site is said to be the temple dedicated to goddess Minerva once stood.

Rise Restaurant, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore/ September 2017

Whole Poached Salmon

Rise Restaurant at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore serves wide array of dishes from Asian and Western Cusiines with 7 Themed NIghts a week:

Mondays- Balik Kampung (Malay cuisine)
Tuesdays- Seafood night

New York Christmas Window Displays 2016/ Family Travelogue 26 November 2016

It was this month last year we were planning on how to spend our 6 days in New York from 26 November 2016.  A week after the Thanksgiving day, Manhattan biggest department stores were akready geared up for the holidays.  It has been a holiday tradition  at the Big Apple, popular shops transform their windows displays into the Christmas magical theme.  A wonderful experience to

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Mall, Singapore February 2015

Index
Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort in front of Marina Bay, Singapore.  It is considered as the most expensive stand alone Casino S$8.0B, developed by Las Vegas Sands.

This post shows the photos taken at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Mall before we went to visit the Gardens by the Bay in February 2015.

CANDYLICIOUS, Resort World Sentosa, Singapore

Index

A sweet shop that would surely tickle your taste buds, offering almost all kinds of chocolates and candies,  Candylicious is the biggest candy store in Asia.  One of the branches is located at Resort World Sentosa, Forum.  Very visible, same level as the Universal Studio Singapore and the other RWS attractions. Not only a big treat for fellow sweet lovers, the life size candy statues outside the store that are so cool without a doubt a reliever after a very exhausting day. Especially to kids with tantrums- and adults too.

FLORENCE, ITALY: Piazza della Signoria, Galleria Dell' Accademia,Giotto's Campanille / Family Travelogue 10 June 2015

Michealangelo's David sculpture

Florence is home to many masterpieces by the famous artists in the Renaissance era.  Galleria dell' Accademia houses Michealangelo's David sculpture- one of the most iconic masterpieces in that era,
likewise, one of the world's famous statue to-date.  This work of art would surely give you a sense of

Gold Coast, Hinterlands and Brisbane, Australia/ Family Travelogue 13 May~19 May 2017

Currumbin Beach, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia

Gold coast is at present the 6th largest city in Australia and the second largest city in the state of Queensland.  Gold coast was originally known as South coast - located South of Brisbane, the state capital.  Tourism is the city"s main industry globally known for its: sub tropical climate, long sandy beaches. great surfing spots, theme parks, rainforest hinterlands and home to mursupial such as the Koala and Kangaroo.  

ROME. ITALY walking to St Peter's Basilica on Via Cola di Rienzo/ Family Travelogue 07 June 2015

Via Ottaviano, Rome, Italy

Second day in Italy, second day in Rome.  Italy was the second country we visited on our 2015 Europe tour.  We were in Greece:  two days in Athens and two days in Santorini.  We arrived Athens on 03 June 2015.

Universal City Walk OSAKA JAPAN/ Family Travelogue 06 April 2017

Universal City Walk is a shopping and dining complex with approximately 58 shops.  Takoyaki Museum is located on the 4th floor.  A good place to eat and shop after an exhausting day at the Universal Studios theme park.  More so,  it is the path from the train station to the theme park.

Chasing Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Japan /Family Travelogue 30March~08April 2017

It has been  in the bucket list, like forever,  the  Sakura experience in Japan. The season, however, is not a school holiday in Singapore.  We usually travel with our kids, resulted to visiting Japan in 2014 and 2016 two weeks earlier of the full blossoms. I wonder how does it feel like walking along the cherry trees in bloom...  in full bloom?

Fast ferry to Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia/ Family Travelogue 19 November 2016

approaching Rottnest Island

Our second day in Perth started with buffet breakfast at the hotel.  We then prepared for our today's adventure,  to the many amazing beaches on Rottnest Island.

We booked our tour a month before online through Adams Pinnacle tour.  Check out below our tour booking.  The fees include round trip fast ferry to Rottnest Island and Grand Island tour.

Grand Island Tour coverage:

Historic Train ride to Oliver hill Guns making and Tunnel Tour

Coach to the pride of this island, its many beautiful beaches and bays

light lunch and bottled water

Local informative guides

Perth City: Swan River and Elizabeth Quay 18 Nov 2016 Kings Park 20 Nov 2016/ Family Travelogue

Boat Mooring at Elizabeth Quay and the Perth CBD

Fremantle, Western Australia: Fishing Boat Harbour, Bathers beach, Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets/ Family Travelogue 18 November 2016

Fremantle is a port city in Western Australia, half an hour away from Perth City.  It was founded in 1829 when the ship HMS Challenger (British ship)  arrived near the mouth of Swan river.  Fremantle was named after the captain of the ship, Capt Fremantle. 

Fremantle  was at first a free colony.  It was populated by English people who migrated by choice.   Parmelia, 36 meter vessel, was chartered by the English govt to carry the first settlers from England to Western Australia.  The voyage took four months.

Settlement in Fremantle was not good in the first 20 years, England decided to make Fremantle a penal colony despite the great concern of the current settlers then.  Convicts from New South Wales were transported to Fremantle  and in the later years, mixed with convicts from India.  The convicts were used as labour for the construction of buildings and public works.  The Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage site, was constructed using convict labour.  The convict era period started in 1849 and transportation of convicts ceased in 1868.  The Fremantle Prison was used for the local prisoners till 1991.

Perth City Downtown Hay Street Mall Murray Street Mall/ Family Travelogue November 2016

We had a short visit to Perth in November 2016, from 18 to 22.  It was  our firm trip and school holiday  had just started in Singapore, I was able to take our youngest.  My husband and the eldest had no more annual leaves to file. A week after this Perth trip, we had a 3 week vacation in US.

The following are the other posts that I would be sharing later:

Fremantle  18 Nov 2016
Swan River and Elizabeth Quay  18 Nov 2016
Ferry to Rottnest Island  19 Nov 2016
Rottnest Island 19 Nov 2016
Kings Park and Fremantle Market 20 Nov 2016
Yanchep National Park 21 Nov 2016
Lancaster sand boarding 21 Nov 2016
Pinnacles 21 Nov 2016
Takeaway Meals at Coles Supermarket

TakeAway Ready-Meal at Coles Supermarket, Perth City, Australia

Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo, Japan/ FamilyTravelogue 17 March 2016

Our last day of this 2016 Japan trip, we visited the three must see in Tokyo:
Ueno Park
Sensoji-Temple
Tokyo Skytree

Ueno Park

Ameyoko Market, Taito, Tokyo, Japan

Ameyayokocho or Ameyoko, is a very busy market street between Okachimachi and Ueno stations along the Yamanote line.  It is both wet and dry market.

We were able to go around this place while finding where to eat tendon tempura for brunch.  It was between 10am and 11am, only a few restaurants opened.  Fresh fish, fruits, rice cakes, dried goods, spices, bags, cosmetics, clothes and shoes are among the various products sold along Ameyoko.  Most of the shops are opened between 10am to 8pm,

Tendon Tenya Tempura Menu Ueno Branch, Taito Tokyo Japan

Address:  110-0005 Ono Bulding, 6-13-5 Ueno Taito-ku, Tokyo
Phone:  03-5807-8422

We went to this place for lunch on the last day of our 2016 Japan short trip.   It is one of the many restaurants at Ameyayokocho or Ameyoko, a market street between Okachimachi and Ueno stations along the Yamanote line.

Brooklyn Bridge NYC 01 Dec 2016 from Brooklyn to Manhattan downtown

Walking on the Las Vegas strip, DAYTIME / December 2016

We had stayed for two nights in Las Vegas at Best Western Casino Royale.  Latter is along the Las Vegas Blvd S and near Venetian.  On our last day, we had spent the morning walking on the strip from our hotel to as far as  Excalibur.  We did not go farther to Mandalay Bay.  Most of the walking tour starts at the site of the  famous sign "Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada",  which is a block away from Mandalay Bay.  The sign is the south end of the strip.  Vegas strip starts at Wynn and the Fashion show mall, 10 minutes on foot to Venetian.

Kyoto day tour from Osaka: Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle / Family Travelogue March 2014

We started the day tour in Arashiyama, located in the western outskirt of Kyoto.  We visited a few of the many this small neighborhood has to offer: The Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple and the Bamboo groves.  There are many small shops and restaurants nearby.

Arashiyama is one the most important sightseeing district in Kyoto.  It  is a mountain with an altitude  of 375 meters, filled with temples and shrines.  It is  full of cherry blossoms in spring, covered by red leaves in autumn and cupped with snow in winter

Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto,, Japan

Day trip to Hakone with Hakone Free Pass / Family Travelogue16 March 2016 Part 3

The cheapest way to go around Hakone using all the means of transports - Hakone Free Pass. We bought our free pass at the Odakyu center in Shinjuku station.  You could also get there, reservation for Romance car seat.  The free pass covers most of the transports around Hakone and one time round trip fare from Shinjuku/Machida/Odawara to Hakone.

We just visited Hakone for a day. The Hakone Free pass we purchased amounting to 5,140yen )for adult)s was valid for 2 days.  We took the Romance car to Hakone Yumoto.  If you do not have the free pass, you have to pay the regular price from Shinjuku- 1,110yen plus Romance car limited express surcharge of 890yen.  We had the free pass, we paid only the surcharge of 890yen per passenger.

USA Tour 2016/ Family Travelogue 26Nov ~ 18Dec 2016 features: NewYork,Las Vegas, Grand Canyon,Disneyland, Universal Studios, WarnerBrother,Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Malibu,Hollywood, Los Angeles,SanFrancisco

New York

Spanish Steps Rome, Italy/ Family Travelogue 06~08 June 2015

Arrived a bit late at FCO from Santorini.  Our pre arranged transfer was there carrying a paper board with our name.  We paid 65Euros direct to the driver/ owner of the car.  We had stayed at Ripetta 25 for 2 nights booked thru Expedia.  The apartment was  walking distance to most of the attractions such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Vatican City.  We avoided taking the Metros so not to encounter the notorious pickpockets.  We walked most and only once we took a cab.

taken from our apartment at Ripetta 25

Santorini Greece/ Family Travelogue 05~06 June 2015

We  have so much of this incredibly fascinating island.  We have shared earlier our sailing experience. Santorini is really a must to visit when in Greece.  Check out the uncommon but beauteous  landscape and buildings such as the blue-domed churches.  It may not be appealing  to a few though, we love the simplicity of this place.