Village Hotel Changi - Re-imagine Ubin

If you are an adventure seeker, loves nature and enjoy the idyllic vibes, the closest to nature would be Village Hotel Changi (VHC) by Far East Hospitality. 

Though it is located in the Eastern end of Singapore and this is also one of the hotels near to Changi Airport Singapore. 

hotel lobby

Just a stone throw away from the hotel, you can find Changi Village Food Centre where you can find  some famous local hawker fare, never leave Changi Village without trying the famous Changi Village Nasi Lemak and Changi Ferry Terminal if you would like to explore Pulau Ubin which is a short ride away. 

We kickstarted the June holidays on an adventure on Re-imgaine Ubin with Village Hotel Changi. If you do appreciate nature and loves outdoor activities and would not mind getting a few shades darker, this is the one for you! 

Re-imgaine Ubin Package includes: 

- 3D2N accommodation in a Suite Room with a roll away bed. 

- Breakfast included for 2 adults and 2 children (Below 12 years old)

- Early check-in at 10am and late check-out at 3pm (who wouldn't love that! especially for families with kids)

- Executive Club Lounge benefits

- Local delicacies for brunch on Day 1 

- Village currency worth $60 (can be used on Pulau Ubin)

- Bum boat 2-way tickets to Pulau Ubin

- Bicycle Rental Vouchers

- Private 4-seater boat rental (with helmsman)

- Four course set lunch at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant

- Sing Experience 

Day 1 was pretty much of free & easy. There was Local Brunch Experience was included in the package where you get to experience to eat like a local if you are planning to visit our Sunny island! You can check it out in my Instagram stories. 

Just a stone throw from the hotel premises, you can find lots of delicious local delicacies at Changi Village Food Centre. From our local favorite Chicken rice, you can also find other cuisine of other races, such as Nasi Padang, Roti Prata, Satay, Hokkien Mee and even the traditional desserts like Ice-kachang to cool yourself down in our all year long, summer season in Singapore. 

This was our supper! It was so convenient to have the hawker centre just right across the hotel, we can head over to get our favorite food! Perks of staying at a hotel and with one of Singapore's popular Hawker Centre! 

Satay

Beef Hor Fun in black bean sauce, super nice!

Oysters in Omelette - one of  Singaporeans' favourite! 

Let me show you the Executive Suite that is included in Reimagine Ubin Package! Commodious and bright. I loved how the bedroom is separated from the 'living room' via a short walkway.

Induction stove, microwave are available too. For families with young kids and needed to cook their meals, the Executive Suite is fully equipped with what you need. You can also view the Junior Executive Suite in my IGS. It was just nice for the 4 of us! 

Head to Level 1 where the restaurant is located, it oversees the Creek pool. We could set our mind at ease when dining and overlooking through the windows wall when Vera would love to have a dip. I loved the all bright and nice ambience with natural lighting pouring in. 

Happy Vera!

Creek Pool at Level 1 

And something special, I hardly see two swimming pools within a hotel but VHC has it! Besides Creek Pool at Level 1 and there is another swimming pool on level 8! 

You can find Infinity Pool, a wading pool for kids and a jacuzzi pool side by side. Trust me that you will fall in love with the view of the pool, sky and sea merged into one! 

And it was really enjoyable for Vera to spot and name the airline of the planes that flew past. In 5 mins, make a guess how many of the airplanes we could spot flying past?

I could not help but snap away with my mobile phone camera! 

We went on to check out the gym! I was impressed with the space and the range of fitness equipment available and it is open 24 hours daily! No prize for guessing correctly who was the happiest with the gym. 

There is also a special perk for Club Room and Suite guests, the Club Lounge is an exclusive space for the mentioned guests to enjoy light refreshment all day and free flow of cocktail and canapes from 6 to 8pm. Do check out the minimum age to enter the Club Lounge in the evening. 

We could also step foot into the outdoors for bird watching! When I stood there for just a short moment, I felt myself soaking into the tranquility, feeling so calm and peaceful. It is totally a different world at Village Stay Changi, you will love the vibes here! 

 

Day 2, we embarked on a land adventure at Pulau Ubin. In less than 15 mins, via a bump boat ride, we began our exploration. It was all planned for, I need not squeeze out any brain juice for planning, Gian showed us the way to Changi Point Ferry Terminal for boarding. 

Always liberating to be out in the sea! 

Pulau Ubin left me with alot of happy memories asI had been there umpteen times since school days and my aunt brought me there too, it was the kids' first visit though! 

It felt like another world once we stepped foot on Pulau Ubin with the slow pace of life. 

These were the bicycle vouchers that were enclosed, we could rent the bikes for the whole day!

It was a good choice to let the kids learnt cycling from young! I loved that even Vera was able to join us on the two wheelers! 

But before you start on anything, Pulau Ubin is well known to have commando mozzies, be sure to wear light and airy leggings, protect yourself with mosquito repellant and get your sunblock applied as well!

Using the SING Experience App, specially curated by Village Hotel Changi for their guests who takes on the Reimagine Ubin Package,

we went on a bicycle trail, 

played mini quiz on the app, learnt about the island and nature, from animals to botanicals at various pit stops! 

Monkeys spotting was common too1 Just be sure to keep food and bags away from them. Bumpy trails, not all were easy to ride on. We came off our bicycles to push at times when we could no longer paddle up slopes. Tiring but not giving up. I was proud of Vera for biting on! And we stumbled upon a fruit Orchard and found so many mini fallen durians on the ground! Too cute and in fact cuter than those from the claw machines we say!

Chek Jawa Wetlands- Our Natural Heritage ! Finally, I got it ticked off my to-go list, even though when it is in Singapore, on the eastern part of Pulau Ubin. You can set aside 1.5 hours to 2 hours for this walk. No bicycles are allowed, so we had them parked at the designated area. 

exploration of Chek Jawa Wetlands can be done via two routes:  the Coastal Loop (600m) and Mangrove Loop (500m) boardwalk. 

Soaking in sound of nature, chirping of the birds and insects, pleasant view of the vast sea and the greatest sandbank. It brought a total relaxation to my mind even thought the scorching sun did not make things any easier. Just remember to bring a cap, a bottle of water for hydration, body sheets to wipe and keep your body fresh! Some snacks like protein bars would be great too!

Do you know that Chek Jawa Wetlands consist of 6 eco-systems in an area covering approximately 100 hectares that includes the sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves, and coastal forest. We learnt much from the educational panels. 

Aplenty to spot on the sandbank! Watch my IG Reel on our sightings! 

We also walked through the Mangrove Loop. Before you scroll down, see if you can spot anything in this photo below?

The well camouflaged at close-up. It took me some time to spot it despite its size. 

We made our way up the 7-storey high Jejawi Tower, where we were rewarded with the view of a canopy of trees, birds that were soaring above the trees and sea. 

We took this photo at the entrance of House No.1 which is also the Visitor Centre of Chek Jawa. It certainly does not look like we are in Singapore right, it was converted from the Tudor-style house built in 1930s! 

Learn more about the history and natural heritage from the information panels and interpretive displays. 

We walked through it, exited and this was where we landed up at. 

This is also a good spot for plane-watching. 

We rode back for lunch and I was so happy because I had a chance to try out the the Seafood Restaurant finally! Of my many trips here, this was my first visit! Enclosed in the package was also $60 Village Currency which we could utilize it at this restaurant and we topped up the excess. Be sure to try their  super fresh seafood. 

Pulau Ubin is indeed a place where nature lovers, photographers and outdoor lovers should visit! 

Bringing back lots of precious memories! 

Time flies when we are having fun! Day 3 of Reimagine Ubin was an adventure out to the sea! 

A dose of Vitamin Sea did us great! Out to the sea we went! It's so liberating to ride on those waves! I totally enjoyed the moments when we anchored at a spot to fish and enjoyed the serenity of the surroundings at the same time. 

The kids experienced fun fishing on the boat for the first time! Click to watch the reel.

Such a thrill when Xav had his beginner's luck! His catch of the day was a fish and a baby stingray, which we returned them back to the sea.

Aung, our boatman, even drove us to a spot which was safe to have a dip as requested by Don. But the father and son did not swim for too long as we spotted jellyfish in the sea. Just in case, we played safe in this sense. 

The last leg of the fishing tour was, a 4-course lunch at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant. The steam fish was so fresh, you had to try it! 

This is all about what Reimagine Ubin has for you! If you are looking for a fuss free nature retreat in Singapore, make your booking now. 

Thank you Village Hotel Changi for your warmest hospitality and the beautiful memories. 

Village Hotel Changi

1 Netheravon Rd, 

Singapore 508502

Phone: 6379 7111

Heathier Scalp Journey with Dr. Scalp

I have been to a few places for hair treatment and decided to feature Dr. Scalp as it impressed me the most till date.

You would not miss spotting the salon, 'boxed up' in green lighting on the exterior, futuristic-looking on the interior. Dr. Scalp has all the equipment to clean up and return you a fresh and healthy-looking scalp. the cleansing we did at home is surely not sufficient to remove the buildup that clogged up our follicles. Our scalp is just like our face, the skin condition is no difference. In the humid climate in Singapore, my skin gets oily easily and plus some sensitivity at times. 

Before the start of my treatment, I was given a scalp analysis. Dr. Scalp provides bioscience solutions backed by laboratory R&D products by their very own lab located in Silicon Valley, led by two professors. A before and after SCALP ANALYSIS PERSONA POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE would be done, recommendation and solutions based on the real-time conditions measured would be given, and I could do a comparison after 3 months.

Dr. Scalp gave me total privacy from the private space one could enjoy, washing and scalp cleansing were all done in the same room and on the same chair which could be lowered to the sink for hair wash.  

The photo above showed a tool used to cleanse the follicles. It could suck up excess sebum and cleanse at the same time. At the end of it, I saw the initially clear looking liquid, turned milky. All gunk was cleared. 

And serum in a form of mist was infused onto the scalp. 

I was led into another room after the treatment had ended for the post treatment scalp analysis, all stored under my individual profile. 

The before and after comparison

The price is on the higher side but trust me that you are paying for a better quality treatment. There were some processed not shown in the photos but you can watch it in the reel on Instagram, scroll down for the link. Their team of consultants are knowledgeable in their own ways and I love the tips they shared during all my visits. I have summarized and you can watch the reel here. 

Conveniently located in town, very accessible by train, go book your session. 

Dr. Scalp

252 North Bridge Road 

#02-27C
Raffles City Shopping Centre
Singapore 179103
Nearest train station: City Hall 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, no money compensation is involved and all opinions are of my own. 

[Review] Changi Recommends Wifi Router

Throwback to last December 2022, our passports finally got to see daylight with the reopening of borders.  We were definitely happy to be able to travel again but with a more cautious mind this time.

Juggling between full time work and social media postings, travelling with roaming data is one of the most important thing one needs to have. 

I had with me my mobile phone for social media work and also my laptop for my full-time job and of course the most essential thing I need to have is, connection. 

If you have not tried the wifi router from Changi Recommends, do read on. This was my second time using it, it was very light-weight and of the size of a mobile phone, totally portable wherever you go. 

The wifi-router came with an adapter, charging cable and a blue pouch to keep the essentials in it. Depending on which country you are heading to, the price varies. You can click to view the price plan, the rate per day in Thailand can be as low as $4.20 daily. 

And if you ever do encounter weak signal strength in the hotel at certain timing of the night, usually when most were back to their rooms and starting surfing on their phone. Sometimes, I could not get connected at all. I must say the router was my life-saver when I need the connection at night to update and prepare my reports.

The best part, the kids could share my wifi! The connection from Changi Recommends wifi router can be shared up to 5 mobile devices. Good way to make them stay around me because with the wifi connection, they got to watch You-Tubes or even game on their mobile devices where connection was needed. 

The booking process was a breeze, just reserve by filling up the form. On the day of departure, just be sure to arrive at the airport earlier to collect it at Changi Recommends Counter (same floor as the Departure gate) before you check in, it was totally hassle-free! 

Returning it was a breeze too as the counter was located just right outside the arrival gate. 

Besides, wifi routers, Changi Recommends have online currency exchange service - Changi Recommend FX too! Just order your currencies online and collect at the safes just right beside Changi Recommends counter on the day of departure. It can be this convenient! 

Changi Recommends have 5 codes for you to stay connected at a low cost! 

Pssst, do check out Changi Recommends NEW Touchscreen WIFI Router too! If you are travelling to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, key in HOP420 can stay connected for as low as $4.20 daily.

For more information, do visit: https://www.changirecommends.com/ and Changi Recommends' social media sites. Instagram | Facebook 

I am still in the progress of updating Bangkok Trip 2022. Hope I can find the time before the next trip comes! 

[ceased operation] Wan He Lou [萬合楼]

Recently, I went back to a familiar neighborhood for lunch. Wan He Lou [萬合楼] sits quietly opposite the entrance of Jalan Besar Plaza's carpark. I took a train to Farrer Park Station and took a short 8 mins walk to reach. 

I tried their famous Signature Lobster Porridge (招牌粥龍郎), the portion was generous that it could feed 3 to 4 pax! I pulled out the meat and cut into bite-size, mixed into the the porridge. Every mouthful was bursting with umami sweetness, it was so comforting and delactable! You have to be sure to order this should you visit! 

Pork Chop with Black Truffle Sesame Sauce (黑松露猪仔抓) , the pork chops were pretty tender. It would be better if the truffle taste was stronger. But it was still delicious. 

I have hardly see Ice Plant on the menu but Wan He Lou actually have the Crunchy Ice Plant with Pickled Cherry Tomatoes (冰菜) on their menu! This is quite an unique veg if you have not tried before.  It refreshing and crunchy! Drizzled in sesame dressing, topped with diced dragon fruit and ebiko. It was a light and healthy dish to have!

Crispy on the outside, Wan He Lou Golden Seafood "Pot Sticker" (萬合樓海鮮鍋貼) had generous filling in it as well! Juicy and flavorful! Love it!

I was really stuffed by the end of the meal but there is always room for desserts! The Thai Coconut Pudding 椰子布丁 was super refreshing to taste! It melted in my mouth literally! I felt like going for a second serving! 

I am leaving my review here as I loved the mouth-watering dishes and will definitely revisit again! 

Wan He Lou 萬合樓

65 Maude Rd

#01-01

Singapore 208347l

Bangkok 2022 - Corgi in the garden

I am dedicating the first post of 2023 with a throwback to our trip in Dec 2022. A lovely experience I would love to share if you love dogs and corgis especially! 

Finally, we get to travel again after 3 years. Bangkok was on our list as we wanted to go to back to somewhere familiar. Bangkok did not have much of a difference as we went back to the usual eating places we loved. But we visited and discovered new places too! 

Vera loves dogs and had been requesting to visit a dog cafe. Thanks to TikTok, Don found Corgi in the Garden (CITG) located in Bangkok, Bang Wa which was about 30 mins away from the city. CITG was not anywhere near Bang Wa BTS, hence, we decided to call for Grab service to bring us there. 

Prior to our visit, we did texted the staff from the cafe and book our visit just to make sure that it would not be too crowded when we visit. 

Hygiene was to be observed prior to entering, removal of shoes and wore the disposable cover over and our hands to be washed before handling the dogs. The corgis were too adorable! And Quinn was one particular corgi which was such a darling. I loved how it did not cave in to the treats like the rest that would pawed on us and allowed us to spam selfies with it. Being nice and polite certainly deserved to be given a treat! Quinn had her fair share and of course I could tell that it was happy. 

Dean on the other hand, loved to sit on the chair. 

Treats can be bought at 100 Baht per bowl if you would love to feed the corgis. When they spotted the yellow bowl, they would automatically surround you! I let the photos do the talking. 

Vera, your wish came true! Hope you had enjoyed this visit as much as we did!

The staff certainly had a way to get the Corgis' attention!

Overall, it was quite a pleasant experience! Do try it if you are making a trip to Bangkok!

Corgi In The Garden

338/1 Kallapaphruek Road

กท.1001 Bang Wa, 

Phasicharoen Bangkok 10160, 

Thailand

Phone: +66 62 865 6165

For older posts related to Thailand, refer to the following:

Bangkok 2015 

Bangkok 2018

Khao Yai [2016] - Day 1

Khao Yai [2016] - Day 2 

Khao Yai [2016] - Day 3 

Hua Hin [2018] - Day 1 & 2 

Hua Hin [2018] - Day 3