Happenings in October - AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum

Tuesday 8/10/24

I am already familiar with the AVENE Cleanance range as I am currently using Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel and Cleanance Comedomed. Hence, adding AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum to my routine felt like the perfect complement to complete my skincare set. Thanks Daily Vanity for introducing the product.

AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum is suitable for people with sensitive, blemish-prone skin. Its lightweight, watery texture infused with Avène Thermal Spring Water, feels incredibly soothing upon application. 

The serum absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a hydrated, dewy glow without any greasy feeling. The serum is free from fragrance. I noticed it effectively soothed redness and did not trigger any breakouts or discomfort. It’s the perfect addition to my skincare routine.

Hong Kong Day 3 and 4: Mong Kok + Tsim Tsa Tsui + Central

Monday 24/6/24

I managed to get about 3.5 hours of sleep, waking up at 2:30am and again at 5am. After that, I could not fall back asleep.

Staying in a hotel with such an amazing view, the first thing I did every morning was to check out the scenery. It was only 5.40am and the sky was already bright, with natural light flowing into the room through the slightly opened curtain.

We arrived at Essence restaurant to have 40 minutes buffet breakfast at 9am. The selection was exactly the same as yesterday, so I ended up taking almost the same things I liked from yesterday. I was expecting some variety as hotels typically switch some dishes to offer guests a different experience each day.

After the breakfast, we went back to our room for toilet break and to take our bags. We set off at about 10.15am. 

Tuesday 25/6/24

It felt like déjà vu as I woke up at exactly the same times again, 2:30am and 5am. At least, I managed to get a few hours of sleep to ease my tired body.

We headed down to Essence restaurant for a half an hour breakfast at 8.45am. Everything was the same selection except for the donut. We then went back to hotel for final round of packing and check out the hotel at 9.45am.

Novotel provides a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from airport at 20 minute intervals from 6am to 11.40pm. We patiently waited for the 10am slot, there were only 3 of us on board the shuttle bus.

I had a wonderful stay at Novotel Citygate. It provided a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, allowing me to unwind and let my stress melt away.

I was very impressed by Hong Kong's smart Check-in kiosks, which can even be used by international passengers. The departure process can be done on our own, making it fuss free and fast, leaving us ample time for shopping. We did not had lunch at the airport as meal will be provided on plane.

Even though things at the airport were more expensive, this was my last chance to make purchases, so I bought some snacks using the remaining notes. 

Hong Kong Day 2: Hong Kong Disneyland

 

After half an hour of train ride, we arrived at Disneyland Resort Station at 12.30pm via the Disney train with Mickey Mouse's shape windows, handles and figurines in it. We entered a magical kingdom inspired by 7 themed lands to explore. 

The first themed land we passed by was Main Street, USA, where we came across Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad. You can hop on to the train at this station for a scenic tour of Hong Kong Disneyland Park. I decided to save this ride for later.

Main Street, USA, is a replica of 20th-century small-town America. It felt like we were being transported back in time, with the vibrant energy of the street filling us with excitement.

The colourful framed buildings lined up along Main Street gave it a vintage feel. Many souvenir shops can be found in one of the buildings, offering a refuge from the brutal sun and a chance to purchase souvenirs to bring home.

A variety of shops and eateries made Main Street, USA, outstanding. As we reached the end of the street, we eagerly ventured into the other lands awaiting us.

The sky slowly darkened, we only had time for one last ride. Since Adventureland was close to Toy Story Land, I decided to head back for Slinky Dog Spin. We queued 15 minutes for this one minute ride. It was a mild thrill ride that started with a gentle circular ride up and down incline, chasing his tail around a giant food bowl. With each round, the speed increased, adding to the excitement.

It was 7.30pm when we finished the ride and we navigated our way back to Main Street, USA.

Since there was still half an hour to the show, we had Mickey Waffle at HKD70 (or S$12.20) from Main Street Market as our dinner. The Mickey Mouse shaped waffle was a feast for the eyes, adding a whimsical twist to my Disney experience. The waffle was thick and fluffy with a buttery aroma, accompanied by mixed fruits with jam and whipped cream on the side. This was so much better than the lunch.

The most mesmerizing 20 minute night show “Momentous” began at 8.30pm. We watched the sky illuminated by light and fireworks with a series of classic Disney songs. It was a beautifully magical scene that brought smiles to our faces.

Nearing the finale, there was a sudden drizzle that lasted less than 5 minutes. Thankfully it was just a short one. The exit from Disneyland was chaotic with everyone leaving at the same time after the show. Thankfully, our hotel was only two train stops away and we managed to reach our hotel by 9.30pm. It was a pity we could not cover the entire Disneyland, which calls for a second visit to Hong Kong Disneyland in the future.

Hong Kong Day 2: Exploring Novotel Citygate Hong Kong

I managed to sleep for a few hours during this trip as compared to my past few trips. I went to bed at 11.45pm, woke up at 1.50am and stayed awake till 3am. The next time I woke up was already 6.40am.

Sunrise came early in Hong Kong. By 6.45am, the sky was already so bright. Since our itinerary for today was only Disneyland, we can enjoy a slower pace and no need to get out of bed so early. I rest for another hour before getting up to prepare.

We headed down to Essence restaurant at level 1 for breakfast buffet at 9.10am. The selection was decent with a fusion-style Chinese and Western dishes. I was leaning more towards the Western dishes.

The swimming pool was located at level 3. From our room, I could see an outdoor area for guests to roam around. Captivated by the view, I decided to check out this area.

We enjoyed staying at Novotel Citygate Hong Kong so far, experiencing the best of both worlds with the stunning views of the hill and sea.

This was the view that guests staying in the room opposite ours would see, I still preferred our room view. From this angle, you can catch a glimpse of the cable car on the left side of the hill.

We went back to hotel to drop off our loots. By the time we reached Tung Chung MTR station, it was already 12pm. I went to the customer service counter to purchase an Octopus Card at HKD200 (or S$34.84). We then took a train to Sunny Bay MTR station, just one stop from Tung Chung, to transfer to the Disneyland Resort line.

Disneyland, I am coming.

Hong Kong Day 1: Novotel Citygate Hong Kong + Banchan & Cook

I made my second visit to Hong Kong, a bustling city brimming with activities for travelers. Having been to Hong Kong before, this trip felt a bit like coming home, giving me the chance to explore new places that I yet to discover and revisit old favourites. It left me feeling even more captivated by the city's charm.

It drizzled the entire morning as we made our way to Changi Airport Terminal 3 and arrived at 11.30am for our flight at 1.05pm. As our boarding gate was a distance away, we took a sky train and walked to our boarding gate.

Meal was being served at about 3pm and I enjoyed Black Pepper Chicken with Steamed Rice and Seasonal Oriental Vegetables. The black pepper chicken accompanied by a flavourful sauce was delicious. The meal also included an appetiser, bread and juices. Udders Salted Caramel Ice Cream for dessert was served after we were almost done with the meal. 

Eating was a bit challenging due to minor turbulence and some shakiness as we flew over the South China Sea.

The view of Hong Kong slowly came to sight. We landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 5.25pm. Visitors are required to fill out an arrival card, which we completed on the plane. Customs clearance was efficient, taking only about 15 minutes. However, we had to wait a bit longer for our baggage, which took around 20 minutes.

My exchange rate was S$1 : HKD5.74.

After we collected our baggage, we walked towards the taxi station outside the arrival hall. There are three types of taxis available:

- Urban taxis (red) operate in most areas in Hong Kong

- New Territories taxis (green) mainly operate in the north-eastern part (i.e. north of Sha Tin) and north-western part (i.e. north of Tsuen Wan) of the New Territories. 

- Lantau taxis (blue) operate only on Lantau Island and Chek Lap Kok

We went to the third lane designated for blue taxi and we were the second in the queue. While there were plenty of red and green taxis already waiting, no blue taxis were available at that moment. We had to wait for one to arrive. Thankfully the wait was not too long, we got into the taxi within 5 minutes.

The taxi ride from the airport to our hotel was about 10 minutes drive and the fare was about HKD60 (or S$10.45). I spotted our hotel, Novotel Citygate Hong Kong, in front of the hill with the blue wordings.

We arrived at Novotel Citygate Hong Kong around 6.15pm. We were staying at the hotel for three nights at about S$659.61 ($219.87 per night), inclusive of breakfast. This 23 floors, 4-star hotel with 440 stylish rooms and suites offer either airport, cable car, sea or hill views.

Novotel Citygate Hong Kong

51 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung Hong Kong

Our room was situated at the furthest end from the lift lobby, right next to a large window. The lobby was a little dim with only spotlights from the doors and natural light streaming in from the window at the edge.

As we were outside our room, we were treated to this sea view from the large window at the side. With our time in Hong Kong limited to just two full days of exploration, one day in Disneyland and another day in central area, we chose to stay in Tung Chung, an area conveniently close to the airport and just two MTR stops away from Disneyland.

We stayed in standard room (28sqm) which was spacious by Hong Kong's hotel standards. It was a cosy room located minutes away from everything. Though it was a 10 minutes walk from Tung Chung station, the hotel was directly connected to Citygate Outlets mall, allowing us to shop along the way while heading to the MTR station.

The bathroom was quite spacious, featuring a well-thought-out layout. On the left, there was a bathtub accompanied by a rain shower. The basin was in the center and on the right was the toilet bowl. 

Right after turning left from the hotel lobby, Citygate Outlets mall came to sight, connected from two levels. Our hotel was close to QB House (level 1) and Tommy Hilfiger (level 2).

We initially planned to dine at a particular restaurant but it appeared to be closed for an event. With time ticking, we decided to dine at the first restaurant we passed by.

The first restaurant that we passed by was Banchan & Cook, a Korean restaurant with a fusion of Western and Japanese style. It was already 7.30pm and we did not want to waste any more time searching for food, so we decided to settle here.

I had Mentaiko Pasta with Pork Katsu at HKD95 (or S$16.55) before service charge. The pasta was on a creamier side, resembling of carbonara with mentaiko sauce very subtle. The pork katsu, on the other hand, has a crunchy exterior and juicy interior.

The Red Bean Milk at HKD42 (or S$7.32) before service charge helped to ease my thirst, I have not been drinking sufficient water today due to traveling and my throat was a little dry. The red bean milk resembled red bean soup with red bean within and enhanced the taste.

Banchan & Cook

Shop 334, Citygate Outlets, 20 Tat Tung Rd, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

Operating hours: 11.30am to 10pm

Happenings in May - Amano

Friday 10/5/24

I made a revisit back to Craftsmen Specialty Coffee for lunch after 3 years.

I had Egg Benedict where the poached egg and blackforest ham sat on top of English muffin. Break open the egg to let the silky yolk mix with the ham and muffin, creating a harmony of textures. 

 

Wednesday 22/5/24

I had Smoked Duck Carbonara ($22++) with spinach and walnuts. The dish leaned towards the creamier side, it became a bit too rich halfway eating. I would have preferred a slightly more watery sauce to balance the richness.

Saturday 25/5/24

We visited Amano, an Italian restaurant located at Namely Place in the area of Bukit Timah neighbourhood. The restaurant offers authentic flavours of Italian cuisine, featuring popular dishes such as pasta and pizzas.

There is currently a 1-for-1 promotion for pizza and pasta, making it quite worth it to order this. I had Capellini Bacon ($28++), but unfortunately, I found it to be quite normal and lacking in flavour.

The Warm Lava Cake ($13++) was topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a delightful combination. The lava cake was moist and filled with rich chocolate flavour.

Happenings in April - Aburi-En

Tuesday 9/4/24

We went Aburi-En for lunch at Chinatown Point. I had Mentaiko Chicken Don ($13.90++) where the deep-fried chicken was drizzled with mentaiko sauce. The creamy richness of the sauce enhanced the flavour with each bite.

Saturday 27/4/24

Despite my multiple visits, I make it a point to try new main course so that I can have different dining experience. Today I had Chicken Katsu Don ($13.90++), served together with miso soup. The chicken katsu had a nice contrast of textures with its crispy skin and juicy meat within.

Tuesday 30/4/24

I met up with GF for dinner at Aburi-En @ Suntec City to exchange the souvenirs we gotten from our recent overseas trip. Both of us had Buta Shogayaki Don ($12.90++) where the rice bowl was filled with thinly sliced sautéed pork belly in ginger sauce and onions, and topped with onsen egg. 

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Day 2 and 3: Inside Scoop + Starbucks Reserve

Saturday 30/3/24

It was 7.15pm when we finished the tour of Petronas Twin Towers. The first thing we did was to look for food at Suria KLCC. However, every restaurant we went was fully seated. It was the Ramadan period so many have break fast and came out for food. We wanted to venture elsewhere but it was raining, making us retreat back to the mall. In the end, we had dessert for dinner instead.

We finally settled for Inside Scoop at 7.50pm, an artisanal ice cream located at the basement, offering a delightful array of ice cream flavour. It was more to cater for take go order, so the shop only provided seating for less than 10 pax who prefer to dine in. We were lucky to find two seats.

Since this was supposed to be our dinner, we ordered one each for ourselves. I had Lotus Biscott Croffle with Lotus Biscott Cheesecake Ice Cream at RM20 (or S$6.67). The fluffy croffle was enhanced with chocolate bits that added a good crunch to the croffle base, each mouthful was a symphony of textures. The drizzled sauce gave a nice sweetness to the overall flavour. 

Inside Scoop

Concourse Level, Petronas Twin Tower, No. OSC02, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: 10am to 10pm daily

We then went to Cold Storage to get cake roll for our breakfast in hotel tomorrow. 

It was 9pm when we wanted to leave the mall. Although our hotel was only 10 minutes walk away, our legs were already feel tired from all the 16km walk today. 3 minutes walk away from Suria KLCC was Starbucks Reserve at Four Seasons Place, we decided to take a short rest there before walking the remaining 7 minutes back to hotel.

Since we were not feeling full from the dessert, we had another round at Starbucks Reserve. I had Chic O Cheese with Nacho Cheese at RM11.44 (or S$3.81), a buttery and flaky Danish with airy texture filled with cheesy chicken sausage.

We had a 45 minutes rest over here until it was nearly 10pm. It was drizzling, making us felt reluctant to leave, but with closing time approaching, we decided to embrace the drizzle and walked back to our hotel.

Starbucks Reserve

Level 4a, no, Lot 1, Ground Floor at Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, 145, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: 7.30am to 10pm from Mon to Fri, 9am to 10pm on Sat and Sun

We were greeted by a clean room when we returned back to hotel. Our room was serviced twice a day. I noticed when we went back in the afternoon, it was already cleaned up. When we returned back at night, the room was being tidy up again.

Sunday 31/3/24

Despite feeling tired, I found myself hard to sleep, awake and dozed off throughout the night. I was awake at 5.45am and snoozed until 6 plus.

It was 7.30am and ready to have my Milk Baumkuchen spit cake gotten from Cold Storage last night at  RM6.35 (or $2.12). 

Infused with milk flavour, the cake had a light sweetness, a chewy and moist texture. It was absolutely delicious. This cake should be able to fill my tummy until I reach airport later.

It was nearly 8am and we were ready to check out of our room. Here's my baggage for the short getaway. In fact, I still have some space left in my bag, I shall go to airport and pick up a few more things before departing.

We took a grab to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 at RM65 (or $21.67). There was no jam on the way, we reached airport at 8.40am.

I stopped by Ban Heang, renowned for their traditional homemade biscuits and delicacies. Judging by the remaining space in my bag,  I grabbed an assortment of their delectable treats.

I have gotten these snacks for my family and relatives at RM55.30 (or $18.43).

After we were done with clearing the custom, we wanted to look for places for breakfast. To our horror, we found only souvenir shops lining the area. We regretted not grabbing a bite before clearing customs, there were quite a few eateries near Ban Heang just now.

Upon reaching our boarding gate at nearly 10am, our eyes lit up at the sight of two eateries. Between Burger King and Old Town White Coffee, I chose Burger King. They did not have breakfast set, so I went for Fish N Crisp set at RM22.80 (or $7.60).

Our flight got delayed by 50 minutes. The boarding time was supposed to be 11.10am but we only began boarding the plane around 12pm.

We took off around 12.40pm. Despite being in KL for just 3 days (or more like 1.5 days considering our late arrival and early departure), I managed to tick off most of the items on my bucket list for sightseeing, shopping and dining in KL. It was quite tiring to do everything in a day, especially with the rain cutting into our plans.

I'm not particularly fond of flying, but I do enjoy the breathtaking view from the window seat. Seeing the vast landscape through the clouds, it always leaves me in awe. Hence, I tried to opt for window seat if possible.