Friday, 10 May 2019

A guide to shopping on Orchard Road, Singapore

For as long as anyone in Singapore can remember, Orchard Road has been a one-stop shopping destination for practically anything. So if you’re craving a spot of luxury shopping and quality finds, this is the first street to visit while in town.

Luxury and mid-range shopping at ION Orchard


ION Orchard

Luxury and mid-range shopping at ION Orchard
ION Orchard is a sprawling 66,000-square metre space filled from the underground all the way high up to the top levels (where you can gain access to catch breathtaking views at the ION Sky Observatory). Expect upscale fashion labels like Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta to everyday staples by H&M and Topshop. On top of this, there are luxury dining spaces and food halls, making this mall not just a popular shopping spot but an all-encompassing hub to satisfy your luxury shopping needs.

Affordable finds at Far East Plaza


Far East Plaza

Affordable finds at Far East Plaza
Far East Plaza is located just slightly off the main road, and it is a place which has become ubiquitous with youth culture. It was, and still is, a popular spot to hang out and be seen in the latest fashion. Since 1982, Far East Plaza has been intertwined with trendy clothes and Singapore’s diverse subcultures. Get lost inside the 600-plus stores here, packed to the brim with cool threads and charming accoutrements at affordable prices. On top of it all, there are outlets that allow you to tailor suits and even tattoo parlours. Pro tip: a lot of the stores are haphazardly organised, packed from floor to ceiling – so this is a good mall to just get yourself lost in.

Boutique shopping finds at Orchard Central & 313@Somerset


Orchard Central

Boutique shopping finds at Orchard Central & 313@Somerset
One of the more quirkily-designed malls in the district, Orchard Central offers visitors an artistic experience along with their shopping. Take one famous escalator, digital art adorning the exterior and a multitude of installations peppered inside, Orchard Central goes above and beyond to blend retail with visual statements. The lower levels of the mall offer many high-street fashion labels, while the higher levels bring you to a good number of restaurants and bars.

313@Somerset

Boutique shopping finds at Orchard Central & 313@Somerset
Connected to Orchard Central is another fashion forward mall, 313@Somerset. It’s become an extremely popular mall that offers an array of big name items in streetwear, sneakers, jewellery and bags. One key reason for its popularity, especially among fashion-savvy folks, is its constant sales and deals throughout the year. So if you’re thinking of scoring a bargain, this is the spot to be at. For those looking for a bite after all that shopping, this mall is also filled with a wide variety of food options, from hipster cafes to commercial fast-food restaurants.

Read more: The most famous shopping road in Asia, explore Orchard road

Source Internet

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
Phu Quy island is about 120 km far from Phan Thiet city. Since most of visitors are impressed with the island’s wild and unharmed beauty, it is becoming a famous destination for travelers, especially young backpackers.

Friendly people

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
In reality, there are not many tourist destinations in which people happily welcome you as in Phu Quy Island. You will quickly realize it when entering the territory of this island. Many tourists who have visited Phu Quy island comment that local people here are very kind and enthusiastic, they can bring to you the peace of mind and lots of laughter. Thus, you should not be surprised if being invited to enter the house of locals for a drink and sharing interesting stories on the island.

Not so crowded beaches

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
Due to the difficulty in transportation, there are not many people visited this place. Only recently tourist has started to take an interest in this place. Usually, large crowds in the beaches kill the spirit of privacy and spoil the frolic activities. People litter around the beaches and destroy its beauty, due to the less number of people present you can enjoy the beaches peacefully without any unwanted interruption.

The chance to enjoy king crab with “dirty cheap” price

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
Visiting an island, you cannot miss enjoying seafood there. When it comes to Phu Quy Island, there is no other seafood surpassing this one: King crabs. Unlike other ordinary crabs, this type of crab is tremendous and plump, about 500g-1kg each one. When looking glance, it is like a giant spider, with bristling fur.

Due to the rarity and nutritional content of this crab, so since the ancient time, King crab have been chosen to offer to the king. Therefore, go to Phu Quy island, you will have an opportunity to enjoy this delicious specialty, which is still alive, at the prices ranging from 350,000-400,000 VND / 1kg.

Witness the landscape from the largest lighthouse in Vietnam

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
Your visit to the Phu Quy Island does not come to an end unless and until you rent a boat for visiting the islets located around the island.

On the top of the Nui Cam Mountain, located the largest lighthouse in Vietnam. You can almost see everything from the top of it, thanks to the relatively flat topography of the island.

Admire the largest whale skeleton in Vietnam

The reasons to visit Phu Quy island, Binh Thuan
Phu Quy has nearly 30 cultural relics with various types of faiths. However, the most notable is Van An Thanh in Trieu Duong village, Tam Thanh Commune, built in 1781 and being a whale museum on the island. According to the legend of locals, the whales, also known as “Cá Ông”, had many times saved local fishermen and vessels from distress at sea.

Many fishermen here who had ever been saved by Ca Ong still alive, and most people on the island are very respectful the whale. Thus, when the whale died or pushed into seashore, people here hold a solemn funeral, and there is a festival of welcoming Ca Ong annually in Phu Quy Island. You can also visit the Ong Hai Nam gallery to see the whale skeleton of nearly 20 meters in length. This is one of the largest whale skeletons in Vietnam.

Read more: Discover the attractive destinations in Binh Thuan

Source Internet

Tips to enjoy Chiang Mai's nightlife

Tips to enjoy Chiang Mai's nightlife
Chiang Mai has a reputation as being fairly conservative because of alcohol laws and strictly enforced closing times. Therefore, these tips are given fou visitors to prepare beforehandedly in case they want to get a little bit wild at night in Chiang Mai.

Bars close at midnight

Bars close at midnight
Due to city ordinance, a majority of bars and clubs close around midnight—many often close earlier, depending on how many patrons are sat inside. A few places simply choose to disregard the rules and stay open until the morning hours.

Strict alcohol rules

Strict alcohol rules
The large area around Tapae Gate, as well as all the areas surrounding the moat, have been declared "no alcohol zones" with big fines for people caught sitting on the benches with drinks. Although the ordinance is only loosely enforced, find a less public area for enjoying a cheap party. All minimarts such as the ubiquitous 7-Elevens stop selling alcohol at midnight, although you may find smaller, independently owned shops still willing to sell after midnight. Alcohol cannot be legally sold during local and national elections, on holidays such as the King of Thailand's birthday, and on certain Buddhist holidays usually timed around full moons.

No cover charge for venues

No cover charge for venues
You'll very rarely ever encounter a cover charge for venues around the old city. One exception is the Mandalay Nightclub that charges foreigners a whopping $10 to get inside. Anyone asking for money at an entrance somewhere else may be part of a scam.

Beware of drugs

Beware of drugs
Drugs are not a serious problem in Chiang Mai, however, they are around. Keep in mind that getting busted with drugs in Thailand is a serious, potentially deadly offense.

Don't throw empty bottles away

Don't throw empty bottles away
Those empty beer bottles have a deposit—don't throw them away! Find a recycling bin or set them next to the garbage; enterprising locals grab them to cash in later.

See more: The holy temples you can visit in Chiang Mai
Source: tripsavvy