Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Daily: 6.30pm - 11.00pm I hope everyone has been having a great Christmas season! Known to be the biggest yuletide event in Singapore, Christmas Wonderland is back to illuminate the Supertree Grove area of Gardens by the Bay from 3 December 2021 to 2 January 2022. Visitors can enjoy light displays, have fun with carnival games and shop for gifts at the Christmas market.

3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore Officially opened in 2013, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering (5*) is a testament to the fact that architecture and greenery can blend very, very well. Given its stunning appearance, it's hard not to be tempted to have a staycation there, but I'd been resisting the idea for some time it since the hotel is located way too near my house. 

351 Cranwell Road, Singapore Here comes another throwback to 2018 before COVID-19 hit our shore: a relaxing staycation at Changi Cove (4*) that's located in the tranquil part of the Changi area. In fact, recently I scored a pretty good deal and would be going back to the hotel soon, which is a restored heritage site occupying 4 hectares of lush natural greenery.

1 Fullerton Square, Singapore Welcome to Part 2 of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (5*)! Don't forget to check out  Part 1 , if you haven't done so. In today's post, let's explore the rest of the areas and the history of the heritage building that covers a floor area of 41,100 square metres. Playing a pivotal role in the history of Singapore, it's been gazetted as a National Monument since December 2015.

1 Fullerton Square, Singapore Not being able to go overseas has spurred me to explore more hotels here in Singapore. At last, I went to The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (5*), the heritage hotel situated near the mouth of Singapore River that I'd always been wanting to go for staycation. It was a pity, however, that my stay coincided with Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) that dampened the experience quite a bit.

500 Jalan Sultan, Singapore Hello, everyone! I'm back to slowly update my blog as and when I can. Despite the launch of the various Vaccinated Travel Lanes to and from Singapore, I won't be going overseas this year, so I'll continue to rediscover this place I call home. Anyway, during Phase 3 of Reopening earlier this year, I stayed at Hotel Boss (4*). I found the star rating to be off though.

366 Orchard Road, Singapore Given that leisure overseas travel is still off the cards since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I really wonder when will be the next time I can fly somewhere to satisfy my wanderlust. In February 2021, I booked for a staycation at YOTEL Singapore (4*), pretending that I was flying in a First Class suite once again after the experience at  YOTELAir Singapore Changi Airport  (3*) in December 2020.

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China We've come to the last post to cap the major throwback to my virgin trip to China back in 2012. Also known as Canton, Guangzhou is the capital city of the province of Guangdong in southern China. With more than 2,000 years of history, it was a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road. Today, it continues to play a pivotal role as a major port and transportation hub.

Pearl River, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Zhujiang (lit. Pearl River) is an extensive river system in southern China, which is so named due to the pearl-coloured shells that lie on the riverbed. They say it's a must to go for a scenic river cruise, particularly after dark, when you're a first timer in Guangzhou. My BFF and I chose to sail with GZ Star.

Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Shamian Island is a small sandbank island with an area of 0.3 square kilometres that's separated from the mainland by an artificial river dug by the British and the French in 1859. Literally meaning 'sandy surface', the island is gazetted as a historical area that sees the preservation of quite a number of colonial buildings.

155 Longjin West Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Daily: 6.00am - 10.30pm Located in the bustling Liwan (lit. Lychee Bay) district of Guangzhou, Liwan Lake Park is a beautiful park comprising four lakes. Besides being a venue for various cultural activities in the old quarter of Guangzhou, it's a comprehensive park that includes facilities like swimming pool and gym.