Travel: May 2012 Sleep Inn Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.A.

Usually, I have good experiences staying at hostels when overseas. Okay, perhaps an exception is U.S.A. I realised that when I reach Chelsea International Hostel (CIH) located in New York (NY), U.S.A. on 29 Apr 2012.

Truthfully speaking, CIH did the job it was supposed to do: provide a cheap lodging right in heart of the busy Manhattan. I have totally no complaints about its location as it gave me the convenience which I much needed to explore Manhattan and fully utilise my NY pass.

But even for a someone who is used to staying in hostels, I could not make myself stay there until the day I fly back to Singapore. I booked to stay at Sleep Inn Jamaica (SIJ) a.k.a Sleep Inn JFK Airport on my last day in NY using the WiFi provided by CIH. Yes, I was desperate to get out of CIH.

As compared to CIH, SIJ was a godsend. But still, do not go in expecting to enjoy the usual hotel facilities such as swimming pool or cafes/restaurants. It is more of a no-frills lodging. But, it was definitely worth forfeiting the money I paid for my supposedly last night stay at CIH.

Entrance

Corridor

SIJ's staff were friendly and helpful, especially their manager, Wendy, who will make you feel just at home. I still remembered that when I had trouble accessing their WiFi and needed to print my flight check in confirmation badly, Wendy took the extra trouble and helped me print it.

The room size is sufficient for me and nicely decorated. Important thing is that heater is in a better working condition than CIH. At the very worst, I had a quilt to keep warm in SIJ instead of a blanket provided by CIH.

Queen size bed

In-room heater

The bathroom size was so much better as compared to CIH. And yes, it does come with a bath tub. Another thing that made me fell in love with SIJ is the little notes found in the bathroom. They made me feel wind down, stress free and well taken care of. It was definitely very reassuring to know that I can always approach the front desk in case I need to replenish my toiletries.

Lovely note in the bathroom

Lovely note (again) in the bathroom

Though SIJ provide simple complimentary breakfast, I mentioned that they do not have cafe/restaurant within the hotel where you can have lunch or dinner. Instead, you can refer to the menus in the room or at their front desk to order food delivery from local nearby restaurants.

The major down side is that SIJ is located in the Queens borough of New York which is kind of far from Manhattan (about an hour subway ride in). So if you are planning to stay there to explore Manhattan, do factor in more time for travelling.

Other than that, it will not appeal to shoppers as there seem to be no shops around it once you take the free bus shuttle ride back from the subway station (according to my 1 night stay there).

Shopping mall next to subway

View outside the entrance

View from the room

Thinking back, I pretty much enjoyed my stay with SIJ :)

References:

1. ChoiceHotels.com - Sleep Inn JFK Airport
2. Tripadvisor - RYWsg in Jamaica

Motherhood: Newborn Checklist

Personally, I find that some of the best ways to get hold of baby or newborn items are as follows (non-exhaustive):

• Hands me down from relatives
• Baby fair (usually at Suntec or Expo)
• Gifts received from when baby is delivered
• Gifts received during baby shower

Because you may receive gifts from others (relatives, friends, colleagues, etc.), I feel it might be helpful to share your list with them. Firstly, it helps them get things which you probably will use. Secondly, it saves them trouble thinking about what to buy for you. Thirdly, it saves everybody time from buying/receiving things which will most probably not be used. 

When planning what to prepare/buy for newborn, I seek help from Google. I found many websites that provide newborn checklist. Some items are listed as needs on one website, but wants on another. Eventually, you have to decide for yourself what is useful to prepare ahead of the baby's arrival, what can wait until baby is here and what you can give a miss.

Many websites provide the checklist with checkboxes by the side or with explanation why the items should be purchased. The list which I used was the one published by SingaporeMotherhood.com[1]. I like it because it has everything in one single editable page. Short and sweet. If you also find it useful, do download it and tweet according to your own liking.

I adjusted the document from SingaporeMotherhood.com to arrive at my own personal newborn checklist. As you can see, I strikeout items which I will not be purchasing. Some items (such as baby clothes, breast pump or bath tub) which I have received from others (relatives, friends or hospital) were indicated using G.  Items (such as diaper stackers and organisers) I have or can improvise from existing items were indicated using H.

I also did up a wish list for sharing purpose. Those on my wish list are also items on my personal newborn checklist. They are just items which are nice to have or I can afford to wait a while before I need them.

Wish list

Hope this sharing is of some help :) Have fun preparing for the arrival of your bundle of joy :)

Reference:

1. SingaporeMotherhood.com - Newborn Checklist

Travel: May 2012 Charging Bull, New York, U.S.A.

April 2012, I was in Philadelphia on a business trip. Since I had already flew half the world to U.S.A., I might as well visit New York (NY), NY~! The Big Apple~! Manhattan!!!

One of the many places of interest (apart from the famous Times Square, Statue of Liberty, etc.) that attracted me was the Charging Bull[1]. It used to be in front of New York Stock Exchange. But now, it stands in the Bowling Green Park. And so, I paid tribute to the Charging Bull during my stay in Manhattan.

Ootd: Fox Fashion fleece hoody jacket

As you can see from the top two photos, there is not a moment whereby the Charging Bull is free from crowd. On top of that, it is "guarded" by an officer who also does crowd control. There is always a queue of people waiting in line to take a frontal shot with the Charging Bull. I did not queue because I was in a rush to visit as many places as possible with my NY pass[2].

Fortunately for me, I asked an uncle to help me take a shot with it from the side. I must say that his photography skill was pretty good because he managed to take a shot as if I was taking with it alone!

Was it worth the time to visit the Charging Bull? Personally, I think it was after seeing so much of it from all the dramas. But given the chance to be in Manhattan again, I probably will not queue up for a frontal shot with it. I am more than satisfied with this side shot.

References:

1. Wikipedia - Charging Bull
2. Official New York Pass

Travel: 2012 to 2013 Stay at Hualien11, Hualien, Taiwan

Taiwan is one of my favourite countries to visit. Hence, I became the official planner whenever we plan to visit Taiwan. In 2012, Hualien was on my list because I was attracted by the beautiful sceneries of Taroko Gorge and Pacific Ocean along its highway after watching Welcome To Taiwan on Channel News Asia (CNA).

When it comes to hunting for accommodation, I look for a hostel that is in close proximity to the train station, within our budget, provides good range of facilities (in particular en-suite bathroom and free WiFi) and of a good rating.

Of all the hostels I searched using HostelWorld.com, Hualien11 caught my attention with its 95% ratings. In comparison with a few others of similar ratings, it seems nearest to Hualien train station. Less than 10 minutes walk from the Back Station exit! By the way, this is not a sponsored post (in case you are wondering).

From their Info tab in HostelWorld.com, the list of tours Hualien11 could help to arrange made it even more attractive (save all our time and effort from planning). Its uniquely designed rooms (all rooms come with en-suite bathroom) caught my attention too! Yes, every room is REALLY designed differently.

The room we stayed in 2012 was a family suite (Sorry, forgot to take a picture of the room! But, you can see it from their website[1]. It is the Plato themed room 柏拉圖四人套房). The room we stayed in 2013 is a probably a White Cloud/Blue Sky themed:

Managed to take a picture of another Double Bed room which was probably waiting for its hosteller to arrive:

I must share that we were delighted to find out that Hualien11 is very close to supermarket, 7-11, fruit stalls and vegetarian eateries. So being hungry at Hualien11 might be the last thing you will experience. FYI, Hualien11 is run by Lisa and her son (I call him Little Boss). Though breakfast is not provided for, hang out in the lobby space with Lisa and she might surprise you by sharing a dish or two which she had just cooked or seasonal fruits.

Dining area in the Lobby

I fondly remembered that we arrived after midnight in 2013. Guessing that we were probably famish, she fried us some noodle so that we did not have to sleep on an empty stomach! I have also tasted her dishes when I was not hungry of course. Hence, I can vouch that her culinary skill is pretty good.

Any down side? Probably just that it does not provide you with any scenic view. Also, if you are not a dog person, you should probably inform Lisa beforehand as she has one by the name of Lucky. By the way, they do not have a swimming pool within the building which they listed as one of their facilities under the Facilities tab in HostelWorld.com.

When in Hualien, stay with Lisa and Little Boss at Hualien11. That was how I felt ever since I stayed with them since 2012. Till this date, we still keep in touch with one another. Lisa is indeed a very hospitable person and staying at Hualien11 really makes you feel at home while being overseas.

References:

1. Hualien11
2. Facebook - Hualien11
3. Tripadvisor - RYWsg review of Hualien11

Vegetarianism: Stir Fried Cucumber

My mother-in-law cooked this dish one day and we all fell in love with it. At first, we were skeptical of the taste because we usually eat cucumber raw or pickled (sides of satay, acar, etc). Who wouldn't, right? But, surprise surprise~ It actually tastes good!

After stir frying, the cucumber does not have the raw edge or refreshing taste to it. Rather, it has become more subdued. You will still be able to relate it back to cucumber, but some may guess that it is stir fried luffa. I did the version without adding chilli. If you like to spice it up a little, just add cut chilli to Step 1.

Ingredients:
1 cucumber sliced (remove seeds)
Sliced carrots
1 tsp mushroom granules
1 tsp pepper
Cooking oil

Steps:

1. Heat up the cooking oil and stir-fry sliced carrots with 1 tsp of pepper and 1 tsp of mushroom granules.
2. Add in cucumber and continue to stir-fry.
3. Serve when cucumber is translucent.

Do adjust the amount of seasoning to suit your taste. 

Bon appetit!

Travel: Oct 2013 South Gardens Hotels and Resorts, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Oct 2013 in Taipei, we stayed as usual at H132 Hostel (then known as Star Hostel) until hubby's Taiwanese friends checked us out of it on our last day there. As you can see from my other post on H132 Hostel, it is of reasonable standard (about a 3 to 4 stars hotel) with chic modern decoration for a stay that costs less than USD100/night.

That night, they checked us into South Garden Hotels and Resorts. If not for them, I am sure we would never have ended up there. Firstly, the location. It is quite a secluded area tucked away from the busy streets and shops. At least that was how I felt. Secondly, the cost. His friends got us checked into a Starlight room, which costs about USD500/night! Clearly not within our usual budget. The cheapest there was about USD340/night.

But as they always say, locals know best. We felt that way the moment we stepped on the property. It left us in anticipation just from the looks of its foyer.

 

Little rubber ducks swimming around to commemorate arrival of Rubber Duck in Kao Shiung

The reception and lobby area is also very spacious and, I feel, gothic looking. If you have forgotten to bring along your travel adaptor, need foreign currency exchange service, limousine pick up service to high speed rail station or airport, or even wheelchairs and medical kits for handicap, just approach the Front Desk. Oh, their check in time is 3pm and check out time is 11am, which is typical.

Within their compound, you can choose to have your meal in the comfort of your room, have a light bite at the Cheers bar located on ground floor or move up to 2nd floor restaurants for A La Carte or set meals. Because we booked in only around 8pm (after his friends enthusiastically showed us around Daxi district), we did not get to explore the hotel enough. We only managed to have our breakfast there before we head out to airport.

Activities wise, they have hot spring at B1 and 2nd floor, swimming pool and kids' pool at B1, sauna center and aroma therapy or massage center at 2nd floor, recreation center at ground floor (gym, entertainment room, kids' playroom, multi-function room) and I even saw a mini golf course behind their lobby area.

Basement: Hot spring, kids' pool, swimming pool
Ground floor: Recreation center

Mini golf course with excellent view

Their rooms did not let our expectation down. The refreshments in the fridge as well as those placed on the tables (such as mineral water, tea bags, instant coffee mix, sugar and creamer) being complimentary. There is also a in-room safe deposit for use.

Their bathroom and toilet are separated. On top of towels and bath robes which are typically provided by hotels, their toiletries impressed me quite a bit.

The room is spacious and elegantly decorated. What I liked most about it is the open air tub. It is definitely a great way to unwind and relax in total safety and privacy.

King size bed

Open air tub

Would I stay there again? Probably not (because it is not within our usual budget range set for Taiwan). But, it was definitely a nice experience and we enjoyed it very much. By the time we left, we were fully recharged.

References:

1. South Gardens Hotels and Resorts
2. Tripadvisor - RYWsg in Taoyuan

Motherhood: Sharing Baby Carriers Starter's Read

This post is just going to be a brief sharing of websites with regards to baby carriers which I came across and found useful.

Believe it or not, babywearing[1] is not as simple as just popping the baby carrier on and putting the baby in it. There are actually consultant giving babywearing lessons overseas. One whom I am following is Frisian mama in Germany[2].

I am actually glad that there are so many researches being done in this area because it concerns the development of our little ones. At the same time, it can be overwhelming for new parents like us.

For a start, the most crucial thing you need to be aware of is to ensure that the baby carrier is ergonomic. Your baby carrier should support the knee-to-knee or a.k.a. M position to avoid hip dysplasia[3].

You would probably know that are many baby carriers out in the market. Some which I have heard of are baby woven/stretch wraps (BW), mei tais (MT), ring slings (RS), soft structure carriers (SSC), pouch slings (PS), etc[4][5]. Here is their classification from what I gathered thus far:

I found out that selecting a baby carrier can be quite interesting and not a simple process as many factors/criteria[6][7] will affect your decision making process: For example, your little ones' weight(age) will affect the decision making process[8], personal preference, etc. Each has their pros and cons[9].

Some may even own more than one type of baby carrier. I am one of them. Fortunately for me, I am blessed with a RS and PS, I own a SSC and I am waiting for my first woven wrap to arrive.

At the current moment, I do not have a personal favourite. If I want both my hands to be free, there is a higher chance that I use SSC because it gives me the confidence to do so. But on the other hand, I do not find the waist band comfortable (especially when I sit down). If I am running a quick errand, I would probably use PS or RS because of its lightweight. I do use RS or PS when I head out for longer durations when hubby is around to be my helping hand.

Maybe the woven wrap will become my all time favourite because it is lightweight and (if wrapped properly) would probably give me the confidence of being hands free. For now, I am just waiting in anticipation~

References:

1. Babywearing International - What is Babywearing?
2. Wrap You in Love
3. International Hip Dysplasia Institute - What is Hip Dysplasia
4. Rucking Marvellous - Types of Slings
5. Facebook - Babyvibes: Types of Baby Carriers
6. BabyWearing Institute - Baby Carriers 101
7. Babywearing International - Choosing a Baby Carrier
8. Facebook - Babyvibes: Selecting the Most Suitable Carrier for Your Baby
9. Babywearing 102 - Beginner's Guide to Wraps

Travel: Happy New Year and Introduction to Up and Coming Halal Warehouse

Happy New Year Everybody!

Sadly, 2014 did not end on a happy note with the many aviation accidents close to home. Hope 2015 is a better year than 2014!

In recent months, there have been some talks on warehouses (where we can hopefully buy things are a cheaper price). So, I am going to start the year with an introduction to a newly discovered (by hubby of course) halal warehouse[1].

Yes, you saw it correctly. Halal warehouse. Not the Warehouse Club[2] which is newly opened in Joo Koon Circle. This one is located at east-central Singapore.

Expect to see mostly food stuffs (ranging from condiments to frozen food) and some everyday items such as shampoos, shower gels, etc. Although you will still see some big brands such as Coca Cola on their shelves, most of the displayed items are brands which I am not aware of. I heard that is because the warehouse aims to help SMEs gain exposure to the public.

In case you are worried about the quality of the goods, the warehouse do have samples for some of them. So, do your quality assurance before you buy :) Do pop over to my hubby's blog post for more details! For enquiries, feel free to drop us an e-mail or comments :)

Last but not least, HAPPY SG50!!!

References:

1. Singapore Local Tour - Warehouse Tour - Halal Warehouse
2. Warehouse Club