• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

Finding something?


Q NOTES BOOKMARK

  • 1. QURIOUSLIFE (36)
    • Change Management (11)
    • Inspiration (33)
    • Leadership (3)
    • Training & consultancy (2)
  • 2. TRAVEL NOTES (11)
    • A perfect day in… (4)
    • Great places to stay (5)
    • Special finds (2)
  • 3. DAILY GRIND (7)
    • Food, coffee, wine & cocktails (7)

Quriouslife

Coaching, Training & Consulting

  • Inside Out
    • What is Inside Out?
  • About
    • Why Qurious?
    • Jos Weesjes
  • SERVICES
    • Why Not?
    • Leadership Programme – Inside Out
    • Services
  • ENGAGEMENTS
  • BLOG & INFO
    • Blog
    • A PERFECT DAY IN..
    • Qurious Travel Bits
  • CONTACT

2. TRAVEL NOTES

A perfect day in…Bangkok

March 26, 2015 By jos 1 Comment

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 9.59.07 AM
To me, Bangkok is the ‘City of Unpredictability’. After having lived in Singapore for many years, this city is no Asia for beginners and still is pushing my buttons in both wonderful and challenging ways. Here’s my quick personal guide for Bangkok:

The city of Bangkok is known to Thais as Krung Thep , which roughly translates to ‘City of Angels’. Krung Thep is actually an abbreviated version of the ceremonial full name and in the official English romanisation, this is certified as the longest city name in the world in the Guinness book of records. You ready? It’s pronounced something like:

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

R U N N I N G
City running through the streets of Bangkok is not for the fainthearted. You may fall into uncovered potholes, getting hit by cars not halting at your green pedestrian light at zebra-crossings, zigzagging to avoid street food stalls set-up at often impossible busy intersections, low hanging electric cables and other obstacles coming out from nowhere…basically you need to turn on your multi-dimensional radar looking left-right-up & down and you’ll be fine!

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 10.00.11 AM
With all this, you are now set up to safely reach Lumpini park for my favorite morning run. Follow the outer perimeter twice and you’ll hit your 5K. Looking for a longer route? On the north-east corner of Lumpini park: run up the walk bridge across Wireless Rd and follow the bike path to the end, turn right and left through a small community hit the main rd turn right and you enter Benjakiti park. Compared to Lumpini, this park is more manicured and each run around the lake is 2K. Combine the two parks for a 10K or more… Remember, be safe and wear reflectors when it’s still dark.

B R E A K F A S T
My favorite meal of the day…all my friends know I just love meeting over breakfast and discovering new places. Bangkok is full with very creative venues with the coffee barista culture (yep, tats and beards) landed here as well. Some very entrepreneurial Thais have started their own brands and cozy hole-in-the-wall places offering the complete show from low drip, aero press, cold drip, French press, and of course my fav double espresso macchiato!

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 10.01.45 AM
Here’s some of my recommendations:
Casa Lapin – at soi Ari, soi 26 and soi 49. Great coffee, atmosphere and happy friendly staff.
Roast – at The Commons Thong Lo, soi 17. Go for weekend brunch, breakfast all day. Love the eggs bennie here, come early…
Roots Coffee – also at The Commons, Thong Lo, soi 17. Here they take coffee very seriously.
Simple Natural Kitchen – 31 Sukhumvit Garden. For your organic calories, lovely setting.
Rocket Café – Sathorn Soi 12, Nordic décor and very fresh, light healthy fare. Also great for lunch.
Taper – Thonglor soi 13. Just opened, very nice western Asian mix of bfast items, try the confit duck on freshly baked waffles.
Karmakamet – just behind Emporium Mall (walk outside past the entry to Emporium Suites and turn left), very nicely curated shabby-chic warehouse type style venue serving a solid creative menu: great for brunch, lunch and dinner..ohh and cocktails!

Screen Shot 2015-03-28 at 4.15.32 PM

M U S T  D O
Where to start…? After you’ve done the obvious things like Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Patpong, etc. Here’s a few of my selection:

Lumpini between 6 and 7am is a wonderful experience. The park is full and buzzing with runners, groups of people doing martial arts, xi gong, aerobics and more. Love to watch the active elderly folks participating as well as meeting up for their coffee and breakfast.

Explore the Thong Lo and Ekkamai neighborhoods. These areas are full with fun, different established and new businesses, stores, restaurants. Pick-up a free BK magazine for latest updates.

Watch a movie in one of Bangkok’s many high-end cinema’s (Siam Paragon or Central malls) and enjoy business class seats viewing. Make sure to stand-up and honor while the national anthem is playing before the show starts!

Have a look, coffee or shop in True Urban Park in the Siam Paragon Mall on the 3rd floor. Great example of Thai creativity is setting up ‘mash-up’ concepts. This is a flower shop, bookstore, co-work place, smartphone centre and coffee shop in one. Also in this mall drool over an Aston Martin or any other luxury car in the many showrooms on several floors.

Thai’s love sugar! Have a look at what I call “Sugar alley” in the gigantic food section at the basement in Siam Paragon. How many cupcake, cookies, cakes and chocolate stalls does one need really?

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 10.00.55 AM
Visit the weekend market Chatuchak, however only go early in the morning to avoid the massive crowds and heat (take BTS Skytrain to last station Mo Chit), if you love browsing for knick-knacks plus negotiating…you will be in heaven! Leave the market at noon and take a taxi (10min) to the modern art museum MOCA. Pretty interesting collection with Thai contemporary art housed in a well designed modern museum.

Always fun to try to mix in your program to watch some Muay Thai boxing or book a city bike tour with Spice Roads for a China Town half day tour or to see the Khlong communities.

To relax, try the Japanese hot Onsen baths at Yunomori spa (soi 26, close to K-village). Heavenly good and funny enough, offering just the best Thai serious massage treatments.

L U N C H
Never Ending Summer
, Thai food, next to the Hilton across the river. Take the free local ferry from next to the Sheraton at the river. Walk around the area to see the other outlets, Jam Factory, coffee house and wonderful furniture store.
Biscotti, Italian, in the former Four Seasons now Anantara Hotel, Rajdamri.
Theo Mio, Italian in the InterContinental hotel.
Siam Centre, food court top floor.
Rocket Café, (see breakfast).
Steve’s Café, in Dusit area, Thai food. Home style, take the river public ferry from Taksin pier for about 45min and a short walk. Pretty setting at the river.

Screen Shot 2015-03-28 at 4.11.43 PM

C O C K T A I L S
Always nice as a first timer to start in one of Bangkok’s many sky bars. As you’ll notice, Bangkok does not have a pretty skyline, however on one those towers, sipping a cocktail and looking out over this sprawling metropolis with its scattered urban planning..it’s still pretty amazing. Plan to have your first cocktail in hand at 6:30pm to experience day to night change of scenery and…to avoid the masses.

Sky bars: Vertigo at Banyan Tree hotel (Sathorn), Sky Bar at Lebua (Silom), Octave at Marriott (Tong Lo) and my not so glam favorite is the Sky Train Jazz club on top of a residential building overlooking the Victory monument sky train station!

Maggie Cho’s on Silom Rd, great Shanghai inspired bar and club, live music, shows.
Namseeh Bottling Trust, close to Chong Nonsi station and Convent, very good creative cocktails or just a good G&T served the Spanish way..in a wine glass.
Soi 11 VW buses converted into open-air street cocktail disco bars in soi 11, great for a pre-party beer, don’t order a cocktail, just fun to do.
WTF, soi 51 Alley, little informal laid-back venue serving some no-nonse cocktails and nice selection of beers, order Japanese snacks which the staff will order for you from next door!
Juncker and Bar, Thanon Suan Phlu – off Sathorn, come for a serious cocktail, live jazzy funk band, home made snacks and be ready to talk to anyone..as this small bar is quickly packed in- and outside.

D I N N E R
Aahh…Thai food. Here’s some of my very often tried and tested venues:

Issaya Siamese Club, never a bad experience, set in a old style Thai mansion, owned by the famous Thai chef Kittichai.
Namseeh Bottling Trust, as above and also by same chef Kittichai, bit of Thai/Western fusion going on.
Scarlett at the Pullman G hotel, great outdoor section and views, cold cuts, tapas and wines.
Summer Street in soi Ari, hip street food place with super fresh seafood BBQ (see above pic).
Daimasu, Japanese very informal BBQ place, seats are beer crates, Izakaya street style food, Soi Tawan Silom.
Best burgers in town go to Thaiger food truck, check his FB page for latest location or visit Daniel Thaiger’s first restaurant Nerd, all the way at end of soi Thong Lo.
Supanigga, Thai on soi Thong Lo, and now also in soi 10 Sathorn: informal home-style cooking.

Others: Nahm, Water Library, Vesper, Gagan, Quince and the list goes on…

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 10.00.46 AM
S T A Y
Good value for money and great location: Holiday Inn Express National Stadium, Convent, Pullman G Silom, Pathumwan Princess at MBK.

Good choice for full-service hotels: Hotel Indigo Wireless Rd, So Sofitel, Banyan Tree Sathorn, Muse at Langsuan and Hansar at Rajdamri.

Bit of a luxury experience: of course the Mandarin Oriental, the Metropolitan (by Como), The Sukhothai or just for a very special experience The Siam (designed by Bill Bensley).

Some of my fav hotels outside Bangkok/islands:
Twin Palms – Phuket
Nakamanda – Krabi
InterContinental – Ko Samui
The Library – Ko Samui
137 Pillars House – Changmai

Note:
Anything I have misrepresented or misspelled…? Drop me a line.

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 9.59.38 AM

Share

Filed Under: A perfect day in... Tagged With: Breakfast, change, city fav, coaching, collaboration, commercial, communication, consultancy, executive, great place to stay, inside-out, insideout, inspiration, leadership, organisation change, planning, presentation, purpose, quriouslife, strategic mission, training

Just added a new pin to MCA’s world map: MAURITIUS.

February 22, 2015 By jos Leave a Comment

Feeling blessed that my work brings me to some very special places around the world.
This time facilitating a Feb ’15 workshop for Master Connection Associates on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

Screen Shot 2015-02-22 at 7.28.20 AM

Share

Filed Under: Change Management, Great places to stay Tagged With: change, coaching, collaboration, commercial, communication, consultancy, executive, inside-out, insideout, inspiration, leadership, organisation change, planning, presentation, purpose, quriouslife, strategic mission, training

A perfect day in…Atlanta

June 16, 2013 By Jos Weesjes 2 Comments

Atlanta Piedmont Park

Welcome to my selection of things to do in Atlanta. I studied and have lived in this capital of Georgia with great pleasure and loved the seasons. This pretends to be by no means complete. Please browse as it’s just a taste of this great city if you’ve never been and for Atlantans…do comment if I have missed any of your fav’s and you want to share. As always I am focusing on trustworthy and classic places, value for money, service and experience.

MORNING RUN
Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s ‘Central Park’ its ‘Vondel Park’. In this park and all around Midtown you’ll feel naked without a dog. Let me know if you want to borrow a member of the Canidae family. Designed by the sons of New York’s Central Park landscape designer Olmsted. Join the 6 am boot camp crowd or take the outer perimeter track for a 15min run. From May till November you can grab some protein after your work-out at the little all organic Farmer’s market and no doubt…everything gluten-free. Recently, a section oBeltline, a wonderful runner's trackf the Atlanta Beltline project opened and now offers an urban boardwalk to run walk, bike & skate around midtown area. This sustainable project is providing a network of public parks, multi-use trails and transit by re-using 22-miles of historic railroad corridors circling downtown and connecting neighborhoods directly to each other. Run for miles along uninterrupted great views of downtown and midtown Atlanta.

BREAKFAST
Ahh.. where to start? So many great and different places to choose from. A few of my fav’s. A great morning walk from Piedmont Park via the Beltline corridor (see above) takes you to Highland Bakery. Try the Peanut Butter French (brioche) toast covered with caramelized bananas and layers of peanut butter and maple syrup. Yes, I know…a thousand calories, and that’s why I recommend walking back as well. Carol Street Cafe sits in a lovely area called Cabbage Town. Walk around the small streets aligned with ‘shotgun houses’ where the workers of the cotton factory (now lofty condos) lived and affordable cabbage was on the menu every day. In the same area go for the best pancakes in town: Ria’s Bluebird. My Mum (and her name happens to be Ria!) tried, tested and approved the pancakes: and she’s an expert. Carroll st cafeGreat about Rosebud restaurant is that you are able to make brunch reservations in the weekend. Across the street (N. Highland Ave) step into deli Alons (where McMackin orders his ‘Cappucinnio’..his unique spelling) for a great takeaway coffee and the best croissants. On Edgewood go to Thumbs Up Diner for a good American style breakfast. On the corner of Virginia and Highland, Murphy’s is a classic for brunch and wicked bloody marys on the weekends. Oh yes, The Silver Skillet on 14th is an institution, a true diner never renovated I could go on…can you tell I love breakfast?

COFFEE
Dancing Goats on North Ave has very good coffee and home-baked cookies and cakes. Same as its sister outlet in Decatur. Caribou Cafe in Midtown and Buckhead is best for working, chatting or quick meetings. Star Provisions (West Midtown) also offers great cakes and deli things. In Belly General Store on Highland the coffee is great as well as best bagels in town. Now I’m talking breakfast again!

MUST DO
Did I mention the Beltline already? Unlike cities as New York or Chicago; Atlanta is not known for a broScreen Shot 2013-06-16 at 6.10.14 AMad spectrum of arts and culture. However there’s actually lots to do, the only thing is you have to do a little more homework to figure out what’s going on. Not to miss is the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, consists of several buildings surrounding Martin Luther King, Jr.’s boyhood home on Auburn Avenue in the Sweet Auburn historic district of Atlanta (see picture). MOCA, the Atlanta Museum Of Contemporary Art is worth a visit and enjoy the towering 26-foot tall World Events sculpture on the same grounds. The beautiful and artdeco-ish Screen Shot 2013-06-16 at 5.27.10 AMFox Theatre is a gem on Peachtree and offers many quality acts. Often the Alvin Ailey modern dance group from NY performs at the Fox. If you are in marketing, really do visit the Coca Cola museum. It displays the careful evolution of the brand from the original medicinal drink to today’s ‘Open Happiness’ global replacement of tap water. Close by is the Georgia Aquarium, have a look. However don’t line up when queues are long, no time to waste. On the top floor of the Westin, go for a revolving floor cocktail and enjoy spectacular views. In summer the Chastain Park Amphitheatre is just special. I have been to see Harry Connick Jr. in concert and everyone brings an elaborate picnic, candles, linen napkins, wine and what have you. Very elegant. Stone mountain is good for a hike or bike if you have a few hours to spend.
Screen Shot 2013-06-16 at 5.31.56 AM

LUNCH
Murphy’s (see above) I recommend either brunch or lunch, a book on the outdoor patio or sit at the bar. Seasons 52 in Dunwoody, Perimeter is consistently good and love the low-cal mini deserts. Very informal and laid back is Joe’s on Juniper and they also do brunch on weekends. Bistro Nico in Buckhead is perfect for a business power lunch. After shopping in Lenox mall dump your bags and dive into some sushi at Prime. A great vegetarian, vegan place is R. Thomas on Peachtree Rd.

 

Burgers! Many good places, for touristy fun drive your car to the Varsity (corner North and Spring), park and order in your car and have your burger and fries served on a metal tray hanging from your lowered car window (very Americana). Flip Burger West Midtown (see picture) serves gourmet burgers, funky milkshakes (try the upside down pineapple cake shake) in a very cool design restaurant.Flip Burger Atlanta

SHOPPING
Search for those outdoor small boutiques: explore where Virginia and Highland cross over, Little Five Point for quirky gear and visit the artsy town Decatur. No need to come near to downtown for good shopping. If you do want to visit a mall go to Phipps Plaza in Buckhead (for some reason my Aston Martin is always parked inside this mall with the price tag still on..) and across you’ll find Lenox mall with all the regular brands.  A really different experience is a visit to the Buford Farmer’s market. Produce from literally all over the world from bokkepootjes from Netherlands to chicken rice from Singapore.

SPA
Tired from shopping? Visit Bliss spa at the W hotel in Midtown and order a Foot Patrol treatment: heaven!

NATURE
Just a 2-hour drive north takes you to the Blue Ridge mountains and plan for a one night sleepover in the picturesque mountain village Highlands, stay in the Old Edwards Inn. Take in the fresh oxygen. It is only a 4-hour drive to historic Savannah at the Atlantic Ocean. Closer to home a walk through Atlanta’s Botanical Gardens is always worth a visit and it’s right next to Piedmont Park. Did I mention the many summer concerts? Also every early April the Dogwood festival takes place and you’ll find the country’s best painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry makers, glass blowers and other artists.

DINNERScreen Shot 2013-06-16 at 5.39.45 AM
Here’s my current list: Floataway Cafe, see picture (Woodland hills), The Watershed restaurant (Peachtree), The Optimist (West Midtown), Buckhead Diner (Elton John’s a regular here) on Piedmont Avenue, Campagnolo’s (corner 10th/Piedmont), Bacchanalia & Abattoir (West Midtown) and for a-la-table prepared guacamole go to Rosa Mexicana (Atlantic Station).

STAY
The Loews hotel on Peachtree/11th is very pleasant, urban and has well-designed rooms. Hotel Indigo a smaller no-frills boutique hotel right across from the Fox Theatre and in the heart of midtown: my personal favorite. Say hi to the hotel resident Jack Russel. Or try Stonehurst Place, an award winning bed & breakfast on Piedmont Ave in midtown.

 

Missed anything?…please leave a comment.

 

Share

Filed Under: A perfect day in...

A perfect day in…Amsterdam

June 2, 2013 By Jos Weesjes 2 Comments

Early morning’s are the best in Amsterdam. Nothing can beat a sunrise run, walk or bike ride in the (over 400 years old) canal district area.  Particularly on Sunday mornings…serene peace & quietness. Even its sister canal city Venice can’t beat.

RUNNING
Best running in the Vondelpark. Enter anywhere and just follow the outer ring, one round sets you back a little over 3K. Have some breakfast after in the Blauwe Theehuis, right in middle of the park. Looking for a more serious track? Take a tram (16) to the Amsterdamse Bos and you can run a marathon without seeing the same trees twice. Great pancake place at the end of the rowing basin to load up your lost carbs.

BREAKFAST
My favorite meal of the day. Even though Amsterdam doesn’t have that great early bird breakfast culture like in Sydney, with its many hole in the wall venues, it’s coffee all around here. Thank you Mr. Douwe Egberts!  Many coffee places serve breakfast items (order an ‘uitsmijter’), and produce great coffee & tea’s. My fav’s are located in and around the Utrechtsestraat neighborhood: Koffie Salon join the regular newspaper reading in-crowd and order your latte from the best barista in town. For some substantial morning food go to Zuivere Koffie also in Utrechtsetsraat, Cafe Marcella (only when the sun is out) and enjoy a ‘broodje osseworst’ and regular coffee on the street terrace (corner Amstelveld and Prinsengracht). In De Pijp area go to De Wasserette (eerste vd Helst straat) with eggs different styles, granola with fresh fruits & excellent coffee. A perfect way to start a lazy Sunday morning.

MUST DO
Visit the Albert Cuyp market, a larger than life street market, selling everything under the sun. Try some Dutch street food like freshly baked ‘stroopwafels’ or ‘poffertjes’ and grilled chicken ‘kip’. Stroll the side streets into de Pijp hood with a very eclectic mix of restaurants and shops. Don’t forget De Wasserette. Each Monday morning there’s a nice flower market on the Amstelveld or every Saturday enjoy a great farmer’s market on the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan district.

Amsterdam is famous for it’s museums and I recommend the Hermitage at the Amstel, housed in a beautifully restored former retirement home for the elderly, and is a branch museum of the famous St. Petersburg museum. The Rijks Museum recently opened its doors after a 10 year renovation by Spanish architects Cruz and Ortiz: worth a visit.  For something different: ‘Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder” (Our Lord in the attic) one of the oldest and most remarkable museums in Amsterdam. Behind the characteristic facade of the house by the (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40,) canal lies a largely original 17th-century home and a complete hidden church. This hidden church ‘in the attic’ was built during the Reformation, when Catholics were forbidden to hold public services.

LUNCH
When the sun is out (cherish that moment..), spend some time on the terrace of Cafe Nel on the Amstelveld good soups and salads. For a more substantial lunch the College Hotel, next to Cafe Wildschut (Van Baerlestraat), has a nice garden area. as well as the Pulitzer Hotel with its 24 canal houses, just walk into the hotel and explore the inner courts. Good lunch option also is Pompadour corner Kerkstraat and Spiegelstraat and they serve best apple tart in town!

SHOPPING
My favorite area’s: Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets), close to Jordaan, it’s the area in between Prinsengracht and het Singel and between Leidsegracht and Rozengracht. This district is full with boutique fashion shops, little cafe’s and restaurants. Of course the Utrechtsestraat (see above) is a must and all of the Jordaan area with the Herenstraat. There’s only 1 department store you should know of: The Bijenkorf (Bee hive) and it’s right smack on the Dam square. Oh yes, Amsterdam’s version of Rodeo Drive…is the PC Hoofdstraat, worth a visit on Saturday and interesting people watching.

COCKTAILS
Towards the end of the afternoon settle into a sofa or cozy up right next to the bartender at the Andaz hotel on Prinsengracht housed in the former library building. For some intimate setting visit the Pulitzer bar. When the sun is out in summer and not too windy take the ferry behind the central station to the Eye film museum as they have a great outdoor area overlooking the IJ river.  The Sky lounge on the 11th floor of the Double Tree hotel gives you an unexpected cosmopolitain view across old city Amsterdam. Mentioned already is Cafe Wildschut for a ‘flute’ beer or two and any brown cafe you bump into on the canals.

DINNER
Some of my fav’s are Italian restaurant Segugio ($$$) in Utrechtsestraat; Vandermarkt ($$$) at the Weesperzijde.; Van Vlaanderen ($$$) at Weteringschans, Vooges ($) in Utrechtestraat is more of a bistro and serves very good fries and home-made! mayonnaise. Dine where your food is grown at restaurant De Kas ($$, Kamerlingh Onneslaan) or be adventurous and try Dutch cuisine at Haesje Claes ($$) in Spuistraat to sample comforting pea soup and endive stamppot. You can’t leave Amsterdam before enjoying a Dutch inspired Indonesian rice table dinner at Kantjil & de Tijger ($) in the Spuistraat.

STAYScreen Shot 2013-06-02 at 11.36.07 PM
Hotel JL, part of Vondel hotels, located at the Jan Luijkenstraat just parallel to the PC Hoofdstraat, walking distance from Rijks, Stedeliijk (modern art) as well as the Van Gogh museum. Of course the Pulitzer hotel remains my favorite and if you into very artsy design, try the Lloyd Hotel at Oostelijke Handelskade. Renting your own house boat is also an option and feel like a local.

Want to know more or add your suggestions? Love to hear your comments.

 

Share

Filed Under: A perfect day in...

A Perfect Day In..Singapore

August 7, 2012 By Jos Weesjes Leave a Comment

Shophouses Singapore



MORNING RUN
Just before sunrise is the best time to run in Singapore. Year around the sun rises at 7am-ish (and sets 12 hours later). The nighttime cools down the island and if you are lucky there’s a nice morning breeze or an early morning drizzle. Take a taxi to one on my fav running spots: East Coast and run along the coastline, Botanical Gardens and see many fit elderly folks doing their morning Qi-Gong or around the Marina Bay. MacRitchie reservoir is great for a 10K weekend run and the monkeys will join you, no kidding.

BREAKFAST
For a local breakfast go to any Hawker/Food center area and order fish porridge or a nasi lemak. The best porridge place I have found is Ah Chiang, corner Eng Watt and Tiong Poh rd in the retro Tiong Bahru hood. Walk around here and discover new coffee places, galleries. It’s like Singapore’s Miami style architecture.  Jones the Grocer in Dempsey Rd area serves a good Western/Oz style breakfast and there’s a nice ‘off the beaten track’ coffee/breakfast place called Loysel’s Toy, off the beaten track at no. 66 Kampong Bugis

BRUNCH
Try the St. Regis on Sundays and ask for the table in the alcove. Great experience, not just all buffets (thank you!), mixed with table service, including champagne and quality live music. PS Café at Harding Road is a more relaxed weekend brunch spot. Mind the parking area outside for the kid’s strollers though..

Singapore skylineMUST DO
Visit the viewing deck (SkyPark) on top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel which gives you – on a clear day – a stunning view of the island. Entrance next to Tower A, note it’s just outside the actual hotel lobby; go down the escalators. If you follow the signs in the lobby you’ll be led across the shops and casino jungle. Once up (for like $15 or so pp) enjoy the near 360 views, there’s a drinks/coffee stand. Afterwards visit an exhibition you fancy at the lotus flower shape ArtScience museum or walk a bit further to the new Botanical Gardens at the Bay. However, if you are a casino hotel complex virgin…do follow the signs to the ‘Shoppes’ and upscale brand names will dazzle you, including the indoor and oh so fake…Venetian canal with gondola’s. And yes, you can take a ride as well. I really love the amazing giant swirling fountain, have a look it’s also in-doors.

LUNCH
My favorite lunch spot is right in the middle of the Botanical Gardens. It’s called Halia Restaurant and just a 15-20 min stroll through these magnificent gardens. You’ll appreciate the air-conditioning inside or the fans outside. Ask the taxi driver to let you out at the Cluny Road (main) entrance. If you are into flowers, visit the dedicated orchid garden, pretty close to the restaurant. If too much green is not what you fancy, go straight to a mall to burn a few dollars on those credit cards. See below for lunch spots.

Dumplings

SHOPPING
It’s mall galore in Singapore. Many new malls have opened in recent years, like ION a shopping jungle, I always get lost. ION food: Marmalade Pantry serves great western fare and on the top floor a fantastic dumpling restaurant Paradise Dynasty serving a colorful palette from truffle to salmon dumplings. Mandarin Gallery with more boutique designer stores, eat at Wild Honey. However my favorite mall is Paragon, easy to navigate with just the right amount of quality brands and lunch at PS Café. Not into malls: grab a taxi to Haji Lane in the so-called Arab street area and navigate through this lane and the many side streets. A mix of fashion start-up type boutiques, lazy café’s and restaurants. Or go to Chinatown and stroll through Club Street and Ann Siang Hill, you’ll love this hood.

RELAX
Give your feet a just amazing massage at My Foot Reflexology, in Forum mall in basement (just a 10min taxi ride from Paragon, next to the Hilton). Your feet will enjoy a soothing, yet strong relaxing treatment by well-trained visually impaired therapists from the local community.

COCKTAILS
There are so many fab places to enjoy a little dirty martini. Here’s a few: go up to floor 74 (or higher, I forgot) of the Swissotel Stamford to the small cocktail bar at around 6:30pm to watch the sun set. Service sometimes comes with a tad attitude, but you know how to handle this. Otherwise up to Asia Bar one floor up for a more relaxed style. The lobby lounge of the InterContinental hotel is a stylish place to meet up before dinner with a larger crowd, love the sofas. On top of Marina Bay Sands go to Ku-De-Ta. Yes, same name as Bali but yet not the same if you know what I mean. However the views at night are just spectacular. For a true mixologist experience go back to Haji Lane no. 57A on the second floor and enjoy the amazing bespoke cocktails prepared for you at Bar Stories.

Hawker center


DINNER
Try a hawker center if you want to go local. My favorite is Lau Pa Sat. Located in the CBD area. Grab a table in ‘Sate Street’ next to the center, order a jug of Tiger beer and enjoy. In Chinatown, Maxwell food court offers all the Singapore fare you need to try. Just join the longest queues as these stalls typically offer the best food. Singapore offers many good western restaurant choices. In China town my fav’s: BROTH on Duxton Hill and PS Café in Ann Siang Hill.

 

Share

Filed Under: A perfect day in... Tagged With: cocktails, dinner, hawker, lunch, perfect day, restaurants, shopping, singapore, travel

The Factory, industrial chic B&B – Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand

July 18, 2012 By Jos Weesjes Leave a Comment

On my journey from Queenstown to Picton, initially I was planning to stay just for one night and ended up staying for three wonderful days. Janet & Paul are the live-in owners. They have created a very nice, welcoming industrial chic luxury B&B. The Factory is on the beachfront at Hapuku, 10 minutes North of Kaikoura. In the 100-year-old Hapuku Dairy Factory with dramatic views of snow-covered mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Staying at The Factory is exclusive, with only one party booked at a time, three bedrooms, open fire place, heated tiled floors, fab stainless steel kitchen unit all included. Paul is always happy to make you a stiff espresso (or short black), or latte on his Italian steam machine. Janet & Paul treated me on a great home cooked dinner with red perch and blue cod I caught during the day together with Paul. The big octopus we let go..

The egg laying hens at The Factory

Ahh..there’s three chickens providing lovely eggs for breakfast. A just magical place with wonderful hosts who provide just the right touches to make you feel at home yet let you be at ease in the well appointed guest area. I need to come back to write a book!

www.hapukufactory.com

The guest living room at The Factory
Share

Filed Under: Great places to stay Tagged With: kaikoura, luxury B&B, new zealand, self catering, south island, whale watching

Pen-y-Bryn lodge B&B – Oamaru, New Zealand

July 13, 2012 By Jos Weesjes Leave a Comment

It has been a long time ago I stepped into a bed and found two hot water bottles to keep me warm. That is what happened to me in this beautifully restored B&B house from 1889. James & James are the owners and are running a charming house with 5 bedrooms, a games room with a massive pool table, a lounge with a great open fire place, honesty bar and amazing food mostly sourced from their own garden. When I stayed, James & James were out of the country but I was well taken care of and Roy and Bernice went out of their way to make me feel at home. Great choice for a 1 or 2 night stopover. Seemingly Oamaru is a key hub for the ‘SteamPunk’ movement, a back to the future costume pageant and shows with amazing and very creative costumes. SteamPunk museum in the centre of Oamaru.
www.penybryn.co.nz
41 Towey Street  Holmes Hill, Oamaru 9401
(03) 434 7939

Share

Filed Under: Great places to stay Tagged With: B&B, guesthouse, new zealand, oamaru, south island, steam punk

How a luxury hotel should be, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel – Hanoi, Vietnam

June 11, 2012 By Jos Weesjes Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having stayed here only 24 hours, it was well worth it every minute. And every cent! This is one of those hotels with the look, feel, comfort, services and facilities I love. In touch with what hospitality is all about, anticipating what guests needs are and delivering it. I enjoyed sipping a beer in the afternoon on their street café, a great professional spa & gym, great service at the pool and several options to enjoy breakfast. When in Hanoi, please promise me to stay here or at least visit.

 

Share

Filed Under: Great places to stay Tagged With: hanoi, luxury hotel, metropole, vietnam

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Next Page »

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Been There, Done That..? Are you ready to address the Now What?
  • Setting new goals for 2019? Do this first.
  • Is your 2020 goal to double in size…?
  • Got 10 minutes…?

Inside Out® Personal Leadership Programme

Also available as in-company training

 

Learn More

Connect with Quriouslife

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Or drop us a note

[email protected]

  • Inside Out
  • About
  • SERVICES
  • ENGAGEMENTS
  • BLOG & INFO
  • CONTACT

Copyright © 2019 · All Rights Reserved ·

Powered By BlogPress • How To Start A Blog