Monday, 13 July 2026

June 2026 - Vancouver + Alaska

Finally checked off the Alaskan cruise on my dad's bucket list! Alaskan cruise season is May to Sep, and my exams ended in May so June was an opportune time. It seems like Princess Cruises and Holland America are the two main cruise lines for Alaska, and I eventually picked Princess as it seemed a bit livelier. There were soo many different itineraries comprising different directions (North to South or vice versa), different departure ports (Vancouver or Seattle), different Alaskan ports, as well as cruise only, land then cruise or cruise then land. And then of course, which ship, which room, whether to get the package or not. I started researching last year and still couldn't make a decision. It was around February when I realised many of the options were getting sold out, so I decided to just go ahead and settled on a 7 day, north bound cruise on Discovery Princess departing from Vancouver. 

Saturday, 14 March 2026

March 2026 - Perth

Needed a short getaway and spent a super productive 60h in Perth! So I thought March is towards the end of Aussie summer and the temperature forecast was initially around 25 degrees. But as the trip drew closer, the temperature forecast kept rising and reached a peak of 39 degrees on my second day when I went to Rottnest Island! While it was definitely hot, it didn't feel as uncomfortable as the heat in Singapore as the humidity is only around 30+% in Perth, so you sweat less. Nevertheless, this meant excellent weather for outdoor activities. For this trip, I took Scoot and the round trip cost less than $300 which is a great deal. For my hotel, I went with The Melbourne Hotel (yes, the name is confusing) situated around 15min by walking from the Perth CBD station. It's a 5 star hotel, but I chose it primarily because the gym is open 24h! 

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Drama Reviews - Our Unwritten Seoul (2025)


My pace of watching korean dramas has really dropped off, but I decided to pick up Our Unwritten Seoul due to rave reviews and the interesting premise of Park Boyoung acting as twins who swap places. Mirae is the twin who excelled academically and works in a big corporation in Seoul, while Miji excelled in sports but got a severe ankle injury which ended her running career, and now works odd jobs. One day, Miji finds out Mirae is suffering from workplace bullying, and they decide to swap places, just like old times. 

Sunday, 28 December 2025

Drama Reviews - Squid Game (Season 3) (2025)

 

I was very late to this given my exams, and only watched in somewhere in November. Finally, the last season of Squid Game 3 to wrap up the series, though really it's more of a season 2b. We pick up right where we left off in Season 2 following the failed mutiny led by Gihun (Lee Jungjae), following the "betrayal" by Frontman (Lee Byunghun) and incompetence of Daeho (Kang Haneul). 

Sunday, 9 November 2025

October/November 2025 - Turkiye

Last big trip of the year! Been flying too much recently with a couple of work trips. This was fairly last minute as I had an exam in September and didn't have mind space to plan anything until after the exam. 

Since I booked tickets quite late, and due to some other conflicting schedules, we went with Turkish Airlines instead of SQ. Tickets were actually very affordable at less than $800 for a return trip to Istanbul. We also went with Turkish Airlines for a return trip from Istanbul to Kayseri Airport, which is one of the airports to get to Cappadocia. 

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

July 2025 - Bali

A quick 40h in Bali between postings! I booked this on a whim while stressed out planning for another work trip and decided I really needed some alone time. Unfortunately, could only afford 2 nights, landing late on the first day and leaving early on the last day, which means I was in Bali for less than 40h. Nevertheless, tried to make the most of it!

Friday, 2 May 2025

April 2025 - Czechia + Budapest

Annual April trip for IIHF Women's World Championships! Held at Ceske Budejovice in Czech Republic this year, but I've been to Czech 8 years ago so we spent 1 night in Prague, 2 nights in Ceske Budejovice then 4 nights in Budapest. 

Sunday, 2 March 2025

Drama Reviews - A Time Called You (2023)

A bit late to this but I'm a diehard fan of Jeon Yeobeen ever since Be Melodramatic, so this has been on my to-watch list for a long time. A Time Called You is about Han Junhee (Jeon Yeobeen) who loses her boyfriend Gu Yeonjun (Ahn Hyoseop) in a tragic accident in 2023, who then travels back to 1998 and inhabits the body of high school student Kwon Minju (also Jeon Yeobeen), where she meets Nam Siheon (also Ahn Hyoseop) who has the same face as her deceased boyfriend. Yes it's time travel, and its complicated! 

Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Drama Reviews - Squid Game (Season 2) (2024)


Putting my Netflix subscription into use after a long time to watch Squid Game season 2. An intro of this seems redundant since who hasn't watched it, but just to keep to the format - Squid Game is a secret game where 456 players are brought to an island to play games and have a chance to win money to pay off their debts if they survive. Season 2 follows Gi-hun (Lee Jungjae) after he won the game, but now is intent on returning to the game to stop it from within. 

Saturday, 18 January 2025

Drama Reviews - Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)

 

Jeongnyeon is a drama set in the 1950s about a country bumpkin who has been gifted with an incredible voice, and her journey into the gukgeuk world by joining Maeran troupe, an all-female theatre troupe. 

Sunday, 22 December 2024

December 2024 - New Zealand

Final trip of the year! New Zealand has been one of the places on the top of my to-go list, and so glad we finally made it happen! I prefer holidays that are about 1.5 weeks (too long and I get travel fatigue), so this time we went for 9 nights, focusing on the South Island only, arriving in Christchurch then driving down, stopping by Tekapo and Wanaka before going to Queenstown where we flew back from. 

Saturday, 26 October 2024

October 2024 - Seoul + Busan [BoA One's Own in Seoul]

Short 5 night trip to Korea recently for BoA's concert in Seoul! Since I've been to Seoul a couple of times, decided to take the opportunity to head to Busan for 3 days as well. We took Scoot from Singapore to Seoul, then SQ from Busan back to Singapore and it cost around $700 per person in total. 

Sunday, 6 October 2024

Drama Reviews - Revenant (2023)

Revenant is a series about Gu Sanyoung (Kim Taeri) who gets possessed by an evil spirit and a folklore professor, Yeom Haesang (Oh Jungse) who tries to get rid of the evil spirit. 

The horror genre of the show means that it wouldn't usually be on my radar, but this had Kim Taeri, plus glowing reviews, so I decided to pick it up after getting Disney plus. It was a great decision because this show was excellent. 

Sunday, 29 September 2024

Food Hunts - Ice cream with Waffles in Singapore

One of my favourite desserts - ice cream with waffles. Now and then I get a craving for waffles and nidda scratch that itch. Our default used to be Craftsmen or Creamier, but have been making an effort to try different stores recently. We usually get a double scoop, with one scoop being the dark chocolate (if it looks sufficiently dark - I hate milk chocolate ice cream), and the other scoop being a lighter flavour, usually biscoff/speculoos or cookies and cream. For organisation sake, I've split the list into: Usual Haunts, Must Try, Worth A Try and Wouldn't Order Again. 

This post is updated as of Jan 2026.  

Usual haunts

Craftsmen Specialty Coffee

One of my favourites which I used to frequent all the time. Crispy waffles with seasalt caramel ice cream and a whole host of toppings. They kept changing up the presentation - as illustrated below. Haven't been there in awhile though because prices kept increasing!  

 

 

 

 

 

Creamier


One of the OGs which we've tried many times, though we usually takeaway and heat it up to regain the crispiness because the store is always so crowded. But we have also eaten there a couple of times - most recently during waffle day where they had a 1-for-1 promo where we had the peanut butter & oreos and chocolate, though we usually get the sea salt gula melaka when taking away. 

Toby's Estate


Another all time favourite, this was one our earliest cafe haunts because of 1-for-1 on entertainer. The waffle was on the small side with slightly harder edges than usual, but what I loved was the combination of the sweet chocolate sauce and sour berry compote. So good! I really need to revisit to see if this is still on their new menu.

Must Try

Carrara


Look at this gorgeous dessert. The dark chocolate was very very gao. Definitely one of the best I've ever tried. We also had a scoop of cookies and cream to balance out the richness. Waffles were EXCELLENT texture and taste wise. We also had dinner here and the food was decent with really reasonable prices. Definitely worth visiting. 

Note: we revisited in 2025 and were unfortunately let down by the waffle texture, which was not as crispy as before. Just look at the edges of the pic below. 

Lickers


One of the best waffles that truly hits the spot. Dark chocolate and speculoos ice cream was creamy and rich. Bonus that the outlet we visited at Telok Blangah is really spacious, opens till late and they accept CDC vouchers!

Muted


Dark chocolate ice cream was amazing and buttermilk waffles were cripsy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Nothing to fault, really.  

Happy to report that the standards held up on a revisit. One of the better pistachio gelatos as well!    


 Sweet Cheeks


A popular place along Jalan Besar, this buttermilk waffle took awhile but was worth the wait. It had the textbook texture of a good waffle with a strong buttermilk taste. For the ice cream, we had the chocolate and the biscoff cookie crunch which were decent enough though not the best. Chocolate definitely could have been darker (look at the colour compared to the others). 

Ree & Mummy


This place was on my to-go list for the longest time cos it has a whopping 4.9 stars on Google, and we finally made the trek to Katong one evening after dinner. Glad to say it was 100% worth it. We got the double scoop with waffles as usual - 1 scoop of dark chocolate and 1 scoop of whisky cream because I like alcoholic desserts, even though I don't drink alcohol. The dark chocolate was so thick and rich and fulfilled all the checkboxes of a good dark choc ice cream, and the whisky was sweet with a good alcoholic kick. The waffles were pitch perfect - crispy sides, fluffy interior that held up well and didn't become soggy. We were also enticed by the cakes and ended up getting the chocolate hazelnut cheesecake and pecan caramel chocolate cake which were both excellent. Definitely going back to try the rest of their cakes (including their signature pineapple cheesecake).

Days of Elijah [CLOSED]


This waffle was TOP TIER. We had the tiramisu and speculoos ice cream which were pretty decent though portions weren't the largest. Unfortunately, we went on one of their last few days of operation :( But it's still here because this was so good. 

Cotta

 

A small cafe tucked away on the second floor of the food street along Tanjong Pagar, this place is perpetually packed after dinner, which is a testament to its popularity. On this visit, we tried the pistachio and dark chocolate rose gelato on waffles. Everything was a hit - the waffle texture was on point with a good crispy and a light fluffy interior, and I particularly loved the hints of rose in the dark choc. Definitely worth a revisit.

Petals and Peak

A fairly new joint at CHIJMES, this cozy cafe is run by a passionate couple who carefully explained and let me try every single flavour! I'm not the most adventurous so I went with cookies and cream and pistachio, but both were really good. Waffle texture was perfect as well - crisp outsides, light fluffy inside. Definitely satisfied my waffle craving, though it's not cheap and came up to more than 20 bucks.  

Hay Gelato

 

A great late night option in the East, we went with the roasted cacao and earl grey flavours that were nothing mindblowing, but THAT waffles was probably the crispiest we've ever had. Would come back for the waffles. 

Second Floor Lab Gelato 

 

Opened by a couple who previously sold gelato out of their home on the second floor, Second Floor Lab offers a range of interesting flavours. Other than the usual chocolate, we decided to try the white chocolate rose which was definitely different from the nuttier flavours we usually go for. No complaints about the waffle, which was crisp outside, light inside. It's located at the bottom of a HDB so CDC vouchers are accepted!  

Worth A Try

Tom's Palette 

 

One of the OGs in the local ice cream scene with the most unorthodox flavours, we went with guinness choc (I don't drink alcohol but love alcoholic desserts!) and salted caramel cheesecake, which was on the tame side of flavours. The waffle texture was decent but I felt the crusts could be crispier, though I LOVE that they sell it in half portions when we're not so hungry. Gelatos are a must try, waffles are worth a try, but I would go for the cones which are excellent. 

Hundred Acre Creamery


I'm a huge fan of Pooh & Piglet, so this decor was right up my alley. So cute!

We tried their coconut pandan waffles which is their signature. Really liked the pandan taste, but I'm not a mochi fan so I wasn't too fond of the mochi texture. For ice cream, we had sea salt butter caramel biscotti and pistachio. I'm probably one of the few people who doesn't like pistachio ice cream haha. I've tried many (including all the places where people proclaim has the best pistachio ice cream), and always feel like I really have to concentrate to taste even a hint of pistachio.

Holy Cow Creamery 


The waffles were pretty good, crispy outside and soft inside. However, the ice cream was  disappointing. Chocolate OD was okay but not the best, and the Bailey's only had the slightest alcohol hint. 

Cafe Usagi

 

Tried this on a whim since there's 1-for-1 gelato on entertainer, and were pleasantly surprised by the waffles which were very respectable. The dark chocolate gelato was excellent, though the pistachio has a strange after taste to it.  

Clovelly

 

Made a long trek to Serangoon to try Clovelly, and couldn't resist getting their pistachio ice cream with waffles. Both were decent, albeit not the most memorable. 

Freaky Cones 

Ended up here on a whim because the queue for Messina was too long. This place takes the former premises of Grid and Circles, and occupies two floors, giving plenty of sitting room. We had the dark choc and breakfast toast which was a slightly more adventurous choice than usual. Gelato tasted amazing, and the waffles were SO crispy and definitely hit the spot. On the pricey end with the bill exceeding 20 bucks, but a solid option in town. 

Wouldn't order again 

The Dark Gallery


We came here due to the 1-for-1 ice cream plated desserts on Entertainer, and had the double scoop with waffles as one of the desserts. I can't remember the flavours we chose, but I am not the biggest fan of Dark Gallery's ice creams. Somehow I always feel like their chocolate ice cream feels a little artificial and not gao enough. The waffles were alright, but I really liked the topping which you can choose! I probably wouldn't order it again on my own, but it's definitely worth it with the deal. 

Cold Break


They're popular for their niangao waffles, but we went for the normal buttermilk waffles as I don't like chewy things haha. Not the best waffles - edges were a little inconsistent (as can be seen in the picture) and not as crispy as the others, while the insides were also more cakey than fluffy. For the ice cream, we had the varlhona dark chocolate with cocoa nibs and the sea salt biscoff which were yummy. I did sample the truffle chocolate but didn't get it in the end as the truffle taste might have been a little too out-there. 

O Happi Place [CLOSED]


Was looking forward to trying this place as there were many good reviews and there was 1-for-1 on burpple. Unfortunately, the ice cream was pretty mediocre. Just look at the colour of the chocolate and you can tell it wouldn't be dark. Waffles weren't memorable either. 

Sweedy Patisserie

Wanted to try their pistachio waffle but we were apparently too early and it wasn't available, so ended up with the regular waffles. I initially chose dark chocolate ice cream but it also wasn't available (!!), so we changed to oreo ice cream. Well, the ice cream texture was terrible. It was ICY. Waffles were crispy but not the fluffiest. But overall this was...not satisfying. To make up for it, they gave us a free fatcaron which was thankfully pretty good.

Aphrodite


We were too late for waffles during our first visit so I revisited to try the waffles but was left pretty disappointed. First, the colour already looks off. It's too light on one side, while the other side was alot darker, which means the waffle maker's heater is probably uneven. As a result, the texture was really off because it was not crispy. Luckily, the ice cream (chocolate and speculoos) were good which salvaged the situation, but man, this did not satisfy my waffle cravings. I took a look at the photos on google reviews and noted the same inconsistency in other photos. 

Rise Bakehouse

 

This looks very pretty but the waffles were sadly not that crispy. Luckily, the salted gula melaka gelato was really good!

Oh Wunder

Opened by the team behind Wunderfolks which is known for their tarts, we decided to give the waffles and gelato a try when we visited for brunch. While the price was very reasonable, especially with Grab Dineout Deals, I thought the quality was slightly below average. The waffles could definitely be crispier, and the texture of the gelato was on the icy side as seen from the picture. 

Mr Bucket Chocolaterie 

 

Loved the dark choc gelato - wouldn't expect anything less for a chocolate specialty shop. Unfortunately, the waffle texture left a lot to be desired. Just get the gelato on its own. We had brunch there and were pleasantly surprised by the food as well.  

Sunday, 8 September 2024

Drama Reviews - Moving (2023)

 

I had heard many good things about Moving, which was this year's Baeksang Awards Drama Daesang winner, and finally got to watch it on Disney+. Based on a novel by Kang Full (who was also the screenwriter), the show is about humans with special abilities like flying, super strength, regeneration, xray vision, and is a 20-ep epic that follows two generations of superhumans. 

Sunday, 4 August 2024

Food Hunts - French Toast in Singapore

We first started trying cafes as a weekend treat, and because there were a number of 1-for-1 deals on Entertainer. This eventually evolved into a cafe hopping hobby and a mission to find the best french toast because my dad LOVES the dish. If it's on the menu, we'd order it. Because we've tried so many over the years, I'll be splitting the list into 4 main categories: All Time Faves, Would Order Again, Worth A Try and Order Something Else, as well as Closed for all the cafes which have closed since we tried it. So here goes! It's a LONG list. 

This post is updated as of 27 May 2026.

Monday, 8 July 2024

Food Hunts - Kaya Toast in Singapore

One of my main hobbies is exploring new food and I've been meaning to write about all the many places, so will be starting a series documenting our food hunts! This year, my family has been going around trying kaya toasts in Singapore because kaya toast is the quintessential Singaporean breakfast and comfort food, but we almost always only eat Yakun, and recently the kaya in the kaya toast has been sooo little so we thought it's time to broaden our kaya toast horizons! Also, there are many lists of 'best kaya toasts in Singapore' floating around so I was tempted to give them a try. So here goes, listed by chronological order of visit.

Sunday, 23 June 2024

June 2024 - Hong Kong & Macau [VNL 2024]

Continuing my adventures round the world to watch sports, this time it was Hong Kong for Week 3 of VNL 2024! It's been awhile since we last visited HK and air tickets were pretty cheap - around $350 per person on SQ for round trip! 

Sunday, 28 April 2024

April 2024 - Upstate NY, Boston, Ottawa, Montreal (Part 2) [PWHL]

Continuing with Part 2 of my trip, where I head to Canada for PWHL matches in Ottawa and Montreal.

April 2024 - Upstate NY, Boston, Ottawa, Montreal (Part 1) [Women's Hockey Worlds]

Third trip to North America in less than 3 years! Because IIHF Women's Hockey World Championships was held in Utica, NY this year, and the Professional Women's Hockey League also started this year and there happened to be 2 games in Montreal and Ottawa just a week after Worlds, so decided to take the opportunity to do both in one trip!

My itinerary was to fly from Singapore to NYC, travel up to Utica (upstate NY), then to Boston, then take a flight to Ottawa, and fly back to Singapore from Montreal. I decided to take Emirates as it's cheaper than SQ and it allowed me to fly back from Montreal without going back to NYC. I also booked all my tickets on the assumption that the PWHL Ottawa game was on April 20th and PWHL Montreal game was on April 21st, but then the Montreal game got shifted to April 20th, so my plans were kinda messed up and I had to do a lot of extra travelling since 1) I didn't want to change my flights, and 2) I still had to fly back from Montreal as Emirates doesn't fly from Ottawa.