Honeymoon Destination Decided!

After weeks and weeks of discussion, we finally decided on our honeymoon destination!!

Here's what we have roughly decided on:
6D 5N: London
5D 5N: Iceland
10D 10N: France

Travel period: Mid-November to Beginning of December
It will be freezing! Need to start to look out for winter wear sale!

Budget for 2: S$12,000 to S$15,000
We need to start saving up after the wedding!!

EXCITED! Will post a more detailed itinerary after the wedding :)

PetiteFreckles ♥

Pune Retreat, India

Just got back from a 6 days retreat trip to India with J and my parents which was organized by the Centre of Inner Studies (CIS), Singapore. CIS was established in 2006 and is affiliated to the World Pranic Healing Foundation in Manila. They are a non-profit organization which teaches pranic healing with proven scientific approach (a “no-touch, no-drug” energy based healing modality). And the best thing is that it is not linked to any religion. 

The trip to India was a real eye-opener, we thoroughly enjoyed the process and food. And it was seriously therapeutic, love the peace and quietness over there :D We arrived in Mumbai and took a 6 hours bus ride to a mountain in Pune. We passed by many slums and it was really sad to see the living conditions of the people. The weather was slightly chilly at night (around 10degrees I think) and in the afternoon it's really warm. 

Indian Vegetarian food on board Jet Airways

Passing a town on the way to the mountain

And I have to say that I had the most memorable trip of my life- I have a terrible case of acrophobia but because of my 'itchy backside' (nothing literal), I decided to give mountain hiking a go. With only a torchlight, we took off at 5.30am in pitch darkness, it was really scary for me especially with my wild imagination and any lack of concentration can send me rolling off the mountain because it was pretty steep. The hike up and down took about 4 hours and throughout the journey, I was like tearing non-stop and kept saying "OMG i'm gonna fall off!" and didn't want to move, haha that was how bad my phobia was. But I'm so glad that I managed to conquer the mountain and to have J next to me ;D

Sorry didn't have much photos of the trip.

On the way to the airport, we stopped by a mall to take a look and to do some quick shopping :)

PetiteFreckles ♥

Bangkok Part 2: A city of Awesome Food, Shopping and Massages

... continued ...

 

Day 3, Monday

 

Glow Pratunam, booked the deluxe room with breakfast buffet via Agoda at S$80/night.

Love the location, it's just right opposite Platinum mall and walking distance to the pratunam morning market.

 

Address: 919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai Rajdhevi

 

 

Since we were early, we left our luggages at the hotel before heading for breakfast at MacD and shopping at the morning market! Came back at 1pm with our room prettily made-up! The room and toilet was very spacious, clean and equipped with the necessary toiletries, while the bed was so fluffy and nice! ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

Showered and rest awhile before heading for late lunch at the famed Som Tam Nua which serves north-eastern Thai (Issan) food.

 

Som Tam Nua

Address: 392/14 Siam Square Soi 5, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok

Opening Hours: 10.45am to 21.30pm

 

 

We ordered:

• Som tam with salted egg

• Hot and spicy crispy fish

• Fried chicken

• Sticky rice

• Thai milk tea

We love every dish ordered. The chicken and fish was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside while preserving the juiciness of the meat. And the som tam was very appetizing with the sour, spicy and salty flavour all in each mouthful. And the best thing? The bill only came up to only 503baht (~S$20) ^^ Thumbs up!  If you were to visit Bangkok, do check out this place, you won't regret it! But do note that lunch and dinner time can be pretty crowded so do be prepared to queue.

 

After the satisfying lunch, we spent the next few hours shopping around Pratunam area, before heading back to Glow for a foot massage - 350baht (~S$14) per pax for an hour. Mmm the massage wasn't that good haha.

 

Night market outside palladium mall, bought 2 passport covers for parents, hand sewn key pouches and iPad cover for sis.

 

We packed dinner from a stall in front of Shibuya 19/Glow. We ordered a salt-baked fish, squid with salted egg and kang kong. Damage: 880baht (~S$35). It wasn't as nice as the stall between platinum mall and central world and it was slightly more expensive.

 

 

 

Day 4, Tuesday

 

Next day, we woke up around 6.30am for the pratunam morning market. Didn't buy much, just bought 3 leggings, 1 skirt and 2 skorts :(

 

Went back for breakfast, shower and nap before heading out for lunch at Greyhound Cafe located at Groove @ Central World. We had a hard time searching for it haha.

 

 

We ordered a lobster bisque, fried tuna wanton with salsa, pesto pasta, red velvet waffle and a milk tea to share. Total bill came up to 1023baht (~S$41). The food was AWESOME, we love it so much! A lot better than many western food we tried in Singapore haha and the price wasn't too pricey :) Highly recommended!

 

 

 

 

After walking around Siam area, we had early dinner at the long gang area near platinum mall, now they have shifted slightly further down to right outside Central World. We love the food there, there's a few stalls selling the same thing but we usually frequent the one stall that's the closest to Central World.

 

We ordered the famous salt-baked fish, tom yam goong, stir-fried morning glory, barbeque sotong and river prawns plus a bottle of beer, all for the price of 680baht (~S$27). Cheap cheap cheap!

 

Ate till my tummy was so full and bloated hahaha.

        

 

 

 

Day 5

 

Last day in Bangkok! So we woke up at 8 to have breakfast before heading to Bobae market which is another wholesale market. We took a cab which is about 15 mins drive away, cost around 50 baht without any traffic. But coming back cost slightly more (63baht).



Bobae market area

 

 

After walking around for about an hour, we headed back to Glow. There wasn't much to buy from Bobae market unless you have kids, they sell lots of toys and kids' clothes.

 

3 minutes away from the hotel, we passed by a roadside stall selling bags at only 190baht (S$7.80)! Immediately bought 2 bags :) Headed back to the hotel to pack and check out.

 

Since our flight was at 9.20pm, we went to MBK for lunch and did some last minute shopping and had one last foot massage :D



Lunch was nothing to rave about. So will not talk about it.

 

It was time to eat again! Tea time @ our favourite store in MBK - Mont Nom Sod.

Located @ MBK, Level 2 (opposite photo shop)

Open from Mon-Sun 10.00pm to 22.00pm

 

This place is always filled with people and it was recommended by my parents :) We ordered our usual: Original coconut and corn soup toast! This place never fail to make us happy! Love love love! Bought 2 marmalade jam (50 baht) back for my mum, it can be kept for 1 month in the refridgerator.

And before heading back to Glow to collect from luggages, we decided to checkout the foodcourt @ Siam. They are having some event that's promoting authetic siamese dishes so we bought the oyster omelette and curry chicken noodles. Sedap!!

By the way, we made a mistake by taking the cab during peak hour, it took us more than an hour to get to the airport, 240baht (~$9.50) including toll fees. We arrived just in time before the check in counter closed -.- So I would recommend for everybody to take the airport express if you do not have many luggages to luge along, it will save you time and the anxiety attack hahaha.

 

We had a quick meal at Burger King before taking the 9.20pm flight back to Singapore. Hahaha we can really eat a lot right :p

 

That's all for my post on Bangkok, hope you enjoyed reading it, can't wait for my next holiday!

PetiteFreckles ♥