Hotel New Century Kawaguchiko, Japan review

It was my travel bucketist to stay at a lakeside hotel at Kawaguchiko and wake up to a view of Mount Fuji. So I made it come true. The hotel I booked was New Century Kawaguchiko, one of the more affordable hotel on that side of the lake. 

After a day of gallivanting all the way to Fujiyoshida to hit the usual tourist stops for my group, we checked into New Century hotel at 3pm. As soon as we parked at the hotel lot, we were immediately greeted by their helpful staff who assisted with our luggage. Check-in was smooth with the receptionist being able to communicate in English and even told us what we can do around the area.  

Royal Hotel Kawaguchiko, Japan review

Finding a hotel in Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Japan can be tricky especially when you have a big group and a car. Yes, Airbnb was an option but I wasn't in the mood to deal with cleaning up and taking out the trash while I was on holiday. Furthermore, this trip was partly for the Fujisan Marathon and as per my race practice, I wanted an accommodation within walking distance from the start line. 

[Food Review] Manhattan Fish Market Golden Cheese Treasures

Okay, it has been a long time since I've done a food review so bear with me as I dig out my rusty culinary describing skills.

I was recently invited to try out Manhattan Fish Market's Golden Cheese Treasures dishes. Seafood is already a sign of prosperity during Chinese New Year. So how else better to add more prosperity than a dash of cheese with its golden hues to mirror gold, a symbol of wealth and fortune. 

Saruya Hostel, Fujiyoshida Japan Review

I will be honest. The main reason I picked Saruya Hostel to stay at in Fujiyoshida, Japan was its location - right in front of the iconic historical street framing Mount Fuji. The aesthetically pleasing interior built within a renovated 80-year old Japanese-style house and Muji-like decors were plus points. 

The hostel is just a 10 minutes walk from Shimoyoshida Station, which makes it easy to access from Shinjuku, Tokyo and to explore the surrounding area including Chureito Pagoda and Lake Kawaguchiko. Mount Fuji (Fujisan) station is in the opposite direction and convenient for catching a train or bus back to Tokyo. 

Running 10km at KLSCM 2023 as Pikachu

Each time I ran a race in Japan and was amused by the runners dressed up as a cuddly mascot and such, I used to wonder....what is it like? Well, at the most recent Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon - Boost Juice 10KM, I found out while dressed as Pikachu. 

Right up until 15 minutes before flag off at 615am on 30 Sept 2023, I was still on the fence about wearing it for a whole 10km. But then the girl math kicked in - since I had already bought it for RM120 in Japan, went through the hassle of bringing it home, used it as my charity hook and now, brought it to the race site, why not?

Book and Bed Shinjuku, Tokyo Review

What would it be like to sleep in between shelves and racks of books and comics? If you're a bookworm or just a curious traveller, then perhaps Book and Bed Shinjuku might be worth a try on your next trip to Tokyo, Japan. Set in amidst the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku district, this unique capsule hotel is located just a 10 minutes walk from Shinjuku main station and two streets away from the busy Kabukicho where Godzilla looms. 

[Cafe Review] Ghostbird Coffee + Ramen Project

 A solo jaunt into Seputeh found me at Ghostbird Coffee, a hidden cafe that shares its space with a Yoshoku-inspired pop-up kitchen, Ramen Project. For a late Saturday morning, the cafe was quiet - a rarity in today's explosion of cafes in Malaysia and I absolutely milked in the peace and quiet. 

The place was inviting with all sorts of homey furniture and decorations that didn't match. In short, it had the vibes and feels of someone's home. Ghostbird Coffee Company was its own roastery and upon wandering over into the shoplet side, I could sniff the scent of freshly roasted coffee beans. Delightful.

Uncover 5 of Sydney and New South Wales' Hidden Cafes and Restaurants [Tried and Tested]

Sydney and New South Wales, Australia, is a haven for food lovers, with its diverse culinary landscape offering a multitude of delightful experiences. From quaint mountain towns to bustling city streets, this Australian state has something to satiate every palate. In my past few trips to Sydney and New South Wales, I have had the chance to visit several of the state's hidden gems of cafes and restaurants that aren't The Grounds of Alexandria or Speedos at Bondi Beach. 

Gyukatsu Motomura Tokyo Review

I love my meat. So when I learnt about Gyukatsu Motomura that specialises in gyukatsu aka beef cutlets, I knew I had to try it on my trip to Tokyo. Gyukatsu Motomura has several locations throughout the city, including in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ginza. There were three within Shinjuku alone so I was spoiled for choice in terms of outlets. 

Qatar Airways Business Class Review [KL - DOHA]

I was assigned to a work trip to Qatar to create social media content and got to enjoy a one way business class experience onboard Qatar Airways from Kuala Lumpur to Doha. I have ascended as a traveller *cue the angel's singing*

My group was initially in economy, which I didn't mind since I have heard nothing but praises for Qatar Airways. It was my first time too on Qatar Airways so I was excited to experience it. But when we got to the departure gate, we found out that we had gotten an upgrade to business class. 

Nakwon Station Cafe, Ikseon-dong, Seoul

Personally, I thought Ikseon-dong was a much nicer neighbourhood to stay in than Myeongdong. Here, you get the best of two worlds - blending traditional culture with modern cafe. Ikseon-dong is a hanok village build in 1920. Although it is not as big as Bukchon Hanok Village, it is still a must-visit area in Seoul for cafe-hopping as there are so many different thematic cafes, hanok cafes and restaurants.  

Van Gogh Alive Kuala Lumpur, Pavilion Bukit Jalil

Van Gogh Alive is in Malaysia and you can check it out from 17 Dec 2022 to 16 March 2023. 

If you're a fan of the misunderstood artist of his time then do drop by Pavilion Bukit Jalil to be immerse and enthralled by his artworks projected in many forms. I got a sneak preview of the exhibition and here's what to expect. 

KLSCM 2022: Half marathon PB or Instagrammable Photos?

After my sneak peek of the new KLSCM route, I posed a question to my followers - should I gun for a PB or take my time and take photos of the KL scenery. TL:DR - I opted for the latter and achieve the former. 

After an exciting flag off from Dataran Merdeka, I took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur at an unhurried pace to enjoy the ambience of the return of KL's most prestigious running event. Backstreet Boys was playing in my Sudio E2 earbuds and I almost wanted to burst into song, Nine Nine style. Then the first glimpse of KL Tower came into view in Kampung Baru. 

[Cafe Review] Sin Tong Hong Kopitiam, Taman Paramount PJ

 Is just me or is modernise kopitiam the new trend joining the food scene in the Klang Valley? No more sweaty, hot dining experience and hello, beautiful designed interior with plants and plenty of natural lighting. First hailing from Sitiawan in 1999, the much loved Sin Tong Hong Kopitiam has now moved to Taman Paramount PJ.

Run by the Tan family, the new cafe takes up two levels of space in the unassuming shop lot, fitting in alongside electrical shops, car workshop, traditional coffee shops and the latest additions of cafes to the neighbourhood. Similarly its interior reflects this harmonious blend of traditional and modern across its two floors. 

[Review + Promo code!] Sudio E2 armed with Dirac's Spatial Audio

I am back with another round of earbuds reviewing thanks once again to Sudio.

 Sudio's latest wireless earbud collection, the E2 has a lot to offer all packed up in one compact box with the choice of four colours that lets those around you immediately know that those are not Airpods - black, grey, sand and jade.

[REVIEW] Work-STAYCATION at Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur Part 2

Let it be known that I was not just slaving away with work when I was staying at Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang which you can read about here in part 1. Sure their fast and stable wifi, working spaces and the Pow Wow lounge made it easier to get work more productively but having a salt water infinity pool on the 41st floor made it even better. 

I spent most of my mornings at the pool to catch the sunrise while taking a dip. The water was salt water, selected for its health benefits in relaxing the body without that chlorine smell. The only thing missing was a pool bar serving up cocktails and coffee....

[REVIEW] WORK-Staycation at Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur Part 1

Hotels are now so much more than just your home away from home. Say goodbye to old fashion business hotels for work and say hello to Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang. Located right smack in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Capri by Fraser offers a haven for digital working nomads looking to have the best of both world, transiting from work to vacation seamlessly. 

And to see if this could be done, I stayed over at the hotel for 4 days at the tail end of a busy work week and right into the weekend. 

Trying out the Car Lift at Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang

I recently stayed at Capri by Fraser Bukit Bintang and wasn't the only one getting a staycation. My car too got a flood-free stay for 3 nights in their amazing elevated parking bays. You know those car parking spaces in Japan's cities where cars go in and magical disappear after the shutters close? Well, they have it here too and considering how it rained cats and dogs for two of the evenings I was there, it was such a relief that my car wasn't waterlogged. 

[Cafe Review] Kona Bakehouse SS2 Petaling Jaya

Cafes are popping up around Petaling Jaya like happy mushrooms, sending crowds of people into the further corners of the suburbs in search for the next it place for their next social media posting. I am no different but there are days when all I want is a quiet cafe with good pastries and coffee where I can spent a hour just chilling and trying not to virtually murder my colleagues. 

Kona Bakehouse in SS2 hits that mark right on a weekday. I imagine on weekends, being right next to the viral matcha-coffee specialist, Story of Ono, Kona would have its fair share of crowds as well. With Japanese in its theme, their main highlight is the shio pan which basically translates to salted bread. And it just so happened, I was hunting for shio pan and to my knowledge, there were only two bakeries that does this quite well. 

[REVIEW] Hompton by the Beach, Penang

Penang is one of those destinations where you can choose and pick your accommodation based on what you want to do or eat. Want to be surrounded by food and a UNESCO site, then stay in Georgetown. Want to wake up to isolation from the crowd, then stay around Balik Pulau. If you're looking for a beach side hotel, look no further than Hompton by the Beach, Tanjung Bungah.