Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

September 08, 2026

Pasalubong from Hong Kong: Kee Wah Bakery x Don Mak Gift Set

 It had been more than a decade since our last visit to Hong Kong. During that trip, I wasn't able to buy any of the popular Hong Kong pasalubong because Macau was our last destination. We did shop for a few items at Disneyland and Citygate Outlet, but those weren't really the usual food pasalubong I had in mind.
 
According to my research, some of the popular food pasalubong from Hong Kong include Jenny Bakery Butter Cookies, Kee Wah Bakery pastries, Bakehouse egg tarts, and Chinese tea.
 
So when my husband was scheduled to travel to Pune, India, with a layover in Hong Kong, I did a quick search to see what pasalubong he could buy at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
 
If you remember my old post, I did something similar when he traveled to Chengdu, China, and had a layover in HKIA. That time, I asked him to buy something from Kate Spade. This time, of course, I was looking for something delicious to bring home.
 
Fortunately, Kee Wah Bakery has a branch at HKIA. When my husband arrived in Hong Kong, he simply took photos of the cookies and gift boxes available for purchase and sent them to me. That gave me about a week to decide what I wanted him to bring home.


Kee Wah Bakery x Don Mak Hong Kong Gift Set
 
After looking at the options, I finally told him to buy the Kee Wah Bakery x Don Mak Hong Kong Gift Set, which cost HK$188.
 
Honestly, I initially thought it was quite expensive for a box of cookies. But when my husband arrived home and I finally saw the gift set in person, I understood why it cost that much. The packaging is so beautiful!
 
The box is sturdy and feels almost like an iPhone box; you know, the kind of packaging that is too nice to simply throw away. I will definitely be keeping the box.
 
The packaging features artwork from Hong Kong artist Don Mak. The paper included with the gift set describes the collaboration as:


Kee Wah Bakery x Don Mak: A Celebration of Hong Kong’s Spirit
 
The collaboration brings together Kee Wah Bakery's traditional treats and Don Mak's artwork, celebrating Hong Kong's character and nostalgic urban scenes while combining tradition with creativity.
 
What's Inside the Gift Set?
 
The gift box contains a sampler of several Kee Wah Bakery favorites:

· Butter Eggrolls
· Sesame Biscuits
· Desiccated Coconut Egg Albumen Cookies
· Almond Biscuits
· Panda Cookies
· Mini Walnut Cookies
· Pineapple Shortcake

One thing that helped was that my husband had taken a photo of the gift set before buying it. When I opened the box, I noticed that the cookies were individually packed, but most of the packaging was not transparent. Since the labels were written in Chinese characters, I couldn't tell which one was the almond biscuit, sesame biscuit, or the other varieties. The only one that came in transparent packaging was the pineapple shortcake.


 
So having the sample photo was actually useful because I could refer to it to figure out which cookie was which.
 
Is It a Good Hong Kong Pasalubong?
 
For me, yes!
 
I like that this gift set lets you try different pastries from Kee Wah Bakery instead of buying just one kind of cookie. It's also a nice option if you want something that feels distinctly Hong Kong and comes in attractive gift packaging.
 
And in my case, the box itself is part of the souvenir. I definitely won't be throwing it away!
 
If you're looking for a Hong Kong pasalubong that combines traditional baked treats with beautiful packaging, the Kee Wah Bakery x Don Mak Hong Kong Gift Set is worth considering.
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August 27, 2026

A City Tour of Pune: One Palace, One Mall, and Fridge Magnets

My husband went to Pune, India, for training, so when he left, I wasn't really thinking about sightseeing or souvenirs. His trip was mainly for work, and I assumed he'd spend his days in the training room and his evenings back at the hotel.
 
But at the end of the training, the organizers surprised them with a city tour of Pune before taking them back to the hotel.
 
I thought, Oh, that's nice! He'll finally get to see a little bit of Pune. And he did. Well… a little bit.
 
Their city tour had two stops: the Aga Khan Palace and Phoenix Mall.
 
A Quick Stop at Aga Khan Palace
 
Their first stop was the Aga Khan Palace, one of Pune's historic landmarks.
 
Unfortunately, my husband didn't come home with many photos from the visit. In fact, he only had two photos from the palace. One was a photo of the palace from the outside. The other was of Mahatma Gandhi. That's it. No long photo album. No collection of architectural details. No dramatic travel shots. Just two photos.


 
But even with only those two pictures, I became curious about the place. The Aga Khan Palace is an important historical site, particularly because of its connection to Mahatma Gandhi and India's independence movement. Seeing the photo of Gandhi made me want to know more about the history behind the place.
 
It made me think that even a short visit can give you a glimpse of a much bigger story.
 
Then Came Phoenix Mall
 
After the palace, the group went to Phoenix Mall. And this was where the trip became more interesting for me. The participants were given some free time to shop and buy souvenirs before heading back to their hotel.
 
And suddenly, I had a mission. What should my husband bring home from India? The funny thing was, I had no idea. I started thinking about all the things I could possibly ask for. Indian clothes? Spices? Something handmade? Food? A traditional souvenir? But because I wasn't there, I didn't know what would be practical to bring home. So I went with the easiest and safest request: “Buy me a fridge magnet.”
 
At least I knew exactly what I wanted. And apparently, there were several fridge magnets to choose from at the mall. Among all the choices, I chose two fridge magnets.

 
Was It Really a City Tour?
 
If I were to imagine a "city tour of Pune," I probably would have pictured several landmarks, beautiful streets, local food, temples, markets, and lots of photographs.
 
My husband's version was much simpler:

Aga Khan Palace.
Phoenix Mall.
Two palace photos.
And two fridge magnets.
 
But maybe that's the beauty of traveling. You don't always get to see everything. Sometimes you only get a small glimpse of a place.
 
And sometimes, the souvenir you bring home isn't something grand or expensive. Sometimes, it's just a little fridge magnet. And for someone waiting at home, that's more than enough.


Tourist Spots in Pune
 
After writing about my husband's very short version of a Pune city tour, I became curious about what I would actually want to see if I had the chance to visit Pune myself. Pune has much more to offer than the two places my husband managed to see. So here are places that I discovered.
 
Aga Khan Palace 
Shaniwar Wada 
Sinhagad Fort 
Pataleshwar Cave Temple 
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Tulshibaug and local markets 
 
What Souvenirs Should You Buy in Pune?
 
And now we come to the most important question: What should you actually bring home from Pune?
 
When my husband asked what I wanted, I immediately said, “Buy me a fridge magnet.” In hindsight, I probably should have done a little research first.
 
Pune has plenty of souvenirs that would have been fun to bring home, including traditional crafts, textiles, spices, and perhaps my favorite category, local food!
 
If I were choosing souvenirs from Pune now, these would be my options.
 
Bhakarwadi
 
First would be bhakarwadi, a crispy, rolled Maharashtrian snack with a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet filling.
 
Chiwda
 
Another snack worth looking for is chiwda, a crunchy mixture made with flattened rice and spices. It comes in different varieties and is a popular snack in Maharashtra.
 
Shrewsbury Biscuits
 
For something sweet, Shrewsbury biscuits are a classic Pune treat. These buttery, shortbread-style biscuits are particularly associated with Kayani Bakery.
 
Maharashtrian Spices and Chutneys
 
For anyone who enjoys cooking, packaged Maharashtrian spices, chutneys, and other local condiments would make interesting souvenirs.
 
If I ever get the chance to visit Pune myself, though, I'll know better. I'll visit the historic landmarks. I'll explore the markets. I'll try the local food. And I'll probably still buy a fridge magnet.
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August 26, 2026

Conrad Pune India: A Week of Comfort, Food, and Hospitality

My husband recently traveled from Manila, Philippines, to Pune, India, for a week-long training. It was his first time visiting India and his first stay at a Conrad hotel.
 
The journey from Manila to Pune was long. He took two international flights and one domestic flight before finally arriving in Pune. Although the trip involved several flights and many hours of travel, it also allowed him to experience a new country while attending his training.

 
For the entire week, Conrad Pune became his home away from home, a place where he could rest, relax, and recharge after his busy training days.
 
Although I wasn’t part of the trip, I wanted to share his experience here on my blog. Through his stories and the photos he took during his stay, I got a glimpse of what his week in Pune was like, from the hotel and its hospitality to the room, food, facilities, and little details that made his stay memorable.
 
So, here’s a look at my husband’s first experience at Conrad Pune, a luxury hotel located in the Central Business District of Pune, India.

Getting to Conrad Pune
 
Conrad Pune is approximately 9 kilometers from Pune Airport. Fortunately, my husband had an airport transfer arranged by the hotel, which made getting from the airport to the hotel convenient and hassle-free after his long journey. After traveling through multiple flights, having a hotel transfer waiting for him was certainly a welcome convenience.
 
Arrival at Conrad Pune
 
After the long journey from Manila to Pune, my husband finally arrived at Conrad Pune. 

One of the first things he noticed was the hotel’s tight security. While this made the arrival feel a little more formal, it also gave him the impression that the hotel takes security and guest safety seriously.

 
Once inside, the check-in process was quick and smooth. The staff were welcoming and made the arrival experience comfortable, which was especially appreciated after such a long trip.
 
King Deluxe Room
 
My husband stayed in a King Deluxe Room, which features a contemporary and modern design.
 
After traveling for many hours, one of the most important things was having a comfortable place to rest, and thankfully, the bed did not disappoint. He found it comfortable, making it easy to relax after his long journey and busy training days.





The room also features a bedside sensor touch panel that allows guests to conveniently control the lights and curtains without having to get out of bed. It’s a small feature, but one that adds a nice touch of convenience.
 
The floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light and offered a view of the surrounding area. From his room, he could see trees, buildings, and quite a few birds flying around outside.


Bathroom
 
The bathroom comes with both a walk-in shower and a separate bathtub.
 
One interesting feature I noticed from his photos was the remote control in the bathroom. He later discovered that the bathroom also has an in-mirror television. At first, there is simply a semi-black rectangle on the mirror, but that is actually where the television screen is located.



It’s one of those small luxury touches that makes the room feel a little more special. I thought it was a pretty interesting feature, especially since you wouldn’t immediately realize that there was a television hidden in the mirror.
 
Other Room Amenities
 
The room also comes with several amenities designed to make the stay more comfortable, including:

· Wi-Fi connectivity
· Bluetooth audio player
· Alarm clock
· Satellite channels
· Minibar
· In-room safe
· Iron and ironing board
· Individually controlled air-conditioning

Another detail my husband noticed was the housekeeping service. Conrad Pune serviced his room twice a day during his stay. This stood out to him because, in many hotels, housekeeping typically comes once a day.
 
Even the room key had an interesting touch. The key card was made of wood, with an engraved message on the back: “This is expensive technology. Please return this card upon checkout.” It was a fun little detail that he noticed during his stay.

 
Dining at Conrad Pune
 
There are several restaurants and bars at Conrad Pune, giving guests plenty of dining options during their stay. These include Al Di La – The Italian Rooftop, Coriander Kitchen, Kabana, Koji, Masu, Pune Sugar Box, and Zeera.
 
Because my husband was busy with his training, he mostly had his breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Coriander Kitchen. He also had dinner at Al Di La – The Italian Rooftop and Kabana.
 
With a busy training schedule, having several dining options within the hotel was convenient since he didn’t have much time to go elsewhere for meals.
 
Buffet Breakfast at Coriander Kitchen
 
Coriander Kitchen offers flavors from India, across Asia, and Mediterranean-inspired street food.
 
Since this was his first time in India, many of the dishes were unfamiliar to him. There was a wide variety of food, with a strong selection of Indian cuisine.
 
He tried some of the local dishes, but he also found himself looking for something familiar from home. Interestingly, one of his favorite dishes during his stay was poori, an Indian fried bread that he really enjoyed. So, even though he was initially looking for familiar food, he ended up finding a new favorite in Indian cuisine.
 
I guess that’s one of the fun parts of traveling; you never know which local dish might surprise you!








Dinner at Kabana
 
Although he also ate at some of the other restaurants during his stay, he only managed to take photos of his dinner at Kabana. For dinner, he had pizza along with a chicken dish.



What He Didn’t Get to Experience
 
Because the main purpose of his trip was training, my husband didn’t have much free time to enjoy all of the hotel’s facilities. He didn’t get the chance to use the outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, or spa during his week-long stay.
 
It would have been nice to experience these facilities, but with such a busy training schedule, there simply wasn’t enough time.


 
This is probably one of the downsides of staying at a beautiful hotel for work: you may have access to plenty of facilities, but not enough free time to actually enjoy them!
 
Final Thoughts
 
Overall, Conrad Pune gave him a comfortable place to stay throughout his trip and made his first visit to India a memorable one.
 
For now, I’m happy that his first trip to India gave him a good experience, and that he came home with plenty of stories and photos for me to share.
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August 20, 2026

Day 2: Singapore to Batam Indonesia | Ferry Ride & Hotel Stay

Our second day started with our trip from Singapore to Batam, Indonesia. Since we had an early schedule and my son had morning online classes, we had to skip breakfast at Siloso Beach Resort and head to HarbourFront Centre early for our ferry.

Breakfast at Siloso Beach Resort

Our room package at Siloso Beach Resort did not include breakfast, but the resort has a restaurant where guests can order breakfast.

Breakfast starts at 7:30 AM, which was a little late for us because my son had morning online classes and we couldn't wait for the restaurant to open. Thankfully, there is a 7-Eleven beside the resort, so we bought some bread and cup noodles instead.


For reference, here is the breakfast menu at Siloso Beach Resort so you can have an idea of the prices:

· Breakfast on the Go: SGD 8
· English Breakfast: SGD 12
· Deluxe Breakfast Buffet: SGD 24 per adult / SGD 12 per child


Please note that service charge and GST are additional.

From Siloso Beach Resort to HarbourFront Centre

We checked out before 9:00 AM and booked a Grab from Siloso Beach Resort to HarbourFront Centre. Our Grab fare was SGD 11.54.


Once we arrived at HarbourFront Centre, we looked for the Majestic Fast Ferry counter to claim our ferry tickets. I booked our Singapore-to-Batam ferry through Klook. When I received the confirmation email, I was surprised to learn that we still had to pay a fuel surcharge at the ferry counter.

The notice stated that starting March 12, 2026, the fuel surcharge would be SGD 6 per passenger for departures from Singapore and IDR 65,000 per passenger for departures from Batam. The surcharge applies to all tickets and is collected at the ticket counter.

Since there were three of us, we paid an additional SGD 18 when we collected our tickets.

Tip: If you're booking your ferry ticket online, make sure to check the terms and additional charges carefully. The ticket price you see online may not be the final amount you pay.

Breakfast at HarbourFront Centre

After getting our ferry tickets, we still had some time before boarding. We had already eaten bread and cup noodles earlier, but since we had time to spare, we decided to have another breakfast at Toast Box.

I can't remember the exact names of the meals we ordered, but we had a rice meal, sandwich, and eggs. It was a simple breakfast before our ferry trip to Batam.




Singapore to Batam Ferry Experience



When it was time to check in, we brought our luggage to the ferry counter. The luggage allowance was 20 kilograms or below, and since we only had one suitcase, we didn't have any problems with the luggage limit.

If you're taking the ferry for the first time, make sure you allow enough time before your departure. You still need to go through security screening and immigration, so don't arrive at the last minute.

Our boarding was on time, and surprisingly, the ferry left about 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.

The ferry wasn't crowded during our trip, which made the journey quite comfortable. However, about halfway through the trip, the ride became a little bumpy. If you're prone to seasickness, it may be a good idea to prepare accordingly.

The journey from Singapore to Batam takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the ferry schedule and sea conditions.

Overall, the ferry ride was fairly straightforward. The process at HarbourFront was easy enough as long as you give yourself enough time for check-in, security, and immigration.

Arriving at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal

After arriving in Batam, we went through immigration at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal. Once we were outside the terminal, we looked for a taxi to take us to our hotel. There is a taxi stand outside the ferry terminal, and the fare depends on your destination.

For our hotel, the taxi fare was IDR 70,000. Our destination was Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam. Cash only.


Time Difference Between Singapore and Batam

One thing to remember when traveling from Singapore to Batam is the time difference.

Singapore is one hour ahead of Batam, Indonesia. Singapore follows UTC+8, while Batam follows Western Indonesia Time (WIB), which is UTC+7.

For example, if it is 12:00 PM in Singapore, it is 11:00 AM in Batam. This is something to keep in mind when checking your ferry schedule, hotel check-in time, or planning activities in Batam.

Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam

We chose Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam for our overnight stay. One of the reasons I chose this hotel was because my husband had already stayed here about two years ago. He was familiar with the hotel, so we decided to stay here for our short trip to Batam. It also seemed like a convenient choice since it is located only around 10 minutes from Batam Centre Ferry Terminal.

I paid for our reservation upon arrival. The standard check-in time was 3:00 PM, but we were lucky because the hotel allowed us to check in as early as 11:30 AM.


After checking in, we took some time to rest before having a late lunch at The Bites, the hotel's restaurant.


Since this was only an overnight trip, we didn't really have an itinerary for our second day in Batam. Our main plan was simply to relax and enjoy the hotel amenities.


Sometimes, that's exactly what you need when traveling: no rushing from one tourist attraction to another, just a quiet afternoon at the hotel.

For dinner, we decided to stay in and ordered room service.


Preparing for Our Return to Singapore

Because this was only an overnight trip, we also needed to prepare our Singapore Arrival Card again for our return to Singapore.

Our second day was therefore a mix of traveling, resting, and getting ready for the next part of our trip.
For us, Batam was a nice change of pace after Singapore. Instead of filling the day with activities, we simply enjoyed a relaxing hotel stay, which was exactly what we needed for this short overnight trip.
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