Category: Going Places

My travelogue.

Spring in Luoyang, China

Posted on By sweet surrender No Comments on Spring in Luoyang, China

Went to Luoyang in Spring but only posted it now and it’s already summer going into autumn soon! Hahaha!!

Luoyang is known as the City of Peonies. We took flight from Kuching to KL using Malaysia Airlines, then to Guangzhou using China Southern Airlines. Stayed a night in Gunagzhou and took the early morning flight to Luoyang with China Southern Airlines. Just the journey itself is tiring enough. We came back by using the route Luoyang to Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines and rushed to the other terminal to catch flight to KK also using China Southern Airlines but we couldn’t check through our luggage. Baiyun Airport is huge! We practically had to run all the way until check-in counter to check in our luggage again. Then from KK to Kuching with Air Asia. The journey took us the whole day just to get home.


We stayed in the new business district, it gave me a feeling of Putrajaya *LOL*. Bustling in the day and practically empty at night! There’s stark difference between the old and new district. You won’t find any cable or wiring throughout the new CBD.



About 5-10 minutes walk from Holiday Inn Express Luoyang City Center, there is a food street(政和路美食街 Zhen He Lu Mei Shi Jie) and a shopping complex. The food street selling all sort of Chinese food. No English menu though… Saw a lot of pork dishes and chicken feet hahaha… Was tempted to buy them but I didn’t. However, I did buy some from the hypermarket instead. Very spicy chicken feet but it was oh so good!!


One of the nights, we decided to go to a fish noodle shop to try out their fish noodle. The name is literally translated as Five Grains Fish Vermicelli(五谷鱼粉). So I ordered their signature dish. There were 5 different types of noodles with fish meat, fish ball, and vegetables. It’s a bit spicy though even though it didn’t look spicy. I can’t remember the taste but it’s not so bad or I was just too hungry that time. Hahaha… Portion was rather huge. Couldn’t finish it.


My colleague ordered their Rou Jia Mo(肉夹馍) aka Chinese hamburger aka pork belly bun. I seriously do not remember the taste of food I had back then, it’s been a long time. Well… Anything with pork is yummy. My colleague was happy with it so means it’s good enough.

Since it’s spring, let me share some photos of flowers I took while we walked around the CBD.


Sakai enough.. First time see real sakura 😛

Peonies were everywhere in the city! So pretty.


My first time seeing real peony too.


Aside from that, there are other flowers around. This looks like mini version of sakura. I’m no flower expert. I only know flowers are pretty hehehe…

Will be posting the tourist attractions I went while I was there soon. Enjoy your weekend!

City of Peonies - Luoyang, Food Porn, Going Places

Holiday Inn Express Luoyang City Center

Posted on By sweet surrender 1 Comment on Holiday Inn Express Luoyang City Center

Back in April, I went to Luoyang, China for work with my colleagues. It was spring but the weather can be pretty cold at times.

Holiday Inn Express Luoyang City Center was where we stayed for 4 days. The room was comfortable enough and surprising spacious because it’s an express hotel.

Conveniently located at Northwest of the intersection of Kaiyuan Avenue and Jinchengzhai Street, Luolong District and 14km from Luoyang Beijiao Airport and 8km from Luoyang Longmen High-speed Railway Station.


Left: The bed was awesome! There’s pillows that you can choose also.
Right: Do not expect full package of toiletries available, it’s very basic. No lotion, no conditioner. The shampoo cum shower gel were attached to the wall in the shower cubicle. Very big bathroom as well.

Do not expect iron and ironing board in your room too. you can wash your clothes and iron your clothes at the common laundry room though.

Do not expect room service, they don’t. The kitchen does not open 24/7 too.


The view from my room. Overall, the stay was pleasant even though it’s an express hotel. Staff were friendly and helpful.

This area is just like Putrajaya. At night, it’s pretty dead *LOL* However, just walked a bit further up at the back of the hotel, you’ll find a slightly more happening street where you can get many F&B outlets and a shopping complex.

Address: No.28, Jinchengzhai Street, Luolong District Luoyang, HA 471000, China (People’s Republic)

City of Peonies - Luoyang, Going Places, Review It!

Ausotel Smart Baiyun Airport

Posted on By sweet surrender No Comments on Ausotel Smart Baiyun Airport

Extremely lagging post. So many pending. Went to Guangzhou for the first time in April, for transit only. Ausotel Smart Baiyun Airport was recommended by a friend in Guangzhou. Not entitled to stay in Pullman so have to stay a slightly further away, it’s less than 3KM from airport *LOL*, they have free shuttle.


Left: Approaching…
Right: The bed and pillows were pretty comfy, just too bad couldn’t sleep too long as we had to rush to the airport very early in the morning for flight to Luoyang. It claimed that it’s soundproof but my colleague’s room wasn’t that soundproof. As for mine, I didn’t hear anything though.


Left: The rooms is surprisingly spacious. The toilet and shower are not combined so it’s great if you have more than one person in the room. The vanity area is open concept with all the necessary toiletries.
Right: The basic coffee/tea making facility is available.


Free WiFi is available. The hotel can be considered rather new in that area. Great for transit. If you need to catch early flight, they can prepare packed breakfast. I can’t remember what we were given, I only remember yogurt and apple ;p

Good thing there’s restaurant in the hotel. There is nothing much around though. It’s like a dead town at night.

The room rate wasn’t very cheap, it cost us almost RM400 per night inclusive of breakfast. Well… What to do… It’s the most convenient and decent place to stay so that we could catch the early morning flight without the rush.

Address: Intersection of Hang’er Road and 3rd Konggang Road, Southeastern Working Section of Baiyun International Airport, Baiyun, Baiyun District, 510470 Guangzhou, China

City of the Goat - Guangzhou, Going Places, Review It!

Hotel Nuve, Bugis, Singapore

Posted on By sweet surrender No Comments on Hotel Nuve, Bugis, Singapore

I stayed a night in Singapore back in December 2016. I went on Agoda in search for good location and affordable accommodation and stumbled onto Hotel Nuve in the listing. Located in Bugis, MRT isn’t far from it. The street was quite happening at night if you like night life.


The painting on the wall outside the hotel depicting the life of people in Bugis long time ago.


I chose the cheapest room as I only need it for a night for transit. The room I stayed was small with no window but clean enough. The bathroom was surprisingly spacious, shower and toilet in one space but no sink and partition. The sink located one platform away from the bed. The pillow was too flat however the bed was comfortable enough.

They do not provide bottled water but there is water dispenser is available at the lobby area but it’s cold. You can loan a glass bottle from them but it’s on first come first served basis. Meanwhile, they also have room to cater for disabled guest.


Left: The TV was just right at the end of the bed mounted on the wall. There is no cabinet/cupboard to store your things though.

Right: One good thing about staying here, they provide you with a mobile phone that allows you to make free call, go online, even allow you to bring it out with you and use it as your navigator. No worry about needing to get a SIM card for your stay in Singapore. WiFi available in the room too.

I booked the room at promotional price of over RM200, almost RM300 with no breakfast included. It’s Singapore, with our weak currency, so… What can you say? Price wise, it’s high for Malaysia’s standard, you can get very luxurious room at a 4 or 5 star hotel with that price in Malaysia.

In the morning, I just walked around the area before heading to the airport. Took some photos of the views around the hotel. Didn’t go far.



Overall, the hotel was OK but for the room I’m staying, I can only stay for a night, longer than that, I don’t think I can. The staff was helpful and friendly.

Address: 9, Jalan Pinang, Singapore 199141

Going Places, Greeting the Merlion - Singapore, Review It!

Nagoya Mansion Hotel & Residence, Batam, Indonesia

Posted on By sweet surrender No Comments on Nagoya Mansion Hotel & Residence, Batam, Indonesia

Our tour package in Batam inclusive of hotel stay. We opted for Nagoya Mansion Hotel & Residence because according to the map, it is very convenient to go to the shopping mall.

Batam Hotels – Nagoya Mansion Hotel & Residence is the newest iconic on the island of Batam, the first to offer residential, hotel and lifestyle facilities in one environment. Other facilities are available to support your business and leisure activities include Meeting Rooms, La Bamba Restaurant, La Brisa Juice Bar, La Brisa Foodpark, Parlente Bar, Swimming pool, La Destino Fitness Centre, Bakery & Pastry Shop.

After the tour, we check-in in the evening. The staffs were friendly and helpful. However, one problem, they were extremely slow in servicing you when you request something from your room. We waited forever for a toilet roll and we ended up took it directly from the housekeeping staff who we bumped into who happened to be pushing the trolley to clean up other rooms while we were on the way out.

The room was spacious and cozy enough.

Basic coffee/tea making facilities were stocked.
Bathroom were also spacious as well with all the basic toiletries available.



Our room is facing the city view. This is how one side of Batam looks like.


They have pool and gym but we didn’t bring anything for these activities. Then again, I don’t think I will dare to swim there in my swimsuit. People are already looking at you one kind with sleeveless and shorts, what’s more in swimsuits -.-”


The breakfast buffet was not too bad. Not too small, not too big.

Next, sharing with you the food that I had. Those food that were supposed to be sweet were really sweet. I couldn’t stand it.

Left: Black glutinous rice waffle which was something interesting to try. It was too sweet for it.
Right: Porridge with all sort of condiments.

Left: Olives!! I just emptied the whole bowl, oppss…
Right: Colourful vegetables at the salad counter.

Left: The very sweet glutinous rice, I couldn’t stomach it after one small spoon.
Right: First time eating and seeing real passion fruit.

Overall, the place is clean enough to stay. The receptionists were very good.

As for walking to the shopping mall, it sure wasn’t a pleasant walk. Road conditions were bad and felt unsafe with all the wolf whistling, staring, and name callings, you will get it as long that you’re a foreigner lady even if you are decently dressed. Luckily there were two of us but we walked really fast and kept observing our surrounding.

Address: Kampung Utama, Jl. Imam Bonjol No.1, Lubuk Baja Kota, Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia

This concludes my Batam trip. It sure is one very different experience. Be thankful with what we have.

Food Porn, Going Places, Moi Musing - Batam, Review It!