There’s been six years between my first trip to Singapore and my most recent trip. I can’t believe it’s been that long but it definitely didn’t feel it! However, Singapore is such a fast-developing city so there were plenty of noticeable changes. When I first went, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel had only just opened … More Long time no see, Singapore!
My two favourite things to do any city involve finding the highest views I can: looking down upon the city from the comfort of a sky-high bar or watching the sunset over the city from a mountain (if any exist, that is!). If possible, I’ll always do both! (I’m looking at you, glorious Taipei and Hong … More Kuala Lumpur: Sky-high views from ‘Marini’s on 57’ bar
Oh what a surprise, I ended up in another temple again! (I’m not sorry). This time around it was the somewhat hidden Kuan Ti Temple in Chinatown. I love tiny quirky temples just as much as the big lavish ones! Kuan Ti is a Taoist temple and was built 121 years ago. It’s largely dedicated to … More Kuala Lumpur: Kuan Ti Temple
As per usual wherever I go in Asia, I found myself in yet another temple. I’m not at all religious so I’m still at a loss to explain why I love temples so much! Generally, I just find them really peaceful and visually beautiful places which have a tonne of interesting history and cultural significance. I think I also love … More Kuala Lumpur: Thean Hou Temple
I’d be lying if I said my first impressions of Kuala Lumpur were glorious. It’s not that KL had done anything wrong or it was a bad city but I just didn’t get quite the same feeling of excitement as I did on Day 1 in both Shanghai and Taipei. I know they’re all very different … More Kuala Lumpur: A stroll round Merdeka Square
Seeing as it’s Taipei’s only skyscraper, Taipei 101 is pretty much the icon of Taiwan’s capital city. From 2004 until 2009 it was actually the tallest building in the world! Tapei 101 is shaped like a piece of bamboo (which is an icon of learning and growth) and the tower also resembles a pagoda because of it’s ‘segments’. It has 101 … More Views from Taipei 101 Tower
The third and final walking tour I did with Tour Me Away was their evening Longshan Temple Tour. (I’d previously been on their Old Town Taipei tour and Taipei Chill Out tour). If you’ve had a nosey around my blog before then you’ll know I’m kind of obsessed with temples. To be honest, I’m not … More Taipei’s Longshan Temple tour: Buddhism 101
In my last post I talked about Taipei’s difficult past and the things I had learnt in the first part of my ‘Old Town Taipei’ walking tour. Our guides from Tour Me Away really knew their stuff and were excellent in retelling history in an engaging way. After our brief history lesson in 228 Peace Memorial Park … More Old Town Taipei walking tour
The day after going on Tour Me Away’s ‘Taipei Chillout Tour’, and learning about Chiang Kai-Shek and his Memorial Hall, I went on their ‘Old Town Taipei Tour’. My group on the first tour was really big and I met so many interesting people from a German couple on holiday, a group of American teachers who’d just … More Taipei: 228 Peace Memorial Park
My first walking tour of Taipei by Tour Me Away ended at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and I went with another British girl from my tour group to see the changing of the guard inside. The Memorial Hall was also where I began to get a true understanding of Taiwan’s painful modern history. The changing of the guard reminded me of the … More Taipei: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and learning from history
Hi, I'm Emma 