投稿者: arthur

On this trip to Singapore, one of my objectives was to explore tourist destinations that I was visiting for the first time. Among these, the one that particularly caught my attention was Singapore’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens. I decided to walk from one end of this vast garden to the other.

I started my journey from the MRT Napier station. Right upon exiting the station, the entrance to the Botanic Gardens becomes visible. It’s worth noting that there is another entrance on the opposite side near the Botanic Gardens station, making access to the gardens exceptionally convenient.

My goal was to head towards the garden’s centerpiece, the National Orchid Garden.

Along the way, I never got bored as I passed by lush greenery, lakes, and small gardens.

However, the paths can be complex and easy to get lost in, so I relied on signs and Google Maps to navigate.

After walking about 1km, I arrived at the National Orchid Garden. The number of tourists increased suddenly, reminding me of the travel experience. There was also a taxi stand nearby, indicating that direct access by car is possible.

I had planned to have breakfast at the garden, so I enjoyed some bread and coffee at the “Halia Pantry Bakery” located beside the facility.

Due to its location, the prices were quite high, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but it was a comfortable space surrounded by greenery.

Later, I visited the National Orchid Garden (admission fee: S$15). Even for someone like me who isn’t particularly interested in plants, the display of a wide variety of orchids was impressive. There were also spots where you could take lots of pictures surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery.

At the gift shop near the exit, there were many orchid-related products, though they were priced on the higher side. I bought some exclusive tea leaves and will review their taste later.

Singapore souvenirs were also sold there, but be careful as the prices are higher compared to what you would find in Chinatown.

After finishing my visit, I walked back to the Botanic Gardens station. My stay lasted about 3 hours, during which I walked approximately 3 km across the garden. If you wish to visit more facilities, I recommend listing the places you want to visit in advance.

Singapore has many attractive tourist spots, but there are places that are difficult to visit during a typical 4-day trip. I am very satisfied that I could visit one of these places this time.

Name	Singapore Botanic Gardens
Official Site	https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/

My first hotel choice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the AC Hotel. Marriott hotels in Kuala Lumpur are known for offering both luxury and budget-friendly options.

Among my choices, the AC Hotel stood out for its affordability. The room rate of 7,000 to 8,000 yen was particularly attractive.

The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the Titiwangsa station on the KL Monorail. While convenient due to the presence of both monorail and subway, transfers were necessary when heading towards Central station or Bukit Bintang. There’s a bus terminal near the station, offering easy access to various locations. Reviews suggest buses to the airport and Bukit Bintang are available, so it might be worth researching bus options if considering staying here. I couldn’t visit this time, but it seems you can also reach Genting Highlands by bus.

The hotel itself seemed old, but it was clean and the staff were kind.

Upon check-in, I was surprised to find almost no benefits for Marriott Platinum members. There was no room upgrade (perhaps none were available?), and notably, no free breakfast—only a 50% discount (I believe it was slightly over 1,000 yen). The only perk was a snack (tacos?) at the bar during certain hours in the evening, but I didn’t use it as it didn’t fit my schedule.

The room was ordinarily clean. Coffee was instant, and the fridge was empty, allowing me to store various items bought from convenience stores. The bathroom had no bathtub, only a shower.

I arrived around 8:30 PM and went out to look for dinner. The hotel is not in a bustling area, so the surroundings were quiet. There were small eateries and convenience stores, but venturing a bit further felt somewhat unsettling.

A few blocks away might have been busier, but I didn’t have time to check.

I ended up at a nearby restaurant called “Hokkaido Seafood” (despite the name, it served Chinese and Malaysian cuisine).

It was busy and lively. I ordered a watermelon smoothie, Hokkien mee, and pineapple chicken. The total, including service charges, was around 1,700 yen, which felt slightly expensive. The place might be good for larger groups, as they had an extensive seafood menu.

I considered eating at a convenience store, but they were small and had almost no prepared meals.

I tried the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast once. For a Marriott, the variety was limited, with dishes lined up along one side of the wall.

At the regular price of over 2,000 yen, it didn’t seem worth it. The next morning, I had bread from a convenience store and quickly moved to the next hotel.

In summary, if you’re looking for a decent, budget-friendly hotel, AC Hotel is an option, but I wouldn’t recommend it for Platinum members. You might prefer a slightly more expensive hotel with better membership benefits. It’s suitable if you plan to spend most of your time sightseeing and not much at the hotel.

One of the places I wanted to visit during my trip to Vietnam was the chocolate specialty store “MAROU.” While some stores in Japan occasionally sell their chocolate bars, I was eager to experience their extensive selection and, more importantly, to try their chocolate drinks and sweets.

On the first day of my initial visit to Vietnam, I immediately went to MAROU in Ho Chi Minh. I discovered that MAROU stores exist within shopping malls, where they sell not only chocolate gifts but also drinks and cakes. However, there might be differences in the size of the stores, the atmosphere, and possibly the variety of products and types of sweets available to eat on-site.

I visited “Maison Marou Saigon.” It’s within walking distance from the famous Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh, so it’s not too far away.

The entrance was small and a bit hard to find, but I found the store along the road.

The store was filled with gift products. As I looked around, I noticed that there were opportunities to sample pieces of chocolate at key points throughout the store, allowing for tasting of some varieties. Everything I tried was unique and delicious. I was particularly impressed by the Christmas limited edition chocolate, which had a hint of citrus flavor.

In addition to chocolate, they also sold honey, drinking chocolate, and various goods, making shopping there enjoyable.

After buying some souvenirs, I went to the cafe area. I wanted to eat chocolate cake, but I was too full from the hotel, so I only had a drink.

Considering the cost of living in Vietnam, it was expensive, but worth drinking. The sweetness was moderately restrained, making it very easy to drink. The sweetness that comes gradually afterwards is likely to become addictive.

Walking around the city, I found other small “MAROU” stores. It seems you can shop and eat at various places, so please visit when you come to Vietnam. I think it would be greatly appreciated as a souvenir.

Name	Maison Marou
Official Site	https://www.marouchocolate.com/