We had breakfast at WONDER BREAD, near INN-The City MyeongDong. The bread was delicious. When one of the staff members handed us our order, they said, “Please enjoy.” We had delicious bread and coffee for 14,400 KRW. WONDER BREAD still has a location listed near Chungmuro.

We topped up our Tmoney card at a ticket machine at the station and took the subway to Bukchon Hanok Village.

Bukchon is an area filled with traditional hanok houses, and it is also a residential neighborhood where people actually live. Some of the hanok buildings have been converted into shops, cafés, galleries, and other businesses.

The reason we decided to visit was because I had watched a YouTube video by U-Ji Kōji.

There are renovated hanok buildings used as shops, cafés, and galleries, but at the same time, this is still a residential neighborhood. I thought that living there must be difficult when it gets noisy. Even so, it is such an atmospheric place that I ended up visiting anyway.

After walking downhill, we stopped at CAFE DA, a small juice stand. The carrot juice had a distinctive bitterness and a subtle sweetness, and I really liked it. My partner had a blueberry yogurt drink. I wondered if Korean people really like yogurt drinks because I saw them quite often. The total was 10,000 KRW.

We took the subway to Seongsu-dong and went to Grandpa Factory Cafe.

This café is located in a renovated former factory, and U-Ji Kōji had also visited the place to film a YouTube video. It was a spacious café with a second floor, and the tables were spaced far enough apart that we could relax comfortably.

I had the impression that Seongsu-dong was not a pedestrian-only area and that there was surprisingly heavy car traffic.

We took the subway to Dongdaemun. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) looked really cool, and I was impressed by the park-like space on the roof. DDP was designed by Zaha Hadid and has become one of Seoul’s landmarks.

We went to SPAREX Dongdaemun, a Korean-style public bath and sauna. Admission was 12,000 KRW per person.

At the reception desk, I asked if I could make a reservation for a body scrub, and they told me to make the reservation in the changing room. When we entered the bathing area, there was a price list for the body scrub, so I simply pointed at the option I wanted.

The body scrub and massage cost 41,000 KRW (4,417 yen) per person. Credit cards were not accepted, so we had to pay in cash. The body scrub alone was 26,000 KRW.

The body scrub was… pretty intense. I actually wondered whether it was good for my skin. Afterwards, my skin was red and felt sore.

SPAREX also had a dome-shaped jjimjilbang sauna and an ice sauna. There was a water dispenser, and there was plenty of space where people could lie down, so it seemed like a place where you could easily spend a long time.

We left SPAREX and walked to Gwangjang Market for dinner.

There was a kalguksu place that had been featured on Netflix, and there was a huge line. So we decided to join the queue and try it ourselves. One bowl cost 7,000 KRW. It was delicious, although I thought it might have had a little too much pepper.

We also ate mung bean pancakes and meat pancakes for 8,000 KRW, as well as ganjang-gejang.

Ganjang-gejang is a Korean dish made by marinating blue crab in a soy sauce-based sauce and allowing it to mature. I learned about this dish from a U-Ji Kōji YouTube video, and I really wanted to try it. It was incredibly delicious.

The person sitting next to us and quietly eating alone turned out to be a traveler from Japan. She told us that she had eaten ganjang-gejang here two days earlier, and because she had been so impressed by how delicious it was, she had come back to eat it one more time before returning home.

The restaurant was SOONHEUNINE BANCHAN. The ganjang-gejang cost 20,000 KRW.

We also had a twisted glutinous-rice doughnut at a shop near one of the market exits. It cost 1,000 KRW. It was freshly made, fluffy, hot, and delicious.

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<p>The post Seoul Travel Diary – Day 2: Bukchon Hanok Village, Seongsu-dong, Dongdaemun, and Gwangjang Market first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

I spent the first half of the trip in Seoul, exploring areas such as Myeongdong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Seongsu-dong, Dongdaemun, and Gwangjang Market. For the second half of the trip, I took the KTX to Busan, where I enjoyed local food and visited various attractions with my friends.

Day 1
Seoul Travel Diary – Day 1: Exploring Myeongdong, Myeongdong Kyoja, Myeongdong Cathedral, and Dwaeji Galbi

Day 2
Seoul Travel Diary – Day 2: Bukchon Hanok Village, Seongsu-dong, Dongdaemun, and Gwangjang Market

Day 3
Busan Travel Diary – Day 1: Taking the KTX from Seoul to Busan, Busan Food, and Haeundae

Day 4
Busan Travel Diary – Day 2: Songdo Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Busan Food

<p>The post Seoul ＆ Busan Travel Diary 2024 first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

During our journey, we enjoyed Parisian museums, historic streets, local markets, cafés, and restaurants. In Spain, we visited the beautiful towns of Andalusia, explored World Heritage sites, and experienced the unique architecture of Barcelona.

This travel diary includes detailed records of transportation, accommodations, sightseeing spots, restaurants, and travel costs based on our actual experiences.

Paris Travel Diary 2025｜France

Day 1
Paris Travel Diary Day 1: Flying from Tokyo to Paris, Airport Transfer, and Our First Evening at Belleville Park

 Day 2
Paris Travel Diary Day 2: Marché Pyrénées, Champs-Élysées, Ladurée Macarons, and Exploring Paris in the Heat

Day 3
Paris Travel Diary Day 3: Fondation Louis Vuitton, David Hockney Exhibition, and Discovering Monet’s Masterpieces

Day 4
Paris Travel Diary Day 4: Buttes-Chaumont Picnic, Marais Walk, and Our Last Dinner Before Spain

Spain Travel Diary 2025｜Andalusia & Barcelona

Day 5
Spain Travel Diary Day 1: Flying from Paris to Málaga, Vueling Baggage Trouble, and Arriving in Ronda

Day 6
Ronda Travel Diary Day 2: Exploring Casa del Rey Moro, Ronda Views, and a Flamenco Guitar Concert

Day 7
Ronda to Granada Travel Diary: Andalusian Train Ride, Granada Cathedral, and Tapas at Bodegas Castañeda

Day 8
Granada Travel Diary: Alhambra Palace, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife Gardens, and Granada’s Old Quarter

Day 9
Granada to Barcelona Travel Diary: Flight to Barcelona, Miró Foundation, and Incredible Squid Ink Paella

Day 10
Barcelona Travel Diary: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Churros, and a Memorable Dinner

Day 11
Barcelona to Paris Travel Diary: El Fornet, Airport Lounge, ALE-HOP Shopping, and Returning to Paris

Paris Travel Diary 2025｜Final Days

Day 12
Paris Travel Diary Day 12: Bastille Market, French Food Shopping, Pokémon Store, and Seine River Cruise

Day 13
Giverny Travel Diary: Visiting Monet’s House and Garden from Paris, Train Journey, and Hidden Delays

Day 14
Paris Travel Diary Day 14: Eiffel Tower Stairs, Paris’ Best Bakery, Parc Bagatelle, and Final Dinner

Day 15
Paris Travel Diary Day 15: Supermarket Souvenirs, Café du Coin Lunch, Ice Cream, and Flying Home

<p>The post Paris & Spain Travel Diary 2025 first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

During my 11-day stay, I explored some of New York’s most famous attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the Guggenheim Museum. I also enjoyed several Broadway musicals and experienced the city’s food, shopping, and Christmas atmosphere.

This is my personal New York travel diary, documenting the places I visited, the things I experienced, and my impressions of the city.

New York Travel Diary Day 1
Flying from Haneda to JFK, Priority Pass Trouble, and Arriving in Manhattan

New York Travel Diary Day 2
Zabar’s, Century 21 Shopping, and My First New York Price Shock

New York Travel Diary Day 3
The Met Museum, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and Winter in New York

New York Travel Diary Day 4
T.J. Maxx Bargain Shopping, MoMA Art, and Back to the Future Broadway Musical

New York Travel Diary Day 5
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and a Seagull Stealing My Banana

New York Travel Diary Day 6
Hudson Yards, The High Line, Whitney Museum, and Annie on Broadway

New York Travel Diary Day 7
Central Park, Christmas Markets, and MJ the Musical on Broadway

New York Travel Diary Day 8
Flatiron Building, The Ride NYC, and Hell’s Kitchen Broadway Musical

New York Travel Diary Day 9
Natural History Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and Emilio’s Ballato in Little Italy

New York Travel Diary Day 10
Trader Joe’s Souvenirs, Waffle Chicken, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Sunset Views

New York Travel Diary Day 11
Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Christmas in New York, and Harlem Gospel Concert

<p>The post New York Travel Diary 2024: Broadway, Museums, Christmas, and City Adventures first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Ha Long Bay (Days 1–3)

• Halong Bay Travel Diary Day 1
  From Narita Airport to Local Pho in Ha Long
• Halong Bay Travel Diary Day 2
  Local Market Food & Sun World Cable Car Adventure
• Halong Bay Cruise Review
  Rainy Day Adventure, Island Trekking & Vietnamese Food

Nha Trang (Days 4–7)

• Nha Trang Travel Diary Day 1
  Flying from Ha Long, Beachfront Hotel Stay & Local Vietnamese Food
• Things to Do in Nha Trang
  Beach Swimming, Lotte Mart, Cơm Tấm & Seafood Dinner
• Nha Trang Mud Bath Experience at Nui Spa
  Vietnamese Hot Spring, Khmer Temple & Food
• Dam Market Nha Trang Guide
  Local Shopping, Vietnamese Pho & First Durian Experience

Hanoi (Days 8–10)

• Hanoi Travel Diary Day 1
  Arriving from Nha Trang, Hotel Trouble & Amazing Chả Cá
• Hanoi Old Quarter Guide
  Thang Long Citadel, Dong Xuan Market & Water Puppet Show
• Hanoi Travel Diary Day 3
  St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Chả Cá & Local Desserts

<p>The post Complete Vietnam Travel Diary first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Murin-an and the Landscape Design of Ogawa Jihei VII

On the third day, we visited Murin-an.

Before the trip, I had learned that the number of visitors admitted each day is limited, so I purchased our tickets in advance through the official website. We chose a ticket that included admission, a drink, and a traditional Japanese sweet, which cost 1,800 yen per person.

Murin-an was once the villa of Aritomo Yamagata, a prominent statesman of the Meiji era. The garden is best known for its beautiful composition, which incorporates the scenery of Kyoto’s eastern mountains.

According to one of the staff members, however, Yamagata himself disliked describing the garden as one that “borrowed” the surrounding scenery. Instead, he believed that the Higashiyama Mountains should be regarded as the garden’s principal mountain, around which the entire landscape was designed.

The staff member also explained that water is drawn from the Lake Biwa Canal using the siphon principle, eliminating the need for pumps to circulate water through the pond and streams. As a result, fresh water is constantly flowing throughout the garden.

Although the garden is not particularly large, walking through it reveals a different view from every angle. I found it to be an exceptionally well-designed landscape garden.

One of the staff members also told us that anyone presenting a Murin-an admission ticket on the same day would receive a 1,000-yen discount on admission to nearby Tairyu Sanso.

Both Murin-an and Tairyu Sanso were designed by the seventh-generation landscape gardener Ogawa Jihei, better known by his professional name Ueji. Today, both gardens are maintained by Ueya Kato Landscape Co., Ltd., which carries on his landscaping tradition. That, we were told, is the reason the two sites offer a reciprocal discount.

The staff member also mentioned that the garden now known as Ganko Takasegawa Nijo-en was originally Yamagata’s Second Murin-an. It, too, is a strolling garden renovated by Ueji. I’d like to visit it someday.

Tairyu Sanso and the Nitori Museum of Art

Since we had already come all the way to Kyoto, we decided to visit Tairyu Sanso as well.

The regular admission fee was 3,000 yen per person, but after showing our Murin-an tickets, the price was reduced to 2,000 yen.

The gardens at Tairyu Sanso were magnificent, but the buildings impressed me just as much.

Two traditional storehouses on the property had been converted into exhibition spaces for works of art and decorative crafts. The first displayed exquisite ivory carvings, maki-e lacquerware, and other traditional Japanese crafts. The second featured glass art by Émile Gallé and Daum, along with several paintings, all of which were well worth seeing.

The current owner of Tairyu Sanso is Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd., so one of the storehouses bears a wooden sign reading “Nitori Museum of Art.”

Although the admission fee initially seemed rather expensive, I felt that the experience was more than worth the price.

Lunch at Dragon Burger and a Note on Payments in Kyoto

After thoroughly enjoying Murin-an and Tairyu Sanso, we stopped to rest at Dragon Burger Nanzenji nearby.

I ordered a wasabi burger, and the combination of wasabi and the lean beef patty worked surprisingly well. It was delicious. The freshly fried French fries were excellent too, and with its high ceilings and large windows, the restaurant felt bright, spacious, and very comfortable.

During this trip, I noticed that some of the temples and traditional confectionery shops accepted cash only, while other places, such as Dragon Burger Nanzenji, accepted cashless payment only.

That experience reminded me that, when sightseeing in Kyoto, it’s best to be prepared to use both cash and cashless payment methods, since you never know which one a particular place will accept.

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 1

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 2

<p>The post Kyoto Trip Report – Day 3: Murin-an, Tairyu Sanso, and Dragon Burger first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Tentoku-in’s Moss Garden and Blooming Chinese Bellflowers

On the second day, we visited Tentoku-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji Temple.

Tentoku-in is usually closed to the public, but when we visited, the Chinese bellflowers (kikyo) were in full bloom, and the temple was holding a special seasonal opening.

The bellflowers blooming throughout the moss garden were breathtaking. We also enjoyed a bowl of chilled matcha while admiring the garden, which made the experience even more relaxing. One of the staff members pointed out a rare variety of double-flowered bellflower. I had never seen one before, and its layered petals gave it a remarkably elegant and showy appearance.

After leaving Tentoku-in, we continued on to Tofuku-ji Temple. A combined admission ticket for the Hojo Garden and Tsutenkyo Bridge cost 1,000 yen.

Fresh Green Maples at Tofuku-ji Temple

Tsutenkyo Bridge is best known as one of Kyoto’s most famous autumn foliage spots. Since we visited during the season of fresh green maple leaves, however, there were far fewer tourists than in autumn. The vivid green leaves were strikingly beautiful, offering a completely different but equally rewarding view.

The Hojo Garden was just as fascinating. Each section had its own unique character: a dry landscape garden representing the Big Dipper, another featuring massive stone arrangements, carefully trimmed satsuki azaleas forming a checkerboard pattern, and a stone-paved courtyard laid out in the same geometric design. Every part of the garden offered something interesting to discover.

Trying Yojiya Café’s Super Cool Parfait

After finishing our visit to Tofuku-ji, we headed to Yojiya Café Shijo Kawaramachi.

It was an extremely hot day, and I wanted to try their summer-exclusive Super Cool Parfait. Out of curiosity, I decided to order the 50× Super Cool Parfait (1,500 yen).

That turned out to be a mistake.

The parfait was so overloaded with cooling mint that it completely lost the balance between sweetness and refreshment. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t enjoy it at all. Halfway through, I felt as though I was simply putting chemicals into my mouth rather than eating a dessert.

To be fair, though, the menu clearly warned customers that it contained about fifty times the usual amount of peppermint oil. I ordered it knowing exactly what I was getting into, so I really couldn’t complain about how overwhelmingly cold and minty it tasted. Looking back, I should have expected that adding such an excessive amount of peppermint oil would overwhelm every other flavor, leaving nothing but intense stimulation.

So I can’t blame the café.

Incidentally, my mother ordered the regular Super Cool Parfait (1,350 yen), and hers was excellent. The balance between the chocolate and mint flavors was just right, making it a genuinely delicious dessert.

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 1

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 3

<p>The post Kyoto Trip Report – Day 2: Tofuku-ji, Tentoku-in, and Summer Bellflowers first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Lunch Near Kyoto Station and a Visit to To-ji Temple

I traveled to Kyoto with my mother.

We met at JR Kyoto Station just before noon and had lunch at Richouen, a Korean restaurant on the restaurant floor of AEON Mall KYOTO, located nearby. The food was genuinely spicy by Japanese standards, and we were both very satisfied with our meal. After lunch, we walked to To-ji Temple.

Before entering the temple grounds, we stopped by Okashitsukasa Toji Mochi, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, where we bought Toji Mochi, Inoko Mochi, and Brown Sugar Minazuki.

The Toji Mochi was absolutely delicious. Its gyuhi (soft rice cake) was incredibly smooth and tender, making it one of my favorite sweets. It was my first time trying Inoko Mochi, and I enjoyed its distinctive cinnamon-like flavor from nikki (Japanese cinnamon). The Brown Sugar Minazuki was pleasantly chewy and equally delicious.

A combined admission ticket for To-ji Temple and Kanchi-in cost 1,200 yen.

The Lecture Hall (Kodo) at To-ji houses many Buddhist statues designated as Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures. My personal favorite is the National Treasure Jikokuten (Guardian King of the East). I think the statue looks incredibly cool, but at the same time, I can’t help feeling a little sorry for the demon being trampled beneath his feet.

After paying my respects to Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha) in the Kondo (Main Hall) and admiring the famous five-story pagoda, we headed to Kanchi-in, one of To-ji’s sub-temples.

Kanchi-in and the Paintings Attributed to Miyamoto Musashi

My mother wanted to see the famous sliding-door paintings, “Eagle” and “Bamboo Grove,” traditionally attributed to Miyamoto Musashi, so we decided to visit. Unfortunately, both paintings had deteriorated considerably over the centuries, and the eagle in particular had become quite faded.

Even so, Kanchi-in turned out to be one of my favorite places during the trip. There were very few visitors, allowing us to take our time exploring the temple. Its modest dry landscape garden (karesansui) was also beautiful, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the crowds at To-ji.

Hojicha Parfait and Kuzukiri at Kyoto Station

Afterward, we returned to Kyoto Station and stopped at Wa Café Kyo Anju, where we cooled off with a hojicha parfait and kuzukiri.

Kuzukiri is served chilled and dipped in brown sugar syrup before eating. Its smooth, slippery texture made it the perfect sweet treat for a hot summer day.

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 2

Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 3

<p>The post Kyoto Travel Journal – Day 1: To-ji Temple, Kanchi-in, and Traditional Sweets first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Visiting the Merlion and Breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Our third day—and the final day of our trip—was blessed with beautiful weather, so we started the morning by visiting the Merlion.

The Merlion was once widely known in Japan as one of the “World’s Three Most Disappointing Tourist Attractions,” so I went there expecting to be thoroughly underwhelmed. Instead, I found a magnificent white statue standing proudly with Marina Bay Sands across the water. It was much larger than I had imagined, and the stream of water from its mouth was surprisingly powerful.

It didn’t disappoint me at all.

Ironically, I was disappointed that I wasn’t disappointed.

Later, after returning home, I looked into why the Merlion had earned such an unfortunate reputation. It turns out there were two main reasons:

• Its original location made it difficult to view the statue from the front.
• Mechanical problems frequently stopped the water from flowing.

Today, however, the statue has been relocated and the water feature works continuously, so it no longer deserves its old reputation.

After enjoying the Merlion, we walked to Raffles Place Park and stopped by Ya Kun Kaya Toast for breakfast. We ordered French toast and steamed bread, and both were excellent.

Relaxing at The Westin Singapore

After breakfast, we returned to The Westin Singapore and spent some time swimming in the pool.

At the poolside, a lesbian couple was taking photos of each other with their phones. Every time one of them pressed the shutter button, the other would enthusiastically shout things like, “Wow, super sexy!” or “Gorgeous!” Watching them made me think they were both excellent photographers.

Bak Kut Teh and Musang King Durian

In the afternoon, we visited Lau Pa Sat, one of Singapore’s famous hawker centers. It felt like a huge, clean food court, but since there was no air conditioning, it seemed like the kind of place that could be tough to enjoy unless you still had plenty of energy left.

We didn’t eat there, though. Instead, we headed to a restaurant recommended by a friend: NG AH SIO Bak Kut Teh.

Bak kut teh appears in practically every Singapore guidebook, so I had been looking forward to trying it. My very first impression was, “Wow… that’s a lot of pepper.”

Then I dipped a piece of youtiao (Chinese fried dough) into the soup.

To my surprise, it was absolutely delicious.

Honestly, I thought the soup-soaked fried dough tasted even better than the wonderfully tender pork.

Our meal—two bowls of bak kut teh, rice, youtiao, and two soft drinks—came to SGD 43.76.

After lunch, we walked next door to Combat Durian.

One of the main reasons I had planned this trip in June was to finally give durian another chance.

I’d already tried durian three times before—in Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam—and every single experience had ended with the same reaction:

“Ugh… this is tough.”

However, one of my friends absolutely loves durian and never stops talking about how delicious it is. Every time I listened to her, I couldn’t help thinking that maybe I had simply never eaten a really good one.

I’d heard that June is one of the best seasons in Singapore to find naturally ripened durians that have fallen from the tree, so I’d long decided that if I were ever going to try durian again, it would be here, in June.

Still, once we arrived at Combat Durian, my confidence disappeared. Neither my partner—who had never tried durian before—nor I felt confident about finishing an entire fruit.

When I admitted to one of the staff members that we were complete beginners, she smiled and said,

“You don’t have to buy a whole one. We just packed some fresh Musang King durian. Start with that.”

The package cost SGD 26.00.

When I nervously took my first bite, my immediate thought was:

“It doesn’t stink.”

That alone came as a huge surprise.

Every durian I had eaten before had smelled like rotten onions, making me instinctively recoil.

This one was completely different.

Saying it “didn’t stink” isn’t entirely accurate. It certainly had a fermented aroma, but instead of making me want to gag, it reminded me ever so slightly of soy sauce or miso.

The texture was incredibly rich, creamy, and smooth without feeling overly heavy. The sweetness wasn’t as bold as a mango’s, but it was refined and elegant, accompanied by a faint bitterness that gave it real depth.

It was unlike any fruit I’d ever tasted.

And honestly…

It was delicious.

I think this trip may have turned me into a durian fan.

Since my partner had absolutely no preconceived ideas about durian, he simply ate it happily, saying over and over how good it was.

The only downside was what happened afterward.

Although the durian was wonderful, my stomach felt unusually full for the rest of the evening, and every time I burped, I could still taste and smell the durian.

Maybe we got a little too carried away.

Haji Lane

After leaving Combat Durian, we took a Grab to Haji Lane.

The street had a lively atmosphere filled with colorful murals, cafés, bars, and young tourists. Personally, though, it felt a little too loud and crowded for our taste, so we didn’t stay very long.

Afterward, we returned to our hotel and headed to the airport.

Jewel Changi Airport and Heading Home

At the airport, we explored Jewel Changi Airport, an enormous shopping and entertainment complex.

It was incredibly crowded, but it was so large that you could probably do all of your shopping and dining there without ever leaving the building.

The enormous indoor waterfall cascading from the ceiling in the center of the complex was spectacular.

One last thing I noticed about this trip:

I never used cash—not even once.

Every single payment was made with my credit card, and I never found myself wishing I had brought cash.

Singapore Trip Report – Day 1

Singapore Trip Report – Day 2

<p>The post Singapore Trip Report – Day 3: Merlion, Musang King Durian, and Jewel Changi Airport first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>

Breakfast and Arrival at Bird Paradise

On our second day, we took the MRT and a local bus to Bird Paradise in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

Among the restaurants near the entrance, we chose a café called han’s union, where we had a kaya toast set for breakfast. From our window seat, we could look out over a small stream and watch little birds resting in the trees along the water while we ate. It was a peaceful way to start the day.

We had already purchased our tickets through the official website, so we simply showed our electronic tickets at the entrance. We had also added the lorikeet feeding activity to our admission tickets.

Exploring Bird Paradise and Lorikeet Feeding

Just inside the entrance was an area where birds were kept in large aviaries, and we first admired the colorful birds through the wire mesh. However, I think the true highlight of Bird Paradise is its free-flight aviaries. The park is like one enormous birdcage that people can walk through while birds fly freely around them. Some birds were friendly enough to come close, while others preferred to rest high up in the trees. The binoculars my partner had brought turned out to be incredibly useful for birdwatching.

We had reserved the lorikeet feeding activity that started at 11:00 a.m. After arriving at Lory Loft, we showed our electronic tickets and received numbered tickets. When the activity began, participants were called in numerical order. Our numbered tickets were collected, and each of us was handed a feeding cup. As soon as the staff filled it with nectar, the impatient lorikeets swarmed toward us all at once. It was noisy, adorable, exciting, and absolutely chaotic—in the best possible way. It truly felt like paradise, thanks to the birds.

A photographer was also present during the activity, and visitors could purchase the photos afterward. If you plan to buy them, I’d recommend putting on your best smile.

The fun came to an abrupt end the moment our nectar was gone. The lorikeets instantly lost all interest in us and flew off to find someone else with food. My partner and I spent a blissful few moments surrounded by brilliantly colored birds. We were happy, excited, and completely captivated. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that dozens of lorikeets eagerly lick the nectar at the same time, so it splashes around and can easily stain your clothes.

After the feeding activity, a heavy tropical downpour suddenly began, so we took shelter in a café near the entrance. We enjoyed bird-shaped bread and hot coffee while waiting for the rain to ease. The bread had the gentle flavor and appearance of homemade bread, with just a faint hint of the aroma that comes from natural fermentation.

Once the rain became lighter, we continued exploring the park.

By the way, Bird Paradise operates a free shuttle bus that runs back and forth around the park. The walking distance isn’t particularly long, but we still rode it several times. After all, it was free, and riding it was part of the fun.

After spending as much time birdwatching as we wanted, we stopped by the gift shop near the entrance. Immediately to the left was a photo counter. We handed the card we had received from the photographer to a staff member, who then displayed all of our photos on a monitor. After choosing our favorites, the staff printed them and placed them in presentation folders. We selected the package that included two printed photos, which cost SGD 60. As a bonus, purchasing the package also allowed us to download all of the digital photos.

The gift shop was full of irresistible items for bird lovers, much to my partner’s delight. We ended up buying a mug and a passport holder.

Desserts and Chicken Rice

Later, when we felt a little hungry, we stopped by BlackBall, a café near the entrance, and ordered winter melon tea and douhua for a total of SGD 15.40. The winter melon tea tasted exactly like what I imagine traditional herbal medicine would taste like. My partner kept saying, “Hmm… it’s good… I think it’s good… I guess this is what herbal drinks taste like… yeah… I think it’s good,” without ever fully committing to saying it was delicious. Still, it seemed to grow on him. On the other hand, he absolutely loved the douhua and happily finished it. I enjoyed it just as much, especially the chewy taro balls made from sweet potatoes.

From Mandai Wildlife Reserve, we took the shuttle bus (SGD 2.50) back to Khatib MRT Station and then rode the MRT to Isetan Scotts. Our goal was to buy individually wrapped snacks in large quantities to hand out to my coworkers back home.

Before shopping, however, we noticed a food court on the basement level of the building and decided to try Hainanese chicken rice. Neither of us had been particularly interested in it, but every travel guide described it as one of Singapore’s signature dishes. We were a little hungry, and there was a food court right in front of us, so we figured, “Why not?”

The result?

It was much better than we had expected.

The rice was light and fluffy, the chicken was wonderfully tender, and we finished the entire plate in no time.

SPECTRA and Garden Rhapsody

That evening, we went to watch SPECTRA – A Light & Water Show at the Event Plaza outside The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The show starts every night at 8:00 p.m., so we arrived about fifteen minutes early. Even then, a large crowd had already gathered to save seats. The fifteen-minute performance combined fountains, music, and projection mapping. Our impression was simply, “Well… it was okay.”

Afterward, my partner and I agreed that it had been “pretty decent” and walked to Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay. We were there for Garden Rhapsody, the light show that begins at 8:45 p.m. and synchronizes the Supertrees with music.

This one completely exceeded our expectations.

Watching two shows back-to-back was a little exhausting, but the crowd was smaller than at SPECTRA, and the illuminated Supertrees were absolutely breathtaking. We enjoyed every minute of it.

The show ended around 9:00 p.m., and we hoped to grab a light meal nearby. Unfortunately, every restaurant had already passed its last order. The taxi stand was packed with people, so we walked to the nearest MRT station and took the train back to our hotel.

Singapore Trip Report – Day 1

Singapore Trip Report – Day 3

<p>The post Singapore Trip Report – Day 2: Bird Paradise, Lorikeet Feeding, and Garden Rhapsody first appeared on ふたり暮らし。.</p>