@girleatworld

🍙 Onigiri after a long hike to Karasawa Hyutte to see the autumn leaves in Japan last October 🍁🍂. I couldn't have predicted it at the time, but this was the last time I traveled, and it's over 8 months ago!! I've gotten a few DMs asking why I have not been active on IG. Well, for one, I haven't been out of Singapore at all this year. For us in Singapore, the COVID-19 situation began way earlier before it escalated globally so it would not be wise to travel. Another reason is... I didn't feel right to be promoting travel given the current climate of the world. All of you know I am normally an advocate for travel and exploring the world, but I do believe we can all benefit from staying put for the time being. I don't think international travel is going to recover this year, with all the second waves popping up all over the world. It does suck though, and I'm really missing my second homes... Tokyo and Bali in particular. I don't know when things will return back to normal but one thing for sure, I will never take travel for granted again.

🍦 MAJOR throwback to that ice cream treat at the end of my Kamikochi hike. Some of you might have seen this on my IG story. Back in October, I went on a 2-day trek in Kamikochi, part of the Japanese Alps. Kamikochi is written as 上高地 in Kanji which literal meaning is “the place where gods descended”. And I can see why, it was beautiful! During our hike, we stayed overnight at a mountain lodge before proceeding to hike up to Karasawa Hyutte for the beautiful autumn leaves. In total we walked 3 hours on the first day and hiked-walked for 12 hours on the second day. Not gonna lie - that second day was TOUGH. What really kept me going was thinking about this ice cream that I've spied on the minute we started our trek 😂😂 It might just look like a plain vanilla ice cream but don't be fooled! Vanilla ice creams in Japan taste so much better than it looks. Or maybe I was biased after that looong day. Or maybe it's bc I was almost 8 months pregnant at that time 😁 More info on the hike over at my blog - girleatworld.net - or click the link in my pf above ☝🏻 #🇯🇵

Zarame Senbei (sugared rice crackers) while walking around Kusatsu Onsen town. Usually senbei is savory with bits of seaweed, but this one is coated with Zarame (large crystal) sugar. It is sweet but still retain that a hint of soy saltiness similar to other senbeis. Kusatsu is such a charming little town. The entire vibe of the city reminds me of Spirited Away, and it's made extra whimsical on cold nights since the natural hot spring would occasionally stir up steam into the air. The hot spring water in Kusatsu famous as it is high in acidity and bacterial power, which is believed to be beneficial for skin. Many visitors would dress up in a Yukata (japanese summer wear) ang Geta (wooden slipper) while going to an onsen. More details on my 5-day Nagano trip is up on my blog! Click the link in my profile ☝🏻 #🇯🇵

Oyaki (おやき) at Matsumoto Castle during my recent road trip to Nagano. Oyaki is a Japanese savory dumpling, traditionally stuffed with roasted local vegetables - that's what the three characters on the Oyaki means. The one I had was leek, mushroom and potatoes. Apples and other fruits are also commonly used to make the sweet version! Oyaki is super popular and widely available in Nagano. It's a great representation of the prefecture - Oyaki skin is made from buckwheat flour. Due to the terrain of Nagano prefecture, it is difficult to plant rice. Instead, soba (buckwheat) became the main produce of Nagano. I got this Oyaki from the entrance of Matsumoto Castle - you can't miss it! Over the past few months, I have been building my TripAdvisor profile by creating Trips from my vacations. It's such a useful feature for sharing my favorite spots with friends! I love that it makes my trip planning so much easier - it incorporates everything we love about TripAdvisor (reviews, maps and photos), so you can easily research which spot you want to go and save those spots to personalize your own Trip. You can also invite friends to collaborate on the Trip, which is great for group vacations! Visit my TripAdvisor profile at https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Profile/GirlEatWorld to see Trips I have created. TripAdvisor has recently started a Singapore Instagram account at @tripadvisorsg - follow them for something exciting launching in December! #🏯 #🇯🇵 #おやき

Cute desserts - one of the many reasons I kept going back to Tokyo 🐽🐷🍦 This is the little piggy from Eiswelt Gelato in Harajuku! Aside of little piggy they also have other cute animals ice cream like a chick, bunny and a frog. It's right on Takeshita dori so you really can't miss it. I've posted up the first two of the series of blog posts I am writing from my most recent Japan trip. The first is an etiquette guide to visiting an onsen (Japanese hot spring pool) and the second one is on the Japanese Alps trek in Kamikochi. Visit to girleatworld.net to read them! #どうぶつえんアイス #どうぶつ

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! The festival is actually this Friday, and it's an important day that is celebrated across east asian culture - namely Chinese (Moon festival), Japanese (Tsukimi - literal translation of “Moon Viewing”) and Korean (Chuseok / Hangawi). Though the name differs, it seems to share the same values of family gathering in celebration of full harvest moon - hence the mooncake! In Chinese tradition, the mooncake is a delicacy shared by families at Mid-Autumn celebration. The round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion. These days, mooncake is also offered as gifts for business clients. This has resulted in fancy mooncakes by luxury hotels and bakeries. In Singapore, a good mooncake can cost $78 for a box of 8! There are different types of mooncake these days, from different fillings (lotus paste, egg yolk, durian) to different types of skin (traditional baked skin or soft snowskin)! I've been having different types of mooncake thanks to my friend @chipxmunk There are many variations of legends associated with this festival but my favorite is the one about a selfless rabbit. The story goes: Once upon a time, three deities from the Moon transformed themselves into poor old men and went begging for food on earth. They encountered a monkey, a fox and a rabbit. The monkey and fox gave them food, but the rabbit was poor and did not have anything to spare. The rabbit decided to throw itself into a fire so that the old men can have food. The deities were so touched by the rabbit’s selfless act that they let the rabbit live in the Moon Palace with them. Might sound like a crazy story, but apparently “Rabbit that lives in the moon” is observed in many east asian and even aztec culture. This is believed to have originated from markings on the moon that resembles a rabbit, which can be seen during the full moon.

Yet another item I squealed when I saw it in person at Tokyo Disneyland. On the menu, it's pretty average-sounding: A grilled chicken and scrambled eggs sandwich. The kicker? It's served inside a Chinese bun that is perfectly shaped like Mickey Mouse's gloves! You can get this sandwich at Huey, Dewey and Louie’s Good Time Cafe in Toontown. The food in Tokyo Disneyland kicks major ass in SO many ways – The reasonable price, the delicious taste, and the super creative concept! I really appreciate the folks at Tokyo Disneyland for making food such a delightful experience. I've written a blog post on how to maximize your visit to Tokyo Disneyland. See the link on my profile!

🥖 Throwback to the one food that stood out the most while I was in Hoi An. I ate plenty of other stuff too (you can find my Hoi An food blog in the profile above ⏫). But this Banh Mi Thap Cam from Banh Mi Madam Khanh? No shame, ate it literally everyday for breakfast. It's a crime to visit Vietnam and not have any Banh Mi. Banh Mi is a Vietnamese-style sandwich with various fillings – minced meat, liver pate, and fresh vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, and pickled carrots. What's interesting about Banh Mi is that the bread is very similar to the French baguette – strong evidence of French influence on the region during the colonial period. However, unlike baguette which tends to be long, Banh Mi is noticeably shorter and fits just right in your hands. You'll hear the word "Banh" used a lot in Vietnamese food, and you might wonder why. Apparently, "Banh" is used to describe anything made from flour! The word "Banh Mi" itself in Vietnamese actually just means "bread". So, you cannot just order Banh Mi – you’d just be ordering bread. There are different types of Bahn Mi – sometimes with chicken, with vegetables, or a combination of meat and vegetables. My favorite is Bánh Mì Thập Cẩm, which is the combination bread – it's got a little bit of everything! I loved the contrasting textures on each bite. The bread that is crunchy outside yet soft inside, the juicy meat, and then the combination of fresh and pickled vegetables. #🥖 🇻🇳

**GIVEAWAY ALERT** 🍍 Did you know that the pineapple is the international emblem of hospitality? This is a Pineapple in front of the iconic Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. I am excited to announce a very sweet partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand with over 750 hotel members worldwide, to celebrate . Take a chance to win $500 worth of I Prefer points (or 'Pineapple Points') to spend on your next hotel break. Simply tag a friend in the comments who you’d like to bring along and follow @girleatworld and @preferredhotels. For a special bonus entry, sign-up to Preferred Hotels' I Prefer loyalty program through the link in my bio! 🔼 Contest ends on June 9 and is open worldwide. If you've been to Singapore, you'll notice the Fullerton Hotel as one of the most prominent landmarks in the waterfront, right across the street from the Merlion statue. The Fullerton was originally built in 1928, and had been used for many purposes - the General Post Office, a hospital during the World War II, and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (tax) headquarters, before finally being restored into a five-star luxury hotel in 2001. Aside of being a symbol of hospitality, Pineapples are a symbol of luck and prosperity in Singapore. A popular ritual for moving into a new home is to roll a pineapple into the house which is thought to bring in prosperity and good luck into the new home. Good luck! #🍍

The cute eats of Tokyo continues! Disneyland is the most magical place on earth, but Disneyland in Tokyo? 1000x better. They have super cute food and merchandise that you can only find exclusively in Tokyo Disneyland. One example is the Green Alien mochis from Toy Story. This is seriously THE CUTEST! I squealed when I saw this in person. They are basically three mochis (rice cake) balls shaped like the little green men in Toy Story. Each mochi has different fillings – strawberry, chocolate, and custard. Such a genius concept! I've written a blog post on how to maximize your visit to Tokyo Disneyland. See the link on my profile!

Back in Tokyo again for the annual pilgrimage to my favorite city in the world! This time I finally got to stop by the place I've been wanting to visit. Does anyone NOT love Totoro? This is a Totoro-shaped cream puff from Shiro-hige Creampuff Factory. They come in four flavors (custard, chocolate, strawberry and green tea) but I personally think the regular custard one is the best. The shop is located just a short walk away from Shimokitazawa station, which I totally recommend to visit if you're ever in Tokyo. It's just a few station away from Shibuya but it's a totally different vibe. Very quiet and residential, perfect for a slow afternoon stroll. The creampuff costs 420 yen each. I recommend to have the creampuffs to go bc there is an extra fee for having it at the cafe (it becomes 465 yen).

I just got back from Phuket! I saw this cool-looking Mangosteen Gelato in the hashtag by @eiffelyoo and I just *had* to go find it myself! Mangosteen, the national fruit of Thailand, is often referred to as "Queen of Fruits" and prized for its sweet and sour juicy flesh. And if you ever eat the real Mangosteen fruit, be careful of the purple juice that comes out from the thick skin! It contains tannin and can permanently stain clothes. When we think of Phuket, the immediate picture that came to mind is the island with blue water and white sand beach. But I found a different side of Phuket in the old town. I didn’t expect to learn so much history, thai-chinese culture and the colorful shophouses. I've written about my Old Town Phuket experience in my blog, which you can find the link to in my profile above 👆🏼🆙🔼 More from Phuket to come soon! PS: you can find this Gelato at China Inn - along with other super cool realistically shaped fruit gelatos by @thongdeegelato