Shuutravels

Want to participate in the hanami festivities in Japan but prefer to avoid the crowds of Tokyo and Osaka? I got you! Hop on a 1.5-2h shinkansen ride and travel up north to Tohoku, where you'll find some of Japan's most beautiful cherry blossom displays — with none of the frenzy. 

2. Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園), Miyagi

3. Hanamiyama Park (花見山), Fukushima

4. Miharu Takizakura (三春滝桜), Fukushima

5. Nicchu Line Weeping Cherry Blossom, Fukushima

6. Tsurugajo Castle (鶴ヶ城), Fukushima

Just a 2 hour ride away from Bangkok lies Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam and a current UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you're a history, architecture or food-lover, there's something for you in this ancient city. Here are 5 attractions not to be missed -




1. Ayutthaya Historical Park
Comprising 67 temples and ruins, the Ayutthaya Historical Park provides a glimpse into the city's flourishing past. Ayutthaya prospered during the 14-17th century as Siam's centre of power and commerce, and the richness of the historic Kingdom is well evident as you take in the majestic temples dotted across the park.

Cycling is a great way to explore - there are bicycle parking stands at most major monuments and drivers are generally friendly towards cyclists. We rented our bikes from our hotel and spent a day cycling from temple to temple.





2. Wat Phu Khao Thong
Located just out of the historic park is Wat Phu Khao Thong, also known as the Golden Mount. Painted entirely in white and gold, this 50 metre chedi is a stunning sight to behold. Climb to the top of the tower for amazing views of the surrounding village - we heard it's amazing at sunrise and sunset too! This temple can be reached with a 10 minute tuk-tuk ride.


3. Bang Pa-in Royal Palace
Fast forward to the 19th century at the Bang Pa-in Royal Palace - this stunning complex was largely built by King Chulalongkorn in the the late 1800s for use as a summer home for the Siamese royalty. It took us about 30 minutes on a tuk-tuk to get from Ayutthaya to the Palace, but the ride was definitely worth it! The grounds are beautifully landscaped, which were not only photogenic but also provided welcome visual contrast from the ruins of Ayutthaya.



4. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat
Across the river from Bang Pa-in is a cluster of monasteries and temples, all built in a unique gothic revival style. Stroll around the neighbourhood and you'd be excused if you thought you were in Europe!

To get here, look for the cable cars located next to the Bang Pa-in main carpark. These are free to ride but you are welcome to leave donations. The highlight of this neighbourhood is definitely the Buddhist temple, housed in a chapel-like building complete with stained glass features and an ornate decorative ceiling.



5. Boat Noodles
Don't leave Ayutthaya without trying the Ayutthaya boat noodles, named as such because vendors used to peddle them while rowing down the city's canals. Sit by a local stall and knock back a few bowls of these noodles tossed in a fragrant dark soy and pig/cow blood broth (trust me it tastes way better than it sounds). You can usually choose between beef or pork, and specify your preferred type of noodle.

We had our fill at Pa Lek Boat Noodle, which was located just beside the historical park. There was a dessert stall next door as well serving sweetened shaved ice with a variety of local toppings - I had mine with grass jelly and chestnut balls (so good!!!)



We spent 2 days in Ayutthaya, which was sufficient for us to see most of the major sites and get a feel of the town, but we'd recommend at least 3 days for a more comfortable itinerary. Hope this article helped - leave a comment if you have any questions or you can DM me on Instagram at @shuutravels :) Bon voyage!

Bali is undoubtedly every Instagram-girl's paradise. I've visited thrice in three years, and each time I just discover more and more places to visit and snap a couple (or more) of cute (I hope) pictures.

I'm just back from a weekend in Bali and here I'm rounding up 10 of my favourite Insta-worthy spots to hit the next time you're in the island of gods!

1. The Colony Hotel, Seminyak
The white-washed buildings, palm trees and symmetrical arrangement make this hotel one of the prettiest in town! I say it looks even better at dusk when illuminated by the warm yellow lamps.



2. Motel Mexicola, Seminyak
This colourful Mexican restaurant/bar/club is a 10/10 in my books. Visit in the day for a cute photo, and stay till the night for drinks, dancing and overall good vibes.



3. Petitenget Beach, Seminyak
Petitenget Beach is my favourite beach in Bali to catch the sunset and get a sky-reflection photo. Unfortunately it was really cloudy that evening but it still looks really dreamy. This spot looks beautiful on a sunny afternoon too!



4. Kynd Community, Seminyak
This plant-based cafe decked out in millennial pink is not only cute (another day in IG paradise!) but also serves good food. And yes, this is where you can customise a smoothie bowl with alphabets to spell out whatever you want... They also own an ice-cream parlour located right next door.



5. Tropicola Beach Club, Seminyak
If you love primary colours and minimalist retro vibes, this beach club is for you! Don't forget to order their freezies - the frozita (gin, rose, hibiscus, dragon fruit) and the margarita verde (tequila, celery, cucumber, elderflower) are so yummmm for sipping by the poolside.



6. W Bali, Seminyak
I didn't stay here, but the entrance to this hotel along Jln Petitenget features a perfectly symmetrical tunnel of bamboo trees. Am I in Kyoto or Bali?



7. Traditional Arts Market, Ubud
I'm not sure how long more the Bali bag trend will stay for, but they sure make a good backdrop for photos! This arts market in Ubud sells every variety of rattan bag you can possibly dream of, plus other knick-knacks and souvenirs (including some very cute crochet dreamcatchers!)



8. Kaveri Spa at the Udaya, Ubud
Bali spas are famous for their flower baths and this particular spa wins my award for drawing the prettiest flower bath ever. Head up to their rooftop to admire the unique bamboo architecture before your treatment.



9. Campuhan Ridge Walk, Ubud
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is an easy and scenic trek through Bali's lush greenery. We heard it's extra stunning at sunrise and on sunny days (unfortunately it was threatening to rain when we were there). The trail is well-paved and provides a breath of fresh air away from the traffic. We walked to the trailhead from central Ubud (about a 15min walk), and passed by several Balinese temples on the way too.



10. oneeighty, Uluwatu
Perched atop the cliffs of Uluwatu is oneeighty, a stunning pool bar and lounge with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Entry is 450,000IDR per person (including 350,000IDR of F&B credit), so we went there for lunch before soaking up some sun. The BBQ ribs and watermelon mojito come highly recommended! oneeighty also boasts a glass-bottomed pool that hovers 160m above the ocean... don't look down, just look at the camera...



11 (Bonus!) Mama San, Seminyak
This isn't exactly an Instagrammable restaurant but after all that photo-taking you must be famished right? Mama San by Chef Will Meyrick is a cool spot serving hip Southeast Asian food. We had such a good dinner at Mama San that I had to include this recommendation in this post. Order the 'dendeng ballad' (caramelised wagyu short ribs beef) and the chai tea caramel custard (OMG best dessert ever) - you won't regret it! There's a smart casual dress code so swap out your slippers for shoes before entering the restaurant.




Hope this guide comes in handy the next time you are planning your vacation itinerary. Honestly there are so many insta-worthy spots in Bali and I've barely managed to cover them all! Already can't wait to be back ~

This blogpost was written in collaboration with Huawei. All photos featured are taken with the (amazing) Huawei P30 Pro phone.

A "Budget-Friendly" LA Guide:

Let's face it, Los Angeles is an expensive place. However, during my recent trip to LA I found out about the GO LA Pass, which turned out to be one of the most value-for-money passes I have ever used. I got myself the 5-day pass, and with that, I managed to visit most of LA's top attractions and save over $200 (!) in entrance fees.

This GO LA Pass can be purchased online on Klook at a discount, then shown on your mobile device/ as a print out to enter each attraction. There's usually no need to collect any tickets or passes upon landing in LA, making it very convenient and hassle-free!


Here's a breakdown of how I used my pass -

Day 1: Santa Monica and Venice Beach

1. Bike Rental from Perry's Beach Café and Rentals
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD35
Address: 2400 Ocean Front Walk (there are a few Perry's stations but the GO LA pass can only be redeemed at this one)

Santa Monica and Venice Beach are two beach towns that overlook the Pacific Ocean. While Santa Monica is more family-friendly, Venice Beach is better known for its bohemian spirit, colourful murals and beautiful canals. There is a beautiful boardwalk that connects Santa Monica to Venice Beach, so both towns can easily be explored in a day with a bike.


I rented my bike from Perry's Beach Cafe and Rentals. With your GO LA pass, you can redeem all-day rental of either a Mountain Bike or Roller-skates, including locks if necessary.



2. Pacific Park
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD34.95
Address: 380 Santa Monica Pier

In the late afternoon, I headed back to Santa Monica to visit Pacific Park. This amusement park is built on a pier and you've probably seen it featured in countless movies and television shows (including Hannah Montana!) There are over a dozen rides to enjoy, and your GO LA Pass gives you access to unlimited rides all day.



Day 2: Hollywood

1. Hollywood Museum
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD15
Address: 1660 N. Highland Ave

I started my day at Hollywood's official museum. This museum contains the world's most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia spread across four themed floors. The first floor was home to Max Factor's famous make-up rooms. These rooms were where Hollywood actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor found their signature look under the talented hands of Max Factor.


The Dungeon of Doom in the basement showcased props from Hollywood's most iconic horror films, while the third and fourth floors were dedicated to a range of exhibits including superhero films, LGBTQ films and special effects. Admission is included in your GO LA pass.



2. Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: Saved USD69
Address: 3400 W. Riverside Dr

Next, I took an uber up into Burbank for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. This tour brings you right in the thick of action at Warner Bro's 110-acre film backlot. We saw the exact facades where movies like Casablanca, Friends, the Greatest Showman and La La Land were filmed, and even stepped into the soundstage where the Ellen Show tapes!


Finally, the tour ends at an interactive gallery where we learnt about the key phases in film production. My favourite bit was the one on sound mixing - they broke down an excerpt from "Gravity" and showed us all the different layers of sound that make up what we hear in cinemas today. Super interesting!

The GO LA pass includes entry to the Studio Tour but you should make a reservation by emailing studio.tour@warnerbros.com. Do take note that as this is a real working studio, children under 8 are not permitted.



Day 3: Universal Studios Hollywood (USH)

1. Universal Studios Hollywood


The 3/5/7-day GO LA Passes include 1-day admission into Universal Studios Hollywood. This is a crazy saving and pretty much makes the cost of your pass worth it already. USH needs no introduction - I had tons of fun exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Springfield USA and so much more.

Check out my other article here for some tips on how to conquer the park in just one day!



Day 4: Griffith Observatory and Downtown LA

1. Griffith Observatory/ Hollywood Hills Hike 
No visit to LA is complete without a photo at the iconic Hollywood sign. If you want to get closer, you can join the Hollywood Hills Hike by Bikes & Hikes LA. This experience includes an exclusive tour of the Griffith Park Observatory and also brings you up on a guided hike to the iconic Hollywood sign. This tour is also part of the GO LA Pass. I did actually want to join but were feeling pretty tired that day so I took an uber up to the Griffith Observatory instead, where I got to peek at the Hollywood sign from afar.


2. OUE Skyspace LA
Amount Saved with GO LA Pass: USD25
Address: 633 W 5th Street

I made my way downtown to catch the sunset at OUE Skyspace LA - California's tallest open-air observation deck. The view from the 69th floor is stunning and you can even slide down one floor via a suspended glass slide - very cool! Admission is included in your GO LA Pass, but you'll need to top up $8 for the Sky Slide.



Day 5: Six Flags Magic Mountains


If you love roller-coasters and thrill rides, you'll be glad to know that 1-day admission into Six Flags Magic Mountains is also included in the GO LA pass. I rode 8 coasters in total that day and my favourites were X2 (this ride is full of surprises!), Twisted Colossus (best drop and most fun!) and Full Throttle (fast and furious).


So all in all, for 5 days of travel, I should have spent a whooping USD462.94 (approx. SGD633) on admission tickets. In comparison, the 5-day GO LA Pass costs only SGD368 on Klook. Thanks to that, I managed to save about SGD265 over 5 days. Super awesome and I definitely recommend buying this pass if you're visiting LA.

I hope you found this guide useful! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM at @shuutravels on Instagram :)

Disclaimer: My GO LA Pass was kindly gifted by Klook but all opinions are my own.