Showing posts with label solo travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solo travel. Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2022 | By: purple taste

[2022] To Melbourne (Australia), for the first time, Optus, UberX and Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens

I have not been outside of Asia, so it was a good opportunity to meet up with my fellow foodie + travel group in Melbourne, Australia.

My ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) application took about one month to approve and thankfully, got it a few days before my trip start date. But by then, the air ticket was soooo expensive. In fact, it is THE most expensive budget air ticket ever in all my travels. Anyway, decided to throw caution to the wind and just do it!

Ticket booked, accommodation booked and bags packed. Time to travel! 

2.30am flight



I am a short person, and my legs were almost touching the front of the seat. So, can imagine the taller persons challenge... But of course, if you have money to spend, can buy the seats with more leg space, quieter seats etc. My flight had a crying kiddo and the lady next to me, had dubious hygiene practice...For Scoot flights, passengers are to keep their mask on.

almost touching the front



Most importantly, we landed safely at Tullamarine Airport (Melbourne International Airport) around 11+am. On time, yay!

Ivan gave me a tip and said to use the Smart Gate at the airport. Indeed, it was pretty fast and convenient. Thumbs up!

Turn right after exiting the customs, and you'll find the Optus shop. Buy a prepaid sim card for just AUD25 for 60GB of data. Nice! Optus works well in city area and not so good at the mountain areas. The staff are fast and you'll be done within minutes.

Then, the transportation out of the airport to Melbourne city center, one could take the SkyBus (Melbourne Airport Buses) for just AUD19.95 for one way or AUD32 for return tickets. The bus stops at Southern Cross Station (near to some hotels). The journey from the airport to the city center is about 35 minutes, depending on traffic condition.

Or, one could get a private hire car via Uber. There is an UberX queue outside the airport. Just follow the signs. So, one will need  to download Uber app first, and then use it to get a UberX car to the airport. The app will give you a pin code so there is no designated driver at that moment. Join the queue at the designated line and there will be someone who will indicate to you which berth to await for the vehicle. Then when the UberX car arrives at your 'berth', usually they will help you with your luggage as well. After getting into the car, do share the Uber generated pin for the ride as the driver needs it before he can commence the journey. If you are lucky, you'll get a super nice vehicle but the one that I got was pretty run down. Nevertheless, the driver was friendly. It usually costs about AUD50+ for a one-way trip out of the airport via UberX but there was a 10% discount if you sign-up for the one-month free membership to Uber One.

Reached Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens an hour ahead of check-in time, and luckily, the room was ready. Standard room, no frills. One double bed, a bathroom and shower. The mini-bar was stocked with drinks, non-complimentary of course. Hahaa, but the price for a bottle of orange juice was alright at AUD4.50.

hotel lobby

HQ's on William Restaurant & Bar



Standard Room

view from room

work desk, TV


instant coffee and tea

kettle


you drink/eat, you pay


travel adaptor to use during your stay


The room was pretty spacious. The bed and pillows are a tad softer than what we are used to in Singapore hotels.

bottled water


Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens hotel entrance

Flagstaff Gardens opposite of the road

night view outside the hotel


One thing I noticed during my stay in Melbourne, is always to watch out for the cyclists or food delivery riders. There are lanes for them and they do go pretty fast.

According to my friends, the hotel is right at the edge of Melbourne. Sounds cool, doesn't it?

Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne

Address: 380 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Contact: +61 3 9322 8000



Sunday, November 4, 2018 | By: purple taste

[2018] Solo Trip - Local Breakfast in Nagoya, To Kyoto via Shinkansen Kodama , Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto and Late Lunch at SVB

For the last morning in Nagoya, decided to have breakfast ala Nagoya-style Kissa-ten (coffeeshop) and the nearest one to the hotel is at Komeda Coffee. Went there early around 7.30 am and waited for about 10 minutes before getting a table. Interestingly, the coffeeshop has section for smoking and non-smoking but within the same shop. So, inevitably one would get the drifted smoke at the non-smoking section too.


Komeda Coffee Kissa-ten

モーニングセット (morning set)

It was drizzling that morning, so was eager to get that cup of hot coffee and to fill-up the tummy before heading towards to Kyoto. Kyoto is just about 50 minutes away from Nagoya via Shinkansen.


ice water, and warm towel

There were 3 options for the breakfast set, and one just need to purchase a cup of coffee and the bread is complimentary. Sweet! So, I got myself a black coffee and milk served on the side, with Ogura toast (red bean toast).


モーニングセット

nice cup

little bit

Ogura toast (小倉トースト)

What I liked about the Ogura toast, was the well buttered crispy toast and the red bean was really tasty and not too sweet. Happy to be able to enjoy as the locals do.




The train to Kyoto was at 11.46am, hence it was back to the hotel to pack-up and do the necessary check-out before making sure I was at the right platform for the the train. We all know how punctual these transportations are in Japan.

Shinkansen Kodama こだま

Interestingly, Kodama is the slowest Shinkansen when compared to Nozomi. For Japan Rail Pass, am unable to use it on Nozomi nor Mizuho so I was travelling mostly on either Hikari, or Kodama for long distances and local trains.


reserved seats

let's go to Kyoto

It was drizzling on the way to Kyoto but luckily, it wasn't raining in Kyoto itself. From Kyoto Station, take the subway to Shijo Station. I'd be staying at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijokarasuma.

It is within walking distance of Shijo Station but I think I missed the hotel and managed to walk past it without realising. Hahaaa! So ended up longer than expected.

By far, Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma has the prettiest facade. Inside the room, actually all of them had the same standard configuration and amenities.

walked past this from across the road, before realising that's Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijokarasuma

ahh, now the signages are seen clearly

nice walkway

take the lift to the lobby at Level 2

my room at Level 4

there's a laundry room at Level 4

Single Room (Non-Smoking)

This hotel was the priciest for this trip at about SGD450 for 2 nights for a single room. But good thing was, it is very near Nishiki Market which was one of the places that I wanted to visit while in Kyoto.

favourite past time at night

bathroom, looks exactly like the one in Kinshicho


Ok, let's go see what to eat for lunch. Went to Nishiki Market but it was too crowded and I was really hungry. The thought of jostling with warm bodies for food, was well..not something that I'd had energy for at that time.

crowds outside of Nishiki Market

crowded inside


maybe grab some bread?

Ok, I walked and walked and finally decided to have lunch at a place that looks like a Machiya (町屋/町家).

Spring Valley Brewery

It was already 2.30pm when I decided to have lunch. Staff was rather surprised but still welcoming to a solo diner. Here is the link to SVB Kyoto website.

interior

Placed my order fairly quickly and selected their weekend set lunch and it came with a small beer. Yay to the thirst quencher that I needed.

outside view from my seat

cheers to "Copeland" beer

salad

Salad was served and although it was part of the set, the portion was quite generous. Loved the taste!

main course - roast beef don

let it flow

There's rice below the roast beef that has been drizzled with soy wasabi mix. I liked the flavours and very good portion for a set lunch price.

last bite

After the sumptous meal with the refreshing beer, there's also coffee to end the meal. This weekend set lunch was really value for money at only ¥1500 (~SGD19). The small beer itself would have costs about ¥480 (~SGD6) on its own.

coffee

Dinner that night was just snacks from Daimaru Department Store. Hehe, from its basement food hall.

fried oysters

Montblanc from Mon Cher

The montblanc from モンシェール 大丸京都店 (Mon Cher Daimaru Kyoto) was so good! 

there's a layer of cake inside


The next day, I had planned a day trip out to Himeji. For some sightseeing!