Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog: Travels

8 Beautiful Starbucks Stores Around the World (One of them is in Singapore!)

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Starbucks is the largest coffee chain worldwide and although it doesn't serve the best coffee (sorry Starbucks fans!), it is always very comforting to be able to spot a Starbucks from afar in a foreign land, especially in China. :)

And you'll be surprised.

Many of these Starbucks stores are architectural marvels in their own right too.

I was amazed to find not just one, but two very beautiful Starbucks stores in Nanjing alone. There are many other branches around the world that fit the bill just as well, and today I'll be sharing where all these gorgeous stores are located. If you are a Starbucks fan, be sure to put these on your bucket list! Even if you're not a fan, I assure you that these stores will make excellent backdrops for your travel photos!

1. Laomendong, Nanjing (China)


*Starbucks at Laomendong exudes an oriental vibe and resembles an old shophouse in ancient times.*

2. Nanjing 1912 Bar Street, Nanjing (China)

Believe it or not, this is not Europe. We are still in China!

3. Galeries Lafayette, Paris

Sitting here gives you a bird's eye view of the opulent decor (and all the merchandise - which is really bad for the pocket!) // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

4. Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Loving the Middle Eastern decor and vibes at this one // Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons

5. Tukwila, Washington (USA)

Starbucks Drive-thru made from four shipping containers. Pretty amazing right? // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

6. Fukuoka, Japan

A magnificent work of art by architect Kengo Kuma // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Can you believe this gorgeous hipster store used to be a bank vault? // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

8. One Rochester, Singapore

If you are a Singaporean and don't know about this yet, here's another spot you can check out this weekend! // Image Credit: Flickr (Choo Yut Shing)

Have you come across other Starbucks stores that are just as beautiful? I would love to hear from you so do leave a comment or drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com!

**All images in this post belong the author, unless otherwise stated**

10 Travel Tips for the Solo Female Traveler

Monday, April 18, 2016

I usually travel with friends or family but I have had to go solo on a number of trips for both work and leisure.

Is it safe for a lady to travel alone to a foreign land? Well, it really depends on where you choose to go, how you present yourself, how well-prepared you are, and your attitude when things don't go as planned.

If you're thinking of going solo, here are a couple of tips from my personal experience that I hope you'll find useful!

1. Choose to stay in a relatively established hotel

Do some research online (e.g. Tripadvisor) and shortlist some hotels within your budget. I can't emphasise how important it is to err on the side of caution when you're traveling alone, which is why I prefer to avoid Airbnb until stricter regulations come into play. At the end of the day, hotels have a reputation to protect, but not all homeowners do.

2. Put that map away

Get a wireless router before you depart or buy a local SIM card upon arrival. Personally, I only use Google Maps or Baidu Maps (in China) on my mobile phone. Holding a map in your hand seems like the most sensible thing to do in a foreign country, but unfortunately, this only highlights to the rest of the world that you are a tourist. It only gets worse when you hold a map and look like you're completely lost, which brings me to my next point.

3. Always look like you know where you're going, even if you don't

I don't always have the best sense of direction but Google Maps definitely makes me feel like I know where I'm going ( make sure your phone is fully charged and bring along a portable charger). Double check the addresses and directions with your hotel concierge before heading out and if all fails, pop by a cafe or eatery to ask for directions.

Always look like you know what you're doing and where you're going, even if you don't. Look confident, remain calm, and never have fear or lost written all over your face or you'll risk being singled-out by scammers and pickpockets. If you do get approached by random strangers, just keep moving. Yup, now's the time to put on your "resting bitch" face.

Shanghai - Yu Garden

4. Dress in neutral or dull colours

The whole idea is to be able to blend in with the crowd. The last thing we want is to attract unwanted attention when we are alone. Research the locations that you're traveling to and find out what the locals typically wear. If you obviously can't pass off as a local due to your race, at least try to pass off as an expatriate who has been living there for a long time.

5. Thoroughly research the locations you're traveling to

Always do your research and find out where the potential danger zones are located - e.g. dodgy neighbourhoods and certain modes of transport or transport companies that should be avoided. It is also important to find out where the nearest clinics/hospitals are, what the local police hotline is and where your country's embassy or consulate is located in case of emergencies.

I once booked an accommodation in a relatively unsafe neighbourhood (I found out only on hindsight) when traveling alone. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened but it was rather unnerving to have to live in fear, even if it was only for a few days.

6. Keep your valuables close to you at all times

Never place important documents like your passport, cash and credit cards or valuables like your laptop or iPad in your luggage. I always keep them close to me, preferably in a sling bag that comes with a zip. I also make it a point to keep a separate stash of cash in a hidden compartment in another bag. This will come in handy in the event that I do fall prey to pickpockets.

London - Exploring Buckingham Palace on my own

7. Never provide real-time updates on social media

Being a social media addict myself, I know how tempting and instantly gratifying it is to share real-time updates. To protect myself, I never ever reveal the name of my hotel when I'm traveling alone, and even when I do share pictures on my social media platforms, these are not real-time updates. With so much public information readily available these days, you'll never know who is trying to keep track of you.

8. Keep in touch with friends and family back home

You may be miles apart, but letting your family and friends back home know where you are at every point of your journey is important when you're traveling alone. In the worst case scenario that you get into trouble, they'll have a better idea of how to reach you.

9. Don't be penny wise, pound foolish

Thriftiness is a virtue, but not when safety is compromised as a result. There are just some things that aren't worth scrimping on. Choosing to walk down an empty street late at night instead of forking out extra cash to take a cab puts you at a greater risk of getting into trouble. Whatever it is, we need to constantly remind ourselves that safety should always be our top priority.

10. Buy Travel Insurance

As I travel pretty frequently, I always make it a point to purchase annual travel insurance for peace of mind. Comprehensive travel insurance is relatively affordable these days and will adequately compensate you for loss of baggage, delayed baggage and medical expenses incurred overseas.

*****

These are just some general rules that I abide by when I travel and I find that they have worked well for me thus far. If you've any other travel tips that you'll like to share, do drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com.

For more of my latest travel updates, follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/shoppingqueenshaven)

Travel: Why Tibet Is Worth Visiting

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Tibet would end up as one of my favourite travel destinations of all time. Besides the spectacular National Geographic-worthy scenery, I thought I would share some reasons why you should visit Tibet at least once in your life:

Tibet is every photography enthusiast's paradise

Tibet is very photogenic. When it comes to natural scenery, no other country comes close, except probably New Zealand and Switzerland, but there is a wilder and deeper side to Tibet that makes it breathtakingly beautiful.

Think dramatic white clouds, beautiful turquoise lakes, vast frozen glaciers and rocky, towering mountains that are largely uninhabited. You don't even have to visit the 3 holy lakes to be treated to spectacular views like these.

Panoramic view of Lhasa

Also, have you ever visited a destination where every walkway, building and passerby looked this photogenic? Keep your eyes peeled and cameras handy, because pleasant surprises await at every turn.

Tibetan Pilgrim

There are more Tibetan pilgrims in winter compared to any other time of the year.

;;;

Masquerading as a Tibetan pilgrim (Told you there are surprises at every turn!)

You'll be intrigued by their cultural heritage and religious traditions

Did you know that the bold, intricate designs of the traditional costumes worn by local Tibetans are not just beautiful works of art? They tell a story too. From the costumes alone, you can ascertain which part of Tibet a person is from and whether he/she is a farmer or nomad.

Tibetan pilgrims and sporty-looking tourist (aka me)

Tibet's culture and identity are inextricably linked to Tibetan Buddhism. Visits to places of worship and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Jokhang Temple are eye-opening experiences as Tibetan Buddhism is unlike any other religion.

Sera Monastery

The Monks Debate at Sera Monastery aims to deepen the monks' understanding of the holy scriptures. Monks who are seated are questioned by those who are standing. Depending on the quality of the answers, the standing monk will either clap his hands with both palms facing each other (this means the answer is good) or with both palms facing up (meaning the answer isn't satisfactory and requires further justifications)

Potala Palace, the main residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959

Tibetan Knot
- Blue symbolizes the sky, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water and yellow symbolizes earth.

Rituals are a vital part of the culture and their meticulous attention to detail can be seen from the way these places of worship are constructed, to the Tibetan prayer bells, wheels, flags and even the way pilgrims pray by sliding on the ground continuously in full prostration.

Tibetan pilgrim holding a prayer wheel at Bakhor Street

Prostrating Tibetans (Gotta love those stylish braids too)

Tibetan cuisine is delicious, if you avoid tourist traps

We had a very good Tibetan guide (his name is Chimple) who brought us only to restaurants frequented by the locals. After hearing horror stories about how tough and tasteless yak meat is, I was pleasantly surprised that the yak meat we had at every meal was succulent and tasty. It is compulsory to hire a guide in Tibet, so go on, ask your guide to take you to his favourite local joints!

Butter tea is a common beverage in Tibet and Chimple brought some of his home-made butter tea to sample. Did you know that authentic butter tea is made using milk from the female yak (also known as nak) but most butter teas found in shops today use ordinary butter? It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to savour this delicacy.

Tibetans are a welcoming bunch (and they can speak Mandarin too)

Everywhere we went, Tibetans would smile warmly at us. It is useful to have a decent command of the Chinese language because Tibetans can speak Mandarin too.

Exploring a Tibetan village

We had the chance to visit a Tibetan village and some of the local houses, which gave us a deeper understanding of their living environment and how Tibetan Buddhism is a way of life for everyone.

Typical Tibetan house

Tibetan living room

Even when the rest of the house looks like it needs a makeover, their dedicated prayer room is always spick and span. As most Tibetans are still devoted to the Dalai Lama, who is currently in exile in India, religious activities are closely monitored by the Chinese government.

Altar in the prayer room

Flour cakes made with flour and butter for prayer rituals

Butter lamps for praying

Words and photographs alone cannot adequately express how enchanted I am with Tibet, and I would urge you to visit this beautiful destination at least once in your lifetime. You'll only truly understand what I mean when you've personally experienced the wonders of Tibet.

Plus, where else can you enjoy such a gorgeous view during a massive traffic jam?

*****

For more information on my trip to Tibet, click on the links below to read my previous posts:

Tibet: Altitude Sickness & Acclimatisation Tips

Taking the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa

You may also be interested in this article on preventing altitude sickness in Tibet written by YoWangdu Tibetan Culture business and website:

Altitude Sickness Prevention in a Nutshell