This week, we are going local. Head to the various ethnic districts of Singapore to immerse yourself in the diversity & vibrancy of the city’s cultural melting pot. Travel blogger Lisa Rajna of wesaidgotravel recently visited Singapore. She shares of her shopping experience, “I was impressed how nearly everything from the Middle East and India are available right there in Singapore on Arab Street and in Little India. Strolling in Singapore was like an authentic visit to so many other countries. I love it!”

Arab Street and Kampong Glam

Historically, this neighborhood was designated for the Malay and Arab communities. Today the neighborhood of Arab Street and Kampong Glam has retained its ties to its Aram & Malay communities, making it a a centre for Muslim activities. Aside from the Sultan Mosque, the neighborhood’s most famous landmark, rows of shop houses selling various crafts, textiles, etc line up the neighborhood.

Shopper’s Tip: The neighborhood is also a favourite haunt for fashionistas (Commes des Garcon famously set up their guerilla store in the neighborhood.) and fashion fiends for it’s vibrant, indie environment. Many independent designers set up their shop in the area. Some shops to check out include: lifestyle fashion and home accessories store, The Salad Shop on Haji Lane. Threadbare & Squirrel, a curated unisex boutique is set up in nearby Bali Lane.

Chinatown

Image via daytripswashbuckler.

Popular to tourists and locals alike for its great food and budget-friendly shopping, You’ll find everything here from typical Singapore souvenirs to kitschy trinkets to traditional Chinese goods and medicine.

Shopper’s Tip: Aside from Chinatown’s street shopping, the neighboring Ann Siang Hill is becoming an enclave for Singapore’s indie culture. For those who are after more than the usual mall experience, you’ll find quirky shops and cafes on the slopes of Ann Siang Hill. Some favourites include: Woods in the Books on Club St, an independent bookseller specialising in graphic novels and picture books. Also on Club St is Trolley, selling a collection of free-range designs and objects that depict the simplicity of everyday life.

Little India

Image via urbantravelblog.

One of the most vibrant and culturally authentic districts of Singapore is Little India. Along the neighborhood’s busy streets, you’ll find stalls selling Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics. Aside from shopping, immerse yourself in the authentic India experience. Catch a glimpse of Hindu rituals at Little India’s famous landmark, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Or, head to Tekka Market and Food Centre for a taste of some of the best Indian hawker food in Singapore such as roti prata (dough flat bread) and thosai (Indian-styled pancakes).

Shopper’s Tip: No trip to Little India is complete without dropping by Mustafa Centre, the 24-hour shopping emporium, popular for offering one of the lowest prices in the city. Find everything here from souvenirs to apparel and textiles to electronics.

Specially on travelmob
In celebration of the Great Singapore Sale, travelmob is offering 10% discount vouchers to all our friends on Facebook. So head on over to our Facebook page to get your 10% coupon code and don’t forget to redeem when you book your Singapore accommodation on travelmob!

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Every year, the entire Singapore turns into a Shopper’s Paradise during the Great Singapore Sale (GSS). Starting May 31 until July 28, expect awesome deals of up to 70% off from international and local brands.

But with so many shopping malls in every corner of the city, it can get pretty overwhelming. To make sure you don’t miss out, here is a local guide to shopping in Singapore.

Orchard Road
Talking about shopping in Singapore is not complete without mentioning the city’s premier shopping district, Orchard Road. With 22 shopping malls lining up the entire stretch of this 2.2-km long street, you’ll literally shop til you drop .

Image via Timeout Singapore

The mega mall ION Orchard houses luxury brands like Miu Miu, Burberry and Prada as well as international specialty boutiques like Bimba & Lola, Fred Perry and True Religion to mass market brands like Uniqlo, H&M and local shoes & accessories brand Charles & Keith.
Shopper’s tip: ION offers special deals just for tourists. Just flash your passport and receive an ION Orchard Tourist Wallet and enjoy special discounts to participating merchants.

Ngee Ann City is one of Singapore’s shopping complexes. Image from Calvin Teo via Wikipedia.

Ngee Ann City is home of the Japanese department store chain, Takashimaya Shopping Centre. With 6 levels of shopping options, you’ll find everything here from houseware to toys to sports apparel. Book lovers will also be delighted to know that Ngee Ann City also houses Singapore’s largest bookstore, Kinokuniya. Find everything here from literary novels to bestsellers, graphic novels and specialized Japanese literature and manga.
Shopper’s tip: Takashimaya SC regularly holds massive sales located at the Takashimaya Square on Basement 3. Currently a Shoes & Bags sale offering massive discounts on such brands like Guess, Lacoste, etc is on.

Bugis Street

Image via tripadvisor.

Another key shopping destination in the city is Bugis. If you are taking the MRT train, hop on to the Green line and stop at Bugis station. Aside from the shopping centres Bugis Junction and Bugis+. For bargain-hunters, Bugis Street offers the typical street-shopping experience where smaller shops sell ladies’ and men’s apparel, accessories and souvenirs at affordable prices. Within the same bazaar are food stalls that sell yummy street food so you won’t go hungry while hunting for the best bargains.

Shopper’s tip: Typical to street-shopping, haggling is acceptable in Bugis Street. So remember to always negotiate for the “best price”. .

Going local

From last year’s Blueprint Emporium event. Image via blueprint.

 Check out Singapore’s thriving local fashion scene with these noteworthy local shopping events.

Blueprint Emporium is a unique shopping experience showcasing clothing and accessories from local and other Asian designers. Shop for these designers’ off-season collections and limited edition items. This year, Blueprint Emporium will be held on May 18 to 19 from 11 am to 8 pm at the F1 Pit Building.

Designed to provide a conducive retail environment for Singapore’s budding designers, the Scape Underground concept shopping was created. Find one-of-a-kind clothing and kitschy items. Scape Underground is located at level 1 of Orchard Link (next to Cathay Cineleisure).

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travelmob Host Simone shares what she loves about her neighborhood and why St Kilda should be on your itinerary on your next trip to Melbourne.

Image via nixpages.

One of the first things that attract the locals as well as travellers is the beach. Have a stroll along the stunning promenade and take it all in: the pier, the nice see breeze, and enjoy the vibrant lifestyle. One of the things you should do is have fish and chips at the beach and watch the sunset while you’re here.

Image via aroundtheregion.

But there is more to St Kilda than just the beach. In St Kilda and in Melbourne, we love our food and our coffee. There are heaps of great coffee places and restaurants in Acland and Fitzroy Streets. One must-try is a piece of cake in one of Acland Street’s famous cake shops. The hardest thing will be to pick just one piece.

Image via meldmagazine

A nice stroll along the beach is perfect after trying out all the yummy food. Walk from St Kilda, towards Brighton where you’ll find the famous colourful beach house.

Shop til you drop

Head to famous Chapel Street. This is one of, if not the best shopping district in Melbourne – from second hand stores over all the usual fashion labels up to fancy designer stores. While you’re here you have to visit Prahran market. One of the best places in Melbourne to get your fresh produce, deli and cheese.

St Kilda’s Nightlife

Image via flickr.

Enjoy St Kilda’s bustling nightlife with bars and pubs that line Acland, Fitzroy and Chapel Streets. But one thing I would recommend is trying to see a show or a concert at the iconic Palais Theatre, right in the heart of St Kilda. It’s a beautiful location and every show in there is just special.

Where to stay
Stay in Simone’s apartments right at the heart of St Kilda and enjoy the wealth of experiences that this area has to offer. This cozy 2 bedroom apartment has all you need to feel like home. Or, stay in this cute studio apartment close to Chapel Street – cafes and pubs are just within the neighborhood and the tram stop is located just in front of the apartment, so you can conveniently explore the rest of St Kilda. Book now and enjoy 20% discount for last-minute bookings!

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Together, we have collaborated to create a seamless user experience, where a Guest searching for holiday rentals in Asia Pacific, will be able to select and book from a curated list of high quality, unique accommodation options provided by travelmob.

Akin to the distribution agreement announced with Wego last year, this partnership with HomeAway is testament to travelmob’s continued mission in enabling global travellers to experience Asia Pacific like a local, while helping our Hosts raise exposure and marketability of their listings.

We thank you for your continued support and hope you enjoy this latest exciting partnership development from travelmob and HomeAway.

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Under the partnership, more than 420 million annual visitors across HomeAway’s global sites will have access to travelmob’s extensive range of high quality and unique accommodation – from luxury villas to tatami-mat apartments and even houseboats.

“travelmob is honored to partner with the global leader in holiday rentals. This partnership enables us to significantly expand our global reach and provide our property owners and managers with the opportunity to market their properties to more travellers worldwide.” says travelmob Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Turochas Fuad.

“We are excited to offer travelmob’s unique properties on the HomeAway websites and meet the growing demand for villas and holiday rentals in Asia,” says HomeAway Chief Executive Officer, Brian Sharples. “This partnership enables HomeAway to create additional accommodation options, in one of the world’s most dynamic regions, to the families and groups who rely on HomeAway for holiday rental travel.”

This partnership is in line with travelmob’s mission of enabling global travellers to experience Asia Pacific like a local, while increasing marketability of our property owners’ listings. We are currently working through the integration details with HomeAway and will have more information to share soon!

In the meantime, to ensure that you do not miss out on potential bookings, make sure you keep your listings and calendars up-to-date. If you have additional properties that are not yet listed on travelmob, you can easily List your space or contact us at support@travelmob.com for assistance.

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Check out our top things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

Central Market

Originally used as a wet market, the building is now a landmark of Malaysian culture and heritage. Come here to immerse yourself in the multi-ethnic cultures of Malaysia. Here you’ll find Malaysian products such as handicrafts, art, kebaya, songket, batik and the wide variety of gastronomic Malaysian cuisine. Within the complex is the The Annexe Gallery which features contemporary art from local artists.

Chinatown

Located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur in Petaling Jaya, this bustling and colourful district is perfect for bargain hunters – you’ll find anything and everything here. Shop the night away as Petaling Street turns into a night market. (And whatever you do, haggle! It is acceptable here.)

Batu Caves

Located 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves is one of the most popular Hindi shrines. The limestone caves consist of three main caves. The biggest cave requires visitors to climb up a steep flight of 272 steps while at the base are the Art Gallery and Museum caves. The caves is a shrine to Lorn Murugan, who defeated the demon Soorapadam. As such, a 140-ft statue of Lord Murugan welcomes the visitors.

Bukit Bintang

Bukit Bintang is the city’s main shopping district. This area is lined with shopping malls, bars & cafes, night markets. Famous among locals and tourists alike, hit Bukit Bintang to enjoy the local nightlife or treat yourself to upscale restaurants or luxury shopping.

Petronas Twin Towers

A trip to KL is not complete without visiting the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Go up to the Skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floors for a sweeping view of the city. At the bottom is the tower is Suria KLCC, an upscale retail centre that features luxury goods. Other attractions include an underwater aquarium and an art gallery.

The post Things to do in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on travelmob blog.

Find Last Minute Deals
To find last-minute discounts on travelmob, enter your destination and travel dates (Last Minute Deals are available for booking within the next 7 days). Accommodations with Last Minute Deals are highlighted and appear at the top of the travelmob Search Results page.

For impulse travellers, travelmob’s Last Minute Deals is a great way to find great bargains for last-minute travels.

How to create Last Minute Deals
The new feature is an added functionality to our existing Discount Tool, which currently allows you as a Host, to run your own promotions and offer Special Discounts to Guests on travelmob. To create a Last Minute Deal, your property or space has to be available for booking within the next seven days, and at a minimum discount offer of 15%.

1. To create Last Minute Deals, go to your Manage Listings page. Select the listing you want to create a Last Minute Discount and click on “Create/Edit Discounts” button.

2. On the Discount page, set your Discount Type to “Last Minute Deals”.

3. The applicable dates are fixed since Last Minute Deals can be enabled for listings that are available within the next 7 days. Set the discount you’d like to offer. Note that a minimum of 15% is required.

4. For your convenience, you have an option to automatically create Last Minute Deals whenever your listing is available within the next 7 days.

This new feature is testament to our continued mission to provide the best travel options to Guests while raising marketability of our Hosts’ properties. If you have feedback on Last Minute Deals or have an idea for a new feature you’d like us to consider, we’d love to hear from you at pr@travelmob.com.

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Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines

Photo courtesy of La Venta

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, voted as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is found in the Midwest coast of Palawan. The 8.2 km long underground river is reputed to be the world’s longest and flows through a spectacular cave, directly into the South China sea. Take a park-operated boat tour to view the cave’s incredible rock formations and enjoy the surrounding wildlife community of bats, colourful birds, monkeys and monitor lizards.

Where to stay: With 4 bedrooms and an infinity pool overlooking the sea, this luxurious Palawan Mansion is perfect for a big group of family and friends when visiting Puerto Princesa.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Great Barrier Reef as seen from space, image via Universe Today.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on earth. At 348,000 square kilometres, it is the only natural structure visible from outer space. Cited as one of Australia’s (and the world’s) most remarkable wonders, the reef supports a rich diversity of marine life, including many endangered species. Snorkel, join a dive tour or take a scenic helicopter flight – your choice on how you’d like to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

Where to stay: Just 15 minutes from the Reef Fleet Terminal where you can catch a ferry to the Great Barrier Reef, Greg’s unique Tropical Treehouse in Cairns offers a relaxing getaway with its lush rainforest surroundings.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Image via 2013 Top travel lists

Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size. The bay, renown for its breathtaking scenery, features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. With over 1900 islands and islets, you can explore Ha Long Bay on a kayak or stay overnight on a junk boat, to enjoy the tranquility of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Where to stay: Check out what Places and Foods blogger, Wilson has to say about his stay on a Halong Bay junk boat cruise with travelmob.

The post Top Natural Wonders in Asia Pacific appeared first on travelmob blog.

Chingay Parade in Singapore
When: Feb 22 – 23, 2013

Colourful costumes is just one of the things to look forward to at the parade. Image via timeoutsingapore.

Chingay Parade is the annual street party in Singapore and is held as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The word Chingay is from the Hokkien dialect, of which the Mandarin equivalent is “Zhuang Yi”, meaning “the art of masquerade”. The festival began as a neighbourhood parade in 1973 and has since evolved to one of the grandest street and floats parade in Asia. This year’s parade theme is “Fire in Snow” which celebrates the strength of the human spirit in the face of life’s challenges. Get dazzled as the grand parade features multi-cultural performances, dazzling costumes and street dancing. Tickets are available for sale at the SISTIC website or outlets.

Hong Kong Arts Festival
When: Feb 21 – March 22, 2013

Hong Kong Arts Festival is one of the premier arts event in Asia. Image via discoverhongkong.

Also launched in 1973, the annual Hong Kong Arts Festival is one of Asia’s premier cultural events, bringing a range of programmes from classical to avant garde productions. This year, the festival includes the well-loved opera “Einstein on the Beach”. Grammy winner and phenomenal jazz artist Esperanza Spalding is bringing music from her best-selling album to Hong Kong. Tickets can be purchased at the URBTIX outlets or website.

Melbourne’s Food & Wine Festival
When: March 1 – 17, 2013

Food and wine lovers get-together at this city’s festival. Image via niteguide.co.au.

The annual festival is launched to promote quality produce, talent and lifestyle of Melbourne and Victoria, as well as promoting Melbourne as the Food and Wine capital of Australia. Some of the events to look forward to this year are: “World’s Longest Lunch”, a three-course Earth-inspired menu made up of local ingredients matched with wine from Victoria’s finest vineyards. Melbourne’s finest restaurants opens their doors for “Restaurant Express”, a two-course meal paired with a glass of Victorian wine that allows guests to sample new cuisines and explore new neighborhoods in the city. You can book tickets for the individual events at the Melbourne Food and Wine website.

The post Upcoming events in Asia Pacific appeared first on travelmob blog.

1. Private Island Getaway

Private Island Beachfront Villa, Palawan

Rent an entire island and enjoy absolute privacy with your own exclusive beach. Located near Coron Bay, one of the most famous diving spots in the world, this beachfront hideaway comes with your own butler, chef, gardner and boatman. Whether it’s swimming in the moonlight, diving together at one of the nearby shipwrecks or simply laying in the sun on your magnificent private beach – this private island getaway will definitely be an unforgettable experience!

2. Watch The Sunset At One of The Eight “Chakra” Points In The World
 

Scenic Pool Villa, Bali

This villa boasts of breathtaking views of Gunung Agung – Bali’s holy mountain – which is internationally regarded as one of the eight “Chakra” points of the world. Enjoy a romantic dinner in your villa and watch the stunning sunset together. Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Roman Polanski and former indonesian president Megawati are among those who have stayed here and enjoyed the magic of this place.

3. Pamper Yourself With A Luxurious Villa Stay

Luxury Pool Villa, Phuket

Pamper yourself and the one you love with the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation in this luxurious one-bedroom pool villa. Complete with a large master bedroom dressed in the finest linens, an indoor and outdoor bathroom as well as his and her vanities – this is the perfect couple retreat for those looking to unwind and be pampered! Treat yourselves to a couple massage and enjoy dramatic ocean views from your private infinity swimming pool that comes with a jet stream Jacuzzi system.

4. Take A City Break and Visit The Origins Of Gangnam Style

Modern Apartment, Seoul

Seoul is known to be a romantic city for couples. Customize a bouquet for your loved one from Yangjae Flower Market Center, Korea’s largest flower market and picnic at the Huwon Secret Garden, one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in Seoul. Make this cozy apartment your home away from home when visiting Seoul. Located centrally beside the Sangwangsimni subway station（line 2#), the apartment is near shopping areas such as Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun as well as the renown Gangnam area.

Share with us your favorite romantic getaway on our Facebook page!

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