My Gaston Luga Backpack
My Gaston Luga Backpack, What's in My Bag

My Gaston Luga Backpack

I guess it’s time to update this section of my blog which has been neglected for quite sometime. While my Flipside camera backpack is a real workhorse for carrying camera gear, sometimes I don’t want to lug a huge backpack on a short trip or carry a bag that yells “Expensive camera gear inside” to anyone who sees it. But trying to find a backpack that is both functional and stylish can be difficult. Continue reading “My Gaston Luga Backpack”

Boracay
Beyond the Dot, Boracay, Philippines

Boracay

Mention a long weekend getaway on a beach resort island and places like Phuket, Langkawi or Bali comes to mind usually. These are all time favourites of Singaporeans and many other tourists. However, there is another island getaway that is within reach of our Little Red Dot and although it is well known, it doesn’t usually feature on the radar of our local vacationers. This is the island of Boracay in the Philippines. Continue reading “Boracay”

Visiting a French Vineyard
Beyond the Dot, France, Visiting a French Vineyard

Visiting a French Vineyard

While France is well known for Paris and fashion, its food and wine are also well known worldwide. Wine producing regions like Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy have produced world famous wines enjoyed by all. Continuing on our visit to France, this blog post is about Burgundy. Dijon is the capital of this region and is also famous for its Dijon mustard. You can read about Paris and Mont St. Michel which we also visited. Dijon is easily accessible and is only 90 minutes by TGV train from Paris. The train leaves from Gare Lyon station in Paris and connects to Dijon Ville station. TGV tickets vouchers can be bought online in advance from Rail Europe and collected in Singapore through their agent.

Continue reading “Visiting a French Vineyard”

The Fortress Island
Beyond the Dot, France, The Fortress Island

The Fortress Island

For many visitors to France, Paris is probably the only place that they visit, but France is just not only about Paris. So on our last trip to France, we decided to spend some time visiting a couple of other noteworthy attractions. One of the more famous sites is the abbey of Mont St. Michel located off the Normandy coast of France. I have always wanted to visit this place ever since I saw a picture of it long ago. It’s an ancient fortified island and also a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. It used to be only accessible during low tide but now a causeway connects it to the mainland so tourists can visit it safely. Continue reading “The Fortress Island”

City of Lights
Beyond the Dot, City of Lights, France

City of Lights

In between trips, I’ve decided to review and republish some of my longer blogs into shorter and more focused versions. So here is the first of 3 parts from our visit to France in 2012. Paris, the eternal city of love and romance. The city has certainly been hugely successful in marketing themselves as such and it is the most visited city in the world. I had visited Paris previously in 1996 but it certainly didn’t impress me back then. It was dirty and messy, the proverbial Parisian rudeness was prevalent and there was a strike going on during my visit. Perhaps, it would be different this time. Continue reading “City of Lights”