Why Brisbane is a Great Solo Travel Destination for Singaporeans

If you're looking for an exciting and adventure-filled solo travel destination, Brisbane should be near the top of the list for any Singaporean. This vibrant Australian city has something for everyone, from lush parks and gardens to trendy restaurants and cafés. With its relaxed vibe and abundance of friendly locals, Brisbane is perfect for those who want to explore on their own.

So, if you're ready to discover everything this amazing city has to offer, read on for some of the top reasons why Brisbane should be your next solo travel destination!

Visit a Museum

The South Bank district is a great place for solo travellers to spend an afternoon. The Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art are both located in the area, making it easy to see a variety of artworks in one trip.

In addition, the South Bank is home to a number of unique outdoor murals. These murals can be found on buildings and sidewalks throughout the district, and they provide a beautiful backdrop for a leisurely walk or photo session. We recommend taking a picture in front of the Brisbane sign with the city skyline as the backdrop before it completely changes in the next 5 years. Whether you're interested in art, history, or just want to explore a new city, the South Bank district is a great destination for solo travellers.

Catch a Show

Brisbane is bustling with plenty of local events, festivals and endless entertainment perfect for solo travellers. You can't go wrong with catching a show at the Brisbane Powerhouse or Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The Powerhouse is one of Brisbane's most popular arts venues, offering a wide range of live music, theatre, and comedy shows. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is another top-notch option, featuring world-renowned performers in its four main venues. Whether you're in the mood for a light-hearted evening of laughs or a more serious night of culture, you're sure to find a show to suit your taste at either of these great venues.

Shopping

Brisbane is a shopper's paradise, with something to suit every taste and budget. For those who enjoy a more traditional shopping experience, the Queen Street Mall is the perfect destination. This boulevard is approximately 500m from Edward St to George St, and contains as many as 700 retailers and over 40,000 square metres of retail space. There are in total 6 major shopping centres comprising department stores, high-street fashion retailers, and countless cafes and restaurants. James Street Precinct is another popular shopping district, known for its trendy boutiques and stylish homeware stores.

Whether you're looking for a new outfit or just browsing for inspiration, Brisbane's shopping centres are sure to impress.

Fun Places to Eat or Grab a Drink

Brisbane is a foodie haven, with markets for every taste and palette. For those who crave local flavours, the Brisbane City Market is a must-visit, with fresh produce from Queensland growers. For a truly international experience, head to the Brisbane Night Market, where you can sample dishes from all over the world.

For a taste of the best of Australian produce, Jan Powers Farmers Market is the place to be, with delicious fruits, vegetables and more on offer. Whatever your food preferences, Brisbane's markets have something for you, but please check the opening hours before visiting. In certain seasons, it might only be open on Saturdays from 6 am to 12 noon.

If you're a coffee lover, there's no better place to be than Brisbane. Edward Specialty Coffee and Frisky Goat Espresso are just two of the many great coffee shops in the city, and each has its own unique take on the perfect cup of joe.

If beer is more your thing, Brisbane's craft beer scene has something for everyone. Newstead Brewing Co and Felons Brewing Co are two of the city's best breweries.

Whether you're a coffee fanatic or a beer enthusiast, Brisbane has something to offer everyone.

Day Trips for Any Kind of Traveller

There are a number of great day trips that can be taken from Brisbane. For those who enjoy hiking, there are a number of options available, including Mt. Coot-tha and Kondalilla National Park. For those looking for a wildlife encounter, get up close and personal with koalas in Australia’s longest standing koala sanctuary - the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. They are apparently the sanctuary with the most number of protected koalas in all of Australia.

Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/australia-brisbane-eucalyptus-koala-871002

Extremely Safe

Safety is always top of mind when travelling solo, and Brisbane is one of the safest cities in the world. You can walk around the city at night or ride the extensive transit networks with minimal worries. In addition, there are many well-lit streets and public areas, so you can feel secure even when walking alone at night.

The Best Beach Options

If you're looking for a beach destination that has it all, Brisbane is the place for you. The city has more than 30 beaches, which are popular for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and fishing. Each beach has its own unique character.

The most popular beaches near Brisbane include Surfers Paradise Beach, Coolangatta Beach, and Broadbeach. There are also several man-made beaches located in the city, such as South Bank Beach and Streets Beach.

One of Brisbane’s man-made beaches on the South Bank
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-southbank-brisbane-swimmers-6013427/

No matter what your preferences are, there's a beach in Brisbane that's sure to please.

Visit Brisbane Today

Brisbane is a perfect place for Singaporeans to travel solo. The city has an amazing outdoor lifestyle, interesting wildlife, and delicious food options. Additionally, the vibe in Brisbane is really relaxed and welcoming, making it the perfect city to explore on your own. If you're looking for some inspiration for your next solo trip, be sure to add Brisbane to your list!

Gochi-So Shokudo – Nice Porkgasm Experience [MEDIA INVITE]

Gochi-So Shokudo is a homegrown pork-centric Japanese casual dining restaurant. It uses the highest grade of pork, Black Iberico and Kurobuta pork and enhances the original flavour of the pork using the finest grade of charcoal combined with special dipping sauces. Currently, Gochi-So Shokudo has 14 outlets in Singapore, located in shopping centres and CBD.

Gochi-So Shokudo @Jewel

Gochi-So Shokudo @Jewel

Gochi-So Shokudo just launched their Truffle Fair theme, available from 1st November to 14th December 2022. The dishes curated for the Truffle Fair are Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille ($18.90) and Truffle Chestnut Pork Jowl Don ($12.90).

Gochi-So Shokudo @Jewel

Dipping Sauces on the Table

The Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille is thinly sliced pork collar, layered with truffle and mushroom, cheddar cheese then coated in their homemade fresh bread crumbs and deep-fried to perfection. The result is a crispy and crunchy exterior, followed by juicy pork with oozing cheese infused with fragrant mushroom and truffle flavour. Yummy.

Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille Set 

Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille 

It is served in a set, with a bowl of Japanese pearl rice, fresh cabbage with sesame dressing, and miso soup. Not forgetting a bowl of roasted sesame, where you have to manually grind it and mix it with the sauce served. What a complete meal.

Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille with Oozing Cheese 

Miso Soup

The Truffle Chestnut Pork Jowl Don, consists of lightly grilled chestnut pork jowl over Japanese binchotan charcoal, drizzle with the truffle, housemade sauce and accompanied by mushrooms and onsen egg on top of the Japanese pearl rice.

Truffle Chestnut Jowl Don

The pork jowl has a lovely smokey aroma. The flesh is juicy, succulent and when you mixed all the ingredients, it turns out to be a lovely donburi.

Truffle Chestnut Jowl

While the two dishes above are available during the truffle fair, we also tried some of their signature dishes. Iberico Secreto (Black Char Siew, $9.80 for 6 pcs). The black char siew is grilled on Japanese binchotan charcoal, delivering a delightful smoky aroma. The char siew is juicy, sweet and just melts in your mouth. It is served with pickled ginger to balance the fattiness in the dish. I can have this anytime.

Iberico Secreto

Iberico Secreto

Ebi Katsu ($5.80, 2 pcs). These two jumbo prawns have a nice crispy exterior, while the prawns’ flesh is juicy and crunchy. It is served with tartar sauce, yet we find the ebi katsu is tasty on its own. A must order here.

Ebi Katsu

Ebi Katsu

Iberico Loin Katsu ($12.80). The signature Tonkatsu at Gochi-So Shokudo. The pork loin is deep fried to perfection and on the meat, you can see two sections, the fatty part and the lean part. It is juicy, succulent and together with dipping sauce, you can easily polish off a bowl of rice.

Ebi Katsu & Iberico Loin Katsu

 Iberico Loin Katsu

 Iberico Loin Katsu

Located at B1 at Jewel Changi Airport, it is an open-concept seating with the background of the rain vortex. Although you can’t see the whole rain vortex, you can see the water flowing down and the changes in the lights during the performance time. The décor is casual, using light colour wood for most of the furniture and black granite table tops for some of the moveable tables.

Dining Area

Part of the Dining Area

Overall, we enjoy our dinner at Gochi-So Shokudo. The Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille and Truffle Chestnut Pork Jowl Don are very good and value for money. Meanwhile, the rest of the dishes that we tried are above average as well. A must-try for Tonkatsu & pork lovers. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Gochi-So Shokudo Truffle Fair

When: 1st Nov – 14th December 2022.

Where: All Gochi-So Shokudo Outlets

Dishes: Truffle Cheese Mille Feuille & Truffle Chestnut Jowl Don

Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and Team Gochi-So Shokudo for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 9/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $10 - $25

Gochi-So Shokudo @Jewel

78 Airport Blvd

#B1-289-290, Jewel Changi Airport

Singapore 819666

F: https://www.facebook.com/gochiso.shokudo

IG: @Gochiso.shokudo

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.30 – 21.30

Fri & Sat: 11.30 – 22.00

Check out their Facebook page for the list of outlets and special promotions

Five Oars Siglap – Great Café Experience

Five Oars Coffee Roasters (‘FOCR’) is a homegrown café and roasters that first opened its door in Tanjong Pagar area. Following the success of the first café, FOCR expanded their operation to Siglap. A spacious and quaint space, allowing the customers to enjoy themselves in a relaxing café experience.

FICR Signboard

Our friend A&J recommended this place for our brunch gathering previously. We decided to return with a bigger group this time around.

Part of Indoor Dining Area

Part of Outdoor Dining Area

While waiting for the rest to come, I ordered Flight (1+1) 60oz White + Espresso ($7). This allows the customer to experience the coffee with and without milk. For me, I like that extra shot on the side for a “Wake Me Up” boost. The coffee is bold, yet well-balanced and with a touch of chocolate. Meanwhile, LD ordered her usual English Breakfast tea this morning.

Flight

English Breakfast Tea

There were eight of us and we decided to on communal dining. Breakfast started with Eggs Your Way ($12), LD picked brioche, scrambled eggs, served with butter and housemade jam. She then added a Hashbrown (+$3), Sautéed Mushrooms (+$4) and Thick-cut Bacon (+$5). It looks like a full-blown big breakfast when it was served.

Eggs Your Way - Brioche, Scrambled Eggs, served with Butter and Housemade Jam.
Plus a Hashbrown, Sautéed Mushrooms & Thick-cut Bacon.

The eggs are fluffy and nicely complemented the pillowy brioche. The combination of butter and housemade jam are good, though the portion were a bit small, so we asked for more. The hashbrown is crispy externally, yet moist internally. The sauteed mushrooms were done correctly, while the thick-cut bacon is a must-order here. Pan-fried till it has a crispy exterior, followed by melting fats when you bite it. It is lightly salted; therefore, you can enjoy it whole heartily.

Bacon & Hash ($21). Perfectly poached eggs topped with creamy and tangy hollandaise sauce accompanying the housemade rosti. Made of thinly shredded potatoes, it has a crispy exterior and moist interior. I would prefer the rosti interior to be less moist, so it will have a crunchy texture. The rosti is lightly salted; therefore, the mushroom cream just adds to the flavour to the rosti, together with the balance of the hollandaise sauce. Not forgetting the supper delicious thick-cut bacon to complete the plate. Yummy!!

Bacon & Hash

Five Oars Waffle ($18). Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast. The housemade sourdough waffle offers a crisp exterior, followed by a slightly chewy interior. The strawberries, pecan, mascarpone, oats, coffee powder, ground almond, topped with solid vanilla ice-cream and thick espresso sauce making it a party on the plate. If you need something to make you smile in the morning, this is a breakfast that you will order.

Five Oars Waffle

Five Oars Waffle

Crab Scramble ($24). It is a fusion between East and West. Housemade sourdough, scrambled eggs, crab meat, avocado, ebiko, feta, togarashi. LD and I did not manage to try it, but our friend who ordered this gave her two thumbs up.

Crab Scramble

Crab Scramble

Mentaiko Fries ($14). Standard cut fries with skin on, topped with mentaiko sauce. The folks at FOCR sure know how to fry their fries. It was crispy externally, while the interior remains soft. The mentaiko sauce is solid and they are generous with the extra roe topping. Although the fries had been sitting there for 20 minutes, the fries did not become stale and soggy.

Mentaiko Fries

For desserts, we went with one sweet selection and one salty selection. Citrus Ricotta Pancakes ($16) is our pick for sweet. Two stacks of ricotta pancakes, topped with berries, nuts, vanilla ice cream, citrus compote, yuzu curd. Since LD and I just recently returned from Melbourne, I was able to compare the ricotta pancakes at FOCR with the famous version served in Top Paddock, one of the best café in Melbourne.

Top Paddock - Ricotta Pancake

Without a doubt the texture of the pancake in Top Paddock is better, the version at FOCR can do more time on the pan, as it was slightly undercooked. When it comes to the toppings, I like the version at FOCR. The berries, citrus compote, yuzu curd and vanilla ice-cream deliver a refreshing combination and made the dish more all-rounded and not too heavy. Hopefully, FOCR can improve on the pancakes.

FOCR Ricotta Pancake

Truffle Fries ($12) were our pick for a salty dessert. While the texture of the fries is the same as the mentaiko fries, I feel it was not as good as the mentaiko fries. The truffle oil is light and the finely shaved cheese did clump together on top and did not reach the fries in the middle and bottom.

Truffle Fries

The place is spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. The décor played with the combination of bricks and wood in the open dining room. The coffee bar and dessert display will be the first thing that catch your attention when you walk into the indoor dining area. The service is friendly, attentive and efficient. The best part is that although you have finished your meal and you still hanging around the service staff did not chase you out. For ordering, you scan the QR code for the menu and place your order with the service staff afterwards.

The Coffee Bar & Dessert Display

Overall, we like this place considerably. The food is good, the coffee is great and the ambience just makes you park your bum there comfortably. A great café experience. The thick-cut bacon is a must-order here. Check them out if you are in the East, we’ll definitely come back to try the rest of their menu. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Five Oars Coffee Roasters

6 Upper East Coast Road

Singapore 455200

T: +65 8784 2686

W: https://www.focr.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/focr.sg

IG: @focr.sg

OH: Daily 08.00 – 22.00 (Kitchen LO 21.00)

Menu available online & Other locations details

Durian SG Prime – Durians From The Mountains [MEDIA INVITE]

Durian SG Prime is the latest durian shop and durian delivery that enter the Singapore market. Its operations started in June 2022, located in Lor 24A Geylang, just opposite the popular Yong He Dou Jiang. Durian SG Prime offer Pahang durians from exclusive mountain plantations that have never been seen before in Singapore. Durian SG Prime slogan is Cheapest – Quality – Guaranteed.

Durian SG Prime shop

Durian lovers in SG will know that the best Malaysian durians sold in Singapore comes from Pahang. Pahang itself is a very big state, with its mountainous terrain, it is a perfect place to grow and produce the best durian. Durian SG Prime durians come from three locations in Pahang. The Famous Tiger Mountain, Indigo Hill Mountain and Cold White Leaf Mountain.

The Famous Tiger Mountain, Sungai Klau, Pahang. Famous for its Ah Gong tree, dated over 103 years, while the rest of the 250 natural trees in the region are more than 40 years old. This area is known to produce Mao Shan Wang / Musang King Grade A durians and D24. With the MSW Grade A, you can expect a condensed and throat-sticking meat texture, with a bitter and sweet taste. The ultimate durian experience for durian lovers.

Black Gold from The Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree

Indigo Hill Mountain is a short drive away from Indigo Hill Resort, East of Raub, Tras Pahang. This area is known for its red colour soil that is very fertile. Most of the durian trees are above 45 years old. This region is home to newly discovered durian plantations and it houses over 200 mature durians. This area is known to produce MSW Grade A & B. The MSW will have a thick flesh that will stick to your mouth and a small seed. The flavour is strong, with a bitter-sweet flavour.

Cold White Leaf Mountain, Klau River Pahang. The age of durian trees here are between 20 to 60 years old. This plantation near Klau River is also a fertile grown to grow durians, as the soil contains a lot of minerals. This area produces D24, Tekka, Classic MSW and award-winning MSW. For the MSW Grade A, you can expect a creamy texture of durian, with the signature MSW bitter-sweet taste.

When we visited their shop, they have 3 types of durians available. The first one is a regular MSW. On that day, it was priced at $18/kg. The shape of the durian is not whole round, but with an odd shape look. It is creamy and bitter with a sweet aftertaste. The flesh is thick, while the seeds are mostly thin and flat.

Regular MSW 

Mini Seeds from Regular MSW

The second one that we tasted is the Black Gold MSW from the Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree ($38/kg). The shape of the durian is round, plump and without blemish. The colour of the pulp is an inviting dark yellow colour, almost like gold. When we bit into the flesh, it was dense and easily stick to our throat. It tasted bitter, with an alcohol tinge and ended with a sweet flavour. This is the taste that durian lovers search for in a durian. In other words, the taste is just awesome. Yummy, die die must try!! It was so good that LD insisted on buying one for her BFF, in which she also give her thumbs up.

Black Gold MSW from The Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree

The seed, regular size

The Price

The third durian available that day is Old Tree MSW ($28/kg). We did not try it as we are too full, however, from the shape, it looks like a high-grade MSW.

Old Tree MSW

Durian SG Prime gets its supply directly from the plantations and bypasses the agent / middleman. With these cost savings, they can offer the price lowest price in the market when comparing the same grade of durians. Their grand vision is to Bring Durian’s Price in Singapore Back to 1980.

For online orders visit: https://duriansg.com.sg/durian-fruit-mochi/

Durian SG Prime is committed to delivering the best durian to you. They deliver island-wide base on a two-hour time slot and also offer express island-wide delivery. If the durians are not up to standard or damaged, you are eligible for a free replacement within 24 hours of receiving your order. Free Delivery for orders above $99.

Durian SG Prime Delivery Packaging

Check out their Youtube clips on their website on the source of their durians and some tips to identify Durian SG Prime Grade A MSW or different grades of MSW.

CBK Verdict: One of the best durians that I tried this year. The Black Gold MSW from the Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree is an experience to behold and you will have durian lovers salivating for it. Die Die Must Try!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Durian SG Prime for hosting us and the yummy durians.

Durian SG Prime

24A 456 Geylang Road

Singapore 389415

W: https://duriansg.com.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/duriansgprime

IG: @Duriansgprime

OH: Daily 10.00 – 01.00

Information on the origin of the durians extracted from Durian SG Prime website