Visiting Changi Airport

August 6, 2019 by 4 Comments

Earlier this year in April, a new building named Jewel Changi Airport opened that makes visiting Changi Airport intriguing even for non-travelers, not just those waiting for their flight. With all the things to do and things to eat and drink, the addition of this building continues to solidify Changi as the benchmark world’s best airport. Here are some of my pointers of all of what you might want to see when you are visiting Changi Airport based on my visit and researching June 2019.
Visiting Changi Airport in Singapore: the famous HSBC Rain Vortex and the surrounding Shiseido Forest Valley - four stories of greenery surrounding the world's tallest indoor waterfall Visiting Changi Airport in Singapore: the famous HSBC Rain Vortex and the surrounding Shiseido Forest Valley - four stories of greenery surrounding the world's tallest indoor waterfall

First, you should know that the Jewel building has walkways that connect it directly to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 – just look for signs showing you where to go. The only way to get between Jewel and Terminal 4 are shuttle buses between T4 and T2. Jewel is open 24 hours as a building, but not all attractions or restaurants may be open (most are open 10 AM – 10 PM).
Visiting Changi Airport in Singapore: Map showing how to get to Jewel from any of the terminals

If you have luggage, check in and get rid of your luggage first for ease of enjoying your time. If you just came out of a plane, baggage storage is available (and required for some of the attractions that don’t allow the bags) on level 1 of Jewel or any of the terminals. Note that if you are connecting that going out to Jewel does require going through immigration/out of the secure area.

You can get a glimpse of Jewel without exiting post-security by riding the Skytrain between Terminal 2 and 3 since it passes through Jewel. This may be important if you are on a layover and want to sign up for one of the free Singapore tours available, which you must sign up for without exiting security and which will take up your one exit/entrance from the airport to Singapore.
Visiting Changi Airport in Singapore: You can get a glimpse of Jewel without exiting post-security by riding the Skytrain between Terminal 2 and 3 since it passes through Jewel's center including a glimpse of the famous HSBC Rain Vortex and the surrounding Shiseido Forest Valley

Free Wi-fi, wheelchairs and strollers (with a refundable deposit), and even power banks (free for the first 12 hours) are also available.

FYI the list that follows are my highlights, for a full list of attractions for each terminal check out the Changi Airport website here. Note, I find the printed maps they have for each terminal pretty terrible because the maps are really small and they don’t have much description so really recommend instead to use online maps.

Things To Do that are Free

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A Picnic with Giraffe Goods

August 2, 2019 by 6 Comments

I was blessed a few months ago to winning an Instagram contest Giraffe Goods was holding in the spring for photos of cherry blossoms. Because of my schedule I wasn’t able to claim my prize – a picnic for two with their Japanese grab and go deli food – until recently. I added some additional items that I purchased to my prize to fill out my picnic (as well as using my own blanket and plates and a few toys I had), and here is the delicious result of a picnic with Giraffe Goods.
A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland

If you are looking for items to put together a picnic on the beach, after a hike, or just at the park, I can’t highly recommend this enough as a unique selection. Giraffe Goods is located inside the international home goods store, Cargo. You can also find some of Giraffe Good’s products inside Sterling Coffee Roasters and Bar Norman.

Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each.
A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland. Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each. A Picnic with Giraffe Goods, offering Japanese grab and go deli food in Portland. Probably the most famous offering that Giraffe Goods offers are their sandwiches. They offer an egg salad sandwich, katsu sandwich, or get a combo of half of each.

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The Star Pizza in Portland

July 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Deep dish pizza recently arrived in the Pearl District via The Star Pizza in Portland, an offshoot of the San Francisco darling Little Star and second location The Star on Grand (a mainstay of the Eater’s Essential Pizzas of the East Bay list and ranked #1 for deep dish pizza in the Bay Area on one list). The Star Pizza Portland’s specialty is Chicago style deep dish and thin crust pizzas with signature cornmeal crust.
The Star Pizza in Portland - ALL-STAR deep dish pizza with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella The Star Pizza in Portland - ALL-STAR deep dish pizza with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella

As a Chicago transplant, I do think The Star’s deep dish pizza stands up to the buttery tasting cornmeal dough, though not quite as buttery and cheesey as the Chicago originals – but the plus is they use more cornmeal so you could even say this is a “healthy” pizza. Yeah I’m going with that? It is still Chicago deep dish inspired enough to be hella tasty and satisfying, so overall the Star Pizza in Portland is worth a visit. Here’s a deeper look from my 3 visits so far.

When you first enter The Star Pizza in Portland, you can’t help but notice the dramatic Bar with its mural and inviting cushy bar seats with a supportive back.
The Star Pizza in Portland - located in the Pearl The Star Pizza in Portland - located in the Pearl

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Ice Cream at Kozy Bar

July 22, 2019 by 3 Comments

At the end of last year, a cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe opened in downtown Portland called Kozy Bar. It specializes in sugar free treats using a sweetener made from rice. Everything they offer uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.
Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.

There are many flavors of the ice cream bars available at Kozy Bar. Note that all their ice cream comes in ice cream bars – no scoops are available, though I hear the owners are exploring what they might be able to do with soft serve. Even vegan flavors are available.
Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar. Everything at this cute little coffee, smoothie, and dessert cafe of Kozy Bar uses natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives. If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious option, look to Kozy Bar. In particular, you should definitely be checking out the Ice Cream at Kozy Bar.

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Line and Lure and Live Music

July 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

When people think of casinos, they think of usually the lights and sounds of the slot machines, the padded green tables and sound of shuffling cards or the roulette wheel. Me, I think of the food. It’s true in Vegas, one of the premier destinations in the US for eating I think – and it’s true at the nearby to Portland Ilani Resort and Casino. Don’t let the Ridgefield Washington location put you off – it’s 30 minutes or less drive from Portland. I want to go there to eat. In particular, I’m a fan of Line and Lure Seafood Restaurant.

Line and Lure may be most known by those in the know with their brunch buffet, available on weekends. It’s where I’d take my parents or other relatives if they were in town. But there’s more reason to come- for instance come enjoy the calmer vibe at happy hour or at dinner. You can enjoy Line and Lure and Live Music every Friday & Saturday from 6-10 PM: see the schedule here. The musicians are local, and in a good sign, it also helps bring in some local regulars along with the casino members. And now that better weather season is here dine out on their patio with firepit to start out a casino date night.

They have multiple lovely libations, but my favorite is both a drink and a snack: their Admiral Bloody Mary in concocted with their housemade bloody mary mix and Tito’s vodka, crab leg, prawn, bacon, pepperoncini, olive, onion, spicy pickled bean, fresh lime 
Line and Lure and Live Music Line and Lure and Live Music

Start with a seafood forward appetizer like Dungeness Crab Claws served your choice of either chilled on ice or steamed. Basic preparation but the best ingredients show off the fresh tastiness of the crab.
Line and Lure appetizers of DUNGENESS CRAB CLAWS with your choice: Chilled on ice or steamed

But, don’t afraid to go with a lot of prepared flavors – like the complex layered starter of the BBQ Shimp and Griddled Corn Cakes with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce.
Line and Lure starter of BBQ SHRIMP & GRIDDLED CORN CAKES, with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce Line and Lure starter of BBQ SHRIMP & GRIDDLED CORN CAKES, with grilled prawns, seared polenta cakes, spicy BBQ sauce

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