Singapore, Travel Writing
paranakan terrace house katong singapore

Seeing the Peranakan Side of Singapore

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Giving Singapore a Second Chance

When I first visited Singapore in October of 2015, I was more than underwhelmed. I was actively displeased.

Maybe it was being burned out at the end of five months on the road or maybe it was just that I was busy at a conference that kept me in the pricier parts of the city, but I came away with a very strong opinion:

Singapore is definitely my least favourite of the twenty countries I’ve been to.

This isn’t the first time I’ve disliked a place on first visit. I was underwhelmed by the Grand Canyon in 2009 (but loved it in 2016) and found Shanghai a bit disappointing on my first visit (before falling in love with it on my dozen or so subsequent visits).

With that in mind, I was excited to give the country a second chance when I was contacted by somebody from Far East Hospitality about revisiting Singapore in partnership with the Village Hotel Katong.

Spoiler Alert: My first impression was so, so wrong.

Village Hotel Katong: A Lush Base of Operations

Located in the Katong district of Singapore, Village Hotel Katong seems worlds away from the built up, modern city that exists around the Marina Bay Sands while still being a short cab ride from the bustling heart of the city.

Trading in towering skyscrapers and overpriced bars for brightly coloured shotgun-style terrace housing and cute little eateries, the Katong district of Singapore is decidedly more approachable than the often intimidating noise and press of the city proper.

village hotel katong pool
Pool with a view! Photo courtesy of Far East Hospitality/Village Hotel Katong.

With large rooms (all of which have balconies), a pool with a view, a delicious on-site restaurant serving scrumptious Asian cuisine, and a private lounge for club members offering the free-flow happy hour drinks for which Singapore is famous, it’s an upmarket hotel that promotes itself as affordable luxury with a difference.

village hotel katong room bathtub
You know you’re staying somewhere special when there’s a bathtub next to your bed. Photo courtesy of Far East Hospitality/Village Hotel Katong.

That difference? It encourages visitors to live like a local, arranging local walking tours, food crawls, and cultural experiences for its guests upon request.

Making the local culture accessible is such a fantastic idea that I’m surprised more hotels haven’t done it.

Far More Perks

Our stay also included access to the brand’s Far More Perks package, which includes sweet benefits like late check out (we checked out at 4pm on our last day), complimentary lounge access at Changi Airport, and access to the Club Lounge for happy hour drinks and nibbles.

club lounge village hotel katong
The club lounge was where we spent a fair bit of time each evening. Photo courtesy of Far East Hospitality/Village Hotel Katong.

I enjoyed everything about our stay, but it was these ‘live like a local’ benefits that I really took the most from.

After my last trip, I’d described Singapore to one friend as being “large and soulless. Dubai in Asia”.

In a few short hours, I was proven very wrong. 

While I’m not sure if I’m ready to set up a hedge fund and retire in Singapore quite yet, my stay here had me fall in love with this city! There’s just so much to do and see, and the hotel experience I had was top-notch!

The Peranakan Experience

Katong is home to Singapore’s Peranakan people. and it is their colourful culture that pervades every aspect of the area.

From the brightly coloured terrace houses to the rich aromas of exotic foods being cooked in virtually every second store, the area immediately surrounding the Village Hotel Katong is awash with energy and activity.

paranakan terrace house katong singapore
Got to love that colonial style with those bright colours!

Guided by a locally accredited guide, we spent two warm and fascinating hours exploring the back alleys, side streets, and bustling roads of this corner of the city.

Our tour included a visit to a local bar and market where the bartender desperately needed us to test the coolness of his newly tapped keg, a few playful minutes in a newly opened puppy cafe, and a commentary on this area’s development from seaside playground to the fusion of Peranakan and Eurasian cultures that exists today.

alibabar katong singapore
This friendly Ukrainian chap insisted that all seven of us sample his ice cold beer… for science!

Kim Choo Kueh Chang

Our tour also included a visit to Kim Choo Kueh Chang for a more hands on Peranakan experience. Part cultural museum, part boutique, part kitchen, and part classroom, this fascinating little shop was where we got the lion’s share of our information.

We started our visit with blue tea and traditional snacks while our host explains a little bit about Peranakan culture to us.

traditional singaporean snacks
Delicious!

It’s not as simple as being ‘Straits born Chinese’, he explains, it’s a culture unto itself. A fusion of Chinese and Malay traditions that have further morphed as other cultures have been observed into this unique local culture.

Traditional Chinese reveres the dragon, he explains, but Peranakan culture honours the more feminine phoenix in its art.

Peranakan culture is not something you are born into as much as it is something you embrace and become a part of.

peranakan kim choo kueg cgabg
The upstairs is devoted to documenting Peranakan culture with many colourful dresses, ornate pieces of furniture, and beautiful examples of craft work.

Our journey of cultural discovery also included a demonstration as to how traditional rice dumplings are made, and damned if this wasn’t more difficult than it looked!

While we struggled with the task, others watched on as they learned Peranakan bead-work or some other skill. There’s a real sense of community and creativity in the space. A cultural community centre nurturing the skills that Peranakan culture holds so dear.

singapore rice dumplings
The finished product as produced by an expert.

A Different Kind of Singapore Experience

I think the biggest thing I took away from the experience was that Singapore is far more than just the futuristic high rises and expensive eateries at its heart – there are these corners of the city with their own personalities just waiting to be discovered.

It’s an experience that is hard to put into words, as it was something that completely changed how I viewed Singapore. Far from being this big, soulless city targeted at luxury travellers and shopping enthusiasts, I discovered a corner of Singapore that oozed culture and quirky charm.

Food in the Katong district of Singapore is considerably cheaper than what I’d found around Fort Canning or the Marina Bay Sands, with a bowl of amazing Peranakan laksa or a plate of noodles and shrimp coming in at between $4 and $6.

328 katong laksa singapore
Hands down the best laksa I have *ever* had. The price? $5! Available at 328 Laksa.

Like much of Singapore, it’s friendly and impeccably clean. It’s a melting pot of people from all around the world, and it’s made all the more charming because it’s accessible to every traveller – not just those who can afford $20 beers in the financial district.

Visitors to Singapore can check out the Katong district themselves and uncover no end of hidden gems, but if you’re interested in living like a local and enjoying your trip as much as I did, you can book your own stay at www.stayfareast.com

Looking for something more private in Singapore? Check out this list of luxurious Singapore AirBnB properties.

Your Say

Have you ever visited an ethnic district of a major city? Whether it’s Little Armenia in LA, Chinatown in San Francisco, or the Arab District of Xi’an – I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Disclaimer: My stay with Village Hotel Katong was sponsored by Far East Hospitality. All opinions are my own.

Aussie on Safari, Destinations, Tanzania
masai man tanzania

The Masai Experience at Africa Amini Life in Pictures

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In Search of an Authentic Experience

I was lucky enough to call Arusha, Tanzania home for a few months of 2015 as part of my role with Shadows of Africa.

Over the course of five months I picked up a smattering of Swahili, fell a little bit in love with Ndovu beer and chips mayi, danced my ass off at Arusha nightclubs, went on a bunch of safaris, and had the distinct pleasure of learning more about the various cultures that make up the rich tapestry of peoples who call Tanzania home.

masai welcome dance
The Masai in their iconic clothing and jewellery are as synonymous with Africa as the lion.

Of the many tribes of Tanzania, the Masai are perhaps the most famous, but genuine interactions with these tribal people can be hard to come by. The Masai have not been immune to the popularity of the country as a tourist destination, and so you find there are two kinds of Masai:

  • The ones who smile and dance for the cameras in exchange for tips;
  • The kind who want nothing to do with outsiders.

You can’t fault either party. On the one hand, those catering to tourism are bringing much needed money back to their villages and, on the other hand, not everybody wants to be treated like a spectacle for the amusement of wealthy foreigners.

I experienced the more touristy style of Masai in my first visit to Tanzania, so on this trip I sorely wanted to see something a bit more authentic. I knew I wouldn’t be able to live in a ‘real’ Masai village, but I wanted to get something closer than the ‘just like in the pictures’ villages that exist along the road to the Serengeti.

Thankfully, such an experience exists, and so it was that my co-workers and I made our way to the Africa Amini Life Masai Lodge.

Lying in the very shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro, the resort offers an engaging fusion of local traditions with western style luxury in a way that makes authenticity accessible without having to sacrifice comfort.

africa amini lodge tanzania
Guests at Africa Amini Life overnight in traditional style bomas with a twist – inside you’ll find power outlets, comfortable bedding, and warm showers.

What is Africa Amini Alama?

Africa Amini Alama is a Tanzanian non-profit started in 2009 by a pair of Austrian doctors, Dr. Christine Wallner and her daughter, Dr. Cornelia Wallner-Friesee.

The charity oversees a number of projects “dedicated to health care, education, social care, tourism, and agriculture”. The hope is that through the use of sustainable tourism sites such as Africa Amini Masai Lodge and Africa Amini Hillside Retreat, that a bridge can be built towards self-help, stability, increased cultural awareness, and the sustainable development of tourism in Tanzania and within the Masai community.

The lodges themselves act as a revenue stream to fund local schools, medical outreach, and hospitality training for members of the community wishing to learn.

Africa Amini Masai Lodge, our destination for the weekend, is the flagship property: a luxury lodge offering a complete Masai experience for guests that includes nature walks, Masai dance, traditional food, and other activities.

masai man tanzania
The staff at Africa Amini Lodge are all from the local Masai community.

The charitable work that they’re doing is similar to what Didier Drogba and Nestle are doing in Ivory Coast with the Nestle Cocoa Plan, and you can learn a bit more about that from the video below.

The Lodge

It would be remiss of me to stay at a luxury lodge and not at least discuss a little of my experience there.

Africa Amini Lodge provides an intriguing mixture of authenticity and closeness to nature without sacrificing comfort. As such, you’ll overnight in rustic Masai style bomas complete with wind whistling in the walls, thatched roofs, and the blissful silence that only exists when you’re many miles from civilization.

On the flip side, you’re sleeping in a vast bed, showering with hot water, and enjoying WiFi in case the silence gets to be too much for you.

africa amini masai shower
A super cool, rustic shower experience. The cool wind that crept in made for a really enjoyable shower.
africa amini bedroom
The Spartan but comfortable bedroom.

Every meal we had was absolutely scrumptious, and kept up this idea of fusion. Traditional Tanzanian style dishes were served either alongside western favourites or in a way that was western with an African twist.

Lunch was a proper sit down affair with a set course menu of flavourful treats, breakfast was a full buffet complete with hot coffee delivered to your room at dawn, and dinner was a mixture of a hotel style buffet and a fireside roast of freshly slaughtered goat.

goat roast masai tanzania
Our goat roasting over the open fire.

The Masai Experience

You could argue that you can get a comfortable bed and a good meal anywhere, but what really makes Africa Amini stand out is the hands on involvement of the local Masai community.

The staff you seem roaming about the property aren’t just dressed in traditional Masai garb for effect – that’s what they wear in their day to day lives. Far from being a manicured experience in which locals are forced into suits and told to speak with deference, this is an experience in which you feel a part of the community.

The men on staff will joke with you. They’ll encourage you to pluck up a spear and join them for some practice. They’ll eat from the same fireside roast as you and have frank and honest discussions with you about Masai life.

My co-workers and I enjoyed a long, enlightening chat with the manager about everything from gender equality to crime & punishment to the extent to which modern Tanzania has encroached upon Masai society.

africa amini lodge 2
The girls from Shadows of Africa chatting with the staff.

A big selling point of Africa Amini Life is its Masai Experience – an opportunity for local students or visiting guests to participate in some Masai activities such as bead-work, nature walks to learn about the Masai relationship with the land, spear throwing, or even the ritual slaughtering of a goat ahead of the evening meal.

It’s not a polished tourist experience. It’s real – from the blood of the goat spilling out into a bowl to the local women bartering with you to get the best price on some of their exquisite bead work.

masai bead market
The ladies barter for some new jewellery.

It’s sipping foul-tasting ‘medicinal tea’ by a roaring fire underneath an impossibly beautiful sky and waking up at dawn to the cheerful, gap-toothed smiles of the staff as they urge you to take in a sunrise view of Kilimanjaro.

Authenticity is such a hard thing to define in travel. After all, how can it be truly authentic if we’re there to interact with it and shape it as outsiders? Africa Amini Life delivers as close as I’ve come to an authentic experience for a visitor to Tanzania.

In Pictures

I could go on and on about what a positive and memorable experience I had at Africa Amini Lodge, but I think pictures do it more justice.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of my favourite pictures from my stay at Africa Amini Life Masai Lodge.

Click on a picture to bring up a full-screen slideshow!

Set in the plains and against the backdrop of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, Africa Amini Life offers a stunning view.
Another shot of the open grasslands and rolling hills.
Dreamcatchers are not a part of Masai culture, but less skilled beadworkers have learned to make them for visiting tourists.
Hamming it up with the ladies before they returned to the nearby village.
The dream catchers are ever present around the foyer and dining space.
The girls from Shadows of Africa bid farewell to the super friendly staff.
The Shadows of Africa team. Lesya and Julia from our UAE office, Marjeta from our European office, and me representing Asia-Pacific.
A local bird haunts the fringes of the area, waiting for a bite.
The killing of the goat might be confronting for some, but it’s all a part of local tradition. The trees pictured are where the goat is killed.
A goat is prepared for dinner. Not for the squeamish!
The animal’s blood is consumed by the Masai warriors who work at the lodge.
Killed and drained, it’s time to skin the goat.
Guests are invited to help in preparing the goat for dinner. One brave ten year old boy was only too happy to lend a hand.
The sun is high as we set out for our guided nature walk.
A guided nature walk through the surrounding wilderness offers a fascinating insight into Masai life and how they live off the land.
Our guide squats beneath a tree to tell us what role it plays in Masai life.
Lesya and Julia enjoying a quiet moment out on the plains.
Two of the warriors enjoying a quiet chat away from the camp.
Not so much privacy when you’ve got two photographers snapping your picture.
What a view! Our spear throwing instructor watches on as we practice.
The missing tooth is a common sight among Masai men.
Lesya tries her luck with the spear. None of us was any good.
Watching on with a critical eye.
The local boys show us how it’s done, shouting encouragement or insults at one another as they go.
Good form.
A sunset dance performance from the staff was a real highlight. Howling and hollering as they jumped and sang, it was a fine way to end the day.
Sitting area in the room.
Light filters in through the shop window.
Feeling a bit artsy.
One of the local men wanders by the campfire.
Looking out from the dining area.

The preceding post was sponsored by Nestle. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Nestle are in no way affiliated with Africa Amini Life Masai Lodge.

Travel Writing
quidditch world cup sport

Sponsored Post: 5 Unusual Sporting Events to Attend Before You Die

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If you’re a sports fan like me, chances are you can enjoy just about any sporting event.

Hell, one of my favourite sporting memories from China (aside from playing cricket in China), was going along to the Asian Youth Games to cheer on Timor Leste in their demolition of Qatar in the football.

Whatever the stakes, there’s something genuinely enjoyable about the carnival atmosphere of a sporting event.

There is no shortage of guides out there for the must see sporting events such as the World Cup, the Super Bowl, and one of the tennis majors, so I thought I’d instead highlight some of the lesser-known and more unusual sporting events that are worth a look.

Why You Should Attend Unusual Sporting Events

Why would anybody attend a virtually unknown sporting event?

If it’s worth watching, surely, it’s already on the global radar. I mean, there’s a reason nobody cares about the Aussie Rules International Cup. It’s probably awful.

But isn’t there something enjoyable about the spectacle of something that is almost farce?

Or maybe you find the passion of these amateurs and semi-professionals heart-warming and inspiring.

Some of the below draw their appeal from being comedic in their weirdness, while others are a genuine showcasing of something far more important and beautiful – a desire for recognition as a sport and, in one notable case, a desire to be recognised as a nation.

ConIFA World Cup

We’re all familiar with the FIFA World Cup and most football fans might even be aware of the various regional tournaments such as the Asian Nations Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the African Cup of Nations.

What you might not be aware of is the ConIFA World Cup (formerly the VIVA World Cup), a football tournament for those nations or ethnic groups that might not have representation on football’s biggest stage.

Featuring national teams such as South Ossetia, Quebec, Tibet, Zanzibar, and Iraqi Kurdistan, this tournament is played every two years and is open to any nation or nation of peoples who wishes to participate. The 2014 tournament, held in Sweden’s Sapmi region, was won by the French region of Nice.

While it may not have the glitz and glamour of football’s grand event, there’s something inspiring about these would-be nations showcasing their national pride – even if the nation they’re proud of is not recognised by the global community.

How to Attend: The 2016 ConIFA World Cup is being held in Abkhazia region of Georgia from the 28th of May until the 6th of June.

The Rugby League World Cup

The most conventional of the events on this list, rugby league’s World Cup actually predates the more well known Rugby World Cup by more than thirty years, having existed in various formats since 1954.

Not sure on the differences between Rugby League and Rugby Union? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back:

The current format is more in line with traditional World Cups, with qualification spanning multiple continents and the final tournament split into four groups who fight to get into the knock-out stages.

While Australia has enjoyed near total domination in the modern era, New Zealand broke the land downunder’s six tournament streak by winning in 2008, and will fancy their chances during the upcoming 2017 World Cup to be hosted in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

The 2017 tournament will be contested by rugby league powerhouses such as Australia, England, and New Zealand, as well as rising teams such as Fiji, Samoa, and Scotland. Want a true underdog to get behind? Jump on the USA Tomahawks or the Lebanon Cedars now!

How to Attend: The 2017 Rugby League World Cup will be held across Australia and New Zealand, with several games to also be played in Papua New Guinea – the only country on earth to recognise rugby league as its national sport.

Bossaball

The only non World Cup event I’ve included on this list, Bossaball is a relatively new sport claiming to be a combination of volleyball, football, gymnastics, and the Brazilian dance-martial art of capoeira. Sounds like an intriguing combination!

Originating in Spain from the twisted mind of a Belgian, Bossaball is played on an inflatable court with built-in trampolines for maximum air when hitting, spiking, or bicycle kicking the ball.

While it has a number of rule similarities to volleyball, the introduction of trampolines and inflatables makes it a far more aerially spectacular show. In addition to this, the referee is part umpire and part DJ, ensuring that all games are accompanied by a suitably upbeat musical score.

How to Attend: Bossaball’s most recent world championships were held in Spain in 2015, but my frantic Googling has yet to turn up the venue for their next championships. That being said, Bossaball has leagues in countries such as Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and more.

Roller Derby World Cup

Different from the other sports on this list by being played predominantly by women, roller derby is a high adrenaline contact sport with a bit of theatrical flair mixed in.

Played under witty pseudonyms such as Lady Shatterly and Patti Smithereens, the sport has seen a huge resurgence in recent years as girls (as well as boys) from around the world have taken to strapping on their skates and beating the ever loving hell out of one another. With an alternative appeal that draws people from all walks of life, it’s an inclusive and fun sport both as a player and a spectator.

roller derby
Image courtesy of Terrence McNally.

How to Attend: Roller derby leagues exist all over the world, and even the small city next to mine has a league that friends of mine play in. If you’re looking to see the best of the best compete, a Roller Derby World Cup is held every three years. The last two have taken place in North America, with the third tentatively planned for 2017. Alas, there’s no location for this yet.

IQA Quidditch World Cup

Fans of Harry Potter will already be familiar with this sport played on flying broomsticks in pursuit of a winged ball, but some may be surprised to know that the sport has a growing player base around the world.

Played with mundane broom-sticks twixt the legs and using more conventional balls, the game still very much resembles the game that wizards from the Harry Potter universe love so much.

quidditch world cup sport
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Especially popular on university campuses, Quidditch has a reputation for being one of world sport’s most inclusive codes, with an especially open and accepting view towards people who do not necessarily identify as the sex they were born. While the game itself may seem a bit silly, there’s nothing silly about its spirit of inclusion for all.

How to Attend: University campuses across the world have teams that often compete in leagues and tournament events. In Australia, annual events are held in Melbourne and Newcastle, with teams from all around Australia participating.

For those wanting to see the event at its most global, the 2016 Quidditch World Cup will be held in Frankfurt, Germany on the 23rd and 24th of July.

Your Say

What is the most unusual sporting event you’ve been to? Do any of the above tickle your fancy?

The preceding post was sponsored by Unibet. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Accommodation, San Francisco

HI San Francisco City Center – A Perfect SF Base

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Should I Stay at HI San Francisco City Center?

When it came time to plan my time in San Francisco, the hardest step was finding accommodation.

With the Super Bowl coming up, what accommodation that was available was invariably out of my price range.

HI San Francisco City Center, located (surprise) in the city’s beating heart, came to my rescue offering a few night’s stay. Would I enjoy my first hostel experience in a few years? Or would my doubts about hostel life as an ‘adult’ hold true?

Read on…

Vibe

HI San Francisco City Center feels like something unique the moment you walk in. Built in a recently renovated grand old 1920s boutique hotel with a vast foyer and a second floor mezzanine, the place just oozes old school charm. This is a feature further emphasized by the clanking, slow-as-a-wet-week elevator that speaks to the building’s heritage.

(c) HI USA 2015
The hostel’s rustic charm is a big part of its appeal for me. So old school! (c) HI USA 2015

The staff, a motley crew of characters bound by a common love of the city, are a friendly bunch with a great knowledge of the city. They were only too happy to inundate me with suggestions as to what secret corner of the city we should check out once we’d hit all of the main items on my San Francisco bucket list.

To add to this, the hostel (as all Hosteling International properties do) offered up an events calendar of daily free or discounted activities such as walking tours of Chinatown or Mission, visits to AT&T Park, or cycling excursions. They also regularly convert the foyer into a small cinema for watching classic horror movies, which is a really fun way to meet your fellow guests.

It’s this sense of inclusiveness and local involvement that works as part the Hosteling International mission to foster a more tolerant world. You’re encouraged to be a part of the city you’re visiting, rather than just an observer.

(c) HI USA 2015
(c) HI USA 2015

Amenities & Freebies

We’re at a stage in travel where a hostel needs to have more than just lockers, a bed, and WiFi to really cut it in a very competitive market.

Thankfully, HI City Center has a whole bunch of fun extras that make it a more memorable hostel experience.

For one, the otherwise spartan dorm rooms each come with an en suite bathroom, which is a nice change of pace compared to the crowded shared bathrooms you get in most hostels. It even has a bath tub, although I’m not the kind of guy who finds a hostel the place for a long, relaxing soak.

In-room lockers are big enough to fit in a sizeable pack and, while locks aren’t provided for free, they can be purchased at the front desk for a reasonable $4 USD.

(c) HI USA 2015
These people are much neater than my mate and I. My bed looked like a crime scene after I’d slept in it for four nights. (c) HI USA 2015

For those driving (something I wouldn’t advise in a walker friendly city like San Francisco), the hostel has cut a deal with the parking lot next door. You can park your car for around $24 USD a day, which is pretty competitive in a city like SF.

My favourite bonus at the hostel is the free continental breakfast, which includes coffee, cereals, toast, fruit juice, and a variety of bagels with cream cheese. It’s a good way to start the day, and a perfect addition for travelers operating on a budget.

Bagels and coffee not enough? The hostel also offers your choice of either eggs or pancakes for an additional $1. You’d have a hard time finding a better deal than that elsewhere!

(c) HI USA 2015
There’s also a fully equipped kitchen on-site for those who wish to fend for themselves. (c) HI USA 2015

A special mention also to the on-site bar. Serving up a variety of local and import beers, the nightly happy hour is a good way to have a few cheap brews and strike up a conversation with your fellow guests.

The bar staff weren’t especially friendly on either of the nights I ducked in, but as long as they’re providing beer in exchange for currency, they’re serving their basic purpose.

(c) HI USA 2015
The bar is a really fun addition, and is a great place to have a few drinks before heading out into the city proper. (c) HI USA 2015

Location

HI City Center boasts being ‘in the heart of the city but off the beaten track’, and that’s a pretty apt description.

Tucked into a nondescript street in the somewhat infamous Tenderloin district, Hi City Center is within spitting distance of the many Southeast Asian eateries of Little Saigon.

Special mention to Thai Idea, which does amazing vegetarian/vegan Thai dishes that are every bit as good as their meatier counterparts. I didn’t even notice!

thai idea san francisco
My amazing panang curry from Thai Idea. So good, I had it on two separate occasions.

It’s also a short walk to civic sites such as the town hall, and not an unreasonable trek to popular alternative districts like Mission, Castro, or the Golden Gate Park. We did the walk in an hour or so, and it’s one of the less hilly stretches of walking in the city.

While we didn’t avail ourselves of public transport while we were in town (I’m a confessed Uber addict), the hostel is a 10 minute walk from the underground and a 15 minute walk from the Union Square cable car stop.

Value

With beds in the 4-5 bed dorms ranging in price from $60 to $80, HI City Center is considerably cheaper than most hotels you’ll find in the city.

When you factor in its central location and the fact you’re getting some hotel level bonuses such as free breakfast and an ensuite bathroom, it’s a steal.

(c) HI USA 2015
(c) HI USA 2015

Overall

I really liked my time at HI San Francisco City Center. I’ve reached the age where I’m not a huge hostel fan, so it takes a pretty nice hostel to make me happy.

Hi City Center was fun, it had some great amenities and freebies, and it was the perfect location from which to explore the city.

It was actually my second time staying there (my first being a single night back in 2012), but I imagine it won’t be my last.

Looking for things to do in San Francisco?

My visit to HI San Francisco City Center was provided free of charge in exchange for a review. All views are my own. You’ll see in my upcoming reviews that I’ll be brutally honest if I don’t like a place – I promise.

Destinations, San Francisco
muir woods stream fallen tree

Visiting Muir Woods with SF Adventure Tours

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Disclaimer: My SF Adventure Tour was provided free of charge in exchange for a review. All opinions and photos are my own.

Tackling the Touristy Side of San Francisco

My first few days in San Francisco saw me hitting both the well-known and the less-frequented tourist stops in the City by the Bay.

Accompanied by first Cherie from Flight of the Travel Bee, and then my old amigo, Hogg – we ate junk food at Pier 39, rode the cable car, took in the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge, and wandered open-mouthed through the Palace of Fine Arts.

palace of fine arts san francisco column
The Greek inspired architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts makes it a blast to photograph.

Getting off the beaten track, we ate burritos in Mission, looked at street art in Castro, and joined a bunch of San Francisco wrestling fans in Haight to watch Monday Night Raw.

The SF Adventure Tour Experience

Having covered so much ground already, it was a pleasant surprise when our guide at SF Adventure Tours called ahead of time to ask what we were looking for in a tour. Far from being a paint by numbers tour of San Francisco’s best known spots, SF Adventure Tours specializes in bespoke tours tailored to meet the guest’s desires.

With so much of the city already covered, our guide suggested we take a day trip out to Muir Woods to see its towering redwoods, take in Golden Gate Bridge from a few different angles, and finish up with the best burritos in America.

How’s that for a way to check a few items off your San Francisco Bucket List?

muir woods hiking
The peaceful trails of Muir Woods are a great escape from the city noise.

What is SF Adventure Tours

Born out of Urban Safaris, SF Adventure Tours continues the safari spirit with a twist.

Our guide explained it as a tour that takes you to where the action is on a given day, much as a safari on the plains of the Serengeti might. There is no set daily route – but instead an intimate knowledge of the city is employed to pick the best locations and activities to meet the needs of guests on a given day.

sf adventure tours
Photo courtesy of SF Adventure Tours.

The totally pimped out, wood-paneled safari truck speaks to that philosophy as well. It’s definitely a unique looking vehicle.

Muir Woods

Our first stop of the day would be a visit to Muir Woods to see the towering coastal redwoods that thrive on the thick fog that rolls in off the Bay.

True to form, it was a foggy morning that greeted us as we made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge and wound our way up through the hills.

muir beach california
The views on this side of the Bay were just spectacular.

While Muir Woods usually charges an admission fee, those who get there early enough can enjoy not only the peace and quiet – but also a free visit.

Rather than wax lyrical about the shady groves and sun-dappled clearings, I’ll let pictures do the talking.

muir woods bridge
One of several quaint bridges across the bubbling streams of Muir Woods.
muir woods redwoods
Looking up at the towering redwoods.
muir woods stream fallen tree
The gentle singing of the streams and the moss-draped trees made Muir Woods feel like an enchanted forest.

Suffice to say, it’s something special after you’ve spent a few days in San Francisco’s colourful urban sprawl.

The Golden Gate

No visit to San Francisco is complete without an obligatory shot of its iconic bridge, and we certainly weren’t going to say goodbye to the City by the Bay without a few of our own.

Rather than photographing it from the city side, we instead made our way up into the hills on the Sausalito side for some more panoramic shots of the bridge.

golden gate bridge sausalito
A different side of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Best Burrito in the US

We returned to the urban sprawl with empty bellies and full SD cards (I literally had to stop and buy a new one), and Eric was quick to take us to his favourite spot in Mission – La Taqueria.

Voted best burrito in the US a few years ago, this little hole in the wall burrito joint well and truly lived up to its name.

I might have came.

Off to Alcatraz

The last stop of the day is a popular one with many visitors to San Francisco, and while Eric and the SF Adventure Tours team don’t accompany you to the island, they do pre-arrange your ticket and make sure you’re on the right ferry.

The Alcatraz option is totally optional, and it’s an experience I’ll write about on a later date, as it doesn’t really tie-in with the experience we had with Eric, his Dad jokes, and that recognisable truck of his.

alcatraz jail
Coming soon: my encounter with the ghosts of Alcatraz.

A Fun Day Out

Most of the time, I find tours to be… well, touristy. This definitely wasn’t the case with SF Adventure Tours.

Had I been fresh off the boat and wanting to see the well-known SF spots, I’m sure Eric would have been able to accommodate me – but the beauty of a personalised tour is that it takes into account the client’s tastes and experience and adapts accordingly.

Eric isn’t only the CEO and the tour guide, he’s also customizing every itinerary on the fly to ensure that it’s what the client is looking for.

You can learn more about how you can have a personalised tour of San Francisco by visiting their website.