Carvajal can be filthy. With its mud-spattered floors, cluttered empty crates and yellowed building walls, this alleyway connecting the street of Quintin Paredes with Nueva in Binondo is as grimy as grimy can be. Yet on any normal day, Binondo residents throng the narrow shoddy alley. Carvajal serves as a shortcut for pedestrians cutting through Binondo’s arduous traffic. And with the hefty number of people passing through, vendors have taken to hawking their wares and a variety of shops have taken root. Now, Carvajal is known for cheap market goods, even though much of what they sell is priced the same as anywhere else.

with Daewoo Hotel, Hanoi presents Vietnam’s cooking tradition in all its diversity in a two-week food promotion aptly billed "Vietnamese Cuisine Pleasures", on July 4 to 15 at the Captain’s Bar. Savor the vibrant flavors of Vietnam as guest sous chefs Pham Cong Minh and Le Thanh Tung, uncover some of the region’s homegrown tastes and specialities.

Cakes, cakes, and cakes…there is an endless array of cakes everywhere and the more there are, the more questions regarding them. We compiled some inquires regarding this wonderful baked item and we are sharing them with you. Again, we ask you to send us your questions and we will be more than happy to answer them. Happy cake munching and eating!

Checking in at a prime hotel like the Meritus Mandarin in Singapore is truly a joy, as it is at the heart of Orchard Road. Business and shopping areas are right outside the doors of this strategically positioned hotel.