Kate stumbled upon 鹿早茶屋 while searching for what to eat for breakfast during our stay at 1967 Hotel Tainan. The reviews of the cafe seemed pretty good and we also wanted to try something other than the usual Taiwanese fare during this trip. Hence, we decided to check it out!
The facade of 鹿早茶屋 can be rather deceiving. On the onset, you may think that it’s just someone else’s home. So do not be afraid of “barging into someone’s house” and step right in! There are 3 levels where you can sit and this time, we sat on the 2nd level.
On this visit, we chose the breakfast meal (NT240) and the german sausage waffles (NT260). Each comes with it’s own choice of tea worth NT130. We went with the fruit tea and casablanca green tea which were both refreshingly delicious!
All in all, we spent approximately $20 SGD for breakfast at 鹿早茶屋. This price is actually quite expensive, even for Singapore standards. Nonetheless, if you’re gathering with friends and would like a cosy and unpretentious place to chill out, 鹿早茶屋 seems like a pretty good options. The food’s pretty good as well.
Last but not least, we’re giving the same advice to be early. Although we were the first few to enter the cafe in the morning (when it opened at 10am), when we left, the entire place was full! All 3 levels of it! There are actually only 18 seats available and we saw several groups leaving when they saw that the place was already full.
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There are so many things to do in Tainan and day 2 of our Taiwan trip was when we really started to explore Tainan altogether. Early on in the morning, we decided to set off from 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan to Anping Old Fort by foot. The entire journey took approximately 2 hours but we had several stops along the way, most of them at 7-11 (affectionately known by locals as “seven”)…
Things to do in Tainan Taiwan
Enroute to Anping Old Fort
From 1967 Hotel Tainan to Anping Old Fort, we passed by several attractions in Tainan, including the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, Confucius Temple,
Although the walk in Tainan was wonderful (mostly because I was walking with my lover – Kate) but IT WAS HOT!!! We had to stop at several 7-11 along the way to cool down (mostly by enjoying the free air conditioning) and replenish our water lost due to the intense heat. It was about 33 degrees Celsius so if you’re taking the same walk in the June period, remember to pack a bottle of water and probably an umbrella to block off the sun’s rays.
About 2 hours later (and it was still before 10am!), we arrived at Anping District!
Anping Old District and Anping Fort
After crossing Tainan River (台南运河)，we finally entered Anping District! The Anping District is one of the old towns in Tainan and is one of the tourist attractions in Tainan. It can get pretty crowded, especially during the weekends where the stalls are open (with games and food, even during the day) and of course, many flock to visit the Anping Old Fort. Nearby, you can also stay at the Anping Old House for a local feel of the area. Entrance to the Anping Old Fort costs only NT50 ($2 SGD) and you will be able to ascend the Anping Watch tower and visit exhibitions to understand the history of the fort as well as that of Taiwan…
Right next to the Anping Old Fort lies a restaurant by the name of Rui Zhen (aka 瑞珍虾仁馄饨). One could possibly pass by it if not for the persistent calling by the restaurant’s owner. Having seen several features of the restaurant (with local Taiwanese celebrities and even one with Singapore’s 早安您好）， we decided to give it a try and we were glad that we did!
During this visit, we ordered several of the restaurant’s specialties including the oyster mee sua, coffin bread (棺材板）as well as the shrimp dumplings, all at a reasonable price of NT60. The mee sua had many fresh, huge oysters and the garlicky but fresh taste of the soup made it an irresistible dish. The coffin bread was crispy at the toasted edges while the shrimp dumplings had a crisp bite on the outside and a sweet crunch of the prawn on the inside. Yum!
After the scrumptious lunch, we headed towards the Anping Tree House for a visit. Though we did not enter, we were able to catch a glimpse of the tree house as we headed towards 海头…
Kate who planned the entire Taiwan trip, remembered that the Si Cao Green Tunnel was in the vicinity of Anping District. After cooling down at Seven, we headed to the bus stop next to it to see if any bus went there. Unfortunately, we did not know that there were actually tourist buses that ply between Si Cao Green Tunnel and Anping District, all the way back to Tainan Train Station. As a result, we took a cab. Though it was not THAT expensive, the 5 minutes taxi ride from Anping to Si Cao costs NT165 (about $6 SGD on meter). Fortunately for us, we caught the bus 99 on the way back for only NT18 per person. There are 2 public tourist buses that ply the vicinity – Buses 88 and 99. Do check out these bus routes for easy access to the tourist attractions of Tainan. But do take note of the bus timings as well. Sometimes, if you miss a bus, you might have to wait for about an hour!
As we did not get to eat the famous Anping Tong Ji Beancurd in Anping itself, we were glad that we were able to try it at its other stall near our hotel back in Tainan city. We tried the traditional beancurd (NT30) and the shaved ice series (NT55) and were quite satisfied with these choices. You can choose 1 “topping” for the beancured (we chose lemon) and 2 “toppings” for the shaved ice (we chose red bean and strawberry sauce). Special mention must go to the beancurd with lemon which was surprisingly nice and refreshing! But do not expect soft silky textures like those in Singapore, this version has the traditional textures with a firm texture to taste!
Huayuan Night Market (aka 花園夜市）was the first night of many night markets that we would be visiting during this Taiwan trip and it is also one of the must do things in Tainan. At a typical night market, you’d get to shop, eat and play games. Huayuan night market covers all of this PLUS the fact that you can get a HUGE PORTION OF SWEET MANGOES FOR ONLY NT50!
Remember to take 0左 (Zero Left – this bus loops so if you take Zero Right you’d probably still reach Huayuan Night Market but maybe 2 hours later?) from Tainan bus terminal (next to the Tainan Train Station) for NT18. The trip is about 8 stops and most people (after 5pm) would stop here. Do note that the special stop for Huayuan Night Market is only activated after 5pm, so do check in with the bus driver for specific directions.
And here’s a quick snap shot of what we did at Hua Yuan Night Market!
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On the way back from Hua Yuan Night Market, we actually waited for 1 hour before the bus came! We must have just missed the bus as we headed towards the bus stop. Hence, it is important to be about 5 to 10 minutes earlier than the stipulated time in order not to wait such a long time for the bus back!
All in all, we had a fantastic day out in Tainan and there are still more fantastic things to do in Tainan Taiwan. Do tell us more in the comments section below about the fun and interesting things that you’ve done in Tainan as well!
You have just finished a post on our Taiwan Trip in 2014 which started here. Here is the full list of posts written about Taiwan Trip 2014…
During our recent trip to Taiwan, we decided to do a whole of WEST COAST trip which included Tainan, Chiayi, Changhua (because Tom wanted to eat the Changhua meatballs after watching 食尚玩家), Taichung, Miaoli, Taoyuan and Taipei. The plan was to first fly into Taoyuan International Airport and take the HSR (High Speed Rail) all the way down to Tainan before journeying back up north again. We also realised during the trip that the rail transportation network is really well developed and with the HSR, it was just a 1.5 hours ride from Taoyuan to Tainan!
Map of Taiwan Trip 2014
We started the trip with a complimentary airport transfer and a visit to the Dnata SkyView Lounge. Both are perks of joining the ANZ Travel Card. Just by joining the card, there are 3 immediate perks that you can enjoy.
1. Complimentary to more than 80 airport lounges world wide. ANZ did a tie-up with Veloce. 2. Complimentary Airport transfer (if you spend a cumulative amount of $1500). Air tickets plus hotel bookings will typically hit the amount. 3. Complimentary travel insurance if you pay for tickets using the card.
From Taoyuan International Airport, you will need to first find the Ubus 705 that takes you from Taoyuan International Airport to the HSR station (signs are easily recognisable once you exit the customs check). The tickets costs only NT30 ($1.20). From there, we took the HSR from Taoyuan Station to Tainan Station for NT1305 ($52) which took 1hr and 24 minutes (from 1921 to 2045）…
During the ride, the top speed of the HSR hit approximately 300km/h which was why in no time at all, we reached Tainan Station. From there, we had to change to the local line (TRA – Taiwan Railways Administration) on the 區間車 to Tainan TRA station. This ride was NT25 which took about 25 minutes…
1967 City Central Hotel Tainan was just a short 5 minutes walk away from the station. As it was already close to 10pm at night, we were feeling quite hungry and decided to stop at a local beef noodles stall to have a quick bite. Turns out that this beef noodles was going to be one of the best beef noodles during this Taiwan trip, just minutes away from 1967 Hotel!
As we had already informed the hotel in advance that we would be late that evening, the receptionist was already expecting us and promptly showed us around the hotel. After taking a few shots of the room and hotel, it was time for us to turn in early for the start of our Taiwan trip tomorrow!
Alive Museum Singapore located at Suntec City Tower 3 is the latest attraction to hit the shores of Singapore! Alive Museum is actually a 3D illusionary museum that makes use of trick art, digital art, object art, experimental art and dark room to bring about a fun and entertaining visual sensory tour!
Alive Museum Singapore Location & Opening Hours
If you’re thinking of visiting Alive Museum Singapore, here are some quick facts for you…
Location of Alive Museum Singapore : Suntec City Mall #03-372 (between towers 3 & 4). If you’re still wondering, where it is exactly, you may want to know that it is actually at the location of the former Eng Wah cinema!
Ticket Prices of Alive Museum Singapore : $25 (Adults), $20 (Children 3-12 yrs)
Operating Hours of Alive Museum Singapore : 10am to 10pm daily (Last admission at 9pm)
3D Illusionary Fun @ Alive Museum Singapore
Here are some of the fun and interesting shots we took at Alive Museum!
Alive Museum Logo
There more than 80 exhibits at the Alive Museum and each of these exhibits invites you to pose and take a shot. There are also indicators throughout the museum to tell you the position to pose as well as the position to take the shot from…
Alive Museum Suntec City Singapore
Our views on Alive Museum Singapore
Avoid the crowds. As we visited Alive Museum on a Monday, there was a small number of people within the museum. Still, we had to wait (about 3 minutes) for a couple of more interesting exhibits. We extrapolate that during weekends, the situation would be quite bad. Hence, we recommend visiting on weekday nights or weekend mornings to avoid the crowds and have more time to get the great shots without people obstructing your shots or “breathing down your neck” during your shots.
Ladies and kids. During this visit, we realised that kids/teenagers as well as ladies, somehow enjoy the exhibits more. There were 2 groups of ladies who were laughing out loud and really enjoying themselves as they moved from one exhibit to another.
High Quality. The exhibits were actually of a high quality. High quality in the sense that the materials used to construct the exhibits were thick and hardy. Paint used were also able to withstand prolonged interaction with visitors. The other aspect of high quality also refers to the directions, pictures and signs that allows you to appreciate each exhibit much better and to let you know how you should pose and take the pictures.
Video Tour of Alive Museum Singapore! A scary exhibit at the end of the video : Listen out for the scream!
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Alive Museum Singapore
Well, the million dollar question : “Would we visit Alive Museum Singapore again?”
It depends. We think it’ll be fun if you go in groups of 3 or 4. Some of the shots are nicer if there are 2 or more people posing. Plus, while one poses, the rest can help to take photos and laugh at the amusing shots that have your friends in it! Not recommended for party of 2 or less.
Have you visited Alive Museum Singapore lately? Tell us more in the comments section below!
*Special thanks to the great folks at Alive Museum for making our visit possible!
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel’s Harbour Studio not only offers a fantastic view over the Marina Bay, but during the National Day period, it also offers fantastic vantage points for…you’ve guessed it! Fireworks! The harbour facing rooms (Harbour Studio, Skyline Suite, Harbour Suite and Presidential Suite) of the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotels offers breathtaking views of the Marina Bay including views of attractions such as the Esplanade, Helix Bridge and the Merlion!
Thanks to the great folks at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, we were hosted to a staycation at the Pacific Harbour Studio room and boy was it an awesome staycation!
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation
The Harbour Studio Room of the Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel is one of the latest addition to the hotel after the recent renovation works. The room is modern, slick and have upgraded amenities to meet the needs of sophisticated travellers today…
Huge King Sized Bed facing the TVThe 2bearbear enjoying the comfort of the bedSpacious BathroomWith rain shower facilitiesSexy Bathtub with views of the TV and HarbourModern desk for business travellersNespresso Machine in addition to the usual coffee making facilities!2bearbear enjoying a cuppa
Video Tour of Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio
Video Tour of Pan Pacific Singapore City Suites (where we stayed during our previous visit)
As you can see from the video, this is one of the rooms with unblocked views of the Marina Bay Floating Platform (room 32xx) and the Marina Bay itself.
2bearbear enjoying the views from Pan Pacific Harbour Studio RoomViews of Marina Bay Sands and the Marina BayView of the Marina Bay towards the direction of the MerlionKudos to the NDP performers who rehearsed under the sweltering hot sun at 3pm!
But the best part of the room was of course the fireworks! Just for you our readers, we recorded this awesome (“everything is awesome…”) fireworks display…you may even hear us singing the National Day Songs in the background as well! Enjoy!
National Day Parade Fireworks as seen from Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Room
Fireworks as seen from our room from Pan Pacific SingaporeNational Day Parade FireworksNDP Fireworks as seen from Pan Pacific SingaporeNDP Fireworks Pan Pacific SingaporePanoramic view of the Marina Bay AreaMarina Bay Fireworks
Pacific Club Privileges @ Pan Pacific Singapore
In addition to the panoramic 360 degrees view of Singapore, the Pacific Club extends the following privileges to Pacific Club Guests…
– Champagne breakfast at Pacific Club or buffet breakfast at Edge, from 6:00am to 10:30am or in-room dining breakfast at your leisure
– Afternoon tea from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
– Sunset cocktails and canapés from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
– 24-hour club service
– Late check-out until 2:00pm
Use of Pacific Club private dining rooms with prior reservation
– 50% savings on secretarial services at the Pacific Centre
You’ll note from the above information that THERE’S CHAMPAGNE SERVED FOR BREAKFAST AT THE PACIFIC CLUB!! (Did we raised our voice a little there?). The other interesting thing to note is that the Pacific Club is one of the few hotel lounges in Singapore that extends the club service for 24 hours. A great gesture by the hotel 🙂
Afternoon Tea from 3pm to 5pm
After our swim at the pool, we headed to the Pacific Club for afternoon tea at about 4pm. Once we entered the club at the 38th level, we realised that the club is slightly different from the club lounges of the other hotels. As we stepped out of the lift, we were promptly greeted by the staff with huge smiles and echoing sounds of “welcome”. It was as if we had known each other for the longest time and the staff were welcoming us back to the club once again…
Rafael, the club manager accentuated this “life” of the club with his outgoing personality and warm hospitality. He then asked if it was our first time at the club and unreservedly gave us a quick tour of the premise (all these time, not knowing that we were hosted to a stay at the Pan Pacific Singapore! Talk about great service…)
Classy and comfortable layout of the Pacific Club at Pan Pacific SingaporePacific Club Pan Pacific Singapore Chilling out with friends at the Pacific ClubViews of the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands from Pacific ClubA full service bar at the Pacific Club Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
There were ample seats at the Pacific Club which were tastefully decorated and laid out. In addition to the splendid views over the marina bay, you can also enjoy sun rise AND sun set from the Pacific Club as well. For those who prefer a little bit of privacy, there are 2 private dining rooms that can be made available with prior arrangements.
As for the afternoon tea…
Selection of saladsTuna SandwichCakes and brownies Cookies, nuts and chipsSweets for the kids Soft drinks juices and coffee are also available throughout the dayBeautifully concocted cappuccino with our afternoon tea
Sunset cocktail from 6pm to 8pm
The sunset cocktail at the Pacific Club is aptly named because of its splendid views of the sunset over the horizon in the direction of Swissotel Singapore. After the afternoon tea, we continued to “chope” our spot and played some scrabble until the cocktail commenced. The alcoholic choices available during cocktails include international and in-house cocktails, beers, wines and champagnes!
Wines available at sunset cocktail Pacific ClubChoice of classic or rose champagne2bearbear enjoying sunset over the in-house cocktail of Pacific Sling and Lychee Martini (which Kate enjoyed ALOT)Sunset as seen from the Pacific Club Pan Pacific Hotel SingaporePlaying scrabble and enjoying each other’s company at Pacific Club
At about 6:45pm, we witnessed the fly past of the National Flag…
National Flag fly past during National Day 2014
After seeing this manoeuvre “live” from the Pacific Club, we realised our low our helicopters actually flew and what risks they were actually subjected to. At one point, we thought that they were REALLY close to the buildings as they headed towards the floating platform.
Kudos to our Airforce chaps for making this difficult feat seem so easy!
After Breakfast at Edge Restaurant
After breakfast at Edge the next morning, we headed back to the Pacific Club to have our daily coffee fix and enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning with the Sunday Times! Gourmet coffee, views of the Marina Bay and the Sunday Times? Ah…
Latte and Sunday Times with views of the Singapore Flyer in the background2bearbear enjoying the views of MBS and the Marina Bay from Pacific Club Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
Breakfast at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
The breakfast at Edge was the usual international buffet breakfast…
Assorted Tropical FruitsCold Cut selectionBreakfast Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel – Cheese SelectionWestern selection of sausage bacon and beansEdge Breakfast Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel – Selection of PastriesSaladsGreat tasting waffles with maple syrup
The thing is, this item is not shown on the menu and you will have to tell the chef that you would like “Eggs Benedict”. The funny thing was, once you ordered it, others having seen it, would follow suit (who wouldnt right?!). So the chef would try to pass to you in the fastest possible manner before anyone can ask “what was that?!”
2bearbear enjoying Eggs Benedict for breakfast
Facilities and Amenities in Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
Besides the Pacific Club (which we strongly recommend for a fantastic staycation experience), Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel also offers facilities of a 5 stars hotel, including…
St Greogory – A full service spaGym at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Gym at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Swimming pool as seen from Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel City SuiteSwimming Pool Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore Atrium Bar Pan Pacific Singapore
Inside Pacific MarketplacePacific Marketplace Pan Pacific Singapore
The Pacific Marketplace also recently launched the SuperMuffin! When you think of muffins, you’d usually think of the sweet ones like chocolate and banana muffins right? The SuperMuffin is an innovative series of savoury muffins that was actually interestingly good. We tried the Ms Piggy (Char Siew with Salted Egg) SuperMuffin and were surprised by the unique taste. Although at $7++, it was a tad on the expensive side, we still think it is worth A try…(note the emphasis on “A”) Other choices include Chicken Run, succulent chicken wok-fried with garlic chives and Shaoxing Wine; Minotaur, classic Braised oxtail; Hulk, a decadent blend of Mushroom, Cream and Cheese; and Krrish, curry potatoes with a medley of Indian spices.
Ms Piggy SuperMuffin Pacific Marketplace SuperMuffin Pacific Marketplace Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
We also tried the Chicken Not Little sandwich with Pacific Cobb Salad at $17++
Chicken Not Little Pacific MarketplacePacific Cobb Salad Pacific Marketplace
For something that is a little lower in price, the cupcakes goes for $4++ while the croissants goes for $3++. These prices are quite reasonable considering that the Pacific Marketplace is located within the hotel and may be possibly cheaper than some artisanal cafes…
Red Velvet Cupcake with Frosted Cream Cheese
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To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, is a 4.5!
B – 1. Huge and modern bath tub with TV views and views of the Marina Bay Skyline. Shiok! A – 1. In terms of ambience, you’ll feel the touch of class as you enter into the lobby surrounded with the uniquely designed individual pods. S – 1. Service was prompt and individualised , especially when you enter the Pacific Club! I – 0.5. One of the largest pools in the Marina Bay Area. You can compare by taking the bubble lifts of the Pan Pacific Hotel which overlooks the pools of several hotels nearby. C – 1. Bed was firm, large and comfy. Views of the Marina Bay as you sleep? Marvellous!
Edge Restaurant at Pan Pacific Singapore has launched the “Long Long Lunch”, which features Singapore hawker favourites from 12pm to 4pm on Saturdays. Also known as “Tunch” (a cool name for Traditional Lunch), this buffet spread also includes local delights such as Homemade Laksa, Bak Kut Teh, Carrot Cake, Satay and lots more!
Thanks to the great folks at Pan Pacific Singapore (big shout out to Wen Xian and Cheryl!), we were hosted to a fantastic Long Long Lunch at Edge Restaurant.
Long Long Lunch at the Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
Can you see the waiters dressed in traditional hawker outfit in the background? Topped with the rickshaw hat no less!
Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Long Long Lunch (Tunch)
Our expectations of local fare is especially high and usually for buffets, because of the quantity of which it is produced, the standards drop. But we’re pleased to let you know that the standard of local hawker food at this Long Long Lunch is actually pretty good! Let’s take you through the offerings of Tunch at Edge Restaurant…
Sticks with our table number
Once we were shown to our seats, the waitress informed us of the numbered sticks at our table. It is actually used for foods that require some preparation time (such as char kway teow and popiah).
Hand the sticks over, food prepared, food served to your table! Simple as that!
And here’s a quick tour of the available stalls at this excellent traditional lunch buffet…
Prawn Noodle, Laksa, Wanton Mee, Chicken Rice and Duck RiceBak Kut TehSatay Counter for beef, chicken or mutton satayNasi LemakAsian Delights (Kuehs and asian cakes)Durian cakes, puffs and pengat!!
In addition to the local delights, there is also a selection of international cuisine for you to choose from, including…
Freshly prepared pastasPizzas made from scratchCarvingsJapanese foodQuality Ice Cream
You may realise by now that the Edge restaurant at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, is actually quite huge! What we enjoyed about the lay out is that there’s a new discovery at every turn inside the restaurant as the food is dispersed all around. In fact, we only found the traditional kaya toast (which was AWESOME – “everything is awesome…”) towards the end of our meal!
What we ate at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore’s Long Long Lunch
Here’s a low down of what we ate at the Long Long Lunch and our comments on each of these dish that we’ve tried…
Bak Kut Teh and Teh Tarik (the 2 “Tehs”)
You might be surprised but the bak kut teh taken out of the seemingly nondescript pot above, WAS ACTUALLY GOOD! The soup had the light spicy, peppery and not too salty taste of bak kut teh and to top things off, the rib was SO SO TENDER! The teh tarik on the other hand was milky and flavourful but was a tad too sweet. Remember to ask for siew tai/condensed milk!
Chicken Rice and Char Kway Teow
You would think that for a huge buffet such as this, tastes for local delights such as chicken rice and char kway teow would be greatly compromised? WRONG! In fact, the rice was so fragrant that we REALLY wanted to go for seconds! Which we struggled very hard to decline 🙁 This is to salvage whatever space in our tummies to review the foods here just for you (yes you!) our beloved readers! And we digress…
The roasted chicken was tender, juicy and had a mildly familiar roasted fatty taste to it. To put it simply, you must eat the chicken skin with the tender juicy chicken meat! As you chew, the roasted aroma, coupled with the fragrant rice, swirls magically within…definitely one of the best chicken rice we’ve had in recent times! Oh oh, don’t forget the chili!
The char kway teow was generous in its ingredients of prawns, fish cake and bean sprouts. There was “wok hei” with freshness of the ingredients fried into the kway teow, which was not too oily. Portion was just nice as well – not too jelat!
Satay, roasted duck and homemade laksa
All 3 dishes above were good. The satay sauce had the right proportion of peanut to sweetness ratio while the satay had a slight charred taste to it. These satays were BBQed “live” and you may have to wait for the next batch if your movements are a little slow. The roasted duck had a crisp and fatty layer on the outside while the meat had that firmness and sweetness as you chew into it – simply how a good roasted duck ought to be. Lastly, the laksa gravy and chili (most important parts of the laksa) were pretty decent. The only let down was the thick vermicelli which could be a little more “silky”. To solve this, politely ask the chef to cook your vermicelli a little longer.
Dim Sum and Popiah
As for the dim sum, you won’t go wrong with har gau and siew mai. Both had mouthfuls of fillings with every bite. The lobster dumpling though was a miss. The skin was a little thick and perhaps the dumpling simply did not meet the expectations of the name “lobster dumpling”. You would expect some kind of a “wow factor” with that kind of name right? The popiah on the other hand had chock-full of fillings and was a great dish to complement the meal.
Freshly prepared Aglio Olio
Just to test the skills of the chefs, we ordered the Aglio Olio at the pasta counter and we were glad that we ordered it. The texture of the pasta was just perfect, a firm bite on each mouth (soggy pastas spoil the taste). The full flavoured garlic and chili bits rounded up this simple but elegant pasta.
Asian delightsDurian selection!
To round up the meal, we headed to the desserts section! Kate enjoyed the asian delights of kueh kuehs and kueh lapis while I headed for the durian selection! You MUST TRY the durian cake and pengat at the Long Long Lunch. As with good durian cakes and durian pengats, the texture of the durian could be felt with each bite. Though the silkier texture of the pengat could be deceiving on the first impression, the power-packed taste from the King of Fruits could be savoured with each mouth – all bitter sweet tastes of it! That was why we went for seconds and helped build up our “reserves in the mid section”…
About Edge Pan Pacific Singapore’s Long Long Lunch
The highlights from the Long Long Lunch of Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel includes :
Singapore Heritage
Homemade Laksa (Chef’s Signature)
Penang Prawn Noodle Soup (Chef’s Signature)
Bak Kut Teh (Chef’s Signature)
Satay
Nasi Lemak with Otah
Roti Prata
Homemade Dim Sum
Crispy Char Siew Soo
Fried Carrot Cake
Popiah and Rojak
Singapore Toast (Egg, Kaya, Peanut Butter, Butter and Sugar)
Japanese and Thai
Traditional Thai Tom Yum Soup
Thai Papaya and Mango Salad
Selection of Sushi and Sashimi
Thai-style Deep Fried Banana
Desserts
Durian Puff, Durian Mousse Cake and Durian Pengat (Chef’s Signature)
Ice Kachang (Chef’s Signature)
Soy Bean Milk Pudding (Chef’s Signature)
Portuguese Egg Tart
Mango Pomelo Short Cake
Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Pandan Kaya Cake
Chendol Agar Agar
Orange Chiffon Cake
Nonya Kueh and Chinese Cookies
Date: Every Saturday Time: 12:00 noon to 4:00pm Prices:
$50nett per adult inclusive of unlimited local beverages, coffee and tea
$25nett per child (below 12 years of age) inclusive of unlimited local beverages
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Conclusion
If you’re thinking of taking your loved ones out for a relaxing long long lunch but not sure where to get good quality hawker fare at one great location, the Long Long Lunch at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore can be an excellent option.
We used to think that great hawker foods, especially for buffet is simply not possible. Usually such buffets has more “misses” than “hits”. In addition, to keep up with food quality and great local flavours for a large quantity, is extremely difficult to say the least.
Edge’s Long Long Lunch has changed that impression. Kudos to the chefs at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore!
**Special thanks Cheryl, Wen Xian and the team from Edge for hosting us to a lovely Long Long Lunch!
During our recent visit to Ipoh Malaysia, we visited the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa – located next to the Lost World of Tambun theme park!
Lost World of Tambun Ipoh – Entrance to Theme ParkLost World Hot Springs Ipoh and Spa is actually beside the theme park with its own entranceEntrance to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
Lost World Hot Springs and Spa opens from 6pm to 11pm daily (after the theme park closes) and costs 20RM. Alternatively, you can pay for the Lost World of Tambun theme park entry at 45RM and stay from 11am to 6pm for the theme park. Using the same ticket, you can take a walk over to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. 45RM for both attractions 🙂
What to do at Lost World of Tambun Hot Springs and Spa
Map of Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
According to the Map, the attractions are as follows
1. Entrance
Ticketing counter to Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohSpa packages available at the ticketing booth – you must purchase packages here before you head to Crystal SpaDragon at the Entrance of Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
2. Saphira’s Bistro / 3. Infinity Pool / 4. Lost World Steam Cave / 5. The Geyser of Tambun
Lost World Hot Springs and Spa
If you take a look at the picture above, to the left, you’ll see Saphira’s Bistro (notice the Milo dispenser). Right in the middle, you’ll see the Geyser of Tambun and entrance to the Lost World Steam Cave. Of course right in the fore ground, it is the entrance to the Infinity Pool!
Minerals Benefit – Why you should visit Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
6. Top of the World Pool
Entrance to Top of the World Pool at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohTop of the World Pool @ 43 degrees celsius – Ouch!
7. Foot Spa
Foot Spa Lost World Hot Springs and Spa IpohBenefits of Foot Spa
8. Crystal Pool
Crystal Pool right opposite Crystal Spa at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
9. Crystal Spa
Entrance to Crystal Spa Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh
For 180RM, we had 60 minutes of Aromatherapy Massage as well as 60 minutes of Hot Springs Aromatic Facial. Pure bliss!
10. Saphira’s Lair
Saphira’s Lair at 37degrees – Nice place to Chill out at night (Lost World Hot Springs and Spa Ipoh)Saphira’s Baby Pool – Allow the rushing waters to “massage” your shoulders!
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All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. For us, the entrance to the Hot Springs and massage at Crystal Spa was sufficient. By the way, if you purchase any spa package, entrance would be free. Something that we only realised later 🙁
Also, for an easy access to the hot springs, you may also choose to stay at the Lost World Hotel, next to the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa.
Do tell us your experience at Lost World Hot Springs and Spa or if you have visited Lost World of Tambun, do tell us about it as well!
Common Man Coffee Roasters located at 22 Martin Road (walking distance from Boat Quay) is a new cafe that serves up gourmet breakfast and coffee.
Common Man Coffee Roasters is actually quite an “ATAS” (high class) cafe. The setting is quite elegant and classy yet there remains a casual feel to it.
As you can see from the price, the gourmet breakfasts cost in excess of $20. The eggs benedict we tried costs $24. Well, the real question is…is it worth it?
Common Man Coffee Roasters
The organic eggs benedict has the following description
“Tender braised ox cheeks, 2 poached organic eggs with chive hollandaise with artisanal sourdough toast”
Sounds good? In fact it tastes better than it sounds. The ox cheeks was indeed tender and the spices have been infused into the meat. The eggs were very professionally prepared. When you break into the yolk, it oozes creamily (yes an odd word for yolks but it does) unto the toast. The sourdough toast gives an unique spin with its soury taste and crisp outer layer. Together the egg,toast,ox cheek fuses into one magical taste. Simply divine.
On the other hand, we couldnt really appreciate the gourmet cappuccino. To us, it was a little bitter and slightly acidic. We also ordered the Churros…
The Churros again were quite expensive. $12 for 5 sticks! But it was good. The outer later was lightly dusted with sugar and crispy on the initial bite. But as you chew on, the texture quickly turns to a soft chewy texture. With the chocolate dip, the churros tasted especially shiok.
Herein lies the problem, all this “divine” and “shiok” tastes come at a price and the total damage was…
We had tried to save by ordering one main and one coffee. But the price was already close to $50.
The Verdict
Our verdict? The eggs benedict was really unlike any eggs benedict we have tried. The sourdough toast made the difference and the churros was good. But for the price, you will really need to think twice.
We think that it would be good to visit just once, just to know how delicious simple and fresh ingredients can come together to create that unbelievably good taste. Otherwise, for the price, it would be unlikely that we’ll come back again.
Isn’t it ironic that the cafe is named “Common Man…” when the common man will really have to dig deep to eat here…
Common Man Coffee Roasters
Have you visited Common Man Coffee Roasters? Tell us in the comments section below!
Miaoli Maison De Chine Hotel (兆品酒店苗栗) just completed its renovation with an inclusion of a new wing and a brand new fitness centre with spa pools! (What?!) Thanks to the great folks at Miaoli Maison De Chine (thanks Shelly!), we were hosted to a stay at the brand new Premier Suite of Miaoli Maison De Chine!
Facade of Miaoli Maison De Chine
Main Entrance of Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
As we approached the hotel, we were really amazed by the intricacies of the baroque-styled architecture and once you entered into the hotel, you’d be greeted by this huge baroque paintwork by Peter Paul Rubens. Accompanying it is this beautiful hanging chandelier which was put in place, piece by piece by the chandelier masters. Together with the huge lobby space, we were seemingly transported into another dimension…
Spacious lobby with artwork of Peter Rubens and a huge hanging chandelier
Reception of Miaoli Maison De Chine
At the reception, the checking-in process was very smooth and we were greeted with all round smiles while we were given clear instructions to our room at level 5. First impression of the room? HUGE and SPACIOUS!
Miaoli Maison De Chine Premier Suite
Greeted first by the living space in the suite at Miaoli Maison De Chine
The suite is essentially compartmentalised into 3 sections, a living space, the bedroom and the bathroom. There are actually 2 TVs in the room with 1 in each of the bedroom and living room!
Bedroom Premier Suite Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
A modern open concept wardrobe
From our window, we were also able to enjoy views of the beautiful garden area below…
Garden view with 2bearbear at Miaoli Maison
As for the in-room amenities, the usual coffee tea and bathroom essentials were provided. The room also comes with a bath tub for you to relax in the privacy of your own room.
Modern bath tub at Miaoli Maison De Chine Hotel
Bathroom amenities provided along with bath towels and face towels
Selection of in-room coffee and tea with snacks
For a more complete feel of our room at the newly completed wing of Miaoli Maison De Chine, check out this video tour
There are also other rooms available at Miaoli Maison De Chine including the
Premier Family room with bathing and toilet facilities separated
Sink of the room also shifted out to allow convenience of use for the entire family
For a touch of luxury, why not choose the Executive Suite of Miaoli Maison De Chine? (also known as the 兆品大套房) The same room was used in the filming of a taiwanese serial by local actors as well!
Spacious living area of the Executive Suite
Modern pantry with fridge and bar top for concocting those cocktails
Balcony that overlooks Zhunan with mountain range in the distance
In-room foot bath at Zhao Pin Suite! Talk about luxury!
Master Bedroom
How about an in-room jacuzzi bath?!
Facilities of Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
Thanks to Shelly, we were given a guided tour of the premise of Miaoli Maison De Chine. Otherwise, you may literally get lost ;P
Painting next to the lobby of Miaoli Maison De Chine…or is it?
Banquets Meetings and Conferences
We started our tour of Miaoli Maison De Chine at the Banquet Meeting Area. Perhaps we’ll hold our 10 years anniversary celebrations here?
Banquet meeting area of Miaoli Maison De Chine
The Banquet Meeting Area is actually a space for discussions on the use of the various meeting and banquet rooms on the premise of the hotel. The really interesting part of this area is that there are 2 separate rooms next to each other which allows parents of both families to do their own discussions before coming back together to make the decision! Sample gifts are placed at the side for the couple to conveniently choose their wedding favours as well. The hotel has really thought through the entire process eh?
The hotel also offers 2 grand ballrooms for holding wedding celebrations…
The Majesty Ballroom for a more traditional wedding feel
Or The International Grand Ballroom featuring the largest LED screen in the whole of Miaoli!
If you’re hosting important guests, you can also choose from an array of VIP rooms available, including the The Crystal VIP room or the King VIP room. Of which, the King VIP room features an automatic lazy suzy (it really doesn’t get lazier than that does it?) and 2 electric hot plates for ease of access to hot pots 🙂
The Crystal VIP Room at Miaoli Maison De Chine
King VIP Room for hosting of really really VIP guests, featuring the automatic lazy susan!
For formal meetings, you can also choose from a host of meeting rooms. Including this one that has an overhead projector and a hidden white board for presentations and explanations!
Formal Meeting Room with retractable frames to expose a white board behind – a really cool idea!
For an informal area to chill and discuss business ideas, visit the wine bar Le Vino. The area is quiet and quaint which allows private discussions to take place. To top it off, the poem of Wine by Li Bai （李白 – 月下獨酌）is featured on the walls of Le Vino striking a contrast of western and eastern concepts of wine.
Le Vino @ Miaoli Maison De Chine
To wash, dry and iron those business shirts that you have, the laundry room does offer this function and it even has a steam iron for suits as well!
Complimentary laundry room with steam iron at level 3
Other facilities in Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
While walking along the corridors, we stumbled upon a “chess room”
Brands under LDC Hotels
Display of hotels by LDC group in Italy as well (next to the “Chess Room”)
Do not be mistaken because you won’t find international or chinese chess sets within. Instead, it is a mahjong room!
Mahjong Room at Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
The table is professionally laid out and the mahjong paper even has lines drawn on it for players to know exactly where to place their tiles? According to Shelly, these rooms have been thought through with feed back from guests which are now pretty popular especially for those 通宵 (overnight) mahjong sessions :p
VIP Lounge with view of the garden at level 3
Garden view with VIP lounge and hotel facade in the background
We were actually a little disappointed with the VIP lounge as we have been to several club lounges (offering drinks, light snacks and even cocktail sessions) and we came here with the same expectations. Nonetheless, the serenity that the garden offers does bring about a really relaxing feel. Perhaps an al fresco club lounge in the future?
Maison Health Center
Entrance to Maison Health Center at B1
Reception of Maison Health Center Miaoli Maison De Chine
We were then led to the new Maison Health Center located at B1 of Miaoli Maison De Chine Hotel. So we thought to ourselves, what could be possibly interesting about an underground fitness center? Well, we were SO SO WRONG! The Maison Health Center is probably one of the most comprehensive and spacious fitness centers that we’ve seen among all the hotels we’ve visited! The pool is huge with modern curves around the edges and the gym actually overlooks the pool!
Huge swimming pool with inviting curves along the edges
Gym overlooking the swimming pool
Gym of Miaoli Maison De Chine
But the real surprise is yet to come! The health center not only offers the usual steam bath and sauna but also 3 spa pools at different temperatures! How cool is that?!
3 different spa pools at Miaoli Maison’s Health Center!
This is a really cool concept, unlike any other we’ve seen so far and we’ve probably been to more than 100 hotels. What’s interesting is that each spa pool is “colour-coded” with the blue indicating the cold pool, amber indicating the nice warm pool and red indicating the hot pool. There are also different water jets within the different pools. Our favourite of which is the rain shower like jet in the warm pool. How is it like? Come to Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan to find out!
Sauna and Steam Room next to the spa pools
Dinner at Pin Jiang Nan
Again, after taking feed backs from customers who prefer asian-styled cuisine, Pin Jiang Nan was born.
Menu of Pin Jiang Nan 品江南 Miaoli Maison De Chine
品江南 is mainly a dim sum restaurant that offers an alternative to guests who prefer asian cuisine. Although primarily focusing on dim sum, you can also order dishes or mains (such as noodles and rice) to complete the meal. What to eat here? The dumplings of course!
Prawn dumplings (虾仁蒸饺）exquisitely shaped by the master chef
The Si Gua Tang Bao 丝瓜汤包 (a variation of the 上海汤包）with perfect thickness of the melon slice
To say that we love the dumplings at Pin Jiang Nan is really an understatement. We were impressed. The dumplings were made only upon order and the open kitchen concept allows guests to see the chefs in action. This also allows you to know that your dumplings are fresh off the hands of the chefs upon request. A guarantee of freshness! The taste? Pure indulgence! Definitely one of the best dumplings we’ve had! We’ve really run out of words to describe : Fresh, succulent, juicy and did we mention fresh? Just come on down to try it and you’ll understand!
Chefs springing to action!
Chefs making the prawn dumplings “live”
As it turns out, the master chef had close to 20 years of experience in making dumplings having been to several chinese and dumpling restaurants in Taiwan. No wonder you could see that level of skill in the video!
We were also introduced to Dan Huang Sian Su Xia (蛋黄鲜酥酥虾）and the Jiang Si Fu Ru Kong Xin Cai (姜丝腐乳空心菜). In particular, we were impressed with the Kong Xin Cai (vegetables) which was fresh and crisp on the bite and exuberates a mixture of sour, savoury and slightly spicy taste that was really appetising!
姜丝腐乳空心菜 @ 品江南
蛋黄鲜酥酥虾 @ 品江南
2bearbear and the food spread at Pin Jiang Nan
To end off the meal, we had the taro sago. Kate enjoyed it but I prefer the thick orh nee version for taro desserts 😛 Also, you may have heard some children laughter from the video above. This is because the restaurant has thought of catering to the kids with the inclusion of a kids play area within the restaurant!
Taro Sago at Pin Jiang Nan
Time to play!
Breakfast at Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
Victorian Restaurant where breakfast is served from 630am to 9am daily
Grand piano inside Victorian Restaurant
To round off our post, we’ll be showing some of the variety available for breakfast at the Victorian Restaurant at level 1 of the hotel…
Selection of Breads
Spreads for the breads with toaster in the background
Breakfast cereals for the kids
Sour grapefruit but really sweet lychees!
Salad selection
Cold dishes
Condiments for porridge
Asian dishes
Sausage bacon and steamed items – be careful not to be scalded by the steam!
Big breakfast at Miaoli Maison De Chine
Breakfast at Victorian Restaurant Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
In and Around Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
Around the hotel, there are actually a few things that you can do…
Glass blowing at the Kuo Tai Glass Park – 國泰玻璃觀光工廠
Zhunan Brewery 竹南啤酒厂 – The largest in Taiwan but remember to call in advance for a guided tour!
Delicious pan fried buns within walking distance of hotel at intersection of Ba De Yi Lu and De Yi Lu
Chilling at the integrated park right across Miaoli Maison De Chine
But hey, if you really don’t feel like heading out. Relaxing in the room or chilling out at the health center are great options as well!
How to get to Miaoli Maison De Chine Zhunan
Map from Zhunan Train Station to Miaoli Maison De Chine
If you’re alighting at the Zhunan Train Station like we did, you can actually take a cab to Miaoli Maison De Chine. The trip takes less than 5 minutes and is a fixed price of 120NT. But if you’re really game for walking, it is a 2km walk which takes about 20 minutes. Definitely not for those of you with huge bags and all.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Miaoli Maison De Chine Hotel, is a 4.5!
B – 1. Huge and modern bath tub. Shiok! A – 1. Miaoli Maison definitely ranks highly for ambience. At times, you may even forget you’re in Miaoli Taiwan! S – 1. Service was great and we were greeted all around the hotel akin to luxury hotels (higher than 5 stars) that we’ve been to. I – 1. Beautiful health center with one of the best spa pools we’ve seen. C – 0.5. Bed was a little on the soft side. Still comfy though.
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Audi Garden Business Hotel Taoyuan (歐帝花園商旅) was our hotel of choice when we visited Taoyuan during our recent trip to Taiwan. Thanks to the good folks at Audi Garden Business Hotel (a big shout out to Ricky!), we were hosted to a stay at its premise and it provided us a great base from which we visited the attractions of Taoyuan as well as a day trip to Taipei!
Entrance to Audi Garden Business Hotel
Lobby of Audi Garden Business Hotel
2bearbear at the lobby of Audi Garden Business Hotel
Thanks to Ricky and our friendly reception at Audi Garden, we were promptly checked in and shown to the Comfort King Room with PC on the 2nd level.
Our host Ricky at the reception of Audi Garden Business Hotel Taoyuan
Audi Garden Business Hotel Taoyuan Family Room with PC
The Family Room of Audi Garden Business Hotel is in fact a very functional room, perfect for business guests to Taoyuan. It has a clean and organised layout that comes complete with a PC in the room. Wifi and internet is freely available for both PC and mobile devices which makes it great on connectivity.
King Sized Bed in Family Room of Audi Garden Business Hotel
Modern shower of Audi Garden Business Hotel
Fully equipped toilet with bath towels, face towels and toilet amenities
In-room computer and complimentary blu-ray DVDs on-demand!
In fact, Audi Garden Business Hotel has recently undergone a face lift to upgrade all 43 rooms at its premise and you can feel the modern vibe in the design and feel of the rooms. What we really like about the room is the complimentary blu-ray shows on demand! Movies include recent shows and some classic ones. It was also during this stay that we finally got to watch 2 shows that we missed and really wanted to watch – The Bucket List and Ender’s Game!
Video Tour of Family Room in Audi Garden Business Hotel
Breakfast at Audi Garden Business Hotel Taoyuan
Breakfast at Audi Garden Business Hotel is simple and caters mainly to asian taste buds. There’s a selection of dishes and condiments for rice and porridge. On the other hand, there’s a small selection of breads and spreads as well. Though it was sufficient, we would have preferred some choices of eggs and sausages/bacons to round up a “big breakfast”. Coffee on the other hand was great! Remember to go for seconds!
Dishes for rice and porridge
Rice and porridge
Condiments for porridge
Toast and spreads with coffee machine and milk tea
At the end of the dining area, there’s a location for meetings and conference with projectors provided. During meal times, the TV would be on for guests to enjoy.
Area for meetings and conferences
In and around Audi Garden Business Hotel Taoyuan
The strength of Audi Garden Business Hotel really lies in its location. Just a few minutes walk from the Taoyuan train station, it offers a great base for guests to visit (and taste) Taoyuan and even plan a day trip to Taipei!
One of the best oyster mee sua we’ve had along Zhong Zheng Road minutes away from Audi Garden
Visiting Taoyuan Night Market
The famous Shui Mi Tao (水蜜桃）or honeyed peach of Xiao Wu Lai – Really really sweet and juicy! This I kid you not!
Now we understand why Taoyuan is known as 桃园 aka Peach Garden!
Beautiful Waterfalls of Xiao Wu Lai
Sea of flowers at Ci Hu (慈湖大溪花海）
大溪老街 (Old streets of Da Xi)
This roasted/fried chicken shop close to Audi Garden – The fried chicken was really good and the fries are made from sweet potato, served with fried rice dumplings! :O
How to get to Audi Garden Business Hotel
Map from Taoyuan Train Station to Audi Garden Business Hotel
It’s really simple actually. Just head down along Zhong Zheng Road and when you see this 3 storey McDonald’s, make a right turn into the alley and you’re there!
Right turn at this McDonald’s to reach Audi Garden Business Hotel
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Audi Garden Business Hotel, is a 2.5!
B – 0.5. Clean bathroom within. A – 0.5. Ambience was welcoming. S – 1. Service was prompt and we also had our taxi to the airport arranged at 5am. Reception also offered a morning call at 430am! I – 0. No swimming pools here. C – 0.5. Bed was a tad on the soft side.
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Park City Hotel Central Taichung 成旅晶贊飯店 (as the name suggests) is located conveniently just 8 minutes walk away from the Taichung Train Station. If you walk at our pace (and stride), you’ll probably be there is 6 minutes :p Thanks to the good folks at Park City Hotel Central Taichung, we were hosted for our stay at Taichung here…
Our receptionists at Park City Hotel Central Taichung
The usual check in time at Park City Taichung is 3pm but we were about 2 hours early this time. But since it was hot in the summer afternoons of Taiwan (34 degrees! can you believe it?!), we decided to just chill at the lobby and surf the net. By the way, wifi is complimentary for guests and we were also served water as we enjoyed the A/C and comfort at the lobby. But soon (less than 30 minutes later), we were informed that our room was ready, guess that’s great service right there at the start of our stay at Park City Hotel Taichung!
Park City Hotel Central Taichung Double Room
As we entered into our room at level 10, there was a really inviting vibe and here’s the video for you to check out our room at Park City Taichung…
Video Tour of King Sized Bedroom at Park City Taichung
As we continued to explore our room, we found several things that we really liked…
1. Taichung City View. There was a view of the city of Taichung which gives you an additional feel of “space” in addition to the spacious double room. There are also comfortable chairs by the window for you to enjoy the views while chilling in the room!
Taichung city view by the window with comfortable chairs
2. Sun cakes. As a small welcome gesture, there were sun cakes (aka 太阳饼) placed in our room which was timely for our afternoon snacks! We enjoyed it over the in-room coffee plus the pumpkin chiffon cake which we bought enroute. A heavy afternoon snack huh?
Sun cakes and coffee/tea selection provided in the room
3. Bath tub with TV view! What we really enjoyed most was this…
2bearbear enjoying TV while soaking in the bath tub!
There was cable TV (we actually caught Sherlock Holmes season 2 on BBC channel) and we were able to enjoy the shows while relaxing in the bath tub, all in the privacy of our own room! Certainly a luxury that you don’t usually enjoy for Taiwan hotels. A great resting sanctuary as well, especially after a long day of walking and sight seeing 😉
Huge bath tub Park City Hotel Central TaichungWell-stocked toiletries and amenities HUGE King-sized bed with view of the bath room
Facilities of Park City Hotel Central Taichung
Most of the facilities are located at level 3 of the hotel which includes a gym, business centre as well as a complimentary laundry area…
Lift directory showing restaurant at level 2 and facilities at level 3Fitness Centre, Business Centre and Ocean Laundry at Level 3 of Park City Hotel TaichungGym that allows you to watch cable while you work out!You can wash, dry and iron your clothes at the Ocean LaundryView that shows the business centre next to the fitness centre and Ocean Laundry
Breakfast at Park City Hotel Central Taichung
Breakfast at Wonderful Cantonese Restaurant on level 2
Breakfast is served daily from 630 to 930am at the Wonderful Cantonese Restaurant at level 2 of the hotel. The restaurant is actually ultra spacious and there are also window seats overlooking the streets at the side which sort of reminds us of the restaurant at Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw – which reminds us of the “live” harp playing for breakfast!
Spacious interior of Wonderful Cantonese Restaurant
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast on both days at the restaurant. The variety was good with a slant towards western styled breakfast which is great for business meetings and conferences held at the hotel. Do try out the braised pork rice with egg and dim sum which includes the brown sugar buns! And here are the offerings for breakfast at Park City Hotel Central Taichung…Btw, the variety is really good, so enjoy this extensive pictorial review of the breakfast!
Daily soup at the entrance of Wonderful Cantonese Restaurant Salads and the various dressings and condimentsSelection of cold dishesNot forgetting the kids with the inclusion of breakfast cerealsSelection of breads buns porridge and hot soy milkCondiments for the porridgeOr you can have the braised pork with porridge which tastes just as good as well!Hot asian dishesDon’t forget your daily intake of vegetables…Kate with her yummy breakfast2bearbear with the pretty arrangement of condiments for porridge
In and around Park City Hotel Central Taichung
Park City Hotel Central Taichung also offers a great base for you to visit the following attractions…
Miyahara 宮原眼科 (Offering Taiwanese gifts, ice cream and tea)Ice cream at Miyahara’s branch (第四信用合作社) at 72 Zhong Shan RoadOriginal bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang 春水堂Relaxing at Taichung Park – Lake Heart PavilionYichung Shopping Street 一中街商圈Feng Jia Night Market. Not so crowded on a Wednesday night.
How to get to Park City Hotel Central Taichung
Map from Taichung Train Station to Park City Hotel Central Taichung
As you can see from the map, it is relatively easy to get to Park City Hotel Taichung from the Taichung Train station. It is just a 9 minutes (or less) walk by going along Zhong Shan Road (walking past Miyahara enroute) and then making a left turn along Jiguang Street.
As simple as that!
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Park City Hotel Central Taichung, is a 3.5!
B – 1. A bath tub with view of the TV? Just about as good as it gets! A – 0.5. Ambience was welcoming. S – 1. Service was prompt and we were arranged for early check-in while the receptionists were able to answer queries about the vicinity that we had. I – 0. No swimming pools here. C – 1. Bed was firm and comfortable!
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1967 City Central Hotel Tainan (一九六七 時尚私人會館) hosted us to a stay at its premise during our recent trip to Taiwan. As a boutique hotel, there isn’t the usual frills of a swimming pool, gym and spa but its location (just a 9 minutes walk from Tainan Train Station) offers a great base from which you can explore the rest of Tainan!
2bearbear at the lobby of 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
Entrance of 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
But first lets check out our room at 1967 City Central Hotel…
1967 City Central Hotel Tainan Double Room
We arrived pretty late on our first night at 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan but we were promptly checked-in by the receptionist (do note that the front desk closes at 11pm) and were introduced to the amenities of the hotel and personally shown to our room at 101…
Our friendly receptionist at 1967 Hotel Tainan checking us in at 10pm
Entrance to our room at 101 (not to be mistaken with Taipei 101 :p)
1967 City Central Hotel Tainan is built in 2012 and has only 19 rooms at its premise. However, each room is intricately decorated with art pieces and exquisite furniture which led us to be pleasantly surprised when we first entered the room…
Elegant and arty living space at 1967 Tainan
Cool mirror by the study table at 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
Comfortable and classy quilt cover and bed that faces the cable TV
Besides the artistically decorated room, the bathroom is also clean and equipped with towels, toiletries and towels. The only gripe we had was that the shower area was relatively small. Otherwise, it was clean (very clean in fact) and had all the necessary items that we needed.
A really clean toilet with bath and face towels
Shower gel and shampoo at 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
Lobby of 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
As you enter into the lobby of 1967 Hotel Tainan, you’ll realise that the beautiful decoration extends to pretty much every part of the hotel. I guess this is pretty much what a boutique hotel is all about…
Lobby of 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
The great part of 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan is that there’s snacks and coffee available at the lobby 24 hours a day!
Common area next to the lift
Coffee and snacks the lobby – Can you spot the macaron?
More snacks available at the lobby of 1967 Hotel
In and around 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
鹿早茶屋 A Popular Breakfast and Brunch Restaurant
Just across from 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan, there’s a quaint restaurant that is apparently very popular among girls and youngsters in the area. The restaurant is 鹿早茶屋 (lu zao cha wu). We also visited this popular brunch joint and eventhough we were the first to arrive at 10am, when we left at 1130, ALL THE SEATS WERE TAKEN! All 18 seats available! Yes…only 18 seats in the house so be early to avoid disappointment!
鹿早茶屋 (lu zao cha wu) opposite 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
German sausage waffles with our 4 fruit tea and casablanca tea
Brunch menu only available before 1pm
老唐牛肉面店 Beef Noodles Stall
If you’re walking towards 1967 Hotel Tainan from the Tainan train station, you’ll turn right at Weimin Street. At the corner of Weimin Street, you’ll see this Beef Noodles Stall – 老唐牛肉面店 …
老唐牛肉面店 Beef Noodles Stall
One of the best beef noodles during this trip at 老唐牛肉面店 Beef Noodles Stall
How to get to 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
How to walk from Tainan train station to 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan
If you’re walking from Tainan Train Station, it is only a 9 minutes walk away. Firstly, walk down Beimen Road, you’ll turn right at Weimin Street. After which, you’ll have to look out for this REALLY REALLY small alley, Weimin Lane 70 and walk right into it…
Small alley leading to 1967 Hotel Tainan
An additional piece of information that you might be interested in is that if you take a right from the lobby of the hotel, you’ll see this path…
Secret walkway on the right of 1967 Hotel Tainan leading to Shin-Kong Mitsukoshi Departmental Store
Following this path and keep to the left thereafter will lead you to the Shin-Kong Mitsukoshi Departmental Store or more commonly known as 新光三越.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for 1967 City Central Tainan Hotel, it’s a 2.5!
B – 0.5. The Bathroom was really clean but was rather small in size. A – 1. Although tucked away in a corner, the ambience really stood out when we first entered. S – 0.5. All receptionists never failed to greet us as we entered the hotel. Although we would have preferred our receptionist to know a little more information about where we could catch World Cup ;P I – 0. No swimming pools here. C – 0.5. Bed was a tad too soft for our liking.
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at 1967 City Central Hotel Tainan because of its uniqueness as a boutique hotel as well as its excellent location. Given the price, it is definitely worth more than a stay. Do consider the hotel, the next time you’re visiting Tainan Taiwan!
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Dnata SkyView Lounge at Terminal 1 Changi Airport is now available to ANZ travel card holders through its partnership with Veloce (VIP Airport Lounges)! Within this partnership, there are more than 100 airport lounges around the world that are made available and during our trip to Bandung, we took the opportunity to visit the Dnata Skyview Lounge at T1! Do note that each terminal has a lounge for ANZ travel card holders, so no worries if you’re not departing/arriving at T1.
Inside Dnata SkyView Lounge T1
After our visit to the SATS Premier Lounge at T2, we had a certain expectation of airport lounges and the Dnata SkyView Lounge met the standards…
The airlines and companies Dnata Lounge serves
Reason why it’s called “SkyView Lounge”
Crisp new magazines and newspapers at Dnata SkyView Lounge
The great thing about the lounge is that its spacious and allows natural sunlight which lights up the lounge area. Of course, you can also see planes taking off and taxiing from the lounge as well. But now to the most important part of this post…FOOOOOD!!!
What to eat at Dnata SkyView Lounge T1
Well, the truth is, in terms of quality, SATS Premier Lounge is a notch above the Dnata SkyView Lounge. Nonetheless, they do have the usual choices of western,asia,cereals,instant noodles, coffee/tea and alcoholic drinks…
Smaller variety of food from Dnata Skyview Lounge
Smaller selection of drinks from Dnata Lounge compared to SATS Premier Lounge
What we ate at Dnata SkyView Lounge – Tuna sandwich at the top of the picture’s not bad
Pastries and pancakes!
In terms of selection and variety, Dnata SkyView Lounge certainly pales in comparison to SATS Premier Lounge (which has massage chairs and better food selection). Nonetheless, the “sky view” offered the Dnata Lounge does offer a different dimension for travellers to relax and hang out as well.
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Dnata SkyView Lounge at Terminal of Singapore’s Changi International Airport. If you have visited other great airport lounges, why not share it with us in the comments section below?
World Club 10s Rugby is the first event that Singapore Sports Hub is hosting after completing a 1.33 billion dollars makeover. As the centre-piece of the sports hub, the National Stadium, with a capacity of 55,000 reopens to host this inaugural event!
World Club 10s Rugby @ Sports Hub Singapore National Stadium
Smart design and colouring of the seats (notice the varied white and red national colours?)
Can you see the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands in the distance?
During the matches of World Club 10s Rugby, teams also interacted with the fans through photo taking opportunities and even a traditional dance (akin to the All Blacks Haka) performed by the Samoan Team!
Petrarca – An Italian Rugby Team
Samoan Team performing topless traditional dance!
Traditional dance performed by the Samoan Team
Upon entering into the new national stadium, we experienced a vibe similar to that of what we have experienced during World Cup 2006 in Germany. The stadium is HUGE and coloured with our national colours of white and red. Smart colouring of white among the red (and vice versa) gives an illusion of seats being taken up and not empty.
In the distance, you’ll also realise that the whole stadium is orientated in such a way that it faces the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands! Closer to the seats, there’s an internal cooling system which you’ll feel at your feet as you get seated down. Because of the design of the dome, you’ll get great perspective of the field no matter where you’re seated – a sign of a world class stadium!
Clear view of the matches at new national stadium
Can you spot the rugby ball?
For a befitting end to the inaugural World Club 10s Rugby, the finals was played between the Blues from New Zealand (captained by Piri Weepu of the New Zealand All Blacks) and the Brumbies from Australia! It was a very close match right from the start and the end of regular time, the match ended in a 5-5 tie. This meant that the match went into extra time “golden point” with the Blues winning it deep into the 2nd period of extra time!
Blues and Brumbies at 5-5 at the end of regular time
Before the start of the first period of extra time
At the end of the first period of extra time
The Blues winning the World Club 10s Rugby in the 2nd period of extra time!
Final score of inaugural World Club 10s Rugby!
How to get to Sports Hub National Stadium
Map of Singapore Sports Hub
There are several ways to reach the Singapore Sports Hub. You can either take the circle line to Stadium MRT station or Mountbatten MRT station (and walk about 600m) or take the east line and alight at Kallang MRT station. That walk would be about 600 metres as well.
Alternatively, buses 10, 11, 14, 16, 70, 70M and 196 alights close to the national stadium or within the sports hub.
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After visiting the National Stadium, we’re really proud that we finally have a world class stadium at the sports hub that we can call our own! Good job Team Singapore!
Oasia Hotel Staycation? Who would have thought that the Novena enclave offers an excellent Singapore Staycation option in Oasia Hotel? Over the weekend, we were hosted to a staycation here and were pleasantly delighted by this “hidden-gem-of-a-staycation”…check out this review to find out more!
Janice checking us in at Oasia Hotel’s Club Lounge – The Living Room!Oasia Hotel Facade
Oasia Hotel Singapore Staycation
If you’re staying at the Club Room of Oasia Hotel, you’ll be whisked off to the club lounge, also known as the Living Room for a personalised check-in. We also had the refreshing peppermint welcome drink while Janice promptly checked us in – that is eventhough we were much earlier than the stipulated check in time 🙂
Guess who we brought for our Oasia Hotel staycation this time round? Our 2bearbears!
2bearbears snuggling on the king-sized bed of Oasia’s Club RoomOasia Hotel Club Room King-sized bedGreat views from Oasia Hotel’s Club Room!Bath tub with rice grain soap bar in-room spa!Rain shower facilityModern tear-drop-shaped sinkIn-room coffee and tea making facilities
1. Splendid views. Club rooms are located above level 22 (we stayed at level 24) and offers marvelous views in and around the Novena enclave. There are also 2 kinds of mechanically-operted blinds over 3 panels that blocks the “prying eyes” of the condominium opposite while still allowing you to enjoy the views!
2. Huge TV. The 46 inch TV does perk you up as you enjoy the staycation at Oasia. We caught “How to train your dragon” on Channel 5, a good recap after just watching D2 (D2 is our short form for “How to train your Dragon 2).
3. In-room spa?Remember we mentioned the rice grain soap bar? It actually has orange and tangerine essential oils infused into the soap bar! The smell was relaxing yet the rice grain softly exfoliates your skin…a great addition to the in-room amenities.
Oasia Hotel Facilities
Swimming Pool, Gym, Steam Room and Sauna at Level 8
There are 2 swimming pools at Oasia Hotel. 2 swimming pools!! The common swimming pool is located at level 8 along with the hotel’s gym, sauna and steam room. In addition, there’s also a chillax area on the same level that allows you to overlook views of the surrounding…
Swimming pool Oasia HotelAnother view of the swimming pool at Oasia HotelJacuzzi at the corner of the pool at Oasia HotelGym at level 8 of Oasia HotelSmall little pavilion on the same level
Club Lounge Swimming Pool at level 22
It was made known to us that Oasia Hotel’s Club Lounge (also known as the Living Room) has a little secret. It is the only hotel in Singapore which has its lounge next to its “Club Member’s Only” swimming pool!
Oasia Hotel club lounge swimming poolSwimming pool at level 22 of Oasia HotelAnother view of the Living Room swimming pool Oasia Hotel
Splendid views as seen from the pool deck of the Living Room at level 22
Super clean swimming pool of Oasia Hotel
Did we mention that both swimming pools at level 22 and level 8 were surprisingly clean? At the level 8 swimming pool, due to a shallower portion next to the deck chairs, you can actually lie there (like a beached whale) and feel absolutely no grime whatsoever. Impressed.
Drinks by the poolClub Lounge swimming pool at night
As the swimming pool is just next to the Living Room, you can choose to have gourmet coffee (we had latte above) or refreshing Italian Sodas (try the peach flavour!) right by the pool! In the evenings, the cocktails happen from 6pm to 8pm daily, here’s what the lounge offers…
Club Lounge aka the Living Room
Crowded club lounge during cocktail hours at Oasia Hotel!Selection of drinks during opening hours of the LoungeSelection of alcoholic drinks during cocktail hours at Oasia HotelRefreshing chilled cucumber and mint shootersSelection of cheesesFirecracker sausageSmoked duck, vege sticks with cheese dip and red wineAsahi beer with pretzels (plus honey) and smoked salmonWe’re here for cocktails too! Seen here, mojito, Oasia bliss and dessertsSplendid sunsets as seen from the Living Room Oasia HotelChilling out during cocktail hour as the sun sets
What we really enjoyed about the cocktail was the service, great selection of drinks, proximity to the pool and of course the surprisingly wonderful sunset! Give Oasia Bliss a try, a berry based cocktail, definitely a hit with the ladies. Alternatively, you can have a dip in the pool while having some drinks and finger foods by the pool side. Surely a relaxing way to end the evening…ah…
World Cup at Oasia Hotel Club Lounge
During this world cup season, the club lounge has kindly extended its opening hours to show all, ALL the world cup matches to allow the guests to enjoy as well! Juices and coffee (important!) were made available too!
Hey…why you watching world cup without me sob sobWatch together Ok! bear hugs
Service was just as prompt during the wee hours of the morning with David asking us our choice of drinks as soon as we were seated. We were there from 1am to 5am catching the Argentina vs Iran and Germany vs Ghana matches. We interacted with an Argentinian and German guest from the hotel as well during the matches! Definitely a nice touch by Oasia Hotel to extend this service to the Club Room guests!
Massage Treatment at Enchanted Spa
Conveniently located next to Oasia Hotel, Enchanted Spa offers guests a relaxing option a stone’s throw away. Thanks to the awesome folks at Enchanted Spa, Kate was treated to a relaxing 60 minutes session of the customised massage treatment…according to Kate…SHIOK!
Enchanted Spa next to Oasia HotelManicure and pedicure options available as well!Massage table with relaxing ambience
Breakfast at Zaffron Oasia Hotel
Breakfast at Zaffron was simple but has its bases covered. Whether you prefer cereals, breads or a small selection of asian fare, they are available. Taste wise, not fantastic but it does provide you the jolt for the day, especially after those world cup early mornings!
Entrance to Zaffron Oasia HotelEntrance to Zaffron Oasia HotelSelection of breads and pastriesBreakfast juicesPorridge for KateHot Food SelectionDim sum and stir fried items such as mushrooms and diced chickenCroissant sandwichWaffles and chocolate pastry
High Tea at Zaffron Oasia Hotel
Poster of High Tea at Zaffron Oasia Hotel
If you’re staying at Oasia Hotel as part of its weekend getaway, you’ll also be receiving a complimentary high tea at Zaffron. Though the mains had nothing to shout about, the dessert and DIY-foods were pretty decent…
Rojak which was not badDIY Kueh Pie TieKueh Pie Tee lovingly made by KateSelection of fried itemsSushi and sandwiches – no salmon or tuna sushi thoughIce cream – try the rum & raisin or green teaDIY ice kachang anyoneDecent selection of desserts including durian pengat, red velvet and mango cakesDIY Laksa which was not bad with huge fresh (peeled!) prawnsThai salad, sandwich and sushiSelection of mains including seafood mee goreng and carrot cake
In and Around Oasia Hotel
Besides being located next to world class medical facilities, Oasia Hotel is located next to several shopping malls including Novena Square, Square 2, Velocity and United Square. In addition, there are great foods in the area such as Hong Kong food street and the Balestier food centre…
Velocity Shopping MallUnited SquareSquare 2Shopping malls easily accessible via link bridgeOr via the underpassBalestier Food CentreFlavourful steamed chicken riceExpensive mee kia dry ($4.50) but has HUGE and taong fishballs!
How to get to Oasia Hotel Singapore
Map of Oasia Hotel Singapore
If you are taking the MRT, alight at Novena MRT station on the North Line and follow the signs that leads you to Square 2. From there, there’s a underground link directly to Oasia Hotel!
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Oasia Hotel Staycation Weekend Getaway is a 4.25!
B – 1. There was a bath tub with the Rice Grain Soap Bar with Orange and Tangerine Essential Oils. A – 0.75. It’s a split between Kate and I for ambience. S – 1. Excellent service throughout the hotel at the reception,lounge and restaurant. I – 1. 2 swimming pools! Plus, it’s the only hotel in Singapore with a pool at the lounge level! C – 0.5. Bed was a tad too soft for our liking. Comfortable nonetheless.
All in all, we enjoyed the Oasia Hotel staycation, because of its location, its great service, cool swimming pools (with access to the club lounge), great views and of course a overall experience. The Oasia Weekend Getaway Package is definitely worth a stay! But remember…not for the food…
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Many people think that there aren’t many things to do and attractions in Bandung Indonesia. Well, this post is going to show you what are some of the things to do in Bandung and the attractions in Bandung, Indonesia that we have covered during our recent trip to Bandung!
Things to do in Bandung – Shopping
1. Shopping Malls and Factory Outlets
There are so many shopping options in Bandung that range from huge shopping malls to factory outlets. Trans Studio Mall, Cihampelas Walk (Ci-Walk), Bandung Indah Plaza (BIP), Paris Van Java and Braga City Walk are just some of the malls that we’ve been to. Our favourite? Paris Van Java! There are al fresco dining and shopping options as well as a few levels of underground shopping, including a mega market as well as a cineplex. In other words, all shopping, dining and entertainment options under-one-roof!
Food street at Ci-WalkCihampelas Walk aka Ci-WalkBandung Indah PlazaParis Van JavaShopping street at Paris Van JavaBraga City WalkRiau Street – factory outlet optionsThe Secret Factory OutletHeritage Factory Outlet
Things to do in Bandung – Dining
2. Endless Dining Options in Bandung
There are countless dining options in Bandung and there simply wasn’t enough time (and room in our tummies) to try all of it. In this section, we’ll feature some of the things we ate during our trip!
The Valley
The Valley Bistro and Resort Hotel offers great dining options with splendid views overlooking the city of Bandung.
The Valley Bistro Cafe and Resort HotelCombo Platter – Tenderloin beef, BBQ sausage, chicken cordon bleu and king prawns for 187,500rpSingaporean Claypot Rice – 97,500rpViews as seen from the ValleyCan get quite crowded at the ValleyChilling out and enjoying the views over Bandung City
Local Delights
Soup Buntut – with ridiculously tender meat!Nasi Goreng Kampung – fried rice with an assortment of small dishes in itBakso SoupTauhu Telur – especially shiok when freshly fried!Beef Kway Teow with Bandung Dinosaur (don’t have to try the Bandung dinosaur though)Nasi Goreng Pattaya
Other Dining Options
Richeese Factory Fried ChickenSushi platter at Tokyo ConnectionJapanese food at sushigroove Paris Van JavaJapanese Omu rice
Bandung Attractions
After covering the things to do in Bandung (including dining and shopping options available), we’ll next touch on the attractions in Bandung that you may wish to visit as well.
3. Bandung Attractions – Trans Studio Bandung Theme Park
Trans Studio Bandung theme park is an indoor theme park that includes a 45 seconds roller coaster ride known as the Yamaha Racing Coaster. For approximately $20sgd during week days, a visit to this Bandung attraction is well worth it. Well, less so on weekends at $30sgd.
Entrance to Trans Studio Bandung – Walk past the entrance and get your tickets on the leftYamaha Racing Coaster – 45seconds roller coaster ride
4. Bandung Attractions – Djuanda Forest Park
Djuanda Forest Park offers a tranquil greenery walk for visitors at Dago. Visitors can enjoy a serene walk, visit the famed Japanese caves or the waterfalls within the park’s vicinity.
Intan at the entrance of Japanese Caves at Djuanda Forest Park
5. Bandung Attractions – Dago / Bukit Pakar
The Dago and Bukit Pakar area offers splendid views over Bandung city. There are many dining options, galleries and even a golf course – all of which enjoy marvellous views…
Congo Art GalleryViews from Mountain View Golf Club Bandung Indonesia
6. Bandung Attractions – Asian African Museum
Asian African MuseumAbout Asian African Conference 1955
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Wondering where to watch world cup for free in Singapore? World Cup 2014 will be held in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July this year. With the opening match between Brazil and Croatia just hours away, we hope that this post can give you insights to all the venues offering free world cup matches in Singapore!
1. Watch World Cup for free at McDonald’s island-wide!
McDonald’s will be screening all matches “live” at 38 venues all across the island!
West
1. Bukit Batok
2. Chua Chu Kang CC
3. Fajar
4. Farrer Road
5. Jurong Bowl
6. Jurong East 24
7. Bukit Gombak
8. Beauty World
9. JEM
10. West Coast Park
11. Jurong Central Park
12. Trade Hub 21
13. Jurong Spring CC
14. Clementi Mall
North
15. Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
16. Ang Mo Kio 4
17. Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
18. Ang Mo Kio Park
19. Hougang
20. Hougang 8
21. SengKang Rivervale
22. Serangoon Avenue 3
23. Sun Plaza
24. Yishun Safra
25. Woodlands Mart
26. Bishan Park
East
27. Bedok Interchange
28. Bedok North
29. Bedok Reservoir
30. DownTown East
31. Geylang East Central
32. Kallang
33. Tampines East CC
34. Pasir Ris Sports and Recreation Centre
35. Tampines Neighborhood 3
2. Watch World Cup for free at Community Centres / Clubs island-wide!
40 Community Clubs / Centres will be featuring “live” matches during and they are…
Central CCs
1. Anchorvale
2. Bishan
3. Buona Vista
4. Cheng San
5. Henderson
6. Kallang
7. Radin Mas
8. Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green
9. Toa Payoh Central
10. Yio Chu Kang
Northeast CCs
11. Pasir Ris East
12. Pasir Ris Elias
13. Paya Lebar Kovan
14. Punggol
15. Punggol 21
16. Sengkang
17. Tampines Central
18. Tampines West
Northwest CCs
19. ACE The Place
20. Bukit Panjang
21. Bukit Timah
22. Canberra
23. Chong Pang
24. Nee Soon South
25. Woodlands
26. Zhenghua
Southeast CCs
27. Bedok
28. Braddell Heights
29. Fengshan
30. Kampong Ubi
31. Marine Parade
32. Potong Pasir
Southwest CCs
33. Boon Lay
34. Bukit Batok
35. Bukit Batok East
36. Chua Chu Kang
37. Gek Poh Ville
38. Jurong Green
39. Telok Blangah
40. West Coast
Do note that not all CCs will be showing all matches. Visit PA’s World Cup Schedule to find out more!
3. Watch World Cup for free at 3 SAFRA Venues!
All “Live” matches will be shown at Mount Faber SAFRA, Tampines SAFRA and Yishun SAFRA. In addition, Toa Payoh SAFRA will also be showing the Finals “Live”, making it 4 venues for the final match day of FIFA World Cup 2014!
Trans Studio Bandung is a theme park located at the heart of Bandung City. During our stay at the Sheraton Bandung, we took a day out to visit Trans Studio and its adjoining mall and had a ball of a time! This post will be a pictorial post to show you around Trans Studio Bandung. Do note that this is mainly an indoor theme park (which still surprises us) except for the roller coaster ride which spends 45 seconds out in the open. We’ll talk more about that later…
About Trans Studio Bandung
Entrance to Trans Studio Bandung – Walk past the entrance and get your tickets on the leftTrans Studio Bandung is divided into 3 zones Studio Central, The Lost City and Magic Corner
Do note that tickets costs 150,000rp (about $18SGD) from Mondays to Fridays and 250,000rp on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. To fast track to your favourite rides, you can purchase the VIP access at an additional 250,000rp.
Trans Studio Bandung – Studio Central
Entrance to Studio Central for shows, souvenirs and ridesMady’s – strangely similar to a US departmental store, wonder what’s the nameTrans Studio Store for your Trans Studio souvenirsYamaha Racing Coaster – 45seconds roller coaster ride Ride brings you forwards like a normal rollercoaster then up a vertical track and reverses back to where you started 45 seconds of pure adrenaline rush!Giant Swing – 2 axis of rotationIndosat Vertigo Galaxy – 3 axis of 360 rotation! Now that’s excitement!Waiting area to Transcar Racing
Transcar Racing Video
Trans City Theatre – Performers rehearsing their actsMarvel Superheroes – A 4D show which was really good. English show about 15 minutes long. Waited for about 45 minutes.Science Centre Inside Science Centre – Sadly, exhibits are in Bahasa Indonesia
Trans Studio Bandung – The Lost City
Entrance to the Lost City Trans Studio BandungEntrance to Jelajah (the Adventure) and Sky Pirates (aerial ride above Trans Studio)Jelajah ends off the ride with a drop from a 13 metres height!Kong Climb – A challenging wall climbing experience / Above – Sky Pirate Ride
Trans Studio Bandung – Magic Corner
Entrance to Magic Corner Trans Studio BandungNegeri Raksasa – A mini “Giant Drop”Dragon RidersCaptain Blackheart Pirate Ship – A soft play area for kids / Notice Harry Potter’s spectacles have been removed…
Dining options inside Trans Studio Bandung
Corvette Diner – An American food jointStudio Chicks – Fried chicken fast food jointStudio Mie – Noodles selectionBaskin Robbins – ICE CREAM!The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
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It is really amazing that such a huge theme park can be built entirely indoors. For the week day price, it is still worth a visit. For those looking for thrills on the rides, only Yamaha Racing Coaster and Indosat Vertigo Galaxy are truly scary. The 4D movie is also worth a visit. Otherwise, for these attractions, it is not worth a visit on weekends at 250,000rp.
Gino Feruci Braga Bandung was our choice of stay in Bandung city after our stay at Sheraton Bandung. This is because of the location (along Braga Street – walking distance from the Asian African Museum), price (relatively cheap for a 4 star hotel) and facilities such as a spa, swimming pool and gym.
Lobby of Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
Lobby of Gino Feruci Braga BandungOur receptionist at Gino Feruci BragaEntrance of Gino Feruci Braga
Superior Room of Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
Superior Room Gino Feruci BragaTV with cable networkBathroom (without bath tub)
Video tour of Superior Room at Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
What we liked about the room was that it had a great view of Bandung city. However, 2 things needed improvement during our stay. Firstly, the room was not sound proof and we could hear people along the corridor and kids shouting next door. Secondly, while watching “Unbreakable” on the cable network, the programme suddenly went off and we were not able to resume watching the programme.
Facilities at Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
Spa
Marzanie SpaMassage area with bath tub
Gym
Gym of Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
The spa and the gym are co-located in the same premise on level 4. We did not try the massages here as it was priced the same as in Sheraton Bandung – can you believe it?!
On the other hand, the gym was cool. It had treadmills that were facing the TV with cable. The only catch is that you can only switch on the TV by pressing buttons at the TOP of it (not at the sides or below). It took us some time to locate the buttons before we could enjoy our run while watching cable shows.
Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi on level 5Pool of Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
Sky Lounge
Sublime Sky Lounge Gino Feruci Braga BandungSublime Sky Lounge Pizza and DrinksViews from Sublime Sky Lounge
The Sublime Sky Lounge of Gino Feruci Braga Bandung is a great place to hang out and to enjoy great views of the city. The music’s not too loud and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. The drinks and pizza were a little expensive and the pizza was not that good though.
Breakfast at Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
Breakfast at level 2 D’Risotto RestaurantBuffet spread for breakfastBuffet Breakfast at Gino Feruci Braga BandungBread counterTraditional counterPorridge and desserts Waffles with maple syrup – Our Favourite breakfast item!Breakfast mainsNeatly arranged porridgeDesserts and sweets
On Saturdays, there’s an all you can eat buffet and it even comes complete with a live band and al fresco dining!
All you can eat buffet Gino Feruci Braga Bandung Saturday eveningsBuffet spread and al fresco dining
To round up the post, we think that Gino Feruci Braga can be a good base for you to explore Bandung city…
Map in and around Gino Feruci Braga Bandung
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Straits Cafe at Rendezvous Hotel has launched its Sunday Brunch Buffet and we were invited to check out its offerings as well as its renowned Durian Pengat and Laksa!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Sunday Brunch Buffet
Sunday Brunch at Straits Cafe starts from 11:30am to 2:30pm and costs $48++ per adult. As with most Sunday Brunches, there’s a sashimi and oysters corner which we thoroughly enjoyed. The oysters were fresh, huge and succulent while the salmon sashimi was tender, sweet and does not have the “defrosted” taste that many buffet restaurants have…
Japanese corner with salmon sashimi and fresh oysters
Japanese corner with salmon sashimi and fresh oysters
FRESH HUGE AND SUCCULENT OYSTERS – only 4 oysters per order
FRESH HUGE AND SUCCULENT OYSTERS – only 4 oysters per order
Yummy sashimi!
Yummy sashimi!
Seafood is also a main feature at this Sunday brunch with snow crabs, gong gong and fresh tiger prawns!
Snow crab and tiger prawns – before
Snow crab and tiger prawns – before
Snow crab and tiger prawns – after
Snow crab and tiger prawns – after
Gong gong – to be eaten using the tooth pick and a dash of mayo
Gong gong – to be eaten using the tooth pick and a dash of mayo
As for mains, there’s a selection of meats including duck, beef and lamb…
Meat selection at Straits Cafe
Meat selection at Straits Cafe
Pasta salads and cold dishes…
Selection of cold dishes
Selection of cold dishes
Beautifully kueh pie tee – decorated by Kate!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel – Kueh Pie Tee
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel – Kueh Pie Tee
And of course, the renowned Laksa from Straits Cafe!
After tasting the laksa from Straits Cafe, we finally understood why its so famous. The gravy was thick and flavourful leaving an aftertaste that leaves you wanting for more. The tau pok, infused with the gravy? Mmm…Mmm… of course, you can also choose to add your own toppings to the laksa, including fresh tiger prawns and maybe even the succulent oysters? That we didn’t try but do tell us about it in the comments section below!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Durian Pengat
There’s also a selection of desserts, but our favourite? Nope, not the durian cake, not the durian crepe and not even the durian puffs…IT’S THE DURIAN PENGAT!!
Selection of desserts at Straits Cafe
Selection of desserts at Straits Cafe
Waffles with maple syrup and honey
Waffles with maple syrup and honey
Our favourite durian pengat from Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Our favourite durian pengat from Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
To round up the Sunday Buffet Brunch at Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel, we recommend having the traditional teh tarik. The teh tarik (also knowned as pulled tea) is tea traditionally transferred from one cup to another by “stretching and pulling” it through air to “thicken” the tea. As a result, you’ll have tea with bubbles and a thickened texture to it. In addition, this version at Straits Cafe is not too sweet, making it a great compliment with the desserts…
Teh Tarik and durian desserts at Straits Cafe
Teh Tarik and durian desserts at Straits Cafe
How to get to Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Map of Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
The closest MRT station is Bras Basah MRT station while Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is also within a short walking distance.
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Rendezvous Hotel Singapore is located right in the heart of Singapore’s Art District, within walking distance to the National Museum and Singapore Art Museum (SAM). Thanks to the great folks at Rendezvous Hotel, we were invited for a staycation over the weekend at the newly renovated Club Room with access to the exclusive Club Rendezvous!
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Facilities
We arrived early at Rendezvous Hotel at the start of our staycation and our room was not yet ready then (we usually arrive earlier to check out the premise and its vicinity). Nonetheless, we were warmly welcomed by Sabrina and Rasheda who brought us up to Club Rendezvous for drinks while we were checked in. For guests staying at Club Rooms, instead of queuing in the lobby of Rendezvous Hotel, you can enjoy the privacy of checking in at level 11 where Club Rendezvous is located. You can also do likewise for checking out.
After having some orange juice at Rendezvous Club, we decided to check out the facilities available at Rendezvous Hotel…
Rendezvous Hotel LobbyLED display at the centre of Rendezvous Hotel Lobby
Elsewhere at level 1, you will be able to find the famous Straits Cafe, Courtyard, Rendezvous Gallery as well as the Library – Rendezvous Hotel’s Lobby Bar
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore The Library @ Rendezvous Hotel
The Library has a modern and chic design which makes it a great place for pre-dinner or post-dinner drinks. Check out the contemporary looking sofas within. Definitely an excellent venue to gather with your friends and buddies!
Rendezvous Gallery with more dining options, spa and even a karaoke venue
At the Courtyard, there was also a flea market ongoing…
The Courtyard @ Rendezvous Hotel SingaporeSky light at Rendezvous Gallery allowing natural lighting to the Courtyard
As it was a sunny day, we decided to take a dip in the pool before checking out our room…
Swimming pool Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
It was simply shiok, lazing in the pool on a hot sunny afternoon. In the evenings, when its much cooler, you can also opt to laze in the jacuzzi next to the pool (warm/hot water to be expected and yes, it’s all about lazing in the pool these days :P). The gym also overlooks the pool area…
Gym at Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Club Room
If you’re checking into the Club Room at Rendezvous Hotel, you’ll not only be able to enjoy welcome amenities and upgraded bathroom amenities, you’ll also be able to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 6pm to 8pm daily. In addition, you can enjoy your breakfast there and even light finger foods from 2pm to 5pm. In a sense, you can enjoy makan all day at Club Rendezvous!
Welcome amenities at Club Room Rendezvous HotelUpgraded bathroom amenities from French Connection
Thanks to Rasheda, we were welcomed with the fruit basket and more importantly (for Kate) the tea selection of kueh lapis (yay!), chocolates (yay!) and macaroons (double yay!).
Club Room Rendezvous Hotel – King-sized bedWorking DeskIn-room mini bar with selection of coffee and teaToilet with bidet washing
Video Tour of Club Room at Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Afternoon Tea
Included in your Weekend Getaway @ Rendezvous Hotel promotion is an afternoon tea worth $38++ per person. Initially, we thought it was just a high tea with cakes and coffee…we were wrong! IT WAS A FULL MEAL!!
Dim sum selection of siew mai, scallop dumpling, fried wanton etc.Chinese cakes and croissant with egg mayo and tunaPig’s stomach soup, Ee Fu noodles, curry chicken, wrapped chicken and fried carrot cakeSelection of fresh seafoods including crabs, prawns and this – gong gong!
Of course, the most popular dishes at Straits Cafe – the Laksa and Durian Pengat!
Award winning Laksa from Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel SingaporeDurian pengat with durian puffs
Somehow, we think that the pengat tastes much better than the puffs, cakes and crepes. If you think likewise, you can choose to do what we did – have a scoop of pengat with the puffs or crepes TOGETHER! Yum!
At the same time, Club Rendezvous offers a selection of dishes from 2pm to 5pm including mini burgers, egg and cheese prata, submarine roll and the bacon & egg focaccia.
Afternoon Tea at Club Rendezvous
Evening cocktails at Club Rendezvous
Just an hour after afternoon tea, we were back at Club Rendezvous for the evening cocktail (we were so stuffed!) and hors d’oeuvres!
Inside Club Rendezvous @ Rendezvous Hotel SingaporeDim sum at Club RendezvousMore finger food!We had these with Heineken and Tom Collins Cocktail
Best part of dining at Club Rendezvous? The fantastic views you can enjoy!
Straits Cafe Sunday Brunch Buffet
Price of Buffets at Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
On Sundays, you can also enjoy the Sunday Brunch Buffet at Straits Cafe. Although it’s not as “premium” as some of the Sunday Brunches that we have been to, but for $48++, the offerings were fairly decent. Our favourite? The ultra huge fresh oysters!
Fresh oysters and cold sobaFresh and tender salmon sashimiTiger prawns and snow crab
These are in addition to the famous laksa and durian pengat which are also available for Sunday Brunch. For more on what we ate, stay tune for our upcoming post covering Straits Cafe’s Sunday Brunch Buffet!
In and around Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Besides the offerings within Rendezvous Hotel itself, you will be delighted to know that your staycation at Rendezvous Hotel, gives you an excellent base to check out the free museums in the vicinity (for Singaporeans and PRs only), including the National Museum and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). The civic district is a short walk away while Cathay Cineplex offers cinematic options as well!
Singapore Art MuseumUnearthed exhibition at Singapore Art MuseumNational Museum of SingaporeDefining Stories Exhibition at National MuseumSebastiao Salgado’s Genesis Exhibition at the National Museum SingaporeWalking distance to the Civic DistrictCathay Cineplex just across the road
How to get to Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Map of Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
The closest MRT station is Bras Basah MRT station while Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is also within a short walking distance.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Rendezvous Hotel’s Weekend Getaway is a 3!
B – 0.5. Unfortunately, there’s no bath tub in the Club Room. A – 0.5. Inviting room and general atmosphere at the hotel. S – 0.5. Service was good but turn down service did not take place though. I – 0.5. Great swimming pool coupled with a jacuzzi. C – 1. Loooooved the bed! Supported our backs really well and it is slightly elevated.
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We finally got to visit the SEA Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore. After hearing that it is the world’s largest aquarium featuring over 100,000 marine life and seeing videos such as this…
We decided that its about time 2bearbear.com visited the SEA Aquarium Singapore!
Attraction Highlights of SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
After reading our visit to the Maritime Experiential Museum, you’ll realise that the SEA Aquarium is actually connected to it. The last time we visited the Maritime Experential Museum, the SEA Aquarium was not yet open to the public that’s why the tickets then were cheaper ($5). But now, with the opening of the SEA Aquarium, you’ll pay ($38) to visit both the Maritime Experential Museum, the SEA Aquarium and admission to the Typhoon Theatre (3D show on Non-Peak Days only).
The SEA Aquarium is located at B1 and there are a total of 7 zones, namely
1. Shipwreck Habitat 2. Discovery Touch Pool 3. Ocean Journey 4. Open Ocean 5. Ocean Dome 6. Moray Eel 7. Shark Seas
Shipwreck Habitat SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
As you enter the Shipwreck Habitat, you’ll pass through this tunnel where you’ll observe various marine life forms that have flourished around this ship wreck. Here are some of the interesting marine life that we saw…
Razor Fish – Swims in a vertical manner!
Razor Fish – Swims in a vertical manner!
Description of the Razor Fish at SEA Aquarium Singapore
Description of the Razor Fish
Can you spot the sea horse Or do you just see a sea weed
Can you spot the sea horse? Or do you just see a sea weed?
Discovery Touch Pool SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Discovery Touch Pool SEA Aquarium Singapore
Discovery Touch Pool SEA Aquarium Singapore
The Discovery Touch Pool is one of the highlights for the kids. You’ll get to touch various marine life such as the star fish. Kids will definitely have a ball of a time! The only thing is that the waiting time can be quite long, depending on the period that you’re visiting. We waited for about 15 minutes. Not too bad.
Vertical Fish Column at SEA Aquarium Singapore
Vertical Fish Column
The other highlight at this zone is this vertical fish column. With the various colours shown by the fish, it displays a dazzling array of underwater performance! Check out this video and you’ll see why…
Vertical Fish Tank at Discovery Touch Pool Zone
Ocean Journey SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
At Ocean Journey, you’ll get to see some of the spectacular display of marine prowess in the cold water habitats…
Intriguing School of Fish SEA Aquarium Singapore
Intriguing School of Fish 1
Intriguing School of Fish SEA Aquarium Singapore
Intriguing School of Fish 2
Can you spot the bottlenose dolphin
Can you spot the bottlenose dolphin?
King Alaskan Crab! (SEA Aquarium Singapore)
King Alaskan Crab!
Jellyfish! (SEA Aquarium Singapore)
Jellyfish!
Tiny jellyfish and Upside down jellyfish
Tiny jellyfish and Upside down jellyfish?
See the Jellyfish in motion!
Open Ocean SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
As you have seen from the first video above, the Open Ocean zone features the planet’s largest window to the ocean! The huge manta rays were also seen “flying” through the waters…
World’s Largest Window to the Ocean at SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
World’s Largest Window to the Ocean at SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Huge stone looking fish SEA AQUARIUM SINGAPORE
Huge stone looking fish
Largest Stingray “flying” through the water
The manta rays for us were the highlight. It really looked like it was “flying”! So gracefully through the water! It moves with such ease and majestic movement and in a blink of an eye, it was out of sight.
Ocean Dome and Moray Eel SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
We saw the moral eels but did not take any pictures because its movement back to its “nest” was so slick and quick! We did see other interesting marine life at the Ocean Dome…
Ornate Spiny Lobster at the SEA Aquarium Singapore
Ornate Spiny Lobster
Corals SEA Aquarium Singapore
Corals
Brightly coloured fish among the corals
Brightly coloured fish among the corals
Shark Seas SEA Aquarium Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Shark Seas SEA Aquarium RWS Singapore
Shark Seas SEA Aquarium RWS Singapore
As you move towards the exit, you will also exit via a tunnel with views of the sharks…
Hammerhead shark, silvertip shark and sandbar shark at SEA Aquarium Singapore
Hammerhead shark, silvertip shark and sandbar shark
Catch these sharks in action!
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The Verdict
The SEA Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore is definitely one of the biggest attractions at Sentosa and possibly Singapore. The only gripe we have is that because its new and the large number of visitors (hear the background sounds to the videos), it may get a little congested especially at the entrance and at the exits. Nonetheless, a great venue to take the family for a day out “at sea”. If you’re wondering how it compares to the Lost Chambers in Dubai, check out our post during our visit to Atlantis the Palm Dubai!
Over the past week, we ate at Sakae Sushi’s All You Can Eat Premium Buffet. There’s something about buffet that makes us wants to go back again eventhough we know its not good for us, causes us to overeat, resulting in large tummies.
BUT we still go back nonetheless.
So what is it exactly about buffets that attract us so much? We think its a combination of these factors…
Price. When the price is optimal (notice that I did not use “cheap” because buffets aren’t exactly cheap), it brings out the kiasu Singaporean in me that says “Wah, this is damned hua!” (worth it).
The concept of “free-flow” and “all-you-can-eat”. This concept plays on the mind that you pay a fixed price but have unlimited supply of food. But if you really think about it, there is a limit. Whether you can stomach or not, is another issue altogether.
3 hours of dining. For gatherings, buffets are a great option. In addition to the wide variety of food (which means you do not have to adjourn after dinner for drinks or desserts), you can stay at that place through the duration of the buffet hours which usually is about 3 to 4 hours without feeling pai seh about the need to order more.
And so we digress from our sushi buffet frenzy. (The above is written to reduce our guilt for visiting buffets in the future! :))
What you can expect at Sakae Sushi’s “Eat All You Want” Premium Buffet
The Sakae Sushi Premium Buffet allows you to have ALL THE RED & PINK PLATES you want (compared to 1 red and 1 pink for the normal sushi buffet). In addition, you get to have endless supply (which now you know is not true) of sashimi and teriyaki meats. So here are only some of what we ate that fateful day…
Tuna (Maguro) and Salmon Sashimi Sake Sushi Buffet
Tuna (Maguro) and Salmon Sashimi
Mochi and Ice Cream Sakae Sushi Buffet Review
Mochi and Ice Cream
Price of Sakae Sushi Premium Buffet
Mon to Thurs
Lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) / Teatime (3pm to 5pm) : $24.90
Dinner (6:30pm to 10pm) : $29.90
Fri/Sat/Sun/PH/Eve of PH
Lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) / Teatime (3pm to 5pm) : $32.90
Dinner (6:30pm to 10pm) : $33.90
This means that if you go for the weekday dinner for 2 persons, it works out to 2 x $29.90++ = $70.40!!
Conclusion
Seriously speaking, there are much better sushi joints around. But when the 3 factors above come together, it is hard not to give Sakae Sushi’s Premium Buffet a long and hard consideration.
The worst part is, knowing the factors above, somehow, we will still be back at Sakae (help!) – unless you guys have some other better recommendations? Tell us (and save us) in the comments section below!
Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend Staycation is back! Thanks to the folks at FEH and BM, we were hosted to a 1 night staycation at Quincy Hotel Singapore and just as it’s radio ads say, “It’s DIFFERENT!”. It certainly was!
Our stay at Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation could possibly be Singapore’s first ALL-INCLUSIVE Staycation!
Lobby of Quincy Hotel
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation Singapore
At the reception, we were warmly welcomed by Madeleine and Zydney who promptly checked us in and served up our welcome drinks – ginger ale with fruit punch ice. Yes, fruit punch that was freezed and use as ice! :O
Madeleine and Zydney with our welcome drinks – Great start to a Quincy Hotel Staycation!
We were then introduced to the Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation benefits that we’d be enjoying during our stay…
– One night stay at The Quincy Hotel’s Studio Room (twin-sharing)
– All-day light refreshments by Dean & DeLuca and Modesto’s
– Unlimited Wi-Fi access
– Evening cocktails
– In-room mini-bar
– Late check-out till 3pm (subject to availability)
– Local calls
– PLUS one bottle of red wine
– Art Jamming (Saturdays) or Cupcake Baking (Sundays) at 3pm
– Saturday Night Movie Screening by the Pool at 9pm
What we really love about cruises is that programmes and food are planned for you. You just have to appear! It seems that Far East Hospitality has taken this concept and implemented it right here at Quincy Hotel, in the heart of Singapore’s Shopping Belt – Orchard Road!
Besides the welcome drinks, good service was also shown when Zydney personally showed us to our room – the Studio Room at Quincy Hotel…
Studio Room at Quincy’s Qool Weekend Staycation
From the video tour, you would have noticed the large window (which extends to the ceiling), offering a splendid view of the skyline around the hotel. In addition, the sexy glass window between the bedroom and the bathroom, allows you to enjoy the cable TV (mio stadium included!) while taking a relaxing bath in the bathtub!
Large king-sized bed and the sexy bathroom in the Studio Room of Quincy HotelToiletries courtesy of Molton BrownComplimentary bottle of red wine, room key card, entrance to Butter Factory and more benefits for Quincy Qool StaycationDrinks are complimentary as well!And snacks! Kate especially enjoyed the butter cookies (see the enticing blue packaging!)
The blinds of the window can be controlled by a press of a button and therefore you do not have to do “flag raising” at the sides. In addition, the other cool feature we noticed were the cable inlets just below the TV! No more turning and searching around the TV for the socket inlets!
Here’s a quick snapshot of the facilities that Quincy Hotel offers…
Infinity Pool at level 12 – splendid views from the pool!Complimentary water, H2O and coffee. Pool towels available as wellGym (also located at level 12) with access to the bathrooms, sauna and steam roomSauna and Steam Bath of Quincy Hotel
What we did at Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation
After briefly checking out the cable network, we headed first to the all day dining at the hotel’s in-house lobby restaurant, located at level 1…
Desserts by Dean and Deluca – the Lemon Pound Cake is a MUST TRY!Light spread during lunch hours (12 to 2pm) including sandwiches, noodles, salads and drinksChoice of drinksSoft serve ice cream with selection of toppings and even a few cookie choices!The spread we had at the “All Day Dining” – Remember to be here at lunch hours to enjoy a different spread!Salad with caesar dressing
At 3pm, we headed to level 12 for…you’ve guessed it…ART JAMMING SESSION!
Art Jamming Session
The setup for Art Jamming at Quincy Hotel’s Qool StaycationChoice of colours and different sizes of paint brushesPainting of fellow Art Jammers
According to our instructor – Damien (holding the camera in the picture above), he says that everyone comes and says that they’re not artistically inclined. But after 2 minutes, everyone would just start drawing the picture that they have googled and colour it with the acrylic paint provided (no mixing with water required – just apply the thick layers of paint directly!). The same happened for us! We chose a picture from Romero Britto and started to work on it.
As the soothing lounge music played in the background, our hands got to work and soon, the “Surfer Dog” was completed! Not that soon actually, we started at about 3:10pm and ended at 4:30pm. But still, it was quite an accomplishment!
Surfer Dog by 2bearbear.com – Isnt he cute?! It is actually for sale at a ridiculous price – contact us to find out more!
After you’re done, just leave it there to dry and the painting will be ready at the reception when you check out!
Totally enjoyed the art jamming session! Everyone should try it!
Evening Cocktails
After a quick energising nap, we headed back to the lobby restaurant for the cocktail at 6pm…(eat sleep eat!)
Mains and warm food for evening cocktails at Quincy HotelCold cuts, vegetables (real sweet carrots!) and cheesesChoice of tiger draft, cocktails (we had the Singapore Sling and Qool Cocktail), wines and mocktailsWe had fried rice, fettuccine, spring rolls and salmon
Although the variety of warm food was small, the quality more than made up for it! In fact, the fettuccine was so good that we had seconds and thirds! Rich and cheesy cream sauce with just the right texture for the fettuccine…yum!
Shopping at Orchard Road
After the cocktail session, we headed to Orchard Road and Far East Plaza to do some shopping! There’s actually a short cut from Quincy Hotel to Far East Plaza via York Hotel. What you will need to do is cross the road from Quincy Hotel and enter the lobby of York Hotel. Walk past it and exit from the open carpark area. Take a short walk down the slope and you will arrive at Goodwood Park Hotel on the right and Far East Plaza on the left.
From there, you’re open to a world of shopping at Orchard!
Orchard Road Singapore’s Shopping DistrictChristmas lightings at Orchard Road – Singapore’s Premier Shopping Belt
Saturday Night Movie by the Pool @ 9pm
Heading back to Quincy, you can enjoy movies by the pool on Saturday nights. This evening “Hercules” was screening. You can also opt to lie on one of the floats while watching the movie.
Breakfast at Lobby Restaurant
After a restful sleep in our room for the night, we had a light breakfast at Lobby Restaurant…
Pastries, juice and saladsWarm food selection – chicken ragout was particularly tasty!Fish porridge
Cupcake Baking on Sundays
The cool thing about doing the Quincy Qool Staycation on a Saturday is that you’re able to enjoy both afternoon programmes offered by the hotel! After we checked out, we headed for the Sunday cupcake baking session! Do remember to put down your names in advance if you’re interested to join as there are limited slots for the sessions…
Ingredients of the chocolate cup cake – Butter,sugar,cocoa flour,milk and eggs
Now you know how much butter goes into your cupcakes… :O
After mixing all the ingredients in, place the mixture into the cups at half its levelAfter baking for 30 minutes at 170degrees celsius, the cupcakes are done!
Separately, we were given cupcakes to decorate and we drew sunflowers and the 2bearbears! There’s even a mini competition to see which cupcake was the best decorated one!
Taking photos of the beautifully decorated cupcakesParticipants with their cupcakes for a final group picture
Map and Location of Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation
Quincy Hotel is located at 22 Mt Elizabeth Singapore 228517, next to the Elizabeth Hotel. In fact, they share the same parking facility (or rather Quincy uses Elizabeth Hotel’s parking for its guests). After parking at the Elizabeth Hotel, you can exit via its main entrance, take a left turn and enter into Quincy Hotel!
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend Staycation is a qool 4!
B – 1. Bathroom comes equipped with a bathtub. A – 0.5. Inviting room and general atmosphere at the hotel. S – 1. Service was great at Quincy Hotel! Thanks Madeleine and Zydney for the hospitality! I – 1. Cool infinity pool with great views of the skyline. C – 0.5. Bed was comfortable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, here are 3 reasons why we thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend
1. All-Inclusive Staycation. Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation could probably be the first all-inclusive staycation in Singapore. If you enjoy the programmes (and food) planned for you aboard cruise ships, you’d certainly enjoy the staycation at Quincy Hotel where food and programmes are planned out for you throughout the day (think art jamming, movies by the pool, cupcake baking, swimming, working out at the gym and all-day dining!)
2. Art Jamming. Before we did Art Jamming, it sounded more like an abstract kind of arty programme than an activity that we’d really enjoy. But after creating “Surfer Dog” (see above), it sought of rekindled our confidence in art and for those of you who have not tried it, you’d might be surprised at what you can do as well!
3. Good quality food. Eventhough the VARIETY was small, food QUALITY was actually quite good. During lunch hours, the chicken pho and curry noodle were really good as well. Not the kind that “clock” a noodle on a menu but was surprisingly tasty. The fettuccine? Guess we’ve said enough above (go for seconds and thirds!).
The world’s first Starbucks is located right in the heart of Seattle, opposite Pike Place Market. However, many a tourist alike, often gets confused on which is the actual original Starbucks. This is because there are actually 2 Starbucks opposite Pike Place Market! This post will equip you, our dear readers of 2bearbear.com, so that you’ll be the smart tourist when you visit Seattle to hunt down the very first Starbucks in the world!
But first, we’ll play a little game and introduce you to these 2 Starbucks, while you decide which is the real “slim shady” yah?
Starbucks 1 Opposite Pike Place Market Seattle
Starbucks adjacent to Pike Place MarketCrowded Starbucks adjacent to Seattle’s Pike Place MarketChalk board writings as menu (Pike Place Market Starbucks)Venti Pike Place Reserve – Starbucks coffee that is only served at Pike Place Market’s Starbucks
Starbucks 2 Opposite Pike Place Market Seattle
Entrance of the original (aka very 1st) Starbucks Coffee in SeattleInside the first starbucks coffee of seattle
An interesting story before revealing which is the World’s first Starbucks in Seattle
At Starbucks 1, there was an interesting story that happened. We were wondering outside this Starbucks and thinking to ourselves if it was the real deal. There were many people outside taking photos and there was a plaque (though we did not read in detail) which sort of indicated to us that this should be it. Inside Starbucks 1, there was a REALLY long queue, about 15 people in line – yet another indication…
So just before we went in, we decided to approach a couple, who was also taking pictures outside, to confirm that this was the world’s first Starbucks.
Enthusiastically, they said “Yes!”
So we joined the queue of 15, ordered a Pike Place Reserve and headed out of Starbucks 1. But as we walked outside Starbucks 1, along Pike Place Market, we CHANCED upon Starbucks 2. By now, you should already guess where this story is heading right?
Yup, Starbucks 2 is the real first Starbucks in the World!
We should have guessed really. Businesses usually start with humble beginnings and Starbucks 2 reflected that. There’s perhaps only a couple of seating area and is mainly for people on the go. A different concept from Starbucks of today, where they are really selling a lifestyle, a place to sit, to catch up with friends, to see and to be seen.
The original Starbucks on the other hand, started out as coffee bean roasters and traders. Brewed coffee was merely samples then.
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Related Posts
This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
So there you have it! With this piece of information, we hope that you’ll be the smart traveller and not be confused, as you do your search for the first Starbucks in the world – located in Seattle WA, USA @ 1912 Pike Place Market!
Today, we’re going to talk about the top 5 Singapore Travel Blogs according to Alexa.com! But first, we’re gonna state some rules about how we arrived at this ranking.
1. Singapore Travel Blogs (with an emphasis on TRAVEL)
This post will be covering the top 5 Singapore Travel Blogs. This means that the blog should be based in Singapore and is a travel blog. Simple as that.
This also means that lifestyle AND travel blogs are ruled out of this list.
It is not easy to be a pure travel blogger and this post serves to honour the good job that these hardworking travel bloggers have done! 🙂
2. According to Alexa.com
Alexa.com provides analysis of web data and coverts these information into a web ranking system. Their work is put aptly into this phrase (quoted from the site)
“Alexa’s traffic estimates are based on data from our global traffic panel, which is a sample of millions of Internet users using one of over 25,000 different browser extensions….Our global traffic rank is a measure of how a website is doing relative to all other sites on the web over the past 3 months. The rank is calculated using a proprietary methodology that combines a site’s estimated average of daily unique visitors and its estimated number of pageviews over the past 3 months.”
In simple terms, the better the ranking, the higher the traffic.
This post thus covers the page ranking according to Alexa.com taken from 3rd of May 2014
Without further ado, let’s take a look at this list of the top 5 Singapore Travel Blogs!
The Top 5 Singapore Travel Blogs
1. Travelerfolio.com
Alexa Ranking : 202,172
Travelerfolio was started by Eunice Khong in 2008 and we had the privilege of meeting her in person during one of our media events. Her blog is certainly one of the most decorated travel blogs in Singapore, having won accolades from Singapore Blog Awards, Asia Pacific Best Travel Blog Award and Visit Britain Media Awards, she has also worked with various Tourism Boards across the world. A great inspiration for travel bloggers in Singapore!
2. Passportchop.com
Alexa Ranking : 213,020
Zhiqiang and Tingyi started Passportchop in 2009 and to us, they are one of the most hardworking travel bloggers around. If you take a look at their posts, they’re never lacking in details. The pictures are great and the descriptions are so detailed that you’d feel you’re travelling with them! Good job guys and keep up the good work!
3. 2bearbear.com
Alexa Ranking : 389,294
Kate and I started this blog in 2011 wanting to have a place to record all our travel experiences (and have easy access to it – just a click away!). As we continued blogging, more doors opened up and today we hope to bring interesting and relevant travel content to you – our travel buddies and readers! So before you embark on your next travel, remember to check in with 2bearbear.com or drop us a holler before you go!
4. Theoccasionaltraveller.com
Alexa Ranking : 703,915
Jac started theoccasionaltraveller (notice the correct british spelling for traveller!) in 2010 to encourage working class, desk bound workers to just take a break to travel and relax the way you want it. Always interesting to read her insights into life, family and of course her travel experiences!
5. Sylistic.com
Alexa Ranking : 836,168
Sy is arguably the youngest travel blogger in Singapore (how does he do it?!) and definitely one of the rising stars in the travel blogging scene. His style of writing is so energetic and full of life, making you want to just embark on that next travel!
An up and coming Singapore Travel Blog – Coupletripping.com
Special mention goes out to Fadzli and Natasha of coupletripping.com. They will be embarking on a world trip on 21 May 2014 (hope we got the date correct) and we are looking forward to the exploits of this inspiring couple. Few in Singapore would actually think of just stopping work and travelling full time and they are showing that it can be done. This is really what “sabbaticals” should be all about!
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So well, there you have it, the top 5 Singapore Travel Blogs and an up and coming travel blog! We hope you have enjoyed the post and have been inspired to get out there and experience the world for yourself!
So you must be wondering, what exactly is the BASIC factor? BASIC Factor for 2bearbear.com Hotel Reviews The BASIC factor refers to different aspects of …
Sheraton Bandung Hotel Indonesia has undergone a complete face-lift over the last couple of months and have since opened its doors, welcoming guests to a newly-reinvigorated and modern garden sanctuary…
The newly renovated Sheraton BandungEntrance of Sheraton Bandung
Thanks to the good folks at Sheraton Bandung, we were hosted to a 3D2N stay and before long, we found ourselves being whisked away from the Husein Sastranegara International Airport to the hotel premise via the hotel’s own express transfer service.
Lobby of Sheraton Bandung
As we entered into the lobby of Sheraton Bandung, we could feel an air of elegance defined by the high ceilings, classy touches of tiffany blues as well as the brightly-lit spaces…
Welcoming Lobby of Sheraton BandungBrightly-lit spaces with a touch of eleganceWarm welcome by Ms Ari and her team at the reception! Thanks!
After settling into our room (newly-renovated Towers Room!), we went on a quick tour of the hotel’s premise and if you wish to, you can consider these various room options…
Room options available at Sheraton Bandung
Deluxe Room
Deluxe Room Sheraton BandungBathroom of the Deluxe Room
What we liked about the Deluxe Room was the neat artistic features. Notice the flowery design at the head board which also matches the design of the carpet! Alot of thought must have been placed into the design of the rooms during the renovation. The balcony also overlooks the gardens of Sheraton Bandung providing a resort-styled sanctuary on the outside and a chic modern feel on the inside. The only thing that you may want to take note is that there’s NO bath tub in the Deluxe Room. But have no fear, you can always check out the Towers Room for that small touch of luxury…
Towers Room
Towers Room Sheraton BandungLarge comfy couch – perfect for lazing inLARGE / HUGE Bathtub – definitely one of the largest we’ve been in!Spacious bathroom of Towers Room Sheraton BandungModern showering facilities including the rain shower head – SHIOK!Greenery as seen from the Towers Room Balcony
We were hosted to 2 nights at the Towers Room of Sheraton Bandung and here’s why we thoroughly enjoyed the room…
1. Spacious. The room was really spacious with a huge couch for lazing in and of course a large flat screen TV. The spacious concept also extends to the bathroom, offering users ample space for personal care. The balcony was also huge by these standards, offering yet another view of the garden sanctuary of Sheraton Bandung.
2. HUGE Bathtub! We cannot say this enough, the bath tub was really HUGE! Definitely one of the biggest ones we’ve been to. Perfect for honeymooners and staycationers alike!
3. Comfy Bed. The bed was really inviting and when you snooze, you really didn’t feel like getting up. It was also here on this huge comfy bed that we got our in-room traditional massage. Blissful luxury!
Junior Suite
Living Space of Junior Suite Sheraton BandungPantry area of the Junior SuiteAgain, the HUGE bath tubBedroom overlooking the pool
As you step into the Junior Suite, you’ll realise that you have actually stepped into the next class of opulence and luxury. In this 64spm suite, you’ll find a living space and bedroom (both overlooking the pool area). Attached comes the pantry area, perfect for in-room dining options and of course the modern bathroom.
Presidential Suite
Chandelier at the entrance of Presidential Suite Sheraton BandungLarge dining areaA waiting areaHUGE living areaSo spacious that it extends here…Overview of the living space of the Presidential Suite at Sheraton BandungHome entertainment areaClassy and inviting bedroom of the Presidential SuiteHUGE BATHROOM!
What we really liked about the Presidential Suite was its space. At 135sqm, there’s really no lack of space for work, dining, living, entertainment and relaxation. Surely the pinnacle of luxury at Sheraton Bandung. The only thing which we found strange was that given the huge space, there should have been a smaller guest room to house additional guests if required. Nonetheless, we found out that there’s an a room attached to the Presidential Suite that can be booked for additional guests if required. Combining the room rooms would yield a combined space of 177sqm! Now that’s HUGE!
Facilities of Sheraton Bandung
At the time of arrival, the gym and feast restaurant was still under construction. Nonetheless, we hope this video we’ve created (for the first time! So please pardon the standards) will be able to give you a quick overview of the hotel…
Resort-styled facade of Sheraton BandungLarge garden area – perfect for weddings and outdoor eventsDay care area with a make-shift gym (till the renovations are fully completed)Playground for the kids The pool of Sheraton Bandung definitely exudes a luxury resort feelTower Lounge Sheraton BandungOutdoor seating of the Tower Lounge
There’s also an in-house spa facility which we enjoyed.
Spa facilities at Sheraton Bandung
The traditional massage was professional and skilfully done. At one point in time, both Kate and I fell asleep! That was how relaxing the massage really was. And to let everyone in on a little secret, the massage packages at this 5 star hotel is actually very affordable! The 1 hour traditional massage was only 185,000 ruppiah or approximately 20SGD! :O
Spa menu of Sheraton Bandung
Throughout the hotel, you can enjoy the luscious greenery and the serene vibe of this luxury resort. What we really like after the renovation was that pastel colours brings about a calm and soothing feel. Perfect for a short weekend getaway for city dwellers from Jakarta and Singapore. As a 5 star hotel, Sheraton Bandung offers not only the full facilities of gym, swimming pool and lounge, it also offers an excellent selection of food…
Gastronomical Bliss at Sheraton Bandung
To top off the entire experience, we were pleasantly surprised that Sheraton Bandung also offers a high standard of food selection at its premise. Both western and asian selections were yummilicious and here are some of our top picks…
Soup Buntut – with ridiculously tender meat!Nasi Goreng Kampung – fried rice with an assortment of small dishes in itHawaiian Pizza (the ones with thin crust!) with a glass of chilled MojitoApple strudel with ice cream to round up with desserts
Daily Cocktails at Tower Lounge Sheraton Bandung
From 4pm to 7pm daily, there’s a cocktail session for guests at the Tower Lounge. At some hotels, this is also called the afternoon hors d’oeuvre, characterised by drinks and bite-sized finger foods…
Selection of afternoon treats at the daily cocktailIncluding pastries, cakes and finger foodsA small selection of hot foodsA selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beveragesChilled selection including Bintang Beer Ice cold beers, finger foods and marvelous views – Ah…Hors d’oeuvre we had
To enhance the experience, we suggest adding to this menu, buffalo wings. Coupled with drinks and idyllic views? Ingredients for a perfect evening ahead! 🙂
Breakfast at Sheraton Bandung
As for breakfasts at the Sheraton Bandung, these pictures certainly don’t do enough justice to the wide selection available. You can have hot asian dishes, western pastries, traditional noodles, omelettes (at an omelette station) and desserts (including ice cream!). When the Feast restaurant completes its renovation, it will definitely offer a fantastic start to a day at Sheraton Bandung…
Selection of breads and pastriesAsian selectionFruits and cereals for the kids
In and around Sheraton Bandung
Besides the hotel premise itself, we were also introduced to some of the places that you can visit around the hotel. These places are a mere 10 minutes drive away and you can easily arrange for these day trips through the hotel’s concierge.
Djuanda Forest Park Bandung
The Djuanda Forest Park is a nature reserve and for a small fee, you can enter its premise to visit waterfalls, the famed (or infamous) Japanese caves or just take a relaxing stroll through the forest…
One of the waterfalls of Djuanda Forest ParkLush greenery at the nature reserveEntrance to the Japanese Caves
This day, our guide to Djuanda reserve was Intan and she took really good care of us throughout this day trip. She was really professional and hardworking in the sense that eventhough she was dressed in a pretty uniform with heels and all, she still offered to take the 1km stroll with us through uneven surfaces to visit the Japanese caves! Thanks Intan!
Intan at the entrance of Japanese Caves at Djuanda Forest ParkIntan translating the introduction of the Japanese caves to usEntrance into the caves – Intan continues to translate what the local guide says about the cavesVentilation shafts built within the cavesExiting the caves – local guides renting torches for a small fee
Art Galleries
Atop Bukit Pakar, just a mere 10 minutes drive from the hotel, there are a few art galleries where you can visit for locally produced pieces of art…
Selasar Sunaryo Art SpaceCongo Art Gallery
Particularly at Congo (primarily a wooden sculpture art gallery), we stumbled upon this art…
Pencil-coloured art work at Congo
Can you believe that this piece of art is entirely done out of colour pencils?! The detail and realistic drawing achieve is simply unbelievable! Also, you can chill at the cafe of Congo and enjoy splendid views over Bandung City…
Views overlooking Bandung City
Golf anyone?
At Mountain View Golf Club, you not only can enjoy a great game of golf, the views are just as awesome too…
Views from Mountain View Golf Club Bandung Indonesia
We understand from our guide that many Singaporeans visit this golf club over the weekends as well! Sheraton Bandung can thus offer a great base for these leisure activities within Bandung. For a place to unwind at night, head to the Valley for great food and splendid views…
The Valley
The Valley Bistro Cafe and Resort HotelAl fresco dining with splendid views over Bandung
Having been to attractions in and around Sheraton Bandung, you can also opt to go to the city for more things to do and attractions in Bandung. There, you can have dining options, shopping (outlets), entertainment and attractions such as Trans Studio. All within a 20 to 30 minutes drive from Sheraton Bandung (yes, we have included the time stuck in traffic jams :p)
In and around Sheraton Bandung
Sheraton Bandung is located at Jalan Ir. H. Juanda No. 390 · Bandung, IDWJ 40135· Indonesia and is a mere 20 minutes drive from the Husein Sastranegara International Airport.
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We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Sheraton Hotel Bandung. Service was top notch (smiles from staff all around the hotel), ambience was relaxing, room was spacious and the food was awesome! We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of Sheraton Bandung and do let us know how you found the newly renovated Feast restaurant, Shine Spa and Gym as well!
**Special thanks to Ari and the team at Sheraton Bandung for hosting us for this fantastic stay!
The Crab Pot in SeattleFacade of the Crab Pot Restaurant and Bar Seattle
The Crab Pot Seattle
As expected, there was a queue when we first arrived at the Crab Pot. We were told to wait for about 30 minutes and there were still about 5 parties before us. It was 830pm and the Crab Pot closes at 930pm. Nonetheless, we patiently waited and carefully inspected the huge sea feast menu at the entrance of Crab Pot…
Menu for the Sea Feasts at Crab Pot Seattle – Minimum order for 2
Which Sea Feast we ordered at The Crab Pot Seattle
There are 4 types of sea feasts available at the Crab Pot
The Cove. At $15.95 per person, the feast offers steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Westport (The Cove + Dungeness Crab and Snow Crab). At $25.95 per person, the feast offers Dungeness crab, snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Pacific Clambake (The Westport + Oyster and Salmon). At $32.95 per person, the feast offers Oysters, Salmon Skewer, Dungeness crab, snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Alaskan (The Westport + King Crab). At $38.95 per person, the feast offers King Crab, Dungeness crab, Snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
We settled for the Westport which seemed to be the most economical with both dungeness and snow crab in the sea feast. However, on hind sight, we thought that we should have gone straight for the Alaskan after seeing how HUGE the King Crabs were!!
See the size of the King Crab on the extreme right! (Crab Pot Restaurant Seattle)Our order of the Westport sea feast at the Crab Pot Seattle
Was it worth it to eat at The Crab Pot Seattle?
We must say that from the following points, it was TOTALLY WORTH IT to feast at the Crab Pot!
1. Novelty. As you can see from these pictures, everyone seems to be enjoying the sea feast with their bare hands, “attacking” with the help of a small wooden mallet. Pure joy…but remember to wear your bib properly as things could get really messy!
The novelty of eating seafood ONLY with your bare hands at Crab Pot SeattleOutdoor dining at the Crab Pot Seattle
2. Value for money. For the prices stated above, it was well worth it because of the variety, freshness of the crabs (crabs were fresh but not all of the clams) and of course the taste of the crabs were sweet, succulent and chunky!
The “after math” of Westport sea feast at the crab pot Seattle. All wiped out – every last bit of it!
The Crab Pot is located at 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101, United States…
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The next time you’re there at the Crab Pot in Seattle, head straight for the Alaskan sea feast and tell us whether the King crabs are as good as it looks!
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is the main tourist attraction in Seattle. After walking through the market, we’re not sure what’s there to introduce really. But it’s just the vibe and the feel that you’ve got to be there to enjoy the sights and smell! And because we can’t depict the sounds through mere pictures, here’s a video that show’s the bustling Pike Place Market in Seattle!
Facade of Seattle’s Pike Place Market
View of Pike Place Market, Seattle Great Wheel and the Bay from Inn at the Market’s Roof Top GardenPike Place Market at Night
Feel the vibe at Pike Place Market Seattle!
Map of Seattle with Pike Place Market in the background
Fresh produce at main level of Pike Place Market Seattle
Seattle’s Pike Place Market has a mission for customers to “meet the producers”. Hence, the first level are filled with shops that sells fresh produce, flowers and also the freshest catch of the day (Pike Place Fish Market) which can be delivered to any part of USA within 24 hours!
Fresh sea food at Pike Place Market SeattleFlowers sold at Pike Place MarketFresh produce of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables at Pike Place Market Seattle
There are also shops where you can grab a bite and enjoy some local flavours. Restaurants include The Pink Door,Place Pigalle, Steelhead Diner, Matt’s in the Market, Le Pichet, Café Campagne, Marche, Maximilien and Il Bistro and if you’re here during the day, there are even more places from which to choose. Sometimes it’s fun to eat while you stroll through the Market. Locals call this “Market grazing.” You stop from place to place. You can get a piroshky, then a hom bow, then a gyro, then a crumpet….
Seattle Bagel Bakery Pike Place MarketWe had the Calzone (6USD! SO EX!) with view of the ferris wheel in Seattle
Shops at the Lower Levels of Pike Place Market
On the lower levels (you’ll understand the concept of ‘lower levels’ once you read our post on Seattle’s Underground Tour), there are quaint little shops that sells a variety of stuff such as comics, magazines, art, music and little craft shops…
Old Seattle Paper Works which has covers of Life MagazineAnother view of shops at the lower levels of Pike Place Market
Around Pike Place Market – The Original Starbucks Cafe aka The World’s first Starbucks Cafe
Diagonally across the road, you will be able to find the Original Starbucks Cafe which started right here in Seattle! But here’s a funny story to tell…
While we were searching for the location of the original Starbucks, we chanced upon this one…
Starbucks adjacent to Pike Place Market
There were lots of people around taking photographs of it and the entrance with that signage looks as though this might be it. PLUS, we approached a couple taking photos of it whether this Starbucks is the original Starbucks.
They said “Yes!”
So with much excitement, we entered and the crowd inside confirmed for us that “This must be it! Let’s grab a coffee from the original starbucks!” And so we ordered the Pike Place Brew…
Crowded Starbucks adjacent to Seattle’s Pike Place MarketChalk board writings as menu (Pike Place Market Starbucks)Venti Pike Place Reserve – Starbucks coffee that is only served at Pike Place Market’s Starbucks
As it turns out, THIS WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL STARBUCKS! The couple we approached were equally lost!
This, is then the original starbucks cafe that started in Seattle
Entrance of the original (aka very 1st) Starbucks Coffee in SeattleInside the first starbucks coffee of seattle
Well, the truth is, even this is not the original starbucks. The original starbucks was located at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971–1976 and was since relocated to this current location at 1912 Pike Place Market.
BUT they only started to brew coffee here. So technically, 1912 starbucks (not the year it started) is the original starbucks that brewed coffee!
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This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
