Secrets The Vine 是一个全包，仅限成人的度假村位于墨西哥坎昆的酒店区。坐落于加勒比海，Secrets The Vine 的优越地段，能让游客享受漂亮的海景，新鲜的海鲜以及有灯的服务。 这也难怪 Secrets Th eVine被 TripAdvisor称为坎昆的头三间酒店。它也是一个成年人的度假村，使它深受蜜月和周年庆祝活动客人的欢迎。经历了度假村所有的一切，我们更加觉得…Secrets The Vine可能是坎昆最好的全包度假村。理由是。。。 Secrets The Vine 坎昆的设施 在全包式度假村，游泳池通常是决定性因素之一。在Secrets The Vine，选择极多。不只一个，不只两个，不只三个，而是四个游泳池！不仅如此，每个游泳池旁边都有一个酒吧，让你易得饮料（全包度假村的另一个重要因素）… 游泳池旁的活动 Secrets The Vine的娱乐团队会全天在游泳池旁和游客进行互动交流。我们参加了水中健美操，并观看了一些舞者在游泳池旁表演。游客也能打沙滩排球，水排球，巨型Jenga或在游泳池享受阳光。我们最喜欢的是边喝鸡尾酒，边听海浪声，绝佳的享受！啊… …
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De Sarann Villa in Siem Reap was our choice of stay when we visited Cambodia for the first time. Thanks to Sokmeng and François, we were hosted to a luxurious, tranquil and exclusive stay at the De Sarann Villa, here in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Let’s find out what this latest villa in Siem Reap has to offer…
De Sarann Villa Siem Reap CambodiaWelcome drinks at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap upon arrivalPersonalised service from Sona during our stay at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia
About De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia
Tucked away at #37 Trang Village (one of the oldest village precinct in Siem Reap), De Sarann Villa is a hidden gem that offers luxury travellers all that you need during your stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is conveniently located just 7km from the Angkor Temples / Siem Reap International Airport (less than 10 minutes ride) and a mere 5 minutes drive to the city. Although conveniently located, it is also out of hustle and bustle of the main street, thus offering you an oasis of tranquility – a really smart idea!
Our stay at Royal Family Suite Villa – with Private Pool, De Saranna Villa Siem Reap
There are only 4 villas (yes, you did not misread that) in De Sarann and because of that, it offers luxury travellers that exclusivity and an undisturbed tranquility. Should you need any assistance, personalised service will be at your doorstep within seconds (literally!). Talk about exclusivity…
To top it all off, each villa comes with a swimming pool (complete with jacuzzi functions), rooftop dining options, deck chairs to chillax and complimentary beverages throughout your stay.
Inside Royal Family Suite Villa – with Private Pool, De Saranna Villa Siem Reap
When Sona told us that our room was 120 metres square, we were really surprised. That equates to almost 3 times the size of a typical hotel room! Of course, the size includes the private roof top pool and dining area. Nonetheless, as we strolled through our room, we got to understand the brevity of the size of the Royal Family Suite Villa in De Sarann Villa…
Living area with cooking facilities and huge TV at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap CambodiaSmaller room with attached bathroom and in-room TV at De Sarann Villa Siem ReapKing-sized bed in Master Bedroom of Royal Family Suite De Sarann VillaExecutive table with touch-sensitive lamp at De Sarann Villa Siem ReapIn-room TV with international cable channels at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap CambodiaDesigner sink of the walk-in bathroom at De Sarann Villa Siem ReapA REALLY HUGE bath tub De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia (we’ll talk more about it later)Rain shower with complete bathroom amenities (and bath salts!) at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap
After exploring the first level of our villa at De Sarann Villa, we were pretty much captivated. The management spared no effort in the details of furnishing the rooms. Sculptures adorn the shelves of the rooms and living spaces, a fully stocked mini bar (3 types of beers, 4 types of soft drinks and plenty of water), 3 TVs and a complete set of bathroom amenities. As for the bath tub, it must have been the biggest we’ve ever seen (or been in) and that’s after visiting the in-room jacuzzi bath tub of Heathman Lodge in Vancouver USA. We’re both close to 6 foot in height and it can fit both of us in comfortably with room to waddle! :O
Here’s a video tour of the Royal Family Suite at De Sarann Villa…
And you thought our tour of the villa is over? Here’s the best part, the roof top swimming pool and dining deck!
Roof top private pool of De Sarann Villa Siem ReapPrivate pool with jacuzzi – Royal Family Suite De Sarann VillaDaily sunsets as seen from the private roof top pool of De Sarann VillaDe Sarann Villa Siem Reap Breakfast at Rooftop Pool2bearbear : What a sumptuous breakfast spread at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia!
The highlight of villas at De Sarann Villa has got to be the private pool and roof top deck. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a jacuzzi in the privacy of your own villa. There are even deck chairs for you to enjoy the sun throughout the day. As De Sarann Villa is the tallest building in the vicinity, you’ll literally get a full day of sunshine and even get to watch sunset while chilling out at the private pool.
The deck chairs were also surprisingly comfortable and because of the peaceful surroundings, we soon found ourselves falling asleep unknowingly – to the tranquil tune of nature.
Breakfast can also be served at the roof top. As sun rise is pretty early (about 5:30am), we started to have breakfast at 6am and really enjoyed it as the colours of the sky dawned into the soothing morning colours. Ahh…
Services offered at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia
Although De Sarann Villa is a relatively new establishment, it has all its bases covered…
1. Dining. De Sarann Villa collaborates with the famous Mahob Khmer Restaurant to bring you authentic Cambodian cuisine in the comfort of your own villa. On our first night, we ordered the beef tenderloin on hot stone ($6.80USD) and the hot stone itself was literally delivered to our villa!
Dinner spread from Mahob Khmer Restaurant at our own villa in De Sarann VillaClose up of beef tenderloin as it sizzled on the hot stone (complimentary in-room beers) at De Sarann Villa Siem ReapMenu Mahob Khmer Cuisine Siem Reap
Tip : We’ve been to several restaurants about town but when it comes to taste and price, the collaboration with Mahob Khmer Restaurant really takes the icing. Prices are decent and food is excellent. You MAY (a huge MAY here) even get a 10% discount if you mention about your stay at De Sarann Villa. (Nope, you did not hear this offer from us :P)
2. In-room massage. De Sarann Villa also collaborates with Molis Ruot Spa & Massage to offer guests high standards of massage services in the comfort of your own villa. A 4 hands body massage is a steal at $30 for 60 minutes!
Massage prices of De Sarann Villa
3. Transportation and Private Tours. Transportation can be easily arranged at the hotel’s reception. The drivers work closely with De Sarann Villa to offer prompt service and of course safety to the guests at the hotel. A complimentary handphone was also provided for us to contact our driver (Lin) who was on hand to pick us up every time. Strangely, whenever we were to be picked up, he would always be the first to spot us and because of that, we knew we were in good hands. A full day of tuk tuk transportation costs $18USD. This includes a day trip to the Angkor temples and also bringing us around the city for dinner before delivering us safely back to the hotel. Did we also mention that airport transfers are complimentary?
Sokmeng (owner of De Sarann Villa) actually started off in the travel industry early in her career. She only started De Sarann Villa after she successfully opened her own travel company. This also means that, the hotel is able to customise private tours for you during your stay in Siem Reap. She also shared with us a secret place to catch splendid sunsets in the evenings (involving a lovely boat ride and chilled beers or wine)…No more need to contend with the noisy crowds at sunset!
Meaning, you’ll only enjoy these amazing moments with your loved ones…Nope, we’re not going to divulge the secret here. Check in with De Sarann Villa to find out more!
Attractions in and around De Sarann Villa
Because of its convenient location, De Sarann Villa is a mere 7km from the Angkor temples and less than a 5 minutes ride to the city. You’ll be able to enjoy these attractions, a stone’s throw away…
Tom stealing a kiss at Angkor Wat during sunriseSiem Reap Old MarketInside Siem Reap Old MarketAngkor Night MarketPub Street Siem Reap
Location of De Sarann Villa
De Sarann Villa is located at #37 Trang Village, Sangkat Slorkram, Siem Reap Cambodia. You can also reach them at +855 63 900 050.
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of De Sarann Villa in Siem Reap Cambodia. After visiting the establishment for ourselves, we’re converts. It’s true that De Sarann Villa brings luxury, exclusive living and tranquility to the luxury travellers of today!
Visondata SG (VDS) offers low cost pocket wifi services that spans more than 70 countries. With this small device, users are able to stay connected while on travels or business trips overseas! Thanks to the great folks at Visondata SG, we got to experience its convenience and simplicity during our recent trip to Turkey!
Staying connected with Visondata SG in Turkey
Visondata SG @ Cotton Castle, Pamukkale Turkey
Visondata SG @ Ruins of Ephesus Turkey
Visondata SG @ Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal, Ankara Turkey
Visondata SG @ Cappadocia Turkey
Visondata SG @ Fairy Chimneys, Cappadocia Turkey
Visondata SG @ Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Turkey
Benefits of Pocket Wifi by Visondata SG
While we were using the pocket wifi offered by Visondata SG, we cannot help but marvel at how far technology has taken us. As you have seen in the above pictures, we were connected everywhere we went in Turkey. Here are some of the benefits we saw with the pocket wifi by Visondata SG
1. Easy to use. All we had to do was to press and hold the “power” button of the device. Within seconds (literally!), we were connected to a data network! As simple as press-and-use!
2. Speedy connection. We were able to upload photos to our various social media platforms while on the go and data speeds were no less than 3G.
3. Convenient. As Visondata SG puts it, it REALLY is a pocket wifi where you literally just place the device in your pocket or bag and you’re good to go! In addition, the company also provides courier service by delivering the device to your preferred location!
Considerations for using Visondata SG
1. Does Visondata SG cover your destination? If you take a look at the pricing plans at Visondata SG, you may realise that Turkey is not listed within this list. In fact, Visondata SG covers over 70 countries. This means that you’ll be able to stay connected while you travel to most places around the globe. If you’re still unsure, just drop a mail to Visondata SG (enquiry@visondata.com.sg ) and they will assist you to confirm if your destination is covered.
2. How it works. The pocket device actually uses the sim card technology. Because of Visondata’s collaboration with telcos world wide, they are able to utilise their services and bring this convenience to you! No longer do you have to worry about poor connection due to the various telcos covering a vicinity because Visondata will help to search for the strongest network for you within seconds.
3. Pricing. Overseas data roam costs minimally $10 to $15 from local telcos. The great thing about Visondata is that they’re able to match the price PLUS their collaboration with many telcos world wide ensures the best connectivity. So you’ll get the best connection at a fixed price. For Turkey (and 47 other European countries), it costs $25 per day for unlimited data usage as compared to $30 per day from the local telcos.
Share and win $500 worth of travel vouchers with Visondata SG
There’s an ongoing contest on the Facebook page of Visondata SG. To stand a chance to win $500 travel vouchers, all you have to do is to follow these simple steps
1. Like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/visondatasg 2. Comment on the post by telling them which country you would like to visit the most and why! 3. Share your comment with your friends/families and get them to like it! The post with the highest number of likes will win.
Contest will end on the 6th February 2015 and the comment with the most number of likes wins. Winner will be notified via email on the 7th February 2015.
Alternatively, you can “like” our comments on Santorini Greece! 😛
Conclusion
We were skeptical at first about this device. Now we’re a convert.
We would recommend this device for travellers who want to stay connected wherever they are overseas. Check in with Visondata SG and discuss how you can stay connected during your next overseas trip!
Thank you for hosting us at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, one of the many hotels that you own all over the world. We thoroughly enjoyed the staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway and we’re so glad that we got to experience, first hand, your hospitality over the weekend 🙂
Entrance of Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
What we enjoyed about Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
1. Relaxing in the comfort of your room
Superior Room Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
What we really love about your room is not only the view of the city (including Marina Bay Sands) but really the comfort within. Why didn’t you tell us that you had such a comfortable bed and a fantastic choice of channels on TV? We actually spent hours just lazing in bed, catching up on movies and watching “live” soccer…ah…
2. Great service from your staff
Jen Jen Jen, you have kept your “secret weapon” unknown to us haven’t you? We experienced great service all around the hotel! Upon arrival, we were promptly whisked away to our room by Kate and we were checked-in AT OUR ROOM! There were also all-round smiles everywhere we went. Looooved the great service from your staff at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway!
3. Breathtaking views from Rooftop Pool
Rooftop Pool of Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Video of pool deck at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
2bearbear enjoying Sangria at Rooftop Pool Hotel Jen
When you showed us the pictures taken from your rooftop pool at Hotel Jen, we thought you had them photoshopped. Never did we realise that the views were really so awesome! Coupled with tropical drinks such as Sangria and Mojito, holidays had just begun!
4. Cute little surprise
Received your note and fruits!
Thanks for the cute little surprise arranged for us while Kate and I were soaking up the sun at the rooftop pool. We enjoyed the fruits before heading back up for chilling hours at the Club Lounge. Love your handwriting by the way 😉
5. Chilling hours at your Club Lounge
Club Lounge Hotel Jen OrchardgatewaySelection of food during cocktail hours at Club Lounge (Chilling hours from 5:30 to 7pm)Gourmet Biscuits (aka Brewing Hours) from 12pm to 5pm2bearbear enjoying views from Hotel Jen’s Club LoungeWines served during chilling hoursConcocting cocktails at Club Lounge
See the two ladies seated in the first photo? That is the best seat in the Club Lounge. That was also where we enjoyed chilling hours as well. Views were great and we especially enjoyed the generous servings of sashimi. But we would have loved to try your specialty cocktail Jen1509. Remember to serve it the next time during your chilling hours k?
6. Fresh Seafood Buffet at Makan@Jen
Makan@Jen Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Seafood Buffet at Makan@JenFresh seafood at Makan@JenSushi spread at Hotel JenPork KnucklesBaked Lobster and CrabsFree flow of beer at $15++Delectable desserts from the buffet spread
When you told us that you were taking us to a seafood buffet dinner, we thought that it would be an international buffet with some doses of seafood. WE WERE SO WRONG! Your seafood buffet was A SEAFOOD BUFFET with doses of other meats. At every turn, we saw seafood, seafood and more seafood! But what really impressed us was that they were all really fresh. When we peeled the shell off the snow crab, the meat all stayed together (unlike some famous international buffet) and revealed itself as one huge chunky piece! Moreover, the baked lobster? Mmmm….so so so succulent!
Thank you for having us seated right opposite the lobsters as well. We were always the first on scene when the batches of lobsters were served! A secret to be kept between us ;P
7. Pedestrian Night at Orchard Road
Pedestrian Night at Orchard RoadJack and Rai performing at Pedestrian Night by Singapore Tourism Board for Tourism 50
Jack and Rai performing “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles
Did we mention that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway has an excellent location? It is right by Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier shopping belt! But the highlight during our staycation was being able to watch Jack and Rai perform “live”! You didn’t arrange this experience just for us did you?
8. Breakfast at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Breakfast spread at Hotel Jen OrchardgatewayNasi Lemak for breakfast!Choice of breakfast juicesBeautifully poached eggs
We love that you start your breakfast early at 6:30am. Sunrise over breakfast is just magnifique! Do help us thank your awesome chefs for those beautifully poached eggs. Will eggs benedict be on the cards the next time we visit?
9. Free rental of bamboo bicycles
Free rental of eco-friendly bamboo bikes
We love this nice little touch of extending free rental of these eco-friend bamboo bicycles for all guests. Using bicycles to navigate around the city is definitely a great touch. We love it especially that there’s no time restrictions. Jen, you’re so smart!
10. Hi-Tea at Lounge@Jen
Lounge@Jen Hotel Jen OrchardgatewayView of Orchard Road from Lounge@JenHi-Tea at Lounge@Jen Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Chilling at Lounge@Jen is a relaxing experience altogether. Classy yet casual. A perfect place for friends to chillax. You and I both know the secret location where the best views are…shh…let’s meet there some time ok?
How to get to Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Yes, we remember that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is located at 277 Orchard Rd, 238858. Thanks for providing us complimentary parking and reminding us to enter the hotel via Somerset Road (not Orchard Road). Of course we parked at level 8 as you have recommended because that lift has only 3 buttons – Level 1, 8 and 10.
We wanted to just take the MRT as well because it is just as convenient by alighting at Somerset MRT. Just a short walk from 313 Somerset.
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Jen,
Thanks for an awesome staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway! So great to have a friend like you!
Eastern & Oriental Hotel (also known affectionately as the E&O Hotel) is Penang’s most iconic hotel. Founded by the Sarkies brothers (who also founded Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the Strand in Yangon) in 1885, it was also known as “the Premier Hotel East of the Suez” due to its sea-front lawn spanning in excess of 800 feet and the hot and cold running water (yup, it was a symbol of luxury in those days). Thanks to the great folks of E&O Hotel (a huge shout-out to Eileen!), we were hosted to 2 nights stay at the Victory Annexe Studio Suite right here at the iconic Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang!
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) EntranceEntrance of E&O Hotel PenangReception of Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang
As we were heading towards E&O from Rasa Sayang, we popped by Lone Pine Hotel (also under the management of E&O) for a complimentary transfer.
We alighted at the heritage wing of the E&O and sure enough, the colonial and classy feel of the hotel dawned upon us as we entered the lobby…
Lobby of E&O Hotel Victory Annexe (A short walk away)Lobby of E&O Hotel Heritage WingCorridor to our sea view Studio Suite at level 8 of the E&O
After a prompt check-in at the Victory Annexe (too prompt in a sense that we were not formally introduced to the facilities of the hotel), we were shown to our lift. Walking along a hugely spacious corridor at level 8, we arrived at our suite…
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Victory Annexe Studio Suite
As we entered the suite, the decoration and layout exuberated the classy vibe as we’ve had experienced at the Raffles Hotel Singapore. Our first gasp came as we laid eyes upon the bath tub…as the centre-piece of the entire suite, it is both functional and yet can be seen as a piece of art. The clawfoot bath tub, accompanied by a huge full length mirror, is certainly a lavish touch to the overall decoration of the suite.
2bearbear enjoying the clawfoot bath tub of the Eastern and Oriental PenangRed wine chilling out with super rings in bath tub! ;p
There are also 2 wash basins for the lady and gentleman. How do we know that? The toiletries supplied at each basin was different. One has the shaver while the other has the shower cap. A cute little touch there 😉
His and Hers vanity sinkToiletries of the E&O Hotel Penang
As with all 5 stars / luxury class hotels, the beds are always inviting. At the Victory Annexe Studio Suite, you’ll get a writer’s desk as well as pool and sea view at your own private balcony…
Bed and armchair of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel Studio SuiteWriter’s deskPool and sea view from E&O Hotel Victory Annexe Studio Suite
Video Tour of Victory Annexe Studio Suite, E&O Hotel
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Facilities
Swimming Pool
Infinity Pool Eastern and Oriental Hotel Victory AnnexeAnother view of the infinity pool of the E&O HotelChilling out at the Pool Side TerraceSwimming Pool Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang
Both the Victory Annexe as well as the Heritage Wing have swimming pools of their own and guests are allowed to visit either of the swimming pools. We loved the Victory Annexe swimming pool (not only because of its proximity – ie walk less) but also because of the splendid views that it offers of the sea and the Malaysia Peninsula.
Gym
E&O Hotel Gym
The E&O Hotel is currently in the midst of adding a spa to its premise (yay!). However, it’s business as usual at the gym and yes, it also has sea views as you work out on one of these treadmills.
Planter’s Lounge
Planter’s Lounge Eastern and Oriental Hotel PenangChilling out at this cosy area of the Planter’s LoungeCocktail hours snacksWine, beers and drinks during cocktail hoursRadler beer and white wine with sea views during cocktail hours
Guests staying at the Victory Annexe also have complimentary access to the Planter’s Lounge. Coffee and Tea are available throughout the day while cocktail hours are from 6pm to 7pm daily. Do note that the Planter’s Lounge is NOT A CLUB. This means that it is essentially an area for guests to relax or have meetings. Hence, depending on the crowd, you may or may not be served when you visit the lounge. The other strange thing that we noticed was that there’s no signature cocktails served during cocktail hours (we ordered the E&O Sling at the pool). You would have to concoct your own cocktails with the given liquor and drinks 😉
Marvelous Views in and around E&O Hotel Penang
Sunset view from Heritage Wing Eastern and Oriental Hotel PenangViews of Peninsula Malaysia from SarkiesFacade of Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (Heritage Wing)Trishaw ride from Komtar to E&O Hotel for 15RM
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) Breakfast at Sarkies
Breakfast at Sarkies E&O Hotel PenangBakery area for breakfastPenang Char Kway Teow Station E&O Hotel BreakfastNoodles StationHot western selectionSushi and cold cuts at Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang BreakfastPenang Char Koay TeowPastries Fruits and Juices with sea view from SarkiesEggs Benedict enjoyed by Tom!
Breakfast at Sarkies starts from 6:30am to 10:30am while breakfast at Planter’s Lounge ends slightly later at 11am. There’s a good spread and variety of breakfast at Sarkies that ranges from asian (indian, japanese and malaysian) to western (patries, toasts and eggs). But for us, it was the overall experience of dining outdoors at the verandah, overlooking peninsula Malaysia and sipping over a nice cuppa while browsing the day’s news. Heavenly!
How to get to Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel)
Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang (E&O Hotel) is located at 10 Farquhar Street, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. From Penang International Airport it takes about 20 minutes (15 USD) by taxi and about 10 minutes (15RM) by trishaw from Komtar. If you’re taking a bus from Penang International Airport to Komtar, it takes about 30 minutes (3RM) by taking buses 102 and 401.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang, is a 4.5!
B – 1. Clawfoot bath tub. Need we say more? A – 1. Classy, lavish, luxurious and colonial. All the factors of a heritage hotel. S – 0.5. Like we said, checking-in was a little too “prompt”. More information could have been given at the reception. I – 1. Splendid views from the infinity pool. Great place to chillax. C – 1. Comfortable bed and pillows for a good night’s rest 🙂
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**Special thanks to Eileen for making our staycation at Eastern and Oriental Hotel possible!
Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa is Penang’s most luxurious and exclusive hotel. With its sea front views and traditional Minangkabau roof architecture, its no wonder why guests so easily fall in love with Rasa Sayang. Thanks to the great folks at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Special shout out to Suleiman and team!), we were invited to a relaxing and enjoyable stay at the newly renovated Garden Wing…
Warm reception at the grand lobby of Garden Wing of Rasa Sayang
After the prompt check in, we were led by our receptionist to our lift lobby, we actually thought that was it. No! She led us ALL THE WAY TO OUR ROOM! Talk about personalised service!
Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang Deluxe Seaview Room
As we entered our room, we could feel the space and luxury that Shangri-la affords. The room was spacious and so was the king-sized bed. There was even a small little sofa where you can chill and watch some cable TV. But the best part? The view from our balcony…
Pool and Sea View from Deluxe Seaview Room Rasa Sayang
Deluxe Seaview Room Rasa Sayang Penang Garden Wing
The room also affords the usual luxuries of a bath tub, complete with the in-house toiletries as well as a well-stocked mini-bar. All this equates to a start of a great holiday! 🙂
Bath tub with bath foam that really FOAMS!
Shangri-la’s in-house toiletries
Well-stocked mini bar with complimentary coffee and tea
After checking out the room, we decided to take a quick bath (in the bath tub of course) before heading out to meet Suleiman at the Spice Market Cafe for afternoon tea!
Check out this video tour of our Deluxe Sea View Room at the Garden Wing of Rasa Sayang Penang
History of Shangri-la’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang
Soon, we met up with Suleiman, the Director of Communications at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa. Suleiman was a man of stature and he brought about an air of authority as he approached us. But when we started conversing, there was no such air about him. In fact, he was approachable and friendly and as the afternoon went on, the conversations began to flow. And that was when we started to learn more about Rasa Sayang as well…
Afternoon tea at Spice Market Cafe Rasa Sayang Penang
Rasa Sayang Hotel was first opened in November 9, 1973 along Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang and was the first ever five-star resort in Malaysia and the first Shangri-La property in Malaysia as well. The original motto of Rasa Sayang was “A love of life and all its pleasures”…Ah…
Turns out that the name “Rasa Sayang” was derived from a local song of the same name. “Rasa” means feeling and “Sayang” means love. The famous refrain goes something like this…
Rasa sayang, hey!
Rasa sayang-sayang hey,
Hey lihat nona jauh,
Rasa sayang-sayang, hey
meaning…
I’ve got that loving feeling, hey!,
I’ve got that loving feeling, hey!,
See that girl in the distance,
I’ve got that loving feeling hey!,
So the story goes that the owners of the hotel (yes, they are still alive today and may be reading this) were discussing what name to be given to this grand hotel that was going to be built. As they were discussing, the song went on air (probably over radio as it was a popular song in those days) and the owners decided there and then. Hence, Rasa Sayang was born!
As we continued to discuss on the concepts of Rasa Wing and Garden Wing, we realised what Suleiman was really talking about. At the Garden Wing, we could feel the exclusivity coupled with the luscious greenery in and around the premise. A short walk along the gardens coupled with sounds of the waves in the distance, really rejuvenates the mind and body. Something that you ought to try out on your next trip here to Rasa Sayang Penang 🙂
Shuttle Service from Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang
One of the MAJOR plus points of staying at Rasa Sayang Penang is that you’d be able to enjoy the beaches of Batu Ferringhi, visit the night markets a short walk away PLUS there’s also shuttle service that brings you to Gurney Plaza, Gurney Paragon and of course the famous Gurney Drive Hawker Centre…
Shuttle Bus Service Schedule from Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang
Gurney Plaza Penang
Gurney Paragon Penang
St Jo’s at Gurney Paragon
Pasar Malam (aka Night Market – yes, they only open at night) minutes away from Rasa Sayang by foot
Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang Facilities
Health Club
Health Club consisting of Gym, Jacuzzi, Sauna and Steam Bath
CHI Spa
Spa experience at CHI Spa
Luscious Greenery
Greenery by the beach at Rasa Sayang
Water feature next to Spice Market Cafe
Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool Rasa Sayang Garden Wing
Video of the beach and pool area of Rasa Sayang
Photo Gallery Depicting Rasa Sayang’s History
Photo Gallery depicting the history of Rasa Sayang – You can see Suleiman there as well! 😛
What we really loved about the hotel is its luscious greenery, offering ample space and tranquility for travellers who wants to find rest for the soul. The CHI Spa will definitely add to that experience. Kate checked out the Rasa Asmaradana Spa Treatment. Long kneading strokes offers a deeply relaxing massage as practiced by traditional Malay healers. The treatment is also coupled with soothing concoction of local herbs, lemon grass and pandan leaves, leaving one thoroughly relaxed and rejuvenated.
Other facilities in the resort includes the Kid’s Club, Adventure Zone, Golf/Pitch and Putt, Table Tennis and Tennis Courts.
Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang Breakfast
Rasa Sayang’s breakfast was probably one of the best we’ve had at this trip. Do remember to try out the egg’s benedict – yes, the yolk does ooze out like it should!
Eggs Benedict Rasa Sayang Penang
Eggs station and buffet spread
Fresh Fruit Juices
Cold Cuts
Healthy start to breakfast with fruits and vegetables
Delicious Assam Laksa
Asian spread
Indian Cuisine
Waffles, Bread pudding and banana cake!
How to get to Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa Penang is located at Batu Feringgi Beach, Penang, 11100, Malaysia. From Penang International Airport, it takes about 45 minutes by taxi (approximately 20USD) or about 1hr 15 minutes by bus 102 (4RM).
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, is a 5!
B – 1. Bath tub was great with perfect foam generating shower gel! A – 1. Luscious greenery with a relaxing feel all round. What more can we ask for? S – 1. Service was excellent with the concierge spending time to tell us what to explore in Penang. I – 1. Pools that catered to the adults and kids alike. All with a beach view! C – 1. A restful night offered at Rasa Sayang…
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**Special thanks to Suleiman and team for making our staycation at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa possible!
Hard Rock Hotel Penang was our hotel of choice when we visited the Batu Ferringhi area of Penang. Thanks to the great folks at Hard Rock Penang, we were hosted to a one night stay at the Seaview Studio Suite with access to the Kings Club Lounge!
Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Hard Rock Hotel Penang from the swimming pool
Receptionists welcoming us to a rocking good time at Hard Rock Penang
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Seaview Studio Suite
As members of the Kings Club Lounge, we had an exclusive check in there while we enjoyed some light refreshments. After getting our key card, we were eager to explore our Seaview Studio Suite!
Checking in at Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
As we entered into our room, “Oohs” and “Wows” started to sound from the both of us! We were particularly impressed with the size of the room, the huge bath tub as well as the awesome views from the balcony! From the balcony, you’ll be able to enjoy views of the swimming pool as well as the beach right next to the hotel…
Unbelievable views from Hard Rock Hotel Penang Seaview Studio Suite
Seaview Studio Suite Hard Rock Penang
Another view of the Seaview Studio Suite at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Inviting sofa that affords sea views in comfort
2bearbears comfortably in king-sized bed of Hard Rock Penang Hotel
A little pantry area complete with a sink, oven and fridge
Toiletries at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Luxurious bath tub in Seaview Studio Suite Hard Rock Hotel
Lyrics to Wonderful Tonight. Or is it? Read the lyrics carefully! It’s actually a message to conserve water!
There’s another thing which we enjoyed in-room…COMPLIMENTARY MOVIES! We caught 2 movies while we’re here; It’s Complicated starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin and Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Catching up on movies that we’ve not seen? Awesome!
Video tour of Hard Rock Hotel Penang’s Seaview Studio Suite
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Facilities
After checking out our stay at the Seaview Studio Suite, we decided to see what facilities Hard Rock Hotel Penang has to offer…
1. Rock Spa Penang
Our therapists at Rock Spa Penang
Outdoor treatment villas at Rock Spa Penang
Outdoor shower and tub for private villa spa
Indoor treatment rooms at Rock Spa Penang
The Rock Spa in Penang has won several accolades including the 5 stars rating by the Ministry of Culture Malaysia & Tourism – one of only two spas with this award in Penang. Kate enjoyed a Hard Rock massage at the Rock Spa (1 hour for 170RM) and indeed it lived up to its name as one of the most relaxing experiences in Penang.
2. Hard Rock Hotel Penang Swimming Pool
Kate at “beach” part of the pool with a sandy bottom
Fun water slides for the kids
Swimming pool at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
The swimming pool at Hard Rock Hotel Penang is one of the largest hotel swimming pools we’ve been to (second to only MGM in Las Vegas). There are 2 lap pools right in front of the lagoon deluxe rooms. A water slide , fun play area for the kids as well as the center stage pool. It was actually quite fun to swim from one end of the pool to the other. But you would have to get out and re-enter at certain parts of the pool in order to do so.
3. Kings Club Lounge
Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
View of the swimming pool from Kings Club Lounge
Savoury dishes during cocktail hours at Kings Club Lounge
Mini Tortilla Handroll
Rice paper roll with mango salsa
Mini crab cakes
Carrot cake , butter cakes and strawberry tart from Kings Club Lounge
2bearbear enjoying cocktail hour at Kings Club Lounge Hard Rock Penang
Kings Club Lounge privileges are only extended to guests stay at the Kings Club Seaview, Seaview Studio Suite, Rock Star Suite and Kings Suite. Guests may also enjoy these privileges at an additional RM150++ per room per night and RM75++ for the third guest.
Guests can enjoy the afternoon tea as well as daily cocktail hour (1 hour only) from 6pm to 7pm while enjoying the sun setting over the horizon…ah…
4. Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Live performance at Hard Rock Cafe Penang
Close up shot of Band Deviate
Nachos with grilled chicken (RM48) with a jug of draft beer (RM68) at Hard Rock Cafe Penang
As the sun sets over the horizon, the Hard Rock Cafe Penang comes to life with its nightly live performances! We enjoyed the performance by the band Deviate who were able to play songs upon request. In addition, the singers NEVER referred to any books, showing that they memorised ALL the lyrics by heart! These guys are really professional! Remember to request for “Smooth” by Carlos Santana!
5. Other facilities and things to do at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Pool facing Body Rock Gym at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Lil’ Rock Kids Club
Teens can also hang out at the Tabu Teens Club while ladies can spot a new hair-do at the Glamour Hair Salon. For the die hard rock fans, there are memorabilia located throughout the hotel. You can also choose to go home with a city-tee with a visit to any of the THREE Rock shops located at the premise.
As a guest, you are also given the a code to download songs from the online music store. You can also choose to play on any of the 12 fender guitars for free – well a deposit of 5000RM is required before you can lay your hands one of those beauties 😉
Last but not least, there are many beach activities such as banana boat ride, para-sailing, jet skiing and even horse-back riding available right at the beach front. Strangely, the sand in front of the Hard Rock Penang is really fine and comparable to that in Surfer’s Paradise Gold Coast. Hence, a walk along the beach should be in place 😉
Hard Rock Hotel Penang Breakfast
Breakfast at Hard Rock Hotel Penang
More options for breakfast at Hard Rock Penang
Yummy lamb curry with prata and murtabak
Healthy selection of fruits and vegetables
2bearbears with rice and noodles which were not bad
How to get to Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Rapid Penang Bus 102 from Penang International Airport to Hard Rock Hotel Penang
From the Penang international airport, we took bus 102 to Hard Rock Penang. The ride costs 4RM per person and takes between 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic.
Hard Rock Hotel Penang is located at Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Hard Rock Hotel Penang, is a 5!
B – 1. Bath tub in the Seaview Studio Suite was HUGE! A – 1. Hard Rock Hotel Penang certainly lives up to the HR vibe right from the start of our stay S – 1. Service was good at Kings Club Lounge and at breakfast. I – 1. One of the largest pools we’ve been to. Had fun exploring it! C – 1. Bed was firm and the pillow was comfortable yet thick enough. One of our best nights rest at a hotel!
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**Special thanks to Sheryn and Karen for making our staycation at Hard Rock Hotel Penang possible!
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!
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