There are many hotels in Bohol that claimed to be beachfront and it is really quite hard to tell how the actual conditions of hotels/resorts are. Pictures can sometimes be REALLY deceiving… We finally chose Amorita Resort in Bohol because of its location and facilities (and also because Kate loves the fuschia pink logo! Hee.) We booked thru Agoda and the rate per night was about $224 (including tax).
Amorita Resort is about 30mins away from Peacock Garden Bohol. The entrance is a huge heavy gate at the end of the road that is guarded by a security guard. He dutifully checked our room reservation against a list that he had for the day before he let us in. We were impressed by the level of security at Amorita Resort.
Facilities of Amorita Resort Bohol
Lobby of Amorita Resort
Lobby and surroundings of Amorita Resort
View of the beach from the pool at Amorita Resort
Swimming pool of Amorita Resort
View of the bohol sea from the infinity pool Amorita Resort
Swimming pool and view of Alona Beach from Amorita Resort Bohol
See how clear the waters and how blue the skies are at Alona Beach Bohol
Amorita Resort Bohol – Deluxe Room
Flower deco for anniversary at Amorita Resort Bohol
Welcome cookies and customised anniversary balloon decorations at Amorita Resort Bohol
Video of Deluxe Room Amorita Resort
Kate arranged for a surprise for Tom at Amorita Resort. As we entered, we were greeted by a HUGE balloon decoration as well as petal arrangements on the bed for our anniversary! There were also welcome cookies (which we devoured promptly) along with some fruits as well.
After checking out the room, we left our luggage in the room and went for a stroll along the beach with the balloons! On the 2nd day, Tom went to the beach again with the balloons and started to give them out 1 by 1. People were quite reluctant at first but as others watched many before them taking balloons from Tom, many started to approach to get for their kids. Some even asked us what the occasion was and congratulated us 🙂
Video taken on Alona Beach
The great thing about Alona Beach is that the sand is so fine that when mixed with the sea water, it becomes like a clay/mud. Tom started applying on his body and many others followed suit. It could be psychological, but the skin somehow felt smoother! The best part was, once you immerse yourself in water, the sand comes right off! As we were strolling on,there were many boat operators asking if we wanted to book a trip to the islands or hire a boat to catch the sunset. We also noticed several “divers” looking for something beneath the water. While Kate was doing her massage, Tom went and searched for…sea urchin! There were many old ladies with their baskets scouring for sea urchins. Tom managed to find one with the help of a local and savoured a freshly opened sea urchin – this is as fresh as it gets, eating in the ocean!
However, do be aware of the correct species of sea urchins (as well as the edible bits) before going to catch one on your own. Otherwise, approach one of the friendly locals and they will kindly help you out as well 🙂
Alona Beach from the garden deck of Amorita Resort
Alona Beach and Kate enjoying a massage by the beach
Grill Buffet Dinner at Saffron Amorita Resort Bohol
The Grill at Amorita Resort
Grill Buffet Dinner at Amorita Resort
BBQ dinner at Amorita Resort: Grilled sotong pork ribs which was VERY tender bone fell off succulent and fresh prawn shrimp macNcheese meat on stick cheese croquette and favourite adobo drumlets
White chocolate mousse anniversary cake placed in our room when we went out for dinner SURPRISE!
Yummy grills and desserts – especially the sweet icy cold mangoes!
For Saturday nights, the hotel has grill buffet dinner (at 750pesos++ which is about $25SGD for seafood buffet!) and it was well-received by the hotel guests. The restaurant was full of guests by 6.30pm and the smell of grilled meats waft through the restaurant.
Setting at the Garden Deck for our dinner at Amorita Resort
Marvellous view of the setting and evening of the beach at Amorita Resort
Romantic Dinner for 2 at the Deck overlooking Alona Beach
We had a table reserved at The Deck, overlooking Alona Beach…a romantic setting at sunset and as the candles kicked in after dark, it marked out a special place for 2. The seafood was really fresh. You definitely wont go wrong with additional servings of the prawns! After we finished our mains, we headed back to the restaurant for desserts!
Breakfast at Amorita Resort Bohol
Amorita Resort Breakfast Egg station
Amorita Resort Breakfast Salad and cold cuts
Omelette Station and Buffet spread at Amorita Resort
Fruits and fresh mango and watermelon juice.
Mains and Fruits – LOOOOOOOVE the mangoes!
Arroz porridge. savoury chicken porridge
Arroz porridge and mains
Breakfast at Amorita was pretty decent. You can choose from the various egg choices at the omelette station and have the usual western fare of milk, toast and bacon. Or you can have some rice with fish (side note : the fish looks terrible but tastes AWESOMELY FRESH!) or some local porridge. After which you can top it off with some of the sweetest and juiciest mangoes around! Not too bad for an idyllic breakfast overlooking the sun-blessed ocean!
Amorita Resort Bohol
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There are so many things we loved about staying at Amorita Resort Bohol. The close access to the beach, great base for island hopping, great views, fantastic food, excellent service and just that idyllic holiday resort feel in Bohol…give Amorita Resort Bohol a try the next time you’re there, you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!
Bohol is the home of the Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. We definitely cannot visit Bohol without signing up for the Bohol Countryside Tour. We chose to book the tour with Peacock Garden even though it is slightly pricier (4,200 peso for 2 people) because we can trust the quality of the transport and the experience of the tour guide.
Bohol is known for its clear blue waters,beaches and fantastic snorkeling/dive spots. However, Bohol is also known for attractions on land. In fact, after we introduce the following attractions we saw during our Bohol countryside tour, you’ll go “Orh…I know them!”
Attractions in Bohol Countryside Tour
Rice fields Bohol one of the 2 main agriculture of bohol the other is fishing 4 sidelines include tyre recycling pottery jam making and bolo
Bohol Manmade forest 800ha
Bolo making, Beautiful Rice Field and the Manmade Mahogany Forest
Bolo is a traditional filipino knife or sword that is still being hand made today. This was one of the bolo making process that we saw during our Bohol Countryside Tour. In addition, we also came across this beautiful rice field that our guide insisted that we took a photo of…
One of the attractions that would make you go “Orh…” is this…the Manmade Mahogany Forest…
Manmade Mahogany Forest
Video of Manmade Mahogany Forest
Some scenic shots have been taken at this forest because of its peculiar growth (straight and high). It was initially an idea to re-forest the area to stabilise the soil (to prevent soil erosion). At first, the area was just “dead” in that there was only trees and no eco-system per se. So slowly, animals, insects and various plant species were introduced and the area sprung back to “life”. Today, it is a picturesque area for locals to enjoy and tourist to take some iconic pictures!
Chocolate Hills
Everyones favourite iconic chocolate hills Bohol
Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Chocolate Hills got its name because in the summer months (or dry months), the vegetation atop the hills would wither, revealing the soil or “brown” of the hills. With a sea of brown hills, the name Chocolate Hills was coined. As to the story of whether Chocolate Hills or Hershey’s Chocolate (which is shaped like the Chocolate HIlls in Bohol) came first, we tend to believe that the former came first and inspired the latter. What do you think?
Video of the Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Oh and do remember, if you’re bringing kids to the Chocolate Hills, remember to bring chocolate candies (Hershey’s if possible). Our guide told us that many a times, kids would literally cry when they come to know that there’s no actual chocolates at Chocolate Hills Bohol. So parents, go prepared!
Shiphaus
Filipino sailor who came back and built a house called shiphaus turned out to be an attraction to tourists and now is a hotel and restaurant
Shiphaus Bohol
The Shiphaus was originally built by a Filipino sailor (sailors used to earn alot more than locals in the past) and when he came back to Bohol, he decided to build himself a house that is shaped like a ship. We guess that it is named “Shiphaus” and not “Shiphouse”, probably because he visited Germany during one of his many voyages.
Today, the Shiphaus is not only a tourist attractions (many visitors, including us, stop by the roadside to take a photo – remember to park safely and not disrupt traffic!) but also a hotel and restaurant all rolled into one!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre
Butterfly Park – Bohol: Bear flying off as tinkerbell!
Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre and our very knowledgeable guide Peter
Thanks to Peter our guide for the day, he showed us many interesting things about Butterflies. For one, we realised that there’s one easy way to differentiate between moths and butterflies. Moths usually have “feathery”-like antennae while butterflies do not. Of course, there are other ways as well. For instance, butterflies are USUALLY more vividly coloured (there are dull ones too) compared to the moths and they rest with their wings closed while moths rest flat with their wings open.
Peter also took pictures of us “in-flight”. Think Tinkerbell. We stood a distance away from some butterfly specimen and were told to jump. As it turns out, he’s excellent at it and it really seemed like we were flying! Remember to say “Hi” to Peter if you see him at the Simply Butterfly Conservation Centre!
Butterflies mate for 6 hours when predators come only the female fly
Caterpillar and more pretty butterflies
Tarsier Conservation Centre
Tarsiers mate for only 3 to 5 seconds
Our guide Alice paying for entry into the Tarsier Conservation Area – 60pesos per person
Tarsiers are just a badly mistaken species. Because of its long tail and body shape in general, they were mistaken in the past as rodents or rats. Which meant that they were frequently hunted and killed. The number of tarsiers quickly plummeted. So conservation efforts started. However, at first, people started by taking care of them at home. But they did not realise they are actually creatures that are pretty hard to take care of. Firstly, they are nocturnal and are pretty adverse to noise and sunlight. Noise especially. Hence, we were told to keep real quiet at the conservation area. There have been instances where high noise levels have driven tarsiers to be so stressed out that they take their own lives! The other thing is that they dont eat fruits. In fact, they are helpful to people in that they eat insects, live ones, as their main staple. So in the past, when fruits were fed, they did not take them readily and also started to die due to their diet.
Close up of Tarsier in Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
Cute Tarsiers in Bohol soundly asleep
But with proper conservation techniques and extra care, tarsiers in Bohol are well taken care of. Look at how cute they are! It is also said that these are the creatures that gave inspiration to Steve Spielberg’s movie, ET in 1982.
Loboc River Cruise
As part of the Bohol Countryside Tour, we were treated to a seafood meal, great music, marvelous scenery and fantastic performances by the natives on the Loboc River Cruise!
Loboc river cruise
Buffet lunch included
Loboc River Cruise and Buffet Lunch
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
Performance by the Natives and Beautiful scenery enroute the Loboc River Cruise
We thoroughly enjoyed this leisurely cruise. The music was fantastic! Great voice and guitar playing! I think his singing really made the difference to an idyllic river cruise 🙂
Buffet with musical accompaniment onboard the Loboc River Cruise
Bamboo dance with the Natives
Singing performance by the Natives
Baclayon Church
Original pulpit where the message was said the structure on top was said to be like an amplifier at Baclayon Church Bohol
Can you see the picture of saint pio formed under weathering at Baclayon Church Bohol
Baclayon Church – The Oldest Coral Stone Church in the Region of Bohol
The Baclayon Church is not only the oldest coral stone church in the region. It also has an uniqueness to the facade of the church. If you look closely enough at the wall in the picture above. You will notice that there is a man there. Locals see him as Saint Pio. Strangely enough, there was no paint work whatsoever. Simply weathering taking place. Miraculous eh?
Blood Compact Memorial
Blood compact memorial shrine they had to drink each others blood to be friends
Blood Compact Memorial
The blood compact memorial was erected as a remembrance of the initial compact between the early spanish explorers and the chieftain of Bohol. It was said that “drinking of one blood” is a sign of friendship which was done at this blood compact.
The controversy that surrounds the Blood Compact Memorial itself is its location. Apparently, there are 2 places that resembled a picture that was painted when the compact took place. So the current location may be eventually shifted.
Bohol Countryside Tour
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It costs us about SGD240 per night inclusive of taxes, and it was worth every single cent of it!
Peacock Garden Receptionist who took us around the resort and welcomed us
Welcome drinks at Peacock Resort 250sgd a night
Reception at lobby of Peacock Garden and Welcome drinks
Map of the entire Peacock Garden hotel
Map of Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Bohol – Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room
Peacock Garden Infinity pool
Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room Peacock Garden Bohol
The Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room is simply the best room at Peacock Garden. Not only do you get to enjoy the luxuries of a huge bedroom (staff even decorated our bed for our anniversary!), classy bathroom, cable TV, L’Occitane toiletries and of course this…
Peacock Gardeb – right in front of the infinity pool and ocean view
Magnificent view over the infinity pool and ocean!
Tour of the Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room at Peacock Garden Bohol
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
Turndown service of Bohol Kisses / Night view of the pool
During our stay, we learnt something new (or at least Tom learnt something new). And that is turndown service. Turndown service is usually the practice of the housekeeping staff to make your bed and basically tidy up your room. However, at some hotels (such as Peacock Garden), they will leave an item of confectionery or chocolate and this time we got Bohol Kisses, a peanut based snack!
Facilities at Peacock Garden Bohol
Infinity Pool and Jacuzzi of Peacock Garden
Jacuzzi aka hot tub
Infinity pool and jaccuzi
Remember the contest we opened some time back? The video above was taken from the infinity pool and we asked our readers to guess where the video was taken from to win some memorabilia from 2bearbear.com. Unfortunately, the prizes were left unclaimed. Do look out for our next contest yah?
When you enter into the hotel
Interior and Exterior of Peacock Garden
As you approach Peacock Garden Bohol Hotel, you will notice the beautiful fountain lined by these lion figure heads. As you enter the lobby, you’d notice the collection of german mugs of the owners. There’s also a chess set – which we had a game on. Kate surprisingly does not know how to play international chess! Things we learn about each other on our travels… :p
Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Inside Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Interior of Old Heidelberg Restaurant
Moving in, you’ll see the bar as well as the Old Heidelberg Restaurant where they serve quality german cuisine and of course local ones as well.
Angus the Peacock
Angus the peacock
Angus the peacock
Probably why Peacock Garden Hotel is named as such. Angus is the resident peacock and you’ll be able to see him walking around sometimes…
Fontana Aurelia Spa
Fontana Aurelia Spa in peacock garden hotel
Fontana Aurelia Spa at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Massage table
Interior of Fontana Aurelia Spa
Kate experienced a massage at the Fontana Aurelia Spa and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The interior of the spa was classy and one of the rooms has an angle view of the ocean as well. After the massage, there’s also a bath and foot spa treatments available. A great way to enjoy a staycation.
Dinner at Old Heidelberg
Speaking of staycations, to do so, the restaurants ought to have great food right? And at the Old Heidelberg, we were surprised by the excellent standard (really close in terms of authenticity to german fare) and we had 2 nights of dinner here…
Chefs Recommendation at Old Heidelberg restaurant Peacock Garden
Menu and server with selection of bread at Old Heidelberg Restaurant Peacock Garden
Kalderatang Baka Filipino Beef Stew 480 peso
Kaderatang Baka – Filipino Beef Stew and Jaeger Schnitzel with Spaeztle – stewed pork with a type of starchy pasta
Mojito and Apple Pie at Heidelberg Restaurant of Peacock Garden Bohol
Complimentary heart-shaped anniversary cake courtesy of Peacock Garden Hotel
Complimentary Anniversary Cake, banana chocolate cake and apple pie with ice cream – with Mojito and Cappucino!
Frozen margarita and SML
Frozen Margarita/San Miguel with selection of breads with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pork fat garlic mushroom apple sauce with clear chicken soup
500peso for chicken cordon blue with fries and veggies. yummy.
750 peso for set dinner. norweigen salmon with prawns in dill sauce. yummy. salmon was soft unlike dry hard ones
Chicken Cordon Bleu and Norwegian Salmon with Prawns in dill sauce / Mango ice cream with cream of cassis
All the meals at Old Heidelberg Restaurant were a pleasant surprise. All of the above tasted great. In addition, the prawns were exceptionally fresh and succulent. The cream of cassis was also something new for us. Turned out that the liquer-based cream went really well with the mango ice cream – who knew?
Breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden may be not so accessible, tucked away in the countryside, but you do not have to worry about going hungry or finding good food. I think we cannot stress enough how delicious the food is at Peacock Garden. What we loved about the breakfast is that it is semi-buffet style. You can order your hot mains with the choice of different sides, and while waiting for your food, you can try the selection of cheese and cold cuts, cereals, and native sweets.
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cereals, nuts and juices
Peacock Garden Breakfast Salty cream dory with tomato, mushrooms, ham and cheese omelette and pancake
Healthy and yummy breakfast at Peacock Garden Bohol
Peacock Garden Breakfast Cheese and cold cut. gherkins
Like the breakfast at Raffles Hotel, Peacock Garden Bohol offers a semi-buffet style where you can choose from a few choice of mains and enjoy the cold buffet/dessert separately. Food was great but dont try the chocolate rice porridge – unless you’re in an adventurous mood…
Peacock Garden Bohol
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The truth is, Peacock Garden could well be one of the best hotels that we’ve stayed in so far. The views from our room, the infinity pool, classy atmosphere, excellent food and impeccable service (did we mention that we were almost always greeted by all the staff in the hotel?). If you’re in Bohol and perhaps celebrating an anniversary like us, check in at Peacock Garden Bohol, you will certainly have a memorable time!
Bohol is about 1 hour 40 mins away from Cebu if you take the fast craft ferry. The tourist class ticket for Oceanjet is 1000 peso per person (return ticket). I understand that there are other ferries or boats that will cost a lot cheaper than 500 peso (one way) but if you want comfort and safety, I highly recommend Oceanjet. Different ferry companies dock at different piers, so remember to double-check so that your taxi driver can drop you off at the right pier. Also, if you choose to alight outside of the gate of the pier, you do not have to pay a fee. Can’t remember how much it was…probably a very small amount but it was really not necessary to alight inside unless you have a lot of luggage.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
How to get from Cebu to Bohol
The check-in procedure was simple and fast. Soon we were waiting at Gate 1 for our ferry.
There are seats allocated so you do not have to rush to board. But there’s something I do not understand: there are sooooooo many people who just can’t sit in their designated seats! Either they can’t read the alphabet and numbers on their tickets or they ignore it. The Oceanjet staff was friendly and patient to get everyone in their right seats. And soon we were off!
Pier 3 Boarding Area
People waiting to board Ocean Jet from Cebu to Bohol
Inside Oceanjet 2 hours ride to Bohol from Cebu
Inside Oceanjet – 2 hours ride where we watched Hell Boy
Views from Cebu to Bohol
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Blue skies and clear waters with the hills as the back drop made the ride really relaxing and we can’t wait for what was in store for us in Bohol! 🙂
Oceanjet from Cebu to Bohol
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Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu Philippines is one of the many boutique hotels that have sprung up in recent times. Kate scrolled through Agoda and found that the room is very affordable, has bathtub (always a plus!) and have amenities such as a spa, gym and dip pool! In addition it is just a 15 mins walk to Ayala Mall!
Huge bed in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Entrance and lobby of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
The deluxe room at Castle Peak Hotel only costs $57! The great thing is that the new wing is newly renovated and everything had a new feel to it…
Bath Tub in Deluxe room of Castle Peak Hotel
Watching TV while having a bath!
Take a tour of the Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel with our video!
Facilities and Amenities of Castle Peak Hotel
The best part of Castle Peak Hotel’s facilities has got to be the SPA!! This is because, the massage costs only 400 pesos ($11.50SGD!) while the manicure and pedicure costs only 100 pesos! Here’s the best bit…the spa closes at 2am! Which means that you can head out to Ayala Mall to shop, have your dinner, chill and have some drinks before going back to Castle Peak to unwind with a massage! Shiok!
Dipping pool at the Spa
In addition, for a price of between 200 to 450 pesos, you can use the gym as well as the dipping pool of Castle Peak Hotel. Breakfast was also relatively decent at 200 pesos per person. Although we did not like their chocolate rice porridge, we loved their dang hoon (green bean vermicelli)!
Buffet Breakfast at Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Castle Peak Hotel Cebu Philippines
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If you’re plannning to get from Singapore to Cebu, this post can give you a glimpse of how the planning can be done…
Flights from Singapore to Cebu
There are several flights from Singapore to Cebu which includes Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and China Eastern. Direct flights will take about 4 hours while non-direct flights with stop over at Manila may take up to 8 hours.
Shorter flight times usually translate to a higher cost. But sometimes, the additional time in Cebu may be well worth the cost (think both ways!)
From Changi Airport Singapore to Mactan Cebu International Airport
White Cab at Domestic Departure Cebu Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport
The Mactan Cebu International Airport is a small airport. So you dont have worry about losing your way after the customs. There are actually only 3 carousels for our luggage. However, we did wait for quite a while before our luggage came out. For a moment, we thought that we might actually have to activate our travel insurance!
How to get a taxi at Mactan Cebu International Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
There are some “taxis” waiting for you at the arrival area. HOWEVER, the official area to catch a cab is at the domestic departure area – the building opposite! So what you will have to do is to
1. Cross the road from the Arrival Hall
2. Walk up a slope and enter the next building
3. Continue walking along the path till you exit the building
4. If you’re lost, ask the friendly security guard for the “White Taxis”
You will then see this row of white cabs and there will be a guard standing at the front of the line to write down the license plates of the taxis. He will then pass you the slip of paper…
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
This slip of paper actually helps to ensure that you are charged at the correct price and if you have any complaints against the cab, you can raise it to the appropriate authorities.
If you see that the cab is clean and the uncle speaks good English, you wish to hire him for a day tour. That’s where your negotiation skills come into play…
Flight from Singapore to Cebu
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Village Hotel Katong Staycation. Singapore Staycations have grown in popularity among Singaporeans in recent times and this can actually be proven by asking your friends a simple question – “Do you know what is a ‘staycation’?”. These days, they may just give you a wierd look and think to themselves “Where have you been man? Staycation is a word play of the words “vacation” and “stay” – meaning a holiday while staying in locally”. But if you posed the same question 5 years ago, you may still be greeted with a wierd look but a totally different thought of “Whaaaaat??”
Thanks to the great people at Far East Hospitality, we were invited to a staycation at the newly refurbished Village Hotel Katong (formerly known as East Village Hotel and Paramount Hotel before that). The best thing about staying in the Katong enclave is that there are so many things to do in Katong that are so easily within reach! All within walking distance from Village Hotel Katong!
For those who do not already know, the Katong/Joo Chiat area is an idyllic enclave in the eastern part of Singapore that is rich in colonial history and Peranakan culture and Village Hotel Katong is right in the middle of all of that, allowing you to indulge in a staycation while reveling in the history and culture of an Uniquely Singapore experience!
But first, let’s check out the club room that the hotel has kindly arranged for us…
Village Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerLobby of Village Hotel Katong – accessible via level 2 or 3 of Katong V Retail MallReception of Village Hotel Katong
Club Room with Peranakan Lounge Access at Village Hotel Katong
Let’s take a look at the video tour of the Club Room of Village Hotel Katong first shall we?
Video Tour of Club Room Village Hotel Katong
For us, one of the biggest draw of the room has got to be the Peranakan feel that the room exuberates. The hotel spares no effort in bringing out the rich heritage of Katong right in your own room…
Peranakan tea pot in Village Hotel Katong Club RoomPainting of Peranakan kitchen waresElegant blue and inviting bed of Club Room Village Hotel KatongPeranakan-inspired prints on the walls in the bathroom
The bathroom also comes with a standing rain shower. It really revitalised us after a day spent out exploring what Katong has to offer…
Standing rain showerView from the balcony of Club Room at Village Hotel Katong
There’s also a balcony that gives you a view of the surroundings (as you’ve seen from the video). The thing that you will have to note is that because of the “Pyramid” shape of the hotel, the larger rooms are below (club rooms are at level 5 and 6) while the deluxe and superior rooms are located at the higher levels. But at higher levels, you may actually have views of the sea! That’s the trade-off that you will have to decide on…size or view, size or view??
Facilities at Village Hotel Katong
Located beneath the hotel is the Katong V retail mall. It’s quite small really but it is anchored by Fairprice Finest allowing you to get your necessities – a stone’s throw away.
Katong V retail mall beneath Village Hotel Katong
As with all 4-stars hotel, Village Hotel Katong has facilities that include a swimming pool, gym, restaurant (Katong Kitchen) as well as a club lounge known as the Peranakan Lounge…
Swimming pool with Village Hotel Katong TowerSwimming pool of Village Hotel Katong
We thoroughly enjoyed our swim at Village Hotel Katong. It was a hot and sunny day and that gave us a good tan! Moreover, the depth of the pool varies (from 1.2m to 1.8m), allowing tall swimmers like us to enjoy a relaxing afternoon swim. There are also deck chairs for you to just laze and take things down a notch.
Gym of Village Hotel KatongKatong Kitchen – serves up peranakan dishes with international buffet spread
Katong Kitchen is the place where you’ll head to for breakfast. Surprisingly, the food was actually quite good for breakfast standards. Tasted much better than some 4 stars hotel breakfast that we’ve been to.
Breakfast at Village Hotel Katong
The breakfast at Village Hotel Katong was surprisingly good and the choice was quite extensive as well. Take a look!
Cereals and milkYoghurt and fruit bitsPastriesCold cuts and cheeses Hot dishes Village Hotel Katong Breakfast – including fried kuay teow, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, sausages, prata and curry chickenEgg station – for sunny side up and omelettesNasi Lemak – A highlight of breakfast at Katong Kitchen Village Hotel Katong!Our 1st round of food at Katong KitchenNasi Lemak Katong Kitchen
If you only have room for 1 dish, you have got to try the Nasi Lemak. Rice was especially fragrant and we realised that it was cooked not only with pandan leaves but also lemon grass – giving it that unique taste. The condiments of ikan bilis,peanuts,belachan egg, chicken chunks (there was chicken wings as well) plus the nonya achar, made the dish all that special. There’s also a noodles station, porridge and dim sum (har gau / chicken pau) for those who yearns for alternatives.
All in all, Katong Kitchen’s breakfast offered great taste and an excellent variety of choices. Yum!
Peranakan Lounge Village Hotel Katong
To truly enjoy a staycation at Village Hotel Katong, you MUST opt for the Club Room with access to the Peranakan Lounge. Drinks (including soft drinks/coffee/tea) and snacks are served at the lounge throughout the day…
Peranakan Lounge at Level 6 of Village Hotel KatongSeating areas in Peranakan Lounge – suitable for meetingsMore seating areas notice how each table only has 2 chairs They’re actually facing a TVSnacks includes cookies and jelly beans/marshmallows for the kidsPeranakan Lounge’s Coffee making machineLook at the exquisite arrangements of the snacks and those intricate peranakan serving dish!
The REAL reason why the Peranakan Lounge access makes your staycation all that more wonderful is because of the evening cocktails from 6pm to 8pm! You’ll get free flow, FREE-FLOW of beers, liquors and wine and finger food to go along as well!
Free flow of alcoholic beverages during cocktails at Village Hotel Katong Peranakan LoungeSatay and quicheFish and chicken chunksRich smooth chocolate cakeCold cut and fruitsOur first round (of many) at the Peranakan Lounge Village Hotel Katong
The other cool thing is that you’ll be served at the lounge! We just went in, sat down and were promptly served by the staff of the Peranakan Lounge. All you have to do is choose a comfortable spot. While you chill at the lounge, you can choose to watch some TV or read the newspapers (something that Tom enjoys) and magazines.
Why do a Singapore Staycation at Village Hotel Katong?
Besides enjoying a comfortable, relaxing and rejuvenating stay at the Village Hotel Katong, the main draw of the staycation here is the proximity to the attractions at the Katong enclave. The great people of Far East Hospitality has even done up a booklet that tells you the things to do in Katong while you’re staying at Village Hotel Katong…
Attractions in and around Village Hotel Katong
There are really many things to do and attractions in Katong. You may also be wondering what are the things to eat in Katong? Well, we’ll talk more about that in our next post. But to be sure, there are tons of shopping options at I12 Katong (not 112), Parkway Parade Shopping Centre and Roxy Square. Food options abound at Marine Parade Food Centre and the famous joints (such as 328 Katong Laksa, Ampang Niang Tou Fu, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery and Yong’s Teochew Kueh).
How to get to Village Hotel Katong
Village Hotel Katong is located at 25 Marine Parade S449536. If you’re driving like us (parking is complimentary), you can enter into the carpark of Village Hotel Katong via Marine Parade or East Coast Road.
If you go by public transport, the buses 15,31,36,43,48,76,135,196,196e,197,853C and 966 stops opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre. Buses 10,10e,12,14,14e,32 and 40 stops at Roxy Square. Both bus stops are 2 minutes walk from Village Hotel Katong.
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We thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at Village Hotel Katong and we think that Far East Hospitality has got the Singapore Staycation formula right on. Just like our Village Hotel Changi staycation, both hotels offers an excellent base to rediscover the gems and unique attractions that Singapore offers. The formula is right in that staycations are no longer about luxuries of a hotel (that is a must-have) but also what one can discover around the precinct of the hotel.
*Special thanks once again to Far East Hospitality for inviting us for this staycation and kudos to the staff of Village Hotel Katong for excellent service rendered to us during our stay!
P.S. To Jennesa and Josephine, thanks for making our stay extra special by tending to our request and addressing our queries with such excellent service. Was particularly impressed with Josephine’s starting line of “Sorry to keep you waiting” eventhough we merely stood in line for 5 seconds. Great service overall, kudos to the team at VH Katong!
Marine Parade Food Centre is one of the highly rated hawker centres in Singapore and many will ask “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre ah?”. So during our recent staycation at Village Hotel Katong, we decided to check out the food centre and tell you what are some of the recommended stalls here…
Recommended foods at Marine Parade Food Centre
Xing Long Cooked Food
Xing Long Cooked Food – Economical Rice aka 杂菜饭 at Marine Parade Food Centre
Netizens have been recommending this stall for its otah,fried potato balls, curry chicken, lemon chicken among others. This time, we tried the stir fried chicken, potato balls,otah and because we saw many going for the fried fish, we had it as well. Our choices was also fuelled by Uncle’s incessant “来” (meaning “come” – what else?)
The total damage? $6.30!! The most we’ve ever paid for economical rice!!
$6.30 economic rice at Xing Long Cooked Food
Truth be told, we’re just too greedy and wanted to try all the recommended dishes here. Therefore the price became quite ridiculous (it’s actually a 4-meat rice). This is because even in the potato balls, there’s some beef rolled into it. To be fair, the food was not bad. The otah otah had a firm texture (not the soft slimy kind) while the fish bits stood out from the curry flavour (unlike some with curry and no fish). The stir fried chicken has some kind of satay sauce fried into it which tasted quite unique. There was nothing too special about the potato balls and fried fish though. Fish was fresh and there was a slight crisp on the outside. But that was it.
So for $6.30? It’s definitely on the high side.
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak – Marine Parade Food Centre
The special thing about Hup Lee is that usually you’ll find $2 nasi lemak but this stall offers the same ingredients with Bee Hoon instead. Definitely an excellent price for a hearty breakfast meal.
Neptune Dim Sum
Neptune Dim Sum Marine Parade Food Centre
We did not manage to (or have the stomach to) try out this stall. However, many netizens have recommended the dim sum here. Have you tried it? Do let us know in the comments section below!
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow Marine Parade Food Centre
Another recommended stall at Marine Parade Food Centre. We were contemplating whether to go for this or give the hokkien mee a few stalls down a try. We decided to go for the latter. But according to the queues (and the look of Uncle Apollo), it seems that this is must-try as well.
Seremban Beef Noodles
Seremban Beef Noodles Marine Parade Food Centre
We’ve tried the beef noodles during our last visit here and thought that the taste was indeed good. It reminded us of the same traditional (dry version) of the beef noodles we had when we were young. Nowadays, the dried version of the gravy seems to be either too sweet or too salty. Seremban got it just right. There’s just one gripe that we have and we would just like to remind our readers to request the Aunty to cook the beef just a tad bit more (ensure that the colour changes!) If you know what we mean…
Hokkien Fried Noodles
Hokkien Fried Noodles (next to Seremban Beef Noodles) Marine Parade Food Centre
There are usually 2 versions of the Hokkien Fried Noodles. The dry and sticky version with all the taste infused into the noodles or this, the slightly wet version. Of course, we prefer the dry version. So it was with some prejudice that we tried this version at Marine Parade Food Centre. We also noticed that the uncle did not really “fry” the noodles but more of “stirring” the noodles into the soup. As a result, as expected, the noodles did not turn out as good as other versions we’ve tried. For the slightly wet version, Tiong Bahru and Clementi still tastes better. But as a consolation, as you work towards the end of the plate, you’ll taste the gravy and its quite sweet and delicious. Perhaps frying a little longer (and harder) would have made the difference.
Again, many have raved about the chicken curry puff at Marine Parade Food Centre. And it did not disappoint. The outer layer was puffy and crispy (bits dropped off as we went in for our first bite). The puff was still piping hot – an indication of fresh ingredients and regular crowd. Last but most importantly, the curry inside oozed out as you bite into it. This is in stark contrast to the usual “dry on the inside” versions that you would have.
So a thumbs up for the Katong Chicken Curry Puff!
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To enjoy these foods, why not do a staycation at Village Hotel Katong as well? Do try out the foods at Marine Parade Food Centre and let us know what you think thereafter!
Katong & Joo Chiat is an idyllic, culturally and historically rich area set in the eastern part of Singapore. There are actually quite a number of things you can do in Katong and this post will cover some of the interesting parts of this heritage area in Singapore.
Introduction to the Katong and Joo Chiat Area
As we exited ECP and entered into the Katong area, there was a breath of tranquility that filled the air. The contrast was stark because of the “hustle” of the traffic on the expressway and when you enter the precinct, it seems like time has gone back to a more serene era filled with old world charms.
According to the introduction, the area used to be a sea-side resort for the rich in the 18th to 19th century. Today, the Marine Parade Road marks where the original shore line was. Imagine the amount of land we reclaimed!
Old World Charms in Katong
We started off the morning with breakfast at Chin Mee Chin confectionary.
Traditional setting in Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
CMC is an old-school kopitiam that serves up traditional kaya and butter toasts. The unique part is that the toasts are on buns and the kaya is home-made, preserving that eggy (not the sweet overpowering type) taste of kaya. Our favourite was the cream cone. Really light for the cream (a little saltish) which went really well with the crispy outer layer of the cone and the kopi…
Breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
After the hearty breakfast, we continued on our walk around Joo Chiat and came across some architectures that were an unique fusion of chinese, malay, peranakan, colonial british and other old world charms…
Stretch of Peranakan-styled houses at Koon Seng road5 foot walkway – an iconic feature of chinese architectureFusion of colonial British and Peranakan architectureFurniture shop – using rattan as the main material!Haven’t seen one these 10cents coin telephone for a whileRow of shop houses in the dayEateries along the shop houses at nightUnderground walkways connecting Katong to East Coast Park – Notice the old-school tiles!
What to eat in Katong
When it comes to food, Katong has build quite a reputation for itself. This is a quick snapshot of the famous eateries in Katong and you should give them a try. They’re really quite good…
328 Katong Laksa
328 Katong LaksaActual stall of 328 Katong Laksa
There are two 328 Katong Laksa along Marine Parade Road and the unique thing about Katong Laksa? Yes, you can eat it by using a spoon because the vermicelli has been cut to “spoon-enabled” lengths…
328 Katong Laksa – great with its sedap chili!
Sometimes, when a stall is famous, you become skeptical. Especially for local hawker fare. Why? Well, simply because I have my favourites and you have yours. But this version? It’s REALLY GOOD. Here’s why.
First of all, the laksa soup is flavourful, rich with traces of shrimps and spices. By itself, it is not too spicy. But there are containers-full of home-made chili on the table for those of you who likes to spice it up a little. Speaking of the chili, it is the other main draw. The chili packs a punch and you can taste the hei bi (little shrimps) infused into the chili. Mixed into the soup? Simply sedap! Last but not least, for $4.50, one would think that you’ve been ripped off. But the fact is, there are alot of cockles, 3 prawns and seemingly endless amount of sliced fish cake that makes every spoon a chock-full of goodness! Now we understand why its so famous…
Marine Parade Food Centre
Yummy things to eat at Marine Parade Food Center Katong!
There are so MANY things to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre that we wrote a separate post just to cover “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre“. The standard of hawker food is quite high. But along with that, the prices as well. We noticed that in general, for a hawker centre, the prices are above average with char kway teow prices starting at $3. Perhaps it is due to the “atas” (high class) clientele in the area of Katong and Joo Chiat. But still, food such as the economical rice, curry puff, char kway teow and beef noodles are still worth a visit!
Yong’s Teochew Kueh
Yong’s Teochew Kueh Katong
Teochew oldies swear by this brand and you can often see them as gifts among friends. This is because of the tasty kuehs such as soon kueh (vege filled insides wrapped with a white outer layer) and peng kueh (rice filled insides with the iconic pink outer layer shaped like a tear-drop) that they offer. We prefer the fried version of peng kueh, cant really beat the taste when its fresh off the kwali (aka wok).
Ampang Niang Tou Fu
Ampang Niang Tou Fu Katong
The first time we tasted Ampang Niang Tou Fu was eons ago. But the taste was really unique and we can still remember it today. It is the sauce that makes this Hakka version of the Niang Tou Fu so special. Price wise, not as cheap as your regular yong tau fu. But you will enjoy the sauce in which it is prepared which goes especially well with the rice.
Peramakan
Peramakan at Santa Grand Hotel Katong
For a taste of traditional Peranakan food, head to Peramakan – a nonya family restaurant. Essentially, everything there is good. SERIOUS! Every dish was a surprise and with the fragrant (unlimited) rice, it just all came together. Ideas of family, home-cooked food, rich peranakan heritage all infused into the food served at Peramakan.
But if we really have to choose, we’ll highlight the Ikan Garam Assam, Beef Rendang, Nonya Chap Chye, Ayam Buah Keluak and durian pengat as the must-try at Peramakan!
What to do in Katong
East Coast Park
East Coast Park is within walking distance of the Katong precinct and is an excellent venue for the family. For physical activities, you can choose to bike, blade or jog along the long stretch of path along the beach. For those who are into extreme sports, you can opt for wake boarding (aka cable skiing) at Ski 360.
For the older folks who want to take it down a notch, BBQ is always a favourite. Fishing and camping by the beach are other things you can enjoy at East Coast Park. For us, the best part of East Coast Park? Enjoying the views by the beach and the sea breeze…
Views by the beach at East Coast Park
360 Tour of East Coast Park with views of Marina Bay Sands
I12 Katong (Not 112 Katong!!) – For movies, shopping and diningParkway Parade Shopping CentreVillage Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerShopping in the Marine Parade Heartlands!
Night Life in Katong
If you’re thinking of having a night out, the area near I12 Katong has some options including Alibabar and Brotzeit. We had some drinks ($9.90 nett) and the char kway teow ($5) which by the way was quite tasty and the portion was huge! Good for 2 to share.
Alibabar at KatongInside Alibabar Char kway teow and beers at Alibabar
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There are many things to do in Macao and many attractions as well. But if you ask me what are the MUST do things in Macao, this is our list of the top 5 MUST DO things in Macao…
Macau’s famous Portuguese eggtartThis version has a slightly salty but flavourful pork with fatty bits and chewy bun – 20MOP
Portuguese egg tarts are world renowned because of its crispy yet flaky outer crust with its rich egg tart fillings. Pork buns on the other hand is flavourful with a tinge of fatty guilt. Yum!
Travel Tip : When you see a stall with portuguese egg tarts or pork buns, DO NOT WAIT TO TRY THEM! Just stop, get one to share. Otherwise, you may just tell yourself that “there will be another stall” and eventually when you leave Macao, you may not have tried them at all!
3. MUST TRY – Sampling at Koi Kei Bakery (鉅記)
Koi Kei Pastry (鉅記) Macau – Dont forget to try the almond cookies & seaweed eggrolls!
There are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many Koi Kei Bakery stalls in Macao and at almost every turn of the street in the city centre, you may stumble upon one! The best part is that sampling at Koi Kei Bakery is free! There are so many products to choose from including almond, cashew, walnut cookies and an assortment of candies and gifts. But our favourite is the Egg Roll With Seaweed And Shredded Pork. Especially when it is freshly made!
Travel Tip 1 : You will have to lurk inconspicuously while maintaining “surveillance” over the tables as the chefs out on their final touches before the cookies, candies or egg rolls are complete. In this way, you will be able to sample the freshest bakes from Koi Kei!
Travel Tip 2 : Always go Koi Kei on an empty stomach (a cup of coffee is preferred). You may be tempted to try so many of its products that it can actually become a light meal!
4. MUST SEE – Cotai Strip
The Venetian Macau Cotai Strip
Modelled after the Strip in Las Vegas USA, Cotai Strip is the entertainment arena of Macao. With shows, shopping and many top notch restaurants here, you will be spoilt for choice on what to do next in Macao.
5. MUST ENJOY – Luxury Hotels
Indoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!
Pamper yourself in one of the many luxury hotels in Macao. Our stay at the Hotel Royal Macau was an enjoyable and it did not cost us a bomb. So kick back, relax and lap up the life of luxury in Macao!
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There are actually many things to do in Hong Kong. Attractions in Hong Kong abound as well! But to sum up our recent trip, here are 21 Amazing Travel Experiences in Hong Kong you ought to check out!
Things to do, Attractions and Travel Experiences in Hong Kong
1. Breathtaking views overlooking Victoria Harbour
View overlooking Sky 100 from Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan
For a room with the best views over Victoria Harbour, look no further than Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan. The rooms are decent and the price is reasonable. A night here will make your stay in Hong Kong a very much memorable one.
Read more about our stay at Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan.
2. How about views over Tsuen Wan Harbour?
Bathtub and shower capsule with view of Tsuen Wan Harbour
Bruce Lee’s statue added in 2005 to the Avenue of Stars
Many would say a visit to Hong Kong would not be complete without a visit to the Avenue of the Stars. With stars such as the “Four Heavenly Kings” (who can both sing and act by the way) among the many Hong Kong celebrities, who can dispute that Hong Kong is indeed the Hollywood of the East?
4. Ocean Park
Ocean Park Ocean Theatre Dolphins leaping beside its trainers
Having been around for 40 years, is Ocean Park still worth a visit? Our answer is a resounding YES! With shows, rides, attractions and play area for the kids, Ocean Park is really an attraction in Hong Kong for the entire family!
5. Countdown at Victoria Harbour
Crowd waiting for fireworks and countdown at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
Start of Mid Level Escalator Stairs at Queens Road
Originally built to reduce travelling time between Queens Road and Conduit Road, this 800 metre stretch of escalator and walkway system in the longest in the world. Through this walkway, the Mid Level Escalators also cover an ascent of 135 metres. Today, it is very much a tourist attraction as it is a form of commute for Hong Kongers.
Where to shop in Hong Kong
People always say Hong Kong is about 买东西,吃东西 (buy stuff, eat stuff). It’s true! And here’s a low down of where you can shop till your heart’s content in Hong Kong…
7. Temple Street Market
Night Market at Temple Street
There are several night markets in Hong Kong and Temple Street is one of the more prominent ones. Here you can pick up clothings, bags, souvenirs and gifts. Just remember to haggle a bit and compare prices before making the deal!
8. Ladies Street
Ladies Street near to Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
Another prominent market is Ladies Street at Mong Kok. Do not be fooled by the name as the stalls here do not only offer products for ladies. Like Temple Street, Ladies Street offer a 1 kilometre stretch of shopping options that caters to your bargaining desires!
Entrance to Elements Shopping Mall from Kowloon MTR
For more conventional shopping options, visit Elements Shopping Mall at Kowloon. With its 5 different zones (Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire, Water) and a myriad of shopping options, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you visit Elements.
10. Citygate Outlet Mall Tung Chung
Shopping galore at Citygate Outlets Hong Kong!
For luxury shopping at affordable prices, head on down to Citygate Outlet Mall at Tung Chung. Having been to Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet in the USA, we did not think that we would be doing much shopping here. We were wrong. Prices were quite attractive but do note that they could be off-season items. Nonetheless, a good shopping destination in Hong Kong.
Where to eat in Hong Kong
11. Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Touted as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan serves up dim sum the way it is supposed to be. Do not miss the “Four Heavenly Kings” that include the famous baked bun with BBQ Pork (above). Definitely better than the one that has opened in Singapore. Do check out our Minimalist Guide to Eating at Tim Ho Wan.
12. Lei Garden (Atas Chinese Food)
Baked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Lei Garden Hong Kong
You may expect to pay a little bit more at Lei Garden, but you will not regret the experience. We were pleasantly surprised and were eagerly anticipating how the next dish would turn out as we tucked into a sumptious meal here. Great service and ambience too!
13. Lan Fong Yuen Milk Tea
Lan Fong Yuen Hong Kong Butter Po Luo You and Milk Tea at 13hkd and 16 hkd respectively
Serving up cups of milk tea since 1952, Lan Fong Yuen is the place to go to enjoy a taste of traditional milk tea at a traditional setting (old kopitiam style). While at it, do try out their bo luo you (but maybe not the pork bun…)
14. Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop (麦文记面家)
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
For some of the best noodles that Hong Kong has to offer, head right on to Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop. I tell you, the noodles are Q (springy), ingredients are fresh and generous. One word to sum it up. SHIOK!
15. Desserts at Austraian Dairy Company
Steamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong
Still have no idea why its called Australian Dairy Company (when it’s in Hong Kong!!). But you’ve got to try their steamed egg puddings. Both white and yellow versions are unique experiences that we’ve tried for the first time here. Creation of a genius.
16. Dim Sum at Lian Xiang Ju
Traditional setting at Lian Xiang Ju – Can you spot the Ang Mo in this photo
For a more traditional setting for dim sum, Lian Xiang Ju is a great place that we accidentally stumbled upon (by stalking an old aunty no less). No regrets here. Great food, old world charm in its setting at a great price. Even ang mos visit! Maybe we should continue stalking old aunties and uncles? :p Read more about our visit to Lian Xiang Ju here.
This is a special mention for the best congee we’ve ever eaten. It is from Hai Xing Congee shop. No, we do not know where it is (ah!!) because we just headed into a place for breakfast and that was it. But the taste was just ma ma mia! Rich, flavourful and milky (yes we do not know how they do it but it is really milky in a savoury, nice kind of way). Definitely an unforgettable experience.
PLEASE tell us its location in the comments section below if you know where it is!!
18. How about some street food?
Hong Kong Fishballs in curry – 6 for 5HKDEgg Waffles Hong Kong for 7 HKD – Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside
Tuck into street foods such as curry fishballs, lok lok, instant noodles and those small round egg waffles known as 鸡蛋仔. You’ll know it when you see it, just follow your senses (yes, sense of smell).
19. How a typical Hong Kong Cafe is like
A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)
You have not been to Hong Kong unless you’ve visited a Hong Kong Cafe. Feel the vibe, order the toast, milk tea and instant noodles. Feel how the waiters hover over your tables, like bald eagles, waiting to swoop in when your plates and cups are empty. That is the way of life dude.
Side trips from Hong Kong
20. Shen Zhen
Entrance to Old Dong Men Shopping District (老东门商城)
You may want to make only 1 trip to Shen Zhen while you’re in Hong Kong. Just to shop and eat at a much cheaper price across the border. Nonetheless, being restricted in use of credit cards was a first for us (VISA and MASTERCARDS are not accepted in Shen Zhen or at least not commonly). Makes you re-think how much you rely on your cards these days.
21. Macao
Ruins of St Paul with long flight of stairs – middle of stairs
There are so many things to do and attractions in Macau! Visit the historic centre of Macao, tuck into the famous portuguese egg tart or simply take in the sights and sounds. Macau is definitely an excellent side trip from Hong Kong.
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On our last day of Hong Kong, we wanted to try out food at one of the food courts which we saw during the last couple of days while venturing the streets of Hong Kong. However, to our horror, the food court was closed!
Tom saw an old lady heading into a building, seemingly looking for breakfast. So we followed. The next thing we knew, we were in a lift! While in the lift, we were still wondering where we were going…but since we were surrounding by friendly grandpas and grandmas, what could go wrong right? The worst case would be to take the lift down again. Well, we were pleasantly surprised as we stumbled upon a traditional dim sum restaurant!
Aunty frying turnip cakes and other cakes in this make shift fryer in Lian Xiang Ju
As we sat down and looked at the menu, we finally realised that we were in Lian Xiang Ju…
Dim Sum Menu at Lian Xiang Ju – Actually recommended in Michelin Guide!
A quick search online will allow you to find out that Lian Xiang Ju is very much a traditional dim sum restaurant where servers still push trays of dim sum around to the customers for them to choose (similar to Red Star Restaurant in Singapore). The decor is very 70s and strangers just get seated with each other.
Traditional setting at Lian Xiang Ju – Can you spot the Ang Mo in this photo
We were soon served our tea in teapots and we observed how the uncles and aunty pour their tea. There’s actually a few steps.
1. Washing of EVERYTHING. And you thought you will only need to wash the cups right? Wrong! You’ll first need to use the hot water to sort of “disinfect” everything on the table including the cups, plates and chopsticks by pouring hot water (from the teapot) over them and into a basin provided.
2. Allow tea to sit. Tea has to sit in the water and allow the aroma to be infused into the tea for a couple of minutes before it is eventually served.
3. Enjoy. After a few minutes of “Ooo Ooo Ah Ah”, “Ouch Ouch”, “Hot Hot”…
Then we went straight into business and ordered our breakfast!
Siew Mai (16HKD) from Lian Xiang Ju – Fresh prawns within!Chee Cheong Fun (18HKD vermicelli roll) with minced chicken fillingsChar Siew Bao (18HKD) Lian Xiang Ju Restaurant – Yummy sweet filling with onions and fluffy outer layerFried Wanton (16HKD) – VERY crispy outer layer with big fresh prawns, went well with sweet sauce providedBeancurd Skin Wrap (20HKD) – Skin absorbed the tastes of the huge mushroom, chicken and fish maw within, Shiok!Traditional way of recording your expenditure – through stamping!Took a photo of Lian Xiang Ju when we left
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Lian Xiang Ju is definitely a recommended dim sum venue for cheap traditional food in a old Hong Kong setting! Just before we ended our meal, we ordered the char siew bo luo bao for take-away. We did not know there were so many in 1 order, so we gave 2 to the aunty and uncle who sat with us. We could see their faces lit up and we were glad that we shared 🙂
After the hearty meal, we took our luggage from Ibis Hotel and headed to Bi Sheung Wan where we took the city flyer A11 direct to the airport for only 40HKD. There’s even free wifi onboard the bus! Yes, the bus!
Queue for bus A11 outside of Ibis sheung wan 40hkd only with wifi onboard!
The last thing you will need to do is to remember to refund deposit for your octopus card. You can do so at the transport counter at the airport. The same counter where we bought the card on our 1st day…
Refund included at 9hkd handling fee plus whatever is left on your card
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of our Hong Kong trip, every single day for the last month! Do let us hear about your thoughts in the comments section below!
Happy Travels Everyone!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
Related Posts
You have just finished a post on our 9 day trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shen Zhen. Read on to find out more about our adventures during this trip!
After 8 days in Hong Kong, I realised that I have not tried the instant noodles in Hong Kong Cafes! Kate on the other hand thinks that its just instant noodles (for crying out loud!). So, I went into the pestering mode. Pestered and pestered and pestered. Eventually, Kate relented and we got to “been there done that” and tried the satay beef version of the noodles, bread set (that included egg and sausage – part of the conventional 港式公仔面) and the famous po luo you (bun with sweet crispy top sandwich a generous slice of butter!)
While in Central, many would flock (literally! See the queue below!) to Jenny Bakery at Melbourne Plaza to get their hands on their famous biscuits!
Long Queue outside Jenny Bakery at Melbourne Plaza Hong Kong
We bought 4 boxes of mixed cookies at 60HKD each! (Since you’re already there, might as well just buy more right?)
4 boxes of Jenny Bakery mixed cookies – Butter and Coffee Biscuits of conventional and crumbly texture!Cute Bear for cookie box
The REASON why Jenny Bakery is SO POPULAR is because the cookies are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO crumbly! You can literally pop one into your mouth, wriggle your tongue around and soon, the cookie will just “dissolve” in your mouth! Actually, one box is never enough. You can finish 1 box quite easily in one sitting – so be careful about pounding on those extra calories!
Lei Garden at International Finance Center Central
We were told that a visit to Lei Garden was in order because of the excellent food that it serves as well as the great price you’ll get in Hong Kong (compared to Singapore its about 30 percent cheaper). Well, we were wonderfully surprised by our visit here as our tummies (and palate) were treated to a gastronomic fiesta!
Lei Garden at IFC Central Hong Kong Level 3
Here are highlights of some of the dishes we thoroughly enjoyed!
Juicy pork dumplings – bursting with juices on the first bite, topped with a light crispy rice paperBaked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Roasted Crispy Duck Lei GardenHand pulled noodles in lobster soup Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
Mid Level Escalators Stairs – Longest Walkway System in the World!
Next we visited the Mid Level Escalators walkway system. It was designed as a system to allow commuters to travel to the Mid Levels starting from Queens Road all the way to Conduit Road.
View of stairs going to SOHO – a row of pubs cafe and restaurants along the stairs
Today, it is also a tourist attraction. Spanning 800 metres, the entire journey (without walking) takes about 20 minutes and travels up an elevation of 135 metres. Read more about our visit to the Mid Level Escalators!
Chillax at SOHO
After visiting the Mid Level Escalators, we took a short walk to SOHO to round up our night. SOHO is somewhat like Holland Village in Singapore where you have pubs, bars and cafes where friends hangout and people gather to see and to be seen.
And so we headed to Hong Kong Brew House for some fresh brews (beers, not tea)…
Hong Kong Brewery SOHO Central Hong KongFunny description of Boring and Premium beers
Looking at the menu, of course we went for house draft instead of boring beers right?
Pale Ale and Lager – Reasonably priced at 44HKD per pint
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There’s also free flow of nuts that came along with the drinks and everyone just threw the shells EVERYWHERE on the floor! Be careful! You might just trip over a mountain of peanut shells!
Stay tuned for Day 9 (final day) of our Hong Kong trip tomorrow! We had a lucky find…
On Day 7 of our Hong Kong trip, Kate planned for a trip to Shen Zhen. In the morning, we woke up (stayed at Ah Shan Hostel) and started to look for a typical Hong Kong Cafe for our breakfast. We visited a congee place and had one of the best boatsman congee (艇仔粥)!
Of course we had more than that for breakfast (I mean with Tom around)…
Fried dough that remained crispy after dipping into soyabean milk – 11 HKDPeanut butter and condensed milk toast – 11 HKD
After a hearty meal, we headed to the Mong Kok MTR where we took a 40 mins ride to Luo Hu checkpoint at Shen Zhen China.
Luo Hu Port
The truth is that a trip from Hong Kong to Shen Zhen is very much like a trip from Singapore to Malaysia. Through the higher standard of living, commuters derive a higher purchasing power at the neighbouring city. So likewise, we went shopping!
Cheap Manicure
Kate did her manicure for ONLY 15RMB (2.5USD!!)
Cheap Food
Lunch at Dong Men Food Court – Loads of variety (and BBQ meat) at much cheaper prices compared to HK
Cheap Shopping
Endless shopping opportunities for you shopaholics out there!
Frankly speaking, it was relatively mundane and we would prolly not make another trip over if we were to visit Hong Kong (rather use the time to find more dim sum places in Hong Kong!)
And it was with a disappointing heart that we tucked into bed that evening.
But as they say, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!” and our Hong Kong trip is still not over yet! Stay tuned for more recommendations (more hits than misses) in our last 2 days in Hong Kong!
Bomb raid shelter and walls of the Guia FortressGuia Lighthouse and Guia Chapel
Although it was a challenge for both Kate and I (absolutely not for the faint of hearts!), it was also absolutely rewarding to enjoy the views at the top and to finally have visited one of the major attractions of the Historical Centre of Macao.
After returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon, we headed to our next rest stop – Ah Shan Hostel. Another no-frills hostel, the room came with attached bathroom, TV as well as a bed, sufficient for the both of us.
Decent room at Ah Shan Hostel Hong Kong for 70SGD – Queen sized bed with attached bathroomSmall Toilet and Bath at Ah Shan Hostel Hong Kong
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!Went for the Beef Chee Cheong Fun instead – 18HKDBeef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Suffice to say that we were thoroughly satisfied without burning any holes in our pockets! To round up the evening, we headed for more shopping at Ladies Street – a night market selling clothes, bags, toys and souvenirs…
Mango Pomelo with 3 Mango Glutinuous Balls – 56 HKDMango Glutinous Balls – Eaten by Kate only!Bird’s nest with Fish Maw (Doesnt sound right does it!) but tasted surprisingly good with big chunks of coconut at the end!
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Day 5 of our Hong Kong, Macao, Shen Zhen trip sees us continuing our travels in Macao! After checking into Hotel Royal Macao, we started out on foot to visit the Historical Centre of Macao!
As our room was not ready as yet. We decided to head straight to the most iconic structure in Macao – Ruins of St. Paul’s!
Ruins of St Paul with long flight of stairs – middle of stairs
After visiting the ruins, Kate decided that she was too tired for a climb up to Mount Fortress. So Tom took the challenge (for our readers!) and ascended the fort…
Behind the Canons of Mount Fortress MacaoView from the top of Mount Fortress
The view from the top of Mount Fortress was indeed breath-taking. While there, you may also wish to decide on a visit to the Museum of Macau…
Macau Museum at the top of Mount Fortress
After descending down from the Fort, Kate and I headed back to the streets in the general direction of Senado Square. Along the way we savoured the tender pork bun!
Shopping Street Macao selling food snacks with abundance of almond cookie gift shops!Macao – Famous for its pork buns
After some quick bites, we proceeded to the area close to the Maritime Museum of Macao but stopped along the way to catch sights such as the St. Dominic’s Church @ Senado Square…
St. Dominic’s Church at Senado Square
Initially, we did not intend to enter the museum. However, as the sun started to bear down on us, we decided to go in – for a mere 10 MOP. Turns out to be a great decision as there was a good collection of exhibits and history about maritime in Macao (Portuguese & Chinese Maritime history too) for visitors to enjoy.
Macao Maritime Museum – Entry for only 10MOP!Wheel-driven boat – One of the great inventions in the 16th century by the Chinese
Following the visit, we headed back to our hotel and en-route, we took some scenic photos around the Sai Van Lake
Taken from Sai Van Lake with View of Grand Lisbon and WynnMacao Tower
Hotel Royal Macao was one of the best hotel we’ve decided to splurge on in Macao and here’s why…
Twin beds Superior for 117SGD a nightIndoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!
As the weather was actually quite cold, the indoor heated pool just made the swim all that relaxing (after all that walking!). Snoozing in the comfy bed also revitalised us for the evening ahead as we checked out the glitzy hotels of Macao!
Grand Lisboa – Looks grand on the outside but has some dodgy arcades within!Wynn Hotel Macao with dancing fountain much like that of Bellagio in Las VegasMGM Grand Macao
We then started to feel really peckish (Kate’s atas word for hungry) and we popped by Wa Fung dim sum restaurant. Turns out to be one of the best dim sums we had in a while!
Best Chee Cheung Fun EVER! – 26MOPSiew Mai – 20 MOP (2 prawns each and meat inside!)Custard Buns with juicy filling – 16MOP
To round off the night, we decided to head back to Senado Square to get some gifts and snacks for our friends and relatives. Along the way, we stopped by for some desserts – Red Bean Milk Pudding!
Night at Senado Square – To get some gifts (almond cookies!) and souvenirsRed Bean Milk Pudding – 25 MOP (Expensive and not as nice as the Australian Dairy Company)
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On the 4th day of our Hong Kong trip, Kate planned for us to take a side trip to Macau! In the morning of our 4th day, we decided to drop by the Kowloon Park…
The Kowloon Park is actually a great place for morning exercises and strolls. There’s also lakes such as this one where flamingos abound!
Kowloon Park
After a stroll, we decided to take a break at Macs for our 2nd breakfast (yes, eventhough we already had breakfast). The tonkotsu pasta with grilled chicken (something that you dont see in Singapore’s breakfast menu) was just too enticing! Not too bad actually, though you could taste that it came out of a pack of seasoning – still…
Breakfast at Macs – Tonkatsu based twisted pasta with grilled chicken
Then we moved on to the swimming complex and imagined how it would be like during summer months…
Public pool at 9HKD with indoor heated pool as well
Since it was a clear morning, we decided to head towards the Avenue of Stars to take some pictures of the day time. Along the way we passed by the atas Peninsula Arcade…
Peninsular Arcade – Cute Bear + Luxury Goods
And finally we chanced upon the clock tower as well!
Clock Tower Hong Kong close to the Avenue of the Stars
It was great to finally be able to take some pictures of the Avenue of the Stars in the day time. We also managed to identify some of our favourite stars…
Bruce Lee’s statue added in 2005 to the Avenue of Stars
Lan Fong Yuen
After searching online, we found great comments for the milk tea and buns at Lan Fong Yuen, so we decided to check it out…
Inside Lan Fong Yuen
This morning we tried the bo luo you, milk tea, coffee as well as the pork bun…
Butter Po Luo You and Milk Tea at 13hkd and 16 hkd respectively
After a hearty meal, we checked out and headed over to the ferry terminal to catch our ride to Macau. Along the way, we caught a looooooooooooooooong procession of lion dance…
Lion Dance TroupeLong procession of Lion Dance performers
Macau
We took the Cotai Water Jet to Macau
Ferry to Macau – 160HKD per person for 1 way ticket
To travel to Macau, you will have to purchase the ticket at the ferry terminal for 160hkd per person for a 1 way ticket. Since the frequency is quite high, you will just purchase the ticket and immediately head towards the berth for the next trip out. Ferry ride from Hong Kong to Macau takes about 1 hour and you can take the ferry from Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Regency Hotel Macau
After reaching Macau, we took one of the local buses which took us close to the Regency Hotel. The bus ride was relatively cheap and the Uncle was also quite friendly in guiding us to the correct bus stop. Remember to keep some change so that you can take the bus ride!
Regent Hotel Macau
After checking in, we decided to waste no time and headed to the Taipa Village. Enroute, we took a break at a cafe/restaurant and had some vermicelli and pork bun…
Chicken Chop with Bee Hoon & Yuan YangPork Chop Bun and Milk Tea
We tried the Chicken Chop with Bee Hoon as well as the Pork Chop Bun. Both sets came with drinks which was great. Costs about 30MOP.
Taipa Village Macau
After a 15 minutes walk, we finally reached Taipa Village. Here, we tried some of the local specialities, including the famous portuguese egg tarts.
Main Street at Taipa Village
One of the main attractions here is also the Houses Museum which depicts life during the colonial period.
Another short walk away was Cotai Strip where we enjoyed the views of the hotels along the strip. In addition, we managed to check out the Venetian, one of the main attractions here along the Cotai Strip. As it was the Christmas period, there was also the light display shown on the walls of the Venetian…
The Venetian Macau Cotai StripLight display on the Venetian Macau – Winter Time
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Day 3 of our Hong Kong trip was very much memorable. It was New Year’s Eve Countdown at Victoria Harbour! Kate also made an arrangement for us to visit Ocean Park in the morning so that we could fully utilise the entire day.
We checked into New China Yan Yan Guest House at Chung King Mansion and found out that rooms in Hong Kong can be really small…
Our encounter with small hostel rooms in Hong Kong
Small room at New China Yan Yan Guest House
Normally, you would hear stories about how small hostel (not hotel) rooms in Hong Kong can get? Sometimes even as small as 8 square metres! But when we actually saw it, we were not that surprised (guess managing expectations help) and we were actually quite happy that it had an attached toilet with shower point as well as a TV.
Since the room was just a place for the night, we immediately left for our next destination, Ocean Park Hong Kong!
Ocean Park Hong Kong is still worth a visit
Entrance to Ocean Park Hong Kong
You may be wondering that Ocean Park having opened more than 40 years ago, how good can it be right? We must say that it is still worth a visit! This is because, there is so much things to do and see for everyone in the family. From the youngest to the oldest.
For the young ones, there are dedicated play areas…
Whiskers Harbour – Kids Amusement Park
Rides for the adventurous ones…
Hair Raiser Roller Coaster Ocean Park Hong Kong
Animals and shows for the older ones to enjoy!
Acrobatics and Juggling acts at the Waterfront PlazaPanda standing up and reaching for the shootsBald Eagle showing the span of its wings
There are a few reasons why countdown at Victoria Harbour was really memorable for us…
1. The Cold. For one, we did not expect the weather to be so cold! We were relatively early that evening, having finished our dinner around 8 or 9pm. So we headed to a Hong Kong Cafe nearby to while the time away, have some food to keep us warm for the countdown. The good thing was that when we eventually reached the harbour, it was so crowded that we were kept warm! Check out the crowd!
Crowd waiting for fireworks and countdown Victoria Harbour Hong Kong
2. How to get a good spot. In order to get a good spot to watch the fireworks at Victoria Harbour, you should actually be there at about 8 or 9pm. We were able to still walk around these good viewing spots at about 9pm. So we thought we were able to get back to the same spot at the bridge at about 11pm. Little did we know that the bridge area was cordoned off due to the limit on the number of people allowed there! So if you really want a great spot, you should be ready with warm clothes, heat packs, tidbits and great company while waiting for the fireworks to start!
3. First Countdown with Kate in Hong Kong. Barring Melaka, this was the first time that Kate and I enjoyed a New Year’s Eve countdown overseas. Thanks for planning this wonderful trip! 🙂
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Our 2nd day of travel in Hong Kong started with breakfast at a typical Hong Kong Cafe. Here, we enjoyed toast, bo luo bun, spaghetti soup as well as the Hong Kong national beverage – milk tea!
The rest of the morning was spent exploring the HUGE Elements Shopping Mall. The mall is themed after the 5 elements and divided into 5 sections according to the elements…
Ice skating rink @ Fire Zone
We checked out Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop for lunch and had its famous wanton noodles and beef noodles. The noodles itself was a little yeasty but the texture was awesome. Q, springy noodles. Coupled with well-braised beef and generous servings of wanton – yummilicious!
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38Wanton Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
Thereafter, we took the MTR to Tsuen Wan station. Within walking distance from the MTR was L’hotel Nina Et Convention (a 5 star hotel) where we checked in for the night…
King Sized Bed in Harbour View Room Tsuen WanView of Tsuen Wan Harbour from L Hotel Nina Convention Centre Hong Kong
The view overlooking Tsuen Wan harbour was simply breath-taking! Makes you just want to sit back, relax, enjoy the views and let out a soft “Ah…”
Within walking distance of L’Hotel Nina Convention, we were able to have access to Citygate Shopping Mall and the night market near the Tsuen Wan MTR. Great street foods were in store for us…
Fishballs in curry – 6 for 5HKD
We rounded off the night with a walk in the Tsuen Wan park and enjoyed night views of the harbour both from the park as well as our room…
View of the harbour from Tsuen Wan Park
As the day drew to a close, we were reminded to be thankful for what we have and for having each other. Many other thoughts came to mind as we reflected while reveling in this beautiful view of Tsuen Wan. Be thankful for the people around you yah?
Thanks to Kate, we finally embarked on our trip to Hong Kong! Yeah, she is the planner of all our trips and our in-house photographer. While, I just carry the bags. When you consider the amount of things Kate buys, then you will know that things are actually…well…quite balanced :p
The flight from Singapore to Hong Kong takes slightly under 4 hours. After we alighted, we headed straight for our first stop – Citygate Outlet at Tung Chung!
Endless shopping choices at Citygate Outlet Tung Chung!
You can easily reach Citygate Outlet at Tung Chung by taking E21 from the bus station at the airport. The deals here were actually not too bad. Our intention was not to buy any branded stuff but to only look out for good deals. However, as it turns out, the branded stuff had relatively good deals as well. Kate bought several wallets. To my dismay… :p
Wanton mee and porridge from this stall at Food Republic Citygate Outlets
It was here that Ive tried my first Hong Kong wanton mee. The taste was quite forgettable though. Luckily for us, more good food lies ahead.
Took E21 (hkd14)after getting octopus card 150hkd with 100hkd value 50hkd deposit reached citygate and ate dumpling noodles many dumplings 42hkd w vegtable
Kate actually spent alot of time on Klook to sieve through the various hostels that we can afford to stay in. We wanted a central location which meant that nice fancy hotels were out. Nice fancy hotels in the city cost a bomb!
Since most of the time in HK will be spent buying stuff and eating (买东西，吃东西）, we decided that a central location solely for sleeping would be the main consideration. Oh, attached bathrooms as well.
So after scouring through the hotels (hostels, I meant), Kate decided on Jordan Comfort Inn for our first night because of its accessibility to the shopping areas at Temple Street and close proximity to the Jordan MTR. And if you really want, you can also walk to the Avenue of Stars at Victoria Harbour.
The catch about hostels in Hong Kong is that the rooms are REALLY EXPENSIVE and you’ll get a REALLY SMALL room. We paid $112 a night for a 8sqm room! Check this out…
The plus point is that although the room is small, it has a comfy bed, a TV and an attached bathroom. There’s also a shared water dispenser as well. Not too bad for a small room. As the chinese saying goes, 麻雀虽小，五脏俱全 (direct translation for “Although the sparrow is small, it has 5 complete organs”) Well…meaning that although the room is small, it has all the basic necessities!
After checking in, we decided to start wondering along the streets in Jordan. The cool thing about a free and easy vacation is that we can have the holiday just the way we want it. No need to be hurried around from point to point and buy stuff from specific souvenir shops. Having said that, packaged tour has its merits as well especially to places where most locals dont speak the same language as you do. Ah…we digressed.
So we took the opportunity to visit the shopping areas at Temple Street, had a wonderful dinner of roasted meats at a local joint and even stumbled upon the famous dessert place – Australian Dairy Company!
Entrance to Temple Street 庙街 Jordan, Hong KongNight Market at Temple StreetChar Siew Roasted Pork RiceSteamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong
We were feeling STUFFED after all the food that we ate (did you see the mountain of rice?!), we decided to go for a stroll at Victoria Harbour. Kate did not want to do the harbour visit on our first night initially but after much pestering from me, Kate relented! YaY!
Typical Red Hong Kong sail boats at Victoria HarbourStatue at Avenue of Stars
Initially, we wanted to catch the Symphony of Lights that goes on daily at 8pm. Unexpectedly, it started to drizzle which quickly turned into a downpour just as the clock struck 8! Bearing through the wind, the rain and the cold, we managed to catch this video for our readers – you!
Not that we were able to catch much in the cold winds, (more like blair witch?) but still the sights and sounds were captured to give us an idea of how the Symphony of Lights was.
After the rain subsided, we started to make our way back to Jordan Comfort Inn and called it a night…
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Lei Garden is an atas Chinese restaurant that also has branches in Singapore and we were told to give it a try in Hong Kong because the price is about 30% lower. After trying out the Michelin-starred dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, we decided to continue with our “extravagant” ways with a classy treat at Lei Garden International Finance Center (IFC) Hong Kong!
Things to note while eating at Lei Garden Hong Kong
There are a few things to note when dining at Lei Garden.
1. Make a reservation or queue up early. There are usually alot of people wanting to dine at Lei Garden (so many rich people nowadays!). Therefore it is wise to either make a reservation or go early to avoid disappointment. In our case, we tried to make a reservation through our receptionist at Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan but we were told that they were fully booked that afternoon. Undeterred, we went straight to IFC hoping for a chance to dine in and we left our details at the entrance of the restaurant. Our patience paid off and we were able to be seated about 2 hours (11am to 1pm) from when we gave our details.
Full House at Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
2. Know what you want to eat. As a Chinese saying goes, 慢工出细活, which means that slow work produces fine products. Therefore, to prevent your wait to be longer than it already is, know what you want to order before you enter (or at least have an idea). Lei Garden is famous for its double-boiled soup, dim sums as well as some high class superior chinese delicacies (which we cannot afford and so is not mentioned in this post)
Dim Sum Menu at Lei Garden Business Set Lunch that we ordered for 300 HKD per person
2. Sit back relax and enjoy the class and magic of Lei Garden. Our impression of Lei Garden is not only that it is classy (individualised service at each table & the setting/ambience was really something else), the food was also innovative and out of the ordinary. For instance, we ordered the Business Set Lunch and expected something less classy…no…I mean have you seen pork dumplings served in this manner?
Juicy pork dumplings Lei Garden Hong Kong- bursting with juices on the first bite, topped with a light crispy rice paper
What we had at Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
We ordered the Business Set Lunch for 300HKD per person and we had the following…
Steamed Wild Mushroom Lei Garden Hong Kong Dumplings
This dumpling was really interesting in that the skin was really Q and the mushrooms were bursting with flavours within! The pan fried pork dumpling (shown above) also stirred our interest in that not only was the “dangerous” to eat (beware of bursting juices!) but the ingenuity of serving it under a crispy rice paper topping was a first for us!
Ingredients in the double boiled herbal soup at Lei Garden International Finance Center
The only dish that did not live up to the mark was the double boiled soup. It could be because it was hyped up too much by our friends. But I think its mainly because our dad makes a mean pot of soup (be it bak kut teh, old cucumber or herbal chicken). Restaurant mah. Should be better than Daddy’s right? Nope, Daddy’s soup is better!
Baked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Lei Garden Hong Kong
The king prawn was very fresh and the sauce was quite similar to a carbonara sauce of sorts. The cool thing was that we were actually quite impressed that a Chinese restaurant like Lei Garden can produce such a good blend of fusion food (a bit of east meets west kinda thing going on here). Oh, there was a braised garoupa fillet in hot pot which was REALLY great! The fish was fresh and generously covered in a spring onion, ginger sauce, served over a sizzling hot pot. In fact, a lack of photo here can attest to its taste (if you know what I mean ;))
Roasted Crispy Duck Lei Garden
Again, one of the best roasted duck we’ve tasted. The skin was of the duck was thin and fat (in both sense of the word). The more you chew on it, the better the juices mix with the meat as they dance to a symphony of harmony in your mouth! Not to mention, the presentation was great as well!
Poached seasonal greens with fresh bean curd skin Lei Garden Hong Kong
A refreshing taste. Yet another surprise here in that the bean curd skin was an unexpectedly good combination with the greens and mushroom. The more you eat, the better it tastes!
Hand pulled noodles in lobster soup Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
We’ve had very bad experiences with lobster based soups such as the lobster bisque and it was with caution that we took this dish. However, all our fears were allayed with the first mouth where the soup was hot and rich in fresh lobster flavours. The hand pulled noodles were slurpalicious. Simply put, the dish was out in seconds. Yum!
We also ordered the char siew pau (39 HKD) from the dim sum menu.
Char Siew Bao Lei Garden IFC 39 HKDInside the Char Siew Bao
This char siew bao is another work of art. Besides the usual fluffy outer layer of the bun, the inside was different! Not the usual sweet char siew but the ginger onion char siew fillings. You will also see that the pork is sliced, unlike the usual diced version. Here you can taste the meat and the fattiness together.
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To round up this post, we would say that the meal was classy yet surprisingly. After the pork dumpling, we were actually eagerly anticipating each dish and imagining how they would be presented. Both a visual and tasty treat this was at Lei Garden International Finance Center Hong Kong!
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You have just finished a post on our 9 day trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shen Zhen. Read on to find out more about our adventures during this trip!
So you have read our review of Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura and is now dying to visit the orignal Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong? Here is the minimalist guide to eating at Tim Ho Wan @ Mong Kok. Just follow these 3 simple steps to enjoy dim sum at THW – touted as the cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurant!
Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Step 1 : How to Queue at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
First of all, you must know that THERE WILL BE A QUEUE OUTSIDE Tim Ho Wan. If you think that you can just waltz into THW, eat your dim sum and whizz out in 20 minutes, you could be the owner of Tim Ho Wan OR you just arrived in Asia and not know the ways and customs of Asians with regard to food.
Therefore, you must always go to Tim Ho Wan @ Mong Kok with a plan. The plan is therefore to go straight to the entrance, grab your queue number and head on to Ladies Street to do some shopping…
Ladies Street near to Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
The reason is because the typical waiting time is about 45 minutes to 1 hour during meal times.
So Step 1 : Grab your queue number and head for shopping good times at Ladies Street!
Step 2 : What to order at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
For your first order, go for the “4 Heavenly Kings” – Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕), Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver（黄沙猪润肠）, Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）, Pan Fried Carrot Cake （香煎萝卜糕）
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Essentially, all the versions at THW Hong Kong tastes better than the Singapore version. The star of the show, the baked bun with BBQ was crisp on the outside, fluffy on the bite and flowing with BBQ (chinese style) flavours on the inside. Thrashing the Singapore version hands down.
Steamed Egg Cake – 12 HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Before trying the steamed egg cake at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok, we never thought that sweet and savoury dim sums could be eaten together. They certainly can. Each bite was an education in the art of gourmet food altogether. The steamed egg cake was surprisingly good by itself. It’s like a brown sugar cake, not too sweet but superbly fluffy. The aroma of the brown sugar just permeates through your taste buds. Mmm…
Pan Fried Carrot Cake – 14HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
The pan fried carrot cake or turnip cake was very aromatic. The fried mini shrimps (known affectionately as hei bi in Singapore) brought out the flavour of the turnip. Crisp on the outer layer and flavourful within. The texture of the turnip could also be felt with each bite – very much unlike factory-churned ones.
Went for the Beef Chee Cheong Fun instead – 18HKD
Instead of going for the pig’s liver vermicelli roll (chee cheong fun), we decided to go for the Beef version and we were thoroughly intrigued! The beef was SUPER tender – as though it has been pounded many times over. The roll was springy and taong (chewy or “Q” as they would call in Taiwan). Together, it was a perfect match!
So Step 2: Go straight for the “4 Heavenly Kings”, you wont go wrong with the Signatures
Step 3 : Order anything else you wish to savour at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Maybe except the siew mai. We thought it was quite normal. The beef ball with beancurd skin on the other hand is a MUST TRY!
Siew Mai was relatively normal – 24 HKD
Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Beef balls were oh so tender and Q! You could literally press against it and it would resume its shape! The sauce that is poured over it was not too salty and has a light tang to it. This added to the flavours of the beef balls. Yum!
So Step 3 : Order what catches your sight but just dont order the siew mai (eventhough you may be tempted to!)
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The greatest part about eating dim sum at Tim Ho Wan is that eventhough you’ve enjoyed great Michelin-starred food, the price is still relatively affordable!
Final bill at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok only 121HKD
Follow the 3 simple steps in our Minimalist guide to eating at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok Hong Kong for an enjoyable dim sum meal!
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You have just finished a post on our 9 day trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shen Zhen. Read on to find out more about our adventures during this trip!
Guia Fortress was one of the landmarks that we told ourselves “WE MUST VISIT!”. On our last day in Macao, it proved to be elusive. The paths and walkways that kept pointing us to Guia Fortress, seemingly never ends! Eventhough the Guia Lighthouse was in sight, it seemed miles away…at some point, we almost gave up…
The Guia Fortress together with Mount Fortress was instrumental in the defence of Macao against the Dutch invasion in 1622. The Guia Chapel was built in 1622 while the Guia Lighthouse was only erected in 1865.
So here begins our “treacherous” journey in search of the elusive Guia Fortress…
Up the steep slopes of Guia Hill
Guia Hill was where it all started. We slept in late that morning and began our climb up the hills of Guia. CAN YOU SEE HOW STEEP THIS SLOPE IS?!
Soon we came to another sign…seemed harmless. Guiding us in the right direction…
Yet another sign pointing to Guia Lighthouse
By the time we reached this sign, we had already circled the Guia park for quite a while. At this point, we almost gave up. Especially when we saw the next slope…
Slope to Guia Lighthouse as pointed by the directional sign above
Wah lao eh! More slope?!
But Kate was very determined. Not sure what had gotten into her that morning. So we continued to conquer the slopes. One after another. Then it came…the first sight of Guia Fortress!
Conquering Guia Fortress
Bomb raid shelter and walls of the Guia FortressDescription of Guia Fortress – Instrumental in defeating the Dutch in 1622
Again, at this point we thought that since we have arrived at Guia Fortress, we can finally turn back. But the other side of us told us to persevere on to Guia Lighthouse – which we did!
Guia Lighthouse and Guia Chapel Guia Lighthouse and CanonSignals hoisted at the Guia lighthouse to inform seafarers of wind direction and speed
All was not that terrible. Along the way, we managed to catch great views over the city and also saw this intricately groomed bush (ala Edward Scissor Hands)
Bridge connecting to Macau CityView of the church and cementary from Guia FortressCan you spot something interesting along this path?
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Well, the moral of the story is this…to see Guia Lighthouse and Fortress, you must conquer the slopes along the way!
Ok, the true moral is that there are many challenges in life, but let’s persevere and look forward to reaching our “Guia Lighthouse” yah? Remember to take in the sights and sounds (like the views along the way) and enjoy each moment!
Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan Hong KongLobby of Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central
Reasons for staying at Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan
Reason No 1 (and probably the main reason) : Fantastic views overlooking Victoria Harbour!
Well, let the reason speak for itself…
View from room of Ibis Hotel Central Hong KongView overlooking Sky 100 from Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung WanView of Victoria Harbour from Hotel Ibis Central Sheung Wan Hong KongIbis Hotel Central Sheung Wan Hong Kong : Overlooking Victoria Harbour
Rooms at Hotel Ibis Central Sheung Wan has fantastic views of the Victoria Harbour! The friendly staff at Ibis also gave us a choice between 2 rooms (both of which had great views) and even allowed us to have a “sneak-peek” at the rooms before we decided on which room to stay in! A big shout-out to the great people at Ibis Hotel Central Hong Kong! This sort of reminded us of our experience staying at Hotel Equatorial Melaka where we were given a choice to our rooms as well!
Reason No 2 : Close proximity to attractions at Central
International Finance Centre Hong KongCentral’s Mid-Level Escalator – Longest escalator system in the world
Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan Hong Kong is also near to the finance district of Hong Kong. We were only a short walk from International Finance Centre (IFC) where we enjoyed our lunch at Lei Garden. In addition, the world famous Mid-Level escalator system at Central was also within reach. There, we enjoyed an evening chilling at a local brewery.
We got the room for $250SGD which for Hong Kong’s standard was quite cheap given that it had a view overlooking Victoria Harbour. The room itself was clean and very decent as well…
Inside room of Ibis Hotel Sheung Wan Hong KongClean Toilet of Ibis Hotel Central Hong Kong
How to get to Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan
Ibis Hotel Hong Kong Central Sheung Wan is located at 28 Des Voeux Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Central / Sheung Wan Area, Hong Kong. We took the MTR from Mong Kok to Central Station and it was just a short walk away.
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So for a great view overlooking Victoria Harbour and a convenient location within Central Hong Kong, look no further than Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan!
Kluang is a district located in the state of Johor in Malaysia and there are in fact several things to do and attractions in Kluang which we were introduced to by Tourism Malaysia during a recent familiarisation trip.
It wasn’t initially like that though. In fact, our first thought when we saw the email invite was…
“Kluang? Hm…let me just check that again. Maybe they just mispelt ‘Klang’?”
Well, the difference is just a letter “u” which can be easily, accidentally added in right? But the truth is, after the trip, we actually kind of enjoyed ourselves and this is a low-down of all the places of interest in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia!
Kluang RailCoffee
Inside Kluang RailCoffee
Kluang RailCoffee is a traditional coffee joint located at Kluang railway station. Opened since 1938 by the Lim family (now operated by the 3rd generation and at the exact same location no less), this local’s favourite is famous for its coffee, toast and nasi lemak!
Iced Coffee , Kopi with Peanut Butter and traditional Kaya Butter Toast at Kluang RailCoffeeKluang RailCoffee’s famous nasi lemak served at the tables – no frills just plain old nasi with awesome sambal
After tasting the toast and coffee, we totally understood why the locals enjoyed it here. We went for both the iced version as well as the traditional kopi. Even with the ice, the taste did not diminish and still presented itself with that traditional taste. The toast on the other hand was lightly crusted on the outside and fluffy on the inside with thick slices of the butter. Sinful but oh so yummy with the kaya. Plus, the prices are really REALLY decent. Just check out the prices…
Menu of Kluang RailCoffee
With that kind of price coupled with good old fashioned coffee and toast, it’s no wonder that Kluang RailCoffee’s pulling in the crowd daily…
Kluang RailCoffee – A favourite breakfast joint for locals!
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen
Tucked away at no. 76, Jalan Besar, Kluang, Johor, 86000 is Kluang’s most famous factory – Kluang Coffee Powder Factory which produces the famous Kopi Cap Televisyen (aka Television Brand Coffee).
Kluang Coffee Powder Factory – Kopi Cap Televisyen aka Television Brand Coffee
Legend has it that the Sultan of Johor is one of its biggest fans and has been drinking this coffee for the last 20 years! Opened since 1966 by Mr Goh Tong Tor, the factory is now operated by the next generation of the Goh family and the factory actually supplies 90% of Kluang’s coffee.
Guided tour of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
Coffee Making Process of Kluang Coffee Powder Factory
The whole process starts here with these 3 types of coffee beans
Television Brand Coffee made from Arabica Liberica and Robus coffee beans
Of course, the proportion is secret.
Next, we learnt something new here (yes, we’re quite suaku about the coffee making process). We actually learnt that the coffee beans are roasted in 2 manner. Traditional roasting is done with sugar and margarine added to enhance the aroma. While white coffee is roasted just by itself. Bet you did not know that did ya?
Cooling process after roasting
After roasting, the beans are placed on a cooling plate where the staff would stir and separate them while bringing down its temperature (see video). After which, the beans go into a machine that separates them back into individual beans. Thereafter, they go into the grinder to form the coffee powder that you and I know.
Roasted and separated coffee beans being poured into the grinder from the topCoffee powder being packed into tins
And the end product…voila!
Kopi Cap Televisyen – Kluang’s Famous Television Brand Coffee Powder
Kluang’s Television Coffee Taste Test
Well, enough of all the technicalities of producing coffee. Let’s go try out the coffee itself!
Setting where we got to test the Television Brand Coffee
While we were sitting down, a really awkward situation took place. We asked a staff how long he had worked in a factory. Seemed like a harmless question right?
NO!!!
After reading the many newspaper cuttings on the walls of the factory, we realised that we actually posed the question to the boss of the factory!! Now we realise why the answer was an awkward and delayed “erm…20 years…” But not to justify ourselves, the boss has really slimmed down quite a bit! Through our conversations, we also realise that the family holds dear to the fact that coffee should be enjoyed with just hot water and sugar. No condensed milk (or any other milk for that matter) because the milk actually diminishes the taste of the coffee.
So how does the coffee really taste?
The taste test of Kluang’s Television Brand Coffee
Well, we have to say that the version concocted for us was a tad bit sweet. Nonetheless, the coffee was REALLY aromatic. That special concoction/proportion thingy going on with the beans really paid off handsomely with an unique yet traditional taste. This is notwithstanding the fact that we love our coffee with milk. The taste test actually changed our perception of 2-in-1 coffee (yeah, we normally go for 3-in-1’s)
UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang
UK Farm Agro Resort is Malaysia’s largest goat and sheep farm with 100 acres of grazing land and 15 acres of land for passion fruit…
Entrance of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMap of UK Farm Agro Resort
The tour of UK farm got off to a great start and by that we mean…A GREAT MEAL!!!
H.E. High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob looking on at the roasted lamb
Tourism Malaysia actually placed alot of emphasis on this tour. Not only was this lamb of 1200++ RM laid out for us, the High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato Husni Zai Yaacob was also a Guest-of-Honour, lending weight to the entire familiarisation trip!
Slicing of the roasted lamb at UK FarmDividing the roasted lambExcellent lunch of bee hoon, curry vegetable, omelette and roasted lamb at UK Agro Resort FarmFood Menu at UK Farm Agro Resort
The highlight is of course the lamb. Marinated with a special secret sauce, the meat was tender, smoky while being sweet and crusted on the outside. The lamb was also really tender. No gamey taste as well. Just good roasted tender lamb. Yum.
Did we mention that the lamb was really tender?
Activities at UK Farm Agro Resort Kluang Malaysia
Activities available at UK Farm
For 270++ per person, you will be able to stay a night at the farm and enjoy the various activities that UK farm offers…
Feedstock Processing Factory
Mr Goh Un Keng (Mr UK himself) briefing us at the feedstock processing factory aka sheep canteen
We were briefed by the boss of UK farm, Mr Goh himself (yes, UK comes from his initials) starting at the feedstock processing factory. Mr Goh is really into green farming and natural cycles. At his farm, he uses the peels of his passion fruits mixed with the soya bean kernels (which he imports from Yeo’s Singapore) as feed for the sheep. In this way, there’s no wastage and surprisingly the goat pen itself doesn’t smell that bad. PLUS, to complete the cycle, droppings from the sheep and goats are used as fertilisers for the passion fruits and coconuts that the farm produces. Organic stuff. No pesticides involved. All natural!
The other thing that Mr Goh told us was how he managed to attract swallows into his farm successfully thus eliminating the problem of flies naturally. These swallows “swallow” up to 600 flies a day! Probing further on how he does it, he just cites that its “trade secret” and that its also a big problem in Australia…
Goat Pen
Across the sheep’s canteen is the goat pen. As mentioned earlier, and much to our amazement as well, it doesn’t smell. According to Mr Goh, its due to the natural processes and food that is fed to the sheep and goats. Stark difference from the farms we’ve visited in Australia – smells quite a bit there…
Milk feeding of the goats in the goat penCarrying cute baby goats!
At the goat pen, you get an opportunity to feed the goats. Greedy bunch but really cute! Some are more greedy than others though. So we try to feed them as equally as we possibly can. But it can be a challenge to pull the bottle out of one goat to feed the next – no concept of sharing there…
You’ll also be able to get photo opportunities with the baby goats. These cute little creatures are cuddly and some even slept in the arms of some of the members in our media group!
Goat Milk Processing Centre
At the next stop, we were shown how milk is extracted at the goat milk processing centre.
Milking the goats at UK Agro Resort Farm
We were told that the mother goats had to be milked TWICE A DAY! This is because if they do not do so, the glands would swell up and cause the goats to fall sick. In addition, the timing of the mating is properly done so that they produce milk for 6 months, mate and continue producing milk after getting pregnant! That’s alot of milk for Mr Goh…$Ka Ching$!
Mr Goh is also really proud of the technique used here. In fact, he is one of only 6 sheep farms in the world to have received the HACCP certification. Which is why each and every step done and demonstrated to us is in accordance with the procedures.
Milking goat in accordance with HACCP certification at UK Farm Agro Resort
The ingenuity of Mr Goh extends not only to the achievements at the farm but also to the products sold here…
Products sold includes goats milk, ice cream, skin lotion and shampoo
After the milk tasting (which was somehow a little gamey for us), we adjourned to see another idea that Mr Goh devised…
Innovative manner of feeding the young goats
According to Mr Goh, it would be really inefficient to feed each one of them individually. Hence the milk that was milked? It gets transferred to this container that allows the young goats to be fed quickly and efficiently!
UK Farm Resort Stay
Next, we moved on to visit the resort stay at UK farm. Lucky for us, room 106 was not occupied and we were able to visit the room…
Beds inside the resort at UK FarmFridge, TV, Wifi and boiling facilitiesWith attached bathroom
The resort is actually equipped to meet the needs of modern travellers. Wi-fi even. Really wonder how Mr Goh pulled cables all the way to the farm just to provide wi-fi for the visitors. All within just a short span of 3 years!
Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade at UK Agro Resort FarmRelaxed setting inside Tropical Arcade
Tropical Arcade is an area with visitors can relax, buy some souvenirs and fruits while enjoying them fresh. It was here where we enjoyed our organic coconut…
Freshly cut organic coconut from UK farm
The other members of the media also took the opportunity to grab an interview with Mr Goh here…
Interviewing Mr Goh – Owner of UK Farm Kluang MalaysiaMr Goh Un Keng – The man himself
We also had a short conversation with Mr Goh and we realised that all the ideas (organic/green farming, getting rid of flies via swallows, efficiency at the farm and even the lovely setting at Tropical Arcade) were from Mr Goh himself! He told us that he stopped schooling since primary 5 and all he could do was to put in hard work. Hard work he did and today UK farm is one of the best known farms in the country (and of course in the world of sheep farming).
On a side note, he did joke about students learning about “green techniques” in school when in actual fact, he’s doing green farming “practical” every single day!
Sheep Challenge
Sheep Challenge UK Farm Agro Resort
Sheep challenge is a major attraction at UK Farm whereby 3 to 5 participants would enter the pen and attempt to catch a sheep within a time of 3 minutes. If you are able to do so, you’ll receive the legendary UK medal…
Catch a sheep, get an UK medal
The key is to work together as a team. Approach the sheep slowly in a ring-like manner and trap them into a corner. But if you’re not able to do so, you’ll probably end up like what we did – running around aimlessly in the pen…
Trying our best to catch a sheep
Though we failed to catch a sheep, we really did have fun! Almost caught them a couple of times. They run real fast these sheeps. Nonetheless, there were high fives all round as we concluded the game.
Kluang local delicacies
As we rounded up our familiarisation trip of Kluang, we headed to Ayer Hitam – a town known for its pottery and crafts. This time, we tasted some local delicacies – Putu Bambu and Cendol
Making of Putu Bambu at Ayer Hitam Kluang
Close up of Putu BambuCendol – A great way to cool down on a hot sunny afternoon
Putu Bambu is a rice-based dessert steamed in small little bamboos. They are then extracted (as shown in the video) and covered with generous topping of grated coconut. Delicious while eaten warm. No wonder there’s a queue at this particular stall in Ayer Hitam. The cendol was also a great dessert – shaved ice with gula melaka (brown sugar) and rich ingredients such as jelly noodles and red bean.
How we got to Kluang Johor Malaysia
Tourism Malaysia collaborated with KTM to bring us this familiarisation trip and this time round, we took the rail to Kluang!
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
To take the train to Kluang, you will have to go by the Woodlands Train Checkpoint. To reach here, there are essentially 2 ways. The first way is to take the MRT to Marsiling Station and take bus 856 or Kranji MRT Station and take bus 170/178. As we were running late that morning, we took the 2nd way – Taxi! There is a taxi stand right beside Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
The thing we love about taking the train is that it was CLEAR at the immigration on a Saturday morning! Within minutes, we cleared both the Singapore and Malaysian customs and boarded the train!
We were hosted on the “event carriage” of the train (costs about 3000RM per trip) which features a large space for catering or performances, attached toilets (notice the plural) as well as the latest karaoke system that features more than 3000 songs! The screen’s pretty much like K Box (easy to search songs in Mandarin,English,Malay or foreign languages), that’s how modern the system is…
Enjoying a moment of Karaoke Singing onboard KTM train to Kluang
If you’re going for luxury, there’s also a VIP carriage for more privacy and comfort…
VIP carriage onboard KTM train with queen-sized bedSame room with attached basinAnother VIP room with two single bedsCorridor of VIP carriage with private function room at the end
To our surprise, the High Commissioner of Malaysia, Dato’ Husni Zai Yaacob also joined us for the event! This lent great emphasis to this media familiarisation trip and we were thoroughly honoured to have the High Commissioner being part of the event! KTM’s General Manager also took time off for an opening speech where he emphasised on the concept of Railway Tourism. Something which we think will really take off once the High Speed Rails come online.
Photo taking session with the High Commissioner of MalaysiaIntroductory speech by High Commissioner showing his emphasis on tourism in Malaysia
The price of travelling to Kluang costs $15 one way (when you purchase your tickets in Singapore) and 15RM one way when you purchase your tickets in Kluang.
Transportation in and around Kluang
Taxis are readily available in Kluang and there are also private cars for hire (you will need to feature your negotiation skills). If you’re heading to UK Farm Agro Resort, they do charter a bus which costs 20RM per person (round trip), taking you from Kluang Railway Station and back.
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We hope that this post has helped you to understand more about the attractions and things to do in Kluang Malaysia. Looking back, we’d definitely take a trip back to UK Farm which is cleaner, nearer and cheaper than its Australian counterparts. Enroute, you may also want to stop for a durian feast. Sounds like a great weekend trip already!
As we wondered about the glittering hotels of MGM, Wynn and Grand Lisboa on the main Macao Peninsula, we started to feel peckish. It was around 4pm and so we thought about grabbing a quick bite before having dinner later on. Since it was just a quick bite, we decided not to splurge (yet) and went into the streets behind to look for a eating joint. And so we came upon this restaurant – Wa Fung Dim Sum Restaurant.
The restaurant was practically empty as you can see in this subsequent picture…
Inside Wa Fung Dim Sum Char Chan Teng – No One!
At first, we were a little apprehensive, skeptical even. Usually if there’s no one in the restaurant, it does not bode well for the restaurant (or for that matter the customer – us). The service though was ok, as the Aunty rumbled on in Cantonese, we started to speak in Chinese and got some of our orders underway.
The result? This post – 3 Reasons WHY YOU MUST TRY DIM SUM IN HONG KONG AND MACAO!
Top 3 Reasons Why You MUST Try Dim Sum in Hong Kong and Macao
Reason No. 1 : We never expected to “Bump” right into this GREAT TASTING DIM SUM!
You would not believe this but this was actually one of the best char siew chee cheong fun we’ve ever tasted…
Best Chee Cheung Fun EVER! – 26MOP
The white outer layer (the chee cheung fun) was springy and chewy (VERY TAONG!) leaving you wanting for more. The char siew bits were fatty, juicy and oh so flavourful! The combination was just exceptionally heavenly!
Custard Buns with juicy filling – 16MOP
The custard bun on the other hand was the kind that bursts out when you take a bite into it! So be REALLY careful! Leaves you slurping (on the custard) and chewing on the bun – all at the same time! :p
Reason No. 2 : Generous Authentic Dim Sum
We also went for the classics such as century egg porridge, har gau and siew mai. These classics showed the authenticity of eating dim sum in areas such as Hong Kong and Macao…
Century Egg and Pork Porridge – 26 MOP Har gau (Prawn Dumplings) – 26 MOP (2 prawns in each har gau!!)Siew Mai – 20 MOP (2 prawns each and meat inside!)
Only the freshest ingredients were used and the dim sum just revels in its simplicity. Fresh ingredients, masterful concoction of these ingredients coupled with timeless tradition, made these dishes so marvelously tasty!
Reason No. 3 : All at a great price!
Curry Beef Rice – 38MOP
Can you believe that this huge plate of Curry Beef Rice (with tender beef and tendon) was only 38 MOP?! (6 SGD!) In a restaurant no less!
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After our sumptuous meal (remember it was initially supposed to be only a snack?!), we realised that staff from the hotels nearby also pre-ordered their dinner here. If the locals hit this joint, it must be good right?
So for the above 3 reasons, give yourself a treat at one of the dim sum restaurants while you’re in Hong Kong and Macao!
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Kate and I didn’t intend to visit the Macao Maritime Museum. We were actually wondering around the Historic Centre of Macao when we realised that there was a Maritime Museum! As the weather was getting hot, we thought it would be a good idea to catch a breather and enjoy some air-conditioning in the museum. The entry was only 10MOP ($1.5 SGD) so we thought “why not?”
Wall feature at the entrance of the museum dedicated to the seamen of Macao
There are actually several sections in the Museum.
A section on Maritime Ethnology tells of the various traditions associated with fishermen and in general, living by the sea. Various fishing techniques and even legends are depicted in this section. However, our favourite section is the Maritime History section…
Macau Maritime Museum Portuguese Warship ModelView of the Macau Maritime Museum from the 3rd Level
This section depicts the Maritime history and development of the Portuguese and Chinese. You will be able to see models of many interesting vessels of times past. The Maritime Technology segment was also enjoyable where you get to “interact” with some of the exhibits and also see past inventions such as this wheel-driven boat…
Wheel-driven boat – One of the great inventions in the 16th century by the Chinese
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Opening Hours and Ticket Prices of the Macao Maritime Museum
The Macau Maritime Museum opens from 10am to 6pm daily and closes on Tuesday. The ticket prices to the museum are as follows:
10 to 17 years old: MOP$5.00 (Mon. to Sat.); $3.00 (Sun.) 18 to 64 years old: MOP$10.00 – standard ticket (Mon. to Sat.); $5.00 (Sun.) Children under 10 or Senior Citizens of 65 years old and above : Free Admission!
The Macao Maritime Museum is located at 1, Largo do Pagode da Barra, Macau
Did you know that there’s even a small aquarium in the museum that you can visit as well? So all in all, we thought that the visit to the Macao Maritime Museum was certainly well worth it – even if its just for a shade from the sun and a quick visit to the toilet…it’s clean! :p
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The Historic Centre of Macao has several world renowned sites such as the Ruins of Saint Paul’s (often appearing in movies) as well as the Mount Fortress. In this post, we’re gonna introduce you to what you can see and do at the Historic Centre of Macao!
Ruins of St. Paul’s is one of the most iconic structure in Macao. Often seen in movies, it was listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 2005.
Arty shot of Ruins of St. Paul’s by Kate with statues at the bottom of the stairs
Ruins of Saint Paul’s actually refers to the facade of the remains of what was Church of Mater Dei and the St. Paul’s College (built in 1602-1640). Both were destroyed by a fire in 1835. More description of the site as shown
Description of St Paul’s Ruins
If you take a closer look at the facade of the Church, it actually has several levels as described in the text above. What makes it unique is its fusion of eastern and western influences merging into this intricately designed building. That’s what makes it a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts as well!
Ruins of St. Paul’s with long flight of stairs
Here’s how the interior of St. Paul’s Ruins look like…
The other side of St. Paul’s Ruins MacauPictures of the Ruins of St. Paul’s over the years
Historic Centre of Macao : Mount Fortress
Built from 1617 to 1626, Mount Fortress was one of the main defence against seaward attacks and was crucial in holding off the attacks of the Dutch on Macao in 1622.
Rows of Canons at Mount Fortress MacaoEntrance up to Mount FortressInterior view of Rows of Canons at Mount Fortress MacaoArty shot of Canon and Grand Lisboa
The climb to the top was actually quite tiring! So much so that Kate did not even want to try! But if you have taken the arduous walk, you would have been rewarded with this view!
View from the top of Mount Fortress
View from the top of Mount Fortress Macao!
While you’re at the top of Mount Fortress, you can also visit the Museum of Macau…
Macau Museum at the top of Mount FortressEntrance of Museu De Macau
The Museum of Macao features the history and culture of Macao, depicting its past, reveling in its arts and traditions and showing a little of the contemporary Macao.
Historic Centre of Macao : Sights and Sounds near Senado Square
If you take a look at one of the pictures at the stairs of the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, you will notice a lady taking a photo in the opposite direction from the facade of the ruins. She is actually taking a photo of the streets below the steps…
Shopping Street Macao selling food snacks with abundance of almond cookie gift shops!
After a long and tiring walk, the best way to re-energise is through the wide array of food in and around Senado Square!
Macao – Famous for its pork buns This version has a slightly salty but flavourful pork with fatty bits and chewy bun – 20MOPSaw a store selling fresh fried dumplings – smells great!Unfortunately it tasted like NTUC’s frozen dumplings – Cheap though at 4 for 6MOPTell us if you had tried the noodles and congee at Wong Chi Kei! Established since 1946!
Closer to the Senado Square, you will also notice these historic buildings…
St. Dominic’s Church at Senado SquareHoly House of Mercy MacauDescription of the Holy House of Mercy
Other Attractions at the Historic Centre of Macao
Here are some of the other sites that you might enjoy at the Historic Centre of Macao
Macao Maritime Museum – Entry for only 10MOP!A-Ma Temple – Oldest architecture in Macao dating back to the 14th centuryDescription of the Historic Centre of Macao as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005Taken from Sai Van Lake with View of Grand Lisbon and WynnMacao TowerNight at Senado Square Macau
Hotel Royal Macau is one of our favourite hotel during our side trip to Macau. Not only is Hotel Royal Macau centrally located, it also is equipped with 5 stars facilities such as the gym and heated swimming pool! Just what we needed when we were there in the dead of winter!
We sort of got lost along the way to the hotel but an old grandpa was helpful enough by stopping to ask if we needed help. He not only pointed us in the general direction, he crossed traffic with us and showed us the way to the hotel! Talk about hospitality of the locals!
The staff of the hotel lobby were very friendly. Given that it was the “peak hour” for checking-in, the staff were still very patient and spoke to us in good English (eventhough we were obviously ethnic Chinese – no assumptions there). The concierge then took our bags up and showed us our room. In addition, you can also get travel ideas and dining tips from the concierge. They also gave us some recommendations which we will be covering in our subsequent posts!
Indoor heated pool at a nice 31degrees during winter months!Small gym but toilet equipped with sauna and steam bath
It was really nice to be able to swim in a nicely heated pool during winter. Sort of reminded us of our stay at the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel in Amsterdam. With the ray of the sun covering the swimming pool plus the spacious tropical setting, it really made the swim all that much enjoyable. Screaming kids adds to the party too…
The other facilities include a small gym, sauna and steam bath. The norm for fitness centres of hotels.
We had the twin superior room at Hotel Royal (separate beds for 1 night! Yay!). The room was clean and exuberated a little bit of class. Especially in the bath room…
Twin beds Superior for 117SGD a night Dressing Table and Tv with cable networkToilet with bathtub and AIGNER SCENTED BATH FOAMS AND SHAMPOO!!
There were AIGNER SCENTED toiletries in the bathroom! This made our baths that much more enjoyable with an added touch of class! The beds were comfortable, the ones that you would like to just slumber all day in? Yup, that kind! 🙂
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While you’re at Central, besides enjoying the splendid views overlooking Victoria Harbour from Ibis Hotel Central, you ought to visit the longest escalator walkway system in the world – Hong Kong Central’s Mid Level Escalator!
Start of Mid Level Escalator Stairs at Queens Road
A Journey Through Hong Kong Central Mid Level Escalator
The Mid Level Escalators in Hong Kong Central is a system of walkway to reduce travelling time through the hilly areas of Hong Kong. The entire system consists of 20 escalators and 3 moving inclined walkways which stretches through a distance of 800 metres and an elevation of 135 metres. As shown in the picture above, the Mid-Level Escalators starts at Queens Road and connects all the way to Conduit Road at Mid Levels, reducing miles of travelling time for commuters if they were to travel via conventional transport.
Stairs up to Mid Level – Takes about 20 minutes if you just stand there to take in the sightsView up with Mid Level Escalators StairsCentral’s Mid-Level Escalator – Longest escalator system in the worldHistory of Central in Hong KongCute Santa in the background at Central Hong Kong
How to get to Hong Kong Central Mid Level Escalator
Start your visit to the Mid Level Escalator from Queens Road. Once you reach the top, you may wish to take a short walk to SOHO as what we did!
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Crown, Hard Rock and Grand Hyatt Hotel MacauGalaxy Hotel Macau CotaiThe Venetian Macau Cotai Strip the Venetian Macau- So huge that 2 pictures had to be taken
Cotai Strip Macau – Must Visit Attractions!
One of the major attractions at Cotai Strip has got to be the Venetian. In addition to the tables, there’s lots of entertainment options such as shows as well as dining here. Plus, it’s REALLY HUGE! Shopping options abound as well! When we visited, the light shows as well as Christmas performances were still going on. Check this out!
Skating Rink & Live Performance @ the Venetian MacauMap of the Venetian Cotai MacauMain Lobby of the Venetian Macau with Venetian actors greeting guestsLight display on the Venetian Macau – Spring TimeLight display on the Venetian Macau – Winter Time
How to get to Cotai Strip Macau
Cotai Strip is located right smack in the middle of Cotai. If you’re heading from Taipa Village, it would just be a short 15 minutes walk away.
Although Cotai Strip is relatively small compared to the Las Vegas Strip, it’s still worth a visit. Besides gaming, there’s really much more things to do and attractions (such as shows, concerts dining and more!) at Cotai Strip Macau!
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