We’ve always been ramen lovers. Having been to Keisuke Tonkotsu King and Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen, we really wanted to find out if Ippudo’s ramen is …
Ippudo SG @ Westgate : Is it really as good as they say?
Travel
Would we visit the 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant again?
Unlikely. Here’s why… 1. Location. The 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant is located at Jalan Besar where roads are not easily navigable and parking options are …
What’s good at Chin Chin (津津) Eating House @ Purvis Street?
One fine day, Kate said, “Would you like to have chicken rice and mutton soup at Purvis Street?”. Then I thought to myself, “Does mutton …
Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen @ Liang Court
Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen at Liang Court has quickly risen on our list of comfort foods in Singapore! Why? Several factors actually… We were pretty surprised …
Stew Kuche & Two Wings @ Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1 seems set to be another happening hang out place right in the heart of Alexandra. Why? The concept is quite simple really. Coffee shop setting with a twist – all the stalls in this coffee shop attracts the younger clientele with French, German and American cuisine. No mee pok ta at this kopitiam…
We were there at about 5pm on a Sunday and the evening crowd was already starting to build up. We decided promptly to go for the half pork knuckle ($15) and a pint of Hofbrau beer (click to check out our experience at Hofbrau Munich) ($12). Apparently, the ordering queue for the drinks and food are different. You pay at 2 different counters as well. While waiting for our turn, Two Wings with its slogan of “One just isn’t enough!” caught our attention and we went with 4 of its wings ($8.50)!
Two Wings has an interesting manner of processing your order. Your handphone number is used as a means to collect your order. Once your wings are ready for collection, a SMS would be sent to your phone and you’ll need to mention your order number on your phone in order to collect your wings. That’s a fantastic way to grab phone numbers for marketing purposes by the way…
The half pork knuckle did not look that impressive. However, we realised that our half was loaded with meat! The outer layer was crispy and the generous layer of fat fused with the meat within. Not too bad for a kopitiam actually. But of course, the original pork knuckle at Hofbrau Munich tops it all! 😛 The sides also had a local twist. Instead of the usual sauerkraut, achar was used. Ingenious really.
Next came our wings. Two Wings actually advocates a “correct” way to have your wings.
Step 1: Pull of cartilage at the wider end
Step 2: Twist and pull the small bone
Step 3: Twist and pull the big bone
Step 4: Eat and enjoy your boneless wing!
In this way, you’ll be left with a huge chunk of meat on the wing end which we thoroughly enjoyed with the chili dip. A great wing overall – crispy and juicy. But we thought that the taste department lacked a little. Best wings ever? Definitely Lost Coast Brewery’s Buffalo Wings; even better than the original buffalo wings at Anchor Bar New York.
At the same joint, there’s also Seasalt – The Seafood Place as well as Immanuel French Kitchen. There was also a bakery to round up the offerings here at Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1.
Our Verdict?
To be honest, the food standard is really not too bad. However, for a coffee shop (hot and stuffy within), the pricing’s a little steep. In comparison, for $10 bucks more (inclusive of taxes), you’ll be able to have a slightly bigger pork knuckle, be seated comfortably in a restaurant, have beers going at $9 a pint and is located centrally – perfect for gatherings (read our other posts to find out where this joint is!).
For the novelty, Stew Kuche and Two Wings at Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1 is definitely a good place to check out.
For return visits? We’re not too sure though…
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Hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of Stew Kuche and Two Wings at 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Wild Wild Wet @ Downtown East : A Pictorial Review
Wild Wild Wet is undergoing rejuvenation under NTUC’s plan to reinvigorate the entire Downtown East Development. During our stay at D’Resort Downtown East, we were …
D’Resort @ Downtown East : A Perfect Staycation for the Entire Family!
D’Resort Downtown East has recently opened its doors as part of NTUC’s $200 million rejuvenation of the Downtown East area. If you’re looking for a …
5 Reasons Why You Should Do a Staycation at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore’s Newly Refurbished Club Room!
Dear Jen, After our staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, we have been looking forward to staying at one of your many “Hotel Jens” all over …
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore Staycation : The Studio Suite!
Having enjoyed an awesome staycation at Grand Mercure Roxy back in 2013, we’re ecstatic to be back to check out the Studio Suite at the …
Tian Zi Fang (田子坊) : An Arts enclave in French Concession Shanghai!
Tian Zi Fang (田子坊) was an area that we visited while we were in Shanghai. Kate had planned for a visit to Tian Zi Fang …
What to eat at Whampoa Makan Place Food Centre?
Whampoa Makan Place (Food Centre) was where we had our breakfast this beautiful Saturday morning. In fact, we were looking for another foodie joint (River …
5 Recommended Restaurants & Foods to Eat in Siem Reap Cambodia!
We’ve been scouring the internet for restaurant recommendations and foods to eat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. However, our search only yielded some “hits” and mostly “misses”. After all that experience, we’ve decided to put together a list of recommended restaurants and foods to eat in Siem Reap Cambodia, for you to kick start your gastronomic journey!
Restaurants and Foods to eat in Siem Reap Cambodia
1. Mahob Khmer Cuisine
Chef and restaurateur Seng Sothea hits all the right spots with dishes at Mahob Khmer Cuisine Restaurant. The Khmer Beef Tenderloin on BBQ hot stone was our favourite with local sauces that dabble with the senses (spicy, sweet, sour, garlicky). Needless to say, the beef was so so tender. At USD$6.90, the beef tenderloin (300g) was a steal!
We also enjoyed our desserts of Banana Sago crème brulee style and Lemongrass tart with passion fruit ice cream. Who would have thought that lemongrass would make an excellent tart? Genius this!
For mains, we’d recommend the Caramelized pork shank with palm sugar, ginger, and black pepper. The beef lok lak has an awesome presentation but somehow it was not as tender as the one on hot stone. If you’re going for cocktails, give the Rainbow a miss and try the Lemongrass Martini.
All in all, with its attractive pricing and great tasting food, we’d definitely recommend Mahob Khmer Cuisine Restaurant for you to try out delicious Khmer cuisine!
Address: Mahob Khmer Cuisine is located at #137, Traing village, Group 3, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia and is opened for lunch and dinner.
2. Khmer Kitchen Restaurant
Khmer Kitchen Restaurant is a place you should go to try home-styled Khmer cuisine. Each dish goes for $4USD and there’s just wholesome, “mum’s taste” in every dish. Take for instance, the pork ribs were well marinated and had a slight bite to it with most of the meat coming off its bone easily. The pumpkin beef in oven was another favourite of ours – comfort food, asian style 🙂
Do note that there are 3 outlets in the vicinity of pub street. Khmer Kitchen Restaurant is located at Mondul I, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap Cambodia. When we visited the first restaurant, it was full and we were led to the next restaurant (by one of the staff) which was about a 2 minutes walk away. Again, it was full. But we waited for only about 5 minutes before we had our seat. After we were seated, 3 more groups of people arrived at the restaurant…If you’re visiting during dinner hours, be prepared for a queue.
Address: Khmer Kitchen Restaurant is located at Street 11, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
3. Easy Speaking Cambodian BBQ
Easy Speaking BBQ located at 178, Mondul 1 Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap, Cambodia was our choice to try out the Cambodian BBQ (and hotpot) this evening. There are actually many restaurants offering Cambodian styled BBQ and frankly speaking, Easy Speaking BBQ’s menu is not that cheap. Nonetheless, we liked the venue because it’s located right in the heart of pub street. A great place to people watch. Also, beers go at $0.50USD per glass. (WHAT?!) This makes it a good place to chill (albeit a little hot) and try out a new dish like the Cambodian BBQ.
The interesting thing about Cambodian BBQ is that
1. You can try out interesting meats like snakes and crocodiles.
2. Similar to the steamboat/bbq concept in Singapore, the Cambodian BBQ offers both the BBQ in the middle and hot pot on the sides. Instead of using butter or margarine, a thick slab of lard is used to “lather” the plate before the BBQ commences.
If you’re trying out the Cambodian BBQ for the first time, we’d recommend Easy Speaking BBQ. A menu for 2 starts at $10USD. We went for the $18USD (choice of more meats) and had 2 beers for an additional dollar (WHAT?!)
Address: Easy Speaking BBQ is located at Street 08, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia and is open from 7am to 12am daily
4. The Blue Pumpkin
If clubbing is not your cup of tea, right at the edge of Pub Street sits the Blue Pumpkin – a cafe that attracts many youths to hang out here. Portions are generous and you can literally “kick off your shoes, sit back and relax” on one of these huge sofa seats. Many youths and young adults hang out here to read a book or just catch up with friends. A good change for a night of sinful cakes and ice cream indulgence ;P
Address: The Blue Pumpkin is located at Sivatha Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia and is open from 7am to 11pm.
5. Beer Battle House of Beer
Beer Battle is located at the entrance of Pub Street. With a row of barrels right outside the restaurant, you’d probably won’t miss it. Although the pub food we’ve tried (mojito and chicken wings) are a miss, we still enjoyed the music from the live band very very much. They could even sing in Korean and got the Korean tourists all hyped up with the “saranghaeyo” and heart-shaped gestures over their heads. The bands also had a wide selection of songs from the 70s to the 90s and 2000s.
Secondly, head straight to the “window” seats at the sides of the second level and you’ll be treated to awesome views over Pub Street. Enjoy a drink, people watch and listen to awesome music from the live band. A great way to end off an evening at Pub Street, Siem Reap!
Address: Beer Battle House of Beer is located at Street 08, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia and is open from 4pm to 2am daily (except on Sundays close at 12am)
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the 5 Recommended Restaurants and Foods to eat in Siem Reap Cambodia. Let us know what you think in our comments section below!
Top 7 Things to do and Attractions in Siem Reap Cambodia!
When you think about Siem Reap in Cambodia, what do you think of? Temples, temples and more temples? To help you avoid the “Temple Fatigue”, here are the top 7 things to do and attractions in Siem Reap Cambodia!
Top 7 Things to do and Attractions in Siem Reap Cambodia
1. Tuk Tuk Ride
When visiting Siem Reap, remember to try the Tuk Tuk rides! That’s when you can really feel the wind in your hair and the people in the streets! A ride costs approximately USD$5 for a return trip from your hotel to the city and USD$15-$20 for a full day (especially needed for your visit to the Ankor Temple Complex).
2. Ankor Complex
Ankor Wat Temple
Bayon Temple
Ankor Thom Temple (aka Tomb Raider Angelina Jolie Temple)
To help you avoid “Temple Fatigue” at the Angkor Complex, you can limit your visit to only
i. Angkor Wat. Because it is the most beautiful temple structure within the complex.
ii. Bayon. Because of the many smiling faces and photo opportunity with actors in traditional costumes.
iii. Angkor Thom. Because Angelina Jolie shot Tomb Raider there.
After a while, all other temples will look more or less the same. Remember to hire a tuk tuk for a day to ease your transfers from temple to temple. Please do not attempt to walk…
3. Pub Street Siem Reap
After a day out at the Ankor Complex, Pub Street is a great venue to chill out. If you’re having your dinner there, many restaurants offer beers on tap for a mere USD$1! There are also many venues with live music, performances and clubs till the wee hours of the morning.
4. Siem Reap Old Market
Siem Reap Old Market offers tourists an opportunity to shop for souvenirs such as t-shirts, magnets and display items – much akin to Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City and Bogyoke Market in Yangon. Of course, it is also very much a market for the locals. You can buy shoes, textiles, get a manicure/pedicure, visit the hair salon and buy fruits and vegetables from the wet market before going back. North Face jackets go for 70USD here (20USD cheaper than that at pub street)!
5. Angkor Night Market
The Angkor Night Market is a cleaner (night) version of the Old Market. Because of its al fresco concept, the air quality is also better than that at the Old Market. Definitely a nice place to shop, chill and spend the evening at.
Tip: Prices are the cheapest at the Temple Complex, followed by the Night Market, followed by Pub Street. Hence, try not to do your souvenir shopping at Pub Street.
6. Movies @ Angkor Cinema
Drop in ANYTIME at Angkor Cinema and you can catch your favourite movie at just 5USD per person. This is because, the concept of the cinema is like that of a KTV in Singapore. You’ll enter a private room (complete with large sofa chairs and surround sound) and they’ll play the movie you’ve selected. As simple as that. Payment is made before you enter.
7. Dining in Siem Reap
There are many dining options in Siem Reap which we’ll show you in our next post!
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the 7 top things to do and attractions in Siem Reap Cambodia. Let us know what you think in our comments section below!
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room Staycation : Right in the heart of Clarke Quay!
During our recent staycation, we visited the Swissotel Merchant Court at Clarke Quay and upgraded ourselves to the Executive Room! Initially, we booked a classic room through Agoda for $205 (without breakfast) and wanted to find our own meals around the vicinity. However, at the reception, we were offered an upgrade to the Executive Room for $100++ which included
– Upgrade from Classic to Executive Room with views over the Clarke Quay area
– Breakfast for 2
– Access to Swiss Executive Club with cocktail hours from 6pm to 8pm
– Complimentary Wifi
We could not resist this offer and took the upgrade at the reception!
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room
Video tour of Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room
What we enjoyed about the Executive Room was its awesome views over Clarke Quay and Singapore River. In the day, we could see the beautiful Singapore skyline and in the evening, the life of the party at Clarke Quay. Even at 2am in the morning, there were still many people enjoying themselves and hanging out at Read Bridge (Malacca Bridge). Not to worry, the windows are sound proof so we were not disturbed by the crowds at all 😉
Having stayed at bathrooms with exceptionally huge bath tubs (see De Sarann Villa), we were not really used to the small in-room bath tub. Nonetheless, our room was at level 11 of the Swissotel Merchant Court which gives us easy access to the Swiss Executive Club!
Swissotel Merchant Court Swiss Executive Club
The Swiss Executive Club is located at level 11 (same floor as our room, yay!) of the Swissotel Merchant Court. We enjoyed the views that the executive club offers over Clarke Quay and the CBD area. Although the selection of food during cocktail hours was lacking in variety, the quality was not too bad. Satay, sushi and prawns were foods that made us come back for seconds. As for the drinks, both red and white wines tasted better than most house wines offered during cocktail hours. Worth the upgrade? A resounding YES!
Swissotel Merchant Court Facilities and Services
Swissotel Merchant Court offers the full suite of services expected of a 5 stars hotel. The swimming pool of Swissotel Merchant Court has slides for the kids, wading pool and also a jacuzzi pool. Surrounded by luscious greenery, the pool area is a sanctuary right in the heart of the city. At the same level, you can also access the gym. At the cardio station, you can have views over Clarke Quay as you work out the sweat – in preparation for the feasting at night! :O
The Ellenborough Market Cafe is also a famous joint for foodies, particularly for the nonya cuisine. We visited Ellenborough Market Cafe when it was having the crab buffet promotion and we also enjoyed its signature durian pengat during that visit. Yum!
Swissotel Merchant Court also offers full spa services at the Spa and Sports. Check out the menu above to see the prices and services that the Spa and Sports offers!
In and Around Swissotel Merchant Court Clarke Quay
Swissotel Merchant Court is located at 20 Merchant Road Singapore 058281 – right in the heart of the city. You can have easy access to the clubbing scene and night life at Clarke Quay and also feel the vibe of Chinatown, minutes away by foot. Shopping opportunities abound at Liang Court and Central Shopping Mall.
For a more relaxing time, Fort Canning Hill is just a stone’s throw away, offering you a perfect spot for picnics or that morning stroll with your loved ones. Don’t forget to hop on the swing swing like we did!
Breakfast at Swissotel Merchant Court Ellenborough Market Cafe
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Swissotel Merchant Court and our stay at the Executive Room with access to the Swiss Executive Club!
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Raffles Hotel Staycation Singapore : Relax & Rejuvenate!
Orchard Road
Mandarin Orchard Singapore Staycation Review: Best Views From “Top Of The M” Meritus Club Lounge!
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation: A Post-COVID Review
Novotel Singapore On Stevens Staycation: An Urban Oasis
A Letter To Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
National Day Staycation At The Regent Singapore – A Four Seasons Hotel!
Chinatown
The Clan Hotel Staycation Review: Sky Gym and Sky Pool Views That Mesmerise!
AMOY Hotel Singapore : Why You Should Stay Here During Your Next Visit
Marina Bay
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Staycation: The Complete Review
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation!
Ritz Carlton Singapore Staycation: Simply Shiok!
Clarke Quay
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room Staycation : Right In The Heart Of Clarke Quay!
Bugis
Mercure Singapore Bugis Staycation: Executive Loft Room Review!
Novena
Oasia Hotel Staycation Review!
Katong
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore Staycation : The Studio Suite!
Uniquely Singapore Staycation At Village Hotel Katong!
Downtown East
D’Resort @ Downtown East : A Perfect Staycation For The Entire Family!
Changi
Village Hotel Changi Staycation : Rediscover The Gems Of Singapore!
Sentosa
The Ultimate Family Staycation At Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!
Amara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa With Plunge (Private) Pool
17 Top Attractions and Things to do in Turkey!
There are so many things to do and attractions in Turkey and we finally got to visit this land of Anatolia during our Chan Brothers …
5 Reasons You Should Be Travelling …NOW!
If you’re thinking of doing that trip that you’ve always wanted, hesitate no more! Here are 5 more reasons why you should travel right now! …
Lounge Istanbul Ataturk Airport : One of the Top Airport Lounges in the World!
Lounge Istanbul, located at the departure terminal of Ataturk Aiport in Turkey, is the largest airport lounge that we’ve ever been to. Having been to the SATS, Dnata, KrisFlyer Gold Lounge and China Airlines Dyanasty Lounge, Lounge Istanbul is certainly an eye-opener for us. Let’s find out what makes Lounge Istanbul one of the top airport lounges in the world!
About Lounge Istanbul at Ataturk Airport Turkey
Spanning almost 6000m2 (WHAT?!), Lounge Istanbul boasts of several amenities that we have not seen before, including a self-service baggage storage area, a pool table, a golf simulator, a miniature virtual car rally and many drinks and food points all around the lounge! It is also able to accommodate 1000 guests at any point in time!
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What we enjoyed about Lounge Istanbul at Ataturk Airport Turkey
When we first entered Lounge Istanbul, we were very impressed by its decorations. We then found out that it is one of the largest airport lounges in the world. Here are some of the things we enjoyed about the lounge.
1. Decorations with different themes. As you can see from the pictures above, there are many different themes in and around the lounge. You can choose to chill at the classy and elegant area of the lounge, enjoy some coffee and desserts at the cafe themed area or lounge at many of the comfortable seats across the Istanbul Lounge!
2. Many different and unique amenities. Unlike the usual lounges that only offers food, publications and internet, Lounge Istanbul offers many firsts for us including
– A Golf Simimulator
– Miniature race rally course
– Pool Table
– Cinema
– Library
– Suites
– Massages
– Children’s Playroom
3. Sheer Size. As Kate mentioned, the Istanbul Lounge is so huge that it’s better to first find a seat before heading to check out the amenities. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble finding each other within the lounge!
True story.
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If you have also visited Lounge Istanbul at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul Turkey, do let us know what you think in the comments section below!
KrisFlyer Gold Lounge (T3) access with Star Alliance Gold Card
KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is the one of the two airport lounges operated by Singapore Airlines. You can access the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport using the Star Alliance Gold Card when you depart via any Star Alliance Airlines. This time, we departed via Turkish Airlines!
About KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Terminal 3
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What we liked about KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at Terminal 3
There are a few things that we enjoyed about the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge.
1. Tapping your own beer. At the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, you’re able to tap your own Tiger beer using frosted mugs that have been chilled in the fridge. You can even control the amount of head that you want for your beer!
2. Classy ambience. Compared to the SATS and Dnata lounges that we have visited previously, KrisFlyer Gold Lounge certainly exudes class and elegance in its decor.
Have you been to the SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2 and 3? Although the name sounds less classy as comapred to KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, it is actually only available to Suites, First Class, Business Class and PPS members flying with Singapore Airlines.
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If you have visited the KrisFlyer Gold or SilverKris lounges, tell us more in the comments section below!
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch @ River Garden Coffee House
Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch was where we enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon with our family. We chose the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel’s River Garden because
1. Selection of Food. The Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel has a wide variety of cuisine available. Beside the usual international buffet, there would be a “twist” at each promotion of Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel. During our last visit to Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch, it was a BBQ and Beer Brunch which included the popular Erdinger Beer. This time, the promotion included free flow of moscato or prosecco as well as freshly shucked oysters!
Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel River Garden Coffee House
2. Location. The River Garden Coffee House has a central location by the Singapore River. After your meal, you can continue to have drinks by the river (al fresco style) and watch people strolling/jogging along the river. Kids would be playing and boats passing by as well. Accompanied by your family as everyone enjoys this view? Priceless.
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
What we had at the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
According to our nephew (the one who brought you this awesome review of Harris Hotel Batam), “everything is so good!”. He was spot on!
The prawns were fresh and succulent while the snow crab was sweet and delicious. Oysters were freshly shucked and were perfect with a tinge of lemon and tobasco! You can see how huge and fresh the oysters were. Comparable to the $100++ Sunday Brunches that we’ve tried. The only difference is that they only have 1 choice of oysters. But one good variety is enough to get us hooked 🙂 The minus for seafood was that the chili crabs were not fresh. In local terms, “nua nua” (meaning soft). Not a good description for crabs and prawns.
Another plus to this Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is the durian pengat! This we did not notice at our last visit. Again, this durian pengat is comparable to the famous durian pengat at Swissotel Merchant Court’s Ellenborough Market Cafe – with all the edible bits of the durian. So good, that we had 2 bowls full – each.
Lastly, we sneaked a peek at the choice of moscato and prosecco at the Sunday Brunch. We realised that the River Garden Coffee House did not scrimp on their selection and had the Cascine Prosecco and Brown Brothers Moscato on their list. We’ve enjoyed several champagne brunches and we realised that the Cascine Prosecco has a relatively close taste to some selection of champagnes. Hence, if you’re not really into differentiating between champagnes and prosecco, the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is definitely a great buffet at a great price!
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If we had no budget to adhere to, the Raffles Hotel Sunday Buffet Brunch at the Bar and Billiard Room would be our top pick for Sunday Brunch in Singapore. However, as budget conscious Singaporeans, we’d definitely visit the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch for its quality, variety, fresh oysters and great selection of moscato and prosecco!
The Sunday Brunch Buffet at Riverview Hotel costs $48.80++ for adults and $22.80++ for kids. ANZ, Citibank, DBS, POSB and UOB Cardholders get to enjoy 15% discount on Sunday Brunch prices. CIMB Cardholders enjoy 17% discount on Sunday Brunch prices.
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) was where we spent our last day of our Turkey Trip. In fact, we were given the option of taking the Bosphorus Cruise, visiting a huge shopping mall and spice market for $100USD per person. We gave that option a miss because we wanted to really “take things down a notch” and relax before heading back to Singapore. That decision also saved us $200USD 😉 But there’s another reason why we decided to skip the tour, and that’s because our hotel, Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe (formerly known as Wyndham Istanbul Petek) is located close to the LARGEST shopping mall in Istanbul – Mall of Istanbul (MOI!).
With that, we decided to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, take a dip in the indoor pool of Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe, before we headed out to Mall of Istanbul – a mere 10 minutes by taxi (about 20TL)
Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe to Mall of Istanbul
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The breakfast buffet spread at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe was the only international buffet spread during our Turkey trip this time round. There’s the usual breads, cereals and egg station that is more familiar to the Singaporean taste. But what really surprised us was a HUGE SLAB of honeycomb at breakfast! Yummy (and supposedly healthy)!
After the hearty breakfast, we headed to the 24 hours fitness centre. There, you can enjoy the swimming pool (with nice views), gym (overlooking the swimming pool), Turkish bath as well as full spa services.
The only catch about using the swimming pool is that you’ll have to pay 5USD for a swimming cap – compulsory for both men and women. To us, it was more like an entry fee. Looking past that small little issue, you’ll soon be glad that you made the decision to stay and enjoy. Afterall, Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe is an international 5 star hotel.
After an enjoyable swim (with no one else at the pool), Kate and I went for our baths separately and we have 2 amazing experiences to share…
Tom : Next to the swimming pool, there are separate Turkish baths for both ladies and men. What I enjoyed about the Turkish Bath is that the design is classy yet traditional with soothing music in the background. The temperature of the water have been adjusted and filled up to nice warm temperature, ready for your bath. Remember to take some soap from the shower area into the Turkish bath.
At the centre of the Turkish bath is an octagonal bathing slab. It is warm. The most enjoyable part of the bath is to lie on the heated slab and soothe your mind and body after 7 days of travelling. Ah…definitely a must try!
Kate : While Tom enjoyed the Turkish bath, I enjoyed the shower facilities of the hotel. Turns out that there are jets surrounding you as you take your shower. Much akin to an automated car wash :p. Definitely recommend taking the shower after the Turkish bath. Cool!
All about Mall of Istanbul (MOI)
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Mall of Istanbul is the largest shopping mall in Istanbul that has more than 350 stores for the most avid shopping enthusiasts. There’s also a food court (Gourmet Center) at the top level and even an indoor amusement theme park (the largest in Turkey) by the name of Moipark – all 15,000m2 of it!
Even for Singaporean standards, the Mall of Istanbul is huge. We took about 6 hours to cover the entire mall (which of course includes shopping, resting, chilling and marketing). But our biggest find has got to be the Aldar restaurant which can be prominently seen at the entrance of Mall of Istanbul.
When you enter into the restaurant area (there’s also a cafe area), you would think that you have entered into a fine dining restaurant. Chandeliers, tall windows overlooking the streets and posh decorations within. Having not seen the menu before we entered, we really prayed hard that the price was acceptable. Next, our waiter, who by the way spoke excellent English, came to attend to us. The head waiter (WHAT?!) then came by to say hello to us and asked if everything was fine. We certainly hope so…(referring to the menu)
The waiter then came back with a tablet (electronic menu!) and showed us how to navigate through the menu. As we browsed through, we heaved a sigh of relief. Even with the description above, the meal would cost the same as an average priced meal in a Singapore restaurant ($20 per person). So we went ahead and ordered the mushroom pasta and Turkish chicken kebab. Both of which tasted AWESOME!
The portion of the mushroom pasta was HUGE. Good for two to share (and more). The flavours of the mushrooms were evident and the sauce was thick and creamy, just the way we like it. At 19TL ($10SGD), it was a steal! The highlight of the evening was the chicken kebab. First of all, it was tender and juicy! This made the dish stand out from all other dry and hard chicken kebabs that we have tasted before. The smoky and slightly charred texture also brought out the overall taste of the chicken and its spices. Shiok!
We ordered a lemon tea for 5TL and the total bill came up to…44TL! No additional taxes! (WHAT??!?!!?!) Hence, if you’re ever visiting the Mall of Istanbul, be sure to pop by Aldar’s, you won’t regret it. It was easily the best meal of our entire trip!
Itinerary of Turkey Travel Day 8: Mall of Istanbul and Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe
0700 : Breakfast buffet at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe
0800 : Swimming and relaxing at the Turkish baths and showers
1000 : Depart for Mall of Istanbul
1900 : Arrival back at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe
2000 : Complimentary airport transfer
2200 : Meet up with rest of tour group
0040 : Depart from Istanbul Ataturk Airport back to Singapore
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Additional snippets of information
– Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe is located at Mimar Sinan Cadessi No: 80-82 Gunesli, Istanbul, 34212. They can be reached at +90 21 24640000
– Mall of Istanbul is located at Süleyman Demirel Bulvarı, Mahmutbey, Başakşehir, 34306 Istanbul, Turkey
– Mall of Istanbul is about 10 minutes away from Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe. Taxi ride costs about 20TL per trip.
– There is complimentary airport transfer every hour from Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe to the airport. You will have to make reservations with the concierge.
– There is also complimentary transfers to the city. Departing at 10am in the morning and returning at 4pm in the afternoon.
Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of our 10D7N Turkish travels with Chan Brothers during the winter months (27th December to 5th January). Let us know what you think in our comments section below!
Turkey Travels Day 7 : Istanbul’s Camlica Hill, Grand Bazaar, Taksim Square and Istiklal Shopping Street!
As we wind down towards the end of our Turkey travels, we headed back from Bolu to Istanbul on Day 7 of our travels. But before we left Bolu’s Koru Hotel, we took the opportunity to capture many snow covered scenes around the hotel!
Koru Hotel Bolu to Istanbul Turkey Travel Day 7
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When we arrived at the Koru Hotel Bolu the previous night, though we could see some of the snow, it was already too dark to take any good shots. So we woke up early this morning and warmed ourselves up with a hearty breakfast before heading out to take these photos.
The awesome thing about Koru Hotel is that its vicinity is covered with pine trees. This means that as the snow covered the pine trees, a beautiful snowy scene is presented before you…Ahh…
Then it was a 3 hours drive back to Istanbul where our first stop was Camlica Hill.
Top Attractions in Istanbul Turkey Travel Day 7
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Turkey is the only country in the world that borders between continental Europe and continental Asia. From Camlica hill, you can see views over the Asia part of Turkey as well as the Bosphorus Strait. The Bosphorus strait connects 2 bodies of water; Sea of Marmara to the south and Black Sea to the north. Views over Bosphorus strait is simply breath-taking…
Tip: At Camlica Hill, there’s actually a free toilet next to the atas (high class) restaurant.
Next, we headed to one of Istanbul’s biggest attraction – The Grand Bazaar! You will first be taken to the Nuruosmaniye Gate or gate number 1 (of the 21 gates in Grand Bazaar). If you’re lost, simply ask for the direction back to Nuruosmaniye Gate and some the friendly stall owners will give you the general direction.
Tip : While shopping at the Grand Bazaar, you should always ALWAYS ALWAYS bargain. Secondly, you should also compare prices because there will always be more than 1 shop selling the product that you want to buy. As a reference, we bought our small Turkish lamp with a lamp stand (bulb not included) at 30TL (about $16.50SGD).
We were given 2.5 hours which we initially thought was too long. But with all the bargaining and endless shopping options (scarves, lamps, turkish delights, souvenirs etc), the 2.5 hours flew past really quickly. We also left with a box of Turkish Delights (and a packet of walnuts) for 42TL after bargaining (yes, you can even bargain for Turkish delights after they weighed and calculated the price). Expensive but the Turkish Delights were full of ingredients. Best Turkish Delights we’ve tasted. Sample more to make your $$’s worth! 😉
We then gathered back at Nuruosmaniye Gate before heading to Taksim Square and Istiklal Shopping Street!
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Our last attraction in Istanbul for the evening is Taksim Square and Istiklal Shopping Street. The Istiklal Shopping Street is located next to Taksim Square and is usually very crowded in the evenings. You’ll be given about an hour to shop and purchase some souvenirs. While you’re here, visit the Hafiz Mustafa Turkish Delight to bring home some beautifully packed delights for friends and relatives (prices are also cheaper here than at the Grand Bazaar). Kate and I also went to the top of Burger King and chilled there as we enjoyed the night views over Istiklal and Taksim Square. Of course, Kate got to do some shopping therapy at Mango and Zara first!
Finally, to end off the evening, we had dinner at Kumkapi Ege restaurant where there was live music. Dinner was “so so” but the atmosphere was great. The Kumkapi area can be somewhat compared to Clarke Quay in Singapore with lots of dining options to choose from.
After an eventful (and packed) day in Istanbul, we finally headed back to our hotel – Wyndham Hotel Petek Istanbul. This was the only international 5 star hotel (there were a couple of local 5 stars during the trip) during our visit to Turkey. We also found out from our travel companions that if you pay about $400 more per person, there’s another group that does the same itinerary, staying at international 5 stars every night. Well, that’s $800 bucks saved right? More Turkish Delights please!
Itinerary of Turkey Travel Day 7: Istanbul Attractions of Camlica Hill, Grand Bazaar, Istiklal Shopping Street, Taksim Square and Kumkapi
0845 : Depart from Koru Hotel Bolu
1015 : Rest stop
1145 : Arrival at Camlica Hill Istanbul
1300 : Lunch at Great Wall Restaurant (worst meal of the trip therefore not mentioned at all)
1430 : Departure to Grand Bazaar Istanbul
1500 : Arrival at Grand Bazaar
1730 : Departure from Grand Bazaar to Taksim Square
1830 : Arrival at Taksim Square / Istiklal Shopping Street (1 hour)
2015 : Arrival at Kumkapi Ege Restaurant (1 hour)
2145 : Arrival at Wyndham Petek Hotel Istanbul
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Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the attractions and things to do in Istanbul during day 7 of our Turkey Trip. On the last day, its essentially free and easy for us because we wanted to have a good rest before we headed back to Singapore.
We’ll also tell you why its better (and cheaper) to do so in our last post – day 8 of our Turkey Trip! 😉
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia is arguably the hottest attraction and things to do in Turkey! On the second day of 2015, we managed finally fly over Cappadocia with Royal Balloon!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon!
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In general, Cappadocia refers to the amazing monolith formations (fairy chimneys) of Turkey. However, more specifically, Cappadocia actually refers to a region that is enclosed by 3 towns, namely Uchisar, Urgup and Avanos.
We initially wanted to fly on the first of January. However, due to bad weather conditions, we were unable to fly. According to our guide Enis, if there’s high wind speeds, no winds, rains or low visibility, the hot air balloons won’t fly. We were also pretty surprised when he said “no winds”. Turns out that hot air balloons can only alter its altitude and axis of spin. The altitude control allows the pilot to catch the wind or avoid it. The spin about its axis allows passengers to have different views during the flight.
This also means that the hot air balloon essentially have no control over the direction of travel. Wherever the wind takes, it will go!
During our day of flight, a van from Royal Balloon picked us up at our hotel lobby at 615 and we arrived for breakfast at the HQ of Royal Balloon at 630. Breakfast was buffet styled while we awaited for flight updates on the monitor screens. Yellow flags indicate “no flights” while Green flags indicate “Yay! Fly!”
You may also wonder how they can afford the buffet spread (before payment) if the day’s flight is not confirmed…one of the reasons why flying with Royal Balloon is more expensive at USD220 per person. Of course, it also boasts the best safety records and reputation 😛
While the first group flown, we were fortunate enough to see these beautiful scenes…
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Video of our Hot Air Balloon taking flight over Cappadocia
There were 4 compartments on the hot air balloon with each compartment taking up to 6 people. There were also handles inside the balloon for brace positions. As soon as we boarded the flight, our pilot taught us the brace position and to be ready for these positions during landing and take-off, when necessary. Fortunately, both landing and take off of the hot air balloon were very smooth – no need for us to take the brace positions at all 🙂
Our pilot was also very humourous. When we were about to take off, this conversation took place
Pilot : Is this your first time flying?
Unsuspecting passenger : Yes! (Excitedly)
Pilot : Mine as well!
Of course, during our flight, we were able to tell he was very experienced…take a look at this video as we barely cleared the top of this formation…
Barely clearing the top of a formation in Cappadocia!
The hot air balloon experience in Cappadocia was definitely one of the best experiences in our years of travel! You will really really really have to experience it to believe it! Nope, the following video also does not do justice to the views we’ve enjoyed…
Hot Air Balloon Flight over Cappadocia
Our top experiences during our hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia includes
– Majestic views of the fair chimneys, pigeon holes and monoliths of Cappadocia
– Flying amidst the clouds…heavenly…
– Flying deep in the valleys and getting really really close to the formations
– Experiencing all this with your loved ones (in this case – Kate my love! :P)
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The entire flight took about 45 minutes while we alternated between flying high with the clouds and low between the valleys during this time. Since the pilot was unable to control the direction of flight, there was a team of people on the ground that monitored the balloon throughout the flight. As soon as we flown over a good spot for landing, the pilot lowered the balloon while the “balloon chasers” ran and jumped to hold on to the ropes lowered by the pilot. They would then pull the balloon such that the basket landed squarely on the back of the truck. As the balloon deflated, we also started to (sadly) alight the flight…
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After a smooth and successful landing, the ground team even set up a table nearby with champagne and chocolates for “landing celebrations”. The pilot also presented every passenger with his or her medal from Royal Balloon as a memory and token for the completion of the hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia. Of course, Kate took the opportunity to take photos with the handsome pilot as well 😉
Itinerary of Turkey Travel Day 6: Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia
0615 : Depart from Dinler Hotel Nevsehir to Royal Balloon HQ for Breakfast
0815 : Commencement of Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia
0900 : Hot air balloon lands / Landing Celebrations with Champagne and Chocolates
0935 : Arrival back at Dinler Hotel
1030 : Departure from Dinler Hotel to Ankara (Capital of Turkey)
1245 : Lunch
1345 : Departure from Lunch to Ankara
1515 : Arrival at Ataturk Museum in Ankara
1630 : Departure from Ataturk Museum to Hotel in Bolu
1845 : Arrival at Koru Hotel in Bolu
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If you opt not to take the hot air balloon flight, you will have more time to sleep in and have a leisurely morning at breakfast before the group returns from the hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia. Subsequently, we headed towards Ankara for a stopover at the Ataturk Museum (the founder of modern Turkey) before ending our day at Bolu. The drive from Cappadocia to Ankara is approximately 400km. Enroute, we passed by Salt Lake, which produces 80% of salt production in Turkey (can you believe it?!).
Along the way, we made a stopover at the capital city of Turkey – Ankara. Here, we visited the Ataturk Mausoleum which commemorates the founder of modern Turkey – Mustafa Kamal Ataturk. We also saw the change of guards at the Ataturk Mausoleum…
Change of guards at Ataturk Mausoleum
Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
The hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia is definitely the highlight of our Turkey trip! Find out more as we travel back to Istanbul on day 7 of our Chan Brothers Turkey Travel!
Turkey Trip Day 5 : Cappadocia, Kaymakli Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum and Turkish Night Celebrations!
It was the 1st of January 2015 as we began our 5th day of travels in Turkey. Initially, we thought we would be able to fly on the hot air balloon to welcome the new year. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t permit and we had to proceed with the rest of our programme in Cappadocia (pronounced as cap pa dok kia).
On day 5 of our Turkey travels in Cappadocia, we visited the Kaymakli Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum and even had the opportunity to be entertained at “Turkish Nights” to welcome in the new year!
In general, Cappadocia refers to the amazing monolith formations of Turkey. However, more specifically, Cappadocia actually refers to a region that is enclosed by 3 towns, namely Uchisar, Urgup and Avanos.
Turkey Travel to Cappadocia : Kaymakli Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum and Belly Dancing!
Kaymakli Underground City
Our first stop of the day was Kaymakli Underground City. The underground city is actually made up of close to a hundred tunnels but no one really knows who built it. In fact, the underground city was more like a hiding area and was not used for permanent stays. Many different groups of people came to seek refuge in this area, used it, expanded it and left with all their barang barang (stuffs) after use. When the emergency was over, they would have no need to hide and they would pack things up (nice and slow) and leave. Which is why there aren’t many items left within the tunnel network.
Today, some of the tunnels are used as storage areas while only certain areas are open to tourists. During your visit, you would be able to see a huge stone that was used to cover the entrance to the underground city and also another that was used for grinding purposes in the kitchen. Yes, cooking was done within the network with ventilation. Nonetheless, cooking was only done at night – to not give away your position of course!
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Inside Kaymakli Underground City
Goreme Open Air Museum Cappadocia
The Goreme Open Air Museum is one of the main attractions (besides the hot air balloons!) of Cappadocia. The monoliths at the open air museum itself are a sight to behold. One of the best spots to take a shot would be right outside the kitchen area. Here, you’ll be able to see a great overview of the area and also visit an amazingly crafted dining table – completely crafted out of one stone!
There are also 3 churches (the size of a small chapel rather) that you should visit. These include the Apple Church (named after an apple tree right in front of it), the Serpent Church (a serpent is drawn within that represents sin) and the Sandals Church (partly because of the clear representation of sandals left behind in this church). Another interesting thing about the Church of Sandals is that the pictorial representations within depict nativity. The apostles are mostly without emotions but the animals are smiling because of the happy occasion.
If you’re really into the arts and history, you’d want to know that red colour is used during the pre-iconoclastic age (5th to 8th century) while the colours are only added from the 11th century onwards, during the post-iconoclastic age. As with most older civilisations, paintings are generally used due to the lack of education then.
Eventhough our guide, Enis had more stories to tell, as typical Singaporeans (and Malaysians), the group happily started to snap away at the beauty shown at Goreme Open Air Museum…
Before we left, we also got to try Turkish ice cream for 5TL. Remember to go for the lemon flavour! The vanilla (or original) flavour, sadly, had some gamey lamb smell (and taste). Well, at least that indicates some form of authenticity right?
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Sights and sounds of Goreme Open Air Museum
Dining at Uranos Sarikaya
Uranos Sarikaya was one of the best restaurants (in terms of decoration) that we visited during this trip. Internally, it seemed as if the restaurant was dug out of a cave and there’s even a live performance in the center of the restaurant that adds to the authentic Turkish atmosphere.
While the fish was not the best (beware of the bones!), we had a large serving of the spaghetti! You can ask for extra spaghetti (mixed with cheese) and tomato-based sauce. As we left the restaurant, we also witnessed a beautiful sight overlooking the river right outside Uranos Sarikaya.
Before the day ended, we stopped by an interesting stretch of formations (called Dream Valley) whereby, if you use a little bit of your imagination, you’ll be able to see a dancing couple, a camel, a bear and santa claus!
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Interesting monoliths of Cappadocia
Kayseri Carpet Factory and Showroom
Before night time descended, we managed to squeeze in some time to visit a carpet factory and showroom in the Kayseri area. Inside, we were shown how carpets are made by hand and how silk is extracted from the cocoons of silk worms. Of course, at the end of the tour, all the various types and size of carpets were hauled out in front of us in a showroom. Drinks, including red and white wines were served. Likely to incapacitate your ability to make sound decisions 😛
We were told that the ladies who work at the showroom have been monitored over a period of time and those who are deemed “talented” would be put to work on pure silk carpets. Turkish carpets have come to be known as carpets of great quality because of the Turkish double knots and various materials (including wool, cotton and silk) used.
Before the trip, we had already wanted to bring home a Turkish carpet and we eventually decided on a mercerised cotton carpet at 1.5m x 0.9m. The starting price was approximately $3,700 usd but with group discounts (presumably with the tour), it was eventually reduced to $1,700. Mr Zeke, the guide who showed us around then came in and reduced the price to $1,400. We requested for a further discount and came away with $1,300, inclusive of air delivery right to our home in Singapore. What do you think of this price? Let us know in the comments section below!
The carpet arrived 1 week later and we found out that it flew by SQ! Now we know where all our money went…
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Turkish Nights and Belly Dancing
To end off our first night of 2015, we headed to a Turkish Night event. Turkish Night is usually held only on the 31st of December as a form of celebration. At Cappadocia however, it happens every night, for tourists like you and me! Yay!
At the Turkish Night event, there are free flow of drinks and many dance performances. These performances include the twirl dances, traditional dances and of course, belly dancing. Here’s a glimpse of the belly dancing performance during Turkish Night
Although there is free flow of drinks, do lower your expectations because the only highlight of the evening was the belly dancing. The drinks (including licorice liquor, beer and wines) were not that good and the traditional dances got repetitive after a while.
Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience and a great way to start off the new year!
Itinerary of Turkey Travel Day 5: Cappadocia Day Tour covering Kaymakli Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum and Turkish Night
0815 : Depart from Dinler Hotel Nevsehir to Kaymakli Underground City
0845 : Arrival at Kaymakli Underground City
1000 : Departure from Kaymakli Underground City to Goreme Open Air Museum
1035 : Arrival at Goreme Open Air Museum
1215 : Lunch
1400 : Arrival at Dream Valley
1430 : Departure from Dream Valley to Carpet Showroom
1445 : Arrival at Carpet Showroom
1600 : Departure to Urchisa for a quick photo
1630 : Reach Urchisa and reach hotel at 1700
1830 : Dinner at hotel
1945 : Departure for Turkish Night
2230 : Arrival back at hotel
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Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
Find out more about day 6 of our Chan Brother’s Turkey travel where we’ll finally get to fly on a hot air balloon over Cappadocia!
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey was our next country to “conquer” as we have not had the opportunity to visit this country (ahem @ GoTurkey.com :p) that spans between both Europe and Asia continent. As there is a language barrier and a vast distance to travel if we were to do a free-and-easy by ourselves, we decided to join the Chan Brother’s 10D7N Turkey travel for only $2100 per person. It is very affordable because $1000 would be the price of the air ticket while the remaining $1100 is used for meals, transportation, accommodation, attraction tickets, tour guide as well as taking out the hassle of planning all the routes around Turkey. It is especially worth it when you get to skip the MASSIVE queues outside the major attractions in Istanbul!
We chose to travel via the Turkish Airlines flight (instead of Singapore Airlines) because of the timing of both departure and arrival flights. We departed at 12:30am and arrived at 6:30am in Istanbul (both local times), having full days in Turkey on the departure and arrival days!
Upon arrival at the airport, we were greeted by our local guide Enis who brought us immediately to Istanbul to visit the Hippodrome of Constantinople, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia.
Attractions in Istanbul Turkey
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If you take a look at the monuments at the Hippodrome, you’ll realise that they are formed up in a single line. During the Roman era, it was actually the central columns of a chariot race. Imagine the chariots going round the columns resembling an elongated oval shaped race track.
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Views from the Topkapi Palace
You may also like: Yogyakarta Travel Itinerary Day 1: Prambanan Temple, Parangtritis Beach Horse Ride and Massage no. 1!
As we moved from the Hippodrome to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia Museum and Topkapi Palace, we were told of stories at these various areas…
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) : Have you ever wondered why there are 6 minarets (slender tower typically with a balcony) at the Blue Mosque? Legend has it that the order was to build altin (gold) towers around the mosque. However, the builder heard alti (six) instead. Hence, six minarets were built around the Blue Mosque. In fact, Blue Mosque is not blue in colour but it earned its name because of the 20,000 blue mosaic tiles used within the mosque. Hence, a touristic name of Blue Mosque was derived!
Hagia Sophia Museum : At the Hagia Sophia, there’s a hole in the wall with a long queue behind it. Everyone is actually queuing to place their thumb in the hole, make a circle with the palm of their hands and make a wish. Legend has it that an angel promised a boy to look after his equipment so that he could go back to take of his parents. The boy never returned and the angel is thought to be trapped within, granting wishes to people who came to visit.
Topkapi Palace : The first courtyard of the Topkapi palace extends from Imperial Gate to Salutation Gate while the second courtyard is from Salutation Gate to Felicity Gate. At the second courtyard, there is a Justice Tower where the Sultan would stand and witness executions taking place. However, the best part of the Topkapi Palace is actually the view of the Bosphorus River. Remember to take beautiful shots from the balconies overlooking Bosphorus. Other notable places to visit includes the treasury, religious relics (both Christian and Muslim) as well as the Royal Kitchen.
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You may also like: Top Things to do in Madrid – Spain Travels Day 1!
Itinerary of Day 1: Istanbul to Canakkale Turkey
0630 : Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport
0830 : Visit to Hippodrome, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia Museum and Topkapi Palace
1230 : Lunch at Citadel Hotel Istanbul
1400 : Depart for Canakkale
1600 : Stopover for break
1830 : Ferry to Canakkale
2000 : Arrival at Tusan Hotel Canakkale
After our visit to all the attractions in Istanbul, we adjourned to Citadel Hotel Istanbul for lunch before commencing the approximate 6 hours drive to Canakkale. This includes a ferry ride in between where the whole car drives unto the ferry to be transferred across the straits to Canakkale.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
Related posts
This post is part of our 10 Days 7 Nights Turkey travel with Chan Brothers. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip.
Turkey Trip Day 1 : Singapore to Istanbul and Ferry to Canakkale
Turkey Travel Day 2 : Visiting the Trojan Horse of Troy and Ancient City of Pergamon
Turkey Travel Day 3 : Visit to Ephesus / Turkish Bath and Hot Springs of Lycus River Hotel Pamukkale
Turkey Trip Day 4 : Pamukkale Cotton Castle and Journey to Cappadocia!
Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia with Royal Balloon : Turkey Travel Day 6!
Mall of Istanbul (MOI) : Shopping Eating and Relaxing on Day 8 of Turkey Trip!
Basic Turkish Language You Should Know
Here are some simple Turkish phrases that you should know to make your Turkish trip that much more enjoyable. But for ease of pronunciation, we’ll not spell out the actual Turkish spelling but the way you should pronounce it!
Thank you – teh she kew air de room (6 syllabus to say thank you?!?!)
Hello – mehr ha ba
Goodbye – gule gule
Good morning – gew nei den (yes, we know. It does sounds like “good night”)
Good night – yeee yeee gu jay lash
I am fine – yeee yeee
No worries (not at all) – beer she dean
Yes – eh vet
No – ha year
Find out more about day 2 of our Chan Brother’s Turkey trip when we visit the legendary Trojan horse!
De Sarann Villa Siem Reap : Luxurious, Exclusive, Tranquility…
De Sarann Villa in Siem Reap was our choice of stay when we visited Cambodia for the first time. Thanks to Sokmeng and François, we were hosted to a luxurious, tranquil and exclusive stay at the De Sarann Villa, here in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Let’s find out what this latest villa in Siem Reap has to offer…
About De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia
Tucked away at #37 Trang Village (one of the oldest village precinct in Siem Reap), De Sarann Villa is a hidden gem that offers luxury travellers all that you need during your stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is conveniently located just 7km from the Angkor Temples / Siem Reap International Airport (less than 10 minutes ride) and a mere 5 minutes drive to the city. Although conveniently located, it is also out of hustle and bustle of the main street, thus offering you an oasis of tranquility – a really smart idea!
There are only 4 villas (yes, you did not misread that) in De Sarann and because of that, it offers luxury travellers that exclusivity and an undisturbed tranquility. Should you need any assistance, personalised service will be at your doorstep within seconds (literally!). Talk about exclusivity…
To top it all off, each villa comes with a swimming pool (complete with jacuzzi functions), rooftop dining options, deck chairs to chillax and complimentary beverages throughout your stay.
Inside Royal Family Suite Villa – with Private Pool, De Saranna Villa Siem Reap
When Sona told us that our room was 120 metres square, we were really surprised. That equates to almost 3 times the size of a typical hotel room! Of course, the size includes the private roof top pool and dining area. Nonetheless, as we strolled through our room, we got to understand the brevity of the size of the Royal Family Suite Villa in De Sarann Villa…
After exploring the first level of our villa at De Sarann Villa, we were pretty much captivated. The management spared no effort in the details of furnishing the rooms. Sculptures adorn the shelves of the rooms and living spaces, a fully stocked mini bar (3 types of beers, 4 types of soft drinks and plenty of water), 3 TVs and a complete set of bathroom amenities. As for the bath tub, it must have been the biggest we’ve ever seen (or been in) and that’s after visiting the in-room jacuzzi bath tub of Heathman Lodge in Vancouver USA. We’re both close to 6 foot in height and it can fit both of us in comfortably with room to waddle! :O
Here’s a video tour of the Royal Family Suite at De Sarann Villa…
And you thought our tour of the villa is over? Here’s the best part, the roof top swimming pool and dining deck!
The highlight of villas at De Sarann Villa has got to be the private pool and roof top deck. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a jacuzzi in the privacy of your own villa. There are even deck chairs for you to enjoy the sun throughout the day. As De Sarann Villa is the tallest building in the vicinity, you’ll literally get a full day of sunshine and even get to watch sunset while chilling out at the private pool.
The deck chairs were also surprisingly comfortable and because of the peaceful surroundings, we soon found ourselves falling asleep unknowingly – to the tranquil tune of nature.
Breakfast can also be served at the roof top. As sun rise is pretty early (about 5:30am), we started to have breakfast at 6am and really enjoyed it as the colours of the sky dawned into the soothing morning colours. Ahh…
Services offered at De Sarann Villa Siem Reap Cambodia
Although De Sarann Villa is a relatively new establishment, it has all its bases covered…
1. Dining. De Sarann Villa collaborates with the famous Mahob Khmer Restaurant to bring you authentic Cambodian cuisine in the comfort of your own villa. On our first night, we ordered the beef tenderloin on hot stone ($6.80USD) and the hot stone itself was literally delivered to our villa!
Tip : We’ve been to several restaurants about town but when it comes to taste and price, the collaboration with Mahob Khmer Restaurant really takes the icing. Prices are decent and food is excellent. You MAY (a huge MAY here) even get a 10% discount if you mention about your stay at De Sarann Villa. (Nope, you did not hear this offer from us :P)
2. In-room massage. De Sarann Villa also collaborates with Molis Ruot Spa & Massage to offer guests high standards of massage services in the comfort of your own villa. A 4 hands body massage is a steal at $30 for 60 minutes!
3. Transportation and Private Tours. Transportation can be easily arranged at the hotel’s reception. The drivers work closely with De Sarann Villa to offer prompt service and of course safety to the guests at the hotel. A complimentary handphone was also provided for us to contact our driver (Lin) who was on hand to pick us up every time. Strangely, whenever we were to be picked up, he would always be the first to spot us and because of that, we knew we were in good hands. A full day of tuk tuk transportation costs $18USD. This includes a day trip to the Angkor temples and also bringing us around the city for dinner before delivering us safely back to the hotel. Did we also mention that airport transfers are complimentary?
Sokmeng (owner of De Sarann Villa) actually started off in the travel industry early in her career. She only started De Sarann Villa after she successfully opened her own travel company. This also means that, the hotel is able to customise private tours for you during your stay in Siem Reap. She also shared with us a secret place to catch splendid sunsets in the evenings (involving a lovely boat ride and chilled beers or wine)…No more need to contend with the noisy crowds at sunset!
Meaning, you’ll only enjoy these amazing moments with your loved ones…Nope, we’re not going to divulge the secret here. Check in with De Sarann Villa to find out more!
Attractions in and around De Sarann Villa
Because of its convenient location, De Sarann Villa is a mere 7km from the Angkor temples and less than a 5 minutes ride to the city. You’ll be able to enjoy these attractions, a stone’s throw away…
Location of De Sarann Villa
De Sarann Villa is located at #37 Trang Village, Sangkat Slorkram, Siem Reap Cambodia. You can also reach them at +855 63 900 050.
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of De Sarann Villa in Siem Reap Cambodia. After visiting the establishment for ourselves, we’re converts. It’s true that De Sarann Villa brings luxury, exclusive living and tranquility to the luxury travellers of today!
Adventure Cove Sentosa : Definitely Worth A Visit!
Adventure Cove Sentosa is one of the major attractions both at Sentosa and in Singapore. In addition to the Maritime Experiential Museum and SEA Aquarium, Adventure Cove was one of the attractions in Sentosa that we pretty much enjoyed. It is a adventure waterpark that offers something for everyone! Find out more about some secret tips that we found out at our last visit here!
Adventure Cove Sentosa Attractions
Tip 1 : Once you’re in, head straight to the area between Rainbow Reef and the Bay Restaurant. At the corner of this area, there is a great area for you and your friends to gather at. It was there where we set up our “base camp”!
Rainbow Reef
The other reason why you should head to Rainbow Reef first is because there will be a SUPER LONG queue as the day goes on. Heading there first will allow you to get a great spot and also be one of the first to be enjoy Rainbow Reef. Something that Tom did…
Rainbow Reef is one of the most enjoyable experience in Adventure Cove. It is actually snorkeling among schools of fish within a reef. You’ll be given instructions
1. Not to kick within the reef. This is because there is a light stream that brings you round like a circuit. You’ll just have to float along. Of course, the other reason is to prevent you from disturbing the marine life within.
2. No diving. Even though you may be tempted to swim among the schools of fish, you are not allowed to do so.
What we really enjoyed about this attraction was that during feed times, you’ll see a HUGE number of fish gather round the food and they all move in one swift, coordinated motion. So much so that there would be a mini wave or tremor that you may feel. Tom was actually shocked by this sudden movement when the feeding begun. But, what an awesome sight to behold! Enjoy!
The Bay Restaurant
The last reason why you should head to the Rainbow Reef area first is because of its proximity to the Bay Restaurant. Usually during meal times, the restaurant itself would be fully occupied. Nonetheless, you can bring out the food that you’ve ordered to the seating area outside, a place which you would have “choped” (Singlish for “Booked”) if you had followed our previous advice.
The fish and chips combo and fried chicken wings, though a little expensive, tasted quite alright. Here are the other attractions that we visited while we were at Adventure Cove Sentosa…
Seahorse Hideaway – A shallow wading pool for the toddlers
Dueling Racer – Grab a mat and race against your mate down the slide side by side
Riptide Rocket – The Waterpark equivalent of the roller coaster. Enjoy!
Pipeline Plunge & Tidal Twister – Twisting and turning at high speeds and plunges!
Bluwater Bay – Chill out or just ride on the giant waves!
Spiral Washout and Whirlpool Washout – Be prepared for a water ride unlike any other!
Tip 2 : We realised that the more exciting ride is always on the left side. Once in line for queues that head to 2 rides, remember to choose according to what you can handle. For us, it’s always the left ride!
Big Bucket Treehouse – A fun splash area for the kids
Splashworks – A water obstacle course
Adventure River – Adventure Cove Sentosa’s Lazy River
At Adventure Cove Sentosa, there are additional experiences – ultimate marine encounters (of course at an additional fee) that you can enjoy. These include Sea Trek Adventure, Shark Encounter, Ray Bay, Open Ocean Dive and the various Dolphin encounters seen above.
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Staying at Sentosa? Click here to enjoy competitive rates and compare the prices of hotels at Sentosa!
**Photos courtesy of Adventure Cove Sentosa
Resorts World Sentosa Hotels : Deals @ 50% OFF!
Hey everyone! We just stumbled upon a really great deal at Agoda! Hotels at Resorts World Sentosa are at 50% OFF! Check out these fantastic …
Top 10 Things to Eat in Ipoh Malaysia!
Ipoh is a food paradise! But if you’re wondering what are some of the things you must eat in Ipoh Malaysia, here are the top 10 picks of what to eat in Ipoh! By the way, this food list is in descending order, which means no.1 is a MUST TRY!
What to eat in Ipoh Malaysia
10. Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre Food Court – Popiah
At the top floor of Ipoh Parade Shopping Center, you’ll find this food court, within which, there’s a stall that has its sign board that states “Popiah”. This was a really surprise find for us because we were not having lunch but were feeling peckish. The aunty sort of recommended her popiah while we walked by her stall and we tried. To our surprise, it had several layers of taste to it. Crispy, moist, fresh and tasty fillings. Try it if you’re in the vicinity!
9. MYDIN Wholesale Hypermarket in Bandar Meru Raya, Ipoh – My Nasi Kandar
Mydin Mall is located at PT 229142, Jalan Meru Bestari B2, Bandar Meru Raya, 30020 Jelapang, Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan. What happened was this. We were supposed to take a bus leaving Amanjaya Bus Terminal after booking for the bus online. Guess what? There was no such bus leaving that morning when we arrived at the terminal! So we went to all the booths that sold tickets to source for the next available ride to Singapore. We even met up with others who were supposed to be on the same bus and thought of car pooling. But in the end, we decided against taking a ride to Johor to transfer from there. Instead, we waited at Mydin Mall (a short walk from Amanjaya Bus Terminal) for our direct bus trip back to Singapore.
In the meantime, we managed to squeeze in a meal at My Nasi Kandar (after seeing all the crowds there). After trying the tandoori, we understood why the crowd was there. We could taste the spices, the tenderness and the juiciness of the chicken tandoori. Surprisingly good we must say 🙂
8. Cendol at Mr Cendol Mydin Mall
Still within Mydin Mall, along the circumference of the mall was Mr Cendol. We’ve tried several cendols in Singapore before but since the place was called Mr Cendol, we thought they might offer something different. We sat down and ordered the Soya Special. Turns out that instead of using just shaved ice, the ice was made of soya milk and topped off with ice cream. Sedap!
7. Dim Sum at Restoran Ying Fa
Restoran Ying Fa is located at 1C, Jalan Sultan Yussuf (Belfied Street), Old Town, Perak, Ipoh Town, 30000. We actually arrived in Ipoh at 5am in the morning and were offered transportation by a uncle who had 6 fingers on one of his hands. Hence, he has a nick-name called liu zhi （六指 – literally meaning six fingers). He offered to take us to our hotel (for a fee of course – 20RM) and so we requested for a dim sum place enroute. We were taken to Ying Fa Restoran!
All in all, we spent only 22RM for all the dim sum that we had. Quality was ok but the price was really economical. So do head on down if you have a craving for dim sum!
6. Kedai Makanan Nam Heong
Kedai Makanan Nam Heong is located at 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh Perak, 30000. There are 2 reasons why you should visit Kedai Makanan Nam Heong coffeeshop.
Firstly, it is one of the main distributors of white coffee in Ipoh. We’ve tried the iced white coffee and it was really strong and aromatic. Unlike some diluted ones that we’ve tried before. To learn more about the meaning of white coffee, follow the link to our Things to do in Kluang Malaysia post.
Secondly, Makanan Nam Heong is actually an amalgamation of several amazing foods in Ipoh including ipoh hor fun, curry mee, penang prawn noodles, char kway teow and dim sum! Of which, the smell of the char kway teow was really irresistable. Definitely a MUST TRY!
5. Restoran Ipoh Kong Heng
Restoran Ipoh Kong Heng is located at 74 Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Here, there are actually alot of food choices including the traditional ipoh hor fun, the sar hor fun (that we had) as well as the mixed popiahs (see above). The prawn soup of the sar hor fun was especially flavourful. Coupled with the springy hor fun and firm chicken slices? Yummilicious! As for the mixed popiah, the normal popiah actually tasted better although the option of tasting the fried version was interesting.
4. Traditional Hor Fun
If you have read our post questioning whether the standard of zi char in Singapore has dropped? It was all triggered by this plate of beautifully constructed hor fun. Simple dish with springy hor fun and tasty gravy. Nope, this was not at a famous place but at a random coffee shop that we visited. Speaks alot about the quality of food (especially hor fun) in Ipoh.
3. Funny Mountain Soya Bean
Funny Mountain Bean Curd is located at 49, Jalan Theatre (Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri), 30300 Ipoh, Perak. We actually tried the bean curd because of the long queue indicating that they must be doing something right in their concoction of soya bean products. However, we think that the soya bean curd that we tried was a tad too sweet. In addition, we have been spoilt by the silky smooth soya bean curds in Singapore. So the bean curd here was quite normal for us. But still, there’s a reason why the crowds are streaming in, so do tell us what you think in the comments section below!
2. Kafe Sun Yoon Wah Snow Beer
Kafe Sun Yoon Wah is located at 7,Jalan Bijih Timah, Ipoh Old Town, 30000 Ipoh, Malaysia. Definitely, strongly recommended. The snow beer is actually formed by quickly pouring beer into a chilled mug. The bubbles then forms the frost like bits because of the ice cold mug, forming the well-known snow beer. It was a totally new experience for us, quite unlike Heineken extra cold or ice cold Tiger Beer. In addition, try the stir fried calamari that goes really well with the beer. The only catch is that you must drink the snow beer relatively quickly once its poured, else it will just become normal cold beer.
1. Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam – Beansprouts with chicken and hor fun
Restoran Ong Kee is located at 48, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. If there’s one food that you must try, it has got to be the beansprouts chicken with hor fun at Restoran Ong Kee. Some people say that because of the water here in Ipoh, the hor fun is extra taong (springy) and the bean sprouts are extra fat (as you can see from the picture above). It really is true. Mixing in the chicken and bean sprouts (with a dash of the chicken sauce) into the hor fun will give you a perfect combination of what Ipoh hor fun is really about.
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Thoughts on what to eat in Ipoh Malaysia
In fact, there are many other good food in Ipoh including the salt-baked chicken and caramel custards. But nonetheless, if there’s two food that we’d recommend, it’ll certainly be the Ipoh Hor Fun at Restoran Ong Kee and the snow beer at Kafe Sun Yoon Wah.
Click here for a price comparison of the hotels available in Ipoh.
Do let us know if there are other good food to eat in Ipoh that you’d like to recommend in the comments section below!
Visondata SG : Helping you stay connected wherever you go!
Visondata SG (VDS) offers low cost pocket wifi services that spans more than 70 countries. With this small device, users are able to stay connected while on travels or business trips overseas! Thanks to the great folks at Visondata SG, we got to experience its convenience and simplicity during our recent trip to Turkey!
Staying connected with Visondata SG in Turkey
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Benefits of Pocket Wifi by Visondata SG
While we were using the pocket wifi offered by Visondata SG, we cannot help but marvel at how far technology has taken us. As you have seen in the above pictures, we were connected everywhere we went in Turkey. Here are some of the benefits we saw with the pocket wifi by Visondata SG
1. Easy to use. All we had to do was to press and hold the “power” button of the device. Within seconds (literally!), we were connected to a data network! As simple as press-and-use!
2. Speedy connection. We were able to upload photos to our various social media platforms while on the go and data speeds were no less than 3G.
3. Convenient. As Visondata SG puts it, it REALLY is a pocket wifi where you literally just place the device in your pocket or bag and you’re good to go! In addition, the company also provides courier service by delivering the device to your preferred location!
Considerations for using Visondata SG
1. Does Visondata SG cover your destination? If you take a look at the pricing plans at Visondata SG, you may realise that Turkey is not listed within this list. In fact, Visondata SG covers over 70 countries. This means that you’ll be able to stay connected while you travel to most places around the globe. If you’re still unsure, just drop a mail to Visondata SG (enquiry@visondata.com.sg ) and they will assist you to confirm if your destination is covered.
2. How it works. The pocket device actually uses the sim card technology. Because of Visondata’s collaboration with telcos world wide, they are able to utilise their services and bring this convenience to you! No longer do you have to worry about poor connection due to the various telcos covering a vicinity because Visondata will help to search for the strongest network for you within seconds.
3. Pricing. Overseas data roam costs minimally $10 to $15 from local telcos. The great thing about Visondata is that they’re able to match the price PLUS their collaboration with many telcos world wide ensures the best connectivity. So you’ll get the best connection at a fixed price. For Turkey (and 47 other European countries), it costs $25 per day for unlimited data usage as compared to $30 per day from the local telcos.
Share and win $500 worth of travel vouchers with Visondata SG
There’s an ongoing contest on the Facebook page of Visondata SG. To stand a chance to win $500 travel vouchers, all you have to do is to follow these simple steps
1. Like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/visondatasg
2. Comment on the post by telling them which country you would like to visit the most and why!
3. Share your comment with your friends/families and get them to like it! The post with the highest number of likes will win.
Contest will end on the 6th February 2015 and the comment with the most number of likes wins. Winner will be notified via email on the 7th February 2015.
Alternatively, you can “like” our comments on Santorini Greece! 😛
Conclusion
We were skeptical at first about this device. Now we’re a convert.
We would recommend this device for travellers who want to stay connected wherever they are overseas. Check in with Visondata SG and discuss how you can stay connected during your next overseas trip!
Top 10 Singapore Hotels in 2015!
Happy New Year Everyone! As it is Singapore’s Jubilee this year (Yay! Happy 50th Birthday Singapore!), there will be lots of jubilee celebrations as we …
Top 20 Foods from 2014 Travels!
This food list originally started off as the “Top 10 foods from 2014 Travels”. But as we went through our posts in 2014, we realised that there are alot of great foods that we’ve tried and would like to share them with you! So here it goes…
Top 20 Foods from 2014 World Travels
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
20. Vietnam Coffee and Grilled Pork / Spring Roll Vermicelli (Ben Thanh Market)
Vietnam Coffee and Grilled Pork / Spring Roll Vermicelli
19. Prawn and Chicken Spring Roll (Saigon Centre Cafe Terrace)
Prawn and chicken spring roll
While we were in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, we tried the foods at Ben Thanh Market as well as Saigon Centre. What impressed us was the fresh ingredients used and prepared in such a way that it brings out the natural flavours of each ingredient. Our favourite from this trip were the Grilled Pork & Spring Roll Vermicelli (Kate LOOOOOOOVES Vietnamese Vermicelli – which she says she can have all day, everyday! :P) and the fresh Vietnamese spring roll. While in Vietnam, don’t forget to also try the world-renowned Vietnamese coffee!
Taichung Taiwan
18. The Original Bubble Milk Tea (Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 )
Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 The Original Bubble Milk Tea
17. 大腸包小腸 Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage (Feng Jia Night Market)
大腸包小腸 (Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage)
16. Ice cream with AWESOME Toppings (Miyahara 4th Credit)
Miyahara 4th Credit Ice Cream
We start our food conquest in Taiwan (foodie’s paradise!) at Taichung. There is a wide variety of food, great tasting ones at that. But we’ve narrowed it to the Original Bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 , 大腸包小腸 (Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage) at Feng Jia Night Market as well as possibly Kate’s favourite ice cream shop at Miyahara 4th Credit. Do check out our post on What to eat at Feng Jia Night Market for our great foods!
Changhua Taiwan
15. The Best Changhua Meatballs (北門口肉圓 Bei Men Kou Meatball)
北門口肉圓 Changhua Meatball with scallop
We’ve scoured through the top Changhua Meatball stalls and deciphered which is the best Changhua Meatballs in Taiwan. Read our post to find out more!
Tainan Taiwan
14. Breakfast Set (鹿早茶屋)
Breakfast Set at 鹿早茶屋
While staying at 1967 Hotel Tainan, we chanced upon 鹿早茶屋 – a quaint cafe with a lovely breakfast menu. We tried the breakfast set as well as the German sausage waffles. Definitely a great way to start the day!
13. Shrimp Dumpling, Coffin Bread and Oyster Mee Sua (瑞珍虾仁馄饨)
瑞珍虾仁馄饨 Shrimp Dumpling, Coffin Bread and Oyster Mee Sua
We know…there are 3 foods in this picture and we should really pick one to introduce. But if we really have to choose, we’d pick the shrimp dumpling and the oyster mee sua. The oysters were really fresh and it was the soupy version which differs from the thick broth version that is usually sold in the streets. The shrimp dumplings (what 瑞珍虾仁馄饨 is famous for) had really fresh prawns and crispy skin. Once you go at it, you really can’t stop!
Bandung Indonesia
12. Tauhu Telur (Es Teler 77)
Tauhu Telur
Bandung Indonesia is a foodies paradise and there are so many yummy food that we would like to introduce here! But if we really had to choose, it would be the Tauhu Telur from Es Teler 77 (a local restaurant chain). Not only is the presentation superb (very pretty isn’t it?), the taste of the tauhu was fresh and the deep fried egg at the top was not the oily sort. Coupled with the sweet and spicy sauce? AWESOME!
Shanghai China
11. Pan Fried Dumplings (Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎)
Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 4 for 6RMB
Yang’s Fried Dumpling simply wins the battle of pan fried dumplings hands down! Not only is it really economical to dine here – 4 dumplings costs 6RMB (That’s about 30cents each! WHAT?!), the taste was out of this world as well! Don’t be deceived by this innocent dumpling, tread (or chew) carefully…it is SOOOOOOO juicy that it leaves a trail of splatters on the mouths (or in our instance – spectacles) of the diners!
Penang Malaysia
10. Penang Char Hor Fun (Gurney Paragon’s Food Court)
Penang Char Hor Fun
9. Nonya Food (Mama’s Nonya Cuisine)
Mama’s Nonya Cuisine
If you have read our post on the “13 Penang Hawker Food and Nonya Restaurants that YOU MUST TRY“, you’d realise that there are so many awesome foods to be tasted in Penang!
If we really had to choose, the Penang Char Hor Fun (from Gurney Paragon’s Food Court) and Tau Yew Bak (braised pork from Mama’s Nonya Cuisine) are definitely not to be missed! Unlike most hor fun these days, the version from Gurney Paragon is made from scratch! The chef fries the hor fun and the sauce on the spot and marries them intricately together, topped off with the “silky egg”. The result? A taste of hor fun from days past to be remembered!
If you only had time (and $$) for one dish at Mama’s, go for the tau yew bak. The sauce is slightly sweetened with the fattiness of the pork belly…ah… Plain ol’ white rice goes best with this dish. Enjoy!
Ipoh Malaysia
8. Snow Beer (Kafe Sun Yoon Wah)
Snow Beer
7. Beansprouts with chicken and hor fun (Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam)
Fresh firm chicken splashed with soy sauce and sesame oil
REALLY FAT beansprouts
Ipoh Hor Fun (before mixing it all in)
Still on Malaysia and yet another foodie’s paradise – Ipoh. In Ipoh, there are 2 things that you must try, Ipoh Hor Fun (so cliche!) and the snow beer…
Snow beer? What is that?
It is actually bottles of beers that have been partially frozen that when they are poured into the frost mugs, snow like froths start to form. This gives “ice cold beer” a profoundly different meaning! Tastes great too. The only catch is that you have to drink it fast. Otherwise, it will just return to its fluid form in a really short while.
We know it is cliche, but the Ipoh hor fun at Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam is not to be missed. Mix the aromatic chicken and FAT crunchy beansprouts with the taong hor fun and you’ll get a bowl of unmistakably great Ipoh hor fun!
Pattaya Thailand
6. Mango Sticky Rice (Supermarket of Central Festival)
Mango Sticky Rice
The key to a great mango sticky rice is of course the mango. It has to be slightly overripe. That’s where it is at its sweetest and most fragrant. The sticky rice has to be sticky yet retaining the form of the individual grains. The version at Central Festival has got all these bases covered…probably one of the best mango sticky rice we’ve had!
Vancouver USA
5. Baby Back Ribs (Beaches Restaurant)
Baby Back Ribs
Having the baby back ribs at Beaches Restaurant (Vancouver USA) is a one of a kind experience. The meat is so tender that it falls right of the bones, literally! It also exudes that smoky barbecued taste with the slight charred and caramelised outer layer that makes it so irresistibly good!
Seattle USA
4. Chocolate Lava Cake (Metropolitan Grill)
Chocolate Lava Cake
It is certainly strange to introduce a dessert from a famous steak joint such as Metropolitan Grill. But the truth is that the Chocolate Lava Cake was probably one of the best dessert we’ve ever tasted! There are so many textures to it…crumbly, chewy, oozy and rich. Simply divine this…
3. Sea Feast (The Crabpot)
Westport sea feast
The Crabpot is one of the originators of the sea feast (or seafood feast) and it has made this list because of its novelty factor. Armed with a wooden mallet, visitors “have a go at it” with your bare hands and have a great time feasting on the seafood pot of clams, crabs, shrimp, mussels, corn and red potatoes.
They have made dining fun again!
San Francisco USA
2. Dungeness Crab (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Dungeness Crab roasted in garlic and olive oil
We have actually not tried dungeness crabs until we visited the Fisherman’s Wharf of San Francisco. On the outside, the dungeness crab didn’t really look really appealing. Small pincers, “scrawny legs”. I mean, where is the crab meat?
But when we first tasted the dungeness crab, we understood why. Firstly, as it was in-season, the catch was really fresh. But the thing that made it stood out was its sweet sweet taste. This made the crab really easy to prepare. As long as its fresh, lightly steamed (or in our case lightly tossed) crab would taste great.
Now we understand why locals enjoy their dungeness crabs eventhough it seems that the meat seems few and far in between (the legs and pincers). A small portion satisfies 😛
1. Risotto Funghi (Fior d’Italia)
Risotto Funghi at Fior d’Italia
Fior d’Italia is America’s oldest Italian restaurant, located at the ground level of San Remo Hotel. We thought to ourselves that there must be a reason why it is still around after such a long time (since 1886!).
We found out for ourselves that the taste was simple, unadulterated good food. Both the risotto and spaghetti had the authentic italian flavours. Fresh Italian pleasures at its finest.
If you’re visiting San Francisco, do drop by Fior d’Italia. You’ll enjoy the experience too!
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We hope that you have enjoyed our coverage of the top 20 foods from our 2014 travels!
Let us know what you think in our comments section below. Bon appetit and happy travels in 2015 everyone!
Tom,
2bearbear.com