Christmas at Universal Studios Singapore

It's December!!!

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the way~~

Want to experience snow fall? Want to meet the cute minions?

If you have not planned your Christmas trip or planning a Christmas trip to Singapore, check this out!!

 *Taken from RWS Sentosa

Event period:
Snowfall & dancing lights - 19 to 30 December 2013

Check out the rate or book here!

Note: Promotion available for online booking!

A Birthday Weekend Retreat to Kuala Lumpur - Part 2

Tea Break

And next on our list, FOOD!!!! More specifically, Tai Lei Loi Kei pork chop bun. Tai Lei Loi Kei originated in Macau with its signature Pork Chop Bun. It was brought to Malaysia as a fast food cafe, and started a few franchises around KL. We went the the one at Hutong Lot 10.

This is the Pork Chop Bun but with a cheese add on. Although the original Pork Chop Bun didn't come with cheese but I just add it on because I like cheese. This Pork Chop Bun is nice, I am not too sure how the one in Macau taste like but the one in KL in my own humble opinion, will be able to hold its own. Juicy and tender pork with crusty bread, I will be back for more.

Tai Lei Loi Kei we visited is located at:
Lot 10 Hutong,
LG Floor,
Lot 10 Shopping Centre,
50 Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.

Moving on, we continued on walking around a few mall in the area, a few other mall you should take note of in this area are, Sungei Wang, Times Square KL and Low Yat.

Complimentary coctail by Double Tree

After a short walk around the shopping mall, we went back to our hotel, Double Tree. Double Tree hosts a complementary cocktail from 5pm to 7pm daily at their Executive Lounge for their Executive guests, and it includes a wide range of free flowing alcohol beverages.

It's not all drinks here, it is basically a mini buffet being served. Pastries, salads, local snacks, fruits, and sandwiches are all available throughout the evening cocktail.

Whiskey, tequila, vodka or gin, the service staff will serve you the 'poison' of your choosing.

We poured ourselves a small glass of white wine, both of us aren't much of a drinker. But an alcohol beverage definitely seems more suitable for the atmosphere at the lounge. 

Dinner

Not much of a sunset on the 33rd floor because of the weather that day. We headed out for our dinner after dark. For our dinner, we went to a steamboat restaurant, Ho Ho Steamboat. Ho Ho Steamboat is well established steamboat restaurant with multiple branches in the Klang Valley, we went the the one in Jalan Segambut where they sell Yong Tao Fu during the day and steamboat at night. 

We apologies for the lack of picture to show you here, we were too busy eat the delicious food. Anyways I will try my best to bring out the flavours for you. Let's start with the base soup, we ordered the half and half, which is clear soup and tom yam soup. The soup base here is strong in flavour but still, it doesn't seems to be laden with MSG. All the ingredients are fresh and also served with a decent portion. A good steamboat isn't hard to make, a good soup base with fresh ingredients that you like. Ho Ho Steamboat is one of the places to get good steamboat. 

The Ho Ho Steamboat we visited is located at:

No. 67, Jalan Segambut, 

51200 Kuala Lumpur, 

Malaysia.

After that very satisfying dinner we had, we got back to our hotel. Knowing that we would only spend one night here. Taking in the picturesque night views of the hotel has always been on our mind. 

A view from the 33rd floor Executive Lounge, with the brightly lit Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower.

A stroll around the hotel pool at night.

Note: There are also gym and sauna available in the hotel, if you keen.

This is the view from our 32nd floor room window, it's the Ampang – Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, AKLEH, with the whole North-Eastern KL setting.

Some of the little extra things we got as an executive at Double Tree is the welcome fruit basket and also a serving of layered cake. Since we were busy filling our stomach outside the room most of the day, we only got time to get to it after a nice hot shower and got into our comfortable night wear. The gift became an excellent snack just before we went to sleep.

 Barely enough for me, the cake was gone in minutes.

Those strawberries are very nice, they are really worth the mention. I would swap all the other fruits for a whole plate of strawberries. 

The next morning has arrived, we had to reluctantly wake up from our slumber on the very comfortable bed. We didn't even thought of catching the sunrise,because a nice and well rested sleep is what we needed more. Thank goodnees we've got the late check-out. 

The hotel breakfast serves a wide varieties food for their breakfast at the Makan Kitchen, almost every kind of Malaysian breakfast, from nasi lemak, to dim sum and roti canai. And also a whole lot more than what we could eat. The breakfast is also served at the Executive Lounge specially for executive guest. 

 Both juice and coffee to kick start the day at Makan Kitchen.

Moving up to the Executive Lounge to continue our breakfast. With comfortable couches and executive services. You can even loan an IPAD for free from the service counter to kill your day.

One last drink before we leave this awesome place. We had a great experience staying in Double Tree by Hilton in KL and would not hesitate to stay here again. 

After leaving the hotel, we have a few hours to spare before catching our flight. We went on to a karaoke lunch at Red Box Low Yat and then took the KLIA Express out of KL City.

This is a truly relaxing and satisfying trip for us, and the 'Executive' experience at Double Tree has played a very big part on it.

Click here for Part 1 

A Birthday Weekend Retreat to Kuala Lumpur - Part 1

16/11/2013 - 17/11/2013

We went to Kuala Lumpur for a  relaxing and comfortable birthday retreat. We took an early flight from Singapore to make the most out of our very short weekend.

Transportation from KLIA

Upon arrival at KLIA, for RM 6.20 we took the the KLIA Transit to Putrajaya to catch a ride towards the city.

With proper cabin to hold your luggage on board the train, you can properly stow away your bulky luggage.

The KLIA Express and KLIA Transit has comfortable cushioned seats, comfortable leg room between the seats and also toilet on board. It is fast and comfortable, and in our opinion the best way to get from KLIA to KL City. Although the fare isn't exactly cheap, but it is considerably quite reasonable especially when compared to other alternatives. Click here for KLIA Express and KLIA Transit fares and other details.

Lunch

First stop on our list is Kin Kin Pan Mee. It's possibly the most famous chilli pan mee in KL. Kin Kin Pan Mee is highly recommended in multiple travel and food websites. Check out a TripAdvisor review on it. There are multiple branches of Kin Kin Pan Mee scattered around KL City, but for it's air conditioned and easy parking, we went to Kin Kin Pan Mee at Publika, Solaris Dutamas.

Only one of us has tried the famous pan mee before, so for the birthday girl, this will be her first time. We ordered the signature Dry Chilli Pan Mee with an additional mixed soup.

Before you begin to dig into your bowl of noodle. Let us walk you through the steps we enjoy our chilli pan mee.

This is the magic ingredient in Kin Kin Pan Mee, the chilli. A portion of this is enough to heat up your taste buds but not to a degree that it burns.

Step 1: Pour the chilli into the bowl of noodles.
Step 2: Break the yolk of the half cooked egg. (Very important as the egg yolk helps coat the chilli on to the noodles.)
Step 3: Toss the noodle, mixing all its ingredients.

Voila!! This is the final product, the flowing egg yolk glistening on the noodles with sparkles of chilli flakes.
Now enjoy your chilli pan mee!!!

Kin Kin Pan Mee has definitely lived up to all its hype. It's definitely a must try for all visiting KL. A well deserved 5/5.

Kin Kin Pan Mee is located at FC-11, Level UG, Publika Shopping Gallery, No. 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur, Sri Hartamas, 50480. Google Map link

Accommodation: Double Tree by Hilton

After lunch we proceeded to check in to our hotel, Double Tree by Hilton. A very new hotel that had just recently opened. For more information on Double Tree by Hilton, click here.

Luckily for us, we got to enjoy a free upgrade to the executive room that comes with a whole range of executive privileges, from start to end. We got to enjoy special check-in on the highest floor of the hotel at the Executive Lounge. And very easily checked-in to our 32nd floor corner room. The weather that day wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. There were scattered showers throughout the weekend

A very spacious room that's clean and and full of natural light, a very welcoming sight once you stepped into the room.

This is the bathroom. The bathroom has a floor to ceiling glass wall, and a retractable blind for privacy. There is no bathtub, but it didn't bother us much as we don't really use it much. The overhead rain shower is more to our liking.

There are two things the the hotel boasted on its website as Special Comfort for its customers. The Citron bath products by Crabtree and Evelyn, and also Sweet Dreams mattress by DoubleTree Sleep Experience, more on that later. The bath product as you can see from above includes face bar, body lotion, conditioner, shower gel, shampoo and even tooth paste.

Every room also comes with a pillow menu, where you can choose 2 extra pillows from the menu. Some of pillows available other than the four feather pillow are rubber pillow, tatami pillow and foam contour pillow.

We didn't really got to explore the room much after setting down our luggage as we only had a day to go to the city. After freshening up a little bit. We took the hotel shuttle headed towards Pavilion KL. The hotel shuttles its guest from the hotel to some of the most happening locations in KL for free. The details on the hotel shuttle can be attained from the hotel lobby.

Bukit Bintang

It's Christmas at Pavilion KL!!! Even though it was only November the 16th when we went there, the Christmas decorations in Pavilion KL is already up (Lucky for us). After a quick stroll on the centre court where the 40-ft tall LED Christmas Tree is, and a few pictures later. We head on to our next destination.


To be continued.

Click here for Part 2

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

It all started when my friend whatsapp me 'Hey girl! Have you tried Koh Grill and Sushi Bar? Their Shiok Maki super nice!!'

Shiok Maki? What a name..
It was the first time I came across with maki that is named 'Shiok' maki.
The shop owner must have a lot of confidence with their maki to name it this way.
What if the customer doesn't feel shiok after eating it?

I got curios and search for reviews.
Ah ha! Almost 90% of the reviews about the Shiok Maki are positive.

So, we decided to give it a try.
When we arrive at the restaurant, it was full and we have to wait for a few minutes for the waitress to clean the table for us.
Tables are arranged very close to each other, due to the size of the restaurant.

We sat down and found that most of the customers ordered their famous Shiok Maki.
We didn't really go through the menu as we have planned to order both their Shiok Maki Gen 1 and Shiok Maki Gen 2.

Shiok Maki Gen 1

Food were served quite fast considering the crowd. Look at the cheese sauce on top of the maki, sinful but my tummy love it. Perfectly grilled eel wrapped with avocado and salmon slice. I am not a eel person, but this was real nice!!! On every 'mini explosion' of tobiko in your mouth, you could tell that the restaurant is very generous with its ingredients.

Shiok Maki Gen 2

The main ingredient of Shiok Maki Gen 2 is prawn instead of eel. There is no avocado in Shiok Maki Gen 2, but it is replaced by vegetables. The prawns were fresh and taste good.
Both my bf and I usually prefer prawn than eel, but this time, we have to admit that Shiok Maki Gen 1 is better than Shiok Maki Gen 2.
The 'shiokness' in Shiok Maki Gen 1 gave us higher satisfaction. 
But still, you can still give it a try, both are nice, just that we prefer Shiok Maki Gen 1.

Both Shiok Maki are priced at SGD16.80 each, good to go once a while to enjoy the 'shiokness' but not too frequent until it hurts my wallet.

Location:
435 Orchard Road
#04-21 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 9180 3805

M.V. Doulos - World's oldest surviving ship to be converted to hotel

* Photo taken from http://luxurylaunches.com/

M.V. Doulos which was built in year 1914 is two years younger than Titanic. She is listed in Guinness Book of Record as the oldest active ocean-going passenger ship in the world.

She has been a cargo ship, passenger ship and luxury crew ship. She has also been a book distribution vessel which travel around the world selling books to people.

And now, Singapore businessman, Eric Saw is investing 7.5 million Singapore Dollar to convert this old vessel to a luxurious hotel, anchored off Bintan, Indonesia.

The conversion is expected to be completed in August 2014.

Source: Yahoo News, luxurylaunches.com, ITN Source

So, here comes another attraction in Bintan after Bintan Club Med.

If you are planning a trip in Singapore after August 2014, why not spare one night to witness her beauty in Bintan?

Bangkok Day 1

Day 1 - 03.10.2013

Thailand is one of our favourite country.Good food that's not expensive and nice people are what we like about this place.
So yeah, this is our 3rd time to Bangkok.

Getting local SIM card:
We arrived Don Mueang Airport at noon. We attempted to get a local SIM card (DTAC tourist SIM) over there but after inquiring the price, we decided not to get it there.

For those who intended to get a SIM card in Bangkok, can check it out at this link: DTAC
We intended to get the Happy Tourist SIM at 299 baht for 7 days unlimited internet usage, however, the convenient store at the airport sells the same SIM card at 499 baht.

FYI, You can easily get a local SIM card at any 7 Eleven store, price is fix as stated in DTAC website above.

We refused to pay extra for the SIM card and went off to the taxi stand and got a taxi to our hotel.

Accommodation:
Our hotel: Petals Inn, a small, new hotel near Nana BTS (5-10 minutes walk from Nana BTS)
We booked the hotel at 1200 baht per night, which I believe the price has gone up now.

The hotel is small but clean, good enough for a few nights stay. The only downside is that the ceiling is very low.
I forgot to take the photos of the hotel room, but you can check the reviews out in the link below:
Tripadvisor - Petals Inn

After checking in and rested a while in the hotel, we proceeded to have our lunch at Pratunam:

Late lunch:
The famous SabX2 Wanton Mee near Platinum Mall.

The Front View of the shop.

This is the Wanton Mee + crab meat.

Out of my expectation, there is no gravy for this Wanton Mee, unlike the usual Wanton Mee in Malaysia. However, the noodles is succulent and full of the fragrant smell of fried pork lard.

Definitely worth a try but watch out for your cholesterol level!

They are also famous for their braised pork, go early to grab a plate as it was sold out when I was there. The worker informed that the braised pork usually sold out by 2pm.

I went again the other day with my friends at around 1pm, but it was sold out too!

Address:
SabX 2 Wanton Mee
Soi 19 Petchburi Road,
Pratunam, Bangkok.
 

After filling our tummy, we continued with a really quick stroll in Platinum Mall, as we would be there again with our friends on the following day. Look at the traffic at Pratunam Area.

Note: I would suggest you to travel there by BTS or on foot, you wouldn't want to have your self stuck in the traffic for 1 hour or more when you could travel there easily by BTS. Some taxi driver even refuse to drive you there, while some others refuse to go on meter and charge at a very high price.

Currency Exchange:
We then proceeded to Big C Supermarket on Rachadamri Road to grab some snacks and Thai famous MAMA cup noodles.
FYI, if you intend to change currency note, you could change it at Superrich currency exchange counter which is available at Big C. Check out other branch location here: Superrich

Dinner:
After that we proceeded back to the hotel to meet our friends and have our dinner. We went to Som Tam for our dinner.

The queue was long but the waiting time was only around 15 minutes. We placed our order while queuing and the food were serve almost immediately when we were seated.

 Som Tam - Thai papaya mix salad, not as good as expected but appetizing.

Fried chicken, it taste so good with its fragrance of fried garlic, the skin was crispy while the meat is juicy. This is finger licking good!

 Hot & spicy crispy fish, taste so so, quite spicy.

Preserved pork, the pork shown in the picture wasn't left over, the portion was as small as shown in the picture.

Spicy soup with pork bone, we prefer normal Thai style tomyam than this.

The food here was not as good as expected, could be due to we put high expectation on it.
Taste ok, food portion is small, price wise, it's more on the expensive side.

Nevertheless, we highly recommend their fried chicken. 

Address:
392/14 Soi Siam Square 5,
Rama 1 Road, Bangkok.



*To be continued.

新加坡动物园。A day at Singapore Zoo

来了新加坡一年，没有真正的走过，原因：因为入门票不便宜啊。
这次终于来到了新加坡动物园。

Due to the pricey entrance fees, we did not explore much even though we have stayed in Singapore for one year. Finally, we have the chance to visit the Singapore Zoo.

比起最上一次去Sydney Taronga Zoo，新加坡动物园感觉热很多，走起来也比较累。
还好，新加坡人厉害做生意。如果你不想走那么多，可以购买车票， SGD5一个人，价钱还算合理，可以全天在任何一个车站上下车。

Compared to Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Singapore Zoo is much more hotter which makes the trip tiring.
Luckily, tram rides available in the zoo. With just SGD5, you get unlimited rides in the zoo for a day.

其实除了这种车，还有船，不过由于时间的关系，我们没有机会尝试。

There were also boat rides in the zoo, but due to time constraint, we did not manage to try the boat ride.

我们坐车绕了一圈，大概看过动物园里的路就下车走。

We circled around the zoo on the tram and have an rough idea on the zoo layout.
After that, we got down from the tram and walk around the zoo to explore more.

 忘了叫什么名。

Oopsss.. forgot the name of this.

白老虎，蓝色的眼睛，粉红色的鼻子，白白的毛，是动物园里其中一个受欢迎的动物。
不过当时它一直重复从左走到右，又从右走到左，感觉很奇怪。

White tiger, blue eyes, pink noses and white fur, make it unique and became one of the main attraction in the zoo.
However, the tiger keeps pondering from left to right and from right to left, which makes it looks weird and unnatural.

 山猪～ Warthog

Malayan Tapir, 亚洲唯一的Tapir品种。刚好遇上feeding time，它们都吃蔬果，好健康哦。
Tapir 的鼻子不止可以帮助它觅食，还可以像手一样把食物送进嘴巴和探测不明物体。

Malayan Tapir, the only tapir species in Asia. Tapir;s trunk not only functions as an organ to search food, it also helps to guide food into the mouth and examine new or unfamiliar objects.

White Rhino 有第二大陆地哺乳动物之称，也是Rhino品种之中最大的种类。

White Rhino is the second largest mammals on land. It is also the largest amongst the rhino species.

Tada~ Meerkat, 有看Madagascar的一定认识它，它站起来时很可爱！可惜没拍到。

Meerkat, it should be familiar to you if you watched Madagascar.
It is cute! especially when it stands on its hind legs.

Oriental whip snake, 很像青色highlighter的蛇。

Oriental whip snake, the green colour very much like green highlighter.

另外一条不一样品种的蛇。

Another species of snake.

全世界最大的lizard，Komodo Dragon.

Komodo dragon, known as the largest lizard in the world

Orang Utan, 它是在对着我笑吗？

Is the Orang utan smiling at me?

一堆小小只的非洲品种的企鹅。

Cute little African penguin.


新加坡动物园确实很大，除了以上的动物，还有很多动物的种类。不过，令我们失望的是当时很多动物都处于不活跃的状态。狮子，袋鼠，豹还有其他一些动物当时不是躲着就是躺着休息/睡觉。

另一件奇怪的事就是一些动物一直重复着一样的动作。

动物园里还有一些animal shows,如果有去，记得要查好时间。

All and all, the zoo is big and HOT. There were a lot more animals in the zoo which I have not included in my post. However, we find it disappointing when some of the animals were not active during our visit. Lions, leopard, kangaroo and some other animals were hiding or laying on the ground resting/ sleeping.

Another weird thing is that some of the animals like white tiger and frozen Tundra were repeating the same motion.

There were also a few animal shows in the zoo, but make sure you check the schedule once you reach the zoo.


Non animal related info:

Address:
80 Mandai Lake Road
Singapore 729826

Drinks can be purchased from vending machines or F&B outlet in the zoo.
Soft drinks/ bottled drinks from vending machine are sold at SGD3-4 per bottle which it quite pricey.

You can get the ticket price, opening hours and other information here.