Eating in HK

HorFun

Tsui Wah Restaurant

Steam milk! Better than Yee Shun Milk Company!

The taste of the steam milk is well described by my baby.. She say is MILK GAO GAO!

Butterfly on Morrison

Booked 4 nights for this hotel. Rate is good as we waited and HKD drop against SGD. Exchange rate during this trip is 1SGD to 5.9HKD! Around $130SGD per night.

Pros
Free cable highspeed internet in room.
Very good location, 4mins to timesquare, 8mins to Sogo Causeway bay.
Near to a busy street of Steamboat in the night. Full seating capacity at the street so we will try it soon.
The website picture is TRUE. The conditions is tiptop, service is prompt (call for help on internet and lobby staff came to room within 5mins, call for extra towel they bring it in 3mins)

Cons
Hotel is fully book so no early checkin possible. We reach around 12noon and need to come back at 2pm to get the room, which is ok since we started to explore the area for food first.

United Airline - SIN to HKG

@ 6.45am.... need to reach airport at 4.45am....
Really a not here-not there timing for sleeping....

Note to self, never get a flight at such hour. Wasted a whole day trying to recuperate the body.

Flight is generally ok, food is lousy but we trying to catch up on sleep anyway. The service crew have unfriendly attitude.

Bali - Jimbaran Dewata Seafood

Do not be fooled by the photo. The whole eating experience at this restaurant was a total rip-off! We ask our driver to bring us to dine at Jimbaran and trusting his experience, we follow him to the restaurant. A total knock out bill of SGD120! The kangkong was not even spicy, the prawn tasteless, the clam have lots of sand in the flesh. The beach was so-so, fine sands thats all. This meal is a total waste of my calories intake!

Bali - Swiss Belhotel Bay View

I had read through Tripadvisor feedback on this hotel, and hence I knew about the sharing of main entrance doorway with the suite-room. (Room 607 consist of 1 suit + 1 deluxe, so you need a key to enter Room 607, then another key to enter 607-Deluxe).

I had also read about the conditions of the room being small.

So both is not a surprise for me and well-taken in when I reach the room.

The hotel exterior really looks good and swimming pool (2 pools) is excellently maintained.

During check-in, the staff was nice enough to arrange a higher level for us, so we are near to the cafe (breakfast) and the infinity pool (roof top). He had mentioned about welcome drink being send to our room, but it was clearly forgotten.

Reaching the room. yes the room is indeed small, but it had everything we need, or so we thought.

2 hours into the room when we preparing to sleep, we realise the air-con is not working at all. We call for technicians and they came around 10 mins.

After servicing for 35mins, they mumbled some explanation that we are near the compressor and today is hotter thus air-con does not feel cold to us. I told them they are bull-shitting as the air-con is completely out of gas, not the case of hot weather. I told them to either FIX it or change to a room where everything must work. Another 15 mins and they are finally done. All during this time, the team have no apologies extended to us.

Also the lift actually smell like rotten food. We have to stop breathing everytime we take the lift.

The hotel have fixed time slot for transfer to Kuta, and we made use of it. The timing is quite accurate, and they drop us at a convenient place for food/shopping/beach.

We booked through the hotel website for USD42 per night inclusive of breakfast.

Bali - Bebek Bengil

Located right beside rice field padi, this restaurant have many huts build. Each hut houses 4 pax to around 10pax. As we did not make reservations, we took the table at the main hut which houses around 7-9 tables.

Not knowing why its call Dirty Duck, I was expecting to find weird cooking duck dish from the menu. Alas, the name actually came around, because when the owner open the place as restaurant, he saw a group of duck coming from the rice field and leaving behind dirty duck footprints.

We went to order a couple of dish. The food is okay, not too fantastic, but the ambience of the place definitely add points and make it Tripadvisor front row rating.

Jl Hanoman

62361-975-489

Bali - Warung Enak

Rated highly in Tripadvisor.

The Pork Ribs is the highlight of this meal. The seasoning use for this dish is similar to Chinese Satay Sauce use popularly in Singapore. Used on pork ribs, it taste heavenly good.

The chicken dish seasoning, on the other hand, is similar to the Malay Satay sauce. Delicious too.

The kids meal portion is just right, with lots of healthy greens.

And the fruit palette comes with one fruit that I could not figure out to eat with the seed or not.

Avocado Juice 22,000R
Happy Soda (pink color) 18,000R
Fresh Young Coconut 16,000R
Gor Tepong 26,000R
Ayam Madu Katulistina 58,oooR
Iga Babi Bakar 79,oooR
Total with tax 274,340R

Warung Enak
Pengosekan Road, Ubud
0361-972911
(Opp Dirty Duck Restaurant)

Singapore - Botanical Garden

A day out at Singapore Botanical Garden, to teach my daughter ROOTS of trees!

Singapore - Utiekah III

Photo taken in 2006-Nov

We know of a pair of friend who came all the way from Australia, in a antique sail ship called Utiekah III. Johnny used to be a singer in australia and Shelley a high flyer in her career.

They now travel around the world in this vessel on their retirement years.

My first time in a sailship like this and it was a experience and enlightenment listening to both of them relating about their journey.

See you both soon, Johnny and Shelley.

Edit to add : Congrats on your marriage, Shelley & Johnny!
http://www.amaroo.net/images/NewsletterThailand3.pdf

Bali - Kou Cuisine Handmade Salt & Jam

Near to a football field at Monkey Forest, we spotted a Handmade jam store. Knowing my picky daughter had to survive on cereal & bread for most meals in Bali, we decided to grab a natural good jam for her.

Testing is possible and we chose a Grape & Buni Jam.

A check on google tells me Buni is a currant grow in indonesia. Children in local villages love this fruit because its sweet&sour. It is rarely found. In Indonesia Buni fruit is one of twenty six rare fruits slowly disappearing from local markets.

Bali - Tropical Seafood & Grill

As my princess could not handle the spice at Iku Oka, we had to source for another place for her to have meal.

Went to Tropical Seafood & Grill after browsing through their menu.

Ordered a Ham pizza for my daughter, which is baked to perfection - thin crust, great tasting tomatoe paste, and ham that smell yum.

On the drink menu, we had a chocolate milk shake which taste so rich the daughter say this is the best she had drank thus far. I ordered a detox drink blended from herbs and i suspect some wheatgrass, and the husband ordered a ice cappucino seeing they had ILLY coffee.

Total bill including tax 118,450 Rupiah

Monkey Forest St no3, Ubud Bali.

Bali - Babi GUling Ibu Oka

Since everyone rave about MUST eat at Ibu Oka and tell me that their Babi Guling is delicious, we went to try it our first lunch in Ubud.

While waiting for the food to arrive, we eat the fruit and crackers (chargeable) that is placed on the table. Seating cross legged, I had a few numbed leg moment.

When the food arrive, we start digging in and...... I do not find the whole dish delicious. The pork skin was not exactly crispy, it was not sufficiently seasoned well before roasting too. The sauce for the vegetable and rice, was just okay but not too appetizing to be rated #1.

Am I too picky? Well maybe, but my partner who usually "eat to live" style also rated it as "over-rated". Not cheap too, IMHO.

Bali - Ayam Tulang Lunak Malioboro

After landing and clearing through an hour of custom at Bali airport, we was received by our driver. As hungry pangs kick in (dinner time), we had ask him to send us for some decent balinese food near airport before our hour long journey to Ubud.

He brought us to Ayam Tulang Lunak Malioboro which is 10mins drive from airport (around 5 mins walk from Harris Tuban Resort).

We ordered their speciality dish Ayam Presto & Steamed Fish. Needless to say my first drink in Bali had to be the Avocado Juice!
First come the drinks. My girl had a fresh orange juice, their OJ is identical to Thailand's Orange. Our avocado taste so thick, non diluted at all.




The chicken and fish dish came. The chicken was okay but not very surprising, a bit dry as Balinese seem to love to over-fried their dishes. The fish was definitely a well-seasoned, perfectly steamed and fresh! We love the fish so much and the soup from the fish is all drank up.

Price wise, its not what the local would go for, as mostly hungry traveller who just arrive would visit. Clean environment, fully airconditioned and clean toilet.



Sup Gurani 66,000 Rupiah
Ayam Presto 1/2 60,000 Rupiah
Rice 6,000 Rupiah x 2
Avocado Juice 24,000 Rupiah x 2
Orange Juice 22,000 Rupiah
Total including tax 239,200 Rupiah

Bali - Bhanuswari Dinner

Ordered dinner at Bhanswari Resort as its getting late to go out.

My first impression of the restaurant was bad actually. The menu smell so stinky that I had to stand up away from the menu and read from 2 steps away. Needless to say, I have feedback this to the village chief.

We ordered 2 main dishes which look similar as you see. The menu photo look less appetizing than my picture here. The amount of meat and vegetables does not meet the proportion needed for presentation.

Tastewise, the BBQ chicken is quite good, but the seafood curry is total disappointment.

Bali - Bhanuswari Resort & Spa, Ubud

We started our 1st resort at 10pm. Its approx 10-15mins drive from Ubud Palace and located in a village. Checkin was a bliss, quick easy and a good refreshment drink (ginger with soda, and perhaps some peppermint leaves) was served within 1min of our arrival.

We book deluxe room, which is within 1min walk from the main building in a semi-detached house. We seem to be the only resort guest at the deluxe side for the night.

The 1st glance of the room, is WOW, the bed is hugh and the canopy adds such a good touch to it (the canopy have functional usage, being in village right at RICE fields, some nights you get insects in the room). The toilet is as big as the bedroom, with the centrepiece being the bathtub. And our princess happily soak in that tub everyday. Resort provide 2-way transfer to Ubud (any place in ubud) by demand. This is really a good add-on service provided. We have the luxury to take the village chief's ride on one day, and he told us about his inspiration for the resort and hope it can provide his village people a stable income.

Breakfast in the resort is really so-so. The pool is small but deep, and out of 3days when we are using it, we have exclusive usage.

High speed free Wifi available at their restaurant and its complimentary.

We booked via www.hoteltravel.com/
Daily room rate booked : 87.12 USD

Jl Tengkulak Ubud,
Ubud, Bali 80571,
Indonesia

Airline - KLM

Taken KLM to Bali this round.

Check in : @ CHangi airport checkin counter, the queue was not long but the CSO serving us was taking his sweet time and 3 in queue took more than 20 mins to be our turn. The return journey was much better, the checkin counter staff was efficient and polite

Food : The food from Sin->Bali was disapointing, the kids meal have too much vegs and beans and not appetizing at all, and the adult meal was never touched because it just does not look good. The food from Bali->Sin is a great better version. the children food is yummy chicken (that taste and look like ham) with fried mashed potatoes, served with mushroom sauce. The adult meal is very spicy chicken with tasty fried noodle, which I suspect 1/2 of the traveller could not take the spicy chicken. Maybe they should change to braised chicken. BTW, they do not have choice for food, only one food choice.

In the craft : the leg space for economy class was better than SQ, The 1.8m husband have even extra 2-4cm space between rows. The entertainment system, only startup after flight moving, this means it will take approx 5-10mins before you get any screen. The flight attendants, was very attentive.

Final review : would not mind taking them for short haul flight, especially if the bill totals to only S$200 to Bali.

Bali airport tax of 150,000 rupiah is collected at departure. Singapore & Bali is on same timezone, sunset of bali is around 6.15pm.

Hong Kong - BaiWei Noodle

At Argle centre Mongkok, which is the place I shop everytime I visit Hong Kong. The last trip I had, i remember getting curious about the noodle stall and had wanted to try it but had not.

This round, while bagging many pairs of shoes purchased, I bought one packet to try, and OMG, this simple noodle that cost HKD10 is delicious, you get to choose 5 ingredients (including the noodle) and they will mix in the sauce for you, I think even my picky 7yo gal would love thenon spicy version, the sauce definitely included oyster sauce, soya sauce, sesame oil and some others.

Definitely a good in-between meal snack.

Hong Kong - Maxim Restaurant

Dine at Maxim around 2pm @ Metroplaza, Hong Kong. Many variety of the dim sum was sold out, apparently good dim sum get sellout soon after lunch hour. We ordered what they had, and one of their pushcart servers was very nice, knowing my colleague wanted a Custard Bun badly, she went to ask kitchen to make a special order for us.

I only like the XO fried Chwee Cheong Fun and the carrot cake. The rest of the food is just so-so for me.

Hong Kong - Xu Liu Shan Dessert

This brand have lots of branch in Hong Kong. They were once in Singapore Shaw building but closed couple of years ago. I had my dessert a couple of times when during this trip, however the airport service was quite bad, so much that i would prefer not to visit this branch. I remember i used to like the Mango dessert at XuLiuShan during previous trip, however this trip, the standard of the dessert seem to deteoriate slightly.

Hong Kong - Sorabol Korean Cuisine

Very near to The Luxe Manor, in a mall. Found this Korean restaurant patronised by many koreanish. Decided to try it out, and ordered a BBQ beef set. The kitchen does the BBQ for me, as they run out of the big table that comes with the BBQ equipment. The Ban-chan (appetisers) was fabulous, 6 dishes for me.... I remember the final bill is around HKD200... And they do have lunch specials which is very economical.

Hong Kong - Honeymoon Dessert (Man Ji)

While at Ocean Terminal, my colleague brought me to Man Ji Dessert located at a big food court for some Mango delights... Ordered a mango with grass jelly + mango crepes... It is quite delicious....

Hong Kong - Causeway Bay Spicy Crab

We went to the eat the famous "Lai Niao Xia", a type of prawn that is bigger than prawn but smaller than crayfish. We took a cab to Causeway Bay Spicy Crab restaurant. It is quite a big restaurant, as ala carte price is expensive, we opt for the 2 pax set at HKD488.

Service is good, the service staff will keep changing our dirty plate.

1st up is their famous prawn cook in spiced fried garlic. A scissors is provided for us to cut the shell, the meat of the prawn is firm and springy, the garlic taste slightly spicy and sweet and good.

2nd up is scallop with vermincelli steamed in the shell.. One word, FRESH

3rd is a surprise soup, who would know clam + seaweed + melon (mao gua) can be such tasty soup. I am not a soup lover but I had 5 bowls of this soup! I declare this dish the best dish for entire meal

4th, is their mild spicy gallons-of-garlic crab. The crab use is sri lanka crab and the amount of garlic used can cook for my family of 3 for 3 months! Luckily they had warn us about taking the medium spicy and advise us to take mild spicy. Even mild spicy is HOT. If you like garlic, I am sure you would scoop the garlic on the shells and eat it with rice!

5th dish is vegetable with century egg and salted egg. I am too full to even eat this, so in the end I just take a bite to sample the taste.

Verdict, I would go for the soup and the prawn definitely!

Hong Kong - Caffe Habitu

During a rest stop before our next meeting, we had some drinks at Caffe Habitu at City Plaza Hong Kong. I do not really like this type of cheesecake, too "tough" for me. The rose tea, does taste good. However, will not repeat visit since their pastry is not what I like.

Hong Kong - Yee Shun Milk Company

Everytime I go Hong Kong, I HAVE to eat at least once for this STEAMED milk! Its definitely much better than those I tasted in Singapore. Soft, fresh and smooth with wholesome milk taste. Not too sweet yet not too plain, just right. They have other variety and served hot or cold.

Hong Kong - Sogo Cafe @ Causeway Bay

Located at the supermarket level, its a popular meal place for the hungry one. The angel hair spaghetti was normal and nothing fantastic, taste a bit bland and I had to add salt to enhance its taste. The warm bread, however was awesome! Water melon with orange, both freshly juiced with pulps, is a good tasty drink to quench thirst. Lobster bisque was acceptable.

Approx HKD150 per pax. They do have set meal which we did not take although its more value for money as we wanted its lobster bisque.

SOGO HONG KONG CO.,

LTD555 Hennessy Road,

Causeway Bay,

HKTEL: 2833 8338

Hong Kong - Itamae Sushi

My first meal for this trip @ 3pm is Japanese food. Went to a popular sushi restarant near the hotel. Food quality is good, but salmon sashimi is out of stock for that day.

Location : many branch, the one I went is TsimShaTsui Granville 14 B1

Cost : Total HKD114 for 1 pax

加連威老道14 號加連威大廈地下 - 3106 2846

Hong Kong - The Luxe Manor Hotel

From airport took the airport bus K to hotel, approx 1 hour nett, location is 5 mins to TsimShatsui MTR and 4 mins to Granville.

The hotel entrance is small that I miss it when I come back after dinner!

Lobby although small, but very cozy, the setup is a little French a little European.

Check in is a Bliss, the hotel staff are all very friendly and efficient.

Take a look at my room..... I love it!

They even serve cookies! I already got twice servings of cookies in one day... they deliver on their own accord...

Pros : @ good location, yet not on too busy street, friendly staff . Free high speed Wifi within the room.
Cons : No bathtub, although have rain shower, boring breakfast.
Cost : approx 1100HKD

39 Kimberley Road
Kowloon, Hong Kong
3763 8888

TRAVEL : Hong Kong

http://www.hoteltravel.com/hongkong/hong_kong/courtyard_by_marriott.htm

S$140

Tickets Booked : http://www.unitedairlines.com/ Mileage redemtion 20,000 points per ticket, paid S$65 for airport tax!

Shortlisting for Hotel search :

The Cityview Hotel

http://www.jetabout.com.sg/ S$112 x 7 = S$784

http://www.asiaroom.com/ S$976

http://www.thecityview.com.hk/en/index.html : S$883 15% off 14 days Advance Purchase

http://www.asiatravel.com/ : S$972

23 Waterloo Road, Kowloon
Deluxe Room : 3 Adults / 2 Adults & 1 Child
A good budget hotel conveniently loacted. Having recently undergone a multi billion dollar rebranding project, The Cityview offers 413 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, 3 new-look restaurants & bars, Crystal Ballroom and Diamond room.
The Cityview is ideally nestled in downtown Kowloon. Adjacent to MTR station and Nathan Road

chefaujus 88 contributions
singapore
Jun 2, 2010 Trip type: Couples
Hotel is very near to MTR station, 7/11 just across the road. We got upgraded from superior room to executive room with no additional charges. Our room was very clean and spacious. Will definitely stay here again !!

South Pacific Hotel (Valid from 01Apr10)

http://www.jetabout.com.sg/ : @ From SGD106.00x 7 = S$742 per room per night

http://www.asiatravel.com/ : S$992

http://www.hoteltravel.com/hongkong/hong_kong/south_pacific.htm : S$726

23 Morrison Hill Road, Wanchai Hong Kong
Well located for shopping and popular sporting events. Well maintained compact rooms. Very good value. The 28-storey hotel comprises 290 well-appointed guest rooms and suites and features three unique restaurants: Grill Cafe (international), Starlight Lounge (top-floor lounge) and Lu Lu Restaurant (Shanghainese)
Adjacent to Causeway Bay shopping, dining and entertainment area and the MTR station.

Meloncory 23 contributions
Singapore
Jan 26, 2010 Trip type: Solo travel

The room is relatively roomy by Hong Kong standards. Especially clean and cozy.The bathroom is equipped with a bath and standing shower and the W.C is equipped with automated toilet seat that warms and cleans.Mini Bar and coffee/tea making facilities are available in the room.Easy to find as it is located very distinctively at Morrison Hill Road. Just look for the tallest shiniest building.Location is also convenient. A brisk 15 minute walk to Causeway Bay and the trams and buses ply the roads nearby that'll take you to Central and other parts of Hong Kong.Food and beverages are easy to find as Wan Chai is a bustling area.24 hour convenience stores are also a stone's throw away.Room service is available up till 1.00am.There is an in-house restaurent in the hotel on 2nd level.Breakfast is so-so and you'd have a better bet venturing out to eat.All-in-all, South Pacific Hotel is the best place to stay if you aren't looking for a lodging fit for a king but would appreciate clean sheets and toilets(The room cleaning service is very efficient).

Metropark Hotel Kowloon Hong Kong @ S$136 per night

http://www.jetabout.com.sg/ : S$136 x 7 = $952 01Apr10 - 31Mar11Fruit set up and upgrade to Spacious Comfort Room.

http://hongkonghotel.metroparkhotelkowloon.com/ : HKD4560 = S$817 Internet User
Free Broadband Internet Access (Unlimited Usage) in All Hotel Rooms Queen Size Bed/Twin Bed are available in all room categories (Subject to Availability

http://www.asiatravel.com/ : SGD905 comfort Room size - 220 square feet

Royal Plaza Hotel - 5*
The hotel is centrally located in Hong Kong, within easy reach of international transport facilities. Situated in Mongkok in the heart of Kowloon, the ...

http://www.zuji.com.sg/ : $1085

BUTTERFLY ON PRAT 21 Prat Avenue, Tsim Sha TsuiHong Kong