Category — food

Sorry for not updating my blog for so long… my Cambodia trip & so many more food blogs that I got no time to upload them…

Anyway, I just back from Bali and there are so much to put it down so that more people can make their planning well before going there for the first time in your life…

It was a beautiful place… with hill and sea and beaches… if you don’t like to get tan / if you don’t like beaches / if you don’t like being chopped by local people… don’t even think about this place…

The last statement said is what I want to blog about now.

The price for all the entrance fee to Bali’s local attraction has hiked up. Some have gone double. And it’s really not worth it to go to the “so-call-historical-place”. To my friend and I, it’s more like chopping-tourist’s-head-off-as-much-as-they-can >.<|||

Alright, I’ll start with the local attraction most of the local tour guide will bring you. These places I have been there and I’m here to tell you my own experience. I have skipped a few of the places as they don’t really bring much meaning to us.

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First, before going to Bali, please find the right local tour guide/driver. Do note that driver and tour guide are different meaning. However, the locals will make it the same meaning. THEY ARE NOT!

Driver -> will only drive you around and will not bring you inside the historical places & explain to you about the place

Tour guide -> Someone will explain to you in details on what the place about. I only see foreigners -> those follow tour one, or those Caucasian/European/American will engage this service. Normally you will be charge 2 different price for both driver & tour guide.

I have my driver booked 2mths before my trip. But when I reached there, I didn’t see him. Well, to him, he was there waiting for me 3hrs. So.. I’m not sure why I didn’t see him. Case close.

I engaged another driver in the airport, which cost me 75,000k rupiah (RM 30 / SGD 12)  more. Nothing much to say about this driver. His English wasn’t really good. So he can’t really explain well on those historical places. And the malay he spoke, I can’t understand well.

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Let’s go into the individual attraction:

Most of the places follow one another. If the tour guide arrange Ubud/Kintamani area for you, most likely you will be covered the route as I took. All the detailed/ history of the attractions were taken online. So, to know more about them, please google for more ^^

1. GWK culture park – Garuda wisnu kencana ->

Entrance now: 60,000k Rupiah (RM 24/SGD 10) per pax

Entrance previously – 30,000 Rupiah

Parking fee: 2000 Rupiah

Comment: This is the most most not worth to be attraction. The statue was built by the local authority for their religion worship history. The Garuda ~ the big bird, Wisnu ~ Hindu GOD, Kencana ~ Transportation… so the meaning is the transportation of the Wisnu GOD is the big bird.

Anyway, the history might be good, but when you can only see the “fake bird” with only the head, the God with upper body, with the 2 hands 5m away from it, I doubt it will be enticing enough for tourist. And the entrance fee doesn’t worth the price. See the price hiked double??

>> However, the main reason this culture park was built is to preserve the history culture for locals & tourist. It’s noble thing to do. At the same time, it is a skip-able attraction you can choose not to visit.

2. Uluwatu temple ->

Entrance now: 20,000 Rupiah (RM 8/SGD 3) per pax

Entrance previously: 3000 Rupiah (See price double???)

Parking: 5000 Rupiah

Comment: Special as in the temple was built on a cliff. Nice to watch sunset there. But be prepared to pay 50,000 rupiah for the local kecak dance. We chosen to skip that.

Also, beware that there were loads of wild monkeys there. And looking at their size, I doubt any human can save you if you are attacked by them. So, keep all your belongings in your bag. Don’t think they don’t dare to snatch it from you. When they did, you just need to pay for the locals-standby-there some “donations” to get your things back. WHICH I KENA!!!

3. Jimbaran dinner ->

Only pay for the parking fee 2000 rupiah

Comment: This is another chopping head dinner place. The so-call romantic dinner by the beach has been described by friend as you-can-find-it-in-penang. Just that Penang beaches no tables & chairs & seafood served. Totally spoiled the mood. >.<||

Anyway, we didn’t take their dinner package which is going to cost 800,000 rupiah (RM 320/SGD 132). This money I can eat nice seafood in Teluk Bahang Penang already. Some more can tapao back.

So, we just ordered 2 large Bintang beer + 800gram fried squid that cost us 200,000 Rupiah (RM 80/SGD 33). Crazy rite??

4. Tega-allang -> local padi field.

Entrance now: 5000 rupiah (RM 2/SGD 1) per pax

Entrance previously: It’s free!!

Comment: Friend felt this is a bit ridiculous because we only passing by and yet we have to pay for the “entrance fee”. OMG! And only see the padi field which not many will really go down to there. Our driver said that this entrance fee will be payable to the locals that maintain that area. Well, maybe. But, who knows right?

5. Tirta empul temple ->

Entrance now: 15,000 Rupiah (RM 6/SGD 3) per pax

Entrance previously: 6,000 rupiah

Parking fee: 5000 rupiah

Comment: This is the sacred place where locals will wash themselves in the pool of holy water to cast away bad things. You can rent a sarong if you want to get wet, which we didn’t. We just walk around. It’s nice to see the holy water out from the earth. Other than that, the buildings were not well maintained, they looked old and tear.

Oh, please do your reading before hand because there wasn’t much info inside for you to read about this place.

6. Kintamani volcano -> lunch by the volcano

Entrance now: 10,000 Rupiah (RM 4/SGD 1.50) per pax

Entrance previously: 3000 Rupiah

Parking fee: 5000 rupiah

Comment: I know 10,000 rupiah / RM 4/SGD 1.50 is nothing. This is the price you need to pay to pass by. Now we are saying if you are stopping there to have lunch you also need to pay!!! OMG!

And the lunch there, the so-call buffet was 121,000 rupiah (RM 48/SGD 20) each. Please don’t expect seafood buffet. It’s just normal local malay food. Some fried rice, fried vege, some desserts, some satay, etc. It’s quite costly I would say.

You got no choice but to eat lunch here cuz all the driver/guide will definitely bring you here for lunch. >.<

7. Ulun danu bratan temple ->

Entrance now: 30,000 Rupiah (RM 12/SGD 5) per pax

Entrance previously: 10,000 Rupiah

Parking fee: 5000 rupiah

Comment: The temple flood on the water. Many people will take their wedding photos here. You can also have some water sports here because it’s at Bratan Lake. It’s quite cool over there as well. Nice place.

8. Taman Ayun ->

Entrance now: 15,ooo Rupiah (RM 3/SGD 1) per pax

Entrance previously: 10,000 Rupiah

Parking fee: 3000

Comment: This place has a very nice grass before you enter the temple. Well, to be exact, you can’t enter them. It’s only for special ceremony and no outsiders allow.

There isn’t much information about the temple posted. So, need to do your reading before hand.

9. Tanah Lot ->

Entrance now: 30,000 Rupiah (RM 12/SGD 5) per pax

Entrance previously: 10,000 Rupiah

Parking fee: 5000

Comment: This I think is the most worth it one kua. hahah… I love the view here! And it just feel like I’m at Melbourne’s twelve apostle. I just love the cliff and sea and clouds.

And I asked the driver about the curse for this place, he said it only applicable to the Balinese. Muahahha…. I’m happy I made it to this place even though I got burnt under the sun ^^

10.Strawberry farm, coffee farm, batik shop, silver shop, wood sculpture shop, etc

>> We skipped all this as friend and I weren’t a big fan of such things. However, that made our driver unhappy cuz obviously he’ll get commission if we buy anything >.<|||

11. Food:

Crispy chicken – you can even eat the bone. In English is called pressurized chicken

~ Cost us 208,000 Rupiah (RM 80/SGD 33) for 2 half crispy chicken + 1 tofu + 2 ice tea

dirty duck – In malay it’s call bebek tepi sawah. Direct translate is duck by the padi field.

~ Cost for half duck was 100,000 Rupiah (RM 40/SGD 16)

>> The so call local famous food/must try food. Crispy chicken was not bad. Just that it’s pricy. As for the dirty duck, totally not worth it. It’s only fried duck. Half duck RM 40???? Seriously??

Anyway, the driver brought us to all the food places.

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Most important, you need to pay tax of 150,000 Rupiah (RM 60/SGD 25) before you left Bali. Friend said normally this only happened in third-world country.

Total cost for the entrance fee + parking for 2 pax =402,000 Rupiah (RM 160/SGD 66)

Tax for 2 pax: 300,000 Rupiah (RM 120/SGD 49)

Driver = 400,000 Rupiah/day. Depends you engage how many days. Min 3days. So it’s 1,200,000 Rupiah (RM 480/SGD 200)

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It’s quite costly if you really count for the travel fee itself to an Asia country. All the restaurants are quite pricy. If you want to find local food, you will need to walk very far from the town or local attraction.

Let me re-arrange my pictures and I’ll update more! Stay tuned!

Had buffet at Marina Bay Sands with sis & family on their visits to Singapore last month…

 Heard from my aunt that need to make reservation before hand cuz they are always fully booked. If you didn’t make reservation, you will have to take the seats at the walk way.

 Well, the first thing I see will definitely their fresh oyster, and seafood…

 They do have a wide variety of food.. 3 different types of soup, cooked food, fresh seafood, salad, fruits, japanese food, cheese,

 Desserts, fondae, cakes…

 Although I don’t really like cakes & desserts, but theirs really looks attractive and really tempted to try them…

 As for Darren, in order to have him sit quietly, well… just let him play with the games will do >.<

 That’s my servings… which I had 3 plates of fresh oysters + prawn + yabbies, 2 plates of salad, some mini desserts & soup

 As for these pics for mom & I, sis hand shake… so they r blurrrr… =.= even worse than  my camwhore pic.. cis…

 We had a very nice dinner there… with each person SGD 88 =.= I would say… this was so much nicer than dinner buffet at Line – Shangri-la … I wouldn’t blog about buffet at Line Shangri-la cuz I didn’t take much picture… but the experience was not good there. They kept everything in their fridge and if you are 1st timer, you wouldn’t know they even offer such food. Example: they kept their fresh cheese on their chef counter. If you want, you must ask from the chef. WTF!!! What is buffet means? It means you put everything on the counter so people take what they like. If I need to ask from the chef, what is the purpose of buffet? Might as well call -> ala carte

 Alright, that’s all for the rant & ravings of bad experience in Shangri-la :p

After dinner we went to Marina Bay Sands to see their night water fountain show at 9pm…

 So before that we went for a stroll on Marina Bay Sands… the new LV store still under renovation when I was there…

 Last but not least, the night view from Marina Bay Sands over looking CBD area

I went to KL on Raya weekend… to find food!!! and also leisure la :p

However, lets talk about fooddd cuz we just love food aren’t we?

First stop ~ Vietnamese dinner

Had this in The Curve … but the food quite disappointing. The taste is not good and it was even far worse than the vietnamese food I had in Australia before. Well, Australia one was the best Vietnamese food I have ever tried. Probably Vietname has the authentic and nice one, but I can’t find them in local yet, may it be Malaysia or Singapore.

As for their famous rice poh piah, it was cold. Means it was done earlier and kept in the fridge. So the vege inside wasn’t fresh. Totally a turn off.

The chicken pho, also one of the famous dish in Vietnam, wasn’t nice as well. The broth was not thick enough and it doesn’t have pungent smell.

Sad meal….

Next, cone pizza at Sunway Pyramid as my next day snack…

Saw this on my last visit to KL… but was very full so didn’t try it. This time, friend wanted to try it. And to our surprised, it was great!

The skin was crispy, the cheese inside was melting in my mouth and it was yummy! I just love it. Eat it while it’s still hot. Too bad it was quite pricy though. 1 cone pizza cost us MYR 6.90. Buy 2 at MYR 13. And it wasn’t that big. few mouth then you are done.

Third stop -dinner at Jalan Alor

I have to say, my friend has a thing for Jalan Alor 干炒牛河粉 or fried beef noodle in English. I don’t take beef so I don’t know what so great about it. But he insisted we go back there for dinner if we ever visit KL again.

And he always like to order a lot of side dishes other than his main 干炒牛河粉 or fried beef noodle in English. See the picture below for his beef noodle… just looks like normal cha koay teow to me :p

The food we ordered consisted of – bbq chicken wing (MYR 2.50/pcs) -> my favourite~! , fried asparagus (MYR 8/plate), claypot tofu (MYR 15/pot). All for sharing…

And only this 砂煲田鸡洲 – claypot frog porridge for me… cost me MYR 12

Overall, the food wasn’t cheap in Jalan Alor as they are targeting tourist. And you can find most of the workers are foreigners. The price I mentioned earlier might not be accurate but close to it. I can’t really remember much of the prices except the chicken wing cuz it was freaking expensive!

Forth stop – local delight for breakfast

Went to Asia Cafe at Sunway Giza there…. Had chicken soup for brunch…

As for friend, ordered their fried indian noodle & also Sabah noodle cuz he said the Sabah noodle looked yummy =.= excuse given by tam chiak ei lang…

When I saw his indian fried noodle, I was so tempted to cancel my chicken soup order and order the fried noodle instead… lol… gosh! Made me miss the fried sotong noodle in Penang so much!

The Sabah noodle was quite nice… I just have had a few sips of the soup only and friend finished it off…

So far.. just update this first ya….

Stay tuned for the next up on my continuation of  food searching in KL ~! Food food food~! Nom nom nom ~!

I have a sudden craving for laksa… and since I’m in Singapore, I should try out their famous laksa right? I still very much crave for my Penang Laksa! :p

Erin suggest we go Tangs Orchard for their famous Crayfish laksa. All right, there we go~!

To me, the gravy not thick & spicy enough. The crayfish was fresh though. So it was a plus to the laksa. But, the most important is the gravy and it was not thick enough. Not to say spicy enough as well. Well, probably to suit local taste bud as they can’t really take spicy food.

As for Erin, she went for the black pepper tang hoon with soft shell crab. It was nice.

The price for the food is around SGD 15 – 25/platek, depends on your selection. Anyway, this was on the top level of Tangs Orchard. Just a restaurant on some local delights. Check them out if you are interested.

Address: 310 & 320 Orchard Road, Level 4 TANGS Orchard, Singapore
Tel: +65 6311 342

Went to Artichoke for brunch with Erin on our meet up last month… pic taken while I’m waiting for her

Wanted to go “Food for Thought” but their kitchen were closed for preparation of catering… awww… so we went for our alternative lunch….

Erm… I literally forgot what the name of the we ordered… just remembered this is something to do with the mushroom… ordered by Erin..

And I went for their lamb xxx.. hahah.. forgot d name :p

Anyway… food was quite good… well.. cant really compare with Wild Honey… but… I still prefer wild honey.. thou the price at wild honey is more or less the same…

Lastly… we went for a drink at this coffee place… aiks… forgot the name as well… I have a bad headache that night after drinking this cafe latte… and couldn’t have a good sleep =.= so… I definitely cannot take coffee after 12pm =.=|||

Only left 1 last gift from sis haven’t get it from her… and I’m gona have a super belated bday gift from her as I’m only going to see her on Sept…. just post this first then…

Girl friend bought me birthday dinner @ Brotzeit Vivo….

They are famous for their pork knuckles.. and definitely German sausage….

The German sausage we wanted to order was not available that night… so we got salmon salad….and …

Pork Knuckle !!!!

Ok… to be honest… it was not bad… but…. there was some weird smell on the pork which I don’t really like…

Met up with another girl friend some other day and she treat me at TCC for high tea… I ordered some berries juice and we shared the high tea set…

Next… birthday cake cutting in office…there was another colleague has his birthday on the same birthday month as me… so we were sharing the cake together… hahaha…

Thanks to my colleagues for the nice chocolate cakes…  my 1st and only bday cake in 2011

Thou I’m not a cake person… but… I feel that cake cutting is a must for birthday.. tradition ma

Lastly…. my birthday gifts of this year~!

Handbag from girl friend…..got it from one shop in clark quay… synthetic leather bag made by SG company wor…

Charm from Royal Selangor given by the dearest person …

My first Coach wrislet ever!! Gift from my colleagues … so touched *sob*

Fossil wristlet from best friends.. purposely ordered from US… thanks dearie~! Muaksss

Although this year I do not have my mom, family, best friends, people I wanted to celebrate my birthday with.. but it’s all the hearts that count….

Really like to thanks everyone for being a part of my life and created such a great memories to me

Heard from my colleague that the brunch @ Wild Honey very very nice… so I jio my girlfriend to go with me… don’t worry… they provide all day long brunch.. hahaha….

The bad thing… you cannot make reservation in advance… you have to be there to put your name and come back in an hour time to check out for your turn…

And… after you have your seats… you have to go to the counter to check out the full menu in Ipad! and make your order at the counter… food will be served to you later…

As I googled for the best brunch recommendation in Wild Honey, most people recommended the English breakfast, European breakfast & Tunisian breakfast… so we ordered English and Tunisian breakfast for a try….

And of course a Latte to go with the brunch….

The food was super filling … portion is very big… when you see it you won feel it… but when you see the English breakfast it does gave me very filling ei feeling already… but… the food was really nice.. best brunch I ever had in Singapore… Oriole can’t even compare with them… but… price wise… it’s the most expensive breakfast I every had in my life! hahaa…. however, it’s worth it lor.. cuz really nice… worth to try it~!

Do check them out!

#03-03, Mandarin Gallery,
Orchard Road, Singapore
Tel: +65-6235-3900

Open from 9am -10.30pm
Satur & Sun: 8am -10.30pm (Tips: To avoid the long queue, please go earlier… normal wait is 1hour after ur name was given…)

Ok… both girl friend and I were craving for mexican food… and to our conclusion, the best mexican food we tried before was Cafe Iguana @ Clark Quay…

Again… definitely a big no no to Muchos Clark Quay!

So we were there for our dinner on a Friday night!

Chips with the tortillas sauce.. best of all cuz it’s free and you can ask for free refill!!

We ordered Burritos with chicken strips fillings in it…. and when we saw the dish… we knew we couldn’t finish it already… the portion was huge man!

We also ordered nachos with some fillings: mushroom, vege, beans rice…. so.. it was super filling for us as well…

The food super nice and really worth it lor… price is quite reasonable and the waitress all very friendly… no wonder they are always full house…

Looks yummy right? This is definitely another food place I’m going to visit again~!