Unforgettable Hakone

January 27th, 2010

Hakone is a quite a popular destination with tourists in Japan due to its vicinity to Mt. Fuji and its lakes. In fact, the place we stayed in is a typical onsen ryokan that faces a lake and the mountain. But before we got to the ryokan, we made a few stops at typical touristy attractions along the way.

 Unforgettable Hakone
Lake Ashi, or Ashinoko (???) is one of the lakes around Mt. Fuji and a scenic cruise was part of the itinerary. The “cruise” was barely ten minutes long but the view was breathtaking.

 Unforgettable Hakone
 Unforgettable Hakone

We had bento lunch with chicken and udon around Lake Ashi. Tender chicken with stir fried cabbage and carrots was a good accompaniment to the fluffy rice. I have always loved the Japanese short grain rice. The fried fish was a tad cold but the hot udon warmed me up.

 Unforgettable Hakone

Another stop that we made was at Owakudani, which is famous for its kuro-tamago, or black eggs. Word has it that eating one can prolong one’s life by 7 years! Apart from the black coloured shell (due to the sulphur from the soil), it tasted no different than your regular hard boiled egg. Apart from the eggs, there are other snacks such as buns, fried fish cake etc being sold here.

 Unforgettable Hakone

We arrived at the ryokan in the evening and settled down in our rooms. During the day, the mattresses are rolled and kept away and at night, spread out for the guests. I love how the rooms were almost like a studio suite by itself, with a small seating area, complete with fridge and washing basin, and the room had tatami mats, dining table and chairs, telly etc.

Another must-do in Hakone is of course to try the onsen. In fact most ryokans here will have their own hot spring facilities. Ours was located indoors on the top floor, with a gorgeous view of Mt.Fuji during the day.

 Unforgettable Hakone

Usually dinner is served in your room at the ryokan. However we were a bigger group so we got a function room to ourselves. Dinner was also in the bento form, with many small dishes. We had a small hot pot with flat noodles and some vegetables, grilled fish, seaweed salad, squid, chawanmushi, tempura and sweets in the form of jelly and melon slice.

 Unforgettable Hakone Unforgettable Hakone

What’s a trip to Japan without having sashimi right? But as it was not included in our meal, it was an additional 11,000, which sounded a tad expensive initially. However our sashimi boat was fairly big and could feed 4pax, and had 12 types of fresh, raw seafood such as lobster, salmon, tuna, scallop, sea urchin, sweet prawn, prawn, squid, octopus etc. Very fresh and sweet, sashimi’s indeed not to be missed in Japan.

After our good meal, some telly, a dip into the hot spring, we had a good night’s sleep and awoke to…

 Unforgettable Hakone

this view of Mt.Fuji from our room window the next morning. It was particularly refreshing walking by the lake in the crisp morning air.

 Unforgettable Hakone

We had another simple Japanese breakfast before we set off. Rice with miso soup, grilled salmon, tamago, yasai salad and another green salad.

It was quite lovely taking this break at Hakone as one can experience all the Japanese culture we’ve come to know with the tatami sleeping arrangements, hot spring and food.

 Unforgettable Hakone  Unforgettable Hakone  Unforgettable Hakone  Unforgettable Hakone  Unforgettable Hakone  Unforgettable Hakone

hakone8 300x235 Unforgettable Hakone

Original post: 
Unforgettable Hakone |

  • Share/Bookmark


Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet @ United Square, Singapore

January 7th, 2010

Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet @ United Square was the first buffet I had in Singapore. It was recommended by a colleague of mine, who mentioned their spread of seafood was worthy of the $38.80/adult.
Among some notable seafoods available were the rare Spanner crab, slipper lobster, fresh oyster, crayfish, sashimi and abalone. The seafood [...]

 Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet @ United Square, Singapore
 Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet @ United Square, Singapore

Original post:
Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet @ United Square, Singapore |

  • Share/Bookmark

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

December 24th, 2009

Today is Christmas Eve *yaay*…

22740 217341437559 554502559 2964366 7433394 n Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

Doing anything special on this eve of Christmas? A get together with family and friends, perhaps? Or spending some quite time with your other half?

Well, with Christmas just merely hours away, PenangTuaPui would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a merry jolly Christmas and to those who are not celebrating have a joyful happy holidays!!

22740 217362592559 554502559 2964427 3438449 n Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

Here is a song to all…and let’s sing aloud together ~Cheers…

22740 217341412559 554502559 2964364 5952679 n Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight.

Have yourself a merry Iittle Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star
upon the highest bough.

And have yourself
A merry little Christmas now.

22740 217341452559 554502559 2964368 7657827 n Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

 Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

22740 217341437559 554502559 2964366 7433394 n 300x239 Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010

Excerpt from:
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 2010 |

  • Share/Bookmark

Saint Pierre can be affordable

December 6th, 2009

On weekdays, Saint Pierre offers good value set lunches comprising of either two, three or four courses, with prices ranging between an unbelievable $28 to $45. Unfortunately it is a little out of the way but on this visit I enjoyed the food that was based on classic French cooking techniques that were well executed. If you are looking for new age / progressive cooking, this may not be your cup of tea. But if all you want is simple, well cooked food, then you have an option here.

On this occasion, we had:

 Saint Pierre can be affordable

amuse bouche: warm, roasted tomato cream soup

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
appetizer: tuna sashimi, roasted cauliflower puree

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
appetizer: artichoke soup with bacon

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
main course: roasted cod, fennel salad

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
main: pan fried sea bream, potate ratte with crab
(loved the crispy skin and fresh firm taste of bream)

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
dessert: any 3 kinds of cheese with condiments below ($8 supplement)
(my favourite is comte!)

 Saint Pierre can be affordable
Overall the meal was satisfactory, bar the mini baguette served alongside the meal that was cold and chewy. My highlight was the cheese platter because the selection was great and I got to eat my favourite cheese :D .
9784817 7838649983312309557?l=skinny epicurean.blogspot Saint Pierre can be affordable

Originally posted here:
Saint Pierre can be affordable |

  • Share/Bookmark

Sui Japanese Dining

November 28th, 2009

This post is for my friend, J, who was policing my blog and reminded me I was not updating fast enough :)

So, Sui Japanese restaurant is first introduced by my friend D. Initially put off by this hidden amongst a row of shophouses near Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar border because it is a little inconvenient to access for me, but it was after all close to town and I was motivated to find a restaurant to replace my old haunt, Tomo Japanese Dining, which is now defunct.

The kind of familiarity between my taste buds and the sushi chef is very important to me and a couple of visits later, I am pleased that I feel fairly positive about this place and the Chef/Owner Andy. He is very passionate about his food and tries to be creative with his sushi.

4137647785 a1e8c78a73 Sui Japanese Dining


His sashimi was fresh and sliced thickly with clean cuts. If I had to pick bones, they were sliced just a bit too thick, reminding me of Wasabi Tei’s version. But to give benefit of doubt, we were the only customers for lunch and since he was preparing the sashimi fresh from whole fishes, he could have been more generous that normal since he believes that the fresh fish should be eaten within 1-2 hours and not be kept.

4138411790 d3e32bdfbe Sui Japanese Dining


One can still find traditional sushi from the regular menu. However, going omakase allows you to experience Chef’s creative sushi. He loves being innovative and is constantly trying to find new ways to serve and garnish his sushi with different ingredients that would excite the tastebuds. He can be a little heavy handed with salt but nothing a gentle reminder could not solve.

4137647057 66336cfea9 Sui Japanese Dining

I am not a big fan of ankimo but the little ball looked so cute I just ate it. I am glad that he made the sushi small and used a citrus dressing to cut the richness. The result was very yummy and I could easily have another.

9784817 2748377747010674369?l=skinny epicurean.blogspot Sui Japanese Dining

4137647785 a1e8c78a73 300x225 Sui Japanese Dining

Go here to see the original:
Sui Japanese Dining |

  • Share/Bookmark

Because Time Waits for No One

August 11th, 2009


Friday 7 August 2009

I took out my keys to open the front gate, the corner of the wall was empty. It was an unbearable scene.
Gg Because Time Waits for No One

Rewind 9 years

Friday 2 March 2001
“I just bought a dog. You can have it. Yeah, from a client. No choice, a new way of entertaining client. Big business mar…heh heh”

That was from my cousin. I immediately ran to his house, which was a few blocks away from mine.

I was looking around, trying to spot a cute brown puppy. Could it a Golden Retriever? Or a Labrador? Hmmm…it could be a Terrier or a Beagle. I don’t mind. I was already grinning.
.
“Where? Where? Where? Where is the dog??
My cousin pointed at a steel cage. Behind the black bars was a fur ball in white…
Which looks nowhere near like a ‘dog’.

 Because Time Waits for No One

I showed my cousin a sepuluh sen face. “Huh? I thought you told me it is a ‘dog’?”
“Yeah. A Pekingese what. It is a dog, you dummy. Oh but it does look like a cat hor? Garfield..hahahah!”
The next thing I know is that something furry landed on my lap. It is her. She came towards my direction and cuddled up herself on my lap comfortably. She was not wary of me at all.

 Because Time Waits for No One

That was the sweetest thing I have ever seen in my life.

I looked at her in her eyes. “We’ll go home together, ok?”
She wagged her furry tail. I think she answered ‘yes’.
* * * *
I believe, Marley aside, she is by far the most difficult and fussy dog to keep.
She sworn by heart not to take any dog food. Pedigree premium biscuits, chewy sticks or chicken-in-can. She spat out whatever dog food that we bought.
Her peculiar eating habits will make you wonder if she reincarnated wrongly into a body of a white Pekingese. She really knows how to eat.
IMG 4177 1 Because Time Waits for No One
She likes durians. D24. No kampung. No thai.

gg1 Because Time Waits for No One
gg2 Because Time Waits for No One

Like owner, like dog? I don’t deny that.

My stay with her didn’t last too long. 2 years later when I finished my high school, I left her at home and moved to Subang Jaya to do my A-Levels. And then it was degree in Australia, followed by working in KL. Until now stationed down south.

Wherever I go, she remains the one closest to my heart.
.
 Because Time Waits for No One
Until the day when my mum returned home to find her laying on the floor in her usual position, but this time round stone cold.

It hurts me everytime to think about her departure. What really happened to her while no one was around at home, and the things that I would give up just to listen to her barking at the background whenever I call home or to see a running fur ball whenever I open the front gate.

 Because Time Waits for No One

I hope you had a happy life whilst staying with us.

Rest in peace, my girl.

7942843984143664549 4103781618249205889?l=klpeopleklfood.blogspot Because Time Waits for No One

Gg 225x300 Because Time Waits for No One

Original post: 
Because Time Waits for No One |

  • Share/Bookmark

# 2 The Black Echoes

July 3rd, 2009

*
Read the first part of the Tales of Saigon here.

P6 # 2 The Black Echoes
That irritating sound won’t stop.

It just won’t stop bothering me.

258 was the number of days that I have been counting.

 # 2 The Black Echoes

There it goes … I heard the sound again, echoing in the tunnel.

I moved myself to the adjacent burrow. I can feel that it is coming towards my direction. Wait, something is not right here. From the back of my body.

……

Was I dead or did I just pass out in the dark? All I can feel is the numbness in my nerves.

I hate the sound of machine guns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I grabbed the handle strongly, so strongly that I almost clutched myself to the seat right in front of me. The bus was rocking a hard way through the terribly uneven muddy path.

‘The absorber is worn out.’

Again, my head hit high into ceiling of the bus as it runs over a huge crater on the road.

We joined a day tour to Cu Chi and Cao Dai for less than USD 7. For that price, I certainly didn’t expect a long arse journey on the bus. I think my lungs, kidneys and stomachs sagged by 1.5cm after spending 5 hours travelling on the rocky road.

p7 # 2 The Black Echoes

Our Bobby Chinn look-alike tour guide was very entertaining.

‘Miss, whe du yeu kam frum?’

‘Malaysia’.

‘Ohhh…de land famous for robbers!’

Astounded by his reply, I found out later that he means ‘rubber’. Certainly one of the most interesting remarks in this journey.

The journey throughout Cu Chi was a remarkable one. I was particularly amazed by their perseverance and determination. Imagine a bunch of Viet Cong soldiers living in the dark, humid and claustrophobia-inducing underground. The American troop described the conditions within the tunnel as ‘black echoes’.

p12 # 2 The Black Echoes
We did try to explore one of the sections of the tunnel that has been expanded to accommodate taller/ larger sized tourists.

It ain’t fun.

I was a fool to believe that the tunnel has been enlarged to accommodate the big size us. *imagining walking around the tunnel freely like visiting museum liddat*

Half way crawling through the tunnel (I almost laid flat on the floor and creep towards the end), I was sweating and screaming in my heart…the tunnel seems to be never ending. How did the Viet Cong soldiers manage to survive in the tunnel for 20 over years when I find the dark claustrophobic atmosphere unbearable for mere 2 seconds?

I am a true brat spoiled by modernity.

After the exploration, I found something amusing. I really wanted to try that real thing. At least once. The guy recommended M16, so I bought 10 bullets (USD 17) for that.

p13 # 2 The Black Echoes
It still ain’t fun lorrrrr.

I was a fool to believe that ear muff works. The NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is close to ‘0’. The impact of the shot was so powerful that every shot leaves my ear drum with a numb (wee wung wung…wee wung wung…) feeling.

Collages # 2 The Black Echoes

Special thanks to Hairy for capturing all my retarded looking moments.

Food was more or less the same throughout the 3 days. Pho, Pho & more Pho(s) which I enjoyed thoroughly.

p3 # 2 The Black EchoesP4 # 2 The Black Echoesp11 # 2 The Black Echoesp9 # 2 The Black EchoesP5 # 2 The Black Echoes

I’m glad that I insisted on trying out Nguyen Trung’s coffee on our last day despite the fact that we were supposed to rush to the airport.

p10 # 2 The Black Echoes

We ordered “The Legend” which was nothing like the ordinary Starbucks cappuccino. The coffee was really strong and bold, definitely one of the highlights of my trip. *Love*

Later on when we return to SG, we found out that there is actually a branch located at Liang Court, Clark Quay. *Double Love*

p2 # 2 The Black Echoes

My fave picture of all

*
For now, I’m more than happy to return to my comfort zone, happily munching on my routine subway ham and egg, surfing dumb websites, and crossing the road without the fear of being smashed by 58 motorbikes into a slab of tomato paste in the middle of the road.

Bar none, I still love you, Saigon.

p1 # 2 The Black Echoes

Yellow stars missing in sight …

-The end-

7942843984143664549 2970351531248779445?l=klpeopleklfood.blogspot # 2 The Black Echoes

collages 300x187 # 2 The Black Echoes

View post: 
# 2 The Black Echoes |

  • Share/Bookmark

Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

May 21st, 2009

.
#1: Untold Secrets of the Message Room

When darkness falls, everything turns into a picture of dead silence.

passage Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

I stepped on the narrow staircase leading to the underground.

‘Shhh…be quiet…you don’t want to wake them up…let me show you the way.’

boy Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

I saw this young boy when I stumbled upon this place. In fact, I saw him everywhere. From the main door, the message room to the combat officer room… He was there, everywhere.

I lost him soon after.

‘Tub…tub…tub…’
The floor is so thin that I can feel the tremble. I heard that coming from the back.

passage+2 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

‘Dooom…’

untitled Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

When darkness falls, everything turns into a picture of silence … a dead silence.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.

I didn’t dwell myself too long in that B-grade horror flick as I walk through the underground tunnel of the Reunification Palace.

Oh by the way, I was at Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for 3 days. Thanks to the free air tickets from the lucky dip.

viet+1 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon
The first, second, third and fourth floor didn’t excite me. There were numbers of meeting rooms, conference rooms and dining rooms of different themes, a place previously resided by the presidents.

rp+3 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon
We were just wandering around the Palace and stumbled upon one eery staircase that leads to the dark underground. That really intrigued my interest.

r+p+5 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

There were secret rooms (or message rooms) with bulky and dusty switchboards, the very 60s phones and the good old typing machines.
Hairy attempted this shot ala Wong Kar Wai mode that inspired the series of dark tales.

passage+3 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon
The young boy is definitely not from our hallucination but he was really everywhere. Everywhere that we went. He loves blocking our way, interrupting at the background when we were shooting photos and looking at Hairy with a creepy smile.

‘Sekali you see him in one of the black & white pictures hung on the wall’ said Hairy with a blank look.

How interesting.

Obviously we didn’t spot him in any of the pictures, in fact the pictures shown were depressing and disheartening. Nuclear bombs, massacre and concentration camps. I just want to get out of that place.
Back to reality, we were caught in the middle of the junction with motorbikes coming from all 4 directions and with 58 bikes honking at us at the same time, as if we were blocking their ways *sweat*

nm+4 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

Funny mode of transport in Vietnam
.
.
I was literally distressed, I think a bowl of piping hot noodles would be a good cure.

We dropped by Ben Thanh Market (we call it the ‘Beh Tahan Market’) and zoomed straight into the food section.

bth+3 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

Tell me about pracitising food hygiene, there were a few dead cockroaches lying under my seat.

bth+1 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

To eat or not to eat? Gulp…There goes my first bowl of pork knuckle noodles in Vietnam and L-S (diarrhea) on the very next day.

At night, we strolled along the night market street and the dai chow stalls came into sight. Born to be gluttons, we settled for another round of food.

nm+2 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

nm+3 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon
The return of the alcoholic.
nm+1 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

Can you believe that a bottle of Saigon beer costs only 90 cents (10,000 dong)?

But that 90 cents can only give you a taste of gassy plain water. I stopped at one bottle.

Oh well, the journey didn’t end here. In fact it only started the next day – a five hours helluva extreme journey that can only be found in Vietnam.
To be continued.
rp+4 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

Photo credit to the legendary Hairy from Black Tie White Lie.

7942843984143664549 7443256508107681723?l=klpeopleklfood.blogspot Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

passage 201x300 Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon

View original here:
Tales of the Unexpected from Saigon |

  • Share/Bookmark

The Apartment – Urban Fusion Food – The Curve

May 21st, 2009

Yes we do go The Curve very often, and yes we do try new places sometimes! I have tried The Apartment long long ago when it first launched and found it not so great, but not long back I had a function there and the food was actually really good (especially the mussels!).
The staff used [...]



Read the rest of this post at www.weatethis.com!

 The Apartment   Urban Fusion Food   The Curve  The Apartment   Urban Fusion Food   The Curve

Read more from the original source: 
The Apartment – Urban Fusion Food – The Curve |

  • Share/Bookmark

The Friday Wine Lunch @ Kannichikan Yakiniku with Jacob’s Creek

May 7th, 2009

Once again I was invited to the delectable Friday Wine Lunch by Pernod Ricard @ Kannichikan Yakiniku with Jacob’s Creek (thanks Yik Peng!). You might remember last time it was @ Chinoz on the Park with Wyndham Estate.
An interesting concept this time, Japanese influenced Korean BBQ. Who says the…

Read the rest of this post at www.weatethis.com!

 The Friday Wine Lunch @ Kannichikan Yakiniku with Jacob’s Creek  The Friday Wine Lunch @ Kannichikan Yakiniku with Jacob’s Creek

Continued here:
The Friday Wine Lunch @ Kannichikan Yakiniku with Jacob’s Creek |

  • Share/Bookmark

Back to main page