Staycation in Sentosa Siloso Beach Resort

I enjoyed my stay tremendously because of their special swimming pool! Stay tuned! It costs $220 a night. We booked this because it was the cheapest accommodation in Sentosa during the Sept holiday period.

Accomodation

I was very disappointed with the room because the flooring was badly scratched and the walls looked old. But the swimming pool was the resort's saving grace.

View from the room

Walkway leading to the lift lobby

Facilities 

Oh gosh! This is the best swimming pool I have ever swum in. Why? Because the pool uses natural spring water! They use salt treatment instead of chlorine. After swimming in it, I felt so relax. My hair was smooth and soft. My skin too! They also have rubber tubings as floats for the guests. So relaxing! I swam every day.

Man Made waterfall at the pool

Water slides for adults and kids!

Breakfast Buffet

Fresh Bread

The croissants were so buttery and the fragrant that I looked forward to eating it everyday. The chocolate pasty was very tasty too.

Eggs Station

Cream Potatoes on Day 1

Corn Flakes - so so

Delicious Chipolata sausages

I enjoyed the soup and fish balls! Soup could be warmer.

Very average and dry dim sum on Day 1

Soft and fluffy scrambled eggs what would run out by 9.30am

Pancakes - a tad too dry

Delicious Lor Mai Kai on Day 2 - Don't miss this!

Plated nicely - All ready to tuck in!

What did we do in Sentosa?

Lazing by the beach but it was too hot!

Delicious Beef Brisket rice at Ruyi before our Magic Show

Paid a bomb for David Blaine - some famous street magician

The show was too thrilling for my liking.

I always enjoy staycations in Sentosa although my friends could not understand why I spend so much money to say in Singapore. Holidays are a means to help you relax and unwind. I could do that in Sentosa and I save on the air tickets! If you like to swim in a nice pool, Siloso Resort is the right choice!

Fried Bee Hoon with canned pork ribs

In the past, I have a lot of problems cooking this simple yet delicious fried bee hoon with canned pork ribs. I always overcooked the bee hoon and it would end up in small pieces. I am sure there are other recipes better than mine but at least you get to eat a pretty decent bee hoon for breakfast following the steps below.

• Soak two packets of bee hoon in tap water.
• Use chopsticks to pull them apart.
• Remove the bee hoon from the tap water once they are apart.
• Pour half the canned gravy (if you buy the bigger can) into the pan with the meat. Shred the meat into pieces. Medium heat.
• Add the bee hoon.
• Mix them together with chopsticks. 
• Add a small amount of dark soya sauce, light soya sauce and pepper to your liking.
• Taste and add more gravy to your liking. 
• Remove bee hoon and fry eggs in the same pan at low heat. 
• When the eggs are half cooked, add the bee hoon.
• Mix and you are ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Nail Stickers

I was first attracted to nail stickers because my fingers and toes were hurt from manicure. Despite my reminders, I would bleed and they would still charge me. I did not want to create a scene so I paid up. The more important reason why I swore off manicure was that I witnessed how easy it was to have open wounds in nail parlours. I shudder whenever I imagine the germs that would be spread through the open wounds if they do not sterilise their equipment.

One day, after a movie at Cineleisure with C, I saw a bazaar outside the shopping centre. Recently, I went there and it was still there. There was a stall selling a huge variety of nail stickers at $1 a pack! It was the cheapest I have ever seen. It was cheaper than Pasar Malam which was selling them for $2 per pack. I bought many packs.

It was not as easy as what the salesperson had demonstrated. I had to cut the sticker closer to the size of my nail and file the extra at the end off. The photo below shows the colour I had chosen for a wedding dinner at Intercontinental Hotel at Bugis. I did that in a rush in C's car on the way. He claimed that we needed to reach by 7pm but in the end, my prediction was correct because the dinner started at 8pm, which was early, by Singapore's standards.

Of course, nail polish would look nicer but since it was only $1, I have no complains! It will last through a few hair washes. Have fun! 

Lao Huo Tang at GEM - a place to have a meal with your family

When I mention Lao Huo Tang, most people would associate it with the huge pots found in a soup stall at food courts. I enjoy the soups and especially the free soup refill service. So when I chanced upon the restaurant version, I was elated.

I have visited the restaurant a few times and today I would be blogging about the birthday dinner for my father-in-law. I didn't manage to take shots of all the food because it is quite embarrassing when you are taking out your iPhone and snapping away especially in front of your in-laws. I felt self conscious.

Si Ji Dou

ABC Soup

Minced meat with preserved vegetables

Cereal Prawns

Seafood Hor Fun

The dishes that we had ordered were delicious and the price was quite reasonable. The dishes cost slightly cheaper than Crystal Jade. I hope that they would open more branches in Singapore. The service was not fantastic as we had to signal a few times to get the staff's attention. They were not very smiley. I thought it was typical of a Chinese restaurant so it did not affect my impression. 

Healthy cooking - Batang Fish marinated with turmeric powder and stir fry garlic eggplant and lady's fingers

Why do we go through so much trouble to cook? One of the main reasons is for our health! Eating at home ensures at least better quality oil and definitely less salt and msg. Therefore, we have to cook our dishes in a tasty and yet healthy way!

I enjoy chicken and fish marinated in turmeric powder because the special taste in fried Malay chicken wings is turmeric! There are also many health benefits associated with turmeric. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78


How to prepare Batang Fish?

• It is very important to wash any type of fish with salt to get rid of the fishy smell. 
• After washing, pat dry to prevent your frying pan from splattering oil.
• Rub a small pinch of salt all the fish.
• Pour some turmeric powder on the fish and mix with a little water until it is a smooth paste.
• Oil your pan and you are ready to pan fry the fish.

I enjoy eating vegetables like eggplants and lady's fingers not only for its taste but also for their health benefits. 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=22&tname=foodspice

http://www.dietburrp.com/benefits-of-lady-finger/

How to stir-fry eggplants and lady's fingers?

• The star of the dish lies in the garlic. Garlic is very healthy and is anti-inflammatory. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265853.php
• Chop garlic into equal sizes. For this dish, it is not necessary to chop till they are very tiny.
• In order to avoid burning the garlic, it is important to keep your fire low.
• Add in the vegetables once the garlic turn light brown and there is a nice aroma in the kitchen.
• Slice some red chills and add in after the vegetables.
• For seasoning, I like to use fish sauce or none at all. 

How to fry tomatoes eggs?

I add tomatoes to my eggs because tomatoes are very good for health. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273031.php

• Oil your pan.
• Add in the tomatoes and fry until they are slightly dry and burnt. Otherwise, they will taste like vomit when you add in the eggs.
• Once your tomatoes are ready, add in the eggs.
• If you prefer slightly watery eggs, lower the fire.

Why brown rice?

I was introduced to brown rice by my parents-in-law. Ever since, I have also switched to brown rice. 

http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/10-reasons-why-brown-rice-is-the-healthy-choice/ 

• Initially, I have a lot of problem getting the texture right. I solve my problem with Philips rice cooker. I realised it has a function for cooking brown rice. The water added is the same as white rice when you use Phillips and the brown rice will turn out just nice, not too hard and not too soft. 

Let's aim to be healthy and we will start by cooking healthy food for our loved ones!

Too much of any food is no good! Eat everything in moderation!

Seasonal Salad Bar at Toa Payoh - How to make your money worth?

I was driving home from work and turning into the carpark when I saw C who had just parked his car and walking down the ramp. My heart leapt with joy. I rolled down the window and called out to him to hop in.

"What shall we eat tonight?" I asked.

"I want to eat Toa Payoh Salad," C replied.

The Seasonal Salad Bar Buffet, which took over Sizzler, was not fantastic but we always found ourselves returning whenever we wanted a hearty meal and yet could fill our stomachs with healthy greens. Tonight, I must say, the restaurant had improved by leaps and bounds! Perhaps, we have finally ordered the right dish.

http://www.onionrestaurant.sg/seasonal_saladbar.html

This is the link if you are interested. Who would call yourself onion restaurant? I thought it was weird.

Anyway, if you happen to be in Toa Payoh, we have done the calculations - the best way to make your money worth is to order their New Zealand Sirloin Steak and Salmon (or any other meat) steak combo at $32.90. Order another salad bar buffet at $19.90. Of course, if you don't mind stuffing yourself, you could add $3 more dollars for another Fish Main course which would come with the Salad Bar Buffet anyway. We tried that in the past but we were too full. Tonight, we could not finish the Salmon.

Ambience suitable for family outings

My favourite soup

The other two soups available were Mushroom Soup and Clam Chowder. I liked all three soups. Creamy and satisfying!

Sauces for the salad

I love the broccoli and cauliflower!

My favourite salad is Tuna Potato

Nachos 

The pasta is very average.

I like the Sesame Oil seasoned egg noodles.

The Main Course - New Zealand Sirloin Steak and Salmon Combo came quite long after we had ordered but we had no complaints because we were busy with the salad bar.

The main course was the star of the dinner, especially the beef. It has been so long since I ate a nice piece of beef. We ordered medium and we were so pleased with the beef juices oozing out when we cut it in the middle. As we put the beef into our mouths, it was heavenly! The salmon steak was average, but not overcooked. I was glad I ordered salmon because of the Omega 3.

I ate dragon fruits, jelly and watermelon for dessert. C ate chocolate ice cream which he thought, tasted weird. I told him he must have taken the wrong flavour. 

You can have unlimited hot drinks for an additional amount of around $3.50. 

We would definitely be back to try their New Zealand Sirloin steak and salmon combo again! We tried their other steaks in the past but it was average so I am going to stick to this combo in future.

Zuo Ji Duck Rice and Porridge at East Coast

East Coast Lagoon Food Village

#01-29 

1220 East Coast Parkway

Lunch on a weekday

Overall 4/5

Food 4/5

Ambience 4/5

Variety 4/5

Service 3/5

I love to eat braised duck rice and my all time favourite is Zuo Ji at East Coast Lagoon Food Village and I want to share my joy with you! As I was on leave, I decided to drive to East Coast to enjoy the breeze while eating my favourite duck rice. 

The queue was very slow moving. I took my time to observe what was on sale. Zuo Ji served a variety of duck meat, web, liver, some skin flaps, intestines etc.  the queue is slow moving, I would turn all skeptical - Is the owner doing this on purpose to make it appear that the food is very popular? But when I saw what was served to me, I thought it was worth the wait.

The gravy was thick and fragrant. The duck had its bone removed and chopped into small succulent tender pieces. My mouth was already watering as I took my food and looked for a seat. The outdoor seating was nice as I picked one with a sea view and sheltered. It was windy. 

Finally I could sink my teeth into the tender duck meat. It had the infusion of both the fragrance of duck meat and spices. The rice was well cooked. Every rice could be separated easily. The cucumber was fresh and crisp. I saw many customers mixing a type of sourish chicken chilli with balacan chilli. I still prefer having just the balacan chilli as it mixed better with the duck meat. The soup tasted like the usual chicken rice soup. 

Tip: The soup was not provided. Remember to ask for the soup.

I would definitely be back if I had a craving for braised duck rice. Yums! 

I Hotel Batam Reviews and 5 great things you must do in Batam!

My sister, Y, is a fan of Batam. She has gone to Batam three times with her boyfriend and she suggested going again her fourth time, but as for me. I had just returned from my church camp in KL and the very next day, I would be going Batam. I was looking forward to it because it felt so nice to have someone familiar with the place and she could be the tour guide. We booked a two day 1 night at I Hotel. I was so happy to know that trip advisor has given the hotel rather good reviews.

athttp://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Hotel_Review-g297717-d1465056-Reviews-I_Hotel-Batam_Riau_Archipelago_Riau_Islands_Province.html

My impression of Batam was a beach resort, but an inferior one. Surprisingly, my sister had planned a "no beach at all" trip. 

We parked overnight at Vivocity and the car park charges came up to around $40. We figured it was still worth it because to and from cab would probably cost around the same price. We lugged back quite a lot of things so we were very pleased that we chose to park at Vivocity as the taxi queue was very long. 

The ferry ride was only around 45 minutes. The tour guide, who picked us up for hotel transfer, warned us about pickpockets in Batam and told us to look after our bags. Nowadays, the pickpockets would steal your wallet and zip your bag so that you do not realise you have been picked. 

We paid $85 per person which included accommodation, breakfast buffet, hotel transfers and ferry tickets. $85 does not include tax. When we arrived at iHotel, we were served some complimentary drink which was too sweet for my taste. The best thing about iHotel is its location - beside a shopping mall "Nagoya Hills". We were also pleased to know that we could check in immediately. The room was clean and the toilet had a bath tub which was good because we both like to soak in warm water.

So what are the 5 things you must do in Batam?

1. Play Arcade

The first thing we did was to go Nagoya Hills and soak in the atmosphere. My sister took me to the arcade because it was SO CHEAP! It cost only 10 cents per token! Most of the games require 1 token only and some games require 2 tokens. We spent a lot of time in the arcade playing this electronic Monopoly game whereby you insert coins to push more coins down the slot. This game is very addictive. We also played UFO catchers type of games but we did not manage to catch anything.  We enjoyed challenging each other to basketball hoops, car racing and pushing this flat thing into each other's goal post on a smooth table. I persuaded her to play Dance Dance Revolution and she gave up after one try while I continued. By the time I had finished, my whole top was soaked. I was so convinced that it was a good form of exercise that I purchased 2 DDR dancing mats when I returned to Singapore. I hadn't have such childhood fun in a long long time.

2. Shopping!

Nagoya Hills is air-conditioned and has many small shops selling a variety of items. It has a departmental store called Matahari - Metro equivalent. I was so surprised to see Wacoal, Sorella and Felancy selling at a huge discount! There were other brands too but no Triumph. I think most ladies know that Bangkok is well known for their cheap branded undies but Batam too! We spent a lot of time at this section - shopping for bra and undies! We regretted spending so much time there because we ended up with no time to just window shop. We also stopped by a shop that sells girly stuff like hair accessories and make up kits. I purchased a eyebrow shaver at S$0.50. The hair accessories also cost around S$0.50 per piece. Before returning to our hotel, we stopped by the supermarket to buy Laurier sanitary pads at half the price in Singapore and also chips and water. 

3. Eat and Eat

Because of our mismanagement of time in the arcade and inner wear section, we could not go to the Kelong Restaurant as planned. It was too late so we had to settle our dinner in Nagoya Hills. The local food was very reasonably priced and delicious. 

Tom Yum Seafood Soup

S$2.80 Broccoli

S$6.80 - Soft Shell Crab coated with Salted Egg 

Mayo Prawns

The cheapest dish was the broccoli which cost S$2.80 and the most expensive dish was the soft shell crab S$6.80. Don't bother ordering their steak because it wasn't very nice. After dinner, we went to the supermarket to shop till 10pm. When we went back to our room, my sister suggested ordering room service because it was nice and cheap.

Divide by 1000 to get S$ value

I ordered Avocado shake with chocolate sauce. It was yummy! The chicken nuggets with fries was only S$5 for hotel room service. They were the best nuggets I have ever eaten - juicy and served hot. Remember to request for Thai chilli sweet sauce. It went well with the nuggets.

The next morning, we had our buffet breakfast at iHotel. Surprisingly, the spread was good. It also had its Live Eggs station. 

4. Massage

After eating our breakfast, we went to check out the massage spa at our hotel and it was fully booked. Disappointed, we returned to our room and took a rest. After a while, we decided to venture out to check out if there were other massage places nearby. There is a huge decent and comfy massage place just across the road from Nagoya Hills. We chose a 60 min massage - foot reflexology, head and shoulder massage at S$8! 

5. Sing KTV

We deliberately chose our ferry departing time to be 4pm so that we have time to sing KTV. We went to the shopping mall that is connected to the ferry terminal. We asked around and managed to find a KTV at the top floor and decided to have our lunch while singing. The local food was cheap. The wings were good. It was clean and looked even better than our K Box. The songs were very updated and the sound system was good. All these at S$9 for 3 hours of singing. 

We also wanted to watch a movie and swim at our hotel swimming pool and relax at the Jacuzzi but we had no time. I enjoyed myself very much!