Friday, May 23, 2014

BKK Work Trip, Nov 2012: Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok & Nara Thai Cuisine

 
Honestly, I have not been actively blogging since beginning of this year. Previously, it was normal for me to blog 2-3 entries in a week, I can now only manage 2-3 entries in a month. I'll try to blog as frequently as possible as there are so much things that I want to capture on this blog. Before that, I'll have to backlog some entries, especially on my work trips. I don't want to give up documenting these trips just because it happened a long time ago. Strangely enough, while I'm drafting my posts for the trips, I can still recall the things that happened even though it could be years back.
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2 months after the KL trip, I headed over to BKK for a round of client visiting before I "close shop" for the year. When it is nearing the end-of-year, with no holidays planned, I will stay in sunny/rainy Singapore to catch up on administrative work. This is the best time of the year for "clearing work" for the market will slow down and almost everyone is on leave/holiday. I arrived at the airport 1.5 hours before flight. Check-in was a breeze though I was half expecting the presence of the morning peak-hour crowd.
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Angry bird in the house, lol! I can never understand the craze of angry bird since I don't play the game. Some of my friends termed the game as du-lan jiao, a literal hokkien translation for it. My little nephews were huge fans of them. During CNY, we even joked that if I were to give them angpao in angry-bird red packets, they will keep the red packets instead of the money, lol! 
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Instead of heading to my usual corner for breakfast, I chose to shop around since I'll be having meals on-board later. Shortlisted a few items that I will pick up once I'm back from the trip. 
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Brought along my new Naraya purchase for this trip. I fell in love with the sweet pastel pink hue and immediately bought it during my last BKK trip. This bag was roomy enough for my gigantic-and-heavy work laptop, so I no longer have to bring 2 bags to meet clients! 
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Airplanes lined up, bringing passengers to their respective destinations. 
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After a long ride into the city, I checked in at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. Located in the heart of Bangkok, this hotel is surrounded by prime shopping malls and conveniently linked via Skybridge to 2 BTS station. As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I was charmed by the resort-style colonial features. At that point, I was secretly wishing that I'm here on holiday instead of work. While making my way to the room, I love the contrast of black doors against a whitewashed wall.   
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Since I was only here for a night, I booked the cheapest deluxe room available. I was contented to get a king-sized bed to enjoy my sleep :)
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The only grumble that I had was this octagon working table. No matter how I positioned myself and laptop, I'll be bound to bump into something. So I ended up working at the TV console instead.
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Unpacked my luggage and took out all the pouches and got ready to head out for work. 3 pouches containing different items - skincare, makeup and toiletries, my travel essentials!
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
 494 Rajdamri Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
Tel: +66 2254 1234
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Rushed back in the hotel after 2 meetings. I was lucky to grab a cab from client's place and escaped the peak hour traffic. It was a brief 30 min ride back to the city. By then, I was hungry and had a craving for Thai food, so I decided to take a short walk to Central World for dinner. 
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 The notorious BKK traffic. While heading to Central World, I was on the phone with Leecher and all he could hear on the other end was the honking from cars.
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Gigantic Xmas tree in the middle of the mall. While seeing this, I'm reminded of the times that I spent in Finland last year. Really wished that I can head for a winter holiday this year end.   
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 I headed straight up to 7th floor where most of the restaurants are housed. I caught sight of this restaurant and was captivated by the decor. The restaurant was quite crowded and there was a queue for walk-ins. The plus point about dining alone is - you'll get a table faster even if the restaurant is crowded. 
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Nara Thai Cuisine, one of Thailand's best restaurants from 2007 till 2012. Nara is famous for its Boat Noodles and authentic Thai dishes. The ala carte dishes are derived from authentic recipes which have been adapted into a modern context suitable for Nara's dining ambience. 
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It did not take long for my name to be called. I was ushered into the restaurant and a menu promptly arrived at the table. After checking on the size of the serving, I placed my orders for 3 sides and my must-have Thai iced tea.
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Green Chicken Curry, Nara Spring Rolls with pork and vegetable fillings and chicken wrapped with pandan leaves were enough to satisfy my craving :) These are individual servings and I was really full by the end of it.
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Nara Thai Cuisine
7/F Central World Ratchadamri Road
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 0 2613 1657/8
Opening Hours: 10am till 10pm daily            

Monday, May 19, 2014

Sunday Brunch: Strangers' Reunion

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Brunch date at Strangers' Reunion with the uni gang, and also to celebrate the March babies' birthday. As this cafe is opened by Ryan Kieran Tan (Singapore's National Barista Champion for 2011 & 2012), it is natural that this place is well-known for its coffee. When I told Leecher of the agreed brunch place, he was looking forward to have a cup of their specialty. 
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#00td in front of a residential home, just because I like the green wall, haha! 
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Giant rilakkuma, with hidden treasures in the body - tsk tsk. 
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The whole stretch of Kampong Bahru was littered with pubs/bars. This was the only place that was brimming with life. Regardless of whether you made a reservation or not, be prepared to wait 15 min or more for a table to be freed up. We had to wait for our reserved table in the narrow footpath outside the cafe. 
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Once we were shown to our table, the menu + water + cups promptly arrived. A quick glance on the menu, I was ready to place my orders. I needed a cold drink to cool myself down from the sweltering heat, so I promptly ordered an Iced Chocolate ($7.50) while the rest headed for a cuppa of their signature coffee.
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3 cups of MAGIC ($5.50), which was one of their signature brews. Their coffee prices range from $3.50 to $7.50, with additional charges for doubleshot ($1) or using soy milk ($0.60)
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Before I proceed further, this gathering was held for Leecher & Yaozu. Their birthdays are days apart, so we had a joint celebration for them. The next will be Boss Khim's  in Oct followed by the rest of us in Dec, lol! For once, December babies rule since we are the majority :) 
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Dec babes unite, lol!  
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Since the guys took one pic for us, we must return the favour back :)
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 Pumpkin Soup ($10.90) with homemade goat's cheese and croutons to share b/w Kenneth & Meiqin.
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Being one of the highly-raved items, we ordered a couple of their waffles as well. Their signature buttermilk waffles comes with maple syrup & fresh fruits ($11.90), with strawberry maceration & ice cream ($13.90), with artisan greek yogurt/vanilla ice cream & fresh fruits ($12.90). When 2 orders of waffles arrived, I was half-expecting my waffles (with greek yogurt) to come next. However, it only came after we checked with the waiters twice. Slightly disappointed with their service. This also happened to my main course :( Nevertheless, I think greek yogurt paired with waffles is a great combination!
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Truffle fries ($12.90) is the must order item for us, but I love love sweet potato chips ($12.90) as well! I couldn't stop my fingers and they headed straight to the bowl time after time. These were wiped out within minutes.
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 Fluffy savoury crepe ($12.50), served with mozzarella , sour cream, beetroot relish and mixed greens. I added on sauteed mushroom ($3.50) and smoked salmon ($4.50). This crepe was a disappointment as it was too soggy.
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 Casserole Chicken ($21.90), comes with a choice of Italian pork sausages, chicken sausages or braised lamb.
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 Parma Ham Benedict ($19.90), served with fresh shaved bone-in prosciutto, hollandaise sauce, poached eggs and a side of mixed greens. 
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Table filled up with all our orders! 
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We had to sit through our brunch listening to "sales" talk from Boss Khim (backed by Kenneth), selling his idea of a road trip to Australia. Though we can't join you guys, but do enjoy yourselves. Drink lots of wine and win $$ at the casino!
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With the hubby :) 
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Signing off, till the next brunch date! 
Strangers' Reunion
37 Kampong Bahru Road
Singapore 169355
Tel: 622224869
Opening Hours: 9am till 10pm daily (Friday till 12 midnight)

Monday, May 12, 2014

Seoul 2014, Spring: 15 things to do in Seoul

Seoul, a city that captured my heart that I was determined to head back for another visit soon. Influenced by the Hallyu wave, we reached Seoul to discover the beauty of the city.  A blend of ancient traditions and modern technology, Seoul is a city filled with stark contrasts. There are simply too many activities to do in the vibrant city, so here is my personal take on 15 things to do in Seoul.
1. Biking along Hangang (한강)
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Instead of a river cruise, we rented a bike and spent a couple of hours cycling along Hangang (Han River). While we had to conquer riding up-slopes along some of the trails, the changing scenery well made up for the exercise. The diversity of the parks offer different scenes, depending on which cycling route you embarked on. There are plenty of bicycle rental shops in the park - so, hop on and ride! 
2. Eat at a pojangmacha (포장마차) and make some friends 
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Pojangmacha is very much of Korean culture, where locals go for meals and drinks after work. We had our first experience with a bunch of new-found Singaporean and Korean friends. The group of us were just making merry in the pojangmacha, washing down food with bottles and bottles of soju!
3. Day trip to Nami Island 
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If you have watched Winter Sonata, you will definitely pay a visit to Nami Island. This place, famous for its beautiful tree lined roads, is the shooting location of the drama. Stroll along the road and reminisce the scenes from the drama. Head for the bench (which has since moved!) where Bae Yong-joon and Choi Jiwoo shared their first kiss.
4. Cosmetic shopping at Myeongdong
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 Myeongdong is the shopping paradise for cosmetics. Most of the beauty brands - Etude House, Innisfree, The Face Shop - have several shops located in the area. Promoters will stand in front of the shop, hand out free samples to passer-bys (especially girls!) and literally "drag" you inside the shop. Be prepared to part with (a significant amount of) your cash whenever you step into one :)
5. Hanbok (한복) experience
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A trip to Korea is never complete without putting on Hanbok, the traditional costumes of Korea. Children wear hanbok for their 1st birthday and adults wear it for special occasions. I love the vibrant colours of the costumes, where the fabric is dyed using natural dyes.
6. N Seoul Tower & N-Grill Restaurant
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N Seoul Tower at Nansam Park marks the highest point in Seoul. Couples flock to the Roof Terrace where they will put a padlock of love on the railings, a symbol of interlocking their fate with each other. Make a stop to N Grill, a french restaurant located at the highest point of the tower, boasting the best view. 
7. Ginseng chicken soup (Samgaetang) 
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One of the must-try dishes in Korea, the highly-raved Ginseng Chicken Soup. Stuffed with glutinous rice, this dish is well-liked by young and old. Drink this with a small cup of ginseng wine and feel the heat rush through your body.
8. Stand and eat at a roadside stall
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I have a special liking towards roadside stalls with their wide variety of snacks that is enough to curb my hunger pangs. My top 2 choices go to tteokbokki and fishcakes. They are my comfort food in the cold weather :) 
9. Korean Folk Village(한국민속촌)
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Head to the Korean Folk Village for a glimpse of traditional Korean life. There are various traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, where visitors are transported back to the olden days. This is also the filming location for various K-drama, such as Moon embracing the Sun, My Love from another Star and Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Be sure to catch some of the events, like traditional folk dances or acrobatics at the performance area.
10. Do a drama-filming-location trail
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Fans of K-drama will not miss a chance to visit the filming locations of the dramas. These places added a sense of familiarity as I'll recall the scenes from the dramas. This was taken at Petite France, at the spot of the famous flying kiss scene between Do Min Joon & Cheon Song Yi from the drama, My Love from Another Star.
11. Ihwa Mural Village (이화 벽화마을)
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You can find lots of murals and artworks littered around the whole village. Spend a couple of hours combing the alleys, look for interesting pieces that are worth a shot or two. Visitors are welcome to take as many pictures as possible, but do be mindful to keep your voices down as this is a residential area. Enjoy a cuppa of coffee and chill out at one of the many cafes in the village.
12. DMZ tour
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 Venturing into the DMZ zone was one of the to-do list during this trip. We booked ourselves on a half-day DMZ tour and went on an interesting history lesson, courtesy of our tour guide. Stretching over 240km across the Korean Peninsula, the DMZ zone offers visitors an insight on the history and culture of the country.
13. Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)
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Home to hundreds of traditional houses dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, this village is best explored on foot. Be sure to wear good walking shoes to scale the steep slopes. Try and see if you can spot the house that was used in the drama "Personal Taste" in this village!
 14. Visit one of the many palaces
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5 palaces are located within the heart of Seoul, which make it easier to explore. There are guided tours in different languages and timings for tourists, allowing us to learn more about Korean history. With Mount Bugaksan as the backdrop, Gyeongbokgung is the main and largest palace amongst the five palaces. Explore the palace surroundings and head towards the main gate for the guard-changing ceremony.
15. Witness the guard-changing ceremony
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The guard changing ceremony is a reenactment of the original ceremony which dates back to ancient times. You can catch the ceremony at either Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gwanghwamun Gate 3 times a day (apart from Tuesday). Take a picture with the guards on duty after the ceremony.

Psst .... detailed posts will be linked once completed, stay tuned!  
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