Summer 2015 in Europe

PRAGUE

24 July 2015 Singapore-Frankfurt on SQ26 2355-0640
25 July 2015 Frankfurt-Prague on Czech Airlines OK 535 0925-1035

Stay:
Airbnb Ondrej Kverka's apartment €124 (after discount) really convenient location with lots of good eats nearby - pity we discovered these only close to when we were going to leave! The apartment has everything you need, the only possibly lacking thing was a hair dryer but other than that, we were extremely pleased with it. Noise was not an issue even though I was a light sleeper thanks to the noise-proof windows. Ondrej was also an excellent host who answered all our queries.

Eat:

Lokal, Dlouha, Praha 1 - where beer costs only 32 Kc, cheaper than water! The roast beef with creamy sauce and cranberries were good (go with the cranberry sauce!) 159 Kc, fried cheese was interesting 165 Kc. I would not bother with the sides unless you are really into carbs. We got the mashed potato and the bread dumplings which were just okay.

Field Restaurant, U milosrdnych, Praha 1 - this was number 1 on Tripadvisor but it was just okay. We had the Crottin cheese cold starter, Crayfish warm starter, Lam, Beef, and he had a Riesling. The best part of the entire meal was possibly the Rhubarb salted caramel dessert, which totally won me over. Total damage was 1805 Kc, quite expensive:(

La Bottega Difinestra, Manesova, Praha 2 - this was Tobias' find and it was an excellent breakfast spot. Their eggs benedict were good (195 Kc) and Tobs also got a banana pancake order (85Kc) which was nicely balanced with loads of greek yoghurt on the top. He really liked their cappuccino too but the hot chocolate was so thin it felt like milo diluted with a jar of water. I realised that none of the chocolate drinks are thick enough in this part of the world. Boo. Total: 495 Kc. On a separate occasion, we dropped by to grab a croissant too, which was a good idea cos it was one of the best, crisp lovely goodies you can find.

La Rotonde, Radisson Blu otel, Praha 1 - we went for the Sunday grill event (only available during summer so please check). It was fantastic - a buffet spread of starters and dessert, plus grill! Had a ton of meat and our favourites were the veal leg, prawn skewer and lamb rack. Discovered their extremely delish corn (which has the aroma from all the oil from the grilled meat) close to the end of our meal. I adored the chocolate banana tart from the dessert spread - rare to find such a good dessert at a grill buffet! Total damage: 1898 Kc only!

Café Savoy, Zborovska, Praha 5 - this came highly recommended on Trip Advisor, random webpages, and a colleague of mine. When we got there, service was sub-standard (in fact, the worst we have ever experienced in Prague and it made dining there uncomfortable) and the food was not that great. The Omelette Savoy was simply omelette with cheese (and an expensive one at 185 Kc). I regretted ordering the French breakfast which was huge but really all I wanted was a taste of the French Toast, which could be ordered separately from the menu as well. Total: 471 Kc. Would rather eat at La Bottega Difinestra again for this price.

Ristorante Pagana, Spalena, Praha 1 - this was on top of the Trip Advisor list. The flaming spaghetti was interesting and super cheesy - we were both horrified when the chef placed the spaghetti onto the wheel of cheese and tossed the scrapped cheese into the spaghetti. But I guess so long as the flavour of the spaghetti doesn't seep in and interfere with the taste of the cheese, it's fine. The other seafood spaghetti is also quite awesome. In contrast, the beef special (which also happened to be the most expensive dish at 565 Kc) did not fare too well. It was not of medium doneness. In fact, I would say it was well done. Totally fail imo. The tiramisu was great though, really impressed the Tobs, especially with the meringue bits that add a nice touch. There was a lack of sponge and alcohol though, for those looking out for these 2 factors in their tiramisus.

Nase Maso, Dlouha, Praha 1 - when a butcher doubles up and sells cooked versions of its meat, you can be sure it knows what its doing. We ordered the hamburger and a spicy sausage at our first visit and had to wait 15 mins for it. Gobbled down the food enroute to H&M/Municipal House for the concert and I exclaimed "I could eat one whole burger by myself!" - the meat patty was generous and it was well complemented by pickles (not too sour) and some onions. The bread buns were nice and moderately-sized, the way we carb haters like it. It was overall, a great dish.

On our second visit (which was after the concert!) we grabbed 2 burgers and I gathered sufficient courage to order the beef tartar, which was essentially raw minced beef mixed with onion and some other spices to be spread on top of bread. It was a local dish and I did not want to leave with regrets. Boy am I glad I tried it. It was awesome. For someone who likes her steaks medium, this was perfect. Has a kinda sashimi feel to it and it wasn't gross at all. Tobs did not want anything to do with this so I finished the whole 200g serving all by myself. Slurps.

CESKY KRUMLOV

28 July 2015 Praha, na Knizeci to Cesky Krumlov on Student Agency bus 0900-1155
This bus was awesome for the price you pay. It costs only 7.5€ for 1 pax for a close to 3 hour journey. The seats weren't exactly super spacious, it is your typical tour coach style bus but it offers personal entertainment, hot beverages, and wifi. What more can a poor traveller ask for?

Stay:
Airbnb David & Romana's apartment. S$135 a night but the apartment is lovely - very nicely decorated (hey Ikea is really quite something huh) and had all we need (including hair dryer!). The location is not in town so there's some walking that needs to be done but nothing too heavy. I quite like the quietness of this neighbourhood really. There's even a nice small pond that we can see from the balcony.

Eat:
Na louži for authentic Czech food. I had the roast pork with cabbage and bread dumplings and it was a pleasant surprise - no fats at all and all lean meat! Tobs had the meat loaf with mashed potato which was quite fine as well. He picked the yeast dumplings with blueberry for dessert and the bill was really cheap (400Kc including tip).

Papa's was recommended by both the host (Anna) and our FWT guide. We decided to try this out and it was a gem. Papa's ribs was the best ribs both of us have ever had. And it was so affordable (258 Kc). We also got the Jamon Serrano e rucola pizza (basically tomato based with parma ham, rocket and cheese on top) which was not bad too but the ribs were just too strong a competitor and took up all our attention. It was so crazy good I took another serving away and intend to eat it for tomorrow's (30 July) breakfast. Tobs had the panna cotta and tiramisu and these were excellent as well. It is really rare to find a restaurant that scores with so many of its dishes so I would highly recommend this.
 
VIENNA
 
29 July 2015 Door to door shuttle transfer by CK Shuttle. 1900 Kc. Service was fine with a brief rest stop in the middle of the journey. The mini van we were on was packed to the brim with 4 different couples so there was no extra space.
 
Stay:
Airbnb Thomas Lammoth's apartment on Berggasse 37. €162. The apartment block was quite new and the décor was really to my liking - white finishes and wooden flooring. If I had an apartment, I would do it up like that. Plenty of amenities nearby as well, including a supermarket and some good places to dine at.
 
Eat:
 
Porzellan, Servitengasse 2 - here, we learnt that Wiener Schnitzel is made of veal meat. Tobs had the braised flank steak. The schnitzel was quite impressive in terms of quantity (and sheer thickness of the meat). But overall, it was just okay I feel.
 
Café Central, Herrengasse 14 - it was a crazy queue to get in but we preserved and got a seat. The "famous" Viennese coffee tasted pretty much like regular coffee to us. The "famous" apple strudel was just okay in my opinion. If you are just looking to taste it because of the hype, there's an option that comes without the ice cream/vanilla cream - take that and your wallet will thank you much. We did order the Kaiserschmarrn mit Zwetschkenroster, which essentially is torn pancake with stewed plums. When I first had it, it tasted nothing like a pancake but a mega huge ji1 dan4 gao1. Totally excites man. The serving is ginormous and we ended up not having any proper dinner all thanks to the filling sweets.
 
Joma, Hoher Markt 10 - it was slightly pricey but it was in the city center afterall. The Wiener Schnitzel was €19.50 and was better than Prozellan's, despite paling in terms of quantity. As for the grilled calamari €14.50, it was delicious and I almost wished there was more of it. We sat in the outdoor section of the café and it was pretty windy today so the food got cold slightly faster than our liking. Ended off with their version of the apple strudel and it was great. It was almost like an apple pizza - only less disgusting! Total damage: €44.90.

Rebhun, Bergasse 24 - we originally wanted to eat at Ribs of Vienna but they were fully booked and the last customers in front of us had to settle for a 9.30pm reservation (!!!). But just as well cos I was tired and didn't want to hang out so late. I also got tired of eating out at restaurants where the service was fine but we were expected to tip thereafter. It was also not very comfortable and cosy as I would have liked it. So we decided to pack food back from Rebhun, near our place. Tobs got the boiled beef and I had a small beef goulash. He also added in the wiener sausage to round it up. Total damage (you would not have guessed this..) €23.80 The food tastes like mum's home cooked meals - not too oily or heavy but just right. Even the bed of potato and spinach on the bottom of the boiled beef was so tasty Tobs and I finished it up. Most yums.

Konditorei Heiner, several outlets - we got the multi berry cake and the egg nog with hazelnut cake. At the end we contemplated buying the Sacher Torte and were encouraged to do so by the saleswoman who said "You are in Austria!". We paid for our decision and threw away the cake after 2 bites. It was just too jialat and did not work for me. I don't understand how chocolate cake + apricot jam can cause such a hype. There was totally no magic for me - just a lot of unwanted calories.

SANTORINI

31 July 2015 Niki Air from Vienna to Santorini 1125-1445. Quite like a budget airline except they do serve beverages and there is a small sandwich snack for all passengers.

Stay:

Imerovigli - Airbnb Caldera Houses, Little Stones Villa. S$544 for 2 nights. The deck out in front of our unit sure boasts of a spectacular view but the problem is, there is a main passageway (where people can walk through) in between the unit and the deck. So people have used our deck for their own purposes even though there is a sign that clearly states that it was private. Anyhow, after we got tired of that nonsense, I decided that we will shift the deck chairs to block up the entrance to the little deck so no freeloaders would be able to come in. Even if they do, it would take too much effort to shift the deck chairs into position to enjoy the view.

Oia - Delfini Villas.  €349 for 1 night. We got upgraded! Booked an exclusive room with hot tub and caldera view but in view of our anniversary and Tobs' birthday, we got upgraded to the executive suite with hot tub and caldera view. :)) It's so wonderful in here we don't really want to head out. Haha.

Eat:

Anogi - this was near our villa and came recommended by the host. We had lamb shank, grilled octopus, anogi salad and chicken souvlaki. I was so happy to finally have a salad that I totally gobbled it down. We are not huge fans of olives so that was wasted on us.

Total damage: €48

PAROS

3 August 2015 Hellenic Seaways 1140-1330 €103 for both.

Stay: Alexandros Apartments, Piperi Beach, Naoussa. S$288 for 2 nights.

Eat: (these were suggestions by Theo, the son of the host)

Karina - this was a 2 min walk from where we stayed and it was totally awesome. On our first visit, we had the greek salad, lasagne with minced beef, and fresh mussels in white wine sauce. The fresh mussels costs only €10 but it was the most humongous bowl of mussels I have ever seen. It was wonderful.

On our second visit, we had the grilled octopus (not very great) and the pork shank (absolutely lovely) and the entire bill came up to €32.50 only. We returned after the mediocre dinner at Glafkos for round 2 and had the pork shank again, this time without the evil mashed potatos which Tobs polished up at lunch.

Tsachpini - thought the food was too salty but it was nice to sit at the foot of all the fishing boats. we encountered a stray cat searching for food and it got some of our fried squid;)

Glafkos - this was right next to a small beach. we had a sea bream €18 and a seafood pasta €14.50. The former was fresh and nice but the latter was meh and totally not worth it at all. We returned to Karina for round 2 after the unfulfilling dinner.

ATHENS

5 August 2015 Seajets 0940-1225 €112.40 for both.

Stay: New Hotel, Plaka. S$258 per night. Boutique hotel that rocks. Kudos to the Tobs for this find:)

Eat:

Tou Psara - this was recommended by the hotel staff. It turned out to be a tourist trap. DO NOT go there. The food is totally unremarkable.

Makaro - Tobs' find on TA. We first ordered a cous cous salad (€7.50) and a veal steak in corfiot soffrito sauce with french fries (€12.50). The food was so good we decided to try their kayanas as well (€8). Overall, a really good dining experience.

MUNICH

6 August 2015 Aegean Air 0835-1015 US$389.20 for both.

Stay: H2 Hotel,

ROTTENBURG OBT

Drive

Stay: Hotel Rappen ROthenburg ob der Tauber. €138. Your basic no frills hotel. Does not have aircon.

WURZBURG

Drive

Stay: Mercure Hotel Wuerzburg. €89.25 room only (corporate rate for Shell). Note room does not have a fridge. I find it amazing because all our Japan hotels have fridges and they are super tiny! How come they cannot just find some way of putting a fridge in here? Grr.

4D3N in Kaohsiung

Date: 5-8 March 2015

Air tickets: on cathay pacific SIN-HKG 0115-0505 HKG-KSS 0800-0920 KSS-HKG 2120-2050 HKG-SIN 0150-0540 

Accommodation: Hotel Dua at Formosa boulevard NTD14,520

Day 1

I knocked out on the flight to Hong Kong cos it was so late! After touching down at HK, we went to the Plaza Premium lounge and slept more there as well. Still, nothing can beat a good night's rest so we were still slightly off when we reached KS. Tobs decided that we will cab and we did. It was cheap and town was near the airport so that's nice. Otherwise, it's connected by MRT so it's really convenient. 

He booked lunch at Saint Antonio's beforehand and we headed there for lunch. It was a French restaurant next to Love River and we had window seats but the view was just okay. Had the Ribeye and Tobs got the Fillet. We had many courses and my favorite was the truffle egg, followed by the beef and the cheese bun. We actually asked for 2 more rounds of the cheese bun cos I liked it so much. Hehe! The restaurant was also. Sweet in providing a surprise abalone dish and an additional deconstructed tiramisu for my birthday. :)) Total damage: NT3080.

Realize from the signages that there would be fireworks in line with yuan xiao at night so we decided to drop by again after hitting the night market. This was not before we napped for an hour after checking in at 3 and then going for a massage at Deng Lao Shi near Rui Feng. 

New finds at Rui Feng: Demon chicken chop, Mexican wrap

Rushed back to Love River just in time for the fireworks at 9pm. It was cheoreographed to match the music and was indeed quite spectacular. I loved it. It's the closet I've been to fireworks and the scale is really quite big. It was really crowded cos it tied in with the KS lantern festival as well, although the lanterns on display were quite meh.

Day 2
Cijin island. Super convenient that the harbour is a short walk from Sizihwan station and we didn't have to rely on the Hamasen Tour Bus. It was a 10 min ferry ride to the island and we began exploring. First we walked along the seafood street and reached the beach area. Saw a monument about an incident where a few boys drowned because they were trying to save their 2 friends caught in the swirls.

There was a Cijin Tunnel of Stars you had to go through with lots of graffiti and we spent quite a long time reading (and laughing) at them. Then we hit the lighthouse (it was quite a massive climb and super sunny) then there's a connector to the fort (which was just an empty space really).

Ended up at Ya Jiao on 22 Miaoqian Road for lunch. Ordered their signature calamari, 2 steamed fish and scallops (i think!). Quite reasonably priced and the seafood was really fresh. Enroute back we chanced upon Wu Bakery which has been in existence since ancient days and bought a few items. Loved their green bean pastry. Should have bought more!

Got back to the Kaohsiung side around 2-3pm and hurray Ah Ma Ji Dan Bing was opened! The last two times when we took Hamasen we were always too early. Queued up and bought 2 and it was fantastic. It was like a fried mantou but eggy. I finished both (cos Tobs did not want to eat the second one even though it was his idea to buy it) and we also had Hai Zhi Bing.

This was the day we set aside to visit Kai Xuan and Jin Zuan but alas, because of the explosion incident, business has been bad and a lot of stalls have closed. Gu Qie Yi Shi is still there (and imo still the best) and the smelly tou fu place has relocated. I was quite disappointed that Ah Q is no longer there. We also could not find the place with the spicy sheng jian xiao long. Boo. The visit proved to be quite meh. I had another famous papaya milk (Cheng's Old Brand) which was endorsed by Ma but that's about it.

Day 3
Fongshan New City Tour Bus. NT30 only with a NT20 discount! Like super cheap! We hopped off at Feng Yi Shu Yuan and paid admission (gasp) to tour this school built in 1814. Was in time for the guided tour as well so it was good. Next stop was for food. Had Liang Bo Yang Rou , Yang Ji Xian Bing Zhou, Nan Tai Chun Juan, and Feng Shan Lao Dian Shui Jian Bao. I was not particularly impressed by the street food here. Given that the chun juan was my favourite, it says a lot huh. Haha. But I generally have a slight preference for healthy food like chun juan:)

Walked to Long Shan Si to wait for the tour bus to take us back to the station but had time to kill so we went into the temple to look see. The architecture and all was pretty intricate and fascinating,considering it has a 200 year history. But since we were generally not interested in temples and the like, we did not spend much time there.

We also swept up super lot of Ma Yu Shan and other random products from a local supermarket. Plastic bags were chargeable so we just grabbed a unused cardboard box and stored all our purchases in there, taped it up and carried that around. Quite a good idea to reuse resources, really.

Ended up heading to Rui Feng again. Went back to Deng Lao Shi first for a body + food massage and by the time we were at the night market, the crowds were massive. There were queues everywhere but we still persisted in getting the demon chicken chop and mexican wrap. Decided to try new stuff as well like the Cong Zhua Bing (which turned out to be quite good). And the wonderful Tobs discovered Ah Q has a store near Rui Feng so we hit the actual shop and had a good and cheap dessert.

Day 4
We spent as much time in the hotel room until we had to vacate it. It was such a pity that we did not maximise the luxury. The Tobs took me in search of egg rolls, hoping to find the hole in the wall shop where I last got several packs of decent egg rolls. Unfortunately it was an uphill task and we did not manage to find it but we did pop by to get famous Hong Cha Dou Ru enroute to Xin Jue Jiang Shang Quan.

Chanced upon a shop with Korean designs at very reasonable prices (like Mayuki price) and bought 4-5 items there. Then Tobs found someplace where he took 4 pieces of tops as well. So we all had great buys. We did not eat lunch because of the sumptuous breakfast Dua provided and had lots of junk food to clear up in the fridge. So when it came to 3ish 4, we were feeling slightly hungry and just as well cos the street food stalls around the shopping area started opening up.

Tobs queued for the Angle chicken chop (same company as Demon) and I was initially happy to see Gu Qie Yi Shi but the mushroom from this stall was not as great - too fried and not as juicy as the uncle's stall in Jin Zuan.

When it came to dinner, we ended up at Rui Feng (I know right, I said that the stall owners probably recognise us alr). It was good that Tobs had the angle chicken chop cos even at 6.30pm the demon chicken chop store did not open, resulting in multiple buys at the mexcian wrap place. The cong zhua bing stall also did not open and went we finally gave up, we rounded off the feast with another Ah Q before heading back to grab our luggages and headed for the airport.

Autumn in Japan Part 4

Day 8

Woke up at 6am with the intention of heading out for the morning view but it was foggy. We ended up at the onsen instead and had a good soak before drinking milk, like how the locals do it. The night before we watched a variety of programmes including one that said its good to drink milk on an empty stomach as it encourages bowel movement in the morning. 

Breakfast was at 8am and the lady boss, after finding out that we don't take much to nato, changed one dish for us to squid. Unfortunately though the dressing was still not to our taste but I can imagine locals treating it as a delicacy. Other than that the breakfast was excellent - traditional japanese style with the yummilicious glowing rice. We polished everything up. I liked that I could add mentai to my rice and the serving of wild vegetables had black sesame mixed into it, super unique. 

Headed out for the trails again after breakfast and there were tons of photographers out alr. The colors were beautiful in the morning sun and there were plenty of people camped out for the moment the train  exits the tunnel into the Naruko Gorge. This year, autumn came early in Japan because of the unusually cold weather. Thanks to the immensely capable husband who switched the itinerary at the last minute, we were able to enjoy the best sights of autumn in Japan. He rocks:)

Our total bill at Hanaguchi came up to Y18,150 only (S$220 thereabouts) and this is inclusive of dinner, breakfast, onsen and accommodation. Who said traveling in Japan is expensive? You just got to be street wise about it. 

Took a ride from the hotel to the station and headed to Shin Jo on local train. Our train passed through that very tunnel in the middle of Naruko Gorge and it intentionally slowed down for the photographers on the bridge to capture it. How thoughtful! Haha. Now we are on the Shinkansen enroute to Yamagata. Final destination is Zao. Yes where my favorite cream cheese drink apparently originates. Can't wait to ship truckloads home!!

Ok turns out that the drink cannot be found in Zao. Even though it's name is Zao White, it's actually manufactured in Miyagi. Boo. We checked into Zao Shikino Hotel and was recommended to walk the old onsen street, take the rope way or take a walk around a lake. Opted for the rope way since it was a beautiful day with blue skies. 

There were 3 different rope ways operating in Zao and we chose the Zao Ropeway (Y1500 to get to the midway station). Did not opt to take the cable car up further to the top because by the midway station the trees were pretty barren so there wasn't much point in going up further. Zao is also a ski village and it was nice to see beautifully manicured ski slopes in their green condition. 

We originally wanted to trek to the Kuro Himei Observatory but after walking down steep ski slopes for close to 15 mins we decided to take the chair lift instead for an easier time. The ski slopes are really not meant for trekking purposes man. The chair lift was only Y200 for a return ride thanks to the discount phamlet we got from the hotel. 

At the end of the ski lift, we went on a trail to view all sorts of matsus, most of them with names. Other than the matsus that are alive (cos they are coniferous) the rest of the stuff on the trail at dead and withered. It was quite sad and we wondered if this was all worth it. But upon reaching the observatory (which was a wooden platform that required one to climb up a steep wooden stairway) the view was breath-taking. You could see the mountains in the far distant and the clouds hovering about, making it seem like heaven. Closer to the foreground, you would see the autumn colors in Zao displayed in full. It was super duper amazing. 

We came quickly back down cos the sun was setting (and it was not fun to be stuck there up in the trail being the only human beings who decided to do it). The chair lift down was great fun cos the view was just in front of us. It was also precarious cos there was no safety barrier and you could just jump/fall off your chair easily! 

The Ropeway down was also sufficiently empty for us to snap great pictures. The sun was setting and it cast a golden light on the trees, making it even more magical. Decided to also hit the old onsen street upon the hotel staff's recommendation but it was just meh cos the houses have been restored. But you also catch large whiffs of the sulphuric onsen and there were some free foot baths enroute but we didn't try those. 

It was back to the hotel for a pre-dinner soak. The bath was huge and although I popped out to the outdoor pool for a bit, it was so dark I could see nothing so I headed back indoors. Soaking in onsen is therapeutic. More so in cold weather. Just that I think it takes some getting used to for non-japanese to be so naked in front of strangers. 

Dinner was in a kaiseiki style with the waiters bringing you additional dishes as they are ready. I did not enjoy grilling my own food though. That being said, the beef was excellent even though I'm pretty sure I'm a bad cook. It'll probably have turned out better if the chef prepared it himself. There was nothing fanciful to shout about. In fact, in terms of satisfaction, I felt Hanabuchi was better. Here, the rice came from a huge common pot and was simply scopped out for diners. I asked if it was possible to order other things - like tempura - and Tobs, with the help of the lady who served us at the front desk with decent English, got us an order of tempura (prawn, scallop, squid, and wild vegetables for Y1500). 

Because there was no wifi in the room, we could only use it in the lobby. So we were sitting there using the computers provided by the hotel to check on stuff when a whole big group of hotel guests (probably on company retreat of sorts) trooped to the ktv room for a good time. We retired soon after cos as usual, there was nothing much to do at night. 

Day 9

I woke up at 5ish am and we went for a soak before breakfast at 7am. It was buffet styled and I didn't find the food impressive. I conclude that one much pick those smaller ryokans over these big hotels so that the food is prepared with heart and there is a certain unique quality to it. The service standard tends to be more personalized and better. Accommodation and tempura cost: Y24,060

We did the walk around the lake after breakfast and then grabbed the hotel's shuttle to the bus terminal. We could have gotten a free ride down to Yamagata station but our original booking was for 2.30pm or sth. It seemed that we have exhausted all that we could do on Zao, with the exception of going to see the caldera but I don't think it's something either of us will be super excited about. The bus down to Yamagata was Y1000 each but I suppose it made sense to head down to Tokyo earlier. 

We are now on the Shinkansen bound for tokyo and will reach around 1348. Then it's really the last 36 hours before we have to fly back:(( Took the Yamanote line to Shin Okubo and checked into Cocochi. The owner probably bought over a whole block of apartment buildings and converted each unit into a hotel room of sorts. So yes, each hotel "room" is essentially a small studio apartment. Quite cosy and frills-free.

Headed back out to Ikebukuro and made a beeline for Tobu where we hit Mon Cher for happy pouch. Was tempted into buying 2 maron happy pouch but when we tried it later after dinner, it was meh. In fact, the clash of flavours (cream cheese filling, maron bits, choc sponge cake wrapped in a crepe layer?!!) was slightly disastrous. The original flavour is still the best.

Then it was to our annual pilgrimage to bomb. But to our horror, when we saw the menu, it no longer has the option of a bomb topping. (gasp! thunder and lighting bolts!) How can bomb no longer have bomb? What will we call it now?! When the staff came to take our order while in the queue (as is usual practice), we tried asking about bomb but was told that they no longer have it. :((

Nevertheless, we had our usual orders and it was fantastic. Decided to add on a gyoza to console ourselves and it turned out to be excellent. Even more excellent was the gyoza dip - a yuzu-flavoured sort of chili. Simply marvelous.

Had to draw more cash from Citibank ATM (cos we were unusually generous this trip!) and I'm happy that its so easy to find Citibank ATMs in all countries I've travelled to. Lifesavers you know. And no fee charged as well.

Tried to drop by Euphoria Ikebukuro to get my perm but was told they were fully booked and there was no English-speaking staff. Got redirected to Shinjuku outlet instead and so we went. Koboyashi, my hair stylist, worked in New York for 5.5 years and spoke fluent English. Thank God for her! Tobs went to walk around while I got my hair done but he got tired of doing it without me so he came back and waited for me in the salon instead. Heh. Damage: Y12,960

Once the digital perm was done, we left to hunt for Don Quixote. The streets were crazy on a Saturday night and this was exacerbated by the Halloween parties going on. It was a riot at Don Quixote cos as smart retailers, they latched onto the festivities and were selling all sorts of costumes at cheap prices. It was crazy getting around in there but we persevered and bagged buys totally Y9640.

The recent changes to the tax rebate scheme now allows tourists to get tax off consumables and cosmetics if the total purchase is above Y5000. For all other goods, it remains at Y10,000. We were also surprised to be served by a Singaporean cashier. Tobs recognised the accent immediately, much to the cashier's dismay. Haha!

By the time we got out of Don Quixote, it was 10.23pm. I was dead beat having woke up close to 5am that day. So we headed straight back to Cocochi and although I tried to be quick, I only got to sleep at 12.30am. Boo.

Day 10
Final chance! I actually woke up at 5am despite sleeping only at 12.30am (argh bio clock!) so I tried forcing myself back to bed but at 6ish when I woke again, I decided I can't go back to sleep anymore. So Tobs (the poor obliging husband) got up and we went in search of food. The original plan was to hit Sukiya but when we got onto the main street, there was an inspiration to go to Ondoru instead cos there was a 24 hour branch. Reasoning being, Sukiya is easy to find anywhere but Ondoru is only available at Shin Okubo.

When we hit Ondoru, we were shocked at the number of patrons there were at like 7.30am. It could easily pass off for a crowd at like say 11.30am?! Madness. We had the cheese soondoobu chigae and the seafood pancake. I decided that only the former was nice and if there's any thing that would make me come back to Ondoru again, it would be the chigae. Otherwise, it has been dropped off my prestigious list of eats in Tokyo.

Headed back to the hotel to pack our stuff and check out. Then it was to Ikebukuro again for sweets at 10am. Anytime is a good time for sweets! Tobs bagged a maron mille crepe at Yoku Moku and it was awesome. I went to get 3 happy pouches and we downed everything at one go. Then it was to Esola for Zoff Plus to get my specs made Y15,120, Sukiya and the branch we frequented when we stayed at Metropolitan Hotel, before chionging back to grab luggages to catch the NEX to Narita Airport.

NEX to Airport then we got the promotional Y500 for a return bus ride to Shisui outlet. I bagged boots from Columbia Y9828 and shoes from Asics Y7452 and Tobs got a pair of jeans for like erh S$12 from GAP. I was good and refrained from buying another Agnes b wallet. Maybe next trip if it's still available!

Overall, a wonderfully planned and executed trip. So glad we did this instead of going to Taiwan. Thank God for making this happen and for giving us fine weather throughout. Big thank you and much love to the husband for tailoring the itinerary for me and making last minute changes to suit the rapidly changing autumn front situation. I declare that autumn is my favourite season:))

Autumn in Japan Part 3

Day 5

Woke up early to pack and catch a train up to Onuma Koen. Breakfast at the other place diagonal to Yoshinoya. I had an oyako don and Tobs decided to get the mani gyu don and mini dan dan men set. It was not bad. Now we are en route on the Hokuto 4. Should reach in 2.5 hours. Time for nap!

We were trying to stuff our luggage into the coin locker at the Onuma Koen station when a helpful staff directed us to go to the tourist information centre. Turned out that it was cheaper there - Y200 each only! 

Decided not to ride a bike around Lake Onuma and took the walking route. Thank God for the fine weather but it was a pity that the autumn colors were not as dense so the pictures may look sparse compared to those for the past few days. The lake setting makes for a good picture because of the reflection of the trees though. 

Before we left Onuma Koen, we grabbed an Ika Yaki for only Y200. It was so yummy that we went for anor after we were done with the first. Then it was a train ride to Hakodate and we checked into Comfort Hotel before going in search for lunch. 

We ended up at the Morning Market where I had a 5-colored donburi and Tobs had a Tokubetsu Teshoku set. Total damage Y3000. My donburi had salmon roe, crab, scallop, shrimp, and salmon. The sashimi was fresh but the rice I did not like. Donburi was one of those things I've wanted to try since forever so this was like ticking something off my list. 

Walked around the Hakodate Bay Area since we had about an hour to kill. The restored factories were quite pretty and a creative use of a historical building. They now house restaurants and shops, and are otherwise tourist trap. Went to the Snaffles shop there and they had a maple-flavored cheese cake. It was nice but still a little steep for Japanese sweets. 

Got back to the bus terminal in time to catch the 1630 bus up Mt Hakodate. We squeezed onto the first one only to realize they was a second bus coming (for which we would have been able to secure a seat). Boo. At the second stop a bunch of PRC aunties squeezed on and made the ride up really crowded and noisy. 

Once up, we geared up (extra uniqlo windbreaker inside coat) and i tried to set up my camera and tripod. It got a little screwed up cos I was rushing but thank God the tripod held up. Even though the winds were really strong, I hope I captured enough shots to make the trip worthwhile. 

Hakodate night view is still my favorite of all that I've seen. Except maybe Shiretoko? We went up on our first trip to Japan in 2007 and took the bus as well. Just that we weren't prepared for the strong winds and cold weather. Camera gear was also insufficiently pro. This is our second time and it still takes my breath away. 

We were recommended to try the izakaya across the hotel and went there for dinner. (Da4 Yu2 Qi2) The waiter was very nice to tell us we had a complimentary dish because we were referred by the hotel. It was a yummy mash of meat and seafood in a stick. We also ordered grilled ika, grilled hotate, sakana fish and a seafood hotpot. The dishes were good and fresh, as fresh as can be since we saw the life scallop (still twitching and struggling for life) being cooked alive on a hot plate in front of our eyes. Total damage Y2880 only (less than lunch yet wayy more satisfying!!)

Retired early cos we had another early morning train to catch at 7.24am. 

Day 6 

Comfort hotel breakfast was the usual spread of bread, rice balls and soup but I found myself grabbing the German potato dish. I'm usually not a potato fan but maybe this was made with Hokkaido potatoes - it was tasty! 

On board the Limited Express Super Hakucho now where the deepest point of the tunnel is 240m under the straits level. We're headed back to Aomori where we will do Lake Towada today. It was the same long bus ride again to the final stop and enroute we got seats at the front of the bus so we could have a good view of the roads which were like tunnels with trees in autumn colors on the fringe. Bought a whole bunch of eats at Vie De France to munch on the way since we won't be getting a proper lunch. Turned out that their hot cocoa was super delicious. I'm so glad I got to try it!

Upon reaching the final stop at Lake Towada, it was a mad rush to locate and deposit our luggages at the hotel (Nagomi) before running back to catch the departing bus to begin our trekking at Oirase Keiryu. Hopped off at Ishigedo and began trekking upstream. There were lots of trekkers as well and we saw an old man painting the scenery. It was amazing. 

Had my tripod so I did some long exposure shots. Pray that they turn out fine! The skies were a bit cloudy but I think that works best with autumn colors. We started super slow, covering little ground because we were taking pictures all the time and climbing off the track to get to spot for a better view. 

At the end, Tobs decided we probably will not be able to finish the entire trekking course (which would have taken 3-4 hours) before sunset so we hopped on the JR bus at Kumoino Taki stop and off at the final point Choshio Taki. It was the largest and grandest fall of all and thank God we captured it before sunset. It turned really dark soon after and we got the last bus back to the base, Lake Towada. 

Checked in to a quaint Ryokan and was informed that dinner will be served at 6.30pm. Since we had abt an hour before dinner, it was straight to the onsen so soak off all the tiredness and get some warmth into our cold bodies. The onsen was small (3 bathing areas only) but the water was super hot and shiok to soak in after a long day out in the cold. 

Dinner was fine except that they served a fish with lots of tiny bones - the type I did not fancy. And To s misinterpreted my instructions to him when I gave him my fish so instead of giving me parts of the flesh without bones so that I can eat it, he polished up my fish and then dropped the fish head and bones back onto my plate. Gosh. 

He tried to order more stuff for me to eat but they didn't have anything else to offer. No convenience store nearby either and no wifi. The lady boss was super apologetic I felt slightly bad. We had a Japanese-styled room and by the time we got back, the futon was laid out. Since there was pretty much nothing to do, we slept at 8.30pm. 

Day 7

Woke up at 5.30am because we wanted to sight see around the lake before breakfast (at 7am). It was a mystical sight as there was a fog above the water in Lake Towada. Snapped plenty of pictures and lamented that I did not have my tripod with me. There were plenty of other photographs around as well to observe the grand rising of the sun as it illuminated the beautiful autumn scenery surrounding the lake. 

It was pretty cold out there (sub 5 probably) so I froze quite quickly and we headed back indoors for one more dip in the onsen. At 6.30am, there was one other lady in there and it was so comforting to soak in the waters. Breakfast was fine and we were soon on our way to Hachinohe station. 

Tried to look for more food at Hachinohe but there wasn't much. Nevertheless, we did raid Lawson and ended up with a Meiji Chestnut ice cream. I know it's insane to eat an ice cream in this weather but ever since we tried it in Hakodate, it was so good we just had to have it again! Also had a Maron Latter at Douter. Although it taste mostly of coffee but the after taste was maron. Quite nice. 

It's great that maron is in season and there are many maron products cos I love chestnut!! Makes me think back on the maron crime brûlée that we had at Saveur - simply fantastic. I'm loving autumn so much so that I think it may even beat spring. The array of colors, the grandeur of the sights and the sad beauty of life ending temporarily before spring comes - it's amazing. As we travelled I can't help but marvel at what an artist God is to create such sights and nature. He is truly a God of all things! 

Stopped over in Sendai and went to Fuyu Korean restaurant at the east exit. It was another good find on tabelog. We had the ginseng chicken soup set and the beef bulgogi set. Then realized that their pancake set was also highly recommended on the takeaway menu so we ordered that as well. The standard was good as well, totally no hint of ajinomoto, just down to earth home-cooked food. I was thoroughly satisfied:)

Then we took the Shinkansen down to Furugawa before changing to a local train to Naruko Onsen, ranked the best in east Japan. We were pleasantly pleased to find a representative to pick us up. Our onsen hotel, Hanabuchi, was an old hotel but the lady boss is super hospitable and exceptionally polite and friendly. Dumped our stuff then went out on walking trail for Naruko Gorge. 

Started close to 3.30pm and the walking trail got a bit secluded halfway through. There were also bears sighted in the area - not exactly comforting for tourists trekking through a secluded trail right. Dots. But we completed the walking trail and made it back in time to enjoy the private outdoor onsen at 5pm. 

Got a shock when we saw the onsen - the bathing area was outdoors! In the cold! So we took turns to soak ourselves to piping hot before doing our shampoo and soaping separately, interchanging between soaking in the onsen to keep ourselves warm, and showering in the cold. But it was quite nice to just have the entire bath to ourselves. The last time we had anything close was in Dormy Inn. 

Then it was dinner time at 6pm. The kaiseiki set looks deceptively small and manageable in quantity but it was crazy lot. There was a full pot of super premium rice at the side and finishing the entire set was a challenge. I kid you not. I concussed about three quarters through the meal and required Tobs' help. Overall, I was very pleased with the food - it was excellent. 

We are now back in our room (japanese styled as well) and waiting for food to digest before turning in. Thank God they have wireless here but for some strange reason Tobs can't receive it. Heh so only I get it tonight:)

Autumn in Japan Part 2

Day 3

Slept quite well on Hamanasu with the aid of a relaxant. The seats were heated and it got a little too hot halfway through to the extent that I had to remove one layer of pants to prevent myself from sweating too much in the heat. 

Reached Sapporo super early in the morning and went to dump luggage  at Mitsui Garden Sapporo. Then we went in search for breakfast before our day trip out. Settled for Yoshinoya and Tobs got tempted by the unagi set. We got that (the one with 2 eels!), a mid sized gyu don with salad topping, and then added on another gyu topping at the end cos we had a lot more rice that needed to go with some gyu. 

At the end when we were getting the bill, it all came up to Y2130. When the cashier announced the total price, the male diner near us gave us a look. I guess one would not expect to pig out on so much food at a fast food chain like Yoshinoya? Haha. 

Stopped by Ueshima Coffee cos I wanted to get their seasonal special - matcha latte with ginger. It tasted quite yummy and offered us a place to chill before our 9am bus. Got a package that included return bus rides and a dip in one of the onsens at Jozenki. We headed to Hoheikyo first and had to trek super long just to reach the electric bus station. Big buses aren't allowed in the area for environmental concerns. 

Alternatively, you could also trek all the way to the dam but we had just come a super long way from the station to the electric bus stop so we took the return electric bus instead. The view was different, fringed by the huge dam on one side, and a lake on the other. We took lots of pictures and then trekked up to view the dam from another vantage point. Thank God for the fantastic weather. I hope the photos do it justice!

Then it was time to get lunch and bathe. We were left with only one choice since most onsen resorts offer the latter but not the former. Ended up in Daiichi hotel and topped up Y200 for towels (cos obviously we didn't have any with us). Lunch in the resort was soba and ten don but the service was quite appalling and slow. Food was not bad but the lady who served us at the beginning really left a bad impression. Damage: Y3024

Went to soak in the onsen to get rid of all the tiredness. I love the outdoor pool where you get a nice view of the autumn scenery. Had to get out by about 1530 so that we could catch the return bus back to Sapporo. 

All these long bus rides are good for sleeping. By the time we reached Sapporo, it was 1800ish and we went in search for food. Bagged F-cup at Y360 which was fantastic as usual. Tobs also bought a Chou-like item that was expensive (Y185) and didn't taste that great. Found the rum puffs at a discount that day (Y98) and Tobs ate 1 and then bought another 4. We also had a grape tart (with the largest grapes that I've ever seen around). 

En route back on the bus, I saw a crepe van and plenty of ppl around it either queuing or eating. I must must get it! So we walked to the junction at Big Camera and bought a maron crepe. The crepe was soft and fragrant, the toppings were quite generous. My only gripe is that I can't bite into the ice cream without feel sharp stings in my teeth :( but it was an awesome crepe. Wished we each had one!

The hotel was comfortable with considerable space (by Japanese standards). Watched a documentary commemorating the 100th anniversary of Tokyo or sth and was super impressed by how far ahead civilization was in the early 1900s in Japan as compared to the rest of the world. They would have achieved much much more without the war. 

Day 4 

Didn't opt for the hotel breakfast cos there was not much sene in paying Y1500 for a semi international buffet spread when all I really want to eat is Jspanese local breakfast. We went in search of Sukiya and stopped by the Government House for more photo opportunities. 

I super duper heart the cheese gyu don at Sukiya. They are also the only one that offers an option between small and medium sized bowls which gives the rice portion of the small bowl but much more meat. Exactly the way I like it. Plus it costs the same as a regular medium bowl (more rice less meat) so why not!

Decided to hang around the city because we wanted to try this highly rated restaurant Saveur. But the lunch only begins at 12. Walked about Sapporo a bit and went poking around Don Quihote. Bought a back straightener which I immediately tried. Tobs will prob get one himself too. Was highly annoyed when we smelt something awesome (butter croissant-like aroma) but just could not identify where it was coming from. After walking around the area a few times, we gave up. Not before sitting down outside KFC for a bit and drooling over the ads for a new product - KFC chicken with Yuzu and chili spices. Hope to try it sometime! 

At Saveur, you had the option of the Saveur lunch set for Y2100 and the Special lunch set for Y4850. After some great difficulty in communicating with the waitress, we realized we can have one of each - both diners must order the same set. So, in a wise moment of indulgence, we opted for the Special set. And it was mega duper awesome. All praise for it even up to the last course. Although this was quite a huge spending but it was worth it. The chef and the lady boss even saw us to the lift and thanked us for dining with them. What wonderful hospitality. I hope they will still be around the next time I visit Sapporro. 

Since we hung around Sapporo for lunch, that means we had to head down to Noboribetsu after lunch    Rushed for the train and made it to Noboribetsu but the weather was gloomy (started raining as well) and it was not within walking distance to Hell Valley. Bus was Y320 each and infrequent. A taxi ride would have costed Y1900. It was unfortunate but we had to turn back. 

When we reached Sapporo we went to grab our sweets first. Good thing we did so cos we got the last C cup. When we dropped by Le Tao to take a look at their maron cake which was sold out the day before, we realized it was a chiffon cake and decided not to get it in the end. 

Tobs grabbed the mon blanc he wnted but it wasn't as fantastic as the Ginza one. The Chou stick, however, was quite yummy. I loved the crust that was similar to that of cookie Chou, except better cos it had nut bits on it as well. :) 

Decided to try a nabe place that was ranked quite highly on tabelog. Ordered their bite-sized gyoza, mentai tamago (yums!!) and a nabe pot that was recommended WITHOUT ASKING WHAT MEAT WAS IN THE POT. Both of us assumed it was normal meat or seafood. 

When the pot came and cooked, we realized it wasn't. And the waitress informed it was beef intestines. But it was quite fatty and I only had 2 pieces. Tobs didn't even manage to eat one. In the end we ate all the veg in the pot and left the most precious part, the fatty beef intestines untouched. Most expensive price we paid for a pot of veg (Y1280Y each). Luckily we had the sweets as a nice round up. 

Autumn in Japan 2014 Part 1

Flights
16 October 2014 2355 - 17 October 2014 0800
26 October 2014 2050 - 27 October 2014 0325 
$714.30 each on S

JR pass Y46,390 - 5% discount for 2pax Y88,141

Day 0
We were departing from T3 but still travelled back to T2 for Green Market lounge access. The plane was refurbished and had those swanky touch screens with lots of entertainment options. I watched Fault in Our Stars then went to sleep while Tobs made full use of his SQ ticket by staying up and watching like 3 movies.

Day 1
Changed our JR passes and headed straight up to Sendai. Tobs took the opportunity to catch up on sleep on the train. I slept on and off - afterall, someone needs to look out for when we alight right! When we hit Sendai close to 12, we found the original location of Triangle under renovation with signs directing us to their current location.

With the help of the tourist information centre lady, we found our way there. It was so far away - first the sky walk to get to the other side of the street, then walk down at least 2 shopping streets before you get to the hotel which now houses Triangle. This may be the last time I'm having it. When it used to be right at the JR station, it was at least convenient but now, it's just too troublesome.

I had my mentai soup spaghetti. So did Tobs (with upsize). I got the cream cheese drink as well. As usual, it was splendid. I have never had anything close and nothing really compares with Triangle. Saw St Marcs Cafe en route back but did not grab anything. Instead, bought a caramel pumpkin crossiant taiyaki - imagine that! It turned out quite interesting and yummy.

Train up to Shin-Aomori and took a detour because we hopped on the wrong local train that took us in the opposite direction we wanted to go. But luckily there was a small station that was shielded from the cold wind. Got to Aomori around 5 and checked in to Hotel Passage.

After getting recommendations, I picked the old school home-cooking-ish place called [ ]. Tobs had the local speciality hotate stew and I picked the grilled hotate. My grilled hotate came in 3 humongous shells with 6 scallops in them. Super worth it! Ended up adding a fried hotate to our order cos I saw the lady at the next table having it. It was wonderful as well. ￥1030 each and total bill came up to ￥3090.

Took a short walk around the bay area and attempted to take pictures without the tripod. Failed miserable. It got really cold after a while too so we headed back after grabbing an apple cider from A Factory. Slept real early around 9.30ish cos alarm was set at 6am the next day.

Day 2
It was all bright and sunny even at 6am when we woke up. The breakfast was impressive, with a good selection of meat and desserts. Deposited luggage at front desk then it was off to queue for Bus 11 to head to Lake Tawada. Thanks to JR pass, the bus ride was free. The tour bus had commentary in Japanese but none in English (boo).

There was one short toilet stop but we all went to snap pictures instead. Hopped off at the Hakkoda ropeway stop and quickly got on the ropeway but was stuck with a PRC tour group. Used the 10% discount coupon so it was ￥1650. As the ropeway headed up, it was still pretty picturesque but near to the top, the weather suddenly turned super bad and it started raining and fogging up badly.

When we alighted, Tobs said to go immediately to take the same cable down. I guess it didn't make sense to hang around at the top since you can hardly see anything at all and it was really super duper cold.

The thing about the JR bus is that frequency is an issue and your movements are controlled by when the next bus arrives. Plus, it was raining so exploring outside was not an option. We hid in the cafe next to the ropeway station and ordered a ramen. Turned out surprisngly edible and we could have the free wheat tea which kept us warm.

Hopped onto the bus and headed to the next spot Jogakura Onsen. Thank God the weather changed for the better. Walked close to 30mins to the bridge and it was breathtaking. En route, all the autumn colours were in full display and we took lots of photos. It was crazy windy on the bridge and half the time, I could not feel my fingers.

Then we finally decided we ought to wear our uniqlo jackets before we both fell sick. After we did so, we felt so much warmer. It was 30mins back to the bus stop again and then off to the next spot Tsuta Onsen.

We almost missed the stop cos both Tobs and I fell asleep (I was asleep for less of the time and realised in the nick of time that it was our stop and quickly woke him). Unfortunately, it had started drizzling again so we tried to find shelter. As well as lunch. 2 options: some run down shed-looking place near the bus stop, or eating in the onsen hotel. Decided on the latter. If we were poor students, we would have definitely opted for the former but hey, let's not torture ourselves anymore cos 10 days will pass damn quickly.

It was an excellent choice. He had a fish set and I had some gyu set. It was value-for-money (￥1780 each set only) and tasted good. Most of all, it gave us a very nice place to relax in while waiting for the rain to stop. After we were done with lunch around 1430, we went on the walking route and found many beautiful lakes that reflected the autumn sights. Although the path was quite muddy from the rain, it was still bearable. The sights more than made up for it.

I hope my photos do justice to what I saw. One lament I have is that my photography skills aren't superb so I may not be able to capture the essence of the moment. But it was nevertheless wonderful to be doing this with the love of my life - our first Autumn together! ;))

Catch the 1610 bus back and slept all the way until we reached Aomori at 1800ish. Headed for dinner at Ringdako and had some problems ordering cos the menu was in Japanese with little pictures. The waiter was very patient with us and gave us some recommendations. His recommendations did not turn up very nice though - the beef was strange and cold (Tobs suspects its tongue), and the hotate stew was meh in comparison to yesterday's. The gindara I ordered was not bad. But, we claimed a free sushi and free tempura and found the latter delicious. So we ordered not one but TWO tempura moriwases ￥(640 each)!Dinner came up to ￥4110, a price we would not even have dreamt of spending in the past.

Now we're back in Hotel Passage hanging around waiting for 2200 to board Hamanasu. Did not manage to get the sleeping spots so will have to settle for the chair. But my last experience on the chair was not too bad. At least this settles both accomodation and getting us from one place to another! Praying for good weather the next few days!

Tobs reminded me that today is already Day 2 of the trip, one-fifth is gone. Sigh. When will we ever have the luxury to do those 30-day trips again? My youth..

3D2N Bangkok Spontaneous!

Flights:

14 June 2014 0635-0800

16 June 2014 2135-0100

$76 for Grace (1 way free ticket redemption)

$203 for Tobias (+15kg baggage)

Hotel: 

Siam Kempinski $370sth 

Day 1

The morning flight got delayed by more than hour because of some issues with the airflow within the cabin. By the time we got to Siam Kempinski it was 1030ish. The original room we were given was super far from the lift lobby and we requested for a switch so that took a bit of time as well. 

Once we were done with the room switch we headed to the mall for food. First stop: After You. So predictable, I know. But horror of horrors - they do not have the black toast anymore. Apparently it was a seasonal special. I was flabbergasted, like I just had it on my last trip a month ago please! But no, no more black toast, the yummy peanut butter dough taste. Slurps. Tobs ordered my Nutella toast and got himself the seasonal special, the tolberone ice cream thingum that was quite meh. 

Off for more food - we headed to Laem Cha-Roen Seafood on the 4th floor. Ordered a bunch of things including Giant River Prawn (meh), Fried Fish, Fish cake, Squid with egg (strange). The best was the fried fish and fish cake. Need to order the fried calamari next time. Don't know why I agreed to the recommendation given by the waitress. The squid egg turned out to be kinda gross-ish even though it may be a delicacy to them. 

Went back to the room and picked out choice pillows from the pillow menu before I crashed. Tobs has the amazing ability to sleep through anything so even though there were mega annoying kids sitting in the row behind us on the plane, he slept through the entire flight with no issues. So he has no need for sleep even though he did sucuumb to the wonderful bed and pillow after a while. 

When we got up it was time for our movie treat, Edge of Tomorrow, at the Gold Class equivalent. For 1500 baht for a pair of tickets (and we got 200 baht discount after signing up for the cinema's membership for 100 baht) we got choice of snacks and drinks in the lounge, a 15 min foot reflex or shoulder massage at the movie spa lounge. Tobs feels it was super worth it. I preferred GV Gold Class seats though cos it's more plush. But it was still comfortable and I enjoyed myself. 

After then go movie we grabbed a quick bite at the basement. Had gyoza which was quite nice but a little overpriced. Then headed to Chang Foot Massage at Siam Square cos I was feeling quite stiff in the neck and shoulders and badly wanted a shoulder massage. So I did my shoulder massage and Tobs got a foot massage (which turned out badly cos his hair follicles got infected due to substandard hygiene and/or poor technique of the masseur). 

Went back and watched The Monumental Men on VOD before I super cannot take it anymore and had to sleep. 

Day 2 

Off to the gym in the morning where we did Tabata intervals. Then it was breakfast oh the healthy spread and to my delight, hazelnuts for me to add into my muesli! Then we retreated back to the room and watched video on demand. The most excellent thing about Kempinski is this feature. The sheer variety of programmes coupled with the extreme comfort of the bed makes stepping out of the room a chore. We watched Wolverine before deciding it was time to grab food. 

A stone's throw away from the hotel is Siam Center. We headed there to explore and the food options were aplenty. Decided on Petite Audrey because Tobs sure felt the milo Mille crepe was good for me. The restaurant served fusion Thai-western food and was quite popular for a weekend. We had to take a queue number. 

When we got in, we ordered Pizza Tom Yum Kung, Crispy Pork Cube, Fried Calamari and Milo Volcano Crepe Cake. The first 2 are their top dishes and turned out to be fantastic. The calamari was meh and the milo volcano not bad but I would rather another After You toast any day. Total. Damage 952 baht. 

After stuffing ourselves silly (until I don't have space to eat Let Them Eat Cake, boo) we went shopping for things we needed to buy. Managed to get my Sabina lingerie (yeah!!) and bagged some good uniqlo deals as well. Self note that it is excellent to shop at Siam Paragon - you can get VAT refund from uniqlo (to be issued at uniqlo itself) and refund from Siam departmental store (including supermarket). 

Made it down to Westin Grande for my waxing appointment at Panipa. The salon sure looked dodgy but there was an expat doing her hair there so must be decent I guess. The waxing went really fast cos two of them worked on me at the same time. Damage: 600 baht for full leg. 

Off we went to Isao, touted a must visit for creative Japanese eats. It was quite a walk from Asok and the Tobs was going to be really grumpy when we spotted it. Heh. Even though it opened at 5.30pm, there was already a queue when we arrived at 5.15pm. Luckily Visa Signature Concierge got me reservations (I use them for a lot of things and they are excellent!). 

At 5.30pm, we got in and ordered Volcano, Sushi Sandwich, Jackie and Crunchy. Honestly, I only thought the sushi sandwich was special. It could be that our taste buds are so used to the real authentic Japanese food that anything less just won't do any more. So we gobbled up our food and actually grabbed the bill at 5.50pm and headed outta there. Total damage: 1358.90. Ouch. 

Enroute back to Siam, we got our regular box of Taokaenoi. Also grabbed hot chocolate from Chu (Da best) but sadly they were out of alcohol so no Baileys Shake! 

I grabbed more Brands products from the supermarket and processed my VAT refund before we watched Kickass2 on VOD. 

Day 3

Left the Tobs sleeping and hit the gym. Came back, showered, he was still sleeping. So i quietly picked up my laptop and headed off for breakfast. It was nice to be able to work and eat slowly. But when it came to 10ish, I was getting impatient and wondering where the heck the husband was. I got a staff to call the room so that I could scream at him. In half an hour he gets down and eats and asked why I didn't wake him up. Sigh. 

We squeezed in another movie before we had to pack up and check out. He headed off to the hotel's business center to squeeze some work in while I decided to make a spontaneous trip down to Urban Retreat for a foot massage. Was serviced by Lek and although I was expecting the nice recliner chairs, I was in the room with the mattress (meant for Thai massage)

Met back at Petite Audrey at 5.30pm for more pigging out before our night flight. This time we had the Crab Soufflé (interesting), Banoffee Smoothy (only Tobs drank), Spaghetti Tom Yam Prawn (ok), Chicken basil samosa (not bad) and the Pizza Tom Yum Kung (super love!). Damage: 1056, still cheaper than Isao. 

And to top it off, Buddhi Belly froyo cone for 60baht only (so happy they have one in Siam Paragon). We had the hotel arrange for a cabbie to take us to the airport for 400baht fixed price. The cab was clean and spacious and the driver told us many stories about his business failure, the Thaksin government, rice farmers, etc. 

This is possibly the first Bangkok trip where I did not visit Platinum Mall. But possibly a lot more rested because of that as well. Siam area is a good place to hangout and better still if you have the budget to splurge on Kempinski :))