Random

Came back with yet another set of identical basic in different colors. That’s my sick habit of buying clothes with the same design in different colors but last time was even worst, I buy them in same color, one to wear and another to keep 😦

 

The Fullerton Bay Hotel

I have passed by a huge Cai Shen with the 12 horoscope prediction for the year 2013 near the Rochor Food Centre at the beginning of the year. Being born in the year of the pig, I headed over to the pig’s section to read my fortune out of curiosity. According to the prediction, it isn’t promising for the pigs in this year of the snake but I shrug and thought, ‘Oh never mind, I am not a pig, I am a wild boar anyway.’

Time flies and taking a good half of 2013 along with it at a blink of the eyes. Looking back at the past six months, I saw myself waking up smiling on some good days and frowning at the setbacks on bad days. i have my fair share of happy and not-so-happy moments but overall life has been good and I count my blessings to enjoy a little beach holiday retreat in Phuket in March, a pack and go trip to Taiwan in April, a stayaction at Fullerton Bay Hotel in May and last weekend, took my sister and her two little ones on their first trip to Genting Highlands in Malaysia.

Singapore is a tiny island and it probably takes less than an hour to drive from one end to the other but Singapore is also a beautiful island with lots and lots of hotels peppered within that makes escaping from the usual scene and holidaying at our own backyard very tempting. I love stayaction and have greatly enjoyed the hospitality of Wangz Hotel, Park Regis Hotel and Orchard Hotel but then stayaction can sometimes be even more expensive than hopping over the neighboring country for the weekend and thus, I especially treasured this precious opportunity indulging the weekend at The Fullerton Bay Hotel.

the walk towards the hotel

view from the rooftop pool

The Fullerton Bay Hotel
Strategically located within the CBD, The Fullerton Bay Hotel  is being named one of the World’s Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure USA and the Best New Business Hotel Worldwide by Business Traveller UK magazine. Stylishly built alongside the spectacular view of the Marina Bay Waterfront, we were pampered luxuriously by the hospitality of the hotel.  We simply love our plush and  spaciously comfortable room and especially enjoyed the quiet moments watching sunrise and sunset by our balcony that overlooked the glittering water of the river.

With Marina Bay Sands, Marina Square, Suntec City, The Esplanade and Raffles City all conveniently around the corner, shopping and other activities outside the hotel vicinity are aplenty but who would want to leave the comfort of the hotel when there is a luxuriously self-contained room, an immaculate rooftop gym, swimming pool and jacuzzi pools that offer a glorious city scrape view, plush restaurants for exquisite dining experience and wireless Internet access anywhere within the hotel all awaiting for your access? Seriously we don’t and we have enjoyed every single minute of staying in.

love the bed!

fun time

Clifford Restaurant

With the grandeur of very high ceiling and plush interiors, Clifford luxuriously serves European, French and Western Cuisine with a view overlooking the waterfront and we have the pleasure of enjoying a set dinner and breakfast here.

Our set dinner had scrumptiously consists of:

Bread basket – besides the warm mini baguette, we love the generous portion of tuna spread. 

Appetizer: Lobster & Scallop Carpaccio w Lime Black Truffle Dressing & Fragrant Shiso –  the thinly sliced lobster was good but the raw scallop takes time to appreciate.

Soup: Soupe d’Onions Gratinee – a rich and tasty traditional rich onion soup with melted gruyere cheese croutons. 

Main: Signature Duck Confit with truffle potato mousseline, black garlic sautéed broad beans field greens

Desert: Lemon Tart with Lemon cream, black berries, Italian meringue

Petits Fours:  Kueh Lapis, Mini Macarons, Black Sesame Chocolate and TWG Tea 

The gastrointestinal dining experience aside, my husband was extremely impressed by the attentiveness of one really sweet and beautiful waitress. This dynamic Korean lady was one of the waitress serving our section during dinner the night before and we were quite surprised to see her doing her round during breakfast the next morning. With the restaurant almost full and so many guests to handle, we didn’t expect that her to remember us, yet she had cheerfully stopped by our table for a quick chat and greeted us by our first name!

the beautiful Korean waitress – hubby’s nomination of the best service award

the night is still young..

The Spa Artisan

No stayaction is complete without a pampering spa retreat and we were blessed with a couple’s Japan Spa Journey at The Spa Artisan over at the historical The Fullerton Hotel. With fresh plants lining the walls of the hallway and soothing music piping at the chic and cozy lounge area coupled with the skillful hands of the masseuses, it is little wonder why The Spa Artisan has been awarded the Best Luxury Boutique Spa from the World Luxury Spa Awards 2013.

After choosing the essential oil for our massage, our 2.5 hours Japan Spa Journey began with feet soak, a head to toe scrub, shower before falling asleep under the healing touch of the therapist to conclude a memorable weekend at the hotel.

At random: Wild Flowers

Does this look like a wild flowers garden?

Ha! It is actually just a flower bed in front of Twin Towers in KL, Malaysia. Not sure what these white flowers are called but it is quite a pretty sight though 🙂

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Thao Dien Village – Saigon, Vietnam

Escaping from the bustle of city crowds, we have had a lovely stay at this only hotel and spa resort in Ho Chi Minh City – Thao Dien Village.  This colonial French manor has offered us a memorable hideout with the most romantic setting along the banks of Saigon River.

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Thao Dien Village in our eyes..

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Our self contained Art Suite..

Room Facilities includes: Riverview, King size bed, Minibar, Shower, Bath, Safety Deposit Box, LCD TV, Telephone, Air Conditioning, Balcony, Shared Bathroom, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet, Bathroom, Satellite TV, Cable TV, Tea/Coffee Maker, Hairdryer, Bathrobe, Refrigerator, Work Desk, DVD Player and room Slippers…

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Some of the food we tasted..

breakfasts..

lunches..

ice creams..

romantic dinner by the river..

Vietnam Revisited

During our recent trip to Vietnam, Ho Chii Minh City, we decided escape from the bustling tourist crowds and chose to stay at the tranquil and relaxing Thao Dien Village, the only resort hotel in HCMC located in District 2 by the river and away from the city buzz.

We used to live in HCMC back in 1990s and we took this opportunity to reminisce the past as we trek down the memory lane and revisit the places that we were once familiar.  And over the next few days, we went back to the hotel that we have stayed when we first arrived in HCMC, ate in the same restaurants that we used to frequent, enjoyed ice cream and coffee at the roadside cafes, shopped at the market that we have had our groceries and daily supplies, went back to the church, walked along the streets and returned to the house that was once our home at Le Lai, D1.

The place that we called home..

The first hotel that we stayed in when we first arrived is still at the same spot but everything has changed..

Liberty Restaurant - we still miss their corn soup with crabmeat...yummy!

The familiar sights..

Still the same high volume of motorists on the streets, but more are now wearing helmets..

and galleries..

Our lovely stay at THAO DIEN VILLAGE hotel, the only resort hotel within the city..

the new and the old..

Many things have changed over the years; old houses have gave way to new ones, shops are replaced by commercial buildings, shopping are not longer limited to going to the markets and high end brands have made their marks on the shore but there are things we still find familiarity on the streets.

Even if the water from the tap back then had yellowed all my white clothes, even if power failure was a frequent prank, even if the rain will immersed into the wall and wet the room when it poured, we shall always hold fond memories of those simpler days.

Those were the days...

Kanishka Villas

Another pleasant stay in Bali: Kanishka Villas

With a private pool, sundeck with loungers, two spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathroom, wide open dining area, a fully equipped kitchen and a relaxing hall that is equipped with large sofas, 42 inch television, sound system, dvd, and high speed internet access, Kanishka Villas is undoubtedly the finest vacation stay that we have ever had besides Maxims Genting!

Pool Side

Activity Area

Open Dining

Fresh Fruit Juice

A Hearty Breakfast

Luxurious Bed with Jim Thompson Fabric Furnishing

en-suite bathroom

Rain Forest Shower

Aria Luxury Villa & Spa

A little heaven: Aria Luxury Villa & Spa

After stepping out of the airport, we went directly to the pick up area where it was flooded with drivers holding signboards of their guest names. Our villa driver was late and we get a little restless after a few rounds of fruitless searching among the crowd. Luckily, the traffic from the airport to Semiyak was pretty smooth on that day and it only took us about 25 minutes to reach the villa.

What surprised us was that he stopped the car in a small lane and we did not see any posh lobby that we have expected, instead we were greeted by a villa’s male staff at the lane and walked to our villa.

The mediocre entry was quite beyond our fanciful expectations but the minute our villa door was opened, that little disappointment immediately turned into astonishment!

Gosh! A private pool and an open living concept that I have always longed for – this is unquestionably heaven on earth!

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walkway to heaven..

on top of the world..

Valentines in Bali

Barely a year ago, we had flown to Bali and did nothing else but spent our entire two days at the Mara Rive Safari Lodge. This time round, though we had initially planned four days to indulge in our resort stay in January but due to my passport woes, the trip was postponed to February and one day was being forfeited by Aria Luxury Villa & Spa due to last minute cancellation,  nonetheless we still have had a wonderful three day Valentines vacation in Bali.

at the airport..

on the plane..

yay! Bali, here I come!

having a little monkey fun.

Our Aria Luxury Villa & Spa and kanishka Villa stay up next..stay tuned 🙂

 

Random Pictures taken in Bali

So tranquil and peaceful, how I wish I could stay there forever…

田园风光 – a view from Aria Luxury Villas & Spa, Seminyak

海角天涯 – a view from the Tanah Lot Temple

浪漫海滩 – a view from the Jimbaran Beach