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| Making cookies with our friends and discovering that Martha Stewart once again set the bar too high. I think we should get points for trying. |
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| The usual Easter breakfast with the addition of Dragonfruit |
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| Feast time! |
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Easter in the Red Dot
Monday, 18 April 2011
Sentosa for an evening walk
We went for a long walk tonight around Sentosa which is nice and quiet on Sunday nights. We ended up down on the beach and eventually at the Shangri La for drinks.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Antique adventures on Gumtree
Finding home furnishings has been somewhat frustrating thus far because we just have no idea where to look. A few trips through the upscale antique dealers in our area was a reminder of how expensive convenience can be. Also, there are a lot of really terribly made things. I've seen pot metal claimed to be brass, mason jar lids spray painted and used as a cap on a chandelier... the list goes on. You really have to know your stuff, which I don't really but I know a mason jar lid when I see one.
The best finds I've had are online with Gumtree or Craigslist. People sell second hand furniture for pittance as they repatriate often with a close deadline looming which sweetens deals. Earlier this week I saw an ad on Gumtree for a table that caught my eye.
The best finds I've had are online with Gumtree or Craigslist. People sell second hand furniture for pittance as they repatriate often with a close deadline looming which sweetens deals. Earlier this week I saw an ad on Gumtree for a table that caught my eye.
We checked it out in person yesterday. Its story is, someone had it made from a bunch of different reclaimed pieces of old teak from Indonesia. It is certainly pitted and worn and yet delightfully warm and eclectic. My pilates teacher would probably classify it as "Shop House Style" which I am learning is a furniture style or at least to some people here.
Anyway, we bought the table and it arrives next Tuesday! Woohoo!
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
The White Rabbit and Halia
We've been doing some fine dining catch-up now that Joel's home for a while. Here are our latest two conquests:
The White Rabbit A couple of weeks ago we visited the White Rabbit with some friends and went all out. We ordered the full set menu and bottles of wine to pair. The set menu began with smoked duck breast with hard-boiled quail eggs, baby asparagus and a creme fraiche chive dressing. The salad course was pan fried foie gras with pear chutney on a baby salad. The main was a braised veal lasagne with mushrooms and bechamel sauce and the dessert was the most interesting chocolate millefeuille with layers of fresh berries between thick crisp pastry and chocolate. I had a customized tasting menu with seafood and vegetarian options. The food was luscious but the service was very poor.
Halia Restaurant This is less of a household name in Singapore but it's really quite a special place. It's right beside the Ginger garden in the Botanic Gardens. I usually wander past during busy brunch time and have never had the time or been dressed to go in. Last night we were actually on our way to Casa Verde on the other side of the park for dinner but arrived after it closed. Hungry and tired we were passing by Halia on our way home and noticed a few people still outside at 9:45 on a Monday night having dinner. The food smelled divine and we luckily weren't in running clothes so we thought why not?
All I can say is it was quite possibly the most romantic spot I've been in Singapore. The food is really lovely and the service was quite impeccable. We shared a pasta dish and the trout and sipped Rose on the patio with the sounds of the waterfall and the jungle around us. Happy Monday!
A few tips: Eat late and avoid all the noisy tourists and make sure you sit outside. It's about -5c indoors.
The White Rabbit A couple of weeks ago we visited the White Rabbit with some friends and went all out. We ordered the full set menu and bottles of wine to pair. The set menu began with smoked duck breast with hard-boiled quail eggs, baby asparagus and a creme fraiche chive dressing. The salad course was pan fried foie gras with pear chutney on a baby salad. The main was a braised veal lasagne with mushrooms and bechamel sauce and the dessert was the most interesting chocolate millefeuille with layers of fresh berries between thick crisp pastry and chocolate. I had a customized tasting menu with seafood and vegetarian options. The food was luscious but the service was very poor.
Halia Restaurant This is less of a household name in Singapore but it's really quite a special place. It's right beside the Ginger garden in the Botanic Gardens. I usually wander past during busy brunch time and have never had the time or been dressed to go in. Last night we were actually on our way to Casa Verde on the other side of the park for dinner but arrived after it closed. Hungry and tired we were passing by Halia on our way home and noticed a few people still outside at 9:45 on a Monday night having dinner. The food smelled divine and we luckily weren't in running clothes so we thought why not?
All I can say is it was quite possibly the most romantic spot I've been in Singapore. The food is really lovely and the service was quite impeccable. We shared a pasta dish and the trout and sipped Rose on the patio with the sounds of the waterfall and the jungle around us. Happy Monday!
A few tips: Eat late and avoid all the noisy tourists and make sure you sit outside. It's about -5c indoors.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Monday, 28 March 2011
The three visit rule
One of the many things our teacher in cultural sensitivity training tried to drill into our heads was that Singaporeans prefer indirect communication to direct communication. How does this look? Well, it's typical to have a very chatty and off-topic meeting with someone who you are trying to do business with. To us, it feels like they aren't taking our business seriously but really they are trying to see if we are serious enough to build a relationship with them.
After some frustrating experiences I figured out that there is a "three visits rule." If I chill out and just trust this process I can get things done and enjoy the indirect quirkiness of Singaporean business customs.
So this is my three visits rule which I have just applied to several things, including signing a lease, getting insurance, doing anything at the bank etc.
After some frustrating experiences I figured out that there is a "three visits rule." If I chill out and just trust this process I can get things done and enjoy the indirect quirkiness of Singaporean business customs.
So this is my three visits rule which I have just applied to several things, including signing a lease, getting insurance, doing anything at the bank etc.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Redang Island, Malaysia
Joel finally came home from his work trip to New Zealand. We jetted off immediately for a 5 day trip to Redang Island in Malaysia. It's a gorgeous white sand island with pretty amazing snorkeling. We saw an incredible variety of fish and reef sharks too. It was great to have cool ocean air for a few days. As Joel put it "I don't think I've ever taken a tropical vacation and come home to hotter weather."
Redang is a resort destination with a few options for places to stay. Berjaya airlines is the best way to get there (unless you want to spend a day in a bus... nope? I thought not). The highest rated resort is the Berjaya Redang Resort which is on the far side of the island on its own beach. It's also the most expensive option. The other 16 resorts are all in a row along three bays.
We stayed in the middle of that resort area at Laguna Redang. The beaches in that area were very nice and the actual rooms at our resort were tastefully furnished. As I said above the fish were plentiful and from what I've heard from other people this really is the big draw here.
When we were there the average age of travelers was about 16 -18 (lots of high school groups) and the beach dance parties were very loud and almost all of the resorts along that area seem to be very much into creating a party/club atmosphere. The food and beverage services are very basic. If you are a die hard snorkeling fiend this is going to be heaven for you but if you're a foodie you might not be too impressed. Either way, don't forget your earplugs for the evenings.
Click on either of the pics below to see more from the trip on Flickr. Make sure you login if you are a friend or family member to see hidden pictures.
Redang is a resort destination with a few options for places to stay. Berjaya airlines is the best way to get there (unless you want to spend a day in a bus... nope? I thought not). The highest rated resort is the Berjaya Redang Resort which is on the far side of the island on its own beach. It's also the most expensive option. The other 16 resorts are all in a row along three bays.
We stayed in the middle of that resort area at Laguna Redang. The beaches in that area were very nice and the actual rooms at our resort were tastefully furnished. As I said above the fish were plentiful and from what I've heard from other people this really is the big draw here.
When we were there the average age of travelers was about 16 -18 (lots of high school groups) and the beach dance parties were very loud and almost all of the resorts along that area seem to be very much into creating a party/club atmosphere. The food and beverage services are very basic. If you are a die hard snorkeling fiend this is going to be heaven for you but if you're a foodie you might not be too impressed. Either way, don't forget your earplugs for the evenings.
Click on either of the pics below to see more from the trip on Flickr. Make sure you login if you are a friend or family member to see hidden pictures.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Dispatches from New Zealand: Wellington looks like Victoria
Photos from Joel's blackberry from his three weeks in New Zealand. By all accounts Wellington sounds a lot like Victoria. (Nice views, really dodgy weather).
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