Friday 26 June 2015

M.A. Deen Biasa

M.A. Deen Biasa

Sup tulang merah or red bone (usually mutton) soup is a popular dish in Singapore and M.A. Deen Biasa is one of the famous place to get your fix. I was expecting a stall, probably in hawker centre but pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant in a shop lot. You can choose to eat inside or al fresco. 

M.A. Deen Biasa

M.A. Deen Biasa


Taste - Good. Delicious food.

Price - Fair price and very good portion. We ordered a little bit too much for only 4 of us and total was SG$36.50 

Ambiance - Clean and cozy.

M.A. Deen Biasa
I like my iced lime! <3<3<3

M.A. Deen Biasa
Size small. But good for 2 - 3 pax really. Taste sweet!

M.A. Deen Biasa
Close-up <3<3<3<3

M.A. Deen Biasa
Red fried rice - (too) spicy but yummy! Can share 2 pax <3<3<3

M.A. Deen Biasa
Fried rice - good for 2 pax as well <3<3<3

M.A. Deen Biasa
Forgot what soup. Good for 2 - 4 pax <3<3<3

So yeah. That was food for at least 8 adults (there was bread too) and some of us skipped breakfast on the next day. Convert it and you'll find that the price is comparable to mamaks in Malaysia.

  Good thing that we walked a LOT in Singapore. First night already over-ate :P



Thursday 25 June 2015

Kampong Glam, Arab Street & Haji Lane, Singapore


Kampong Glam
Not sure if the motorcycle is part of the art but the areas are full of cute bikes/scooters. Idk why.


We were supposed to explore Arab Street, Haji Lane, and the area nearby at 4 p.m. We didn't.

  ALL of us fell asleep and woke up just in time to get ready for dinner. After a quick shower, we crossed the road to Haji Lane to wonder around while deciding where to eat for dinner.

Kampong Glam
Eateries

Kampong Glam
Arts

Kampong Glam
Eateries and arts

Kampong Glam
Haji Lane should really be called Shopping Lane

Kampong Glam
I like green concept of this place!

Kampong Glam
Shopping & Arts

Kampong Glam
So classy!

Kampong Glam
So artsy!

Kampong Glam
Near Muscat Street (?)

Sultan Mosque
Sultan Mosque

Kampong Glam
Bussorah Street for souvenirs and middle east food

Kampong Glam
Random pretty wall otw to dinner in Jalan Sultan

Kampong Glam



Come in the morning to pose with the pretty wall arts. Most of the shops will be closed but you'll have the place all to yourself (better lighting too!). Visit in the evening when it is a bit cooler if you don't mind the crowd and want to shop, chill or people watch in Haji Lane.



Monday 22 June 2015

Homst, Kota Damansara

Homst Kota Damansara

Homst Kota Damansara
16 - 1, Jalan PJU 5/17,
Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

Phone #: +603 6140 9134

Operating hours
1100 - 2230


I can't believe that I've never shared this place with you guys! I mean, I know it's already famous but what's the harm in sharing a good thing, right?

This simple place next to Sunway Giza serves delicious Chinese cooking. No fancy decor but the food are omigoshly delicious!

Homst Kota Damansara
You can see the boutique hotel next door

Taste - <3<3<3<3<3
Price - Affordable and totally worth it. Average RM15+-/person (for 6 pax)
Ambiance - Simple, family-friendly, airconditioned. 


Homst Kota Damansara

Homst Kota Damansara
<3<3<3<3 I don't like sotong but I like this one enough. Prefer Idrus' though.

Homst Kota Damansara
Wet butter chicken <3<3<3<3<3

Homst Kota Damansara
Lemon chicken <3<3<3<3

Homst Kota Damansara
Mom's favourite - Salted Egg Soft Shell Crab <3<3<3<3<3

Homst Kota Damansara
Plain telur dadar :) #musthave

Homst Kota Damansara
Sweet & sour fish fillet <3<3<3<3

... and my favourite...

Homst Kota Damansara
Butter Prawn <3<3<3<3<3

If you're going for dinner, I advise you to call the number above and make a reservation. Oh, in Ramadhan it can be very hard to get a reservation for breaking fast especially on weekends. You CAN however, tarpao you buka puasa dish :) Call the same number (or the one on their Ramadhan banner) around 4 pm and place your order!





Friday 19 June 2015

Shophouse the Social Hostel, Arab Street

Shophouse Hostel

48, Arab Street,
Singapore 199745

#GoSinga was a budget trip. 2 of us are getting married but we've bought tickets earlier and we really really really wanted to go but didn't want to spend too much. So, I challenged myself to work within a certain budget. For accommodation, I shortlisted 8 places within 6-minute walk from/to Haji Lane and we chose Shophouse the Social Hostel!

Shophouse Hostel

I booked directly on the hostel's website and it was super easy. When I phoned a day earlier to remind them that we're coming, a nice lady assured me that all was in order. So I was a bit irritated to find no one minding the reception when I arrived past 2.30 p.m. 

  The reception desk is at a corner inside the a cafe. My friend asked one of the cafe staff where the person in charge was and told to wait. I phoned a couple of numbers listed on the sign for help but neither answered. It was less than 15 minutes before a lady showed up and apologised. They were understaffed and she was preparing the rooms upstairs.

  We paid the balance of the rent plus deposit for access cards (SG$10/card) and was given a pouch containing locker keys and key cards during check-in. Then, the nice lady took us to our dorm and switched on the air-cond :D


Booking - Easy, multiple platforms available.

Rate - Affordable. SG$212 (RM583) for 4 beds, 3D2N.

Location - Very Good. The room we got wasn't noisy at all. Near plenty of halal eateries. Haji Lane is just next street, Kg. Glam/Sultan Mosque within walking distance and Bugis MRT nearby.

Dining - Breakfast included. Basic selection- bread, cereal, coffee, tea, jam & butter.

Service - Fair. Friendly staff aside from the no one manning the reception incident. Check-out was quick and efficient without incident.


Let's look at the pictures!

Shophouse Hostel
Double decker beds!

Shophouse Hostel
Lockers big enough to store standard hand-luggage bag

Shophouse Hostel
My bed! And pretty Moroccan lamp

Shophouse Hostel
Shared bathroom

Shophouse Hostel
Hair-dryer, iron, "basin" and 3 bathrooms

Shophouse Hostel
Ladies' choice

Shophouse Hostel
Social Lounge 

Shophouse Hostel
Social Lounge

Shophouse Hostel
Sink to wash your plates after breakfast on the Social Terrace side

Shophouse Hostel
Breakfast view from Social Terrace

I recommend Shophouse the Social Hostel for able-bodied youngsters (stairs to climb) and people who appreciate clean, cozy accommodation in the right tourist area at affordable rates. There was even a showcase held at Social Terrace on the day we arrived. Idk if it's special but there was a table at entrance (maybe the local kids gotta pay) so the hostel is definitely the social space you want to be at to meet new people.

Overall 4 <3<3<3<3 of 5 



Thursday 18 June 2015

Changi Museum, Singapore

Changi Museum, Singapore

Changi Museum
1000, Upper Changi Road North,
Singapore 507707

Phone #: +65 6214 2451

Operating Hours
0930 - 1700 daily

FREE admission


Right after an early lunch in the staff canteen in Changi Airport, we (4 adults) took a taxi to Changi Museum. You can get there by train and bus or by bus but we decided that it wasn't worth the hassle of lugging our bags around. 


Changi Museum, Singapore
... yep those bags

Taxi charged according to meter and it was worth it divided by 4 pax and 4 bags.

  The museum staff was very nice and polite. Our bags were left at the souvenir shop (opposite the entrance) which visitors will end up at after touring the museum. While entry is free, visitors can opt for audio tour at SG$8 per adult.

  Some people might find the museum a bit text-heavy but I thought it was informative. Exhibition is mainly about the World War 2 (think Japanese Occupation). The items on display looked genuine and the letters brought tears to my eyes. One can't help feeling a bit sad (and depressed) while going through the exhibitions.

  I love the drawings on the wall and the rainbow-coloured paper pelicans in particular. Expect to spend 1 to 2 hours here for casual visit. If you're planning to pay your respect at the chapel, perhaps even close to 3 hours.

  Check out the Changi Museum's website for more info!


***

So from the museum, we walked to the bus stop in front of the museum to take a bus to our hostel in Arab Street...