It is true... If you are being asked the third time, you are most likely to succumb into buying. Being a true singaporean chinese, I cannot but agree to try their drinks and boy.. i regretted not buying at the first "Would you like to try our drinks?" months ago!
Odin is a pretty unique stall in the Hawker Centre setting, situated next to my favourite BAK KUT TEH store, I always looked upon it as TOO CLEAN and ATTAS. The very chic setting with its super retro COCA COLA Chiller, boxes and boxes of TWINNINGs tea bags, Jars and Jars of Honey and premium dried tea making flowers, bags of mush-mellows... and friendly and gentle stall owners simply does not go along with the noisy hawker setting... I should say.. its like a twinkling star on a very dark night. However, I was touched by their passion and sincerity. Yes we can feel passion by just looking at the stall, it is kept extremely neat and clean with clear logos of Odin's cafe on drinking cups, takeaway cups, snack bags, labels and yes.. even matching t-shirts. Sincerity..... comes from the look of their eyes.... and their service.. Always keeping conversation light hearted, fast, efficient and not-pushy yet provides you clean takaways... so you can walk away in style...
Yes.. I've come across services that feels like: GIVE ME YOUR MONEY and TAKE THE STUFF.. Or the half past six kind of... sticky drink bags, or sauce stained plastic bags with soup about to burst the bag kinda thing... Its hawker... and its Singapore... don't expect service.. its SELF SERVICE.....
So much rattling for everything else but the drinks in actual.. Actually I only bought an Ice Honey Lime to takaway.. and I was impressed... because I could actually taste the Honey in the ICE HONEY LIME.. usually... i get more of ice and lime.... and sometimes it gets pretty lame.... The Honey is of pretty decent quality and the drink is just right... Matter of fact I was so surprised with the quality of the drink i am getting... I've decided to write this review the first thing i reach the office. If this S$1.80 maxi cup of ICE HONEY LIME is good... I believe the other things will be just as good...
While I sip mine ICE HONEY LIME which does not really dilute with the melting ice, I'll watch this review for other yummy stuffs from the Odin's Cafe. If you are nearby or a passerby, do drop by.... its cheaper then the premium bubble teas for sure..... and we should support our own local singapore businesses.
For the great service, passion and courageous vision.... I will rate them 5 stars There is indeed hope for the Singapore Service Industry...
This Gloria Jeans outlet is situated just in front of the backdoor of Crabtree and Evelyn... Right at the "back alley" of the new wing which is next to the main walkway parallel to the convention centre. I love the area as it is much quieter yet nearer to the convention center, underpass to the MRT station and less noise from the exhilarated shoppers.
Its a place to seat back and relax. Plenty of couch and nice looking seats with ample space and great view. Air-conditioning is adjusted to a comfortable temperature and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee freely floats around the vicinity.
Sit down for a good chat, a hot cuppa of coffee, tea or icy cold freeze and relax watching the hustle and bustle of tourist contributing to our economy. What a great way to relax. Its a better place to be then the always crowded starbucks near the exit and other coffee places are just too far away. The drinks are decently priced and service is pretty good..... Don't expect the stuffs you find in coffee bean or starbucks to be here... Gloria Jeans have their own special concoctions, which to me is a breath of fresh air. Of course,, the regular brews such as espressos, latte and still available, but look out for their monthly specials. Sometimes they surprise me.... with their special offers as well.. I ever had a ONE FOR ONE and even free muffins on some promos.....
Reading materials are aplenty too... and if you would like to know what to look out for our hang out at... Be sure to grab a copy of the I-S newspaper, esplanade handbook and SISTIC entertainment guide. Travel magazines, books and other readables are also available if you forgot to bring your ever faithful STRAITS TIMES..... Guarantee no STARE DOWN from other consumers suspecting you of hogging the seats.....
Great place to hang out while you wait for your guy friends elbowing others at the IT FAIR....
Yoguru has the creamiest frozen yogurt I've ever tasted.... and I love the Yogu flavor.. mostly acai berry based with blueberries or pomegranate... I find it both healthy and very nourishing... do you know about the antioxidants of berries.....
I always go to this outlet when i'm in raffles city or suntec area as compared to the rest of the other frozen yogurt parlors nearby the vicinity. First, the amount given is alot and they don't need to weigh it.. I've seen some places.. they weigh their yogurt cups.... secondly, the toppings they have are all good grade toppings like mixed healthy nuts, muesli, fruits like blue berries and other wholesome stuffs.. it makes me feel so healthy.... and thirdly, which is also most importantly, their yogurt is creamy.... it makes me feel like i'm eating more yogurt then ice..... I mean.. i come across some frozen yogurt that is so ICY... feels more like yogurt freeze then frozen yogurt......
Its such a popular thing right now that even tai tais are eating it..... I've ever seen one rich auntie ordering a take home cup of YOU GOOD (yogurt) at this outlet.... Oh yes.. they have take home cups too.... you can buy some put at home and have it as and when you crave for it....
For the guys out there who is not a 'you good' fan... drop by the outlets... most of the Yoguru outlets and manned by pretty young girls.. and I MEAN Pretty young things...... If you are not a really big fan of 'yougood' you could always give them to me.. I've a huge fridge in my house....
Now i heard they have many more outlets... like City Square and J-Cube... head on to yoguru.. and have a healthy YOUGOOD experience and pleasant service.
Awfully Chocolate is Awfully Good.... Their chocolate fudge cake is too awfully sinful not to eat... Though sold in petite sizes.. the 6" cake requires about 6 people to finish...... The chocolate fudge cake is super rich and very spongy and moist in the middle... One of the best chocolate cakes I've ever tasted locally.... Made with semi bitter chocolate via their secret recipe, I can say its better then the LANA Chocolate Fudge cake I always like..
I've also got the chocolate fudge cake with fresh banana... Its superlicious as well.. but beware.. once you get hooked.. your 2 front tooth will look chocolish for a long time.... always bring along a good branded 3 ply tissue to clean your 2 front tooth......
Besides the normal round cakes, they also have the super stacked.... sold in grams.. you might feel that its a little pricey, however, the cake is so dense and heavy, its not the kind that you should gulp down alot.... You are suppose to eat them in bits and share with your friends because a small mouthful will eventually be too flavourful and rich and in no time.. it will become YUCK. So take small bites and enjoy the exploding flavor. The texture of the super stacked cakes are very smooth and sweetness is just nice. Pair it with some sky juice (plain water) and it will be balanced... SkyJuice is free flow by the side.. have as much as you want.... its FREE!! I love it!!!..... Super stacked cakes comes in 2 flavors.. Chocolate Fudge and White Chocolate Caramel. Both is nice but I like the White Chocolate Caramel.. it sure looks a little creamy but I love the texture and the hint of burnt Caramel taste....
Other stuffs like cold poached chocolate, Hei Ice Cream and Muffins were great too... But I'm leaving it for you to Yebber about...
The summer holidays are approaching..... bring out that pair of chunky geeky shades and skimpy 2 piece swim-suit... its time to bake some skin...... Oops.... seemed like the long cold rainy holiday season has made you look like your rumored long lost ancestor.. Mr APE.... its time for a good make-over to prepare yourself to bare some skin.....
That purple place has all that you need for that complete summer make over... There are facial treatments that could revive sagging tired skin and give you that radiant young look, there are body massage services that could moisturize your body and keep your skin looking fresh and supple. Waxing services to get rid of all that unsightly peekaboos...... and mani / pedi to add some blink...
It was not a difficult place to find, a short walk from lau pa sat.... to me its a good after late lunch kind of activity. Good signage helped me to find the place.... Its on level 3 at a pretty clean looking building. Though they have been there for a few years already, the place is kept pretty nice, new and cosy. Not a fanciful huge place that is always crowded. The purple place is situated just above a small gym on level 3. As i entered, Helen the beautician inquired on my appointment and quickly showed me to the room... it was nicely clad with purple towels and there is a massage bed in the middle of the room that i thought was the highest bed i've ever seen....
It looked pretty cozy and comfy though a small room, but it looked like it has everything equipped for every beauty service. The entire experience was excellent, both hard wax and strip wax was used. The result was clean and she also spent time tweezing out the ingrowns, which i'm very touched about. She have a pretty soothing voice and though i've experienced ever more painless brazilian waxing. Helen is one of the better waxers I've come across... Speed is important as well as gauging the readiness of the wax and the angle of application to ease painful extractions.
I am very pleased with the finished product and they are not pushy in wanting you to buy a package however, I feel that they have the most attract package I've ever come across.
First, their package is in the form of credits with no expiry date and completely transferable for all types of services. Second, they have a promotion that for off-peak time, most of the services are half priced.
Overall, I think its a great place to go for basic upkeeping especially for ladies... Matter of fact, I was told that a lady actually bought a package and bring along her 70 year old grandfather for facial.... How sweet indeeed...........................
We decided to drop by Turf City one Sunday evening and have dinner at one of the seafood restaurants. How we ended up at Ah Yat, I have no idea, especially when my last dinner at the Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim outlet turned out to be a disaster. To be fair, that was quite a few years ago so things might have improved?
The interior of the restaurant was a stark contrast to its surroundings. Soothing but a little gaudy versus partially smashed bare concrete, displaced steel wires/nails and loud drilling noises. Yes, the entire Turf City is under renovation and only a handful of units remain open ( I counted 3 - Owen Seafood, Ah Yat & Giant).
Shark's Fin Soup - Decently sized with slivers of shark's fin and crab meat, the broth was a little too starchy and salty for my liking. Thankfully the serving of fried, albeit overly oily bean sprouts helped to alleviate this dish by introducing water content as well as a wonderful crunch to it. It's interesting how sometimes the humblest of produce can help turn a dish around.
Oyster with Garlic - For our set, we had a choice of Bamboo Clam or Oyster and I chose the latter. And honestly, I couldn't quite make out any taste other than garlic because it was just so overwhelming.
Braised Abalone with Sea Cucumber - I am usually not a big fan of abalone and Ah Yat's well known dish just wasn't about to convert me. The abalone was of decent size (6 head) and a little chewy, though I did find it a little on the salty side. The accompanying sea cucumber and mushroom were decent but failed to leave much of an impression.
Peking Duck - The peking duck was an additional order we craved meat. And it didn't turn out to be a very wise decision. Though the skin was crisp, both the meat and crepe were too dry. Felt very much like eating roast duck - nothing special.
Fried Rice - Although the lack of ingredients was apparent (there was only egg yolk and dried scallop slivers), this dish had a nice wok hei to it and each individual grain was evenly coated and didn't come across as too oily. Be warned that the dried scallops should be eaten together with the rice as the salt content is rather high and might prove unbearable if eaten alone.
Overall the meal wasn't fantastic and even the more expensive ingredients didn't quite justify the price, at about $210 for 3 pax. Service was decent but I highly doubt I will ever return.
I passed by this optical shop near a hawker centre. Since I have always wanted to make a pair of reading glass and it is not an expensive item, I thought I might as well get it done.
After expressing my concern, the shop owner pursuaded me to make a pair of 'office wear' lenses. This is a good recommendation as I never know such product existed. The optician explained that 'office wear' lenses allow user to see things within 5 meters. She assured that I can read, see computer screen, watch TV and attend meetings without removing the glasses. It sounded ideal, so I went ahead to place an order. I was quite excited and could not wait for the glasses to be ready.
When I collected and tried the glasses, it does not seem to be able to do as what was claimed by the optician. I was only able to read and not see anything further than that. However, she was kind enough to re-test my eyesight and re-do the lenses again. Unfortunately, the same thing happened again for the next 3 replacement. I was not happy but didnt voice out my anger as I thought it might be due to my own eyesight problem. According to the optician, I have mono-eye and that could be the reason why 'office wear' may not suit me. I have no choice but to abandon the idea and changed it to a normal progressive lenses which I already owned. I was hoping that the new pair of glasses could be of some improvement so that I could replace the old ones.
I did not made it known my unhappiness as their service was relatively good. I also can't doubt their capability because the shop has been there for many years and she kept saying that most people have no problem except me. My only regret was that I did not cancel my order when she cannot deliver what was originally promised. On the other hand, I also doubt I can cancel because she has already collected the full amount before the glasses is made. At the same time I also felt bad as she has also wasted 3 pairs of lenses.
So, at the end of this whole episode, I am poorer by $500 for an unknown lenses and I am still having the reading problem.
After my experience with She Lee Optics, I concluded that I am not suitable to use 'office wear' lenses until I met Stella of Universal Optical.
I explained to her my bad experience and she told me that there was no reason why it does not work for me especially my prescription was not very high. She assured me that it can be done. So I visited her shop at Tampines to have my eyesight tested again. Unlike other optical shops, their eye test was much faster and accurate with the help of better equipment.
When asked to choose a frame, I actually wanted to use my old frame just in case it failed again. After much convincing, I finally decided to select a new frame. When I left the shop, I do not have high expectation that it can be done and was also mentally prepared to face the same old problem as before.
After a week, I was told that my glasses was ready for collection. I went there without high hope and expected that it will be blur and giddy.
When I first tried the glasses, I was very careful not to see far as I know that it will defintely be not clear at all and that will put me off. So I started looking at the reading distance and slowly tried to look further. To my suprise, I was able to read at a normal reading distance and also at the surroundings comfortably.
I wondered whether there was any relation between the new HOYA lenses with the previous unknown brand. Anyway, I was happy that I am able to read documents and the computer screen without having to adjust my glasses now.
For those office workers who have to use reading glasses, it is time to try out this 'office wear' lenses.
Had dinner at Tung Lok Seafood @ Arena Country Club, a rather obscure club (if you even call it a club) just opposite SAFTI MI. Strangely enough, the same stretch of low rise buildings also host a go karting track and a huge burger king outlet.
The place is quite a size and can easily fit up to 200 people. However, the interior is a little dated but still presentable nonetheless. Definitely more suited to family dining than business meals.
Homemade Beancurd with Spinach - Sitting on a bed of spinach and topped with mushrooms, this dish lacked consistency. Some pieces of beancurd had a nice savoury taste but some were just outright bland. Pity really.
Sweet and Sour Pork - While I will admit that the sweet and sour pork had a nice smoky taste to it, the meat to flour proportion was greatly skewed in favour of the flour, which was a real bummer. Not to mention that portions were tiny for $18 .
Stir Fried Kailan - Drenched in light, mildly salty gravy without being overcooked. Very decent.
Roast Chicken - Served with the de facto crackers, the roast chicken boasted razor thin crisp skin coupled with tender flesh and a generous splashing of salt. Only gripe I had was that the meat could have been juicier. Still good though but nothing compared to what I had at Lung King Heen of course.
Deep Fried Prawns with Wasabi Mayo Sauce - Apparently Tung Lok came up with this dish many years ago. I am not sure how accurate this piece of information is but the prawns were really quite good. Huge, crunchy and coated in a thin layer of flour with a mild tolerable level of wasabi. But it's $52 for a large serving for 9 pax.
Horfun with Prawns - Although each of us managed to snag a huge prawn each, the hor fun itself lacked wok hei but I did like the not too starchy gravy with generous amounts of egg. But at $40 for such a small portion, I'm inclined to think that it's quite overpriced.
Total bill for the 9 of us stood at $238 with a 20% discount. Sure, we were all stuffed at the end of it (courtesy of the ever reliable bowls of rice) and food quality was generally above average, but I wouldn't term it value for money. Portions were less than generous and honestly, none of the ingredients in our dishes were anywhere near expensive. But still, if a family dinner is at hand and you would like an "established" brand name with decent food and prices that won't break your bank, Tung Lok Seafood may just appeal to you. See all my pictures here.
Ditch that Diet Plan for a night.... Tonight is the night to eat your heart's out.... Serving yummilicious spanish tapas.. This ahlarCART 不肥 'buffet' is one that truly deserves missing breakfast and lunch so that you could try out all the dishes on the alacarte menu. Only happening on Sundays and Mondays.... you have 2 hours to eat whatever your like on the menu. Boy... The dishes on the menu is truly deserving and fabulously delicious. You have a good mix of seafood, beef, poultry, vege and finger food...
The tenderloin beef in garlic sauce is the best for me out of all the other dishes. Served in a metal pan, flavoured lusciously with sauce and whole garlic. This is one dish that I could have one pan after another. The escargot with garlic butter comes in a pan as well, served in a bed of mash. They even provide this unique clamping tool for you to hold on to the shell while you hook the fresh and tasty flesh out.
Overall the food is pretty yummy, service is great, the staff are helpful, attentive and friendly. On top of that... the location is fabulous. Set in the Singapore Art's Museum, if i'm not mistaken, the location used to be an old classroom. You can choose indoor or alfresco dining on a cool evening. Utterly romantic and arty farty....
How to enjoy great food without some decent wine, Happy hour happens almost all the time... House Wine is going for S$5 per glass. Want something more exotic, you could go for the Sangria which is also S$5 per glass.... And let me tell you a secret... be sure to bring 3 ladies to go for the buffet on mondays.... and you get a free bottle of wine......
Buffet is optional.. you could also order from the menu, where you can find authentic spanish main courses, staples, desserts and plenty of other stuffs. There were not many seats, on the monday that we went, it is pretty quiet.. I should say... its a fabulous place to bring your date out for a quiet but yummylicious romantic dinner...
However, the only part that freaks me out a little is the ladies.. Though really nice, clean and modern looking... The fact that its a distance away from the restaurant, you have to walk through a small corridor pass a locked metal gate, a fountain to find it. In the evening when the sun is down and the lights are dim and the energy saving sensor lightings in the toilet are a little bit slow to react... One might feel a little freakish.... But thats good news if you are bringing a date.... Thats your cue to hold that hand you wanted to hold for the last 3 months.....
Fabulous food, Romantic Setting, Great Service, Convenient Location and Value for money drinks.... KNOCK YOUR Monday Blues AWAY......
1=SGD 0.0587
It is true... If you are being asked the third time, you are most likely to succumb into buying.
Being a true singaporean chinese, I cannot but agree to try their drinks and boy.. i regretted not buying at the first "Would you like to try our drinks?" months ago!
Odin is a pretty unique stall in the Hawker Centre setting, situated next to my favourite BAK KUT TEH store, I always looked upon it as TOO CLEAN and ATTAS. The very chic setting with its super retro COCA COLA Chiller, boxes and boxes of TWINNINGs tea bags, Jars and Jars of Honey and premium dried tea making flowers, bags of mush-mellows... and friendly and gentle stall owners simply does not go along with the noisy hawker setting... I should say.. its like a twinkling star on a very dark night. However, I was touched by their passion and sincerity. Yes we can feel passion by just looking at the stall, it is kept extremely neat and clean with clear logos of Odin's cafe on drinking cups, takeaway cups, snack bags, labels and yes.. even matching t-shirts. Sincerity..... comes from the look of their eyes.... and their service.. Always keeping conversation light hearted, fast, efficient and not-pushy yet provides you clean takaways... so you can walk away in style...
Yes.. I've come across services that feels like: GIVE ME YOUR MONEY and TAKE THE STUFF.. Or the half past six kind of... sticky drink bags, or sauce stained plastic bags with soup about to burst the bag kinda thing... Its hawker... and its Singapore... don't expect service.. its SELF SERVICE.....
So much rattling for everything else but the drinks in actual.. Actually I only bought an Ice Honey Lime to takaway.. and I was impressed... because I could actually taste the Honey in the ICE HONEY LIME.. usually... i get more of ice and lime.... and sometimes it gets pretty lame.... The Honey is of pretty decent quality and the drink is just right... Matter of fact I was so surprised with the quality of the drink i am getting... I've decided to write this review the first thing i reach the office. If this S$1.80 maxi cup of ICE HONEY LIME is good... I believe the other things will be just as good...
While I sip mine ICE HONEY LIME which does not really dilute with the melting ice, I'll watch this review for other yummy stuffs from the Odin's Cafe. If you are nearby or a passerby, do drop by.... its cheaper then the premium bubble teas for sure..... and we should support our own local singapore businesses.
For the great service, passion and courageous vision.... I will rate them 5 stars
There is indeed hope for the Singapore Service Industry...
Rating given:
This Gloria Jeans outlet is situated just in front of the backdoor of Crabtree and Evelyn... Right at the "back alley" of the new wing which is next to the main walkway parallel to the convention centre. I love the area as it is much quieter yet nearer to the convention center, underpass to the MRT station and less noise from the exhilarated shoppers.
Its a place to seat back and relax. Plenty of couch and nice looking seats with ample space and great view. Air-conditioning is adjusted to a comfortable temperature and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee freely floats around the vicinity.
Sit down for a good chat, a hot cuppa of coffee, tea or icy cold freeze and relax watching the hustle and bustle of tourist contributing to our economy. What a great way to relax. Its a better place to be then the always crowded starbucks near the exit and other coffee places are just too far away. The drinks are decently priced and service is pretty good..... Don't expect the stuffs you find in coffee bean or starbucks to be here... Gloria Jeans have their own special concoctions, which to me is a breath of fresh air. Of course,, the regular brews such as espressos, latte and still available, but look out for their monthly specials. Sometimes they surprise me.... with their special offers as well.. I ever had a ONE FOR ONE and even free muffins on some promos.....
Reading materials are aplenty too... and if you would like to know what to look out for our hang out at... Be sure to grab a copy of the I-S newspaper, esplanade handbook and SISTIC entertainment guide. Travel magazines, books and other readables are also available if you forgot to bring your ever faithful STRAITS TIMES..... Guarantee no STARE DOWN from other consumers suspecting you of hogging the seats.....
Great place to hang out while you wait for your guy friends elbowing others at the IT FAIR....
Rating given:
Yoguru has the creamiest frozen yogurt I've ever tasted.... and I love the Yogu flavor.. mostly acai berry based with blueberries or pomegranate... I find it both healthy and very nourishing... do you know about the antioxidants of berries.....
I always go to this outlet when i'm in raffles city or suntec area as compared to the rest of the other frozen yogurt parlors nearby the vicinity. First, the amount given is alot and they don't need to weigh it.. I've seen some places.. they weigh their yogurt cups.... secondly, the toppings they have are all good grade toppings like mixed healthy nuts, muesli, fruits like blue berries and other wholesome stuffs.. it makes me feel so healthy.... and thirdly, which is also most importantly, their yogurt is creamy.... it makes me feel like i'm eating more yogurt then ice..... I mean.. i come across some frozen yogurt that is so ICY... feels more like yogurt freeze then frozen yogurt......
Its such a popular thing right now that even tai tais are eating it..... I've ever seen one rich auntie ordering a take home cup of YOU GOOD (yogurt) at this outlet.... Oh yes.. they have take home cups too.... you can buy some put at home and have it as and when you crave for it....
For the guys out there who is not a 'you good' fan... drop by the outlets... most of the Yoguru outlets and manned by pretty young girls.. and I MEAN Pretty young things...... If you are not a really big fan of 'yougood' you could always give them to me.. I've a huge fridge in my house....
Now i heard they have many more outlets... like City Square and J-Cube... head on to yoguru.. and have a healthy YOUGOOD experience and pleasant service.
Rating given:
Awfully Chocolate is Awfully Good.... Their chocolate fudge cake is too awfully sinful not to eat... Though sold in petite sizes.. the 6" cake requires about 6 people to finish...... The chocolate fudge cake is super rich and very spongy and moist in the middle... One of the best chocolate cakes I've ever tasted locally.... Made with semi bitter chocolate via their secret recipe, I can say its better then the LANA Chocolate Fudge cake I always like..
I've also got the chocolate fudge cake with fresh banana... Its superlicious as well.. but beware.. once you get hooked.. your 2 front tooth will look chocolish for a long time.... always bring along a good branded 3 ply tissue to clean your 2 front tooth......
Besides the normal round cakes, they also have the super stacked.... sold in grams.. you might feel that its a little pricey, however, the cake is so dense and heavy, its not the kind that you should gulp down alot.... You are suppose to eat them in bits and share with your friends because a small mouthful will eventually be too flavourful and rich and in no time.. it will become YUCK. So take small bites and enjoy the exploding flavor. The texture of the super stacked cakes are very smooth and sweetness is just nice. Pair it with some sky juice (plain water) and it will be balanced... SkyJuice is free flow by the side.. have as much as you want.... its FREE!! I love it!!!..... Super stacked cakes comes in 2 flavors.. Chocolate Fudge and White Chocolate Caramel. Both is nice but I like the White Chocolate Caramel.. it sure looks a little creamy but I love the texture and the hint of burnt Caramel taste....
Other stuffs like cold poached chocolate, Hei Ice Cream and Muffins were great too... But I'm leaving it for you to Yebber about...
Rating given:
The summer holidays are approaching..... bring out that pair of chunky geeky shades and skimpy 2 piece swim-suit... its time to bake some skin...... Oops.... seemed like the long cold rainy holiday season has made you look like your rumored long lost ancestor.. Mr APE.... its time for a good make-over to prepare yourself to bare some skin.....
That purple place has all that you need for that complete summer make over... There are facial treatments that could revive sagging tired skin and give you that radiant young look, there are body massage services that could moisturize your body and keep your skin looking fresh and supple. Waxing services to get rid of all that unsightly peekaboos...... and mani / pedi to add some blink...
It was not a difficult place to find, a short walk from lau pa sat.... to me its a good after late lunch kind of activity. Good signage helped me to find the place.... Its on level 3 at a pretty clean looking building. Though they have been there for a few years already, the place is kept pretty nice, new and cosy. Not a fanciful huge place that is always crowded. The purple place is situated just above a small gym on level 3. As i entered, Helen the beautician inquired on my appointment and quickly showed me to the room... it was nicely clad with purple towels and there is a massage bed in the middle of the room that i thought was the highest bed i've ever seen....
It looked pretty cozy and comfy though a small room, but it looked like it has everything equipped for every beauty service. The entire experience was excellent, both hard wax and strip wax was used. The result was clean and she also spent time tweezing out the ingrowns, which i'm very touched about. She have a pretty soothing voice and though i've experienced ever more painless brazilian waxing. Helen is one of the better waxers I've come across...
Speed is important as well as gauging the readiness of the wax and the angle of application to ease painful extractions.
I am very pleased with the finished product and they are not pushy in wanting you to buy a package however, I feel that they have the most attract package I've ever come across.
First, their package is in the form of credits with no expiry date and completely transferable for all types of services.
Second, they have a promotion that for off-peak time, most of the services are half priced.
Overall, I think its a great place to go for basic upkeeping especially for ladies... Matter of fact, I was told that a lady actually bought a package and bring along her 70 year old grandfather for facial.... How sweet indeeed...........................
*Ah GONG !!!..... do you want a facial??*
I
Rating given:
We decided to drop by Turf City one Sunday evening and have dinner at one of the seafood restaurants. How we ended up at Ah Yat, I have no idea, especially when my last dinner at the Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim outlet turned out to be a disaster. To be fair, that was quite a few years ago so things might have improved?
The interior of the restaurant was a stark contrast to its surroundings. Soothing but a little gaudy versus partially smashed bare concrete, displaced steel wires/nails and loud drilling noises. Yes, the entire Turf City is under renovation and only a handful of units remain open ( I counted 3 - Owen Seafood, Ah Yat & Giant).
Shark's Fin Soup - Decently sized with slivers of shark's fin and crab meat, the broth was a little too starchy and salty for my liking. Thankfully the serving of fried, albeit overly oily bean sprouts helped to alleviate this dish by introducing water content as well as a wonderful crunch to it. It's interesting how sometimes the humblest of produce can help turn a dish around.
Oyster with Garlic - For our set, we had a choice of Bamboo Clam or Oyster and I chose the latter. And honestly, I couldn't quite make out any taste other than garlic because it was just so overwhelming.
Braised Abalone with Sea Cucumber - I am usually not a big fan of abalone and Ah Yat's well known dish just wasn't about to convert me. The abalone was of decent size (6 head) and a little chewy, though I did find it a little on the salty side. The accompanying sea cucumber and mushroom were decent but failed to leave much of an impression.
Peking Duck - The peking duck was an additional order we craved meat. And it didn't turn out to be a very wise decision. Though the skin was crisp, both the meat and crepe were too dry. Felt very much like eating roast duck - nothing special.
Fried Rice - Although the lack of ingredients was apparent (there was only egg yolk and dried scallop slivers), this dish had a nice wok hei to it and each individual grain was evenly coated and didn't come across as too oily. Be warned that the dried scallops should be eaten together with the rice as the salt content is rather high and might prove unbearable if eaten alone.
Overall the meal wasn't fantastic and even the more expensive ingredients didn't quite justify the price, at about $210 for 3 pax. Service was decent but I highly doubt I will ever return.
See all my pictures here.
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I passed by this optical shop near a hawker centre. Since I have always wanted to make a pair of reading glass and it is not an expensive item, I thought I might as well get it done.
After expressing my concern, the shop owner pursuaded me to make a pair of 'office wear' lenses. This is a good recommendation as I never know such product existed. The optician explained that 'office wear' lenses allow user to see things within 5 meters. She assured that I can read, see computer screen, watch TV and attend meetings without removing the glasses. It sounded ideal, so I went ahead to place an order. I was quite excited and could not wait for the glasses to be ready.
When I collected and tried the glasses, it does not seem to be able to do as what was claimed by the optician. I was only able to read and not see anything further than that. However, she was kind enough to re-test my eyesight and re-do the lenses again. Unfortunately, the same thing happened again for the next 3 replacement. I was not happy but didnt voice out my anger as I thought it might be due to my own eyesight problem. According to the optician, I have mono-eye and that could be the reason why 'office wear' may not suit me. I have no choice but to abandon the idea and changed it to a normal progressive lenses which I already owned. I was hoping that the new pair of glasses could be of some improvement so that I could replace the old ones.
I did not made it known my unhappiness as their service was relatively good. I also can't doubt their capability because the shop has been there for many years and she kept saying that most people have no problem except me. My only regret was that I did not cancel my order when she cannot deliver what was originally promised. On the other hand, I also doubt I can cancel because she has already collected the full amount before the glasses is made. At the same time I also felt bad as she has also wasted 3 pairs of lenses.
So, at the end of this whole episode, I am poorer by $500 for an unknown lenses and I am still having the reading problem.
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After my experience with She Lee Optics, I concluded that I am not suitable to use 'office wear' lenses until I met Stella of Universal Optical.
I explained to her my bad experience and she told me that there was no reason why it does not work for me especially my prescription was not very high. She assured me that it can be done. So I visited her shop at Tampines to have my eyesight tested again. Unlike other optical shops, their eye test was much faster and accurate with the help of better equipment.
When asked to choose a frame, I actually wanted to use my old frame just in case it failed again. After much convincing, I finally decided to select a new frame. When I left the shop, I do not have high expectation that it can be done and was also mentally prepared to face the same old problem as before.
After a week, I was told that my glasses was ready for collection. I went there without high hope and expected that it will be blur and giddy.
When I first tried the glasses, I was very careful not to see far as I know that it will defintely be not clear at all and that will put me off. So I started looking at the reading distance and slowly tried to look further. To my suprise, I was able to read at a normal reading distance and also at the surroundings comfortably.
I wondered whether there was any relation between the new HOYA lenses with the previous unknown brand. Anyway, I was happy that I am able to read documents and the computer screen without having to adjust my glasses now.
For those office workers who have to use reading glasses, it is time to try out this 'office wear' lenses.
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Had dinner at Tung Lok Seafood @ Arena Country Club, a rather obscure club (if you even call it a club) just opposite SAFTI MI. Strangely enough, the same stretch of low rise buildings also host a go karting track and a huge burger king outlet.
The place is quite a size and can easily fit up to 200 people. However, the interior is a little dated but still presentable nonetheless. Definitely more suited to family dining than business meals.
Homemade Beancurd with Spinach - Sitting on a bed of spinach and topped with mushrooms, this dish lacked consistency. Some pieces of beancurd had a nice savoury taste but some were just outright bland. Pity really.
Sweet and Sour Pork - While I will admit that the sweet and sour pork had a nice smoky taste to it, the meat to flour proportion was greatly skewed in favour of the flour, which was a real bummer. Not to mention that portions were tiny for $18 .
Stir Fried Kailan - Drenched in light, mildly salty gravy without being overcooked. Very decent.
Roast Chicken - Served with the de facto crackers, the roast chicken boasted razor thin crisp skin coupled with tender flesh and a generous splashing of salt. Only gripe I had was that the meat could have been juicier. Still good though but nothing compared to what I had at Lung King Heen of course.
Deep Fried Prawns with Wasabi Mayo Sauce - Apparently Tung Lok came up with this dish many years ago. I am not sure how accurate this piece of information is but the prawns were really quite good. Huge, crunchy and coated in a thin layer of flour with a mild tolerable level of wasabi. But it's $52 for a large serving for 9 pax.
Horfun with Prawns - Although each of us managed to snag a huge prawn each, the hor fun itself lacked wok hei but I did like the not too starchy gravy with generous amounts of egg. But at $40 for such a small portion, I'm inclined to think that it's quite overpriced.
Total bill for the 9 of us stood at $238 with a 20% discount. Sure, we were all stuffed at the end of it (courtesy of the ever reliable bowls of rice) and food quality was generally above average, but I wouldn't term it value for money. Portions were less than generous and honestly, none of the ingredients in our dishes were anywhere near expensive. But still, if a family dinner is at hand and you would like an "established" brand name with decent food and prices that won't break your bank, Tung Lok Seafood may just appeal to you. See all my pictures here.
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Ditch that Diet Plan for a night.... Tonight is the night to eat your heart's out.... Serving yummilicious spanish tapas.. This ahlarCART 不肥 'buffet' is one that truly deserves missing breakfast and lunch so that you could try out all the dishes on the alacarte menu. Only happening on Sundays and Mondays.... you have 2 hours to eat whatever your like on the menu. Boy... The dishes on the menu is truly deserving and fabulously delicious. You have a good mix of seafood, beef, poultry, vege and finger food...
The tenderloin beef in garlic sauce is the best for me out of all the other dishes. Served in a metal pan, flavoured lusciously with sauce and whole garlic. This is one dish that I could have one pan after another. The escargot with garlic butter comes in a pan as well, served in a bed of mash. They even provide this unique clamping tool for you to hold on to the shell while you hook the fresh and tasty flesh out.
Overall the food is pretty yummy, service is great, the staff are helpful, attentive and friendly. On top of that... the location is fabulous. Set in the Singapore Art's Museum, if i'm not mistaken, the location used to be an old classroom. You can choose indoor or alfresco dining on a cool evening. Utterly romantic and arty farty....
How to enjoy great food without some decent wine, Happy hour happens almost all the time... House Wine is going for S$5 per glass. Want something more exotic, you could go for the Sangria which is also S$5 per glass.... And let me tell you a secret... be sure to bring 3 ladies to go for the buffet on mondays.... and you get a free bottle of wine......
Buffet is optional.. you could also order from the menu, where you can find authentic spanish main courses, staples, desserts and plenty of other stuffs. There were not many seats, on the monday that we went, it is pretty quiet.. I should say... its a fabulous place to bring your date out for a quiet but yummylicious romantic dinner...
However, the only part that freaks me out a little is the ladies.. Though really nice, clean and modern looking... The fact that its a distance away from the restaurant, you have to walk through a small corridor pass a locked metal gate, a fountain to find it. In the evening when the sun is down and the lights are dim and the energy saving sensor lightings in the toilet are a little bit slow to react... One might feel a little freakish.... But thats good news if you are bringing a date.... Thats your cue to hold that hand you wanted to hold for the last 3 months.....
Fabulous food, Romantic Setting, Great Service, Convenient Location and Value for money drinks.... KNOCK YOUR Monday Blues AWAY......
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