I had a major sushi craving the 2 weeks I was in Vietnam and it only grew stronger by the day. If I had to pick my favorite cuisine, it would be Japanese. A chance dinner encounter with a family who had been to K Cafe a couple of days before and the tremendous gratuitous rave was more than enough for me to give this joint a try.
Turns out, the family was not exarggerating. The food was good and so was the service. The warm hospitable, casual feel first hits you as you step in with the owner (a Japanese who moved to HCM naturally) explaining the day's specials to you.
The sashimi was fresh and the cut generous. In fact, generous enough for me to actually get thrilled. It was like dining in Japan all over again. The fish completely covered (and then some) the small mash of rice - which is how it should be and how it's done in Japan. It was splendid.
The spicy tuna roll was one of the best I have had the chance to sample. There was a kick and the sweet tuna flavor was present in every bite. The yaki-soba noodles were tasty and moist.
It was a splendid find and a smashing place to head to if you're in HCM with a craving for good sushi. You won't be disappointed.
I spent a couple of days in Nha Trang the last week of December and it was terribly enjoyable. Nha Trang is like the Bali of Vietnam - the salty scent of the sea greats you as soon as you step off the plane. The beaches are generally left untouched and it all adds to the charm of this wonderful place.
Nha Trang is one place to watch - huge resorts are popping up left, right and center and it is relatively still under the radar but it's not going to stay that way for long. A place to check out is the Sailing Club.
The Sailing Club brings together 3 different restaurants that face the glorious sea. You can sit and dine on the sand (and of course on solid ground) or have food served to your beach bench. The sight of people chilling and having a blast coupled with the calming, cooling breeze of the sea makes time-keeping a far thought.
Food is pretty decent - the wraps are great. When you are done with food, head down the beach to para-sail (I highly recommend this), jet-ski, ride water jets etc. After you're done with that, head back to the beach and watch the sunset. The beauty of this place is that it's got two completely different vibes when the sun's up and when it's down. So come any time of the day or better yet, stay and experience it all for yourself. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Located in the ancient capital of Vietnam (Hue), Pilgrimage Village is a place where you simply come and relax. The gorgeous green surroundings of this resort immediately takes you closer to nature. It's also the kind of resort where I use my indoor voice a lot. Everyone looks calm, at peace and mellow so indoor voice is an automatic self-imposed call.
The rooms are generously spaced and the bathrooms are created with the desire to bring you as close to the outdoors as possible. The shower area is covered with smooth pebbles and you stand on two strategically placed steps as you shower. That's something new. But so is the fact that they didn't have any towel hooks so after every shower I am faced with the conundrum - where do I hang my wet towel? The beds are nothing to write home about but the overall feel of the resort makes up for it.
Food at the resort's restaurant is, on the other hand, delicious. Service is prompt and quaint and the local dishes are a must try. The open-air concept of the restaurant is a wonderful outlet for the cool December breeze - a perfect accompaniment to the sumptuous food.
The resort's spa (Vedana Spa) is a place where I hung out everyday. The jacuzzi area is a pre-treatment hangout joint that you just have to indulge an hour or two in. The massages were a god-send to my stress knots and I am not a massage person but this was something I would go back and back for. The facials were relaxing but didn't give the effect I was looking for - I was expecting more.
Service here is non-intrusive and very helpful. Things get done and the staff give you the feeling that they are going out of their way - which is a good feeling. All in all, this place is one that I would recommend and definitely go back to.
I got back from Bali last week and I made it a point to visit the Amankila. It's about a 15 minute drive from my favorite villa in Bali (it's like my second home!!) located in quiet Candi Dasa. There are not many Aman resorts in the world and they are known for their exclusivity and their well, very above average room prices.
The initial plan was to go to the Amankila for dinner - the idea came about because I had a major craving for oysters courtesy of the Tabasco Habanero Sauce that I found in the Balinese supermarket. I had oysters with that Habanero version of Tabasco a couple of weeks back and I loved it. But there was no place in Candi Dasa that had oysters (at least so I was told). So it was either to hire a driver and have him drive me to a place where they had oysters or try my luck at the Amankila. My good pal and I decided on the latter.
So the night before, I threw a party at my villa and I told everyone about my dinner plans at Amankila. My sister who lives in Bali said I should instead go there for lunch. Then her neighbor proceeded to tell me the same thing and so did her other good friend. My good pal was talking to a few other people who told him the same thing - go there in the day. So we looked at each other and decided to make lunch plans instead. I normally like to form my own opinions but when 7 other people tell you the same thing at different times during the night, you sort of have to listen.
Turns out, everyone was right. Go in the afternoon because the view is spectacular and so calming and you would need that kind of view to take your mind off the very mediocre food. I had the sashimi platter to start (no oysters but raw fish would suffice - that was my thought) and the fish was disappointing - it was low grade and I could have the same quality at any big sushi chain. My main course of the baby chicken was a bit better - but it was still under-seasoned and didn't pack the punch that one would expect from the description of all the spices gone into the marination of the whole chicken. My pal's dish of grilled fish with spanish rice tasted too sweet and that overpowered the delicate flavor of the fresh fish.
We decided to order deserts since we were there and we might as well get the whole experience. It was a good decision because the desserts were great. The home-made ice cream was creamy, fresh and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. The warm brownie was full of chocolate flavor - sweet and slightly bitter at the same time with chunks of white chocolate in the middle.
There was a huge discrepancy between the quality of the food and the deserts - you would think and imagine that a place where the cheapest rooms go for US$1000 a night would have equally inspiring food but I guess not. So don't have a meal at the Amankila but instead, go for desserts and coffee/tea and just check out the amazing view.
Season after season, design houses take their iconic classic pieces and reinterpret them by adding/removing studs, zippers, compartments etc. For this season, Balenciaga decided to make a gorgeous, envious travel trolley.
I have never been one to believe in spending too much for a luggage. What's the point? It gets tossed, thrown, manhandled all the time. Of course, it's a different story if you only hand carry which is something you would if you have one of this.
The detail of this kick-ass piece is edgy, stylish and yet so classic. It looks modern now and will continue looking sleek many years from now which is the sort of mileage you would want out of a travel companion.
The double zip compartments ensure ample space for a quick trip and the trolley handle ensures easy handling in those time-pressed airport situations. This is luxurious, stunning and a fine example of traveling in style.
I started sleeping with eye shades a few years back during the time when I was traveling every other week. Eye shades ensured I got some semblance of sleep on 14 hour flights. So that and ear plugs are my sleep essentials.
I have been using the eye shades from various airlines and they don't last. Neither are they very comfortable but it's not easy to find non-disposable eye shades. I tried but I didn't get anywhere until I found out about Silksleep's eye masks.
Made from 100% Mulberry silk, this awesome pair of eye shades are luxorious, soft and ultra comfortable to say the least. They are also washable so you can reuse them over and over again.
I don't wake up with the occasional eye shade print on my face now. The super soft silk eradicates all of that and in that sense, helps reduce the effects of wrinkles. I take them everywhere and they have become part of my everyday life.
The affordable price tag makes this even more of a must-have. But then again, at the end of the day, there isn't a price for good, restful sleep. Get this Silksleep Eye Mask for 12.95 Pounds at Silksleep.
The large US airlines are now charging baggage fees for some international flights - mostly on flights between Europe, US and Canada for coach tickets.
American Airlines: $50 to check a second bag for tickets purchased beginning Sept. 14 on flights to, through, or from India, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
Continental Airlines: $50 to check a second bag to or from Europe, beginning with tickets purchased Aug. 27. Continental also charges $25 to check a second bag between the U.S. and Mexico and Central and South America, except Brazil.
Delta Airlines: $50 for flights to Europe. Delta is also charging $30 to check a second bag for flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America except Brazil. That charge began with tickets purchased Sept. 19 for travel beginning Oct. 13.
United Airlines: $50 for flights from North America to Europe or India, and 35 euros from most European airports for the trip to the U.S. The charge is 31 pounds for flights from the U.K. United also charges $27 for a second bag from the U.S. or Canada to Mexico or the Caribbean.
US Airways: $55 to check a second bag between the U.S. and all trans-Atlantic destinations beginning with tickets bought Aug. 26 for travel starting Nov. 4.
With a view of the South China Sea, its numerous shipping vessels and the lush surrounding greenery, The Cliff is a peaceful, thoughtful and indulging location for a special night or just simply an escape from the hustle of Singapore.
An open space concept where the breeze from the surrounding sea gently cools as you wine and dine - this restaurant derives a huge chunk of its menu from the the sea.
They have an oyster menu - if you are a fan, this is a must try. I love oysters and a platter of 10 consisting of various picks from France and Ireland was a fantastic start to my dinner. The oysters were fresh, salty, full of natural flavor that left me wanting more.
My dinner guest and I loaded up on starters and skipped the mains. The starters are usually more interesting if not, fun. You can order more and just share. Do note that the portions of the starters here are quite controlled so order with that in mind.
The tasting of tuna dish with its trio of the popular fish was sweet - you could taste the freshness of the fish in every bite while the natural sweetness lingered on. My favorite portion was the yellow tail tartare. It was just the right amount of bite and softness. The other two portion - basil infused yellow tail and potato crusted tuna was good but didn't leave an impression like the tartare did.
The rolled atlantic seabass sashimi with chunks of crab and fish tartare was a plateful of flavors. I enjoyed how the sweetness of the mango jelly synced with the natural saltiness of the crab and the fish. I did wish that the mango jelly was fruitier - the dish would have been elevated if the mango flavor had been stronger.
The hokkaido scallop was a delight. It was soft, fresh and melted in my mouth. The way good scallops should. The veloute of sunchokes was light and did not leave a heavy, creamy feel that I initially thought it would.
The service that night was uninspiring. The waiters were friendly and explained while offering suggestions with ease. However, they weren't the most attentive. The second order of bread I placed was forgotten while my empty water glass had to be asked to be filled up throughout the night. It was disappointing because the restaurant was only 25% full.
I really enjoyed my dinner that night and the serene view that accompanied it - a wonderful way to start my Saturday night.
Now that Summer is fast coming to an end; it calls for a late getaway to a tropical location before snow falls and winter coats come out. This post features my essentials for that late Summer beach sojourn.
One of my favorite destinations in the world is Bali. I have a sister who lives in Bali so I'm there twice a year, sometimes more. My favorite villa in Bali is the Villa Sasoon (I always say that my heart belongs to Villa Sasoon) and it's a second home to me because of how often I am there.
You get your own private villa with 2 separate sleeping quarters, a private pool, an open space living room, free-wifi in the whole villa, outdoor showers, kitchen, a spacious bathroom. Can you see why I love this villa so? Read more here.
This Summer entry is actually inspired by these wonderful beach shorts from Franks. I just got mine today and let me tell you; they are fantastic! I am so digging them. They have this cool quality with a vintage vibe thrown in for good measure.
The two side pockets and back velcro-secured pockets provides you ample space to store credit cards, keys, cash with ease. And they fit me perfectly (the XS). They are made on the small side so if you are in-between size, I suggest you go one size up. These sweet shorts are perfect for chilling in style. Get them for approx US$81.50 at Franks.
I first discovered Very Victoria when I was in Rome last December. I was channel surfing and of course, I ended up on MTV and she was on. I don't speak Italian but I found myself laughing along with her which goes to show that humor is universal.
She seems like a whole bunch of fun and her promo ads for her show is killer. Like this one above where she sings in Mandarin and does the whole bar-chick-in-the-50s dance. Awesome.
In the clip, the Asian tavern manager is telling his customer about how he's got a new set of girls. The whole mandarin song is about how relentless the girls are being harassed by all these men and how these men should get their heads out of the gutter and give up because they are never going to be able to hit that. Snap!
Something to cheer you all up on a Monday perhaps? Have a great week!
