Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews
If you recall my post a few weeks back, Pete’s Place, the Italian restaurant at Grand Hyatt Singapore, recently introduced a new chef – Cataldo Chiloiro. He brings with him a new menu showcasing influences from Puglia where he hails from. I recently visited Pete’s Place as I had heard so many good things about the restaurant. The F&B offerings at Grand Hyatt Singapore never disappointed before so it was only a logical step to check out their Italian restaurant.
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The Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre stands as one of the most centrally-located hotels in Singapore. Its location just behind the Centrepoint mall, within walking distance to the Orchard Road stretch, makes it highly popular among leisure travelers. It is one of the hotels I frequently recommend to friends from overseas whenever they ask for a mid-range option in Singapore. Likewise, it is one of the few hotels in the country that offer two double beds under the twin category which makes it easy for those traveling with kids.
I recently spent a night at this IHG property. Although I have been here a couple of times, this was actually my first time staying here. The hotel was renovated in 2009 – prior to that the property was known as the Holiday Inn Parkview. One defining feature of the hotel is its open atrium which used to look down to the lobby. After not being here for a while, I discovered that the atrium now houses the club lounge – but more on that later.
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Wan Hao at Marriott Singapore Tang Plaza has always been one of my go-to Chinese restaurants in the Orchard area. The food is delicious and value-for-money considering its 5-star hotel setting, especially when using their 1-for-1 tie up with the Entertainer app. The restaurant unveiled a new look recently after undergoing refurbishment for the past few months. The new façade is elegant and refined, especially with the “House of a Chinese Scholar” theme now permeating the four walls of the venue. I recently dropped by Wan Hao for a media tasting as the new look also coincided with some changes in the menu. While old-time favourites such as the Crispy Fried Chicken are still very much part of the offering, diners now get to relish in creations such as black truffle dumplings and stewed bird’s nest with a separate soup. During the tasting session, I managed to try quite a few of the dishes from the new menu.
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It is hairy crab season once again and Shang Palace at Shangri-La Singapore has launched their anticipated hairy crab menu for 2016. Valid from now til 30th November, the restaurant has rolled out a series of dishes which guests may order as a set menu or in ala carte style. I recently dropped by Shang Palace to check out a selection of the hairy crab menu.
While it is not uncommon to have an entire hairy crab during the season, the items I had at Shang Palace featured various interpretations of the prized crab meat sans the shell. I did not have to worry about having my fingers dirty this time.
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Creative recently launched the Aurvana ANC, the latest in its line of Aurvana headphones and its most wallet-friendly noise-cancelling option so far. As an urbanite and a frequent traveler, this was a most welcome feature as it gives the ability to have a more personal listening space in an ever shrinking and increasingly noisy world. I went for a series of trips recently and took out the Aurvana ANC for a spin. These were my impressions:
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Kroya is the flagship restaurant of Shinta Mani Club. Located by the hotel entrance, the venue is known for its creative interpretations of Khmer cuisine. Having tried quite a few Khmer restaurants in the past in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, I particularly love how the local food offers the best out of regional sensibilities. It’s not as fiery as Thai cuisine for example but at the same time, you get loads of fragrant (and healthy!) herbs like in Vietnamese cuisine.
As I approached Kroya, I immediately noticed the swing chairs at the outdoor seating area. If you’re not in a hurry to go somewhere, I really recommend sitting here for a more relaxing time. If you’re dining with a special someone, sitting here also enables for a more intimate dining experience.
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For most travelers, a trip to Cambodia would involve an expedition into the Angkor temples. If there is additional time, an excursion to the capital, Phnom Penh, may be scheduled before leaving the country. Tourism in Cambodia may have grown exponentially in the last decade but outside the major attractions, tourists are surprisingly sparse. During my latest visit to Cambodia, I ventured to the town of Battambang to get a glimpse of local life that’s not yet overrun with tourism. Traditionally the second largest city in the country, it has in recent years been looked upon by tourists who wish to escape the hordes found in Cambodia’s more happening cities.
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Shinta Mani Angkor is a name that has been getting a lot of attention lately, even from those who have not been to Cambodia. For a 39-room boutique hotel, the property seems to be a lot bigger than it really is in terms of citations. This Siem Reap hotel designed by Bill Bensley had humble beginnings but has in recent years reaped countless awards by prestigious publications. It was ranked the #3 best hotel in the world by CNN in 2015. Conde Nast, Travel + Leisure and Tripadvisor have likewise bestowed accolades on the property throughout the years. During my trip to Siem Reap, I wanted to see exactly how a small hotel could possibly stand at the pinnacle of the hospitality scene. This led to my two night stay at Shinta Mani Angkor.
My most recent trip to Siem Reap came nine years after my previous one. In that span of time, the tourism industry in Cambodia has grown exponentially. The sheer number of accommodation choices became palpable as soon as I exited the airport and found myself at the waiting area. A number of drivers were gathered around holding placards containing the name of their respective properties. I spotted the name Shinta Mani from that crowd and waved to my driver who quickly escorted me to the hotel’s van.
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