Bino

Graze at Hilton Kuala Lumpur – Wonderful Casual Dining in KL Sentral

August 9, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

While many of Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s food outlets – such as Iketeru and Chynna – are already well-established in the KL foodie scene, their European restaurant, Graze is relatively newer but quickly emerging as a go-to place for casual dining. Having been open for just about 2 years, it was nevertheless well-patronized during the Thursday night that I dined there.

The overall look of the restaurant matches the casual dining proposition that it aims to convey. Sleek chairs, low-hanging light fixtures and floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing views of the greenery of the lake gardens immediately create a soothing ambiance to dining at Graze. A quick glance at the menu reveals a selection of light and earthy appetizers juxtaposed against hearty and rich main dishes. Being undecided on the path to take, I went for a bit of both.

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The Line at Shangri-la Hotel Singapore: A Futuristic Golden Jubilee Buffet

August 5, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

It has been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of dining at The Line at Shangri-la Singapore. Called as such due to its elongated 16 theater kitchens, the buffet here has the distinction of being one of the longest in the city state. I returned just last week due to an innovative menu presented for SG50, a futuristic twist to traditional Singapore favorites. This in effect differentiates The Line’s SG50 selection from the rest.

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Things to Do in Kuala Terengganu – More Than Just a Transit to Redang & the Perhentians

July 26, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

They say that those wishing to experience a more traditional Malaysia should head out to the states of Terengganu and Kelantan at the peninsula’s quieter east coast. Filled with a distinctly Malay character and fringed with excellent beaches, it’s the side of Malaysia that remains relatively unknown to most travelers, save for the beach resorts at the Perhentian Islands or Redang.

As I wanted to experience something different than the usual Kuala Lumpur this time, I headed out to Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state for a short trip. Using the excellent Tanjong Jara Resort as my base, I explored the easygoing seaside capital known for its excellent seafood and impressive mosques and found it filled with interesting places and worthwhile as a destination in its own right.

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Iketeru at Hilton Kuala Lumpur – Sumptuous Japanese Cuisine

July 25, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

As with any major Asian capital, Japanese restaurants have somewhat become an ubiquity in Kuala Lumpur. Practically every mall has one with competition fierce for premium sushi and quality ramen. It is thus quite remarkable that Iketeru, which is housed inside Hilton Kuala Lumpur in KL Sentral remains jampacked with people even up to this day, around 11 years since it first opened its doors. I was there on a Wednesday night, traditionally quite slow as it’s midweek yet still found all tables occupied – practically unheard of for an upmarket Japanese restaurant housed inside a hotel.

A quick glance at its menu reveals just why Iketeru remains highly popular – the food offerings are subject to constant reinvention in line with the season and to diners’ preferences. The food items also read like a walkthrough to nature. For dinner, I chose to have Fubuki or “Snow Storm,” a special teppanyaki set menu. With dishes such as sushi, wagyu beef and foie gras within the set; it also served as a rundown of the house specialties all in one meal.

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Solo Trip to Cotabato City and Maguindanao

July 19, 2015 by Bino 8 Comments

I almost didn’t make it to Cotabato City.

It was not because something untoward happened while I made the trip by land from General Santos City nor did I chicken out last minute.

It was because no one was willing to go with me on this trip. It was kind of like my trip to a couple of dodgy countries some years back. Only difference is that the danger associated with Cotabato seemed more compelling. Traveling by land meant that I would pass by towns such as Mamasapano or Ampatuan where people were massacred as recently as 6 months ago. I could have traveled by air directly to Cotabato which seemed to be a safer option but that was not a luxury I had at the time.

After obtaining assurances from the helpful DOT-ARMM folks, I pushed through with the trip to explore the tourist attractions of Cotabato City and Maguindanao. It’s been something like 3 years since I first got the urge to venture to Maguindanao and I didn’t want to waste this window to go. A picture of the Grand Mosque somewhere online pretty much sealed the deal.

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Hilton Kuala Lumpur – Convenience Amidst Affordable Luxury

July 17, 2015 by Bino 1 Comment

Often cited for having the best value luxury hotels, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is a delight for frequent travelers and luxury vacationers. This is the city where a 5-star hotel room can go for just US$100 a night. If you’re racking up points to reach elite status in a loyalty program or simply wishing to bask in opulence and luxury without breaking the bank, Kuala Lumpur is a great city to do so.

During a short trip to Kuala Lumpur, I stayed at Hilton Kuala Lumpur – a fine example of these great value luxury hotels that I mentioned earlier. Located at KL Sentral, it is also very conveniently located especially if coming from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The city is well-known for its traffic jams, especially if you’re staying in one of the hotels around the city center. The hotel’s strategic location just next to the KL Sentral station, where fast trains from the airport stop, allows guests to avoid that hassle altogether. It’s only around 30 minutes from the airport. Many tourist attractions such as the old parliament building, lake gardens and colonial-era railway station are also close by.

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An Unmistakable Malay Experience in Tanjong Jara Resort

July 13, 2015 by Bino 5 Comments

Peninsular Malaysia’s quieter east coast is a traveler’s delight. Here, life moves at a slower pace. Balmy coconut trees sway lazily to the coastal breeze, people move about unhurriedly and the seafood is fresh. Life is as such from the seaside areas of Kelantan down to Johor that it makes one wonder why this particular stretch doesn’t get more visitors than it already does.

While this side of Malaysia has plenty to offer visitors, quality accommodations are sorely lacking. There is just one resort in this whole 700 kilometer seaside stretch that gets it right, the iconic Tanjong Jara Resort located in Dungun in the state of Terengganu. Part of the YTL group of hotels, it is the highest rated among the luxury resorts dotting the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. During my short jaunt to Kuala Terengganu, I stayed at the Tanjong Jara to check out what visitors have been raving about all these years on this relatively low-key resort.

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Buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang, Manila Hotel

July 9, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

A contender for the most underrated hotel buffet in Manila has got to be the Cafe Ilang Ilang, the all-day dining restaurant inside Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard. Though a deserving 5-star hotel buffet in its own right, it doesn’t get as much buzz as Makati or Ortigas hotels. During my staycation at Manila Hotel, I finally got to try out the dinner buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang. Here is what to expect.

Entering the restaurant for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to see modern and almost hipster-looking decor. It’s certainly not what I had in mind for a traditional sounding name like Cafe Ilang Ilang.

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