Author Archives: lendeliz

해동 용궁사 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple 海東龍宮寺 @Busan, South Korea

Posted on 2 April 2017 by lendeliz

2017-04-02 09.21.05We left our hotel early to visit the beautiful 해동 용궁사 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple 海東龍宮寺 located by the gorgeous coastline (see the feature image above).

It was a 30-minute subway ride to 해운대 Haeundae Station 海雲臺站, followed by a 10-minute cab ride. It was already quite crowded when we arrived at 9am (the temple opens at 5am till sunset and there’s no admission charges).

We made our way through the stalls selling snacks, souvenirs, and even vegetables, before reaching the entrance. We were greeted by the stone statues of the 12 zodiac signs, plus many other stone figurines (some were seats!). There were also some beautiful cherry blossoms, and it was really pleasant 🙂

Despite the crowd, things were quite orderly. There were many statues and small figurines within the temple, and we found the visit quite interesting. The ocean view was really gorgeous, and we spent a fair bit of time enjoying the scenery. We’ll let the pictures do the talking 🙂

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Categories: Busan, Travel | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

유가네닭갈비 Yoogane Dak-Galbi @Busan, South Korea

Posted on 1 April 2017 by lendeliz

IMG_2163While we have yet to try out the 유가네닭갈비 Yoogane Dak-Galbi 柳氏家鐵板雞專門店 in Singapore, it is certainly not to be missed when in Busan, since this is where this popular Chicken Galbi brand first started out.

We got ourselves a medium 치즈퐁~닭 Fresh Cheese Chicken Galbi 新鮮的芝士雞排 (₩19,500) and a side order of 라면사라 Ramyeon 拉麵 (₩1,500).

Though the medium Chicken Galbi was meant for 2 to 3 pax, and the large Chicken Galbi  (₩28,500) was meant for 3 to 4 pax, 4 of us could barely finish the medium portion, probably because we had eaten so much at Jinhae 😛

It was really thoughtful of them to give us aprons, so that we did not have to worry about getting our clothes dirty. We were almost about to attack our food after the staff brought the ingredients over and left our table, but the lady at the next table quickly stopped us, and gestured that the staff would help us with the cooking. How nice of her! Shortly after, the staff returned and did the cooking for us, while we tried to control our excitement.

Once ready, we picked up our chopsticks and attacked! The cheese was gooey and stretchy, and definitely enhanced the flavours of the spicy and tender chicken pieces. All I could say was that it was really quite addictive, and of course we were all fighting over the ramen too 😛

It was truly a fun and filling meal!

Contact:

  • Location: 부산광역시 부산진구 부전2동 242-21 242-21, Bujeon 2-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan
  • Website: www.yoogane.co.kr/en/
  • Directions: Walk along Seomyeon-ro at Exit 7 of Seomyeon Station
  • Hrs: 11am – 12am
Categories: Busan, Dinner, Travel | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Day trip to 진해 Jinhae (Cherry Blossom Festival) @Changwon, South Korea

Posted on 1 April 2017 by lendeliz

2017-04-01 06.18.03We woke up at 4+ in the morning for the main highlight of our trip, cherry blossom viewing at 진해 Jinhae 镇海!

This year, the 진해군항제 Jinhae Gunhangje Festival 镇海军港祭 (aka Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival) would be held from 1st to 10th April 2017. When we started planning for this trip, the cherry blossom forecast dates were not quite out yet, so we had buffered close to a week in 부산 Busan 釜山, and listed a few things to do in Busan, while keeping things flexible so that we could do a day trip to Jinhae, and hopefully catch the cherry blossoms in their full glory.

We had originally planned to go on a weekday so that it would not be not so crowded, but it appeared that the flowers were approaching full bloom earlier, and the weather forecast for today was rainy all day, which meant that that was a chance that the fragile flowers might be blown away! Today was a Saturday, and also the first day of Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, so we figured that it was better to be earlier than late.

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Categories: Busan, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 4 Comments

송정3대국밥 Songjung Third-generation Pork Soup 松亭3代豬肉湯飯 @Busan, South Korea

Posted on 31 March 2017 by lendeliz

2017-03-31 18.17.00Located in the Dwaeji Gukbap Alley 豬肉湯飯街 at 서면 Seomyeon 西面, this was a popular restaurant famous for its pork soup with rice, which is a must-eat when one is in Busan. The staff were very friendly to the many tourists, and through the English mixed with Mandarin explanations, we were able to place our orders.

We got the 순대국밥 (Sundae-gukbap) Korean Blood Sausage Soup with Rice 血腸湯飯 (₩6,500 nett),  내장국밥 (Naejang-gukbap) Pork Tripe and Intestine with Rice 內臟湯飯 (₩6,500), and instead of the 돼지국밥 (Dwaeji-gukbap) Pork Soup with Rice 豬肉湯泡飯 version (₩6,500 nett) where the sliced pork, rice and soup were all mixed together, we opted for the other version 수육백반 (Suyuk Baekba) Set Menu with Pork Slices 白切肉白飯 (₩8,500). In this version, sliced pork was served separate, along with an array of mee sua (rice vermicelli), kimchi, and other condiments, such as marinated chives, green chilli, garlic, onion, shrimp paste, soybean paste, soy sauce, etc.

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Categories: Busan, Dinner, Travel | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Overnight stay at 실로암불가마사우나 Siloam Fire Pot Sauna @Seoul, South Korea

Posted on 31 March 2017 by lendeliz

2017-03-30 13.17.22Our first trip in 2017 and we are going Korea!!

We have watched enough Korean dramas to know that visiting a 찜질방 (Jjimjilbang) 汗蒸幕, (aka Korean public bathhouse), should be part of our itinerary, and since we were scheduled to touch down at Incheon Airport around 22:15 local time (GMT+7), we figured that an overnight stay in a Jjimjilbang would be an unique experience, and a cheaper alternative to a hotel stay, especially since we wanted to leave for Busan the very next morning.

Initially, we wanted to take the overnight bus from the airport to Busan directly, but the online booking of the very popular tickets was too difficult, especially when we had to figure things out in Korean.

The next thing we did was to source for a suitable Jjimjilbang, and the 2 most readily available in English were Dragon Hill Spa, and Siloam Fire Pot Sauna. Eventually, we decided on Siloam (also spelt as Silloam), because it seemed less touristy and crowded.

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Categories: Seoul, South Korea, Travel | 1 Comment

Takujo @Marina Square

Posted on 3 March 2017 by lendeliz

2017-03-03 18.46.15Thanks to Starhub, we had a 1-for-1 voucher,  and decided to try out Takujo at Emporium Shokuhin, serving contemporary Japanese cuisine.

Emporium Shokuhin is this huge area in Marina Square ground floor that has a collection of fresh fish market (with fresh lobster from Hokkaido!), frozen meat market, groceries, and many restaurants all congregating together.

The restaurant was surprising quiet at 6:45pm on a Friday night (maybe the price put off many people). Even when we finished around 8:30pm, there were only 4-5 tables full.

Since it was 1-for-1, we opted for the Takujo 8-course Signature Dinner Set ($128++), where we would get to try both grilled fish options 🙂

The menu was surprisingly in English only though.

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Categories: Dinner, South | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

House of AnLi Bistro @Tanglin Mall

Posted on 25 February 2017 by lendeliz

2017-02-25 09.53.26G had visited this place before and jio-ed us for breakfast on this lovely weekend, but we had no idea this was such a lovely place 🙂

A really cosy bistro located at the back of a home interior shop, we really loved the natural lighting coming through the large windows and high ceilings. The natural light, coupled with the simple deco and white walls, provided a much soothing environment. The clientele as we can see it, is very much the ex-pats which is to be expected since it is within Tanglin Mall.

The view of the beautiful greenery and the comfortable seats, and the great company made us feel very relaxed and in high spirits!

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Categories: Breakfast, Central | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

9Goubuli @Marina Bay Sands

Posted on 21 February 2017 by lendeliz

2017-02-21 19.47.14

We had made reservations via Chope after seeing the menu on the Chope website, but it turned out that the restaurant had already updated their menu quite a while ago 😦

Nonetheless, we decided try out some of the food, since we were here already (plus we were hungryyyyyyyy):

  • 极品和牛包 Goubuli Buns with Wagyu Filling ($3.90++ per piece): This was served cold. What a waste of the beef!! 😦 Utter disappointment for what was meant to be the highlight of the restaurant.
  • 三鲜猪肉包 Goubuli Buns with Pork and Seafood Filling ($3++ per piece): Served lukewarm, this was definitely better than the Wagyu version. Still, we have had better buns before.
  • 口水鸡 Steamed Chicken with Szechuan Chilli Oil ($14.80++): Only 1-chilli rating, but it was definitely too spicy for us, haha!
  • 脆皮烧肉拼叉烧 Crackling Pork Belly & Honey Glazed Barbecued Pork ($32++ for small): The pork belly skin was really crispy, and indeed crackling when we bit into it, and the meat was quite tender. The barbecued pork paled in comparison, but was still not bad.
  • 咸鱼茄子豆腐煲 Eggplants and Tofu in Salted Fish Sauce ($22++ for small):  The pot of aromatic goodness was pretty addictive, without being overly salty.
  • 天津栗子鸡煲 Tianjin Style Claypot Stewed Chicken with Chestnuts ($22++ for small): This was pretty average.

Overall, we thought it was rather pricey, and very disappointing that the buns were so below standard.

Contact:

  • Location: 2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, Canal Level B2-02 S(018792)
  • Website: www.9goubuli.com (Reservations)
  • Hrs: 11am – 11pm
Categories: Dinner, South | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Foxhole Cafe @The Midtown

Posted on 6 February 2017 by lendeliz

2017-02-06 20.34.36

Foxhole Cafe at The Midtown (previously Hougang Plaza) was really a well-hidden place, for we got lost trying to look for it 😛

Once we went up to the lovely second storey with the whimsical unicorn mural and cosy environment, we did not feel like leaving anymore 😛

The drinks menu was quite interesting, and I got myself a refreshing Acai, Cranberry & Pomegranate Juice ($6.90). Hubby thought that his Iced Latte ($4.50) was just alright. We also shared a Blueberry Muffin ($4.90), which was moist and soft, but a little too sweet for us.

Overall, it was quite a lovely place to chill out 🙂

Contact:

  • Location: 1189 Upper Serangoon Road, The Midtown #01-18 S(534785)
  • Website: www.facebook.com/foxholecafe
  • Hrs: 11am – 9pm (Mon, Wed-Thu), 11am – 10pm (Fri), 10am – 10pm (Sat-Sun, PH)
Categories: Coffee/Tea Break, East, North | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Tomyum Mama @Upper Thomson

Posted on 2 February 2017 by lendeliz

2017-02-03 16.03.30
Thai In Town re-opened as Tomyum Mama, and we decided to give it a go~

  • Deep Fried Sea Bass with Fish Sauce and Mango Salad ($24.90 nett): Our favourite dish, the fish was deep fried till really crispy, and the meat was tender. The mango salad by the side gave a refreshing lift to the dish.
  • Thai Wanton Mee ($5.90): This was not bad, with generous amount of ingredients, given the price.
  • Pandan Chicken ($4.90 for 2 pieces): Ah, the sad and dry tiny little chicken chucks. Enough said. =X
  • Homemade Meat Balls ($4.90 for 8 pieces): This was surprisingly addictive despite looking rather dry on the outside. The meat balls actually had some juice in them! Do note that there was prawn in the minced meat mixture.
  • Baby Kai Lan with Mushrooms ($7.90): This was a rather salty plate of vegetables.

Drinks-wise, we tried the Thai Iced Milk Tea ($2.90), and the Thai Iced Lemongrass ($2.90), which we thought were not bad, but a little on the sweet side.

Contact:

  • Location: 244 Upper Thomson Rd S(574369)
  • Website: www.facebook.com/TYMM.thomson
  • Hrs: 12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm (Mon-Fri), 12pm – 11pm (Sat-Sun)
Categories: Dinner, North | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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