Laundry Self Service In Singapore

Laundry – Self-serve in Singapore.

Laundry is the dreaded word while travelling.  Pretty easy to get the jocks and socks done by hand as required, but in the tropics where getting sweaty, and clothes quite grubby from your sweaty body, not to mention a bit smelly too, usually requires a more serious effort to get the clothes of everyday use washed.

While the traditional adage of one set on, one set being washed and one set in the bag is still a sound approach, it is when you are staying somewhere for a while and you need to wash a load or two that it can be tricky.

Commonly hotels charge really high prices for laundry.  Yes, they come back nice and clean and pressed [and on a hanger or folded and wrapped too], but you sure pay for the service.  Prices for washing shirts and trousers in many decent level hotels in Asia can be $15 – 30 each [or Ringgit, Won, Baht whatever].  That seems VERY expensive.

In Singapore one of the few hotels with their own laundry has been the Holiday Inn group.  They have a self-service laundry in the premises and that is a convenient and great cost saver.  Almost all of the Holiday Inn branded places will have one throughout Asia, but not always at other parts of the IHG group, eg Crown Plaza brand.  Pity……..they could follow the example of their more consumer friendly counterpart brand!

Singapore has been a bit of a problem with a paucity of self-serve laundry services around.  Yes, there are outside places that do laundry at more reasonable prices, but most were not self-serve.

Now there are a few decently organised and operated places starting to appear, many are open 24 hours too.  A S$5 wash and a 5min drying for $1 Singapore [allow $5 to get a load fully dry] is a reasonable price.  Clean, airy and pleasant and with liquid washing detergent added automatically it is a fairly painless 40 minute experience for a wash.  Read a book or the paper – easy as can be.

We used the new Easywash facility in Chinatown at 4 Sago Lane between S Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street opposite the Chinatown Complex.  Other ones are around the main tourist areas of the city.  The Chinatown set up is a few minutes walk from the Chinatown MRT, and can be easily combined with a visit to Chinatown.  I would use it again.

Chinatown EasyWash

Chinatown Complex opposite

Wonder Wash is here http://wonderwash.com.sg/locations/ with 36 locations around Singapore from 2010, but most are outside the main tourist areas although easy enough to get to for many. Not all are close to MRT locations.

We used http://www.easywash.sg/ at their Chinatown site, and they have other sites at Beach Road near Kampong Glam, Braddell near the MRT and another about 5mins walk from Commonwealth MRT.

You do need to get the washing done.  Now definitely a bit easier in Singapore.

ParkRoyal on Pickering - A Great Hotel in Singapore

Park Royal on Pickering – Singapore

The hotel has now been open about a year.  We visited early in 2013, and again now at Christmas 2013. Both were high quality experiences, but the current visit has been better as staff now are more settled and experienced in the nuances of the hotel and its quirks, and new experienced ones have been added.

The staff of the hotel really DO make the place – no doubt about it.  Effective, pleasant and with a “can do” attitude they are a pleasure to deal with, right down to the bellboy.  The hotel recently won the 2013 Hotel Concierge award in Singapore, among many awards in 2013.  Check in and out was quick ad pleasant.

Rooms are airy and with light colours, plus a lot of wood – with both daytime and night time powered blinds, and nearly full length windows.  Some think it a bit disconcerting, but you get used to the need to use the blinds for privacy when required!  Most rooms look out with excellent views across to the Suntec City area across the Treasury Building, so leaving them up offers excellent views both day and night.

undercroft area near main entrance

Christmas lights outside Lime Retaurant

Rooms are well equipped with plenty of multi pin type [for  different countries] power points as well as audiovisual connections and a 5V DC USB outlet for direct phone charging. The beds are all king size and with a soft top so very good for sleeping.

Some rooms have a bath, most just a shower, which is quite large with both an overhead rain shower and a hand moveable wall fixture.  Toiletries provided are of good quality and some are organically based [they say they are moving that way].

It claims to be a green focussed hotel, and many parts of the hotel infrastructure revolve around that theme.  There is a lot available online if further detail is needed.  I think the attitude of the hotel and staff is to try to meet the expectations for a low energy and green theme.  Certainly one major feature in your face is the external green walls.  They do add to the ambience.

The pool is excellent but end walls are not well suited to lap swimming as can be rounded and with no markings on the bottom swimming a straight line can be tricky if a bit crowded.  The pool can be a bit cool sometimes as it is partially shaded during the day - if the weather is cloudy, be aware of this.  There is a well-equipped gym near the pool.

The undercroft and main entrance area offer good weather protection and a stark visual appearance.  Especially a standout at night with lights on the curved roof.

The hotel functions very well, offering a great visitation experience.  It is well positioned on Upper Pickering Street for both business and holiday visitors, with easily reached public transport options very close by [100m to Chinatown MRT, or buses], and in close walking distance for many business offices.

Breakfast is served on the ground floor, in Lime Restaurant and a good array of western and eastern food is available, including all standard items.  Food quality and the live cooking are very good.  But beware – if staying over the weekend be there early for Sunday breakfast, before 0900hrs, or expect a delay.  Quite common in Singapore as the Sunday breakfast can be very leisurely and cause slow movement through breakfast restaurants in many hotels, including upmarket ones.

The hotel has a very well thought through Club Lounge on the 16^th floor which can be good value for business guests.  I would recommend it.

Plenty more images online under the hotel name - many quite spectacular!
 

Lime Restaurant at Park Royal on Pickering - Festive Season Food

Lime Restaurant

Visited the restaurant for the Buffet that was available for the weekend before Christmas in a party of four, of different ethnic backgrounds.  The festive buffet [weekends and festive days in the pre-Christmas to New Year period] was essentially similar to the Christmas Buffet for Christmas Eve dinner with a wide variety of Christmas fare. 

Lime Restaurant

Plenty of seafood – prawns, oysters, smoked salmon and relevant extras.  The cold seafood was excellent with the products fresh and well presented, with attentive staff such as they provided a lime-water finger bowl for “clean up” after peeling the king prawns.  Prawns were superb, presented on ice – and I am a bit of an afficionado of prawns!  Oysters were fat and tasty too. Main meat dishes included the traditional turkey, baked glazed ham and a wonderful “melt in your mouth” rare to medium rare, sliced baked lamb loin - that was a standout.  Plus a wide range of cold entrees – tabouli, hummus, other leaf salads and more.  Baked vegetables were the accompanying hot side dishes.  This was the western food choices. 

Similar wide choices were available for Indian and Chinese, although not eaten by me some others in the party commented favourable on both Indian and Chinese choices and their quality.  Definitely able to please almost any taste!

Desserts included bread and butter pudding made with an Italian pannetone base, several mousse and cake logs [dressed for Christmas], ice cream in several flavours.  Fresh fruit and marshmallow skewers were available for dipping in the [obviously very green] green tea chocolate fountain.  After all – it is Lime Restaurant!

The meal was a great Christmas festive repast.  And reasonably priced for what was on offer.  Free flow of drinks, both soft and hard, including French champagne, available for an extra charge [normal in Singapore].  Highly recommended for the Festive season – and still a few days left!

The buffet would also be something to consider for other festivities coming, with Chinese New Year soon.  Even consider for Christmas 2014.

Renato’s Coogee Beach – Quality Comfort Food on a Cool Night

If anyone is culturing multiculturalism in Sydney, it is Renato’s Italian Trattoria in Coogee Bay Road, Coogee.

We ate there (again) tonight and once again it was a very good experience.  The group at the table beside us consisted of a group of aussie accented ethnic Chinese, Indian and possibly Thai, but maybe they are all ethnically Singaporean, because the owner is.  Uh huh, a Singaporean born guy running an Italian restaurant in Sydney.  The table on the other side had Greek and middle eastern guys enjoying the food too.

Great place; great food,  great staff, mostly Italian and a lassie from Manchester and also a Chinese guy in the kitchen.  I did say multicultural didn’t I?

The place was full to the gunnels but still the service was quick, and with a smile and pleasant comment.  The staff have a unity of purpose, and they all appear to be there to get the job done – no wandering around looking as if they had been dropped on the wrong planet.

The ambience was loud, fast and basic, everything you needed; and the food was good, good, good (as in property – location, location location)!

They have a small wine list, but there is a reasonably comprehensive bottle shop right next door and I am sure you can find something there to add to the good food (and it is BYO).
The oysters were plump and smooth.  The veal scaloppine was tender, as was the rare- medium veal wrapped in prosciutto, and it was all served hot with freshly cooked vegetables.  In fact the whole experience was just right – an Italian Trattoria you can depend on.

It is Italian – so they do pizza and pasta too – and many diners were enjoying those.

prosciutto wrapped veal

scaloppine boscaola

 

Will go again when we have the chance, and as one satisfied departing customer was heard to say “well…. they won’t go out of business.”   Try it when you can.

Hanuman Restaurant - One of Darwin's Best.

Hanuman is not a new restaurant in Darwin, definitely been around for a few years.  It is one restaurant that we have visited many times over the years, as it moved location a few times.  The most recent visit was in early May 2013.  It is on Mitchell Street, in the Darwin Entertainment Centre complex. [NOTE - hotel here has recently changed from Holiday Inn to Doubletree, so be aware of that].  If driving, there is paid parking below, or try The Esplanade - seems easier there rather than Mitchell Street.

It gets harder to maintain the standard over a long period but this restaurant certainly does.

Hanuman serves asian cuisine - thai, nonya, indian and peranakan and a modern take on that general area of food - think Sri Lanka, India and SE Asia, with the main man originally from Sri Lanka.

One of the best restaurants in Darwin, the menu offerings have expanded while still keeping most of the regular favourites, with the oysters - Hanuman oysters - still a top entree.

In a group of four, we ordered a range of both entrees and mains, with all sharing. All commented favourably on all dishes and we all are experienced in Asian food. Service was excellent and as always - bookings are the best option; you might get in without one, but on Friday and Saturday it is unwise not to make a booking - it was basically full last Saturday, and it is not even the tourist season yet!.

There is a cocktail bar and outside food area, non air-conditioned with fans, and while cool, inside in the a/c is recommended.  Food service in the outside area [under cover and weather proof] is often a bit quicker and more focussed around eating quickly and going on elsewhere. 

The wine list is okay, covering a good range of prices and quality, but not extensive; having a beer is maybe more common with this food style.

Recommended very strongly - absolutely one of the best in Darwin if you like Asian food.

 

Retail Therapy in Kuala Lumpur

One Utama

A major suburban retail therapy centre in KL, the area has been a bit tricky to reach previously by public transport, if you were not a local.  Ikea [at The Curve nearby] had their own feeder buses, but more development in the area has meant better public transport - mostly buses.

It is a big mall, with now two major areas - the old original and the newer stage 2.  Large corridors, plenty of shops,  but a bit flat in terms of the shops available.  More directed at local Malaysian customers probably, rather than tourists.  There are a few international upmarket brand shops, and Tangs from Singapore, but the experience with sales staff was not good.  Not focussed on wooing tourists to open their wallets is my view.

On most weekdays, it is reasonably empty, a distinct difference to KLCC, Mid Valley MegaMall or areas around Bukit Bingtang, where bustling might be a good term to use to describe them.

Think it is a bit flat overall, but it would depend on whether there was a focus on doing some shopping [with some specific needs] or not and whether there was much doing in the "sales" themes.

KLCC

Definitely a good shopping location, with major Malaysian, Japanese and Singaporean department stores - Parksons, Isetan, Tangs, and most of the name brands synonomous with high end high quality retail.  Particularly for women - LV, Prada, Burberry, Coach, Gucc, Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Sony, HTC, Samsung and the list could go on.  There are about 6 or 7 levels of shops, and easily accessed using the rail network with a MRT station directly below the centre.

 

Think the options for eating are modest, but with such good local food available in other locations around KL it is hardly an issue.  Most eateries are for western food, so I guess for locals, that is a bit different.  Several coffee chains - Dome and Starbucks among them.

You can access the Petronas Towers from this area, but sometimes it is difficult to get access that same day, if it is busy.  You need to go and check as it was not possible to book otherwise when last checked out.

It is a worthwhile experience to go up and cross the skybridge. [ Remember the movie with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones??]

Sungei Wang Plaza

Used to be the go to place for all sorts of shopping, especially electronics, illicit movies and software, and with a wide range of smaller shops selling many different items and plenty of eateries.  Also has a Parkson department store.

Sungei Wang Plaza is now 35 years old and very tired.  As an offering against many others - The Pavilion and Lot 10, Times Square - all very close by, it is now awful.  Run down and at times a bit grubby.  That said there are some bargains to be had, if you wander around.  Pirated DVDs and software are more difficult to obtain.  BUT - a big renovation is underway, and will continue through 2013 and into 2014.  Hard to tell so far on whether it will "come back", but it certainly lacks some features now more common in newer centres eg SWP has quite low ceilings, whereas newer places are more "öpen".  Time will tell.

But do get of the monorail at Bukit Bintang.......lots to do around that area, and you can get to both The Pavilion and Lot 10 from that stop.

Platinum Green Mark Hotel - ParkRoyal on Pickering in Singapore

“modern and new, with strong green credentials, excellent staff”

 

Good location near Clarke Quay and Chinatown and close to both MRT and buses, easy to reach from airport, by taxi or you could even arrive via the MRT!  [ THAT is being superduper green!] 

This is a Platinum Green Mark hotel -the first in Singapore with lots of greenery on walls and overhanging roof areas, as well as lots behind the scene on energy efficiency.  Another one is expected sometime in 2013 or 2014 but you cannot beat being the first!

Floor to ceiling clear untinted windows might be unnerving to some, but there are a set of shades[electric operated] so both privacy and light control is good. A really top notch bed - one of the best have been in anywhere! Very comfortable!

Good desk and work area, incl light, with plenty of modern power sources incl direct wall plugs for usb charge cords, and multi function power plugs, led lights [ matches the high green mark rating].

Has an extensive well shaded and protected external corridor system, plus some internal corridors. Bathrooms are spacious and many with both shower and rain shower heads and some rooms have baths too. Toilet usually seems to have a separate door, although it is part of bathroom. The rooms are very light and airy - with pale wood wall panelling - a good overall vibe.

Breakfast was very good in Lime restaurant downstairs, with a good range of food style choices [ western, asian etc] and an extensive range of options within each food theme. The coffee was good too! Staff in the restaurant were very good.

A pool and well organised gym are available, and the gym is adjacent to the pool.  The pool area has some snazzy looking day cabins - a bit like a bird cage but somewhat larger.  A bit kitsch if just using the area for exercise, but plenty also wish to lie around a bit.  You tend not to do that when you live in the tropics, but am sure plenty will.  A fantastic view out towards the city. 

Loved the big open high ceiling concourse area outside the main entrance, as allowed a breeze to blow right through but no rain [ might be damp in very strong windy conditions though].

Cannot miss it - look for the grey curved outside [ has been described as similar to armour rail used for road edges].

It is new, trendy and worth it. Especially if keen to be environmentally conscious as well as stay in a top class hotel.

Would we stay again? YES.

 

 

Sunday Brunch - ParkRoyal on Pickering Singapore

Sunday Brunch has started from early May at this newish Hotel in Singapore, now open for about 3 months.  While Sunday brunch is quite an event at some of the other seriously upmarket establishments in Singapore, they have prices to match, although many patrons do rave about them.

At the Park Royal on Pickering in Lime [their signature dining area], while the offering may not be as elaborate as some, it is a very credible competitor on both price and quality.  At the current price of $S 88 ++ [non alcoholic] or $S128++ [with free flow of alcoholic drinks] it is excellent value [May 2013].

There was free flow of French champagne [Piper Heisdeck NV the day we were there], plus a mix of imported both red and white wines of good reputation [which will change a little due to availability].  And there is also the standout signature drink of the establishment – lime Monet [non-alcoholic] and soft drinks for those not drinking alcoholic beverages.

Food was excellent.  In the group we were part of, all commented very favourably on the foie gras, rack of lamb, Norwegian eggs and the seafood range, along with ratatouille, various vegetables, potato gratin, risotto, braised lamb shanks, roast beef, as well as a broad range of Asian dishes.  Eggs Benedict was also available – just in case you missed breakfast!  The actual food on offer will change regularly, so availability may not be the same.

Seafood included a range of both cold and cooked items – with cold Japanese seafood options, whole tiger prawns, imported oysters, half lobster, among the cold on ice delicacies, and whole cooked fish, and an unusual and delicious cod dish in the hot choices.  There was a cooked prawn meuniere, although one person thought the prawns in the dish not as good a flavour as could be expected.

A good range of breads and pastries were also available, although I thought some of the pastries appeared slightly overdone – just slightly so, not burnt.  Included were several types of muffins – they were very good, as had tasted them earlier!

There was a wide range of both European desserts – sliced black forest cake, baked cheesecakes, various tarts and pies, a beautiful bread and butter baked pudding and a few separate individual serve dishes of mousses, plus some Asian speciality desserts and cakes as well as macaroons and racks of sweet jelly type lolly items.  Several varieties of ice cream rounded out the dessert offerings [and it was cold and firm].  There was a good range of both hard and soft cheeses to go with coffee or a range of teas, to finish off the luncheon.

Staff assisting at tables were attentive, but not over bearing, and very helpful and pleasant.  No one at our table made any unfavourable comments on the food quality.  Staff performance overall including cook and table staff was really excellent – friendly, helpful, and broadly doing a very good job – definitely one of the stand out positives.  It does help to have staff who add to the overall impression.

Definitely plenty of choice to eat and overall food was very good; service excellent.  Would I come back? – Yes.  Score 8.5 /10.  It will offer an excellent niche alternative to those Sunday brunch events, costing somewhat more at other hotels. And it is located in a very pleasant setting, on the ground floor, with an  view to the water features and the outdoors – ambience is excellent!  

Malaysian Railways - On Time - Sometimes?

The motto on the impeccably ironed white shirt said it all – “on time - every time”.

That is the somewhat dubious motto or maybe the aspirational ideal of the Malaysian Railway System – KTM.

Recent experiences on the train between Singapore and KL, might have to make a rethink probable, to maybe, at best, “on time, some times ”.

The north bound train from Woodlands was 3 hours late and involved a significant mucking about with a dummy train leaving Woodlands and a major  “change trains” at the tiny station of Kempas Baru.  Not to mention that no one was told anything.  And significant shunting of trains to accomplish the task.  ALL passengers were somewhat bemused at the hijinks involved – including the no doubt long suffering local passengers.

Then even before the journey from KL to Woodlands in Singapore commenced we were informed of an hour delay in leaving KL. I suppose there is an air conditioned lounge to sit around in, but hey………there was a dinner appointment in Singapore for this evening.  THAT is history!  There is no possible way to make up an hour or more in the 6 hour trip.

While the trip is usually an okay journey and watching the country side slide past is also okay, getting to “on time, most of the time” might be a better ideal to aspire to in the near term.

With an election due in May and a proposal for a high speed train by 2020, a better performing railway system might be a good idea.  Over to you, the new Malaysian Government to get something done better.

1 Utama - Getting There by Public Transport

A major suburban retail therapy centre in KL, the area has been a bit tricky to reach previously by public transport.  Ikea [at The Curve complex nearby] had a special bus service previously, but with developments surely there is public transport now.

There is not of easy to find information on getting around Kuala Lumpur easily by public transport, but it is getting better.

Yes……you can get to 1 Utama by public transport, quite easily now.  A couple of options to consider.

From Stesen Central in KL, take a U89 bus, which goes to the Damansara interchange just about 100m from 1 Utama.  And you can also take the same bus in the reverse order, back to Stesen Central.  The travel time is about an hour.

Even better time wise, is to catch the train to Kelana Jaya which is the last station on the line that operates between Gombak and Kelana Jaya.  Go across the overpass and down to the street, and wait for a U82 bus, which goes to the Damansara interchange about 100m from 1 Utama.  There are a few other bus routes also going to the same location, including U43.  Do not be confused as some of the bus routes to 1 Utama are a bit convoluted, with sidetracks to pick up within housing areas.

For the return trip, catch the U43 at the interchange, or you can also catch the bus directly in front of 1 Utama, at the bus stop there.  You stop directly in front of Kelana Jaya rail station.

Best of all, these buses now operate with the same Touch N Go preloaded card that can be used on the trains……no hassle with fares at all.

Be prepared though………do not expect to see many non-Malaysians on the bus!!

But hey, why not??   Buses are air conditioned, seats okay and available and an easy option.  Be adventurous, and use public transport.

Buying Tickets on Malaysian Railways

The online booking system works well, allowing booking and paying online.

For journeys originating in Singapore a much higher charge is paid.  BUT…. There are some ways to overcome that.

Buy your ticket from Johore Baru to say, KL and get to JB independently – on the cheap with the 170 bus from Queen street in Singapore.  Or, buy a separate ticket from the KTMB counter at Woodlands for the trip to JB, and then use your online bought and paid for ticket from JB to KL.  Price is S$ 11, for either class from Woodlands to JB.

Or, buy a return journey from KL to Woodlands and back to KL at Ringitt prices, and do not travel on the KL- Woodlands journey.  It is a cheaper option than originating in Woodlands, Singapore at S$ prices.

There are further discussions on line about ticketing and prices – search for the “man on seat 61".

Kuala Lumpur Public Transport - Getting Around

Access to the train system around the Kuala Lumpur greater urban area used to be horrible, with multiple operators and multiple ticketing systems meaning journeys involving multiple operators required multiple tickets. 

A few years ago, that started to change, and finally a single touch’n’go preloaded touch card was introduced which not only provided access to the train services, it could be used for toll roads, fuel, and other services.  Improvements have continued, with more recent changes seeing the introduction of use of the card on many of the public buses in KL.

Prior to that, the local bus service was a bit of a magical mystery tour.  Information on routes and pricing was difficult to negotiate and even find in some cases.  Buses were at best pretty crappy, and mostly non air-conditioned although windows did open, and very crowded.

Now that the touch’n’go cards are being used it is easier, although getting route details is not always any better.  More improvements to the bus system are planned.

The trains within the near city area can be crowded – and getting back from MegaMall on a Sunday afternoon can be a very crowded experience, with one train we were on once so over full that occupants were not sure it would move between the Mid Valley station one stop back to KL Sentral. [Yes, you can get to and from Mid Valley MegaMall by train easily].

Finding information from hotels is not always easy either.  Many people only know the route numbers they use regularly and as far as is known no comprehensive guide is available.  But a few hardy souls are sussing out some of the more useful ones for tourists……….including us intrepid old fartz.

With around 4 million people in KL, many using public transport regularly, there has to be some logic in the system.  That is the start point!!

 

Touch'N'Go cards can be purchased at KL Sentral, as well as many train station and a few other locations, and are topped up at ticket windows at many train stations.  You need to pay a small deposit or fee for the card, and the balance on the card is valid for up to 12 months.  Some old cards are no longer operational due to some access changes,  and can be redeemed at a special ticket centre at KL Sentral.  A bitof a hassle if it happens to you, but is fixable.

Definitely an easy way to move around the city, and they operate on all city trains and many buses.  Easy access to many of the shopping and tourist areas in the main city areas can be achieved via one of the train systems of public transport, if you want to be a bit adventurous.

Test it out..........the trains work just fine.

Derailment - KL to Singapore

The trains do run on time - sometimes - between KL and Singapore and vice versa.  I have not really experienced that however.

Now that the trains only go to /from Woodlands in Singapore it is somewhat easier to make the journey, at least south.  That way the cost is in MYR, not SIN $$.  There are a few tricks to get a deal going north in MYR, which is about one third the cost of SIN$$, but that is already out there.

More recent news however, from last week was that the day express was derailed, about one hour  south of KL, with quite a few cars toppling over and major track damage.  No one was killed although a few seriously hurt, but not necessarily major injuries.

Quite a large news article in the Strait Times in Singapore last week and photos, and the article below was in Channel News Asia.

"A train heading to Singapore derailed and overturned in Malaysia on Saturday [ 26 January 2103], causing six people to be injured.

Train service between Kuala Lumpur and Woodlands has been suspended until further notice.

The KL Ekspres train derailed just before reaching the Kempas train station in the afternoon.

The driver was believed to have sustained leg injuries and was trapped in the wreckage.

Local media reports also said that some passengers suffered minor injuries."

- CNA

A derailment would surely be a significant event for any old fartz!