Tuesday 28 May 2013

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.
 

Wednesday 22 May 2013

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.

Sunday 19 May 2013

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.




 
 

Wednesday 15 May 2013

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!  

Friday 3 May 2013

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.