CW's Food & Travel

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Eating in Kuala Lumpur - Dinner at Sage

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:33:00 +0000

Ever since I heard about Sage, I've been wanting to try it. The resident chef at Sage is Takashi Kimura of Cilantro fame. Cilantro is often rated as one of the best fine dining restaurants in KL - serving Japanese influenced French cuisine, or is it the other way round ? It's been closed for nearly a year, undergoing some major renovations. Sage is it's sister restaurant at the Garden Residences - a brand new high end condominium at The Gardens Shopping Centre.

Having read up about Sage on several blogs, I kind of knew a bit about the food here. The emphasis is on sourcing the best and freshest ingredients from all over the world, and treating them with a light touch to bring out the best flavours. With a Japanese chef at the helm, this minimalist and perfectionist approach to food is to be expected.

For a good restaurant, the service is just as important as the food, and Sage has some of the best staff in a KL restaurant. They are elegant, efficient, and knowledgeable. Quite difficult to pull off in service-challenged KL.I went for the Set Dinner Menu - which is 5 courses for RM 180.00 nett without wine. Quite reasonable for a restaurant of this calibre.

The first course was an oyster shooter. The oyster was very fresh, one of the best I've had in KL.

The oyster was followed by a grilled Japanese Mackerel with rockets. Again, the freshness of the fish was incredible - the dish was so simple, and yet so satisfying.

The 3rd course was Seared Foie Gras with Tempura French Beans and Avocado. Words can't really describe this - down right best foie gras I've had. So decadent, the flavour was so good I didn't want it to finish. And paired perfectly with the tempura too.

The main course was a seafood risotto with king prawn and scallops. This was topped with some dried shrimps, giving the essentially Italian dish an Asian touch. Again, I was in flavour heaven - the risotto was so richly flavoured with the essence of prawns and seafood, every mouthful was shear delight. And the prawn and scallops were cooked to perfection - they were cooked through and yet remained just right. I believed they were cooked sous vide as the flavour was all retained in the flesh.

Dessert was a chocolate tart with mocha ice cream. Another perfectly executed delight.

Complimentary macaroons to finish off the meal.

Chef Kimura at the open kitchen.

This one of the best dinner experiences I've had in KL so far. Great ambience, good service and food that makes you hunger for more. No wonder it made Time Out KL's Top Fine Dining Restaurant List. Next visit, I will go for the tasting menu.

Eating in Kuala Lumpur - Lunch at Prime Steakhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:48:00 +0000

If you want the best steak in Kuala Lumpur, chances are most KL foodies will point you to Prime which is located at Le Meridien Hotel. This is a premium steakhouse with a large selection of prime beef from all over the world. For wine lovers, they also have a largish wine collection.

The design of the restaurant is a mix of modern and old world opulence. It is quite warm and cosy, with a predominance of warm wood tones on the floor and ceiling. A good piece of steak could could easily set you back RM 200.00 here. I decided to go for the more affordable Prime Weekly Set Lunch - which is RM 85.00++ for 3 courses.

2 types of bread served before the main meal - with 3 types of butter. Nice.

The Appetizer was a "Rendang Style" slow braised Wagyu Beef Cheek with Potato Galette and Young Mango Slaw. Needless to say, the meat was extremely flavourful and tender after the "Rendang" treatment. The Young Mango Slaw gave the dish some added tanginess to cut through the richness and spice.

The main course was a Charcoal Grilled NZ Grass Fed Beef Medallion with Pearl Semolina and Beef Bacon Risotto Style, Wilted Greens and Porcini Sauce. The meat was sublimely tender - and had a gaminess which is quite different from grain fed beef, a bit unexpected but delicious just the same. The Pearl Semolina was also surprisingly tasty even tough it had beef bacon instead of real bacon.

For dessert I chose the Lemon Meringue Pie which was served with a Mango Yoghurt Ice Cream and Wild Berries Coulis. The meringue was more like a foam which had been slightly scorched. I would have preferred a more traditional meringue texture. The lemon tart was good though.

Coffee and cookies after dessert.

Prime has been included in Time Out KL's 2009 Best Fine Dining Restaurants List. The quality of the food speaks for itself, with prices to match. The Set Lunches are very good value though, and they do not skimp on the quality. Highly recommended for steak lovers.

Kuala Lumpur - Petaling Street Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Besides the countless number of stalls which are the main draw here, Petaling Street is also a food haven. There are lots of coffee shops and street stalls selling all kinds of local favourites like beef noodles, curry rice, char kuih tiaw, rice parcels, etc. Venture into some of the side lanes and you may come across some hidden gems.

There are lots of fruit sellers here, and what they have are generally better then those at the supermarkets, cheaper too.

Roasted chestnuts has been an old favourite at Petaling Street. The smell of freshly roasting chestnuts is quite intoxicating.

It is quite fun to eat under the stars on a cool tropical evening. The food is generally cheap and delicious, 'cause you are not paying for the air-cond.

This beef noodle stall has been here for ages.

A "bak chang" stall - glutinous rice parcels steamed in lotus leaf.

Kuala Lumpur - Petaling Street Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

If you are a tourist visiting Kuala Lumpur, no doubt you would have heard about Petaling Street. Its one of our infamous tourist traps, located at the KL Chinatown. I haven't been there for years, and recently decided to make a visit to see what its like now.

The Chinese name for Petaling Street - "Chee Cheong Kai", is derived from its history as a centre of production for tapioca flour in KL. Walking around, you can still see the history and heritage of the area in the old buildings. However they are unfortunately overwhelmed by the street bazaars that have taken over several main streets in Chinatown. The main Petaling Street is now a pedestrianized mall which is covered by a transparent roof providing some shelter from the elements.

The street itself is now completely occupied by small stalls selling all kinds of stuff - cigarette lighters, t-shirts, caps, fake handbags, sunglasses, CDs, DVDs - you name it and they've got it here. Part of the fun of visiting Petaling Street is to wonder through this maze of petty traders, and to see the endless range of products on sale. I didn't actually buy anything, but it was fun watching the crowd trying to drive a bargain and getting a bit dazed by the sheer choice of mostly cheap knock-offs on offer here.

Even an aspiring belly dancer will be very happy here.

The range of things you can get here is truly mind-blowing.
Petaling Street is definitely a KL experience you don't want to miss - not necessarily for the shopping but for its historical ambience which still exists here and there, and for its prowess as a magnet which can draw people from all over the world.

Kuala Lumpur - Christmas is Coming to town !

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Shopping centres always get the Christmas Spirit before anyone else. Here in Malaysia, they have been getting the Christmas Spirit since October. Go into any of the endless number of malls in Kuala Lumpur, and you can't miss the yuletide music, decorations and all the other paraphernalia. It is interesting that in Tropical countries we like to pour on the winter wonderland theme. It's a way for us to escape the heat I guess, and to dream about that holiday to a place far far away, where it actually snows. What is a Christmas without snow ? Strange thing is, those in cold countries dream about a Christmas in the Tropics !

Phuket - Anantara Resort Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:22:00 +0000

As I mentioned in Part I of this post, landscaping is the star here. The lush planting and attention to detail in the landscaping is simply breathtaking. Everything just seem so natural, even though you know every single plant and feature had been put there by human hands.

This was the first time I saw ducks frolicking in a pond at a luxury resort.

The swimming pool is quite elaborately decorated with sculptures and curios.

The signature restaurant Sea.Fire.Salt near the pool. They serve seafood and barbeques, and even have a Salt Sommelier to pair different salts with the dishes.

The Anantara Phuket is a stunning resort which is a mus-visit if you are in Phuket.

Phuket - Anantara Resort Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000

This will be my last post on Phuket, and I would like to share with you the most interesting resort I came across on this trip - the Anantara Resort Phuket. Anantara is at Mai Khao Beach, next to the Turtle Village. From the outside, you could be excused for thinking its a prison or some high-security establishment. A 2-storey high imposing wall with no openings is all you see, with only a gap where you enter. Even then you are not very sure where you are going, as the entrance is deliberately obscure. Once you go inside, you realise that the high walls actually hide car parks on one side, and the reception on the other.

Created by the Bill Bensley Design Studio, the concept of the resort is inspired by traditional kampung houses. The villas are arranged somewhat informally around landscaped ponds, creating an overall kampung atmosphere. Like most of Bill Bensley's designs, the landscaping is the star here, and there are lots of quirky touches and details and decorations everywhere.

On the way to the villas. You can't really get good views of the villas from the outside, and they are very well camouflaged by the landscaping.

The villas are a lot like traditional Malay kampung houses - with pitched roofs and mostly timber construction. They have their own luxurious private pools, and look over the landscaped ponds.

Look out for Part II of my post on the Anantara Resort.

Phuket - Turtle Village at Mai Khao Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:23:00 +0000

It is quite surprising that for such a touristy place, Phuket doesn't really have big shopping centres. What is does have are lots of street vendors and small tourist-oriented shopping arcades. Some of these are quite nicely done. Like this small shopping arcade at Mai Khao Beach near JW Marriot.

The shopping arcade is called Turtle Village. It has a large turtle sculpture right in the centre courtyard. The design bears some signatures of the Bill Bensley Design Studio, so I suspect that they might have a hand in this project.

The design is vernacular mixed with neo-classical elements.

Turtle Village is an upscale arcade with an interesting mix of art galleries, fashion boutiques, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. The most popular outlet here seems to be the Coffee Club - an Australian chain cafe. When I was there, the place was packed. There is even a small supermarket with lots of Japanese groceries.

Phuket - Trisara Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Trisara Resort. What a beautiful name. It was the name which enticed me to visit this exclusive resort at Bangtao Beach at the north-western end of Phuket Island, about 15 min from the airport. The location is quite well guided and secluded. The resort offers a total of 42 suites and 12 private villas.

The design of the hotel is more of a neo-classical Thai style. Simple open pavillions are paired with a traditional Thai roof. The result is a bit contrived, not as stylish as Amanpuri or some of the more modern resorts. The resort site is very steep, offering great views of the ocean from all the villas. Due to the steep site, they actually have 2 receptions - one at the upper level and another near the beach and main pool. Buggies are provided to move the guests around in case they find it too tiring to scale the slopes.

The pool next to the beach.

Eating in Phuket - Dinner at Sala Bua Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:26:00 +0000

While the Impiana Phuket Cabana Resort isn't ground-breaking in it's design, it does has one thing going for it - the Sala Bua Restaurant. This award-winning restaurant has been consistently rated one of the best restaurants on the island, so I made it a point to go there on my final night in Phuket. The design of the restaurant is consistent with the rest of the resort - high pitched roof with lots of timber accents giving it an overall Balinese ambience.

The bread basket.

A complimentary Amuse Bouche of Beef Tenderloin. Nice start to the meal.

I decided to opt for the Grilled Seafood Set. The first course was - you guessed it - Yam Talay ! If you have been following my posts on Phuket, you can be excused for thinking that I have overdosed on seafood salad. I can't help it - this is one of my favourite Thai dishes, and by trying the same thing in different restaurants it allows me to compare the quality in the execution of this signature dish. I must say that the best of the lot was the one at Sala Resort - the seafood was so fresh and perfectly cooked, followed by a close second by Sala Bua. Here, the sauce is a bit heavier in taste.

Coming next was the Tom Yam Soup - very nice balance of flavours.

The Grilled Seafood Platter was a generous selection of prawns, fish, lobster and crab. All were nicely cooked and season, especially the crab which was dressed in a delicious light curry sauce. The platter came with 3 different dipping sauces.

Dessert was a selection of fresh fruits with a mango sorbet, beautifully presented.

This was one of the best dinner experience I had in Phuket. I must say that Sala Bua did live up to it's reputation. Highly recommended.

Phuket - Impiana Phuket Cabana Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Another resort right next to Patong Beach is the Impiana Phuket Cabana Resort. This resort is managed by the Malaysian Impiana hotel group. The accommodation are mostly in single-storey terraced blocks arranged around landscaped courtyards and walkways. It has a relaxed village-like atmosphere about it which is quite charming.

The obvious attraction of this resort is the location. Design-wise it is kind of ordinary, nothing unique. The lush landscaping is the main draw here.

Phuket - LaFlora Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:18:00 +0000

If you prefer to stay in Patong where all the action is, there are plenty of options there. LaFlora is a small resort that is right next to Patong Beach. It is also a member of the Small Luxury Hotels network, giving it some international cache.

The design is very contemporary, understated and attractive in an unfussy way. Most of the rooms and villas are arranged around the central swimming pool. There are also ocean villas facing the sea. At night the atmosphere is quite enchanting. This is the type of resort that I personally like - small, intimate, stylish and conveniently located. It's definitely on the top of the list for my next visit to Phuket.

The reception is right off Patong Beach Road.

The pool-view villas.

The view at night.

Eating in Phuket - Lunch at the Sala Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Like any resort which takes itself seriously, food is an important part of the equation. At Sala Resort I was told that they have an imported chef from the USA. The food is Asian Fusion, mixed in with some Spanish Tapas concept which is de rigueur at the moment.

The Sala Restaurant is at the seaside, near the main pool. Like everything else here, the design is very minimalist. It is essentially a pavilion which is open on all sides, providing great views all round. However, strong wind posed a bit of a problem, such as when I was there and it started to rain and gush quite heavily. The staff had to roll down the clear PVC blinds to block the wind and rain, which spoilt the atmosphere somewhat.

The menu offered some Thai, Western and Tapas selections. The prices were surprisingly reasonable for a resort of this caliber. I decided to try a bit of everything – ordering a tomato gazpacho, a Tapas Taster, and a Yam Talay (seafood salad). A selection of bread sticks and chips was served before the main meal, with 3 different types of accompaniment – vegetable pickles, a curry dip, and mashed olives. They were all very good and needless to say I pigged out on the delicious bread sticks and chips.

Next came the Tomato Gazpacho – which was very refreshing and packed full of flavours.

The Seafood Salad came garnished with some beautiful raw vegetables. You could eat them if you want, but they are there mainly as a visual treat. The dressing was very light – just a hint of lime juice and fish sauce. The fresh and sweet seafood doesn’t need much else.

The highlight was the Tapas Taster which came with 5 items – Tuna Tartare, Pan Seared Scallop in a Curry Sauce, Deepfried Spring Rolls, Deepfried Thai Money Parcels and a Spicy Fish Satay. All were delicious, and I couldn’t believe this beautiful dish cost only THB 220.

The food at Sala Restaurant is delicious, beautiful presented and reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

Phuket - Sala Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:14:00 +0000

The Sala Resort Phuket is one of the new generation of resorts which focus heavily on style and the “Cool Factor”. Located at the northern end of Phuket Island, this resort is quite far from the rest of the attractions. Privacy and exclusivity are the keywords here.

Since opening in 2008, the Resort has received quite a buzz in the travel circles. It was on the Conde Naste Hotlist for 2008, and have also received rave reviews in many travel mags.

The Resort itself is Minimalism taken to the extreme. The reception buildings are actually completely open pavilions with no walls. Between the entrance porch and the reception is a large reflecting pond with 2 trees in the middle. There is a small lounge area at the reception with blood red cushions. It is all very cool and understated.

Unlike most resorts at the seaside which try to capitalize on the views, the accommodation at Sala Resort are completely hidden away. Even the individual villas next to the seaside are enclosed in high walls to provide total privacy. While wondering around the resort, I did not see any other guests. Either the occupancy was very low, or everyone was hiding in their rooms.

While the architecture is a bit boxy and cold for a resort, the landscaping is really nicely done. The landscaping provide the key design elements here, with the buildings serving more as the backdrop.

The PR Manager kindly let me view their duplex villas which are rooms in 2-storey semi-detached blocks. The lower units have its own swimming pool and grass lawn. The colour scheme is all white and grey, again very understated.

If you are looking for a place to chill out, relax and hideaway, Sala Resort is the perfect spot for you. Plus it’s cool and stylish to boot !

Phuket - Amanpuri Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:53:00 +0000

The World is lucky to have somebody like Adrian Zecha - a rich person who has the vision, means and determination to create extraordinary projects. I'm a bit biased of course - as an architect we are always dreaming about landing a client like him. Instead of just kicking back and enjoying life, he chose to take on the challenge of creating some of the most interesting resorts in some of the most unusual places in the World. Every Aman resort is a unique and visionary creation.

Amanpuri was the resort which started a whole new trend of travel and lifestyle. Not many people thought a small ultra-exclusive boutique resort - one charging more then USD 1,000 per night, would be able to survive. Aman resorts proved that it could be done, and now there are even "Aman Groupies" who would only visit a destination if there is an Aman resort there. We are talking about mostly millionaires here.

For mere mortals like me, a visit is as close as I would ever get to an Aman experience. In Bali we managed to visit Amandari and Amanusa, both very beautiful resorts in stunning locations. They were also much more accommodating and we managed to visit the villas to see what it's like to stay in ultra-luxury. Here in Phuket, I only managed to get to the reception and the main pool deck. Amanpuri is located at Pansea Beach, sharing an entrance driveway with The Chedi.

Immaculate landscaping.

The beautifully crafted stone walls - a signature at all the Aman resorts.

The villas nestled on the hill sides.

The architectural design for Amanpuri was based on traditional Thai architecture which has been stripped down to it's most basic. At the time when it was built, it was a revelation. 20 years down the road, trends have moved on and most of the exclusive resorts now are minimalist in design. Compared to that, Amanpuri looks a bit old fashion, but it's charm is still undeniable.

Phuket - The Chedi Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:40:00 +0000

The Chedi is a luxury resort located at Pansea Beach, a secluded corner just North of Surin Beach. It is part of a chain of luxury resorts managed by the exclusive GHM Hotels, headed by Adrian Zecha - the visionary hotelier behind the Aman group of resorts. The Chedi brand is a few notches below Aman - which is an ultra high-end concept. The rates are quite cheap compared to other resorts of similar standard - averaging around USD 120 a night.

The design of the resort looks a bit dated now. Though the minimalist tropical approach is copied from the Aman style, the execution is not as refined. A low-key entrance porch is connected to the reception area by open walkways flanked on both sides by small lily ponds. Though the overall ambience has an air of understated luxury, there are some laxes here and there in terms of design and maintenance.

The design is a pared down modern Thai style - with lots of warm timber tones and natural stone.

Rooms are hidden among the trees and landscape.

The main pool.

Overall I wasn't as impressed with The Chedi as I had expected to be. It is no doubt still an attractive property due to the exclusive location and reasonable rates, but the competition is getting tough at this end of the market nowadays.

Phuket - Patong Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:26:00 +0000

Patong Beach is in a bay tucked between hills on both sides. This 2 km stretch of sandy beach is on the Western side of Phuket Island, and faces the Andaman Sea. It is the most popular and developed beach in Phuket.

In 2004, Phuket Island was struck by a tsunami caused by an Indian Ocean earthquake. The tsunami wreaked havoc on many parts of the island, including Patong Beach which was one of the most badly hit. Many people were killed. Walking down the beach front now, there is completely no sign of the destructions cased by the tsunami. Patong Beach has completely rebuilt itself, which is a testament to the resilience of the Thai people and the community here.

Patong Beach Road by day. Kind of like Kuta in Bali, don't you think ?

For nicer views of the beach, take a short drive to the Northern end. Here the sea comes right up to the shore, which is protected by a stone wall. Go further up the hills to get even better views. From here you can feel the wrath of the sea which can cause such great destructions.

Phuket - The Tique Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:55:00 +0000

I like to seek out smaller boutique hotels when traveling. They are more personal, have more character, and usually offer much better value compared to the branded 4 or 5 star hotels. It pays to do your research before the trip to find the best accommodation for your money. I find that 2 of the best Internet Hotel Booking Sites in Asia are Agoda and AsiaRooms. The rates are usually quite similar, but Agoda has an edge in some great special offers. Both sites offer lots of information and pictures on the hotels and resorts, and very useful user reviews.

I found this small boutique hotel in Patong through Agoda. It is my favourite type of boutique hotel - small, modern, and fuss-free. The hotel design is contemporary and minimalist, but very well decorated with the owner's collection of antiques and artifacts.

The hotel is quite tiny - it only has 22 rooms in a 5 storey building. The lobby is small but functional. This is also where the breakfast is served on a communal table. On the roof top there is a plunge pool with great views of Patong Town.

The room is quite basic, but is has everything you need. It is also very big for a boutique accommodation. There is even a large flat screen TV.

The pool on the roof top with views of Patong Town.

I enjoyed my stay at The Tique. It is stylish and conveniently located, just 5 min walk to Patong Beach. The rate is around USD 70.00 a night inclusive of a simple breakfast and free Wifi. Highly recommended.

(A bit of update: Just found out this hotel has changed name to The Album Hotel. I thought Tique was a better name. Rates are still the same, but seems a bit difficult to book.)

Phuket - Patong Town

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Patong Beach is the most popular destination on Phuket Island, so naturally Patong Town is where you find most of the accommodation and tourist attractions. The town itself is quite small - just 2 main streets running parallel to the beach and lots of smaller lanes in between. The Patong Beach Road is sort of like Kuta in Bali - with lots of small hotels and resorts, pubs, restaurants, shops, tattoo parlours, etc. Most things are quite cheap in Patong, but they are not necessarily the best quality.

During the day Patong Town is kind of quiet. You start to wonder where's everybody ? It only comes alive a night - when tourists come out looking for food and fun. The crowds generally come out around 7.00 p.m., and most places are open till midnight.

Patong Town during the day. Where's everyone ?

Patong Beach Road at night. There are lots of pubs and restaurants along this long stretch of road next to the beach, but be warned that they are mostly tourist traps and prices are quite steep ! I found the seafood pricing generally much higher compared to back home in Malaysia. However the quality of the food is generally very good.

Lots of small shops and street stalls for shopping. Mainly T-shirts, souvenirs and faked goods.

I don't find Patong Town particularly interesting. It is basically a base for exploring the rest of Phuket Island, and some of the smaller islands around.

Got Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:21:00 +0000

I can't help interrupting my Phuket posts for this little aside. Have you heard the song "Issues" by British girl band The Saturdays ? Lately I've been hearing it on the radio everyday on the way to work. It's one of those songs which sound catchy at first, but gets annoying really fast. When it gets to the chorus, I always can't help making up my own lyrics for it. The original lyrics are :

Me and my heart we got Issues

Don’t know if I should hate your or miss you

Damn I wish that I could resist you

Cant decide if I should slap you or kiss you

Me and my heart we got issues (Issues, Issues)

We got issues (Issues, Issues)

Here's my version:

Here in my car I got tissues

If you sneeze I’m not gonna kiss you

Get yourself one of those tissues

And wipe that silly grin off or I’ll hit you

Here in my car I’ve got tissues (tissues, tissues)

We got tissues (tissues, tissues)

What do you think ? What's your version ?

Eating in Phuket - Floyd's Brasserie at Burasari

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:43:00 +0000

After visiting Phrom Thep Cape I made my way to Patong Beach where I had booked my accommodation. There are several ways to get to Patong Beach from Phuket Town. There is a shorter way which cuts across the island, or you can take the longer drive around the island. I decided to take the longer route as I wanted to enjoy the views.

The drive to Patong Beach is nice and scenic, though the road can get a bit small at some places. Good thing there wasn't much traffic. You pass through several small towns, and get glimpses of beaches along the way. It takes around half an hour to get to Patong Beach from Phrom Thep Cape. By the time I arrived it was late evening. Time for dinner !

I decided to go to Floyd's at Burasari, Celebrity Chef Keith Floyd's first outpost in Thailand. Keith Floyd is one of my favourite TV chefs, his colourful character and tongue-in-cheek approach always make very entertaining viewing. As he had passed away in September, about a week after my visit, this meal was like my personal last tribute to him.

Floyd's Brasserie is located in the Burasari Resort.

The man himself beckons at the entrance.

Inside the restaurant.

Keith Floyd always claimed he could cook Thai food better then the Thais, so I decided to try the Thai dishes. Having had quite a heavy lunch earlier, I just ordered 2 dishes - Thai Fish Cakes for appetizer and Whole Grilled Sea Bass with Thai Chili Sauce for main course.

The meal started with some bread, olive oil and sun-dried tomato spread. The spread was really good - packed full of flavours.

The Fish Cakes were really nice - crunchy, savoury, spicy. You can taste chunks of prawns and squid inside the fish cakes, beside the fish paste.

The Grilled See Bass was quite big for one person. The crispy golden brown fish was topped with a generous serving of Thai chili sauce and garnish The fish was a bit overcooked, with the meat slightly dried out. The sauce however, was very good - a nice balance of sweet, spicy and sour.

The restaurant itself is quite nice and cosy. I could imagine if Floyd was around, he would be floating around from table to table, a wine glass in one hand and cigar in the other. The food is not spectacular, but flavourful. I would go back to try some of their other dishes.

Phuket - Phrom Thep Cape

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:03:00 +0000

After leaving the Evason Resort, I made my way to Phrom Thep Cape - reputedly the most scenic spot in Phuket to watch the sunset. The Cape is at the southern-most tip of Phuket island, and takes around 20 minutes drive time from Phuket Town.

When I arrived there were not too many people around, this being the low season. I like visiting during low season to avoid the large crowds which can sometimes spoil a travel experience.

The Cape is definitely scenic, but I am not sure about the "most scenic" moniker. I think there are other spots in Phuket with nicer views. There is a lighthouse at a plaza which is the main viewing platform. There is also a monument of Prince Jumborn, who was the 28th son of King Rama IV. He became a naval cadet in England at the age of 13, and later returned to Thailand and built the first naval base in Phuket.

The lighthouse at the main viewing platform.

The Monument of Prince Jumborn.

At the plaza there is also this interesting elephant shrine. Many devotees had left offerings of elephant statues at the shrine.

There are some small shops selling souvenirs near the car park. Prices are quite reasonable.

Phuket - Evasan Resort and Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:24:00 +0000

I have read so much about the Evason Phuket Resort and Spa that it was right on the top of my must-go list. It houses the famous SixSenses Spa, is in a 60-over acres tropical garden setting, and even has its own island !

Like many high end resorts, the location is deliberately obscure. It took me a few rounds to find the right turning. The road leading to the resort is quite tiny.

I must say I was a little bit disappointed when I first arrived at the Evason. The design looks a bit dated now. The reception which is housed in individual pavilions inside a large reflecting pond is a novel concept, but the structures and wooden finishes looks a bit run-down. The place could use a bit of sprucing up.

You go through this tunnel to reach the reception area.

These pavilions are where guests are received.

There are many types of rooms including standard hotel accommodation and individual chalets. The signature design seem to be based on a rustic Mediterranean villa concept. The ceiling of the rooms are actually finished in untreated timber strips.

The club house.

Although the Evason wasn't what I had expected it to be, it is still a few notches above many of the resorts in Malaysia. A visit is recommended, especially if you are prepared to pay for a spa treatment. I am still waiting for my winning lottery ticket !

Phuket - Vijitt Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Being a popular International tourist destination, Phuket has its share of great resorts. Some of them are truly breath-taking. Like this all villa resort on the south-eastern side of the island called The Vijitt.

In keeping with most high end resorts nowadays, the entrance is decidedly understated. The main reception is in a separate pavillion facing a circular garden. On one side is the spa entrance, and next to it is the entry point to the villas.

The villa design is based on quite a common concept of vernacular pitched roof design with lots of sliding glass partitions. The roofs are finished with wooden slates, and some of the villas have it's own private pool. The resort is on a hilly site which slopes toward the sea. This provides an interesting undulation in the landscape, giving it a nice village-like atmosphere.

The view looking down towards the restaurant which is in an old Colonial residence.

The multi-tiered swimming pool.

Wish I could stay here, but the rates are from USD 170 to USD 1,600 a night. A bit beyond my budget.

(Note: I have made some edits in the Post after receiving some feedback from the Resort. They even offered to give me special rates for my next stay ! How nice.)