Read more about our room at Rest Detail Hua Hin here!

Inspired by the “Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.” adage, Rest Detail Hotel is rated as one of the best hotels in Hua Hin. The hotel’s location is just lovely and quiet but near the action.

It offers free shuttle bus services several times a day, providing easy access to tourist spots in the city, including shopping malls, markets, and night markets. We always got a tuk-tuk or taxi back for about 200 baht whenever we missed the schedule.

Rest Detail Hotel appears modern – with a touch of minimalism. The lobby is dominated by swaths of crisp white and unexpected pops of bright color.

These marvelously crafted water features are changing the look of every corner and cranny of the hotel.

reading corner for hotel guests

Rest Collections is offering a range of locally made products found throughout the resort make perfect souvenirs and gifts. Remember those beautiful iPod pouch, key pouch and even beach dress found in our room?

Hotel guests can also take a dip at the stunning pool while enjoying panoramic views of the Gulf of Siam.

Breakfasts is served at Rest Gastro, offering buffet overflowing with fresh fruit and vegetables from the hotel’s hydroponic garden. The breakfast selection was awesome; we especially love those Thai coffee, char kuey with pandan kaya, freshly squeezed fruit juice and pad thai!

Each morning after breakfast, we would take a walk around the resort in our most comfy pair of flip flops.

We also took a peep at the Pool Village. Featuring 65 square meters of spacious interiors, the Pool Village offers the ultimate privacy.  Each of the 12 units literally has the swimming pool at their doorstep together with double sun lounges built out over the pool. Sounds like another good choice, apart from our stunning Rest Horizon room.

Opening on to the main pool and out to the Gulf, Rest Scene restaurant serves up flavorful Thai and Mediterranean favorites. Did I mention that we had the best FRESH coconut and rack of lamb here? Coconut water was so naturally sweet and refreshing and the taste was just unforgettable! With just the right ratio of fat to lean, the beautifully presented rack of lamb was so delicious! The lamb has a delightful crunchy crust encircling a juicy interior. So good!

Rest Detail Hua Hin, we’ll be back!

Having spent two nights at Rest Detail Hua Hin,  we both left feeling uplifted and totally rejuvenated. Overlooking the Gulf of Siam, the Rest Detail Hotel is a very small hotel with only 52 rooms. However, size does not really matter as we don’t think we can praise this hotel enough. It offers guests a perfect respite from the outside world. In keeping with its name and playful logo of the “three wise monkeys”, every detail is anticipated to ensure you truly surrender to the charms of this tropical seaside resort. A true testament to RDH’s logo “you rest, we take care of the details”

Rest Detail Hua Hin is excellent in every respect. We loved the relaxed atmosphere and all the little attention to details. We were served with complimentary drinks and wrist band upon checking in.

room 141

cute rotating sign board

beautiful key and card holder

Even our smiling hotel staff was cladded in a beautiful custome. We were being told that the hotel has an in house graphic + interior designer. Some of these pretty knick knacks such as ipod pouch, key holder, etc can be purchased at the souvenir shop downstairs.

Our Rest Horizon Room is located on the fourth floor with 65 square meters of spacious interiors, enjoy uninterrupted sea views and total privacy. While tasteful interiors and a deep soak tub are featured indoors, an oversize daybed and a relaxing Jacuzzi await on the terrace.

Our bed was massive and comes with three types of pillow – orthopaedic, feather or memory foam.

Our room is equipped with Wifi, iPod dock (iPod available from reception and loaded with many gorgeous holiday tunes) and LCD tv with DVD player (DVD for rent at reception).

tropical fruits platter (complimentary)

The balcony with a day bed was my favourite place to sit and read, while KampungBoy enjoys his jacuzzi bath.

The private jacuzzi on the spacious balcony enjoys a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Thailand.

It was very sweet of the hotel staff to send in some freshly cut fruits every afternoon.

As we got back to our room in the evening, there’s a beautiful jar filled with sweets on a tray

The large bathroom had a separate bath, shower and toilet.

huge bathtub = love

shower gel and shampoo with nice aroma scent

two types of bath salt

The hotel is also very thoughtful in providing flip flops, beach wear and beach bag.

RDH bracelet + complimentary sweets

beautiful beach bag

beach dress for her and fisherman pants for him

mini-bar and refrigerator

Our room in the evening was equally stunning, especially with illuminated ceiling with LED backlit.

With work and our hectic lifestyle, we have not being doing this for a very long time – relax and watch a DVD on the LCD TV in the evening.

All in all, Rest Detail Hua Hin is a lovely hotel where nothing was too much trouble. The room was awesome, the hotel staffs were so accommodating and I especially love all the small little touches that is lacking in a lot of chain hotels.

Rest Detail Hua Hin
19/119 Soi Hua Hin 19
Tambol Hua Hin, Amphur Hua Hin
Prachuabkhirikhan 77110 THAILAND
Phone: +66 (0) 32 547 733
http://www.restdetailhotel.com/

Valentine’s Day, one of the most dreaded days of the year for men is just 14 days away! Well, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be another source of stress because we are here to help! Together with KampungBoy, we have selected 5 restaurants in KL based on the following criterias:

1) We have personally been there, tried the food and walked away happy.

2) Ambiance, ambiance, ambiance!

3) Not massively expensive (< RM 400 per couple)

So yeah, in case you are wondering why Cilantro (too expensive), Lafite (never been there), Il Lido(never been there), Upper Deck (our favourite, but V-Day set at RM 600++ per couple), Garibaldi (love the food, but V-Day set RM 238 per person) or whoever never made it onto the list.

#1 Samplings on the Fourteenth

Samplings on the Fourteenth is  equipped with an unparalleled views of the city, making it a perfect place to take a date.

Roasted Australian Pistachio Crusted Baby Veal Rack served with Greens, Potato Comfit and Truffle Jus

Samplings On The Fourteenth Valentine’s Day Menu

Starters

House Smoked Duck and Scallop
and
Saffron Seafood Soup

Pink Grapefruit Sorbet with Campari

Main Course

Grilled Beef Tenderloin
or
Pan-fried Cod Fish Fillet

Dessert

Strawberry Delight

RM 158.00++ per person, inclusive of a glass of sparkling wine each and a stalk of lovely rose for the lady.

While savouring in the exquisite 5-course menu, embrace your loved ones with joy and hilarity this Valentine’s Day.  A line up of top comedians are taking stage, set to leave the audience in stitches of laughter and glee.  Featuring Australian comedian – Greg Sullivan; and local talents – Andrew Netto and Rizal Van Geyzel, you will find nothing more sultry than a full throated laugh and giggle of delights from your beloved to start off a fun filled Valentine’s night!  The show is inclusive of a glass of complimentary Carlsberg beer as well.

Samplings on the Fourteen
14th Floor, East Tower,
1, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: 603- 2117 8000 ext 8131
Fax: 603- 2117 8155
Email: bth.samplings@berjayahotel.com

#2 Ril’s Steakhouse

Nestled in a 100-year-old building in the heart of Chinatown, Ril’s Steakhouse opened its door last December with the aim of providing KL-ites with the best meat in the city. Stepping into Ril’s Steakhouse, one will be easily attracted by the soaring ceilings, cosy leather furniture, and raw industrial accents amidst the rustic decor. White tablecloths and the hanging chandelier create a classy feel.

500g Australian Angus Rib Eye

Ril’s Steakhouse menu features simple yet refined steakhouse classics with a selection of mouth watering starters, mains, sides and desserts. Head Chef and Owner, Tunku Khairil Ibrahim knows meat and just how to cook it. The steak at Ril’s Steakhouse is either Malaysia-reared Gemas Gold or air-flown Australian Angus steaks – we love the fact we know where our meet is coming from.

Ril’s Valentine’s Day Menu

Cocktail

Hibiscus Fizz - Choice of alcholic or non-alchoholic

Starter

Lobster Bisque - Drizzled with luxurious white truffle oil
Or
Tuna Tataki with Charred Artichokes - Served with sticky soy glazed panroasted new potato, candied apple puree, and smoked chili jam

Main

500g Australian Angus Rib Eye - For two to share, with an assortment of sides (+ RM 20)
Or
Chicken Casserole - Served on a bed of wilted spinach, with a rich jus reduction
Or
300g Australian Prime Rib Eye - Accompanied by an assortment of sides

Dessert

Rich Chili & Chocolate Mousse - A sinful combination of aphrodisiac ingredients
Or
Mango & Ginger Cheesecake - A sweet yet saucy combination of smooth and spicy flavours

RM150++ per person – first 10 couples who booked gets complimentary wine!

Ril’s Steakhouse
The Warehouse Gallery & Cafe,
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2022-0528.
Email info@thewarehouse.com.my
Website: www.thewarehouse.com.my

#3 Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar

The ambiance is perfect – classy, lush but not intimidating, with the occasional melody of glass clinging, soft whispering and sizzling at the background.

Feuillete of Anago with Foie Gras and Duxelles

Sage Restaurant Valentine’s Day Menu

Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar
The Residences Level 6
The Gardens, Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 KL.
Tel: 03-22681328
Email: sagekul@gardenshtlres.com
Website: www.sagekl.com

#4 Opus Bistro

Opus Famous Roasted Cod with choice of White Wine Sauce or Lemon Caper Sauce

Located at a quieter part of Bangsar, Opus Bistro is a homey, long-standing Italian restaurant that attracts a loyal group of regulars with its classic offerings. The restaurant has been there, in the same place, since forever ago. We celebrated our 2nd anniversary here, and now we are going into our 7th year. Time flies and it is also a true testament to Opus Bistro’s great food and attentive services.

Chocolate Desire

Our revisit has reaffirm the fact that Opus Bistro has got indisputable food quality, just like its reputable sister outlets at Jalan Bangkung. Though ‘glam’ dining as such is not light on the pocket (for us lar), but the food quality more than makes up for it.

Opus Bistro Valentine’s Day Menu

TBA (still waiting for reply)

Opus Bistro
67, Jalan Bangkung
Bukit Bandaraya
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 20924288
Email: mailus@opusbistro.my
Website: www.opusbistro.my

#5 Dubrovnik Restaurant

The two storey high restaurant has adopted a simple but elegant bright white theme which creates an atmosphere that entices guests to relax. The exposed brick wall, even in its unfinished state, is rustic yet refined. It gives the room a more casual, Mediterranean mood, and that mood is enhanced by Croatia’s travel brochures scattered across the table and a screen playing clips featuring the lovely country.

Stef’s Chocolate Cake

Dubrovnik Restaurant offers an unforgettable Croatia experience in an easygoing and relaxed setting. Definitely not light on the pocket, but every dollar spent on the food and ambiance is worth while.

Dubrovnik Restaurant Valentine’s Day Menu

3 course dinner at RM 118++ per pax, with complimentary champagne cocktails

Dubrovnik Restaurant
J-0G-14, Solaris Mont Kiara,
No.2, Jalan Solaris, Mont Kiara
Tel: 03 62036780118
Website: www.dubrovnikrestaurantkl.com

When the proprietor Tunku Khairil Ibrahim and his wife Laurie first spotted this old shop lot, they immediately fell in love with the space and decided it would be criminal to waste such a beautiful building. I felt the same too!

Stepping into Ril’s Steakhouse, one will be easily attracted by the soaring ceilings, cosy leather furniture, and raw industrial accents amidst the rustic decor. White tablecloths and the hanging chandelier create a classy feel.

Ril’s Steakhouse menu features simple yet refined steakhouse classics with a selection of mouth watering starters, mains, sides and desserts. Head Chef and Owner, Tunku Khairil Ibrahim knows meat and just how to cook it. The steak at Ril’s Steakhouse is either Malaysia-reared Gemas Gold or air-flown Australian Angus steaks – we love the fact we know where our meet is coming from.

The types of butter they serve here reminds me of Prime @ Le Meridien.

We loved the bread roll too! It was so flavourful and dense! We tried not to eat too much but it’s awfully hard to resist the wonderful aroma of the freshly baked bread roll.

We started our meal with Lobster Bisque (RM 24) which combines the best flavour of the ocean. It was so creamy and every mouthful was bursting with flavour.

Ril’s Tiga Rasa Scallop (RM 24) was served in three unique ways, with an intense flavour profile moving from sweet to sour to salty. It brings out the best flavour of these plump and juicy scallops.

Slightly charred on the outside and vibrantly pink on the inside, our order of rib eye (RM 99, 500g) was incredibly tender, perfectly seasoned and rich with flavour. It is best to eat without speaking, savouring ever mouthful. The generous portion can easily feed two too. We made a wise decision of sharing the 500g portion. There’s also lady’s portion available for sale at RM 68, 300g.

Just like any other steak house, patrons can choose from the sides available; be it spinach, mushroom, fries, onion rings or baked potatoes (from RM 10 to RM 18).

Our order of Double Baked Potato Royale, Truffled (RM 18) was way beyond excellence! The potatoes were baked and cooked until done. The potatoes were then sliced and the contents were scooped out, leaving the skin to form a shell. The contents were then mixed with butter, cream, truffle and seasonings to achieve a creamy consistency. Place them back onto the shell, sprinkle on some cheese and return the potatoes to the oven. So much work but tasted so good!

Each of us got a complimentary mulled wine from the restaurant manager. It is a traditional drink during Christmas in the Germany. It is actually red wine combined with spices and  served warm.

Dessert was Salted Gula Melaka Ice Cream (RM 12) from The Last Polka. Good ice cream although a tad too sweet for our likings.

If you want incredible steak then this is the place for you, with great ambiance, attentive and friendly services, best quality steak and reasonable pricing. In terms of value for money, Ril’s Steakhouse is pretty hard to beat. KampungBoy thought it was the best RM 200 spent on a satisfactory dinner as such.

Ril’s Steakhouse.
The Warehouse Gallery & Cafe,
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2022-0528.

Ril’s Steakhouse is open from 4.30pm to midnight daily, Tuesday to Sunday. Between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays, the Ril’s Happy Hour offers 2for1 cocktails, RM30 jugs of beer and RM60 jugs of frozen margarita, with the irresistible allure of free steak sandwiches. It is also open for lunch from 12pm onwards on Friday and Saturday, and for champagne brunch on Sundays from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

For reservations call +60) 3 2022 0528, email info@thewarehouse.com.my or visit www.thewarehouse.com.my

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To supplement your meal at Garibaldi, there is also a full bar and an excellent wine list at Garibar downstairs.

Our degustation menu of the day was carefully crafted by Chef Giuliano Berta.

Bread Sticks

Freshly Baked Foccacia – I love the buttery/salty crust with a soft, chewy crumb!

We started our meal with Ostrica, Irish Oyster with Poached Quail Egg & Caviar. Plump, juicy and briny; the freshness of the oysters were further enhanced by runny egg yolk. I also like the luxurious addition of caviar on top!

Cappasanta, Sea Scallop with Saffron Crispy Cauliflower and Tarragon Saucet.  Coated in a sweet and slightly zesty sauce; these big and succulent scallops were really good.

Vitello Tonnato, Italian Cold Cuts Veal in Traditional Piedmont Recipe with Tuna and Caper’s Creamy Sauce. The cold cuts have a milld taste, with slightly grainy texture. The capers creamy sauce is one of the tastiest ways to do up a nice mild cut like this.

Brodo Ristretto, Clarified Beef Broth with Egg Yolk and Truffle Bigne. Clarified with egg white; the beef broth was delightfully delicious. Some of us stirred up the egg yolk together with the beef broth while some preferred to have it separately.

Fagottino, Black Ink Squid Ravioli with Crab Meat and Sweet Dried Tomato on Potato Emulsion. The black ravioli was certainly an eye catcher! Generously filled with crab meat, the ravioli was impressive in both taste and presentation department.

Orata, Pan Seared Line Catch Sea Bream Fillet with Apple Black Rice Puree and Whitebait Omelette. This is probably my favorite way to eat sea bream. The delicate sweet flesh contrasts nicely with the crunchy skin. The slightly tangy apple black rice puree helps to reduce some ‘jelakness’ as we were going into our last course.

Agnello, the Roasted Tobacco Smoked Lamb Rack with Purple Potatoes, Celeriac Mash and Berries Sauce. I love my rack of lamb the way it is; it was a particularly tasty version.

Meringata, the Crispy Italian Meringue with Chocolate Chip Parfait & Dark Cherry. It was so airy, sweet and crispy that they seem to almost melt in my mouth the moment I put them in!

Sorbetti – Raspberry & Passion Fruit

Petit Four

Meet the affable Chef Giuliano Berta who has more than 10 years of experience in fine Italian cuisine.

Garibaldi is still the indisputable champion of Italian cuisine in Kuala Lumpur. However, pricing could be on the higher side. It’s degustation menu changes from time to time and is priced at RM250++ per person. Thanks Sonia, for the kind invite!

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant and Bar
Lot. 10 & G22, Bangsar Village
Jalan Telawi 1
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
03-2282 3456/57

The Place – This café interior has a striking combination of contemporary lines, clean, warmth and rustic charm. Adding to the cafe’s rustic flair, a number of bean bags imprinted with words like “play”, “passion” and “creative” adorn the walls.

The Menu – Printed on a corrugated cardboard, the menu item is created with quirky names such as The Nutty Professor (tiramisu), Shroom Shroom (mushroom fettucini), Beef Me Up Scotty (grilled beef fillet) and many more. Apart from serving all day breakfast, there’s also main meal such as pasta and burger.

The Food -We stared with the RBB Signature Breakfast (RM 19.90) with poached, fried or scrambled eggs on toasts, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, beef/chicken sausages, beef bacon, baked beans and hash brown(RM 19.90). Everything was decent (but not exceptionally good) except for the rubbery and tasteless scrambled eggs. I am secretly hoping for pork bacon too; but The Red Beanbag is a pork free eatery. Savings grace came in the form of Egg Benedict (RM 15.90). The perfectly runny yolk surrounded by nicely cooked egg white is the greatest part of the pleasure of Eggs Benedict. We poked through the yolk and enjoyed the runny hot mess. RBB’s Specialty Baked Eggs (RM 17.90)was pretty good too; with eggs cracked into a baking dish of lamb bratswurst, sundried tomatoes, potatoes and cheese, baked to perfection and served with crusty bread.

The piece de resistance is Classic French Toast (RM 13.90) coated with almonds, served with seasonal fruits and maple syrup (RM 13.90). It was so soft and fluffy! The almond coating gave it a nice, pleasant crunch too. However, RM 13.90 for ONE piece of roti is quite a steep price to pay.

Since there were 7 of us, each of us picked a dish and somehow Shaun is craving for risotto. Don Scallopino (RM 24.90) is seaweed risotto served with seared scallops and seaweed. A generous hand with the scallops but the risotto were on the bland side. My Crustacean Cousin (RM 27.90) on the other hand; was quite good. With tiger prawns and mixed seafood served with freshly pressed pasta, I felt like having lobster bisque with pasta. The lobster/prawn gravy was probably the key to this delicious seafood pasta. We don’t quite like the Shroom Shroom (entree RM19.90/main RM 24.90), creamy mix of mushroom and beef bacon bits on a bed of creamy fettucini. Those mushrooms and beef bacon bits had appeared for the third time (first & second time in our order of signature breakfast & egg benedict) and we find the pasta to be bland tasting.

Like for all caffeine oriented antipodeans, the key to a treasured breakfast haunt is the coffee. No complains! I also love how the barista tried to create coffee art for everyone around our table.

How do we like The Red Beanbag? It was a tough call. We loved the ambiance, the service (which was way beyond excellence), the vibe but the food was somehow disappointing. Don’t get me wrong. Food was actually decent, but it was a case of setting our expectations too high after reading some of the rave reviews.

p/s: will revisit for the Classic French Toast though.

p/s: still think Antipodean Cafe serves best breakfast

THE RED BEANBAG
Lot A4-1-8, Solaris Dutamas
(opposite Publika’s open space/Ben’s)
Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-6211 5116
Tue – Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sat – Sun: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Pre-booked dinners for functions available.
http://www.facebook.com/theredbeanbag

The RBB Signature Breakfast – poached, fried or scrambled eggs on toasts, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, beef/chicken sausages, beef bacon, baked beans and hash brown(RM 19.90)

Egg Benedict – poached eggs with hollandaise, asparagus, mushrooms and streaky beef bacon (RM 15.90)

RBB’s Specialty Baked Eggs – eggs cracked into a baking dish of lamb bratswurst, sundried tomatoes, potatoes and cheese, baked to perfection and served with crusty bread (RM 17.90)

Classic French Toast -coated with almonds, served with seasonal fruits and maple syrup (RM 13.90)

Don Scallopino – seaweed risotto served with seared scallops and seaweed (RM 24.90)

My Crustacean Cousin - tiger prawns and mixed seafood served with freshly pressed pasta (RM 27.90)

Shroom Shroom – a creamy mix of mushroom and beef bacon bits on a bed of creamy fettucini (entree RM19.90/main RM 24.90)

Happy Birthday to my dearest Ivy and Wenchng! No prize for guessing their age right =)

my striking yellow top from The Patbingsu – a Korean Fashion blogshop that carries 100% designed and made in Korea apparels and accessories.

sweet couple no. 1 from eatonlylar

sweet couple no. 2 from broughtup2share

As much as we would like to have more holiday plans and lavish eat outs, the reality hits. We are working for someone else, and we do have BILLS to pay. To make the most out from our meagre income, the secret is to INVEST.

We have only 24 hours a day so there is a limit to how much we can do. That’s when investing comes into place; it’s all about putting your money to work so it earns you an additional income.. Find out more by clicking “LIKE” on the Prudential R U Ready’s Facebook Fanpage and read my article about INVESTING.

You can also sign up for the entrepreneurs workshop that will be held on the Feb 18th in PJ Live Arts, Jaya One. Participants will be getting insights from young entrepreneurs how to start a business and getting to mingle with like minded young people, etc.

means

(1) coming from or relating to Australia or New Zealand

(2) Ancient Greek: anti “opposed” pous “foot” opposite points on the globe.

Antipodean is a kiwi style cafe that has taken the city by storm.Serving good coffee and delicious breakfast spread, this little premise is packed to the brim almost every morning. Expect to see expats with kids and/or their pets in tow, as this place is extremely child/animal friendly. Hence securing a table can be a difficult matter, so it is better to come in a group of 2-4 as they have only 2 tables which catered to a bigger group.

Antipodean Cafe carries an Aussie vibe – filled with lifting coffee aroma, cramped but cozy interior and buzzing with activities.

Antipodean Cafe has got their menu all scribbled on the chalk board that spans across the wall. How I wish they have a hand out menu because I have to keep turning my head around to study it carefully.

sweet pastries on display

freshly baked cookies on display

Flat White – RM 8

Uses quality coffee beans roasted by Indonesia’s top specialty roaster, Merdeka Coffee; one can be assured of a good cuppa over here. My coffee packed a punch with its pungent coffee aroma.

Iced Mochachino – RM10

Cappuccino -RM8

Cafe Latte- RM8

Croissant Scrambled eggs with bacon – RM18

Snuggled up neatly inside the croissant was scrambled eggs (done right) and rocket. Every forkful of the trio combination revealed a pleasant taste and texture.

Smoked Salmon Omelette – RM20

Brimming with luscious smoked salmon, this sumptious and decently portioned omelette is a perfect brunch dish.

All Day Breakfast – RM18
Toast, choice of bacon, chicken, beef or pork sausages, baked beans, scrambled eggs & grilled tomatoes

Big Breakfast – RM18
Toast, choice of bacon, chicken, beef or pork sausages, mushrooms, hash brown & scrambled eggs.

Must order! It is a hearty and wholesome breakfast whereby servings are considered as quite generous even for a guy. The pork bacon/sausage stood out amongst the other for the smokey flavour and perfect texture. The scrambled eggs were so moist, with a nice buttery whiff. I also love the home made hash brown which packed a punch. It is a very substantial dish so I always share  a big breakfast + an side order of pork bacon together with a girl friend.

Pumpkin and Sweet Corn Fritter with Bacon (RM 18)

Somehow, I really like the corn fritters here (which I tried on separate occassion) too.  Soft in the middle and slightly crispy on the edge, every forkful reveals a generous amount of corns.

Kiwi Style Lamb Burger (RM 25). I tried this when I drop by for dinner one day. The patty was so juicy and flavourful but not too overpowering.

It is also a great place to satisfy a birthday girls’s big breakfast cravings. Happy Birthday to our dearest Christine and thanks to Ivy for the chocolate crumble cake.

All in all, Antipodean Cafe has all the makings of a great breakfast joint – great quality coffee and consistently good food. Breakfast is also served all day, so one can actually drop by for dinner to avoid the breakfast crowd. We have seen ourselves going back again and again over the weekends too – our favourite brunch place to date!

Antipodean Cafe
20, Jalan Telawi 2,
Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-22820411
Open 8am- 10pm on all days

Credits to Chris for most of these awesome photos!

Upon checking into our beautiful resort, we hired a cab to Sofitel Centara. It is a classic colonial-era Railway hotel that has occupied an idyllic spot on Hua Hin beach front for almost a century. Sofitel Centara is well known for its colonial style architecture and topiary gardens full of bushes shaped like animals.

Our main purpose was to do afternoon tea at “The Museum”, a beautiful tea room which features the many histories of the old Railway Hotel. ‘The Museum’ is overlooking the gardens within the main hotel and another at the other side of the lounge area overlooking the topiary garden. As we studied the vintage black and white photos and various old ornaments in The Museum, we felt as if we were being transported back to the 19th century.

The afternoon tea menu is typical. We indulged in a beautifully arranged three-tier English afternoon tea (480 baht per pax) set with freshly baked scones, bite size sandwiches, tiny cakes and pastries. The tea or coffee was presented in delicate china sets. We were also served by a couple of charming Thai ladies dressed in silk Thai trouser-pants and fine lace blouses.

Sofitel’s afternoon tea starts at 15.00 and lasts until 17.00. We took a leisurely stroll around the hotel grounds after that. I have been fascinated by topiary gardens for years and in here, we got a sense of Sofitel’s passion for British colonial-era gentile country life.

What a beautiful evening (in a thick British accent)! Sofitel Centara is the place to go if you are planning a trip to Hua Hin. The fabulous ambience and great friendly services more than make up for the decent/average food, making it an excellent overall experience.

The Museum
Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas,
1 Damnernkasem Road,
Hua Hin 77110, Thailand
Tel: (+66) 32512021
Email: reservation@sofitel.co.th

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Happy 2012 to our dear readers! Have your got your holiday plans ready for the year? Well, we already have two places in mind for the first half of year 2012! If Bangkok is one of your holiday destination this year, why not consider making a 3D2N trip to Hua Hin?

Hua Hin is unlike any other beach resort in Thailand. There’s no all-night action of cabarets and discos, neither there’s any tourist crowds, traffic or anything for that matter. It is a quaint seaside resort city which is very popular among Bangkok residents as well as a small group of Japanese, Korean, Hong Konger and Taiwanese tourists. It is well known as a rainy season retreat and is closely associated with the Thai royalty. In 1926, King Rama VII built the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace on the beach a few km north of the Railway Hotel and this palace is still frequently used by the Royal Family. The Hua Hin railway station is also frequently visited by the Thai royalties. There’s even a Royal Waiting Room in it!

Situated about 200 kms from Bangkok, there are a few ways to get to Hua Hin:

Bus:

From Bangkok Southern terminal every 40 minutes from early until late, about THB 160 each way, journey time about 3 hrs 15 minutes

Pros and Cons: Cheap, comfortable and relatively faster; but the location of Bangkok Southern Terminal is not convenient.

Train:

Fares vary depending on type of train and class. Journey time from around 4 hrs to 5 hrs. Most have 2nd class air conditioned some also 1st Class.

kampungboycitygal’s comment: Cheap (around 100 baht); but the trains go very slowly getting away from Bangkok so 2 1/2 hour road time to Hua Hin stretches to 5 or 6 on the train.

Air:

As of 2010, there is no scheduled air service between Bangkok and Hua Hin. Charter jets and helicopters are available if you are in a hurry and have lots of money. Hua Hin Airport is also convenient for Cha-am.

kampungboycitygal’s comment: Fast, comfortable and convenient; but we don’t have the money to charter a jet.

Taxis:

Easily available, journey time about 3 hours, fares range from THB 1,600 onwards.

kampungboycitygal’s comment: Fast, comfortable and convenient; but 1600-2000 baht is still a steep price to pay for 2 pax.

Limousines:

Easily available from airport and city, fares range from about THB 2,850 upwards, and more comfortable than normal taxis. Large sedans and min-vans available.

kampungboycitygal’s comment: Fast, comfortable and convenient; but 3000 baht is still a steep price to pay for 2 pax.

Hotel Transfers:

Some hotels / hotel groups such as Hyatt and Dusit have regular transfers between their Bangkok and Hua Hin properties, either large sedans or luxury mini-vans.

Shared Mini Vans:

This option is available from most any travel agency in Bangkok, but must be booked ahead. It’s one of the most cost effective ways to get to Hua Hin. One way fares usually cost no more than THB 500. The trip takes a little over 3 hours, depending on your place in the pick up or drop off queue.

kampungboycitygal’s comment: Cheap, convenient to board (Victory Monument BTS) and relatively faster (2.5 hours); but seating can be very tight and there’s no luggage storage space available.

Information from Trip Advisor

To board a minibus, proceed to Century Shopping Mall (Victory Monument BTS). Cost is 180 baht, limited baggage. You might be asked to buy extra seat if you have a lot of luggage. If you’re traveling light, it’s a great way to go.

The Hua Hin vans board in the alleyway next to Century Movie Plaza close to the stairs at the southern end of Victory Monument BTS station. From the skytrain station, take the walkway towards south, descend the staircase on the east side to street level. The minibus area is next to the stairs. Look for a small table with “Cha Am, Hua Hin” written in English to buy your ticket. There’s service to Pattaya as well.

The mini van departs every 30 minutes, or when the van is full (~15 pax).

Our mini van stops near the Clock Tower. From there, we took a 2-3 minutes walk to Hua Hin Tourist Information Centre.

The friendly staff provided us with a range of information. They even helped us to call up our resort to arrange for pick up!

Can’t wait to explore Hua Hin!

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FAQs and suggestions will be posted below:

FAQs

1) Hi KampungboyCitygal, can you please send me a copy for your HK/Taiwan/Bali/Bangkok itineraries?

All our itineraries are being shared in blog post forms.

Bali – http://kampungboycitygal.com/2011/10/6d5n-bangkok-hua-hin-purely-rr-food-shopping/
Bangkok – http://kampungboycitygal.com/2011/10/6d5n-bangkok-hua-hin-purely-rr-food-shopping/
HK v1 – http://kampungboycitygal.com/2009/05/round-up-6d5n-at-hong-kong-macau/
HK x2 – http://kampungboycitygal.com/2010/12/eat-drink-hong-kong-2010-trip-report/
Taiwan – http://kampungboycitygal.com/2009/07/executive-summary6d6n-taipei-yilan-taiwan/

Information were being shared without any reservation. It’s even better than our own itineraries in excel/word form!

2) Do you earn 7 figures each year to afford such a lavish lifestyle?

No, we do not live a lavish lifestyle. We can only afford 2 – 3 holidays per annum and we usually spend less than RM 4,000 per person for one of those trips. Contrary to popular beliefs, we do not eat out every day for every single meals. Eat outs usually happens in the weekends, which we really enjoy doing so. We also conduct invited reviews on a very selective basis; with of course a full disclosure (we categorise them under “invited reviews” or we open the line with something like “thanks for the invitation…”.). Rest assured that invited reviews will never swayed our honest opinions. We also opted to not to write if the food is just plain bad.

3) What is your policy on invited reviews? (from PRs or restaurateurs)

Refer to Q2

to be continued…….

It is a good place to dig for cheap treasures; I found piles of leather goods, handbags and dresses galore here. If Platinum Mall is the best place to shop during day time, then Siam Square is sure to bag the best night time shopping spot award. If you have plenty time to kill , walk through Soi 1 – Soi 7 and visit the myriad of shops and boutiques selling local designer-label apparel, jewelry or photography gear.

Siam Square – the “Shinjuku” of Bangkok

loafers…drools…

Pro Shop at Soi 5 sells real leather sandals and high heels. I bought a pair of soft leather heel for ~ 850 baht (RM 85) which I thought is a pretty good bargain!

vintag-y bags…

Soi 3 is a good place to hunt for wedding gowns and wedding souvenirs.

There are also some designer clothing boutiques with better quality pieces and higher pricing.

The street stalls provides great fun for bargain shopping.

199 baht only?!!

I love these handmade kitties too! You can actually personalise it by hanging one’s initials on the neck chain. Can someone please get it for me at Siam Square?

That’s how we spent most of our Thai Bahts in Day 1 itself. Oh and don’t forget to complete your awesome shopping experiences with a good dinner at Som Tam Nua, Siam Square Soi 5!

Siam Square
Getting here: Directly opposite MBK or Siam BTS (exit 2,3,4)

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cafe by Haven Cafe

coffee by RAW Coffee

groceries by Little Green Planet

fresh bread & juice bar

beauty & skincare products by Bodybar

spa treatments by Organique Therapies

mom & baby products by Tiny Tapir

Housed in a standalone building, the casual and family-friendly restaurant features its own private lot with ample parking. It has an outdoor patio outfitted with seating too.

The spacious interior is bright and airy thanks to the impressive front bay glass door looking out onto the garden.

Apart from being a nice, calm place for brunch; Little Green Planet groceries is also available here.

free water

RAW coffee runs a kiosk here, serving fresh roasted coffee using a Kees van der Westen lever espresso machine. The beans were roasted in house too, to ensure the best of quality.

Flat White & Mocha (RM 10 each)

RM10 is a steep price to pay for a cuppa, but not for a cup of small but strong flat white topped with very creamy, well-frothed milk.

Garlic Bread (RM 6); the smell is great and it’s an ideal tummy filler.

French Toast (RM 12); classic french toast made with free range eggs, served with organic jam and raw rainforest honey. Warm, fluffy and absolutely satisfying!

Fluffy Pancakes (RM 12); stack of traditional pancakes served with butter, organic jam and raw rainforest honey. Straight off the griddle and served fluffy and hot with raw rainforest honey, these pancakes were the crowd’s favourite.

Grilled Free Range Chicken (RM 18); warm free-range grilled chicken, organic greens, tangy orange dressing.

Mushroom & Onions (RM14); white button mushrooms, sauteed onions, organic greens.  These fresh, no-frills sandwiches were perfectly toasted on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. My other gripe is the lack of sandwich filling; we were expecting a generous and fuller version for the price which we are paying for.

Have it Your Way (RM18, choose 3 items). We chose fresh mushroom, poached free range eggs  and turkey ham to go with our bread. Our selection was nothing to shout about and and the portion was a tad too small. Smaller portion = Healthier lifestyle?

Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie (RM 18); kampung chicken, mushrooms, mixd root vegetables, cream sauce, puff pastry. The pot pie reminded us of Dome’s signature Gourmet Chicken Pie. Both version was equally creamy and satisfying.

Gift Exchange Time

Let’s have a look at some happy, jolly festive pictures!

The many faces of KampungBoy

All in all, Haven Cafe serves good coffee, decent food but with pricing a bit on the high side (I suppose organic food is generally more expensive than intensively-farmed food?) The quiet and calm atmosphere makes it a very nice place to chill out and have a light snack too.

Haven Cafe
12, Jalan Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-4252-3100
Opens daily from 930am to 9pm.
http://havenkl.com/