Resorts World Sentosa

Gong xi fa cai! Strawberry Moments wishes everyone a Happy Lunar New Year of the Tiger and a prosperous and fulfilling year 2010 ahead!

2010 was a roaring start for us! Ted and me headed to the much anticipated new attraction at Sentosa Integrated Resort (IR) - the Resorts World (owned by Genting Singapore Public Limited Company (PLCHoldings Ltd) ) on 17 February 2010 and to visit the Casino which was newly opened on 14 February 2010 (First Day of the Lunar New Year). We had to take a look at the latest hype and to also visit the new 4 Resorts World Hotels, the shopping galleries and the much awaited "Universal Studio Singapore"!

It was a smooth ride into the Sentosa island. Surprisingly, there were no island entrance charges, as we all Singaporeans expected when we drove in to the island. We found out later that if you were to visit the Resorts World and follow the track in, there are no entrance charges. But if you drive in to Sentosa on the other path, there will be $7 island entrance charges though. 

In we went, and we were met with a huge carpark. It was as if we were going to the checkpoints to visit Malaysia. Very interesting. The helpful guards gave us useful directions that if we were to visit the hotels and to see the Resorts World / Casino, we can park at the end of the East Carpark.  If we were to visit Hard Rock Hotel, we can head for the West Carpark instead. (Daily max carpark charges is only $20) We finally were able to find carpark lots at the Green Zone after making about 3 rounds around the huge carpark. There was really a huge crowd that day! We then walked in to the basement of the Resorts World and we were greeted with the MGM and Casino.  

Crockfords Tower

We strolled the entire Resorts World, splurging money at the souvenir shops, shopping galleries beside the Crockfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel.

As the Preview Universal Studio tickets at $10 were all snapped up for this Lunar New Year festive period, we were unable to get in to the Studio. We were able to see the entrance and could only envy those who can go in. Instead, we hung around and indulged in the delicious Hershey's Chocolate World. I found my long-lost heavenly Reese buttercup chocolates at the Chocolate World and I couldnt stop eating away! Yummy.   

After, we finally headed to the highlight of the evening - the CASINO! Singaporeans had to pay a $100 Casino Entrance Levy (for an unlimited 24 hour visit) to get in the Casino. Despite that, it was no deterrent for the many curious Singaporeans. We were one of them too! Passing through a train of semi-circular hoops, we had to show our NRIC for registration and to pay our levy.

Many security guards were stationed outside the Casino. There were 2 paths, one for Singaporeans and the other for overseas visitors. Singaporeans had to scan their NRIC to go in and we have 24 hours to the Casino. No photos allowed so I wont be able to share what I see there. Jackpot machines and many gaming tables lined the Casino. For hungry guests like me, there are 3 eateries, a cafe, bar, lounge, Japanese restaurant and also a foodcourt, much to my delight! (For Casino dining, please refer to Resorts World dining here)

Most of our time was spent standing around the tables and looking at people play as the place was just too crowded. It was quite fun observing the games though! We tried our luck at the Blackjack table (at minimum $10 per game) and Lady Luck was shining at us! We won a few games and left the Casino with some good money but still unable to cope back our Levy though ... Jackpot machines were simply impossible for you to touch as there were long queues and all the people seem stuck to their chairs (at 5 cents per games, it is no wonder!) Many gamblers were practically shouting away in the Casino with the excitement getting thicker into the night! It was a fun experience overall. Entertainment of a different sort in Singapore now. That said, its provided you know your limit and where to stop.

Resorts World is at Sentosa Integrated Resort, 39 Artillery Avenue, Sentosa, Singapore 099958 Tel: +65 6577 8888.

You Huak Sembawang White Bee Hoon

Found a wonderful local delight at faraway Sembawang, serving delicious Teochew Seafood White Bee Hoon!  This place is a coffeeshop located just at the corner, at the street opposite the Sembawang Shopping Centre.  Its located at the You Huak Restaurant and you cant miss it because the restaurant has such a huge signboard in Chinese saying "White Bee Hoon" (Ba Mi Fen in Chinese) just outside it! And of course, its packed with people too!

Curious as to what everyone is having, Ted and me also joined the people sitting in the packed coffeeshop or waiting around for a seat...  Most were waiting for their food to be served (as I found out later that you will probably have to wait about 20-30 minutes - but its not too bad if its a wait for delicious food!). So we joined the queue!

We ordered the MUST-EAT "Teochew Seafood White Bee Hoon". Very delicious, soft and slurpy bee hoon cooked with egg and fresh ingredients like prawn, sotong (squids) and vegetables. Its a very simple dish yet of great taste and cooked in light gravy.  Believe this is due to the credit of the chefs who must have flavoured the dish well.  Do not think there is MSG as I did not feel thirsty after that.  Its quite rare to be able to find white bee hoon cooked in this manner.  Reasonably priced at $4, $7 or $10. We took the $7 dish (more than enough for 2 person, without you feeling hungry in the night!) plus added on a side-dish of "Sweet & Sour Pork Chop" at $10.

The place offers other side-dishes like the "Fried Prawn Roll" (heh-chor in Hokkien) or "Sweet & Sour Pork" (ku-lor york in Cantonese) also at $10 too. The popular dish seems to be the Fried Prawn Paste as there seems to be 1 plate of this on everybody's table! But we beg to differ and tried the "Sweet & Sour Pork Chop" instead which also turned out great.  The other food in the menu are also pretty reasonably priced from $6 to $8 onwards for egg omelette and vegetables. There are also seafood; like crabs served at the restaurant too! This place is definitely worth a try! And you maybe yearning for it like me after that...  While you are there, dont forget to also try the sweet Lime Juice offered by the coffeeshop.

 

You Huak Sembawang White Bee Hoon is located inside You Huak Restaurant, 22 Jalan Tampang Singapore 7899666 (opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre). Closed on Wednesday.

Happy New Year 2010 at Canopy Garden Dining & Bar

Strawberry Moment wishes all belated Merry Xmas wishes and a Happy New Year 2010!

For a good start to the year 2010, Ted and me decided to go for a healthy delicious meal so we headed to Bishan Park. We had a great healthy breakfast at Canopy Garden Dining & Bar ! Canopy is the newest addition to the Asmara Group serving an Australian style café food complimented by a wide variety of new world wines. Its a perfect place offering a great dining experience in a peaceful garden setting providing the perfect getaway for families, couples and pet lovers alike and for lounging outdoors at their outdoor bar and dining area too.  We tried their breakfast set @ $14/set. The set consists of a toast and choice of sunny-side eggs or scrambled eggs, 2 choices of either baked beans, mushrooms, spinach, bacon or sausages. Ted went for baked beans and mushroom.  My healthy choice to start the year was naturally the mushrooms and spinach with sunny-side eggs! Cheers to a healthy 2010 !

Canopy Garden Dining & Bar is at Bishan Park II, 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569931 Tel: 6556 1533. 

First Love with Lee Min Ho in Singapore

I was swooned off my feet at Lee Min Ho’s First Asian Fan Meeting on 21 December 2009, Monday 8PM held at MAX Pavilion. Literally, by the 1.86m tall suave 22 years old actor!

The doe-eyed boyish actor who won the hearts of many from his role as the F4 leader, Gu Jun Pyo in the Korean blockbuster “Boys over Flowers” was in town for his first Asian Fan meeting with Singapore, as one of its leg. Die hard fans definitely would not miss out the opportunity to see the prince charming in person despite the hefty ticket prices of $98, $148 and $188. Definitely not me .. Continue at Star-Waltz blog
 
[Extracted from Star-Waltz blog. More photos and details there]

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu (since 1927) restaurant is located at the recently opened ION Orchard Singapore Shopping Mall, Basement 4 beside the Food Court.

Understand the head chef and founder hails from Japan and was in Singapore when the restaurant opened then. This place offers a selection of good quality Japanese tonkatsu (pork cutlet), torikatsu (chicken cutlet) and their famous katsu-curry dishes. The cashier counter had plastic replicas of the food offerings and we could easily pick what we want to eat. Being new to the restaurant, we tried the usual beginners course - tonkatsu and katsu-curry set at about $13 each.

After trying the food, I found the tonkatsu here pales in comparison to some of the Japanese restaurants we tried, in terms of its crispiness. I think it might be worthwhile to try the hire-katsu fillets next time as fillets are generally more juicy and tender though smaller piece in sizes. The salad dressing was a little too vinegary sour for my liking. We thought the katsu-curry was better.  The katsu-curry sauce was very tasy and delicious and goes very well with the katsu.  We would give this a thumbs up! The food also came served with an icy cold green tea which was very refreshing indeed. One thing to note is that this is probably one of the rare places in Singapore to offer those little boxed katsu-sandwiches at the cashier counter - just like those you always find in Japan for take-away.

I would say this place is worth a try if you are nearby the place. Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu is at 2 Orchard Turn, Basement 4-39/40/41/42, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801 Tel: 65-6509 8101.

Lee Min Ho First Fan Meeting - First Love... with Singapore

I am so excited!! My favourite Korean Kimchii star, Lee Min Ho famous for his role as the F4 leader of the Boys Over Flowers drama serial -  is coming to Singapore again.. for his first fan meeting on 21 Dec 2009! The event is part of Lee's first ever Asian Fan Meeting tour, which includes stops in Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Tickets are on sale from $98 at SISTIC outlets. More details can be found in Star-Waltz blog.
[ Credits to Star-Waltz ]

Paddy's from Australia

After some whirlwind Korean excitement of seeing Korean star, Lee Min Ho over the last week of October 2009 while he was in Singapore (see previous posts on Korean star Lee Min Ho), my stomach is hungry for some nice fresh delicacies again! Not yet ready to try out any Korean delicacies yet after my starry encounters, I caught a nice find at the Tanglin Mall Basement Food Mall though. Fresh seafood and fishes - like that straight from Australia! Paddy's from Australia at Tanglin Mall Basement Food Mall. Located prominently just at the front corner of the Basement Food Mall, you wont miss it. Plenty of good seafood variety for you to choose from (barramundi, sole, ling, salmon), both crumbed and battered, with accompanying thick cut potato wedges (more like roasted potatoes).

And no surprises for guessing what we ordered. Yes, it is the Fish and Chips! Very fresh and price is reasonable too. At S$5.50. The meal served was simply great! The potato wedges were big, fat and crunchy. Fresh and delicious served with tartar sauce. No need to say more.

Go try Paddy's from Australia at 163 Tanglin Road, Tanglin Mall Basement 1 Food Mall, Singapore.

Lee Min Ho in Singapore 24 Oct 09

Lee Min Ho is here in Singapore finally! Actor of the crazy hit Boys Over Flowers Drama Serial - F4 Leader, Gu Ju-Pyo. The dashing actor spent about an intimate hour from 530pm-630pm this evening at Movida, St James Power Station for a Private Party with about a hundred fifty of his fans chatting, signing autographs and taking photos. As usual, he looks real cool and good despite his busy tight schedule. He had touched down at Singapore Changi Airport in the afternoon from Taipei, Taiwan and had attended a press conference in the afternoon at 230pm at Raffles Hotel (East India Room). He was mobbed by fans at all the places he went in Singapore. The earlier event (4pm) at Plaza Singapura had to be cancelled as there was too big a crowd causing security problems. He revealed he has good impression of Singapore and of the fans here and hopes he come back to see us again! Lets hope he does come back to Singapore again real soon! Glimpses of him below at Movida, St James Power Station, Singapore.

Check out more news, photos and videoclips of Lee Min Ho's arrival to Singapore Changi Airport and his crazy Singapore visit at http://www.xin.sg/article.php?article=32872

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