Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Stone Barn Zinfandel Rose - California 2011

ABBEY: This wine is sweet and alcohol level is within my preference. Good to pair with meat as well as your chips for a midnight snack.

Stone Barn Zinfandel Rose - California 2011
WILL: There'll be a time that you you will miss the taste of wine. Or maybe you are in a celebratory mood or you just like to feel drunk. Haha. 

When Abbey and I went to Fairprice. There's an array of dicounted wines. We do not know what to choose but all we need is with a sweet kick. Gladly, Abbey downloaded and app and helped us to choose what bottle we should go for. Tadannnnn! Stone Barn 2011. A seven year old bottle. 

It is not expensive. It only cost us a SGD18.40. It is enticingly red and the sweetness suited Abbey's taste. Don't wonder if he is the one who finished it up. Haha! 

'Till our next wine drinking session! 

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Avillion Cameron Highlands Malaysia

ABBEY: Avillion is a newly-opened hotel at Cameron Highlands and we’re glad they accommodated us for a night stay on a discounted price. 

We got a spacious room with a large bed, a bathtub and the works. I like how soft their pillows are and I got a good night sleep. It also included breakfast for each guest; kway teow, porridge, fried rice, eggs, sausage and toast. 

There are nearby establishments in the hotel like bar, grocery, money changer and restaurant where we ordered our pizza for late night snack. 

The bus terminal going to Kuala Lumpur is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.


Avillion Cameron Highlands Malaysia




WILL: In Cameron Highlands, the famous choices will be Strawberry Park Resort or Heritage Hotel or Copthorne Hotel . I always pick out a new hotel/hostel and because we are lucky and blessed, haha!, we found Avillion Cameron Highlands. 

Avillion is a newly built hotel that runs a 50% off promotion. For only S$82.11, we got a huge room with comfy-clean bed, bathroom with rainfall shower, and separate sink for your utensils. Of course no air condition was provided. The downside, we were placed at the side of a street where too many bars are located. Until 12mn, there are people merrymaking! Even the windows are close, you can still hear the noise. 

With S$82.11, a simple breakfast buffet was provided. Kway teow, porridge, bread and spreads, nasi lemak, fruits and hot drinks. 

The place is recommendable maybe you can ask for a room that is an "inner" room. 

Thanks Avillion for accommodating us for a night!

***
Avillion Cameron Highlands
(W)http://www.avillioncameronhighlands.com
(A)C-3 Jalan Camelia, Tanah Rata, 39000 Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Things to do in Cameron Highlands

ABBEY:
Mossy Forest
Make sure to prepare for climbing flight of steps as you traverse the path of Mossy Forest. Neat boardwalks are in place but wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Nature really provides cure for us. Our tour guide showed us plants to give relief from headache, stomach pains, and even for survival if you become lost in the forest. The loud “music” of cicadas will definitely catch your attention. 

BOH Tea Plantation
Ever wonder how white, brown and black teas were made? Well, they all come from the same plant but different parts were used or only different process is being applied. The tea look like a giant blanket that covers the mountain slopes and land. We also went to their BOH Tea Centre - Sungei Palas where we got to taste the nasi lemak and chendol cheesecakes. The former is not recommended as it is only a hype. But the chendol cheesecake is good for a try. You can sip tea as you enjoy the nature around you.

Cameron Lavender
No tour included this attraction as this is too far from the others. Thus we hired a cab for a round trip. Not that easy to book a taxi on that area; no Grab either. For RMB10, you can take snaps along with flower arrangements and stroll on the nursery. This is the first time I saw a real lavender. They smell so good and relaxing.


Things to do in Cameron Highlands
Cameron Lavender

Things to do in Cameron Highlands
Mossy Forest

Things to do in Cameron Highlands
BOH Tea Centre Sungei Palace
Nasi Lemak Cheesecake

Things to do in Cameron Highlands
Pizarella Menu

Things to do in Cameron Highlands
Restoran Mayflower



WILL: Cameron Highlands is always on my mind whenever you will speak a short travel from Singapore. Why? What could be the reason? Because of their famous tea plantation. 

Before heading to NEM Blockchain Centre at KL  Malaysia, we side trip to one of the cold part of Malaysia.. Cameron Highlands. 

Except for acres and acres of land by BOH Tea Plantation and it's cafe that hyped (not worth it) Nasi Lemak Cheesecake, you can explore the Mossy Forest. No mosquitoes in there but beware of green snakes. When fog is getting through, it feels like an eerie place! In that forest, thanks to our guide from Titiwangsa Tours, we were got educated by the wonders of nature. The real medicine just right inside our forests. 

That is half day tour for only RMB60 each and snack was provided. 

Because I really do love to see the Cameron Lavender. Abbey shelled out RMB80 for our taxi service and RMB10 each for the entrance fee. 

The blooming lavenders produces the natural relaxing scent. The distinctive smell plus the colorful flowers all over us definitely calm us down and appreciated the beauty of nature. 

From morning till evening, we just ate a piece of bread from cafe and from tour. When the supper came, I am sorry to say but we ate at the Restoran Mayflower like a pig. Hahaha! The  hot soup from our steambot soothes our rumbling stomach. And they served a generous amount of vegetable and meat for us to devour. 

Midnight snack, and I am craving for food again. Luckily, one of the famous pizza place is just below Avillion Hotel. We ordered at Pizarella and got a Tonno & Cipolla. Sauce is recognizably different from any pizza place I tried. 

There's so much to see at Cameron Highlands. Please join the tours, it will be too expensive for a taxi. 

Traffic is number one problem in Cameron Highlands. The locals told us that the best time to visit the mountains is on Ramadan season. 

Forget about Bintan and Batam. This is a cheaper way for you to spend a weekend.


***
Titiwangsa Tours
(W)http://www.titiwangsatours.com

Pizarella
(F) https://www.facebook.com/Pizzarella.ch/

BOH Tea Plantation
(W) https://www.bohtea.com/

Cameron Lavender Farm
(F) https://www.facebook.com/cameronlavendergarden/ 

Friday, June 15, 2018

The One Travel & Tours Bus - Singapore to Cameron Highlands

ABBEY: We booked our night-rider Cameron Highland-bound bus at One Travel and Tours Bus (Golden Mile Complex). Be there on time and approach the counter to confirm the bus arrival. They gave us bottled water and then we boarded the bus. 

We’re seated at the upper deck. The bus has nice smell but I’ve seen a small cockroach near my window. 

We stopped at Kuala Lumpur for other passengers to alight and then headed to mountains. :) We reached at 9AM.


The One Travel & Tours Bus - Singapore to Cameron Highlands



WILL: 10mins before your departure is just fine. Do not be like us, we waited there for almost half an hour standing and waiting for the bus to arrive. Print out your ticket, on that the counter will write down your seat designation and hand out your free bottled water. 

At the bus, it is clean. Aha! The seat is reclining and enough space for my legs. I slept peacefully on our journey. I feel comfy and somewhat never bitten by any bugs. Haha! 

SG to Cameron Highlands! What a wonderful trip for only SGD53.455! 


***
The One Travel and Tours Bus
(W) www.theone.travel/

The One Travel and Tours Bus
(W) https://www.easybook.com




Wednesday, June 6, 2018

NEM Blockchain Centre

ABBEY: We visited NEM Blockchain Centre at Kuala Lumpur. It has massive space for hosting 100+ people events, project incubators, boardrooms meetings, teleconferences, and even a nap room when you get tired. 

It also functions as a co-working space for other startup/blockchain enthusiasts. We were also fortunate to meet one of the NEM advisors, then president, Lon Wong. 


Our visit was worth the while as we’re accompanied by NEM Malaysia team; Lance, Shin Tatt, Leroy, Anthony, and Sharmilla. Thanks guys.





WILL: Do you know that NEM is one of the friendliest blockchain community you will ever find? Well, how did I know? They accepted me. Hahaha! I am a volunteer in NEM and we need to learn more about the advocacy of the Foundation and deep dive with the technology itself. And on that, we visited the NEM Blockchain Center located at Kuala Lumpur. 

Got trained technically (still scratching the surface haha) and we witnessed the day in and day out of NEM Tech Team. 

What's inside the NEM Blockchain Center? They have rooms for incubators and startups, Pitching Room, Exchange Room, a cafe, nap area, a 150pax auditorium and conference room. Oh! They have privacy booths too, if you want to take calls or video chat. 

Do you need tech training? Arrange a group of 30pax and they will do it for you FREE! You want to integrate your business into the blockchain? Look for Sir Lance or Leroy and they will help you, don't worry, they will not bill you for consultation fee. 

For people who will be visiting KL, visit NEM Blockchain Center! You will be welcomed with a smile! 

Learn the blockchain. Be part of the future.

***
NEM Blockchain Centre 
(W)https://nem.io
(A)Lot 1.02 Level 1, GLO Damansara, Jalan Damansara 60000 KL, Wilayah Persekutuan Malaysia
(T) +603 8800 8636

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Deadpool 2 (2018)

ABBEY: And Wade Wilson is back. Funnier and “gorier”. This man can never shut his mouth. Be ready for all his talkings. He wanted to start a family. Unfortunately he need to go to a great ordeal to get that after pissing off his enemies. There couldn’t have been a friction between him and Cable if it were not for the horizontally-challenged kid with fiery hands. 


The movie has stories of love (yes, love) and hate,  friendship, repentance, forgiveness and hope. Who knows that Deadpool can deliver that? 

Definitely not for kids.

Deadpool 2 (2018) at Shaw Theatres Waterway Punggol


WILL: Abbey dragged me to watch Deadpool 2. Hahaha! Well.. we didn’t waste money on this movie. 

One is sexually intense but this Deadpool 2 is quite more of "love", self-seeking and helping others for betterment of the future world and mutant. Seems a prequel to upcoming collaboration with other mutants. 

Yes! We did not wasted money on this. A good-feel movie. A time to laugh! Watch it!


Monday, June 4, 2018

218 Zhong Xin Centre Hokkien Mee Punggol

ABBEY: We recently got to know that there is food stall at Punggol that serves good Hokkien Mee. For just SGD4, you can have a plate of freshly cooked noodles. 

It is semi-creamy/semi-runny and has a smokey flavor; reminds me of the lomi noodles from Philippines. Now I have more options when I get hungry.

218 Zhong Xin Hokkien Mee Punggol

218 Zhong Xin Hokkien Mee Punggol
Kway Teow

218 Zhong Xin Hokkien Mee Punggol
Hokkien Mee 

WILL: It is nice to know that there are good hawkers around Sengkang and Punggol and it is easy to go because of the bike sharing that we can rent anytime. This time, we went for a cycle to discover the 218 Hokkien Mee. 

The taste somewhat outstands the others. It has a smokey taste and the chili (dedicated for oyster cake) is excitingly complements the noodles we are munching. 

This is a must to check for Punggol residents. Till our next hawker pigging out!


***
218 Zhong Xin Hokkien Mee
(F) https://www.facebook.com/centrehokkienmee/
(H) 8AM to 1030PM
(A) Blk 218 Sumang Walk Punggol


Saturday, June 2, 2018

Stir-Fried Chicken With Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
1/4 kilo boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 teaspoons Maggi Savor
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion, minced 
Salt and Pepper to Taste 

Directions:
In a bowl, marinate the chicken with the Maggi Savor overnight.
Saute the garlic and onion.
Stir fry the chicken for 5 minutes or until it turns white.
Add the bell peppers and saute up to desired crispiness. 
Salt, pepper or splash more Maggi Savor.

Stir-Fried Chicken With Bell Peppers



VERDICT
ABBEY : This is a simple sautéed dish. But don’t be fooled. The flavor is awesome. I didn’t know that bell peppers can bring lots of flavor and make a dish delicious. 

Serve with hot rice and you’re good to go.