Lady Liberty & I – New York, USA

Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly ecstatic when I learned that a visit to the Statue of Liberty was arranged for my itinerary in NYC. Just to be clear, I have absolutely nothing against the most iconic symbol of the free world, it is the touristy aspect of the trip that makes it less appealing. Then again, I am what I am, a tourist, and who in the right mind would miss out on this? Doesn’t happen every day where you get to see a lady carry a torch for her countryman, now that’s love and dedication.

Had to get up real early to catch the 10:20am ferry at Battery Park. Was having a really hard time shaking off the reluctance to go and the fact that sleep was insufficient the night before sort of made it worse. But I have to admit this, the place is magical. The moment I got up on the upper deck of the boat and saw the amazing skyline…it took my breath away. Almost immediately, I felt like a whole new person.

The journey from Battery Park to Liberty State Park didn’t take too long, I wasn’t checking the time, but it should be just within 10 to 15 minutes. Plenty of opportunities to take awesome pictures with expansively clear blue skies. From a distance, the lady awaits – she didn’t look that intimidating from afar.

After getting off the ferry, we had our breakfast at the canteen, after which, spent some time at the souvenir shop to determine what to purchase later after climbing the statue. Security checks here are very stringent and similar to airport customs, so do not be caught off guard. We weren’t sure if the tight security check is of a normal situation, but it could also be due to the recent terrorist threats that were manifesting all over the world that has made it necessary.

Once you get clearance, you’ll enter directly at the base of the statue. As we were late in booking for the crown tickets, we had to settle for the pedestal, which was good enough for me as the climb almost killed me. The elevator was taking too long and all able-bodied men were advised to use the stairs. I dutifully clasp at my nuts and trudge up Everest. The effort I would say, is totally worth it. The experience from the pedestal is one that I will take away with me and reside in a very special place in my heart for a very very long time. It feels like a totally different world up there, where the air is crisp and fresh, the winds are strong and the view is simply impeccable. Looking up at her, I felt smitten.

After making our way down from the pedestal, we walked around the Liberty State Park for an all round view of Lady Liberty. I must say she does look gorgeous standing proud with such great posture, holding her torch up high, luminescing in majestic turquoise. I felt so tiny standing before her beauty, grace and the embodiment of freedom. I also love humongous flags. We bade farewell to the lovely lady as all good things will certainly have to come to an end.

Till we meet again.

For more information on how to get there, ticket booking, ferry timings and operating hours, click on the link below.
www.statuecruises.com

Salads, Wraps and Greens (SWAG) – Singapore

Given how hectic life can be, it would be nice to be able to tear yourself away from overindulging in fat ladened, nutrition lacking, conveniently processed foods once in a while. It is mandatory to listen to your body and understand the importance of eating sensibly more regularly.

It was a real pleasure when I first found out that SWAG is a salad bar and not some hole-in-the-wall, run-of-the-mill type of fashion wear outlet. It’s hard not to make that assumption given the name, but I soon learn that it was an acronym for Salad, Wraps, and Greens. How cute.

As I made my entrance, I was immediately welcomed with a friendly greeting from its staff. The girls were bubbly, vibrant and earnestly helpful. The decor is simplistic and functional given the small space and the interior exudes a warm and welcoming perception.

The menu is extensive and it took me awhile in deciding what to order. Everything looked so enticing, I genuinely felt like trying each and every one. Ordering is simple, you could go along with the default options or choose to build your own salad or wraps. Being new to this, I chickened out and stuck with the safer choice.

I ordered the Caesar Chicken Wrap while topping it up with $3 for the soup-of-the-day & drink for a complete set meal with an additional order of Vegenature Salad.

The soup was creamy and delicious. Unfortunately, I am unable to recall what was served for soup that day.

The Caesar Chicken Wrap tasted amazingly well. It was packed to the brim with so many ingredients, every bite into the wrap was like a new discovery of tastes of pure satisfaction. It was neither greasy nor heavy on the sauces. Everything about it was well balanced and simply delectable. Most of the sweetness tasted were from the natural juices of the vegetables and not from sugary sauces or dressings.

The Vegenature Salad is by far the healthiest salad I’ve ever had in my life. Consisting of nothing but crunchy vegetables, nuts, mushrooms and light sesame dressing, it is incredibly uplifting and that leaves the insides of your tummy feeling squeaky clean. It was almost like an instant detoxification. Don’t take my word for it, you gotta try it for yourself.

For more information on how to get there and operating hours, click on the link below.
SWAG

Korean Ramyeon – Nongshim & Ottogi Brands

Asians are no stranger to instant noodles and the convenience it brings. The ramen is an ingenious invention by the Japanese has since proliferated throughout Asia and spawned culturally indigenous versions that are representative to the ethnic flavours of their respective countries. For instance, Indonesia has Indomie, Thailand has Mama, Singapore has Myojo and so forth. Variety is in abundance to cater to all tastes and expectations.

Korea’s ramyeon has grown in popularity across the globe in recent years ever since K-pop culture came bursting into the scene, mesmerising us with it’s pop music, television dramas, mainstream movies and, of course, food. With Korea Towns sprouting out in the western parts of the world, people find themselves accessible to Korean products fairly easily. In Singapore, however, we do have stores specialised in Korean products that can be located in malls all over the country.

Personally, I enjoy spending time in these specialised stores, looking at all the products they carry and occasionally, randomly picking some up to try out for myself. Thus far, I feel that Nongshim which is the manufacturer of the highly popular Shin ramyeon brand, as well as Ottogi that has got the best range of instant noodles to offer.

Nongshim Tempura Udon Flavour

I don’t know about you, but I adore fresh udon. Udon noodles are thick, springy and chewy at every bite. That slight resistance that comes between the teeth packs a whole lot of delight to consume. So when I found out that Nongshim carries udon versions of ramyeon, I couldn’t resist from not giving it a try.

  

When I took the first whiff of the prepared contents, it struck me with the authenticity of a broth simmered for longs hours on end with anchovies and bonito flakes. The aroma was incredibly pleasant and quickly enveloped the entire space I was in. I took a bite out of the noodles and although it doesn’t have the same thickness as fresh udon, it was still rather springy and chewy at every bite. It was so good, I had seconds.

However, being a true blue Singaporean, we do love spices and heat in our food. I asked the shop attendant for her recommendations and she pointed out two products by the Ottogi brand. Ottogi is also renowned for their sesame oil. With that, I gamely grabbed what was suggested and looked forward to the trail.

Ottogi Kimchi Ramyeon

Now, kimchi is something I cannot resist. I can inhale a pound of that pungent, spicy and tangy fermented cabbages within a seating and probably be back for more helpings. Ottogi Kimchi Ramyeon, I was told, is packed full with the authentic taste of kimchi, and that pretty much closed the deal for me.

Lo and behold! This by far has got a soup base that tastes closest to a stock simmered with fresh kimchi. The spiciness wasn’t overpowering and there was a lingering sweetness at every sip. Delicious and rather satisfying.

Ottogi Yeul Ramyeon

But I wasn’t going to stop there. I needed something to fire up the taste palette and I was told the following will do just the job. The cynic in me was filled with doubt, I mean, I did walk in and announce out loud, “Find me the spiciest ramyeon of all the land!”, and this was pushed right into my hands, almost immediately as if they were trying to get me out of the premise then answering to my requirements.

I have to admit, the Yeul Ramyeon was easily the spiciest ramyeon I’ve ever tried, but it was, unfortunately, still lacking in heat. I believe there should be some that would be able to draw tears from the ducts and mucus from the nostrils like a leaky faucet. The search continues…

For more information on the products, do click on their respective links below.
Nongshim
Ottogi

Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy – Singapore

I am one who rarely develop strong desires for food very often. However, when such cravings do manifest itself, it is simply next to impossible not to follow the heart. I did put up a rather commendable fight this time around, but the little devil perched on my left shoulder was way too persuasive – seducing me with trickles of temptation for every counter effort I had put in. The struggle was a futile one, and as the clock indicated that it was the end of the work day – I made my way dutifully to the establishment which would eventually satisfy my yearning for Vietnamese cuisine.

Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy appears nondescript, situated along a lengthy row of eateries and coffee shops that lines the streets in Geylang – the infamous red light district of Singapore. The facade and interior decor of the shop may come across as visually unappealing to some, but we are not here for the contemporary furnishings and lightings, to be fair. The food does speak for itself, in overwhelming volumes, and I don’t mean in terms of quantity here but the quality.

This is my favourite Vietnamese joint in Singapore simply for a few reasons. It’s location is pretty much centralised and accessible with the MRT just around the corner, which takes about 5 minutes to get there on foot. Also, there is a bus stop right across the street, so transport options are plenty. Next would be the very affordable pricing of the food, given its swelling reputation and growing popularity of the dishes, they did not hike up their prices. And lastly, the food is as authentic as it can get. Most cuisines that are not ethnic to the host country would often be bastardised to suit the tastes of the locals, but not for Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy, every dish here stays true to their origins – just like how they would taste back in Vietnam.

I took my seat at the table and was quickly attended to by the staff. Already with an idea of what I had to order, I quickly made my request and eagerly anticipated the arrival of my dishes.

The first to be served was the Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk. I am not much of a coffee drinker, I have to say that it was rather pleasant. Smooth, mild sweetness with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

This is one of the reasons why I adore Vietnamese cuisine, there will always be a healthy portion of greens and herbs on the side as an accompaniment to the main dishes. This plate consists of a generous pile of lettuce and basil with a bowl of tangy spicy condiment on the side.

This is Bún Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork with Vermicelli). The vermicelli you see here is very different from the typical types used in Chinese cooking which tends to be starchy and clumps up easily. The vermicelli remained distinct to every strand the entire meal and was incredibly silky and smooth which glided down the throat like satin on butter, effortless. The pork pieces were chunky packed with bite and flavourful. To properly savour this dish, pour in the condiment on the side, add a couple of basil leaves and toss it thoroughly like a salad. The taste was positively off the charts.

Next, was Bún riêu (Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Vermicelli Soup). The moment I caught a whiff of that seafood broth, almost instinctively, I started salivating. The fragrance of a tangy stock that was in brew for hours on end smells unmistakably delicious. As I took the first spoonful of warm broth, it made me heaved in a long breath of pure satisfaction. By adding in the lime, prawn paste and dried chilli paste, the soup miraculously transformed into a muskier version of Thai Tom Yum Kung. What a nice surprise!

And my last dish was Bánh xèo (Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake). This as you can see, was a rather large portion. By then, I was already very much sated, but being the glutton that I am, I had to soldier on. The pancake itself is made up of thinly fried eggs, pan-fried to crispy perfection. It was slathered generously with bean sprouts, pork slices and prawns. To properly consume this dish, you have to tear it in bite size portions, wrap it with the lettuce and basil and dip it into the condiment. Simply delectable. Despite being very full, I polished off the entire plate. Not a single trace of pancake remains.

Well, what can I say? When you have an itch, scratch it. Scratch it real good.

For more information on how to get there and operating hours, click on the link below.
www.facebook.com/SaigonVietnamDelicacy

Bau House Dog Café – Korea

Making plans for an itinerary on any country of visit, tends to be structured in a typical process of where to go for the best local cuisine, the must see touristy sights, where to shop for the most interesting local brands and unbeatable bargains one can find. After some time, things do get a little repetitive and predictable. Hence, it would really be nice to stumble onto one of these fine little gems for a change.

When I came across information on Bau House the first time, I knew I had to visit the place. It wasn’t an option, it was a definite must. Being a dog person and generally an animal lover, it is hard to say no to an opportunity like this one. Besides, having had pets most parts of my childhood, I do miss having the close companionship with a domesticated pet.

On the day of the visit, the café was filled with people, their dogs and, of course, the in-house celebrities and we had to wait for almost an hour before we got a table. This is a really good outlet for pet owners to bring their pets to socialise with their species or others.

The café is made up of three sections. The waiting area, the lap/toy dog area and the middle to large dog area that is situated in the innermost section of the café. Even before getting your seat, you could already soak up all the positive energies from the happy canines and people who are cooing over them. Some of the pups must have been rather overwhelmed by all the attention that they had to take little doggy naps in between.

An introductory catalog is available as a preliminary introduction of the Bau House celebrity dogs.

After getting seated, we were finally able to mingle, interact and play with the pups. We chose the larger dog section for the first half of the visit. The dogs are generally very well behaved, with an occasional tussle with other dogs. And they do like their treats, you can get those by buying over the counter at each section. We were not aware that the treats in both sections catered specifically to each and made a mistake bringing the leftovers from the large dogs over to the small dogs. The staff present was quick to correct us.

Now look at those faces, they were as glad to see you, as you were of them. The dog that kind of stood out from the rest was the overfed, cream coloured Labrador that is in the top picture just right above the left ear of the dog featured in the foreground. This dog raised quite a chuckle with patrons with its antics, or more accurately, the lack of it. It was so lazy, that it would only be fed treats in the prone position. Once done, it will raise up, walk to another promising location and plop itself heavily onto the ground, in wait to be fed. It was really hilarious, we were thoroughly entertained.

Kudos to the hardworking, dog loving staff of Bau House in taking care of the dogs and cleanliness of the café while maintaining good service standards.

For more information on how to get there and operating hours, click on the link below.
Bau House Dog Café

Gaeseong Traditional Dumplings (Mandu) House – Korea

We woke up to a bright and sunny but breezy day in Korea, the weather was perfect. However, it was one of those days where we had not planned in advance, where to go for breakfast. Our nice boutique hotel did offer the simplest form of breakfast in the likes of cereals, toasts and juices, but we decided that we needed something more satisfying to fill our tummies with.

Heading out, we made our way to Insadong, which is just 5 to 10 minutes away on foot. We walked along and into the many alleys of Insadong, and were undoubtedly thrown into a state of confusion. The place was like a labyrinth consisting of lanes, twisting, turning and intertwining with one another. On top of it all, they were filled with eateries, souvenir shops, art galleries and tea houses galore. It made it even harder to decide on where to go for breakfast.

Fortunately for us, we noticed a steady stream of Ajummas making a beeline into one of the alleys. They walked in a hurried and excitable manner, chattering amongst themselves under bated breaths, it had almost felt like they were on their way to dig up lost treasures.

Our instincts told us that this could be good. So we picked up on their trail. A few turns in the alleyways and the ladies lead us to the door of Gaeseong Traditional Dumplings House. We decided to concede with the old adage that, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

We were NOT disappointed.

Upon entry, the restaurant was already filled with Ajummas, interestingly enough, we were the only two blokes in the establishment. We stuck out like thorns in a rose garden. Luckily, there were seats available for us as they were just cleaning up after a pair of patrons who were done. Quickly enough, we were ushered to our seats.

The wooden beams and simplistic decor made it all, a very homey experience.

Sitting on floor mats while dining made the experience even more casual and relaxing. As you can see, the place was filled with adorable Ajummas; colourful, loud, friendly and full of life. Not a single male counterpart in sight, well, except for us.

We had some trouble ordering the food as they did not have an English menu available. After a bout of charades, gesturing and pointing around, we managed to order a Mandu stew for two. It also came with some side dishes – pickled radishes, good ole kimchi and a cold kimchi soup which I had thought, tasted a little rad.

When the stew started boiling up, I fished up a mandu and promptly dissected it for a picture. Partly, I was starving too and couldn’t wait to get one of them, plump, bigger than usual dumplings into my pie hole. The server noticed what I had done and gestured hastily that I was not supposed to eat the mandu at this stage. Through her frantic hand movements, I figured that we had to wait for the stew to boil down before consuming them. Fair enough, we whacked at the greens and let evaporation takes its course before the gorge-fest. But I must say, at this stage, the mandu which was inappropriately sacrificed for the photo shoot, was already very delicious.

And so we did as we assumed we were told and consumed the vegetables first. What really surprised us was that even as the dumplings have sat in the stew for almost an hour while the stock was boiled down to a thick creamy broth, they still held their shape and didn’t tear when picked up with chopsticks. When bitten into, the mandu skin was still springy and chewy which was delightful at every single bite. Typical dumpling skins would not be able to have withstood simmering in the heat for that long without disintegrating or coming apart. And having simmered for the entire duration, the fillings were soft and juicy, making it incredibly succulent.

Some breakfast that was!

For more information on how to get there and operating hours, click on the link below.
www.koong.co.kr