Two Sides of Cameron Highlands

There are two sides to Cameron Highlands: resort hotels, a few views of pristine nature, mossy forest, and a tour of tea plantations. On the other hand plastic greenhouses long trail of cars. However, the other side is much darker, and once you’ve seen it, you can’t enjoy the rest of the experience.

The problems far outweigh the benefits. This is one of the biggest areas for agricultural cultivation, which could be a great thing, but not the way they do it. Most of the farming is done in the greenhouses with a not so ecological approach. It broke my heart when I saw the flat terraces with strawberries, where there used to be a huge hill with dense jungle.

Bad Strawberries

Sadly, those strawberries don’t even taste good. No flavor and no sweetness, only the color and shape of strawberries. I don’t understand some bloggers, recommending the fruits here. Have you ever tried a real strawberry for f*** sake? There is a secret though. Here they grow also strawberries with the Japanese method, which are sold to Singapore. We got them and the taste is like our strawberries back at home.

Chainsaw as a Soundtrack

In order to provide space to grow all the flavorless fruits, the deforestation has gotten out of control. Wildlife around there is almost totally exterminated. We met one guy who was trekking in the jungle for two days and saw only one snake and a few birds. There was no sign of any bigger animals. When we went on a few hikes, it was the same story. We didn’t see any animals there, not even a snake. Just a couple of birds. It is truly like a ghost forest.

Did we let a few small things like killing animals and environmentally unfriendly practices ruin our experience? No, there was more. Traffic jams are a common thing and it looks like there are no solutions coming in the near future. The traffic is jammed because people park their cars in the middle of the main road in order to go to the market or tourist attractions – farms. Speaking of the market; they built another market opposite the existing one instead of a more than needed parking lot. Happy shopping after the meltdown on the road!

Waste Everywhere

But wait, there’s even more! Their waste management is bad as well. In most places, they don’t have garbage collection, so they just dispose at the nearest available location. Plastic bags are laying basically everywhere and there is also the famous corruption. You can seldom spot a sign for waste recycling, but it ends there. It is just a sign without any action behind it.

The corruption can be seen also in forest management. What is left of the forest should be under protection, not left for further deforestation, terrain leveling and building of new greenhouses.

So are Cameron Highlands Worth to Visit after all?

In the first place, this place for sure isn’t heaven on earth (anymore), as some people might have you believe. You can relax in a fancy hotel, play golf and visit some tea plantations or join these farmers and see how their life is. We did both and we can tell you that this is an experience that is unfulfilling from the tourist’s side, and horrible from the view of the locals.

However, I am a pessimist and this article surely won’t give you thrills to visit Cameron Highlands. Luckily my Vivi sees the world through her pink glasses and she will show you some nicer sides of this place. Yes, I did enjoy our staying at the best hotel in Cameron Highlands – Cameron Highlands Resort by YTL. Staying here and a trip to the mossy forest and BOH tea plantation is unforgettable. Not to mention local people. We have met the nicest people here in Malaysia for sure.

Westwood Guesthouse

As I said before, we were staying at Westwood Guest House, where you can see how they grow their flowers, which goes straight to the Singapore market. A family here is extremely nice and the owner has the best coffee you can find in Cameron Highlands (Trust me we tried a few and this one is far best). Anyway, stay with us, we will post articles about this farm and guesthouse, Cameron Highlands Resort review, travel tips and much more. All things considered, you should visit Cameron Highlands and aware of yourself and others how big mistake they are doing here.

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Special Locations for Fashion Photography

Usually, model photography is done in studios with tons of artificial lighting and a more predictable environment. However, I am a more free bird and outdoors are my playground. Still, remember our wedding photos from the abandoned hotel? Locations like this are more like my studio and this time we found a shipwreck!

Lighting

In addition, I also don’t use artificial lights, strobes or flash. Honestly, at fashion photography it would be more than welcome, but hey… There is a difference between photographer and artist, I guess. I am more the second one, so lights here aren’t important.

Well, not really. Light is very important, especially in fashion photography. A model must be bright and dress should shine with all the details. My most common source of light is the sun of course and I am not gonna lie – it is the best and the worst at the same time. Sun can be harsh, too weak or simply in the wrong direction. When we were shooting this fashion sets it was definitely too harsh. I could only get sun inside this empty water tank around 3 O’clock and usually at this time sun is too strong if there are no clouds around.

As shown above, this time we experimented with this golden reflector. Experimental lighting, we could say. Well, it was a much better idea on the field, though. Back at home when I started editing photos and got a mix of blue, white, yellow and shines of desperation on her face, it was a totally different story. But hey, a few tweaks and the Instagram filter does a trick 😉

I Knew It – Photoshop!

Of course, how else do you think I can add Vivi’s missing tooth? Photoshop is my tool and when it comes to fashion photography it is super important to edit your photos. Or let me say with other words – when you are shooting your wife at 3 O’clock on 35C degrees, only god and editing software can help you. In short, I rather work three days on my computer, than have a Vivi on the dark side.

Girls can be on the dark side when you take photo wrong. Luckily at professional fashion photography, there is a model out of the process. Stylist, photographers, directors are safe, he he…

Photo Styles

Filters, presets, unicorn sparkles whatever you call it… Every photo has its own style and with editing, you achieve this. In fact, this style you can see in this gallery is far cry from my style. I more like settled colors, less contrast and without unicorn semen all over the image, but… When it comes to fashion photography this style is more suitable. However, an example is here.

Seriously, Lightroom Presets?

Some people are naive enough and buy lightroom presets out there from all sorts of insta(nt) bloggers and wizards. Don’t waste your money, for something you can make by yourself. Firstly, a photograph is your product, so finish your god damn product. Why the hell you wanna achieve the same look as it is on 70 percent Instagram accounts. And for a bonus, even the same locations and same compositions…

Secondly, those presets will just tweak a few parameters and your photo will still be away from good looking. Usually, you need to tweak much more. So, why not learn and do your style after all. Youtube is full of tutorials and hints on how to edit your photo. Ou, by the way, keep it up with us. I will publish my Lightroom preset soon. It will be only 50 USD. Hint: it will also change your chair to pink.

Can I do Fashion Photography?

Of course, if you have a camera or phone and a model. By the way, if you are not lucky like me and there is no Vivi who would stay with golden cellophane in the middle of a shipwreck – find another model. When Vivi is not in the mood I bribe our pooch, for example.

Just do some great shots and be a fashion photographer. Who knows, maybe it will become your passion and you will be next Richard Avedon (R.I.P.). Same as we, jooking around and doing shoots for my artism (unserious condition) and who knows, maybe one day I will be with big fancy strobe light doing professional fashion photography with German models.

What the Hell is This All About?

Why this fashion photography in the middle of nowhere? Actually, it is quite fun, but this last picture is a real reason. I just need new material for my art playing. See you next time in our fashion photography for dummies. Ouu, here is a link to a gallery of this catwalk photoshoot.

The post Fashion Photography – Shipwreck appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Ambiance

Every hidden bar has its unique entrance and this one ticks all the boxes. Outside we found a “normal” phone booth where we dialed Havana Social secret code. Hint: for a code, ask a guy who is selling Cubano Sandwiches in front of this phone booth. With the right code, the secret doors open and you step into a totally different world. It’s an artistic place, half a world away from its actual location. Whoever designed it has a true talent and entering this bar sent us right to Havana.

Welcome to Havana Social

Dimmed lighting with old antique furniture and shabby walls conjure the warm rustic ambiance. The music is just right for this place and on weekends, there’s a live performance by a Cubano band with salsa rhythms. If you are a passionate salsa dancer, you’ll definitely want to return back for another dance night. The right address for all the event details is the bar and the staff will be happy to fill you in.

As an illustration, The timber bar is respectively long with vintage wooden bar stools. Here, behind the bar, the barmen worked their magic, while we sat on the velvet sofa waiting for our drinks. Anyway, Habana Social stretches for one more story. On the second floor, there’s a lounge with the same theme and a huge cigar collection. What could be more Cuban than drinking some good rum and enjoying a Cuban cigar?

Perfect Design

Havana Social is full of details, even when it comes to the restrooms, where you can listen to revolutionary speeches of Fidel Castro while looking at old posters. When we were sitting there and enjoying our cocktails our desire to see Cuba became more intense. The owners of this bar really know how to bring Havana to the Orient!

Drinks Selection

Looks like bars here in Bangkok are taking stock serious. First, there was The WoodShed Bar and then The Bamboo Bar with a crazy offer. In the same fashion, the Havana Social is one seriously stocked bar, and their menu is nothing short of extensive. We knew that it was a rum oriented bar, but there is also so much more. There’s a short list of vodkas, gins, tequilas and quite a long list of single malts. Even Hibiki can be an option if you are for Japanese whiskey.

When it comes to rums, they are listed by a country of origin. They hold rums from Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, Virgin Island, Indonesia, Philippines, Panama, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and much more – an outstanding collection if you ask me. Additionally, at Havana Social serve also the wine, beer, and of course soft drinks.

Cocktails are sorted as Pre-revolution, Post-revolution, special shoots, and mocktails. The recipes are interesting and it is quite hard to choose the right one for your night. By the way, even the drink menu is thoughtfully designed in a 1940’s Havana style. Like I said: details!

Our Cocktails

Yes, I agree here at Havana Social hidden bar, you will have a hard time to choose your drink. Everything sounds so amazingly good! After ten minutes of holding this drinking card, we opted for the spicy “Capitol Couture” for myself and the sweet “Ricardo Robson” for my lady. After finding out how great the cocktails were, I ordered one real Cuban-style “Old Fashioned”

Capitol Couture

This Thai inspired cocktail is made of vanilla & turmeric Infused 42 Below Vodka, house salted caramel syrup, fresh lime, pimento ginger soda, Thai chili, and it’s topped with a pinch of rock salt. The slightly spicy taste goes pretty well with the vanilla and caramel. The tropical taste of ginger and turmeric come second on the palate when the alcohol is well hidden. You get a nice spicy kick in your throat and the salt ensures a pleasant aftertaste of lime and ginger. This cocktail is perfect for a hot tropical night or as a warming up drink before your salsa steps.

Ricardo Robson

Even after research, I have no idea who this Ricardo Robson is. Well, I find a folk singer, but doubt it’s the one they were referring to. Anyway, the name doesn’t matter here, and Vivi was instantly impressed with this cocktail. How could she not be when there was a huge piece of a real honeycomb full of honey for garnish!

The Ricardo Robson is made of Diplomatico Anejo Rum, house hibiscus grenadine, fresh orange and lime, blood orange liqueur and a touch of honey. The citrus taste infused with hibiscus is the first thing you will notice. After that, the honey aroma lifts up the citruses and rounds out the rum, which is actually pretty strong. This cocktail is no virgin, that’s for sure.

Nibbling the honeycomb is not just tasty but it complements the drink very well. The aftertaste is completely citrusy with pomegranate in front. A top-notch cocktail!

Old-Fashioned

Obviously, this cocktail is a bit manlier. It is made of Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon, Angostura bitters, lemon zest oil and a sugar cube. In the foreground, you will taste Evan Williams Bourbon. The Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon from Kentucky is actually a great entry-level bourbon with classic sweet vanilla taste and a rich oak finish. However, this mixture goes well with the citrusy flavors and sweet sugar kick. The zesty aroma follows at all times, even when the alcohol shows up. This cocktail is pretty strong and can be classified as a man’s drink.

Our Review of Havana Social Secret Bar

Havana Social is one of the best hidden bars we have ever been to. We are glad we found it and we warmly recommend to all our readers. They have great drink selection, and hungry belly can be filled here as well:  a good Cubano sandwich is a nice base for cocktails later. The first thing to remember, the ambiance at Havana Social is breathtaking and all the details will get you in the right mood. With this in mind, we won’t be surprised if this will become the most instagramable bar in Bangkok.

Havana lovers, good artisan drinks lovers or simply salsa lovers will find their place here. Don’t forget to put on one of their hats for a selfie session with your rum and cigar! Ouu, I almost forget. Havana Social is only a few steps away from this great wine bar – The Bar Upstairs. Maybe you should check it out as well if you are here in the neighborhood.

Havana Social Review Card

• 9.7/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.7/10
• 9.2/10
  SERVICE – 9.2/10
• 9.2/10
  DRINK SELECTION – 9.2/10
• 9.1/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.1/10
• 9.4/10
  OUR DRINKS – 9.4/10
• 8.9/10
  VALUE – 8.9/10

Price and Location

Cocktails at Havana Social will cost you anywhere from 10 USD to 13 USD. However, our visit costed about 30 USD, which is a bargain for a place like this. If you would like to give it a try and enjoy this Havana Social spirit, here is the link to a location.

Dress Code at Havana Social

Just don’t forget your decent attire: the dress code here prohibits open shoes like sandals, flip-flops etc for men. Yes, my dears, Birkenstocks are also open shoes and ugly as well, so leave them at home or in the garbage!

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Ambient of The WoodShed

It’s cool! The owners most definitely have an eye for style, building this place with an impressive design. To us, the bar felt like a retreat, we felt so comfortable. In addition, the cheerful music of old jazz added to the experience and it wasn’t even live.

We were too early for the live performances, which start at 9 pm. Every day of the week there is a different band playing, so if you like a particular band, just wait for the next week. In the first place, this bar would be perfect for a themed 1920s party, with its dark wooden interior.

Drinks @ WoodShed

On the wall behind the bar is an abundant collection of craft spirits. Bartenders know what is on their shelves and are happy to tell you more about the drink you’re having. It’s quite different from the time of prohibition when alcohol production was small, here they go big. To put it differently, the menu at The WoodShed is extensive: Wine – with or without bubbles – from all around the world, liqueurs, spirits, whiskeys and all the way to the mixed drinks, where alcohol is simply an option. However, the selection is really impressive.

Our Cocktails

Vivi was craving a summer cocktail, and that’s exactly what she got: the Red. It is made with sparkling wine, homemade red currant syrup, Sloe gin and lime. It was a light and refreshing drink with a proper amount of sweetness to it. Garnished with a red currant branch, which is there for more than just looks. In other words, it’s a nice snack between the sips and adds acidity to the cocktail when combined with a drink.

The Red

The Sloe berries soaked in booze added tart richness and depth to the drink. Not to mention the fruity aftertaste, which was just another pleasant part of this drink. No wonder Vivi liked this drink so much, the Sole Gin was the favorite girls drink in the ’60s. Looks like the almost forgotten cocktail classic is having a comeback!

The Harvest

The Harvest cocktail was my choice and I liked the rich flavors of beer, Bermuda spiced rum and cocoa powder on top. The creamy texture was absolutely lovely and the cinnamon seasoning helped unravel the taste of sweet cherry. Anyway, it’s a strong drink that gives you a boost of confidence when you get the taste of the dense foam.

The upper layer is impressively long lasting and holds the decorative cocoa inscription untacked for a very long time. I saw the expression on Vivi’s face, so I just let her have some of this drink, while I went for a slightly more manly second option.

The Smoke Lingers

I selected the most gentleman’s drink on the cocktail menu, called the smoke lingers: it’s made of 10-year-old Laphroaig, Ocho tequila, espresso and house-made coffee syrup. The barman placed a burnt walnut on top of the ice cube for decoration and an intense smoky aroma. Every time I tilted the glass, the walnut on the nose added smokiness to the drink. This is a strong cocktail with coffee and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. Notes of leather, chocolate and nuts are all over the place, just before the alcohol kicks in. It definitely packs a punch.

Conclusion

Genuinely this place is in sync with everything, the drinks, the interior, the staff and the music. All the vintage cocktails we had were spot on for this kind of ambiance. At the same token, the hospitable feel was well present and it was nice to have a conversation with the staff. We like that all the guests have a chance to have a cocktail based on their preferences. The hands-on approach is present in The WoodShed bar on more occasions. As has been noted, the mixed drinks follow the idea of the same man who designed the interior of Harvest restaurant and The Woodshed bar.

Pricey?

The only thing we didn’t like was the prices, which were above what we would have expected them to be. Quality and finesse do come at a price and we support creative people, so we were able to swallow the pill a bit easier when thinking of that. Based on the whole experience, we highly recommend visiting this picture perfect place. If you forget your camera, we bet you’ll be back!

The WoodShed Review Card

• 9.4/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.4/10
• 9.3/10
  SERVICE – 9.3/10
• 9/10
  DRINK SELECTION – 9/10
• 9.2/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.2/10
• 9/10
  OUR DRINKS – 9/10
• 8/10
  VALUE – 8/10

Price and Location

The price for cocktails varies from 13 USD to 16 USD per drink, depending on the ingredients used. If you would like to try those delicious cocktails and enjoy some jazz beats, here is a link to the location.

The post The WoodShed bar Bangkok – Jazz bar review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Check-in

The lobby is very spacious, which gives a wow effect right when you come into this great building. Right in the middle of the lobby is a massive table with a beautiful floral arrangement, plenty of seating areas and a long reception desk. Check-in was quick and another porter took us to our room with all our belongings. Our room was in the original part of the hotel called the Majestic Wing.

With this room, we also got 24-hour butler service and Majestic Club Privileges. The Majestic Club was our little slice of heaven, as we got fresh cocktails and snacks every day. Every hotel needs a quiet place like this where patrons can retreat.

Our Suite

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur has a new and old original part. Old part or The Majestic Wing is the original historic hotel building with 47 luxurious suites, while the new Tower Wing features 253 guestrooms and suites. It is decorated to perfection and the colonial spirit is very much alive here. I swear, for a minute, we were standing and staring in awe at the antique cabinets and decor. The room was generally tidy with a homey feeling. It ‘s very spacious with a separate living room, bedroom and bathroom Bathroom is luxurious with the colonial black and white tiles, bathtub, and walk-in shower.

Then again there is a spacious living room, which is a perfect place to enjoy a second cup of coffee. The writing table with its comfortable chair can be used for working, while the spacious sofa serves for relaxation. Everything in the suite is spot on.

Food and Beverage

It takes much more than a nice looking room and perfect service to make the outstanding stay. I believe that the food and beverage amenities share the same importance as the appearance and service that are offered. For breakfast, we headed to the Contango restaurant, where every guest is well attended.

Coffee or tea are served in under a minute and they keep an eye on your cup. The buffet breakfast selection is extremely lavish: they have Indian, Japanese, Malay, Thai and English stations. There is also a juice station where everyone can choose their own fruit to make a fresh one. Of course, there is also an extensive selection of sweets. I don’t claim it’s good to have sweets in the morning. On the other hand better in the morning than in the evening.

The only thing I missed on this buffet was some better cold cuts and a variety of cheeses. However, this is the problem I got used to here in Asia, where these items aren’t traditional. All in all, breakfast was quite alright and the snacks with drinks we got in the Majestic Club were nice. There was one day where the desserts were not the best, they were just a little bit too dry for our taste, but that did not tarnish our overall experience.

Nice Cocktails

For special cocktails, we headed to the Smoke house, where we spend late hours with our new friend. We met this gentleman in the Majestic Wing and his traveling stories are still living with us. The Smoke house is a nice bar in colonial style and their drink menu is more than extensive. Next time we will write about our experience here and also about how I lost a pool game to an ex-professional player: just to give you an idea, this guy was playing with only one hand.

You Might Also Like

Majestic KL Buffet Review

Smoke House Bar at Majestic

Majestic KL, Orchids High Tea

Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur History

Majestic KL High Tea

Definitely, the next thing you can read about is our outstanding afternoon tea experience. We booked it in their orchid observatory. Plants present makes it one of the greatest locations we have enjoyed afternoon tea. The food was delicious and the Easter theme was just the cherry on the top of everything. Here is a link to the Majestic Hotel High tea review. To point out, this probably is one of the best high teas in KL, but if you are more fond of different afternoon tea experiences, don’t miss out on the Nobu afternoon tea!

Next time we visit KL, we absolutely must try the Sunday brunch at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.  As we’ve heard it’s the best one in town, and we can compare it with the amazing buffet we had at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.

Facilities and Amenities

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is rich when it comes to facilities. We mentioned the reading room before. Here they even provide snacks, so basically you can stay and enjoy all day long, but I don’t see a point in doing that since you would be missing out on exploring the rest of this heritage hotel. In the Drawing Room and the Orchid Observatory, you can have your afternoon tea or enjoy piano music at the Colonial Café.

For more of an active stay, you will find a gymnasium in a new Tower Wing. On the rooftop are a pool and a terrace with trees and a pond as well. If you are afraid of heights, you’ll be happy to know there is another pool in front of the Majestic Wing, where the Spa is located.

There are so many nice amenities and you can choose to be active, productive or lazy, there is something for every mood. At the Smoke House, you can enjoy cigars and exclusive spirits. Equally important it is always nice to see a tailor and a barbershop, which are not often found in hotels these days.

Service

The service in The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur was very professional. All the staff spoke flawless English. Check-in and check-out were fast and smooth. We got all the information we needed and we felt welcome all the time. The wait staff was well trained and polite to us in all the restaurants and bars. A special mention goes to the Smoke house staff, where they kept a professional attitude, despite the late hour. With this in mind, The billiard balls were always set up and the drinks were perfectly prepared.

We even called our personal butler for shoe cleaning, and he did his job perfectly. To be honest, hotels with butlers have a special charm, and they truly are professionally trained.  As a matter of fact, one day I will dedicate a post only to this noble profession. We also like their uniforms which provide the great whole picture of the hotel.

Shuttle Bus

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur has also a shuttle bus service, which will take you to the heart of KL – Bukit Bintang. The shuttle service is complimentary for The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur guests.

Conclusion

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur will remain in our hearts forever as our stay there was more than just a pleasant experience. However, we stayed long enough to see a change of the main bouquet in the lobby. We each got our favorite. Both bouquets are in our gallery, so you can pick your favorite one. In addition, the hotel’s renovation looks amazing.

The Tower wing looks nice and their effort to show their heritage is acknowledged. We could easily forget in what era we are in, due to the colonial spirit which was all around us. YTL’s hotel management department knows how to keep this old hotel in good shape and we recommend the experience to everyone. However, if you would like to know more about The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur than you can check our History article about this gem.

Our favorite part of the suit is the bed. This is one of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in. After these many months on the road, that is truly saying something. There are always some downsides when you have demanding guests like us. Food could be a bit better on taste and plastic spoons should be banned in five stars hotels.

Then again, the cleanliness has still some room for improvement. On the positive side, if you are a lover of heritage, this is the right place for you. You might be as well interested in the Majestic Malacca Hotel.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur Review Card

• 9.3/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.3/10
• 9.1/10
  CLEANLINESS – 9.1/10
• 9.2/10
  ROOM – 9.2/10
• 9.2/10
  FACILITIES AND AMENITIES – 9.2/10
• 7.8/10
  FOOD AND BEVERAGE – 7.8/10
• 9.1/10
  SERVICE – 9.1/10
• 9.5/10
  VALUE – 9.5/10

Price, Location and Reservation

A night here at the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur will start at 90 USD. Our suite was about 130 USD per night, which came with Club access as well.  Location to The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur is here. However, if you consider staying in this amazing hotel, here is our affiliate link. It won’t cost you anything, only we will earn a small commission if you decide to book a hotel through it. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Majestic Hotel KL Review is written on our experience in the Majestic KL Hotel and it wasn’t sponsored or paid in any way.

The post The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur Review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Ambiance

After the elevator, we stepped into the luxurious neoclassical restaurant, and we took a few minutes to admire the bright space with floor to ceiling windows. Design is contemporary French, inspired by famous French Villa diners. The elegance is presented not only by the interior itself but also in the floral arrangements and table settings. It is not a secret that we were very excited to experience the creations of chef Arnaud Dunand – Sauthier: his contemporary approach to French cuisine with his personal touch sounded intriguing.

Amuse-bouche

Right from the beginning, the chef revealed a strong connection to his roots. As in a typical French lunch, a set of canapés, bonbons, and paté was brought to the table by a very knowledgeable waiter. The waiter presented every dish as well as how it’s meant to be eaten. Our first single-bite was a lemon carrot bonbon with cumin and parsley. The liquid inside burst to the surface with the gentle touch of a tooth and quickly filled the mouth with complex flavors, like an explosion of vegetable soup.

The second amuse-bouche was a canapé, topped with Buffalo cheese sorbet and trout caviar. This savory piece had a good crunch in its citrusy crust, which put this canapé on our list of top canapés ever. It also prepared us for the light foie gras mousse, with the classic addition of raspberry jam.

We liked that the serving metal container had a bump that enabled us to dose the combination of mousse and jam topping. Here I would compliment a nice pearl shell spoon, which makes this experience unforgettable. The creamy texture quickly melted away and caressed our taste buds.

Chef truly knows how to pamper his patrons. They served us another amuse-bouche, a mushroom tea with bacon foam. The shape of the bacon foam was surprisingly deceiving and the mushroom consume matched the flavor intensity. All our compliments to the chef for this amazingly clean and tasty soup with extra bacon cubes.

Butter and Bread

Contemporary cuisine leans towards the healthy, low-fat cooking and here in Asia, butter is more a delicacy than an average item in the fridge, but French cuisine without butter would be complete nonsense. At Le Normandie, they spoiled us with premium butter. A scone shaped seaweed butter, which transported us right to the seaside.

The addition of red algae added the saltiness and taste of the sea. Our seaside journey took a turn back to the mainland when we had a taste of unsalted butter. This modest looking cylinder had a beautiful ornament on top and it was rich in flavor. Its deep color says one thing: grass feed cattle. With this in mind, we choose the homemade baguette and sour bread made of a 9-year old starter, next to it. To point out, the in-house baker chefs know how to handle the dough and the crunchy crust on the bread was just insane.

Starters

First on the tasting menu was a slightly sour marinated mackerel from Brittany, accompanied by fennel, dill and licorice. It was amazing how the combination of those intense flavors made the mackerel shine, and each component in this dish helped develop the others. The sweetness of the licorice complemented the roasted fish and the fennel to perfection. This dish might look simple, but its flavors are complex and great connected.

Fera Fish

The Fera du Lac Léman was another dish that celebrated the ingredients in a way that only contemporary cuisine could. There is no point in stating that the chef uses ingredients of the highest possible quality when you can taste it in every bite. In order to assure freshness, the team here goes beyond borders and urges for quick transport from every continent. Fera fish is one of the tastiest French freshwater fish. Here at Le Normandie, it was imported from Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), which is considered to be the best source for it.

Foodies will know that this is not a real Fera fish, as Fera fish from Lake Geneva was extinct in 1920, due to overfishing and non-sustainability. Later on, they inhabit another variety of whitefish imported from Lakes of Neuchâtel, which has a similar taste and also doesn’t tolerate overcooking, of which they are very well aware here at Le Normandie.

To pay their respects to the ingredients, the fish was roasted to perfection. The deep red color of cassis provided a vibrant contrast that we could taste with the currant. This combination went amazingly well with the warmth of Piedmont hazelnuts and the roasted leek, which were left still a little bit crunchy. On the side, the chef served a celiac purée, which linked everything together nicely. Every ingredient on its own had a strong flavor and when mixed together, they were all still there. The fish was always very present, no matter the combination and we liked it all mixed in, in every bite.

Caviar Osciètre et Oursin

I think Le Normandie review got to its climax right here. This is Arnaud Dunand –  Sauthier’s signature dish. Another dish that we liked mixed with all the ingredients was the Caviar Osciètre et Oursin: sea urchin from Hokkaido with potato foam and champagne sauce. This is the chef’s signature dish and now we know why.

We could taste the sweetness of the sea urchin, with the creamy potato foam base. The champagne sauce served as a delicate seasoning, which enriched the dish and made it creamy. What about the caviar? Champagne, caviar, and sweetness: need I say more?

Wine

How can you have such an excellent ‘French’ dine without a French wine? Ian had a craving for a glass of great white wine, and a quick chat with the house sommelier offered him a great choice: a full-bodied white wine from the Rhone Valley, the Viognier Le Plan GT-V, vintage 2015. It is a macerated white wine with an aromatic tropical palate, blossoms, honey and spicy notes of citronella. The aftertaste was long enough to and the buttery texture elevated the dish to a higher level.

Main Dishes

My main dish was a roasted milk-fed lamb with zucchini and basil, seasoned with a touch of cardamom. The perfectly cooked lamb was spot on with the warming touch of cardamom and crunchy zucchini. On the other side, Ian’s dish was the distinguished pigeon from the Pornic region, which deserves all the praise.

It was tender pigeon meat accompanied by an aromatic and sweet Japanese melon, which made for a tasteful and healthy combination. The Chef’s creativeness was evident by his use of seasoning with the rare Timut pepper, its vibrant aroma of grapefruit complimented the watermelon and pigeon greatly. Tender, juicy and tingling sensations in every bite was a grand finale before our desserts.

Desserts

In Michelin restaurants are well aware of the importance of dessert. Our Le Normandie review is not short here, for sure. Our first dessert was a nice combination of crunchy layered biscuits with carrot confit and famous Bronte pistachios quenelle. These pistachios from Etna have a distinguished flavor due to the volcanic soil and altitude where they grow.

A rich and balanced taste with a long aftertaste is a component for great ice cream. This ice cream was creamy, denser and more buttery than your average kind, but it was still light. In the first place, the flavor of pistachio paired well with a delicate carrot taste and a bit of a stronger Bronte pistachios sauce. A job well done. My only complaint is that I couldn’t buy a pint of the ice cream to take home with me!

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Thankfully, there was a second dessert to help me put out my sorrows. Inside a coconut husk, we found a neatly presented chocolate-inspired dessert. A milk chocolate jelly offered a clean look and smooth base for the sour cherry puree. To point out, the chocolate sponge cake was perfect for soaking up the melted coconut ice cream under the jelly covering. The sponge also allowed us to play with the spoon and admire the perfect coconut husk. The cocoa originated from Chang Rai which is an excellent tribute to Thailand.

At the end of this fabulous meal, they treated us to mignardises! The caramelized Kouign Amann, a dessert from the chef’s childhood, brought us once again a display of the French’s love of butter.  As a child, the chef loved this puff pastry and now he has perfected it. There were also coconut candies and rich Bonbon au Chocolat.

Le Normandie Review Conclusion

Le Normandie review is the first of its kind. Anyway, it is not in our habit to visit French restaurants here in Asia. We believed that such an establishment must be attended in its country of origin, not where it is possibly only imitated. However, our experience at Le Normandie showed us how wrong we were.

The food was more than amazing and Chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier brought France to our table. As a matter of fact, the maître d’hôtel is from France and his speech, with his lovely French accent, was the cherry on top for the evening. For a moment, we thought we were looking at the Seine River instead of the Chao Phraya River. Amazing!

Anyway, there is only one suggestion. Some plates could be a little bit more colorful. For example, the pigeon dish would be more catchy with the addition of deep violet Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Not only that, it’s citron taste would be a great match for Japanese melon.

Le Normandie Review Card

• 9.5/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
• 9.6/10
  SERVICE – 9.6/10
• 9.1/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.1/10
• 10/10
  FOOD – 10/10
• 10/10
  DRINKS – 10/10
• 8.5/10
  VALUE – 8.5/10

Price and Location

Six-course degustation menu without wine pairing will cost you about 215 USD per person, and a glass of wine we had is 20 USD. If you would like to pamper yourself with amazing French cuisine in Bangkok, here is a location to Le Normandie.

The post Le Normandie Bangkok : Review of 6-course heaven appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

We were in high spirits all throughout the afternoon tea, where we admired the chef’s tendency to keep the well-established sweets alive. That contributed to the use of quality ingredients, creating the finest of flavors and a stunning presentation.

Scones at E&O High Tea

The scones at E&O high tea were simply the best! Tender, not flaky, with clotted cream and two yummy jams. With the plain scones, we liked the homemade strawberry jam which still had whole strawberries in it. The pineapple jam, seasoned with cloves, had a heartwarming taste and was reserved for raisin scones. You could also just eat it by itself, by the spoonful!

Savories

Since we were by the sea, we had to have a try of the juicy Pullman crab, served with radish on top and wrapped by seaweed belt. This only opened up our appetite even more. Among the savories, there were another two fish sandwiches. One was beetroot based bread topped with seasoned smoked salmon and lemon aioli.

The tuna sandwich was served on charcoal bread and topped with a cherry tomato and cucumber slice. The bread’s coloring agent, charcoal, gave the grounding note to the tender tastes. We can’t say which was our favorite because even the egg bun was special since it has truffles in it and we have a weakness for that! We were also served a crunchy curry puff, where the curry masala complimented the soft potato and green pea filling – absolutely delicious!

Tea Selection at E&O High Tea

We needed a sip or two before getting to the seductive sweets and Jungpana Darjeeling was the right pairing in this sophisticated tea occasion. The muscatel flavor and floral aroma were well-developed thanks to the uncrushed leaves. A perfect tea with all confections was also the large-leafed Fancy Sencha, which was slightly sweet with refined tartness. It was the right move to stop for a moment, to enjoy the ocean view and soak in the atmosphere of the graceful surroundings.

Sweets

E&O high tea was elegant all the time. The elegant appearance and color abundance was present for the pastries as well. We started with the Sicilian cheesecake, its rich taste and creamy texture were spot on. We tried the raspberry cremeux, where the melting cream enabled the raspberry taste to get in touch with the taste buds. Ian continued with the exotic fruit tartlet, he liked it so much that I decided to leave it for the end.

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Saving the best for the last was my strategy, but there were a few that could share that title as well. For example, the Belgium Marquise would easily be among them: rich dark chocolate mousse coated in tender chocolate jelly melted away but left us blissful. Only the pandan kaya didn’t make it to the list of those we could have saved for last. The jelly was too compact and it lacked flavor. Neither of us has grown fond of pandan so far and we aren’t fans of jelly, to begin with.

To finish the celestial E&O afternoon tea session with the exotic fruit tartlet was the right decision. It even had a surprise in the middle: a piece of juicy mango! The sweet and sour topping along with the shortcrust pastry crumbled away at the touch of the teeth. Yes, that was a scrumptious finish.

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Conclusion

The chef of the restaurant did an outstanding job with tasty and noble-looking bites. The afternoon tea was a pleasurable experience that kept food conversation happening all the way to the very last bite. Everything we saw was very creative, but it was taken to another level in the pineapple jam. The perfectly cut cubes of pineapple weren’t just pretty but also nicely crunchy.

We are sure that the Duchess of Bedford would be delighted to attend the afternoon tea here at Restaurant 1885, but to make a royalty happy, they would have to find the matching tea set with the sugar bowl and serving plates. Everything was simply perfection, including service!

If you are looking for the best high tea in Penang, don’t miss out on our article and find out which is the best afternoon tea in Penang in our opinion.

E&O High Tea Review Card

• 9.4/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.4/10
• 9.8/10
  SERVICE – 9.8/10
• 9.1/10
  TEA SELECTION – 9.1/10
• 9.4/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.4/10
• 9.2/10
  BITES – 9.2/10
• 9.7/10
  VALUE – 9.7/10

Price and Location

Having afternoon tea at 1825 is a real bargain. It will cost you only 17,50 USD per person. However, if you decide to indulge yourself in this heritage building, here is a location link for easier navigation.

The post E&O High Tea Review – One of the Best in Penang appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

The relaxed feeling starts even before you reach the spa entrance. For that, I blame the greenery on the outside of the hallway window. What a fantastic hall that is!

Ambiance

The Panpuri Spa at Eastern & Oriental Hotel is a super nice place. Darker furniture with pastel fabric wallpapers and candle lights lighting will put you in a relaxation mode before you will be on the massage table. On the other hand, the massage room is bright in a combination of pastel creme and dark brown. Facilities are perfect as well as other amenities. Nice shower and big locker for your stuff.

They even offered us a nice jewelry box for a deposit. Overall, this place is nicely decorated. In a word, I like all the details they have here, especially a feather of a peacock!

Before the Massage

At the entrance, we were kindly greeted and in a blink of an eye we were sipping the chamomile tea and cooling down with heavenly scented cold towels. The fragrance of the lemongrass and orange was perfect after the long journey we took in the morning. Actually, it’s perfect for any occasion if you ask me. It’s uplifting, relaxing and balancing at the same time.

Before the treatment began they made sure that we would enjoy our massage. In order to do so, we had to answer a few simple questions. Like what areas you would like to treat the most or about some physical problems. I was happy about that because it guarantees that you can peacefully enjoy the relaxing massage.

Here you can also choose which massage would you like. The fact that we had the pleasure of smelling all the oils and listen to the benefits of each, also shows how important the individuality of every guest is to them. After that, we were taken to the room where our treatment took place.

Massage

We were headed for the Mali Moonlight Soothing Massage. That is their most popular one and it combines Traditional Thai Massage, Aromatherapy, Reiki, and Acupressure techniques. For maximum comfort, we changed into the light cotton ropes and started the detox feet bath. She put the limes and kaffir lime leaves in the water for a quick detox.

The salt piling rub she did was a guarantee for more soft and lighter skin. While our feet were soaking the therapists turned on the warming blanket. The blanket was another aspect of their thoughtfulness that I was grateful for. Because I’m more of a frozen type I get easily cold. However, that didn’t happen on their table.

At the table, I found another great feature – a bowl of floating flowers on the floor. At first, I stared at the flowers and then just went to the meditative state. That was easy under the incredibly soft hands of the therapist. The quality of organic products reaches far beyond the aroma of the essential oil. The immediate effect has the aroma that sends you in paradise instantly.

Ian is a Hard Rock

It was less tranquil for Ian, as his therapists had some extra work with few muscle knots. A heavy backpack is no joke, my friends. Well, she really tried hard to release those knots and was cautiously asking if he was in pain. I think this was payback for laughing at me for mine Valentine’s massage when I was in pain. But he was way better off with this one. I sure enjoyed it much more.

Our massage lasted for an hour and I must admit, this was one pleasant massage! I loved the atmosphere there, and the massage was intense just right. Not deeper directly to the muscle but strong enough to release the stiffness. The therapists were very skillful, and she knew exactly which parts needed more attention. After the massage, we were both like newborns. Even if the session was over, it wasn’t just thank you and goodbye.

After the Massage

Before we said our goodbyes, we got accompanied to the relaxation room where Moroccan mint tea and dried fruit were waiting for us. There we had all the time we needed to come back to reality while looking at some interesting magazines. The relaxation room provides a nice feeling.

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Conclusion

The whole experience is intriguing and when you know that you and nature are better off the experience is even sweeter. Their respect for nature is what won me over. Using eco-friendly natural ingredients is the best you can do for your body. I got myself some of their organic products and I am more than satisfied with them. The smell is amazing and the skin is so smooth after using it. I recommend warmly to all ladies who love to care for the skin in a natural way.

Panpuri Spa Review Card

• 9.3/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.3/10
• 9.7/10
  OFFER – 9.7/10
• 9.1/10
  MASSAGE – 9.1/10
• 9.7/10
  RELAXATION ROOM – 9.7/10
• 9.0/10
  VALUE – 9.0/10

Price and Location

Massage therapy at Panpuri Spa will cost you about 90 USD for one hour and 110 USD for one and a half hour. Here is a link to the location if you would like to indulge yourself in this peaceful oasis.

The post Panpuri Spa Review: Our massage at Panpuri Penang appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

There we got the legit historical charm with modern necessities. Our reviews aren’t just the description of our experience, but much more. Here you can read the history of this luxury heritage hotel. Why? Because you will understand the whole picture and meaning of this heritage hotel. After all, hotels in which we like to spend our time have some interesting stories that deserve to be told over and over again. With all this in mind, the Eastern&Oriental Hotel review is our first in the outstanding hotels’ section.

Eastern & Oriental Hotel is Breathtaking

What is most important when you step into the heritage hotel? For us, it is the feeling of respect and humbleness, and the moment we entered this magnificent lobby featuring an echo-dome, we felt it. The 100-year old lift definitely added to the ambiance and the fact that it is still working is delightful.

Nice Welcome

But there is more! On the left side is a magnificent staircase that could be a centerpiece by itself. The lobby will take your breath away and you can easily forget why you are here. Oh right, check-in. The friendly staff at the reception helped us with our heavy bags and check-in was quick and fluid.  They had an answer to all our questions and we had no problems communicating, as everyone speaks great English. Before they showed us our room, we got a delicious mocktail and a lemongrass scented cold towel, both were very welcome in the hot tropical weather.

The porter helped us with our luggage and took us to our room. We stayed in the heritage wing, which was built in 1885, and you can just feel all the history around you. Later on, we explored the hotel and found out that even the new building from 2007 has its charm. Rooms are sophisticatedly designed in colonial style, just like in the heritage wing.

 For a moment we forgot we weren’t in the elegant heritage section but rather in the new addition. We liked the spacious hallways, the wooden decks and the great photographs of Penang on the walls. The designer deserves praise on the job well done.

Room

In the Heritage wing, we were staying in the Georgetown Suite. We will admit, the old rooms need minor renovation, but it isn’t critical. After all, this is a patina and it goes great with this heritage building. We had a spacious master bedroom with an extra lounge and luxury bathroom in a nice colonial style.

Furniture has elegance and a genuine feel with the cabinet that hides LCD TV, which is a clever touch and quite convenient. The bathroom is nice, but we are among those who cry after notorious old legged bathtubs from the Sarkies brothers’ times. The cleanliness of the room is adequate, it could be a bit better but is far from being obtrusive.

The only downside was a welcoming fruit, it looked somewhat sad on the plate. It is completely different than the in-room tea and coffee selection. Is the E&O Hotel Review too much hair-splitting? 🙂

Food and Beverage at E&O Hotel

The pitiful fruit we received as a welcome gift wasn’t a sign of bad food in this hotel – quite to the contrary! They have six drink and dining options. Self-service breakfast was served in Sarkies: you enjoy your big meal on a nice airy terrace where you can watch the sea and enjoy morning delights. Even when the hotel was busy, breakfast ran smoothly in a relaxed atmosphere with great service.

Breakfast

The waiter seated us and offered coffee or tea. We also got a quick introduction to the current offer and our mouth was already immediately salivating. The offer is huge, and you would be extremely picky if you couldn’t find anything you like. There was a station with Indian food, where you could even get freshly made Roti Canai by your preference and it was perfect with Dhal Curry.

On the other side was Japanese sushi with tuna carpaccio. There were a lot of cold cuts, which were great with their cheese selection as well as dried fruits and nuts.

Of course, there was fresh fruit and freshly squeezed juices. We loved that we could mix fruit for the juice to our liking, but our favorite was pastries. There was more to it than delicious croissants and Danish rolls. Here we had the best butter pudding we ever tried. I think English breakfast is essential at hotels, and Eastern and Oriental is no difference here…

As this is an Asian hotel, it is typical to find a noodle station and congee with all the toppings. Even century eggs! The offer at breakfast is extensive and we ended eating way too much and still not trying half of it. The only thing we were missing in a hotel like this is some homemade yogurt.

Breakfast at a Swimming Pool

If you are a more discrete person and you don’t like too much commotion in the morning, you can have your breakfast in The Planters Lounge (the new building aka Victory Annexe) or in a privacy of your room. At Planters Lounge the breakfast is simpler but still offers enough choices for affluent guests. Here you can take your plate to the pool terrace and enjoy the morning peace with a great view.

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Lunch at Sarkies Corner

You can have lunch and dinner at Sarkies corner as we did. For lunch, we had Mushroom Cappuccino and Thai Seafood Bisque. First had a rich mushroom taste and creamy texture with roasted eggplant tartine, while the second had the sweet-sour-spicey combination.

Asam Laksa and Chicken Curry Kapitan were our main dishes. Laksa is a specialty in this city and those food stalls that have only this soup on their menu have perfected it. But even there we couldn’t decide which one we liked the most.

For sure this one won the beauty title and even the taste was better than we expected. The Kapitan’s chicken was nicely done, if the gravy would be more intense it would be even better. On the side was pandan flavored rice which came with nice additions the pickles and crunchy tortilla. Our desserts were nice looking and tasty. Pecan brownie cake had vibrant decoration and rich chocolate flavor while Coconut Gula Melaka had nice creamy mousse on top with coconut biscuit at the bottom.

E&O Hotel High Tea at 1885

Another option is Sarkies for the best buffet in town. E&O buffet lunch this time wasn’t on our list, but when we visit Penang next time, it certainly will be. If you are looking for haute cuisine the restaurant 1885 is the right place. In this graceful part of the hotel, we had the traditional afternoon tea.

Tea time was right on the spot, the attractive restaurant and the ocean view from behind the palm trees was the first thing that kept us occupied, but then the tea set came to our attention. It was one of the best afternoon teas ever, the tea selection was sizable and the bites were celestial.

The Farquhar’s Bar

The Farquhar’s Bar which exudes an exclusive private club room atmosphere is on cue for an afternoon drink. There we found great signature cocktails right beside all times classics. The ambiance here is nice, it’s a colonial bar with long dark wood chairs and a massive bar. No problem if this is not your thing, as you can be served also outside by the pool in the beautiful garden.

To conclude, we would like to point out a thing or two. Regarding the food, we can say that it is tasty with a lot of choices and at a great price range. So if you are in a city just for errands or are afraid to eat on the street, E&O brought some street food like Asam Laksa into their menu. It won’t be the best laksa in Penang, but still a full-flavored one.

The only downside is Sarkies Corner, even though it gets a vintage look from the old tiles and massive dark tables. Back in the days, the huge dining room was perfect, the place was full of tables and it worked like a charm, but nowadays, there are fewer tables and the dining room looks odd.

E&O Hotel Penang Buffet

E&O Hotel Penang buffet is something you should attend while staying there or just coming around. This might be the best buffet in Penang and there is no secret why. An extended selection of freshly made food, good service, and delightful desserts. E&O Hotel Review has its extension – E&O Buffet Review. If you would like to know more details, be our guest.

Facilities and Amenities

We had everything we needed for our pleasurable stay there at the E&O Hotel. The complimentary toiletries were pleasant and we appreciated the small sewing travel pack. When we were packing for this trip, the thought of taking a sewing needle with us didn’t cross our minds, so you can imagine that after few months traveling we were more than happy to finally repair the ripped tripod bag.

The mini-bar in the room was well equipped and drinking water was always available. With our work and running around we didn’t watch TV, but as we checked there were some main programs in the English language. All the facilities at the hotel were great, especially their Panpuri Spa where we had a relaxing massage after a workout in their well-equipped gym.

Vivi wrote a special post about this massage, so you can get a feel of why we liked it so much by clicking here. In the Victory Annexe, we found one of the nicest boutiques for souvenirs, accessories and books we have seen so far.

This shop was well stocked and nicely organized. There is also a  boutique tailor shop, a small museum of the E&O Hotel, where you can get insight into the rich history of this building, and the Ernest Zacharevic Gallery. Ernest Zacharevic is a famous artist who is well known for street art we can see all over George Town.

Conclusion

The management of the E&O Hotel is doing a great job! They are well aware of the meaning of this hotel and their move to keep the hotel classy and luxurious is well repaid. Happy guests, especially those like us – tradition and heritage lovers, who appreciate the preservation of history.

On the other side, this hotel will please the most demanding guests and gourmand like us. We also heard rumors about E&O haunted situations. Apparently, there is a ghost of the youngest Sarkie brother who was in love with this hotel. Our E&O Hotel Review is without ghosts, we didn’t see any, only happy faces of the hotel staff.

I hope you liked our E&O Hotel Review and we didn’t get too much in detail. have a nice day and see you next time. Maybe at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, another Legend!

The Eastern & Oriental Hotel Review Card

• 9.2/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.2/10
• 8.0/10
  CLEANLINESS – 8.0/10
• 9.0/10
  ROOM – 9.0/10
• 10/10
  FACILITIES AND AMENITIES – 10/10
• 8.6/10
  FOOD AND BEVERAGE – 8.6/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 8.5/10
  VALUE – 8.5/10

Price, Location and Reservation

Our suite cost about 220 USD, but room rates start at 138 USD. If you consider staying in this hotel, here is a link to the location and our affiliate link. It won’t cost you anything, only we will earn a small commission if you decide to book a hotel through it. Thank you.

Disclaimer: E&O Hotel Review is written on our experience in the E&O Hotel and it wasn’t sponsored or paid in any way.

The post E&O Hotel Review – Eastern & Oriental Since 1885 appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Singapore buildings

Can you imagine an average Sam from the US with his shrooms in his gut? In the first wave, he would be walking in 2050. All those funny buddings and here in Singapore it is not rare to see someone that is wearing WTF fashion piece of clothing. Not to mention everyone, and I mean it, everyone has too big shoes at least for one size. I don’t know what the deal is here, but when you walk down the streets you will see locals, all wearing shoes that are too big. The next street he would turn into is full of graffiti and bohemians. A Rasta family is waving to you and smiling from one side. On the other side, you will find a clown with some balloons, selling who knows what. O.K., O.K. He needs a drink now, he is thirsty. He gets into the first bar and he is in an episode of Friends. What in the world, he would think? Who gave me those shrooms? It must have been Merlin, the magician.

Singapore street art

He doesn’t want to be on TV with Joey and others, so he runs out into another bar. When he is chasing Merlin and running through the mall (as you know everywhere you want to go in Singapore, you need to go through at least one shopping mall) he can see a boat in the middle of the hall. What in the world? All pale, he finally comes to the bar. Oh no! He is in the Great Gatsby now. Atlas Bar’s clock is showing the correct time, but it’s so weird. That is not good he thinks. So, he is out of there. He will hide in a park and just wait for these hallucinations to run out.

Atlas Bar

The magic ball

But wait. This is not just a park. There is a big shiny ball, and he can see his future in it. Everyone is round and weird. Smiling at him or what? He doesn’t care. He goes further and here the real WTF comes. A park which is dedicated to showing the world how f***** can everything be. Oh my god, it’s Haw Par Villa! An old lady being breastfed by a younger lady. There are giant cockroaches and an elephant with a gun is chasing them or something. The rats are having a World War I battle, while there is the whole hell presented in the dark. You know, a classic kids’ story, how they will burn you and get your guts out if you are a naughty child. It’s dark and the real show is on. A million lights everywhere. In his head by now must be a short circuit. Anyway, our Sam is having a bad trip from all these images now. He feels hungry and, luckily, here in Singapore, you can find food everywhere. And I mean it everywhere. In the shopping malls, there will be like 60-65 percent food shops and stalls, and others are clothes, accessories, etc.

Haw Par Villa

Gallery:

[tg_gallery_slider gallery_id=”2446″]

So, what do you think? I think it should be regulated as it’s right now. Because this city is already wacked.

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