Phuket- Sun, Swim, Sea and Beer Bellies

Where are the 6 packs..........????

I was in Phuket for a ho-ho-holiday in January, expecting to look for some jolly good relaxing time ogling at hot 6 packs surfer dudes, sipping on inexpensive alcohol and taking in the cool sea breeze. The inexpensive alcohol was the only thing I got :(

Phuket is packed, OVERCROWDED and congested with too many beer bellies (most old and wrinkly) and the number of decently hot guys (and girls) are countable by the fingers (doesn't even include toes). My travel buddies and I were utterly disappointed that after an hour or so of doing some human scans, we gave up and turned to our alcohol instead.


I like the colourful umbrellas

The sun was scorching hot. So hot that any white chickens to get under the sun for 5 mins would be roasted. We stayed at Patong, the most overcrowded beach in Phuket (oh yessss, we contributed to the overcrowded-ness). The beachside was lined with thousands and millions of beach chairs, which to be honest the colourful umbrellas make a pretty sight :) Each beach chair is up for rent for approximately 100 baht (RM10) a day.


Patong Downtown

Patong Downtown is just like any other beach town... touristy stuff, tour agents, plenty of 7-11 for convenient alcohol purchase, eatery outlets, bike/car rental, massage parlours, dodgy bars etc.


Club Andaman Resort at Patong

We stayed at Club Andaman Resort where we got a pretty decent deal from AirAsia Flight + Hotel package. The resort is pretty nice and comfortable, I love the buffet breakfast especially due to the pork sausages and bacon, and the poolside is a more relaxing spot than the beachside as it's less crowded and shady.


Patong Seafood
Clockwise from Top Left: Lipton Ice Tea in a bottle- classic!, Tom Yum Goong, Stir Fried Pork with Garlic, Seafood Glass Noodles, Shrimp Cakes

On the first night, we headed to Patong Seafood for our dinner which turned out to be a disappointment as the food weren't great. I especially remember that the Tom Yum was too salty! The rest were just edible to fill our stomach :/


I see....... Cheap Alcohol

The alcohol were really cheap. A bottle of Smirnoff pre-mixed cost about 500 baht (RM5) while the Bacardi Breezer was about 420 baht (RM4.20).

Cheap cheers!


Patong Seafood
Beach Road,
200m North of Soi Bangla,
Patong, Phuket.

Il Padrino's Offer That You Can't Refuse

Inarguably one of the most quoted lines in the century

Il Padrino in Italian means The Godfather- yes, the universally popular icon played by Marlon Brando. And here's an Italian restaurant that is named after what some would say the greatest American gangster film and delizioso dishes up that even the Mafia Boss would approve.


Assorted Bread with Balsamic Vinegar and Oil

What I like about Il Padrino's complimentary bread set is the carbs in a variety and assortment of shapes and forms and makes eating bread never a dull moment.


Crema Di Funghi- RM18

Without even having to go into mains, the mushroom soup has already warmed the cockles of our hearts. Rich, creamy and generous portion to share- the picture above is one half of the soup as the attentive waiter helped us to separate our soup into two bowls knowing that we will be sharing.


Pizza Il Padrino- RM32

We actually read about Il Padrino on the food section of the papers and what attracted us to give this place a visit is the Pizza Il Padrino where parma ham is used to give it a different flavour (salty side) complimented by a refreshing combination of tomato slices, buffalo mozzarella cheese, rocket salad (not my fav vege though) and sprinkles of oregano on a handmade oven baked thin crust. The taste is simply magnifico! Parma ham is one of our lookout points when it comes to Italian cuisines.


Costolette Di Agnel- RM42

Costolette Di Agnel means Lamb Chop and this was more than just a lamb being chopped. The Mafia instructed to have his lamb in medium and luckily the instructions were obeyed so no other things were chopped off that night except the poor but tasty roasted lamb rack which proves to be more than just a winner that night. Beautifully grilled outside, the meat was pinkish, juicy and tender.


Sfogliatine Di Mill- RM18

The dessert was a delight with the wonderful orchestrated texture of flakiness from the phillo pastry layered with vanilla custard cream, strawberry slices and fruit sauces. It took as much effort to eat this than to make it as we resisted from destroying such a beautiful piece of edible art.


Where the Mafia Boss have his drink and eats with his fork

Service is good, ambience is wonderful, the Boss says, "Fantastico!"


Il Padrino
Unit No. 50-G-1, Ground Floor,
Wisma UOA Damansara.
Tel: 03-2093 8596


[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Nha Trang in Pictures Part II- End of Vietnam

Clockwise from Top Left:
Skewered meat that attracted us, Iberia degambas y chorizo (Shrimp skewered with chorizo and fried with olive oil- 75.000 vnd/ RM15), Entrance of La Mancha, Alex the hungry caveman, Tapas

Ending the series on Vietnam, will be this last post on Nha Trang. We arrived at Nha Trang city somewhat after a 7 hours bus ride with sore backsides and growling stomach. A stroll down the street from our budget hotel takes us to this Spanish restaurant called 'La Mancha'- we were attracted by the flames of skewered meat in the making!


Clockwise Left to Right:
Skewers of grilled pork and chicken fillets (130.000 vnd- RM26), Pupls al grill con hierbas y aceite de oliva (Octopus fried with pepper garlic, herbs and olive oil- 85.000 vnd/ RM17), Complimentary Herb & Garlic and Tomato Bruschetta

We took the liberty to order as much as we could fit into our stomachs to compensate on the lost time during the bus journey. The menu was extensive and it took us quite awhile to make up our minds and in the end, these were our selection of meat, tapas and drinks.


Clockwise from Top Left:
Black beer (25.000vnd- RM5), Octopus tapas, Sangria Red (80.000 vnd- RM16 for 500ml)

The food were good (perhaps partially due to the theory of "everything taste good when you're hungry"). Service was great too and we really enjoyed our 1st meal in Nha Trang.


Clockwise from Top Left:
Fish & Chips (90.000 vnd- RM18), Bloody Mary and Sunshine Vodka (USD2 each), BBQ Pork Ribs (90.000 vnd- RM18), Tropical Rhum and Captain Flame (USD2 each)

On the last day, we had the whole day to kill since we couldn't go to the beach due to the storm. We met some people who told us that there is a brewery further down the road and it's a good place to chill out. We finally found the place and darn- it's really good to wind down and relax. We had some classic pubgrub and cocktails to kill time... There were a selection of cocktails at unbelievable cheap prices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at USD2 each for 2 hours starting at 2pm.


Tasting Tray (75.000 vnd- RM15)
200ml each of Louisiane Pilsener, Dark Lager, Witbier and Crystal Ale

Oh yes with the cheap alco, you bet we drank! Alex is a fan of beer and has been pursuading me to learn how to appreciate and gulp down this western herbal tea. Sorry to say, after having a sip of everything on the tray I still dislike this malt drink. The beer from tasting tray were from their in-house brewery which if anyone is interested can take a 30 mins tour, choosing from the following packages:

Group of 4: 260.000 vnd or RM52 per pax includes 2 pizzas and 2 tasting trays
Single persons: 180.000 vnd or RM36 per pax includes your choice of 2 small beers or 1 tasting tray


This is THE Life @ Louisiane Brewhouse

Most watering hole in Nha Trang has pool tables for their guests to use. Louisiane Brewhouse even has a swimming pool and massage areas. It is really nice and relaxing to do nothing, sip your cocktail, play some pool and inhale the sea breeze.


Cheap Cheers!

Alcohol is really cheap in Vietnam, as my friend Alex kept telling me "It's cheap, it's so cheap!!" and further proceed to grab 2 big bottles of Tiger back to the hotel for his before sleep and wake up consumption. A big bottle of Tiger costs about RM4 in Vietnam when in Malaysia, it's triple the price! It's definitely a haven especially for the Westerners and beer lovers.


Louisiane Brewhouse
Lot 29, Tran Phu St,
Nha Trang City.
Tel: (84.58) 352 1948
www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn

Nha Trang in Pictures

Nha Trang- after a storm :(

We were very excited for our trip to Nha Trang. When I was planning for the trip, Google Search gave me very nice beach pictures... but on our way there, it was raining crazily and we saw that everywhere was flooded! True enough, this was the scene that welcomed us :( We could neither chill out at the beach or get a tan as the whole day was drizzling and the roads were wet and muddy. We spoke to a bar owner and was told that the storm came 2 days ago... Darn! What a disappointment!


Pho Vietcali Restaurant
Clockwise Top Left: Beef Noodle Special (30.000 vnd- RM6), Cafe Sua Inha trang- vietnamced (12.000 vnd- RM2.40), Menu, Beef Rice Noodle (35.000 vnd- RM7)

Without any sun and swim, we just walked around and ate all day. The noodles at Pho Vietcali was surprisingly good eventhough calling itself a 'restaurant' is abit misleading as it is just a small little shop.


Fanny Ice Cream @ Pho Vietcali
Cafe Liegeois (45.000 vnd- RM9) and Dame Blanche (55.000 vnd- RM11)

Having read about Fanny Ice Cream on the net, it was a coincidence we found this at the same shop and decided to give it a try. We had the Cafe Liegeois (coffee ice cream, coffee liquor, kahlua and whipped cream) and Dame Blanche (coconut and stracciatella ice cream, malibu, chocolate sauce and whipped cream). It was disappointing, and not cheap too - the whipped cream tasted funny and there were barely any alcohol taste :/


Khanh Kat Restaurant
Clockwise from Top Left: Fried Mackerel with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce, Fruit Platter, Khanh Kat Restaurant- nice and cosy, Larue Beer and Dalat Wine

Lunch at Khanh Kat Restaurant where we headed for the value for money set lunch, consisting of a soup, appetizer, mains, fruits and alco drink of either the local Larue BGI beer or Dalat Wine.


Khanh Kat Restaurant- Set Lunch (95.000 vnd- RM19)
Clockwise Top Left: Tom Yum Koong Soup, Calamari Rings, Cream Mushroom Soup, Pan Fried Pork Chop, Spring Rolls

The pork chop was actually pretty good! Also, we met a waiter who could speak considerably well English and helped us with our train ticket booking to get back to Saigon.


Truc Linh 1 Restaurant
Clockwise from Top Left: VN handrolls (42.000 vnd- RM8.40), Truc Linh Restaurant, Grilled Snapper Fish, Seafood Basket (248.000 vnd- RM49.60)

Seafood dinner at Truc Linh Restaurant was so-so but looking at the Seafood Basket (clam, scallops, mussels, squid, prawn, snapper fish), it is quite worth it.


Asian Lounge

We stumbled upon Asian Lounge on the first morning. The place is very nice and cosy and makes a great place to have drinks. I love the deco of the place!


Asian Lounge Food
Clockwise from Top Left: Stir Fried Ostrich Noodles (50.000 vnd- RM10), Pork & Shrimp Siu Mai (30.000 vnd- RM6), Stir Fried Crocodile Noodles (50.000 vnd- RM10), Nice dining environment

We decided to be adventurous when we spotted 'crocodile' on the menu! Of course we were hesitant at first, reptiles give me the creeps :/ Well, you've probably heard it before and it's true that crocodile meat taste like chicken, but stiffer.

How to get there:
Saigon to Nha Trang via bus @ USD7 per person. Bus tickets available at Tam Hanh Travel, departure daily at 8.15am, 9am, 8.15pm and 9.30pm.



Pho Vietcali Restaurant
7G Hung Vuong, Nha Trang
Tel: 058. 352 5885

Khanh Kat Restaurant
22B, Tran Quang Khai Street, Nha Trang
Tel: 058. 352 6287

Truc Linh 1 Restaurant
11, Biet Thu Street, Nha Trang
Tel: 058. 3526 6742

Asian Lounge
1/8, Tran Quang Khai, Nha Trang

Tam Hanh Travel
199, Pham Ngu Lao St., Q.1 HCMC
Tel: 08. 3920 5653/ 3295 8818

Vietnam House and Other Food

Vietnam House- Set Menu for 1 person (400.000 vnd- RM80)
Clockwise from Top Left: Deep Fried Duck Breast with Orange Sauce, Prawns Meat on Sugarcane Stick, Caramel Custard, Sauteed Glass Noodles with Crab (109.000 vnd- RM22), Vietnam House Sampler, Steamboat, Spicy Squid Salad, Seafood Kebab with Ginger Sauce

Just like Quan An Ngon, Vietnam House appears in the Google search of 'food in HCMC'. Vietnam House is said to be one of the best restaurants specializing in Vietnamese and International cuisine. The restaurant is somewhat historical as it is actually in a restored French colonial house with French deco and gives you a nostalgic feel while you dine. The best way to sample a little bit of everything would be the Set Menu consisting of 7 courses and prices vary for the type of food you'd like to sample. Vietnam House is the only place we dined that charges service tax and VAT...


Assorted Rice Dishes @ Dai Do Mi and Com Tam Moc
Clockwise Top Left: Crispy Skin Chicken with Tomato Rice (39.000 vnd- RM7.80), Pork BBQ and Pork Skin Rice Set (49.000 vnd- RM9.80), Stir Fried Beef Lemongrass Chilli and Steamed Rice (42.000 vnd- RM8.40), Pork BBQ and Pork Pie Rice Set (49.000 vnd- RM9.80)

My travelling buddy, Alex was determined to get his rice dish so we dropped by at random restaurants to sample some. I would say there's nothing much to shout about except that they are pretty value for money.


Assorted Noodles
Clockwise Left: Pork Noodles in Nha Trang, Vemicelli with Pork and Fish Fillets, Wanton Noodles with Pork and Fish Fillets @ Calimette Street

We also tried some simple noodle dishes at a random stall but was very disappointed with it as they were as simple as the instant meehoon you get in supermarkets (and not cheap too, perhaps because we were tourists??).


Bahn Mi (Pork Sandwich)- 10.000 vnd or RM2
Pork liver pate, pickles, vege, pork ham, char siew in a Vietnamese baguette

The Bahn Mi or Pork Sandwich is a must try as it is the staple breakfast of many Vietnamese. Served in a Vietnamese Baguette (to be honest, I love this bread- it's so soft and fluffy!), buttered with pork liver pate, Vietnamese mayo, cold pork cuts like ham and 'char siew', pickles, tomato slices, and garnished with coriander. It's cheap and good!


Cafe Sua Da (7.000 vnd- RM1.40)
Strong iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk

If 'teh tarik' is the national drink of Malaysia (or is it not?), then Cafe Sua Da or Iced Coffee with Sweetened Condensed Milk is the national drink of Vietnam. Almost every cafe, restaurant and street side stall will offer this drink in their menu and I can see why- it's goooooooooood! This will surely delight all caffeine addicts as this is the Starbucks of Vietnam! And again, it's cheap and gooooooooooood!


Banana in Ice Cream @ Diamond Plaza

A different kind of ice cream potong with banana in it.



Vietnam House
93-95, Dong Khoi St,
District 1, HCMC.
Tel: (84-8) 3829 1623

Dai Do Mi
67, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, P.Ben Thanh,
Q.1, HCMC.
Tel: 08 3915 2334

Com Tam Moc (Vietnamese Broken Rice)
48, Le Thanh Ton
85, Ly Tu Trong
www.comtammoc.com

The Famous Pho 24

Clockwise from Top Left:
Lamp-terns, traditional Vietnamese coffee, gwai lohs, packed with people!

Yes, still on the same subject of Vietnam.

Pho 24 is a very famous pho joint as it's not only available in Vietnam but have also spreaded its wings to other parts of the world such as Hong Kong, US, Australia, Indonesia, Korea, and Cambodia. It's like the Vietnamese version of McD! It's hard not to spot a Pho 24 outlet due to the theme vibrant green colour.


Clockwise from Top Left:
Pho with Chicken (38.000vnd- RM7.60), Deep Fried Spring Rolls (32.000vnd- RM6.40), Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk (24.000vnd- RM4.80), Pho Special- Fillet, well done flank, fat brisket, soft tendon, tripe muscle and well done brisket (45.000vnd- RM9)

The Pho-s were good, we especially enjoyed the Pho Special which has everything and anything you could ever want in your beef noodles. And a great Vietnamese meal cannot be complete without an iced coffee!


Clockwise from Top Left:
The Saigon Opera House, the famous Vietnam House at night, a gallery with Eiling's initials and the HCMC Louis Vuitton

The city of Ho Chi Minh has much to offer, besides being a historical place, it also boasts an upmarket area where the rich can still get their fair share of LVs and branded goods.


Snow Town
Green Tea with Red Bean Snow Ice (35.000vnd-RM7)

I also got to relive my memories of having green tea with red bean snow ice which I had in Perth! The one in Perth tastes better and I can't believe why this isn't in Malaysia yet! (Or if anyone knows if it's in Malaysia already???)


Clockwise from Top Left:
Alex buying some fried snacks, Diamond Plaza where all the expensive things are, Riverside Hotel by the Saigon River, Fried Assorted Snacks

Diamond Plaza is the well known high class shopping center in HCMC. Coincidentally, I also met some international colleagues there as the Vietnam HQ is located at Diamond Plaza.


Clockwise from Top Left:
A monument in the city, motorcycles being the main form of transportation, HCMC Post Office


Pho 24
5, Nguyen Thiep Street,
District 2, HCMC.
Tel: 0084 8822 6278
www.pho24.com.vn

Snow Town
TTTM Parkson Q.1
35, Bis Le Thanh Ton- P.Ben Nghe- Q.1

Cheap Seafood at Hai Lua, Ben Thanh

Dinner for two on the first night

Besides the pho and spring rolls, we also discovered a cheap seafood place which only operates at night. When Ben Thanh market closes down in the evening, the whole market scene is shifted to the roadsides where you can find yourself in a pasar malam. There is also a street dedicated to food where stalls are set up with the whole kitchen transported from the lorry equipped with tables, chairs, utensils, table cloth and uniformed waiters!


Clockwise from Top Left:
Hotpot Seafood in Thailand's Taste (135.000 vnd- RM27), Clams Fried with Garlic (38.000 vnd- RM7.60), Harvested from the Hotpot, Red Snapper Grilled with Salt & Spicy (98.000 vnd- RM19.60), Spring Rolls for Display, Clams Roasted with Tamarind (42.000 vnd- RM8.40)

The menu was flourished with too many choices that we simply couldn't make up our mind. With only 2 stomachs, we tried to manage within our cravings and means ($$ and stomach space). On the first night, we ordered the hotpot seafood (aka steamboat), clams in two styles- garlic and tamarind and a big grilled fish! While I wouldn't say they were excellent, given the price it was well worth it.


Clockwise from Top Left:
Frog Fried with Butter (69.000 vnd- RM13.80), Frog Grilled with Five Tastes, Stir Fried (69.000 vnd- RM13.80), Grilled Mullet (98.000 vnd- RM19.60)

On the last night, we decided to give Hai Lua a revisit since there are so many other dishes we have not tried. This time, we had the frog done in 2 styles- fried with butter and grilled. Frogs, though they're quite yucky and sends chills down my spine when alive, tastes good when cooked! I love 'tin kai chuk' (frog porridge) as the meat is so smooth and tender. We had another fish, this time a grilled mullet. We did not enjoy this fish much as it has a lot of bones :(


Prawn Steamed with Coconut Water (85.000 vnd 1/2 kg- RM17, 165.000 vnd 1kg- RM33)

After seeing this dish on few others' tables, we jumped on the bandwagon as well. This one is really unique as the prawns are dipped in coconut water whilst the dried ice beneath it helps to 'fire up' the coconut. The waiter even provided peeling service so that we don't have to dirty our hands.


Clockwise from Top Left:
Edible Snail Steamed with Citronella (98.000 vnd- RM19.60), Papaya Shake and Sweet Pamelo Juice (15.000 vnd and 24.000 vnd- RM3 and RM4.80), Clam Boiled and Steamed (40.000 vnd- RM8), Loadsa people at Hai Lua

To max our experience at Hai Lua, we ordered 2 types of shellfish that night- escargots and clams, both of which were so-so only. Hai Lua is a popular dine out place at night amongst the locals and tourists alike, thanks to it's marketing strategy of putting a bbq pit outside to attract passersby of the grilled seafood smell.

All these food for less than RM100 per pax for 2 nights.



Hai Lua Restaurant
Crossroads of Luu Van Lang and Phan Boi Chau St
Next to Ben Thanh Market

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt

Tutti Frutti colours

While waiting for dinner time to arrive, we stopped briefly at Ben Thanh area to kill time. We spotted this Tutti Frutti outlet and gave it a shot- and also to rest our tired feet.

They were self-service machines with different flavoured frozen yogurt (much less like the sundae churning machine at McD, only that they're all frutti flavours). This is more fun as you get to control how much frozen yogurt you want. After that, proceed to the counter where they have a variety of toppings- dried fruits, nuts, chocs, fresh fruits, cereals etc. The price is dependent on the weight of the frozen yogurt- 25.000vnd for 100g (RM5).

Do check out their website below- it's very interactive and vibrant!

p/s: Tutti Frutti is now available in Malaysia too @Sunway Pyramid, IOI Mall, BSC, TTDI, Times Square and Capital Square!

Now, here's something for those who are weight conscious but still want to indulge....... ;-)


Tutti Frutti
Available @
114, Nguyen Hue, Q1
19, Han Thuyen, Q1
15-17, Phan Chu Trinh, Q1
469 Nguyen Huru Thy, Q7
Ho Chi Minh City
www.tfyogurt.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

You Haven't Been to Vietnam...

... if you've never been to these places!


Clockwise from Top-
Reunification Palace; Ho Chi Minh City Center; Notre Dame Cathedral


Behind the scenes of making lacquerware, clockwise from Top Right-
Roasted egg shells paints the picture; applying layers of lacquer; sand papering action; polishing the finishing goods; up for sale!

Lacquerware is the signature Vietnamese souvenir. However they can be very pricey especially when you purchase them off the 'factory'. If you want to buy some souvenirs home, I would suggest you head on to Ben Thanh Market as there are plenty to choose from there and you can put your bargaining skills to use too!


War Remnants Museum-
Fighter jets, submarines, tanks, machine guns, bullets... and the names of those perished in the war


Such an obscene bomb heehee


My first & last time handling a gun- M16 and AK47!

Explains why I will never be a soldier/ able to fight the war. The 1 minute needed to fire all 5 bullets took me almost forever as I stood there shaking from the deafening gun shots, pulling the trigger and waiting for the recoil to hit my shoulders and the bullet shell to shoot out. It was scary. Glad to say I can now have that tick off my checklist of things to do before I die!


You Don't Wanna Mess with Alex-

My travel buddy Alex is a pro when it comes to killer machines. He's in the Selangor shooting team! What a lousy friend I am that I only found out about this during the trip :S

To have the experience of a lifetime with these mankiller machines, you'll have to purchase 10 bullets at once- 30.000vnd (RM6/USD1.60) per bullet for M16/M60, 26.000vnd (RM5/USD1.40) per bullet for AK47, 24.000vnd (RM4/USD1.30) per bullet for M30/M1 Carbine and 25.000vnd (RM4.50/USD1.40) per bullet for K54/K59.


Cu Chi Tunnels- Look ma, I can fit in!

The tunnels is a very interesting historical yet touristy place indeed. We were brought into the woods (not scary cos there's so many tourists around) and the obligatory 'camouflaged' secret hiding places and underground tunnels made by the Viet Congs. The tour guide told us that the holes and tunnels were small because the Viets are very small sized people. I qualify to be a Viet too- I can fit in the hole!


Clockwise from Top Left-
The opening to the first level tunnel; empty bomb shells; no smoking sign; fellow tourists and tapioca tasting; bottled snake wine for the bravehearted; booby traps; Mr Tour Guide; Alex in the tank

Overall it was a very interesting, yet educational tour as it brings one closer to the historical side of Vietnam. One can never truly relive the feelings of what the Viets felt during the war but it brought us a step closer to understand their suffering and pain. If eating tapioca everyday doesn't kill you, the thought of hiding in the tunnel not knowing when bombs will be dropped will be enough to traumatize you forever.

And for that, I truly respect the Viets & the Congs.