Delicious beef ribs

Jakarta - I cannot recall the name of this restaurant but the beef ribs BBQ is so tender and delicious.

sweet and BBQ beef ribs with molasses

another plate of BBQ beef ribs

hot plate beef ribs with molasses sugar

Taufu and Tempeh

Both are made from soya beans, difference is that Tempeh is fermentation. I like Tempeh fried.

Taufu fried with diced chili spring onions

Fried Brinjal 

This dish is unique and it's fried Bringal or Egg plant with chili sauce.   The next day, I ate the best Sop Buntut in Jakarta and that was at Hotel Borobudur.  It was good and will try it again.

Unimaginable Traffic Jam !!

Jakarta -  Upon arrival  @ 4:20 pm, a queue had already built up for immigration; snaking all the way back till your eyes can see.   I moved from the right immigration lane to the left as it was moving faster and cleared both immigration and customs in 1hr.   I would not mind if I did not have a dinner appointment.   Took the taxi and from the minute it left the airport the traffic jam built up all the way to the Hotel and to dinner appointment - it close to 3hrs in traffic when I reach my appointment @ 8:30pm.

The Somerset Berlian apartment was very nice at an exclusive suburbs of Permata Hijau; the big problem is getting taxi.  The apartment is much affordable @ USD125 as compared to hotels of 25% the size in Jalan Gen Sudirman.  Unfortunately, it will be the last time I will stay here because of the inconvenience.  It would be perfect for families and if you are staying there as an expatriate.

huge apartment

Yaowarat Street - Chinatown

Bangkok - I was hankering for some good Chinese Sharkfin and seafood and so we took a taxi to Yaowarat Steet - Chinatown.   I have been to this restaurant before - food is reasonable and of a high quality with many Chinese Thai as patrons.

rows of expensive shark's fins

very expensive shark's fin Bht 15,500

Shark fin soup Thai Chinese style

The Shark fin soup was cooked in Thai Chinese style - very delicious and succulent.  This restaurant is also a wholesaler for Shark's fin and Bird's Nest.

Fried rice with crab meat

Thai Asparagus with fresh scallops

Codiments that goes with the Shark's fin

5 big prawns

These are the long claw river prawns and they taste so sweet and fresh and cost Bht 400 for 5 big ones. 

Fresh shark's fin kept in fridge

The chef cooks outside the restaurant just in front of the entrance. 

Long Claw river prawns

The Long Claw River Prawn is light brown with an iridescent blue-green tinge.
Total Bht 1,900 (about SGD 80)

Beware! SomboonDee Seafood restaurant

Bangkok - We were recommended to go to Somboon Seafood as it had rave reviews and the best in Thailand.  When we arrive at the restaurant, unfortunately they only accept CASH.   This restaurant is huge and had many branches but only accepts cash.

Somboon Seafood Restaurant (genuine)

We left and took a taxi told him any good seafood (1st mistake in Bangkok, never ask the taxi driver where to eat - always brings you to a scam....).    Told the taxi driver, we need to pay via credit card (2nd mistake, these 'suckers' have money to spend - my commission will be big)

He brought us to SomboonDee Retaurant - as we walked in not many patrons.  Lesley and I knew something as amiss when on the menu there were no prices for the seafood. 

So we asked how much for the crab, the waitress answer Bht 2,400 per kg.  Both Lesley and I nearly fell off our chair! that is SGD 100 per kg, I told her that is 2.5 times the price in Singapore and this is Bangkok.  Ok, no crab for us.

How much for the prawns? Bht 3,600 per kg - wow SGD 150 per kg
How much for fish? Bht 1,900 per kg - wow SGD 80 per kg

So we flip to the last page of the menu with prices - still it is high at Bhd 300 per dish.

Tong Yam Kung

This is the bowl that was served the traditional Tong Yam Kung hotpot. 

San Miguel

Mussels stir fried with ginger

Together with pineapple rice, the bill came up to Bht 1,700.  

The waitress told me this amount can be paid by credit card but the 10% service have to be paid by cash.  I said no such thing - if you want put all on the credit card.   She relented and said the 10% cash up to you....so in actual fact it is for their tip.

I came back and surf on tripadvisor.com and there were 100+ bad reviews on this restaurant.

Taal Lake volcano island

Tagatay - Albert managed to arrange a boat and trip to the volcano island and after lunch, we followed behind the agent on his bike.   It was about 30 minutes swerving down a dangerous 2-way road to the lake side.

that's our boat

background is the volcano island

 We now just across the lake to the volcano island....

Albert and me

Lesley and his samurai umbrella

It was a 30 minutes boat ride across the lake to the volcano island and was exhilarating with wind blowing through the hair and the weather perfect.

Lesley and his horse

The walk up to the peak (311 metres above sea level) would have taken us 45mins to 1 hr under the scorching sun but a bumpy horse ride under 25 mins.

me and Lela (horse name)

beautiful view from the peak

This is a Lake form from the caldera of an active volcano on volcano island within Lake Taal.  Amazing!  This is a Lake within a Volcano within a Lake on an island.

another magnificant view

Lesley and I on the Peak

driving back to Makati, I came across a school tutu...school children going back home from  school.

It was good trip..

Tagatay

Makati - It was nice of Albert to pick us up @ 9.20am to go to Tagaytay (pronounced as Tag-gay-tai).   It was an hour and a half journey south of Manila.   The ride was pleasant and smooth on the highway.   It's a popular tourist spot for both local and foreigners because this city overlooks Taal Lake and resides on an elevation above sea level and offers a beautiful view of the Lake and the Taal volcano island (this is still active).  This freshwater Lake was formed from a caldera evolving from volcanic activity.

When we reach Tagatay it about about lunch time and had our meal at Josephine's Restaurant.
An award winning restaurant prouding displaying around the restaurnt and true to her fame the food is really good and delicious.

A favourite Philippine's drink as a nice thirst quencher - grass jelly, crushed ice, jelly and syrup.

Sago Gulaman

BBQ seafood platter

Laing

Laing is a vegetable delicacy of taro leaves simmered in coconut milk, salted shrimp paste, ginger and peppers until soft and creamy.   A smooth and you can taste the richness of the coconut in the dish.  I mixed it with white rice and it was perfect.

Bulalo

Wow, the beef is so tender and juicy.   This soup is of beef shanks and tendons simmered till tender flavoured with onions, leeks, potatoes and some veges.

The restaurant overlooks the active volcano island but today was cloudy.

Across is Volcano island

That is where we will be going next....

 

Somerset Olympia

Manila - The flight over to Manila was very choppy due to the Typhoon hitting the capital.   When I arrive, it was raining heavily.   The flight was delayed by 20 minutes due to the technicans fixing the in flight entertainment system.

Lesley waited for me and we took a taxi to our hotel - Somerset Olympia Makati an executive apartment but was disappointed upon arrival because I was given a different room from which I booked over the internet.   The apartment that I was expecting was double storey 2-bedroom but was given same level adjourning room; very old and the air-con is window unit with a musky smell.   I complaint and they best they could do was to locked the adjourning room to make it 2 single rooms. 

2nd complaint was that I was given only 1 password access to use the wireless which means that either Lesley or I have to log off to use it.  After persuading them, they relented and gave us another password.  I don't think there will be a next time staying at this apartment.

Be safe, get jab!

Singapore -Besides Travel Insurance, the next important precaution is getting yourself immunized.

1.   Flu or Influenza - affects all and specially those with weak immune system, and other medical problems like diabetes; lung, heart, kidney and liver disease - need this vaccine.   This vaccine last 1 year.

2.   Pneumococcal Disease - It is recommended for all adults aged 50 and above and with medical problems like diabetes; lung, heart, kidney and liver disease to go for immunization.  This vaccination against the preumococcus bacteria - which causes pneumonia, meningitis (brain infection) and blood, ear and sinus infections.   Those aged 50 and above are advised to have it once and those with lower immunity once every 5 years.

3.  Tetanus and Pertussis - All adults need booster shots against tetanus or lock-jaw, a diseasse which affects the muscles and nerves; after their childhood immunization at 11 or 12 years old.    For Pertussis or whooping cough, every adult is advised to get a booster shots because it is on the rise in many places.

4.  Measles, Mumps and Rubella - Adult older than 30 may need this vaccine against the 3 virual infections because they may not have received two doses of it when they were in school.   Measles and rubella causes rashes.  Mumps can lead to swelling and pain in the salivary glands, along with fever, loss of appetite and fatigue.   It is recommended that one get is once in adulthood.