Showing posts with label banyan tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label banyan tree. Show all posts

Sunday, December 2, 2012

[Part 1] Pator Weekend: Banyan Tree Spa

Last weekend was an awesome one because my xdd took leave on Saturday (yes, he works every other Sat), we decided to have an adventure!

We took a train since it's really pointless to drive to town.
Smile~! anw, train rides are short now when we're playing game. :D


Since it's pointless to do outdoor activities these days (I've been observing, raining every single day last week), we decided to do something indoor!

Destination: Marina Bay Sands, Tower 1, 55th Floor
Banyan Tree Spa

 We were slightly late and there's someone else behind our appt, so we had to forgo the complimentary foot bathe. but we're still all smiles~~

 
My xdd loves the lemon grass tea served~

My second time to Banyan Tree Spa @ MBS
This is xdd's first, but he has been to BT Spa @ BT Phuket if you remember...
 
Got a little distracted in the room and forgot to take picture.
 
Basically, the treatment room is a couple room overlooking the CBD area with a bathtub by the full length window. We both did Balinese massage; no reason to get into the bathtub.
There is an oversized changing room for us and bathrobes to change into (which I still cant figure out why to this day since I wear it for 1 min and walk to the bed, and take it off again for the massage) and of cos to lock all my earrings and stuff in the safe.
 
The 60mins balinese massage was good, as expected, and xdd actually find this better than the one we did in BT Phuket (well, but one factor is because there were mozzies in our spa villa and he keep getting bitten and is itching instead of enjoying it).


If you're interested in doing it, it's S$200++ for a 60mins Balinese massage.
An indulgence yes.

happy boy after the massage

Our spa room

This kinda look sleepy/cheesy like some family portrait I know, I think we've yet to wake up.
(yup, I fell asleep) LOL


Looking out the window eating dragon fruit, papaya and green apple.

Sipping my calm lemongrass tea

#likeaboss
 
Ambience: 5/5
Massage: 5/5 (I tried medium-strong pressure this time while xdd tried soft-medium. If it's your first time, try medium)
Service: 4.5/5 (Thai hospitality is always good~ but the receptionist is not Thai though, and she kind of rush us through [ya, I know that's because I was late, but I DID pay $200+ for each person right?])
Cost: 3/5 (Given the location, service and quality, it's actually quite justifiable. But still feel the pinch, so 3/5)

Overall assessment: Will go again when I'm rich.
 
Since we're here, we might as well go up to the sky park for a look~

Gardens by the bay
View from the top.

Yup, he's trying to look funny again. :)
 
And then, we decided to go down to town for early dinner since there's nothing much at MBS to eat.
xdd suggested to WALK to Marina Square when I'm in my heels...
 
Of cos I strongly objected and we went town instead.
 
We had a lot of choices in mind of what to eat but we were indecisive until we reached.
We were still thinking of going paragon when we passed by Coffee Stars by Dao in Wisma Atria.
And my mind was made. :D

Coffee Stars serves fusion Thai and International cuisine, and from the taste of it, the Thai authenticity is quite apparent. Almost forgot about this place after so long. :)

xdd playing game trying to beat my hi-score.
(I think this game deserves a post on, let me do it later)

Cam whoring since I dont have to break my own hi-scores. :D

Thai Ice Tea!!! my favorite favorite of all time.
LOVES~

He had sauteed pork w basil rice which is really spicy, but no kick for him at all (WTF)

We shared a clear tom yam prawn soup,

AND I HAD A RIVER KING PRAWN SPAGETTI
(which is damn good)
 
We're not sweet lovers, but desserts here are worth trying.

we shared a Green Tea Crepe w Chocolate Sauce~

 Which is really yummy!
But 2 of us were so full we can't really finish. HAHAHA
 
In case you're thinking to yourself 'I always thought girls have another stomach for desserts, y Mich can't take meh?'
 
I dont have a sweet tooth or another stomach, I cant stand any form of desserts except ice cream, and asking me to eat more than 1/4 of a slice of cake after dinner will kill me.
 
Yup, I'm not a girl. Say what you want. :)
 
Total bill came up to 90ish (sorry cant remember the breakdown) but it was a satisfying meal.
 
Ambience: 3.5/5 (Middle of the mall, right outside Isetan. But nice hi tea feel)
Food: 4/5 (Try Thai)
Service: 4.5/5 (All good except that the last guy didn't know what cake we ordered)
Cost: 3.5 (slightly pricey for nice Thai fusion but reasonable considering we had a soup, mains, drinks and dessert.)

Overall assessment: Definitely will go again. Good Thai food is so hard to find in SG.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Phuket Trip 13-16 Sep 12 [Day 3]


Rise and shine to breakfast buffet again~~!!

started w rice noodles for me~


And omg you see the potatoes?!?! <3




Weather seems good today, so after breakfast, we went to book a Mini Eco Safari with elephant trekking and all.
3 hours tour, 1650 baht/pax (S$66ish)


Reached Siam Safari!

On the tractor looking thing tt xdd said he can drive -_-

CAN YOU TELL WE"RE EXCITED???

On the elephant! back of the mahout~ (elephant buddy)

mahout is nice, stops the elephant ocassionally to turn around and snap a picture for us. :D

the trail is MUCH NICER than the elephant trekking in Laguna.
If you happen to stay in any of the resorts in Laguna Phuket, don't go for the elephant trekking; it's a small area, flat land in Laguna Phuket compound, not so much of a nature trekking, more like sitting riding the pony in SG zoo.

view from above.
BTW, this place is about 40min drive from Bangtao beach.

smile! first elephant ride for both of us!

Strawhat D. Luffy~

other elephants n tourists~~

a group picture and a cheeky mahout!





After pictures, we feed!!
Basket of fruits is about 80-100baht (S$4ish)
But it's not like you get to feed an elephant everyday so...
yup. :D
Look at that trunk!!

omgomgomg it's my turn!!

isnt it true that elephants always looks like they are smiling?

nooo!! no more!!! hahahaha~

here you go~~

Next up, young elephant show!

catch the ball!!

bye bye elephants!
Elephants are intelligent animals. 
But they are really sad too, because they have superb memories and can remember everything from birth. 
When we were at Fantasea the previous night (see Day 2), we pat an elephant; it was crying.
:'(

The nice thing about this mini eco safari is that it has more than just the elephant ride.
There is an exclusive guide that will follow you and narrate to you at every stop. 
And now, it's time for traditional Thai coffee and tea!
DAMN I TOTALLY MISS THIS MUCH COS I CANT FIND IT IN PHUKET BUT I DRINK THIS EVERYDAY IN BANGKOK. BANGKOK I MISS U!!!
 
Traditional sweet snacks to go with it. freshly made. :D

this girl on the right was our guide, quite a cute girl.
and in the background, they are getting ready for us to mount the water buffalo!!!

ok, it's the cart behind. LOL

cant resist taking a picture of it's ass. :D


next stop, rice station! xdd is pounding rice grains by stepping as per picture to "deshell" the grains.
 
and this is what happens on the other end!

After pounding the lady will shake the grains and flick it around....

and LOOK!! she separates the shell from the rice grains!!!
it's amazing how she does it no??!!
 
Time to go back to the hotel!!
There are still some time before dinner, so we walked out of Laguna Phuket!

we made it out the entrance!

ok, there's actually the shuttle bus that will get us near the entrance la.. LOL

MORE ONE PIECE TEA @ 7-Eleven!!


and this time it's luffy and chopper!
Chopper is strawberry tea, quite yummy. :D

and xdd who was fascinated with this snack last night, WIPED THE STOCKS IN 7-ELEVEN.
20 baht, nice to go w beer. :D
And of cos we got beer as well, dirt cheap please. :D
 
 
we were back in a jiffy to wash up because...
we're doing in-villa BBQ tonight!

associates setting up our table. :D

Living like a boss~

Salads appetizers!

heypi boi!
 
this is land of smiles for a reason. :D

thank eu Chef!

King Prawns w garlic bread.

Awesome.

Beef and lamb AND POTATO~~
 
 
I forgot to take a pict of the chicken (soli!)
 
 
and he attacked the fish before I could snap.

Poor fish.

and he's smirky about it.
 
 
The only bad part of the dinner, is that IT STARTED TO RAIN HALF WAY.
 
 
 
 
 
FOR 5 MINUTES!!
 
 
 
 
It would be not so dui if the rain lasted a while, it rained for 5 min, stopped for 15min and start all over again.
 
In the end, we abandoned the table altogether and nua under the sala and finished the rest of the dinner. (of course we didnt finished everything, it's way too much)
 
After clearing up a little, we went back to the villa to drink.
my xdd likes to do funny things when he's drunk.
 
For example, he threw 2 cans of beer FROM THE FRIDGE, INTO THE POOL, grinned at me and tell me he wants to keep it chilled. The beer was warmed by the time we picked it up. -_-
 
Another example, he threw an empty beer bottle into the pool, thinking it would float like the sealed cans. After it sank, he looked at it from the pool side and gave me the puppy eyes. He told me the bottle sank to the bottom, and we should pick it up and clean up instead of letting the housekeeper do it the next morning, which I agree. So the following conversation took place after that:
 
me: 可是水很冷哦。。。 你不是怕冷吗?
him: 哦,真的,我很怕冷。
me: (pause) 好吧,我下去拿吧。
him: (without hesitation) OK!! 我去拿毛巾!!!
 
haiz, some times I dont know if I should laugh or cry. :")