Derwish Turkish Mediterranean Restaurant (Christmas Dinner With Friends)

Christmas is the season of giving. Forgiving. Sharing. Gathering among friends and families....

Being bored with the traditional Western dinner, we have decided to go for a Turkish restaurant along Bussorah Street. The place to be if you want some Turkish, Moroccan and other delectable Middle Eastern/Asian food. Interesting place for both locals and tourists who want to explore the other side of Singapore.



Middle Eastern cuisines are well known for the various herbs and spices that are blended together to produce a strong and aromatic flavor. For first timers, it could be an awakening experience.

I am a big fan of kebabs... So to Derwish Turkish Restaurant we went! It was our first time to be here. So we did not know what to expect with the food... We've dined at second floor. I had to admit that  I love the accent of the interior. The colorful tiles gave the place a "lively" ambiance. Although it could be a little too much  for people who prefer neutral tones.

Here are some photos taken from my Nokia Lumia 1020. Not bad for a phone.

And more photos...

The whole dining experience was amazing. Aside from the fact that I was in the company of good friends. Thumbs up from food to service! Why?

1.) I find that the price is reasonable. Best value for your money.

2.) Nice place to hang out if you want to feast on kebabs and mezes while taking your own sweet
     time. Derwish's Kebabs were tender and juicy. Place is not too crowded which gives you the
     access to long talks with friends and loved ones.


3.) Waiters were very polite and accommodating to our curiosity. Overall the food and service was
      superb! It was a laid-back foursome dinner and total bill was around SGD100. And let me share
      what we had for the night:



Mixed Kebab
Mixed of Grilled Chicken, Beef and Lamb topped with home made sauce



Adana Tavuk Kebab
Skewered minced chicken, spiced and grilled on charcoal topped with special tomato sauce

Meze Tabagi
Selection of assorted mezes, served with Lavash bread.


Turkish Apple Tea
Served in a beautiful jar.








So what makes a restaurant great? For me it is not limited only to good food. It should be a combo of delectable cuisines and pleasing experience that will get customers coming back for more. In which for this case, we both had!!! And yes, I will definitely be back.


Since the night was still young, we've thought of grabbing some dessert elsewhere. A good excuse to stroll and enjoy the scenery of Arab Street. A part of Singapore you shouldn't miss. We passed at various coffee shops that you don't commonly find around.

But we ended up having a foot massage instead. Haha. It was another delightful moment with friends.
Until then!!!

This is Ronski Doodle Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!!!

Derwish Turkish Mediterranean Restaurant
 http://www.derwishturkishrestaurant.com

60 Bussorah Street

Singapore 199475

Pita Pan (Pocket Full of Health) @ Marina Bay Sands

Last weekend we watched Hi-5 House Party in Marina Bay Sands Theater. My son is a big fan of Hi-5 so there was no excuse to miss it. It was a Christmassy afternoon for all of us. There was a free Christmas show called "Winter Wonderland at the Shoppes" in front of the food court. We also had a free photo taken with Santa Claus. All we needed to do was present a receipt that was issued within MBS. And there were a lot of things going on that day...

We were hungry and in hunt for food. After seeing the relaxing location of Pita Pan, we decided to have a taste of their cuisines.

Reason why we ate here is that there were just too many people inside the mall. Plus we wanted a breathe of fresh air after hours of strolling. Thought it would be nice to try something Mediterranean this time. Location wise it was relaxing and just opposite the Art Science Museum.

Pita Pan (Pocket Full of Health) offers vegetarian recipes that come from countries like Egypt, Syria and Jordan. I have never been to those places so I cannot compare from the "original."

Some of the menu includes:

Salads

Couscous and soups

Falafel

Shakshuka (Highly recommended by Chef Reena who happened to be there)

Pita Pizza

Hummus ( Famous creamy dip from Middle East)

Mediterranean Platter

Pocket Meals

Cost us around SGD70 for 3 adults and 1 toddler. It was between a heavy snack to light dinner considering everything in the house was vegetarian. It is worth trying but could be a little expensive for what the restaurant offers...



We got ourselves:

2 Hot Café Lattes

Mediterranean Platter ( I personally recommend this)

Pocket Meal that came with French Fries

Can of Soda

This is Ronski Doodle wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

PITA PAN
2 Bayfront Avenue

#01-87 Marina Bay Sands

Singapore 018972

Event: Banquet of Honor for Internationals

Music and food are elements when perfectly combined together are sure to entertain a crowd. Today is obviously not a travel blog entry. Music has always been part of the Filipino culture may it be rock, pop, jazz or hiphop genre.

 

 

This is my second time to be attending the Banquet of Honors in Victory Family Centre. But this time round in Choa Chu Kang which was organized by a group of Christian locals that do recognize the efforts of foreigners. From domestic helpers to white collared working populace. And we from our hearts are ever grateful to the kindness and acceptance...

 

Upon entering the main door, marshals warmly greeted us with an applause. It was their welcoming gesture to  guests. Frankly speaking, it felt a little awkward. Hehe.

Event started with live performances of Jam Review. The band consists of professional engineers that come together with common drive and passion towards music. Oh well if you have the talent, why not flaunt it? I always believe that talents are to be cultivated. Put it in good use and never waste it.

Followed by games, raffle draws and much more performances from other bands. Having said that, here are some photos.

 

 

Playing the famous Pinoy Henyo

Big thanks to the organizers.

 

Of course an event will never be a successful one without great food to fill your stomach! Here comes our delectable lunch! People queuing up for the buffet catered by Shainne Shawn's Services. True Filipino delicacies like Kare Kare, Pancit, Pinakbet & the ever crispy Lechon Kawali (roasted pork) were among the spread. Sinful treats like leche flan and buko pandan all in the house that afternoon. It was indeed a Filipino feast!

 

 

 

Filipino Caterer in Singapore

 

 - the end -

Village Changi Hotel & Pulau Ubin (Anniversary Staycation)

I was inspired by this quotation which I have read from Happy Wives Club.

“The difference between an ordinary marriage and an extraordinary marriage is in giving just a little ‘extra’ every day, as often as possible, for as long as we both shall live.”    
                                                                                                           -Fawn Weaver

For our 4th wedding anniversary, I have gotten my hubby a ROLEX cake. Tada!!! Haha. Luckily, I have a friend who is skilled in molding gum paste/fondant; turning them into an “edible” piece of art!  If you are interested for customized cakes, you can check out this website WWW.CELICIOUSCAKES.COM.

So I did my research and after comparing reviews and rates, I’ve decided to go for VILLAGE CHANGI HOTEL for an overnight staycation. Why? I thought it will be a good place to celebrate a wedding anniversary. Location was a distance from the hustle and bustle of the city. Good place to unwind.

 As the old saying goes, early bird catches the worm. The earlier you book, the more chances of getting good rates. And yes, I was able to get a good deal for booking 21 days in advance.

I wanted to surprise my hubby so I told him the night before that I was up to something. I only gave him 14 hours notice to pack his things! Tic Toc Tic Toc…. For guys generally I guess this is no sweat.

Checking in was a breeze. Front Desk lady named Christine was very polite and accommodating. Hotel had no wow factor for me. Interior was understated, neat and cozy. It was rather tranquil and relaxing. It is far from the hustle and bustle of the city which I like. 



Some activities that you can do within the hotel are Koi feeding at 6th floor; and make use of the complimentary bicycle for an hour.


Koi Pond

 One week before check-in, I have received an email offering me an upgrade to club room for an additional SGD50++. I was sceptical at first but eventually ended up grabbing this offer. So what are the privileges?

1.)     Cocktails and free flowing drinks from 6pm to 8pm at Club Lounge (located at 6^th floor). This is enough to keep you full in the evening. Ham, sandwiches, salad, potato wedges, salmon and fruits to name a few. We also enjoyed ourselves a glass of wine while chatting. 

2.)     Deluxe Room had been upgraded to Club Room. Personally I don’t know the difference since I haven’t seen the deluxe room myself. And yes, our room comes with a bath tub and rain shower.

3.)    Breakfast at Club Lounge. Honestly I was disappointed with the breakfast spread. Very limited choices. I have asked the lady in charge whether we can have the breakfast downstairs instead. I was delighted that this can be requested from the front desk. They have given us 2 breakfast vouchers. And definitely the choices were much better!!! So I suggest that you have your breakfast at SaltWater Café…

 

4.)    Late check out at 2PM.  But they gave me until 3pm. It was a kind gesture since I’ve told them that we were here for our anniversary.

Hotel showcases two outdoor pools. First pool is located in the ground floor just beside the Salt Water cafe. It could be a little awkward to take a plunge in the morning as guests could be watching you as if you are a fish in an aquarium.

Second pool was located at 8^th floor. It was a medium sized pool with great view. We were literally watching airplanes above our head. Plus the Jacuzzi! To my surprise it was not as crowded as I thought… Do you see anyone around? Hmm...

Next morning, we headed to the ferry terminal for a short trip to PULAU UBIN.

It was within the neighbourhood. You wouldn’t get lost with its obvious signage.

5 to 10 minutes walk from Village Changi Hotel to Ferry Terminal

10 to 15 minutes jetty ride from Ferry Terminal to Pulai Ubin (SGD 2.50/pax)

Changi Ferry Terminal

 

Being a non-biker, we had to rent a tandem bicycle for 2.5 hours (SGD 8). Haha.

It was indeed a cheap date. But frankly speaking, we enjoyed every single minute of it. It is always nice to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Slow down and appreciate the world around you. Sometimes we go too fast in life that we miss its real beauty…

So here are some photos of the lush greeneries…

“Enjoy the little things in life… For one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

 We left Pulau Ubin at 1pm. We had a quick lunch at this big hawker centre which is just a stone away from the hotel. We had managed to get back and check out on time.

  

This is the end of our meaningful first ever staycation in Singapore. Hope you guys enjoyed reading this! Until then. Keep on Ronski Doodling!!!

 - the end - 

Getting Around South Korea (Part Two)

This is continuation of Getting Around South Korea Part O-N-E.


Tips for travelers who don't know what to expect on a winter season. If you don't have much garments to keep you warm, you can always get tons of them in Seoul. It is going to be way cheaper than purchasing them from a tropical country and keeps you "in" style too...

NAMI ISLAND
It is a small but beautiful island that is almost 2hours away from Myeongdong. Literally breath taking. You are about to step your foot on an imaginary country wherein you have to purchase yourself an entry visa (simply means ticket).

So called Immigration



Begin your exploration with a 5 minute ferry ride. If this idea bores you, you can try the zip line. Choice is yours.  

  

Ferry ride Vs Zip line? What its gonna be?


Are you a fan of Korean dramas? Part of this island was where “Winter Sonata” was filmed. Now how is that for a starter?



You don’t have to worry where to get your food. They are all over the island -- hotdog stands; ice cream & coffee shops at your convenience. You can also find restaurants serving Korean barbeques with side dishes that are appealing to the taste buds.

 

 

 

Snowy island+ Icy lake + Beautiful art exhibits +  Brisk air  = SCENIC VIEW

 

 

 

    

 

 

DMZ (DEMILITARIZED ZONE)
 

This is the only tour that we’ve booked. This may not be for everyone.  To highlight:

 

• If my memory serves me right, children below 11years old are not permitted. I could be wrong so I suggest that you check this out before making any bookings.

• Be cautious on the dress code. Stay away from camouflage prints. This is not the place to be too trendy. If you are not sure what to wear, ask.

• For tourists who love to take photos, be mindful that there are prohibited areas. 

• We wanted to change to Panmunjeom Tour last minute but they told us that it must be done few days in advance. Missed the chance to step in the North Korea soil. Do you know that South Koreans are not allowed in Panmunjeom? Our tourist guide told us so.

 

                                                           Bridge of Freedom

DMZ package tour included hotel pick-up. Call time was 8am. Luckily our tourist guide can speak English well.  During the course of the trip she would share historical facts.

Impression: Inspiring & Heartbreaking.

First stop was at Imjingak Park then we ended up in Ginseng Center.
 

 

 

  

What is expected in the tour? 

 

You can have a sneak peek of North Korea and its flag that is known to be highest in the world through binoculars at “Dora Observatory.”       

 

Short-film watching wherein headsets are provided (translated in different languages). 

 

Up close view of the “Bridge of Freedom.” North Korea being near yet so far.  I was emotional while gazing at this.

 

One of the highlight is the “3^rd Infiltration Tunnel.” Hard hats will be provided for your safety. If you are asthmatic, claustrophobic or with health issues, you may want to skip this. Tunnel is steep. At first it was easy but it’s the going back part that makes it difficult due to inclined slope.

 

 

 

Last stop of the tour is the Ginseng Center. I bought some Ginseng sweets to bring home.


TOY MUSEUM at INSADONG
 

For toy collectors and enthusiasts there is a small toy museum located in Insadong. If this is your thing, you can check out their vintage collection.

  

 

 

Keep on Ronski Doodling!!!

 - End -