Been to Night Safari last month as a surprise for someone special and at the same time Starhub is having a promotion as well. It has been a long time since I had been there as well.
So took 138 from AMK interchange to reach there, fast and easy. Direct to the gate of Night Safari.
Once we reach there, we head for the ticketing counter and it was a breeze to buy tickets from the efficient and friendly staff.
Even before we step into Night Safrai, there is already a tribal show going on in front of the main entrance gate. They were there literaly playing with fire. Attracted a lot of crowd to stand and see them. They perform 3 times a night and definitely do their best to warm up the crowd before entering Night Safrai.
There is a few options to go when we are in Night Safrai. Me being a planner, decided that we took the tram ride 1st. The tram ride is basically an hour ride around the park, some of the places in Night Safrai is only accessible by the tram only. The presenters on the tram are really good as they correctly managed to remember almost everything in the park and even the names of the animals as well. The ride was fun except for some people that keep letting go of their flashes despite numerous reminders.
We dropped off at the half way point @ Lepord Trail. Took abt 25 mins to complete and managed to see most of the cats in action (ie moving.) Then took the tram for the 2nd half of the ride. This time round, was brought through a tropical rainforest.
After reaching the starting point, we headed towards to join the queue for the animal show, Creatures of the Night. Be warned that you better be there 30 mins beore the show starts as the queue is pretty long. A lot of kaisu peopl there already started queueing an hour before the show starts.
The show was good as all the presenters are very professional and all their animals are well trained as well. OUr show dragged a bit of time as an owl did not cooperate and decided to not to fly down so it took a bit of time to coax him to fly down. It is a must watch show in Night Safari.
After which, we contiune to walk on the remaining two trails, the Forest Giant trail and walk through a suspension bridge and the Fishing cat trail. Each also can be completed within 25 mins as well.
We ended the whole trip ard midnight and still managed to take 138 back to AMK interchange.
It is definitely one of the best attraction in Singapore. Worth to go and check it out.
have been to the night safari a couple of times before. To me, the experiences were quite good. Over there, you can see the nocturnal animals coming out,actually it can be quite a challenge to see them moving around. This is manily attributed to the fact that the entire surroundings are very dim in order not to let the animals be disturbed by the lightings.
For the more adventurous ones, they can take a slow walk and venture around to take a look at the various animals. As for those who have kids or are the lazy type, you can also take the tram ride and enjoy the guide doing the explaining during each stop. For me, i have taken both approaches before and I like to do the trekkng one more. BUt do take note that it can get quite stuffy and I did perspire quite a fair bit.
In addition, there is also a perfomance by the "stars" of the night safari. It was a nice and enjoyable show which both kids and adults will enjoy. As the show times are quite limited, it is recommended that you go for the show before you go for your walk or tram ride.
So do go there for a visit one of these days and enjoy a nice evening at the night safari.
just had my dinner at the new Food JUnction at Bugis Junction. From first glance, it seems much more stylish and trendy as compared to the previous food court at the basement. Instead of those normal plastic seats that you normally find at food courts, now you get more sturdy wooden seats as well as nice sofa-like seats as well.
However, actually these new seats took up a lot more space as well and thus I had to spend a good whole ten minutes gettg my food. So perhaps for those planning to eat there, do be prepared for the slightly longer waiting time for your seats.
Notwithstanding that, there are actually more food stalls now in this revamped food court. The new stalls include a Pepper Lunch Express (where the queue is ever present), aN Omelette Rice stall (where they sell those 蛋包饭 style of food）, as well as a couple more stalls which I can't really remember their specialities as I only took a glance.
Therefore, for this new food court, I would say that indeed it is appealing in both the food and asethetics department. The only negative pt would be the lacking of ample seats to cater to the patrons during peak hours
Been there to watch Mr Woodcock over the weekend. Although the cinema is very near my house but then I seldom go there to watch movie unless I am with my sis or I am too lazy to go to town to watch movie.
One thing good about watching movie there, the tickets are cheaper by 50 cents compared to other cinemas.
There is also 8 cinema halls there so it offers a great variety of movies as well.
It used to have a very reception area, however after renovation, the ticketing office becomes very small and got to walk a long walkway before you can reach the ticketing office as the rest of the space is taken up by a food court.
The ticketing office is the saem as other cathay where you can get your tivkets and tibits at the same time. So might have to wait a little longer in the queue.
The seating in the cinema hall is quite spaced out but on the rather flat slope. However this does not mean that the person in front of you would be able to block you as the screen in placed higher than usual, compared to other cinemas. So when watching the movie, you might find yourself tilting your head slightly higher.
The air con is rather cold same as other cathay cinemas, so prepare yourself with a jacket if you are scare of cold.
Overall it is considered, to me, one of the better cinemas in the north region.
What can you eat for dinner at Raffles place with only $10 in your wallet? The choices seem limited, not only because of the limited eateries that are open in the evenings, but also because the eateries that stay open don't come cheap. In comes Pret A Manger, which is actually a French word for ready to eat. Newly opened and located at the ground floor of Ogilvy Centre along Robinson Road, this new kid in the sandwich scene serves up pre packed sandwiches that are freshly made every morning and thrown into the chiller to help preserve the freshness. Leftovers are donated to charity. This place works essentially like a fast food restaurant. You pick the sandwiches you want and proceed to the counter to make payment. There's quite a cozy dining area, so you can choose to eat in or take away.
There was hardly anyone around when I got there at about 1815hrs, so I made myself comfortable and grabbed two sandwiches - the Christmas Lunch and the Crayfish and Roquette. I had initially wanted to try out their specialty, the Coronation Chicken, but decided against it as I didn't want both sandwiches to have chicken in them. Actually I didn't really have much choice either as quite a few sandwiches were sold out.
First impressions of the sandwiches. Both looked rather small for the price - $3.80 for the Christmas Lunch and $3.90 for the Crayfish and Roquette. Having said that, I was impressed by the generous fillings. This is so unlike the normal sandwiches you buy from your neighbourhood bakeries. I particularly liked the Christmas Lunch, which had Turkey, Stuffing, Spinach, Crispy Onion, Cranberry Sauce and thick Mayonnaise. The Crispy Onion added a nice wholesome flavour to the sandwich, but overall I found it a little too sweet, probably because of the Mayo. The Crayfish and Roquette, as the name suggests, had Crayfish, Roquette, Lemon Juice, Mayonnaise and Yoghurt. In all honesty, the taste of the Roquette overpowered just about everything else. I was hoping for a nice and juicy crayfish, but what I got was a chilled tasteless one. But it was nice to chew on it though. Both sandwiches used wholemeal bread (I think) instead of the usual white bread, which is a plus I guess.
Overall I had a good experience there, primarily because of the very friendly and sociable staff there. The sandwiches were above average, but falls flat in the value for money segment as you would need at least 2 sandwiches to feel decently satisfied (I think I need 4). Throw in a drink and probably a soup and you would have breached the $10 mark. They do sell bigger sandwiches at $7.50 each, but its just a 10"-12"(very rough estimate, so please correct me if I am wrong) baguette with fillings, no drink, nothing. Compare that to Subway, which only charges about $7 for a sandwich with a drink and cookie. Now if Subway would just work on their variety....
Had our monthly group dinner at Bonta last evening. Opened in April this year and helmed by chef Luca Pezzera, who was formerly the executive chef at Hotel Intercontinental, Jakarta, Bonta has been garnering rather rave reviews with regard to its food and service, hence making it our choice of restaurant for the month.
Located along the outskirts of UE Square just opposite Double O, Bonta boasts a modern chic outlook coupled with warm colours, ambient lighting and soothing pipe music to give it that cosy and relaxed feel. There's also a semi private room for a few couples on the second floor complete with a showcase wine cellar for a more romantic rendezvous. However, do note that the room is all glass, so people can see you from the ground level. And in case you are wondering, Bonta is relatively small, with a sitting capacity probably maxing out at about 30 people or so.
The complimentary bread deserves a writeup devoted entirely to itself. Why so? Because its simply the best complimentary bread I've ever eaten so far (not that I've eaten alot though). The bread came served piping hot in a longish cup and when sliced open, emitted a fragrant and alluring aroma. Crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside, the the pockets of cheese and walnuts within served to enhance its taste and bite. Really a most delightful bread. I understand that takeaway for the bread is available at $8/loaf for those who are interested (and can afford it). For cheapskates and financially struggling people like me, there's always the complimentary option.
I didn't get a chance to try out the trout rolls but I did have a go at the goose liver or Foie Gras as some people might know it. The liver was pan fried till a little crisp on the exterior yet retaining its softness within. Taste wise was pretty good, with the raw taste of liver subtle and a slight hint of smokiness. However, I did find the aftertaste a little too strong for my liking. Also, the liver wasn't as quivery as I would have expected it to be, falling short of the standards set by Ember and Il-Lido.
At $22, this dish was really expensive given that only 4 pieces of scallops were served. However, money aside, it was just a just a little short of excellent. The scallops were quite a size and came served with their shell. Pop one into your mouth and enjoy the sweetness of the scallops with the accompanying Hollandaise sauce. To best enjoy this dish (in my personal opinion), you have to consume the whole thing - lock, stock and barrel (minus the shell of course) at one go.
Ravioli with Goose Liver - Had a piece of the ravioli to try and didn't find it fantastic. I could barely make out the taste of the liver as it was almost entirely masked by the creamy sauce base.
Black Angus Beef Sirloin Tagliata - It came as requested, medium rare and nicely grilled for that subtle sweetness and char grilled flavour. However it did come across as a little weak on the natural beef taste, which was a pity really. On a side note, the accompanying Porcini mushrooms had this weird taste which I couldn't stomach.
Disappointment. The icy cold word that pierces through your heart. That was the exact emotion all of us were feeling after the dinner. It was so bad that none of us had the heart to order any desserts, preferring to head down elsewhere. Service was good and attentive except for one major blip. They got one of our orders wrong twice. In the end, my friend had to settle for something he didn't order, which really marred the entire experience for him.
The 7 of us forked out $451 for a totally unsatisfying dinner, be it quantity or quality wise. Will I be back? I'll toss a coin and let you know, but chances are, no.
Went to Cathay AMK to watch Balls of Fury last weekend.
Well have to say that the standard of the cinema is as good as the rest of the cathay cinemas.
I like the large reception area where to buy tickets and popcorns. One thing bad though, there are no seats to sit on while waiting for the show to start unlike other Cathays.
There are 8 cinema halls there so quite a number of shows showing there. Good.
Service wise, GREAT! The people there are very friendly. From the one selling the tickets to the usher. Even when I was walking into the cinema hall, the guy manning the tibits section manged to say "Welcome! Enjoy your show" to everyone walking past him.
The cinema seating is good and comfortable. The solpe is quite high so the guy in front of you can hardly block your view. They do not maximise the seast to the fron so even if you get 1st row seast, you will not get a neckache after the show.
The sound system is up to par as it is new and uses the best sound system.
So overall it is a good place to watch show in the north now other than Junction 8 and Causeway Point.
I just visited the place today! It's not too shabby, but I think there's only, effectively, one level of shopping. Or to be more specific, less than 8 shopping outlets? They have salons, manicure shops and food outlets! Small place though, more of service apartment. But if you look at their directory, you'll see that they have quite a number of restaurants beyond the first level.
It's probably a really busy place during lunch hours because it's in the business district, near Tanjong Pagar MRT. But other than that, it's a really quiet place and almost all the shops are not open on weekends.
Good place for a quick walk and stuff. But it's gonna get boring after awhile.. Too little to see.
One of the few clothes shop at Icon Village, they sell ladies' stuff, mainly bags and clothes. Of course they have little items like earrings and costume jewelry, belts and shawls. This is a good place to go for office ladies working around Tanjong Pagar. Even if you don't work near there, I think it's rather convenient to get there too as it's near the MRT station. But they're only open on weekdays if I'm not wrong, to attract the office ladies.
Knowing the opening of a new shopping centre, I made my way down to take a look at the place in general. I walked into this shop and was warmly welcomed by the sales lady. A very friendly lady who isn't a pushy sales person (I say this in most of my reviews because I really think it's very important! It's a major turn off when sales people are too pushy/ impatient).
This shop is not too bad as their clothes are pretty nice and caters to females age 16-40, I'd say. Also, the most expensive thing I saw there was about $33.90, so on the whole I would dare to make the assumption that their things are pretty affordable!
Their stuff are mainly imports from Korea and Hong Kong. It's pretty common now I guess, but I'd say it's a good place to go since they have quite a good range of items. Personally I'm not a fan of the current fashion, however I would nonetheless go there to look at the bags and earrings because of the pure fact that it's cheap! (I got a handbag at 10 today!)
Worth a visit if you work nearby (:
(They're currently having a storewide 20% discount at Icon Village! Worth going!)
Hillman restaurant, or 喜临门大饭店 in Chinese, has been around since the 1960s and they are unabashed in displaying their rich heritage with blown up photographs of the good old days. Formerly located at Cantonment Road, they have since shifted (a few years back) to Jalan Besar and opened up a sister restaurant by the name of Manhill Restaurant (how innovative) at Pasir Panjang.
Inconveniently located along Jalan Besar Road just a few doors down from Pu Tien, getting there can pose quite a challenge for people unfamiliar with the area. If you are driving, it will be even more of a headache as parking lots are far and few. Strangely enough, this place seems to be very popular with Japanese folks for some reason beyond me.
A must have dish whenever I visit Hillman, the Chicken in Paper Bag aka Zi Bao Ji was very well executed with the chicken well seasoned, measuring in the right amounts of salt and sugar. The meat burst with flavoursome juices with every bite through the tender chicken meat. I'm not one to exaggerate, but this is probably one of the best Zi Bao Ji there is in the market now. Only downside to it was the difficulty in trying to seperate the chicken from the paper and of course the copious amount of oil involved.
Hillman has long been renowned for its claypot dishes or better known as Sar Poh. We ordered the Bright Stars Pot aka Yi Ping Wor which had a grand total of 8 different types of food in it. Namely mushrooms, chicken, pork, prawns, squid, carrot, vegetables and fried fish slices. Now thats a lot of variety in one dish and this is definitely one of the better claypot dishes I've ever had in Singapore with the food soaking in the essence of the wonderful gravy.
Sliced Fish with Kai Lan - The Kai Lan looked a little tired when it first arrived, probably due to overcooking. However, it surprised us with its crunchiness and light smoky taste. The accompanying fish slices were very decent, chewy and not too soft.
A great dinner for 3 pax set us back by about $46, which isn't too expensive really considering the quality of food. A pity it was rather quiet for a Sunday night probably due to its location and the spotlight its more prolific neighbour, Pu Tien, is enjoying. Just a warning, do not expect good service from this place though (Its still decent though).
1=SGD 0.0587
Been to Night Safari last month as a surprise for someone special and at the same time Starhub is having a promotion as well. It has been a long time since I had been there as well.
So took 138 from AMK interchange to reach there, fast and easy. Direct to the gate of Night Safari.
Once we reach there, we head for the ticketing counter and it was a breeze to buy tickets from the efficient and friendly staff.
Even before we step into Night Safrai, there is already a tribal show going on in front of the main entrance gate. They were there literaly playing with fire. Attracted a lot of crowd to stand and see them. They perform 3 times a night and definitely do their best to warm up the crowd before entering Night Safrai.
There is a few options to go when we are in Night Safrai. Me being a planner, decided that we took the tram ride 1st. The tram ride is basically an hour ride around the park, some of the places in Night Safrai is only accessible by the tram only. The presenters on the tram are really good as they correctly managed to remember almost everything in the park and even the names of the animals as well. The ride was fun except for some people that keep letting go of their flashes despite numerous reminders.
We dropped off at the half way point @ Lepord Trail. Took abt 25 mins to complete and managed to see most of the cats in action (ie moving.) Then took the tram for the 2nd half of the ride. This time round, was brought through a tropical rainforest.
After reaching the starting point, we headed towards to join the queue for the animal show, Creatures of the Night. Be warned that you better be there 30 mins beore the show starts as the queue is pretty long. A lot of kaisu peopl there already started queueing an hour before the show starts.
The show was good as all the presenters are very professional and all their animals are well trained as well. OUr show dragged a bit of time as an owl did not cooperate and decided to not to fly down so it took a bit of time to coax him to fly down. It is a must watch show in Night Safari.
After which, we contiune to walk on the remaining two trails, the Forest Giant trail and walk through a suspension bridge and the Fishing cat trail. Each also can be completed within 25 mins as well.
We ended the whole trip ard midnight and still managed to take 138 back to AMK interchange.
It is definitely one of the best attraction in Singapore. Worth to go and check it out.
Rating given:
have been to the night safari a couple of times before. To me, the experiences were quite good. Over there, you can see the nocturnal animals coming out,actually it can be quite a challenge to see them moving around. This is manily attributed to the fact that the entire surroundings are very dim in order not to let the animals be disturbed by the lightings.
For the more adventurous ones, they can take a slow walk and venture around to take a look at the various animals. As for those who have kids or are the lazy type, you can also take the tram ride and enjoy the guide doing the explaining during each stop. For me, i have taken both approaches before and I like to do the trekkng one more. BUt do take note that it can get quite stuffy and I did perspire quite a fair bit.
In addition, there is also a perfomance by the "stars" of the night safari. It was a nice and enjoyable show which both kids and adults will enjoy. As the show times are quite limited, it is recommended that you go for the show before you go for your walk or tram ride.
So do go there for a visit one of these days and enjoy a nice evening at the night safari.
Rating given:
just had my dinner at the new Food JUnction at Bugis Junction. From first glance, it seems much more stylish and trendy as compared to the previous food court at the basement. Instead of those normal plastic seats that you normally find at food courts, now you get more sturdy wooden seats as well as nice sofa-like seats as well.
However, actually these new seats took up a lot more space as well and thus I had to spend a good whole ten minutes gettg my food. So perhaps for those planning to eat there, do be prepared for the slightly longer waiting time for your seats.
Notwithstanding that, there are actually more food stalls now in this revamped food court. The new stalls include a Pepper Lunch Express (where the queue is ever present), aN Omelette Rice stall (where they sell those 蛋包饭 style of food）, as well as a couple more stalls which I can't really remember their specialities as I only took a glance.
Therefore, for this new food court, I would say that indeed it is appealing in both the food and asethetics department. The only negative pt would be the lacking of ample seats to cater to the patrons during peak hours
Rating given:
Been there to watch Mr Woodcock over the weekend. Although the cinema is very near my house but then I seldom go there to watch movie unless I am with my sis or I am too lazy to go to town to watch movie.
One thing good about watching movie there, the tickets are cheaper by 50 cents compared to other cinemas.
There is also 8 cinema halls there so it offers a great variety of movies as well.
It used to have a very reception area, however after renovation, the ticketing office becomes very small and got to walk a long walkway before you can reach the ticketing office as the rest of the space is taken up by a food court.
The ticketing office is the saem as other cathay where you can get your tivkets and tibits at the same time. So might have to wait a little longer in the queue.
The seating in the cinema hall is quite spaced out but on the rather flat slope. However this does not mean that the person in front of you would be able to block you as the screen in placed higher than usual, compared to other cinemas. So when watching the movie, you might find yourself tilting your head slightly higher.
The air con is rather cold same as other cathay cinemas, so prepare yourself with a jacket if you are scare of cold.
Overall it is considered, to me, one of the better cinemas in the north region.
Rating given:
What can you eat for dinner at Raffles place with only $10 in your wallet? The choices seem limited, not only because of the limited eateries that are open in the evenings, but also because the eateries that stay open don't come cheap. In comes Pret A Manger, which is actually a French word for ready to eat. Newly opened and located at the ground floor of Ogilvy Centre along Robinson Road, this new kid in the sandwich scene serves up pre packed sandwiches that are freshly made every morning and thrown into the chiller to help preserve the freshness. Leftovers are donated to charity. This place works essentially like a fast food restaurant. You pick the sandwiches you want and proceed to the counter to make payment. There's quite a cozy dining area, so you can choose to eat in or take away.
There was hardly anyone around when I got there at about 1815hrs, so I made myself comfortable and grabbed two sandwiches - the Christmas Lunch and the Crayfish and Roquette. I had initially wanted to try out their specialty, the Coronation Chicken, but decided against it as I didn't want both sandwiches to have chicken in them. Actually I didn't really have much choice either as quite a few sandwiches were sold out.
First impressions of the sandwiches. Both looked rather small for the price - $3.80 for the Christmas Lunch and $3.90 for the Crayfish and Roquette. Having said that, I was impressed by the generous fillings. This is so unlike the normal sandwiches you buy from your neighbourhood bakeries. I particularly liked the Christmas Lunch, which had Turkey, Stuffing, Spinach, Crispy Onion, Cranberry Sauce and thick Mayonnaise. The Crispy Onion added a nice wholesome flavour to the sandwich, but overall I found it a little too sweet, probably because of the Mayo. The Crayfish and Roquette, as the name suggests, had Crayfish, Roquette, Lemon Juice, Mayonnaise and Yoghurt. In all honesty, the taste of the Roquette overpowered just about everything else. I was hoping for a nice and juicy crayfish, but what I got was a chilled tasteless one. But it was nice to chew on it though. Both sandwiches used wholemeal bread (I think) instead of the usual white bread, which is a plus I guess.
Overall I had a good experience there, primarily because of the very friendly and sociable staff there. The sandwiches were above average, but falls flat in the value for money segment as you would need at least 2 sandwiches to feel decently satisfied (I think I need 4). Throw in a drink and probably a soup and you would have breached the $10 mark. They do sell bigger sandwiches at $7.50 each, but its just a 10"-12"(very rough estimate, so please correct me if I am wrong) baguette with fillings, no drink, nothing. Compare that to Subway, which only charges about $7 for a sandwich with a drink and cookie. Now if Subway would just work on their variety....
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Had our monthly group dinner at Bonta last evening. Opened in April this year and helmed by chef Luca Pezzera, who was formerly the executive chef at Hotel Intercontinental, Jakarta, Bonta has been garnering rather rave reviews with regard to its food and service, hence making it our choice of restaurant for the month.
Located along the outskirts of UE Square just opposite Double O, Bonta boasts a modern chic outlook coupled with warm colours, ambient lighting and soothing pipe music to give it that cosy and relaxed feel. There's also a semi private room for a few couples on the second floor complete with a showcase wine cellar for a more romantic rendezvous. However, do note that the room is all glass, so people can see you from the ground level. And in case you are wondering, Bonta is relatively small, with a sitting capacity probably maxing out at about 30 people or so.
The complimentary bread deserves a writeup devoted entirely to itself. Why so? Because its simply the best complimentary bread I've ever eaten so far (not that I've eaten alot though). The bread came served piping hot in a longish cup and when sliced open, emitted a fragrant and alluring aroma. Crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside, the the pockets of cheese and walnuts within served to enhance its taste and bite. Really a most delightful bread. I understand that takeaway for the bread is available at $8/loaf for those who are interested (and can afford it). For cheapskates and financially struggling people like me, there's always the complimentary option.
I didn't get a chance to try out the trout rolls but I did have a go at the goose liver or Foie Gras as some people might know it. The liver was pan fried till a little crisp on the exterior yet retaining its softness within. Taste wise was pretty good, with the raw taste of liver subtle and a slight hint of smokiness. However, I did find the aftertaste a little too strong for my liking. Also, the liver wasn't as quivery as I would have expected it to be, falling short of the standards set by Ember and Il-Lido.
At $22, this dish was really expensive given that only 4 pieces of scallops were served. However, money aside, it was just a just a little short of excellent. The scallops were quite a size and came served with their shell. Pop one into your mouth and enjoy the sweetness of the scallops with the accompanying Hollandaise sauce. To best enjoy this dish (in my personal opinion), you have to consume the whole thing - lock, stock and barrel (minus the shell of course) at one go.
Ravioli with Goose Liver - Had a piece of the ravioli to try and didn't find it fantastic. I could barely make out the taste of the liver as it was almost entirely masked by the creamy sauce base.
Black Angus Beef Sirloin Tagliata - It came as requested, medium rare and nicely grilled for that subtle sweetness and char grilled flavour. However it did come across as a little weak on the natural beef taste, which was a pity really. On a side note, the accompanying Porcini mushrooms had this weird taste which I couldn't stomach.
Disappointment. The icy cold word that pierces through your heart. That was the exact emotion all of us were feeling after the dinner. It was so bad that none of us had the heart to order any desserts, preferring to head down elsewhere. Service was good and attentive except for one major blip. They got one of our orders wrong twice. In the end, my friend had to settle for something he didn't order, which really marred the entire experience for him.
The 7 of us forked out $451 for a totally unsatisfying dinner, be it quantity or quality wise. Will I be back? I'll toss a coin and let you know, but chances are, no.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Went to Cathay AMK to watch Balls of Fury last weekend.
Well have to say that the standard of the cinema is as good as the rest of the cathay cinemas.
I like the large reception area where to buy tickets and popcorns. One thing bad though, there are no seats to sit on while waiting for the show to start unlike other Cathays.
There are 8 cinema halls there so quite a number of shows showing there. Good.
Service wise, GREAT! The people there are very friendly. From the one selling the tickets to the usher. Even when I was walking into the cinema hall, the guy manning the tibits section manged to say "Welcome! Enjoy your show" to everyone walking past him.
The cinema seating is good and comfortable. The solpe is quite high so the guy in front of you can hardly block your view. They do not maximise the seast to the fron so even if you get 1st row seast, you will not get a neckache after the show.
The sound system is up to par as it is new and uses the best sound system.
So overall it is a good place to watch show in the north now other than Junction 8 and Causeway Point.
Rating given:
I just visited the place today! It's not too shabby, but I think there's only, effectively, one level of shopping. Or to be more specific, less than 8 shopping outlets? They have salons, manicure shops and food outlets! Small place though, more of service apartment. But if you look at their directory, you'll see that they have quite a number of restaurants beyond the first level.
It's probably a really busy place during lunch hours because it's in the business district, near Tanjong Pagar MRT. But other than that, it's a really quiet place and almost all the shops are not open on weekends.
Good place for a quick walk and stuff. But it's gonna get boring after awhile.. Too little to see.
Rating given:
One of the few clothes shop at Icon Village, they sell ladies' stuff, mainly bags and clothes. Of course they have little items like earrings and costume jewelry, belts and shawls. This is a good place to go for office ladies working around Tanjong Pagar. Even if you don't work near there, I think it's rather convenient to get there too as it's near the MRT station. But they're only open on weekdays if I'm not wrong, to attract the office ladies.
Knowing the opening of a new shopping centre, I made my way down to take a look at the place in general. I walked into this shop and was warmly welcomed by the sales lady. A very friendly lady who isn't a pushy sales person (I say this in most of my reviews because I really think it's very important! It's a major turn off when sales people are too pushy/ impatient).
This shop is not too bad as their clothes are pretty nice and caters to females age 16-40, I'd say. Also, the most expensive thing I saw there was about $33.90, so on the whole I would dare to make the assumption that their things are pretty affordable!
Their stuff are mainly imports from Korea and Hong Kong. It's pretty common now I guess, but I'd say it's a good place to go since they have quite a good range of items. Personally I'm not a fan of the current fashion, however I would nonetheless go there to look at the bags and earrings because of the pure fact that it's cheap! (I got a handbag at 10 today!)
Worth a visit if you work nearby (:
(They're currently having a storewide 20% discount at Icon Village! Worth going!)
Rating given:
Hillman restaurant, or 喜临门大饭店 in Chinese, has been around since the 1960s and they are unabashed in displaying their rich heritage with blown up photographs of the good old days. Formerly located at Cantonment Road, they have since shifted (a few years back) to Jalan Besar and opened up a sister restaurant by the name of Manhill Restaurant (how innovative) at Pasir Panjang.
Inconveniently located along Jalan Besar Road just a few doors down from Pu Tien, getting there can pose quite a challenge for people unfamiliar with the area. If you are driving, it will be even more of a headache as parking lots are far and few. Strangely enough, this place seems to be very popular with Japanese folks for some reason beyond me.
A must have dish whenever I visit Hillman, the Chicken in Paper Bag aka Zi Bao Ji was very well executed with the chicken well seasoned, measuring in the right amounts of salt and sugar. The meat burst with flavoursome juices with every bite through the tender chicken meat. I'm not one to exaggerate, but this is probably one of the best Zi Bao Ji there is in the market now. Only downside to it was the difficulty in trying to seperate the chicken from the paper and of course the copious amount of oil involved.
Hillman has long been renowned for its claypot dishes or better known as Sar Poh. We ordered the Bright Stars Pot aka Yi Ping Wor which had a grand total of 8 different types of food in it. Namely mushrooms, chicken, pork, prawns, squid, carrot, vegetables and fried fish slices. Now thats a lot of variety in one dish and this is definitely one of the better claypot dishes I've ever had in Singapore with the food soaking in the essence of the wonderful gravy.
Sliced Fish with Kai Lan - The Kai Lan looked a little tired when it first arrived, probably due to overcooking. However, it surprised us with its crunchiness and light smoky taste. The accompanying fish slices were very decent, chewy and not too soft.
A great dinner for 3 pax set us back by about $46, which isn't too expensive really considering the quality of food. A pity it was rather quiet for a Sunday night probably due to its location and the spotlight its more prolific neighbour, Pu Tien, is enjoying. Just a warning, do not expect good service from this place though (Its still decent though).
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