City's do Christmas soooooo well

Had a great walk in and around Orchard Road last night and 

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere we go 

hmmmm 

Now there's a good title for a song!

So much bling and sparkle 

Merry Christmas to one and all xx

Need to get to the pool and put some color on those legs Pete

It's a sign!

OK I get the designated smoking area

but how do they keep the smoke in the yellow box!!

Pool glorious pool

So I said I would get a pic by day but as the sky's have been a bit on the grey side why not use the hotel advert to show you and us when its a blue day what it will looks like.

So it's not just any pool but the 

"winner of the worlds coolest pool"

My beautiful Sandy sure knows how to spoil me.

So here's hoping for some sun so I can shock the visual senses

of the beautiful people! 

A man and his tool

Almost had an international emergency this morning, Sandy being Sandy found one of several sharp little carpet spikes sticking up in the carpet this morning on a trip to the bathroom.

Sandy's fine, but me being me with a preexisting toe wound suitably wrapped in bandage (don't ask, happen in Aus just before we left and that's a whole other story) thought that the only way to get it fixed quickly and not be relocated to another room  (as we had already have a room change last night and yes again a whole other story) was to show the none English speaking cleaning staff my bandaged toe and point to the sharp culprit sticking out of the carpet from a slack carpet laying tradesman.

With in minute's we had the first aid and OH&'s officer at our door, after discovering I was fine and not needing the ambulance and not wanting to sue the hotel and that if you get me a hammer the this whole international emergency could all be fixed and no paper work would be required.

But clearly that hammer needed to be in the hands of an appropriated trained man.

We love it when we find a new taste sensation.

After a great night sleep and a bit of a sleep-in we hunted for a bite of lunch.

Today is a total day to ourselves prior to starting the cooking classes tomorrow. 

Complements from the chef pickle marinated papaya

A very different taste and a great palette cleanser

It wasn't tart or salty, it was a little sweet with hints soft fruity vinegar and a crunchy texture.

We love it when we find a new taste sensation.

Congee wow-weee. (Chinese comfort food)

Many years ago we stumbled across congee as a breakfast dish on a cruise made by the Malaysian staff and mainly only for the staff to eat and we have never been able to find that taste again until today. 

What a great food memory it was, so today after speaking with the chef we are on the track to being able to make it back home. This dish is a time and patience dish and our cab driver last night said that most locals don't make it as the cost of gas to cook one dish for many hours is too expensive when you can pick up a bowl  from a street seller for a few sing$.

The soft rice porridge is a delight when done right and a watery mess if not.

The flavor is also a soft delight and not complicated with spice or chilly heat.

It can be served with many different seafood or as we had today with pork meatballs.

Opted not to have the one worded "seven treasures pork"(offal) or the fresh pork liver Congee.

Enjoyed it with dough fritters and sauteed dried beef Hor Fun Hmmmm Hor Fun

I sat wondering what was the subtle lingering flavor and once I discovered that it was sesame oil I was again in food heaven.

Hotel Jen in Singapore - The Lion City

WOW what a location on Orchard Road and check out the view.

Just 40 mins and 40 Sing$ from the airport.

Not 100% sure where we are ! but in the light of day tomorrow all will be revealed.

Our bed has floor to ceiling views with the windows sloping out to the top by 20 degs to give just an amazing feeling of extra space in the room.

Arrived into our room about 7pm, so 10pm Aus time and feeling a little bit shaged after the flight so just want a quick dinner and  some zzzz

No better way to start our time here with a cold Singapore Sling on the 19th floor pool deck overlooking the city.

With builtin life guard overlooking the main pool, but a bit dark to see the pool.



Cool fountain or perhaps a foot washer after several Singapore Slings!!

ooling as it wafts over the pool from 19 floors up and lets you know you are in an Asian country.

Moody and very romantic so its off to bed for two weary travelers.
It's a stunning dark and rainy night, the sweetly scented humid breeze is cooling as it wafts over the pool from 19 floors up and it lets you know you are in an Asian country.

Our passage to India and beyond

Our passage to India.
Sandy and I are just sooooo excited to be hitting the airways again.

We fly out of Sydney today at 11.30 am heading to Singapore, it's 8 1/4 hrs and we arrive 4.45 pm their time. 

It's been 16 months since our last international cooking classes and foodie adventures so this time its Singapore for 4 days for some cooking classes then using the city as our springboard to sail out to some very exotic foodie locations.