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Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Blame It One The Bugis
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
Monday, 2 June 2014
Monday, 23 December 2013
Whangarei
It's many, many years since I have stayed in this regional city in Northland. Back then it was just an overnight stay as I considered whether to take up a museum job or not.
These past two days we have been spending in the city to escape the Xmas bustle of Auckland.
A visit to Whangarei Falls today was a highlight. Here are some images of the city and the Falls
These past two days we have been spending in the city to escape the Xmas bustle of Auckland.
A visit to Whangarei Falls today was a highlight. Here are some images of the city and the Falls
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Finger Food on SIA for China Tourists?
Is there any truth in the rumour circulating in some Singapore circles that tourists from Mainland China will be expected to eat their in-flight meals with their fingers in the future?
The 'ruckus' has been caused by the latest incident involving Chinese tourist were they attempted to steal the "family silver". In this case 30 stainless steel cutlery sets from Singapore Airlines.
While the inflight staff may not make a fuss about the odd teaspoon that is not returned, wholesale tour group looting made the stewardesses concerned very angry; and rightly so. The boorish behaviour was compounded by the fact that having been asked to return the cutlery the group in question refused to do so, and it was only the intervention of the tour group leader that changed their mind.
Mind you having personally witnessed the eating habits of Mainland China tour groups in the Genting Highlands I am not surprised by this attitude.
As the South China Monring Post reported:
"The incident follows a number of reports this year on bad behaviour overseas by Chinese travellers. This includes a widely reported incident where a Chinese boy carved his name on a 3,000-year old precious relic during a trip to Egypt.
This prompted China’s deputy-premier Wang Yang to state publicly that Chinese tourists should improve their behaviour overseas.
He said such bad behaviour included Chinese tourists speaking loudly in public, carving characters on ancient relics, and disobeying pedestrian traffic signs.
Last year, US shopping website LivingSocial sponsored a poll which ranked the Chinese at second place, after Americans, as the “world’s worst tourists”. Some 15 per cent of respondents said Chinese tourists were the most obnoxious in the world."
It is little wonder that the 'Singapore Girl' of Singapore Airlines fame is finding it difficult to maintain her balance and composure in the face of such bad mannered and ill-disciplined passengers. But the 'Singapore Girl' of SIA poster fame is also being gracefully retired from the airline's advertising.
She is being replaced by a new tag line "The Lengths We Go To". In the light of incident with recalcitrant Mainland China passengers perhaps the slogan should be appended?
"The Lengths We Go To With China Tourists" has a certain ring of truth to it.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Love Singapore Sandals
Whatever you call them - sandals, jandals or flip flops - they still look great on your feet!
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| Love Singapore Flip Flops (Sandals) Get a pair here. |
Monday, 20 May 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Monday, 10 December 2012
Never Get Lost Again - Singapore MRT iPhone Case
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| Case for the iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 |
Never lose your way again with this iPhone 5 Case.
Seems a good idea to be able to quickly reference the MRT map without going online. Loan the case to your visitors while they stay with you; just make sure you get it back!
Protect your iPhone 5 with a customizable iPhone 5 case. Made of lightweight hard shell plastic, this case protects the back and sides of your iPhone 5 without adding bulk.
Available online here.
Want to see other iPhone case designs? Have a look in this online store.
Monday, 26 November 2012
Flying the Way it Used to Be
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| From Brisbane to Singapore 1937 Refueling at Daly Waters in the Northern Territory |
This image shows a refueling stop in Australia's Northern Territory. In 1937 when this photograph was taken aircraft has to stop several times on long flights to refuel. It was only two years earlier, on 7 April that Qantas operated its first overseas passenger flight from Brisbane to Singapore. It was a four-day trip in those days and the aircraft (partially pictured at right) was a four-engine DH86.
Demand for the service was such that two years after this journey was captured on film the DH86 was replaced by Short C Class Empire flying boats, which also operated out of Sydney.
1937 was clearly a watershed year in Singapore aviation as the Wearne Brothers launched the first commercial air service between Singapore and Malaya that year using a de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft called (quite appropriately) the Governor Raffles. It flew from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
It was also the year that Amelia Earhart departed from Lae in Papua New Guinea en-route to Howland Island. She never made it.
No Frequent Flyer points in those days and only the well-to-do could afford air travel. Qantas has also become an airline consigned to Singapore's history as it recently stopped flying there, preferring instead to go through Dubai.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Uncle Roger Remembers
Today marks the second anniversary of our departure from Singapore, returning to New Zealand on the evening SIA flight.
It's a date that fills me with some sadness as I felt blessed to have been able to work in a country I had for so long admired. Better still to be able to live and work under a local contract conditions and be domiciled in Queenstown away from the Expat hot spots.
There are some , and I am not one of them, who regard Singaporeans as being somewhat distant and remote. I never found it so, having made some good friendships with colleagues that I still maintain. As with any culture and country if you are prepared to make the effort to assimilate and learn the local customs then your experience will be the richer for it.
Use a country as a temporary halt and only mix with your own expatriate community and you will selling yourself short. If that's your approach then you will also miss out on the real friendships that can be forged. It is the same all over the world and I observed similar traits and reactions when I worked in Papua New Guinea in the late 1970's/ early '80's.
There's a 'buzz' about Asia and Singapore in particular that I really enjoy; it's vibrant, everyone is focused on making their lives better because you can't expect the government to mollycoddle you if you are not prepared to get stuck in yourself.
And then there are the tropics themselves - the luxuriant foliage, the warm and torrential rains that announce themselves with deafening thunder, the bugs, birds and flowers that are larger and more colourful than those found in temperate climes.
The diversity of cultures in a country like Singapore is a delight and in the main harmonious. I worked with Singapore nationals and PR's of different ethnicities and from many countries; a rich mix that makes life in the Little Red Dot even more interesting and rewarding. We can all learn so much from the customs of others.
My admiration for the founding fathers of Singapore, the relative safety of the streets and of course the richness of Asian cuisine were all reasons that first attracted me to Singapore on my first visit there in the early 1980's, and remain with me still.
So on this day I remember with great fondness being called "Uncle Roger" by those whose friendship I value in Singapura. I count myself very lucky to have lived and worked there and my heart remains in the Heartland with my soul (as I wrote in an earlier poem) in places such as Fort Canning.
It's a date that fills me with some sadness as I felt blessed to have been able to work in a country I had for so long admired. Better still to be able to live and work under a local contract conditions and be domiciled in Queenstown away from the Expat hot spots.
There are some , and I am not one of them, who regard Singaporeans as being somewhat distant and remote. I never found it so, having made some good friendships with colleagues that I still maintain. As with any culture and country if you are prepared to make the effort to assimilate and learn the local customs then your experience will be the richer for it.
Use a country as a temporary halt and only mix with your own expatriate community and you will selling yourself short. If that's your approach then you will also miss out on the real friendships that can be forged. It is the same all over the world and I observed similar traits and reactions when I worked in Papua New Guinea in the late 1970's/ early '80's.
There's a 'buzz' about Asia and Singapore in particular that I really enjoy; it's vibrant, everyone is focused on making their lives better because you can't expect the government to mollycoddle you if you are not prepared to get stuck in yourself.
And then there are the tropics themselves - the luxuriant foliage, the warm and torrential rains that announce themselves with deafening thunder, the bugs, birds and flowers that are larger and more colourful than those found in temperate climes.
The diversity of cultures in a country like Singapore is a delight and in the main harmonious. I worked with Singapore nationals and PR's of different ethnicities and from many countries; a rich mix that makes life in the Little Red Dot even more interesting and rewarding. We can all learn so much from the customs of others.
My admiration for the founding fathers of Singapore, the relative safety of the streets and of course the richness of Asian cuisine were all reasons that first attracted me to Singapore on my first visit there in the early 1980's, and remain with me still.
So on this day I remember with great fondness being called "Uncle Roger" by those whose friendship I value in Singapura. I count myself very lucky to have lived and worked there and my heart remains in the Heartland with my soul (as I wrote in an earlier poem) in places such as Fort Canning.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Coromandel
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| Lichen Roger Smith 2011 Click on image |
A lank slice of artificially bright yellow cheese was sandwiched between two meat wafers which bore passing resemblance to patties, but only just. Sustaining it was not and neither was the apple crumble and ice-cream.
In the promotional poster the latter came steaming hot on a plate with a generous scoop of snow freeze ice-cream on the the side. In reality it came in a small plastic tub topped with the ice-cream which reduced it to a mushy mess.
You will have gathered by now that I am not among the legion of fans who frequent McDonalds; in fact it is a 'meal' of last resort. So it was today as we motored through Thames en route for Coromandel township, from where I have writing this now. The necessity for food and the relative lack of choice suggested fast food - how wrong we were.
Coromandel is about three and a half hours easy driving from South Auckland where we live. The only slight delay is the eighty year old Kopu bridge, built in a time when traffic was slight and a single lane with a couple of passing bays coped with most vehicles.
This is how I remembered it from childhood trips in the late 1950's and into the 1970's. Unfortunately when Aucklanders 'discovered' Coromandel as a quick weekend retreat the traffic grew exponentially and the old bridge created a huge bottleneck. A new one is scheduled to open before Christmas.
Heading north from Thames one follows the coast. Even on a blustery Southerly day as it was today, the coast is pretty site although care needs to be taken on the corners.
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| Coromandel Panorama Roger Smith 2011 Click on photo to see larger version |
Unfortunately the world is 'no longer my oyster' as the wretched shellfish are loaded with purines which trigger gout. The pain of the infliction is more excruciating than missing out on the delicacy, but only just.
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| Duet - Coromandel Roger Smith 2011 Click on image to see larger version |
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Kerikeri Capers
Paunch compost is not for the faint hearted. It features in a large street sign in the Northland township of Moerewa and is one of the many things I noted on our three day trip to sub tropical Kerikeri.
Suffice to say it is several decades since I last visited Kerikeri and it has undergone a major transformation.
Where once there were dusty roads, forlorn farms, brightly painted and semi-derelict weather board houses, there are now organic farms, a smart cafe culture and wineries.
We deliberately timed our visit to beat the heat of summer and the peak tourist season. Late March always has more settled weather and the region is not called the 'winterless North' for nothing.
Banana palms in fruit, magnificent nikau palms and tropical foliage grows with wild abandon in these parts and we were fortunate to sample the season's newly picked mandarins. Kerikeri has been well known for citrus fruit and the fruit we tasted were some of sweetest I have ever had.
The town is far more laid back and less touristy than its near neighbour, Paihia. I remember a summer holiday in Paihia when I was ten years old. Our family tented in the local camping grounds and had the beach front largely to ourselves. I first learnt to row a dinghy from these shores and got as brown as a berry - skin cancer was largely unknown at the time!
The camping ground has disappeared and has been replaced by a rows of motels, each vying for custom in what has become a Bay of Islands mecca for the tourist trade. Being only fifteen minutes drive from Kerikeri we decided to spend a morning in Paihia. Some T-shirts caught our eye as these were heavily discounted to $NZ8 at the end of the season.
The rock oysters were as plentiful as ever and the old ferry from Paihia to Russell still plies its trade. Russell was formerly known as Kororareka. During the whaling and sealing days it became known as the "Hell hole of the South Pacific" with rampant prostitution and a complete absence of any laws. It is a much more sleepy place now.
We stayed in three and half star accommodation in Kerikeri; the Colonial House Motel. The place was nestled in the trees and a tui sang each morning and evening from the highest branches.
Our cabin was clean and comfortable for the two of us and our deal provided for a free continental breakfast tray and 20 Mb of broadband. Our affable hosts Alan and Andrea whipped up a batch of complementary cookies for us as guests which was a nice touch. All for the princely sum of $NZ120 per night.
It took us four hours to drive from our home in Auckland to our motel, allowing for a good break enroute.
Kerikeri and it environs are best known as the first place of European occupation in new Zealand. The Mission House or Kemp House as it is often known is the oldest building in the country and was constructed in 1822. The adjacent Stone Store is also one of the first. Both have been lovingly restored by the Historic Place Trust.
It is also the home of Makana chocolates which offers free tasting which were yummy but pricey. Best value for money along the Kerikeru Road leading into town, was the bakery at Reeds Vege Express. Their filled rolls and savoury muffins were great value.
For those who enjoy a stroll through native bush, there are several interesting walking tracks to suit all levels of fitness.
If you are visiting New Zealand and fancy experiencing our heritage, natural beauty and some of the best that New Zealand has to offer in local produce then don't miss Kerikeri. It is an easy car journey from Auckland.
All in all for us, a very pleasant three days away from city life.
Suffice to say it is several decades since I last visited Kerikeri and it has undergone a major transformation.
Where once there were dusty roads, forlorn farms, brightly painted and semi-derelict weather board houses, there are now organic farms, a smart cafe culture and wineries.
We deliberately timed our visit to beat the heat of summer and the peak tourist season. Late March always has more settled weather and the region is not called the 'winterless North' for nothing.
Banana palms in fruit, magnificent nikau palms and tropical foliage grows with wild abandon in these parts and we were fortunate to sample the season's newly picked mandarins. Kerikeri has been well known for citrus fruit and the fruit we tasted were some of sweetest I have ever had.
The town is far more laid back and less touristy than its near neighbour, Paihia. I remember a summer holiday in Paihia when I was ten years old. Our family tented in the local camping grounds and had the beach front largely to ourselves. I first learnt to row a dinghy from these shores and got as brown as a berry - skin cancer was largely unknown at the time!
The camping ground has disappeared and has been replaced by a rows of motels, each vying for custom in what has become a Bay of Islands mecca for the tourist trade. Being only fifteen minutes drive from Kerikeri we decided to spend a morning in Paihia. Some T-shirts caught our eye as these were heavily discounted to $NZ8 at the end of the season.
The rock oysters were as plentiful as ever and the old ferry from Paihia to Russell still plies its trade. Russell was formerly known as Kororareka. During the whaling and sealing days it became known as the "Hell hole of the South Pacific" with rampant prostitution and a complete absence of any laws. It is a much more sleepy place now.
We stayed in three and half star accommodation in Kerikeri; the Colonial House Motel. The place was nestled in the trees and a tui sang each morning and evening from the highest branches.
Our cabin was clean and comfortable for the two of us and our deal provided for a free continental breakfast tray and 20 Mb of broadband. Our affable hosts Alan and Andrea whipped up a batch of complementary cookies for us as guests which was a nice touch. All for the princely sum of $NZ120 per night.
It took us four hours to drive from our home in Auckland to our motel, allowing for a good break enroute.
Kerikeri and it environs are best known as the first place of European occupation in new Zealand. The Mission House or Kemp House as it is often known is the oldest building in the country and was constructed in 1822. The adjacent Stone Store is also one of the first. Both have been lovingly restored by the Historic Place Trust.
It is also the home of Makana chocolates which offers free tasting which were yummy but pricey. Best value for money along the Kerikeru Road leading into town, was the bakery at Reeds Vege Express. Their filled rolls and savoury muffins were great value.
For those who enjoy a stroll through native bush, there are several interesting walking tracks to suit all levels of fitness.
If you are visiting New Zealand and fancy experiencing our heritage, natural beauty and some of the best that New Zealand has to offer in local produce then don't miss Kerikeri. It is an easy car journey from Auckland.
All in all for us, a very pleasant three days away from city life.
Death By A Thousand Cuts
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| Source: Captain Capitalism |
I had forgotten to pack a razor and had resorted to using the one provide in a cellophane pack by the airline.
Being early morning in the time zone I had left eight hours before didn't help my mood as I wrestled to open the packet in the small confines of the toilet cubicle.
The trick, of managing to keep any hot water in the stainless steel basin also eluded me. It was then I discovered that the small tube of shaving cream provided was of sufficient vintage to ensure that it had hardened solid and could not be coaxed out, no matter how hard I squeezed.
Not to be outdone I resorted to using liquid hand soap form the dispenser attached to the wall. The arrival of turbulence prompted the announcement from the stewardess to "please return to your seats and securely fasten your seatbelts".
It is the first and only time that I decided to disobey this instruction. My shirt had been removed by this time to stop the liquid soap continuing its run and there way no way I was going to repeat the procedure after the airpockets had passed.
The hand held plastic razor was of the twin blade variety. Not that I had any problem with reverting from the usual four blade version I was used to, to this more primitive and flexible piece of plastic and sharpened steel.
The fact that razor manufacturers always seem to add another blade to their product on an annual basis I find slightly absurd.
A more apparent problem soon emerged with the first sweep of the blade across my chin. Forgetting that the blade was of similar vintage to the tube of cream I was therefore mortified to notice that large bloody welts had suddenly appeared on my face.
I am not sure if it was the altitude, but blood seems to run more freely in a pressurised aircraft cabin. There was no choice but to forget about shaving and focus on first aid with the help of a dwindling supply of paper tissues.
Thankfully when I emerged from the toilet as a bloodied version of the Australian comic Norman Gunston, there were few awake in the cabin to witness my sheepish return to my seat.
While Heathrow customs did look somewhat askance at my appearance, the rest of the journey into London proved uneventful.
However I learn a valuable lesson: I pack my owner blade razor and will never again try to use the complimentary airline version.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
When Food Meets Science
I hope I am not misunderstood when I say that most highly processed food leaves me unimpressed.The inventor of the instant noodle has a lot to answer for, albeit that these dried pieces of 'string' and spice sachets have become the staple diet of impoverished students around the world.
Now the Japanese have taken this obsession for plastic food on plastic trays a step further.
They have blended science with sustenance and produced what appears at face value to be totally unpalatable sushi.
I can confidently predict on the basis of this video that the future of in-flight meals in economy class has been revealed.
There of course those who find the prospect of eating this stuff exciting. Maybe on a long trip to some galactic colony, but give me a ripe camembert and a slice of wholemeal bread any day!
Friday, 10 December 2010
A Hole In Geylang
Stories in the Republic must be few and far between if a pothole occupies the minds of Singaporean media; albeit a growing subsidence.
At a time when the world is focussing on student anarchy in Britain, the arraignment of WikiLeak's founder Julian Assange and the "Not So Nobel Prize", it is hard to see why a hole in Geylang should prove attractive?
Subsidence is after all not something new in Singapore. The MRT and road tunnelling has produced subsidences in the past that have been far more spectacular.
In June of 2008 Marina Boulevard developed a five metre wide despression to the consternation of some citizens.
I have always marvelled at the levels of tunnels in the MRT especially where the various lines intersected at stations. Quite an engineering achievement.
In New Zealand we specialise in large holes which people through money into. In most parts of the world these are called ponzi schemes and just yesterday, a couple were charged with fleecing Kiwis out of $15 million.
These are minor glitches if one compares the 10 per cent of the entire stock of US currency on this planet which is unusable after printing problems in manufacture produced defective notes. They are the also first bills to have Preident Obama's signature on them which is not exactly a good omen for the future.
A small hole in Geylang doesn't seem so bad after all.
At a time when the world is focussing on student anarchy in Britain, the arraignment of WikiLeak's founder Julian Assange and the "Not So Nobel Prize", it is hard to see why a hole in Geylang should prove attractive?
Subsidence is after all not something new in Singapore. The MRT and road tunnelling has produced subsidences in the past that have been far more spectacular.
In June of 2008 Marina Boulevard developed a five metre wide despression to the consternation of some citizens.
I have always marvelled at the levels of tunnels in the MRT especially where the various lines intersected at stations. Quite an engineering achievement.
In New Zealand we specialise in large holes which people through money into. In most parts of the world these are called ponzi schemes and just yesterday, a couple were charged with fleecing Kiwis out of $15 million.
These are minor glitches if one compares the 10 per cent of the entire stock of US currency on this planet which is unusable after printing problems in manufacture produced defective notes. They are the also first bills to have Preident Obama's signature on them which is not exactly a good omen for the future.
A small hole in Geylang doesn't seem so bad after all.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Crossing Merdaka Bridge
Queenstown MRT Image via WikipediaNowadays the procession in Queenstown detours near the MRT over-bridge as a substitute.
If one believes in a spiritual presence (and I am not sure that I do) then a good proportion of my spirit will forever be in Singapore.
Arriving at Changi airport has always felt like coming home and this has been particularly noticeable during my time with the British Council as I have been travelling frequently in South East Asia. It is a strange experience as I can honestly say that I have not felt that about any other port of entry.
This is also my first entry typed from the Queenstown library using the free wireless@sg network. I am in the "quiet" reading room of the library which has just celebrated its 50th birthday.
Yesterday we went back to the food court at Anchorpoint; hadn't been for several months since the free bus from the Queenstown MRT re-routed to Tiong Bahru. They do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I was really looking forward to my favourite - Village Smoked Chicken. A bit of a misnomer as an entire village isn't involved in the culinary process.
The stall no longer exists! The long hours didn't mix with a young family and so they have closed down. A tragedy and I will leave Singapore with happy memories of the meals they produced.
So perhaps it is time to go, as the places I frequent change hands. Where and what we will eat when we return to New Zealand mid year has yet to be decided.
We will cross that bridge when we come to it.
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Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Plastic Swans and Fishing Poles
It's raining again in Hanoi and I watched the motor cyclists negotiating the slippery streets this morning as I breakfasted in the Sofitel hotel.
Each rider is wearing an over large poncho which resembles a large plastic ground sheet and flaps dangerously near the rear wheel as they progress.
The heads of pillion passengers (and there are quite a few) emerge from a rear flap in the ground sheet and it is not unusual to see large cases of bundles of goods wedged between the rider and his or her passenger.
The roads are filthy and I can only imagine in what condition they arrive at their destination.
Last evening there was a temporary clearing of the clouds so I went for a stroll alomng the foreshore of West Lake and watched families in swan peddle boats enjoying the climatic respite. Nearby a group of school boys were crouched over a tortoise that they were teasing with a stick.
There were isolated groups of fishermen who use a combination of a pole and plastic spool to cast out their lines. This activity is evidently quite illegal and they scarper at the first sign of the local police.
As with many such water ways in Asia the illusion of beauty is quickly dispelled if one views it close up. West Lake carries the debris of the city and its grey green waters are malodorous.
While I was enjoying the evening a man rushed past me and down the steps. Once he had finished urinating into the lake he casually retraced his steps, mounted his scooter and departed.
It was about this time that I too decided to leave the foreshore. The many flower vendors I encounted on my return journey partially restored my relief in the beauty of the city.
Each rider is wearing an over large poncho which resembles a large plastic ground sheet and flaps dangerously near the rear wheel as they progress.
The heads of pillion passengers (and there are quite a few) emerge from a rear flap in the ground sheet and it is not unusual to see large cases of bundles of goods wedged between the rider and his or her passenger.
The roads are filthy and I can only imagine in what condition they arrive at their destination.
Last evening there was a temporary clearing of the clouds so I went for a stroll alomng the foreshore of West Lake and watched families in swan peddle boats enjoying the climatic respite. Nearby a group of school boys were crouched over a tortoise that they were teasing with a stick.
As with many such water ways in Asia the illusion of beauty is quickly dispelled if one views it close up. West Lake carries the debris of the city and its grey green waters are malodorous.
While I was enjoying the evening a man rushed past me and down the steps. Once he had finished urinating into the lake he casually retraced his steps, mounted his scooter and departed.
It was about this time that I too decided to leave the foreshore. The many flower vendors I encounted on my return journey partially restored my relief in the beauty of the city.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Chilly In HK
These past two days I have been revisiting Hong Kong. After the very hot and dry weather in Singapore it has come as quite a shock (and a thermal shock at that) to experience an unseasonal cold snap here.
Hong Kong Grey Day - Roger Smith March 2010
Hong Kong Grey Day - Roger Smith March 2010Regrettably I came little prepared for this eventuality and according to a gleeful cabbie, tomorrow will be even colder. The prediction is a minimum of 8 degrees and a maximum of 14.
This is entry has been made in the comfort of my hotel room, with the airconditioning gauge set at a balmy 26 degrees to thaw out my outer extremities.
A drop of 25 degrees in the ambient temperature between the two countries sure puts a dampener on things.
This is entry has been made in the comfort of my hotel room, with the airconditioning gauge set at a balmy 26 degrees to thaw out my outer extremities.
A drop of 25 degrees in the ambient temperature between the two countries sure puts a dampener on things.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
My Maya
I am currently staying at the Hotel Maya in Kuala Lumpur and have to say that I am favourably impressed.It is literally three minutes walk from the office in KL and very convenient. The hotel is contemporary Japanese in design and has a shower with a wooden 'duckboard' floor; something I have not experienced since my boarding school days.
As is my habit, I tried out their room service for dinner this evening and chose one of their 'signature' dishes.
Regrettably the Australian Yellowtail Kingfish fillet did not live up to its culinary promise and was quite dry in texture.
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