Johore Bahru: KSL & Legoland Trip

Recently there has been quite a bit of hype about the newly-opened Legoland Malaysia in Johore Bahru. I have received tons of emails for Deals and packages for this new packages and it took a while to pick the right one. Finally, we managed to pick the one that allowed us to go over the Hari Raya weekend, which included one night stay at the KSL Resort for us to also enjoy a relaxing day at Johor Bahru.

Let me start with our little gastronomic adventure near KSL (trust me, it's as good as Legoland) before jumping into the theme park.

Soon Soon Bak Kut Teh

Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh

Located right across KSL (Exit at the bottom floor through the Hong Kong Cafe), this Bak Kut Teh stall is one of the most visited in JB (A poll to 10 other friends, almost all went there before). When we went in at around 2 p.m., the place was very crowded and we had to wait quite a bit before getting our tables. However, the turnover rate here is usually very fast, so don't be turn off by the crowd - it is worth the wait.

Peak Period Throughout e Afternoon

The table-waiting and ordering can be quite chaotic and intimidating for first timers (there isn't a menu or similar), but once you know how everything works, it will become very simple. While waiting for your tables, head on to the 'kitchen' (the front of the shop) and make your orders.

The Kitchen Area

The way JB BKT is being served is slightly different from the Singapore version. Instead of individual bowls, the JB version puts everything (including your Meats, Innards and Vegetable) into a single Claypot. So its important to tell the server what you want or do not want in your pot. On top of that, communal style is favored, so rather than an individual bowl for each person, everyone shares from the same pot. Other dishes like Pigs Trotter and Salted Vegetables can be ordered separately.

One Claypot For All

We ordered the standard BKT soup (2 pots for 6 people) with Pig Innards (Intestines, Liver & Stomach), extra Golden Mushroom and of coz... the pork meat. In addition, we tried the Pork Trotters and ordered generous portions of Salted Vegetables (aka "Kiam Chai").

Sizzling Hot Bak Kut Teh

Let's start with the main attraction - The BKT soup. Once again, let me highlight the difference between the typical Singapore soup and the JB soup. The Singapore soup is usually Peppery  whereas the JB's soup is more herbal. The meat in Singapore usually comes in big chunks (probably 2 - 4 pieces per bowl) but the ones in JB is smaller and more "bite-size". And the most obvious - one is served in a claypot with everything inside and the other is served in different bowls.

Read on to find out more about the BKT and other dishes

Personally, I prefer the Herbal BKT soup. However, I'm being unfair to the Singapore version as, I have an general dislike for anything Peppery. So all that I can say is it isn't fair to put one over the other, it all depends on personal preferences.

The Soup: With so many ingredients inside, The Soon Soon BKT soup is especially delicious. They not only added the typical ingredients like mushrooms, tau kee and pork, they have also added a generous portion of clams and a tinge of pepper. With the extra pepper, the soup would appeal to BOTH camps of BKT (the peppery and the herbal people) as it gives a good mix of both inside the soup. My favorite thing about the soup is the balance they have achieved (especially with so many ingredients) as the soup isn't too 'gamey' (if there's too much innards) or too 'tau kee-y' (too much tau kee inside).

The Meat: It's easy for me to be satisfied in this area. The meat just have to be soft (but not shredded) and easy to eat and Soon Soon scored full marks here. The meat falls right off the bone and the bite size pieces makes it a pleasant experience. Did I mention how generous they were with the meat?

The Others: This would refer to the Pig innards and vegetables. Nothing much to rave about here as its all standard stuff. They could have added more intestines though.

Pigs Trotters

Next order was the Pigs Trotters in Dark Sauce. I would have to say this isn't their best dish. The meat was soft and nice, the sauce was quite rich and the portion was pretty generous. However, the meat was a little too gamey for my liking. It was one of the less popular dish on the table (the others were wiped clean).

Boiling Hot Sauce

Next up was one of my favorite dish in the world - Salted Vegetables or also know as "Kiam Chai".

Service Pot for Salted Vegetables

Singapore's version

For me, this is the dish which makes or breaks the BKT stall (this is purely due to my love for this dish). Once again, this stall scores full marks!

There is a slight difference between the Singapore version and the JB one too. The Singapore one is usually made mostly of pickled vegetables (sometimes with chili), taste more salty and comes in bigger chunks. However, the JB one has more ingredients like Pork Lard, is usually less salty and comes in smaller pieces with more leafy parts (as illustrated on the right).

[Note: If you are comparing the JB one to the Singapore's "Chai Buay" or "Muay Chai (aka Porridge Salted Veg)", the JB one will be dryer and saltier.]

1 Portion of Kiam Chai 

The Soon Soon Kiam Chai is one dish that I would go back for again and again. The salted vegetables was served hot and they were very generous with the pork lard. This gave the dish more "kick" and prevents it from becoming too salty. The moisture level was just right - not so dry that it becomes crunchy and not too wet that it becomes soupy. Lovely!

Cold Refreshing Honey Jelly

Just a side note: Try the Honey Jelly dessert. Its a good way to beat off the heat and cool down, especially in such a hot weather.

Our lovely lunch

Overall Verdict: This is one stall that I would go over and over again. In fact, this makes the (really short) drive/ride up here totally worth it. The soup is tasty and cater to both pepper and herbal supporters. The portions is generous and their salted vegetables is to die for. Oh, did I mention? We only payed 25 RM pax for everything.

Soon Soon Bak Kut Teh: 236, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, 80150, Johor Bahru, Johor. Open 8 a.m - 5 p.m


I'll leave my Legoland post for tomorrow. So stay tuned for more...

Living it up in the Sin City: Paid Exhibitions & Shows in Las Vegas

In my previous post, I blogged about the stuff that you can do while on a budget in Las Vegas. Now, I'll talk about the shows and exhibitions that we went for which were pretty much worth every penny!

Peering through the glass of Vegas

Night shows

There are over 100 shows available in Las Vegas, hence choosing one or two for your stay can be quite daunting. To make things simpler, these shows can be broken down into a few main categories:

1) Cirque Du Soleil
2) Burlesque Shows
3) Magic and Illusions
4) Musicals and Concerts

Unless you are staying in Vegas for a month or so, I'm quite sure picking one or two from each category would be more than enough to fill your nightly itinerary for paid shows in Vegas.

Read on to find out what we chose to watch in the end and other shows in Vegas



Here are what we chose to watch in the end:

O - Cirque Du Soleil at Bellagio

One of the main draws in Vegas is the Cirque Du Soleil series. Your main choices would include O, KÀ, Mystère, Zumanity, Love, Believe and Viva Elvis. Each of the show has its own unique theme based on a series of circus acts (e.g Zumanity has a sensual theme while Viva Elvis is dedicated to the King of Rock & Roll).

The O Theatre

For O, it has a water-themed stage production where all the acts are performed above a huge pool. All the stunts will somehow involve the pool, with varying depths at different points of time during the performance, with divers and synchronized swimmers doing their performances inside the water. On top of that, the stunts (a lot more daring stunts then I usually see) are done over the water, with most of the acrobats diving straight in. 

Awaiting the start of the show

This is one show that all of us enjoyed. though we were pretty tired from the long day. The set and props were elegantly designed and gave a beautiful back drop to a stunning performance. The acrobats were daring and creative while the synchronized divers put a graceful feel to the entire production. The tickets costed more than 100 SGD but it was totally worth the price. Many have said that O is certainly one of the more spectacular ones. Don't miss this!

Pre-show

X-Burlesque

Probably not the most family-friendly show, Burlesque shows (if you haven't already known) feature dancers (for our case - women) performing sensual dances on stage (mostly with a pole) wearing next to nothing.

X-Burlesque

Although some might not approve of a show with such a level of sensuality and sexuality, my take is that there is no harm in going for it. After all, these girls are still professionals and it is merely just a show. Furthermore, since you are in Las Vegas, go for it! It was really quite an eye-opener for me (it's my first time) and I'm quite sure it was as enjoyable for girls as it was for the guys. As for whether X-Burlesque is the best in town, I really don't know as I have no other comparison. Perhaps, the next time I return to Las Vegas, I'd watch another burlesque show production!

Day Exhibitions

Most of our days in Vegas was taken up by (IMO) the greatest sin of all - SHOPPING! We went to the outlet shops twice and shopped at Ross. Luckily, we managed to visit Grand Canyon first. So our only time to explore Vegas by the day (without dropping by any bargain places) was on our very last day. Unfortunately, it was very rushed because we did not have much time left.

Some of the highlights include:

Little White Chapel

No one but the King

Well, the first highlight ain't exactly "paid", unless you really want to get married here. The place itself is in some inconspicuous corner off the strip. A visit here is more symbolic, more like a "I-have-been-here" kinda thing. A good stop to make on the way to the Stratosphere.

There's a price for everything

Limo by the side

Side tidbit - Pawn Wars pawn shop

The Stratosphere Hotel & Casino

Located right at the end of the strip, this newest addition provides both an exhilarating view and experience at the top of the building. It's quite a far drive down, but certainly worth the time and effort.

Approaching the Stratosphere

First up - the exhilarating experience. At the top of the hotel lies an exciting array of breath-taking rides. The rides themselves are pretty normal stuff - Skyjump, X Scream, Insanity and Big shot, except that this time, its 107 floors and more than 1000 feet of the ground (any tame ride will instantly increase in multitude).

The X Scream

 Obviously, I didn't take any rides. Just some basic information: There are the obvious package deals that offers all the rides as well as individual rides too. If you only want to see the view from above, there is a separate ticket for that. Just make sure you get the right tickets and exit at the correct floor.

Riding over the edge

Next up - the spectacular view. Fine, it's not really as spectacular as most cities (especially in the day) but I still feel its worth giving it a shot. If you love Vegas and the casinos, it adds a little bit more glam to the whole experience. My advice: Go at night - the lights would make the view 100x better.

View from atop

The ride we skipped

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium

Basically, it is just like our Underwater World (though it has been years since I have stepped inside there). The Shark Reef Aquarium is very family-friendly and would be an interesting visit if you are a) very interested in Marine Life or b) Slightly interested and are not visiting other bay areas like Boston or San Francisco.

Entering the Aquarium

To be fair to the place, the huge array of marine life inside is interesting and I enjoyed myself there! Furthermore, the structure of the place is very interactive and allows you to be as close to the marine life as possible. No regrets going in there :)

Highlight of the day - Sharks

Who wants a feel of a Stingray ?

Food & Other Stuff

I'm almost at the end of my travel log of the fabulous Sin City. The last thing I want to talk about is the food in Vegas. Being situated in the middle of the dessert, there isn't really much "Vegas food" to talk about. However, the choices that you have are abundant. It can range from the cheap USD 9.99 fast food meals  to the expensive USD 100-a-steak meals. Some of the recommended buffets (around USD 19.99 - 29.99) include, Wynn's The Buffet, The Buffet at Bellagio and Mandalay Bay Seafood Buffet. Just do your research beforehand to know what you'd be in for! 

For us, we usually have Denny's for breakfast, skip lunch and head to the buffet or random hotel restaurant for dinner.

Hello and Goodbye Las Vegas

This marks the end of my travel log in Las Vegas! It has been a fun-filled, non-stop exciting experience for me in Sin City. Despite cramping the entire itinerary (Thanks Andre for planning!) with activities after activities, I still feel that I have only scratched the surface of this amazing entertainment city. I can't wait to be back! So till then, I just have to make do with the pictures and memories from the Fabulous Las Vegas

Stay tuned for our drive to one of the Natural Wonders of the World - The Grand Canyon.

Viva Las Vegas: No money, no worries

After an arduous long 5 hours drive from LA, we reached the city with all the secrets - Las Vegas. The sheer number of things that you can do in Las Vegas is overwhelming, where anytime of the day (0000 - 2359hr) there is always something to do. On top of that, irregardless of one's age, there is something for everyone.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

To prove my point, here's how a typical day would work.

1000h - Wake up for breakfast and go Shopping (e.g Outlet Shopping, Ross, many many boutiques down the strip including the Palazzo and Caesars)

1300h - Lunch and more shopping or hop down to any attractions (e.g Shark Reef Aquarium, or Body works in various hotels) along the strip

1800h - Dinner. You can either go for their dirt cheap buffet or try something upscale like Gordan Ramsay's steakhouse at Paris.

2000h - Here's where the fun begin. Go for a show (ranging from a musical to burlesque dancing, the circus, magic shows to outdoor special effect shows) or simply chill out at one of the pubs/lounges to here top notched singers (e.g Celine Dion at Caesars) perform.

2000h - Its PARTY TIME or You can just hit the casinos. This would probably end only when you are a) Too tired -- therefore calling it a night or b) Penniless out of your freaking mind, which in fact, would end your day too.

Most importantly - the cycle repeats itself, with each day going to a new outlet/hotel/show/casinos enjoying yourselves.

Vegas From the Top

The number of attractions on the strip itself is enough to fill up your entertainment calendar for a month, so with only 4 nights, I could not enjoy ALL of them. So I'll just stick to what I went through and give a feel of what to expect and my reviews of entertainments I visited.

Read on to check out the activities you can do without any $$$



Hotel / Casino Hopping

The MOST important of Las Vegas - The HOTELS. Without them, there won't be a Las Vegas. So the most obvious thing to do in Vegas is to hop around as many hotels or casinos as possible. Each hotel has their own signature or theme which makes it such an entertaining (and free!) experience.

Ballys & Paris (taken from side of Bellagio)

Unfortunately, we didn't exactly have the luxury of time to explore the entire strip. So we could only do a single area (around Bellagio) of hotels. However on the last day, we managed to squeeze a few more hotels and a drive down the entire strip (from Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay).

Here are some of the highlights:

Caesars Palace

The Venetian - Reminds you of MBS right?

The Conservatory at Bellagio - Real Flowers on Display

It's amazing what they can do with so little space

Outside the Bellagio

Paris - Complete with Moulin Rouge & Eiffel Tower

MGM - we weren't able to visit the lion though

Stratosphere - perfect place to get an aerial view of the strip

The Luxor - where Chris Angel resides

As you can see, every hotel is unique to each other. So it'll be good to take a day or two (plus another night or two) to simply walk down the ENTIRE strip (buses are available up and down or you can simply rent a car) to enjoy the best out of every hotel. Other than the hotels featured above, there is still the fun fair at Circus Circus, the castle of Excalibur, the bright lights at Flamingoes, the exquisite Mirage, the replica of New York New York and many many more. Don't forget to take some time to GO INSIDE too as the interior is as impressive as its exterior.

Night Shows (Outdoors)

Another free entertainment option - the free outdoor shows in front of selected hotels. These shows are one of the symbols of Las Vegas, with many shows still thriving since the last time I came here 15 years ago. Watching these shows certainly brought back memories (another reason why this place is for people of all ages) of my first visit to Las Vegas as a kid.

Some of the classic shows include the Fountains of Bellagio, the Volcanoes of The Mirage and the Sirens of Treasure Island. One word of advice: Be sure to check the weather conditions before deciding to dedicate the night to show-hunting down the strip. As most of these shows are outdoor and involves fire/pyrotechnics, they are often at the mercy of the wind/rain conditions of the night. Unfortunately, we were at the wrong end of the conditions and the fountains show was the only show that wasn't cancelled.

Still, it was as beautiful as I remembered Las Vegas to be and worth the whole rush to get there in time for the last show. Enjoy the show...

Start of the show

Simple Beginnings

Fountain swaying to the sound of music

Rising Climax

Grand Finale

 Overall, these free shows happen nightly at hourly interval. If the weather permits, it is very possible for anyone to enjoy ALL three shows within a night and still make it for the paid indoor shows (usually at 10 p.m). So make sure you plan your route and time well and check the weather forecast before hand. Trust me, it will be worth all the effort.

Well, this post is getting a little bit lengthy (there's so much to tell!) so I'll conclude for now. Stay tuned for the next post on the PAID entertainments that we really enjoyed during our time in Las Vegas. See you then!