No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow - It Didn't Disappoint! @ Zion Riverside Hawker Centre [Opposite Great World City]

When one speaks of the old Zion Road hawker centre, it is quite easy to hear of old time diners talking about the legendary char kway teow (henceforth CKT). 

I heard of its fame since my polytechnic days and it took me 16 years before i finally stood in front of the stall to make an order! It was with purpose that i chose a timing after lunch so that i didn't have to endure a long wait! 

Don't play play okay; it was awarded as one of Makansutra Street Food Masters back in 2007! There were of course other accolades; including an article mentioning that the CKT in this stall was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's favourite! 

Whatever the case (whose favourite didn't quite bother me), this was my plate of char kway teow with no cockles. Deviating from my usual behaviour, i didn't ask for special order which often involved dousing the noodles with more black sauce and frying in extra pork lards.

True to its numerous testaments, this CKT didn't disappoint; it was slightly wet, the flavour of wok hei was evident, the sweetness was just right with well-balanced flavours. I would of course prefer it to be sweeter with a ton of pork lards and was hitting my stupid head for not going ahead with my "special" order.

For all you know, there could be a possibility that i might even devour the plate!

=====

Location

70 Zion Road, Stall 17, 

Zion Riverside Food Centre 

[Opposite Great World City]

Map

As above

Price

S$3 a plate

The Rubbish Dump @ Maafushi Island [Maldives]

Contrary to what you see on the web and on official travel guidebooks, Maldives isn't just the sun, the turquoise sea and the sandy beach. Like any country, including Singapore, there is always the problem of rubbish, especially with plane-loads of tourists from all over the world. 

As an island inhabited by the locals, it would be even less necessary to "hide" the problem in Maafushi and there existed a section on that island, right by the crystal clear water, reserved unconditionally for garbage. 

Was i aware before the trip? 

Definitely as it was talked about in quite a few blogs. However, i was expecting rubbish similar to what we found in Singapore; careless, inconsiderate actions by a few and on a much smaller scale than the shocking sight above. 

It was obviously a dumping ground for all unwanted stuff and the lack of proper disposal was worrying for a country that is 99% water. Imagine the pollution that would eventually dirty and cloud the water; one of the main draws for travellers! 

I can find things ranging from plastic water bottles, shoes, Styrofoam boxes etc and it's a sombre reminder that i, as a tourist, was part of the problem here. For one, i would always buy bottles of mineral water when i am overseas. 

You know what's worse? The garbage was also burnt and the end results were poisonous fumes enveloping the immediate surrounding! 

Now, are you still thinking that all of Maldives is paradise? 

[Update from a local in Maafushi] 
The rubbish will be taken once a month to the trash island by a bigger boat.

=====

Location Map

For those interested to get there or avoid the place, you may refer to the map as above (rubbish dump demarcated in red)

For a summary of my Maldives 

travelogue, click HERE.

Mohamed Sultan Road Hot & Cold Cheng Tng @ Zion Riverside Food Centre [Opposite Great World City]

Since i got sick in Maldives, my taste buds have been craving for something sweet as most items i stuffed into my mouth appeared to be relatively tasteless. Hence, i could not resist checking out this cheng tng stall at Zion road hawker centre when i was there recently on a hot afternoon! 

In comparison to traditional cheng tng, this version heavily depended on the sugar syrup rather than a cooling, traditional ingredient-infused broth that i was looking forward to take a sip from. Yes, no doubt a disappointment even though it was terribly satisfying to satisfy the need for something sweet.

Dig underneath the ice for the "liao" (Hokkien for ingredients). While soup was the main draw for most, if not all, cheng tng stalls in Singapore, the simple canned longan, lychees and ginkgo in this bowl of "unique" kind of draw the attention away. Lovers of traditional cheng tng may choose to avoid this stall. 

=====

Location

70 Zion Road, Stall 32, 

Zion Riverside Food Centre

[Opposite Great World City]

Map

As above

For Motorists

Parking lots are in severe shortage next to the food centre. I would strongly recommend car drivers to park at the Great World City and walk over. 

Price

Cold Cheng Tng - S$1.50

The 'Fruits' of Sun Tanning

Like many who returned from a beach vacation, i am "blessed" to have dead skin peeling off my back like a snake going through molting! However, i guess i sun tanned far too much in this trip to Maldives!  

Because this is the first time i had skin peeling off my calves! It has always been the back but my endless snorkeling (before i fell sick) must have taken its toll.

Nevertheless, the morbid sicko in me could not deny the exhilaration of slowly peeling off the dead skin and seeing if it is a possibility to have a piece that extends as long as it could be! 

So far, my attempts have been disappointing. It was fun seeing Jovyn getting all disgusted by the pieces of dead skin though. Hahaha. Maybe i should put all of them in a glass bottle and pass it to her the next time i see her. *evil uncle* 

Hambaobao - Meet Between Two Buns @ Beauty World Food Centre [Bukit Timah]

With an affectionate name guaranteed to ring a bell of familiarity among Mandarin speaking Singaporeans, i would say the operator has taken the right step in having a good name for its new venture. 

However, there's only so much an appropriately named label can do; what matters most in this case is the quality of food and i shall get started by ordering their classic beef burger! 

Note - i was still recovering from the viral fever and this may affect my taste buds somewhat. And before i forget, the fairy fries you see in the photograph before cost an additional S$1.50; made from real, sliced potatoes, they were quite nice to munch on and differed from typical french fries. 

So what else can you find aside from the thick beef patty and two lightly toasted buns? There were pickles, handmade tomato sauce, lettuce, cheese and caramelised onions. 

Judging from my declaration in the third paragraph, i guess it isn't hard to second guess my verdict. I wasn't impressed with the classic beef. Granted the patty was juicy, thick and meaty, there was seriously nothing extremely memorable about the whole burger which could have benefited from more onions and unconventional buns that had sesame seeds.

=====

Location

Block 144, Upper Bukit Timah,

#04-49, Beauty World Centre,

Singapore 588177 

Menu

As above! 

Price

The Classic Beef - S$4.50

Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island [Maldives]

Remember the above notice? Some of you might ask "then what's the purpose of going to Maldives?! Believe me, guys would raise the same question as they are in fact looking out for ladies in bikinis!

Please be assured that there was in reality one stretch of beach in Maafushi (known more as a local island rather than an exclusive islet) where you can wear your trunks / bikinis and this place was conveniently located outside Kaani Beach Hotel. 

Look out for the bunched up dried coconut tree leaves that made up the perimeter of the beach and be rewarded by a view that was truly "Maldivian" standard.

Like the above.

Unlike other beaches in Maafushi, this was the one patronised by most foreigners given its special standing on the island; the opportunity to be more than half naked!

To be fair, the view wasn't the best in Maldives as many islands boasted much better scenery but as far as i am concerned, this was good enough for a dip! 

Step further in and the picture was no longer that postcard perfect! This might a tad disappointing for those who were looking forward to that perfect honeymoon; if that's the expectation, do consider forking out that at least S$600 a night accommodation in that exclusive resort island.

I am perfectly fine with my S$150 a night hotel and i thought the sunset was just as spectacular in Maafushi! Maybe just for your information, there were quite a few restaurants next to the bikini beach where you can have a romantic, sunset dinner!

Two other breathtaking sunset photos for your viewing pleasure! 

=====

Location

As above

Additional Information
For a full review on Maafushi island, visit the webpage here.

For my Maldives itinerary, 

click HERE.

US$10 Buffet @ Arena Beach Hotel [Maafushi Island, Maldives]

As i was wandering alone around the small town of Maafushi, something at the corner of my mind caught my immediate attention; dinner buffet at only US$10!? 

Anyway, the staff was in the midst of preparation and i promised to return when the sun set. The promise was kept although we had to navigate quiet and sometimes dark lanes in order to get there. I exaggerated a bit since it was no less than five minutes away from Kaani Beach hotel.

An outdoor romantic setting coupled with comfortable sea breeze and the pounding sea waves made up the dinner venue that day; hardly appropriate for two full grown, hungry men. 

Whatever the case, it was the food that i was really looking forward to. This line was only one of three lines available that day; the other two being a BBQ counter and the dessert table.

First few items on my plate; the barbecued stuff! Knowing fish was the main diet for any Maldivian, i asked for two types of fish, a piece of chicken and sausages. The BBQ fish didn't had much taste saved for being a bit fish; chicken was too tough for my liking with minimal seasoning and well, the sausages were the best of the lot!

The two chicken cubes were once again a disappointment (hard, too salty) and the spaghetti wasn't impressive. The fish fingers (not in the picture) were really good even though i chose to believe it was because they were freshly fried.

Desserts were nothing to shout about; normal bread pudding and chocolate cake. For US$10 (exclusive of service charge and tax) per person, i am honestly not complaining. 

====

Location

At Arena Beach Hotel

Map

As above

Buffet Menu

As above.

For a summary of my Maldives 

trip, click here.