Batam Nest

While colleagues was mentioning about having Bird Nest in Batam, I thought it was a good idea as this will be my first time having Birdnest in Batam. We proceed to this BatamNest after our massage session nearby for it was a walking distance away.

Batam Nest

The birdnest menu was rather straight forward with 6 kinds of options. Staff are friendly and we dined in house.

Menu

I had the Birdnest with Honey Rock Sugar and refreshingly good in its natural sweetness as well as the jelly texture of the Birdnest. Despite visiting this wholesale place, we did not "taobao" back as it was already our last day of the trip and our baggage was very full.

Honey Rock Sugar

Now that I have visited this place, I bet this won't be the last time savoury such nutritious dessert down my stomach. We will be back again!

Batam Nest
Location: Blok R BCS Shopping Mall BLOK R NEAR Jalan Kompleks Penuin Centre No.2 Kepulauan Riau 29411 Indonesia
Website

The Stone Cafe

Looking through the numerous of Cafes recommended through online research, we had planned our dinner place ahead at The Stone Cafe, one of the unique Cafes known for its view and scenery during dining.

Menu

Stone Cafe is situated in uphill areas that allow diners to dine in a village ambiance with stones and bamboo decors in gazebos, so you can at least forget that you are from the city.

Gazebos

Since it was raining and we are dining in large groups, we headed to the main dining area with tables and chairs. Given its style of furnishing, it looked like any typical Indonesian Restaurant with Wood as the main theme.

Dining Area

To our surprised our driver mentioned that Bandung are mostly rainy through the seasons and we could not get much view from the cafe during then.

Night Scene out of the Restaurant

 Street lights were rather dim and since it was a place with stones and slopes, we did not have the chance to move around the much.

Streets looking out of the restaurant

 Staff was professionally dressed in their uniform.

Waitress

With Indonesia timing 1 hour difference from Singapore, we were already very hungry when we visited the place ~ most of us were dining out of the usual dinner hours. The milk shakes were lovely with chocolate love letters.

Strawberry and Vanilla milk shake

Whereas honey lemon was elegantly decorated with a slice of lime and Avocado Shake was served with whipped cream.

Honey Lemon - 28,000 IDR & Avocado Milkshake

Sate Ayam Meal was more straight forward and a basic introduction to Indonesian / Sundanese food I felt. There were a couple of chicken satay served separately apart from the plate of steamed rice, peanut sauce, pickled vegetables & melinjo / shrimp crackers.

Sate Ayam - 49,000 IDR

Sauce on the satay makes them seems more glossy and yummy. The charred satay sticks were good even if you were to have them alone.

Chicken Satay

Perhaps the signature dish that takes after the Cafe name.  The meal was elegantly served in a plate that resembles a painting palette with holes containing sauces, fruits and sides. Interesting.  Fried rice was spicy which reminds me of "Nasi Goreng Kampong" and was served with fried egg, chicken satay and melinjo / shrimp crackers.

Nasi Goreng The Stone - 58,000 IDR

Even though my throat wasn't feeling that comfortable to consume any spicy and fried food. I'm left with no choice but to comply to the situation as Indonesian food are mostly spicy and heaty. Anyway, this Traditional Sundanese food is well worth the experience. The steamed rice was wrapped in leaves and was spicy with petai as ingredients. It threw a surprise to me as I thought my rice suppose to be plain with no additional items. Other items like fried chicken, bean curd, vegetabkes and anchovy chips were placed on the wooden tray. Chicken was well fried and if you are expecting meaty and plump chicken, this kampong chicken may disappoint you. On the contrary, I felt safer in eating Kampong chicken and if you need additional kick to your meal, dipped them into the chilli sauce given.

Nasi Raos Komplit - 75,000 IDR

Food was an average fare but it was a good experience travelling out from the usual city areas. Given the weather to be good and in day light or even blue hours, I bet that the place will be nicer.

The Stone Cafe
Location: Coblong, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

Kartika Sari

What's the common souvenirs to bring back after a trip to Indonesia? Well, most of time I will bring back their local delights, "Thousand Layers Cake" ,or we called it Kueh Lapis. Kartika Sari is a recommendation through my colleagues via words of mouth and since its within 10 minutes of walk from our Hotel (Hilton Hotel Bandung), we visited them during our last minute shopping before departing Bandung.

Kartika Sari

It is housed in the ground floor of a modernly painted building and if you are looking for Tibits and Pastry, this is a good chance to do your purchase.

Interior

Take a look into their chiller and you will notice a good varieties of Lapis and cakes they offered. Since there is no label to indicate the item, we had to select and ask them exactly what was that. Service staff is very friendly although our conversation in English was not that very fluent. The Lapis in the chiller are mostly for display and once after placing our order with the counter, they will instruct the kitchen to cut the ordered portion.

Chiller Display

Lapis is modernly kept in a transparent box with a sticker indicating the number of branches they have in Indonesia. Having bought Lapis from Indonesia all these while, this was the first time I saw them using plastic boxes instead of card boxes.

Kartika Sari

Cost about $17 SGD, I would honestly say that the Lapis was commendable. Every layer was even out and thinly made. Texture was soft and buttery fragrance was present and not overpowering. The amount of Cinnamon and Nutmeg powder was well controlled too. Talking about Lapis being greasy, its actually a norm but thankfully they were not overly done.

Lapis Legit Original - IDR 170,000

With a difference of $0.50 you get to enjoy chocolate flavours in the lapis. Though I'm not a fan of chocolate but the checkered decorations on the cake had enticed me. The taste is as good and with hint of chocolate.

Lapis Legit Tikar - IDR 175,000

After coming back to Singapore, I realised that they have an online service where ordered items can be delivered directly to Singapore as well as Malaysia.

Kartika Sari
Location: Jl. Haji Akbar No. 4, Pasir Kaliki, Cicendo, Jawa Barat 40171, Indonesia
Website

Hilton Hotel - Bandung

It seems like travelling to Bandung has been very popular among my friends recently. Thanks to my recent company bonding trip that gave us this opportunity to have a 2 nights stay at this luxurious 5 Stars Hotel.

Enjoying the cool climate, Hilton at Bandung is located right in the smack of the city, about 2 hours drive from Jakarta. Hilton hotel needs no further introduction as they are very well established and reputable in the hotel industries.

Approximately 4km or 10 minutes ride from Husein Sastranegara Airport, it gave another reason for us to select our stay there.

Hilton Hotel at Bandung

It is also 650m away from Bandung Train Station.

Train Station

Regardless of individuals or vehicles that enter into Hilton's boundaries, securities are their main concern. We have to go through electronic scanning gates with securities check. It gives the hotel guests a sense of assurance and safer with them around.

Trained Dog

Enjoy free WIFI connection in the public area with helpful and smiley services from all their staff.

Lobby and Concierge 

Was impressed by the 45 square meter deluxe twin room, where we were welcomed with 2 queen beds and 4 pillows on each bed which I think is more than enough for two pax. What delighted us further was that the 4 pillows had different softness.

Deluxe Twin Room

Besides being modern and stylish, the spacious air conditioned rooms were furnished with marble tiles and with our beds surrounded by cushy carpet. Room is equipped with a flat screen TV, writing desk and of course mini bar.

TV & Desk Area

What excites me was its En suite see-through marble bathrooms featuring the toilet as well as the rain shower area. For those who feel shy about the see-through, there is an automated blind to cover up.

Toilet

Lucky were those who got their room upgraded to executive twin room free of charge (but at company's expense) due to the shortage of rooms. The size of room is comparable to the usual deluxe twin room but with the privilege of having additional bath tub and access to the executive lounge which serves complimentary and refreshments daily.

Executive Twin Room Toilet

If you are bored of "playing" water in the bath tub and have a chance, do drop by their swimming pool at Level 6 during the night time to enjoy such warming scene.

Hilton at Bandung Night Shot

Get your feet wet by taking off your foot wear and walk along the sides towards the Cabanas. The night view was so therapeutic and pleasant to the eyes.

Pool Side with Cabana

See, as compared during the day time, the mood and ambiance just get totally different here.

Pool Side in the Day

Even after a swim, you can get your meals / drinks over at the restaurant beside the pool.

In front of the Pool

Breakfast area is located at level 1 right next to the concierge area. It was good to have some traditional Indonesian Music Live playing in the background while you were around the area.

Purnawarman

Initially I have the thought that the hotel breakfast will serve the same dishes for the 2 nights of stay but apparently it wasn't the case. Majority of the dishes in fact were changed, thus you don't have to worry seeing the same thing again if you stay for a longer period.

Nuts and Long Beans

It may be too early to see such dish for breakfast but still I could not resist and took a few pieces of it on my plate.

Sweet Sour Fish

Selection of European to Asian cuisine in the Buffet service breakfast, pamper yourselves with all these food and enjoy your stay at Hilton Bandung.

White Sausages

For breakfast, this is the counter that I will never skip. It feels good every time to get your order freshly made on the spot. Order your Sunny Side Up and Egg Omlette here!

Egg Counter

Be patient, perhaps a minute or so after your order, you will get them on your plate.

Add caption

For the health consious, grab your salad and choose your own dressing.

Salad Bar

Juices and infused drinks are all prepared for you.

Juice / Drinks Station

Moving on to the Noodles counter. Choose your preferred ingredients and get served on the spot too.

Noodle Counter

There were simply too many ingredients to choose from and in the end, the service guy took everything for me. Noodles texture was closer to quality of ramen than instant noodles while soup stock tastes subtle without over using of MSG.

Noodles

I'm not sure if you will want crackers for breakfast but just help yourselves to those assorted crackers on the counter.

Assorted Crackers

The spread of food was wide, even with desserts like Pulut Hitam along the Bur Bur (Porridge) counter. Out of curiosity, I took a bowl of their traditional drink and realized its actually Gula Melaka.

Traditional Drink

Another traditional food that you may find at the entrance to the dining area.

Traditional FOod

Looks like putu piring to me but an improvised dish with your selected toppings like chocolates, cheese or even rainbow rice.

Kueh with your toppings

Engaging their Spa Services to pamper our legs to relieve the stresses. Jiwa Spa is located at 5th level of the hotel and Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 12 pm to 11pm while Public holidays, Saturday and Sunday will be from 10am to 11pm. Booking of treatment is recommended, call +62 22 8605 1365

Spa

After an Hour of Foot Reflexlogy, our legs felt very comfortable. Service was professional from start all the way to the end. Thanks pal for making such an arrangement. It costs about 21,000 Rupiah ($21 SGD approx.) for an hour of retreat.

Couple Room

Overall of our stay was memorable and I'm glad that I had a experience on their SPA Services. If ever I have got the chance to come back, I don't mind :)

Hilton Bandung
Location: Jl. HOS Tjokroaminoto No. 41-43, Pasirkaliki, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40171, Indonesia

Tanah Lot

Another places of interest in Bali will be at Tanah Lot, it is a rock formation off Indonesia Island of Bali. For those who wants to have a view of a beautiful Sunset, this is one of the place you may consider. However, my visit there was in the morning as we have other plans.

Entrance

And down the long flight of staircase, enjoy your moment with a scenic natural view on mother earth.

Nature

Listening to the inconsistent roars of the wave.

Beautiful waves

Pura Batu Mejan

And with the waves lapping into the shore.

Waves

View the nature

 The natural rock formation is a Hindu Shrine and it attracts many tourists as well as photographers.

Crowded Area

The centre attraction of the place will be its temple which is located off shore and can only be access when tide is low.

Main Attraction

One point to take note is to wear something comfortable and easy to walk in the water, preferably slippers and be careful of the slippery uneven ground.

Uneven and slippery grounds

And be warned not to stepped into holes like this.

Becareful of the holes

Be prepared to get wet if you standing near the shores as the water may just hit on them and splash onto you.

Caution! Waves at rocks are hazardous.

Do head in there to get your blessings and holy water from the monk.

Temple

For those who is not equip with the proper gear or does not want to go into the temple can just stay on the shore. There are these big grey rocks which are pictures worthy too!

Grey Rocks

Large waves near the rocks are hazardous, therefore do look out for their warning signage and stay clear of the danger zone.

Overview

Another viewing spot.

On the way back, you will get to see a small lane that brings to to their mini zoo. We were welcome by a few parrots as we entered the place.

Parrots

Further in, visitors get to see Owls. Why are these nocturnal animals awake at day time?

Owls

There were 2 owls on the tree branches during the time of our visit with one of them chained.

Owl

And the chain one turned hostile suddenly and flew up which had given us a big fright but luckily he was being withheld by its chain.

Handsome Owl

Moving to the next station, the assistance opened up one of the wooden box and reveal the venomous python. It was fat and big, hissing away. Though it looked pretty scary, one of the younger boys  were seen using his fingers stroking at its body. Awww... we were so intimidated.

Python

The snake collection didnt just stop at one, infect they have few other cages with different speices of snake.

Snake

And look! What's hanging upside down on the tree branch. It does have strong legs to hold up its body weight.

Fruit bat

Its a fruit bat and you are allow to feed them but its seem that its their bed time now.

Bat

And out from the mini zoo and into its market streets.

Market

Statue

What are these local selling?

Road Side Stall

 

Tanah Lot Temple
Location: Jalan Raya Tanah Lot, Beraban Village, Kediri, Tabanan
Operating Hours:  07:00 - 19:00