I love steamboat but never get to eat it cos my daughter hates it. In fact, she's a really picky eater, and favours junk over seafood, much to my disgust. So I very happily indulged in the fruits of the sea during my recent trip to Hong Kong with Andy from Ocean Health.

We attended the Cosmoprof exhibition together, and took the opportunity to eat our way around Hong Kong (and Shenzhen).

The night we got back from Shenzhen, we decided on a late supper at a steamboat restaurant, located 10 minutes by foot away from our hotel. After a certain time, they serve buffet style only. I believe it was about S$20 a head, but that included all soft drinks and beer, as well as premium beef slices, seafood and other weird and wonderful things.

What arrived first was certainly weird but in no way wonderful. Not by my standards anyway: some creature's testicles and something else's spinal cord. Yummy. Not...

If you look closely at the photo above, you can just about make out the grey matter within the white matter. That is, if you remember back to your science classes to know what I'm talking about!

Even when other food did arrive, I kept scooping out bits of this spinal cord. Yuck! And no, I wasn't game to try it.

What I enjoyed immensely was the melt-in-your-mouth beef slices and the crispy fish skin. I'd happily go back to that restaurant just for these two items.

As with many Chinese restaurants, fish tanks showcasing live seafood seems mandatory. Not sure why... And the fish all seem to have been on steroids! I'm sure if anyone tried to eat these things, they wouldn't taste good at all! Poor buggers to be kept in captivity just for show. I guess this one got it lucky... free chin jacuzzi whenever it fancied a massage!

I was also somewhat tickled at why they would want to keep these giant prawn-like creatures in plastic bags. Any idea? Please post in the comment box below!

I'm sorry I didn't take down the name of this restaurant or the location. But I'm sure I'll be back there some day...

                  

We've been visiting Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market for years now. It's a must-visit as long as we're there over the weekend. It's only a few months ago that we first noticed the coconut ice cream stalls surfacing. We were on the tram for the first time that trip, and jumped off when we saw this stall.

As with all good ideas, this stall has been copied, and there are now half a dozen clustered around the same area (which is in front of the MRT station for those who may be interested).

I LOVE coconuts from Bangkok! But my daughter generally hates them! She's just starting to come around though, so we decided to share one ice cream between us that first trip.

For less than S$2, we got a large scoop of home made coconut ice cream, served in a half coconut shell. Underneath the ice cream lies a few shreds of fresh young coconut flesh. Sprinkled on top, freshly roasted peanuts. And on the side, as much fresh coconut juice as we wanted to drink!

The tastes and textures blend together so well, and the presentation is so rustic, that I'm not at all surprised that the trend has taken off as it has.

With our more recent visit, we had to have one portion each. Nothing else would do! And I'm sure if it became street food, I'd have it more than once per trip.

So poison to my blood type or not, I'm certainly unable to resist this incrediblly delicious concoction, and look forward to savourig it again soon!

                  

With a quiet week in the run up to Christmas, the temptation to escape Singapore got too much. So we decided to just take Boxing Day off to travel to Batam. As I'd not been for over 3 years, and it was Pati & her family's first trip to Batam, we decided to go by conducted tour.

So very early on Boxing Day morning, we made our way to Harbourfront Centre. Ffion had stayed up all night and Pati's son Andy looked equally half dead. The ferry, not surprisingly, was full. However, it was comfortable enough, and an hour later, we were at Batam.

First stop of the day was at a mountain-top resort owned by a Singaporean. The view was pretty good, and the bungalows looked idyllic. It would be lovely to stay there one day! Main reason for visiting that area was to see the tall Kwan Yin statue.

What I enjoyed most was looking at the building architecture. Houses are so incredibly cheap in Batam. I think the guide said something like S$10,000? And this is landed property! Every family owned at least one motorcycle. And they fit the entire family on it! It's not uncommon to see one child sitting in front of the driver and 3 others behind! Five on a motor bike. Talk about bonding!

The buildings must be what Singapore was like in the 1960s & early 70s. There were many shanty towns scattered all over. The carts in the town area were fascinating too. Beautiful fresh fruits, firecrackers... Sights we no longer see in Singapore.

Lunch was a seafood feast in an idyllic setting. They had live seafood at the entrance of the restaurant, including a couple of sharks! No sharksfin soup was included though. I enjoyed the deep fried prawns and calamari. Also the sweet & sour fish. Yum yum!

After lunch, we were led across to see a live show. Two guys started with some traditional dancing, then proceeded to eat flaming coals, glass and tear off a coconut husk with bare teeth! What a way to make a living! But with local income averaging S$300 per month, the mandatory tourist tips makes it a very lucrative livelihood!

The part of the day the kids (and Michael) enjoyed the most was Go-Karting.I was barely able to catch a photo of Michael as he shot past. Andy was too fast to capture on film!

Next to the track was a "Little Indonesia" park, where they had replicas of the various types of houses in Indonesia.

As with all these conducted tours, we were brought to factory outlet stores (Polo), dried food stores, and other tourist traps. Pati got conned into an expensive imitation handbag that started shedding from its handle before we even got back to Singapore!

After that, it was shopping time! Proper shopping in shopping centres, that is. First Batam City Shopping Centre, then finally Hypermart next to the Harbour. We ate and shopped till we were going to explode (tummies & feet)! The last shopping centre was quite interesting though... Considering the average salary was S$300, prices of fast food was pretty much on par with Singapore! And the place was packed with locals as well as Singaporeans.

The supermarket was an experience in itself. There was a whole chest of freezers with multiple types of french fries for self packing. And another for other types of processed food for deep frying. Just help yourself to as much as you need, but questionable hygiene!

We were certainly very relieved to finally be on our way back to Singapore after the very big day. It was EXHAUSTING! But fun! Not something I'd repeat in a hurry, but I'm sure I'll do it in a couple of years time again. Note to self: do not take last ferry home, just an hour at Hypermart is enough... And bring enough Rupiahs & Singapore currency in small notes for shopping. No time to change money on arrival if going on tour!

All in all, a great day out for just $50/head, lunch included. Bargain!