Restaurant review: The Equinox

Restaurant: The Equinox

Location: 2 Stamford Road | Level 70, Equinox Complex, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore 178882, Singapore

The scene

I love taking photos and told my friend that I wanted the best view of Singapore, so he booked us dinner for 2 here at The Equinox restaurant. This is a very classy place and the ambiance is just perfect – dim lights with candles on each table. It was also beautifully decorated and well-ventilated. The place is very cozy and comfortable too.

The service

When we arrived at the venue, we waited for the receptionist for about 4 minutes because she was entertaining some guests to their seats before us. My friend booked us window seats because that’s ultimately the best view ever! Oh, that’s an additional S$20 too!

Service was pretty good. The waitress was attentive and would frequently ask us if we still need anything. The servers would give us bread rolls while we waited for our meals. ( we were so FULL after the second meal ;D )

The food

Food was really great! I love everything about it! I could still remember telling my friend, “OMG, this is so good.” , “This is so delicious!” or “ The Black Truffle Butter is the best!!!”

Here’s what we ordered:

Appetizer:

Wagyu Tataki, Bonito Braised-Turnips, Grilled Leeks, Truffle Ponzu Scallop

Main Course:

Sea Bass, Cooked in Paper Bark, Saltbush Gremolata, Baby Vegetables

Seared Scallop, Mussel and Broad Beans Minestrone, Calamari, Chervil Oil

From The Grill:

Creekstone, Grain Fed Prime Angus, U.S.D.A 28 Day Aged – 225g Tenderloin

The Sauce:

Black Truffle Butter (THIS IS THE BEST. I highly recommend you try this)

The Side:

Steamed Broccolini with French Fries, Ginger, Garlic, Chilli

Drinks:

Sprite and Earl Grey tea

Do the math: Additional charges – Miscellaneous + 10% Service Charge + 7% GST

The price

Very expensive but so worth it! Go give it a try! *wink*

The dress code

Remember it’s a classy restaurant, so please wear semi-formal attire.

Overall rating: I give this restaurant a 10/10!

Given the chance, I would definitely go back here! This place has the best view of Singapore especially at night! You would see The Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, The Esplanade, etc in all their glory! Hahaha.

Of course, don’t forget to bring your trusty camera and take lots of great photos!

Nothing but great memories!🙂

I can’t thank my friend enough for bringing me here! He made one of my dreams come true!

Thanks for reading my review!

Please visit and follow my Instagram @sarahmaytanhuanco

See you!❤

Cherry blossoms

Lovely cherry blossoms in my recent travel to Hokkaido, Japan. 😍💕🌸 


They are just too beautiful 🌸😍 
All photos are mine. Check out my instagram @sarahmaytanhuanco 

Tangkuban Perahu Bandung,Indonesia

Welcome to Tangkuban Perahu!!!

Tangkuban Perahu is an active volcano, situated 30 km north of the city of Bandung the direction of Lembang. It is the only crater in Indonesia that you can drive up to its very rim. Mount Tangkuban Perahu has a distinctive shape, and looks like an “overturned boat”. The huge crater is an astonishing view and you can walk around and explore this for around two hours. Here you will be greeted by sulfur fumes which the crater continues to emit although the volcano is not active.
Like so many of Java’s unusual geographical features, there is an interesting legend behind this fascinating mountain as expressed in the local legend of Sangkuriang. Sangkuriang was a strong young man, who had been separated from his mother, Dayang Sumbi since childhood. Yet, through God’s he came to meet her again. On the way home, he stopped by a small village where he met and fell in love with a beautiful girl, without realizing that the girl he loved was in fact his own mother, Dayang Sumbi, who had remained youthful through the years.

When Dayang Sumbi discovered the terrible truth of her lover’s real identity, she was horrified and knew that she could never marry her own son. She, therefore, challenged him to build a dam and a huge boat during one single night before she would agree to marry him. Seeing that her son was about to complete this impossible wish, she called on God to bring up the sun early. With a wave of her magic shawl, Dayang Sumbi lit up the eastern horizon with flashes of light. Deceived by what looked like dawn, the cocks crowed and farmers rose for a new day.

When Sangkuriang realized that his endeavor was lost, in his rage he kicked the boat that he had built turning it upside down, which was transformed into Mount Tangkuban Perahu, the name that in the local Sundanese language translates roughly to “overturned boat”.

Tangkuban Perahu has definitely a significant role especially in the development of the surrounding Parahyangan (land of God) Highlands. Its eruption contributed immensely to the formation and fertility of the hills north of Bandung when through its flow of lava carrying large boulders into the valleys, these formed huge cliffs over which waterfalls leapt to form the lake that today covers the Bandung plain.

Located at the highland just at the outskirt of Bandung, Tangkuban Perahu Crater is surely a perfect place to enjoy cool air and relaxing sceneries after a series of shopping activities in some of the city’s factory outlets or the popular Pasar Baru Trade Center.

Reference: http://indonesia.travel/en/destination/392/marvel-at-tangkuban-perahu-s-volcanic-crater

Here’s my review on Tangkuban Perahu:

The Price

The locals have different entrance fee and it’s waaaay cheaper than the tourists’ fee. My friend told me that I should try to look like a local (I even practiced some Indonesian language) but the man at the entrance wanted to see my ID.. so yeah, I paid the tourist fee of : Rp 200,000 or $15 or P683. Hahaha!😄

The Scenery

I’ve been telling my local Indo-Chinese friend to bring me to Tangkuban Perahu and I’m glad we did paid a  visit. We visited on a weekday, so there was no traffic going up to Tangkuban. I love the sceneries and of course the cool weather up there! It’s been raining in Bandung for the past weeks, and I thank God He answered my prayer. It didn’t rain when I was there in Tangkuban Perahu!!! I was  able to see the beautiful crater and took lots of photos. The surrounding was just like Baguio, in the Philippines: cool weather, full of trees, and lots of sellers. Hahaha.

The People and Items

Deciding which souvenirs to buy. Hmmm…haggling nicely too! My charm worked! HAHA.😛

We also went to the other side and a friendly seller (even if we didn’t buy anything from him) gamely took our photos! To thank him for his effort, I gave him Rp 20,000. Vendors will keep bugging you to buy their products, so be wise and try to haggle/ negotiate nicely. I was able to buy five (5) shirts. Strawberries, Hand crafted ball pens, figurines, caps, foldable batik bags (I bought four), keychains, necklaces, baby shirts can also be found there.

Recommendations:

• Try the fried tofu with sweet and spicy sauce. It’s so yummy!
• Visit on a weekday to avoid the traffic and the crowd.
• Bring umbrella because of the unpredictable weather.
• Wear rubber shoes for comfortable walking and climbing.
• Roam by yourself or with a local friend.

Thank you so much to my Indo-Chinese friends who brought me around Bandung Indonesia. I had so much fun!🙂

Thanks for reading my review!:)

Please visit and follow my Instagram @sarahmaytanhuanco

Let’s exchange letters and postcards! Direct Message or Email me your complete name and address🙂

It’s summer time!

Despite the scorching heat we have in the Philippines, these are some of the things to look forward to during summer time (other than swimming of course! 😊) : pretty and vibrant colored flowers and plants! 😍



What’s summer without yellow colored flowers? 🌼

There’s always a new beginning. Don’t lose hope. 😉



Santan flowers. These always brighten up gardens and even dull and boring walls. 👍

Big leaves that could be used as fans during the hot weather! 🌿

She has it all

She’s been there all the time. Her famous smile unwavering. Her stare, oh so captivating! Maybe you need to take a shot or two.. Or maybe more.. to show your everyone back home that you’ve seen the most visited, most parodied work of art, and most talked about painting in The Louvre. You put up your camera and started to shoot. (heads of other tourists pops into view) Uhh excuse me, I need to get closer. No flash please!

Ah yes! That’s Mona Lisa, the half-painted portrait of a woman by non other than Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian artist. Bravo Maestro! 🙌

I was blessed to be able to visit the majestic Louvre in Paris and of course, Mona Lisa was on my itinerary! 

Selfie with Mona Lisa. Perfect shot. No one beside me. No hands, head or any other body part of tourists in this photo. Hahaha. Successful selfie indeed.  

Compared to other huge paintings inside the Louvre, Mona Lisa’s portrait was just small and of course, heavily guarded… You have been warned. 

Anyway, very interesting portrait. Had a wonderful experience too!💁

Roman Forum, Roma

I just love Rome and its beautiful ruins! So this is what it feels like in the ancient Roman times haha. These are ruins of several important government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. The Forum Magnum or simply called the Forum has been the most celebrated meeting place in the world, in all history. It has been the site of processions, trials, gladiator fights, and venue for public speeches. Simply majestic!!! 😍🏰

Edit

Disney’s Elsa

“Wanted by many, taken by none, talking to some, just waiting for one.“

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

新年快乐！ 恭喜发财！ 全家安康！ 万事如意！

Wishing everyone a prosperous new year!

More success, happiness and love! ❤️❤️❤️

Photo by: Sarah May Tanhuanco

Instagram @sarahmaytanhuanco

Frozen’s Olaf

I can’t believe it! Until now, kids are crazy with Disney’s Frozen! But who can blame them? The characters are so cute and the story is beautiful!

Everyone loves Olaf, the fun-loving snowman. He had some famous lines that makes us go “Awwwww”

Here’s our favorite quotes from Olaf:

“Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.” ❤️ Ahhh yes. This is indeed true! Hihihi

“Some people are worth melting for” ❤️ OMG. This is just the best line ever! I’m sure you’ll all agree with me. 😍

“Winter is a good time to stay in and cuddle, but put me in summer and I’ll be a Happy Snowman!!!” ❤️ And everyone panics and says: “NO Way!!! He’ll melt!” Hahaha 😁

“Hi! I’m Olaf and I like warm hugs!!!” ⛄️

Just one shot

Cat: “Taking my photo eh? Make it awesome. Coz I’m not in the mood right now.”