The Flyer and the Karpuhbahstick - Swing Singapore Part I

Rise and Shine!
See that structure on the right? Don't ever make the mistake of calling the "Flyer" a ferris wheel. The management will totally balk at the 'F-word'.

Singaporeans feel that the Flyer is more appropriately called an observation wheel.. kinda like the London Eye but OF COURSE the flyer is better because it beats the London Eye in the SIZE department by more than 90 feet.

Anyway, almost every cab I step into over the next 3 days, has the Taxi-man uncle repeating the same story, of the recent power disruption that left 173 passengers stranded and hanging in the air for about six hours... and that many were puking their guts out by the time they were rescued. When I arrived last week, the memory of that event was (sorta)long forgotten and the Flyer was once again in full swing. I may check it out today, if I am feeling particularly masochistic:P


Anyway, this is the view from my room at the Ritz Carlton Singapore.. How gorgeous!

Meeting up with my sis is always a good thing. The girl knows how to eat, drink, shop and party. Not just hip and trendy, she is also an accomplished graphic designer and mother to a 3 year old (my niece!).. she wakeboards, runs, pumps-iron in her spare-time. Believe me when I say , 'never a dull moment'!

A real chatterbox.


Sis.. getting warmed up to chow-down her food.
Small but eats like for an army.

She looks up from her menu just long enough to mutter 3 near incoherent words.. "carpet bag steak." She says it so fast it sounds like Karpuhbahstick..

"I beg your pardon?"

"Carpet bag steak. It's big enough for two and you will love it!"

Fine, so we order the Karpuhbahstick, and the Shashlik or shashlyk (Russian style skewered meat) , AND the Borscht (Russian soup).

Just a word about this restaurant, Shashlik. It's old and a little musty.. the sort of joint that gets its reputation by word of mouth. Unpretentious and old school are two other words that come to mind, especially when you see the beat up wooden serving carts and the well worn tartan uniforms.


The Borscht. Thick, sweet.. almost stiflingly good...
Add a dollop of sour-cream to the mix and know that the taste will bring a strong man to his knees ;P


Uncle, taking his time making our Carpet Bag.



So what is a Carpet bag Steak? According to the Wiki,
the steak is served standing up like a miniature mountain!
Pockets in the meat are made by small cuts, into which oysters are stuffed and sutured with toothpicks. As the dish is broiled, the flavour of the fresh oysters permeates the steak and blends with the juice of the tender meat.

Bloody awesome is what it is.

We eat, we cry, we eat, we giggle some more.. then we talk about shopping, make-up, taking care of babies, taking care of our men.. our work... our dreams, our in-laws..
You know.. Sis talk :P


Add:
Shashlik Restaurant,
545, Orchard Road, #06-19, Far East Shopping Centre,
Singapore 238882
Tel: +65 6732 6401



Drinks at balcony bar.

For those who dream of getting high on Moroccan exoticism and balmy beaches, Balcony Bar brings you a little closer.. that is, short of the beaches.. haha.. The bar is an outdoor extension of The Heeren, (another really cool shopping place with loads of SURF wear.. so, come here if you want to buy that itsy bitsy teeny weeny.. ) and tries to emulate 'Casablanca' while letting you access Singapore's shopping haven.

I like it. I decide to try every single cocktail on the menu.

I ask sis to keep track and note at which point I pass out. After a while and 6 cocktails into the drinking, it becomes a personal challenge.


Sis, being her charming self.

As you can see, drinking runs in the family.

Address:
Balcony Bar,
260 Orchard Road #01-K5/02-03 The Heeren
Phone: +65 6736 2326
Map: View The Heeren Map
Website: The Balcony



End of DAY 1... to be continued...;)