Lounge / Bar Review : CMPB, Dempsey, Singapore

I love Dempsey Hill. Apart from varied dining options its quaint art galleries, furniture shops and hilly topography give this place an uber Bohemian feel. It is not without reason this enclave has become a sophisticated hotspot and you will be a disappointed person if your reservations are not in place for almost all restaurants here on Friday and Saturday nights. Amongst the mix of specialty Mexican, Thai, French, seafood restaurants you'll find here, is a place called Contemporary Melting Pot and Bar (or CMPB as it is popularly known).

I've been here a couple of times before but only for a drink. I had liked the outdoor setting and their live band. So when opportunity arose, we picked CMPB for a proper meal. We did not have reservations for the Saturday evening but since we arrived really early (6:30 pm), the staff gave us a lovely table outdoors. CMPB has soft lighting with lanterns which lend it a festive look unlike the indoor area which is a bit too dark for my liking. A big plus for alfresco dining here is the numerous fans they have which keep humidity in check.

We ordered a portion of the famous CMPB truffle fries and beer battered fish bites priced at SGD 15 each. The truffle fries is a large portion and it would take four adult diners to finish it if you intend having main course. The deep fried fish bites were very soft and the portion size is just right. For our main course, we ordered Chicken Arabbiata (SGD18) and black pepper crab olio (SGD26). The pastas are overtly spicy due to very liberal use of black pepper. Have to mention the crab olio had generous portions of crab meat and that by itself will fill you after the truffle fries and fish bites.

CMPB offers an eclectic mix of drinks ranging from standard soft and hard liquor to exotic cocktails like Sake Mojito to innovative mocktails like CM-PB Therapy (refreshing mix of green apple, rock melon and water melon). Mocktails at SGD 12 are expensive considering cocktails are priced at SGD 14-16. Even a glass of imported Spanish Cava looks reasonably priced at SGD 18 if you consider the price of juices and mocktails here. Did I forget to mention desserts? We tried the apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. Nothing exceptional but not too bad either.

Overall, I would recommend CMPB. The ~SGD 160 tab for two is justified once in a while to have a relaxed outing in Singapore. The efficient service you get here from attentive waiters is a rarity in this island state. Add to that an exceptionally talented band which starts playing at 9:30 pm. The lead singer does a remarkable job of both strumming the guitar and beautifully singing such complex songs as 'Wishful Thinking' and 'The Only Exception.' By the time we left the place was packed with a steady stream of people trooping in more for drinks than the food. Probably this is what I'd do too on my next visit. The food won't attract you but the music, drinks and ambience will. Check it out.

Restaurant Review : Indus at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

There is no dearth of quality dining options when you are in the land of the Gods - Bali. But when it comes to Ubud, the story is slightly different. The artistic and cultural centre of Bali as Ubud is often described is not exactly teeming with restaurants and bars. There are plenty of art galleries and wood carving centres but eating options are still quite limited in Ubud. In fact, if you are looking to party then Ubud should probably figure lowest on your list of Bali hangouts. There are just about five bars which open beyond 11 pm and these too shut down by 1:30 pm.

Well, I did not go to Ubud seeking nightlife and on my latest trip my focus was solely on rest and relaxation of the brainless kind. After checking out the big but missable monkey forest (I am an Indian so monkeys don't hold an exotic appeal for me), we walked around Monkey Forest Road looking for a place to have lunch. At the end of the road, we spotted an exterior which looked like an art gallery but had people trooping in and out for ostensibly a meal. Deciding to have a dekko, we too popped in and wow - a new world beckoned us beyond the threshold. Welcome to Indus.

The restaurant does not look fancy from outside but walk in past painting laden walls and you are offered breath taking views of the forest and Tjampuhan river. The restaurant is set on two dining levels offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Ask for outdoor seating on the higher level. We were lucky to get such a table and the setting was just right - windy weather offering us good views of the hills with the river gushing below. Whilst the indoor seating is typical Balinese style with ground seating on cushions around a wooden table, the outdoor seating is contemporary. A melange of music was playing in the background including instrumental versions of Indian devotional songs ! Not sure if this is a regular feature or it was a special gesture for us.

The restaurant offers a day's special menu which is really a selection of dishes from the regular menu. There is a choice of Indonesian fusion food and continental food with hints of Thai influence (generous use of kaffir lime leaves and coconut). A basket of fried tapioca cakes were served as complimentary starters. Whilst it was hot and crispy, there was a slight aftertaste which makes me think the oil was dubious. I ordered a Tasmanian salmon with snake beans in Indonesian spices and it was wonderful. Wrapped in banana leaf and priced at IDR 130,000 (Approx USD 13) it has to be the least expensive chunk of tasty salmon I've ever had. My better half ordered Balinese seafood paella with yellow rice and it was quite decent. Main course dishes are all priced in the range of USD 6 - 13 which is very reasonable given the portion size and restaurant setting. Side orders of mashed potatoes etc are priced at USD 3 and desserts at USD 5. Let me mention here if you do not have the appetite for a full main course dish, they have smaller portions of the same available. What a wonderful feature! Drinks are also reasonably priced with local Bintang beer being priced at just USD 3. Indus has daily happy hours from 5pm - 7pm where cocktails are priced at USD 7 versus regular price of USD 9. As if the Indian music was not enough, the drinks menu also featured 'Lassis' (Indian non alcoholic yoghurt drink)!

Service at Indus is polite and efficient. The staff seem genuinely happy to serve you. I sent back our Bintang as it was not chilled enough and the serving lady promptly got another one without batting an eyelid. The ambience at Indus is laid back and is just the place where you can spend your day looking at the lush greenery. The Indus group has a bar in Ubud town called Casa Luna. Whilst we walked past it later in the evening and saw it packed to the hilt, we did not venture inside. If Indus is any indication, then Casa Luna deserves a visit as well. I have it marked out for my next trip to Ubud. I highly recommend you pay a visit to Indus. Just sit back and gaze at the greenery for hours at end without burning a hole in your pocket.

Airline Review : Jet Star / Valuair

Jet Star is part of the Qantas group and operates out of Singapore under the Jet Star and Valuair (catering mostly to Indonesian destinations) names. Being a budget carrier, it is all about low fares and keeping overhead costs to a minimum. If you require any add-on services (extra leg space, meals on flight, preferred seat, first to disembark, extra baggage etc) be prepared to pay extra. However, the early bird fares are truly fantastic. Sometimes fares can be as low as SGD 30.

Whats going for the airline :
1. Cheap fares. Basic fares are quite attractive and would appeal to those who don't have any time constraints. Like most budget airlines, fares for preferred slots like late nights on weekdays and mid afternoon on Sundays are significantly more expensive than the early morning weekday and late night weekend fares.
2. Offers excellent connectivity in the Asia Pacific region and especially to Australia.
3. Operates out of Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi Airport rather than Budget Terminal which makes for a smoother airport experience.
4. Food and beverage options are reasonably priced. Cannot comment on quality since I haven't tried them.
5. Website is easy to navigate. There is a significant discount if you book add-on services at time of original booking vis-a-vis availing these services at the check-in counter. So think through your additional requests beforehand since time available for completing booking process is quite short.

What can do with some help :
1. Seats are very cramped and leg space would be the least amongst all airlines I have flown. If you are assigned a middle seat, you better be waif-thin.
2. Overhead compartment space is very limited. Since check-in baggage has a cost, travellers tend to maximise their cabin baggage allowance (10 kgs) and almost everyone has hand baggage. Be prepared to rush in when boarding starts else you won't find space.
3. Cleanliness is a big issue. Seats and tray tables are often dirty. Since on-time performance is crucial for budget carriers (small aircraft fleet), hygiene becomes a casualty. Don't be surprised to find rubbish on the floor and in seat pockets. I advise you to carry wet wipes.
4. Jet Star offers the option to pay extra for being given priority to disembark. To ensure this the back door is never opened at final destination. If you are claustrophobic or in a hurry but don't want to pay for the early disembarkation service, choose your seats carefully so as not to be stuck at the rear. Maybe it would be easier if they charged extra for the last row of seats as well but opened both doors for disembarkation?
5. On-time performance record seems to be a hit and miss. Most of my flights have been delayed but maybe that was just my luck.

Overall rating : 3/10. Inspite of low fares, given the actual in-flight experience, fly Jet Star only if you must. Here's hoping the arrival of new budget entrant - Scoot - will propel Jet Star to get its act together.

Restaurant Review : Nueva Cuba, Singapore

Decided to check out this eatery in Collyer Quay for lunch on a weekday. After one and a half hours of ordering there was still no sign of the food. It never came. Thus, I can only comment on the water. We asked for still water and got sparkling!

P.S. We weren't the only ignored souls. As it turned out, all diners seated outdoors by the bay had been waiting for their order for over an hour. Taking cue from us, they too left without so much as an apology or explanation from the staff.

Hotel Review : Pride Hotel, Nagpur, India

Umaria. This non descript place in Madhya Pradesh beckoned us and thankfully we had Google (Maps) to help us plan how to get there. Some friendly tips and few bookings later, we were on a flight from Mumbai to Nagpur from where we would make the road journey to Umaria the next day. Needing a hotel in Nagpur for the two night halt on way to and from Umaria, we zeroed in on Pride Hotel located a stone's throw away from Nagpur airport. Other option was Sun n Sand Hotel which is located further away but people insisted Pride is the best. So Pride it was for us too.

We had asked for airport pick-up which was a very chaotic affair. There was a person at arrival hall holding a placard with our names but the car was nowhere to be seen. After sometime, a battered Indica transported us to the hotel half a kilometer away. Not the best way to start our trip but we were hopeful. Check-in was smooth. The smiling staff gave us a lowdown on hotel facilities and showed us to our road-facing room. The room was comfortable and provided all basic facilities including a newly renovated bathroom. The room overall lacked character and cleanliness. Whilst it was clean on the face of it, a closer inspection revealed dust and grime. We asked reception for a wake-up call at 3 a.m. and turned in early for the night. Annoyingly, the phone rang at 11 p.m. asking us if we had indeed asked for a 3 a.m. wake up call! What was the staff thinking by calling hotel guests to reconfirm at such a late hour? Anyhow, the wake up call never came and thank god for our own mobile alarms, we were up and ready at 4 a.m. We had booked a car and chauffeur through the hotel's travel desk and thankfully, the chauffeur was waiting for us at the lobby. On an aside, we were on the road for 26 hours and returned next day only at 6 a.m. and have only good things to say about the car service. It is not an easy task to drive 900 odd kilometers in 20+ hours on good and bad roads and we were thankful for having an experienced hand at the wheel. Once back at Pride, we put the Do-Not-Disturb sign at the door and crashed out of sheer exhaustion. And just as we drifted into deep slumber, my husband's mobile phone rang. And it was from the hotel's housekeeping team asking when can they clean the room since Do-Not-Disturb sign is there! We were livid. Clearly the hotel staff has not been trained to understand what a DND means. How can guests' mobile numbers be shared liberally with staff and that too for such purposes!

Once awake, we decided we were better off staying outside the hotel than inside. Part of the Incredible India experience is that whoever steps out from a hotel is taken to be a tourist. We had auto rickshaws queuing up to take us to the closest mall for INR 200. I used my haggling skills and we were at the mall in INR 40. So tourists beware. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. The food at Pride is quite decent. On our first day, we had ordered room service for an early dinner since we had to start our 370 kilometer one-way journey to Umaria at 4 a.m. The dinner portion was large and we left quite a bit of the Palak Paneer and Daal Makhani unfinished. On our final evening, we had dinner at the rooftop Indian restaurant Puran da Dhaba where a live band belted out Hindi numbers. The singers were terrible, the food was good and we got to taste a local vineyard's wine which was not too bad.

We had an early check-out so did not get to try the Pride breakfast at all. The check-out process was slow with one of the staff just disappearing with our credit card. After some confusion, it was all sorted out and we finally left the hotel. Clearly, Pride Hotel is not geared to service high end tourists and business travellers. But then Nagpur is not a tourist hot-spot or a big business centre. I find it hard to believe the hotel is considered 5 star. A 4 star rating would be more appropriate given the poor service standards, lack of maintenance in common areas and practically zero sound proofing (there was a college party in the hotel ball room and we could hear the blasting music till our 4th floor room). Next time I am in Nagpur, I'll firstly try to keep it even shorter than this two day trip. Secondly, I would definitely look for other options but might end up at Pride again for the TINA factor. There Is No Alternative. And that is a very bad reason for a hotel to be getting business.