Mandarin Oriental, Sanya

It is interesting to note that the most important feature we want from a hotel or resort is no longer the pool or restaurant or kids facilities but.... Free WIFI.

The tablet and smartphones have made connectivity such a breeze that being without WIFI is like missing something in life.

I was using the tripadvisor on WIFI to check out the restaurants and attractions, using google map to plan my routes and using Internet to check in my return flight. The kids were using the net for YouTube and online games.

Here you go. The pictures of the resort we are in. The slide was awesome (for the adults and kids alike). Get a high floor and you will have a view of the bay. Have a good massage at the award winning spa if you feel like having a splurge. ^_^

China Railways

Mr. IPO is having a holiday in China. Took the "bullet train" and the train travelled at around 200km/h. The journey by car would have taken me around 4 hrs versus 2 hrs on the train.

As the railway develops, it will be much easier to move around in china and tourism will get a boost. Perhaps that is why Midas is having a great run recently ? ^_^

Ippudo Singapore

Today we had lunch at Ippudo Singapore at Mandarin Gallery. This is the first Ippudo outlet here and they opened a second one near to Mohd sultan road (can't remember the name of the exact building)

I am not sure if you have been to Fukuoka, Japan. The Hakata ramen there is delicious and Ippudo hails from there. Having said that, I think the quality of the Ippudo ramen in Fukuoka is much better than what Ippudo serves here in Singapore.

Personally, I prefer the shio ramen from Santouka, which I have blogged about previously. The Ippudo ramen here is a tad too "commercialized" for me.

The gyoza and the salad is great but I didn't like the "kong ba" bao or "pork bun".

The long queues, ambience of blasting loud music and the rushed service makes you want to finish your food and go off quickly.

Overall, the experience is so-so and the ramen okay but not great. I enjoyed the side dishes though.

Saboten

Saboten in Singapore is one of the better place to have tonkatsu. Fried breaded pork Japanese style.

We had lunch at the Changi airport outlet at Terminal 1. This is the second outlet, the first was at Millennia Walk.

The free flowing cabbage served with Yuzu and sesame dressing was great compliment to the "meat".

The sauce mixed with freshly grounded (DIY) sesame seeds blended perfectly with the breaded pork that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The free flow of rice and miso soup just makes you eat more "gohan" and become sinfully fat.

I never really like fried stuff but the tonkatsu at Saboten is as close as you can get to the Japanese standard in Singapore. Try the breads potatoe, it's tasty too.