Breakfast at Garden Terrace Resort, Nagasaki

*pic stolen from the web*

We luckily stumbled upon this resort while browsing online for accommodation in Nagasaki. Anyhow there weren't many pictures on its website and description of the properties and hotels were at its minimal. Maybe it's the theme of this resort? Minimalist till there's not many words/information.

Bcoz there's not many other nice place to stay at Nagasaki, we took the risk and booked this property. The location isn't that centralised, located on the other side of the bay. Meaning everytime u needed to do sight-seeing, u have to cross the bay over to the city of Nagasaki. Soon we found this is like only 8 minutes car ride away and Garden Terrance Resort provides free shuttle service. :))) very very convenient.

When our driver pulled over to the high security property with checks and so many checks including names and reservation details....we were already so impressed. Plus we have yet to see the main building!!!! and when we finally did, JS asked me how the hell I got this resort. :P

designed by the famed architect Kengo Kuma, who also designed Suntory's headquarters building and LVMH group HQ in Osaka, we were so intrigued by this name. Soon we were bz googling about Kuma-San.

*again, pic stolen from the web*

this was the main reception building with restaurants, checking-in facilities, and the infinity pool which overlooks the bay of Nagasaki. The Million Dollar view...according to the locals around here. Soon we found out many other established hotels and resorts have set up their properties on this side of the hilly area of Nagasaki.

I will blog about our suite once the pics are ready. OMG we are lagging so way way way behind on our travel postings. sigh!!!!!!

Good morning Mr. JS
pls wake up....u looked like u are still zzzzzZZZZzzzzink-ing away on ur bed...time to shove food down ur throat. Anyhow he has got no problem eating breakfast bcoz he enjoys breakfast so so so much...every single day. Even if it means only a slice of toast and a cuppa of espresso.

More like it's Monkey having problem shoving food down her throat early in the morning. I just noticed JS and I were in similar dress code. I can't remembered who copied whom but I like to think that he copied me. Bahahahahaha.


a typical Japanese breakfast is really humongous but when I enquired most of them said they don't eat like this everyday. Just coffee and toast. *macam JS saje...*

Let see wat we have here...there's grilled fish, loads of mentaiko which was so so so yummy, a speciality of Kyushu. Eggs, rice, some pickled vegetables, beef stews, silky soft fragrant toufu with good quality soy and spring onions, clam soup and fish sticks. Also nato which I don't really eat.

They were so so so delicious. and I was having problem consuming everything!!!!

Looks like I don't need lunch after this. Which was so true. Enuff to get us going and moving and walking around Nagasaki until dinner's time.


Our conversation revolved around this single stalk of vege with flowers. It looked edible something like Nanohana which is pretty yummy with light soy and bonito flakes on top.

From where we were, the camera could zoom down to the huge Mitsubishi Shipyard. Really a busy port.


From the main building, we just needed to walk down to these rows of Ocean Suites. There's only 6 rooms here at the Ocean Suite.

JS: "Why so clever and booked Ocean Suite?"
Monkey: "Coz the main building was fully booked."

Not bcoz I wanna rip his pocket. Bahahahaha. If I wanted to, I would have booked the Tower Suite. HAHAHAHAHA which we can even throw a party in the suite.

Do wait for more posting on this property which I'll highly recommend to any travellers who's visiting Nagasaki :))))

For more information visit:
http://www.gt-nagasaki.jp/?lang=en

My first experience with Qatar Airways

 

Beautiful view of the snow capped Swiss Alps
It was a relief when I bid goodbye to Switzerland. This ain't a vacation so travelling for work is no fun at all. Especially when u need to endure long flights. And bcoz of this....Monkey waited....and delayed and waited until the very super last minute to book her flights. *in hope that she's not needed in Switzerland*

everything was fully booked and I've refused to fly with certain airlines. Then my ever reliable travel agent tried her very best to sell me Qatar Airways. I have NEVER flown with them before....and was....errrrr......hmmmm...skeptical.

she didn't sound convincing either especially on the transit part. I hate transits esp certain sectors with Emirates in Dubai. Travel Agent informed that the transit with Qatar Airways in Doha will be similar to Emirates at Dubai because their main airport is under construction to prepare for the World Cup 2022. Currently Qatar Airways is the proud sponsor of FC Barcelona.

Out of desperation I was sold and bought the tickets to Zurich with Qatar Airways. It's either Qatar or I will have to swim to Switzerland.

*pic taken fr the web*

and the sectors to/fro Zurich is with a 787 Dreamliner....
oh Hello there Dreamliner :)))) You are so so so spacious. Every seat in the business class is an aisle seat. This is so wonderful, and because I was travelling alone, I had the window seat. :))))))))) Awesome....My privacy was never invaded and I don't like to speak to other travellers/cabin crews, just my policy.

*pic taken from the web*

the windows on the Dreamliner is 2x the length giving passengers more space and view. The windows do not come with blinds but more of a dimmer. Check out the round button below the window...so u just touch up/down to dim or brighten it up. It could dim all the way till the cabin is shrouded in total darkness for u to zzzzzzzzzZZZZzziiiinnnkkkkkkkkkkkk

With 2 personal tables, there's plenty of space for ur stuffs, including a laptop at the side. There are 2 compartments, one for your bottle of water and headset, while the other one was big enuff to stuff unwanted things in sight.

The screen is a touch screen with multi windows...and yes I was watching "We are the Millers". Do watch the uncensored version, damn farnie can die. Bahahahahaha.

Qatar Airways is fully wifi-ed as well. What have we become???? We need to be perpetually connected to the virtual world?

*all pics of the cabin were taken from the web*

It's too impossible to snap a pic without other passengers innit. Hahahahaha. Plus the pic quality on my iPhone is simple terrible!!!!

There's a lil leg rest on the inside, just below the screen and table if u could see. My feet were not longer enuff but once you've put on the flat bed u should be able to use that leg rest. For me, even the entire seat was on elongated flat bed, my tiny short feet still can't touch it. LOL

There's Amuse Bouche served for every meal...the above was crispy rice by Nobu Matsuhisa. Yeah their menus were crafted by 4 celebrity chefs of Nobu, Tom Aikens *read bout our experience at his restaurant in London here*, Ramzi Choueiri and Vineet Bhatia.

Hearty tomato soup. I hardly see airlines serving soup like this. I forgot to snap pic of my Seafood Soup by Nobu at one of my sector.


 Fish with long grains and grilled vegetables. For all sectors, I've tried at least one creations from each chef....somehow the food wasn't that fantastic...it could be me :P

I was so tired, I didn't bother to have desserts. Qatar Airways really spoil their passengers for every course there's a selection of 3-4 dishes. Meaning there's 3-4 appetizers to choose from, followed by 4 main course to choose and up to 4 desserts!!!!!

Unknowingly to me, Mr. JS was bz tracking me on his apps. He had this flight radar thing for a few months before the MH370 incident. Now he's even more active on it, tracking my every coordinates and speed....and altitude -_-" and been emailing me and taggin me on Facebook as I was flying.

-_-
Yeah I know...I can never run from you so u might as well install a GPS chip into me...

or *gasp* maybe u've already have!!!!!
O.O

Breakfast fruits platter

Monkey was so tired she couldn't wake up for her meals. In Qatar Airways you have a dedicated/designated Cabin Crew whom will attend to all your needs. Then the Head Steward/Stewardess will also speak to you about your needs and requirements. Such impeccable service that I felt so so pampered. It's like a personal butler u know.

Crepes with orange syrup
The breakfast was pretty huge, there's yogurts, muesli, cereals, pastries, different loaf of breads, all sort of jams, omelette, rice dish, sausages and freshly brewed coffee from cappucino, latte to macchiato u name it. Then there's desserts for ur breakfast too.

I just took a few bites of my crepes, down my coffee and went back to zzZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz. So so so tired.

The sector back home to Malaysia was on an Airbus. Landing was pretty smooth and believe you me, the transit in Doha was EXCELLENT. Transfer was done separately once you've alighted off your plane in Doha. First class passengers were transited with BMW 5 series and Business class with premium bus. Then the First and Business passengers were put at a different building/terminal lounge. So u feel less crowded, less people with much more ease and comfort.

Finally YES I would fly with Qatar Airways again esp when the transit is only 2 hours. Looking forward to more journeys with Qatar Airways :))))))))))

For more information:
www.qatarairways.com

Daily Schedule

Morning Rise and Shine - eggs, swiss mushrooms and crispy bacon
the organic free range egg yolk was really staring at me :P
I'm not really a breakfast person, I know I know...chill people...I know that breakfast is the MOST IMPORTANT meal but....but....but...

sigh...
I'm not a breakfast person full stop. But I HAD to eat because it will be my only meal till 12 hours later. So I HAD to force food down my throat but the thing is I'm not trying to produce foie gras outta my liver.

sometimes I have Asian breakfast like instant noodle with lots of beans sprout *at the bottom* with cilantro at the top....wuahahaha I managed to buy beans sprout from the gourmet supermarket...yes beans sprout in Switzerland.

A cuppa of fresh kiwi fruit juice, cappucino, my fried eggs sprinkled with Japanese seaweed sprinkles to give my egg some savoury umami-ness...It's meant for rice but then on eggs was so so so yummy. Finally I needed some fiber so a single yellow plum

and sometimes when I needed more fiber, I'll prepare a large bowl of salad to go with my breakfast of more crispy bacon and eggs again sprinkled with umami japanese seaweed.

Preparing breakfast was easy and fast. I can't really cook so I'll just dump watever that I can find in the fridge, wat I FEEL like eating for the day and begin cooking...:P It takes about 10 minutes to prepare some edible breakfast....but EATING it was a major task...it took my 30 mins to down me breakfast.

SEE I told ya I'm not a breakfast person, it's so difficult to shove food down my throat. BUT I HAD TO EAT. 

and finally washing them was pretty easy peasy....just dump everything into the dishwasher after some brief rinsing and scrubbing. Then off I go to prepare for work.

Walking to work was again easy peasy....like 5 minutes? But I took 20 minutes or was it 30 minutes or longer??? BAHAHAHAHA. Coz there's too many pitstops. I'll tell u why in the next few pics.

First of all, it's such a feast to my eyes to have all these darlings greeting me GOOD MORNING MONKEY. PLEASE BUY US!!!!

All the beautiful pearls in outstanding size, lustre and color. A few months ago, I couldn't bring myself to purchase that gold pearl earrings at Mikimoto. Now that these are cheaper bcoz it's a trade show, perhaps I should.

My eyes were seeing double....it's actually the dual layer of security glasses
I rubbed my eyes again....60.06 carats huh? hmmmm in Fancy Intense Yellow...it's Ok lar bcoz it's not that yellow but 60 carats!!!!

Then there's my favourite and most expensive of the yellow diamonds - the FVY classification Fancy Vivid Yellow. Don't they make ur heart skips??? Mine almost popped outta my chest.

oh why hello there Beautiful.....I'll never be able to afford you but looking at you everyday every morning on my way to work somehow brighten up my day so so so much. Very MUCH!!!

So that's why I took 30 minutes to get to work...but I'll usually arrive by 8.30am and another busy day has started.....back to back non-stop. There's no weekends here. >.<

Bcoz I'm so in love with Yellow Diamonds, dearie Reezal decided to impress me with his custom made canary yellow suit. It only take a fashionista like him to carry this so well :)))

oh well no pics of me working, coz too busy, mind was so focussed, passion for work was so deep. I don't know how long can I do this afterall it was my 7th trade shows.  Each and every year, I'll say this will be my LAST....my last trade show...it will be MY LAST. And each year I came back -_-" 

Veal Sausage on a bed of sauerkraut - my one and only lunch throughout those 2 weeks. It was on the day before the trade show begins. Before the mad crazy period.

Thank you so much to media friends and friends of the industry who hand-carried lunches to my booth for me :)))) U guys are the sweetest. :)))) If any of you decided to lose some weight, this would be a great job for u. *wink*

This was me on the last working day....so eppy...looking up into the sky for the first time. Yeah coz I don't see daylight...every day once I'm done with work, the sun has already set and it's dark outside.

There's alwiz lights at the end of the tunnel isn't it? Hahahahaha...I call this square with a huge hole in the middle...the cupola of Horology Church.
Hallelujah my work are done!!! I don't have to see u anymore, at least for another 11.5 more months to go.

Foie Gras mousse with figs
I had my dinner everyday....outside...entertaining.....
sometimes it's good food...sometimes not so but most of the time it's really good.....I've been having a lot of hits and misses throughout the years and have bookmarked some restaurants and banned a few

and I've been to a few honest italian trattoria which served pretty authentic home-cooked italiano cuisine. Just simple fresh produce cooked by mom and pop

On certain nites, when I am not entertaining, Chris da Boss would insist that I go to his apartment for dinner with a few other guests. When u have home cooked food, u can't decline an invitation but jumped at it....hahahahaha

and his speciality is chinese - Toufu with minced pork

Monkey: "where the hell u got this piece of awesome toufu? Looking neat there."
Chris da Boss: "Asia Market!!!"
On another nite, he cooked Bak Kut Teh *Smacks forehead*
Monkey: "U made this Yu Tiao?????"
Chris da Boss: "Asia Market!!!!"

oh gawd...u can practically get everything these days around the world including Fried Yu Tiao!!!!

Stir Fried Kangkung with belacan.

Monkey: "Don't tell me u bought these kangkung at Asia Market!!!!"
Chris da Boss: "Yes!!! Asia Market!!!"

it must have cost a bomb but surprising not.....only CHF 1.50 = RM 5.80 per bunch
I think RM 5.80 for kangkung in Switzerland isn't expensive at all considering everything is so exp like a piece of sausage is already CHF 8.50 = RM 32.30

Chris da Boss: "Our dearie government asked us to eat kangkung, so I'm promoting it even in Switzerland"
-_-"

Prawns stir fried with lotsa garlic and dried chilis

Steamed chicken in chinese tong guai and wolfberries and red dates
Wow this dinner is tooooo much!!!! It's a luxury to have all these here in Switzerland!!!

When it's not dinner with clientele, the press/media/jourmalist or the bosses or chinese meal at Chris da Boss...it's more work-related dinners.. Here we were recee-ing a venue for future event. It's so beautiful and classic.

The Marketing Team were bz snapping pics as Owner of the place explained wat Hermes did here at their last event. The painting was original and this place is a few hundred years old. We couldn't helped it but Walt-ed around this room like Queens.

 the crazy mad loud fun Gals of the marketing team

I usually went home half sober...coz for there's another mad crazy busy day in a few hours. I gotta wake up at 6.00am again...for the routine repeats itself....cook breakfast, shove food down throat, go to work, work WORK WORK work, dinner and entertainment, drinks and parties and sleep~~~~~~

Can't afford to partay too late into the nite. I'm no longer 18 nor 22 years old. Very soon I am gonna hit 18 + 22. Hahahahaha. Right???