The Making of... Sunrise at Angkor Wat

When we arrived at Angkor Wat, it was pitch black. The only way around was to carry a flashlight to avoid stumbling into the ruins. Here were a couple shots I took while waiting - keep in mind these are long, long exposures.


[Caption: Facing towards the west entrance]


[Caption: Looking at the towers of Angkor Wat]

Photo: Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Food: とん吉 (Tonkichi)

とん吉 (Tonkichi)
告士打道280號世貿中心412室 (280 Gloucester Road, World Trade Centre, Fourth Floor)
銅鑼灣 (Causeway Bay)
Phone: +852 2577 6617

Second location:
廣東道100號彩星集團大廈B/F B室 (100 Canton Road, Basement)
尖沙咀 (Tsim Sha Tsui)
Phone: +852 2314 2998




This Singapore import is quite popular. The wait can get up to two hours even on a weekday to the point where they stop giving out numbers at 8 pm. Reservations are available for the weekdays, but are full for the next couple of months. However, the reason for the wait is an authentic tonkatsu experience that rivals anything you would find even in Japan.

To start, after you order, the waitress hands you a mortar and pestle with sesame seeds to grind your own sauce.


After it gets to the consistency you like, you reach over and grab the tall container that contains トンカツソース (tonkatsu sōsu) to mix with your sesame seed puree. The other two containers contain dressing for the shredded cabbage - here you have a choice of yuzu- (guess that makes it ponzu) or seaweed-flavor.



The primary dish of course is the tonkatsu:


You can get either the pork loin:


Or pork fillet:


Your order comes with miso soup and rice


Lastly, to finish off the meal, you get watermelon slices for dessert (although you can order a proper dessert if you're still hungry)


If you get a seat against the window, you can see Victoria Harbour


Other food recommendations to-date:

- Maxwell Food Centre [新加坡 (Singapore)]
- 清真牛肉館 (Islam Food) [九龍城 (Kowloon City)]
- 建興亞婆豆腐花 (Kin Hing Tofu Dessert) [南丫島 (Lamma Island)]
- 小杨生煎馆 (Yang's Fry Dumpling) [上海 (Shanghai)] -- more --

Food: Maxwell Food Centre

Maxwell Food Centre
At Maxwell Road and South Bridge Road

How to Get There
By MRT : Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and Chinatown (NE4)
By Bus : 2, 12, 61, 80, 143, 145, 166, 197, 608, 851, 961



As I previously mentioned, some of the best foods in Singapore are found at the Hawker Centres. One in particular that I like is the one at Maxwell. Here are some of the stalls I would recommend:

興興雞飯 (Heng Heng Chicken Rice)


Their specialty is, of course, 海南雞飯 (Hainanese chicken rice) and it's better than the more famous stall that is also at this Hawker Centre, 天天海南雞飯 (more below).




For drinks, there are two places that are pretty good.

清涼小站 (Cool Station)


I get the 珍珠奶茶 (pearl milk tea) here, where the pearls are pretty QQ and the tea isn't too bitter or sweet.


麥士威 (Maxwell)


The 甘蔗汁 (sugarcane juice) is fairly sweet and doesn't taste too pulpy or sour.


賭間口油條
You can get the 油條 fresh if you get there in the mornings (they were done before noon) and are really, really good (as good as getting them in Taiwan even!).



The more famous place for 海南雞飯 is 天天海南雞飯. There is usually a long, long line whenever they are open. (They were not open on Monday when I was there.) You're likely not to go wrong with them as they're good, however, I find that they leave a lot more bone on the chicken.


Here is what their 海南雞飯 looks like (yum!):


However, this is how much bones are left:


In comparison, with 興興雞飯 there isn't as much:


If you really get the chance, try both. =)

Other food recommendations to-date:

- 清真牛肉館 (Islam Food) [九龍城 (Kowloon City)]
- 建興亞婆豆腐花 (Kin Hing Tofu Dessert) [南丫島 (Lamma Island)]
- 小杨生煎馆 (Yang's Fry Dumpling) [上海 (Shanghai)] -- more --