Thailand - Bangkok : #CafeHoppingBKK "Kids' Playground" Mr. Jones' Orphanage

Mr. Jones' Orphanage 

The name of this desserts cafe sounds a little sad and creepy but the quirky decoration has made itself the most welcoming orphanage ever. Mr. Jones, well done in giving it such an intriguing name.

When you walk in the cafe, it is almost as if you enter another world that separates you from the noisy and messy environment outside - a long wooden train tracks that runs around the whole cafe, teddy bears dangling around and piles of cakes on a big dining table in the middle of the cafe. The visual digestion has already half filled up our stomach already.

The cafe is a little cramped due to so many decoration and furniture. The walkway in between tables is really small, the space between the table and the chair is very tight, the drop down lamp is a little too low (I have to avoid bumping into it when I sit down) and lastly the ceiling is too low (although I'm short so not much issue for me, but still!). There are even "watch your head" signs everywhere. 

 I guess the teddy bears refer to the orphan? 

Large varieties of cakes and pies for your selection.

This is just too cute to put into your mouth!

I heard this is the most recommended dessert so I am a little regretted (keep hitting my heart) for not ordering that. You will have to eat it while hot otherwise it will become a cold choky thick mud pie that very hard to swallow. 

Kitkat + M&M cake! Beautiful and colourful cake but I would guess too chocolaty to swallow as well.

Finally, we only ordered one cake to share as we were so full from last meal. So this is lemon meringue cake (135 bahts) and I would love it even more if the cream is lesser. 

I am not a big fan for cakes but I would recommend to come here for its concept as I feel the selling point of this cafe is more on the cafe design than the desserts. 

Mr Jones' Orphanage

Address: Siam Center, 989, Rama 1 Rd, Pathum Wan, 10330 Bangkok

Opening hours: daily 11am to 9pm

Nearest BTS station: Siam Station

Other branch: Seen Space, Thong Lor Soi 13 (G F), Sukhumvit Soi 55, 10110 Bangkok

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm

Nearest BTS station: Thong Lo station

Prague Jewish Museum opens new visitor center

Photo: Jewish Museum Prague

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

The Prague Jewish Museum is the most visited museum in the Czech Republic -- drawing more than half a million visitors a year.

So in a way, it's high time that it has opened a new visitor information and reservation center.

The new facility opened Feb. 3 at Meiselsa 15, close to the historic synagogues that house the museum's collections, as well as to other Jewish sites such as the Old-New synagogue, the Old Jewish cemetery and the Jewish Town Hall.

According to the museum’s announcement on its web site:

This new site provides visitors with a multimedia information space and offers a range of additional services. It is an interactive information gateway with basic details about the monuments and permanent exhibitions in the Jewish Town, as well as about specific Jewish monuments in Prague and the rest of the Czech Republic. It also contains information about current educational and cultural programmes held by the museum and related organizations and institutions. Visitors will also be given useful tips on where to find kosher meals and on services provided by travel agencies specializing in Jewish heritage tours. [...] As well as providing services for individual tourists, the new centre will also accept bookings from guides, school representatives and travel agencies. It also includes a rest area with refreshments and toilet facilities, as well as disabled access and a baby changing table.

In October, the museum will mark 20 years since it was given back to Jewish ownership by the state, and the new visitor center is just one of the initiatives and changes that are being implemented this year to mark the anniversary.

Lemon Tree Restaurant at Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru

Lemon Tree Restaurant (N1.49135 E103.76201) is located along Jalan Bedara, Tmn Melodies, Johor Bahru. The restaurant is situated in a residential area since 11 years ago, and most of their customers are regular...
The owner - Mr Jeffery Bong said he surveyed the area before starting his restaurant and like the trees in front of the shop lot very much. And because of the trees stories, he named the restaurant as 'Lemon Tree', a popular song which was famous by Fools Garden, released on the year 1995 and became a major international hit in 1996.

Lemon Tree Restaurant at Tmn Melodies

The setting of the restaurant is simple and cozy, with retro ambience. The warm lighting made the guests feel comfort while dining in the restaurant...

The simple interior deco of Lemon Tree Restaurant

The area is well ventilated and I like to view through the old photos (the owner's collection) on the wall...the Elvis, Beatles and other famous artist from the 60s & 70s...

Our first appetizer was Tuna Bruchetta Cheese Bread.

Tuna Bruchetta Cheese Bread

The piece of bread evenly covered by tuna and nicely wrapped with cheese, the slice of cucumber and baby tomato provided extra refreshment to the appetizer, these Bruchetta were nice!

After the appetizers, each of us have a homemade mushroom soup served by the restaurant.

Homemade mushroom soup by Lemon Tree Restaurant

The flavorful mushroom soup was nice, creamy, but not starchy, I can taste the mushroom started from the beginning till the end...the bowl of mushroom soup was just nice for a person.

Next, there were two 12" pizzas were served. Tropical Hawaiian and Island Seafood Pizza.

Tropical Hawaiian pizza by Lemon Tree Restaurant

Island Seafood pizza

The both cheesy pizzas were topped with a large mount of fresh ingredients, pineapples, cucumbers, hams, tunas, prawns and many more! You have to taste it yourself. I would prefer the Hawaiian pizza because of the fruits, but...that would very much depends on the individual taste bud.

The Mixed Fruits Salad was the following dish...kind of like the foods arrangement by the owner - Jefferey Bong, because the refreshing fruits salad was served after the large amount of cheese loaded into our stomach...:)

Mixed fruits salad

The fruits salad was prepared with the fresh fruits, and don't forget the special dressing by the Chef Jeffery, therefore it definitely cool us down for the 'part 1' foods session...

After a short break, the 'part 2' began with 2 spaghetti, appeared on the table quietly...
The Spaghetti Hawaiian and Spaghetti Seafood Alio-Olio.

Spaghetti Hawaiian

Spaghetti Seafood Alio-Olio

Both spaghetti were delicious! The Spaghetti Hawaiian was served with hams and with sweet sauce, and the Spaghetti Seafood served with lots of seafood...especially the big prawns. We like the taste of the both spaghetti.

Before the we could finish the spaghetti, the New Zealand Air Frown Rib-eye presented!

New Zealand Air Frown Rib-eye steak

The steak served in the medium well doneness and the black pepper sauce was separated, which give a choice for those who like the original beef taste and those who like with the sauce.

The a bit char grilled steak was succulent, it could be better if serve in medium rare with the taste of meat juice...but this is my personal preference and it may not suitable for all of us, well arrange by the Chef! You will be surprise by the reasonable price of this steak, find out yourself! :)

The medium well doneness New Zealand Rib-eye at Lemon Tree Restaurant

The Chef did serve some of the local delicacies on the following after having such a nice western cuisine, that were the popular Lemon Tree Special Fried Rice and the Mee Mamak.

Special Fried Rice

Mee Mamak

As I recalled, the Lemon Tree restaurant caught my attention few years ago from some of my friends comments on their nice and simple fried rice, as a fried rice lover...I was a bit late to try out but never regret on it!
The fried rice was fragrance and yummy, served on the perfect moist level and never too dry to enjoy it! The plate of fried rice served together with a fried chicken wing, ham, cheese, fried egg and the sauce. It can be a filling dish for lunch or dinner.
According to the Chef...the combination of fried rice was a advise from a regular customer who visit the restaurant 3 times a week, the customer requested to has more stuffs beside the fried rice and Chef Jeffery 'tailored made' the dish as what he need, surprisingly the dish sell very well from the kitchen...that's the reason Jeffery named it The Special Fried Rice of Lemon Tree Restaurant!

The Mee Mamak was an enhanced version from the local mee goreng where easily available in most of the mamak shop. But the Lemon Tree's version was slightly different, it topped up with many veggie and fried to the perfect taste...which mean not too sweet or salty. It was an eye opening for me to taste the mee mamak in the western food restaurant.

After all the scrumptious meal for the dinner, the lovely desserts surfaced...
The special edition of Tiramisu and the Chocolate Lava.
I'm not a dessert person but the desserts on that evening 'seduced' me too much! Haha!

The Tiramisu

The Tiramisu was made in 3 types of coffee and with the unique cheese cream. The Wow factor was on the first bite! Not overly sweet (as peoples are more health conscious nowadays), and it was a surprise for me!

The Dark Chocolate Lava cake

The chocolate lava cake was made from the pure 70% of dark chocolate, it won't be overly sweet...no worries! And the so called 'Lava' will not ooze from the cake once you cut it due to the high density of the chocolate cake.

I believe the two desserts above will easily drive the girls crazy! It will become the favorite for the desserts lover!

We were satisfied for the dishes served by the restaurant that evening. Especially with the reasonable prices. The prices for the dishes above are within RM5.50 and RM49.00.

Lemon Tree Restaurant had expanded their dining area to the next door. According to Jeffery, the new wing is cater for private function or catering services, 20-30 persons.

The Chef - Mr Jeffery Bong was a executive chef of one of the 5 stars hotel in Singapore, he decided to came back Johor Bahru to start his own business 11 years ago. He wanted to serve his customers with the quality foods and a reasonable price, in fact...it's a good news for the western food lover in Johor Bahru. The restaurant had been through more than a decade, and Jeffery continue to provide the best cuisine to his customers from day 1 till now...

Do drop by the Lemon Tree Restaurant if you are happen in Taman Melodies area, I believe you will find what you like!

Lemon Tree Restaurant
18, Jalan Bedara,
Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru.
Tel : +607-335 5688

Business hour : 12pm - 11pm (Close on Monday)

GPS Coordinates : N1.49135 E103.76201

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Restaurant-Lemon-Tree/157181411041060

Location map of Lemon Tree Restaurant at Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru.

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Thailand - Bangkok : Asiatique The Riverfront

ASIATIQUE The Riverfront

First I knew about this newly set up night market was from a cab driver and my girl friend wanted to go to Patpong but the rest of us were like "Hey boring...". Then the cab driver overheard us so introduced this Asiatique to us.

Asiatique is the largest lifestyle outdoor shopping mall in Bangkok by Chao Phraya river which opened on May 2012. Barely 2 years, it is now the most upscale riverside night market and may be the trendiest landmark in Bangkok. #ISayOne

So this is my second trip to Asiatique and this time I chose to take water transport instead.

We took BTS to Saphan Taksin station and walked towards the pier from exit 2. There was a free shuttle boat from the pier to Asiatique but we blur blur walked to the first boat service and were quoted 100baht per pax. So please don't be like us and be a big carrot and chop by them. Walk till the end of the pier and hop on the free shuttle boat.

There! Do you see a ferris wheel? That is the place we are heading to.

After we made our payment, so we thought maybe our boat would look like the above... But nooooooo..... the guy asked us to hop onto a super wobbly and looked like a bigger version of cannot-withstand-wind-and-rain-sampan ~.~ really cheat my money and my feelings....

Even though the ride took only 10minutes but all the passengers put on safety jackets and I was holding tightly on to my bf all the time. Woah it was a horrible nightmare! The whole time I was thinking "what if it capsizes?" "I cant swim" "omg I'm gonna die in bkk"...

100baht for this ~.~"

Okay lah, I still managed to take a nice scenary picture. *luckily my camera did not drop into the water*

Finally reached and ended my misery... *water phobia fear getting stronger*

Asiatique is more than just a night market. It is separated into four districts: Chareonkrung District (performance/entertainment), Town Square District (dining area/activity area), Factory District (fashions) and Waterfront District (walkway along the river+fancy restaurants). 

It is used to be an international trading pier owned by Danish trading company and many of their original buildings are still retained and turned into shopping district after renovation. That is why there are so many warehouse-like buildings. What a creative and cheap way to turn into a shopping paradise!

The Asiatique Sky ferris wheel. Priced at 250 bahts for adults.

Located near the bank of the river, it offers a better and more amazing view of Bangkok when you ride this 60 metres high ferris wheel.

Omg kombi food stall! I kinda like this concept!

As it is the most upscale night market now, the prices are slightly more expensive than other night markets. Taking in account of strolling on the city's longest public boardwalk, enjoying panoramic night view, shopping under formally international trade center in Bangkok and dining in whole stretch of fine dining restaurants and bars along the river, we pretty much expect these kind of prices. 

I guess this love lock thingy is kinda hot in many countries.. Paris... Korea and now even Bangkok. Maybe soon in Singapore lol

One of their local brands

It was near one month away from Christmas season..

Walking along Waterfront district to look for best dinner spot..

Finally, we settled down in Capri restaurant. Actually every restaurant looked the same, all were serving western food and all by the river so the views were good. We chose this restaurant because we liked the name and there is a Capri Hotel near my office.. okay... not related and let's move on lol

Coconut juice.. 

I was browsing the menu and I saw this lobster-black-spaghetti thingy on the menu. I thought to myself that I should try something different and new in other country so I decided to venture this spaghetti. When the food came, I was taken aback by how they present their food. I mean LOOK! There is a lobster head there lol ok this is just bimbotic comment. 

HEY, it not only look nice and tasted very nice also! Good job Capri! 

It was quite expensive dinner there but with live music, chilling by the river and classy menu probably the standard prices there.

"CBD" view at the opposite side of the river... Okay lah.. not very nice view.. Singapore nicer... 

Then we took a cab back to our hotel (which was next to platinum mall). The cab fare was only around 250baht lor! Feel more and more cheated by the dumbass sampan... 

Asiatique The Riverfront

Address: 2194 Charoenkrung Road, Wat Prayakrai District, Bangkor Laem, Bangkok 10120
Open daily from 5pm till 12midnight

Web: http://www.thaiasiatique.com/index.php/en
Nearest BTS station: Saphan Taksin station