Long Fang Restaurant in Shanghai

During our trip to Shanghai this year, we went to this restaurant twice. So, please don't think we had so much food at one go. I think the restaurant has a few branches in Shanghai but this one is located at the Brands Mall in Pudong.

The view from the restaurant is beautiful with the Shanghai bund right across

Another view of from the restaurant

View of the restaurant

We ordered a number of cold dishes as these mainly appertizers. The portions are not large and therefore, you can taste more dishes. With the dishes, I was most amazed with the noodles with scallion. It was actually just a simple noodle without meat but it was really delicious.

Cold appertizer set of 3. Very interesting.

Another cold appertizer of pork

My favorite cold dish, cucumber with sesame oil

Honey prok ribs

Shanghai noodles with scallions

A nice herbal soup.

The next time we were there (with a few guests) for dinner. We only managed to take some photos of the food. As most of our guests are first timers to Shanghai, we ordered a number of the traditional dishes famous in Shanghai. The restaurant was packed for dinner but we were lucky to get a table inside (not the main room with the nice view).

The Xiao Long Pau

Famous Shanghai shrimps

Vegetables with mushrooms

Abalones (small ones)

Shanghai pancakes

Until the next time, cheers.

Grand Centara Beach Resort Karon, Phuket

The family had a short holiday in Phuket recently in June. After looking around for a family resort, I settled on the Grand Centera as it had quite a few things that would make the kids happy. In addition, it is a well known hotel chain to us.

In addition, this is a new hotel (only opened for about 6 months) and it has a beach front which is very rare in Phuket. Although the beach is not private but as it is away from the city and other hotels, there are not many outside people. Maybe it is the low season.

The facilities at the resort include a lazy river, double water slides and a 6 metre diving pool that looks like a cliff. It also has a very large pool with 2 whirlwind jacuzzi (it's really fun!) with another adult pool elsewhere. Not forgetting a children pool with slides and water fountains. The pools are also have sands. So, it is really a perfect resort for families with kids.

The lazy river and the double slides

The lazy river with the resorts rooms at the back

Another view of the double slides.

The children pool with a slide.

Another view of the rooms

A view of the restaurants

The main pool

The beach

The rooms that we had was really nice. We had the sea right in front of us and also a side and front patios. In total each room was about 850 sq. ft.

Our room's side patio

As the resort is very spread out, we had to do a lot of walking but at least, if you needed, there were buggies to pick you up.

The resort is also away from the towns and it may get a little expensive to go in and out as the taxis in Phuket seem to have a fixed price policy. To go out, it would cost at least Baht 30. As we had rented a car, it was not a problem for us.

Buggies to move around but you have to wait

The bathrooms were very nice with a really nice bathtub and shower. However, it was disappointing that
the fittings were already broken and not working properly after only 6 months.

Nice bathtub

Shower room

Washbasin

I think that the main attraction is the diving pool (for those who dare). The adults and kids who dived and used the slides really had a blast.

Enjoying the 6 metre dives

Nice lagoon like deep pool

Until the next time, cheers.
 

CENTARA KARON PHUKET