Samar Arabic Cuisine, Singapore

Rating:3/5
Smoke a shisha (water pipe), soak in the great-for-tourists ambience and stay for the live music during Friday nights but skip the so-so food.
***
Located in the strip of halal restaurants at the Arab Street area is the homely Samar which serves middle-eastern cuisine.

It's a two-storey place that reminds me of those old wooden houses in the Philippines with the wide-open windows that are perfect for harana.

During that Friday night that I went for dinner, I was lucky enough to catch the live middle-eastern jamming session complete with dance number (S$1 cover charge)! The music, carpets and barefoot dining greatly contributed to the whole 'Arabian nights' ambience and took my mind off the fact that I couldn't find a comfortable way to sit on the pillows.

The food is so-so, nothing to rave about and I think are a bit expensive relative to the quality. You get great service if the manager (usually the guy in the long sleeved polo) is the one waiting on you but the rest of the staff could learn a thing or two from him.


Come here for the steady vibe, smoke a flavoured shisha (S$12) and just chillax. Leave your Manolo Blahniks at home and make sure you're wearing nice socks because you have to leave your shoes at the foot of the stairs.

Oh and if you're squeamish, you may not want to drink too much because barefoot + male urinals = yucky.

Three pawikan points. Bonus points for feeling like Aladdin and wanting to sing "A Whole New World". Minus points for getting my feet wet in the restroom with what I hope was just water.
***
To get here, alight at the Bugis MRT. Follow the signs to the Mosque. Samar will be at the corner of Kandahar and Baghdad st. Tell the manager in long sleeves that reviewsbyp sent you and watch his blank reaction.

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto

Rating:
Apocalypto is what you get when you cross The Predator, Fugitive and Lost.

Synopsis
A good portion of it is a lot of men in g-strings running around in a forest trying to chase another man in a g-string. (If you like man-ass flesh, you're in for a treat.) As the movie nears the end, the hunters predictably become the hunted.

Critique
There's a lot of blood and gore-- freshly taken hearts (still beating!) raised into the air, skull smashing, blood squirting (ala Kill Bill), beheading, testicle eating (no joke!), bludgeoning, spearing... oh and this being Mel Gibson, it's in a foreign language (Yukatek Maya) so you've got to read the subtitles.

Three pawikan points. Go and watch with your guy friends because this is definitely not a make-out movie. It's supposed to be a "political allegory about civilizations in decline". Ummm whatever. I don't know about that but I know that this is exactly the type of film my dad would enjoy-- a simple plot, no need to think and lots of action.

Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas

Rating:
Located in Nasugbu, Batangas, Terrazas de Punta Fuego is one of the more beautifully designed members-only resorts i've been to. They don't allow you to spend the night here but it's an excellent way to spend a day trip.

The best thing I like about Terrazas is the way it looks-- from the pool area, the shower rooms and the cabanas, this place seems engineered for photo ops. The design is functional, too with Cabanas offering privacy and maximum loungability (duyans, soft cushions and centralized beach music).

The crowd is mixed composed of families-on-vacation as well as barkadas-on-a-gimmick.

The beach itself isn't that great-- the sand is ordinary (no boracay-ish white sand here) and you can't see through the bottom of the water. Bring a kite or a volleyball, read a book or sun bathe instead.

Lunch is an expensive affair at Cafe Sol-- an ordinary-tasting meal will set you back Php300-400. This is home to the 1 pawikan point sizzling sisig-- the blandest sisig i've ever had in my whole life. Our lunch (with fruit shakes) for four people cost us Php2000! Next time i'm here, i'll try the php380 buffet instead of ordering a la carte. If you want to save money, walk down the beach and have inihaw with the locals.

I give this place 3.5 pawikan points. Plus points for the architecture, pretty looks and relaxing vibe. If ever you're going, make sure to get there early as the cabanas are first come first served. Leave the place by 6 (because the walkways are poorly lit at night) and then have dinner somewhere in Tagaytay.
***
If you liked this review, you may also want to read my reviews of White Cove Resort and La Luz Beach Resort.
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