The school year has ended

Another school year has ended, and this year have not been easy. Things are so different due to COVID and normally at this time, I'm busy preparing and planning for my trips. Tickets were booked earlier this year in January and February but everything was canceled as we still cant fly freely in and out of the country even though some countries with very low COVID rate are allowed now. For the past three years, I went to Osaka for the marathon around this time but now I feel kind of lost. The only thing we could look forward was a series of staycation. 

Anyway we were rather lucky as MBS offered us a total of 8 free stays (2 each in the month of August, October, November and December) and we also bought over one from P's friend in September as we did not know we were going to get more free stays later in the year. We did the 6th stay in MBS last Friday and after so many times there, we were kind of getting familiar with the routine so we did not take photos of the room anymore (most of the times we asked for high floor city view). We're even going back again tomorrow, just after two nights back at home, as there were not many dates to choose from in November and we're having another staycation in another hotel for P's birthday next weekend.

Food is a highlight for our staycations. After the first dinner at the MBS foodcourt, I ensured that I always make bookings for dinner for our remaining stays. After dinner at Wolfgang CUT, I wanted to try RISE buffet as it was right at the hotel lobby but I forgot to book and the reception told me it was fully booked, but we still went ahead and tried our luck when we were passing the lobby. To our surprise, there were seats for walk-in and we started trying out buffets at a few hotels for our stays thereafter.

1) MBS Shoppes foodcourt

2) Wolfgang CUT

3) RISE buffet (MBS)

4) The Edge (Pan Pacific hotel)

5) The Colony (Ritz Carlton hotel)

6) Sen of Japan (MBS Shoppes)

7) Spago Restaurant (upcoming stay)

8) LAVO Restaurant (upcoming stay)

9) Oscar's (upcoming stay )

Wefie while on our way to dinner

So good that we ordered another portion

Carbless maki was really good

Mouthwatering tender Wagyu A5

I ran out of ideas for buffet dinner after trying those from the nearby hotels, so I was practically looking through all the restaurants recommendations around the area and shortlisted places for dinner for our remaining stays. We dont mind splurging on food as our original plans to Japan and Europe would have cost even more, having a budget of around $200 for dinner seems okay in comparison.

I came across Sen of Japan during a search and decided to make reservations since the reviews was good. We were quite prompt and the restaurant was not full when we went in, in fact it is one of the eateries located on level 1 of the Shoppes and it was a good location for chilling and people-watching. The food did not disappoint and the ikura gunkan was so impressive that we ordered another portion. I had the carbless maki and the salmon was fatty and yummy, I was still craving for the taste the next morning. The food came fast and we only spent half an hour or so in the restaurant, not wasting any time on chatting while we devoured the delicious dinner. Together with drinks, the bill came up to around $190. I'm not sure if we'll ever visit again but it was a good experience, we enjoyed a good piece of wagyu steak which we both loved.

Venchi after dinner

Venchi again before we check out of hotel

P went up to chill in the morning

After dinner, we went to get Venchi for dessert and we walked out to the deck area overlooking the bay as we ate. We wanted to visit the newly opened Apple Store perched on the bay but visitors were only allowed into the shop via appointment. We headed back to the hotel room and I was so sleepy that I immediately lied down on the sofa to rest. There is something about MBS roomS as we always had early dinner but I always knock out early after the dinner, even on the sofa. I only woke up again at 11pm and P was also asleep even before washing up. I finally washed up and stayed up watching Netflix for a few hours before he finally woke. I rested again when it was about 3am in the morning.