Our Top 5 Attractions & Must - Sees in Rome, Italy

1. The Colosseum a.k.a. Colosseo

One of the 7 Wonders of the Medieval World

You have never been to Rome if you have never paid a visit to one  of the greatest works of Roman architecture, built in the 80AD, known as the Colosseum.

Rooms for Gladiators

During the olden days, the Colosseum was once an amphitheatre used to host gladiatorial shows as well as dramas, mock sea battles and animal hunts which could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators at a time. Its huge capacity made it essential that the venue could be filled or evacuated quickly. Its architects adopted solutions very similar to those used in modern stadiums to deal with the same problem, such as having a huge number of entrances and exits at calculated points.  According to some historians, around five hundred thousand people and millions of wild animals were killed as part of the games in the Colosseum during the period when it served as a place of entertainment. 

Inside the arena

The Colosseum today is one of the most popular attractions in the world receiving millions of visitors each year. When visiting the Colosseum, do remember to get your ticket online beforehand to avoid long queues. A daily pass of Colosseum + Palatine Hill (mentioned in more details below) + Forum  (mentioned in more details below) can be bought in many online sites. If possible, spend a few more € and take a guided tour inside the arena. This will give you a chance to learn more about the history of this wonderful place.

Warning! When you're outside the Colosseum, beware of some barbarians who dress like gladiators offering photo-shoots. They can be very persistent and rude at times and a photo with them will cost more than your 3-in-1 daily pass.

Open daily :
   - October - January 15 (9am - 3pm) 
   - January 16 - February 15 (9am - 4pm) 
   - February 16 - March 17 (9am - 4.30pm)
   - March 18 - April 16 (9am - 5pm)
   - April 17 - September (9am - 7pm)


2. Palatine Hill a.k.a. Palatino

Stadium of Domitian

Rome was built on seven hills, and the Palatine Hill is situated in the central hill on the site of the oldest parts of the city. It is believed that this hill is the birthplace of the glorious Roman Empire.

Fountain

Ruins Villas

Standing above the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is a large open air museum which contains the ruins of ancient palaces, buildings and several large villas that belonged to wealthy Roman families. The southern end of the hill contains the remains of the palace of the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus. Close to the Palace lie the huge bath ruins of the emperor. The northern section of the palace of Septimius Severus houses the stadium. This stadium was built together with the adjacent palace of Domitian. Domitian’s palace forms the largest, oldest and most domineering tourist attraction in the whole of the Palatine hill site. 

Entrance from Colosseum

Arch of Constantine

It will only take you about 5 minutes walk to get to the Palatine Hill from the Colosseum. Along the way, you will pass by the famous Arch of Constantine (excellent backdrop for picture taking) before reaching the stairway entrance to the Paletine Hill.

3. Roman Forum a.k.a. Foro Romano

Ruins of the Forum

The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic centre. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts. When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum was forgotten, buried and destroyed.

Rostra (large platform for speakers to stand on)

The Arch of Septimius Severus

Although what is left today are just columns and stone blocks, the first view of the Forum will always leave you breathless and give you a brief glimpse of how great the Romans once were.

Palatino (far top) & Foro

Spectacular view of Foro from Palatino

To truly enjoy these 3 places, allow yourself a whole day to slowly walk and experience the beauty of each architecture and understand the story behind every building. There are 2 ways to walk this tour; either start from the Colosseum and end at the Forum or vice versa. If you missed the online ticket, it's advisable that you start at the Forum instead to avoid the long queue at the Colosseum. The nearest Metro station to this area is the Colosseo station.

4. Trevi Fountain a.k.a. Fontana di Trevi 

Fontana di Trevi

The Trevi Fountain is Rome’s most beautiful and famous fountain and it attracts hundreds to thousands of visitors per day. The fountain is so beautiful that it has been used  for some movie scenes such as Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn. The location of this fountain is a little difficult to find and you should try to get your hands on a full map of Rome (some hotels and B&Bs will provide a full map of the city depicting landmark tourist attractions for free when you check-in) to keep you from getting lost because this beautiful picturesque city is full of narrow streets and quaint little alleys. The Trevi Fountain is situated in the heart of the city centre, crammed in among a maze of narrow streets and alley ways along Via Del Lavatore.

Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio Church opposite Trevi Fountain

Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back towards the fountain. The money will then be used to subsidise a supermarket for Rome's poor population.

Sea God

You will find many artists sketching and painting the attractions of Rome in the Trevi area. Try to bargain for a good deal if you're interested to make it a souvenir for yourself or friends. For those you who are planning to visit this fountain, the best time would be late evening to enjoy both the day and night views of this magnificent Trevi Fountain. The closest Metro station is at Piazza Barberini.


5. The Pantheon a.k.a Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres

Perfect Dome

The Pantheon is one of the greatest spiritual buildings in the world. It was built as a Roman temple and later converted into a Catholic Church. Due to this conversion by Emperor Phocas, the Pantheon was saved from complete destruction.

Tomb of Raphael

Tomb of King Umberto 1

The perfectly-shaped dome building is the burial place of several important Italians including the artist Raphael. Today, it remains an active church, a major tourist destination and also a popular place for wedding for the Romans.

Oculus

The wonder of this building is due not only to its perfectly symetrical round-shaped dome  (43m wide and 43m height) but also to its only source of natural light from the open centre of the dome, known as the Oculus. The circular hole measuring 30 feet in diameter, allows sunlight to flow through the interior of the Pantheon symbolizing the linking of the temple and the heavens on high. As the sun moves, striking patterns of light illuminate the walls and floors made of yellow marbles, granite and porphyry.

Verdict :

 Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (Love all the attractions)

• Value for $$$ - 8/10 (€9 for 3-in-1 (Colosseo + Palatino + Foro) daily pass? worth it!)

• Recommend to a friend? - Definitely (where else can you find a big open air museum?)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 9.5/10 (Love the architecture and the history)

• Value for $$$ - 9/10 (Value for money if you appreciate old historic buildings)

• Recommend to a friend? - Absolutely (Buzz me if you are going =), I would be delighted to visit Rome again)

Kow Po Ice Cream Shop @ Bentong

Thumbs up from Mickey

Nothing beats a cold, refreshing ice cream on a hot, sunny, humid afternoon. Nestled in the small town of Bentong sits this Chinese coffee shop that makes its very own homemade ice cream. This little shop is known as Kow Po, named after its current owner Mr. Tan Kow Po. His father was the man who started the business before passing it on to him. Today Kow Po's son, Jeffery Tan, also helps him out in the coffee shop and can be spotted tending to the ABC machine if you're there. Needless to say, this looks like a thriving business that will pass down to their many generations to come.

One of everything please!

A party of 3, we stop by for a refreshing break and ordered 2 Jumbos and 1 ABC Kow Po Special. The Jumbo which cost RM7.50 consists of 3 scoops of ice cream with canned fruits. As we ordered 2 Jumbos, we got to try 6 flavours; Vanilla, Banana, Coffee, Peanut, Chocolate and Pandanus. These were all the flavors that were available that day. The Peanut flavor was very salty and we found the Chocolate so strong in Coco that it tasted bitter. However, the rest of the flavours were refreshingly pleasant and well worth every dollar. Furthermore, Mr. Tan has mastered the art of making not only creamy ice creams but wonderfully smooth ones as well. The ABC Kow Po which cost RM3.50 came with a scoop of Pandanus ice cream. Very refreshing on a hot day but nothing extraordinary.

Coffee, Peanut & Banana

Chocolate, Pandanus & Vanilla

ABC with Pandanus Ice Cream

Kow Po also serves free plain water with the ice cream and if you're feeling peckish you can order their Yong Tau Foo for RM4 per portion.

A portion for 1

Jeffery Tan & the ABC machine

Verdict : 

For a total of RM22.50, Kow Po is exactly the stop you should make if passing by Bentong on a hot, sunny day. The ice creams are priced reasonably and texture creamy yet light. However, the flavours are slightly limited and if like me you're a fan of caramelish, milky, or hazelnut flavours, Kow Po might not be your cup of tea. But who knows? For every flavour that I am impartial to, might be a flavour that you favour ; )

Toothpick says : Love the texture of the ice cream but wish they had more flavours like rum&raisin, hazelnut and etc. Will definitely drop by again to try their famous durian flavor that wasn't available that day.

Sandal says : Disappointed! Didn't get to try the Durian Ice Cream. Will definitely skip the Peanut and Chocolate flavours in my next visit.

Address :
Kow Po Coffee Shop
2, Bentong Heights,
28700 Bentong
(Beside Hong Leong Bank opposite Bus Station)
Opens: 10.00am – 7.00pm (close on every alternate Monday)
 
GPS :
N = 3° 31' 20.36", E = 101° 54' 39.22"

Google Map :
3.522322, 101.910894Address:

Oriental Pavilion @ Jaya 33

I have visited this restaurant a few times with my family, but most of the time we order dishes to share such as the smoked chicken, pork ribs with red wine, and etc. Based on my previous experiences, the Chinese food here is more fusion than authentic but delicious nonetheless. As Sandal's birthday was approaching, Oriental Pavilion sent us a RM50 voucher discount to dine in (If you sign up to be a member, you'll receive this voucher yearly about a month before your birthday. Membership is free =)).

With the voucher in hand, the both of us decided to be more adventurous this visit and ordered some dishes we have never tried before, such as the below :

Steamed King Prawns with XO sauce and glass noodles @ RM18 per pax (min. order 2 pax)

The portion for the Steamed King Prawns with XO sauce and glass noodles was extremely small. The prawns texture was bouncy but the prawns were utterly devoid of taste - sort of like biting into a tasteless rubber with strands of noodles to accompany it. I wonder whether they soaked their prawns in some sort of chemical to make it bouncier and the chemicals, while doing its job rendered the prawns tasteless. The XO sauce was spicy and tasted like the canned XO sauce that I used to buy from a Chinese mini market for like AUD5 in Australia. In my opinion, this dish was not only expensive for the amount served but disappointing in taste as well.

Pan-fried Stuffed Australian Scallop with Foie Gras @ RM28 per pax

Next up, the Pan-fried stuffed Australian Scallop topped with Foie Gras. Unlike the above-mentioned noodles, you can order just 1 pax for this dish. The portion once again was very small, the scallop tasted like a fried squid ball and the foie gras was so overcooked that the middle was firmed instead of melt-in-your-mouth. Guess I shall stick to the French the next time I decide to order foie gras.

Steamed Cod Fish with Fresh Bean Curd Skin & Black Fungus @ RM16 per pax (min. order 2 pax)

The Steamed Cod Fish with Fresh Bean Curd Skin and Black Fungus was generous in portion but the fish was just a tiny bit overcooked and like the prawns for the XO noodles, the fish was tasteless. Very odd, I really think that they soak their seafood in some liquid for too long.

Oriental Pavillion's Three Treasures @ RM18 per pax

The Oriental Pavilion's Three Treasures can be ordered for 1 person alone and it consists of 3 bite-size appetizers; bacon wrapped around a steam scallop with cream sauce, a cold prawn dipped in mango salad sauce and fried soft shell crab with plum sauce dipping.The mango salad sauce was fantastic; tangy and sweet without masking the taste of the prawn (not tasteless this time), and the soft shell crab was fried just right; light and crispy without being soggy and oily. I really enjoyed this dish and without a doubt, it was my favourite for the night.

Verdict :

For RM77.90 (after discount) our dinner tonight was not a very enjoyable one. Even with the RM50 voucher, it still felt like a ripped off due to the taste (the lacked of one actually in this  case) and portion. We left the restaurant hungry and unhappy. However, I shall not let this 1 bad experience deter me from visiting again as in the past I have had great meals here. If you do visit, make sure you order the Pork Ribs with Red Wine. It is divine ; )

Toothpick says : I will still return here for dinner but will definitely avoid the first 3 dishes mentioned above.

Sandal says : Very inconsistent and should just stick with their normal Pork Ribs with Red Wine and Smoked Chicken.

Address :

Lot P 104 & A,

1st Floor, Jaya 33,

3 Jln Semangat,

Section 13, Petaling Jaya.

03-79569288

GPS :

N = 3° 6' 38.05", E = 101° 38' 14.45"

Google Map :

3.110569, 101.637347

 

La Gomera Spanish Buffet @ Neo Damansara - Damansara Perdana

La Gomera Buffet

La Gomera is a restaurant that offers Spanish Buffet, which is rather hard to come by. As I am a huge fan of tapas, I was very excited to try this restaurant. Furthermore, they are currently having a promotion where there is a 30% discount off from their normal buffet price of RM49.90 dinner.

A glimpse of what you'll be getting

At the salad counter, there was a large variety of salads laid out including bruschettas, very fresh cold prawns, lobster salad, and cold cuts. After sampling a little bit of everything, Sandal and I felt that the cold prawns stole the show for this counter. I was actually looking forward to many helpings of the lobster salad but personally found that the use of mayonnaise (preferably of the Japanese variant) instead of thousand island sauce would have been a better salad mix for the lobster salad. The thousand island sauce was too sweet for my liking and it  hid the natural taste of the lobster. Near the salad counter, there was also a huge portion of paella with seafood. The paella was OK, but nothing memorable. 

The second counter in the restaurant served soups, beef stew, lamb stew, beef tripe stew, beef balls, clams in wine sauce and etc. The beef and lamb for the stews were flavourful and tender, but the beef balls were really salty. The winning dish for this buffet counter was the seafood soup hands down. It was really aromatic and had a very strong, refreshing taste of seafood. And if you are a weight watcher, you'll be delighted to know that the soup is not the creamy kind but the clear sort.

Buffet spread

On each of the dinner tables, there will be little numbered clips. You can bring this clips along with you to the 3rd buffet counter (walk through the little alley way in the restaurant to reach this section), and place the clips into little bowls that represent the dish that you want the kitchen staff here to cook fresh for you. You get to choose from a variety of pasta, pizza, steak, grilled fish, chicken chop, fresh oysters, cheese baked scallops, and sausages. There were also some pre-cooked fried food here such as fried cheese dumplings, prawns, bean curd and onion rings. The steak we ordered was mediocre, carbonara pasta was bad, and the fresh oysters, although tasted fine was not cold enough.

The buffet also came with desserts such as tiramisu (I didn't get to try this as they ran out of it) and creme brulee (don't bother, hard as an omelette!), soft drinks, juices, hot drinks, and ice cream.

Oh and not forgetting, each seated table will get 1 helping of seafood platter which is a tomato-base soup with lots of seafood.

Entrance

Verdict:

After the 30% discount, our total bill came up to only RM76.85 inclusive of 10% tax for 2 pax. All in all, for the price paid and the huge spread provided, La Gomera is definitely worth a try. I hope that they will tweak some of their dishes based on the comments I left in their comment card so as to improve the quality of their spread here. Do take note that La Gomera is quite hard to find if you are not familiar with Damansara Perdana. The restaurant is actually inside the Neo Damansara Building in Damansara Perdana. Once you  take your parking ticket and enter into the building area, do try to park on that level itself (open air) instead of going into the basement as the basement parking is huge, very very empty after 7 pm, and can be confusing if you park in the wrong block.

Toothpick says : Will come back again to see whether there is any improvement.

Sandal says : Mediocre but good deal. Faster try it before the discount ends:)

Address :

Block E-LG-2,

Neo Damansara,

Jln PJU 8/1,

Damansara Perdana,

47820 Selangor.

GPS :

N = 3° 9' 52.78", E = 101° 36' 48.42"

Google Map : 
3.164661, 101.61345 

PJ Old Town Claypot Chicken Rice (opposite wet market)

Name-less Claypot Chicken Rice Shop

The Chef and his helper bustling away

In the mood for some hawker food, Sandal and I headed to PJ Old Town in search of the famous Claypot Chicken Rice. As neither of us has ever been there, we had to drive around until we spotted it.  We finally found it situated directly opposite the wet market. Although we looked high and low, oddly this restaurant has no signage advertising its name. 

Claypot Chicken Rice for 2

We settled for a claypot for 2 with salted fish.  When the food arrived, the waitress removed the lid and we were both blown away by the strong aromatic stench of salted fish. I think the smell was so strong because the salted fish was served separately in a little saucer in the claypot, instead of mixed-in together when cooking. The odor whetted our appetites and after mixing in the salted fish with the rice, we dug in hungrily. Although the portion was reasonable, the taste did not live up to the smell and both the rice and chicken were tasteless. 

Verdict :

The meal although disappointing, only set us back by RM10. If you still intend to try this restaurant, take note that they also serve double boiled soups and vegetables. Upon returning home, I googled and realized that we went to the wrong restaurant = p. The famous Claypot Chicken Rice shop in PJ Old Town is actually called Restaurant Veng Soon and it is opposite the bus station (not opposite the wet market) and on the same row as Public Bank. We shall be headed that way soon and we hope that you continue to follow us on our next gastronomical adventure!

Toothpick says : Bland and tasteless 

Sandal says : Time, calories and petrol - wasted

Address :

90A, Jalan Othman, 

PJ Old Town,

46000 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor

GPS :

N = 3° 5' 13.34", E = 101° 38' 44.43"

Google Map :
3.087039, 101.645675