Sint Maarten

[Throwback February]

There are no direct flights from Panama to the BVI, so a connection is required—typically via San José, Sint Maarten, Barbados, or Miami. I chose to transit through Sint Maarten as it felt like the safest option, especially since my manager had been there before.

It was a three-hour flight to Sint Maarten on Copa Airlines, and I arrived at their bright international airport around noon.

Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch side), is a country on the southern part of a Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas territory. The airport is located at the Dutch side.

I spent a night in Sint Maarten before the connecting flight to BVI the next morning. There's only one flight available to BVI daily (which is in the morning).

The hotel check-in is only available at 3pm, hence I hangout the check-in hall where the restaurants/food court is located to have my brunch and to enjoy the free wifi. This airport is quite small and basic like our previous LCCT (even smaller than that) but it is well-maintained and clean.

The taxi rates are fixed from airport to various spots in the island. Good that they have these rates fixed to prevent touts. 

After checked-in the hotel, I walked and then took a 'bus' to Maho beach to watch plane landing/take-offs. It is a popular spot for plane watch. You can view some videos in Wiki.

Maho beach is located at the other end of the airport. 

As I stayed nearby the airport too, I walk around the airport on my way back. Halfway walking, I hopped on to the local bus (which is actually a van) to get back. The ride costs USD1 per person.

Reached hotel before the skies turn dark. Ventured around the vicinity to find food for dinner and I discovered a Chinese restaurant....The menu looks familiar, with some East Indies influence.

I saw a young Chinese lady at the counter, speaking English that sound like Manglish/Singlish kinda accent. She was interacting with the black Caribbeans, and those people were so 'loud' (sorry, not being rude, but they talked and laughed so hard that's so annoying). I think that's the way they chill. They were having liquor, so probably abit drunk too.

As I was placing my order in English, she looked at me and asked if I'm ethnically Chinese which I said yes. Then, she asked if I can speak Cantonese to my surprise. Definitely yes! It has been some time since I last spoke Canto with anyone in that region. Having someone who can speak a familiar lingo in a foreign land definitely cheer up my day.

I learned that she is from Taishan in Guangdong and has been working in Sint Maarten for over 10 years at this family-run restaurant owned by her relatives. She was curious too as to why a single Asian lady like me was in Sint Maarten😂

I had Chinese fried rice with sweet & sour chicken. It was yummy. The fried rice has wok-hei, tastes authentic like those you can find only in Chinese daipaidong.

There are many types of sauces and seasonings on the table, but I don't need any of them. The fried rice and the sweet & sour chicken itself are already flavorful.

This is the restaurant. Authentic Cantonese style food. It also functions as a pub as it sells liquor at the bar counter.

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Back at my hotel, I stayed just across the airport. From the balcony, I could see planes parked on the tarmac. There were no arrivals or departures after 6pm, so everything was quiet at night.

The next morning, I was up early to check-out at 7am. Reached the airport for my morning flight.

Princess Juliana International Airport. Princess Juliana was a Dutch royal who later became queen, and the airport is named after her because she visited the island during WWII when the airport first opened.

The view of the airport tarmac, with Caribbean Sea at the background.

I took Winair flight to BVI. It is a smaller aircraft (bus size) which could fit roughly 20 passengers. Free seatings.

The view of the sea from above.

Clear blue sea....

My first time taking a small aircraft. It was just a 45-minute flight. This kind of light aircraft can easily be blown away if fly under a bad weather (thunderstorm). Now I understand why there's only morning flight.

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Fast forward end of February. I transited back to Panama on Copa Airlines. Similar view but on a bigger plane.

Plenty of yachts scattered across the island.

ah, beautiful Caribbean Sea😍

Hope to be back soon!

Mr. Chen

Who is Mr.Chen?

Apparently this Mr.Chen is a popular Chinese fast-food outlet in Panama.

The menu ranges from chow mein, chow fun, chop suey and fried rice as well as some beef and chicken dishes.

Click on the picture to view the menu.

The combos.

I wasn't keen on having combos, hence I ordered only the chow mein. Was given a sachet of tomato sauce and soy sauce to eat with the chow mein. Soy sauce is alright, but tomato sauce? Who eats chow mein with tomato sauce?

Quite a huge portion, but taste is just so-so. Can't expect much from a fast-food chain. Definitely no wok-hei, it is just some simple fried noodles with cabbages and char siew.

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Next to the stall is Chicken Factory, which is also quite a popular chain brand, specializes in grilled chicken steak with local sides like patacones, yuca (cassava), sancocho (soup)....

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Local cooling desserts....shaved ice with syrups, also known as raspado, similar to our ais kacang but without the nuts.

Another stall, but I'm not sure if he is selling malteadas or raspado coz malteadas is milkshake which is cream based, but this one has shaved ice.

Not far from these stalls, there is a dog park/playground. There is a small entry fee to get in.

The dog park.

[Below] A food cabin....for those who prefer to dine alfresco style. It is usually windy at night with sea breeze.

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During the day, weather was hot, it hardly rains and the trees barely survive....look at the drying leaves and the yellow grass.

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I prefer to stay at home in my comfy aircond room than roaming outside.

Back to the cinema after so many years…

The last time I went to the cinema was....8 years ago (I think).

It was so long that I am kinda 'jakun' with the modern days' cinema nowadays. 

Now there are categories like beanie, indulge, luxe, imax which of course comes with a higher price.

In Pavilion BJ TGV cinema there are all these cute lil' corner for people to hang out while waiting for their next movie. These corners are decorated based on movie-theme. 

What brought me back to the cinema? It is definitely the legendary 'King of Pop' biography movie. I've been listening to his song since kid, so it definitely brings back all the nostalgia. Got a deluxe ticket for RM17.50 nett via app, which is a huge discount coz a normal ticket usually costs RM25.

The movie lasted 2 hours 10 minutes (inclusive of the ads and previews of upcoming movies).

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Soybean soft serve at Dao, located at level 2. I prefer mine without any sugar syrup, as the soft serve is already subtly sweet. RM6.90 nett for this cup.

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Went to Jollibee to tapao dinner. Their outlet in Pavilion BJ is as colorful as the outlet in IOI City mall.

It has been quite a while since i last had Jolly spaghetti and chicken joy.

The spaghetti sauce tastes slightly sweet. As for the spicy fried chicken, it was just so-so.

RM18.90 nett for a piece of fried chicken, spaghetti and a drink.

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Tried Palo, a newly opened Thai Muslim restaurant in the neighborhood specializes in braised meat.

Went there a few times to try the promotional items.

[Below] Braised chicken drumstick rice

Braised duck meat rice

and braised beef rice

All the rice meal came with pandan drink and a bowl of soup with daikon.

I took the drink home coz I couldn't stomach so much liquid after finishing the soup.

The bright & colorful interior....

Thai flags....

The promo items priced at RM11.50 nett after service charge & tax. It ended on 9th June.

Menya Hanabi

This shop specializes in mazesoba (Japanese dry noodles) but I was craving for ramen...

So I ordered a bowl of shio ramen (RM30.20 nett) instead.

Quite basic with standard ingredients. The broth is not the thick type and taste mild.

Not the best ramen, just passable.

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Ayam Gepuk from BrewMaster restaurant/pub. Nowadays pub also need to adapt to the ever-changing food trend.

The are 2 pieces of deep-fried tofu, some cucumbers, deep fried cabbage, a fried egg and a fried chicken leg.

You got to eat this with the peanut sauce, sambal/chili and kicap manis (sweet soy sauce) to get the 'kick'.

RM19.50 nett for this plate of imitation ayam gepuk rice. Imitation because it is not from a proper ayam gepuk shop and the chili is not spicy. 

Originated from Java, Indonesia,  ayam gepuk went viral nowadays and somehow everywhere there is a long queue for this.

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Yong tau foo in 'Kedai Makan Makan'.

My usual orders are brinjal, bitter gourd and white tofu in clear soup. Paired with dry noodle in soy sauce (RM6 for noodle, RM2.80 or RM2.90 per piece of ytf depend on which you picked).

Taste good, i will definitely order their ytf again.

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Back to Nando's after a year. Last year I went to the Pavilion BJ outlet, this time in Sogo KL.

Had lunch with my friend before we went to watch the orchestra rehearsal in DBKL building.

I had a quarter chicken with 3 small side dishes.

Complimentary mushroom cream soup.

This meal costs RM29.90 nett with free-flow drinks.