Borneotip

Teluk Kemang

2012-01-27T22:17:00.001+08:00

Teluk Kemang is regarded as the most popular beach in Port Dickson, some 10 minutes drive from Port Dickson Town

There is a dedicated zone for souvenir shops and hawker stalls. This is definitely an ideal place to get a souvenir home while in Port Dickson

Teluk Kemang Beach is 1.6km long, which starts from Kemang Indah up to Baitu Hilal. Teluk Kemang get its name from a "Tree" which was found by the 5 family members originated from Selangor which were Niat (Penghulu), Bahir and his sons Limat, Neemat and Abd. Samad.

In early 1880, Teluk Kemang area was full of deep forest and swamps. The five family members exploited the area whereby they found a lot of trees which is known as "Pokok Kemang" ( a tree with which has fruits that are small and green in colour).

Seeing that the area was still without a name, they decided to named it as Teluk Kemang because of its location and surrounding area which have many bays and consists of many Kemang trees.

The beach is now a popular destination during school holidays with various water sport activities available.

My Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-24T22:24:00.000+08:00

In the beginning of the year, I had been waiting for the Chinese New Year to arrive as this is the best time for me to spent some quality time with my family and friends.

As usual, firecracker is a must on this very special day and I am "armed" appropriately for the countdown.

When the clock hit midnight, it was like a war zone here in Sibu. The firework was just amazing and I would never miss it for the world.

The aftermath of the night before in way of the main entrance to my house. Hopefully, we will blessed with good luck, wealth and health in the year of the dragon.

I was literally served with hard liquor for the past 2 days. Age is catching up on me and I don't take a lot of those liquor like I used to do in my 20's.

Managed to catch up with Bengbeng on some blogging topics and just to catch up on some issues regarding my hometown. Thanks for the hospitality!

It's a great day to catch up with friends as I don't get to see them very often nowadays. This is without a doubt the best moment for me in 2012.

2012 Suria KLCC CNY Decoration

2012-01-19T11:48:00.002+08:00

Dragon has been used primarily as the main decoration in KL's malls and this is no different in KLCC Suria.

There is a huge dragon basking in golden colour occupying the stage at its main concourse.

The auspicious golden dragon is set to bring good fortune for the mall and shoppers alike.

2012 Midvalley and The Gardens CNY Decoration

2012-01-17T19:39:00.000+08:00

This year Midvalley Megamall is literally been decorated with red giant lanterns.

With brightly lighted paper cut lanterns, shoppers will be immersed and showered with good fortune and prosperity this coming lunar new year of Dragon.

At selected schedule, there will be some show at Centre Court stage such as lion dance and etc.

Same concept is adopted by the adjacent The Gardens Mall although the lantern design there is more creative and digress from the traditional design.

As usual, the decoration at The Gardens Mall is always moderate but classy.

There will be occasionally some performance here such as Chinese dance, instrumental play, acrobatic and lion dance

My First Experience at 2012 Maybank Malaysia Open

2012-01-15T22:06:00.000+08:00

I never watch a live badminton match in my entire life and this year, I am determine to watch the Malaysia Open Super Series at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Unfortunately for me, I was a bit late where the Premium and the Lower Tier ticket seat were sold out on the final day. I am left only with Upper Tier seat (RM 25).

There is already a long queue at the stadium as early as 12pm to watch our local champion in the final.

The first match was the mixed double, an all China affair between Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei and Xu Chen/Ma Jin. It was a one sided match as Xu Chen and Ma Jin made a lot of mistakes. Xu Chen has a powerful smash where sometimes I can't even spot the shuttle.

The Women's Single is another all China affair between Wang Yihan and Wang Xin. I like Wang Xin attacking game but she made too many mistakes which cost her the title.

The Men's doubles was the most interesting match of the day. The pace was fast and I truly enjoy their game. At the end of the match, the Taiwanese pair was able to kept their composure and win the title in the process.

The most anticipated match was the Men's Single between Lee Chong Wei and Kenichi Tago. The Malaysian crowds were just superb and supportive. Now I understand why Lee Chong Wei was able to defeat Chen Long a day before.

Kenichi Tago played well in the beginning but unable to keep up with the Chong Wei's game plan after 3 minutes of the first set.

Lee Chong Wei won his 8th Malaysian Open title. This will probably his last appearance and I strongly believe there won't be any Malaysian players in the final for the next year edition.

The last match of the day is women's double between Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Ha Jung Eun/Kim Min Jung. Both pairs made a lot of mistakes during their game but the Danish pair came off victorious in the end after a tight battle.

There was a minority of Danish supporters here. The Danish pair was cheerful and playful after the win. Christinna threw her racquet to the crowd and Kamilla gave away her shoes.

Well, the event did not went on without incident. I notice there were many bad line calls in almost all the final matches. There are times where the organizer looked a bit disorganized, especially during the prize giving ceremony.

It was truly a memorable experience for me and I hope I can come back again next year to watch the game. Surely, the nation's best player, Lee Chong Wei will no longer be around. Let's hope some new talents would emerge by then.

2012 1 Utama CNY Decoration

2012-01-14T07:12:00.000+08:00

I was indeed surprised to see 1 Utama still maintained its underwater odyssey theme for the CNY decoration which the management used during the just concluded Christmas.

The familiar giant clams used last month are still visible although the background colour and carpet had been changed to red to coincide with the CNY festival.

I believe the decoration is still relevant as this is the year of water dragon. It might look a bit odd for certain people where a dragon emerge from a shell with an underwater backdrop.

This year decoration is still acceptable considering the gap between the last Christmas and CNY is just less than a month away.

2012 Pavilion KL CNY Decoration

2012-01-12T07:32:00.000+08:00

Pavilion KL usually comes out with extravagant decorations when it comes to a big occasion and I won't miss the chance to see what they have to offer for the coming Chinese New Year

One will be fascinated when stepped into Pavilion as shoppers will be greeted with a 600 foot long dragon to usher the Chinese New Year.

The Centre Court is now a dragon themed bazaar with unique dragon art and craft offerings.

This is the dragon decoration found on the facade of the Royal Selangor outlet at Pavilion KL.

There is no doubt that Pavilion KL once again stands out compare to the rest of the malls' decoration in KL

Doraemon World Fair @ Pavilion KL

2012-01-10T20:31:00.000+08:00

Doraemon is a famous Japanese manga series which is recognizable all around the world.

Now, Doraemon exclusive merchandise are available from 6 - 13 January 2012 at Tokyo Street (Pavilion KL).

This would be a good time too for the Doraemon fans to take photos with their favourite character.

I believe after this, they will move on to Genting Highlands after the Pavilion leg.

Do catch this opportunity if you are a Doraemon's fan. You don't get to see Doraemon figures and merchandise always

2012 Fahrenheit 88 CNY Decoration

2012-01-09T20:33:00.000+08:00

I start to admire Fahrenheit 88 decent decoration for any celebrations the management put up recently as I believe they had evolved since their inception in less than 2 years ago.

Its main concourse is decorated with lush spring decorations, predominantly red lanterns and cranes.

Last year, this place was virtually filled with rabbits but strangely enough the dragon figure is nowhere to be seen this year.

The festive atmosphere is present in almost all corners of the shopping mall. It's a nice place to shop but somehow shoppers are still not patronizing this mall compare to other more established malls in the vicinity.

2012 Berjaya Times Square CNY Decoration

2012-01-09T07:35:00.002+08:00

Entering Berjaya Times Square this time of the year, shoppers will be greeted by a giant blossom at its main concourse.

The tree is dubbed as the Malaysia's biggest blossom tree replica. Scheduled choreographed performances will be held at the stage below the tree

Red lanterns can be seen hanging at the tree branches to usher the auspicious Spring in the Year of the Dragon

If my memory serve me correctly, some of these giant red lanterns were used in last year decoration.

The main concourse area is laid down with red carpets and kiosks were set up selling all types Chinese New Year goodies

Kuala Perlis

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000+08:00

Kuala Perlis is located at the estuary of Sungai Perlis, about 13km from Kangar town. Kuala Perlis is actually a quaint fishing known for its ikan bakar (grilled fish), assam laksa and fresh seafood.

The best place to get a nice seafood will be at the promenade, opposite the Putra Brasmana Hotel. Apparently, this place is only open in the evening until night.

A stroll along the promenade along Kuala Perlis is a must visit place to fully appreciate the beauty this place got to offer.

It is a good place to relax at dusk and watch the spectacular sunset or fishermen returning with their catch.

There is a beautiful floating mosque located here which face the sea. Al-Hussain Mosque was completed in 2011 and constructed with mineral rocks without using any paint

The most busy part of the town will be the jetty where passengers catch the ferry to the duty free Langkawi Island.

The town has been thriving based on a few budget hotels and eateries mushrooming around the jetty area.

Putra Brasmana Hotel

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000+08:00

Putra Brasmana Hotel is probably the best place to stay while in Kuala Perlis or even while one is in Perlis. It is located not far away from the Kuala Perlis Jetty which is the gateway to Langkawi Island.

I saw this sticker on the hotel's main entrance where it features in TripAdvisor.co.uk in 2011. Well, at least the hotel is now highlighted in my site.

The hotel has a spacious lobby with fairy courteous staffs. My check in was without much issues.

The room assigned to me (RM 130, Sea View) has a decent size and equivalent to a 3 star hotel. My only complain is the pillows which in my opinion is not suitable for sleeping as they are too thin. It is also quite hard to adjust the hot water in the shower and wash basin.

As for room view, there are 2 types of view, the sea view and the jungle view. It's worth to get a sea view room as the difference is only RM10 and the view is just amazing. You can even opt to switch off the air condition and let the sea breeze in while you sleep.

The hotel's bistro also serves cheap food. Complimentary breakfast is provided although the choice and taste are just average.

Putra Brasmana Hotel
Jalan Kampung Perak,
02000 Kuala Perlis,
Perlis
Tel: 04-9855 900, Fax: 04-9852 900

Up & Coming Sibu New Airport

2012-01-03T12:41:00.001+08:00

Currently Sibu Airport is undergoing major upgrading work to cater the increasing passenger volume after operating for 17 years. On closer inspection, the new Sibu Airport will be about twice of its current size.

This will be the major driveway to the airport where the taxis will congregate. I must say I am rather disappointed with this airport design as it does not differentiate itself in term of architecture design with other airports in Sarawak such as Kuching, Bintulu and Miri. Almost all these airports share the same design.

The new check in counter area is now air conditioned and much more spacious than the previous layout.

This is the old section of the airport which is still in use and probably be demolished soon.

Extensive work still ongoing on the left and right side of the old structure. I can almost imagine the final outcome of this airport. I reckon the airport will be completed in another 6 months or so.

The departure hall as seen from the tarmac. It should able to accommodate more passengers and aircraft at the same time.

Sibu town from the sky. It is such a beautiful town with its prominent landmarks such as Wisma Sanyan, the town square and the mighty Rejang River.

Noodle House @ Sibu

2012-01-01T07:55:00.001+08:00

Noodle House has been around for sometime now in Sibu and I decide to pay the self proclaimed noodle specialist in town a little visit.

The shop might be a little bit hard to spot. It is located behind the Sibu Central Police Station, in way of the new shop houses.

The interior is cozy and comfortable. This outlet is open as early as 8am, which is quite unusual for an air conditioned outlet.

One thing that caught my attention is the way they prepare kampua where they add a little twist to it in term of presentation.

The Mille Crepe which is famous in Malacca is also available here. I did not order this and I can't compare it either with the Malacca version as I had yet to taste both version.

Milo Dinosaur (RM 3.90) is below my expectation as there is nothing much to it. Even the Milo powder is not imposing enough. I had better one before in Batam.

This is a good place to order kompia (RM 2.90) in town as one need not need to travel far to savour this local delicacy. The bagel is crispy and the minced meat is just perfect.

The sizzling spicy seafood kampua (RM 12.90) is served sizzling hot on a hot plate. This is the first time I tried kampua served in this fashion. It comes with prawn and squid in belacan, which is a nice touch to add some spiciness to the noodle.

It tastes OK and I believe it is a good try to add some variety to the kampua in town. However, I still prefer my kampua in old fashion way.

The Wantan QQ Noodle Soup (RM 5.50) is really nice. The pork bone soup is simply perfect and soothing. The noodle is tangy and I understand now why they claimed to be the noodle specialist.

I also heard their laksa is worth trying. In fact I heard most of their noodle dishes are equally good.

Noodle House

2b, Lai Chee 1 Road

96000 Sibu.

Konig Ludwig Dunkel

2011-12-28T21:42:00.000+08:00

After trying the Konig Ludwig Hefe, I came across the dunkel version in Cold Storage for RM 19.49 and decided to give it a try.

Konig Ludwig is known as "Beer of Royal Highness" due to the brewery's heritage which can be traced back through the Kingdom of Bavaria. The current proprietor is the great grandson of the last king of Bavaria, Ludwig III

Its alcohol content is at 5.1% and brewed with water, barley malt dark and pale with hop extract. This beer has a shelf life of 1 year.

It pours a dark brown colour with a lovely head and decent head retention. It has roasted malt and a sweet nutty, chocolate aroma with hints of caramel.

It's a refreshing beer to drink and definitely one of the best dunkel I had drank, second only to Weihenstephaner Dunkel

Jalan Pudu Steam Tilapia Fish

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000+08:00

I was introduced to a food stall at Jalan Pudu which serve pretty cheap tilapia fish for KL standard.

The stall does not have a proper name besides a giant sideboard which highlights its specialty, the steam gravy tilapia fish. The restaurant is opposite the Fei Por Restaurant at Jalan Pudu.

This food stall kind of using an alleyway between tho shophouses and converted to its own premise. There are quite a number of customers here by the time we arrived here around 8pm.

The steam gravy tilapia (fei zhou) fish is the specialty of this place. The fish is really huge and I was in awe of its size. The fish is actually cut into half but the size still amaze me. The price is unbelievable at RM 30++.

The fish is fresh and the spicy gravy is the best part as it blends well with the fish and there ain't fishy smell to it.

Another specialty dish here is the fried chicken cooked with salted egg. This is something out of the ordinary and the saltiness is just right and I truly enjoy this dish.

Make sure you ordered this correctly by the number of pieces of chicken you intended to have. The peg on the plate reads "4" which means 2 pieces of chicken wing and 2 pieces of drum stick.

We ordered a plate of vegetable and like most vegetable meals, there ain't much I can write about it.

I have no idea on the price breakdown on each individual meal but it total up to RM 54++ with 2 cups of tea and rice.

2011 Sibu Town Square Christmas Trees

2011-12-24T22:44:00.000+08:00

After admiring the Christmas decorations around KL and Selangor, nothing will be complete for me without going back to my hometown and see with my very own eyes the annual Christmas Trees in Sibu Town Square.

This year, about a dozen of Christmas trees lined up at the town square. All the trees here are set up by the local churches here.

There ain't much fancy Christmas trees compare to the previous years as churches usually have limited financial resources to put up an extravagant trees.

However, I am impressed with their resourcefulness as some of these trees are made up from plastic bottles, bamboo, leaves, reusable grocery bags and even umbrellas. Some of the end products really amaze me.

The best part is probably the messages on each of the trees which the churches try to convey to the public. This is really a nice touch as I believe it really reflect on the true spirit of Christmas.

Christmas Decoration @ IOI Mall

2011-12-23T23:00:00.000+08:00

IOI Mall did not have a fancy Christmas decoration compare to other malls in the vicinity. However, it still able to attract shoppers who live around Puchong area.

The new wing has a stage set up with some huge sales going on at the concourse area.

The management also hire a clown to cheer up the children. The clown will be able to make some cute animals and figures with the balloon for the children.

At the old wing, a wide range of Christmas goodies are available. A perfect place to shop for X'mas present.

Well, after all been said and done let's not forget the true meaning of Christmas. I believe the above picture will summarize the whole meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Decoration @ The Gardens Mall

2011-12-22T23:30:00.000+08:00

This year The Gardens Mall is decorated with awesome chandeliers and elegant medium sized Christmas trees.

There ain't any gimmick here and the decoration here kind of stick to its original tradition.

The chandeliers and the trees blend well to create a calm Christmas atmosphere in this mall.

One One Three Seafood Restaurant @ Dengkil

2011-12-21T21:30:00.000+08:00

Dengkil is a small town not far away from Putrajaya which has a lot to offer when it comes to cheap and tasty food. One of the restaurant I like to go is the One One Three Seafood Restaurant.

As a rule of thumb, seafood is quite expensive here even though they are fresh and well cooked. Hence, I always try to avoid ordering any seafood although been recommended by the restaurant.

"Tong Po" Meat (RM 12) is the signature dish here. The pork is slowly braised in sweet sauce. Notice the thick fat content on it.

Always remember to order the fried bun (RM 1 each) to go wit this pork dish. During lunch time, the fried bun might be finished shall you come too late.

This is how you savour the "Tong Po" meat. Stuffed it inside the bun like a sandwich and the taste is just heavenly. They say the fat is the best part but I just couldn't force myself to swallow it.

Tofu topped with mince meat (RM 8) is another great dish this restaurant has to offer. The tofu is soft and the meat blend just nice with the tofu.

I ordered sweet potato leaves (RM 6) which is pretty standard and nothing to it. I actually wanted to order paku but it was not available that night.

One One Three Seafood Restaurant
No. 1, Taman Sri Dengkil,
Jalan Air Hitam
43800 Dengkil

Christmas Decoration @ Midvalley Megamall

2011-12-20T23:30:00.000+08:00

Like most other shopping malls in KL and Selangor, giant Christmas tree seems to be the core of decoration. This theme is also been adopted by Midvalley Megamall this year.

The centre court of the mall has been converted to a lush greenery maze garden with a tall Christmas tree at the centre of it.

The maze garden is only open to the shoppers at certain time when there is no photo session with the Santa Clause.

Catch Santa Clause in the garden at selected time to have a family photo with him. The management has a photographer standby for this.

It has been a moderate decoration this year compare to the ambitious setting last year.

Christmas Decoration @ Berjaya Times Square

2011-12-19T23:30:00.000+08:00

The larger than life Christmas tree pretty much dominated the centre concourse of Berjaya Times Square this year.

Kiosks were set up surrounding the giant tree with cartoon toys as their theme.

Frankly, what they had last year is much grander than this. There isn't anything unique the decoration kind of lack of creativity of some sort.

Christmas Decoration @ 1 Utama

2011-12-18T21:44:00.000+08:00

I felt like something was out of sort when I stepped into 1 Utama this year as the innovative shopping centre takes on an underwater theme for its festive decorations.

The concept really deviates from the usual Christmas decorations I came across in almost other malls in KL and Selangor. Here it is all decked out in a dazzling underwater odyssey theme.

Giant clams line the Oval Concourse and the old wing, doubling as retail kiosks selling Christmas merchandise. The shells are coated in silver with glittering gold dust with "water" bubbles made up of Christmas baubles

Organza wrapped around the shells resembles seaweed while fairy lights lend magic to the sea world realm.

The idea to create Christmas winter waterland seems to delight and intrigue both adults and children.

Christmas Decoration @ Pavilion KL

2011-12-15T07:40:00.000+08:00

One will be mesmerized by its vision of a wonderland when step into Pavilion KL with lush, rich, wonderful and opulent and larger than life.

There is a larger than life giant cake, a magical carousel and a magnificent 40 foot Tiffany & Co Christmas tree.

These are perfect photo opportunities for shoppers looking for the perfect season's greeting shot since the Christmas decorations were put up can attest this.

Children and adults will love a ride on the carousel and the candy land atmosphere is one to be enjoyed by all.

This poster had been used widely in local newspapers (which was shot at the carousel here) to promote the Christmas Wonderland in Pavilion. I kind of like the model in this poster. I think she is really beautiful.

Christmas atmosphere is almost everywhere inside the mall. Pavilion KL as usual lived up to the expectation when it comes to Christmas decoration.

Christmas Decoration @ fahrenheit88

2011-12-14T08:05:00.000+08:00

fahrenheit88 is enveloped in a lush sea of green as the mall is decorated from the main entrance with light curtains, blossoming poinsettia gardens, conifers adorned with twinkling lights, reindeers, giant trinkets and 5 units of 6.1m Christmas tree wrapped with garlands in a delightful mixture of red, gold and silver.

Shoppers will be greeted by the wonderful sight of life sized reindeers pulling Santa's sleigh.

The sleigh is a perfect spot to capture the Christmas celebration as shoppers can expect to see Santa and Santarinas appearing at weekends.

Moving along into the atrium, a magnificent 9m gazebo takes centre stage, draped with ferns romantic chandeliers, fanciful bird cages and lush red poinsettias to create a cozy setting for a traditional Christmas.

The decoration this year is much better compare to last year and definitely one of the best around KL malls.

United Buddy Bears @ Pavilion KL

2011-12-11T11:30:00.000+08:00

The United Buddy Bears are an international art exhibition with more than 140 two meter tall fiberglass bears.

Its global tour has just reached Malaysia and is currently on display at Pavilion KL until 15 February 2012.

Under the motto: We have to get to know each other better, it makes us understand one another better, trust each other and live together more peacefully.

Under this motto, the United Buddy Bears promote living together in peace and harmony on their global tour. About 143 Buddy Bears represent as many countries recognised by the UN. Since the first exhibition in Berlin in 2002, more than 25 million visitors world wide have been able to admire the United Buddy Bears.

The Buddy Bears stand together "hand in hand", symbolising the future vision of a peaceful world. Each bear stands for the people of the different countries and their culture, yet not for political system.

Each Buddy Bears shows the individual design created by different artists on behalf of their native countries. The international artists' different styles are joined together in one work of art, spreading zest of life. The diverse design of the Buddy Bears-always typical for the respective countries-enables the visitors to experience a journey around the globe.

The bears are set up in alphabetical order. It is a good way to explore and learn about the culture, history, landscape, economy and music of each individual countries.

For the record, this is the Buddy Bears from Malaysia which can be found somewhere around the water fountain. Inspired by Malaysia's rich culture, the brightly coloured bear has elements of the main races, culture, flora and fauna as well as famous landmarks. The Malaysia Bear was designed and painted by Malaysian artist, Imuda.

Singha Lager Beer

2011-12-11T08:11:00.000+08:00

Singha is a Thai beer which I came across and bought for RM 9.89 from Cold Storage some time ago.

The Singha is a mythical lion and was chosen as the symbol for this beer. The Garuda symbol on the bottleneck is a symbol of Thailand's royalty and Boon Rawd Breweries is the only Thai brewery to be granted Royal Permission to display it.

It is brewed with water, malt and hops. The alcohol content is at 5% of its volume. The filling date and its expiry date is printed on the label and it can deduced that it has 1 year shelf life.

It pours to a pale straw yellow with low carbonation rising up. The head did not last very long though.

The taste is clean and light with some malt and a mild bitter finish. It's an easy to drink beer with virtually no aftertaste.

It is not the best beer around as it is bland but refreshing.

Where To Drink While In Kuah Town, Langkawi

2011-12-08T22:39:00.000+08:00

Langkawi is blessed with cheap boozes due to its tax free status. However, it lacks in night life as well as places to drink. Here I going to showcase some places to drink while in Kuah Town. Do take note that there is no draught beer available anywhere on this island.

Probably the closest thing to a pub atmosphere is the Cappuccino House. It lookss more like a decent cafe rather than a drinking place from its facade.

The place is air conditioned inside and a bit dark to my liking. I notice I am the only non-Caucasian drinking here that night. Guess this is their favourite place to hang out. I reckon they stay open until midnight or some sort. They serve some light food too but nothing to worth mentioning here.

Beer selection is rather limited. I ordered San Miguel (RM 6) as it is hard to come by in any other part of Malaysia. Most of the patron here seems to drink Carlsberg as their first choice.

The other cheap and cheerful option to get some boozes is at any Chinese restaurants here. The down side of it is most of these restaurants will be closed by 10.30pm. I stopped by Langkawi Sunrise Seafood Restaurant for a quick drink as I notice they have some unusual choice of beer.

I don't order the normal beers such as Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger or Guinness as I can find it easily elsewhere. I manage to negotiate my way to get 3 cans of Sapporo Beer for the price of RM 9 (normal price is RM 3.50 per can). The bottle version will be RM 4 per bottle.

My advice is buy those beers, wine or liquor in any of the duty free shops here and keep them in the refrigerator when you go back to the hotel room. It might sound silly but probably the best way to savour it on this island is from the comfort of your hotel room.

Kuching Park Hotel

2011-12-06T07:32:00.000+08:00

Kuching Park Hotel is one of the older hotel in Kuching which I recently had the opportunity to stay while in Kuching for a couple of days.

The hotel is currently undergone some renovation. The lifts are old and definitely need some modernization. The cafe is also not ready yet and visitors have to take their complimentary breakfast temporarily at the Chinese Restaurant at level 2. To make things worse, the breakfast was not ready at 7am during my stay and there was not enough place to dine if there were some 25 people at the same time. The breakfast is not worth a try and I would recommend instead to eat outside as there are many coffee shops nearby.

The room here is just more than I expected. It is quite obvious the room has just been renovated and equipped with flat screen TV. For RM 150 (inclusive service charge and tax) a night, I would say it is a bargain.

I was lucky also to have a nice view. The majestic Kuching South City Municipal Council is just across the hotel.

Standard amenities are readily available in the room. Complimentary newspaper is also been delivered to the doorway every morning. Just remember to ask for English paper or else they will give Chinese newspaper (assuming the visitor is of Chinese race).

The hotel location is quite ideal, depending on where you need to go. It takes about 20 - 25 minutes to walk to the city centre but taxis are always readily available at the hotel door step.

Kuching Park Hotel
Lot 606, Pandungan Road,
93100 Kuching
Tel: 082-239 888
Fax: 082-238799

New Parkson Sibu

2011-12-03T21:16:00.000+08:00

The new Parkson Sibu outlet at Wisma Sanyan recently opened its door on 1st December 2011 after some 2 months upgrading and renovation work. It now spans across four floors and carries more than 200 brands.

On Level 2, ladies can enjoyed more variety of branded shoes, accessories, handbags and so on. Some of the brands available here are Hush Pupies, Alain Delon, Carlo Rino, cr2, Pierre Cardin, Sachs and many more.

Level 3 specialize on women's apparel with brands such as Polo, Biem, Zashka, Xixili and etc.

Level 4 has more to offer for the men with brands such as Alain Delon, Camel, Jeep, Valentino Rudy and WWE.

The area on Level 5 used to be Blue Splendour Restaurant and some of its previous structure are still visible here. Toys, gifts, home furnishing, stationary, DIY and electrical appliances are now available at this floor.

I definitely proud of this new outlet as it gives another new dimension of shopping experience for the Siburian.

Kondo Istana

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000+08:00

Kondo Istana is where I stayed in my recent visit to Langkawi. It is located at Jalan Penarak, Kampung Padang Lalang, Mukim Kuah. Its location is kind of ideal as it is within walking distance to Kuah town and Bayview Hotel Langkawi.

The condominium offers apartment rather than room and definitely ideal for those who bring family for leisure here. An apartment here usually consists of 3 bedrooms (1 Master room, 1 twin sharing room and a single room). It can fit more people in as it has spacious living room.

It also equipped with functional kitchen which can be useful for those who prefer to cook their own meal while staying here.

This is not my preferred place to stay while in Langkawi due to a few reasons. First, there is hardly any room service. The bed linen was not changed during my 3 days 2 night stay here. Let alone any tidy up of the apartment in general. My other complain is the presence of mosquito while trying to catch a nap here at night. It's pretty annoying and I hardly get a good night rest here.

Amcorp Mall Flea Market

2011-11-27T14:07:00.000+08:00

The Amcorp Mall was opened in December 2007 in Petaling Jaya and is located just opposite the Taman Jaya LRT Station.

Amcorp Mall was once famous and crowded shopping centre. However, it started to lose its charm with the emergence of other newer malls such as 1 Utama, Mid Valley, The Gardens and Sunway Pyramid, this mall is practically deserted on weekdays.

The biggest draw to the crowd is the flea market on weekends. Compared to other larger and bigger shopping malls, one may not find Amcorp Mall interesting but for those who loved antiques and collectibles, this mall is definitely a must visit.

The flea market here is Malaysia's oldest (since 1997) and most worth visiting flea market with more than 300 stalls open up indoor every Saturday and Sunday

Located on Lower Ground Level, this retail stalls sells wide array of collectibles such as coins, currency notes, pictures and stamps.

Even old songs can be sourced here. It definitely brings out the pasar malam feel although in a more comfortable environment.

Almost one every floor, one can notice a small number of stalls selling antiques and collectibles. I was even surprised to see some MASK toys from the 1987 on sell here from the Split Seconds Series such as Dynamo, Afterburner and Wolfbeast.

Another attraction here is the toy stores located on the 3rd floor. There are so many Transformers toys to see and purchase from G1 to the Masterpiece series.

The Transformers toys here are generally cheaper by RM 30-40 compare to the other toy stores in KL. I will definitely make a few trips here for some of the Masterpiece series.

Pulau Payar

2011-11-22T07:59:00.000+08:00

Pulau Payar is a marine park situated some 35km south of Langkawi Island. Due to its nature as sheltered water, the island is ideal for snorkeling, diving and swimming.

The catamaran services operated by Langkawi Coral took some 50 minutes to reach the island from Kuah Jetty. Usually it will departs from the jetty in the morning around 11am and anchor nearby the island roughly at 12pm before making a return trip at 4pm.

Fishes and sharks can be swimming at the island water. Snorkeling is the best way to get close and personal with those marine creatures. Since this is a marine park, there will be a fine of RM 20, 000 imposed to anyone who try to feed the fishes or even bring back any souvenirs from this pristine island.

Small crabs can also be spotted among the rocks on the island. I heard some visitors saw some small snakes among the bushes too.

It is such a relaxing stroll around the island, enjoying the sea breeze and admiring the beauty of mother nature. Food and drinks are not sold on the island but lunch is usually included in the package trip to this island by the boat operator.

I would die for a bottle of beer but the boat operator charge some RM5 for a can of beer. Still consider cheap though compare to other places in Malaysia.

Pulau Payar offers a few stretch of sandy beaches. It is definitely a good place to get your skin tanned here. There is no fresh water supply on this island. Salt water is mainly used for in the bathroom and toilet.

Other side activity besides scuba diving and snorkeling is jungle tracking by negotiating some 183 steps to view the surrounding island. I reckon it only takes 10-15 minutes to reach the top.

This is definitely a worthwhile trip and I strongly recommend it to anyone who come to Langkawi Island. I would rate it better than the Manukan Island in Kota Kinabalu.

Seven Wells Waterfall

2011-11-20T08:49:00.000+08:00

Seven Wells is a geological marvel in Langkawi Island. The waterfalls is so named because its cascading waters is broken by a series of seven pools.

The waterfall is located about 1km away from Oriental Village or for those who fancy some workout, it will take a 2 hours hike from the peak of Mount Mat Chincang.

The lush green forest that surrounds the waterfall adds a mystical touch to the natural splendour.

Legend has it that fairies used to come down to the waterfall to bathe and frolic.

It is sad to see most of the facilities here are out of commission as I notice the changing room and toilet are in dilapidated condition and closed for repair/renovation.

Langkawi Cable Car & Skybridge

2011-11-17T07:28:00.000+08:00

No visit to Langkawi will be complete if one did not take the cable car ride to the top of Mount Mat Chincang.

The cable car ride is thrilling and scary for those who fear height. One way or another, one will be rewarded with a scenic ride on it.

En route to the peak, the Skybridge, which is the pride of Langkawi stood proudly the midst of the protected mother nature.

Skybridge is an engineering feat and is built on top of the Mount Mat Chincang.

The bridge is suspended from a 82m high single pylon and the whole curve bridge structure is supported from a single point, which is the top of the pylon.

Although the cable car will make a brief stop at the middle station (65m above sea level) for those who want to alight there, one can stay inside the cab which will proceed its journey to the top station.

There are 2 main viewing platforms at the top station and they offers a magnificent view. The temperature here is about 1 - 2 degree Celcius cooler from the base.

From this vantage point (70m above sea level), one can see Padang Matsirat, Chenang beach, Oriental Village, Kok beach, Telaga Harbour Park and Mutiara Burau Bay.

Ko Tarutao. For those who still remember the reality TV Show, Survivor Thailand, this is where the contestants outplay, outwit and outlast each other.

The Oriental Village Langkawi

2011-11-15T12:47:00.000+08:00

The gateway to Mat Chincang Mountain starts at Oriental Village which also houses the cable car station.

Although most visitors came to Oriental Village for the cable car ride, this place has more to offer than meet the eyes.

The Oriental Village in the Burau Bay in Langkawi is regarded as the largest outdoor lifestyle mall in the northern region.The village offers a variety food & beverage outlets, souvenir & retails stores, galleries, hotels and spas. Its quaint surrounding make it ideal for a relaxing stroll while enjoying the crisp cool air.

The cable car management has a new tagline this year "Welcome to Paradise". The cable car ticket will cost RM30 for adult and RM 20 for children. There will be a long queue during the weekends and public holiday. For some reason, bottled water is not allowed in.

The cable car system is designed and made in Switzerland. Its cab only fit a maximum of 6 people (480kg) and appear to be smaller than the Genting's cab.

The journey to the top of the mountain (700m above sea level) will take about 15 minutes and will bring the visitor to a breathtaking view of Langkawi Island and its surrounding. For those who are more adventurous, one can take the 2 hours arduous jungle trail (free of charge) to reach the peak.

Bintang Pilsener Beer

2011-11-12T07:17:00.000+08:00

A visit to Indonesia will not be complete if I had yet to taste its locally brew beer, Bintang Pilsener Beer.

Bintang is made or water, sucrose, barley and malts. Its alcohol content is slightly lower at 4.7%. It also has the expiry date stamped on the back sticker and I reckon it has 1 year shelf life.

Bintang pours to a clear light golden coloured brew. It is pale in appearance and small fizzy white head. Very mild hop flavour with limited malt profile. It feels like drinking a diluted beer. Clean finish with no standout flavour.

Ferry Ride: Stulang Laut-Batam

2011-11-10T07:14:00.000+08:00

The ferry ride from Stulang Laut to Batam Island in Indonesia is fun and rewarding as one could practically see 3 countries en route the 1 hour and 40 minutes journey.

This is how the interior of a typical passenger boat to Batam Island and vice versa. The ticket cost RM 79 (including the RM13 tax) from Stulang Laut to Batam Centre. One can opt for a open return ticket for RM44 but be prepared to pay another Rp. 105, 000 tax at Batam Centre when confirming the ticket.

All the passenger boats are air conditioned and comfortable. There ain't any entertainment onboard to keep the passengers occupied.

At the beginning of the journey from Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru city and Singapore's Woodland CIQ complex is clearly visible.

The power plant, which is on Singapore island, just opposite the Stulang Laut Ferry Terminal.

At one point, Changi Airport control tower is visible. The Singapore Central Business District and the new Marina Bay Sands also can be seen along the ferry ride.

Batam Island, just 20km at the closest point was once a jungle covered island but things have changed dramatically in the last decade as Singapore's labour shortage has caused it to look to the surrounding areas for manufacturing bases.

Coastarina, near Batam Center Ferry Terminal is a family friendly place for fun and entertainment. The large ferris wheel is the most prominent structure here. This complex appear to be incomplete and work is still on progress.

The new Harris Hotel which is located just next to Batam Center, one of the main ferry terminal on the island.

Batam Center looks like an airport cum shopping complex from the inside with a few duty free shops and cafes. Taxis are readily available outside the main entrance. Not really much to do and see around the complex as compare to the Zon in Stulang Laut.

The Zon Regency Hotel

2011-11-08T08:02:00.000+08:00

The Zon Regency Hotel in Stulang Laut is the only hotel available within the duty free zon area in Johor Bahru.

The lobby is spacious and check in is without issue. Parking is free for those who stayed in the hotel by getting the parking ticket validated by the reception at the lobby.

There is also a self service welcoming drink at the lobby. I did not remember seeing this in my last visit here in 2008.

The access to the room is only limited to the hotel guest as the room card need to be swiped at the elevator control panel to reach the intended floor.

The size of the hotel is immense and has a breathtaking view with the lounge which is situated on the 5th floor.

The guest room is pretty much what I would expect from a 4 star hotel. The room rate easily fetch RM200++ (RM 187 for government rate). It is a comfortable room and I had a good night rest here.

The high room rate can be easily compensated if one is a heavy drinker as the booze and liquor here are cheap. I could easily spot Carlsberg Tower for only RM36, Franziskaner (bottle) at RM 9.50 and other branded whiskies for half the price than the normal price found outside this area.

There is a safe deposit box in the room but unfortunately I was unable to use it as the previous occupant did not reset it.

There is not so much of a view from my room. One could get lucky and get a view of the Singapore island from certain rooms.

Breakfast is provided for 2 person in Salt n Pepper Cafe Restaurant on the 5th floor. The breakfast served here is pretty standard and nothing out of the ordinary.

The swimming pool and gym are located on the 7th floor. This will be a good spot to get some sun shine by the pool side and have an all around view of the duty free complex.

The overall view of the Zon Duty Free Complex and the international ferry terminal to Tg. Pinang and Batam.

Skudai Duck Mee

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000+08:00

Johor Bahru don't seems to be blessed with many good food besides duck and bitter gourd soup. So, we make a trip down to the famous duck shop, Skudai Duck Mee at Jalan Emas Putih 4, Taman Sri Skudai.

I was informed by the local that this is the first duck shop in Johor Bahru where it used to operate from a small wooden shop before moving to its existing premise.There are a few more duck shops in the vicinity which I reckon would be equally tasty as the original shop, judging from the crowd at the day.

The interior is just like any typical Chinese restaurant with metal table and wooden chop stick.

When ordering the duck, one can opt for rice, kuey tiao or noodle to go with the duck. The restaurant is more famous for the noodle and I guess I made a wrong choice of ordering the rice instead.

The duck serve here is average but it is the braised duck gravy that make the difference. Their gravy is what make everything here taste better.

Braised tofu and egg. I believe the braised duck gravy was used to prepare this side dish.

The complimentary soup is equally tasty. I practically finish the soup after finishing the meal.

The original owner and his son at the kitchen. It is great to see the secret recipe is passed on to the next generation.

We paid RM 39.70 (including drinks) for 4 person and I don't have the proper breakdown for each individual dish. Looks like this shop has already been recommended in the local television food channel, judging from the giant photo posted on the wall.

Golden Prawn 555 @ Batam

2011-11-03T07:12:00.000+08:00

Golden Prawn Restaurant in Batam Island, Indonesia is regarded by the locals as the best seafood restaurant in the island. It is opened by the Indonesian ethnic Chinese from its appearance and the Chinese music been played at the background.

There is a great white shark statue right in front of the restaurant. Could shark be their signature dish?

In fact, there is real life sharks here at their water tank. The sharks are really huge and the water tank is just too small to contain them.

Everything here is fresh and all the seafood are on display for the patron to choose. I was impressed with what this restaurant has to offer.

A giant menu on the wall so one can make up their mind and order their favourite dish.

This large restaurant resembles several open air marquees in way of the waterway to create a calm atmosphere. The restaurant is divided to 555 and 933 restaurant but they are all under the same roof.

The restaurant isn't exactly located at the seaside but rather beside a lake which I presume is used to rear fishes.

International brand beers like Tiger, Carlsberg, Heineken and Guinness which are brewed locally are easily available here (Rp 35, 000/RM12++). Indonesian brand beer, Bintang is also available here (Rp. 35, 000). The alcohol content of those beers are slightly below the normal 5%.

Rice is served in an insulated container to maintain its warmness and freshness. This portion is enough to feed 3 person (Rp 18, 000/RM 6++).

The steamed prawn (Rp 68, 000/RM 23++) is fresh and tasty. The down side is their size. I am expecting a medium size or huge prawn but the size of the prawn here is just too small for my liking.

The la la (Rp 30, 000/RM 10++) is definitely a rip off as there is hardly any meat in it. Just heaps of clam shell without any edible content.

Gonggong (Rp 45, 000/RM 15++) probably saved our day and the only thing worth mentioning here. This edible sea snail has decent size and cooked to perfection.

Baby kailan (Rp 25, 000/RM 8++) cooked with oyster sauce. Other vegetable options available here are kangkung and bean sprout.

The tom yam soup (Rp 35, 000/RM 12++) is well cooked with fish, squid and prawn to give it a distinctive taste and aroma. The soup is neither too spicy or hot.

I find it hard to believe this is the No. 1 seafood restaurant in Batam. The food is pathetic but its freshness and welcoming staff prevent our dining experience from turning into a disaster. By the way, there will be a 10% tax added to the bill at the end of the day.

Golden Prawn Life Seafood Restaurant
Bengkong Laut,
Pulau Batam,
Indonesia
Tel: 411138, 411281

Hotel Suan Bee

2011-11-02T07:59:00.000+08:00

Hotel Suan Bee is one of the very few new hotels set up in one of the most happening area in Skudai, Johor. Located not far from Sutera Mall, it serves as a good base to explore the vibrant Taman Sutera Utama.

The hotel is basically converted from shop houses mainly found in this area. The first impression is good as the lobby is spacious and clean. The receptionists are friendly and helpful. Check in is swift without any issue.

The hotel offers a few type of rooms and this is the family room (RM 130) which can accommodate up to 4 person with 2 queen size beds. A single room here cost RM 69 per night. The room is neat, clean, spacious and well maintained. My only issue is with their pillow which is too fluffy. Other than that, I got no other complain.

Hotel Suan Bee,
No. 97, 99 & 101,
Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2,
Taman Sutera Utama,
81300 Skudai, Johor
Tel: 07-554 5399, 07-554 6399

Philips Vision LED Globe 5W

2011-11-01T07:11:00.000+08:00

I came across Philips Vision LED Globe in Carrefour recently and it immediately caught my attention as I am in the process of phasing out the incandescent and CFL bulbs in my home.

The specification said the light consumes only 5W of energy and is a direct replacement for 40W incandescent light which also equivalent to 14W of CFL. That is a lot of energy saving if one do the maths.

This LED light is not cheap either. Costing at RM100 a piece, it definitely will break one's resolve to be replace all the inefficient and hazardous lighting at home.

The Philips Vision LED Globe 5W bulb carries CE marking and apparently made in China. It feels solid as no glass and brittle materials were used to manufactured it. It is mainly made of plastic and some sort of metal as the heat sink. It did not have any vents or gaps for air circulation and I deduce its thermal management is solely dependable on the heat sink.

The manufacturer claim this bulb has a life span of 25, 000 hours which is ideal to be installed in a place where one do not wish to replace bulb so regularly.

It is shaped like a normal light bulb with E27 base for easy fitting. It gives up 350 lumen which is bright enough to light up a small compartment. I am quite satisfy with the outcome of the light and definitely would purchase more if the price is lowered to an affordable level.

I also saw Philips Vision LED Globe 9W which replaces 60W incandescent light and that alone cost RM 125 which is an expensive investment.

Sea Lion C1101

2011-10-27T07:49:00.000+08:00

Sea Lion brand badminton shuttlecock might be rarely heard by some of us but it has been around for sometime now.

As the name implied, sea lion is used as their logo. It's hard to associate a sea lion with badminton though.

The shuttlecock is made from China and cost RM 52.90 per tube. It is quite an expensive shuttlecock and I hope the price tag reflects on its quality. Apparently, it did not exhibit its speed number (76 or 77 for this region) on the tube.

The shuttlecock looks like any normal shuttlecock and has a sea lion logo at the base of the cock. The feathers feel sturdy and it looks like a good and quality shuttlecock.

The green strip around the cock has "sealion" word all over it which makes it easier to distinguish.

This is how the shuttlecocks looks like after a long rally and hard smashes in a 21 points system match. It definitely able to absorb a lot of beating and still flying as it should be.

Sea Lion C1101 is a decent shuttlecock. It has good durability and flight performance. The performance of this shuttlecock is on par with any quality shuttle cock I had played so far.

Kolam Decoration 2011

2011-10-24T07:30:00.000+08:00

The floors of almost all shopping malls in the Klang Valley are brightly decorated with kolam colours to mark the arrival of Deepavali on 26th October 2011.

The kolam art use rice, rice powder or dried coconut to welcome Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity so she can bestow her blessings.

The kolam in Berjaya Times Square is huge and measured at 6.4m in diameter in way of the main entrance. The elephant headed Lord Ganesha symbolising strength and power is incorporated to the kolam design.

Sungei Wang Plaza kolam size is a bit smaller. The design is a symmetric line drawing with curved loops to showcase a colourful symbol of love and happiness.

The KLCC's kolam are placed at its 3 entrances and use mainly peacock and flowers as the motives

At the Pavilion Mall, the art of designing kolam is given an unconventional twist. In collaboration with The One Academy, they came out with one of a kind 3D kolam at the sixth floor of the shopping mall.

Titled "Unconventional Greetings", the design comprises a peacock surrounds an oil lamp to symbolize the triumph of good over evil, which is what Deepavali is all about. It used up some 100kg of rice in 9 hues as well as stickers and glitter papers to create this 3D kolam.

Water features and flower motives are also featured in this kolam which shows the importance of nature and signifies the balance of mind, body and soul.

An anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to use special devices or occupy a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image. An anamorphosis is an image that is distorted in such a way that it only assumes the proportions of recognizable forms when viewed from a certain angle, or by reflection in a curved surface.

In this piece of Anamorphic kolam Art, the painting is stretched out at the back so when onlookers look at it from a right angle, it appears 3D.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

2011-10-21T07:16:00.000+08:00

Hang Jebat mausoleum is an old Malay grave at Jalan Kampung Kuli, Malacca.

The grave itself is Achinese in style and is of the type normally used to mark the burial places of high ministers and Sultans of the period

Here lies Hang Jebat, a warrior labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend.

During the rule of Sultan Mansor Shah (1456-1477 A.D.), there lived 5 young men who grew up together. Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu were inseparable and became known as the "Five Companions" in the epic "Hikayat Hang Tuah". The lives of the five "blood brothers" who were expert exponents of martial arts, took a turn when they saved the live of Bendahara of Melaka, Tun Perak.

Sultan Mansor Shah was so impressed with the skills of the five that he immediately gave them positions at his court and Hang Tuah became his favourite. Sultan Mansor presented Hang Tuah with a beautiful keris, the Taming Sari, said to possess magical and mythical powers.

However, the sultan's undisguised appreciation and favouritism of Hang Tuah did not augur well with other court officials, namely Patih Karma Wijaya. They plotted his downfall and accused him of seducing the Sultan's favourite consort. The Sultan, upon hearing the rumour immediately ordered Hang Tuah\s execution. Tun Perak, who believed in Hang Tuah's innocence spirited him away to a secret hideaway.

Hang Jebat could not understand why the Sultan ordered his brother's execution without first giving him a chance to prove his innocence. Disillusioned and broken hearted, Hang Jebat ran amok and sought revenge, killing everyone that tried to protect the Sultan. Fearing for his life, the Sultan approached Tun Perak and expressed his regret over Hang Tuah's hasty execution.

When the Sultan agreed to pardon Hang Tuah, Tun Perak told him the truth. Hang Tuah's joy at being pardoned turned to dismay when told his new mission and after an extended soul searching, went in search of Hang Jebat. In the ensuing fight, which was said to lasted 3 days and 3 nights, Hang Jebat enlightened his childhood friend on why he turned against the Sultan, but being a man ingrained with the convention that the Sultan deserved absolute loyalty, Hang Tuah refused to accept Hang Jebat reasoning. finally he drew his keris, the "Taming Sari" and fatally stabbed Hang Jebat and the later died in his arms.

Hang Tuah went down in history as a hero who made a worthy sacrifice while Hang Jebat was labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen

2011-10-19T07:39:00.000+08:00

I picked up Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen from Cold Storage (RM 19.49) the other day since a large number of Oktoberfest beers are made available of late.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen has an alcohol content of 5.8% of volumes which is slightly stronger than most beers in the market. I can't help to start wonder if the Oktoberfest beers are brewed with higher alcohol content on purpose.

Nothing out of the ordinary in the ingredients used to brew this beer. It uses water, barley, hop and hop extract.

The expiry date of the beer is printed on its sticker which I reckon is about 1 year shelf live.

The bottle cap design is rather unique which negate the need for a bottle cap opener. All you need to do is to lift the wired cap holder in way of the bottle neck. I find this design extremely useful as I can pratically enjoy it anywhere and anytime.

It pours to a nice caramel brown with a decent head which dissipate quickly without much lacing. It has nice and sweet German malt taste with a wonderful hop depth. Overall maltiness and sweetness of this brew works so wonderfully together.

It's really a drinkable beer. It's full of complexity but at the same time has a really high level of refreshment.

Chung Wah Chicken Rice Balls

2011-10-17T07:20:00.000+08:00

There are basically 2 shops in Malacca which are famous for their Chicken Rice Balls and one of them is Chung Wah Coffee Shop.

The shop is located at the entrance of Jonker Street, just next to the Tan Kim Seng Bridge.

The traditional Chinese name plate hanging above an arch which imply that the shop might had been run for generations.

This place is usually crowded during lunch time and I manage to get here before lunch time (before 12pm) where the traffic was still manageable.

The place is small but clean with white marble tables and wooden chair. It kind of have that old rustic feel while dining here.

The owner in action where the chicken been chopped. Only steamed chicken is served here, true to its Hainanese style.

As you can see the chicken serving was in a mess as if it had been chopped by an amateur butcher.The is chicken is average in taste, juicy and tender. They don't use much sesame oil and soy sauce for the chicken. The rice on the other hand is pretty good. Probably slightly better than Hoe Kee. It is safe to assume that How Kee serves better chicken whereas Chung Wah serves better rice balls.

I don't have a proper breakdown but it cost a total of RM 13.20 for 2 person (including drinks).

St. Francis Xavier's Church @ Malacca

2011-10-15T07:18:00.000+08:00

St. Francis Xavier's Church, located at Laksamana Road in Malacca has a domineering presence in the skyline of Malacca.

Built in 1849, by Reverend Favre, a Frenchman, the Gothic towered church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier is well remembered for his missionary work spreading Catholicism to South East Asia in the 16th Century.

This twin spired neo gothic structured was built on the site of an old Portuguese church and was believed to be modeled after the Cathedral of St. Peter in Montpellier, France, which closely resemble the older church's original construction except for a portico which was added in 1963.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier

2011-10-13T07:20:00.000+08:00

It's the annual Oktoberfest beer festival again and some seasonal beers for the occasion can be seen around the pubs and supermarkets lately.

I manage to get hold of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (RM 19.49) from Cold Storage. It used to be a seasonal beer but I read it is now made almost available all year round.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier has a rather interesting pictures on its bottles which depict the citizens of Munich enjoying the beer in 1800s background and outfit.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is made of water, malted barley, hop and hop extract. It has a higher alcohol content at 6% volumes and this make it somewhat stronger than the usual lager beer.

It pours an orange amber color with perfect clarity. Head disappear quickly with almost no lacing. Malts dominate the brew, with hops bringing in a slight balance. The herbal flavors go well with the sweet malts. Clean finish and after taste.

With a hint of malty sweetness, the Paulaner Oktoberfest beer possesses the perfect balance. It's an easy to drink beer and definitely a good beer choice to enjoy during the Oktoberfest event.

Democratic Government Museum @ Malacca

2011-10-11T07:24:00.000+08:00

This building, which is adjacent to the Governor's Museum was once the Malacca State Assembly Building and ceased to be used when the Government centred its business and administration including the State Assembly at Ayer Keroh.

Today it is used as the Democratic Government Museum which exhibits information about the system of government, including the democratic system in Malaysia, which spans from the early years of her independence until today

This figures depict the four Malay Melaka authorities, the Bendahara, Laksamana, Temenggung and the Penghulu Bendahari documenting the contents of the Melaka Law and the Melaka Maritime Law prior to its presentation to the Sultan.

Some of the scenes during the Japanese Occupational in Malaya from 1941-1945.

The resistant movement by the locals against British colonization after the Japanese Occupational in Malaya.

The Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur is the symbol of democracy for our country.

Scenes at the polling station when it comes to the election day in our country.

Sate Kajang Hj. Samuri @ Kajang

2011-10-09T08:39:00.000+08:00

While I was in Kajang, I was directed by the locals to Sate Kajang Hj. Samuri at Jalan Kelab for a good satay in town.

There is a small display here which pretty much depicts the origin of the famous Hj. Samuri satay in Kajang.

The place is just like any other open air food court found in this country. When seated, someone will take the order and the customer must proceed to the cash counter after that to make the payment before food is served.

Coconut (RM 3.50) is pretty normal and pricey. I notice most of the other drink prices here are on the high side.

The Nasi Impit (1.30) comes with ketupat and cucumber. I was puzzled as to why onions was not served together here. However, they are pretty generous with the satay and chilli sauce.

I ordered rabbit (RM 2), mutton (RM 1.20), chicken (RM 0.60) and beef (RM 0.60) and I must say their satay is overrated. It tastes pretty average to me and I also wonder why their satay was so famous in the first place.

Another annoying thing is 6% government tax is imposed on the total bill. I wonder if this tax is appropriate since this is no fancy restaurant to begin with.

Siaw Kah Restaurant @ Kajang

2011-10-07T08:53:00.000+08:00

Kajang is famous for 2 things; Hot soup and satay. Recently, I manage to dine at Siaw Kah Restaurant at Jalan Berjaya 9, Taman Berjaya, Sungai Chua in Kajang.

The restaurant is pretty big and capable of accommodating a large crowd at a time. The restaurant appearance already gives me the impression it has been commercialized and I had my concern about the quality of the food served here.

Hot soup (RM 10) is a must while in Kajang and it was served piping hot in claypot. One can opt for pork, chicken or pork's "spare parts" to make up the ingredients of the soup.

The hot soup here is decently nice and hot (lots of pepper goes into it). I really fall in love with hot soup after tasted one about a year ago. However, the one here is not the best around and I had taste better one from a small shop, also in Kajang.

Claypot "Hua Tiao" Chicken (RM10) is cooked with thick sweet sauce. I must say I was rather disappointed as there is nothing much in its taste that make it special. Again, I tasted better "Hua Tiao" chicken from other restaurant before.

Lettuce (RM 6) cooked with oyster sauce. Vegetable cooking style is pretty standard nowadays with nothing much too differentiate between other restaurants.

All these dishes goes well if taken with a bowl of rice (RM 1.20). Overall, Siew Kah restaurant is already been commercialized and unfortunately the food quality had been compromised.

Seri Melaka: Governor's Museum

2011-10-05T12:03:00.000+08:00

Seri Melaka was office and official home for the Dutch Governors in the 17th century. It is located on St. Paul's Hill which was earlier known as Bukit Melaka (Melaka Hill). This was also the site of the palace of the Melaka Sultanate before the Portuguese.

Near Seri Melaka is the ruins of St. Paul's Church which was built during the Portuguese period. The function of Seri Melaka as the Governeor's Residence continued to the British period and until 1996 when a new office was built at Ayer Keroh for the Governor.

According to the Munshi Abdullah, this building was known as Raja's House. On 31st August 1957, the name changed to Seri Melaka as the title of the Governor was changed to Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

This Daimler car bought in 1974 by the Malacca State Government for His Excellency Tun Hj. Abdul Aziz bin Hj. Abdul Majid, the 3rd Governor, His Excellency Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan, the 4th Governor and Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabudin, the 5th Governor. This car was decommissioned in 1986 and was given to the Malacca Museums Corporation in 1995

This is the Governor office where the Governor manage matter in relation to development, administration and the people (August 1957-September 1996)

The Dining Hall where Tun and Toh Puan entertain local and foreign dignitaries. The Tun and Toh Puan also fete friends and government officers after performing the friday prayers.

The official attire and medals of the TYT Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka

The family area is where the Tun and his family spend their quality time together. Despite his tight schedule, the Tun and Toh Puan made it a point to spend some time with their family.

The inspiration room is where the Tun spends his free time and relaxing. Turning to his hobbies such as playing musical instrument, painting and reading while listening his favourite traditional songs.

Some of the TYT's collection on display in the museum

Geographer Cafe @ Malacca

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000+08:00

Geographer Cafe is located at Jonker Walk in the pre-war shophouse. The cafe promotes the non usage of MSG in their food and I was intrigued by such cooking method.

The restaurant has a nice setting and ambience. However, it felt very hot inside, no matter how many fans were on that evening.

The cafe has quite a collection on Titanic and this includes the general plan of the ship

One thing I like about the place is the cafe provides windows with a "Living Museum" as they keep an exciting look out for the bustling activities that pulse through the many narrow streets nearby.

Tempeh Cube (RM 2.90) which I ordered as an appetizer and snack before our main dishes arrived. Tempeh is a nutritious fermented cooked soy beans deep fried with curry powder and leaves.

Shirley Temple (RM 7.50) and cold Carlsberg draught (RM 10.50). I was actually expecting more beer options here.

Asam Pedas is the signature dish of the Malacca state and I had opt to try the Geographer's Asam Pedas (RM 13.80). It is served with rice and a little bit of tempeh.

The Asam Pedas here is hot with mild sour fish curry. It tastes pretty delicious and goes well with the rice.

Ramen Soup (RM 8.90) is equally tasty. It might not look much on the outside but don't let the appearance fool you. Its broth is simply good and that is the secret of preparing a delicious ramen. The sun dried noodle from organic flour probably also infuse the noodle with the additional taste.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think the cafe has expanded to Puchong in IOI Boulevard recently. I am sure going to check out their other outlet to try the other menu I unable to try while in Malacca last time around.

St. Paul's Church @ Malacca

2011-10-01T08:48:00.000+08:00

St. Paul's Church is probably the oldest church in Malacca. Located at the St. Paul's Hill, it is definitely one of a must see attraction in Malacca.

This church was originally a small chapel built by a Portuguese Captain called Duarto Coelho in 1521 and called "Nosa Senhora - Our Lady of the Hill". The chapel was handed over to the "Society of Jesus" in 1548 and enlarged in 1556 with the addition of a second storey and renamed "Annuciation". A tower was added in 1590.

When the Dutch took over Malacca from the Portuguese, they changed its name to St. Paul's Church and used it for 112 years until they own church, the Christ Church was completed in 1753.

St. Paul's Church lost its tower when the British took over but had one new feature added to it - the lighthouse at the front. The British however did not use the church as a place for worship, instead as a storage place for gunpowder. They also erected a tall flagpole and renamed the hill on which the church is sited to Flagstaff Hill (Bukit Bendera). The name did not last. The flagpole was later taken down and the church abandoned.

Old tombstones found inside the ruins bear silent testimony to the final resting place of several Dutch and Potuguese nationals.

The renowed Spanish born Jesus missionary, St. Francis Xavier was a regular visitor to this church from 1545 to 1552 and when he died, his body was interred here for 9 months before being exhumed and taken to his final resting place in Goa, India.

A statue of St. Francis Xavier was built in 1952 to commemorate his passing and internment here.

The view from the top of St. Paul's Hill is breathtaking. The Taming Sari tower and the town itself are visible from this vantage point.

Goku Raku Ramen @ Midvalley

2011-09-28T07:43:00.000+08:00

Goku Raku Ramen is a new food outlet inside Midvalley Megamall which was recently introduced by a friend of mine. It is located at Level 2, next to Jaya Jusco.

The staffs here are friendly and helpful. The ambience is nice and there is even dedicated seats for a single patron. This is something I don't get to see a lot in restaurants in this country.

It has a transparent kitchen and one can actually observed the whole process of how Ramen is actually been prepared.

The Ultimate Tonkotsu Ramen (RM 20.90) is a rich broth noodles topped with Char Siew, flavoured egg, black fungus, spring onion, leek, bamboo shoot, seaweed and fragrant garlic oil.

There is actually an "instruction manual" on how to eat ramen and this can be found in their menu. Kind of interesting to find how the broth just got tastier as you tackle the ramen along the way. I also find out that the care should be taken when stirring the ramen initially, so as not to damage the seaweed as it might spoil the overall taste.

The Kushi Yaki Moria (RM 13.90)is the Japanese type of skewered grill food. It is made up of onion, chicken, leek and pork. It tastes great and definitely a decent side dish or snack to go with the ramen.

I must admit this is my first time I try a ramen and with it I discovered a whole new way of eating this noodle dish. Goku Raku Romen offers a various types of ramen and definitely worth a visit.

Lembah Azwen Resort

2011-09-25T12:52:00.000+08:00

Lembah Azwen Resort is quite a new establishment located at Hulu Langat, some 35km away from Putrajaya.

There are signboard to show the direction to this place when reaching Pekan Batu 14 Hulu Langat.

The word "Resort" is kind of misleading as this is not a place for a leisure holiday as it is built mainly for team building event and training camp.

Lembah Azwen Resort has lake, river and surrounded by virgin forest which provide the right elements to conduct any team building exercise here.

Most of the obstacle facilities are already readily available here and they appear to be in sound condition. Some of the outdoor activities offered here are obstacle courses, jungle trekking, resort explorace, rope repelling, resort treasure hunt and water sports such as water crossing, water floating exercise & water rafting.

There are 4 lecture/function rooms of various sizes for motivational talk and lecture.

The dorm room (RM 78 per person per night with meals) here is kind of compact but immaculately clean and air conditioned. The dorm could accommodate up to 60 person at a time.

For a more comfortable, there is an option for chalet (RM95 per person per night including meals). The chalet can accommodate up to 5 person and there is hardly any room to move about.

The dining place is spacious and located by the river. The food served here are moderate and I notice the freshness of their ulam as the resort plant those greens at the premise.

Viribright 11W LED Light Bulb

2011-09-18T13:03:00.000+08:00

LED Light bulbs might be a new thing for most people especially Malaysian. I guess not many people are aware of its existence and the benefit of it. I came across Viribright LED Light bulb a couple of months ago from a kiosk at Level 2 in Midvalley Megamall.

It costs RM50 for 1 unit of 11W bulb (with 1 year warranty) and it might appears expensive but actually it's not. Most branded LED light bulbs I came across will come with a price tag from RM70-RM170, depending on the wattage.In other words, Viribright LED Light is about 50% cheaper than the other branded LED lights I know.

Viribright is designed and manufactured by Matrix Lighting Inc, based in the USA. For the record, Matrix Lighting already start phasing out the 11W version and in the process of replacing it with a 10W version.

There are many benefits of LED Light compare to the incandescent or CFL bulb. The main advantage is the energy saving by switching to LED. It saves about 80% compare to incandescent bulb and close to 40% compare to CFL bulb.

Unlike the CFL bulbs, LED contains no mercury or any hazardous materials or chemicals. One can simply throw the whole unit for recycling purpose without any fear.

Viribright LED light bulbs also has longer lifespan, roughly around 25, 000 hours. The packaging claims that the light can last 6 years with average 8 hours use per day. However, peeling the sticker, it originally claimed to last for 6 years based on 5 hours use per day. Either way, I am sure the bulb will last for a long time. The only thing notable would be the light intensity after it has reached its lifespan.

Viribright 11W LED Light bulb is actually a direct replacement for the 60W (about 81% in term of power saving) incandescent bulb and 18W (38% in term of power saving) CFL bulb.

This is the size comparison between Viribright LED light bulb with incandescent and CFL bulb. It's not much of a size difference. The LED Light bulb just looks like any normal light bulb we usually came across.

Viribright light bulb is mainly made of plastic with some light metal on its body. Hence, it won't break or shatter if one accidentally dropped them.

It's emitting diodes are arranged in such a way so it can provide 270 degree light distribution.

This is basically the heat sink for the heat generated when the light is operated. It won't feel hot when the light bulb was touched on the surface as most of the generated heat is transferred to the heat sink and dissipated to the surrounding. Having said so, there are just mild heat produced at the heat sink when the light is on and it is still safe enough to be touched

Due the heat, it is advised not to be used in totally enclosed recessed luminaries

The LED light is made in China and has CE marking. It draws only 0.1A of current according to it spec.

Viribright LED lamp works wonder in my room and house. My room has never been more brighter. It gives up about 400 lumen which is equivalent to the light intensity produces by a 60W incandescent light and 18W CFL light. However, it produces some noise which can be irritating. It won't be much of an issue if it was fitted high at the ceiling though.

The light had some limitation though as it is not to be installed into any dimmer and a wet or damp location.

I had set my eye on LED tube light (cost about RM 120 in Malaysia) as it would further save cost as it did not require ballast and substantial energy saving for the same performance.

The Dutch Graveyard @ Malacca

2011-09-14T07:02:00.000+08:00

Dutch Graveyard is another historical site in Malacca. It is located at a secluded corner at the foot of St. Paul's Hill and one will need to be adventurous enough to spot its location.

This graveyard was first used at the last quarter of the 17th century. Presently 5 Dutch and 33 British graves are sited within its compound. This cemetery was used in two stages that is between 1670-1682 (by the Dutch) and later between 1818-1838 (by the British).

When the British took over Malacca in 1795, they initially used St. Paul's Hill as their burial ground (and still visible until this very day nearby St. Paul's Church) and only in 1818 did they began to make use of this cemetery. The first British person to be buried here was Captain John Kidd, Captain of a ship while the last British person to be buried was the wife of a British army officer in 1838.

Most of the British buried here were army or naval personnel. A number of wives of army officers were also buried here.

The grave that attracts the attention of most visitors is the one that has a tall column on it in which two army officers, who were killed during the war between the British and Naning in the interior of Malacca in 1831 and 1832, were buried.

This is the plan layout of the grave and the complete name list of the British who were laid to rest here.

My Mid Autumn Festival 2011

2011-09-12T23:20:00.001+08:00

This year I did not celebrate the Mid Autumn festival with my wife and family. Partly due to my mistake as I get the date wrongly and unable to purchase the air ticket home earlier.

Either way, the show must go on. To re-create the atmosphere here, I get myself with a lantern and moon cakes.

The moon cake prices had gone up since and 4 pieces of these cost me RM43.

The highlight of the celebration will be at night where children will light up their lanterns. I already miss the lantern procession at home.

At night, I just stare at the full moon while thinking of the loved one and family back home. Sometimes I just admire how accurate the Chinese calendar is. It is definitely a full moon on this very night.

Porta de Santiago

2011-09-10T12:14:00.000+08:00

Porta de Santiago remains the most recognizeable landmark in Malacca. Porta in Portuguese refers to portal, which means gateway and true enough Porta de Santiago was indeed one of four main gateway into the Portuguese fortress of A'Famosa.

The leader of the Portuguese army that conquered Malacca in 1511, Alfonso de Albuquerque started the construction of A'Famosa in 1512 from which they fended of attacks by the armies of Sultan of Malacca and Acheh for well over a century, a testament of how formidable this fort once.

The Portuguese used slaves to construct this squarish fort surrounding Malacca Hill with walls 3m thick using parts from the demolished palaces, royal mausoleums and mosques. A 40m high watchtower once stood in the Northwest corner of fortress.

After the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in 1641, they reinforce and widen the fortress and put the mark of "VOC" (Dutch East India Company) of the coat of arms of the Dutch soldier together with the year 1670.

This fort was nearly obliterated by the British in 1795 who decided to destroyed it for fear of it being used against them after Malacca handed back to the Dutch. In 1807, British under the Resident William Farquhar used gun powder to blow up the fort.

However, Sir Stamford Raffles and Lord Minto intervened and stopped his countrymen from totally demolishing this fort completely. Only Porta de Santiago was spared from the total demolition.

It is now a star attraction for the city of Malacca with traders selling their art works inside the ancient structure.

Tokyo Street @ Pavilion

2011-09-08T21:15:00.000+08:00

Tokyo Street is now the newest outlet at Pavilion Shopping Centre which offers shoppers a blend of traditional and contemporary experience of Japan culture and lifestyles.

The design here is inspired by Asakusa, a district in Tokyo that blends the urban feel with the rich heritage and traditions of Japan.

Located at Level 6, it offers a vibrant mix of Japanese food and beverage, retail and service brands to meet the ever changing consumer fashion trends, lifestyles, high fashion, gourmet cuisine and home wares.

nanoblock also set up a display here which showcases some of the notable landmarks in Japan like the Tokyo Tower.

Paddy Village Hotel @ Sekinchan

2011-09-06T21:27:00.000+08:00

We stumbled upon Paddy Village Hotel while looking for a place to crash for the night at Sekinchan. Since we were there on a public holiday, most of the hotels in Sekinchan were already full.

Paddy Village Hotel is a new hotel located at the edge of the Sekinchan town. It is visible from the main road, heading to the Sabak Bernam direction. It might be a bit far from the town for those who are walking. I reckon one will need to walk less than 10 minutes to reach the town.

It is quite evident that the hotel is converted from a huge bungalow to a hotel. Mr. Lau is the owner of this hotel and can be reached by 03-3241 0636/019-7287929 or paddyvillage@hotmail.com Mr. Lau is a nice lad to chat with and one can always ask him on the best place to eat or even sight seeing in Sekinchan.

There is a small kitchen at the rear of the hotel which is equipped with water dispenser. Definitely a neat hotel arrangement.

The hotel has 2 rates, the normal rate and peak rate. One way or another, the rate is still consider cheap.

This is the Standard Twin Room (RM 78) which reminds me of the budget hotels usually found in KL. The room is without window but it is very clean. Even the bathroom is bigger than those budget hotels in KL.

I really like this hotel and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to spend a night while in Sekinchan

Jiann Chyi Restaurant @ Sekinchan

2011-09-05T07:37:00.000+08:00

Jiann Chyi is one of well known restaurant in Sekinchan. It is located at the Bagan area, just within the fishing village.

The restaurant is always crowded during public holiday and weekends. The never ending line is very obvious from the moment we arrived here. The restaurant open from 7.30am until 3pm only and will not be available at night.

To avoid disappointment, it is best to make reservation via 03-32414690 or else the restaurant owner will not let you be seated without any reservation before hand. Otherwise, just arrive at the restaurant early and make the reservation by leaving your contact number.

It is shame the restaurant did not sell beer which will augur well with the food and the atmosphere around here. There are quite limited choices of drinks available here such as sweet and sour drink, tea, 100 Plus and Cola only.

Stir fried sweet potato leaves which is pretty standard and nothing out of the ordinary.

This is basically pan-fried shark. It tastes OK but not the best way to enjoy a shark dish. I would recommend it to be fried with pig's intestine with spicy sauce or cooked in a soup.

Fish Maw with vegetables is a decent dish cooked with onion, spring onion, carrot and cauliflower.

The shark fin soup porridge is really a must try dish. It is simply out of this world and the broth is one of the best I ever tried. It has a unique taste that soothe my taste buds. It is cooked with shark, fish balls and lots of ginger.

The bill came out RM 56 (excluding drinks) for all the 4 dishes which feed 3 person. I must say it is very reasonable by any standard. Some of the other dishes worth ordering is the hot & spicy prawn, fried mantis shrimp and steamed fish head.

Sekinchan

2011-09-02T17:00:00.000+08:00

Sekinchan is a small town located about 120km from Putrajaya which is translated to roughly about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive.

Sekinchan means 'village suitable for plantation' in Chinese and is well known as one of the major rice supplier in Malaysia. This is clearly evident as vast paddy fields can seen along both side of the roads leading to the town.

The paddy field is dotted with many customized building structures that are homes of the swiftlets. The bird's nest is another famous product of this town.

The town itself is small enough to be explore by foot. It is more developed than I initially anticipated with basic facilities readily available such as banks, post office, mini markets, hotels, vehicle repair shops and etc. I also notice there are at least 5 reflexology centres for such a small town.

Hotel Harbour View is probably the best hotel to stay while in town due to its size and strategic location but there are other options too within the town itself.

I'm impressed with the number of religious houses here as I never thought it can boasts such a number for a small town like Sekinchan.

Before paddy plantation became popular, residents of Sekinchan were active in fishing activities and this is still ongoing until today. The fishing village is called Bagan and is just a stone throw away from the town.

The Bagan fishing village itself has new shop houses now which mainly house the seafood restaurants.

The best seafood restaurants in town can be found in the Bagan areas. Most of the restaurant here opened from 8am until 3pm only while a handful open at night. Advance booking is highly recommended during weekend and public holidays. Another interesting thing is most of these restaurants serve rice and seafood as breakfast where most of the city folks might have some trouble getting used to.

The fishing village also serve as a perfect area to buy the local snacks to bring home. I highly recommend their keropok for their size, crispiness and taste.

I reckon this is the earliest fire station in town. I guess it is no longer functional today.

Sekinchan is a living and thriving fishing village. The stretch of fishing villages is the one of the many reasons why people call this town "a photographer's haven".

I was surprised to see the village also happen to produce their own fishing boat in what appear to be a make shift dock yard.

Sekinchan is definitely a perfect place for a short retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. I definitely fancy another trip here for the cheap and fresh seafood.

Morganfield's @ Pavilion

2011-09-01T07:11:00.001+08:00

Morganfield's is an Europeanized American casual diner on Level 4, Pavilion KL.

The restaurant is not brightly lit, probably due to the partially painted incandescent light bulbs. However, it provides a relaxed environment for a little drink and dining experience. The restaurant has 4 distinct sections; al fresco dining section, a bar, an executive dining area and a casual family area.

It also perfect for people watching while listening to the American Blues been played by a jukebox in the restaurant.

I ordered a pint Kronenbourg 1664 Draught (RM 34.90). Morganfield's is one of a few outlets in KL and Selangor which serve Kronenbourg Draught from the tap. It's a 5.5% pale lager brewed in Strasbourg, France.

It pours a crystal clear brew of a near neon yellow colour with quite a head which lasted pretty long due to the ongoing carbonation. The taste is quite distinctive. Its slightly sweet to start, with some graininess coming through. There is a lot of hops and makes for a different flavour with a nice bitter finish

During happy hour, which lasted until 8pm from Monday to Saturday, there will be another free half pint of beer.

Beer options are rather limited as only a few other brands are available on tap such as Carlsberg, Hoegaarden, Blackthorn Cider and Connors. It would be great if they serve some American beers in line with the concept of this restaurant.

Most of the fittings here are made from recycled materials, including bricks, steel and wood from demolished houses. The mirror on the wall are clouded and the wall behind the bar is made of corrugated iron, giving a hard, edgy look to the place.

Its signature dish, "Sticky Bones" is a truly authentic, old fashioned prime pork rib slow cooked and smoked in coal and hickory wood to tender mouthwatering perfection, then basted with the gluey sweet and tangy hickory flavoured barbeque sauce.

This is actually half rack (RM 36.90) and served with coleslaw and french fries. It also comes with a bowl of barbeque sauce to go with the meat.

When one ordered Stick Bones, the server will put on the dining apron which is really sweet as it prevents our shirt from getting all dirty due to the stickiness of the sauce used on the pork ribs dish.

The dining apron has some wordings on it which reads" Money can't buy me love, but it can buy me pork ribs"

This is one hearty meal and I enjoyed every bit of it. For the record, I did not mess up my cloth after finishing it.

I will definitely come back for the ribs and the beer in the near future. The staffs are courteous and definitely make me feel welcome here.

Raya Decoration 2011 @ Midvalley

2011-08-30T09:07:00.002+08:00

Middle Eastern charm is the highlight for Midvalley Megamall this year with its centre court transformed into a Middle East Bazaar.

One will be mesmerized with the beautiful Middle Eastern inspired decorations, characterized by the Islamic civilisation.

The special bazaar at the Centre Court mimicking the "Souq" in Marrakech, Morocco.

Besides enjoying the Middle Eastern Souq-like ambience, shoppers on the hunt for the latest Raya fashions and accessories can browse through various offerings available here.

The decoration at the adjacent Gardens Mall is a different contrast, with some neat arrangement with Islamic influence

Raya Decoration 2011 @ Pavilion

2011-08-28T19:47:00.001+08:00

Pavilion KL Hari Raya campaign theme this year is called "Secrets of Raya"

Shoppers are invited to indulge in the seven secrets of Raya, Secrets to Rewarding Experiences, Secrets to A Good Cause, Secrets to Great Looks, Secrets to Lively Entertaiment, Secret to Exquisite Scents, Secrets to Gifting Varieties and Secrets to Good Dining.

Some classics vehicle on display here are the Bufori and Vespa which add more flare to the atmosphere.

Yet again my expectation was high on Pavilion to come out something out of the ordinary this year but it is not meant to be for this year.

Raya Decoration 2011 @ Berjaya Times Square

2011-08-27T21:34:00.001+08:00

To usher the Raya, Berjaya Times Square brings the shopper to take a trip down memory lane with their decoration at its main concourse on the ground floor.

The hustle and bustle of the city is transformed into a scene from a tranquil coastal fishing village

The villages kind of rekindle the memory of yesteryear when houses were built on stilts and the inhabitants had to brave the winds with thatched roofs woven from dry leaves.

Fishermen ship can be seen docked at the village while the landscaped surroundings provide a burst of life.

I have to admit that I am expecting something more from this mall but I think this will do for this year considering the financial constrain everyone is experiencing now.

The Ship Bukit Bintang

2011-08-26T07:45:00.001+08:00

If one is looking for a good steak while in KL, one of the best place will be at The Ship. It has a few branches around and probably the most accessible outlet for tourists is the Bukit Bintang branch.

This is my second visit to The ship outlet, the first at Batu Ferringhi, Penang and I was impressed with their steak.

The outlet here also has the same ambience. The lights are kind of dim and the theme is the same where service is provided by captains and crews in maritime uniform.

There are a few maritime facts and information that can be found on the wall such as type of knot and etc.

Before any food is served, a complimentary bread and butter from the restaurant seems like a nice gesture.

Mixed salad (RM 10.90) is made up of fresh lettuce, sliced cucumber, carrot, capsium, tomato, onion rings, served with the choice of Thousand Island or French dressing.

Charbroiled Rib Eye Steak (RM 48.90) is part of the Chef's Recommendation inside the menu. A tender and succulent steak served with broccoli, corn on cob, baked potato and tomato. The steak still maintain the same standard as the one I tried in their Batu Ferringhi outlet. What else I can say. Simply the best!

Roast Rack Lamb (RM36.90) consist of lamb rib topped with kebab sauce served with the same side dishes at the Rib Eye Steak. They are generous in their portion and the lamb is simply delicious.

The restaurant has its own brand of chili sauce which I didn't use. Hope the sauce is as good as its main dishes.

Virgin Mary (RM 6.50) is basically tomato juice. It's pretty hard for me to stomach it. Probably I am not use to it. Salt is readily available at the side of the cup to ease the drinking process.

A mug of draft Tiger Beer (RM 11) is simply refreshing. I just wish they have more beer options but this will do for now.

The Ship definitely lived up to its tagline as the best steak in town.

Raya Decoration 2011 @ 1 Utama

2011-08-23T08:00:00.000+08:00

1 Utama seems to amaze me yet again with their Raya decoration this year. I still remember the amazing job their did last year with the real paddy field set up here in conjunction of the celebration.

This year, the management did something unique at the Oval concourse and I was amazed with what I saw at first glance.

Practically, the Oval concourse been mushroomed with what appear to be a giant flowers of some sort.

At closer inspection, the giant flowers decoration is constructed with bamboo as the frame and finished with batik to illustrate a big flower. The bamboo and batik combination is perfect as they create a wonderful sight to behold..

It is really something creative and innovative by the management which definitely stand out than the rest of the malls in KL and Selangor area in term of Raya decorations.

Raya Decoration 2011 @ Alamanda

2011-08-22T07:32:00.001+08:00

It's that time of year again when Malls and shopping complexes will be decorated for the occasion. Hari Raya is just around the corner and it's always interesting to see how the management decorate their malls creatively.

Alamanda this year is quite moderate in their decoration. Nothing out of the blue with a prominent kampung structure at the main concourse.

It pretty much depicts the scene of the first day of Hari Raya in a traditional Malay kampung house. It's a beautiful scene where everyone looks happy. One of the figure seems to be holding a Malaysia flag which probably mean the celebration of the nation's independence day which is expected to fall on the second day of the Hari Raya.

I can't recall what the decoration the management had last year but this year design will do for Alamanda.