M&D's Restaurant @ Parkcity Everly Hotel

M & D's Restaurant is the main restaurant for Parcity Everly Hotel, Bintulu and I decided to dine here for dinner since I had the opportunity to stay at this hotel.

The restaurant is located on the first floor. It is a nice place and  overlooking the swimming pool. I been told they serve good food many years ago and I wonder if the traditions continued.

Instead of using foreign band or singers, the hotel seems to be using their in house talent when I saw one of the staff here singing at the stage. I find it to be a smart move as the management are able to use their available resources in a more effective way.

The restaurant is well known to make good pizza and I start to understand why as they have a coal fired oven at their kitchen.

Wild Mushroom Soup (RM 9.50) is a nice appetizer which easily put the most of the mushroom soup served at other places to shame.

This might be one of the best Yong Chow Fried Rice (RM 14.50) I ever tasted. The mushroom gravy which came with it really enhance the overall taste of the fried rice. Thumbs up for the spring rolls too.

Hunter Steak (RM 42) served with mixed vegetables and fries is served on a hot plate (seriously). The steak is cooked perfectly and not tough. The pepper mushroom sauce is really good. It is one of the best steak I ever had.

M&D's Restaurant definitely live up to their reputation. With good food and services, I definitely will want to be back again.

Bintulu Historical and Cultural Corridor

Bintulu Historical and Cultural Corridor which is strategically located at Parkcity Commerce Square is another new landmark to the town which reflects unity in the diversity of the people here.

Opened in May 2014, the Corridor was built in the middle of a commercial area to promote greater interaction among the communities. It was a project between the Bintulu Development Authority and Bintulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

The corridor has a heavy Chinese influence in its overall design as can be seen from the arches and the water fountain at the centre of it. 

 

 

 

The peaceful co-existence among the Iban, Melanau, Malay and Chinese communities are represented by the four uniquely designed recreational sheds which represent those races at the four corners of the Corridor.

 

 

The marble wall sculptures at the Corridor depicting the history and development of Bintulu from a small fishing village with 5,000 population to an industrial town down.

Raya Decoration 2014 @ KL & Putrajaya

Hari Raya is slightly one more week and I had a walkabout around KL & Putrajaya to see some of the decoration which are on display on some of the established malls. Frankly, I am rather disappointed as they are pretty much predictable without much of a wow factor.

 

KLCC has set up a beautiful traditional Malay village with old bicycle and birdcages at the verandah.

 

Pavilion KL opts for a little modern touch in their decoration with lights hanging on the arch leading to the main concourse which resembles a modern market place. A giant oil canvas with the title "The Three Graces" hanging prominently above the decoration set.

 

Fahrenheit 88 adopts an Arabian theme with water fountain and Arabic chandelier which set the tone for the celebration.

The concept in Berjaya Times Square is even more simple. They just set up a miniature mosque structure amidst the bazaar.

 

 

Alamanda Putrajaya has a similar concept as KLCC but it is more of a fishing village with the presence of lifebuoys, sampan and fishing nets.

Transformers "Age of Extinction" Review

I had watched Transformers "Age of Extinction" 2 weeks ago and was surprised it still topped the box office at the time of writing. For someone who grew up with Transformers since the 1980s, I am rather disappointed with the 4th installment.

At least the movie pay homage to the G1 Optimus Prime's alternate mode at the beginning of the plot. However, things just went terribly wrong in the movie and most of them just make the whole movie looks kind of silly:-

• American flags can be seen frequently in the scene.
• The remaining Autobot seems to be disorganised and bickering among themselves which are something we see frequently with the Decepticon
• Optimus Prime is still alive after receiving a shot and jab to the chest
• Optimus Prime's ear piece fell down during the early scene and was fixed in no time. Apparently he has the ability to regain his "health" quickly after been severely wounded in a few occassion.
• Bumblebee's impatience almost cost the Autobot the mission while in KSI's HQ in Chicago. As a scout, this is rather an unusual behavior displayed by an Autobot.
• We hardly know Hound, Driff and Crosshair which are introduced in this installment.
• Galvatron seems to lack of firepower. Strangely, all the Decepticon were wiped out after the last incident.
• The Dinobots are a letdown. Hardly even had the opportunity to get to know Grimlock, Strafe, Slug and Scorn. G1 Dinobots are way cooler than this one.
• Optimus Prime does not have any qualm to blast the threatening human being. That is cold for an Prime.
• When did Optimus Prime has a jet pack installed at his back?

 

Maybe it is time to let go of Optimus Prime and pass the "Matrix of Leadership" to The Chosen One in the next installment as viewer might be introduced to "The Creator" (which might be Unicron or Primus). The storyline starts to get a bit stale and frankly, I will probably skip the next installment altogether.

Peter Cullen who has been the soul of Optimus Prime since the beginning should know how the movie had gone awry wrong under Michael Bay and put a stop to it as it has start to bring bad name and shame to Transformers I used to know.