With an adventurous inclusion of Xin Jiang cuisine of China, consisting of a series of delectable lamb dishes, Ming Ren Restaurant at Genting Highlands is not your typical Cantonese restaurant.  I like the lunch sets, which are elaborate six-course sets, perveying a sumptuous mix of Cantonese and Xin Jiang cuisine.  

The set includes one dim sum starter, one appetizer, one soup, two main dishes and one dessert.  We chose two sets, Set One at RM 48 per pax, and Set Three at RM 88 per pax.  Price is already inclusive of tax and service charge.

For Set One, steamed beancurd roll and egg tarts are dim sum starters, presented on a classy black long-ovaled plate.

The appetizer is a cold dish with sliced lamb in five spice sauce.  The lamb is braised till tender and sponging up all the flavors of the five spice sauce.

The salted vegetable soup is not overly acidic as some salted vegetable soup can get.  Instead, it has a gentle sour note, accompanied by a smooth sweetness with the use of papaya.  Simple yet pleasing to the palate.  The yam is an interesting addition to the soup with a soft and cottony texture.

The two main dishes are 1 – Braised Lamb with Radish, a dish which is typically done with pork so it’s nice to see something different, chucking in a piece of tender lamb chunk, with a hint of freshness from the radish.

2.  Homemade Beancurd with Mushroom Gravy, dainty and elegant.

Lastly the dessert for Set One is Almond Beancurd With Peppermint.  The almond flavor didn’t stand out too much but I did like it’s viscosity.  It’s not a soft solid as you would expect in beancurd, but more of a highly-viscous liquid that flows and coats over the peppermint pudding as you work through the dessert.

For Set Three, the Dim Sum starter has the same Beancurd Roll with custard pau.

The appetizer is Baked Mackerel with BBQ Sauce.  The mackerel is butterflied such that all surface area is evenly grilled inside out till crisp and especially crispy at the edges of each slice.  So crisp that the bones are edible too.

The Lamb Kut Teh Soup is surprising light and refreshing, with a wealth of herbs used such as dang sheng, dang gui, star anise and luo han guo.  The lamb though was a tad tough.

The main dishes include 1: Roasted Lam Ribs, sprinkled with cumin and whit sesame seeds.  The cumin with its distinctive smell confused my senses for a sec; I thought I was eating Indian food as it is a spice typically used in Indian cuisine.  The unassuming sauce hiding behind the lamb ribs is an absolute must and it intensifies the flavors to a whole new level.  The sauce has soy sauce, chili, vinegar and the top secret weapon is – meat essence from grilled lamb is added to it – I asked the waiter about the ingredients as I thought there was something unusual about the sauce.  The lamb is succulent, but not tender enough.

2.  Homemade Beancurd with Anchovies – a classic dish and nicely executed.

Lastly, I am keeping the best for last, this drop-dead-gorgeous ice cream is so much more than its name on the menu, “Special Almond and Pistachio Ice Cream” .  Almond and pistachio are just sidekicks.  The true star of this dessert is the LAMB ice cream, with finely shaved ice compacted into a cube, infused with the savory flavor of lamb and it is simply incredible immersed in rich pistachio creamy sauce, topped with a generous layer of almond slices.  This is the one single dish that I have already planned for coming back to eat again before I even finished the ice cream.

The restaurant’s interior is elegant and very Chinese with grey bricks and wooden furniture.

I left Ming Ren Restaurant with satisfactory, lamb-y burps and just slightly heated up internally, so indeed it is true that according to Chinese herbology, lamb is categorized as “warm” in nature.

More Info
Address : Level 2, Maxims Genting Higlands Resort, Genting Highlands 69000, Malaysia
Opening Hours : Mon – Fri 12 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 10 pm.
Sat – Sun 11 am -3 pm, 6pm – 10 pm

Kuriya (厨) Japanese restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre is a little more posh than the usual Japanese restaurants.  While it serves your typical ramen, soba and rice dishes, it combines some of the most  lavish ingredients to create a luxurious dining experience.  Wagyu BBQ roll + sea urchin, and double toro roll are fine examples.


The highlight of our meal is the Sashimi Mori Utage (RM 168), flamboyantly displayed with some of the finest sashimi including toro (tuna belly), salmon belly, scallops, prawns and red snapper.  The toro is an all-time favorite with an even spread of fine fattiness that melts graciously, pleasing the palate like never before.  The prawn sashimi is utterly sweet with a bit of gooeyness  and the best part, the brains.

The salmon belly sashimi is a bit different from toro, both being fish bellies.  The fattiness in salmon belly is in bigger streaks and more clear-cut you could sort of distinguish the territorial lines between the flesh and fat.

As for the red snapper sashimi, it was one thing I was not looking forward to as I have encountered a few times that it has a “plastic” taste to it in general – not sure whether that’s due to packaging or whatsoever.  But the red snapper sashimi at Kuriya is delightful, velvety and it is the best I have tried.

I was a bit heart broken though as uni is supposed to be included in this set as per description on the menu – but there was none – I think due to stock shortage.

The Avocado Maguro Carpaccio (RM 26) is simple with avocado adding a rich texture to it, yet not too rich with the appetizing, sourish, vinegar dressing.

The Asari Miso Soup ( RM 18) is exceptionally intense with clam essence.  The soup is contained in a wide bowl, and I enjoyed it best by picking up the bowl and drinking from the bowl.  Gulping this sumptuous soup is much more fun than drinking daintily using the spoon.

The tempura soba (RM 29) is decent and no surprises.

Kuriya’s lavishness in food is reflected on its menu too – with embroidery against a black plush.

The restaurant’s interior, adorned with a mini samurai suit and kimono.

More Info
Kuriya Facebook
Address : T2, 3 rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre.
Opening Hours : Daily 11.30 am – 10.30 pm

The Szechenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest is one of the top advertised thermal baths in Budapest and I easily see why.  The combination of gorgeous blue waters against an opulent neo-baroque yellow architecture is enchanting and one should plan at least half a day if not a full day at the thermal bath.

It is located in the middle of city park and easily reached via the underground metro.  As you exit from the metro station, strange but true, you exit right at the middle of the park.  This is the building’s facade if you are coming from the park.

The total number of pools come up to 18 pools, 3 outdoor and 15 indoor pools, making the Szechenyi Thermal Bath the largest in Europe.  Everything is in Hungarian but it’s not too hard to figure out where the toilet is or what temperature the pools are at.  There are plenty of indoor saunas and you get some interesting ones like aroma therapy sauna, which just smells a little bit different than the usual ones, and the fluorescent sauna where the lights change constantly to red, blue, green and so on.  I am not sure what good these colors do, but it was fun, kind of like disco sauna I guess!

The outdoor pools are magnificent but I didn’t get to spend too much time there as  as most of the time I did pool-hopping indoors.  Coming from Malaysia, I think I received enough sun there.

A swimming pool for laps is available and do remember to bring a cap as it is compulsory to wear at this particular pool.

Some of the pools are beautifully designed like this one with red-marbled pillars and arches.  The two pools in this area are comfortable temperatures of 38 ⁰C and 40⁰C.

The smaller pool behind it is 19 ⁰C, much too cold for my liking.

Another popular pool is this one, housed in the rotunda, directly underneath the dome.  I probably spent the most time at this pool – admiring the architecture details while basking under the sunlight.

The seats behind the pool are plastic, and designed with a hole on them to drain away water.  Looks like a comfortable place to take a nap too!

Details on the wall.

Other “fun” pools include the water current pool where there is a circular current that helps you to swim faster and give you a bit of massage at the same time;

and the exercise pool were people were doing weights and aerobics in.

Some of the indoor smaller pools.

As you purchase the entrance ticket, you will be given a plastic watch-like band which acts as a key to your locker.

The changing room is immaculate in the morning but it did get a bit dirty at late afternoon when people are in and out, walking around with slipers and bringing dirt from outside.

More Info
Szechenyi Thermal Bath Official Website
Address : H 1146 Budapest, XIV. Kerulet Allatkerti Korut 9-11.
Opening Hours : Outdoor Pools: 6 am – 10 pm.
Indoor Pools / Sauna: 6 am – 7pm.
Pump Hall: 9am – 5pm.

Getting there : Metro Yellow Line M1, Station Szechenyi Furdo (exits at the City Park); or trolley bus 72 (stops at Hosok ter and need to walk about 300- 500 m)

The New York Cafe in Budapest is one cafe extravaganza located on the ground floor of Boscolo Hotel.  It is an epitome of opulence where dining is truly fit for a king.  The cafe’s menu has a short description about the cafe, terming itself “The Most Beautiful Cafe in the World” – which would be hard to dispute.

New York Cafe first opened its doors in 1894 with its spectacular and palatial interior, chandeliers and frescos on the ceilings.  The tables are contemporary glass table tops with images of red petals, matched with red-velvet-cushioned chairs.

It took me a while to settle down, admiring every inch of the cafe – whether it’s on the ceiling or at the corner – there’s not one single corner sparse of beautiful details.

New York Cafe’s menu is just as elegant as the cafe itself  in sleek leather.

The Somloi Sponge Cake I ordered is to die for (HUF 2150, about 6.80 Euros).  The dessert is made up of an ensemble of layered sponge cakes, with a different flavor at every layer.  It must have been a laborious duty assembling the dessert into the jar.

The bottom layer is chocolate sponge cake soaked in cherry liquor, followed by alternating layers of custard and moist vanilla sponge cake (soaked in coffee perhaps?), stacking on top o each other.  Walnut buts, candied orange peel and raisins are hiding in the layers, tantalizing you with surprise, making each bite a different flavor and texture.

The dark gooey sauce is a warm, bittersweet chocolate sauce which I savored separately from the cake because the cake itself has a bountiful of texture so that’s kind of like eating two desserts which is a bonus for me!

The hot chocolate (HUF 1700, about 5.5 Euros) is all fancy with the long spoon, silver tray, dainty biscuits and generous cream topping, but it’s quite mild and I am sorry to say, Milo tastes better.

If you love cafe-hopping, the New York Cafe should definitely be on the top of your list, but perhaps skip the hot chocolate.

Enjoy more photos below :)

More Info
New York Cafe Official Website
Address : Boscolo Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073 Budapest
Getting there : Take the M2 Metro Line (Red Line) to Blaha Lujza subway station.

Niu Taste (牛道.串道), a Noodle and Grill Bar at St Mary Place that offers a fusion of Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine, picking out favorites from all three cuisines.  The beef noodles from Taiwanese cuisine, the “pho” from Vietnamese cuisine and the grilled from Japanese cuisine.       

The interior is a fusion of Chinese and Japanese; less evident of Vietnamese.

The Taiwanese Beef Noodle with Half Shank and Half Tendon (RM 22) is served in a gigantic bowl big enough to wash your face in, with both the beef shank and beef tendon stewed to uber-tender.  The beef is probably too tender it’s lost a bit of texture, while the tendons are just nice to melt in your mouth.  I like the minced sour vegetables on the wooden spoon, a small detail that should not be missed in Taiwanese beef noodles.

The Grilled Chicken Wings (RM 12 for 2 pieces)  are much puffier than the usual ones because they are stuffed with mentaiko – a type of fish roe that’s absolutely mouth-watering.  The combination is so juicy that juices literally splash as you take a bite into the delicately-crisp skin.

Some of the mentaiko has maintained the original circular form and you could still feel the burst of sweetness from each individual roe.

The Lamb Skewers (RM 8 for 2 pieces) are chunky lamb cubes grilled with light seasoning that bring out the original delectable flavors of the lamb, although they are slightly tough.

Another interesting grill on the menu that appeals to me is the Alaskan crab leg (of course!) but that will have to be another time.

Japanese beer and sake are not lacking given the atmospheric Japanese bar.

The brown rice tea is refreshing with a flavorful roast.


Niu Taste has partnered with Offpeak.my, offering a daily 30% discount from 3 pm – 5.30 pm (except public holidays) on all food and beverages (excluding alcoholic drinks).  All you need to do is book through the website and enjoy your meal with a good saving :)

More Info
Pork Free
Niu Taste Facebook
Address : A-04, Ground Floor, St Mary Place, Jalan Tengah,, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours : Daily 11 am – 11 pm

The spectacular Heroes Square is located just right outside the city park of Budapest.  The central monument featuring Gabriel the Guardian Angel is also known as the Millennium Monument, which was completed in 1900 to commemorate the 1000th year of Hungarian State founded by Stephen I.      

The bronze statues are naturally the “heroes” of Hungary, being past Kings and important figures of Hungary.

The right colonnade represents peace, knowledge and glory;

whereas the left colonnade represents labor, wealth and war.

Heroes Square is also used for political events such as receiving prominent foreign guests – which was the case on the day of my visit.  Security was high, soldiers were rehearsing the ceremony until the guest arrived.  The guest is probably an ambassador from Malaysia or Indonesia looking at the costumes they are wearing.  Quite a coincidence that we visited the square on the same day !

I wish I had enough time to visit the two beautiful buildings flanking the sqaure, the Palace of Arts,

and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Heroes Square is within 10 minutes walk to Szechenyi Thermal Baths, so you could plan to visit both places enroute.

 
More Info
Getting there : Take the M1 Metro Line to Hosok Tere Station; or by Bus N0. 20 and No. 30.

Chic and artsy, Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok at Sukhumvit 15 is easily accessible with the closest BTS Asok Station at a mere 5 minutes walk away.  Shopping, eateries are plenty with the popular Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant just 10 minutes walk away.

The hotel’s lobby area is full of energetic vibe.  The business center is just next to it should you need to use a computer quickly.

The chic and artsy motif continues in our room with neutral colors, accentuated by floral patterns on the wall and a dash of red on the cushion.

A sleek working table which is most likely not going to be used because why? You are in Bangkok to have some fun!

The partition between the room and the bathroom is adjustable, so you can close it for privacy, or open it up to extend the space, or if you want to watch TV from the bathtub !

The bathroom’s mirror has a piece of white post-it stuck on it, which is a discount voucher to get 15% off at The Eatery at the hotel.  That’s a nice way to catch someone’s attention ! Who would resist the temptation and not tear off to see what’s written on that post it?

The bathroom accessories are vibrantly colored – somehow reminds me of Malibu, both the alcohol and the beach.

The coffee facility and junk food is at your disposal.

And this is The Eatery we would have eaten if we had a little more time in Bangkok.

More Info
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok @ Sukhumvit 15 Official Website
Address : Sukhumvit Soi 15 · Bangkok, Thailand
Tel : +662 309 3000 ; In Malaysia, call 1800 18 1220

Imperial-themed with dragon motifs and Forbidden-City-inspired red doors, Restaurant Good Friends (好友记) in Genting Highlands serves a mix of Cantonese and Hakka cuisine fit for a king.   

For starters, the jelly fish paired with Japanese red octopus is a classic duo (RM 9.50), with added sweetness from crisp, raw onions slices.  The onion slices have been somehow treated to lose the pungency, and only left with “refreshing” sweetness – an adjective I would hardly use to describe onions.

The following dishes are all Hakka dishes which are distinctive and vibrant stir-fries. Japanese cucumbers are most commonly eaten raw in salads, but when cooked with minced pork, they have lost some of that vegetable rawness, yet still juicy, and especially intriguing with the use of olive vegetables (橄榄菜) (RM 18.50).

The Long Bean & Eggplant stir-fry (RM 18.50) is another aromatic dish where I can imagine the wok is flaming in the process of cooking this dish, with the eggplant so soft it melts and they go perfectly well with the lightly-charred long beans.

The tender pork with black fungus in clay pot (RM 32.50) is another delectable dish; elegant in its simplicity with the use of mere seasoning of ginger, rice wine and soy sauce that generated an intense flavor which seemed to have merged, yet every seasoning stood out in their own right.

The restaurant’s interior has a dash of red and do check out the huge chopsticks hanging from the ceilings !

If you just need to grab something quick, Restaurants Good Friends serves single-person dishes such as fried rice, chicken rice and wan tan mee.  The prices are already inclusive of service charge and tax.

More Info
Address : Maxim Hotel, Genting Highlands.
Opening Hours : Daily 6.30 am- 3pm, 6 pm – 10 pm.

The Flying Fox at Bukit Tinggi is the longest trail in South East Asia, located in Colmar Tropicale’s Adventure Park.  I saw the advertisements for it as we were driving and just mentioned to Gary as-a-matter-of-factly “hey, there’s flying fox here !” Not knowing that my comment had ignited Gary’s childhood passion as a scout and he decided that we should have a go at it.    



So we got all geared up (RM 80 per person), climbed up this rock-climbing-tower via the stairs and it was by the time we reached the top of the tower, saw the dangling bridge that I realized what kind of trouble me and my big mouth had gotten myself into.  The bridge didn’t look too high-up when looking from below, but it is high, extremely high with me being scared of heights and the spaces between the wooden bars so wide.

I wasn’t even sure if I could walk past this bridge, let alone do the flying fox from an even higher point.  At this point, I really wanted to be a sitting fox.

No turning back now.  The instructors strolled across the bridge in 10 seconds – I was pretty sure they could do it with their eyes closed.

When it was our turn, everyone walked like a granny.

Finally, everyone made it to the end of the bridge.  We walked through a much shorter bridge, climbed up a tree where the starting of the flying fox trail is.

The instructor did whatever he had to to hook me onto the metal rope and I was not stoked with my legs in mid-air and with my own life not at my disposal.  All I could do was close my eyes and scream all the way.  The wind, the speed, the feeling of nothing to hold onto and the whizzing sound of my lock abrading the metal rope all made it worse.

The process was fast – I’ve already reached the other end before I finished screaming. Probably less than 30 seconds.

Gary went before me and he was already waiting there when I reached, having a chit chat with the instructor at the other end.  They even discovered hornbills while waiting for me.

“Is that your wife?” The instructor asked.
“Yes.” Gary said.
“Well, at least she screamed so she’s still OK.”

When I thought it was all over, I realized there was Part II, with yet another dangling bridge and yet another taller tree to climb.  The bridge ends at the tree with the steps and we pretty much had to climb up vertically.

With pale face and lips, I was not happy, finally reaching the top of the tree, sitting at the edge of the wooden plank, staring down the valley, getting ready for yet another adrenaline rush.

This time, there were two metal ropes, so two people could go together.  By now, I knew what to expect and I was much better at handling my fear.  The gradient was not as steep as the first time so it was not as fast as well.

Going together with Gary this time was much more enjoyable.  I didn’t scream; I opened my eyes; and it was kinda like taking the cable car except it was much faster.

This is the finishing point for the second part of flying fox.

Still pale, I finally accomplished the flying fox ! The “flying” parts were done in 1 minute or less.  It was getting to the point of “flying” that took time, crossing the bridge in mid air, and waiting for others to come before we proceeded to the next step.  In total, the journey took about 2 hours to complete.

Other than being terrified at Part I, it was definitely a thrilling experience !

More Info
Address : Km 48 Persimpangan Bertingkat Lebuhraya, Bukit Tinggi, 28750, Malaysia.
**Note : Please call them (or get the hotel to call) if you would like to do the flying fox.  They will arrange by groups.

A trip to Bangkok promises a myriad of experiences – whether you just want to do retail therapy, indulge in spa and massages, see the cultural aspects of Bangkok, or a little bit of everything. In our very short trip, we didn’t too much shopping because that would need a completely different itinerary on its own (but you probably already know where to go – Chatuchak Market, Siam Paragon, MBK Center, etc).  We did mostly the cultural and treated ourselves with awesome Thai food.    

Day 1

Arrival in Bangkok.  Check into Doubletree by Hilton. We did some hotel-hopping and for our 3 rd night, we stayed at Four Points by Sheraton, both being conveniently located along Sukhumvit.

Visit the glittering and magnificent Wat Phra Kaew that’s adjoined to the Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew is THE iconic temple to visit that enshrines the Emerald Buddha which is one of the most important historical relic that dates back to as early as 5 BC.

Visit Wat Pho, or the Reclining Buddha that’s 43 m in length with giant feet decorated with 108 auspicious images made of mother of pearl. Notice the clinking sound of coins – that’s the way to make a wish at the temple by throwing coins into the 108 bowls that encircle the temple.

If you have time (which we didn’t), visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) that’s also in the vicinity.

For dinner, indulge in street food in Chinatown.  Check out T&K Seafood and 15 Things to Eat in Bangkok Chinatown that pervey food from unaltered classic Thai flavors to premium items like fish maw and bird’s nest, all found by the road side.

Day 2

Take a half day trip out of Bangkok and visit the Maeklong Railway Market where vendors pack up their stores in a whiz to allow the train to pass, and set up the store again once the train is gone – they do this a few times a day.  The Damnoen Saduak  Floating Market is nearby, so you can visit the two markets enroute.  Many tour companies offer this package at around 1200 – 1500 Baht per person; alternatively, you can go on your own via mini vans that depart at Victory Monument Sky Train Station at a much cheaper price of around 80 Baht per person per trip.

As you return to Bangkok, visit the Erawan Shrine; your wishes may come true here.  Remember to “repay the offering” when they do come true.

Pamper yourself with fine dining at Ruen Urai Thai restaurant in a traditional teak house.   If you are too full after dinner, take a stroll at Patpong Night Market that’s just nearby to digest some of that food.

Day 3

Take a day trip to Ayutthaya, and soak up the ancient aura of the once burgeoning city of Ayutthaya.  The city is in ruins yet spectacular, being ransacked by the Burmese army more than 200 years ago.

Popular temples in the area include Wat Mahathat with the famous Buddha’s head statue wrapped in roots, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet with three giant chedis, Wat Yat Chai Mongkol which is still a functional monastery and Wat Chaiwatthanaram which has a lesser extent of destruction.

Other attractions in the area include the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Wat Phu Khao Thong, Wat Lokayasutharam, Wihan Phramongkohn Bophit and Elephant Palace.

You can get to Ayutthaya by taking mini vans that depart from Victory Monument Sky Train Station.  The van leaves once it gets filled up (around 90 Baht per person).  Once you reach there, you can hire a tuk tuk for the day.

Dinner at one of the most weirdly themed Thai restaurant Cabbages and Condoms,where mannequins are dressed in creative condom costumes.   The restaurant serves not only delicious Thai food but also raise awareness in family planning.

Day 4
Depart Bangkok.  If you have a bit of time before your flight, do some shopping :)

Wombats Hostel in Budapest is an excellent choice for those travelling alone and for those that are on a budget as it can’t be located more centrally than within 10 minutes walk to the major transportation hub of Deak Ferenc ter Station, where 3 major metro lines meet and many buses and trams depart from there.  5 Star hotels such as Le Meridien are located in the same vicinity so you can imagine how strategic the location is.

The lobby is gorgeous, with light flowing from the stained-glass ceilings.  It felt more like a boutique hotel instead of a hostel.  Most of the staff are extremely helpful and friendly (except for one that was kind of indifferent).

The hostel is located on Kiraly Street, surrounded with plenty of eateries you’ll never have to worry about what to eat.  If none of the eateries suit you, the supermarket is just down the street.

Lifts and staircase are available to bring you to your room.  Even the staircase is curvy and elegant.

The 4-bedded room is simple (16 Euros per night for one bed) – two bunk beds with a coffee table and a few stools.  There is a charger right by the bedside so your electronic products will surely be charged.

There are lockers to place any important belongings.  The key to the locker is already given to you when you check in – the plastic card (with some sort of magnetic waves I think?) that you use to enter the room also doubles up as the key to the locker.  Press the card onto the black knob to open or lock it.  Nifty.

The bathroom is basic but clean though it does get a bit messed up when there are 4 girls sharing it.

The hallway.

More Info
Wombats Hostel Official Website
Address : Kiraly u. 20, H-1061
Getting there : It is located within 10 minutes walk of Deak Ferenc ter Metro and Bus station.  Check out the “Directions” Page on Wombats Official Website.

Peng Heong Hakka Pork Ribs Restaurant boasts of an almost 40 years of experience that entice patrons back and again for the time-tested recipe.  The famous pork ribs are deep fried and super tender.  Lightly coated with a starchy powder, they are also chewy with a sweet note which reminisces slightly of char siew.  The ribs are  already deboned and sliced into a convenient size.    

Claypot Asam Mustard is intense of appetite-whetting sourish flavors and it is a tad heavier than the usual mustard soups as this one is more of a gravy than soup.

Kampung fish are prepared not with the typical way of deep-frying, but steamed with a blanket of asam sauce which is a similar and lighter version of the claypot asam mustard above.

These Hakka meatballs (RM 1 per piece) are deep-fried and not oily at all with an evenly-browned coating.  Despite being called meatballs, it’s not 100% meat but meat mixed with starchy material, so they may look heavy in protein, in fact, they are crisp with a fluffy filling.

Pork and curry are not quite the common duo so for those that love this duo and are frustrated looking for it, Peng Heong has it as a viscous curry; although the meat could have been stewed a tad longer to tenderize it.

Tofu with minced meat is a simple and delightful dish.

Drink choices include soy bean and herbal tea in Johnie Walker bottles.

Food here is extremely affordable.  Depending on the size of the dish, they range from RM 4 – RM 20 per dish; and the fish is market price.  It was RM 90 for the 6 dishes and 2 bottles of drinks; not bad at all for stuffing the 4 of us!

More info
Address : No.2 Lorong Gudang Nanas 1 Off Jallan Pasar, 41400 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel : 019 – 2600855
Opening Hours : Daily 6.30 am – 5 pm.

Podgy & The Banker is quaintly nestled in the Sri Hartamas neighborhood.  The cafe’s name is the kind that will get your head to turn again just to recapture the name.  Podgy & The Banker serves simple pastries, sandwiches and of course a variety of creative fuel – coffee.   

The cafe is bright and it’s an instant mood-booster with light pouring in through those floor to ceiling windows.

Mocha (RM 10) has become my favorite drink lately, fine and comforting; and the Americano (RM 8) is aromatic and a good way to start the day.

The salmon in the Smoke Salmon Sandwich (RM 17) is cooked instead of the usual cold, raw slices, so the overall sandwich is a handful of warmness, complemented by blanched spinach and diced tomatoes.

The Chicken Avocado Sandwich (RM 16) uses two pleasurable ingredients of avocado and melted mozzarella cheese to give a creamy filling, a nice contrast to the crisp toast with perfect grill-marks.

Enjoy more photo of the cafe’s interior below :)

More Info : Halal
Address : 2 Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur 50480, Malaysia.
Opening Hours : 9 am – 12 midnight.  closed on Tuesdays.

Colmar Tropicale is a highland resort inspired by the Alsace region of France.  Located at 2700 ft above sea level, cobbled streets, timber-framed buildings, clock tower and pastel colors reminisce an European medieval village.

The fountain with cranes is a gift presented to Colmar Tropicale from Alsace.

The adjacent Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort is also inspired by the Haut Koesnigburg Castle in Alsace.

Having said that it is French inspired, the timber-framed architecture is more Germanic instead of French as Alsace once lies in the conflicting border of France and Germany.  It was once annexed to Germany and it was only after the first world war that Alsace became part of France.

Rothenburg Ob der Tauber is an example of a German medieval village.

The resort is European enough with some Malaysian accents.

I like the small moat with gracious swans in it.

And black swans too with luscious black feathers and red beaks.  It’s probably the first time ever I am seeing black swans in my life!

There aren’t a whole lot of restaurants at Colmar Tropicale.  Having tried the boulangerie which serves pretty good coffee with not-that-great pastry;

and the roast chicken at Le Poulet Roti is a nice roast but heavy in MSG (the green gravy is spicy ayam penyet sauce, and the red sauce is their own interpretation of “BBQ Sauce”), driving down to the foot of the hill for dinner instead of having at the resort itself is probably a good idea.

Entrance to the resort is RM 12 per person and it is waived if you are staying at the resort.  Activities include canopy walk, rock climbing and flying fox at the Adventure Park, small petting zoo,

spa,

golf,

and fun fare games like hooking the rubber duck with the grand prize being the big cuddly teddy bear,

ballon shooting,

and throwing hoops onto the gold bottle, which is not as easy as it may seem.

For a bit of serenity, head over to the Japanese garden or the botanical garden.  Shuttles from the resort are available to bring you to these two places, or you may drive there if you you prefer;  it’s a short 5 – 10 minutes drive.  The Japanese garden requires a short hike up from the pavilion whereas the botanical garden is a hike down from the pavilion.

  

The Japanese garden is beautifully landscaped with rocks, koi pond and stone bridges.  It’s not really that big so it’ll probably take about 30 minutes to stroll around the area.

There’s also a tea house, which is “The World’s First Japanese Tea House in the Tropical Forest” – where you get to change into a kimono, experience tea ceremony and take photos of course! There’s no admission fee to go inside the garden but a fee is required for the tea house.

The botanical garden is set on a descending hill and it’s a breeze of walk through the tropical rain forest that Malaysia is blessed with.

Some of the plants from the botanical garden.

I am pretty sure some baristas must have gotten inspiration from these leaves as a lot of coffee art pretty much looks like this !

A Japanese restaurant is also found in the botanical garden.

If you are staying at the hotel, it’s a little quieter at night where romance seems to fill the air.

The hotel’s lobby.

We booked a deluxe room initially and got upgraded to a spacious one bed room suite.  The living room is warm-hued with orange floor tiles and earth-brown sofa.  The lamps are cute but provide inadequate lighting at night.

A mini kitchen counter which gives you plenty of space to make coffee.

The table with the L-shaped bench is definitely very European because I have seen this design in Germany quite a few times in restaurants and B&B.

The room is sweet with white bed frame and light brown furniture with pastel-blue edges. It does resemble European B&B in some ways that ready made furniture are frequently used instead of built in cupboards.

The vanity table is in a different space next to the bathroom.

The balcony is huge you could have a party there.

Scenery from the balcony.

The bathroom and amenities.

The swimming pool.

The breakfast area.

Breakfast consists of the usual – nasi lemak, porridge, fried noodles, pastry, egg station, noodle station, fruits and salad.

More Info
Colmar Tropical Official Website
Address: KM48, Persimpangan Bertingkat Lebuhraya Karak, 28750 Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia

Tel: + 60 (9) 221 3666
Fax: + 60 (9) 221 3828

The First World Hotel has an impressive 6118 rooms, which makes it the world’s  largest hotel in the period of 2005 – 2007 and it is listed in the Guinness World Records.  If you are visiting Genting Highlands, there are high chances that you will be staying in this hotel because the other two hotels Genting Highlands and Maxims are reserved for high rollers.    


First World Hotel is at present the world’s fourth largest hotel where the check in process is no joke with more than 30 check in counters.

On top of that, there are many self service check in kiosks beside it.  We were there on the weekend of 31st August and the lobby was like a market, full of people waiting to check in.

If you are waiting too long while checking in, take a stroll at the the rain forest hall with conical Chinese lanterns next to the lobby.

The room is basic and quite tiny it reminded me of the hotel that we stayed in Japan, but then I guess if you are in Genting, you probably won’t be spending too much time in the room.  There is no aircon so you’ll have to make good use of Genting’s cool weather by opening the windows.  The price was RM 400 plus per night (peak season).

Plain bathroom.

Have fun at Genting – be it shopping, casino, food hunting, shows, and theme parks.  Below are a few photos of the indoor theme park :)

More Info
First World Hotel Official Website
Address :  Genting Highlands Resort, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

Four Seasons Korean Restaurant at Solaris Mont Kiara is unlike many other Korean restaurants in the same area.  Instead of a typical Korean BBQ menu that one would expect to see, the restaurant offers unique meals using live fish kept in cold tanks.  The fish  is served raw or cooked, along with choices of premium items like live octopus, abalone and lobster.    

We took the sashimi set (RM 250) with sashimi from live  flounder and live rock fish being the star of the set, presented on stone-like ceramic bowls arranged as flower petals.  RM 250 may sound steep but wait till you see everything that’s included in the set and it’s totally worth it.

Since the sashimi are sliced from live fish, the texture is distinctly different from the ones you would get in a Japanese restaurant.  The texture of these translucent slices is slightly tough, chewy and almost alive it felt like my tongue was wrestling with fish muscles before finally declaring a win on them.  The texture changes if you don’t eat up within the first 10 minutes.  They become softer, liveless (I mean they are already dead in the first place but you don’t feel the muscles anymore) and more like the sashimi in Japanese restaurants that we are familiar with.

They are served in room temperature, which may not be something that everyone may like because we are used to the chilled sashimi in Japanese restaurant, so it’s something new to get used to.

Rock fish sashimi.

Flounder sashimi.

The center piece is also flounder sashimi but taken from a specific part of the flounder just under the fins.  It’s pale beige and has an unbelievable crisp crunch to it.

It’s a rare thing that the plate still looks gorgeous after we finished eating everything.

Sashimi salad is made of generous cuts of sashimi with spicy Korean chili paste and a sprinkle of white sesame seeds.

Two interesting items on the menu include the “sea worm” (on the left) and “sea squirt” on the right – again, taken live from the cold tank.  They are not the prettiest looking if you see them in their original form so I will only reveal what they really look like at the end of the post, but rest assured, the taste is heavenly.

I was intimidated at first by this bleeding, denailed-chicken-toe-look-alike sea worm.  Once I got past the first one, the rest is history.  The sea worm tastes like raw amai-ebi (sweet prawn), intensely sweet and pleasing with a crunchy texture.

The sea squirt has a tough chicken-like skin that envelopes an orange, spongy nuclues that “squirts” a salty flavor of the sea.  The skin is quite juicy itself so you could chew it to extract the juice but it’s too hard to swallow – like eating sugar cane – you spit out the end product.

Assorted sushi.

The tempura is fried ultra-lightly such that the prawns are at the exact borderline between raw and cooked.

The owner of the restaurant helped us debone the grilled sanma fish skillfully, all done in less than 30 seconds.

The small portion of carrot porridge is just nice for savoring.

The side dishes include kimchi, tofu,

Korean pancake,

clam soup,

and steamed egg.   
  
Nothing goes to waste here as the remaining fish bones are used to cook soup – perfect to round up this sumptuous banquet.

The restaurant’s interior.

And finally, I hope you don’t get intimidated, this cylindrical creature is the sea worm;

this abstract creature is the sea squirt;

the one-sided flounder;

and the rock fish that gives a clue of where it got its name.

More Info
Address : 15-1, SOHO KL, Jalan Solaris 2, Mont Kiara, 50480 KL
Tel : 03 6206 4797

Loong Hua seafood Restaurant (隆华海鲜酒家) would be an ideal place to eat if you have a big party because everything is ordered by the kg.  You could still eat there if you only have two people – the upside is, you are overloaded with the same good stuff, the downside is, you can only try two dishes and you will be maxed out.

The lightly battered crabs (RM 45) are coated with basic yet tantalizing mixture of salt and pepper with an abundant use of chopped spring onions.  This is 1 kg of crabs (about 4 pieces) and we wiped them clean.

This is another 1 kg of clams (RM 17), steamed with ginger and just the right amount of rice wine.  The resulting stock from the mix of rice wine and clam essence is simply divine.

This gigantic clam must be the restaurant’s mascot.  It’s at least 80 – 100 years old to be this size for 2 babies to fit in there.

The restaurant is next to the fisherman’s wharf, so it actually has a bit of “sea smell” that you eventually acclimatize to.  You can always choose to sit at the inner portion with aircon.

More Info
Address : No 73, Lorong 3, Bagan Sekinchan, Selangor.
Tel : 03 32410651

Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort is one of the largest accommodation establishments in Sekinchan with the beach right behind the hotel.  With a theme of romantic white, the hotel rate is decent starting at RM 100 + and above, comparing to other hotels that are homestays or converted from commercial shoplots with rates from RM 50 and above.     

The lobby has a set of comfortable sofas.  When we checked in, we were asked to put in RM 50 deposit.  Do take note that the hotel (as of Sept 2014) takes only cash and no credit card.

We walked through a corridor of shaded green behind the lobby to get to our room.

All the rooms are spread out spaciously in a single storey building, with a set of coffee tables and chairs at the porch.

We took the room with one queen and one single bed because the smaller rooms were fully booked; in fact, most of the hotels in town were fully booked because of the paddy field run event (RM 180 / night, promotional rate).  Standard rooms start at RM 113.

The bathroom is basic with a non-functional water heater.

Do check out the rear end of the hotel because there is an enormous fish pond and a viewing tower.

There’s an ikan bakar restaurant right next to the pond, so I guess that’s where they are getting their fish from !

The 5 or 6 storey high viewing tower gives you fantastic view of the surrounding – the fisherman’s wharf, the hotel compound all in white and Pantai Redang beach.

We had a comfortable stay at the hotel although the landscape maintenance and overall tidiness can be improved.

More Info
Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort Facebook
Address : No 358, Jalan Pantai Redang, Bagan Sekinchan, Kampong Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel : +603 3241 8497

Pantai Redang Beach (热浪沙滩) at Sekinchan is especially lively during weekends and public holidays where the market dominates the scene.  It is also where the TVB drama (单城双恋) took some of their scenes at.  The board that says “I Love Sekinchan” is a favorite spot for shutterbugs.

A hidden gem on the beach is the raw oyster stall with an uncle that shucks open the oysters right there and then.  The stall sells coconut juice too.  Raw oysters and coconut may seem an unlikely pair, but the combination is just to-die-for, where chilled oysters are topped with home-made chili sauce and a drizzle of lemon, accompanied with the soothing sweetness of coconut juice.

The uncle that cracks open the oysters maintains his coolness; doesn’t talk much and just does his job.

It is easy to snack away the afternoon with fresh produce, dried seafood, snacks and these ultra-crisp prawn crackers.

The wishing tree on the beach with entangled ribbons is an eye catching one.  To make a wish, throw a red ribbon knotted with coins onto the tree.

I am not sure how the wish is going to come true, but it was sure fun watching others do it !

The part of the beach that the market operates is unfortunately not too pretty, spoiled by rubbish dotted on the beach.

However, if you are willing to go a little bit further, the next section is much cleaner with red soil on an elevated ground that separates the sea and the palm tree plantation. This is also the secret place for local couples where they roam around in motorbikes, catching a blissful sunset (this aerial view is taken from the watch tower at the rear end of Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort).

More Info
Address : Redang Beach, Jalan Pantai Redang, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia.

 The paddy processing factory (PLS Marketing) is located amidst a sea of lush green paddy field.  The field is so uniform they are almost like a thick bush of carpet that you just feel like jumping on them and test the softness.

The paddy processing factory is enormous and it’s really popular where tourists arrive by the bus loads.

A very cute buggy with paddy on nursery mats is at the entrance.

You can roam around the factory as you wish, visiting the cafe and souvenir shop.  There’s a fee of RM 4 for going in the mini museum.  You can use the remaining ticket stub to exchange for a small packet of rice (~ 250 g).

The museum tour starts off with a short video that shows the rice processing process from step 1, which begins with 1.  seeds –> 2.  seed soaking –> 3.  seed planting –>4. rice nursery raising; all these steps are done in a nursery instead of directly on the field and it is a different concept that I understand as I always thought seeds are planted directly on the field; perhaps that was done in the old days.

It is only at step 5 that land is prepared and by now (step 6) rice nurseries are in the forms of strips and rolled out onto the field as if rolling out carpets.  The land is further prepared for 7.  weeding –> 8.  fertilization –> 9.  land flooding and finally 10.  Harvesting.

The video is impressive as you see how modern technology plays a role in helping the mass production of rice.

After the video, we get to take a peek of the factory from above,

find out more about various kinds of rice,

and take a stroll down memory lane to see the kind of machines that were used from the previous generation.

As you descend the museum, the souvenir shop is located on the ground floor, selling all sorts of rice produced in Sekinchan.  You get the usual 10 kg ones in the range of RM 20 and above kg and you get some premium ones such as the Japanese breed.

We bought this one – the pearl fragrant rice, RM 15 for 2 kg.  It’s a Japanese breed and at first I was a bit skeptical about its taste but after trying it my doubts were all cleared as it is indeed plump, sticky and glossy little pearl-like rice grains after being cooked.  It can’t be more suitable for pairing with Chinese dishes, especially those with gravy and the rice just soak up the gravy and lock in the flavor.  For Japanese rice, I think the price is very affordable because imported Japanese rice like Nishiki sells at the price of RM 33 for 2.5 kg.

We also bought the pearl brown rice ( RM 15 for 2 kg) but I haven’t had the chance to try it.

Another type of rice available is the Pearl White Rice (RM 13 for 2 kg).

If you are not into visiting factories and museums, that’s OK but do make a point to hang out for a while at the gorgeous rolling paddy fields of Sekinchan.

More Info
Address : Lot No. 9990, Jalan Tali Air 5, Ban 2, Selangor, 45400 Sekinchan, Malaysia
Tel : +60 3-3243 6558