Villa Ju Bakery Cafe in Solaris Mont Kiara welcomes you with a scent of freshly baked goodies as you enter its doors.  The cafe has a light touch of industrial vibe with the concrete walls while being urban-chic at the same time.     (The cafe is previously known as Nabe Bakery Cafe). 

The ground floor is dominated by pastries with only a few tables for seating.  Fret not, the first floor has plenty of tables.

Before making your way to the counter to place an order, an assortment of breads and pastries on the long aisle is an inevitable source of distraction.  I would personally prefer the items to be covered though.

Villa Ju Cafe makes sure you are entertained while you make your way up the first floor as the stairs are decorated with coffee machines and barrels of coffee beans.

Cute murals and fun paintings seem to make the climb much easier.

When you reach the first floor, you are greeted by these two cute little lamb plushies.

This section on the first floor is chic;

while this section exudes an European charm.  The houses by the river look German / Austrian to me.

Private room is available if you need.

The owner of the cafe is Korean and I think that is reflected in the food and the utensils.  My chicken panini sandwich (RM 14.90) came with longitudinally sliced cucumbers, red peppers, yellow peppers and tomatoes that are too tidy it’s like I am eating the sandwich version of bim bim bap.  Ham is grilled, lightly charred and goes well with vinaigrette with a strong note of sweetness.

Aglio Olio (RM 17.90) is quite a feast with golden sliced garlic, bacon and mushroom; not too oily with a hint of chili.  It’s amusing too to find out the pasta sits on top of a very cute European-market-inspired-plate drawn with a bunch of asparagus.

Macchiato (RM 10.50) is incredibly aromatic I could smell it from afar.  And oh hello, spoon with a winking smile !

Fulfilling black coffee Americano (RM 6.90).

Walnut pie (RM 8.90) is not too common in bakeries and the last time I had anything similar was pecan pie and it was years ago.  I love the contrast in textures with crunchy walnuts on a bed of mushy pumpkin paste laced with cinnamon.  A tad too sweet though. Oh and hello, fork with a winking smile and fork with “wicker rocking” (whatever that means!).

Besides serving pasta, sandwiches , pastries and coffee, since the owner is Korean, the Korean version of ice kacang “Pat Bing Su” is available here too.  Overall a decently priced cafe.

More Info
Address : 13A-1 Jalan Solaris 4, Solaris Mont Kiara, 50480 KL.
Tel : +603-62065423
Opening Hours : Mon – Fri 7.30 am – 12.00 am.  Sat & Fri 8am – 12 am.

Bagan Seafood Restaurant (鸿运海鲜饭店) seems to be a popular one at Sekinchan along the seafood street where about 10 restaurants compete.  At off peak hours of 3 – 4 pm, patrons were still flowing in yet somehow, our experience was just an average one.

We ordered three dishes – 1.  Razor clam in kam heong sauce (RM 17) is aromatic with curry-flavor but I think the clams were blanched in water first then stir fried with the sauce, making them a tad watery so the sauce didn’t adhere as strongly and felt slightly diluted.

2.  This “Half Way to Cook Fried Tongus Fish” (RM 14) as per menu is pretty much translated literally from its Chinese name – 半煎煮龙舌. The staff explained it’s a one sided fish also known as “slipper fish”  – so I am thinking it’s some kind of flounder, but about half the size than the ones that you would see in a Japanese restaurant.  This dish is well executed, where flounder pieces are fried till crisp and blanked with an appetizing fermented bean sauce while ginger and leeks enhanced the flavor.

The steamed prawns (RM 16) looked good immersed in solid egg white topped with ginger slices and deep-fried onion.  Unfortunately the prawns were not too fresh with an overpowering use of rice wine.

The prawns could have been better.  But the three dishes only came up to RM 47 – not even RM 50 for seafood, so maybe this could be the reason that it’s popular.

More Info
Address: No.168-C, Lorong 5, Jalan Bagan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: +6016-308 6053

At Wheel Noodle that has just newly opened on Jalan Market, eating noodles may not be the same again when noodles are served in bite-sized portions, in old-fashioned bowls with rooster images.  In fact, Wheel Noodle is calling its noodles “Dong Dong Noodles”, as in the olden days, noodles are sold on bicycles with vendors making “dong dong” sounds by knocking metal spatula on the wok to attract more customers.

The white umbrellas in mid air reminds me of a similar concept used in KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC);  except that Wheel Noodle uses white ones instead of multi-colored ones.  You won’t see this from the main road of Jalan Market, but on the “concubine lane” that’s parallel to the street.

It is the 1981 Guest House you would see on Jalan Market.  1981 Guest House’s Cafe is interconnected to Wheel Noodle that’s right behind it.

You may sit at 1981’s cafe, or cut across to Wheel Noodle @TSG.  Whichever you choose to sit, same menu is offered (at the moment; not sure if 1981 cafe might venture out into a different menu).

Wheel Noodle’s interior exudes a mood of the bygone days with the tiny wooden tables and it-could-not-be-any-simpler stools.

At the same time it has a cheerful vibe with this wall of potted  flowers.  Flowers are plastic but joyful enough.

You can read about Ah Lim and Dong Dong Noodles’ story on this wall.

And now the noodles.  There are only two kinds to choose from, fish noodles and beef noodles (RM 1.90 per bowl).  Talk about downsizing the menu to help the patrons decide faster !

The beef noodles are paired with “lai fun” (or laksa noodles) and immersed in a lightly sourish soup with salted vegetable, topped with bean sprouts, beef and beef meat ball.  Lai fun is good, texture of meat is variable with the one from the first bowl being a bit tougher than the one from the second.  Meat ball is a bit mushy and no surprising texture.

 The fish noodles are paired with “dong fun” (mung bean noodles), topped with fish ball, bean sprouts and youtiao in a peppery broth with “dong cai” (winter vegetables).  It’s a bit like “hor hee” actually.

I ate four bowls of these noodles ! The portions are tiny;  I finished each bowl in two bites.  If I really tried, I could have gulped the whole thing in one bite.

The portions are actually made intentionally small to see how many bowls you can eat.  Fun, but the workers are going to have a hell of a time washing the bowls if one person eats a minimum of 4 bowls !

The concept is quite cute, eating noodles from a tiny bowl and competing with your friends or family to see who eats noodles from the most bowls.  The only thing though is that the noodles are a bit heavy on MSG and the beef and meat ball could have been better.

More Info

Wheel Noodle Facebook Page
Address : 26 Jalan Market, 30,000 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours : Tues – Sun 8.00 am 2.30 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm.

Cha Po Tion Seafood Restaurant (阿娇海鲜饭店) is located on the main “Seafood Street” in Sekinchan, which we somehow completely missed when we drove along the street because it really just looks like a wooden hut with metal roofs and a fading-away sign board that’s hardly legible.  This restaurant would have been unfated had not been our running group’s suggestion. Be there early or be patient because they prepare food table by table.  It may take a while to be your turn, but once it’s your turn, food are dished out fast.

First up is shark soup (RM 18), a merry party of springy shark slices, bouncy fish balls and tofu in salted vegetable soup slightly neutralized by tomatoes.

Deep-fried calamari (RM 23) is of superb texture, where light batter coats thick, chewy calamari slices that burst with freshness from the sea.

Fish is pan-fried to crisp, I mean thoroughly crisp on every inch you can find on the fish without any corners being burnt, and you can even hear it sizzle open when you sink your chopsticks into them.  With a drizzle of lime juice, it is simple yet sensational where the sour note enhances the freshness of the fish even more.

We can never have too much fish and we double up the joy with yet another fish dish (RM 22), where pan-fried slices with a crisp coat are smothered in fermented bean paste sauce.

Steamed clams are my favorite anytime – steamed in simplicity without any rice wine in its own essence released in the process, topped with ginger slices and deep-fried onions.

Simple fried bitter gourd with egg (RM 10).

And lastly, to be honest – I don’t know what is this dish because it was kind of finished before I got to it, but I do know it’s RM 24.

The bill came up to RM 151, which is only RM 17 per person for the nine of us, totally worth it despite the 1 hour wait !

More Info
Jalan Besar Bagan, Bagan Sekinchan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor.
Tel : +6016 6761769

Estilo Spanish Tapas & Charcoal Grill at Publika exudes a vibrant charm with its amusing murals and a hint of exotic aura where the arched wooden frameworks remind me of Moorish Empire that once ruled Andalucia.     

For starters, we had plump baby calamari stuffed with minced prawns and meat (RM 20) immersed in a decadent tomato-based prawn bisque.  The prawn bisque is the soul of this dish and it heightens the beauty of this tapas.

For the main, we had seafood paella in salsa verde (small, RM 28), a gorgeous ensemble in olive-green with calamari, clams, artichokes and a squeeze of zesty lemon.  The dish is flavorsome though the rice could have been cooked just a tad more to soften it and also add some browning to the rice that’s at the bottom of the pan.

More Info
Estilo Tapas Bar Facebook
Address : 34, Level G2, Publika Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 KL.
Tel : +603 6203 9883

I visited St Stephen’s Basilica on foot as it’s not too far away from Wombats Hostel where I was staying.  The church was named after Hungary’s first king, King Stephen and it took more than 50 years to build.  It was a beautiful day and the church seemed even more stunning with a dazzling blue sky as the backdrop.  The gilded interior too was opulent with red marbles and plenty of glimmering.    

Enjoy more photos below :)

More Info
Address : Szent Istvan ter, Budapest.
Getting there : Take M3 Metro Line to Arany Janos Utca, M1 to Bajcsy Szilinsky ut, or M1/2/3 to Deak Ferenc ut.

Hohenschwangau Castle was once the summer and hunting residence of the Bavarian King Maximilian II and his family – Queen Marie and his two sons (the later King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the later King Otto I of Bavaria).  The castle was built in the 19th century so it is not as ancient looking like the medieval castles.  In fact, it is quite a modern one during its time with an elevator and electricity.         

The castle is perched on a hill and it’s a short 15 minutes hike up to the castle.  The surrounding of the castle is gorgeous – lakes, green fields, rolling mountains and a low density village just beneath the castle.

“Schwangau” in German means swan and indeed the Hohenschwangau Castle is adorned with swan-inspired furniture and murals. Swan also represents knighthood and it is the heraldic symbol of King Maximilian’s family.  The castle holds many of the original furnitures and decorations and it gives you a bit of insight into the King’s life.

King Maximilian II and his wife Queen Marie had separate rooms that are connected by a passageway; hers was on the third floor and his on the second.  The passageway could be locked and Marie was the one holding the key, so eh hem, you know who is the boss.

In one of the king’s room, there is a piece of bread encased in a wooden box – the “100 years old bread” that is preserved for more than 100 years because it was too salty and the king couldn’t eat it.

Hohenschwangau also inspired King Ludwig II into building the fantasy castle – the Neuschwanstein castle.

Photography is strictly not allowed in the castle and visitation is only through guided tours which takes about 1 hour.  I didn’t like the pace of the tour as it was too fast.

There are no photography restrictions in the garden so the fountain-filled garden is all yours to take.

Enjoy more photos below :)

More Info
Hohenschwangau Castle Official Website
Address : Alpseestrasse 12, D-87645 Hohenschwangau

Entrance Fee : If you visit only the Hohenschwangau Castle, it is 12 Euros per adult.  Combination tickets are available for Hohenschwangau Castle + Neuschwanstein Castle, and the above 2 castles + the Museum of Bavarian Kings.  Check out Ticket Details here.

Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket counter once you arrive on castle grounds.  There is a dedicated counter for online ticket pick ups and the queue (if any) is much shorter than the ticket counter.

Tickets come with a specific time slot for the guided tour and you really need to be on time.  If you miss your slot, you miss the tour and there’s no refund.  

Getting there :  Many visit the castle from Munich as a day trip. Purchase the Bayern ticket (at any ticket machine at the train station), which would cover the transportation from Munich – Fussen and back on the same day, and the local transportation of bus 78 from the Fussen train station to the castle ground and back.  The Bayern ticket is valid from 9 am – 3 am on Monday – Friday, and the entire day on Saturday & Sunday.

Visiting the Allianz Arena would not have been in my itinerary if it was not for Gary’s suggestion; him being a big fan of Bayern Munich Football Team.  There are two ways of visiting the arena, one is by buying a ticket and watch a football match which is almost impossible because every single game is sold old months in advance not to mention that they are pricey, so we were left with the other option of taking the guided Arena tour ( 10 Euros per person).

The tickets can be purchased at the counter.  On the Arena’s official website, it actually states that there is only one English session per day at 1 pm and a few German sessions but when we were there, there was a lot more than that.  There was one English session at 1100 am (and perhaps a later one at around 3 pm?) and a few other languages including Dutch.  It would be a good idea to contact them in advance to confirm the languages and time slots available if you would like to plan ahead.  The tour is about one hour.



Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained to us awesome details about the arena. The arena is almost ten years old now and still very well kept.  Construction cost was an astronomical amount of 340 million euros (and that was 10 years ago), but Bayern Munich probably makes it back in a few seasons so no biggie for them.

 
The arena’s capacity holds up to 71,137 people if you include spaces available for standing, business boxes and executive seats.

It was also here that we tested the acoustic effects of the arena.  There were about 20 of us in the guided tour, and the guide told us to shout “Bayern Munich Bayern Munich” (or something of that sort which I forgot by now) to show that our voices were considerably amplified and the echo resonated for a while.  Imagine there are 70,000 people in the arena all cheering with the same kind of passion for football – now that would be some true, crazy, football frenzy.

The pitch is made of 10 % artificial grass and 90 % real grass for a smoother surface.

There are heating panels underneath the soil; I think this picture that I took from the press room depicts that.

The arena’s facade is made of  inflatable ETFE foil (Ethylene Tetrafluoro-ethylene); the structure is quite like a huge plastic balloon really.  It may look like a piece of flimsy plastic in my hand but it remained strong throughout the years.  The guide explained the birds had their go at it pecking the material with no avail.

We then moved onto the press room; where Gary insisted on me taking a picture of Oliver Kahn’s name stand.

This is the clinic incase anyone gets injured.

Bayern Munich’s changing room was everyone’s favorite, although I can’t say I am as excited as them, because well, it’s changing room.

Away Team’s changing room is much plainer.

This is the kick room for the players to warm up and practice.

The players’ tunnel.

Lastly, the Bayern Munich souvenir shop is all yours to explore.  Other than the usual items of T shirts, jackets, caps, etc, you can even get ketchup, gummy bears and monopoly games, all in the name of Bayern Munich!

We only had time for the arena tour; you could also combine the tour with a combi ticket (17 euros) which would include both the arena tour and the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt (Club Museum).

More Info
Arena Tour Official Website
Address: Munchen-Frottmaning, Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 25
Getting there : Take the U6 underground line from Marienplatz station (in the direction of Garching-Hochbrück) to Fröttmaning. It is about a 800 m walk from the station to the arena.

Sekinchan is a beach side village blessed with fertile soils where a sea of luxurious paddy field takes your breath away. Its name in Chinese 适耕莊 (pronounced “shi geng zhuang”) is translated directly from the phonetics of Sekinchan yet it couldn’t be more apt because it means “village suitable for farming”, stating out the beauty of Sekinchan with mere three words.  Sekinchan is indeed a land of abundance, eloquently  presented in their tag line – 鱼米之乡(pronounced “yu mi zhi xiang”)，meaning “the land of fish and rice”.      

Sekinchan is an easy 1.5 hours drive from KL and can be enjoyed as a day trip.  It would be a fruitful day with plenty of things to eat, things to see and places to hang out.

1.  Visit the Paddy Fields. Other than an endless carpet of brilliant green, the paddy fields are also the homes of swiflets as many swiflet houses are built in the vicinity of the fields. White birds and dragonflies are also part of the ecosystem.

Address : in the vicinity of Jalan Tali Air.

2.  Visit the Paddy Processing Factory and the Paddy Museum to
understand the complete life cycle of rice planting.  Japanese breed rice is available for purchase at an affordable price.

Address: Lot No. 9990, Jalan Tali Air 5, Ban 2, Selangor, 45400 Sekinchan, Malaysia

3.  Eat Seafood – lots of them.  There are many seafood restaurants dotted on the “Seafood Street”.  I really liked Cha Po Tion and Loong Hua, whereas Bagan Restaurant could have been better.

Click individual links to the restaurant for address.

4.  Snack Away at Pantai Redang Beach – where prawn crackers, fresh fruits and fresh juices prevail.  Still not good enough? Raw oysters should do it.  Do note that this area of the beach is popular and unfortunately not too clean.  However, if you are willing to go beyond this stretch, the next stretch is less visited and much cleaner.

Address : Redang Beach, Jalan Pantai Redang, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia

5.  Make a wish at Pantai Redang Beach by throwing red ribbons onto the tree.  Whether the wish comes true or not, the tree entangled in red ribbons sure provides a gorgeous backdrop for photos.

Address : Redang Beach, Jalan Pantai Redang, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia

6.  Enjoy panoramic views of Pendang Redang Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf at the white watch tower in Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort. A fee for entering the tower may be imposed in the future.

Address :  No 358, Jalan Pantai Redang, Bagan Sekinchan, Kampong Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia

7.  Visit the Fisherman’s Wharf – after all, Sekinchan is “the Land of Fish and Rice” and you might be able to catch a fisherman bringing back his harvest from the sea.

Address :  No 358, Jalan Pantai Redang, Bagan Sekinchan, Kampong Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia (opposite Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort).

8.  Eat giant mangoes that are as long as my forearm.  There is a mango orchard nearby the Paddy Processing Factory open to visitors.  You may purchase these uber-sweet and fleshy mangoes at the orchard or at a small stall that’s next to the Paddy Processing Factory.

9.  Lastly, if you would like to make it more than a day trip, add on a firefly tour in Kuala Selangor the night before you go to Sekinchan.  Kuala Selangor isn’t exactly in Sekinchan but it’s a short 30 minutes drive from Sekinchan.

JW Marriott Hotel’s Shanghai Restaurant (苏浙苑) is a restaurant of grandeur, reliving old splendid Shanghai with red and gold motifs in delicate opulence.  Alongside Shanghainese cuisine, the restaurant also offers dim sum for lunch.

The most memorable dish for this meal is the black truffle seafood noodles, conveniently split into two portions for the two of us (RM 100; the above picture is for one portion). Noodles are chewy, lightly oiled; and the marriage of seafood and thinly sliced truffles are truly an epic combination of jewels from the land and the sea.

The truffle slices have a faint mushroom taste and are slightly damp with an inherent subtle taste of soil.  They remind me of cross sectional images of the brain, which makes them all even more fascinating.

These xiaolongbao are dainty vessels, pocketing the sumptuous meat juices that are almost visible through the soft skin, ready to burst if mishandled (RM 12 for a basket of 4).

“Har Gow” is an inevitable order in any dim sum restaurant we go to (RM 12).

The prawn dumplings (RM 13.20) are enticing with the translucent skin hugging the prawns and bits of greens.  The freshness of the prawns could already be anticipated.

Jelly fish is plain being just seasoned with a bit of salt; yet it is surprisingly refreshing when the simple crunch is paired with unconventional mustard sauce provided at the side (RM 13).

Our two kinds of “chee cheong fun”  – prawn (RM 13) and BBQ pork (RM 12) are smooth and light, at their best when topped with the rich shrimp paste provided.

Ending the meal with two sweet treats, we had “lau sa bao” (RM 14) which has custard-like and grainy yolk fillings.  Duck egg yolks please me when they come in any form though in the context of “lau sa bao”, they are a tad solid to live up the name of “lau sa”, which literally means “flowing sand”.

The sago mango pomelo (RM 13) is chilled, where the lightly viscous mango puree gives off a sweet scent.  The slippery sagos add some fun to chowing down this delightful dessert.

More Info
Address : 183 Jalan Bukit Bintamg, 55100, KL, Malaysia (In Starhill Gallery)
Tel : +603 2715 9000

Viktualienmarkt of Munich is located in Marienplatz, in the same vicinity as the Rathaus-Glockenspiel.  If you are catching the 11 am glockenspiel show, it would be a good idea to check out Viktualienmarkt or have lunch there afterwards – something we didn’t do as we came back to it for dinner since it was a 10 minutes walk from our hotel; only to find that most of the stores were already closed.    

A few vegetable stores and restaurants were open and that was about it.

Despite having limited choices for dinner, we did enjoy oysters at Nordsee and awesome seafood sandwiches from Fisch Witte’s, so it was not entirely a loss.

More Information
Getting there : Take the metro to Marienplatz Station.

As we were walking around in Viktualienmarkt, we came across Fisch Witte’s signboard with an appertizing “Jumbo Fischsemmeln” on it.  Fish sandwiches are typically less common in Malaysia so when we had to stop and give it a try.       

There are two kinds – shrimps and raw mackerel.

The shrimps are fresh with vivid red and white stripes. It’s really a simple sandwich where the prawns are blanched and blended with a bit of mayonnaise – yet it is so alluring and irresistible.

The mackerel in the sandwich is the same kind that you would get in a Japanese restaurant but the flavor and texture are very different as this one is much more mushy and acidic.  It is extremely sour you could feel it in your teeth and gums; the Japanese ones usually have lemon slices in between so the sourness is milder.  And instead of getting three little pieces in a sashimi moriawase, now you get an impressive portion of half the mackerel.  Loved it.

The big chunk of onion neutralizes a bit of the acidity and somehow the spiciness from the onion is mellowed, but the pungent onion-ness remains persistent after you have eaten the sandwich.

I forgot to note down the price of these sandwiches but I remembered it being really value for money at around 3 euros – totally worth it !

More Info
Address: Viktualien Market.

Lao Mai Zi may seem like your typically Chinese “dai chow” restaurant yet they have a few dishes with a twist that lure patrons for a little something different, such as the smoked duck breast with lychee (RM 25).  The duck is the fattest duck I have had in Malaysia – fat enough to be sent to Beijing’s Quanjude to make a good roast out of it.  Immersed in lychee broth, the hint of lychee sweetness goes oh-so-well with the superbly smoky duck.      

The rice wine egg is another amusing creation (RM 14).  I am sure everyone have had rice wine chicken at some point but rice wine egg is almost unheard of.  Well I suppose if you can add wine to chicken, you should very well be able to do the same to eggs.  It’s really a simple dish cooked with thinly sliced ginger, scrambled eggs and simmered quickly in yellow wine with a bit of sugar, but the outcome is a blissful satisfaction that caught me off guard.

This dish is known as salted egg “tofu” but it is really tofu mixed with fish paste with fish paste being the domineering ingredient.  Anyhow, as long as it has salted egg yolk, I am happy (RM 13).

Stir fried egg  plant is resplendent of colors with purple egg plants in a light batter with basic aromatics of green scallions, red chili, and a dash of salt and pepper (RM 16).  The egg plant is all mushy though the spices didn’t coat on too well.

Stir fried lotus (RM 13).

There’s one more dish which I didn’t take a picture of is the “Chin Cai Steamed Fish”, with “chin cai” meaning “anything goes” (RM 22).  The fish used is tilapia and steamed to tender.  Indeed I couldn’t really quite categorize it as Teow Chew steam, or plain steam because it has a bit of everything – ginger, scallion, rice wine, soy sauce, bean paste – I guess that’s where it got its name from!

You will be able to see the signboard of Lao Ma Zi Restaurant on Jalan Ipoh, but you’ll have turn into the backlane to look for the entrance which is peculiarly located at the back of the building.

More Info
Address : 726 Wisma Yoon Cheng (Basement), 4 1/2 Miles Jalan Ipoh, KL.

We stayed at Pension Lindner during our time in Munich and I could not be more pleased about this pension.  It is located at the center of Dultstraße, a shopping street with plenty of eateries that connects Sendlinger Tor Station and Marienplatz Station so it is pretty easy to get to anywhere from the pension.  It is a 10 minutes walk to either stations.        

We wanted a double room with shower and WC (85 Euros) but it was fully booked so we went for the next in line, the double room with shower and WC on the floor (75 Euros).  The room is immaculate and big enough to accommodate three persons with the extra bed which we used as sofa.   The sink is inside the room as shower and WC are shared on the floor.

The set up of this room in particular is a little less covenient as it is located in a different section from the shower & WC.  We had to get to that section through another locked door with a key that’s attached to the room key. I didn’t mind the hassel but when I left the whole bunch of keys in the common shower, I could not go back to the shower to get the keys until the next morning.  It was my own mistake but I foresee somebody else doing the same thing.

The beds are comfortable.

The shared bath room and WC are immaculate too just like our room.

The breakfast area is charming and cheerful with orchids, marbled tables and contrasting colors of orange, green and yellow.

The breakfast selection is neat and consists of a typical European spread with ham, cheese, eggs, bread,

fruits, yogurt and pastry.

Getting to the pension is easy – if you know the landmarks.  We went via the Sendlinger Tor Station and found ourselves at a big junction on a main road and a smaller street parallel to it.  Take the smaller street, walk through this brick gate for about 10 minutes.

Look out for Hofstatt mall on your left hand side,

and the pension (with the tiny little green sign that says “Pension Lindner”) is on the right hand side.

More Info
Pension Lindner Website
Address : Dultstraße 1, 80331 Munich, Germany

The Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludgwig II of Bavaria.  During his childhood years, he lived with his parents King Maximilian II and Queen Marie in Hohenschwangau Castle.  Being inspired by the swan motifs in Hohenschwangau and identifying himself with the elegant creature, the King who was also referred to as the Swan King set out to build the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle amidst the gorgeous countryside of Bavaria.

I saw the Neuschwanstein Castle for the very first time from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a Disney movie I watched when I was young.  I was instantly wooed by it although at that time I wasn’t sure if that was computer graphics or the castle was for real.

As I grew older, I found out the castle was for real and Disney based their logo on this fairy-tale castle.  Ever since then, the magnificent castle had always been on my bucket list and now I have finally made my way to see this splendid castle !

After visiting Hohenschwangau Castle, we took the bus up the hill.  There was still some time before our allocated time slot, so we walked to Marie’s Bridge first to see Neuschwanstein Castle from afar.

Mary’s Bridge itself is located superbly, being serenaded by trees, gorges and it is the perfect spot to see the castle.

It was raining that day, making the castle seem so mysterious veiled by a layer of mist.  
   

The castle was constructed based on drawings of Christian Jank – a painter and a stage designer, which is truly amazing because castle design really isn’t exactly the thing that would appear on the job description of a stage designer.  Realized by architect Eduard Reidel, the castle boasts of magnificent rooms painted with ornate murals on the walls and ceilings, including the lavish Throne Hall, the Study Room, the Singer’s Hall, the Dining Room and the King’s Bedroom with an impressive bed canopy that mimics cathedral structures with the King being a devout Catholic himself.

An unusual feature in the castle is a small grotto that was built inside the castle, which is incredible and a bit crazy because corridors aren’t the ones connecting you from room to room; instead it is passing through a cave that gets you from room to room.

Photography is strictly prohibited in the castle and this is the only photo I could take inside the castle, after going through the unfinished portions of the castle.

More Info
Neuschwanstein Castle Official Website
Address : Alpseestrasse 12, D-87645 Hohenschwangau

Entrance Fee : If you visit only the Neuschwanstein Castle, it is 12 Euros per adult.  Combination tickets are available for Hohenschwangau Castle + Neuschwanstein Castle, and the above 2 castles + the Museum of Bavarian Kings.  Check out Ticket Details here.

Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket counter once you arrive on castle grounds.  There is a dedicated counter for online ticket pick ups and the queue (if any) is much shorter than the ticket counter.

Tickets come with a specific time slot for the guided tour and you really need to be on time.  If you miss your slot, you miss the tour and there’s no refund.  

Getting there :  Many visit the castle from Munich as a day trip. Purchase the Bayern ticket(at any ticket machine at the train station), which would cover the transportation from Munich – Fussen and back on the same day, and the local transportation of bus 78 from the Fussen train station to the castle ground and back.  The Bayern ticket is valid from 9 am – 3 am on Monday – Friday, and the entire day on Saturday & Sunday.

D Espresso Cafe is quite a low profile cafe located in Station 18.  It has a plain facade with a simple blue signboard but once you have entered the cafe, it’s eclectic with nostalgia, DIY and personal touches.

The wooden panels, red TV, rusty and rusty bicycle give the cafe a kampung feel.  Smurfette seems to be enjoying an array of travel books in front of her.

When I saw these chairs, I thought ” are these really what I think they are?” I was quite amused by these bus seats!

I took the set meal which includes a soft drink,

soup (tomato or mushroom) and a main course.  On the very front page of the menu, it said everything is cooked from scratch so please allow 15 minutes preparation time.  Having read that, I was expecting tomato soup made from real tomatoes and not from a can – a little disappointed but I shrugged it off.

A few items which I would have loved to try like the pork lasagna and the bloody duck (?!) were sold out that day so I chose the Grilled St Peter’s Fish with Herb Cheese Sauce set meal (RM 21.90)  In retrospect, I should have ordered pork spaghetti bolognese as that’s something less common in cafes in Ipoh with a lot of them being pork free.

The fish has enticing crisscrossed grill marks and it is presented in its most original flavor with just a little bit of salt and hardly any oil, which can be a tad dull for some.  I actually didn’t mind it because it’s a healthy way of cooking although a drizzle of lemon would have been nice to instantly zing up the dish.  The fish is a bit dry too but the creamy potatoes beneath it makes up for the dryness.

The tiramisu (RM 10) is delectable with a moderate scent of coffee and a generous sprinkle of cocoa powder.  This version of tiramisu uses one layer of sponge cake and one layer of mascarpone cheese instead of alternating layers which I found to be a little less exciting while the sponge cake could have been soaked more evenly.

More Info : Non Halal.
D Espresso Cafe Facebook
Address : 102 Pengkalan Barat 32, Ipoh, Perak (Station 18).
Opening Hours : 12 pm – 8pm.  Closed on Wednesdays.

Drinking tea at Tea & Tattle is truly a sophisticated experience – where teas come with a dainty sand timer that indicates how much time you must endure before you can take in a sip of warmth.  Tea is  the main focus here, served in an uncluttered environment.    My chocolate cherry black tea (RM 10.80) has a hint of cherry and an intoxicating scent of chocolate – an amazing thing where tea actually smells like chocolate without tasting like it.  A moderate tanning is felt after refilling the water for a few times.  While I liked it, Gary was not a big fan as it reminded him of cough syrup –  one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

The Guayusa Tea (Rm 10.80) is full of herbs that reminisce both the scent and flavor of the Chinese herbal tea “pak chu cao” most commonly found in traditional kopitiams, but a lighter version.  7 minutes of waiting time is required for this one.

The pot is all fancy and it pours itself effortlessly once you rest it on top of the cup.

The Gumbo Stew (RM 25.80) consist of chicken, sausage and prawn.  I didn’t really know how gumbo is supposed to taste like but as “stew” is concerned, I was expecting a heavy gravy but it’s more of a soup with a refreshing vegetable base where flavors of celery, thyme and sweetness of onion are apparent.

Chicken chop (RM 29.80) is succulent with a crisp skin, accompanied with a bunch of side dishes – coleslaw, chips, corn and vegetable salad.  French fries are a bit dry though.

We had two puddings – strawberry and chocolate (obviously) (RM 12.80 each).  No surprises with the pudding part but it was the cookie base that I liked the most.  The base is a compelling solid crumble (I like that oxymoron by the way!) – where it is packed solid and impossibly hard to dig through; yet once you have digged your way through, the the sand-like, fluffy crumbles are rewarding.

Tea & Tattle’s yellow theme’s interior with its tea-inspired posters.

Tea & Tattle’s menu include breakfast selections, meals of substantial portions for the hungry ones and also light snacks such as chicken wings, sandwiches and nachos.

More Info : Pork Free
Tea & Tattle Facebook
Address : G-R-17 & G-R-18A, De Garden, No.3, Persiaran Medan Ipoh, Medan Ipoh, Ipoh, Perak.
Openign Hours : Mon – Thu 8 am – 11 pm.  Fri – Sun 8 am – 12 am.

The Ming Room serves delectable dim sum dishes that test patrons tenacity and patience especially on weekends, and I see many patrons are accepting the challenge, waiting as-a-matter-of-fact-ly for an empty table.  If you would like to eat at The Ming Room during weekends, it is a must that you make a reservation or be prepared to wait.  We were told even if we made a reservation, we might still need to wait.      

So after 2 attempts, we finally had a chance to eat at the restaurant.  We made a reservation a day in advance, waited for our turn and witnessed a bit of chaos with the constant influx of patrons and the speedy clearing of the tables.

It was worth the wait as some of their dishes are superb.  Char siew pork is irresistible because the meat is mostly lean with just a bit of fat and lightly charred with an even coating of sticky sweet soy sauce.

Roast pork is an unforgettable dish that I am willing to sacrifice my diet plans for.  Diced longitudinally and uniformly, this roast pork is a harmonious balance of crunchy skin, tender fat and juicy meat.  The skin is porous and so crunchy it’s almost like eating cookie.

The shrimp dumplings have a substantial amount of spinach that you could savor, not just for decoration purpose in most dumplings.

The glutinous rice is another one of my favorite – wrapped in lotus leaf in a squarish parcel with egg yolk, Chinese sausage, chestnut and pork that has some of its fats almost in melting stage seeping their way through the glutinous rice.  It’s quite a big parcel, probably three times the size of the usual “lo mai  gai”.

These fried yam balls are not oily at all and have a light coating, encasing a soft yam layer and a pinch of meat filling.

The fish cake is Thai-cuisine-inspired with a whiff of lemon grass and a bit of chili.

The fishballs are a bit different from the usual one with some black, thread-like pieces – I am guessing it’s from yam but I couldn’t quite discern any yam flavors.

Chee cheong fun with prawn is flawless, especially when topped with this sumptuous shrimp paste.

The fried radish cake is hearty and gorgeously presented where the cake is charred lightly, accompanied with yellow eggs, white bean sprouts, green scallions and red chili flakes – although the texture of the cake is too mushy and not too distinctive.

Here are two more dishes – “har gow” and dumplings with shark-fin-look-alikes, but pictures only as I didn’t get to try them.  6 people and 3 pieces – something’s gotta give.

More Info
The Ming Room Official Website
Address: 3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bukit Bandaraya, 59000 KL
Tel: 03 – 2284 8822

Opening Hours :
Mondays to Fridays 11.00 am – 3.00 pm, 6.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays 10.00 am – 3.00 pm, 6.00 pm – 11.00 pm

Weisse Brauhaus on  Maderbréiustralle (Mader-brewery street) has history that dates back to 1540, where a brewery was thought to be situated at Weisse Brauhaus’ present location.  It was first in the hands of the Mader-brewer family from the 16th to 18th century and after a few transitions it eventually landed in the hands of of the Schneider family.  The Schneider family excelled at brewing and was granted the”Weissbierprivileg” by King Ludwig II – the rights to brew wheat beer.       

Although wheat beer is no longer brewed at this location as it was moved to Kelhem, Weisse Brauhaus has been refurbished after WWII and it’s now a full-fledged restaurant that serves Schneider Weissbier and traditional Bavarian dishes.

We couldn’t start our meals without the Schneider Weissebier right ?( 3.95 euros each). The one on the right is “alkoholfrei” – which means alcohol free and it is really amazing that this beer tastes just a tad lighter than a normal beer would, but you won’t get drunk on it, at all !

 The colorful salad is a healthy one with mushrooms, pork slices,  crisp greens and a delectable piece of chewy bread (10.50 Euros).  
 
The succulent roast porkling breast sits on top of a bed of sauerkraut and the skin is not entirely crisp but with a bit of chewy texture.  Next to it is what looks more like a giant potato ball that is known as “bread dumpling”, a mixture of both mashed potatoes and bread (10.40 Euros).

Lastly, sausages are our dish by default in Germany (7.90 Euros), which go perfectly well with beer !

Weisse Brauhaus is a popular one and the staff handling the beer is super hard-working.  Washing beer glasses here is an art that’s fully automated.  All the used glasses go inside the blue basket behind him, he put the basket into the washer next to it, and within two minutes, the beer glasses come out clean !

I totally agree with “Good for Body and Soul” on the menu.  The menu is extensive with plenty of things to choose from.  Other items that looked interesting include “Voressen” – a dish made from calf and pig lungs and “Obazda” – a type of Bavarian cheese- which we had no more room for :(

The restaurant’s interior.

More Info
Weisse Brauhaus Official Website
Address : Tal 7, 80331 Munich, Germany (not too far away from Viktualienmarkt).

The BMW Welt, BMW Plant and BMW Museum are all located in the same vicinity in Munich.  I am not a car fan, but visiting the plant of one of the world’s top car manufacturers would have been totally fascinating – only if it ever came true.  The plant tour needs to be booked, way way way ahead.  I tried booking 3 months ahead, and for all the four days I was in Munich, there were no slots available.  The next best thing I could do was to visit the BMW Welt and the BMW Museum.     

The welt is all fanciful and metallic-chic with a golden beemer that welcomes you at the main entrance.  If you ever buy a BMW and decide to pick it up yourself, the BMW Welt in Munich would be the place to do it in style !

Mostly the latest car models are on display, but you get some antique ones too like this little blue-white guy here that seems to barely fit one person.

And it’s not everyday you get to check a Rolls Royce Phantom inside out.  The staff showed us a trick too – the rod thingamajic that he pulled out was an umbrella – designed to fit snugly within the door panel.

Other than cars, the welt keeps you entertained with PS 3 car racing games, motorbike shows, souvenir shop and a kids science discovery area.

After visiting the welt, we walked across to the BMW museum which has everything you need to know about BMW.

BMW started off as an aircraft engine manufacturers .  When the war ended, there was no longer demand for these engines that look like transformers and it was then they ventured out into other types of engines in motorbikes and cars.

You see an amazing evolution of technology and design from simple motorbikes to super bikes;

and from boxy cars with engines at the rear to sleek cars fit enough for James Bond.

Enjoy a few more photos of BMW’s cars below :)

The Olympia Park is right next to the the museum so it would a good idea to visit these two places on the same day.              

More Info
BMW Welt Official Website
Address : Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 München, Germany
Getting there : Take the U 3 underground train from Marienplatz Station to Olympiazentrum Station.

Opening Hours
BMW Welt : Daily 9 am – 6 pm (Free of Charge)
BMW Museum : Daily 9 am – 6 pm; Closed on Mondays (8 euros per adult).
BMW Plant : Mon – Fri 9 am – 4.30 pm.  Call/ Email to make reservations as early as possible (8 euros per adult)