The Old Town Coffee Face-Off : Sin Yoon Loong White Coffee vs Madras Coffee

Old town of Ipoh is forever bustling with activities come morning until evening, a nostalgic part of Ipoh that's far from forgotten, and no doubt a dream come true for all food lovers on a gastronomic trail; From north to south, and vice versa.

The one that started it all ....

Previously, I blogged about Sin Yoon Loong white coffee, the oldest joint serving the now legendary white coffee of Ipoh. Though no doubt Nam Heong, or rather, Old Town White Coffee (those Kopitiam outlets that are mushrooming everywhere) is responsible for putting Ipoh's white coffee on the map, both domestically and internationally.

The same old setting, albeit plastic chairs being used now, instead of those classic wooden ones from days of yore

Sin Yoon Loong has been in business probably in my past life. Right until today, they've managed to retain the authenticity of their forte; the white coffee brew, a secret handed down from generations to generations.

Realise that having breakfast in Ipoh's Old Town can be a stressful endeavour. Searching for an empty parking lot is one, while fighting for a seat is another. Thankfully, the row of white coffee shops consists of 3 shops in a row, and Nam Heong on the opposite side. So there is backup after all.

Chee Cheong Fun with Mushroom Gravy


Toast with Kaya and Butter

All this while, I never had a full meal at Sin Yoon Loong. Only coffee and toast. Or their famous "Kai Dan Kou", or egg-flavoured roll with kaya.

The Chee Cheong Fun passed the test, at least to Mr Z anyway. He of course, was comparing to Sin Lean Lee's version, which is nothing to shout about in the 1st place. Sin Lean Lee is the coffee shop with that infamous stall serving Kam Chau Fan aka GOLDEN Fried Kuey Teow.

A hot, frothy cup of good old Ipoh's white coffee. THE original taste.

But nothing beats spending precious time chatting away with acquittances over a cup of rich, and fragrant white coffee. Feeling peckish? Order a serving of toast, buttered yet not overly cloying although substantial 'kaya' (coconut jam) is spread on the thin slices of crisp bread.

Location : Sin Yoon Loong @ Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. The corner lot, before reaching the towering 20-storeys flat of Old Town.

But what IF you've waited for hours (slightly exaggerated, but you get my drift), yet you found NO empty seats? And with your craving for a shot of caffeine at an all-time high; runny nose, jittering teeth, sweat beads forming on the temple and all?

Another one of those famous banana leaf outlet in Ipoh .....

A hop and a skip away, you'll seek Nirvana. Your light at the end of the tunnel. Your solace, your requiem, your COFFEE. @ Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant.

Madras Coffee (thanks to yikyang for the heads-up)

The sweet Indian desserts of Ladoo, Palkova, and Mysore pak. Spelling may be off though.

So you're wondering what's Madras coffee? Also known as Indian Filter Coffee, not many might have heard, let alone tried this saltish, milky brew. I for one, was completely oblivious to its existence until duly notified by a reader.

Firstly, you gotta know how to drink it. Yup, you'll be served with not one, but TWO separate steel container, a cup with the thick & frothy coffee, and another smaller steel bowl of fresh cow's milk. Tastewise? Not too strong to jolt up that draggy system in the mornings, but pleasant and smooth, with a tinge of saltiness. There's a faint hint of herbs/spices which is not overwhelming, but leaves a fragrant note after you slurp down a mouthful. Not bad, definitely a beverage I'll come back for.

Whazzup, Matcha?!!!!

The desserts at Sri Ananda Bahwan were not sickeningly sweet, unlike most. The Palkova or milk sweet in particular, is creamy, soft and sweet enough to leave a lingering taste, yet not tooth-numbing terror. The ladoo was disappointing though, Samy's was far better.

Location : Sri Ananda Bahwan @ 7, Persiaran Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh. It's the row of shops perpendicular to Sin Yoon Loong. Turn right at the crossroads with Nam Heong and Sin Yoon Loong, and you'll see this shop on your left.

SO, WHICH ONE'S RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY?

The Twins' Chee Cheong Fun in Menglembu, and It's Buntong's Kacang Putih

##This post was featured in the Star's Sunday Metro (3rd May 2009). Click HERE for the article. ##

I'd better return to my roots .... for now. Ipoh food galore, back to back. How bout that?! Had enough of Ipoh famous Nga Choy Kai aka Tauge Ayam aka Chicken Kuey Teow? Here's some Chee Cheong Fun (steamed rolled rice noodles, with condiments & gravies), all the way from Menglembu. The town famous for groundnuts, and hawker fare.

The famous Menglembu Twins Chee Cheong Fun - Even featured in 8TV's Ho Chak before.

At this corner shop named Wing Kat Fong, in operation since the 60's (!!) and still going strong, sits a stall resembling your average 'chap fan' (mixed rice, or economy rice) stall. But with a twist or two. Not only are they famous for their nasi lemak and various curries (from chicken to pork, and squids, fish and prawns), their forte is the Chee Cheong Fun. Those smooth, steamed to perfection rolls of flat, white rice noodles.

Too full for a meal? Have some snacks, or chomp on a drumstick.

The stall is manned by a pair of male twins, probably in their 30's to 40's. Jolly, witty fellows (if you know them well enough) they are, also assisted by several staff, they run the stall ala clockwork-style, systematically taking orders and preparing them in a jiffy. Though the shop may be crowded (both the front and back portion of the colonial shop can be seated) at peak times, ie lunch hour, rest assured the wait for your food won't get relentless. After all, all that's needed is merely scooping and serving in an instant.

Curry Pig's Skin Chee Cheong Fun

I haven't tasted their CCF for a good many years. Since secondary days, if my memory serves me right. But the quality is still maintained; the silky smooth noodles actually needs no condiments per se, but douse them with generous ladles of pig's skin curry, and the plate of CCF rises to the occasion. Gracefully, albeit sloppily. Bring a tissue or two.

A plate of Nasi Lemak with Sambal Petai (!!! oh yeah !!!), a boiled egg, curry vegetables, and cucumber slices.

But my personal favourite, the utmost delicious, almost divine, Sambal Petai. With heavy scents of kaffir lime leaves, the sweetish, sour and slightly spicy sambal complemented the crunchy stinkbeans perfectly. I can almost imagine myself chomping on them day in and day out. But Motormouth may mutates into Stinkymouth by then though.

The tragic Siew Pau, and crispy fried chicken

They offer a lot of side dishes, or snacks. A substantial and impressive repertoire, that consist of fried chicken, yam cakes, Siew pau, etc. The Siew Pau however, is not up to par, way beneath the delectable taste of the Seremban originals. But the fried chicken is a must-try of sorts, almost every table ordered a plate. The batter was crunchy, and marinated well, but a little salty. Therefore omit the need for chilli or tomato sauce.

Windows to the World ......

The food is no doubt, cheap. The mains are priced at about RM3 onwards, and a meal for one won't cost anywhere near to RM10, lest your finger goes into spasm, or overdrive and pointed at all the tempting curries, and dishes on offer.

Wing Kat Fong @ Menglembu town

Location : The road parallel to the main road of Menglembu town. Opposite the Magnum 4D shop, within a short distance from Maybank of Menglembu. Exact location unsure (sorry) but should be easy to locate. Coming from Jalan Lahat/Ipoh town towards the roundabout with the GIANT groundnuts, take the right road into Menglembu town. Wing Kat Fong is situated on the road parallel to Jalan Lahat, on the right side.

Remember this house in the last post?


Heavens for kacang putih lovers ....

Yup, this is a house in Buntong's Kampung Kacang Putih (What an apt name eh? =P) selling these Indian snacks so synonymous with Malaysians, even a small child can differentiate his muruku from his pagoda.

At RM3 per pack, you're getting them fresh from the cows. Wait, that doesnt sound right somewhere .... I mean, from the wok.

Buntong is a town in Ipoh populated by mostly Indians, and famous for two things. Or more but I'm being ignorant as usual. Wanton Mee, and Kacang Putih.

Coming from Jalan Tun Perak towards the Buntong's BIG roundabout, take a 12 o'clock. Take the first left, and then another left, between two prominent kacang putih shops. This house is on that road (Laluan Sungai Pari 4), on your right. Opens from day til night, but you've gotta waltz in casually, and enter the shop from the side of the house.

The address of the shop/house.

I'll be off for a week, from this Wednesday or Thursday onwards, going on a vacation-cum-holidays-cum-work to KL. But not 100% though, as work follows closely, much like a dog chasing its tail. Or the other way round. Whatever. So pardon me for the lack of posts. (Am I hearing a sigh of relief there?!! Huh? *_*)

NEXT POST : The Battle of the Coffees .....

A Tall Order - Fifteen Tower Tauge Ayam in Ipoh

A very very short post. That's a promise. :)

Don't be fooled by the duo of fat chicks. There are WAY more hidden somewhere, to be freshly prepared on the spot

Ipoh is famous for the Tauge Ayam, or Boiled/Steamed Chicken with Bean Sprouts served with Kuey Teow (flat rice noodles). Names such as Lou Wong, or Onn Kee have garnered enough limelight/attention of their own, successfully placing them on almost all tourists' must-eat list, and enough copycats to warrant a laugh (or snigger) or two.

But if you're wondering are those the BEST that Ipoh has to offer? Well, think again.

The fat bean sprouts of Ipoh. They say it's the water that miraculously fattens the sprouts. What say you?

Other worthy contenders such as Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau (on Cowan Street/Jalan Raja Ekram) Got MAP!, Kam Hor at Ipoh Garden (MAP here), and this one, near to Buntong, but not quite.

A portion for 3, not the smoothest chicken, yet thankfully not as RAW as Lou Wong's.

Fifteen Tower Tauge Ayam, situated at Pusat Makanan Zui Xiang Cun at cross between Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and Jalan Tun Perak, somewhere near to Buntong (where the Indian community dominates in Ipoh), and Medan Kidd (the former main bus station of Ipoh).

The name of the stall probably refers to the nearby dilapidated 15-storeys flat in Buntong, visible from the food court itself. The place only opens for dinner, and highly advised to come early to avoid a long and restless wait. No TV to entertain your children, nor finger food to satiate that growling tummy. But there's a satay stall which opens from about 7.30pm onwards, and another stall at the other end selling fried rice, noodles and such.

The Wet and the Dry version of the Kuey Teow noodles. Simply garnished with chopped scallions, a dash of pepper, and liberal serving of the sweet stock. Notice the pale colour of the dry version? They were out of dark soy sauce. Hmm.

Once seated, do not be anxious and walk over to order. They'll come over and take your order, no matter how long it may take. No menus (duh), thus no need to crack your head on what to order and what not to order. Just perform a simple head count, ask for chicken, bean sprouts, and side orders of chicken's 'spare parts' (innards, offals, or whatever you call them) or braised chicken's feet. We opted for the latter, but sadly they were not serving them that evening.

Tastewise? The noodles are good. So smooth they required practically no chewing, and slithering down one's throat with ease. The flavourful broth was no doubt boiled from the extras, bones and all from the chicken, and complemented the flat rice noodles perfectly. The dry version was equally good, if not better. A dash of soy sauce, sesame oil, some pepper, but without the usual dark soy sauce, my only gripe was the small serving. Yup, one or two mouthfuls, and voila! You'll be staring at an empty bowl. No joke.

The chicken on the other hand, was not as smooth though still tender & succulent enough. Not the best I've tasted,but previous horrifying experience at Lou Wong (with blood and all!) had me thanking the heavens above for the (slightly over) cooked chicken.

Dinner for three came to RM17. Possibly one of the most economic option out there, and definitely one of the better ones in Ipoh. Now, I wonder why not many have blogged about this place before? Hmmm .....

Pusat Makanan Zui Xiang Cun @ Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (Got MAP !!!)

If you need further directions to this one, feel free to ask. Slightly off the tourists' tracks, this may be trickier than expected. But if you know where Ipoh's railway station is, then this should be a no-brainer.

Any idea where's this place? NOT an idol's villa. NOT my house, certainly! But a place for one of Buntong's most famous product.

Guiness Out. Motormouth's Out.

Motormouth Bids Hanoi Goodbye - The Finale

Continued from Halong Bay - Kayakking and Snake Wines ....

Little Hanoi Restaurant @ 9, Ta Hien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tel : 04-9260168

I promised the finale will be arriving soon, didn't I? After the 117th chapter, and months and months of procrastination (and subsequent infection with the lazybug), finally ... ahem, FINALLY the Hanoi posts are coming to an END.

Phew. Probably you're heaving a sigh of relief as much as I am doing now. On second thought, maybe not. =)

Ya got some cash to spare? The Collage of Cash. From all over the World.

Back from the night stay on the boat at Halong Bay, we checked into Hanoi Blue Sky Hotel once again, for the very last night in Hanoi. Wow .... a week just flew by, and work's starting in 2 days!!! OMG. Why holidays seem shorter than workdays? Beats me.

Very, very dark ambience. Cozy, but poor lighting = bad for photographs

After resting our limbs and joints, we heeded the hotel owner's advice on a restaurant over at Ta Hien street, within walking distance from the hotel. Little Hanoi's the name, serving up authentic Vietnamese dishes in an air-conditioned setting. A quaint little cafe of sorts, with a branch across the lane. Why they chose to open a branch within walking ... no, make that 'spitting' distance? Beats me. Again.

Grilled Pork with Citron and Chilli, Caramel @ 50,000 VND/RM10/USD2.90

Strange name for a dish, therefore I ordered this. Only to realise citron = LEMONGRASS!!! Alamak ..... my most feared dream came true.

Luckily, the taste of the dastardly plant was far from overwhelming. In fact, the grilled pork strips with lemongrass and chillies, then sprinkled with sesame seeds, was rather tasty and oozing with flavour. That's where the caramelized part originated, probably.

L-R : ??? (sorry, lost the receipt), Mixed Spring Rolls (30,000VND/RM6/USD1.70), and Grilled Aubergine (40,000 VND/RM8/USD2.30)

The spring rolls were nothing extraordinary, resembling most of the fried stuff we had on boat, and in Sapa. But the grilled aubergine (eggplant) was sweet, and savoury at the same time. Realised that most Vietnamese restaurants serve brinjals/eggplants in their menu.

Fried Noodles with Seafood and Vegetables (55,000 VND/RM11/USD3.20)

The lightly stir-fried noodles with seafood and assorted vegetables was fresh, crunchy (from the various greens) and delicious. The noodles used was of the thin, 'king noodles' aka 'Wong Dai Meen' kind. But not the cheapest option, that's for sure.

Fried catfish with Dill and Spices (55,000 VND/RM11/USD3.20)

But the best dish of the evening had to be the fried catfish with dill and spices. Served with lots of caramelized onions, chopped dill and spices, the catfish fillets were lightly-coated with batter, and fried to perfection. The tender and succulent fish fillet reminded us of the catfish spring rolls we had at Highway 4 a few days earlier. A must-try, if you ever step into Little Hanoi, or its sister outlets elsewhere.

On the whole, the food at Little Hanoi was average at best, with some hits and some misses. With prices slightly higher than the average street fare, this place is best for tourists longing for a comforting meal, with a soothing ambience to boot. And Little Hanoi even boasted on its listing in Lonely Planet.

Don't look up. Lest you want your eyes to get criss-crossed from all the wires.


Scooping niftily into each glass, she worked with such charm

While the gals were busy doing what they do best (read : shopping), we wandered over to a shop serving nothing but sweet desserts, in the form of 'Che', or mixed ice dessert.

A glass at 10,000 VND/RM2/USD0.60 only

The concoction was refreshing, albeit slightly out of place amidst the cold weather. The ingredients in the glass? Colourful, sweet and chewy items. Sorry as Motormouth forgot about itemization when seated on those low stools, threatening to break one's back after a hard day's work. I mean, walk.

Aiks! Anyone can translate?!!! Maybe got the influence from our very own ABC?


'Oc' or snails, boiled to the delight of the masses.

Where even the most sane female would go Ga-Ga over. And over.

Wondering what they're digging into?

THIS. Thit Bo Kho @ Beef Jerky Salad @ 10,000 VND/RM2/USD0.60

At this corner lot (not even a lot, it's by the sidewalk) facing the lake at the northern end, many people were squatting by the pathway, seated on the small plastic stools, tucking in with much gusto. Thit Bo Kho. OK, the green light was given, as no 'CHO' in the name. Cho = Dog's meat, in case you're wondering.

But it was here that I learned a tough lesson. A very, very memorable one at that. Since people always say "Do what the locales do, if you're not sure of a certain custom in a foreign country", I ordered a plate of whatever the guy next to us ordered, and proceeded to inspect with caution. OK, the plate of greens and herbs was topped with slices of beef jerky, from fat cuts to lean ones, and crushed peanuts. So far, so good.

Then of course lah, being an obedient boy (hehe), I followed suit whatever the guy was doing. He squeezed a liberal amount of chilli sauce from the plastic bottle placed conveniently on the floor within reach from every patron.

The chilli sauce looked harmless enough, more like garlic chilli sauce from Kampung Koh, at most. But boo-hoo-hoo. NEVER underestimate a chilli sauce from any Asian country. One minute I was jokingly teasing, joking and laughing about, the very next I was breathing FIRE !!! My throat was scorched, I was choking and instantenously, my hand shot up and ordered a glass of, what else? Whatever drink the guy ordered. Though this time I had to put my faith in him.

Some random sights at the eastern side of the lake

But credits to be given where they're due, the salad was a fresh mix of raw vegetables, with various herbs, and the grilled beef jerky reminded me of our very own Char Siew, albeit slightly drier. And remember to hold the chilli sauce, or spread it thoroughly, before popping a whole mouthful of them firecrackers.

The only lighted structure in the middle of the lake

Trang Tien Plaza @ the southern part of Hoan Kiem Lake

The temperature was at an all-week low, even colder than Sapa at night. And me wearing mere short pants and slippers wasn't helping one bit. I felt out of place, as the Vietnamese were all brandishing winter wear, or at least sweaters and jackets. While us Malaysians were still revelling in our summer, and strolling around in shorts, t-shirts and such. Such arrogance, eh?

One of the Best spot for a cuppa hot coffee, overlooking the lake

It was very chilly, with strong wind blowing every few seconds, and I practically shivered and hid behind every tree, lamp post, and whatnots that I stumbled upon. Yeah, and a full bladder ain't helping at all. There was NO public toilet in sight, hence I trudged my way over to Trang Tien Plaza at the far south end of the lake. A requeim from the freezing weather, and of course, succumbing to nature's call. :)

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre @ the Northern end of the Lake

Hanoi Guesthouse bought the tickets to the water puppet show for us. Two types of seats available, at 40,000 VND/RM8/USD2.30 or 60,000 VND/RM12/USD3.40. We were given the former, as the better seats (nearer to the stage) were all booked by tour groups that day. And notice that the guesthouse bought the tickets for us IN ADVANCE. Hence early booking is highly advised. We asked for the later show, as we feared we could not make it in time, after all the shopping and dilly-dally-ing.

The Best chapter throughout the show.

Showtime was at 9.00pm (10.00 pm Malaysian time); rather late, by their standards. Happened to be the last show for the day. Do take note that the water puppet show is presented in Vietnamese language ONLY, no translation, though you'll be given a brochure listing the skits in various languages. Comprehension may be hard, but the main point was to embrace and appreciate their efforts in reliving what could be the main form of entertainment back then. Many may find the show boring though. But refrain from snoring, OK?

The cast of the 1 hour show. Wonder how they protect their permanently wetted feet.

We were drained after the show. The cold weather was rather discouraging, and we flagged any taxis in sight. Though at that hour, not many were willing to fetch all 6 of us in one cab. But we succeeded, and sped to our rooms in record time.

After a while, hunger pangs struck, at the most unGodly hour. But with a gleam of hope, half of the entourage ventured bravely down the streets of Old Quarter, at about 11.00pm (12 midnight M'sian time). Lo and behold, not only were most streets unlit, almost all of the shops and stalls were closed, or on the verge of closing for the day. Tough luck. We turned around, with tails between our legs (hehe), and fell into a deep, deep slumber ......

Goodbye Hanoi. Will there be another trip? ;)

And that's officially, a WRAP, folks. Take a bow now, it's curtain's call. 7 Days of Odyssey to one of the most interesting destination in Asia. The hellacious motorbikes, the trail of gastronomic delights, endless revelations and discoveries, historical monuments/ornaments/figures, and last but not least, the many faces and personalities of the Vietnamese people.

For the complete saga, please click http://j2kfm.blogspot.com/2009/03/motormouth-survived-hanoi-turns-one-yay.html and proceed from there.

Motormouth Bids Vietnam .... Tam Biet.

Halong Bay - Kayakking in the Morning & The Infamous Snake Wine !!!

Continued from Halong Bay - Of Caves, Grottoes, and ALMOST Frost-bitten ....

1) Who cares if the bench is worn, weathered a storm, or battered?

2) Awaken 'forcefully' at 6.30am (7.30am Malaysian time) for some "Rowing Exercise" ...

The night was spent on the boat, a very chilly sleep, yet very fruitful and comforting. Electricity was shut down in the middle of the night, until the next morning. There was simply no place for fans or air-conds, as the temperature was really low.

When all the lights were off, hindrance came in the form of toilet break in the middle of the night. Whoops. Amidst the pitch black atmosphere, one can only wander around aimlessly .....

3) Breakfast on boat - The soft, fluffy bread was a pleasant surprise

Kayakking was on our itinerary, whereby we were ferried to an enclave of sorts, a plank housing boats for that morning's activity. Two to a boat, in case you're wondering.

No picture was taken during the wandering part, as for fear of being wet, I left my camera in the boat. But the supposedly one hour odyssey took a bit longer than expected, no thanks to the energy-less ones (we have yet to take our breakfast), and lack of directions from the guide. We rowed to the opposite end before realising we were off the track. Hmm .... Highlights include kayakking through a cave of sorts, to a secluded 'lake' where we rested for a few minutes and soaked in the cool morning breeze, and calm waters.

4) Where the 'transaction' took place .... or more like 'trafficking'


5) A mess? Clash of the Junks.

After breakfast, we were hurried to pack up, and 'check-out' from our rooms. Though lunch was still some hours away, they had to clean the rooms, and prepare for the next batch of guests. It was a rush, especially when the water pressure was low, and showering was tedious.

Then we waited at the common area, while our boat proceeded to a station when tourists who stayed on land (those who chose to stay at the village, instead of on the boats) hitchhiked on our boat, travelling back to the pier together.

6) One destination, one goal.

7) That interesting cleavage.

8) The foggy weather + Numbing wind = Only the Brave on the Deck

9) The sheer number of boats was staggering

10) The Hungry Travellers



11) Lunch @ Thang Long Restaurant - Where ALL the other tourists on boats or land ate in a jubilant mood, a sense of camaraderie in the air when we shared tables, and dishes. Drinks NOT included, btw.

12) Dare Me to Drink? - Ingredients include snakes, birds (+feathers!), lizards, etc

13) Eyeballs gauged, and skins intact .... do you have a Heart of Steel?

14) Goodbye Halong Bay ......

to be continued ..... (for the very last chapter, I promise !!!)

Tony Roma's Ribs, Seafood and Steaks @ Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

Since lately I've been posting haphazardly, with most posts hanging without an ending, and the words "to be continued ...." rather misleading and somewhat abused, I pledge to conclude all the infamous sagas, before starting anew.

Good. With that out of my chest, let's backtrack slightly to the Moussandra post and move on from there, shall we?

Privacy ensured in the sense that the high seats hinder the nosy neighbours from prying on your meal ... or eavesdropping on your conversation. =P

Since the last visit to Tony Roma's was sometime during the Jurassic age (ie : when they opened their 1st outlet in Pavilion, and offering 'cheap' set lunches from RM16.90 onwards), I proposed (no, not THAT form of proposing) to have dinner at Tony Roma's over at Pavilion, again. Of course, I can't be selfish since the other 4 pretties (loosely used term, this one) have not stepped into the joint yet.

Fish & Chips (RM26.90)

I still remember my 1st visit to Tony Roma's back then. The service was chaotic, the staff who was on duty to usher the patrons was rather lost in the cloud, walking behind us, instead of showing us to our seats. And no, she was not helping and left us wandering all over before settling down on a table closest to us. Hmm. But surprisingly, she's improved, by leaps and bounds (again, another loosely-used term here) this time around. Yup, she's still there, better than ever! (I'm hopeless here) Of course, her performance scored higher marks when paired with not one, not two, not three, but a WHOLE LOTTA usherers welcoming us at the door! I felt as though the red carpet was awaiting to be rolled out and 'kompang' to be sounded any minute then!

But of course, I was being hopeful, and delusional. But they sure were cheery that evening!

Onion Loaf (Half portion : RM12.90)

We started off with half an onion loaf, which was suitably greasy enough to be indulging, yet tasty at the same time, especially when dipped into the accompanying BBQ sauce. But a little soggy, when ideally the rings should have been crispy. Half a loaf would do the trick, thus don't go overboard if you're not fond of fried, and filling starters.

Complimentary Loaf with Garlic Butter

Their serving of bread which resembled baguette was soft and fluffy when warm, but turned hard rather fast. Highly advisable to eat them while they're still warm.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta (RM31.90)

The portions at Tony Roma's are HUGE. Just like any other American diners out there, eg. Friday's and Chili's. Definitely meant for sharing for light eaters. If the meats don't stuff the hell outta you, the accompanying fries definitely would!

But do take note that the serving will be downsized considerably if you're ordering their set lunches. Understandable, as the sets come with other bells and whistles (soup, and desserts), and at rather reasonable prices.

Chicken Tenderloin Platter (RM28.90)

The chicken tenderloin platter came in a shocking serving of FIVE pieces of palm-sized batter-fried chicken meat. With tonnes of fries (with hints of skins; a good sign as they're not using the average shoestrings from the supermarket), a bowl of coleslaw to balance out the cholesterol (haha .. as if) and a dipping sauce of honey mustard. Though from the appearance the meat looked dry and bland, they were pleasantly juicy, and crispy at the same time. If only they offer a half portion instead .....

The Fish & Chips was equally good, though far from spectacular. With half a wedge of lemon, and the compulsory mayo and chilli (or was it tomato?) sauce.

The shrimp scampi pasta (real name forgotten, sorry!) arrived in its splendour, with more shrimps thrown in than one could count! They were really generous with their ingredients, and not mere small, frozen shrimps, but succulent, M-sized ones were served.

Bountiful Beef Ribs (Roma Rack : RM49.90)

But of course, Tony Roma's famous for their ribs. No, not the staff's, but the grilled ones. Though the outlets in Malaysia are branded HALAL, thus no pork ribs are served. Only beef, which surprisingly managed to irk most of the foodies over here, given the fact that the pork version has garnered quite a following in neighbouring countries.

The beef ribs can be served in two ways. Full rack, or Roma rack. The latter came in smaller portion, 3 gigantic pieces of Char-grilled 'Carnivorous'-wet-dreams-come-true' beef ribs, smothered with their signature sweet and smoky BBQ sauce, and served with plentiful of fries and coleslaw. Tastewise? The tender meat falling off the bone? Checked. Hunger pangs satiated? Checked. Carnivorous appetite appeased? Checked. Juicy and succulent flesh? Checked. Wait, make that half-checked. Though the meat was far from dry, they could've smothered the ribs with more sauce, OR provided a side serving of the BBQ sauce, to 'moisten' the meat, so to speak.

Imagine lying on one's bed, with a almost picture perfect view of KL's skyline. Enlightened?

On the whole, the meal was beyond satisfactory. And I came away feeling as bloated as a puffer. Or something along the line ...

Location : Tony Roma's Ribs, Seafood, Steaks Restaurant @ Lot No LG1.15, Level 1, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel No : 603-2143 3378.

KLCC - Still the tallest TWIN buildings in the world. Boleh eh?


The renewed interest in travelling options for the KL-IPOH route. Thanks to KTM Berhad

A short note : The journey by train from KL Sentral to Ipoh takes approximately 3 hours. Yup, right on time, no delays or other nonsense. No pestering from hawkers selling their 'kuih-muih' on board, but instead the staff from the cafeteria in the train will push their cart ala flight attendants. And they even showed Harry Potter (forgot which chapter though) on the LCD screen throughout the journey. Not bad, considering I paid a mere RM18 for the one-way trip. Go to www.ktmb.com.my for more information.

Langkawi REvisited Part 2 - The Journey to the Peak, and Wonderland!!

From Chapter One .... The perilous journey continued ....

The Archway to the Highlands

Did the mythos reveal anything of relevance, about this place? Gunung Mat Chinchang, standing tall, amidst the clouds in the sky, overlooking the western coast of this equally exotic island?

This poor boy's artillery exclude a History textbook. (And of course, a dictionary's unheard of, as well as Morale Studies textbook. Does he even need one?) Hence no recollection whatsoever on this highland, at the western end of Langkawi, requiring about 30 minutes of travelling by bullock cart (car) from Kuah town, and a RM15 flying carriage (Cable car) ride to the top.

A map to the treasures in Oriental Village


Building blocks of Gold - A sign of prosperity, perhaps?

The Station before the intimidating 2.2km ride to the Top

The steep facade requires much Courage, and strong Prayers, especially when the Heavens above seemed to be unforgiving. Notice the impending Doom? (dark clouds looming)

Almost 45 degrees we were slanted. Though about 700m above sea level, Zephyrus was clearly on leave that evening ...

A most precarious structure - The Fairweather Hanging Bridge.

The journey to the peak took about 15 minutes or so. There was a platform halfway, for those who may chicken out, or needing a breath of fresh air after being cramped in the tram for so long. But the 2 Musketeers (the 3rd had his calling) ventured to the top in record time, given the fickle weather which might ruined the odyssey to the peak, and the pilgrimage across the Bridge.

Of wooden platform, planks, observatory stations, and the not-so-welcoming dark clouds

Lo and behold, the 2 Musketeers were denied entry to the path leading to the Bridge. Reason being? The weather was not favourable, and treading on the Hanging Bridge might lead to a premature Death. Or an appointment with The Reaper.

"If Life hands you Lemons, make Lemonades?"

Though behind every cloud has its silver lining, the Sunshine behind the dark clouds was a welcoming sight. To no avail, sadly.

We were patient. We were hopeful. And we were persistent.

Though repeatedly advised by the Guards from the Dark Side to embark on a return journey to land-level, the Musketeers turned violent (OK, more like stubborn) and instead participated in some compulsory camwhoring activities. Oh, joined by a fellow warrior with his maiden beauty. And brandishing a weapon of higher stature, his weapon of choice; DSLR. ;)

The Deceiving Fog - 'Twas sunshine at the other end ...

But the Heavens above was clearly not siding with the innocent oneS. Sending waves after waves of rainfall, and completely shrouding the skies with a thick layer of Fog. OK, the Musketeers were successfully trapped amidst the chaos. What now? Stay or Down?

After much deliberation, all the staff and visitors alike were ushered to the flying carts and sent descending into the almost invisible land below. By now, visibility was at an all-time low. All hopes of sunny weather and continuing our pilgrimage to the Bridge were dashed.

Sakura Bridge in Langkawi?

And so the 2 Musketeers obediently (but reluctantly) relented to the subversive tactics. And bidded Oriental Village goodbye. No refunds for the less-than-ideal weather. SO be warned, and refrain from visiting during windy/cloudy times.

An Oasis?

The legendary bakery, The Loaf was closed. Shucks .....

At the foot of the hill, within a short distance from the cable car station, stood some wonderful buildings, a small township with retail outlets mimicking the Venice.

With an abandoned boutique hotel in sight, and tens of yachts docked at the pier, the place houses some nifty & posh-looking restaurants, cafes, etc. Though the deserted condition was slightly unexpected. After all, the 2 Musketeers were longing for a bite from the Loaf, which was inconveniently closed at teatime.

The lake must be a man-made one (or so, the Poor Boy thought), encircling a rather restricted area. One can't help but wonder, how the heck are those yachts gonna sail?

Wonderland - Have we reached Nirvana?

And so, the 3 Musketeers reunited (yay!) for a leisure dinner by the riverside. Or it could be a HUGE drain, for all they cared. Most importantly, hunger pangs MUST be satiated!

Steamed Siakap Teo Chew style

Next to the GLK Seafood of the previous night, Wonderland commands a larger following, nearly packed at all times, on a weekday's evening!

Albeit with higher prices (understandable, given the HOT reaction from the crowd), the food at Wonderland was still delicious, and fresh. And the 3 Musketeers were unwillingly trapped in a horrendous downpour (a grim reminder from the Lords above again, probably to wash our Sins .... a deja vu of sorts, much akin to our experience at Kuala Perlis last year).

Clockwise from top left : Batter-fried Squids, Sambal Belacan Kangkung, Dry Chillies Mantis Prawns and Or Chien (Oyster Omelette)

The meal came to about RM18 per person. Though next to each other, Wonderland and GLK can't be categorized in the same league. They serve Lobsters, Crabs, Prawns, Fish and various other sea produce. People even bring their own bottles of liquor, from reds to whites, to 'enhance' the dining experience.

Location : Wonderland Food Store @ 179-181, Pusat Perniagaan Kelana Mas, 07000 Kuah, Langkawi, Kedah. Complete with al fresco dining, or underneath the canopy, and au naturel tunes from the running river. Far from pristine, but fortunately without the stench.

The restaurant with the lounge, @ SUNSUTRA, Pantai Cenang

To cap off the Amazing 3 Days Odyssey to the North, the 3 Musketeers celebrated at Sunba Retro Bar, a supposedly happening pub at Pantai Cenang. About 30 minutes from Kuah.

Rustic charm abound, the place looked nothing like a pub from the outside

Chilling to tunes from the 90's, they drank, they splitted nuts (ground nuts, NOT their nuts), and they did NOT dance. As retro as Sunba may be, the crowd was thin (it was a Tuesday night after all, and the heavy rain was a huge deterrent factor!), and the Musketeers and Gang stuck out like sore thumbs amidst the majority of foreigners. A game of pool at RM3, a pint of beer at RM8, and cocktails/vodka/etc from RM12+.

Supper at a random mamak stall ended the night on a high note, with gratitudes to the 'local' guides (an alcoholic and a sober), toasting (teh tarik,Milo and all) to a comfortable stay, with free transportation and drivers, as well as some free meals! ;)

The flight home was indeed, in a Class of Its Own ; Turbulence on a Propeller Plane = Nauseating!

And so ends, another chapter in the Motormouth's travelogue. Pardon the less than logical/rational way of writing, as I'm still reeling from the food poisoning spell (no thanks to that dastardly Nasi Kandar meal in Penang!), hence the lack in intellectual reasoning.

Wait, was I ever an intellectual in the first place? =)

Next destination : PERLIS, this weekend. Geez, I want my weekends back ..... !!!

Langkawi REvisited - A Tale of 3 Musketeers

Once upon a time, there lived a young, innocent, and naive Ipoh boy who has never stepped on the soils of Langkawi; a mystical island to the north of Peninsula Malaysia, filled with myths, legends and many more stories untold. Seven generations cursed, the island (now branded as Geopark) has now achieved considerable fame, and fortune.

Then, opportunity knocked on this poor boy's door. He was offered a fully-paid 'trip' of sorts, for a full 5 days in Langkawi, the island destination he was hoping so much to visit, deep down in his heart. Though the journey was smooth (thanks to the sparkly & propelling Firefly), the stay wasn't so. Trapped in a dungeon with looming threats, from toads-infested loo to 40-suicidal-feet of towering doom, and rations polluted (poisoned) with giant flies' eggs.

But he survived. Stronger than ever, in every sense of the word, he vowed to return to Langkawi someday, brandishing a heroic spear and shield, demolishing the unGodly structures in the dark, hellacious dungeon, and ideally, kicking back with heroes of the same league, with a booze at hand, and a bar of sweet liquer choc smeared in the other, watching the sunset from the beach. And if can lah, fully sponsored as well.

The Castle

Lady luck's must be enjoying her intoxication of booze in Langkawi during this period. For all he knew, he never thought good chances come twice in life, much like lightning does not strike twice at the same spot. But after a week of withdrawal syndrome, the pigeon perched, carrying the letter duly written; Another 3 days in Langkawi for the poor boy, possibly a redemption for the blisters and the sores he endured throughout the 5 days tenure? Or a chance for retribution?

A minor form of pampering. Far from 5 stars, but hovering above the clouds.

In this era of turmoil, whereby the people are spending lesser and lesser, keeping their golds to themselves in this hard time (and beyond), luxury seems to be ridiculed. But this poor boy was fortunate enough to be offered accomodation in a 'Castle', of all places. With amenities superior to the basics, and 3 rooms to be shared among 2 souls. Excuse me? Ah-ha! So, luxury does come cheap in this almost forlorn town.

# Kondo Istana @ Kuah, very near to police station, with a backlane shortcut to Kuah town #

A common room and a kitchen with cooking facilities. But where's the maiden?


Char Siew Rice @ RM4.50

The township of Kuah is famed, almost legendary for the tax-free goods. Especially the loots devoid from the dastardly 'Sin Taxes'. A cigar and a pint never sounded so lucrative.

A plate of Econony Rice @ RM6

But wait, alcohol, chocolates and cigarettes may come cheap, but this poor boy was astounded, almost shocked out of his farmer boots (pants, and all) at the sky-high prices of the most peasant of supplies; Street Food.

Dry Pan Mee @ RM3.50

Far from gastronomic delights, the food was still devoured with much relish, no thanks to the long hours of being famished, in the bullock cart (van), as well as onboard the amazing flying insect (Firefly).

Location : A corner coffee shop, painted violet, with many stalls all around. Opposite Coco Valley in Kuah town. Hard to miss, as there are only TWO prominent Chinese restaurant throughout town.

Langkawi Saga - Where the Heroes gathered, raided, and looted the place clean. Almost.


The treasures we came away with. Plus the mosaic of Ritter Sports posted previously HERE

Steamed Garoupa Thai Style (RM24), Guiness Stout Chicken (RM8), The Greens (RM7) and Claypot Beancurd (RM8)

A period of relaxation ensued, where swords were sharpened, shields tampered, and hagard bodies scrubbed clean. (A bathroom EACH).

Dinner for the night? A seafood meal at GLK Seafood Restaurant @ 176 and 177, Jalan Persiaran Mutiara Kelana Mas, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah. At the row of several seafood restaurants along the road, lining up against each other, at each other's throat mostly.

The Golden Elixir

The meal was above average, fuelling the gut, the mind, the body and soul. And keeping the wallet intact, patching that hole after the gold bars were willingly donated to the township, when bartering for the goods earlier. Poor boy was ecstatic, though UNwillingly sucked in some ashes, no thanks to the charcoal-fuelled steamed fish placed in front of his face. But no complaints, for a meal of such stature deserves some sacrificing .... and the RM2/aluminium can of Golden Elixir redeemed itself, nicely.

The neighbouring villain of Wonderland might have pulled most of the barbarians and nobles, but GLK serves food at almost 3/4 of the price. (Wonderland review to come later)

Where plentiful of rice was burnt aeons ago ....

Adventurous endeavours picked up steam the very next day. To the field where the mighty has fallen, where rations have been set on fire, leaving mere remnants of history til this very day. For a short lesson on history, click HERE.

A handful of mythical blackened & charred rice remains ....

Tapak Kawasan Beras Terbakar (Field of Burnt Rice) @ Padang Matsirat, Langkawi.

Wan Thai Restaurant - A HALAL choice, for fiery food to unblock that stuffy nose ....

Highly-praised from all quarters, heroes, rumours, rumour-mongers (hah), and the locals alike, Wan Thai serves delectable Thai cuisine at reasonable price, amidst a spacious, heavily decorated interior, laden with Thai and Malay influences.

Nasi Goreng Belacan (RM7)

Nasi Patpet Ayam (RM5)


Nasi Goreng Seafood


Nasi Ayam Paprik (RM5)

Nasi Goreng Ayam (RM5)

A tough brawl in the early hours of the morning, lasting about an hour took its toll on the Heroes in this chapter. Bloodied, battered, and of course, hungry, they proceeded to stuff their faces with some of the better Thai-Malay food around town.

# Though hidden from the main road of Kuah town, turning left at the MayFirst outlet on your left will get you to a row of shops behind the ones lining the main road. Wan Thai is somewhere in the middle of the road #

A piping hot serving of thick, spicy and sour Tom Yum Goong

The sweet desserts, served with dessicated coconut, albeit with heavy taste of lye (alkaline) water

Heaving a sigh of relief, Poor Boy was thankful for the call of duty granted him another chance to explore the land he had never seen before. And with another 24 hours to go, he knew that life could only get .... BETTER.

(to be continued ...)

# All characters, depictions, and destinations are NOT fictional. None tailored to mess with the reader's mind. #

PART 2 - LANGKAWI REVISITED - THE JOURNEY TO THE PEAK

Halong Bay, Vietnam - Of Caves, Grottoes, & ALMOST Frostbitten

I know ... I know. It's been nearly a month since I blogged about my Hanoi trip. Yup, I'm easily distracted, plus the repeated visits to Langkawi had me reeling from all the travelling. The icing on the cake? Food poisoning right after the 2nd trip to Langkawi, no thanks to either the Nasi Kandar meal in Penang, or the dinner of mild-looking Economy Rice in Ipoh. Obviously, the booze and the chocs can't be the culprits, can they?!!

A case of over-binging, I supposed. But on the road to recovery now ..... Hence I'll write a short post on Halong Bay .(Erm, short in my dictionary may mean excessive rambling in others, so do take it with a pinch of salt! Hehehe) So, here goes ....

View from the top deck of our boat

After the satisfactory lunch (dismal from a discerning foodie's standards, but me being a Motormouth aka garbage bin, I walloped every single strands of fibre and every piece of flesh from the nameless fish, with MUCH gusto!) on the boat, we were transported to some caves, an obvious tourist spot, with many other junk boats docking.

Every hill, every grotto looks like what YOU imagine them to be. Much like clouds.


Dong Thien Cung - Reminded us of Ipoh's caves aka the legendary Sam Poh Tong, Kek Lok Tong etc. But with added glamour in the form of colourful spotlights!

Being a tourist attraction for the masses, aside from the need to climb some flight of stairs, one does not need to rock-climb, abseil, nor crawl underneath some treacherous structures. Though some adventures would be fine, given the cold weather, almost to the point of numbing our senses. No joke, it was midday and some Westerners on the same boat were already shivering and hiding in the cabin, whilst we were having a whale of a time on the top deck.

Surreal right? Especially if you listen to the tour guide's explanation and descriptions of the structures in the cave!! ROTFL, more like it! :)

Just look at the number of boats docked at the port, and you'll realise the cave is one of the must-see when one visits Halong Bay. Entrance fee was covered by our package (USD33/pax)

We visited two caves on the site, Dong Thien Cung and Hang Dau Go. The latter required no guide, as the cave was rather small and dark, with not much attractions. But with more perilous trekking, though not to the point of being dangerous.

In and around our 'home' for the night

Our room for two. Of course, you're not seeing double (triple?), as we were lucky enough to be granted a bigger room on the second level, instead of the lower level.

The rooms are twin-sharing basis, all rooms at the lower level of the boat, but a bigger triple room on the second level, also known as the common level where we had our meals. The beds were clean, with comforters, and attached bathrooms. Note that electricity is only available from late evening onwards, as then only they'll start the generator. Meaning to say, you can only bath in hot shower, as well as charge your phone/camera from late evening until nighttime. But, once everyone's back into their rooms, at about midnight, they'll shut down the generator, and it's PITCH BLACK all the way til morning. Do take note, in case you're intending to charge your electronics overnight.

#Hint : Avoid rooms near to the generator on the lower level of the boat, as common sense would tell you it's akin to sleeping next to a buzzsaw. #

The fishing village (?) where we made a pit stop again.

LARGE mantis prawns. But at RM50 per kg UNcooked, we thought twice. :)

Here's where you can purchase FRESH seafood bred on site, from the average fishes/prawns/squids to some extraordinaire marine animals. You can buy the fresh supplies here, bring them back to your boat, and ask them to cook for you.

In for the kill. No, not the sharks ....

The other boats will dock here for the night as well. The water's calm, no ripples nor waves to throw you off a good night's sleep!

Back on the boat while waiting for our dinner to be served, we sat back and relaxed, soaking in the breeze(and the non-existing sunlight!), lying on the reclining chairs to pass time. Yup, the weather was freezing cold, but the windy weather was comforting, an escape from the scorching hot M'sian weather.

Dinner on the boat - Seems like the fries are HOT in Vietnam, eh? Must be the French's influence!

Pitch black on the outside. And the chilly breeze had us shivering in our ... erm, pants?!

LOL. I wonder what would the foreigners think had they climbed up to the top deck!! =P

At night, there wasn't much to do, except playing cards, chatting in the cabin, or reading a book. But the some of the cabin crew were smoking (!!) in the common room, hence we had to avoid the smoky, stagnant air, and braced ourselves (yeah, 'GREAT' idea ....) against the numbing temperature. We cuddled ourselves up, trying helplessly to warm our frail bodies, hiding behind whatever structures that were available up there. Tough luck.

But it was indeed, a humourous yet memorable experience; Us squatting behind chairs, poles, and water tanks, with intermittent shrieks and chattering teeth everytime the wind blew. LOL.

Good night ... and slept tight, rocked by the gentle waves.

Next morning's itinerary? Kayak-king at 6.30am (7.30am Malaysian time), breakfast on boat, and lunch on land. Then back to Hanoi for the last night in Vietnam .......

(To be continued .....)

Deja Vu? (Banana Leaf Curry Rice @ NS Curry House & Ritter Sport Chocolates from Langkawi)

Since we're on a roll here, let's review another restaurant serving banana leaf curry rice (BLR - sc's the one who coined this, not me!) in Ipoh .... but feel free to look away if BLR's not your thing. But Malaysians being Malaysians, who can say NO (!!) to heaps of white rice on a banana leaf, generously doused with curries, served with a meat of choice, and unlimited servings of vegetables. And a piece of those addictive, crunchy papadom for good measure.

Unlimited gravies, and vegetable side dishes, one can have a VERY heavy lunch and suffer the consequences. The post-lunch syndrome x 10 = Logs @ Work.

Previous experience at Samy's left us wanting for more, Mr Z & FCOE recommended this outlet on Maxwell Road in Ipoh, simply named NS Curry House, an unassuming choice given the far from city location, as well as the lack of publicity thereof. But wait, since they're foodies in their own rights (=P), we took their words for it, and ventured to this outlet one fine afternoon. (P/S : See? Mr Z/FCOE ; I'm skipping all backlogs for this post, dedicated to you guys .... hehehe ...)

The Elixir of Sin ....

The restaurant is opened from breakfast til lunch, according to Mr Z. Specializing in Indian Curry Food, they cater to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Needless to say, you can already safely place yours truly in the latter category, championing the rights of all carnivores all around the world ... Wait, I meant OMNIvores. =)

Dry Curry Mutton

Compared to Samy, the dishes may pale in terms of variety, but tastewise, NS did not disappoint. Excelling in fact, in aspects even Samy faltered.

The side dishes of vegetables (cabbage, long beans and snake gourd) were all tasty, without being overly salty nor bland. My personal preference was the snake gourd cooked lightly with lentils. And yes, you can ask for unlimited refills of rice and vegetables, FOC. And the compulsory curries came in a trio of steel pots, so you can either 'banjir' (flood) your rice, or practise self-constraint.

Chicken Varuval - Dry Curry Chicken

The accompanying mains of dry curry chicken and curry mutton were delicious, brimming with flavour and spices, while maintaining the freshness of the meats, yet moderately spicy. Therefore, even if you're not a fan of spicy dishes, you can be assured that you won't be breathing fire/required to be exhumed from ashes/drenching yourself with H2O in the midst of the meal.

Minor gripe? The serving size being a little on the smaller end of the scale, when compared head to head with Samy, and even Sri Asoka. But sufficient for lunch, nonetheless. And at a cheaper price too, my banana leaf set with curry mutton, and a glass of Teh Susu Lembu (Tea with Cow's Milk) amounted to only RM7.80. A paltry sum, as you're seated in an air-conditioned room, with commendable cleanliness level, and impeccable service (OKlah .... but don't expect napkins and violins).

Location : NS Curry House @ 10F, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (Maxwell Road), 30100 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 019-576 7354/019-514 1004.

NS Curry House provides catering service as well, in the form of Naidu Food Catering, and serves wedding parties, buffet luncheons/dinners, birthdays, etc. Another branch (or sorts, didn't get to confirm, sorry) of theirs is at Restoran Simpang Pulai @ 808/810, Jalan Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah (Jalan Gopeng), Taman Chandan Desa, 31300 Simpang Pulai, Perak.

## Now, now .... since NS does not serve any traditional Indian sweetmeats, what's for DESSERTS then? ##

Pick. Your. Poisons.

With THAT many flavours to choose from, Ritter Sport Chocolates all the way from Germany (but of course, Motormouth can't fly that far without sponsors ..... shucks). So this time around, the loots from Langkawi consist mostly of imported Ritter Sport Chocs (3 for RM12.50), Cadbury's, etc. TWO trips to Langkawi within TWO weeks .... I'm spent, in every sense of the word!

Now here's a $$$ Million Dollar Question $$$ - What would you like to see in the upcoming post? Langkawi? Halong Bay? (been AGES, right? LOL) Ipoh? Kuala Lumpur? Kuala Sepetang (bad trip @ the wrong time!)?

Banana Leaf Meal @ Samy Restaurant, Chemor & Chocolate Liqueurs from Langkawi

The sleepy?/bustling? town of Chemor, Perak

Chemor, in case you're wondering, is a small town in Perak, about 25 km from Ipoh, and near to Sungai Siput, and Kuala Kangsar. Previous entry on Chemor's food (and the only one, as far as I can recall!) was on Hoong Wan's Fish Noodles, and that was ages ago.

A name most food enthusiasts in and around Ipoh would be familiar with ....

Samy Restaurant is one of the household name, a force to be reckoned with, so to speak, in this part of Kinta district. Serving delectable Indian banana leaf cuisine, the place is routinely packed with factory workers from the various industrial parks within the vicinity, namely Tasek, Chemor, Kanthan and Sungai Siput. On weekends, even tourists stop by for a finger-licking good meal while on the way to Kuala Kangsar (using the trunk road).

Red, fiery, and tantalising curries in claypots for your choosing

Be there early, before 12pm if possible, to beat the crowd. But the patrons here do not mind sharing their tables, given the fact that the set up mostly consists of long tables (ala canteen style), thus strangers may be sitting next to each other, licking their fingers while seemingly in trance from the addictive curry dishes.

White rice served on a banana leaf, with various vegetable dishes; Pickled cucumber, pineapple and onions, Curry potatoes, carrots and long beans, & The Usual .... Cabbage

First up, march into the shop, all the while stealing glances at the counter up front, picking your dish of preference. From curry chicken to dry mutton curry, as well as crabs, de-shelled prawns curry and squids, you'll be spoilt for choice. Lest you come here with a few companions (makan kakis?), you'll be better off picking ONE dish, rather than being ambitious and try one of each!

Drench your rice with the vegetable curry, complemented by a cup of Rasam and a crispy Papadam. To douse the fire (don't worry, the dishes ain't spicy), wash it all down with a cool, and sweet glass of Cow's Milk


Curry Mutton with Potatoes

Curry Chicken with Potatoes

The portion at Samy's on the larger end, hence hold the rice if you're not in for a VERY filling meal. We ended up feeling very sleepy after the meal, given the high carbohydrate contents, and the hot-as-hell weather. Ipoh's BLAZING HOT lately, no joke.

As popular as Samy may be, I still feel the banana leaf fare at Sri Asoka Corner over at Medan Selera Stadium Ipoh scores a notch above in terms of taste. Personal preference aside, I felt that Samy's curries and side dishes leaned more towards the salty side, especially the cabbage and carrots combo.

People tucking in to their serving of banana leaf goodness, completely ignoring the intrusion of privacy in the form of licking one's fingers on the side

The meal for two came to RM22, including drinks. Not the cheapest option out there, especially in good old Ipoh, but the portion served somewhat justified the price paid. And banana leaf meals don't come cheap, do they? :)

a sweet ending .... in the form of Laddu (50 cents)

The Laddu is a popular Indian sweet, made from flour, and dipped into sugar syrup, with a hint of spices. Samy's Laddu is fortunately, not sickeningly sweet unlike most, and finished the spicy/greasy meal rather well, on a sweet note.

Location : Samy Restaurant @ 70, Jalan Besar, 31200 Chemor, Perak. Specifically? From Jalan Kuala Kangsar, go towards the direction of Chemor/Sungai Siput and you'll reach the town of Chemor with two-storey shoplots lining the road on both sides. Samy's on your RIGHT, hence you'll need to make a U-turn further up the road.

On to an even sweeter note ..... ^_^

RM28.90 for 16 mini 'bottles' of chocolatey goodness ..... with a twist


Makes REAL perfect ornaments for display eh? Pity they can't weather the calls of nature .... as in the threat of EXPIRING.


Oozing REAL liquor ... from vodka, to cognac and such. Blissful stuff.

Remember my lament in THIS post? That I didn't expect my first visit to Langkawi to be tailored to a 5 days boot camp style. Now, destiny has its calling, AGAIN, and I'll be off to the island TOMORROW.

Wow. Now tell me that's not insane, flying off to Langkawi within a short span of 10 days. But at least this time around, I can be assured of a good night's sleep, without the looming threats of bugs and monsters, and hopefully, better food, instead of military rations. Hehe ..... =)

Penang Hawker Food : Sin Wah Char Koay Teow & Kheng Pin Lor Bak

So, what's for supper, after going Japanese at Azuma? Some cheap and delicious street food, of course !!!

Sin Wah Char Koay Teow @ Pulau Tikus Market

Penang is synonymous with great hawker fare. From the perennial favourite, Laksa, to Char Koay Teow, and Hokkien Mee (Prawn Mee to you and me) to Lor Bak, it'll be a sin to die from hunger on the streets, and laments regarding "limited food options". Admit it, people throng the island for the FOOD, more than anything else.

Sinful enough? With cockles, prawns, duck eggs, bean sprouts, chives, and crispy pork lard .... all for RM4 flat

OK, so the image of Char Koay Teow in Penang may have been marred (or worshipped, depending on whether you're on the receiving end of the malicious treatment!) by some of the most arrogant, and over-priced stalls selling the nearly 'Gourmet' edition of the simple hawker dish, up to the realms of about RM7 per plate. Sooner or later, a plate of CKT in Penang at RM10 would be the norms, with additional 10% service charge (that is, IF you're not required to carry your own plate anymore) and 5% government tax (for the immense number of plates sold per day, they could be driving Royces/Porsches amidst the maddening Penang traffic!).

Anyway, one of my favourite CKT stall in Penang at night is Sin Wah Char Koay Teow, located at Pulau Tikus Market, off Jalan Burma in Georgetown. I paid a respectable number of visits to this place as the variety of food, the atmosphere (epitome of "street food!"), the crowd, and the price allowed a not-so-well-off public university student with a bottomless pit to binge without regret. :)

Teo Chew Chai Koay from Kim Leng Kee @ 50 (or 60) cents each

Of course, the uncle manning the stall may have an attitude of his own. And his staff as well, for that matter. Ordering any number of plates of CKT will net you an intimidating glare, and grumbles about the estimated waiting time.

"Have to wait 20 minutes one. Still want or not?" ... or when the crowd's not so thin; "Half an hour wait one woh, very long. Do you still want to wait?" .... or when the crowd's practically sitting on each other's laps : "Either you starve to death and wait, or buzz off ordering something else lah!"

Of course, I made the last one up lah .... He has yet to attain the Gold Medal in "The Laws of Arrogance" yet, amongst the CKT community in Penang. But a bronze may be hanging from his neck, for all I care.

Nonsense aside (hehe, it's Friday, so I'm a little off ... understandable, right?), the CKT was bursting with 'wok hei' or 'Breath of the Wok' (sounds soooo much like a Kung Fu sequel wannabe), fried with high flames, and lots of crispy pork lards for extra cholesterol. And flavour, nonetheless. The prawns, squids, and cockles completed the package, earning top marks in my books. You can choose between chicken's egg (RM3.50) or duck's egg (RM4).

Let's say you do not wish to smother your already glossy lips with the oily plate of artery-clogger, no frets. Solution's at hand in the form of Teo Chew Chai Koay, with fillings of either yambeans, or kuchai (Chinese chives). But they DO pan-fry them before serving, hence if you wanna avoid the grease, hold them off.

Location : Pulau Tikus wet market, at night only. From town to Pulau Tikus using Jalan Burma, you'll reach a police station on your RIGHT. Turn left into Jalan Moulmein, between two coffee shops (one's named Kwai Lock, which I blogged before HERE on their Roti Babi), and you'll reach a T-junction. The market's to your right, but it's a one way road, hence turn left and park anywhere you like.

Kheng Pin Cafe @ Penang Road - An old timer ...

The next morning, initially planned for breakfast at Joo Leong in Bayan Lepas, popular for their toasts with runny half-boiled eggs. But the previous night's booze session (hehe ... fresh from Langkawi, no less) had us dozing off at 4am, waking up a little later than desired. The next best option? Brunch at Penang Road instead.

Hainanse Chicken Rice (RM4), Wantan Noodles (RM4) and Century Egg Porridge

Kheng Pin Cafe on Penang Road possesses a certain charm, with history running way back into the olden days. Probably one of the few original coffee shops on Penang Road (Kek Seng's a good candidate), the place is still buzzing with activities (eating lah ... what else?!) on a weekday's morning/afternoon.

The Hainanese Chicken Rice has a lot of patrons, serving plump, tender chicken with fragrant rice. Not the best, yet the portion was more than sufficient, and better than most out there.

The spicy Char Koay Teow

The Rasa Malaysia food guide listed two stalls in Kheng Pin, in their recommendation. One being the Char Koay Teow stall, frying up a commendable storm with the fiery CKT, complete with the usual package sans the squids ala Sin Wah's.

Almost legendary .... or might I add, God-like status of the Lor Bak stall

But the other recommendation came in the form of Lor Bak, or mixed fritters from all meats/vegetables/etc possible. The popularity of Kheng Pin's Lor Bak transcends borders, races (except Malays, of course, it's NON-halal), and appetites. Perfect as accompaniments to a meal, or light snacks during tea break, you'll be spoilt for choice from the endless display of choices available. From the usual to the slightly out-of-the-ordinary such as fish, chicken, sweet potatoes and yam, the owner will be glad to recommend their signatures, or put your trust in him to mix and match the choices and the amount for the number of people specified.

A platter of goodies @ RM11

For the four of us, he fried on the spot : The pork rolls (Lor Bak), prawn fritters, batter-fried chicken meat, spring roll, and century egg. Served with some slices of cucumber and pickled ginger slices, the selection of fritters was spot-on, and pleased even the most demanding palate (guess who? NOT me .... =P)

The accompanying dipping sauces of sweet/spicy chilli sauce and the sticky dark sauce

Location : Kheng Pin Cafe @ 80, Jalan Penang, Penang. Opens for breakfast til about 3pm only.

Here's those who had been mesmerized by Kheng Pin's Lor Bak : What2See, After Giovanni, Allie, Penang Tua Pui

Staring right through ya !!! Who says Beggars Can't Be Choosers?! (A scene at the Kuan Yin Temple on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

Happy Weekend Everyone .....

Seeking Solace in Penang - Azuma Japanese Restaurant @ Queensbay Mall

Escaping from Langkawi (that sounded harsh you say? It was NOT your idea of a routine holiday, that's for sure! Click HERE for previous post if you're having doubts!) after 5 whole days on the island, or rather, IN a camp ON the island, we flew back to Penang for a timely restoration-cum-relaxation period. Nursing sore muscles, scratches, blisters, and fatigue, we checked into our hotel the instance our plane (Firefly) touched down at the airport. Penang's air has never smelled this good ... The Air of Freedom?

The Krystal Suites @ Bayan Lepas, Penang

The Krystal Suites (www) is a hotel situated at Krystal Point, in Bayan Lepas, Penang. Krystal Point houses a dynamic range of restaurants, featuring cuisines from all over the world, from Japanese food to Thai food, and Western fare to Chinese cuisine. A query to any Penang flogger: Has Jurin moved from Krystal Point? I did not notice its existence this time around.

For only RM238/night, you can stay in a 2-bedrooms suite, with one King-sized bed, and another room with 2 single beds. Suite amenities include individually-controlled air-conditioner (all 4 of them, one in each room and two in the living room), ASTRO channels, mini fridge, microwave oven (yup, read that right!) free broadband internet service, and free parking space for one car per room. 1 Bedroom Suite starts at RM178/night, with the same amenities except the second room.

Azuma Japanese Restaurant @ Queensbay Mall, Penang

The magnetic force of the comfort, and spaciousness of our suite, my eyes were set on the comfortable, plush beds. But hunger struck at that very moment, as lunch seemed some ages ago. Hence we put off the idea of recklessly neglecting our hunger pangs and slept til morning comes, but instead ventured over to Queensbay Mall, a mere 5 minutes' drive away.

The Japanese restaurant opened for business late last year ... and gaining momentum, judging from the dinner crowd on a weekday's night

Initial plan of dining at TGIF (where else for an American diner's Supersized Portions?) was thwarted when the cravings for Japanese food came knocking at our doors. Or our guts. Azuma has large, transparent windows overlooking the bay and parking lots, thus tempting our curiosity and tastebuds at the same time.

Shake Tataki Maki and Una Cheese Maki @ RM30

Walking in to the restaurant situated on 2F of Queensbay Mall, we were promptly greeted with chants of 'Irrashaimase' and ushered to a table by the windows, with sofa seats. The interior of the restaurant was considerably bright, albeit with yellow lighting (bad for photography purposes!), with a kaiten belt section with freshly-prepared (we hope) sushi for those casual diners.

Running through the menu revealed an impressive list of Japanese and fusion items, from the usual Tenpura, Sushi and Sashimi, to Bento sets, Special Maki, and Japanese Pizza.

The 8-piece serving of Una Cheese Maki and Shake Tataki Maki was one of their recommended item, whereby from the menu, each item is priced at RM28, but for an additional RM2 you can mix and match. The Una Cheese Maki consists of sushi rice rolled with eel, cheese and vegetables, while the Shake Tataki Maki contains shrimp roe, crab sticks, cheese, vegetables, topped with grilled salmon. Each morsel was full of flavour, owing to the creamy cheese added into the rolls, and the perfectly rolled makis. So far, so good.

Azuma Deluxe Combo Sushi (RM60 for 24 pieces)

Of course, breaking free from the monotony of 'prison food' (ahem, I beg to differ, it's more like dorm meals instead), and suitably famished after the ride, we ordered recklessly, til the staff jolted out of his boots. Or apron. He politely reminded us that the Deluxe Combo Sushi is normally reserved for a 'bigger' group, and had us having second thoughts on over-ordering.

Very nicely presented, scoring top marks in aesthetic values (except for one failed salmon mayo roll) ... Tastewise?

Of course, we were in Sushi mode that evening, so we cancelled the other orders instead. The platter of mixed sushi was intimidating, as each sushi was not of bite-sized/dainty proportion, but instead rather filling. To the point of feeling rather bloated by the 5th of 6th piece. The platter includes prawn, salmon, tuna, prawn roe, eel, tuna mayo in beancurd skin, and salmon mayo roll.

All were fresh, the fish firm and sweet, while the cooked items scored as well. Except the ebikko (shrimp roe) which was a little salty. The maguro (tuna) was deliciously thick and succulent, while the tako? (octopus)'s texture was bouncy, and firm.

Azuma Zushi Pizza - Raw salmon and eel pizza (RM28)

Another signature of Azuma's is the pizzas. A combination of grilled eel and raw salmon slices were placed on top the rice (yes, the rice IS the dough!) coated with batter and fried til crispy, topped with some shrimp roe, chopped scallions and garnished with parsley. The crispy exterior coating the sticky rice, paired with the salmon/eel and sauce was heavenly. Minor gripe? The small serving (only about 4" per pc) had us wanting more!

The complimentary green tea ice cream as dessert

Reliving days of yore, we challenged each other to a Wasabi Face-Off. Yeah, 5 days in camp does irrepairable damages to one's brain, it seems! Though the wasabi (horseradish mustard) at Azuma's lacked the sting compared to the average ones elsewhere.

Location : AZUMA JAPANESE RESTAURANT @ No. 100-2F87, Queensbay Mall, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Tel : 04 6413118.

For second opinions, click them :

What2See, Food Paradise, or Penang Tua Pui

Satiated, replenished and still reeling from lethargy, we attempted to burn some calories (as if) by strolling around the mall, though embedded deep in our minds, we knew that supper's just around the corner ..... ;)