Wander & Blossom

Thailand mesmerizes me in every way: its food of spicy and appetizing, its people of extra friendliness, its culture with spectacular temples….but most important of all, it is near and affordable to us Malaysian. Ever since my first trip to Thailand (Chiang Mai), I keep returning, hoping to explore its different districts. So for this time around, Hat Yai it is.

Despite its very near distance to Malaysia north border of Kedah state with approximately 6 hours driving distance from KL, I took up the offer from Airasia which only cost me RM150 for to and fro flights of 1 hour and 15 minutes each.

Much contrary to my previous trips, other than flight booking, I did nothing for this trip as in not planning for itinerary, not searching high and low for the right accommodation in terms of price and proximity to the attractions. It is the beauty of travelling with friends where each of us gets the respective tasks and none of us gets too weary in planning everything.

We checked in at New Season Hotel, an accommodation relatively near to the city center where it is on the same street (Prachathipat Alley) as Lee Garden Hotel with only 5-10 minutes walking distance. The room was spaciously equipped with 2 individual chairs, one double bed, a CRT TV and bath tub.

As usual we had mini bar of bird’s nest, Coke, Singha Beer, Heineken, Kit Kat, Tong Garden nuts, Lay’s, Durex condoms and 2 bottles of complimentary water.

Not a picturesque view but it was nice to see the city from a higher perspective.

Thai massage is definitely not my thing for I’m the ticklish person. Well, for those who seek relaxation after a long day of walking; feel free to call for their Thai massage room service.

On our way to Lee Garden Plaza, we dropped by this 7-Eleven which happened to be on the same street. In fact, I make sure I drop by everyday during my stay there for this hotdog smoky wrapped with bacon heavenly bites and happily paid 20 baht for it. Be sure to make a special request if you can’t see it on the roller machine as they keep it separately.

I have to shamelessly admit that I like to explore these convenient stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart as they each carry different products and it varies according to countries. This One Piece drinks here set as a good example that would not appear on Malaysia 7-Eleven racks.

These collagen drinks too.

Bird’s Nest on the hand and as I can conclude after making several trips to other states of Thailand, only appeared in Hat Yai 7-Eleven. 99 baht for a bottle of bird’s nest is a steal. As a matter of fact, there are a few shops at Hat Yai selling bird’s nest at an affordable price and some restaurants even offer bird’s nest in a bowl.

Ah yes, the Lay’s from Thailand that comes in many varieties: Lobster Hot Plate, Seaweed, Original, Salmon, Cheese, Crab….costing 200-350 baht for a small pack if I remember correctly. A must-buy whenever I’m in Thailand.

Another 5 minutes by foot and we have reached Lee Garden Plaza, the very famous shopping center located between Prachathipat Alley and Saneha Nusorn Road.

(From left to right) Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries

(From left to right) Gemini, Taurus, Cancer, Leo

(From left to right)Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Scorpio

One interesting thing about Saneha Nusorn Road was these street lamps with statue of 12 horoscopes interlaying at both sides of the road. I treat this as my very own scavenger hunt by taking photos of these 12 horoscopes. It was indeed a fun thing to do by paying attention to details.

New Season Hotel(Website)

Ranked #5 out of 63 hotels in Hat Yai at Tripadvisor and cost approximately 1500 baht for each night.

While some would rather not spend their food “quota” during travelling on fast food restaurants thinking that the menu and food would be alike as their home country, I on the other hand, like to explore them instead. One thing I can assure you is that their menu is not 100% identical in every country. McDonald’s Japan has bacon potato pie & prawn fillet while McDonald’s Thailand offers Samurai Pork Burger which can’t be found at McDonald’s Malaysia due to its halal nature.

We went to McDonald’s Hat Yai that situated on ground floor of Lee Garden Plaza which we had to go through the security check before entering. It has been heavily guarded ever since the bombing incident that took place on 31^st March 2012 which involved the death of 4 and injuries of 146 people. As a matter of fact, this is the reason why we would not book Lee Garden Hotel despite its central location.

Ever since the insurgency, McDonald’s at Lee Garden Plaza reopened again in improved design incorporating McCafe and small area with power outlets. Its edgy design of plank flooring along with striking chairs of pink, orange and green did make us go wow for a second.

Apple pie is the most common pie in McDonald’s Malaysia while banana pie, taro pie, blueberry pie and so on come occasionally as guest. Here at Hat Yai, I have corn pie, pineapple pie and spinach pie (red).

Crispy bites of golden fried outer layer with fillings of spinach, corn and carrot in creamy sauce. If I were to put it in another way, it would be creamy soup in a pie. Other than the bacon &potato pie I’ve had at Japan, this is the second savory pie I’ve ever come across and I couldn’t help but to buy another one for 29 baht each.

Corn and pineapple pie on the other hand didn’t leave such a deep impression to me but I guess the joyful expression from my dear Jason would be enough to convince others of McDonald’s slogan “I’m lovin it”.

Though pork itself is not being served as a common dish in Malaysia, the land of halal, we still managed to get our cravings fixed at some non-halal restaurants. Being said that, getting a non-halal burger at McDonald’s thrills the Malaysian in me and journey to Thailand wouldn’t be complete without the much awaited Samurai Pork Burger.

Similar to McChicken in its simple burger structure of sesame bun, pork patty, mayo, lettuce and being served in Teriyaki sauce, it didn’t taste as porky as what I would have expected. I am no blind believer that whatever came disguised as pork must be good and the fact that it came in thin patty just upset me.

We thought we could use a photo together given the ample sunlight condition because as any other photographer, I always keep myself behind the lens. Taking self-portrait without flip screen on almost 1kg weight of DSLR (d7000 and tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens) was not easy at all but Jason nailed it in one single shot. It must be the long and strong arm.

Having filled our stomachs, we took a stroll around that area. No specific itinerary as Hat Yai is a small town and we hoped to enjoy its slow pace.

I saw these cute little pineapples and asked the hawker for price. To my surprise, he as an authentic Thai answered “sa liap jit bak, jit liap si sip” in perfect Hokkien which means 3 for 100 baht, 1 for 40 baht. Indeed, due to Hat Yai close proximity to Malaysia, they were very much influenced by our Chinese culture which can be seen from the well-versed Hokkien and Chinese cuisines such as dim sum and suckling pig. There are also a lot of Muslims here so finding a halal meal is not such a hassle.

We had this condiment that came with the pineapple which is spicy with chili flakes, a rather uncommon taste to go with fruit.

Coconut is another must have in Thailand and I would always choose this over the other. Cost me 30 baht if I remember correctly.

Dried cuttlefish is a common street food in Hat Yai where it was fixed using clips and displayed in rows. It will then grill over charcoal fire upon request.

This palm-sized big prawn or what we called Udang Galah can go for 100-200 baht each depending on the stalls and your negotiation power. I was so tempted to try this upon looking at its fiery red crispy shell and how it must be a mouthful one judging from the size but Jason made a point which I can’t deny: No flies at all on these stalls with big prawns. Something just doesn’t seem right when there are no flies coming after the street food as if they were avoiding it and no, it wasn’t the measure taken from these stalls that cast the flies away. We decided that the prawn might not be as great anyway given its expensive pricing so we skipped this for good.

That’s all for now and my next post would be on Lee Garden Hotel Plaza Sky Buffet: Eat-all-you-can on 33rd floor facing excellent Hat Yai night view for only 169 baht!

A 180 degree night view at 33^rd floor would most probably come in fine dining restaurant along with its dimmed and romantic ambience hence the very expensive price tag. Here at Hat Yai, Lee Garden Plaza Hotel did it differently. They still keep the best part which is the night view for you, but to make it affordable to public, they throw in simple furniture and make it into a self-service eat-all-you-can Sky Buffet for only 169 baht. It has garnered lots of fans and earned them a good reputation which made Sky Buffet a must try in Hat Yai.

To begin with, we went through the security check at Lee Garden Plaza (if you haven’t known, Lee Garden Plaza Hotel is on top of Lee Garden Plaza) then pressed the lift to 10^th floor, the main lobby followed by another lift transit to 33^rd floor.

When the lift door opened, a lady staff greeted us in Wai (Thai greeting); the slight bow with her palms pressed together and asked if we were there for the sky buffet. The price goes according to height: 169 baht for 120cm and above, 89 baht for 100-119cm while it is complimentary for those below 100cm.

It was divided into 2 sections upon entering: on the left side were the spread corner and some seats while on the right was a raised floor with few steps and the breathtaking night view.

Chinese Herbal Soup of Chicken Drumstick & Wolfberry

Fish Maw Soup

Came in thick broth and generous amount of fish maw, it was believed to be the most expensive thus value-for-money dish among the spread.

Seafood Tom Yam Soup of Squids, Prawns & Oyster Mushroom

Fish Fillets in Ginger & Scallion, Green Curry Chicken

Deep Fried Thai Fish Cakes & Chicken Drumsticks

As you can observe, the food in general were of Chinese style dishes including some that were not in this post such as roasted duck, braised Chinese cabbage with mushrooms, braised Japanese tofu and so on. There was also a fruit and salad bar for those who crave for a lighter meal.

Longan Dessert with Jelly

And we ended this satisfying meal with one last happy note: the ice-cream.

To be honest, the food wasn’t that impressive, but having buffet with great night view overlooking the city of Hat Yai in its tallest building for only 169 baht does sound like a great deal to me.

Sky Buffet @Lee Garden Plaza Hotel

29 Prachatipat Road, Hadyai, Songkhla 90110 Thailand

Operating time

Lunch: 11am-2.30pm

Dinner: 5pm-9.30pm

The recently revamped Avenue K (a shopping mall opposite Suria KLCC and easily accessible by LRT) has gained much attention with the addition of H&M store in its directory but that is not all. On the 2^ndlevel of Avenue K lies Taste Enclave, the latest food atrium in town, and is another creation by Willie Tay, the Singaporean with 18 years of experience in F&B Management.

The interior of lush foliage and great expanse of faux greenery throughout the atrium in creating the out-of-city dining impression where diners can experience a tranquil sense of escape while feasting in absolute comfort.

Imagine dining in an enchanted forest of whimsical themes, surrounded by creative landscaping filled with trees, animals and running water.

The team behind Taste Enclave has carefully handpicked KL finest food ambassadors to be part of this food atrium where diners can expect 16 stalls and 4 mini-restaurants in offering non-halal menus.

Sentul Ah Yap Charcoal Hokkien Mee

Being the 5^th outlets here at Taste Enclave, the name of Sentul Ah Yap is no longer news to us.

So here I have noodles fried over charcoal fire with pieces of pork slices, vege, and fried pork lard (猪油渣) on my sampling plate. No complain in general but preferably flooded with the heavenly crispy bites of fried pork lard.

Tong’s Roast Honey Glazed BBQ Pork & Crispy Roasted Pork

The family business began more than 30 years ago as a roast meat wholesaler at Pudu market and their unique recipe has been fine-tuned over the years.

Reflecting ambience light in its honey glazed outer, this BBQ Pork is a good piece of lean meat with the right amount of fat. The sauce that complemented this BBQ Pork is another thing worth mentioning, so fragrant and flavorful I can ask for a bowl of rice to go with it.

Crispy roasted pork on the other hand has a good balance between crispy roasted skin crust and 1-to-1 chewy lean meat to fat. It was slightly salty without the company of rice/noodles but hey, this is supposed to be served in a full meal. Perhaps I would make a special request to have roasted pork of chunky bites though it may mean fewer slices.

Stall No. 21 Beef Noodle (Beef Balls with Noodles-Dry)

This unique name is a tribute to the owner’s parents who started selling beef ball noodles at Stall No.21 Cross Street, KL or more famously known as Soong Kee Beef Noodle. It is mainly based at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee and has another outlet at Lot 10 Hutong.

Served in Hakka Noodles then topped with the minced meat sauce and finally boiled choy sum for a balanced diet. This hakka noodles was alkaline taste free and softer in texture but be sure to mix it fast enough else it’ll lump together. Meatballs were springy enough but the absence of scallion in my soup made me wonder. It would be a mistake thinking that the soup will clear the tongue, preparing it for the next bite as the soup itself was heavily seasoned.

Ythu Wendy Vietnam Cuisine Spring Roll

It may sound crazy that I have recently travelled about 1,000km to Ho Chi Minh just to spend 27 hours there to satisfy my craving on their coffee, French baguette, beef pho and spring roll but I may not need to make that trip for spring roll anymore.

Hailing all the way from Vietnam to Singapore and now to Malaysia, Wendy has established 5 outlets in food courts across Singapore and her first outlet in Malaysia.

Minimal amount of basil (which I believed was improved recipe to suit our taste) along with rice vermicelli, lettuce, carrot, and pork then rolled in Vietnamese bánh tráng (aka rice paper) and served with their chili sauce. The tricky part about this rice paper is that it needed to be soaked into warm water to make it soft enough to roll, which also means it would easily dehydrated when exposed to air for long. “Skin” (rice paper) of this spring roll I had was moist enough to chew and another brilliant horizontal arrangement of rice vermicelli (instead of randomly) in absorbing the dilute chili sauce. Even better than what I had at Vietnam itself!

Surprisingly but yes, Taste Enclave does sell beer here.

Grandeur Teppanyaki Angus Beef

Most often I enjoyed the open kitchen concept where the food is freshly prepared in front of my eyes. Here at Grandeur Teppanyaki, I had utensil acrobats of fork and knife flying around along with scorching flame to add in the pleasure. But when it comes to this plate of beef, one has to have high level of tolerance to spiciness and does not mind chewing medium done beef cubes.

-17°C Ice Kacang

Having Ice Kacang is like a mini treasure digging for me; To enjoy the crushed peanuts followed by bits by bits of the ice along with its syrup and condensed milk, and finally to unfold those at the bottom. Though may not be much, it was the right taste to end this evening.

There are so much more than my stomach can handle and I will certainly be back to try out other stalls.

Taste Enclave @Avenue K

Website

Lot L2-6B, L2-8, L2-9 & L2-10, Level 2,

Avenue K Shopping Centre,

No. 156, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

10am to 10pm Sundays – Thursdays & public holidays

10am to 11pm Fridays, Saturdays & eve of public holidays

Despite its setting in happening area of bars and guesthouses, Limablas has a way to make diners feel at home in its background music of 何日君再来, a famous mandarin song by the late Teresa Teng. With only a sign of number 15 (which is the lot number and being translated into Malay in its before-independence spelling - Limablas'), it was as if a humble restaurant resting aside and waiting to be discovered.

Once entered, everything inside took me back the memory lane of simple childhood and outskirt years with grandma. A rather slow-paced restaurant to enjoy meal over gathering and talk about each other's life.

Pai Tee RM1.50 each

Tiny edible "bowl" of deep fried open egg roll stuffed with gravy sliced turnip, cucumber, chili and topped with a small shrimp. A mouthful bite of crispiness that waits for no camera before it turns soggy.

Fried Chili with Talapia Seasonal Price

Crispy exterior with succulent flesh being paired up with chili sauce of slightly on the sweet side and citrusy by the lime; an appetizing but not overly spicy dish. Yet, one can't be too health conscious over deep fried food.

Sambal Petai RM25

Pungent smell of petai and spiciness of sambal is the golden combination you can't go wrong with. Even better, throw in some fresh shrimps for the juicy bites. Level of spiciness on the other side was just nice for me. After all, it's about balance and not overpowering.

Sambal Terung RM12

For those who does not take petai or shrimp, there is an alternative on the menu to go with sambal which is the eggplant.

Telur Cincaluk RM12

Cincalok, of fermented small shrimps was great addition to the ordinary omelette.

Bendi Kukus RM12

Steamed lady's fingers served with spicy sauce to be consumed according to your preference.

Ayam Pongteh RM12 (small), RM22 (medium), RM28 (large)

Ayam pongteh is a must try in any Nyonya restaurants where it is often stewed with chicken, potato and mushroom in fermented soy bean paste. This is by far the best I've had.

Kangkung Lemak Keledek RM15

Thick gravy of santan (coconut milk) with the kick of spiciness from shredded chili and served with kangkung. A dish that will make you ask for more rice.

Nyonya Curry Chicken RM12 (small), RM22 (medium), RM28 (large)

Relatively good old classic curry of chicken and potato. Though oil is an inevitable side-product during the process, the presentation on table is preferable without the shining layer.

ABC / Ice Kacang RM4.50

A bowl of treasure digging that comes in gula melaka (aka palm sugar).

Sago Gula Melaka RM3

I have always love sago for finding these little transparent pearls on a bowl of red bean soup excites me. Here at Limablas, they are made into a packed pudding form, filled with Gula Melaka in its mini reservoir and placed on the sea of evaporated milk. Fabulous aroma and great taste but the overcooked thus mushy texture suggested otherwise.

Limablas

15 Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari

50200 Kuala Lumpur

03-2110 1289

11am-11pm

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This food tasting session was organised by HungryGoWhere Malaysia– Discover, Eat, Share today!

It is of no secret that I am currently dating an Ipohian boyfriend hence I would often travel up north to one of the many food heavens in Malaysia. Most of the time he would guide me around but it is my turn now when I received this food tasting invitation from Next Food Avenue, the revamped food court at Ipoh Parade.

Located on the 3^rdfloor (same level with GSC Cinema but in opposite direction), Next Food Avenue has 26 stalls in 2 separate sections which are halal and non-halal. Upon stepping in the non-halal section we were welcomed by the hanging red lanterns along with wallpapers of red bricks and RGYB (red, green, yellow, and blue) chairs where traditional Chinese culture meets modern design.

Crispy Skin Roast Duck & Barbecued Porkby Restoran B Jing北京饭店

A typical set from Chinese BBQ stall where it consists of meat, rice and soup. There are many versions of barbecued pork but theirs cater to those who’d prefer lean meat only. Roast duck on the other hand was succulent though pairing with a crispier skin would be best.

Signature Chili Pan Meeby Facey Noodle House辣一辣

Originated since 2004 in KL, Facey Noodle House is now trying its luck at Ipoh. Here I have springy noodles topped with minced meat, deep fried anchovies and poached egg, served in a dry way alongside a bowl of sayur manis soup. I prefer to customize my bowl of spiciness by controlling the amount of dried chili, the more the better.

Hakka Yam Abacusby Restoran Noah

The name came from its resemblance to abacus beads-like shape and the fact that it was made of yam dough. Here, it was stir-fried with marinated mushroom and parsley. I had no complain on the taste and texture but perhaps a bigger helping?

Coming up next was something we had from halal section.

Salad Popiahby Amy Crispy Popiah

Accustomed to hot if not warm popiah, we were surprised that this was served chilled. It is subjective to public acceptance but I personally liked this as appetizer, something fresh and not so heavy to start off the meal.

I’ll be sure to drop by Next Food Avenue again to check out the remaining 22 stalls.

Next Food Avenue

Level 3 , Ipoh Parade ,

105 , Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil ,
Greentown 30450 , Ipoh Perak .

10am-10pm

Talk about marionette and all that I could have imagined was the puppet being tied to 4 strings on those arms and legs then manipulated using a controller from above. The set up may be simple but it was the skill that counts to dance a vivid marionette. Even so, little did I know that somewhere in the world, there are 2 puppeteers who took over 25 years in perfecting that skill; from creation of routines, tailor made of marionettes and their clothing, and finally to pull a thousand strings in front of the audiences.

UK-born John Chisholm and Austrian-born Josef Probst work together in bringing 88 marionettes alive by coupled their motions with musical accompaniments. “Stars on Strings” also included some scenes of world renowned stars such as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson in his famous moon walk dance.

The show transcends language and national barriers which enable “Stars on Strings” to feature on satellite TV across Europe as well as major cruise lines, delighting audiences throughout America, Europe, Middle East and the Far East.

Be sure to catch the world’s best marionettes in the “Stars on Strings” show at Genting International Showroom (Resorts World Genting) from 16^th November to 9^th December 2013. The show tickets are priced at RM25 (VIP) and RM15 (PS1) while Genting Rewards Card Member can enjoy a special rate of RM80 (VIP) and RM11 (PS1).

For more information, kindly check out Genting website or call 03-6101 1118.

Done with our 169 baht of too-good-to-be-true buffet dinner at Lee Garden Plaza Hotel, we decided to explore Hat Yai night market while the night is still young. After a 15 mins walk (assuming we’re heading to the right direction), we’ve came to a really dimmed place which convinced us that we’re lost. Before we got ourselves into panic mode, we met a kind-hearted local guy who later hailed a Tuk Tuk for us and explained our destination in Thai. The Tuk Tuk transfer fee is on haggling basis after 9pm.

Dark alley after another lead us to our safety concerns but we have finally reached the brightly lit Asean Trade Market after about 10 mins ride where it is located next to Greenway Market that sells mainly second hand goods. To those who have been to Bangkok, it appears to be like smaller version of Chatuchak with all the zinc roofs and individual stalls. It was a cool and windy night thanks to the drizzle else I wonder how suffocate or sweaty will I be in.

Kanom Buang (Thai Crepes) as one of the most popular street food in Thailand. Small thin crisp crepes folded and filled with meringue then topped with either sugar sprinkles or foy tong (sweet shredded egg yolk).

Here in Thailand, they have tweaked the conventional sushi where the ingredient is placed on top of the maki seaweed roll instead of within the roll and it’s not nigiri sushi either. These petite-sized sushi that paired with out of ordinary ingredients like the angry bird fish cake or neon-colored fish roes going for 5 baht each.

Food was not all Asean Trade Market has to offer, there are also cheap clothes, bags, shoes and others in those bargain alleys. Rest assured that no matter how late you shop, there will always be tuk tuk on standby to send you back to central Hat Yai.

Check out this map for direction but not advisable to go by foot.
Opens Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm-10pm.

Rise and shine on the next morning for food hunting at the busy streets of Kim Yong Market, which is within 10 mins walking distance from New Season Hotel. It operates from 6am to 6pm and they have such rotation that those stalls from morning session are different from the afternoon.

We packed from a few stalls then sat down and ordered more from a randomly picked small shop. I can’t remember the pricing but it is always good to have that pork slices on the table.

The town has become lively with the Christmas decorations at every corner accompanied by perhaps the best classic song of Jingle Bells. In conjunction with this joyful time of the year, Samplings on the Fourteenth Restaurant features a festive set menu on the eve of Christmas specially designed for the occasion by the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine, affectionately known as Chef Val.

Housed on 14^thfloor of Berjaya Times Square (East Wing), I was mesmerized by this breathtaking view overlooking KL night scene along with busy streets of Bukit Bintang junction.

Smoked Salmon and Prawn Salad with Tomato Tart and Lemon Chive Vinaigrette

We began with appetizer of the night that was so well presented as art on the plate. Other than the sliced smoked salmon, prawn salad was another worth mentioning. Playful in texture where the juicy layers of tomatoes alone were presented in mince, wedge and rondelle cut, then paired with slight garlicky touch and sandwiched between biscuit-like tart pastry, finally topped with 2 big bouncy prawns; wonders within one bite.

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup served warm and rich, balanced with a dollop of sour cream.

Minted Watermelon Sorbet

Arrived in Martini glass was a small scoop of lightly minted watermelon sorbet, embellished with a blueberry. It doesn’t denote the end of our meal as dessert but as a palate cleanser before the mains.

Choose from 3 main courses of Christmas Roast Turkey, Slow Roasted Lamb Shank with Rosemary Jus, or Pan Seared Cod.

Christmas Roast Turkey

Served with bacon wrapped sage and onion stuffing, roasted potatoes, buttered brussels sprouts and carrots with cranberry and apple sauce

As the must have during Christmas, turkey meat itself tend to be tougher and dryer so it was understandable when the same situation appeared on the plate. Cranberry and apple sauce complemented the meat very well with their fruity flavors. I got distracted with the varieties of assorted vegetables done in different ways but particularly fond of crisp fried sage and buttered Brussels sprout.

Slow Roasted Lamb Shank with Rosemary Jus

with parmesan polenta and grilled baby vegetables

Immerse in juicy and tender lamb meat as a result of slow cook process while not overwhelmed by its gamey nature beneath the rosemary jus. Good tweak in serving parmesan polenta as the base instead of the usual mashed potato, giving out extra grainy texture from polenta the boiled cornmeal. The best main dish I had that night.

Pan Seared Cod

served with potato and leek mash, wild mushrooms, cured cherry tomato and olive tart with saffron nage

Outer layer made firm from pan seared process with soft and moist inner, paired with simple sauce in putting freshness to the forefront.

Chestnut Mille Feuille

Served with orange-flavored Christmas pudding and cinnamon ice cream, the night would not be complete without such pretty dessert.

Christmas Petit Four

Lastly choose from the options of coffee or tea.

Priced at RM158++ per adult, celebrate this Christmas by indulging in this 4-course private and exquisite fine dining meal with limited seats overlooking amazing view of Kuala Lumpur. Click here to book the dinner through TableApp, a 24 hours online reservation platform for Klang Valley restaurants through web and mobile.

*Note: Wine pairing is not included in the menu.

Samplings on The Fourteenth

14th Floor, East Tower,

Berjaya Times Square,

1, Jalan Imbi,

55100 Kuala Lumpur.

+603 2117 8131

I recall watching a stage show at Genting when I was young but the memory was vague. So vague that I couldn’t remember any of the single details but for this little girl that sat in between her parents, it was indeed a magical night.

Little did this girl know that she would be watching the stage show again, and this time, under invitation from Genting itself. It was a reminiscence of those magical moments.

As a warm up, the show started with contemporary dance routines from 14 international free stylists accompanied by some hip musics. Then this lady came into stage and was gracefully dancing alone in her tutu until the companion came and started to turn things upside down. The result? a comedic ballet like no other.

Two guys were randomly picked from the row of bloggers, given full tutu, and dance their first ballet, it was hard not to burst out laughing by their hilarious moves.

The Upside Down Ceiling Walker

It was unbelievable how Kar Leclrc and his partner stayed upside-down on 30 feet above the ground, with no wires attached. I am amazed not only by their ability to walk, dance, even to play badminton in the air, but how the basketball they bounced would "fall" to the ceiling instead of our very own ground? I bet they managed to confuse Newton and his apple if he were to see this show.

During our short interview after the show, we try our very best to dig the secret out of their mouths. Well, it was a failed attempt. This too, as some of the other secrets, is better not to be revealed and the performance serves best as imagination for our younger generation.

It wasn't easy at all hanging upside down for few minutes as the blood tends to rush up the brain, leaving both legs numb and thus the possibility of falling. Though with such risk, awards at the International festivals of Monte Carlo, China and Moscow attested their efforts and made it worthwhile.

The Gazillion Bubble Show

Touted as “unbubblievable”, Jano has blown my mind away with his foam manipulation: stacking of bubbles, addition of mist, and even blowing bubble out from within another bubble were simply astonishing.

For your record, he has been travelled around the world for the past 20 years alongside his brother Fan Yang, the world renowned bubble scientist, artist, and performer where they have performed for numerous prestigious corporate functions, and even made a special appearance for presidential events in Paris, France. He himself was nominated for Best Artist for the popular TV Show “Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde” in Paris, France. Here and now, Jano is performing solo at Genting International Showroom.

The Rola Rola Man

Portuguese performer Dany Daniel has got my adrenaline pumping in his attempt to hit remarkable heights by having more and more Rola from his pretty assistant Edina while he himself is swaying sideway seeking balance. Their gravity defying talents have mesmerized more than 20 million viewers worldwide, and even gained recognition from England’s Queen Elizabeth II during the recent 89^th Royal Variety showcase. If you have not noticed, they are the same performers in comedic ballet earlier on.

Water Bowl Act

For the last performance for the night, watch Mongolian Anudari and Khaliun, better known as the Deo Aqua Mermaids as they descend gracefully in aerial hoops then splashed into the transparent giant bowl.

A beautiful combination of Mongolian Contortionism and aquatic agility.

Featuring 5 dazzling acts in 1, Resorts World Genting's returning resident show Fantastica! 2 will play at Genting International Showroom at 9pm daily, starting from 2nd November 2013.

The tickets are now on sale at RM115 (VIP), RM85 (PS1), and RM55 (PS2) for adults while tickets for children are prices at RM60 (VIP), RM45 (PS1), and RM30 (PS2). For reservation or enquiries, please call 03-2718 1118 or log on to www.rwgenting.com .

Christmas is coming in less than one week and if you're still looking for a restaurant to have that very special Christmas dinner without burning a hole in the wallet, you might have come to the right place.

Expect a 4-course American style Christmas menu at Chicago Rib House, famous for its pork ribs and indeed wonderful music to the ears of pork lover.

For the welcome drink, choose either Peach Bellini, Christmas Berry Delight or Mint Lemonade.

Peach Bellini (Alcoholic)

Fresh peach blended with peach juice and sparkling wine

Arrived elegantly in a Martini glass, it offers the best of fruitiness with a tinge of alcoholic taste.

(left) Christmas Berry Delight (Non-Alcoholic)

Refreshing berry fizz

(right) Mint Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)

Cool light minty flavoured lemonade

Christmas Berry Delight was insipid and definitely in need of some extra flavors while an all-time mint supporter like me had slight doubt not on the generous mint but overpowering of sugary taste.

Crab and Cod Crostini

Savoury sweet seafood with creamy avocado grilled with parmesan cheese on top of crispy olive oil toasted baguette

A very well-played appetizer by manipulating different textures: Crispy toasted baguette, creamy fresh avocado and soft seafood spread.

Pomegranate Salad

Fresh salad leaves and yellow zucchini toss with tangy sweet pomegranate dressing, accompanied with feta cheese and honey roasted pecan nuts

I personally like the addition of pecan nuts into the sea of fresh leaves, resulting in crunchier bites and after taste from its honey roasted skin. Pomegranate played an important role in bringing the sweet dressing and bursting juiciness from its seeds.

For the Main Course, choose from Roasted Pork Belly Roulade, Roasted Whole Turkey Leg or Dry Rubbed Coffee Ribs.

Roasted Pork Belly Roulade

Roasted pork belly rolled with sage infused apples, olives and chestnuts

Served with garden variety roasted vegetables and potato tartin, accompanied with tangy sweet apple compote and red wine reduction

Not your ordinary Chinese style slow-cooked pork belly of wobbling fat but made firmer with just the right amount of fat for tenderness and moisture. Expect another 2 more slices of goodness than this sampling plate.

Roasted Whole Turkey Leg

Marinated turkey leg, slow cooked and roasted with thyme

Served with garden variety roasted vegetables and creamy mash potato, accompanied with cranberry jelly and classic brown sauce

If you have not met a Turkey leg, imagine the size of a lamb shank. So huge in portion I thought it only exists in the world of Flintstone along with his yabba dabba doo. You might want to eat like a barbarian too, as knife and fork barely managed to cut through the tough meat. Anyway, this was just a sampling session where we have elevated our feedback to their management and hopefully you will be served with a more tender turkey leg.

Dry Rubbed Coffee Ribs

Oven baked dry rub spiced baby back ribs with chargrilled glazed coffee sauce, served with garden variety roasted vegetables and potato tartin

And here comes my favorite dish of the night: Smell the coffee for its alluring aroma but taste none of the bitterness, paired with fall-off-the-bone tenderness from baby back ribs. They might not be the originator of pork + coffee combination but this is a dish very well-executed using their own Arabica coffee sauce which god knows how many hours have they spent in the kitchen perfecting the recipe.

Pumpkin Tart

Roasted sweet pumpkin filling in tart pastry served with strawberry coulis topped with whipped cream

A meal wouldn’t be complete without dessert, and here at Chicago Rib House we were served with their very own pumpkin tart. Crisp tart pastry went well with the creamy soft texture of pumpkin filling, a perfect ending for the night.

Enjoy this 4-course Christmas set menu for RM79.90++ from 20^thDecember to 1^st January 2013 at their Gurney Plaza, 1 Utama and Cheras Leisure Mall outlets. They also offer whole Turkey Takeaway for RM288 nett should you like to have it in the comfort of your own home.

GP170-G-43, Gurney Plaza,

Persiaran Gurney, 10250, Penang.

Tel: 04-2290 763

Lot F346, First Floor,

1 Utama Shopping Centre,

1 Persiaran Bandar Utama,

47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 03-7727 3210

L2-52, Level 2, Cheras Leisure Mall,

Jalan Manis 6, Taman Segar,

Cheras, 56100, Cheras.

Tel: 03-9134 6120

All outlets operate from 11am-11pm

Also, check out Chicago Rib House website for more information.

Last but not least, thank you Joann and Jenny from Foodcult for the food tasting session.

Agnes and I had an early Christmas party celebration this year with HungryGoWhere(HGW) Malaysia where we all enjoyed the evening not only under the company of bloggers but HGW users as well.

Despite our first visit to Nagaba, its strategic location at Jalan Mesui occupying the corner lot made our searching job a lot easier. Upon entering we were greeted by cheerful HGW crew and I couldn’t leave my sight off their feature wall filled with various sizes of circular items: clocks, world map, old-fashioned fan guard, bike rim…

As we always shoot using only the ambient light, we had to be picky on our seats (#foodphotography101). Little did we know that a guy and his girlfriend would be sitting opposite us in the next 10 minutes, being asked the customary ice-breaking question of “what do you work as?” and the next thing we know? 4 of us are from the same university, 3 of us from the same batch and same faculty, and 2 of us from the same major. What a small world!

No matter how hungry we are, Agnes makes sure she has got her food styling job done (especially during buffet session) while my camera always “eats” first before me. Anyway we resumed back to casual mode of picking up whatever we feel like eating on the second round and that’s the beauty of buffet.

For the starter we had Crème of Potato. Piping hot potato soup of creamy yet not cloying with bites of bread croutons set a great start.

They can’t go wrong pairing lollo rosso, frisee, arugula(aka rocket salad) with aceto balsamico (vinegar), but made better given its freshness.

No complain for Grilled Sea Bass & Turmeric and you’re hearing it from someone who loves to eat fish.

Aglio Olio with Wild Mushroom has got Agnes’ attention for it was well-seasoned and not mushy given its long exposure in serving tray. Grilled Chicken Thigh & Thyme on the other hand was succulent with a tad of sour and spicy taste. These two went well together.

Here comes my favorite of the night: Chocolate Mousse with Passionfruit. A seemingly effortless dessert by adding passionfruit to chocolate mousse and the magic works itself. Passionfruit of citrusy and sweet eases the filling of chocolate mousse while leaving flesh covered seeds for some bites.

Thanks to The Good Batch for their wonderful job in catering and I’ll make sure to pay them a visit soon enough. (Address: 53, Jalan SS 21/1A, Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya.)

Nagaba (Facebook)

31, Jalan Mesui, Off Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Mon - Sun, 3pm - 3am

Thank you HungryGoWhere Malaysia for the wonderful evening and Merry Christmas to all!

I’ve seen many cafés from EatDrinkKL but this has particularly caught my attention with its various designer chairs. A cafe I knew Jason the enthusiast would love to go.

We had no problem searching for Exhibit Café which is located on 1^st floor as a free standing signs has pointed its way. Upon entering, we met See Hin, a Malaysian guy and Rie, a Japanese lady where they operate this café together as husband and wife.

Simple interior of wide horizontal glass window overlooking Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi with plain white walls as if to enlarge upon the uniqueness of each and every chair.

At one side of the café lies a cd player and its speaker along with mini easel showing album of playing songs. It was Jazz, the right genre for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Chemex Coffeemaker, products for The Chemists Kitchen was the apparatus that resemble science flask with its filter papers. It very much reminded me of those chemistry experiments I once did. I watched quietly as the boiled water flowed from red kettle to Chemex Classic Series Glass Coffeemaker of cute wood collar and leather tie while See Hin the owner kept an eye on the water level and timer.

Lion Hand-Brewed Coffee (Hot)RM15

Jason chose Lion Coffee for being Coffee of The Month that came with a complimentary Pain Aux Raisin (or Raisin Roll Bread). Having rich Vanilla flavor with subtle macadamia nut notes, it is one of the best sellers in Lion Coffee.

Silly me for asking about coffee art at Exhibit Café as they serve only black coffee for better appreciation on the drink itself, rather than presentation.

Chicken Thigh Sauté with Homemade Fresh Tomato SauceRM25

served with artisan baguette from France & salad

I craved for a savory meal though we had lunch on that day hence the only main dish. Relatively simple as it may be, this is a well-executed dish; Succulent meat beneath crispy chicken skin as a result from sauté method, to go with homemade sauce of garlic and tomato chunks, accompanied with lollo rosso the salad and artisan baguette where it was half-baked in France followed by another round of baking here.

The café name itself was self-explanatory; to feel like an exhibition in the midst of mid-century designer chairs from somewhere between 1933 and 1965.

Some may feel unease for the fear of breaking these pieces that are open for sale (which range from few hundreds to about an average one month salary of a white-collar) but for us, it was the joy of feeling each contour and every material. According to Jason it was still a steal if compared to the original price and See Hin’s explanation of these great designers’ copyright transfer to furniture company for mass production which in return made these pieces affordable has convinced us of the authenticity.

Eames Lounge and Ottoman, designed by Charles and Ray Eames

“The primary characteristic of mid - century modern furniture is its clean lines. Crisp, sweeping lines and sharp, geometric shapes are part of nearly every mid-century modern piece.” ~ Your Guide toBuying Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Maruyama Coffee RM15

Another round of coffee for Jason where he had this dark roast blend that came with Valrhona milk chocolate.

TWG Silver MoonRM10/pot (serves about 2 cup size)

A blend of green teas accented with grand berry and vanilla bouquet

Cheese CakeRM10

Combining half-baked and baked cheese on top of graham cracker crust, this was a piece of creamy smooth goodness yet not over filling.

Special thanks to Rie san in suggesting a few cafes (even printed a subway map) for our Japan trip.
心から感謝します。

Unfortunately, some unpleasant incidents have taken place and such the rule of no photography has applied which I tend to appreciate this last batch of photos (as watermarked).

Exhibit Cafe TTDI

86A, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-7731 3311

Opens 11am-9pm, except Wednesdays
Facebook

As Malaysia’s first design and lifestyle online marketplace, DSYR (Design Styles Year Round) features creative and unique products that range from home décor, lifestyle, fashion accessories, art & crafts and much more. Just 2 weeks ago they had their first offline event, Design Market Place at The Bee, Publika with the aim of introducing real life DSYR experience to the public.

Launched in March 2013, they have over 25,000 members to date and is growing at 6,000 members a month. DSYR’s mission? To create the simplest, most streamlined online experience for Malaysians in discovering great design.

One of the highlights during the event was definitely the bidding war aka auction. Instead of real cash, we used auction points we earned from questionnaires on DSYR’s merchants. We did a little trick by combining all our points for the grand prize: The Flux Chair. Weight at 5kg, this giant envelope can later be transformed into a designer chair that can supports up to 160kg. Likewise, one can go mobile with it too.

I’m so glad to see Nelissa again where she gave a short speech on her vision of 3D shoes printing in collaboration with Makespace, showcasing her design created using Maya software. We saw with our own eyes how Makespace’s state-of-the-art MakerBot Replicator 2 creates anything from scratch to 3D and I can’t wait for the real piece from Nelissa’s collection.

I always believe that by inserting some design elements in our daily products, it could transform our mood to a better one. So how about searching for that piece in putting a smile on your face?

"Delighting you with design"~DSYR.com

Follow DSYR at their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account too.

Last but not least, thank you Agnes and Amira for the invitation.

I have been thinking, about my first post of 2014.

It seems to denote a great significance as beginning to all my future posts for this year. Neither food reviews nor travelogues would be as meaningful as a reminder for our health.

No one would ever think to be diagnosed with chronic disease let alone the word “Cancer”. It is formed when certain genes that are supposed to regenerate cells grow abnormally into a lump. Benign and malignant are 2 classifications of cancer that the former generally not cancerous while the latter may become invasive and fatal. It doesn’t give warning nor can any possible preventive measures be done as the cause is not definite.

Figures of diagnosed cases might already be terrifying to some people but what feared most is when the horrible disease got into someone I knew. I have relatives that died fighting while some survive with financial distress from all the treatments and subsequent appointments with doctor. No one can help with their great mental suffer, but what if there is a way to ease their finance a little?

AXA AFFIN is working in collaboration with National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) to support cancer patients that are currently undergoing chemotherapy. Basically, a post from us bloggers that links to 110CancerCare website will get a cancer patient one-day funding for their daycare usage at NCSM Treatment Centre.

I treat this as my first community service of the year and if you would like to join our force, kindly contact Richard at richard.moh@lionandlion.com

Paradise Dynasty has just opened a second outlet at Bangsar Village II last month, in addition to its first outlet at Paradigm Mall.

Simple interior in shades of beige, brown and gray.

On left side of main entrance lies a glass restaurant kitchen showcasing the making process of their signature 8 flavored Xiao Long Bao. A rather popular spot for mother-toddler as I've seen 3 pairs in mere 5 minutes, all gazing upon rather skilled wrapping techniques by these chefs.

Originated from Jiang Nan region of China, especially Shanghai and Wuxi, Xiao Long Bao (小笼包, also often known as soup dumplings) is widely considered a fine piece of Chinese culinary art.

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao 皇朝小笼包 (8 flavours) RM25.80
original (translucent white), foie gras (orange), black truffle (black), crab roe (light orange), cheese (yellow), ginseng (green), minced garlic (grey), Szechuan (pink)

Beneath the nicely pleated translucent yet resilient dumpling skin lies an aromatic pork filling along with a mouthful of hot savory broth; made possible by including solid gelatinized pork stock that melts when heated. As each flavor is a statement piece by its own, you need not the menu in identifying them.

Szechuan Hot and Sour Soup 四川麻辣汤 RM10.90
Sour came first into my palate then followed by bursting Szechuan spicy flavor. Thick, smooth and appetizing.

Paradise Fortune Pot 樂天聚宝盆菜
(Regular 4-6 pax RM388++) (Large 8-10 pax RM688++) Available for takeaway
When the fortune pot aka poon choi was served, the waiter wished all of us 盆满钵满 in cantonese, which is to have our wallets as full as this pot of poon choi, signifying a prosperous year ahead.

Wonders in a single pot of 16 different ingredients staking in layers: abalone, goose feet, fish maw, sea cucumber, fresh scallop, crystal prawn, Chinese dried oyster, chicken, pork belly, mushroom, broccoli florets and more. Claypot did a good job in retaining the heat, considering the possibility of their unique thick abalone broth may go awry in constant heating. Nothing too tender to be found melt in the mouth for fear that they went soggy and malformed, especially when they were stirred. Overall, I enjoyed the dish as these different ingredients complemented each other very well.

Scrambled Egg White with Fish and Dried Scallop 瑶柱芙蓉赛螃蟹 RM20.90
Legend has it that when Empress Dowager Cixi demanded for crabs during off season, one of the imperial chef came up with this dish of imitating crab meat using egg white and scallops. An interesting dish that almost indistinguishable from real crab meat in terms of taste, if not the distinctive texture.

Crystal Prawn with Salted Egg (limited time CNY dish)
A dish that came in great aroma of salted egg and good to be consumed with shells.

Deep-fried Diced Chicken in Szechuan Style 四川辣子鸡丁 RM20.90
Crispy outer with succulent meat awaits inside.

Szechuan peppercorns

Paradise Dynasty 樂天皇朝
Lot 2F-17, Level 2, Bangsar Village II
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
03-2201 7022

This food tasting session was organised by HungryGoWhere Malaysia– Discover, Eat, Share today!

1Shamelin, a mall that is relatively near to my house and we're looking at 10 minutes walking distance the max. Though I can be considered as a regular to this mall, I didn't really explore this place except TGV cinemas (thanks to Citibank credit card promotion), and also the superb Kanitama Chahan at Mikaku Ramen.

However, things are going to be different around here, with sparks of creativity. Over 100 student designers (design, graphic, arts) painted their intrinsically unique designs on store shutters. And yes, it is the 1st legal street art challenge in Malaysia.

The theme was based on 3 major Asian cities namely KL City, Tokyo City and Seoul City where student designers were encouraged to draw on the shutters in lieu of the usual canvas.

The challenge lies not only on the creativity, but required skill to paint over metal shutters surface, understanding Dulux paint in terms of absorption, drying time and viscosity.

There was also a KL Street Art Festival Flea market going on for that weekend featuring stalls on collectibles in coins, notes, stamps, and some of nostalgic memories. The owners were more than happy to share with me stories behind their collectibles while educating me at the same time.

Another corner filled with stalls of hand made crafts.

If you ever drop by 1Shamelin Shopping Mall, do spare a few minutes exploring their Lower Ground floor, where all the shutter paintings are (permanently).

1Shamelin Shopping Mall
No.100, Jalan 4/91, Taman Shamelin Perkasa,
56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mon-Sun 10am-10pm
Facebook

Having heard and seen so many reviews of Maison Française, otherwise known as the French House, I was more than delighted when Umei invited me for brunch.

Maison Francaise

The beautifully refurbished white colored bungalow was rather eye-catching with limited premises lies on the same road, hence finding the location was never a challenge.

Maison Francaise

We were then guided to the main dining area, of black-and-white interior against parquet flooring; simple with a touch of chic.

As we were going for their Sunday Brunch menu, we saved the hassle of deciding our order which is the toughest part.

Complimentary breads (baguette, white toast and brioche) served along with condiments (blueberry jam, strawberry jam, butter and honey). Though came famished, Jason and I eager to try out the different bread-jam combination. I particularly fond of warm brioche against soft and chilled butter.

For the first round of serving we had Potato and Leek Soup, Mixed Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Scrambled Egg with Smoked Salmon.

Maison Francaise

Potato and Leek Soup
A heart warming soup of rich texture.

Mixed Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Of lollo rosso, lettuce, diced tomato and pecan nuts; refreshing with a tad of savory.

Scrambled Egg with Smoked Salmon
As a spoonful of this entered my palate I tasted moist scrambled egg of slight grainy texture, along with smoked salmon so smooth that it practically slipped down my throat.

For the second round of serving we were spoilt with Steamed Mussel Mariniere with Onion and White Wine, Chicken Stew with Black Peppercorn Sauce, Green Bean and Roasted Potato, Seared Tilapia Fillet with Tomato Sauce.

Steamed Mussel Mariniere with Onion and White Wine
Soft and tender are two adjectives I never thought applicable to mussels but they have proven me wrong. White wine did a great job in putting mussel freshness to forefront, without the unpleasant fishy taste of course.

Chicken Stew with Black Peppercorn Sauce
Black peppercorn elevated the taste of chicken meat without overpowering, wonderfully topped with generous amount of oyster mushrooms.

Green Bean and Roasted Potato
These two well-executed dishes surprised us on how attentive the chef can be. For the former, beans were removed in the case of matured green beans, paired well with caramelized onion and garlic; For the latter, roasted potato formed skin alike crispy layer with soft inner, sprinkled with herb and coarse salt.

Maison Francaise

Seared Tilapia Fillet with Tomato Sauce
Searing has locked in the juiciness of meat that went well with appetizing tomato sauce.

Cheese Platter
Presentation of cheese (Reblochon, Camembert, Rocquefort), fig puree, along with pecan nuts and raisin on a black slate was an art of its own. A platter that calls for real cheese lover.

Maison Francaise

Dessert Platter
Mini Savarin with Chantilly Cream;
Madeleine with Hazelnut;
Cannelle from Bordeaux;
Ice Cream (Vanilla Ice Cream & Raspberry Sorbet)

By the time we reached the dessert platter, you can already imagine us rubbing our bulging tummy like having a "food baby". A little sweet things ended our meal perfectly.

Maison Française Sunday Brunch is priced at
RM188+ per pax (Alcoholic)
free flow of Red Wine (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon) & White Wine (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) along with one glass of Champagne (Taittinger)
RM148+ per pax (Non-alcoholic)
free flow of Soft drinks / Chilled juices

For those who are looking for romantic place to dine on Valentine Day, check out Maison Française Menu De L'Amour:

Maison Française

5 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

03-2144 1474, 019-243 1200

Monday to Sunday: 11.00am - 11.30pm (last order)

High Tea only on Saturday & Sunday 2pm -5pm

GPS Coordinate: 3.151256, 101.715215

Website: http://www.maisonfrancaise.com.my/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maisonfrancaisekl

Staycation is probably my next favorite word next to travel. The idea of doing nothing for the weekend but to relax in an exquisite lodging always managed to intrigue me. Just few months ago Agnes and I checked in at Villa Samadhi, a hidden retreat located so near to KL city vicinity I felt like going to work as they share almost the same path. All made possible on discounted deal.

Surrounded by embassies and condominiums, this is a place so well concealed yet it never intended to put up a sign of its own name. It took me a few wild guesses though Agnes has already hinting me the location, and seeing as many photos of the premises didn’t help, not even a single bit.

Once the wooden sliding gate has opened, I saw lush greenery amid tall trees on my right while a lady in beige top and patterned sarong of similar tone standing on the left greeted me with a smile. I have not been to Bali yet, but I have a feeling that it is as welcoming, tranquil and deserving.

She then led me to The Crib, the most basic room out of 21 total unique rooms where Agnes was waiting. I expected nothing more than a basic room though seeing photos of other luxe rooms fascinate me a bit. But the room that lies in front of my eyes was unbelievably huge I can dance in the middle of it. Equipped with a study table, a wooden chair, King-size bed on elevated platform (of orange-colored embedded LED strap lights), a built-in day bed, a TV, this room is by far the biggest I have ever stayed.

Perhaps it was my Chinese background that led me to this thought but multiple red jars that acted as divider between the room and bathroom actually reminded me of funerary urns. A not so pleasant thought I did not share with Agnes.

Despite how beautifully lit the texture black slate wall may be along options of rain shower or handheld shower head; I could not bath with troubled mind. The glass is transparent after all, and those red jars didn’t cover much of my naked body. As the room designed for couples, I assume the situation would be better or even seducing if Agnes and I were lovers, but that’s just another odd thing to begin with. The same goes to this half-covered toilet seat from waist below with light shining from the ceiling as if the defecation/urination process worth highlighting like an art piece.

Put that aside, I enjoyed the his & hers sinks because we get to occupy one side of the countertop. No fight involved for toiletries space.

After a tour around the room, my growling stomach reminded me of how famished I’m supposed to be, skipping breakfast earlier that day. Their snacks definitely saved me, especially that jar of butter cookies. I keep munching and wanted to try all of their snacks until I realized the fact that not all came complimentary. TWG tea sachets, however, were all ours.

I read somewhere that some light refreshments are supposed to appear magically in our room but since we stayed there for the whole afternoon, we were interrupted twice: for kuih talam and white chocolate with Villa Samadhi wordings printed on it. They were of pleasant surprises though I would not say the same in the case of couples having their intimate moments.

Still, having as much snacks could not stop us from getting a proper meal. Hence a phone call has made to order some pizzas while we enjoyed more time in our room. I appreciate their service that has leaded the delivery guy to our room instead of us collecting from the guard house. We then grabbed our pizzas using bare hands, watching TV while sitting casually on the floor; just like the things we would do at home.

As we’ve decided to explore Villa Samadhi again during night, I couldn’t help but to feel rather paranoid on the level of room security here. Expect nothing else but wooden latch and a padlock. Ah well, I guess the Prada lady next door would not sneak in for Agnes’ Miu Miu.

After a stroll under the moonlight, we headed back to the room, just to enjoy more of our time there. Funny how the TV seemed extremely small and pretty dishes of MasterChef looked tiny from our bed, across the empty space between. I ended the night by applying a sheet mask (at least nothing too terrifying) then to fall asleep beneath the fluffy comforter.

I woke up naturally the next morning, which I consider it to be the simplest form of blessing. Neither do I have to rush for work nor anything particularly urgent to be done on that day. It is a staycation, after all.

Subsequently we went to Villa Samadhi’s in-house restaurant, Mandi-Mandi for breakfast which was inclusive in the room rate. Cheese, fruit, and bread were arranged nicely on one side of the restaurant in case any of the guests would like to have more. We were then asked to order one main and one drink each as shown in the photos. Pretty as they might be, there was lack of taste somewhere.

All in all, Villa Samadhi architectural design and friendly staffs did give me the impression of Bali within KL itself, not to mention the exclusivity of 21 rooms. However, given its close proximity to the city, sounds of speeding cars were inevitable, along with the risk of exposing to residents from high up condominiums.

Villa Samadhi

No. 8, Jalan Madge,

55000 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

+603 2143 2300

Website

Chinese New Year (CNY), an important traditional holiday celebrated at the turn of Chinese calendar. Though our celebration here at Malaysia differs from China, we do share some common practices by wearing new clothes (preferably red), giving ang pow, and most of all, we would gather together on the last day of Lunar calendar before CNY, of what we called Reunion Dinner.

It is also one of those rare chances to meet distant relatives (other than wedding dinner) and we somehow mentally prepared to be bombarded with life progress questions like if I've graduated, got married, or even bear a kid. We are, after all, trained over the years to handle these situations. Nevertheless, as an unmarried individual, I still enjoy my share of Ang Pow, the red packets that loaded with money.

Following the turn of Chinese calendar, it is also believed that our fortune for that year change according to our zodiac. One bold way to test our luck is by putting some money on the table, along with some deck cards. At the end of the day, those money circulate within close family members and friends with no offence taken.

For Malaysian Chinese, CNY celebration is never complete without Lou Sang. Also known as Prosperity Toss, it consists of strips of raw fish (mostly salmon), shredded vegetables, sauces and condiments, to be tossed up high using chopsticks while diners utter auspicious wishes.

At the end of this long-winded post, I wish you all a prosperous year ahead and Happy Chinese New Year!

*Photos taken at The Gardens with Agnes, of fuschia, teal and retro themed.

Next Thai Destination: Hat Yai

Hat Yai McDonald's & Street Food

Lee Garden Plaza Hotel Sky Buffet for 169 Baht!

Taste Enclave @Avenue K

Limablas @Jalan Mesui

Next Food Avenue @Ipoh Parade

Stars on Strings @Genting International Showroom

Hat Yai: Asean Trade Market & Kim Yong Market

Christmas Eve Dinner by Samplings on the Fourteenth @Berjaya Times Square Hotel KL

Fantastica! 2 @Resorts World Genting

Christmas Menu @Chicago Rib House

Christmas Party with HungryGoWhere Malaysia 2013 @Nagaba

Exhibit Cafe @TTDI

DSYR's Design Market Place

Lending a Helping Hand to Cancer Patients

Poon Choi @Paradise Dynasty 樂天皇朝, Bangsar Village II

KL Street Art Festival 2013 @1Shamelin Shopping Mall

Sunday Brunch @Maison Française

Staycation @Villa Samadhi

Chinese New Year - of Food, Ang Pow and Gatherings