Category: Going Places

My travelogue.

Kota Kinabalu 1-4 March 2015 (Part 1)

March 8, 2015March 9, 2015 sweet surrender 2 Comments

One week ago, flew to Sabah, Land Below the Wind. Bought the flight ticket on impulse last year in October. Then about one month before the flight, bought another two tickets for my parents. It’s just too cheap to resist. I didn’t do much research on this trip. Just looked for places to go and look for tour guide. Way too lazy to do research *LOL* Good thing I have friend who recommended a tour guide for us and I booked him for 2-day tour. If you need a tour guide in KK, pop me a message and I can introduce them to you. Managed to get in touch with a few when I was there.

We took the first flight out. Had to go to the airport at 3.30am. Once we reached there, we went to Kuo Man Restaurant (Lot 5, Jalan Tuaran, Batu 1 1/2, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah). Fish for breakfast! A restaurant with at least 30 years of experience.

Right: fish paste dry noodle.

Left: Fish meat soup with noodle.
Right: Fish paste soup with noodle.

Right: Prawn soup with noodle.

All these cost us RM40+ including drinks. I heard the noodle is home made. I have no idea of this place. I did not research on any place to eat in KK *LOL* Good thing dad’s friend picked us up and bring us here. The food was nice, could taste the freshness of the fish and prawn.

After breakfast, we went to visit Sabah Theological College (didn’t take any photo). The view that greeted us along the way. Magnificent mountain view!

After a brief visit, to Signal Hill we went. Took some photos and left to join a church service at Christ Church Likas.

Around noon, finally we check-in to our accommodation, Promenade Service Apartment (Api Api Showhouse, Jalan Coastal Off Jalan Centre Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88000). Wasn’t sure where it was apparently it’s behind Promenade Hotel and Marina Court Resort. Just next door to Hong Leong Bank. The place is kind of run down.

The place needs major makeover and maintenance even though the photo I took looks all right. However, the location is very strategic. Do not expect that the apartment is only in one block or can access directly via lift from the lobby, it’s not. There’s many blocks, it’s scattered. For our unit, we had to walk a distant to our block. You’ll be sharing the entrance, corridor, walkway with tenants there but not to worry as there’s security guard stationed at each of the entrance. It was quite cheap, cost us less than RM400 for 3 nights, can sleep 4 adults, spacious enough to add extra beds. It was good enough for us even though was a bit disappointed with what we got. Well… What you pay is what you get, don’t expect too much.

After rest for a bit, my friend called me up saying that she’s going to Tanjung Aru and asked me whether I would like to go with them. Of course I agreed in an instance. I didn’t have to crack my head on where to go anymore. I was trying to figure out how to go to 1Borneo that time and the call came in time. Phew…

Since we had not had lunch, we had ours at the food court there. Full! I didn’t take any food photo ;p We had satay, corn, guava, keropok lekor, and coconut juice. Only the keropok lekor was good. All the rest was rather disappointing. You can “fool” the foreigners but you us, the Malaysians. *LOL* Even my friend, a Sabahan, agreed that the food was below standard.

We decided to pay a visit to Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru. Pretty! Wish someone is here with me… Enjoyed the sea breeze and the view. Really nice place. If I have the budget I would stay here, only in my dream hahaha…

Back to the city after that. Tried figuring out how to go to 1Borneo but found out the free shuttle bus has ceased service since last year. Forget it then… We just walked around the area not sure where to go ;p Tried to find places from my phone but hopeless haha… No sense of direction at all. We went back to our accommodation for a rest while figure out where to go for dinner.

So we ended up at Little Italy (Ground Floor, Hotel Capital, Jalan Haji Saman, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.) by taking a taxi which cost us RM12. Can walk but cannot walk anymore. What’s more, no sense of direction. Didn’t want to think anymore, taxi it is. Everyone asked me to try this place out so here I was.

Left: Ordered salad, Insalata di Rucola (RM20) which consists of lettuce, rucola leaves, cherry tomatoes and Parmesan cheese with balsmic vinegar dressing. Very sour but refreshing.

Right: Ordered pizza of course. Proscuitto E Funghi (large, RM29.90), basic pizza topped with sliced mushrooms and turkey ham. Nice aroma! We should have order the regular one instead of large. Took us quite a fair bit of effort to finish it up. It’s topped with loads of ingredients, very tasty. However, the more I ate, the saltier it got, that’s why it was hard to finish at the end.

Very filling meal. Cost us RM70.55 inclusive of one drink, service charge, and government tax. Verdict? It’s Ok. Environment not bad, food above average. Didn’t get to try other food so can’t really comment much.

Since it’s RM12 to come over, there’s no way for us to call it a night just like that. We walked to Suria Sabah Shopping Mall for window shopping. Then, we took a taxi back which cost us RM15. Basically, if you are to take taxi to Gaya Street area, it’s between RM12-RM15. If you are to walk from where we’re living, Jalan Api-Api, it’ll take about 30 minutes provided if you don’t lost your way hahaha…

That’s the end of day one. Tired… Woke up so early and ended the night at 10pm. Island hoping the next day.

Food Porn, Going Places, Land Below the Wind - Kota Kinabalu

The Haunted Hotel â€“ Victim’s Perspective

February 26, 2015 sweet surrender 7 Comments

After so long, I’m finally in the mood to continue with the last part of the story. WOW! It happened way back in November 2013!

Ok… So now, I’ll tell you about those who were “selected”. Three of our travel mates, 3 young chaps were the “lucky” ones.

All three had scratches on their back and chest.

One was very hyper, kept performed Muay Thai (yet he didn’t know anything about martial art) when we met at the lobby to go for dinner. We didn’t suspect anything as we thought he was fooling around. Before that in their room, he kept saying that he wanted to open the window, he saw children fighting outside and he wanted to join. Friends had to pulled him back to avoid him from opening the window.

Then, he insisted to drove us to dinner. A the restaurant, he “woke up”, saying he’s tired and didn’t know where he’s at even though he’s the one who drove us!

After dinner, after we were given with new room, 4 of the travel mates, 3 who were the “selected” ones decided to stay in our earlier room. The one who muay thai earlier suddenly begging the 4th travel mate to get him out of the room or else he would die.

They then all went back to their original room. Things were normal again. They all chit chat in the room and the door opened on its own, saw the door knob turned on its own. Cold breeze came in with ghostly sound. Dogs were howling outside as well.

They immediately check-out of hotel at 3am and slept at friend’s house leaving 4 of us at the hotel oblivious of what happening to them. That morning, we were told to pack our things to check-out as we would be changing hotel. We didn’t know why, just glad that we finally can leave the place. None of us was willing to stay for one more night there.

After we changed to another hotel, they told us what happened. That afternoon, we went to the resident office for a function. While we were there, we asked the local reporters whether is there any bad things that happened to the earlier hotel we stayed. We found out that a muay thai fighter committed suicide there before! No wonder!

So that’s the end of the story.

Bintulu, Going Places, Land of the Hornbills - Sarawak

Penang 7-10 Jan 2015 (Part 4)

February 17, 2015February 17, 2015 sweet surrender No Comments

The last part is finally up! Busy busy busy… CNY is around the corner. Let’s finish up this post before welcoming the year of the goat. After seafood lunch, we headed back to the island.

First stop, Snake Temple. Icky! I don’t like snake… It’s so scary to go in there but managed to go in at the end. Luckily not that many snakes in there phew… Then again, still scary.

Dragon Pure Water Wells, only managed to locate one. Not sure where’s the other one.

The visit to the temple is a short one. Didn’t stay too long and closing time was around the corner too. Even if it wasn’t closing, I won’t want to stay long here hahaha…

We headed to Fort Cornwallis. I’ve been here. Back then it was just very basic. Now it’s so different. The entrance fee increased a lot too. We’re given with a bottle of water after we purchased the ticket. There’s free WiFi in there to use too! WOW!

This section used to be nothing much yet now… There’s projector in there introducing Penang and many buildings models in the glass displays. However, the prison out there, they were in very sad state, restorations were still underway. Hopefully it will be an informative section after the work is done.

We went to Queensbay Mall for dinner. Well… I’m not gonna tell you which this place. It’s a franchise restaurant serving Hong Kong food. It was so packed! My first time dining here. We decided to try this place out because we’ve been hearing about it a lot, so we’re curious.

Hmmm… Really cannot trust the menu’s pictures… Get what I meant? We were shocked to see how different the food when it’s served. Unbelievable! Borsch Soup, where’s the green and the red, nothing much in there but onions? The taste really didn’t pass my average standard… Oh dear…

Cheese Baked assorted mushroom, shocked with this too! *LOL* Not very bad while it’s hot, I love cheese! However, once it’s cold, it got a bit too hard to swallow.

Red Bean and Coconut Milky Lure, need me say more? So much difference. Understandable as that the red beans sank, so did the sago pearls. Too sweet for my liking. Actually I wanted to order something mango but mango was out of stock that day. Too bad…

These looked similar to the pictures in the menu, no big deal ;p Taste wise… Nothing to rave about, just edible.
Left: Sesame Snowflakes Ice.
Middle: French Toast.
Right: Seafood Spaghetti with Cream Sauce.

Was stuffed albeit not that delicious or I had too high expectation on this place. Won’t come back here again. There aare other better places to go.

That’s the end of my Penang trip! Phew… DONE!

Food Porn, Going Places, Penang, The West Side

Penang 7-10 Jan 2015 (Part 3)

February 8, 2015February 8, 2015 sweet surrender 2 Comments

Final second part of Penang trip. This is our last day in Penang. I’m splitting it into two posts.

First stop was Taman Rekreasi Kuari. Lots of monkeys around. Nothing much to see. If you are here for morning walk or hike, yes, you’ll find it interesting but not for us. Not even in proper gears for that.

We headed to Batu Ferringhi for the sea view and to hunt for lunch. We stopped at Hard Rock Hotel Penang for a visit and also toilet break ;p

My second time visiting a Hard Rock Hotel. First was in Singapore, 5 years ago. Didn’t take much photo. Just few snaps.

After that, we went for lunch. Most shops were not opened in the day, only at night. So we just drove to nearby commercial centre and we came across a roadside stall for quick lunch. Really have no idea of the location hahahaha…

Again… Tried out their Char kway teow. Hmm… At least it’s slightly cheaper here if not mistaken. Still, portion was tiny.

Ordered their duck and chicken rice which tasted as it should. Not to forget the teh tarik. This teh tarik wasn’t that sweet even though still sweet for me. If you are to compare it with the Indian stall, this one considered not so sweet. My first time had Indian teh tarik was back then I was in Penang years ago, it was way too sweet -.-”

We then took the new Penang Bridge to the mainland for another round of lunch. Seafood!

We went to Restoran Jety at Bukit Tambun (Jalan Bukit Tambun, 14100 Simpang Ampat, Penang).

Saefood overloaded! Price was cheap though, I don’t remember the price but for 5 adults, it’s considered cheap.

Left: Peanut on the table, it’s charged so just eat! Even if you don’t eat, you’ll be charged for it too.

Right: Lala, simply ordered this one and ended up it’s quite nice. Sweet, sour, and spicy.

Left: Oyster pancake, not my cup of tea. Well… Those from Kuching usually don’t like this type, our version is the crispy type. However, the oyster in there was generous portion.

Right: Nestum buttered prawn, not up to my expectations, kind of bland. The prawns were fresh, should have ask them to steam. It would taste even nicer.

Left: Vegetable soup. Felt like there’s a lot of MSG in there. However, the soup was packed with ingredients.

Right: Steamed fish, no idea what fish ;p also simply ordered and didn’t ask for price.

Overall, it was a good meal. Was stuffed! It was our late lunch, around 3pm if not mistaken.

After that, we headed back to the island. Next post will come.

CNY around the corner, haven’t start my annual baking. Thought wanna do it in the weekends but were occupied by going out shopping. Last time, I would do it on the weekdays but now with this job, where got such luxury?!?! Maybe will only be able to start on the last 3 days before CNY because I will be on leave, full swing baking!

Food Porn, Going Places, Penang, The West Side

Penang 7-10 Jan 2015 (Part 2)

January 31, 2015February 8, 2015 sweet surrender No Comments

WOW! It’s been more than 10 days since the last post. Now, last day of January. How time flies!? 1st month of 2015 is gone…

Day 2, we had no plan. We just looked at the map and simply pick some places.

First stop was Kek Lok Si. Came here before so nothing interest me except the bird. Isn’t it pretty?

We then went down to for Pasar Air Itam Laksa (Jalan Pasar Road, 11500 Air Itam). The place was packed! We ordered 3 type of drinks namely (left to right) sugarcane, what’s-this? LOL! I don’t remember!! , and nutmeg.

Left: Penang Assam Laksa, the main purpose we’re here. RM4 per bowl. The previous time I was here, I also had the laksa. It’s nice. I like it.

Right: Deep fried lo bak, popiah, and so on… Nothing special to say about this. Acceptable.

After lunch, we went back to Georgetown and since it was raining, we drove around and spotted some wire arts on the street which are one of the tourist attractions in Penang. Saw the famous drawings too but didn’t take any photo because was inside the car and not in time to get the camera ready also due to the rain water on the windscreen.

After we found a parking, we went to Penang 3D Trick Art Museum (10, Lebuh Penang
George Town, Malaysia). Just opened not long ago and there’s still more trick arts to come.

We had fun. Just sharing some photos with you. Go and experience it yourself next time you’re there. I forgot how much we paid for the entrance fee. If you’re Malaysian, you get cheaper entrance fee. Staff was friendly and helpful. They made sure you took photos at the right angle and posed the right way, and they also helped you to take photos to ensure that all of you are in the photos, no one is missing.

After having fun, we’re hungry so we went to Bee Hooi Kopitiam (415, Jalan Burma, 10350 Pulau Pinang), we just went without doing any research, drove around, saw it and in we went.

Left: Since there is no way to go to Balik Pulau for har mee because I’m not sure how to go there, no proper address too, so we just ordered one here. Still prefer the one at Balik Pulau.

Right: Hokkien Mee aka Dai Lok Mien (RM5 if not mistaken). It was OK. Can’t comment much as this is my first time eating this in Penang. Last time, I always had this in Adelaide.

Left: Hokkine Char (RM5 if not mistaken). Again… Can’t comment much, first time eating here too. Don’t quite like the taste based on personal preference. Just not my taste.

Right: Char kway teow again… Still not a fan of it, still small in portion, still expensive ;p

I have no idea how much all the food cost. I wasn’t paying attention and was distracted.

Since, the rain came again, we went to Gurney Plaza because it was raining. Supposed to go to Gurney Drive Hawker Centre.

We ended up at The Little Nyonya Cuisine. It was packed. We had tom yam fish soup. Spicy and sour enough, very flavourful. Great to go with white rice.

Left: Nasi Lemak Special (RM8.80), just so-so…

Right: Chicken Lo Bak (RM7), not much to rave about too.

Left: Deep fried squid, salty, hard, and crispy enough. However, not too bad. Even though it’s deep fried, not oily at all. I ordered it because I’m craving for salt and pepper squid.