Nam Nam Cafe

Posted on By sweet surrender 3 Comments on Nam Nam Cafe

Ever since I got back from Australia, there’s no way to get Vietnamese pho in Kuching. The one I had in Paris last year was a disaster, not only it’s not right but blardy expensive!

When my friend told me that his friend’s Vietnamese wife gave the thumb of approval on the Vietnamese coffee shop called Nam Nam Cafe situated in Jalan Song, I couldn’t wait to try it out. Finally the opportunity is here few weeks back. I went there with my parents.

Left: It’s a must to have pho! Taste? It’s not so bad. Way better than the pho-wannabe in Paris and close to what I had in Australia. I won’t eat anything else but beef pho in a Vietnamese eatery, not chicken or other, only beef! The portion is slightly bigger portion of small in Australia. I usually ordered small back then in down under. Hence, do share it with another friend if you’re small eater. This one here is pho beef balls with steak slices (RM13.90). Not expensive at all I must say, it’s about AUD9-10 for this portion in Australia.

Right: Grill pork chop rice with egg-pork patty and egg (RM9.90). This is just normal, it’s what you see and what you get. Can’t comment much. At least the meat was just nice. Rice is just your normal rice, not broken rice. The real thing should be using broken rice but doesn’t really matter anyway. The menu didn’t say it’s broken rice and you can’t get broken rice here. If they’re using broken rice, it won’t be this price. Even in Australia, not all Vietnamese restaurant has broken rice.

In conclusion, this is enough to satisfy my craving for pho.

Food Porn

The Haunted Hotel – From My Perspective

Posted on By sweet surrender 13 Comments on The Haunted Hotel – From My Perspective

It’s been a busy week. I’ll just use text for this post, no photos to share anyway. No luxury of time to “beautify” this post with photos too.

Remember my Sarawak road trip last year? We encountered a haunted hotel in Bintulu. I did not exactly feel “it”, only blurted something I normally won’t say and sort of being “rescued” by a friend who chatted with me via Facebook but most of my travel mates experienced “it” first hand. I’m not going to tell you which hotel, let’s just say it has many branches, one in Kuching, and another in Sibu. I guess most people might be able to guess.

I will split the story into several perspectives. Will share it from my side first.

It was an extremely cold night when we reached outside of the hotel. Very windy. I guess it’s due to the geographical aspect of this town. The journey was tiring, from Sibu with short stop in Mukah and then went straight up to Bintulu. The organizer did not book the hotel in advance and was told that all the hotels in Bintulu with star rating were running high and were not able to fit all 10 of us in one hotel. So we ended up in this haunted one because this is the only star rating hotel that could put all 10 of us up and even stayed on the same floor.

Finally! We had a place to stay and was supposed to stay for 2 nights but because of the scary encounters, we changed hotel the next day. The organizer check-in for us then gave us our keys, 409 and 411, I was very “lucky” to pick 411. So excited, finally we have a place to rest!! Next, we went into the lift to our room. None of us bringing our luggage and all of us were quite skinny. Suddenly 3 of our guys came into the lift to join us but the lift buzzed due to it being overweight, so we “kicked” our 3 travel mates who came in later out. Then the lift got no problem anymore. No one sensed anything amiss.

Reached our room, once I opened the door, my nose immediately felt itchy because it’s so dusty, smelt dusty too. Obviously the room was not occupied for a long time. We didn’t bother, didn’t want to trouble the organizer to change room for us, as long that there’s a place to wash up and sleep for the night was good enough. Even my roommate also complained the room was dusty. I saw small cockroaches roaming around the room and again, thinking of changing room but scrapped the idea once more. Upon seeing those cockroaches, I instinctively smelt the pillows because I was expected it to smell dusty or with cockroach smell instead the pillows smelt like someone who just came out from shower. Felt a bit strange but didn’t bother. The lighting was rather dim too. After that, we visited the room next to us, the atmosphere was very different, it felt cozy unlike ours.

I then just took out my laptop and went online. My roommate was sitting next to me. I was sitting on the dressing table which was situated next to the window. I started to go on Facebook and updated where I was on my phone. While doing so, I told her, “I don’t think I will dare to stay in this room alone”, she too agreed. Suddenly, a friend messaged me and we chatted. He said that he found out I had check-in to the hotel. Next, he asked me which floor I was staying. I said 4th floor. Then he told me that better don’t tell him it’s room 411. I was shocked for a bit. I didn’t even tell him which room and he just blurted out the exact room number I was in. I told him that he got it right. He quickly asked me whether I have a bible with me and whether I’m alone. Yes, bible app on my phone; and no, I have a roommate. He breath a sigh of relief. I didn’t bother to ask him what happened, not interested to know, was too busy with things to do. I did tell my roommate about it and she was quite shocked too but didn’t probe further. The subject of changing room came again from us after that.

Then, it’s time for dinner. We told the organizer that we wanted to change room. The organizer asked us why and I told him what I encountered. He then said he would help us with the changing of room. He went up to the counter asking to have our room changed with the reason that the WiFi wasn’t working but they didn’t want to change. He got a bit angry and told them what I encountered. He said their face did change a bit as if knowing that there’s something not right with the room. They then agreed to change for us. However, the organizer was kind enough too as he is going to pay for that hotel room even though we won’t be staying in there and pay for the new room we were going to move as well.

While waiting, one of our travel mates was extremely hyper than usual and kept punching the his friends muay thai style. He also kept insisting to drive all of us for dinner. We didn’t feel anything not right with him as he’s quite hyper usually, just not this hyper. So he drove all of us (one left earlier with a local friend) to dinner. After sitting down in the restaurant, he no longer hyper, he didn’t know where he was and he said he couldn’t remember anything after going into the room yet he’s now in a restaurant.

WHAT?!!? He’s possessed! Goodness! Luckily he didn’t kill us. My goodness! Are you scare now?

That’s it. My encounters with this supernatural thing. Next post, once I’m in the mood again, I’ll post about my roommate’s encounters.

Bintulu, Going Places, Land of the Hornbills - Sarawak

Finally, In a Kebaya

Posted on By sweet surrender 8 Comments on Finally, In a Kebaya

Remember the kebaya I bought last year in Melaka?

Never had the chance to officially wear it. Finally the chance was here early this month. Wore it to my company’s annual award night but too bad wasn’t entitled to any award or even lucky draw as I’m still new hehehe… Had fun dressed up though.

It’s pretty hard to walk in that sarong without kept stepping on it, I had to pull it up to walk to avoid stepping on it then fell face down! Hahaha…

It’s been a long time not posting photos of myself in this blog aside from Twitpic.

Now that I’ve worn it, it’s not a waste of money not wearing it after buying it. I was so concerned about not having place to wear it to. Good thing for the theme of the night, I got to wear it for the first time and fully dressed up 😉

Enjoy your long weekend! Need to go back to work again tomorrow. Boooo… I was thinking of just buying a flight ticket and fly somewhere for the weekend but I didn’t. I miss the days when I can just go off anytime anywhere without worrying about coming back to mountain pile of work or responsibilities.

By the way, remember I mentioned about the haunted hotel we stayed during our road trip? Still got no mood to share about it *LOL*

That’s all for now. Busy week ahead!

Fab Fashion, Girl Stuffs, Me, myself and I

Han’s Dim Sum

Posted on By sweet surrender 4 Comments on Han’s Dim Sum


Hans Dim Sum or Han’s Coffee Shop is where you can get dim sum without pork, no pork served. Located at Central Park, next to Jolibee Food Court. Rather hard to find the place if you are not familiar with the area. It’s located away the main road, the row of shops at the back road where Siang Siang Food Court at 3rd Mile is located. I don’t have the address for it but once you can find Jolibee Food Court (Ground Floor, Lot 2543, 3Rd Mile, Central Park Commercial Centre, 93250 Kuching), you’ll find it.


In fact, this is not the only place you can get dim sums without pork. They also sell their dim sums at Yum Cha BDC, Harbour Court, and soon to be opened place in Kenyalang next to Noodle Expert.


Left: Tea is common to go with dim sum. You can choose either Jasmine (RM3/pot) or Tie Kun Yin (RM3.80/pot).

Right: The various condiments to go with the dim sums.


Not your normal lotus wrapped rice. These are chicken rice wrapped in lotus leaf. Choice of steamed and roasted chicken are available. It’s known as Chicken Rice with Lotus Leaf Wrapped (RM4.50). Not bad for chicken rice, not your normal chicken rice instead you get the extra aroma of lotus leaf which makes it unique. Tender chicken and the rice wasn’t very salty, just right for me.


Han’s signature pau, “Sifu” Pau (RM5.50) It’s pretty big, don’t judge from the outside, it’s packed with goodness in there! You just need to eat this and you’ll be full! What’s in there? Rice, mushroom, chicken, salted egg yolk, and dry shrimp. You better share this else you won’t be able to eat the other dim sums. Pau with rice inside, that is sure something new to me. Taste? Love it!


Left: Chicken Ham Roll (RM3.50)

Right: Century Egg Siu Mai (RM2.50)


Left: Seaweed Roll (RM3.50)

Right: Braised Chicken Wing (RM3.50), very tender and juicy.


Left: Chicken Mushroom Siew Mai (RM3.50).

Right: “Xiu Loong Tong” Pau (RM5.50), be sure to eat this hot! Don’t wait! We waited as we tried this last and guess what?!? The soup were all gone hahaha… Bad move we made. Nevertheless, the taste was still good just missing the soup.


Left: Roasted chicken which happened to be the Chef “Pick” of the Day. Means it won’t be the same with what we got when you go there next time. This is part of the Yum Cha starter (RM16.88).

Right: The Yum Cha Starter (RM16.88), small and average eater will surely be full just ordering this. You can share with another friend of yours. It’s not too bad, not that expensive I must say. Basically these are what you get in this set:
1. Chicken Ham Roll
2. Century Egg Siu Mai
3. Seaweed Roll
4. Braised Chicken Wing
5. Chicken Mushroom Siew Mai
6. Chef “Pick” of the Day

If you order separately, it will be more than RM16.50 for 6 of them. Hence, it’s more worth it to order this set in which you can get 6 items with the price of 5 items.

Overall, the price is quite reasonable, taste of the food isn’t too bad. Only that the location is rather secluded. However, there’s always other locations for it which I had mentioned earlier in the post. At the end of the day, I still prefer my dim sums with some pork oppsss… ;p

Do bear in mind that their dim sums are only steamed when you order instead of leaving it there to steam.

For those non-pork eaters, you have another dim sum place for you now.

Opening hours: 6.30am-2.30pm

Do try it out. Don’t judge by the size, dim sums can be rather filling even though they looked small.

Food Porn

P Cafe

Posted on By sweet surrender 2 Comments on P Cafe

P Cafe (Jalan Wan Alwi, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak) located just at the other shop lot of Choice World at Jalan Wan Alwi. Never bother to try out until last week. Couldn’t decide where to eat and ended up here after did a bit of grocery shopping.


Simple interior design and clean. I would put it as high tech version of kopitiam. They served all kinds of local cuisines ranging from kaya toast to Sarawak laksa.


Left: Impressive… Just do your ordering here. That’s why I said it’s high tech version of kopitiam aka coffeeshop.

Right: Lui cha (RM5), portion was rather small. Taste, it’s not what I like. Tasted better ones. However, the cha aka the bowl of green soup, wasn’t bitter at all which some people will find it easier to eat. I prefer it to be bitter. Basically, you have to mix the tea and the bowl of ingredients consist of rice and finely chopped vegetables and peanuts before you start eating.

I started to like lui cha since I go back from Adelaide. I never really tried it before until I went to lunch with my ex-colleagues at a coffee shop in Pending Height. However, this one from here is rather disappointing for me. I expect bigger portion and more flavourful.

Lei cha (Chinese: 擂茶; pinyin: léi chá; literally “pounded tea”) or ground tea is a traditional Hakka tea-based beverage or gruel. Lei cha is very traditional among Hakkas in Mainland China, especially Southern China. It is also popular in Taiwan, Malaysia, and any locales with a substantial Hakka diaspora population. The custom began in the Three Kingdoms period.

It is not the same as Chinese tea because there are always other ingredients. Pounded tea consists of a mix of tea leaves and herbs that are ground or pounded together with various roasted nuts, seeds, grains, and flavorings.

At least I finally got to eat it after 6 months! The last time I had was on my birthday and it was also my last day of work with my ex-colleague at Ang Cheng Ho. Also, great for detox since I’ve been eating rather “wholesomely” ever since working in my current workplace.


My parents ordered mee pok and kampua, both were RM3.50 if not mistaken. They didn’t say anything about it, guess it’s just so-so and got nothing to rave about. I didn’t try them too, I’m not a fan of both. Price wise, it’s reasonable I guess.

I really like the environment but I don’t think I will come back.

Food Porn