Thursday, December 19, 2013

Independence Monument – Phnom Penh

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This is something I found online about the Independence Monument of Phnom Penh. The above picture is by far my favourite picture I have taken from my Phnom Penh trip. It’s captured using my Samsung Galaxy S4.

Independence Monument

The Independence Monument was inaugurated in November 9, 1962, celebrating Cambodia’s independence from foreign rule. Renowned Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann was the architect of the monument which is patterned on a lotus flower bud, adorned with Naga heads (multi-headed cobras) and obviously reminiscent in design of the towers of Angkor Wat. The Independence Monument now also serves as a monument to Cambodia’s war dead as well as her independence. The Independence Monument sit in the centre of the traffic circle at the intersection of Norodom Blvd. and Sihanouk Blvd. and is the site of colourful celebrations and services on political holidays such as Independence Day ( January 7 ) and Constitution Day ( September 24 ).

 

It’s best to visit the monument at night to absorb in all the wonderful colours from the spotlights that makes this monument a sight to behold.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

A Walk To Remember

This post is extracted from “The Star – 3rd December 2013” as a tribute to Paul William Walker, 1973-2013

 

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Actor Paul Walker’s death in a fiery car crash under a clear-blue California sky Saturday continues to feel so incredibly sad and so surreal.

How can it not?

The actor, 40, spent much of his life on-screen behind the wheel of fast cars, walking away from the worst possible pileups in the The Fast And The Furious franchise. He was one of the central players in the hugely popular series and a part of the cast from its 2001 beginnings, when it created a world where there was no curve its drivers couldn’t navigate, no wreck they couldn’t survive. Cars stood for high-octane escape, freedom at 200 mph.

No one was prepared for a day like Saturday. That Walker’s final moments would carry such heart-breaking irony; that the sort of images that defined his life in film would also frame his death.

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Though the The Fast And The Furious anchor is Vin Diesel playing Dominic Toretto, a local Los Angeles tough with a heart of gold, a few of the core cast members became minor constellations in their own right. Walker, as the undercover cop who became Dom’s best friend and his most reliable partner in crime, was one.

Part of the films’ appeal was its blue-collar ethos and its love of all things American, except for a law here or there. The pull was powerful enough that even Walker’s cop Brian O’Conner couldn’t resist. Dom’s crew of gear-heads, grease monkeys, guys willing to get their hands dirty when duty called, soon won him over.

Walker’s character was our entry point to this very real underground scene. The actor helped us see the merit in these renegades, to be seduced by the adrenaline rush of the race. There was also Brian’s sweet relationship with Dom’s sister Mia, played by Jordana Brewter. Together, the actors embodied a classic working-class couple, their courtship remarkably innocent in an outlaw world.

That was Walker’s strength in front of the camera. The actor was ever the rock-sold guy.

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He certainly looked the part with that strong jaw, slight scruff, clear blue eyes, golden smile. It is no surprise the actor landed on People magazine’s most beautiful list. Walker could ooze sex appeal. But far more often, what you saw on-screen was an inherent decency.

From all accounts, that was an accurate description of the man, someone who held friends and family close, who had enough fame and fortune to abuse it, but never did. The heartfelt outpouring of love and regret from fans and friends alike in the wake of his death speaks eloquently to that.

Walker was born in Glendale, California in the United States and he never moved far from home. A California boy, he liked to surf and to drive fast cars. The car Valley on Saturday.

That he would become an actor was almost a given. He began spending time in front of the camera as a toddler, diaper-clad in a Pampers ad for his first performance. At 13, he made his big screen debut in 1986’s Monster in the Closet. The B-movie would in a sense set the course for his career.

The TV and film roles that followed were mostly modest ones, drawing more fans than critical attention. In some of the better movies, Walker took secondary parts, overshadowed by bigger stars of his generation such as Tobey Maguire in 1998’s Pleasantville and James Van Der Beek in 1999’s Varsity Blues.

Until The Fast And The Furious – a box-office juggernaut with international appeal – changed his life forever. He was a specialist in the mainstream, in a league with countless actors who show up year after year, give us their best and don’t ask for much in return. Including awards on the shelf. Just to act is almost reward enough.

The franchise has never claimed to be high art, but it is always solidly entertaining. Its brash bravado is tempered by the fact that these bad boys are really good guys. No. 6 in the series, which came out in May, outdid all the rest.

In more recent times, the actor had been taking on other types of roles. In one of his last projects, Hours, which is due for release in a couple of weeks, he plays a father desperate to keep his baby daughter safe in the face of Hurricane Katrina.

There is no official word yet on the fate of Fast & Furious 7, which is still in production. I would be surprised if they didn’t find a way to turn the film, at least in part, into a final tribute: to Walker and the memory of a good man, a good father, a good friend and a good actor – in that order – who sadly died too young.

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Laugh Out Loud

Today’s Sunday and to beat tomorrow’s Monday’s blues, here’s a few jokes I extracted from “The Star” newspaper to share with everyone:

A Matter of Trust

A police officer is being cross-examined by a defence attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer is trying to undermine the police officer’s credibility.

Lawyer: “Officer, did you see my client fleeing the scene?”

Cop: “No, sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.”

Lawyer: “Who provided this description?”

Cop: “The officer who responded to the scene.”

Lawyer: “A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?”

Cop: “Yes, sir. With my life.”

Lawyer: “With your life? Let me ask you this then, officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?”

Cop: “Yes, sir, we do.”

Lawyer: “And do you have a lock on your locker?”

Cop: “Yes, sir.”

Lawyer: “Now, why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?”

Cop: “You see, sir, we share the buildinng with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.”

The courtroom exploded with laughter, and a recess was called.

 

Downsized

Interviewer: “To whom you owe your success as a millionaire?”

Millionaire: “I owe everything to my wife.”

Interviewer: “Wow, she must be some woman. What were you before you married her?”

Millionaire: “A billionaire.”

 

Brother and sisters

One day, a young man tells his father that he is ready to marry and settle down.

His father is happy for him. He asks his son who the girl is, and he tells him that she is the girl next door.

With a sad face the old man tells his son: “I’m sorry son, but I have to tell you the truth. The girl you want to marry is your sister. Please don’t tell your mother.”

The young man shrugs and says he has other girlfriends and names them. But the father tells him the same thing, that they are all his sisters because of his past indiscretions.

The son is upset and decides to tell his mother. “Mom, I want to get married but all the girls that I propose, Dad says that they are my sisters and I mustn’t tell you.”

His mother smiles at him and says: “Don’t worry my son, you can marry any of those girls. You’re not his son.”

 

Pricey meal

A cannibal is strolling in the jungle and comes upon a restaurant operated by a fellow cannibal.

Feeling somewhat hungry, he sits down and looks at the menu:

Raw Tourist: $5

Broiled Missionary: $10

Fried Explorer: $15

Grilled Politician: $100

The cannibal asks the owner: “Why so expensive for a politician?”

The owner replies: “Have you ever tried to clean one? They are so full of shit, it takes all morning!”

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

King Grand Boutique Hotel

During my recent trip to Phnom Penh, I chose to stay at King Grand Boutique Hotel (KGB). I made the booking months earlier via Booking.com and managed to get myself quite a good bargain. Since we have booked earlier at a discounted website, we do not have to pay for the room and cancellation is FOC up to 3 days before checking in. As there are 5 of us including 1 child, we booked 2 Superior rooms for 3 nights which came up to USD336.00 altogether. That comes up to USD56 per room a night including tax. It comes with breakfast as well.

We arranged for airport pickup prior to our arrival date and was quoted USD20 for a van which can sit 7 adults. Since we arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport around late afternoon, traffic was a bit heavy. It took us about 45 minutes to reach the hotel from the airport while usually it takes about 30 minutes or less. KGB is located at Street 258. The hotel is not facing the main road but it is strategically located. In fact, I strongly recommend tourists to stay at KGB as there are a few tourists sites near the hotel.

Upon checking in to KGB, we were greeted by very polite and courteous staff. Their smiles almost immediately put away the tiredness that they guests may have. We were given a welcome drink while the receptionist does the check in process. To our surprise, I was informed that one of my Superior room has been upgraded to Deluxe Triple Room since I have a 5 years old daughter travelling with us! That totally won me over. KGB is really a guest-oriented hotel. I am not sure about the occupancy rate of the hotel since its website states that KGB has 40 stylish, well equipped bedrooms and two swimming pools. While waiting at the lobby, I switched on my phone’s wifi and managed to get a very strong signal strength from the hotel.

When we brought to our room’s entrance, I noticed the room door security system a bit more advanced that other hotels that I have been to. You need to scan your palm first before a 2 digit pin is being reviewed and then only you swipe your door access card. Stepping into the room, I find the room pretty clean with no hint of any odour. We had a queen size bed and from the balcony, we can see the Royal Palace. 

Phnom Penh 17-20 Oct 2013

The Superior Room and the Balcony  

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The Bathroom and the Wardrobe  

The bathroom is also very spacious and have a hair dryer for the convenience of the guests. The LCD TV has got around 20 channels for the guests to watch. A set of bathrobes and a mini safe is also available for the guests to use.

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The above is the collection of photos from the pool side. The coffeehouse is divided into indoor and outdoor section. Sitting besides the pool is so relaxing and you will definitely enjoy your breakfast even more. Besides the standard serving of Asian breakfast as well as cereals, you can also order bacon, eggs and pancakes. The ever polite waiters and waitresses are more than happy to bring them to your table. Service is top-notch here.

There is a pool on the ground floor as well as a jacuzzi pool on the 7th floor which is also the rooftop. The rooftop provides you a magnificent, panoramic view of Phnom Penh city and not to mention the Royal Palace is just a stone throw away from KGB.

If you need to travel around, have no fear. There are many tuk-tuk waiting outside the hotel for tourists. You can bargain for you destination.

If you like what you read, below’s the address for King Grand Boutique. You can visit its website or make your reservations via Booking.com

Address: #No 18, Street 258, Sangkat Chat Tomuk, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phone: +855 23 215 848 / +855 23 215 849   Fax: +855 23 215 846   

Email: info@kinggrandboutiquehotel.com

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Phnom Penh’s Central Market ( Phsar Thmei )

Just came back from a recent holidays to Phnom Penh. For the next few posts, I will blog about the various places I have visited during my 4 days’ stay at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodia is famous for its Buddhist temples as well as its long history of cruel regime under Pol Pot where many Cambodias were tortured to death. As such, today, Cambodia has a Killing Field and Genocide Museum to “tell” the stories of its gruesome past.

Fast forward to present, shopaholics who would like to get hold of some souvenirs from Cambodia can do so at the Central Market. The market sells a wide variety of items including handicrafts, silks, t-shirts, postcards. According to a source I found from the Internet, prior to 1935, the market area was a swamp/lake known as Beng Decho that received the runoff during the rainy season. The lake was drained and the market constructed in 1935-37, during the French colonial period, and originally dubbed the “Grand Market”. As I have a colleague who likes to collect stamps, I am disappointed that I can’t find any stalls in the market selling souvenir stamps. There are a few stalls which sell locally printed tourist guide books ie Lonely Planet etc. I bet that you will be approached by a few mobile vendors who will try to sell you lottery tickets, bookmarks, travel guides.

Central Market 1One of the 4 entrances to Central Market 

Along the entrances to Central Market, you will find mostly stalls selling clothings & clothing accessorries, fridge magnets and fresh flowers. At the centre of the Central Market, you will find items mostly like watches (read fake designer brands), fashion jewelleries, handphone mobile accessories. Do note that Central Market sells a combination of wet & dry goods. There is a section of the market which sells poultry meat and vegetables. Hawker food is also available in the market.

The items being sold in the market are mainly quoted in USD and price haggling and deep bargaining is a must. Please, please bargain for 50% of the price being offered by the seller. Do bear in mind that Central Market is popular for tourists. Therefore, prices of items here are mostly marked-up.

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The dome inside Central Market 

Central Market is opened from early morning around 7am to late afternoon. Tuk tuk (motorcycle taxi) are freely available outside the Central Market. Happy shopping!!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Sin Hup Kee Restaurant – Bandar Puteri Puchong

Last Sunday, our lunch took us to Bandar Puteri, Puchong where we tried out a Chinese restaurant – Sin Hup Kee (SHK). It occupies a single shop lot in Bandar Puteri Puchong and has about 10-15 tables (both round table and square tables).

Sin Hup Kee

SHK – from the outside 

 Bandar Puteri Puchong has grown into quite a “makan” place with many restaurants at this area. This commercial hubs also house a few local and international banks as well and you have a hypermarket at this area too. It’s really a busy commercial area during work days.

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SHK’s menu

One complain I have about this restaurant is the quality of their menu. Don’t get me wrong! They have a good spread of dishes but the menu book itself is quite worn out. I think it will give customers a better impression if they take pride in their menu instead of presenting worn out copy to customers. 

Sin Hup Kee

SHK – from the inside

I like the wall of Sin Hup Kee as it’s decorated with big photos of their dishes. It gives the diners an idea of what to expect and whet up the appetite before the actual dishes arrive. We reached there about 12:30pm and it was quite packed with lunch crowd on a Sunday where families usually eat out on weekends. Despite being full house, we didn’t have to wait too long for our dishes to arrive. 20 minutes is an acceptable time frame, considering the crowd. We ordered a few dishes which I am going to share below:-

Deep Fried Salted Egg Squid (Small - RM18)

Deep fried food with salted egg is always a favourite within our family. The little kiddo loves the savoury taste of salted egg in the food as it enhances the batter. Squid itself is rather bland in taste, with rubbery texture. So, it’s usually cooked with curry or deep fried based on Oriental cooking style. Since we ordered a small portion, the size of it came as expected. Simple dish garnished with lettuce and curry leaves. SHK gave a generous amount of salted egg and hence, you can really taste the salted egg in the deep fried batter. Also, it comes with a hint of pepper to enhance the taste.

Deep Fried Salted Egg Squid - RM18

Deep Fried Salted Egg Squid

Marmite Sauce Chicken (Regular - RM16) 

Since my daughter also loves marmite, marmite chicken is a regular order whenever we dine out and the restaurant happens to have a dish with marmite sauce. SHK uses chicken breast meat to cook with the marmite sauce. I am not a fan of chicken breast meat as this part of the chicken is too dense with meat. I prefer other parts like thigh or drumstick. As a result, I feel that the marmite sauce didn’t really get sipped into the breast meat. The sauce only managed to coat the surface of the meat but not sipped into it.

Marmite Sauce Chicken - RM16

 Marmite Sauce Chicken

 Deep Fried Fish Tail (700gm - RM49)

Initially, we did not order this dish but the fish slices with mango sauce. The dish was not available on that day and the waitress recommended this dish to us. We obliged and it turned out quite tasty. The fish tail is deep fried and very crispy. You can tell that it’s fried on the spot and then the sweet and sour sauce poured onto it immediately right before being served to the table. I would much prefer more garnishing ie more slices of tomatoes and onions to accompany the generous portion of sauce that comes with the fish. Overall, this dish is worth a go. Deep Fried Fish Tail in Sweet & Sour Sauce - RM49

Deep Fried Fish Tail 

Stir Fried Long Beans (Regular - RM12)

We also ordered the stir fried long beans with minced meat as we need to balance meat intake with veggies right?? For a regular plate of the dish, I think the portion given is quite generous. The taste of this dish is nothing to shout about, a regular dish that you can find in most Chinese restaurants. However, I do find the long beans a bit overcooked. It should have been crunchier but I find it a bit on the soft side for my liking.

Stir Fried Long Beans - RM12

 Stir Fried Long Beans

Deep Fried Salted Egg Mantis (Small - RM18)

Here’s another dish that is cooked with salted egg :-) Mantis prawns. Another of our family’s favourite seafood. Again, the popular style of cooking the mantis prawns favoured by us is to deep fried it with salted egg. Similar to the squid, the batter came with a generous portion of salted egg. This makes the mantis prawns well-coated with the batter mixed with salted eggs. Another thumbs up for the dish.

Deep Fried Salted Egg Mantis - RM18

 Deep Fried Salted Egg Mantis

Fiery Pork Ribs (Small - RM12)

This dish is chosen by my Mum as it was one of the items featured on the wall of SHK. Since none of the dishes above has got pork, we decided to order this dish as well. Let’s see how one of their signature dishes fair. Well, it actually tasted quite good. It taste like sweet & sour pork ribs with a hint of vinegar in it to bring out the sour taste. The ribs are cooked just right with the sauce managed to seep into the pork ribs. The right temperature of the wok is important in bringing out the finer taste of the food and with this pork ribs, I have to say it deserve to be one of their signature dishes.

Fiery Pork Ribs - RM12

Fiery Pork Ribs 

 Steamed Eggs with Century & Salted Eggs (Small - RM10)

This dish is ordered to balance out the rest of what we have ordered so far. We are missing some protein based dish :-)

Besides, my daughter loves to eat eggs too. So, this is also another dish ordered for her. With century and salted eggs cut into small pieces and added into the steam eggs, you do not need additional flavouring. The combination of these 3 types of eggs itself is enough to make it a tasty, protein-based dish. I would suggest to top it up with some fried scallions and spring onions would be a good garnishing. 

Steamed Eggs With Century & Salted Eggs - RM10

 Steamed Eggs with Century & Salted Eggs

Yin Yang Kailan (Regular - RM12)

Our last dish ordered is another vegetable. This dish is gaining popularity amongst Chinese restaurants. The catch is frying the green leaves of the kailan. If the chef is not careful, he may over-timed the frying and as a result, you will end up with a bitter taste a.k.a burnt taste of the leaves. Luckily, I didn’t experience the burnt taste with this dish. The chef managed to deep fry the shredded leaves without overcooking them. The stalks part of the kailan are also blanched just right, not too hard for my liking. Again, I think this dish is a thumbs-up for me.

Yin Yong Kailan - RM12

Yin Yang Kailan

As a whole, it was a fine dining experience at SHK. Service was within the expected time frame despite it being a full house on a Sunday afternoon when I visited the restaurant. As mentioned before, my only complain is that the menu book should be re-print as it looked worn out. Not a very pleasing sight for customers.

 

Address:

Sin Hup Kee

No. 64, Jalan Puteri 2/4,

Bandar Puteri,

47100 Puchong, Selangor.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Apartment Restaurant & Bar @ The Curve

 

When you have a group of great colleagues as your dining companion, it already add “flavour” to your meal. This has certainly happened to me on Wednesday when I invited my colleagues and team-mates for a department’s dinner at The Apartment Restaurant & Bar, The Curve Mutiara Damansara.

   This is my first complete meal at The Apartment per se  as my previous visit was for dessert and to unwind after dinner at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant. When I wanted to invite my mates for a dinner this time around, The Apartment came to mind as it’s a Theme Restaurant and I personally love the deco of this place. The “homely” feel of this restaurant sets the mood for a cozy and relaxing dinner. The place exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere just as if you’re inviting your best buddies to your own apartment for a home-cooked meal.

   Located along “The Street” section of The Curve shopping centre, The Apartment has TGIF, Marche, Starbucks amongst its neighbours. It’s not hard to find The Apartment as it’s situated right in the middle of The Street.

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The Apartment

   The decorations and settings of this restaurant are mainly adapting the concept of …… you guessed it, an apartment! It gives you the feel as if you’re walking straight into an apartment with all the deco and furniture pieces which you are expected to find in a decorated and furnished home. The Apartment is segmentised into the living area, the study area, the bathroom area and not to forget the dining area and patio. Here, you can opt for the indoor dining area or the alfresco area. Of course, when you’re at an apartment, it just feel right to be seated in the apartment itself. Right? Right! Of course, if the alfresco or balcony presents you with a majestic sunset view and you’re enjoying a romantic dinner, then naturally the balcony would be the ideal setting. Else, sitting inside The Apartment would be a natural choice, duh!

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Welcomed by the little sofa, work desk and soothing lights – great ambience!

   A stone throw away from the entrance, you will be greeted by the Study area which comes complete with tables and chairs best suited for couples ( perhaps couples who enjoy reading more than eating, haha! ) Along the wall, there are book shelves come complete with magazines and books for those who don’t naturally take out their smartphones and start social networking the moment they sit down. Ooh, I forgot to mention that The Apartment comes with free wifi too! So, you can really start “viber, whatsapp, foursquare, check in” before you warm the seats!

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I guess with the dimmed light, you’re not supposed to read here. Start looking into each other’s eyes and build up the coziness

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The Bathroom – an interesting section of The Apartment. Shower before you eat ?  

   My reservation was made a week ago in order not to be disappointed by not getting a table at my favourite section of the restaurant. From my previous visit, I think that the dining area setting would be the best area for the 8 of us since it’s situated right at the end of the restaurant and flanked by 2 smaller tables. The dining table sits 8-10 and decorated with portraits and picture frames.

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Pencil sketch or charcoal drawing ? Can you tell ?

    As much as what Murphy’s Law epigram: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong", it did happened to my reservation. On my first reservation made a week ago before the actual date of the dinner, I did asked to be seated at the Dining Area of The Apartment. Was being told that the section is available and I’m being reserved for that. 2 days before the day, I called again to re-confirm my reservation and again reiterated that I wanted the Dining Area. Again, was being told that it’s available. On the actual day of the dinner itself, I received a call from the restaurant’s supervisor to confirm my reservation. To my horror, when I reached the restaurant, I was ushered to another section of the restaurant. I was puzzled and annoyed when being informed that the Dining Area has been reserved by another guests! I called for the Supervisor; who unfortunately was not available, but another person-in-charge (sorry I forgot your name Bro!) came to look into my complain. Upon checking the reservation book, I saw that I was indeed being allotted the Dining Area but it was erased and changed to the Window section. I don’t want to look like some goldfishes in aquarium and be seated along the corridor with people passing by us! I want a private corner where we can eat & laugh & be loud if we want to! In the end, the P.I.C got things sorted out and moved us back to our reserved corner – Dining Area. Phew!!

Apartment3

My favourite corner – the Dining Area

   The “Hungry Eight” did not take long to decide what to eat (by my standard, this time it’s not long). Some of us ordered the same dish despite the variety ranges from Asian to Western dishes….2 minds, 1 heart perhaps? Haha, get over it! I was surprised that no one ordered any Mocktail or drinks. I wanted to try the range of mocktails available. I guess the 2 bottles of plain water that came earlier put off the idea.

Apartment4

Clockwise from top left : Irish Lamb Stew, Seafood pasta, Baked Fish, Surf N Turf, Piquant Chicken and Salmon Fettucine

When everyone’s busy chatting and laughing away, time passes by without you realising it. I guess our orders came in around 15-20 minutes?? Here’s my personal opinion of some of the main courses we ordered. I didn’t pinched all the food from some of my colleagues but managed to taste some of the them.

Irish Lamb Stew : The lamb is cooked to tender and the gravy is not too watery but just nice. The bread slices made great companion to dipping the gravy.

Seafood Pasta : I didn’t taste this but the muscles look tempting! I didn’t get too much complain from the person who ordered this though she prefers Chinese food :-)

Baked Fish : This is what I ordered. I find the fish is too dry for my liking. The melted cheese is rubbery and does not complement well with the fish. I would much prefer it to be more watery like the carbonara sauce. The potatoes are lightly salted and come with some herbs. It tasted better than the fish. I don’t know what you call the vege but it has some bitter taste. Ah ah, I don’t like this vege. Perhaps blanched baby carrots & baby sweet corns would be safer bet.

Surf N Turf : I am confused by the name of this dish as it’s a combination of grilled beef topped with prawns. I didn’t get to eat the beef but the prawns are big and juicy. Perfecto!

Piquant Chicken : The name sounds complicated! I don’t know about the taste…

Salmon Fettucine : An Italian version of Chinese pan mee :-) You need to “hunt” for your salmon on the plate. They’re rather small slices but the taste of the fettucine is alright. For me, carbonara is still my ideal sauce for fettucine.

   No dinner at The Apartment is complete without ordering some of its signature desserts. Since I have eaten the Baked Chocolate Pudding before this, it’s a must try for first timer here. Since there were 8 of us, the main course already filled up most of the tummies. We only shared 4 desserts. Since I highly recommend the Baked Chocolate Pudding, we ordered 2 of this. Be assureded that it’s worth the wait even though you have to wait 15-20 minutes for the pudding to be baked. Just continue chatting please and wait for your dessert.

 Apartment5

Left to Right : Apple & Pear Crumble, Strawberry Pavlova, Baked Chocolate Pudding

Apple & Pear Crumble : I’m not a big fan of apple. Given a choice, I would not order this dessert but those who loves apples, this is quite nice with the crusty top layer hiding the gems below : the apple & pear cubes. I did tasted a spoonful of it but I find it sweet though. Also, I’m not a fan of vanilla ice-cream. I leave it for the rest to cherish the dessert.

Strawberry Pavlova : The name exudes class and stirred our interest. Of course, the menu with its picture in it, made it more tempting to order. We had not much idea what it’s  going to taste like. It tasted like some frozen marshmallow. I can still bear with its sweetness but 3 portions of pavlova on 1 plate is a bit overwhelming even for the 8 of us.

Baked Chocolate Pudding : I deduced that this must be the “star” of The Apartment’s dessert as it is described as heavenly. I didn’t realise the same adjective was used in the menu when I described the taste to my fellow colleagues. I did tell the rest of them that this is a “must-try” in The Apartment ( very hard-sell ). At the end of the day, from the look of everyone’s face, I believe that I didn’t make a poor recommendation to them. I did saw satisfied faces after trying out the pudding. The freshly baked aroma of chocolate evoke the “I wanna try” spirit before the chocolate pudding reached our table. After you savour the top crust, the rich chocolate pudding is complemented by generous offer of chocolate sauce inside the hot pudding. This is best eaten while it’s still warm and complementing it with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream brings out the best of hot and cold in 1 serving. I wonder besides vanilla ice-cream, do they have other flavour? I should have enquire this earlier.

   The total bill came close to RM350.00 (including service charge and govt. taxes) for 8 main courses and 4 desserts. A reasonable price considering that it’s a dinner at a Themed Restaurant in a popular shopping mall. I guess in the end, I got my desired table and managed to gather my team-mates for a get-together dinner. All well, ends well. I always believe that having the right ambience and the right companion(s)  do compliment a GREAT meal !! The price of the meal is secondary in this aspect.

Thank you guys and gals for being able to share the moments. Love you all !!

Address:

The Apartment

Lot 72, 73 & 74, 152 Ground Floor,

Western Courtyard, The Curve

Mutiara Damansara

Tel: 03-77278330

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ganofarm – Tanjong Sepat

The last place I would like to share with my fellow Netizens of Tanjong Sepat is Ganofarm. According to its website

Ganofarm  Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysian based mushroom research company that cultivates,  develops, manufactures and markets edible and medicinal mushrooms together with  a wide range of mushroom-based products to promote healthy lifestyle. Our vision  is to continuously provide superior quality nutraceutical products through  state of the art, innovations and solutions, helping mankind to improve health  through eating mushroom.

I have read about Ganofarm before years back in a newspaper article about this place. I was not able to make a trip to visit this place until now. In fact, Ganofarm offers homestay and local tour package for tourists who would like to explore more of Tanjong Sepat. For those who are interested to learn more about Ganofarm and its mushroom, its website is very informative. You can read up quite a lot about the different types of mushrooms Ganofarm has to offer as well as the history of the Company. It’s also an Online Shopping website where you can purchase Ganofarm’s products.

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Entrance to Ganofarm

Ganofarm specialises mainly in 4 types of mushrooms; namely the Ling Zhi Mushroom, Abalone Mushroom, Monkey Head Mushroom and the Black Jelly Mushroom. As we were welcomed into its premise, a guide from Ganofarm introduced us to the company and its mushrooms.

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Interesting deco

As you can see from the photo below, the briefing also includes a walkthrough of the mushroom cultivation process. However, what disappoints me is that the guide did not show us the actual mushroom cultivating area. After the brief explanation of Ganofarm, we were ushered to the Product Sales Gallery.

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 Briefing by Staff of Ganofarm on Mushroom Cultivation 

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 Signboard Leading to the Product Sales Gallery

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 The 4 Different Types of Mushrooms Cultivated at Ganofarm 

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 Ling Zhi Mushroom & Abalone Mushroom 

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 Black Jelly Mushroom

 Monkey Head Mushroom

 Monkey Head Mushroom 

Black Jelly Mushroom

 Oyster Mushroom

 More Pictures of Mushrooms 

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 Up Close and Personal with Ling Zhi Mushroom

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 The Product Sale Gallery offers an extensive of items made from mushrooms. Of course, besides mushrooms, Ganofarm also sells other local produces from Tanjong Sepat. It’s interesting to learn of the medical values brought about by mushrooms and the extracts of mushrooms can even be incorporated into toiletries products ie shampoo and soap. Every visitor to Tanjong Sepat should make a stop to Ganofarm to learn more about the medical benefit of mushrooms or to purchase something unique to this town. I would say Ganofarm would be a good representation of Tanjong Sepat since a mushroom farm is not something which is available in any part of Selangor

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Mushroom Shopping

 

For those who are keen to visit Ganofarm after reading this post, below’s the address, contact details and website to the Company.

GANOFARM SDN. BHD.
Lot 700, Jalan Laut Membiru,
Taman Pelangi,
42800 Tanjung Sepat,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 6-03-31975600
Fax: 6-03-31975717
Website: www.ganofarm.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Joo Fa Trading – Let The Aroma of Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans Lead the Way

My Tanjong Sepat’s day trip brought me to another local specialty in the form of a famous local coffee trader.

 Joo Fa Trading is one of the famous local coffee manufacturer cum trader in Tanjong Sepat. Ask around and you can be easily directed to its premise. It’s not a big time coffee trader in the sense that it operates from a house. It’s more like your neighbourly coffee brewer than a serious manufacturer. 

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Joo Fa Trading – signboard leading the way

From the outside of the house (in fact, from the main road leading to Joo Fa Trading), you will be greeted by the sweet aroma of coffee. The smell of coffee is heavenly for a coffee lover like me. I bet those coffee enthusiasts will agree with me on this. Moving inside along a narrow alleyway before reaching into the main area where the proprietor roast his coffee. This is where the actions are and you can surely see coffee beans (fresh and dried) being displayed.

Joo Far Trading roast their own Hainanese coffee powder here.  The owner is very friendly. He will take you on a full tour of his coffee roasting and grinding process in the house. Quite interesting if you have never seen how it is done. His explanation gives us a better understanding of coffee and how the roasting process works. What I didn’t know is that the coffee bean has 4 layers of skins to be shelled before you reach the bean itself. The big kiln where the coffee is roasted reminds you of the good old days where wood is being used to fire the kiln.

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The coffee beans – fresh and shelled

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The kiln – where the coffee beans are roasted

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The old way – wood fired kiln

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A Closer Look of the Coffee Beans

The proprietor himself is not a Hainanese but a Hokkien. He trades in Hainan coffee as Hainanese is famous for their coffee.

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 The owner explaining his trade 

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 Coffee grinding machine

 I took a quick peek of the backyard and saw some smaller coffee grinding machines. Since Joo Fa is a coffee trader, surely you won’t miss the opportunity to taste some of its coffee. The owner gave us some samples of his coffee to drink on the spot. So, if you like it, you can buy it on the spot! What I find funny is that the coffee is being served in Chinese tea cups. Doesn’t it amuse you that you drink coffee from Chinese tea cups. Honestly, I have not drank coffee this way before. Have you?

The coffee is quite nice to drink. I purchased 2 packets of Joo Fa’s coffee. They actually sell the coffee in a few forms : black coffee powder, sachet or white coffee. I am not sure if I missed out other varieties, perhaps I did. At home, after I had tried out both the ground black coffee powder and the sachet form, I prefer the latter.

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Drinking Coffee using Chinese Tea Cups

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As I sipped on my coffee, I noticed this quote on the wall

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Coffee is sachet form

 

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Joo Fa Trading – the entrance

For those of you who plan to make a trip to Tanjong Sepat or happen to be there, do visit Joo Fa Trading as it’s considered one of the tourist spot in this town. Below’s the address to Joo Fa Trading:

Joo Fa Trading

No. 356, Lorong 5,
Jalan Besar, 42800,
Tanjung Sepat