One Day Trip To Muar, Johor, Malaysia

It was a chilly Sunday morning. 

While most people are still warmly curled-up in their beds at 5.45am, a small congregation had already gathered at a dark, secluded corner of the neighborhood. 

My Aunt's department had organized a one day trip to Muar, Johor, Malaysia and she has asked my parents and I along. It was considered a 'blind' trip for me because I do not know the itinerary nor know where we will be going to. 

We set off on board a luxurious coach heading for Tuas checkpoint and were met with by our Malaysian tour guide after clearing the Malaysian side of the customs. 

One Day Tour To Rustic Kluang, Johor, Malaysia

Wanton Mee RM 5

Last Saturday, I went on a one day trip to Kluang, Johor, Malaysia with my folks. The trip was organised by Dad's friend, the same uncle whom we went to Malacca with two years ago.

Just like the previous time, we dropped by Gelang Patah for breakfast. There were several coffeeshops here and we chose the one furthest away located under Hotel Linkway.

I ordered Wanton Mee but it was no where in sight after 20 minutes despite not being very crowded. I was just this close to beating up the hawker when I found out that his helper is serving those who ordered after me first. Well, I have a coach to catch and we only had 40 minutes for breakfast.

When my order finally came, what struck me first was the small bowl and its even smaller contents. Next would be the mee pok. Isn't Wanton Mee usually mee kia by default?

Nonetheless, the sauce coating the noodle is pleasant - the kind that I like, although the puny wantons and char siew are quite generic.

Hatyai Sabbatical 2015

I must really apologize for the lack of updates.

The first half of 2015 has just gone in a flash. A lot has happened during the last six months and my mind have been bogged down by family matters. All is fine for now and I hope it stays that way.

Last month, my folks and I brought forward our yearly retreat to Hatyai (we usually go during year end) and we took the opportunity to recharge and re-energize. Hopefully, we did not bring the negative vibes back with us.

I think Hatyai has been blogged to death by me so I shall consolidate the entire five days into one single post and not go into the details. Since it is simply a staycation, we spend most of our time sleeping/watching TV in the hotel when we are not out looking for food.

Now if you would fasten your seatbelt, our journey shall begin in just a minute.

Life Liberation @ Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru

A week after returning from my Malacca trip, my folks and I were once again heading to Johor Bahru with Dad's friend (yes, that same uncle we went to Malacca with).

We are going there to take part in this "Life Liberation" (fangsheng/放生) event where we will be releasing animals into the wild. It is my first time attending such an event and as a Buddhist, while I applaud the cause, I am at the same time thrown into a dilemma.

I believe the purpose of liberation is to rescue animals from a live and death situation (eg, live animals saved from being slaughtered for food) but, what if the animals (eg. birds/fish) are intentionally captured/trapped from the wild for the sole purpose of selling to us to free them, then what is the point?

UPDATE: This is exactly what I meant but unable to summarize in a few words!

2D1N Malacca Trip - Hang Tuah Well, Jonker Walk, Chicken Rice Balls, Christ Church, Klebang Coconut Shake, Peranakan Dinner & No Toilet Bowls!

I went for a two days and one night weekend getaway to Malacca (马六甲) with Dad and his friends two weekends ago. To be precise, it was his friend and this friend's other friends.

We woke up super early that morning to meet up with his friend (and this friend's other friends) then, we board a chartered coach heading for the customs.

Malacca (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is a few hours drive away from Singapore and thankfully, I managed to catch some much deprived sleep. Along the way, we stopped for breakfast at Gelang Patah before continuing our journey towards our first destination - the Hang Tuah well.

Batam 2014

Went to Batam with the folks last Saturday. We woke up at five in the morning and the skies were still dark when we reached the Cruise Centre at Harbourfront.

I was actually not too keen to go as our last trip to Batam was just a few days short to a year. 

However, with the lure of A&W, I decided to go anyway.

Perak 2013: Ipoh And Pangkor Island *Photos Intensive*

*中文版*

Hello!

A few weeks earlier, a kind neighbor has undertaken the task to organize a trip to Perak, Malaysia and had invited some of us neighbors to come along.

The big day finally arrived after much anticipation. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning to board a chartered coach which brought us across the causeway.

Everyone spent much of the journey catching up on much deprived sleep until we arrived for breakfast at Batu Gajah.

Mum's breakfast

Does anyone know what this palm-sized packet is called?

It is wrapped like Nasi Lemak but the content is just rice with shrimps and gravy and not the usual ikan bilis, egg and peanuts.

To be honest, the taste of the rice with the sauce is quite nice actually.

Hat Yai Trip 2013 *Photos Intensive*

Hat Yai

*中文版*

Sawadeeka!

Last month, I boarded Tiger Airways with my parents heading for Hat Yai, Southern Thailand. We touched down at Hat Yai International Airport after a 75 minutes flight from Singapore Changi Airport.

Compared to taking a coach ride setting off from Golden Mile Complex to Southern Thailand via Malaysia, we saved more than twenty hours and alot of backache.

Those who know me might wonder why does my family visit Hat Yai year after year? Isn't it boring?

Hat Yai is not as picturesque as Phuket nor as glamorous as Bangkok. What it have is a very slow pace of life and aged buildings.

However, these are the exact factors which drew my parents to this place as they find the way of life suits them perfectly.

Furthermore, the cost of living is relatively cheaper here and communication is not much of a problem as the Thai Chinese here speaks a little Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

合艾之旅2013 *图多慎入*

合艾

*English version*

三碗猪脚！（Sawadeeka）

上个月，我和两老登上了虎航飞往泰南，合艾。从新加坡樟宜国际机场起航短短75分钟后，我们就抵达了合艾国际机场。

这比起N年前从黄金大厦（Golden Mile Complex）搭乘二十几个小时的长途巴士途经马来西亚再抵达泰南边境而省却了不少的时间与折腾！

认识我的朋友或许会纳闷，我家为何年年都会回到这里度假呢？难道不闷吗？

的确，合艾即没有普吉岛那怡人的景色，也没有曼谷的绚丽繁华。这里有的，只是非常慢的生活节奏和老旧的店屋。

可是，两老偏偏就喜欢这一点，觉得这样的步伐才适合他们。

再来，这里消费便宜，沟通上也没多大的问题因为这里的华侨都会说些潮州，广东或客家话。

Batam 2013: One Day Tour

It has been close to twenty years since I last visited Batam with my secondary school friends. At that time, we went to Waterfront City and the chalet bungalows had only just been completed.

When I learn that my brother had booked us a one day trip to Batam on Labour Day, I was elated to revisit this slow-paced city again!

Early that morning, I brought my folks to meetup with my brother and his in-laws for breakfast at Habourfront where the Singapore Cruise Centre is located on the second floor.

After breakfast, we went up to check in to board the ferry but was told that the gate has already been closed even though we arrived at the stipulated time as told by the tour agency.

The personnel spoke to someone via the walkie walkie and we were given the green light to proceed as the ferry have not departed yet.

We hurried in and was just in time to hear our names being announced over the PA system.

合艾2012：美食篇之甘英饭店

今天想向大家介绍的是在网上口碑深获好评的甘英饭店（Kan Eng Restaurant）。

我心理非常纳闷为何到过合艾那么多次却从未听说过有这么一家店？

据我所收集到的资料显示，甘英是一间小有名气的餐厅。它不但深受当地人欢迎，就连许多游客都会慕名而来。

这次的合艾行，我就特地找上门看看它是否真的有如网友所评价的那么好？

店内虽然只有一些简单基本的陈设，它胜在于地方够宽敞也很通风。但对我来说，最重要的还是这里的环境很干净。在这儿用餐非常的舒服。

一翻开menu就察觉到店家很用心地把里面的每一道菜都拍成了照片。就算是语言不通的我们只需用手指点给服务员看就行了。

甘英的营业时间是从早上10.30至晚上9.30（2点至5点休息）。每当到了繁忙时段，就会产生座无虚席的情况！

为了避免久等，最好是提早一点到。

合艾2012：美食篇之Shabushi

位于蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）1楼的Shabushi是结合了旋转生锅和自助寿司的概念。

简单的说，师傅会把生锅的配料放在盘子后再摆到运输带上而运输带将会围绕着餐厅的吧台而行，方便食客随意地拿。

寿司则是以自助的方式呈现。

以345泰铢（13.80新币）就能吃上两种日式料理实在是物超所值！

但有趣的是，此店规定顾客必须在75分钟（即1小时15分钟）内吃完否则每超时10分钟将会有额外20泰铢（0.80新币）的收费！

合艾2012：美食篇之Hachiban Ramen

这家Hachiban Ramen位于蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）的1楼。打从入住这家酒店那天起，我就一直想试试这里的拉面了。

但由于两老比较向往吃道地的街边泰国料理，我就没向他们提出此要求。

然而，父母见我每次经过此店都会放慢脚步因此就问了一句：“是不是要吃拉面啊？”

真不愧是我爹娘也！那么了解我！

就这样，我们终于走进去啦！

合艾2012：美食篇之蠡園酒店33楼Sky Buffet

之前提到，我们入住了全合艾（Hatyai）最高的酒店 - 蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）而在它第33层的顶楼有个非常廉价，叫Sky Buffet的自助餐。

成人只须区区的169泰铢（6.70新币），就能够享用丰盛的一餐。乐龄还享有50%！

听说这已经是起过价的了 - 之前是149泰铢（5.90新币）呢！

既然有这么划算的自助餐，我们又岂能错过？

合艾2012：酒店篇

大家好，我刚结束了5天4夜的合艾（Hatyai）之旅。

合艾处于泰国南部宋卡府，靠近马来西亚的边界。是许多马来西亚于新加坡人爱到的旅游地点。

我家几乎年年都会到那放松一下，所以今年也不例外。

只是，我们这次决定不安排任何的行程；我们不去拜佛，不逛水上市场，不光赏人妖秀也不去看美人鱼。

这些都是往年去过，看过，玩过的因此没必要再花钱去多一次。

因为纯粹是staycation，所以大部分的时间除了在酒店附近买东西，吃东西和按摩外，就是呆在房里补眠。

这次的旅行有爽到 ～

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Penang

Penang is a melting pot of cultures with east-west influences. Apart from its exotic food, what piques me the most would be their heritage.

The Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (龙山堂邱公司), or simply, Khoo Kongsi for short, is a clan association in Penang that was built by the immigrants from Sin Kang village in the Hokkien province of China for the purpose of looking after the welfare of their fellow clansmen.

Before my visit, I wonder why many have commented on the elusiveness of its location? It was only when I was there in person that I truly understood what they meant.

The main entrance at Cannon Street bears no clue as to what might be inside as it looked just like any of its neighbors along the entire row of pre-war building.

Gurney Drive, Penang

Gurney Drive

Mention Penang and what comes to mind?

For me, it's the iconic Penang Laksa and Char Kway Teow (Penangites spell it as Char Koay Teow). And where better to enjoy Penang hawker fare than Gurney Drive - home to Penang's most popular street food?

Well, just think of it as Penang's equivalent of our very own Newton Circus.

Flamingo Hotel By The Beach, Penang

[via]

After visiting Kek Lok Si Temple, it was time to check-in to our hotel.

It was already early evening when we arrived. The hotel was situated atop a steep slope but for some reasons, the coach was unable to drive us in and we had to walk in, lugging our own luggage behind us. 

With the horrible experience of our previous hotel at Hat Yai still fresh in my mind, I am wary of what is to come at this hotel.

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang

In my previous post, we visited the Padi Muzium in Kedah. After that, we are headed for Kek Lok Si Temple (极乐寺) located at Air Itam, Penang.

Kek Lok Si Temple, or Temple of Supreme Bliss, was founded more than a century ago by the benevolent Beow Lean, a devout Buddhist from Fujian province. 

Do you know, the project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras?

Muzium Padi, Kedah

This is a long overdue post!

Remember my previous trip to Hat Yai where I complained about the lousy hotel with cockroach-infested bathroom and being served the same breakfast every morning?

I will be going to Hat Yai again next month and I still have not completed blogging about that trip from 11 months ago!

I gotta stop procrastinating and pick up where I left off to complete this trip!

Check out my last night at Hat Yai here where we visited the Transvestite Show.

So, the next morning, we boarded the coach to the Thailand - Malaysia border where we exited Songkhla to re-enter Malaysia.