World War II Train in Melaka

This train is displayed about 100 meters away from the Palawan Shopping Mall in the heart of historical Melaka.

Water Theme Park: Melaka Wonderland at Ayer Keroh, Malacca.

This water theme park also offers Paint Ball, and Go Kart Racing. Serves fast food at their cafeteria.

Great Taste at Calanthe Art Cafe, Jonker Street, Malacca

One of the outlet which I would recommend for some good fusion food. The mix of local and Malaysian Style Western Food. But the most unique part was the "13 State Coffee". Oh yes, Malacca Coffee, Penang Coffee, Kelantan Coffee, and many more.

Well the deco? some hand painted chairs, walls, typical "Art Cafe" with lots of hand crafted items around.

What I love most is the Laksa (curry style) Beehoon (rice vermicelli) and magic of it was the dried "sambal" (chili) guarantee to stimulated your appetite. What I do is always request for extra and being charged additional RM1.00 a small price to pay for the great taste.

Rating:     Deco: 3.5    Price: 4     Taste: 4.5    Parking: 1     Service: 3.5

Rating Score: 1 Very Poor and 5 for Excellent

Teluk Gong Fishing Village at Malacca, Malaysia

Another small fishing village discovered and the "ikan bakar" (baked fish) is just spicy enough to satisfy your lust for the aromatic herbs which gives you an ever lasting impression.

The location is about an hours drive from the city and the evening breeze is just so cooling which builds up you mood for "makan" (to eat). So food adventures this is on spot you may not want to miss. 

Sunrise in Tampin, Malacca

Got up early in the morning as I stood at the balcony of Afamosa Condo and saw the sunrising just to perfect not to shoot. Tampin is a small township about 45 minutes drive from Malacca City. It serves simple Chinese, Malay, and Indian food at a very low price.

Tampin does not offer must but you can drop by the hot spring or the Water World on your way and have some food later. I heard there is "pork satay" around but they start selling those after mid night. Why after mid night? Well, i wouldn't know and have yet had the chance to try.

So those food adventures may want to keep yourself awake for the food exploration into the wee hours of the morning. 

The Bridge with a Warrior's Name

This is the busiest bridge in this "Historical City of Malacca" and fit to be called "Hang Tuah Bridge". Hang Tuah is a famous warrior during 1600's which fough the invaders defending Melaka and protecting the Sultan (King).



Hang Tuah Bridge

Hang Tuah's choice of weapon was the "Kris" (sword) which was named the "Taming Sari" which believe to have given him great strenght. Hang Tuah was one of the five warriors namely Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Likue.

Kris Taming Sari



Under pass of the bridge

A touch of technology and still preserving the history of the pass. Melaka is the place to be.

    



Food: Pei Zin Chinese Restaurant at Melaka Raya

Well after we found a parking lot and now was to have some porridge and some modest dishes to accompany our business discussion. We decide to take more vegetable and less meat as we are truly lack of exercise.

The food was quite fast as we enjoyed sipping our Chinese tea. The vegetable was nothing to shout about. Mean while the stew pork is dry and the gravy is just plain to me.



Stew Pork

Fried bean curd with minced meat, flavoured with garlic, and onions with some sugar sprinkle over is just fantastic.

Fried Torfu (BeanCurd) with minced meat

Verdict: Deco: 3 | Service: 3.5 | Pricing: 3 | Taste Over all: 3 | Facilities (parking/toilet) : 2.5

Enjoy the River View of Malacca

Shot this from a 3 storey building, well to see what the angle is really impressive or other wise. It turns out to just fair shot without much details. Anyway, the same boat ride must be taken at night and you will enjoy the eletricfying beauty of the night ride.

Straits Chinese Traditional Pastry

Kuih loosely means cake. Kuih 'Ku" traditionally in red flour and stuff with black beans or green beans. Normally used as prayer offering to deity, wedding ceremony, or the 1st and 15th of Chinese calender. About a couple years ago the skin comes with white, yellow, and now the skin is made from jelly with stuffing.

The banana leaf is still used to enhance the aroma of Kuih Ku and the stuffing now are more elaborate with red beans and many more. This Kuih could easily be found in the 'Pasar Malam" Night market or our wet market where they are sold by Chinese hawkers or Peranakan speciality shops or hawkers.

Affordable food, clean, comfortable, & fully air condition.

A local outlet serving both western and local food with three outlets in Melaka. The Windmills, pricing is average but the offers are great. eg: buy 1 get 1 free. The taste? Is simply fantastic especially the "Nasi Goreng Cili Padi" Fried Rice with chillies was just mouth watering .



Fish Salad Mix



It is a family style outlet so be prepared for the noise of children running around and the noise of people eating and talking is some times too loud. Lunch and dinner time be prepared to wait as the restaurant is packed.



Nasi Goreng "Chili Padi" with Deep Fried Chicken Cubes

"Bon Appettie" 

Chinese Culture in Malacca

It has been for generations the Chinese opera show had been in every festival there is. Now the threat comes from the cheap shows of signers dressing way too expose for the purpose of temples and respect for the elders. Don't get me wrong about being "square" - I love to look at girls too but there should be time and place for every thing.





Lion Dance



Opera Performer



I was born a "Straits Chinese" or "Peranakan" - simple more popular term is the "Baba & Nonya" and my command in Chinese dialects is the worst of it kind. When I was shooting this opera story  about an innocent man being accused of wrong doing in the palace. As the story goes it got interesting and I actually got the story about 60% right.

End of the day, I found myself richer with knowledge of my own culture through this and with this message the temple committee every where should look into expanding or reinventing the opera to get the young generation to value our roots.



Designer Coffee Shops Mushrooming in Malacca

Off late the sprouting of these designer coffee shops around Melaka town are in abundance. Mostly, serving almost the same type of food from "Nasi Lemak", "Sambal Petai", Fried Noodles, and the list just goes on. Nothing so special, but the local consumers are attracted to this trendy places just because the ambiance are better to hang out and of cause people like me to do some work between waiting time and for some comfort.

Food wise? Nothing to shout about as some of the chicken rice served are really below expectation, and soups are some times cold. In some outlets, the service is so bad that we have to wait for the waiters and they never smile plus you got to write your own order and wait for your waiter if he notices you. If you are looking for good food the designer coffee shop is not where you want to be.

Anyway, food court service is worst even in the malls during peak hours. The plates, fork and spoon are wet, tables is wipe with cloth not wash after 10 tables at least. Well, in spite of promoting Melaka, I believe that this should be make know to the public as they (the operators and management) need to improve or we will die with food contamination which ever comes first one of these days. How ever not all those outlets are bad, it is just I have lots of bad experience cause I am a local and always expose to better cooking then some of those so call designer outlets.

Local Malaccan tea break with "Deep Fried Bean Curd stuffed with Chicken Curry.

Yesterday at about 3pm had managed to stop for a coffee break at Taman Tasik Utama, Ayer Keroh, Melaka. This small "warong" (small make shift stall) selling this "Deep Fried Bean curd stuff with diced chicken curry". Marvellous taste took five pieces and skip dinner after that.

Well they do not have any address but situated close by Konica factory too big for you to miss. Will get the GPS coodinates in the future.

Italy Bakery with their "Moo moo Cake" at Melaka Raya, Malacca

Its was after a hot day i drop by this bakery just planning to buy a jar of pineapple tart for myself. I was approached by a sale person and she had recommended me to try some cookies and their speciality the "Moo moo Cake". Planning just to spend RM20.00 ended up with RM80.00 worth of pastries.

Location: Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca

No regrets as the cookies are good and the "moo moo cake" just fantastic. One caution is that the moo moo cake must be taken once out of the fridge to get the best taste. it turns soggy after a couple hours in a plastic container.

Price: 3    |  Service: 4    |  Cleanliness:  4.5  |  Product range: 4.5    | Parking: 4 avoid lunch hour traffic

Rating: 1 being Poor and 5 being Best:

The Celeberation of Malaysia Day

On 16th September 1963, we came together as a nation. A historic union that has certainly left a lasting heritage. A heritage that has merged rich cultures, beliefs, customs and traditions to make us an integrated people, a unified nation. May this heritage be one of our greatest natural resources, one that we hope to sustain and pass on for generations to come. Here's to us.



The rising on the Malaysia Flag