HB

A long, personal journey worth having.

Sup Kaww!

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sup kaww

Sup Kaww! (with an exclamation mark to prove the point) is a Malay soup establishment in SS 6 that boasts a menu filled with all things soup. This eatery is one of those hit-and-miss places. They’ll have really great soup one night and really crappy one the next. You never know what you’re going to get over here. It’s puzzling since I would have thought some measure of quality control would go into the process, but apparently not.

sup kaw special

On the good days, Sup Kaww serves a mean bowl of rich broth. It’s so thick (hence the name) that drinking the soup alone would fill most people up. Sup Kaww literally means “hearty soup” but due to the inconsistencies mentioned, it can range from a really sad broth to its namesake – hearty soup.

sup kaww special tongkat ali

I usually order Sup Kaw Special + Tongkat Ali (RM 12) which comes with the meat, bones, stomach, lungs and tail of a cow, infused with our local herbal Viagra substitute.

sup kaww special

Sup Kaww is not stingy with their ingredients…on any day (good and bad) you’ll find large chunks of meat inside your bowl. It goes really well with steamed rice. I went again with a couple of coworkers just now and although they’re having a Bad Soup Day (TM) it’s still a good place to sit down to a hot, steaming bowl of potage for two reasons:

sup kaww movie

The establishment is fond of showing DVDs of dubious copyright. You can catch the latest Hollywood flicks while having your dinner.

sup kaww carwash

There’s a car wash service right on the doorstep. Give your car a proper cleaning (interior and exterior) for just RM 10!

sup kaww me

I also like their RM 5 large fruit juices. Washing down a hot bowl of soup with an icy cold drink is heavenly!

I’m SUPer! Thanks for asking! 😉

Upper Class Fried Rice

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upper class fried rice menu

I saw this intriguing menu item while having dinner – it’s called Upper Class Fried Rice and weighs in at a respectable RM 25. It has to be the most expensive fried rice I’ve ever seen! Naturally, I was pretty curious about just what an “Upper Class Fried Rice” contains. I wanted to see what justifies the larger-than-life price tag since the second highest priced item (Golden Fried Rice – slightly less expensive at RM 22) comes with salmon roe topping.

upper class fried rice

Thus, I asked the waitress about the ingredients in this so-called Upper Class Fried Rice (RM 25, just in case you forgot). Apparently, this Atas Fried Rice (as @retardedly_cute calls it) contains asparagus, shallots and other premium ingredients. I just had to try it.

upper class fried rice rm25

I usually can’t eat fried rice as a standalone dish (coz I’m a bit of a carnivore…need meat) but I finished this dish. It’s quite good. My friends who sampled the dish concurred – the rice was fried really well (individual grains instead of clumps) and it tasted “fresh”. The best thing about the rice is surprisingly the humble egg. The restaurant uses egg whites only and it came out really fluffy. It still doesn’t justify the RM 25 price tag though.

This begs the question…is there a Lower Class Fried Rice for RM 2.50?

Prince of Wales Island

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trishaw ride

Pulau Pinang. The Pearl of the Orient. Penang comes in many names and it’s only befitting to the rich heritage of the island to take a trishaw ride to Lorong Seratus Tahun to eat some Penang Curry Mee during our last day in Penang!

seratus tahun

The gastronomic adventure never stops!

seratus tahun mee

This is the famous Lorong Seratus Tahun curry mee. It comes with the classic chilli on the soup spoon haphazardly slapped on top of your dish. It’s RM 5.50 per bowl and comes with chunks of congealed blood, clams and fresh prawns. It’s awesome!

penang curry mee

I’m usually not a big fan of soup dishes, but I drank every single drop of the rich gravy in this curry mee.

curry mee

We went back to Lorong Selamat after that for char kueh tiaw. Yes, this is an eating expedition! I really wanted to try BOTH the famous Lorong Selamat CKT (the guy with the sunnies and the aunties) and I just know that I wouldn’t be able to board the plane in peace if I haven’t checked out the second stall.

aunty ckt

This is the Lorong Selamat CKT, aunty version (RM 8.50).

ckt 2

It’s oilier than the one we ate the previous day, which I much preferred. I suggest patronizing the stall manned by Mr. Wraparound Sunnies.

new world park

Next on the itinerary: New World Park Lee Brothers 4-in-1 Ice Kacang!

lee brothers

This place has been featured on Ho Chiak! (the local food show) before and it has certainly EARNED its place there. You wouldn’t expect such good stuff from a stall located in a food court. Not just a food court, but a NEW food court at that.

ice kacang

The Lee Brothers 4-in-1 Special Ice Kacang (RM 3.80) is loaded with four different fruits (mango, honey dew, banana and papaya) as well as the usual condiments found in the shaved ice dessert. It’s topped with a rainbow scoop of ice cream and here’s the best thing about it – it’s not adulterated with sugar syrup or other artificial sweeteners. The sweetness is purely derived from the fruits (and the ice cream of course). It’s great!

snake temple

Having eaten our fill, we checked out of the hotel and went to the snake temple with Valerie (who’s a nurse!). The snake temple is a temple with a twist (which the name pretty much gives away) – there’s a snake farm in there where you can take photos with the resident snakes!

snake photo

I took two (2) photos for RM 30.

snakes

The snake temple also has a mini zoo of sorts, which we paid RM 3 for the entrance fee. There are a lot of rare snakes in there…

huge python

…including this gigantic python that must weigh at least a ton! I managed to see it eat a chicken.

python eat

Spit it out!

python me

Getting up close and personal. Touchy feely kind of personal. 😉

cobra me

The highlight of the snake temple has gotta be the King Cobra show. The snake charmer was kind enough to let me get within striking distance of this rather poisonous snake.

king cobra

I managed to take a nice photo of the agitated reptile too. Hiss!

cynthia

I managed to successfully rendezvous with Cynthia on our way out. She just arrived in Penang from Perth. It took no small amount of planning, but we did it! 🙂

valerie

Valerie sent us to the airport after the 3D/2N trip. We did Penang with less than RM 1,000 – it’s definitely a food paradise, a veritable Eden of hawker food and all that is good!

photo album

One for the photo frame!

png

Thanks to MAS for the air tickets and spending money!

Planning a value packed weekend getaway? You know where to look. 😉

Previous posts:

Penang Day 1: The Pearl of the Orient

Penang Day 2: Saturday in Penang: Penang Hill, Fort Cornwallis, Seri Rambai Cannon and Sup Torpedo

Melaka

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“Who goes to Melaka to eat chicken satay?”

christ church

I headed down to Melaka last weekend with Jennifer and Michael. Jennifer is from Melaka and kindly offered to bring me around the place so I picked her and Mike up from Ampang and drove down really early on Saturday.

farmosa

Melaka is not very far from KL actually, it takes about 2 hours if you maintain a decent cruising speed. You might be able to reach there in an hour if you have very little regard for life and limb though. 😉

coconut

We headed straight for the old market to grab a cold glass of coconut juice as soon as we got there (the heat is oppressive in Melaka)…

durian

…and indulge in some durians (from a roadside stall). It just tastes better that way. 🙂

lunch

It was around lunchtime by the time we were done so we headed to Jenn’s favorite place for Melaka style char siew rice. I like this place – the patrons come in and either sit on makeshift tables and chairs, or place their plates down on an empty stall nearby and start eating. It’s a very unpretentious and homely environment.

char siew rice

We checked into the hotel after that – we actually went to several hotels before finding one which is not fully booked. Our first choice was Baba House, an authentic Baba/Nyonya (Peranakan) hotel which is set in a converted shop house that harks back to the days where they roamed the streets.

eat us

Melaka is the Peranakan capital of Malaysia, due to some convoluted history of intermarriage between Chinese traders (from China) and local Malays. Unfortunately, Melaka seems to attract a lot of Singaporeans over the weekends so it was full.

cannon

Actually, on hindsight (only saw this later that evening), if you’re just heading there for an overnight stay and you want to try something different, check out the Maritime Museum. There’s an activity packed tour (river cruise, night hiking etc) and you get to spend a night on board the ship for just RM 95. I’m so going for this option on my next trip.

us

Anyway, after checking in and dumping our bags, we headed out to try the pork satay in Melaka.

pork satay

This place is called Ming Sate Hut and it serves satay and satay only. They have pork satay, intestine satay and liver satay (as well as the usual fare, but like Jenn said, who goes to Melaka to eat chicken satay?). The strange thing (strange to me ok :p) is that you order what you want and they serve it up. You eat the amount you want (you don’t have to finish everything) and they just count the sticks when you’re done.

view

The leftovers are probably reheated and served again. 😉

baba

I also went for a crash course in Peranakan culture at Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. The tour was fascinating, mostly coz I’ve forgotten most things I learned about Malaysian history in high school. Heh! Apparently Straits Chinese eat with their hands, so they have small soup bowls with individual soup spoons for the obligatory soup dish at meals (coz you can’t very well drink soup with your hands).

cc me

We headed to Christ Church after that. It’s affectionately dubbed the Red Church due to its fire engine red façade and is probably the most photographed structure in Melaka after A Farmosa.

red square

Christ Church, Melaka is actually a still functional place of worship (of the Anglican denomination) and comes with a beautiful square (not the shape, the place people gather) complete with an antique clock circa 1886. The Red Square was teeming with tourists when I was there, which contributes to the gaiety-charged atmosphere. It looked like almost every other person was lugging a dSLR around!

journey

Next stop: St. Paul’s Church!

st paul

The pilgrimage to the top…

paul

St. Paul’s Church is not a cathedral per se, but rather grim looking ruins used as a burial ground for the Dutch. There are a lot of tombstones, so if you’re into stuff like that, you’ll feel right at home!

tomb

The path we went through is actually a walk that brings you to the Big 3 in Melaka – Christ Church, St. Paul and Fort A Farmosa. Our journey ends right at A Farmosa, which is not as impressive as I had imagined…

a farmosa

Fort A Farmosa looks exactly like what a fort built in 1511 should look like – crumbly and worn. It’s nice to stand beside this ½ millennia structure though…and you can’t say you’ve been to Melaka until you’ve been to A Farmosa.

squat

Come to think of it, you’ve probably seen A Farmosa in Melaka…but you’ve never experienced it until you’ve done the Ah Beng squat in front of A Farmosa! 😉

excavation

You can opt to take a scenic stroll to the many excavation sites after that…there’s a huge excavation going on around the city to unearth the old fortress walls around Melaka. Take a peek.

Other not-to-be-missed stuff:

jonker

Jonker Street. Jonker Walk is only open on the weekends and it’s like a huge pasar malam (bazaar) on the streets. It’s festive, it’s crowded, and it’s a lot of fun!
 

satay celup

Satay celup

rice balls

Chicken rice balls

portuguese

Portuguese settlement

menara

Menara Taming Sari

gyro

This gyro tower ride is much better than the overrated Eye On Malaysia. Enjoy the 360 degree view of Melaka from 80 meters up for just RM 10.

dodol

The Tan Kim Hock dodol shop – just so you can get some souvenirs home. 😉

Karma Yoga

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beyoga

I’ve watched a lot of people at my office get bitten by the yoga bug. I’ve been tempted to start myself, except I keep telling myself I have no time. I suspect that’s my usual excuse for maintaining my sedentary lifestyle (and apparently, I’m not alone – met Chics who said the very same thing). Heh!

be yoga

I was intrigued when Ninie emailed me about her new place and asked me to drop by last Sunday. beyoga is located in Metropolitan Square and it’s not too far from where I live. The session was quite early on Sunday (it’s almost illegal to get someone to wake up at that hour on a Sunday) but I said okay coz I’m really interested to know how this yoga thing goes.

lobby

beyoga is a really nice place – the interior is very Zen, and despite being the only guy there, I felt very much at ease. The full length mirrors allow me to see Ninie regardless of whether she’s in front or at the back and check if I’m doing it the right way. It’s my first lesson so I was a bit unfamiliar with the asanas and needed a lot of visual reaffirmation.

membership

I think the thing that sold me was Ninie asking the reason we’re all gathered there on that fateful Sunday. What is my purpose of doing yoga? I thought about it for a while and realized there are two reasons – to feel better about myself and to correct my horrible posture. My mom never told me to un-slouch myself when I was a kid and over the years, I’ve developed a bit of a slouch – a problem I have struggled to correct.

interior

I’m hoping that all the bending and twisting involved in yoga, as well as the emphasis on correct posture, will get me to stand (and sit) straight. It is a 28 year habit, but it’s never too late to start taking remedial steps. 🙂

waiting

The lesson started with stretching before moving to basic poses like the Downward-Facing Dog. We then proceeded to do the Cobra Pose and more complicated asanas that required feats of dexterity that I didn’t know I possess!

yoga room

I surprised myself by successfully clasping the small of my back with my hands and pulling my legs straight up. Ninia told me I was pretty good for a first timer, I’m not sure if she was just being kind or it has a grain of truth in it. I’m inclined to believe the latter. 😉

ninie

I felt a nice afterglow (endorphins?) for the entire day after the yoga session. Yoga can make you feel better and more confident about yourself too – another plus point. It’s not just for females, contrary to popular belief. Anyone can join yoga (just look at me – I drink and smoke) and I’m STILL going (although I felt really bad about smoking a cigarette after yoga :p).

yoga us

Lead a healthier lifestyle if you must (no caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, fat etc) but if you’re not willing to make drastic changes to your lifestyle just yet, hold back and get a feel of yoga first.

chics

You might be surprised to find out that you actually enjoy it.

logo

I have bent myself in ways the human body is not meant to be twisted (at least IMHO) and I FELT GOOD after the session.

yoga pose

I’m going to make this a regular thing (including the horribly early Sunday session) coz it seems like the world is brighter, nicer and happier when I do that.

Exhale all your bad feelings, be a better person!

Master Ho’s Finger of Doom

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master ho

I caught this successful attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records at Jonker Street, Melaka. Master Ho, among other things, is renowned for having the fastest finger this side of town. His famous fingers have jabbed more coconuts than you can shake a stick (or finger) at.

coconut piercing

Ho Swee Poh (the self dubbed Master Ho) and his merciless index finger managed to pierce 4 coconuts within a minute, thereby securing a spot in the book of records.

Other possible careers:
Cell phone QC tester
(if the phone doesn’t shatter when Master Ho dials a number, it has his seal of approval)

What others? 😉

The best popiah in Melaka!

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popiah melaka

I stand here as a witness to the best popiah in Melaka, nay, the world! It’s a gem of a find since most people will dismiss the unassuming stall, but not the locals. This popiah stall at Jalan Bunga Raya has been in operation for since time immemorial and picked up a couple of awards during its reign too – including a seal of endorsement by the good people at Ho Chiak!

popiah bunga raya

There is no signage on the mobile stall but this stall is so popular that it doesn’t need one. It totally eschews the trappings of modern marketing and prefers to maintain its (relative) anonymity. The queue for the sublime popiah kinda gives it away though. Just look for the Popia Bunga Raya sticker hidden in the stall. 🙂

popiah stuff

The popiah in Melaka costs RM 2.50 (small) and RM 3 (big). The sign says it’s open till 9 pm but don’t let that fool you! It’s a trick, I tell you. A TRICK! The owner usually packs up by early afternoon coz all the popiah is sold out! We wanted to eat this on the very first day, but the stall was nowhere to be found. You really need to arrive early (and queue up) for this.

popiah roll

The secret ingredient which makes this popiah so great is the deep fried pork lard. I have always been highly skeptical of claims that there’s one ingredient that makes or breaks a dish, but here I stand corrected. The turnips, another important ingredient in popiah, are fresh and juicy too!

popiah cut

I had mine with chilli sauce and it was just BURSTING in flavor. I approve!

popiah me

Hail to the King (of popiah), baby!

P/S – Excuse my T-shirt. :p

An open letter

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nail-clipper

Dear nail clipper,

It is with great sorrow that I draft this letter to you. I am afraid I can no longer turn the other cheek to your constant and prolonged disappearance. You have been trying to avoid me for the better part of two weeks and I am deeply saddened to inform you that if this continues, I will have no recourse but to buy a new one.

Signing off with a heavy heart,
Huai Bin

Satay Celup

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“It’s like lok-lok…but with peanut sauce!”

satay celup

Satay Celup originated in Melaka but like most other things it has migrated far and wide. I hear it’s even available at the mobile lok-lok trucks around here, but for the Real Deal (TM), nothing beats going to Melaka to eat satay celup!

ban lee siang

The place we went to is none other than Ban Lee Siang – one of the renowned satay celup establishments in Melaka. There are two other satay celup places flanking Ban Lee Siang and it’s very telling that Ban Lee Siang is the only one packed to the rafters, with people waiting for a free table while the other two are practically deserted.

satay celup sticks

Satay celup is a Malay word meaning “sticks of stuff” and “dip”. The skewers are kept refrigerated and you walk around with a tray to choose the items you want. There’s easily 50 different items on offer, ranging from clams to quail eggs and everything in between. The prawns are surprisingly fresh and sweet, and the balled up vegetables provides a nice, crunchy texture. The mushrooms and stuffed chillis are pretty good too.

satay celup sauce

Satay celup invariably comes with the same setup – there is a communal satay celup pot in a recessed pit in the middle of the table. The satay celup pot is constantly kept full by the staff, who roams from table to table to refill the sauce. The sauce is none other than satay sauce a.k.a. peanut sauce!

fill

This is what makes satay celup interesting. It’s like lok-lok (where you dunk food skewers into boiling hot water or broth) except you dip this into a simmering pot of peanut sauce. The sweet (albeit diluted) satay sauce tastes delicious with the meat, vegetables and seafood on sticks. It’s a great twist to a classic dish.

offerings

The satay celup system, for the uninitiated, is rather like a buffet. You pick the items you want from the bank of fridges and put it on a tray. Each stick is RM 0.50 except the red color coded ones, which goes for RM 0.60.

satay celup skewers

You’re free to eat as much as you want and by the end of the meal, a waiter comes over to count the number of sticks you’ve consumed and you pay accordingly. Easy!

bread

Satay celup in Melaka is served with bread. The bread is used to soak up the delicious peanut sauce.

jenn dad mike

I think the peanut sauce actually tastes better after a lot of people have eaten from the same communal pot. The satay sauce absorbs the taste of the ingredients dumped into it by previous diners since the pot is never emptied but refilled.

me satay celup

It’s the shiznit, yo.

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