12 Oct 2013, 4.30am, gathered at P.Ramlee office, Penang. 13 members of BTSC make their move from Penang to Ipoh City for an early morning breakfast. Our Driver, Mr. Sham (from Capital One Sdn. Bhd.) drove us "fast" but safely as the road was really empty and smooth early in the morning. Using the North South East Highway, we managed to reach Ipoh Town at 6.30am. Upon entering the town, many cars seems started to hunt for the crazy early morning "Dim Sum" in Ipoh Town. "Dim Sum" was one of the famous breakfast theme, not only in Hong Kong but Malaysia too. They consisted of various Chinese delicacies such as siew mai, prawn dumplings, fish balls, chicken feets, steam buns, porridge, egg tart and etc. Based on earlier itineraries, we planned to have our "Dim Sum" in Foh San Restaurant, one of the most famous "Dim Sum" restaurant in Ipoh. Out of expectation, it was too early and the door has yet to open for public, even though there were few groups of tourist from Singapore sitting while waiting in there already (with advance booking). So we took the next famous restaurant, Ming Court Hong Kong Tim Sum, just opposite of Foh San. We managed to get a table without queuing and the restaurant was extremely full with people. The waitress which were generally old ladies, without hesitation, placed all their "Dim Sum" containers on the table as we look stunningly!
From the tables, you just can't stop picking up varieties of "Dim Sum" from the stainless steel container look alike. Too many varieties which were so mouth watering. Moreover, the portion of the "Dim Sum" are small in sizes which makes you even more craving!. They just suits anyone from fried to steams stuffs.
Amazingly, we managed to emptied all the containers. From a growling stomach to a peaceful mountain-shaped belly and speechless for the whole morning. It's a great start for our trip from Penang to Ipoh Town just for a morning breakfast!
Overall, the "Dim Sum" was really satisfied and the price was really cheap. We are talking about more than 50 containers/ plates that we have ordered plus refillable Chinese Tea. Just look into our bill and the cost was only RM215/- for a 13 pax breakfast!. Speechless again. Unfortunately, our driver was a Malay and can't join us for the morning breakfast. Anyway, he was a nice guy for a start. Thank you again for waiting us for more than an hour on the "Dim Sum".
It was a great breakfast and with no regret even though we have changed our plan to this restaurant. Based on past experience, Foh San "Dim Sum" portion is extremely large and expensive and the varieties were not as great as Ming Court. In addition, the services from Ming Court are faster than expected whereby the "Dim Sum" reached your table once you laid you back on the chair. In opposite, you need to queue again for food in Foh San and the "Dim Sum" may not be ready on time as people over there are like snatch thief. Upon payment at Foh San, you will get a bit shock for the price that you are going to pay. In anyhow, both restaurants remained good in reputation as they have their own strength and target market. One thing clear in view, Ming Court has a very old fashion way of trading "Dim Sum" while Foh San is more presentable and modern outlook. Hence, these pricing factors should be taken into you consideration in choosing the right place for a good "Dim Sum".
After breakfast, we continue our journey from Ipoh Town to Melaka. Along the journey, most are asleep and smile as all the mouth watering "Dim Sum" sway their dream. As for me, i need to half asleep as to accompany our driver so that he won't fall asleep for an early morning journey. Mr. Sham, was nice to tell me where all the AES located along the highway. In Malaysia, our government had installed few speed trap cameras or so called AES along major speed area. General speed on the highway was about 110km/h to 120km/h. Certain spots will have a lower speed from 70 km/h to 90 km/h. So, that solved my curiosity as to why our driver accelerated up and down along the highway. I thought that he was tired or had a cramp hitting the acceleration paddle. Laugh out loudly. Cutting through KL city and Selangor border, we continue along NSE highway and managed to reach Melaka by 12.30pm. Our driver tried few rounds to locate our hotel as the GPS was not functioning really well. Perhaps, the map was not updated or too many development in Melaka City. We checked-in hotel for a very fast refreshment at 1.00pm on the same day.
Melaka, was declared as World Heritage City in 2008 and one of the best city to visit in Malaysia. The crowd was amazing and you can witnessed the many tourist during the day and night time. At 2.00pm, our stomach growled again and it was a good time to hunt for food. Melaka was not only inherited with its famous architecture but many good and delicious food originated from here as well which is going to be the best experience for food lovers.
Bad things about good food, you need to queue up!. 100m?...Yes, that's how long you need to queue for a nice Chicken Rice Ball!. It's a great choice for lunch but worst line that you need to face it. To skip the line, there are still plenty of restaurants around the corner and most had the same taste or look as well. So, if possible, skip the queue and try for other restaurants with less crowd if you are too hungry. It really taste almost the same and no point to queue up for 100m.
If you happened to try their Chicken Rice, don't forget to order their "Assam Fish". "Assam Fish are curry based and taste more sour than normal spicy curry as they were cooked with "Assam". "Assam Fish" is a great combination with Chicken Rice and they really worked well with the smooth textured chicken in Melaka. After Chicken Rice meals, we were surprised by an extremely cheap bill again, RM129/- for a 13 pax Chicken Rice with Assam Fish, vegetables and couples of drinks.
Rivercruise in Melaka is one of the best way to get ahead of the township. However, i would suggest to do it at night time as the panaromic view during night time are more welcoming. In addition, day time is a bit warm and tension. The price for the boat is really cheap about RM10 per ride. Anyhow, we did not opt for the boat trip as time was not pleasant.
We take a day trip in Melaka Town by walking down the street. There are plenty of shops offering local products from clothing to crafts. Prices are reasonable and products are really attractive. Sightseeing in Melaka is one of the best experience for a new entrant and regular too. Left and right people carrying from mini to a bulky high end cameras snapping photos non-stop. Everyone seems like a professional photographer but you wouldn't want to miss the greatest historical building in Malaysia. Even, Hard Rock Cafe make they stand in the heart of Melaka.
As we walked by the Melaka Street, we saw a shop represented by Mamee. If you have recalled your childhood time, Mamee Monster was one of the craze that every kids was fighting for. Unpack a Mamee and crunching the Mamee with a pack of seasoning powder and shake it and shake it before you munch it. That's the whole idea of Mamee Monster and the shop was totally designed to remember the history of Mamee Monster. Well, for your information, Mamee was actually originated from Melaka City. That was the quote given by the Manager in Charge at the outlet during our visit. Mamee is a brand and various products such as Double Decker, Mister Potato, Nachos and etc was produced by the brand.
Down the road was Jonker Street and we walk and walk and walk......Endless but interesting and amazing with crowds left, right, front and back. You can find plenty of good foods over here. Surprisingly, Melaka is also famous with Durian stuff. They ranges from Durian Cendol, Durian Puffs, Durian Ice Cream, Durian Cheesecake, Durian Coffee, Durian Tarts and Durian Cookies as well. The best we would have tasted were the Durian Cendol and Durian Ice Cream (Gelato). Both seems to have better flavour than we have in Penang. Moreover, Melaka Laksa was really not bad and tasted as good as we have in Penang. So peeps, don't ever miss out your opportunities to visit Melaka one day. Melaka food is a must to try! THUMBS UP.
After all the good food along Jonker Street, we walked along the Melaka River and the Old Melaka Port. Nothing much over here except for historical monuments, ships, war bunkers, and couple of museums. We didn't plan to visit any of these in depth and keep on our tour during the night time.
Dinner in Melaka was always a dream for everyone who visited to Melaka for the first time. I've got to understand that Melaka was really famous for its romantic dining especially for couples to dine along the Melaka Riverside. Yes, it's true that Melaka do have many small restaurants with different theme and they are really small in sizes which was about 6 to 8 tables per restaurant. Some of these restaurants carries theme like the old Bavarian township, Italian design wall and ceiling, Spanish themed based and one of them had a very modern Nyonya style total make over restaurant. Many couples from young to senior had their quiet and romantic dinner along the riverside and it was so peaceful with few glasses of wine accompanied with a plate of stunningly sweet rib-eye steak and lobster.On top of that there are many small pubs with open concept along the riverside and slow music makes up the whole environment. Unfortunately THATS NOT WITHIN OUR BUDGET! LOL. So back to our plan, we actually had our dinner at one of the famous "Satay Celup" restaurant which was named as "Ban Lee Siang". "Satay Celup" in Melaka was best known for its "Satay Sauces" which was a thick gravy to be soaked with your choices of meat, seafood, or vegetables on a stick. These are really cheap at RM0.50 per stick. Just for your understanding if you plan to have your dinner at this restaurant, you really have to queue up for a while before you can get a place to sit.
That's all about Melaka. After dinner, on the same day we end up with a good night rest. A one whole day in Melaka was really satisfying and fascinating with so many things to see, so many foods to try, so many people to meet and so many occasion to enjoy. There are plenty things that we have yet to explore such as the Melaka Zoo, Bird Park, Melaka Tower, A Famosa Waterpark and etc. Well, it may not be enough time but we've made the best of it all. Thank you Melaka!
13 Oct 2013, early in the morning after breakfast in the hotel, we check out from Melaka and make a direct highway drive to Sunway Lagoon, Selangor. The journey was short approximately 1 1/2 hours and reached Subang Jaya about 10.30am. As everyone get excited, we quickly rush down through the build in escalator from the main entrance of Sunway Pyramid towards the lagoon which was located about 7 floor from the Shopping Complex of Sunway Pyramid.
With queues not as many as expected, we managed to get the tickets in short time. Things have changed significantly with the theme-park now killing every tourist with its ONE TIME ENTRANCE TICKET. There are no more segregations of Water Park, Dry Park, Scream Park and Extreme Pack ticket just like the old days. We are forced to buy the RM90/- ticket and that goes to Malaysian MyKad holders only. We were advised by the attendant that they have implement a cashless system all over the park including food and drinks kiosk. So, remember to buy a top up rubber stripe (with microchip) for your own conveniences. Even locker require the stripe and a minimum of RM50 is required to purchase the rubber stripe (refundable anyway for any balances left).
A full day in the park was tiring but satisfying. Members were exhausted after hours of water splashing and terrifying rides and shows. We were then brought to our hotel in the town area of Kuala Lumpur late in the evening. Traffic was great on that day itself and we reached hotel at good timing for refreshment before dining.
Upon check-in, hotel was really good, clean and after all was newly renovated. We walked out from the hotel after refreshment towards a nearby monorail station (5 minutes away from hotel). To be exact we stayed at Medan Tuanku. Our targeted station was Bukit Bintang, one of the most hot-spot area in Kuala Lumpur for shopping, dining and entertainment. It was 6.30pm and it's time for a great dinner ahead. We walked from Lot 10 to Starhill about 10 minutes where our restaurant was located. Yes, we wanted and craving for this restaurant for almost a year. The Jogoya, one of the famous Japanese Buffet Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. It cost about RM105 per person to enjoy 100 over delicacies from hot to cold dishes. Wine was not to be missed too.
After dining for more than 2 hours, we walked a few metres towards Pavilion, a new addition of shopping heaven in Kuala Lumpur. Plenty of international brand to be name Gucci, Prada, Armani, Hugo Boss and etc make their stand overhere. Anyhow, we were not in the real mood of shopping after an exhausting day of activities. Not long after window shopping in Pavilion, with mostly were really tired and sleepy, we ended up our day back to hotel for rest.
14 Oct 2013, To Be Continue....
