One morning in Teluk Kemang

Just came back from Teluk Kemang, Port Dickson. Following the victory of Negeri Sembilan against Terengganu last night, I decided to have a walk along the beach with my family in the morning. The place was quite peaceful and quiet compared to other parts of Port Dickson. It may have been for 2 reasons: It is not the peak season, and people were off to Bukit Jalil to watch yesterday's match. But it didn't really matter, as the place was just as nice as other beaches in the west coast of Malaysia.


We treated ourselves with some nice nasi lemaks. The people here in the warung were friendly. And the uncle kept giggling while taking orders. Such friendly gestures may have been the energy that attracts visitors from different walks of life to dine here. Too bad it is closed during night time. We had to walk further down to the complex to find a good place to eat.

We could see some fishing boats, jet sju and banana boats around here. There are many sporting events can be done here. It wasn't as quiet as few years back. Hotels, resorts and villas could be seen everywhere. A good place to hang out for young people.

One thing that we couldn't find around here was coconut. The warungs did not serve coconuts despite having coconut trees along the beach. It would have been a great tourist attraction, especially for the locals.

Keropok Lekor for dummies

What is a keropok? Keropok is a favourite crackers served in South East Asia and some parts of Eastern Asia. It can be in different forms of ingredients such as prawns and fish. But what is a keropok lekor? It is a sort of a 'fish sausage', made up of 100% being processed through the machine.

I went to one of the shops in Terengganu to look at how they processed the Keropok Lekor. Most of the shops along the beach were able to produce their own keropok lekors with their machines and skills.

Feeding bunny

Shah Alam, the garden city

Strolling around Shah Alam on a weekend would be fun when you feel like escaping from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur. Situated a few kilometres from Kuala Lumpur, it is the capital of Selangor. The first thing that you'll see upon your arrival to city is the giant mosque. Masjid Sultan Salahudin Abdul Aziz Shah has been Shah Alam's landmark for years.

I went down to a landscape exhibition in one of the parks here. While browsing around local trees and flowers, I was able to catch a glimpse of what the people here would like to do on weekends.

Genting Highlands: Lim Goh Tong's pride

Had a visit to Genting Highlands on weekend morning. Hardly to find a cold place in peninsular Malaysia other than the three famous highlands - Genting, Cameron and Fraser's Hill. But nowadays there are some other highlands being opened for public.



Genting Highlands has always been famous for its casino, but it is also a place of enjoyment for people from all ages. A theme park is located on the hill almost similar to Disneyland, and there is also a large arcade city inside the building.



Situated at the border between Selangor and Pahang, Genting Highlands is about 30 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur. However, visitors should take note when taking buses as they are prone to accidents when ascending the hill.

Pangkor: Let's find some fish!

Went to Pangkor last week and it was a blast. I took a ferry from Marina Bay instead of Lumut, the usual place. It has new facilities going up around there. There were so many things to do in the island in so little time! I was not really coming for a holiday, but hey, when you travel you have to bear in mind that you are a traveller and you must act like one! Here are some of the things that you can do upon your arrival to Pangkor:

Snorkeling and Banana Boat
Have a good time snorkeling with your friends. You can also rent a Banana Boat to enjoy the waves.



Kayaking
Feel like going across the ocean? Go for some kayaking around the island and you'll be able to see some small islands surrounding Pangkor.



Cycle and Motorbike
For as low as RM2 per hour(approx. 40p/less than a buck), you can rent a bike and cycle across the island. But make sure that the brakes and the gears are okay! Since it is cheap, you are prone to have bikes that malfunction. As for motorbike, you can rent one at about RM25 per hour (roughly 5pounds/more than 10 bucks).





Taxi!
If you don't feel like exercising, you can just get a pink taxi across the island at about RM10. There are a few interesting spots that you can visit, such as the Chinese temple, the Dutch port, and the town center itself where you'll find some interesting seafood.

Lookout for the blue-eyed anchovies!
I am not sure if they are really that blue-eyed, but be sure to look for some! The price is a bit expensive compared to the typical ones (probably because of the contact lens), but some people said they are simply delicious when cooked.



We also found a friend of Paul along the way!

Nasi Ambang of Riverstone

What is one of the most popular cuisine of the Javanese? That would be Nasi Ambang. But you don't have to go all the way to the island just to get one of them. Malaysia, especially some of the Selangorians are very much familiar with the food. However, it is quite a trick to find a stall that sells one. Historically, the Javanese has set foot in Selangor long before independence. Thus, they introduced the food as a traditional staple among their community.

One of the good places that I would like to recommend here is in Riverstone. Located in Sg Tua Forest, it gives the kind of tranquility that visitors are looking for. It is also a few minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur.



In order to eat the food, you need to have everyone to sit together so that each person will take turns to munch the rice and the chicken!





At just RM50 per meal, you can also order the Nasi Ambang to be sent to your doorstep, depending on where you live.

Riverstone offers accommodation for people who want to stay in an eco-friendly resort. It also provides space for courses, workshops and teambuilding. You can also have your wedding here!

For more information, you can go to their website here. You may also have a look at its blog here, though most of the information is in Malay.

A visit to Kerling hot spring

I had a quick look around Kerling hot spring. Located about 10kms from Kuala Kubu Baru, the place is frequently visited by locals. Some are interested in setting up camps for various social activities.



The place has been maintained quite frequently, thus it is a good place to have a peace of mind.







For more information on how to get there, click here.

Town of 1Malaysia

As urbanisation is going on rapidly, it is quite difficult nowadays to find a place in Selangor where you will be able to see a group of Chinese and Indians hanging out in a Malay restaurant, a group of Malays and Indians shopping in Chinese grocery shops and a Chinese, Indian and Malay going for a cycle. Welcome to the town where unity is prevalent, where heritage is preserved, and culture maintained. Kuala Kubu Bharu will always fascinate people who wish to experience the real Malaysian 'diversity'.

I have always been excited to come to this part of the state for a sense of tranquility while observing a friendly atmosphere of people from different races. A good role model of a 1Malaysian town.