Bangkok Beat #2

Day 2

Continuing from previous post on Bangkok trip, we booked a half day tour of Floating Market & Dangerous Market with the Kasem's friend, Apichart (Mr Tee as he want to be called) as he had prior booked job assignment. According to Kasem, there is this unofficial consortium of Toyota Innova & Fortuner drivers whereby the drivers share each other contacts & job assignments. In this competitive tourism industry, this is definitely a win-win situation for all drivers. Our tour is booked at the rate of 2000 baht (approx. MYR 202.00) nett. The journey by taxi from hotel to Damnoen Saduak district where the markets are located, takes 1.5 hours.

Arrived at the town of Maeklong. This has to be the most underrated tourist attraction in Thailand. Never I've heard or seen before a market was held on a railway track. Really, no joke !!! A wet market where villagers sell their vegetable produces  & seafood catches on the track itself. This place is called Maeklong Railway Market (the local guides called it Dangerous Market). Truly, this has to be the most interesting & dangerous market in the world. When the train runs though the market, pretty amazing sight to see the synchronized moves of the sellers  lower their awnings, take away their stuffs from the tracks while the train slowly moves. Once the train passes & stopped at nearby Maeklong train station (the last stop), the sellers will position back their stuffs & business continues as usual. This go on for 3 times a day I heard. Definitely a must-visit place if you're in Bangkok.



Fresh market along the track

Awning lowered as the train slowly passed

Next we took a long boat ride thru the river (unnamed) to the world famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The ride costs 2500 baht (approx. MYR 225), where we started from a narrow man-made straight slowly to the river bank. Along the way, there's ubiquitous stores selling handicrafts & souvenirs. It's only towards the banks where there's busier activities going on & more varieties of foods sold. The whole ride took us 2 hours. Good for a first-time experiences as there's not many river markets that u heard of these days.

Our sampan (wooden boat) for the floating market tour

Fresh mangoes on sale

One of many floating stalls, selling various types of food

Bangkok famous traffic jam even extends to the water !!!

The main activity area in the market

By the time we finished our half day tour & back to hotel, it's just passed 2pm. We got the driver stopped us a MBK shopping complex, the first stop of our mall hopping activity. Had lunch at its reputable premium food court at 6th floor, good place for those seeking a one stop centre serving tasty local & international food. Highly recommended.



MBK shopping complex

From MBK, took the local MRT ride to Terminal 21 shopping mall, Siam Paragon & finally got onto a local tut-tut to Platinum Mall for another round of shopping.

Mall hopping with help of MRT



With tut-tut, all transportation modes are used in our Bangkok trip

Fried pork - You will never go wrong, ordering this anywhere in Bangkok

 

Crazy price on offer at Pratunam night market

Day 3

Woke up at 6am to follow Mum to the morning Pratunam wholesale market. The price of a shirt here is incredibly cheap at 100 baht each & if you buy more, it can go lower. Apparently this place is where lots of retailers/ Malaysian pasar malam sellers come to get their stocks. You see, in Pratunam there's a 3 sessions of markets here & an unwritten agreement between all sellers to follow them. The morning market sellers will open till 12.00pm & then another separate group of sellers will then come for the afternoon session. At night, another different sets of people take over. So, in actual in 12 hours, you can see different sets of sellers along a same street, enable you to shop all day long. Had our lunch before taking the taxi to Don Muang International Airport for the flight back home.

Pratunam morning wholesale market

On shopping part, comparing the premium brands, not much differences comparing to the ones in KL but for the lower ends market, the price simply hits the floor & it's almost impossible for the price to be believable. It's no wonder women go crazy here..:) Food wise, no way you will go wrong with tomyam soup here & the other famous Thai food like pad thai, fried chickens etc. Pick any of the stall/restaurant which has these dishes, you will get above average quality at least. Definitely worth second visit & more.

Bangkok Beat #1

Ask any Asian frequent traveler out there & most of them will tell you that they have been to Bangkok but I've never been there. Each time the plan is in store, timing is just not right with factors like unstable political situation, flood etc. Finally got the chance to visit there recently with my parents during my leaves before starting new job (I'll talk about that in later post). One day after I was told my resignation was accepted, Mum helped booked hotel & flight immediately.

Day 1

Departed on an Air Asia flight from the new KLIA2 international airport & arrived at Don Mueng International Airport at 11.30 am local time. By the way, Bangkok is 1 hour earlier than Malaysian time. Greeted by the taxi driver by the name of Kasem. True to what they said about Thai people, Kasem was warm & courteous, speaking in good commanding English. Thank you to TripAdvisor too for helping us to get his contacts. Like many of the South East Asian cities, you don't need a paid tour package to help you go around Bangkok really. Bangkok has many those Toyota Innova & Fortuner taxi drivers who can be booked with reasonable fee to bring you around to the places of attractions. For a full day tour covering Floating Market, Dangerous Market & Grand Palace, it costs only 3500 baht (approx. MYR 352.00 or USD 103) for a van which can comfortably seat 5 people. All drivers can cover till nearby Pattaya & Hua Hin. Some are willing to drive to Chiangmai & Haadyai, which are 10 hours drive away. The more resourceful ones can even help you to book hotel rooms or show tickets with just a telephone call.

Kasem with his Toyota Fortuner taxi

Checked into this Hotel 93, located at the vicinity of Pratunam district area. The famous Pratunam market is only stones throw away from the hotel & most major shopping complexes are about 10-20 minutes walk away. No time wasted the moment we left our luggages & walked straight to Platinum Mall, Thailand largest fashion mall about 10 minutes walks away. It has 7-storeys of shopping floors & countless numbers of stores. The stores operate on the principle that buying 1 piece is a retail sale, but buying 3 pieces & above will get you wholesale price. The pricing structure differs according to stores & the agreed price will depends on your bargaining skills & the seller's agreement. Some stores do not practice bargaining but still, the retail price is reasonable. A basic coloured male shirt fetches 200 baht (approx. MYR 21.00) & a piece of male cotton boxer short costs 100 baht (approx. MYR 11.00). Walking around the stores really make you thinking no wonder women got crazy when shopping here. One woman shirt with proper bargaining, can get as low as 150 baht (approx. MYR 16.00) each & a woman slipper costs 200 baht (approx. MYR 21.00). Besides, the workmanship of the apparels here are reasonably good considering the low price. The only setback is that no trying of the clothes is allowed. The policy here is either u take it or leave it.

Must try desert: The most delicious coconut ice cream ever, along Pratunam street

Multiple local foods sold in Platinum Mall food court

One of many many shopping lanes. Its like a maze out there !!

Took the taxi ride to Asiatique Riverfront in the evening for dinner & walk. This pier along the bank of Chao Phraya river, was formerly belongs to the East Asiatic Company back in the 1900s. Today, this same area was being developed into a riverfront project, combining shopping, dining, sightseeing, activities & events under one roof. The shopping retail price here naturally, higher than other places. We had typical Thai dishes dinner before making a trip back to hotel.

Evening scene at the Asiatique pier

Colourful lights at the riverfront

Prawn tom yam soup with chilli paste. Check out the size of the river prawns

One funny observation about taxi drivers here when u ask for a ride back to Pratunam district is, they will give you one long look as if you are asking them to send you to a haunted place. Pratunam has narrow roads & located at the other side of the city. Traffic jam towards & in the area is horrendous. Taxi drivers, naturally will give you a terrified look first before deciding to take you or not. We are made to stop at a main road & walk our way back to hotel instead. A rest is definitely needed for a long day ahead the next day.

Walking on the way back to hotel along Pratunam street

Must try street food: Crunchy, delicious fried chickens but super oily. Please consult your doctor before consumption

TO BE CONTINUED....

Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan - Seremban

Seremban city, being 1 hour drive away from Kuala Lumpur has always been a favourite stopover for the south-bound drivers. And here am I, dragging along some Seremban-based colleagues for a gastronomic trip in the city.

A must-eat food in Seremban has to be the famous Yee Kee beef noodles for breakfast. The original stall no 748 is located at the food court on top floor of the Seremban wet market. Coming here on normal weekend, you will need to wait at least 30 minutes for a bowl of beef noodles. That too, if you're lucky to get to find a place to sit. Best is to have this meal, dry type. The beef slices were tender, the machine-made noodles were smooth. The sauce? Hmmm...They just knew the right amount of special sauce to be put into the bowl. After u stir all all of them together in the bowl, u can see everything in the bowl were perfectly mixed. Not too dry, not too wet either. You need 2 bowls to be really enjoying this food. First bowl to get the first-hand taste of it. The second one is to enjoy the smoothness of the noodles, with its special sauce & the tenderness of the meat. It's no wonder even customers from Singapore dropped by here for it.


Dry beef noodles after being stirred

10 minutes away, is Restoran Yi Poh at Jalan Seng Meng Lee off Jalan Temiang to take its famous Dry Lou Shi Fun for lunch. Unlike the usual shorter version, this lou shi fun is longer, with smoother texture similar to the ones used for assam laksa. Except for the smooth texture of the noodles, nothing much special on this. Still, worth a try for the experience.

Yi Poh Lou Shi Fun

If you didn't pack siew pao (pastry filled with lard/chicken pieces) to be brought home, it's as if you never visit Seremban. This is Seremban most famous export, spreading far & wide to Singapore & even to China I heard and causing many imitation brands sprouted all over Klang Valley. Mind you, if you're looking for original Seremban brand siew pao in Klang Valley, only Kee Mei brand has actually expanded to other states. Here, I was brought to this Kedai Siew Pau Asia, situated just opposite Restoran Yi Poh. Here, u see freshly baked breads/pastries been taken immediately after being brought out from oven. Siew Pao is one of those pastries best taken while it's hot. Unlike many in KL, when you took it at first bite, you got to eat more of its meat fillings than its puffy layer and that hit the bull's eyes. Besides, it was not too sweet & clearly the best siew pao I've tasted.

One of many types of freshly made buns sold

Siew Pao, fresh from the oven

Lastly, got to stop at Kedai Makanan Seremban at Jalan Tuanku Munawir. At 4.30pm, you got to see people queuing up & looking for empty tables. Unsure if this is their late lunch or early dinner. Here, practically all tables have its famous baked crabs. The crabs baked with a sticky, special marmite-like sauce. Although slightly pricey at RM 48/kg then (unsure about the price now), the meat was fresh & baked at the right time, giving it a tenderly hot taste. It could have been better if they used a bigger-sized crabs. Probably due to longer time to bake bigger-sized crabs, they used medium sized ones instead.

Baked crabs

GPS Coordinates:
Stall 748, Yee Kee Beef Noodles
N2 43.824 E101 56.197

Restoran Yi Poh
N2 44.044 E101 56.421

Kedai Siew Pau Asia
N2 44.044 E101 56.421

Kedai Makanan Seremban
N2 43.977 E101 56.058

Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan - Penang II (And Perak too)

Following up from my previous post of proposed crash course, makan-makan program to Penang under Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan - Penang. OK, maybe parts of Perak as well, since this is a road trip up north. Sharing with all on the food photos & my views of them



Char Siew Pau: Restoran Foh San, Ipoh - Fluffy, freshly made with chunky meats. There's feels of satisfaction already after seeing smokes out from the pau upon opening of one side.



Nasi Kandar: Line Clear Nasi Kandar - Talking about brand awareness, this is one name in everyone's mind whenever u mention Penang Nasi Kandar. Always fresh at any time of the day u want it. I really mean ANYTIME...

 

 

Durian ABC: Restoran Kek Seng - The best in Penang, a desert that I ate since my childhood days. Although the durian ice cream is no longer that pulpy as compared to yesteryears, still worthwhile to have it...

 

 

Fried Oyster: Restoran Seng Thor - This is fried oyster with eggs. Read me, Fried Oyster with Eggs & not Fried Eggs with Oyster. Enough said. Without doubt, the best in Penang

 

 

BBQ Drumsticks: New Lane hawker centre - Tastes better than wings and its a wonder why cant those be available in KL

 

 

Sar Hor Fun: New Lane hawker centre - Its that broth...Not too watery, not too dry either. By the time u finish eating the kueh teow, nothing is left on the plate, really.

 

 

Brown Sugar Pancake: Pulau Tikus market stall - No one else in M'sia have pancake of tis kind. Filled with brown sugar & grinded peanuts, giving the not-too-sweet flavour to it. Perfect for the one who crave simple breakie meal without compromising the glucose level
 



Fruit Rojak: Gurney Drive - Its hard to explain why Penang fruit rojak is only available in Gurney Drive. Main difference compared to the ones in KL are the sauces and the mangoes used. Try stall no 52, "Tan Swee Hoe" and stall no 39, "GP Soon".
 

 



Duck Egg Char Kueh Teow: Pulau Tikus market stall - People say duck eggs has high cholesterol. With the tantalizing aroma that comes with it, does anyone cares?
 

 



Steamed River Prawn: Restoran Luen Fong, Tanjung Tualang - The best prawn dishes ever !! One taste, & u wouldn't wanna eat any prawn dishes anywhere else. Juicy, meaty, fresh. Eat it original style, u will understand why people travel long hours from KL just to have this

 



Kueh Teow Soup: Restoran Onn Kee, Ipoh - It so smooth that u can slurp this from your mouth into stomach without u really realize it
 

 



Ipoh Bean Sprout: Restoran Onn Kee, Ipoh - What more can I say? Ipoh people are lucky lot for having first hand supply of this wonderfully created products of nature. U have to eat it to know how I felt about this one

 

 

 

 

Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan - Penang

Being a foodie, it must be a sin to the Food God (if there's any) for not writing a post about Penang food. I always become a food tour guide for friends, probably due to my knowledge of local roads & local foods. Below is my usual program for a weekend crash course 2D1N Penang food tour for beginners, to have a taste of Penang food.

SATURDAY

• Departs from Subang
• Arrives Ipoh for dim sum breakfast at Restoran Foh San / Restoran Ming Kok
• Departs Ipoh for Penang
• Stops at Restoran Kek Seng for lunch
• Must Try: Durian ABC, Kueh Teow Soup, Popiah
• Recommended: Lor-Bak, Mee Jawa
• Check into hotel (preferably near to town)
• Stops at Restoran Seng Thor for tea time
• Must Try: Fried Oyster
• Recommended: Lor-Bak
• OR alternative stop at Toh Soon Cafe
• Must Try: Hainanese toast, Hainanese coffee
• Walkabout at nearby shopping malls (Prangin Mall, 1st Avenue Mall)
• Stops at New Lane hawker centre for dinner
• Must Try: Fried Kueh Teow, BBQ Chicken Wings/drumsticks, Fried Oyster
• Recommended: Sar Hor Fun, Ee Foo Mee
• Walkabout at Ferringhi night market / Straights Quay
• Stops at Gurney Drive hawker centre
• Must Try: Fruit Rojak, Pasembur (Mamak rojak)
• Recommended: Desserts (Ling Chee Kang, Bubur Cha Cha)
• Walkabout along Gurney Drive
• Stops at Restoran Old Green House for supper
• Must Try: Prawn Mee
• Go back hotel to recuperate

SUNDAY

• Check out early from hotel
• Stops at Pulau Tikus market for breakfast
• Must Try: Duck-egg Fried Kueh Teow, Chee Cheong Fun, Charcoal Indian apom
• Recommended: Brown sugar chinese pancakes, Kueh Teow Soup, Sar Hor Fun
• Stops at Ghee Hiang / Him Heang / Ban Heang to buy biscuits
• Recommended: Tambun biscuits, brown sugar biscuits
• Go up to Kek Lok Si temple, using the old pedestrian walkway
• Stops at stall besides Ayer Itam market for light meal
• Must Try: Assam Laksa
• Stops at Line Clear Nasi Kandar / Nasi Kandar Kassim Mustafa for lunch
• OR alternative stop at Restoran Sin Kheng Aun
• Must Try: Hainanese chicken chop, Fish Gulai, Fried Assam Prawns
• Recommended: Foo Yong Egg, Cabbage Soup with Fishballs & Meatballs
• Departs to mainland via ferry
• Stops at Restoran Luen Fong / Restoran Lung Seng, Tanjung Tualang for seafood dinner
• Must Try: Steamed river prawns, pan-fried river prawns with soy sauce
• Recommended: Steamed Soon Hock fish with soy sauce, fried squids
• OR alternative stopover at Restoran Lou Wong / Restoran Onn Kee, Ipoh
• Must Try: Chicken rice, Ipoh bean sprouts
• Recommended: Meatballs soup

Note: For participants with health problems, doctor's approval letter must be given to the organiser prior to the trip. The writer would not held responsibility for any health issues that may happened during & after the trip.

Food Gastronomic Trip - Melaka

Making a foodie's trip can be frustrating at times, especially if the places are popular haunts with long queues. One of the way to avoid this is to do it during weekdays. Recent weekday trip to Melaka provided us the satisfaction of having good food with minimal queue. Actually, our family was there for a bigger occasion, witnessing the marriage registration for my bro, which shall be blogged later. As it's only 1.5 hours drive from KL, worth a second trip for "makan makan "next time.

Satay Celup (Restoran Ban Lee Siang, Jalan Ong Tee Kui)

Handmade Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball (Restoran Chung Woh, Jonker Street)

Hainanese Chicken Rice (Restoran Chung Woh)

Nyonya Cendol

Nyonya Rojak

Fresh Prawn Wonton (Note the 2 prawns in one wonton piece)

Durian Cendol