Monday, June 29, 2009

Black or White

One of the Saturday afternoon, I went for a hair cut and found this interesting moment in the Indian Barber shop....

A white in the Indian Barber shop for hair cut! Beside this, I wondering....he was hairless?!
The "Black or White" from Micheal Jackson famous song suddenly came into my mind! Don't you feel it?

Yeah....that's remind me the King of Pop - Micheal Jackson. R.I.P.





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Sunday, June 28, 2009

Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh*, Johor Bahru

Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh (N1°29.323' E103°46.049') located at Jalan Keris 1 of Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru.

The restaurant has a poor environment, it makes you feel like having your Bak Kut Teh in the oven. But....it's crowded everyday especially lunch time!

Crowded and hot environment.

I visited this shop on one of the Saturday noon time and it's pack with peoples! The Bak Kut teh serve here is the Teow Chew Claypot style.

We ordered :-
1) Bak Kut Teh for 3 person
2) Yellow Rice Wine Claypot Chicken (small) (Signature dish)
3) Salty vege & tou-fu

Teow Chew Claypot Bak Kut Teh

Yellow Rice Wine Claypot Chicken

Tou-Fu

This is the place where I started to love Teow Chew Bak Kut Teh many years ago.....and the Yellow Rice Wine Chicken is one of the Best I ever taste within Johor Bahru. So far none of others come close to it!

The taste of the Bak Kut Teh maintain the same from my last visit (many years ago). I will recommend most of my friends who love Bak Kut Teh to try it at least once! The cooking method still use the traditional way which is 'Charcoal'.

Traditional Charcoal cooking

The damages was :- MYR48.00 for 4 adults & 1 child (include drinks)

Rated : 4.5/5 for the Bak Kut Teh, 4.9/5 for the Yellow Rice Wine Chicken.
Business hour : Morning till 3pm (Close on Monday)

Another GOOD Bak Kut Teh worth to try!


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Bak Kut Teh at Johor Bahru :-
* How Yu Bak Kut Teh, Permas Jaya, Johor
* Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh, Tmn Daya, Johor Bahru
* Shi-Hua Bak Kut Teh, Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru*
* Soon Lee Bak Kut Teh, Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru

* Soong Huat Bak Kut Teh, Taman Desa Tebrau - Johor Bahru
* Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh, Johor Bahru*


Bak Kut Teh at Muar :-
* Leng Kee Bak Kut Teh, Muar, Johor

Bak Kut Teh at Kulai :-
* Sze Hwa Bak Kut Teh, Kulai, Johor*


Bak Kut Teh at Pekan Nanas :-
* Tong Heng Bak Kut Teh at Pekan Nanas, Johor.





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Friday, June 26, 2009

Kuang Fei Beef Noodle at Tangkak, Johor

Kuang Fei Beef Noodle at Tangkak, Johor. (N2°15.931' E102°32.402')

This restaurant is located at Jalan Solok which is close to the first traffic light (if you drive from the NSE toll) of the Tangkak town.
The business hour is morning until 3pm.

I love this Beef noodle since the day one I eat beef!

Honestly, I miss the timing many times when I came here....mostly is too late! So this time I came in the morning for not to miss it again. The standard size of the Beef Noodle is MYR5.00 each, but you can have the small or the big which are MYR4.00 or MYR6.00 each.

The Tangkak Kuang Fei Beef Noodle.


The comparisons within this and the Beef Noodle (which is also from Tangkak) at Taman Maju Jaya - Johor Bahru are :-
* The beef is more tender than the JB stall
* The soup is not as thick as the JB stall.
* Last, quantity the beef they provide is much more than the JB stall.

I love it very much and I rated the Best Beef Noodle I ever have!

It's serve by young guys, I believe this are the new generations of their grand parents.

The environment of the shop. Honestly, it's quite clean.

The damage was MYR24.00 (Include drinks) for 4 bowl of beef noodles.

This happened to every bowl after 15 minutes...

The shop lots opposite Kuang Fei Restaurant.

Rated : 4.9/5


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Phuket Aquarium

I never seem to tire of Phuket Aquarium even after (about) 15 visits over the years, maybe more. We went the first time in 2001 when my daughter was a few months old and loved her reactions to the fish. We took her again a few months later and noticed how, as an older baby she paid more attention to the marine life. As she got older, different things fascinated her, and once she could start asking questions, well then Dad the Diver could start explaining all kinds of interesting fishy facts! It's been the same with our son who is now 4 years old. They always have new questions and it's always fun to visit the aquarium with them.

Phuket Aquarium Entrance

Kids outside the aquarium

We visited again last weekend on another sunny low season day. Phuket Aquarium is located at the end of Cape Panwa, to the SE of Phuket Town. I like the area a lot, one of our favourite restaurants is in the Panwa area, and there's some lovely scenery, particularly if you turn off the main road down to the aquarium and take the smaller road along the west side of the cape with views across Chalong Bay. On the way you also pass the turn off to Khao Kad viewpoint.

The entry fee is not high, just 100 Baht for adults, 50 Baht for kids.. and yes it's a bit cheaper for "us locals", but not a rip off anyway. It's not a huge aquarium, but has expanded little by little over the years and there are plans for more. In the first room by the entrance are many small tanks, all kind of fish.

Inside Phuket Aquarium

You then follow the passageway, with many different tanks and displays on your right. We found an Arapaima, which originates from South America and is one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. Kids were fascinated by this one!

Arapaima at Phuket Aquarium

There's all kinds of species from moray eels to lionfish to angelfish, batfish, lobsters, scorpionfish.. most are found in Thailand. Also some oddities like electric eels. These are all in the smaller tanks. Also around the walls are educational displays about marine life and environmental awareness.

Display at Phuket Aquarium

Educational display at the Aquarium in Phuket

The walkthrough tunnel was not there when we first visited, it only opened in 2005. Not a huge tunnel to be sure, but still, there are some little sharks in there, eagle rays, jacks and more. Always a hit with the kids!

Walkthrough tunnel at Phuket Aquarium

And my son has always liked the other big tank that contains several huge groupers, big enough to eat a 4 year old boy. I liked seeing a small tank containing several seahorses. I love seahorses. Beautiful little things.

Seahorses at Phuket Aquarium

Big ol' grouper

When you exit the indoor section of Phuket aquarium, you'll find a little snack and drink shop and a souvenir shop - some of the items are tacky, some are pretty nice. The kids got some fish pens and stickers and we got a present for my wife and her sister too as they couldn't join us at the aquarium this time. I think she liked her turtle shaped ashtray!

You'll see some steps near the shop heading to a nature trail. There are lots of signs explaining plant names and with environmental information. There is now a hatchery too, but we found it's open only on weekdays. Further on you pass a little boat that the kids always stop to play on, then a long jetty which leads out to several boats including a research vessel. The aquarium is more than just a show, there is also a marine biological center here with an endangered species unit.. and my favourite part - the turtles! Here at the aquarium turtles are reared and also injured turtles are looked after. We saw a couple of big turtles with bits of flipper missing or chunks missing from their shells, no doubt as a result of contact with a boat.

Turtle pools

Young turtles at the aquarium

Adult turtle at the Phuket aquarium

We'll be back again. I want to see the hatchery, oh, and want to see the feeding show, meant to be 11am every Saturday or Sunday. Guess we lazy souls arrived too late last weekend. After the aquarium, we went for lunch at a little roadside restaurant with great views across Chalong.

Phuket Aquarium - Location Map


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Monday, June 22, 2009

Hua Bee Biscuit Shop at Tangkak, Johor

This shop is situated at Jalan Solok, another few shops after the famous Kuang Fei Beef noodle of Tangkak. (N2°15.957' E102°32.378'). They also selling many types of local cookies & biscuits.

Hua Bee Biscuit Shop

We were just happen to be here drop by to see anything interesting. One thing attract me was the Green Bean Paste Pastry (a.k.a. Tambun Biscuit at Penang). I never try it before especially at Tangkak. So we just bought 2 boxes (One big & one small), it cost MYR5.50 for small box and MYR10.00 for big box.

Tangkak Green Bean Paste Pastry

The biscuit below....we used to call it 'Cow ear biscuit' in Hokkien.

Each pack is selling at MYR3.50. Quite cheap and reasonable.

Variety of local biscuits and it's really make me recall those happy moment of my childhood! How about you? :)

After hanging around for 30 minutes, bought what we want....I noticed this hawker which is just 2 two shops away from the Hua Bee. It's only has 4 tables for customers and it's FULL! I wonder what so nice about it?! Then I realized he was selling the Laksa, and seems like every customers also tasted it. So I decided to try it, but because of no place for me....I just 'Ta-pau' (pack away). Anyway, the taste was average....nothing to shout about it.

Laksa Hawker at Tangkak

I believe it's just the hawker been selling his laksa noodle many decades ago, and most of the locals have grow together with it. Therefore, they already so get used with the taste of the noodle.....
It's happen to all of us, I am definitely LOVE the foods from my hometown. Because I taste it since young untill now....
So, what is yours favorite childhood food?





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Saturday, June 20, 2009

One Tambon One Product Fair at Sapan Hin (Phuket Town)

We seem to be visiting Sapan Hin quite often recently. The whole area has recently been tarted up and Sapan Hin is now a very nice place to come and exercise or have a picnic by the sea, and just a few minutes from the centre of Phuket Town. In early May we came for the Halal Expo, and at the end of last month we were back for the OTOP (One Tambon One Product) Fair, with handicrafts and food from all over Thailand. The "OTOP" program is a government initiative to encourage production and sales of local village (Tambon) crafts, ceramics, clothes, foods, household items... something that maybe typical of that area or is commonly made there. The OTOP program helps to promote these products.

This is a very local affair. We went twice during the week long event and I swear I saw only 1 other foreigner. The event was not promoted in tourist areas, we only knew about it because we happened to drive around town a few days before the start and saw promotional posters. I guess organisers may assume that only locals are interested. I beg to differ.. these kind of local fairs are just what I like!

We first took a walk around Sapan Hin, lots of people taking walks, jogging, enjoying the sea air or just sitting in the late afternoon sun. Sapan Hin has become a really nice place to come and chill out!

Exercising at Sapan Hin, Phuket Town

View towards Phuket Town from Sapan Hin

About 2 days before visiting this OTOP fair, we'd bought some new furniture for outside our house. And wouldn't you know it, there was plenty to be had here at very good prices. If we'd not just got some, we might well have got it here. I like this kind of rustic wooden stuff carved out of slabs of wood, natural shapes, big and chunky.

Furniture at the OTOP Fair

Meanwhile, my parents were happy to find a wooden mobile to take home. In the Central Festival mall a few days earlier they were quoted over 300 Baht for one of these. Here at the fair only 100 Baht. So they got two!



Plenty of food stalls around selling drinks, snacks, insects... I have never tried to eat insects. I suppose some people like it. Indeed some people were buying insects at this very stall. Not for me, thanks.

Fried insects for sale

Another stall specialised in tamarind. I do like a bit of tamarind, either eaten alone or made into a sauce. One of my favourite dishes is Kung Pad Nam Makam - fried prawns in a spicy, yet sweet and also a bit sour sauce.

Tamarind stall at the OTOP Fair

Another stall was selling a snack made from pork rind, what you might call pig snacks or hog lumps. Very good with a cold beer, just like back in the UK :)

Snacks for sale at the OTOP Fair in Phuket

We also found a stall selling wooden boxes.. you know, those kind of decorative wooden boxes which are sure to be useful for something, or at least useful as a gift. Everyone has something they want to put in a box, so why not an attractive Buddha box, ideal for "putting things in".

Painted Buddha boxes at the OTOP Fair Phuket

All our wandering up and down rows of stalls was bound to make us thirsty. And I was happy to find a Chumphon coffee stall. My wife is from Chumphon, a town about 400km from Phuket, about halfway to Bangkok. Good coffee. I will write something on this blog about Chumphon sometime soon. I've been there about 20 times. The coffee man was happy to hear I have a Chumphon connection.

Coffee from Chumphon at the OTOP Fair in Phuket

Tasty coffee and even tastier fruit juice. This stall had strawberry juice, lime juice, watermelon juice. 20 Baht per cup. I had 3. It had been a hot day. You gotta love all the fruit you can get in Phuket!

Fruit juice stall at OTOP Fair in Phuket

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sedim River Recreation Forest of Kedah

Sedim River Recreation Forest of Kedah (N5°24.803' E100°46.856') is located at the East of Butterworth.

If you are driving from Butterworth, take B.K.E. to the east....you will pass by Kubang Semang Plaza Toll. After the toll, drive for 16.6KM to reach the junction of Lebuhraya Perdana (Highway), continue for another 4.2KM then turn left into K115 & towards a small town call Sungai Kob, approximately 17.5KM to reach the junction to turn into Sedim River Recreation Forest (K166). The last 12.2KM driving to lead you to the Sedim River. (Total of 50.5KM from Kubang Semang Toll)

Sedim River (Sungai) of Kedah - Photo from asiaexplorers.com

Freddy Tay and his friend are attracted by the Tree Top Walk of Sedim River and they drive directly from Cameron Highlands (after 2 night stayed).

The Tree Top Walk of Sg.Sedim was officially launched on March 5, 2009 by KDYMM Sultan Kedah.

This is the popular destination for the adventures, white-water enthusiasts and nature lovers. The river is claim to be one of the best white-water destination in Malaysia. The area has the Malaysia longest canopy walk (of reinforced steel) that spans 950 meter above the lush green rainforest trees and Sedim River.


Please prepare a comfort shoes, drinking water & some light foods. Because along the Tree Top Walk, there's no stall along the track.
You will be enjoying the Fauna & Flora along the walk also enjoy the white-water stream below your foot.
Freddy and his friend did not finish the whole tracks (950 meter). They turned back to the stream to enjoy the cold water and the nature surrounding.


The white-water rafting only in the morning and charges are : 2 hours for MYR150.00 & 5 hours for MYR300.00. Guide will be provided.

I accidently found some info about the track was damage by the trees during the "Forest Explorers" visit. But I have no idea whether they maintain it well today...
Below are the 2 pictures taken by them...

Damage walk - By forestexplorers.com

Damage walk - By forestexplorers.com

According to Freddy (my friend), the place is well maintain and clean. Hopefully we can enjoy the nature environment forever!





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Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Amazing Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Latest Blog posts about the Phuket Vegetarian Festival:

2011 Schedule Now Online! (September 26th - October 6th)
At Kathu Shrine 15th October 2010
Bang Neow Shrine Street Procession 2010
First Days of the 2010 Vegetarian Festival

Vegetarian festival Phuket

See all the photos from the 2010 Phuket vegetarian festival 7 - 17 October 2010:

Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2010 Photos (Jamie's Flickr Photos - opens in new window)

Over the last 5 years on this blog I have written plenty about the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. There are multiple posts detailing different aspects of the festival from 2006 - 2010 with more on the way! The Vegetarian Festival is my favourite event in Phuket. The face-piercing processions, the food, the mystical rituals at the shrines... this is a special time of year. The festival has been a part of Phuket's culture since 1825. It's no show, it's not made up for the tourists and not for the faint hearted. This is the real Phuket!

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

This blog post is mainly intended to tie up all the vegetarian festival related posts from the last few years. I never saw a procession until 2006 and didn't have a great camera then. There are better pictures from 2007 and 2008 also some little videos made in 2008. By 2009 I finally had a much better camera (EOS 20D) and got some great photos. There are also posts which are less about the bloody processions and more about some of the Chinese shrines and of course the food. 2010 Festival was 7 - 17 October, the 2011 Festival starts on 26th September. Date varies according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Firecrackers - Carrying the Gods in Phuket Town

Phuket Vegetarian Festival Photos and Blog Posts

The last few years I have tried to get to at least one shrine early morning (6 - 6:30am) before a procession to see the face piercing take place. Kathu Shrine is only a couple of kilometers from my house. Kathu has a largely Chinese Thai population and was the center of the tin mining industry in the 19th century. Watching the piercing was very interesting to say the least. Must try to get up even earlier one year. I want to see the Ma Song (devotees) becoming entranced in the shrine.

At Sam Kong Shrine

The Kathu procession is one of the larger ones and they walk about 5km from Kathu into Phuket town. I followed them into town. Processions are in the early morning starting around 7am to avoid the midday heat. In 2009 I also went to the procession for Jui Tui Shrine, which is in the old town and much more crowded. Kathu is much easier to move around and take photos. In 2010 I had a manic morning following the Bang New Shrine procession.

Vegetarian Festival 2009 on Jamie's Phuket
All 2009 Photos on Flickr
2008 Photos in Kathu Village - Face Piercing
Procession in Phuket Town (2008)
Festival and Procession Photos 2007

I experimented with some videos in 2008, but just using a simple Canon Powershot camera on video mode - not pro quality but some of these little clips give a very good idea of what goes on. Hope to get a good HD video camera sometime in 2011 and want to take more videos. If a picture speaks a thousand words, what value a video?

Vegetarian Festival Videos 2008

6 Swords

The food is an integral part of the vegetarian festival. Locals who are taking part will only eat specially prepared food which is pretty much vegan, not only vegetarian. The Thais can do 100 things with tofu and sometimes its hard to believe you are not eating meat. There are "Jae" foodstalls all around the shrines, not so many around the beach areas. Phuket town is the best place to be especially around Jui Tui or Bang Neow shrines. Other shrines on the edge of town like Sam Kong are worth a visit, and maybe I'll see you at Kathu Shrine if you head in that direction.

Vegetarian Festival - The Food

A bowl of vegetarian Yen Ta Fo Vegetarian food/snack stall near Sam Kong Shrine

The vegetarian festival is mainly celebrated by the Chinese Thai community, most of whom live in and around Phuket Town, with others further north in the Thalang area, the older parts of Phuket. Not much going on around the beach areas, if you want to see something, head for one of the main shrines. I've blogged some of them, still want to write about Bang Neow which is on the south side of Phuket town. Jui Tui is the largest, and is near the market, easy to get to and the streets in that area are packed with food stalls during the festival.

Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town
Kathu Village Shrine
Sapam Shrine
2009 Photos in Kathu Village

Kathu Shrine Inside Jui Tui Shrine

A Walk in Kathu Village
Sam Kong Shrine and Foodstalls

Kathu and Sam Kong shrines are both pretty close to my house, just 2 or 3km, so we go to get food from these areas in the evenings. I try to stick to the diet for the whole 9 days of the festival. It's very good for cleaning out the body.

The Phuket vegetarian festival is something very special, and a million miles from the resorts and beaches of Phuket. If anyone wants a unique experience, then October is a good time to come to Phuket! The full schedule for the festival is published each year at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival website once dates are official - it starts earlier this year (2011) on about September 27th.

Go on then, a few more photos. For more see my Flickr pics from 2010 and 2009. The vegetarian festival has old roots, old traditions. It's not just the food and the face piercing and the firecrackers. It's the coming together of the community, the prayers, the respect, the passing down of values to kids. I have taken hundreds of photos over the last few years. You kind of need to look at them all to get an idea of what the Phuket vegetarian festival is about ...

Zoom!

vegetarian-festival-2009-17

Prayers and respect

Prayers and respect