Malaysia

January 6 I landed in KL around mid-day with a feverish excitement like a puppy returning home. Why was I so excited? Well, I had met an amazing girl during my Vietnam travels, who ended up backpacking with me from Hanoi to Saigon for two weeks and she followed up by inviting me to visit her in Malaysia. It has been about two weeks since we had seen each other but we had kept up through email and skype. I was also going to be meeting her mother as well since they were picking me up from the airport. I arrived a bit early so I waited for Amelia and her mom at Old Town Coffee. Now, I've had that brand of coffee before in powdered form at grocery stories, but to have it at the actual cafe was pretty neat! When I was almost through with my coffee, I saw Amelia approach and it was really good to see her again! We got into her car and was met with heavy rain on my first day in Malaysia. Oh well~. For lunch, we went and had Hakka Noodles – noodles with minced pork meat and belacan. Later, I met Uncle Teh, who gave me 2 books on Buddhism. In the evening, I joined Amelia's family at Canton Kitchen for dinner. Had Ginger Steamed Fish, Special Tofu Dish, Curry Wild Boar Meat, Deep Fried Pork Belly, Stir Fried Beans with dried shrimp. So full and so glad to be back with Amelia again.

January 7 We had breakfast at a neighbourhood kopitiam (coffee shop). Ordered Wantan Noodles and a side order of Chicken Feet with Mushrooms. Had “Kopi Ping” which is iced coffee in Malaysian Chinese. Drove into the city centre and checked out Petaling Street aka Chinatown. This place was pretty intense...imagine a chinatown that's encased in one centre! Then it started pouring so we sought shelter at Lai Foong Restaurant which is famous for its beef noodles. When the rain subsided, we walked to Central Market to meet Oana. Had some coffee at Old Town White Coffee. Went for dinner at Wong Ah Wah Chicken Wings where I didn’t eat anything...too full from eating everything in Malaysia.

January 8 Went into KL to drop Oana off at KL Sentral. Had Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee for lunch. After that, we went to VCR Café for an interview with a local business daily, The Edge. In the evening, we went for a walk at a neighbourhood park, which is an extension of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). After the walk, we went for dinner at Grandpa Restaurant for my first taste of Bak Kut Teh which is pork ribs cooked in herbal soup served with oiled rice, “yau char gwai” and “tau pok”. Bought some Malaysian “kuih muih” aka cakes from a street vendor. Got some chicken wings and later a mango shaved iced dessert. I'm not kidding when they Malaysia is an eating country! I am really enjoying my time with Amelia and her family. Feels like home for me

January 9 Went to Prince Court Medical Centre to accompany Amelia's mom for a checkup. Auntie and I are bonding quiet nicely and she's really taken me in like a part of her family. We had lunch at Hutong, a chinese food court in Lot 10. Had Hokkien Mee, Cantonese Fried Noodles, Fried Oysters and Dry Beef Ball Noodles. Walked around Lot 10 and Sungei Wang for a bit. Sungei Wang is one of the oldest malls in Kuala Lumpur. Walked along Jalan Bukit Bintang which was decked with Chinese New Year decorations. In the evening, went to 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya to get a gift at Hamleys, a big toy store. I am so excited to see Chinese New Year in an Asian Country.

January 10 Had Chee Cheong Fun for breakfast. Went to Tesco and there was a Lion Dance Performance. Scored a tangerine from the troop. Bought a chicken. Had Chicken for lunch. In the evening, went for a Durian Buffet at Jalan SS2, Petaling Jaya. Tried D24, D7, D88 and various Durian Kampong. Ah the beginning of the end...

January 11 Woke up sick with a Durian hangover. Auntie had to nurse me since Amelia had a wedding to attend. In the afternoon, I got up and attended Lucie’s 4th Birthday Party at the Chong household. It was a Safari theme party. After the party, got fed some chinese herbal concoction to help my hangover. I had fish porridge for dinner. Now I know now to go crazy over durian. It's not a myth...you will get sick! Thank god for Amelia and Auntie

January 12 I felt much better in the morning after sleeping in for many many hours. Amelia took me on a city tour. We took the KTM from Kepong Sentral to KL Sentral. From KL Sentral took the LRT to Pasar Seni which is a stop near Chinatown. Walked around Chinatown again and had lunch at a hawker centre. Had economy rice for lunch. So economy rice is pretty amazing, you pick as many dishes as you want and they give you rice with it. The person in charge will eyeball your food and tell you how much everything cost based on the dish you got and the quantity. Not an exact science though. Went on to Dataran Merdeka aka Independence Square. Checked out the National Textile Museum and the KL City Museum. After that headed to Masjid Jamek and wanted to get a songkok, a muslim cap, for my trip to Indonesia. Also good for my burning bald head. From Masjid Jamek, we walked to the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve to check out the KL Tower. After that we walked to KLCC for a beer and took a picture with “Choy San” the God of Prosperity since it was Chinese New Year. Got back to Kepong an hour before dinner. Went to Ah Loong Restaurant in Jinjang North for dinner. Started dinner with Yee Sang, which is a seasonal starter dish for Chinese New Year where everyone would mix and toss different ingredients together while shouting wishes and greetings for the New Year. After that, we had Salted Egg Butter Crabs, Steamed Prawns, Stir Fried Lotus, 2 different fish dish.

January 13 Went on a roadtrip to Penang. Stopped by Bidor which is famous for their duck noodles. Headed on to Ipoh to have Beans Sprouts Chicken Rice at Lou Wong Restaurant. Bought some guava and mangosteen. Got to Penang and checked in to Hutton Lodge on Hutton Street. Went to Kimberley Street for dinner. Found this Char Kuay Teow stall recommended by The Guardian. Had some Lo Bak and Duck Porridge too. Walked around and found the famous Nasi Kandar Line Clear where I had Okra with Rice and “Teh Tarik” which is pulled milk tea.

January 14 Took the RapidKL bus 101 heading towards Penang Hill. Found out from the bus driver that Penang Hill was closed for the day so we decided to visit Kek Lok Si Temple instead. Arrived at Pasar Air Itam, a large day market in the village of Air Itam. The market surrounds the entrance to the temple. We stopped by for the famous Air Itam Assam Laksa, a rice noodle dish cooked in fish broth and shrimp sauce. We walked around the market for a bit before proceeding up to the temple. To get to the temple, we had to walk up steps that were lined with vendors selling random knick-knacks. We came to a stop where we could feed turtles. We checked out the Pagoda when we got to the top. Spent an hour up there. When we came down, we had some chicken rice and prawn noodles. Took the bus back to Georgetown. Decided to skip the Tropical Fruit Farm and explore the city of Georgetown instead, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had a map that showed us the location of a couple of murals that were a recent attraction in Penang. We headed towards Armenian Street where there are murals were located. Bought a bag of mangosteen for RM6/kilogram. Checked out a couple more murals and decided to head back. Took the RapidKL bus 503 to Gurney Plaza. From there we walked to the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. Had Wantan Noodles, Assam Laksa, Char Kuay Teow and Grilled Fish. Walked along the waterfront but didn’t stay long because the tide was low and there was no water. Head back to Georgetown and it was pouring when we got off the bus. Walked back to our hotel in the rain.

January 15 Went to get Tambun biscuits at Him Heang, a local bakery known for its biscuits. Went to try out the Char Kuay Teow in Lorong Selamat. Had Cantonese Fried Noodles. Went to Ipoh stayed at Station 8 Inn which was near Tesco and AEON. For dinner, had Claypot Chicken Rice and Tau Fu Fah at Pasir Pinji. Had traditional Hainan bread at Ban Guan Foong Bakery. Stormed a lot.

January 16 Started the morning in AEON, tried samples of tid-bits. Went to look for Dim Sum at Ipoh New Town. Wanted to go to Yoke Fook Moon or Ming Court but settled for Foh San because both were closed. Walked around the area and checked out the hawker stalls around. After, we went for Tau Fu Fah at Funny Mountain. Headed back to KL. Bought dinner at the neighbourhood Pasar Malam (night market).

January 17 Went to Tesco to buy groceries. Made dinner for the Tans. Roasted chicken. Fish dish and veg. Got sick because didn’t walk after dinner. Boo, another food related hangover in Malaysia lol.

January 18 Woke up with headache and stomach pains. Rested and then went to Malacca which is a UNESCO World Heritage City afterwards. Checked out Jonker Walk. Tried Chicken Rice Balls at Kedai Kopi Chung Wah. Bought Nyonya Dumpling at the side of the street. Walked along Jonker Street. Saw Mr. Asia and street musicians who did Beatles songs. Walked along the Malacca River and went to the Durian Cendol stall near the Clock Tower. Had ABC aka Ice Kacang. After, went to the night market in Jonker Walk, had some grilled cockles, otak-otak. Went home, saw Prosperity Burger at McD’s. Note to self to have later. On the drive back to Penang, Amelia and I took turns singing random songs from her spotify. Great bonding time~

January 19 Had dim sum at Tai Thong Restaurant. Had some fancy looking rice. Painted room for Raymond. No such thing as a free lunch. Still have blue paint on bracelet and shorts. Had dinner at Sai Gong Restaurant. Different claypot dishes.

January 20 Went to IKEA. No Lingonberry juice. Had ice cream and curry puff and got my money pouch mended for free. IKEA in Malaysia is cheaper than USA. Checked out The Curve and took a picture with Kangkung at Cold Storage. Spotted a buy one get one free promotion at New Zealand Naturals Ice Cream. Went to check out Tesco again, bought another chicken. Made fried rice with chicken for dinner.

January 21 Met Sean and Ian for lunch at Win Soon Café in Jalan Kuchai Lama for Fish Head Noodles. After, went to Batu Caves. Saw monkey eat a banana and a plastic bottle. Made a vermicelli dish for dinner. Had Roti Tissue and Teh Tarik at Chandran’s Corner, a mamak.

January 22 Baked 3 ingredient Nutella cupcakes. Ok, Amelia is not the best baker in the world, but she tries :) Went for a live music performance by Reza Salleh at Pisco Bar in Changkat Bukit Bintang.

January 23 Went to Prince Court Medical Centre again. Headed to Pavilion which was fully decked with CNY decos. Had lunch at the food court and also at Ying Ker Lou which is a Hakka Restaurant. Went to see Diane in Bangsar. Unfortunately, I met my sister-in-law at a tragic time. Her husband's father had been stationed in Kabul to help with economic development. One evening at a cafe, a bomb went off and he was one of the victims in a targetted attack. Diane and her husband flew to Malaysia to attend the funeral. I went and paid my respects.

January 24 Had “chap fan” for lunch. Went to the bake shop in Selayang for supplies. Made nutella choc, coffee, orange and butter sugar rusk. Met Ivy for dinner at Sweet Inn Seafood and Noodles at Damansara Kim. Ivy is a friend of mine in Dallas, who was back in Malaysia visiting her parents. It's nice to be able to see friends from back home from time to time. It makes missing home a bit less. Amelia joined us for dinner too! Had Yee Sang, Dancing Fish, Sang Har Yee Mee, Green Dragon Sprouts and Mushroom Stewed in Pumpkin. Check out this amazing spread of food! January 25 Had Nasi Lemak at Village Park with Amelia, Ivy and others. Went for coffee and kaya toast at Killiney’s in Damansara Utama. For dinner, went to Restaurant Soo Kee’s Son in Jalan Imbi to have “tai chow” – Hokkien Mee, Sang Har Mee, Cantonese Fried Noodles and Fried Beef Noodles.

January 26 Went to the morning market in Kepong Baru. Had dim sum with Amelia and her family. Played badminton and had satay at Hj Samuri Sate Kajang. I personally think that I'm getting pretty good at badminton :) Had Chicken, Beef, Rabbit and Mutton satay. January 27 Went to Bangsar to visit Diane. Drove in Malaysia for the first time from Mid Valley to Pantai Towers. Had dinner at the Tans.

January 28 Went hiking in FRIM. Made lunch. Steamed pork and egg. Rested. Went for dinner with Sean at a Thai Restaurant in Kepong. Had dessert at Kei Tak Sek in Kepong Baru and bought some chicken wings from the hawker centre next door. January 29 Had Ngau Lam Mee for breakfast. Finally had Prosperity Burger and Chap Fan for one last time.

January 30 Amelia's family has this great big dinner for Chinese New Year annually. In Chinese tradition, all relatives are supposed to make a return home and gather together for a feast. Check out what we ate! I am so blessed to have been a guest of the Tan's in Malaysia. They have treated me so well.