Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Remember this post? When I embarked on a partial food tour (I was working, remember?) to Kota Bharu, Kelantan back in March this year. Fast forward 8 months later, and the state has become even more famous than before! Though for all the absurd reasons played out due to raging political wars between opposing factions.

Let’s leave the circus to the clowns.

Ayam percik, nasi dagang, solok lada, White House kopitiam, Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, Wakaf Bharu, Satay Malaysia and Siamese temples? Checked. So what else have I missed? PLENTY.

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*A second chapter to the Bentong-Bukit Tinggi retreat, here’s an endearing take on Bukit Tinggi (literally translated to High Hills) in Pahang. For the first chapter in the series, jump to Motormouth’s Food & Travel Guide to Bentong

1. Bukit Tinggi BBQ Restaurant – Pot of Seafood Treasures (RM65/USD20) – Prawns, Crabs and Clams boiled and not seasoned or flavoured. The juice from the seafood was retained in the compartment below, to be cooked with mushrooms and wild greens native to the land.

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“Motormouth takes you on an escapade to a small, beautiful town named Bentong in Pahang.”

Funky Lady & the Bentong Ginger – Grown on the soils of Bukit Tinggi in Bentong district, it is believed that the high price of this much-sought after rhizomes indigenous to the town is because the same plot of land used to cultivate this CANNOT be re-used for the same purpose anymore.

A little weary from the usual getaways to familiar tourist traps haunts (Genting Highlands, Malacca, Penang), I started drafting smaller plans of excursions to the humbler unknowns; Janda Baik, Ipoh (ahem, comparatively speaking, of course) and basically all over smaller towns in Perak.

A particularly interesting “cobweb” of a roundabout on Chui Yin Street; one of the 3 main roads in Bentong town. The other two being Jalan Ah Peng, and Jalan Loke Yew.

To throw everyone off guard, I decided to visit Bentong in Pahang for a 2 days, 1 night stint. Why Bentong of all places? If the thought of traveling to smaller, far-fetched towns like this has never sounded appealing, my advice is; Don’t limit your traveling prowess. Let me show you why ….. Read the rest of this entry »

“Nestled in the hills of Janda Baik, Pahang resides a secret haven by the name of Aman Rimba. Laced with endless natural tropical beauty, timeless tradition and serenity of the highest level, Aman Rimba is a private getaway from the world you have come to know.” (excerpt taken from Aman Rimba’s official website)

The brief moment when Chris of Pureglutton extended this invitation for a two days, one night retreat at Janda Baik, I was skeptical. Searching frantically for online information led me to a few reviews and websites on resorts utilized for team building projects. You know, the generic dorm-like environment that reminded me of one remotely memorable experience back in Langkawi two years ago.

That was sheer horror.

This is not.

And then I was told that the place was going to be Aman Rimba. From their website, and several blog posts published on the net, the overall feedback was magnificent. The idyllic retreat looked promising from the pictures posted online, and the prospects of spending two days away from civilization sounded so much more bearable.

I was actually looking forward to that weekend. And guess what? This turned out to be one of my most unforgettable travel moments of 2011.

Warning : A crazy load of photos after the jump. I can assure you, if the thought of wandering into the wild and yet well within the backyards of Malaysia for an ideal getaway never crosses your mind, this post might just change your perception.  Read the rest of this entry »

*For the first half of this series, jump to THIS post.

And he means business. Continuously dishing out plate after plate of his signature Mee Kahwin (literally translated to “Marriage Noodles”); a combination at times also known as ‘Mee Rojak’ elsewhere.

The onslaught of eating throughout the previous day got us reeling from the after effect; bloated, tired yet satiated. And brushed with not the slightest hint of regret. But of course, the post-holiday effects got me staying away from sinful stuff for days.

We could have gone for Chung Wah chicken rice balls, since we were up pretty early (okay, it was already about 10am, but still good enough for a Sunday brunch) and the tremendously famous shop on Jonker Street was still pretty vacant.

Instead, defying all odds … or rather, expectations, we ventured over to this almost non-descriptive coffee shop named Ming Huat on Jalan Ujong Pasir; directly opposite of Portuguese Settlement’s entrance. Interested to know where else we went on the second day? Read on ….. Read the rest of this entry »

Christ Church Melaka; and the famous fountain at Stadhuys – Walking on grounds trodden by the Dutch since more than 300 years ago.

Guess what? After a brief hiatus (two years, in fact), I was back in Melaka for an unofficial annual pilgrimage. It has been ingrained somewhat into the mind of this Motormouth; to honour the promise of visiting this town with the richest history in Malaysia; bursting with character and quaint charm almost unrivalled, at least once a year.

Last year was out of the question since the eventual move to KL took me some time to settle down amidst the barrage of workload inherited from my predecessor. 🙂

Since December is off limits again this year, might as well squeeze in a short getaway (about 1.5 – 2 hours of drive from Kuala Lumpur) in October when everyone’s still not in the holiday mood. Yet.

A hodge-podge of collective colonial elements, punctuated with influences from the Peranakan heritage and local flavours injected from the myriad of races staying within the neighbourhood, Melaka town is undoubtedly one of the best place in Malaysia to experience the spirit of 1Malaysia.

Be prepared for a very, VERY long post ahead. If you’re holding back your bladder, running chores and hastily squeezing in mere minutes in hopes of reading a filler post, or already on the brink of starvation waiting for your meal to be served, I highly recommend that you read this much later.

Ready? Here goes …. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t miss the first chapter – Filipino Market, Grand Borneo Hotel, Imperial Boutec Hotel & Restoran Getaran Jiwa ….

Roti Kahwin – Literally translated to ‘Marriage Bread’; this is the classic combination of slices of bread sandwiching butter and kaya (egg + coconut jam), either toasted or without. A holy matrimony indeed; and this one at Fook Yuen far surpasses my expectation (or lack thereof)

Ask any tourist to Sabah on what not to be missed, and darn sure they would proclaim SEAFOOD! Lots and lots of seafood; coming in at cheap and not-so-cheap categories nowadays. Gone were the times when we used to feast on fresh seawater fishes couriered over by my uncle who worked in Labuan. The Seven Star Grouper, Tiger Grouper, Mouse Grouper (all direct translations from their Chinese names) and even fresh cod arrived in abundance; timely for the reunion dinner come Chinese New Year. Imagine the relatives had run out of idea on how to cook the fishes aside from steaming them; and we ended up having curry cod instead. 🙂

But wait, how come I was eating breads and buns instead, yet came back not regretting the decision one bit? Read on to find out why ….. Read the rest of this entry »