2012/04/10

Mabul Island - A colony of Dive Resorts

Our friend Sun Yong introduced readers to Mabul Island in issue 52 some years ago and we felt in favour of spending our next holiday there for a short getaway.

7 ~ 9-1-2012 (Saturday/ Monday)

We took a morning flight from KLIA and reached Tawau, Sabah some two and a half hours later. The taxi we hired took us to a nice and reasonably priced hotel for RM115 per night’s stay as introduced on the internet. The travel agency across the hotel arranged our trip to Mabul without much fuss.

Next morning the coach fetched us from the hotel to Semporna, a trip of one hour covering 115km. Speedboats are easily available to the island which took only 30 minutes a ride.


Mabul, Sipadan, Kapalai and Mataking are islands facing the Celebes Sea and world-famous dive spots. The island of Mabul covers a land space of 200 hectare, it is home to a reef of marine treasures. From the water resorts, it was possible to watch the beauty of marine life. The crystal clear waters beneath made it pretty perfect to gaze at corals, jellyfish and colorful fishes. You can check out another innovative accommodation for the keen diver at SeaVentures Dive Resort which was originally an oil rig recycled into a space living condition for a totally different experience.


Our trip costed RM200/- per person for the to and fro journey from Tawau to Semporna and a lunch at Sipadan Water Village Resort,Mabul Island, but if you have time to discover more of Mabul, then you should try the arrangement of RM698 per pax inclusive of travel arrangements, three meals daily and the lovely accommodation set (4D3N package recommended).

For details, please contact:

Sipadan Water Village Resort Sdn Bhd

Tel:+6089-751777

www.swvresort.com


Speed boat at Semporna jetty.
It took 30 minutes ride to Mabul island.
Arrive after 30 minutes.
"SELAMAT DATANG!" A warm welcome by the staffs of Mabul island.
Welcome to Sipadan Water Village Resort of Pulau Mabul (Mabul Island).
A beautiful scene of Mabul Island.
Deluxe rooms.
There is electricity for usage but no air conditioner.

The former oil rig turned into an innovative accommodation.

Rather rejuvenating looking at Celebes Sea.

Rather nice buffet served.

A deluxe room which can be shared by four persons.
Need a change of scenery, replenish your spirit here.

Luxurious spa pampering for tired souls.

Self dive till 6 p.m only.

It’s so easy to dive in Mabul and everything is well set-up, many tourists stay on for half a-month.

The waters are warm, thriving and filled with amazing marina life.


A healthy population of fishes.

Fishing village on the island.

Fishermen home with their catch. The island’s beautiful resort and the stark contrast of a fishing village still fitted well into a picture.

Can this shack withstand stormy weather?

Village kids love the lollies.

Kerosine container used as a stove, grilled small fishes for lunch, dishes very untidy being laid out everywhere in a lack of water environment.

Gift shop on the island.

Speedboat at the jetty.

Staff bade us goodbye.

LOCATION MAP OF MABUL ISLAND (lower left corner).

Street Food : Bak-Kut-Teh (Part 1) - Y3K Recipes issue no.65 (3/4-2012)





Bak-Kut-Teh Trail in Klang

by Contributor - Irene Chua

Mr Richard Er and wife Catherine Chia visited me in Klang and our conversation centered on the most popular Bak-Kut-Teh eateries in Klang. It can be quite a task to unravel of who’s the best as each individual has his or her own discretion.


Of course we gave the challenge to our Feng Shui Master B. E. Loh who is a foodie at heart. He may not be a Klang resident but over the past 20 to 30 years, he has had been savouring this brew very, very often.


Gastronomically speaking, Klang is hugely famous for seafood and Bak-Kut-Teh. Klangites are generally Hokkiens so the soup is darker in colour and often served with an oily rice. But in Kuala Lumpur, Johor or Singapore, white rice goes well with a light soup and has a more Teochew flavour.

Many people embroiled in the issue of how Bak-Kut-Teh originated. The pioneer could be the old Lee Boon who served a traditional home-town pork soup with fried lard rice. Some coolies (labourers) brought in some herbs and in it went into the porky soup. The new recipe was born and underwent many changes later on to become the herbal soup of today. It has become very much a sought after food for many tourists.


Originally the different huge cuts of meat were served in big bowls individually with the herbal soup and rice separately. But slowly over the years, the claypot combination was introduced with vegetables, beancurd, offals and mushrooms being packed into a lighter version herbal stock. And recently the Dry Bak-Kut-Teh version was created thus a new specialty has been added on.


There may be well over 400 plus stalls selling this herbal soup all over Klang area. Isn’t that rather difficult to track down who serves a better herbal soup.


Well, Bak-Kut-Teh range can be divided into different sections of the town:

1. Taman Rashna and Taman Berkeley.

2. Jalan Besar ( under the bridge or next to the police station). There are two shops here wanting to be known as the Bak-Kut-Teh pioneer.

3. Jalan Teluk Pulai.

4. Pandamaran New Village.

If you want something good, follow Master Loh on his gastronomy Bak-Kut-Teh trail from the next Y3k issue onwards.

2011/03/05

食尚玩家台湾小食自由行 Free & easy taiwan eatery tour



20/2/2011(星期日)
下午两点二十分,由吉隆坡国际机场乘搭中华航空(CI722班机)直飞台北。傍晚七点抵达目的地台北桃园机场,台湾旅行社代表在出境出接待我们,直奔台北市三星级“城美酒店”入宿。

21/2/2011(星期一)
在酒店用过简单早餐,早上八点旅行社代表到酒店接我们出发。今天的行程比较轻松,早上到位于台湾岛北端的“基隆港”,这里是台湾的海洋渔业基地。接着到“野柳地质公园”,这里的地质受海蚀风化形成柔感线条美,岩石的纹理更是特别。海蚀与风化等力量下,经千百万年的交互作用,千姿百态、鬼斧神工的海岸景观,是北台湾最富盛名的地形景观。

下午,我们继续往另一个游客最爱的景点--九份。这里早期因为盛产金矿而兴盛,矿坑挖掘殆尽後从而没落。1990年代後,因电影《悲情城市》一片於九份取景,九份的独特旧式建筑、坡地以及风情,透过此片而吸引国内外的注目,也为此小镇重新带来生机,目前已经成为一个很受欢迎的观光景点。

22/2/2011(星期二):
台湾小食历史悠久,种类繁多,价格大众化。今天是这次行程的主要目的,早上九点踏着电视节目《食尚玩家》的足迹,到老旧却充满活力的“东门市场”寻小食。

短短几个小时品尝十家推荐小食,能够在此立足数十年,各有所长。下午一点离开东门市场,前往乌来看土族表演,晚上再到龙山寺、华西街及101大厦,充实又满足的一天。

23/2/2011 (星期三)
清晨五点由酒店出发,乘搭早上八点二十分起飞的航班CI721回吉隆坡,结束四天三夜的“食尚玩家台湾小食自由行”。感谢马来西亚亲善旅游有限公司精心策划,让这次的行程顺利完成。

1) 港点名店:兴记食品
这一家店经营3代50多年,林青霞的心头爱。不论是人气或规模都是数一数二,算得上是东门市场的指标名店。港式点心、水饺、包子馒头、叉烧酥、萝卜糕、烧卖等港式点心,口味和用料不输茶楼,价格大众化。

2) 罗妈妈米粉汤
台北市金山南路1段144号旁巷子进入
市场地址:台北市信义路二段81号
电话:02-2351-3352
营业时间是从早上7点到下午3点

罗妈妈的米粉汤采用细米粉,汤头以黑毛猪的大骨熬四五个小时,再混合煮猪内脏的汤,加上客家风味油葱,米粉汤已经煮软了而且入味;滋味鲜甜。吃米粉汤,少不了要来几盘土猪的内脏黑白切(黑管是猪肚,白管是猪心上面的大血管)。

罗妈妈教大家一招,把桌上的蒜茸酱油、辣椒酱、客家醋和酱油膏调在一起,沾黑白切吃,美味程度又连升三级喔!另一种招牌小食是猪肺,罗妈妈说经常全市场肉摊的猪肺都被他拿光了,还不够卖呢!

3) 烧腊-东门鸭庄
在此屹立不摇28年,很多东门伯伯阿姨很自豪说这家是他们这辈子吃过最好吃的烧腊店。

老板说他们选的肉以及用料,质量都是用最高级的,加上细心的料理才会这么好吃,像招牌的烤鸭,要选90天大成熟的鸭子,用八九种香料腌过,吊起来风干一天再烤,所以吃起来是腊味足、皮酥脆。

4) 利隆饼店
营业时间是从
早上7点到下午1点半

老板娘从小就在西门町的中华商场学做饼,而中华商场走入历史后,搬来东门市场也经营了21年。虽然店面狭小、招牌老旧,地点又在市场最深处,大叔大婶大包小包的狂扫货,还有网友说,有时没打电话先预订就来现场买,还会空手而回呢!

5) 福州鱼丸汤-义芳鱼丸店
开了40多年的福州鱼丸名店,听说连烹饪大师傅培梅老师生前也是老主顾。每天老板娘在店门口现包、现煮、现卖。

福州鱼丸最经典的就是重口味的肉馅与Q弹的外皮,老板娘说这丸子里包的是猪后腿肉、虾仁、荸荠、葱花混合成的内馅,而皮是用海鳗鱼和番薯粉打成鱼浆做成,一咬开,淡淡的油气鲜香从丸子里蹦出来。

6) 荣昌油炸食品
营业时间:8AM-1PM(周一休息)
位于大路边,古早味的台湾炸料,种类繁多。有酸菜丸、菜炸、红糟肉、红糟鳗、炸排骨、炸旗鱼、芋头丸、鸡卷、甜不辣。

7) 传统小吃 赤肉羹+鲁肉饭
从早上8点开到晚上7点,三餐时段全都包中间不休息。

立足25年,凭的就是料多味美!

老板说他们的肉燥是用切碎的三层肉和猪皮下去熬,而且有撇掉多余的油,所以卤肉饭吃起来香而不腻。

肉羹汤用上好的胛心肉,沾裹用鲨鱼和旗鱼打制的鱼浆,加上笋丝、柴鱼片及香菇,老板亲手捏制,现煮现卖。

8) 老牌甘蔗汁
台湾盛产甘蔗,这家“老牌甘蔗汁”小摊已经在市场开了40多年,一个古早味的冰柜是生招牌,最特别的是甘蔗汁加柠檬汁。

9) 芝麻酱烧饼-清真马叔饼铺
营业时间是早上7点半到下午4点(周五休息)

来到东门市场绝对不能错过这家“清真马叔饼铺”。这家芝麻酱烧饼开了将近50年。

芝麻酱烧饼香味从旧旧的小屋子传出来。以手工制作的烧饼,咖啡色的外皮沾满白芝麻粒,馅料有香浓的芝麻酱和花椒粉。煎过后再放进烤箱烘烤,味道特别香。牛腱肉白白净净,酱香浓郁没有腥味,夹进烧饼一起吃最适宜。如果怕单吃烧饼会口干,可以点一杯桂花酸梅汤喝!

10) 东门豆花
营业时间是从早上7点半到下午两点半

午饭时间和假日也是常客满的豆花店。只卖冰豆浆、冰豆花和加了姜汁的热豆花,33年来从一碗3元卖到30元!老板凌晨起床亲自磨豆浆煮豆花,当天做当天卖绝不放隔夜,纯手工纯豆浆制作,没有掺豆浆粉、洋菜粉、香料、防腐剂,不会轻轻一搅就支离破碎。配上熬煮了3个多小时的花生及炒过的纯二砂糖熬煮的糖水,自然香甜。

有意参与者请联络:马来西亚亲善旅游有限公司
MALAYSIA HARMONY TOUR & TRAVEL SDN BHD
Tel: 03-2144 5186/ 2143 3970 Fax: 03-2142 6697
www.12fly.com.my & www.malaysianharmony.com.my

20-02-2011 (Sunday)
We left KLIA by China Airlines and arrived at Taoyuan Airport around
7p.m. The Taiwan tour coordinator greeted and guided us to hotel.

21-02-2011 (Monday)
It was a simple breakfast at the hotel before guide took us on morning tour to Keelung, known for its marine life. And next to Yehliu Geopark, famous for beautiful rock formation.

Afternoon was meant for a tour of Jiufen, a town built along a hilly range and noted for its gold mines. The industry has lost its lustre and shine and it was during 1990, that the beauty of this place was captured in a film. Attention was soon focused on it and there was no turning back in popularity.

22-02-2011 (Tuesday)
We tried many snacks at East Gate Market in Taipei.

Our stomachs heaved with food as we made our way to Longshansi temple, the Wah Si Market and Taipei 101.

23-02-2011 (Wednesday)
Left the hotel early morning at 5a.m. for an early flight back to Malaysia. Thank goodness there's a gym nearby home for all the foodie track we have sampled.

1) Hong Kong dimsum
Hong Kong dimsum at Hing Kee did offer authentic usual yum char fare.

2) Loh Mama Meehoon Soup
The bowl of fine meehoon had a soup base using black skin pig bones as an ingredient which was simmered for four to five hours, and next offals were added in. This must be a Hakka dish as it was accompanied with side dishes of pig's tripe and pig's heart slices.

The trick to this noodle dish was to mixed in the garlic sauce, chilli sauce, Hakka vinegar and soy sauce thickener together. This condiment went down well with us as it gave the dish an extra ooomph.

3) Roast ducks
This reputable 28 year-old roast meat shop offered us the best tasting roast ducks. Apart from roasted intestines, they served liver filling intestines, you can be assured of consistency and quality, an important hallmark ingredient here.

4) Spring onion pancake
A landmark highlight here was the spring onion pancake. You could taste the beautiful filling of lean meat, cabbage, spring onions and superior stock being very flavourful filling or try the other variety of carrot shreds, prawns or white radish shreds and chives, which could be just as delightful.

5) The Fookchow fishballs
The Fookchow fishballs are done daily so freshness can be assured. The skins are made form eel flesh coupled with sweet potato flour whilst filling comprised of lean pork, prawns, Chinese waterchestnuts, spring onions.

6) Deep-fried snacks
Many varieties of traditional Taiwanese deep-fried snacks sold here.

7) Meat broth & meaty braised rice
How could we missed out on traditional snack like truly impressive meat broth and meaty braised rice which were not oily but very flavourful. Braised duck eggs, pig's blood curd cake, oiled beancurd could have you hanging around asking for more.

8) Sugar-cane juice
This 40 years-old drink of sugar-cane juice with lemonade was worth a try.

9) Muslim flaky skin biscuits
Muslim snack of sesame seed paste baked flaky skin biscuit's with a version of minced beef as filling was best enjoyed with a sour plum drink mixed with gui hua flower.

10) Taufoo fah
Home-made taufoo fah was done with no preservatives and had a smooth taste drenched with syrup and softened nuts topping.

For more information, please contact:
MALAYSIA HARMONY TOUR & TRAVEL SDN BHD
Tel: 03-2144 5186/ 2143 3970 Fax: 03-2142 6697
www.12fly.com.my & www.malaysianharmony.com.my

2010/07/01

BALI 2010 - Y3K COMPANY TRIP


BALI -- PURA ULUN DANU古庙.


乘搭亚航AK363班机,下午1点45分抵达目的地--印尼的峇厘岛.


将行李放入酒店后,第一站到猴庙 - Taman Ayun.


建在Pura Uluwatu山崖的猴庙,一望无际的印度洋.


这里的猴子比人多.


风景优美.


眼镜是猴子最爱,一个不留神,树上的猴子将眼镜给抢走.


眼镜被破坏.


另一个在Uluwatu的景点--GWK.


GWK的傍晚.


第二天早上到Batu Bulan观赏传统Barong舞蹈,讲述正邪两派之争.


舞蹈员艳丽的服装,生动的肢体动作及懂得表达的眼睛,不需要开口都能够将故事精彩地表达出来.


BARONG舞蹈之其中一幕.


结尾的一场最令人惊愕,这些好像被催眠的勇士以长刀不断往自己身上大力地刺,然而却丝毫无损.


BARONG总共分为五幕表演,为时约45分钟.


午餐在峇厘岛第二高火山MT. BATUR(1717M)及其旁的LAKE BATUR(峇厘岛最大的湖)旁边用餐.


1994年最后一次爆发的睡火山,黑色地带是溶岩流过之处,依然寸草不生,然而却是最肥沃的肥料.


这里的沙爹将鸡肉剁碎,加入香料及椰渣,口味与大马不同.


炸香蕉糕与咖啡,一定要试.


咖啡园里不止种咖啡,还有热带水果及各种香料.


这只香猫(CIVET CAT/ PARADOXURUS)最喜欢吃熟透的咖啡果,咖啡果在它的肚子内发酵,最后被排泄出来.这些咖啡子洗净后炒香,成为世界上最贵的咖啡豆.


咖啡豆以柴火慢火炒一个小时.


一杯杯味道各异的咖啡让你品尝.


后面那一小罐KOPI LUWAK(香猫咖啡)咖啡粉叫价RP220,000(RM73).


一小杯KOPI LUWAK(香猫咖啡)在园内喝,售价RP30,000(RM10).


TIRTA EMPUL/大象洞神庙的泉水全年不断.


晚餐在JIMBARAN BEACH沙滩上享用海鲜套餐,有乐手拌唱娱宾.


最后一天的行程:早上坐玻璃船(船中甲板底部镶玻璃)到海上看珊瑚,海草及喂鱼.


透过玻璃船的玻璃,海底风光一览无余.


来到海龟养育场.


养在海边的海龟.


和海龟合照.


可爱的小海龟.


椰子水清凉解渴.


在NUSA DUA海边除了乘船出海,还可以游泳,乘降落伞飞上青天.


NUSA DUA 海边.


往另一个景点BEDUGUL途中,停在半路买烧猪肉(BABI GULING).


印尼虽然是回教国家,然而峇厘岛的居民95%是信奉兴都教(HINDUISM),烧猪肉(BABI GULING)是这里的特色小食,值得一试.


烧得香脆无比的猪皮,没什么肥油的猪肉,很可口,难怪到处都在卖.


BEDUGUL海拔相当高,气候相当冷,雨中的街上朦朦胧胧,好象金马仑.


PURA ULUN DANU是著名的兴都古庙,游客络绎不绝.


PURA ULUN DANU古庙,游客止步,只有兴都教徒才可进入这道金色的大门.


这个建在湖上的神庙是峇厘岛的代表性建筑,其中一张rp50,000就是以这座神庙为背景.


行程最后是到TANAH LOT,另一个著名的兴都教圣地.


建在悬崖峭壁的兴都庙,真的有神仙居住的感觉.


TANAH LOT的傍晚.


往悬崖的神庙前进.


如幻如真.


峭壁上的神明.


来张合照.


TANAH LOT另一个景点--涨潮时,中间的神庙与陆地分开,成为一个孤岛.潮水退去后,与陆地连成一体.


结实的溶岩地表,游客及香客散布四周.


拾级而下到涨潮时是海床,退潮后是陆地的溶岩上.


被海水侵蚀的溶岩,有些小鱼随潮水来,退潮时留在岩洞内.


兴都教香客穿着圣洁,带着贡品来拜神.


善男信女列队洒圣水,再穿过狭窄的岩洞,往山上去朝拜.


穿过这个狭窄的小洞,往山上去拜拜.


山上的神庙游客止步,只限朝拜的兴都教香客.


度假风味的OASIS KUTA酒店.


我们居住的酒店在KUTA市区,酒店不大,地点方便.