Urbanscapes 2013

Date: 23 - 24 November 2014
Venue: Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS)

Nice Stupid Playground, my favourite local band. They came all the way from their hometown in Kuching, Sarawak to perform at the festival.

Check out more Photo at Urbanscapes Facebook page.

Swiss Roll and Kaya Puff at Lorong Yap Ah Loy

This push cart with arrays of pastries on display sells one of the best Kaya Puff in town.

Filled with Kaya (coconut jam), the buttery puff with thin cripsy flake still retains its crispiness the next day. I love this. 

Lighter than the Western version and filled with Kaya, this type of Swiss roll is usually found in Chinese style bakeries together with other Chinese style pastries such as egg tart. We called it 'egg roll/cake' in Chinese.

The newspaper clipping on her stall featured an interview with China Press, a local newspaper. Egg tart and Kaya are also available.

The old lady manning the stall has been here for a long time, one of the few old timers that are still operating their businesses in downtown KL.

There are now more foreigners than locals in the area. One can see a few restaurants and shops in foreign languages catering to the workers from countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.

The old lady may not be here forever but I hope the recipe or the technique of the pastry-making is not lost. 


Small alleyway of Lorong Yap Ah Loy
Opening Hour: 8 am - 3 pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holiday

Phuket Island

Funny promotional banner outside a bar at Patong, popular (notorious) for its nightlife. There are many, many, many bars especially centred on Bangla Road. It was quiet during the day but come night time, it comes to life. Wild and eye-opener, a walk along the road is a must for first timer to the island. Besides the usual lady boys, pole dancers, people trying to sell tickets for ping pong show, there are also people holding exotic animals such as snake, ready to charge you for photos with the animals! I avoided them as I do not want anything creeping up on me. They can be rather pushy so try to avoid them if you don't fancy getting a photo taken with the animals.

It's a very touristy island. Everything is design to cater, attract and appeal to tourist. A Bat-Taxi will definitely stand out.

Away from the madness of Patong, Chalong Bay is located at the other side of the island. 

The dirt road leading to the hotel. Didn't see any cat! 

Retreat Resort at Siar Beach Lundu

Located at Siar Beach in Lundu, Sarawak, The Union Yes Retreat and Training Centre is owned and operated by the Sarawak Bank Employees Union.

The Beach House. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a dining+living area, in addition to the big porch outside with a BBQ pit. Great for group trip.

Tree-top Terrace at the beach

Ninkasi Oatis and Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

In Malaysia, Guinness is a well-known brand for stout and is often my preferred drink at the pub.

Today for the first time, I tried oatmeal stout and it's so delicious! How I wish they are available widely and less pricier so that I can enjoy them often.

Sharing with a friend, the two of us choose to something dark and stout-like. The owner of the shop recommended Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (ABV 5.8%). It was a good recommendation - one sip and we love it.

Next one, we had the Ninkasi Oatis (ABV 7.2%); it was even tastier!

Both beers have creamy foam especially Oatis; roasted dark malty flavour, hint of chocolate and very smooth - wonderful complex flavour.

Good Vibe Festival 2013

Date: August 17
Venue: Sepang Go Kart Circuit

With lineup such as Smashing Pumpkin, Modest Mouse and Ash, the festival seems to be targeted at people who grew up listening to 90s music, such as me. But to be honest, I'm not a big fan of any of the bands. I used to like Ash so it was nice to see them performing 'Girl from Mar' live. The surprise act for the night was Modest Mouse. I'm not familiar with their songs but I enjoyed their performance.

Other international bands performing included Japandroid, They Will Kill Us All and local acts Kyoto Protocol, OJ Law, The Impatient Sisters, Twilight Actiongirl, The Deer Society, Liyana Fizi, Monologue, Tenderfist.

Drink: La Trappe Witte Trappist

The world's first and only Trappist white ale. Brewed using only water, grain and hops.

Country: Netherlands.

ALC: 5.5% vol

Clean and crispy, very refreshing on a hot day.

Website: latrappetrappist.com

Opika Organic One Utama

OPIKA Organic at 1 Utama.

L-R: Wheatgrass shot, Dynamic Greens (Wheat Grass + Apple Juice) and Opika Warm Jamuu Beauty Shot with Turmeric /Lime/Honey

                                 

Quinoa Salad with Kaduk Leaves Tempura (Love this!)

"Mixed with locally-sourced herbs, wild shrimp and slow-cooked organic multi coloured quinoa drizzled with our special house dressing"

The salad is excellent and must-try! It's the first time I try quinoa (pronounced kwee-nah) and I love it. 

Opika Organic Market & Restaurant

opikaorganic.com

Drink: Taiwan Sweet Touch Fruit Beer

Grape Flavour

Lychee Flavour

Fruit Beer from Taiwan.

9% fruit juice

Alcohol level - 3.5%

A friend gave these to me when I was in Singapore few months ago. They taste like carbonated fruit juice. Not sure if the beers are sold in Malaysia but I don't miss them.

Book: The Great Gatsby

Re-reading the classic book before I watch the movie. 

The beautiful description of wind blowing in a room:

"A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags, twisting them up toward the frosted wedding-cake of the ceiling, and then rippled over the wine-colored rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea."

An apt description of Tom and Daisy. These people exist not only in book but in our daily life too.  

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."

On hope:

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. 

Drink: Craft Beer in Malaysia

Wonderful weekend of craft beer tasting.

Saturday: 

Taps Beer Bar sells a variety of craft beer in draft and bottle. As it was our first time there, we were not quite sure what to order so the waitress recommended the tasting set. 

                            

What we tasted: 

JB Perfect Porter

Weihenstephan WeissbierBrewdog Punk IPA
Brewdog 5 AM Saint
JB Easy English
Rogue Brutal IPA
Kiasu Stout

facebook.com/TapsBeerBar

Sunday:
Ales & Lagers in Publika.

A small shop with only 2 tables, there are open shelves and fridges filled with craft beers providing interesting visual and making it easier for customer to browse and choose.

The friendly owner recommended some good stuff for us:

Yoho Brewing Suiyoubi No Neko
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Kooinda Valhalla Golden Ale
Rogue Buckwheat Ale
Magic Hat #9
Gordon Biersch Czech Style Pilner
Rogue Juniper Pale Ale
Magic Hat Encore

It was a refreshing experience to try craft beer. I was getting a bored with the usual commercial brews that we always get in Malaysia.

I plan to go back again to try, try, try!

facebook.com/AlesLagers

Drink: Sugarcane Coconut

Sugarcane + Coconut + Lime.

Or 'Cococane', as some people called it.

On its own, the ingredients in this drink are naturally cooling; when you combine them together, it made for a refreshing drink.

I had this drink in Kuching on my last visit to the city. We had a late lunch at the Song Kheng Hai Ground Food and Recreational Center (it's a mouthful name for a place) at Padungan.

The weather has been extremely hot in KL in these few days and I wish I could have this cooling drink. But I have yet to see anyone selling it.