Yummy Sotong Goreng Tepung @ Muhibbah Seafood

it was our final makan-makan before i went back to dubai last april.

(i kept the post till today, coz i miss home so much, and just wanna keep writing about ‘em even as i’m back in dubai…)

abah suggested this place at sungai penchala serving chinese food called ‘muhibbah seafood’. it’s like a huge bungalow – spacious, white and looks like a dining hall rather than a restaurant. in fact, they offer to hold weddings or corporate dinner there too.

we parked by the roadside in front of the restaurant, and i think there are staff over there to assist.

 

my youngest sis did all the ordering!

 

the seats give a certain garden-party look, though. and the very green table cloth doesn’t help! i didn’t say it looks ugly – just reminded me of patio furnitures…

 

* * *

 

this black pepper beef looks more delicious than it actually taste. slightly bland, it could use a little more salt! has high potential but just barely!

 

asparagus with belacan was good. the veggie was fresh, and not that spicy which is fine by me! fresh and crunchy.

 

ikan tiga rasa (fish with 3 key-ingredients, maybe? haha) the fish is well-fried – crunchy on the outside, and the flesh is tender and juicy on the inside.

 

steamed fish was delicious. highly-recommended.

 

i’m not that into prawns, but this dish is tasty! really juicy and well-marinated. must-order too! i mean, cammon – recommended by someone who DOES NOT even like prawn, and this dish was too tantalizing to ignore, made me wanna try? that’s gotta be something!

 

not the best lemon-chicken i’ve ever tasted, because the batter-fried chicken is not as crunchy as i hoped, but it’s still a good dish. what can i say, i’m a fan of lemon chicken far and wide!

 

okay, this doesn’t look too inviting, but i’m telling you this was one of the best sotong goreng tepung (fried calamari) ever. it’s in the flour that makes it so crunchy and tasty. the texture is just perfect too.

tomyam is tomyam – it’s delicious, able to satisfy any fans of tomyam. the portion is acceptably huge, and can be shared. what else is left to say?

 

* * *

 

from left : the newlyweds my sis syidot, her *HUBS* nash, abah, umi and my youngest sis (future bride) azot

 

also joining us : my bro-in-law din, micha, my sis syimot & cuya

 

the whole family!

 

khaleef with atok *smile* ~miss you, abah. i’m coming home soon! again! haha.

The Beatles in Dubai!

wanna meet the beatles in dubai?

head on to harvey nichols at the mall of emirates, and meet the fab four – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. no, they’re not back from the dead (ok, bad joke) but they’re actually madame tussauds waxworks placed in the middle of cloths rack and designer bags of harvey nichols!

calling it ‘the beatles story’, that’s harvey nichols way of celebrating the 50th anniversary of this awesome teen-sensation ‘the beatles’

 

my terrorodable three with the fab four ~ khaleef, kahfi & kazim with john, ringo, paul and george.

 

the beatles legacy is evergreen. whether you’re 71 or 17, all can relate to the simplicity of their songs, get caught in the catchy beat and meaningful lyrics. back then ‘yesterday’, they simply ‘wanna hold your hand’ and asked to ‘love me do’ while ‘imagine’ going on a ‘yellow submarine’ to simply ‘let it be’!

my mom and my sis syida are big fans. i’m not really a crazy fan, but i do love their simple songs that i mentioned above.

 

 

well, like them a little, or like them a lot, they were THE british group that took the world by storm in the 1960’s and changed the popular music landscape forever.

so if you wanna have a little part of them, harvey nichols put up a section on the third floor, selling beatles t-shirt, magnets, cds, caps and sweaters, as well as limited edition hard-cover coffee table books.

 

 

…and i got myself a beatles t-shirt! hihi. tak pergi liverpool, dapat t-shirt kat dubai pun jadilah! thanks honey!

catch the ‘wax figures’ of the beatles at harvey nichols, mall of emirates until may 31st. until then, enjoy my favorite beatles’ song – ‘i want to hold your hand’ circa 1960s!

 

Indo Dishes in Bumbu Desa @ Alamanda, Putrajaya

if ever you wanted to have delicious indonesian dishes in putrajaya, head on to alamanda – there’s a lovely little place called ‘bumbu desa’ that you just have to try.

the place is nicely decorated with indonesian motif, has relaxing indonesian intrumentals and the food presentation is the best. a bit pricey, but you not only pay for the tasty lauk, but comfort and ambiance too!

we came here recently on our trip back to malaysia. it was the day we caught the movie ‘avengers’. just the two us. casual dining at an indonesian restaurant, and a movie afterwards. nice.

 

bumbu desa is right next to garden, if i’m not mistaken

 

this was the ‘food presentation’ that i was talking about. at first i thought it was a buffet table, but it’s actually a spread of all the yummy dishes this restaurant can cook up.

we have a look-see, we choose what we like, tell the waiter, take our seat, and the staff will bring a bowl or plate of that dish to our table. and i tell you, the dishes are all looking SO mouth-watering!

 

the food-spread for patrons to choose from

we took this. gulai daun singkong. it’s some kind of leaf cooked in coconut milk. one of my favorite indonesian dishes. indescribable yumness.

 

i had this. ayam bakar (grilled chicken) with sweet soy sauce. yum, but i didn't like the chili sauce they added on top of the chicken. but the texture and taste – yum again!

 

mr. khairul’s favorite tidbits at an indonesian restaurant – tempe goreng. though i’m not a fan, i must say the tempe at ‘bumbu desa’ is freshly fried, making them hot and crispy. a nice addition.

 

brrr. aku memang tak tahan pedas, so this is clearly for mr. khairul. even looking at it i can feel the spiciness at the tip of my tongue! i usually avoid the green one then most!

 

a must-have for my khairul. never going without when he ate at an indonesian restaurant. some call it 'kelikir', some gulai 'kaki sapi'. to me, the texture of it that perplexed me the most. it’s like gummy bear, but it’s softer and not that liat. and a bit like a hardened jelly too. weird!

 

love, love, love the rice container!

 

* * *

 

huge poster of one indon pakcik on the wall. there’s another one of a really lepak-looking makcik with kain batik on her head, on the other wall. it’s black and white, giving a classic feel.

 

i love the interior decor. the tikar-mengkuang ceiling. the wooden flooring. the wayang-kulit dolls on the walls. simply beautiful. what’s interesting to note is that the tables are not the same design. they’re all wooden table but some looked modern and contemporary, while some others look like they’re antique. that’s a unique touch, making them different like that!

 

 

i would recommend this restaurant to fans of indonesian dishes, because they’ve got delicious lauk here. however, it could be a little pricey – but you do get your money’s worth! semua sedap!

Specky Khaleef : Tips for Kids to Handle Spectacles

it started off with a red-eye, took him to an eye-doc and while checking his red-eye, the doc also checks his sight – and that’s when we were officially told that khaleef needs glasses. rabun jauh.

no denying it anymore.

power : 180. kesian anak mak.

he has never complained about not being able to see clearly at school, but we did notice him standing too close to the TV when he watched cartoon or played x-box. sigh, i have only myself to blame for letting him stand THAT close, THAT long – tv, notebook monitor or ipad!

 

 

we checked him up in a hospital in dubai, and got the prescription, but ended up buying two pairs of spectacles in ipoh – cheaper!

khaleef was excited to get his first pair of spectacles, which makes me more sebak – was he in pain all these while, squinting and straining his eyes to see clearly? kesian!

but no matter – now he already got a pair!

 

 

* * *

 

first check-up at medcare hospital, dubai

 

* * *

 

 

tips to buy spectacles for kids :

1. 2 things must come to mind : safety, and durability – something that will last
2. choose specs with spring, that lets the frame’s temple bend in both direction
3. plastic frames may be a better choice for children because they tahan lama, less likely to be bent or broken, and most of all lighter in weight – senang budak-budak nak handle.
4. assure the right fit – strapped nicely around your kid’s head, right on the nose, and most importantly, doesn’t fall off when he’s playing and jumping and well, when simply being a kid!
5. make them part of the search for spectacles. let them choose. let them try a few on. look in the mirror. strike a pose. make it fun, and let them decide. it's important for kids to feel that they are a part of the frame selection process so that they will feel more attached to it, thus will take good care of it!
6. finally, of course – be prepared! so get a back-up spectacles, just in case. kids, you see – you never know!

 

this is khaleef’s back-up spectacles

 

taking care of your spectacles – for kids!

1. cleaning and maintaining their glasses

dirt and dust will be normal so help your kid to clean his glasses carefully. make sure he has a proper cleaning cloth, like the one that comes in the box with the specs. teach him how to scrub his lense carefully, and maybe even create a routine – wipe his specs everyday before bedtime, perhaps?

for now, i’m still the one cleaning khaleef’s specs. haven’t let him do it himself yet!

2. how to hold the spectacles?

whether he is putting on or removing his glasses, make sure he doesn’t touch the lenses with his fingers. remind him/her to hold the frames.

also remind him to hold the specs with BOTH hands when putting or removing, so that it will not bend. this part, i can see that he’s really careful with.

his friends may be curious which is normal, but we as parents need to remind him that letting his friends handle his specs might not be a good idea, as many mishaps could happen! however, khaleef was not the first boy to wear glasses in his class, so his classmates are already used to classmates wearing glasses in class!

 

3. set a routine or good practice

like i wrote earlier, set a time to clean his specs, like before bedtime or before going off to school in the morning.

also set a regular practice on WHERE to keep his specs when he wants to take a bath, play sports or go to sleep. is it on the dining table? in his drawer? or on top of the bookshelf? does he have a box to keep his specs? all this will create a pattern that will help your kid to keep his spectacles better.

khaleef DOES have a green ben10 box to keep his spectacles, but i have caught him many times simply placing them on the bed! and on the couch – places where people can easily sit on, or terpelanting! adoi.

 

4. set good example!

mr. khairul wears glasses in this family. i don’t. so i always remind mr. khairul to share his experiences with khaleef. i want him to remind khaleef about the do’s and don’ts of wearing specs. i want him to show khaleef the right way to hold them – because he’s the one who’s been wearing spectacles since he’s 9 years old.

when khaleef sees how his father handles his spectacles, he would naturally falls into the same habit, because he feels he can relate to his father who also wears spectacles.

(the problem is, sometimes, it’s mr. khairul who would be heard shouting, “sayangggg mana i letak spek tadi? nampak tak?” *tepuk dahi!*)

 

* * *

 

any other experience to share about your kids wearing spectacles? do share!

Kuey Teow : Sany @ Penang & Mali’s Corner @ Taman Medan, PJ

i LOVE kuey teow!

these are two of the places i tried recently : one, on our trip to penang. and another one was recommended by my little bro-in-law right in PJ.

* * *

everytime we go to penang, we surely meet up with my in-law’s family friend, a childhood buddy to the kids – muhaidi, or fondly called ‘tato’ – don’t ask!

he wanted to take us for a kuey teow yummy time at kuey teow gagak, (read my review here) but it’s closed! so he took us to the next best thing – kuey teow sany near ‘tokong ular’. it’s just a humble little stall, but cooks up delicious dishes inside!

 

 

omg. even looking back it this picture now (i’m already back in dubai) i’m salivating! i want a plate of kuey teow now! hihi.

but there was one funny incident while we’re at kuey teow sany. you see, CHAR KUEY TEOW is kuey teow basah with gravy, and PRAWN. i don’t like prawn, so i asked the the kuey teow man to make my kuey teow with chicken instead, and also DRY.

his reply : “nih pertama kali dengaq org nak kuey teow taruh ayam nih. sat naaa..” and he proceeded to shout out my request to the cooks at the back in such a way that i was like a freak for asking such a ridiculous alternative for their original char kuey teow. haha. even tato was smirking at the incident.

 

..and here’s MY plate of kuey teow – just the way i like it! kuey teow kering taruh ayam – dry kuey teow noodle with chicken instead of prawn! and i unashamedly ordered the BIG plate! pinggan besaq!

 

mr. khairul with ‘little bro’ tato, our designated host in penang. thanks for your time, bro!

 

* * *

 

when we were back in KL, my youngest bro-in-law asrar took us to ‘mali’s corner’ at taman medan, jalan klang lama. they serve delicious kuey teow, and nasi lemak kukus too (steamed glutinous rice).

this place is arguably THE place to get good char kuey teow in the klang valley – we’ll see!

 

again, i requested DRY-style kuey teow with chicken instead of prawn, but they don’t have cut-up chicken so i had the kuey teow as it is. mr. khairul was the happiest since i passed all my prawns to him! this is as tasty as a plate of kuey teow gets. and i’m sure it would be more perfect with my chicken bits!

 

this is the original version : char kuey teow basah, with prawns. mine looks more delicious! haha.

 

mr. khairul with little bro asrar.

 

we got the nasi lemak kukus too for the boys. delicious, panas-panas!

 

mali’s corner is just a couple of stalls selling kuey teow and nasi lemak, but both the dishes were really tasty. however, nothing beats the real thing in penang!

 

* * *

 

now i really, really, really want char kuey teow! *pull hair*

Penang Trip : Stayed at MoonTree47, 1920 Shoplot!

old story, but the memory remains fresh!

i can’t even begin to describe this wonderful trip. this is our FIRST trip together without the boys since forever. we left the boys with my in-laws – ALL OUR THREE boys – and headed to PENANG for a one-night trip.

i don’t have to worry about packing diaper bags. no shouting out my kids’ names every 2 seconds. no strollers to push. no cutting out a shopping outing short because one of them throws a tantrum. we went for nasi kandar at 3am, and midnight movies too – no boundaries!

i love my kids, but this brief *freedom* was just priceless. you guys understand, right mommies?

 

 

..and because we were holidaying without our kiddos, mr. khairul the adventurous traveller decided to go unconventional and booked us a room at ‘moontree47’ – a homestay situated in a traditional penang shophouse – built in the 1920s!

(believe me, if we were with the kids, i would insist on the typical 4-5 star hotels across penang. space, comfort and housekeeping! however, since it’s just the two of us – anything goes!)

it’s in georgetown, in between some other charming homestays as well. ‘moontree47’ takes its name from the street name – muntri street. smart, eh? the concept of ‘moontree47’ is 3-fold – a homestay, a cafe, and an art gallery too!

 

 

this is the sight that greets you once you enter ‘moontree47’ – vintage furniture give a sudden feel of stepping back in time! really reminded me of my opah’s house in teluk intan!

personally, i was overwhelmed with the sight of the antic collections of 50 year old dumex dinner set, the old cameras, black and white photographs on the wall and many more vintage items.

 

 

 

 

* * *

‘moontree47’ also has a cafe, serving drinks and sandwiches. the coffee corner is nice and clean too, with orders stuck to a thread with cloth pins. cute.

 

 

the seating is very lepak too. just wooden benches, wooden stools, and another few vintage furniture. this area is like a courtyard, so you’ve got plenty of sunshine in a very comfy setting, amidst greeneries. simple, yet positively pretty!

the morning after, i hung out here to use the wi-fi, and the general feel was really relaxed. i was surprised at the song-choice – classics by sinatra and the gang reverberated through the air while i blog at that quirky little homestay. nice. should’ve ordered a cup of hot choc or something!

 

 

* * *

now let’s check out our room for the night!

the owner, dickie led us past the cafe at the courtyard, through a backdoor and to this front door. really quirky setting – transporting me back to homes in kampung or old penang!

 

no view, no doorbells nor key-cards – but i just can’t wait to see what’s in store for us at this charming little homestay in georgetown!

 

open the door, and i saw this – another vintage sofa, with old-dulang with classic flower pattern. but it’s the stairs that captured my attention the most! the first thing on my mind was – MY BOYS definitely CANNOT be in this room, climbing those precarious-looking stairs! haha.

 

our homestay ‘room’ at ‘moontree47’ turned out to be a double-storey unit. the ground floor is a rather spacious area to put our luggage and what-not. the bathroom is there too on the ground floor. there’s also an old-looking cupboard that both of us recognized as belonging to our opah! hihi. THAT old-looking.

i just love that the place is so simple, with minimal amenities, but big on ideas and decor using simple items too that looked great.

 

checking out the room upstairs took real guts as i had to slowly climb up the stairs! man, never in a million years have i thought i’d be experiencing staying at a place like this! fun, exciting, new, and unique!

 

upstairs is just a really small, tight space for this double bed, and just enough space to walk around it. simple but has a cosy feel to it too. really a backpackers’ room! it’s air-conditioned, and even has a sun-roof – which was really awesome! hihi. i also love the sweet kelambu over the bed!

 

the cool sun-roof!

 

the classic wooden windows – cute!

there are some reviews at some websites saying that the walls were too thin that they can hear people coughing and all – well, if you want real sound-proof room, go to a proper hotel lah! you get what you pay for, right?

but for us, the only other unit that’s occupied was the one at the front. yang kat belakang ni, kami je yang stay. so the night can be REALLY quiet…

 

haven’t seen this flask for so long! a nice touch, to add to the retro feel.

 

* * *

 

mr. khairul with one of the owners – dickie. a nice guy, friendly and helpful too.

 

overall, our experience staying at ‘moontree47’ was a pleasant one, and it serves all our purpose – a clean bathroom, a comfy room, a pretty ambiance and even a wi-fi at the cafe. all the vintage stuff and retro feel are a bonus.

wanna check out ‘moontree47’ on your next visit to penang? walk down the street from the opposite junction of cititel, pass by modern hotel on your right. walk further down and look for ‘moontree47’ on your right.

have a nice stay!