Laksa Jitra Mai

In KL, a good laksa utara is hard to find. Although this laksa is freely available in pasar malam's, most of them fails in two main parts. One, the laksa broth is too runny and does not have enough fish taste. Two, the laksa comes from a packet and is too hard. And yes, you want your laksa to be al dente. It's not just for spaghetti. But, we found Laksa Jitra Mai that can simply be said as one of the best in KL, on a mobile motorcycle, underneath a big tree in Kota Damansara.

Jitra Mai simply serves it the original way. Laksa noodle, sliced cucumbers, sliced raw onions, cut spring onions, daun kesum, half cut lime and the hallmark of laksa kedah, a half cut boiled egg. That's it.

The laksa broth is simply magical. Thick and chockful of fish. They say that they use sardines but I suspect that they throw in other types of fish as well to give the broth a much richer taste. Laksa Kedah normally uses ikan termenung (a variant of lkan kembung) and I can taste a hint of this in the broth.

The broth is left to simmer in the laksa cauldron from noon to about six pm so if you come just before closing time, you will have a much thicker yummy fishy broth because the broth has gone through a slow reduction process.

The laksa noodle here is al-dente most times. It has slightly irregular shapes as opposed to the perfectly tubular machined shaped noodle. This may mean that their laksa noodle is handmade although they claim otherwise. It's just too irregular to be machine made.

At RM3.50, this is happiness in a bowl. Rice noodle served with a thick fishy broth, with boiled eggs and condiments on the side. However, the whole thing comes in a styrofoam bowl with tinny plasticky spoons which is actually quite disappointing. Stuff this good should at least merit the typical plastic bowl. Pretty good stuff by our standards. 

We've had people who previously only preferred the Chinese assam laksa finishing a bowl or two of Jitra Mai's Malay laksa. Now, Chinese version laksa have a completely different taste profile compared to Malay laksa. Broth is clearer, cooked using sardines with the addition of pineapples. Laksa Kedah has a thick broth, Laksa Perlis uses eels, and Malay Laksa Penang uses a mixture of fish.

Jitra Mai does not sell any water with their laksa. They have something even better. Cendol. This is a special cendol that compliments their laksa extremely well. Ice is thinly shaved, then cendol and kidney beans are added, before gula melaka and coconut milk are poured in. A simple cooling drink that we highly recommend. They also serve a pulut version here.

This is a simple mobile 2 man unit. One serves the food, the other picks up plates and co-assists when it gets busy. This is street food at its best. Eating beside the street and underneath a tree. If it rains, everybody just have to cower and eat under the one umbrella shack.

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Mirrors George Town by Ernest Zacharevic

Mirrors George Town is a street art project by international artist Ernest Zacharevic, commissioned  for George Town Festival 2012. 

The project consists of several large-scale wall paintings, all located within the core heritage zone of George Town, Penang.

The idea behind the project was to turn the streets of Penang into an open-air gallery that can be admired and experienced as one takes a walk while exploring the heritage enclave. The murals – figure drawings and portraits – celebrates the multiculturalism and diversity of the city’s inhabitants, the living heritage of George Town.

George Town Festival (GTF), as described on the official website “is a month-long celebration of art, music, theatre, dance opera and film to commemorate George Town’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing on July 7, 2008. Each year since 2009, GTF transforms George Town into an exciting and unique platform for the arts, heritage and culture.”

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Top 10 Adventures in Malaysia

Located in the tropics, Malaysia is separated into two halves by the South China Sea. The peninsula is home to the sprawling modern cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, while Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo boast jaw-dropping landscapes and vast amounts of endemic flora and fauna. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country with a very diverse culture and heritage. It is the abode of tropical evergreen forests, huge national parks as well as rugged mountain terrains.

Here is my bucket list of some great Malaysian adventures that I would love to do when I visit this beautiful country!

Hiking in Mount Kinabalu:

Mount Kinabalu earns the distinction of being the tallest mountain in South-East Asia and offers an astonishing panoramic view of Sabah from it’s highest point. It is one of the easier peaks to conquer but the addition of a 1.2 km long Via Ferrata now offers various routes that have different levels of difficulties. The hike to Low’s Peak, which is the highest point (4095m) is the best part of the tour as the views from the peak are stunning and make all the effort worthwhile!

Yachting:

Malaysia boasts a fascinating coastline and the best way to enjoy the beauty of it is by chartering a yacht. Sailing to Langkawi islands would be a serene experience. Langkawi is home to uninhabited islands, lush rain forests, beautiful white sand beaches, astonishing caves and lakes. You can also spot long tailed macaques, Langkawi sea eagles, hairy nosed sea otters as well as the shy yet beautiful langour. It would be a perfect sailing holiday for all nature lovers.

Mountain Biking:

Mountain biking through the tarmac roads of Borneo is a great way to see what Malaysia has to offer. It’s a rustic way to discover mountains, beautiful rivers, beaches and the dense forests of the country! It is an adventurous way to get a feel of the country as it moves under your wheels!

Jungle Trekking in Taman Negara:

Taman Negara is Malaysia’s largest national park and is home to numerous wonderful species of wildlife and dense, lavish rainforests. The canopy walk which affords you a view from atop the forest, and the night watches for nocturnal life, makes for once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

Scuba  diving in Sipadan:

Sipadan is considered to be the Mecca for most diving enthusiasts. Sipadan is an exquisitely beautiful habitat for over 500 species of coral and over 3000 species of fish. Scuba diving in the Sipadan waters is unique as it features a majestic drop-off that cascades down into 700 meters of endless beauty. The diving site offers a visual treat as the waters feature a diverse range of marine life ranging from the hawksbill turtle to the white-tip shark.

Platform Snorkeling:

The Langkawi islands offer a unique experience of exploring the beautiful coral reefs, not through scuba, but from a floating platform that is accessed by a speed boat. This gives a rare opportunity for snorkelers to tour the radiant coral garden that is enriched with great marine life!

Whitewater Rafting:

The Sungai Kampar river in Perak offers a thrilling rafting adventure as you can ride through the beautiful river that is set amongst a luscious rain forest and tackle 14 exciting rapids. The river flows along extravagant caves and temples, and also features hot springs. The whitewater rafting will make you go on an adrenaline rush and is a great way to get in touch with nature!

Living with the Penan Tribe:

This is a great adventure as you can get to explore some unprotected areas in Sarawak and live with the tribes as well as learn about their fascinating rituals. You can experience their activities of blowpipe making, rattan weaving and wildlife tracking, and learn the value of medicinal plants as well. It is a truly fascinating way to appreciate nature among those who are closest to it.

Wreck Diving:

Diving enthusiasts can indulge in wreck diving as four great wrecks await exploration in the stunning Labuan Islands. They include an Australian wreck, an American wreck, a blue water wreck and a cement wreck. The crystal clear blue waters give great visibility for all the wrecks.

Jet Ski:

Another great, fun water activity is the jet ski tours on the waters of the Menumbok river, in Sabah. The tours last up to almost three hours and the jet skis can be rented from the many watersports centres in the area. Jet skiing is a great water sport for people of all ages and probably the best way to enjoy the sun and waters!

With such rich natural beauty, culture and heritage, Malaysia is indeed “Truly Asia”!

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Welcome to LEGOLAND Malaysia

According to Tourism Malaysia, there were 24.7 million recorded tourist arrivals last year, with tourism receipts totalling RM58.3bil. The Malaysia Tourism Plan 2020 is targeting 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168bil in tourism receipts by 2020.

Legoland parks typically house miniature Lego structures built around themes such as Star Wars as well as mini villages with landmarks in the area. Other Legoland parks are located in Denmark, Germany, the UK and the US.

The heart of Legoland Malaysia is Miniland, which features various Asian landmarks recreated using more than 25 million Lego bricks.

Apart from Legoland’s own features, Boerst believes that up and coming attractions nearby will drive visitors to the Iskandar region and by extension, to Legoland.

“Legoland fits well with the tourism pillar of Iskandar. There is a good concept for Iskandar and we are working with other attractions in the vicinity to offer attractive packages,” Boerst said.

The Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park in Nusajaya is scheduled for a November opening with attractions such as Lat’s Place and a Sanrio Hello Kitty Theme Park among other things. Iskandar Malaysia is looking to add more theme parks for the region to boost tourism activity there.

Some have been quick to point out that Legoland is no match for Singapore’s integrated resorts, which have stronger products to offer. The attractions at the resorts include Universal Studios Singapore, a casino and the Marine Life Park which cater to a wide range of visitors compared to Legoland’s target audience of young children.

But Boerst believes that Singapore’s resorts are not direct competitors.

“It is always good to have healthy competition, but I believe we can profit from each other. Legoland’s presence here adds to the whole tourism attraction in this part of South-East Asia and tourists on longer stays can visit parks in both countries,” he said.

Additionally, a water park and Legoland Hotel are slated to be opened in 2013 and 2014 respectively, which would mean more integrated offerings for Legoland. This will draw longer-staying visitors and add to Legoland’s revenue.

Legoland expects to generate more than RM100mil in revenue in its first year of operations. This will come from all the attractions in the park, restaurants as well as retail outlets.

“We should see operational profit in the first year itself, but to recover the full investment will depend on the long-term development of the park which usually takes about 15 to 20 years,” Boerst said.

The combined cost of the theme park and planned water park is RM720mil, which is fully funded by the Malaysian government, while the construction of the hotel will cost RM190mil.

Boerst said, although Legoland essentially only manages the park in Malaysia, UK-based Merlin Entertainments Group, the owner and operator of the other Legoland parks, will look into acquiring at least a 20% stake in Legoland Malaysia moving forward.

This will increase Merlin’s reach in Asia, which is expected to be the new playground for theme park operators as the North American and European markets mature and visitor numbers plateau.

A report by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers forecast Asian theme park attendance to grow to 290 million in 2012 from 249 million in 2007, while spending in that period is expected to rise from US$6.4bil (RM19.93bil) to US$8.4bil.

Market research company Global Industry Analysts Inc estimates that the global theme parks market could reach US$29.5bil by the year 2015 and US$31.8bil by 2017, offering plenty of room for growth in Asia.

Boerst said Legoland may venture into other Asian markets and is already in negotiations for a theme park in South Korea.

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R.A Nasi Lemak

If we have to choose a national dish, nasi lemak would be a worthy contender. It's the most familiar and widely enjoyed dish in Malaysia. In KL, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to nasi lemak. One of our all-time-favourite NL haunt is R.A Nasi Lemak.

Paru goreng at R.A is what makes me come here over and over again. Theirs is the dry version where cow lungs are deep fried with ginger and shallots until crispy. To tenderize the lung, they boil it whole for a few minutes before cutting it into thin slices and then frying it. The texture of the lungs is like beef jerky, crisp on the outside and a little chewy when you take a bite. If you're a paru fan, be prepared to come early because these dream-worthy lungs would be one of the first things to run out every day.

Sambal sotong is also popular here. The squid is covered with thick sambal while the texture is springy with plenty of bite. 

Even eaten plain, the nasi lemak here is pretty good. Rice is cooked almost al-dente so it's not clumpy and dense. It falls into individual grains making them the perfect transporter for the chilli sambal. The rice is flavoured with just a hint of coconut milk, which makes it light enough to enjoy on a workday morning. 

The sambal is not overly sweet and has just enough heat. So, if you love chillies, this could be a bit mild for your liking.

You can find R.A Nasi Lemak at Raja Abdullah ( hence the R.A in their name ), near the Dang Wangi police station. A cook named Haji Gedek created most of the popular dishes here and the recipes have remained unchanged since he started selling nasi lemak more than 25 years ago.

Although Haji Gedek is no longer around, his legacy lives on through his grandchildren, Puan Roslin and Encik Fendi. Now, they're the ones handling the business. The business has prospered and nasi lemak fans still flock here every day to get their nasi lemak fix. With so many fans, it's no wonder that R.A goes through 5-6 barrels of rice daily.

Another plus point for R.A are their prices. Even though it's located smack in the middle of the city, the prices have remained low. For 'nasi lemak biasa' you only need to pay RM1.50 and even with lauk, a plate of nasi lemak would usually only cost about RM3.50. This makes breakfast here tastes even more tastier! 

For lung aficionados who don't mind waking up early to sample the best paru goreng in KL, I urge you to try the ones sold at R.A. Even if you're not an early-riser, you'll have to try it at least once. I won't be surprised if the paru goreng here would actually motivate you to wake a little bit earlier than usual because they're just so totally worth it. 


Address:
15A Jalan Raja Abdullah, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur. 
(Roadside stall behind Dang Wangi train station)

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Bazaar Ramadan Sg. Penchala 2012

It's so much easier to navigate your way around a small bazaar. Sg. Penchala offers plenty of choices for iftar but it's small enough that you won't overspend buying goodies for your 'buka puasa' meal.


Time seems to move quicker than Usain Bolt these days. In a blink of an eye, a week of fasting have passed. As always, during Ramadan, we would check out what's on offer at the bazaars peppered across the Klang Valley. Although there's plenty of pasar ramadans to choose from, Sg. Penchala has always been one of our favourites because of its uncomplicated layout and variety of choices.

Murtabaks being prepared at 'Murtabak Beratur'

As you approach this bazaar, you will see a queue of people at the 'Murtabak Beratur' stall. The name explains it all. You could only find this stall during Ramadan because the couple who runs it only opens during the fasting month. The murtabaks here are more rounded in shape because the 'pakcik' who makes flatten out the 'canai' dough on the counter instead of flipping it in the air. Then he adds the filling, folds it and flattens it again, keeping the shape round instead of square. The outer layer of the murtabak is thick and has a nice charred quality while the eggy, meaty filling stays moist and yummy on the inside. Each murtabak comes with a very syrupy onion relish and some curry. Though the relish is a bit sweet, the murtabaks ( you can opt for beef or chicken ) are pretty decent.

If you're willing to try a more unconventional murtabak, go to the Murtabak Special Cheese stall where a slice of cheese is added into the filling to give it some extra flavour. Rich with a hint of saltiness, the murtabaks here are pretty satisfying that one is enough for your buka puasa meal.


We also love the selection of kuihs at this bazaar. There's so many to choose from. One of our picks is the kuih stall opposite the Murtabak Cheese stall. We love their karipap sardin. These round karipaps have a golden crust and a tasty onion-rich sambal sardin filling. The kuih sago here are also good - sticky and gooey.

Another kuih stall worth checking out is at Lot 196. They serve kuih apam that are so light and fluffy, they're like mouth-watering soft pillows of sweetness. Sprinkled with a generous amount of shredded coconut, these apams are a delightful treat for iftar. They also sell tepung pelita and doughnuts here. And of course, even the Ramadan bazaars can't escape the burger bakar phenomenon.

Thinking of a burger for iftar? Check out Backyard Grill Burger.

Backyard Grill Burger sells homemade lamb and beef burgers. Although their patties aren't as thick as some of their counterparts but with plenty of seasonings and grilled perfectly, the burgers here are an ideal choice if you have a meat craving during iftar.

Another popular item at this bazaar is the Sabah chicken wings. Rows of crimson coloured chicken wings are barbecued over a charcoal fire filling the bazaar with their enticing smell. Marinated in honey and spices, these barbecued wings are sweet and smokey. Lovely eaten on its own but if you like it spicy, enjoy with the soy-garlic sauce that comes with it.

An assortment of freshly blended juices

To quench your thirst after a day of fasting, instead of choosing a drink sweetened with syrup, why not go for a healthier option? With no artificial sweetener, these fruit juices are refreshing and tasty. We love the mango and dragon fruit juice.
You can also sate your thirst with 'kelapa laut' juice here - it has a dark caramel sweetness that is almost treacle-like in flavour.


Sg Penchala may not be a big pasar ramadan but it has a selection of stalls that will make you want to come here again. We love that it's just the right size, small enough that you're not overwhelmed with choices but big enough that you do have a variety of things to choose from. Parking can be a hassle so come early to avoid the stress of looking for parking.

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