Public Transportation Archives

In Desert By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

Famous Hong Kong Dessert Hui Lau Shan (許留山) @ 1-Utama (Old-Wing)

16/05/2012 27 Comments

Over quite sometime there are many Hong Kong dessert that open and close down to the extend some of it are very good ones and I often wonder how come no one took this franchise Hoi Lau Shan that serve superb mango dessert in many version. Guess what?!! Finally one of the best Hong Kong dessert Hoi Lau Shan had put a step in Malaysia and 1-Utama being their first outlet.

I am very sure many of you that travel to Hong Kong will be familiar with this brand as its nearly available every where, something like our bubble tea Taiwan version. I rarely miss this dessert as everytime I went to Hong Kong upon arrival at the air port I would wallop 2-3 cups of these dessert before I take my public transportation. If you are a dessert lover then you would not want to miss it~

Now most Malaysians need not travel to Hong Kong to take this dessert anymore as it available here now, located at first floor in front of Isetan at 1-Utama Old Wing. Its just a few days old and well, I just cant resist the temptation and faster came here to satisfy my crave hoping that what is serve here would be something similar to the ones in Hong Kong. Besides that, if I remember correctly those branches in Hong Kong do not have the word healthy dessert…hmmm , I guess here they serve healthy ones?

As I was sitting and happily place my order, many of passerby checking out their menu and many are skeptical on their dessert. .

Standing there and stare blankly then walk away.

Its more like a kiosk style that smack right in the middle of the new old wing and its pretty hard for you to miss this huge orange sign board.

Menu are the same compare to the ones in Hong Kong as I have just return there 2 months ago . .

As I browse thru the menu one thing that caught my attention so hard is the pricing here, I would that that it cost a bomb to order and didnt know that it is so cheap here. A simple bowl of these dessert cost from RM9.90 onwards? OMG! In Hong Kong the ones that I usually order cost about HKD 48 = RM 24 per bowl here and I can say its at least 55% cheaper here!!!

Staring at the menu, I happily ordered all my favourites and to my disappointment one of my favorite which is with pamelo is out of stock as according to their waiter, he apologize as they are just a few days old and will restock very soon.

Mango Juice & Mango Cube – Mango Jelly @ RM 7.90. I usually had 2 cups of these that filled with thick freshly blend mango, top with mango cubes and jelly at the bottom, that makes me slurppp non stop of this. Surprisingly, the taste is like 80% similiar just that its not so sweet compare to the ones in Hong Kong.

Mango Icey Sweetie Ball @ RM 11.90 with freshly blend mango puree, mango cubes and glutinous ball. As near to Hong Kong version itself the glutinous ball is near to pretty hard not like our Malaysian version which is soft and chewy. Some of you might not like it.

One of the thing that you must not miss is this Fresh Mango Mochi @ RM 4.90 for 3 pieces

Skin over here is a bit thick yet its still soft that is made from mango and its shove with one huge chunk of mango cubes inside and outer layer is rube with coconut. One of my favourite and for RM4.90 I what 9 of these. Satisfying!

Triple Mango Delight @ RM 9.90

Filled with mango Ice cream, mango cubes, and a layer of mango pudding. The pudding tasted a bit artificial but well, I still enjoy my dessert.

If I get to order my Mango with Pamelo, it would be a perfect order yet nevertheless it is indeed satisfying for the price we are paying.

Upon what I eat today is my recommended list and if you like try others it should be fine, but not too miss these few as I mention to start off with . .

Last round in Hong Kong me and Ken (foodpoi.com) both of us whack this dessert with similiar amount cost us about RM120 which is near whopping HKD 250 just for these dessert itself and now for tonight I pay about RM50 for this whole package! Even my malay friends that went to Hong Kong they enjoy these dessert very much and ta pau mochi back for their parents!

Definately I am coming for more with its price being offered here. Taste is 80% similiar to the ones in Hong Kong as I believe the mango is less sweet and aromatic compare to the ones in Hong Kong. Well, with the price I am paying certainly I have no complain and just to enjoy.

One of the highly recommended Hong Kong dessert now from me!

Remark: After went to this outlet a few times, find that their quality is like roller coaster, sometimes its superb, sometimes it far below par because of the mango quality they have for the day. Its rather dissapointing compare to the first day that I had it. On htis branch, do not put so much high hope yet something to look for. . .

*Updates – 2nd jan 2014 : officially their dessert quality drop from bad to worst

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 7/10, ~ recommended ! -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Hoi Lau Shan Healthy dessert
First Floor, Old Wing
1-Utama Shopping Mall,
(in front of Isetan)

In Bangkok By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

Taling Pling Thai Gastro Cafe @ Central World, Bangkok

16/03/2012 No Comments

One thing I love about Bangkok is not only their transformation on public transportation that enable us to access conveniently to many places is that they have all this pedestrian walkway connection all malls and many other main spots as even it rain on that day, we are still able to walk to quite a distance to reach our destination instead of stuck in the mall itself or have to take cab while we are heading to this Taling Pling Thai Gastro Cafe.

I really wish that my country have this that can make the business grow also. Something similar like Hong Kong. All acess to many malls and public transportation with shades.

Okay, after we head a very heavy lunch steamboat buffet (click here) we walk and shop for the last round before we are heading back as Day 3 we had shop quite alot too (click here on shopping destination in Bangkok)

As night proceeds, went back to hotel, shower and came back to this area again as to meet Goft for dinner. She wanted to bring us to another restaurant which is her favourite that often she brings her client to dine there, one of the reason is that after the dinner she wants to bring us to eat the best Mango desert and also to new sky bar around the area.

Shopping mall area around Central World that easily have at least 3-5 malls around that area.

As evening process when we came back to the same area, we were a bit suprise as now it is packed with street hawker as right outside this nice mall, there’s lots of food there you can hunt for. .

To all the girls, this is a must go Shop NARAYA, which is a famous local brand to alot of foreigners on its design and the main attraction was the price is CHEAP! some girls shop and end up with a few basket. That’s Crazy!! No doubt that the design is nice that suits all ages and its cheap.

This is the restaurant that Goft want us to dine in, Taling Pling. A restaurant with solid reputation on its home cook style food that offers customer to dine in a very comfort contemporary experience.

The gastro cafe is painted in black n red, turns out the colour to be pretty nice.

Its a thick menu book and best of all, all dish comes with pictures even though IF its written in Thai I have no problem on pointing. Of course the menu do have english translation. Price is very reasonable or on the cheap side for this kind of ambiance.

We do not know what we have order again Goft is incharge of our food menu again.

Preparing money to pay off the meal . .

Been walking all day long, all of us need coconut juice to cool our body down . .

all hungry and waiting for the food to arrive. . .

I have big problem on getting the food names and price now as I have lost the receipt .. .

This is one of a must order dish. Do not really know what its called but it have well balance taste.

This tomyam is towards more sourish and the fiery red is just a colour. . .

Tomyam is our favourite as its spicy, a bit milky taste, something more unique to us.

Morning Glory Salad – stir fried vege along with prawns. Perfect to go along with rice, as some veggie had been deep fried then top on top.

Spicy Squid, chewy and its fresh, sour at the end and fine chopped chili add the extra spice and minty taste .

Pineapple fried Rice

‘Stir fry morning glory with garlic, chilli and oyster sauce’ @ 95 Baht

As walked in to the outlet, I saw the desert and cakes are pretty tempting and decided to order after we are so full. Told the rest how can we come here dine and walk out without trying off their desert.

Overall the food is good, as what Goft mention. Quality is there and prompt service from the crew. Price are very reasonable and if you would want some where clean with nice ambiance to enjoy pretty good Thai cuisine, no doubht that this is one of the restaurant to recommend.

On the down side is, don bother to try on the deserts or maybe I just had tried better ones before during my stay here.

Apologize on the lack of dish name and price.

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, Recommended~-Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Locations:
Taling Pling Thai Gastro Cafe
3rd Floor Atrium Zone, CentralWorld

Operation Hours: 10 am-10 pm.
Tel:+66 (0)2 613 1360-2

Nearest BTS: Siam and Chidlom

Tel: +66 (0)2 613 1360.

In Featured By Taufulou 4 Mins Read

Disney’s Hollywood Hotel @ Disneyland Hong Kong

09/03/2012 No Comments

I have been to Hong Kong a few times already and here is one of my past places that I have visited (click here) Hong Kong Disneyland, one of the latest attraction in Asia yet if you are heading here with family and have not plan for your accommodation, there are 2 options that either you can stay at hotel at Disneyland where one of it is Disney’s Hollywood Hotel or you can opt to stay some where a bit far which is in the Hong Kong city itself as either way, it is very convenient with their available MRT public transportation.

As for this round before we head back to our country, we decided to change our accommodation and stay at this Disney’s Hollywood Hotel as Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is fully booked. One of the reason we choose to stay here as Disneyland is pretty near the airport therefore after we check out we can direct head to the airport by MRT or taxi which save our time.

As we arrive at the hotel, the hotel concierge is very friendly by greetting us and helping to unload all our luggage from taxi and told us to check in leave our luggage here as once check in from the front desk, just provide our room number then they will send our luggage up,

This is cool, for the first time I see my room key with Toy Story, Woody pic in it. Was told by the front desk the key is for us to kept after checking out as a token of souvenir. I am gonna make it like my instant camera version by writting at the bottom when I am back.

There are 2 wings in this hotel . . . .

Even the lift panel button is with Mickey’s outline, really makes you like you are in Disneyland already even before you enter.

In the hotel, one thing I love also is the lift, filled with marble panel on the wall and blue glass frame as in when you are standing inside the lift in 3 dimension feeling.

Walkway brightly lit up and the room service crew were very friendly asking us need any assistance and just buzz them when need any.

Tadaaa.. this is our room, as I did not know that our room is filled with 2 queen size bed. Brightly light up, fill with all the room necessity we need, and the room come along with broadband and if you need WI-Fi its available at the lobby only. The internet connection in this hotel is super fast with 50MB speed provided even in lobby.

Mickey on the wall . .

32 inch flat tv provided and first 10 channel are all on cartoons.. I think total there are about 50 channels for you to watch . .

Toilet is pretty spacious with clean and simple interior

Mickey paper cup for you if you bring any drink along with Mickey Lid ..

Even Conditioner and Bath Gel with Mickey cap. .

Not only that, in the room they provide good tea brand Dilmah . .and didnt know Nescafe is in the room too . .I thought would be another brand. :p

Disneyland sugar. . :d

These slipper were given to us and also were ask to take it home.. now become my room slipper. . yay~

Oh ya, I choose the sea view and had a great view out from my room window . just perfect for every morning when I wake up . .

This is the pool view or garden view that my friend book themselves for ..

On our hotel lobby, they have souvenir shop if you forgot or need to grab more items, this would be the last destination for you to do so.

and check out my hotel night view, with mickey logo glowing .. .

Overall, it was a pleasant stay with great hotel service staff as they are very helpful in many manner. Our hotel room rate is HKD 1700 = about RM 850.

Besides that, to go to Disneyland they have Disney bus to take you there from all hotels with every 10-15 minutes per bus, and to head to Disneyland it is just 5 minits bus ride which is FOC. A service provided by the hotel.

For more info checkout their website – Disney’s Hollywood Hotel

Next round if I do come again, one of my dream is target to stay Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, with cheapest room rate starting from HKD 1900. check it out their website how cool this hotel is. (click here)

Want to know more about Hong Kong Disneyland (click here for lots of picture)

In Bangkok By Taufulou 6 Mins Read

Bangkok Trip Day 1: Part 2 (China-Town)

04/09/2011 2 Comments

Bangkok Trip Day 1: Part 1 (click here)

After all of them had arrive, that we did have quite alot of food while waiting for them, click on part 1 to see futher more. Then my friend Annie came by and lead us to China Town by using public transportation. First using SKY Train, then their Bangkok Subaway which we stop at Hua Lamphong MRT.

Then I saw this light so nice shining down to the floor and looks like the sequal part of the movie – Star trek where they transport themself machine and ask all of them to make a post. so this is how it come out. . lol . .

Then out at the station, we took tut tut to China Town which cost us 80 Bhat for 3 person which is okay lahhh . . .

Tut Tut is also known as one of the famous mode of transportation also, one of the most convinient to move around in city area of Thailand which the vehicle is small and they drive pretty fast, they usually only do short distance which is around the city area anything futher than that, have to go for taxi.

For tourist just be aware that, you have to ask a few tut tut before you hop on to get their market rate as if you dont, they will just rip you off in price if they known us are foreigners/travellers.

This is ChinaTown at night, know as one of the busiest area that filled with lots of food along the streets. I would say that it is more like a street food of Thai Style which I just cant wait to visit most of the stalls around here, and the worst of all, when I reach, it rained!

Then Annie introduce us one of her favourite restaurant that had indoor seating and outdoor seating, as we cant be seated outside as it rain heavily, so we got no choice have to sit indoor.

our pot of Tom Yum Kung! its spicy enough with just a few sips that my tears start dripping, sourish is just as I prefer and the prawns are fresh.

Fried Prawns that fried till it look like its bandage, cripsy inside out. . .

Another dish with prawns and small squids as I like this the most, with the taste a bit salty spicy black pepper taste and eat along with rice is just nice!

BBQ prawns that is just fresh bbq on the pit that just season with some salt and must dip with some soy sauce to bring up the taste.

This is star of the night, its crab meat fried along with egg, and make it a bit spicy sour and mix with rice is a perfect combination. I do not know what is it called as it is written in thai and most of this dish is order by Annie . Total damage for the night is around 1500bhat which we find it quite cheap that they give generous amount of prawns, crab meat and other ingredients.

Next is this stall that must not miss as I meet another of my friend Golf as she is having her desert time at this shop and she told me must try if I love shark fin’s and bird next. Since we are here, just give it a try as this shop is located 6 shop lots away from the seafood restaurant I ate.

I also did read in some blogs that China town here is famous for this 2 items too. So no doubt that our stomach its already at its max capacity, yet we still must try it.

They are prepare fresh in a small stall outside the main road that cook in claypot. yum yumn!

Fresh Shark Fin’s

It was sardin pack in the shop as we have to wait for our turn that we came in big group as another big group that just left.

Here comes our hot pot of shark fin soup as its available in 2 version which is 300bhat and 500 bhat, the difference is the ingredient they added in which of course we opt for the 500Bhat and look at the chunks of shark fin, as for 500 bhat like that its pretty generous and damm worth to eat.

Taste is pretty good, not too starchy, mild in taste and of course I love mine to add in with lots of vinegar. Crab meat were pretty generous too and enjoy every sip of it that I can chew on all the fine slices of shark fins.

Then we order some desert which is this Longan with Ginko

Then of course another signature that must not miss is their Bird nest soup that served it in warm, and doesnt taste too sweet and the bird next quality is there, not to say the best one but for the amount we paid I would consider it good. its 300Bhat per bowl.

All I can say is, the sea food shop located directly opposite this Goverment Savings Bank and the current standing place of me where I took this picture is where by the Shark Fin Soup and Bird Next Shop is.

If I am not mistaken, its located along the streets of Thanon Yauwarat

After meals, then my friend she ask me, where do you want me to bring you club? there are 3 options for you:

1) the place which is famous with foreign tourist?

2) the place which is famous on our locals?

3) the place which is famous on our locals but age around 18-22 crowd?

then directly we choose option 2 and came by to this hottest club in town that famous with its local crowd that located at Eakamai Soi 7 Thonglor and the club name is NungLen . . .Well I would said that all of us enjoy ourself to the max and went back sober, with great musics, hot chicks and cheap whisky as we got our Black Lable 1 L for just 2200 Bhat!

It was a great start for all of us on our very first day and 2nd day early morning we had a good international breakfast which is a famous cafe chain from New York, on next post, be prepare to get ur saliva dripped out . .

In Events By Taufulou 10 Mins Read

Street food Hunting – Shilin Night Market @ Taipei

11/10/2010 No Comments

If you are in Taiwan, and you love street food or some street shopping and enjoy bargaining then, there is one place that you must not miss. It is not only famous to tourist but also locals, most of the time, this night market is sardine packed with people and if you do go there during their summer break or school holiday you can just expect to be push around. Shilin Market is one of the biggest and most famous night market in Taipei District. Easy access from public transportation that you can stop by at Shilin Night Market Station and the night market is located just opposite it.

This is one of the biggest junction that I have came accross. Lets start off with our very first food hunting. Please be aware that this post involves alot of food and drinks that might harm your eye sight and make a lil damage on your stomach.

Fish ball and fried squid for that kind of size, guess how much you have to pay? Its chewy, very cripsy from the outside.

Then we got introduce that there is one of the best fried chicken among so many stalls in this area which is stall no 5+. Once you walked into this big food market you will see a long que and that would certainly be the fried chicken stall.

Nono and Jennifer were helping us to be in the line while we were busy taking pictures. It took us about 15 minutes wait because the people in the line just do not buy one, at least 3 pcs per pax.

For such a huge piece of crispy fried chicken it cost only NT50

After buy it, we were brought inside the food market and I got shock to see how many food stalls are there cramping in this area. So pack and so many food to see. That makes it more than 500 food stalls around this area itself which have not include the main shopping streets of Shilin streets there.

We were brought to stall 441 which is recommended by Mary’s brother and his friend that this stall serve good Fried Oyster or ‘Oh Jian’

Besides selling that, they also do have smelly/sticky taufu available in fried or spicy soup version.

Spicy soup version.

Fried version.

Fried oyster here is certainly different from what we have in Malaysia but its something similar. Ours will taste abit jelly’ish but theirs is more on beaten egg that pours on top of the hot plate, fried and wraps it.

The main difference is that they do add on sauce on top of the Fried Oyster. The sauce turns out to be good, spicy, smooth in texture with a bit of lime sour eat along with the smooth fried oyster is something I do not mind to have the whole plate alone.

Oyster in there are moderate in size but for the price we are paying, we consider it cheap. One plate for around NT50 which have at least 6-7 oyster.

In Featured By Taufulou 2 Mins Read

Kek Lok Si Temple @ Ayer Itam, Penang

28/02/2010 No Comments

In Penang, besides famous for its food, one of the signature landmark that represents the island is known as Kek Lok Si Temple (known as Temple of Supreme Bliss) which is more than 100 years old that is located at Ayer Itam, which is consider one of the biggest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. More info:

The Old Guan Yin Statue that had been reconstruct.

The new Bronze statue of Guan Yin that completed in the year 2002 had make a hit in the island to replace the white statue that got damage in a blaze and the newly build roof top to cover and protect the Guan Yin Statue had make a breath taking sight from far that completed end of the year 2009 and now alot of tourist are flocking this place.

This magnificent temple was build upon the fund of the public and tourist and donations from all around the world to preserve the great history of it.

Besides this, during Chinese New Year is also consider one of the place must visit during this festive season as the whole temple is fully light up to give the spectacular night view and will last for 33 days. Thanks to Ken and Coco for the night photoshot.

For foreign travells, you can get to this temple by public transportation which is one of the main change terminal is at Penang Jetty or Prangin Mall/Komtar with bus:

Rapid Penang Bus Route No: U201 / U203 / U204 / U206 / U502