Month: May 2017

Flamingo by the Lake Hotel

The Flamingo Hotel was one of the earliest suburb hotels. Since then, there are now other neighbourhood hotels such as Maluri Hotel in Taman Maluri and Sri Petaling Hotel in Taman Sri Petaling. Flamingo hotel is now correctly branded as Flamingo by the Lake. If you get a room with a balcony facing the lake, it is quite nice. Seems like a quiet hidden getaway and a suitable honeymoon suite with the romantic and picturesque surroundings.

I can’t remember if they had flamingos on the lake but in the early days, there were probably a few pathetic swans, I think. If you want to see flamingos, drive to the zoo nearby.

They say 2 star hotels and a pair of tight jeans for men have something in common. There is no ballroom. The hotel is more than 2 stars and it has a grand ballroom that can accommodate 1500 pax.

I remember attending Malaysiakini’s 5th anniversary dinner here in 2004 where it was joked that should the ceiling collapse that night in the ballroom, the government would have unwittingly gotten rid of all opposition members, critics, dissidents, anti government cartoonists, bloggers, candlelight vigil types and NGO members in one fell swoop. Haha.

I have also stayed there after all night drinking sessions to avoid getting into trouble with roadblocks. It is never a good idea because when you get up with a massive hangover, it is already check out time. This was why Japan came out with cheaper capsule or pod hotels to cater to drinking executives. People just want a simple roof when they missed the last train. But this a story for another day.

We KLites may scoff at the congested Ampang Jaya junction location but for the out-of-towner, it may be a quick drive to the National Zoo or an easy drive to or from the city by the Ampang Elevated Highway or by DUKE. The nearest similar or higher class hotels are De Palma Hotel Ampang and the new Elements @ Ampang Hotel (behind Gleneagles).

Book Flamingo By The Lake here.

Address: 5  Tasik Ampang, Jalan Hulu Kelang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Finding Warmth On A Cold Floor

Who can resist a cool marble floor on a hot day? A homeless dog seeks shelter under the watchful eyes of the statue of Buddha at an obscure and quaint Thai temple named Wat Meh Liew in little-known Kampung Siam in Kuala Lumpur.

I was sitting on the floor on Wesak Day last year when the dog came to lie in front of me. A wonderful moment for the camera. It also brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart.

The temple’s tolerance and acceptance of stray animals symbolizes the heart of Buddha’s teachings – Compassion.

Happy Vesak Day ahead.

#wesak #vesak #buddhism #buddha #thaitemple #dog #compassion

Beaches For Your Sunset Pics – Part 4

I’ve been looking at my sunset pics to feature more for the Beaches For Your Sunset Pics series. See sidebar for related links.I think Bagan Lalang can be the 4th beach to include. I know. Singapore has Clarke Quay and Boat Quay and what do we have? Weed Quay! Haha. It may be far but it has yielded consistently good sunsets for me, so far.

I first went there before AVANI Goldcoast Sepang was even built, Since Bagan means a fisherman’s quay or fisherman’s wharf or jetty and lalang means weed or blady grass, I placed the camera on the ground on top of the grass creeping on the sand for this very low view of the sunset.

Besides the luxury AVANI Sepang Gold Coast Resort, there are a couple cheaper alternatives very nearby. When you finish with the sunsets, it will usually be already 8 pm and the road is dark and narrow, So stay a night and relax.

Hotel links here: http://www.mycen.my/hotels-in-morib-and-gold-coast-selangor/

Morib Beach Part 1 http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-1
Morib Beach Part 1b: http://www.tvsmith.my/ecle…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-1b
Redang Beach Part 2: http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-2
Port Dickson 3: http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-3

#sunset #dusk #beach #twilight #baganlalang #goldcoast #silhouette #selangor

 

Cute Sukee Nang

During our journey, I asked my model Pin Pin about her exotic looks, I found out that her father is of Hainanese descent, I told her the history which her father never told her. Local Hainanese people are known for their culinary skills, especially fusion food.

Hainanese are from Hainan Island China where many of the islanders were fishermen. Maybe because they are on a separated land, their language is different form the mainlanders. Sukee means own people or kaki nang in Hainanese lingo.

In their long fishing trips across Polynesia, some seafarers married indigenous people and have children. This may explain their exotic physical features such as darker complexion, deeper set eyes and taller noses

Chicken chop, chicken rice and kaya-butter toasts are some of the more well known Malaysian-Hainanese cuisine. Many also used to work on the KTM trains’ catering coaches. How did that come about?

A Hainanese historian suggested a theory. They were latecomers to Malaya. They came after the second wave of mass migration in the 19th century by the Hokkiens, Cantonese, Teochews, Hakkas and other migrants.

My former boss, an influential Hainanese and intellectual told me much. By the time his ancestors arrived, all business and job openings were controlled by powerful clans.

Without a membership card, it was not easy getting a job. They ended up working for colonialists as cooks and caretakers. Many worked at the bungalows on hill resorts such as Fraser’s, Cameron’s and Kenny Hills.

They experimented and enhanced recipes by adding Chinese touches. They made some fantastic scones and marmalade on the hill resorts. It is also claimed that they modified a kebab leftover from a garden party one night and added peanut sauce.

The creators named it “Sar Tay” meaning ‘three pieces’ in Hainanese, and voilà!; satay was born. Could be an urban legend. Many think kaya (egg jam) is Hainanese when it is actually Peranakan from Melaka. They came with the 1st wave of Chinese settlers during early 15th century.

#tototo #melaka #hainan #history #chinese #food #hainanese

Al Fresco Dining At Jonker Walk

The curry or laksa mee street food hawker at the connecting road to Jalan Tokong from Jonker Street. So awesome to be at so close to a tokong or Chinese temple built in 1645.

I always request for extra toppings of “tau pok” or tofu or fried soy bean curd puffs when eating curry noodles soup. It is always nice when the tofu puffs soak up the santan soup or gravy and become softly bloated. A sign at the stall proclaimed the dish as “Laksa Mee Hee Kiow Mee”. Hee Kiow might possibly be Fish Mix in Hokkien.

If you want a total heritage immersion in the UNESCO World Heritage City, I recommend staying at the heritage Hotel Puri, which is a short walk from here. Booking link also shown here: Colours Of Yonker.

#melaka #malacca #jonker #streetphotography #streetfood #currylaksa #jonkerwalk #yonker #taupok