Singapore Malaysia Railway In Backyard

FMSR RAILWAY SLEEPER WOOD RESURRECTED

The photos below are from Wikipedia when I researched for this post on the railway sleeper wood strips which I had bought from BL Blooming nursery in Johor Bahru recently. 


Federated Malay States Railway At Tanjong Pagar Singapore


I could not resist buying the huge chunks of history after the owner of the nursery told me they were taken from the now defunct Federated Malay States Railway which plied Johor and Singapore since decades ago.  Before the Johor-Singapore Causeway across the Straits of Johor was built, the railway in Singapore was limited to routes on the island only.  The construction of the causeway began in 1919, and it was opened to goods trains on 17 September 1923 and to passenger trains on 1 October 1923. Previously, passengers and goods were transferred at Woodlands to a ferry to Johor Bahru and the connecting train on the peninsula.. Tanjong Pagar railway station was completed on 3 May 1932 and officially opened by Sir Cecil Clementi. It was in operation for around 79 years before it ceased operations on 1 July 2011 to be reserved as the Singapore Railway Museum.  Thanks to Wikipedia I learned of some pieces of history which I had now in my backyard.



You Can See The Strips Of Sleeper Wood Above 

Another very interesting nugget involves my favorite current King of Malaysia, Sultan of Johor.  I bet many do not know that the last train out of Tanjong Pagar was driven by Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor, whose grandfather, Ismail of Johor, had opened the causeway between Singapore and Malaya in 1923. The Sultan had to learn how to drive a train before he was able to perform this task, receiving training from Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), the main railway operator in Malaysia. Two drivers accompanied him to ensure the safe sending of the last train out of Singapore back to Malaysia for good.  What a grand and meaningful  send off involving the sporting and gregarious Sultan. 

You can surmise why I could not resist buying 6 pieces of the railway sleeper woods when I saw them.  At MR120 per piece, I say they were a bargain for the rich history they represent of Malaya-Singapura past and present association, which is inextricably linked no matter how people try to view Johor and Singapore as separate entities.  In fact, I dreamed recently of a merger between Singapore and Johor!

Anyways, I digressed.  Finally this week I was able to put two pieces of history into good use in my house.  Our patio was in need of an informal bar counter. So I thought why not use two odd railway sleeper wood and combined them using steel rod and bolt them together to form a unique rustic bar counter?  You can see below how I bought a huge drill bit (for just MR50) and bore through the sleeper wood so that I can bolt them together to form the counter top.

In the video below, you see how easy it was to pass the steel rod through the holes I had created (but ensure the holes are aligned properly) before being bolted together.  Each wood is so heavy that I did not even have to use any wood nail or epoxy adhesive to stabilize them on the concrete base which I had created economically using hollow concrete bricks.  Voila, we have a nice conversation piece rich in history right in our house!

For those who prefer the railway sleeper wood without the ironmongery on it, the nurseries do have them for sale as well.  For me, I had intentionally asked BL Blooming nursery to find pieces with the ironmongery for the added authenticity.  When the wood and ironmongery have been properly prepared, I will coat them with clear varnish and  anti-rust respectively to withstand the inclement weather patterns. 

Antiques & Furniture Restoration

YOU SAY PARK MALL, I SAY HOCK SIONG

Thank God The Couch Cushion Was Saved By Our Reupholstery Uncle

Lying on my "new" reupholstered faux leather couch, I cannot help but thank our kind reuphosltery uncle at Perling for meticulously restoring the damaged fabric cushions which Cat and I had managed to ravaged through the years - it with the claws and I with the grease and sweat from my reclining head.

Cat & I Were Anabolical To The Poor Couch

I know, looking at the before photo above, many would have believed I either have anger or hygience issues.  But truth be told that fabric furniture and I just do not go - so I promised my partner I would personally lug those damaged cushions (and the good ones too) to our upholstery genious at Perling to have them rejuvenated.  It cost me just MR60 per cushion and voila - we have a new couch nesting in our family room, and all it took was the hassle of transporting the cushions, some patience as the old uncle works at his own pace, and whole lot of love for the old and not throwing them out.

Speaking of not throwing old stuff out, I see a emergence of pre-loved items on sale in Singapore since a few years back.  My go-to for such pre-owned, second-hand, antiques - please use whichever nonmenclature you prefer for these beautiful classics - is none other than Hock Siong in Singapore.  My family home in Singapore has so many of Hock Siong furniture and decorations that whenever we meet the owners of Hock Siong, I joked about my home being a Hock Siong showroom. 



 

The sprawling Hock Siong store is run by the affable patriach and matriach of the family who keep their hardworking staff happily busy with container loads of furniture and other  furnishings from hotels, embassies and property showrooms who need to dispose of these perfectly fine assets due to renovations, relocation or cease of business.

The owners' daughter also helms the marketing of their blooming business, introducing social media marketing into the promotional mix, whose effectiveness can be substantiated by the fact that each time we get alerted on some nice new arrivals, they are more likely already sold than not by the time you head down to the store on the weekends.  So my shopping strategy at Hock Siong is to visit it quite regularly - they have new arrivals almost weekly - and then either reserve or purchase the items on the spot before they are taken.

Contemporary or Classic, Hock Siong Has Them All

Restorations Like The Above Chairs Are Great Conversation Pieces!

We have bought dining chairs, cabinets, garden furniture, and even hotel chandeliers of high quality at Hock Siong.  And we have spent countless hours sanding the furniture down, restain or repaint them, and painstakingly transporting them for reupholstery.  But it was all well worth it.  Not only do your furnishing pieces become custom one of a kind furniture, they are great conversation topics.  And the best thing is you do not need to spend an arm and a leg for high quality furnishings.  For example, a dining chair averages S$55 a piece, coffee tables at S$150, nice Victorian frame art for as low as S$20 to S$40.  For the lazy bone in some of us, I believe Hock Siong does some of the furniture restoration themselves - perhaps ask your friendly salesperson whether they can coat the wood furniture in your preferred color or just give it a new varnish and voila you do not even have to lift a finger.

As for my family and I, we take the restoration of the furniture from Hock Siong in our stride.  One day it may be the whole family settling down at the outside pation sanding the wood, another day it wouod be giving the furniture a fresh coat of varnish or paint.  Rest-assured your children would enjoy the process - they may lament about being away from social media for so many hours - at the end of the day, they learn a new skill and the parents get their quality time with them.  Happy Jalan Jalan at Hock Siong!

HOCK SIONG

153 Kampong Ampat #01-03 Junjie Industrial Building Singapore

Tel: +65 6281 8338 Opens Daily 9:30am - 5:30pm

UNCLE LUM REUPHOLSTERY

Sing Heng Cushion Center 127 Jalan Rawa, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Tel: +6016 798 5096

Johor Bahru Best Kaya Cake & Fried Rice

YOU WANT CHILLED OR BAKED KAYA CAKE?

My Afternoon Tea Made Perfect By Kaya Cakes

If I am not wrong, long time ago it was Bangawan Solo in Singapore that offered a chilled kaya cake which made me fall in love with kaya (coconut jam) in the first place.  And then over the years, I believe they stopped making it, and if I chanced to stumble upon one of these chilled kaya cake during my strolls in Singapore, the gelée coconut topping and filling in the center would be either too gooey or gelatinous for my liking.  And while we are talking about Singapore, what's with the over-priced cakes?  I am not talking about those uber-priced ones at PS Cafe and the likes, I am talking about a piece of banana cake for S$2 at BreadTalk?  Sorry I quite like banana cakes, but when I was last at BreadTalk, I could not bear to part with my S$2 / MMR6 when I know my humbly priced but mega delicious kaya cake is waiting for me in Johor Bahru.

Cake Delight Opens From Breakfast To Afternoon Tea

So imagine my absolute delight when I found Cake Delight in Johor Bahru!  The bakery I found a few years back is a mom and pop traditional business at a corner shophouse cum cafe (sort of).  Cake Delight satisfies not only my kaya cake fix, but offers a delectable spread of pastries and desserts for the sweet-toothed members of my family.  

However, I would always call before heading off to the bakery as my current favorite - baked kaya cake is quite the crowd darling and sells out pretty fast as soon as it is out of the oven. What keeps me coming back for more is the FRESHNESS!  They baked the cake every day, and so when you take a bite into the cake, you still could taste the moist kaya within the not-overly-sweet pandan flour.  So the texture is one of soft moist and yet dense - instead of what you get at more expensive cakery whose kaya cake mostly come dry and overly sweetened.

You can see from the photo below, last two slices were left on the shelf when we were there recently to pick up our pre-ordered whole square kaya cake for guests at home. And not only do the taste and size of the cake slice hark back to the ones we used to be able to buy in Singapore cakeshops of yesteryears, the MR1.60 / S$0.60 price tag certainly is nostalgic too for those who remember the good old days in Singapore some twenty odd years ago.

Cake Delight's also bakes fresh each day my daughters' favorite tea snacks - from coconut tarts, chocolate muffins, traditional egg tarts (again at MR1.50 / S$0.55 what's there not to indulge?), to a host of Chinese cookies, snacks and desserts (see photo below) which are getting more scarce through the years.  

Cake Delight Bakery is at 6 Jalan Layang 16, Taman Perling
Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Tel: +607 241 1360

GPS Coordinates: 1.4731181, 103.6779316

FRIED RICE PARADISE 

My next absolute favorite supper treat in Johor Bahru has to be the piping hot kampung fried rice from TT Kopitiam at Tun Aminah precinct.  At first glance you will think this humble small plate of comfort food seems bland and unsophisticated.  But after your first spoonful, I can bet you will be telling everyone around the table that you would want the plate to yourself so "please go order more plates for yourselves!"  - okay at least that was what happened at our table when we first chanced upon TT and its very friendly lady owners who run the tiny corner stall until around 9pm.

What is so special about this simple dish you ask?The long beans in the fried rice are served super crunchy - and the freshness of the crunch with the just-out-of-wok fried rice make every spoonful that much more delectable.  The Chinese waxed sausages (yes, a cholesterol buster...but you only live once!) are cut into small cubes and then fried slightly crispy which add so much taste and bite from this traditional ingredient of humble origin.  My partner would literally chow down each spoonful of the fried rice with a fresh cut red chilli slice dipped in soy sauce - a religiously executed regiment I find amusing.   But rust me, you would not want to give this fried to perfection simple dish a miss should you be at Tun Aminah vicinity.

I Say Fried Rice, My Partner Says Cha Kway Teow

The ever-vivacious TT sisters also churn out delicious Fried Kway Teow.  Though I love my TT Fried Rice, its Fried Kway Teow is no less scrumptious - especially if fresh cockles and crunchy fat bean sprouts are your thing.  The texture of the kway teow in Johor Bahru I find, is some what chewier than its cousin in Singapore. My kids find this more tencile TT version of Char Kway Teow suited to their palettes.

TT Fried Rice & Stuff is located at the corner coffee shop opposite Restoran Wah Cai at 86 Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Tun Aminah, Skudai, Malaysia.

Tel: +6019 750 5616

Happy Makan and Jalan in JB!

Drug Mule In Malaysia

DRUGS ARE CHEAPER IN JOHOR BAHRU

Anjung Medini Where Amber Pharmacy Is

Ever since relocating to Johor Bahru, friends and relatives In Singapore and back home in Europe have taken me for a drug mule - asking me every now and then to buy certain drugs which they can only get with a doctor's prescription or if they pay at a much higher price in their respective countries..

A friend's elderly parent had to take a prescribed drug from the Singapore government hospital doctor to increase the body's bone density. For a month's supply of that drug (I cannot remember the specific name), I was told it cost approximately S$160 from the pharmacy in Singapore.  I visited the Amber pharmacy at Mydin Anjung - a local chain of supermarket in upmarket Nusajaya which envelops bungalow parks like East Ledang and Leisure Farm developments, the same drug cost just MR260 which is about less than S$90.  

I also became the pharmacy's Compounding Service  harbinger - for I am always announcing to all visitors I host how great the idea of compounding is, which to me is like custom drug instead of generic over the counter drugs.  Compounding is hard to find in Malaysian or Thai pharmacies  - and even in developed countries like Singapore.  What the service does is it compounds the vitamins and minerals you need - based on the symptoms you have related to the pharmacist - who in turn prescribe the nutients for your condition - and compound them into a capsule for your easy intake.  My partner is experiencing middle age (okay I did not just say that for she will have a cow!) hair fall and thinning, so the pharmacy had compounded Vitamins D and B Complex and minerals Zinc and Iron (there may be more vitamins and minerals compounded  - please visit a pharmacist to be sure). And for a month's supply it only cost her MR50.  I believe Singaporeans and Malaysians spend much more going for hair and scalp treatments per session?


Dr Ko Clinic

Then there is Dr Ko's clinic which we visit for our daughter's teenage acne.  I remember for our elder daughter, we used to visit a dermatologist in Singapore who prescribed the same
course of Aacnotin/Isotretinoin variant anti-biotic medication for her  acne condition. Every month we had to spend about S$150 for the pills and consultation.  With our second daughter, we visit Dr Ko's Clinic in Malaysia who charges us just MR180 or S$63 (we do buy the pills in Thailand too when we visit - and the price is only S$45 including doctor consultation). 

ItsMdz.blogspot.com Dr Ko Patient Image

But please be wary that these oral tablets must be taken only under the supervision of a dermatologist, who will adjust dosage month by month. It  has been advised that the oral tablets increase photosensitivity, with tendency of skin phototoxicity and photoallergy due to exposure to outdoor conditions, especially heat and sunlight.  This happens when the drug itself gets dispersed throughout her body and ends up near the skin surface, where it absorbs UVA light and causes cellular damage - also called phototoxic event - which happens within hours of initial sunlight exposure.  The UV light alters the chemical drug structure and her body immune system sees the new compound as an intruder and reacts to it as in an autoimmune attack on the body - resulting in itchy and painful rash.  Herdoctor has advised against exposure to extreme outdoor weather, including sunlight exposure.

Dr Ko's Clinic does a host of other aesthetic treatments - of which my partner is rather excited to share details - so looks like I may have to feature her favorite beauty procedures soon.  Or I just should ask her to guest blog them!

USEFUL INFORMATION

Amber Pharmacy

Lot 33, Anjung Neighbourhood Centre No.5 Persiaran Ledang Heights

Email:  info@amber-pharmacy.com

Dr Ko Clinic

101, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru
T: +607 338 1878
GPS Coordinate: 1.48480997,103.77531818
Closed on Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

License To Grille

CAR LICENSE PLATING

Malaysian Drivers Love To Trick Out Their License Plates

I had written in my previous post about how I enjoy buying local cars to restore them to their original glory - something I was not able to do in Singapore due to the high cost of cars on the island.  In Malaysia, not only are the cars more affordable, you are also spoilt for choice in terms of the make and model - given the number of rich & titled VIPs around the Peninsular - who more often than not own no less than a few cars which they would dispose of after a few years to get newer make and model of cars.  So there is no dearth of used cars for car buff like me with a budget and on the prowl for car projects to add to my kampung garage.

My only beef with the cars here in Malaysia is that the license plates they come with kinda diminish the styling of the car.  For me, I have always told my partner that the wheels and rims of a car, is like the stocking and high heels an elegant girl dons.  All dressed up and pair with wrong shoes or leggings - the entire look is destroyed - like they say - "call the FASHION POLICE"!




Always Like The SG Plate Which Looks More European

Likewise, no matter how fierce or sleek your ride looks, put on the wrong size of wheels or style of rims - the entire styling goes down the drain.  So a car's license plate is comparable to an oufit's accessories?  One wrong match and it looks like a disaster.  Unwillingly, my partner agreed with my point of view and permitted me to change all the license plates of our cars...one of the very few battles I have won, mind you.

I like the Singapore license plate style as the letters and numbers are bold and big - and the spacing - professionally called kerning - of the characters are done almost like the European style.  So we went license plate shopping around the old Johor Bahru area - KSL Mall & Sentosa workshops - but to no satisfaction.  Most shops who display some sample signs (see below) - are most likely jobbers - meaning they take in the orders, mark up the price and make you come back a week later.  They charge around MR120 to MR160 for a pair depending on the style and quality of the plates - which for this Asing is a tad pricey - especially when I was on a budget to replace the plates on a few cars.


MR120 For One Pair Of New License Plates - Double The Price!

So imagine my absolute ecstasy when we were on way to the Premium Outlet for browsing one day and we drove pass the most brilliant sight I would never have imagined seeing - LICENSE PLATES HAVEN!  But to my acerbic-tongued partner, it was more of a license plate graveyard because all these plates (in the photos below) were discarded after the drivers drive off with brand new plates - leaving the two brother owners to give them their final resting place!

Si Nai Plate & Sign Maker - Creative Brothers



Si Nai license plate & signcraft shop is a non-descript shop along Lebuhraya Senai near 55 Senai Highway, Taman Senai Utama.  When you are driving near it, keep left and slow down (turn on your hazard lights) so that you can find the shop as it is tugged inward further than the shops along the road, so you may miss it if you are driving too fast.  Look out for Trust Tech tire shop - they are beside each other.  I got my Singapore-plate-esque license plates for just MR60 a pair and they make it right before my eyes - heaven! I was able to control the type face, the kerning and the type of plate material too. 

The brothers who own the shop also hand make and paint beautiful kites - which my girls absolutely love.  If your kids or yourself do not fly kites, they could make great wall art to dress up a bare wall?  By the way, the shop is just 5 minutes drive to Johor Premium Outlet - there, you can kill two birds with one trip!

Malaysian Kites



The Plate Maker Is Just Next To Trust Tech Tire Shop

You can go Jalan Jalan for license plates and kites at Si Nai near 55 Senai Highway, Taman Senai Utama, Senai, Johor,

Tel: 607 599 9104

Email: www.longwu@gmail.com

GPS Coordinates: 1.6042338, 103.6469638

Love You Long Time

LOVE FOR BANGKOK - ASOKE SUKUMVIT 

Our No. 1 Boutique Hotel

Many friends and relatives I have spoken to about Thailand Bangkok, indubitably stay at Siam Square or Sala Daeng areas where each locale offers shopping, luxe cafes, street food and night bazaars in their unique ways. 

At Siam Square you will find throngs of Singaporeans and Malaysians plying the shophouse district opposite Siam Center for shopping bargains and local food treats.  The famous Som Tum Nua (to which tourists the world over flock for their famous local-spiced and fried chicken wings) is tucked away at a street corner of Soi 5 Siam Square, near the equally popular Siam Novotel Hotel.  If you chance to visit Siam and would like to savor the Som Tum chicken wings, be sure to go to the original birthplace of the wings.  They have a new branch at the swanky Siam Center opposite its Food Republic food court, but I find sadly they were not able to replicate the deliciousness of the wings you find at its less opulent parent.

My Idea Of "Luxe" On A Budget

 At SalaDaeng area - or my kids would call "the area with a lot of gay things" - you will also find plenty of boutique and luxe hotels alike lining the Silom streets.  Why my kids would label the area "gay" beats me, but we suspect its due a night market experience there where they witnessed lots of phallic-symbol paraphernalia near Patpong and guys-only massage palors lining the main thoroughfare that left an indelible impression on the young minds.  No matter how hard we try to expplain to them that the area is as touristy as the other areas of Bangkok and that those tourist souvenirs were purposely shocking to invoke purchase - SalaDaeng will forever be a "happy" place to the kids (the other being the Sathorn area).. 


Cozy & Conveniently Located At Asok BTS

So it is no surprise that in our last years of back and forth between Thailand and Malaysia/Singapore, we find ourselves staying at the Asoke / Sukumvit area.  We do so whenever our tenant in Bangkok is not travelling and hence would not be able to cede our condo to us for the few days we are in Bangkok (our lease agreement provides for this arrangement, and wherefore the tenant would be duely reimbursed based on a pre-agreed daily rate - part of my 3-Pronged Retirement Living Strategy). 

Money Is No Object - Then Terminal21 Is Your Bet

The reason why the Asoke - Sukumvit area is attractive to us is because my partner and kids absolutely adore Terminal21 shopping over the Singaporean favouraite Siam Paragon and Siam Center.  Sure the latter two are very swanky - but are they not a dime a dozen in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur?  But Terminal21 is different perhaps of its themed shopping and a certain ambience of je ne sais quoi.  As for me, I like the fact that it is near to Little Italy - my Italian cuisine haunt few Singaporeans and Malaysians know existed - which is just at the opposite Terminal 21.  And in the mornings, I have to go for the Cafe Chu breakfast that makes me a very happy travel companion through the day.  And in the evenings, we always have the option of going for a good massage at Urban Retreat near the Asok BTS before retiring. It's these endless selection of body & soul pampering coupled with restaurants, cafes and street hawkers down the street of Soi 23 near Little Italy that make Asoke / Sukumvit one of my favorite area to stay whenever we go back to Bangkok.

Pullman - Stylish & Modern Just steps from Sukumvit MRT

There are plenty of luxury hotels and serendipitous boutique lodging in this area.  Some of the ones we had stayed and liked are:

PRICEY DECADENCE  BY “ASING IN JB” STANDARDS (And 50 Steps To Hotel From Train Stations - By My Partner's Standards)

Grande Centerpoint Terminal 21 (sheltered Train-To-Shopping-To-Hotel for the sun averse)

Pullman Grande Sukumvit (ultra modern luxury experience)

The Continent (near Little Italy and Soi 23 - my favorite)

AFFORDABLE  LUXE  BY “ASING IN JB” STANDARDS (And 50 Steps To Hotel From Train Stations - By My Partner's Standards)

S Sukumvit Suites (walk half a minute to Cafe Chu)

Sacha's Uno (the French Cafe "Chez Charlie" breakfast just opposite the hotel is DIVINE! I will feature another time)

S15 (just beside Asok BTS and Terminal 21)

OR BE EN-CAPSULATE-LATED IN BANGKOK

Take a walk on the wild side, let your hair down, break from tradition, whatever you want to call it, we had a memorable experience staying at a Capsule Hostel in Bangkok.

You can click here to Booking, Agoda or TripAdvisor for their best promotional rates.  Sabai Sabai Kup!

ReTire Safely

You Can Re-Tire A Flat Yourself

Many a times we have seen motorists stranded along the highway helpless in the scorching sun due to a flat tire.  Our family is no exception, I recalled years back on our way to the Golden Horse resort near Kuala Lumpur, our SUV then had a flat and we were just a few miles of the exit of our destination!

After almost an hour of waiting for service to arrive, we decided to just drive very very slow (which I do not recommend as it may damage your expensive rims or do further damage to your tire) at 10km/h to our destination.  It took us awhile with a great many amused looks from passing motorists.  From there the hotel was able to assist us in calling for tow service to the nearest tire shop.

My Trusty Malaysian Compressor from CYCAR

Since that unfortunate experience, I had bought a small compressor from CYCAR Tech near Gelang Patah's Dunlop tire shop who is probably the product's distributor.  It costs just MR150 and it even comes with a handy bag to keep it neat in your boot of your vehicle.I must say it did come useful over the last years when I had a few  tire flats on the roads of Malaysia from driving over curbs or pot holes. 

It is very simple to use, and even my partner had attempted it once when she was out running errands alone and found one tire low on air after shopping.  With me on the handphone, she was able to top up the air and drive home before I bring the car to the shop.

1.   Just plug in the power source to your in-vehicle power source with the vehicle ignition on.  The vehicle engine does not have to be on.

2.   Without turning on the compressor, screw in the compressor hose tip to the tire stem of the deflated tire.

3.   Turn on the compressor switch and turn off when the desired tire pressure is reached on the compressor gauge.  BE SURE TO CHECK WHAT IS YOUR VEHICLE'S SPECIFIC RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE FROM FACTORY.  This can be found on a sticker either on the side of the driver's door or inside cap of the gas refuel compartment.  Many people over pressurized their tires hence causing them to pop.  This is due to the fact that they do not know the recommended pressure and so they go by pressing or kicking the tire to see if the air pressure is sufficient - this is wrong.

4.   Unscrew the compressor hose quickly and screw back the tire stem cap and voila - you are good to go!

You can see below how easy this tire flat fixer upper is:  

Wet Dream

Some Like It Wet

Life Is Perfect

Despite all my insistence to do marketing for fresh produce at the hypermarkets around my kampung neighborhood this morning, my partner cum breakfast buddy-in-crime proceeded to her favorite wet market near the Skudai Bus Interchange.  I could only raise a weak veto knowing that it was a lost argument since she was firmly at the wheels.  Well I will fight another battle another day.

Salty or Sweet You Tiao

She knew a hungry man is an angry grouch - so the first thing we did was to go for my local kopi and - she knows how to win me over after I had given her the silent treatment - my favorite You Tiao, which is kind of similar to the churritos in the West.  The churritos are dipped in powdered sugar, which I absolutely love with a good cup of black coffee, but the local You Tiao comes in both savory and sweet. 
And I was bribed to be a uncomplaining groceries-carrying partner with a huge serving of the sweet You Tiao.  The crunchy sugared exterior complements the sesame and the fresh fried dough - life is perfect after this.
I always presribe the wise adage "you only live once" when I eat more than my aging body could handle.  So I ensure that my partner  agreed (so that there will be no blame game later when we read our cholesterol levels at home) on sharing a lontong and a nasi lemak - again, sinful but what's life without local Malay cuisine every now and then.

Cholesterol Busting Nasi In The Morning

The stall owner is a chatty Malay Aunty who truly knows good PR goes a long long way.  She would chat up every customer, and making jokes while she loads up the plate of nasi with her best fried kampung chicken (at least in my book) and a host of other staples like tempeh, tofu, etc.

She Keeps Me Coming Back For More

Ode To Old Recipe Longtong

I always savour the longtong here as it reminds me of the first time I tried the dish when I arrived on the shores of Singapore decades ago.  She makes it the way I remembered:  slightly lemak (coconut milky) and with all the trappings like one whole boiled egg, lots of cabbage and long beans, a trigular fried tofu, and of course her famous dollop of chilli ikan bilis (which I opted out this morning due to the heat).  My partner swears by this stall's chilli - in fact I always asked her "Why do you like taking chili with nasi instead of the other way around?"  Her answer is always "You Asing will never understand."  Like they say, whatever floats your boat, but in this case, whatever whets you honey.

The wet market is also her favorite as she refers it to as our Little Tiong Bahru market in Johor Bahru - where you get great food and then do your wet marketing.

The wide array of fresh local produce is enough to keep us coming back here at least once a week, and what's more, just like in Tiong Bahru - you get to squeeze in a little shopping for clothes and home knick knacks - but less than half of prices in glitzy Singapore.

Breakfast Al Fresco!

To go Jalan Jalan at our Little Tiong Bahru, please view map below: 

Printer Secret

 Desperately Seeking Cartridge

I am not sure if any of you techies out there had been frustrated by your home (or for that matter office) printer?  This personal computer and peripheral ignoramus has always been challenged (and lost) by my home electronics.  From frozen laptops that does not want to turn on to printers that spew ink and refuse to print properly - you name it.

Recently the kids had to submit a project which entails their PC skills.  That means they have to research from the laptop, type on Word document or Powerpoint slides and then print them out from the home printer.  Luck had it that the printer ink ran out and printed only grey blurry images and text. 

We went to Aeon Bukit Indah - the largest shopping center around Nusajaya area - also popularly known by the supermarket name Jusco that is within its mall - and NO ONE HAS INK CARTRIDGES for my old Cannon Printer.  I was greeted with cynical sales folks who either said they had not heard of the above model, or expressed mock surprise that I was still using "that old model".  Well, if I showed them my retirement bank balance perhaps they would be more empathetic.  The printer was hardly used, save for those times when we had to print our  budget airline itinerary and boarding passes.

Huge IT Mall For Handphones To PC Needs

In come the white knight in the form of IT Mall near the Woodlands Causeway called Danga City Mall.  We were carrying our printer from one shop to another Desperately Seeking Cartridge and boy did I want to kiss the owner of IDEAINK when he said he could modify my printer to a bigger cartridge which would cost less and last longer. Without hesitation I dropped off my printer for his 1.5 to 2-hour modification. 

We had shopping to be done so we went down to the basement for groceries, and then roamed around looking at furniture, carpets and handphone accessories.  My ancient printer taught me a lesson on IT - that models change faster than the seasons.  So I bought 2 of handphone covers for my old Samsung which I would not trade up ever lest the covers go out of stock.  True enough, the only ones I found were on sale, from MR69 down to MR10 and they were only 5 left.


Danga City Mall Bargains 

We even had time for a quick bite at the Malay Cafe just at the main entrance - small pizza for MR10, Clam Chowder for MR6.50, you know the drill - great food great ambience at great prices.  Time was up and we triapsed up to IDEAINK and voila, our printer - upgraded and ready to go.  The gentleman owner who personally modified my printer told us that we could easily get replacement cartridge with the upgrade as my "new" printer now uses universal cartridge.  All that - modification and a new higher capacity color cartridge for just MR110 - and supposedly it would last about 5 to 8 times longer than my old Canon cartridge which used to cost me MR135 (at a much smaller capacity) to replace and yet does not last very long.

My "New" & Modified Printer With Bigger Capacity Cartridge

IDEAINK is on Level 3, Unit 32, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Danga City Mall, Johor Bahru
Tel:   +607 221 3618
Open 11am to 9pm