Vlog 14 - You're So Hot Bangkok!

I'm still alive with my passion.

Just that I'm packed for work since end of April and then short getaway to Hong kong with my family.

So here it is, Bangkok vlog with Yi Joo and Max earlier this year!

Dim Sum with Fresh Sea Breeze @ SeaQueen Restaurant, Straits Quay

Waking up for a beautiful day, work tension, stress, exhaustion shall be put down. To have a peach of mind, why not stroll along seaside and enjoying the morning sea breeze. What's even better is you can treating yourself with Dim Sum at the same time!

Trivia
Tenant: SeaQueen Restaurant @ Straits Quay, Tanjung Tokong
Business Hour: 7am - 11.30pm everyday
Serve: Dim Sum (7am - 2.30pm & ), wedding packages (banquet hall provided)
Highlight: Dim Sum (Newly launched in March 2019)
Average spending: RM 25 & up/pax
Vehicle Parking: Within Straits Quay Marina Mall premise

& DOLCE 🍰 Solaria Square, Bayan Lepas (2-minute Drive From Penang Airport)

Weekend meet-up is always an exciting activity to me, but occasionally...

I'm in dilemma because it seems like most of the great food are only available in downtown (In Penang, I'm referring to Georgetown).

Admittedly, I'd get turned off for driving long in the weekend (because I want to nua more).
Anyway, I'm so glad that Bayan Lepas region keep flourishing these days with the residential development which then F&B as well as regional office also come up after.

It means there might be more good food choices and I may not need to travel so far!

I got to discover about Solaria Square not long ago and searched out there're few dining spots that seems luring. And that was how I manage to drive short for meet up last weekend! 😝 We visited & DOLCE (AND DOLCE) for a sweet pamper, the confectionery is simply attempting!

Trivia

Name: & DOLCE @ Solaria Square

Business Hour: 12pm - 7pm (Sunday - Thursday) / 12pm - 11pm (Friday, Saturday)

Best for: Sweet tooth / Ji mui gathering 姐妹下午茶聚会

Average Spending: RM 20 per pax

& DOLCE @ Solaria Square

Vivid presentation from the confectionary kills the ladies' heart

少女心也会泛滥啦！

Akiyoshi (Izakaya Restaurant) @ Automall Penang

Automall as lepak destination is no longer a new thing to Penangites,  be it once a fame over hottest destination for Pokemon Go and to date, the development doesn't stop from flourishing with more tenants landing in. I guess this is partly why Penang Lang always love this place.

Akiyoshi Automall is something unusual than the rest I've been as it's nestled under Izakaya concept. A casual after-work dining place with the accompany of live band (available everyday from 9pm), better yet, they serve a variety of tummy-filling + satisfying Japanese food (apart from choices of skewer), best accompanied with some alcoholic beverages too.

Ebi Kakiage
(Mixed Sliced Vegetable Tempura) - RM 23

Trivia:
Restaurant: Akiyoshi @ Automall, Level 1
Serving: Japanese Cuisine (Alcholic beverages included) *Non Halal
Menu: Click ME!
Business Hour: 11.30am till 2.30 midnight, opens daily (Kitchen last call at 12.30am)
Live Band: Available daily from 9pm till 1.30am
Smoking area: Allowed in the restaurant from 9pm onward

10 (& even more!) Things You Must Order @ Gravity Rooftop Bar, G Kelawai

Meet-ups, corporate event, mini function like birthday celebration, wedding proposal have become part of the routine in the urban city culture, and most of them usually settled in the cafes. To date in Penang, people have gradually shift the destination to hidden bars to indulge into 'the night is still young' late night activities. However, I don't find myself enjoy surrounded in a poor air ventilation (cigarette smoke), alcohol beverages or even poor live band.

I'd been to a rooftop dining bar, Gravity at G Kelawai last week and found that it's apparently a new spot for gatherings in Penang. The atmosphere is great to my own liking, the menu is another highlight you should put an attention as well. In fact, I had an enjoyable evening up on the 24th floor.


Trivia
Venue: Gravity Rooftop Bar @ G Kelawai, 24th floor
Business Hour: 5pm - 1am daily
Best for: City view at night, cocktails event, corporate event, birthday celebration.
Average Spending: RM 40/pax

Gravity Charcuterie  RM 68

Gravity @ G Kelawai, Penang

Now everyone can save over thousand ringgit of travel cost for a rooftop dining experience in Bangkok. Here's my recommendations of ten things (and even more, too bad not to recommend good things) you ought to order whenever you're at Gravity.

Vlog 12 - Better Late than Never (Ipoh Day Trip)

Two more months to make it a year throwback for this Ipoh day trip.
So now consider shamelessly to make this overdue post.

Since Yijoo had never been to Ipoh before and we all urge for a weekend outing, thus, five foodies made it one. I miss Chooi Yue Dim Sum and 状元第及粉 the most!

台湾 DAY 5 | 台北自由行 Taipei Free & Easy (淡水Tamsui / 士林Shih Lin Night Market/西门町 Ximending)

This post covers about:
- 淡水老街 Tamsui Old Street (Attractions, Lunch)
- 源味本铺古早味传统蛋糕 Taiwan Original Cake
- 淡水小吃：阿给
- 黄色水岸 Tamsui Waterfront
- 士林夜市 Shih Lin Night Market
- 火锅の屋 @ 西门町商店 Personal Steamboat @ Ximending Night Market

MRT from Zhongshan to Tamsui

There's no direct MRT route from Ximen Station to Tamsui station. Under the guidance from customer service counter, we left Ximen station (西门站), transit via Zhongshan station(中山站) which took about 45 minutes to Tamsui as it is the terminal station of Tamsui Line.

The crowd at each station is unexpectedly larger than I thought as it is the peak hour for white-collars. We actually blended in since we already set our itinerary, not to forget, taking precautions with our belongings.

Real Homey Korean Dinner @ Park's Kitchen 박식당, Penang

I realised that it's quite some time I didn't get Korean cuisine and we decided to go for one after some chat with my girls. It was also for a meet up dinner which the last time like this is....hmm, last year when? Pardon my poor memory girls, I can't really recall back.

Homey Korean cuisine, not much fancy though.

We randomly discovered about Park's Kitchen on facebook, which has a rather low publicity, even on Instagram as well. Checking on the menu offered on facebook page, we think it's quite a decent one over a homey Korean dinner, hence, we made it a try.  Overall is fair and I stand for a possibility for return visit, too. Scroll down to read our little surprise discovery one-by-one!

台湾 DAY 3 | 台中自由行 Taichung Free & Easy

This post covers about:
- Breakfast @ Moon Lake Hotel
- Taichung Park
- 宝雅生活馆 Poya Living Mart
- 日曜天地精品折扣中心 Sunshine Plaza Outlet
- Lunch @ 继光街 Ji Guang Street Chinese Restaurant
- 台中转运站 Taichung Bus Station (Buying bus ticket to Taipei)
- 一中商街（夜市）Yi Zhong Night Market
- 光南大批发连锁店 Guang Nan Wholesale Mart


We woke up for breakfast! Haha sounds tamjiak but we never knew the breakfast provided is locally tasty and suit my family too. Not much variety but the choices is right enough to kick start the day. From the hearty warm white congee with preserved food like radish (up for you to select), toast bread with jam and butter spread provided, mantou (chinese steamed bun) and also some stir fried vegetables and noodle. For drinks, they serve coffee, warm soy milk (I didn't miss it both days)and prepacked cold wintermelon juice.

Buffet Breakfast @ Moon Lake Hotel, Taichung.

Our first destination is Taichung Park, only 6 minutes walking distance from our hotel and it's simply relaxing to have a short walk after breakfast in a windy morning at about 20 degree celsius. Taichung Park is claimed to be the oldest one in Taichung as it was built during Japanese ruling time. No entrance fee so it's more like a municipal park for everyone.

Taichung Park @ Taichung City

Again, I'm awed for the outcome, the blue skies especially!

This roller shoes playing point makes me recall of 我的少女时代

That scene of roller skates in the park with those hanging lights (ahh only if i'm not mistaken)

We got to know that all shops in Yi Zhong shopping area had yet to open as early as 8 or 9, thus we discovered a multi-level shoplot, it' a rather big scale mart that my family (especially the ladies) like the most. Searched online later on, Poya Living Mart is the local one-stop lifestyle store in Taiwan. It's located in Yi Zhong shopping district.

Poya Living Mart at Taichung.

Cosmetics and make up stuff occupies the most among all the goods sold here!

Others include house ware items and food.

As we had spent some time in both Taichung Park and Poya, thus we headed for our lunch. Before lunch stop, we actually dropped this outlet mall (for a toilet break LOL).

It's a shopping mall covering branded goods and few restaurant inside as well.

Lunch @ Ji Guang Street, Taichung

Braised Pork Rice 肉燥饭（瘦肉）
NTD 30

Braised Pork Rice 卤肉饭(较肥)
NTD 30

猪肉咖喱饭 (Japanese Curry Rice)
NTD 100

手工馄饨汤 (Homemade Dumpling Soup)
NTD 35

猪肝面汤 (Noodle Soup with Pork Liver)

NTD 50

We had a short break at hotel (bought some snacks from Family Mart) and headed to 台中转运站 (Taichung Bus Station) to purchase ticket to Taipei the next day.  Detail about Taichung bus station including bus ticket to Taipei will be disclosed in the next post.

We asked people around for public bus that transit at Yi Zhong night market, then we hopped on one. #MableTips Bus stop is located opposite VIP Hotel Taichung, near the bus station. The municipal do offer to public user where no fee is charges for journey within 8km, thus, our ride to Yi Zhong night marker is totally free of charge. Be sure to scan in and out with your Easy Card. Click here to read where to buy Easy Card.

Yi Zhong night market

Shop lots at Yi Zhong night market

卤味串烧

Local snack skewer

面线档

We had our dinner from few stalls, one of them was this noodle stall.

Unable to recall the name of this heart bowl but it tastes not bad!

酸辣汤

Not to my own liking as I'm 重口味 

Steamed bun with soup base 汤包 

Despite the dough slightly thick, it's tasty overall!

Free seating available but you must expect for table sharing with others.

Another must-have in Taiwan is fried chicken.

They serve in cutlet, with crispy skin outside.

The thickness is a plus point over the portion, yet it's juicy too!

The stall claims that they don't reuse the cooking oil, and it results in such light coloured of crispy skin, perhaps.

光南大批发连锁店 Guang Nan Wholesale Mart

We didn't know this stop till I googled it after we backed to hotel later on. 真的有眼不識泰山, this is also another big mart in the town. And ladies, promotion on sheet mask is such a great deal not to be missed. It's like 5 pcs for 88 taiwan dollar, cheap!

Great deal on sheet mask

One of the best decisions I've made was got myself data to surf. That's how we backed to our hotel through navigation, it was like 15 minutes walking distance. And we didn't feel strange to walk by the street at night as it was occupied by hawkers stalls, shop lots, temple and restaurant. Click here to read how I purchase one at Taiwan Taoyuan airport.

Archive:

1. Penang - Hong Kong Airport - Taiwan Taiyuan Airport
2. Little discover at Taoyuan Airport (Free Photo Session)
3. Day 2: 8-hour Cab Tour in Taichung

台湾 DAY 2 | 台中包车游 Cab Tour in Taichung

This post covers about:
-Moon Lake Hotel Taichung
-谢氏早点豆花专卖店 Taichung famous local breakfast restaurant
-第二市场 Taichung Second Market
-包车游 8-hour Day tour 
-阿仁羊肉羹 (Dinner)
-继光香香鸡 J&G Fried Chicken 1973

We reached Taichung Station at about 2.30am after the two-hour bus journey. Click here to read how we bought bus ticket once we touched down at Taoyuan.

To our own surprise, Taichung station is not 24 hour operated as we thought. It is totally dark with only 7-11 store operates. So, we walked to our hotel, Moon Lake Taichung with the guide of GPS, 15 minutes of walking journey is okay for us under the cool weather hehe. We made our booking thru agoda during Maybank's exclusive 8% off on hotel. We had family room for about RM 155 per night, breakfast inclusive where my family quite enjoy to have Taiwanese congee, steamed bun, soya milk and toast and more! #MableTips Try to search the bank you have an account in it or the bank issuance for your existing credit card for limited offer. Sometimes they collaborate with this kind of online hotel agent like agoda and booking.com and you can save quite an amount!

The hotel receptionist understood about our late (midnight) arrival and so we had the chance to do quick-cleaning at the washroom and even felt asleep at the lobby LOL luckily we were shielded from the cool weather throughout the night.

Breakfast store @ 谢氏早点豆花专卖店

We actually had a round strolling the streets nearby before we felt asleep at the lobby and we'd found out there was a Chinese restaurant where the people are busy preparing food. Looked up to the signboard and checked online, it's a local-style breakfast shop named 谢氏早点豆花专卖店 which is apparently one of the famous breakfast shops among the local.

As my mum, sister and I woke up on the sofa at the lobby at around 5.30 in the morning, we then headed to the breakfast shop. It's located few shops away from our hotel where just a minute of walking distance!

NTD 110 for 3 pax of breakfast

We didn't feel very hungry but still order some to stuff our taste buds and stomach, indeed, we quite enjoy them in overall, I shall make some highlights of what we like about.

豆浆红豆Warm soya milk with red bean, NTD 30

Both items are my favourite food and it's my first time having them both at a time, normally there's only so-called Michael Jackson (Soya milk with grass jelly) available in the markets back in Malaysia. We had also plain soya milk at NTD 10 only.

综合汤 Mix (pork) soup, NTD 25

Basically, it's a clear soup consist of pork ball, blood curd (quite far tastes from what I have in Malaysia) and fish maw. It tastes similar like how we've been having back in Malaysia though. Not a bad choice to have in a cool and windy morning!

肉松蛋饼 Pork floss pan cake, NTD 25

This changed my mind after my first bite, all thanks to the essential flavoursome from the egg! I usually don't like to eat the home-style Chinese pancake, because of the taste of flour (haha, I just don't like it at all!). The egg and pork floss managed to cover it up and make it another favourite item of mine in the breakfast store.

Trivia

Name: 谢氏早点豆花专卖店 @ 台中继光街 Taichung Ji Guang Street

Business Hour: 5am till 12 noon daily.

My recommendations: 豆浆红豆Warm soya milk with red bean & 肉松蛋饼 Pork floss pan cake

We headed to 第二市场 (Taichung Second Market) after all of us had our breakfast. It's roughly 15 minutes walking distance from our hotel/the breakfast store as mentioned above. I'd read a lot of great reviews especially the food stall there, basically every stall is 老招牌 where people would queue up along the street. Some of them include 老赖红茶,李海卤肉饭&王记菜头糕糯米肠.

We had pre-booked for a day tour in Taichung around a month ago. It's commonly known as 包车自由行. There're lots of this kind of day tour agent posting on facebook, showing you the great destinations they had taken the tourists to (visitors from different countries) and some suggestion. Okay not an advert but I think you guys can have a view on this if you're keen, I knew it from my aunt after I had already made the booking with another one. 

#MableTips If you have your own plan where to go, they are always welcome for it and they make the arrangement on which to go first and all that. But if don't, they are glad to assist you with their suggested one-day itinerary and then only amend from it. 去旅行最重要是玩的开心

Most of them covers only 8 hours per day, but if you have large quantities of people then they can allow for up to 10-12 hours of tour guide. Oh ya, they can also help in booking hotel on behalf too.

Ours include (all free entrance):

1. 南天宫关圣帝君 Taichung's largest Chinese temple
2. 国家歌剧院 National Taichung Theater *Regretful
3. 彩虹眷村 Rainbow Village
4. Lunch @ 财神爷卤肉饭 Taiwanese braised pork rice (24 hour)
5. 情人桥 Dakeng Lovers Bridge
6. 东东芋圆 Don Don Taiwanese shaved ice
7. 新社花海 Taichung Flora Exhibition *Regretful
8. 梧栖渔港 Wuqi Fishing Harbour
9. 高美湿地Gaomei Wetlands *Regretful
10. 逢甲夜市 Feng Jia night market (but didn't manage to due to exhaustion)

It's photo-sharing session!

First, 南天宫关圣帝君 Six-level Chinese Temple

南天宫关圣帝君 Taichung's largest Chinese temple

This temple inclusive of different god and goddess for different religion and belif among Chinese.

Thus, there're up to 6 levels in this temple, passenger lift provided no worries.

Coincidentally, they serve vegetarian vermicelli soup for public and we grabbed some to have a quick taste of local.

A warm bowl like this is simply best for our stomach during the windy morning.

Next stop, 国家歌剧院 National Taichung Theater.

Out view of the theater

Okay, to be honest, we were regret shortly after we got down from car. The theater open for public at 11.30am but we were like an hour earlier to enter zzz Despite low temperature but we're greatly welcomed by the warm sun shine (oh no!) Hence, we walked around for like 15 minutes then hopped on our cab for the next destination.

Third stop, 彩虹眷村 Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village at Taichung

(No edit but I'm awed over the beautiful outcome in overall!)

This is absolutely out of our initial plan frankly (mum doesn't like artistic viewing like this) but since we've some time before lunch hour, so our tour guide driver suggested this thus off we headed for there.

这位是想婚了吗？

Candid shoot but not bad huh

There's also a stamping corner provided where my sister was super excited to know it!

FYI, there's this practice in tourist destination, especially, in Taiwan. It is considered as part of souvenir the authority could distribute to the public. They are also available at every mrt station but not high visibility. You may ask at the inquiry counter if you're keen.

#MableTips Bring along your own note book from home and fill it with the stamping provided!

Lunch hour!

财神爷卤肉饭 Cai Shen Halogen Meat Food

Wah I'm surprised to know the phrase "Halogen Meat Food" as I'm sharing about our lunch part. Googled and learnt that it's related to halogen oven. But I regard 卤肉饭 as braised pork rice anyhow haha!

We let the driver to decide where to have lunch with only condition that must be local (and tasty) food and here we discovered this 24-hour Chinese restaurant.

It's self-service policy, menu is displayed above the counter. The service crew were so patient for us to select our food as we were quite blank and in little dilemma what to order (just got up from sleep on car after rainbow village). At least they didn't show up the black face to embarrass us. 

Side dishes also available to pick.

Spot any of your favourite one?

 They serve 仙草梅子汁 (Grass jelly in plum juice) for dine-in customers.

I think it's charged based on the number of bowl taken, free flow and such a refreshing one by the way.

Fourth, 情人桥 Dakeng Lovers Bridge

I emphasized to the driver that I don't wish to miss out having 东东芋圆 (Don Don Dessert), one of the famous local dessert. And so, he arranged to have us the dessert while on the way to the next destination. On the route to the dessert store, he dropped us a while for another landmark of Taichung, Dakeng Lovers Bridge.

Dakeng Lovers Bridge, pink and dreamy especially for the girls!

We spotted the youngsters gathered there with take-away desserts and have a windy afternoon together.

Take-away dessert

东东芋圆 is also Taichung MUST eat dessert, according to my friend.

The driver served us take-away one while we were on the way to 新社花海 (flora exhibition), our next destination. NTD 50 for each.

We had two and all of us preferred the one served in Penang, oh no!

First, the shaved ice in way too coarse, finer texture served in our hometown is preferable.

I guess that's the original dessert where we don't 欣赏 them very much.

Fifth, 新社花海 Taichung's Flora Exhibition

Taichung's municipal do have such annual tradition to showcase flora exhibition and open for public, usually held 3 weeks or a month long in November. We knew it from others' sharing about this and so, we included this into our itinerary, since the exhibition falls within our visit time.

Taichung annual flora exhibition (Nov 2017)

Natural view of flora..people..mountain..and then hot sun!

Another regret one among the itinerary because we were hooked over the beautiful photos shared by people online （坑爹真是照骗）The passionate sun in fact turned us down and we stayed there for like 30 minutes only. It's free entrance during exhibition, so the exhibition is crowded with the public.

Sixth, 梧栖渔港 Wuqi Fishing Harbour (Fishing Market)

It required an hour car journey to reach the harbour from the previous stop. All of us straight felt asleep on the way to there,haha! Okay thanks God that our driver safely ferry us in the end. A nap like this somehow is quite refreshing one, once we reach Wuqi Fishing Harbour, thanks to the windy weather and sea breeze(perhaps?) as it's surrounded by the sea.

What attracted us to included it into our itinerary is the evening market with abundance of fresh seafood. It's great to explore it by ourselves other than from media channel even though we're not planning to buy anything.

I swear I will definitely buy the crabs if I gonna have homecook dinner over there.

Fresh fish selections @ Wuqi Fishing Market

阿姿烧酒螺 is famous for serving different flavours of Balitong (Sea snail).

If you're balitong fans, why not have a try on the local taste?

Mild / Medium / Super Spicy Flavour up to select.

Last stop, 高美湿地 Gaomei Wetlands

I labelled this as another regretful stop we had because things turned out out of (wonderful) expectation, haha! Partly because of the on-going construction on the tourist-photo-shooting point and also that god damn strong cool sea breeze. All of us went down from car reluctantly and my mum stood still outside the car, not willing to walk further, too cold she kenot lol

By the sea: Gaomei Wetlands

We didn't manage to get down from car for night market, simply because all of us already exhausted (Imagine that sleepy and emo face hahaha). So our driver dropped us back to our hotel and we got showered after a power nap though. Then it's time for dinner!

继光夜市 (Ji Guang Night Market) is just right in front of our hotel main entrance, just crossing a little street and you're about to explore the food and shops. We went randomly to see which restaurant to have our dinner and eventually we picked this 阿仁羊肉羹,  beside the breakfast shop I mentioned earlier, 谢氏早点豆花专卖店

The stall and cooking section is at the outside but behind is the dine-in section

Simple deco and it's quite homey to see such wooden furniture with television switched on to news channel.

It serve quite a variety of food but not only

肉羹  (Thickened Soup Noodle with Starch Coated Pork) NTD 35

谁爱吃鱼翅汤的就会很喜欢吃这个，口感很相似!

猪杂汤米粉汤 (Vermicelli Clear Soup with Pork Intestines) NTD 55

 
米粉汤 (Vermicelli Clear Soup) NTD 35

炸酱面 (Noodle with Soy Bean Paste) NTD 45

Trivia

Name: 阿仁羊肉羹

Business Hour: 10.30am - 9.30am

My recommendations: 肉羹 （Thickened Soup Noodle)

As I'd been strongly recommended by one of my friends that Taichung's must eat fried chicken is J&G Fried Chicken, locally known as 继光香香鸡. The flagship store is at Taichung and I just knew upon drafting this that they have overseas branch at Sunway Putra Mall at KL. We found that there's a branch (or is it flagship store) nearby so we just headed for it right after dinner!

J&G Fried Chicken is a local fast food restaurant served to the people since 1973.

As usual, it's also a self-service restaurant where menu is well displayed behind the cashier. Can't really remember the variety but I know there's half and whole fried chicken as well as popcorn chicken, large packet but forgotten the price already,haha! Spiciness categorized into mild (小辣), medium (中辣) and extra spicy (大辣)

Popcorn Chicken from J&G Fried Chicken

We had medium spicy and to people who can eat spicy, medium spicy is really nothing! Okay, FYI, Taiwanese are spiciness-intolerance so even the extra spicy should be fine if you can eat spicy usually.

Hot and mild spicy flavoured popcorn chicken, yum!

We still 念念不忘 on the fried chicken after we backed to home, this is gonna be my MUST EAT food when I travel to Taiwan again in future.

Archive:

1. Penang - HK - Taoyuan(Taiwan) - Taichung (Add on: Tourist SIM Card)
2. Little discover on Taoyuan Airport (Free Photo Session + 24hr convenient store)