Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

On The Comeback-Trail

2012-01-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

So,this is where it begins.....

After disappearing and faking his own death back in '77, Elvis has decided to come out of hiding and begin his musical comeback.
And what better place to start than Healy Macs on Changkat Bukit Bintang.
He does look a little different and he did speak with an Oirish Accent but the crowd didn't seem to mind one bit.
His voice wasn't quite as good either but that was compensated for by his enthusiasm and stage-craft.
It was cheesy and tacky-and everbody knew it but that didn't stop anyone from having a good ole singalong and joining in the fun.
Elvis will be around for another week or so before heading back to Gracelands but as we were leaving Healy Macs, my attention was drawn to a poster advertising an appearance by Lady Gaga (whoever he is) in the near future......interesting.

Happy New Year!...I SAID, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

I think I just may be getting a little too old for this......maybe.
I don't mind the crowds and the hustle and bustle of a New Year's Eve party.

After all,that's what it's all about really.
It's the very,very loud music that annoys me.
Really annoys me.
All along Changkat Bukit Bintang the bars compete for custom by playing music to entice us punters inside.
I don't have a problem with that just so long as I can actually talk to people sitting at my table or at the bar.
And,as the hours tick by,the volume increases until you find yourself shouting at the top of your voice just to be heard by the guy sitting next to you.
And there are times when you sit outside Gypsy or Healy Macs and you hear the music from 4 or 5 other bars combine to produce the most annoying racket.

I know this all sounds a bit "bar-humbug" and you could say if I don't like the loud music go somewhere else. But I do actually like the music.
It's just way too loud.
The problem is that the DJ's just keep turning the volume up on the hour,every hour until the sound is actually very distorted as the loudspeakers in most establishments are domestic,designed for home-use and are not capable of taking the punishment.
Even on a "normal" weekend I've lost count of how many times I have tell them to turn it down.
New Year's Eve was much too loud,much too soon.
And...if you visit any of these bars the style of music that they play early (mainly oldies and rock) suddenly turns into full-on dance music at midnight. Why? The clientele is the same as it was at 11pm.
You can now see that more people chose to sit outside the bars, even on the pavement because inside it is too noisy-and all that happens is that the DJ turns it up even louder so that the guys outside can hear it.
If we wanted loud music we would all be in a club somewhere (where the loudspeakers can cope and don't distort)
And,don't get me started on the RM 50 cover charge that many bars introduced for New Year's Eve.....

Christmas In KL

2011-12-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

At this time of year the Shopping Malls are covered in Xmas Decorations.
No surprises there.
In Kuala Lumpur it's usually a case of "more is better" as most malls cannot resist going way over-the-top. When it comes to creating that perfect display they add everything and the kitchen-sink and end-up with a bit of a dogs breakfast and a display that looks like it's been thrown together with a shovel.
See last year's comments here!
However,This year Pavilion has done something a little different.

A display of 150 Bears outside (one for each country that bothered to participate) creates quite an interesting installation,with each bear decorated in a unique style by an artist of that country...Some have clearly put in a lot of effort whilst other countries that couldn't really be bothered (but you be the judge of that) have just splashed on a bit of paint and left it at that.
I quite like it.
Once inside the shopping centre I feared the worst as I was greeted by the usual mess of confusing styles and themes but when I had a look at the centre-piece I was pleasantly surprised...

It kinda works......

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

How Not To Promote A Shopping Centre

2011-12-02T19:45:00.000-08:00

I lifted this from The Star Online

Friday December 2, 2011
Latin crooner charms ‘crazy’ crowd.

KUALA LUMPUR: Armed with umbrellas and ponchos, scores of people braved the rain to watch Latin crooner Julio Iglesias sing a selection of his hit songs at YTL’s Concert of Celebration 2011.
With 350 million records sold in 14 languages and 79 albums released, the 68-year-old Iglesias showed why he was still top of his game at last night’s concert.
He made up for the damp weather by rousing the audience to sing along to some of his songs, which included Spanish numbers and the ever popular To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before and Crazy.
His most energetic number came at the end of the 90-minute set when he belted out Me Va Me Va.

Now,I've got nothing against Julio and nothing against the crowd who stood in the rain to watch him.
My issue is with the organisers.
Bukit Bintang in one of the busiest roads in KL.
It was closed for 3 days.
The traffic chaos was terrible.
And I mean Terrible.
It's difficult to imagine how a private company can get permission to shut one of the busiest roads in order to promote one of their shopping centres,whilst all around chaos ensures.
Whenever the opposition parties apply for a permit to hold a rally-it's refused on the grounds of "It will cause too much traffic chaos and inconvenience to the public"
Errm,Hello!
You may think that's Double Standards.
You may be well be right.
There were diversions in place but honestly,trying to squeeze 4 lanes of traffic into just one ain't gonna work.
So,as people left work and thought "Oh no!,rain again- it will be a bad journey home tonight" they had no idea how bad it really would be.
The organisers if they even thought for just one second of the chaos they will cause probably didn't care "as the people stuck in the horrendous jam aren't the type of people who shop in Star Hill anyway...and so what? our VIP guests will arrive by a motorcade with police outriders who will carve their way through the traffic"....
And,if you read the report it says "scores of people (for all you metric people a score is an old-fashioned way of saying 20)..so it was hardly well attended....they could have all fitted inside the shopping centre they were trying to promote.

I really don't understand why they didn't use one of the many under-used stadiums.....

The Return of Tiger Crystal

2011-11-30T23:24:00.000-08:00

And what a welcome return it is!
First introduced in February 2010,Tiger Crystal is a light,refreshing bottled beer that is easy to drink and not quite as strong (or sweet and sickly) as normal Tiger draft.
And best of all,it doesn't result in such a horrendous hangover as a night on Tiger draft usually does.
This is good news.
Very Good News.
It disappeared from the bars in March this year and has just made a comeback.
I can only think that my complaints to the Tiger Brewery went unnoticed for a while until some lowly brewer stumbled upon it and thought..."Good idea,lets make some more..."
At the moment,Gypsy Bar are selling a bucket of 5 for RM 60. whilst in Healy Macs it will cost you RM 70.

Enjoy!

Hiking Bukit Broga

2011-10-11T01:29:00.000-07:00

Bukit Broga is a small hill about 40kms south of KL past Kajang (20kms) and just past Seminyeh.

As usual it's almost impossible to get to without your own transport.There is a University of Nottingham campus close by to serve as a landmark.
It's an unusual place because you see something you don't normally see in Malaysia:
Grass.
And lots of it.
It must be something to do with the soil being to thin to support trees so you get some pretty good views and some unusual scenery.A different shade of green.
The hike itself starts in a make-shift car-park (RM2) and goes through a small Oil-Palm plantation,which quickly gives way to a few scrawny Rubber Trees but pretty soon you're in open country.
Broga consists of three summits with bare rocks scattered around and although there is some graffiti on the rocks there is very little rubbish/litter.
Yet another surprise.
If you're fairly fit,the hike will not be a problem.
Me? Well, not having done any cardio for a couple of months,it was at times a bit of a struggle,especially the first summit which left me breathless and a bit light-headed until I had a rest and ate a medicinal Mars Bar.
From there-on it was all rather pleasant.
The final summit was a bit of a challenge and there are some fairly big boulders to overcome.
Fortunately,when it gets a bit steep some thoughtful people have laid down some ropes but even though there is a rope at the final summit we had to find an alternate route as the final stretch was a bit too severe.

The 2km hike to the summit takes about 30 mins if you're super-fit but if you're like me and take every opportunity to "enjoy the view" ie catch your breath,it will take an hour or more.
It's slightly disappointing to be greeted by a sign at the top telling you you're 400m high because it seems much higher.
If you're still up for a challenge you can continue further for about 3km to reach the summit of Tok Wan but I think I'll save that for another trip.
As usual with all these hiking places,if you come here on a weekend or public holiday,you'll hate it as there will be a continuous queue going all the way up and all the way down again.
And you will find a few food and drinks stalls complete with white plastic chairs.
If you come here when it's raining,or are unlucky enough to get caught in a downpour then you will without a shadow of a doubt really not enjoy the constant slipping,sliding and falling-over and getting covered in mud and could probably be struck by lightening,which will really ruin your day.
But, get the timing right-and its a very enjoyable half-day outing.

The Only Dish Worth Trying in Pavilion Food-Court

2011-10-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

.....is the Mee Jawa at the stall down the end going towards Carl's Junior.

The reason I say this is quite simple-most of the other food on offer has that bland-tasteless,franchised food-court feel about it.
It can all look OK but when you actually eat it,you begin to think ;What's The Point?"
Just about every Shopping Mall has exactly the same old sub-standard crap (except for Lot 10)
Not so with the Mee Jawa in Pavilions.
And,at RM 9 for a big,steaming bowl it's pretty good value for money for this food-court and is quite filling and very tasty.
It's much better than the Mee Jawa on offer at Old Town White Coffee,and cheaper than what they serve atLittle Penang Cafe

Definitely worth a try....makes me hungry just thinking about it.......

Spritz Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-09-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

This bar has probably had more face-lifts than most ageing Hollywood stars put-together!

If memory serves me correctly,first it was a Brazilian Restaurant which did well for quite a few years,then it became an "upmarket" Chinese Restaurant,then maybe an Italian Restaurant, then it re-opened as "Spritz" and has been refurbished at least 3 times.Each refurbishment moves the establishment further away from "Restaurant" and closer to "Bar"
It is one of the only places on Changkat Bukit Bintang that sells Carlsberg.
Which is good.
And,Sunday night it's RM 10 a mug all night long.
Other nights it has a stupid Happy Hour/Normal Price thing going on until 9pm.
And in a place like this,why pay more after 9pm to drink in exactly the same environment?
They have live,mainly acoustic but over-amplified music most nights.

The night I was there it was far less crowded than it's neighbour (Gypsy) but the Carlsberg Beer and the friendly staff more than compensated.
But....
I'm not really sure what to make of it....there's nothing wrong with it but it leaves me feeling a bit non-plused....

Seduction Jalan P.Ramlee Kuala Lumpur

2011-09-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Seduction last Sunday and I'm still recovering from the experience!

Situated underneath Modesto's on Jalan P.Ramlee it's become a venue for Sunday Tea Dances-which you can read about here!.
The first thing you should know-It's LOUD!
and secondly,It gets EVEN LOUDER!
On a scale of 1 to 10, the volume control is set to "11"
But..as with most Tea Dances,the crowd seems friendly with lots of Filipinas out for a good time,the price of beer is reasonable,the atmosphere is pretty good and there is no cover charge/Happy Hour vs Normal (ie. exorbitant) price nonsense that most bars along Jalan P.Ramlee adopt after 9 or 10pm.
If you like live music,flashing lights,dancing competitions and drinking-then you'll like it here.
Some people even try to make conversation,whether they succeed or not I don't know-I could just about hear the guy right next to me if he shouted as close to my ear as possible... and that was when there was a lull between songs.
If you want to experience the Sunday Tea Dance phenomena,get here around 5-6pm.
Make sure you've had something to eat.
And,you'll enjoy it more if you've already got a few beers inside you as if you go in sober,when it's all in full-swing it's a bit of a shock to the system.

Can You Guess What It Is Yet?

2011-08-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased this item-See if you can guess what it is-and what it actually does from the description on the back of the packaging.....and I quote as follows;

Expansion Rotary Anti-spattering Machine
series of expansion rotary anti-spattering filter adoptsthe excellent
materials and elegant craft,the wiggly and fluctuationghydrant is
available, convenient and ingenious, welcome to use theproducts
at our factory

Answers by way of the comments option....

Tabla Bar and Cafe Lorong Sahabat Off Changkat Bukit Bintang

2011-07-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Before you ask,it means "Drum" in Tamil (I think)

What used to be "The Red Victorian" just around the corner from Havana has been imaginatively transformed into an Oldies Bar and Kitchen complete with a trio of musicians playing a selection of English,Indian and Chinese instrumentals using drum,violin and recorder.
It's quite a bold concept in an area where all the bars seem to merge into one, Tabla certainly stands-out as being a bit,well,...different.
And I mean that in a good way.
The interior is modern-chilled out with lots of red and black and has an interesting selection of photos and posters on the wall (check-out the Japanese soldiers in front of Masjid Jamek).
There is a nice long bar plus a patio outside.
The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back and the staff seem pretty friendly.
The red under-the-bar lighting makes everybody glow with health.
Beer prices are quite reasonable at RM 11 for a mug of Tiger,which works out to about RM 12.70 after tax and there is the usual 3 pints for RM 55 promotion going on at the moment.
The Food Menu seems very interesting-lots of Indian dishes,Mutton Vindaloo at RM 17 seems pretty good plus there are the usual pizzas,fries and snacks.

Some of the pizza toppings have taken fusion food to new level-or even gone too far! but some may like it.

Tabla will be a good "after-work" bar or a place to drop-by for a couple of beers before heading somewhere else..I'm not sure I could spend a whole night there-as there is something about the red lighting that makes you feel a bit drowsy after a while....but isn't that the point of a chilled-out bar in the first place?

All in all,Tabla is a bloody good effort at offering something a bit different.

Duck King Restaurant Food-Court Level Pavilion Mall Jalan Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-07-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

After opening one of the two best food stalls in Lot 10 read about it hear! You would have thought that the people who run Star Duck/Duck King would know how to do things.

I normally can't be bothered to add a caption!

Alas,No.
The recently opened Duck King Restaurant at the food-court level in Pavilion *should* be fantastic-but it's not.

Tastes like instant Noodles-but ten times the price!

Whether it's just "teething-problems" or not I don't know but we were sadly disappointed with our recent visits.
They have opened near the Supermarket end,a place that has had rather a lot of tenants...maybe it's just in a poor location....
Or,maybe we just selected the wrong dishes.
First,the noodles were no better than a packet of Instant Noodles you make at home.
Secondly,the Carrot Cake was powdery.
Third,the Fried Rice was bland and tasteless
and Fourth...
The service was..hmmm..."clueless" would be too severe a criticism but they were a bit "all-over-the-place"

Scallops were nice tho...

The only saving grace was that the scallops were rather good.

Powdery-Carrot Cake

Now,as I said there are always teething problems when opening a new restaurant but I wasn't impressed at all,especially when I love their little stall in Lot 10.
If ever you're hungry in Pavilion Mall and you don't mind spending a bit of money there is still no better bet than Crystal Jade which you can read about here!

Celsius Bar Farenheit Mall Bukit Bintang (Revisited)

2011-07-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

I wrote about Celsius Bar back in October here! and I wasn't too impressed-it smelt like a construction sight,which to be fair,it was.
It's located on the back corner of the pointless Farenheit Shopping Mall on Bukit Bintang.
I don't usually venture onto the main street of Bukit Bintang at night because I don't really need a foot-massage and I don't meed to buy a fake watch. I find the whole street unbearably tacky and somehow too frantic.
But..after dinner one night in Pavilion,a stop at Celsius was almost on the way home-so what harm could it do to pop-in and see how?
I have to say I was pleasantly suprised!
It didn't smell of concrete or glue and was quite busy with a good "after-office" crowd.
The decor is a bit "over-the top" with disco-balls,fibre-optics and the bar counter and pinnacle keep changing colour but I guess it makes a change from staring at fake Irish wood or a crappy re-run of a South American football match on TV.
And-in what must be a first for a bar in KL,the music was actually at an agreeable level..not too loud so as to make conversation an impossibility but neither too quite to make it sound like those 70's and 80's rock concerts you went to have really screwed-up your hearing!
So,the atmosphere is pretty OK.
The crowd quite agreeable
The staff seemed pretty switched-on.
Beer prices before 9pm are reasonable (2 pints of tiger for RM 35)
After 9pm?
Best not to ask-you'll be paying "club-land prices"
There are so few bars along Bukit Bintang,apart from the soulless Hotel Bars- that I'm sure that Celsius has got it's own group of regulars who go for a few chill-out beers after work and then the party-people arrive at 11pm onwards.
All-in-all, not a bad bar.

But Could You Eat A Whole One?

2011-06-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

This Burger Bar has a rather interesting menu...
Situated on the corner of Tengkat Tong Shin and Jalan Sahabat,opposite the new and rather useless Carrefour Express,Diamond Burger Bar has been operating for about a month,every night.
It has an extensive menu of Burgers from RM 2-RM 7 but I haven't been drunk enough or hungry enough to want to sample one of their delights....but there is always someone placing an order so I guess they can't be too bad.
Apart from the usual Beef Burger you can choose from; Rabbit, Catfish,Ostrich,Lamb and even Camel.

That made me think,if you order a Camel Burger from your car,would it tip-over like in the Flintstones?
And...they even have a "Baby Burger" on the menu...best not to ask!

Never Mine Bar Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-06-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

Never Mine is the new name for what was the unpopular Cin-Cin Champagne Bar.
Gone is the plush velvet low-seating to be replaced with high tables and stools.

Gone is the fancy lighting to be replaced by a disco-ball!

One sidewall has been painted white so it's not all black and chrome but there are still a few too many mirrors for my liking....I like to look at other people when I'm drinking...not to be reminded how I look,but I have noticed that the more I drink,the better-looking I become!

The decor is "stark-modern"
As always,the music is too loud but the price of the beer makes-up for that.
Tiger at RM 10 per mug all night long or 3 pints for RM 58 seems pretty good value.
Bar snacks are available,all supplied via Baan 26 Thai Restaurant and range from RM 15-RM 30.

The bar inside is a bit too stark and impersonal for my liking but I could get used to it.

The outside seating is a little hot and airless unless you pick a cool night to go out.whilst the upstairs balcony is very popular.

As I've mentioned before it's always good to see new places opening and Never Mine could become one of the most popular Bars on the street for it's no-nonsense,unpretentious atmosphere and value-for-money beer.

Bergie Evergreen Pub and Restaurant Jalan Berangan Kuala Lumpur

2011-06-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

The road that runs parallel to Changkat Bukit Bintang which has BarKita,Albion and Bar Italia now has a new addition-Bergie Evergreen Pub.
I'm not really sure what a "Bergie" is but the waiter pointed to a weird statue in the corner...some sort of troll/ idol.
The bar has been open for about a month and looks pretty good.
Nice Black and White decor.
Friendly staff.
When I walked past at 9pm on a Saturday it was empty but so was BarKita...perhaps it gets busier later.
I don't really like going into empty bars but the staff were quite happy to chat outside.
It's yet another outlet that sells Tiger-I really don't know what the guys at Carlsberg are doing they just don't seem to be interested in doing business in this part of town.
If I'm not mistaken the only bars that sell Carlsberg are BarKita and Spritz,next to Gypsy.
At the moment Bergie Bar has a good promotion,3 pints of Tiger for RM 55 otherwise the normal price of RM 15 for a mug seems way,way too pricey.

Various promotions run throughout the week such as half-price cocktails on Tuesdays and on Wednesdays buy one get one free for pints of Tiger or Heineken.
A set lunch during the week is RM 10 ++ whilst on Sundays you can get a roast brunch for RM 40 ++
It's always good to see new bars opening and Bergie is definitely worth a visit.
If you want a slightly different atmosphere to the late night mayhem that can erupt on Changkat Bukit Bintang then the outlets on Jalan Berangan offer something a bit more relaxed and chilled.

New RM 20 Note

2011-05-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

I lifted this from The Star...

Thursday May 26, 2011

RM20 banknote making a comeback

By JOSHUA FOONG

PETALING JAYA: After a 16-year hiatus, the RM20 banknote will be re-introduced by Bank Negara.

It is part of a new design of Malaysian banknotes and coins which will be issued for circulation early next year in an exercise that is undertaken periodically every 12 years.

“The re-introduction of the RM20 banknote in the new currency series is primarily to function as an intermediary denomination to bridge the value gap between RM10 and RM50 for greater convenience in making payments,” Bank Negara told The Star in a statement yesterday.

With the new RM20 banknote, the central bank expects a reduction in overall demand for RM10 and RM50 banknotes.

The old RM20 banknote was introduced during the second series in 1982 and was discontinued in 1995.

It featured Malaysian traditional ornamental designs and the Bank Negara headquarters on its reverse side.

Read paragraph 3 again....Priceless Drivel!

I Think I'll Buy Two!

2011-05-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

If you think that BB Plaza is a less than busy Shopping Mall tagged onto the more popular Sungei Wang ,you'd be right.
Most people just use it as the main entrance to Sungei Wang (but that's actually on the side facing Jalan Sultan Ismail)...and the shops in BB Plaza such as Metrojaya or MPH never seem to be busy but I came across this little jewelery store the other day and was amazed that they were advertising an item in their shop window for...wait for it....put little finger in mouth like Dr. Evil in Austin Powers....

One and a Half Million Ringgit!

That's right..RM 1,500,000.

Now to me,it looks like a Jade Cabbage.
I know that lots of people in this part of the world like Jade and the special powers such as Good luck,Peace and Wisdom that Jade is said to bring but I think that if you can already afford RM 1,500,000 for a cabbage that you've already had enough good-luck but you may indeed be lacking in wisdom!

Little Penang Cafe Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur

2011-05-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

If you're stuck in one of the god-awful cathedral-like malls in Kuala Lumpur and need something to eat without splashing-out in a restaurant your choice is usually a dilemma between bland and tasteless food-court fare or dreadful international fast food chains.
There are a few mid-price cafes if you look hard enough and Little Penang have 3 outlets (KLCC,The Curve and Mid Valley) that may be worth trying.
As the name suggests,the style of food is supposed to reflect that of Penang.
It's a bit hit'n'miss....which is a shame as when it's good,it's very,very good and when it's bad...well it's just a bit too bland or poorly prepared.

Mee Jawa

The Mee Jawa is very good.
This is an Indonesian-style noodle soup with bean-sprouts,tomatoes,shallots,hard-boiled egg,potatoes,tofu and squid that is served in a really thick and tasty gravy.
The Lor Bak is excellent-Lor Bak should be pork sausage wrapped in crunchy bean curd but as Little Penang is halal they serve chicken sausage but it's still very tasty (and you won't know the difference)
The Fried Kway Teow is disappointing. (there is only one place to go for Fried Kway Teow-and that's here! in Brickfileds)
Other dishes of noodles,rice,nasi lemak etc are available.
Lunch for two will set you back around RM 30-RM 40 so it's not cheap by any standards but it is worth a try.

Lor Bak

Once-in-a-while.
Service? Well, just try and make sure that you're in a good mood when you enter as the service is pretty-poor.....

Cin Cin Bar Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-05-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

A bottle of Tiger Beer for RM 9!
I'll repeat that, A Bottle of Tiger Beer for RM 9!

When Cin Cin first opened it's doors a couple of months ago after taking ages and ages with their refurbishment many people were perplexed to discover it was a "Champagne Bar" aimed at the movers and shakers of the KL social-scene-which certainly didn't include the likes of me.
So I never went there.
and it would seem...
neither did anyone else.
I have never seen a new bar stay so empty for so long,and that's despite having a couple of classy looking girls in nice dresses trying to entice you inside.

All this changed a few days ago when new management moved in.

Rule #1 when opening a bar on Changkat Bukit Bintang seems to be that you *must* place some tables and chairs outside on the pavement (Whisky bar discovered this a few months ago)
Cin Cin have done this and not surprisingly there were people sitting there and drinking on the pavement.
Rule #2 seems to be...Offer the public value for money,hence the RM 9 for a bottle of Tiger or RM 50 for 3 pints of tiger draft.....I'm sure there are other offers but I can't remember.
I really hope that it's just not in order to clear old stock.
Rule #3-and probably the most important: Hire Good People.
The staff/customer service was nice and friendly.
As far as the atmosphere is concerned...well, at this early stage you will probably have to take your own but I'm sure that will change when more people come to discover it.
The decor is definitely up-market and a bit swanky.

The upstairs area has a good balcony but the rest of it gets very smokey and a bit smelly from the cooking smoke and fumes from the Indian Restaurant next door....
Downstairs is a bit stark-sorry,"modern and trendy" but not too bad and it seems that as with most bars on the street, people would prefer to sit outside.

Hopefully the value-for-money promotions will continue and Cin Cin will become another venue on the street worth going to....only time will tell.

Missing the Point.....

2011-04-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

I lifted this article from the Star 26/4/11:

GEORGE TOWN: A honeymooning couple from Saudi Arabia was among some 2,000 tourists and locals who boarded the Penang Hill funicular train, which resumed operations after a lapse of 14 months.

Alaa Abduallae, 30, and Wafaa Ali, 23, were thrilled to take the 10-minute ride up the hill.
“However, the train was going too fast for us to snap any good photographs,” Alaa said.
The train will run for charity till April 30. The return fare for the charity ride is RM10 for adults. It is free for children aged 12 and below.

The proceeds will go to the Penang Welfare Department to help underprivileged people identified by the state government.
The service started at 6.30am yesterday.
Among those who tried it was a group of 37 Year Five students and three teachers of SK Pulai in Baling.
Their counselling teacher Khaizuran Isa said they made the trip to give students an opportunity to ride on the train.
“We want to expose them to new things and let them learn about tourist spots,” she said.
Penangites Les Leong and Jane Ooi, both in their 30s, also brought their six-year-old twin sons to enjoy the train ride to a friend's birthday party on Penang Hill.
This is their second time on the train. They were very excited and said that the ride was faster than the previous tram,” Ooi said.

From May 1, the return fare for Malaysians will be RM8 for adults (below 55 years) and RM4 for children (aged three to 12).
Senior citizens (aged 55 and above) and Malaysian students will enjoy a reduced rate of RM4.
For foreigners, the return fare is RM30 (for adults) and RM15 (for children aged three to 12).
The revamped train service runs from 6.30am to 9.30pm daily.
The service was suspended since Feb 22 last year for the RM73mil upgrading project by the Tourism Ministry.
Penang Hill Corporation marketing and promotion division senior assistant manager Anne Goh said 1,500 people rode on the train from 6.30am till 4pm"

Now then, I've just got to highlight a couple of points that to me are a bit symptomatic of why the tourism industry in Malaysia is not as good as it could be...

1. Foreigners pay more than locals.-in this case,nearly 4 times as much!
This also happens at the KL Tower and all the National Parks...
Can you imagine a tourist attraction in the UK or USA charging tourists 4 times more than the locals...they'd never get away with it!
and....
2.They don't really get it do they...read the quote "the train was going too fast to take pictures"
A lot of fuss was made last year when the old,charming,creaky and dilapidated hill railway was replaced with a shiny and new train that would get people to the top of the hill faster than before.
The whole point of the slow train ride was that you enjoyed the view on the way...now it just whizzes by.

UPDATE 10/6/11...and the "new and improved" service has broken-down 3 times in the last 5 weeks.....

Are They Sure.....

2011-04-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

Malaysian advertising companies can be a bit too creative at times,whilst at other times they completely miss the mark.

As for this example,I'll let you decide...
But I never thought that I would see the words 'naughty" and "Volvo" in the same sentence....

OK-It now seems that I was wrong.
This is a global campaign,not just in Malaysia
so whatever advertising company came-up with the slogan needs to do a bit more "creative brainstorming"

TwinTowers @Live 2011

2011-04-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

I didn't really get this.....
A free concert held at the front of the Twin Towers in conjunction with the F1 weekend.
A real mish-mash of bands.

No Beer.
Nothing to do with the actual F1.
A lack of atmosphere-for me at least.
and...No Beer (yes,it's worth repeating)
But then again,I'm definitely not the ideal demographic/target audience.
So, I'm sure that some people really got into it.
The crowd seemed to be either young/teenagers or mums and dads with their kids plus the occasional "lost" tourist.
I don't think that many in the crowd would be attending the actual race,it was more designed to give young people something to see and to keep them out of the bars and clubs.
It started at 6pm....but the first band didn't come on until 9pm.
So there was 3 hours of inane chatter by host DJ's....I honestly can't abide it when told 'Make Some Noise" by some idiot DJ...I mean,it's so much of a cliche isn't it?
Perhaps it was that that put me in a bad mood...
First band was a girl wearing a Tudong singing "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse....Oh! the Irony!
Then there were then a few local metal/rock bands that I think I've seen before and are actually rather good and quite refreshing.
But by then I'd had enough.
Headlining on the night I was there were either Wonder Girls or Hoobastank.
The last band would have come on at around midnight....far too long a wait as far as I was concerned.
Main act on the second night will be a version of Earth Wind and Fire but you will have to put-up with Colby Adonis (whoever they are) and a host of local bands (who will all probably be OK) before you hear Boogie Wonderland....

Tired of Traffic Jams in Kuala Lumpur?

2011-04-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

If ever you've sat in one of KL's horrendous traffic jams,especially on a Thursday or Friday when it's usually very hot and is always quicker to walk to your destination you may find yourself wanting one of these new MPV's....

I think they would be particularly useful when one of those motor-cades of VIP's or Tin-Pot Dictators snarl-up the traffic even more....

....if you don't want an MPV they also do a sports version.....

T-Bowl Restaurant 3rd Floor Sungei Wang Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-03-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

I swear that this is true!
A new type of concept restaurant has opened on the third floor of Sungei Wang Shopping Mall.
The theme is crap.

Literally.
And that's the only joke I'm going to make about a restaurant where diners are seated on toilets.
The entire decor consists of toilet bowls,urinals and squat-toilets.
Some of the food is even designed to look like excrement (use your imagination) whilst other dishes are served in miniature toilet bowls.
I was quite taken aback when I stumbled upon this place,situated on the 3rd floor at the back near the Roller-Rink it is amongst a small collection of restaurants in a newly opened sort-of mini food-court.
I can't tell you much more about t-bowl as almost all the signage is in Chinese.
I've not eaten there but the few times I've walked past it's fairly busy and seems quite popular with teenagers and children with a scatological fixation (as Freud would put it)
I've no idea on menu or prices and their website was no real help either,so if you decide to go and try it please let me know.
I just think it's bizarre.

St.Patrick's Day Street Party Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-03-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

You have to hand it to the guys at Guinness-they certainly know how to organise a street party!

In honour of St.Patrick's Day-when the whole world turns Irish (except maybe Saudi and Kuwait),Guinness threw what is probably the most successful street party we've had on Changkat Bukit Bintang for quite a while now.
It makes such a difference when the street is closed for traffic and it's really great to wander up-and-down the street to check-out the various establishments.
A Great Party Atmosphere!
There were temporary beer dispensers outside most pubs and table and chairs arranged in the street so that the bars did not get overwhelmed....but boy,did it get hot and airless on the street later on!
Indeed the street was overflowing with people whilst the inside of some bars were almost empty..
Changkat Bukit Bintang was packed! I mean,where did everyone come from?
At 7.30pm just about the entire street was bustling with activity....
By 10pm if you fell-over you'd probably remain upright!
Face painters,Balloon folders,Stilt-Walkers and Juglers and the compulsory "over-the-top" sound system PA with-a-girl-with-the-most-annoyingly-over-amplified-voice-ever were trying to entertain the crowd who were really only intent on one thing-Drinking!
OK two things...Drinking and then More Drinking!
It was
Chaotic,
Loud
and
Hot.
and
Gave a feeling that it might suddenly collapse and descend into real anarchy....

Everything a party should be!
I couldn't work out if it was free Guinness that was being given away in plastic cups or somehow you had to pay for it...I was told the bars were selling a (plastic) glass for RM 10 for "street use" whilst inside it was "buy-one-get-one-free"
I don't like Guinness ( a result of excessive over-indulgence visiting their brewery in Dublin many years ago)
so I stuck with the Tiger Draft as ,sadly Tiger Crystal is no longer available....
But,what a great party!
Now...if only this street was closed to traffic every weekend.....

Now,This Is Going To Get Confusing!

2011-03-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

Petronas Mercedes

Malaysia has been hosting an F1 event for something like 13 years now and if you're an F1 fan you're probably used to seeing Petronas sponsorship.
But this season there are Malaysian interests sponsoring 6 cars... 25% of the Grid!

A Lotus

We have the Petronas sponsored Mercedes
Then the Air Asia sponsored Lotus with a Renault/Red Bull engine
and
Lotus-Proton sponsored Renault with Lada written on the side...

And Another Lotus!

I think.....
This is not bad for a country with no real racing pedigree and it must cost them a fortune.
Anyway,lets hope that they all qualify and deliver some exciting racing this season

Ceylon Bar Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2011-03-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Ceylon Bar on Changkat Bukit Bintang has been around for years and has built-up a loyal following of locals and expats alike plus there are usually a few backpackers as Pondok Lodge is situated right on top of the bar.
Although it's been open for years for some reason it's a place that I rarely visit and on my last visit there for a Roast Dinner and to watch F1 I noticed how shabby and run-down the place was looking in the harsh,unforgiving daylight.
Having said that-I guess no bar looks good in daylight but I was interested to learn that Ceylon Bar has just had a refurbishment so it was worth another look.
Yeah,it looks alright although the guy next to me said it reminded him of drinking in his living room-and we couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not....
The bar has been extended outwards which creates a slightly smaller drinking area but it's been made smoother by removing the little wall tables and replacing them with couches along the wall which is great as it creates opportunities for easy conversation with fellow drinkers.
The decor is black and cream that has a slightly Mediterranean feel, tasteful rather than rustic.
All the furniture has been replaced.
A lot of people like to hang-out on the terrace but I find the chairs there a bit too uncomfortable whilst the upstairs area at the back is a bit too impersonal-and remote.
The bar is a nice place to hang-out but you've gotta get there fairly early to get some bar space.
What hasn't changed is the friendly service and warm welcome you get here.
I probably go to Ceylon Bar less than once a year but I'm always met with good,friendly service.
The food is pretty damn good too-and the snack menu is probably one of the most extensive menus around with prices ranging from RM 11 to RM 30 you'll have no problem finding something you like.
A mug of Tiger will set you back RM 12.60 after taxes...cheaper than Finegans or Healy Macs but not quite as good value as Gypsy.
Ceylon Bar's success(and it's always pretty busy) is,I think down to the management and staff making that little bit more effort than their competitors do...and Good luck to them!

Kasturi Walk Central Market Kuala Lumpur

2011-03-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

Kasturi Walk is the much-hyped new tourist-friendly development in KL
running alongside Central Market.
It opened with lots of fireworks and publicity a few weeks back.

And guess what?
It's no big deal at all.
Just an extension of Central Market so you can buy more tourist bric-a-brac.
In the publicity blurb it goes something like .." enjoy an al-fresco shopping and eating experience"
In reality it's a row of little kiosks offering snack- food and the usual tourist junk.
I saw T Shirts priced at RM 29 which I'm pretty sure you can pick-up in Sungai Wang for RM 10.
OK,so I have to admit that the pavement ,which they call a "walkway" is better than before because it's level and clean and if the stalls are all owned by local entrepreneurs then good luck to them.
Kasturi Walk even has 24hr security guards who will not let you walk down before the stalls are open.
But come on,RM 8 million for this?

Is Penang really the 8th Best Island in the World?

2011-02-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

If you read this review here! Yahoo Travel Guide has selected Penang as the 8th Best Island In The World to Visit....placing it in the same top 10 as Bali and Bora Bora....
Come on! Seriously?
Now,far be it for me to suggest the reviewer was paid to say it...but to me Penang is really over-rated.
Here's a few reasons why...
1.It's dirty.
2.It's overcrowded.
3.It's overdeveloped.
4.Very little is done to preserve the remaining old buildings. Despite all the "hoo-ha" over being given UNESCO status they still managed to screw-up-an example being replacing the Penang Hill funicular railway.)
5.Batu Ferringhi Beach is full of touts giving non-stop hassle,litter everywhere,polluted water.
6.The strip of restaurants at Batu Ferringhi is quantity over quality.
7. It's a bit pricey...and not very friendly.
I could go on but I'm sure you get my point.
I may be a bit biased as my last few trips there just involve the Industrial Park at Bayan Lepas.

So for balance, a few good points about Penang are:
1.You get some nice views of greenery and beach.
2.Georgetown is very nice to wander around for a few hours.
3 The food is OK-but so what?
4.It's not KL-so it's nice to visit once in a while.
5.If you think of any more let me know...

My wife fondly remembers cycling around Penang as a child-try doing that now and you won't survive the first road junction!
Many people from Penang now work in KL and they will all say the same thing...that Penang is overdeveloped,overpriced and dirty.
It was probably a brilliant island to go to 25-30 years ago but in my opinion the rampant development over the past 2 decades has destroyed any charm that "The Pearl of the Orient" used to have.

Late Night Nan Bread @ SK Corner

2011-02-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

A few years back it was almost compulsory to have a late night supper of nan bread after a heavy night to try and mop-up the excess alcohol in your system....
Venue of choice was the 24hr coffee shop now sadly replaced by the 7-Eleven at the corner of Changkat Bukit Bintang and Tengkat Tong Shin....oh Happy Days!
These days after a night of partying on Changkat Bukit Bintang if you want a nan supper and can't be bothered to walk very far you will probably head to SK Corner a bit further down Tengkat Tong Shin.
When it first opened it was quite good but sad to say it's gone downhill recently.
And it's never as busy as it used to be...so I'm not the only one who thinks so......
Like so many food places these days they are either increasing prices or cutting-back on quality/quantity
I don't think they can make their nans any smaller so they have cut back on the dips/sauces that you get with your nan.
I used to like the dhall curry dip as there would be a surprise chunk of potato and the chick peas would be quite wholesome and at about RM 2 it was a good value supper (RM 3.50 if you added a 100 plus into the mix).....
Alas no more...
I was served a thin watery tasteless gravy that had no flavour whatsoever.and the nan bread wasn't even cooked properly..quite disappointing and not worth going there again...
The Maggi-Mee Goring was also dreadful....
Something so simple...and they've screwed it up!
If you want a nan supper try either along Jalan Nagasari heading towards the Istana Hotel or the Indian restaurant underneath Cruz Club on Jalan Sultan Ismail....or even the recently opened (but rather uninviting looking) new place up the steep bit of hill on Changkat Bukit Bintang heading towards Bukit Bintang near Jalan Alor....If you find any others please let me know....

Best Not To Ask.....

2011-02-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

If you're sensible enough to ask "What's in the other 10%?", you're probably not crazy enough to actually eat it!......

Starduck @ Lot 10 Food Court Bukit Bintang

2011-02-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

I mentioned here that you can find the Best Hokkien Mee in the World at Lot 10 Hutong Food Court.
I would have to say that this is without doubt the best food court in KL and the thought of eating some Hokkien Mee to help cure a hangover is rather comforting.
Incidentally,the German Restaurant mentioned here! in the same foodcourt has gone off-the-boil a bit...they've cut down on portion size but maintained the price.I now avoid it.
Anyway...back to the point... On days when you're feeling fine you may need something less oily and lardy than Hokkien Mee

Fear Not.
Have a look at Starduck-Duckling,it's opposite the Sun Moulin Bakery and usually has a queue-always a sign of good food.
Here they specialise in Roast Pork and ,as the name suggests,Roast Duck.
The Roast Pork is gorgeous!
It's a little pricey (about RM 12 for a dish) compared to other stalls but it's worth it as it's unlikely you will ever find anything better in the heart of KL...and even in the suburbs food stalls like this are fast-disappearing.
So,what do you get for your RM 12?
A big glutinous ball of clotted noodles,a "nod" towards vegetables with an unidentifiable green-thing and some mouth-wateringly good slices of roast pork.

And the "secret sauce" which I think is sweet soy sauce.
The trick is to "untie" the noodles by continuously tossing and separating them with your chosen utensils (fork and spoon or the twig technology of chopsticks) and mix them in with the soy sauce underneath them.
Once the noodles have changed colour from white to brownish...you're ready to eat.
You'll be surprised how good it tastes.
Unbelievable!
And yet it's so sweet and simple...~~a bit like my wife!...~~

Happy Chinese New Year!

2011-01-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

According to most Chinese astrologers The Year of the Rabbit is going to be peaceful and prosperous for all of us. This is in direct contradiction to most world economists who are all talking doom-and-gloom and strife.
So,lets hope the astrologers and 1.3 Billion Chinese are correct.

As usual the Shopping Malls in KL are full of CNY decorations-and as usual Pavilion is the most over-the-top and combines classy with tacky.....combining plastic rabbits (or are they fat rats?) with some interesting Lion Heads and Drums.
The lanterns also add a nice touch.
All the other malls use the same theme of a slightly comical looking plastic rabbit and a host of red lanterns.
Mid Valley also has a "Chinese Village" with all sorts of handicrafts on display and even DBKL (City Hall) has taken the opportunity to string-up some red lanterns along Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor.
Although they do look a bit half-hearted.
Most Shopping Malls are playing slightly likable but at the same time slightly annoying Chinese New Year music...there only seem to be two songs...one slow one and one slightly faster.
And the Lion Dances have already started.

And yet..and yet...somehow it all seems to lack a bit of atmosphere and seems a bit "flat"-and that's according to my Chinese friends.
Maybe we've had one holiday too many...or they're just too close to each other....Christmas rapidly followed by New Year and then Thaipusum. And there is a holiday in KL for Federal Territory Day next Tuesday and then we get a 15 day Chinese New Year (admittedly only Chinese New Year Eve and Days 1,2 and 15 are really celebrated) but we may be suffering from "Holiday Fatigue" ....
Still,better make the most of it as after Feb 15th the next Public Holiday is 1st May.... So Gong Xi Fat Chai,as they say!

Quiz Nights and Price Increases along Changkat Bukit Bintang

2011-01-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

I mentioned here about the Quiz Night held in Healy Mac's on a Monday night...well,it seems to be growing in popularity as last week there were about 20 teams...that's about 100 people so you can imagine it was pretty busy...and a little claustrophobic.
And there are some very clever buggers/walking encyclopedias taking part.
I also mentioned that Healy Macs offered some fairly good promotions on their beer....well,this all seems to have stopped.
This might be something to do with the time of year but it just might be a little un-sporting.
A mug of Tiger is unchanged at RM13.50. but there is no longer any "buy one get one free pint promotion"....and worse of all,they have re-introduced that dreadful "Happy-Hour" concept...so order your beer before 10pm.
A pint is RM 21...RM 24.50 with all the taxes.
I have no idea how much it is after Happy Hour as I refuse to pay it,just out of principle.
(Yikes! someone just told me it was RM 16 for a mug after 10pm!)
A bucket of Tiger Crystal is RM70 all night,which works out to RM14 per bottle.
It's still a great night-out....but I'm a little upset over the pricing.
And,just to prove that "anything you can do I can do better" Gypsy Bar now also hold a quiz night (Wednesdays) but sadly increased their prices on Dec 31st.last year.
I thought that this was just a "one-off" to capitalize on New Year's Eve but it's here to stay.
A mug of Tiger is now RM11 whilst a bucket of Crystal in now RM65 for 5 bottles. (RM13 each)
If you go to Beach Club you can still get a bucket of 6 Carlsberg for RM69 for 6 (RM11.50 each) as long as you order before 9pm.
Now all this may make me sound a little stingy,well I guess I am and I know that just about everything else is going up in price as well.
But I want Value for Money.
I don't think that the cost from the Brewery to the Bar has increased...so they are just profiteering.
Anyway,I still like both Bars and if I really wanted cheap(er) beer I could buy it at a supermarket and sit at home drinking it.
But where's the fun in that?
I believe that Ceylon Bar now offers the best deal along the street with a Tiger at just over RM10.
but as they're going to be refurbished soon...maybe their prices will change.
Incidentally,there are a few places on Tengkat Tong Shin that seem less expensive but are totally devoid of atmosphere.
The massage place/Bali Restaurant is offering 3 jugs at RM100..which probably works out to RM8 per glass but unless you become your own entertainment you'll be bored as there is nothing to look at.
A bucket of 4 goes for RM 38.
Anyway,back to the Quiz night at Gypsy.It was a little less serious and a bit more light-hearted than Healy Macs,maybe because it was the first one...and it's a good opportunity to try and win some free beer/cash.
I've been told that The Social has a quiz night on Tuesday's...and maybe Finnegan's does something as well.
So,If you've got the brain cells(and you're willing to sacrifice them)...Monday at Healy Macs,Tuesday at Social and Wednesday at Gypsy...oh and maybe even Spritz on a Thursday night.

Little India...aka Brickfields.

2011-01-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Little India used to be an area of KL just off Jalan TAR,along Jalan Masjid India,an area crammed with shops selling Saris and loads of Vegetarian Restaurants...I say "used" to be as sometime late last year it was decided to re-name and re-brand Brickfields as "Little India"

All of this was a cynical political move and culminated in a visit by the President of India to officially open the area.
So,what used to be Brickfields to everyone has undergone somewhat of a "wash-and-brush-up."
At least on the surface...but dig down a bit and move into the side streets and you can still find the original flavour of the place (illegal bottle shops,worn-out hookers and The Best Fried Kway Teow in town)
I like Brickfields...it has a more relaxed suburban feel than the city centre...and one of the really good things is that you can find Mosques,Churches,Assrams and Chinese Temples all within very close proximity to each other-and everyone seems to get along just fine in that laid-back "live and let live" kind of way.
Opposite the huge construction site of KL Sentral,Jalan Tun Sambanthan,the main drag is now a one-way street with crazy paving and wiggly lampposts.
There is an archway at one end saying "Salamat Datang Ke Little India" and a totally over-the-top fountain complete with elephant motifs....a column of arches leads into the distance and lotus blooms mosaics are embedded into the road.

And it looks kinda nice... I believe at night that the fountain is illuminated with a light display.
And there's more to come...more arches and stuff and a food stall/hawker centre...the only sad thing is that what used to be a playing field is now covered in concrete and full of market stalls but other than that it looks allright and sort-of works.
You can now get a free walking tour of the area every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month starting at the YMCA and taking about 2.5 hrs.

Day Trip to Bukit Apek, Cheras

2011-01-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

Another trip to get out of town away from the concrete jungle and into the real thing.

Bukit Apek is a small but steep hill in Forrest Reserve land on the outskirts of Cheras.
It's only about 15km from KL City Centre but is a whole world away in terms of the environment.
But you have to really* want* to go there as it's quite difficult to find.
Head out of KL towards Cheras on the Grand Saga Expressway and look for the signs for Taman Cuepecs/Taman Awana.It can take a while driving around as some of the roads are so new that they are not yet on the map.
If you can find the big Econsave building and a Shell Petrol Station you're on the right track....now try and find Jalan Awana 23.
The trail itself starts at the end of the residential housing and is marked by a water treatment pond.
There is a lot of new development going on here and the hill is being slowly eaten away to be replaced by suburban housing and the noise from the construction can be heard for the first hour or so of hiking.
The start of the trail is very steep and came as a bit of a shock as I was soon panting and out of breath however after a while it evens out a bit and there are even a few downhill stretches.
But I was still panting and out-of-breath.
It's a steep and strenuous hike-and slippery in places.
Bukit Apek is also known as "Old Man's Hill" and yes,there were lots of older people out for a vigorous walk (some just barefoot) and they all seem a hell of a lot fitter than me....
I believe there is a local volunteers group who have taken on the task of looking after the trail-and they've done a good job.

The paths are clearly marked,there are a few litter bins in strategic places and they have strung-up some ropes to help you navigate the extra steep and slippery bits.
The trail begins by passing through an untidy rubber-tree plantation and the smell of the dripping latex somehow reminded me of primary school art class.
It then descends to a small stream/play area before climbing again towards a Chinese Shrine/Alter that comes complete with psychotic monkeys.
Then it just gets steeper and steeper.
It's hard work.
The trail is divided into 6 stages.
Overhead you're covered by tree branches and leaves so there is little direct sunlight.
Between stage 4 and 5 the path divides with one trail heading towards the summit whilst another heads to a waterfall.
As we were a little bored with the scenery we chose to go the the waterfall.
It begins with a nice level path passing through what looks like an old abandoned oil-palm plantation and then rapidly becomes a very,very steep and rutted trial where you will thank the guys who put the ropes here as without them you would be well and truly struggling.
If you need to hold onto the tree branches for support-take care as some are thorny palm stems that would ruin your day.... and your hands!
There are some truly magnificent tall trees here.
The waterfall itself is OK,a cascade of about 30 feet in total and the water is clear and cold but....no surprises...the amount of litter strewn around the place is truly disgusting...and this is despite the litter bins and signs reminding you not to litter.
I bet the volunteers are tearing their hair out trying to keep this place clean and tidy.
People have erected a tarpaulin cover and placed a few chairs and stuff and it looks like an abandoned refugee camp.
It was quite disappointing.
Needless to say the hike back was truly taxing and draining,going downhill is harder on the legs than going uphill but it was with relief that we got back to the car.

It's a very popular trail and all the fellow walkers we met were very friendly.
Great for a work-out and for some fresh air but not so great for scenery.
All-in-all it took us about 5 hours to get there and back.
You'll need about 2 litres of water-and maybe a hiking stick
And you wont get any near-death experiences like you will on Bukit Tabur....which you can read here

A Bridge to Nowhere.....

2011-01-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

I came across this the other day and thought it so bizarre that I had to write about it.
The road junction of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Chulan,at Wisma Cosway is one of the busiest in town.

About 9 months ago it was decided to slightly alter the one-way system with the result that one of the traffic islands was made redundant.
So,there was this big triangle of land that no one knew what to do with.
"I know!" said some guy in the local council..."Let's build a bridge!"
I can imagine other people looking at him thinking WTF?....and then a bit later on saying "What a brilliant idea...you've earned your promotion!"
"But there is absolutely no need for it" a lone voice of dissent is heard to cry.
"Why don't we concentrate on fixing the uneven pavements around town or even try to unblock the drains"
"You're fired for lack of imagination" says his boss...."Besides,we need to give that grumpy old blogger something to complain about!"

The Red Victorian Bar/Bistro

2010-12-24T19:54:00.000-08:00

Situated just around the corner from Havana on Changkat Butik Bintang,opposite the Chinese Temple,The Red Victorian has been open for a couple of weeks now.
It's a Bar/Bistro with a rustic/simple feel to it.
It's always good to see new places opening-and even if I don't like them,I always wish them well.
The Red Victorian (yes,it is painted red) is going to need to do something a bit special in order to attract a good crowd and I'm not really sure what that will be.
The only draft beer they sell is that disgusting Starker/Jaz. I don't think I need tell you how bad that is.
Bottled Beers are available at around RM15.
The food menu is nothing to shout about and is a bit "so what"..It's also fairly limited in choice.
There is the compulsory Pasta section that every restaurant in KL seems to offer and then one beef dish.a chicken and a fish etc etc...
It's like they're offering something of everything but don't really have an identity or uniqueness.
I think they're trying to recreate a relaxed,casual atmosphere.The furniture is functional but the outside seats are those horrid Starbucks style steel chairs that cut-off blood circulation to your legs.
And because there is so much competition on the street they will have to do something a bit special to get bums-on-seats.
At the moment it looks like only the owners friends go there...maybe that will change over time.
As I said,I wish them well but I don't see a reason to spend any money here yet.

UPDATE 20/3/11
The Red Victorian is now under new management.
The people at Gypsy Bar have now assumed the managerial role at the Red Victorian.
Gone is that disgusting Starker Beer to be replaced with a mug of Tiger at RM 10 net-probably the best value for money around Chankgat Bukit Bintang at the moment.
There have been changes to the menu, it's still fairly limited but has a few interesting items (Spanish Sausage and stuff like that).
When I dropped-by it was still fairly quite but seemed to be picking-up a little.
Knowing how successful Gypsy Bar has become,compared to what was there before (Hemingways) then maybe in a few months Red Victorian will be full!
Anyway, Good Luck to them!

Xmas Lights at Pavilion Shopping Mall (part II)

2010-12-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

I had to go back to Pavilion at night to see what the Xmas lights looked like....not as impressive or tacky as I thought they would be....But...
What has happened to Bukit Bintang?
I've always thought it was a bit tacky at night with all the foot-massage places,pimps and taxi-drivers touting for business as I've mentioned before but take a walk between Pavilion and Lot 10 on the side of the street with all the Middle Eastern restaurants and you'd be amazed at how grubby,tasteless and depressing it has become...there's a row of of Middle Eastern beggars with their children and a few touts selling fake and/or stolen watches.handphones and toys...it's like a mini-thieves market.
Now,as all this happens on Kuala Lumpur's main shopping street right next to the Millennium Hotel I can only assume that the authorities are aware of it and let it carry-on to provide a service to tourists,as they think that it's what tourists want to see....

You get that real third-world experience on Bukit Bintang of finding High-end expensive fashion like Gucci and Hermes shops right next to a guy sitting on the pavement selling fake watches.

Nyonya Curry Laksa @ Precious Restaurant,Central Market Kuala Lumpur

2010-12-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

I have generally avoided noodle-soup type dishes in the past,not because I don't like them but because I can't eat the bloody things as my chopstick skills are not sufficiently developed to grasp the slippery noodles.

I end up wearing more food than I've eaten and get really sulky and ratty!
However,on a recent visit to the tacky Central Market I stumbled across Precious Nyonya Restaurant,on the first floor at the front of the building and for a change I ordered a bowl of Nonya Curry Laksa.
It was gorgeous!
And I ditched the twig-technology of chopsticks and used a fairly modern invention of a fork and spoon and was able to eat the dish and not wear it.
The restaurant was a real discovery for me...There are very,very few places in town where you can get good Malay or Nyonya food ( a sort of hybrid Malay/Chinese cuisine) and to find this restaurant right in the heart of the tourist belt was surprising in that a) The food was great and b) It was patronised by many locals,so you knew it was not just serving bland crappy food to tourists who don't know any better.
The decor was interesting with old antique furniture,the service was average,the prices were OK but the food....yeah! the food was great!

A good friend of mine used to rave about Curry Laksa in Singapore and I never tried it because I knew I couldn't master the skills to eat it....so it's taken me 10 years to try it....what a waste...Nyonya Curry Laksa is a bowl of coconut flavoured curry soup with noodles,bean sprouts,tofu, fish balls,prawns and a hard-boiled egg and a few green beans floating on top.
What makes it fantastic is the flavour and smell of the curry sauce.
I can't recommend this highly enough and I want another bowl...right now....
You can find many Laksa dishes in the foodcourts of most shopping malls....but it will not taste anywhere near as good as this.

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2010

2010-12-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

The last time KL held a Motor Show was about 5 years ago...I can remember being amazed by the way the public were allowed to get up close and personal to the cars on show and how many cars were covered in greasy,sticky finger-prints....and how many guys pretended to take a snap of a car but accidentally pan left and take a picture of the glamour-model posing next to the car instead.

So,five years later,what's changed is that most cars were displayed behind red-rope and you had to ask to sit in them...It was a little more sedate and well-behaved than previous and although the newspaper said that 28.000 people attended on the opening day,it didn't feel like it.

The show was mainly a vehicle(pun intended) for local companies and their international marques....there was no Alfa,Bentley,Bugatti,BMW,Citroen,Ford,Jaguar,Land Rover,Mercedes,Porsche,Renault,Volvo or even Volkswagen present...Indeed Volkswagen chose to launch their new cars at a street party on Changkat Bukit Bintang a month earlier rather than attend an International Motor Show.

What you got was Proton and their Lotus offshoots and Perodua,Hyundai,Kia,Honda and Toyota as well as Naza and their branded Peugeot's and their exotic brands of Maserati,Ferrari,Aston Martin and the only new Rolls Royce Silver Cloud in the country,a really ugly brute of a car by the way,as well as their bike-brands of Harley Davidson,Ducati,Apprila and Vespa(!)
Interesting to note that although there were some hot,cute and even elegant female models posing with the cars that Naza's exotic and expensive section had a a guy standing there,as if to say "We don't want to lower our brand by having girls drape themselves over it"
Admission was RM15 and it took about 90 minutes to slowly wander around the 4 exhibition halls.

It was a bit disappointing,I was expecting more marques but it was OK-ish
Of the 100 or so cars on display I would think that at least half of them were not real....they were design concepts or Work-in-Progress-not yet available,like the new Lotus Elite.
It would have been nice to see a few racing cars and some classic/vintage models.
If you want to drop-by,it's held at the PWTC
until 12th Dec.

Healy Macs Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2010-12-01T22:58:00.000-08:00

Healy Macs has been open for about a year and I must say that when it first opened I was fairly non-plussed about it....yet another Irish Bar in KL....It was all a bit predictable and delivered exactly what you would expect...

I'd drop by on a very infrequent basis,mainly to watch late-night F1 races (Canada and Brazil) or some very disappointing World Cup clashes (England v Germany;which surprisingly my German friend rather enjoyed-can't think why....)
However,I've got to say that after spending a very enjoyable Monday night there that I'm quite impressed with the place!
And not just because the quiz team I was with won 10 free beers-although that was a bonus!
I think that the secret to Healy Macs is that, pure-and-simple.. it's an honest-to-goodness Pub.
Not pretentious in any way. Not full of posers or wanna-be gangstas.
Just full of people enjoying the beer,the food and the atmosphere,or "craig" as it's called in Ireland.
The staff are friendly,well-trained and attentive without being pushy and you don't have to shout for service.
I still think that the beer is a bit pricey at RM 11.50 ++ for a mug of Tiger but at least it's now the same price all night.
They also have lots of deals and special offers going on, so look at all the blackboards before you order,for example 2 pints of Tiger at RM 25 or a bucket of 5 Tiger Crystal at RM 55 nett is pretty good.
Other nights it's "buy 2 get 1 free"...or some other promotion.
It always gets a good crowd and can get very lively indeed,the later it gets.
What I also like is that their website (click the title above to link) publishes all the prices-a nice touch.
Guinness drinkers say that they pour a perfect pint.
The food is pretty good as well,with big portions on offer.
Healy Macs has been so successful within it's first year that I was informed that they will be opening bars in:
Kertih,Penang,Malacca,JB,Sri Hartamas and Kota Kinabalu.
And Good Luck to 'em!
Now have to revise for next Monday's Quiz Nite.....

Can? or Cannot!

2010-11-23T00:39:00.000-08:00

I always find things like this quite amusing....

Xmas at Pavilion Shopping Mall, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2010-11-16T00:13:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy Christmas in Malaysia and bearing in mind that only about 20% of the population actually celebrate any religious connection to Xmas it's great that almost the entire population seem to join-in and get behind it and all the retail opportunities that occur.
The Xmas Decorations are something to behold!
Taking tackiness to a new level are the completely over-the-top Christmas decorations at the Pavilion Shopping Mall.
It looks like they've just pulled-out everything from their storage and just thrown it all together with a shovel.
Most Shopping Malls here try to stick with a theme such as Trees or Santa and to limit their choice of colours to just a couple.
Mid Valley usually does the best display,KLCC uses the same huge tree that I've seen every year for the last 8 years and Lot 10 usually has blue and white tastefully decorated trees and then go and spoil it by adding way too much other stuff....
Most Shopping Malls and shops at least try to keep their display a bit tasteful-even understated.

Not Pavilion.
All the themes and all of the colours.
In all of the sizes.
First up were the white wire Xmas trees.These are quite good in themselves and they light-up at night.
But rather than leave it there someone from Pavilion's management must have thought "Hey.we've still got loads of stuff from previous years,lets just throw it out and see what happens".
So,out comes the "life-like" reindeer and sleigh.
But it clashes with the wire sleigh so they decide to put it inside.
And then someone says "what about these really big balls? They don't go with anything but at least they're new"
"And they will be a talking-point."
So, into the display they go.
Then they add green and red trees to the centre console....
with gold gazebo like cages.
I'll have to take a walk there at night...to see what it looks like.

And,there's still 6 weeks to go before Christmas.
So they're bound to add even more tat.
It's so gloriously over-the-top that it takes tackiness to a new low....

UPDATE 8/12/10
I knew they couldn't leave it alone...they have now added some gold and red wire circles,which I think are supposed to be snowflakes to the top of the white wire xmas trees.....which is nice!

Tiger Tim's Pub, Tengkat Tong Shin, Kuala Lumpur

2010-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Not so much of a new bar but more of a relocation.
But still,it's good to see something open on Tengkat Tong Shin that isn't a Backpacker's Hostel, Foot-Massage Place or a bloody Convenience Store.
Tiger Tim's Pub is the new location for that hole-in-the-wall place "Uptown Bar" aka "Billie's Bar" that has been going for years on the less fashionable part of Changkat Bukit Bintang; close to Jalan Alor-next to the Dry Cleaners.
They've moved it lock,stock and barrel (even the tacky wagon-wheel bench) to just around the corner in Tengkat Tong Shin, between Carrefour and Mutiara Ville, if you're interested.
Which I'm not.
I never liked Uptown Bar...and Tiger Tim's looks the same dark,dingy,grubby and over-priced dump that it's predecessor was.
A mug of Tiger at Happy Hour until 9pm is RM12. and about RM15 thereafter.
And, there's nothing happy about that is there? as you can get it for RM10 just around the corner along Changkat Bukit Bintang.
I guess it's a place you'll either like or hate and some people hang-out in places like this to relax, shoot some pool and flirt with the grubby looking girls that occasionally drop-by.
Ah well, having said that, I guess for a change,it might be OK for a beer or two.....
It's certainly non pretentious and non-posy.
Apologies if you met your future wife in a place like this but I just can't see the attraction here.

Street Party, Changkat Bukit Bintang 30/10/10

2010-11-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

You see what people can do if they put their mind to it?
After the pathetic VW event at Elixir a few weeks back-those clever people at VW must have read my blog and arranged for the street to be closed to traffic so that they could have a "proper' launch of their overpriced cars.
We had international and local entertainment,fireworks and a great party-atmosphere all along Changkat Bukit Bintang and the later it got,the more people turned-up.
It was really good.
Firstly there was a local "Mat Rock" band-all loud guitars and drums,then a rather uninteresting rap act followed by Aussie girl pop-punk band "The Veronicas" who were surprisingly good,followed by warbler Leonna Lewis (nice girl,great voice but the songs all sound the same).
There were probably about 500 people watching the main event-and then it just got busier and busier.

And busier.
Now,it may be a bit embarrassing to say that the last live music I saw was Leonna Lewis but my point is that when Changkat Bukit Bintang is closed to traffic-everybody wins.
Customers can walk without fear of injury to one place and another whilst the Landlords and Owners enjoy the increased crowds and revenues.
I understand that DBKL aren't interested in closing the road (wonder why? maybe they don't want to see unemployed Parking Jockeys roaming the street) so maybe the Owners and Landlords should petition Tourism Malaysia.

It just needs a few floodlights in the car parks at the top of the street-the diversion streets already exist and have been tried and tested many times as, to my memory Changkat Bukit Bintang has been closed to traffic 4 or 5 times already.
So what if a few high-rollers have to actually walk to their venue of choice rather than just park outside?

Fake Cops On The Prowl....

2010-10-28T02:13:00.000-07:00

Taken from "The Star"....

Published: Thursday October 28, 2010 MYT 6:45:00 AM

Updated: Thursday October 28, 2010 MYT 11:00:25 AM

Kiwi tourists robbed by a couple of ‘cops’

TWO New Zealanders lost RM10,000 to a couple posing as police officers, reported Harian Metro.
The two victims in their early thirties were walking along Jalan Tong Shin in Kuala Lumpur around 5pm on Oct 26 when they were approached by the couple in a car.
According to a source, the suspects in their early 20s came out from the car and told the Kiwis that they were police officers and wanted to see their passports.
“The ‘police officers’ seized their passports and their wallets, got into the car and sped off,” said the source.
The victims made a police report at the Dang Wangi police station.

The exact same thing happened to a friend of mine at 3am on a Wednesday the week before when he was walking home...
He had the the presence of mind to ask for their ID and the "cops" got a bit more aggressive and threatening but he walked slowly on and manged to contact the real police who swooped-in with a vengeance (5 police cars in total) and nabbed the two impostors.
He said that the impostors were a bit thick,slow and stupid as they let him make a phone call-and let him keep walking.
The police had been alerted earlier as the impostors had also demanded a free massage from one of the foot-massage places along Tengkat Tong Shin.
The only downside was he then spent a few hours at a police station giving a statement-but he did the right thing.
He said that the real police were very polite and friendly.(which surprised him!) but rather unorganised and chaotic at the Police Station (which didn't)

I know that some people here think that a tourist/foreigner must carry their passport with them at all times (locals carry ID cards) but I have never read this in any official documentation and certainly new arrivals are not told this at the immigration desk.
My friend needed to take his passport to the police station as part of the procedure for making a statement but he didn't have it on him...and the real police weren't bothered-they just drove him home to get it.

Walking along Changkat Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur

2010-10-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

I had to laugh over this.
A perfect example of how *not* to hold a product launch/event.
I've written before about how clogged the pavement/sidewalk gets along this street;what with all the jockey-parking,cars parked on pavements,banners, plants and posters placed on the pavement and now,lots of places put tables and chairs outside as well.

These have proved to be very popular with everyone,except when you need to walk along the pavement because,well you can't.You have to walk in the street and hope that none of the cars,buses or coaches that constantly swarm up and down the street will hit you.
Bars that can't put tables and chairs on the pavement have resorted to putting up barriers outside their venue so that cars don't park on the pavement and in some cases these bars have added stools to the barriers to provide a little outdoor seating.Fish and Chip,Sutra and Baan 26 have done this.
Anyway...back to my point.
Volkswagen held a promo at Elixir last night.
Nothing wrong with that you might say.
And,indeed it made a change to listen to lots of different local amateur bands thrashing out their stuff instead of the usual boring and utterly predictable mind-numbing 80's retro music that most places in KL are in love with. How come there is no 90's retro? or 00's retro come to that.
And we all know that the 70's produced the best music.Ever.
So,outside Elixir were a couple of new VW Polo's (yours for only RM 108,888) and a succession of bands playing on the pavement.That's right,on the pavement. No stage.And you guessed it,you had to walk in the busy road to get past.
So where were the crowd?
Standing on the other side of the road in front of Healy Macs,Yoko's and Sutra.
With cars and buses and taxis going past in a constant stream blocking the view.

It just looked so bizarre,a band playing to the traffic.
The sooner they make Changkat Bukit Bintang a pedestrian only street and close it to traffic the better it will be for everyone.(except the car jockeys, lazy people and posers who can't walk a few yards to their chosen venue)

Day Trip to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

2010-10-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

I guess it's a pretty good way to use an old abandoned gravel pit.
Sunway Lagoon Theme park is one of Kuala Lumpur's most popular outdoor destinations.
In true local style,it's way over-the-top and far too big and over-developed.
It's also very tacky.
But,who cares?
It's packed on weekends and school holidays but if you go midweek you can have it virtually to yourself.
But don't go on a Tuesday because it will be shut.
Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is split into 5 different areas or "experiences"
1.Extreme.This means riding ATV's and rope rides such as flying foxes and a bit of Paintball. There used to be a go-kart track but I couldn't find it....
2.Amusement. This includes the usual roller-coasters and other spinning,rotating and falling devices designed to seperate you from your lunch.
3.Water.Lots of different water slides,a wave pool and a surfing machine.Great!
4.Wildlife. A petting zoo and a few pathetic sunbears,snakes and birds.
5.Scream. Horror rides incorporating the latest audio and imaging systems.

It's a hell of a lot to pack into one day.My suggestion would be to just go the waterpark as it's muh more fun than all the others but if you want to experience a bit more....
RM 80 will cover you for enterance and unlimited rides in any 3 of the above whilst RM 100 will cover all 5 areas.Locals only pay RM 75 for some reason.
You cannot bring your own food or drinks into the park and you have to buy the slightly overpriced and bland restaurant food or eat snacks from kiosks conveniently located all over the place.
I don't think they will search you too thoroughly as I did spot a group with a bottle of scotch.
Beer is available.
I think it's pretty expensive for a day trip-especially if you go as a family but as I said,it gets mobbed on weekends and if you're 14 years old it's a good places for members of the opposite sexes to ogle each other in swimsuits.
You'll probably have much more fun if you're with a couple of kids as it's a great excuse to be silly and act like one yourself.
If you don't have children of your own try and borrow some for the day (always ask first)
Sunway Lagoon is about 45 minutes by taxi from central KL.There seems to be about 5 different ways to get there and 25 ways to come back. The roads around here are so bloody confusing.

Trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

2010-10-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Sabah you should jump at the chance.
The last time I was in Kota kinabalu was nearly 20 years ago so when I was recently given a chance to go back I was quite excited at the thought.
Sabah is an outdoor/adventure holiday destination.
Most tourists spend a few nights in KK before heading into the interior for a spot of mountain climbing,trekking,rafting or they head to the coast for some scuba fun.
I couldn't do that as I only had a couple of days but even as a two-day break it's a good destination.
Although it's an expensive flight from KL to KK ,my ticket on MAS was RM1,600-Air Asia are about RM 800-1,000 it's well worth it for the 1,000 mile journey.
Kota Kinabalu town itself is pretty ugly,a bit smelly and lacks any sort of charm and yet for some reason, it's a very likeable place.

Although the days of colourfully dressed tribes- people wandering around town are long-gone it still has a frontier feel to it.
The town center is fairly compact, a bit run-down and grotty and easy to navigate but there are few real attractions.
Some parts of town are squatter slums and I've been told that you should keep your wits about you when wandering about.
There are quite a few street kids eager to find out what's in your pockets, these kids have been denied an education due to their somewhat shady legal status so begging and hustling is really their only opportunity.
The city is not very "wide" if you know what I mean;walk 4 or 5 blocks back from the coastal strip and you're starting to climb up into the hills.
This means that the city sprawls in a line along the coast.
For a small city there are a surprising and annoying number of new shopping malls popping-up everywhere but there doesn't seem to be enough shoppers to fill them.
I stayed at the Merridien,a rather large,impersonal and indifferent hotel on the waterfront-a room will set you back about RM300- RM500 but there are lots of cheaper options around town.
Daytime activities are limited to hanging about by the pool or having a walk up to Signal Hill past the clock-tower to get a view of the city.There is a museum and other attractions but you need a taxi to take you there.

There is a national park offshore,about a 45 minute speedboat ride where 3 islands are accessible for diving or snorkeling and they have some nice beaches.

Kota Kinabalu is noted for it's fine seafood and there are lots of eating venues to choose from.
At night there is a strip of bars and restaurants opposite the Meridien called,rather imaginatively "The

Waterfront" a sort-of mini version of Singapore's Boat Quay/Clarke Quay that seems to be the place to hang-out.It's pricey and full of tourists,with younger locals going out later hitting places like The Loft and Bed.
A bit more relaxed is a Bar callled Upperstar, next to The Hyatt where two big bottles of Carlsberg are sold for RM 18. Which is very good value for money.So good in fact that I had to go back again.and again.
A nice place to chill and watch the sunset....I'm just trying to work out why I like it.

Celsius Bar @Fahrenheit 88

2010-10-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Did you see what they did there?
The imaginatively named Celsius Bar has recently opened in the as yet unfinished Fahrenheit 88 shopping mall.
Located on Bukit Bintang,opposite Pavilion,it's a refurbishment of the old and decrepid Berjaya building.
They shouldn't really have bothered.
The mall has no anchor-tenant,no big names and is a hotch-potch of shops with no grouping or themes.
It's also at least half empty and freezing cold .
But...what might be good is the bar Celsius located at the back of the building.
There are so few bars on this street so Celsius is a welcome addition, whether it's any good only time will tell.
I'm not sure if it would ever become a destination in itself but if you're working or staying nearby it may be a welcome sight.
Or if you're a Chinese wanna-be gangster you may have a beer here before heading into Bintang Palace night club.

Celsius is currently having a promotion-selling 2 pints of Tiger at RM 26 and whilst this is not exactly "wow" factor it is pretty reasonable.
It looks fairly predictable in an almost tacky way and has yet to really take-off.
It also smells a bit of cement dust as there are still some building works going on in the vicinity.

Beer Promotion at Inner Circle Bar,Lot 10

2010-09-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Although it feels like you're drinking in front of a shop window (well, you are)
Inner Circle has a good value-for-money promotion on buckets of Tiger Crystal Beer.
Unfortunately,it's only on Monday's.
It's along the side of Lot 10 shopping mall,just underneath the footbridge to Sungai Wang.
So,if you don't mind sitting in front of Isetan's shop windows you can enjoy watching people eat at the newly opened Nasi Lemak stall opposite while you slowly sip your ice cold beer.

UPDATE 10/3/11
I walked past the other day...it's closed.
Always sorry to see bars close..but it was a crap location!

This Should Help....

2010-09-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Some people never learn.
One of the big problems facing Kuala Lumpur and the whole of Malaysia is the problem of litter.

People just drop rubbish everywhere.
If you take a walk along Bukit Bintang you will notice that there are litter-bins every few yards and yet ignorant idiots still just throw their rubbish anywhere.

Sure,the bins look horrible as people stub their cigarettes out on the tops and burn into the plastic but at least you can deposit your trash in them and walk away.
At least Bukit Bintank is swept and cleaned every day-take a walk along the side streets and it's even worse as pink plastic bags and foam food containers are strewn everywhere and block-up the drains.
So,to try and combat this menace the local council have spent a few hundred thousand Ringgit erecting signs telling people to keep the city clean.
The signs assume that only people who can read Bahasa Malay cause the problem.
So,all the old and ignorant Chinese and Indian guys who walk along the pavement spitting and throwing their cigarette butts on the ground can carry-on.
Tourists never drop any litter,do they?

All the young shop workers and foot-massage touts who "carefully" place their used lunch containers in the gutter can carry-on, for the sign doesn't mean them does it?
After all,they're in a rush and well,someone will come and clear-up the mess won't they?
Why deprive them of a job?
People here drop litter because either they know no better-or they do but they just don't bloody care!
Now,call me a cynic but putting-up signs telling people not to drop litter won't work as the idiots who drop the rubbish are too stupid,thick and ignorant to read the signs and act upon them.
There are a few litter-free places in Malaysia,places like Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru on the East Coast come to mind so it is possible to achieve and maintain a clean,litter free city but most people in KL just don't seem to care....

The Best Hokkien Mee Hoon Mee in Town at Heritage Food Court Lot 10

2010-09-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's quite sad that a lot of the Chinese-style coffee shops in my part of Kuala Lumpur are fast disappearing, to be turned into 7-Elevens, Showrooms or foot-massage places.Or stand empty as the greedy landlord awaits new and perhaps gullible tenants.
This is happening all over town as rents rise and the new generation of potential cooks don't want to run a food-stall (a lot of food stall operators are at least middle age/entering old aged and have made enough money to send their children overseas to study)
This creates a problem as it becomes more and more difficult to find favourite foods.....
I can't be the only person to think like this as those crafty capitalists who own Lot 10 Shopping Mall on Bukit Bintang have opened the "Heritage Food Court" in the basement.
What they seem to have done is rack their brains and try to remember where you can find the best types of Chinese food in KL.
They have then "persuaded" the stall owners to open/licence a branch in their basement.

Although where a German Restaurant fits into this is anyone's guess (I have written about this before under the title The Only Bacon Sandwich in KL?)
So, in The Heritage Food Court you can find all sorts of food stalls such as Imbi Road Pork Noodles, Teow Cheow Porridge,Mai Chai deserts-and my favourite Kim Lian Kee-who specialise in Hokkien Mee.
I prefer the Mee Hoon Mee which is a great dish consisting of fat,yellow noodles and thin vermicelli-style noodles fried in lard with a few prawns,bits of squid,pork and cabbage thrown in and all mixed in a rich,heavy black sauce.
It's probably quite unhealthy as it's fried in pig fat but boy does it taste good!
This particular food stall is located right in front of the escalator going down inside Lot 10.

You can't miss it and you can also hear the loud, rhythmic clash and banging of the woks as the chefs do their stuff and queue of people waiting for their order.
It's a bit pricey at RM 9.35 but well worth it.
And,yeah I know, you're eating in a bloody noisy and cold food court but there aren't many places in town that serve this great dish.
And,if you're lucky you may even get a few "crispy-bits" of fried lard!

Sungai Tua,Selangor State Park (Ulu Yam)

2010-09-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

All this hiking must be doing me good.
And,it is great to get out of the city every now and then.
Sungai Tua Park is about a half-hour drive out of KL heading towards and then behind Batu Caves.
It consists of a stretch of river,close to the road with various car-parks and access points along the road.
It's really nothing special but as I said, it makes a break from the concrete jungle of KL to see some proper greenery.
It's also a lot cooler,which goes to show that cities like KL are hotter because there are no trees.
Like most places worthy of a visit there is no public transport to get here so you will need to drive or charter a taxi.
The journey there is "interesting" as you get to learn how confusing and poorly sign-posted directions are in Malaysia.
Head towards Batu Caves and then follow the signs to Ulu Yam.
Go past Batu Dam and the multiple park enterances are on the right about 8km before you arrive in Ulu Yam.
The road is a pleasure to drive and the long,sweeping bends and ever-changing gradients make this a favourite for sports car drivers and superbikes.

Park at the top-most car park,No.3 and follow the very steep descent down the valley sides via concrete steps to reach a suspension bridge and once you cross there are a few picnic areas that allow easy access to the very cold water.
There are no impressive waterfalls but a series of cascades over boulders with waist-deep water.More for splashing about rather than actual swimming.
If you get bored here,jump in the car and drive down to the main park entrance where it's easier to access the river as there are no steep stairs to climb but still lots of small cascades.

The main park enterance is being "developed" which here can mean "ruined" by building a food-court and retail opportunities so it's probably best to head for Car Park 3 which remains relatively unspoiled.
The park is popular weekends and unfortunately many locations are strewn with litter which spoils the whole experience.
How wet you get is up to you.
Oh,and watch-out for leeches.

The Best Fried Kway Teow in Kuala Lumpur

2010-09-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

OK-quite a strong statement but I'm prepared to stand by it-The Best Fried Kway Teow in Kuala Lumpur and possibly the world can be found at Restoran Hing Ang on Jalan Thambipillay in Brickfields.
Now,you may know Brickfields as being very "Indian" and true,you can get some good curries,saris and blackmarket booze but there is also a small but thriving (and mainly aged) Chinese community.
Fried Kway Teow is a dish of fried rice cake strips with ingredients that include soy sauce,chili,belachan,prawns,cockles,beansprouts and Chinese sausage all fried in pork fat with crispy croutons of lard.
Heart Attack on a plate!
But it's gorgeous.
Originally a dish for Chinese labourers it can be found all over South East Asia but the "Penang Style" served at Hing Ang is the best.
You can feel your arteries clogging-up as you eat it so it's best to only eat once every couple of months or so to give your body time to remove all the fat and cholesteral.
Restoren Hing Ang is opposite the Chinese Temple on Jalan Thambipillay.

It's a typical local cheap restaurant with lots of stalls catering to different tastes that all share a common seating area.
Soft drinks are about RM 2 and a small bottle of beer about RM 8.
It looks crap from the outside-and the inside is not much better either.
If you sit near to the front it can get very hot from all the cooking but they have a back area that is a little cooler but a bit more stuffy.
To get there from central KL either drive towards KL Sentral on Jalan Tun Sambanthan,turn left when forced to by the ridiculous one-way traffic system begins at the Mobil station and park at the YMCA.Then walk across the road to the usually empty and big Old Town White Coffee, past the imaginatively named Hotel Mexico and keep going. The restaurant is on the left opposite the Chinese Temple.
If the new and baffling one-way system seems a bit too much of a challenge,take the monorail and alight at the KL Sentral stop,come down the escalator and Jalan Thampibillay is the street right behind you.

Penang style Fried Kway Teow is served as small,medium or large servings-and costs RM 4,5,or 6, although I don't think the cook can be bothered with small anymore.
Remember to ask for extra lard crispy-bits!

Update 13/5/2011
He's moved! again! you can now find him on the corner of Jalan Thambipillay,opposite Old Town White Coffee,underneath the Lido Hotel.
As it's a corner shop,it gets a bit more of a breeze so it's not as stuffy as before...but it's smaller and a lunchtime gets packed.
Nice atmosphere though.....

Lobby Restaurant & Lounge,One Residency,Jalan Negasari,Kuala Lumpur

2010-09-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

If you begin to tire of the mayhem that can be Changkat Bukit Bintang there are a few more relaxed places opening-up on the streets that run parallel.

Walk past Werners at the bottom of Changkat Bukit Bintang, go past Barkita on Jalan Berangan and just around the corner are Albion and Bar Italia,two restaurants/bars that have both been up and running for a while now and offer a more laid back environment.
I find them a bit too pricey.Others rave about the good food and nice ambiance.
On Jalan Negasari, the next street down you can find Palette-Palate restaurant and the jazz club No Black Tie, whilst opposite in the ridiculously named new office block cum condo "One Residency" there are a few places recently opened-with probably more to follow.
Delucca is yet another Italian Restaurant with a jazzy feel to it and has live music weekends whilst next to it is Lobby,a Thai (ish) restaurant cum bar.
All of the places I've mentioned above seem to appeal to exactly the same type of customer, one who is looking for a place that doesn't get too crowded,has good food and is more of a chill-out lounge type place.
Lobby has cheaper beer prices than Delucca (which is why I went there)
Draught Tiger is RM 9++
Sitting inside at the bar was tolerable and the staff were friendly, it wasn't busy at all and I think that the management want it that way,although perhaps they need a few more bums on seats to pay the rent.
I haven't sat "inside" for ages as I usually go for the outdoor areas wherever I go but it was a hot night and outside there were no fans...a big drawback.
So,sitting inside was chilly as the aircon was at full blast,the place was empty and reeked of stale cigarette smoke-not nice.
The flashing disco lights were rather annoying and distracting.
The menu is limited to 5 main dishes and from what I saw the food seemed to be very good, the Barrumandi with tempura vegetables and rice cakes was certainly tasty and cost around rm 35++ and a jug of Tiger was RM 36++, although I picked-up a leaflet saying it was on promotion at at RM 29++ so I'm a bit confused as to the pricing/promotional activity....
They have various lunch time and afternoon tea promotions-although at RM 19++ for an executive lunch,it's a bit expensive.
I believe it's run by the same people who have the excellent Baan 26 Thai restaurant on Changkat Bukit Bintang-so the food should be very good indeed.

I'm just not sure I'd bother to go back.
Delucca looked to be a bit more happening and has an inviting open front-concept but I've just got a bit tired of all the Italian restaurants in town.

Jellyfish Problem in Langkawi

2010-08-31T19:30:00.000-07:00

I came across this article in "The Star" 1/9/10
I've never really rated Langkawi as to me it symbolises just about everything wrong with Malaysian beach holidays and the poor planning and the abandoned developments make the place look ugly and most of the resorts are either miles from anywhere self-contained upmarket "let's charge whatever we can get away with now that they're here" type places-or "lets build an A-frame chalet,throw in some red or white plastic chairs and call it a resort" type place...The beaches are not great and the water quality is poor...
On the plus side,beer is duty-free and some people who go there fall in love with the place.

Last year there was a report in the foreign press that a Swedish tourist died after being stung by a box-jellyfish whilst skinny-dipping at night.
This was never reported by the local media as it might be "bad' for the image.
A few people commented on the story and didn't disagree with the author....and the local medics on the island were not surprised....
Now,I'm not saying that the current Jellyfish plague is caused by the same species but perhaps it highlights a bigger problem...
Anyway,the report is quoted in full below:

LANGKAWI: Improper dumping of sewage and the disappearance of turtles has caused an explosion in the jellyfish population which is threatening tourism here.

In the first 21 days of July alone, 185 cases of jellyfish attacks on tourists and residents including fishermen were recorded and this is becoming a cause of concern to the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada).
The authority is seeking Malaysia Nature Society’s help to reduce the number of jellyfish.
Lada’s economic affairs assistant officer Shajiddeen Shaari said the best way to curb the number of jellyfish would be to prevent marine pollution.
However, he said they faced problems in increasing the number of turtles, which feed on jellyfish, because of pollution along the beaches.
“Turtles mistake plastic bags for food as to they look like floating jellyfish to the turtles,” said Shajiddeen.
He said jellyfish are also reducing the fish population as they eat fish eggs.
Veteran nature guide Othman Ayeb said rising water temperatures due to pollution also contributed to the jellyfish boom.
He said that in the past, the jellyfish were usually found some 5km to 10km away from the shoreline.
“However, due to the improper management of sewage from resorts and hotels, the jellyfish started to breed along the shore,” he said.
Othman added that Pantai Cenang has the highest number of jellyfish because of the bad water quality.

“However, we have yet to ascertain the jellyfish species,” he said, adding that samples will be sent to Universiti Sains Malaysia for proper identification.

Hiking The Crystal Ridge/Bukit Tabur,Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur

2010-08-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Another amazing adventure just half an hour drive from KLCC.
The Crystal Ridge of Bukit Tabur is a massive quartz ridge that stretches for miles around the north west of Kuala Lumpur.You can't miss it as it's about a 1.000 feet high cliff-face.
Bukit Tabur is located about 20km from the city centre. There is no public transport to the starting point so you need your own transport or a friendly taxi driver who will not only take you there but collect you four hours later-so swap Handphone numbers! (and yes,there is reception at the summit)
Follow the main road to the Zoo and take the exit after to Taman Melawati
- next round-about 9 o'clock
- next round-about 12 o'clock
- at T-junction turn right and follow the road along the hill until you get to the Water treatment plant..

The trail starts just after a small concrete wall just before the gate to the water treatment plant and is a hard-uphill slog.
There are no facilities.
And no safety ropes or equipment of any kind...You're on your own and if you get into any difficulty only you and your hiking buddies can get you out of it.
The trail is marked quite well.

Once you make it up to the Ridge you can see the spectacular Klang Gates reservoir and have a good view of KL.
But make no mistake,it's hard going.
Probably the most demanding and exhausting thing I've done since climbing Mount Kinabalu years ago-and that was when it was much taller!
And
It's dangerous.
People have died on this ridge-so be aware and take care.
The rocks are sharp and unforgiving and would be treacherous when wet.
The climb itself involves some scrambling over sharp, jagged rocks at times at an 80 degree angle for 20 feet or so at a time.
There are also some areas where the trail is on a knife-edge with a vertical drop of about 500 feet straight down.
My biggest fear was falling off the damn thing,my second fear was falling down the damn thing and bouncing all the way to the bottom.Third fear was getting caught in a thunderstorm.
You may be able to tell I didn''t really enjoy it that much but that's probably more a reflection of my own lack of fitness-I was puffing and gasping after the first 5 minutes....
The hike took us about 4 hours in total, 2 hours up and 2 hours to get back down.
We halted just before the highest point which is marked by a red-flag in the trees.To go on from here involves descent and ascent of a couple of ropes on sheer vertical stretches of rock face and I didn't think I had the strength to continue.
Most accidents happen at these ropes when you're tired.
We went down the same way we came which is the safest way to go.
But-going down was even more taxing and exhausting than going up.
It's easier to stumble and miss your footholds.
Finally we made it down in one piece-but as I said,bloody hard work.

We went there during a week-day and we were the only ones there!
I hear that on weekends it can be a bit of a mad scramble and there will always be faster climbers behind you and slower climbers ahead of you so you may be constantly making-way for people or trying to pass them-and on a narrow ridge that can be disastrous.
The ridge is quite exposed so you'll be at the mercy of the elements.Take a hat, wear sturdy shoes pack some mosquito repellent and a whole lot of water.And a bit more.
Some food would also be a good idea-but try and get someone else to carry it as you don't want to be weighed down too much.
I would also recommend going with a couple of fit women who can offer encouragement and carry your backpack when you no longer can.
And,when you really need to stop and take a breather it's a good idea to pretend you're admiring the view instead of just catching your breath.

You know that sense of achievement you get when you reach a summit or attain a goal?
Well, I'm still waiting for mine.
I must have drank at least a litre of water but was so dehydrated that it took me a day to fully recover.
My pee was the same colour as a WAG's fake tan.
And my arms and legs were a bit sore for a couple of days.
So,was it worth it? Yeah probably....

Great Banana Leaf Indian Food at Nirwana Magic Restoren,Jalan Telawi 3 Bangsar,Kuala Lumpur

2010-08-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure where heaven is but there's a little bit of it hovering around Nirwana Magic Restoren on Jalan Telawi 3 in Bangsar.
Banana Leaf cuisine means that instead of a plate,you eat from a Banana Leaf-and it's without a doubt gorgeous and one of the best things you will ever eat.
It's mainly vegetarian but meat/fish dishes are available.
Perfect for a huge lunch-time blow-out,The Nirwana is always packed and you'll have to wait maybe 10 minutes for a table.
Sitting inside has the benefit of being a little cooler but it's a bit noisier whilst outside is pleasant but can get a bit too hot.
The waiter starts by serving you with 2 or 3 gigantic scoops of rice and then you're served some veggie dishes including a nice and crunchy deep-fried bitter gourd (that has thankfully lost it's bitterness) and some sweet-corn,melon,green bean mix and some chopped-up fruity things.
Add some chilli's, lime pickles and a poppadom and then pour either dhall,fish or chicken gravy on your rice.
Then,you may add other dishes depending on how hungry you are.
Personal favourites are the Potato Massalla,Fried Squid and Mutton Massalla.
If your eyes are bigger than your stomach you'll struggle to finish.
Price wise,add in a drink and all the above should cost no more than about RM 12.
Service is always pretty good.

There are other Banana Leaf restaurants in Kuala Lumpur but frankly this is the best.
It's situated along the same road that has "The Social" and is opposite the new wing of Bangsar Shopping Village.

As I said,perfect for a truly big feed.

Day Trip To Taman Rimba Ampang

2010-08-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me that if you head west from Kuala Lumpur within half-an-hour or so,you're almost in the middle-of-nowhere....surrounded by secondary jungle and clear rivers.

Taman Rimba Ampang is a small park at the end of Jalan Ampang heading away from the city.
and,OK so it's not really a 'day-trip' as you can get there in about half-an-hour but it's a pleasant enough place to go to for an hour or so-maybe even longer if you take a picnic and/or some kids along(always ask first)
The journey there takes you from the gleaming city-centre, flashy condos and embassies,past the Malls of Great Eastern,Ampang Point and into the suburban ugliness of Ampang Jaya,past the cement factory and quarry and then into the small,picturesque Kampung Lembah Jaya Utara where Jalan Ampang becomes Jalan Bukit Belacan and then you arrive at the archway to mark small park itself.
Just keep going straight on Jalan Ampang-and when the road ends,you're there.
The park itself consists of a tarmaced road following a small,clean river up to the water-treatment facility.
There are various spots along the way to stop and picnic,rest,enjoy the view or even cool your heels in the river.
There is a really pathetic looking kids playground that has seen better days and spoils it a bit.. but it's a pleasant walk of about 30 minutes up to the water-works.
Amazingly,for a park in Malaysia-it's clean.Virtually no litter and no nasi-lemak stalls with red-plastic chairs!
So it makes a refreshing change...although I don't know what it's like on a weekend or public holidays.
A great escape from construction noise and traffic,you can even get there by bus as Rapid KL use it as the end of the line,or if you were even more energetic-you could walk from Amapng Jaya LRT station.
You'll see lots of macaques, most of whom will not be scared of you and a few birds and butterflies fluttering about....quite pleasant.

Looking for Somewhere to go in Kuala Lumpur?

2010-08-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

I came across this story in "The Star" recently.....

"Lack of maintenance has resulted in more than half of the 19 automated toilets, each costing RM400,000, in Kuala Lumpur being damaged and one is not operational.

The toilets were launched in 2006 by then Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who also said that foreigners could tell about a country’s culture and civilisation from the condition of its public lavatories.
The Automatic Street Toilets (AST) are located at strategic points in the city that are mostly frequented by tourists.
Fully automated including the cleaning of the toilet bowls, it only costs RM1 to use the air-conditioned AST which comes in two cubicles per location.
Good maintenance needed: Each AST costs RM400,000 and is fully automated from the RM1 fee collection to the toilet bowl.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun highlighted the issue and said it was Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) responsibility to maintain these toilets.
“According to the status report of the AST we received from DBKL, four of the toilets are not operational while three have only one operational cubicle. Out of the 19, 12 have been damaged,” Lim said.
According to the report, the problems include leaking air-conditioning, damaged automatic door motors and lack of water supply since June 1.
Lim also claimed that the contract for the AST maintenance was not done via open tender which could have lessened inefficiency.
“We welcome high-tech toilets as a means to attract tourists but since the ASTs are not taken care of properly, it has most likely caused the opposite result,” Lim said.
Lim also highlighted the matter of Najib saying back in 2006 that there would be a total of 23 toilets in place by 2007.
“According to the AST status report there are only 19 toilets and one is being build at Pasarama Kota. What happened to the other three?” he said, adding that somebody has to take responsibility of the matter."

Fire at Reggae Bar Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2010-08-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

A fire broke out at Reggae Bar,Changkat Bukit Bintang early Saturday morning 7th August.
I understand that it started behind the bar due to an electrical wiring problem and spread rapidly,destroying the bar counter,most of the ceiling and the upstairs dining area.
No one was injured.
Rumours that they were playing Bob Marley's "Catch-a-Fire" are unfounded.
Seriously though,although the bar isn't one of my favourites,you gotta feel sorry for them and for the staff.
It is expected to re-open in about 2 weeks-so that probably means about a month.

Bakita Jalan Berangan Kuala Lumpur

2010-08-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what to make of this place...yet.

Located just behind Weners at the bottom of Changkat Bukit Bintang in what was La Terrace,

Bakita (very loosely translates to "Our Bar") opened just in time to get a bit of trade during the World Cup.

It's just around the corner from Albion and Bar Italia.

Bakita looks a bit industrial and sterile.

The courtyard seems like a nice place for a couple of chilled-out beers but the ever-present traffic and high walls mean that you can't really watch the world go by.

The inside bar seems to be OK but even in the early evening the music is a bit too loud for an old git like me when you're not quite in the mood for it-and it was 90's house music if I remember correctly.

Which sounds dreadful at 8.30pm when you're sober.

Upstairs is more of a cocktail-lounge/clubby type place.

It's the sort of place that when it's empty there seems absolutely no reason whatsoever to go in and later at night when it's (presumably) busier it's deafeningly loud music and expensive drinks.

Predictably they offer free selected drinks for anyone wearing a skirt on Thursdays.

Probably not my thing at all-but good luck to them-They sell Carlsberg and I may actually have one there one evening, but then again I don't like the small glasses that Carlsberg now comes in.

Two or three gulps and it's gone..and a Pint gets too warm,too soon.

Brussels Beer Cafe, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P.Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur

2010-07-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Brussels Beer Cafe, referred to as "Brussels Sprout" by some of my drinking buddies opened in Menara Hap Seng about 9 months ago. For those of you not familiar with the building, it's at the top end of Jalan P.Ramlee close to the KL Tower turn-off and the Weld Shopping Centre on Jalan Raja Chulan.

As the name suggests, it's definitely a cafe and not a bar.

Which, to me is a bit of a shame. The inside bar just looks a bit uninviting and sitting outside is great for eating but less so for drinking.

The water feature gurgles away trying to drown-out the sound of passing traffic but doesn't quite succeed.

It's a tried and tested formula as the owners have a branch in PJ and have just opened in Ampang-they seem a bit too "corporate" as they want to sell you hats and T Shirts bearing their logo...a bit like Air Asia...

However,whatever time I go past, it's invariably packed.

They get a good lunchtime crowd with an attractive(ish) lunch promotion and it seems that it's a good place for after-work beers as there are no real alternatives within this location except the ghastly Over Time bar at the Life Centre on Jalan Sultan Ismail.

But it's even busy on Saturday and Sunday evenings so they must be doing something right.

The menu includes the now-compulsory Pork Knuckle that you can get just about everywhere as well as Lamb Shank, Mussels, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches and Burgers, Meat Balls, Squid and stuff.

Beers include the pointless-unless-you're-driving Hoegaarden,the lethally strong Stella as well as Leffe and locally brewed Carlsberg.

I went there for lunch recently and there were two promotions going;

RM 15 for a Pannini sandwich and soft drink or RM 20 for something a bit more substantial with a soft drink and as much salad as you wanted.

This was a good thing as any sort of green veg is anathema to most Belgian/German food.

And the salad has bacon-bits and Chinese-style pork as selections so it's damn good in itself.

The Bratwurst was a little bland but was served with small serving of "stoemp"-I had no idea but apparently it's mashed potato with carrot in it. The onion gravy was a bit thin so I definitely needed another portion of salad to go with it.

The Beef Skewers with Rice were disappointing so it's probably best to stick to the Western Food here.

The Lamb looks like it's worth a try.

RM 20 isn't really cheap for lunch considering you can get a bowl of noodles for RM 5 but it's a nice change once-in-a-while.

They have a set dinner menu for RM 40,which seems a bit expensive as do most of their a la carte dishes.

Imported beer is always expensive-but they do some interesting Happy Hour deals so check-out the blackboard first.

Great Indian Food in Kuala Lumpur

2010-07-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

I've been going to this place for years....forgot to write about it...until now.

It doesn't really have an address but if you want to go there (and you should) then head to Somerset Condo at the top of Changkat Bukit Bintang...opposite the car park next to the motor-mechanic on Lorong Ceylon is a stall that serves probably the best home-cooked style Indian food in Kuala Lumpur.

I've met locals eating there who describe the food as "just like my mum makes"

If you don't want to eat in a Car Park,you can order it "to go" and it will taste just as good when you get it back to your home/office.

You will be served a mountain of rice and then you walk around the stall and help yourself to the delights,there's a good choice of fish,squid,chicken and mutton and loads of vegetable dishes to choose from....the more variety you choose,the more you pay.

It usually includes a poppadom as well.

RM 5 will cover rice and maybe 2 dishes whilst RM 7.50 will cover rice and maybe 4 dishes.

It's a real "blow-out" if you're hungry and in need of a good lunch.

It's only open from around noon-2pm lunchtimes Monday-Friday and if you want to be certain of a good selection get there around 12.25pm.

On Friday there are more vegetable dishes than on other days as a lot of the customers are vegetarian on that day.

It's popular with office workers, delivery drivers and chauffeurs and it's perfectly OK to share a (covered)table if it's crowded.

Makes me hungry just thinking about it....

Old Town White Coffee, Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

2010-07-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

The corporate tentacles of big-business start to strangle Jalan Alor.

Well,that's what I first thought when Old Town White Coffee opened-up a few months back.

I imagined a Jalan Alor full of franchised outfits such as Starbucks,Coffee Bean,The Chicken Rice Shop and Papa Rich-and thought how horrible it would be....

But Old Town has opened in an Hotel lobby so the street is probably safe for now.

Old Town White Coffee is a local franchise chain that seems to be cashing-in on the nostalgia boom that is beginning to sweep the nation and most shopping malls now have some sort of nostalgia themed F & B outlet.

If you *must* have an overpriced coffee whilst sitting in an uncomfortable chair then this place is better than Starbucks or Coffee Bean-and the Hazel Nut flavoured Iced Coffee at RM6.00 is pretty damn fine.

How Many Islands in Malaysia?

2010-07-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

An interesting article in "The Star" about increasing the number of tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
I've always been a bit dubious about the figures and how the government here counts a "tourist"
I think that if you remove all the next-door neighbours like Singaporeans,Indonesians and Thais from the figures you are left with a much,much,much smaller figure.
She's spot-on about the problems with litter though....
And,since when did Malaysia have 1,700 Islands?

Click on the title above to read the link....

Architecture Worth Saving

2010-06-29T00:07:00.000-07:00

Despite all the glossy adverts showing KL's modern skyline,which I have to admit is rather impressive there are still a few areas of older buildings that although disappearing fast are still visible and nice to see.

I recently took at Sunday morning stroll along Jalan Ampang,not the bit with all the embassies and condos but at the beginning,near to China Town and the big Maybank building at Pudu Raya.

There was little traffic and is was a pleasant and shady walk admiring the architecture.

How much longer these old shophouses stay standing is anyone's guess.

Recently,The walls of Pudu Jail were demolished and people only made a fuss about it after it had happened.The same thing happens whenever an old building is destroyed in the rush to build modern office blocks,hotels,shopping malls,hotels or condos.

I know that lots of older people in this part of the world equate old buildings with times of hardship or poverty but to most visitors and an increasing number of locals they are part of the social history of Kuala Lumpur and need to be preserved.

There's not much in KL that is over 100 years old-so if you see an old building,take a picture as it may well not be standing when you're next here!

Watching The World Cup, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2010-06-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that all cities in the world are putting on a good show for the World Cup and KL is no exception.

All along Changkat Bukit Bintang just about everywhere is showing it,some of the coffee shops like SK Corner are even showing matches in HD.

Gypsy Bar,which is not really a sports bar at all airs matches with commentary (inside) for some the main matches and then plays music for the remainder. This can be a good thing when the match is boring or those bloody vuvuzela pipes become too annoying.

I find the aircon inside just too bloody cold now that they have doors at the front and sitting outside on the new bar stools is still the best option but you don't get the sound.

Most other places along the street have commentary throughout.

I was at Havana for the Holland v Denmark match-along with about 300 orange people and one lone Dane.

It was a good atmosphere but it was totally spoiled by the fact that the staff just couldn't cope with what was about 10 times their normal Monday night crowd....Even though they knew of the Dutch invasion.

My first beer was served in a warm glass-yuck!

My second beer was served in a plastic glass as they had run-out of glasses-double yuck!

There was no third beer as I decided to go elsewhere.

Note: Havana now has a Happy Hour price of RM 10 for a small Tiger.

I saw the second Dutch game at Healy Macs and I must say that I quite like this place and may have been a little harsh on my earlier review.

Apparently,all draft beers are served at Happy Hour prices all night long (and have been for a while)

A bucket of Tiger Crystal is RM 55 for 5 and they were even promoting Bavaria Beer (remember the Dutch models all dressed in orange mini-dresses) for RM 49 for 4 beers.

A pretty good atmosphere and good service.

I was also here for the brilliant Canadian GP and have to say that the quality of their Tiger Draft is amongst the best on the street.

Yeah, Healy Macs seems very good for sporting events.

And it's RM11 for a Tiger all night.

Which is nice.

All we need now is some good footie from England to go with it!

The Great Beach Club Rip-Off!

2010-06-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Don't get too excited....this isn't about the girls taking their clothes off.
Although I hear that some of them will.....and frequently do.
No, it's about the ridiculous and exorbitant new prices at Beach Club.
The all-new staff mumbled something about new prices for the World Cup, in which case every footie fan who goes there is going to get overcharged and ripped-off.
In my opinion.
A "Happy Hour",if you can now call it that, bucket of beer now has only 4 bottles and sells for RM65 ,that's RM 16.25 per bottle-at happy hour until 9pm. (it used to be RM72 for 6-and even went down to RM55 last December)
Happy Hour price for 1 bottle is now RM17.50

After 9pm you will have to pay RM27 for one bottle or RM88 for a bucket of 4.
This is ridiculously overpriced.
I have no idea of the rationale behind the new pricing policy-and all the staff were new and a bit difficult to chat to but it seems to me that it's pure exploitation.

I'm quoting the price of bottles of beer as I don't quite trust the draught....it used to seem a bit watered-down and the glasses were usually dirty. trust me,you wouldn't want to drink it.

The place wasn't busy at all on the Sunday I was there and yet they implemented the cover charge at 9pm on the dot and then shut the wooden doors on the outside at 9.30pm.

Maybe the owners are thinking that they will get extra-busy over the next few weeks and it's a good chance to fleece the patrons-but if it's their new permanent pricing structure then I can't see me going there again-which is a bit of a shame as some of the scenery was "interesting" but not at those prices for a beer-after all,we have to have (at least some) principles...

Update 23/8/10 The price for a Happy-Hour bucket of 6 Carlsberg is back to a reasonable RM 69.
So it seems that they were just profiteering from the World cup...

Gypsy Bar vs The United Nations

2010-06-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

After a really great weekend spent propping-up the bar at Gypsy Bar I got to thinking the other day that one of the things I like about the place is that you get to meet all sorts of people.
In the last year or so I have met with,and drank with people from:

Australia,Austria,Bangladesh,Belgium,Bosnia,Brazil,Brunei,Burma,Canada,Chile,Colombia,Croatia,Denmark,
Egypt,Finland,France,Germany,Hungary,India,Indonesia,Iran,Ireland,Italy,Japan,Macedonia,Malaysia (obviously-and includes ethnic Chinese,Malay,Indian and Sarawakians) Mexico,Netherlands,New Zealand,Norway,Peru,Philippines,Russia,Saudi Arabia,Serbia,Singapore,South Africa,Spain,Sweden,Thailand,Turkey,UK,USA,Uzbekistan,Vietnam,Yemen and Zimbabwe.
And we all got along. Well, most of the time anyway.
Screw the UN.
If you've got a problem to solve go and have a chat and a beer at Gypsy Bar.
We're now working on that North Korean submarine that blew-up the BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.....

Gypsy Bar, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2010-05-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

Mmmm...not sure what I think about this.

I mentioned a while back about local residents complaining about the noise coming from the street.

Well, in an effort to anticipate any clampdown from the local council Gypsy Bar have fitted this horrendous looking glass wall dividing inside from outside.

And it's sort-of changed the atmosphere of the place.

Inside is even colder and noisier than before whilst sitting outside it's a bit quieter and you can hold a conversation at 11pm without shouting (too) much.

However, it's also a little warmer sitting outside now and the air can be a little stuffier but worse than that, if you look into the bar it's like you're sitting outside a shop.

You get used to it and after a while and tend to ignore it, but it is bloody ugly.

I know why it was done, just that a bit more thought could have gone into it first....like black aluminium frames instead of silver.

There's also no TV to watch outside but I understand that one will be fitted in time for the World Cup.

There's Just Too Many.....

2010-05-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

If you take a walk around Jalan Bukit Bintang/Jalan Alor/Changkat Bukit Bintang area, you may find that...
There are just too many...
Convenience Stores..... selling nothing but potato snacks and fizzy drinks...
Money Changers....must be at least 25 just on Bukit Bintang alone.(Best rate is the one just down the steps in BB Plaza)
Backpacker Hotels....how did so many suddenly spring-up?
Foot Massage places and their annoying touts...nearly as many as there are convenience stores and some do more than feet. The general rule (so I've been told) is that if the touts outside are wearing some sort of uniform/T Shirt then it's usually legit. If they are old and tired and worn-out looking girls from China outside, then you may get a happy-ending inside.
But keep your eyes closed and think of someone else....
And those retards with no teeth who hang around Bukit Bintang offering Nice Young Lady Beautiful Massage,Sir?
Coffee Bars....like any city now I guess they are everywhere but I have a big problem paying as much for a coffee as I do a beer.
and talking of beer....how come there are so many;
Irish Bars..
Tapas Bars..
Italian Restaurants..
they seem to be taking over....

If somehow you could combine all the elements above, you'll probably have the most popular place in town..

The Best Chinese Food in Kuala Lumpur?....

2010-05-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

...probably can be found at Restoren Crystal Jade Kitchen. There are a few dotted around town, my favourite being at the Food Court level in Pavilions on Bukit Bintang.
They are also at Mid Valley, The Gardens and Lot 10.
Rather surprisingly they are actually a Singaporean outfit.
Yeah, I know, Singaporean Food is usually crap.
But they've got it right this time, or altered the recipes for the more discerning, grown-up palates of Malaysians.
Some of their restaurants are halal whilst others serve pork.
Downstairs at Pavilion is non-halal whilst they have one in the walk-through near La Bodega that is halal.
It's a nice place for a splurge on a Sunday lunchtime or at any other time really.
You know you've found a good restaurant when you have to wait for a table, although the staff seem to turn the tables quite frequently so you don't have to wait too long, say 5-10 mins.
Crystal Jade offers good Dim Sum and a very extensive menu.
Price range is mid+ level and, as you would expect for that price the service is always good.
Amongst my favourite dishes would have to be the White Radish Cake Fried With Beansprouts which seems to be cooked in a unique style here, you can always tell an upmarket restaurant as they snip-off the unsightly bits of beansprout! the Beef Noodles are also good and some of their Dim Sum comes with a dip consisting of Soy Sauce mixed with HP Sauce-a truly great combination. The wild-fried rice is very tasty but the dish from heaven has to be without doubt Deep Fried Prawns in Wasabi Sauce.
Yeah,it's pricey but once-in-a-while it does good to treat yourself.
The only bad thing to report is that it's in a bloody shopping mall and the air con can make it a bit chilly after half an hour or so.
Oh, and if you sit on the soft bench seats it seems that the table is a bit too high, either that or I'm a bit of a short-arse.
Definitely worth a try though.

Taman Negara National Park

2010-05-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

The official tourist literature goes on and on about this place.

Me? I wasn't quite so impressed.

Nevertheless, a visit to Taman Negara is on a lot of people's to-do list and it is another excursion to get you out of the concrete jungle and into the real thing.

It takes about 8 hours to get to the National Park from Kuala Lumpur.

You will need to stay overnight for a couple of days to make it a worthwhile experience.

There is a coach service that departs the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Jalan Sultan Ismail at about 10am for a 5 hour journey via Jerantut to Kuala Tembeling from where a speedboat will take you on a 2-3 hour kidney-crunching,bone numbing ride to Kuala Tahan-the Park Headquarters.

It can be a fun journey but the boat ride is a bit too long. And hot.

At the park itself the only place to stay is at the Taman Negara Resort, which is predictable in it's mediocrity.

The food is dreadful.

Across the river, a RM5 boat-taxi ride away from the "resort" is a motley collection of ugly floating restaurants, moored in place by huge ropes that are easy to trip over in the dark.

The food here is also dreadful.

It's always a constant surprise to me that so many Malaysians seem to be constantly eating-or talking about eating that they put up with such crappy restaurant food.

And, in true local style there is the litter and rubbish strewn along the riverbank.

But, like so many Malaysian experiences, you don't go there for the food.

People go to Taman Negra to experience the jungle, which is now called "Rain Forest".

Tigers, Elephants, Panthers, Leopards, Monkeys, Tapirs-you won't see any of them.

Unless you are very lucky and are off the beaten track camping in the jungle.

If you want to see animals go to the Singapore Zoo.

The Taman Negara Resort encourages a few wild boar and monitor lizards by putting food out for them and for most people these are the only animals you'll see at the park.

You may see a few water buffalo during the boat trip.

The park headquarters provide useful maps and walking along the trails can be fun and you'll see lots of big trees but the most popular and easiest trails are cleared of any growth and are about 6ft wide.

Theses trails can get very crowded.

And littered.

Much more fun than walking/tripping over in the jungle trails is a speedboat ride shooting the gentle rapids-wet and fun!

Or try a walk along the canopy walkway amongst the tree-tops.

At night, you have a choice of either sitting on the terrace above the river drinking beer or of going to bed early. even if you bring a book, the lighting at night is too dim to read by.

The views of the mountains, rainforest and rivers can be quite spectacular and can refresh/re-charge even the most jaded person who is stuck in the concrete of Kuala Lumpur and if you've never seen rain forest before, you'll find it amazing.

Tiger Crystal Beer

2010-04-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

This bottled beer was launched onto the Malaysian market a few months back.

Initially I avoided it like the plague due to the exorbitant asking price of....wait for it....wait for it....RM 17 a bottle!

I guess my response was similar to many others with the result that Tiger couldn't shift it.

So, those clever marketing people at Tiger have come up with a very good promotion.....sell it at the same price as that of their draft Tiger.

Which is nice.

So,at Gypsy Bar you can get a bucket of 6 bottles of crystal for RM 60.

Healy Macs sells 5 bottles for RM55.

Now,here's the thing...it's actually very drinkable beer.

It tastes like San Miguel Light or any other cold-filtered light beer.

It's also not quite as strong at 4.5% ABV as regular Tiger which is, I believe 5%ABV.

A friend of mine described it as "inoffensive" but I would go better and say it was clean, crisp and quite refreshing and doesn't leave that sticky aftertaste that draught Tiger does.

And,if you've ever woken-up with a "Tiger Head" after a heavy night I have to report that so far Tiger Crystal doesn't seem to result in such a near-death experience as a night on the draft can result in.

It's only available for a "limited" time-whatever that means, probably until they sell it all so you've got to get in quick.

Gypsy Bar are always running-out since I discovered it...

Update 6/5/10

Only in Malaysia would they have a "promotion" and actually increase the price!

Tonight Gypsy Bar are having a beer promotion night for Tiger Crystal with promotional girls etc etc.

The price for a bucket of 6 has been increased to RM65.

Still good value but it made me laugh when I was told "we are having a promotion and the price is increasing...."

The Most Expensive Beer in Kuala Lumpur ?

2010-04-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

A strange topic for me to blog about as I'm a bit of a cheapskate who searches out the least expensive beers in the best bars.
Gypsy Bar, Changkat Bukit Bintang is probably the least expensive good bar in town but what do you think is the most expensive bar in Kuala Lumpur?
Any imported beer is costly unless it has somehow magically bypassed Customs and is either from the duty-free havens of Langkawi or Labuan or has come over the border/sold under the table from Thailand,Indonesia or even from further away like China.
Distance may also be a factor, I understand that is why Sol Beer, which is brewed in China is cheaper than Corona beer from Mexico.
Gypsy Bar have their pricing very competitive with original, legit Paulaner at RM 25 for a big bottle (500ml) whilst Weissbrau at Pavillion charges a ridiculous RM 55 for a similar size bottle from a different brand.
For locally brewed beers, that horrid Starker beer was available at RM 33 for 500ml for a short while at Gypsy Bar and still sells for a bit more at OverTime in the Life Centre.
Hotel Bars will always be pricey and they even take pleasure in being known as expensive places as they feel it gives them a certain status.
So choose from the bars at The Mandarin, Shangri La, Traders or Hilton.
I've been told that Zeta Bar at the Hilton now sells 500ml of locally brewed Tiger Beer at RM 40.
Can anyone beat that?

East Coast Islands

2010-04-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

If you get the opportunity to get away from Kuala Lumpur for a couple of nights there are quite a few options.

I would highly recommend a trip to the Islands in the North on the East Coast.

Choose from;

Redang Island, Perhentian Besar, Perhentian Kecil or Lang Tengah or even Tioman, further South.

They're all pretty much the same....

If you've never seen a tropical island before, you will be spellbound and even if you have, it's still great.

There are however a few things to bear in mind.

1. Getting to them is slow and tedious and involves either a coach (12 hours ) or flight (1 hour) to Kuala Terengganu or Kota Baru then a hour-long taxi/minibus ride to the jetty on the coast and then a 45minute speedboat ride.

So,even if you fly it can take7 or 8 hours,including all the waiting.

2. It's expensive for what you get-Islands in Thailand offer much better value-for-money.

3. The accommodation ranges from "expensive and shoddy" to "really expensive and really shoddy".

4. The food is pretty average at best.

5. There's nothing to do at night.

In my experience,Malaysia doesn't seem to be able to offer or even want to offer good beach holidays.There are no 'centres" just ribbon developments all looking pretty much the same.

What they call a resort is usually a few poorly maintained dark and dingy chalets with a restaurant offering poorly prepared and tasteless food.

If there is a picture of a few pebbles behind the reception desk they call it a "spa".

But...and it's a big BUT

6.The Beach is usually fantastic!

And that's why we put-up with the substandard amenities and service.

Unfortunately..

7. Most of the coral is dead or dying.

In the last few years it's quite noticeable how much this is happening and on most islands you've got to either get a boat trip away from the main island or if you're really lucky there may be a small remnant of coral hanging on at the tip of a headland on the island.

Places I've enjoyed staying include;

Redang Reef Resort, Redang-Very friendly and lively and I saw some huge Bumphead Parrot fish at the top of bay (almost as big as a cow!)

BuBu Resort, Perhentian Kecil-Has a nice bar area and slightly better rooms then most.

Places to avoid include;

Perhentian Island Resort, Perhentian Besar-The absolute worst place I have ever stayed. NEVER, EVER stay here unless you want smelly rooms, blocked toilets, indifferent staff, food that was going rotten, dirty sheets and a half-drained swimming pool covered in algae (but it's on the best,best beach ever)

Coral View Island Resort, Perhentain Besar, shares the same beach, is still dark and dingy but a bit cheaper.

Lang Tengah Island-they tell you it's "surrounded by it's own coral garden" but what they don't tell you is that it's all dead coral.

The Marine Park itself,on Redang is a bit farcical with more tourists than there are fish and it can get very crowded with orange life-vests bumping into each other.But there is a Giant Grouper that lives under the pier.

Tioman Island, all right, it has cheap duty-free beer but when I was there the place was filthy- dirty with litter strewn everywhere. I didn't like it at all.

Most packages to the islands include all food but believe me when I say that you'll be happy to escape your "resort"and move from restaurant to restaurant along the beach-some are quite good and they can be found dotted along the main beaches of most islands.

It's easy to get a beer,about Rm 8 for a can.

I've also heard that you get better customer service if you go early in the season(May-July)

and that later in the season, staff quit, are not replaced, the remaining staff get overworked, wages may be delayed etc etc. Except for the dive staff that is,they are always friendly and helpful wherever you go.

Also, I've never ever found a comfortable chair to sit on,all those wooden slats can get very uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I just love the beaches and snorkeling and have encounted all manner of reef fish including Parrot fish, the huge aforementioned Bumpheads, Clown fish,Sting Rays, Sharks up to about 4ft in length,Giant Grouper and turtles.

On a good day, visibility can be about 30-35ft down.

But be prepared for some discomfort on land.

And yes, The sand really is that white and the sea really is that blue!

KL Wildlife

2010-04-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

You may think that the only wildlife you'll see in the centre of KL would be rats and cockroaches, with a few stray cats hanging around foodstalls-but you'd be wrong.

The area around Jalan Alor/Tengkat Tong Shin is also home to an ever-dwindling troop of Macaques.

There used to be a big group living in the trees behind where I live but the developers have felled most of the trees and shot most of the monkeys.

Quite sad.

Nowadays,I see this old guy every now and again,he looks a bit grumpy as there have been so many changes to his neighbourhood;more concrete,more noise,more traffic etc etc but the stallholders make sure he's got enough fruit to eat,which he takes very gently from the hands that feed him.

How long he'll last I don't know,he seems fairly streetwise and I wish him a happy retirement.

Debenhams Opening Night at Lot 10 Shopping Mall

2010-04-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

British retailer Debenhams opened their flagship store at Lot 10 last night.

Guest of honour (apart from me) was renowned designer Matthew Williamson with other notable attendees being shoe designer Jimmy Choo, some guy from the British High Comm and the Mayor of KL all rubbing shoulders with the big-wigs of YTL, the owners of Lot 10.

The event kicked-off with a fashion show featuring different inhouse brands paraded by a selection of not unattractive tall,thin girls with really skinny legs.

The champagne flowed freely and there were tasty little snacks served by attentative waiters.

It was a pretty good show but why do they play such loud crappy music? It reminded me of being in TwentyOne on Changkat Bukit Bintang. And it was just as crowded.

After the grand opening of the store we were encouraged to browse and shop but even after the one-off 20% discount,the clothes are still fairly pricey.

At 10pm there was an "after party" on the roof at the peculiarly named Roots nightspot,which I believe included 2 free drinks but to be honest we couldn't be bothered to wait that long and headed off to Gypsy Bar-where the people are a little more down-to-earth than posy fashionistas...

But an interesting night nevertheless.

Complaints about the Noise on Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

2010-04-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

It had to happen,I mentioned a while back that nearby residents were getting a bit fed-up with the noise,especially after midnight.
Click on the title above to read a report from "The Star" 8/4/10
I have to say I have some sympathy for the residents as we have all noticed that the street is louder,more brash and is getting bit too intense and "full-on".
And,the later it gets,the more intense it gets.
There is a construction site behind me at the moment and when they work outside permitted hours I get really pissed-off and have resorted to complaining to City Hall and to the press ,so yeah I know how they feel.

I heard in the past that the culprits were Reggae Bar, Twenty One and sometimes upstairs at Havana when they have a band but maybe it's just a cumulative effect of all the nightspots.
I know a guy who lives two streets behind and he says that the thumping bass and car horns can be very,very annoying.
There are loads of car parks at the top and bottom of the street but the jockey parking is "allowed" to almost block one side of the street-and I hear that there can be a few fights after closing-time as the Bouncers let-off a bit of steam and the last remaining drunks get a bit tired and ratty.
If they're not careful,many outlets will find that their operating licences will not be renewed and what happened in Bangsar will happen on Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Malones Bar, KLCC

2010-04-04T23:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the crappy picture-but then again it's a crappy bar....

Like we need another"Irish Bar" like a hole in the head...anyway I've been meaning to check this place out for a while but never really could be bothered-and I was right.

If you work in KLCC or get thirsty after going to the cinema/ shopping then there are few alternatives to Malones so you may decide it's OK for a couple of beers before heading somewhere else.

It's fairly small inside and is very dark and gloomy.

The outside seating is OK but nothing special as it still feels "indoors" what with the glass roof and aircon whirring away.

They have a small stage offering live music after 9pm but happy-hour finishes at 8pm so I didn't hang around.

Happy Hour prices are OK at RM15 for a 'metric pint" (500ml) of Tiger or RM11.50 for a mug.

It was standing room only at 7.00pm so it does get popular with the office crowd but by 8pm it was starting to thin-out with people either going home or on to a more exciting place.

The service was dreadful-really bad and I won't be going back,the staff were "busy being busy" and were fussing around each other but it took ages to get served-and even longer to get my change,they didn't seem to be short-handed but they were advertising for many staff....

If you've ever been to any of the Harry's Bars in Singapore-that's what it seems they were trying to recreate but they've failed miserably.

So,in summary-it's dark, gloomy and slightly claustrophobic,has very bad service and a too short happy hour and you can't see anything because it's surrounded by pot-plants.

If you happen to be in KLCC and in need of refreshment,make the effort and walk to Quatro in Avenue K,or to the bars on Jalan P.Ramlee.

Petronas Pit Pulse, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

2010-04-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

Every time they feel like it (or can remember to organise it) Petronas ,who have been involved in F1 since at least 1999 put on a roadshow at KLCC to drum-up interest in the Malaysian GP at Sepang.

This year they pulled-out all the stops and put on a great show.

As in previous years,they convert part of the KLCC car park into an arena where they put on a show featuring various Petronas sponsored racing machinery doing "donuts" for the crowd and cumulating in an F1 car doing the same.

There are also lots of racing simulators and side-show and displays to keep you entertained.

This year was a bit special.

1.It was raining.

2.The cars drove out of the arena onto the road.

and

3.Michael Schumacher was there.

For 2010 Petronas have teamed up as the main sponsor for team Mercedes and last Wednesday,all the F1 drivers were present and the crowd got to see them drive.

First out was Nico Rosberg in his F1 car,then the team's Test Driver Nick Heidfield driving a 1955 Silver Arrow and last but not least and when it was raining the most out came Schumi fish-tailing his car to the thrill of the crowd...

And what a crowd it was!-overflowing and bursting at the seams,to be honest there were too many people there and if Petronas do the same thing next year I think they will need even more seating.

I gave up trying to get space inside and found somewhere to stand on the road at the point where the cars leave the arena and go onto the road so they all have to make a quick turn,hence the fish-tailing.

Yeah,we all got wet but it was a good evening's entertainment for a "petrol head" like me.

And,because it was wet-no juvenile show-off donuts and tyre smoke-which was a bonus.

I've been attending these events for quite a while now...this was the best so far.

F1 Roadshow at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

2010-04-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Malaysian F1 has been on the sporting calendar since 1999.

Some years it's promoted quite heavily in Kuala Lumpur,with all the bars getting behind a certain team,displaying a show car etc, and then there are lots of mall events and road shows.

Other years everybody forgets to do anything about it.....until the following year.

This year, the popular bars have lots of flags and bunting on display and there seems to be a bit more 'buzz" around town.

Pavilion Shopping Centre has had a great static display of FI cars from the 80's and 90's including;Schumi's Benetton,Nelson Piquet's old Benetton,a March driven by Tiff Nedell,Martin Brundle's old Tyrell from '86 and.... pride of place a '92 Active Suspension Lotus driven by Senna.(pic above)

Now that was a real race car!

It was also the venue for the "homecoming" (whatever that means) of the new Lotus Team and they had an actual race car on display together with a few spare parts such as front wings and rear wings,race simulators etc etc

I didn't get to see the drivers but perched on the car (above) is Mike Gascoyne,Team Lotus Chief Engineer.

If You Believe This......

2010-03-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

.....you'll believe anything!

Update 23/8/10.
Well,that will teach me for being such a cynic..
This does seem to be working.
I recently took a taxi for a small trip in KL that used to cost me RM10 as either the meter was broken and/or that's what the driver wanted..take it or leave it.
Last night the driver automatically set the meter and the ride cost RM 3.20....nice.

Pudu Jail, Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

One of the oldest buildings in Kuala Lumpur,built in 1895 will soon be lost forever.

I guess it's quite strange to list Pudu Jail as an "attraction" as some horrible things have happened inside,including the hanging of two Australian's convicted of Drug Smuggling in 1986.

But having said that,Pudu Jail is an interesting bit of architecture.

It closed as a prison years ago and the authorities didn't really know what to do with it....it became a museum for a short while and then was closed for ages and then became a drug rehabilitation centre and now it's going to be......surprise! surprise! a Shopping Mall and Condo Development!

Like we need another one?

I don't know anyone who would want to buy a condo there as they'll consider it "haunted land"

It will probably look a bit like the ugly Times Square opposite....

Demolition work on some of the outer wall started last year,to build a road tunnel going towards the Putrajaya Bus Terminal-for years there has been talk of relocating the bus terminal but I guess by building a tunnel to it,it must be staying where it is.

Oh well,such is the fickleness of the Kuala Lumpur planning authorities....

You can get a great view of Pudu Jail when you ride the monorail between Imbi Station (Times Square) and Maharajalela Station going towards KL Sentral.

If you're on foot,walk to the bottom of Jalan Bukit Bintang/Jalan Imbi and cross the big junction.

The closeness of this prison to the city-centre tells of how small a settlement Kuala Lumpur was 100 years ago-but then I did read an account of a tiger being shot on Jalan Bukit Bintang in the 1920's.....or perhaps it was a "Thai Girl".....

St.Patrick's Day at Gypsy Bar, Changkat Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting few nights on Changkat Bukit Bintang

It all started with St. Patrick's Day.(17th March for those who are unaware)

You would expect the Irish Bars to be busy-which they were,almost packed-out but the whole street was jumpin'

It was like a Friday night.....The only place that seemed to miss-out on the crowds was Reggae Bar,it was empty.

Gypsy Bar was really busy and laid on some entertainment in the form of a kilt-wearing bagpipe player accompanied by two drummers playing bangra-style.

It was all a bit weird and not very Irish but somehow it seemed to work.

An unexpected good night-out.

Then I heard that Reggae Bar and Elixir Club were both subject to a police raid the next night at around 11.30pm.

I understand it was nothing to do with vice but more to do with licensing/permits (you need about 70 different types of permit to operate a bar in KL)...or maybe it was linked to recent complaints about the noise.....

The sound-systems and CD's were confiscated but it was all "business as usual" the next night.

The Ugly City of Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur is actually quite an ugly city.
I know there are some nice, atmospheric enclaves with a bit of character but,as I said..
It's pretty ugly.
The skyline,from a distance looks great but when you get up close and personal it's a different story.

The main reason for this is that the city never really looks "finished", there is ALWAYS some construction going on somewhere and because nothing is organised, planned or coordinated on a city-wide scale it's all a bit hap-hazard.

Then you've got a dirty,rubbish strewn streets with drains blocked-up by inconsiderate idiots who just throw their rubbish into the nearest drain.....
A good example would be Bukit Bintang-The Pavilion Shopping Centre was completed two years ago-it was huge construction site for ages,now what used to be KL Plaza is being re-modeled,so another huge and ugly site-Lot 10 is also going through a staggered re-development.
When that's complete,watch and see what happens to the land between the Grand Millennium Hotel and Pavilion which is scheduled to be serviced apartments....The premier street in Kuala Lumpur seems to be a permanent construction site....
Have a look around KLCC and the park there-more construction sites for yet more apartments plus another couple of hotels and office blocks and another mini-tower next to KLCC for yet more shops....
Alright,I know that in this part of the world,progress and development= concrete (never mind the lack of infra-structure) and some of the office buildings are quite spectacular but I just wish they'd all hurry-up and get it finished.
It makes a smoggy, hazy city even more dusty and the pavements/drains/roads are always getting damaged by heavy vehicles.
And it's the same in the suburbs as well...just take the LRT or monorail and count the number of cranes you can see...
I get the feeling that the domestic economy in Malaysia is fuelled and sustained by the construction industry.
All the condos/serviced apartments seem to be built for "investment" the developers don't seem to really care if anyone actually lives in them....

Day trip to Port Dickson from Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to write about Port Dickson for a while but never got around to it-but recently a friend of mine went and recanted his story and we shared similar experiences....

The short answer is that it's not really worth the effort.

It's about 100km south of KL and is the closest thing KL has to a beach (not counting artificial Sunway Lagoon) Getting there really means you need a car or hiring a taxi for the day.

If you're truly adventurous it can be reached by bus from Pudaraya.

The town and the coast are dominated by Oil & Gas refineries and despite the fact that parts of the town look a bit quaint with some old shophouses and a railway line,there's really nothing there of any interest.

The coastline is the only attraction and if you follow the coast road south you will come across mile-after-mile of self-contained resorts and abandoned construction sites.

They all look pretty-much identical,best beach is probably at Blue Lagoon about 8km out of town. I used the word "best" in a vague sense as it's still nothing special. The sea is a very,very shallow and can be a bit oily and yucky. Beach litter is also a bit of a problem.

But,at least you're out of KL for a while and the natural scenery is better to look at and the air can be a bit fresher.

Lots of locals come to Port Dickson for weekends or for company training sessions and stay in the self-contained resorts whilst others just come for the day,have a beach barbecue and leave their rubbish behind.

Many visitors don't even swim,they just stay at the resort and stare at the sea.

Service and food are,at best,pretty average.

Another wasted opportunity,it could be so much better with a little planning and better management. Like so many seaside places in Malaysia,there is no real centre, just a long ribbon of "development" all offering exactly the same experience.

You may as well stay in KL,get a nice hotel room and look at the pool-and probably save a bit of money over the weekend as places here aren't that cheap...

If you really need to get out of KL and see some sea then it would be far,far better to fly-up to Redang or the Perhentians on the East Coast for a 3D/2N stay.There are some pretty good deals on Airasia and some good value packages.

It was reported in "The Star" 12/3/10 that almost half of the restaurants recently inspected had to be closed-down due to poor hygiene standards.....

Lion Dance at Reggae Bar,Changkat Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that Reggae Bar is not my cup-of-tea.

When it's empty it looks like "a club waiting to happen" and is devoid of any atmosphere whatsoever and when it's busy and jumping inside,I'm too stingy to pay the cover charge or the exorbitant price for a beer....

Maybe I just need to get the timing right....

But having said all that,they did put on a really good Lion Dance during the recent Chinese New Year celebrations-so,good luck to them!

Definitely one of the best I've seen.

Update-18/3/10.

Reggae Bar and Elixir Club were subjected to a police raid at around 11.30pm.

I understand it was all about licensing/permits rather than vice activities....or maybe it was linked to recent complaints about the noise....

The sound systems/cd's were confiscated but it a day later it was business as usual .

I've been told that to run a bar in KL you need to apply for nearly 70 different permits from the local council/police/fire dept etc etc....

The Best Restaurant in Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur?

2010-03-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

Yes. No Contest.
I've written before about Jalan Alor,the food street that runs parallel to Bukit Bintang.
The best food can be found at Meng Kee Grilled Fish Restaurant about half-way down.
This place covers about 3 or 4 shop-fronts as it sprawls out along the pavement.
It's easy to find because there are always lots of people sitting at the tables-the sign of a good restaurant plus,like most places along the street they have staff outside eager for your business. Look for the small Chinese woman boss with the big voice-she will always find you a seat!
Note: There is a totally different night time scene to day-time.
this restaurant only opens in the evening which is why there are many confusing name-signs.

As the name Meng Kee Grilled Fish suggests,specialities here are fish.
The menu is simple and easy to understand with pictures and prices under each dish and you can order small,medium or large. Fish dishes range from RM20-RM35 and "small" is big enough for 2 or 3 people to share.
I think the beer comes from another stall along the street and is RM15 for a big bottle.
The Grilled Stingray with Chili sauce,The Chicken fish (guess what it tastes like) and the Buttered Prawns are amongst my favourites with Four-Angle Beans in Chili sauce or Taiwanese Bean Sprouts as a veggie accompaniment.
Plus the rice-or noodles of course.
The staff and the boss are very friendly and the restaurant caters to tourists,expats and locals.
I've been coming here for years and to my knowledge have never been overcharged.
I've recommended it to many others-all of whom have enjoyed it.

If you're a bit "fussy" the idea of sitting at a plastic table on a dirty and sometimes smelly pavement-knowing that their are plenty of rats in the vicinity whilst you're being hassled every ten minutes by some tout may be a bit off-putting.
Or you may think it adds to the atmosphere!

Asian Heritage Row,Jalan Doraisamy,Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-02T01:02:00.000-08:00

Within walking distance from Cap Square/Dang Wangi LRT or the Imperial Hotel/Bukit Tuanku Monorail, Asian Heritage Row was at one time "The Next Big Thing" for Kuala Lumpur nightlife.

Sorry to say,It Isn't Anymore.

A few years back it seemed to have a good mix of places that offered almost something for everyone...pubs,bars,restaurants and clubs.

These days it's mainly just clubs-and a lot seem to change hands quite frequently which makes me think that the place just doesn't work.

It all looks a bit tired and run down to be honest. And I don't know anyone who goes there.Ever.

But then,I don't know many 25 year-olds.

When I walk past no one has ever tried to entice me inside so I'm obviously not their target market.

The bars look like clubs and the clubs have RM50 cover charges.

And it all looks the same.

It's almost deserted during the week and things don't get going until past midnight at weekends.

Whether it was wrong location,greedy landlords or just a fickle clientele that has moved elsewhere (and it's RM10 to park) ,it just doesn't seem to be raking in the crowds.

Maybe I'm just a bit jealous of youngsters who can party all night-and have more money to spend than I do....

Update 6/4/10 I just heard that BarSavanh has closed-this place was almost the "anchor tennant" and was probably the first to open on this street.

If they can no longer make it work here....maybe no one can.

I think you'd have to be very brave to open a bar on this street.

Beach Club Jalan P.Ramlee Kuala Lumpur

2010-03-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

They had a Lion Dance performance at Beach Club last Sunday.

Traditionally,a Lion Dance ushers in the (Chinese)New Year and brings luck and prosperity to the owner/establishment.

Judging from last Sunday,Beach Club needs all the help it can get.

I used to like coming here for a few good reasons:

a) It was the only lively place to go on a Sunday.

b) It had a good Happy Hour bucket of beer promotion.

c) There was always some interesting "scenery" to look at-if you get my drift.

d) The DJ played a lot of 80's and 90's rock and they had a live blues band.

It would seem that since the well publicised raids last October and on January 1st this year that Beach Club can no longer call itself "Asia's Most Popular Bar" if it ever really could.

a) It wasn't very busy at all (although I did leave at 11pm so maybe it got busy later)

b) the bucket Promotion at RM69 for 6 beers is still OK-but not as good as when it was RM55.

And,I don't know if my hands have gotten bigger-but the bottles seemed a bit smaller.

c) There was definitely a "B Team" line-up as far as the scenery is concerned.

d) Beach Club does not have live music anymore-the DJ was crap and was playing bass-heavy dance music.

Also,at 10pm (in view of noise restrictions) most of the sliding doors are shut,leaving only a few gaps to get into the bar/dance area inside from the outside veranda,which creates 2 distinct areas;an inside and an outside and they feel quite remote from each-other.

There used to be a couple of small bars outside but these have been taken away-probably a sign that Beach Club doesn't get the crowds like it used to,or maybe they were banned from having them there.

I guess it's still one of the only lively places to go on a Sunday and Happy Hour is OK but it's definitely lost something of late-I'd give it a six-and -a-half out of ten.

BB Park,Jalan Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur

2010-02-23T04:40:00.000-08:00

BB Park is the little cut-through that links the IT heaven of Low Yat Plaza to Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Whoever called it a "park" has probably never seen a real one,unless a couple of pot-plants and taped bird-song constitute a "park".

There's concrete,more concrete,the constant whir of aircon units and a dozen or so little stalls selling cheap tourist-tat and a shop selling more upmarket tourist "arty-stuff".

But there's also a few restaurants/bars here -and a few more getting ready to open.

You can choose from:

"Outback Steakhouse",a sushi bar, "Chateau" a French Restaurant that has an interesting island bar in the middle of the walkway,the ever-popular "Bangkok Jam" offering Thai Food and beer for 35+ per jug.

Two new places have recently opened,one of which has such a badly written sign that I've no idea what it's called and next to it is "D'Spice"-a local "nostalgia" restaurant selling a mix of local cheapish dishes of Indian,Chinese or Malay origin....I can get a nan-bread at SK Corner(written about previously) for RM 2 so I don't think I'll pay RM 4 here,cheapskate that I am.

Incidentally,there are quite a few of these "nostalgia" restaurants opening up-all selling sanitized versions of old favourites in aircon-settings-a branch of"Papa Rich" on Jalan Bukit Bintang opposite BB Park and branches of "Old Town White Coffee" at Pavillion Shopping Centre and along the side of Low Yat Plaza to name but three....must be the new "in" thing.

Anyway,back to BB Park-It has promise and a good selection of restaurants and at least now there are a few places along Jalan Bukit Bintang where you can get a beer-but somehow,the place does nothing for me.....

Turn it into a Beer Garden-and now you're talking!

Delaney's Bar,Federal Hotel,Jalan Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur

2010-02-23T04:17:00.000-08:00

The Federal Hotel on Jalan Bukit Bintang is quite an historic building,when it was built in-time for Independence celebrations in 1957 it was the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur!

The second block with the revolving restaurant was built later as was the (now closed) bowling alley.

There is an Irish Pub,Delaney's on the side of the building that has one of the shortest Happy-Hour's in town until 8pm...I mean come-on,why bother?

It's fairly austere and barren inside and the times I've been there,it's a bit devoid of atmosphere save for a couple of drunks singing along to the band....

It's a sort of community pub,you could imagine it in a small Irish village where everyone knows each other.

If you get bored talking there are mags and newspapers to read and the ubiquitous large screen tv for the essential EPL games.

The food is good but pricey and is failry typical (stews,pies,fish and chips) and nothing special. All-in-all not really worth visiting unless you happen to be staying at the Federal Hotel and are too lazy to walk to Changkat Bukit Bintang,or you've just bought the latest IT gadget from Low Yat Plaza (behind) and need a couple of lunchtime beers.

Bayernhaus, Cap Square, Kuala Lumpur

2010-02-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've blogged before about Cap Square and how it's best to be avoided as it seems to be devoid of any atmosphere whatsoever....
However...
If you do find yourself here and feel like a good feed than you could do no better than to check-out Bayernhaus Bar and Restaurant.
As the name suggests,the restaurant serves mainly German Food and German Beer (Paulaner) both of which are surprisingly good.
Although the place has been open for about a year it is under new (German) management which translates to improved quality in both food and service.
First thing to mention would be their bucket promotion whereby RM125 for a bucket of 5 big Paulaner's gets you free food which varies each night but includes Ribs,Pork Knuckle or a plate of sausages. This 'free food" comes in normal size portions so it does seem good value for money.
The menu itself although not extensive,covers most items you would expect from a German restaurant; Pork Knuckle,Schnitzel,Steak and various sausage combinations.
The thing about the Germans (apart from being a little too good at soccer) is their apparent dislike of all things made of vegetable or salad....This is a restaurant for meat-loving carnivores not for people who want veggies with their meal.
Yeah,OK-you can order a salad to go with your main but the chef here nods towards the existence of vegetables rather than embraces them.
Having said that-the food is very good.
Portions are big. Quality is very good. Service is very good.
Pricing seems quite reasonable with dishes in the RM 25-35 range.Or you can share the mixed grill for RM 60.
You can choose to sit inside (which I always find a bit chilly) ,at the outside bar and at high or low tables outside.There's even a sofa for lounging....
I know we're going through a bit of a hot spell at the moment but sitting outside seemed really hot! There are no fans,the air is still and clammy and the mosquito's were just as hungry as I was. Next time we'll choose a high table or sit at the bar.
And next time,I'll order a side-salad!
Overall though, I was quite impressed with this place.
Maybe Cap Square isn't so bad after all.......

Pau Kee Restoren, Jalan Imbi ,Kuala Lumpur

2010-02-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

I've written before about the Jalan Imbi area and how pleasant it can be for a Sunday morning stroll, with it's atmospheric shophouses and big shady,trees and (relatively) quite roads.

All of which can give a feeling of being back in time,in a KL from the 60's or 70's.

A good excuse to get you there and away from the materialistic hell of Jalan Bukit Bintang is to have a late breakfast at Restoren Pau Kee on Jalan Barat,just off Jalan Imbi behind the big Honda showroom.

It's quite well-known for serving a few specialities such as Ipoh Kuay Teow,Fresh Prawn Won ton,Prawn Dumplings and Won ton Mee Chicken.

As with a lot of coffeeshops and small restaurants in the city it can be a bit intimidating when entering as sometimes it's a bit difficult knowing not just what to order-but actually how to order it as well as language issues can crop-up.

But that can also add to the fun...

If you don't speak the local dialect which I believe is Hokien,you may struggle a bit to order but you can generally get-by and the staff will either point you towards a menu or find someone who can tell you what's on the menu.

The food at Pau Kee is very good and sitting at one of the tables outside is quite a chilled-out way to enjoy your late breakfast/early lunch.

Pricing seems quite reasonable with dishes in the RM 4-6 price range.

As with lots of popular food places,it can get very busy around 1pm and the service can be annoyingly slow-the cook prepares one bowl/dish at a time so you may have to be a little patient.

Relax-it's Sunday.

I always seem to get very thirsty when I eat here so they may use copious amounts of MSG in their food but it makes a great change from eating bland franchised food in sterile shopping malls.

Valentine's Day at Gypsy Bar, Changkat Bukit Bintang

2010-02-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

Where's the What?