Mabiq Restaurant

From the moment I arrived Kuantan 3 days ago, there's no other significant activities I'm involved with other than eating. It's like being on an eating tour where I've been busy visiting all famous the makan place one after another. Life has been treating me well these few days, alhamdulillah.

To those who wanna experience the kampung style of eating can opt for this Japanese table & eat while sitting

Today my entry is about another makan place which has been featured in TV3's Jalan2 Cari Makan not so long ago. Mabiq is an acronym for Maahad Bahasa & Ilmu Al-Quran which is a private Islamic institution meant for the orphans & the poor. The restaurant is a part of this institution whereby all the profits gained from restaurant will be transferred to the school fund. By spending at this restaurant, we are in a way doing charity to the society.

Masak Lemak Kuning Daging Salai - the traditional food from Mentakab

One thing that makes Mabiq Restaurant different from the rest is the food they served. This is one place where you can find the real authentic & traditional Pahang dish. Pahang being the largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia, had varieties of food even me as a Pahang-ian didnt even know or heard some of them.

The yummilicious Sambal Hitam, made from Belimbing Buluh, chili & anchovies. Traditional food from Kuala Lipis

Besides the unique menus, it's the taste that captured my heart. The food here doesnt taste like restaurant food. Instead, eating them brought back the memories of those kampung food I once had many, many years ago - something sweet to reminisce.

Masak Tempoyak Ikan Patin - originated from Temerloh

Having our lunch here was indeed a great choice. Not only it satisfy our appetite, it didnt do any damage to our pocket either. The lunch cost us only RM 18, including the drinks. A good reason for another trip in the near future !

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The Temerloh Adventure

This morning me, myself & my parents are planning to have Nasi Dagang for breakfast in Tg. Api. Then out of the blue, my mum suggested that since it's Sunday, why not we spread our wings a lil bit further & go to Temerloh instead. With a broad smile on my face, I quickly agree to the idea and so, off we go to Temerloh.

In Pahang, these are called as "Podok Jagung" which is the Baby Corns - very sweet & fresh !

The journey from Kuantan to Temerloh is about 1 1/2 hours via the East Coast Highway. If you are planning to go to Temerloh, make sure it's on Sunday. There's a huge open market every Sunday in Temerloh which is located not so far from the main road.

Smoked fresh water fish - very rare & traditional

For a "kampung" people like us, this Sunday market is a true heaven. Besides their Patin & Tilapia, here you can find all the traditional food & vegetables you seldom see in other Pasar Malam. We'll find ourselves salivating all the way while walking through the market - too many good food that were too tempting to our eyes.

Dodol - but this particular ones are a bit different as they are steamed !

Since the market is located just by the Pahang river, we had a very clear view of all the activities on the river while doing our shopping....... which brought us to another exciting experience. Apparently, there's a boat by the river which carries the passengers, who are the local people from the nearby villages, to the other side of the river.



Not wanting to miss this golden opportunity, we decided to embark on the boat for an experience to be remembered. The journey from the jetty to the other side of the river, which is known as Kampung Bangau Parit took less than 5 minutes with a fare of RM 1 per trip. So, a round trip would only gave us less than 10 minutes to be on the boat.

To all the single men in Temerloh.........call me please !!!

I dunno about my mum & sis but I really enjoyed the trip. The boat is very shallow that I could actually play the water with my fingers. This is something I only saw in the National Geographic channel before & never thought I would have a chance to experience it on my own one day. How I'd wished I could stay on the boat & take a tour along this longest river of Peninsular Malaysia. Looks like I need to find myself a boyfriend residing in Temerloh in order to make this dream comes true !

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Sunday Thoughts

A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

But then it keeps on hurting you when you just cant let go but instead, still holding on to it though deep inside you knew there's nothing left for you.

Wanting him is hard to forget, loving him is hard to regret, losing him is hard to accept.....but even with the hurt I've felt, letting go is the most painful yet. It seems that the harder I try, the harder I fall.

But sometimes the memories are worth the pain.......

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Kuantan Oh Kuantan

Here I am writing this entry in the most happening town in the East Coast region of Peninsular Malaysia - where else but Kuantan. Home sweet home.......it's so good to be back. This time it's even better coz I'm on a loooooong holiday - 9 days of total escapism from the hectic world of KL.

Kuantan is hot - as always. Arrived in Kuantan about 1 hour ago after 3 hours of driving (which include a detour to Temerloh). This is one thing I have to do every time I traveled back to the East Coast. The attraction in that quiet town is too hard to be resisted especially for a fish lover like me. This is the only opportunity for me to feast my hunger on those tasty fresh water fish - Patin & Tilapia. Not that I cant get them elsewhere but honestly, I only eat Patin & Tilapia from Temerloh - the freshness & sweetness of the meat are something I cant compromise !

Besides the Patin & Tilapia, there are a few other things I've always looking forward to coming back to Kuantan. First & foremost is of course to be with my parents. There're so many stories & gossips to catch up with mum & sis. Who's getting married....who's getting divorced....who's getting a new baby..... any new neighbour ( or should I say, new hunk ) ......so on and so forth.

Besides the juicy gossips, it's time to treat my appetite with the authentic local food I've missed so much. These foods are not just any foods but Kuantan's speciality which are very dear to my heart. I'd rather hold back my cravings for I know they are worth a wait.

So, here are a few ( from a lot more ) of my not-to-be missed delicacies.....made in Kuantan !

The sinfully delicious Mak Leha's Asam Pedas - like no other !

Pulut Panggang
One thing special about this Pulut Panggang is the filling. Here in the East Coast, almost everything are made of fish - same goes with this tasty Pulut Panggang. It's the filling that makes it special, especially as compared to the ones from the West Coast where it is made of dried prawns instead.

Keropok Lekor
Though it is not as good as the ones from Kuala Kemaman, but at least it's much better than the ones in KL which has more flour than fish !

Well, the good news is that I have another 8 more days to treat this big appetite of mine. Let's not waste any more time - am going to the market now for the best Soya drink & taufu fah !

Cau cin cauuuuu !!!!

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5 Things I Can't Live Without

I was having my dinner when this thought came into my mind. I fried lady's finger with lots and lots of chillies in it for dinner a few days ago. And while pampering my taste bud with the amazing spiciness of those chillies, it makes me wonder how bland my life would be without them - apart from being grateful for all the chillies I'm never short of.

Then I started thinking, what are other things besides chillies, I simply cant live without - assuming all the basic necessities like food, water, shelter, clothing etc are already covered. So, that's how I've ended with the top 5 things I just cant live without (in no particular order) :

Computer

This machine has becoming increasingly important to my life. Not having it near me makes me felt almost like losing one of my limbs.

Internet

It's a gateway to the world. A gateway to re-connect with my family & friends. I'll go crazy if I lose this.

My Blog
My blog is my virtual brain. It allows me to be creative & most importantly, it allows me to express myself.

Music

I mean, good music. Music holds a lot of things for me - comfort, motivating, reliefs, energizing & life.


Books

This is something I really need before I sleep. I dont feel right without reading on my bed before dozing off. Book completes my day.

So, that's the 5 most critical things I certainly cant live without. And as much as I cant live without them, it's my family & friends who've been keeping me alive. They are the ones who gave me the ability to enjoy my life to the fullest. Thank you ......... love you all so, so very much !

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Satay Hut

Satay Hut is a heaven for all satay lovers. It's a place for an XXL sized satay which is double the size of a normal satay. It's specialty lies not only on the size but also on its taste. I dunno whether it's becoz of the size that actually allows your sense to grip hold of the authentic spices in each bite.



I have a different way of eating satay as compared to most people. I eat satay just on its own, meaning that without the peanut sauce. That's the only way to find out whether the satay is really good or otherwise. Once you dipped it into the sauce, the only taste your sense can detect is the taste of the peanuts. At Satat Hut, you would be given a totally different perspective as far as satay is concerned. It's a satay experience with a different twist.




The XXL sized satay is priced at RM 1.10/ea. They do have the normal sized satay too which is 60 cents/ea. For a small eater like me, 3 pcs of the extra large satay is enuff to satisfy my appetite. Besides satay, there are other varieties of food available. In some of the reviews I've read, their Mee Bandung has gained some degree of recognition from the food lovers. This would definitely be my choice for my next trip here, if any.

The satay as compared to the size of my finger - aint that huge ?

I drove all the way from KL to Tanjung Karang just for this satay and after the first bite, all I could say is that......... it's worth a drive !

Their mega-size ABC

So, this is the address of this restaurant to those who wanna give it a try :

Satay Hut
Jalan Besar, Tanjung Karang
45500 Selangor
Tel : 603-32694473

Operating Hours : 4.30 pm - 2.00 am

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Lagenda Budak Setan - The Review

The last Malay movie I watched at a cinema was Kabir Bhatia's Cinta. Kabir Bhatia being the director is the only factor that brought me to the theater. I liked the way he make his movies. He had this magical touch which has brought the notch up for Malay movies. Kabir Bhatia had indeed created a paradigm shift in the local movie industries.

Last weekend, I was doing a favour to a friend of mine by accompanying him to watch this movie called Lagenda Budak Setan. It was an adaptation of the 1980s best selling novel (by the same title) by Ahadiat Akashah. Heard of the novel before but never actually had any intention to read it.

So, here's what I'd comment about the movie :

The Story : Revolves around Kasyah who is nicknamed Budak Setan at his college due to his naughtiness. Everything changed when he fell in love with Ayu. Kasyah then loses her to Azmi, her ex-lover, when she is forced to marry him. This leaves Kasyah feeling betrayed and heartbroken. Ayu then meets with a bad accident that completely changed her life.

What I Hated : Poor storyline. No character development. The way the movie was made as though the director are rushing to include all the important plots from the 900 pages novel into a 90 minutes movie. The transition from one plot to another was very badly done. It's like watching a Powerpoint slides presentation rather than a real movie.



As for the cast, honestly I never did like Farid Kamil. I think he is generally too "jambu" to becomes a hero. He might be other girls fave ( and one of them is unfortunately my friend ) but never mine. This statement somehow ruled out any comments from me on his acting skills, right? As for the newcomer, Shiqin Kamal who played the character, Emilia - she still have a lot to learn. Her acting is quite stiff still & her facial expressions didnt somehow hit the spot.

What I liked : There are 3 things I liked about the movie - not bad of a number for a movie I didnt enjoy watching, huh? The first thing I like about the movie is the soundtrack. Really love the song "Bila Cinta" which was played w few times throughout the movie - yet still sounds fresh every time and compliments the emotional scenes well.

The second thing I like about the movie was Que Haidar's acting. He played his character very well. Kudos to him for his outstanding performance.

Finally, it was Fazura's beauty that captured my heart. She appeared only after two third of the movie & if it's not because of her, I would have walked out of the cinema already. I really liked Fazura - I think she's just so naturally pretty. I was continuously oohhhhh-ing & aahhhh-ing every time the camera focused on her face. Amazingly beautiful. Well, what can I say....... another Pahang's beauty besides CT Nurhaliza & me !

All & all, there's only 1 word to describe this movie - horrendous or in Malay, we say it as "hampeh". I was non-stoppingly criticizing the movie from the very start till the end of it. When people laughed, it confused me coz I just didnt get it. Not that I'm lacking any sense of humour here but then, how am I supposed to laugh when it's not even funny?

I am a very romantic & soft hearted person. I could cry over anything. Just the other day I was watching Friends on the episode where Rachel gave birth - and I cried though it's the 100th time I've watched it. This movie is supposed to be a tear-jerking love story but couldnt shed a single tear out of me.

Hence, the verdict - dont waste your money. Just wait for another few months & I'm sure they'll show it in Astro Box Office. Otherwise, just do like I did - just download it !

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Hj. Shahrin Low Seafood Restaurant

As highly recommended by a friend of ours, the Celibacy Club has chosen this restaurant as the meeting point for this week. Hj Shahrin Low Restaurant is a Chinese Muslim restaurant that serves authentic Chinese cuisine. At the present moment, they have 3 nos. of outlets altogether in Klang Valley & Selangor. The fourth ones will be opened soon in Gombak, it seems.

We went to the Bukit Antarabangsa branch last Friday night. There has been a slight misunderstanding among us that night which left us stranded by the road side trying to figure out where the location of the restaurant is. As quoted by Digi in one of their ads : Internet Done Right, we are all very thankful to the current internet technology which allows us to get all the required info. just at the tips of our finger. Anyway, it's a lesson learned. Moral of the story : always keep your internet broadband handy & never rely on K.Mimi for directions ( duuhhhh....... how can we not expect this after all these years !! ).

The location of the restaurant was quit hidden, I would say. It was really out of the way - very remotely located as compared to the main road of Bukit Antarabangsa. It's definitely not a spot you would bumped into. Only those who are staying around the area would come to this place. But despite all that, the restaurant is still crowded - most of the tables are occupied that very night. Seeing that gave us some sense of relieves that selecting this restaurant is indeed the right choice, if it's not the best.

Overall the food was very satisfactory. They are all authentic Chinese cuisine as they claimed to be. I couldnt agree more with all those good reviews received by this restaurant. These are among the dishes we ordered :

Ketam Telur Masin - RM 35
This particular dish is by far, my favourite. It was so damn good, Jamie felt like crying eating it. The crabs were so tasty & even the shell is edible - very crunchy !

Sotong Kung Pao - RM 10



Udang Nestum Butter - RM 18
In my honest opinion, I preferred Buttered Prawns in Pak Ya much better. But then, that doesnt mean this ones are not good - it's just my personal preferences.



Hot & Sour Szechuan Soup - RM 9


Taugeh Ikan Masin - RM 6


Peanut Butter Cream - RM 4
By the way, this is the only dessert available here - very authentic and very, very nice.

The total bill was very reasonable i.e RM 98 for 5 person. For your info, the above quoted prices are for the "Small" portions - which is good enuff for all 5 of us. I had a great time that night - both with the food & most importantly, the company.

To those who are interested to try out these delicious food, here are the address :

No. 1, Lorong Wangsa 5A, Bukit Antarabangsa

68000 Ampang, K. Lumpur

Phone: +6012-9131 363 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +6012-685 4101 , +6012-373 1999

Mon - Thurs : 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Fri : 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sat - Sun : 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

For other details on the restaurant, you can also refer to their Facebook page.

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Happy Birthday Precious

It was my precious, Marsya's 11th birthday yesterday. While browsing the net, I came across this beautiful poem by Debbie Campbell which really reflects the kind of relationship I had with her.

To Marsya, happy birthday to you ......mommy love you so very much !

The tear stained shoulders we both share,

The secrets we have are because we care.

No one knows the depth of our love,

Mom and daughter a gift from above.

The truest friend - a gift for life,

Amidst the trouble, the pain, the strive.

We both rely on the love we share,

Forever knowing the other is there.

No gift compares to the one that is free,

My daughter, my friend, a lifetime to be.

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Collagen Myths

Naturally, all women are attracted to beauty. All women, if been given a choice wanna look fabulously beautiful. That's how are God made them, the same way God made men attracted to sex. It's just that we, women are much smarter ;-)

Anyway, I'm not gonna bitch about guys this time though I have to admit that it has always been an interesting topic to talk about. There are too many flaws in men that we could never run out of ideas bitchin' about.

Not too long ago, me & my BFF were talking about collagen supplements where we thought of trying them out. Well, it's not that we really need it as we're both are already sizzling hot.... hehehe. Since nothing really lasts forever, we need to have some sort of a back-up plan to ensure that the beauty sustains. That's when we decided to venture into this collagen thingy.

However upon googling for the best collagen supplement in the market, I was quite surprise with the findings. It seems that collagen supplement ( be it drinks or pills ) & cream is indeed a big beauty myth. It is true that collagen could delay the aging process & decrease the formation of wrinkles to achieve a soft & smooth skin.

However, there are more to this than just being an anti-aging substance. The other half of the info about collagen which most of the cosmetic companies are not willing to reveal is the fact on the complexity of its production and absorption in the human body.

Now brace yourself for the truth as it may hurt. A lot of those liquid collagen supplements in the market claims to deliver its molecules to the skin. There are enough scientific studies and researches, which have proven that, this molecule is too large and cant even penetrate the skin.

Whether it is solid or liquid, it doesnt really matters coz the molecular structure remains the same. In addition, the fact remains that there is no drinks, pills or creams which can deliver these large molecules beyond the skin. Collagen is produced inside the body and not absorbed through skin.

What about collagen shots then?

Injecting collagen below the epidermis does provide a temporary collagen fix to the skin, so to speak. These injections aim at replacing the aging collagen in our skin with new collagen by injecting it into the skin. While this method may seems to work well initially, the problems begins to become apparent after a few weeks.

The effects of the injection starts to wear off and the skin becomes loose and wrinkly again. You will then have to repeat the injection to have continuous results. This cycle continues indefinitely as long as you want to have a smooth skin. Collagen injections DO NOT stimulate the skin to produce more collagen. There is no point in exposing yourself to these risks for results that are not only temporary but expensive too.

The question now is, how can our body produced this collagen then?

Adding more antioxidant-rich foods to your diet, as well as, drinking plenty of purified water, is the best way to defend against the skin damage and loss of collagen production, that these harmful elements cause. Food with bright colours like dark green, leafy vegetables are excellent sources for getting your body's antioxidant activity into high gear. And while you're feeding your body with healthy fruit and vegetables, be sure to feed your skin cells with special preparations made from high concentrations of bio-active, nature-based ingredients.

Once absorbed by the skin cell, these ingredients nourish and revitalize normal, healthy skin cell function. When your cells are properly fed, they have no problem, whatsoever, producing lots of collagen protein.

I hope this post has helped a lot of women out there save their hard earning money from being spent over something uncertain. Anyway, a person can be beautiful on the outside but true beauty comes from the inside.

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