First Time Riding Electric Train Service (ETS)

Update on **14 July 2015**

Recently, I had the opportunity to ride the ETS train from Alor Setar to Kuala Lumpur. The journey took around 5 hours.

I choose to depart from Alor Setar KTM station

I arrived there on 2 pm and less crowd over there 

Bought the ETS train tickets that will depart on 4.30 pm from counter 2 that charged RM 73. 

According to the ticket lady, there was only 1 train that run from KL central to Alor Setar on 4.30 pm everyday. The ETS train will reach KL central on 9.15 pm. You might click (H.E.R.E) for further information about the ETS train schedules. It's allowed to book the ETS train tickets through calling center and claimed the ETS train ticket later in the KTM ticket counter in Alor Setar. 

The train arrived "on time"

Clean environment and spacious train seat of Koc F. Luckily I was assigned to Koc F (last part of train) which was less crowd compared to others Koc.

For you information, It had 6 koc: Koc A, Koc B, Koc C, Koc D, Koc E & Koc F. Cafe that sold foods (e.g burgers, fried mee, nasi lemak, fried beehon, sandwiches, hot tea, hot milo) was located in Koc C while toilets was situated in Koc D.

What I like:

1. enhance the convenience travel to KL by shortening the journey compared bus

2. very short period of times in getting the passengers at the each train stop

3. the train was come on time. It didn't waste the precious times of the passengers

4. comfortable environment of the train

5. concern the basic needs of passengers and providing cafe and toilets

6. enjoy the breathtaking scenery view along the journey. I never expect such a beautiful view which was similar to train experiences in Hua Lian from Taipei, Taiwan. 

What I dislike:

1. lack of food choices in the train cafe.  

Pillow talk

As a Sarawakian, I was quite jealous for the development of public transportation in Peninsular Malaysia. Their public transportation such as Rapid buses, various long journey buses & train services in terms of bus frequency and bus conditions were better than Sarawak. It brought the convenience for the residents of Peninsular Malaysia in travelling.

In contrast, the public transport facilities (i.e public city bus) in Sarawak indeed lack of development. Big cities in Sarawak like Kuching, Miri and Sibu definitely had better public city bus but still cannot compared with Rapid buses in Peninsular Malaysia in terms of bus conditions and times schedules. The public city buses that found in Kuching and Miri looked old and dirty with heavy engines sounds. For those who didn't afford to have a car like me, I forced to bear with it as long as I reached the destinations. Besides that, the not-so frequent public city bus also contributed Sarawakians owned the cars because it took longer times to wait a bus. It's quite stressful to wait the upcoming in the bus station. I bet the people who had the private car would not understand the feeling and difficulties in waiting the bus. 

Meanwhile, for the small district like Betong and Sri Aman, there was totally none of any buses that connect between the small district. Therefore, Sarawakians really depended on their own private transportation to go to Betong and Sri Aman. Moreover, the super rural areas in Sarawak also zero public buses because the rural areas cannot accessed by the road. Water transportation was the only method of the rural folks in going to the nearest town. They strived hard to out of their "kampung" for education, handling bank and government stuffs and then back to "kampung" again with difficult journey. It was so difficult just for handling the stuffs.

I hope the government will help us by solving the public transportation issues of Sarawak in the future.

Three Layer Pork Belly with Soy Sauce

Today, I learned this recipe from Mama.

This recipe had reminiscing Mama's fond memories of her mother, which was my grandmother. She shared the stories that grandmother loved to prepare this dish when they grew up and how Mama's siblings super duper missed this dish. 

Furthermore, Mama told me this dish had gained the popularity among the Hokkien people (i.e one of the varieties of Chinese) in Saratok and Roban, Sarawak when they worshiped their ancestors. During the worship process, Hokkien people will supply "San Sheng" (三牲）, which means 3 types of animals: chicken, pig and fish. These "San Sheng" (三牲）will cook in the boiling method. Usually, they can't finish all in one day, therefore, they loved to cook "San Sheng" (三牲）with soy sauce because it preserved more longer. They will re-fry it with little water in the following day. 

Mama instructed me I must learn it since I was the most elder in the family and probably one day I able to brief the cooking procedures of this dish to my sisters. 

Here's it's!

*** All my measurement was in " agak-agak (means guess)

 Simple 4 ingredients: cooking oil, chopped garlic, 3 layer boiled pork belly and soy sauce

 First of all, the pan with cooking oil 

 Then, added chopped garlic and fry it until light brown color and fragrant 

 Next, stir fry the 3 layer boiled pork belly. If you prefer the crunchy pork belly, it's advisable to fry it more longer. In contrast, for the not so crunchy pork belly, just fry for few minutes.

****Be careful, the oil of pork belly will split out

 Finally, added the soy sauce and Aji Nomoto 

It's better to serve the 3 layer pork belly in dry version ( no cooked sauce) to prevent oily.

Here's the recipe of 3 layer pork belly with soy sauce. It was went well with white rice. Hope you like it and try it in the future.

Sam Wang KTV, Sarikei

Update on **18 July 2015**

After 1 hours felt bored at Blackball, we decided heading to Sam Wang KTV for Karaoke. 

Naruto and me never expected Sarikei will exist Karaoke outlet because we perceived this kind of Karaoke places only appeared in big cities. Consequently, our curiosity drove us to go over there to see it's environment and services. 

 Sam Wang KTV was near to the Doreamon supermarket (that will start operation in the incoming month)

 Wow, Minions features in the side front of the outlet!!!

 Minions again!!!

It was only 1 lady looked after KTV outlet in the afternoon but during the night time 2 people will take care the KTV according to the lady

We took middle room that costs RM 20 per hour instead of small room due to fully booked at that moment. For your information, Sam Wang KTV has 3 types of KTV rooms: small, middle and big. Different size of rooms charged different rates per hour. 

I dislike:

1. We were not being told need to bring the 2 microphones in the KTV room to front counter for installing batteries.

2. There was totally no staff facilitated us during the singing process. I forced to approach the front counter regarding any singing problems.

3. The KTV rooms was very hot and warm when we stepped there because none of customers used our KTV room previously. It was not comfortable when singing inside. 

4. The air-conditioner in our KTV room was inadequate to cater for the whole room. Only the small part of our KTV room able felt the coldness. After we complained to the front counter lady, she adjusted the air-conditioner temperatures for us but after few minutes, we still felt very warm and hot. I thought we left already when the KTV room became cold. 

5. The interface of the song controller was not intuitive. It wasted our time in exploring the system. 

Tea Time at Blackball, Sarikei

Update on **18 July 2015**

When I reached Sibu airport around 1 pm, we rushed to Sarikei since Mickey (5th sister) has an tuition appointment on 2.30 pm. While waiting Mickey for tuition, Naruto brought me to Blackball (i.e the dessert outlets originated from Taiwan) to kill the times.

 Although it started operation few years ago, but I missed the opportunity to visit it. 

 Like other Blackball outlets, it sold it's signature, which was blackball desserts and other options too. 

 Less people in the afternoon. Teenagers preferred to get the free W.I.F.I in here by bringing their laptops, Ipad or smartphones.

 Blackball signature. Nothing to shout about, just like ordinary desserts 

 It's lack of ingredients that made us felt like nothing to eat except black and white sago.

Cherishing the time we had afternoon desserts together by taking photos as my own lovely memories.

A Day Trip to Bentong, Pahang

Update on **17 July 2015**

Last week, Rosamond and me made a day trip to Bentong, Pahang. I got a few weeks break in my Phd journey and decided to back to my hometown, Saratok in Sarawak. It's difficult for me to survive in my university during the 1 week before Hari Raya. 

All the cafeterias were closed down and school buses were stopped their operations too. I had no choices and went to KL for few days to stay with my 2nd sister, Rosamond while counting down the days I back to Sarawak.  

In addition, Rosamond agreed to visit to Bentong, Pahang with me because of the short journey (1 hour distance) from KL. Furthermore, the short journey of Bentong was suitable for me that will leave in the next day early morning in order to prevent tiredness. 

Without further ado, let's the picture did the talking.

We took the bus of Central Pahang to Bentong in Titiwangsa train station. Rosamond's house was quite near to the Titiwangsa train station.

The timetable of buses from KL to Bentong with bus fare RM 5.60 per adult while RM 4.20 per children. It really bring the convenience to passengers to Bentong because the schedule of the buses were so frequent.

  We rode the same bus to Bentong and back to KL too

 Quite a long long long time, Rosamond didn't appear in my blog. In case you had forgotten Rosamond, here's she. 

Around 10am, we reached Bentong town. First of all, we intended to have Hooi Kee Wan Tan Mee as our brunch. Unfortunately, Wan Tan Mee of Hooi Kee were sold out once we arrived there after seeking the direction from the locals. 

Without further hesitation, we went to other kopitiam which was not far from Hooi Kee but also sold out. A lot of kopitiams in Bentong town also closed down due to Hari Raya celebration.

Both of us forced to enter any kopitiam as long as it had foods. Finally we went Cheong Fatt kopitiam.

 Had our brunch in Cheong Fatt Kopitiam, Bentong

 Vintage decorations

  Few old men were " yum cha" and chit chat their recent lives

Teh Kiam Si, one of the must try drinks in Bentong. It taste like Teh C, but not sweet all for me.

Yong tau fu soup. Never thought Kuang Si people in Bentong love Yong tau fu because I perceived it's one of the Hakka ( i.e one of the group of varieties of Chinese) food.  

Dry noodles. I was not finished the noodles. It was tasteless and oily for me. Sarawak dry noodles and kolo mee is better than B.E.T.T.E.R than it.

She was so happy when searching the foods successfully in Bentong.

Mine was equally happy too

After that, we explored Bentong's market. All varieties of stalls were displayed different products. 

Ginger powder and several canned foods

One of famous products in Bentong, ginger. I was not interested at all because it was useless for me. I did not cook recently.

Rosamond make a attempt to try it's Tou Fu drink but she told me it was tasteless.

Another famous product, peanuts according to Bentong blogs.

 

Musang king durian. 

Old tailor shop

Vintage saloon

 

1974 & 1980 buildings

1975 buildings 

Bentong town in Pahang looked similiar to my hometown, Saratok in Sarawak. The similarities were the small town that characterized with  few row of shophouses. Most of the old folks were seen in here. Their biggest hobby might be "Yum Cha" with their old friends too. Their kids sure earned the living in the big cities because lack of job opportunities in Bentong. 

Besides that, the foods stalls will shut down their operation once their foods were sold out. In such small town, breakfast seemed entitled for those early birds or the morning person. They're not interested in getting more revenues in increasing the selling volume of foods. Same things happen to Saratok too. The small income which was adequate to support the small town's living was big enough for small town people. They're lack of ambitious in buying the big mansion, luxurious cars and branded clothes.

One more thing, every shophouse in  Bentong was very older, vintage looked compared to Saratok. It was so unique for the city folks. No wonder KL people loved to visit there on weekend. Seeing vintage looked shophouses traveled me back to older time, it made me appreciated and grateful the present time.

******************************

Thank you Rosamond willing to "off study" (she was busy with her medical studies) for few days to be with me.  

I learned to appreciate the time spent with Rosamond and cherished the single moment with Rosamond because I had the limited amount of times with her.  I was not always be her side, same things went to her as well. 

It was the greatest sad feeling in the world for me when I always saw Rosamond when we lived together in Saratok and finally can't saw her face, allowed to listen to her voice through watsapps or phone call. 

Celebrating my arrival in Shabu Shabu steamboat restaurant in Festival City Mall, Setapak KL.

I insisted to have photo in her usual dining food stalls in Setapak area although Rosamond disagreed (pardon she, she was too shy).

 A great shopping day in Nu Sentral Mall, KL