Friday, September 24, 2010

Heading Home

You can track our progress home...

Flight 280 from Singapore to Narita Japan.

Flight 620 from Narita Japan to Minneapolis.

Danga Bay

Tonight we went to JB (Johor Bahru) for dinner at Danga Bay. It's now time to finish packing for the trip home. We'll be leaving the hotel at 2:30am to catch a 5:45am flight out of Singapore.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hari Raya

For lunch today we went to a Hari Raya, or other words an "open house". We had some home made chicken/rice, Penang Laksa, fruit & various sweets. For 30 days after Ramadan there will be lots of  "open houses".


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Arachnophobia

Yes, they do have "Creepy-Crawlies" here. This one was about 3" accross and could move fast!

Local Conractors

Need a concrete slab poured. These two guys are looking for work. Notice the two small piles of mixed on the spot cement? They take and scoop up the cement with a shovel, dump in place & trowel it smooth. It was looking like nice work.

Malaysian Krumkake

This street vendor was making a type of apom (pancake in Malay). It was a lot like krumkake, they would quickly cook the batter very thin in a very hot pan and then fold it over a couple of times. The apom cools down to a firm and crispy cookie similar to krumkake. It was a tasty coconut treat.

Natural-Real-Nurishing-Healthy

Do I need to say more!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Tues Night Street Market

This evening we ate our way through the local Tuesday night street market.
Here's the run down on what 5RM or so will get you..

Fresh meat (notice the Halal approved certification).













By the way, we passed on the fresh meat.

We first tried this type of crispy crepe with chopped peanuts and another with coconut.

Next was a cold glass of sweetened lime juice (notice the plastic cups with premeasured syrup)

Next on my menu was chicken on a stick, actually bamboo

Followed by some stir fried noodles.

And finished off with some Rambutan fruit. Similar to eating a Lychee

"Hawker" Lunch

We had lunch again today at the "hawkers" centre located in the 777 building. A heaping plate of food cost me 6.5RM, just a little over $2.00USD. I'm not sure what I really had, but it tasted good.















"Hawker" food stand.

Kota Iskandar & Puteri Harbour

Today we took a short drive to Kota Iskandar & Puteri Harbour. This massive development will compete directly with Singapore. It will be interesting to see how this area changes over the next 10 years. The Johor State & Federal Government offices are moving to this location from the current downtown area.

Kota Iskandar government buildings.


Puteri Harbour, with a view of Singapore on the otherside of the water.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hawker food stands

Today we had lunch at a local "Hawker" food court. There are various foods prepared by street vendors.



6RM will get you a bowl of noodles with pork in a spicy broth, pork wonton soup & a can of Coke.
Can't beat it for $2USD!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Golfing at Horizon Hills

This evening we golfed the back 9 at Horizon Hills, which will be hosting the Iskandar Johor Open in October. K.J. Choi won this tournament in 2009.

Membership to this course is very reasonable, if you live in one of the Horizon Hills developments. One time fee of 800RM and 140RM per month plus cart & caddy fees. It is a requirement to have a caddy. Membership also gets you a full gym, Olympic size swimming pool, tennis.


Hole 18

Hole 17, with an island green


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Palm Resort Pool

Yesterday we just hung out around the pool. We'll do the same today and then golfing this afternoon.



Friday, September 17, 2010

Palm Resort Activities

The Palm Resort has lots of activities: Pool, Snooker, Squash, Tennis, Bike Riding, Ping Pong, 8 lane Bowling Alley, Olympic size Pool, 54 holes of Golf & more. Rooms run around $65-$70 USD per night, which includes a daily international breakfast buffet.



Trip to Singapore

Last night we brought a couple of the guys to Singapore, so that the can catch an early morning flight. Singapore is a place where you need to brings lots of money, everything is expensive. The exchange rate is 1.3 Sing dollars to 1 US dollar.












Check out these prices (Single/Jug/Bottle). I think a jug is like a small carafe.

Pappa Roti "The Father of All Buns"

After lunch today we had a "Pappa Roti", which was excellent. It is a type of light/fluffy sweet bun with melted butter in the center and a waffle coating on the exterior. Getting closer to the store you can smell the waffle aroma.

Daryl can't wait to "scarf one down", I was thinking the same.


Here they are applying the waffle batter.

Pappa Roti is located in the Aeon Bukit Indah Shopping Centre

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Non Halal

Inside the supermarkets, all "Non Halal" products, such as pork are segregated, packaged & sold in specific areas. It is against Muslim law for these products to be mixed in with Halal approved products.

Uploaded Photos

Click here for photos of my Malaysia trip

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Wednesday night street market

Lots of activity at the local Wednesday night street market.

This food vendor was making a type of filled pancake. They used a mixture of peanuts, corn, coconut, sweet syrup. The mixture was place on the pancake, folded in half and then eaten like a taco. I guess you could call a Malaysian taco? It was excellent!

The boiled peanuts were good, but my fingers are still stained with whatever they were soaked in. I'm watching for another digit to start growing. :)

Here's video of one the vendors preparing & serving a variety of dishes. (notice the nice looking pan of chicken feet)

What's for dinner tonight?

http://www.stonegrill.com/home_fs.html
Prawns & New Zealand lamb with corn and fried rice. 26RM ($8.00). A very good meal, the lamb was tender and tasty.















For desert we stopped at a donut shop and of course I had to have the "Dandy Randy"!

I did pass on the Duren filled donut. I just couldn't do it! We're still looking for fresh Duren, but I don't think it's in season. (what's with the "consume within 3 hours"?)

As Seen on TV

Maybe we'll see this family on the shopping channel "As Seen on TV"..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3FgmDmub9A

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

More on the Hardware Store

We some more things from the hardware store today. As you can see this store is packed with a little of everyting. Some good stuff, but overall, lots of "junk".


Is the sun hot in Malaysia?

I would that the sunshine in Malaysia is extreme. You can buy SPF 130 sunscreen!

Golfing at Palm Resort

This evening (hot & humid) we golfed at the Palm Resort. We're fortunate that we did not not get rained out, or I should say play stopped because of intense lighting & very loud thunder (Quin would be very impressed!). Seems like late afternoon, early evening there are thunderstorms, but don't last too long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tp4VmS_eF0

Eggman

Afternoon delivery of eggs to local restaurants.

Local hardware store in Johor

We stopped at a local hardware store in Johor for some supplies. The aisles are barely wide enough to walk through. The store is not set-up for Americans! This hardware store has an interesting variety of items.

Lunch at Awana Cafe

Lunch near the Johor industrial park.
The anchovies were a little hard to chew.