Foodie Friday: Medan Selera Kampar of Malaysia

Date Visited: 28th May 2015

Travel and food are interrelated, it's hard to separate them apart apparently. And when travel in Malaysia, hunting for food has always indirectly been part and parcel of the itinerary. So when my friends and I were in Kampar last month, my local friend's parents brought us to Medan Selera Kampar (Kampar Food Court) for breakfast.

#1: The bustling of Medan Selera Kampar

Medan Selera Kampar is indeed one of the best place to have variety type of food for breakfast in Kampar. With more than 50 hawker stalls selling different type of food under one roof, for sure we were spoilt for choices. But thanks to my friend's parents for helping us to decide and order the food which the local think are the best one.

#2: This uncle is famous among the local who sits on a stool while frying char kuey teow. 

Once we stepped in the food court,  the first thing came into our sight was this uncle who sat on the stool while frying char kuey teow and we were truly intrigued with the way of his cooking style. My friend's parents told us that his char kuey teow is too popular to the extend that you need to wait for more than half an hour just for the sake of a plate of char kuey teow.

#3: Verdict: This plate of char kuey teow (Stall #32) is full with the amount of "wok hei" as charcoal is being used for frying. Taste wise, it's still acceptable but nothing to shout out somehow. 

Next to the char kuey teow stall is another popular stall among the local, Curry Chu Cheong Fun (Stall #30). Yes, you heard it right - it's chu cheong fun dipped in curry sauce instead the sweet sauce.

#4: Somehow most of my friends preferred the sweet sauce than the curry sauce but for me, this is something unique. 

#5: Kampar version of Lou Shu Fang (literally means rat's tail noodles) - Not a fan of this type of noodle but I tasted the broth and it's taste good.

#6: We supposedly order Ice Blended White Coffee which claimed to be the popular one but as it was too early for freaking cold drink, we substituted with Ice White Coffee instead. 

Another food gained fame in Medan Selera Kampar is the glutinous rice from Stall #42 but unfortunately it closed by the time we were there. Sad, luck wasn't on our side.

Frankly speaking, without the help of my local friend's parents and family who helping to order all the food above, for sure we will miss out the best food in Kampar town. Another thing I love to try is the Curry Chicken Bread but blame our small sized tummy. Perhaps Kampar town again for food adventure?

Medan Selera Kampar
Address: Between Jalan Masjid & Jalan Ampang,
Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.
Operating Hours: 7.30am – 2pm, 7pm-12am

Hotel Review: Le Metrotel of Ipoh, Malaysia

Staying in stylish, chic and trendy boutique hotel has always been part of my travel wishlist, provided still within my budget. Initially before going to Ipoh, I plan to stay in M Boutique Hotel Ipoh but unfortunately it couldn't fit in three of us. And after looked into few factors, we finally chosen to stay in Le Metrotel of Ipoh Town.

#1: Beautifully decorated in the lobby of Le Metrotel

Upon check-in, we were served by a staff with the name of Jessy and she requested a refundable security deposit of RM50. She was indeed friendly and helpful by providing us guide and info about what to eat around the vicinity. However, as it was still early, we're not allowed to check it yet but Jessy allowed us to place all our luggages first.

#2: Internet station solely for hotel guests

#3: Stylish lamp

One of the main factors we chosen this hotel is for its strategic and excellent location. The hotel is located right in the middle of city center surrounded by many famous eateries such as salted chicken, popular Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken, Funny Mountain Tao Foo Fah, Foh San Dim Sum and more. Beside eateries, there are even quite number of shops selling confectionery and infamous White Coffee. You will totally be spoilt with variety of choices.   

#4: Our triple room with one queen sized bed and single bed

#5: Television LCD/plasma screen

#6: Complimentary drinking water with coffee and tea making facility

The only downside of this hotel is the size of the room which was pretty small to fit in into three people. Quite surprisingly the size of the room is almost similar to most of the hotels I stayed in Singapore. Perhaps the room is most suitable for two pax instead of three.

#7: Clean bathroom with powerful rain shower

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#8: So vintage

Free Wifi internet connection within each and every of the room and for the hotel guests with car, there is a free parking space provided. Although the room was basic but it was fairly comfortable and adequate.

All in all, ignore the size of the room, I could say this hotel is definitely an ideal place of stay for travellers seeking cheap, comfort and convenience in Ipoh town.

Tip:
If you are light sleeper, try to request room facing away the main road instead.

Date Stayed: 28 May - 29 May 2015 (1 night)

Rate We Paid :  RM138.00 per night for a triple room without breakfast (Booked via Agoda.com)

Le Metrotel
26-8, Jalan Theatre,  
Ipoh 30300,  
Malaysia.
 

Disclaimer:
This review is truly based on my own personal experience and is my genuine and honest opinion of this hotel, and that I have no personal or business relationship with this establishment.

Art of Old Town, Ipoh

I may sucks at arts and don't even understand at the sophisticated art but that doesn't stop me from loving arts especially the art street. I have to admit that I admired the beautifully painted art street by London-trained Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic which I found they are exceptionally meaningful and interesting, especially across the heritage area of George Town city of Penang. You can't imagine how much fun and trilled I was for hunting down all these colourful art street and wall paintings within the inner city two years ago right after I attended my best friend's wedding in Penang (click here for Penang's Art Street, Wall Paintings & Steel Sculpture)

So when I was in Kampar, Perak last month for another best friend's wedding of mine, besides hunting for the best food in Ipoh town, the first thing to do in my mind was scouting for another art street collection by Ernest Zacharevic himself in Old Town of Ipoh. 

Collaboration together with OldTown White Coffee which is the leading white coffee manufacturer in Malaysia, currently there are 8 unique murals within Old Town of Ipoh:

#1: An Old Uncle Drinking Coffee

Location: On the side wall of OldTown White Coffee and opposite of Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh.

#2: Two Kids on A Paper Plane

Location: Walk further down the road from the first mural which just next to Standard Chartered Bank to be precise. 

#3: Huge Packets of Kopi O

Location: At the car park opposite of Maybank branch in Jalan Tun Sambanthan

#4: Yellow Hummingbird

Location: At the car park in Jalan Panglima (Both #3 and #4 are located nearby to each other)

#5: Tin Mining Town With Chinese-Style Painting

Location: Jalan Bijeh Timah

#6: Old Man with Trishaw

Location: At the small alley of Jalan Bijeh Timah

#7: A Bag of Coffee

Location: Jalan Bandar Timah

#8: Little Girl with Bird Cage

Location: Jalan Bandar Timah

To ease your search looking for all the above arts, I have included map as the following:

[Source] 

Frankly speaking, these 8 art streets are located not far from each other but because my friends were too lazy to walk around and plus, it was raining in the middle of scouting around, we travelled by car instead. Thanks to my friend in black shirt (photo #8) for bringing us around Ipoh.

Oh wait! I heard the latest addition of Ernest Zacharevic's collection is in Kuching town. Can't wait to be back Kuching again.

[Credit To: Ipoh Tourism Board Official Website, Always Travelicious]

Summary of My 5D4N Hatyai, Thailand (2013) Travelogue & Travel Expenses

Here is the compilation for all the post relating to my trip to Hatyai, Thailand for 5 days and 4 nights. Plus, by end of this post, I also share on how much I spent throughout my trip.

Day 1: 21st June 2013

Stay: Centara Hotel

From Hatyai International Airport to Centara Hotel, we took taxi which cost 320 baht per ride.
As for the hotel room, the rate per night is RM192.10 for a superior queen room inclusive breakfast.

Shabushi by Oishi at Lee Gardens Plaza 

We had our late lunch in Shabushi, a Japanese restaurant serving shabu-shabu and sushi in a buffet style. It cost 345 baht per head. Each patron is given 75 minutes to enjoy their meal, or else additional cost will be charged.

Day 2: 22nd June 2013

Klong Hae Floating Market

We took tuk-tuk to this floating market and it cost 420 for a return trip. The driver agreed to give us 3 hour to venture around. Most of the time these tuk-tuk drivers would eventually approach you everytime step out from the hotel, especially if you are staying nearby Lee Garden Plaza. Klong Hae Floating Market is only open from Friday to Sunday. Generally, the vendors start to operate from 3pm to 9pm.

Day 3: 23nd June 2013

A Day Tour Around Hatyai

We got the best price of 1,000 baht for our day trip around Hatyai and Songkla. Normally, the tour starts from 9 am until 4 or 5pm at least but we ended earlier cause the weathers was unbearable hot. Throughout this trip, we managed to visit Wat Hat Yai Nai, Hatyai Ice Dome (Admission Fee: 300 baht for adult and 200 baht for children), Chang Puak Camp, Songkhla Aquarium (Admission Fee: 300 baht for adult and 200 baht for children), The Great Serpent and Golden Mermaid Statue.

Day 4: 24th June 2013

Big C Supermarket, Fuji Japanese Restaurant, Sky Buffet & Gelate

A day before leaving Hatyai, my friend and I decided to go Big C Supermarket for local snacks. And as usual, we took tut-tuk. Expecting to pay 100 baht per ride cause it's located quite distance away from the city center. After shopping, we had Fuji Japanese Restaurant for lunch. Not just they served great and delicious Japanese meals but the prices were pretty attractive and reasonable. As for our dinner, we had the famous sky buffet dinner located on the highest floor of Lee Gardens Plaza in Hatyai. Imagine for the price tag of only 169 baht, it's no harm for us to try before leaving this place permanently on the next onwards.

Extra Feature:

• Keep Calm & Travel to Hatyai (Sneak Peek)

And the following is the details of my travel expenses that I spend for my 5 days and 4 nights trip in Hatyai, Thailand:

(The exchange rate by the time I changed; RM10.42: 100 baht)

NOTE:

1. The cheapest airfare I ever bought! When can I get this kind of fare again? 
2. 15kg baggage allowance for my flight from Hatyai to Kuala Lumpur.
3. Stayed for 4 nights throughout the trip, which including the breakfast as well. Highly recommended hotel to stay when in Hatyai. 

My shopping hauls from the floating market 

My food hauls from Big C Extra Supermarket 

We Eat, Shop & Sleep in Hatyai: Day 4 - Big C Extra, Fuji Japanese Restaurant, Sky Buffet & Gelate

Date Visited: 24th June 2013

I know that my friend and I had spent too many days in Hatyai alone but frankly speaking, we really enjoyed our laid back trip. As it was our last day before leaving Hatyai on the next day, we decided to shop for local snacks and after searching from the net, we took tuk-tuk to the nearest Big C Supermarket.

#1: Big C Extra

Big C is one of the biggest supermarket chains in Thailand selling quality products at affordable and low prices. It's not just visited by the local but by the foreign visitors as well, especially the one in Bangkok where you will be surprised that majority of the customers there were eventually foreign visitors.

#2: My food haul - Lays Potato Chips & Glico Biscuit Sticks 

Done with shopping, our next activity would be fulfilling our hungry tummy. We didn't waste any of our time of choosing what and where to eat cause both of us already decided to dine in Fuji Japanese Restaurant which situated within the building. We had it once before in Don Muang International Airport of Bangkok and we love to have it again. Not just they served great and delicious Japanese meals but the prices were pretty attractive and reasonable.

#3: We ordered Fuji Special Bento Set and Takoyaki. Total damage = 498 baht for two

Back to our hotel which just 10 minutes away by taking tuk-tuk, we continued our day with foot massage. It's like everytime I went Thailand, massage is one of the things I will do, beside shopping and eat. Simply because it's cheap - an hour of massage for only 200 baht. Where can you get this price back in Malaysia, right?

As for our dinner, I came across a blog whereby there is a famous sky buffet located on the highest floor of Lee Gardens Plaza in Hatyai. Imagine for the price tag of only 169 baht, it's no harm for us to try before leaving this place permanently on the next onwards.

#4: Sky Buffet is actually located at 33rd floor, not 10th floor as what stated above

#5: The buffet mainly served authentic Thai cuisines with few Western meals

It's free seating, therefore you can choose whenever you want to sit and dine in. Of course, my friend and I prefer to sit nearby the window to enjoy the view overlooking of Hatyai city. The restaurant is kinda huge, which I personally think can accommodate up to 1,000 people at least. Food wise, they served authentic Thai cuisines such as green curry chicken, Thai fish cake, Tom Yam Gung and few Western meals such as fried chicken and fries. They also served desserts too. But to be honest, the food was so-so only. Nothing to shout about but for the price of 169 baht, I can't complaint much anywhere.

#6: View overlooking of Hatyai city

#7: Gelate - Not from the sky buffet but from one of the shop within Lee Gardens Plaza and this is how we ended our day