Must-Have Food in KK (Part 1)

Before the arrival of my friends (Sarawakian and KLites) at the Land Below the Wind, I was having headache thinking where to bring these people in KK. I mean, I grow up in this beautiful city all my life but when everything seems to be ordinary since I practically see them all my life. Acceptable reason? :) Therefore, I just brought them to food and places I grow up with and here are the list of food you ought to try when you visit KK. Of course there are more yummy delicacies than these but here are a few among those that you MUST TRY! Some of these must-try food are my favourite food of course also... ahhh loves :) :) *drool* Do bear with me as I might be pretty bad with the food description as I am not familiar with the terms related to food. I only know how to use the word YUMMY and SEDAP >.<" Therefore, I will leave the description to the better ones (flogger - food blogger). Hint hint. You know who you are ;)

1. Beaufort Fried Noodles :: Kim Fah Restaurant (Plaza Grand Millenium, Penampang) ::

This homemade noodles originated from Beaufort which is a district in Sabah. The noodles is stir fried with vege and pork (sang nyuk and char sau). A really fragrant local dish that my dad and bro usually order two plates whenever they have this in the restaurant. This shop has another branch in Beverly Hills, Penampang with the same restaurant name.

2. Tom Yam :: Kedai Kopi Dat Seng (Inanam Bussiness Centre - buildings next to the Inanam bus terminal) ::

- This coffee shop not only serve their delicious tom yam but also fish head mee hon. Tom yam in KK has revolved from the original one where milk or coconut milk is added to the tom yam and this adds the fragrance to the dish. The sour and a lil spicy taste combination is just perfect :)

3. Tuaran Noodles :: My House ::

I still think that the best place to have tuaran noodles/mee in the whole KK will be my own house. My mum cooks the best tuaran mee in the world :) I have tasted this noodle in shops before but none beat mum's. Luckily I somehow inherited her skill in cooking the authentic dish. This homemade egg noodle originated from Tuaran (another district/township in Sabah) and the texture of the noodle is just different from the ordinary noodle. Served best when fried with egg, pork(char sau), and vege which can also be substituted with chicken and prawns, you can only find this noodle in Sabah :) Another local dish that you must try! I found some coffee shops that serves this dish online like here and here . Go give it a shot :)

4. Chu Chap :: Kedai Kopi Luyang (Foh Sang, Luyang) ::

- This dish is a mix of deep fried pork innards served with some sauce/gravy and chilli. My favourite would be the intestine (chu chong - in Chinese Hakka dialect) which is so crispy that you wouldn't have guessed it was actually intestines because the difference of texture from the original one. Even friends who don't take innards had some and they were okay with it ;D That coffee shops sells a lot of many other yummy dishes like Char Koay Teow, sate and etc hehe :)

5. Sang Nyuk Mien :: Kedai Kopi Jia Siang (Lintas Plaza, Penampang) ::

Translated from Hakka Chinese, the name of this dish means raw meat noodles. Of course the meat is not served raw and I have no idea how did it get it's name. The pork meat is white served with noodle in soup or you can have it dry where the noodles are mixed with soy sauce (kicap) alongside with another bowl of soup with your meat :) I used to have this dish in Sinsuran when I was younger but my dad decided that this shop in Lintas beats many other shops that sells the same thing. KK has decided the same thing too, I assume, since this shop is always full of customers. They open from early morning till 2 or 3 am in the morning. Now, that is almost equivalent to the mamak shops with the difference of healthier food! 

Had enough?? :) :) There are more!!!! But you will have to wait. I will have to stop here first before you salivate more :P Will continue some other time as I have something to do now. Till then, you stay tuned ok! 

Credits to Mr. R for some of his picture that I "stole" :P

Kota Kinabalu P2

Heya!! Here's the other tour I had with the KL-iets :) :) The best part will have to be the food! Will write another post on that later. At the mean time.... taaadddaaaaaa!!

Me, the loyal driver waiting to pick my guest up at the Terminal 2 Airport

Met up with another friend was the mesmerizing view on the way sending him back caught everyone's attention. The picture doesn't much justice. 

Went to Sutera Harbour Resort for sunset view. I have to say that KK has amazing sunsets and I AM PROUD to be urang KK bah! CAAnnnTTEEEeekkk!!

  

Boyfriend? Ehem ehm.... no lar! My bro lah. I am still waiting for my prince charming to sweep me off my feet *puppy eyes* :D

 Pulau Manukan the very next day. The weather was perfect! Though it was raining season back then, the sky was clear that day! *grin*

Tip of Borneo (Simpang Mengayau, Kudat). Many many thanks to Daddy for driving!! Sayang you daddyyy :P (though you might not read this lah)

 

Monsopiad Cultural Village which also known as the Headhunters Village.

Rice making on the way - the traditional method. This traditional grinding machine is not easy ok! Damn heavy!!

 

BUTOD (Sago Worm) - free gift in Monsopiad Village :P I dare you to try this! :D FRESH and ALIVE :D :D :P

Ever classic Gaya Street a.k.a Sunday Market

In Gaya Street, dad bought a pack of the butod for the west malaysians to try :) It was my first time trying it too (shame on me for being a Sabahan for 21 years! :P~)! When it was alive, it looks like this. 

After fried in the wok, it looks like this... with a little innovation of course ;D BUTOD SANDWICH!! 

Process of the butod eating was recorded but it will be meant for personal view only :) You have no idea how it takes for me and Steph to be convinced to stuff that raw wriggly thing into our mouths. I'll have to say it is definitely a hell of an experience. You should go try it!! Not something to be missed out when you visit the land below the wind :) 

I officially declare myself as a CERTIFIED (not) tour guide now. A guide without a license of course :D

P/s: Credits to Steph and Rubern for some of the pictures used above. 

Dedication For You

7th July was the date I boarded the plane back to Kuala Lumpur to settle my registration for my master in UKM. My itinerary stated my flight departs at 6.05am and I was in the airport way earlier, say 5.10am. I was so sleepy due to the lack of sleep from the late night. No, I was not watching FIFA World Cup of Uruguay VS Netherlands match. I couldn't sleep that night as I was tossing myself on the bed, up and down, left and right. I was afraid with the uncertainties ahead of me. How will life turn out when I am back in UKM doing my master? I was already missing home that very moment. I was reluctant to board the plane that yet to board during that hour. 

And so, that Wednesday morning when I waited in the boarding hall while waiting for the announcement to board the plane bound for Kuala Lumpur. I reached out to my phone and logged into facebook just to update myself with statuses. I was shocked with one status that I instantly woke up from my drowsiness - the dismiss of a friend. What a day to kickstart my day! I was already expecting the worst of the day from the registration. The news definitely didn't make my day any better. The news was worse than the worst that I expected. That moment, the only thing that crossed my mind: Life is full of surprises. Life is full of uncertainties. 

I have known this girl for a couple of years. 3 years to be exact. It was three years ago when I entered one of my class that this girl sat next to me started talking to me. She was wearing a pink cap and she looks sweet in it. I wondered why was she wearing that cap but I didn't bother to ask why. We started talking and I found out that she was not the same age as the rest of us. She was a year older than my batch of coursemates. Again, I wondered but I didn't ask much. That was the day I met this wonderful girl. Apparently, she was postponed her study previously and she is continuing her study with us now. 

This same girl uses the same pink cap to class everyday. I noticed she had no hair underneath her cap and I figured she was sick. One day, I found out from other friends that she  has cancer. She had surgery to remove growth in her head and she uses the cap while waiting for her hair to grow back to cover the hole she has on her temples. During rare occasions, she uses wig and she looks so sweet and pretty. She had a very sweet smile. She was getting better and improving. Hair started to grow back and she looks like any other girl on the street. The greatest things I find in her would be her cheerfulness and helpful. She was the kind girl who would offer anyone any help, from giving you a ride to arranging the photocopying of textbooks for the entire class. Mind you. THE.WHOLE.CLASS. She wouldn't ask for anything extra nor expects anything in return. She is such a cheerful friendly girl that practically everyone is her friend.

As I entered the second year of my degree class, I see her less often due to the different classes we have (we are in two different courses). I didn't notice that she was not around the uni until a friend pointed it out that fact to me. I was then told that her health was deteriorating again and her condition got worse than before. Apparently, not many knew about it as she didn't want to worry anyone. She had to stop her study again. No updates about her were received until two days ago. I was not very close to her but she definitely showed me lots of things. I truly admired this girl. She was so strong and optimistic throughout the years of fighting her sickness. There were hidden struggles under those sweet smile she shares with us. 

Suddenly, I felt my problems or uncertainties are insignificant anymore. What are my worries compared to hers? What are my difficulties compared to hers? And many others in the world who has greater problems.  Life is full of surprises. Every now and then. Till this day, I still couldn't digest that news. Being young doesn't keep you away from death. I know I see news of young people dying everyday but it has never occur to anyone I knew. One thing for sure, her courage will be a true inspiration for those uncertainties ahead of me. I shall learn to face these underlying problems in life. Those uncertainties. Those challenges.

I believe she has inspired many others in different ways. She will always be remembered by many, may it be her courage, her smile, her kindness or just herself. May God grant her family the strength to endure this time of grief. To my dear friend, you will always be remembered  in prayers. Rest in peace.

Kota Kinabalu P1

Heya peeps! Here's a post bout my tourguiding experience last month. So.... this is tourguiding number 1.

Guest Name: Bridget Lee
Guide: Brenda Chong
Date: 28 May - 07 June 2010
No of Stay: 11 days
Accomodation: Kibabaig Inn, Penampang (Owner: Chong's Corporation)

And here are the pixies!

Food hunting! :) Lintas "Sang Nyuk Mien" *Slrrp*

Lok Kawi Zoo Wildlife Park. My first visit here (I think!)!! :P

The elephants inside the park were scattered around their "home". See the baby elephants in the pic?

Now you don't see the baby elephants anymore. Reason? A lizard passed in front of the elephants and those gigantic creatures spontaneously surrounded their babies to protect em. Awww... darn adorable ok! ;)

Orang utan!! I never got this close to any orang utengz :) Happy happy happy!! That fella dang cute okie. Manja betul!! :) :)

A view from centre of the city. Next to the main market in town, near Hyatt Regency. Therefore, I don't know what to name this place. Hohohoh~~

City view at the back :)

The two B's. The guest and the guide :P

Model kecundang Wannabe :P @ Sabah Museum

One of the rumah contoh in the museum :)

Tourist's must-take shot :P

Had satay feast in one of the nights in conjunction with cousin Philip's birthday

Didn't get to join the Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival Celebration) because of the rain everyday T_____T We were even stuck at home for one day cuz my house was flooded. Grrrr.... Oh well, all the more reason to come back next time! :) :) *wink*

P/s: Miss Bridget, do come back KK same time of the year again next time! Hopefully, it won't rain like mad again like the other day. 

Coming right up, butods in da house~~!!! Stay tune :)

Ranting

It is the first day of July now and how I wish I could stop time, or at least slow it down a little. Frankly speaking, this holiday (as I am concerned) seems to be rather short. Shorter than those previous ones I guess. Time passes fast when you are happy. Vice versa. I had awesome loads of fun this break and I just can't seem to get enough of it :) :) One thing that I learned, family and friends are the best things you can have in your life. Nothing fancy, just having them around can make your life colourful doesn't matter where you are may it be deep in the jungle, or a serene beach, or just plainly at home. 

Now, the "short" break is coming to an end and it is time to face the reality again. I got accepted to do my master in the same uni, UKM. Yup, as reluctant as I am to get my arse back in there, I am still going back there. I will be a student again for another year and hopefully end up with a awesome job. At the mean time, I am at the state of mind where I somehow fear of whatever that is coming ahead. Some fear that I had before I enter uni when I was 18 years old. Right now, I have no idea if everything will just be the same like the days I did my degree. Will the days ahead be challenging? Or they will be filled with more and more and more fun  (and study stress that always comes along with it of course :P)? I don't know. One thing I know, I look forward to those days! Lets just pray for the best! :) :) 

I will have to deal with the registration again, just like last time. Short period notice yet so many things to be done! Headache headache headache!~~ Ggggrrrr~~ Anyway, will update bout my tourguiding experience when I am free ;) Come back and check out the awesome stuff bout KK. Till then, take care! :)