2007 December | slowcatchupkuan - Part 4

Archive for December, 2007

8

Around the World on an Empty Stomach


This is not a sponsored post ok. I do realized that my blog had been infested by paid reviews all of the sudden. A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do to slash out some of the stuff off her wishlist so i am not gonna apologize *wakaka. But rest assured that i will proceed each sponsored post (if there’s any) with my personal post. *you think peanuts like me so keng to have so many sponsored post meh!

Do take note that all reviews of that kind will be tagged as “Moolah Reviews” for obvious reasons. *duh! Just so you’d know.
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Traveling, photography and food enthusiast are in for a treat. It’s the new book from Anthony Bourdain, titled “No Reservations-Around the World on an Empty Stomach“. To tell the truth i have no idea who the heck was Anthony Bourdain till i read… or more specific… see this book (coz it’s mostly populated by awesome photographs).

I am not going to launch into the detail history of this guy *even though i think he’s friggin’ damn hot for a 51 year old! So, just a short intro will do. Anthony is a New Yorker and was a chef running kitchens in New York before he shot to fame, and he is a contributing authority for Food Arts magazine. He was the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles. He is author for a few books on culinary art. In 2005 he was involved in a TV series called “Anthony Bourdain – No Reservations” screened on Travel Channel. This book is the latest book published based on the series following the first book with title “No Reservations“.

noreservations
Hot bad boy chef!

This edition of “No Reservations” took him to all over the continent, from Asia to places such as India, China and even Malaysia, to North America‘s New York and Las Vegas, to Africa and many other exotic cities and countries looking for the best food in town. Mind you, Anthony doesn’t take you to exclusive 5 star restaurants but rather hunt for food at small hidden stalls (like mamak stalls or somewhat) for the best and maybe the most disgusting tasting dishes.

What i found interesting is that this book is not all about food but about his cultural and social experience as an ang moh mingling with people all over the world. His entries are sarcastically charming and sometimes hilarious. Imagine an ang moh chowing down on Peking Roast Duck in China, hunting for wild boars in Borneo, Sarawak with the orang asli, doing movie-action stunts in Hong Kong and even taking a short nap in the desert of India.

Do look out for his entry on Beirut where his crew and he was trapped for a few days between Lebanon bombings.

However, do not mistake this book for a travel or food log. It is not. It is a fusion of travel, food and a photography journal coz it’s full of photographs more than anything. The photos are not really that professional but in my opinion, it is inspiring enough as it captures the real moments and culture.

As for food lovers, there’s a bonus. A list of “Where To Eat” bookmarked near the end of the book.

I directly quote the descriptions for Malaysia from this book:-


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MALAYSIA

Fish Head Palace under the Big Tree
In the front yard of a rundown house across from No. 6 Jalan Tiga (the Kaseng Corporation building)
Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur
No telephone
Fantastic steamed fish head and other Malaysian/Chinese specialties outdoors, next to a noisy metalworking facility. A real “How the hell did you find this place?” local favorite.

Choon Hui Coffee Shop
Ban Hock Road, near Grand Continental Hotel (ask anybody)
Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo
No telephone
I mentioned laksa before. Here’s my choice for “best”: fiery. butt-burning, and made in the city where (arguably) they make it as its highest level. Who knew it could be the breakfast of champions?

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There are also some quirky stories near the end of the book. Check it out if you happen to stumble across it.

Here’s a clip on his adventures in Sarawak. This is Part 4 out of 5 episodes – if you’re interested in the first few and the last episodes, search on youtube.com. You’ll find clips of his makan trip in Kuala Lumpur and Chef Wan‘s special appearance too.

Personaly i think he sux as a narrator coz he sounds so monotonous *wakaka.

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11

Lame Joke


This is the lamest joke i’ve ever heard.

KidCheng: 2 Indians sitting opposite each other. They do not talk to each other but apparently they understand what each other is thinking. Why is that?
Me: Coz they are shaking their head?
KidCheng: Nope. Guess again.
BlurryHunniee: Just tell us lar.
KidCheng: Ok. Coz they have the red thing on their forehead. (sorry i don’t remember what’s it call)
Me: So?
KidCheng: Infra red ma!
Me: -_-”

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7

The Mob Family


My TeddyMommy will kill me for posting this. *mom, look at the bright side… Jackie Chan might accidentally bumped into these photos and decide to hire us as supporting actors/actresses for a movie called Drunken Lords, Hidden Kingpin… or The Fly Catcher Queen.

*** For food review please visit my food blog at http://kuanfoodfetish.blogspot.com/ ***

Introducing…. *drum roll please……

The Mob Family!

Notoriously known as: The Skinny Kingpin
Affectionately known in the family as: Sei Lou Ye (Old Hag)
Status: Ring Leader
Special Ability: Gobbling everything on sight

kingpin

Notoriously known as: The Drunken Lady
Affectionately known in the family as: Lou Tai Po (Old Granny)
Status: Ring Leader’s Mistress
Special Ability: Listening and nodding with eyes glazed and not understanding a word.

drunkenlady

Notoriously known as: The Drunken Lord
Affectionately known in the family as: Mung Cha Cha (MC Square)
Status: Negotiator
Special Ability: Yapping non-stop whole night

drunkenlord

Notoriously known as: The Drunken Master
Affectionately known in the family as: Si Fu (Master)
Status: Kung Fu Si Fu
Special Ability: Downing whole lot of tea.

drukenmaster

Notoriously known as: The Fly Catcher Queen
Affectionately known in the family as: Tai Tai (Rich Wife)
Status: Bait
Special Ability: Shopping non-stop

& behind is

Notoriously known as: The Bodyguard
Affectionately known in the family as: Tai Jek Lou
Status: Bodyguard
Special Ability: Talk kok non stop

catchflyexpert

catchfly
Fly Catcher Queen, Drunken Master & Drunken Lord

Notoriously known as: The Ecstacy Queen
Affectionately known in the family as: Mommy Tai Sai (Mommy Wins All)
Status: Distributor
Special Ability: Mothering the mob family

drugqueen


Note: There were no drugs or alcohol abused in the making of this series.

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10

Unhelpful Malaysians?


Following my previous post, on What Happened at KLCC–> KL Sentral LRT Transit…

I realized that i am naive and kick-ass-easy-to-con. I can’t be 100% sure that he was a con man… uhm… maybe about 80% sure.

Only on the way back did we begin to analyze what happened.

1) He claimed he is from Singapore but he doesn’t speak too much English. Yes, he understand few English words but he keeps conversing in Mandarin with us even though he knows our Mandarin sux and we speak English well. There were no hint of Sigaporean Mandarin accent when he spoke…

2) He complained on how unhelpful Malaysians were, especially the police officers even though he god damn knows i am a Malaysian myself. If you are in a foreign country would you dare to complaint about the country’s inefficiency to the locals? My conclusion is he purposely said it so we would go all out to prove he is wrong… like giving him money and helping him out? Plus he god damn knows that i could identify with his complaints about the unhelpful ‘officers’ so i would pity him.

3) If he was asking for directions and help from so many people i can’t believe that he could have end up walking the whole 3 hours with no help whatsoever… unless no one understands Mandarin in Malaysia! I don’t believe that majority Malaysians could be so heartless!

4) He wanted to go to Singaporean embassy… ok i didn’t know where it was. I only found out that it is in Jalan Tun Razak. I can’t believe that he was directed to KLCC instead. It’s so damn nearby but he walked to KLCC instead… unless all Malaysians are so ignorant like me to not know where the embassy is.

5) His brother told him to wait at KL Sentral’s KFC. I can’t believe that he can’t remember it’s Pasar Seni or KL Sentral… It sounds too different right?

6) When we went up to look for him, he left his backpack on the corner floor outside KFC while he walked around. If a person lost his wallet and passport before this would he be so careless again?

All these thoughts were on our minds the whole time we were heading home. Trust me, if you were in the same situation, i think most of you wouldn’t have thought so much about all these points on the spot. Not everyone is so observant and logical all the time. It’s not like you can ask him to sit down 10 minutes while you analyze the situation.

I don’t mind the RM10 since we gave it out of sincerity. However, i admit that i am far more reluctant to help anyone that’ll approach me in the near future. I am wondering what would happen if he was genuine. We would have just ignored and turn our backs on him. Judging by the response and comments i got from the previous post, i guess most Malaysians are really cautious nowadays.

So, we’re unhelpful but who’s to blame?
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*i think i’m gonna find out where every embassy and police stations in Malaysia is located…paranoia paranoia…

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1

Happy Birthday TeddyMommy!!


This is a late shoutout to mom! (Her birthday was on 25th November–>> a Scorpian chick!!)

Happy Birthday TeddyMommy!!! Hope you enjoyed the dinner :)

family

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17

What happened at KLCC–>KL Sentral LRT Transit…


Read on. I’m curious and would appreciate some opinions.

After doing some Christmas shopping, we went down to the KLCC Putra LRT station to get a ride home. Our ‘driver‘ was unavailable. The 3 of us were pretty cheerful coz we got most of what was on our shopping lists. So we were like some 38 aunties chatting and laughing aloud waiting for the transit to KL Sentral terminal. We must have look a lil’ bit too jolly and friendly looking coz a man approached us for help. Actually he was queueing up behind us, looking really anxious.

Our Mandarin sux like hell, but we could gather that he was from Singapore and he lost his small bag in KL somewhere. So his wallet, passport and money went poof! He had lodge a report at some police station near Pudu. The service was really bad coz officers told him in a harsh way that he was plain careless and ask for RM4 processing fees even though he lost his wallet.

Then he wanted to go to the Singapore embassy but have no money and don’t know the directions. According to him, his brother was suppose to arrive tomorrow morning to meet him at Pasar Seni or KL Sentral but he wasn’t sure. Coz it’s been 6 years since he came to Malaysia. All he could remember from what his brother had told him is that the KFC is just right next to the elevator so i was pretty sure it was KL Sentral. He asked passerby to lend him their mobile to call his brother in Singapore but people just look at him suspiciously and walked away.

He asked for directions to KL Sentral but people pointed him to the wrong directions so he walked for about 2-3 hours and finally arrived at KLCC. A good hearted lady bought him a LRT ticket and pointed him to KL Sentral and that’s where he bumped into us. He even voiced his frustration on how unfriendly and unhelpful Malaysians are… *but donno why i damn layan him -_-”.

He sounded really troubled but we were cautious. We were going to KL Sentral so we were on the same transit. We decided to hand him to the KTM officers for some assistance. However, during the LRT ride he told us that his brother had asked him to wait at KL Sentral’s KFC the next morning. So, on arrival we directed him to KFC and went on our way.

End of story? No, not yet.

After purchasing our KTM tickets, i suggested that we give some money to the man so he could at least get a meal and call his brother. *i pitied him lar! i too soft hearted ok! So we went up the elevator to see if the man was still there. He was. We handed him RM10. He was hessitant in taking the cash and admitted that initially he wanted to ask for a short change from us so he could make a few phone calls but decided not to. He kept thanking us for our kindness and ask us how he was ro repay us. Then, he told us that he will give to charity when he gets back to Singapore.

Do not judge but if you were in my position what would you do?

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