The Dead Cockroach

After my visit to the Fuk Tak Chi Temple, I proceeded to Thian Hock Keng Temple which is situated along the same street.

I was not too happy with my shots at the 178 years old temple that day as my new lenses were not suited for wide angle shots. As I figured what to do, I took a walk around the perimeter of the temple when I realized that mural artiste Yip Yew Chong has been commissioned by the Hokkien Huay Kuan to draw a 40m mural at the rear wall behind the temple.

For the uninitiated, Thian Hock Keng Temple is managed by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (Huay Kuan = Clan Association).

I thought I could take photos of the mural instead since my shots of the temple were not satisfactory. However, my view of the murals were obstructed by the vehicles parked alongside the wall.

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Imagine my delight when I found out that the area would be closed to vehicular traffic for "Car-Free Sunday" in a few days time.

"Car-Free Sunday" is a initiative by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) happening during the last Sunday of every month when roads within the Civic District and parts of the Central Business District (CBD) are closed to traffic, transforming the area into a walkable, cyclist-friendly, and activity-filled precinct for families and friends.

I decided to take advantage of the event to return on that day for another photoshoot and I was not let down.

An unobstructed view of the 40m mural

The mural depicts the life of the early Hokkien immigrants when they had just arrived here at Amoy Street. You should 'read' the mural from the right to the left.

The following are just my own interpretation of the mural.

Bidding farewell to their loved ones and their homeland in search of a better life

Taking the Chinese Junks, they landed at Telok Ayer Bay

Giving thanks to Ma Zu, the Goddess of the Sea at Thian Hock Keng Temple for the safe journey

Coolie quarters?

Joining their respective Huay Kuan (Clan Associations) for assistance

Taking part in temple festivities

The Chinese characters 波靖南溟 (bo jing nan ming) means “gentle waves over the South Seas”. Inside the temple, there is a plaque inscribed with these words which was bestowed upon the temple by Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty in 1907.

The immigrant settled down here, had kids, the kid had a education, got married himself

By the way, that is the mural artiste himself.

The immigrant, now old, sharing with his grand daughter about the history of Singapore

I like the flow of the story, from how these early immigrants left their homeland in search of a better life here and their contributions towards Nation building.

A few passing cyclists interacting with the mural artiste

The mural is nearing completion with only some touching up to do and should be ready for the Singapore Hokkien Festival 2017 from 13 - 23 April. There will be a guided tour and viewing of the mural if you are interested.

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THIAN HOCK KENG TEMPLE 天福宫
158 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068613

Opening Hours
Mon - Sun: 7.30am - 5.30pm

Website: http://www.thianhockkeng.com.sg

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/b9FoTEnzir62
GPS Coordinates: 1.2810871,103.845288

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singapore, temple, thian hock keng, thian hock keng temple, 天福宫, mazu,妈祖,telok ayer street

During the previous Car Free Sunday, I made a return trip to Telok Ayer Street to take photos of Thian Hock Keng Temple (天福宫) as well as the mural on the rear wall behind it by mural artist Yip Yew Chong.

Did you know that Thian Hock Keng Temple is Singapore's oldest Hokkien temple? Built between 1839 - 1842, many had contributed towards the building fund of the temple but the biggest donor is Philanthropist Tan Tock Seng.

The temple was designed and built according to Chinese temple architectural traditions by skilled craftsmen from China but what's amazing is that not a single nail was used in the construction. It has even received a plaque from Emperor Guang Xu (光緒帝) of the Qing Dynasty!

Imagine that! The great Qing Emperor knew of the existence of our tiny temple far away in South East Asia!

The temple was gazetted as a national monument on 28 June 1973 and among the many awards it has won throughout the years, it's latest win was an honorable mention in the 2001 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards.

With such a rich history and heritage, I wonder what took me so long to revisit this temple. The last time I was here, I was probably still a toddler.

The main entrance

The courtyard

Main hall

Inside the main hall is of course the patron deity, Mazu (妈祖), Goddess of the Seas. On either side of her are statues of the Heavenly Sage Bao Sheng (保生大帝) and the Heavenly Sage Guan (关圣帝君).

This photo was taken before I realized that photography is not allowed in the main hall. I just want to draw your attention to that plaque inscribed with the words 波靖南溟 (bo jing nan ming) above Mazu which is bestowed upon the temple by Emperor Guang Xu (光緒帝) from the Qing Dynasty in 1907. The words mean “gentle waves over the South Seas”.

Wishing card

You may write your wishes on the reverse side of this card and hang it on a rack near the altar. Hopefully, heavens can receive your message and make your wishes come true.

Tradition vs modern

Amazing how not a single nail was used to hold everything up

The door guardians

Ornate roof structures

Apart from the main hall, there are other deities to be found in the East and West wings of the temple.

In the East wing, we have the Bodhisattva Sangharama (伽蓝菩萨) and Confucius (孔子公) while on the West wing, we have the Sacred Governor Kai Zhang (开漳圣王) and City God (城隍) flanked by Ba Ye (八爷) on the left and Qi Ye (七爷) on the right.

Right behind the main hall where the East and West wing connects is where Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (观世音菩萨) can be found. She is flanked by The Moon Goddess (月宫娘娘) on the left and The Sun God (太阳公) on the right.

Bodhisattva Sangharama (伽蓝菩萨)

Confucius (孔子公)

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (观世音菩萨) flanked by

The Moon Goddess (月宫娘娘) on the left and The Sun God (太阳公) on the right

The Sacred Governor Kai Zhang (开漳圣王)

City God (城隍) flanked by Ba Ye (八爷) on the left and Qi Ye (七爷) on the right

The photos in this post were all taken with my iPhone except the following ones which are taken with my new Olympus lens. As I was in too much of a hurry to get a new lens after my old 14 - 42mm lens died on me unexpectedly, I did not do enough homework and bought a 40 - 150mm lens that is not suitable for wide shots.

THIAN HOCK KENG TEMPLE 福德祠

158 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068613

Opening Hours
Mon - Sun: 7.30am - 5.30pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/SzbALz2jHp42
GPS Coordinates: 1.2810871,103.845288

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As we all know, water is a precious resource. Other than importing water from our neighbor, we depend on reclaimed water (NEWater), desalinated water, and water from our reservoirs to meet our daily needs.

Under PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme, Pang Sua Pond at Bukit Panjang is the latest addition to its network of stormwater collection ponds.

Launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 25 March 2017, the new pond features an 80m-long elevated boardwalk which is suspended at a height of 7m above the waters.

Residents living nearby can jog or take a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk, while taking in the scenic views.

The boardwalk connects residents to facilities such as the new 3G Wellness Centre, Senja-Cashew Community Club and Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 5 Park.

One of the features of the newly revamped Pang Sua Pond is the man-made floating wetlands which will help to cleanse the water naturally using plants, while beautifying the surrounding landscape and enhancing biodiversity.

The man-made floating wetlands is the second largest after the one in Punggol Reservoir

Providing a natural habitat for birds and fishes

Another feature of Pang Sua Pond are the two lookout decks that offer a panoramic views of the waterfront.

The role of Pang Sua Pond is to collect rainwater from its surrounding residential estates before it is pumped to the Upper Seletar Reservoir for storage.

A multi-purpose stage for outdoor performances

The performance stage and the Promenade

Pang Sua Pond is connected to the Senja-Cashew Community Club via the elevated boardwalk

PANG SUA POND

101 Bukit Panjang Road
Singapore 679910

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Mt2z18DNU3x
GPS Coordinates: 1.3820767,103.76336

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凤珍卤面, feng zhen lor mee, lor mee, singapore, food review, food, review, yew tee, choa chu kang

I have heard so much about this famous Feng Zhen Lor Mee at Taman Jurong but I have never gotten round to having a bowl of it as the location is rather out of the way.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that they have a second branch at Yew Tee which is so much nearer and convenient to me. Apparently from what I heard, the stall at Taman Jurong is run by the mother while the stall at Yew Tee is run by the daughter.

My favorite Lor Mee is from Bukit Purmei Lor Mee at West Coast Drive but unfortunately, the stall has ceased operations due to the owner's declining health. Since then, I have been unable to find any Lor Mee that is worthy of its calories.

Feng Zhen Lor Mee is located inside the S-11 Coffeeshop at block 787B (look out for the single-storey blue colored building) near Yew Tee MRT station. Four kinds of Lor Mee are available here: Traditional ($3/$3.50), Egg Beancurd ($3/$3.50), Fish Jiao ($3/$3.50), and Fish ($4/$5).

I ordered the $5 Fish Lor Mee which comes with fried fish, pork balls, pork belly and half a braised egg.

Actually, I was expecting shredded fish meat and not battered fried fish but nevertheless, the thin batter and flakey fish meat is fresh while the crispy handmade pork balls lend a welcoming crunch to the otherwise soft and gooey dish.

As I took a sip of the gravy, my eyes lit up instantly because I have not tasted such full-bodied gravy for a long time. Even the pork belly that is braised in the lor tastes exceptionally good having absorbed the flavors.

Those from my neighborhood are a far cry from this!

My mum had the $3 Traditional Lor Mee and the portion is quite small. On the other hand, I feel quite full with my $5 Fish Lor Mee. Do take note, however, of the different pricing between the various Lor Mee.

I am now so happy to declare that I have finally found the next best Lor Mee after the Bukit Purmei one!

FENG ZHEN LOR MEE 凤珍卤面

787B Choa Chu Kang Drive

#01-241

Singapore 682787

Opening Hours

Tue - Sun: 6.30am - 2pm

Mon closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/uckd3sjBX7t

GPS Coordinates: 1.3954064,103.7453406

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6th avenue, food, food review, master tang, review, singapore, sixth avenue, wanton mee, 鄧師傅, 鳳城面家

During the Good Friday holiday, I decided to visit the newly opened Learning Forest at the Botanic Gardens. I took the Downtown Line and head towards Botanic Gardens station.

Along the way, I got off at Sixth Avenue station for breakfast at Bukit Timah Road. I am there looking for a certain Master Tang who used to be the head chef of Crystal Jade and is now running his own business at said location selling Wanton Mee.

With this level of fame, I was expecting a huge turnout at his stall but unexpectedly, there is not a single soul at the coffeeshop. I look across the road to the other coffeeshop which is brimming with customers and long queues everywhere.

This coffeeshop is everything that coffeeshop is not. I thought perhaps I was too early or maybe the stall is still not ready for business yet.

I approached the stall cautiously and I saw an old man wrapping wantons silently by the side while a lady was busy checking on the many simmering pots they had which were all screaming for attention at the same time.

They should be Master Tang and his Malaysian wife.

I looked at the opening hours written on a piece of cardboard in front of the stall, then turned to my watch and realized that it is already an hour past the opening time.

The lady finally looked in my direction and I meekly ordered a plate of Wanton Mee with her. While waiting for my order, another customer came up behind me.

I figured that he might be an old customer because they started greeting each other in Cantonese.

"Zou san" he said.

(Good morning)

"Zou san. Sek meh?" she replied.

(Morning. What would you like?)

"Bei ngo yat gor nam yu zhu sao meen"

(I want a Pork Knuckle Noodle)

"Zhu sao zong mei hou" came the answer.

(The pork knuckle is not ready yet)

"Gam bei ngo yat gor gai geok meen"

(Then give me a Chicken Feet Noodle)

"Gai geok yat yong zong mei hou"

(Chicken feet is also not ready yet)

"Gei si hou?"

(when will it be ready?)

"Zong yew boon gor zong tau. Sek dai yi yong ye lah"

(Another 30 minutes. Eat something else?)

"Gam nei yao meh?"

(Then what do you have?)

"Wanton meen lor"

(Wanton Noodles)

"Gam jiao bei ngo yat gor wanton meen"

(Then give me Wanton Noodles)

I am trying hard to put on a straight face because their conversation actually reminded me of McDull.

Anyway, I digress!

My noodles took a while to be done and when they were ready, I helped myself to a small scoop of the sambal chili and pickled green chili.

The portion of the noodles were quite substantial and sitting in a concoction of soya sauce and oil. To have a taste of the noodles in the sauce, I gave it a quick toss without the chili and took a bite.

To my delight, I find the noodles very crunchy although I find the dressing too light for my liking. I then mixed in the sambal chili and things took a 360° turn.

With the addition of the sambal chili, the flavors were instantly elevated to a whole new level!

I know Master Tang had the noodles specially made for his stall which are thinner than the usual mee kia. However, there is a slight alkaline smell which, fortunately, is not too noticeable.

The crunchy noodles

True to Hong Kong style Wanton Mee, this does not come with any Char Siew but five plump boiled Wantons. Wrapped inside the wanton skin is minced pork and shrimp. One of my Wantons, however, did a full monty as it came without the skin.

Strangely, I feel like I am eating Siew Mai instead of Wanton.

Not your usual Wanton Mee chili

Take only what you can finish

They say the Crystal Jade Wanton Mee is based on Mr Tang's recipe but I do not see the hype behind it at all. On the whole, I do like the sambal chili and the texture of the noodles but that is not the style of Wanton Mee I like.

The stall

MASTER TANG WANTON MEE 鄧師傅鳳城面家

Kopitown Coffeeshop

10E Sixth Avenue

Singapore 276474

Opening Hours

Fri - Wed: 8am - 4pm

Thu: Closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Ko46JMjFokN2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3311719,103.7925806

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After my breakfast at Master Tang's, I make my way back to Sixth Avenue MRT station. The Botanic Gardens is another two train stations away but I crossed over to the bus stop opposite and took a bus instead.

The MRT will bring you to the Bukit Timah gate at Botanic Gardens MRT station but the Learning Forest is nearer to Tanglin gate at Orchard Road side.

If you go by the Bukit Timah gate, you have to walk at least 2 - 3 kilometers to reach the Learning Forest. Taking the bus, however, brings you right to the front of Tanglin Gate.

From there, it is only a short distance from Swan Lake to reach the Learning Forest.

The 10-hectare Learning Forest houses more than 700 plant species and more than 200 species of fauna. It is officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 31 March 2017.

Keppel Discovery Wetlands

This is the elevated boardwalk that spans over the Keppel Discovery Wetlands. It gives you an unobstructed view of the entire wetlands.

Spotted a Monitor Lizard swimming across the wetlands

The end of the boardwalk leads to two different paths. On your right is the Durian Theory which eventually leads to the Bambusetem or Pulai Marsh, depending on where you want to go.

If you turn left, it leads to Bark Of Trees, Products Of The Forest and the SPH Walk Of Giants.

Pulai Marsh

The Pulai Marsh supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna and is a part of the wetlands. It collects water from the surrounding area, and is also fed by a natural spring which contributes enough water to fill one Olympic-sized swimming pool every month. The water eventually feeds into the Gardens' Swan Lake.

Spot the fishes

The reason I wanted to visit the Learning Forest is because I am curious about the SPH Walk Of Giants. I wonder how it is like to be suspended 8m in mid-air via a canopy web. You can lie there and look up into the trees (which are still young at this moment) just like what PM Lee Hsien Loong did.

Canopy Web

The SPH Walk Of Giants is an elevated boardwalk in the forest which showcases a collection of “giant” trees most of which can grow up to 20 storeys high. If you follow the trail back where you came from, it is a gradual down slope walk back to Products Of The Forest, Bark Of Trees and Durian Theory.

How it looks like from the bottom up

You can access the canopy web via this spiral staircase near the Swan Lake or you could also get up there via the elevated boardwalk from the Keppel Discovery Wetlands side.

A log with fungi near the "Durian Theory" section

Orchids growing along Canarium Drive

"Bambusetem"

"Bambusetem" is an area dedicated to the bamboo family with over 30 species that occur naturally in the wild.

Just a tip if you are visiting the Botanic Gardens. Bring your own water because the bottled drinks sold here are ridiculously priced at $2.50 for a 500ml bottle. You could refill your bottle from the two water-coolers outside the washroom at the Learning Forest and another two outside the washroom at the Orchid Garden.

Do take note that the SPH Walk Of Giants and Keppel Discovery Wetlands will be closed from 7pm to 7am to maintain a conducive habitat for wildlife.

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

1 Cluny Road

Singapore 259569

Opening Hours

5am - 12am Daily

Website: www.sbg.org.sg

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SingaporeBotanicGardens

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botanic gardens, singapore, singapore botanic gardens, swan lake, tanglin gate, where to go in singapore, sbg,unesco

In my previous post, I visited the newly opened Learning Forest at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. I took a bus from the bus stop opposite Sixth Avenue MRT station which brought me straight to Tanglin gate in front of the Garden.

As the Learning Forest is just a little further down past Swan Lake, it is therefore nearer to go by this way instead of coming from the Bukit Timah gate.

This photos in this post are taken around Swan Lake before I reached the Learning Forest.

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SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

1 Cluny Road

Singapore 259569

Opening Hours

5am - 12am Daily

Website: www.sbg.org.sg

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SingaporeBotanicGardens

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food review,food,review,singapore,6th avenue,sixth avenue,wanton mee,6th avenue,云吞面,good good eating house

If you have read this, you would have known that I went to Sixth Avenue for breakfast before going to the Learning Forest at the Botanic Gardens. After leaving Botanic Gardens, I decided to head back to Sixth Avenue for lunch.

Remember about the coffeeshop I mentioned that is bustling with customers? I decided to pop over for a look to find out for myself what is so "happening" over there.

Along the way, I took the time in the bus to google about the coffeeshop which I found out is called Good Good Eating House of which the Wanton Mee and Teochew Mee Pok are highly raved.

I could not decide which to try since they both looked so good in the pictures. In the end, I decided to be bias and ordered Wanton Mee.

When placing your order, simply give the auntie your table number and return to your seat. The auntie's mother (shall call her Ah Ma) will deliver the noodles and collect payment from you.

In fact, Ah Ma is the one who set up the Wanton Mee stall at Sixth Avenue when she was 40 years old in 1980. Now at the age of 78, her daughter has taken over the cooking while she delivers the food to customers.

The portion of the noodles is visibly lesser compared to Master Tang's and it comes with the usual Char Siew, vegetables and three boiled Wantons in the accompanied soup.

The egg noodles are amazingly springy and good tasting in the mixture of sauces and home-made chili.

The Wanton is quite tiny due to the minimal filling. Because of its size, I cannot even remember how the Wantons taste like.

The Char Siew, on the other hand, comes with a little bit of fat and is quite sweet tasting from the marinade. Luckily, I did not get the all-lean cut so this is still a joy to chew on.

Their soup is rather cloudy. When I took a sip, I was surprised by its sweetness. While in the queue to order earlier, I saw the auntie cooking Yong Tau Foo which is not in the menu. I wonder are the Yong Tau Foo pieces cooked in this soup?

This is definitely one of the better Wanton Mee I have had. I only wish auntie can be more generous with the portion of the noodles and the Wanton filling.

The menu

6TH AVENUE WANTON MEE (6TH AVENUE 云吞面)

Good Good Eating House 好好餐室

24 Sixth Avenue

Singapore 276481

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 6am - 2pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/5zEqi2WTANy

GPS Coordinates: 1.3305403,103.7927905

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Located in the same coffeeshop as 6th Avenue Wanton Noodle is this Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 Mee Pok that is managed by two guys.

The name of this stall baffles me as it is a combination of two very famous Teochew Mee Pok stalls like 132 Mee Pok from Marine Terrace and Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim Mee Pok from Simpang Bedok.

I know of the story between 132 and Lau Lim but what about this stall which claims to be the "Original"? Is this stall hitching a ride on their names or simply a disgruntled sibling/relative/ex-worker striking out on his own?

In all honesty, I have not eaten both 132 or Lau Lim before hence, I cannot compare who does it better. However, this "Original" Mee Pok is the best that I have tasted so far.

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Simply place your order with the guy outside the stall and make your payment at the same time. You will then be given a beeping device to collect your noodles once it is ready.

My $4 Mee Pok came with two bouncy fishballs, a prawn, some slices of fishcake, pork slices and bak chor (minced pork).

It is not hard to tell that the ingredients used are really fresh but what wow-ed me the most were the al dente Mee Pok glistening in the fantastic sauce.

Do not be taken in by the pale looking noodles but the explosion of flavors in your mouth is really shiok. The chili sauce, especially packs a punch. This is so good I prefer it over the one Michelin-Starred Tai Hwa Pork Noodles.

Apart from selling Fishball Bak Chor Mee Pok, they also sell Abalone Noodle ($10) and Pacific Clams Noodle ($6).

Whether this is the "Original" or a spin-off is not important but what matters most is that the taste is good and it is very accessible to me.

ORIGINAL JALAN TUA KONG 132 MEE POK

Good Good Eating House 好好餐室

24 Sixth Avenue

Singapore 276481

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 6am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/5zEqi2WTANy

GPS Coordinates: 1.3305403,103.7927905

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cai tau kueh, carrot cake, chai tau kueh, chai tow kway, delicious fried carrot cake, food, food review, fried carrot cake, personal, redhill, redhill food centre, review, singapore, 日夜香菜头粿, 菜头粿

There are two rival fried carrot cake stalls at Redhill Food Centre but I decided to patronize the one called Delicious Fried Carrot Cake (日夜香菜头粿 #01-33) instead of Fu Ming Cooked Food (福明熟食 #01-49).

The reason why I picked one over the other is because I heard that they add beansprouts (taugeh) to their fried carrot cake. I have eaten fried carrot cake with beansprouts at Thailand before but it is still the first time I have heard of this combination in Singapore. I must admit, it did arouse my interest to give them a try.

Manned by an elderly couple, the uncle does all the frying while the auntie helps to take order, beat the eggs and receive payment.

Both the white and black versions of fried carrot cake are available here and you can opt for or without beansprouts.

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I placed an order for a S$3 portion of white carrot cake with beansprouts. Since there is only one person before me, I did not had to wait for long.

The chunky carrot cake is softly moist and had a springy texture. Everything is held together by a generous amount of egg. I requested for chilli but I did not taste it.

Overall, the carrot cake had a eggy fragrance that I like and it was not too greasy. The softness of the carrot cake is a contrast to the crunchy beansprouts which I wished there were more of since it is what I came for.

The stall uses oil with reduced saturated fat and coupled with the use of beansprouts seem to suggest this as a healthier version of fried carrot cake which I could eat often without guilt.

HOWEVER...

While waiting for my order, I noticed the auntie wiping the sweat off her brows with her hands numerous times and with the same hands, she would touch the plates for the next order. I understand it is hot inside the stall but perhaps she could consider using a face towel instead of her bare hands for this purpose?

Until I could erase that disturbing image off my mind, I will not be paying a return visit anytime soon no matter how delicious their fried carrot cake is.

DELICIOUS FRIED CARROT CAKE 日夜香菜头粿

Redhill Food Centre
Blk 85 Redhill Lane
#01-33
Singapore 150085

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun: 7.30am – 2pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/U4VH8L3Q2H32
GPS Coordinates: 1.287294,103.8159942

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6th avenue, bak chor meepok, fishball bak chor meeepok, fishball meepok, food, food review, jalan tua kong, mee pok, review, 132 mee pok,jalan tua kong mee pok,jalan tua kong 132 mee pok,singapore, sixth avenue,

Located in the same coffeeshop as 6th Avenue Wanton Noodle is this Mee Pok stall called Original Jalan Tua Kong 132 Mee Pok which is managed by two guys.

The name of the stall baffles me as it is a combination of two very famous Teochew Mee Pok stalls like 132 Mee Pok from Marine Terrace and Jalan Tua Kong Lau Lim Mee Pok from Simpang Bedok.

In all honesty, I have not eaten both 132 or Lau Lim before hence, I cannot compare who does it better. However, this stall's Mee Pok is the best that I have tasted thus far.

Simply place your order with the guy outside the stall and make your payment at the same time. You will then be given a beeping device to collect your noodles once it is ready.

My $4 Mee Pok came with two bouncy fishballs, a prawn, some slices of fishcake, pork slices and bak chor (minced pork).

Fresh ingredients aside, what wow-ed me the most were the al dente Mee Pok glistening in the sauce.

Do not be deceived by the pale looking noodles but the explosion of flavors in your mouth really hit the spot. The chili sauce, especially packs a punch. I would say this is so much better than the Michelin-starred Tai Hwa Pork Noodles.

The only one word I could think of to describe this Mee Pok is "shiok ah"! (Okay, make that two words)

Apart from selling Fishball Bak Chor Mee Pok, they also sell Abalone Noodle ($10) and Pacific Clams Noodle ($6).

To me, whether this is the "Original" or not is hardly of any importance. What matters more is its fantastic taste and location which is so much easily accessible compared to 132 and Lau Lim.

Until I have a taste of 132 and Lau Lim, this shall be my top choice for Mee Pok.

ORIGINAL JALAN TUA KONG 132 MEE POK

Good Good Eating House 好好餐室

24 Sixth Avenue

Singapore 276481

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 6am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/5zEqi2WTANy

GPS Coordinates: 1.3305403,103.7927905

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ayam buah keluak, beauty world, burger, crispy pork belly burger, food, food review, hambaobao, review, singapore, bukit timah,beauty world centre,pork belly burger

Hambaobao (a direct translation of Ham Burger in Chinese) is the "new kid on the block", having set up stall at the Beauty World Food Centre about two years ago.

When I first got to know about this burger joint serving some asian-inspired burgers like Ayam Buah Keluak (sandwiched between two buns with Chap Chye, no less!) and Crispy Pork Belly (aka Sio Bak Burger), I told myself that I have to come try it one of these days.

However, the "one of these days" never did materialize as procrastination got the better of me.

Earlier this year, there was news about a mystery buyer buying over the food centre with intentions to redevelop it into an air-conditioned foodcourt. Shortly after that, the food centre's closure was announced and with that, a chapter of Beauty World Centre came to an end.

That was in February. My heart broke to smithereens when I found out about it as I did not get to have a last meal there or even to bade farewell.

Three months on, I was ecstatic to learn from this news article that the hawkers are currently back in action at their respective stalls - albeit briefly - till next year.

One of them is Hambaobao.

It seems like the the acquisition plan has been shelved for the time being. Not about to let history repeat itself, I quickly make my way back to the food centre.

I was half expecting only a handful of stalls to be opened for business and that the food centre would be pretty deserted but on the contrary, almost all of the stalls were opened and there were so much people it was hard to find an empty table!

Other than the Ayam Buah Keluak Burger and Crispy Pork Belly Burger, Hambaobao offers three other kinds of artisanal burgers: The Classic Beef, What The Fish!, and Spiced Pulled Pork.

There seemed to be some changes made to the menu compared to the information that I have gathered before its closure. The price of The Classic Beef and What The Fish (previously known as Dat Dory Fish) burgers have gone up by 50 cents while the Crispy Pork Belly Burger have gone up by $1.

On the other hand, the Spiced Pulled Pork Burger and Buah Keluak (previously known as Ayam Buah Keluak) Burger remained the same. As for the Hand-Cut Fries (previously known as Fairy Fries), it is now $1.50. It was previously $1 with purchase of any burger ($1.50 ala carte).

I ordered the Crispy Pork Belly Burger ($5.50) and add on fries for $1.50 with the lady who wrote down my order in an exercise book. I paid up and was given a yellow slip of paper with my queue number.

I found a table and waited for exactly 25 minutes as instructed then went to collect my order which is placed in a rectangular receptacle on top of a brown sheet of paper.

Sandwiched between two toasted buns were four pieces of roasted pork belly dressed in Hoi Sin sauce and English Mustard.

Each of the pork belly were thickly sliced but I realized it is a little difficult to eat the burger with all four of them stacked inside. I removed two pieces for the burger to become more manageable. As I took a bite, it gave off a loud crunch which is probably how the burger got its name.

Polishing off the last morsel of the burger, I still have two pieces of pork belly left. To be honest, I am feeling a little jelak by now.

Here is a word of warning though: Real teeth is a prerequisite in order to attempt this burger because the pork belly prove to be quite a challenge to bite into and tear away without pulling the entire piece out of the burger.

How did the fries fare then? I guess they were passable; lightly salted but still enjoyable. If only they did not turn cold so quickly.

Run by two young hawker-preuner, I heard they make everything from scratch. Even the fries were hand-cut with the skin intact.

It is difficult to find someone so passionate about what they are doing and taking pride in it. As the saying goes "Do what you love, and you'll never work another day in your life".

Despite the slight increase in price, their most expensive burger at $5.50 is still so much more cheaper than those you get from the cafes. Of course, operating at a hawker centre helps to keep overheads low so they could offer affordable food to their customers.

Do follow them on their Facebook to keep track of their new location when they had to be evicted by the management office again in 2018.

HAMBAOBAO

Beauty World Centre

144 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#04-49

Singapore 588177

Website: https://www.facebook.com/hambaobaosg

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ceJcyBb1RAK2
GPS Coordinates: 1.3421827,103.7414082

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beauty world centre, beauty world food centre, bukit timah, food, food review, hong kong soya sauce chicken, review, soya sauce chicken, 香港玫瑰油鸡面饭,油鸡面,油鸡,香港油鸡

Just a few doors away from Hambaobao is this stall called Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice (what a mouthful!) selling what else, but Soya Sauce Chicken with either noodles, rice or hor fun. Do not confuse this with (*take a deep breathe*) Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, the Michelin-starred stall at Smith Street which has since been rebranded as "Liao Fan".

The latter is my favorite but have become quite impossible to eat with the insane queue ever since it received the award. I had to turn to other alternatives like Ma Li Ya Virgin Chicken and Fatty Ox in order to have my Soya Sauce Chicken cravings fixed.

This stall at Beauty World Food Centre is my latest find, and the nearest to me without having to go all the way to Chinatown where all my alternatives are located at. Other than Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle, they also sell the usual Wanton Noodle, Dumpling Noodle and Beef Brisket Noodle.

Strangely, Glutinous Rice, Chee Cheong Fun and Yam Cake are also available here.

I initially just wanted a "normal" plate of Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles with no specified chicken parts (even if they give me chicken breast, I am also happy) but after queuing for about 40 minutes, I decided to order a drumstick instead to justify the long wait. I would have ordered half a bird if I can finish it alone but obviously I could not.

The queue is not that long actually but someone in front just had to order for the whole village thus it took a while to reach my turn.

My first impression of the drumstick on my noodles ($4) is that it look very succulent. Taking a bite of the fleshy chicken thigh, I find it very tender indeed and well-marinated. I especially love the skin which has a nice aroma to it.

On the other hand, the noodles were tossed in a sweet and savory lor-like gravy which is pretty tasty. However, the texture of the noodles were a little lumpy and not as springy as I like.

It is my first time patronizing this stall so I hope it is only a one-time mishap. Nonetheless, the chicken here is a convenient alternative to Liao Fan's when you have the craving for Soya Sauce Chicken but not willing to queue hours for it.

HONG KONG SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN NOODLE RICE 香港玫瑰油鸡面饭

Beauty World Centre

144 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#04-51

Singapore 588177

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun: 8.30am - 6pm

Website: https://www.facebook.com/hambaobaosg

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ceJcyBb1RAK2
GPS Coordinates: 1.3421827,103.7414082

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chicken rice, chicken rice ball, dickson road, food, food review, hainan chicken rice ball, review, shing boon hwa food centre, singapore, 海南鸡饭粒

The first time I had chicken rice ball was in Malacca three years ago. Frankly speaking, I was not too impressed by it. I remember the rice ball is mushy and lacked the aroma that I am accustomed to with Singapore-styled chicken rice.

When I found out that there is a stall in Jalan Besar selling chicken rice ball, I decided to see how it compares to the one across the causeway.

Jalan Besar is the part of Rochor area that I have not ventured before but the stall is surprisingly easy to find if you are coming by Rochor MRT Station. Just take the exit opposite Lasalle College of the Arts, exit the station, turn left and follow the pavement to the coffeeshop which is just round the corner.

The stall in question has a very generic name called Hainan Chicken Rice Ball (海南鸡饭粒). It is located within Shing Boon Hwa Food Centre, a coffeeshop located diagonally across the road from Sim Lim Tower.

They do sell the normal Hainan Chicken Rice with loose rice for $3.50. However, if you are going for the rice balls, a chicken rice set with two rice balls costs $4.50. For the $5 set, you could get a portion of braised pork belly.

I ordered the $5 set just so I could try the pork belly.

When the food was sent to my table, I almost laughed out loud. I guess it is not apparent in the photo but the chicken rice ball set looked kind of miniature to me because the white plates are not the regular sized ones.

To give you some perspective, the plate containing the rice balls is roughly big enough for one steamed pau while that pink bowl is the typical bowl your complimentary soup get served in when you eat dry noodles.

The hand-molded rice balls here are the size of tennis balls compared to the ping pong sized ones I had in Malacca. As I took a bite, it did not crumble while still retaining the shape. I think due to the molding, the rice grains were a little starchy but I actually enjoyed that.

By the way, they only serve poached chickens here. My chicken came deboned and without skin with dark soya sauce drizzled generously over it. I find this move unnecessary as it only make the chicken meat seem unappetizing. They could have serve it as a dip on the side, in a saucer. And why the need to remove delicious chicken skin?

As for the pork belly, they are very soft and fatty-licious. It must have been simmered long enough in the braising sauce to sufficiently absorb the flavors. I actually enjoyed the pork belly more than the chicken meat itself. I only wish the pork belly be chopped in larger pieces.

The dark colored bowl of soup with taupok (tofu puffs) is a little different from the clear soups you get from the other chicken rice stalls. Not exactly herbal but I think I picked up the smell of cinnamon and star anise. I am just guessing could this be the pork belly braising sauce diluted with chicken stock?

In conclusion, I prefer this over the Malacca version. The rice here have a more garlic-ky and ginger flavor that I like. More importantly is, this rice ball is not as mushy as Malacca's and it does not fall apart easily. As for the chicken, it is tender and moist despite being breast meat.

However, if I were to judge this as Hainan Chicken Rice in Singapore, I would say there are better ones out there as I still prefer my chicken to be dressed in the normal light soya sauce and sesame oil combo instead of dark soya sauce.

Do take note that the business hours given by Google and Burpple is outdated. I checked with the stall assistant who delivered my food and he confirmed that they are opened for business at 10am instead of 8.30am. I am so pissed with the inaccurate info.

Watch out for my next post to know why.

HAINAN CHICKEN RICE BALLS 海南鸡饭粒

Shing Boon Hwa Food Centre

3 Dickson Road

#01-101

Singapore 209530

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 3pm
Closed: Every alternate Wed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/WY6Z5jgTNt72

GPS Coordinates: 1.3070788,103.8201212

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food, food review, jalan berseh, laksa, review, singapore, sungei road laksa, 叻沙, 结霜桥叻沙, 结霜桥

In my previous post, I visited Hainan Chicken Rice Ball at Dickson Road. I had also planned to visit Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice since they are about two streets away from each other.

Because Google and Burpple stated the opening hours of both stalls as 8.30am, I arranged my timing to reach there a little after 9am. However, when I reached Hainan Chicken Rice Ball, the stall owner is still preparing the stall for business (stall lights are off) thus, I went off in search of Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice only to find out that they too are not ready for business yet.

At that time, it did not occur to me that the timing I got from Google and Burpple could be outdated so I did not bother asking what time they are opening. I just thought that they might need an extra 10 to 20 minutes.

With that, I walked to and fro between both stalls for more than five times, thinking that by the time I reach the other side, they would be ready. However, that was not the case. I ended up feeling so frustrated that I ditched the plan and went for Sungei Road Laksa instead.

Why did these hawkers not put up their business hours in front of their stalls prominently for all to see, just like what Sungei Road Laksa did? (refer to photo below)

Doesn't it make everyone's life easier with everything spelt out clearly?

And so, I ended up at the famous Sungei Road Laksa stall which is totally out of the plan but since I am already there, I might as well make the most out of it.

It is self-service here. You queue to place your order, make your payment and wait to collect your food. I joined the queue which is, thankfully, not very long. Barely five minutes later, it is my turn to order.

When I received my bowl of Laksa, I was surprised by the size of the bowl. Indeed, the Laksa here are served in a smaller than usual bowl but then I realized portion wise, it might be similar as those in a regular bowl elsewhere.

The Laksa here comes in only one size at $3 with a generous amount of see hum (cockles). I counted seven in the photo above although there might be a couple more hidden underneath. There are also fishcakes, taugeh (beansprouts), Laksa leaves and thick beehoon (rice vermicelli). There is no hard boiled egg nor taupok (tofu puff).

The broth is rather robust with the flavors of hae bi (dried shrimps) yet it is light (coconut milk wise) and flavorful enough to drink without guilt.

I think what makes this Laksa stand out against it's competitors is that they are still using the traditional way of cooking their Laksa broth atop a charcoal stove. Food seemed incredibly delicious when the flames are fueled by charcoal, don't you think? You can catch a glimpse of the charcoal stove in the second last photo below.

Also, the thick beehoon have been cut shorter for you hence a soup spoon is all you need to eat with. Chopsticks are not required.

Sungei Road Laksa operates in a very systematic way similar to a factory's production line.

Someone at the back fills bowl upon bowls with thick beehoon then arranges them neatly on a multi-level shelf. When a order is received, one of the bowls would be passed to the person manning the cauldron of Laksa broth.

This person will fill the bowl with Laksa broth and passes it to the next person who would add the see hum (cockles) and fishcakes.

Then, another person will add the chili sauce and Laksa leaves. Finally, the bowl reaches the last person in the assembly line who in turn passes the bowl of piping hot Laksa to the customer and receive payment.

So how does this famous bowl of Sungei Road Laksa fare?

I am sure you can tell from the photo above. The broth is not too oily and if you can see the leftover (or what's left of it) in the bowl, it is not too thick, or gao. There is absolutely no jelat-ness at all.

Can you see the charcoal stove under the cauldron?

To get here, just keep a look out for this HDB block 25 which you can spot from afar and you will find the stall inside this Gourmet Street Coffeeshop.

After the Laksa, I headed for home. Along the way, I passed by Hainan Chicken Rice Ball again which has finally opened for business. The time is about 11.30am. Since I still have some room left in my stomach, I decided to give it a try.

Click here for my review.

SUNGEI ROAD LAKSA 结霜桥叻沙

Gourmet Street 伙食街
Blk 27 Jalan Beseh

#01-100
Singapore 200027

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9.30am - 5pm
Closed: Wed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/3hSwxdFuMex

GPS Coordinates: 1.3067568,103.855637

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carona, carona fried chicken wing, chicken wings, food, food review, fried chicken wing, review, singapore, veerasamy road, victor famous fried chicken wing rice

After an exasperating attempt to have Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice, I made a second visit the subsequent weekend.

This time, I reached the coffeeshop at 11.40am instead, having learned a lesson the hard way previously. As I approached the stall, there is already a short queue of about five people in front of me but the queue is not moving at all.

I craned my neck and saw that the first customer is actually buying more than twenty packs of the chicken rice for the whole village. To my relief, she is already collecting the last few packs. After she is done, the queue finally starts moving.

It is self-service here. You join the queue to place your order, make payment and collect your food.

I ordered their signature dish, the Fried Chicken Wing Rice set that comes with two fried chicken wings and rice for $3. I requested for an extra wing at $1.20 more.

The juicy chicken wings are encrusted in a crispy layer of batter which gave off a nice crunch as I bit into it. The savory marinade is so addictive that even the wing tips are polished clean. After trying it for myself, I can see why Victor's fried chicken wings are so popular.

I understand that the rice are cooked using their chicken stock where it probably got its aromatic flavors from. I must say I totally enjoy the rice as well.

Do you remember a Carona Chicken during 1990s? (Actually, I don't)
So apparently, Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice is related to the owner of Carona's Fried Chicken Wing Rice who sold off the business to someone who rebranded it as Carona Chicken.

Carona Chicken became a franchise and business bloomed with many outlets all over Singapore. As with most franchise, inconsistent standards and increasing prices led to its downfall as the outlets subsequently closed one after another.

Fans of the original creator of the recipe would be pleased to know that the fried chicken wings they once adore is still being marketed under a different name - Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice.

Other than the popular Fried Chicken Wing Rice, they also serve Roasted Chicken Rice, Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Macaroni, Sweet & Sour Chicken Rice and Lemon Chicken Rice.

I double checked with the lady about their opening hour and was told they opened at 11.30am; not 8.30am as stated on Google and Burpple.

VICTOR FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN WING RICE

Yi He Eating House

Blk 638 Veerasamy Road

#01-101

Singapore 200638

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11.30am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/nseyn6zJMaH2

GPS Coordinates: 1.307079,103.8529523

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da jie famous wanton noodle, food, food review, jalan besar, review, sam leong road, singapore, wanton mee, wanton noodle, 大姐云吞面, 云吞面

When I was reading up on Hainan Chicken Rice Ball and Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice, I did not realize that there are so many good food to be found along the stretch of Jalan Besar which is somewhat out of my comfort zone.

However, I have already conquered half of it during my previous foodtrail to Hainan Chicken Rice Ball, Victor Famous Fried Chicken Wing Rice and Sungei Road Laksa.

It is a good thing that they are all within walking distances from one another so I only need to venture a little further during this visit to Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle.

Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle is located inside this coffeeshop just opposite Jalan Besar Plaza. I have heard so much about this Wanton Noodle but because Jalan Besar is not a place where I usually go, I have no chance to try it until now.

It is self-service here. After placing your order and making payment, you will be given a beeping device to alert you to collect your food when it is ready.

I ordered item number two on their menu, which is Wanton Noodle Dry with Chicken Feet.

For $3, you get two soup Wantons, two fried Wantons, one Chicken Feet, one Mushroom and some Char Siew, along with springy egg noodles.

At one side of the stall, there is a bowl of crispy pork lard cubes which you can help yourself to.

What caught my eye first was the glistening chicken feet which has been braised to a melt-in-your-mouth texture that does not take much effort to eat. The flavorsome braising sauce is slightly too sweet for me but still enjoyable. The Mushroom braised in the same sauce is equally delicious. I wished it is larger though.

The Char Siew is alright. Although it does not have the charred and caramelized exterior I like, the bits of fats along the edge make it less painful to chew on compared to those leaner ones elsewhere.

There is something about these fried Wantons that makes them very addictive. They are so crispy and so enjoyable to hear them go crunch inside your mouth.

The soup Wanton is of a decent size while the skin is supple and smooth. I preferred the fried version though.

The egg noodles had just the right springiness without being too soggy. It is dressed in a very comforting sauce with the old school taste which makes me wanting more. I must commend their crispy pork lard which does not have the stale oil smell like some places do as it really add bonus points to this plate of noodles.

Click to enlarge menu

Da Jie Famous Wanton Noodle is indeed one of the best Wanton Noodle I ever had. It is really value for money with so much quality ingredients. At the end of my meal, I could not help but to pack $5 worth of their Braised Chicken Feet with Mushrooms home for my folks to try.

DA JIE FAMOUS WANTON NOODLE 大姐云吞面

209 Jalan Besar (Sam Leong Road)

Singapore 208895

Business Hours

Tue - Sat: 6am - 2pm
Closed: Sun, Mon, Public Holidays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dajiefamouswantonnoodle

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/a4vU69jv3Jx

GPS Coordinates: 1.3089547,103.8552411

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saf, aoh, aoh17, aoh2017, army open house, army open house 2017, singapore, dynamic defence display, d3, army platform display, army, battle rides

After an absence of five years, the Army Open House (AOH) has finally made a return! And what better time to bring it back than now because 2017 marks the 50th year of National Service (NS) in Singapore.

I visited the open house held at the F1 Pit Building near the Singapore Flyer over the past weekend. The crowd was insane and there was heightened security as visitors had to undergo body and bag checks before being allowed entry.

Leopard 2SG

Bionix II

Light Strike Vehicle Mark II (LSV Mark II)

Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (Terrex ICV)

Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (Peacekeeper PRV)

AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter

Very Slender Vessel

Leopard 2 Armoured Engineer Vehicle

Recce Jeep

Trailblazer

Leopard 2 Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge

Bronco All-Terrain Tracked Carrier (Bronco ATTC)

Singapore Self Propelled Howitzer Primus

Safari Weapon Locating Radar

Digitised Trunk Communications System

Field Howitzer 2000

Next Generation Armoured Vehicle

F550 Ambulance

Battalion Casualty Station

I spent a great deal of time at the static display because I was 'hunting' for augmented reality vehicles on their mobile app game. After completing the game, I was able to redeem a collectible vehicle of my choice.

I chose a Leopard 2 SG because "Once Armour, Always Armour".

Leopard 2 SG collectible

One thing that I always look forward to at the AOH is the Dynamic Defence Display segment which is a showcase of the latest army vehicles, weaponry and capabilities.

This is the closest to watching NDP 'live' since I do not have the luck in balloting for the tickets every year.

Pardon the video quality below. It was HD on my device but somehow the quality deteriorated after uploading to youtube.

Another thing that interests me at the AOH is the fun ride (or Battle Ride) of military vehicles.

It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to climb on board a military vehicle therefore, the ride is a hot favorite among the crowd. There are four land rides (Terrex ICV, Bronco ATTC, LSV Mark II and Peacekeeper PRV) and two water rides (M3G and LARC V) for your riding pleasure.

This year, registration for the ride is required by submitting your mobile number into the computer system which will send you a text to remind you when your turn is due. As I spent the morning looking for the augmented reality vehicles, I was late in registering my interest for the rides.

Around noon, I went to register for the LSV Mark II but was informed that the queue is not until 4pm! I then went for the next available ride which is the Bronco ATTC at 12.20pm. I should have registered first before playing the game!

Bronco ATTC ride in action

The M3G ride

Army Open House 2017 @ The City might be over but fret not because it is coming to the heartlands! Details as follows.

Army Open House @ Heartland - Punggol
Venue: Open field next to Punggol MRT Station
Date: 2nd to 4th June 2017
Time: 10am to 10pm

Army Open House @ Heartland - Jurong East
Venue: Open field next to Jurong East MRT Station
Date: 9th to 11th June 2017
Time: 10am to 10pm

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johor, kelapa sawit, kelapa sawit murals, kulai, malaysia, wall mural, 加拉巴沙威, 加拉巴沙威藝術壁畫, 古来, 壁画, 壁畫, 新村, 藝術

Last week, the folks and I made a trip to Kelapa Sawit (otherwise known as 26 miles) which is a small village located at the north of Kulai. The name, meaning Palm Oil in Malay, is in reference to the plantation nearby that the villagers depended on for their livelihood in the early days.

The village used to be called "Chang An Village" and had a population of about ten thousand people made up predominantly by the Hakka community.

In 1949, the British, who are the Colonial master of Malaya at that time, relocated everyone living between 24 miles and 27 miles to 26 miles which is heavily guarded and barricaded with barbed wires. The move is to cut off any form of aid that the villagers might have been giving to the guerrillas who are hiding in the jungle. And that, is how the Kelapa Sawit New Village came about.

Back to the topic, we were there to visit the wall murals which is an initiative started by a local art group as part of Malaysia's birthday celebration in 2014.

Actually, this is just one of the "attraction" for our one day tour to Johor. The other places, like Stingless Bee Farm, YOYO, Fuzhou noodle and biscuit factory have been blogged before in my earlier travel posts so I will not talk about them again.

You may read more about my previous day trip to Muar and Kluang.

KELAPA SAWIT VILLAGE

Address: Jalan Kelapa Sawit, Kelapa Sawit, 81000 Kulai, Johor

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food, food review, hakka lei cha, hum cha, kelapa sawit, kulai, lei cha, lui cha, malaysia, thunder tea, 咸茶, 客家, 客家擂茶, 擂茶

In my previous post, I mentioned that we were at Kelapa Sawit checking out the wall murals. Before that, however, we had our breakfast at the local coffeeshop.

There were a couple of very old coffeeshops offering the usual Wanton Noodles and Porridge fare but, we were actually on the prowl for a very special dish associated with this Hakka neighborhood - the Hakka Lei Cha.

The word "Lei" （擂） refers to the action of grinding the tea but it sounds the same as the word "Thunder" （雷） so this dish is also known as the Thunder Tea.

My Mum is a Hakka so she got to have her bowl of Lei Cha which is actually a bowl of plain or brown rice topped with different vegetables and a bowl of soup made by grinding different types of herbs and tea leaves together.

As simple as it sound, the making of this dish on the contrary is a laborious one with all the chopping and grinding involved. Mum do cook it at times but it is very difficult to source for the complete vegetables and herbs needed and that is why she was hoping to find an authentic bowl of it here.

We asked our way around and the friendly locals directed us to this Lei Cha stall near the pasar (marketplace).

You need an acquired taste to truly appreciate Lei Cha. I cannot say I have even though I grew up with this dish. Having seen and helped my Mum making it many times at home, I know the effort that goes into the making and I know the many health benefits that come with it. But, the mere thought of all that vegetables with no meat makes me cringe.

I gotta have my meat somehow! Haha!

This is why, when we finally found the place, we only ordered one bowl for Mum to savor. I had three mouthfuls of it while Dad avoids it like the plague. Despite having only a few bites, I can assure you that this bowl surpasses all the Lei Cha I had eaten in Singapore.

Traditionally, the Hakka would chop the vegetables manually and grind the tea using a earthen pot with a wooden pestle made from the guava tree but nowadays, in Singapore particularly, these tedious work have long been taken over by machines. This is why food nowadays do not taste as good as they used to be.

Mum also ordered a platter of 炸肉 (deep fried meat?), Hakka Yong Tau Foo and fried brinjal stuffed with meat. I quite like these.

The address and business hours

The shopfront

So after Mum had her fill, Dad and I went to have our breakfast at another coffeeshop. He bought RM20 worth of Roast Pork to share while I had this very nice Roasted Chicken Rice. The chicken was tender and well marinated while the rice is aromatic yet not oily. As the coffeeshop was full, I had to eat on the go with the pack of chicken rice in my hand while checking out the wall murals.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten to get the address of the coffeeshop, name and a photo of the stall although I remember it is on the left hand side of this temple in the photo below (go in the direction of the cars till the end of the junction and it is the coffeeshop on your right hand side).

The Temple

VOLCANO COFFEE HOUSE 火山茶餐室

Hakka Lei Cha 客家擂茶

No. 8091 (Kedai Kopi)

Kg. Baru Kelapa Sawit

81030 Kulaijaya, Johor

Business Hours

Mon - Sat: 5am - 1pm

Closed: Sun

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/AWGxqpqBi5s
GPS Coordinates: 1.6729924,103.4592855

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