It looked a decent enough place but we wondered why some of the earlier patrons looked less than satisfied. We were soon to find out, as after the customary of excited chatter in anticipation of the food, the conversation started to fizzle out as we thought of things to say. And then Ryan asked if we would want to have some Pocky Chocolate Sticks. We at first laughed at him and told him that food was at hand. And then we mercilessly attacked the unofficial appetizer.
As well as the official one....
I started doodling to pass time...
And then just as we were getting really restless, the floodgates opened and the food came. First was Buah Keluak Chicken...
Which went well with pineapple rice...
Which would be topped up freely by Pandan rice once one had finished that...
There was also fried Tofu, which was quite nicely done...
Peranakan radish rojak of some sort, which I cannot comment on for I do not really like such stuff and did not really try it....
Fried egg, which tasted like, well, fried egg. But seriously, it was well done, smooth, with a unique flavour...
This was followed by a mixed vegetable dish. Now you know I am carnivore so again I can't comment for I took nothing but the bean skin which came with it.
And then there was beef rendang....
And prawns with sour a sour, tangy sauce. How many dishes were there?
And spicy fish!!! And mind, it was of decent standard, fresh and the meat firm...
And finally, the dessert. I'm quite the glutton but even I heaved a sigh of relief when I realised the meal was going to end soon. The chendol was nice but not spectacular - still tasted nicer than the Singapore variety though. My friend says it has to do with the fact that in Malaysia fresh coconut is readily available but I opine that it was more to do with the Gula Melaka. Anyhow...
Now, remember that I said that the trip cost S$188. How much would such a meal cost in Singapore? Add in the transport and the bee farm tour thus far (okay, they probably have an arrangement for that) and the trip was already looking like a bargain.
"Maybe the hotel is a hole in the wall," a colleague said. Well, we were to find out.
But before we did, I was able to snap some pictures of some of the many shops around the narrow streets as the bus snaked round Jonker's Alley, which I had not seen in daylight before.
And then we arrived at our hotel, which was certainly not a "hole in the wall". It was a Holiday Inn after all. But disappointment and frustration, for despite us arriving a little late, our rooms were not ready, meaning that we would have to go out for our afternoon activities before coming back to check in. That may have been a good idea but for the fact that the sky started to look ominous the minute we arrived at the hotel.
These though, are some pictures of the public areas of the hotel as well as its surrounding environs.
Seeing that any outdoor activities would be highly unadvised, we proceeded to the shopping area and to a some rather spiffy malls which were in close proximity of each other...
The interiors, however, was what you would expect in any shopping complex and Singapore and Malaysia, though it has to be said that some of the bargain clothes prices were significantly cheaper than those normally found in Singapore. Not my usual idea of a hang-out though. Still, a good walk around for the novelty of being in a new place.
Which is why I did not buy anything but this dessert drink from an outlet (franchise?) which is springing up all over Malaysia.
There was also an arcade game centre which I visited. I found, however, that many of the games available were very old. After pasting my name all over the Top Scorers list of Sega Rally, a driving simulation game which I last played regularly in 1996, I was curious about what the cubicles at the other end of the arcade game centre were.
They were actually karaoke rooms - and they seemed quite popular with the locals for a significant number were occupied. They were not exactly soundproof but the set-up held the noise in quite well. Still, I couldn't really see myself enjoying belting out the latest hits (more like old numbers, if the age of the arcade games are anything to go by) in that confined space.
All in all, there could have been worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon but I was not complaining when it was time to leave and head for dinner.
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