About birds, birdwatching and my Johor roots. Including the natural heritage, food, culture and wildlife of Malaysia, particularly Fraser Hill, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and beyond. Everything and anything bird, food, animals, travel-related and my family.
I was ready to walk and explore this section of Ipoh after completing my afternoon dessert which comprised of soyabean with grass jelly (Tau Fu Fah) and a cold glass of soyamilk at this shop by "Big Mom." This soya specialty shop was a walking distance from Cititel hotel, Ipoh. One of the ladies working in this shop was busy cleaning the gingko nuts (as pictured below). I did not try the soyabean with gingko nuts this time around.The duck noodles had sold out when we arrived at Bidor, Perak around 12:10pm on the eve of Malaysia Day. Nevertheless, this stall serves delicious wantan noodles. My mum had to order the thosai and literally slurped the dhal like it was a bowl of soup. She did finish off the plate of chee cheong fun with mushroom sauce, as well. Note to self to consider staying in Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites, their website of which can be accessed HERE. Ipoh was not as hectic as Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia Day week, and as long as there is ample & complimentary car park spaces provided by the hotel, that is sufficient. The railway station in Ipoh is within walking distance to some of these hotels but at my age, I seriously have to reconsider rail travel. Managed to have drinks at Red Brick Kitchen restaurant which is a lovely restaurant nestled in front of beautiful limestone hills. More information about this well-kept secret of a restaurant in Ipoh can be read HERE. Chui Chak, Langkap in Perak is lauded as the "Second Sekinchan" with beautiful views of paddyfields. A homestay named "Haako" is available via AirBnB HERE. I passed by Chui Chak previously when driving back to KL using the trunk road from Perak. The visit to Ipoh years ago was when I explored Batu Gajah, Perak with my birdwatcher & nature friend, Connie Khoo. We encountered the Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Cotton Pygmy Goose, the videos of which are available below:-
Limestone Hills at night from the carpark area
Red Brick Kitchen entrance - almost a full house that evening
Chui Chak is definitely on the to-do list for me, once I free myself up to birdwatch and travel again.
River Red Gum tree as identified through the QR code tag on the tree at Seremban Lake Gardens. Read about it HERE. There were two of those trees which I walked under amidst the lush greenery of the gardens that drizzly Monday morning after a mediocre breakfast at the Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban. A native tree in Australia, the river red gum tree is also home to birds such as Little Corellas which you can read about HERE. Victoria Parks website shedding light on the importance of this tree can be read HERE.
The Seremban Lake Gardens was within walking distance of Royale Chulan Hotel.
Iconic A&W drive-by and restaurant facing the lake was packed with diners on Merdeka night.
Greenery is so soothing to tired eyes and seeing canopy of trees like this outside the hotel window substantially reduced my anxiety levels that Merdeka weekend. Negeri Sembilan is also home to the migratory Oriental Honey Buzzards, which I wrote about HERE and a video made way back in March 2015, can be viewed below:-
The garden corner at Royale Chulan Hotel Seremban was my go-to corner to rest & rejuvenate. The torch ginger plants were taller than me and the fully bloomed flowers were all pink and pretty to behold (as pictured below). The torch ginger flowers are an essential ingredient in the Peranakan Nyonya cuisine which you can read about HERE.
I was ready to walk and explore this section of Ipoh after completing my afternoon dessert which comprised of soyabean with grass jelly (Tau Fu Fah) and a cold glass of soyamilk at this shop by "Big Mom." This soya specialty shop was a walking distance from Cititel hotel, Ipoh. One of the ladies working in this shop was busy cleaning the gingko nuts (as pictured below). I did not try the soyabean with gingko nuts this time around. 
The duck noodles had sold out when we arrived at Bidor, Perak around 12:10pm on the eve of Malaysia Day. Nevertheless, this stall serves delicious wantan noodles. 
My mum had to order the thosai and literally slurped the dhal like it was a bowl of soup. She did finish off the plate of chee cheong fun with mushroom sauce, as well. Note to self to consider staying in Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites, their website of which can be accessed HERE. Ipoh was not as hectic as Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia Day week, and as long as there is ample & complimentary car park spaces provided by the hotel, that is sufficient. The railway station in Ipoh is within walking distance to some of these hotels but at my age, I seriously have to reconsider rail travel. Managed to have drinks at Red Brick Kitchen restaurant which is a lovely restaurant nestled in front of beautiful limestone hills. More information about this well-kept secret of a restaurant in Ipoh can be read HERE. Chui Chak, Langkap in Perak is lauded as the "Second Sekinchan" with beautiful views of paddyfields. A homestay named "Haako" is available via AirBnB HERE. I passed by Chui Chak previously when driving back to KL using the trunk road from Perak. The visit to Ipoh years ago was when I explored Batu Gajah, Perak with my birdwatcher & nature friend, Connie Khoo. We encountered the Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Cotton Pygmy Goose, the videos of which are available below:-
