1st Gathering after CNY 2011

It was a good start of the week for us. I woke up at 9 plus on Monday morning and was about to take my breakfast when Phillip messaged me. Asked if I was free for lunch. Got makan - not free oso must make myself free...rite?

He picked me at 11 and before long we were sitting at Geylang Serai Food Center. Phillip was so glad that Hajjah Mona was opened, his teeth almost fell off. There was a short queue and we were already salivating admiring the sight of the colourfully well displayed dishes. After some photo shoot, we began our sinful gastronomical mission. The food tastes so good "Simply out of this World".

Our stomach were so bloated after the feast that we needed a stroll badly at East Coast Park. Don't get me wrong...we neither held hands nor fondle each other erotically. It was broad day light dude! Actually, we went there to wait for Dick to call us. He was having a meeting at Chinese Swimming Club. Finally, he called and suggested we drive over to the club. That was the reason we landed in 3Bars@CSC. We had a little get together and left at 3.30pm. I had to go for my tuition in Sengkang. It was a pleasant day.

Lunch @ IVINS Restaurant - 19/21 Binjai Park (Bukit Timah)

The Four Yaukwees - Phillip Lim, Dick Lee, Richard Lim & William Lim

Rendang Beef

Lady Fingers Sambal

Sate Babi

Stuff Chilli Selar

Sambal Kangkong

Ikan Sambal Manis

Shrimp & Crabmeat Omelette

Ayam Buah Keluak

Buboh Cha Cha

Emicakes

Mr Wang - Boss/Cook/Waiter

That's all the Meal cost

Phillip fetched Dick and myself at 10.15 this morning. We arrived IVINS @ Binjai Park just before 11am. As usual, Richard was late. We had coffee and ordered the above food just before Richard arrived.

We started devouring the above food and I believe all four of us enjoyed the meal very much. All four suffered happily and were satisfied with the quality of the Peranakan food.

Phillip surprised me with a cake he bought from Emicakes. It was eggless but taste delicious. We were so full but still managed to gobble down a slice.

As Richard had a second lunch, he left at 12.45pm. Our next destination was Turf City. We needed a walk badly to digest our bloated stomach. Had coffee there and left for home at 4 plus.

This is the first time I had a birthday meal with my primary & secondary school buddies. I am very grateful to them and hope to make this an annual affair.

By the way, this year we celebrate 50 years of knowing one another since Primary 1 back in 1961 and hope more buddies will be able to join us as Makan Kakis.

Dick, Richard, Phillip & I had our first Makan Session for 2011 today.

We went to Nan Xiang Chicken Rice @ Tanjong Katong Road. This stall is in a coffeeshop next to Caltex. A queue had formed by the time we reached there at 12 noon. The chicken, char siew & sio bak are simply succulent. Richard even tah pau the char siew home for dinner.

Next, Richard suggested going to Singapore Swimming Club for a relaxing time at the cozy pub. Surprisingly, we were the only patrons there. We ended the day early as Richard has other appointments.

Day Trip to Kulai on 08th Dec

Where we had our lunch @ Kulai

Where we had our lunch @ Kulai

Fried Behoon

Herbal Turtle Soup

Curry Wild Boar Meat

Claypot Bull Frogs with Ginger & Black Sauce

Stir Fried Tapioca Leaves

After the Disastrous Storming

Took local bus 7B from Jalan Wong Ah Fook @ Rm4 for an hour's ride to Kulai town. Walked along the row of shops and saw many coffeeshops selling local fare. All of which were not too hygenic with countless houseflies attacking the food like warplanes. We were left with two choices, Claypot Bak-Kut-Teh or Cze Cha. We settled for cze-cha @ Restoran Hai Shan.

We encountered a problem ordering our food. No menu and the owner only speaks Mandarin & Hakka. However, we managed to order what we wanted. It was past one pm and the lady owner saw the hunger the two of us were in. Within minutes, the delicious plate of fried behoon was on our table. Then gradually the Herbal Turtle Soup, Curry Wild Boar Meat & Stir Fried Tapioca Leaves were served. We were delightfully surprised that a shabby coffeeshop like this could whip up such delicious food. So we ordered another dish of Claypot Bull Frog.

Like ieatishootipost, I award the dishes 4/5.

Fried Behoon Rm 8

Herbal Turtle Soup Rm20

Curry Wild Boar Meat Rm10

Stir Fried Vegetables Rm 5

Claypot Bull Frogs Rm28

Drinks Rm 3.60

TOTAL: Rm74.60 = S$31.33

Unfortunately, other than food, this town has nothing much to offer.

Also found a little traditional bread shop in JB town that's more than 100 years old. I bought a pack of 10 slices Banana Cake @ Rm8 fresh from the oven. The taste is excellent.

After missing out a visit to the Pharmacy, Richard & myself decided to make another trip to JB to do just that. Picked Richard up at noon and headed to to City Plaza. It was almost 1pm when we reached there. I was already suffering symptom of "Parkinson's Disease".

We went to Ah Zhai Curry Fish Head at 74, Jalan Wong Ah Fook. I order each a bowl of half fish head curry (See pix) costing only RM15 each.

As we were eating the delicious curry, Richard decided to "tai zhou" a full fish head (frozen fish head, ingredients & curry soup) for his family. After our sumptuous lunch, we went to the Pharmacy to pick up our medical needs. We missed our planned visit to the nursery and headed for home by 315pm. I promised another trip to the nursery with Richard and others.

Wonderful filling meal and fulfilled my pharmacy needs.

Day trip to Batu Pahat (02 December 2010)

The Four Yaukwees: Dick Lee, William Lim, Richard Lim & Phillip Lim

The Sungei Batu Pahat Bridge

Signage just after the bridge

Putra Specialist Hospital

Mohd Shah Mutton Baryani Rm6

Relaxing @ Old Town Coffee

Our day trip to Batu Pahat was an excellent one. Dick was the driver and we got into JB by 10am to have breakfast at a noodles stall.

After satisfying our hungry stomachs, we headed on an hour or so journey along the North-South Highway to Air Hitam. Had toilet break there and Richard bought a big earthen pot for either his plants, fish or to be kept under his bed and used as pee pot.

If you are in for spicy food in Batu Pahat, there's a malay briyani place we can recommend. It's called Mohd Shah Baryani. Travelling along Jalan Kluang and before reaching the town, you will see a huge blue & white mosque with two tall steeples from a distance. Turn right immediately after the mosque and proceed on to cross the Sungei Batu Pahat bridge. You will see a signboard on your right. "Selamat Datang Kompleks Niaga Benteng Peserai". On the opposite side is the Putra Specialist Hospital. Try the briyani and be your own judge. I tah pau two packets home.

We were glad that our stomachs were happy. Drove down to town for chendol desert at Jalan Engan and strolled to digest our food making room for more.

Drove to Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club before heading back to Batu Pahat Mall to cool down and have our coffee break at Old Town Coffee. We wanted an early dinner of the town's famous Asam Pedas but to our disappointment, could not find any that's open. So we decided to make our way to JB for Ah Koong Restaurant at Taman Sentosa. It rained heavily along the highway and visibility was poor. The drive was slow and seemed eternity but thanks to the company.

Back in Singapore at 10pm without any hindrance at causeway and customs.