Johor Bahru Chingay游神 HUAT AH~~~

19 February 2014

Not sure since when the word "HUAT AH" , "HENG AH" is very popular among Malaysians and Singaporean? During "lao sang", we shout Huat ah..... During Chingay prayer, the MC will also keep shouting HUAT AH ... HENG AH..... The interesting fact is no one seem to know the origin of this 2 popular term. I been asking around my relatives (old Johorian). "Huat ah" and "Heng ah" is only popular this few years. This few years may be dated back to 2007.  My father agree that this word wasn't used during his childhood.

Thus, I make an hypothesis. The 2 term is originated by Singaporean.. That was told by my Singaporean relatives. Why? Singaporeans like money.

• "Huat"发 is in Hokkien dialect
• "Heng"兴 is in Teochew dialect.
• "Ong" 旺 not sure

Chinese in Johor Bahru are mostly Teochew dialect and Hakka dialect. This 2 terms seem to be exciting and increase festival mood. Malaysians and Singaporeans are like brothers. Thus, throughout the Chingay, you will keep hearing "HUAT AH"... "HENG AH" ...

There are 5 traditional Chinese opera show. It is meant for 5 deities.

• Yuan Tian Shang Di (原天上帝) or Tua Lau Ya (大老爷)for the Teochews, 
• Hong Xian Da Di (洪天大帝) for the Hokkiens, 
• Gan Tian Da Di (感天大帝) for the Hakkas, 
• Hua Guang Da Di (华光大帝) for the Cantonese 
• Zhao Da Yuan Shuai (赵大元帅) for the Hainanese.

Back to topic. I do not join the night parade this year. As a family tradition, we will go for prayer at the Xing Gong along Jalan Ngee Heng before the night parade. Since most of the devotees will come for prayers too, we need to park our car at Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Andak. Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Andak is very near to Jalan Ngee Heng. We need to walk a small path in  funeral parlor to reach the Xing Gong.

dragon dance to pay respect to the deities.

Fire work performance 

An interesting way to ensure your kids' safeness. Parents will put their kids at the back of the lorry. One of the parent or grand parent will stand around the lorry to make sure the kids is in place. While the parents go for the prayer, kids can enjoy any performances(lion dance, dragon dance, Chinese Opera or just jumping in the lorry. Once completed prayer, the parent will carry the kid down from lorry. Is it a great tactic?


Small tips:

• Avoid double parking as it will cause trouble to other car owners
• Avoid parking at the entrance whee the is clear and big sign board wrote "DO NOT ENTER". There is a black car causes a delay for a funeral. Xing Gong is just next to funeral parlor. Please respect other too. The RELA are having a bad time locating the black car owner. "Susah kan orang sahaja"
• There will be "miracle" rain after cleaning street activities
• Before the night parade start, there will be another "miracle" rain. It happens every year. The rain seem to be cleaning the street and reduce the heat. So that the participants can enjoy cool wind.

Post by Quan Video - Photographer.

Video Credit: Quan Video Photography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Johor.Old.Temple?ref=stream

References:

•  https://www.facebook.com/Level3.my
•  https://www.facebook.com/Mediaworks.Studios
• http://issuu.com/level.3/docs/l3-chingay2014_28pp_fa?e=10387310/6660932
• http://ppunlimited.blogspot.com/2012/08/ngee-heng-memories.html

Kim Chi & BBQ Korean Restaurant @ Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru

27 January 2014

Anneyhaseoyo~~ Today, we bring our Colombia guests to try some Korean delicacies. On Jalan Pera, Taman Pelangi, there  are around 4 Korean restaurants. Our Manager only mentioned the word "Kim Chi"... My colleague and I bring the guests keep running around this 3 shop. In the end, we found out that our manager booked the most modern and great looking Korean Restaurant.

PS: Due to limited memory in SD card, I only manage to capture a few photos. 

Korea Side Dishes

Steam Egg

Korea Seafood Pancake

Cold Noodle

Our guest and us can not accept this dish. We not use to eating cold noodle. We still prefer noodle served hot.

Porridge using Steamboat soup

It is very delicious. The soup base contain all the essence from the ingredients

Some steamboat dishes. The BBQ beef just so wonderful.

Ler's Reviews:

Service: 4/5

Delicious: 3.5/5

Parking: 3/5 
Not sure got serve porl. Please leave me comment if this restaurant no serve pork.

Kimchi & BBQ Korean Restaurant
24, Jalan Perang,
Taman Pelangi,
80400 Johor Bahru,
 Johor

Briyani Village @ Jalan Tun Abdul Razak， Johor Bahru

24 January 2014

Today I help to entertain some clients from Colombia. I feel very proud to introduce good food them. Everyday we have the chance to eat different food. This really surprised our clients. It is so much easier to communicate over food topic.

Ms S, our Indian friend decided to bring the client to try some good Nasi Briyani at the down town.

A very small shop can only take up to 25 persons.

 I really like the art piece and Persian decoration in the shop.

Mutton Briyani. Top Right: Ginger Tea

The mutton is hidden in the rice. Ms S teaches us the Indian way of eating Nasi Briya. First pour the Dal sauce over the rice. She is very experience. With a swipe of her hand, the sauce is pour evenly onto the rice... Not the case of our Colombians client. The mutton is very tender soft

Naan and some curry sauce. On the top right corner is a drink called Maru. It is a yogurt drink. However, it is too sour for the them. For me, I prefer to add lots of honey to it. It is just too sour. Ms S is ok with the taste. Ms S order mango lassi. part of the ingredient is Maru. Her maggo lassi taste very sweet and smooth. 

Chicken Masala

The spiciness is not acceptable for our clients. They are not used to spiciness.  For me, oohh Got spicy aahh???..." Tak rasa pun. Sedapnya..."

Naan With Black Sesame and Garlic

Kulfi

They love this dessert. It is made up of ginger, milk and lots of nut. We have to wait for while for it to melt before can eat. My manager jokes that to eat this dish, you need to use some "qing" only can spoon it. True enough, not sure why, only him able to spoon it without much difficulty. Why is it so hard for me to spoon this dish? I really like the a bit salty and a bit ginger taste and crunchy nut dessert. By the way, This dessert is limited. Not every day we can order and taste. 

Ler's Reviews:

Service: 4/5 ( the boss is very friendly)

Delicious: 4/5

Parking: 5/5 
( Ample of parking lots during night time)
Halal

Village Briyani Cafe

15, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak 1/1,

80000 Johor Bahru, 

Johor

Tel: 07 - 222 0360

Operation Hour;

Monday to Sunday

11.30am - 3.00pm

5.30pm - 10.30pm

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-Briyani-Cafe/291819940832925

Restaurant Thong Yen 唐人菜馆 @ Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru

4 February 2014

On the fifth day of Chinese New Year, we decided to try some food outside.

The restaurant is open by the same boss of Restaurant Sin Kimdo Seafood. The seafood restaurant is very well known among local and Singaporean. Their waiter and waitress respond quite fast due to years of experience. I really like the quick service. 

Fried Vegetable RM12.00

Tou fu on Iron Plate RM12.00

Stewed Pork Belly with Bun 扣肉包 RM18.00

It is very delicious to eat with steam bun

Roast Duck RM30.00

The skin is very tender,. The meat is very soft and tender. It still have a lot of meat juice when bite on it.

Malaysians like to eat with cili paste. Sister request for the Thai cili paste. The thai cili paste have lots of lime / citrus / "limau" juice. Spicy and sour is a good combination with duck meat.  This cili paste is very suitable for fried rice too.

Total: RM82.90

Ler's Reviews:

Service: 4/5

Delicious: 4/5

Parking: 5/5 
(There are rela/ volunteer police take care of the car)
Non-Halal


Image Credit: Thong Yen

Restoran Thong Yen

 No. 91, 93 Jalan Beringin, 

Melodies Garden, 

80250 Johor Bahru, Johor.

Website:  http://thongyen.com/

Facebook: https://zh-tw.facebook.com/thongyenrestaurant

Half Day Trip Muar, Johor

3 January 2014

9.30am Depart from Johor Bahru, Johor
11.00am  Fill up petrol
12.00 noon Reach Parit Jawa
12.10 noon Visit Parit Jawa market
1.00pm Lunch at Restaurant Yuan Wei
3.00pm Visit elder place
3.30pm Tour around Muar's down town area
4.00pm Visit Nam Thien Temple
4.30pm Tea break at Muar Tanjung Park
5.30pm Visit another elder  house
6.30pm  Depart to Kuala Lumpur.

Ler Review on Muar Trip

This building will be demolish in 1.5 years for new development.

Chinese New Year, we still got the chance to play pop-pop. ^^

The very famous asam fish stall is not open on the forth day of Chinese New Year. TV3 interviewed the stall before. 

Nan Thien Temple. 

The new extension of Nam Thien Temple

The garden of Nam Thien temple

ABC Ice

Rojak

Dessert drink 六味冰

Popiah Skin with yam paste at Tanjung Park

Restaurant Yuan Wei 原味亚叁鱼 @ Parit Jawa, Muar

3 January 2014

My dad's eating philosophy is "eat like a local". He like to meet the local. Ask the local and eat with them.  I agree with dad. This way, we get to enjoy food like a local.  This trip, we are lucky to have his old friend, Mr K to introduce us some good Muar's delicacies.

Fried Fish (白鲳)

I don't know the English name for this fish. The direct translate is ""bai chang". Mr K explains the difference between 白鲳 (bai chang)， 斗鲳 (dou chang) and 黑鲳 (hei chang).

• Bai chang has less meat  and thinner skin compare to hei chang. However, bai chang's meat is more fragrant and sweeter compare to hei chang.
• Hei chang  has more or thick  meat but the taste and texture not as good as bai chang. Mr K used the word bland to explain hei chang. It is best cook hei chang with sweet sour sauce
• Dou chang is the best and most expensive among the "chang" category. Dou chang fish are usually reserved by restaurant. The fresh dou chang is best eaten by steam.

True enough, this fish just marinated lightly with some salt  and fried it. Not need to dip the soy sauce. I can taste the sweetness of the fish. However, fried fish need to eat while hot. The oil will spoil the meat texture when the dish is cold.

Boiled white shrimp

Freshly caught shrimp just boiled lightly with hot water. No seasoning was added in the hot water. After peeling the shrimp, it is best eaten with 金桔酱 "jing ju jiang”

 金桔酱 "jing ju jiang”

Fresh shrimp is very sweet by nature. Jing Ju Jiang is sour. Shrimp and jing ju jiang combination is very appetizing. 

Oyster Fried Egg

Muar  river 's estuary / "Kuala" produced lots of oyster.

The oyster here are small species. The size is approximately as big a my little finger tips. It is not as juicy as Australia oyster but it is sweet too. Almost all the seafood I ate in Muar have its natural sweetness. The oyster fried egg here very different from Penang Fried oyster egg. The chef used less starch but more oysters. There are at least 4 small oysters in every spoon I take.

Fried Daun Ubi and Otak-Otak

Otak-Otak is a must eat dish in Muar. The restaurant only served limited home made otak-otak During Chinese New Year,otak-otak sold off very fast. The texture is very firm. You can clearly see the fish in the paste. It is not fiery hot but just the right amount of spiciness. Another Muar friend, Edyln explained that there are approximately 200 commercial or home based business doing otak-otak in Muar. Muar has less activities. Thus, Muar people will spend their time to perfect their otak-otak recipe. That is why Muar's otak-otak is always the best. 

Steam Fish Teochew Style

菜蒲/ “Caipo” and sliced ginger is fried until golden brown. The fish is then steam with this ingredient. It is very different from the usual Cantonese style steam fish. The caipo is like the catalyst to the steam fish. It is very appetizing. 

This restaurant mostly visit by local only. I saw some Taiwanese tourists. They are brought here by Malaysian's family members.

Ler's Reviews:

Service: 3/5 (May due to peak hour)

Delicious: 4/5

Parking: 5/5 

Restaurant Yuan Wei

原味亚叁鱼

No. 163-21 Bawah 

Jalan Jabbar, Parit Jawa, 

84150 Muar, 

Johor

Fish Bidding @ Parit Jawa Market, Muar

3 January 2014

Mr K brings us to the market to buy fish. He ask us to buy the fish we want to eat. My dad is busy choosing fish with Mr. K.

I am more interested with the fish bidding process. This is the first time I see a live fish bidding process.
Mr. K explained that

• most of the Chinese fishermen are "Teo chew" dialect
• fish sellers and fishermen have 2 different job scope
• mackerel / "Tong Ah" fish are usually catch by fish cage. 
• Mackerel fish will only be reserved for Muar since it is the main ingredient for Otak-Otak
• Only Mackeral fish that  grow in Muar sea bed are the best ingredient for Otak-Otak
• Muar people been experienced with Mackeral fish from other place around Melacca Strait (Example: Pontian). However, the taste just very different.
• Muar folk will only used Muar produced mackeral fish for otak-otak
• If no fish, they will not produce otak-otak. Else otak-otak with squid or shrimp will be produced.

Fresh fish on the third day of Chinese New Year

Fish cleaning process

The fish bidding process are

1. Fisherman (uncle wearing white T-shirt with blue collar) will put the freshly caught fish on the floor
2. Middleman or fish seller will check the fish
3. Fisherman will keep shouting the fish name and asking for bet. ( I don't know "Teo chew" dialect. My mum translates and explains to us)
4. middleman or fish seller will whisper their price to fisherman.
5. After collect a few price, the fisherman will direct the highest bidder to the table. 
6. On the spot, middleman  or fish seller pay it. 
7. The bidding will continue with other type of fish.

This process open up my mind. I always thought only Japan practice bidding for Tuna fish.  I really learn something new.