UTOPIA

BK & 7-11

2026-10-26T16:27:11.078+08:00

What's in the 7-11 box?

Spicy chicken drummets!

3 pieces for RM7.90 nett.

Spicy like McD spicy fried chicken, but still tolerable.

I had it with BK fries...

And a whopper burger....so syiok😀

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Third time having Nam Heong prawn noodles since its promotion RM10.10+ (or RM11.70 nett) in October.

Had rice vermicelli with hor fun. There are 2 pieces of peeled prawn (underneath the noodles), around 4 pieces of bbq pork, half size boiled egg, kangkung, fishcakes and loads of fried shallots. The broth is flavorful with rich umami taste.

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Back to Warakuya again. This time I had tempura bento. The kimchi is so out-of-place coz this isn't a Korean food😂

Also ordered an ala-carte salmon sushi roll. Taste OK.

Total bill came to RM52 nett.

Food was just so-so, but this place is always packed with people during the weekends, mostly in families.

Monkey Coffee Cup - Korean inspired western cafe

2026-10-25T03:48:27.939+08:00

Passed by this cafe in the neighborhood but never thought of dropping by to try the coffee/food.

Then I came across it on social media reels featuring its Korean fusion pasta and pizza, which immediately piqued my interest.

It was opened on 16th September....just a month plus...but before this, it has an outlet in TTDI.

The contemporary interior....cafe style.

Their signature Bangers & Mash. Click on the picture to enlarge and read the description.

My sis told me she had bangers & mash served as wedding food in the UK....

fomo....i pun try😂

The dish came with two cherry tomatoes, two asparagus spears, a generous serving of mashed potatoes, and three sausages. The sausages had a mild spicy kick. It was accompanied by some pickled cabbage, which helped cut through the richness and balance the greasiness. Drinking water is foc and free flow.

Nice quiet ambience on a weekday evening. Total bill came to RM55.70 nett after service charge and tax.

Overall, quite nice...well, you paid for quality at such price.

Madam Kwan's @ Pavilion BJ

2026-10-22T16:00:54.991+08:00

I think it's been well over five years since I last dined at Madam Kwan's.

And somehow, I miss their Nasi Bojari....

From AI search:

Nasi Bojari is a variation of Nasi Briyani. The name is believed to be derived from a combination of "Briyani" and "Jari" (finger), suggesting a meal that's so delicious you'll want to lick your fingers.

I went to their Pavilion Bukit Jalil outlet on a Friday evening. This was my first visit to Madam Kwan's at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, as my usual go-to outlet is the one in Mid Valley.

It was crowded, which proves that Madam Kwan's still a favorite among diners😄

It was 8pm++ and yet there are still people coming in.

I quickly did my ordering via QR code. These days you can customise the Nasi Bojari with the options to switch the fried chicken to curry chicken or exclude the assam prawns/beef rendang with something else. There's a list where you can select the options.

I'd still prefer the original. I was told that the preparation took 16 minutes, but i waited for more than 20 minutes before the food arrived on my table. Everything was prepared fresh and served warm. The chicken leg was piping hot with its crispy skin and succulent meat.

The rendang was excellent, featuring lean yet tender meat. The Assam prawns came with two pieces and were fairly average in taste, although I did enjoy the generous amount of onions.

By the time I finished, the place was almost empty, as most of the diners had already left.

The bill came to RM38.15 nett

They also serve Ayam Gepuk to keep up with the trend, but I would still choose the Nasi Bojari whenever I dine here.

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Brief walk around the mall after the heavy meal.

There is an automobile display....featuring the brand GWM, commonly refers to Great Wall Motor, a Chinese automobile manufacturer. Nowadays, there are so many Chinese brands in the market.

Walking the mall in pyjamas is now a trend? Can you spot the couple in pyjamas?

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Tsutaya bookstore before closing time.

So quiet and peaceful. I'd love to read books and do my work here....It's like a library....

I hope that one day each neighborhood would have a community library, something like in SG.

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Bought a BK Whopper Jr value meal for RM9.90 nett. This is for my next day's brunch.

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Parking rate in Pavilion BJ.

Left the mall at 10pm, paid for the parking at 10:02pm

Exactly 2 hours on the dot😀

So, I paid RM3 only.

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Earlier that day, I finished all the expired Milo biscuits....

Meanwhile the small can of Milo is going to expire by this year-end😐

Amsterdam Canals

2026-10-21T02:41:40.964+08:00

[Continuation of the previous post]

Early spring back then, but surprisingly not many Asian visitors, mostly European & Middle Eastern.

The leaning signboard pole looks comical to me....Stay strong, leaning pole!

Walked past the red-light district of the city. There are coffeeshops selling cannabis 'legally' and they smell unpleasant.

Many years ago, I envied my colleagues who had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam's canals during their business trips. I told myself that one day, if I ever had the chance to transit through Amsterdam, I would make sure to visit the canals.

I heard bells ringing from the nearby cathedral that keeps reminding me of the time. Can't stay long. Need to speed up and get back to the airport in a few hours😅

Looking serene and peaceful. I wish I could stay longer here....

Cooling weather too. Natural air-cond.

There are lotsa people dining alfresco enjoying the scenery and cool weather...

[Above] The bicycles parked at the bridge.

[Above] Basilica of Saint Nicholas. I stood outside and didn't know it was open to the public.

Amsterdam Centraal station. Took the train back to the airport around 4pm.

'Sprinter' refers to a local train service that stops at most or all stations along the route.

I bought a return ticket, using the same ticket to enter the platform. Took around 20 minutes to reach Schiphol. Bye bye Amsterdam, see you again next year!

I did the same solo walk again in 2026, posted here.

Vlaamse Frites

2026-10-18T22:13:07.102+08:00

[Continuation of the previous post]

Exited the train station and right outside is the waterfront. Lotsa people hanging out and sat there to enjoy the view. There are vessels sailing thru as this river connects to the English Channel.

bicycle lanes

Coffeeshop....you'll see people smoking weeds and enjoying space cakes.

Some sort of building....

Private building....fully covered with curtains for privacy.

The facade of Amsterdam Centraal station. The station was opened in 1889.

Some buildings were built around 17th - 18th centuries, some even older.

This area is too commercialised....too many cruises spoilt the view😐

I prefer looking at the old architecture. Do you notice the wiring for the trams?

Be cautious on where you walk/stand, there are bicycle lanes, tram rail, vehicles on the road and lotsa people walking too.

But their roads are in good condition, no potholes.

Along Damrak street, there are shops selling Vlaamse Frites (fries).

Long queue, but as a newbie I joined in the queue😂

I had truffle mayo fries. Yummeh!

Price was around 6+ EUR....

Sometime this year, I explored some hidden alleys nearby, there are shops selling the same but no queue at all😅

How long does it take from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal?

2026-10-14T14:00:37.419+08:00

[Throwback year 2025]

Plenty of time to kill before my next flight. So I went to explore the city center. After exiting the immigration, i walked towards the Schiphol station which is inside the Schiphol Plaza....

But before that, made a detour outside the plaza for this iconic signboard.

Now back to the station....

There are ticket machines to purchase tickets, but I only have big notes, hence i gotta buy from the counter.

The terminals are underground, with no proper gate/turnstile. Just remember to tap the ticket at the yellow check-in pole before boarding the train, or else risked being fined.

This station looks very retro.

The underground terminal.

How much is my return ticket?

3 stops away. Expected to reach Amsterdam Centraal in 13:47

Reached!

Back to the question.....the answer is roughly 20 minutes!

FUHU by Zouk

2026-10-13T04:30:46.922+08:00

This restaurant was firstly launched sometime in 2019 with vibe-dining theme.

It is located at the lowerground of SkyAvenue complex, right below this glass ceiling.

The escalator heading to the restaurant...

No crowd on a Friday weekday.

Ordered a wat tan hor and sliced beef in black pepper sauce.

The sliced beef in black pepper sauce is very flavorful with tender beef meat. Need to eat with rice.

The ambience...dim lighting....and cushion seats.

Total bill came to RM69 nett. Paid by vouchers.

HAPA awarded restaurant....heck cares what award is that as long as the food is edible😂

This place used to be a bar. The bar seating was dismantled and replaced with more dining tables.

Next door is Zouk. Have you been to the Zouk?

How about Red Tail?

I'm an introvert so I've never been to both😅

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Chapfan from 126 Mixed Rice restaurant....

3 pieces of curry chicken, a piece of fuchuk (beancurd skin) with fish paste and soy knots with assorted veggies.

After 50% off the price is RM6.60

Very worth-it!

Tasty Wok @ Happy Garden

2026-10-11T14:43:17.320+08:00

After a year (or maybe 2) we are back at Tasty Wok restaurant. This restaurant was previously located in Bukit Jalil and has closed down for a year plus....

It made its comeback at another location - Bukit Indah, Happy Garden which is still quite nearby.

We ordered our usual dishes - nyonya style steamed fish

Romaine lettuce in fuyu (fermented beancurd) sauce

Minced pork tofu

Tried a new dish - plum sauce pork ribs. The dish has potato cubes in it. Tastes sweet and tangy.

Overall, the dishes were OK, very much the same taste as last time....the boss still recognizes us coz we used to patronize his restaurant while in Bukit Jalil.

Total bill came to RM137.50 nett which is reasonable. We kept the bill for next visit to claim a free steamed fish, not sure when this promotion end, but the boss said it's flexible for us😆

BON APPETIT!

Pork Satay & Chicken Chop in Sunny Food Republic

2026-10-08T17:44:53.175+08:00

Chicken chop set from Western grill in Sunny Food Republic. This is a popular item and waiting time around 20-30 minutes during the weekend evening. Generous portion for RM15.

Another popular item is the pork satay. A mix of lean meat and pork fats in each stick. Quite flavorful with the marinades. Served with peanut sauce and cilantro sauce.

Ordered 10 sticks for sharing with 5 pax.

We also had these dishes - hakka braised pork belly with yam, blanched lettuces and steamed tilapia.

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Back at Warakuya Japanese restaurant....

I had sushi & sashimi rice set....Too much carbs, couldn't finish the rice. Next time I should have just order the sushi ala-carte.

Konyaku served after the meal. Melon flavor, not too sweet, just right.

This place has recently been renovated and now offers more seating.

Thai Chala - Tom yum soup

2026-10-07T12:27:17.800+08:00

[Throwback]

Went to Thai Chala but not sure of what to eat. So, I simply ordered a clear tom yum soup with chicken.

Not much edible ingredients inside this pot, mostly are lemongrass, some parsley and spice leaves.

Will not be ordering this again.

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[Below] Not airbnb nor my house....just a showroom😂

just kepoh....look see look see only, no harm if not buying....hahaha....Looks abit like IKEA showroom

nice bedroom too

This is the study room/home-office...tastefully decorated

[Below] This is another layout with large balcony. It's getting common to have large balcony in apartments design these days, although i don't quite like the idea coz it serves no purpose other than collecting dusts. Most luxury apartments don't allow tenants to hang/dry their clothes at balcony and it is too hot chillout there during the daytime.

Casco Viejo, Panama

2026-10-04T14:56:32.587+08:00

[Throwback year 2023]

Just posting some of the photos that I took 3 years ago while strolling Casco Viejo, the old town of Panama City. Casco Viejo is something like our Malacca Town with all the historical buildings.

[Below] Iglesia de San José (Church of Saint Joseph). It houses the renowned Golden Altar (Altar de Oro)

There is a myth regarding this golden altar. As per the AI search:

The Myth: Popular folklore claims that when Henry Morgan attacked in 1671, a quick-thinking priest painted the precious golden altar black to disguise it as crude or worthless.

The Reality: Historical and physical analysis has debunked this legend, showing that the golden altar was actually crafted in the early 18th century.

Some of the buildings here house the government offices.

Many turned to cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants too.

There are a few historical buildings surrounding the Independence Square - the Municipal Palace of Panama (Palacio Municipal) is one of them (see below). I stood at Basilica of Santa Maria while taking this picture.

Some hidden alleys in between the old blocks.

This entire place is like a mini old Spanish town.

Seafront....

The dark skies looming. I ran to find shelter coz it was drizzling.

By the way, you can't find a decent beach in Panama City. Too many vessels passing by.

Also, there are many yellow facade buildings in Casco Viejo....the below is another government office.

Casco Viejo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Most of the buildings here are well preserved.

Monuments

I also visited the Canal Museum. Paid USD15 (per pax) for the visit. The museum is devoted to the history of the construction of the Panama Canal in its various stages, including the first French construction attempt, the later construction by the United States and the transfer to Panamanian control.

Before that, some stone age artefacts....

Not sure what are these, but they look artistic!😂

The ships....like those seen at Malacca straits centuries ago.

Old coins....You can maneuver the magnifying glass to look at the details of the coins.

Another insightful history lesson from visiting this museum.

Menya Abura

2026-10-01T20:17:45.681+08:00

In Japan?

Nah!

Menya Abura has been around for more than a year in the neighborhood. This was my second visit.

Ordering is done via kiosk, like in fast food restaurant. Their specialty is Abura soba which is a popular Japanese soupless ramen dish where fresh, chewy wheat noodles are tossed directly in seasoning sauce and aromatic oil.

During my first visit I had the shoyu ramen (which is not their specialty). So, this time i tried the real thing.

After stirred everything evenly, the noodles look like this. I added an ala-carte gyoza for extra protein.

Springy noodles, but tastes bland compared to our local chili pan mee😂

I know it's not apple-to-apple comparison, but I think our chili pan mee tastes better coz got minced pork. This one no minced pork.

Gyoza was just so-so, nothing to shout about.

Total bill came to RM30.80 nett

Best Pizza Place - Pizza Verace @ Costa del Este

2026-09-30T12:31:52.413+08:00

Right below my airbnb apartment, there's a newly opened pizza place and it is claimed as 'best pizza place' coz it has recently won some awards.

Several notable international recognitions such as:

The Best Pizza Awards 2025, ranked no. 74

The Best Pizza Awards 2026, ranked no. 58

But i wasn't fond of eating a whole pizza on own. So, I ordered pasta instead.

I couldn't remember the exact name of this in Italian or Spanish (in their menu), but it is tomato based.

On another day, I tried the anchovies pasta.

Then on another day, a rigotoni.

All were superb! Eccellente!

This place is usually full-house in the evening and on weekends. I would normally go on weekdays evening, but the place got fill up fast after 6.

The boss giving a hand signal and smiling for my picture.

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When I finished my dinner early, I would walk to the nearby supermarket (Rey Supermarket) just to look see look see on the coffee beans....

Sometimes I walked abit further to the neighborhood's Towncenter mall. There's a cinema at the top floor which I never go. Most of the movies are dubbed in Spanish with English subtitles.

Family Dinner at Yang Ming

2026-09-28T00:00:36.100+08:00

Family dinner again with parents, sis and BIL.

We had our usual dishes - steamed tilapia in soy sauce

Taiwanese 3-cup claypot chicken

Stir-fried spinach

and claypot tofu with assorted veggies

Dessert was on the house - guilin gao (herbal jelly)

Overall, a good meal although I thought the green leafy veggie is slightly expensive at RM27.

Total bill came to RM175.75 nett for 5 pax.

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Mini mooncake....

courtesy from area/constituency MP

These are usually distributed few days before the festival in the morning market, night market or during mid-autumn event organized by the constituency.

Have you received one before?

Sweet Moments Begin Here

2026-09-24T23:16:25.987+08:00

Was craving for SG laksa, and I remembered Secret Recipe has a decent one....

This time it was served with keropok!

The broth is superb with rich spice taste and coconut milk. Not spicy and pleasant flavor....tastes like peranakan curry.

The bill came to RM22.50 nett. About the same price for a bowl of SG laksa in Lau Pa Sat😀

The 'Local Remix' is interesting....

Maybe one day I'll try the chicken rendang lasagna or the asam pedas pasta!

They also have lunch set from 12-3pm weekday.

I should come here more often to try out the other dishes....

Decades ago, I had my self-treat in SR after receiving my first salary. It was NY cheesecake with hot chocolate drink😋

Indeed, a sweet moment!

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Sunny Republic food court

Back at this eatery for dinner with my parents.

We ordered a plate of grilled chicken chop in mushroom sauce. Requested to replace the fries with sausages and the bun with egg. RM15 nett.

We also ordered a steamed tilapia in soy sauce (RM34) and a plate of lettuce (RM10). Had these dishes with rice and we were all so full after finishing them.

Hai Kah Lang - Fish Noodles

2026-09-22T00:42:13.771+08:00

Back at Hai Kah Lang for their Michelin-standard fish noodles. I had coral grouper with mi xian noodles in a rich, milky fish broth.

The restaurant opens early from 8am till 9pm. When I was there around 8pm, there were still many diners.

It was boneless fish, hence the price is higher than the normal fish head noodles.

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Kawan Places

Char kuey teow with mixed of yellow noodles and kuey teow (flat rice noodles). It has 3 prawns and some fish cakes. The ckt was slightly salty. Luckily there were 3 pieces of cucumbers to tone it down.

RM18.60 nett after service charges and tax.

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126 Mixed Rice

Chapfan from 126 Mixed Rice restaurant. I went there at 8:30pm to get a 50% discount. Usually, there are people already queing at around 8:10pm daily. I went on Saturday coz that was when most people dine out at nicer eateries instead of eating chapfan, hence more dishes left to choose from.

This plate of rice with 3 dishes costs only RM5.70😁

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136 Roasted Meat Restaurant

A few doors away, there is a 136 restaurant. I think they could be related.

I had a dine-in on one of the weekday late lunch.

Ordered a steamed chicken with roasted pork combo. Ginger dipping and chilli sauce provided.

Quite nice to eat in peace in an aircon restaurant and no one's around. RM12.50 nett.

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McD

Fillet O' Fish and Sakura McFizz drink. The Sakura McFizz tastes like any sweet fizzy drink.

I also tried their seasonal Taro Pie, and it is way better than Burger King's version. The taro paste texture is denser and somewhat similar to a Chinese wu kok (yam puff), though without the pork filling, of course. You can really taste the taro, and it isn't overly sweet.

The bill came to RM20.10 nett. My kind of happy meal😀

On another day, I take-away the McMuffin sausage with Egg and a hashbrown for my brunch (RM7 nett from Mix & Match set). Poured a glass of orange juice and there goes my happy meal brunch!

BON APPETIT!

Gu On - Wagyu Beef Bulgogi Pot Rice

2026-09-19T12:06:03.377+08:00

Back to Gu On coz i wanted to try their wagyu beef pot rice....

Ordered via QR code. After confirming my order, these banchans were served...Kimchi of all sorts, and a macaroni salad.

After 15-minute of waiting, my tray of food arrived. It came with another 3 banchans, seaweed soup and a drink.

Korean rolled omelet aka 'gyeran-mari'

A raw egg yolk as topping on the rice. The rice is hidden beneath. Stir the egg yolk with the piping hot rice before eating. Wagyu beef was well marinated and taste slightly sweet from the bulgogi sweet sauce.

The ambience....it was 3:50pm....so peaceful!

The lunch set menu - for my own reference. So far, I have tried the smoked pork belly, smoked chicken thigh and now wagyu beef bulgogi. Next, I will try the grilled halibut.

Not so keen on the soup, coz most are spicy (as indicated in the menu)

The soup is also available ala-carte after 4pm but the price slightly differs and without the rice and drink.

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Went to Jojo Little Kitchen for pan mee because I hadn't had soupy pan mee in a long time.

The menu as shown....posting here for my own reference....

There's a variety of pan mee with add ons....

Ehsania - Kampung Fried Rice & Rojak Pasembor

2026-09-17T00:02:20.339+08:00

It was hazy during one of the recent days, hence I did not go out for lunch and by evening, i was super hungry. Head out to this new 'mamak premium' restaurant.

Compulsive order coz I was famine during then😂

Only realized the portions were quite big when the food arrived at the table. I decided to finish the kampung fried rice and tapau the rojak pasembor. Before that, I tried a few pieces of the rojak before sending it to the staff to pack. RM6 nett for this rojak pasembor. Quite worth it.

Kampung fried rice was tad dry. Luckily i ordered a syrup bandung (RM3.50), else would be too dry to swallow the rice.

The fried egg topping is included with the fried rice. RM10.50 for this plate of fried rice. This entire meal costs only RM20 nett. Portion enough to feed 2-3 pax.

Chinese Takeout Food @ British Virgin Island

2026-09-15T01:50:48.243+08:00

[Throwback February]

It was Saturday, so I took the opportunity to venture the town for some food. I didn’t have mobile data on my phone, so I simply walked around to see what caught my interest along the way. I had done a bit of research earlier at the hotel using their free Wi-Fi.

I stumbled upon a Chinese takeout restaurant, but none of the staff looks Chinese, more like Filipino to me. Later, a colleague at the office told me that they are Vietnamese.

There are trays of chicken, prawns, pork and beef dishes. Something similar to chapfan style, except the dishes are limited and same daily.

Not much variety but is sufficient to rotate every single day😀

It’s open from morning until around 7 or 8pm. The price depends on what you pick, a small box of fried rice or noodles starts at about USD 5, and a medium box with chicken and vegetables is around USD 10, which is pretty cheap by BVI standards.

The main street in Road Town.

[Below] Maria's By The Sea Hotel. I was supposed to stay here but it was fully booked. It is only 5 minutes' walk from the office.

Nearby the sea, there are several colorful booths, but were closed. I think these are rental retail kiosks that only operates during the peak visitor season.

Quiet and peaceful on a weekend evening.

No one around. Looks like ghost town.

Where are the people?

Nevertheless, this is a nice hangout place when the weather is cooling.

Crystal clear sea water. Well, that's how their government spent the US$10 fee imposed to every foreigner. To clean up the water and beach.

The quiet street in Road Town. It is usually busy on weekdays.

Some older buildings. Below is a police station.

I don't know who this man is...

and don't care to read the details....

The buildings here look colonial like those buildings in old KL.

[Below] a Complaints Commission...I wonder what sort of complaints do they handle?

Sir Olva George Plaza

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As I walked, I discovered another Chinese restaurant. Menu as below:

The restaurant is named Lucky Star. What a lucky name.

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I did not dine-in there coz I have already tapao my dinner from the earlier takeout restaurant. Here's my takeout food - fried rice with 2 pieces chicken and stir-fried assorted veggies for USD10.

By default, they provided a fork, but since I look Chinese, they gave me a Chinese spoon as well😆 although I’m used to eating rice with fork😂

Cane Garden Bay, BVI

2026-09-11T10:34:24.426+08:00

2 days before I left BVI, my colleagues brought me out for lunch at Cane Garden Bay which is located at the other side of the Tortola island.

The restaurant is located right next to the beach, with clear blue waters. Very scenic!😍

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The morning view at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport, taken on my last day in BVI. This was early in the morning, around 7am. There are only morning flights to Sint Maarten.

I was first to check-in!

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After a 45 minutes flight, reached Princess Juliana Intl Airport in Sint Maarten again. It is a nicer, slightly bigger airport than Terrance B. Lettsome Airport. At least here they have a foodcourt and some fast-food restaurants😀

On my way back to Panama!

Along the coast of Panama. The airport is just in the vicinity.

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Finally, back to my home-sweet-home in Costa del Este around 4pm-ish.

Did my laundry and catch-up with some sleep as I woke up early during the day (due to the morning flight).

101 Heritage - chicken chop

2026-09-08T11:34:47.526+08:00

101 Heritage

Went to 101 Heritage again, this time with my parents.

We tried the western food - chicken chops!

Chicken chop parmigiana asparagus, which is grilled chicken chop topped with melted mozzarella and cheddar, served with asparagus, broccoli and fries.

Chicken chop pomegranate, which is grilled chicken chop with pomegranate sauce, served with mashed potato and salad. The pomegranate sauce is slightly sour like jam.

We shared everything above, but I skipped the char kuey teow which I had before.

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Fluffed

Fluffed gave me a 10% discount voucher to be utilized by 8 Sept. So, I went back there to have my usual fish & chip waffle.

yummmzzzz......

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Book Corner

A new book corner being set up at the neighborhood Pinnacle mall, next to Mr.DIY.

I wonder who will come here to read. It looks cosy though.

The flowers are colorful and lovely although they are fake.

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BrewMaster

Had ayam gepuk boneless at BrewMaster again. The chicken chop is so huge, bigger than my palm...I was super full after finishing this. A couple seated nearby couldn't finish theirs and they did not tapao the remaining. So wasted!

RM27.60 nett. Tasty and filling but fattening. I should refrain from eating this too often.

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Bygone era

My uncle in SG recently digitized the family photos which he took back with him while clearing my late grandma's flat decades ago. Most of us including my cousins have not seen these old family pictures before as the hardcopies are kept in his SG flat. Now that it is digitized and shared in the family chat group, everyone has a copy😄

I think this is somewhere around 1959. Most of them are no longer around.

Kwai Chai Hong, Chinatown KL

2026-09-04T14:53:49.093+08:00

Long time ago when i came to this area, the kwai chai hong aka Little Ghost Alley simply doesn't exist yet. It was just a dull back alley.

So, this time, on the 7th month of lunar calendar (The Ghost month) I visited again to experience the ambience.

The lit-up lanterns decorated the quiet alley.

Opening hours till midnite...free entry.

The bridge-like entrance....do you notice the mannequin in cheongsam? Looks creepy at night.

More lanterns...bright and colorful!

The wall painting, the left are more like 'Shanghai' meanwhile the right more to SG kinda Chinatown vibe.

All sort of shapes as lanterns.....There's a gunny sack too!

Not far is the Old China Cafe....it serves peranakan cuisine...menu looks good too. I should go try their peranakan cuisine one day.

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Some paintings below the flyover.

Nearby the Merdeka 118 MRT station....spotted a cool urban cat. Not the friendly type.....the cat just sat on the mid-hill and gave a blank stare....

Not far i spotted a rat crossing the road, here the rat roams freely coz the cat doesn't care.

[Below] Merdeka MRT station....

GenX & millennials Malaysian - are you still able to recite the 5 principles of Rukun Negara?

hehe....no people......

~~coz i booked the entire station~~

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Neighborhood ktv cum Japanese restaurant (Warakuya) so bright at night.

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my breakfast of chocolate with hazelnut wafer from Vienna...

tastes good

Will buy this if I visit Vienna one day.

Muginae Ramen, KL

2026-09-02T01:44:50.097+08:00

Went to try this Tokyo's Michelin ramen restaurant located nearby Lalaport.

The interior - Limited table seatings, mostly counter seats.

The Japanese chefs in action.

Some condiments - chili powder and vinegar (i think)

I had shoyu ramen. It came with a soft-boiled egg, one piece wanton, 2 slices of beef and 2 slices of pork charsiu. All lean meat, with very little fats.

Al-dente ramen noodle. Eat while still warm. Otherwise, will get soggy if left too long in the broth.

RM44 for this bowl of shoyu ramen. Definitely not cheap, but I think nowadays ramen is around that price range. Tastewise quite nice and pleasant.

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Passed by the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarter while on the way to the place. The ramen restaurant is located in one of those tiny shoplots.

These are the remaining stretch of old prewar buildings. Mostly have become cafe/pub/restaurants.

There's a culinary school too.

and a cafe named '100 years house'

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After then, I walked to Chinatown, passing by the Merdeka 118 mall which is scheduled to open in November.

In the background is the 2nd tallest tower in the world.

some old pre-war shops along the way.....

Petaling Street got a new roof.

Refurbished building 'Chinatown 1974' opening in September. While taking this picture, the project manager (who's in charge of this facade design) happened to be there, busy instructing the contactors for final touch-up and fixing.

Then suddenly he turned to me and asked 'OK ar this design?'

Me: gave a👍

I don't know what to comment, coz I did not pay for this renovation nor design.

Right opposite this building is the 'Peranakan Place' restaurant. As I was thirsty after the long walk, I decided to have some cooling dessert here.

Martin Yan recommended restaurant?

Meanwhile on the tv screen, it features Chinese actress Fan BingBing in nyonya kebaya.

Cendol (RM8 nett)....so refreshing and cooling....

The blue squarish thing is 'pulut tai tai' (blue glutinous rice cake), to be eaten with kaya jam (packed in the sachet). I got it FOC after submitted an online review. Years ago, I used to patronized Peranakan Place in IOI City mall but it has now closed down.

Nearby alley, there is another kopitiam. The view is astounding.

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Back in the neighborhood, the Pinnacle mall's 7-11 has opened. I had another cooling Slurpee at 30% discount😀

Sushi Hiro

2026-08-31T12:08:57.879+08:00

This sushi restaurant has been around for quite some time but I've never tried it even once. I usually patronized Ginza Sushi which is a few doors away, but it has now closed down.

While the mala hotpot and Korean BBQ eateries are 'blooming', sushi place is decreasing in the neighborhood.

[Below] The waiting area inside the restaurant.

I ordered a one-piece salmon sushi, 3 pieces salmon sashimi and a plate of ebi tempuras. There are 5 pieces of deep-fried prawn tempuras on the plate. All tastes good, coz there were prepared fresh.

The bill came to RM40.95 nett

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Chinese plain fried noodle with curry potato cubes, omelet and a Taiwanese sausage bought from the weekly pasar malam.

The noodles with potato cubes and omelet costs RM6, meanwhile the sausage is from another stall, costs RM2.20.

Decent meal, tastes good too!

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Went back to 101 Heritage to try out the fish & chips.

It is seabass fish. Tender fish meat with crispy outer layer. The fries however are those McD kinda fries...

Free flow plain water is provided.

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Chicken with lapcheong and mushroom steamed rice in Hong Fu Lao dimsum restaurant. This item is only available during the weekday noon onwards. RM13.90++ or RM16.10 nett after service charge and tax.

Tender boneless chicken thigh meat with lotsa lapcheong and shiitake mushrooms.

My favorite order so far.

BON APPETIT!

The Mooring's Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands

2026-08-28T16:00:44.811+08:00

On one of the Sundays, went for a walk at a yacht club.

The Mooring Yacht Club is located right opposite the hotel. I just need to cross the road and find the entrance.

I went in through the wrong gate that is for staffs. So, one of the staff guided me to the visitor area which is just a few steps away.

Quite huge area. There are Dock A and Dock B.

[Below] Ice box where you can get some ice to keep your catches fresh.

I noticed a signboard for Charlie's. I wonder who is Charlie....

According to cgpt:

In maritime and yachting terminology, 'Charlie' is the signal flag for the letter C in the International Code of Signals.

More signboards....This place has a bar/restaurant, a pool and a mini mart.

Not far from there was a Caribbean cruise ship that sails among the region. After spending a few days in port, it sailed away, and another cruise ship arrived and docked in its place.

Crystal clear water. I think the environmental fee (USD10) charged to every visitor/foreigner is used to clean their sea water.

[Above] This is the main entrance.

[Above] The mini market. Similar to our KK mart/ 99 Speedmart that sells basic food and necessities but slightly pricey than the normal supermarket. This mini mart comes handy for people who needs to stock up on food and other essentials at the last minute before setting sail for several days at sea.