TAIPA VILLAGE

Rua do Cunha (官也街)

I’m so tempted to re-title this post to “An (almost) Insider Guide to Macau”. Just end of last year, my BFF, Charlize moved to Macau to join her husband who has been working there for about a year or so. When we were in HK early this year, we extended our stay to visit the cute couple over the weekend. As they said, always trust a local to bring you to the best eating spots. True enough that Charlize and Jie pampered us with so much of good food over a span of about two days.

Our first stop was Rua do Cunha (官也街), a narrow street in Vila da Taipa, the town centre of Taipa island. This is also a must visit place, with a few famous eateries and souvenir shop along the street.

Seng Cheong Crab Porridge is an old favourite. It expands its business by opening up another branch nearby. The crab porridge maintained its quality - the silky smooth porridge was rich in flavor with the original sweet taste of the fresh crabs intact. However, Seng Cheong has increased its selling prices steeply since we last visited. Be prepared to fork out at least MOP 50-100 per person for a proper meal.

Crab Porridge (MOP 150, medium size), Deep Fried Dice Mace Ball, Salt & Pepper Deep Fried Squids

#1 Casa de Pasto Seng Choeng  誠昌飯店
28-30 Rua do Cunha, Vila de Taipa
澳门氹仔舊城區官也街28-30號
Opening Hours: 12 noon – 12 midnight daily

If you are feeling bored of “Koi Kee” or “咀香圆” with branches spotted almost everywhere in Macau, Fong Kei is a less mainstream option. This 10 decades old cookies shop insists on using the most traditional and most labour intensive method to make their cookies. Remember to try their signature “Yuk Chit Sou 肉切酥” cookies with bits of dried meat and “Kai Zai Beng 雞仔餅” filled with plenty of lards and fermented beancurd.

Fong Kei 晃記餅家
14 Rua do Cunha, Vila de Taipa
氹仔舊城區官也街14號
Tel: (853) 2882 7142
Operating Hours: 10:00-19:30 daily

We left Rua do Cunha (官也街) and while walking towards Tai Lei Loi Kei (大利來記咖啡室); Jie asked if we would like to try some Bird’s Nest Tart and Fresh Milk Tart (燕窩撻&鮮奶撻). Why not? The conventional portuguese tart and bird’s nest tart were nothing to shout about, but the fresh milk tart is the bomb! The tart exudes a milky and creamy taste throughout every mouthful!

#2 新好利美食餅店
13-14 R. do Regedor, Vila de Taipa
氹仔舊城區地堡街13-14號
Tel: (853) 2882 7313
Operating Hours: 07:00-18:00 daily

Cafe Tai Lei Loi Kei looks so different now. They were instructed to keep their tables and chairs within the premise so the whole area look so dead and empty now. We have not spotted any queues as my friends mentioned that Cafe Tai Lei Loi Kei  has lost its glamour of former days. Food standard dropped and now they are surviving on only tourist customers.

However, we still like its curry fish ball and curry squids. It was really “syok” to chew on the fish balls and squids doused with plenty of curry sauce on a cold winter day. The curry gravy was so spicy that even Malaysians like us were defeated.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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Click here for Taiwan 9 Days Itinerary – Taipei, Taitung, Green Island, Kaohsiung, Jiufen

Previous: Taiwan Itinerary Day 2: Eat & Shop around Ximending Area

Coastal Way from Taipei to Taitung

Our trip to Taiwan last summer was totally unplanned for. It started with our good friends – Hsu Da Ge and Chen Jie asked if we are game enough to join them on a road trip to Taitung and Kaohsiung. They hired Jiang Gong, their good friend who is also a personal driver for hired.

It was the best spontaneous decision made because we had so much fun throughout the 9 days trip! We have been to Taiwan 4 times but never seem to get bored with this beautiful country.

Towards the third day of our Taiwan trip, Jiang Gong picked us up from Amba Taipei and off we went on a 8 hours journey to Taitung!

We had a lot of fun chit chatting and singing along the journey. Hsu Da Ge and Chen Jie’s enthusiasm were infectious and fun.

We passed by Xueshan Tunnel (fifth longest road tunnel in the worlds), located on the Taipei-Yilan Freeway.

We made several pit stops along the way and this is one part of the Su-Hua highway. The coastal road along the edge of Qingshui Cliff has is a tranquil and fascinating sight-seeing path.

There are many scenic points of interest along the Suhua Highway and we stopped at one of it. Hsu Da Ge was very nice to prepare us some Taiwanese Ai Wen mangoes.

Plump and deliciously sweet, Ai Wen is the best Taiwanese fruit to be enjoyed from the end of June through early August. Ai Wen mangoes are famous for their unique shape, colour and odour. It has a firm texture and it is super sweet. We must have eaten more than 2 dozen of those mangoes while we were in Taiwan last summer!

The Hualian to Taitung stretch of the Bin-Hai coastal highway is great for cycling. Maybe we will try that next time!

We also had lunch at some random restaurant by the highway – wild boar skin salad, wild vegetables, grilled wild boar, sakura shrimps. Those were some unique dishes which we have never seen or tried before.

Hsu Da Ge requested to stopped by Fugang Fish Market to do some marketing. We were going to have some of the freshest sea produce that night!

spearfish

It was a relatively pleasant experience learning about the type of sea produces which are unique to Taiwan. The work crews were really friendly and they were so eager to show us around.

Next Up: Facing Sun B&B Taitung 向阳山民宿 @ Taitung

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Every time when I am stuck in traffic jam on the way to work, I vow that the next time I will try to leave for work early.  Everyone knows that it never happened. Well, if you can’t beat them join them. As the city’s roads transform into blinking rivers of red and white lights, I tune into Capital FM 88.9.

If you don’t already know, Capital FM is the radio station for Malaysian women. It is designed to inspire and empower women through a series of programmes host by the station’s great announcers.

I love listening to Xandria Ooi and Joanne Kam’s breakfast show – Talk of the Town. The lively and energetic duo creates great chemicals. They provide insights on a wide range of topics such as parenting, relationship, career and friendship, which I can somehow relate myself to. My favourite sessions gotta be Working Your Mojo on every Thursday mornings. It is a segment where personal life coach Zarina Zainal will share tips and guides on self-improvement. From work etiquettes to self-grooming, those were some great tips given by her! Sometimes I feel as though Joanne Kam and XandriaOoi were talking from the back of my passenger seat. Thanks for being my great companion on the road.

Apart from killing boredom and picking up some tips on self improvement, one can also earn some cold hard cash and prizes by joining the “Capital FM Reconnect”, a memory game on radio. This campaign on Capital FM runs from 6th May till 24^th May 2013.

For the 3 weeks of contesting, listeners will have to guess the correct memory combination in order to win. A template of 40 grid boxes will be made available for listeners to download on Capital FM’s website.

These boxes will only contain numbers but they actually represent different amounts of cash and varying aspirational prizes. Listeners can win up to RM20,000 cash and different prizes like an all-paid weekend getaway, a bag from Kayu, spa packages and many more.

The lucky caller through gets to turn over two boxes and tries to find a match. If they successfully match two tiles, they win the prize in the box.

“Capital FM Reconnect” runs 5 times a day.

For this week (13-17May), this happens twice a day on “Talk of the Town with Joanne and Xandria”, once a day on “Capital Wave” and twice a day on “The Jam Break with Debs and Non”.

For next week (20-24May), it’s twice a day on “Talk of the Town with Joanne and Xandria”, twice a day on “The Jam Break with Debs and Non” and once a day on “Groove Down with Priscilia.”

Ladies, its time to squeeze some brain juices to challenge “Capital FM Reconnect” memory game! The attractive prizes could be yours anytime!

Capital FM 88.9 broadcasts to the Klang Valley and covers areas in Bidor, Sungkai, Tanjung Malim, Nilai and parts of Seremban. Alternatively, you may stream online or download the Capital FM app.

Website:  www.capitalfm.com.my
FB:www.facebook.com/CapitalFM88.9
Twitter: @iAMCapitalFM.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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Click here for Taiwan 9 Days Itinerary – Taipei, Taitung, Green Island, Kaohsiung, Jiufen

Previous: Taiwan Itinerary Day 2: Yong Fu Ice Cream & Niu Dian Beef Noodles

As we were staying at Amba Hotel, a boutique hotel backed by Taiwan’s Ambassador Hotel Group, we spent our night time exploring Ximending shopping area which is just literally downstairs. I believe Ximending needs no further introduction as it is the biggest congregation of youth culture and street fashion in Taiwan, otherwise known as “the Harajuku of Taiwan”.

Whenever we travel, food is our main priority so off we went to hunt for Taiwan street snacks. We tried this grilled mochi snacks as we spotted a long queue right in front of the kiosk. Dusted with a think layer of ground peanuts, the grilled mochi was warm and soft. However, it got really chewy after a while so please remember to eat it fast.

No. 49, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei
台北市萬華區峨嵋街49號

Taiwanes Sausage in different flavors

The street vendors, with their mobile food carts at Ximending shopping area move from one place to another. This is because street vendors are strictly prohibited here.

I think we have graduated from Ah Zong Mee Sua. I used to think that it is simply out of this world, but after we tried various other better mee sua around Taiwan, Ah Zong’s version was nothing to shout about.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle/ 阿宗麵線

Official website: www.ay-chung.com

Xi-Meng-Ting Headquarter/西門町總店：
Address: No.8-1, Emei St., Wanhua District, Taipei City
Walking Directions: 5 minutes walk from Ximen MRT station, exit 6
地址: 台北市峨嵋街8號之1
Opening Hours: 11:00 to 22:30 (Mon – Thu); 11:00 to 23:00 (Fri – Sun)
Tel: 02-2388-8808

We walked pass Ji Guang Fried Chicken a few times but the long queue is really putting us off. At around 10pm, the queue vanished so we have decided to give it a try.

It is being priced at NT55 for small and NT100 for large. The chicken pieces reminds me of popcorn chicken – decent bite size. The stall staff sprinkled the chicken pieces with a generous amount of pepper specially made with some Chinese medicinal herbs. The crust was light and crispy while the inside was piping hot, juicy and tender. We paired these with a cup of authentic bubble tea – best supper experience!

A talented street performing artist drawing art using spray cans and gloss it out by a fire torch. I think he is quite a famous figure at Ximending area as most tourists who have visited Ximending would have seen him.

It feels good to just walk around and buythings for good selection and variety before we called it a day.

Next Up: Let’s Go to Taitung! 

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Read Also:  Club Med Cherating Beach’s Room & Surrounding & Club Med Cherating Beach Body & Soul Programme 

Club Med is the type of place where you can do absolutely nothing at all or keep totally busy from morning till night. We belong to the latter group as the number of activities available at Club Med Cherating Beach is simply overwhelming.

Theme Night

At Club Med, every night is a unique one with different staged show. The MJ show was one of the best theme night of the week. MJ’s songs and dance moves are so classic!

Its hilarious and cute how everyone from the sailing instructor to the bar tender get in on the act and put on a lavish and interesting show.

Glee Night

Party, Party, Swag, Swag

G.Os and G.Ms dance together every day and night at Club Med.

For 3-4 times a day; everybody gets into the act with dancing that morphs into “Crazy Signs”, a signature feature at Club Med. People from all ages and all nationalities join in on the simple dance and sway all night long.

Archery, Tennis, Basketball, Soccer…

Some of the other land activities for the older kids include swimming, archery, soccer, tennis, ping pong and etc.

I tried archery for the first time I found that aiming was a very difficult thing to do, let alone hitting the bulls eye! It was great fun nonetheless.

Water Activities

Water activities are aplenty at Club Med – there’s water valley ball, water polo, aqua aerobic happening at the main pool area from time to time.

For kampungboy, the sailing academy is one of the highlights of Club Med’s activities. The sailing instructor Jake was onboard together with the novice team to ensure their safety. It was very exciting sailing experience with some great wave rides.

Flying Trapeze

I’m totally diggin’ those tights

At Club Med everyone’s dream of flying and reach for the stars can come true (children from 4 years old through to adults).

KampungBoy tried the flying trapeze on the second and third day of our trip. Club Med has the best equipment and facilities for flying trapeze enthusiasts so there is no need to worry about safety issues. The sensation of flying through the air is extremely addictive as KampungBoy did at least 3 rounds a day.

KampungBoy managed to hook his leg onto the bar on second attempt but he’s not quite ready for the catch yet, according to the instructor. Maybe he’ll do it on our next visit to Club Med?

The Catch!

Rock Climbing

We also did rock climbing at the Pantai Beach. My first reaction when I saw the cliff was “are we going to climb up the real rock?”.

Two G.Os were stationed there to check on the safety gears and to ensure on our safety.

We did the beginner’s slope and kampungboy reached the top in a jiffy.

They were really encouraging and supportive as I hung halfway begging to get down. With their moral support and cheering, I proceeded and almost made it to the top (hehe). It was no easy feat as I can feel my arms and knees trembling after the climb.

G.Os

Visitors to Club Med tend to rave about the enthusiastic and outgoing G.O.’s (gentle organizers). It was true indeed as the G.O.’s we met were out-going, consists of only young people who meet guests while doing their work.
The Malaysia Media Team rocks too!

I have to say that our first Club Med experience did not disappoint at all. ClubMed is well run, well organized and makes every attempt to provide a fun, entertaining experience for everyone from young to old. We had so much fun running around the resorts trying our hands on doing different activities, chilling at the Zen Space, hanging out with the G.Os and enjoying international cuisines and free flow drinks.

For more information, please visit www.clubmed.com.my or www.facebook.com/clubmedmalaysia

For booking or enquiries, please contact
Club Med MALAYSIA Sales office
Tel : 603 7957 5678 Fax : 603 7957 2295
Email: sales.kualalumpur@clubmed.com

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Read Also: Club Med Cherating Beach Activities & Entertainment & Club Med Cherating Beach’s Room & Surrounding

Yellow Day – Rejuvenation

The main reason we were at Club Med Cherating Beach is to attend a special programme – “Body and Soul: Four Colours in Four Days’. It is a health and wellness rereat programme designed to boost wellbeing and overall healthy through a series of activities on four colour-themed days per session.

City dwellers like us often think that healthy diet and exercise plan are important, but our mood and mind play an equally big part in determining our overall wellbeing. Hence there is a renewed desire in most people to awaken their spirits, heal their hearts, bodies and change their lives. We were very lucky to have two fitness expert from Physical Best Australia – Lisa Westlake and Lynley Gladdis. They have received numerous accolades in health and fitness so we took it as a great learning opportunity.

On Yellow Day, Lynley guided us through the Dance of the Dragon. is based on an ancient Taoist practice (the healing art of Qi Gong) which energetically re-balances, regulates and dexoxifies the internal system through consistent practice. The Dance of the Dragon incorporates simple movements to induce a deep internal massage on our vital organs.

That’s me and Lynley after a great work out while soaking up the warm sun and sea breeze off the ocean.

Apart from influencing our moods and emotions, colours also play a big part in the food we eat.

Throughout the 4 days programme, Club Med designed a colourful diet of healthy eating by colour. We had various cheeses, zucchini, melon juices, lemon juices, chick peas, etc which play a key role in regenerating the body.

RED DAY – ENERGY

On Red Day, Lisa Westlake guided us through the Tribal Rhythm.

The tribal rhythm combines music and fitness. We drummed on the fit ball and our movements were done around the fit ball.
The workout had us rocking and rolling while burning mega calories while having lots of fun. Lisa helped us find the right rhythm while we beat on a fitball ball with drum sticks.

There is nothing like beating on a ball to get rid of all of your worries and angst!

I got sore arms and tons of sweat after the one hour class. If only my gym does this, I’ll be a regular!

GREEN DAY – BALANCE

Yin Yang Chi Balls is all about balance and harmony, just like how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world;. The workout session combines stillness vs movement, soft vs hard and slow vs fast all in one. We also did aqua aerobic (super tiring to walk/run/lift/kick in water), kayaking and tea time with colour therapy today.

PURPLE DAY – REVITALIZATION

Towards the final leg of body and soul programme, the activities focus on revitalisation. We have Rainbow Relax & Releases which facilitates stretching and balance while flowing through the rainbow-inspired sequences.

I swear, I felt like a different person after going through the rainbow meditation. My mind used to wander a lot during my other yoga session. However, this was my first time having to stop my busy mind and coming to a calm heart. I can feel my body becoming all of the colours of the rainbow and qualities like strength, courage, intelligence and respect.

I went though a yoga session with Lisa too. It focuses on finding my internal center through focused breathing and concentration.

It was hard to hold postures but I had fun nonetheless.

I loved  all the outdoor fitness session. Imagine listening to the sounds of the sea and feeling the warmth of the sun while practicing yoga or doing the tribal dance. I came away feeling relaxed and in touch with my inner body and heart after this short getaway…

The Body & Soul programme happened in Bali at March 12th to March 23rd and in Cherating Beach at April 7th to April 14th this year. Club Med might bring this programme on board again next year, depending on the responses and availability.

For more information, please visit www.clubmed.com.my or www.facebook.com/clubmedmalaysia

For booking or enquiries, please contact
Club Med MALAYSIA Sales office
Tel : 603 7957 5678 Fax : 603 7957 2295
Email: sales.kualalumpur@clubmed.com

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Read Also: Club Med Cherating Beach Body & Soul Programme & Club Med Cherating Beach Activities and Entertainment

Welcome to Club Med Cherating Beach

Club Med Cherating Beach is a pure luxury, full-inclusive resort best suited for couples and families. With the South China Sea on one side and a tropical jungle on the other, Club Med Cherating Beach is also Club Med’s first Eco Nature Village with GREEN GLOBE certification. The GOs have so much enthusiasm and the Club Med Welcome shows how very special each guest at Club Med is.

We were served with welcome drinks and cold towers before being ushered to the lobby for a short briefing. Our luggages were well taken care of by Club Med staffs. Such a wonderful beginning of our stree free holiday!

Our Room

There are 297 rooms in the resort which are all situated between 15 three-storey buildings. The buildings were built in the local style, on stilts, with access via a stairway.

We were staying at the H section which requires quite a bit of walk to the restaurants and main pool area. We had no qualms with the distance as it is a very quaint and peaceful area.

view from our room

Our deluxe room is small but well equipped with air-conditioning, bathrobe, hair-dryer, iron and ironing-board, kettle, mini fridge, security safe, shower room, telephone and flat screen TV.

As Club Med Cherating Beach is one of the oldest Club Med in Asia, the room looks tired and dated. However, one is not going to a Club Med and snug under the blanket right?  We spent a lot of time engaging in outdoor activities!

Free Flow Bar & Snacking

A a trip with Club Med is always a treat with the fantastic buffet spreads and free-flowing snacks, cocktails, wines, beers, juices, coffee/tea throughout the day!

The bar tenders were really energetic and outgoing! They made great cocktails and ice chocolates too!

Main Pool 

The main pool area is deserted in the morning but when the sun is at its brightest and warmest, we enjoyed the buzzing ambience here. It is a great place to sip a cocktail, to sun bath or to take a dip.

Cherating Beach

At Club Med Cherating Beach, crystal-clear waters and fine sandy beaches is just a few steps away. It is a well kept and well maintained private beach which ensure guest privacy.

Although the waves were too strong to swim in, we definitely enjoyed having our romantic strolls along the shore.

Sometimes we brought our cup of coffee here , sat back and listened to the crashing waves on the beach. The quieter one’s mind becomes, the more intense is the feeling of bliss.

Zen Space

For those who prefer to relax, the beautiful Zen Space with Quiet Pool is a perfect place. It takes about 20-30 minutes walk from the main Club Med area. Thea shuttle also departs every half hour from the assembly point.

We felted like we were being transported to a different world here. The view is absolutely breath-taking and it has a nice zen feeling to it.

Zen Space is only opened for adults above 18 years old so this place is ideal for those who want some quiet and cozy time.

Visually stunning and situated against a gorgeous backdrop, the infinity pool is our favourite hang out spot.

Pantai Beach

On another side of the Zen Space, we have Pantai Beach, a 400 yards long beach surrounded by rocks. The shallow, calm water is suitable for swimming and kayaking.

It is a place where beautifully clear waters and fine sandy beaches lay at one’s feet.

Remember to say hi to Mickey from Chiagmai who works as a bar tender at the Monkey Bar here. The same free flow concept applies here! Yay!

Baby Club, Petit Club, Mini Club

So then, where do the children go if they are not allowed at the Zen Space. Parents can enjoy peace of mind as the children in Club Med is well looked after by the respective GOs:

Baby Club Med (4 – 23 months, at extra costs). They have all the baby care equipment you require and the GOs will handle them with lots of care and cuddles.

Petit Club Med (2-3 years old, at extra costs). Kids get to play all day or participate only in select activities.

Mini Club Med (4-under 11). Kids will enjoy a wide variety of discovery and manual activities, water sports and festive teatimes.

 Club Med Cherating Beach also take pride in having Asia’s first ‘Baby Splash Park’ water play area.

All Inclusive Meal

What’s more, one never feels hungry in Club Med! Apart from the main buffet restaurant, free flow snacks, Rembulan Fine Dining Restaurant (dinner reservation is mandatory, seats 60); there’s also a noodles bar which serve hungry guests from 3-6pm, 9-11pm. The menu varies from day to day, we tried Szechuan dan dan noodles, Japanese soba, Ipoh hor fun, curry laksa, etc during our stay here.

Club Med Spa by Mandara

Club Med Cherating Beach pampered us with a complimentary massage session at the resort’s spa. The individual treatment room which faces a tropical forest filled with the fluttering of wild birds and exotic butterflies is so beautiful!

The relaxing head to toe massage is a great way to de-stress and urge the brain to release endomorphine ‘feel good’ hormones. I knocked off really fast with the masseur’s gentle stroke while listening to the sounds of birds chirping. I thought it was an audio recording but it is actually REAL birds chirping away around the spa village.

Sun Rise

Sun rise at Club Med Cherating Beach is really captivating. The morning sun painted the horizon golden yellow and orange.It reminds us of Maldives very much.

Thank you Club Med Cherating Beach for having us. It was one of the best 4D3N we have ever had in a while. Who says you can’t have it all? At Club Med Cherating Beach we have great beaches, exciting family activities and friendly international staff.

Next Up: Outdoor Activities & Body & Soul event @ Club Med Cherating Beach

For more information, please visit www.clubmed.com.my or www.facebook.com/clubmedmalaysia

For booking or enquiries, please contact
Club Med MALAYSIA Sales office
Tel : 603 7957 5678 Fax : 603 7957 2295
Email: sales.kualalumpur@clubmed.com

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

After much anticipation, Ippudo Ramen finally opened its door at Pavilion KL early this year. Hailing from the ramen capital, Hakata (Fukuoka) in Kyushu, Japan, IPPUDO  has a strong international foothold as seen in Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Hong Kong, Taipei & New York.

We were fortunate enough to be one of the first few diners at their KL outlet. This interior of Ippudo Ramen is not like an ordinary Japanese Ramen shop; it has a posh, stylish look with dim lighting and an enticing display of “wall of bowls”.

Hakata style ramen is Ippudo’s piece de resistence, but they do offer their patrons an extensive selection of starters.
Goma Q (RM 9). The cucumber slices were marinated in salt and dress with sesame sauce and paprika powder, resulting in a crunchy consistency and concentrated sweetness.

Fried Young Corn (RM 8). I’m a corn lover and I have been ordering this whenever we visit Ippudo KL! The corn was coated in a light batter and deep fried before a generous sprinkling of seaweed flakes and paprika powder. Deep frying does not actually make the food greasy if it is done properly, just like this one!

Curry Cheese Haru Maki (RM 10). It resembles our local popiah on first inspection. However, within the thin spring roll sheet, we found a creamy curry filling  with cheese. It was such a great combination with an explosion of flavours of textures – sweet, salty, creamy and crispy!

Pork Bun (RM 7) is essentially Chinese mantao stuffed with a thick slice of pork, lettuce, IPPUDO’s secret BBQ sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and mustard. The pork slice was so tender that it melts in your mouth immediately. The bland mantao and the tantalising sweet taste from BBQ sauce balances out each other.

Spicy Shrimp Mayo (RM 15). The deep-fried shrimp shells turned a wonderful orange color, while the spicy seasoning added extra flavour. Now where is my beer!

Hakata-Style Soup Gyoza (RM 15). The soup base reminds me of mum’s cooking – it tastes like chicken and ginger soup. The gyozas were fat and plump, filled with delicious minced pork.

When it comes to Ippudo’s piece de resistance, there are three type of ramen and soup base to be chosen from:

Shiromaru Motoaji. A timeless IPPUDO classic, Shiromaru Motoaji was the very first ramen served at IPPUDO. Since then, IPPUDO’s naming of its Shiro (White) and Aka (Red) has set an industry standard that has been adopted by many other ramen restaurants. The combination of Hakata-style ultra-thin noodles, topped with lean slices of pork, black fungus, soybean sprouts and scallions, produces subtle and gentle flavours.

Akamaru Shinaji enhances the flavour of pork bone topped with IPPUDO’s secret miso, garlic oil, lean slices of pork, black fungus, soybean sprouts and scallions.with special blended miso paste and fragant garlic oil.

Karaka-men incorporates special spicy miso paste and ground pork.

Karaka-men

The waitstaff asked how do we like our noodles to be -soft, regular or hard. We elected regular, as it is probably the safest bet if you want something al dente but not too chewy.

We ordered Ippudo’s signature bowl, the Akamaru “red sea” Ramen that comes with apecial blended miso paste and fragant garlic oil. The white, milky broth was definitely salty and robust on first taste. However, it got smoother as our taste bud quickly adapt. The combination of pork broth, spicy miso paste and garlic oil has added some layers of complexity to the broth as well. The noodles were distinct – firm in texture and ultra thin, straight and white in appearance.

Our bowl also came with two measly pieces of pork belly chashu, fresh scallions and dried black fungus. The chashu, with a good ratio of fats and meat was tender, but not melt-in-the-mouth tender like Santouka’s.

For that extra “ooomph”, one may crush some garlics and dunk them into the soup base.

IPPUDO MALAYSIA
Lot C4.07.00, Connection Level 4,
Pavilion KL,
No 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang.
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603 2110 6233
Website: http://www.ippudo.com.my
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IppudoMalaysia
Business Hours:  11am to 11pm Daily

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After using the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini for about a month or so, we were really impressed with its features – it is definitely a mini size phone with maximum performance

First of all, it looks like a more feminine version of the famous Samsung Galaxy S3 with its rounded edge and fits well onto my small palms. It is also extremely friendly to be fitted into ALL my clutches! I’m not just a vain pot ok? The technical features of the phone also attract me a lot. For example the direct call function is really amazing! When I am messaging someone and decide to call instead, I just have to lift my phone to my ear and direct call will dial their number for me. I can look as graceful as possible as there is no need to fumbling through call logs or contacts.

S Voice function is also great for someone who is constantly on the go like me. When I drive to meetings or events, I can just use my voice to unlock my Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini with simple commands. I can also play some tunes, adjust the volumes or launch the camera for camwhoring purposes.

Remember how we really like the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini’s phone camera? Those camwhore photos go into our instagram all the time haha!

For more information, visit www.samsung.com/my/s3mini

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 7: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

From Busan, we headed back to Seoul via the KTX again. For more information on KTX train and KTX passes, refer to our previous posts here and here.

Food like bento, snacks and drinks can be purchased onboard the KTX train. and we got ourserlves a KTX bento set (10000 won) for lunch, It sure does not look as good as a Japanese train bento box, but the varieties more than make up for its lacklustre presentation.

We arrived to Seoul Station after a 2.5 hours journey. Without wasting any precious time, we kept our hand carries at the lockers at Seoul Station before heading to Yeouido for the Hangang Yeouido Spring Flowers Festival. The grand opening is fixed at 14th of April last year and we were really excited about the fireworks!

Yeouido is a large island in the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul’s main business and investment banking district. However every April, when the 1700 king cherry trees along the Hangang River erupt into massive clouds of pink, the Hangang Yeouido Spring Flowers Festival takes place.

Throngs of visitors came here to admire these magnificent trees in the backdrop of the Han River at Yeoido Park.

At night, the cherry blossoms were lit up with various colored lights. However, we were there at the wrong timing as spring came late in year 2012. We were there on the second week of April but all we can see is only flower buds. Fortunately for us, we had our fair share of cherry blossom viewing at Busan as Busan’s climate is warmer as compared to Seoul.

The festival lasts for about a week and there are street cultural arts performances,flower decoration exhibition, photo exhibition and fireworks.

The fireworks and the light illumination at Yeuoido Park creats a perfect atmosphere for family picnics or romantic dates. Even though we did not have a full bloom that day, but we thank god for this perfect ending to ourSouth Korea trip.

This post marks the finale of our 7 Days Seoul + Busan trip. It took us more than 1 year to filter photos and to compile these posts. We hope you guys will enjoy reading our travel stories.

Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
Transportation
[Subway]
1) Dangsan Station (Subway Line 2 or 9), Exit 4. 20 minutes walk.
1) Yeouinaru Station (Subway Line 5), Exit 1. 20 minutes walk.
3) Yeouido Station (Subway Line 5 or 9), Exit 5. Take Bus 162, 262, or 461 to National Assembly (국회앞).
4) National Assembly Station (Subway Line 9), Exit 1 or 6. 5 minutes walk.

We have finally complete our Seoul + Busan itineraries after one whole year of continuous posting. Hope you guys enjoy reading our travel stories and feel free to email us/FB message should there be any queries or suggestions.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: Haeundae Beach, Gukbap Alley, Gwangali Beach+Diamond Bridge, Nampodong Street

While walking through the subway stations in South Korea, one can’t miss these cute little snacks called manjoo. It is a corn-shaped and creamy custard filled cakes that comes in bite size portion. It is made by pouring a mixture of flour and egg into the heated molds. We tried it while at Haeundae Metro Station and they tasted really good! Even the cab driver stole two pieces from us!

Towards the final day of our trip at South Korea, we have decided to take things slowly. Instead of rushing to Jinhae town for cherry blossom (again!), we left to our last Busan destination – Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. We took a train to Haeundae Station and from there, Bus 181 took us to the temple.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is situated on the coast of the north-eastern portion of Busan. The temple is very unique as it is situated next to the ocean, which is quite rare in South Korea as most temples in the country are found in the mountains.

statue of twelve zodiac signs

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was first built in 1376 by the great Buddhist teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty.  It was said that the Divine Sea god of the East Sea appeared in his dream telling him to construct the temple.

Many people often come to this spot on New Year’s Day to make a wish for the new year as they watch the sun come up. April is an especially beautiful time of year with cherry blossoms in full bloom. The birth of Buddha is also celebrated in April (following the lunar calendar) and offers a spectacular night view as the temple area is aglow with electrically lit lanterns.

We knew that we were near to the temple as we spotted this pagoda, standing tall next to the gold dragon entrance gate.

After passing by a tunnel ,we walked these 108 steps of stairs that is said to symbolize the 108 sufferings of Buddhism. After going down the 108 steps, we were delighted with the beauty of the temple.

The sight overlooking the ocean is magnificent!

At the shrine hall, we found the peace and serenity that a temple garden somehow seems to promise.

We found a lot of other Buddha statues in different sizes and colors around the temple. The temple area is quite huge, as we took quite some time to cover the whole place.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Directions
Haeundae Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 7.
Take Bus 181 and get off at Yonggungsa Temple (용궁사).

Next Up: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 7: HangangYeouido Spring Flower Festival

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: Cherry Blossom @ Dalmaji Hill

Haeundae Beach is located in the east of Busan. It is also probably the most popular and well know beach in South Korea. There are a lot of nice cafes, pubs, luxurious hotels and buildings along the beach.

Haeundae beach is 1.5 km long and about 30 – 5o metres wide with golden sand. The beach is packed with people every summer. Some google images I saw show that the beach is packed to the brim with no spaces in between at all. On August 2nd, 2008 Haeundae Beach made an Official Record for the Guinness Book of Records for the most parasols on a beach!

We love the beach so much. It is a great place to sit down and watch parents play with kids and people jog along the beach riding the cold wind past these windowed city towers.

Haeunde Beach

Getting Here:
From Busan station walk 172m straight and take bus(# 1003) (31 min travel time). Get off at Haeundae Beach stop and walk 169m to Haeundae Beach.
or
Take line 2 to Haeundae Station and leave exit 5. Head straight and you will arrive at Haeundae Beach.

No visit to Busan is complete without eating Busan’s signature dish of dwaeji gukbap, or pork soup. From Haeundae Beach, we took a 4 minutes walk towards Haeundae Market’s Gukbap Alley to try out this signature dish of Busan.

The whole alley is filled with gukbap specialty restaurants. The two most famous shop is Kim Hee-dae Halmae Wonjo Gamasot Gukbap (Granny Kim Hee-dae’s Original Cauldron Gukbap), under a yellow sign at the end of the row and 48-nyeon Jeontong Haeundae Wonjo Halmae Gukbap (The Original 48-year-old Traditional Haeundae Granny Gukbap) just next door under the red sign. They all claim to be original and serve the best gukbap so just simply pick one.

gukbap in the making

banchan and yakult?

A lot of local celebrities endorse this as their regular eatery; as seen from the restaurant’s wall.

Our comforting bowl of rice doused in spicy broth arrived in a short while. Pork slices and bean sprout is poured over warm rice with clear soup. The concoction is then topped with red seasonings and abundant minced green onions.

This soup’s a real belly-warmer!

Gukbap Alley
48-nyeon Jeontong Haeundae Wonjo Halmae Gukbap (The Original 48-year-old Traditional Haeundae Granny Gukbap):
612-2 U-1-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan (부산 해운대구 우1동 612-12)
+82 51 746 0387

Post dinner, we took a cab to Gwangali Beach, Busan’s second-most popular beach.

When the sun sets, the Busan-ers will grab an ice cream and sit on Gwangalli Beach, to look at Korea’s second-longest suspension bridge. The lights of the bridge change color and reflect beautifully in the water.

There’s no better way to wind down by enjoying the beautiful view of Diamond Bridge while taking in the cool and pleasant sea breeze.

Gwangalli Beach
Getting Here:
From Busan Station, take city bus No. 41, 42, 140, 239, 240, 139 and get off at Gwanganlli Beach (runs frequently)
or
From Express Bus Terminal, take city bus No. 131, 131-1
or
Take subway line no. 1 from Busan Subway Station and transfer from subway line no. 1 to Seomyeon Station. Get off at Gwangan Station(subway line no. 2, exit 3 or 5) and walk 5 minutes.

Nampo-dong is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Busan. It’s mainly known for shopping and for good reasons.
However we were there really late; most of the shops have closed.

The streets were still fairly happening with pubs, bars, karaokes and discos.

Nampodong (shopping area) & PIFF Square
Getting Here:
Nampo-dong Station (Busan Subway Line 1).

Next Up: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 7: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: Jagalchi Fish Market

Many friends and readers visited South Korea this year and posted beautiful cherry blossom photos on Facebook. It is causing me to reminisce about spring in Seoul and Busan. We’ve had our fair share of cherry blossom viewing this time last year at Dalmaji Hill which is located towards the end of Haeundae Beach.
Dalmaji Hill is full of character. There are plenty of old and mismatched buildings located at one side of the hill. At the same time, it is well known for its plethora of cafes which cater to young couples who come to enjoy a cup of coffee and the nice view of Haeundae Beach.

On days with clear skies, one can see Japan’s Daema Island  from this pavilion, we were told.  In Japan, they call it Tsushima, but in Korea the island is known as Daemado/Daema Island.

Dalmaji Hill is a one of the hip-pest area in Busan. The numerous upscale restaurants and cafes act as popular hangouts for the young crowds and local celebrities. The hippies also enjoy gallery hopping along the hill; while the long stretch of road attracts motorcyclists, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and hikers.

Dalmaji Hill boasts beautiful cherry blossoms and pine trees, which are located just beyond Haeundae Beach, on the slope of Mt.Wausan. The landscape, with the blue sea, sandy seashore, and pine trees, is beautiful enough to be the representative place of this area for a long time to come.

We love how Busan is kind of cold but really sunny and beautiful. It is like a perfect time to take a stroll down the road, either alone or with someone. We walked around for a while, before grabbing some coffees and toasts at Angel in Us Cafe.

Honey Strawberry Toast

Hot Latte

The best thing about traveling on our own is that we can take it at our own pace. Sometimes if  we see a book that catches our eye, we’ll just sit down, have a cuppa and a wee read. Or we could spend one whole afternoon on people watching .

Dalmaji Hill

Getting Here:
From Busan Station, take city bus No. 139 or 140 / city experss bus (jwaseok bus) No. 239 or 240 and get off at Mido Apt. Then walk 10-15 min along the sign (totally takes 1 hour).
or
In front of exit 1 of Haeundae station (Busan Subway Line 2), take city bus No. 100 and get of at Yeongnam Apt. Then walk 10-15 min along the sign (totally takes 50 min).

Next Up: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: Haeundae Beach, Gukbap Alley, Gwangali Beach+Diamond Bridge, Nampodong Street

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: KTX to Busan + Taejongdae Park

Located at the southern tip of South Korea, Busan is well known for its beaches, hot springs, nature reserves and international film festival. Being the fifth busiest seaport in the world, Busan also serves as a transportation and shipping hub for the local economy. The city’s bustling port activities also means that seafood is aplenty here – good news for tourists like us!

When in Busan, the best place to experience a local market atmosphere and to learn a thing or two about seafood is at the Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치시장). It is also Korea’s largest seafood market.

We were greeted by this sign as soon as we exited the subway station. It is pretty obvious that the sign refers to some fish related term eventhough we can’t read Hangul.

We walked past rows after rows of these roadside stalls. We truly enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of a traditional fish market among female merchants with strong local accents. They were selling mackerel, sea squirts (ascidians), giant squids, whale meat, dried seafood, pickled seafood amongst other sea produces which we could not identify nor name.
bundles of seaweed on trucks

Jagalchi Fish Market has 2 sections: outdoor market and indoor. After going ohh and ahh over the sea produce offered by the roadside vendor, we went indoor to feast!

We also saw many weird looking sea creatures here so it felt like being in an aquarium – just that some of these sea cretures were dead and we were walking on a damp surface.
Most patrons picked their seafood downstairs and proceeded upstairs where the food will be served shortly.

I have preloaded some pictures with Korean words into my iPad. When order, I just point to the pictures while the vendor nodded while saying “ahhhhhhh @#$%^ (korean words)”. Patrons seated around us were really cute too. They were trying really hard to communicate with us and to teach us the right method to savour those seafood. They pointed to KampungBoy and asked “oppa“? I swiftly answered “ye” and introduced Kampungboy’s parents as “omma and ahpa“. Who says watching Korean drama is a waste of time? Haha!

banchan (side fishes)

dipping sauces

We ordered live nakji as we’ve had this curiosity and insatiable desire to try it.  It was being cut into small pieces and served immediately, and seasoned with sesame and sesame oil. The nakji pieces were still squirming on the plate.

We took a bite of these squirming, squiggly tentacles and chewed really, really fast because the suction cups on the arm pieces were still active. We have heard horror stories of people getting choke as the active suction cups can cause swallowed pieces of arm to stick to the mouth or throat. We also need to keep and eye on those tentacles as they were constantly making an attempt to escape the plate. Such busy eyes and mouths!

The tentacles suck onto my tongue/gum and it gave me a really weird sensation. The octopus was tasteless, if not for the spicy red pepper and sesame oil dipping sauce. It was quite an experience and we will definitely recommend everyone to give it a try when in Korea.

Gul (Oyster). In Korea, oysters are called the “milk of the sea” as the Koreans believe that they contain twice as much protein as milk.  The best season for oysters is mid-winter to early spring.  The oysters were fresh and full of briny sweetness. However, they were lacking in terms of size.

Jeonbok (Abalone). Jeonbok was one of the more expensive shellfish we encountered at Jagalchi Fish Market. Spring to early summer is their best season, we were told. It was compared to wild ginseng in terms of taste and nutrition as it can reduce fatigue and promotes beautiful complexion. We ate them raw by dipping into vinegard red chili pepper paste. It was slightly chewy and sweet.

I can’t recall the Korean name of this red, pricky and puffy looking seafood. It tasted horrible – so you can totally forget about this.

We picked a medium size gwangor (some flat fish) which my friend highly recommend as a spring season delicacy. The fish was very fresh and it had a sweet, delicate taste.

However, unlike salmon, it is a non fatty white fish. Hence, these hwe (sashimi) slices required more chewing action.

Ajjumas (elderly ladies) from the table next to us showed us another way to enjoy those hwes. Place the hwe on the leaves, spread on a layer of red pepper sauce and top it with some kimchis. We then wrapped it up and popped it into our mouths.

Mae Un Tanng. The restaurant made this soup for us from the left-over parts of our fish (the head, leftover flesh and bones) to eat after our sashimi (hwe). Mae Un means spicy and Tang means soup or stew in Korean.

We spent about RM200 in total and we have totally no idea on the breakdowns. However, we felt it is an “alright” price to pay for our meal. Our visit to Jagalchi Fish Market was an eye opening experience. The market bears the lively atmosphere peculiar to port cities and we had fun interacting with the locals while having our lunch.

Jagalchi Fish Market

Getting Here:

Jagalchi Station (Busan subway line 1), Exit 10. Turn right onto Jagalchi 3(sam)-gil Street. Walk for 5min, then turn left to arrive at Jagalchi Market.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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KampungboyCitygal’s 7 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary – click here.

Previous: Seoul Itinerary Day 5: N Seoul Tower & Bonjuk @ Myeongdong

Busan is South Korea’s second largest metropolis after Seoul. It is also a coastal city famous for its beaches and host to Busan International Firm Festival every year in October.  The main reason we visited Busan last April was for cherry blossoms and rape flowers. The flowers start to blossom from the end of March in Busan City and reach their peak in April. It was also warmer in Busan than in Seoul, so that was a nice change of pace.

To get to Busan, we took the KTX high speed rails. The KTX trains depart from Seoul Station and the journey to Busan takes 2.5 hours. A return ticket costs about 100,000 won and a 3 day rail pass costs 84,6000 won so it is better to buy the rail pass.
For online/offline purchase of the KTX rail pass, you’ll need to make a payment. However, your E-ticket is automatically cancelled and the amount is not charged if you do not change it into Korea Rail Pass after your entrance into Korea. It is charged only after your exchange at rail station in Korea. Print out the payment receipt and exchange it to a KTX pass at Seoul Station. Remember to purchase your KTX ticket using the KTX pass.

We took a 6am train to Busan. As you can see from the train schedule, KTX departs from Seoul Station to Busan Station very frequently.

The KTX cabin is clean and comfortable. It was also very quiet and stable during motion, so we dozed off pretty quickly. Along the way, we experienced speeds of up to 301 km and it is truly a wonderful way to travel across South Korea!

The KTX arrives to Busan station and our hotel Toyoko Inn Busan I is located right next to it.

Busan Station

Toyoko Inn Busan I is an exact replica of Toyoko Inn Dongdaemun, except that these two hotels are located at different part of South Korea. Its location is unbeatable – easily accessible via limousine bus from the airport and beside Busan Station for KTX.  It is also few minutes away from the Exit 6 of Busan Subway system.

We moved around Busan using mainly metro and buses. There are 5 lines that make up the subway transportation system in Busan.  The subway lines are Line 1 (Orange), line 2 (Green), line 3 (Gold), line 4 (Blue) and the Busan – Gimhae light rail. For a map of the Busan Subway System visit this integrated route map.

Busan Metro 1 Day Pass can be bought at the ticket machine in Busan Subway stations. The ticket costs 4,000 won and lets you use all Busan Subway lines up until the last train of the day. This ticket is also a paper ticket.

Tourists also get around Busan via the Busan City Tour buses which features a variety of one-day travel courses, each of which centers on a different theme. We did not take any of the travel courses as we had only have a two days Busan itinerary with us so we need to be selective on the places which we wish to go.

☞ Ticket purchase
◎ Online reservations: www.citytourbusan.com (Korean only)
◎ Phone reservations: ARS 1688-0098 (Korean, English, Japanese),
Tel: 051-464-9898 (Korean, English)
* Tickets can be picked up from the bus driver on the day of the tour.
◎ On-site purchase: Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver at any bus stop, provided that seating is available.

☞ Fare: Adults (ages 19 and up): 10,000 won / Youth (ages 4-18): 5,000 won
* Discount: 2,000 won off regular adult fare for those with an Air Busan ticket, international cruise ticket, or KTX day ticket

Taejongdae Park is the first destination which we visited in Busan. We boarded onto a bus and it took us about 40 minutes to reach Taejongdae Park.

Taejongdae Resort Park in Busan is a natural park located at the southern most tip of Yeongdo-gu. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Busan.

There are a lot of magnificent rocky cliffs facing the open sea as such. The pamphlet says there are over 200 species of trees so one gets a beautiful view of forest landscape and sea.

We hopped onto the Danubi Train (Danubi means admiring the scenery in Korean) which runs a circular route of 4.3 km along the Taejongdae coastal road. It is a fun and great way to explore the park if you don’t feel like walking!

Danubi Train Operating Hours
March-October: 09:30-20:00 / November-February: 09:30-19:00

Ticket
Adults: 1,500 won / Group (over 30): 1,200 won
Youths: 1,000 won / Group: 800 won
Children: 600 won / Group: 500 won

Danubi Train Course
Platform→ Taejongsa Temple → Yeongdo Lighthouse → Observatory → Gumyeongsa Temple → Taewon Jagal Madang → Platform

crystal clear water

observatary deck


Yeongdo Lighthouse


The view was amazing from the cliffs at this park. It was a windy and sunny day, and we felt really relaxing while strolling through the park.

Taejongdae Park

Open from 04:00 till 24:00.
Admission is free.

How to get to Taejongdae Park Busan:

From Busan station you can take bus No.88 or 101 and get off at Taejongdae Park. The bus journey is around 40 minutes and the bus should come every 10 minutes. When returning you can use the same bus.

Next Up: Seoul + Busan Itinerary Day 6: Jagalchi Fish Market

ADVERTORIAL

Previously we mentioned about how we fell in love with our small & slim buddy – the Galaxy SIII mini. Most of all our latest instagram pictures were taken by this awesome smart phone.

With the LED flash that works best in a dim lit environment, our food photos turned out to be brighter and better. We also played around with the camera effect a lot, which gives us more choices other than instagram filters.

For a “mini” phone of its kind, it certainly can do so much! And its pretty fast at it too! Pretty zippy between apps and my own tasks. It also allows the fashionista in me to keep in trend- especially being able to carry those small clutches and handbags that’s all the rage these days; without having me to compromise the quality of photos and social media content while I am on the go.

The best part is I feel so light now. If you take a look at what’s in my bag – it’s just my wallet, tissues, car key, house key and the Galaxy SIII mini! I can’t say how happy I am with this phone.

For more info on the Galaxy SIII Mini, check out their site here : www.samsung.com/my/s3mini

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg

Spot the similiarities – cute, young, Formula One driver, team MBM and they were here at PETRONAS Solaris Serdang just 2 weeks ago!

It’s not every day that you get to meet a Formula One driver, so can you imagine the thrills and excitement of car owners at PETRONAS Solaris Serdang? Even the bloggers were too star strucked to do anything.

Nico Rosberg filled up the lucky top PETRONAS customer’s car with the PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA! It was such a huge privilege for the lucky owners! It makes onlookers go green with envy!

After that, it was a photo shooting session for our handsome MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team drivers. Do you know that this cool looking ride is worth 10 million? The two superstars of the racing track were really down to earth and they constantly smile to the camera.

PETRONAS also set up a huge racing track at the station. It was opened to the public for a week. And for that particular day, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were racing once again, not on their ride but on a remote control. It was a close game, as usual.

The handsome duo then left their handprints and proceeded to plague signing for the Race On contest.

At around 4.00PM, the bloggers got to interview Mesra Top Customers about how does it feels to win a big prize like this, and able to get up close and personal with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Mr Akbar M Thayoob, the Head of Retail Business Division PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad also briefed the media and bloggers about PETRONAS history, their mission and vision and their products. It was an engaging session with a lot of laughers and giggles.

Mr Akbar M Thayoob also mentioned about PETRONAS’s latest contest – RACE ON. The grand prize is a brand new Merdeces Benz A-Class. There’s also LED Smart TV, Macbook Air and iPhone 5 to be won!

It is super duper easy to enter the contest. All you need to do is to purchase a minimum of one Race On promotional combo at Mesra Store or make a minimum purchase of RM15 in a single receipt at any participating participating PETONAS stations for Mini Mesra. Answer a simple question stamped on the receipt and drop the receipt into the contest box at the station. What are you waiting for?

Find out more about the contest here: http://www.mymesra.com.my/index.php?tpl=2013_f1_promosi

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG