Got off work today with a spring in my step and a glint in my smile... the ocassion? Tonight's the night I begin my holidays! I wonder how my city has changed over the past year. Knowing Klang, there are bound to be plenty of new buildings and structures. Each time I make a trip home, it seemed like buildings just mushroom out of the ground after rain. I hope there are at least some good clothing bargains around because I am travelling light in the clothing dept! The rest of my luggage constitutes pressies for the family.
We're fitting in Japan in the middle of our trip too. Plenty to see, and I bet not even the month long research period I've put into planning the trip will prepare me for the different world there.
I am bursting with excitement... up, up and away!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Not a Small Town Anymore
I seem to be getting the same few questions these days - where are you from? How far away is Klang from KL? What is the population of Klang?
Ashamed to say this, but I realise I do not know much about my own birth place. After several consecutive times I was asked these questions, I decided to do a little research of my own and realised Klang is now vastly different to what I believe it to be.
Klang is the royal capital of the state of Selangor and is located within the Klang District in the Klang Valley. It is approximately 31 kms west from Kuala Lumpur (which is roughly the same distance from my place to Melbourne CBD) and 6 km east from Port Klang. The latter is the 16th busiest container port in the world.
In the 19th century, the importance of Klang expanded rapidly with tin mining activities in the area. Out of the mining boom, a new railway line was built in 1886 linking Klang with Kuala Lumpur. Previously the only methods of transport between the two places were by horse carts or a boat trip along the Klang River. It's strategic importance was further enhanced with the opening of Port Swettenham (now Port Klang) in 1901.
Klang may have taken its name from the Klang River which runs through the town and divides the place into Klang South and Klang North. The entire area in the immediate vicinity of the river which begins at Kuala Lumpur and runs west all the way to Port Klang is known as the Klang Valley. Klang North used to be the main commercial centre of Klang but recently more residential, commercial areas as well as government offices are being developed in Klang South.
Today, Klang is the second largest city (it became a city on 08/08/08) in the country after Kuala Lumpur with a population of 900,000 people. It is 10 times the size of Petaling Jaya.
My birth place has really evolved into a different place, but in my mind it will always be the small town of my childhood, when there were still palm oil estates beyond the field in front of my house, when the air were still fresh and crisp and when the bread man still makes his rounds on a bicycle in the afternoons. Yes.. I really do miss my Klang.
Ashamed to say this, but I realise I do not know much about my own birth place. After several consecutive times I was asked these questions, I decided to do a little research of my own and realised Klang is now vastly different to what I believe it to be.
Klang is the royal capital of the state of Selangor and is located within the Klang District in the Klang Valley. It is approximately 31 kms west from Kuala Lumpur (which is roughly the same distance from my place to Melbourne CBD) and 6 km east from Port Klang. The latter is the 16th busiest container port in the world.
In the 19th century, the importance of Klang expanded rapidly with tin mining activities in the area. Out of the mining boom, a new railway line was built in 1886 linking Klang with Kuala Lumpur. Previously the only methods of transport between the two places were by horse carts or a boat trip along the Klang River. It's strategic importance was further enhanced with the opening of Port Swettenham (now Port Klang) in 1901.
Klang may have taken its name from the Klang River which runs through the town and divides the place into Klang South and Klang North. The entire area in the immediate vicinity of the river which begins at Kuala Lumpur and runs west all the way to Port Klang is known as the Klang Valley. Klang North used to be the main commercial centre of Klang but recently more residential, commercial areas as well as government offices are being developed in Klang South.
Today, Klang is the second largest city (it became a city on 08/08/08) in the country after Kuala Lumpur with a population of 900,000 people. It is 10 times the size of Petaling Jaya.
My birth place has really evolved into a different place, but in my mind it will always be the small town of my childhood, when there were still palm oil estates beyond the field in front of my house, when the air were still fresh and crisp and when the bread man still makes his rounds on a bicycle in the afternoons. Yes.. I really do miss my Klang.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Happy Chinese New Year!!! May the year of the tiger bring fierce prosperity and brave luck.
Introduced the family to yee sang yesterday night.
A feast for family reunion dinner - steamed barramundi, oyster, fatt choi on sang choi dish, fried prawn balls, salted chicken, satay beef dish, and a pot of very good soup (not served yet)
A little basket of CNY goods for the family, more goodies hidden underneath.
Introduced the family to yee sang yesterday night.
A feast for family reunion dinner - steamed barramundi, oyster, fatt choi on sang choi dish, fried prawn balls, salted chicken, satay beef dish, and a pot of very good soup (not served yet)
A little basket of CNY goods for the family, more goodies hidden underneath.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Shoya Melbourne
On a rainy night, we took a drive through Chinatown... and stopped by Shoya, a Japanese restaurant for their degustation menu. Actually, it was an early Valentine's dinner because Gaz had to work on the day itself.
Unagi Canape - Grilled miso marinated eel canapé topped with crab meat salad, Salmon caviar and truffle. I love eel, and this one melted on my tongue, no fishy smell. Very nice.
2. Golden Perch - Lightly grilled miso flavoured perch topped with tomato mousse,
foie gras, and semi dried Mullet Roe. The foie was really great! Perch melted on our tongues, blended together with the creamy foie... good combo.
Spot the gold flake on top of the kingfish (which was the best fish in the selection), from Tassie. So decadent!!
4. Beef Spinach Roll - Stewed Ox Tongue wrapped with spinach soufflé served with lemon, basil yogurt. This one melted on our tongues! Best dish of the night.
Side order of chawan mushi. Disappointing.. texture and flavour was good, but it had bamboo shoots in it (I dislike bamboo shoots - usually none of those in the ones I had) and nothing much else.
5. Crab Tempura - Whole ‘Taraba’ crab leg deep-fried in tempura style. Crab from Hokkaido. It was like eating a drumstick, except much longer.
6. Fish Steak - Chef selection of fresh fish fillet, served then laid on a bed of teriyaki sauce and sesame vinegar. That night's selection was tuna. Least favourite entree of the night. Tuna was rough in texture, presentation was messy.
7. Wagyu Beef Steak - Wagyu eye fillet dressed with black truffle, enoki, shiitake miso sauce. Note to self - truffles are overrated! By this time I was so full and so ready to go home (it was 11pm) that I only had half the dish. The wagyu was not as tender as I thought it would be. It was served with:
8. Mixed Rice - Mixed tasty steam rice with chicken, vegetables and mushrooms. Truly just mixed rice... a bit bland.
9. Miso Soup - Miso soup with seaweed, tofu and chopped green onions which was just normal.
10. Chef’s Dessert - Chef’s selection of home made dessert. After a series of beautifully presented dishes, this to me is a most thoughtless dish in terms of presentation. Flavour wise it was great. Sea urchin cheesecake, sesame pannacotta. The pannacotta was nicely wobbly and I love cheesecake.
Unagi Canape - Grilled miso marinated eel canapé topped with crab meat salad, Salmon caviar and truffle. I love eel, and this one melted on my tongue, no fishy smell. Very nice.
2. Golden Perch - Lightly grilled miso flavoured perch topped with tomato mousse,
foie gras, and semi dried Mullet Roe. The foie was really great! Perch melted on our tongues, blended together with the creamy foie... good combo.
3. Sashimi Moriawse - Selection of kingfish, toro and salmon served in an ice bowl.
Spot the gold flake on top of the kingfish (which was the best fish in the selection), from Tassie. So decadent!!
4. Beef Spinach Roll - Stewed Ox Tongue wrapped with spinach soufflé served with lemon, basil yogurt. This one melted on our tongues! Best dish of the night.
Side order of chawan mushi. Disappointing.. texture and flavour was good, but it had bamboo shoots in it (I dislike bamboo shoots - usually none of those in the ones I had) and nothing much else.
5. Crab Tempura - Whole ‘Taraba’ crab leg deep-fried in tempura style. Crab from Hokkaido. It was like eating a drumstick, except much longer.
6. Fish Steak - Chef selection of fresh fish fillet, served then laid on a bed of teriyaki sauce and sesame vinegar. That night's selection was tuna. Least favourite entree of the night. Tuna was rough in texture, presentation was messy.
7. Wagyu Beef Steak - Wagyu eye fillet dressed with black truffle, enoki, shiitake miso sauce. Note to self - truffles are overrated! By this time I was so full and so ready to go home (it was 11pm) that I only had half the dish. The wagyu was not as tender as I thought it would be. It was served with:
8. Mixed Rice - Mixed tasty steam rice with chicken, vegetables and mushrooms. Truly just mixed rice... a bit bland.
9. Miso Soup - Miso soup with seaweed, tofu and chopped green onions which was just normal.
10. Chef’s Dessert - Chef’s selection of home made dessert. After a series of beautifully presented dishes, this to me is a most thoughtless dish in terms of presentation. Flavour wise it was great. Sea urchin cheesecake, sesame pannacotta. The pannacotta was nicely wobbly and I love cheesecake.
Reversed Roles
Can you imagine Gaz with a floral apron, whisk in one hand and oven mitt in the other? Well, you better, coz he made this awesome chocolate souffle the other day. I was too busy admiring it and had taken a bite of it before I could take a picture of it in its puffiness glory. By the time I took this picture the height had gone down a little.
Gaz hates gardening, but he'll mow the lawn when I ask him to. These are some of the strawberries from our garden.
Gaz hates gardening, but he'll mow the lawn when I ask him to. These are some of the strawberries from our garden.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Annoying Habit!
Some people have the most annoying habits!! I don't mean Gaz by the way, as wives are apt to complain about their partner's oddities. I think Gaz just breathed a deep sigh of relief!
There's a guy in the office downstairs in the office where I work who loves to dig his nose!!! Once, I was sitting in front of him and we were discussing about an issue when he said something like, 'Hmm.. let me think about this...' and promptly pushed his index finger into his nose, dug around and withdrew his digit with a blob at the end! Oh gosh... I was so grossed out!!
To make it worse, we were poring over a sheet of paper when he was doing that, and he pulled the piece of document towards him with his hands... one finger of which was still spotting that blob that came out of his nose!! Oh gross....!!!
I was too polite to say anything (this is an older guy), and I think he realised too late what he did so he pretended that it's no big deal by ignoring the obvious blob.
Another time, another day. We were discussing about something, and he did it again!!! Oh gross....... Why can't people just keep the gold digging activities in the comfort of their homes? Not in the office, not in the car while waiting for traffic to move, not in public!!!
There's a guy in the office downstairs in the office where I work who loves to dig his nose!!! Once, I was sitting in front of him and we were discussing about an issue when he said something like, 'Hmm.. let me think about this...' and promptly pushed his index finger into his nose, dug around and withdrew his digit with a blob at the end! Oh gosh... I was so grossed out!!
To make it worse, we were poring over a sheet of paper when he was doing that, and he pulled the piece of document towards him with his hands... one finger of which was still spotting that blob that came out of his nose!! Oh gross....!!!
I was too polite to say anything (this is an older guy), and I think he realised too late what he did so he pretended that it's no big deal by ignoring the obvious blob.
Another time, another day. We were discussing about something, and he did it again!!! Oh gross....... Why can't people just keep the gold digging activities in the comfort of their homes? Not in the office, not in the car while waiting for traffic to move, not in public!!!
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