Music To My Ears

Rise and shine everybody!

It's a beautiful day with the sound of birds chirping and the golden rays from the morning sun makes one in awe with His creation. Too bad I got a tiny yard at home to take a morning walk and to breathe in the crisps of the morning air. I sounded a little poetic, eh? Oh well, when one gets older, one tend to be a little nostalgic.

I was doing a little morning walk on my own this morning, not so much as in exercise but rather enjoying the quietness of  a Sunday morning and the chill air. Passing by one house, I heard an old song at a distance. An old song my grandma used to love. It brought me back beautiful memories when she was still around and it brought tears to my eyes. She was a beautiful person and I have never stopped loving her to this day. In her quiet way, I knew she loved music but she didn't make it obvious like I do.
I love music. Remember in one of my blogs I said I wanted to be a jazz singer. It's true. I was really into music but back then, families usually were not as open as today's, so I kept it to myself and sing lullabies to my children. Hey! That kind of work, you know. At least two of them were like me, have good ears over music. Ariff, my eldest, got a good singing voice. And Sophie. She even sang the old song whenever she heard me humming. Full lyrics, mind you. Even I would get lost midway,forgot the lyrics. I mean.

When I was young, I was crazy over Barry Manilow and Barbra Streisand's songs. Remember Manilows' I write the song & Somewhere in the night? I would play it over and over again.I never get tired listening to that song. And Streisand's Memories and Somewhere? I feel this Somewhere song can only be sang by her alone. Soulful and it reached deep into my heart. I loved James Ingram Just Once. It has a powerful impact on me. Not only the lyrics but the song itself. I have our local singers of which I truly admire them. There was Sheila Majid, a petite singer yet with a beautiful voice who sang mostly jazzy songs. In contrast to her, there was Yusni Hamid. I am sure many don't know who she is. She wasn't a popular singer then but she has deep smoky voice. And she sings Malay Traditional (Melayu Asli) songs superbly.
Then came Whitney Houston. And I thought to myself, if God were to ask what I want in my life, I would without doubt picked to have a voice like hers. I was so crazy over her that I sometimes envisioned I looked like her.

I understand and feel music as if it's flowing within me. I was never a musician, never played a single instrument at any one time in my life, yet I appreciate it like a pro. Besides writing, music is my numero uno love. Whenever I watched any singing program from reality show namely American Idol or The Voice or anything, I can pick those with voices I feel promising and by the end of the show the judges would pick the same. Not all but most of it. See how I blend in with music.

Listening to Richard Clayderman's Ballade pour Adeline or Kenny G's Forever In Love makes me weep all the time. I used to own a cassette tape of these two artists and placed it inside my car. Whenever I am inside the car and feeling depress, I would play it over and over again. Silly me, I knew it will make me cry and yet I kept  playing it. It's beautiful. It's timeless.

I can even appreciate the soprano's Pavarotti's song, though I don't understand a single word in his songs. But I loved it all the same.

I can't say the same for ballet though. To me, it's plain boring. Nor the arts. People can fetch million and millions of dollars for these paintings but I don't see anything within those paintings. I don't know what's the big fuss over Monalisa's smile. Someone should portrait me as well so that I could give a mystery look something like squinting my eyes and frowning with a smile at the corner of my mouth. Try and crack that look, people. Will I worth millions?
 I just don't see any significance in buying those child-like scribbling called painting. I don't have it in me to appreciate these kind of arts. To me it's a waste of money. If one were to bring me and walk through an art gallery, I think I would find a corner and take a nap while others browse around.

Besides Quran reading (for Muslims), listening to good music can help us loosen up and relax our body and mind. As long as it isn't that incoherent heavy metal or top of the voice screaming sound, I am fine by it all.
I always and forever will love music. To feel the music in depth will bring the fine feeling within us.  At least I feel that way.

That's all for today friends.
 
Love,
Rose
21st.July '13

Sago Gula Melaka

Salam Ramadhan buat semua,

Semua tentu dah berbuka sebentar tadi. Hari ni kami berempat kat rumah. Saya masak semuanya. Malas nak keluar cari makanan kat luar. Pulak tu, terlebih rajin sikit terus buat dessert iaitu Sago Gula Melaka. Senang sangat2 nak buat dia. Kalau ada yang tak tahu boleh ikut resipi ni.

Kita perlukan :
Biji sago (kuantitinya ikut keperluan di rumah kita sendiri)
1 keping gula kabong dan 5 sudu besar gula merah
sikit garam
santan pekat

1) Pertama sekali rendam sekejap sago tadi biar kembang sekejap. Biarkan.

2) Selepas tu, kita masak gula melaka dan gula merah sekali. Masukkan air anggaran 1 cawan. Kacau sekali sekala. Masak sehingga agak likat. Bila dah masak angkat dan tapiskan kedalam mangkuk.

3) Santan pekat boleh kita beli yang dah siap di market.

Sekarang kita masak sago yang telah kita toskan dulu. Masak air sampai mendidih dan masukkan sago. Paras air lebih kurang dua takat jari kita melebihi sago. Taburkan sikit garam. Sikit saja tau.

Kalau nak buat lebih menarik, boleh masukkan pewarna. Kalau tak biarkan saja warna asli sago tu.
Kalau sentiasa, jangan henti. Bila biji sago dah bertukar warna menjadi jernih atau translucent bolehlah kita tutupkan api dan biarkan sekejap.

Sekarang, bolehlah dicedok masuk kedalam cawan atau mangkok.

https://www.facebook.com/Ariffisma?fref=ts

Masukkan sikit santan dan juga air gula tadi. Manisnya ikut keperluan sendiri.

photos by Ahmad Ariff

Costing : Biji sago : RM 1.50
Santan : RM 1.00
Gula Melaka : RM 0.40 ( 2 keping) 
Gua merah : RM 0.30
Jumlah       : RM 3.20 untuk 6 orang


Selamat mencuba.
Salam dari saya,

Rose
20th.July '13

Being a Muslim

Fasting month has made me productive, in term of writing. This is because, I am almost free from daily house chores such as doing laundry or cooking. I truly love it! Waking up at about 4.45am each morning to prepare some light meals to start our day of fasting. I didn't go back  to sleep after that. I just clean up the dishes, do some clothes ironing for my husband, perform my dawn prayer and by seven something I will be sending Sara to school. After 7.30am, I'll be free. I will only be busy preparing meals for breaking the fast later in the afternoon.
About five something later in the afternoon, I started cooking and preparing meals to breaking the fast. Rice is a must for almost every household in Malaysia. Last night I made some black sauce beef, hot sauce chicken, some pan fried fish and mixed vegetables with salted fish. For dessert I made some sweet potatoes cubes laced with brown sugar and coconut cream.
Yesterday, the time for breaking the fast was at 7.42pm (for Langkawi area). It's very quiet nowadays since the two boys ,Ariff & Soffian were in the afternoon shift and Sophie was away in college, that only left three of us at home, my husband, Sara and me. After the fast breaking, we got ready for Terawih prayer at the nearby mosque. This prayer will only be performed during Ramadhan month. It is not compulsory as the five times daily prayer that we were obliged to do but it is encouraged for all to perform. I don't do it everyday but I do it whenever time and health permits. I find it so heart warming whenever we were at the mosque. It's buzzing with activities. Some jemaah (congregation members) were kind enough to bring in some food to be shared together. It's festive like. To me the best was when the Imam lead the prayer and the rest of us will follow suit. What I find  amazing was when he,(the imam) only read one sentence of Quran verse, yet all of us will automatically know what to do instinctively, no matter which part of the world we're in.

Living the life of being a Muslim isn't as confined and suffocating as one would think. Islam never constrict its followers to become lame and inane. Quran and Hadith was to be the guideline for the Muslims. There's reasons why some things were totally forbidden for Muslim to do. Take for example, liquor. Why was it forbidden? Because it could lead to calamity or self destruction. Another example, why women should cover themselves? To avoid the ogling and wandering eyes of men. It all started from the eyes, then it leads to desire and then it leads to something further. When that happened, it could trigger jealousy,slandering and it could even break a strong-based marriage. Here's another one, same sex marriage. Our God, Allah, has made it clear that He created men and women to pair each other up hence produce children to fill up the world. What were to happen if one day everybody wants to marry the gender same as theirs? Let's say they adopt a child. How would the child feel when he/she was being ridiculed by other children at school? Some may argue this is human rights. In my humble opinion, even human rights has its limit.

From my point of view, if one is not happy with the rules and guidelines stated in the Holy Quran, then don't follow. Ignore it. Only thing is, a Muslim knew it full well that they were committing sin if they go against the teaching. But then again so does other religion. There's no difference in it.  We do good we get the reward, the Heaven, we do bad we get another kind of reward,we go to hell (no pun intended). Quran words or alphabets was never altered, not even a single word since 610AD. It was preserved to guide mankind until the end of the world.  Like Bible, Quran is for us to live our lives like a true human being. Without it, we could be equated to animals. No laws to abide to. Human become uncontrollable.

I don't understand why people everywhere have so much hatred against Islam. Islam is beautiful. The ugliness comes from the person who carries the identity of a Muslim and tarnished it with their extreme action and words.
I am a moderate Muslim. I pray as He wants,I fast during Ramadhan month, I pay tithe if and when I can afford it without compulsion. Islam even teach us to be kind and good especially towards others who are not Muslims. This is to show that Islam acknowledge other human beings the same as Muslims as we all were created by the same God.
Other than that I lead a normal life just like everybody else. I watch movies (I love Denzel Washington,by the way) as and when it pleases me. I sing karaoke to my heart out. I went window shopping and went out with my girlfriends for a chat. I told my children to live their life to the fullest. Wear hijab when they are totally ready and sincere, not doing it because it's fashionably so or because everybody else is doing it.
Whenever we do something, it should come from our heart. Because that is where the sincerity lies. One may come out with 101 beautiful quotes but if it didn't reach our hearts, then it is empty.

It saddened me when people crack a joke about my religion. Religion is something sacred to all mankind. I have never heard any Muslim make fun of Lord Buddha in the open. I never heard any one Muslim make a movie to disgrace Jesus openly. But our prophet, Muhammad had been ridiculed many a time over, through caricature paintings, movie or verbal abuse. We should be considerate and understanding towards each other. Muslims are patriotic when it comes to their religion and prophet. This is one of the reasons why the Muslim extremists carried out the suicidal bombings all over the world of which I truly against it. That is just not right because it involved the innocence.

Malaysia is a Muslim country with about fifty four percent Muslims living in it. We were taught about the values of being a Muslim since we were at a very tender age. Starting with a 5 times daily prayers, we were later introduced to fasting (no eating and drinking during daytime) , then Quran reading (meaning we had to learn the Arabic alphabets though many of us still don't fully understand the meaning of every sentences). Alhamdulilah, (means Praised be to Allah) we had finally absorbed some of the teachings into our life for our own good. Please do not judge all Muslims as terrorists. Come and visit our country and you will see for yourselves how the Muslims here live. We are a peaceful community and most of us are law abiding citizens. Overall we are moderate Muslims who loves our religion and at the same time respect the others.

I am proud to be a Muslim and I will pray for all of us to be well and able to live in a peaceful world without  overwhelming hatred and prejudice towards one another.

Love,
Rose
16th.July '13

Malaysian Currypuffs

Good morning all,

I usually write about current issues or what I had been through all the while. Today, I'd like to share one recipe of Malaysian favourite for breakfast or tea break. Curry puffs. I usually do the recipe write up in Malay but this time lets try this recipe from your home with me.
This curry puffs has some similarity with some other countries on preparing it. The other day I saw a celebrity chef went to Brazil and showed how an Empanada was done. The pastry skin and the way they  crimp the edges was exactly the same as here. So, let's try our local Malaysian way of preparing it.

To make the dough :
3 cups of flour
a pinch of salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
About 200gm of butter
1 egg
little water
(if you prefer it crumbly, use cold water)

In a bowl, put together flour, salt, baking soda and mix well.
Then bring in the butter. Using your fingers break the butter in the flour mixture well.
Add the water slowly and knead it until it comes together nicely.
Let it rest and cover it with plastic wrap for about an hour.

Next, the filling. We need:

cut potatoes, onion, ground beef and processed chili

3 potatoes skinned and cut into little cubes
a cup of ground beef (you may change with anything you like such as chicken or lamb)
1 tablespoon of beef curry powder
1 tablespoon of chili flake
1 tablespoon of processed dried chili (it's fine if you can't have them)
1 teaspoon of dried shrimp (leave it out if you can't have them)
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 tablespoon of white sugar
salt to taste
a handful of parsley
2 tablespoon oil
some onion and 2 cloves of garlic

Let's start cooking the filling :
Heat the skillet with the oil in it. Throw in onion and garlic.
Then pour in the curry powder,processed chili and chili flake together with the beef. Pour in a cup of water.

Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.Your fire should be small.
Now, throw in the diced potatoes together with salt,pepper and sugar.
Open the lid to stir occasionally. Cook until the water began to dry up and the potatoes is well cooked.
Last throw in the chopped parsley and turn off your stove.
Leave the filling to cool down.

This is how the fillings should look like

Take the dough and gently roll it with your roller until thin. Actually,you can roll it slightly thick if that is your preference.

Then get a small cup and placed it hard over the dough like the picture above.  

You can do the rolling again if you want the pastry skin to be thin and crispy.

Next, fill in the fillings like the picture. Now put together the edges and start crimping it. If you don'tknow how to crimp it with your finger, use fork to crimp it. No issues here.

This is how it should look after the crimping. Sara asked me to write down she's the one who did the crimping. Show off!

Now that it's ready, you can start frying it. Malaysian style of cooking. We mostly fry our food. So not healthy. But who cares. It's the taste that counts.
On slow fire, heat your oil. You had to use a lot of oil to fry this. Like you are about to fry the french fries.
Don't leave it idle on fire, you have to turn it every few minutes or so to get a nice brown skin of currypuffs.

Voila, it's ready and it's great to go with a cup of tea.
Happy trying.

Rose
14th.July '13

Jalan-jalan cari makan diLangkawi

Assalamualaikum semua,

Entri Jalan-Jalan Cari makan ni saya postkan pada 12hb.Julai 2013. Sekarang dah penghujung 2015. Jadi seeloknya saya update sikit untuk tatapan pembaca semua.

Dua hari lepas saya kembali ke pulau yang memberi begitu banyak kenangan pahit dan manis sepanjang 20 tahun saya bermastautin disana. Anak sulung saya, Ahmad Ariff masih disana jadi tak perlu saya nak cari hotel untuk penginapan.

Ramai pembaca saya yang menjadikan post ini sebagai panduan untuk mencari tempat makan sebelum ke Langkawi. So, hari ni saya akan update sikit tempat makan yang baru dan buang yang lama untuk kemudahan anda di sana nanti.


(Sambil membaca blog ini, anda boleh mencuba link diatas untuk menambah side income anda, terutama pada yang tidak bekerja. Tidak perlu mengeluarkan wang untuk apa-apa pendaftaran. Anda hanya ikut pautan ini dan register sebagai ahli. Sekiranya anda berjaya memberi traffic yang dikehendaki oleh website ini, anda akan dibayar mengikut traffic yang diterima.)

Kita mulakan dari Kuah menghala ke jeti. Dalam 500meter sebelum sampai kejeti tu, ada medan selera sebelah kanan kita. Kedai yang first dari arah kita datang tadi, dia punya laksa boleh tahan. Kawan saya dari Kuala Lumpur suka makan kat sini sebab antara bahan sayurnya ialah pucuk gajus (kalau sebelah sini orang sebut janggus) Ikut musim juga nak dapat pucuk ni. Ada banyak lagi hidangan lain macam bubur kacang dan beberapa jenis bubur lain serta makanan asas yang selalu ada di gerai makan melayu. Sama deretan dengan gerai ni tapi disebelah hujung sekali, ada satu gerai nasi lemak, Nasi lemak Saloma nama gerai tu. Boleh tahan la nasi lemak dia tapi disebabkan kurang "mesra alam" saya dah malas nak ke sana lagi dah.

Restoran 1 Malaysia

Masih di kawasan jeti Kuah lagi, sekarang ada satu restoran baru buka. Saya tak berani jamin berapa lama restaurant ni akan buka sebab tempat ni selalu bertukar tangan, tak berapa nak menjadi. Nama restaurant ni ialah Restoran 1 Malaysia. Bersebelahan dengan Dataran Lang. Nampak presentable tapi saya tak sempat nak menjamu selera sebab masa terhad.

Ada satu restaurant yang namanya Restaurant Aji kat marina Pekan Rabu. Maksud Marina ialah tempat bot-bot mewah dan yacht berlabuh gitu. Kalau datang dari arah jeti menghala ke Pekan Kuah, landmarknya ialah Masjid Al Hana. Nampak saja masjid ni, bagi signal masuk kiri. Drive sampai betul-betul berdepan laut. Nampak terbentang restaurant ni. Tapi dia buka sebelah malam saja. Harga kat restaurant ni sangat berpatutan. Baik Western food dia maupun makanan melayu.

Bagi saya, saat masuk saja ke sini, iaitu Kompleks Pekan Rabu Langkawi ni, anda dah tak perlu nak pi jauh-jauh lagi dah cari makan, sebab semua jenis makanan ada disini. Dari nasi lemak sebungkus seringgit hingga ke seafood yang beratus ringgit. Semua dah tersaji. Jadi anda tak perlu membuang masa nak cari di tempat lain.

Di Jalan Penarah pulak, dulu ada satu kedai nasi campur bersebelahan dengan Istana Kondo (apartment). Nama kedai tu Pak Aq nasi campur. Kedai Pak Aq ni dah tutup. Sedih, dah tak dapat nak makan gulai ikan kering dia lagi dah.
Kalau nak juga nasi campur di dalam pekan Kuah, cuba masuk ke area Pandak Mayah. Bila nampak Cimb Bank, Maybank dan RHB, anda berada dikawasan yang betul. Jalan terus hingga melepasi satu restaurant masakan Siam, saya lupa nama restaurant tu. Kedai nasi campur ni ke belakang sikit drp Restaurant Thailand tadi.

Rest Haji Ali

Kalau nak nasi kandar yang sedap atau boleh tahan di Langkawi ni, pergi ke Rest Haji Ali. Kalau kita dari jeti menghala ke ke pekan Kuah, bila jumpa lampu trafik yang pertama, ambik kiri. Perlahankan kereta dan dah boleh nampak restoran tu dari dalam kereta. Terletak di sebelah kanan kita. Sepinggan nasi dengan seketul ayam, seketul ikan dan sayur lebih kurang RM8.00. Tapi biasa la, standard harga kedai mamak memang  macam ni. Saya sangat suka nasi kandar disini.

Restoran Bamboo

Sekiranya anda berada di jalan Penarak pula, iaitu jalan yang menempatkan kedai coklat/hotel  Hj Ismail, keluar saja dari bangunan dia, ambik kiri. Terus memandu melepasi Kondo Istana, (harus menghala ke jeti) jalan terus hingga anda nampak Hotel Seaview, terus lagi sehingga nampak macam jalan mati. Belok kanan (tak boleh kedepan lagi dah sebab laut didepan), lebih kurang 50 meter, ada Restoran Bamboo didepan. Kepunyaan orang Melayu juga. Makanan laut dia agak sedap tetapi bagi saya sedikit over priced.
Yang bagusnya, restoran ni sudah semakin berjaya, ditapak yang sama mereka membina motel juga.

Dari pekan Kuah menghala ke Padang Matsirat pula. Selepas Restoran Hj Ali, tengok deretan medan selera sebelah kiri. Berhentikan kereta dan park kat mana-mana yang kosong, cari EE Burger. Tapi dia orang buka sebelah malam ja. Hari Jumaat tutup. Kedai ni semua pekerja dia budak lelaki. Sambil menunggu order saya sampai, sempat saya menghitung ada lebih kurang 15 orang pekerja yang saya nampak pada waktu tu. Cepat gerak kerja mereka dan pesanan kita pun cepat sampai. Harga fish & chips dia, kalau tak silap dalam RM9.00. Semua harga kat sini sangat-sangat berpatutan. Anda nak nasi lemak? Ada, Anda nak spaghetti? Ada. Anda nak satay? Pun ada. Burger dah tentu ada sebab nama dia  pun EE Burger. Harga setiap burger dia pun murah, tak lebih dari RM5.00. Namakan saja apa yang anda nak, kebanyakannya ada di sini.  Sebab tu, kedai ni tak pernah putus pelanggan. Kalau tengok dari depan, nampak outlet ni macam buruk dan tak bermaya. Tapi bila dah masuk, ok juga kat dalam, luas dan lapang. Dia orang boleh buat delivery lagi.

Ada lagi satu kedai makan macam ni. GM Burger. Bekas staff EE Burger ni dulu. Kedai dia terletak di Kelibang. Perjalanan menghala ke Padang Matsirat juga. Betul-betul selepas stesyen minyak Shell Kuah. Buka sebelah malam juga. Menu nya sama macam kat EE Burger. Semua ada. Tapi bagi saya, saya lebih suka EE punya makanan. Pun ada delivery.

Bagi sesiapa yang menginap di Hotel Langkasuka Kuah, ada satu gerai kuih, terletak bersebelahan dengan Langkawi Parade. Betul-betul sebelah shopping mall ni. Banyak kuih muih yang dijual disebelah petang, kurang sedap kalau dibanding dengan tempat lain di Langkawi.

Restoran Thai yang paling top di Kuah ialah WanThai Restaurant. Nama tempat Pokok Assam. Kalau tak dapat cari juga, guna Waze cari location Kamdar. Ia tak jauh dari situ. Cuba makan kuih lompang dan pulut mempelam dia. Sedap gile!

Apa yang boleh saya katakan disini, anda tak perlu risau bila berada di Langkawi sebab memang tersangat banyak orang Melayu menjual makanan.

Kuih Muih di Langkawi

Gerai menjual goreng pisang atau kuih kuih ada dimerata tempat. Paling sedap di Pekan Padang Matsirat. Bersebelahan dengan masjid Pdg Matsirat. Kuih Tepung Talam Ubi Kayu dia, memang authentic. Seratus peratus rasa ubi kayu. Begitu juga dengan kuih-kuih lain. Lagi satu gerai kuih yang sedap ialah di Ulu Melaka bersebelahan dengan Restaurant Kak Yan. Kecik aje gerai dia. Mak cik tua yang membuat kuih2 ni tapi anak perempuannya yang menjual.

Bagi yang menginap di Pantai Cenang, jangan risau, anda pandu saja ke Temoyong atau Kedawang, sepanjang jalan ada ja gerai kuih muih yang sedap-sedap belaka.

Salah satu gerai kuih muih yang anak saya suka ialah gerai ini. Cari Petronas Kedawang, gerai nya seperti didalam gambar. Kalau tak silap nama si penjualnya Cek Kar. Anak saya kata nasi lemak bungkus dia sedap.

Ada satu lagi gerai kuih bertentangan dengan Fave Hotel, Warung Desa Tanjung.  Kuih Isabella (kuih ubi kayu yg digoreng) digerai ni memang terbaik. Kalau sebelah petang, beratur orang ramai membeli di sini.  Nama tempat ini ialah Padang Putih. Berhampiran Pantai Cenang dan Pantai Tengah.

Dah habis bab kuih muih. Sekarang balik ke makanan ruji kita, nasi. Masih di kawasan sini.

Tak jauh dari Fave Hotel dan Aseania Resort, ada restoran nasi kandar, nama Restoran Tomato. Boleh tahan juga. Kebanyakan tukang masaknya diimport dari India.  Bersebelahan dengan Tomato, ada Restoran Lubuk Buaya. Harga berpatutan, dibuka hingga jam 2 pagi. Di seberang jalan pula, sama juga, ada restoran lagi, Restoran Mangga 2. Lama dulu saya pernah makan direstoran ni, tapi cawangan Pantai Tengah. Sedap juga masakan dia. Tetapi sekarang saya tak tahu dah samada depa masih menggunakan tukang masak yang sama.

Dipenghujung stretch Jln Pdg Putih ni, ada satu lagi restoran yang dibuka oleh anak muda kita, kenalan anak saya, nama kedai tu Submarine Cafe. Tengahari buka utk nasi campur, malam utk western food.

Apapun, kalau nak makan yang murah dan cara kampung, ikut jalan ni saja, maksud saya jalan Padang Putih ni. Berlambak kedai makan macam cendawan tumbuh lepas hujan. Rumah penginapan dan homestay pun bercambah.

Dulu semasa saya masih tinggal di Langkawi kedai makan D Warung ini menjadi salah satu pilihan saya selang sehari disebabkan harganya yang murah dan masakannya masakan kampung. Banyak jenis ulam, kerabu, ikan bakar, sayur keladi dan segala jenis lauk pauk yang banyak membuatkan kita rambang mata.
Dua hari lepas (16hb.Dec '15), saya melewati kedai ini untuk mengambil gambar dan masukkan kedalam blog, tetapi saya terlupa yang kedai ni hanya buka utk lunch saja. Jadi saya tak dapat nak huraikan lebih lanjut tentang masakannya pada masa kini. Ohh lagi satu, mereka juga sudah semakin berkembang dengan membina motel kecil diatas premis makanan ini. Tahniah kepada orang Melayu di sana.
Kat mana kedai ni? Kalau dari arah Pantai Cenang menghala ke Pdg Matsirat, perlahankan kereta bila melepasi Hotel Pelangi. Ada junction disitu, belok kanan. Lebih kurang 100 meter anda akan sampai kekedai ini, terletak disebelah kiri anda.

Kalau nak makanan laut diPantai Cenang yang halal, bolehlah ke Orkid Ria. Salah sorang owner, nama dia Mr Loh, dah agak berumur tapi baik orangnya. Seingat saya dari anak2 saya masih kecil kami selalu makan di kedai dia. Makanan dia pun agak sedap tapi sedikit mahal. Kalau sekali sekala nak cuba ikan segar, apa salahnya.

Lagi satu restoran nama dia Restoran Seashell. Cari hotel Casa Del Mar. Betul-betul bertentangan dengan Casa Del Mar dan tak jauh dari Orkid Ria. Anda dapat tengok bangunan Muzium Laman Padi. Didalam kawasan Laman Padi ni ada satu restoran yang agak baru sebab dulu semasa saya disana belum ada lagi restoran ni. Suasana yang sangat menarik. Boleh makan dalam pondok-pondok kecil yang dibina didalam sawah. Boleh kata semua jenis makanan ada terjual disini. Lagi satu bonus makan kat sini, senang nak park kereta.

Kita  ke Padang Matsirat pulak. Ada satu kedai ikan bakar yang paling laris di sini. Nama kedai tu Jom Ikan Bakar. Saya cuma kenal tuan kedai tapi selalu terlupa nama kedainya. Memang berpatutan harga lauk pauk dia. Ramai orang setiap hari kat sini sampai kadang2 tu malas pulak saya nak singgah sebab terlampau ramai. Untuk semua yang melancong bersama keluarga, tempat ni tak mahal jadi tak la sakit sangat bila nak bayar tu.

Kat mana kedai ni? Ok, kalau anda ikut highway dari Kuah, pandu terus mengikut papan tanda menuju ke airport. Bila dah nak sampai airport, anda akan jumpa 1st round about (lebih kurang 1 km dari airport). Terus lagi,  akan jumpa second  round about . Ikut turutan  pukul 3 dan anda akan menghala ke Padang Matsirat. Terus lagi dalam 300~ 400 meter, perlahankan kereta. Kedai ni di sebelah kanan. Landmark kedai ni, bertentangan dengannya ada medan selera ber bumbung tinggi. Tengok ada ramai orang, hah, kat situlah tempat dia. Dia bukak untuk lunch saja.


Chef Corner. Restoran ni pun terletak berdekatan dengan round about airport juga. Boleh nampak dia punya signboard. Sedap juga kat sini pun. Ada macam-macam hidangan. (Saya tak sempat tinjau samada Chef Corner ni masih beroperasi ataupun tidak sebab kesuntukan masa). Pada sesiapa yang berkunjung dan berpeluang makan dissini, boleh tolong updatekan saya tentang kedai ini.

Alright.. kat mana lagi nak saya bawa anda makan?  Ok..ada satu lagi tempat yang saya nak syorkan kepada anda semua. Gerai makan kecil yang biasa saja berhampiran makam mahsuri. Nama kedai ni Nasi Dagang Pak Malau. Sayang sekali, hari Rabu (16hb.Dec ;15) saya ke situ, kedai Pak Malau tutup. Tak dapat saya nak merasa makanan nya. Ikut kata kawan-kawan yang pernah ke situ, sedap juga nasi dagang dia dimakan bersama kurma kambing. Saya agak skeptikal sikit mengenai ini sebab selalunya kuah jenis kurma ni orang Penang yang hebat dalam penyediannya. Tapi saya tak ada hak nak memberi pendapat sebab belum sempat mencuba.
Kat mana kedai dia? Ok sebelum sampai ke makam mahsuri, kita akan jumpa kedai gamat Rojam dulu. Dari sini, pandu masuk menghala ke Makam Mahsuri. Saya tak dapat nak agak berapa jauh jarak dari Rojam ke kedai Pak Malau tapi apa yang dpt saya katakan, kalau tak nampak kedai ni, cuba cari masjid Bukit Temin. Haa.kedai ni berada betul2 bertentangan dengan masjid ini.

Seafood di Langkawi. Hemm kat mana ya? Dekat jalan Bukit Malut ada satu kedai nama dia Restoran Selera Nelayan. Mungkin ramai yang dah tahu pasal kedai ni. Tak terlalu mahal dan agak sedap makanan dia. Dari arah Kuah ke Pdg Matsirat, bila sampai berdepan dengan hospital Langkawi, ada 1st punya traffic light. Jalan terus. Selepas lebih kurang 100 meter, ada satu lagi traffic light. Haa, kat sini ambk kiri. Drive perlahan2 dan dalam 200 meter di depan sampai lah ke restoran ni. Dia agak kedalam. Harus perhati betul-betul.

Di Bayas, ada satu lagi restoran seafood, bernama? Saya tak tahu nama, Mee Udang Sempoi kot macam gambar di atas. Kat mana Bayas? Ini satu masalah, macam mana saya nak describe. Okay kita ambil jalan dari Kuah nak ke Pdg Matsirat. Anda akan melewati Hospital Langkawi. Ada dua traffic light di area hospital ni. Jangan belok mana-mana, ikut terus. Selepas hampir 1 kilometer ada lagi satu traffic light.Jalan terus juga. Kedai ni terletak disekitar kawasan ni disebelah kanan jalan.

Lagi satu restoran seafood ada kat Kuah. Chinese restoran. Wonderland nama kedai ni. Restoran ni sama deretan dengan EE Burger cuma deretan dia ke depan lagi. Sentiasa penuh dengan pelanggan.


Kalau teringin nak makan pek nga (ni sebutan orang utara. Menurut arwah tok saya maksud pek nga tu tempek di belanga) Kalau sebutan sebelah selatan lempeng lah. Ada satu tempat di Langkawi yang saya tahu jual makanan ni untuk breakfast. Di Padang Matsirat (sebelah klinik Delima) dekat sekolah menengah Tunku Putra. Kedai kopi ni semua ada kecuali roti canai sebab dia orang dah buat pek nga ni. Pulut dan ikan masin ada, mee/bihun goreng ada, roti jala ada, nasi lemak ada dan sedap. Harga pun murah.

Pasar malam kat Langkawi. Hari Isnin kat Ulu Melaka.Hari Selasa kat Kedawang (Padang Wahid), hari Rabu, Kuah, hari Khamis kat Temoyong (sebelum Pantai Cenang), hari Jumaat (Air Hangat), hari Sabtu di Kuah sekali lagi dan hari ahad di Padang Matsirat. Kebanyakan peniaga nya orang yang sama, jadi kita dah boleh agak makanan mana yang sedap. Saya suka satu gerai murtabak disini, nama gerainya Murtabak Sintok.

Panjang jugak menulis pasal tempat nak makan ni ya. Kalau ada sesiapa nak tanya lebih lanjut, boleh email kepada saya. Ada banyak lagi tempat-tempat makan ni tapi dah panjang sangat nanti anda semua malas nak baca pula.
Jadi sampai disinilah dulu. In sya Allah, lain kali kita berjumpa lagi.

Salam Ramadhan dari saya,
Rose (13th.July '13)

(updated on 18th. Dec '15)
 (updated on 3rd.Jan 2014)

What's In Langkawi: Accommodation (Part 3)

Dear All,

I have updated a few hotels and inns for year 2015 for your hotel hunt in Langkawi.



Okay, today is the final entry for What's in Langkawi.  Accommodation.
I will select some hotels and motels and decent places to stay while you are here. If ever you couldn't find a room on the date you've chosen, worry not, hop in your plane and head here. Walk around  or drive around the island, you'll surely find one decent place to rest your body for that night. Maybe not entirely your preference but still you found a place to sleep over. You can do the hotel (of your choice) hunting the very next day.

Let us start with budget hotels and motels at the popular Pantai Cenang and Kuah Town area.

AB Motel - by the beach

1) AB Motel :Pantai Cenang
2) Chenang Memories   (from RM 180 per nt)
3) T Star Cottage :
4) The Cottage Langkawi
5) Desa Motel
6) Salsa Resort (new hotel) - from RM 120.00/nt
7) Charlie Motel
8) Citin Hotel
9) Casa Idaman Motel

Cosy Inn

10) Eagle Bay Hotel
11) Cosy Inn
12) My Hotel 
13) Landcons Hotel
14) Hotel Bahagia

i) Casa Idaman Motel: Newly built and was opened somewhere in the mid of 2015. 
AB Motel,The Cottage Langkawi and Landcon Hotel, all in Pantai Cenang.
*The Cottage has rooms for backpackers and a cabin. It's cheap, it's new and well positioned in the main Pantai Cenang. So does Landcon.

Landcons Hotel room

*For Kuah Town, I can only come up with one new hotel, The Cosy Inn. Very practical and clean. The rest of other hotels looked a little rundown.








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Now let's see the affordable hotels :

1) Bayview Hotel  Langkawi   

Fave Room

( from RM 220.00/nt)                  
2) Grand Continental Hotel  (from RM 190.00/ nt)
3) Century Langkawi Beach Resort  (from RM 300/ nt)
4) Casa Idaman Motel   (from RM 150/ nt)
5) Cenang Plaza Beach  (from RM220.00/nt)
6) Langgura Baron Hotel  (from RM 160/nt)
7) Langkawi Seaview Hotel  (from RM 180/nt)
8) Adya Hotel Langkawi   (from RM 270.00/nt)
9) Malibest Resort   (from RM180.00/nt)
10) Sandy Beach Resort    ( from RM 110.00/nt)
11) Best Star Resort  (from RM 180.00/nt)
12) Aseania Resort Langkawi  (from RM 270/nt)
13) Fave Hotel     (from RM 260.00/ nt)
14) Bella Vista Resort   (from RM 140.00/nt)

(Prices shown are an estimation from few travel sources  and valid during low season.)
Updated on 24th.Dec '15

These are the kind of hotels which you would either love it or you have loads of complaint to write about. Why did I say that? Because if you are staying at a budget hotel, you knew what you are in for. It's cheap so we can't complaint much but for these type of hotels  we expect a better place and service.

Here's what I think:
* Adya Hotel is one of the newest hotel in Langkawi. Located in Kuah Town. Opened in January '15.
* City Bayview in Kuah Town is acceptable. The Grand Continental has seen it's better days.
* Bella Vista (Kuah Town) has got a new management so they are doing slightly better than before.
*Sandy Beach has got very good location. No need to rent motorbike or car as you are right in Pantai Cenang.
* The Lanai has a good beach. This hotel has closed down.  
* Langkawi Baron Hotel & Aseania Resort: These two hotels receives more complain than compliment. The good thing about Langkawi Baron is that it's just a few steps away from the beautiful beach.

Fave Hotel  could be a good choice.
 Four Point (changed name to Century Langkasuka Resort. (However Four Point is out from the main Pantai Cenang area. It's close to airport,  room-wise they are good but location wise it's away from everything.)

Latest info : 1) The Lanai Hotel has closed down. 
                     2) The Aseania Resort is being revamp and they have a few restaurants now.  
                         (Worth trying)
                         (entry updated on 26th.Aug '14)
                      3) Four Point Hotel has changed it's name to Century Langkasuka Resort.      (Updated on 24th.Dec '15)

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Next, the in between price ( from RM 300.00 ~ RM 550.00 and above)

 1) Resorts World Langkawi (Formerly known as Awana Porto Malai)
 2) Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort
 3) Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort
 4) Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort
 5) The Frangipani Langkawi
 6) Taj Hotel (formerly known as Rebak Marina Resort)
 7) Holiday Villa Langkawi & Federal Villa
 8) Langkawi Lagoon Resort
 9) Century Langkawi Beach Resort   ( from RM 300 per nite)

Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort

*Okay let's see. Beach-wise, Berjaya/ Meritus Pelangi/The Frangipani and Holiday Villa has got it. 
*Taj Hotel situated on a private island. Need to board a 15 minutes hotel speed boat to reach the hotel.
*Langkawi Lagoon room is beautiful but they lacked on their beach and the hotel is away from the hype of activity.
* Even though Resorts World hotel is next to the ocean, the hotel doesn't have a beach. It is a port where one can see big cruise ships and yachts docked there. Breath taking scenery though.
* Sheraton Langkawi was a great hotel once, unless the management do something about it, they're gonna lose more guests than they already are. 

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The last category is for the most expensive hotels on the island. Their rates start from RM800 and above :

Casa Del Mar

The Westin Langkawi

1) The Westin Beach & Spa Resort  (from RM1100 per nite)
2)  The Datai Langkawi
3) The Andaman Hotel
4)  Casa Del Mar 
5) La Villa Langkawi  ( from RM 1500 per nite)
6) Tanjong Rhu Beach Resort
7) The Four Seasons Langkawi
8) The Danna Langkawi

*Among the six hotels, The Four Seasons is the most expensive at about RM 2000.00 per nite. 
It is situated at the north tip of the island. What do I think of this hotel? If I have money, I'd stay here. Simple as that.

* The Westin is the only hotel of this category that situated close to Kuah town. They have the beach but not as good as some other beaches.

* The Datai & The Andaman are fabulous too. But they are too far out to my liking. If you are traveling with young or teenage children, be sure to find something interesting for them to spend their time with. It's right in the tropical jungle and very,very quiet. You don't see any other people walking around except for hotel guests and their staff.

* I like where The Danna Hotel is located. It looks cheerful and serene. This hotel is near to Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort. The Cable car Langkawi is within walking distance to these two  hotels.   

* Casa Del Mar is located right in Pantai Cenang. Very small hotel just with about 34 rooms but beautifully managed. Great rooms and great beach. 

Latest info : Mutiara Burau Bay has closed down. 
                     (updated on 12th.Nov '13)

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Home Stay Or Vacation Home

I passed by a few vacation homes or home-stay as widely known in Malaysia. Home stay means a house equipped with furnitures, cooking appliances, electrical appliances such as iron and iron board, stove and fridge. I will update in a few days time. Got to take a break now.

Okay, I guess I've covered up some of the places to stay while you are here in Langkawi. If you wish to know more about any other places or where they are located, just drop me a line. I'll find out for you guys.
Until next time. Have a great day. :)

Love,
Rose
12th.July '13

(updated on 24th.Dec /15)

KUAH ROJAK

Salam semua dan selamat menyambut Ramadhan yang akan tiba dalam dua tiga hari lagi.
Hari ni mak cik nak share dengan semua macam mana nak buat kuah rojak buah. Mana tau bulan puasa nanti teringin nak makan, nak beli kuah rojak tak ada pulak kedai yang menjual.

Kita perlukan bahan-bahan ni:

gula yang baru nak di masak

* 1 keping gula kabung
* 3/4 cawan gula putih
* 3 sudu makan cawan gula merah
* 1 cawan air
 (semua gula ni di satukan dan di masak dengan air diatas api sederhana. Bila semua gula dah hancur tapiskan kedalam bekas dan biarkan dulu)

* sikit minyak untuk menumis
* 3 /4 cawan cili kering yang di kisar (cili kering ni direbus dulu kemudian baru dikisar)
* 2 sudu makan belacan yg dah di bakar sikit dulu (pecah-pecahkan sehingga menjadi serbuk)
* sikit garam
* suku botol kecik kicap manis (saya pakai kicap kipas udang)
* 2 sudu makan sos tiram

otak udang dan bijan

* 2 sudu makan otak udang ataupun petis udang
* 3 sudu makan bijan

* segenggam kacang tanah di sangai tanpa minyak dan dikisar

Sekarang kita mula:
Panaskan minyak dan tuangkan cili kisar bersama dengan belacan tadi. Masukkan air dalam 1 cawan.
Biarkan sehingga cili betul2 pecah minyak. Kacau rata.

Selepas tu, tuangkan pula air gula yang dah dimasak tadi. Masukkan juga sikit garam. Kacau lagi.
Biarkan sehingga agak sedikit pekat.

Sekarang, masukkan pula  petis udang, bijan, sos tiram serta kicap.
Masak dengan api yang perlahan dan biarkan sehingga kuah pekat.
Lepas tu bolehlah diangkat dan dibiarkan betul2 sejuk.

Kuah yang baru masak tadi masih belum betul2 pekat. Biarkan dulu.

kuah rojak baru di masak

Bila dah sejuk bolehlah disimpan didalam bekas kedap udara dan disimpan di dalam peti sejuk.

Kacang tanah yang di kisar tadi bolehlah ditabur diatas rojak ini.

** Mesti cuba. Memang betul-betul sedap.
Sempena nak masuk Ramadhan ni, saya ingin memohon ampun dan maaf sekiranya ada terkasar bahasa dan tersilap kata.

Rose
5th.July '13