Ipoh By Train

I boarded a train and headed to Ipoh one weekend (Apr26-27th). I had promised to visit Eric and I was someone who liked to keep my promise, so I finally made it to Ipoh by train instead of driving. It was easy to take a train to Ipoh. The train journey was pleasant, took 2.5 hours and affordable fare. (check out the ETS train timetable here)

(a) View from my window in the train.

(b) Approaching Ipoh Railway Station.

(c) The nostalgic Ipoh Railway Station.

(d) The square in front of the station.

(e) Ipoh Town Hall.

(f) Some words about Ipoh tree.

(g) Ruby, and old cinema theatre.

(h) Bar decor at M Boutique Hotel.

Sekinchan Paddy Field

Sekinchan is famous for its paddy plantation. We saw many green paddy fields and instantly felt hearts opened wide. We quickly ran to the field and touched the paddy, took picture with the paddy as if they are our friends and bought them for meals at home later. They were adorably short and fat.

适耕庄出产稻米，所以在这里可以看见稻田。刚巧我们到访的十一月初可以看见绿油油的稻田，我真的非常高兴。住在吉隆坡的我甚少机会看见稻田，从小至今不超过五次。所以，能够可家人一起出游且看见大片的稻田，感觉真的是很舒服，心胸也突然广阔起来。

Pantai Redang

We came to this Redang Beach at Sekinchan to catch some breezes and embrace the Sun by the sea. There were many visitors on this public holiday. Some were walking by the beach, Some were sitting at by the hawkers enjoying some light meal and drinks. It was pleasant but the beach was not very clean. We ate ice-cream and did not litter the beach at all. We wanted it to look clean and beautiful.

听说适耕庄的热浪海滩是因为某部电影而声名大噪，但是我真的没能记起是什么电影，或许我真的没有听说过这电影。本来看起来应该是很不错且风景绮丽的海滩，但因为海滩上有不少垃圾，所以我减了不少的分。最美的景点，就是在河口旁插了彩色旗子的地方，除了看见大海蓝天白云，还可以看见停泊渔村的渔船，这幅景色最迷人。

Bukit Melawati

已经很久没有跟家人一起出游，所以特别选了星期二这公共假日到瓜拉雪兰莪玩一玩。开车从吉隆坡出发大约须一个小时。雨停后路还些滑，所以驾驶也没太快，反正也不是在赶时间。一路的风景很不错，原来马来西亚种植了一大片的棕榈树。听说马来西亚是世界第二大棕榈出口国，比起世界第一的印尼，国土比例相对更小的马来西亚竟然也排名第二，可见所砍伐的森林也不少。虽然如此，看见绿色的风景比看见高楼还要开心。

不知不觉就来到皇家山底，因为雨过天晴后阳光不是很猛，所以气温不太热，出游真是太舒服了。把车停好后，我们首先到眼睛店拿哥哥的眼睛，而且妈妈也买了一副新眼镜。之后，我们就准备去搭小火车。矗立在山前的白色钟塔古色古香，静静地在山底守护皇家山。搭上小火车的我们犹如回到孩童时代一样快乐。没想到我人长这么大还是童心未泯。

小火车其实是机车拖着两车厢，徐徐向山顶出发。路上看见一些旧式的马来建筑物静静的受葱绿的草木包围。来到山顶我们就看见高耸的灯塔，即刻就像游客一样到处拍照。我们看到有小贩贩卖喂食猴子的食粮，于是就买来喂养它们。一开始大家都很害怕。我不知道贵为万物之灵的人类竟然是那么害怕动物。我觉得应该是太久根大自然隔绝，没有好好地了解如何跟大自然共存，所以才觉得害怕。于是，我让猴子爬上了肩膀也没有赶走它，尝试习惯跟别的动物近距离相处一下。喂养后，下山的感觉特别好。

 

Clock Tower at Bukit Melawati;

colourful train-car going up to hill top;

Malay style house;

light tower at top of Bukit Melawati;

feeding monkeys;

I could not remember when is the previous family trip as it was long time ago. So we decided to visit Kuala Selangor on this public holiday, Awal Muharram, which was about an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. We had been busy working with computer and playing the phone, so we wanted to spend precious times to attach with family and detach from devices. 

Bukit Melawati was the first sight-seeing destination. Instead of walking up the hill, we took the colourful train. It instantly brought back my childhood memory as a kid who love fun and adventure. The views at the top of Melawati Hill was breathtaking, we saw the coastline from high.

The highlight was to bought food and fed the monkeys. They were not over aggressive but very demanding, only left when they are given food. There was a mother with son attached climbed on me and tried to get food. I stood there and let people take some pictures. It was fun.

FRIM: Love Nature

每到周末，我都想找朋友到大自然走走、跑跑，呼吸新鲜的空气以及欣赏葱绿的树木。我不是一个上健身室做运动的男人，可能因为中小学时期都有参加童军的关系，我特别喜欢户外活动和露营，不管如何努力都培养不起到健身室运动的习惯。而身边的朋友都喜欢到健身室运动和锻炼身材，所以，每到周末，我要找朋友去行山也不是一件很容易办到的事情。

这班很可爱的旧同事也跟我一样很喜欢大自然，所以我们特别约在一个周二早晨到甲洞森林局晨运兼野餐，因为今天是公假，所以人特别多。这个周六因为吊桥维修所以没有登上那段比较艰辛的路程。我们还是沿这Rover Track上山，然后循着瀑布走下山到达野餐的地方。

这次的野餐很丰盛。我们打包了炒米粉、炒面、印度煎饼、肠粉、黄酱饭，吃得不亦乐乎。喝的有100Plus、冰咖啡（登山前已经喝完了）和包装豆奶。吃得七七八八后，我们打算将包装豆奶泡在冷温的河水，顺便也泡泡自己的双脚。在城市中也能到森林享受到大自然，应该也算是一种小确幸吧。

I am not a gym person. I have tried and it does not work and it is waste of times and money. I am more like a outdoor person, perhaps I was a scout during primary and high school days. Most of my friends like to go to gym, so it is a bit hard for me to get friends to go with me. Friends are the best motivation.

One Tuesday morning, which was an off day for Malaysian, my nature-lovers x-colleagues cum friends and I went to FRIM for a lovely walk and picnic. We packed a lot of food, as if the main purpose was eating but not exercising. We took the Rover Track but did not went up to the canopy walk as it was closed today. We tracked down along the waterfall and reached the picnic area. It was satisfied to eat after sweating.

It was a nice and lovely morning, just like the old days I had.

Cherry Blossom at Yeouido

那天早上我们到汝矣島赏樱花。寒冷的冬季过去，百花盛开的春季来了。虽然天气还是很冷，但是我绝对不会错过此良辰美景。汝矣島沿路一棵棵的樱花树开满淡粉红色的樱花，游客都争着和樱花拍照，身为外地游客的我当然在樱花树下摆下各种姿式拍照。之后，我才静下了心慢慢欣赏。我很喜欢它淡淡的分红色，直觉那就是春天的颜色，而且淡淡的没有余人争艳的感觉。我随着风吹闻到了花香。这花香也是淡淡的，香但不浓郁。可是我就是迷上这种淡淡的色和香。看见樱花飘落时，我不禁想：我会选择在最漂亮的时刻结束生命吗？我也希望能在生命最美丽的时刻淡淡地离开人世。

We came to Yeouido to see the cherry trees blossom. I came from a country with all-year-summer, so this first time of seeing blossom during the spring made me very excited. I love its light pink colour. I could also smell the mild aroma in the air. Everyone there was full of joy of spring. It is absolutely happy to see lives blossom. I immerse myself in this beautifulness quietly for a very long time.

Weekend Getaway to Cameron Highlands

从吉隆坡出发只需3个小时的车程即抵达金马伦高原，于是我们三人决定在周末到此散心。BOH茶园是我们必造访的地方。下午时分，我们买了茶品坐着欣赏青葱的茶园，静静地享受休闲时光，以及阅读平时在城市腾不出时间阅读的书。一个简单的下午就这样给打发掉，亦不觉浪费青春。

接着，我们到巴拉别墅（Bala's Chalet and Restaurant）继续我们的下午茶时光。我们点了司康烤饼和茶，这也是我们到金马伦必吃的食物。我们一致认为，我们在吉隆坡时都没有闲情吃这类食品。可是一到此处，就一定得到英国式房屋和吃司康烤饼，而且一定要加上牛油、奶油和草莓酱。很有满足感！之后我们继续阅读，享受宁静的下午时光。

晚餐就是大家期待已久的火锅。金马伦高原本来天气就比较冷，是市区的避暑胜地。再加上当晚下了雨，空气更是清新。冷冷的天气和热热的火锅真是人生一大享受。之后，我们到夜市散步购物。我们看见这年轻伙子替顾客镶字在戒指上，于是大家爱兴致勃勃都买了。我们的周末就这样完美饱足。

Some Random Photos of Melaka

A cat wandered on the road. It took off when I was about taking a photo of it.

Some ancient renovated old houses in Melaka, which were small and nice.

Graffiti at Melaka City II

Graffiti at Melaka City

Ole Sayang Nyonya Restaurant - Desserts

饭后虽然太饱，而且饭菜也没有吃光，但是还是点了两份甜点：西米布丁(sagu pudding)和红豆冰(chendol kacang)。朋友太爱这份西米布丁，上次他来这里馋嘴时没能品尝。这次点上了有点不得了的反应。布丁浇了椰浆，而甜美诱人的马六甲焦糖(gula melaka)沉在椰浆底下。吃的时候记得要将gula melaka和布丁一起入口，这是南洋最美味的甜点。然后这份红豆冰是冰凉的椰浆红豆刨冰，是炎热马来西亚最沁心的消暑冷甜品，实在会在炎天产生快乐的味道。

Ole Sayang Nyonya Restaurant, Melaka - Main Course

来到马六甲，比定要品尝地道特产美食-峇峇娘惹(Baba Nyonya)。朋友特别介绍这间周末会高朋满座的峇峇娘惹餐厅Ole Sayang。点菜的阿婶很风趣，特别介绍饮料Michael Jackson，即是豆浆加凉粉。见她卖力又幽默，就点了两杯。再来就是点菜。肯定要点白饭。因为知道菜肴味道丰富，配白饭比配炒饭比较好，白饭更能将菜肴的美味体现。而且这白饭备得特有风味，用一个叶篮铺上蕉叶，加倍饭香。

第一道点的是三巴臭豆炒墨鱼(sambal sotong petai)，再点空心菜炒辣椒(kangkong goreng cili)。这两道菜配白饭特别开胃。虽然两者都是辣的，但是各有各得辣风格。三巴臭豆的辣汁很浓，也比较辣，可以一下子赔很多白饭。辣椒空心菜的汁液没有那样浓，也没有那么辣，单空口吃不搭配也很好。炒时还加上佐料小虾，味道鲜美。

接下来也一口气再点两道菜：咸鸭溏(itek tim)和蓬提冬菇焖鸡(ayam pongtay)。这鸭汤配了咸菜和红辣椒，咸咸的非常开胃，而且鸭肉鲜嫩，没有重腥味，平时不恋鸭的我也觉得很好。蓬提冬菇焖鸡是娘惹的特别菜色，用发酵的大豆汁液熬成，再配上干冬菇，其甜味和浓汁很好下饭。

Geographér Café at Jonker Street, Melaka

在大宝小食饱餐后，我就吵着要喝啤酒。阳光明媚，心胸开怀，离开自己居住的故乡吉隆坡，特别能放开压抑已久的酸溜心情。去年随Michelle到Melaka探班，看看电影《大喜事》的拍摄，也顺道吃了驰名的海南鸡饭粒和沙爹火锅。那么也几乎快一年没有到Melaka游玩了。然后紧接马六甲申遗成功，让我骄傲之余，也开心游客真的多了。然后认为“到马来西亚也一定要到马六甲观光”没有什么不对，这里的文化遗产非常值得垂注。好悠闲的心情哟！我就点了一杯Hoegarden，一边抽烟一边喝酒。这就是理想的假期。听说这间Geographér Café曾是某电影的拍摄场地，也顺便看一看四周的架势。Geographér Café充满了旅者酒吧的气氛，感觉很好，感觉又像再一次的出走。

The Museum Café at Jonker Street, Melaka

午餐就到鸡厂街(Jonker Street)的大宝小食(The Museum Café)。这是非常出名的地道小吃店，很多当地居民和游客都到这里品尝马六甲的美食。在看餐牌的时候，发现实在太多美食，无法逐一品尝。朋友点了类似椰浆饭(Nasi LemakNasi)的干咖喱仁当饭(Nasi Rendang)和绿茶，我则要了峇峇叻沙(Baba Laksa)和一碗杂果红豆冰。峇峇娘惹(Baba Nyonya)是马六甲特有的文化，这道美食非尝不可。味道香美，汤汁椰浆味购浓，非常馋嘴。红豆冰加上特有的马六甲焦糖(Gula Melaka)，浓浓的糖浆配上细细的刨冰，入口即化，加上果味，口味丰富。这大宝小食绝不是欺诈游客的浑水摸鱼之餐馆。好好吃。