K M Cheng-Travel Journal: Malaysia (Covid 19 - Transition to Endemic Phase - My Staycation No 25 to Selangor Pewter Factory, Setapak) Sunday Aug 7 2022

World Largest Tankard (6ft 6 inches)
Holds 2,796 litres of Beer
Royal Selangor Pewter, Kuala Lumpur

The Mines Shopping Mall
Seri Kembangan, Selangor

Strand Mall, Kota Damansara
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

" An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold "

" My Staycation No 25 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy visit (09.30 > 14.30) together with my wife & sisters to Royal Selangor Pewter, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur & The Mines Shopping Mall, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, travelling by my own vehicle from SS17, Subang Jaya > Kuala Lumpur; my 58th outdoor trip after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 6 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases; a National Vaccination campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021), as at Feb 5 2022, a total of 22.9 million individuals or 97.9% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations; Malaysia is now under the Transition to Endemic Phase starting from April 1 2022, an exit strategy that could allow Malaysians to return to near-normal life after nearly 2 over years of battling the pandemic "

My travel buddies: my wife & sisters Inn, Peng & Mei

My 3rd Bond with Royal Selangor
Aug 7 2022

My 2nd Bond with Royal Selangor
June 19 2022

My 1st Bond with Royal Selangor
Feb 16 2020

Travel Itinerary: SS17, Subang Jaya > Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan > Royal Selangor, Setapak > Mines Shopping Mall > Subang Jaya, Selangor (mileage 106km round trip)

Total expenses incurred: Rm20 (petrol) + Rm9 (toll) = Rm29 (US$6.50)

Travel Highlights:

Sunday August 7 2022 - focusing my visit to Royal Selangor Pewter, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur & Mines Shopping Mall, Seri Kembangan, Selangor; my last visits to Royal Selangor Pewter was in Feb 2020 (solo) & June 2022 (together with my brother Hong's family from Singapore) !

1) World's largest tankard made by Selangor Pewter in 1985 recognised by Guinness World Records; my 3rd visit to Royal Selangor ! Free admission, free shuttle bus services for visitors / tourists staying in selected hotels in Kuala Lumpur to Royal Selangor Visitor Centre !

Royal Selangor Pewter Museum - exhibits of pewterwares made by the founder & pioneers of Royal Selangor in the Good Old Days since 1885 ! Very educational & informative !

Royal Selangor Collections - fine craftsmanship & the Best of the Best collections on show here !

A unique rendition of the Petronas Twin Towers made from over 7,000 tankards - one for the album !

Royal Selangor Long Service Employee's Finger Marks on pewter ! Employees with over 40 years of service get a "Golden" salute leaving behind his or her "Gold" finger mark in the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre for many years to come !

Light refreshment (100 Plus drink) for visitors

Live craftmanship showcase - from casting, polishing to assembling

Royal Selangor Pewter Production Lines - closed on Sunday

School of Hard Knock workshop - visitors can participate (Rm75 =US$17 per 30 minutes) using traditional tools to craft their own pewter dish !

Royal Selangor Visitor Centre - take your time to view the various Royal Selangor pewterwares on sale in the Centre & buy one or two as gifts for your loved ones or for yourself or family members !

Celebrating Malaysia Day 16 Sept 1963

2) The Mines Shopping Mall, Jalan Dulang, Mines Wellness City, Seri Kembangan, Selangor

3) Makan Makan (Eating) - after the Royal Selangor visit, our group had a lunch in Esquire Kitchen at The Mines Shopping Mall, Seri Kembangan - 4 Hakka / Si Chuan style dishes + Rice + Jasmine Tea = Rm135 (US$30, a treat from my sister Mei)

Ma Po Bean curd Rm18 + 4 Buns Rm5
= Rm23+ (US$5.10)

Tong Po Meat Rm31+ (US$6.90)

Eggplant Si-Chuan style
Rm21.55+ (US$4.80)

Crunchy Vegetables Rm26+ (US$5.80)

Monday August 8 2022 - travelling by Rapid KL LRT train from Subang Jaya > Surian, Kota Damansara (10.00>13.00), meet up with my travel buddies in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya to discuss our group's future travel plans & also the forthcoming free & easy visit (by my travel buddy KF Wong's vehicle) to Johor (Endau Rompin, Mersing, Pulau Tioman, Kota Tinggi Waterfall, Desaru Beach & Kluang) commencing Sunday August 14 2022 (6 days 5 nights).

Total expenses incurred: LRT trains Rm1.80 x 2 + Food Rm16.50 = Rm20.10 (US$4.45)

1) Strand Mall, Encorp Strand, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - my first visit, a modernised neighbourhood mall, sheltered walkway, the mall was pretty quiet at the time of our mid-day visit !

2) Chinese opera performances in conjunction with the Hungry Ghost Festival at a venue in Kota Damansara town centre - a spiritual tradition (according to Chinese belief, the spirits enjoy a month long vacation in the human world when the gates of hell open), began on July 29 & will last for 29 days, effigy of Tai Su Yeah (King of Hell) on display at the stage for devotees to pray & give offerings, it is customary to have stage shows / opera performances (usually in the evenings) to entertain the wandering spirits to ensure a peaceful & prosperous year ! This year, a giant effigy (13m high) of the King of Hell (Tai Su Yeah) made it to the Malaysian Book of Records for being the largest in the country, this paper statute created for the Hungry Ghost Festival is now on display at the Tow Boo Keong Temple in Mergong, Alor Setar, Kedah (KIV for future visit)

Giant Effigy of King of Hell on display
at the Tow Boo Keong Temple
Alor Setar, Kedah

King of Hell (Tai Su Yeah) stage show
Kota Damansara Town Centre
Petaling Jaya

3) Makan Makan (Eating) - a delicious Balinese lunch in The Uma Restaurant, Kota Damansara with my travel buddies, KF Wong & Thompson Tham, each of us ordered from the Weekday Balinese Set Lunch menu a plate of sweet soy pork Rm15++ (US$3.70); nice ambience, cosy & wonderful setting, good food, good time, good company & I would like to take this opportunity with palms touching in front of my chest to wish all my readers Om Swasti-astu (may you be well always) & also eat well ! Perhaps I should consider another visit to Bali, Indonesia as my last visit to Bali (together with my wife) was in Oct 2011 - more than a decade ago ! Long Live Bali !