Malaysia (My Little LIFE Pleasure in July 2024)

 

" The simplest pleasure are sometimes the most extraordinary "

My solo visit from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu, Johor (my home state in Peninsula Malaysia) & Batam Island in Indonesia (by ferry crossing) is perhaps the main travel highlight for the month of July 2024 ! July is also the peak durian season in Malaysia so there are plenty of durians in different varieties offering in the market for you to savour & whet your appetite - a big eating pleasure awaiting you especially if you are a durian lover ! 

Sunday > Thursday July 28 > Aug 1 2024 - my 5 days 4 nights solo travel (by public transport ie buses) from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu, Johor, Malaysia & by ferry crossing from Stulang Laut, Johore Bahru to Batam Island, Indonesia (my 1st visit to Batam); I was in cloud nine after visiting Batam as my belated dream of seeing Batam has finally been fulfilled ! 

1) Johor Bharu City Centre, Johor, Malaysia

Komtar JBCC Mall
Johor Bahru

Jalan Wong Ah Fook, JB

Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru

Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru

Arulimigu Rajamariamman
Devasthanam Temple, JB

MarryBrown Peranakan
Heritage Restaurant
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Johor Bahru

Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street
Johor Bahru

Sultan Ibrahim Building
Johor Bahru

Monument of 0 KM Asia Continent
Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru High Court

Prints of Harmony
Johor Bahru

Johor Ancient Temple, Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru

Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal
Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru

Skyscape, Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum

Pasar Karat, Johor Bahru

Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal 
Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru

Ferry ride from Johor Bahru 
> Batam, Indonesia 

2) Batam, Riau Island, Indonesia

Batam Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal

Batam Harbour Bay Mall

Pasar Pujabahari, Batam

Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre, Batam

Jabal Arafah Mosque, Batam

MJA Tower, Batam

Panorama View of Batam

Vihara Budhi Bhakti
(Tua Pek Kong), Batam

Nagoya Food Court, Batam

Batam Centre Point International
Ferry Terminal, Batam Kota

Welcome To Batam

Grand Mosque of Batam

Muhammad Cheng Ho Mosque, Batam

Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya, Batam

Saturday July 26 2024 - bought durians (nicknamed bitter gourd or green skin variety) $Rm28 (US$6.15) per kilo from a fruit / vegetable stall in Morning Mini Market, SS14, Subang Jaya, also bought a takeaway pack of fried carrot cake  @Rm7 (US$1.50) as my breakfast from a nearby open market food stall !

"Bitter Gourd" Durians 
Rm28 per kilo

Fried Carrot Cake Rm7

Friday July 25 2024 - morning market shopping with my wife in SS14, Subang Jaya, bought Musang King durians @Rm38 (US$8.20) per kilo, prices of Musang King durians have eased somewhat (probably due to oversupply?) in this July 2024 season hence good news for durian lovers ! Durian is often called the King of fruits in South East Asia, even monkey see durian, monkey eat durian !

Musang King Durians
Rm38 per kilo

Sunday July 21 2024 - enjoying a bowl of Meetarik authentic Langzhou beef hand-pulled ramen (Rm14.80 = US$3.10) with my brother Weng in SS15, Subang near my home place, a treat from KM. 

Beef Ramen Rm14.80 (US$3.10)

Saturday July 20 2024 - lunch with my brother Weng in Restoran Omega Pork Noodle, SS15 Courtyard, Subang Jaya, Selangor; each of us savoured a bowl of pork noodle (Weng's delight) & Nanyang white curry noodle (KM's delight), a very satisfying meal, totalled Rm33.90 (US$7.15, a treat from KM)

Pork Noodle Rm14.90 (US$3.15)

Nanyang White Curry Noodle
Rm15.90 (US$3.35)

Saturday July 13 2024 - lunch with my brother Weng in Restoran Fat One Kopitiam, Taman Serdang Raya, Sri Kembangan, Selangor; each of us savoured a bowl of lei cha (thunder tea) with coarse rice + tea soup (a Hakka cuisine, rice is topped with various vegetables & toppings & served with tea soup made of tea leaves, nuts, seeds & herbs) @Rm9.50 (US$2)

Saturday Night Fever July 6 2024 - dinner with my wife in Lian Kee Chicken Rice stall in Restoran Meisek (famous for its tender chicken, delicious bean sprouts & kaisi hor fun), USJ 14, Subang Jaya, Selangor; roaring business during the weekend probably due to a Saturday Night chicken rice "fever", savoured a plate of chicken thigh rice (KM's delight) + a shredded chicken hor fan soup (my wife's delight) + takeaway a kaisi hor fun soup = Rm27 (US$5.60).  

Friday & Saturday July 5 & 6 2024 - Thank God is Friday followed by a Saturday Night fever (fun time & music) ! My little life pleasure visit twice to a Food Kulture Festival in Subang Parade, SS16, Subang Jaya, Selangor (near my neighbourhood, a 5 minute walk from my home place), gloomy sky (18.00) on Friday evening affecting visitors show-up ! But on the following Saturday evening, the festival attracted a large crowd due to a fine weather, visitors were seen to be in joyful mood, enjoyed sampling a variety of local food & drinks on sale at the festival ! 

Thank God Is Friday - Gloomy Weather 

Saturday Night Fever - Fine Weather 

Tuesday July 2 2024 

1) Restoran Meng Kee Char Siew, Jalan Pekedai U1/36, Hicom Glenmarie Industrial Park, Shah Alam, Selangor  - served the best char siew (BBQ pork) in Klang Valley, bought home 2 takeaway packs of char siew + rice @Rm12.50 (US$2.60).

Char Siew BBQ Pork Rice Rm12.50 (US$2.60)

2) Eatery Stalls along Jalan Pekedai U1/36 in Glenmarie Industrial Park, Shah Alam, Selangor, a working class food haunt, pick your choice of favourite food ie Bat Kut Teh, crispy roasted duck noodle / rice, Seremban Har Jie roasted pork, curry fish head, kopitiam food court, Hakka food, economy mixed rice etc