Last Friday, we set off to JB for our very short trip, main purpose is to have seafood for dinner. We set off on a rainy Friday morning. After we cleared the customs, we settled for chicken rice nearby. The chicken rice left much to be desired coz the rice wasn't warm and the chilli was far too sour. But it was okay as we were hungry. Before checking into the hotel, we bought tapoica chips (both the dry one and the chilli one) and a packet of
keropok. Then we bought goreng pisang, fried sweet potatoes and my favourite
cimpedak. It's really fragrant and sweet. You can even eat the seed when the seed is properly cooked! Btw, the seed is the size of the durian's seed. The seed is soft and tasteless.
We checked into Crystal Crown hotel which is near Pelangi. We didn't get the hotel that we initially wanted, which was, The Zon as they were fully occupied. The ambience at the Zon is truly fantastic. Very colonial, just like the Fullerton hotel. One thing I couldn't stand though was the cigarette smell. After staying at various hotels, I observed that you can roughly judge the quality of the hotel by first glancing at its reception and the lounge. I think that is the most important because it gives people (and potential guests) the first impression. If you feel good about the reception, chances are, you will love the hotel. And by a good reception, I mean, marbled steps into the hotel, doormen to greet you. A big vase of flowers sitting high above you. Great interior design with a waterfall/fountain maybe. Furniture also...for guests to rest while the other checks in. A grand piano with a pianist playing some classical/jazz/pop music behind. Great spiral staircase leading customers to their award winning restaurants. Bell boys, great service with good security in the lifts. Different hotels tell different stories. Anyway, moving back to the Zon, the Zon is not located in the city.
So we had to take a cab down. We shopped around the shopping mall there and when the night came, we proceeded to this seafood place which was very near The Zon (that's why we wanted to stay there initially!). We ordered something like soon hock fish with black bean sauce only that it wasn't soon hock, forgotten the name of the fish. Sambal kangkong, sweet and sour pork, clams for my parents, satay and one other dish that I can't remember. As usual, I concentrated on the fish and the sambal kangkong. When the fish came, I lounged for the gravy as it really is the nicest things, among others... Like the chicken rice chilli, I spread the gravy onto the white rice. The kangkong was a bit salty but was still heavenly. It was so slimey lah. As it was very hot (spicy also), I didn't chew on it. So I let it slide down my throat. At one point I was about to choke! Ha ha. After dinner, we went back to the hotel just in time for me to finish bathing to watch the 9pm chinese show.
The next day, we had a hearty breakfast though there was much to be desired also. They didn't have a wide variety of food. Went back to the room to sleep, and pack and we had chicken rice for lunch again but this time at a different place. The chicken rice was fantastic! And we came back home.
Finally, my brother finished reading
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows and I started reading it on Saturday afternoon. Thank goodness nobody leaked out anything or it would have spoiled my story.
On Sunday, met Badariah and we went to Queensway shopping centre. I didn't fancy anything there so it was such a disappointment given that I've hyped about it for months. Oh well.... I will only buy a pair of shoes if I have a strong feeling towards it. The shoes have to choose me.. read... the wand chooses its owner... Post potter blues... We had lunch at Clementi. Had Malay Chicken rice and it was good!
OUT!
