Flying Headless Ghost

Just around a month before I move to the "Resort City", I'm reading unfavorable reports about it in the newspapers.

House break-ins seem to be on a rampage in the city. At certain areas, break-ins can occur multiple times in one night.

An interesting article that was published in the papers recently was about a headless pontianak spooking the town. Rumours were spreading after numerous pontianak sightings.

A rather peculiar phrase was well-spotted by damndirtyangel :

Now if the long hair CAN'T be on the HEAD of a flying HEADLESS ghost, I dare not imagine which hair the resident was talking about.

If a flying headless ghost isn't enough to spook me, a flying headless ghost with long KETIAK hair definitely will!

Tomoe Japanese Cuisine

Starter:
Pictures here are courtesy of Orange because I brought my camera with me but not my memory card -.-

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One of the places I frequent for Japanese food in Kuching is Tomoe Japanese Cuisine.

This Japanese restaurant is located at the Jalan Mendu shophouses near Chung Hua No.5. The reason why you may not have seen it before is because it is hidden from the main road.

The interior is simplistic, but WHO CARES when they serve great food for a reasonable price. The staff are friendly and always willing to serve you. With all these in mind, its a surprise that the restaurant is never full whenever I go there. I think Tomoe is underrated or not visible enough.

Mixed Sushi (Regular) - RM16.00

As with most Japanese restaurants, Tomoe boasts a sushi bar where the chef will whip out your favorite sushi.

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza) - RM12.00

The signature dish of Tomoe is the Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza). Okonomiyaki usually includes chopped cabbage and various toppings like thinly sliced pork, red ginger, yakisoba noodles, tenkasu (tempura crumbs), corn, green onion, squid, shrimp, dried bonito flakes, bean sprouts, and more.

I have no idea what ingredients Tomoe put in their Okonomiyaki, but it sure looks and tastes good! It is so tempting that you can see the bonito flakes waving at you when the dish is served straight from the kitchen.

California Maki (8 pcs) - RM14.00

The California Maki is another must-have dish at Tomoe. For just RM14, you get 8 pieces of great-tasting-pants-wetting California Maki. Somehow, the juicy Tobiko (Flying-fish roe / orange-colored-eggs-thingy) on the California Maki is what makes it taste so good.

Tenzaru Soba - RM12.80

Tomoe Japanese Cuisine Sdn. Bhd.
Address: Ground Floor, Lot 9896, Section 64, Jalan Mendu, 93200 Kuching.
Phone Number: 082-335399
Fax Number: 082-341425

The Haunting of Monokuro Boo

I thought it was amusing at first, but now its seriously starting to annoy me......

Its MONOKURO BOO!! and its everywhere....

The name "Monokuro Boo" derives from Monokuro (Japanese for monochromatic) and boo (the Japanese version of "oink") . But somebody tell me what can be so cute about these monochrome looking creatures???!

Walk into any shops selling gifts or cute cute items, and I can bet that you can find those critters there. They are on picture frames and cups to disgusting-looking bags....

To alarm-clocks in case you want to look at Monokuro Boo first thing in the morning...

Wallets and purses.... (Cool pig my ass)

Generally with anything popular and famous, there will be cheap imitations. Not that I can tell the difference between originals and imitations (or that I care...)

I can't imagine anyone would wear something with Monokuro Boo imprinted on it. Sometimes when a girl wearing a Monokuro Boo t-shirt walks by, I would stare at the t-shirt in disgust so much that the girl must have thought I was staring at her chest.

There are even shops selling Monokuro Boo children's clothing. I call it "Child Abuse".

Usually there is one black and one white Monokuro Boo together. I'm not sure if one is male and the other is female, or if there is any sex at all since it is a monochromatic character.

Once in a while, I catch the Monokuro Boo character having an adulterous affair with a different colored pig.

The black one looks like a pedophile doesn't it?

Heck! There are even places selling Monokuro Boo cosmetics....

What is the Monokuro Boo cosmetics supposed to do??? Make up your face to be like Monokuro Boo????!!!

Cute or not?

Child: Daddy! What is this orange cat thing below Monokuro Boo?

Dad: Oh... that is Garfield.

Child: Garfield?? What is that?

Dad: Nevermind... that is what we used to play during our time. You want Monokuro Boo or not? This one wearing polka dots underwear looks very cute.

Child: OK!

Everywhere you go, you see shops selling Monokuro Boo merchandise and you see people using Monokuro Boo items. If this whole Monokuro Boo fiasco doesn't stop soon, I'm going to have nightmares of Monokuro Boo.....

In fact, there is only one place I feel Monokuro Boo belongs......






In my BARBEQUE PIT!!!

Oyster Omelette

Oyster omelette (or known as Orh Jien) originates from Fujian and can be found in many countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. It basically consists of an omelette with small oysters.

According to Wikipedia, in Hong Kong the dish is traditionally made from oysters that are found in DRAINAGES near areas of the new airport and some areas of New Territories, but they taste the same as other varieties of oysters.

Picture taken from Wikipedia

Gross! I know in most places in Sarawak, the bidin/midin/bilin vegetable can be plucked near/in drainages but does that mean I can pick the small snails from the drainages here and make an Escargot Omelette?

The style of cooking an Orh Jien varies according to geographical location. At most places, the omelette is mixed and fried with the small oysters. Chili is served with the dish as a dip.

Oyster Omelette from 'seafood paradise' Sabah

The Kuching way is to scatter the small oysters around and fry the omelette until it is crispy and pizza-like. A dip consisting of fish sauce with pepper is served with it.

Absolutely tantalizing!

Chasing Bears

An interesting news was published in The Star today:

Kosmo! reported that a food stall owner in Jeli, Kelantan, had the shock of her life when she came face to face with a bear in the kitchen scraping rice from a pot.

Zabidah Yusuf, 52, said she had just finished her isya’ prayers and had gone into the kitchen when she saw the animal with the rice pot in its paws.

Stunned by her appearance, the bear scampered out through the front door, carrying the rice pot with it.

Zabidah said her husband, Mohd Asri Mat San, 42, and several customers who were at a table outside the stall screamed when they saw the animal dashing past them.

After the initial shock, they gave chase and retrieved the pot. The bear disappeared into the jungle not far from the shop at Batu 18, off the East-West Highway.

Mohd Asri said it was the second time since April that the bear had made its unwelcome visit to the shop.

The last time, it carried away a sack of rice.

After the initial shock, why the heck were they chasing after the BEAR for the rice pot??!!!

Now mind you, i doubt that the bear was a kiut kiut kawaii baby panda bear eating rice with chopsticks.

Picture taken from Pandafix and here.

It was most probably a sun bear with huge-ass claws that it uses to scrap the rice.

Picture taken from MSN Encarta

At the worst, the bear could probably look something like this:

What could have prompted them to chase a ferocious bear for a RICE POT??!!!

Perhaps they were starving to death and the rice was all they had left. Perhaps there was a million dollars hidden in the rice pot.

Or perhaps it was a 24-karat gold Rice Cooker that produces endless rice supply and promises great wealth to its owner.

Life's lesson: Don't chase a bear for an ordinary rice pot. Its not worth it.

Anniversary Dinner

For some uncomfortable reasons, this post seems to be very popular. It has since been removed. Do contact the author of the blog if you really want to read it.

Kuching Chicken Porridge

Starter:
I was at "World Wonder" Saberkas browsing pirated DVDs when i felt the floor beneath me shook at certain intervals. Anybody else has a similar experience?

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Judging from the extremely faded signboard, I assume that Kuching Chicken Porridge at Jalan Nanas (Nanas Road) has been in business for a long time. Despite living in Kuching all my life, it was my first time there. Yes i know shaddap!

I don't normally eat porridge for dinner, but if you do then head out to Kuching Chicken Porridge. It only operates nightly from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Be wary that they might start operating from 7:00pm. When I was there around 7:40pm and wanted to order a side dish of chicken meat, they said that it was sold out. WTF!! Only 7:40pm! The porridge may also be sold out by 9:00pm, so arrive early.

The porridge itself is thick and fragrant. There is a distinct aroma that separates it from the rest of the porridges sold in Kuching. Add minimal pepper and light soy sauce as the taste is sufficiently rich.

The Mushroom Chicken Leg side order is a must if you like chicken feet. It's tasty and complements the porridge well.

Did I mentioned that the regular porridge is only RM2? Where else can you find great-tasting porridge for such an attractive price. Head there right away and take me with you.

Process of Turning Into a Man

This post is in response to Shen's marriage post.

How would you like a SIMPLER and FASTER way of the "Process of Turning Into a Man"?

Get an instant "dict"! Only available in Midvalley, KL while stock last.

Deceitful Starbucks!

Starter:
I have added a new label called "Only In Kuching" since a lot of my posts are about Kuching.

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Not that I'm a fan of Starbucks Coffee, but it has finally hit the shores of Kuching. Miaoland's first Starbucks outlet is at the Kuching International Airport, of all places!

I'm particularly careful when ordering at any Starbucks outlet. They have a deceitful way of squeezing as much money as possible from you.

For example, they might ask what kind of syrup we would like with our coffee - Hazelnut syrup, Someothernut syrup or Whateverocipalanut syrup that will cost you an additional RM1.70 when in fact we can simply decline it and opt for coffee WITHOUT syrup.

Adding whipped cream will also cost you RM1.70 when the price of a kopi peng at most kopitiams will cost less than RM1.70. I suppose its fine if you would like to visit Starbucks once in a while and drink the ambiance.

With that being said, I noticed something peculiar, or should I say, redundant about the Store/Opening Hours signboard.....

Hmmm.....

Fried Wantan in Tomato Gravy

This is a steaming plate of fried wantan in tomato gravy, or locally known as Char Chiaw Char Kiaw. Not only is it a unique dish in Kuching, but the place is quite hard to find if you are a first-timer at the BDC Resettlement area.

Remind me to have a plate of it before I leave.

You know that you're at an unconventional Malaysian wedding when.....

You know that you're at an unconventional Malaysian wedding when the bridal march music is NOT the traditional Bridal Chorus or Wedding March processional music.

Picture courtesy of eirenechong.blogspot.com

You know that you're at an unconventional Malaysian wedding when the wedding dinner is planned as a romantic poolside dinner at a beach resort.

You know that you're at an unconventional Malaysian wedding when you see THIS:

Congratulations to newlyweds Shen and Alicia.

The following video is dedicated to you both.

World Wonders from Kuching

Starter:
I'll be attending and helping out at Shen's wedding at Damai. Updates will be posted after my weekend getaway.

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The skyline of a city holds great importance. It symbolizes the greatness of a city and the image a city projects for the world to see.

In many parts of the world, the city skyline is so important that the architectural interface of old and historical buildings are preserved even though the interior of the building may not exist at all! Some of these "buildings" may look like museums but are actually open space car parks.

In conjunction with 7th July 2007 (07.07.07), a new set of Seven Wonders of the World will be announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. The New Seven Wonders of the World is a proposed revision of the Seven Wonders of the World, organized by a Swiss-based, corporation called New Open World Corporation (NOWC). The selection is being made by free and paid votes, through telephone or online.

Not only is the Sydney Opera House a candidate in the final 21 finalists, it was also recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. It was quite an achievement for a futuristic arts complex that was completed in 1973.

I'm disappointed that only 2 properties in the World Heritage Sites list and none in the Seven Wonders of the World candidates belong to Malaysia.

There are many monuments and properties in Bolehland that deserve an award. Therefore, I present to you 3 buildings from Kuching that should have been a world wonder candidate.

In 3rd place.....

Forget The Great Wall of China. Let me introduce The Great Eyesore of Kuching.

Once when I was a few thousand feet high in an airplane above Kuching city, I spotted an outstanding monument. Then I realized what it was:




Yes! Its none other than the Everrise building in BDC - flashed in "Sunquick" orange and "kaya" green. Nothing speaks louder than a building painted in bright contradicting colors. Shocking...

In 2nd place.....

When I saw the picture of this building before the actual thing, I thought the picture had been photoshopped. It was not!




Sitting in the heart of Kuching city where tourists and locals alike bustle around daily, its indeed a sight to behold. While we were busy trying to keep up with the latest movies at Star Cineplex (a tenant of Medan Pelita), the management at Medan Pelita were busy pimpin' up its building. It looks like a multi-level multi-colored kindergarten for the "Special Color-blind Children".

Its an extraordinary human feat to have selected and coordinated the painting of so many colors on one single building. At the time of writing, the paint works have yet to finish. Who knows what other colors they might unleash to us innocent Kuching citizens.

And finally, the prime candidate for a world wonder...

In 1st place...



Wisma Saberkas! Why you might ask. After all, it looks more decent than the rest.

Take a closer look...

Various section of the walls are painted in disgusting pink! I thought they would have painted the entire building with several shades of pink that would have made Xiaxue proud. But NO! Only a portion of the building. There is nothing worse than an unfinished bad work.

The pink portion of the building reminds me of something. Something all so familiar indeed......




That's it!!

Now which building is your "favorite"?