Sing Tat Garden Hawker Center, Butterworth

Sing Tat Garden Hawker Center (N5°25.913' E100°23.078')

We reached Butterworth around 1.30am of 25th January, 2009. I was totally exhausted cause of 9 hours driving...and this make me sleep until 12pm noon.

Once we wake up, the first thing we gonna solve is to fill our stomach. It was the eve of the Chinese New Year, so I dare not put too much hope on my favorite foods. We just drive around and depend on our luck. It was just 'too good to be true', the Hawker Center at Sing Tat Garden - Jalan Raja Uda was still on business!

Do you notice the metal chairs and tables ? They are existed 50 years ago...

Waste no time, we quickly jumped into the food court and order our favorite foods! Not many choices....my wife and daughter were having the Kuay Teow Soup and I ordered the Char Kuay Teow (Fried). Even the foods were average, not the best in town....but I felt very nice because it's been two year I haven't taste any Penang foods!

The Char Kuey Teow of Sing Tat Garden Hawker Center.

The hawkers.

This Food Court is existed more than 50 years ago. Foods serve here are very unique, and some of them you can't find the same taste elsewhere. Especially the Economy fried Mee-Hoon and Kuay Teow.

We finished our lunch in 30 minutes, and went to the Biggest Shopping Mall at Butterworth - Pacific Mega Mall. Surprisingly, all the stalls were still open on the eve of Chinese New Year. I believe this is somehow related to the World Economy downturn....

Penang Trip - Chinese New Year 2009 :-
* Dengkil R & R (RSA) Area - Selangor
* Blossom Seafood Steamboat at Auto City, Butterworth
* The Nine Emperor Gods Temple (九皇大帝) at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth
* Long House Seafood Restaurant, Batu Kawan - Butterworth
* Auto City of Juru - Butterworth
* 1926 Heritage Hotel at Burmah Road, Penang
* Funicular Train Station at Penang Hill, Ayer Itam - Penang
* Top of Penang Hill (Flagstaff Hill), Penang
* David Brown's Restaurant, Penang Hill - Penang
* Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang
* Famous Tau Sar Pneah of Penang
* My CNY Penang Trip

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Dengkil R & R (RSA) Area - Selangor

Every time I pass by this Dengkil R & R area (Rest and Service Area) (N2°54.525' E101°36.598') along the North South Expressway, I definitely will have a bite on the Nasi Lemak for the past five years. There was no exception for this time when we were on the way to Penang for the trip of Chinese New Year 2009.

Dengkil Rest and Service Area

Nasi Lemak of Dengkil Rest & Service Area

Disappointed! The taste was totally different and it's not delicious at all! The sambal was not as good as before, the last I had was 2 years ago...hmm...too bad, it's changed! So we decided this will be our Last time for the Nasi Lemak of Dengkil.

Beside that, we had order the Kajang Satay of the stall named 'Haji Samuri'. The satay were tasty but it's still not as good as the Kajang Satay I had before at Kajang. I can still remember the shop named 'Restoran Malaysia' very well. They serve the BEST Satay I ever taste it in Malaysia.

The shop is located at the right end of the Rest Area.

Special Sauce which is mixture of peanuts, sauce and sambal.

The Kajang Satay at Dengkil Rest and Service Area.

Chicken : MYR0.60 per stick.
Mutton : MYR0.90 per stick.
The total price to the Satay above : MYR8.70.

After one hour rest, we continue our journey to Penang...

Penang Trip - Chinese New Year 2009 :-
* Sing Tat Garden Hawker Center, Butterworth
* Blossom Seafood Steamboat at Auto City, Butterworth
* The Nine Emperor Gods Temple (九皇大帝) at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth
* Long House Seafood Restaurant, Batu Kawan - Butterworth
* Auto City of Juru - Butterworth
* 1926 Heritage Hotel at Burmah Road, Penang
* Funicular Train Station at Penang Hill, Ayer Itam - Penang
* Top of Penang Hill (Flagstaff Hill), Penang
* David Brown's Restaurant, Penang Hill - Penang
* Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang
* Famous Tau Sar Pneah of Penang
* My CNY Penang Trip

MY TRIPS - Home

Famous Skudai Duck Rice, Johor.

Sin Hai Cheng Duck Rice (N1°32.794' E103°39.382')

The Skudai Duck Rice or Noodle is very famous within Johor Bahru area especially for food lover.

The Sin Hai Cheng Duck Rice is located at the second shop of Jalan Emas Putih 2 of Taman Sri Skudai. Most of peoples will visit the corner shop opposite, because it is the First of Johor Bahru. But I just can't stand the bad attitude of the owner there! It's not friendly at all!
So we decided not to go there anymore and changed to this shop.

The Duck is as good as the corner shop and serve with a polite & friendly attitude.

It was packed with customers when we were there. Waitied for almost 15 minutes for the table...

The boneless duck and side dishes was good!

The duck serve by the restaurant.

Side dish - Pork and Tou-fu.

We spent about an hour at this restaurant for enjoying the meal...

Total damage : MYR29.00 (For 4 adults and 1 child). IT'S CHEAP and DELICIOUS!

I will recomend all my friend to this shop rather than the opposite corner Restaurant...

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Sam Kee BBQ Place, Kluang - Johor

Sam Kee BBQ Place (N2°01.556' E103°19.208')
We keep asking around the peoples about this place at the BCB Plaza. Fortunately, there were 2 helpful women guide us to the location. They even told the cab driver how to go to the restaurant, thanks you very much! (Kluang peoples are really friendly!!)

It's took us 5-10 minutes to reach. The restaurant is located less than 2KM from the Bus Terminal, along the street named - Jalan Lambak.

Opposite to Chinese Association and Chinese School Hall.


The queue was long while we reached. Nothing can stop us for seduction the Roasted Pork & BBQ Pork, so we queued. It's took us at least 30 minutes to get our foods!

Queue of the day!

The Roasted & BBQ Pork

I think the kids were hungry than us, because they stop talking again! I was wondering about their expression...they were either too hungry or the foods were too Good for them!

The BBQ Pork

The Roasted Pork

The temptation was too strong for me to wait until the kids finish, so I took a piece of the BBQ & Roasted Pork from my daughter plate! It's good and delicious!! No wonder they claim the BEST in Kluang! You need to taste it if you are happen in Kluang. (No matter you are hungry or not!)

We spent around one hour at the restaurant, after everyone had enough and satisfy with the foods....we bought some of it back. One kilogram of each is less than MYR35.00. It's cheap!
Then we are ready to catch the bus back to Johor Bahru...

While we reached the Bus Terminal, the time was exactly 2.00pm. That means we still have 30 minutes to go....
Therefore I and Kenny have another drink on the first level food court before we say 'bye bye' to Kluang.

The food court at the First Level of Kluang Bus Terminal

Then we jumped up to the Orkid Express Bus and 'Bye' to Kluang. The journey back to Johor Bahru took about 1 hour.

Orkid Express Bus

The Bus reached JB around 3.30pm and the bus driver drop us at the bus station of Skudai Parade, then my nephew gave us a free ride to Kempas Railway Station.
Before we drive back, Kenny bought all the Curry-Puff from the Canteen beside the Kempas Station! Haha!

We really enjoyed this 'Backpacker' Trip!

The Roasted Pork were still crispy after 4 hours back from Kluang.

Kluang Day Trip 4th JAN 2009 :-
* Kempas Railway Station (KTM), Johor Bahru
* Kluang Railway Station Coffee, Johor
* Kluang Fire Department, Johor.
* Kluang Bus Terminal, Johor

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Kluang Bus Terminal, Johor

Bye bye to Fire Station, we continue our walking to Kluang Bus Terminal (N2°02.165' E103°19.351'). We passed through many shops along the street and seems like most of them are selling shoes. It's looks like a Shoe street to me....
The street named 'Jalan Dato Tan Seng Leong'.

Ops! (Kluang Bus Terminal after this bridge)

The Bus Terminal is no different with other....Busy, noisy, smokes everywhere....Taxi Terminal was just beside...
There were Plenty of Express Bus from Kluang to Johor Bahru, and the timings are every 30 minutes one bus (Might same schedule from JB to Kluang). So we can choose our comfort time for the ticket, finally we confirmed on 2.30pm and the Bus ticket was MYR9.00 per adult. Cheaper than train, comfort? No idea yet...

They were busy discussed on the Bus tickets, I'm busy taking photos...

There is a food court on the First floor, culture of Malaysia Bus Terminal.

Once we settled the tickets, we walked into the Shopping Complex beside, The BCB Plaza (N2°02.116' E103°19.376').
Nothing much, just another shopping complex. The Store is the Anchor Tenant.

The building after the BCB Plaza is Prime City Hotel of Kluang.

Not much of CNY decoration...

But I noticed, there were many shops selling same product like the picture below...

After the walk, we felt hungry again?! Oh! Goodness! It's so easy to get hungry by walking...
So we proceed to taste the Famous Roasted Pork of Kluang.

Kluang Day Trip 4th JAN 2009 :-
* Kempas Railway Station (KTM), Johor Bahru
* Kluang Railway Station Coffee, Johor
* Kluang Fire Department, Johor.
* Kluang Bus Terminal, Johor
* Sam Kee BBQ Place, Kluang - Johor

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Kluang Fire Department, Johor.

Kluang Fire Station (N2°02.033' E103°19.178')
While we walked towards the Kluang Bus Terminal for Express Bus tickets, we passed by this Fire Station which located at the junction of Jalan Sultanah and Jalan Haji Manan.

Me and Kenny just walk in to take some photos, suddenly alert two fireman from the station and walk toward the gate. We thought, we will be chase out by these two firemans....but unexpectedly, they are so friendly and invite us to walk around the Fire Station, even to be our Tour Guide! We were surprised! (Our first impression for Kluang peoples)

They explained everything within the station, and kind enough to let us go into the trucks.

Inside the Truck.

Life saver.

One of the classic Fire Engine...

The suits...

They even show us the Control Room, and elaborate about their operations...but we cannot enter...

Their organization chart.

I respect them because they are the Hero of the peoples! They save life in every operations!

Our 'Tour Guide'. Salute!!

We continue our walk to the Bus Terminal after the warm welcome from the Kluang Fire Department...

Kluang Day Trip 4th JAN 2009 :-
* Kempas Railway Station (KTM), Johor Bahru
* Kluang Railway Station Coffee, Johor
* Kluang Bus Terminal, Johor
* Sam Kee BBQ Place, Kluang - Johor

MY TRIPS - Home

Kluang Railway Station Coffee, Johor

We enjoyed the ride, the train journey took exactly 70 minutes from Kempas to Kluang.
Once the train reached Kluang, the situation surprised me! The station (N2°02.000' E103°19.055') was full of passengers, and I saw we are the only group get down from the train, others were got up to the train and travel to North. (The train only stop for One minute)

You won't be surprise that there are many backpackers on the train...

After one minute, the line was clear!

And the station is back to peace and quite...

Kenny was the first one to 'jump' into the ticket counter to buy the return tickets. But due to unforeseen circumstances, it was unexpected fully booked! Without any choices, we decided to buy Express Bus ticket back to Johor Bahru.

Despite any status of the return ticket, we still need to fill up our stomach at this Famous Kluang Rail Cafe (since 1938). This is one of our purpose to Kluang. It's situated exactly in the Railway Station, and this 'small' cafe was so crowded on the Sunday morning.

The queue at the entrance...

After 15 minutes queue, we managed to get a table. What we did was 'fill' up the table as we can! Haha!


The reason was...we wanna taste everything which sell by the shop! :)
The packs on the table are Nasi Lemak and Mee-Siam. I will advise you to take those mee-siam which is in the plastic container, it was really good! And don't forget to order the Toasted Bread, it's serve with the homemade 'Kaya' and butter...Nice! (Pictures below...)

Mee-Siam in the plastic container.

Toasted Bread. It's grilled on 'charcoal', different taste from those oven toasted. Must try!

Importantly, don't forget to order a cup of the well-known hand roasted coffee. The aroma of the coffee was amazing! You will like it especially if you are a coffee lover.

Beside that, the half boiled eggs is also part of the breakfast.

We were really enjoy our breakfast at this Kluang Railway Cafe. Especially the 2 kids, they having their breakfast without any noise! :)

Some are busy taking photos....and some are busy with their bread...

The face expression from the little girl tell you how good the toasted bread was! She is my little princess...

The cafe is existed since 1938, before the Independence of Malaya. Until now, the third generation of the Lim's family is running the business. The setting is still the same since the cafe started...today, it goes with the name - "Kluang Rail coffee".
The franchise business of this cafe are everywhere within Malaysia today. But many customers still come back here for the original taste of the Coffee & Toasted Bread.

Business Hour :-
Friday to Wednesday
7.00am - 12.00pm
2.30pm - 6.00pm
Close on Thursday

The history of the cafe is witness by the patrons everyday...

The boss is busy brewing the coffee...

I will not say the foods and drinks serve by this cafe is heavenly fantastic, but it's special!
Experience your breakfast at this rustic ambience coffee shop, and don't forget to walk around this simple and classic train station...

Once our stomach full, we continue our journey...

Kluang Day Trip 4th JAN 2009 :-
* Kempas Railway Station (KTM), Johor Bahru
* Kluang Fire Department, Johor.
* Kluang Bus Terminal, Johor
* Sam Kee BBQ Place, Kluang - Johor

MY TRIPS - Home