Mail oh Mail

 First he did a 69 to maintain #kerajaangagal,

 

Then he re-appointed the two-name tikus to re-repair the labu,

Then he re-appointed those three "dont know for what" ministerial-ranked special envoy,

Then he co-oped the kleptocrat for ideas to improve the economy, and news is that it will be a formal position.

 

Then he want to put the clown from the court cluster to man the August House.

Mail oh Mail

Helpless.

Lets get real, PH and the opposition block don’t have 110. Last count including Pejuang and Warisan is only 105, and whether Pejuang and Warisan will support AI is still not confirmed. Unless if AI can somehow bring GPS into the fold, there is no hope for a PH goverment back as the goverment. No use thumping chest celebrating the downfall of Mahiaddin.

Because, it will still be a  PN+MN government. With Mahiaddin out, who will be his replacement?

Rumours circulating it will be Ismail Sabri to placate the UMNO camp. 

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/08/15/ismail-hamzah-meet-to-discuss-new-govt/

The guy is clueless as the senior minister, his SOPs resulted in current worsening Covid situation in the country.  

Will he stand up against the court cluster seeing how they toppled Mahiaddin? And we all know what is the Court Cluster's first request to a PM under their thumb. Nobody from UMNO will now jump to the tiny Bersatu. So any PM from UMNO will still need BN's chairman's approval, especially if he wants to ensure his political longevity and be able to stand again in GE15.

Can I do anything about it? Can any of the 32 million Malaysian, except for the 115 MPs do anything about it? No. I can rant here but will it make a difference? 

The answer is a big NO.

To make matter worse, Azmin or Hamzah Z as the DPM? 

Hadi oh Hadi.. Best friend konon

Morning morning read Hadi's foul mouth commenting "Maka, janganlah didahulukan untuk mendapatkan kuasa sehingga punca penyakit rasuah dibiarkan berkuasa lagi." 

Typical of his holier than thou character, to call people names (again) "Hanya mereka yang tidak berperikemanusiaan sahaja tidak akan mempedulikan keadaan rakyat yang perlu diselamatkan sekarang," katanya.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/587232

I might be wrong and he might be talking about not letting LGE be in power again, but I am very sure I am not wrong. 

Most likely he is talking about Najib. But hey, I thought Najib and co is his BFF. 

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/474051

https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/94518/BERITA/Politik/Najib-terima-kunjungan-pemimpin-utama-Pas

In the brink of losing his Special Advisor with ministerial status (and perks), now he is throwing Najib under the Mercedes. 

Iceland February 2019 YouTube link

Went on the furthest trip from home, during winter of February 2019, to the Land of Fire and Ice, which is already overrun by tourist.

The link to my newly created YouTube channel for the pictures and videos of the trip.

The trip includes a few days stop in London and visiting the holy ground of LFC, which is Anfield, Liverpool.

https://youtu.be/0aLWHE1uXJ8

Hock Chew-ness, Part 3 - Kong Piang-ing

Kong Piang, my ultimate reason visiting the Hock Chew town of Setiawan.

Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian, one of the two outlets selling, this one is in Setiawan, the other in Kampung Koh, 2-3km away.

Kong Piang is basically a pastry with onion fillings. They used to sell with char siew filling but no longer.
Reached the shop at 1.15pm, batch will be ready at 1.45pm.

Left..the fillings, onion and lard, on the right, the dough for the biscuit/pastry

.

The clay wood coal oven for baking the biskuit. Not unlike baking naan. Metal sheet is used to direct air into the oven to flame the fire.

Hard at work. Its just a small cornet shop house outlet. 

One of the three oven of the shop.

 After filling, flattening, and making some indentation with the other end of the roller.

The way to bake. Paste it on the oven's wall. 

Metal plates are placed on top of the burning charcoal, so that hands can use to stick the Kong Piang on the oven wall.

 Cant work here if you cant stand the heat.

 Removing the metal plates after filling the oven.

Sweet fragrance of onion and lard in the air.

Fresh out from the oven. 

The 'kha chang' to remove' 

Ready to sell. RM0.80 each.

 The other type of Kong Piang, the original, without the fillings. I read they are real chewy.

The queue is already long half an hour before the first batch is ready. One aunty asked for priority since she is from out of town. The staff replied "all here queuing is from out of town, locals wont come during a holiday, so please queue!!!" Cool reply :)
The first batch from the three oven not enough to cater for the queue. So most customer would have to wait for the next batch.

See the onion fillings.

Verdict : nice and tasty pastry biscuit. Crunchy and sweet. But the filling is a bland and tasteless. 

Would I be back??

Yes for novelty, no for the taste.

PS : did try to get from the other outlet, Sin Lay.. but they are closed when I am there at around 2.00pm.

Hock Chew-ness, Part 2

 After the seafood lunch, headed to the top tourist attraction in Setiawan.

The Tua Pek Kong Temple is located at the end of Jalan Pasir Panjang, with more than adequate signage, even from Kampung Koh.

Whats impresive about this temple, which I ve read cost RM7.8million, is the gigantic and not so gigantic statues on the temple ground. Was told the temple will be thronged by worshippers during any chinese 'tua jit chi'.

Huge granite statues. Up to 70 feet. 

 The temple is by the seaside. Thats Pangkor in front.

 The smaller statues.

 Its really a hot day, that was why I planned my time to be here when the sun is lower.

  Some of the other smaller statues.

The Seven Immortals playing chess.

This is a thriving local tourist attraction after all, thus stalls selling local products are abundance on the temple ground. Another attraction is the Monkey Garden, where there is a walkway looping the mangrove swamp nearby, with supposedly wild monkey. 

After much praying (to huat chye among others), and more buying, left the temple ground around 4.30pm, heading back to Kampung Koh for some Paus and 'mou mou'

 Vintage shop houses along the road at Kampung Koh. Make no mistakes though, this is a busy road.

Restoran Yee Si, besides Maybank just at the Kampung Koh crossroad. Another old time outlet here.
Reached there at 4.45pm, and was told everything were sold out. Speechless since they only started selling at 3.00pm everyday.

After that, need to waste some time, so drove to Teluk Batik. The beach is full with beach goer (since its a Saturday), with people picnicking there. Has been ages since I see people 'berkelah'.

Drove back to Setiawan, reaching Bei King at around 7.00pm. Bei King is one of the foremost name here in serving Hock Chew (Foochow) dishes. They have been in business for more than two decades. They are so successful that they are now at a much much larger outlet and is also now operating a hotel cum restaurant.

Directions.. from Setiawan traffic light, head toward Kampung Koh. Look out for Alliance Bank on your left. Turn in after Alliance bank. Drive for about 1km and you wont miss it on your left.

 Just ask for Foochow dishes and the 'lansi' lady captain (or owner, i wont know la) will recommend to you.

Ang jiu meesua. The quintessential foochow dish. With chicken, or else the soup would not taste sweet.

This is addictive. The soup is fragrant from the wine and slices of ginger. The chicken pieces real tender. The locally made mee suah smooth and firm. Still wondering, did I got slightly drunk from this or its just because i was tired.

Was recommended Foochow fishball or fish maw. Since the missus does not take fish maw so fishball it is. Foochow fishball has pork in the middle.

 Foochow or chien. Err, where's the oyster?? Dont really enjoy this. At least got something to dip the Kampung Koh chili sauce with.

 Foochow mixed fried vegetables (with tanghoon)

The dishes cost around RM70, including a pot of kekwa.. cant remember exactly.

 Another view of the Tua Pek Kong statues at night, with the lights on.

By 830pm, driving back using the same road, the trunk road are pitch black. Not really advisable. Just dont be afraid if any lady in long hair and white dress stands in front of the road.

Alternatively, head towards Ayer Tawar to Ipoh, to PLUS.

Hock Chew-ness, Part 1

Another day trip.. 06 October 2012, Setiawan... via PLUS going out at the Changkat Jering exit, then another hour or so of trunk road, longer if you are stuck behind a heavy vehicle.

Reached Setiawan around 1.15pm. A hot day, was told it hasnt rained there for quite some time.

First stop, Kong Piang.. at the Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian. Just shortly after the Setiawan crossroad, the stall at the backlane is just behind Public Bank on the road heading to Kampung Koh. There is a yellow building besides, which I have read used to house Courts Mammoth, but is now used for bird nest rearing.

I still remember, first time I have heard about Kong Piang or Gong Pian, depending on your dialects, from the in flight Magazine on board Airasia. Since then, I have been yearning to taste the delicacies of the Hock Chew people. At 1.15pm, the store has just opened, we are asked to come back at 1.45pm. We being such nice people were offered from the first batch from the oven without the need to queue up, if we are back at 1.30pm.

So, with time to kill and the sun scorching, Setiawan's famous James Cendol is our next destination. Its just a short drive away.

Location, in front of an Indian temple near The Store supermart (on the road heading to Lumut). Was looking foward to James's wife in her uniform and bright red bowtie, but the stall was manned by two teenages in t-shirt. There goes my photo ops.

Anyway, back to the food. The stall, I note sells Ais Kacang and Cendol. James has been selling here since 1974.  We are there for the cendol. You can ask with or without pulut.

The cendol is so fragrant. You can taste that the coconut milk (santan) is very fresh as well the flavourful gula melaka. Sadly, the portion is pitiful.

 The famous royal advertisement at the stall, James serving the Sultan of Perak. 

Was told James has branched out and is now operating a stall in KL at Old Klang road.

For RM4.00 for one bowl each with and without pulut, I will say its expensive, especially here in Setiawan. Nevertheless, it is good chendol.

Then back to Cheong Chia for our Kong Piang. Will write about the Kong Piang-ing in another blog.

After that it is almost 2.00pm. Went for a drive to Kampung Koh, to look for the other famous Kong Piang outlet there. Found it but its closed.

Nothing else to do, decide its lunch time. Researching about Setiawan pointed out that this place is quite a seafood paradise. Drove towards Kampung Cina, where at least 10 seafood outlet lines the whole road.

We went to Restoran Ah Pek Lee Hou Hock. I have read the dishes here are more special.

Ordered the Sar Jiau Yee, aka Garfish, deep fried in batter.

Marmite stone crab

And Siong Tong Lala (Lala in supreme soup)

Ordered only 3 dishes, since there s only the two of us and to check out the price here too.

Kampung Koh garlic chilli sauce is a must here.

The Sar Jiau Yee, with its white flesh are so fresh. Not fishy at all.

Nice soup, with decent size lala.

The marmite crab on my plate of rice. Check out the roe. 

We were told that this style of cooking will result in the dish taste somewhat bitter. That we can accept, however, the crabs were slightly under-cook, making the flesh not firm enough.

The 3 dishes, with white rices and 2 glass of keatla peng, cost us RM74.00. The seafood are definitely fresh.

Read this outlet is famous for its gigantic scallop. Must and will try that the next time.