Betty's Midwest Kitchen @ Aman Suria

Exterior View

After countless reviews by many bloggers, we were really excited to try this American joint serving wholesome, hearty, comfort food. We have dropped by this outlet a couple of times at around 8pm to find people lining up just to get a table. So arriving here at 6 pm for dinner was a good call as there were only 2 tables occupied.

Wall decorated with pictures of the various Midwest States in the US of A

As we had to skip lunch today, we were ravenous and decided to order 3 main meals to share. Service was prompt and friendly and all food was served in less than 10 minutes. Impressive. 

Grilled Baby Back Ribs

First to arrive was the grilled baby back ribs. The ribs were excellent; soft, tender, and finger licking good.In fact, I didn't even see the need for the sauce that came with it as it was so tasty on its own. At RM 32.90 (approximately 350g), the portion was not huge but reasonable and definitely worth coming back for.

Classic Meatloaf @ RM16.50

Sadly, the meatloaf that came next was a let down as it was way too sweet for our palates. The portion was just right to fill a person's tummy but because it felt so sweet, savoury, and chunky at the same time we felt very 'jelak' after 3 bites full. Lucky for me, Sandal and I were sharing it. I think they had too much tomato sauce or raspberry sauce added to it, which made it too sweet. Apart from that, the texture and amount of meat was great and  the mash potato that came with it was really awesome as it had a warm, light, buttery after taste to it. For the price paid, the portion was reasonable and if you like sweet, savoury food then this could be your ultimate comfort food.

American Hotdog

Last but not least, came the American Hotdog. I ordered the veal version and the sausage was excellent. Chewy and tasty but not too salty. My only complaint would be that the bread was cold and the portion was really small for the price of RM14.50. The hotdog is served with some ketchup, mustard, relish and onions as accompanion and fries as side.

House Lemonade @ RM2.50 per glass

For drinks, we had the house lemonade. Albeit cheap, it was nothing special.

Verdict :
We would definitely return to this restaurant again as the ribs were so good it made up for all the bad. That, and the fact that we want to try the Mac & Cheese, and Grilled Pork Chop  for our next visit.

Toothpick says :  Very good ribs. IMO, better than the one in Vintry, Riblee's and the Rib Shop. However, for the portions served I think the food here is slightly on the pricy side. Could be because they have increased the price of their dishes by RM3 - 4 quite recently.

Sandal says : Food tasted good (except for Meatloaf) but I think the food here has a lot of MSG, as we felt really thirsty, dry and parched after an hour.

Address :

Betty's Midwest Kitchen

A-G-40, Jalan PJU 1/43,
Aman Suria, Damansara,
Petaling Jaya.

Tel:03-7880-0196

GPS :

N = 3° 7' 22.2", E = 101° 35' 43.2"

Google Map :
3.122833, 101.595333

D'Rich King Of Good Food @ SS2

Newly open in just less than a month, this restaurant is packed with people. The interior is wide and spacious with good ventilation, and patrons can choose to sit in the shaded or alfresco area. However, due to its location it is rather difficult to find a parking spot. In fact, we had to circle 7 rounds around the area before we found a spot. If you're wondering where they are located, they are just right behind BHP SS2 and near Donald's Durian.

Interior

Sandal's "Cham Ice" @ RM3.50 - Cheaper than Pappa Rich, but not as concentrated

The restaurant's menu and concept is basically the same as all the other coffee shops around such as Pappa Rich, Old Town White Coffee, Hainan Tea and etc.,that has been mushrooming out faster than you can say Boo! of late. As it was our first time here, we decided to order a few different dishes to see whether the food here is better than its competitors around.

Chee Cheong Fan with Shrimp Floss

The Chee Cheong Fan (CCF) at RM 2.30 was the first dish that arrived. The CCF was soft, springy and had a nice bite to it. The shrimp floss that accompanied it was salty, which is perfect as CCF's are generally quite plain. Among the shrimp floss, there was also a sprinkling of dried chili thrown in to give this dish a slightly spicy tang. Will definitely order this again if I return.

Mushroom Soup served in a Bread Bowl

Next came the Mushroom Soup priced at RM6.90. This dish was very small,and although the mushroom soup was homemade and quite lovely, the bread bowl that was served was utterly lousy. The bread was dry, plain and really took away the taste of the mushroom soup when eaten together. I think they should have used puff pastry instead, and this sort of bread bowl is more suitable for fillings like curry chicken.

Sandal's Kampung Chicken Koay Teow @ RM8.60

The Koay Teow used for the above dish was delicious as the texture was smooth and springy (suspect the noodles were imported from Ipoh). The soup was flavorful too, but the chicken however, was not very smooth, which is often the case with "Kampung" chicken.

Fried Chicken @ RM6.90

This Fried Chicken is one of the signature dishes here (Signature dishes have a CROWN symbol denoted). The portion for the chicken was rather small and the chicken was quite unique tasting. It tasted a little bit sweet, had a very light seasoning of nam yee (fermented red beancurd) and a strong lemon grass flavor. I would have personally like more nam yee added, but overall it was fried perfectly and easy to snack on.

Verdict :

We would definitely return to this restaurant again as the ambiance and ventilation is great for chilling-out sessions. Additionally, they also sell quite a few delicious looking cakes and desserts here that my sweet tooth is aching to sink itself into. 

Toothpick says : Will return here again, provided there is available parking space.

Sandal says : Food here is better than most of the cafes around.

Address :

D'Rich

Lot 255886, Jln SS2/65,
47300 Petaling Jaya.

GPS :

N = 3° 7' 5.1", E = 101° 37' 25.9"

Google Map :
3.118083, 101.623861

Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary @ Pahang

Welcome to Kuala Gandah

Established in 1989 by the Jabatan Perhilitan (Department of Wildlife and National Parks), the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Lanchang is a base for the Elephant Relocation Team, which began the elephant translocation program in 1974. The centre houses a number of resident elephants which were brought in from Myanmar and Thailand. These elephants are trained and used in translocation exercises to help capture problematic wild elephants throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The centre also looks after orphaned elephants to keep them safe from illegal hunters and encroachment activities.

Dinner time for baby elephant

Beautiful nature

The National Elephant Conservation Centre is open to visitors from 8.00am - 4.30pm throughout the year except for some public holidays. When you're there, the first thing you need to do is to register at the counter located in the main building. Take note that only visitors who register and receive a yellow sticker can enjoy a fun ride on the elephant, bathe and feed them. Be there early to register for this sticker as it is only limited to 120pax/day. Otherwise, you'll just have to settle with the red sticker which is only limited to visiting purposes.

Area restricted to Adult Elephants only

Bathing area

Entrance to this centre is FREE, but a simple gesture of goodwill i.e. donation is encouraged and truly appreciated as this will ensure that these sweet loving  gentle giant creatures will continue to have a place to live in. For elephant lovers, you no longer have to travel all the way to Thailand to experience an elephant adventure. A journey by car to Kuala Gandah will only take approximately 1.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur city via the Kuala Lumpur - Karak Highway and East Coast Expressway.   

The Young Ones

Don't worry! There are many signboards around

Time	Activities
8.00am	Breakfast – Elephants are fed with pellets and concentrates
9.30am – 10.30am	Training – Elephants are trained to learn basic commands such as sit and stay, obey specific commands for translocation works and break bad habits
10.30am	In the enclosure – Elephants are free to roam in the enclosure
11.30am – 12.00pm	Lunch – Visitors can join the staffs to feed the elephants with fruits
12.00pm – 2.00pm	In the enclosure – Elephants are free to roam in the enclosure
2.00pm	Bath – Visitors with yellow stickers can help to bathe the elephants in the river
2.45pm	Ride – Visitors with yellow stickers can ride the elephants
3.00pm	Stalled – Elephants return to their stalls
3.15pm	Dinner – Elephants are fed with fruits and plants

Verdict :

Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (good to know we have such a place)

• Cleanliness - 7/10 (the place is under construction)

• Value for $$$ - 10/10 (it's free!)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (enough of working, go help the elephants)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 9.5/10 (Wonderful! I love elephants)

• Cleanliness - 6.5/10 (river very muddy, construction work in progress)

• Value for $$$ - 10/10 (free of charge, but please donate to help upkeep the elephants)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (Do visit, elephants are playful animals who enjoy attention =))


Address :
National Elephant Conservation Centre, 

Department of Wildlife and National Parks, 

Kuala Gandah, 28500 Lanchang, 

Pahang Darul Makmur. 

Tel: +609 - 279 0391; Fax: +609- 279 0398


GPS :  

N = 3° 35' 33.9", E = 102° 8' 38.5"


Google Map :
3.59224,102.144181

Balinese Temples

Pura Luhur Uluwatu

Kecak Dance Arena @ Uluwatu

Uluwatu temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali - located on top a cliff at 250ft above sea level facing the spectacular view of the Indian Ocean. The famous Uluwatu temple is also known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu by the locals and is regarded as one of the six most important temples in Bali. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, its location on the south westernmost of this magical island guards the Balinese from the evil spirit of the ocean. This is a must visit temple in Bali.

Uluwatu temple from far

Warning! When visiting this temple, please make sure to keep all your belongings inside the bag or leave it in the vehicle. As I mentioned in my earlier post, monkeys can be rather aggressive and may bite or scratch. So be cautious as the last thing that you would want to endure is a Rabies infection during your holiday. My cousin had a bad experience here with these monkeys and ended up spending the rest of her holidays in a local clinic. Additionally, she had to fork out over a thousand ringgit for 4 tetanus jabs.

View from Uluwatu

Pura Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot

About 20km from Denpasar, sits a beautiful temple on a huge offshore rock surrounded by the sea known as Pura Tanah Lot. Built in the 16th century, Tanah Lot is also regarded as another important sea temple where poisonous sea snakes are believed to be guardians of the temple, standing virgil against evil spirits and intruders. This is also a must visit temple in Bali.

Clear view from far

Tips! Visit this temple in the late afternoon to enjoy the magnificent sunset view of Tanah Lot.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

Entrance to Ulun Danu

If you happen to be in Bedugul, be sure not to miss the beautiful temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. Standing at more than 1200m above sea level, this temple is probably one of the most photographed temples in Bali. Built in 1633 by the King of Mengwi - I Gusti Agung Putu, this temple is dedicated to the lake goddess "Dewi Danu" and is constructed on small islands of Lake Bratan. Both pilgrimages and ceremonies are held at here to ensure that there is a supply of water for farmers for irrigation all over Bali. This is another must visit temple in Bali.

11-tier meru @ Ulun Danu

Main temple "Pura Teratai Bang"

Pura Tirta Empul

Tirta Empul temple

Built around a sacred spring in Tampak Siring. An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. The name "Tirta Empul" signifies a crystal clear stream which is used as the holy water for various religious ceremony even until today. This temple has two bathing areas which are famous among the Balinese worshipers for thousand over years for healing and spiritual merit. Worshipers first make an offering at the temple, then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray. Many collect the holy water in bottles to take home. 

Main pool - Holy Spring

Market outside Pura Tirta Empul

Tips! Please take note that the way out is not the same as the way in. Remember to have your tour guide or taxi driver meet you at the entrance of the exit which is also the market area where the locals sell their handicrafts, clothes and souvenirs.


Pura Taman Ayun

Merus in Pura Taman Ayun

The name Pura Taman Ayun means the "Temple of the Beautiful Gardens". It was built by I Gusti Agung Anom, the founder of the Mengwi kingdom, a powerful kingdom in the district of Mengwi, in central Bali, until 1891. The temple is surrounded by a moat with lotuses, giving it the feel of a garden sanctuary. Beyond the moat, the temple lies on a slightly raised ground.

Entrance to Pura Taman Ayun

Moat surrounding the temple

Verdict :

Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 6.5/10 (too much time wasted on traveling from one place to another)

• Value for $$$ - 7/10 (ok for first timer)

• Recommend to a friend? - Maybe (only choose a few temples to visit)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 5.5/10 (lousy tour guide who lacked historical knowledge of the temples)

• Value for $$$ - 7/10 (worth it if you like historical and archaeological buildings)

• Recommend to a friend? - Maybe (pick the top 3 and skip the rest)

Mum's Seafood Noodles House @ Kota Damansara

 

After a long week at work, I usually look forward to a hearty, delicious, unhealthy Friday dinner.  So last Friday, I had my heart set on trying Betty's Midwest Kitchen after reading quite a few reviews by other food bloggers around.

Unfortunately for me, Sandal came down with a bad cough, sore throat and flu a couple of days before, and had not recovered come Friday. So, we went rounding around PJ looking for something healthy (Sigh...the things we do for love...=P) and within a reasonable budget of RM40 and below .

Exterior

After 40 minutes of driving around aimlessly, we finally decided to give Mum's Seafood Noodles House a try. This restaurant has been open for 8 months and the service we received was warm and genuine. Sadly, most of the restaurants on this row of shops have very little patrons due to its location, which is kinda hidden. I settled on their Fish Head Bee Hoon at RM13.80 per bowl while Sandal had the Seafood Mee with Clear Soup, also priced at RM13.80.

Fish Head Bee Hoon

The fish head bee hoon was aromatic and tasty with abundance of seafood; deep fried fish, prawns, bamboo lala, mussels, and squid. My only complaint would be that the soup should have been more sour as I love my fish head bee hoon soup really sour. I have yet to find the ultimate one, but if you have, do drop me a message = )

Clear Seafood Soup Mee

Sandal's seafood soup was not to my liking as I found the soup too plain with only a strong pepper-ish taste. Sandal, on the other hand enjoyed it as he liked the way it tasted so clear, light & healthy. The seafood that accompanied both the noodles was plentiful and very very fresh.

Interior

Verdict :

For the amount of fresh seafood provided and the price paid, it was a reasonable and healthy meal that was worth at least a try. For those in the mood for rice, do not fret as the restaurant also serves a variety of seafood dishes.

Toothpick says : Love the fact that the seafood was so fresh. If the Fish Head Bee Hoon soup was sourer, I would definitely come back for more.

Sandal says : Fresh seafood and tasted kinda healthy. Guess they didn't use so much MSG.

Address :

Mum's Seafood Noodle House

22-G, Jalan PJU 5/21

The Strand Kota Damansara

47810 Petaling Jaya.

GPS :

N = 3° 9' 15.77", E = 101° 35' 33.21"

Google Map :
3.154381,101.592559

Dusit D2 - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hotel Review in Chiang Mai

Reception area

If you are looking for a modern + stylish + hip hotel with perfect location, 5-star sleeping experience, top notch service and excellent breakfast in Chiang Mai, Dusit D2 is your ideal choice. Perfectly located right in the middle of Chang Klan Road - just a few steps to the infamous Night Bazaar and about 20 minutes walk from the Walled City of Chiang Mai.

Room

Bathroom

Chaise Longue

The quality of their first-class service is second to none and Dusit D2 is definitely one of the contributors to Thailand's renowned customer service. The staffs are courteous, friendly and attentive  without being intrusive, and around whenever needed. We employed the services of the hotel to book for our dinner cruise and it was well-arranged by the front desk. However, the dinner cruise booked by the hotel was disappointing as the food serve in the cruise was little and of low quality.

Breakfast - cold section

Breakfast - homemade pastry selection

Breakfast in Dusit D2 is one of the best I have ever had. It has a large variety to choose from. Croissant, bacon, eggs (cook anyway you like), Thai fried rice and smoked salmon (Toothpick's favourite) are just some of the choices to start your day with. They even had a free flow of freshly squeezed mandarin orange juice! We also noticed that the hotel allowed a guest to take away an extra large cup of fresh milk from the buffet for free. Talk about excellent customer service!

Hotel Lobby

Pool

Whether you are in Chiang Mai for its charm and culture or simply to host a business meeting, Dusit D2 will deliver an experience of sheer delight, and you will certainly feel pampered without burning a hole in your pocket.

Verdict :

Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (very cultural)

• Food Overall - 9/10 (breakfast is good)

• Hotel Overall - 9/10 (call it "Dusit A1")

• Cleanliness - 9/10 (sparkling clean)

• Value for $$$ - 9/10 (good deal from MATTA fair for RM400 per pax - 4D3N + tours)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (perfect holiday for everyone)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (This lovely hotel added value to the whole trip)

• Food Overall - 9.5/10 (super yummy breakfast)

• Hotel Overall - 9.5/10 (love everything about this hotel)

• Cleanliness - 8.5/10 (hotel is clean, outside is somehow polluted)

• Value for $$$ - 8.5/10 (very good deal)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (love Chiang Mai)


Address :
100 Chang Klan Road
Tambol Chang Klan,
Amphur Muang,
Chiang Mai 50100,
Thailand.


GPS :  
N = 18° 47' 9.5", E = 98° 59' 59.7"


Google Map :
18.785972, 98.999917

Bali, Indonesia

toothpickandsandal in Bali

Road to Kintamani

Bali from the sky

Kuta Beach Road

Things you need to know :

• Majority of the population here are Hindus and therefore, pork is widely served in many restaurants.
• Dress appropriately when you visit any of the puras (temples)
• Most of the locals do understand a bit of Bahasa Melayu.
• Bali is UTC +8 time zone, same as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore.
• Denpasar is the capital of Bali where the Ngurah Rai international airport is located.
• Upon arrival at Ngurah Rai, claim your baggage as soon as possible to avoid the authority scam. Some airport officials insisted to take our bags for us, walk through the custom  (less than a 10 meter walk) and of course demanded a big tip.
• Take note that airport tax is not included in your departure fare. Prepare some cash in their local currency Rp 150,000/pax to be paid when you arrived at Ngurah Rai international airport.
• Weather in Bali is hot and humid. Wear something light and comfortable when you are there.
• The peak season in Bali is from July - September and December. Traveling in April or May is highly recommended as it is less crowded and things are much cheaper.
• If you are at Jimbaran for the seafood, only dine after the sun has set, otherwise be ready to feast with hundreds of flies.
• If you intend to take a tour, do avoid the full-board tour. It can be very lengthy and our tour brought us for Chinese food instead of Balinese food most  dinners. Furthermore, many of the tours' itineraries involve cramming in 3 temples in a day which is  tiring and can get boring as it involves many hours of traveling just to see a temple for 30 minutes. Do look for a guide that has a good sound knowledge of the history and story behind each temple as it would make the visit there much more meaningful.
• Stay in Kuta or Legian if you are seeking for nightlife, entertainment and shopping. Choose Nusa Dua if you want a cleaner and quieter beach. For more privacy, book yourself a luxury villa in Seminyak or Uluwatu area and spa relaxation in Ubud.
• Although we didn't get a chance to, do try to go on the Bali Dolphin tour. Word around is, it is a great and fun experience, especially if you have kids or happen to be a Dolphin lover.
• The famous Kintamani tour (Kintamani is Bali's active volcano) is overrated. The tour involves going up to a hill opposite the volcano to have buffet lunch in one of the many restaurants there, while enjoying the view of the volcano. In actual fact, the view of the volcano seems incredibly far away and the buffet meal is packed with flies. The visit was really nothing special. Additionally, the walk up to the restaurant was very dusty and dirty.
• Visiting 3 temples during your entire trip is sufficient. If I had to narrow it down, I would say visit only Tanah Lot, Uluwatu and Ulun Danu.
• Beware of the monkeys in Bali. They can get rather aggressive and may scratch or bite you. Like most aggressive monkeys, they may sometimes steal your sunglasses or etc. 

The quiet side of Kuta

2002 Bali Bombing Memorial

Jimbaran Seafood

Indonesian cuisine usually consists of large portions of rice accompanied by a few side dishes. Balinese food is no exception, except that pork is also part of their diet such as the infamous Babi Guling (roast suckling pig) and Urutan (spicy pork sausage). Other notable dishes include; Bebek Bertutu (duck topped with herbal paste), Sate Lilit (minced seafood satay) and Ayam Panggang Bumbu Merah (grilled chicken with red chili and shrimp paste).

Grilled Seafood at Jimbaran

Nasi Ayam Penyet

Local brew "Bintang"

Barong Dance

Kintamani Volcano

Kuta Beach

Verdict :

Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 6.5/10 (could be better)

• Food Overall - 5.5/10 (can find better Balinese food in KL)

• Cleanliness - 6/10 (on par with KL)

• Value for $$$ - 7/10 (i guess)

• Recommend to a friend? - Maybe (only if you got nowhere else to go)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 6.0/10 (shouldn't have gone with the full-board tour)

• Food Overall - 5.0/10 (Plain! but Jimbaran seafood is worth a try)

• Cleanliness - 6/10 (Kinda dirty around Kintamani area)

• Value for $$$ - 7.5/10 (only during low season)

• Recommend to a friend? - Maybe (no comment)