May is the month for visitors - no sooner had I farewelled my chigga friend and her boy, I found myself at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) eagerly awaiting the arrival of Breakfast Sarah, my co-worker from university days when I earned my keep selling handbags and suitcases. Over the years we have maintained and built on our friendship founded in a common love of breakfast and she's always a lot of fun.
So back to LCCT. I have to say, not having a car I find it a bit of a hassle to get to. While KLIA is a breeze via the 28-minute KLIA Expres train from KL Sentral, to get to LCCT I have 3 options, all of them slow.
- Taxi, which I quickly ruled out as the rather exorbitant fare doesn't appeal to my new Malaysian view of my finances (150MYR+ one way)
- SkyBus from KL Sentral, which is fine but I'd just done this hour+ coach ride for my trip to Singapore 2 weeks ago and didn't fancy it again (9MYR one way)
- KLIA Transit train from KL Sentral to Salak Tinggi followed by a 30-minute shuttle bus (12.50MYR one way)
In the end I decided to give the KLIA Transit train a go. Turns out it only leaves every half hour so I ended up waiting at KL Sentral for 25 minutes and checking the time on my phone nervously on the train and again on the shuttle bus as BS' arrival time came and went.
Turns out I need not have worried so much about getting to the airport on time. You see, my friend BS had a worry of her own - Air Asia X had lost her suitcase.
As a frequent traveller, losing my luggage is a constant fear I have every time I find myself standing at the baggage carousel. This is why the suitcases I own are bright red, stripey or have a big orange ribbon tied to them; and my name and address clearly written on a luggage tag. If I find myself still waiting after most of the other passengers around me have found their suitcase and shuffled off, my heart rate starts to increase and I start to stress.
And yet so far I have been lucky (touch wood). My friend BS not so lucky. She found herself with another couple from Sydney waiting after the carousel had stopped, still with no luggage. Sydney Couple managed to sort theirs out quickly - the Air Asia staff made a quick call and were able to locate their bag at Sydney Airport. "It will arrive on the plane tomorrow and you will have it delivered tomorrow night." And Sydney Couple wearily went on their way.
My friend BS stepped forward hopefully but no such luck. "We don't know where your bag is." "We have this problem with Sydney." "We will call you in 3-4 hours." With these words and a missing baggage report tucked away in her handbag, BS began her month-long trip to Europe via KL.
I called again 4 hours later at 10:30pm as we had not yet heard anything, and the Air Asia staff member sounded almost amused that we were expecting a resolution so soon. "I'm in at 1pm again tomorrow, I call you then," he said. To which I replied that no, I would like his colleague working the morning shift to please call us earlier than that. "Okay okay he call you," said our Air Asia friend.
But of course, come the next morning there was no call so once again I found myself dialling the number. We were told that the latest update from Sydney was still 'search in progress'. Our friend had made a helpful note on our report that "This lady calls many times asking about her bag." Is there any chance the suitcase is lost at LCCT? No. Is there a number I can call to speak to someone in Sydney? No, all our correspondence is via email.
Day 2 wearing the same clothes she travelled in with no makeup or toiletries, BS was starting to get slightly concerned. So after breakfast, we headed to Suria KLCC for emergency shopping:
- underwear (Uniqlo)
- bikini (Quiksilver)
- BB cream and eyeliner (Guardian Pharmacy)
The afternoon rolled around. Should I call Air Asia again, I asked BS. She shook her head. "I think we should wait a bit longer and give them a chance to sort it out." Then around 6:30pm, 24 hours after we had left LCCT, I got a call.
"Your friend's bag has just arrived from Sydney. We are waiting for our agent to deliver it to your address. You will get it tonight or tomorrow morning, I will call to confirm."
Fantastic news! We hurried home to wait for the suitcase and the call to confirm delivery. It was after 11pm by the time I sleepily answered a call from a man who proceeded to shout at me that he was on his way and would be at our condo approximately 1-1:30am. I asked him to kindly leave the bag with security and I would collect it in the morning.
*Sleep interlude*
I wake up to the sound of the doorbell to our apartment being pressed over and over. What time is it? It's 1:30am. I answer the door not even half-awake and find the delivery man with a security guard. But no suitcase.
"You want your suitcase?"
"I told you to please leave it with security. This is much too late."
"You want your suitcase?"
Having been rudely woken in the middle of the night, I was in no mood to stand in the glaring light in the hallway and wait for him to go back down to pick up the suitcase and bring it back up. Goodness knows how long that would take!
So I politely asked once more to leave the bag with security and I would pick it up in the morning. Then I shut the door firmly in their faces.
This morning sure enough, BS' suitcase was sitting in the security office with a tag stuck on that read "THIS BAG BELONGS TO MS LISA". BS is now gleefully unpacking her toiletries and holiday wardrobe and looking forward to spending the day by the pool, and going shopping without the pressure of having to buy things.
Verdict: Lost baggage is something that happens to every airline at every airport. Air Asia could have communicated more - it was irritating that we had to keep following up with them until they found the bag. But all in all, 24 hour delay is not that bad.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Dinner at twentyone kitchen+bar, Changkat Bukit Bintang
As you may have heard, Air Asia started flying Sydney-KL direct as of April this year. Prior to that, your only option was Malaysia Airlines for a direct flight or a range of other full-service airlines via Singapore. Air Asia's entry into the market at the low, low, low end of the price spectrum (and now Scoot as well from Singapore to Sydney) is welcome news for many, but certainly for me as it means trips back home will be possible more often.
Of course, the opposite is also true - it means that Sydney friends and family can now come and visit without having to use up their entire holiday budget for the year. And so it was that just before Easter, an entertaining ex-colleague of mine came to KL for a week with her partner and a pair of food bloggers in tow.
On the one night our schedules managed to align, The Boy and I decided to take the troop to Changkat Bukit Bintang. You would not be an expat in KL and not know of this fantastic street lined with countless bars and restaurants and offering a lively energy no matter what night of the week. It's been six months now and we have still only been to a handful of places on the street, it is my goal to gradually make my way through the entire row and choose my favourite establishments.
This particular balmy evening we headed to Gypsy for a few drinks first. There are nicer bars in Changkat, but Gypsy has a good range of beers and decent happy hour prices, which is important when you are out with thirsty menfolk.
We then headed to the main event of the evening - dinner at twentyone kitchen + bar. The Boy and I had been there before for drinks a couple of times and I liked the wide upstairs balcony where you could sit and sip on a yummy cocktail from a big list and watch the world go by. Having done a bit of research into suitable places that might impress my foodie colleague, I had read some good reviews about twentyone's menu and so for some weeks had been looking forward to finally trying it out.
What we ate:
Entree (shared)
smoked duck and sour plum spring rolls - 16RM
king prawn spring rolls with a sweet chilli and tamarind dipping - 22RM
wild rocket with feta cheese and balsamic - 22RM
The duck spring rolls were a fantastic flavour combination, while I thought the rocket was a bit overpriced in comparison.
Mains (individual)
braised wagyu beef burger with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, rosemary crusted chips and gherkin aioli - 38RM
wild mushroom risotto with tempura of oyster mushroom and parmesan wafer - 34
pan fried salmon served on a potato croquette, tomato, asparagus and caper butter sauce - 38
There is one missing from the above list (2 of us ordered the risotto) but I have simply forgotten and don't have any photos to remind me. Verdict? Good.
The Boy was over the moon with his burger, so much so that I didn't get to try more than a small mouthful. The rosemary crusted chips were rough cut and had the right amount of crispiness on the outside.
I had the salmon (which I do have a photo of!) and it was the perfect size, even a little too large. The fish was slightly under-cooked which is the way I like it. The potato croquette was yummy and reminded me of arancini balls; the vine-ripened tomato juicy and the caper butter sauce was not too heavy and provided a nice background to the rest of the dish.
Dessert
passionfruit creme brulee with dark chocolate mousse and caramel - 18RM
tiramisu with mascarpone and chocolate moelleux - 24RM
I was pretty full but my sweet tooth wouldn't let me pass up the delectable dessert menu. The creme brulee made a pleasant crack just as it's meant to and the passionfruit flavour was a nice change from the usual.
My friend had the tiramisu and proclaimed it beautiful, and this coming from someone who doesn't even like tiramisu is high praise indeed!
All in all, we had a lovely night albeit having spent a bit more than our usual budget. You can probably order 3 courses and a drink for about 100RM each but we shared the entrees so it could be even less.
The menu is appetising and quirky with its XYZ, 3-course layout. Combined with an extensive cocktail and wine list, twentyone really has everything you need for a nice evening of wining and dining. The Boy and I already want to go back, we're just waiting for a special occasion so we can justify the splurge!
Of course, the opposite is also true - it means that Sydney friends and family can now come and visit without having to use up their entire holiday budget for the year. And so it was that just before Easter, an entertaining ex-colleague of mine came to KL for a week with her partner and a pair of food bloggers in tow.
On the one night our schedules managed to align, The Boy and I decided to take the troop to Changkat Bukit Bintang. You would not be an expat in KL and not know of this fantastic street lined with countless bars and restaurants and offering a lively energy no matter what night of the week. It's been six months now and we have still only been to a handful of places on the street, it is my goal to gradually make my way through the entire row and choose my favourite establishments.
This particular balmy evening we headed to Gypsy for a few drinks first. There are nicer bars in Changkat, but Gypsy has a good range of beers and decent happy hour prices, which is important when you are out with thirsty menfolk.
We then headed to the main event of the evening - dinner at twentyone kitchen + bar. The Boy and I had been there before for drinks a couple of times and I liked the wide upstairs balcony where you could sit and sip on a yummy cocktail from a big list and watch the world go by. Having done a bit of research into suitable places that might impress my foodie colleague, I had read some good reviews about twentyone's menu and so for some weeks had been looking forward to finally trying it out.
What we ate:
Entree (shared)
smoked duck and sour plum spring rolls - 16RM
king prawn spring rolls with a sweet chilli and tamarind dipping - 22RM
wild rocket with feta cheese and balsamic - 22RM
The duck spring rolls were a fantastic flavour combination, while I thought the rocket was a bit overpriced in comparison.
Mains (individual)
braised wagyu beef burger with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, rosemary crusted chips and gherkin aioli - 38RM
wild mushroom risotto with tempura of oyster mushroom and parmesan wafer - 34
pan fried salmon served on a potato croquette, tomato, asparagus and caper butter sauce - 38
There is one missing from the above list (2 of us ordered the risotto) but I have simply forgotten and don't have any photos to remind me. Verdict? Good.
The Boy was over the moon with his burger, so much so that I didn't get to try more than a small mouthful. The rosemary crusted chips were rough cut and had the right amount of crispiness on the outside.
I had the salmon (which I do have a photo of!) and it was the perfect size, even a little too large. The fish was slightly under-cooked which is the way I like it. The potato croquette was yummy and reminded me of arancini balls; the vine-ripened tomato juicy and the caper butter sauce was not too heavy and provided a nice background to the rest of the dish.
Dessert
passionfruit creme brulee with dark chocolate mousse and caramel - 18RM
tiramisu with mascarpone and chocolate moelleux - 24RM
I was pretty full but my sweet tooth wouldn't let me pass up the delectable dessert menu. The creme brulee made a pleasant crack just as it's meant to and the passionfruit flavour was a nice change from the usual.
My friend had the tiramisu and proclaimed it beautiful, and this coming from someone who doesn't even like tiramisu is high praise indeed!
All in all, we had a lovely night albeit having spent a bit more than our usual budget. You can probably order 3 courses and a drink for about 100RM each but we shared the entrees so it could be even less.
The menu is appetising and quirky with its XYZ, 3-course layout. Combined with an extensive cocktail and wine list, twentyone really has everything you need for a nice evening of wining and dining. The Boy and I already want to go back, we're just waiting for a special occasion so we can justify the splurge!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Home and back again
It's been a while since I've written a post - April flew by with a glorious couple of weeks back home in Sydney surrounding myself with the familiar people and places that I love and miss.
Good coffee, even better wine, proper chocolate and all the meat (including pork) you could want without any 'spare parts' as my friend Jana would say. After living in a high-rise apartment building in the middle of the city, it was so nice to get back to the sense of space, fresh air and quiet in the Sydney suburbs where I grew up. I whiled away a couple of delicious breakfasts with my best girlfriends and enjoyed a few glasses of wine on leisurely evenings at home with my parents and our dogs.
It was hard to come back to the jungle, it really was. But being with The Boy and being there for him keeps me here. And really, it's not all bad. In fact, in many ways it's good. It's almost 6 months since I moved to KL and I think I'm slowly finding my feet. Sometimes I find myself smiling to myself and that can only be a good thing.
Good coffee, even better wine, proper chocolate and all the meat (including pork) you could want without any 'spare parts' as my friend Jana would say. After living in a high-rise apartment building in the middle of the city, it was so nice to get back to the sense of space, fresh air and quiet in the Sydney suburbs where I grew up. I whiled away a couple of delicious breakfasts with my best girlfriends and enjoyed a few glasses of wine on leisurely evenings at home with my parents and our dogs.
It was hard to come back to the jungle, it really was. But being with The Boy and being there for him keeps me here. And really, it's not all bad. In fact, in many ways it's good. It's almost 6 months since I moved to KL and I think I'm slowly finding my feet. Sometimes I find myself smiling to myself and that can only be a good thing.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Dinner at Watami, Pavilion KL
I am constantly on the lookout for good Japanese food and as I've said on this blog before, I'm happy that there are so many places to choose from in KL as it will keep me going for a while!
As part of our ongoing quest to find delicious food from my mother country, The Boy and I paid a visit to Watami, a 'Japanese Casual Restaurant' in Pavilion. We had received a flyer with their menu on it and thought it looked appealing enough to try. The menu is extensive to say the least and usually that's a danger sign for me as typically, restaurants that try to do too many things tend to excel at none of them.
The clincher for me was the mochi cheese okonomiyaki on the menu. Okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancake) is one of my favourite Japanese foods and the mochi-filled variety my favourite of them all. Unfortunately, I've found decent okonomiyaki very hard to come by outside of Japan. So when I saw this on the menu at Watami I had to try it even if it was going to be average, just to satisfy my cravings.
So on a casual Saturday night we strolled up to Level 4 of the constantly buzzing Pavilion mall and were quickly shown to a table. After a few minutes of deliberation (as I said the menu is big!) we decided on edamame and kani hotate cream croquettes to start, then okonomiyaki for both of us - Hiroshima style (with soba noodles) for The Boy, mochi cheese style for me.
The edamame arrived within minutes, pleasantly salted and warm as we had requested (you can choose to have them served hot or cold). As we happily munched our way through these delicious beans, the croquettes arrived.
These are another food I love and usually request when I visit my grandparents in Japan. The traditional croquette (obviously not a Japanese word!) is potato and beef mince, but I love the decadent creaminess of the crab cream variety. The ones I usually have in Japan are slightly flatter circles rather than balls and have a drier crumb.
But there was certainly nothing wrong with the ones we were served at Watami. They came out searingly hot and in my impatience I burned my tongue but they were delicious all the same. It was the first time The Boy had tried this dish and it got his thumbs up of approval.
When my okonomiyaki came out I was pleased to see it served on its own hot plate with an authentic metal spatula and topped with delicious okonomi sauce, mayonnaise and dried bonito flakes. I could almost imagine I was in Osaka sitting at the counter as the chef prepared the okonomiyaki on the hot plate in front of me. Almost.
I found the okonomiyaki to be slightly smaller than the ones you would expect in Japan. But there was plenty of mochi inside and plenty of sauce on top, which got big ticks in my book as there's nothing worse than being tight with the toppings. And it was delicious, I polished the whole thing off in a few minutes and was only sad to find myself too full for dessert!
I settled for a refreshing drink instead and ordered a Strawberry & Citrus Coola.
It was full of real strawberry pieces and had a delightfully refreshing fizz without being overly sweet. Perfect end to a wonderful meal with prompt, friendly service and all very reasonably priced.
We will be back again to sample more of the menu which also has sushi and sashimi, meat, noodles, salads and an array of Japanese desserts. Watami also has set menus for lunch (starting from RM17.90++) and dinner starting from RM40++ per person for dinner for 2.
Details:
Watami Malaysia
Level 4, Pavilion KL
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
www.watami.com.my
As part of our ongoing quest to find delicious food from my mother country, The Boy and I paid a visit to Watami, a 'Japanese Casual Restaurant' in Pavilion. We had received a flyer with their menu on it and thought it looked appealing enough to try. The menu is extensive to say the least and usually that's a danger sign for me as typically, restaurants that try to do too many things tend to excel at none of them.
The clincher for me was the mochi cheese okonomiyaki on the menu. Okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancake) is one of my favourite Japanese foods and the mochi-filled variety my favourite of them all. Unfortunately, I've found decent okonomiyaki very hard to come by outside of Japan. So when I saw this on the menu at Watami I had to try it even if it was going to be average, just to satisfy my cravings.
So on a casual Saturday night we strolled up to Level 4 of the constantly buzzing Pavilion mall and were quickly shown to a table. After a few minutes of deliberation (as I said the menu is big!) we decided on edamame and kani hotate cream croquettes to start, then okonomiyaki for both of us - Hiroshima style (with soba noodles) for The Boy, mochi cheese style for me.
 |
| Edamame (RM7.90) |
The edamame arrived within minutes, pleasantly salted and warm as we had requested (you can choose to have them served hot or cold). As we happily munched our way through these delicious beans, the croquettes arrived.
 |
| Kani hotate cream (crab and scallop in cream) croquettes (RM12.90) |
These are another food I love and usually request when I visit my grandparents in Japan. The traditional croquette (obviously not a Japanese word!) is potato and beef mince, but I love the decadent creaminess of the crab cream variety. The ones I usually have in Japan are slightly flatter circles rather than balls and have a drier crumb.
But there was certainly nothing wrong with the ones we were served at Watami. They came out searingly hot and in my impatience I burned my tongue but they were delicious all the same. It was the first time The Boy had tried this dish and it got his thumbs up of approval.
 |
| Mochi cheese okonomiyaki (RM17.90) |
When my okonomiyaki came out I was pleased to see it served on its own hot plate with an authentic metal spatula and topped with delicious okonomi sauce, mayonnaise and dried bonito flakes. I could almost imagine I was in Osaka sitting at the counter as the chef prepared the okonomiyaki on the hot plate in front of me. Almost.
I found the okonomiyaki to be slightly smaller than the ones you would expect in Japan. But there was plenty of mochi inside and plenty of sauce on top, which got big ticks in my book as there's nothing worse than being tight with the toppings. And it was delicious, I polished the whole thing off in a few minutes and was only sad to find myself too full for dessert!
I settled for a refreshing drink instead and ordered a Strawberry & Citrus Coola.
 |
| Strawberry & Citrus Coola (RM9.90) |
It was full of real strawberry pieces and had a delightfully refreshing fizz without being overly sweet. Perfect end to a wonderful meal with prompt, friendly service and all very reasonably priced.
We will be back again to sample more of the menu which also has sushi and sashimi, meat, noodles, salads and an array of Japanese desserts. Watami also has set menus for lunch (starting from RM17.90++) and dinner starting from RM40++ per person for dinner for 2.
Details:
Watami Malaysia
Level 4, Pavilion KL
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
www.watami.com.my
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Afternoon tea at Acme Bar & Coffee (ABC), The Troika
KL seems to me a city that is forever competing against the jungle it came from. And yet there are some spots where everything is neat and tidy - the pavements aren't cracking from the pressure of huge tree roots, there isn't any rubbish scattered around, trees and plants line up in neat rows, and even the blare of the traffic is in the distance, not right in your face.
Persiaran KLCC is one such place and it is here I found myself one sunny Saturday afternoon. I was meeting a new friend at a fairly new cafe I had read so much about - Acme Bar & Coffee in The Troika building.
Acme Bar & Coffee, or ABC, is as the name suggests, a cafe/bar. And it's a trendy one at that. I walked in and immediately felt at home with memories of great cafes in Sydney and Melbourne floating through my head.
The rather industrial structure has been softened by abundant flowers, mirrors, lights and a rather pretty menu. It's the kind of place that's just perfect for you and a group of girlfriends during the day or a romantic late-night date for two.
The menu is enticing and had I not already eaten lunch, I would have been sorely tempted by the brunch/all-day selection, cutely named 'Too Late for Breakfast'.
Instead, I decided to order a tea and a slice of apple and olive oil cake, having read a good review recently. The menu is on the pricey side with a cup of tea costing RM15++ and when it arrived, I was slightly disappointed that it was just a tea bag in a cup as for that price, I would have hoped for a teapot with proper tea leaves. Just as well the teabag was super adorable and the tea delicious.
The cake didn't disappoint. It was on the slightly fluffy side of moist with a lovely apple flavour that was made decadent by the rich cream cheese icing on top and in the middle.
As I enjoyed my cake, I found myself already mentally planning a return visit with a Sydney friend who is coming to stay and who I know would love this place.
Acme Bar & Coffee has recently started offering a Sunday Brunch Buffet for RM99++ (RM199++ with free-flowing sparkling wine) which my friend had been to and enjoyed. It's on the pricey side like everything else on the menu but for a slightly special occasion or when you feel like a bit of a splurge, Acme is a good place to go.
I'm looking forward to going back to try one of their cocktails!
Details:
Acme Bar & Coffee
Ground Floor, The Troika
50450 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
www.acmebarcoffee.com
Persiaran KLCC is one such place and it is here I found myself one sunny Saturday afternoon. I was meeting a new friend at a fairly new cafe I had read so much about - Acme Bar & Coffee in The Troika building.
 |
| Approaching The Troika building on Jalan Binjai/Persiaran KLCC with the Petronas Towers in the distance. |
Acme Bar & Coffee, or ABC, is as the name suggests, a cafe/bar. And it's a trendy one at that. I walked in and immediately felt at home with memories of great cafes in Sydney and Melbourne floating through my head.
 |
| The bar at ABC, its shelves lined with exotic blends of tea and bottles of Italian mineral water |
 |
| Pretty flowers at the front desk |
The rather industrial structure has been softened by abundant flowers, mirrors, lights and a rather pretty menu. It's the kind of place that's just perfect for you and a group of girlfriends during the day or a romantic late-night date for two.
 |
| Plenty of natural light prevents the place from feeling dark and cramped |
 |
| Lights hang from the ceiling in a row, streetlamp style |
The menu is enticing and had I not already eaten lunch, I would have been sorely tempted by the brunch/all-day selection, cutely named 'Too Late for Breakfast'.
Instead, I decided to order a tea and a slice of apple and olive oil cake, having read a good review recently. The menu is on the pricey side with a cup of tea costing RM15++ and when it arrived, I was slightly disappointed that it was just a tea bag in a cup as for that price, I would have hoped for a teapot with proper tea leaves. Just as well the teabag was super adorable and the tea delicious.
 |
| Storm in a C cup...White Ambrosia tea served in one of Acme's signature ABC cups |
The cake didn't disappoint. It was on the slightly fluffy side of moist with a lovely apple flavour that was made decadent by the rich cream cheese icing on top and in the middle.
 |
| Apple & olive oil cake at Acme Bar & Coffee |
 |
| Dessert menu at Acme Bar & Coffee |
As I enjoyed my cake, I found myself already mentally planning a return visit with a Sydney friend who is coming to stay and who I know would love this place.
Acme Bar & Coffee has recently started offering a Sunday Brunch Buffet for RM99++ (RM199++ with free-flowing sparkling wine) which my friend had been to and enjoyed. It's on the pricey side like everything else on the menu but for a slightly special occasion or when you feel like a bit of a splurge, Acme is a good place to go.
I'm looking forward to going back to try one of their cocktails!
Details:
Acme Bar & Coffee
Ground Floor, The Troika
50450 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
www.acmebarcoffee.com
Friday, March 23, 2012
A walk in KLCC Park
Sometimes you just need to escape. KL is such a bustling city day and night and living right in the thick of it, there are times when it all feels too much. The constant traffic noise, the horrible black smoke belching out of bus exhausts, the crowds of people in the mall, KL is an urban jungle.
And at times when I need to get away, the easiest refuge for me is KLCC Park. Just behind the massive Suria KLCC shopping mall, this park is known as the 'green lung' of KL and is great for some peace and quiet.
Venture into the park and the shade of the giant trees and the quiet surroundings soon soothes the spirits and you quickly forget about the city craziness that is really only metres behind you. You usually find small groups here and there enjoying a picnic, a few couples sharing a romantic moment, maybe a keen jogger working up a sweat, and possibly several KL-ites escaping the heat and taking a nap on one of the undercover benches! But noone talks loudly, it's as if the park casts a spell on everyone who goes there.
As I sat dabbling my feet in the water, I thought how nice this was and for perhaps the first time, really appreciated how good life in KL can be.
Nearby there is also a giant whale statue in the water, and a colleague of mine back in Sydney recalled fond memories of the whale and the enjoyable picnics shared with friends on the banks.
For tourists venturing to KLCC Park there are signs directing you on a good walking route with several 'photo opportunities' along the way. You can get some amazing shots of the soaring Petronas Towers in all their glory.
KLCC Park is located behind the Suria KLCC shopping centre, about 5 minutes walk from KLCC LRT station.
And at times when I need to get away, the easiest refuge for me is KLCC Park. Just behind the massive Suria KLCC shopping mall, this park is known as the 'green lung' of KL and is great for some peace and quiet.
 | |
| The paddling pool area in KLCC Park with the Petronas Towers in the background |
 |
| Waterfall feature in KLCC Park |
On my most recent wander through this park, I happened across the delightful paddling pool/waterfall area near the KL convention centre. A true oasis on a hot KL day, here little kids splashed about happily in the sparkling water, a group of girls sat reading books and getting a tan, and locals enjoyed their lunch break in the cooling surrounds. A guard watches closely from nearby to make sure everyone takes their shoes off before walking onto the wooden boards surrounding the paddling pool.
 |
| Enjoying a dip on a sunny day at KLCC Park |
 |
| A bigger waterfall in KLCC Park - those blue steps are perfect to sit on and enjoy the cool water on your feet |
 |
| The whale with his dolphin friends in KLCC Park - Petronas Towers are in the background |
 |
| View of the famous whale and the Petronas Towers in KLCC Park |
 |
| Petronas Towers, a KL icon |
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sushi Zanmai, Fahrenheit 88 KL
Sushi is one of my favourite foods. I know it's a bit stereotypical, my being half-Japanese and all, but honestly I think I could live on the stuff.
I've been fortunate that over the past few years sushi has really taken off in Sydney and among the many (some of them unfortunately very average) conveyor-belt sushi places and tiny shops at stations, there are some real gems.
Since moving to KL, I've happily discovered that sushi, and Japanese cuisine in general, is popular here and Japanese restaurants are ubiquitous. I'm yet to go anywhere truly incredible but I have been making a point to try the various sushi train/conveyor belt outlets nearby. They are a good option when you're looking for something tasty, affordable and fast that's a little nicer to your waistline than McDonalds!
The best one I've tried so far that's walking distance from my place is Sushi Zanmai, tucked away in Fahrenheit 88 on Bukit Bintang. I like to browse the shops in Fahrenheit every once in a while and can usually find a new dress or top to buy - the shops makes a nice change from the likes of Suria KLCC and Pavilion and they're so cheap!
I paid a visit to Sushi Zanmai on my most recent browsing trip through Fahrenheit, though I actually first discovered it last year when I was visiting The Boy in KL before moving here.
As soon as you walk inside, you forget you are in a shopping mall. The restaurant is beautiful, done largely in black and white with muted lighting which gives a classy feel. Sit at the counter and you can see the fresh fish behind the glass where the sushi chefs are hard at work.
On my most recent visit I was only there for a quick bite quite late in the afternoon so the sushi train selection was quite sparse and I ended up ordering off the (very extensive) menu. Although Sushi Zanmai mainly offers sushi, you can also choose from a big range of other Japanese dishes like udon and soba noodles, donburi (rice in a bowl with topping like chicken or eel), tempura and bento (Japanese lunch boxes).
I ordered aburi salmon, salmon roll and california roll, plus hot green tea (1RM) to drink. Every dish was beautifully presented, which is what really made it a memorable experience.
 |
| Aburi salmon |
 |
| Salmon roll |
 |
| California roll |
I'll be going back there again soon to sample some more of their menu!
Sushi ZanmaiLot No. 2-03
Fahrenheit 88
Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Website: http://www.supersushi.com.my/f88.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)