What we did during Gong Xi fa Chai 2008

Chinese New Year eveeee. We left home at 5:30am. Traffic was clear and the weather was good. Of course the sun did not rise until we reached Ayer Keroh. :-D

Stopped at Ayer Keroh rest area along the North South highway for breakfast and to changed the children out from their pyjamas. Yup, woke them up early in the morning and just brought them to the car and off we go.

We had KFC breakfast, not much choice to choose from at the rest area. The meal was not bad but pricey to have fast food for breakfast. KFC wants to compete with McD in this 'morning' segment.

The children had the sausage combo, I had the egg wrap (looks like McD's foldover) and the missus had the nasi lemak enak.

Photos taken from the KFC website.

Johor Bharu
In Johor we stopped to visit my mum's sister aunt Elsie and her husband in Kempas than headed to my uncle Johnny's house in JB.

Had home cooked meal for lunch. Oh yaa, my aunt tapaued JB konlow mee. A 'cousin' of the KL/PJ konlow mee which is black. The JB version is mixed in a special spicy chili sauce. A secret recipe.

Checked into the Grand BlueWave Hotel in JB. The reason I chose this hotel was because it was close to my uncle's house.

Our Studio room faces the Straits of Johor and we can see Singapore. Sadly our window was not cleaned for I think more than a year. The room has a kitchenette and space more than enough for the 4 of us. The room is clean, no problems with the services at the hotel. Yoo sis, remember staying there years ago, when it was still new?

Reunion dinner was held at the Marina Seafood Restaurant, Straits View Hotel. The hotel and restaurant was recently renovated last year. We had a reunion dinner there 3 years ago and the service was bad. Started late, food came late too and ended late. This year the service improved a little. We still started late and the food still came late. At least we ended earler the previous dinner. There a 'little' improvement.

The food not bad. I guess that is why we had the dinner here.

Guess what we did after dinner, we tapaued mee rebus and otak otak back to the hotel. Glutton must have gotten to me but it was worth it.

So far I had the JB konlow mee, mee rebus and otak otak. Am satisfied. Usually have to try these dished when I am here.

Morning of CNY day We headed to uncle Johnny's place for our traditional vegetarian breakfast. All veggie, and no artificial veggies mind you. Went back to the hotel to rest, bath (we bath in the morning too, the weather was hot and than check out. Had a lunch date at aunt Iris house.

Before that, we went and tapuaed 'again' mee rebus, not 1 nor 2 but 10 packets. Hehe, how often do I come down to JB :-P

Lunch at aunt Iris house. She moved from Mount Austin to a house in JB itself. The house was bigger than the previous one, but it looks like she still needs a bigger house for next years CNY lunch. Delicious home cooked food. Chicken ponteh, laksa, curry chicken, spicy prawns, and otak otak to name a few. This time round all of aunt Iris' children came back for the CNY.

Alright, end of story of our stay in JB. The things we do, if I think back to my previous visits to JB, its like deja vu. Visit the same people, places and eat the local food.

Melaka
We drove up to Melaka to stay with brother Matthew for a night.

Thank you Matt for the hospitality and Silas and Rachel for not going back to Melaka on CNY day 1. We ate the mee rebus for dinner on top of the curry chicken and ponteh Mrs Yeo cooked for dinner. Ohhh boy, I get to eat all my favorite and delicious food.

Slept late and woke up late too the next day. Breakfast or brunch for me was nasi lemak. Terima kasih Cheryl.

We went to Old Taste white coffee cafe for tea. If looks like the Old Town kopitiam. The dishes and price are similar, but Old Taste has more dishes.

Had a good time fellowshipping with my Melakan brader and family. Checked out of hotel Matt in the evening and headed back home.

Thats if for our outstation trip down south. Till next years CNY.

Gong Xi Fa Chai.