MONSOON CUP - I happen to be there in Kuala Terengganu while the MOnsoon Cup was running. My first trip along the east coast. The grounds at which the Monsoon Cup was help was a bit dissapointing as the main building had not been completed. The toilets were unfinished and cement and construction materials were everywhere. To make matters worse it was drizzling and the floor of the main building and exhibition hall was wet and dirty.

Perhaps the highlight was visiting the Pulau Duyung boat making fctory. This factory runned by a German couple who have invested their life savings into building a yacht using Cengal. They looked for a boat making expert (The last of such skills) to help them build this boat.

27th Oct 2006 - From Dalian to Shanghai for a night before returning home. Sunset from my hotel room. That evening I walked from my hotel to the famous Shang Yang Lu (copy market) but was dissapointed to discover that it had been closed down!! No more North Face coats for USD40! Too bad - The price you pay for going into WTO....


That evening, on my own; I looked up the internet for a Jazz joint and stumbled upon the Cotton Club!! An excellant mixture of jazz and blues. Location No. 8 Fuxing Lu Xi. (Where FuXing Lu and HuaiHai Lu meet)


Next morning, I take the Levi train back tothe airport. At maximum speed the train reaches 450 Km/h and then comes back down. It is absolutely smooth and the cornering is quite amazing.

Another succesful buisness trip......

25th October, 2006 Dalian - I always look forward to Dalian after the hustle and bustle of DongGuan. Arrived at midnight and made our way to the hotel. Dalian is very unlike many other cities in China. The streets are not filled with people and bicycles. Much of the shopping is done underground away from the bitter cold.

Dalian is parralel to Namp'o, North Korea and is probably within the N.Korean nuclear range - gulp! Along the hilly coast of Dalian is a huge park reserve and a navy base and lookout. It is apparently a very strategic point and gateway as it faces North Korea and the East China Sea.

There are many condominiums and apartment complexes in Dalian which would look like any other suburb in Boston or Maryland. The Picture on the left is taken from the parking lot of a seafood restaurant. ...Great seafood!

My last trip to Dalian, I had a taste of this sea urchin (Pic on the left) Our host asked if I would like a sea urchin, I politely declined this time. Its served as it is, cold and cut in half. Its inside is orange in color and very rich...like caviar.

On the right is a plate of fish roll cooked in ginger and spring onions! Delicious! I would recommend anyone who visits China to make a trip to Dalian.

After Hong Kong, it was back over to DongGuan. I rarely make my stay in Shenzen anymore as its expansive and there's always a jam getting out in the mornings and coming back in the evenings. Over the last 5 years development has spread out to various cities around DongGuan, like Chang-An, Hou Jie and Chang Ping (which has a direct train to Hong Kong). Hotels are new and plentyful.

Good friends and great hospitality in Chang Ping as usual. Our host brought us to the Mao House (Mao Jia). Every dish is cooked with red chillies. Apparently this was Mao's favourite type of food!
I enjoyed it, but the next few mornings thereafter was a little uncomfortable. The table was spread with colorful dishes adorned in red chillies. My favourite was probably the fried anchovies with red chillies.

Just completed my Tour of Duty, a grueling 10 days beginning in Hong Kong, DongGuan (Southern China), Dalian, and then Shanghai. The consolation is the good food with good friends….

Hong Kong is always quite magical; the star ferry at the harbour, the lights, night market, Nathan Road...



If you are looking for a great restaurantwith good ambience go to The Peak. They serve good western and local food. The duck is good, the ribs-superb. The Peak Lookout has garden tables or indoor but it would be wise to book a table ahead or via the net as I did.


The view that evening from The Peak was quite good. It overlooks the buildings on Hong Kong Island.



The night market at Mongkok is still a good place to buy copy stuff. I withheld hoping to do my shopping in Shanghai. However, disappointed to find out that the copy market in Shanghai (Shang Yang Lu) has been closed down. So the night market at Mongkok is still one of the last few surviving copy market.
For a night of good life jazz music, try Ned Kellie's Last Stand off Peking Road, somewhere on the right.


The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is still uniquely Hong Kong...
Picture is Nathan Road on Tsim Tsa Tsui.

An evening in Mongolia, ChangPing, DongGuan

We were led to the roof where there was a clay round hut. A door about 5 feet high leads into the tent. Inside, a round table which seats about 10. We were missing our Mongolian armoury.
Again, good food, Mongolian style. We had camels hump and leg of lamb grilled. Some pics with my mobile phone camera....



Camels hump (tender & juicy) & A leg of lamb seasoned & delicious


Standing up in the hut next to a goat's skull. The owner, a Mongolian warrior!!

Lil' town of ChangPing in DongGuan, China

There is nothing touristy about ChangPing, yet I had great food after a tiring days work.
Masala Restaurant - The only indian food restaurant in Chang Ping. Opened by ethnic Indians they serve authentic Northern Indian food. We had Chicken Tika, chicken curry, shrimp chutney, dal, nan and a bowl of basmati rice.




Great food and good company; a formula for an excellant evening. At the table we had a local chinese, an indian lady from New York, an American and 2 Malaysians.
I'll let you guess who's who.
A United Nations type meal!!

Note : the colorful dishes and empty bowls.

The only drawback culturally is the long tables as chinese likes to see the person they are drinking and eating with face to face (or across the table). Lets hope the food catches on, if not, there's always one thing in common............the alcohol!!

I have cut down a lot of my travelling this year...(hired prefessionals in my business). Anyways, here is a great blog on local KL food!!!! His pictures are enough to make your mouth salivate big time!!!

Check it out:

www.pablopabla.blogspot.com

I realize my postings about Kemaman Kopitiam stirred a lot of comments about whats good and whats not in the "Malaysian starbucks" scene. Its certainly mushroomed all over the Klang Valley. Could you all please help me rate by saying:
1) Name of kopitiam
2) Where
3) Whats good
4) Whats not
5) Price

Let the postings begin.......................

Kuantan, Malaysia
8th June to 11th June 2006

View from our room at the Hyatt Kuantan. Rained a little in the afternoons other than that ...great weather. Don't get caught out on the beach when there's sand blowing up...result is Ouch!!



Places to eat...
Pak Su for dinner. The baked crab is suppose to be famous there.
Another dinner place is Alor Akar Seafood Restaurant on Kubang Buaya Road. (I hope the restaurant people don't see this...) It is cheap!! Good food and cheap.






For breakfast...Kemaman Kopitiam recommended by a friend from Kuantan. Good food. Try the Nasi Dagang; glutonous rice wrapped in banana leaf with a fish based gravy.
Be prepared though...IT IS EXPANSIVE place. It is probably Subang, KL prices if not more. I think Uncle Lim is not even as dear. For local food...oklah to try.

Melboune, Australia
28th May to 1st June 2006

There for work so nothing much to report in terms of good food and places to see. Spent most of my time in this building





Beautiful spring/winter day.

Place to stay : Pacific International on Exhibition - Clean and spacious. Good place if you have 3 to 4 people. 2 bedrooms, living room and a kitchen area equipped with cooking utensils etc.. Apt has washing machine as well.

Place to eat...opposite the Melbourne Exbition Centre there is a food court with all kinds of Malaysian food! Not great but closest to the real thing this far away from home. There is a vietnamese restaurant : Mekong serving Pho (Beef noodle!) Not bad!