Chapter 164 - TOP 5 info about Da Nang, Vietnam

I’m back! Cross fingers that I will not fall into any of the movies or drama addition or else, you will see me disappearing again 😊. Lately, I visited a very beautiful country where I enjoyed the sights and sounds plus, getting myself entertained with the chicken-and-duck conversation. It was fun, it was comfortable, it was beautiful, and as French would always say, it was tres magnifique.

Now you see me, now you don't

From having the opportunities to stay at different kind(s) of accommodation like AirBnb and hotel, to entering into a thrilling world of dining and indulging with a plenty of different kind(s) of spring rolls and walking into the adventure of some tourist attractions where we were greeted with pouring rain unfortunately, it was indeed one of the holidays that is worth remembering.

All we did was to enjoy a cold glass of San Miguel, took plenty of photos regardless where we were and entered into a shopping paradise where our bargaining skills took a notch up. Yet, there were still some circumstances that held us back from enjoying to the fullest.

Here are the top 5 things that one must know before heading to Vietnam.

• Traffic is a nightmare

We barely able could cross the busy street. It seems like there is no sense of mercy to the pedestrian and all you need is to be courageous and run as if there’s a dog chasing you from the back. You hardly have the time to turn to your left and right too. We did cross the road once and we vowed no second time. We took Grab instead.

• Drivers are ….. just speechless

Plenty of drivers are there for you; just open your Grab app and in no time, you just have to wait for your drivers to arrive. However, very frequently, our drivers decided to cancel our booking. So, be warn! Drivers in Da Nang also love to honk; I can’t even track now whether the honk sign serves as the warning to other drivers/motorcyclists, a greeting when they bump into their friends next door or merely it’s for fun. At some point, it can get pretty annoying.

• Food is good (if you like vegetables and salad)

For vegans and those who have favorite liking towards any kind(s) of vegetables, particularly basil and mint, Vietnam is the right place for you. It gives a different twist to our local cuisine. Don’t expect to have an array of meat as it comes with a pretty minimum quantity. We ordered a bowl of Quang noodles for instance and sadly, only a few, thin chicken fillets were found whereas our bowls were filled generously with lots of vegetables.

Some of the Vietnam food that we had

•  Check the weather

Yay! Bana Hills is a pretty attraction to begin with but the joy in us immediately disappeared when dark clouds started forming. Before we could tour around Bana Hills, we found ourselves running to the nearest restaurants/outlets. We couldn’t go anywhere except playing with our phones. Even after 2 hours, the rain refused to stop so, we decided to leave Bana Hills. Thankfully, we took some photos at the Golden Bridge before that.

•  Currency - More USD and less Vietnam Dong

Tips to all Malaysians - it is good to have more USD dollar with you. When you compare both USD and Vietnam Dong plus the conversion of Ringgit Malaysia, somehow, buying stuff using USD currency is slightly cheaper as compared to Vietnam Dong. Even if you wanted to tailor-made your dresses, suits, t-shirts or what not at Hoi An, the vendors prefer USD.

The amount of stuff which you can buy in Vietnam

To sum up, it was a wonderful short-getaway session with the ladies. After all, nothing is more than exciting than creating the moments and memories together.

Till then, the next time…adios!

A beautiful place when lanterns are lighted up

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 161 – Edo Ichi @ Bangsar South

I have been craving for Japanese cuisine for quite some time, particularly sushi. Sometimes, I have the urge to order a few plates of sushi, take it home and indulge them while watching my favorite variety show. BUT it’s merely a dream. As my dream have slowly faded as time goes by, Mr. Chee popped up with a question on our Valentine’s date. Immediately, I turned to him and suggested Japanese cuisine in no second. 

Which then led us to Edo Ichi at Bangsar South. There was a variety of dishes to choose from and I was knocked with more dilemmas. And guess what we order..

1.    Unagi Kabayaki Set (RM 37.80) 

Since Unagi is hard to get in Malaysia, Mr Chee ordered one. When it was served to our table, we were brought to a little disappointment with very few Unagi slices. Would be good if they could be slightly generous about it. Anyhow, the Unagi tasted really good; soft and fragrant. Or should I say nothing can go wrong with Unagi?

2.    Una Cheese Roll (RM 30.60)

Yay, I got my sushi answered! It was pretty in appearance. I carefully picked it up using a pair of chopsticks, dipped it into a pool of sauces and put it into my mouth. I took my sweet time to munch and chew it; and my satisfaction was immediately fulfilled. Complicated taste yet satisfying.

3.    A set of Salmon Teriyaki and Tori Niku Tama Ni (RM 21.90)

Ok, this is pretty normal; don’t order this if you want to eat like a Japanese. However, if you want something fast with a reasonable price, then this set could be good for you. I had it and ya, it’s a normal cuisine where you can get it at elsewhere too.

4.    Sashimi (ADD-ON RM 9.30)

This, this was so good!!! No words can describe this; just put it into your mouth and enjoy it. So fresh. 

For two people, our bill came up to RM 115.55 inclusive of 10% service charge and 6% service tax. 

Ambient: 4/5

Price: Slightly higher
Food: Japanese cuisine, pork-free
Service: 2.5/5
Verdict: Must-try

Edo Ichi Japanese Restaurant 
Unit G-4, Ground Floor,
Nexus, Bangsar South,
No.7, Jalan Kerinchi,
59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03 – 2242 2022
Business hours: 11.30am to 3.00pm; 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 159 – Indonesian Curry Chicken vs Mongolian Chicken at Kedai Kopi Myzone, Nilai

When your parents decided to have a short gateway, you brought them to the border of Negeri Sembilan that is Nilai! And that’s what I did, hinting them that the Aeon Mall Nilai is recently opened.

Right after my sister and I did some damage to our purses, we decided to run away from the reality, not thinking about the money that we had spent for. Journeyed all the way to Nilai and then, we were greeted with grumbling stomachs.

Indonesian Curry Chicken (RM 20.00)
Comes with some greenies like long beans and cabbage to accompany this bowl of Indonesian Curry Chicken, a bowl of white rice is never sufficient. This is just too delicious! A person who is so picky like my sister can even credit how sumptuous the curry is. One drawback is that we have to keep scooping to get the chicken fillet as it is ‘buried’ in the curry itself.

Mongolian Chicken (RM 20.00)

Trust this is something new for many of you. Mr Chee was the one who introduced this dish to me and immediately, I fell in love with it. I can't say if this dish brings an authentic Mongolian taste but all I know is that this dish carries a tinge of black pepper, giving you an extravagant flavor when you munch it in your mouth. 

Sweet Potato Leaves (RM 15.00)
For 4 adults, this portion is rather big. Like our usual stir-fry vegetables, it is good to have some greenies to balance up our diet so that we don’t feel guilty at the end of the day.

Fruits Rojak (RM 6.00)
Mum was attracted to the rojak stall and we decided to order a small plate of fruits rojak that comes mainly with guava, cucumber and fried yoo tiao as they have run out most of the other tropical fruits like pineapples. Like other fruits rojak, it’s nice to have it!

Will I come here again? Answer is yes! The Indonesian Curry Chicken and Mongolian Chicken have hooked me up. 

Ambient: 3.5/5

Price: Reasonable
Food: Pork-free
Service: 3.5/5

Kedai Kopi Myzone,

No. 15, Jalan Nilai Square 1,
Nilai Square Commercial Centre,
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. 

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 157 - A short trip to Bangkok, Thailand (Nara Thai & After You)

Today, trips are part and parcel of our lives. It is no longer determine by the savings that you have but it becomes a necessity to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, just to get yourself rejuvenated and refreshed so that you will not burnout one day and at the same time, giving you aplenty of good reason to keep your relationship alive, be it with spouse, family or friends.

A recent trip to Bangkok has made me to come to a realization that trips are not just about exploring the place but it is to build every single moment together. And yes, we know this fact but sometimes, it is not as easy as it is since each and every one of us have our personal interest. 

Visiting one of the busiest cities in the world, Bangkok is all about shopping and eating. Staying there for 4 days and 3 nights are just sufficient enough to add 2 – 3kgs to my body weight. Thankfully, we walked a lot that it managed to shed off some of my fats. Or else, I would be….. 

A selfie at Maeklong Railway Station

Lady luck was not with us as the rain poured heavily on that respective day. We couldn't really walk much and ended up heading back to Bangkok city.

Touching on the food topic, I strongly reckon you to dine in these THREE places – it becomes a mandatory for me to indulge in these places every time I visit Bangkok.

1.     After You

There is always a room for dessert! It was the first time my parents indulged in After You and instantly, they fell in love with it. In this short trip, we visited the place twice and filled our tummy with bowls of shaved ice, pancake and toast.

2.    Nara Thai, Centralworld

Price of the food here can be slightly pricey but I must say it is worth it after all. The taste is so authentic and delicious that we can never say no to them. Can’t remember the name of the dishes but you can show the waiter on the dishes that you wish to have. Last year, I met the Founder in her office and we exchanged conversation for about an hour. A pretty nice lady but she is a very principled person. All I can say is that she prioritizes food quality.

Pad Thai

3.    Pe’Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle,Ratchathewi

Sister Teo recommended this place; we refused to go initially until the very last day. We were rather surprised that many people flocked into this place. Apparently, they sell the best Tom Yum Noodle in Bangkok hence, people are willing to travel from far. Well, my verdict is that you must try! 

Bonus food:

Mango Sticky Rice - must try when you are in Terminal 21

Convenience Store - Literally, we had sampled most of the food in the convenience store. We just love it that we visited the store at least thrice a day.

All in all, Bangkok is a shopping haven and a food paradise. I was trying to have as much Thai food as possible but the time did not permit to do so since shopping had also consumed much of our time. Four days and three nights certainly not enough and we had to sacrifice a number of places as shopping was the top priority since Mama Teo wants to shop badly.

With the 3 musketeers :)

Stay tuned to my next post! 

Update:
I just created an Instagram account mainly for FoodiesTravel. Do join me in the adventure to discover and indulge in great food in great ambiance.
Search and follow foodiestravelblog today.

Regards,
Foodiestravel

Chapter 145 – The Teddy’s Café and Restaurant, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya

When you just finished watching “My Little Princess”, thanks to your beloved sister who introduced this Chinese drama, you felt so relieved that you had finally finished watching it and did not need to stay up late where your spouse stared at you for ignoring his presence where he had stood there for couple of hours. Now that you had finished watching it, you wish for a BIG BEAR whom protects you from far, lifts you up when you are down, covers you from rain and appears in of you when you need someone. 

Gladly, I have found my big bear! #heissohuggable

Recently, I chanced upon The Teddy’s Café, located at Zenith Corporate Park, Kelana Jaya. A big teddy bear greeted me when I stepped into the café. The place was well-decorated with a myriad of teddy bears, from the big ones all the way to the small ones. Even, the menu, food and beverages contain the cute bear elements.

Spicy and Sour Seaweed Spaghetti (RM 16.90)

Quite special as it is very rare to have seaweed spaghetti. For those who likes to try something different plus has a favorite liking on chili, you will enjoy this dish. For those who dislike chili, then I suggest you better not to order this as you will regret it.

Nachos with tomato salsa (RM 9.90)

Nachos are just chips; what makes it nice is the dip. The tomato salsa may be common but the ones in The Teddy’s Café is appetizing enough that you can’t help it but continue eating it despite knowing that your stomach was full with a number of mains.

Big Breakfast (RM 21.90)

Yes, we ordered Big Breakfast though the sun started disappearing from the bright sky. There were a variety from mini hamburgers, mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, sausages, scrambled eggs and little greenies. Personally, I find nothing special about this dish as there are other cafes that serve better Big Breakfast.

Teddy on The Party (RM 21.90)

This is the highlight!! There’s always a room for dessert and this saying is absolutely true. We were pretty full by then but we still went ahead and ordered this – it’s Instagram-worthy. The waffles were so delicious with generous nuts toppings. I wish I could squeeze my stomach more to munch these delicious waffles but unfortunately, I had to raise a white flag. 

Caramel Mocha (RM 12.90)Green Tea (RM 7.90)

All in all, three of us were very satisfied with our dinner that we were lazy to drive home after that. The Teddy’s Café is a very nice and casual place to hang out; it is also a cozy place to have birthday celebration.

Ambient: 3.5/5

Price:      Considered reasonable

Food:      3.5/5

Service:  4/5

The Teddy's Café and Restaurant

Block B, 22G, Zenith Corporate Park,

SS7/26,

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 03 - 7886 8619

Regards,

Foodiestravel