Chapter 136 - The Touch City, Malacca

We are just a week away to Chinese New Year!!

In the weekdays, we rush through our work and ensure that we can complete most of it before Chinese New Year while during the weekends, we see ourselves shopping at the morning market and hypermarket, grabbing the best deals of the day in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Since it is a holiday season, many of us would plan ahead to travel. Why don't you have The Touch City in your travel list during this Chinese New Year? The Touch City is relatively new since they have just reopened after renovating for few years. 

Located at Durian Tunggal, Malacca, The Touch City is soon be Malacca's latest attraction. I never come across this place at all; it was just so coincident that my friends and I bumped into this place while traversing around in Malacca so, we decided to pay a visit there. We were amazed when we entered as we were greeted with lots of unique Chinese elements, highlighting about Chinese culture and lifestyle like the 12 Chinese zodiac, Chinese scholars, 3D mural art and etc.

Thanks to the "Discover The Touch City" game, we walked up and down, left and right, exploring the 19.8 ha site to get the right answers for all the questions stated there. Without this game, we would have given up and pave our way back home. By the time we completed the game, we were literally drenched in sweat. Thankfully, we were rewarded with an ice cream at the end of the day. 

Located outside of The Touch City, illustrating the lifestyle of Chinese community.

Don't judge by this map - it may look small but the place is actually huge.

You can simply spend a day there.

When I see this, it reminds me of Kublai-Khan, a Mongolian tribe. I know it may sounds unrelated here but hey, that comes to my mind.

Did you know that you will be blessed for the whole year when you touch the dragon?

Oh, I had my part time job during my visit that is to carry the red umbrella, ushering the bride out.

This is something unique here - those who can read Chinese would understand the meaning of it.

For those who can't, just look at the picture itself. Do you spot anything?

The largest and tallest incense

We took 10 minutes break here, recharging ourselves before continued with our exploration.

Hmm, do you need me to help here? I can crack the game for you.

I wonder how the community stayed in this tent - it was so hot inside.

Thanks Chef for rewarding us a refreshing plate of appetizer! I like it.

If you would like to find out more about The Touch City, you can simply visit here: The Touch City. Other than that, I suggest you to take this opportunity to discover The Touch City during this Chinese New Year with your loved ones. You will not regret after exploring this place.

Just remember to bring umbrella and ample of water bottles with you.

The Touch City (Fonion Cultural Resort)

MC 13, Simpang Gadig,

Durian Tunggal, 76100 Melaka

Tel: 06 - 553 0555

Entrance ticket 

Adult - RM 36.00

Student price - RM20.00

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 123 - Shurijo Castle Park, Okinawa, Japan

This time, I want to share about my travel experience in Okinawa, Japan. Literally, we had less than 10 hours in Okinawa as we voyaged to this place through Taiwan. Since we were on cruise, I must say that it was an amazing experience! Our eyes were feasted with clear, blue sea together with smooth yet gentle waves and at the same time, the sunny weather made our day in Okinawa a brilliant one. 

Knowing that we were about to reach Okinawa or in precise, Port Naha, we packed our gear and dressed in the most comfortable attire. After all, we were about to start our journey where we had squeezed as many activities as possible in these 10 hours from having Japanese delicacies all the way to shopping at the busy Kokusai street.

There are a few things which I would love to share about Okinawa but firstly, let me talk about Shurijo Castle Park! It is a distance from Port Naha to Shurijo Castle Park therefore, we hopped on a taxi. Upon reaching there, we were greeted with a grand red arch. Certainly, our mind and body did not allow us to waste any single minutes and that led to our poor legs to walk and walk and walk; under the scorching sun. I regretted slightly for not applying much sunblock nevertheless, I was so grateful when I saw the red building stood right in the middle of the park.

Quicken my pace and got myself shaded. By the way, Shurijo Castle Park is so huge. Thankfully, they have the so-called treasure stamp game where we need to visit the areas in order to collect all the stamps. Though we had little time to spend, we still made a good use of it and played the treasure stamp game.

Some of the areas allowed us to take photos while some did not allow. Anyway, a little brief on Shurijo Castle Park - it is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Shuri, Okinawa. It was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom between 1429 and 1879. However, in 1945, Shurijo Castle Park was almost destroyed due to the Battle of Okinawa. Today, Shurijo Castle Park is the 11th World Heritage Site within Japan that tells the tales of Ryukyu Kingdom. In fact, the architecture of Shuri Castle is influenced from both China and Japan, illustrating the rich culture and historical values in its design. 

The entrance to Shurijo Castle Park.

Look at the map! It is so huge. Though we quicken our pace, we still need to spend about 1.5 - 2 hours there.

In total, it was an amazing experience in Shurijo Castle Park. If time allows, we would love to really stroll around, taking our sweet time while taking lots of Instagram-worthy photos. Overall, one should not miss this attraction when you are at Okinawa.

Hooya!

Shurijo Castle Park,

2 Shurikinjocho, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 903-0815, Japan.

Entrance fee is required.

For more information, you can visit: http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/en/

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 122 - Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng, Balik Pulau, Penang

Another hidden beauty gem in Balik Pulau is no other than Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng. I am not sure how to pronounce this in English but if we go with direct English translation, it is called Cool Powder - not sure if this sounds right.

Anyway, we walked for like a few minutes till we reached this place. It was rather sunny at that point of time and we were drenched in sweat. Somehow, the owner of this Bedak Sejuk thanked God for such a hot and sunny weather. He was telling us that this was the kind of weather he opted for whole day long.

We were the only visitors there and he was busy arranging the powder. Some of the trays were collected before the powder was being dried further to avoid any breakage. Being such a helpful bunch of young people, we offered our help. In fact, if you would like to participate in the process of making the bedak sejuk, you can - all you need to do is to make an early booking and if I am not wrong, each person is required to pay RM2.00 and you can walk home with a bottle of bedak sejuk.

 This was what we were being greeted when we stepped into this factory. Trays of bedak sejuk were "sunbathing" under the hot sun.

He is the current owner of Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng. He explained to us on the process to make the bedak sejuk and we listened to him attentively. 

There are several process in making this. 

Step 1 - wash the broken rice and soak them in a water for at least 1 month for fermentation.

Step 2 - after fermentation process, wash it again and blend it into paste.

Step 3 - filter the paste and hang out to dry it in a bag.

Step 4 - mix with water and put it in a tray to produce bedak sejuk. Dry it under the sun for 2 hours. Remove the powder from the tray and leave it in the room for one night.

Step 5 - continue drying the powder under the sun for 4 to 5 days until they are completely dry.

Step 6 - Once it is 100% dry, the powder is ready to be packed and then sell in the market.

This is me, in Step 4, helping to remove the powder from the trays.

For those who are health caution, fret not - bedak sejuk in Balik Pulau is proven to be chemical free. Anyone, be it those with oily skin, dry skin, uneven skin tone or even those with allergic skin, can use this bedak sejuk!  

Hence, I bought a bottle of it!

RM 5.00 for each bottle.

Overall, it is quite an educational journey to learn about Bedak Sejuk. I have never come across Bedak Sejuk so this is truly something new for me. If you notice, the bedak is not really in powder form. What you need to do is to take 2 - 3 pcs and put it on your bare hands. Then, put some water to dilute them and then you can start to apply it wherever you want. 

~Review~

I wish I can share my photo here but I guess better not - I look so awful when I apply it especially with white powders on my face. Nevertheless, when it is dried up and you even it on your face, you will notice that your face is so smooth. Like literally smooth. You can definitely try them out but one thing to take note is to bear with the smell - after all, these are made from fermented rice.

Kilang Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng,
Kampung Jalan Baru,
11010 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang.

Regards,
Foodiestravel