Foodie Adventures with Food Tour Malaysia

Despite all the traveling I've done, I still stress out upon arriving into a new city. I find it exciting to be in an unfamiliar place, but it can also be extremely daunting to figure out where I am, how to get to my next destination, and more importantly, where and when my next meal will be since food is never far from my mind. When I recently arrived in Kuala Lumpur, yet another city famous for its food, my initial thought was, "Where to start? Where to go? What to EAT???"

Hungry in Kuala Lumpur? Food Tour Malaysia can help

This is where Food Tour Malaysia comes in. Inspired by their own search for authentic food during their travels, the founders of Food Tour Malaysia decided to combine their passion for food and travel into something that visitors to Kuala Lumpur can benefit from.

Experiencing Kuala Lumpur's street food with Food Tour Malaysia

Food Tour Malaysia is made up of self-professed "gourmet Indiana Joneses" who take guests through various parts of the sprawling city to taste authentic dishes that make up Kuala Lumpur's diverse food culture. Each tour is unique to the group as the guide takes into account culinary interests and preferences, as well as how much the participants' stomachs can handle. Typically, each outing includes three to four different locations (yes, that's approximately THREE to FOUR small meals you'll be tasting!) of varying flavors. With no predetermined itinerary, this is very much a culinary adventure through the streets of Kuala Lumpur!

Darren, my Food Tour Malaysia guide, explains the etiquette behind eating with your hands

The mood of this unconventional tour is created from the very beginning of the night. The meeting point is in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, requiring around a 45-minute LTR (Light Rail Transit) ride from the city center. Darren, co-founder of Food Tour Malaysia and my guide, explained that this was to allow guests to see another side of Kuala Lumpur and to set the stage for the night's "off the beaten path" food exploration.

Enjoying my idli and Indian dipping sauces

After the rest of the group arrived (we had a total of six), Darren ushered us to Brickfields, a vibrant district heavily influenced by a large Indian population. Our first meal commenced inside a non-descript Indian canteen with a generous sampling of idli, dosa, roti chana, and mutton and chicken curry, eaten off banana leaves with our bare hands! Now THAT'S finger-lickin' good!

Strange but works: spare ribs and Marmite

Our next stop took us up a dark, winding hill in another part of town to a spacious Chinese clay pot restaurant. Disappointingly, their famous crab clay pot was already sold out for the night so we had to make do with other dishes. One particular course that stood out was the spare ribs cooked in Marmite. A strange and unexpected combination, especially from a Chinese restaurant, but the taste was rather intriguing!

Street stall fried chicken

Our next food stop took us to a street vendor selling fried chicken off a major touristic dining street. Our group shared a plate of succulent fried chicken wings, beef and chicken satay skewers, and fried squid with salty egg coating before our stomachs could explode. 

The final Food Tour Malaysia stop (yes, that's four in total) was for a dessert of shaved ice, sugary syrup, and fresh fruit further up the street. After a night of copious eating, this was a perfect way to end the hot night with something light, cold, and refreshing.

Daringly trying stinky tofu in a night market in Taipei

For someone who has traveled throughout Asia and can be found at all hours eating on a little stool on the side of the road of local night markets, I found this food adventure was a bit too tame. I would have preferred to have been taken truly off the beaten path and offered a sampling of some incredibly wild dishes that I haven't already encountered in my years of traveling in Asia.

Overall, I think Food Tour Malaysia is a good starting point for those new to "adventure" dining while traveling. It's ideal for first-timers trying out local street food and canteens because you have a native who knows where to go and can provide context to the different types of food and customs. This was certainly my favorite part of the night, particularly when Darren explained how to properly roll up a banana leaf after a meal and what the numerous methods are to signify specific situations. 

Please bear in mind that all Food Tour Malaysia outings are different and dependent on the individuals involved. Your experience will not necessarily be the same as mine, nor will the food you sample. 

*Disclaimer: My outing with Food Tour Malaysia was sponsored by the company, but all opinions are an accurate and honest view on my personal experience. 

© Connie Hum 2012

The Jewel of Penang: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

When I began planning my trip to Malaysia, I knew I had to go to Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its street food and colonial architecture. Doing a bit of research kept bringing the gorgeous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion to my attention.

Heritage hotel and living museum, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as "The Blue Mansion" after its vivid indigo color, is one of Penang's top visited attractions. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was built in the late 19th century by the "Rockfeller of the East" as a symbol of craftsmanship, architecture, feng shui, and dedication to the one time Mandarin of the Highest Order's beloved seventh wife.

Detailed design of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion's roof

After years of meticulous renovation, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is now a perfectly preserved heritage site that has opened its doors to welcome visitors on daily guided tours.

Entrance into Cheong Fatt Tze's interior

Although I usually avoid guided tours, I found myself having an incredibly enjoyable time learning about the fascinating rags-to-riches story of Cheong Fatt Tze. My guide, Poh, was an enthusiastic and passionate story-teller who drew the group into the rich history and detailed architecture of the mansion.

The all-access pass into Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion for hotel guests

In addition to the guided tours, visitors also have the opportunity to stay in one of the 38 hotel rooms converted from the original design of the house. Lucky for me because I had the chance to sleep in one of them during my trip!

The Shantung Suite at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

The experience of staying in such a grand place was spectacular, and the house itself was a very unique treat. The Shantung Suite was spacious and comfortable, though quite basic as far as hotel rooms go. It's fair to say that the main draw of staying at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion lies within the grounds of the house and its dedicated care staff, and not particularly the rooms themselves. It wasn't disappointing in the least as the mansion is simply stunning.

The airy inner courtyard of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

A complimentary breakfast of western options such as eggs, sausage, muesli, toast, and homemade spreads is served to hotel guests in the inner courtyard along with coffee, juice, and tea each morning. It was an excellent way to start out the day with the open air and sunlight filtering through the open roof.

A lovely spot to enjoy the beauty of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

All in all, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is an architectural beauty and certainly deserves to be one of Penang's top spots for visitors. This jewel is truly dazzling to behold!

Antique keys for in-house guests of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Visit Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion's website, for more information and to make your reserve your tour and hotel room on-line. Be forwarned; Cheong Fatt Tze is extremely popular and hotel rooms should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

*Disclaimer: My stay at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was sponsored by the hotel, but all opinions are an accurate and honest view on my experience there.

© Connie Hum 2012

Review: Roomorama, Kuala Lumpur

One aspect of travel that I love is trying to get the local feel as much as possible whenever I'm abroad. Getting that feeling isn't always possible, especially when I'm traveling in a new place for a short period of time, but staying in a local apartment is one quick way to get a local perspective.

Roomorama is a website that helps travelers connect with local apartments. Founded by two young executives with the belief that travel is more than checking off a list of tourist attractions, I was intrigued by Roomorama's philosophy of "living like a local" and decided to try them out during my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur.

The Site and Booking: Roomorama has an incredibly user-friendly site with a nice design that highlights their international properties. I found it extremely easy to navigate and search for accommodation. Property descriptions can be sparse or fully-detailed, depending on the individual host, though a clear overview of amenities is listed for quick reference. Each listing also includes a map so that you can get a sense of what part of town you could be staying in, as well as nearby sights and public transportation hubs.

Making a reservation can be slightly time-consuming as there is no availability calendar for specific properties. Users need to contact individual hosts to inquire about dates, wait for the response, and if the dates are not available, it's back to the drawing board. After a week of searching, emailing a number of properties, waiting, exchanging information, and finally confirming, I had a luxury studio located in Kuala Lumpur's City Center booked for my stay.

The Stay: Upon arrival, I discovered that the studio was in fact a serviced apartment housed within a large hotel. It wasn't exactly the local feel I had hoped for, though I suppose it offered a taste of modern living in Kuala Lumpur. Check-in procedures were hurried and slightly impersonal, understandable given that my flight was delayed and someone other than my "host" had to wait to hand over the keys.

The room itself was spacious and relatively clean, though the kitchen counters could have used a wipe-down and the shower curtain should have been replaced. My biggest complaint is that it lacked small touches to make the place feel like a home. It was like staying in a mediocre business hotel, but without the basic amenities such as toiletries, coffee, tea, or even a tea kettle. The hotel staff was also less than helpful as soon as they find out you are a "resident" and not a hotel guest, though I'm not sure why that would be the case.

The listing mentioned that wireless internet was available in public areas, but it failed to state that it was only available in the ground floor lobby sixteen floors below and that you had to pay for it. The rate wasn't high, but it was a huge inconvenience to not have wireless access readily available in the room, something extremely important for a travel writer and social media enthusiast.

Although the property itself was rather disappointing, the location was ideal. I was within a 10-minute walking distance of Kuala Lumpur's LRT (Light Rail Transit) and just around the corner from a very local street market, complete with delicious local cuisine. This is what I was looking for!

The Impression:  I like the concept behind Roomorama and from the looks of the other properties listed, there are some true gems available through the site. Unfortunately, the property in Kuala Lumpur I stayed in wasn't one of them.

I would be willing to give Roomorama another try in the future, but this particular property fell short of expectations. It certainly wasn't a positive experience, but it also wasn't completely negative. Unfortunately, Roomorama only has the two options when reviewing properties so I wonder if some of the reviews may be skewed due to this black or white rating system.

I would advise users to read property listings and guest reviews carefully, as well as view all available photos, when searching for properties. This will better ensure that your Roomorama experience lives up to the expectations of what you require and the "atmosphere" you want.

To view Roomoorama's property listings and to inquire about booking a local apartment for your next trip, please refer to their website.

*Disclaimer: My stay in Kuala Lumpur was sponsored by Roomorama, but all opinions are an accurate and honest view on my experience there.

© Connie Hum 2012

Paradise Found at Temple Tree, Langkawi

After my year of teaching English in Hong Kong, all I wanted was a break. I was exhausted. Officially burnt-out. I needed something to help me come back to life, as well as renew my desire to live. Okay, okay, so I may be exaggerating a bit here, but it's not too far from the truth. Working in Hong Kong is draining!

The day after leaving work, I jumped on a plane for Malaysia, ready to be restored and rejuvenated.

I found exactly what I needed at Langkawi's Temple Tree Resort.

Heaven on earth: Temple Tree's main pool

A perfect blend of guest house and luxury villa, Temple Tree is comprised of eight stunning heritage homes rescued from around Malaysia. Every villa was painstakingly numbered and disassembled piece by piece, then transported to their current site in Langkawi before being resurrected to their former glory. Each home's history is recorded and shared with the guests of Temple Tree, adding heart and soul to their stay. The structures are architecturally unique, and all interiors are styled with Asian antiques to preserve the look and feel of the home, as well as tasteful modern touches to add to the charm. I found the results simply stunning!

My own little piece of paradise: Temple Tree's 1920s Colonial House

The beautiful 1920s Colonial House I stayed in was originally from Georgetown, Penang, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by wealthy Arab goldsmiths, Colonial House offers two individual rooms downstairs and two large suites upstairs for guests to enjoy. Alternatively, the entire house can be rented by large groups.

The communal living room inside Temple Tree's Colonial House

Upon entering Colonial House, I was greeted with an enormous sitting room with large windows. I loved the amount of sunlight flooding in! The perfectly suited interior decor made the space feel like both a living museum and an inviting place to take a rest and relax.

The foyer of Colonial 3 at Temple Tree

I had no idea what my suite would look like, and I was already falling in love with Colonial House, but when the double doors of my Colonial 3 suite were opened into this foyer, my heart skipped a beat! Look at that antique wrought-iron umbrella rack! It was exquisite! I knew I was in store for something truly breath-taking as I continued upstairs...

My breath was stolen away by Colonial 3 at Temple Tree

True to expectations, Colonial 3 did not disappoint. In fact, I dare say that Colonial 3 far exceeded all expectations and from my impression from the umbrella rack (please scroll up and take another look at that beauty!), those expectations were high! My goodness, if this isn't a piece of paradise, I don't know what is!

Detail of antique Chinese cabinet inside Colonial 3

I absolutely adored every thing about Colonial 3! From the antique Chinese furniture, to the color scheme, to the open airiness of the multiple windows, to the distressed leather couch, everything was just perfect!

The double showers inside Colonial 3

Colonial 3 extended further to reveal a double shower bathroom with tiles that matched the downstairs landing. It's hard to convey the emotion I felt at this point, particularly at a shower and toilet of all things, but the amount of care and quality of renovation that went into this restoration was quite moving. I almost needed a moment to regain my composure.

Further paradise found in the form of double wooden baths in Colonial 3

Oh, but it gets better! Adjacent to the double showers awaited the a pair of Japanese-style wooden baths. If I didn't already feel like I was in a perfect paradise, I knew I would be once my bath was drawn. As the only suite in Temple Tree to boast adjoining baths, it's easy to understand why Colonial 3 is popular favorite among honeymooners.

Sarongs for personal use during your stay at Temple Tree

After settling into the room and trying to get used to this incredible mix of luxury and charm, I marveled at some of the finer details of the room and noticed the little, thoughtful touches designed to make my stay at Temple Tree as perfect as can be. I found two batik sarongs hanging in the closet for use during my stay; ideal as a cover-up for the pool as well as post-bath.

Temple Tree's protection from pesky mosquitoes

There's a cabinet full of anti-mosquito protection available for guests in the rooms. Handy items for someone like me since mosquitoes seem to seek me out to their bellies' content while my companions sit undisturbed throughout the evening. Best of all, just before sunset, members of Temple Tree's staff prepare the rooms for their nightly battle with the tropical insects.

Breakfast is served, cat not included

To allow guests the option of enjoying a lazy morning (and who doesn't love a good, lazy morning while on holiday?), Temple Tree discreetly leaves guests a breakfast of homemade cakes, fresh bread, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and tea in their refrigerator at the end of each night. Simple, but the feeling of an unhurried morning was pure luxury.

Temple Tree's helpful pool caddy

The thoughtfulness of Temple Tree included a wicker basket to help you organize and carry pool items. Such a seemingly little gesture, but this act speaks volumes in how much Temple Tree is concerned with your holiday being as comfortable and easy as possible.

In addition to all the minor details that Temple Tree put into their suites and rooms to promote ease and comfort for their guests, they also provide a multitude of other readily available items to help make your stay extra special. Yoga mats, tripods to capture those special moments, binoculars and a bird guide to help you recognize the surrounding wildlife, and even prepared picnic baskets should you decide to explore outside the grounds are among some of the extras that Temple Tree has on hand for their guests.

Temple Tree's second pool

But, let's be honest. There is little reason to ever leave the grounds of Temple Tree. There are two stunning pools available within a short walking distance of the magnificent suites for you to while away the hours! Trust me, it will be hard to tear yourself away from the tranquility of the pool areas! An additional plus? The pool towels smell divine, like tropical coconuts and lime!

Indo-Dutch fried rice at Temple Tree's Strait Club House

Leaving Temple Tree in search for good food is also an unnecessary endeavor as delicious meals, served both in the local style, as well as Western, can be found at the Strait Club House (itself a magnificent 1920s colonial mansion originally built for a Eurasian family). A daily happy hour encourages guests to get to know one another, while a weekly dinner with wine pairing offers a tasty meal at a reasonable price. The chef is also available to create dishes upon request to celebrate special occasions.

Temple Tree's inviting reception room inside Strait Club House

Perhaps the most enchanting aspect of Temple Tree is the quality of service. As soon as you enter the reception area of the Strait Club House, you are immediately treated like an old friend by Temple Tree's cheerful and personable staff, all of whom incredibly, already know you by name!

One of many adorable cats from LASSie, taken with Instagram

Pushing Temple Tree's charm factor up several notches are the loveable dogs and free-roaming cats from LASSie (Langkawi Animal Shelter and Sanctuary Foundation), a passion project of Temple Tree's owner. An astounding 50% of Temple Tree's proceeds goes directly to this worthy cause for neglected and abused animals in Langkawi. As someone who's not usually a fan of cats (they creep me out with their stealthiness), I was won over by the adorable cats that sought my company during my stay.

The pool at Bon Ton, taken with Instagram

Guests of Temple Tree can also enjoy the amenities at neighboring Bon Ton Resort, which is operated by the same owners, including yet another beautiful swimming pool, a bar and lounge, as well as a private dining room overlooking a picturesque lagoon.

Nyonya Platter at Nam Restaurant, taken with Instagram

Bon Ton Resort also houses the Nam Restaurant, one of Langkawi's premier eateries. The extensive menu of local favorites and innovative fusion cuisine was enough to keep this food-lover more than happy. I enjoyed two meals at Nam and absolutely loved the food, including the well-portioned dessert plates!

Happy and content at Temple Tree, with my new friend

In this hurried and hectic world we live in, it's easy to get lost and forget to enjoy life. Temple Tree was the perfect solution in reminding myself why it's important to slow down and relax; pet an affectionate cat, sleep in, enjoy a lazy breakfast, and lounge by the pool for hours on end, getting up only to take a quick dip in order to cool off.

Life at Temple Tree is life as it should be, and I truly didn't want to leave. Unfortunately, I had to, but when I did, I was rejuvenated and ready for what else life had to offer me.

Pineapple mint tea from the Strait Club House

My last bit of advice? Try the pineapple mint tea! I promise it will cool and refresh you like nothing else on a hot day!

Visit Temple Tree's website, for more information and to make your reservations on-line.

*Disclaimer: My stay at Temple Tree was sponsored by the hotel, but all opinions are an accurate and honest view on my experience there.

© Connie Hum 2012