Backdated to 28/01/08 - AWAS: Parking Meter or Parking Coupon?

I just remember something which I believe is worth mentioning to Singaporeans who are driving up Malaysia to have a jalan jalan-cum-makan tour.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the authorities in Melaka have decided to remove the parking meter – free parking at last! YES!!

I found out subsequently that they had actually replaced the parking meter with parking coupon – no free parking. That was a downer!

So be prepared, if you are driving in Malaysia, to use parking coupons if the parking meters aren’t around. Otherwise kenna fine, then you know.

Heng er, I didn't kenna fine!

FYI: In Seremban they still use the parking meter.

Backdated to 28/01/08 - Anti-skid Braking System saves my day and limbs too

We were on the N-S highway travelling south to Johore and Singapore. It was a rainny afternoon, a truck cut into my path last minute, just as I was stepping on the accelelator to speed up and overtake it. Immediately I had to floor the brakes hard. Thankfully the ABS kicked in automatically and prevented the car we were in from skidding when it braked suddenly. Incidentally that was what happened to the Ford Telstar - which skidded when I had to slam on the brakes (w/o ABS) on a rainny afternoon in 1994, and it did a 90-deg clockwise turn before coming to a stop - lousy car. Scared the living day lights out of me.

Ford cars have improved a lot nowadays.
Their Focus is a joy to drive.

ABS is God's gift to mankind and so is ESP also.

Backdated to 27/01/08 – Fatman Popiah, Melaka

This stainless steel pushcart is located next Madam King’s departmental store along Jalan Bunya Raya. The father (a portly man) used to sell popiah for over ten years before his son took over. He would fill the popiah up with the usual ingredients, just before wrapping them all up in the moist & chewy floured-skin, he would drench them with two tablespoon of fragrant pork lard and crispy fat! Shocking!! But that makes his popiah very tasty! When I first saw him doing this in 1998, my eyes almost rolled out of my sockets. But after eating it, all is forgotten except its lovely divine texture and taste.

FYI: I prefer the popiah made by the father because it tasted really sinfully good!!

Eat already ah – triple steam!

Nonetheless credit must be given to his son because his popiah has improved since I ate the last one made by him several years ago.

Eat to believe.

Don’t take my word for it.

Backdated to 27/01/08 – I see red in Malacca

The Malaysian govt. has done much to spruce Melaka up in order to make it more tourist-friendly. They have added footpath, wherever possible, to Melaka quaint narrow streets in order to make it safer for tourists to walk around. They have also added lights – red-colored lights – to illuminate the historic buildings there in the night. That made Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock in Chinatown looks like a “red light district” in my own personal opinion without being disrespectful to the local authority's there.

Then again the light up might be to add to the ambience of this historic place for the Chinese New Year celebration.

FYI: I stayed at Hotel Puri, an award winning three-star boutique hotel, which is owned by Singaporeans. I find the place affordable, cozy and nice. Speaking of hotel, many are sprouting up in Melaka due to lots of tourists flocking into it.