Balik Kampung Road Trip

Early in December 2008, my cousin and I decided to go Tambunan for a retreat. So here are some photos taken along the way.

A profile of our careful driver.

The foggy road. We headed on our way late in the afternoon.

The fog is starting to come together as we headed up.

Stopping over at one of the pit stop before proceeding to our journey.

Some parts are clear.

Gets clearer as we nearly approach our destination.

Almost there........

Nearly there....

Are we there yet?.....
Are we there yet?.......

Fog again....

And viola.... the magnificent view of our home town...TAMBUNAN.

Pictures along the road in Tambunan.......

Jom kita pi Rom

You may call it salvation army, vintage store, bundle, lelongan antarabangsa or whatever, back here in KK we call it ROMBENGAN. Jom kita pi Rom!....


Selling 2nd hand clothes, begs hats, belts, socks, bed sheets, shoes..etc for adults to babies and sometimes for your car or wedding decor, if your lucky. Many loves to to shop here not because it's cheap and branded but because most of the time it's one of a kind.

Sold in bundles to the vendors who sell to walk-in customers for a a small price. The goods sold are mostly from Australia, China, Korea and Singapore. Depending from the origin of the goods, the day of the month, new arrival, if your right on you can get good and cheaper price for your bounty hunt.

The clothes sold are not all 2nd hand in fact many are jut factory rejected or of seasons. Sometimes all the stall will sale summer garments and the next they might sell winter clothes.

Better known as being 2nd hand, not many are kin to shop here, although there are also garment sold that still have their tags on. Another put off for some people is that it's being sold in open markets or 'Gypsy market' I call it. The goods are sold on parking lots or empty lot under movable tents and depending on the venue it's open once or twice a week or everyday outside of KK. The further off KK you go the better the price.

In KK itself there is one open every morning till afternoon of Sunday at Kg. Air and my all time favourite on Tamu time on Thursdays and Fridays in Donggongon.

If your planning to go I suggest you bring a few more people for security reasons because you can get distracted shopping and be prey to unsuspecting snatch thieves. There are police around but it's better being safe then sorry plus with extra friends around its more fun and you have extra hand to help carry your load...who knows you might hit the jackpot...hehehe

Another tip, be a good bargainer and try to dress less show off so you get a good price...hehehe other then that bring small change and put them where you don't have to keep on reaching back in your bag. And try to make friends with the vendors that way you will get good info on whats new around and cleaning advice. No. ! tip BE NICE.

What I meant of hitting the jackpot is that sometimes you can get many beautiful looking evening dress and bed sheets from branded houses cheap cheap....I got one tube hippie dress yesterday for only RM12.00 after barganing from RM18.00 wait a little longer you can get it cheap put maybe bought by someone else then.

Anyway I suggest you go and try it for yourself don't be afraid...

Coffee Break

There is one place my husband like to bring me for coffee break on the weekends or holiday and it's located in the center, corridor of Damai. He loves the Teh-C (Teh with evaporated milk). The place is a few coffee shops in 2 rows open daily, early, and closes late. Serving customers with many choices of none alcoholic drinks and snacks, brunch or dinner. The best thing of all that its' cheap. The shops are to small to accommodate tables for customers so they owners spread out the eatery space to the outside. So they have plastic canvas to shield customers from the sun and rain. Of curse when it rains..just make yourself comfortable.

I did'nt take much picture unfortunately cause we were just there for drinks and were still full since lunch. But the customer's no. 1 choice to have is the bread. You have it 'kahwin' (literally means married, but in the bread preparation department it means sweet coconut spread with butter), 'bakar' (toast), 'biasa' (plain), 'kaya' (sweet coconut spread) or butter. Why it's good? They make their bread so soft and light.

The picture of the scene were we had our coffee break. It wasn't to crowdy thou cause the afternoon sun was keeping people home.

Pamelo-giant citrus

I like dropping by at my aunt's house cause there will often be something she'll give to bring back home. Yesterday was no different She gave us PAMELO.

This is how a pamelo look like its a big giant orange

I don't always cut open a pamelo before but I've seen my aunt cut open one. I never thought it be easy to cut through the thick skin...so easy and fun just like cutting through butter without the greasy feeling. First you cut of the top, run through your knife on the side down to the bottom of the pamelo and don't go in to deep. The best part you get to rip open the thick skin segment by segment just like the picture above.

The reminder of the skin me and my sister are going to use as our body sponge later when bathing. We like going green.

Here is how it looks like inside...looks like the the inside of orange right...but this one has either white or pink flesh. The taste when it's ripe of course will be sweet but sometimes we get the not so ripe yet and will taste a little bit bitter...we still love it.


Below is the picture of a pamelo segment. Great source of fibre and thirst quencher.

Instant Noodle

We Asian are so in love with noodles like the Italians to their pasta. We love noodles so much we have them in so many types and prepare them in so many ways. The best creation by far and will always be is the instant noodle cause of it's convenience. Instant noodles were invented by the Japanese and has spread even to the European country.

I remember younger there were only 3 flavour-asam laksa, chicken and curry. You can purchase these days in so many flavour even tom-yum. Cheap and fast. Nowadays 1 packet cost about rm0.90 or about rm3 something for 5 packets. Whenever your hungry just pop one in boiling water add the flavouring and voila in 2 to 3 minutes breakfast or lunch or dinner or supper is serve.

Dry noodles with it's flavouring in small packets inside the instant noodle packaging. Depends on the flavour you like the noodles can come with more then 1 packets of flavouring.

Duck flavoured instant noodle is ready to be enjoyed.

Depends on your taste I like a cup of water in mine. Sometimes other may even go even drier.

You can add other ingredients as well whatever u like but try and stick to the flavouring. Eg.. Tom-yum you can put in prawns and fish balls. chicken flavouring you can add in an egg or sausage or both and a little vegetable.

My brother like 2 packets of curry instant noodle with egg scrambled as it hits the soup and a little water to thicken the soup and a squeeze of lime. My friend likes his chicken flavoured instant noodle with vegetable and chili and tomato sauce...and I say hey whatever comes your way man.

BUT A REMINDER- don't have instant noodles to excessively or everyday or every meal to much of starch food is not good for health and may have effect on your life...serious..

Kampung Sunday Market

On our last day at Bundu Tuhan was a Sunday and there were few of the retreat goers woke up early to buy fresh produce. Fresh most definitely. You can get a normal RM2.00 vege but sold here for only RM1.00. Cheap and fresh that the entire shop was sold out by us..

Almost finish

Breakfast in packets...they even have sasau (bbq pork) with noodles in a packet.

Entrance of the mini market

Beautiful Limau.

My friends busy buying vege

Majestic View

The most majestic sight every beautiful morning we Sabahan have is of Mt. Kinabalu. If I have a feeling today would be a busy day, a sight of the mountain takes my worries away. The mountain connects the people of far and near, of the city and the rural. It is the almost in center of Land Below the Wind and can be seen from anywhere on a clear day.

The best time to capture the mountains beauty is from the break of day. The picture above I took with my cell phone camera is taken in the afternoon on 14th November 2008, just after 4pm.

My friends and I were going to Bundu Tuhan (the Valley of God) for a church retreat. I needed to go to the ladies room so we stop at Nabalu. We drove right to the front of the rows of souvenir shop along the road and as we stop to park we were amaze and jaw drop by the view of the mountain that day.

The day had just rain and the clouds were coming in to blanket the mountain. I couldn't resist taking pictures. Looking at the mountain displaying herself for us was so over whelming. We were magnified by God's creation. I wish you could be there.

Looking at the mountain that close was fantastic. We can see every grove of the mountain and white lines of waterfalls. the sight is indescribable. You got to be there to experience Mt. Kinabalu.

Sometimes in you don't appreciate the environment until you see the beauty of God's artistic touch.

Me with Mt. Kinbalu

Have a Happy Jam

If your coming from Donggongon to KK every morning around 7am this is what you'll be in...STUCK in a jam.

Normally it would only take around 15 minutes to reach the city but during week days let's just say please tune in to your favorite radio station.

Luckly it's not as bad as it looks. Just hold on to your seat and sing alittle song and you will be on your way slowly.

To all the morning people to work every morning....Have a Happy Jam.

Let's Yam Cha

Wanna go out for a drink?..... then let's yam cha...
Here my sister demonstrate the art of Yam cha...
with hot cocoa.









When one Yam Cha, one can order any drink these days.
Anything un-alcoholic. In Chinese tradition they have Chinese Tea hence the meaning of Yam Cha-to drink tea.

Invitation for alcoholic drinks we use another term in our
native language which is ...........ARAMAITI......hahahaha
which means lets get together........


Yes...she looks drunk doesn't she...

hehehhehe

drunk in sugar that is...

Road Side Snack

If you ever pass by the new road from Rasa Ria Resort, Tuaran going to 1 Borneo, you would definitely pass by stalls along the way. Stop by and have a coconut. You can order your coconut cold or hot or just as it is. The cold ones are chilled with ice and the hot one are barbecued. Don't worry about hygiene cause which ever way they do serve it it will always still be in it's shell freshly cut.

Great tip if your feeling under the whether or just coming down from Mt. Kinabalu the Barbecued Coconut or Kelapa Bakar is refreshing...at least for me. Besides that you can also enjoy the A3 size tapioca cracker, spicy or original flavour.

The main feature of the smalls are the clams. You can buy them and cook them at home or let them barbecue for you on the spot.

Sold from RM10.00 a batch it's barbecued on a metal sheet over wood flame. As soon as the clams open it's left till cook and blended chili with is poured over each clam. Don't worry you can ask for spicy or on its own. Serve with a side of lime.Enjoy with chilled coconut and coconut pudding.

Durian Anyone?

We manage to get some kampung durian for my mom's KL friend to taste. Of course our durian cost more then the KL version, RM3.00 per kilo in KL and RM6.00 (the cheapest) in KK of course you can get even cheaper the Rm6.00 in Sabah but you need to go on a road trip. The best thing is that most of our durian that we get out of town I can be sure is free from whatever commercialized fertilizer or insecticide-very organic you just got to wait 10 years....

Anyway I bought my first durian-a durian tembaga. Sayang, I didn't get a pic of the inside but here is the pick of the durian

Sedap kan, I tell you the flesh is as ticker then the average durian. The fruit is 3 times bigger then the ordinary one but u get only only a few in one durian. I got 5 pieces in this one. Behind is a table mat if you can figure out the size of the table mat then maybe you can get the durian size.My husband had one piece and it's to much for him to finish.

But no hunt has its consequences, here is my cut to prove it....

Next time mau TAPUN.....

Want some?

Want some? only in Sabah. Fish 'pickle'-with bamboo shoot and rice, fermented together(I think). Eaten as a side dish. My grandmom love this stuff she fish her fish herself (tongue twister). Personally I like the pork version better cause I don't have eyes looking back at me...hahahaha...picture taken at the Babagon pineapple stall in Penampang.

Please Get Your Act Together

I was watching the local channel today and every time I watch the local drama I get goose bumps and makes my skin crawl. Well, the local drama or sitcoms or series that are shown on TV today has it's improvements but seriously the actor and actresses has to get their acts together.

The series I was watching today was more of a young adult drama/comedy/love story. (I don't want to expose the title and I kinda forgot them anyway) It's about 4 young ladies who are friends and one of them open a cafe or coffee shop and the rest kinda help now and then but they all have their own love problems.

The heroin can't seem to give genuine expressions. She look made up. (Come on women act natural, your wasting film). Her fashionable friend in the other hand really I must say I like her wardrobe but sometimes they make her emphasize the wrong anatomy. Come on to much gold jewelry is enough don't go wearing gold coloured tight crop pants...sorry but your tights look bigger when you sat.

The most 'geli' part is the boyfriends. There are 4 acting as the 4 ladies boyfriend. One is like 'yo.yo wat's up' style and the other a successful business running guy but the other 2 looks like mama's boy. I have nothing against mama's boy but please 2 is to many for the show. Both wearing glasses, both wearing kinda geeky and wannabes. If your wearing glasses doesn't mean you need to act geeky....excuse me go do more research.

The script was so lame. The episode I watch today...ohmigosh...one of the ladies has a boyfriend already, one of the geek, and she met a better looking macho man and she got interested with this other guy and spent time with him. Her current boyfriend was jealous and timidly furious to confront her and when they did she would brush him of. And it happens that way for a few times again and when finally, I think the girl want's to break of with her current boyfriend but as soon as she did and turn the other way she saw the macho guy with another and she ran back to the one she broke of and they were back again like lovers long time no see and got back again.....sound like the writer was saving time....hahahahahah

Come on people, pick good cast or at least train them and create relate table characters. It's time the local entertainment line be more detail with their script. The quality of the film or dram or sitcoms or episode whatever has gotten better but the script and illustration of the story is either blur or just plain 'huh'? from one scene suddenly to the other scene edit, edit logicly-LAH.

Take this as good criticism, whatever you do, do it as if that is the best you have ever done and not as long as siap. Take example from SEPET or the old P-Ramlee or the 60's film or the local chinese drama. You got to learn from the best or die like the rest.....

Cili Padi And Limau

No matter how far or what cuisine we're having one thing we Sabahan can't live without is Chili Padi (bird's eye chili) and Limau(Lime).....tapun.

Give you an example-we had sushi the other day and as my sister and I was busy digging in the wasabi pot and soya sauce my dad ordered for some cilli padi with limau. Unfortunately there was no limau so he settled with lemon instead, asal asam.

Trust me, dinner parties someone is bound to ask, 'Ada lada kah?' (Got Chili). Young or old, women or men, we all crave for the hot and sour dipping sauce. Its are beautiful blend of yin and yang. Lunch, dinner or even breakfast there would always be a small plate of this wonderful palate enhancer in the middle of all the other dishes.

With unripe mango we would cut the bird's eye chili into pieces and mix in the cut up mango strips with a pinch ...no,no 4 pinch of salt or even a little bit more salt, and eat. The burning tongue and the sour juice from the mango always makes your eye twitch. As I am telling this to you my mouth water just the thought of it....yum.

As a WARNING please do not try this hot dipping sauce with so many chili padi if you are just, shall we call a beginner or new to hot taste, I suggest half a chili with 1 or 2 lime with a dash of soya sauce and gradually in the next few days or weeks or month (if you think you can handle it) you can put in more. We were trained young. My sister had her's when she was 4 years but on the other side of the world (Mexico) children have chilli at even younger then 4 years old.

Below are some great chilli recipes the basic (so to speak), if your up to it come try it out. I also write down the rate of the hotness..hot meter. The best chili maker that I know makes the best is my cousin Marilyn...tapun sia sia....but I am still not sure how she makes hers but my guess would be recipe number 2.

1. Bird's eye chili with lime..hot meter 3
Cut up bird's eye chili to small pieces (how many depands on how hot you want) and squeeze 2 lime in a pinch of salt or soya sauce and a pinch of sugar(optional).

2. Bird's eye chilli (blended or punded)...hot meter 7
Pound or blend the chilli and squeeze in a lime or 2 or more untill the mixture becomes a paste. a pinch of salt or soya sauce and te da. Again the amount of chilli all depand on you.

3. Salt Bird's eye chilli....hot meter
Cut or pounded or pressed with the back of your spoon the chili and a few pinches of salt...goes great with sour fruits eg. unripe mago, pineapple, even guava..etc.

These are just a few of my favourites. If anyone have other recipes please email me.

Let's Makan

Eating has always been one of the greatest Malaysian past time ever. No matter what time of the day or night, there is always someone asking the other 'Sudah makan?' (Have you eaten) or 'Mari makan' (Lets eat). Ehh hemmm gentlemen-It's a great pick up line that's bound to give you 90% positive result with the ladies with additional friends of course. Most of us ladies like to eat in groups on the first meeting.

Enough about the chasing game Let's Makan....

Breakfast is a great start for the days meal and what better way to start then with the old time favourite the NASI LEMAK. Ready packed (in banna leaves) and good to go in another words pick and pay style, regret later (alamak sikit juga).

The NASI LEMAK-Steam coconut and pandan fragrant rice with a side of half boil egg, cucumber slice, fried anchovies, peanuts and semi-spicy sambal (depends on the cook).
The best way to enjoy it is to pre-heat in oven for 1 minute (make sure you remove banana leave or whatever container it came from and place on microwave friendly dish) with a glass of hot 'Teh-Tarik' (pull-tea) or 'Teh-Halia'(Ginger-tea). In the picture, my sister had her Nasi Lemak with Terung Sambal, brinjal cook in spicy gravy. Any other side dishes are also great with it. Otherwise just unpack and eat.

Another Sabahan favourite for breakfast are noodles soup. The best we have is the Ngui-Chap, Chinese dis, or the Soto Daging, malay dish, both are Beef Noodle Soup but made differently. The Ngui-Chap for me has full beef flavour whereas the Soto Daging is more fragrant cause the prepare the dish with lots of spices serve with lime wedges. Either dish is great taken hot especially on rainy days. I like mine with lots of lime and chili...yummy.

Half time before lunch, guess what? It's time for good old chicken rice. One of life simple meal that's prepared with your choice of Steam Chicken or Roasted Chicken serve with sliced cucumber drizzled over thin soya gravy and accompanied by hot chicken soup with a few pieces of chives and also hot steam chicken rice. Cold or hot whatever it is never forget to dip you chicken pieces in mild chili sauce, ginger sauce and dark soya sauce. Don't worry all 3 sauces are available at your fingers tips just look out for the 'moving' sauce platter on tables in the chicken rice shop. Not all shops provide the 3 sauce thou, but the basic chili sauce and soya will do.

Have you ever wandered why they serve chicken rice with a few pieces of cucumber instead of other vegetable? Beside that cucumber is reasonable in price, (according to something I've heard before on tv) the cucumber is good for preventing cancer. Eating chicken to much or everyday is not good for the body (can't have to much meat or poultry everyday) so the cucumber act as a balance for our meal...more like yin and yang.

Another lunch favourite is the 'Economy-Rice' which simply means rice serve with 3 dishes of your own choices and hot soup cater for 1 person at an affordable price...kuang kuang kuang...where to get them? It's serve in most of the coffee shop around town and more specifically near office building. There will be so many choices of dishes ranging from sweet and sour fish to black pepper beef and tomatoe with egg to bitergoud with black beans. So much you can hardly make your choice. Price range around Rm3.50 to Rm5.00 at a Chinese coffee shop or RM4.00 to RM8.00 at a malay coffee shop (these prices varies depanding on the location) depanding what dish you choice.

It's almost 3 pm. Time for a tea break. Pisang goreng is nice when taken hot ...wow wee panas panas....Enjoy them with a cup of hot nescafe tarik or again the teh-tarik. I've had the KL pisang goreng but nothing taste better then the pisang goreng here. Ours are more nicer looking and tastier. I've done some trial and error and here is the best that I've made:

Banana slice vertically and thinly (normally you get 4 pieces from 1 banana). Mix normal flour with baking soda, water, a pinch of salt and few spoon of sugar (to your own taste). Make sure the sugar and salt are all desolve and the batter is not runny and not pasty, it should be like the consistency of yogurt. Dip the banana pieces in the batter and fry in hot oil. Drain oil on paper towel and serve. Another way to have pisang goreng is instead of adding in the sugar you may pour over condensed milk after it's fried and drain.

7pm and it's time for dinner. Crab anyone? You order by the kilo and they'll prepare it in anyway you want. Me and my husband we both love gravy so we ordered the spicy sweet crab. Eating with your hands is so comman here. Put your utensil down and literally dig in (make you sure you wash your hands 1st-lah). With steam rice you drizzle the gravy on the rice and bon apetite. You can order other side dishes like baby kailan with garlic and oyster sauce or lemon chicken....whatever your limit is, it's in your hands. Prices ranges from RM18.00 per kilo to Rm30.00.

If your still hungry head over to Foh Sang, they've got great con gee and you got to try them with century egg...sedap I tell you. Con gee is rice porridge but very fine and smooth. There is pork, chicken, fish, seafood or even mix con gee all you have to do is decide one. Other then that if your still hungry you can have some toufu or brinjal with pork filling in the middle as a grand finale. Con gee price ranges from RM5.00 to Rm10.00 (I think, haven't gone overboard yet)

Like I said no matter what you crave for you can have any of the above dish any time of the day as long as you know where to look..........Let's Makan