A day in Sekinchan

Coordinate: N03°31.2631′ E101°07.7436′

After our heavy lunch, we decided to come over to the this area. Indeed this is a good place to hang around especially if you have young kids and expose them with how the rice is cultivated. We have visited the rice mill factory last year, but at that time I didn't bring my camera along and hence didn't post any in the blog.

In fact, we did came here to Sekinchan previously just for photo shooting (An outing to paddy field.... S.E.K.I.N.C.H.A.N.)

The rice mill is open to public (didn't take the name down or info) and one could visit the factory and someone will guide you through out the visit with a small amount of entrance fee. The staff would explains to the visitor on the rice, how they plant it etc.... anything that you would need to know about the rice. Quite an interesting and learn more on this industry.

Besides that, once could see the lorry carrying the rice into the factory and how they weight it and segregate the rice. The rice here is slightly different according to the staff, where the rice here is the one that we use to make our sushi dishes. At the end of the visit, one could also purchase the rice which is nicely packed.

At the moment, the rice almost ripe and it really a nice scenery in Sekinchan. A vast green field with blue sky and white cloud make it the perfect day for anyone who wish to take some photo here. The paddy field already dry and no more water underneath, waiting for the time to harvest after the farmer waiting for several months.

The only thing that one should remember if coming over for the photo shooting is sun lotion. We just dare not to stand too long under the hot sun. Our friend who went outside for a while quickly came back to the car. The weather outside is even hotter than the time when I went fishing.

The last place we went is to buy some mango, another well known place for tourist to get some famous local product. By the time we reached the place, almost all fruits has been sold out. In fact the fruit pack also sold out. With disappointed heart, we left the place and heading back to our home for relax.

Restoran Guan Hwat at Sekinchan

Location: Lot 2942, Jalan Teowchow, Bagan Sekinchan
Coordinate: N03°30.3038′ E101°05.9530′
Contact: +6016-688 2609
Opening Hours: 7.00am - 2.00pm. Close on Tuesday

It's public holiday aka Labor Day today. We have visitor and planning to bring them to eat at Sekinchan, but unfortunately we didn't book earlier and decided to try our luck today anyway to Sekinchan. By the time we reach the junction heading towards the food destination, I know our initial choice would be out, hence we decided to come out this restaurant. Actually we came here before, and it would be nice to make up our lunch here since it would be first time for our visitor.

First came the petai with shrimps. Since I had little intake for my breakfast, I started first to eat. It taste nice with the fresh petai, quite crispy and it doesn't taste really spicy at all. Anyway, we already waited for an hour to get the seat as it was full of people today. There are lot of tourist buses and family outing. Maybe that is the impact due to the recently concluded TVB drama not long ago at one of the beach here, Pantai Redang.

Next is another of our favorite, fried fish. It's very crispy, even my grandma said so during our last visit over here. Together with the lime, it add additional flavor and taste towards the fish. Also, we purposely order this due to little kid. It would be good for them to eat more on this fresh fish. I'm not sure how many fishes we ordered, but I guess I have finished one whole fish itself. Not even that, my visitor also gave me half of her rice. Opppsss......

Next came the squid fried with onion. It's cut into small slices and just cooked with some dry chilies. Well, since this just besides the fishing village, the taste does really good as it was fresh. I could still feels the tenderness of the squid.

Another fish dish that we ordered, but this round it's steam fish. Lazy to stand up the photo, I just could get it from the side of the plate. Fresh fish again, and there was some lime added towards the dish. Again we ordered this due to the 2 little kids among us.

We ordered a fish ball soup. Not really special but again it's fresh and I guess my 2 year old daughter finished few pieces for the fish ball. She really enjoy the fish ball.

Last came the shark dish. Guess this is one of the famous dish not only at this restaurant, but generally at this area. Most of us already finish our rice, so we just eat as it is. The flesh was cut into small pieces and we were able to finish the whole dish luckily.

We did as well order crab, but luckily the waitress told us that it wasn't written down in the bill and hence they didn't prepare any of it. I was wondering if the dish came, not sure how we could finish it as all of us were very full by now. Still there were many customer coming in, and it quite late at that time. Most of the dishes already out of stocks by then.

Overall, the food is nice and tasty and at reasonable price. The only thing one need to do is lower don't the expectation on the cleanliness of the restaurant. Waitress is good there to help as much as possible but due to the public holiday, the restaurant having shortage of man power.

Ijok Beggar Chicken @ New Beggar's Delicious Restaurant

Location: Located on your left hand side if travelling from Sungai Buloh towards the direction of Kuala Selangor. The restaurant situated next to the palm oil estate.
Coordinate: N03°18.412′ E101°25.148′
Contact: +603-3279 1936 or +6019-317 3687
Opening Hours: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday 5pm. It is recommended to book in advance.

We came here before, but this round it was with my brother-in-law's family. Before we came here, we already book in advance the meal. The owner has make the life simple, as they has a menu set for us to choose from. It was 9-meal course that we ordered. So it would be good that could bring 10 adults (I mean those really can fill up their stomach) to enjoy the food here.

1. The signature Beggar's Chicken
Firstly we were served with the famous beggar's chicken. It came out hot from the "oven" as shown in the picture above. It was wrapped in foil pouch, outer layer with clay and put into the "oven" until it is cooked. This is done to other's beggar's delight as well. The chicken was stuffed with chinese herbs. It tasted delicious especially the gravy made up of the chicken juices and the chinese herbs.

2. Glutinous Rice or Loh Mai Fan
Another dish that we like. It is made up of salted egg yolks, dried shrimps, mushroom and pork. It was one of the best that we have tasted before, tender and soft. However, can't take much of it as we still need to reserve our 'tank' for other dishes.

3. Beggar's Pork Knuckles
A bit high cholesterol as more fat than meat. The meat is served together with yam. The meat easily came off from the bone, and the meat was tender. Everyone just enjoy this, and just remind ourselves that it's ok to indulge the food once in a while.

4. Beggar's Duck
The last of beggar's delight served on the table, the beggar's duck. The food was prepared the same way like beggar's chicken. The duck was stuffed with chinese herb. Not sure how they prepared the dish, but again the duck's meat was tender and melt-in-your-mouth type. A bit different from the roasted duck easily found in the city. However, the gravy is not as nice as the beggar's chicken.

5. Vegetable
After the 'heavy' dishes, we were served with vegetable. Though nothing special for this, but we do appreciate it. At least we were taking some healthy food after all the fat and oily stuff.

6. Pork Stomach Soup with Pepper
For this soup, just beware of the spicy taste due to the heavy presence of pepper. Get ready with some tea or water, just in case. My younger cousin brother just couldn't finish his portion. For us, it's ok and we quite like it. However, we couldn't drink too much of it. Depends on individual to judge whether this is delicious or not.

7. Steamed Fish
Not sure what fish is being served, but definitely not the highlight for us. Luckily for us, we just equally divided the fish. This to ensure we didn't waste the food.

8. Marmite Prawn
The prawn was fried, covered with sticky sweet sauce. Everyone just enjoy this dish. Luckily the dish is not as heavy as the previous one. Again, we just divide the prawn to everyone and quickly the plate became empty. By then, everyone started getting full.

9. Fried Kam Heong Crab
Last dish of the day. Not everyone like to get their hand dirty especially eating crab, and I was one of them. However, at the end I guess I consumed the most of it. It was delicious, prepared in kam heong and curry leaves make it tastier. By then, most of us couldn't take anymore.

We were not able to order one of their signature dishes, "stuffed fish" or boneless fish. The fish meat is taken out to make as fish paste. We tried out this during our previous visit, but not this time. It's a bit unfortunate that my grandma couldn't follow us for this makan trip, as she needed to attend a wedding dinner. Might planning to come here again to try out the fish paste and other dishes that we didn't order for today.

Broga Hill... nice place to watch sunrise

Location: Semenyih, Selangor
Coordinates: 2°56′14″N 101°54′40″E

We organised this trip quite late or indeed it was a last minute trip. We went in 3 cars, where we met in Cheras toll at about 5.00am in the morning. Indeed, I guess this was the earliest day we woke up this year. Though a bit blur blur at first, but thinking about the photo taking session and hiking hill, we have to forgo our sweetdream.

From the Cheras toll plaza, it took us about 45 minutes to reach Broga Hill. By the time we reach the foothill, it was full of people. Hence, it was a bit hard to find parking at dark. We decided to park in the palm oil estate, where we need to pay for parking fees.

We quickly change our gear for hiking. Though it was dark, but we could see light shining through the dark. There are lot of people already start hiking up the hill before us. Some in small group and some in big group. Some has setup the stall selling stall on the way up, which really amazed me. Is this what we call economic crisis badly hit people?

When we start hiking up, we need to follow those people walking in front of us. What came into our mind was some people is considerate, and some is without their civic mind. Why? One would find out when hiking up to the hill nowadays. There is a Chinese saying, "people mountain people sea".

It took us about 40 minutes to reach the first lookout point. By the time we reached there, we hardly find any place to rest and to setup our tripod for photo shooting. We continue our journey to the second lookout point. Over here, we found a nice spot to rest. We brought some coffee all the way up, and starting to enjoying the breathtaking scenary from hilltop. When we look back at the first lookup point, wow... it really packed with people.

After enjoying the view, we start photoshooting. Since it is almost sunrise, we could see the midst at the Broga town. It was really nice to enjoy the fresh air on the hilltop while do some photoshooting. After staying on top for a while, we descent at about 8.30am. We decided to have a quick breakfast in Broga Hill before heading back to our home.

Restaurant Jiann Chyi

Location: No 156, Jalan Bagan Sekinchan, Sekinchan 45400, Selangor.
Tel: 603-3241 4690
Operating Hours: 7am - 3pm (closed on Friday)
GPS Coordinate: N3 30.276 E101 05.940

1. Shark Porridge
These are signature dishes of the restaurant. There are 2 flavours, normal porridge or hot spicy porridge. We did order both, and we can't really able to compare both. Though we are not sure where the shark came from, but I don't think the shark caught in the middle of the sea. I suppose it is those breed shark. The porridge is served together with fish ball as well.

2. Shark meat served with pork intestine

The shark meat (we was told this is tiger shark meat) served with pork intestine, and fried together with spring onion and coriander. This dish is best serve together with rice.

3. Catfish served with flavorful sauce

I would rate this as nice food as well. Cooked together with okra, dried chillies, onion, mustard leaves etc. Since we have ordered 2 dishes of shark, this would be an ideal choice of fish meat as it is something different.

4. Stir fried spicy prawns

This is quite special dish, as I didn't come across such a dish in KL. Though it is spicy prawns, I would say that it is not that spicy after all. Cooked together with onion and curry leaves.

Maybe due to all hypes surrounding the restaurant after it appeared on local food show (AEC hosted by Ah Xien), the restaurant swamp by a lot of people. Thus, it may be hard to come over here during weekend or public holiday if one does not pre-book the place and dishes. Though we have booked a table of 12 at 1.00pm, we were adviced to come back sharp on time (we were earlier before 1.00pm).

An outing to paddy field.... S.E.K.I.N.C.H.A.N.

We did our outing, indeed our first photography outing with some of office colleagues to Sekinchan as main purpose. Besides that, we also planned to have our lunch somewhere near to the place, recommended by one of the tv programme.

We decided to gather at office, takes our breakfast before starting our journey. We started our journey about 7.30am as per our schedule. None of us actually knows the route, though we are "leading" the way. We only know the road heading to Kuala Selangor.

Once we reached our destination, we wasting no time. The team immediately set-up their camera + equipment and start shooting their own photos. We are very blessed on the day itself, as the weather was very hot and sunny, good for outdoor photo shooting. Besides that, the paddy almost ripe, ready for harvest in 2 weeks time. This makes our shooting even nicer.

Besides the paddy field, there is temple built in the middle. This is a very colorful temple, with the paddy field in green color, the temple add contrast to the landscape. There is also a swiftlet house located at the paddy field.

Besides the beautiful paddy field, we stumbled upon few interesting things. There are lot of water lily on the drainage system available. On top of that, one will also find apple snails' eggs (known as Siput Gondang Emas). Though at first I don't know what is the pinkish thingy, later I found out from my friend about the eggs.

Once we have done with the photo shooting, we continue our journey for our eating plans.

Restaurant Kien Kee

Location:
D-1, Jalan 10/3
43300 Seri Kembangan
Selangor
(Located behind the Post Office along Jln Besar)
Tel: 012-350 9900
GPS Coordinate: N3 01.330 E101 42.292

Operation: Closed on every Monday

1. Spicy Soup or "Lat Tong" 辣汤
This is the signature dish of the restaurant. It is very spicy soup, with the mixture of chicken, intestine, meat, pork tripe etc. Most of all, it contains lot of pepper. This is the best soup we have ever had, especially during the rainy days or winter time (hope we have winter in Malaysia). After we drank the soup, we were sweating a lot. It was still boiling hot when the soup is served. A small portion will do for 2 person like us.

2. Clay Pot Chicken or 花雕鸡

This is another dish that we usually ordered when we came over here. It was cooked with thick black sauce, Chinese rice wine and tender chicken meat. The gravy was extremely tasty, together served with the rice. It can't stop us from eating... yummy...!!!

Restoran LYJ

Location:
PT 11, Jalan Perkhidmatan
Sungai Buloh New Village
Sungai Buloh
Tel: 03-6140 2678

Operation: 11.30am onwards and close on Monday.

How to get there :If you are using NKVE, exit Sg Buloh (south exit). This is the first exit once you passed by Sg Buloh flyover restaurant, heading to Ipoh. Once you exit from the toll, turn left towards Sungai Buloh. Then keep left until you see a sign board heading to Subang, and turn left into Jalan Sungai Buloh. This is the turn that a lot of people will missed out. Watch out then. Once turn left, you need to keep right and head straight until you see the U-turn sign, on your right is BHP petrol station. Make a U-turn and turn left straight away to Jalan Welfare. As Jalan Sg Buloh road is under construction currently thus it doesn't allow you to right turn into Jalan Welfare but you got to make a U-turn in order to get to Jalan Welfare. When you are at Jalan Welfare, just go straight until you see a shop selling paint (Juton and ICI Dulux Paint), and turn left (before a clinic) into Jalan Perkhidmatan. The restaurant is on your left at Jalan Perkhidmatan. Alternatively, watch out the school on your right hand side, SRKJ(C) Sg Buloh, the restaurant is just opposite the school.

Food :
1. Pun Choy

Where and how was Pun Choy invented ? It was said that Pun Choy was invented during the late Song Dynasty. When Mongol troops invaded Song China, the young Emperor fled to the area around Guangdong and Hong Kong. To serve the Emperor as well as his army, the locals collected all their best food available, cooked it, and put it in wooden washing basins. By doing so Pun Choy was invented. Today you find the famous Pun Choy at 新界围村, Hong Kong and Chinease like to eat Pun Choy during Chinese New Year.

This is my first experience with Pun Choy. My friend told me the famous one is at Restaurant LYJ at Sungai Buloh. We order Pun Choy, there are 2 types of serving from this restaurant, small one ( without abalone and scallop) cost you around RM280 and big one (with abalone and scallop cost you around RM480. We order the big one and this serving is enough for 12 persons. The restaurant use stainless steel basin to serve the Pun Choy. It consists layers of various type of food. One layer after another ...... What is in there ? Abalone, Scallops fried with eggs and fake sharks fin in a fried meehoon basket, prawns, half a roast duck, half poached chicken, braised chicken feet, braised pork and pork leg, fish (mau yau), broccoli, cauliflower, beancurd sheets, konnyaku jelly threads, chinese mushrooms and clams. I especially like the sauce although it is quite oily but it is very tasty when searve it with those meat.

Together with Pun Choy, since most of the food are meat or seafood, it comes with a plate of fried vegetables.

2. Paku Pakis Salad
One of the MUST order dish from this restaurant. This is first time I try the Paku Pakis cook as salad. You taste the freshness of Paku Pakis mixture with orange sauce, fish sauce, fried onion and etc. Very tasty!


Overall Rating
Food : 4 star
Location : 1 star
Price : 3 star