Review and Guide to Ho Chi Minh City

.

We were in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) for a duration of 4 days and 3 nights and stayed in District 1. Our hotel was the Thien Xuan Hotel, located in Le Thanh Ton street and within walking distance to the Ben Thanh market. We managed to cover visits to the Reunification Palace, Opera House, People's Committee Hall or City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, which we went to by walking. We also managed to catch the world-renowned Water Puppet show. 

The only tour we took was a half-day city tour, which covered the Chinatown. This tour included a visit to the Cho Binh Tay market or Cho Lon, a brief stop to an ancient pagoda, a one-hour visit to the War Remnants Museum and finishes off with lunch.

For this trip, we did not go to the Chu Chi tunnel or the Mekong Delta. Thus this review and guide will only cover what we managed to visit and did in HCMC.

Preparations from home:

1. Naturally, you would want to determine on your inbound flights into HCMC. As most of you should already know by now, both AirAsia and MAS fly into HCMC with multiple flights daily. Both have pros and cons. We decided on MAS, because on our travelling dates, the ticket fares were not much different. Because we were travelling with our two young children, we also wanted to take advantage of MAS' in-flight food, baggage allowance and comfort.
2. Now, for the hotel. The best and most reliable booking services are www.booking.com and www.agoda.com. Both have good deals. We used booking.com and chose the Thien Xuan hotel because of its cheap rates and location. We do recommend you to find hotels on Le Thanh Ton street, for its close proximity to Ben Thanh market. If you are planning to go to HCMC, we also recommend you to check-out the Liberty Central hotel and the Norfolk hotel.
3. What to pack? Food, of course. Yes, you can find halal food in HCMC, but unless you are going on a full-board tour, the price of Malaysian food or halal food is expensive in HCMC. We will explain more on that below. 
4. A stroller or jogger is also highly recommended if you are travelling with kids. Though HCMC is a busy city, they do have wide walkways and pedestrian friendly streets.
5. Change some RM into Vietnamese Dong (VND), and some RM into USD. The USD to VND exchange rate in HCMC is slightly higher. RM is accepted in some shops, but is not advisable. 
6. Don't worry about tours. Arrange them when you are in HCMC, it is cheaper. Thien Xuan Hotel has a few tours which includes city tours, Chu Chi and the Mekong Delta.

Arriving there:

1. You will arrive at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport which has a modern and clean arrival terminal which looks similar to KLIA, but not as deserted. Make your way out of the arrivals gate, and you can take a taxi right here but only a company called Sasco can take passengers here, and they charge higher fares.
2. If you want cheaper fares, then go up to the departure level using the elevators to the left of the arrivals terminal. Go out and try to catch either Vinasun or a Mai Linh taxi, which are both recommended and charge using the meter. You have to be fast here though, because they are not supposed to pick up passengers here, but will do so if you flag them up.
3. Prepare a clearly-written note of your hotel's complete name and address. Most taxi drivers here cannot speak English.

Checking-in:

1. Thien Xuan Hotel has friendly, English-speaking staff but we were a bit surprised when they told us that the Hotel will keep our passports during our stay. Maybe it was for their payment security. But at the end, we got our passports back safely.
2. Most three-star HCMC hotels do not have windows, so check and request for room with a window if you wish for one. Our room was a triple room, with one king bed and one queen bed with clean toilet and enough space for our family of four.

Getting around:

1. The best and safe way to get around HCMC is by taxi, so make sure you flag only Vinasun or Mai Linh taxis. Again, they do not speak English and will not be able to understand you even if you have the address written down.
2. So our tip is to ask the hotel staff to write down the name of the places you want to go to - in Vietnamese language. For example, when we wanted to go to the Water Puppet show, the taxi driver did not understand at all - we had to show him the map. So it would be better to have it written down in the Vietnamese language.
3. You can also walk safely in HCMC, during the day and night. The pedestrian walkways and boulevards are wide enough that their citizens sit, eat and drink on the walkway, and even ride motorcycles on the walkway to avoid the traffic.
4. And now, the most important part - how to cross the street. When you are in HCMC, you will notice that the city is full of motorcycles and the drivers will always honk. They honk to tell you that "they are here, be aware" and not to ask you to move away. So don't get angry when they honk at you, and don't get offended, it may be annoying at first but you'll get used to it.
5. When you cross the road, remember that "pedestrians are like rock and motocycles are water, and water goes around rock" - so walk slowly and confidently, and don't make sudden movements or stop suddenly. The motorcyclists are good, have some courtesy especially towards foreigners and do not speed around (and again, sadly, unlike in KL).

What to visit:

1. You should be able to cover the Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame in one go - they are located nearby to each other. Only the Palace requires an entry fee. We did not pay, so can't tell you what is inside.
2. The Post Office is a grand old building largely untouched from the early 20th century while the Notre Dame is a catholic church. Both were built by the French.
3. Next, you should be able to cover the People's Committee Hall (or City Hall) and the Opera House together. There is also a statue of Ho Chi Minh in a park in front of the City Hall. 
4. It would also be worthwhile to visit the War Remnants' Museum, where there are many tanks, helicopters and military hardware from the Vietnam War on display at the Museum's grounds. There is also an exhibition hall where they are more exhibits and pictures (most are gruesome). One hour is more than enough to spend here. 
5. If you have the time, visit District 5 of the Chinatown. Pay a visit to the oldest pagoda in HCMC. Try also to drop by the market, the Cho Binh Tay.
6. Another must-see is the Water Puppet Show, which is internationally recognized. It is located at the Golden Dragon Theater, near Tao Dan Park, still in District 1. Entrance is 120,000 VND, with shows at 5.00 pm and 6.30 pm. Do try to ask for front-row seats to have a better view. We came early and got the first row. It was an entertaining and lively 50-minute show.
7. Like we mentioned above, it would be okay to pay for a half-day city tour to cover places farthest from your hotel. And enjoy walking to the rest of the attractions.

Shopping:

1. Like we said, bring both VND and USD. Exchange your USD in HCMC, but the rate varies and differs.
2. Always insist the trader to tell you the price first before letting them to show you the items. At the markets and night markets, there are no price tags - the traders will pluck any figures out of thin air and quote you a price of their fancy. So ask them the price first, and start bargaining from there.
3. Bargaining is difficult in HCMC, though the general rule of bargaining two-thirds of the quoted price applies here, most traders are getting wiser. They will refuse to reduce prices even as you threaten to leave or started to walk away.
4. Another general rule is always bargain and pay in VND. The traders cannot refuse to take VND, though they will gain more profit by trading in USD. Most shops will have price tags or quote prices in USD, and then calculate that into VND. This is where you must bargain more, and then try to cut about 10,000 to 20,000 VND from here.

Where to buy:

1. Last time I was in HCMC (5 years ago) - there was a lot of embroidery items such as paintings and blouses, but now rather scarce.
2. If you can go to Cho Binh Tay in District 5, it is recommended to buy some fabric here - cotton and Vietnam silk - they are cheaper here. Silk tie for the men also cheaper here.
3. If you want to buy baju kurung, blouse, baju melayu, telekung, jubah - then you can visit Hong Anh Collection, Saigon Mai and Minh Collection, all located on Le Thanh Ton street. Go to all three shops and compare prices according to your needs and priorities. Saigon Mai is the most comfortable and friendliest shop. 
4. When you are buying baju kurung, always make sure you try them on, because the kain for baju kurung is straight cut, and may not suit people with wide hips or plum-shaped ladies. Vietnamese ladies (and also men) are slim, a lingering effect of the War.
5. The Ben Thanh market is cramped, with shops located so close to each other. It is not recommended if you bring small children along. At the back of Ben Thanh (around Entrance 14), there are stalls marked with Fixed Price boards - supposedly already cheap but no bargaining will be entertained.
6. For the usual souvenirs, we do recommend you to get Paper Arts - different coloured papers rolled and made into pictures. Also you can get wood crafts, lacquered crafts, keychains and others. Shop around to get the best choices and prices.
7. At night, take a leisurely stroll at the Ben Thanh Night Market, open until 11.30 pm. Items here are a bit cheaper but choices are a bit limited.

Where to eat:

1. You can google-up many halal and Malaysian eateries in HCMC, but remember, Malaysian food here is considered cuisine - so prices are expensive. For example, nasi lemak is about RM10 here. But fair enough, because Vietnamese roadside food (like Pho noodle) is expensive in KL.
2. We only tried the D'Anjung stall at the Parkson food court supermarket on Le Thanh Ton street and it was okay. The Parkson food court also has a halal Pakistani stall in it.
3. We also had lunch at a restaurant at Beautiful Saigon Hotel - we just order vegetarian and seafood. The shrimp spring roll is very tasty.
4. As for drinks, always buy at places with price tags - like Parkson or Circle K, because roadside stalls or even shops will charge foreigners double the price. Buy lots of water.

Leaving HCMC:

1. If you survive the shopping onslaught and have some more VND left, it is better to finish them off (because it is imprudent to exchange them back to RM). The Tan Son Nhat departure terminal has many duty-free shops where you can shop till your last Dong.
2. Tan Son Nhat departure terminal has many shops, facilities and cafes (again, not like KLIA) - so get to the airport, relax and enjoy your journey home.

Map - District 1

1 - Our hotel - Thien Xuan Hotel

2 - Reunification Palace

3 - Notre Dame Cathedral

4 - Central Post Office

5 - City Hall

6 - Hong Anh Collection

7 - Saigon Mai

8 - Minh Collection

9 - Ben Thanh Market

10 - Parkson

11 - Saigon Opera House

12 - Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre

.

Perkampungan Ikan Bakar Terapung (PIBT) Umbai Baru, Melaka

Umbai, Melaka has long been a popular spot for ikan-bakar enthusiasts, as the location is known as being idyllic and peaceful. And now, the new PIBT is a welcome addition to the Melaka coastal scene, which includes Alai, Sungai Duyung, Serkam and Umbai Lama.

The PIBT is a spacious, modern and comfortable enclave. Built on stilts above the ocean, there are gazebos connected by wooden walkways for you to enjoy the sight, smell and breeze of the Straits of Melaka. 

The place is also large enough to accommodate big crowds, and there are ample facilities like toilets, surau and a hall. The parking lot is also spacious and safe. There are also stalls selling a lot of local items at the main entrance.

As you make your way to the main pavillion, there are many restaurants at the first level. The waiters will try to grab your attention as you ponder and make your choice of which place to eat. We will not influence your decision, but we will recommend you the Nakhoda Seafood Restaurant. It is located on the upper level of the pavillion, so you can even saviour more superb views of the ocean. You can choose to sit at the open spaces, or in a covered gazebo if you come in a big group.

Naturally, the menu is extensive and you can have everything you'd expect from a ikan-bakar restaurant of this kind. As usual, you can take your pick of fishes, kupang, kerang, crabs, pepahat, prawns from the fish stall. The seafood are all catches-of-the-day and fresh. Once you have made your choices, they are weighed and you can then request on how you want them cooked.

Our group chose to be under the covers of the pondok, which offers ample space, privacy, excellent views of the sea and a relaxing atmosphere. The waiters and staff are friendly too, and they will be quick to respond to your requests and needs.

The Nakhoda is quite spacious, that you won't feel suffocated, even when the crowd got bigger as the evening wore on. You don't need to make your way amid cramped spaces and there is no queue at the fish counter. 

For the record, we ordered Ikan Kerapu Masak Tiga Rasa, Ikan Terubuk Bakar, Ikan Cencaru Bakar Bercili, Udang Goreng Butter, Sotong Goreng Tepung, Kupang Masak Sambal and Kangkung Goreng Belacan, with two jugs of Sirap Limau, one jug plain water and a serving of rice. Everything was fresh, delicious, mouth watering, tasty, juicy and delicious. The service was fast too, we did not have to wait long for our order to arrive.

Our advice would be to come early, about 6 pm or so, and enjoy the sea and atmosphere. Have a long and worthy dinner. You can perform Maghrib at the comfortable surau. And after that, stop by at the stalls selling handicrafts, souvenirs, traditional food and snacks, as a perfect way of ending a gastronomic evening.

So the next time you are making the UNESCO World Heritage City of Melaka as a holiday destination, make sure you include PIBT in the agenda. It is so easy to find, just make your from Melaka town towards Merlimau or Muar, and follow the signboard to Umbai. The PIBT is located about 500 metres from the old Umbai ikan bakar spot (Pernu).

Very much highly recommended, we rate it at nine marks out of ten.

.

Sajian Wadihana Islamic Kitchen (SWIK)

When SWIK first opened in Bandar Baru Bangi's spanking new 3B Curve Business Park, its signboard had just Wadihana written on it - prompting us to wonder what was the restaurant's specialty. Does it serve Arabic food, or Indonesian cuisine (we always jokingly called it Wadi Unung after the Malay drama) or simply, Malay dishes? Even when the new signboard with the words Islamic Kitchen written across it, we never felt inclined to try it out. But SWIK were always enjoyed good patronage almost daily, and that just got us more curious. 

So one fine night, we decided to try SWIK out. (Perhaps you might like to find out about the restaurant's name origins - read it at www.sajianonline.com.my).

Decor:

Simple and minimalistic, SWIK's open kitchen concept is indeed welcome, though not original. The restaurant is spacious enough as it occupies two shoplots (by the corner too), so it has wide, open spaces for large families or gatherings. Comfortable without being overly decorative, SWIK achieves high in the furnishing department.

Service:

The service was average, but not as quick as we expected it to be. The staff was friendly enough, but they only notified us that one of our order (nasi impit) was finished, about 20 minutes after we had placed the order. However, they did make it up a free bowl of keropok for us to nibble the time away.

Food:

When we looked at the menu, there were two things that bothered us a bit. First, was the price. The dishes are a bit expensive for a restaurant of this type in Bandar Baru Bangi. Let me give a few examples - RM30.90 for a chicken fajita? Well, I like Tex-Mex food, but at that price it has to be authentic (with guacamole?) and served in a big portion. And a mixed grilled steak will set you back RM45, and with no mention of whether it's sirloin or tenderloin, I'm not prepared to go for it. Other examples of pricing are fish and chips (RM15.90), rib-eye steak (RM65) and mee siam kuah (RM9.90)

Secondly, SWIK is trying to serve too many kind of dishes in one go - they specialize in Asian, Western, Italian and Mexican (as stated in menu and business card) - that we cannot pinpoint what to have. Perhaps a chef's recommendation note is put on the menu. We finally decide to go Johorean, as the restaurant has deep roots in JB - and ordered the Laksa Johor, Nasi Ambeng and Nasi Goreng Ah Pau (replacing the finished nasi impit set). We also decide to make the Laksa as the benchmark. 

Now, for the positives. The price might be a little steep, but they do make an effort to make it up in size, freshness and presentation. The Laksa Johor was tasty though a little spicy and the portion was just nice. My nasi ambeng was also okay, it had white rice, sambal goreng, serunding, sambal ikan bilis and ayam kicap. But it would be nicer if I could choose more options to put in the Nasi Ambeng, like the missing meehon, begedil and fried fish. Finally, the Nasi Goreng Ah Pau was seafood-based, and the shrimps and squids are quite big and fresh.

The dishes we ordered did not disappoint, but they did not impress either. Tasty, but could be much, much better. So are the prices worth it? We do not think so, if we plan to eat there on a regular basis, but would be fine if we make SWIK a monthly visit. However, it is up to you to decide. 

Conclusion:

It would be unfair to judge SWIK because we only tried only one type of its extensive menu. There are plenty more to choose from depending on your taste buds and budget. Recommended for a special night out or if you want to have a lot of varieties under one roof. Contact details are 03 - 8927 5540.

Six-and-a-half marks out of ten.

.

Zoo Negara Ulu Klang

Getting started:

Our very own Zoo Negara is located within a sprawling 110 acres of land in Ulu Klang, just north of Kuala Lumpur and situated in a somewhat mixed jungle-concrete landscape. For Malaysians, the Malaysian Zoological Society will charge you RM20 for adults and RM6 for kids (Zoo only and includes the animal show); and RM25 adults and RM9 kids to add extra entrances into the Insect Zoo and Butterfly Park.

click to enlarge

Remember to show your MyKad (everyone in your group must show) to prove you're Malaysians, so if you're in a large group and only one person is queuing, please collect all MyKads to avoid being turned away at the ticketing counter or worse, being asked to pay the foreigners' rate (almost RM10 more expensive).

F is for FOC

You will get to wear wristbands which you have to verify at the entrance gate, which is quite cool and contemporary. And if anyone is celebrating their birthday on that day, also inform the ticketing counter to get FREE admission. Our daughter turned three during our visit, and she got in free!

Also, disable people get in free and senior citizens get a big discount. So get everyone in your family to join in the fun and educational trip to Zoo Negara!

There are also ample parking at the Zoo, with two parking areas (at Gate A and Gate B) - so do not park haphazardly outside the area. The parking fee is also minimal, and there will parking attendants to guide you on where and even HOW to park, during peak hours.

There are two entrances to the Zoo, Gate A and Gate B. If possible, try to enter via Gate A as it brings you straight into the Zoo's main area while Gate B will bring you to the Aquarium and Animal Show Theater. The best hour to visit Zoo Negara is as soon as it opens, that is at 9.00 a.m. There will be enough trees and gazebos to provide shade and shelter, but as the day goes on, you will feel tired.

The Zoo is home to almost 5000 animals from 400 different species, and most them are placed in spacious exhibit areas. The Zoo compound is large too, so be prepared to walk a bit, and bring a lot of water especially if you have kids in tow. Our advice is also to plan where and what your family would like to see and visit the most, and which exhibits and attractions to skip. Plan your trip around the Zoo as soon as you enter the gates.

Attractions:

Once you enter, immediately buy tram tickets, costing RM3 adults and RM2 children (again, with MyKads). You can start by taking the tram ride as it will make two stops along the Zoo at designated tram stations. Alternatively, you can do it like us - we walked around the Zoo first and then took the tram for one complete round before going home. It is better this way during peak seasons, as the tram stations will be packed with tired people waiting for trams to take them back to the main gates. 

If you decide to take the tram at the end of your trip, now you must decide where to go in the Zoo. It very much depends on what you'd like to see. If you want to see the Aquarium, Animal Show, Children's World or Penguins - the take the right turn. But if you'd like to see the giraffes, elephants and the Lake, then turn left. The main stars of the Zoo, the lions and the tigers, are also much nearer if you follow the path on the left.

We took the path on the right, and was greeted by the many monkeys and apes. The magnificent horn bills are next on the exhibit enclosure area. Then we reached the Animal Show Theater, which had already started, but being the school holidays, was so packed we couldn't get a peek at all. Unfortunately, the shows are also limited to only two shows per day, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Next, we found the Penguins' aquarium, before entering the Tunku Abdul Rahman Aquarium. You can skip this, as the old aquarium's building is quite small, cramped, suffocating, stuffy and unsuitable for children. Walk a bit more and you will discover the Bear Complex, and see the bears having fun and relaxing under the sun. By this time and distance, you should already be feeling the heat, so take a rest at the kiosks.

When you do continue, try not to miss the Savannah Walk, a large open concept exhibition area created like the safari, which is home to giraffes, zebras and antelopes. But some of the animals might be lazy and would prefer to sleep anyway, but you will appreciate the unique Savannah area which makes you feel the animals are close by, instead of them being in cages.

When you approach the Cat Walk area, if you're lucky, you might hear the roars of the tigers and the lions. Naturally, this is the main attraction of Zoo Negara, and the exhibit area is so crowded. Take your time here, be patient, and you will find a nice spot to view the tigers and lions, or wait for them to come near (if they're not sleeping). The big cats are truly majestic animals, true kings of the jungle, and you might want to spend more time here. 

We ended our journey in Zoo Negara with one tram ride around the zoo, which we felt was a better way to appreciate the surroundings after a tiring walk. The Zoo might lack the modern facilities and need more attractions - but the kids will love it here. It will be a rewarding educational trip for them, and perhaps for the whole family.

Tips:

- Bring lots of water

- Wear comfortable shoes

- Make sure everyone has MyKad/ MyKid

- Buy tram tickets

- Arrive early and see animal show at 11 a.m.

- Do not miss Savannah, tigers, lions, elephants - kids love 'em the most!



.

Senandung Malam Seafood at Bagan Lalang

Craving for some fresh seafood in the 30 - 40km radius of Bangi, we decided to head to Bagan Lalang, the world-renowned bird watcher's paradise and sleepy town off the coast of Sepang. The Bagan Lalang coastal area was a well-kept secret but when the Swiss Belhotel's Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas and Spa Resort (rates from RM500 onwards) opened at the Sepang Goldcoast Beach last year, the place has quickly gathered recognition as a tourist spot.

So be prepared for a packed beach and heavy traffic on weekends, public holidays and school breaks.

long Q

There are many restaurants along the beach, and each boasting fresh and cheap catches of the day. The trick is to find out that is tasty. Reading reviews from prior visitors to Senandung Malam, we decided to get there, and again, our group will be a large one consisting of 18 adults and children.

Reservation:

Contact: 013-384 9368 and 019-259 7356.

There are no specific method to make reservations. We managed to find and call a few contact numbers, but do not expect friendly greetings from the other side. Perhaps they are busy preparing the restaurant, as they open as early as 5.30 p.m. You should inform them of your entourage size and time of arrival. On busy periods, they might not be able to entertain you, if you plan to come after 8 p.m. You can also order the menu straightaway if you know what and how much to eat.

Our recommendation is to come early and enjoy the beach, then make your way to the restaurant as soon as they open.

Food:

Of course, seafood, and fresh too. As it is with other eateries of this type, you order at the counter where all the fishes, shrimp, prawns, squids, pepahat, clams and what-nots are. Make your choice, and then have them weighed and tell them how you want them prepared - fried, grilled, steamed, etc. All the items are fresh and are of satisfactory sizes.

But the downside was, the waiting time here was almost two hours. The queue was long, and at the beginning, there was only one person weighing, and taking and writing your orders.

Our advice here is to work together in your group - assign someone from your group to get a table, and someone else should just head straight to the ordering counter. And make sure to double check your order - they might get it wrong.

So for our group, we had bawal (grilled, but actually we ordered it masak 3 rasa - that's why we recommend you to double-check), pari (grilled), squid (fried), prawns (fried), clams (boiled), siakap (grilled), kailan ikan masin, rice and 3 jugs of sirap limau.

The grilled items were delicious and not over-burnt, and the sambal a bit too spicy but went well with the fishes. The fried squid and prawns, being fresh, was juicy and mouthwatering that they were the first items on the table to be wiped out. The fact that the seafood were fresh probably helped them being delicious as well.

Service:

As we said before, the staff aren't too friendly and they are extremely busy running around anyway. But, they will always try to find you a table and adequate enough to seat your group. Our tip is to grab someone, ask nicely, and they will surely help you out.

Conclusion:

So was it worth the long drive and wait? Yes, the price certainly was, though not exactly cheap, but it is still one of the cheapest in the Klang Valley-vicinity area. The drive would be tolerable if you skip the highway and take the leisurely route through Bangi, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, and the small towns and villages along Sepang, Salak and Sungai Pelek. The long queue at the counter could be made less painful if you plan early and smartly, and of course you must have the patience for it. 

We thoroughly recommend this restaurant if you crave for fresh seafood,  a beach front restaurant and going in a large group. Eight and a half out of ten for Senandung Malam.

.

Restoran Al-Abraj, Bangi

 

Location:

Al-Abraj, Seksyen 9, Bandar Baru Bangi.

We are not really fond of Arabic/Middle Eastern cuisine, but decided one night to try out what the fuss was all about. Joining us, was almost the whole family, totaling 12 of us, so finding a spacious eatery was top on our list.

Joining the many, many food outlets in Bangi is the Al-Abraj, specializing in Arab and Yemeni cuisine. Find your way there (via your SatNav) at No. 40, Jalan Medan Pusat 2C, Seksyen 9, Persiaran Bangi.

Ambience:

Moderate but clean and tidy. Spacious and suitable for large gatherings. The Arab decor was minimal but just nice enough to set you on a mood. There is also a surau for your convenience.

Service:

The staff was fast, efficient and friendly. The waitress who attended our large group was so helpful, that she explained the items on the menu and made some recommendations too. She was patient too as she had to make the explanations a few times. Two thumbs up, and big thank you to Abraj's wonderful staff.

Food:

Being somewhat unfamiliar with Arabic cuisine, we took some time to digest the quite extensive menu. Typically, the main menu consist of lamb and chicken served with rice but only the cooking/serving style differs. Choose from Zurbian (cooked inside the rice - Abraj's specialty), or Haneez (steamed), or maybe you'd try the famous Mandy (oven-cooked). Our recommendation is, always go for the lamb - it is a standard rule when you're in Middle Eastern outlet anyway - and Al-Abraj cooks the lamb tender, moist and juicy and it goes nicely when you have some trouble with the dry rice.

Another thing which makes this main course worthy of its price, is its large serving. A plate could easily satisfy two moderate-eating adult.

My wife went for the dry lamb Akdah, which is tender lamb meat floss cooked with potato and tomato, served with Lebanese bread. This dish was fantastic as the spices blends well and gives you a myriad of tastes. The rest of group had kebab, sandwiches, fool (kacang pool) and Yemeni bread. Again, the Yemeni bread was so large it could easily feed two adults too.

As for the beverages, you could try the Yemeni lime if you could take the extreme sourness. But you must try the bottled non-alcoholic malt drink which comes in a lot of flavours.

Overall:

There are plenty more items on the menu which looks appetizing, and perhaps the more adventurous among you would like to try the equally adventurous items. The lamb is a must-try, and if you can skip the dry rice, try to have the lamb with bread instead.

Moderate ambiance, clean environment, large portion and tasty food makes Al-Abraj a recommended place to visit, even if you don't really like Arabic cuisine.

A definitive eight marks out of ten.



.

Review: Tiara Beach Resort, Port Dickson

This is our second visit to the Tiara Beach Resort, with the first being in 2007. Even though the gap was a mere three years, but the once-proud Resort looks like it has aged thirty years. From its worn-out furniture to its lacklustre rooms, the Tiara is like a crown losing its gems and diamonds, bit by bit.

Reservation and check-in:

We tried our luck on the Friday, and luckily, we got ourselves a room. The reservation informed us that we booked for a one-room apartment, but upon check-in, it turned out that the rate which we paid was for a studio room only. It was poor communications and a serious error by the management, but no amount of complaining was going to rectify the situation. We double-checked our reservations, but my tip to you is, triple check if you want to reserve rooms at the Tiara.

The check-in process was chaotic. I have not seen anything like it before. There was a pre-check-in counter to get your confirmation slip and a queue number, before we can proceed to the real check-in counter to get our keys. the queue number was so long that it was worse than at the Immigrations Department. The Lobby was so packed that it looked like the market and the toilet was so filthy. The staff was made up of trainees and clearly lacked experience and courtesy.

Imagine my irritation, when at the pre-check-in counter, the staff could not find my name and blankly stared at me and said, "Sorry encik, nama encik tiada..", much to my chagrin and annoyance. She didn't even try to double-check. Finally, her colleague next to her came and help, and of course she found my name, as it was right there all along. And my queue number was a good and solid 70 persons ahead.

while waiting for check-in

If it wasn't for the entertainment provided at the Lobby, I would have lost my temper. Being Christmas, the Tiara had Santa Claus, the Teletubbies and two clowns (one of them was on stilts, which was cool) to keep the children occupied.

So a misinformed reservation department, chaotic check-in and lazy staff, we would like to proudly rate 1 mark out of 10; and the single mark is for the entertainment.

Room:

We were given block F (the last block), which was okay, but we had to make one big turn around to get there, and the parking were full. The annoying thing was the parking bays were full because the management of Tiara deemed it fit to fill about 10-15 bays with kiosks and stalls to make more profit. Maximizing the profit but depriving the paying customers of comfort and convenience.

Our room was on the 3rd floor (all blocks have 6 floors with about 20 units on each floor); but there was only one small and miserable elevator to serve them all. The management would like their clients to use the stairs but, in all their stupidity, forgets that people who come to Tiara do so in large families and carry lots of luggage. The notice at the elevator lobby reads - "Strictly for unloading baggage only" - do you think children and senior citizen would be able to climb the stairs all the way to level 6?

Anyway, upon entering the room, that's when we realized we got the studio room. Calling front desk would be useless, because they insisted that the rate we paid for was really for studio room on weekends, but I was informed otherwise during reservation. It was miscommunication but I still blame the management for giving inaccurate and contradicting information.

As for the room itself.. where do we start to complain. The furniture was so worn-out it looked like it came from a government rest house. The curtains were so dirty and looked unchanged for eternity, they were so decayed and torn apart. The toilet was not clean too. And the room was dusty like it was not cleaned for a long time. We had to pay deposit if we wanted the remote controls to the air-cond. And nobody from housekeeping showed up when we requested for.

Disappointing and a shambles, totally unworhty of our money. 2 marks out of 10.

The Water Park:

The one and only reason people still come to Tiara - the massive pool and man-made beach and water park. Since the 13th of December, entrance to the Water Park area will incur entrance charges of RM20 per adult and RM15 per children, but when you book a room, you get complimentary entrance according to your room types. For studio, you get complimentary entrance for 2 adults and 2 children, and you get to wear wristbands according to colours designated for the day. But we saw that the implementation was not strict yet, but at least bring the wristbands along to the water park because there will different prices to pay for other facilities, if you have the wristbands (like renting a bike, foot masage, fish spa and more).

The massive pool was really big enough and we still managed to find a spot for our little family to soak and splash. However the much smaller kiddies playground pool was packed and the water looked murky. Anyway, the whole park has enough water and inflatable slides to keep everyone happy and enjoyable. There were enough lifeguards on duty too.

As for the bike rental, it was RM8 for 30 minutes for single rider (with wristband) and RM10 for 30 minutes for twin (the bipeds). A bit expensive but you can cycle around the vast Tiara area, and we don't think they're too rigid with the time. Other facilities available are gymnasium, games room, indoor playground, sauna and karaoke.

The Pavillion Area:

At nightfall, the Pavillion area comes to life with its brightly decorated and colorful trees. A giant screen monitor was showing cartoons as early as 7.30 pm. Kids were safely running around the area, and playing the UFOs (of course, sold at the area). There were stalls selling toys and snacks.

Then the stage hosted a magic show and an acrobatic performance from China. For the more relax-inclined people, a live band played at the restaurant, where you can also test you karaoke skills. In short, there are many activities to keep you occupied until your bedtime.

The water park and pavillion are the only saving grace left for Tiara, but there are now many up-and-coming water parks. And some of the facilities should already be included in the entrance fees. We give the pool and pavillion combo 8 marks.

Service and food:

The temporary staff was, like stated above, lazy and unhelpful. However, the more experienced permanent staff at the front desk was friendly and courteous. Don't expect concierge service though.

Breakfast was no longer included in your room rates by default anymore (replaced by the entrance fees), so we never had the chance to try the food. There are a number of restaurants in Tiara. Or else you could head for PD town or down to the Melaka border for seafood.

We didn't try the food so we can't rate it, but we can give the Tiara staff 5 marks out of 10.

Overall:

The Tiara could boast of its unique attraction a while ago, but with so many other similar-themed resorts, why should we come back? A total refurbishment of the accommodation facilities should be on the resort's priority list, as well as a total revamp of their reservation and check-in mechanism. The water could do with some updating too. The entrance fee will prove unpopular in the longer term.

A disappointing place to have your holiday, we will decline to recommend Tiara to people looking for a value-for-money vacation in PD. An overall mark of miserable 4 for this miserable resort.