Today is the 9th day of Chinese New Year, traditionally the day Hokkien people worships Jade Emperor of Heaven “Tian Kung” (天公). I did hear quite a bit of fireworks as midnight struck even though the government has imposed a complete ban on such celebration.

The pictures I am posting here are of “Tian Hou Temple”, a place that might not be related at all to today’s occasion. But anyhow…

Pagoda with 8 sided roof

We went to the temple for some photography a week before Chinese New Year hoping to get some shots of the beautifully lit decorative lanterns, but luck was not on our side as it seems that conservation of electricity was the priority of the night. I only managed about a dozen different shots before the temple closed at around 10:30pm.

3-tiered roof with guardian dragons

You can read more about this place at Thean Hou Temple wiki entry.

pillar

You can find a few more pictures in my flickr set.

Tags:  400d,  canon,  KL,  kuala-lumpur,  Photography,  picture,  temple,  tian hou temple,  worship

Posted by KY | 6 Comments »

Happy Deepavali (or Diwali) to my Hindu friends.

I took the opportunity of the holiday to go down to KL and snap me some pictures. These shots were taken around Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, near the Maju Junction. The Canon 400D and Tamron SP90 were the gear used in this excursion, I was trying to see the effect of using a basically macro/portrait lens for streets photography.

anticipation

An old man anticipating the arrival of his bus as cars and bikes passes him in the reflection.

rejected

specks of gold

the spiral

In the older part of the city, you can find remnants of architecture from the bygone era. Do we still have dedicated fire escape routes in shop houses these days?

where do you want to go today?

There are a few more of these at my flickr set

Tags:  black-and-white,  KL,  kuala-lumpur,  life,  monochrome,  photos,  streets

Posted by KY | 12 Comments »

So since today is a Friday (meaning 2 hour lunch) and I was thinking of something spicy, together with Nicholas decided to pick up the nuffie Skyler for some Pan Mee in the city. Ordinarily, we would have gone to the famous Kin Kin Pan Mee, but I decided to give Restaurant Super Kitchen just across the road a chance to prove their worth since Kin Kin is always too packed, and I was never too good at tolerating horrible service anyway. Give the underdogs a chance, shouldn’t we?

a much more hygienic setting, with air conditioning too

We ordered the dried Pan Mee, and instead of having to wait for over half an hour in hot and sweaty condition, the food came within a few minutes. Minced pork, anchovies, poached egg, pretty much the same thing you get from their more famous counterpart. One of the most annoying thing about Kin Kin besides the owner’s attitude, is the fact that the soup always lag behind the noodle by at least 3-5 minutes. Over here, everything is served at the same time, perfect.

the chili is just as good and the pan mee very well made

Of course, the most important part is the taste of the food. After all, many of us might place good food above everything else. I find that the Pan Mee at Super Kitchen, if you can shrug off the psychological effect of this place offering “imitation food”, it is actually pretty good! I believe that a person who has never heard of Kin Kin would probably prefer this place especially if you take everything else (price, service, and ambiance) into consideration.

Nicholas is feeling the heat, over sized forehead sweating like mad

Another thing to note about this place is the choices of drinks you get to choose. While the opposite restaurant only serves a few choices of canned drinks and over sweetened herbal tea, you get much wider choices, just like an ordinary coffee shop. After discovering this place, I think I’m not going to have to put up with the famous Kin Kin again, the food is pretty much just as good, and the service with a smile won me over.

Restaurant Super Kitchen is just right opposite Kin Kin Pan Mee

Address:
Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman 1,
off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Tags:  food,  hawker,  kin-kin,  KL,  kuala-lumpur,  pan-mee,  spicy,  super-kitchen

Posted by KY | 15 Comments »

I have always thought that the roti bakar at PJ state was one of the bests I have had, until one of my clients bought me to the food court at KLCC to order the same thing there. Since then, this little stall at the 2nd floor food court became my favorite place for breakfast.

a satisfying breakfast for two

Like the version in PJ state, thicker version of bread is used; but instead of charcoal (which wouldn’t be allowed in an air conditioned environment), the bread is heated with electrical toaster instead. However, instead of having kaya and butter spread on each piece of the toast, this place have both pieces with kaya, and then put a thick slice of frozen butter in between.

The frozen butter combined with the hot bread and the sweetness of kaya makes a perfect combination. The taste of butter blending with kaya and bread; the texture of frozen butter contrasting strongly with soft kaya spread and the crispy toast; and even the differences temperature between the ingredients combined to a very satisfying bite.

ahhh.. thick frozen butter

The toast goes best with a cup of hot coffee and some half boiled egg. As each food court rental costs somewhere around RM 18,000 per month, the food doesn’t come very cheap. Each item is slightly more than RM 2. It makes a slightly expensive breakfast, but I simply couldn’t resist this stuff, just so good. I think I’m going to the 2nd floor food court at KLCC again tomorrow.

Tags:  breakfast,  food-court,  frozen-butter,  klcc,  kuala-lumpur,  toast

Posted by KY | 21 Comments »

Sultan Abdul Samad Building facing the Merdeka Square is probably one of the most photographed buildings this side of KLCC. I went there with Kelvin last Saturday after we tried our luck at Brickfield without much cooperation from the sky. Luckily, the light condition changed for the better and we were able to snap for the better part of an hour.

the shadow
I want to capture the shadow of myself projected by the evening sun on the wall. The sepia like color is from the evening sun and the red bricks.

the corridor
I wonder how many people have walked down this corridor and had their lives forever changed

clock tower

the walkway

abandoned

more pictures on my flickr set.

Tags:  24-85mm,  400d,  50mm,  canon,  dataran-merdeka,  kuala-lumpur,  photos,  sultan-abdul-samad-building

Posted by KY | 11 Comments »