Teluk Intan

Spent a Sunday at Teluk Intan.

Teluk Intan (Diamond Bay) was formerly known as Teluk Anson (Anson Bay).

Upon fleeing the Portugese conquest of Melaka in 1511, a new kingdom was established on the banks of the Perak River where Teluk Intan is situated today. Teluk Anson was named after Sir Archibald Anson, a British Officer who helped planned the township, where it developed into a port.

At the centenary of the town's establishment in 1982, it was changed to Teluk Intan because in the olden days it was actually known as Teluk Mak Intan, after a beautiful female trader from Mandailing, Sumatra, came to trade with the locals of Perak.

The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan. Built in 1885. Staircases inside are still sturdy.although super narrow. I thought it was just a Chinese Pagoda but after reading about it, it is a clock tower today. I searched around for the clock after visiting inside the tower. See the clock?

Free entrance. Just signed your name in the visitor's book for rememberance.

Old Police Station. In bad shape. Wished they would turn it into a museum as it's architecture is pretty fascinating.

HongKong and Shanghai Bank. Opened right after WWII ended.

Old Post Office. Still in use.

Old courthouse. Now it is used as an Army Headquarters.

Interesting building for a religious school.

Murky Perak River

One thing I noticed around Teluk Intan...this town is filled with cats. Fat cats. This fellow was sleeping at the doorstep of a public toilet. Couldn't help but snap this pic of it. So peaceful napping.

Best Iced Limau Assam Boi in the world!

Interesting old shops

Old house

Biscuit shops

The famous Teochew Yam Mooncake

I am most in awe. Any kind of mooncake can be found right here in this little town. ANDDDDD, everything is CHEAP! How can anyone find a good size plateful of chicken rice for only RM3.80 these days? A plate of Char Kuay Teow is only RM4.

The famous Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun. Oh yeah looks like a blob of flour but it is pretty tasty especially when eaten with those green chillies.

Sandakan

Sandakan, formerly known as Elopura, is the 2nd biggest town in the northeast coast of Sabah, Borneo. It is still a bustling port today. It is my favorite place for SEAFOOD!

I am featuring the famous Sim Sim H90 in this entry, my beloved place for dining. Just look at the gorgeous ocean and exotic water houses. Today, families still live in these houses. The unique part of walking to this restaurant is that you have to pass these homes (and yes, you are sure to peep inside when windows are wide open!). So much for privacy.

In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of You are found all the aspects of existence (Kahlil Gibran)

Always be like water. Float in the times of pain or dance like waves along the wind which touches its surface (Santosh Kalwar)

My best-loved Sim Sim H90 is to the left.

Steamed fresh "swimming" fish!

Yao Mak (lettuce) cooked with fermented soya and chillies

Clams cooked in spicy style

Marinated salted fish....you would end up eating 2 bowls or rice with this in your menu

THIS is what I usually come for.... BABY LOBSTERS cooked in CHEEZEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

The yummiest dish in the whole universe. I can die happy and contented now!

Sweet and spicy crabs

Salted egg calamari

In September 2017, I was most privileged to meet Chef Thomas Yong, owner and chef of Sim Sim H90. He had won the Best Chef for Seafood in the recent Sandakan Food Festival 2017. Chef Thomas was most happy to take a picture with us in his full attire and his trophy. Very friendly and warm guy.

When I am in Sandakan, I would call for a dinner with my ex-students to have a relaxed evening together and just to catch up. It is not often that I get to meet them or to visit Sandakan, but  when I do, I love to have good food with good company. That is how I enjoy life.

Jade Vine

One glance...
Unusual not to take a second
It is weird; it is striking
It is bizarre yet beautiful
The color mesmerizes
Is it blue; is it green
No, wait, is it grey
The ocean comes to mind
Turquoise waves brings a smile to rhyme
Ahhh...our beautiful life.                        
                                        (Jo-Ann Tan)            

May I present to you the magnificent Jade Vine or Turquoise Jade Vine.
I first spotted this in Cameron Highlands and O M G I just stood and stared.
"What in the world is that?" I wondered.
Then it was....Why this shape? Which are the leaves? Are they edible?
Finally it was... God, you are great! Such magnificent shades of blues and greens.

This flower is still a mystery to me. Where did it get the name "Jade"? Why "Jade"? At certain angles, this flower looked greyish blue. Other angles, they looked greenish-blue. When the sun shines on it, it looks like a sparkling ocean. Nothing at all like Jade. At least not the traditional green Jade that I am familiar with, from ancient China.

More than anything, I must have flowers always, always. (Claude Monet)

I would love to see how Monet sees these beauties in his paintings. He had a unique way of capturing colors and lights of his flowers. His Impressionist brushstrokes would definitely bring life to these already beautiful corpses!

This striking vine is a member of the peas and beans family! Really!!
They hail from the rainforest in the Philippines. Pollinated by our little black feathered winged friends, the Bats.

Some countries calls them the Corpse Flower - "Bunga Bangkai", hahaha! I thought that was funny. Well it is supposed to be smelling like rotting corpse. My nose failed me. Or, it only smells like that when it is dying. I will find out next time.

Do you see the purple seeds? Each pod (the bright blue claw-like shaped flower) contains at least 12 seeds each.

In music, in the sea, in a flower, in a leaf, in an act of kindness ... I see what people call God in all these things. (Pablo Casals)

When the sun meets the sea...