It's that time again.
30 days has expired since we last got Mary and Jude back with us.
Thanks to ICA they have to go again, but this time we all go.
A bit of an adventure. Something different. We caught a luxury coach to Melacca. What fun it was.
A long old trip but super seats, reclining all the way, foot rests, extremely comfortable. So comfortable I wonder if you could sleep. Hmmmmm, I wonder... ZZZZZZZZZ
BOO DADDY!!!
Well that sleep was short-lived - it's munchkin time.
We virtually had the bus to ourselves - just one other family, so spread out we did.
Getting through immigration both ways is a pain, as you all disembark and luggage etc. But still it is relatively hassle free and just really good fun - as a family we talked, we played, it was nice.
One main resin to come to Melacca is food, food, food - and these little blighters. Chicken rice balls.
Stunners!!! Go to Yonkers and find Famosa Chicken Rice Ball Restaurant - it's a red front, and will have a queue, I guarantee it...
A quick stop at a new watering hole for us this trip.
It was seriously boiling hot this day and we needed a rest and refreshments.
Having just eaten we were so very not hungry but how could you resist these? Little flattened bread, deep fried rolls of minced beef with mayonnaise - yes I have stolen this recipe big time!!!
Here is the wonderful little place.Very Bohemian.
A restaurant, bar, coffee shop and jewellers all in one.
A fantastic people watching locale and just off Yonkers too where the night market action was just starting to liven up.
A brisk 15-20 minute walk from Yonkers and we reach out hotel.
On the way many side streets opened themselves to street food markets, smoke wafting, people chatting, people eating - smells lingering in the air of the delights being consumed.
This is why I love Melacca - it's rough in parts, a tad edgy, but for food it is right up there...
We were quite late eating lunch on day number 1 because the coach took a little longer than we thought. Seems the 3 hours to Melacca is once you actually get in to Malaysia.
Anyways a decision was made, let's return to hotel and find some dinner locale around there rather than eating around the Yonker area tonight. And boy oh boy we were so very glad we did.
Welcome to Mr Lee's - literally 1 minute across the road from our hotel. Hello there Mr Lee, so glad we stopped by. The usual good signs - no white faces, packed with locals, and queues spilling to the street and cars queued to get in the car park. Downer for me was clearly the big flashing crab, I wonder if they do more than seafood or I am going to be buggered. Let's check the menu...
Really not sure re item No4 - meat, egg and spit. Wow the chef must have a very dry mouth when he has finished his shift.
And then I see this - the first one.
All I can think of is Ronald Weasely from Harry Potter - ginger frog!!!
Kitchen was pumping, that serving bell was tinging every couple of minutes. They were firing food out left right and centre. We watched awaiting our major order. It came and we were not disappointed.
The master at work. Well at wok.
But before we ordered some alarm bells were a ringing.
Holy sh*t I am hoping they have an English menu.
I notice no pricing - this could be an interesting bill when we get it.
A hard day at the office for Amy...
A before she has eaten her rice above,
And an after she has eaten her rice below.
Ping!!!
Ollie all good as always - I think keen to eat, again as always!
My dish that I ordered.
Black pepper pork ribs.
Holy cow. One of the very best hawker foods I have ever eaten. This was truly wonderful. Mr Lee this a winner winner chicken dinner. It was just fabulous. Spicy, but warming spicy, it sort of crept up on you. Tender tender meat, almost melt in mouth. Unctuous gravy, almost sticky. And with a cold beer, this stuff was untouchable. This absolutely moves in to a death row cuisine position for me.
This is actually a sign for the restaurant in our hotel, but I spotted it from Mr Lee's
Made me laugh - can you spout why?
How many children do you know that are over 60 years old???
Fine some quick as they eat for 15RM only.
Here comes Mary and Ollie's main chosen dish and a speciality of the house.
Steamed Stone Crab.
We got two. Each of these in Singapore would have been $100 SGD. Out total bill including all food, beers, drinks for kids, 2x crabs, pepper ribs, friend garlic prawns and kai pan came to about RM120, about $55 SGD - NICE!!!
Unassuming - yes!
Packed - yes!
Spot any white faces - no!
Queues outside - yes!
Smelling good - yes!
Ice cold beers - yes!
WINNER - YES!!!
Breakfast the next day now. What to have what to have.
A little disappointing as it was very Western food, not localised. Quiet sad. Eating hash browns in Melacca seems a tad of a waste being there, so I rebelled and made my own.
Slice of toast,
Some sliced cheese,
Drizzle some Malaysian chicken curry sauces over it,
Lay on top 2x over-easy eggs,
Drizzle with a little soy sauce,
Sprinkle with chopped shallots and Spring onion.
Hey presto - and very delicious.
This is probably trip No.4 to Melacca and we have never yet got to eat at this restaurant.
Nancy's Kitchen, just off the bottom of Yonker.
It is ALWAYS packed to the rafters, literally, queues spill to the pavement and worm their way down the road. We have never got in.
Today we were lucky. We arrived at 1500, 30 minutes before closure. We waited for 20, they let us in, we got the huge round table with the lazy Susan, the couple behind us were the last allowed in for this sitting. Boy were we lucky today.
Nancy is a purveyor of some of the finest Nyonya recipes, hand-me-downs from generations of Nyonya. A mix of Chinese and Malay - a hot-potch.
Almost looks like my Nan's house, nick-hacks everywhere, photos everywhere, every nook has something on display. I really like this place.
Tamarind pork belly.
Spicy pork salad (almost Laab Gai in style but with pork belly not mince).
Chicken curry with cane nuts - really nice this one. Really nice. This one I think was something like 5th generation hand down recipe.
Amy's prawn omelette which she literally devoured.
Down side for me - too much belacan in everything. Instead of salt, instead of soy - in Nyonya you use belacan which is basically fermented shrimp paste. Very strong taste and very fishy. Not loved by yours truly so actually this was not for me the best food experience of the trip.
Baby Jude get's his Nyonya face on!!!
Whilst we are there let's have a father and son moment to watch England hopefully beat Italy.
Bugger 2-1, but England showing major promise with great attacking football.
Like the shirts? Melacca acquired and I think bloody cool!
No more photos now - apart from one departing one stood at the Malaysia immigration check-point. A little look back and Malaysia puts on a goodbye display sunset.
Check this out.
I wish the welcome to Singapore was as nice.
No it was not.
We had to go see the officer to explain why Mary is coming back after 30 days since last time of exit.
It is starting to get 'nasty' and therefore she and Jude clearly cannot be leaving alone any more!!!
Thanks Singapore!!! NOT!!!
