The Owls Cafe-New Chapter, KL

Can I just say I LOVE OWLS? This cafe is so close to my own heart that I was so excited to be there the first time that day.

It was literally decorated in owls and even the plates have owls on them. That alone would have guaranteed a visit from me but it helps that their food is good too.

It's quite busy in the afternoon but since we came a little after the normal lunch hour, it is quite alright. The crowd didn't deter a speedy service and our food arrived in a timely manner.

I simply love their smoked duck pasta although their bolognese didn't impress me much. I can't get enough of the seaweed in it but my husband didn't seem to care for it. The waffle on the other hand is outstanding. Even though I have never been a fan of Earl Grey or basically any tea-inspired ice cream, this dessert is amazing. The waffle was light and fluffy with crisp edges and I like the pretty colours from the strawberries and blueberries. The sourness was cut down by the sweet ice cream and salty coconut and almond flakes sprinkled lightly over the whole concoction. I don't understand the blue pea flower though, maybe that's just for aesthetics.

The hazelnut latte I ordered was average but oh well, overall this was a good visit. I will definitely come back!

The cafe was a little hard to notice unless you are looking for it because it's actually in a church building or something.

New Chapter (The Owls Cafe)
Calvary Convention Centre,
Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1,
Taman Teknologi Malaysia,
Bukit Jalil, KL.

The Red Beanbag, Solaris Dutamas

An Aussie-inspired cafe, I went here for breakfast with my sis the other day. It was quite early, a little after 9.30am on a Saturday when we reached but it was already packed. We were hoping to reach there once it opened, but maybe it was opened earlier as opposed to its opening hours stated online, or everyone is just really punctual. The image of the crowd rushing in on the dot at 9.30am is a little funny!

Anyway, the review online was more than glowing so I had high hopes for this cafe. Thankfully it did not disappoint. The service was prompt and friendly so we enjoyed our meal very much. Service water was prepared beforehand on every table so you are not obligated to order your drinks, which is great!

Both my sister and I had the benedict but she ordered the one with salmon and I ordered the one with bacon. Portion was huge despite the presentation which might seem small at first. We could barely finish our food even though they were delicious! The poached egg was very nicely done with the runny yolk soaking into the French loaf it rested upon. Both had slightly different accompaniment i.e. Mine had portobello on one and bacon on the other, while hers had spinach on one and mushroom on the other. I was impressed and would love to come back for other food on their menu.

Oh, in case you were wondering, the coffee received thumbs up from us too!!!

Visit The Red Beanbag at
Block A4, First Floor A4-108,
Publika, Jln Dutamas 1,
Solaris Dutamas,
KL.

Maha Bandula Park, Yangon

The Maha Bandula Park is a Central Park in Yangon as it is right smack in the city centre. Just a stone's throw away from Sule Pagoda, it is a convenient attraction to visit if only for a breath of fresh air after being in the city for a while.

The Independence Monument is very prominent in the background surrounded by a few chinte, mythical creatures reminiscent of gryphons of the western legend.

Heh! Blurred out my colleagues in case they don't appreciate seeing their own faces in my blog.

Entrance is free and there's plenty of locals milling around for picnic etc. A quick pass-through will suffice. In the evening in front of the park you can see their traffic police directing the massive amount of cars and motorbikes.

Jogjakarta Tips and Preparation

My recent trip to Jogjakarta was quite a disappointment. Don't get me wrong, the trip was alright but it was the amount of times we were ripped off that got me annoyed. Granted it's not a huge amount but as a group, we probably ended up paying more than what we should have. That aside, some of the attractions are amazing like the Borobudur and the views are magnificent especially the one at Pantai Timang.

Hence this post is basically as a quick guide on what NOT to do in Jogjakarta so as not to spoil your experience.

1) Do not trust the holiday agents at the airport. Do not allow them to buy your tickets or entrance fees despite the amount of brochures they show you (it will look legit) with the tempting offer of getting it cheaper. You can get them cheaper YOURSELF when you reached the attraction.

2) Rent a car or get a tour before you land. Do not bother doing a last minute rental. You will be charged extra and the service will not be as promised.

3) If you are getting a Borobudur sunrise package, you need to be there by 4am, and not set off at 4am.

4) Gua Joblang is not worth the visit unless you are willing to fork out 450k-550k IDR. A ridiculous amount and the ride there can be tedious and "off-road"-ish.

5) Do not take taxi for attractions in the city. Get one to the first attraction and ask for directions to the next. Even if they have taxi meters, there is the minimum charge even for a minute drive which is quite hefty when a good 5 minutes walk would suffice. Or, just take a trishaw. Some are willing to save you a 5 minutes walk for as little as 5000IDR.

6) If taxi refused to use their meter, even after you insist, just take a photo of their plates and licenses to complain (if you want to bother with it). Otherwise, just walk away.

7) Do NOT allow any official looking individuals or worse, not even official looking individuals, to show you anything of interest at attractions unless you wanted a in depth guide for certain attractions. Some are just looking for a quick buck and will pull you to a corner to show you a "wonder" or "place" and insist on money. Sometimes a small amount is not enough to placate them.

8) If you see people banging on your windows on your way to somewhere, do NOT bother to wind down your window. If your driver does and then ask you for donations, tell him not to do it in the future. This can be quite annoying as a short stretch would mean contributing to a few donations at minimum. I know this sound heartless but shouldn't donations mean any amount without a minimum? If you are very kind, then yes please go ahead and donate all the way.

9) The usual fare for a trishaw is about 25000IDR for tourists in the city. Sometimes cheaper when competition is high. In Malioboro, it will be quite pricey to go back. Be patient when haggling and you will find some willing to lower to 30000IDR.

I know some of the tips seemed the usual practice but sometimes we forget when we are travelling in a big group.

Sule Pagoda, Yangon

Sule Pagoda can't be missed when you are in the city of Yangon. The silhouette of the pagoda is a useful "compass" of sorts as it is one of the highest structure within the centre of the city. As one of the oldest pagoda (older than the Shwedagon) in the city, it is believed to contain a single hair from Gautama Buddha and built 2500 years ago. The pagoda is also allegedly the home of the powerful nat spirit Sularata.

I find the colonial building surrounding the pagoda more interesting and did not enter the pagoda because it could be viewed easily from the outside and some reviews I read did not seem to be very impressive. The entrance fee is 3000 kyats if you are interested and there are four entrances to the pagoda. It looks like an average temple in Malaysia with the only difference being we enter temples for free regardless of tourists or not in my hometown. LOL.

I would recommend taking a few shots of the pagoda from outside or better, from the overhead bridge a bit of a distance away. I did not take any photos outside the pagoda itself as it was rather crowded.

Sule Pagoda
Opening hours: 6am-8pm
Entrance fee: 3000 kyats

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda is probably the most prolific pagoda in Yangon. Its compound covers about 114 acres at Singuratta Hill nearby the Royal Lake, and over the years, the pagoda has been renovated to impressive heights; standing at over 110m now. The most remarkable element of the gilded pagoda is not merely its grand gold colour but the fact that they have real treasure hidden beneath the dome of the pagoda and gold bricks was used for part of its construction. In fact, it is said to have over 4500 diamonds in the dome and one of the largest is 72 carats! It is indeed mind-boggling but the top area is restricted so I guess that information will remain unproven. My colleagues and I spent about 2 hours here as we went during late afternoon and waited for it to become dark because my colleagues wanted to see the pagoda with the lights on.

The entrance fee was 8000 kyats for foreigners and you get a sticker to identify your payment. I would advice preparing a plastic bag to carry around your footwear as no shoes or slippers are permitted in the area. I wouldn't advice keeping your shoes in the locker as well because there are different exits from the pagoda and it would be quite a far walk from one exit to another. My only complaint would be the sticky floor and stairs on the climb up to the pagoda as we were required to go bare-foot and the less-than-hygienic surfaces did not impress any of us. Wet wipes are recommended and NO socks if you want to spare them. Flit flops will be best as they can be washed when you are back. And the stairs can be tiring. I think there's like hundreds of steps to climb! Okay, maybe less but it feels that way.

I think the pagoda is worth a visit. The architecture and beauty of the structure are amazing, a testament to its 2500 years of history. The temples, stupas and statues surrounding the main pagoda are astounding with their complex designs too. Not to be missed when in Yangon!

Forgive the awkward photos. I lost the original that I have painstakingly edited thanks to the apps called Blogo which did not post successfully as it seemed to tell me. After I have deleted the copies and finally checked a few days later, I realised only my text was posted. Sigh! Never again!

Bogyoke Aung San Market, Yangon

Bogyoke Aung San Market is THE Market to go to for knick knacks and other souvenirs from Myanmar. You can find precious stones, jade, textiles, magnets etc in the market. 

The market itself consists of a few blocks of buildings and streets in between. If you are interested to look at every stall or meander slowly around, this will easily take up your whole morning or whole afternoon. However, if you are just there for photos and to look around; an hour will suffice. They have plenty of art pieces for sale too.

 The market is a popular tourist spot and its structure is listed as one of Yangon's city heritage. The sprawling buildings looks impressive despite being built in the 1930s (1926). It was known as Scott Market before but was renamed after the General Aung San when Myanmar got its independence.

It's a must-visit in Yangon if you are in the city. The exchange rate here is rumoured to be one of the best but when my colleague changed MYR here, the rate was not even as good as the one offered at Hilton Yangon. So I guess it depends on your haggling too, even for the exchange rates.