A Frog Enjoying Pork Noodles

Besides beef brisket, pork noodle is another delicacy found in Kota Kinabalu. And very much loved and savored by the Chinese.

One famous pork noodle Kopitiam is called Jia Xiang Zu Za 家乡猪杂 , Hometown Pork Noodles. It is originally opened at Lintas, now it opens a branch at where I stay, Inanam new township. Just next to Jia Xiang Niu Za 家乡牛杂.

This morning my husband brought me there for our first pork noodles. It is almost full but we managed to share one table with another couple. They had ordered right before us. But quite funny our noodles arrived first. They were very unhappy and grumbling. Their noodles arrived minutes later.

We both ordered konlou mee干捞面, dried noodles in sauce, but with different pork products.

One bowl of konlou mee costs MYR7.50, noodle soup is MYR7.00. And you could order stuffed tofu, MYR1.50 per piece. 

We ordered one glass of special milk tea that is sweetened by gula melaka or palm sugar, MYR3.50.

Humble Frog Enjoying Vegetarian Meals

Becoming vegetarian is not only being healthy now, but trendy. In Kota Kinabalu, most people are carnivorous. So finding pure vegetarian eateries is a challenge.

I happily had come across a handful of good vegetarian restaurants, meaning eating vegetarian in proper nice restaurants. One is Beyond Veggie. It is a famous national chain restaurant, so it does stand at above average. Of course a proper meal will cost you a small small fortune.

Nice potato salad and greens in sesame dressing, MYR15++

Super delicious pizza, MYR25++

To die for pistachio cake, MYR12++

Now another vegetarian restaurant just opened and I brought my family to sample it. It's within the establishment of Sky Hotel. Only a few choices on the menu and so we ordered almost all the dishes on the menu.

Sky Vegetarian Restaurant

Nash Lemak, MYR10

Green Curry Rice, MYR10

Vegetarian Rendang, MYR12

Spaghetti Olio, MYR12

Potato Cream Soup, MYR8

Grilled Vegetables, MYR8

Overall food and dining experience was average, and we got 20% discount on their opening month. 

We got up to 14th floor of the hotel to look at the so-called the highest infinity swimming pool and gym room in town.

Infinity Pool overlooking city view

Doing gym with a night view

Borneo Frog's Favorite Beef Noodles

I don't eat insects or flies or spiders, I eat beef noodles. And today I just had a very nice bowl of beef noodles right at my hometown.

Firstly, I will talk about this beef noodles I had for lunch. It is called Jia Xiang beef noodles 家乡牛杂. It's been around for years but at the other side of the city. And it is always fully packed with loyal customers. Several months ago, I asked the lady boss is she ever came across her mind that a branch to be opened at the other far side of citu. She gave me a timid smile and quickly walked away. I thought my dream would never ever come true. The good news is, now they do open a branch right here!

So to show my appreciation and support, I came to this brand new nicely renovated shop, and it was full of customers. I managed to find seats for my husband and myself and quickly ordered my beef noodles. I chose flat rice noodles, instead of the usual yellow round noodles.

Here came my bowl of beef noodles! Mine was beef meat mixed with beef brisket and stewed radish. Every spoon was satisfying delicious! And they provide super hot chili sauce that makes you sweat like you're standing under the mid-day sun.

This bowl costed me MYR8.00.

I had it, I was a happy frog.

A frog attending a banquet

I am not a loner, I like to socialize with people I meet for the first time. And wedding banquet is one good occasion.

Tonight I am attending, with my husband, his cousin's daughter's wedding. This makes me sound old, which is in fact not true. Anyway, it's not about me. It's about the banquet.

Guests arrival time start at 6:30pm, only the hosts, bridegroom and bride and their parents show up at, maybe before 6:30. The time frame for guests arrival usually stretches to 5 minutes before the banquet starts, normally by 8am. Experienced guests wisely have some snacks beforehand. Me, too. And the hosts have been standing and welcoming the guests since they arrived.

By 8pm, finally the hosts get to sit down at the table. And the guests finally is starving no more. If we're lucky, the food is served straight away. Often, we have to listen to some speeches from some honorable guests, first.

Now, the food is finally served, course by course, a total of eight courses. In between, we have to pretend enjoying the amateur performance, usually karaoke sessions, by the guests. But most people pretend to interact with people at the same table, whether they know each other or not.

The banquet normally ends by 10pm, that is if we're fortunate that the hosts don't want to perform on stage.

The happiest moment is leaving the banquet.

A walking frog in Rainforest City, North Borneo

Instead of bouncing, I walk. Kota Kinabalu, the city at Northern Borneo, also nicknamed Rainforest City.

Don't be fooled! It's not in the midst of rainforest. Instead, it is a seaside city. When your plane is flying into the city, crystal clear blue sea is welcoming you, with the backdrop of lush green hills and ranges, and at the far corner,the head turning gigantic mountain, Mt. Kinabalu.

You can scale the city by walking around. And observe the locals doing things at moderate pace. Foreigners walking around, too, and at a slower pace.

The locals like to hang out at beautiful seaside parks, picnicking, swimming, watching sunsets, cycling or jogging.

This is a photo of one of the seaside parks at night.

Breakfast Fun Part 1

Sometimes, I am in the mood to shower love, with my cooking.

First of all, to shower my love to my dear husband, with simple delicious breakfast.

This one is called cheong zai noodles 肠仔面, or sausage noodles. Simply and delicious. Just cook one packet of instant mee goreng, preferably Daddy Mee Goreng, and pan-fries some sausages in butter, there you have it. Fast, simple and yummy!

I occasionally make these cholesterol-rich breakfast for my husband having bordely high cholesterol level. But he could not resist to finish every bit of it and licking the plate shiny clean. Shame on me!

It's almost midnight now and I'm writing about breakfast...not unusual for me. In eight hours, I will be cooking breakfast for my love, maybe.

Aramaiti with local food Part 1

Aramaiti! Means having a jolly time in kadazan-dusun. Being a Sino-Dusun, half Chinese blood half Dusun blood, not unusual for me thinking about having a jolly time, all the time.

For a sabahan, eating is a jolly time, just like anyone from any place or any culture or any country. But life is not about what we eat only, but how often we eat, how much we eat, and where we eat.

I will start with the place I am born and grown up in. It's called Inanam. Very small town, but many makan places.

Look nice kah? Only MYR22!
Go to this Kopitiam, Tian Xiang Lou 天香楼, meaning heavenly fragrance place. I often come here for dinner, only open from 5pm onwards.

Just ask the locals, they will tell you how to get to this shop. Or just drive around, you will see it, Inanam is such a compact town.

Right beside the Kopitiam, there is a Jawanese grilled fish stall selling best grilled fish in town. Must try. Another stall selling dumpings, average, can try if you want.

Now, if you are able, walk to the two-storey market. Downstair is wet market where the locals get their fresh vegetables, fresh meat, fresh fish and fresh fruits, mostly organic. Upstairs, are stalls selling breakfast.

My favorite stall is located at the row facing the staircase in the middle of the building. This stall is run by a young lady who inherits her mother's secret recipe of cooking flavorful beef noodles. It is a bowl full of noodles and beef, for MYR5.50.

First time blogging, not very skilled yet. That's all from me for now.

Before I leave, I'd like to share with you this beautiful sunset view from in front of my house.