Monday, June 30, 2008

Result of Fuel Saving Device (Voltage Regulator) Test -

A friend of mine asked me to try out a fuel saving device on my car. Since the price of petrol is going sky high, everyone is finding ways to save fuel. The device is supposed to regulate voltage and thus enhance the performance of the car. Here is the test result. Car Type: Nissan Sentra 1.6 Auto (3 years old) Without Fuel Saving Device Mileage = 295.60 km Fuel Consumed = RM68.15 Consumption(RM/km) =0.2305 With Fuel Saving Device Mileage = 281.20 km Fuel Consumed = RM63.13 Consumption(RM/km) = 0.2245 Therefore, Fuel Saving per Km is 0.2305-0.2245 = RM 0.006 Possible Deviation/Improvement of the test result: 1) Fuel is not properly measured. I just pumped the petrol into my tank until it is full. 2) The style of driving, road condition and traffic situation were not taken into consideration 3) To get an accurate result, more sets of test should be conducted to get an average reading. 4) The test should be done on a few types and makes of car of various ages. The device costs around RM600.00 per unit. Therefore I will need to drive approximately 99240 km (RM600/0.006) to cover the device cost before I start to save money on fuel. How long will the device last or whether maintenance is required is still a question? My friend claimed that he saved 20% of fuel on his 10 year old Wira Auto 1.5. Maybe the efficiency of the device varies with the type and condition of your car. NOTE: The author has no intention in promoting or discredits this device and is not agent for the company selling this device. This is only my personal findings. For more information check out this link: http://www.fuelsaving.info/debunk.htm

Friday, June 27, 2008

Parklin Vegetarian Economy Rice, Atria, Damansara Jaya PJ

Parklin Vegetarian Food Stall.
Rice with Siew Ngor, vegetable curry and fried oyster mushroom.
Prices of petrol up, rice up, electricity rate up ………prices of everything going up but salary and sales commission remain the same, my friend lamented! What to do? Eat vegetarian economy rice! Vegetarian economy rice is reasonably priced and also healthier, less medical bill. If you are around Damansara Jaya area, drop by to the food court beside Atria Shopping Complex. I normally take the Parklin Vegetarian food. Apart from the normal vegetarian dishes, the stall owner sometime cooks up one or two special new type of dish. This afternoon, there was a new dish (or just new to me!) mock meat with satay sauce, but I did not try it because my plate was already full and I do not want to waste food by taking more than I can consume. Price is reasonable, a plate of rice with one big piece of Siew Ngor (Fried five spice Bean curd skin- like the recipe in my post dated 15/06/08), vegetable curry and fried oyster mushroom cost me RM3.70. The place will be packed at around 12.30 noon, so go there early (12 noon) and you will not have to queue up for your food. Fried bihun(rice vermicelli) is also available. Open: Lunch only Address : Parklin Vegetarian Food, Atria Food Court, Jln SS22/21, Damansara Jaya Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Atria Jln SS22/21, Damansara Jaya Map

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Food(NV) - Dry Bak Kut Teh -Restaurant Shun Heng, Sunway Mas PJ-Non Halal

Dry Bah Kut Teh Restaurant in Sunway Mas
Heong Pin Tea, goes well with Bak Kut Teh
My lunch buddy, Chang J.P., showing the thumbs up.
The dry bak kut teh. Bon appetit!
Ladies fingers(okra) with oyster sauce.
Yam rice and yau char kueh(chinese crullers)
Nothing left! Sapu habis, ha ha.
This is my sixth visit to Shun Heng Bak Kut Teh Restaurant. The taste of the dry bak kut teh is fantastic and I fell in love with it ever since a friend of mine, whose office is just across the road, bought me there. This time I brought along my buddy, Chang JP to let him try the dry bak kut teh. We ordered a pot of dry bak kut teh, oyster sauce ladies fingers (okra), yau char kueh, yam rice, white rice and of course the heong pin Chinese tea that goes well with bak kut teh. The dry bak kut teh is served with soup separated. Dry chilies and cuttle fish (sotong kering, yau yee in Cantonese) that are added to the dry bak kut teh made the aroma very special. On top of that, the dry cuttle fish also made the dish full of natural sweetness. I rarely take ladies fingers unless with sambal belacan(prawn paste chili) but the oyster sauce ladies fingers(okra) served here is good. The sauce combination is just nice, not too sweet and not too salty. As usual we dip the yau char kueh into the soup provided. One thing I like about this restaurant is that the soups are provided individually and they top it up pretty fast when on request. Other dishes like pig trotters and the normal wet bak kut teh are also available here. The restaurant is clean and the place is comfortable. Very suitable if you are bringing your family there or want to have a business discussion over lunch. But make sure you invite me, Ok! Sounds like a Tai Koh lah! Ha ha. Shun Heng is the branch of the Taman Sentosa Klang Bak Kut Teh. Operation Hours:weekdays - 9am - 3pm / 6pm - 9pm weekends - 8am - 3pm / 5.30pm - 9pm Off day mostly on alternate Monday.
Address : No 9-1 Jalan PJU 1/3C
Sunway Mas Commercial Centre
47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact : 012 327 2208
012 329 3082
email : shunheng @streamyx.com Sunway Mas, Petaling Jaya Map
Related Post on Bak Kut Teh

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Kepong Baru Morning Wet Market - Economy Fried Bihun, Kueh Kark, Roast Pork, Soya Bean Milk, Pancake-Non Halal

by Pete I have always enjoyed going to the wet market. Kepong Baru market is a big place and you can find almost everything you need. Kepong is well known for PCL…….. Peang(cheap), Cheang (good) and Leang(nice) food, or leang lui(pretty girls)(want to know more?… go there and check it out). Look for the economy fried bihun(rice vermicelli) stall as in my map. It is fried to perfection with a tinge of smoky smell. RM1.60 for a small packet, RM1.80 for a medium packet and RM2.00 a big packet (can feed two persons) (price subject to changes…..oil price going up …mah). The stall is manned by a friendly young guy. He took over this stall from an old lady who retired last year. Fried mee, fried kueh teow and fried low shi fun are also available. As tables for customers are not available in this stall, you can tar pau (takeaway) and bring it to any of the nearby restaurant to eat it there. As long as you order drinks from the restaurant they will not chase you out for bringing outside food. I will usually take it to the wan tan mee restaurant just behind the bihun stall. I enjoy the bihun while my son normally eats the wan tan mee here. Check out also the kueh kark and soya bean milk next to the bihun stall. The kueh kark is good (same owner as the one in Bukit Maluri pasar malam on Sunday night). As for the soya bean milk you just need a RM2.00 packet and that is good enough for a family of 4 people. I love the taste of soya milk mixed with leong fun. My map (2) also shows the location of the roast pork, fresh tofu and chinese pancake stall. The roast pork is normally sold out by 10.30am so be there early if you want to taste it. I like the tofu from this stall because the texture is fine and smooth. You just have to deep fried the tofu and eat it with chili sauce. While I was there, I saw some City Hall officer were busy checking the vendors’ license and also taking pictures (wow….City Hall officers working on Sunday!). Many vendors were seen scrambling to keep their goods that have been displayed on illegal extension to their stall. I stopped snapping away with my camera when some of the vendors were staring suspiciously at me. Maybe they thought that I am an undercover City Hall officer, me?.....in my singlet and shorts …….undercover ha ha ha. Economy fried bihun (rice vermicelli)- Thumbs up! The fried bihun stall
Scene at the market (behind the Mobil Station)
My favourite fish vendor. Fishes all sold out while I was busy snapping pictures.
Oh oh....only left a tilapia, a halibut and two barracoutas. Heh heh, good reason to tell my wife that I am going fishing this afternoon.
The fish stall vendor and her son busy cleaning fish.
Next to my favourite fish stall. A small stall selling Indian wet curry and chili paste The auntie, owner of the stall suddenly went missing.....must be camera shy!
Vendors and business owners around the area
protesting against City Hall for setting up
parking meters.
Returning home with my car trunk full of stuff
bought from the market. Petai, chicken, vegetables,
fruits, fish, prawns, bean curd sheet, tofu, tou kan(wet tofu sheet),
fried bihun, marie bisquits, mushroom, eggs, spiderman stickers and
bubbles blowing liquid for my little girl.............Carry until 'pengsan'
Map 1 - Kepung Baru Marker Map

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Hawker Food(NV) - Desa Aman Puri Penang Curry Mee(noodle) and Lam Mee(Non Halal)

by Pete Related Post Authentic Penang Curry Mee Recipe Penang curry mee. Penang Lam Mee (aka Loh mee in Penang) The Curry Mee Stall Wan Tan Mee from another stall in the restaurant which my son tried. He says it is Ok, but I think it is a little bit too sweet. Kids might like it. 999 Restaurant where the curry mee stall is located Yau char kwai from a nearby roadside stall. Try dipping it into the curry mee gravy. Ohh La la... If you miss Penang Curry Mee and Lam Mee, head to Desa Aman Puri (near Wangsa Permai, Kepong). It is located at a corner shoplot, next to the famous crab for RM18 per kg restaurant, Tak Fok. A husband and wife team operates this stall. They used to sell prawn mee and jawa mee but have since stopped because they just cannot cope with the orders during peak hours. The more chilli you add to the curry mee the better the taste will be, because like all the other Penang type of curry mee, the soup is quite mild. The chilli which contain a mixture of kerisek (fried grated coconut), shallots and probably some secret ingredients add some ‘real kick’ to the soup. I like my curry mee with lots of Tau Pok (fried bean curd). This stall also sells Penang Lam Mee which goes well with the special lam mee chilli (a bit like a dry version of chicken rice chilli). My son tried the Wan Tan Mee from another stall in this restaurant. He says it taste ok, but I think it is a bit on the sweet side. Maybe that's why kids like it. There is a Chap Fan (Economy rice) here that have a good variety of dishes (I counted them, almost 50 types. Start selling early too, around 10 am). Maybe I will try the Chap Fan next time. My stomach was already full after finishing a bowl of Lam Mee and Curry Mee. Address: 999 Restaurant 1, Jalan Desa 1/3, Desa Aman Puri, Kepong 52100, Kuala Lumpur (Next to Tak Fok, the famous crab for RM18/kg restaurant) Opening hours: Breakfast and lunch only (7am to 2pm). Desa Aman Puri Map

As per Sherry comment below, they have moved to their own outlet.

Related Post To Curry Mee http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/authentic-penang-curry-mee-recipe.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/food-foodwork-marathon-in-olympic-mood.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/hawker-food-penang-lrg-selamat-char.html Related Post on Food in Kepong http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/sai-gong-restaurant-kepong.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/bird-restaurant-manjalara-kepong-lets.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/foodnv-foong-yit-restaurant-sri-sinar.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/roast-duck-desa-aman-puri-kepong.html

Friday, June 20, 2008

Simple Recipe - Vegetarian Bean Curd Strips and Tofu Stew

by Pete



Dried Bean Curd Strips (Tau Kee)


Soft Tofu - Bought fresh from Kepong Baru wet
market. Home made.



All ready to eat. Best eaten with steam rice or soft buns


Ingredients:
1) Dried Bean Curd Strips - 5 pcs
2) Tofu - One large piece(4" x4"x4") - Cut into 1" cubes
3) Cinnamon Stick (Kayu Manis) - 2 sticks
4) Star Anise(Bunga Lawang) - 2 pcs
5) Light Soya Sauce - 5 table spoon
6) Dark Soya Sauce - 1 table spoon
7) Salt to taste - (Please note that the light soya sauce is already very salty)
8) Corn Flour - 3 teaspoon
9) Water - 2 small bowls
10) 1 bulb of Garlic and Hard Boil Eggs (optional, some vegetarian don't take these)

-Soak Dried Beancurd Strips in cold water for 1 hour.
-Heat up 2 small bowls of water in pot. Add Cinnamon Sticks, Star Anise, Light Soya Sauce, Dark Soya Sauce and Garlic(optional). Boil for 20 minutes.
-Add in the soaked Dried Beancurd Strips, Tofu and Hard Boiled Eggs(optional). Boil for 5 mins.
-Mix corn flour with a little cold water and add it in the stew to make it thick. Add salt to taste and serve. Best eaten with steam rice or soft buns.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Ghost Story From Penang– The Hardcore Gamblers

Ah Kau, Meng and Maniam are hardcore gamblers. They will bet on anything, from football matches to 4D numbers. One day, Ah Kau suggested that they should go to a cemetery to ask for 4D numbers from a road accident victim, a middle age lady from their village that died three days ago. They stopped by a fruit stall to buy some fruits as offering for the dead person. They found it strange to see a fruit stall in the middle of a quiet road and still open although it is already half passed eleven o’clock at night. While they were driving away, Ah Kau took a look at his rear view mirror but could not see the food stall owner who was there a few seconds ago! He quickly stepped on the accelerator and drive away. It was about midnight when they reached the cemetery which is located at the slope of hill. The smell of freshly dug soil and burned hell paper money permeates the air when the reached the grave. They put the offering on the altar in front of the grave and started to pray for 4D numbers. There was a strong gush of cold wind and Meng fell into a trance. With his body writhing as if in pain, he whispered the number 4536 in a strange way. Maniam poured some water on Meng and slapped his thigh to bring him out from his trance. The next day, three of them bet heavily on the number 4536. The number came out as first prize and they became instant millionaires. They went back to the grave with lots of offering and afterworld goodies(paper hell money, paper car with drivers, paper hand phone, paper cosmetics set, paper TV and even a paper Ipod player) for the spirit. On the way there, the fruits stall that they brought the fruits from the other day was no where in sight. While praying at the grave, they heard a women’s voice telling them that she does not want the offerings that they brought. Those things are useless to her as she is neither in heaven nor in hell. She is living in limbo. She wanted to have a taste of their blood. Hearing this, Meng and Maniam ran away on foot from the grave. Ah Kau, being the bolder one, stayed behind at the grave alone. He cuts his hand and let the blood drips onto the tombstone. The spirits told him that a few drips are not enough and she wanted Ah Kau to join her in the afterworld. Immediately, Ah Kau ran for his life. When he reached the main road, he saw the lifeless bodies of his friends lying in the middle of the road covered with blood. They must have been run over by passing vehicles. Ah Kau kept on running until he reached a school. There was no guard there and the gate was lock. ………..The next morning the villagers found Ah Kau dead, clinging on to the schools’ fence. Note: Do you think this story is real or a hoax? If all of them died, then how do we know what happen that night? Ha Ha Ha…...

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Book Review - The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing (Jason Kelly)

Book Review (Investment) – The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing. Author: Jason Kelly I have just finished reading this book. The content is very well organized and easy to read especially if you are new to investing in the American Stock Market. It provides an insight to how the stock market works, how to evaluate stocks, charts and also advice from investment gurus like Warrren Buffet and Peter Lynch. Jason also covers investment strategy, online resources available and how to choose online brokers. There is also a review of services offered by online brokers. I like the part in the Appendix – What You Should Retain from This Book. This part provides a summary of important points mentioned in this book and can be used as a quick reference. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to investing, this is your book. Click this link for more details Related post on Investment http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/09/investment-who-wants-to-be-millionaire.html http://peteformation.blogspot.com/2008/10/global-market-rout-what-action-to-take.html

Monday, June 16, 2008

Good Penang Hokkien Mee(Prawn, Har Mee) in Bandar Sri Damansara KL, non halal

by Peter
Mr.Lim busy preparing Prawn Mee. A bowl of delicious Prawn Mee.
Friendly Auntie selling a variety of cakes, pastries and kuih. Chai tow kuih, chai kueh, yam cake, siew pau, pancakes, yau char kuih, ham chim peng, egg tart, pulut tai tai, kuih lapis, curry puff, kuih bingka, ang ku, .......many more.
Har Mee(Penang Hokkien Mee) is one of my son's favorite food. Ever since he tasted the Har Mee from Restaurant Woh in Bandar Sri Damansara he started on a quest to try all other Har Mee to see whether they can beat the one from Restaurant Woh. He claims it is the best he has ever tasted. Mr. Lim, the owner of the Har Mee stall in Restaurant Woh is always busy during opening hours. The gravy is just great, not too sweet, not too salty and real spicy. Choices of mee, bihun(rice vermicelli) and Kuey Teow are available. A bowl of Har Mee is served with Kangkong (water convolvulus), bean sprout, pork and a few pieces of hard boil egg. Yum, yum …..my stomach is rumbling while writing this post. There is another stall in this restaurant that serves a good variety of cakes and kuih(local cakes) . I normally eat the yam cake, chai kuih and chai tow kuih. The Auntie manning this stall normally comes very early (around 6.30 am), so you can ‘ta pau’ some kuih for work. Opening Hours: Breakfast and lunch only, ~7.30am to ~2pm. (Normally sold out by 2pm) Address : Restaurant Who, Jalan Cempaka SD12/2, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200, KL. (The row of shoplot(back) just after Mc Donald Bdr Sri Damansara)
Bandar Sri Damansara Map

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Simple Recipe -Vegetarian Five Spice Powder Bean Curd Sheet (Siew Ngor)

by Peter
Bean Curd Sheet Cantonese name (Foo Pei), Hokkien name (Tau Poey)
Five Spice Powder This high grade brand (very aromatic) is from Penang, Malaysia but nowadays you can get it from many places and hypermarkets in KL.
Bean curd sheets all ready, marinated and folded
Fried vegan spiced Bean Curd Sheet
Fried Bean Curd Skin cut and ready to be served
This is a very easy dish to prepare and everyone in my family, especially the kids love it. Ready made ones can be bought from Hypermarkets frozen section but nothing beats a homemade variety. Ingredients:
Five Spice Powder, Sugar, Light Soya Sauce, Bean Curd Skin, Vegetable Oil for Frying
1) Seasoning, combine.
a) Five spice powder, 1 tea spoon
b) Sugar, 1 table spoon
c) Light Soya sauce, 3 table spoon

2) 1 piece Bean Curd Sheet, Cut into around 6” by 10” Put a tea spoon of seasoning (1) into the cut Bean Curd Sheet and spread it around the Bean Curd Sheet. Then fold the seasoned Bean Curd Sheet as in picture number (4).

3) Heat up 1 cup of vegetable/corn oil in wok and fry the seasoned Bean Curd Sheet until crispy. Bean Curd Sheet cook easily, so do not fry too long or you will burn it. Cut into small rectangular shape and serve.

Related Post On Beancurd Recipe & Vegetarian Recipe

Friday, June 13, 2008

Ghost Story - The Women Visitor, A Hotel in Kuantan

The Woman Visitor by Peter Lim “A woman jumped through the window into the room.” These words still linger in my mind every time I think of what happened that night, ……… three years ago. It was the year-end school holidays; while driving back from Singapore, we decided to use the coastal road and stop by in Kuantan before returning to KL. It was around 7pm when we arrived at a hotel by the sea not very far from Kuantan town. We managed get two rooms overlooking the swimming pool. My sister in law and her husband stayed in a room just next to us. My son, five and daughter, two were very excited as we promised them that they could swim in the pool the next day. After dinner, we took a walk by the seaside within the hotel premises. As it was rather dark there, we headed back to our rooms. The time was around at around 10pm. As it was still early, I wanted to check out the hotel facilities. I went alone because my wife and kids wanted to go over to my sister in law’s room to chitchat. I went down to the lower level of the hotel floor and found that the spa was under renovation. My wife had earlier wanted to try out the spa. I headed back to the room to tell her the news. I pressed the bell a couple of times and there was no answer. After a while, my sister in law opened the door; looking very worried and pale, she said, “Quick every one, quick get out of the room.” I did not really pay attention to what she said but I spoke loudly to my wife who was carrying my daughter, “Aiya! The spa is still under renovationlah…” “Get out first, talk later,” my wife shouted. I was trailing them as they rushed to the lift. “Why? What happened?” I questioned my wife. “Your daughter saw something…dirty things,” my wife said softly as she let my daughter down. My daughter ran towards me and held me tightly. I was very curious because she is normally not so close to me and she is always mummy’s little girl. I cannot wait to know what happened. At the hotel lobby, my wife told me that while they were in the room, my daughter suddenly looked very worried and kept on saying, “Please do not disturb me! Please do not disturb me! Please go away.” She refused to say what the reason was when my wife questions her at first. Finally, she said that a pale looking woman with long hair just jumped through the window and into the room. I asked her what the woman did. She told me that the woman just stood at the corner of the room and she quickly disappeared when I entered the room. “Papa, you chased the woman away,” my daughter said. “What have I done to chase it away?” “Must have been my loud voice,” I thought. Suddenly I remembered a friend of mine who see ‘things’ very often once told me many years ago that I have thick eyebrow that can scare ghost away. I never took his words seriously. I asked her to describe what happened a few times and found that her story to be quite consistent. I always believe that innocent little children have paranormal powers and they will be able to see spirits and ghosts. Some children are able to retain this power, as they grow older but for some it just gradually become weaken. We proceeded to the reception counter and requested for a change of room using ‘air conditioning not functions well’ as a reason. A family suite was available and we took it. All of us quickly went back to the rooms to gather our stuff and moved to our new room with me leading the way. Somehow, I was not afraid that night. However, I was very concerned for my daughter. She held on to me the whole night through and refused to let anyone else carries her, except me. In the new room, I prayed and chant holy verses for my daughter until she fell asleep in my arms. All of us slept with the lights on. The next morning, we quickly leave the hotel and head back to KL. A few weeks after the incident, I received a call saying that I have won a 3 days 2 nights stays at this hotel. I recalled that I have dropped my name card in a bowl at the hotel reception for a lucky draw contest. Without any hesitation, I declined their offer.