thru their viewfinders

During the recent term break, DH was back to spend the one week school holidays with us. We took on the opportunity and went on a makan trip (makan, a Malay word, which means to eat) to Malacca, Malaysia. It was a 3 hours drive away from Singapore, we left home at 6.30 in the morning and didn't return before nine in the evening. We practically ate our way throughout the day trip...from breakfast to dinner ;)

My boys were the official photographers of our trip. So, come join me, to get a glimpse of Malacca through their viewfinders...

Once we crossed the Woodlands checkpoint, we went straight to Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh for breakfast. Since we were early, we were the very first patrons...the place was empty as business would only begin at 8am. The eatery was a rather old and traditional coffee shop...not a familiar sight for my kids. Nowadays, you can hardly find such old coffee shops in Singapore.

I chanced upon this eatery while googling for a place to have our breakfast in Johor Bahur. The bak kut teh was good, not too peppery or salty, and it didn't have too strong a herbal taste, more over, the soup was boiled in a claypot over charcoal. The tao pok (deep fried bean curd) was really good...it was the best I have eaten!

can you spot the giant pineapple tarts?

The first thing we got into the town of Malacca was to look for parking space. We were lucky to get a parking lot along a side street...it was just a few steps away from the famous Jonker Street. We bought parking coupons from a nearby shop and my kid had fun scratching the coupon away...yes, unlike our parking coupons, the Malaysia coupons are more entertaining...and a lot more cheaper ;)

Our first must try on our food list was Malacca's signature dish...chicken rice balls...Hainanese chicken rice with the rice shaped like a ping pong (or rather fish ball) sized ball. You can find at least 3 shops that are famous for this dish at Jonker Street. During our previous trip to Malacca, we ate this dish at Hoe Kee, this time, we went to Chung Hwa. Just look at the long queue outside Chung Hwa. We didn't have to wait too long as we were there just before the lunch crowd. Compared to Hoe Kee, I find Chung Hwa's chicken rice balls softer and taste better. The chicken was tender and my younger kid actually declared that it was the best chicken he had tasted.

After the chicken rice ball fix, we went strolling along Jonker Street. We must have walked up and down Jonker Street at least 4 times!

Just before our trip, a friend suggested that we have peranakan or nyonya food at this Nancy's Kitchen. I didn't think too much about it and wasn't that keen to include it in our food list. However, when I first got off the car, I looked up and caught sight of this big signage that says "Nancy's Kitchen'. We happened to park right outside this nyonya restaurant, so I thought we might as well give it a try. After our walk along Jonker Street, we returned to this eating place for a late lunch. We ordered a few dishes...stir-fry sweet potato leaves, cincaluk omelette, otak and ayam pongteh (because they had run out of babi pongteh). The food has got a very homely feel to it...both taste and presentation...it was as though the food was dished out right from your kitchen. I find the ayam or chicken pongteh rather delicious, the other dishes were just 'so so' to me. Either those were common dishes that we got to eat here or I think I have yet to really appreciate nyonya food?

The highlight of our makan trip is none other than the chendol at Jonker Dessert 88. We didn't get to try the chendol at this famous dessert stall during our last trip, so, even though we were quite full, we still went for the dessert right after our meal at Nancy's Kitchen. I was a little disappointed when I found the chendol 'just ok'. Of course it is not easy to find chendol that tastes as good as this, but I thought the palm sugar (gula melaka) syrup and coconut milk was a tad too diluted? Was I expecting too much?? 千里迢迢去寻找到的美食...结果切根本不是那么回事...（^^'''）

Anyway, I found the environment of the dessert shop quite interesting...it actually pride itself as a museum...with old antiques displayed all over the premises. Those Chinese words of wisdom on display at one side of the walls did caught my attention...

We spent the rest of the afternoon taking a walk around the town...

can you spot the bee?

My boys trying their hands at taking macro photos...

Do they look like potential food bloggers?? It was the first family trip that I did not have to take a single picture ;)

We ended our trip with a seafood dinner near the second link. I found this Tian Lai Seafood on the internet. This eatery is located at Gelang Patah which is about 15mins drive away from the checkpoint. The food was good and of course cheap! I am seriously thinking of going back again :)

It was a few nights before the super moon...but the moon was already so big and bright on that night. It was indeed a very pleasant food trip for us...and what can I say? I can't wait to start planning for our next holiday!