Jeff and Dephne

Last week flew over to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to attend my nephew, Jeff's wedding with my mother and sister.  Upon arrival, we were received by Jeff and transferred to Promenade Hotel, a four star international business class hotel located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city. http://www.promenade.com.my/

We were checked in to a junior suit, included in the wedding package which Jeff purchased. The room was really comfortable and has beautiful views.

We had simple dinner at one of the restaurant during the eve of the wedding.  We adjoined to Jeff's house for gathering.  This is the new room for the new couple.

We had (tong yuen and cake) represent sweetness for the new couple.

The new couple had their wedding reception at Tanjong Aru Resort and Spa which had a private beach views of the sparkling coral islands.

Here come the new couple, she is so beautiful and happy, he is so handsome and young.

After the vow and all the ceremonies, we had buffet lunch. Though it was a hot day, but all of us enjoyed this occasion very much, especially all those mouth watering foods that been served.

                                                                                                           

The food were Roast chicken breasts, Beef  rendang,Fried mix vegetables, Fried rice noodle, salads and all the sweet deserts.  After our lunch we adjoined to a prepared room for tea ceremony.  That was a very expensive cup of tea then.

The tea ceremony has done, all left the resort to prepare to attend for the wedding banquet at Promanade Hotel.

At the banquet, as usual, the welcoming of the new couple, cake cutting,champagne cheering and blessing, delicious foods, but one thing special was that there was a dancing floor right in the middle of the banquet hall.The parents of Dephene were ballroom dance teachers. Most of their students were inviter to perform at the dinner as well.

Dephene had a slow dance of waltz, followed by the sexy dance, then the children doing the cha cha, and all performing the Sabahan dance, there were many more dances. All the guests were well entertained by all the singing and dancing, really an enjoyable and unforgettable evening.

     Family Album

Bikit Kinding Resort

 Hi, I am back, it has been a long time then.

Today, after attending the Sunday Church, John and Jane with the two girls and mother, Cecilia and me took a drive to Bukit Kinding Resort which is located about 15km from Ipoh city.We drove along the way from Bercham, passed Tanjong Rambutan and finally we reached the resort. In fact it is only 5 km from Tanjong Rambutan.
Upon arrival, the first impression once would notice the nature and quietness of this resort.

The Entrance of the Resort

Simple Reception of the Resort

All of us were so hungry, we went straight to David's Diner, the only cafe in the resort, which serve real American and Chinese cuisines for our brunch. We took our orders which were recommended by the chef, Raja and the manager,Juke.

The chef and the manager

While waiting for the food to be served, I explored the area that surrounding the dining place. There were air-cons and lake side dining places.

The lake side dining overlooks the lake full of local fresh water fishes ,and the chalets as well.
From air-cons dining hall, we can see the swimming pool and the lounge just by the side of the pool.

Upper left corner is the air-cons dining hall overlooking the swimming pool.

The Lounge beside the swimming pool

Oh! the foods are ready. The rendang chicken was served first. This was not the normal dried rendang but with a little sauce in it. Though it look different but taste good too.( Rm 18.00)

Salted fish fried beansprouts (Rm 8.00)

Fried mix vegetables(Rm 8.00)

Three tastes Tilapia fish (Rm 24.00)

I would not believe that all those dishes were prepared by an Indian chef, Raja, if I were not present to see and taste the foods.  Really excellent. The foods were cheap and tasty and were enough to serve five adults and two children.

After enjoying our brunch, John took us further to explore the resort. The first stop was the spa.

The Spa just a few steps away from the lounge.

One of the sauna room

Eleven linked chalets which can accommodate two persons per chalet.

Two semi-detached chalets which can stay in four to eight persons.

Jane and Cecilia in one of the clean, neat and spacious room in chalet.

All the chalets were built to face the lake and with own balcony. So natural , beautiful and relax to be here.

From the chalets, we proceed to the fitness centre which was well equipped.

The view of the main resort building from the chalet.

According to John, there are numerous sport activities which include nine hole golf, table tennis, jungle trekking,boating and mountain biking which holiday goers can enjoy in the resort.  There will be many more activities to be included like archery, horse riding and bird watching too.

From the map above, Bukit Kinding Resort is one of the project of this Bandar Bukit Kinding, which consist of more then one thousand acre of  virgin lands. There are lands for sale for bungalows(Kinding Country Home). John drove us up the hill to see some of the beautifully built bungalows. The views from the hill were so beautiful and full of nature and fresh air! Unfortunately my camera was out of battery.

We really have a very enjoyable Sunday. We would go again in a bigger group for a retreat in the near future.

Drunken cold pork trotter

Lai Fun came and visit me.  We had a long chat , we talked about travel, baking and cooking.  She shared with me a new recipe, pork trotter. She just narrated the ingredients and the method while I jotted them down.

The ingredients.
1 pig trotter (get the butcher to remove the big bone but do not spilt open the skin and chop off the lower end of the leg)
1 tbsp of salt,
1 teaspoon of sichuan pepper
1 roll of bandage(pre-wash)
1 bottle of good Shiew Heng Wine

Sichuan pepper( can get from Chinese Medicine shops)
The Method

In a wok, fry the salt and the Sichuan pepper until the Sichuan pepper crack. Remove and let cool. Clean the trotter  and pat dry.Rub the fried ingredients into the trotter evenly and place in a container and keep in the refrigerator for three days.  Remove the seasoned trotter from the refrigerator, rub off the Sichuan pepper   from it.  Use the pre-washed bandage to bandage the whole of the trotter tightly.

The bandage and the seasoned trotter

\Bandaged Trotter

Place the bandaged trotter in a deep sauce pan or container, pour in the whole bottle of the wine to soak it for three days in the refrigerator. Turn the trotter in between the three days to make sure that the trotter is fully soak in the wine.

Remove the wine soaked trotter from the refrigerator, let stand and dry. 

Wine soaked trotter after three days.

In a pot , pour in enough water to boil the trotter for half an hour or until the meat is tender.  This can be tested by poking a thin chopstick through the bandage, the meat is cook when the chopstick is able to poke through it.

When it is cook, remove from the pot, let stand to dry and cool.  Place it back to the refrigerator for about four hours before it can be served.(cold dish)

Remove the bandage and slice the trotter into thin slices and arrange on the a plate to be served.

I was lucky that Lai Fun's husband, Yip Chee Kheong was the expect for slicing the trotter, he did it for me.

Yip Chee Kheong and his work

The Slices of Drunken Cold Pork Trotter

Look beautiful and tasty, this can be eaten with bread as well.

Instead of wine we can substitute with good light soy sauce.