MKZ Day 3 │ MELAKA to Kuala Lumpur • Going Home!

Going Home!

We woke up at 9:00am to find a lovely surprise waiting at the front door — Victor the Super Host had come by earlier and hung a bag of local cakes on our door handle. Thank you, Victor!

We checked out an hour later and hailed a 6 seater Grab car for RM20.00 (≈ USD/EUR4) to Melaka Sentral.

At Melaka Sentral

With a little over an hour before boarding, we had some drinks before heading to the departure gates at 10:45am.

To our surprise, the tickets we bought at TBS didn’t grant us entry through the turnstiles. We were told to purchase boarding passes for RM0.70 each (≈ USD/EUR0.10) from the nearby counters. Once that was sorted, we made our way to Gate C to wait for our 11:30am KKKL bus.

The bus arrived shortly after, and after organising our luggage in the bay, it departed at 11:33am. The ride was uneventful, and we reached Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in under two hours.

Lunch at TBS

After a quick potty break, we headed up to look for lunch and eventually settled at a Briyani stall at the Teratai Food Court on Level 4.

• Cat had the Chicken Briyani
• I had the Mutton Briyani
• Brendan had Curry Chicken with Rice

Together with drinks, our lunch came to RM48.20 (≈ USD/EUR10).

Final Leg Home

After lunch, we walked over to the TBS LRT Station and caught a train to Chan Sow Lin for RM2.40 (≈ USD/EUR0.50). From there, we hailed another 6 seater Grab car for RM20.00 (≈ USD/EUR4) back home.

Until August

It was an eventful three days in Melaka — full of food, walks, mishaps, surprises, and memories.

And we’ll be going again in August to celebrate our very silver anniversary.

More adventures ahead!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Melaka Sentral - https://goo.gl/maps/nNAb4DNuxtyjobGZ6

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) - https://goo.gl/maps/heT4RtLqQdmHbTQY8

TBS LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/u9ySLxCjEBqePAye7

Chan Sow Lin LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/pgzeJbn17bi99fz57

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/Y2d41FGCh3e8cczF8

MKZ Day 2 │ WARONK Melaka

Dinner by the River!

We’d long been fascinated by a restaurant slash café along Jalan Hang Jebat called Waronk Melaka. This place has even hosted live performances by local 80s rock bands — though not tonight (thank goodness!).

Before it became a restaurant, this building was a home we used to walk past during our evening strolls along the Melaka River. We would often see an old aunty in the kitchen of the vast house, quietly going about her business. Seeing it transformed into a lively riverside eatery felt like watching a familiar landmark take on a new life.

What We Ate

• I had the Deep Fried Ocean Blue
• Cat tried the Alfredo Creamy Sauce with Chicken Grill (fancy!)
• Brendan had the Beef Burger

Together with a round of drinks, our dinner by the river came to RM96.00 (≈ USD21/EUR19).

Truth be told, we enjoyed the ambiance and riverside setting more than anything else. It was an experience worth having — but probably not one we’d repeat.

Walkabout Continues

Dinner out of the way, we continued with our mini walkabout along the river, soaking in the lights and the night breeze.

More adventures coming up!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Waronk Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/pkHVvt2RkidPXbo9A

MKZ Day 2 │ JONKER Walk (Sorta?)

Jonker Walk! (Well… Sort Of)

We came back from lunch at Plaza Mahkota and spent the afternoon doing more laundry and organising videos.

Evening came, and with nothing planned, we hailed a Grab car for RM9.00 (≈ USD/EUR2). The ride was supposed to take us to Waronk Melaka along Jalan Hang Jebat — but due to a glitch in the matrix, the Grab app dropped us off right in front of Jonker Walk instead.

When life hands us lemons, we go on a walkabout. Or at least a mini one.

Dinner by the River

We took a leisurely stroll along the Melaka River and eventually ended up at Waronk Melaka, where we enjoyed dinner by the water, surrounded by bright lights and the evening buzz.

(If you haven’t already, be sure to watch our previous video on Waronk Melaka.)

A Night Stroll and a Familiar Face

After dinner, we continued our walk along the river and sat for a while at Red Square, soaking in the night atmosphere.

After about twenty minutes, we caught the Panorama Melaka Bus 17 back to Mahkota Residences.

Lo and behold — it was the same young bus driver from yesterday!

He asked us to pay RM2.50 each (≈ USD/EUR0.50), though once again the printed receipt clearly showed the actual fare was RM1.20.

Dear Muhd Hanafi Bin Awang, we think you owe us an explanation.

Back to the Airbnb

We got back safely to the Airbnb and began packing, since we’ll be catching the 11:30am KKKL bus from Melaka Sentral back to Kuala Lumpur.

We may or may not head out very early tomorrow morning for breakfast.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Waronk Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/pkHVvt2RkidPXbo9A

Stadthuys - https://goo.gl/maps/yzFUXNrGwCg6pmdp8

MKZ Day 2 │ Plaza Mahkota: GREENWASH Laundrette • Asam Pedas LIMA BERADIK

Asam Pedas Again!

After checking into our Airbnb at Mahkota Apartments, we decided on an early lunch. We took the elevator down to the ground floor and wandered over to the former site of Mahkota Hotel, just a block away. It stood desolate, yet surprisingly still retained much of its old grandeur — not run down at all, just quietly waiting for its next chapter.

Laundry First

We then hailed a Grab car for RM5.00 (≈ USD/EUR1) to Greenwash Laundrette, barely a kilometre away in the Plaza Mahkota area, to do a spot of laundry.

While waiting for the wash cycle to finish, we walked across the street hoping to have lunch at Restoran 35, but were rudely shooed away.

No matter — Melaka always has a backup plan.

Lunch at Asam Pedas Claypot Lima Beradik

A few doors down, the friendly proprietor at Asam Pedas Claypot Lima Beradik welcomed us warmly.

• Cat and I shared a bowl of Stingray cooked in Asam Pedas
• We also shared a plate of Ayam Penyet
• Brendan had Chicken Tomyam and a large omelette

While waiting for our food, we walked back across the street to move our clothes from the washer to the dryer.

• Washer: RM6.00 per load
• Dryer: RM5.00 per load 

(≈ USD/EUR1 each)

We returned just in time for lunch to be served. With a round of drinks, our meal came to RM60.00 (≈ USD12/EUR13).

Back to the Airbnb

After settling our laundry, we hailed a Grab car for RM6.00 (≈ USD/EUR1) back to the Airbnb, while Brendan took a walk to Dataran Pahlawan.

Catch you all soon!

📍 Location:

Greenwash Laundrette - https://goo.gl/maps/ryEffVd7KMhqD1ev8

Asam Pedas Claypot Lima Beradik - https://goo.gl/maps/UnqHtZELH2C5ukSN9

MKZ Day 2 │ Airbnb: MAHKOTA Residence

We Overslept!

With nothing planned, we didn’t set an alarm — and by the time we finally woke up, it was already 11:15am. Surely a testament to the cosiness of Victor’s unit.

As promised, our Super Host Victor arranged for us to move to our preferred Airbnb unit at Mahkota Residence. We hailed a 6 seater Grab car (we had three heavy bags) for RM10.00 (approximately USD/EUR2) to get from the Garden City unit to Mahkota Residence, just two kilometres away.

Moving to Mahkota Residence

Much like the previous unit hosted by Victor on the 9th Floor of Wing 3, Lotus Tower, this new unit — on the 7th Floor of Wing 4, Jasmine Tower — had also been renovated and transformed into a chic, modern abode.

It felt like stepping into a fresh, stylish space while still enjoying the familiar comfort of Victor’s hosting.

A Quick Look

We’ll let the videos describe the apartment in detail. If you’re planning a trip to Melaka, we highly recommend browsing Victor’s portfolio of immaculately maintained apartments and homes on Airbnb. His profile lists all the units he manages.

Catch you all soon!

P/S — A Note From the Heart

Victor’s units were always top on our list of stays in Melaka. He was humble, friendly and courteous.

Over time, he changed — becoming distant, aloof, and no longer the warm host we once knew. We had been regular guests since the pandemic, supporting his units during the difficult years when he was struggling and taking on part time gigs to stay afloat.

But once things improved for him, it felt as though we became… surplus to requirements.

It happens. Success affects people differently. We wish him well, but it was time for us to move on.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Mahkota Residence Apartments - https://goo.gl/maps/m46KZHKqnC5bNJsw9

MKZ Day 1 │ PORTUGUESE Settlement • DE LISBON Restaurant

Portuguese Settlement!

Evening came and we decided to head out for a walkabout. To our surprise, the Portuguese Settlement was only a 10 minute walk away, so we made our way there for dinner at our favourite Portuguese restaurant, De Lisbon.

When we arrived, the Festa San Pedro was in full swing — lively, colourful, and buzzing with energy.

Dinner at De Lisbon

At De Lisbon, we were crestfallen to learn that their Debal Curry wasn’t available today. Still, we made do with a spread of:

• Baked Fish
• Prawns in Pineapple Curry
• Fried Brinjals
• Brendan had half a dozen Chicken Wings and two large Omelettes

Together with an orange juice and a large bottle of Tiger beer that Brendan and I shared, our Portuguese dinner came to RM202.00 (≈ USD43/EUR40).

It’s been a while since we spent this much on a meal, but with both fish and prawns — plus the beer — it was to be expected.

Jetty Walk… Almost

After dinner, we wanted to take a stroll along the jetty, but found it cordoned off because a pub called The Jetty by Gbar had taken over the end of the pier.

So instead, we made our way back to the Airbnb to wind down and get ready for an early night.

Until Tomorrow

With nothing planned yet, we’ll see where tomorrow takes us.

Catch you all tomorrow!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Christ the Redeemer Statue - https://goo.gl/maps/nHR2Unr7rXTCxwcM7

Portuguese Square - https://goo.gl/maps/uokvpxC2tB8QDcsCA

De Lisbon - https://goo.gl/maps/pkshsRie82f2icbG6

MKZ Day 1 │ Perhentian Kuih Kampung

Asam Pedas!

After checking into our Airbnb, we decided to head out for lunch and made our way to a renowned local eatery, Perhentian Kuih Kampung, just under a kilometre’s walk away. (The next video will cover this in detail.)

Cat and I had the Stingray in Asam Pedas Apak, while Brendan opted for Chicken Rice. We also added a generous assortment of local cakes — too many to list — and together with drinks, our lunch came to RM51.20 (≈ USD11/EUR10).

Back to the Airbnb

We walked back via a different — and thankfully shorter — route, and once we reached the apartment, we began unpacking and settling in.

Portuguese Dinner Tonight

We were planning to have a Portuguese dinner later tonight, so stay tuned for that as well.

More to come!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Perhentian Kuih Kampong - https://goo.gl/maps/yKjTbfRc6XMhgqMd9

MKZ Day 1 │ Airbnb GARDEN CITY

Garden City Serviced Apartments!

After a half hour bus ride from Melaka Sentral, we arrived at our Airbnb — an apartment situated within Garden City Serviced Apartments.

Due to the short notice of our trip, our Super Host Victor wasn’t able to place us in our preferred unit at Mahkota Residences. As a stop gap measure, he put us up here for one night before moving us to Mahkota Residences the following day.

Checking In

We walked past the guard booth and headed to the Emerald Tower, where we were told to collect our keys and key cards from the mailbox. Once we had everything, we took the elevator up to the 1st floor, dropped off our luggage, and headed out again for lunch.

A Quick First Look

We’ll let the videos describe the unit in detail. If you’re planning a trip to Melaka, we highly recommend browsing Victor’s portfolio of immaculately maintained apartments and homes on Airbnb. You can refer to his profile for the full list.

Catch you all soon!

P/S — A Note From the Heart

Victor’s units were always top on our list of stays in Melaka. He was humble, friendly and courteous.

Over time, he changed — becoming distant, aloof, and no longer the warm host we once knew. We had been regular guests since the pandemic, supporting his units during the difficult years when he was struggling and taking on part time gigs to stay afloat.

But once things improved for him, it felt as though we became… surplus to requirements.

It happens. Success affects people differently. We wish him well, but it was time for us to move on.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Emerald Tower Garden City - https://goo.gl/maps/fY22zhvKiUMRhivi7

MKZ Day 1 │ KL to MELAKA: KKKL • Panorama Melaka

Impromptu Trip!

Several things happened during the week that left me mentally drained. I needed to get away from Kuala Lumpur, so I spoke with my boss on Wednesday — and was granted a day’s leave.

We then made a short dash to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to buy our bus tickets. The fare was RM13.40 one way per person (≈ USD/EUR3).

Getting to TBS

This morning, we hailed a 6 seater Grab car for RM31.00 (≈ USD7/EUR6) to TBS. With time to spare, we had breakfast at Restoran Nasi Kandar TBS.

We all had Roti Canai, and with a round of drinks, our simple breakfast came to RM12.00 (≈ USD3/EUR2).

The Bus Ride to Melaka

After some confusion, we eventually caught the KKKL bus to Melaka from Gate 12 at 9:38am. The trip was smooth and uneventful.

We arrived at Melaka Sentral at 11:25am and walked over to Platform 17, where we boarded a Panorama Melaka bus to the Bandar Hilir Police Station. The young bus driver asked us to pay RM2.00 each (≈ USD/EUR0.40), though the printed receipt clearly stated the fare was RM1.60.

Checking In

Half an hour later, we arrived at our first Airbnb of this trip — an apartment within Garden City Serviced Apartments.

Do check out our next video for a full review of the unit.

Catch you all soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/oSNo16GuxfqRLCkc6

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan - https://goo.gl/maps/Zfn8AcvrecDMnufs9

Melaka Sentral - https://goo.gl/maps/JyZF9UDAx1aQSeh8A

Saturday RUNAROUND │ Nova Chiropractor • One Utama

We're Filming Again!

True enough, my day job once again consumed all my time. After several weeks of being off camera, we finally started filming again.

Like any other Saturday, I had a chiropractor’s appointment with Dr Chin at Nova Chiropractor this morning. We left our condo at 8:30am and walked out onto Jalan Munshi Abdullah, where we caught the RapidKL Bus 303 for RM1.00 (≈ USD/EUR0.20).

Breakfast Before the Adjustment

A few stops later, we got off at Corus Hotel and walked across the footbridge toward Wisma MCA. We were about an hour early, so we stopped at a small mamak stall for breakfast.

There, we met a young man from Terengganu and ended up chatting about our hometown. We had Thosai and Roti Canai with drinks — and to our surprise, the young man and his group of friends insisted on paying for our meal.

Chiropractic Time

We then headed to Nova Chiropractor, and although we were still early, Dr Chin was kind enough to begin treatment. Cat always finds it funny watching him fold, twist, and turn me around — but today was especially hilarious for her because I was wearing a bright yellow T shirt, which apparently made me look like a jackfruit being rolled around.

All done with the adjustments, we bade Dr Chin farewell and stepped outside, where we came across a stall selling masks. We bought half a dozen for RM63.30 (≈ USD14/EUR13).

MRT Hopping

We walked onto Jalan Ampang, crossed another footbridge, and soon reached the Ampang Park MRT Station. We rode the MRT to Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), then switched to the line headed to Bandar Utama for RM3.70 (≈ USD/EUR0.80).

At Bandar Utama, we walked into 1 Utama Shopping Centre, where we spent some time at the Borneo Festival held there.

Lunch at Our Anonymous Pakistani Briyani Spot

After exploring the festival, we headed back to the Bandar Utama MRT station and caught a train to Bukit Bintang for RM3.40 (≈ USD/EUR0.70). We exited at Gate C, walked a few metres along Jalan Bulan, and had lunch at our new favourite Pakistani Briyani place.

This was our third time here — and still no signboard, so the restaurant remains anonymous. The location pin is only an approximation of where it actually is.

We both had Chicken Briyani, and with a bottle of water each plus a glass of iced Nescafe, our lunch came to RM34.50 (≈ USD/EUR7).

After lunch, we crossed Jalan Bukit Bintang and bumped into a fellow YouTuber who was planning to visit Terengganu and Kelantan soon. We chatted for a bit, shared some east coast tips, and then parted ways.

Heading Home

We caught a free GOKL Blue Line bus back to Jalan Munshi Abdullah and walked home.

We’ll try not to let my day job get in the way of our content again.

Next up: a market hunt at a very iconic area — so please stay tuned!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Nova Chiropractic - https://goo.gl/maps/CFK7w2RgotjAWK8p9

Ampang Park MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/zxGqFRY8Sez6wsqG8

Tun Razak Exchange MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/Zevah8VHy7M6g6dz9

Bandar Utama - https://goo.gl/maps/JK5vBFkr9uCnXDmf7

1 Utama Shopping Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/o1ePNyvyCRtKcn8q7

MRT Bukit Bintang (Pintu C) - https://goo.gl/maps/s7JsiDW2ZFLxH43E9

Nameless Pakistani Briyani - https://goo.gl/maps/pXkinnC3GMN7Zb4k6

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/c3itMGWSg5Wbepk69

BNf 2023 │ SUNDAY Stroll: Dataran Merdeka • Central Market • River of Life

We're on a Walkabout!

The last week wasn’t kind to me as a few health issues flared up. As soon as I felt a little better, we decided to go on a — what else? — walkabout. We’d read that the Borneo Native Festival was back at Central Market (Pasar Seni), so that became our destination.

Jalan TAR to Dataran Merdeka

We left our condo at noon and headed onto Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. City Hall closes the street to traffic every Sunday, so we enjoyed a peaceful walk down its entire length.

At the end of the street, we crossed the intersection with Jalan Tun Perak and continued south along Jalan Raja, which was also closed to traffic. We walked past the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) before turning left onto Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar.

We continued east until we reached the Masjid Jamek Lookout Point, crossed over to Jalan Hang Kasturi, and eventually entered Central Market.

BNf at Central Market

We spent almost an hour taking in the sights of the Borneo Native Festival — the colours, the crafts, the music, the energy. And of course, we met up with our favourite beadstress, Caroline.

Lunch at Taste of Medan

All done with Central Market, we walked out and had lunch at Taste of Medan at the Central Market Annexe next door.

• I had the Nasi Lemak with Chicken
• Cat had the Nasi Lemak with Squid Sambal

With drinks, our meal came to RM51.15 (approximately USD11/EUR12). A little pricey by our standards, but it was the weekend — and we didn’t want to stray any further than necessary.

River of Life Stroll

After lunch, we took a stroll along the River of Life (the Klang River), heading north past the Kolam Biru and the Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad mosque.

We crossed Jalan Tun Perak and headed down Jalan Melayu before turning right onto Jalan Masjid India. I made a quick stop at the Maybank ATMs along Jalan Bunus, while Cat continued on to Haniffa Department Store to run an errand.

We met up again at Haniffa and headed home.

Seven Thousand Steps Later

Thus ended our Sunday stroll — a gentle, steady walkabout that clocked seven thousand steps.

We’ll probably not be posting any blogs in the coming weeks as my day job will once again consume all my time.

Catch you all soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/c3itMGWSg5Wbepk69

Sultan Abdul Samad Building - https://goo.gl/maps/NDumnjsefW48MmuHA

Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) - https://goo.gl/maps/gPvgaU1VMmyUL8A79

Masjid Jamek Lookout Point @ River of Life

- https://goo.gl/maps/t5w9go8JGTfNL2JHA

Central Market (Pasar Seni)

- https://goo.gl/maps/bzUo327XZcg73rXT9

Taste of Medan (Central Market Annexe)

- https://goo.gl/maps/n4wFLxX9Xh74oexKA

River of Life - https://goo.gl/maps/uFWNLCtcsByZxean9

Kolam Biru - https://goo.gl/maps/mM9EXuJGanYUYF616

Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad - https://goo.gl/maps/ymjAtgShaEoc4LU68

Masjid Jamek LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/McA3Q5BzTSYnWYvr9

Flea Market Masjid India - https://goo.gl/maps/d1Q4i7JVgwbLSLqh6

Maybank (Jalan Bunus Branch) - https://goo.gl/maps/GxpLf2MFTCTCrkyw8

Haniffa Department Store - https://goo.gl/maps/heBiv4kUt561ERZd9

BNf 2023 │ BORNEO Native Festival 2023 [Re-Upload!]

It’s BNf 2023 (Re Upload)

This is a re upload of our BNf 2023 video, which we had to take down due to “copyrighted content detected”. With this year’s BNf just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to bring it back.

Borneo Native Festival Returns

We visited the Borneo Native Festival exactly a year ago and were delighted to experience it again.

Dubbed “Weekend for the arts: Borneo Native Festival (‘BNf’ for short) in KL, master printmaker celebrated” by The Star, the festival — now in its second edition — was held in conjunction with Sabah’s Kaamatan and Sarawak’s Gawai celebrations. A joyous harvest festival mood filled the air for Malaysians and visitors alike.

Inside Central Market, the indoor area had been transformed into a vibrant crafts bazaar showcasing traditional and contemporary Bornean creations. Workshops, forums, film screenings, food demos, and fun competitions filled the programme.

As the organisers shared:

“This festival is held to introduce the culture of the Borneo communities to the people of the peninsula, as well as to bring the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day celebrations to the Sabahans and Sarawakians who cannot return to their villages.”

Sadly, the colourful BNf parade — originally planned to march from Dataran Merdeka to Central Market — did not materialise.

Exploring the Festival

We entered Central Market, walked its entire length, and exited through the other end where even more stalls awaited. The place was lively, with a Bornean beauty pageant taking place on stage. We strolled along, visiting each stall one by one.

Eventually, we found ourselves at the stall we had truly intended to visit all along — Caroline’s. We had first met her just a month earlier at Gateway @ KLIA2, and Cat was thrilled to see her again.

Cat took her time browsing every item before settling on:

• A couple of Kabo necklaces
• Several bracelets

The total came to RM220.00 (≈ USD48/EUR44).

We bade Caroline farewell with a promise to meet her again soon — a promise we kept many times over the following year.

Looking Back

BNf 2023 was a wonderful celebration of culture, craft, and community. Revisiting these memories reminds us why we love this festival so much.

We’re excited to return for BNf 2024.

Stay tuned!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Central Market (Pasar Seni) - https://goo.gl/maps/bzUo327XZcg73rXT9

MAEPS │ FRIDAY Frolic: MAEPS • Restoran Kader

We're Off to Serdang!

There was plenty of hype surrounding this year’s autoshow, which promised to “feature hundreds of the latest cars, EVs, motorbikes and technology showcases,” all taking place at MAEPS Serdang from 4–7 May 2023.

We had originally planned to go yesterday (Thursday, 4 May), but since it was Wesak Day, a public holiday, we feared the crowds would be overwhelming. So we waited it out and made plans to go today instead.

We walked out of our condo to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, caught a free GOKL Red Line bus, and got off at the Muzium Negara stop.

Getting to MAEPS

From Muzium Negara, we caught an MRT train to Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), switched lines, and continued to UPM. From there, we hailed a Grab car to MAEPS.

We spent about an hour or so at the autoshow before hailing another Grab car to Putrajaya Sentral, where we caught a train back toward the city and disembarked at Ampang Park.

The Accidental Detour

At Ampang Park, we switched from the MRT to the LRT — but mistakenly boarded a Gombak bound train instead of the Kelana Jaya line. We corrected course at Damai, switched trains, and eventually reached Masjid Jamek.

Banana Leaf Reward

From Masjid Jamek, we walked a short distance to our favourite banana leaf spot at Restoran Kader on Lebuh Ampang.

We had our usual:

• Banana leaf rice
• Chicken Fried Varuval
• Tenggiri Fried Fish
• A round of Masala Tea

We also took away a packet of rice with fried chicken and curry for Brendan, plus two more packets of Masala Tea.

Our late late lunch came to RM66.50 (approximately USD15/EUR14).

Incense & Bananas

Next door, we replenished our incense supply — RM15.00 worth — from a colourful little shop.

Along the same alley, we picked up a couple of bunches of Pisang Emas (Lady Finger bananas?) for only RM6.00 (approximately USD/EUR1).

With our errands done, we walked back to our condo, as always taking the scenic route.

More to Come

Do stay tuned — we’re planning a market hunt next week!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
MAEPS Serdang - https://goo.gl/maps/eXmNKLfesoGG4E9P8
Restoran Kader - https://goo.gl/maps/S7kwwNmYSqYaTjw5A
Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/TxggWHoYJ7fJTvzg9

MAEPS │ MRT - LRT Train Rides (to MAEPS and Back)

We're Riding the Trains Again!

There was plenty of hype surrounding this year’s autoshow, which promised to “feature hundreds of the latest cars, EVs, motorbikes and technology showcases” at MAEPS Serdang from 4–7 May 2023.

We did a little research and found that the easiest way to get there was by taking the MRT from Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) to UPM.

Getting to MAEPS

After a bus ride to the Muzium Negara MRT Station, we caught a Kajang bound train and disembarked at TRX. From there, we switched to the Putrajaya Line, rode to UPM, and the total fare came to RM4.30 (approximately USD/EUR0.90).

From UPM, we hailed a Grab car to MAEPS for RM17 (approximately USD/EUR4).

After the Autoshow

Once we were done at the autoshow, we hailed another Grab car to Putrajaya Sentral for RM13 (approximately USD/EUR3). We then caught a Kwasa Damansara bound train and disembarked at Ampang Park MRT Station for RM3.80 (approximately USD0.90/EUR0.80).

We exited the MRT and walked into the LRT station — where we mistakenly boarded a Gombak bound train. We realised the error quickly, got off at Damai, switched to the Kelana Jaya bound train, and finally disembarked at Masjid Jamek for RM1.80 (approximately USD1/EUR0.40).

Train Hopping Complete

Thus ended our little train hopping session — a full loop through KL’s public transport system, complete with transfers, detours, and a few laughs along the way.

Be sure to catch more videos of us riding KL’s awesome public transport in the future!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Muzium Negara MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/WhcQVX94HBRHx88Y7
Tun Razak Exchange MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/Wt1xoZz3mjmRgSrL9
UPM MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/YUHK8mWiyv82AQFu6
Putrajaya Sentral MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/kNhSdLP74SXr3zxH7
Ampang Park MRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/RnnSiiHQQZkhj2Se6
Ampang Park LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/ppJoAXnpro9kYkj16
Damai LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/N81UMPBCffYGdzen7
Masjid Jamek LRT Station - https://goo.gl/maps/KHeCQjG3UQimY4fQA

MAEPS │ MALAYSIA Autoshow 2023

Malaysia Autoshow 2023!

There was plenty of hype surrounding this year’s autoshow, which promised to “feature hundreds of the latest cars, EVs, motorbikes and technology showcases,” all taking place at MAEPS Serdang from 4–7 May 2023.

We made the effort to get to MAEPS — a place that, not too long ago, housed Malaysia’s largest Covid 19 quarantine centre. Once there, we paid the RM15.00 entrance fee via QR code and were admitted in.

Before the Halls

Before entering the exhibition halls, we grabbed a light meal and drinks from the food trucks lining the street outside. Then we made our way through Hall A, Hall A1, and finally Hall C.

We filmed about twenty minutes of footage, which we hope you’ll enjoy.

Our Honest Thoughts

Truth be told, we felt a little let down. The autoshow felt more like various car brands simply transplanting their showrooms into the exhibition halls. There were:

• No concept cars

• No new innovations

• No “wow factor” moments

Just rows and rows of familiar models under bright lights.

Heading Out

After finishing the halls, we left the exhibition area and took a shuttle bus to the main entrance of MAEPS. From there, we hailed a Grab car to the nearest MRT station.

Would we recommend this autoshow?

We’re honestly on the fence about it.

More adventures coming soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
MAEPS Serdang - https://goo.gl/maps/eXmNKLfesoGG4E9P8

Midweek Romp │ Mid Valley • Kajang • KL Sentral

We're Going on a Walkabout!

After a stressful month at work, I decided to take a week off to let my lower back heal. But midway through the week, the walkabout itch returned — and as always, we gave in and headed out for an impromptu stroll.

We left our condo at about nine in the morning and walked to Jalan Melayu for breakfast at Jai Hind. We both had Potato Paratha with Masala Tea, and the bill came to RM15.00 (≈ USD/EUR3).

LRT to Mid Valley

From there, we took a short walk to the Masjid Jamek LRT Station and rode to Abdullah Hukum. We crossed the KL Eco City Link Bridge into The Gardens Mall, then continued on into Mid Valley Megamall.

We browsed for a bit before stopping at KOI Thé for drinks.

• Cat had Bubble Milk Tea
• I had Honey Milk Tea 

Both cost RM12.40 each (≈ USD/EUR3).

After a quick potty break, we headed back toward the LRT — but were stopped by a curious couple who wanted to know more about our camera. I explained that we have a channel they could check out for more details.

MRT to Kajang

Feeling adventurous, we switched from the LRT to the MRT at Pasar Seni. About an hour later, we arrived in Kajang and got off at the Stadium Kajang MRT Station for lunch.

After wandering in circles for a bit, we finally reached Restoran Sate Kajang Hj Samuri. We ordered:

• 10 sticks Beef Satay
• 10 sticks Chicken Satay
• A plate of Nasi Himpit each
• A round of drinks

Sadly, the satay wasn’t up to par — cold, dry, and under grilled. The disappointing lunch came to RM42.10 (≈ USD/EUR9).

Komuter to KL Sentral

We walked back to the Stadium Kajang MRT Station, rode to the final stop at Kajang MRT, and switched to the KTM Komuter. About 45 minutes later, we arrived at KL Sentral.

We headed into NU Sentral, where Parkson was having a clearance sale. We picked up a bagful of clothes, then went to MAX Fashion for another bagful of work pants.

Monorail to Bukit Nanas

From KL Sentral, we took the Monorail and got off at Bukit Nanas, then caught a free GOKL Blue Line bus back to our condo.

More Coming Soon

Be sure to watch our upcoming video — we’ll be visiting the Kuala Lumpur Autoshow next!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Restoran Jai Hind - https://goo.gl/maps/2SFYckG5ckHFMaNW8
KL Eco City Link Bridge - https://goo.gl/maps/9UA521GVQdgVSnkf6
Mid Valley Megamall - https://goo.gl/maps/YEr3bATTn5GpdwY46
Restoran Sate Kajang Hj Samuri - https://goo.gl/maps/XR5Kyzn9Uoq1PX3L7
NU Sentral Shopping Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/DYi84G1RpMdKkJLe7
Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/JmR6TK8yRmMhg3NP9

KL Train‑Hopping Adventure │ LRT → MRT → Komuter → Monorail!

KL’s Public Transport Is Awesome!

Our train hopping session began at the Masjid Jamek LRT Station. A fare of RM1.90 (approximately USD/EUR0.40) took us to Abdullah Hukum, where we crossed the KL Eco City Link Bridge and spent some time at Mid Valley Megamall.

LRT → MRT → Kajang

We then returned to Abdullah Hukum and caught another train to the Pasar Seni hub, where we switched to the MRT Kajang Line. About an hour later, we arrived at the Stadium Kajang MRT Station for a total fare of RM4.80 (approximately USD/EUR1) and headed for lunch nearby.

After lunch, we walked back to the Stadium Kajang MRT Station and rode the MRT to its final stop at Kajang MRT for RM1.20 (approximately USD/EUR0.20). From there, we walked over to the Kajang Komuter Station.

The KTM Komuter took us all the way back to KL Sentral for RM3.70 (approximately USD/EUR0.80).

Shopping at NU Sentral

This time, we made our stop at NU Sentral count — we spent productive time shopping and left with several bags of clothing.

Monorail → GOKL → Home

Armed with our shopping haul, we headed to the KL Sentral Monorail Station and eventually disembarked at Bukit Nanas for RM2.70 (approximately USD/EUR0.60).

From there, we hopped onto a free GOKL Blue Line bus back to our condo — fare RM0 (approximately USD/EUR0).

Half Day Expedition Complete

Thus ended our half day expedition around the Klang Valley — smooth, affordable, and surprisingly fun.

More videos of us riding KL’s awesome public transport are on the way!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

LRT Masjid Jamek - https://goo.gl/maps/kbkceiSrcvsmAnD79

LRT Abdullah Hukum - https://goo.gl/maps/eJeXDRydk2q4zUK78

Pasar Seni - https://goo.gl/maps/JGwGekhdhh45Br2B8

MRT Stadium Kajang - https://goo.gl/maps/4hiXYiY57Sjchg8K7

Stesen Komuter Kajang - https://goo.gl/maps/e771KxYJs8sDz6cp8

KL Sentral - https://goo.gl/maps/xzBSHxwSz68mCoz6A

KL Sentral Monorail Station - https://goo.gl/maps/X9BsDivpsQQ2CPx79

Bukit Nanas Monorail Station - https://goo.gl/maps/3Z9y1biq8k1xR9UX7

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/JmR6TK8yRmMhg3NP9

Sepang Stroll │ gateway@klia2 • Mitsui Outlet Park • Carol Beads Project

Another Impromptu Drive!

The past few weeks had been tough. My day job took up all my time, with everyone needed to overcome a major obstacle. At the same time, the project that had drained so much of my energy was finally reaching an important milestone.

But while work pushed forward, my lower back began to protest. Dr Chin at Nova Chiropractor did everything he could to ease the pain, which meant no walkabouts for a while. A real bummer for us.

A Reason to Celebrate

Even though the big obstacle at work was still troubling, we received great news — our project was approved by the board of directors. That meant we could finally move on to the next phase. We were ecstatic, and in true “us” fashion, we decided to celebrate with a spontaneous drive to Sepang.

Our goal was to visit the “Warnai Raya KLIA2” event, which featured several booths from Sarawak. One booth in particular sold traditional beaded bracelets, similar to the ones we got during our last trip to Kuching.

Breakfast and Shoe Hunting

Since we arrived early, we stopped for breakfast at Bungkus Kaw-Kaw. We both ordered Nasi Lemak, and with drinks, our meal came to RM25.10 (approximately USD6/EUR5).

After breakfast, we walked into the Skechers store to look for a reasonably priced pair of work shoes, but nothing suitable was available.

Searching for the Beaded Bracelets

We then went looking for the booth selling the beaded bracelets. After a short search, we found it — but it wasn’t open yet. So we decided to drive over to Mitsui Outlet Park to continue our hunt for brown work shoes.

I also had a birthday voucher from Puma to redeem, but when we arrived, we discovered it had expired the day before. To make things worse, the Skechers store here also had no brown work shoes, even though many other pairs were on discount.

Third Time’s the Charm

After this double disappointment, we drove back to KLIA2, and as they say, third time’s the charm — the booth we wanted to visit was finally open. (Be sure to watch our previous video for a twist in the tale!)

With our mission complete, we headed home.

More Road Trips Ahead

We’re already planning another road trip in a few weeks’ time. Catch you all soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang - https://goo.gl/maps/NPmZWMZGcKsZHG5y6
gateway@klia2 - https://goo.gl/maps/ccuKYQMswwwcp4B49

Roadtrip Day 4 │ Sin Yoon Loong • Havironia Music

Today We Headed Home!

We had another early night and woke up at 8:30am. After a shower, we packed up all our belongings and headed downstairs to check out of Ipoh Downtown Hotel.

We loaded everything into the car and drove a short distance to look for Ipoh’s original white coffee along Jalan Bandar Timah. Torn between the modern looking Nam Heong and the more traditional Sin Loon Yoong, we finally chose the latter.

Breakfast in Ipoh

I ordered a large glass of their famous white coffee, while Cat had her usual Iced Milk Tea. We both ordered toast with half boiled eggs, and we added a small plate of custard pudding for dessert.

Our classic Ipoh breakfast came to RM21.80 (≈ USD/EUR5).

We also bought five packets of Wan Ton Mee to take away for RM37.50 (≈ USD/EUR8) — our lunch for later.

With breakfast done, we strolled back to the car and began our journey home.

The Drive Back to Kuala Lumpur

The drive took about two and a half hours, including a quick stop at the Petronas Sungai Buloh Layby for a potty break. We reached home at around 1:00pm and began the long task of unpacking.

Signing Off for Now

We will probably not be posting any blogs in the coming weeks as my day job will once again take over my time.

Catch you all soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Ipoh Downtown Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/p13QrXce2dck4GCr7
Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong - https://goo.gl/maps/iCKtmVLiqaG8qQZU9
Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Roadtrip Day 3 │ Ipoh Downtown Hotel • Gerbang Malam • Ong Kee Chicken Rice

Today I Delivered a Lecture!

We had an early night, and I woke up at dawn to review the slide deck for my lecture at Bandar Darulaman Community College. Two hours later, I left Cat to continue her beauty sleep and made the 15 minute drive to the college.

The lecture was scheduled for 10:00am, and it was part of a nationwide programme involving 140 community colleges and an estimated 37,000 students. Everything began right on time, with all colleges starting their sessions simultaneously.

In the end, the event was officially entered into the Malaysia Book of Records — a proud moment for everyone involved.

Heading Back to the Hotel

I left the college at 12 noon and returned to the hotel to check out. By 12:45pm, we were back on the road, beginning our drive south toward Ipoh. Along the way, we stopped for petrol and had lunch at the Gurun Rest & Recreation area.

Arriving in Ipoh

We reached Ipoh at 4:10pm and checked into the final hotel of our trip, Ipoh Downtown Hotel. The building was old and had seen better days, but our twin room surprised us — modern, clean, and spacious.

We dropped off our bags and waited for a sudden downpour to ease before heading across the street to a laundromat. An hour later, with our laundry sorted, we made our way toward Gerbang Malam for dinner.

Dinner and Shopping

We had our usual steamed chicken rice at Ong Kee Restaurant. With drinks, dinner came to RM34.00 (≈ USD8/EUR7).

After that, we visited Happiness Authentic Local Delights, where we spent RM194.00 (≈ USD43/EUR41) on:

• 7 packets of instant Ipoh White Coffee (mostly for neighbours)
• Lime Tea and Milk Tea
• Various snacks and goodies

We then walked past Gerbang Malam and headed back to the hotel.

Wrapping Up the Day

With nothing planned for tomorrow except the final leg of our drive back to Kuala Lumpur, we’ll see what the day brings.

Good night!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Alor Setar

- https://goo.gl/maps/BprWTkqAq7yXwG5b8
Bandar Darulaman Community College - https://goo.gl/maps/PvhSbCmJ1XLo1dbj8
Cleanpro Express Self Service Laundry - https://goo.gl/maps/QabgrvP3Vjw9jYPV8
Ipoh Downtown Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/p13QrXce2dck4GCr7
Ong Kee Restaurant - https://goo.gl/maps/bym5cPZh4jHvuzWV6
Happiness Authentic Local Delights - https://goo.gl/maps/dbhXwyJxoMaGusGMA

Roadtrip Day 2 │ Raia Hotel • Sri Pumpong • Padang Besar

Today We Continued Our Road Trip!

We woke up at 8:30am and went down to the hotel’s coffee house half an hour later. As hotel buffets go, breakfast was okay — nothing fancy, but it filled us up.

After eating, we returned to the room to pack and even squeezed in a short nap. We checked out at 11:15am and began our drive to Alor Setar. The journey took about three hours, including a one hour delay due to a fatal accident near Sungai Petani. (You can watch the hyperlapse in our previous video.)

Checking In at Raia Hotel

We reached Raia Hotel & Convention Centre at 2:40pm and checked in right away. We booked a twin room for RM230.00 (≈ USD51/EUR48), fully claimable from my employer.

We dropped our bags in the room and headed out again to look for lunch.

Lunch at Restoran Sri Pumpong

A friend recommended Restoran Sri Pumpong, known as one of the best “mixed rice” spots in Alor Setar. It was only ten minutes away.

We arrived after the lunch rush, so the choices were limited, but we made do:

• I had fresh and dried squid in sambal
• Cat had fish curry
• Plus drinks

Total: RM21.00 (≈ USD5/EUR4).

Simple, tasty, and affordable — a good first meal in Alor Setar.

A Shopping Detour to Padang Besar

Feeling adventurous, we decided to drive one hour north to Padang Besar. We wandered through the arcades and bazaars inside Aarked Niaga Padang Besar and ended up with bags full of Siamese goodies:

• A dozen bar soaps
• A compact powder
• Siamese instant noodles
• Tom Yum paste
• A Nirvana T shirt for Brendan
• Various snacks and treats

After shopping, we stopped at Restoran Nurhasiah for drinks and decided to pack dinner from there as well.

Back to Alor Setar

We drove back to the hotel, making a quick detour to check the venue for my lecture tomorrow. Once we returned to the room, we spent the rest of the evening reorganising our luggage to fit all the Padang Besar goodies.

That wrapped up our day. Good night!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Flemington Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/ysGHwgfa7nsyZ1876
Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Alor Setar

- https://goo.gl/maps/BprWTkqAq7yXwG5b8
Restoran Sri Pumpong - https://goo.gl/maps/7NCMpWS6TNP59ipQ8
Arked Niaga Padang Besar - https://goo.gl/maps/zAPKvkHGBZcDLcrn8
Restoran Nurhasiah - https://goo.gl/maps/HwSf7XvYRetjbzBe8

Roadtrip Day1 │ Taiping Lake Gardens Stroll

We're Going on a Stroll!

After checking into Flemington Hotel, we took a short nap and hoped to enjoy an evening walk at the Taiping Lake Gardens. But a heavy downpour changed our plans. We waited it out, and once the rain slowed at sunset, we finally stepped outside.

A Little History of Taiping Lake Gardens

The Taiping Lake Gardens had once been a mining ground before becoming a public garden in 1880. The idea came from Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, and the garden was developed by Charles Compton Reade, who also helped plan Kuala Lumpur’s garden town, together with Lady Swettenham.

The land itself was donated by Chung Keng Quee to be used as a public recreation park. By 1884, the area was planted with grass, flowers, and trees. Part of it was even fenced to keep bulls out.

Covering 64 hectares (160 acres), it became the first public garden in Malaya and has been loved ever since. The gardens feature ten scenic lakes and ponds, and along Residency Road stand the famous golden rain trees (Samanea saman), their branches stretching gracefully over the water.

Nearby are several historic homes, including the Old Residency, the Raja’s House, and former army officers’ residences. The gardens were so beautiful that many early travellers wrote about them — and now, so did we.

Evening Walk and Dinner

After about fifteen minutes of walking, we reached Tai Hu Food Court for dinner. Once we were done eating, we took another slow stroll, retracing our steps through the peaceful gardens before heading back to the hotel.

A simple, calm evening — the perfect way to end our first day in Taiping!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Flemington Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/ysGHwgfa7nsyZ1876
Taiping Lake Gardens - https://goo.gl/maps/iNhPPV8kgkwZEWhS7
Tai Hu Food Court - https://goo.gl/maps/dTnJjBg5WYXH8MXY7

Roadtrip Day1 │ Bismillah Cendol • Taiping Lake Gardens • Tai Hu Food Court

We're Going on a Road Trip!

A week ago, the office asked me to give a lecture at a community college in Jitra, Kedah on Monday, 20 March 2023. The lecture was part of a nationwide programme happening at more than 140 community colleges, involving around 30,000 students — a scale big enough for the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR).

With such short notice, and with the school holidays ending, all ETS train tickets heading north were sold out. A bus ride would take six to seven hours anyway, so we decided to drive.

Planning the Journey

Jitra is about 450 km from Kuala Lumpur, so we planned to split the drive:

• Saturday: KL → Taiping
• Sunday: Taiping → Jitra
• Monday: After the lecture, drive south to Ipoh
• Tuesday: Ipoh → KL

We booked the hotels, and our good friend — who works in the used car business — kindly lent us a comfortable SUV for the long journey.

KL to Taiping

We left home at 9:20am and reached Taiping at 12 noon. (You can watch the hyperlapse in our previous video.)

We headed to the hotel, but check in was only at 3pm. So we drove into town for lunch at Bismillah Cendol. We had:

• Pasembur — RM8.00 each
• Kacang Jagung Cendol — RM2.20
• Pulut Jagung Cendol — RM2.60

Total: RM12.80 (≈ USD/EUR3).

With two hours to spare, we drove back near the hotel and parked at DoubleTap Café. We decided to first take a drive around the Taiping Lake Gardens, then stopped at a Petronas station to refuel the “thirsty” SUV.

Coffee by the Lake

We returned to DoubleTap Café and ordered:

• Dalgona Coffee — RM15.00
• Iced Honey Lemon — RM8.00
• French Toast (shared) — RM8.00

Total: RM31.00 (≈ USD/EUR7).

We sat by a large window overlooking the lake — a peaceful hour well spent.

We then checked in at Flemington Hotel, where we booked a twin room for RM208.00 (≈ USD46/EUR44), fully paid using credits from our Booking.com wallet.

Evening in Taiping

After a nap, we planned to take an evening stroll at the Lake Gardens, but a heavy downpour delayed us. Once the rain eased at sunset, we headed out. (Watch our next video for the full walk.)

For dinner, we went to Tai Hu Food Court and had:

• Mata Kuching drinks — RM4.80
• Lor Bak — RM19.70
• Grilled Stingray — RM26.00
• Kueh Teow Thng — RM6.00

Total: RM56.50 (≈ USD13/EUR12).

We took another slow walk around the Lake Gardens before returning to the hotel. Our room came with breakfast for two, so we aimed for an early night.

More Tomorrow

Catch up with you tomorrow morning!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/HQ3NCQcv6SA3dDDK8
Flemington Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/ysGHwgfa7nsyZ1876
Bismillah Cendol - https://goo.gl/maps/7eVeNx3NgCm2qdUt8
New Clock Tower - https://goo.gl/maps/VNEEQUD7oC2exM868
DoubleTap Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/GPNrvnte4mTJV7QH8
Taiping Lake Gardens - https://goo.gl/maps/iNhPPV8kgkwZEWhS7
Tai Hu Food Court - https://goo.gl/maps/dTnJjBg5WYXH8MXY7

Drive to Nilai │ Mahaban Bikum • Nilai 3

We Drove to Nilai!

Two weeks had passed since our trip to Kuching, and we had not planned to make any new videos. My day job demanded all my time and focus, so editing was the last thing on my mind.

We had recently repainted our condo and wanted to refresh some of our fittings, so we took an impromptu drive to Nilai, a small town in Negeri Sembilan about 45 minutes south of Kuala Lumpur.

Lunch at Nilai Square

We arrived in Nilai and headed to Dataran Nilai (Nilai Square) for lunch at Rumah Makan Dataran. We had read many positive reviews about Restoran Marhaban Bikum, so we decided to try it.

We scanned the QR code and ordered:

• Roasted Chicken with Arabic Rice

• Grilled Chicken with White Rice

• Sirap (rose flavoured drink)

• Watermelon Lychee Juice

The bill came to RM40.00 (≈ USD9/EUR8) — a fair price for a hearty lunch.

Exploring Nilai 3

After lunch, we drove 6 km to Nilai 3 Wholesale Centre, a huge area filled with large retail shops selling textiles, curtains, home décor items, and carpets.

We walked around for a while looking for new railings for our home, but nothing suitable caught our eye. The heat was intense, and it discouraged us from exploring too much of the vast complex.

Wrapping Up

And just like that, our unplanned vlog for the week came to an end. A simple drive, a good lunch, and a quick look around Nilai 3.

We hope to take you on another excursion next week when we visit the MATTA Fair!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Restoran Marhaban Bikum - https://goo.gl/maps/61Y6PLzw6RV73EhP6
Nilai 3 Wholesale Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/DJfiyUM7eb1iskQaA

KCH Day 6 │ Going Home!

Kuching Day 6!

It was our final day in Kuching. We were flying home on Malaysia Airlines MH2545 at 6:00pm. We woke up and headed out to a laundromat to wash our bedsheets and covers, since the Airbnb would be the “control centre” for Brendan’s debate team over the weekend. He would fly back to Kuala Lumpur on Monday after his tournament.

We drove around for a bit before settling on myDobi at Queen’s Court. Once the laundry was in, we tried to get breakfast at Little Skill, but it was full. After wandering around and finding nothing else, we returned to Little Skill when a table opened up.

We both ordered Mee Pok Kolo Mee, and with drinks, our final Sarawakian breakfast came to RM43.95 (≈ USD10/EUR9).

Packing Up

We returned to the Airbnb, where the debate tournament was in full swing. We retreated to our room, organised our luggage, and took a shower.

We said goodbye to Brendan and drove to Kuching Airport, where Awang Amirul was waiting to collect the rental car. We were worried about our luggage weight — especially Brendan’s big red bag — and true enough, we exceeded the limit by 8 kg. We had to pay RM301.00 (≈ USD68/EUR64) for the excess.

With three hours to spare, we settled at Starbucks for drinks. Later, we entered the departure hall, cleared Immigration, and waited patiently at Gate 4.

Leaving Kuching

Time really did fly. We had an action packed five days in Kuching, and we were sad to leave — though comforted by the fact that we would return next year for Brendan’s convocation. To mark the trip, we put together a short montage of our favourite moments.

We boarded MH2545 at 5:15pm, and after a slight delay, took off an hour later. The flight was smooth, with only a small delay in landing due to traffic congestion at KLIA.

We touched down at 8:00pm. After taxiing, we were directed to Carousel K, quite a distance away. We were glad to see the shops along the long walkway alive again, unlike last year when everything was closed.

We collected our very heavy bags and debated whether to take the ERL or a Grab. In the end, we chose the comfort of a six seater Grab.

We reached home at 10:30pm and began the long task of unpacking the two mammoth bags — already dreaming of our next trip to Kuching.

Signing Off

With that, we end this series of Kuching vlogs.

Stay tuned as we explore Kuala Lumpur in the coming weekends and show you the full glory of its public transportation!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8
Little Skill - https://goo.gl/maps/pEm4XzKMfmWibC4L9
myDobi King Center - https://goo.gl/maps/7oNzFnp2Lofhw6it8
Kuching International Airport - https://goo.gl/maps/8ei2VZArmivJHuwR6
Kuala Lumpur International Airport - https://goo.gl/maps/YzCAt7GGta382YKk7

Kuching Day 5 │ Jong Hua Kopitiam • Mita Cake House • Unihaus

Kuching Day 5!

It was our penultimate day in Kuching, and with nothing planned, we walked out of the Airbnb toward a row of shop houses. Brendan decided to sleep in and skipped our morning wander.

We strolled for a bit before choosing Thian Fock Café. After days of Kolo Mee, we wanted something different, so we ordered toast with half boiled eggs. It took a while for the eggs to be ready, and with drinks, breakfast came to RM16.00 (≈ USD4/EUR3).

We walked back to the Airbnb, and I spent the rest of the morning on an office call.

Lunchtime Errands

My meeting ended at 12:30pm, and we drove toward Jalan Satok in search of the famous butter cheese cake at Mita Cake House. Unfortunately, it was sold out.

We continued walking along the shop houses and eventually stopped at Jong Hua Kopitiam for lunch. After browsing the stalls, we ordered:

• Sarawak Laksa — RM8.00
• Beef Noodles (Kueh Teow) — RM6.00
• Chicken Rice (packed for Brendan) — RM9.00
• Wheat Grass drinks — RM5.10

Lunch came to RM28.10 (≈ USD/EUR6).

Afterward, we drove around and finally found the butter cheese cake at Mita Cake House, Eastmoore Centre. With that mission complete, we returned to the Airbnb to begin packing for our flight home tomorrow.

A Surprise Car Swap

In the evening, our car rental guy Awang Amirul called to say he had mixed up the rental dates. The car we were using had also been promised to another renter, so he needed to collect it.

In exchange, he handed us the keys to a Toyota Camry to use until tomorrow — quite an upgrade!

As night fell, we drove the replacement car to UNIMAS to pick up Ashley from Cempaka Residential College and take her out for dinner. We headed toward the area near Aiman Mall.

Dinner at Unihaus

We were craving western food and wanted to try GBS Hanbāgā, but it seemed closed, possibly for good. Brendan suggested Unihaus, so off we went.

We found a table, then quickly moved to a larger one when it became available. After browsing the menu, we ordered:

• Beef Cheezy Fries
• Chicken Chop
• Lamb Chop
• Nasi Goreng Daging
• Nasi Goreng Seafood
• Green Ice Tea
• Iced Teh C Special
• Ribena Sprite Longan (2 glasses)

Dinner came to RM76.00 (≈ USD17/EUR16).

We enjoyed our time at Unihaus and got to know Ashley a little better. After an hour, we drove her back to Cempaka Residential College before returning to the Airbnb.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow, we’ll be leaving on a jet plane. Stay tuned for our final day in Kuching!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8
Thian Fock Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/WA3oWXxXLq1Lxtbg6
Mita Cake House (Tabuan Baru) - https://goo.gl/maps/92VbyjVbNrFKyquF7
Jong Hua Kopitiam - https://goo.gl/maps/JXwz2DxNJGQu7Zox7
Mita Cake House (Jalan Tun Jugah) - https://goo.gl/maps/wfaL5Tddso6or2FbA
Unihaus - https://goo.gl/maps/e3G74prkfUHzyhxN9

KCH Day 4 │ An Evening in UNIMAS

UNIMAS!

Brendan enrolled at the University of Malaysia, Sarawak (UNIMAS) in September 2019 to pursue his Bachelor of Arts in English for Global Communication (Hons.). That was when we first began getting to know this quiet suburb of Kuching — a district in its own right, though often overlooked by visitors.

Early Memories at Cempaka

Brendan was assigned to Cempaka Residential College. During his first week, the Minggu Aluan Pelajar (students’ welcoming week), he and two teammates won the inter college English debating tournament, bringing early pride to Cempaka.

He returned home for his semester break in March 2020 — and that was when the pandemic hit. For the next four semesters, or two full years, he attended classes remotely from our home in Kuala Lumpur.

Returning to Campus

Last November, he was asked to return for face to face classes. Unfortunately, Cempaka College refused to offer him a room. We know why, but we will leave it at that.

With no other choice, we placed him at Dahlia Residential College, a paid accommodation, for the rest of his seventh semester.

A few days ago was his final day at Dahlia, which was why we flew to Kuching — to help him move out and to revisit the campus that had shaped so much of his university life.

One of Our Last Visits

Apart from his convocation next year, this would likely be one of our last visits to UNIMAS. Despite the unpleasant experience with Cempaka, Brendan still had many fond memories here — friendships, lecturers, late night walks, and the quiet charm of the campus.

So we decided to take a slow drive around UNIMAS, passing through the places he knew best, and taking a walk along the paths he frequented over the years.

A Campus Close to Our Hearts

UNIMAS may not be widely known outside Sarawak, but it has been a meaningful part of our lives for the past four years. We hope you enjoy the video — whether or not you are, or once were, a student of UNIMAS.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
UNIMAS - https://goo.gl/maps/GUTPcimXJgtFWthj8
Student Pavilion - https://goo.gl/maps/XZgp5L9JD4RjkLNF8
Jambatan Cinta - https://goo.gl/maps/szNWSy5FgGXhnhU28

KCH Day 4 │ Muara Tebas • UNIMAS • Siang Siang

Kuching Day 4!

During our previous trip to Kuching, we drove toward Bako and stumbled upon a riverside seafood restaurant on stilts. It was closed then, so this time we made it a point to visit Muara Tebas Seafood for lunch.

Often described as “a little gem only the knowledgeable few know about”, we were excited to finally try it.

Morning Errands

We left at 10am, but first went searching for a padlock for Brendan’s luggage, which was to be shipped back to Kuala Lumpur. With that done, we drove to Nizaf Movers at Jalan Keruing.

Unfortunately, they only handled bulk shipping — a flat RM250 per pallet, regardless of weight. Since that didn’t suit us, we postponed the search and continued driving toward Bako.

Lunch at Muara Tebas Seafood

Half an hour later, we reached the restaurant — and were immediately approached by a local thug demanding RM5.00 for parking. Rather than create a scene, we quietly paid and moved on.

Inside, the view of the Sarawak River was stunning. We browsed the menu and ordered:

• Deep Fried Ikan Mancung (Indian Threadfin)
• Cangkuk Manis
• Deer Meat in Soy Sauce
• Chicken in Soy Sauce
• Oyster Omelette
• Plain Omelette
• 3 servings of Rice
• Several rounds of drinks

Our riverside feast came to RM172.80 (≈ USD39/EUR37). The novelty fish alone cost RM70, so the total was expected.

The Shipping Mission Continues

After lunch, we resumed our search for a shipping company.

Nizaf Movers suggested Microlink Express, so we keyed it into Waze — which led us instead to TJ Pacific, a place that appeared closed.

We then tried the second suggestion, CTSI, which Waze interpreted as K.C Logistics. Half an hour later, we arrived — and thankfully, they accepted Brendan’s single luggage bag.

The rate was RM5.50 per kg, and since the bag weighed 20.25 kg, the estimated cost was RM111.40 — less than half of Nizaf’s flat rate. Payment would only be required upon delivery in Kuala Lumpur.

Mission accomplished.

A Quiet Afternoon

We returned to the Airbnb, where I spent the afternoon organising and editing footage from the past few days.

In the evening, we took a leisurely drive to UNIMAS. We switched from hyperlapse to normal mode and dropped Brendan off at Cempaka College, then continued driving around the campus before parking at the Student Pavilion for a stroll along the Jambatan Cinta (Bridge of Love).

Dinner at Siang Siang Corner

For dinner, we went to Siang Siang Corner, the very first food court we visited when we came to Kota Samarahan in 2019. It felt fitting to spend our last evening here.

Time had not been kind to the place — only a few stalls remained open.

• Cat ordered Fried Beehoon
• I had Rice with Fried Chicken
• We shared two sets of chicken wings
• Plus drinks

Dinner came to RM26.60 (≈ USD/EUR6).

We then drove back to the Airbnb.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow is our penultimate day in Kuching, and with nothing planned, we’ll be playing it by ear.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8
Nizaf Movers - https://goo.gl/maps/cropddg9C6RUCdVU6
Muara Tebas Seafood 青山岩海鲜 - https://goo.gl/maps/v4jVhpgiRnXPP4vG8
K.C. Logistics - https://goo.gl/maps/XeSmw72a2jpJhk1x6
UNIMAS - https://goo.gl/maps/GUTPcimXJgtFWthj8
Siang Siang Corner - https://goo.gl/maps/epkQPUgT1cC1stbi8

KCH Day 1 │ EPIC Sarawak Cultural Village

Kuching Day 3!

Today was the day we finally visited the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV). We had tried to book tickets during our previous trip but failed. This time, we secured the 1 Day Admission with Lunch for RM117.00 ( ≈ USD29/EUR25) each, booked a month in advance.

We were especially excited for the Cultural Show, where SCV’s award winning dancers and musicians perform traditional dances from Sarawak’s many ethnic groups. Our goal was to catch the 11:30am show.

Journey to Mount Santubong

We woke up at 7:00am, had breakfast near the Airbnb, and started our drive at 8:30am toward Mount Santubong. After 45 minutes, we arrived at SCV and parked the rental car.

We showed our payment slip at the counter and received our tickets and stickers. It felt surreal — SCV had been on our bucket list for years.

Exploring the Traditional Houses

We began our walk with the Rumah Cina (Chinese House), followed by the Rumah Melayu (Malay House). As we continued, each house grew larger and more impressive:

• Melanau House
• Orang Ulu House
• Bidayuh House
• Iban Longhouse

We hoped our footage captured even a fraction of their beauty.

At the entrance, I requested a new sticker after mine fell off. Then we walked to the Budaya Restaurant to rest while waiting for the Cultural Show. The theatre doors opened at 11:15am, and we entered with excitement.

The Cultural Show

The performance lived up to every bit of its reputation — colourful costumes, graceful movements, and powerful music. We only included short snippets in our video because this is a show you truly need to experience in person.

Ticket Prices:

• 1 Day Admission: RM85 (≈ USD21/EUR18 adult), RM55 (≈ USD14/EUR12 child)
• 1 Day Admission with Lunch: RM117 (≈ USD29/EUR25 adult), RM80 (≈ USD20/EUR17 child)

We chose the lunch package and were glad we did.

Lunch at Budaya Restaurant

Our meal included:

• Steamed Rice
• Manok Pansoh (Chicken cooked in bamboo)
• Ikan Asam Pedas
• Bandong Tutok (Mashed tapioca leaves)
• Labu Masak Lemak (Pumpkin in coconut milk)
• Paku Belacan (Wild fern with prawn paste)
• Sirap Selasih (Basil syrup drink)
• Local fruits

It was a wonderful introduction to local flavours, and we highly recommend choosing the lunch option.

A Quiet Afternoon

After lunch, we walked back to the car and drove to the Airbnb. We spent the rest of the day indoors and later stepped out briefly to get dinner off camera.

Tomorrow will be a busy day as we search for the cheapest way to ship Brendan’s belongings back to Kuala Lumpur.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8
Thian Fock Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/4kVcZLZEpDa2zRom8
Sarawak Cultural Village - https://goo.gl/maps/pVyzA9NS8jWCcSdq9
Restaurant Budaya - https://goo.gl/maps/6rKMGZ4a5YgPnhTp6