THERE are two reasons as to why Tanjung Malim in Selangor is worth a day trip.
First, you will find some interesting eateries located around the town centre and if you love laksa kampung this would be a good place to start.
Next, there’s the high-speed electric train from Kuala Lumpur and if you have a foldable bicycle, the ride from Tanjung Malim to Kalumpang is definitely a route that might interest you.
The laksa kampung stalls in this town are located near the abandoned Rex cinema along Jalan Loke Yew.
Noodles galore: There’s a row of stalls selling curry laksa and soupy noodles along Jalan Loke Yew in Tanjung Malim.
Here, you will find a row of stalls selling noodles with stuffed vegetables, foo chuk and taufoo.
And for RM4 a bowl, they serve a generous portion and decent tasting laksa.
Speaking of riding a foldable bicycle around town, you can actually complete it within 20-minutes.
I took the opportunity to discover this town over a weekend on my bicycle when ride organiser Pauline Lee offered a slot for me and my wife Michelle.
This was also a chance to ride along with veteran folding bicycle rider Uncle Bil Choy who co-founded the folding bike club in Kuala Lumpur.
Choy rode his Brompton bike while Lee had a first try with her state-of-the art Moulton touring bike which is also a foldable bicycle.
There were 13 riders in the group who rode their Dahon, GT, Brompton and Moulton bicycles.
At Tanjung Malim, there are two sections of the town which is seperated by a railway line.
Rough terrain: Loose gravel and a high gradient proved to be too much for the folding bicycle riders.
The older part of Tanjung Malim is the most active trading areas with rows of pre-war shophouses and a wet market.
Even at the market itself, you will find some good eating places on the first floor.
But if you are over 1.8 metres in height, you might want to watch your head as the ceilings are built really low here.
From Tanjung Malim, the old trunk road leads to Kalumpang, a small town located about 15km away.
The ride from town-to-town would take about 50-minutes if you cycle non-stop in an average speed of 16km/hour.
Kalumpang is also split into two areas and the older part of town is located near the police station.
Here, there is a coffee shop called Cheong Fong that has been in existence for decades.
It specialises in char siew pau and local coffee and if you love the roasted brew, this is the place to be.
Not too far away from here, there are two jungle retreats called Kalumpang Resort and Pasir Putih Resort.
It is roughly about two kilometres from town and is a popular haunt for the picnic crowd.
Place for pau: The Cheong Fong coffee shop in Kalumpang.
I found the resorts to be quite polluted as water from a poultry farm nearby was chanelled into the stream.
During our visit, we saw two men gutting fish upstream with some children playing in the water where they were carrying out their act.
The ride back to Tanjung Malim would take another 15km which translates to about 45 minutes on the road.
And we completed the ride in four hours by taking a group photo in front of the Tanjung Malim train station.
If you plan to ride this route, be wary of oncoming vehicles as traffic is heavy along the KL-Ipoh trunk road.
Public can see and learn about KL via Malaysia Heritage Walk
Literally walk down memory lane through the heart of Kuala Lumpur starting at the Central Market at 10.30am every day.
Malaysia Heritage Walk, a free service, which began in October last year, is carried out by a group of volunteers called Be Tourist.
Tour guide and Kuala Lumpur expert Erina Loo begins the journey explaining how Central Market was a wet market in 1888.
She said the main aim was to promote and highlight the historical aspect of Kuala Lumpur by walking along the busy road.
Scenic sight: The convergence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang played a significant role in the history of Kuala Lumpur.
Loo describes the architecture of the building as art deco, which faced redevelopment but was saved by a group of non-governmental organisations to preserve its structure.
She then proceeded to Jalan Pasar, where the original market was located with the clock tower built in the 1930s standing out.
She said the British constructed the administrative building in Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan, which is now known as Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad.
“Loke Chow Kit, a leading Chinese trader used to have his own department store in the same administrative area, which goes to show the kind of influence he had at the time,” she said.
While walking along the convergence of the Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang, Loo said a port used to be located along the bank.
The port, which was strategic for the market, allowed the trading and exchange of goods.
Colonial look: Old buildings along Jalan Pasar.
Moving along to another iconic structure of the city is the Masjid Jamek mosque that was built for the Malay settlement near the present HSBC Bank.
The tour then proceeded to one of the busiest streets in the city, predominantly known to Indians as Lebuh Ampang. It was made famous by the Chettiar community from south India after they established money-lending establishments along this road.
“The Indians made their initial fortune selling salt but most of them had left during the emergency period in 1960s,” Loo said while showing an old Chettiar shop that is still operating as a traditional money-lending outlet.
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, previously known as High Street, has some of the oldest shophouses that are still in their original form.
Walking along this road, one can see modern businesses and traditional traders still operating side by side.
Further down Jalan Tun H.S. Lee is where the jewellery and pawn shops were located about 50 years ago.
Near the area, one will find Kuala Lumpur’s oldest Taoist temple built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, the man behind the development of Kuala Lumpur.
Kapitan Yap Ah Loy built the temple behind his house to show his gratitude to his master who was killed in a civil war.
Tourist lure: This is the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy.
Moving along to Jalan Hang Kasturi, one will find a row of shophouses known for selling dried seafood and Chinese herbs, but now only one or two are in the trade.
It has now been transformed into Kasturi Walk with a huge Wau structure welcoming people from all over the world to Central Market. The tour ends at Central Market.
Those interested in taking the tour can call 017-989 1031 or 03-2032 1031 or log on to www.malasyiaheritage.net.
THE Big BookShop in Atria Shopping Complex is having a clearance sale with 50% storewide discount from its already marked-down low prices.
Its manager-in-charge K.C. Chow said the bookshop was moving out soon because of redevelopment plans. “Since we are moving out, we wanted to have a good clearance instead of bringing back stocks to the warehouse.
“And a 50% storewide discount is our way of rewarding loyal customers and avid book readers,” said Chow.
He said Big BookShop in Atria has always operated as a warehouse concept for the past couple of years where good-value books are sold for really low prices.
“For a novel that usually retails between RM35 and RM40 in the market, we will sell it at RM15.
“And now with the 50% discount, it means we are selling the novel at RM7.50,” said Chow.
He said bookworms can expect a good range of books which also boasts of overseas publishers like Harper Collins and Random House, among others.
For children, there are the Ladybird books to buy while people who love to cook can look forward to the Family Circle Mini Cookbooks that are going for RM1 only. There are various topics under this mini cookbook series to select from such as sizzling wok and roast to tapas as well as fats and carbohydrates.
The 50%, said Chow, was applicable to everything which included general titles, novels, hobbies, business, health and cookery except for local school books that were given a 20% discount.
Stationeries are also going at a special 20% off.
“We have received positive feedback from the public since we started on May 20.
“The prices are amazingly low, the books are brand new and titles are current.
“In fact, for Times Edition books as well as Hannah Montana and High School Musical, we are selling them at 70% discount, which translates to RM3 per book only,” said Chow.
The clearance sale ends on Sunday, with over 150,000 books to be cleared. It is held from 11am to 9pm.
Big Bookshop is located on the first floor of Atria in Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur (KL) will be launching its latest themed precinct, Tokyo Street, inspired by the modern yet traditional Asakusa district in July this year.
As with the popular district located in Japan’s capital city Tokyo, one of the key focal attractions at this area will be a giant red lantern that will greet visitors entering the 6th Floor precinct.
“Our lantern will be a bit smaller compared to the one in the real Asakusa but it is fabricated by the same company that created the original,” shopping centre head of design and fit-out Tan Peng Han said, adding that it took three months for the lantern to be completed.
Raising the red lantern: (From left) Yap along with leasing director Lovell Ho and design and fit-out head Tan Peng Han unveiling the logo for Tokyo Street, the new themed precinct to be opened in July.
Pavilion KL retail chief executive officer Joyce Yap said they wanted to offer customers an authentic Japanese experience and even brought in real Japanese brands to this end.
“Of the 29 confirmed brands we have opening in Tokyo Street, 12 are authentically Japanese while the rest feature Japanese concepts.
“Currently, 95% of the area is occupied with over 60% of the brands debuting for the first time in Malaysia,” Yap said at the press conference to announce the precinct.
The confirmed brands are mainly food and beverage types followed by retail and services such as a hair salon and a travel agent.
“We decided to do Tokyo Street after extensive research as there is a rising interest among consumers in Japanese-themed trends,” Yap said.
The total gross floor area of the precinct will be 3,716sq m whereas the total net lettable area is 2,517.59sq m with 41 lots including kiosks.
Yap also said that the target market was 70% local and 50% tourists.
“We will primarily target the urban crowd, modern individuals who relish the energy of Tokyo and the dynamism of cosmopolitan living with a love of fashion, gadgets, dining and entertainment,” she said.
The secondary market will be the Japanese expatriate community. “We hope they will come to regard Tokyo Street as a home outside of Japan,” she added.
Special concierge staff who will be able to speak Japanese will also be on hand to assist customers at the precinct that will emulate the Japanese way of living in many ways.
Japanese culture will also come alive at the precinct through various celebrations that will be organised from time to time such as Tanabata, Tango No Sekku (Boys’ Day) and Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival).
Yap said lots of effort and investment had gone into creating Tokyo Street.
“Creating a precinct or a concept like this is not just about acquiring hardware. It takes lots of planning, marketing, pricing and research. If this precinct is successful, it is possible we will look into creating others to emulate other cultures,” she said.
Yap said that they would continue working closely with the Tourism Ministry to get Tokyo Street recognised as a prime tourism destination in the Bukit Bintang area and within Pavilion KL.
The Rotary Club of Shah Alam is hosting the Dama Orchestra Performance “The Moon Speaks For My Heart” on Friday at 8.30pm at Pentas 1, KLPac, to raise funds for charity projects. For tickets, call James Wong 03-2148 8968/ Soon Ee Hooi 012-3399 466.
Saravanan: Kiosks part of blueprint for Little India
TWENTY kiosks bearing the 1Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) logo will be set up in Brickfields’ Little India to give poor Indian traders the chance to earn a living, said Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan.
Saravanan said the kiosk project was the government’s way of giving something back to the people.
“It (kiosk) is not something new. The project is part of the Little India blueprint and was agreed upon by the stakeholders and NGOs since the beginning.
“If we don’t do this, then what is going to happen to the poor traders who have been waiting for kiosks and the opportunity to do business,’’ he said. Out of nowher e: This kiosk with the 1Malaysia logo and DBKL emblem was placed in Brickfields Little India few days ago.
He was responding to questions by shop owners who were riled up over the presence of a kiosk which was left in front of the Sri Paandi Restaurant in Brickfields’ Little India three days ago.
They wondered why the kiosk was left there as no one had come forward to provide any information on it.
They also felt that more of such kiosks will sprout and crowd the five-foot-way in front of their shops.
Brickfields Business Community Society (BBCS) president Barath Maniam said some members were told that if they did not want the kiosks, they would be given to outsiders.
“Putting up kiosks in front of the shops will bring other problems like cleanliness, vandalism and management of the stalls at night.’’ said Maniam.
“As it is, youths are loitering, drinking and urinating in the area after midnight. My concern is that when the kiosks are operating who will oversee the cleanliness of the place?’’ he asked.
“We believe DBKL placed the kiosk a few days ago to gauge our reaction,’’ he said, adding that no notice was given to the shop owners or the BBCS.
BBCS secretary-general A. Karupiah said the shop owners did not want Brickfields Little India to suffer the similar fate like Masjid India.
“Once they brought in the bazaar into the place, it killed off the business in Wisma Yakin,’’ he said.
Maniam also said if the authorities did not want the shop owners to put chairs and tables on the five-foot way then they had to issue notices to inform the business community.
He said the shop owners were paying City Hall RM30 for each table they placed outside the premises in the past.
“They stopped this recently, but they did not issue any notices saying that it is no longer permissible,’’ he said.
Maniam said the traffic jam along the stretch was an enforcement problem and that the onus was on DBKL to manage the traffic flow.
“We do not have the authority to summon drivers,’’ he said.
OVER 100 super cars roared their way into the cavernous courtyard of ‘space u8’ recently, making it the largest single gathering inside a mall in Malaysia.
The Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins and Maseratis assembled at Shah Alam’s newest mall as a prelude to the 2011 Supercar Charity Challenge, raised funds for orphanages in Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor.
“We are thrilled to offer space u8’s 70,000sq ft courtyard as the venue for the charity event and it reflects the mall’s identity as a fun, lifestyle location,” said its chief executive officer Raja Ahmad Nizam Raja Razali.
The mall which is located in the Bukit Jelutong township will also host the inaugural Shah Alam Motor Show from June 23 to 26 which will be open to the public, offering a range of activities for car enthusiasts and families.
“Space u8 is gearing up for our soft launch a little later this year and this is our way of inviting people for a fun sneak preview while contributing to charity as we are also a main sponsor of the Supercar Charity Challenge,” added Raja Ahmad.
THE Han’s Art Gallery is having an art exhibition featuring Chong Buck Tee’s Chinese landscape paintings. The exhibition runs until May 29 at L320, 3rd Floor, Amcorp Mall, 18, Persiaran Barat, Petaling Jaya. The gallery is open from 11am to 7pm. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For details, call 03-7954 0805.
THE NN Gallery in Ampang is holding an exhibition entitled ‘Inspiration 2011’, which showcases Akademi Inspire’s first fine art exhibition from now until May 25. The works, from different mediums, are products of various students from the academy. Collectors can find various styles from abstract to semi-abtract. For details, call 03-4270 6588.
AFTER a long hard day at work, there are few things better than kicking up your heels, relaxing with a long, cold drink and enjoying the sweet sounds of music, especially if it happens to be played live.
ALEXIS BISTRO AMPANG
Lot 10 & 11, Great Eastern Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-4260 2288
If you’re ever tired of Top 40 hits or old school rock’n’roll, then Alexis is probably the best place to check out. Jazz takes centre stage here, but only on Friday and Saturday.
Laila’s is a great place to kick back and relax and the best part is there’s something special going on here almost every week. Great music to be had here with a selection of guest artistes lined up. Sunday nights are particularly memorable with some great relaxed vibes.
OVO LIVE BISTRO
Terrace Level, Up Town 2, No 2, Jln SS21/37, Damansara Uptown.
Tel: 03-7725 2288
Ovo is the latest addition to the bustling nightlife industry and promises a touch of something different for a night out. It’s not just a nightspot but a full-fledged restaurant as well, with a wide selection of various cuisines to pick from. There’s a great line-up of music to choose from next week.
Mon: Cool Gang
Tues: Touch Mahal
Wed: E6
Sun: Talent experiment
RAINFOREST SPORTS BAR
C4.07, Lvl 4, Pavilion KL, Jln Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: 03-2163 0163
Looking for a place to chill out in the heart of the city? Well, the Rainforest is a good bet as it is right in the heart of the Bukit Bintang area. Now, there is more on offer with a mix of live music thrown in to the mix.
Thurs: Mark Renesh
Fri: Victor & Mark Renesh
Sat: Artstream
CHILLOUT BISTRO & RESTAURANT
G31, Ground Floor, Subang Parade, Subang.
Tel: 03-5635 5508
Another great addition for those in the Subang area. A great selection of food complements the nightly entertainment which ranges from bands to a deejay spinning some great grooves. Currently, local legend Bala hits the stage here on Wednesday nights and there is a lot more to offer with live music almost every day.
Mon: Ice, Vishnu & Mizan
Tues: Bongga Bongga
Wed: Allan G Trio
Thurs: Bongga Bongga
Fri & Sat: Freedom
LA RAMBLA
B-0-15, Megan Avenue 2, 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, KL
Tel: 03-2161 3010
For some great music in the heart of the city, be sure to drop by La Rambla, which also serves up some great food to go with the after-dark vibes. Right now, the outlet boasts a good collection of musicians.
Monday: Clifford Jay & Jason Noah
Tues: Charles Barnabas & Alya
Wed: Mizan:
Thurs: Vishnu
Fri: Alphabeat
Sat: Ashik
ARTISTA RESTAURANT & BAR
G-13, Tropicana City Mall, 3, Jln SS20/27, PJ
Tel: 03-7710 6585
PJ’s newest mall also boasts one of PJ’s newest pubs that features live music. Pretty cool place to kick back and relax to the sounds of some great acts.
MANDOLIN
C5-1 & C6-1, Plaza Glomac, Jalan SS7/19, Kelana Jaya, PJ.
New kid on the block Mandolin recently opened its doors, offering another outlet for live music fans in Petaling Jaya. So far, some great acts like The Union and Big Game have already taken the stage here. Music will be on offer seven nights a week at Mandolin so watch this space to find out more about who’s going to be taking the mic at the outlet.
Mon: Big Game with Mary Jackson
Tues: Alphabeat
Wed: Small Stones
Thurs: Strollers 2
Fri: The Union
Sat: Five & Dime
Sun: Touch Mahal
ONLINE
32, Jalan SS20/10, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7728 0532
It has been 21 years but the boys at Online show no signs of slowing down so be ready for a blast. Friendly owners and a friendly crowd all add up to a great night out when you party at Online.
Mon: Shahrin Band Trio
Tues: Muzza & Din
Wed: Vishnu
Thurs: Mizan
Fri: David Mark
Sat: The Corn Cake Kings: Julian Mokhtar & Aznan Aziz
Sun: Crow
CJ’S BISTRO
D 37-01, Dataran 3 Two Square, Jln 19/1, PJ.
Tel: 012-306 1769 (CJ)
It’s back but with a slightly different name. Ceejay’s used to be one of the better spots in town to check out some live music and the new outlet doesn’t disappoint. Expect some great bands to hit the stage. Still a hotspot for some great partying with great bands and some good stuff from the kitchen. Sunday nights are extra special with Clinton and the Revolution throwing open the floor for anyone to come in and jam with the band.
Tues: Quiz Night followed by Mizan
Wed: Artstream with Suresh
Thurs:Alleycats
Fri: Malaysian Requlars
Sat: Hydra
Sat: Revolution
BACKYARD PUB & GRILL
26/28, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-6201 0318
Mention Backyard and live music will definitely be one of the first things to come to mind. That and, of course, a good selection of food and a great venue to catch up on some live sports on the tube. Next Tues (May 24) there’s something special brewing with Peter Dickson performing on stage.
Tues: Artstream
Wed: Bongga Bongga
Thurs: Albert, Badar, Azmi, Aj & Russell
Fri: Blister
Sat: Big Band
Sun: Raymond Chia
THE REEF
78, Jln Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Still going strong with hefty doses of music, good drinks to help wash them down, and, of course, some great food from the kitchen. As an extra treat, Five & Dime performs every third Thursday of the month.
Tues: Ashik
Wed: Roland Choi
Thurs: The Union
Fri: Revolution
SPARX
29, Jalan Bukit 11/2, PJ
Tel: 03-7954 2490
New kid on the block Sparx is housed in a familiar venue. However, it’s an entirely different team at the outlet so there have been some changes to the bands playing here.
Mon: In Fuzion
Tues: Sons of Adam
Wed: Heavy Machine
Thurs: D ‘All Frenz
Fri: Alleycats
Sat: Chemistry
Sun: Cool Gang
HARD ROCK CAFE
Ground Floor, Wisma Concorde, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL
Tel: 03-2715 5555
Hard Rock Cafe has always lived up to its reputation of serving up some great music and next week will be no different. Legendary local band May will be reuniting for a special performance on May 29 in conjunction with the bands 25th anniversary. Cover charge is RM50.
OL’SKOOL BISTRO
Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya.
Seven nights of live music? Who could ask for more, especially since this place caters to the retro crowd with bands playing some of the best sounds from the 60s, 70s, 80s and even the 90s. Bands like The Stroller’s 2, Heavy Machine and Broken Pieces have all played here and do come back for regular repeat appearances.
Mon: Vernon & Fats
Tues: Broken Pieces
Wed: The Wow Factor
Thurs: Os Pombos
Fri: Zarsadias Brothers
Sat: Heavy Machine
Sun: Small Stones
CAFE SPORTIVO
346, Jalan S2 B8, Uptown Avenue, Seremban 2
Tel: 06-601 5559
Get a dose of some great music down south with the latest nightspot to hit Seremban. A decent group of musicians regularly hit the stage at this sports bar so the next time you’re in Seremban, check them out. You can also keep up with them on Facebook by searching for Cafe Sportivo Seremban.
Mon: Sherman Tan
Tues: Mary Jackson & Raymond Chia
Wed: Zarsadias Brothers
Thurs: Nature Ground
Fri: HypnoRush
Sat: Adagietto
MONKEY BAR
Level 10, Legend Hotel KL, The Mall, Jalan Putra, KL
Tel: 03-4042 9888 ext 1027
The Monkey Bar has a long pedigree and has been in the business for quite some time. A laid-back chill out venue for some great fun. Currently, Revive perform here every night, except on Sundays.
WAIKIKI BAR
First Floor,
Kelab Syabas, Lorong Sultan, PJ.
This place is a Petaling Jaya institution and would be a familiar name to many. Every Sunday, join in for a great jam session with some of the scene’s veteran acts with Five and Dime taking the stage from 10pm.
New outlets add to the thrill of a night out in Bukit Bintang
The touch of downtown central is expanding — time to check out Bukit Bintang with more new outlets to test out.
BEDROOM KL
6th Floor, Pavilion, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
On the uppermost retail floor in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, with a view of KLCC through huge crystalline windows, is a place where
KL-ites flock to when the sun sets, to lounge, meet, sip, and to be slightly naughty. The place is the Bedroom, where the style is comfortable, chic and never pretentious.
TUESDAYS: MR Fluff and Mixx Tina. Inaugural Choons Award Producer of the year 2009 Mr Fluff also goes by the moniker Recovery.
WEDNESDAYS: The Donn. Don was famed as one of Singapore’s 10 most influential men in Music.
THURSDAYS: Ray Soo, Love International’s founder’s unique and quirky sense of electronic house music has taken him the world over, swerving from minimal to maximal house and techno via the freshest style-defining sounds from a multifaceted landscape of influences from around the world.
FRIDAYS: The Donn. From his appointments as Heineken Music sound advisor to his engagement as music director for the Singapore Fashion Festivals since 2007, Don specializes as a music tastemaker by strength and a driver towards the growth of Singapore’s underground cultivation.
SATURDAYS: Various guests pllaying the latest in electronica.
ELIXIR
37 & 39, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
For those seeking a chic nightspot to hangout, consider this lounge club which opened last year. Boasting a sexy décor that’d be apt for burlesque showcases (but alas, you’ll not find such racy entertainment here), the overall ambience is remarkably more sophisticated. .
THEME NIGHTS
WEDNESDAY: Ladies night — Creme de La Soul with DJ Ash (R&B)
THURSDAY: Ladies night — Seduction (Mambo-J)
FRIDAY: House with DJ Chris Olivia & DJ Rekha.
SATURDAY: House with DJ Chris Olivia & DJ Marco.
LUST
L1-3-5, Office Tower, Jalan Nagasari (opp Istana Hotel), KL
New-kid-on-the-block situated behind Hotel Istana and next to ParkRoyal Serviced Suites on Jalan Nagasari.
FRIDAY: LUST Presents A-Rox. Not content with just satisfying your lust for the highest quality music, we’re adding videos to send your senses into a frenzy. Taking your on this sensory roller coaster are KL’s pioneering DVJs, A-Rox. Meanwhile, Zoo Nite with Xu plays monthly on the last Friday of the month.
SATURDAY: MOVE n GROOVE featuring DJ Leonard T (SG). LUST bi-monthly party Move n Groove welcomes Singapore’s greatest musical export and retro legend DJ Leonard T. The former founding DJ of Zouk’s Velvet Wednesday retro night n Saturday nights takes the helm in LUST for his monthly residency at Move n Groove. Expect a musical roller coaster through the ages!
Entry is Free but tables are limited. For more info:- info@lustkl.com / www.lustkl.com or call +603-2142 0525 / +6016-284 6772
LAVA BAR
19, Jalan Berangan, off Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
MIA rock Friday nights with techno Dirty Dutch, electroclash, indie, 80s New Wave, disco dance, electro and more starting this Friday at this new bar. Guest DJs tonight – DJ Raffy and DJ Shashy. Free Entry. For ENQUIRIES,RESERVATION and TABLE BOOKING, contact Joanne Gale +607-543 9422 / DJ Fareen +6012-204 2791.
REGGAE BAR @ CHANGKAT
31, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
Reggae@Changkat is a departure from the authentic Reggae Themed Bar. The ambience has a modern eclectic twist. A mixture of reggae, ragga, dancehall, R&B, hip hop, retro, soul-tree & house is spun to the pleasures of party goers. The second branch of KL’s legendary Reggae Bar (original on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Chinatown) seems to be cutting a swathe through Bukit Bintang.
ENVIE CLUB LOUNGE
14 & 16 Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
Embodied in a chic French design, Envie boasts two floors of complete club-lounge experience. The 1st floor presents to you the luxuries of a main area, a cocktail bar, a dance area, and a VIP section for those of you who prefer a more private soiree. The Rooftop Garden is an open-air lounge terrace complete with its own bar for those who want to enjoy fresh air and the crisp evening breeze. A retractable roof ensures that your gorgeous ensembles are in no danger from unpredictable KL weather! As for the music:
WEDNESDAY: Revolutions with Dayshavoo and Tareeq. Mid week house night. Admission (with one drinks and after 11.30pm): RM20 (men) / RM10 (ladies).
THURSDAY: Lolita with Rex and Slick Vic. Ladies free entry all night men may RM20 (with onr drink).
FRIDAY goes Jooze with Augie and MC Sashi C Loco. Admission (with one drink): RM40 (men) after midnight. Ladies free entry.
SATURDAY: Tbeatfreaks with Rex and guest DJ. Admission (with one drink): RM40 (men) after 11pm. Tel: +603-2141 7380. e-mail: info@envieclublounge.com
FRANGIPANI RESTAURANT & BAR
25, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
The fine dining institution and upstairs bar club continues to be a strong attraction, featuring house music.
FRIDAY with DJ Sito and all things house with that seminal dab of Latin-tinged music flavours.
SATURDAY goes Straight Up with Tim Coates and friends with new tunes, grooving basslines and jackin’ rhythms in the realm of house music!
Open seven days a week from noon onwards but from Wed to Sat it’s Lushouse with different house vibes and a rotation of guest Djs each night. Tel: +603-2142 0021/fax: +603-2141 0121. E-mail: info@twentyone.com.my Also check out the branch/outlet in Bangsar.
THE SOCIAL CHANGKAT
22, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
From the Social Bangsar to the Bukit Bintang branch, attracting a strong clientele. +603-2142 8260/fax: +603-2282 2260.
UPPER DKYM @ 2nd FLR DAIKANYAMA BAR & RESTAURANT
42, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
Ninja Nites at Daikanyama continues on Saturdays. Tomorrow sees DJs An, Madrush & Monsieur Atom. hotline +6012-971 0058; Outlet +603-2141 0323.
PALATE PALETTE
21, Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari, KL
An eclectic home for music, art, food, lounge and all sorts, open Tuesday to Sunday from noon onwards. Malaysia’s only psychedelic trance collective, EPIC TRIBE, host their parties here.
Call +603-2142 2148 or email su-ann@palatepalette.com / hello@palatepalette.com
OSCAR @ ISTANA HOTEL
West Wing, 1B Level, 73, Jalan Raja Chulan, KL
“Sexi Saturday “ : Dress to Impress .. Experience the Power Of Commercial Set with resident DJ Rommy and guest DJ Jaz turning up the bass line till the wee hours. No cover charge.
ROOTZ
Rooftop Lot 10 Shopping Centre, 50, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL
With a capacity for over 400 people with two VIP Rooms, a main VIP floor, spacious dance floor and with one of the largest selections of champagne KL has to offer there is bound to be something for everybody. For table bookings please email info@rootz.com.my
Parking is available throughout Lot 10 shopping centre with valet service available at the Bon Ton entrance (off Jln Sultan Ismail). Access to the Rooftop is via the lifts situated at the Annexe Block, via the lifts from the Main shopping centre entrance at Dome or from the escalators on level 6 and 7 of the carpark.
LA BOMBA LATIN DANCE CLUB
Starhill Gallery, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Located in the heart of the city for the hip and chic. Calling all Latin music lovers and dancers. Spinning the hottest Latin tracks is Venezuelan born DJ Martin Reyes. Every Friday from 9pm listen to the exotic and pumping beats of salsa, bachata and Reggaeton. Every Saturday is Mambo Africando and La Bomba plays host to the invigorating beats of World Music, Top 40s hits, Latin music, Afro-Cuban music and Afro house. Every Wednesdays La Bomba has free salsa classes for all those who want an introduction to this sexy Latin American dance. Call or sms +6017-302 7031 for reservations or information or visit www.labombakl.com
THE 4th Asia Cup Koi Show 2011, will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm at the Martrade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. It is organised by Kelab Ikan Koi ZNA Malaysia and admission is free. For details, call 016-2053 211 (Semantha Chia or Dr Rahim).
THE Chempaka Buddhist Lodge will organise a series of activities in conjunction with Wesak Day from today to May 18. A Wesak Eve chanting session will be held today from 9pm onwards. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will launch the opening ceremony tomorrow at 9am and the Wesak Floats Procession will be held on May 18 from 5pm onwards. For details, call CBL at 03-7880 3936 or email info@chempaka.org.my.
Little India plagued by problems beneath the facade
BARELY eight months has passed since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh launched the multi million ringgit ‘Little India’ in Brickfields, however, Kuala Lumpur’s latest iconic landmark is beginning to show signs of decay.
Residents in Brickfields are blaming the condition on traders and eatery joints in the vicinity, claiming that the operators are not taking proper care of the place.
Others say Little India is suffering the effects of a rushed job.
Never-ending: Congestion in Brickfields due to double-parked vehicles.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said oil and grime had already seeped into the tiles on the five-foot way of the RM35mil project as restaurants lining the five-foot way were placing tables and chairs there.
“Not only are the tiles dirty from the food and drinks spilt on the floor, but they (restaurant operators) are denying the public their right of way,’’ she said, adding that the tactile block for the visually handicapped was completely blocked by chairs and tables.
Another resident who only wished to be identified as Uncle Siva, said apart from the tiles which were already showing signs of ageing, the shops and restaurants were also responsible in rubbish being thrown indiscriminately all over the place.
“Rubbish bins have been provided, but people are not throwing their garbage inside the bins, but merely dumping it beside the bins. They expect Alam Flora workers to do it,’’ he said.
A check by StarMetro showed the colours of the Palava-inspired columns or pillars fronting both sides of Little India were fading, while some of the pillars had their stones chipped away.
Cracks were also found on plant boxes on the side of the road which had the words ‘Little India’.
In some areas, banners and bunting put up by store owners have faded and some were torn, while illegal posters have been pasted on walls by the sides of the shops.
The most disturbing sight was the rubbish littered all over the place.
It was thrown in front of the shops and near backlane of the stalls selling flowers and fruits.
The Jalan Tun Sambanthan pedestrian bridge was littered with rubbish along the steps and the walkway.
“On the surface Little India looks and feels grand — but without maintenance it won’t be long before it start falling apart,” said Palm Court Apartments resident M. Jeyasri.
“A lot of money has been spent to upgrade the area, at least there must be regular maintenance,’’ she added.
Another resident C.K. Leow said Little India is merely suffering the after effects of a rushed job.
“The reason why the paint is fading (from the pillars) is because the concrete was not allowed to dry properly before it was painted,’’ he said.
“Concrete must be allowed to dry for at least one month before it is painted — only then will the paint stay on longer,’’ added Leow.
Leow believes that contractors involved in the project did not do a good job as they were rushing to meet the deadline set by the Government.
Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman S.K.K. Naidu said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was offering free guided tours to tourists every Saturday, hence he advised the authority to monitor the cleanliness of the area. “It would be a shame if they (tourists) saw a dirty Little India,’’ he said.
Meanwhile congested traffic is still the order of the day as the scourge of double parking reigns supreme.
Despite regular enforcement by DBKL, people are still double and triple parking causing a major congestion day and night and the the situation is getting worse.
The residents are blaming the restaurant operators saying that by placing the tables and chairs outside their premises; they are encouraging people to park by the side of the road.
When contacted the Brickfields Business Council (BBC) said it should not be blamed for the condition that Little India was currently in.
BBC Secretary-general A. Karupiah defended its members by saying that the business operators made it a point to wash the area every night after they closed up.
Karupiah blamed the residents living in the shophouses above for not disposing of the rubbish properly.
“They (residents) refuse to throw the rubbish into the bins provided, and sometime scavengers looking for materials for recycling, often do not place the rubbish back into the bins once they are done collecting their materials,’’ he said.
On the operators placing tables and chairs on the five-foot way, Karupiah said that eating in the open air was a Malaysian habit that people loved.
“Besides, the rentals are high and the space inside the outlets are too small; they need to put the tables and chairs outside to make a living,’’ he said.
On the congestion caused by the restaurant patrons double and triple parking, Karupiah said: “We have advised the youths not to park there but they never listen, ’’ he said.
Karupiah said the DBKL had been informed to tow double-parked vehicles or those blocking traffic.
WHO would have expected to find a bustling eatery in a quaint little kampung on the outskirts of Klang (Selangor)? But there it is, on the way to Kampung Delek. As you drive through Jalan Sungai Udang, it’s almost impossible for you to miss this Mom-and-Pop establishment aptly named Nasi Padang Sungai Udang (NPSU).
As you can tell from the name, NPSU serves exquisite Padang cuisine; and by exquisite I mean nothing like the “tailored” version that we sometimes get elsewhere in Malaysia. Here, the spices are brought in from Padang, Indonesia, so that the original taste is preserved. So it’s old-fashioned nasi padang that’s finger-licking good.
Tantalising: The array of dishes at Nasi Padang Sungai Udang in Kampung Delek, Klang.
One glance through the restaurant and you will immediately feel at ease plus, of course, start salivating from the inviting aroma of the food. Then Kak Mimi, the friendly manager of this outlet, will invite you to dig in. She hails from Indonesia and had been operating a small stall not far away from her current location for about 20 years. She moved to the present location a few weeks ago.
If a small stall operator can last for 20 years at the same location, you can be assured that she is serving good stuff.
Loyal customers are made after only the first bite. Now I have found a reason to use the term “You had me at ___ ”. “NPSU, you had me at first bite.” The cook also does nice roti canai.
The price is within the range of any nasi padang or nasi melayu outlet. With RM5, you can get a decent plate of rice with one main dish (chicken, beef or fish) and one vegetable plus a simple drink like syrup.
The place is packed during lunch hour. In the evening, the atmosphere is more laidback with groups of people lounging about and sipping teh tarik while watching a big-screen TV.
Nasi Padang Sungai Udang is at No.5, Jalan Sungai Udang, Kampung Delek, Klang. Opening hours are 6am to 1am. To enquire, call Kak Mimi at 012-381 1766 or e-mail sriminang@gmail.com.