photographic evidence - I've been in Muar! with a round tummy too! Muar, Johor. 12 May 2007.
I starved myself the previous night, not because I had to go to Muar (and fill my tummy with heap loads of yummy goodies) but because I had to run a (dreadful) long list of health tests for employment. Due to the inefficiencies of the hospital staff, I met up with my dear ex-roomie of K07 119, and tagged along to her lovely and quaint hometown, Muar. (instead of spending the day traumatically having my blood drawn and body willingly placed under scrutiny of a number of doctors)
From the ever useful Wikipedia (Muar) :
Muar district is 2346.12 km², with a population of 328,695 (2000). The name originated from the word Muara or estuary in Malay. The other possible origin is Indian influence which comes from two words; ‘Muna’ and ‘Ar’. ‘Muna’ means three and ‘Ar’ means river, denoting the Muar River, which flows through Muar.
Any person who's ever heard of Muar in Johor (very close to Melaka @ Malacca) would probably tell you one thing - Otak-otak. But otak experts would instead say, "the best otak-otak in Malaysia, the world, possibly the universe". Having the pre-emptive assumption that no other planet nor star nor moon makes, sells or serves otak-otak. According to wikipedia (again), otak-otak is found in Malaysia, Singapore and it (surprisingly) orginated from Vietnam.
My dear, if you're asking "what in the world is otak-otak?", then you're missing out on a slightly spicy, pinkish-yellowish, slightly chewy or slightly creamy (depending on quantity and content of fish), grilled piece of pound fish meat mixed and marinated in spices and in some places, some unidentified vegetables, wrapped and grilled in pandan leaf.
Ahh.. ok. We shall continue exploring the taste and likeness of otak-otak when we come to it in chronological order or what I did, where I went and what I ate in Muar. ;)
So, yes. Muar. It was just a half day trip, we took the bus from Sri Putri in Skudai, I think the bus ticket cost RM12 and the trip took about 2 hours. The first thing we did was drop by Sai Kee Coffee Shop.
Me at Sai Kee
The relatively famous Sai Kee 434 Coffee has its own coffee shop across the road from the Muar bus station. Something like the Old Town Kopitiam, or Kluang Station.. but with a touch of its own I think. The small shop is decorated with glass cabinets filled with antique coffee presses, china, coffee containers, coffee making machines. And pictures of coffee beans being harvested around the world.
Coffee Making Contraption
ek? what's this?
We both had the Sai Kee Iced Coffee.. which was thick strong coffee with condensed milk, and ice - not ice cubes or ice tubes, but broken pieces (?) of those huge ice blocks. A delicious pick me up after a very sleepy bus ride! But sorry, forgot to take pictures of the coffee! We had kaya butter toast too. Here, they serve i think 3 or 4 choices of bread at differing prices - normal sandwich bread, wholemeal and bun. There's also a choice of different spreads as well, butter, kaya, and and.. er.. peanut butter i think. Can't really remember.
we had the normal bread kaya butter toast.. I can't tell whether it was traditionally charcoal toasted though.. hm. how do you tell?
I think Sai Kee makes the same mistake as other coffee outlets do - Old Town coffee, Kaya n Toast (in Kuching) - they use cold butter slices! Kaya butter toasts are supposed to be warm (the type of warmness that fills your mouth, goes down to your tummy and fills your heart with love!!) and slightly crispy on the outside... and when you bite into it.. the 'kaya and melted butter fuse' is supposed to slightly dribble down your (already drooling) mouth..! the butter is not supposed to be solid and unmelted in the middle of kaya! *unsatisfied kaya butter toast enthusiast*
Anyhow, the prices were quite alright. not as sky-rocket-ish as Starbucks or its other coffee globalisation spreading counterparts.... I think it was about RM4 for a glass of iced coffee? good coffee by the way.
After coffee, we took a stroll along the streets of Muar. Muar has many old shophouses.. similar to what you would find in Malacca, Penang, Ipoh.. chinese towns.
Angela what's this building?
Seen red bananas before? Really sweet!
Friendly aunty selling red bananas
Continues in Muar Part II..
