The Evolution of a Cendol Snob

Over the past few years, R. has developed a taste for cendol, the great Malaysian shaved-ice drink. But really, how much can one learn, weaned on a diet of Sanur (NYC) and Penang (Philly) cendol? Time for her first trip to Malaysia.


We may have started off with the good stuff too soon. Baba-Nyonya cendol on Melaka's Jonker Street. After this, R. was even thumbing her nose at a good mamak cendol just a few minutes later. I'd created a monster.


Up to Penang, R. was not looking impressed. "I don't think these guys even have pulot, are you kidding me?"

Down to Singapore, armed with the Makansutra guide, R. would barely give Singapore cendol the time of day. "Even Penang Road cendol is better than this stuff." Oh dear.


I was definitely troubled. I found myself married to a full-on cendol fiend. When my uncle pulled off the side of the road somewhere near Seremban, heavily travelled by lumber-lorries, I definitely had my concerns.


R. tasted. "Pulot also got. Gula ok, not gula melaka, but ok." Well, at least she was assuaged, if not satisfied. <img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005178.jpg" width="400"><br />Over the past few years, R. has developed a taste for <i>cendol</i>, the great Malaysian shaved-ice drink. But really, how much can one learn, weaned on a diet of Sanur (NYC) and Penang (Philly) <i>cendol</i>? Time for her first trip to Malaysia<span class="fullpost">.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II100.jpg" width="400"><br />We may have started off with the good stuff too soon. <i>Baba-Nyonya cendol</i> on Melaka's Jonker Street. After this, R. was even thumbing her nose at a good <i>mamak cendol</i> just a few minutes later. I'd created a monster.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II190.jpg" width="400"><br />Up to Penang, R. was not looking impressed. "<i>I don't think these guys even have pulot, are you kidding me</i>?"<br /><br />Down to Singapore, armed with the <a href="http://www.makansutra.com/index.php" target="_blank">Makansutra</a> guide, R. would barely give <i>Singapore cendol</i> the time of day. "<i>Even Penang Road cendol is better than this stuff</i>." Oh dear.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005177.jpg" width="400"><br />I was definitely troubled. I found myself married to a full-on <i>cendol</i> fiend. When my uncle pulled off the side of the road somewhere near Seremban, heavily travelled by lumber-lorries, I definitely had my concerns. <br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005180.jpg" width="400"><br />R. tasted. "<i>Pulot also got.</i> <i>Gula ok, not gula melaka, but ok</i>." Well, at least she was assuaged, if not satisfied.</span>

Penang, Thailand, and Singapore

And so to Market Street in Penang, home to Karaikudi Restaurant and delicious biriyani!


After lunch, we went to book flights to Singapore, and having accomplished that, it was time for dessert. My cousin led us to Ali Babur's Kacang stall. Apparently it had been some time since he'd been, as his first, loud, exclamation was, "WAAAHHHH....SO fancy!!! R. nearly lost it...what exactly was so fancy about this place? Apparently, they now have a roof and two stools - buckets, actually - to sit on. Going upscale indeed! The kacang was delicious!


A new Buddha statue on Penang.


After skipping out on Uncle Chili Bob, we decided to take a day trip across the Thai border to Betong, a not particularly inspiring town, but full of massage parlours and tasty restaurants.


So tasty, in fact, that as our food came out, the waitresses made off with my little cousin. Ok, not really, but they were very taken with her.


On to Singapore, but having landed up at the airport 45 minutes before our flight departed, my cousin that this would be a perfect time to go find some kuih - Malaysian cakes. Only took us 40 minutes to find. That left 5 minutes to spare though! R. was not pleased, but she was ok once she started chowing on some pulut inti.


Wrapping up our trip, a couple of days in Singapore. Good food, plenty of foot reflexology, and lots of pre-Christmas shopping along Orchard Road. All in all, an excellent effort by R. <img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005148.jpg" width="400"><br />And so to Market Street in Penang, home to <a href="http://www.karaikudi.com.my/" target="_blank">Karaikudi Restaurant</a> and delicious biriyani<span class="fullpost">!<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II183.jpg" width="400"><br />After lunch, we went to book flights to Singapore, and having accomplished that, it was time for dessert. My cousin led us to Ali Babur's Kacang stall. Apparently it had been some time since he'd been, as his first, loud, exclamation was, "<i>WAAAHHHH....SO fancy!!!</i> R. nearly lost it...<i>what</i> exactly was so fancy about this place? Apparently, they now have a roof and two stools - buckets, actually - to sit on. Going upscale indeed! The kacang was delicious!<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005147.jpg" width="400"><br />A new Buddha statue on Penang.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II002.jpg" width="400"><br />After skipping out on Uncle Chili Bob, we decided to take a day trip across the Thai border to Betong, a not particularly inspiring town, but full of massage parlours and tasty restaurants.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005126.jpg" width="400"><br />So tasty, in fact, that as our food came out, the waitresses made off with my little cousin. Ok, not really, but they were very taken with her.<br /><br /><img alt="kuih" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9T848u4wxrU/SeUBJ972UcI/AAAAAAAAAEo/m_pLC5cafdo/s400/nonya-kueh.jpg" width="400"><br />On to Singapore, but having landed up at the airport 45 minutes before our flight departed, my cousin that this would be a perfect time to go find some <i>kuih</i> - Malaysian cakes. Only took us 40 minutes to find. That left 5 minutes to spare though! R. was not pleased, but she was ok once she started chowing on some <i>pulut inti</i>. <br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005165.jpg" width="400"><br />Wrapping up our trip, a couple of days in Singapore. Good food, plenty of foot reflexology, and lots of pre-Christmas shopping along Orchard Road. All in all, an excellent effort by R.</span>

To Malaysia

Our first trip to Malaysia together, I hadn't been in about 3 years, and this would be R.'s first trip to S.E. Asia.


Not quite durian season.


Down to Melaka, where literally nothing was happening, except for the eating of cendol. That's me in seat K-12.


To Klang for a smash-up Chinese meal with the family.


"We're not yet open!"


You are now!


Up to the Cameron Highlands, for a visit to the Boh tea estates.


Some R&R time at the Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort, which is also home to an animal sanctuary on an island in the middle of the lake.


No prizes for guessing who lives on Orang Utan Island. The infant care unit was a highlight. <img alt="Boh Tea" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II076.jpg" width="400"><br />Our first trip to Malaysia together, I hadn't been in about 3 years, and this would be R.'s first trip to S.E. Asia<span class="fullpost">.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005007.jpg" width="400"><br />Not quite durian season.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II091.jpg" width="400"><br />Down to Melaka, where literally nothing was happening, except for the eating of <i>cendol</i>. That's me in seat K-12.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II054.jpg" width="400"><br />To Klang for a smash-up Chinese meal with the family.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005033.jpg" width="400"><br />"<i>We're not yet open</i>!"<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005034.jpg" width="400"><br /><i>You are now!</i><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005II060.jpg" width="400"><br />Up to the Cameron Highlands, for a visit to the <a href="http://www.boh.com.my/" target="_blank">Boh</a> tea estates.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005085.jpg" width="400"><br />Some R&R time at the <a href="http://www.bukitmerahresort-taiping.com/" target="_blank">Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort</a>, which is also home to an animal sanctuary on an island in the middle of the lake.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/orie0704/Malaysia2005053.jpg" width="400"><br />No prizes for guessing who lives on Orang Utan Island. The infant care unit was a highlight.</span>