Hospital Visitation @ Batu Gajah Hospital, Perak

On Friday 26 December 2014 midday, my friend and I drove from Ipoh to Batu Gajah to visit a friend who was admitted in the Batu Gajah hospital, Jalan Changkat. For the past one week and a half, it has been raining non-stop. On that particular day, it was drizzling all the way to Batu Gajah.

It was about midday when we drove from Ipoh to Batu Gajah to be in time for the 12 pm to 2 pm visiting time. The evening visiting hours are 5 pm to 7 pm.

Even though it was visiting time, the place was very quiet. If not for the hospital signage, it could be mistaken for a nature resort. We walked through the front gate, and headed toward Ward 2.

These old buildings with the old structures have been well maintained and well preserved until today.

After we have finished our visitation, we walked back the way we came in. This is just outside Ward 2, this time we slowed down to view the scene before us.

The surrounding is very quiet and restful. It is also very spacious and airy.

The drizzle has almost stopped at that time and the ground was wet with puddles of water here and there. The vast spacious ground is filled with greens, very soothing, calming and pleasing to the eyes.

I think this is called therapeutic landscape or garden to promote healing for the patients. Swings and benches are provided and placed in shady areas for the visitors and patients to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the place.

Even along the corridors, there are potted plants to give it a natural ambiance. We can also hear the birds chirping away somewhere in the trees.

The vast spacious ground is filled with greens, very soothing, calming to the worried and anxious minds.

Something caught my friend's attention, she called to me to join her to take a closer look. This tree has long strings of cute flowers coming down from its branches. Can you see the big red ants going up and down the flowers stem? According to the sweeper lady, this is called "putat" tree, these fruits can be eaten as salad (ulam) for medicinal benefits.

Amazing root networking on the ground and nature's act on these leaves. Our eyes have seen and our minds enriched with interesting things on this trip to the hospital.

As we walked out from Ward 2, we saw this arch in front of us, this is another part of the hospital. From the photos you can see that the sky is dull, grey and the atmosphere dreary even though it has stopped drizzling. Do stay tuned for the 2nd part of our visit to Batu Gajah.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(John 14:27, New International Version-NIV)

New Year Lunch At Restaurant Kim Wah, Tg. Tualang, Perak

This morning after breakfast with our friends, my hubby suggested that since today is a holiday, it will be a good idea to have lunch in Tanjung Tualang. About 12.30 pm, our friends came to pick us up from our house and we started our leisure drive to Tg. Tualang. Today, we decided to try out a place we have not been before i.e. Restoran Kim Wah.

Restoran Kim Wah occupies 3 shop lots.

It is situated at 17, 19, 21, Jalan Abdul Hamid, Tg. Tualang.

It is an air-conditioned restaurant, nice, spacious and clean.

The place was almost full with the lunch crowd.

A worker netting out fresh water prawns from the tanks.

The fresh water prawns are kept in tanks just outside, in front of the restaurant.

There are not many fresh water prawns left in the tanks.

A pot of hot Chinese tea "puer" for four people
MYR 1 x 4 = MYR 4 (approx. 1.14 USD)

4 plates white rice MYR 1.10 x 4 = MYR 4.40 (approx. 1.25 USD)

A plate of sweet potato leaves stir-fried with garlic, with additional sprinkle of fresh garlic on top by my friend, a garlic lover. MYR 6 (approx. 1.71 USD).

1 kg fresh water prawns (MYR 80 per kilo, approx. 22.78 USD).

For deep frying 1/2 kg fresh water prawns.

Special chili garlic sauce for seafood.

Another 1/2 kg fresh water prawns for plain steam.

A small sized Marble Goby fish (Ikan Hantu or Ikan Ketutu in Malay, Lam Khor in Cantonese) for plain steam, a real delicacy, no words could describe. MYR 78 (approx. 22.20 USD).

It was only when I googled for the name of this fish, I found out that this fish is rated as one of the top 5 most expensive fish in Malaysia. Wow!

4 pieces of wet wipes MYR 0.30 = MYR 1.20 (approx. 0.34 USD).

Total cost MYR 173.60 (approx. 49.42 USD)

An enjoyable, delicious, fresh seafood lunch for 4 people

celebrating the New Year together.

Most important is being in the company of good fellowship.

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.

(Proverbs 17:1, New International Version-NIV)

Breakfast & Lunch @ Older & Wiser Kopitiam, Menglembu, Ipoh

When this place was newly opened for business, we had been there once for lunch on Sunday afternoon after church service. On our second trip there, we found the place closed. Few months later, hearing that the place is again opened for buiness, my hubby and I decided to have our lunch there.

We found a table and while waiting for our orders to be taken, my hubby recognized a couple there. The wife was sitting at the cash counter and the husband was standing at the drinks counter.

It has been many years they have not seen each other and it was indeed a surprise to hear that they are the new owners of this "kopitiam" business.

For lunch, they serve their signature roasted duck, char siew and siew yoke, etc.

Actually, I was not really hungry so I decided to share the rice with my hubby.

The rice was a single portion, but was a big one. Nicely cooked, fluffy rice.

My hubby order a mix of roasted duck and char siew, both to our liking. As we ate, my hubby and friends managed some catching up on old times. Business was good, so conversation was cut short. The next morning we went back for the noodles and "liew" which we were told are from "Tai Shee Keok" in Pasir Pinji.

Now we need not go all the way to Pasir Pinji for this noodle and "liew" when we can have it here. It is so much nearer for us and there is no parking problem.

The new lady boss is so kind to allow her picture taken.

These are all freshly fried behind the noodle counter and there is no long queue.

My hubby's order - fried "liew" and the clear soup noodle. 

One young lady waitress told me that many customers gave the thumbs up for their laksa.

This is my order - fried "liew" and assam laksa noodle. Quite good.

Since it was still early in the morning, my hubby and friends were able to catch up on their good old times again. With all the chatting and laughter going on, I totally forgot to keep records of the prices for both lunch and breakfast items.

A righteous choose their friends carefully,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

(Proverbs 12:26, New International Version-NIV)