Herbal Duck Soup & Wanton Noodle @ Jelapang, Perak

It has been quite some time we have not been to Jelapang for our breakfast. Last Saturday morning, we went back to the coffee shop at Jalan Simpang, Jelapang for our breakfast. Being a Saturday morning, the place was crowded but we managed to get a small table.

We can only get to taste this Herbal Duck Soup on Saturdays and Sundays. This is the soup that draws us back to this place MYR 6 (approx. 1.70 USD).

A normal portion of 4 wantons (prawn and minced pork). So far this is the place that serves the biggest sized wanton.

A double portion of 8 wantons (couldn't remember the price).

This is a single portion noodle, dry version with soy sauce and minced meat gravy. Sometimes I will order green noodle, which is supposed to be spinach noodle. 1 single portion of noodle with wanton MYR 4 (approx. 1.13 USD).

Taking a look inside the wanton - prawn and minced meat.

This is a must, pickled crunchy sweet sour green chilies to go with the noodles. One plate not enough for me, I will take my hubby's share.

It looks more like a double-storey village house converted into a coffee shop. It has only one stall, and that's the stall selling wanton noodle.

When driving from Ipoh, Jalan Simpang is on the left side as we enter Jelapang town, Jalan Simpang is after Jalan Sekolah on the same left side.

Just as we turn into Jalan Simpang, this coffee shop will be on our right side. The lane on its right leads to the market, which is a short walk from this place.

Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up.

(James 4:10, New International Version-NIV)

Baby Blue Flowers (Blue Plumbago) & Its Medicinal Uses

Baby Blue Plumbago or Pale Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) first captured my attention when I was in my sister's garden. My sister gave me a long stem cutting from her plant. I brought it back, cut the long stem into shorter cuttings and propagate them in a small pot. That was when I first started to collect plants for my newly started garden project.

The cuttings took quite a while to grow new shoots. It was left in its pot until I could see more new shoots growing. I then re-potted it into a medium sized pot. Over time, it grew into a big bushy plant and I have propagated many baby plants from it for my friends. And one of the baby plants has gone back to my sister's garden after her first plant died.

Baby Blue Plumbago is an evergreen shrub. It can tolerate drought and grows well in warm, sunny climate with well-drained soil. When the leaves and flowers start to droop, watering it will restore it back to life. It likes the sun, at least a few hours of sunlight to bloom well. Less sunlight, less blooms. It is a lasting plant with woody stem. It needs little maintenance and it flowers all the year round.

It can be grown in the ground as well as in pots. It needs plenty of room for its bushy branches to spread out and show off its small, blue flowers that bloom in clusters. It has long, thin stems and bright green oval shaped leaves. The flowers are small, pale blue with 5 petals.

If it gets too bushy or out of shape, just trim it back and remove all dead branches or diseased ones to encourage new shoots to grow from its base. After trimming, fertilize it and it will grow back into shape and will bloom beautifully.

Baby Blue Plumbago can grow easily from stem cuttings. My first plant was grown from stem cuttings. Do not over-water Blue Plumbago. After more than 2 weeks or non-stop rain this is how my plant looks like. I have trimmed back all the unhealthy branches and sprinkled some fertilizer over the soil in the pot. Hopefully, there will be more sunlight in the coming days to help get my plants back to good health.

Blue Plumbago can be used to treat rheumatism and arthritis pain: Crushed the fresh leaves into a paste, mixed with cooking oil and paste on the joint or affected part.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

(Proverbs 15:30, New International Version-NIV)

Historic Batu Gajah & Simple Lunch @ Restoran Ming Feong, Pusing

After coming out from the hospital, we got into my car and drove down the small road to make a U-turn to go back to Batu Gajah town. The place where we made the U-turn is just in front of St. Joseph Catholic church, at the end of Jalan Changkat.

I parked my car by the roadside for us to take some pictures. I have been here a few times before but never thought of taking pictures of the interesting places in Batu Gajah. So we took this opportunity to do so, not knowing when will be our next trip here. After all, the weather is cool and we have all the time to spare.

This is my friend who went with me for the hospital visitation. In her working days, she has been here many times and this is the first after so many years of absence. Something has caught her interest. She is trying to get a better view without the fence blocking her.

So, this is what my friend is trying to capture with her camera. It is a new block in the compound of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

After we passed the hospital on our left, on the same side is the Batu Gajah Podium. In front, there was a stall selling some fried snacks.

Just after the Podium, I noticed this bright golden leaves plant. It is so striking and I must take a picture of it. Can someone tell me the name of this plant?

Opposite the Podium, on our right is this majestic building.

This is the Kinta District Administrative Complex of Batu Gajah.

The government offices of Kinta District of Batu Gajah are located here.

It is beautifully painted and grand looking.

One last picture. The drizzle has started again and we both got back into our car. It was way past our lunch time and we realized that we were very hungry.

We did not know of any place in Batu Gajah to take lunch, so I drove to Pusing town. I came to this restaurant before but it is a first for my friend.

This is a very old restaurant, quite popular in Pusing. Noted for its signature braised duck dish (kow cai ngap in Cantonese).

We didn't order the braised duck because the smallest portion is half a duck. That will be too much for only the two of us.

We ordered a small plate of fried wanton. 10 pieces of fried wanton served on a big plate with a small plate of chili sauce. Very tasty and the skin very crispy.

And this, giggle...so sorry, I realized I have not taken a picture of this yet...at least still have some noodles and half a fresh prawn left. Ha ha..this is Fresh Prawns with Braised Fried Noodle (Sang Har Mun Yee Meen in Cantonese), single portion. This is also their signature dish - tasty!

This is flat rice noodle with egg gravy (wat tan hor), single portion - good!

A plate of sweet potato leaves stir-fried with garlic. Very tender, good!
Total cost of food MYR 29.40 (approx. 8.36 USD)
(incl. drinks MYR 2.00)

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come and
the years approach when you will say,
"I find no pleasure in them"...
(Ecclesiastes 12:1, New International Version-NIV)