NZ Curry House Charging For Papadam

Have you been to NZ Curryhouse lately? The one situated exactly beside the Carrefour Shopping Complex?

Great meals there but recently we found out that they have started charging for papadam, you know the Indian crackers that go with your meal?

Well, if in the past, they give you a couple of papadam when you order your rice, now they don't give you any. They ask you to buy -a packet of about five pieces of the usual palm-sized crackers for 50sen.

Most places give these free with your meal. Not at NZ anymore. I just wonder why. Maybe some people just take as many as their conscience would allow, sometimes wasting them on the plate, half eaten.

I checked with friends if this was a national phenomena. Some said yes, other mamak have started packing and selling them to diners. Have you experienced any?

I hope the mixed rice stalls won't start charging for soups and some, suet char (iced chinese tea).

Can Someone Please Remove These Stumps

Obstacle to pedestrians, especially in poorly lit areas at night.

These tree stumps have been lying along Jalan Genting Kelang for more than a week already. They were of trees cut to make way for road widening. Well and good. But will someone please throw them away so that they don't become obstacles to pedestrians? In poorly lit areas, someone walking along this stretch could get hurt badly.

Painted Storks On Lamp Posts Near Zoo

Taking A Break ... On Lamp Posts

If you drive along Jalan Hulu Kelang in the evenings, especially during cold days just after a heavy rain, chances are that you would have seen these birds perched on the street lamps.

Well, they are Painted Storks which the National Zoo (Zoo Negara) acquired for captive breeding in the 80s and later released to be free flying birds. These are not local birds, having originated from India and Sri Lanka.

Today there are about 460 of them and they can be seen flying around the vicinity of the zoo, riding the thermals in the afternoons or taking a break for the night along lamp posts.

The gentle birds were almost exterminated during the last outbreak of bird flu at Kampung Pasir Wardieburn Camp if not for their location.

Luck was on their side as they were not within a 5km radius of the area where all birds within the radius had to be culled. The zoo lies within a 10km radius of the point of infection and the birds were spared. But the clock is ticking as development encroaches nearer to the zoo.


Painted Storks Resting At Their Colony Island In Zoo Negara

An island has been created within the zoo for the Painted Storks to nest and breed. During the day, they fly to as far as Kapar in Klang to forage for food and you can see their unmistakable V-formation. They stop at the banks of the Klang and Gombak rivers to feed. Sometimes they could be seen at the Lake Gardens in the heart of the city or even on the roofs of the National Museum.

So far, there has been no reports of the birds nesting outside the zoo, however.

Note: Zoo Negara holds the record of having the largest colony of bred Painted and Milky Storks in the world.

Freshly Made Putu Mayam in Air Panas (Hot Springs)

Putu mayam, hot from the steamer and best eaten with palm sugar.

Ever wondered where you could find freshly made string hoppers or better known among us as putu mayam? Well, wonder no more. Just drop by the Air Panas night market every Monday.

Situated at the other end (away from the wet market) is an Indian chap I called Anei who makes killer putu mayam. You can watch him prepare the string hoppers over an upturned rattan basket which he uses as a receptacle to steam this traditional Indian delicacy.

He also make steamed curry puffs if you are interested. These are like our curry puffs, except that the filling is sweet and contains generrous amounts of coconut shavings and black sugar. Best time to visit him is before 9pm. By 10pm, he's all sold out.



Anei busy making steamed curry puffs. They are white in contrast to traditional ones which are yellow because they have been fried.

Jalan Gombak Expanded But Will Traffic Woes End?

(The start of the widening at 5th Mile)

Good things are coming to Jalan Gombak from the 5th Mile (Ong Tai Kim) to the Setapak Police Station region. Since its last upgrading in the 80s where a toll was put up at Jalan Pahang and discontinued in the early 2000, it will now again be improved. The two lane thoroughfare which was the main link between the Selangor and the East Coast states in the days of yore before the Karak Highway was built will now be expanded into a three-lane dual carriageway.

Work begun last year after land was acquired and the expansion involved 25 feet on both sides. (See Picture, Red Arrows) So far the foundation work has begun and stopped briefly in varius parts during the run up to the elections and now continued again.

With the expansion, Gombak residents can expect a smoother flow of traffic, lesser jams. Or will they?

Well, they will face horrendous jams if the planners don't do anything about the viaduct at the Setapak Police Station which underpasses Jalan Genting Kelang to join Jalan Pahang into Setapak (see pictures below). So far, there has been no communication from the Mayor's Office. What are the plans then?

Commonsense will tell one that a three-lane traffic on a busy working morning cannot be squeezed into a two-lane tunnel or you will have flaring tempers and fistfights born. Can someone shed some light on this?

Now You Know Why Genting Kelang Trees Were Cut

Courtesy: The Star Online

Jalan Genting Klang no more a green zone

THE residents of Jalan Genting Klang in Setapak are crying foul over the cutting down of trees in their area.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) personnel carried out the exercise a week ago and residents, shop owners and motorists say without the tall, shady green trees, the area is hotter and dustier.

The residents are also puzzled over the action as the area has been gazetted as a green zone by DBKL.

According to a resident, who does not want to be named, the tree cutting exercise goes against DBKL’s policy in keeping the city green.

“I am not sure about the reason for this but it is not right to cut such trees. The least DBKL could have done is inform the public before resorting to such a drastic act.

“If they plan to widen or upgrade the roads, they should have taken all aspects into consideration and tried to maintain at least a few of the trees.

“It is a shame to chop down the trees that had grown so tall,” he said with exasperation in his voice.

He also added that a similar exercise was carried out along Jalan Gombak, Gombak and that the 100 year-old trees were cut for road widening purposes.

More at The Star Online

I highlighted this in an earlier post. Now that we know why, is our Mayor is going to put a stop to such blatant disregard for the environment? The MP has already written a memorandum to Mr Mayor and hopefully such acts would not happen again in future.

I wonder why don't they just dig up and move the trees? Not that these Yellow Flames have huge root balls. Why don't they just dig them up and move then inland further. Am sure City Hall has good horticulturists to teach them how.

These trees were planted on a huge budget years ago when someone wanted Kuala Lumpur to be the (now forgotten!) Garden City of Lights.

Now they are just lobbed off leaving the ugly stumps along roads? Will someone be hauled up to answer for this stupidity? I certainly hope City Hall will have some sense when they want to beautify the city.

Green the city you must but you also need to plan for the long term. You just can't plant trees today without considering whether you are going to widen the road in five years' time.

J-Card Member Sale - April 17

Wangsa Maju residents who are J-Card members. Take note. Keep yourself free.

Jusco is having a member's sale on that day. Plenty of bargains as usual. Also plenty of heartaches - if you insist on driving there and getting caught up in the jam.

My advice: take a bus. Or a train. Or even a cab. All right - if you insist - drive if you must but park far away - in Section 1 and walk there. It is easier on the nerves.

Oh, if you must bring your kids, keep them on a leash. Kids and sale are not a good mix and if they get lost, you will be in trouble.