Temples, Churches and Mosques...

Back from a short holiday to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, population a tad shy of 7 m inhabitants (including the suburbs). A friend asked for snaps of a church, managed to do better.

Malaysia is a Muslim country but enshrined in the country's constitution is the right of worship. So, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian places of worship are a commonplace around town.

We'll start with Po Ling Chinese Temple. Serves pretty good vegetarian dishes. (Yes, it's all about food... and shopping in Malaysia!)


Dropped by the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple. Paid my M$2* for what I thought was the admission fee. Was I wrong! It was a 'donation' for a blessing. Cleansed my soul over the fire and was handed a packet containing two bananas, betle leaves and chalk (smear the chalk on the leaves and chew!)


It's said that all distances out of Kuala Lumpur start from St. Mary's Cathedral. It's located next to Selangor Club and the Padang (the Field) where the old colonials sipped their Scotch and swung the cricket bat.


Finally, there's Masjid Negara (the National Mosque).


No, its not a sect nor freemasons in purple. A condition for admittance, us foreigners had to attire ourselves in this robe :)


* M$3 = A$1 = U$0.80

Cheap Plonk

The 16th annual Chardonnay du Monde competition was held on 11 to 14 March 2009 at Château des Ravatys, the wine estate of the Pasteur Institute at Saint Lager in the Burgundy wine region of France.

923 wines were sampled from 37 countries. After four days of judging, coming in as one of the 10 BEST Chardonnay in the WORLD is Mc Williams Hanwood Estate Chardonnay - South Eastern Australia 2007.

Yup, just stocked the cellar at $6.50 a bottle from 1st Choice Wines

Quality comes at a price... sigh ;)

Lunch Lite?

Went for lunch at Fish at the Rocks with the team from work. Service was fine but the food? Can be surmised in one word... disappointing. Maybe two words... very disappointing.

Started with oysters. Considered the lobster at $108 but didn't want to make a pig of myself, instead went for the Moreton Bay Bugs at $64. Just enough for 4 fork-fulls!


Someone had the West Aussie scampi at $76, the dish looked impressive but totally inedible. Served in tempura batter but the chef FORGOT to remove the very hard shell! No meat in that either!

Dessert was a saving grace but then at $12 it better be!

Still famished, we wandered down to Hungry Jacks for a burger...