中国探亲之旅后记 （一）

2013年10月29日（二）

手持国际护照出门旅游，这是我的第一次！人生的第一次，通常都会很兴奋、哈比！我也不例外。我出国旅游的第一次，献给了中国探亲之旅。一团十五人，都是自家人！上有外婆为最年长、阿姨、舅舅，下有表弟、表弟媳、表妹等等等等。

从古晋国际机场起程。马航早上六点班机飞往吉隆坡国际机场。凌晨三点多就起身准备，四点多赶往机场集合。平时这个时间应该是睡得最像猪的时候，不过今天却是龙马精神！

大概四点四十五分，大家都到齐了。旅行社代表也到达机场帮忙处理一些事物。他苦口婆心的劝告大家出门要小心，“背包背在后面就是别人的，背在前面才是自己的“！这句话我记住了！

飞机准时起飞。在机上有预备了早餐。我选择了我的最爱，椰浆饭！套餐里还包含了一块道地的 Kek Lapis Sarawak 砂拉越千层糕，感觉不错。吃饱了就小歇一会，飞机很快就降陆在吉隆坡国际机场。

从吉隆坡国际机场到中国厦门的班机也属马航，九点四十分起飞，我们有大概两个小时的时间准备。说长不长。虽然不需要自己运行李，但是还得排队过关卡。再加上从本地终站走到国际航班终站也有一段很长的距离，所以大伙儿就边走、边看、边谈天，不知不觉的就来到了候机室。

我比较山芭佬。其实我之前有听说到国际终站是需要坐一段轻快铁之类的交通工具，还以为这次有机会体验体验。心里很兴奋。哪懂到头来，飞往中国的班机是不需要乘搭这种轻快铁的，就只需用你的11号巴就行了。说真的，心里有少少失望，不过无所谓啦，这不是重点所在！哈哈。。。

还没上飞机之前，对乘搭国际航班充满着期待，想象中座位之间的距离应该是很宽阔舒服的、再来空姐应该是美美的、食物也应该特别美味、还有机上应该有娱乐设施，就是座位前方都会有电视荧幕之类的。

上了飞机，才发现到原来幻想和现实之间的确存有绝对性的差距！第一，座位与前方座位的距离比本地航班还窄！旅行社不懂搞啥的！！我们明明就是一团，不过飞机上的座位却是各分东西！！我就被安排坐在两个看似印裔乘客的中间，右是个印裔美女、左则是个印裔帅哥！而我这个胖嘟嘟的就被夹在两者中间，好不自在！！要做个小动作，比如拿个相机出来拍照、要用个餐，都好难！每次要做个小动作都要展现下我的缩骨功！不瞒你说，我的缩骨功夫还没到家，很多时候都做到抽筋！好难受！！

第二，话说空姐嘛~ 就不看也不会亏本的那种，大家应该了解我的意思，不用我说得太白吧？嘻嘻！至于食物方面，跟一般国内航线的食物也没什么差别！早上我吃了椰浆饭，这一餐就来点不一样的，鸡肉面。味道没什么惊喜、面条也没有特别Q弹。还好我小胖不怎么择食，只要不是太难吃的通常还是扫个清光！所以大家理解为什么小胖的身材一向都保持得如此的”口追“了吧？！！

山芭佬就是山芭佬！第一次乘搭有娱乐设施的班机，当然特别兴奋啦！所以一坐下来就死命的按在座位前方的小荧幕和遥控器。但回应却是冷酷的，竟然没反应！心里想，到底是阿牛出城记、还是系统的问题？但为了掩饰自己的山芭佬，小胖我假装镇定，好像全世界都被我hold住了一样！帅呆了！！不过不时不时还是会去偷按下遥控器，就碰碰运气嘛~

飞机起飞后差不多有半个小时，当飞机到一个平稳的状态时，娱乐系统正式被开启使用了！好开心！！现在小胖明白了！就如一些电子器材，在飞机起飞和降陆时一律不被允许使用，以免干扰飞机的电波之类的。有挺多戏让你选择，我就选择了这部杨家将！边看边睡，小胖的习惯！哈哈！

不知不觉四个小时过去，飞机到达厦门高崎国际机场，下午两点左右。美女导游Karen小柯在机场外接待。厦门的天气不算太冷，就凉凉的，有点在云顶的感觉，舒胡~ 舒胡啊！！

上了旅巴，就直捣第一个观光景点，集美学村。一路上导游都在介绍一些景色和告诉我们一些厦门的历史。柯导游口才了得！有一副带点沙哑、却有些娇滴滴的嗓子。年纪轻轻的她，却有多年的导游、带团经验，赞！除了惯例性的介绍景点，柯导游也喜欢分享她个人的生活历练，有时候也爱穿插一些闽南语和冷笑话，逗得大家都很开心。哎呀！老实说一句，第一次出国旅游的小胖，又遇到一个美女智慧型导游，一路上肯定是精神百倍、洗耳恭听导游的分享和解说啦！

来到集美学村的范围，到一个可以拍照的点。大家都下车走走、看风景、拍拍照、呼吸厦门的空气、吹吹凉风。

“集美学村”是集美各类学校及各种文化机构的总称，它由著名爱国华侨领袖陈嘉庚先生于1913年始倾资创办，享誉海内外。学村总建筑面积已达十万多平方米。

逗留了大概十五分钟，大伙儿又起程赶往下一个景点，惠和石文化园。这是厦门市集石雕展示、艺术创作、文化交流、旅游休闲及教育学习为一体的石文化主题公园。对我来说没啥好看。就看看石雕作品和认识一些中国石雕的历史。不过一些比较可爱型的卡通人物如皮卡丘和咸蛋超人等雕像还是有吸引到小胖的目光。

除了看石头，文化园也准备了一场由惠安女所呈现的惠女风情表演。惠女的特色，在于她们的服饰。头披花头巾、戴金色斗笠，上穿湖蓝色斜襟短衫，下着宽大黑裤。这种穿着是与她们刻苦耐劳的生活作息是息息相关的。说真的，小胖我看妹多过看舞蹈。没有艺术细胞是酱的啦！

到了吃晚饭的时间！说到吃嘛当然开心啦！而且还是在中国的第一餐！野比~！ 晚餐的地点，在厦门森海丽景泛印酒店的二十一楼！好高哦！从二十一楼看出去，就是厦门高楼大厦的景色！柯导游老实地告诉我们说，这将是我们全程行程中用餐环境算最好的一站！好吧，那接下来的用餐地点我就不抱着太大的期望咯！

中国人爱喝啤酒。所以很多用餐的地方桌上都会放了两瓶当地啤酒。小胖我还是第一次喝中国出厂的啤酒。中国啤酒的特色就是它的酒精含量通常都比一般的啤酒薄，正合酒量比较对不起的小胖我！虽然如此，小胖喝了还是满脸通红，想跟关大爷媲美！！逊毙了！！

至于食物方面，还算不错！（老实说，要听见小胖说食物不好吃，还真的有一定的难度！）

吃完晚饭，行程还没结束。接下来到白鹭洲公园散散步、纳纳凉，也顺便看看厦门的夜景。

今天的最后一个行程，就是被安排观赏闽南神韵的大型歌舞表演。美女导游告诉我们这是难得一见的大型表演！ 八点进场，按门票入座。奔波了一整天，大伙儿都累了。节目的开始，也是大家开始放松、打瞌睡的开始！先天缺乏艺术细胞的小胖我也不例外！一心想要证明自己的艺术细胞还不差，不过却承受不了周公招婿的诱惑！真是心有余而力不足啊！

表演还没结束，大伙儿都不耐了，纷纷离场回酒店休息更实际。在走出表演厅的同时，小胖我留意了厅内的一些情况，其实坐在普通区，十之八九的观众都在会周公！哈哈！哎呀！！原来没有艺术细胞的大有人在！！小胖我绝不是异类！

到了今晚休息的酒店。厦门威尼斯大酒店 XiaMen Venice Hotel！环境还算可以，只不过偏远了一点，附近没得逛！洗完澡， 时间还算早，跟同房的小舅一起到酒店大厅吃着肉脯、花生，配中国啤酒、顺便也谈谈心。谈着谈着，眼睛开始有点困，便回房休息。

回到房间抱头就睡，引擎声应该开始出来了！ 奔波了一天，累了，不过心里面还是充满着期待，期待着新的一天的到来！明天大伙儿会坐电动火车到福州去！

1st Dining Experience @ Pelicana Chicken Sibu, Malaysia 1st Outlet!

I bet almost everyone know what KFC or McD are. Sarawakians may also familiar with Sugarbun. But how many have heard about Pelicana Chicken?

Actually all of these names are sharing same business nature, which is providing fast foods focusing in fried chickens as well as hamburgers. KFC and McD are western oriented. Sugarbun is a localized version origin from the state of hornbill.

How about Pelicana Chicken then? It's actually a Korean style fast food restaurant just been added to the competition and has opened its very first outlet in Sibu! Located at Medan Commercial Center, Jalan Wong King Huo, the outlet is just a stone throw away from Medan Mall shopping complex.

Actually this Korean franchise which was brought into Sibu by a local has started its business early this year, but to be honest, it's my first attempt to try it out with few friends.

Once we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted loudly "Annyeonghaseyo" by the staff on duty at the counter. I believe this is to create a Korea's atmosphere and give a fresher experience to the customers. I personally feel that if the staff can use some kind of Korean style costume, the feeling will be greater.

As 1st timers, we couldn't decide what to order. There are quite a few Ala-carte items on the menu which you can order. To make the life easier, we went for 2 combo set meals, which each of them can feed 2 persons.

Another reason we ordered the combo set is because it consists of most of the signature dishes in the restaurant which each set includes 2 pieces of Peli Crunchy Chicken (deep fried hot & spicy), 5 pieces of Yangnyeom Chicken (Korean style seasoned fried chicken with sweet & spicy glaze), a bowl of Korean Fragrant Rice, French Fries, 2 types of Korean style side dish and 2 cups of typical soft drink of your choice. This chicken combo set priced at RM28.80 per set.

The Peli Crunchy Chicken came together with a special Yellow sauce. It tastes some sort like Thousand Island dressing which I personally like a lot! The Yangnyeom chickens, the signature Korean style fried chicken recipe with sweet and spicy glaze, but honestly they're not spicy at all. It is something unique and different from other western style fast food restaurants.

The Korean fragrant rice is something that you should try! It has a very special fragrant, probably it's cooked with seaweeds. With black sesame been added to the rice, it was truly a new experience to my taste buds! However, I personally feel the rice is a little too dry to consume.

One thing you may need to pay attention is that unlike KFC or McD, this Korean franchise only sells 2 variation of chicken parts, the chicken wing as well as drumstick. There are neither thigh nor breast available. The French Fries are much "fatter" than those sold at other western franchise.

The Korean style side dishes which also act as the appetizers are something special too. I am not sure what's the dish above called, but from the appearance they look like prepared using the same method as Kimchee. They're a bit sour in taste, but not spicy.

If you are a person who love to taste new foods, perhaps the seaweeds side dish is something you should try out. I personally feel the seaweeds do not have "public" taste, which I think some people may not be able to accept it but it is not that bad after all! Do try it before you judge! ;)

The outlet provides a very comfortable place to dine in with its bright color design and fully air-cond. I like the combination of bright and cheering colors used for the interior design for the outlet. There are TVs on the wall showing K-Pop MTVs all the time. So, if you are K-Pop lover and wanna enjoy Korean music while dining, you can serious consider this place! Wi-Fi service is FOC!! ;)

Junction Cafe & Restaurant @ Medan Commercial Center

Cafe style restaurants springing up like mushrooms in the town of Swan recently. Today I gonna introduce to you the one that I recently visited. Located at one of the Sibu hottest commercial spot, Medan Commercial Center, somewhere near the newly developed shop houses at Medan Mall area, same row with 100 Yen shop, Junction Cafe & Restaurant is its name.

This eatery just started its business around May this year. It's still consider quite a new eating spot to be explored. The place offers various kind of cuisine, from eastern to western.

The shop is using partial open kitchen concept where bar to prepare beverages is located parallel with the tables where customers enjoy their meals. Therefore while you are waiting for your orders to be served, if you are seated at a right spot, you can probably spend your vacant time enjoying the scenery of the handsome "bartender" preparing the beverages. Honestly, why not employ a pretty "bartender"? Otherwise it'll definitely get an extra credit from me... and... I believe from many of the "wolves" out there as well!! :p

The ambient lighting as well as the modern and adventurous combination colors of shop interior have contributed to a relaxing and modern environment. However, the shop space is rather limited where it can only accommodate 7 tables inside the premises. Tables are placed in linear arrangement where 5 of the tables in one line, one after another with a small gap in between and 2 more at another corner. Therefore, it's definitely not a good choice when privacy is your priority but an ideal place for large group gathering!

Talking about the foods, there is one on the menu that specifically attracted my attention - the Fish Head Bee Hoon or rice vermicelli. This is not a common dish that one can find anywhere. I only had it once in KL some ages ago which I had recorded it in this blog titled "Fish Head Noodles @ Woo Pin Taman Desa" and it was fabulous and surprised my taste buds!! I didn't think twice but to order the food directly after seeing it on the menu in this Cafe!

The serving didn't disappoint me! Although it was not as milky as the one I had in KL, but overall the Fish Head Bee Hoon served here satisfied my taste buds enough! It was a bit pricy, RM8.90 a bowl, but the serving portion is relatively generous, especially the fish!

There is no bad smell of the fish, most of the fish are boneless but you gotta be careful when consume them as you may still get some "surprise". The fish was deep fried before been cooked in the broth. The broth is tasty and is cooked with some tomatoes, salted vege, gingers and evaporated milk which made the taste so special, a little sour yet little sweet and milky! I personally recommend this dish!

There are still wide range of foods you can order from in this eatery. Here are some that been tried out during the visiting...

Fish rice in your selected sauce.... and this one is honey black pepper sauce for RM 6.90. Quite generous portion of fish.

Fried Tomato Silky Egg Kueh Tiao RM 7.90. The plate is big but just a normal Fried Kueh Tiao in tomato sauce. Taste ok too..

Creamy Prawn Spaghetti RM 12. Not sure about the taste as I didn't try it but the presentation looks good!

There are various choices of snacks too if you not prefer heavy meal...

• Soft Shell Crab RM 12
• Fried Mushroom RM 6.90
• Mexican Pan Cake RM 12
• Cheesy Chicken RM 8

For beverages, if you are there for breakfast, I would recommend its coffee. It is thick and creamy but bit pricy... RM3.50 per cup.

If you prefer cooling drink, perhaps you can try this, ice blended Oreo!! Really refreshing! RM6.90.

As conclusion, I like this place and the foods served. WiFi service is available, but not always switch on and you may need to request for it. One added point is that near every meal table, there is a wall socket which I believe is for the customers to re-power the devices that believed to have changed human behavior forever! ;) 

If you need more information about this eatery, you can visit their Facebook fan page here:
https://www.facebook.com/JunctionCafeRestaurant

Dinner @ OhYa! Cafe

If you are out of idea where to have/treat your friends or relatives a decent dinner in Sibu, perhaps you can consider this cafe (restaurant) called OhYa! Cafe which is situated at Jaya Li Hua Commercial Centre (or Siburian more favorably called it Bus Terminal area) at Jalan Pahlawan, just next to Baba & Siam Cafe and Lounge.

This is a rather low profile eatery where at the moment of my writing, there are still not many have mention about it or highlight it on blogs, neither checked in and tagged on social medias. Perhaps it is still quite new and not widely known among the Siburian yet. I believe pretty many still not even aware of its existence.

Me too just came across the cafe some times ago through the hottest social media Facebook. A friend of mine had brought me to the place last night to have a simple dinner.The menu is simple... typical local dinner dishes where you can get them in any dinner oriented restaurants throughout Sibu.

However the ambience and the internal design of the shop have make it different from a typical restaurant. The use of indirect lighting and the dark grey painted wall have add up to the modern feel of the shop's design. Most importantly it is fully air-cond!

As I mentioned the foods and beverages served are pretty decent. Different kind of vege, meats, fish, prawn, eggs, soups and etc, you name it, most of the time you will got it! The price also very affordable and reasonable!

We have tried few dishes, the small Kailan stir fried with butter, bitter gourd fried with "3-color eggs", sizzling plate Japanese bean curds, pork with salted fish and sea cucumber soup. All foods we tried are tasty enough but don't have extra surprise. The pork with salted fish dish worth a thumb up to go with white rice!!

The bill came out including beverages is around RM 70 for 4 of us. Reasonable? Yes??

I was just too busy eating until forget to shoot the internal view of the restaurant. Sorry to all the readers! 

I personally like the environment, but it'll be better if there is free WiFi service available. Perhaps it'll also be a good place for a tea and chit chatting session among friends or family after the dinner if the cafe can play some nice music at the background. Hope I am not too demanding! :p