JENCOOKS: Johor Bahru

Sunday, March 15, 2009

RESTORAN TODAK (Orang Asli) Johor Bahru

16February 2009
RESTORAN TODAK (Orang Asli)
No.1 Kg Orang Asli
Telok Jawa Masai
81750 Johor Bahru
Tel: 07-3863696
www.rest-todak.com.my

After an exhilirating ride on the Go Kart circuit, we headed for seafood in Masai which was not very far off but we took a while to reach and to me this is another off the beaten track location.

We have to travel along Jalan Masai Lama away from Giant Hypermart in Plentong towards the Sri Alam Interchange and turnright into Jalan Kota towards Telok Jawa. We travelled through an old housing estate here and whilst we were looking for a big signboard of this place, we unexpectedly caught sight of a very small sign of this restaurant instead and we knew we were on the right path. Turning right into the road we came face to face with the waterfront which has a cluster of stilt restaurants and wooden homes nestling on the beach. It was definitely a transquil sight and it was lowtide then. Immediately opposite this place we spotted Singapore shores of Sembawang which was very close indeed. Well it wasnt very far away from home!

Restoran Todak was right at the end and you have to walk thro a long wooden walkway and there was no crowd in sight actually. The kampung atmosphere was felt or rather it was also reminiscent of Mersing another place in Johor and with a relaxed mood, we settled in for lunch. Order of the day was seafood, seafood, seafood and fresh ones I mean.

Such a unique long wooden planks walkway to the restaurant

Low tide exposing the stilts of the long walkway.

There was no flashing smiles or only half smiles from the tired and famished kakis

Then, all eyes were set on their food and no one was talking, just attacking the crabs, clams, prawns......with gustos just like when they were on the track.

On the right, you can see a plate of "hum" or fresh cockles on a bed of ice. To those who dare to try, it was the freshest "hums" they could get and they were sliced in sashimi style, perfect for the score.

These cockles are big and fresh by standard

Typical Cereal Prawns

Deep Fried Squid which was tasty

We ordered two types of crab, the drier version Black Pepper Crab as we have two camps of Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crabs lovers

Chilli Crabs goes with the usual mantous "deep fried buns"

LaLa or Clams

The rest of the food was average, stuff that you have tried before. Seafood was fresh but taste wise it was ok I would say.

Now you get the smiles back after the meal but with a hazy day, you cant get much of a picturesque background of Singapore shores but it was a nice lunch here with natural calm and scenic surroundings to relax in and enjoy a meal. I am sure you get the city lights from across if you come at night with star studded nights too.

This rounds up the JB rendevous with a trip to Tebrau Shopping Centre for a last minute shopping before we hit back to Singapore. It could not have been more perfect that the car was washed in the heavy downpour whilst we were shopping and when we stepped out, the rain stopped.

It was truly a fun and enjoyable one day trip discovering Johor Bahru outskirts.

DISCOVERING JOHOR BAHRU OUTSKIRTS
RESTORAN TODAK - not your typical restaurant settings

Sunday, March 8, 2009

TIME OUT IN JOHOR BAHRU

Monday, 16th Feb 2009

PERMAS GO KART CLUB SDN BHD
Plentong International Karting Circuit
(former Permas Go Kart)
Johor Bahru Malaysia
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday - Sunday 8am - 7pm
http://www.permasgokart.com/

We planned for a day of outing in Johor Bahru not just the usual shopping or dig out Malaysian food but started the day at Tanah Merah MRT station where two of us waited for a colleague to drive us. Thereon, we proceed to Kranji MRT to meet the rest, all together 9 of us in two cars.

Overcame the slight jam at customs, we crossed into JB new customs which is spanking new and big but the sheer windy distant road leading from the JB causeway after Singapore customs was certainly new to many.

We headed towards Plentong the new home of GO KART, away from JB city and finding it was not a breeze. As we travelled on, we had to look out for Pelangi on the right and Crystal Crown on the left, the STORE komplexs Lien Ho on the right, travel up further along Jalan Bakar Batu, crossed the Permas bridge, take note of Jaya Jusco on the right along Jalan Permas Utara and you can turn in through Jalan Bunga Seroja or the road just before GIANT on the left through Jalan Bunga Kekwa.

We had walkie talkie so that we could communicate and keep tab that we travel together and are not lost in an unfamiliar area, yet we missed a few turns despite a simplistic map to guide us by and the nite before, a colleague had called up his sister for directions too. Well, we hit close there and with the help of a passer by, we were on track.

It was more to come, as we were unprepared for the gravel and mud track through a 3.5km of oil palm plantation, the convoy of two cars (lol) had to travel at turtle speed or the tyres would wear out flat before we could reach. The car turned dusty and it was like forever....until we reached an open space.

This was new as the former ground was at Permas and Permas Go Kart Club was set up in 2002 by Louis Liew. We settled for the 160cc car for beginners at RM30 during weekday (RM35 during weekend) for a mere 10minutes ride round the circuit.

This satisfies our adrenalin pumping for the day as we prepared for the run round the circuit of max 1.433km but I cannot recall how far we go but it was all thrill and excitement of the day and of course the two fastest, Jer... and Sebas... were the fastest that day and for sure they got the ticket for speeding..hahaha.

For us it was just leisure drive and travel at our own speed and starting off the wrong track but it was sure fun... Finally we were amazed that we did it.