BIRDS of ISRAEL

Aside from food, I am blogging on birds in Israel.

I was on my way to Israel in Nov/Dec 2013 and enroute on Turkish Airline I was watching the movie, The Big Year starring Steve Martin.   It was about two bird enthusiasts who left everything aside for their BIG YEAR to spot the most birds competitively.  This led me to try to watch some birds during the two weeks that I am in Israel.  Israel recorded about more than 500 birds in a small country and given Israel's geographical location meeting three continents there are certainly a lot of birds watching to do...and it became my first attempt to capture some birdie shots here........

(1)    NIGHT HERON at SEA OF GALILEE
After lunch of St Peters fish at Tiberias of Sea of Galilee
(largest freshwater lake in Israel and the lowest freshwater lake on Earth),
Keith was calling out to me and excitedly pointed out a stooped looking bird on the edge of the water.
Unlike the typical heron family, these night herons have shorter legs, beaks and neck and the body is more stocky.

(2)    WHITE THROATED KINGFISHER at JORDAN RIVER
I spotted this at Jordan River (which is 251km long) in the north near Sea of Galilee.
It has a white breast and red beaks and feets.
I was attracted by it bright blue wings.

(3)  PIED KINGFISHER at JORDAN RIVER
This bird locates fish whilst hovering in the air over Jordan River.

(4)  GOLDEN LIGHT GREAT BLUE HERON at JORDAN RIVER
Saw this amongst the reeds wading in the water of Sea of Galilee.

(5)  SPECTACLED BULBUL at JORDAN RIVER
It has distinctive yellow undertail !!!

(6)     HOOPOE (pronouced hupu) at NETANYA
Spotted this bird a few times at Netanya beach and it's the
new national bird of ISRAEL since year 2008
announced by the President Shimon Peres after securing 35% votes nationwide.
Its long beak is used for foraging  and it penetrates deeper into the ground for its food?
I watched the bird in action and this is perhaps 3/4 of the beak only.

(7)     GREAT COMMORANT at JORDAN RIVER
You learned in school that commorants are good at catching fishes for the fishermen in China.
Well, I spotted this (again a not so clear pic) at Jordan River.
They can dive deep and long.

(8)   LITTLE  EGRET at SEA OF GALILEE
The Little Egret has yellow feet whilst the Great Egret has black feet.
A pure white plummage and a slim slender accentuated body in start contrast
with the surroundings makes it easy to spot.

(9)   COOT at JORDAN RIVER
Medium sized mistaken for a duck waddling in water,
the Coot has a white bill and forehead contrast with black plummage.

(10)  I thinks this is the  INDIAN ROBIN at JORDAN RIVER

(11)  COLLARED DOVE at JORDAN RIVER
Conspicuous Black Stripe on its nexck spotted along Jordan River

(12)  ROSE RING PARAKEET at JORDAN RIVER
Perched too high on the tree I could only snap a silhoutte of this bird.

(13)  SEAGULL at SEA OF GALILEE
The ever loved birds whilst you are on the Sea of Galilee.
They will swooped on the breads crumbs you throw into the air of the sea
and the flights of birds will follow.

(14)  CHIFFCHAFF at NETANYA
Dark legs unlike other leaf warbles in Israel.
This pic was taken along Netanya (means GIFT OF GOD) beach walkways which stretches 14km long.

(15)  YOUNG RING-BILLED GULL at NETANYA
These are young gulls and they scavenged for their food.

(16)  COMMON MYRNA at NETANYA
Common in Singapore they are the ones who makes the most noise !

(17)  LAUGHING DOVE around JERUSALEM OLD CITY
Spotted at the old City, it is anointing to see a dove.
It's pinkish brown in colour and has a chequered rufous (means reddish) neck.

(18)    PIED WAGTAIL at NETANYA
Along Netanya beach walkways in the morning when I went for my morning walk starting at 6am.
Given the name as when not standing it is seen frantically wagging its tail UP AND DOWN !!!

(18)  PIED WAGTAIL at MITZPE RAMON

(19)  MALLARD (Wild Ducks) at JORDAN RIVER
Large ducks.  Feeds in fields and in water and I snapped them at Jordan River.
The Males Birds (drakes) have glossy green head whilst the females have brown-speckled plumage.
Two males accompanying a female here  !!!

(20)   SPARROW-HAWK at EILAT
These poor sparrowhawk was chased by the ravens or blackbirds and it took shelter
near the pot close to the swimming pool at Leonard Hotel of resort city EILAT which is the most southern tip of Israel).

(21)  COMMON HOUSE SPARROW at MAKHTESH RAMON VISITOR CENTRE
Spotted this at Makhtest Ramon Visitor Centre and these are common birds in Singapore too  !!!
The commonest birds in human habitation.

(22)  PIGEON  at GRAND COURT HOTEL, JERUSALEM

(23)    GREENFINCH at the GARDEN TOMB, JERUSALEM
The beak is yellow and conical and if it is a male, it has green wings.








A LARGE FEATURE OF A SEAGULL PERCHED ON A PILLAR along NETANYA BEACH WALK   !!!!

AND A HANDMADE BIRD AT THE CARNIVAL IN NETANYA  !!!

                  HAPPY BIRD WATCHING

INDONESIAN DELIGHTS does it her way !

It was a scoop news from Martin better known as Uncle SMART who could sniff out all the nice tasty mouth-watering food in Singapore.

His latest finding is a far fetched corner of Tampines where you can truly find authentic Indonesian cuisine and for those coming from the North, South West of Singapore, you need to map your way here first. Even if you are from East side of Singapore and within the Tampines vicinity, not many would have been here unless you are staying around Tampines Street 42.  That was it !  Uncles SMART have relatives staying here and he first found out about this stall called INDONESIAN DELIGHTS in a coffee shop at Block 445 Tampines Street 42.  It's Indonesian cuisine is simple yet delicious but mild in spiciness band the flavour kicks in and delights your tastebuds the moment you have your first bite.

This stall has just started business three months ago and being new at this decentralised location certainly does not help to promote even the best of business until, NOT UNTIL someone discovers the treasures of the pot and the golden hand that cooks it, only will you find foodies who will traverse across the island in search of comfort food.  The followers are starting to trickle in...so do make your way here.

Yes!  Uncles Smart fb me asking me to join him, Philip, Ian of The Silver Chef (thesilverchef.blogspot.com) and Samantha of Bonding Tool (bondingtool.blogspot.com) who hails from different parts of Singapore to a Wednesday lunch starting at 12pm in Tampines.  It was a working day but since it is not too far away from my office, I have responded to Uncles Smart that I will gladly be there.

It's just a half stall in Boss Junior coffee shop opposite Gong Shang Primary School and the colourful signboard INDONESIAN DELIGHTS greets you.  

We met the pleasant and affable owner Rita Lim (Qi Qi) and her elder sister and son wo helps her and they hail from the nearby island of Tanjung Pinang.

She can cook very well and has been thinking of setting up a food stall to "hawk" her tasty Indonesian cuisine to Singaporeans but her late husband knowing that its a tough call with long tiring hours decided it was not worthwhile and has in fact dissuaded her then but this feisty lady decides to follow her dreams now and to earn something for herself since she is a single income lady.

Uncles Smart did the ordering and when the food arrived, I recalled after my first taste, I acknowledged that it was better than I had anticipated.  Every dish presents you with a different flavour each with a unique blend of spices or ingredients to savour.  It's not your the ubiquitous one paste for all dishes that makes you 'jelak' after a few dishes. It's a laborious blend of spices for each dish that makes the "gulai" special.

Overall the dishes are not so spicy hot, having tuned to our local Singapore level of spiciness but each and every dish served has a remarkable yet simple and satisfying Indonesian "sedap" taste.  You will get to enjoy true authentic Indonesian taste that satisfies the palate.

My accompanying lunch kakis recommendation of Rita's Indonesian Delights:

http://thesilverchef.blogspot.sg/2013/09/indonesian-delights-exquisite-food-in.html

http://thebondingtool.com/2013/11/03/indonesian-delights-by-rita-lim-tampines-st-42/

The long beans with tempeh and tau kwa has more "gulai" then the local Singapore Malay dish.  

The Chicken Rendang is tender and aromatic with a thicker paste as in all rendang where water is reduced by heat to thickness for that shiok thick gravy.

We had the Pork Belly stirred fried with pig's ear slices and 'non toasted' belachan paste such that it is lighter in colour.  You get a very flavourful deep prawn paste taste that is not overpowering to kill the pork belly slices and the blend is complementary.  Very nice dish, authentic and truly simple in looks but great in taste and it is well recommended.  

In fact, Philip gave many thumbs up for this.

The Fish head is fresh and do not have hint of fishiness. 

The gravy is light, sweet sourish and it comes with brinjals, okras (lady fingers) and tomatoes.  Fish has plenty of meat which suffice the five of us along with other dishes. 

You can see from the picture the paste of chili with big onions is coursely blended as opposed to the other dishes.

Since we had chicken, fish and we must also have duck as well. 

Here's a bit more Chinese of the authentic Indonesian cuisine that you usually dont get to savour except here at Indonesian Delights.  It's braised duck to tenderness and comes with tau kee (processed beancurd)

Actually I enjoyed this dish very much as I find the sotong fresh, slightly slanted to be one step in doneness or otherwise it would have been delightful.  Unusual to have sotong with potato in "gulai" indonesian style and very good to go with your rice as the gravy is fragrant slightly spicy and rich in flavour. The tentacles are all stuffed inside the sotong and as I do not eat the feely tentacles Uncle SMART snatched it from me!

All in we had one Fish Head Curry, Chicken Rendang, Sotong Tumis, Pork Belly, Long Beans with Tempeh, Selar Fish, Braised Duck and again some double helpings and the bill came in at $45 including the rice and per pax we spent $9.00 per head which is reasonable for the spread that we had. 

Having not enough and wanting for more, Uncle SMART has politely helped to bring in more for us to savour.

Candid camera to uncle SMART and all.  

The Selar Fish was really enjoyable dish as it was still warm perhaps Rita just individually warm it up again but this is where the right touch makes this simple "home cooked fish" so satisfying.  I am not a fish person but with the freshness of the fish which was just warmed before serving, the spicy chilli spread inside the 'goreng' fish and the accompanying sambal chilli has won me over for such simple dish.  Another thumbs up !

Look I was the only one with the lanyard and can only enjoy that one hour of lunch and grab the best that is being offered.  Certainly good meeting up with you foodies, nice sharing and great fun to be with.  I had to leave at 1pm knowing I have had one of the best lunch to start the next half time / day at work.

As you can see the popular dishes are going gone gone.......everyday it depends on the market produce availability and there are days you may not have the same dish you had the last trip you can to savour her dishes but the beauty of it is you get to enjoy the variety she offers in her best Indonesian cooked dishes that are truly authentic and hard to come by.

Indonesian Delights 

Block 445 Tampines Street 42 

(inside Boss Junior Coffeeshop)

Hp: 9621 0182

Opening Hours:  9am to 3pm
Closed on Wednesday
(recently the coffee shop owner has requested her to operate in the evening as well so do check out first )

JB EATOUT:  15 STOREY AH KIANG FISH BALL NOODLE


Practically most foodies know of SAN LOU BEEHOON in Johor Bahru (referring to 3 Storeys Beehoon) which has been popularised by their sumptious wok fried beehoon and uniquely dished out in its very own style.  More interesting was the story webbed out based on a three storey building.

This idea has caught on and we now have 15 Storeys Ah Kiang Fish Ball Noodle.  So what's the story of this 15 Storey Ah Kiang FishBall Noodle?  Mr Kiang, one of the brothers of this family owned business explained that they have originated from the 15 Storeys Building (now demolished) once situated behind the current expansive JB CIQ.   Its a keepsake name for their customers to remember their flagship shop since they have now moved to Permas Jaya.

It's a Sunday late morning and the shop in Permas Jaya was packed with late risers having their morning breakfast.  You will notice that Permas Jaya has a more laid back atmosphere with everyone doing their own things nonchalantly but this shop has lifted up the mood bringing those who want to fill their stomach some satisfying moments.  However, the coffee here is rather thin.

They offer flat noodle (mee pok) and round noodle (mee kia) as well as rice noodles (kway teow)  and a hint of the Malaysian flavour is found with dark sauce added (known to Singaporean as the Singapore noodles do not add dark sauce).

Akin to Ah Koong noodles, they offer fish cakes as accompaniment.  Generous with the ingredients, they have added fish balls, slivers of liver (hoon kwa which is more delicious), fish cakes and you can top it with the avant garde Hokkaido scallops which others dont serve.  The small scallops are very fresh.

Mr Kiang the elder brother is busy behind the stall dishing out the noodles and you have several helpers who donned purple tees uniform briskly serving the bowls of noodles.

Fish Cakes that are fresh and tasty and the chilli has the oomph though not fiery hot.

We ordered both flat and round noodles but the popular flat noodle is not as nice here as the round noodle.  You need to add more chilli to bring out the taste.  

The flat noodles are cooked softer not as al dente and the slices of char siew are not the usual "charred" siew pork but looked tinged with red colouring. 

It ain't no restaurant standard despite its name and the bowls are served as is wtih splatters of oil and sauce on the bowl.

The soup is very tasty though and the fish ball is freshly to a bouncy consistency.

Now the small Hokkaido scallops topped it all, sweet and fresh and I enjoyed it.

Love the MILO Logo and you drink with an old feel of  "tak kiew drink".....


15 STOREY RESTORAN KIANG
18, Jalan Permas 10
Bandar Baru Permas Jaya
81750 Johor Bahru
Contact:  Mr Kiang   016-7732228