Mita Bamboo Charcoal Bread

First attempt buying Bamboo Charcoal Bread from Mita Cake House.

Wonder how it tastes?

Just ordinary bread taste!

Kind of pricey. A loaf at RM 4.50, simple loaf recipe with added charcoal flour, raisins and flakes.

People said it is healthy and nutritious. 

Is it really so with only small addition of charcoal flour?

The people, ikan buntal, Betong

I met so many helpful, cute, interesting, funny and friendly people while doing my final year project

1. Fiona and I at KFC Kota Samarahan. A friendly and kind Iban. She has provided me some useful information and consultation which helps to kill my anxiety before going to Betong.

2. Cute and active Sarah at Spaoh, Betong with Ikan Buntal at the back

3. Mr. Shim, a Chinese in Betong, selling dried ikan buntal

4. Kak Jane from Jabatan KEMAS

 5. All of them in the longhouse help to make the cooking demo a success

 6. Kak Mordiah at the wet market

7.  Kak Rohani at the market

 8. Kak Mary, who works at The Regent Inn

9. Encik Mohamad at the wet market

10. Kak Zallainah at the wet market

 11. Mr. Kisun & family. Without them, I totally have no idea how to start with the data collection. Really thanks a million for the sharing, the experience, the ride, the foods, the help, the concern, the time, the gift. Totally touched!

Thank you Auntie (mother of Stephanie and Sarah) for the hair band for me and Cecilia. They even came purposely to the bus terminal to meet us before we took bus back to Kuching. These really have meant a lot to me.

 12. Lih Shan & Fiona. Thanks to Lih Shan for introducing Fiona to me, the ride and the KFC treats.

13. Cecilia and I. Thanks for keeping me a company for the trip and everything you have done.

或许在大城市生活久了, Mr. Kisun一家人和木中人的热情, 我真的受宠若惊. 不知道几时可以还Mr. Kisun一家人的恩情. 

The foods I came across and savour in Betong

Interesting ice-cream! My Iban friend, Stephanie's sister, Sarah bought this at the supermarket at the Medan Hotel. My first time came across to this banana-like ice-cream. Both the skin and the fruits can be eaten.  If not mistaken the yellowish skin is jelly. 

3rd night dinner at the restaurant just below the place I stayed, The Regent Inn

Bittergourd with salted eggs and eggs..a bit too salty 

Butter chicken. Interesting there was lemongrass in the dish. Lemongrass is good for health! Not bad.

 Two plate of rice and two dish for the night. A bill of total RM 14. 

2nd night dinner after Ikan Buntal cooking demonstration at Entanak longhouse

 Bamboo Ikan Buntal

Soup Ikan Buntal

 Ikan Buntal Masak Pindan

All the three ikan buntal dish tastes similar to me LOL. I don't really like the taste. But to Betong people, ikan buntal is a delicacy. I have to stay close to ikan buntal for this whole year until next year January. It's my thesis, my everything before I ended my last semester in UPM.

 Ikan Buntal Eggs. Believe me, it's so salty. It has to be salted and fully cooked. If not, the eggs would be life threatening after eaten.

 Ikan Buntal Masin.  I didn't try this. But I'm sure it was salty too.

A special reminder:

 Ikan Buntal Kuning has to be known to some people is poisonous, but not to worry, I'm still alive after having the ikan buntal dishes. It's a safe food to eat only you have the proper knowledge to handle it. I even bought 1 packet of salted ikan buntal. I'm going to bring back to UPM on this coming September for my supervisor and coursemates! But I doubt they would try it or not.

The friendly people even cooked some other dishes during the demonstration.

 Ayam masak kicap

 Sayur cangkuk with pumpkin

1st night dinner at restaurant below The Regent Inn

 Sweet Sour Fish with rice. RM5. The fish is not cheaper Dory fish like the fish we always have but I think they used those not so fresh bawal hitam fish.

The Regent Inn, Betong, Sarawak

Touched down to Betong town to collect my data for my final year project

Van Sapu costs a person from Kuching to Betong for RM30. Sarawak Transport bus fare costs RM25.

This is where I lived. The Regent Inn. The room are always fully booked. I reserved the room 2 days before my trip and luckily still left one and only queen bed room available. RM 40 per night. 

Couldn't watch NTV 7 in the room.

Sufficiently clean with the price of RM 40 per night. But I spotted Xiao Qiang and a few insects in the room during my stay for few nights. The cleanliness should be further improved. Wifi is available with password but it is extremely weak in highest floor where I stayed. Sometimes I went to receptionist to surf net.

Just opposite the Regent Inn, Betong Plaza Hotel is located at the other end. Obviously it looks more classy, expensive, clean and comfortable. I could not find the hotel contact no. online anywhere so I don't know the room rate.

Another hotel nearby which is just above the Everrise is the Loxing Hotel.

There are also Medan Hotel (RM88 per night for twin sharing room) and Tapah Inn in Betong. Both are pretty far from the main town area especially Medan.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival 端午节!

 Happy Duan Wu Jie!

I never tried standing an egg, sadly to say. Haha. Never mind, this year I made an attempt to try it on.

I did managed to stand the eggs on its end roughly 11.50am something. 

Will I get the good luck for the following years?

Pray smooth for my data collection of my final year project!

Not forget having bak zhang during this festive day.