Review Flying with Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines between Bangkok & Paro International Airport

✍ 31 Dec 2023. My first time and first flights with Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines). It was a good experience, comparable to any airline that I had flown with so far.

This post is dedicated to Bhutan and its small but wonderful airline - my visit to Bhutan was my last overseas trip for 2023.

May I take this opportunity to wish all readers Happy New Year! Wish you the best in 2024 🎉

Popular No Name (Ah Puat) Fish Soup near B & S Boutique Hotel in Batu Pahat 峇株巴轄 無名魚湯

I asked Vincent from Batu Pahat to suggest hyperlocal places for our dinner food hop.

Bhutan Cooking School by Diki @ MK Musk Restaurant at Centre Point, Clock Tower Square, Thimphu

You know right, one of the pro-tips for a travelling foodie is to enrol in a reputable local cooking class. You get a get quick hands on introduction to the country's cuisine and likely even the best foodie stall / restaurant tips from knowledgeable locals.

Ah Khoon Pig Organ Soup at Jalan Pengkai in Batu Pahat, Johor 阿坤卤肉饭 猪杂汤

✍️29 Dec 2023. When Andy said to take us to his favourite pork organ soup in Batu Pahat, I expected it to be something like the famous Ah Soon - a two shop restaurant packed with customers.

Tony Boey Johor Kaki on CNA 93.8 FM

I occasionally share my foodie finds on CNA 93.8 FM, so I have this post where I put the stalls, restaurants or places mentioned during the programme. It gives you the basic information in case you wish to visit the mentioned food or places.

Chun Hui Asam Pedas Restoran Muar 全妃亞參魚(亞答屋)

On the way to Batu Pahat, we swung by Parit Kasim (near Parit Jawa), Muar for the obligatory asam pedas fish head. We picked Chun Hui Restoran which we had never been before. (Actually Chun Hui required a 45 minute diversion from Batu Pahat - thanks bro Kevin for the drive 🙏 )

Grandpapa Tee (Ah Boy) Duck Egg Wantan Noodle in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah Skudai 郑爷爷全蛋云吞面

On the way to Batu Pahat, we swung by Taman Ungku Tun Aminah in Skudai for Grandpapatee wantan noodles.

I Climbed Tiger's Nest Paro Taktsang Bhutan at Age 63 · I Mean You Can Do it Too 😄

✍ 25 Dec 2023. Perched precariously on a cliff face at 3,120 metres, Bhutan's Tiger's Nest Monastery is one of the most iconic images of the Kingdom of Bhutan. 

It reflects the self imposed isolated kingdom which opened to tourists (in a limited way) only since 1974.

Beautiful yet distant, alluring but seemingly unreachable.

Bhutan Buddha Dordenma Buddha Point Thimphu

✍ 24 Dec 2023. A trip to Bhutan has been on my bucket list for a long time, and one of the places I was looking forward to visit is Buddha Dordenma (also known as Buddha Point).

Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory in Thimpu · The Last in Bhutan

If you interested in art and art materials, you may wish to include Thimpu's Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory in your Bhutan itinerary.

Pacamara Coffee Roasters Cafe @ Biz Centre North Sathorn Bangkok

If you enjoy Thai specialty coffee by Pacamara Coffee Roasters, they just opened a brand new outlet at North Sathorn (two days ago to be exact).

Chencho Village Home Farm Stay · Hot Stone Bath near Tiger's Nest in Paro, Bhutan

So I completed the climb up to the Monastery at the Tiger's Nest in Paro. It was a wonderful experience which I will share in detail in a separate post.

Bhutan Tomza Rice Packet @ Chuniding Food in Thimphu

My first meal in Bhutan was a traditional rice bundle known as tomza which was very delicious and filling 😁 It is often described as a Bhutanese lunch box or bento. However, in form, it looks like a large packet of nasi lemak (but otherwise very different).

Chick A Zaa Thimphu · Food of Young Bhutan

One of my first posts from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan ☺️ And, it's about a local fried chicken shop 🤭

Truth be told, I don't really find this fried chicken appealing as while it was very crispy outside and tender enough inside, the flavours leaned on flat savoury salty and I couldn't taste chicken sweetness.

EmSphere Sleepless Gastronomic World · Bangkok's Newest Foodie Hotspot

EmSphere, the atmosphere in Bangkok's newest gastronomic Mecca is simply striking. Colourful, great vibes, and lots of food choices from local to international.

Grandma's Noodle Shop in a Hair Saloon @ Soi Pradit Bang Rak Bangkok ร้านคุณยายเจ้าอร่อย

Soupy pork noodles are everywhere in Bangkok as they are tasty and affordable.

Bangkok Tai Tong Famous Shark Fin @ Charoen Krung Road · Shark Fin Soup is Elevated Chicken Soup ไต๋ตงหูฉลามเลิศรสบางรัก 大中著名鱼翅

I sneaked out of the hotel because I missed craved the burnt porridge of Charoen Krung Road 😬 

Johor Kaki Bhutan Thimphu Paro Itinerary · 4 Days 3 Nights

Creative Commons Photo

✍️ 26 Dec 2023. My visit to Bhutan was a too short three nights in Thimphu and Paro, but it was a fascinating introduction to the interesting Himalayan kingdom, it's unique cuisine, places, people and culture.

This is just the summary itinerary. For each location, I am writing a detailed article, so I am updating this post over time. Just follow the links.

Xiamen Herbal Pork Trotter, Chicken & Duck Tonic Soup @ Marsiling Mall (Woodlands) 厦门十全大補

This Chinese herbal tonic soup stall have been around for over twenty years from the old Woodlands Centre hawker centre (demolished) to (quite) new Marsiling Mall today.

Hao Ke Fang Hakka Coffee Shop Restaurant in Kelapa Sawit Kulai 好客坊

We randomly rolled into Kelapa Sawit in Kulai 🤣 So, Ellone called Kulai 地头 Jason and KK, and we just randomly decided to meet at Hao Ke Fang 好客坊 to plot our next moves 🤣

History of Bhutan, the Last Shangri-La · Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon 不丹的歷史

Bhutan is a small, landlocked Himalayan kingdom between India to its south and China in the north. It has a slightly less than one million (792,382 in 2023) population and land area of 38,394 sq km i.e. about the size of Taiwan island, Pahang state of Malaysia, or Maryland state of USA.

Tapas & Wine @ The Butcher's Dog Fine Meats & Deli, Rifle Range Road

Introduced to another fine hangout for tapas and Spanish wine @ The Butcher's Dog in Upper Bukit Timah.

Manmila Nasi Lemak Panas · Kulai Bukit Batu

We don't know how we ended up in Kulai, but here we are 😅

South Buona Vista Braised Duck · 99 Turns Duck Rice will Make its Final Turn on 7 Feb 2024 · 99弯鹵鸭

✍ 5 Dec 2023. Stumbled upon South Buona Vista Braised Duck Rice shop while stalking Desker Road (to write this history article lah). Fancy bumping into an old acquaintance, South Buona Vista Braised Duck in this unlikely place 🤭 Co-incidentally, buddy Nan suggested eating here too as he is also a fan.

Saha KSK Roti Canai Lido @ Johor Jaya Square Jalan Dedap 14 丽都煎饼

This is one of my occasional breakfast places in JB.

It's not going to blow many minds but hey this is simple, comfort staple food, a blessing we can enjoy and appreciate everyday. Nevertheless, this is the favourite roti canai stall of many people in Johor and is one of mine too.

History of Sweet & Sour Pork · Ku Lou Yok 咕嚕肉的歷史

Ku lou yok known as sweet and sour pork in English is a Cantonese food icon found across the world in various versions. Ku lou yok is a flexible dish that can take on many tweaks without losing its authenticity or identity.

Golden Mile Teochew Fishball Noodles 黄金潮州鱼圆面

I wanted to try Golden Mile Teochew Fishball Noodles for a long time. It's either closed or sold out when I was there. So this morning, I got here before 8am and tried to catch it before my next scheduled activity at 11am.

Vietnamese Drip Coffee @ Golden Mile Food Centre Stall #B1-38

One of my pet peeves about early brekky at Golden Mile Food Centre area is, there is no kopi that I like until Kopi More opens at around 11am 🙄

I can't live that long without coffee 😵‍💫

Buddy introduced me to his favourite but after trying a few times, it doesn't have that good morning jolt I need 😬