P' Yai Thai Restaurant at Taman Impian Emas, Skudai - Johor.

P' Yai Thai Restaurant (N1.54301 E103.68680) is located along Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai - Johor. Which is the row of shops just next to the Petronas petrol station, Impian Emas.

The restaurant received many positive reviews from the internet and Facebook, so we decided to have our dinner during our visit to Rina Balinese Resort.

The simple and yet comfort setting really made us relax...the friendly supervisor (I think) who took our order in a minute and I like the way how she advise the customers.

The simple setup from P' Yai Thai Restaurant, Taman Impian Emas

Our dinner :-
1)  Thai Spicy Lime Steam Squids
2)  Soya sauce steam fish
3)  Pandan Chicken

Thai Spicy Lime Steam Squids

Soya sauce steam fish

Pandan Chicken

The squid was tender and perfect with the Thai spices, the size was big, like it! The fish was fresh and nice! I should have order the grouper which taste better...The Pandan Chicken was well marinated with the 'Pandan' and not too dry! We all like the food and satisfied with it! Thumbs Up!

Fresh Soya sauce steam fish from P' Yai Thai Restaurant

Nice Pandan Chicken!

The fishes serve in the restaurant are fixed price which is different from others who follow the market price. Great!

The Damage : RM70.00 included drinks for 2 adults and 1 child. Reasonable and Worth the price!

The P' Yai Thai Restaurant already went into our regular restaurant list and be the First choice for Thai Food Restaurant in Johor Bahru to us for the moment.

P' Yai Thai Restaurant
15, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1,
Taman Impian Emas,
81300 Skudai, Johor
Tel : 011-28337041
Business Hour : 12pm -12am
https://www.facebook.com/PYaiThaiRestaurant

Location map of P' Yai Thai Restaurant at Taman Impian Emas, Skudai - Johor.

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Rina Balinese Resort at Seelong, Johor.

The Rina Balinese Resort (N1.60759 E103.70628) is located nearby the Kampung Seelong of Johor. We have to drove through a small alley about 1.5KM from the Main road, if we were not sure with the location and I don't think we will continue to drive into the alley with bushes on both side...(there was a signage along the road side...)

At the end of the alley, we finally reached the entrance to the Resort...

The door is always close because of the security purpose...

There is a amber parking area in front of the clubhouse, no worries if drive in...

The check-in process was smooth by the gentlemen - Mr Michael Bay. I thought he is related with the movie - "Transformer", but he said 'no'. Understand from Mr Michael after a short chat...the reason they chose this piece of land where located so deep inside from the main road is because of the spring water continue to flow underneath the whole Resort! Great!

The check-in counter is just beside the cafe area...

Let me show you the surrounding of the Resort...

Once everything done at the check-in counter, we been directed to a nice pathway where I discovered the reosrt is full of Nature...

The pathway...

The cottage (standard rooms) is located at the right side of the pathway.

The outdoor cafe area is located in the middle of the pathway, where guests can have their BBQ dinner and relax at the area...

The outdoor cafe area...

You will not lost your direction with the clear signage above...

After the short pathway, we reached the unique small swimming pool...Beware! The water is 'spring water' and its very Cold!

The Unique Spring water swimming pool of Rina Balinese Resort

The Herbal Steam Room just situated next to the swimming pool...

The changing room beside the pool

The Herbal Steam Room

We also found the Sand Spa and the Gym room opposite the pool...the indoor air-conditional massage hall also located nearby...

The Massage Hall

Very nice deco to enter the massage hall...

Walk further after the massage hall, there is a green and relax garden...and I'm curious about the small hut at the end...

Nice landscape in front of the Massage Hall...

The non-air conditional massage hut...

The Resort is providing the Balinese Massage for their guests in the reasonable price, I believe everyone will try it once you visit the resort...

On the other side of the clubhouse, there is a nice garden with full of plants and flowers...

The water wheel...

I discovered a interesting dining area which called - Feet-in-dining-pool. The whole dining area is in the pool...

The Dining Pool

The roots are nicely drop down from the top...

Ok, after all these...let me show you the Balinese Suite room that we booked...

The outlook of the Balinese Suite Room of the Resort

There are total of 6 Suite rooms in the resort which are 3 on ground floor and 3 on first floor...I like the colonial feel of the design...

There is a small relax area just outside our room, it's nice to have few friends gather there with some beers during the evening...

Outside our room...

It was a Surprised once we stepped into the room...the queen bed was well decorated with the Balinese style! We like it very much!

 

I requested the extra bed and the room is spacious even after the bed being arranged. The wardrope is just next to the queen bed...there's a small bar counter with a mini fridge opposite the bed...

The mini bar counter with the fridge

The room also equipped with a 32" LCD TV which we were not really watch it...

The bathroom was comfortable enough, it has a big mirror and the hair dryer just next to it...

The shower area below...I like the shower head design...

The shower area...

The resort is full of beautiful flowers and plants around...especially the orchids...

Beautiful orchids

I did had a peek in front of the cottage room just opposite the Balinese Suite, well...the room also has a small compound in front of it, it's nice to have some BBQ during dinner time...

The Cottage room

Addtional bed is not allow in the cottage, maybe because of the limited space inside...

There is a 3 storey height - single room located just next to the building, and I think this should be the room for the resort manager...I can feel the cool while looking at it!

The single room in 3 storey height...

The Spring water flow in front of our room non-stop through out the 24 hours per day....these will secure all the guest from the mosquittoes. Yes, correct! The room area is free from mosquitoes!

The spring water flow in the drain non-stop...

The room package was with breakfast included. We had our pleasant and quite stayed in the resort (2 days 1 night) with their freindly staffs and we will come back again next time just to escape from the Johor Bahru City!

You can check out their room rate from their website below...or make a phone call to Mr Michael for reservation, who know you might get a better rate?! :)

Well decorated basin

RINA BALINESE RESORT
(Managed by Rina Nature Spa & Recreation Sdn. Bhd.)
Lot 2515, Jalan Seelong Jaya 6, Kampung Seelong Jaya,
81400 Senai. Johor. Malaysia
Tel:  +6012-2104116 (Mr Michael Bay)
Fax:  +607-2380269
http://www.rbr.my

Location map of Rina Balinese Resort at Seelong, Johor.

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Jewish travel writer extraordinaire Ben Frank featured

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

This post also appears on my En Route blog for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal


Ben G. Frank is one of the most prolific -- and well-traveled -- writers about Jewish sights, sites, communities, attractions and travels worldwide.

Huffington Post runs a lengthy interview/conversation with him, conducted by Bernard Starr, sparked Frank's most recent book, The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond (Globe Pequot Press, 2011).

Frank's curiosity about this extraordinary phenomenon of the Diaspora sparked his mission to find and visit remote and isolated -- sometimes forgotten -- Jewish communities in surprising locations. As a travel writer with a passion for Jewish history, Ben Frank is the perfect person to have undertaken the task. He eventually visited 89 Jewish communities. I interviewed him to learn more about his fascinating journey.

When did you first get the urge to undertake this demanding adventure? Did you have concerns about the difficulties you might face in remote locations?

It all began in 1964 on a trip to Algeria. As a reporter/journalist, I was fascinated by the emigration of Jews from that war-torn country to France, where they were guaranteed the rights and privileges of French citizens, since, according to the Cremieux Decree, they too were French. When I landed I met with the last few Jewish residents in Algiers. They called themselves "le Dernier Carre," the last unit in Napoleon's army to stand in battle and defend themselves in the form of a square.

How did you find out about these scattered wandering Jews?

In the case of Algeria, I contacted organizations, such as the Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and others who follow and aid Jews in the Diaspora. I discovered that Jews were scattered globally, including concentrations in Asia and South America. Jews have lived in India, for instance, for 2,000 years and they are still there. With contacts and research tools, I located them. 

Read the full article

Jewish Budapest's lively street corner

Kazinczy st. Synagogue. Photo © Ruth Ellen Gruber

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

This post also appears on my En Route blog for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal
When I was in Budapest last month, I took a look at some of the new cafe and restaurant offerings in the heart of the 7th District -- the city's historic downtown Jewish neighborhood, where I myself have a little apartment.

The district has become known in recent years for its new and growing crop of trendy boutiques and restaurants and funky clubs, bars and pubs, including the famous "ruin pubs" that mainly operate in the summer on the site of vacant lots and torn-down buildings.

The inner part of the 7th is also known as the "Jewish triangle" as it is anchored by three magnificent synagogues -- the Dohany St. synagogue, the largest in Europe and the Kazinczy street Orthodox synagogue, both of which have been beautifully restored and are used by active congregations, and the Rumbach st. synagogue, a beautiful building designed by Otto Wagner that is in dire need of restoration but is use now for occasional cultural events.

(I've posted a lot on these and other developments over the years -- click HERE to see some of the posts.)

Last month, though, I was interested to see that one street corner -- the corner of Dob and Kazinczy streets -- is becoming something of a hub for a rather more upscale (though still sort of funky), overtly Jewish restaurant and cafe scene.

Macesz Huszar. Photo © Ruth Ellen Gruber

Two (or really three) new places opened since I had last been there in the fall.

One is the Macesz Huszar -- a self-proclaimed "Jewish Bistro," right on the corner. It actually occupies the spot that used to be the very nice (and also "Jewishy" restaurant Koleves, which has now moved around the corner, on Kazinczy, nearer to its summer ruin garden.)

The Macesz Huszar is not kosher, but it doesn't serve pork. Its menu features a variety of traditional Jewish dishes -- including stuffed goose neck & barley, cholent (solet), borscht. Instead of a hamburger, it offers a "gooseburger" from smoked ground goose.

I wasn't terribly impressed with the borscht, and the service was spotty -- but all in all, it was worth going there to support the effort.

The owner of Macesz Huszar is David Popovits, who also runs the wonderful Doblo wine bar, a dimly lit place with bare brick walls, just a few steps away on Dob street. My friend Eszter and I went there one night to celebrate her receiving a major grant for a project she's working on about the Jewish district -- and we had far too much to eat, even though we only ordered a couple of antipasto dishes. Not to mention a fabulous Cabernet -- I wish I could remember what it was! The staff, though are very helpful in counseling you on which of the many Hungarian wines on the menu to choose..

Just a few steps further down Dob street is the Spinoza cafe and restaurant, owned by an energetic Israeli, Tal Lev. Spinoza offers bagels and other light dishes, some with an Israeli flavor, as well as heavier fare. There is also a theater which hosts concerts and other performances. And just a few steps from Spinoza is the Dob St. entry to Gozsdu Udvar, a series of connected courtyards that stretches from Dob all the way to Kiraly street. The courtyards were renovated and restored several years ago, and they are finally attracting enough bistros, cafes, boutiques and other businesses to make the unique setting lively. And I shouldn't forget the Frohlich kosher pastry shop, also on Dob street.....

But, back to the intersection of Dob and Kazinczy....

Photo © Ruth Ellen Gruber

Catty-corner across the street from Macesz Huszar is a newly renovated old building that now houses theKazimir bistro and Info point. The name clearly refers to Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, which has become a major Jewish tourist attraction and includes several nostalgia-tinged "Jewish style" cafes aimed at evoking pre-war times.

Budapest's Kazimir has an old-world look, but doesn't hype the Jewishness -- its menu includes pork dishes as well as cholent (which is, in fact, a staple at many Budapest restaurants and even sold in cans in supermarkets.) It also features some Asian dishes -- and has a program of mainstream music and other events.

Across the entry hall, the Info Point serves as a little tourist center for the 7th District, including its Jewish sites. The helpful young woman at the desk when I dropped by spoke good English, but it was clear that the operation was still not up to full speed. There were a few books about the city and Jewish quarter for sale, and some brochures were available. The Info point web site is packed with information, but so far is only in Hungarian.

Kazimir - Info Point is located directly across the street from the Kazinczy street Orthodox synagogue -- the photo at the top of this post was taken from the Kazimir doorway.

The synagogue was built in 1911-1913, as part of a complex designed by Béla and Sándor Loeffler: built in a sort of Byzantine-art Nouveau style, the complex includes a courtyard surrounded by other buildings, with entrances on both Kazinczy street and Dob street. The rather simple Hanna kosher restaurant is located in the courtyard. Next door on Kazinczy there is an upscale kosher restaurant, Carmel. And by the Dob st. entrance there is a kosher butcher and salami-maker.

Photo © Ruth Ellen Gruber

The Sizzler (铁板神话) at Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.

The Sizzler - 铁板神话 (N1.55269 E103.78461) is located along Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19 of Taman Mount Austin - Johor Bahru, just below the Show Planet Karaoke. They serve Taiwanese Style Western Food (台式西餐） and we visited the restaurant was on a Thursday evening because of the Legendary Sizzling Pork...

The Sizzler

It was not corwded and the restaurant has a simple setup, the kitchen is an island in the middle of the restaurant...

Without second words, we placed our order :-
*  Sizzling 1K Pork (千里千寻猪)
*  Sizzling Crispy Chicken (美国轰炸鸡)

The foods served on the table less than 15 minutes...Fast!

Sizzling 1K Pork (千里千寻猪)

The package serve on the sizzling plate with pasta, egg and some vegetbles. We can choose one of the 2 types sauces for the pasta, so we decided butter sauce for the Sizzling Pork and mushroom sauce for the Crispy Chicken.

Sizzling Crispy Chicken (美国轰炸鸡)

Mushroom sauce pasta, egg and vegetables same package with the Crispy Chicken

The portion was big for each person, the pork was well marinated and succulent! We like the taste very much! As far as I know, this is the Only restaurant serve this meal for the moment around Johor Bahru. It was a surprise for us! Delicious!
For pork lover, you shouldn't miss this!

The succulent Sizzling 1K Pork

The Sizzling Crispy Chicken taste above average, the chicken was moist enough and not too dry! It was Crispy excatly same as the name of the dish. Admired the way they control the heat...Nice!

 Nice Sizzling Crispy Chicken

The portion was really more than enough for a person, we overloaded again! We satisfied with the foods here and The Damage : Sizzling 1K Pork - RM23.90 and Sizzling Crispy Chicken - RM19.90. Reasonable price and if possible improve to a better grade pork that will make the dish more Delicious and valueable! Just a suggestion. :)
Both pastas were average and after the meals, everyone is offer with ice-cream on the house...

Beside these 2 dishes, they do serve steak, lamb, salmon and Germen sausage too!

My tip : It's advise Not to visit on crowded weekend because of...1) It might get very oily because of the kitchen is close to the dining table, 2) Food quality might not as good as week day due to the crowded situation...at least for the moment. Well, these are just my 'personal suggestions' with no obligation and still...your choice to decide it.

We will visit again in the future for other dishes!

The Sizzler - 铁板神话

G45, Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19, 

Taman Mount Austin,

81100 Johor Bahru.

Tel : +6016-7730303

The restaurant is closed (update 15-10-2014)

Location map of The Sizzler (铁板神话) at Taman Austin Perdana, Johor Bahru.

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