Naughty Nuri's Warung @ Burma Road, Penang

My friend from Jakarta commented almost instantly after I have checked in to this location on Facebook. He asked, "eh?? i thought naughty nuri only in bali :O" 

Oh well, this is Penang you're talking about. When it comes to food, we can bring any food from all parts of the world to this tiny island. Haha.. It is just a matter of how much and where. All that hype about pork ribs and cocktails has now come to this visit together with a couple of my friends whom I've not met since last year. So, it was a great place for gatherings especially with boys who are hungry. 

My friend, Saik, he finished this on his own. When I told another friend of mine, she got shocked as the portion was huge enough to share. Oh well, growing boys. I didn't have any but the smell was gobsmacked! The charcoal grill ribs were so fragrant that I almost tempted to pinch some. 

I had this Naughty Boy burger instead. 

The pork patty was so thick that I could barely finish and eat the buns or fries. 

Love the mango salsa on top. 

It opens from 12 noon but they welcome patrons from 11.30am already. As for parking, either Swatow Lane or New World Park food court's parking.

Don't be surprise to see a massive hog greet you at the entrance. Hope to try the cocktails next time. Something novel in Penang at least. Considered a competitor to Morganfields. However, for those who have tried the original Naughty Nuri in Bali, this may or may not be the same feel and taste. I've not been to Bali yet but I hope to some day. 

Facebook page here.

P/S: Just google Naughty Nuri Penang, you will get so many results! Google is awesome!

Narasindo Tours

Medan is about 30 minutes flight from Penang and when the city is mentioned, one could think of the layer cakes, the local Chinese could speak Hokkien too, volcanoes and Lake Toba. My family and I went to the city for a visit during the recent Chinese New Year and prior to that, I did a research on the city first. 

So, when in Medan, travellers would usually opt to do the following: - 

1) stay a night or two at Lake Toba

2) another one or two nights at Berastagi

3) a couple of days at Medan city

I was fortunate to have a friend, WP, who is from Medan and I knew him in Newcastle-upon-Tyne when I was on my working holiday visa. He was kind enough to guide me through his city (via whatsapp/email) and helped me enormously with the itinerary. The itinerary? I got it from a local tour agency in Medan, Narasindo Tours. I found Narasindo Tours through Google when I was searching for "Medan". 

So, I sent an email to Narasindo Tours and James Jumakir replied me quite instantly the same day. The itinerary in which he proposed for a group of 8 adults are as follows: - 

"4 days Medan - Lake Toba Tour 

6th Feb Medan - Samosir island / 4 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry 
Arrive at the Kuala Namu International airport with flight at 7.15 We will fetch you and directly depart to lake Toba / Samosir island via plantation route and a historical city of Pematang Siantar. In the afternoon you arrive in Parapat harbor from where you cross the lake to Samosir island by ferry. Upon arrival on the island, you will directly check in to hotel for overnight stay. In the evening you may take a nice walk to the local café or shop neaby hotel. 2 overnight stay in hotel Silintong on Samosir island. Lunch and dinner are included

7th Feb Samosir island - Brastagi / 3,5 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry
Today you will make excursions to Tomok village to see the old tomb of King’s Sidabutar and Ambarita village to see the stone chairs, tables and court yard of Siallagan’s clan. After that you cross the lake by boat to Parapat from where you drive to Brastagi, a mountain resort with its refreshing weather and magnificent mountain scenery which has an abundance of flowers, vegetables and fruits (most famous of which is the passion fruit). On the way stop will be made at Sipiso-piso waterfall and Long house of Simalungun Bataks. At noon you arrive in Brastagi visiting fruits market and Gundaling hill where you can views two active volcanoes, Sibayak and Sinabung. Overnight stay in hotel Sinabung or Danau Toba Cottages or Horison in Brastagi. Lunch and dinner are included

8th Feb Brastagi - Medan city tour / 1,5 - 2 hrs drive
In the morning is free program for you in Brastagi. After that you depart to Medan through the winding route and mountain villages. Arrive in Medan there is a city tour / shopping in Medan visiting Sultan Maimoon Palace, Grand Mosque. Overnight stay in hotel Garuda Plaza or Grand Sakura or Grand Antares or similar in Medan. Lunch and dinner are included

9th Feb Medan - transfer airport / 1 - 1,5 hrs drive
In the morning is free program. At noon you check out from hotel for city and shopping tour Batik house , Pusat handbroidery / sulam / telekung and Medan Mall. After that you will be trabsferred to the airport of Medan for catch your flight at 6.20pm End of your trip with us. NO MEALS

 Price 8 persons is RM 495.00 per person 

Included - Hotels as mentioned above + breakfast - AC transport as mentioned in the program + fuel - Driver cum guide - Entrance & parking fees as mentioned in the program - Ferry Parapat – Samosir vice versa - Meals: 3 x lunches + 3 x dinners - Highseason surcharge during Chinesse New Year Period 

Excluded - Flight tickets & airport tax - Personal insurance - Personal expenses: donations, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc. - Tips (RM7.00 / pax / day depends on clients satisfaction) - Any optional program"

So, for the price per person and with all meals included sounded like a good deal, eh? We agreed with the quotation and signed up! Upon confirmation, 30% deposit is to be paid to their Maybank account maintained in Penang. It is registered under the tour agency's boss personal name. The balance is to be paid in Medan. We paid to the driver/guide when we reached Medan city and the driver's tip only after he has dropped us off at the airport. The tour agency suggested RM7.00 per person so that will be a lot right? We paid RM200.00 in total for the 4 days albeit we are 8 in a group. We thought that was as much as the driver deserves.

I also insisted to drop by Asli in Medan to get the peanut candies/snacks as recommended by my friend and the driver obliged. So, the driver/guide Sam, was not bad actually. However, my opinions of the services of this tour agency is purely mine and my family's views and it may differs to others. If you expect too much, the higher the disappointment you have invited unto yourself. So, we didn't expect much noting it was only RM495.00 per person. But, we did enjoy the whole trip. My friends who engaged them in March, didn't enjoy it and complained how much time was wasted on travelling. They were a group of early 30s and late 20s, can't blame them for being restless though.

The following is my reply to a fellow traveller also travelling in a big group (I shall named the person as J): -

J's email to me

Hi Alyssa, I am taking the liberty of writing to you regarding your glowing testimonial in Narasindo Tours website. We are a group of 8 from Penang planning a 5D/4N Berastagi/LakeToba/Medan tour with James Jumakir. However, we also read 2 bad reviews about them which is making us a bit apprehensive about using their services. So we would appreciate your feedback and if we should go ahead and book our tour with them. Thank you for your input. 

Best Regards, J

My reply to J

Hi J, I only found out about the bad reviews on tripadvisor just days before my trip and hence, it made me hesitated. I thought whether I did the right choice or not in signing up for their services. It wasn't as bad at all unlike what that reviewer said. We got a healthy driver and a friendly one. His name is Sam and he was a replacement driver to the supposed Habib. James didn't inform me of the change in driver. But, Sam served us well as a driver and a tour guide. He is honest generally but like all tour agencies, they often bring you to places in which they have commissioned. So, don't be surprised to see Narasindo Tours stickers on almost all the places you go. Food are all good - only buffet breakfast in Berastagi and in Medan city. Our van was a new Isuzu 11 seaters. Get all your souvenirs from Tomok Village and Berastagi. In Medan, it is limited and expensive. The bit on the bed bugs at Toledo Inn is true. It is an old place. So, bring long sleeves clothes and pants for sleeping. Otherwise, that Inn is worth staying. Bring travel adapter too as the two pins in Indonesia are unlike those in Hatyai as it is deep in and rounded. Tipping is not compulsory but I found it a courtesy to tip the Narasindo driver. It was suggested RM7 per package per day but in the end, we paid only RM25 per person for the 4 days. It all depends on what you think of his services. If you think he is not worth that much, pay him less. Don't have to tip the hotel staff who helped you with the bags. My friend from Medan told me that 50K rupiah is too generous even though it is only like 10 ringgit here. I managed to speak with James over the phone upon our arrival and he is a pleasant guy like how he seems from the email replies. You only pay the balance of your tour when you are in Medan. Tip the driver only after he drop you off at the airport. That's my personal opinion from engaging Narasindo Tours. Next time if I do engage them again it would just be for Berastagi and Medan as the travelling time to Samosir Island is too much. Haha.. Hope you will enjoy your trip and get Sam as your driver. 

Kind regards, Alyssa

******

For more information, their contacts are below.

NARASINDO TOURS 
Jl. Juanda No. 55 E – Medan, North Sumatra
+62 61 4159939 (tel)
+62 61 4159917 (fax)
+62 853 7072 0018 (mobile)
Info@narasindotours.com
www.narasindotours.com
Skype: narasindo

Kedai SS - Ayam Tulang Lunak

"Ayam tulang lunak" or chicken soft bone in English might raise some eyebrows. Soft bone? It is not the plastic looking bone in a chicken but it is more to its main bones, those that holds the whole chicken altogether. Skeleton, to be exact. 

Bones, when you heard about it, made you think that it is hard and usually dogs will enjoy chewing on them. But, put that hardness aside, and fry them in deep and hot oil. You will then get bones that literally melt in your mouth. 

 Indonesian language really amuses me. "Makanan/Minuman Kosong" which in Malay would be translated as "Makanan/Minuman Yang Tiada". In English, it's food and beverages that are unavailable. Alpukat is avocado. Sirsak is soursop. Manga is mango. Semangka is watermelon. 

The portion offered by this eatery is very small and it comes with rice and some ulam (raw vegetables), too. Feels like snacking than having dinner. 

The idea of eating "chicken soft bone" might deter foodies from enjoying their meal. But, don't think about the idea of it being part of the chicken bones. Just eat it! It is very eccentric to be able to finish the whole chicken leg including its bones. It tasted good also but not great. 

Kedai SS-Ayam Tulang Lunak 
Indonesian Restaurant and Wings Joint
JL. Melati, Tanjung Pandan,
Belitung, Indonesia

Mie Atep Belitung

I was in Indonesia last May for a trip to the island of Belitung a.k.a. Negeri Sejuta Pelangi / Negeri Lasker Pelangi (Rainbow Troops). I enjoy travelling to places less travelled and so this island was perfect for exploration. 

So, upon arriving at Belitung, our driver/guide took my friends and I for breakfast at a local shop famous for their noodles, Mie Atep Belitung. It is something like what we Penangites would call Jawa Mee as its broth is a bit sourish and it is served with crackers. The place is already packed with people even though it is not opened for business yet. So, we were lucky to be seated without having to wait as we ventured further inside the establishment into the living room of the restaurant owners. 

You will also noticed that a lot of local Indonesian celebrities including the former President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, also dined here before. Each plate of noodles is prepared beforehand and whenever there is an order, then only the broth is poured in. So, it is not always you get the "fresh" plate each time. Nonetheless, since we got there early, our plate of noodles were delicious. 

When ordering for a plate of Mie Atep Belitung, do order the "es jeruk kunci" or lime juice with sour plum.

Mie Atep Belitung
JL. Sriwijaya, No. 27, Tanjung Pandan,
Kepulauan Bangka Belitung 33411, Indonesia