This is an article about The Nest Underground, Petaling Jaya

The Nest Underground, the latest vape cafe and lounge in Petaling Jaya

Inside the Nest Underground: A mini cinema!

Inside the Nest Underground: The chill-out section

Comprehensive selection of juices, devices, and accessories

New to vaping? This is the perfect place to go to!

Eric guiding my friend through the setup

Juice-tasting!

Jeffri and Zac, a.k.a the big bosses. Say hi if you ever see them there!

Screw squarish tanks - pick something that stands out :P

Café Clon

Vietnamese Pizza - imagine otak-otak wrapped in rice paper.

Seafood Tom Yam Carbonara. Generous portion of seafood!

Yummy juices

Complimentary sago dessert - available until Malaysia day only!

• Closing time is 10pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends as of now, but it will soon be extended.
• Cigars are sold here, and shisha will be next to be introduced to the Nest Underground. Long story short, this place is a haven for smokers of all kinds ;)

How to get to Café Clon

How to get to the Nest Underground

This is an article entitled Delicious Turkish Food to Try in Istanbul

Oh Turkey, how I've missed you....r food!

If you have read my previous post on Turkey, you should know by now how deeply, madly, and crazily in love I am with Turkish food. It did not matter if I was dining at a posh restaurant or by the streets, I was constantly wowed by the mouthwatering flavors that came with the meals.

The following is a list of the food I've tried which I think is worthy of a mention, regardless of the price range:

Delicious Turkish Food to Try in Istanbul

 

Try the kebabs. ALL of them

There are at least 30 different types of kebabs available in Turkey. Whichever direction you turn to face, you will see the juiciest, fattest stacks of meat being roasted to perfection on vertical rotisseries. And the smell, oh the smell - you will find yourself dancing merrily amid the fragrance. Accompanied with fresh tomatoes, onions, parsley, french fries, and traditional homemade condiments, this overly common roadside snack is both delicious and cheap.

Price starts from 5TL

Döner kebab

Adana Kebap - with grilled vege, fries, rice, AND bread

Dürüm - this one from Dürümzade, as approved by Anthony Bourdain

Lamb plate

Islak Hamburgers

Also known as wet burgers, the Islak hamburgers are cheap, fast (readily prepared and incubated in glass-lined steamers), and very tasty. Burgers are dunked in some sort of a tomato-based sauce and then steamed in order to achieve that wet, warm and yummy outcome.

Price starts from 3TL

Islak burgers in Istanbul

Pide

Pide (pronounced pee-dE) comes with choices of toppings similar to those of pizzas, but its base is made using flat-bread and is baked in stone ovens.

Prices start from 3TL

My 15 TL pide. Still worth it.

 

 

Manti

My absolute favorite food in the whole of Turkey? Manti.
These little dumplings (also known as Turkish raviolis) are magical. Small sheets of dough wrappers are meticulously stuffed with the best spiced lamb/beef, and are either boiled or steamed. They are then graciously and generously topped with garlic yogurt, spice-infused olive oil, sumac, chili flakes (optional), and fresh mint leaves for that unreservedly delectable taste.

According to locals, the smaller the size of the manti, the more skillful the cook. It can also be used as an indicator for in-laws to gauge if a girl knows her way around the kitchen.

Prices start from 10TL

What I'd do to taste this again..

Turkish manti

Mozaik Pastası

Heading out for a cup of coffee? Order a slice of the Turkish mosaic cake as well! While it isn't really to my liking (too dry and hard IMO), this dessert is well-known throughout the country. If it has a rich texture and looks pretty in pictures, why not?

Price starts from 3TL

Turkish Mosaic Cake

Simit/Gevrek

These Turkish bagel-lookalikes are bread rings commonly encrusted with seeds of all kinds. It could be white or black sesames, poppy, flax, or my favorite - sunflower seeds. Available everywhere.

Price starts from 1TL

I always had one of these in my bag while traveling in Turkey

Turkish Ice-Cream

Nothing special, really, but soooo good when eaten under the hot, brutal Turkish sun. Remember to try these flavors: Pistachio, pomegranate, honey, or sade.

Price starts from 2TL

Ice-cream in Turkey

Midye Dolma

Introducing my next favorite food - Stuffed mussels. These mussels are filled with aromatic rice before being boiled in spiced broth. The vendor will squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice onto the rice before serving it. Simple, and so very delicious.

Price: 1TL/2 small mussels, 1TL/big mussel

Turkish mussels

Toasts and Sandwiches

The sandwiches that I've had in Asia are mostly pathetic (they taste and look so), which was why I never bothered ordering one while I was in Turkey. However, I've learned that they are a very common and popular choice of fast food here so I've decided to give them a try. I was hooked ever since. The panini-style toasts and thick salami slices are definitely worth the hype.

Prices starts from 3TL

Salami sandwich

Salami toast

Homemade Dishes

It isn't easy finding a stall selling homemade dishes, but the effort is worth it. They are definitely the most tasty, authentic, and (unusually) cheap.

Price starts at 2TL per dish

Pilav and an assortment of dishes

Desserts

No one is ever too full for dessert. Desserts in Turkey can be found on every street and coffee bar. I personally find that the desserts here are overly sweet, but thousands of other tourists beg to differ.

Price starts at 2T

Baklava in Turkey

Ekmek kadayıfı - I gave up after two bites. It's basically just sugar in a fancy shape.

There are many other delicious food to try in Turkey, so making time for it is a must!

For other related posts you might be interested in, click here.

This is an article entitled What It's Like Inside a Capsule Hotel

While traveling in China, I have unexpectedly chanced upon a capsule hotel which is both cheap and conveniently located near a metro station. I've spent a night in a capsule and the experience was pretty exciting.

The idea behind capsule hotels or kapuseru hoteru originated from Japan (a.k.a. the world's most innovative country). It features a large number of compact capsules to make it possible to provide guests with a cheap and basic overnight accommodation. I find this very useful for solo travelers for it comes with the much needed privacy and comfort.

Soft, plushy pillows and duvets

Also comes with in-capsule entertainment. Great selection of movies!

Mine even comes with four different type of cool lighting

Common features of a capsule hotel:

Inside a capsule:

• Safe box (most budget hotels do not even have this)
• Entertainment: Movies/Music + earphones
• Mirror
• Lighting (top, back, TV, mirror, reading)
• Cup holder
• Toiletries - Slippers, soap, towels etc

Toiletries are usually provided in capsule hotels

Others:

• Locker
• Common area
• Large communal bathing areas with hair dryers etc
• Complimentary PC and WiFi usage
• Separate sections for female and males

Remember to drop by a capsule hotel when you have the chance. There are many choices available on Booking.com to suit your preference and travel destination!

This article is on the things to do in Mongkok, Kowloon

It was Saturday.
I was dutifully dropped off in Kowloon by one of the airport shuttle bus. I've concluded that Kowloon has the most local elements that are worth seeing, considering my brief stay in Hong Kong. It was a decision well made.

Neon-bathed streets of Mongkok

Weekend congestion at Nathan Road

People Watching

The best way to get to know a new place is to people watch, and Mongkok offers a stirring experience when it comes to that. There are people on every street, alley, and corner, and since most of them are locals, you'd be able to get to know the people and their etiquette in no time.

Elderly men playing Chinese checkers on the side of a crowded street, because why not?

 

Street Performances

Street performances these days are hardly restricted to just singing and dancing. People are getting increasingly imaginative and bold, and so are the variations in their performances. Expect to see teenage boys juggling with footballs, older men preaching, smashing of wooden planks or glass bottles with unprotected body parts by citizens of any age and background, and many other unusual and eye-opening acts. It would have been enjoyable if the amount of tourists was cut down to half. Otherwise it's just an unbearable nuisance having to walk through the uncontrolled crowd.

Nevertheless, it would be a complete waste to not experience any of these when in Hong Kong. Head on to Sai Yeung Choi Street to have your mind blown.

This basically took up two-thirds of entire street, causing a crazy and unnecessary obstruction

Shopping

Ladies, good news! Mongkok is a haven for beauty-related products that are keenly priced and it would be wasteful to go home empty-handed. Regret walking past a shop without getting the mascara you really wanted? Fret not, because there are twenty more of the same shop 100 meters ahead of you.

The famous Ladies Market

Street Food

Unfortunately, the street food here aren't cheap, contradicting the way they ought to be (cheap, inexpensive, low-priced, and cheap). I would suggest heading over to the nearest Cha Chan Teng (tea-house/cafe) for a nice, hot bowl of Wonton noodles or duck rice instead (and a glass of HK milk tea, of course)

Hong Kong "street food"

This definitely looks more inviting

Sure, Hong Kong is a prominent and greatly-developed city. However, it is more of a destination for tourists than it is for travelers. Don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon!

This article is on the Popular Shopping Malls in Dubai

The lifestyle of those living in Dubai is ridiculously lavish. Teenage girls in Jumeirah drive around in their pink Audis and Ferrari convertibles. Meals at Dhs50 are considered as "budget food" and there is an entire carriage in the metro dedicated to Gold Class members only (comfortable, spacious seats with plenty of personal space - I know, because I unknowingly entered this section once. There are signs indicating an AED100 fine for non-Gold Nol card users here).

Thankfully, the areas outside of Jumeirah, Marina, and Emirates Hill are (unexpectedly) a lot more humble and liveable. If you do not earn in Euros or Dinars, or aren't looking to spend AED1500 a night for a palatial suite, chances are that you will be looking to live around Deira or Bur Dubai (I am currently staying in a decent 2-star AED200 hotel in Deira and I am gritting my teeth every night just thinking how overpriced things are)

Rants aside, Dubai is an awesome destination. Although I am supposed to be traveling on a shoestring, I experienced frequent breakdowns when window shopping in the malls. The self-conflict and constant battles aren't easy - I now find myself sitting helplessly among five pairs of branded footwear which I know would not be able to fit into my backpack.

It's Ramadan and sales are everywhere. Shopaholics would love it here as branded items (FCUK, DKNY, Coach, Massimo Dutti) are dirt cheap during sales. That said, the following are the best malls to shop at when in Dubai:

Dubai Mall

Attractions in Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa

Mall of the Emirates

Dubai Metro Red Line: Mall of the Emirates Station

Mall of the Emirates

City Centre Malls

There are many branches of City Centre malls and I find the one in Deira pretty impressive. It has everything any shopper would need and there isn't a need to travel all the way to the city.

Dubai Metro Red Line: Deira City Centre Station

Deira City Centre Mall

There are definitely many other malls worth going to given there is sufficient time (and if you will not get sick of shopping everyday). The Middle Easteners are particularly fond of the Dragon Mart situated along Al Awir Road which sells cheap Chinese products from machinery to building materials (you name it). Other malls worth mentioning are:

• Wafi Mall
• Al Ghurair Centre
• Jumeirah Plaza
• Ibn Battuta Mall
• Dubai Festival Centre
• Arabian Center

Happy shopping!

For other related posts you might be interested in, click here.