JB Arts Festivals 2013 Press Conference at Villa Warisan , Johor Bahru.

The yearly JB Arts Festivals is coming back again on 6th September - 5th October 2013. This will be the 10th Arts Festivals in Johor Bahru and it's also the established as the longest- running arts festival in Malaysia.

"This year, the Festival will be held from September 6th to October 5th at the iconic Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim on Bukit Timbalan, as well as with some performances also spread out to some of JB’s premier night spots namely Eight Lido & Danga Bay. This year’s programme will feature over 100 eclectic live performances spanning all disciplines of performing arts – music, dance, theatre, film, comedy and visual arts, and we want YOU to be a part of the fun!"

We had been invited for the Media Conference on 25th Aug 2013 (11am) at the J.A. Heritage Villa (N1.46672 E103.75737) at Jln Abdul Rahman Andak, Johor Bahru.

J. A. Heritage Villa

I was there around 11am and the place was crowded. Everyone was waiting for Tan Sri Dato Shahrir bin Abdul Samad to arrive to start the media conference.

The arriving of the VIPs

Before the shows start, Tan Sri Dato Shahrir had a short speech and follow by the performance...

Short speech presented by Tan Sri Dato Shahrir, 

Dato Ismail Ibrahim - Chief Executive Officer, Iskandar Regional Development Authority was next to him...

The place was really crowded...

The Flash Mob performance started during the short introduction from the MC...with the popular song - Oppa Gangnam Style...

The 1st performance on the JB Arts Festival 2013 media conference

Follow by the the Chinese Traditional dance performance from the young children...

Chinese Traditional Dance performance

After the traditional dance, the 70s song - 'I Love Roses' started...with another dance performance by the group of lovely teenage...

The Wu-shu performance by one of the association continued after the dancing performance...that was exciting!

Photos of the Wu-shu performance :-

After a short break, the historical drama show started...

And the 'Kupang' performance by one of the school from Kota Tinggi.

The 'Kupang' performance was the last show of the day, the Mock Cheque Presentations by Sponsors continued around 11.50am.

The buffet lunch was prepared for everyone before the end of the media conference...

The buffet lunch at the media conference

The Founder - Mr. Yap Siong Cheng and the organizers are strongly encourage everyone to participate in the Festivals. If you can't perform, doesn't matter...just visit the Arts and Cultural shows at Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim in Johor Bahru during the 6th Sep - 5th Oct. You can get the 'Yellow Booklet' from their website, as for the time table of the shows for the month.

My last visit was on year 2012, you can view some photos from the link.

Please visit the venues where all the shows perform to support our Arts and Culture!

Official website for JB Arts Festivals : http://jbartsfest.com/  or you can visit their Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/jbartsfestival

Location map of J.A. Heritage Villa at Johor Bahru

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Century Curry Fish Head 世纪瓦煲咖哩鱼头 at Cedar Point Hawker Center （食得福）, Century Garden - Johor Bahru.

The Century Curry Fish Head 世纪瓦煲咖哩鱼头 (N1.48126 E103.76296) stall is located in Cedar Point Hawker Center of Century Garden - Johor Bahru. The hawker center is easy to locate cause just behind the Grand Paragon Hotel of JB, and it's getting crowded mostly in the evening time, you can find most of the Johor Bahru local delights within...

We chose the popular Century clay pot curry fish head for our dinner. The 'Chinese' style curry fish head serve in small, medium and large size with different prices. The small size clay pot we had cost RM25 each, reasonable price.

Clay Pot Curry Fish Head at Cedar Point Hawker Center

The piping hot curry fish head served on our table in about 10 minutes and nice aroma of the curry wafts around our table once the clay pot lid is lifted. Few ingredients are used to preparing the dish, young lady's fingers and tomatoes are added to the curry, garnished with plenty of Tau-pok (fried bean-curd). The flavorful curry was cooked with the perfect balanced of curry and coconut milk, and it was not really spicy but with the right amount of tang.
The flesh was tender and moist, the fish bones dislocate easily while putting into my mouth, goes with the distinct taste of curry leaf, we all had the second plate of rice! The amount serve for the small size of fish head is enough to serve up to 3 persons which are not a big eater.

Beside the clay pot curry, we also ordered the Tampoi popular 'pork satay' and 'fried oyster' from the food court. The slight charred satay sticks was taste average and acceptable with the peanuts sauce, all BBQ with nice honey.

Popular pork satay at Cedar Point Hawker Center

The fried oyster omelette was average, the normal size of fresh oysters remain juicy while it served in this eggy flavor omelette. It could be better if they balance the starch and the eggs, and provide slightly big size of oysters. I don't mind paying more...

Fried Oyster Omelette at Cedar Point Hawker Center

The hawker center is my favorite food court since the 80s. It has many delicious foods since those day until now, do discover yourself and you may find the food you like. :)

Century Curry Fish Head 世纪瓦煲咖哩鱼头 
at Cedar Point Hawker Center （食得福）

Jalan Musang Bulan,

Century Garden (behind Grand Paragon Hotel)

Operating hour : 12pm - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm

Close on Monday
GPS Coordinates :  N1.48126 E103.76296

Location map of Century Curry Fish Head at Cedar Point, Century Garden

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E Pin Bak Kut Teh 一品滋扑肉骨茶 at Taman Bukit Indah, Skudai - Johor Bahru.

E Pin Bak Kut Teh 一品滋扑肉骨茶 (N1.47984 E103.66360) is located along the short street of Jalan Indah 16/4, Taman Bukit indah. The stall is sharing same area with Min Zi Seafood Restaurant which operating in the evening, and the Bak Kut Teh stall taking over in the day time.
This is the 'hidden gem' that discovered by us during the food hunting session...

E Pin Bak Kut Teh 一品滋扑肉骨茶 at Tmn Bukit Indah

The place was simple and typically look like a Chinese style kopitiam, but well ventilated. The owner of the stall - Mr Kenny Wang is a nice friendly person. He told us that he use better quality pork and ingredients for his own creation of Bak Kut Teh, and strongly emphasized there will be without MSG serving in his Bak Kut Teh. What Mr Kenny believe that as long as he concern about his food quality and taste, it will bring more regular customers to his stall...anyway, I think it's absolutely correct!

Our order :-
*  Claypot soup pork ribs Bak Kut Teh - 排骨肉骨茶
*  Claypot dry pork knuckles Bak Kut Teh - 猪脚干肉骨茶

Claypot soup pork ribs Bak Kut Teh - 排骨肉骨茶

The pork ribs was well cooked with melting tenderness yet still had sufficient firmness for a bouncy bite. The dark broth with rich herbal and spices taste together with some slight saltiness, and it goes great on rice! The herbal broth taste uniquely special which hardly find a replacement version in local Johor Bahru food market. We like it very much!

Claypot dry pork knuckles Bak Kut Teh - 猪脚干肉骨茶

The spongy pork knuckles was Aromatic and Delicious! The knuckles were well cooked to the perfect timing where easily fall off with a gender bite! The taste of the gravy was excellent! This was the 'First' time we taste A Delicious Dry type Bak Kut Teh within Johor Bahru area.
4 of us categorized it's A MUST TRY DISH in this Bak Kut Teh stall. Well, you can have few choices to choose any part of the pork and cook with the dry type (even soup type), said by Mr Kenny.

They do serve other dishes like salted vegetables, pork tribes, mutton soup and others...

To all Bak Kut Teh lover, have you try it before? If not, do visit the stall during day time from 8am - 2.30pm (accept Monday), you have to try at least once of Kenny's own version Bak Kut Teh.

E Pin Bak Kut Teh 一品滋扑肉骨茶

17-19, Jalan Indah 16/4,
Tmn Bukit Indah
81200 Johor Bahru.
Tel : 0137789998 - Kenny Wang
Business hour : 8am - 2.30pm
Close on Monday
GPS Coordinates : N1.47984 E103.66360

Location map of E Pin Bak Kut Teh in Tmn Bukit Indah, Skudai - Johor Bahru.

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The Penang Char Koey Teow 槟城炒粿条 stall in Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center, Johor Bahru.

Visited the No.61, Penang Char Koey Teow 槟城炒粿条 stall (N1.48696 E103.76793) in Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center (大马小贩中心) sometime ago. The stall started operation more than 20 years ago, and Mr Khor (the owner) serving one of the Good Penang Char Koey Teow within Johor Bahru.

No.61, Penang Char Koey Teow in Tmn Sri Tebrau Hawker Center

Mr Khor is a friendly person and we had chat with him for a while to understand his Char Koey Teow business in the area. He said there are few stalls selling the same food in the hawker center, and all of the stalls have their own regular customers despite the different techniques of the cook and taste.

Penang Char Koey Teow from stall No.61, Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center

The plate of Char Koey Teow lively, smooth and infused with the unami flavour of the prawns, the flat rice noodles was fired with elusive of 'Wok Hei' (smoky wok fragrance) from the skilful handling of the heat from the stove, resulted in the most pleasing plate of Aromatic and Delicious Char Koey Teow.
Even the local JB soy sauce is different from Penang, which does not provide the exact same taste, but from the magic frying/tossing of Mr Khor...he overcome it and provide a unique version by himself.
This plate of Penang Char Koey Teow cost RM5.

The stall is running by Mr Khor and his son (Ryan Khor) during the evening. His son - Ryan Khor also operating another Char Koey Teow stall at the right side kopitiam of Maybank, Taman Daya in the day time. Ryan Khor version is very close to his father standard, but you have to taste it yourself.

If you are Penang Char Koey Teow lover, you have to try it when you happen around in Taman Sri Tebrau. Do let me know how you feel about the the Char Koey Teow from the stall or other stall within Johor Bahru by comment below, much appreciated. :)

Penang Char Koey Teow Stall 槟城炒粿条

No 61, Hawker Center Taman Sri Tebrau, 

Johor Bahru.

Business hour : 5pm - 10pm

GPS Coordinates : N1.48696 E103.76793

Location map of Penang Char Kuey Teow stall （槟城炒粿条） in 

Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center, Johor Bahru.

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Dong Hong Traditional Chinese snacks (kueh) stall - 东鸿糕粿 at Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center, Johor Bahru.

Dong Hong Traditional Chinese kueh stall (N1.48701 E103.76803) is located in the Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center. They provided full varieties of the Chinese traditional kueh included Teo Chew and Hainan kuehs. Nowadays is difficult to find these type of stall which selling so many varieties of kuih in Johor Bahru.

Dong Hong Traditional Chinese kueh stall

The stall normally start business on 4pm, and most of their customers will visit the stall during the 4.30pm-7pm. The owner - Mr Low said the kuehs will finish around 8-9pm.

The varieties of kuihs offer by Dong Hong (东鸿) stall :-

The Nyonya Oneh - Oneh

I don't know the name of the kueh above, but it's my favorite!

These are my favorite too!

One of the popular Teo Chew kueh in Johor Bahru - the Leaf kueh

And I also don't the name of the snacks above...

The kuehs from this stall are tasty and all of them are not too sweet, beside that you also can have the traditional taste of the Chinese kueh which sometime might bring you back to year 70s...:)

According to Mr Low, almost half of their regular customers are from Singapore. They visit the stall and buy the kueh in pack-by-pack and bring back to their home. Beside the retail business, Mr Low also doing the whole sale to others shop within Johor Bahru area. If you are buying in big quantity, you will get a good bargain from the stall.

The price of each kueh is reasonable and everyone can effort it. So drop by the stall if you are the kueh lover, I believe you will like the kuehs and the taste.

Dong Hong Traditional Chinese Kueh stall 
东鸿糕粿

No. 62, Hawker Center Taman Sri Tebrau,

Johor Bahru.

Business hour : 4pm - 10pm 
(Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday)
GPS Coordinates : N1.48701 E103.76803

Location map of Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Center, Johor Bahru

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Swee Ang Restaurant - 瑞安炖汤美食馆 at Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi - Johor Bahru

Swee Ang Restaurant 瑞安炖汤美食馆 (N1.48416 E103.77502) is located along Jalan Kuning of Taman Pelangi, which is just behind the Leisure Mall of Pelangi and sit next to Food Republique Restaurant.

The restaurant is famous with their 'Crab Ball' and its been operating since more than 60 years ago. It's one of the longest food business in Johor Bahru. According to the owner, they had been swifting around Johor Bahru started from the JB old town and now its settled down here at Jalan Kuning for about 12 years ago.

The environment is simple and clean with air-conditioning. The boss took our order and he was friendly.

Our order :-
*  Crab Ball (signature dish) 瑞安蟹碗
*  Pork tendon cooked ginger (signature dish)
*  Bean paste fish

The popular Crab Ball

Pork tendon with ginger

Bean paste fish

The Crab Ball was unique and so far I haven't come across other restaurant selling this within Johor Bahru. It had a mild taste soup with full of compressed crab meat in it. It's good for those who lazy to take crab because of the hard shell and enjoying the crab without dirty your hand.
You can feel the crab meat on your every bite. Special and Nice!

The Crab Ball from Swee Ang Restaurant 蟹碗

The Pork Tendon was nicely cooked and taste delicious. This is one of the unique dish hardly can find the city too. Have you ever try it before?
The Bean paste fish was tasty and goes well with plain rice. Taste was special but if has it alone might be over salty, so the best way is to goes with rice...

The dishes serve by the restaurant mostly are tasty and acceptable, if you haven't try their signature Crab Ball, please drop by and taste the different!

Swee Ang Restaurant 瑞安炖汤美食馆

70, Jalan Kuning,

Taman Pelangi.

Tel : +607-3337828

Operating hour : 8am - 9pm daily

GPS coordinates : N1.48416 E103.77502

Location map of Swee Ang Restaurant 瑞安炖汤美食馆 at Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru.

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Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle - 槟城福建虾麵 stall along Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa - Johor Bahru

The Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle stall (N1.49305 E103.77090) is located along Jalan Sutera of Taman Sentosa - Johor Bahru. It's easy to locate if you aware of previous Elextrolux office and opposite the current 7-Eleven convenience shop. The stall started since the late 80s, it was about 25 years in business till now which run by a owner from Penang.

I started to patronized the area since year 87, and yes...until today and the taste of the noodle is 'Still' same as before, well maintain!

The Penang Prawn noodle stall along Jalan Sutera, Tmn Sentosa

We ordered few type of the noodle that evening...
*  Penang prawn noodle - standard. (with the curly instant noodle) 槟城福建虾麵
*  Penang 'Loh' mee - (dark braised gravy, the local dialect called 'Loh') 槟城卤麵
*  Penang prawn noodle mixed with 'Loh' - the common way of the Penang peoples enjoy the noodles where the local named it - Hokkien Loh mee. 槟城福建卤  -  麵。

The standard Penang prawn mee with instant noodle 槟城福建虾麵

Penang 'Loh' mee 槟城卤麵

Penang prawn noodle mixed with 'Loh 槟城福建卤

All the 3 types of noodles above were served with a spoon of vinegar + minced garlic to make the gravy (or soup) more appetizing, you can noticed it from the photo above. These type of combination is the common way where the Penang peoples enjoy the meal, and some of the Johorian might not get used to it.

We liked 3 types of the noodles above! Satisfied with the gravy and the taste.
The Penang Hokkien prawn noodle does not serve with a Big size prawns, but oppositely...only small prawns. And the soup will not have a strong rich taste of prawn, but just normal...I like the fried garlic aroma too! It went blended well with the noodles.

I won't use the word - "Authentic" to describe the popular Penang food, because the definitions of 'Authentic' taste are very wide...the hawker food is prepare and cook by many different Penang peoples and more or less having similar taste, but might Not be the same...these are the debates always been around us. For me, whether you like it or hate it...as long as the food is 'Tasty'! 'Authentic' is not really A priority...
The noodles above cost RM5 each.

The owner of the Penang Hokkien Prawn noodle

The owner is a friendly guy and we will have a short chat every time I visit the stall. After all, I've been seeing him since young till now...haha!

If you are fan of Penang Hokkien Prawn noodle or craving for Penang Loh mee, don't forget to drop by the stall from 6pm - 12am (Tue - Sun)...you might love it just like me...:)

Penang Prawn noodle  - 槟城福建虾麵 at Taman Sentosa

Jalan Sutera (opposite 7-11),

Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru.

Operating hour : 6pm - 12am (close on Monday)

GPS coordinates : N1.49305 E103.77090

Location map of the Penang Prawn noodle stall along Jln Sutera, Taman Sentosa

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