The rules are really simple. For each letter of the alphabet (A, B, C ... until Z), we will try to suggest 5 or 6 places or people or events or things that we tend to associate with our hometown Kuching. It's easy for those of you lucky enough to live there now, but for others overseas, think back to what you remember of Kuching town.
For example, for the letter "A", we might have the Astana across the river, Ann Lee Restaurant on Carpenter Street which used to be a favourite for some, but is no more running (at least not under that name), Kuching International Airport and Ang Mo Liu Lian (or Soursop) a favourite of our old pal Philip Chin, who suggested this one) ... 
Soooooo ..... based on your inputs, I will then populate the blog entry with appropriate pictures and associated write-up (if necessary). This is obviously going to be a multi-post subject, running into as many entries as required.
Game to give it a try? I've already started "A" for you (but you can add more). Now how about suggestions for "B" ?
Posts
B - Babu, the famous pop singer in a small coffeehouse at Palm Road (walking distance from our Primary School). I've forgotten the name of the band but we used to hang out there when we were not financially strained! xD
ReplyDeletehey, i remember the sumptious PORK CHOPS and CHICKEN CHOPS at Ann Lee !!!! Brilliant and delicious and unique.
ReplyDeleteThey are still serving those chops at Ann Lee with the brown gravy and green peas. And old style curry rice with char siew and chicken. I go there occasionally but I think you gotta be an old-timer like us to appreciate those chops. My kids didn't seem to think they were so special. I guess a little sprinkle of nostalgia adds a lot to the taste. :-) George.
ReplyDeletetho i lived most of my early life in KCH, i never stepped into the Astana. i thot i'd get there one day to recv my Datukship but that day hasn't come YET ! :-)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the Ann Lee pork and chicken chops. Glad I'm not the only one who remembers them fondly. After such a long time, sometimes I wondered if it was not all a creation from my childhood imagination. So I do appreciate the validation of my mental state ...
ReplyDeleteB for Belacan Bihun at Lumba Kuda
ReplyDeleteBak Kut Teh in Pending or Sa Ki
Buntal
Ba Pao (Tua Liap) Opp.Post Office
The big pau opp post office moved many years ago. The shop was called Hock Hai. It is now located at the corner of Padungan and Song Thian Cheok Rd. Still serves that delicious pau, sio-bee and 'ha-kau'.
ReplyDeleteC for chicken rice. In our days, the king of them all used to be Ah Suan in a corner coffeeshop next to Capital Cinema. He was so popular that sometimes you had to stand and wait next to someone's table to grab a seat. He has moved a short distance away to the row of shops next to Holiday Inn [now called Grand Margherita]. Sadly the taste isn't what I remembered it to be. Maybe the old towkay is not cooking the chicken himself anymore but I still see him hanging around the shop.
ReplyDeleteC is also for coffeehouse - the one I remember best is at Aurora. Used to bring my gf there to drink the iced lemon tea. In fact, I remember that some of us used to go there after Novena on Saturday evenings. Novena was popular even for the less religious.
ReplyDeleteC is for CARPENTER STREET, with all its sumptious food outlets - kuey chap, bak moi, rojak etc etc
ReplyDeleteI just came back from lunch at Lau Ya Keng in Carpenter St. The kolo mee and kueh chap there are very nice. In the afternoon, the fish ball/ tauhu/ tanghhoon stall is popular, as is the non-halal satay. At night, you have to try the fishhead porridge. One of my favourite haunts even if it is hot and not so very clean. /George.
ReplyDeleteC- Carpenter Street,
ReplyDeleteOur favorite place when we wanted to buy our dream racing-bike: Raleigh was the top brand those days or if we need to buy parts for the racing bikes... People like Felix Lim, Patrick Umpau, Justin Jinggut (Datuk), Ronald Kueh, Anthony Chung and other fans of racing bikes would still remember the tall apek, who was always very helpful & kind but seldom gave us fair amount of dscounts....Sinos
C is for Cat, of course. Kuching, the Cattown !
ReplyDeleteYou forgot A for ANG TAU PENG, like we had at St Mike long time ago ...
ReplyDeleteC for Char Kueh Tiaw. There was a good stall on Green Road a long time ago. Now no more unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteD for Dirty eateries. There are quite a few around - old favourites like Open Air Market [Kong Si Boi], Batu Lintang foodstalls, Lau Ya Keng at Carpenter St where the food is good, if you don't mind seeing rats scurrying in the nearby drains and the occasional cockroaches under your feet. The tables are grimy, the spoons are oily and the glasses are stained - but what the heck. Like the hokkiens say "La sap chia, la sap pui". I hear that the ang tau peng at open air is even better than St Mike.
ReplyDelete