 Day 35: Alice's Malaysian Extravaganza |
I’ve been eating heaps of Malaysian food now that I have Patrick in my life, and it isn’t always a bad thing — just when all the food is prepared with seafood. Tonight we went to dinner with his family over to Alice’s, a restaurant way up in the North Shore of Sydney with some decent grub, and of course the topic of our impending Malaysia adventure gets brought up.
I’m really excited for this trip, even though I won’t have much control over anything, because it should be an interesting insight into the culture and an overall cheap holiday. Life is inexpensive, food is tasty, Pat’s extended family lives there and it’s going to be my first step into Southeast Asia (finally, right?!).
Only, the tickets aren’t even booked yet and every meal and every family conversation feels like I’m being prepped for what’s to come.
“Oh yeah, if you order this in Malaysia, it’ll be like…”
Which is cool; I’m grateful, but I sometimes like the idea of just being surprised when I actually step foot in the country. I think they are all just trying to make sure I know what I’m in for, and it is a bit more personal since I’ll be hanging out on their turf.
So, what can I expect for my 2 weeks in May in Malaysia? Glad you asked:
- Sticky, sweaty humidity.
- Cheap hotels with amazing buffets.
- Teh Terik and other beverages made with heaps of sweetened condensed milk.
- Roti and curry and lots of it.
- Cheap food markets.
- Good shopping.
- A train ride down the coast.
- A meeting with Pat’s great uncle, a former prized hunter.
- Laksa for breakfast?!
- Visits to Penang, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and Malaka to name a few.
Do you see a trend for this list? Almost everything involves food, and that pretty much sums up the relationship with my boyfriend’s family: it revolves around eating. I’ve been told I’ll be putting on weight during our trip, but I beg to differ after hearing his grandmother talk about how she wants to order $60 bowls of weird seafood surprise. Uhm… no thanks? Supposedly the surprise is fish maw.
Have you been to Malaysia? Did you love the food? Will I die by not being able to choke down seafood?
Ooh my favourite thing to do preparing for travel is to eat all the food. Malaysian food is awesome, make sure you check out Cumi n Ciki’s site if you want to know where to eat.
Cheers for the tip, Ayngelina
I actually didn’t eat that much seafood while in Malaysia, so I think you’ll be fine. There’s always roti canai and satay to fill you up. I also found the mango in Malaysia to be the best I’ve ever had.
I can easily make a meal out of roti canai and satay
I found it easy to avoid (or limit) my seafood also while I was in Asia. I definitely feel your pain- I was quite nervous before my first trip to Asia, Japan to be specific. I lived with a host family, however, and warned them ahead of time I wasn’t a fan, so I had it easier. I’ll definitely be thinkin of ya, and I know how you feel!
Oh my, and Japan eats soooo much of it. It would be very difficult for me there.
I love the food in Malaysia. It’s really diverse and there is something for everyone. But as with all SE Asian food, there is a bit of a culture shock when you arrive and it’s sometimes difficult to take the plunge when you’re unfamiliar with the procedure for ordering and paying and the food contains ingredients you’re unfamiliar with. Once you get the hang of it, it’s all OK. I reckon it’ll help immensely having Malaysians with you.
Roti, curry, noodles = YUM! Can’t wait, and I’m glad I’ll have people with me to help!
Condensed milk drinks are some of my favorite… a treat I have to keep far and few between lol. I am about to be on the beach!
I should be doing the same! But, alas, I’ve been letting myself indulge in everything lately. I love condensed milk drinks, too
I don’t eat seafood either and I very much enjoyed the food in Malaysia. Of course, I wasn’t eating with a local family… but all those I was visiting with were big into Indian food, so we ate a lot in Little India and had our fair share of cheap roti! In fact, I didn’t even really discover my love of laksa until I arrived in Australia, so now I’m dying to go back and have it in Malaysia. I look forward to your descriptions of how it is!
It is a wonderful country though. Great diversity, great people (as you obviously already know) so I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time! (And again, I feel for you on the seafood — my boyfriend is Swedish and when I visited his family they were trying to get me to eat lots of herring and salmon and other fish….ick!)
Ugh seafood is the worst! But, it’s good to know that I’ll be fine! I love Indian food, so I’ll try and sway the group that way, but I have a feeling that if I eat with the family, I’ll be dodging seafood just as I have to do at all of our dinners here in Oz.
I lived in Malaysia for 10 months (in Penang), so let me know if you need any food or sightseeing recommendation:)
Oh will do.
But, my boyfriend’s family will probably suffice. They go there often.
are you still coming to the us in june?
Of course! Can’t wait
June 4th in P-town.