VMY2014:Malacca - Calathe Art Cafe

I love coffee. i can take as much as 3 cups of coffee daily. and i am enjoying sipping to my coffee every time i had a chance to. So, for my trip to Malacca, i did a research on any possible cafe that i can try. as a result, i discovered the Calathe Art Cafe, located in between Jonker Street (Hang Jebat) and Hang Kasturi Street. Quite tricky to relocate this cafe since it is not at main road. 

Established as a Malaysia 13 states' coffee. Which they serve all types of coffee from all states in various style.

Outdoor sittings.

Outdoor deco

The menu book. 

It's quite thick. We took sometime to browse the menu and decide what we want to eat. i bet to many option also not good.. haha..

While waiting for our order, i snap some pics around the cafe. Apparently, the cafe has more spaces at the back and its more relax and feel the home like. 

View from the back. the front and back dining hall is separated by the kitchen and receptionist area and this aisle link both halls

the deco. feel so patriotic here

List of the coffee and its origin for all 13 states. 

I ordered Calanthe Laksa/Noodle. It tastes different from our usual intake, Penang Laksa. This laksa is more curry/coconut based. Feel like eating a curry noodle. I bet this is Baba Nyonya Laksa. I never had one before. so, i just guess and had a try on it. To my liking, it was good. The mee portion was generous, together with the fish balls, taufu, lemon grass and the prawn paste. 

We ordered fresh orange juice and an ice blended called "the Gentlemen Coffee". Cool eh.. its a mix of mocha and coffee. for chocolate and coffee lovers, this is an awesome choice. It's thick, the coffee and choco were well blended to the end. 

Claypot e-mee laksa/noodle. basically, its a laksa in a claypot and cook claypot style. taste about the same like calanthe laksa. not a bad choice also. we finished both meal. 

The post box showing the address of the cafe.

No. 11, Jalan Hang Kasturi

75200 Melaka

Their website: http://www.letseat.at/calanthe

FB: https://www.facebook.com/calanthe.melaka

For a better direction, please visit their website as below:
(credit to Calanthe official website)

http://www.letseat.at/calanthe/directions

Public Transport :

from Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal, Take "panorama-RM2", "town Bus no 17-RM1.2" drop off in Jalan Laksamana, Red Clock Building. Walk 5 minutes to Jonker walk, off the lane of Famosa Chicken Rice Restaurant. 

Driving:

GPS : Latitude : 2N 11' 43.4''

Longitude: 102E 14' 50.6'' 
Google Map: just type "Calanthe Art Cafe,Melaka" 
Parking Area, Kota Laksamana, Opposite Hotel Casa Del Rio

Guangzhou, China in brief

Last year, 2013, i was so fortunate to visit 4 countries in 1 year. Starting with Singapore, then i went to Thailand and Cambodia, next was China and finish it with Singapore again. So, before i proceed with the details in China, here the itinerary in brief. This was the first time after so many2 years, i joined a travel agent for a trip. For certain reason, yes. a good experience for me.

4 Days 3 Nights @ Guangzhou, China

6 - 10 Sept 2013

1st Day

3.30 am - Gathered at LCCT

5.35 am - Flight from KL to GZ

10 am - Arrived at GZ/Canton Airport

11.20 am - Arrived at Jinjiang Inn Hotel

1.30pm - Visited One Link Plaza (Accessories and Deco Mall)

5 pm - Back to Hotel

7 pm - Dinner at Bukhara Restaurant

9 pm - Visited Beijing Lu (Walking Street)

11 pm - Back to Hotel

2nd Day

9 am - Gathered at Lobby

9.15 am - Visited Makam (Tomb) Saad Abi Waqas 

10 am - Visited Zhang Xi Lu (Clothes, Watches and Shoes)

1 pm - Back to hotel for prayer

2 pm - Visited the Kids Plaza/Handbag Plaza

6.30pm - Dinner at Abdullah Restaurant

8 pm - Visited Shang Xia Jiu Lu (Pedestrian Street)

3rd Day

6 am - Visited Morning Market

9 am - Gathered at Lobby

9.15 am - Visited the Mosque Huisheng

9.30 am - Visited Silk Plaza / Kitchenette / Hardware Plaza

6 pm - Back to Hotel

7 pm - Dinner at Bukhara Restaurant

9 pm - Cruised the Pearl River

4th Day

9 am - Gathered at Lobby

9.30 am - Free time (Handbag Plaza/ Accessories Plaza)

3pm - Gathered at Lobby

5 pm - Headed to Airport

9 pm - Depart back to KL

1 pm - Arrived at LCCT

We paid RM2900 each to join this package organised by Anzac Consultancy the expert in wholesale business in China and Indonesia. Quite expensive to me since i usually travel in budget. Since, my mom really want to join the Chef and other entrepreneurs gang, i decided to accompany her. This package included the flight ticket, ground transportation (aircond bus) in GZ, guide (the owner himself who speaks Mandarin fluently), 3 stars hotel (clean and cheap), Breakfast and dinner (lunch is not provided as well as VISA. 

The Airport
Incident: One of the luggage carried by one of the member contained food like chilies, onion etc. Raid by the authority and their dog

The lady on the right side was the guide assistant based in China

Buses to GZ city available along the airport compound

View from the bridge, we were crossing the bridge from our airport to travel private bus

The guide cumm. owner

Dinner @ Gamelan Restaurant, Oasis Ara Damansara

Never been to the Oasis, Ara Damansara since the opening of this place. The Oasis consists of the main office building, the apartments/Condos and row of shops/restaurants which some situated in front of the amazing pool with fountain. 

We had a farewell dinner for one of our colleague a few months back. The restaurant is just open and recommended by a friend of us. It's a local, Malay and Kelantanese restaurant, serving local dishes like Nasi Kerabu to western meal. 

The interior

For my first visit, i tastes the grilled lamb chop at RM18.90 per serving.

They had plenty of western choices and some of my friends had a generous portions for their meal. which end up, i am eating on their behalf

This is my Grilled Lamb Chop. Taste was really2 good. but the portion was sooo sooo smal.. I was so hungry at that time, and this serving was not enough at all. I end up eating other people's portion.

The restaurant, however, is not located in front of this scenery. Several high end restaurant including the Old Kopitiam resite this area. The view was really2 mesmerising at night especially when they light-on the multi colour bulbs. 

Took some pics before heading to the exit gate. At that time, parking was sort of free or maybe my stay is less than an hour.

Behind the fountain is the row of Condos/SOHO.

Location: Love the quite and less hectic location. It is near Chitta Mall. Heading to Sg Buluh/Subang Airport.
Pricewise: Quite expensive.
Verdict: i went here twice. So, i guess, it's ok for revisit.

Ikea Meatballs @ Ikea

We never had the famous IKEA meatball when visiting IKEA. Coz dad did not feel comfortable eating at places without genuine HALAL certificate issued by JAKIM. so, this time, dad was not coming with us to IKEA. hence, we included the eating meatball session in our schedule.

Below, some snapshots of the meatballs, muffin, chicken chop and 2 cups of cappuccino. 

Since, we were 3 and expected to eat a lot, we ordered the jumbo set. Cant remember the price but this set served 24 pieces of the meatball accompanied with the Sweden flag and the chips.

Tastewise, ok la.. not that salty. The meat tasted like it did not mixed well with the ingredient or perhaps that the taste of Scandinavia food.  

Fried chicken, also avergae. nothing to brag about. just a usual deep fried chicken with chips. i like the chips better.

The muffin counter

That's the price. RM17 for 24 pieces.

Mineral waters freezer

Several other selections

Cappuccino is not refillable. Coffee - yes.

Row of IKEA trolley. I like the trolley the most. It was really2x convenient for the customers who ordered more than what both of our hands can handled. =)