This is Baling not Bali

Over the long weekend break , we took a drive to Baling for a therapeutic dip in a hotspring. Here , I share with you a few pictures of the district. More on the roadtrip as well as how to get there later. 

Yes , this is not Bali . This is Baling , Malaysia. 

Where the limestone hills meet the paddy fields ....

Kedai Makan Pak Teh - Baling

We stumbled upon this humble shack while searching for a tea stop.  The chef is a stocky Malay lady and boy ,is she  one darned good cook. Recipes are authentic Penang and very old ones at that. 

Great Penang hawker food in Baling. Can you believe that ?  Of course I was sceptical at first but after that....well, you'll see. 

Chou Yang - porridge to stave off the heat and excess

One minute it's raining , next minute it's hot. 

How to make a cheap handbag look better

You've seen these bags all over the place hawked by Thai traders.

They range between RM19 to RM35 and come in some very practical , attractive and colourful designs. Alas , a close up shot shows the glaring lack of quality. If you're like me , and you love bags that are not rigid in make .....

...here's what I do. 

Cini Gado - Thai durians

I never buy Thai durians. 

Those that are brought in here are so utterly tasteless it isn't even worth parting 2 ringgit for no matter how large they may be. Part of the problem is because the fruit is cut from the tree instead of allowing it to drop on its own . Add to that , the chemical soak to hasten the ripening process. Ugh. No way am I buying any.