Again: SPECIAL REPORT FOR "IMPRESSIONS OF MUAR"

Again: (THE NEW STRAITS TIMES NEWSPAPER, MALAYSIA: MONDAY 21 OCT 2013)
SPECIAL REPORT FOR "IMPRESSIONS OF MUAR" - So much Muar to eat

Impressions of Muar ( New Strait Times Article ) 21th of October

So much Muar to eat

GO TO TOWN: Leave no food stall untested, no dish untasted with the ‘Impressions of Muar Travel Guide’

 

JOHOR BAHRU: IF you are  on a diet, please refrain from reading Impressions of Muar Travel Guide! I gained two kilogrammes during a three-week stint in Muar in April, and I blame it all on the book.

Yes, Muar is a food paradise, so much so that a travel guide on its food, sightseeing, accommodation, among others, was published.

The 160 pages point out the best places to eat, for halal and non-halal food.

This book and the abundant culinary offerings of Muar will show us just how inadequate our stomachs are, in terms of capacity.

With the addresses provided for each of the eateries and even pushcarts listed and a map of the royal town for direction, it is all too easy to follow the food trail.

After flipping through the guide, you will know that Muar is renowned for its mee bandung, satay, otak-otak, asam pedas, fried oyster omelette, mutton soup, wanton mee, fried kuey teow and chicken rice balls.

Even the list of simple tea break staples such as kaya toast, ais kacang and rojak is extensive.

A little aside for the first-time visitor to note is, most satay outlets are open from morning to lunchtime only. Perhaps one of you would care to ask these satay sellers why the grilled delicacy is not available at night, and let me know.

If cockles, prawns and fish cakes are the ingredients you expect to find in a plate of char kuey teow, let some of Muar's noodle masters delight with the extra ingredient in the dish -- otak-otak.

The food guide does not restrict itself to good food recommendations in town, it also points the way towards some of the more popular eateries in places such as Bukit Pasir, Parit Jawa, and even Tangkak. Tangkak was formerly a district of Muar, but is now considered a part of Ledang.

If you have developed "heatiness" or a sore throat after consuming too much grilled or fried goodies, don't worry.

The food guide also lists the places for herbal tea to cool your overheated body.

In fact, if you go to the pushcart herbal tea vendors in Jalan Haji Abu, known to the locals as Glutton Street, they would gladly recommend the correct herbal preparation for your particular ailment, although it could be the most bitter thing you could consume in Muar.

Impressions of Muar Travel Guide is published by Kuan Tan, who is the Muar Photographic Chamber of Commerce president.

To get a copy, call him at 012-338 5476.

Read more: So much Muar to eat - Johor - New Straits Times 
http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/so-much-muar-to-eat-1.380865#ixzz2iKHgML8J

Impressions of Muar ( New Strait Times Article ) 15th of October

GOOD IMPRESSIONS: The picturesque royal town gets its own coffee-table book

MUAR: AFTER George Town and Malacca, the next most photogenic spot in the peninsula is probably Muar.

The royal town in northwestern Johor, fronting the estuary of Sungai Muar, the main artery which meanders all around the district before joining the Straits of Malacca, boasts of a wide kaleidoscope of cultural and heritage scenes.

Despite its reputation as a pensioners' town, Muar has always been a lively spot.

Today, tourists visit Muar not only for its rich history, but also for its delicious food, famous coffee and picture-perfect scenes of its waterfront, sunsets and heritage buildings.

Muar-born Kuan Tan, 53, a professional photographer of 33 years, spent 16 of those years in Kuala Lumpur before deciding to return to work in his hometown.

He had developed a steady clientele in Muar during the years he had worked in the capital. Moreover, Muar's good food, fresh air and close-knit community were sounding a siren call that was increasingly hard for him to resist.

When he was voted the president of the Muar Photographic Chamber of Commerce in 2009, he thought of doing something useful for Muar while he still had the energy. However, he had no idea what to do.

After talking with his twin brother, Tan Son, he decided to use his skills to capture the best of Muar, for posterity, too.

Thus the idea to publish a book showcasing the charming and colourful aspects of the royal town was conceived.

"Frankly speaking, the undertaking of such a mammoth project was beyond my efforts.

"So I started by publishing the 40-page Impressions of Muar, as part of the chamber's annual magazine in 2009. It took me three weeks to complete the section which featured plenty of pictures and some articles about the chamber.

"The success served as an impetus for me to go bigger, which was to publish a book called Impressions of Muar," he said.

To get good quality pictures for the book, Tan said, the chamber organised a photography contest in 2010.

The best of the contest entries, together with photos contributed by Muar photographers, led to the publication of the book, which has some 1,000 photographs in five sections -- The Legends, The Uniqueness, True Lifestyle, Multiculturalism, and Attractions.

The published photographs were chosen from over 5,000 photographs submitted by the contestants and local photographers.

Tan's photographs account for about 8 per cent of the pictures in the book.

"We cover many aspects of the town in the book, which will make a fine souvenir to be presented to friends from other states and overseas.

"If you have yet to visit Muar, the book will prompt you to do so.

"And after you have visited the town, the book will serve to remind you of the visit, and perhaps even persuade you to make a second date with us," he added.

The English text in the trilingual book is provided by journalist Anthony Joseph.

To get a copy of Impressions of Muar, call Tan at 012-338 5476.

Read more: Muar than meets the eye - Johor - New Straits Times 
http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/muar-than-meets-the-eye-1.376384#ixzz2hlWWru3x

AGAIN: SPECIAL REPORT FOR "IMPRESSIONS OF MUAR"

AGAIN : SPECIAL REPORT FOR "IMPRESSIONS OF MUAR" - Muar than meets the eye
(THE NEW STRAITS TIMES NEWSPAPER, MALAYSIA: TUESDAY 15 OCT 2013)