Restoran Wan Li at Taiping (万里中西饭店）

Hainanese have been running a long history of business in food and beverage industry, ever since the Colonial times, where they served as cooks for the British or coffee shop operators. Authentic Hainanese restaurants are not easy to find these days, however Wan Li is one of them which are still operating today, ever since the year of 1997. 

1). Situated in the middle of Jalan Kota, same row with the famous Kok Beng Chicken Rice & Taiping Magistrate Court, easily missed the signboard if you're not closely looking on your left.

2). As lunch time approaching, the restaurant starting to be filled with local folks taking the economy rice from the front stall at the restaurant, makes you wondering whether you're in the right place for Hainanese food.

3). Looking closely at the menu at the side of the restaurant, there's the food we are looking for! You can have a choice of Chicken Chop or Pork Chop in Hainanese style or black pepper, at an affordable price!

4). The best drink to have in a hot sunny afternoon, is a cup of Iced Mocha Coffee, priced at RM2.00 per cup. The overflowing foam definitely excites your taste bud! And indeed it was simply nice but ordinary.

5). The highly anticipated Hainanese Chicken Chop has been served! It was topped with a brown gravy, filled with sliced onions, peas, carrots and not forgetting the potato fries. The meat itself doesn't tasted special, however it was marvelously paired with the gravy, which bring out the flavours, especially taking together with the sliced onions.

6). The chicken chop is made out of boneless chicken thigh and drumstick, marinated with herbs and spices, then pan fried into golden crispy and lastly topped with the signatured Hainanese gravy. Priced at RM7.00 per plate, and the portion was generous and it's a steal at such an affordable price!

7). The second dish we ordered was the Pork Chop in Hainanese style. The presentation was exactly resemble the chicken chop, except there were two thin slices of pork chop. In comparison, the pork one tasted a bit dried and the the portion was rather small. For the same amount of money, I'll rather place my bet the chicken.

8). Lastly we try out the traditional Spring Rolls, priced at RM2.50 each. The spring rolls were stuffed with minced meat, carrots and Chinese turnips, which renders the chunky taste; and there were wrapped around by a deep fried bean curd skin, which gives it the crunchiness. The rolls was served hot and crispy, freshly made from the oven. The other specialties at the restaurant which you can give them a try are dumplngs, lamb stew, and assam fish as well. It might not worth the drive to Taiping just for the chicken chop, however there are no better place around to try some authentic Hainanese cuisine.

Restoran Wan Li at Taiping (万里中西饭店）

Address : No.48, Jalan Kota, 34000 Taiping, Perak.

Tel. : 05-8086092, 019-5774616

Business hours : 8.00am - 3.30pm, 6.00pm - 10.00pm
                         (Closes on every fortnight of Tuesday)
GPS coordinates : N04 51.161 E100 44.557

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Arsenal vs Malaysia XI 2011

Arsenal, the English football club which I have been supporting since the arrival of the Arsene Wenger in 1996. As a supporter, I have been through ups-and-downs, live the life together with the beloved football club throughout these years. Finally, the time is right for me to fulfill the boyhood dream of watching Arsenal live in action, having missed it 12 years ago when they visited Malaysia for a friendly match, which Arsenal won 2-0.

1). Purchased my ticket online through Ticketpro, as soon as the tickets released on the midnight of 28/5/2011. The ticket for the match was received few days later, together with the training pass, which is held on the 12/7/2011.

2). This is a grandstand ticket for the match on 13/7/2011. The seat allocated is 6 row from the front, hope I can get some clear view of Arsenal players.

3). Here I am, in the venue Bukit Jalil National Stadium, where the match between Arsenal and Malaysia XI take place later on at 8.45pm. It took me an hour just to reach the car park, ouch! The security was tight too, been scanned right at the entrance for 3 times by 3 different persons. Come on, we ain't gonna bomb our heroes!

4). Counting down the moment when history unfold itself, as Arsenal kicks off against Malaysia national team for the third time in history.

5). An Arsenal mascot arrive onto the scene to bring the spirit and atmosphere to the ground.

6). The first Arsenal man to hitch out the stadium is none other than the Arsenal manager, Mr Arsene Wenger himself, a.k.a. The Professor. In Arsene We Trust!

7). One and a half hour before the match, several Arsenal players suddenly emerged onto the field to greet the thousands of fans out there, namely Jack Wilshere, Vito Mannone, Emmanuel Frimpong and Theo Walcott.

8). Right before the kick off, both teams were out of the tunnel for warming up. Arsenal team was led by Thomas Vermaelen, the stand-in captain in the absence of Cesc Fabregas.

9). The players are warming up in groups. 

10). The players returning to dressing room after warming up, with Marouane Chamakh and Andrei Arshavin seen in the picture.

11). The starting line up for Arsenal (from left to right) : Thomas Vermaelen (Captain), Wojciech Szczęsny (Goalkeeper), Ryo Miyaichi, Aaron Ramsey, Marouane Chamakh, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Carl Jenkinson, Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, and Theo Walcott.

12). Just look at the reception of the hungry fans in the house!

13). Jack Wilshere (No.19) winning a penalty as early as 4th minute in the first half, after he was tripped by a Malaysian defender.

14). Aaron Ramsey (No.16) scores from the spot kick, to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute of the game. The first half finished 2-0 to Arsenal, where Theo Walcott doubled Arsenal's lead with a beautiful volley over the Malaysian Goalkeeper.

15). The second half kicks off with Arsenal substituting almost the whole team. Players who came on were Vito Mannone (Goalkeeper), Carl Jenkinson, Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Armand Traore, Tomas Rosicky (Captain), Denilson, Emmanuel Frimpong, Aaron Ramsey, Ryo Miyaichi and Carlos Vela. 

16). The Malaysia Tigers were awarded a free kick inside the penalty box. Thanks to the substitute goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who was penalized for time wasting. But the Malaysian failed to capitalised the only chance to score that night.

17). There are four players still not appear onto the field, which are Robin van Persey, Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Andrei Arshavin (from left to right), who had been warming up on the side ever since the second half kicks off. The score was 3-0 to Arsenal, after Carlos Vela beautifully chipped into the Malaysian net.

18). This is it! The moment we all have been waiting for! With 20 minutes left in the game, Arsene finally made a quadruple substitutions, which delighted the fans after waiting for the whole night. Player who came off were Carl Jenkinson, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, and Ryo Miyaichi. In which Denilson furiously stormed into the tunnel after he was substituted.

19). The final score was 4-0 to Arsenal, where Rosicky scored in the stoppage time after blasting home from a fine pass from Arshavin. A scoreline which would cheer the Arsenal fans, as well as Arsene Wenger, where his team won the match easily and no player was injured during the match.

20). Thank you Arsenal and the players for giving us an unforgettable and memorable night for the visiting fans, from all across the South East Asia. We love you all and hope to watch you guys again in near future, please don't let us wait another 12 years. Live to be a fan of Arsenal, die to be a ghost at Emirates!

23 Men Arsenal Squad

Goalkeepers                                                           Midfielders

53). Wojciech Szczęsny                                        14). Theo Walcott

24). Vito Mannone                                                   17). Alex Song

                                                                                16). Aaron Ramsey

Defenders                                                               19). Jack Wilshere

3). Bacary Sagna                                                    8). Samir Nasri

5). Thomas Vermaelen                                           7). Tomas Rosicky

6). Laurent Koscielny                                              15). Denilson

28). Kieran Gibbs                                                    35). Emmanuel Frimpong

25). Carl Jenkinson                                                 42). Ryo Miyaichi

18). Sebastien Squillaci 

20). Johan Djourou                                                 Forwards

30). Armand Traore                                                10). Robin van Persey
                                                                                29). Marouane Chamakh

                                                                                23). Andrei Arshavin

                                                                                11). Carlos Vela

Arsenal vs Malaysia XI
Date : 13/07/2011 (Wednesday)
Venue : Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
Time : 8.45pm

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