The trip to Bahau, Negeri Sembilan

I spontaneously got myself invited to one of my university senior's wedding at a place called Bahau. Bahau where? I asked that same question to my long time friend Ang PY when he came from Penang to Klang to head down there together. All both of us got was a not so reliable address, even less reliable Google Map and a whole lot of heart.

I had an idea to make this trip even better, I suggested we eat all the way down, from Klang to Bahau. And that is exactly what we did!

We first hit Qi Xiang Restaurant at Taman Eng Ann, Klang to savour upon Klang's infamous delicacy- Bah Kut Teh. Sipping on heavenly herb thicken gravy, biting on those sinfully succulent pork, top off with fragrant rice and yao cha kue, was an unforgiving taste bud pampering.

We almost forgot that we just had a heavy meal just minutes before when order our self some Klang famous Mee Hoon Kuih (a type of flour based hand kneaded noodles) @ Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House, Taman Berkely, Klang. To stand there waiting for seats and still drooling without your food after seating for a long period of time is a norm. Our waiting was later paid off with a bowl of tenderly bouncy thin Mee Hoon Kuih, bathed in  sweet fragrant anchovies soup, and garnished with pork lungs, succulent pork meat, and crispy fried anchovies. I would not mind come here and wait all over again.

With our stomach heavily filled. We next head to Seremban to continue with our next chapter of food hunting. Frustratingly, Google map failed me again. We missed the exit we suppose to exit out from the highway. Plus my decision to take instruction from my friend and his outdated GPS, cost us an extra 30 minutes before we manage to met with some of our Seremban's friends. 

Nevertheless, our frustration was soon cooled off with some fantastic Seremban cendol @ Haji Shariff Cendol Restaurant, Jalan Yam Tuan, Seremban. What I find Haji Shariff's cendol different from other cendol was that its red bean was salty. For me, the saltiness of the red bean, coupled with the sweetness of its condensed milk and Gula Melaka, was a perfect mixture for an unforgettable dessert. Me slurped down two bowl of them further proves how good they are! If red bean is not your thing, try their nasi pulut cendol which are equally delicious.  Haji Shariff Restaurant do serve rojak for those that crave for a spicy munch.

No Seremban food trip is completed without one delicacy-  Seremban Siew Pau! Our local friends guided us to some place further away form the city center- where you usually get the real local good food. We knew this was the right place where the scent of freshly bake Siew Pau can be sensed since we got down from our car. Another concrete prove was when our friends swept clean of their shelf of egg tarts once they enter the shop! Siew Pau @ Kedai Siew Pau Asia @ Siew Pow Master is guarantee fresh with their filling generously oozing out right in front of us. Because of my still heavily filled stomach. I decided to get only two piece- one pork filled, one chicken filled- for the road. 

After 20 minutes of loud chit chat standing in front of the siew pau bakery, we said our goodbyes and continue on to Bahau. I want to take this chance to thank Wing, Pei Chee, Yuan Yuan and Cheok Hoong for their hospitality and their company, our Seremban short food trip is made sweeter with you guys! We then leave Seremban town, for another hour plus of driving before we reach Bahau, passing through a few towns along the way. On the way to Kuala Pilah, the scent of those alluring Siew Pau get the best out of me. I then tried to perform the dangerous stunt of eating Siew Pau on one hand, driving on the other. If you saw one dude driving a black car, eating Siew Pau and shouting frantically 'DELICIOUS! DELICIOUS!' on the road from Seremban to Kuala Pilah. I am sorry for the crazy behaviour and be sure to see more of it when I hit Seremban for its Siew Pau again! Haha! 

The great thing about road trips was those accidentally stumbled upon magnificent jewel of a place. There was one along the way from Kuala Pilah town to Bahau. A grand restaurant situated in front of a lush green paddy field. We took this chance to enjoy the view, snap some photos and took some rest before heading out. Such randomness is what kept any road trips interesting. You'll never know what you'll find next.

Then we reach Bahau. The town flourished by early Chinese settlers looking for tin ore. A typical Malaysian town with their mixed demography and a concentrated town center. Traffic was smooth and we bypass the town in minutes heading to our destination at Kampung Mahsan. 

After getting lost between confusing numbered house and countless dead ends, we reached our destination slightly later that we had plan. There in front of us, FOOD!  The twist separating this buffet from other wedding buffet was that everything was vegetarian. We were served a variety of delicious vegetarian dishes, tang shui and orange juice. I come here expecting a refreshing brew but there is none. Understandably because the host family was a devote buddist and maintained a full vegetarian lifestyle. Nevertheless I  enjoyed the food especially the fu chuk drummet and those vegetarian style fried mi hoon and noddles, flooded with generous amount of curry gravy. 

The best part of the buffet was when they started serving variety of cake rolls and wedding pastry. My hand was busily keeping up with what my taste bud wants, holding one lemon cream roll on one hand, one lotus paste wedding pastry on the other. Trust me they are good!

The night went on good with a lot of jokes, photo taking and meeting new friends, until the time when all the girls (Chi Mui) had a round table discussion. To conspire what obstacle to test the groom before he take the bride. From here on, the atmosphere turned devilish. Every girl pitching in passionately on how to test the groom, from brushing with sambal to drinking bitter gourd juice. While every man sits far away to prevent themselves getting involve in the grand scheme, believing pay back will be paid worst when it is our turn to be the groom.   

The night ended with the girls still unsatisfied with their plan (thinking they could do more), and the guys- happy- because our eyelids had already weigh 10 tons. We spent the night in one of the rented house with me and my friend shared one room with three other girls. The girls suddenly pop the question that 'Don't you guys feel happy that you get to share rooms with us three girls?' Me and my friend jokingly answered 'It makes no sense when we are not sharing the same bed!' hahahahahhaha! We five went on having some awkward pillow talk, playing jokes and laughs. In the end I only manage to get 4 hours of sleep. I woke up feeling like a zombie.

We arrived early to the bride's house to help set up and welcome the groom entourage. While them girls prepared to execute all their scheme and plan to test the groom. 

Sambal brushing!!!!!!!!

I had no idea what this is but yucks!!!!

Thankfully, no matter how disgusting, or how hard the test is, love prevails. The groom entourage pass through them effortlessly with some individual brilliance and some unsportsmanlike action to compensate for the ladies scheming. There was this funny action by the groom entourage to spill the pail filled with ice water, salt and the key to house (hidden among 10 other keys) where the girls require the groom to pick it out by using only their toes. 

The whole test last for almost an hour before the bride burst into tears seeing his groom covered in sweat and through hardship to get to her. Love was indeed, the word of the day. After some traditional ceremony of praying, tea offering, and walking around the house. We head to the groom's place. 

 We drove for almost 45 minutes on a long and winding road. Passing through palm plantation, small towns and to my surprise- the border of Negeri Sembilan and Pahang- to arrive at groom's house up at a hill at the small town of Kemayan, Pahang. Sad to say that this was my last stop of this trip as I need to head back home before the day ends. We had a light lunch, took tons of photos, wish the bride and groom well and finally say our goodbyes.

I go there to celebrate love and celebrate I did. I drove home with a renewed believe that love can truly triumph over any evil and prevail over any obstacles. I thank both the bride and groom that celebrated love with me. 

Here are some photos of the day.

Pose for the night!

Meeting friends!

Fuee Shen, the cheerful, carefree and always happy bride!

May you be blessed with countless happiness and thousands  laughter! Happy wedding! 

All photos use with permission of Ang PY. 

Live Well People,

Shian