I took Heidi to Jalan Alor this evening….for the food but also for her reaction to this unique street in Kuala Lumpur.
During the day, Jalan Alor is just an ordinary street, but when the sun sets it is transformed to an epicurean playground. Tables and chair, food stalls, rotisseries, lanterns, hawker stands, vegetables stands….they are all pushed out onto the street and crowds of people come to feast. It is really hard to describe Jalan Alor in words, you need to experience it.
Heidi had no idea what to expect…I just told her it was a great place to fill your belly. We get out of the cab and immediately we are welcomed with the scent of durian fruit. Durian is a large, prickly fruit considered a delicacy to many but to most they are one of the most odiferous, foul smelling objects on this planet of ours. They smell a lot like rotting garbage mixed with sweaty socks. Anthony Bourdain calls it “indescribable, something you will either love or despise…Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.” Mmmmmmm, makes you want to chomp right into one!
Those of you who know Heidi can imagine the look on her face when she was barraged with this foul odor….it was priceless. But she is quite the trooper and deeper into Jalan Alor we went. Chinese lanterns overhead, music blaring, people everywhere, cooking smells, true sensory overload. We finally decided on a spot….Heidi ordered satay chicken with peanut sauce and a bowl of rice. I ordered black pepper crab (fresh, as in alive just prior to cooking), rice and stir-fried garlic vegetables. We washed it down with Tiger Beer! DELICIOUS!!!!! Even Heidi had to agree, it was the best meal yet.
Our Adventures 
Not sure about the surroundings (laundry hanging from the balcony) but the food looked delicious!
All part of the ambiance, Becky…all part of the ambiance!!!!
Please bring home 2 monkeys for the boys! That might wear them out for a while!
Hmmmm, I think the boys would have no trouble wearing out all the monkeys and still not be ready for bed!!
We are going to live this adventure with you. 😊 Thanks for the stories and updates! Mandi
Mandy,
Tell Veronica that I’m experimenting making Durian Cheesecake….should have it perfected by the time she visits….this may be my best one yet!
Bob
Reading your posts reminds me of a National Geographic episode. Very vivid writing and excellent pictures. Have you ever thought of teaching a writing course? 🙂 Keep them coming!
WordPress allows me to highlight using Green, Yellow, and Red. It won’t even let me post until I have at least 3 reds for every yellow!!
Look for the driving post soon….I’m scared to death of these roads.
I can’t believe my brother let them boil the live crab and then ate it. I remember in Florida that once you saw us put live crab in boiling water with the faint squeal they make, you would not eat them. And you even bought me that crab trap….good memories.
I’ve lost all empathy for those delicious crustaceans…when it come to a crab feast I’m a rather callous guy.
I had forgotten about the Florida crab cooking episode!
No rain so far…but smokey…major slash burning going on in Sumatra…skies are all hazy. Cough, cough, wheeze.
Again, what an adventure. I can just imagine Heidi’s face when she got out of the cab, I would have done the same thing. Thanks for all the pictures, they are wonderful and make us here at home feel like we are right there with you. Keep up the awesome posts, I know I for one absolutely love reading your stories, they are great.
And Ellen….the adventure is just beginning….stay tuned for more.
Hmmmmm… I think I will still bring a suitcase of protein bars.
Don’t fret, Allie…..they have Durian flavored protein bars for sale Everywhere!!!
Ahhhh the smell of durian on the evening air……..even that wouldn’t deter us from enjoying every last morsel of that crab! It looks delicious. After your death defying street crossings and all the other “monkeying” around you’ve done a good meal was well deserved.
Keep the stories coming,
Gregg and Nanci
Greg,
I think you would rather like this place…but your motorcycle would have trouble weaving in and out between the cars….just too darn big.
Bob-