Kick-start 2022 with Pak John Steamboat and BBQ located in IOI City Mall

I have always enjoyed steamboat and grill/bbq meal, after being influenced by Fiza and the gang. My favourite when attending to this type of restaurant is the marinated meat and more then often I will riuh for the beef, then can attest to this. When I was informed by Genie to sample Pak John Steamboat and BBQ located in IOI City Mall, Putrajaya I was basically screaming. The fact that I can have a plus one was even better… good food must be enjoyed with your loved ones kan. So I brought my sistah!

For video, click HERE.

With the pandemic still on going, the country (and world) is coming to the 3^rd year experiencing the pandemic way of living, I believe many of us is kinda tired eating and cooking daily. You guys come here for a weekend treat or to celebrate joyous occasion with loved ones. Come here early then spend good bonding time here, feed your soul and tummy so they said.

Here is a few tips that I must share…
1. HALAL! They are halal certified since 2015.
2. Pak John Steamboat and BBQ is located on the Ground Floor facing OUTSIDE (I almost sesat looking for the restaurant hehehhe…)
3. It can get quite pack so do come early (I believe it’s a favourite among the Putrajaya folks)
4. I love marinated beef so I will suggest for you guys to try them ALL (they came in a few flavor - Black Peppers Beef, Honey Beef, Ginger)

5. You can also add on unmarinated meat – beef, chicken and lamb.

6. Oh yah! Dim sum is available too (for those very hungry few and can’t wait for their food to be grilled/steamboated [is there even such word?!?)
7. They also have cooked food such as friend rice, noodle, sausages, cucuq and etc – nasi goring is super sedap. Tak tipu.
8. Sauces! They have so many… watch THIS VIDEO if you are in doubt.
9. Soup? As usual… plenty of choices : Tomyam Soup, Miso Soup,Chicken Soup to name a few
You must come here with a few friends or family members baru syok!

What a surprise!

Student Prices - Pak John Steamboat and BBQ has a special prices for students. Apa tunggu lagi *wink*
Kid-friendly - All kids aged under 5 eat for free!
Birthday Special – Jom celebrate birthday here as there provide free waffle to the birthday boy/girl.

What are you waiting for, kick-start 2022 with a hearty meal from Pak John Steamboat and BBQ.

 
Pak John Steamboat and BBQ
GE-11, Ground Floor
IOI City Mall
Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya
Website : https://www.pakjohn.com/

Operating Hours
Daily : 10am – 10pm

Dabus | An Art of Self Defence Performance

How INTERESTING!!!

Dabus of which I have always thought is a musical art is an art of self defence (well, art lah jugak kan), based on the concept of heroism (kepahlawanan… is this translation accurate?). I bet many of you are wondering, tang mana yang heroismnya kan (wondered the same too)?

Apparently, for one to learnt/marter dabus it requires intelligence, agility and bravery among others. Dabus existing for more than 300 years ago in Perak and has seen migrated to other part of Tanah Melayu/Malaysia. In Perak, it expanded to Setiawan and Bagan Datoh of which eventually reach Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar and Kuala Selangor. It said that Dabus was brought to Tanah Melayu by Ahmad Mahyuddin who is from Persia (Baghdad) in 1785, and that he was the student of Muhammad Abil Hassan al-Rifai. Other school of thoughts theory is that Dabus was brought here via Aceh in Indonesia.

This part is intriguing - it was used to train soldiers for battles back then. Remember I said that I thought it was merely and musical art, well I learnt during this Rentak Selangor trip, a Dabus dancer or player (referred to) uses ‘anak dabus’ or ‘dabus’s son’ of ‘son of dabus’ made of sharp iron. Usually in Dabus, players not only use ‘anak dabus’, the also uses other sharp weapon to provoke and showcase the prowess of the dabus player. Weapon used are basically keris (the Malay daggers), daggers, axes and a few other sharp weapon.

What we often see are the dabus performance and not the self defence art. The traditional performance combines 3 art forms ie singing, dance and art of self defence. And in self defence performance, it is a norm to see players use the sharp weapon to “slice/poke” the own body parts (usually arm).

Dabus style of singing is called berzanji or/and marhaban and the instruments used are gong, rebana and gendang. A Dabus group consist of 22 performers/ players including namely musical instrument players and dancers. There are four types of dance moves called 'susun sireh', 'ayam tajak', and 'helang sewah'. Each dancer holds a pair of ‘anak dabus’ while dancing, and dancers’ moves are according to the music.

As the music started to get upbeat, the dancers will “slide/poke” the ‘anak dabus’ onto their arms, this act is supposedly done when the dancer is in trance. Amazing, once the performance is over, those injured will be restored by the leader of the group.

Rentak Selangor Fam Trip is in collaboration with UPENS (Unit Perancangan Negeri Selangor), Tourism #Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel as media coordinator.

#RentakSelangor #KitaSelangor #UPENSelangor #MediaSelangor #PusingSelangorDulu #MKNS #PMNS

Balle Balle Group from Kampung Api Api, Kuala Selangor

I was introduced to this Balle Balle Group from Kampung Api Api in Kuala Selangor few years back and I was immediately intrigued and fell in love with their sound. I was hoping I get to watch them perform again and how lucky can I be when I saw Rentak Selangor 2021 will be inviting them to perform. So, writing about them is must lah kan, if kita tak promote music kita then siapa lagi. Betul tak?

What I find amazing was that they invented the percussion instrument called Balle Balle, honestly I am not sure whether similar percussion existed in other part of the world but this is the first and only one I ever saw lah. This balle balle is made out of what looks like a tree branch with flattened bottle caps attached to the string, that is tied to the both end of the branch. What sound does it make? Well…. Like many tambourine being played simultaneously. I personally feel the music is very beach-santai kinda thing. Having said that, Balle Balle Group type of song is suitable for fast and slow tempo.

Encik Isnain Abd Rahim, is the multi-talented guy behind Balle Balle Group. Having visited over 30 countries such as Germany, Spain, Bangladesh and many more just to get fresh new ideas and learnt local folk song of the world. He formed the group Balle Balle that consist 6 players playing instruments ie. Bongo, Timbalis, Accordian, Violin, Double bass, Guitar and of course Balle Balle.

The other thing that made Balle Balle Group unique is that they wear tudung saji (traditional Malay food cover) as their headgear, batik sarong, colourful shirts, and last but not least terompah or wooden clogs completing their stage attire.

Song that I feel and enjoyed with their instruments will be Sway by Michael Bubble, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, Bubbly sung by Colbie Caillat… you get me don’t you.

Isnain Bin Abd Rahim (Wak Nin)
Pusat Kesenian Balle Balle
L3-25, Times 89, Business Plaza
Taman Seri Sentosa, Jalan Klang Lama
Kuala Lumpur

Mobile : +6019-281 4535
Email : isnain52@gmail.com

Rentak Selangor Fam Trip is in collaboration with UPENS (Unit Perancangan Negeri Selangor), Tourism #Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel as media coordinator.

#RentakSelangor #KitaSelangor #UPENSelangor #MediaSelangor #PusingSelangorDulu #MKNS #PMNS

Ronggeng Dance | A Controversial Dance Art

Mindblown.

Seriously I knew nothing with regards to Main Ronggeng or Ronggeng dance/performance until I see and was later explained by En. Nazmi. I remember telling myself I must write about Ronggeng as I have not touch this topic before nor do I know nuts lah kan (obviously). I googled and briefly read thru what is Ronggeng but couldn’t find much info, hence info from En. Nazmi was much appreciated. I do need to put a caveat here that Ronggeng is not originated from Selangor but Selangor is one of the places where it expanded its reach.

Here’s the thing, as far as I know (probably main of us too) is that the word ‘Ronggeng’ has always be associated with bad connotation, I believe movie and media played a role in this too. We always thought that it has to do with ‘bad or club girls that entertain men’, boy was I wrong. So I figure, let’s educate and create awareness on Ronggeng dance/performance.

I was told that the origin of Ronggeng is from Java in Indonesia where couple dance to rebab/violin music, starts with Tarian Melayu (slow pace Malay Dance), Tarian Inang (up tempo dance) and followed by Tarian Joget (quick tempo dance). Form my experience, the song sung was poetic/berpantun and the foot step is in accordance to the tempo with coordinated hand movement. The instruments that accompanied this dance are rebab or violin and a gong. The female dancers are dresses in bright kebaya labuh with a flower on their sanggul (hair bun), whilst men in baju melayu, sampin and songkok.

Desktop research stated that ‘female professional dancers are expected to invite some male audiences or clients to dance with them as a couple with the exchange of some tips money for the female dancer, given during or after the dance (base on Wikipedia).’ However, in verbatim-during the event it was said that the men will invite the lady dancers to, no touching and sexual innuendo are allowed.

Ronggeng is made popular in Southern Thailand and the Strait States namely Penang, Melaka and Singapore. As the we assimilate, Ronggeng has become part of the Malay culture and Ronggeng Melayu (or Malay Ronggeng) became a popular social dance, it is usually performed on Ronggeng stage (dance floow) at amusement parks back in the 1930s and 1940s. Infact, I remember my mom and aunts often talk about the famous BB Park in Kuala Lumpur being THE place to socialise as it has dance hall for cabaret, boxing ring, stage shows, theatres, restaurants and many more, and was closed in the 1970s.

I believe we need to preserve the art of Ronggeng for our younger generation, and effort that need to be undertook by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, our Art School and relevant parties in order to elevate it internationally.

Rentak Selangor Fam Trip is in collaboration with UPENS (Unit Perancangan Negeri Selangor), Tourism #Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel as media coordinator.

#RentakSelangor #KitaSelangor #UPENSelangor #MediaSelangor #PusingSelangorDulu #MKNS #PMNS