Lion

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

A.O. Scott said in his NY Times review: “If you have ever been a child, raised a child, lost a child or met a child – or any of the above with respect to a mother – this movie will wreck you.” Well, it did me.

The movie opens with the most haunting musical score accompanying the rolling landscape of Tasmania, which eventually switches to some rocky hills in India. Five year old Saroo is surrounded by butterflies, exactly how a child should be enjoying and experiencing nature and life.

Saroo and Guddu earns enough money that day to buy some milk but Saroo wants some jalebi, which his brother promises to get him some soon. They leave for home. Every step of the way - past the bridge, through the fields and finally through the small alleys to their tiny home - is significant.

Saroo could never imagine his insistence on following Guddu to his night work would change the course of his life forever. When they get to the train station, he has fallen fast asleep so Guddu tells him to stay there till he comes back. Saroo wakes up to an empty train platform. He steps into the lone train, still searching for his brother but falls asleep in it. By the time he wakes up again, the train has travelled miles away. He screams for his brother but no Guddu and no one to help him. Because the train has been decommissioned.

1600 miles away. That’s how far he will travel from home on the train. In Calcutta, he gets no help in the train station even among the ocean of people. He didn’t speak Bengali, only Hindi and people were too impatient or busy to help him. The only one who showed a tiny bit of sympathy was another street child who gave him a piece of cardboard to sleep on.

That was short-lived as the children are snatched up. Saroo runs and runs until he comes to a temple. He next meets Nur, who seems nice enough, feeding him food, giving him a bath and a bed to sleep on. But that too was short-lived because she had bad intentions for Saroo. His instincts told him to run. So he does. He runs and runs again. For the next two months, he fends for himself on the street. He sleeps on a cardboard under a bridge, often dreaming of his ‘a-mi’ (mum) and hunts for food among the trash during the day. Among the trash, he finds a spoon and pockets it.

This spoon leads to a good Samaritan which leads Saroo to an orphanage and eventually to his new adopted parents, Sue and John in Australia. The first year was blissful. The next year, his parents adopted another boy from India, Mantosh. This boy has obviously been scarred. He is a total opposite of Saroo, and will continue to cause his mother heartache.

20 years later and Saroo is going away to study hotel management. He is invited to a friend’s home and here a plate of jalebi brings his memories back. He tells his friends, “I’m not from Calcutta. I am lost.” They tell him about Google Earth and he could possibly find his family in India. During this same time, he also meets and falls in love with Lucy. For the next four years, he becomes more obsessed with the search for his family, with the help of Google Earth and fueled by the constant visions of his mother and Guddu. The visions start to consume him and affects his everyday life. He pushes Lucy away and eventually his parents too.

When he meets Lucy again, she tells him that his mother is very ill and she needs him. He eventually goes to see his mum and finds out the real reason his mother adopted him and Mantosh. He was wrong. And torn. He goes to see his brother and apologizes to him for his outburst that one night, “You’re not my brother! We are different.” Perhaps, they are not so different after all. The past haunts them both.

He then goes home and starts ripping off all the work he has made. One last time, he scrolls Google Earth. Lo and behold, he finds those rocky hills from 25 years ago. Then the railway station with the two water tower. He continues to trace the railway tracks until it takes him to the town, and the bridge, and open field and finally the alley to his home. Tears stream down his face. He found home.

He tells Lucy the good news and asks that she waits for him. And tells his mother he has been searching for his family. She tells him she hopes he finds her, his mum. Thus begins his journey home. He traces his steps from the town, where he got hit by a motorcycle carrying watermelon, to the bridge, and the open field and finally the alley to his home. But it’s no longer a home. Only dwelling for goats. He’s dismayed. A passerby asked if he could help. He shows him his picture as a child and tells him he’s Saroo. He is looking for his family. The man does not say another word but just walks off. Saroo was annoyed but walks the same direction and finally see the man who gestures for him to ‘Come.’. He does though a little hesitant at first. In the distance, he sees an elderly lady.

This is a poignant moment in the movie. When Saroo finally finds his mother and they embrace.A touching reunion. The whole town comes out to celebrate his return. Sadly, Guddu is no longer alive. There are no words to describe this scene. If it doesn’t tug at your heartstring for even a moment, then your heart has to be made out of stone.

Lion was my favorite movie at last year’s HIFF. I vowed to watch this movie again when it came to the theaters. Today, I finally did so. And it still made me cry. There are many heart wrenching scenes in this movie but I particularly like the one of Saroo and Sue by the bathtub. Watch the movie and you’ll understand why.

Trailer here. 

Shivaay

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

It is no surprise that a Hindi movie made me cry. They normally do. But it is surprising because this is not the first Bollywood movie I've watched at HIFF. It’s the third. I don’t easily break down in face of anything, but sad movies usually do the trick. And this is day ten and over ten movies later. I shed a tear or two watching Mahana but nothing like the tears in this movie. What’s more? Shivaay is supposed to be an action-packed thriller!

The movie opens with Ajay Devgan, portraying Shivaay, in anguish and pain. No dialogue just his acting and the doll that give viewers the idea that perhaps this is a father who has lost his child. In his view are three men on the ground. If the synopsis I have read had touched on this, I may have been more prepared for the impending emotional roller-coaster ride. However, that would perhaps have given too much of the movie away.

The next frame takes us to the stunning snowy Himalayas. And Ajay Devgan takes us on an exciting adventure on the slopes of the mountains. The music by Mithoon helps viewers feel the thrilling experience of the scene - it wouldn’t be a good Bollywood movie without good music. I felt like the director, Devgan himself, would like us to liken Shivaay to the Hindu deity, Shiva, which will be reinforced a few scenes later by the tattoos on his body.

So Shivaay is a mountaineer who takes tourists on treks and climbing expeditions on the Himalayan mountains. On one of these expeditions, he meets beautiful Olga (played by Polish actress, Erika Kaar), a student from Bulgaria, who speaks I thought almost flawless Hindi. Their first meeting was funny but reminds us not to assume someone does not speak or understand your language just because they are a foreigner.

It is obvious there is instant attraction between Shivaay and Olga though I had no idea discussions surrounding Shiva could be that sensual. Maybe just in a movie? Their tumble in a well-padded tent down the mountain is probably one of the most romantic scene I’ve seen for awhile (though I don’t normally watch this genre) if one could actually survive an avalanche that way.

From the beginning, they are aware of their differences and Olga is honest by telling Shivaay she will not stay back in India. Amidst this is the most beautiful line in the story, professed by Shivaay, “let’s not measure time by weeks or days but by breathes.” Anyway, every day they share together shows Olga embracing the culture and lifestyle more. If we think that means she stays, we think wrong. She is determined to leave so when she finds out she is pregnant, she is upset and wants to abort the child. Shivaay begs her to give him half a family if he can’t have the whole he has always wished for.

Fast forward nine years to Shivaay and Gaura climbing in the Himalayas. Gaura is a splitting image of Olga. There is no mistaken the love this father has for his child. Tears keep streaming down my face as they showed the beautiful, happy scenes of this pair together but thinking that he may lose her in the end is what’s paining me. Nothing seems to be able to shatter their bond and happiness until Gaura finds the letter her mother left behind. This little girl is fierce like her mother, by the way and causes her father quite a headache so Shivaay caves. They will go to Sofia to look for her mother.

Bulgaria is going to be anything but peaceful like their life in the Himalayas. The dangers of the mountains will not prepare them for the dangers that awaits them in a new country. Shivaay saves a child from a pedophile, thus involuntarily plunging himself into the world of human trafficking. In retaliation, the syndicate kidnaps Gaura. What does a father do in such circumstance? Fight to get his daughter back though most fathers are no superhero like Shivaay. He leaves behind destruction all over Sofia in chase of the kidnappers.

He loses the kidnappers and comes face to face with the police. His biggest problem is the police thinks he is the kidnapper because no one believes Gaura, who looks caucasian, is his daughter. He is charged with kidnapping and murder. Shivaay breaks out of prison and begins his hunt for his daughter. He tries to enlist the help of Anu (Sayesha Saigal), an officer from the Indian embassy but she asks him to surrender. Her father’s coaxing and Shivaay’s saving of a Serbian girl eventually convince her to help him.

Olga sees the news and seeks out Anu. Together with Shivaay, they enlist the help of Wahab, a hacker to help trace the kidnappers. Every time Shivaay thinks he is closer to Gaura, he is faced with heartbreak. They finally identify the mastermind, Changez, a police officer. But no time to chase him now. Gaura is in a van heading for Romania. Once the van crosses the border, he will no longer be able to save his daughter. Despite short cuts through the mountains, Shivaay does not make it in time.

Does a superhero dad gives up? No, he finds mountaineering gear in the back of the truck and proceeds to use his mountaineering skills to finally rescue his daughter. The reunion is short-lived as Changez and his goons starts shooting at them from a helicopter and on the ground. The father is subdued and he begs for his daughter to run. Another tear-jerking scene that brought tears to pour down my face.

As expected, Shivaay would eventually overcome Changez. And viewers are reunited with the opening scene where Shivaay collapses. He wakes up in the hospital, asking for Gaura. Anu takes him to Gaura, who is excited to see her father but also excited to show him the room of teddy bears Olga, now married to a wealthy man, has bought her.

Besides losing a child, what hurts a father more? The child’s mother who has abandoned your child coming back after eight years wanting to not only be a part of her life but to tear her away from you? Perhaps. But I think what hurts more is when you see that you are not only replaced by all the luxury the mother can provide but another man that could replace you as her father, as your daughter ignores you for this man.

The scene cuts to Shivaay at the airport with Anu. He has decided to leave for India without Gaura. Anu tries to comfort him though it sounds more like a confession of her heart. He is about to go through immigration when Gaura’s shrill shriek that we have come to be accustomed to stops him. The little girl is very upset. How dare her father leave without her. She fiercely puts him in his place and brings him to his knees. A happy ending.

The action in this movie is amazing. Sometimes unrealistic but not surprising if Shivaay is being compared to Shiva. The most annoying thing about action movies is when the protagonist gets beat up to a pulp when he was just doing all the pummeling earlier or later. Well, it happens here too for a little towards the end. But the end to the fight sequence somewhat makes up for it.

This movie has its flaws but the panoramic view of the Himalayas, the heart-warming love between father and daughter, and the plug against human trafficking makes this movie a must watch for me.

Trailer here. 

Bittersweet

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

How much do I like this movie? So much that I couldn’t wait to write about it. It is a delightfully sweet and funny film.

Maki is a busy marketing/ad coordinator who hates vegetables with a passion. Her co-workers shake their heads at her everyday unhealthy diet of some jello concoction. So what happens when she meets Nagisa, an utterly good-looking vegetarian? Maki is instantly smitten of course. So would most women. Who would turn down a good-looking man who not only does not mind cleaning up all your mess but also is the most wonderful cook, dishing out heavenly, delicious food. I know I wouldn’t! So did Maki. Only problem is….

He is gay!

Maki does not give up easily. She blackmails Nagisa into making her his roommate. He doesn’t have a choice but has one simple rule: she eats everything he cooks. Thus begin Maki’s journey of rediscovering her taste bud and learning about life through Nagisa. His cooking is so good she forgets she’s not eating any meat. He teaches her life lessons (that I’m totally loving too): “Cook all your bitterness away to help you grow” or “Relax, chill and let your charm stew in the pot for some time” (may not be exact words, but you get the idea).

Of course Maki still harbors feelings for Nagisa but he never caves. Their situation becomes more complicated when Arata, Nagisa’s hippie friend and possible lover comes back from India for a visit. Through Arata, Maki finds out that Nagisa is still having a hard time letting go of his brother who has passed away. Nagisa, on the other hand, finds out the reason Maki hates vegetables.

One day, Nagisa makes Maki the barley tea sent by her farmer father to help comfort her. He throws in one of his word of wisdoms, “Like the taste of the barley tea, you can’t ever forget the taste of home” and so they make the journey to Maki’s home. The comedy goes through the roof in the next few scenes – unbelievably funny. After the family dinner, Maki passes out while Nagisa decides to make his way back to the city. She is awaken by Arata’s text message and chases after Nagisa in a motorcycle. Love this scene – it’s not every day that you see a girl in kimono riding a motorcycle. She manages to convince him to go visit his brother’s grave for the first time.    

The food in this film is wonderfully presented. Maki demonstrates this with her exclamations as she eats the food. Audience hears, sees and can almost smell the food Nagisa prepares.  

I’m sure Maki was not the only one wishing that Nagisa would somewhat change his preference. Majority of folks in the audience were probably rooting for a romantic ending. The the title of the movie, however, should sum it up for us.

Do watch this movie if you get the chance. It’s certainly not to be missed. HIFF is adding an extra showing this Sunday so hopefully you can make it to one of the screenings.  

Link to trailer.

The Bait

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

Where do I start with this one? A beautifully shot story set in rural India where cultural notes are sometimes told through comedy. Some audience will appreciate and maybe even love it while others will leave the theater lost and less than satisfied.

The opening scene has Raja, the self-declared expert tiger hunter dancing to his old gramophone. It is not till later or towards the end that the significance of this scene becomes clear. The gramophone will make its appearance several more times in the movie including the last scene, connecting the beginning and the end poetically.

In the beginning, the movie seems disconnected with focus on three separate characters, their lives vastly different from each other. Raja, the aristocrat who lives in his mansion with his bored and unhappy wife or mistress, Rekha, who dreams often of a stranger who swims with her. Goja, who lives in a tree with the monkeys, disguising himself as a seer but has only been relating the news he read from the letters he stole instead of delivered. And finally, Munni, a teenage street performer who leads a nomadic lifestyle with her impoverished parents but wishes to have beautiful trinkets for the wedding she dreams of.

The three lives that normally would not intersect eventually starts to entwine, culminating in the tragic end that I dreadfully felt coming as soon as the two lives met. What I thought to be a reprieve turns out to be perhaps a ruse to lull my instincts. The bait becomes sadly clear in the next frame.

The ending can only be inferred. Nothing dramatic about it. Though it did resolve the uncertainty I had about what happened to Rekha.

My appreciation and understanding of this film are much amplified after pouring my thoughts and impression of it on paper. I can see much clearer the brilliance that is Buddhadeb Dasgupta.     

Trailer here.

Things To Come

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

This film hits close to home. I feel an affinity with the main character, Nathalie Chazeaux. Our lives have many parallels.  

Nathalie is a philosophy professor who suddenly has her life turned upside down when her husband of 25 years announces that he is moving out and in with another woman. He wants a divorce. One of her first reaction was, “I thought you’d love me forever.” I felt the stab in my heart then a wry smile touch my lips. How many of us have believed such similar love professions? I have and perhaps naively believed it. But just like Nathalie, I was more angry with myself for believing it.

Nathalie’s marriage is not the only thing that’s coming undone. Her publisher no longer wants to continue with the sale of her books and her mother’s health is deteriorating. But she seems to stoically face them all. Until that one day when emotions can no longer be contained and she cries in the bus. Then, she sees her husband walking with the younger woman. And she snickers. Can this get any worse?

Even the strongest of women are vulnerable sometimes. They may not normally show their hurt and pain but there are moments where they need a shoulder to cry on, though will obstinately refuse to ask for one. Even so, in the toughest of situations, they would often ask, “Can this get any worse?” Because they want to be always prepared for the worst.

With Fabien, Nathalie is more honest with her thoughts, feelings and perhaps fears. She tells him, “After 40, women are fit for the trash.” He doesn’t think so. She probably doesn’t want to either but subconsciously fears that it is true. Perhaps ‘trash’ is too harsh of a word. Perhaps it may not be so in Nathalie’s frame of mind then. But let’s all be realistic. How many men would give a woman in her 40s a second glance unless he is much older himself? So Nathalie’s observation is not entirely erroneous.

When she meets Fabien again, she announces that she has total freedom. As it should be. While her life is not all back together, she is moving forward. There are things to let go and there are things to look forward to - things to come. At such, it is okay for the movie’s ending to leave things unresolved.

When I first read the synopsis for this movie, I struggled. Should I watch this movie knowing that the main character’s life will draw similarities to mine, worrying whether it would reopen wounds. But my fondness for a well-made movie prevailed. And I am so glad I watched it. “Things to Come” is a beautiful movie of a woman who, rather than crumble in adversity, begins a journey of rediscovery.

Trailer here.

I Am Not Madame Bovary

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

The original or Chinese title of this movie is “I am not Pan JinLian”. At the start of the movie, viewers are given a needed historical lesson on the origin of Pan JinLian, who has become a Chinese term for a promiscuous woman. 

This satirical feature focuses on a relentless village woman’s quest for what she feels is injustice as well as the comedy of bungling government officials who seem to not be able to stop her from bringing her case forward at the National Party Congress’ assemblies.

Li XueLian just wants her divorce reversed, stating that it’s a fake marriage. Her case is weak. She is told over and over that it is not possible to overturn the verdict. She has no evidence and no witness to support her case. She doesn’t give up, only angrier. She seeks an audience with every government official she could think of, often resorting to extreme ideas such as stepping in front of a moving car or even murder, which thankfully she does not commit. 

Every time she decides to stop pursuing her case, others would insult her or question whether she’s telling the truth, infuriating her to continue with her quest, which goes on for ten years. 

The officials keep harping on how a village woman with a small problem can cripple so many of them, striking fear in all of them. They mobilize everyone to find her, to stop her from going to the NPC assembly for the tenth time. 

The revelation in the end will surely make us agree with the now retired official who once ran away from XueLian. Like him, would we and all the other characters be able to empathize more?   

The use of a circular frame is unorthodox. I was a little skeptical at first but very soon find it striking. It puts each scene into much sharper focus. As another reviewer mentioned, it’s almost like looking at an old miniature Chinese painting. It switches to a square frame when she gets to Beijing and then turns into normal aspect ratio at the end. It is a daring but intelligent use of the camera to produce another dimension of focus to the story.

This film was omitted from the original program. HIFF was not sure if they could get it. I am glad they did. This is an absolute must watch. 

Trailer here. 

Mad World

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

There were other films that caught my eye on November 4 but it was the subject matter this film chose to dwell on – bipolar disorder, the cast of Eric Tsang and Shawn Yue as well as the trailer that drew me to this film.

I had a roommate who was bipolar and much like the character in this movie, Tung (played by Shawn Yue), she refuses to be medicated. She is a brilliant and joyful individual. We lost touch years ago and I miss her sometimes. She hardly experienced being misunderstood like Tung. Most likely because the society she grew up and live in has a better understanding of mental disorders.

Growing up in Asia, I can understand the ignorance of those surrounding Tung who sees him as dangerous or crazy. There is stigma associated with mental disorder in some societies. Thus, much insensitivity prevails, which only makes coping and recovering so much more difficult.

This movie portrays the struggles Tung’s own father (played by Eric Tsang) has with the disorder. In the beginning, audience sees his fear of his own son and hears his doubts about whether Tung should be released from the mental health facility. We also see his transformation from ignorance to genuine concern, making the effort to learn about bipolar disorder and finally, the important stand he makes for his son.

There is one line the father says in the movie that resonates, “So, can everything be outsourced in life?” When our loved ones are ill and old, when something is easier ignored than embraced, should we just push it to someone else to deal with? It’s a common theme in this movie. Is it not ironic that only Tung has continued to face and embrace those who needs care and love, much to his detriment many times?

The director, Wong Chun explained after the screening that the movie was a play on the bipolar life in Hong Kong. Everything is so fast moving but lives are not necessarily heading in that same direction. People still face depressing situations when they get home. But isn’t that so in many big cities?

The movie switches between past and present seamlessly especially in the first half of the movie, giving the viewers a view into what haunts Tung's mind and memory. 

It’s a heart wrenching film that calls for more understanding, tolerance and support for those who have mental illness. It also reminds us to embrace the people and things that matter despite being in a rat race that seems to foster insensitivity and self-centeredness.

I recommend not watching the trailer if you want to experience the full impact of the movie.

A New Moon Over Tohoku

Movie to move the heart, mind and soul

The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is currently ongoing. This year, I’ve been fortunate enough to dedicate time to immerse myself in some films at the festival. As usual, these films have been thought provoking and touch emotions we sometimes keep dormant.

I missed the Opening Night on November 3. The timing just didn’t work out. But able to catch two films the next night. I’ve decided to leave my impression and thoughts about the movies here on my blog. Perhaps as a memoir, perhaps as a review of some sort for those who are still on the fence about watching these movies.

The first film I watched was “A New Moon Over Tohoku”. I don’t normally choose documentaries at the film festival. Again, timing as well as options played a part in the decision. I was not disappointed.

The documentary focuses on the lives of several families from the coastal towns and villages of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March, 2011 including the nuclear disaster in Fukushima. 

Many lives have been lost and changed, many towns and villages wiped out, many memories left adrift, unrecoverable. The world has moved on but it’s not so easy for those left behind to try to pick up their lives and resume some form of normalcy.

There were many moments in the film that made me choke back tears. The children singing as we view the ruined school where 75% of its students and teachers lost their lives or remained missing, the father who said he was lucky after losing his daughter because he got to be a father for 11 years, the many photographs left unclaimed after the disaster.

Despite all these, the people of Tohoku have shown resilience and a strong spirit to defeat the heartbreak and lost they’ve experienced. Some, like the young mothers are breaking their silence to bring awareness to their fear and hope for their children. Others like the samurais believe strength flows from their ancestor and they shall continue to defeat the tragedy.

The director, Linda Ohama has managed to capture all the pain, the lost, the hope and the survival of these families. This film has not only given the people of Tohoku some form of closure but also open the eyes of others that the disaster especially the nuclear accident had far-reaching consequences that continues today.

We were fortunate to have Linda Ohama join us after the screening. Her brief account of her journey in making this documentary and the families she has met makes this documentary so much more poignant. 

If you still have any doubts about catching this film, consider the heart of this director, who spent 2.5 years of her life, living in pop-up tents and carrying her own camera equipment to bring the stories of Tohoku to the world. And because the story of Tohoku is an important lesson on humanity.

Trailer here. 

Fort Street Cafe

1152 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

Foodelicious

A short one today...

 

Fort Street Cafe is one of my absolute favorite places to get my version of comfort food in Hawaii. This place has been around for a long time. It brings back a lot of memories because I frequented it a lot during my college days. 

It's located in Downtown Honolulu on Fort Street Mall, almost in the middle of a row of restaurants/eating places. Besides the little hole-in-the-wall Korean sushi place next door, it's been here longest. During lunch time, there's a line out the door since it's a favorite of not just HPU (Hawaii Pacific University) students but the office workers downtown.  

Today, I ordered the Pad Thai, which is a favorite of many, with Panang Curry. Most will tell you to order it with the Garlic Chicken, which I highly recommend, but today, I felt like a curry. I also ordered a Thai Iced Tea. 

There is not much seating inside so my co-worker and I grabbed a table outside. It's much more spacious anyway especially if you don't like the line of customers standing next to your table while you enjoy your meal. 

 

They do give you quite a large portion here so there's usually enough for a leftover. The pad thai and the curry are both delicious. I don't normally like mixing my pad thai with curry but here I do. 

 

Besides the pad thai, garlic chicken and curry, I recommend trying the lemongrass chicken (I ate lots of this during my college days), fried rice for breakfast, pho on a cold day, tofu with eggplant if you are looking for a vegetarian option, and the spam if you just need a quick snack. I don't have pictures for them but will make sure to share another blog post when I visit again.  

Food                                4.5
Customer Service         5.0
Ambiance                       2.5
Decor/Details                1.0
Parking                           0.5

Lao You (老友)  Coffee Shop 

151 Jalan Masjid 1, Sungai Petani, Kedah

 

 

Foodelicious

 

Lao You Coffee Shop is famous for its excellent and fresh soy, as advertised by the blue and orange sign above. And it is not a lie. This coffee shop has one of the best if not best homemade soy milk and 'tau fu fa' (tofu pudding) in town. Must try if you stop by.

Lao You means 'Old Friend' in Chinese, which is another appropriate name for a coffee shop (see my last post on Usual Place's). It's located by Cayman Square. There are quite a variety of food here: Hock Kian Mee, Chicken Rice, Curry Mee, Wonton Mee, Pan Mee, Chee Cheong Fun, Char Koay Teow, etc. So if you are looking for variety, this is a good option.

  

Mum said Hokkien Mee here is one of the best so I decided to try it. Delicious!! See those fried shallots and extra chili paste? The more the merrier. That bowl was wiped clean when I was done with it.

 

Char Kway Teow is one of my favorite hawker food. So we ordered one. Not bad. It came on a banana leaf, which I believe gives it a better aroma. It also has some medium size shrimps and Chinese sausage. 

 

The Char Koay Teow stall also sells Char Koay Kak, another one of my favorites. It's fried the same way with the same ingredients (as you may notice from the pictures). For some reason, I do like this better than the kway teow.

 

The Shredded Chicken Noodles looks beautiful. I was told it was good so tried some of it. This is not a dish I would order but if I wasn't so full, I would have eaten it all.

 

Oh! Here's a shot of the fresh, homemade soy milk. Very good!

Food                            4.0

Customer Service     3.5

Ambiance                   3.0

Décor/Details            2.0
Parking                       2.5