This was our third visit to Seremban. The first time round, we were en route from Singapore to Langkawi. This was the time with the bat. The second time, we were en route to Port Dickson.

This time, we went for the food, but ended up with birds as well...

It's still a lovely little place, Seremban. Too many cars, of course. But it still has an old-world charm, and its streets are alive with the smells of cooking and herbal medicine.

Our little food trail took us first to a pair of old-fashioned sugarcane juice vendors. Mister sits on the pavement trimming the stalks; Missus operates the crusher. "Air tebu dua, bungkus," I proffered, only to have my Malay relayed word for word to the vendor by another customer, who was keen to help translate... Great juice, though.

Next was Yee Kee Beef Noodle in the Pasar Besar, which serves fabulously tender beef. We had one soup (with excellent broth) and one dry (with a peanut- and sesame-laced dark sauce).



And finally to Haji Shariff's Cendol. Pulut cendol for me. Creamy, refreshing, not too sweet.





We had planned to go via the park to the Handicrafts Centre. The Centre turned out to be shut, but it didn't really matter because we spent ages in the park watching the birds.

A family of oriental magpie robins were the first draw card. An adult and three juveniles. They whistle and buzz to each other incessantly, with an engaging flourish of heads and tails.

Then we spotted the black-naped orioles doing the rounds of the big tree next door. And eventually we realized there was an enormous eagly thing, with a cape and furry trousers, sitting on a branch of the very same tree. Later casting around among our Facebook friends revealed that he's an oriental honey buzzard (although he doesn't mention this when he's with his guy friends).







How long is it since we've sat in a park, and watched the birds?

We caught the train back to Putra, and walked home from there, vowing to do this more often...