It cannot be denied that there has been a slow-down in reportage in recent weeks...

This is partly because this is the down-time between two bouts of travel (we're heading off again today).

And it's partly because I'm working hard. Language study, research trip preparations, proofs, supervision, the inescapable admin -- it's a different rhythm in the non-teaching part of the year, but busy for all that.

But there's no getting around the fact that the deceleration also has to do with an attempt to eat more healthily.

Any regular reader will have noticed that a lot of KL diary entries have to do with food (it is the Food and Travel blog, after all...) Without a piece of cake here, a snack there, and a celebration meal some other place, there is a bit of a gap.

Nevertheless, new places still have to be tried, albeit with a little more moderation.

Go Nek Mok's, for example, in the Putra Mall, which was yesterday's lunch destination. I ordered the nasi kukus with daging dendeng. It came with tempeh and vegetables in sauce, some extremely tasty ayam berempah, a little bowl of sambal, and a few kerupuk. Very nice. Would go again.



Today is Hari Raya. We are a little bleary, after numerous sets of fireworks throughout the night.

As we were heading off on our usual walk into town, guys were setting up the prayer mats in the street perpendicular to ours.

It was a bit of a stormy morning. A cool breeze, dark clouds, and then spattering rain.

The wetness drove us off our usual route and into Kader, one of the many Indian places on Jalan Lebuh Ampang, but one of the relatively few that are open this early.

Great choice. My chapatti was excellent. The accompaniments were good. And the masala chai was quite perfect. They have a range of other interesting-looking things, so we will definitely be back to this one too.

We headed home on the monorail. At Masjid Al-Bukhary, near Hang Tuah station, the rows of praying worshippers had overspilled the mosque, overspilled the courtyard, and taken up positions on the walkways around.

May they, and we, be blessed by their prayers and devotion.