Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

JJ Cahaya Cottage – A Home Away From Home

Hajah Joriah, proprietress of JJ Cahaya Cottage in her lovely living room

The proprietress of JJ Cahaya Cottage, Hajah Joriah Johan is a very sweet and amiable lady. Upon meeting her for the first time, one cannot help but feel her warmth and sincerity. JJ Cahaya Cottage is a semi-detached house located in a housing estate along Lorong Pandan, Melaka. The grounds are quite spacious and nicely landscaped with flowering plants, a fountain, garden settees and a shady tree. The cool breeze and twittering of small birds is extremely relaxing and serene. I can easily imagine sitting in the garden enjoying the morning paper or having afternoon tea in the evening.

JJ Cahaya Cottage offers one room for board. At just RM100-00 a night, this is a real bargain. The room is air-conditioned, has a wardrobe, a comfortable double bed, a dressing table and even an ironing board. The room has even accommodated four occupants before but that is of course, with some of them sleeping on the floor with the extra mattresses. Most of the time, the room is occupied by married couples. Regardless of the number of occupants, Hajah Joriah maintains the charges at RM100-00 a night.

The rate does not include breakfast but that does not discourage customers from making further arrangements. Upon request, breakfast or any meal can be prepared and the menu is up to the customer! Hajah is very flexible and offers traditional Malay cuisine, Western cuisine and all the local Malaysian favourites. The charges are very reasonable starting from RM10-00 per person. By the way, Hajah is also in the midst of writing a cookbook so I can assure you that you are in good hands when it comes to food!

Staying with Hajah Joriah is like holidaying with an indulgent aunt in a cosy comfortable house. It is certainly a home away from home as customers are free to relax in the living room, watch cable TV, eat, surf the internet, laze around or even exercise in a mini gym outside. Books and magazines are plentiful- otherwise you can amuse yourself by checking out the myriad of art and craft tastefully displayed around the house. Hajah used to be a Home Science and Art teacher so everything is arranged very neatly and artistically. On the walls are framed bead embroidery (commonly known in Melaka as “kasut manik” or beaded shoes), traditional Malay gold thread embroidery (known as “tekat”), paintings, black and white pictures and even charming collages of birthday and Valentine Day cards. The sofa is decorated with colorful ribbon embroidered cushions. (Everything was made by Hajah herself). And completing the friendly atmosphere is the resident house pet, a large tom cat named Cello which strolls in and out of the house and readily plays with visitors.


Cello, the resident cat and unofficial mascot of JJ Cahaya Cottage.

For visitors who aren’t familiar with Melaka’s roads and haven’t got a clue where to start when it comes to sightseeing, Hajah is willing to play tour guide. Upon request, Hajah will bring you to all the popular attractions in Melaka and places which the average tourist would be hard pressed to find with a usual guide book in hand. Pantai Puteri (Puteri Beach), Perigi Hang Tuah (Hang Tuah’s Well) are a little off the beaten track but Hajah will get you there without any wrong turns. As most tourists are looking forward to some shopping, the proximity to the malls will be welcome. Don’t miss the traditional handicraft and souvenirs which can be easily found at the Heritage Zone at Pahlawan Mega Mall in Banda Hilir.

Most visitors are reluctant to leave JJ Cahaya Cottage and when they do so, they often buy their host pretty gifts to thank her for her hospitality and warmth. Many have also promised to return and I am sure they will because it is quite impossible not to like this talented and sincere lady who willingly goes out of her way to make her guests welcome, well fed, entertained and of course, comfortable.


A view from the verandah facing the garden. In the background is the fountain

The last gesture from Hajah before guests leave is a Goody Bag apiece. True to its name, the Goody Bag contains goodies such as homemade beef or chicken rendang floss (Hajah is also an entrepreneur and these delectable treats come from her own factory) and souvenir t-shirts. Since we all love gifts, guests are always nicely surprised and depart with warm fuzzy feelings and last minute photographs with their charming host!

I asked Hajah what drives her in this home based accommodation business and her answer was that she derives immense satisfaction from her guests’ happiness when they receive the best service possible. Coupled with her genuine interest in people and fondness for company, she has no regrets in starting this business recently. To Hajah, it isn’t just a business purely for profit. The extra income is a welcome bonus but the job satisfaction on the other hand is priceless.

To see more pictures of JJ Cahaya Cottage, click (here). Bookings and enquiries can be made directly with Hajah Joriah at the given telephone number and email address. Foreign tourists are also welcome. However, please bear in mind that in accordance with local customs, occupants in the room cannot be from both sexes unless legally married.

contributed by;

Linda Phua Sue Lin, Chief Executive Officer

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

HAMPER PRODUK MELAKA

Ramai pelancong yang melawat Melaka akan mencari produk-produk makanan untuk dibawa balik sebagai hadiah untuk ahli keluarga dan kegunaan sendiri. Melaka amat terkenal dengan produk makanan yang unik seperti belacan, cencalok, dodol, gula Melaka dan lain-lain. Walaupun jenis makanan ini boleh didapati di pasaraya di seluruh Malaysia, namum demikian para pelancong masih gemar membeli barang-barang ini di Melaka kerana di sinilah tempat asalnya. Jadi, kalau hendak mencari gula Melaka yang terbaik, yang paling  asli dan yang paling sedap, belilah di Melaka. Sama dengan produk lain seperti belacan dan cencalok. Untuk pengetahun umum, belacan dan cencalok dibuat dari udang geragau iaitu udang halus. Udang ini biasanya di tangkap di laut semasa air surut oleh para nelayan dengan menggunakan pukat yang khas.

Untuk para pelancong yang mempunyai masa yang terhad untuk membeli-belah atau ingin mencari hadiah yang sudah siap dibungkus dengan cantik, kami menyediakan Hamper Produk Melaka. Hamper ini mengandungi produk seperti belacan, dodol, gula Melaka, kuih inang dan cencalok. Kami member jaminan yang produk-produk ini adalah yang terbaik kerana kami telah berusaha mencari di seluruh negeri Melaka. Misal kata, untuk gula Melaka, boleh didapati dengan mudah di mana-mana tetapi gula Melaka yang asli dan tidak dicampur dengan gula merah atau gula putih agak susah didapati. Gula Melaka yang kami perolehi dikeluarkan di Bukit Tembakau, Umbai dan akan menghasilkan kuih tradisional seperti onde-onde, sago gula Melaka dan kuih bongkong yang amat enak dan wangi.

Kami juga menyediakan buku mini resepi pilihan di dalam hamper kami yang memberi cadangan untuk menggunakan belacan, cencalok dan gula Melaka. Sebagai contoh, belacan digunakan dalam menyediakan masakan Asam Pedas iaitu masakan tradisional Melaka. Cencalok juga boleh digunakan untuk masakan Peranakan Cina iaitu Ayam Cencalok dan Telur Dadar Cencalok.

Hamper kami yang dibungkus dalam bakul rotan tradisional dengan reben yang menarik sesuai untuk dijadikan hadiah dengan harga berpatutan iaitu RM50-00 sahaja. Sila hubungi kami (Cik Siti Aisyah) melalui emel (aisyah@phtj.gov.my) atau telefon (06-232 3308/06-2323653) untuk tempahan.

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Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

Kursus Asas Pengurusan Penginapan Rumah (Homestay) pada 27 Januari 2011 di Laksamana Townlodge

belacan

BELACAN MELAKA IS THE BEST!!!

about 1 month agoNo comments

Melaka is famous for its belacan. Many tourists who visit our historic state will buy belacan for themselves and as gifts for family and friends back home. For the uninitiated, belacan is simply dried shrimp paste. Not just any shrimp, mind you. Only shrimp locally known as “geragau” is used. The fresh geragau caught with

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

A HAPPY CUSTOMER IS A SATISFIED CUSTOMER

belacan

BELACAN MELAKA IS THE BEST!!!

about 1 month agoNo comments

Melaka is famous for its belacan. Many tourists who visit our historic state will buy belacan for themselves and as gifts for family and friends back home. For the uninitiated, belacan is simply dried shrimp paste. Not just any shrimp, mind you. Only shrimp locally known as “geragau” is used. The fresh geragau caught with

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

BELACAN MELAKA IS THE BEST!!!

Melaka is famous for its belacan. Many tourists who visit our historic state will buy belacan for themselves and as gifts for family and friends back home. For the uninitiated, belacan is simply dried shrimp paste. Not just any shrimp, mind you. Only shrimp locally known as “geragau” is used. The fresh geragau caught with special nets usually during low tide by the Portuguese fishermen will be mixed with salt and shaped into round patties and left to dry under the hot sun. Once ready, it will be individually packed in plastic and sold at wet markets and sundry shops. Local snack shops in town do stock belacan (the handicraft mall opposite the Samudera Museum and the Heritage Zone in Dataran Pahlawan) but purists will agree that the best and freshest is only available at wet markets and at the pasar malam (night market). For the record, there are some locals who shun commercially sold belacan and will only cook using homemade belacan made by themselves or by relatives. However, since the majority of us are not as lucky or privileged as these folks, belacan sold in the shops will have to do.

Well, to those unfamiliar  with Malaysian food, belacan in its raw form often provokes interesting reactions mainly because of its strong and distinctive smell. Once toasted over the stove, it releases a different smell which some would describe as an appetizing aroma while others would claim it is a foul odour. Aroma or odour, belacan is often the essential ingredient in many signature dishes like Assam Pedas Melaka, sambal belacan, masak lemak, laksa Nyonya, sambal tumis and many more. There is no substitute for this ingredient and any cook who attempts to leave it out while cooking those dishes will find out that their food will be tasteless and flat.

So if you plan to visit Melaka, don’t forget to buy belacan. It is not easy to find Made in Melaka belacan in other states and that is the reason why so many local tourists often buy it here or ask friends and relatives who visit Melaka to get them a few pieces. Homestay Warisan Melaka sells special hampers which contain the best belacan, dodol, cincalok and gula Melaka all sourced from reputable manufacturers. Our hampers are packed attractively and make good presents for your family and friends. Retailing at only RM50-00 a hamper, we have done all the hard work for you by procuring from only the best. And if you are stumped or clueless on what to do with the belacan, cincalok and gula Melaka in our hamper, just refer to the recipe booklet enclosed within. To order or enquire about our hampers, please call Miss Siti Aishah at 06-2323 653 or email aishah@phtj.gov.my. Delivery to your accommodation operator can be arranged.

HAPPY EATING AND HAPPY COOKING!