1 DAY TRIP TO AYER HITAM, MALAYSIA

Today is 3rd day of our Lunar New Year and we have made a short trip to Ayer Hitam (亚依淡), Malaysia. 

Ayer Hitam, a town famous for producing and selling various types of ceramic / pottery crafts such as flower vases, photo frames, jars and other home decorative items. Aside from quality souvenirs, Ayer Hitam is also dotted with many stalls selling local tidbits known as 'kerepek' among the locals. 

We departed from our home as early as 8.50 am and drive up to the North South Highway. By 9.12 am, we are near Sensai / Kulai Toll point and by 9.40 am, we are near Pontian exit (E247).

And in a wink of eyes, we have arrived Ayer Hitam (Exit 244) vicinity at 9.55 am. Toll fee to Ayer Hitam cost RM8.70. Thanks to the Malaysia Express Highway that made our travelling to Malaysia's different destinations in such a fast and convenient way. 

Upon arrival Ayer Hitam, our first place to visit definitely is this "Everyone whose come to Ayer Hitam is talking about it" for breakfast - 东泉包点 Tang Chua Dim Sum Stall

Address: 763 Jalan Batu Pahat, Ayer Hitam, Johor

Operating hours: 8.30 am to 6 pm

However, to my prediction, it is not open today. We knew it as it is 3rd day of Lunar New Year, of course, as a Chinese Dim Sum Stall, most likely is closed for sometimes. 

And yet, still feeling quite disappointed, not only we could not sample the most ‘赞’ popular "大包" and the "糯米鸡" and miss a chance to blog this restaurant food in this page. Well, after visited Ayer Hitam main attractions street, based on the 'km', to merely going back for this outlet food, I am still hesitating.

As such, we have no other alternative and decided to have a quick breakfast at the kopi stall just next door to 东泉包点. This kopi stall also have a stall selling similar dim sum as well. Today, this place is super crowded. I think this dim sum stall should be thankful to 东泉包点 for not opening and bring them the crowds. This stall sells identifical dim sum like 东泉包点 with their "大包" , "糯米鸡" and "烧卖”etc.

G

Oops! Forgotten to open up the 大包 to show the inside filling

糯米鸡

烧卖

After sampling, I should said: "Nothing much to comment!". Nat briefly mentioned that he still prefer those many other dim sum food from Johor Bahru (Do feel free to visit my sub page - JB Food for more). Just wonder if东泉dim sum is extremely awesome as other bloggers have reviewed?

After breakfast, it was already 10.30 am, my husband suggested we drove up to Batu Pahat via Ayer Hitam town to explore a little first before we return to Ayer Hitam for the street walk. As I have not plan as far to visit Batu Pahat town, we only use GPS to identify a destination to be Batu Pahat Mall. By 11 am, we have arrived Batu Pahat Mall.

Batu Pahat Shopping Mall is located along Jalan Kluang and is accessible from North-South Highway via Ayer Hitam Toll from the South & Yong Peng Toll from North. It location makes it a convenient, practical and functional one stop shopping mall. 

Location:
1-888, Batu Pahat Mall, Jalan Kluang., 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor Malaysia.

Business Hours:

10 am - 10 pm

As one of the biggest shopping mall in the region and over 2,500 car parks at basement, roof top and open space. Batu Pahat Mall will provide shoppers a great experience to start the day of rewarding shopping at the Hypermarket, Departmental Store, Fashion Boutiques, Household and Decoration, Specialty Shops and more. It's also designed to fit today's lifestyle for entertainment and leisure with a 7-Screen Cineplex, 36-Lane Bowling Alley, Snooker Center, Family Entertainment Center, KTV, Food Court and many more F&B Outlets. All these facilities will create most exciting environment for shoppers to explore, experience and enjoy a whole day leisure and relaxation. 

There are so many good stuff with attractive pricing to get if I would have visited this place before CNY. But myself or the whole family have already get enough for this year CNY and really no urge now to get more from this mall. However this will be the place where we plan to return to for our next CNY preparation.

This food outlet look tempting - Juz Waffle, I will reserve to visit on my next return trip.

We also came upon this store - New Market for some good buy. 

Wow! We brought these mugs for a pricing of 4 for RM10.00

 Timely Design Cup for this year CNY

Such a cute Hello Kitty Ceramic Mug! Only RM5. Really have a urge to get some but thinking of later shall visit Ayer Hitam streets, perhaps I could get more designs or at cheaper price....... (But, it was really a regretful thought!)

Later, we have visited Pacific Hypermarket for some groceries buy.

At around 12.50 pm, we left the Mall and headed back to Ayer Hitam. 

Back to Ayer Hitam town, the first place we stopped at Claytan Factory Outlet.

Address: CLAYTAN - HQ ( Ayer Hitam )

57th mile, jalan johor
86100 Ayer Hitam, Johor
Malaysia

This place offer mainly world-class tableware at a price lower than the retail stores.

We brought one of this claypot 砂锅 for RM28 after 30% discount.

 Another timely design piece for this year CNY

I should mentioned that I would not specifically recommended this place to first time travelers visiting Ayer Hitam. Unless you have an intention to decor your house with these artpiece world-class design of tablewares or as  a house-warming gift. 

Next, we were at the Ayer Hitam main street. The streets of the laid back town selling ceramic pots, tablewares, vases, pottery display figures etc. Also included fresh fruits, soft toys, artificial flowers, local tidbits/snacks etc. to name few.  

Address: Jalan Besar, 86100, Ayer Hitam, Johor, Malaysia

Another timely display piece for this year CNY

Emoji face cushions! Which expression do you like?

There are many stalls selling these local tidbits / crackers, banana crackers, tapioca chips, kuih bangkit, kuih bahulu, peanut ikan bilis snack and many more 

Look up for Fridge Magnets collection in every countries / provisions I traveled to.

There are many identical fresh fruit stores as well

Rows and rows of ‘tidbits’ of peanut, yam, tapioca (cassava), and bananas etc.

These Sarawak Pineapples look attractive sweet. However we do not buy any because the stall vendor do not provide prickly skin peeling service.

Artificial bouquet of flowers 

来挖宝吧！

I like this Miffy alike puff toy

Soft toys! Soft toys! All over this place

I will get some of this if I have a big garden in my house

We brought some local tidbits known as 'kerepek' from one of these store. banana crackers, tapioca chips, kuih bangkit, kuih bahulu, peanut ikan bilis and many more. Mainly all stores are selling the same type of tidbits/crackers at the same price. So no need to 货比三家 to bargain for the best price. Is any 2 packets or any 3 packets for RM10

Peanut Ikan Bilis - one of my favourite tidbits

Beside Fridge Magnets, we will try out many Burger Stalls' burger each time we visited a new place in Malaysia. This is the only one store selling in this Ayer Hitam Street.

At 3pm, we departed Ayer Hitam. Waved bye bye to Ayer Hitam Town of Pottery. And wanna to say, we shall not consider going back; at least for few years. All stalls are selling identical items and frankly speaking those ceramic/clay/pottery or porcelain made products are not what I am looking for. As such, less than half an hour of scrolling, we have already completed browsing the entire street stalls without buying any items except for those tidbits and burger.

Next, we drive up to Yong Peng for an early dinner. 

At 3.30 pm, we have arrived Yong Peng, the toll fee is RM2.20. we drove a bit and spotted upon this great place: YOYO Local Delicacy. As the main purpose of this day trip is to shop in Ayer HItam main street and browse through what we could buy. However, to our utter disappointment, there was really nothing great to buy. As such, when we spotted this local delicacy store, being a shopaholic, we fully excel our shopping spirit to brought some of this local products with satisfaction.

That all?? Of course not, this is only our first part purchasing

Around 4.40pm, we arrived this Seafood restaurant (隆城海鲜酒楼）for our early dinner. This is the 2nd times we have been here. This restaurant is popular among group tourist en-route to various parts of Malaysia and stop over here for either lunch or dinner. The food is quite delicious and the pricing is reasonably rated.

Have a look at the Restaurant's Menu

We determined what is a good food restaurant by the Fried Rice. If the fried rice is nice, than the other food will as well be good.

Lemon Chicken

Golden Fried Beancub

Being a shopaholic, our eyes are rather sharp to browse around is there any special good stores around the area. Haha! Opposite the restaurant, there is a shop selling local delicacy - Muar Otak Otak. Definitely need to get it!

and of course this shop - 全马独家水晶花生王 (Crystal Peanut King Kacang Permata Krystal)。This Peanut Shop is a native shop in Yong Peng popular among tourist as some of the tour coaches will "purposely make a trip here" to let coach passengers to shop here in order to earn some commissions. 

There is a good range of local products freshly baked / made in Peanut King. Free sampling before you buy. There are Crystal Peanut (the store signature product), various taste of Roasted Peanut, Walnut, Peanut Candy, Peanut Twister, Crisp etc to name a few. It is utmost popular during the CNY season.

The shop has a very amazing 宣传模式，就係on their shopping carrier bag has printed with this slogan [花生花生花了财会生]. 睇到呢幾個好意头嘅字，唔買嘟唔得啦！

This is the address / operating hours in case any readers thinking of paying a visit when you are in Yong Peng:-

Crystal Peanut King 全马独家水晶花生王
Kacang Permata Krystal
Crystal Peanut Sdn Bhd
Huey Sey Enterprise
12, Jalan Cahaya Baru,
Taman BCB, 83700, Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia.

We left Yong Peng at 5.10 pm and headed back to the highway for home sweet home. While my hubby driving back, I'm really felt very tired and sleepy after one whole day event and 吃得饱饱, only to tell my hubby "please drive carefully and I don't think i could help you to watch out for the traffic  ....... zzzzzz .......... ".