About

Hey! Thanks for wanting to know me better

I’m a 25-year old guy, grew up in Bukit Mertajam aka “Tua Shua Kha” in Hokkien. I am currently working in an IT company - SATYAM in Cyberjaya, Selangor. I have worked as an IT Engineer in JGS (Jabil Global Services) in Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone Phase 4 for 1.5 years. I have also worked as a Research Officer @ MMU, in-house Software Developer @ 3ntity Sdn Bhd., Application Developer @ NCS Information Systems and contractor @ Dell.

I am usually quiet but can be very talkative when around close friends and family. My interests include photography, games, television series, traveling, blogging and FOOD. My favorite past time would be chilling out in front of the TV, or play with my family’s new pet - Becky. I am currently hooked on to these series: Lost, Desperate Housewives and any Gordon Ramsay’s shows. Hell’s Kitchen, The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares are all my favorite food series. My dream is to be able to open my very own restaurant one day.

There are two main reasons why I started this blog: passion for nice food and influence from other bloggers. They are Huai Bin from sixthseal and Lilian from Malaysiabest. I have been reading sixthseal since 4 years ago and I still read it occasionally, although it has been discontinued. You can still access his blog via the Internet Wayback Machine. My blog barely had any visitors for the first few months, it was pathetic. Until one day Lilian linked my blog with her Malaysiabest and Penangfaces site for posting about St. Anne’s Church. Since then my visitors steadily increased thanks to Lilian’s referring sites. Another incident that made my blog visitors sky rocketed was the chain email regarding my G Hotel BBQ Seafood Buffet. Last but not least, I am also grateful for being featured in TheStar.

I do realize that my writings are simple, straightforward and not as narrative. Usually, there’s only 3 grades I give for food: good, OK or bad. And I let the foods’ photos do all the talking. This is because I put myself in readers’ shoes. When I read a food blog, I just want to see how the foods look like, where is the location, what is the price and how did it taste. Nothing more. I don’t put up any grandma or grandpa stories unless I think it’s relevant.

And one of the weirdest thing I noticed is that most comments on my blog are from those people I don’t know personally. I think not many of my close friends even know I blog, LOL!

I used to have another blog which is about ASP.net programming but has been deleted now. Actually it is just an online note for my quick reference lol. Sometimes I can forget even the easiest syntax and coding. If you are an ASP.net programmer yourself, feel free to drop by and share share la your life with me Also, be sure to visit my Good Food List! Feel free to leave your comments here, thanks!

Some other facts about me:

Born and grew up in BM (as blog title says it)
Loves RPG but only plays the best
Used to be a DoTA addict
Have a lovingly girlfriend, probably the best thing I have accomplished so far in my life lol
I am a Hakka
My Hokkien sucks although I am from Penang, lol
Youngest in the family
Nickname is Ah Lum (that’s why my blog was initially called Ah Lum’s blog)
Becoming a programmer was not my first job choice lol
Drives a crappy Satria 1.3.. it has seen a lot of accidents

31 responses to “About”

7 10 2007: Cherry (15:33:50) :

Very nice reviews and site. Keep up the good work!!
22 10 2007: Subra (14:38:28) :

Dear Ah Lum,

just wanted to know what was the camera you used to take pictures in Langkawi?
22 10 2007: vkeong (23:15:25) :

Cherry - Thanks! come back often hehe

Subra - I am using Canon PowerShot S3 IS. You may read the review at dpreview.com It is a good camera
11 11 2007: Malaysia Page (00:13:38) :

Hi

Firstly, congratulations on your site

We would like to invite you to share what you LOVE on the state or
Malaysia… and be part of the Malaysia 50 Years Book, a book to
commemorate with Malaysia’s 50 Years Of Independence.

You can also share your travel photographs as well.

For more info on the book, kindly visit www.themalaysiapage.com/book.php

As you are interested to share what you love on the state with us, kindly reply to this email
malaysiapage@gmail.com

Warmest regards,
The Malaysia Page
23 11 2007: Leow Tse Hui (18:47:55) :

hi!You are hakka as well?
I think you are the first person i will start the hakka language with.haha

ngi kin ha yiu choi penang mao?
ngai hao chun chung ngi lo.
ying vui ngai eh ambition he oi zho yi zhak hao yiu miang eh chef.

und?

haha, translate:
are you still in penang nw?
I really look up on you because my ambition is to be a great succesful chef.
Frankly, i’m just a 18 years old girl, just finished my SPM.

mostly students at that age will apply for colleges and stuffs like that, but not me!I mean i do wan apply colleges which offer culinary arts courses. I wan to make succcesful desert and also main courses.Hope to start a business after saving enough modal.

So, a succesful person like you especially in the field which I’m interested in surely be my idol.
Keep it up, strive to be better, learn from past, and DO your best(not try your best)
30 11 2007: JJ (18:09:59) :

1st time i read this post.
and i’ve linked you back.
14 12 2007: Anonymous (13:11:51) :

HI,

I also live in BM more than 18 years++ but still don’t know what the delicious foods in this BM town. Share more with us. OK!
(Es. without spicy)

Green
16 12 2007: evi (20:48:21) :

hi i am staying in BM too.. i am 21 years old… i need ur help ah… i hope u can help me… i want to find course for chef in penang.. i think u should have a lot of friend… if u know.. please email me… i really dont know where to ask… thanks lot…
17 12 2007: vkeong (22:56:46) :

@Leow Tse Hui: Hey I understand what you said in hakka. I am still in Penang And wow, idol? That’s really a very nice compliment.. I think if you work hard and most importantly, have the passion to strive in your dreams in becoming a well-known chef, I am sure you can do it! One day when you have became a chef, please let me know. I am eager to try your culinary skills. And I’d like your cooking to be featured in my blog!

@JJ: Thanks for the link!

@Anonymous: I will try my best! If there are any BM-kias reading this please share your good food places, I will go hunt it down and feature it in my blog. We really must promote BM more.

@evi: Sorry ler.. I do not know where you can find chef courses. I do know that in Permatang Batu area.. after the roundabout, on the way to Penang Bridge.. there’s a baking shop that offers baking classes. If you are interested in making pastries I think you can find out more. FYI it’s at the same row with Longwan, the very big Malay owned plastic wares shop (50m away from ESSO)
20 12 2007: Steven Goh (17:51:03) :

Dude, I had just published your blog at my facebook ‘Food Directory’ group. Sorry for not informing you earlier. If you feel offended please let me know and I will remove it.

Food Directory Link:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5852722290
29 12 2007: vkeong (14:40:58) :

@Steven God, thanks for the plug. I am not offended at all don’t worry Keep coming back ok!
31 12 2007: Elaine (12:49:34) :

Hi, Keong.

I was so keen on Advertlets wen I saw ur post in ur blog.
Can you teach / explain to me how it work…I register already, I still don’t un! Then I got another problem…where can I put the Ad? I copied the code…paste it. It showed me “Your domain in your profile doesnt match . Please update your domain profile in our blog manager section”

Help…!! Tolong….!!

Oh, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year…
11 01 2008: Mabel Lai (04:02:07) :

Happened to stumble upon your blog, and boy, did it make me hungry! Excellent work with the pictures! Also, there’s a new Japanese restaurant called “Sake Room”. It’s next to Roxbury Pub in Sunway,Perai. I think they serve the best sushi around…hehe..you should try it too since you’re a food connoiseur!
18 01 2008: Jack Mark (14:13:27) :

Hi,

I am interested in purchasing textlink advertisement on several pages of your website

http://www.vkeong.com/ . Let me know if you are interested so we can discuss further details.

I can make a good offer for your website.

Thanks,

Jack.
17 02 2008: Nasri (23:40:07) :

Dear Ah Lum,

First of all, congratulations for such a great..great blog.

My name is Nasri. My first hometown is langkawi and then I moved to Sg. Petani. Now I’m working in Kuala Lumpur.

I just write an ebook titled “9 Insider Secrets For A Romantic Honeymoon In Langkawi”.

I like to give it for FREE to your blog visitors. So, they can benefit it. So, can I do that…and how? you can see the ebook at my blog www.malaysiasecrets.com/blog

thanks,
Nasri
21 02 2008: Agnes (16:43:57) :

Wish to know you more,Would like contact you about yours websexperience.Please do reply with my email address.
1 03 2008: engecevosiunc (21:25:09) :

Hello there.
Just found your site. Great job!
I like it much.
look here
3 03 2008: li xian , rasesh (09:44:15) :

is yr pics copyrighted? can i copy?
4 03 2008: vkeong (14:06:17) :

li xian, rasesh My pics are of course copyrighted But you can use them if you like.. at least give me the credit loh? can?

Thanks!
19 03 2008: Lily Arbee (21:28:21) :

Dear Ah Lum,
Hi!, I’m from Malaysia. Foremost, I like to congratulate you for your good work writing about our beloved country’s food, Malaysia Food and being introduced to the world!. I love Penang food, especially “Assam Laksa” Penang style. I miss it since now I am staying Terengganu, a district called “Marang”. Please feel free to visit my blogger, website as indicated above. i wish you well and will visit web site once in a while!

My most warmest regards,
Lily Arbee

PS: Malaysia
Boleh!!!!!

Lily Arbee’s last blog post..The Animal Instinct- An Animal Shelter Story
27 03 2008: jason (16:13:05) :

vKeong, can I have your email address?
jason’s last blog post..One Noodle
31 03 2008: DKG (11:06:07) :

Dear vKeong,

Good job on your very nice blog. Do you know where is the exact location of Kim Fong ( or maybe Kim Fung) Restaurant at BM ?

Thanks! I never heard of Kim Fong/Fung in BM before, but from the name of it, it should translate to Golden Phoenix Restaurant (in mandarin), it’s around Sungai Rambai/Taman Sri Rambai area

Is this the one you’re looking for?
31 03 2008: DKG (14:30:49) :

I think you are right - Golden Phoenix Restaurant. Is there any famous building nearby Taman Sri Rambai/ Sg. Rambai ? like Bandar perda, BM Summit…
Thank you so much for your help.

There are landmarks, the big sports complex and government buildings.. or you can look for KK Tan’s clinic, Golden Phoenix is just next to it

If you still cannot find it, I can draft a map for you.. let me know
31 03 2008: DKG (15:24:04) :

Thanks for your help.
Let say i drive from Megamall, Prai. The info that i search from Google Map is that i need follow BM sign, then turn left when i reach roundabouts > go straight and will see Bandar Perda on left hand > go straight to Jalan Besar then straight again to Jalan Baru > go straight to Jalan Permatang Baru when reach a junction > turn right to Jalan Padang Lallang and when go further i will reach Jalan Sungai Rambai.
After that i may follow your info by looking for those landmarks.
Please draft a map for me if my above info is incorrect.

I am not too sure about Jalan Baru/Jalan Permatang Batu.. but as long as you can reach Jalan Padang Lallang you are fine. At Padang Lallang look for Sunshine Square.. then follow the map I drafted.. don’t take the number of junctions along the road too seriously.. you just need to follow the road to Taman Sri Rambai.. at the junction of 4 traffic lights.. turn left. Before you reach that junction you will see a lot of pet shops and hair saloon, book shops on your right

Map: Here
31 03 2008: DKG (16:24:52) :

Ok, i have an idea now after refer to your map. Thanks a lot for your help!
15 04 2008: Jimmyykc (KokChooi) (19:39:08) :

i m BM-kia alsooo…

so happy can see so many BM-Kia here,

i working in Spore for > 5 years already,

currently Spore PR, but i miss BM food so muuuuuch!!!

BM-kia, see u around at:
http://jimmyykc.multiply.com

keep in touch!
15 04 2008: Jimmy Yeap (19:55:55) :

my primary school is: KIM SEN (C) Primary School.

my secondary school is: JIT SIN High School (Sri Rambai).

any old schoolmates arr?
27 04 2008: Rosalind (07:52:41) :

Hi,

Have visited your site many many times, but only now I see you are a Hakka as well.
You should do some post on Hakka food lah!

I never realized until now how much effort it takes to keep up a blog (I’m complaining after just one post lol)

Keep it up, I love your blog!

Rosalind’s last blog post..Hello?Horlicks doggie cookies

vk: yeah it takes quite a lot of effort especially on the writing side.. I am not that good in writing like other floggers lol.. I try my best loh.. getting comments from visitors is what keeps me going For Hakka food.. no idea yet lol.. need to research first
7 05 2008: Penang Tua Pui (23:56:28) :

first time see ur actual photo behind all this hard work…

give u 5 thumbs up…..

Penang Tua Pui’s last blog post..Hawker Food: Bukit Jambul Pan Mee

vk: LOL thanks man.. you’re right it’s hard work.. you should know well too since you run a food blog too
9 05 2008: Chris (14:29:47) :

You look familiar… but I’m not too sure.. i used to be from MMU..

Chris’s last blog post..The Unsleepable Wednesday

vk: My leng zai face familiar to you? LOLz jk. I can’t find your photo in your blog so i don’t know who you are..
12 05 2008: malaysiatraveller (18:15:36) :

I am a Malaysian residing in Kuala Lumpur, if you are coming to Malaysia or to Kuala Lumpur, do feel free to drop me a mail at malaysiatraveller@gmail.com. I have no problem of being your part time tour guide provided that time permits. I have traveled to many places, and find that it is really fascinating to have a local friend as a guide. If you agree with me on this point, do drop me a mail, tks.