Spoiled in Wichita

After living in Wichita for about two years and moving away to Alabama, I realize I have been spoiled by the variety of Asian food that is easily obtainable in Wichita. Instead of telling new Malaysian students where to go, I might as well list it here.

Cafe Asia: Central & Woodlawn
Here's a place where I know the chef and his wife pretty well. I never order from the menu so if your favorite fried noodle dish is flat rice noodles with egg sauce, meat & veggies, ask them for it. I have to say I like their dipping sauce served usually at dinner time best. First timers should try "roti canai" (flat bread eaten with sugar or curry) and satay (Malaysian bbq). You won't go wrong with these.

Malaysia Cafe: 21st & Rock
The only place that serves Hainanese Chicken Rice.. steamed chicken and steamed butter rice. Ok many friends have said it looks like raw chicken but it isn't.. it's fully cooked but because it's steamed it doesn't brown. Other favorite here is the Malaysian Rice Noodles but occasionally I find it is too heavy on the curry powder.

Deshi Curry House: 21st & Woodlawn
I admit I prefer this to Passage to India across the street. I grew up with Southern Indian food as my nanny was Indian. (Ok another confession I had a nanny till I was eleven). Basmati rice and curry mutton is great.

Cafe Tu Tu: Central & St.Francis
This place serves Vietnamese pho noodle soup. I enjoy their wonton noodle soup the most. I think they already know my order when I walk in. Usually served with egg noodles, wontons, Chinese barbeque pork and shrimp.. along with the usual garnishes: basil, cilantro, green onions, lemon wedges & jalapenos.

I'll add my Asian grocery shopping list later... but now I have a reminder of all these that I'm missing in Tuscaloosa AL.

The actual summer plans

My summer plans are already in full swing. It's time for a complete break from Alabama so I'm back in Kansas. Indulging in some favorite leisure activities which mainly include spending money $$ eating & a little shopping, practicing the piano & perhaps dancing if I find the opportunity here in Wichita.

I will be heading back to T-Town early June and will leave for Malaysia at the end of June. I will be teaching piano lessons and taking a few myself. I am seriously considering enrolling for ballroom dance lessons. As much as I hate to, I should give my document topic some thought and start preparing a draft.

July is going to be exciting. I should hear from MTNA about my proposal for the national conference. If it is accepted, I'd jump for joy. I will visit exotic Borneo and spend a weekend at the Rainforest World Music Festival near Kuching, Sarawak. Teaching the world music class has reminded about tribal music in Malaysia. I'll have to figure out how to bring proper clothing and shoes for moving around in the Cultural Village. I'm reminded of climbing narrow steps cut out of a tree trunk.

The other event I will look forward to is conducting a masterclass and maybe performing a few pieces in Kuching, Sarawak. I'm not sure what exactly I'm expecting or what the students are expecting either. I just hope there won't be a language barrier. I don't speak the dialects there and my Malay is just too rusty to teach in.

So here's to signing off from the Wichita Public Library .. with Riverfest just round the corner.