🎉🎊 A smashing 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ with Simply Enak 🎉🎊
🎉 Hey Foodies and Travellers! 🎉
Julie here again! It's the last month of 2023 and I thought this would be a great moment to look back. I hope your year has been a good one, 2023 certainly was a great year for us. In this month's newsletter, I'll take you on a short throwback of 2023 as well as a little look into 2024!
As we bid farewell to 2023, all of us at Simply Enak proudly look back on a year of delectable discoveries, cultural adventures, and, most importantly, the warm connections we've fostered with food enthusiasts around the globe. It has been a year of growth, exploration, and savouring the diverse culinary landscapes of Malaysia.
Unforgettable Culinary Experiences:
In 2023, our guides had the pleasure of guiding many eager travellers through the hidden gems of KL and the bustling streets of Penang. From the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur to the hidden gems of Penang, our tours have celebrated the flavors, traditions, and stories that make Malaysian food so extraordinary.
Earlier this year, bloggers Keith & Dev joined our Secrets of KL tour where they discovered the things to see, eat and do in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Venturing into the old quarters of this vibrant city, the duo embarked on a journey that seamlessly blended gastronomical delights, history, and the contemporary pulse of Kuala Lumpur.
Check out their video here!
Culinary Connections Beyond Borders:
One of the most amazing things about guiding is that you have the privilege of exchanging ideas with visitors from diverse corners of the world, all bound by a shared passion for good food and cultural immersion. This year, we spent 2 days with a group of Canadian students, who later shared their project work on Malaysia in an online presentation. Our guides created meaningful moments with toddlers, teenagers as well as guests well into their golden years. The laughter and stories helped create new friendships.
We have asked some of our team members to share their best moments of 2023. This is what they had to say...
"The most unforgettable moment this year was my first ever tour on 30th June. With 2 girls from England and The Netherlands. It was unforgettable because it was my first ever tour with Simply Enak, also it was raining cats and dogs during the tour and the guests had some dietary restrictions too. Still, everything went well. They even shared with me a list of foods that they wished to eat. I am happy to say that they tried most of the items on their list. They were at Penang for a short vacation while working in Singapore for a year. I’m glad to have been part of their SEA journey and hope that they enjoyed their time in Penang especially our food tour."
- Wei Shen (Guide, Penang)
"Most enjoyable moments for me would be the good interaction I have with the guests and sharing the local culture, customs, and practices.
This year, I had a family from the Netherlands who loved and enjoyed the food. We also shared the similarities in ingredients and cooking between Malaysian and Dutch cuisine.
Another thing is I love seeing our guests enjoy the Penang Asam Laksa and durian for the first time and how they enjoy trying pickled fruits and popiah at Chowrasta Market."
- KK (Guide, Penang)
"2023 has been an interesting year for me with Simply Enak. One of the moments I won't forget is taking a business partner to eat jungle food on a hike with a member from a tribe. At one point, we found tiger paws in the mud and later scratch marks on a tree. The adventure and learning new things made for an unforgettable time."
- Maarten (Customer Experience Agent)
I love connecting with the community and efforts made to support the community in Petaling St by encouraging guests to buy their products."
- May (Guide, KL)
"One thing that stood out for me is how we humans need human connections and interactions. How we want to be listened to. Most guides are worried that AI will take over their jobs. But the reality is that as long as we live, we will need, crave the real thing."
- Pauline Food Experience Captain)
New Dimensions of Exploration:
As we step into the future, we are thrilled to announce that 2024 will bring even more opportunities for culinary exploration. We're excited to introduce a couple of new tours, diving even deeper into Malaysia's food scene.
Sneak Peek into 2024:
Image credit: qaz farid on Unsplash
Village Cooking Escapade: Ever wanted to understand what life is like in a Malay village? Join us for an intimate culinary experience as we venture into a Malaysian kampung, cook alongside locals, learning age-old recipes and gaining insights into the stories that make the village cuisine unique.
Pauline and Tammie from Vibrant Women Travel
Vibrant Women Travel collaboration: What's more exciting than experiencing Malaysian food and culture? Exactly! Experiencing Malaysian food and culture together with great friends! We are excited that in 2024 Simply Enak and Vibrant Women Travel, an Australian organisation that caters exclusively to women, will be collaborating. Together we have curated an unforgettable journey through the culinary gems of Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang. Tammie just made a stopover to test the experiences for our first trip in April.
A Heartfelt Thank You:
To our guests, partners, and the entire Simply Enak community, thank you for making 2023 a year to remember. Your enthusiasm fuels our passion, and we can't wait to continue this culinary journey together. Get ready for another year of culinary delights, cultural connections, and the unveiling of Malaysia's gastronomic treasures. Simply Enak is more than a culinary tour; it's an invitation to savour life, one bite at a time.
Here's to an exciting and flavourful 2024!
✨ From Julie and the entire Simply Enak Team! ✨
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