KLANG, Sept. 3 -- My friend and colleague Keertan, who has the biggest collection of colourful shirts in the office, recently graduated with a Master of Public Policy degree.

It was a moment of celebration not just for him, but for me too, as it had been the main thing putting off our long-overdue makan appointment.

It was one that I was determined to make him keep, as he's the only person I know willing to make the 30-plus minute trip to Klang on a weekday for lunch with me.

Which is why, on a recent Monday, we found ourselves at Swee Xiang Restaurant in Taman Klang Utama, staring down a plate of braised pig's trotter, stomach and intestines in all their messy glory.

I hadn't told Keertan what we were going to eat; this being Klang, ...