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Location
Bugis +, Singapore 188067
Map
As above
Floor Plan
Website
Pricing
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Manekineko Karaoke - Kbox in a Japanese Name with the Use of Mobile Technology & Unlimited Slushies, Soft / Hot Drinks & Tidbits! @ Bugis Plus [Singapore]
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Kimpo Famous Roasted Crispy Duck / Chicken / Pork (金宝烧腊) @ Red Garden Food Paradise [Penang Island, Malaysia]
Paraphrased comment from a particular Ms Ang - "i like the crispy skin from the pipa duck at Kimpo and you might like the char siew although i found it to a bit too fatty for my liking".
I love fatty char siew and hence, couldn't resist paying Kimpo Famous Roasted stall a visit on the first night of my Penang trip! Sadly, the char siew was sold out and i had to make do with the second item on my list.
Unlike typical roast duck rice, this came in the following servings; 1/4, 1/2 or a whole duck at RM 50! Alex had his dinner and there's no way i can finish half a duck myself!
The set came with soup and soup partially drenched in char siew sauce; although it might look over the top, it was mostly bones and this greatly reduced the amount of meat and skin that one can eat.
It was delicious with a flavourful marination that complemented the juiciness of the meat; no doubt the work of oozing, sinful oil! Skin wasn't as crispy as i had expected but i was utterly satisfied with my meal.
Memorable enough to warrant another visit on the second day; albeit at an earlier time as i would not want to miss out on the char siew that was missed the day before.
For the sake of variety, i had the 3 BBQ pork and chicken rice that consisted of char siew, roast pork and roast chicken! Roast pork was salty with a thin, crispy skin whereas the roast chicken was pretty oily; both of which fail to create a deep impression.
Char siew was fattening, slightly on the sweet side and nicely charred; factors pointing to the kind i totally enjoy! Even though not on the same ranking as the epic You Kee crystal char siew in JB, i am still undecided if it should take the same position as the second placed Kay Lee char siew in Singapore!
Oh, we ordered half a pipa duck too as there's about ten of us this time.
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Location
20, Lebuh Leith, George Town,
Red Garden Food Paradise,
10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia
Map
As above (close to Bayview Hotel Georgetown and next to the famous blue mansion, also known as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion).
Operating Hours
From 5pm
Menu of Kimpo
As above.
Pricing
1/4 Pipa Duck - RM 13
3 BBQ Pork and Chicken Rice - RM 8.50
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Jiaqi Birdnest (佳褀燕窝) with Snow Lotus Seeds @ Red Garden Food Paradise [Penang]
The quarter serving pipa duck rice should be sufficient for dinner, especially when i am not a big fan of carbohydrate-heavy meal for dinner! Alas, i happened to walk past the above stall and the word "birdnest" gained my immediate attention.
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With a large poster board touting the nutritional benefits of birdnest and the display of ingredients used in combination with the swallows' saliva, my only interest was just to find out if the birdnest here would be worth the money!
Birdnest with Snow Lotus Seeds
There were four types to choose from; birdnest with american ginseng and rock sugar, birdnest with ginger brown sugar, birdnest with snow lotus seed, birdnest with longan and red dates. I went with lotus seed (small) as the first option was unavailable!
Supposed to be served chill i think, this wasn't cold enough and the taste would likely appeal to those who prefer bird nest desserts to be less sweet. Sadly, not sweet enough for me even though there were generous strips of bird nest in the soup.
Another disappointment was the bitter snow lotus seeds which worsen the situation of a less than desired flavour. And why were there quail eggs?! They do well in sweet soup that my mom would prepare during the Chinese New Year but in this case, the egg yolk had the tendency to overwhelm rather than complement / improve the taste!
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Location
Location 20, Lebuh Leith, George Town,
Red Garden Food Paradise, 10000 George Town,
Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Map
As above (close to Bayview Hotel Georgetown and next to the famous blue mansion, also known as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion).
Menu
As above
Pricing
Birdnest with Snow Lotus Seeds (S) - RM 38 a bowl.
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Red Garden Food Paradise (红园美食坊) @ Georgetown, Penang [Malaysia]
The popularity of Penang as an overseas destination for Singaporeans means that i have plenty of recommendations from friends and even readers of this blog!
A place that popped out quite a few times was Red Garden Food Paradise for its wide variety of food condensed in a singular facility that Singaporeans would find familiar; you can call it a food court, a hawker centre or just a humongous coffee shop.
Aside from roasted delights, bird nest etc, you can also find stalls hawking Penang's famous char kway teow, satay, Vietnamese food, bak kut teh, tandoori chicken, western food and many many more!
Open from 5pm, Red Garden catered to the evening crowd and it's evident that many dropped by to chill out with good food and maybe a beer or two.
There's even a stage right in the middle where singers would belt out Chinese pop! It's almost getai style without the elaborate, exaggerated attire and the front seats were not empty.
Similar to Singapore's hawker centre, there's a number on every table and you have to note the table when you make an order as the stall operators would require it to send your food.
Order the young Thai coconut first as only this natural Asian beverage would be able to quench the thirst and cool the body that had endured the heat in Penang! This was sweet and i love the fact that a metal spoon was given for us to scoop out the coconut meat; hate it whenever plastic spoon is provided as i am not gentle with a high tendency of breaking it.
Prefer something of a higher quality? Check out the birdnest selection at Jiaqi!
Please go ahead and order the flavourful pipa duck and fatty char siew from Kimpo for your main! For my review, kindly click the link here.
On the second night of my visit, we tried out other items! Although i might not be able to provide the exact stall name, i presume you wouldn't find many stalls selling the same thing. We had the oyster omelette; fried in the gooey style i dislike.
Fried squid was quite good with a thin batter that should go well with a glass of ice cold beer! Couldn't remember how much it cost as it was paid by a friend.
This was a plate of pork satay and it was the worst i ever had in my whole life! Lean meat was used and there wasn't the sinful juiciness that i always like from the fatty bits. In addition, the sauce wasn't the peanut type we are accustomed to in Singapore. In its place was some spicy sour stuff that totally didn't meet the cut. In my opinion, steer clear!
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Location
20, Lebuh Leith, George Town,
Red Garden Food Paradise, 10000 George Town,
Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Map
As above (close to Bayview Hotel Georgetown and next to the famous blue mansion, also known as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion).
Operating Hours
From 5pm
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Big Big Bubbles near Esplanade @ Penang Island [Malaysia]
While on our way to check out a hawker centre near the Esplanade at George Town (Penang), we literally walked into a sea of humongous bubbles that would definitely elicit loud laughter and giggles from Jerald and Jovyn if they were with me!
The low light condition due to the setting sun didn't do the bubbles any justice and i guess i have to make use of a seldom used function on my DSLR.
Flash mode - at least you can see the bubbles in better clarity now even though the real beauty lies in seeing the entire scene with your own eyes. On second thought, i should have taken a video instead!
Equipment for sale / rental - maybe because i was starving; i didn't even attempt to ask for the pricing as i know the two brats would love to chase after big bubbles! That would be beneficial as i just need to sit down on a bench and let them do the running.
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Location
Near Esplanded along the promenade next to the War Memorial,
Penang Island, Malaysia
Map
As above (highlighted in yellow).
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Little Vietnam Restaurant and Cafe @ Grandlink Square (Near Paya Lebar MRT Station) [Singapore]
Drive along Guillemard Road towards Paya Lebar Road in the evening from Tuesdays to Sundays and you will not miss the Grandlink Square building, with alfresco seating, on your left.
I wanted to try the Little Vietnam Restaurant and Cafe on quite a number of occasions as i did notice it was often packed with people but other familiar restaurants like Mini Star Stinky Tofu, Arnolds Chicken, Putu Piring etc often drew me away!
It's procrastination no more! For those who prefer air-conditioned seating can opt for the indoor seating although we chose the alfresco seating as it was rather windy that evening. Don't worry too much about the ordering so long you command a bit of Mandarin as the waitresses there spoke fantastic Mandarin!
Cha Gio
Food time and never ask me the pronunciation; i already have difficulty with English and i bet i wouldn't perform too well in other languages. Anyway, i prefer Chinese deep fried spring rolls over the Vietnamese version as the "skin" tends to be thinner. The filling encased (marinated chicken and vegetables) within was okay tasting and would benefit from a dip (thai chilli sauce dip for example).
Tamarind Juice
This unique drink was expectedly sourish with peanut bits that added a nice nutty crunch; do remember to give it a stir but the many pieces of ice would likely make it difficult to thoroughly mix the content.
Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong
The dry noodles i would order every time i am having Vietnamese cuisine; for this particular dish, it's listed on the menu as grilled pork chop and fried spring rolls on fresh vegetables and rice vermicelli.
Down the sauce that accompanied the noodles, give the noodles a few good flips and they are ready for the stomach! Bad thing first; the grilled pork was too tough for my liking and i could only thank the fats surrounding the meat for adding delectable juice that improved the flavour. My taste buds can discern a strong dosage of fish sauce although it served only to intensify the robustness of the blended sauce!
In all, this wasn't as delicious as the ones i had from Wrap & Roll; however, i can sense its authenticity that has no doubt attracted scores of Vietnamese living in Singapore to make a beeline for the food at Little Vietnam. Another factor was of course the attractive pricing that was much lower than its competitors in the little red dot.
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Location
511 Guillemard Road, #01-25,
Grandlink Square, Singapore 399849
Map
As above (near Paya Lebar MRT station and next to City Plaza)
Opening Hours
12pm to 11.30pm (last order at 10.30pm)
Closed on Mondays
Facebook Page
Pricing
Cha Gio - S$5.00
Tamarind Juice - Forgot to take picture of menu!
Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong - S$7.00
(No GST, No Service Charge, Cash Only)
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Penang Style Fruit Rojak @ 101 Rojak (舊關仔角美食廣場 / Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama) [Penang, Malaysia]
Singaporeans would feel totally at ease in this hawker centre known as a mouthful Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama as it reminded me so much of the ones we have back home!
There were plenty of stalls but i wasn't THAT hungry and hence, decided to go with the one selling Chinese salad, also known as rojak! p.s. the word salad was loosely used here as the dish definitely wouldn't help you in your weight loss.
Now, Penang rojak was famous for its high ratio of fruits and even though this might increase its marks in the "healthy" category, the corresponding higher ratio in sourness might not be suitable for everyone. I am a classic example as i have always believed that "healthy" food is seldom mind-blowing good.
It didn't take too long for the stall owner to prepare the rojak - ingredients were prepared beforehand and they just need to put them on the plate and instead of mixing (usually the case in Singapore), the sauce was just poured over the ingredients and topped further with a sprinkling of crushed peanuts!
Verdict - it was okay and the sauce was actually quite palatable; albeit on the sweet rather than aromatic, robust side. The crullers (youtiao) appeared to be double fried; super crispy which means it couldn't absorb the rojak sauce! Love the addition of squid though!
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Location
Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama,
Near War Memorial at Esplanade, Penang
Price
Rojak - RM 8
(Price ranges from RM 3 - 15)
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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An Evening Walk along Cannon Street and Street of Harmony @ George Town, Penang [Malaysia]
7.30pm - the street lights were already switched on yet the sky had not gone back to its daily slumber. This, however, couldn't hide the fact that we were hungry and the most straightforward way for us to get to the Esplanade hawker centre, according to the map, was up Lebuh Cannon!
Right opposite the street was the Acheen Street Malay Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh) - built in 1808 by an Acehnese merchant prince, i just read from the information plaque that it houses a cemetery too!
Drawn on a wall next to the mosque - this amateur pencil drawing in the likeness of the mosque's minaret might likely be considered as vandalism in Singapore, an offense that will result in cane and / or jail. My personal take is that it adds to the charm of the area.
To draw comparison, i like that pencil drawing a whole lot more than the above purpose-built cat made of likely recycled materials.
Cannon street - the origin of the name wasn't because there's a famous ang moh with the family name of Cannon. It was named because cannons were fired to suppress a riot; resulting in a big hole (no thank to the cannon) in the middle of the street.
Here we go; down the street that's less than a hundred meters long! From the above photograph, in the middle, you should be able to see a red signage; that's where the cannon street ends.
Despite its unimpressive length, this was the place where i caught my first street art in Penang and there were ample photo opportunities along the street!
An ice ball would be boring compared to the dragon ice ball! The shop was already closed for the day but i would have gone for its signature ice ball with ice cream inside.
Cat n Dog shop - guess this would either be a pet shop or a shop that sells accessories with the images of dogs / cats for crazy dog / cat lovers.
Owl shop - closed too as we were rather late in our walk; i can only imagine so much on what's within although i doubt it would be an owl cafe with live owls.
Like the tongue-in-cheek use of outstanding and the painting of the owls! The cat n dog shop next door had the image of an adorable cat on a real dangling swing.
Cafe on number 1, cannon street; it didn't appear to be Halal and variety was limited; hence, we gave it a miss. I am curious about the skewered fruits with prawn paste unless the prawn paste refers to those used in rojak.
We have come to the end of Cannon Street; those interested in street art should check out the Armenian Street to the right of Cannon Street. As our stomachs were in need of energy, i guess i have to give it a miss for the day.
Yap Temple (Choo Chay Keong aka 慈濟宮) - standing in stark contrast to western-style building next day, this temple honours the yap clan patron deity. To read more, visit here.
Humongous squirrel peering from a hole in the wall - thankfully, this is only a painting although i couldn't help noticing how sharp the nails were! Can you imagine if something that has been small all your life turns big all of a sudden? It's a reverse of a role between a predator and prey.
Masjid Kapitan Keling - a mosque for the Muslim Indians that was built in the early 19th century; noted the use of Keling which is now considered an offensive term to label an Indian.
Some Indians may be Hindu and there's of course a Hindu temple!
Stalls selling flower garlands for the deities. The strange thing is that even though the shops are rather near the Hindi temple, their location is still not as close.
Right next to the row of flower stalls is the Kuan Im Teng, said to be the busiest temple at Georgetown with a history that spans a few centuries. Typically, we don't offer flower garlands in Chinese temples but there's no way for me to confirm as the temple was closed, as expected.
St. George's Church - built in 1819 (the year that Singapore is founded by Sir Stamford Raffles), this falls under the Anglican denomination and was a radiant beauty at night!
In this post, after my mention on Cannon Street, there were two Chinese temples, one Indian temple, one mosque and a church; comprising four major religions of Malaysia. The road is therefore also known by another name; the Street of Harmony.
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Location
Within George Town,
Penang Island, Malaysia
Map
As above
For the itinerary of my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Punggol SAFRA Manekineko Karaoke - Differences from Bugis Plus @ Singapore (Next to Sam Kee LRT Station)
I wasn't intending to take out my DSLR at the Manekineko Karaoke branch at Punggol Safra since the karaoke chain had already appeared in this blog and i figured the respective branches would not deviate much.
Obviously, i was wrong as the Bugis Plus branch seemed to lack a lot of things; either that or my mind was alert enough to notice the anomalies at the Punggol Safra outlet. To make it easier for you, do read the post on Bugis Plus before you proceed further as it contained vital information, especially on the use of phone app to choose and select the songs to sing. Click here.
First deviation from Bugis Plus - i was greeted cheerfully by the Malay staff (the lady at Bugis + wasn't rude, just stone-faced without expression) and you know what, it does make a difference early in the morning.
Cute displays of fortune-beckoning cat statues at the counter - as i erroneously thought and had henceforth corrected, Manekineko wasn't a unique concept by KBox. According to the straits times article, KBox was in fact bought over by one of Japan's biggest KTV chain!
There wasn't a prize but you can still take the props available next to the counter and pose with them! Tag #manekinekosg for the fun for it. As the company is still new to the Singapore operations, there could be surprises waiting for you!
To strike a pose, you need more than just the props; just go to the walls as some of them already had gigantic stickers of the smiley felines.
As mentioned in the Bugis Plus post, i felt that the Manekineko KTV's concept was more family oriented and entry for kids was allowed as evidenced by the above; kids below 90 centimeters sing for free! Disclaimer for viewer discretion was pasted on the wall as some music videos, like Wrecking Ball, may be too raunchy for young children.
Drink Bar - again, this was different from Bugis Plus. Aside from the usual drinks and snacks, you have a soft serve ice cream machine that dispensed vanilla ice cream (no toppings though)! Furthermore, there's a sink to wash my mug in case i want to switch from coke to hot green tea!
That's not all; there's even a healthy drink dispenser that offered customers free flow organic soya drink, yam soya beverage and macha latte!
Room 3 - for the three of us; spacious to the max! At one point, Joyce was literally lying on the couch while straining to hit the pitches of a song.
Remember i was complaining about the distance of the charging point? This was at the couch which was convenient and not only that; you can actually borrow the charger from the counter staff using your identity card. In case you feel cold and forgot to bring a sweater, blankets can also be signed out from the counter.
Floor plan - i was looking at this and noticed that Room 1 and 2 didn't seem the same as the rest. As Room 3 was just right opposite, i popped in to Room 1 out of curiosity.
Right side wouldn't have surprised me but the left side was another story as it was clearly segregated with an item that was the norm in my house when Jovyn was staying with us at my parents' place.
Foam mats for the safety of your young kids and it came with a bowling set and LEGO-type tiles! Pity Manekineko didn't have a slide and ball pool; if they have, i would gladly pay for Jovyn and Jerald (both are above 90 cm) to join us!
You know what's another advantage of Safra Punggol Manekineko? Safra / HomeTeam members get an additional 15% discount; do note that it is not applicable on public holidays and eve of public holidays.
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Location
9 Sentul Crescent,
#05-02, Punggol Safra,
Singapore 828654
Map
As above.
Nearest MRT / BTS Station
Take to Punggol MRT station and transfer to Sam Kee station. Punggol Safra is just right across the road. As there is no shelter, bring along a brolly. If bad luck is on your side, dash across the road (please be careful of traffic on the road) as the distance isn't far!
Reservation
Call +6563873113
Facebook Page
Website
Price List
As above. Pricing was almost the same; for daytime (11am to 7pm) on Saturdays and Sundays, the rate per person was S$20 NETT. At Bugis Plus, the same slot would cost S$23 NETT! Another reason why i should continue to patron the Punggol SAFRA branch!
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Cenotaph - Penang World War II Memorial @ George Town [Malaysia]
The war memorial at Penang's esplanade was featured more prominently than the hawker centre on the hard copy tourist maps and i was expecting something along the scale of Singapore's version that's known affectionately as "the chopsticks".
Built in the likeness of the one at UK, this was built in 1929 at a cost of 12,000 Straits dollars to commemorate those killed in World War I; which, by the way, happened in Europe with minimal action in Southeast Asia (in the case of Penang, a Russian ship was sunk by a German cruise ship).
World War II had a much greater impact on both Malaysia and Singapore and this memorial has now included not just world war 2 but also the Malayan emergency, the Indonesian confrontation etc.
And yes, i did note that it wasn't as imposing as the chopsticks.
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Location Map
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Shinise Cafe & Bistro @ Lebuh Melayu (Opposite the Ghost Musuem) [Penang, Malaysia]
With creeping plants covering more than half the facade of the above shop house, i would have likely given this a miss if not for the group of female friends who didn't want to join us at the interesting Ghost Museum.
It's a cafe cum bistro and the whole lot of them were holed inside; ordering drinks and taking advantage of the air conditioning and free wifi while waiting for us!
There was a luxury of space, unlike Singapore's cafes which tend to bulk up on chairs / tables given the exorbitant high rent, with splashes of colours to adorn the paint-cracked walls.
I was thirsty and opted for a cold drink (ice lemon tea) at RM 9.90 instead of coffee. It suddenly dawned on me that i am paying more than S$3 for a glass of ice lemon tea and it didn't taste exceptional. To be fair to the establishment, their all-day breakfast was only RM 18.90.
Sad that they didn't have any more cakes even though we didn't have the time to slowly savour any desserts! The bunch of us was famished as it was already dinnertime.
After the visit to Ghost Museum, i thought this toilet had quite an eerie, sinister feel. Thank god no hand appeared at the toilet bowl!
Those who visit the Ghost Museum might want to have a meal at the quaint Shinise Cafe & Bistro since it was just right opposite. For your benefit, please refer to the menu as above; no tax and no service charge!
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Location
62, Lebuh Melayu,
George Town 10100,
Penang, Malaysia
Location Map
As above.
For the itinerary of my 3 days, 2 nights' trip to Penang, please click here.
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Day One of My Three Days, Two Nights Penang Trip 2016
Kinetic Rain - the motorised art installation at Terminal 1 of Changi International Airport that never fails to stop me in my tracks so that i can catch its graceful movements, even for a few seconds.
After my unforgettable visit to Encik Tan, i couldn't resist ordering a plate of Hainanese cutlet curry rice stall when i saw it (under a different company) at the airport staff canteen! Verdict - not as good as the one at Encik Tan!
Photo time for foreigners who didn't manage to take the trishaw in Singapore; this was conveniently placed right before the gates of the departure hall. If it makes you feel better, i have never taken the trishaw before too and i am Singaporean.
I needed to double check the prices of cosmetics and perfume at the duty free shops in the departure hall; prices at the arrival hall (after clearing immigration) might not as attractive and the range is also not as extensive. No harm to do some homework as i still had plenty of time to spare before boarding.
Time to go into the gate; i tried my best to delay as there's nothing much you can do once you are inside the holding room. At least on the outside, you can still have your tired feet massaged by the OSIM foot massager.
Our AirAsia plane - coincidentally, there's a Thai Airway plane right behind; i took that airline in my last trip to Bangkok! Well, i could only remember the flight was really warm, as in temperature warm.
We didn't pay for seat allocation and it was a nice surprise to be given the expensive "hot seats" instead; which means, priority to board the plane!
Advantage of "hot seat" - ample leg space! The disadvantage was that i couldn't place my bag underneath the seat in front of me. This means my entire haversack had to go into the overhead compartment and that's inconvenient!
Never had i been so attentive to the evacuation demo as we were so close to the air steward! Must appear supportive mah since we were all aware that many people at the back had their ears "switched off".
After the demo, he also had to explain to us on the evacuation procedure we "hot seaters" had to take as we were the nearest to the exits!
Better read and keep in mind the instruction in case i, as seat warmer for the window seat that doubled up as the emergency door, had to do something.
Breathtaking, aerial views of Changi; couldn't' wait to see the development of the new terminals at Changi Airport, including the highly marketed Project Jewel!
Pulau Ubin - looking like a dinosaur smacked in between Singapore mainland and Malaysia, it had been a while since i last visited and if plan goes well, i would be cycling there in September!
Clear blue sky, cotton white clouds; the flight was said to be about an hour and this could only translate into good news to me as i couldn't stand having my butt glued to the seat for so long on the plane!
Cruising towards Penang Island (known officially as Pulau Pinang).
Landed without a glitch although Alex took issue with the supposedly rough landing. Oh well, i shall not comment since i am not a great car driver myself and have great respect for people who could maneuver such a gigantic vessel.
No aerobridge; not an issue for me so long it isn't raining! For the ladies, get ready your umbrellas as the sun can be scorching hot! To think about it now, i didn't have the luxury of aerobridge too in my last plane ride to Bangkok!
Stepped into the building and be comforted by the cool blast of air conditioning!
Before you get your passport stamped by the Malaysian immigration, you would definitely see these three telecommunication counters managed by Tune Talk, Hotlink and Digi respectively. Get your data plan if you belong to the type who has to post your status on facebook, tweeter, instagram at every stop.
I am kidding of course; having a data plan can be extremely helpful when you need accurate directions! Price package for Tune Talk as appended above.
Duty free shops - i enjoy checking out the duty free shops in every airport as i am a collector of vodka bottles and some countries have limited editions! The interest had waned somewhat as i don't have a dedicated space to display them in my new home!
With about twenty of us in the group, it made better sense to engage the service of the taxi counter. Unlike the ones in Bangkok, this was a legit counter.
Price list as above with variations due to the locations, number of persons (options for either a 4-seater taxi or a 10-seater van) and the time of the day.
Those who prefer to rent a car may consider the many car rental companies on the same level (opposite the taxi counter). Frankly, i might consider either renting a car or engaging a full-day driver in my next visit to Penang.
PLE 2945 - the 10-seater van assigned to us.
Receipt of RM 89.40 which was the rate as indicated on the price board i shared earlier. As we would need a ride back to the airport a few days later, Alex and my friend arranged with the same driver to pick us up for the return journey.
Penang, here we come!
With the towering Komtar in the background, i am quite taken aback that traffic was heavy! Guess i would have to scrap my plan to rent a car in my next visit!
The 13.5 kilometer-long Penang Bridge, in all its majesty, on our right side.
You know you have arrived at George Town, a UNESCO world heritage site, when you see rows and rows of old shop houses that would have long been demolished / heavily renovated if they were in Singapore.
Reached our accommodation for the next two nights; Bayview Hotel Georgetown (城市海湾酒店)! To read my review of the hotel, please click here.
Bayview was right opposite the Saint Xavier's Institution and as it was a weekday, the schoolchildren (likely in a uniform group) were practising their march. I was in a uniformed group when i was in secondary school too; the 19th company boys' brigade!
We were also exceptionally near to the blue mansion (otherwise known as cheong fatt tze mansion). Even though we wanted too, there just wasn't sufficient time for us to sign up for the tours to explore the mansion! Maybe i can consider a stay in my next visit as the blue mansion is also a boutique hotel!
The colourful traditional houses that my photographer friends (like the talented Sandra Macheroux) would go trigger happy about!
I was gaming for the Red Garden Food Paradise as my last meal was the disappointing Hainanese cutlet curry rice. Alas, it only opens for business from 5pm!
Known as Cathay Hotel in the past, this Chinese mansion had since been bought over and refurbished as a luxury hotel known as The Edison!
Mosaic tiles on the floor.
Buildings exuding the old school charm everywhere we go which was to be expected as this area is THE UNESCO world heritage site. Malaysia has two so far; the other being Malacca. Another strong contender, in my opinion, would be Ipoh!
Is that old, disused tram tracks on the road?
Ban Heang - where you can grab boxes of Penang famous tau-sar-piah and other wonderful snacks for friends and family back home! I was just glad that it was within a 10-minute walk from Bayview Hotel.
This Ban Heang branch along Jalan Penang also had a dine-in outlet where you can bite into a hot cha shao bing (a pastry with char siew filling), other local delights and have a cup of kopi.
Location - as Jalan Penang was rather long, i guess it might be easier for me to indicate that it's at the corner of Jalan Penang and Campbell Street.
Toh Soon Coffee - i noted the crowd inside this unassuming coffee shop and this is a classic example why i should have purchased the data plan. Should i have the use of mobile data, i would have known this shop was famous for its coffee and toast!
Market where you can get preserved fruits.
Loads of street benches; walking is the best way to explore George Town and it's nice to have these benches around, especially if you are bringing your parents / grandparents.
Another way to explore; bicycles! I didn't check out the rates and from memory, i don't remember many cyclists in Penang; maybe because there wasn't a dedicated bicycle lane and roads were generally too narrow.
Komtar Tower ahead of us!
Joo Hooi Cafe - where i had my first Penang meal; Penang char kway teow, oyster omelette, chee cheong fun and the famous Teochew chendul!
As explained in my separate posting on Joo Hooi Cafe, the chendol stall may be separated from the kopitiam but you can definitely order from the green-shirt employees when you are seated within. If time is not in your favour, then ask for the dessert in a plastic cup for ease of drinking. I prefer chendol in a bowl though.
Traditional biscuits and pastries for sale in a push / pull cart!
Next to Joo Hooi Cafe is Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop (名香泰餅家); famous for their trishaw egg tarts, you may also indulge in many other delectable Chinese pastries in that shop! There's even a dine-in area for those who wish to be serenaded by classical Chinese oldies.
Shopping wise, i didn't expect much and there was also the lack of motivation to buy anything; this contrasted from Bangkok where i can literally go nuts over shopping!
I did contemplate buying a few shirts with Penang street art prints for Jovyn and Jerald but they have grown so much; i wouldn't want to bear the risk of wasting my money and getting tees that don't fit.
Colourful shutters!
A flock of pigeons on the ground - the younger me would have dashed towards them! Now that i am less active with a slower reaction, i am worried they would shit on me if i were to attempt the same move.
Hot, hot, hot! Long accustomed to my air conditioned office and staying in the comfort of my house, it's been a while since i last walked for so long under the sun.
Part of the KOMTAR (short for KOMpleks Tun Abdul Razak) development, Prangin Mall was phrase three and opened for business back in 2001. Sadly, it is considered as an ageing shopping centre and doesn't command the allure it did a decade ago.
The 68-storey, 231.7-meter tall KOMTAR tower - it's now undergoing a revitalisation project and the most exciting thing to look out for had to be the look-through sky walk on the roof!
We didn't explore KOMTAR further as most people in our group were clueless on what to do and going to a shopping centre, when we had plenty in Singapore, didn't seem quite right given the limited time we had in Penang. Hence, we continued our way to the next place on my itinerary and chanced upon the sight above; submerging rim to get rid of the grease / dirt, i guess.
A hardware shop along the way; you can still find shops like this in Singapore and i can count about two right here at Chong Pang, where i stay. The only difference is that the ones in Singapore were too cluttered and it will be easy to ask the shopkeeper than try to look for the items yourself.
Lebuh Carnarvon - the street which shall lead us to the famous street arts.
Random picture as i have too many and i am running out of words.
A clan temple by the Teoh-surname. In Singapore, the same surname doesn't have the extra H letter. It's fascinating that Zhang (in hanyu pinyin / 张) can be pronounced in so many different forms; cheung, chang, teoh, teo, chong, teau, tiong. I know because my surname is Zhang too!
The section where the group broke apart as not many people share my interest in the paranormal; the next item on my itinerary was to check out the Ghost Museum!
Honestly, walking along Georgetown is like adding colours and realism to the back and white photographs we often see of old streets in Southeast Asia eons ago.
Old facade remains while the business within might not be the same; it might shock you to note that this is a 9-room guesthouse known as Sinkeh!
Had a great time at the Ghost Museum! Want to know what to expect and whether it's worth the RM 28 per adult ticket (for foreigners), click here!
Famished after the unique experience? You may visit the Shinise Cafe & Bistro that's just right across the street from Ghost Museum. It's a comfortable cafe and the only issue i faced was that the air conditioning could have been cooler!
The sun was setting!
Many interesting attractions closed by about 7pm and this model kit museum was no exception. Want to know what's inside? A teaser is available at their website here.
I love the big round orange eyes!
Hm.... just wondering if cold storage in Singapore would sue for trademark infringement. This company was literally a cold storage for items like pork, sea cucumber, fish maw.
At the corner of Lebuh Melayu and Lebuh Carnarvon; we wondered if we would still bump into our friends, who broke away from the group at this junction, in search of the nearby street art installations.
The red house - in Singapore, the same-named red house was infamous for its haunting although the last i checked, it has since been converted into a kindergarten.
I would have gone in if it wasn't closed as i couldn't find some of the signs in Singapore and i could feel the company's passion by looking at the number of signs pasted right outside.
This was supposed to be some gourmet marshmallows (with flavours like vanilla, lemon, chocolate, rose, passion fruit, stout and salted caramel) that even my travel mates were aware of. I am not a big fan of marshmallows and prefer them barbecued to a gooey, caramelised mess.
George Town World Heritage Inc (GTWHI) - i read about a piece of news on it recently and saw that the CEO was a student from the NUS department i last worked in!
The state agency that "manages, monitors and promotes the heritage of George Town", GTWHI has a comprehensive map detailing location of heritage traders, attractions in cultural enclave etc. You may click the above for a clearer picture.
Hm..... a Golden Village hotel.
Bicycle lane along Lebuh Acheh - despite the thinner crowd, my excellent map reading skill did point towards the right direction. What i didn't know then was that shops closed early and it was a Friday!
The trishaw in Penang with the cyclist on the back; plus point from the viewpoint of the rider is that you would have a full view in front of you and plus point from the cyclist's viewpoint is that should there be a head-on accident, he /she would be somewhat protected.
One of the still-open businesses that sells souvenirs, brooches, cosmetic jewellery. To the ladies, this was a godsend and i think we spent close to 30 minutes inside.
A merchant association that seemed more like a dumpster or a store room for a karang guni (rag and bone) operator!
Old building again with a flag-pole lookalike in the middle.
Air Street can be literally deciphered in two ways as air is air in English but in Malay, air (pronounced as ah eh) means water. In this case, it's water street since it's the company name for a drink stall!
We got to a T-junction and proceeded to Cannon Street which would lead us to the Street of Harmony. To view more photographs on our evening walk along Cannon Street and Street of Harmony, click here.
At the end of the Street of Harmony, we looked to our 11 o'clock and saw a familiar sight; isn't that Bayview Hotel Georgetown?! Sadly, hunger beckoned and we forged ahead with our search for the hawker centre near Esplanade.
The esplanade was gearing for a big event on the next day; a music festival and sound checks were being conducted to ensure a smooth delivery.
Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang - essentially Penang City Hall which administers not just George Town but also Penang Island as a whole.
War Memorial that didn't strike me as impressive. However, regardless the size and magnitude, it's the thought of count to remember those who were sacrificed in the name of wars and conflicts.
Food truck - i am not sure if the rules have been relaxed for food trucks in Singapore but i am looking forward to the day when i could have comfort food from a food truck when i am walking along the beach, in a park etc.
I mentioned about the big-sized bubbles along the promenade; aside from the bubbles, you can also purchased toys from this mamak shop next to the hawker centre!
While the others have full meals, i am aiming for only fruit rojak. Frankly, i wanted to try the food at Red Garden Food Paradise and i needed some stomach space..
Yes, i did sneak out for a late-night dinner at Red Garden Food Paradise before rejoining the group for a drink at the Three Sixty° Revolving Restaurant and Sky Bar in Bayview Hotel!
Blue mansion at night - do you know that it's rumoured to be haunted?
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For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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The Super Good Muah Chee from the Man on Scooter @ Penang [Outside Kek Lok Si 極樂寺]
Renowned as a food paradise, the one thing i realised about Penang food is that the portion is generally small which means i am always in seek of snacks / desserts after my main meal.
On day two, i had char kway teow and prawn noodles for lunch yet my stomach was telling me to go ahead and order muah chee from this man on scooter! Nothing fanciful about this mobile stall with just two laminated posters (showing the price) and a big umbrella to shade from the sun.
There wasn't any queue (just one group ahead of me) and the man was quick to make my order despite using only one hand to prepare my packet of muah chee. I read somewhere that muah chee is actually easy to make and maybe i should try out in my kitchen in time to come!
Nice little golden nuggets encased in a mix of peanut bits and sugar; the muah chee was soft to the bite without sticking to my teeth! The peanuts were fresh and aromatic with just the right sweetness. To share the "fats", i offered the muah chee to my travel mates and everyone said it was super good!
We attempted to buy a few packets after touring Kek Lok Si but the man was already not at the spot! A friend's son was devastated! For the benefit of those who would be visiting Penang soon, appended above is the map for your reference, with the red snowflake indicating the location where i last found the man on scooter.
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Location
Near entrance of Kek Lok Si
Opposite Beng Chin Garden Kopitiam
Price
Muah Chee - S$3 a pack
For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Rainbow Ice Ball (彩虹冰球) along Armenian Street @ Penang Island [Malaysia]
I was 10 when i had my first ice ball and since then, i didn't touch a single one as it was a huge challenge trying to eat as much as you could before it melted away.
26 years later, i chanced upon this ice ball shop along a street in Penang that was renowned for its street art and was captivated by pictures of the rainbow ice ball. I was apprehensive but i figured that with a much bigger mouth, i might be in a better position to enjoy the dessert that was popular in my parents' childhood.
For a moment, i was thinking if the lady had gotten my order wrong as the last ice ball i had wasn't prepared in a bowl! Nevertheless, i had no issue accepting chendol or ice kacang if that's what's in her mind.
I worried too much; to make the ice ball, she cupped two bowls of ice together and with a fast stroke, the ice ball was ready to be dressed.
You are free to choose three flavours (each in their signature colour) and i couldn't quite remember what i selected except that the purple grape was one of them.
Ta-dah! In all simplicity, this was just ice with sweetened flavoured syrup yet in the hot, sunny weather i had to endure that day; happiness enveloped me as i slowly chipped off the compact ice! So shiok! With two sticks sticking out and a square, plastic bowl to hold the melted ice, eating it was so much easier!
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Location
Along Lebuh Armenian,
Penang Island, Malaysia
Price
Ice Ball - RM 2.50
For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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走进不二法门 - The Place with Many Life-Sized Buddha Statues at Kek Lok Si @ Penang Island [Malaysia]
I got trigger happy again and there's no way i can cover the biggest temple on Penang Island in one or two postings; however, i have no idea what this area was and shall henceforth title it as the place with many life-sized Buddha statues.
It's a pity i didn't have the wide-angle lens and the above is the best i can manage. Of course, in the midst of the excitement (to take more photographs), i have conveniently forgotten that the iphone has the panorama function.
The above will give you a better idea on the number of statues and we are only looking at one row; with four walls surrounding the three-storey building, it's a lot of them!
A notice on the side mentioned a donation of RM 400 that would help towards painting the "holy statues"; obviously, it would increase your merit and hopefully help you to reduce your karma when you die. Sorry, i don't follow that warped rationale.
View ahead; as Kek Lok Si was built on the side of the hill and it's an upward climb to cover every part of the temple, the sight was pretty good although it can't be compared to Penang Hill.
Guess what's the marker that i would take? The KOMTAR tower somewhere middle right in the above photograph. Time to go up the stairs!
Before that, the gigantic guanyin statue that's at the back. New to the scene, it's now identified as the new icon for the temple. What's the old one then? I shall show you shortly as the view was more impressive on the second floor.
萬佛寶塔 - the ten thousand-buddha pagoda; unlike common Chinese pagodas that are slender and tall, this unique structure was the old icon and one that i remember fondly from the trips made to Penang two decades ago.
With so many buildings at the back, i am wondering if we should extend the timing of the van driver as we had expended half of the rental timing and at this point, was not more 25% done with the temple!
Lioness with two cubs on the edge of a wall; notice it's piercing stare in the same way that a mother would do in order to protect its kids.
Towering buildings on the side that i found familiar; don't they look like BTO flats in Singapore?! Anyway, property prices in Penang are said to have spiked in recent years!
View ahead again but this time on the second floor.
A traditional Chinese temple archway; normally, this would be the entrance for a temple. In this case, the only way for you to venture ahead was to climb over the stone fence and roll down the hill.
Three main golden Buddha and Bodhisattva on this level. There was a third level which wasn't accessible (it was gated and locked). On a positive side, it means more time to explore the rest of the temple!
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Location Map
As above; within Kek Lok Si Temple
For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Penang Style Cheng Tng Lookalike - Restoran Traditional Home of Dessert (汕头街四果汤) along Kimberly Street @ Penang Island [Malaysia]
My original intention was to turn in early for the night on day two of our Penang trip but my travel mate had to tell me about this cold, traditional dessert he had earlier!
At 10.00 pm, a timing i normally would not take any food / desserts, i found myself on Lebuh Kimberly looking at these three almost-side-by-side shop houses that were still filled with hungry customers.
My reliable source told me to go for Restoran Traditional Home of Dessert (汕头街四果汤); the last three Chinese characters are translated to four fruit / nut (果 can mean either) soup.
In case you couldn't remember the name (as we did), just look out for the words "since 1933" when the stall first started out as a roving hawker before world war 2.
Si Koh Soup (四果汤)
With only one tummy, i had to choose my desserts carefully and it's a no brainer to go for their signature dessert; the Si Koh Soup (四果汤)!
Mix of ginkgo, lotus seeds, longan and red beans served in a bowl of ice-filled sweet soup, the first thing that came to mind was cheng tng and those who have been following my blog would know i am a big fan of cheng tng!
Taste wise, i must say it's almost on the same level of my favourite Ye Lai Xiang at Singapore's Bedok Corner; albeit without luxury ingredients like dried persimmons, winter melon. Nevertheless, the reduced sugar in comparison to Ye Lai Xiang would likely appeal to the older generation.
For that price of about S$1.20 a bowl, i am not complaining although improvements can be implemented for the relatively longer pieces of ice; crushing them into smaller bits would result in better enjoyment of the supposedly healthy soup.
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Location
84, Lebuh Kimberly,
10100 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia
Map
As above.
Menu
As above.
Pricing
Si Koh Soup - RM 3.60 (Small)
Pricing
Si Koh Soup - RM 3.60 (Small)
For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish @ Takashimaya B2 Food Hall [Singapore]
I am not a fish lover - to put it more correctly, i don't like to order fish when i am dining outside as they are priced a lot higher than other meat, especially when you want it to be as fresh as possible.
Mom, on the other hand, thinks fish is the best protein and with that in mind, Joyce suggested meeting up for a meal at Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish. Said to be popular among fish lovers, i was still taken aback by the queue in front of us!
Note: don't be a sheep by happily joining the queue; please go to the main counter, order your food and pay for it before you join the queue which was, in simpler terms, for table and seat(s).
Seating area is small for about 30 persons, thereabout and the wait can be excruciating if you are going with a larger group. As there were just my mom, sister and myself, i am already thankful to have been seated within 25 minutes!
Tea was free flow with a roasted aroma that was so enticing; we almost didn't want to leave! Service was prompt; as soon as your cup was half emptied, the service staff would appear to top it up.
Tissue paper dispenser on each table; common in Malaysia, i am just happy a dining establishment has implemented it without charging for wet tissue which is usually chargeable on a per piece basis.
Chawanmushi
Made freshly daily, this would require a preparation time of about 10-15 minutes; time that's totally worth it as it was packed with flavours for just S$3 a bowl! Darn, i almost really learn how to make chawanmushi at home!
Shio Saba Set
I would have preferred Gindara Teriyaki but it was unfortunately sold out and i had to go with the outlet chef recommendation instead. Don't eat the grilled saba skin unless your taste buds can accept the saltiness! Other than that, i thought it was too dry for my liking. Sigh... i am missing the grilled mackerel from Jeju Island.
By the way, each set came with miso soup, salad, rice, pickles and kobachi (tofu in my case). Salad was the kind drenched in familiar tasting sesame sauce whereas there's nothing exceptional about the miso soup and tofu.
Shima Hokke Set
This wasn't on the main menu but tasted much better than my shio saba.
The fish meat was moist, cooked just right and the skin was slightly crispy. For something so perfect, it has to be marred by the many tiny pieces of fish bones! They were such irritations!
Ika Teriyaki Set
It's never good to place all your eggs in one basket and that's precisely the same rationale Joyce followed when she chose squid instead of fish for her order!
Absolutely good choice as the squid was grilled to perfection with a texture that's not rubbery and not soft. With a mildly sweet teriyaki sauce brushed against the meat, i was on the verge of doing a non-negotiable swap with my sister.
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Location
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391A Orchard Road,
Takashimaya Shopping Centre,
B2 Food Hall, #B201-1,
Singapore 238873
Takashimaya Shopping Centre,
B2 Food Hall, #B201-1,
Singapore 238873
Menu
As above. Special items are indicated at the counter.
Pricing
Chawanmushi - S$3.00
Shio Saba Set - S$12.90
Shima Hokke Set - S$16.50
Ika Teriyaki Set - S$11.50
(Subject to GST)
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Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop (名香泰餅家) - Trishaw Egg Tart and Kaya Puff @ Penang Island [Malaysia]
The old fashioned logo, that undeniable retro font / print and the dated light-bulbs illuminating each character that made up two signature products in the shop - i knew i had to step in to Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop (名香泰餅家) for a better look!
Trays and trays of delectable pastries met my eyes with an irresistible aroma that almost forced me to buy every single one just so i can savour them; absolutely a bad decision for a person who had a full lunch followed by durians, muah chee and rainbow ice ball.
I eventually settled for the crispy kaya puff and trishaw egg tart even though i bought a few to share among my travel mates! That's the basic evilness of a person who is supposedly on diet yet couldn't resist food temptation; share the fats for the win!
Crispy Kaya Puff - the only comparison i can think of were the kaya puffs i had at Ipoh and despite drawing praises from my mates, i thought the crust was a tad too thick for my liking and personally, i have always preferred yellow kaya versus the green one. Whatever the case, do eat them while they are still warm!
Trishaw Egg Tart - the signature product for Ming Xiang Tai, pastry lovers would definitely dig the multiple thin layers of flaky, aromatic pastry which crumbled into a mess for individuals like me who tend to wolf down everything! The filling was moist, sweet, rich in egg; given that i had tried the famous tai cheong egg tart in Singapore a few days earlier, this was just not as fantastic but to be fair, the price of RM 2.20 (about S$0.70) was simply unmatched for the taste!
There were a lot more pastries i didn't cover and for those who wish to have a more intimate, nostalgic experience, do make use of their seating area! And do vision an empty stomach.
p.s. there's a street art mural right outside the shop!
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Location
26, Lebuh Victoria (bordering Armenian Street),
10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Map
Website
Price
Kaya Puff - RM 2.00
Trishaw Egg Tart - RM 2.20
For the itinerary of my short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Along Lebuh Armenian towards Chew Jetty for Penang's Famous Street Art Murals! @ Malaysia
The warm afternoon would be better off spent in an air-conditioned mall but as it was officially our last day on Penang Island, it wouldn't do the UNESCO site any justice if we didn't make an attempt to check out its famous street art murals!
Hence, here we were at Armenian Street! Frankly, the street art murals can be found anywhere but the highest concentration is along this stretch.
My adoration for quaint little temples means i couldn't resist stepping into the Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple which was built in the 1850s to honour the god of prosperity; easily the most popular god for Chinese.
Despite the rather narrow facade, the internal compound was huge! Managed by a board of trustees formed by four separate societies, this was a collective effort said to be one of its kind.
I didn't venture further in although the panels detailing before and after restoration were interesting enough to pique my interest for a revisit should i ever return to Penang!
Back on the main street again.
With what looked like Tibetan prayer flags fluttering on the ceiling, it appeared to be a house with eye catching curios like the old-school children mini pianos on the wall.
Postcards for sale at RM 2 each; stamps can be purchased and the shop can help to post for free! The problem is i don't think many people have the postal addresses of friends in the modern age; we prefer email address.
First art mural - a gigantic face with an expression said to mean "teach you hokkien". I was thinking it should be "talk to you in hokkien" rather than "teach you to speak in hokkien".
Showcasing multi-racialism (in art form) in a country that is very similar to our little red dot; Singapore.
A dancing lion jumping out of the wall - okay, not that realistic although the colours were vibrant enough to attract quite a number of people to take picture with it.
Street food - i wasn't crazy and definitely wasn't crazy enough to have claypot curry fish balls under the hot sun! That would be a sure way to get sore throat when i am back to Singapore!
Devastated that they couldn't get the muah chee man on a scooter near Kek Lok Si temple, Alex and a friend's son were ecstatic to see this famous muah chee mobile vendor and had to get a packet each!
It wasn't even half as comparable and Alex had to throw away more than half away! I have the feeling that most stalls have the tendency to put the word "famous" in their publicity materials. So, seeing a queue is still a better gauge even though we had been wrong before (back when we were in Malacca).
Rent a bike if you are too lazy to walk!
Another vendor selling postcards - the old fashioned way can be heartwarming in the past; i remember receiving post cards from overseas friends and it's always a nice feeling to read how things have been for them in that small space.
Pity my handwriting was incomprehensible most of the time and i am too accustomed to using the "backspace" on the keyboard nowadays! Even when i write minutes, i depend heavily on a laptop!
Though gaudy, i thought this was a ingenious way to carry the 1.5 liters bottle!
Traditional looking shophouse that housed a fusion restaurant serving cheese fondue, german B52 sausage, laksa soto ayam, vegetable curries, just to name a few.
Old books, as mentioned!
Same like the postcards, reading is facing death albeit slower as you still couldn't avoid books as a school-going child. Even for me, i had not read a book for close to 2 years. p.s. that could explain why my English is going from bad to worse.
Dark, dingy with metal shutters that could act as a torture tool if you know how to make use of it; the exterior had a vast contrast from the interior as the former had pieces of vividly coloured tees for sale!
Again, they featured the iconic street art murals of old Georgetown.
Magazines that belonged to my parents' era when they were still kids! Would you buy a copy? I might if i have a themed (retro etc) home.
As i was more in a rush to cover Chew Jetty before the sunset, i didn't bother stepping into commercial entities but in this case, a few friends walked in and the reason was simple.
Hint: they noticed a large cardboard and this created a "need".
A couple of them couldn't resist the supposedly famous premium durian ice cream! I couldn't remember how much although i did steal a bite and it was actually pretty good with a natural durian taste.
Handmade hair pin - not sure how much as vendor was just starting to lay out her wares. I wouldn't bother checking the price too as i don't REQUIRE hair pins. When my fringe gets too long, i prefer a hairband.
Art gallery - i should have gone in and maybe i would be able to purchase a few pieces to adorn the empty white walls in my home.
I don't know what you call those blankets, made up of multiple pieces of random fabric, in English; i remember having a few of them when i was young and they were so comfortable.
Interesting chairs!
Got my rainbow ice ball from a stall on the left; the second time i had this nostalgic dessert in my life and it was much easier to enjoy it this time. For review and more pictures, click here.
The details and colours of the roof decorations were head-turners! The two big Chinese characters (宝树) translated into precious / treasure tree; piquing my curiosity on what laid beyond.
The notice indicated an office next door which i couldn't find; likely they have closed for the day. As people were still exiting from the gate by pulling the shutter open, i decided to try my luck!
A beautiful building known as Cheah Kongsi; "one of the oldest Hokkien clan associations in Penang"! I think this same building was featured in quite a number of travel shows too!
As they were already closing for the day, i couldn't enter anyway and guess i had better made my way to the main street and continued my journey towards Chew Jetty.
Mini dreamcatchers - suitable for those who can sleep anywhere and everywhere; a skill i am not blessed with. Without a bed, i find it extremely hard to fall asleep.
Pikachu in the midst - Pokemon Go wasn't launched yet when i was in Penang! Now, i guess anything pertaining to Pokemon characters would have a surge in sale although the craze has somewhat tapered down in Singapore.
Manual fans - hm..... would it be easier to use a normal fan? Such small yet repetitive movements can result in a inflammation of tendinitis, i thought.
Not sure if you can see the metal art of a story teller that made up the gate; storytelling is a trade no longer seen as television and internet have completely hastened its death.
One of the most famous street art murals (Kids on Bicycle) as it correctly expresses the simple joy among the young siblings; simple pleasure of life that has been overtaken by kids glued to phones and tablets.
Its fame was determined by a natural queue!
The group can be humongous as seen from this 20-person primary school congregation! No way am i going to spend my time waiting when there's so much we have to cover.
Street busker using household appliances like kettle etc to make music; collections seem to go towards a children home in Southern Thailand.
Armenian Street comes alive every Saturday from 5 till 9pm! So do plan it in your itinerary if you wish to soak in the atmosphere comprising of traditional foods, street performances and stalls selling creative arts and cultural products!
A local ginger cat mural (Skippy) on the wall; from its perspective, we could have been downgraded into "mice" status!
Touch of local life; from this photograph, you would never have imagined it was just a stone's throw from the bustle and noise from the busy touristy street.
Another cat mural (Love Me Like Your Fortune Cat) - at one glance, i thought the artist's intention was to show a feline with its gaze up at the clear blue sky.
It was not to be; the eyes were eyeing the fish dangled by a mice! There were a number of art murals i didn't manage to catch but if you are interested, do check out the map i have appended below.
Lastly, a visit to Ming Xiang Tai pastry shop! For photos and review on its trishaw egg tart and crispy kaya puff, click here.
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Location
Lebuh Armenian,
Georgetown, Penang Island,
Malaysia
Map Showing Locations of Mural Art
As above. The ones with a circular red label denote the locations of the public street art mural with the exception of E which isn't in a public area. It is in the Ghost Museum!
For my itinerary of the short 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, please click here.
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Jollibee - Selling Fried Chicken Instead of Honey @ Changi City Point [Singapore[
Jollibee, a fast food chain from Philippines said to be more famous than McDonald's, had branched out to Singapore since 2013 but last weekend was the first time i stepped into its premise, welcomed by a life-sized bee mascot!
Having heard so much about Jollibee's fried chicken, known as Chickenjoy, i instantaneously ordered a 3-piece meal (original) as i was so deprived of oily, deep fried chicken for the past few weeks. p.s. there were indeed three pieces even though the box indicated two.
Alex had requested for no wings and it was extremely kind of the service staff to give me two pieces of drumsticks instead! Now's the time to slowly savour the fried chicken!
One bite and i knew for certain crispiness wasn't its strong point. There was a crisp to the skin but it just wasn't crunchy enough and it didn't help that the skin was also rather fatty.
Key selling point was more the freshness of the chicken (no dark-stained bones too) even though i bet some of you would lament on the lack of spices / seasonings common in KFCs. I did notice the two small bowls on my serving tray and wonder why they were there as i have a dislike for whipped / mashed potatoes.
According to Alex, they were sauces for us to dip the chicken into. Thinking this would be the key determinant to dramatically improve the taste, i soaked the chicken meat immediately and took a bite. Honestly, i think the Thai chilli sauce from Kimball would do a better job.
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Location
5 Changi Business Park Central 1, 01-37/38,
Changi City Point, Singapore 486038
Price
3-piece Chicken Meal - S$9.50
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