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Category: Penang

George Town World Heritage Day Celebration Weekend

George Town, Penang celebrates an annual Heritage Day Celebration on the 7 of July to mark the city being incorporated in UNESCO World Heritage List of Cities and Sites back in 2008. The annual celebration brings various activities and street festival that showcases the cultural side of Penang.

The Meng Eng Soo Temple Open House is part of the 3-days festival and I’ve brought myself into the street to feel and see Penang. It’s just beautiful the street of George Town is closed up for pedestrian, guides explaining the beauty past of Penang, and the sharing of wonderful culture.

Although the annual festival is quite repetitive, it’s a lovely day to just indulge yourself into ‘Penang’ and remind oneself that Penang is culturally beautiful. I’ve not been to such event since many years back and this year, I see myself back into the city and the celebration!

July 14, 2017
The New Chowrasta Market Is Very Cool

The newly upgraded and opened Chowrasta Market is very cool! Had a quick pass through this century old market today while having my car parked in its new multi-storeys carpark, it’s delighted to see a beautiful addition into this gorgeous George Town.

Unfortunately, elevator is not working, yet.

Unfortunately, most of the vendors are still having their stalls by the road instead of moving in, but I am pretty sure the government will work out a plan to filled up the empty stalls in the wet market.

A harmonious blend of old and new, with a touch of unique culture.

If you are in Penang during this Chinese New Year season, you have to visit the Chowrasta Market and the surroundings to experience the happenings festive shoppings. It’s the most crowded time of all years and you will be amazed by the items sold and cheering atmosphere.

Chowrasta Market can be easily reached by Penang Central Area Transit (CAT) free bus.

January 21, 2017
Two Buns, A Very Hipster Burger & Booze Restaurant

Update: Our last visit (Nov 19) shows that this awesome burger eatery has closed down. Sad.

Two Buns, a very hispter burger shop on Carnavon Street, blends well with beer, that’s where their tagline comes in – ‘Burger & Booze’.

Hello, I am back again, after hiatus for more than a year and I find it exciting to write a blog post, sharing good food; and no, this is not a sponsored post. Just came across this hipster outlet a few days back while running errand in town. The artsy minimalist decorated eatery caught my attention, and the combination of burger and beers is just tempting.

Invited a few friends along on a Saturday night for a burger night out. Burger starts from RM10, and bottled Tiger, Heineken, Guinness and imported craft beer are available. Settled with a bucket of the mighty Tiger (RM65) and a Don Pablo (RM15) burger for myself.

Don Pablo – Deep Fried Chicken, Bacon & Cheese sandwhich is fragrant sesame bun.

Char Siu Pork Burger, sweet enough but I still like Don Pablo more.

Thai-style Sio Bak (Roasted Pork) with sweet chilli sauce. Crispy enough, but cooled when serve. Got to improve a little on that yo.

I was just happy that they are not another black charcoal burger copy-cat. I am sicked of everyone copying each other. Classic sesame bun is still the best.

One thing that needed to improve – THE LONG WAITING TIME!

Two Buns – Burger & Booze is at No. 177, Lebuh Carnavon, 11000 George Town. See their Facebook page for more detail. Parking is available by the roadside!

January 19, 2017
Monkey Beach & Muka Head LightHouse Are Penang’s Hidden Treasures

Monkey Beach & Muka Head Light House Are Penang’s Hidden Treasures – Located at the far North West end of Penang island where the country’s smallest national park is – Taman Negara Teluk Bahang, there lies a few trekking routes in this mini rainforest. I’ve trekked the Pantai Kerachut route before and this time was to Monkey Beach which further leads up to the Muka Head Lighthouse.

Didn’t knowing about the difficulty of the trek, we just embarked on a walk in the rainforest with route lies by the seaside. It was a nice morning, joining explorers from different places. Though, I realised that the crowds had increased compare to years ago where it was still a quiet national park.

Upon registering yourself at the national park, the trek to Monkey Beach took an hour for us and we were welcomed by a pristine ivory sandy beach, but without the crystal clear water. Stalls trying to make some money out of the hot weather with cold drinks and light food were aligned on the beach with boat operator touting visitors to take their boat to another side or back to the port.

Not many people was in the water due to the presence of jelly fish, but the beach was not overly crowded like Batu Ferringhi, but happenings.

The real trek started from Monkey Beach to Muka Head with 45 minutes of full ascending route which exhausted my energy pretty much upon reaching the top. It’s difficult, for a person without much regular exercises. BUT, the top was definitely not disappointing with a very good breeze and a beautiful peaceful view of another side of Penang that one doesn’t see usually.

Spent half an hour up there for a short rest before leaving back to the beach and hired one of the boat (RM40/boat) to take 6 of us back to the entrance.

Registering before heading into the national park is compulsory for all.

This is Monkey Beach. How could you resist the relaxing side of Penang? However, no monkey was sighted here!

A dead huge jelly fish that looked like plastic bag washed up shore. Not surprise to see floating jelly fish on the water surface, just don’t get close to them.

The stall does fried rice too!

It’s lovely place to camp too!

The lighthouse built by the British in 1883. One of the few colonial lighthouses left in Malaysia. It tough getting up here!

The inside of the lighthouse.

The view from the top of the lighthouse, overlooking the Andaman Sea.

July 9, 2016
Thaipusam in Penang, 2016

Thaipusam in Penang, 2016 – Haven’t been to Thaipusam for many years, the last time was like 6 years ago that I went to join the rituals of throwing coconut to cleanse the road with coconut water for the devotees.

It was a great one, visiting the Thaipusam area at Waterfall Road on the 2nd day of Thaipusam holy festival and it was crowded as usual. Getting up to the top of Waterfall Hill Temple (long name ahead!!! – Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple) was tiring yet exciting because the view from the top was so good, not to mentioned the air was cooler up there.

Not a Hindu, but still did a prayer at the temple for good health and good wealth. Getting back down ended my journey at the Thaipusam festival. Will do a more thorough Thaipusam experience next time!

March 7, 2016
Short (Night) While At Hin Bus Depot

Short (Night) While At Hin Bus Depot – Brought a couple of friends to visit the former bus depot turned art gallery in downtown George Town to check out the place and found some interesting installation at site. Realised that shots from a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are quite good!

January 13, 2016
Guan Yin Dan – The Goddess Birthday

Interestingly, the goddess of mercy or Guan Yin Ma has 3 birthday in a year and today is the last birthday of the year. I do not know why the goddess has three birthday, someone please share with me the story please? Haha.

October 12, 2014
Trip To Penang: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion & Penang Road Chendul

Trip To Penang: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion & Penang Road Chendul – After spending about an hour or less at the Peranakan Mansion, the next and also the last place to go with the PHT’s tour guide is the Blue Mansion, real name – Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. A very blue mansion that is rated top 10 mansion in the world by Yahoo! Travel.

So, what’s so special about it? The special thing is you can take photos of it outside but inside, you are not allow to take any photos. So, sucks. The real special and cool thing is that the mansion was own by Cheong Fatt Tze, a super duper rich businessman from China. Then the mansion was built with a almost perfect feng shui setup which I don’t know how to explain, so you have to go there for a little tour to get the clue about it.

Right now, it’s like a musuem, nothing much to see in there except listening to the tour guide explain about the place and it’s a hotel inside for tourist.

Outside is fascinating, inside the feng shui explanation is cool, other than that, that’s it. It’s an OKOK-place for me, if I can snap pictures inside, it could be even awesome-er.

Then, it’s time to bid good bye to the Mr Tour Guide from PHT and it’s a very hot noon, I brought the same bunch of friends to some special treatment and that’s – Chendul! They all only know about Malacca’s Chendul, now they get to know another awesome Chendul in Malaysia – Penang Road Teochew Chendul! It’s so refreshing eating chendul under the hot weather.

Do you like Penang’s Chendul?

January 17, 2014
Kwong Sang House, George Town

Kwong Sang House, George Town – Heritage-style cafe and restaurants are now here and there in this UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town. There’s so many to visit right now and I know that there’s still more to come in the future! Somehow, do you realised the food that each of these heritage-style cafe offered are similar? Coffee, pastry, pasta, pizza and sandwiches. Hopefully I will something different like parmesan port chicken pie, jumbo hot dog, grilled marinated lamb shoulder, pork chops and stuff like that.

Anyway, Kwong Sang House, a restaurant converted from an ex-tailor shop which has a tailor-theme in the little heritage shophouse which serves food like pizza, pasta, chicken chops, fish and chips and more. Food is tuned to a more localised taste, similar to those western food stall that you can find at food court, but with a better setting, bigger portion and more beautiful food presentation.

I recently went to tried their Spaghetti Aglio Olio & Chicken and Ham Pizza. My personal liking goes to the spaghetti, but then it’s not better than the one at I had at Redbean Bags @ Publika. Chicken and Ham Pizza was rather plain with lesser ingredient. I might come back to try out some other food in their menu provided the price is quite reasonable at about RM10-RM20. The restaurant itself is simple and relaxing too!

Kwong Sang House 廣生洋服

36 Leith Street 10220 Georgetown Penang

Tel: +6012-556 5509 / +6012-4939 230

Business Hour: 12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-11pm (close on Thursday)

View Shiok Or Not : Food & Travel Map in a larger map

August 27, 2013
Evening Walk Along Gurney Drive

Evening Walk Along Gurney Drive – Back to Penang finally! I have been spending my time here accompanying my family, catching up with mates, indulging with all the delicious street food and just going around here and there randomly, there’s nothing much to do, it’s just rest and relax.

Well, Gurney Drive is getting to be my favourite place recently as I’ve been going there to for evening jog/walk lately. It’s a very nice place for this short jog on a 2km stretch of seaside pavement with chilling sea breeze and enjoy seeing different types of people spending their time there. Funny that you can see people having picnic there, eating durian, and foreign labours holding hands (seriously, but I didn’t get photos of them, I scared I will get beaten)! HAHA.

Anyway, I armed myself with my camera, and went for a walk yesterday evening. I was just too lazy to jog and don’t want to stop myself from my workout routine, so thought of photo-walking as an exercise. XD

They call it the Tsunami Sculpture. LOL.

Ugly side of Gurney Drive.

Another view of ugly Gurney Drive.

The new attraction in town!

Parking ticket issuer, waiting time to pass.

Fishing by Gurney Drive.

Me.

Mr Muar Chee.

WTF. NAZI?

Overrated, overpriced Gurney Drive Food Court.

August 27, 2013

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