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Category: Penang

Biggest Tai Su Yeah (King Of Hades), Bukit Mertajam

Biggest Tai Su Yeah (King Of Hades), Bukit Mertajam – It’s hungry ghost month (Phor Thor), or just simply the 7th month in the lunar calendar. It’s one culture festival for the Chinese. It used to be a very eerie month but with the busy city nightlife and the loud ‘kotai’ playing at almost every neighbourhood, the eerie feeling gets away.

Taboos are strictly observed in this month to respect the dead spirit (we call them ‘buddies’). Parents always warn children not to play at night or go out till late night in this month. Yeah, I still don’t really dare to get pass midnight where the city gets quieter a bit. Haha.

During hungry ghost month, many people worship the King Of Hades – Tai Su Yeah. Peter Tan has a good write up of Tai Su Yeah. I went to Jalan Pasar at Bukit Mertajam (玄天庙) to visit the biggest Tai Su Yeah in Malaysia and also do a little prayer.

It was very crowded. Worshipper of all ages offering the Tai Su Yeah/King Of Hades with joss stick, ‘gold’ paper, and fruits. I prayed and I went away. There’s a few thing you cannot do at there, considered taboo, like you need to be careful of what you talk, no vulgar stuff, have to be kind, and do not place anything on their offering table even for just a while, it will be considered as coffering to the ‘buddies’ and the Tai Su Yeah.

Well, Happy Hungry Ghost Month!

August 23, 2012
Better Stay At Home On Public Holiday In Penang

Better Stay At Home On Public Holiday In Penang – Penang’s traffic was so bad today (Monday)! It’s Hari Raya Day 2, and it’s traffic jam everywhere, especially tourist-centric area like Kek Lok Si, Gurney Drive and more. Argh. It’s good to see people visiting Penang, but the traffic condition have to be improved.

Wanted to eat Asam Laksa today at Kek Lok Si but it took me like half an hour to reach there. Upon reaching, there’s a long queue of people waiting for laksa, I assume, tourist. No place parking and long queue, might as well go somewhere else.

Well, I think, it’s better to stay at home during public holiday, what do you think? What did you do today?

August 21, 2012
A Evening Walk Along Gurney Drive On Festive Season

A Evening Walk Along Gurney Drive On Festive Season – It’s Hari Raya, Day 2. Penang has became a very congested little island on this festive season with Malaysian from other states flocking into the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town. Traffic congestion are everywhere in Penang.

To prevent getting trap and being frustrated in the traffic congestion, one of the activity I did to kill time was strolling along Gurney Drive, a quick walk for a little sweaty exercise with my parents. It was some unusual activity, normally I would just jog, but it was just walking with a faster pace, enjoying the breeze and laughing at those who were stuck in the traffic jam. HAHA.

Gurney Drive has more people than normal day as it’s a public holiday. Unfortunately, it’s low tide and a huge part of it revealed the ugly muddy shore. Seriously, I am quite sad to see this unhappy scene. It’s like the shores are crying. Something need to be done, environment expert, state government, just turn it into a park, expand the walkway, or whatever way to bring back the lovely shore.

The other end of Gurney Drive still looks good. It’s still looks good and kids picking up seashell can be seen at there. It was a dull and cloudy day, a nice day out for walking, but not so nice for photography.

On the way back, detoured to Gurney Paragon for a little desserts and Gurney Drive hawker for some nice soya milk, as well as fresh cockles (si hum) lok-lok. What a nice night.

Happy Hari Raya, day 2 and enjoy the kotai in your area. Happy hungry ghost month too!

One more thing, did I mention I met local artist and TV host – Miau Miau Lin Jing Miao (苗苗林静苗)? =)

August 21, 2012
Sunset: Anjung Indah, Balik Pulau, Penang

Sunset: Anjung Indah, Balik Pulau, Penang – Not a great sunset it was, at Anjung Indah, Balik Pulau. This sunset watching place is easy to find as it’s halfway when you are on the way to Balik Pulau through Paya Terubong. It’s the mid-hill level where it’s very happenings during durian season in mid-year. There’s chair around and you can get a good view of the sun setting in the Straits of Malacca here.

Lovely Hueisean went sunset watching together.

Unfortunately, the haze was the down factor for the sunset. Anyway, it was fun checking this out and I will be back with my longer telephoto lens. The next stop in Balik Pulau, perhaps is Kampung Sungai Burong. =D Don’t really dare to go there now as it’s the Hungry Ghost Month, better get back home early before night falls.

August 19, 2012
Sunrise: Teluk Tempoyak @ Batu Maung, Penang

Sunrise: Teluk Tempoyak @ Batu Maung, Penang – Checking out sunrise/sunset is one of my favourite thing to do now. The moment seeing the sun rises from the horizon, sun ray penetrating the dark sky is like greeting you of a coming new day, the feeling is just awesome. However, it’s not easy to wake up early for me. HAHA. Anyway, let’s check out some sunrise that I went watching at Teluk Tempoyak, a fishing village at Batu Maung, Penang few weeks back.

Many friends told me that Teluk Tempoyak has the best sunrise in Penang, with the view of second Penang Bridge at the background and with clear blue sky, it’s even prettier. It was far from my place, took about 30 minutes to reach there. The fishing village was quiet in the morning. I was afraid that no sunrise can be seen because of the strong haze present on that morning. I waited anxiously with my girlfriend Hueisean for the sunrise.

The haze looks like fog in picture and it makes me feels like Hangzhou, China. =D

The place is a mix of peaceful nature and a bit of messiness. One side, you can see green hill and hear the sound of the wave hitting the shore, another side you can see the construction of Second Penang Bridge. It was just two of us at the shore waiting for sunrise, we waited not long, about 7.25am, we saw the little round sun up in the air. Although there’s no clear blue sky, the sighting was cool with a red round sun blending with the view of Second Penang Bridge. Awesome.

Me and her.

The Golden Sun, reminded me of the game on Gameboy Advance.

Hueisean posing on the bridge.

Just sad that it’s not a clear blue sky morning. If I’ve got omph next time, I’ll come back again, it’s pretty far to me. Haha. After the sunrise, we went for breakfast at Church Street.

August 18, 2012
Bukit Mertajam Duck Egg Char Koay Teow

(BM) Bukit Mertajam Duck Egg Char Koay Teow – Bukit Mertajam is famous for duck egg char koay teow, yes or no? That’s what my girlfriend told me. George Town also has duck egg char koay teow, just frying with duck egg is top-up request, where as in Bukit Mertajam, you only get a choice of egg and that’s duck egg. Duck egg makes your char koay teow taste better.

There’s one good one in Bukit Mertajam that used to locate on the roadside of Jalan Kulim has now moved to a new place, also on Jalan Kulim, but to be exact, is at Kampung Baru, in a coffee shop.

I was having hard time looking for it because there’s not much people posted it on the Internet or Facebook. My girlfriend asked around her friends and finally we found the place.

At RM4.50 a plate with a deep fried egg omelete. It’s good in the sense of different with others that I’d in George Town. The koay teow is darker because of different soy sauce used and best of all, lots of lards (not healthy though)! The deep fried egg omelette is compliment to the koay teow and it’s a must add-on when you order a plate of this. If the koay teow can be dryer than it will be best.

Opens only at night, after 8pm.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=5.352715,100.47309&spn=0.001282,0.001717&z=19&iwloc=0004c77950382deaaacfa&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

August 18, 2012
New Breakfast Place At Church Street With Toast & Egg

New Breakfast Place At Church Street With Toast & Egg – Besides Toh Soon Cafe, I have recently found another breakfast place in George Town, Penang and that’s at Eng Loh Coffee Shop, Church Streeet. This little coffee shop located under the classic and still running Eng Loh Hotel. It’s a kopitiam serving a few hawker food like Koay Teow Thng, Wan Tan Mee, fried bee hoon as well as a variety of toast bread.

I always wanted to look for good breakfast but I kinda hard to wake up early in the morning. While I was still in Penang few weeks back, I got up early to check out the sunset with Hueisean dear, then after that we headed to Church Street for this breakfast.

I saw people who was eating the Wan Tan Mee and I was so tempted to order one too, but ended with toast and western breakfast set. Haha. In the in-house coffee shop menu, you will see a variety of toast for you to choose, it’s hard to try them all, the best is get a lot of people then order all of them. =D It’s pretty interesting.

I ordered a normal butter toast with half boiled egg. But with kaya paste, it will be better.

Western breakfast set, not nice in my opinion.

Anyway, I will come back again for other stuff, it’s a good place for morning breakfast in George Town. Price is OK-nice too.

Eng Loh Coffee Shop
48 Church Street (Lebuh Gereja)
10200 Penang

Opening Hours : 8am – 3pm
Closed : Sunday

GPS Coordinate : N05 25.106 E100 20.457

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=5.418539,100.340914&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004c6afb2a4a7a86bba8&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

August 8, 2012
Sunset: Not So Awesome At Tanjung Bungah

Sunset: Not So Awesome At Tanjung Bungah – Last week in Penang was not awesome because it’s haze everywhere. But I still ignore the hazy weather and go out to enjoy the sunset, hoping that I could get some good one. The one at Tanjung Bungah wasn’t that nice, but it’s a fun one for me.

I went to the little beach in front fo Naza Taliyya Hotel with Kenny. I guess this place has a good view of Tanjung Bungah with beautiful seaside condominium in view. Tanjung Bungah is now famous for luxurious sea view super-condominium, how wish I can own a unit there too. =D

Well, I couldn’t really get a good view of the sun set, it just went behind the cloud. =)

Have a nice day!

August 7, 2012
Hazy Sunrise At Tanjung Tokong

Hazy Sunrise At Tanjung Tokong – Few days ago while I was still in Penang, I woke up early, at about 7am to check out and see if there’s any nice sunrise from my condo’s balcony. Unfortunately, NOT! It’s so hazy, haze it’s not really a problem, but it’s the cloud that blocks away the sun.

At some point, I could see the big red round sun, but a few minutes later, it’s gone! It’s risen into the thick cloud.

I went back to my bed after that. =D Very addicted to sunrise/sunset lately, they are the most beautiful moment of the day.

August 6, 2012
Ernest’s Mural At Chew Jetty – Boy On Boat

Ernest’s Mural At Chew Jetty – Boy On Boat – Went to Chew Jetty last week to check out the mural by Ernest Zacharevic which is about a boy with fishing rod on a sampan. I’m so outdated already because it had been there for like a month. Anyway, I still want to go check it out and capture photo because it’s cute.

Weather wasn’t that nice that day, it was hazy, humid and hot! Argh. I couldn’t spend a long time under the hot sun, it’s very uncomfortable as I was unprepared. Just went there spontaneously and did not expect the weather to be so hot.

Here’s Hueisean with the mural. It’s drawn on the wall of a homestay wooden house at Chew Jetty.

July 31, 2012

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