NICK CHAN DOT NET

Category:

Nick Chan’s Year-End Flashpacking China Trip

FOLLOW TRAVEL UPDATES @ AWAY FROM COMPUTER

Nick Chan’s Year-End Flashpacking China Trip – Hello fellow friends and readers, I will be going for flashpacking trip to China and Hong Kong in this coming two weeks. Flashpacking is a travel type somewhere between budget backpacking and a normal trip, and still uses a backpack. This is my first backpacking trip – traveling with just a backpack, camera and myself.

Well, not trying to promote AirAsia but since the desktop wallpaper so nice, so I share it up here also. Haha. AirAsia is my flight to Hangzhou (Shanghai).

Zhouzhuang Ancient Water Town – Venice Of The East.

Manhattan-alike of the East – Shenzhen. Photo by defence.pk

The trip basically covers a little bit of Hangzhou, more of Shanghai, a little bit of outskirt Shanghai like the ancient water town in Suzhou – Zhouzhuang, Xi Tang, then to Shenzhen for some gadget and electronics hunting, ending the trip in Hong Kong for some awesome Chinese dimsum.

China blocked Facebook and Twitter, luckily I still have Nick Chan Dot Net and Away From Computer. Follow me on my blog, Twitter and Away From Computer for latest updates! I update more on Away From Computer as I constantly post image to there.

See you!

FOLLOW TRAVEL UPDATES @ AWAY FROM COMPUTER

December 6, 2011
Penang Turf Club Horse Show 2011

#1: Penang Turf Club House Show 2011 poster.

Penang Turf Club Horse Show 2011 – For all the 19 years being in Penang, I have never been into the Penang Turf Club once just until recently. The Penang Turf Club is a horse racing track and there’s a golf course in there too. It’s similar to some other Equestrian Club or Hong Kong’s Happy Valley Jockey Club.

Last weekend, the Penang Turf Club opens it door the public with free parking and free entrance for the Horse Show 2011. It’s a carnival where people can see horse, take a ride on the pony, ride on the horse carriage, food stalls, games and more.

#2: Signage that guide you around the horse show.

I went to check it out for a while to see what is it all about and mainly to visit the Penang Turf Club. Actually, you can visit the Penang Turf Club at anytime when there’s horse racing, but then you have to pay for RM6 parking and another RM6 for entry to see the horse racing. I would like to see a real horse racing too, but I wouldn’t gamble. =)

#3: Quite a number of performance that can be enjoy and view at there.

There’s quite a number of activities you can do at the horse show, there’s game stall, performance, horse riding and more. I went in to tour a round and check out some cute horses.

#4: Yo, waddduppp horsee.

#5: Looking noob and sleepy.

#6: Itz ME!

#7: Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

I see many parents bring their kids to visit the carnival. I think it’s a good place for a good family outing since going to shopping malls will get boring some times.

#8: WTH! Snakes!! Snakes show at Penang Turf Club.

#9: Snake is so ugly, do you like?

#10: Food stalls, not so interesting.

#11: Some games for the kids

#12: Nice gate.

#13: Little boy sitting on a fake horse.

Taking photos at there were kinda fun too as there’s many1:1 horse statue for you to ride and take photos.

#14: Clown without make up. Balloon boy!

#15.

#16: Indie band playing on the stage.

#17: Kids.

#18: Take photos on the horse. Knight!

#19: Cute poster of the Penang Turf Club Horse Show 2011.

#20: Only now I know Penang Turf Club is so nice!

#21: OMGGGGGG, so niceeeeeeeeee, so green.

#22: Flying phoenix, mechanical horse riding.

#23: Pony riding, for kids only.

#24: Entrance to Penang Turf Club horse racing viewing deck, a place for the adults.

#25: Carriage riding at RM4/ride. Not bad.

I think it’s a good carnival and hopefully there will be more similar one from Penang Turf Club. Haha. Didn’t really spend a long time at there cause was “saja-saja” touring for fun and take photos. Happy Monday!

December 5, 2011
Penang Tanjung Bungah Goreng Pisang (Pisang Goreng)

#1.

Penang Tanjung Bungah Goreng Pisang (Pisang Goreng) – Pisang Goreng literally means fried banana (banana fritter) is a famous snack food in Malaysia, grammatically it’s called Pisang Goreng but Chinese called it the “goreng pisang” more.

Banana is battered and then deep fried in hot oil.. It reveals a crunchy skin with a sweet banana fruit inside.

#2.

There’s one stall at Tanjung Bungah, on the junction of Jalan Chan Swee Teong and Jalan Tanjung Bungah, on a little lorry that sells the goreng pisang as well as several other deep fried local snack food like tapioca (RM0.70/pcs), glutinous rice (RM1.50/pcs), banana cake (RM0.50/pcs), yam (RM1.00/pcs), cempedak, sweet potato (RM0.70/pcs) and green bean (RM0.70/pcs). All of them are deep fried with a crunchy outer skin.

#3: Banana cake on the far right. We call it Kueh Kor Lok.

#4: Fried glutinous rice and tapioca.

#5: Fried Yam.

#6: Fried Sweet Potato.

I bought fried banana that day and it was crispy and sweet. Will definitely come back for more fried banana. The little stall has a Facebook page too!

Penang Goreng Pisang

Junction corner of Jalan Chan Swee Teong and Jalan Tanjung Bungah

Telephone: +6019-4467343

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=5.466623,100.287699&spn=0.005126,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004b34f32767bdfead33&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

December 5, 2011
Passed By PenangPAC (Performing Arts Centre), Straits Quay

#1: Located on Level 4 of Straits Quay.

Passed By PenangPAC (Performing Arts Centre), Straits Quay – Kuala Lumpur has the KLPac (Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre), and now Penang has our very own PenangPAC – Performing Arts Centre of Penang. Oh yeah! Now I can get to enjoy some nice stage act, musical drama and show here in Penang.

It was opened on the 11th of November 2011, the 111111 day. I went to the Popular’s Book Fair few days ago and passed by the PenangPAC, so I went in to check it out.

#2: Wall of photography, illustrations and paintings.

Obviously, it’s a lot smaller than the KLPac. but then it’s looking spacious and nice with a simple decorations at the lobby. They have two halls which named Stage 1 and Stage 2. There’s also a wall that showcases the good print artworks like photography and illustration.

#3: I see they have a very nice looking interior office for their admin. Really like the workspace so much.

I think PenangPAC is a good platform on promoting performing arts to the local and also act as a stage to gather all the performing arts lover together. Will definitely go check out some show later.

December 5, 2011
Char Koay Teow Basah (Wet) @ Sungai Rambai, Bukit Mertajam

Char Koay Teow Basah (Wet) @ Sungai Rambai, Bukit Mertajam – When we talk about Char Koay Teow, the place “Penang” came into mind, and then it came the huge shrimps, and the dry flat noodles with beansprout, a little bit of hot chilli paste, cockles the the flat noodle pan fried with special soy sauce – Penang’s Char Koay Teow.

Have you ever wonder what it is when Char Koay Teow is fried by our local Malay friend? It turned from dry to to wet. Malay-style of Char Koay Teow is basically has a special salty and sweet wet sauce which pour onto the flat noodle and is believe that it’s from the little town of Bukit Mertajam.

With the absence of pork lard, it still however brings another type of surprise to you. It’s a whole new experience of Char Koay Teow.

On one of the road connecting into Bukit Mertajam town – Jalan Sungai Rambai, lies a Malay-style Char Koay Teow that provides delicious dinner and supper for the locals. It’s located in front of a furniture shop and you can easily spot the place when you see the AIA building, where the stall is just right opposite of it.

At RM3.00 per plate, you will see a bowl of waterish wet dark brown sauce which half flooded the flat white noodle. Beansprout, cockles and small shrimps are accompanied with the little dish. The sauce is special as it’s cook with egg and tasted salty, and a little bit of sweetness.

Ask for “udang kopek” which actually means for removing the shell of the shrimp when ordering to ease your eating experience. The little Penang’s street food by our local Malay friend is special, nice, yet I found the portion is rather small. It went in my stomach in just a short period of time.

Nevertheless, it’s something that should be try. I’ve read that at Alma, Bukit Mertajam has another stall that sells this kind of Char Koay Teow and I would like to try it one day.

Char Koay Teow Basah (Wet)

Jalan Sungai Rambai

In front of furniture shop.

Opposite of AIA building.

Bukit Mertajam

Opening Hours: 8pm to midnight.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=5.364844,100.453244&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004b3414d8f13fea2770&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

December 4, 2011
Hot Day At Campbell Street, Penang

#1: Bicycle road guide on the road of Campbell Street.

Hot Day At Campbell Street, Penang – I think developer or the state government should revamp the Campbell Street to become a happening shopping street like the Hong Kong’s Sai Yeung Choi St, Malacca’s Jonker Walk or Guangzhou’s Beijing Road, or even something like the Kuala Lumpur’s Petaling Street. This street has a great potential of turning into a good hangout spots in Penang as there are already good pavements, nice road and colonial style shop houses.

#2: The coin operated parking meter. You know in Hong Kong, they have a similar parking meter, but then it’s not coin operated, instead you pay with their “Touch N’ Go”, the Octopus Card.

#4: The famous old Chinese restaurant – Tho Yuen on the right. Old, yet still many come to visit the restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

The street is full of history and culture, yet it doesn’t has the glory as it had back then. The things that bring the people onto the street are a few of the old restaurants and the nearby Chowrasta Market. The shop houses are occupied by many boring wholesale shop right now.

#5: Signboard of a tea shop.

#6: A new boutique hotel turned from a typical 3 floor colonial style heritage shophouses – Campbell Hotel.

I feel it’s a waste that this beautiful street doesn’t shows it glory and bring tourists and locals onto it.

#7.

#8: Locals shop at some of the store on Campbell Street.

#9: The five foot path a.k.a. walkway outside the old shops.

#10. Construction work going on in town.

Hopefully this street will wake up and become a hot and awesome spot in Penang one day from day to night. Another thing, if you are a tourist, you must not miss Campbell Street in your visiting list too. =)

December 4, 2011
Malaysian-Made PSA On Autism

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9COn6kM6WZo&w=640&h=360]

Malaysian-Made PSA On Autism – This video is a Malaysian-made Public Service Announcement on the awareness of Autism. The video is in Chinese language and has English subtitle. It’s really professionally made with all the editing, BGM, photography and filmography so well in placed. Good job to the director Quek Shio Chuan.

December 3, 2011
Driving Through Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus

#1: Roadside car park always get full because of cheap parking rate at RM0.30 per half hour.

Driving Through Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus – Jalan Pasar is where the Pulau Tikus Wet Market is and it’s get crowded and happenings in the morning. This post showcase a few photos taken a few days back when driving pass this road.

#2: Fruit seller by the roadside working on his fruits. An apple a day, keeps the doctors away.

#3: Roadside car park fee collector from the local municipal council. I think they should implement some sort of electronic payment system because at some times, you will not be able to find the fee collector to pay for your parking and that’s where you get trouble.

#4: Grandparents carrying grandson to go shopping at the morning market. The boutiques near the market do have good business.

#5: Went to park at a private open air car park at rate of RM3/entry on weekend and RM2/entry on weekdays. Hmm.

December 3, 2011
Friday Afternoon On Penang Bridge

#1.

Friday Afternoon On Penang Bridge – I am not a frequent user of the Penang Bridge which connects the Penang Island and the mainland – Seberang Perai (or less known as Province Wellesley). Have been away to study in Klang Valley, only now I realised that the traffic congestion in Penang is getting as worst as like in Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley.

#2. Boring weather.

#3. Slow moving at entrance road of the bridge.

Penang Bridge get congested everyday in the morning and during 5pm-7pm where workers are going back home to the mainland, it gets even more congested on Friday with the additional of students and people who are from the mainland.

#4. Soon, when The Light, the new town in Penang is open, more and more people will come to Penang.

Yesterday was just a typical Friday to me, but the traffic get slowed, not congested yet at about 5pm. Travel time extend 9 minutes to 20 minutes from the normal 11 minutes on the bridge and the traffic started to build up by then.

#5.

I’ve heard that it takes an hour to pass through the bridge during the peak hour. Hopefully the new Penang Bridge link 2 opening next year will solve part of the congestion and I truly support the build of the 3rd link which is a sea tunnel conecting Gurney Drive and Butterworth. Nevertheless, the state government must look into public transportation system too to reduce the vehicles on the road.

December 3, 2011
Drainage Upgrading And Widening In George Town, Penang

Drainage Upgrading And Widening In George Town, Penang – If you are driving or walking around town, you will see many of this digging and constructing work going around by the roadside. It’s the upgrading work of the drainage by widening it for a better flood control in the city.

I don’t know why some of the NGOs (Non-governmental organisations) are so stubborn and troublesome. They complain that the this upgrading work by the Penang state government should not be done as the drains were part of Penang’s heritage.

Funny right? It’s very ridiculous and since when the UNESCO classifies the drain as part of the heritage element list? Come on, it’s just a drain. If there’s flood, who’s gonna blame? Some, I mean some, NGOs is some times No Brain Organizations, their jobs is just to complain, without looking into the matter seriously.

December 3, 2011

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com