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Visit Tow Boo Kong Before Chinese New Year

Visit Tow Boo Kong Before Chinese New Year – Tow Boo Kong, the very famous temple in Raja Uda which also known as Nine Emperor Gods Temple is now decorated with Chinese New Year lighting and become very beautiful and magnificent at night. Besides that, the whole open compound of the temple is converted into a night market site that runs until Chinese New Year where people can shop, pray, see and eat.

It becomes very happenings at night. I was lucky to be around Raja Uda, Butterworth area last night so I went there to check out as I heard it’s very beautiful at night. Indeed it look very grand. The temple only lights up during festival like Chinese New Year and Nine Emperor Gods festival so you must not miss out right now.

Yeah! Gong Xi Fa Chai!

January 18, 2012
光明新春庙会 Guang Ming Daily’s Miao Hui 2012

#1: Guang Ming Daily Press Centre.

光明新春庙会 Guang Ming Daily’s Miao Hui 2012 – The press centre of Guang Ming Daily on Macalister Road turns into a happenings carnival on last Sunday night where thousands flocked into the compound of Guang Ming Daily and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Centre. It’s the annual ‘temple fair’ by Guang Ming Daily which is a mini carnival that stages performance, dragon dance, lion dance, and a mini art-craft market in conjunction with the celebration of Chinese New Year.

This ‘temple fair’ or known as Miao Hui to the Chinese is a smaller scale of Chinese New Year carnival celebration by the Penang State Goverment.

#2: Performance stage.

#3: Sun Yat-Sen Centre on Macalister Road, Penang.

It happened on the Saturday night that I was free and have got nothing to do, curiously, I went to check out the Guang Ming Miao Hui on Macalister Road, armed with my photography gear. My friend Min Xiang, Kok Sheng, Sammy and Stanley were there too, I went there to meet them up.

#4: Kaka Art Market.

The whole carnival occupied two addresses on Macalister Road, the Guang Ming Daily & Sinchew Daily Press Centre and the Sun Yat-Sen Museum. There’s a mini art market (Kaka Art Market) at there which sells plenty of cute and cool handicraft. All the handmade were pretty impressive and nice. I bought something at there too.

#5: Cute handmade bunnies.

#6: Some handmade.

#7: More handmade.

#8: Figurine.

#9: A shit head figure.

The Miao Hui is mainly about the mini art market, stage performance which includes local artists, dragon dance, wushu demostration, magic show, dance performance and a special appearance of traditional dragon dance – Ban Deng Long 板凳龙, which the long dragon is made of wooden plank and then decorated with colourful Chinese lanterns.

#10: Wooded dragon – Ban Deng Long.

#11.

#12: The dragon is now flying.

#13: Happy boy.

#14.

#15.

#16: Min Xiang.

#17

#18.

I spent about 2 hours at there photographing and chatting with friends and home I went. Chinese New Year mood is coming very early this year with these Miao Hui carnival. Happy early Chinese New Year my friends and everyone! =)

January 18, 2012
BlackBall Taiwanese Desserts At Pulau Tikus, Penang

BlackBall Taiwanese Desserts At Pulau Tikus, Penang – Taiwanese desserts and bubble tea have became a trend in Malaysia with the rise of bubble tea shop like Chatime, Gongcha and desserts shop like Snowflakes in Kuala Lumpur. Another franchise brand of Taiwanese desserts is here and that’s Blackball Taiwanese Desserts which located on Jalan Burma of Pulau Tikus.

BlackBall origins from Taiwan and there’s a few outlets in the Klang Valley (SS15, Damansara Uptown, Sri Petaling, & Johor Bahru), this one is the first outlet in Penang and it began to introduce Taiwanese desserts to Penangite. A little bit information about Taiwanese desserts is that they are bowl of grass jelly with topping like taro ball, red bean, pearls, coconut jelly and more. Besides serving Taiwanese desserts at BlackBall, you can also find my favourite beverage – bubble tea at there too.

It’s opened about a month ago at Pulau Tikus. Parking is a little bit difficult as the car park area in front of the shop can only allow 4 cars to be parked at the same time. Hmm. Luckily there’s a place for us to park our vehicle. I went there after lunch with my brother and his girlfriend.

Looking at the menu, it offers Taiwanese desserts almost the same like Snowflakes in Klang Valley, however with additional of different bubble teas in their menu. Since it’s our first time visiting the cafe, we ordered two BlackBall Signatures, hot and cold.

They gave us the UFO thingy which will beep and vibrate once our order is ready. Then we went to collect our order at the counter.

A bowl of these cost RM6.50. What’s different with hot and cold is hot is more liquid/water-ish, where cold includes a layer of blended ice in it. The BlackBall signature includes healthy grass jelly, taro ball, taro Q, pearl and red bean. Both of this come with a small cup of milk which adds more flavour into it.

Well, the texture of the grass jelly and jelly are pretty good especially the grass jelly where it’s very soft and splash upon entering the mouth. The taro ball is chewy enough. However, the whole thing is not tasteful enough where the taste is pretty light, not enough taste of grass jelly, not sweet enough.

What do you think? I think it’s acceptable for Taiwanese desserts, but I want it to be sweeter. =D

BlackBall Original Taiwanese Tea & Desserts

232, Jalan Burma,
10350 Penang, Malaysia.

Telephone: +6016-4661886

Business Hours: 12pm-12am

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=5.429722,100.31348&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004b664c5335ca326a7b&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

January 13, 2012
The Hidden Beach – Pasir Panjang Beach, Balik Pulau

#1: Balik Pulau from the mid-hill viewing platform.

The Hidden Beach – Pasir Panjang Beach, Balik Pulau – In Penang, when we discuss about beach, I am sure you will think about the famous Batu Feringhi beach, further on you will find Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut hidden in the Penang National Park at Teluk Bahang. Another well-known one is the Pantai Acheh, well-known because of the site being hit by tsunami in year 2006.

However, on the back of the Penang Island, located far south of Balik Pulau, there’s a hidden beach filled with some locals who go there for picnic – the Pasir Panjang Beach.

#2: Yeqing and Yikhung.

#3: The small island is Pulau Betong.

Lastweekend, brother, brother’s girlfriend, me and cousin went for a road trip to the back of the island – Balik Pulau, which reveals a quiet side of Penang. Initially, our plan was to find the Balik Pulau Visitor Centre, rent a bike and go for a bike trail, but we failed to locate the centre and randomly, we followed the sign of towards ‘Pulau Betong’, hoping that we could find a good spot to enjoy the sunset.

#4. Ugly bay.

#5.

#6. Fisherman’s boat.

We did in fact came to a fishing village, the Pulau Betong Fishing Village which has a fish market at there. The fish market is often visited by the locals, in fact, I did came here before a few years back. A further deep into the fishing village, we found ourselves, nearer to the sea. There’s a dirty beach as well as a jetty. Since the beach was dirty and at that location, we couldn’t really see the sunset as it was block by cape. We then decided to drive further down the road, pass the cape to find another spot.

#7.

#8: It says that ‘Beware! This beach is quite dangerous’.

We then came to a dead end, where a Kem Bina Negara Balik Pulau is located at. The camp is use for the government purpose as the name means ‘Building Nation’ Camp. Ignoring the camp, at the side of the camp, there lies the Pasir Panjang Beach.

#9.

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I am surprise to see there’s a stretch of sandy beach at this side of the island, fill with local Malay family at there, swimming and picnic-ing. The beach is pretty short, yet it’s a good spot, it’s a cleaner beach after all. The wave at here is also bigger than the wave at Batu Ferringhi, which makes it a little bit dangerous. However, the sand at the beach was not soft enough, it’s very rough.

#12.

#13. Wai Leong.

#14.

I see people swimming, picnic and fishing at there. There isn’t any safeguards at there as far as I know. The people who can call for help is the visitor at there or the people who live in the Kem Bina Negara. So, it’s swim at your own risk in the sea.

#15.

#16.

#17. So relaxing.

Despite the sand on the beach is not soft enough, the beach is not very long and wide, yet it has an awesome view of the sunset sinking down the horizon. It’s a good visit that day. I’ve included a Google Map below for your reference. =)

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps?q=5.301049,100.184323&num=1&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&ll=5.300622,100.186086&spn=0.016858,0.026908&t=m&z=14&iwloc=near&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

January 8, 2012
Met Olivia Ong And Celebrate Wai Leong’s Birthday At Overtime

#1: Overtime!

Met Olivia Ong And Celebrate Wai Leong’s Birthday At Overtime – Monday night was pretty quiet as everyone was preparing to go back to school and work. The 2nd day 2012, I went to Overtime with my cousin, brother and his girlfriend. Overtime was not in our plan but it’s randomly suggested when we were thinking where to go to celebrate my cousin, Wai Leong’s birthday.

#2.

We went to Overtime at Gurney Drive, a very well-known pub in Penang, and all over Malaysia with live band music. Upon arrival, we were surprised to see many people at there despite school and work was on on the next day. We walk into it and saw Olivia Ong, a famous Chinese singer was autographing her album for her fans.

#3.

#4: Olivia Ong, a Singaporean who then recorded song in Japan.

Unfortunately, we were too late because she’d done her singing at there and it’s autograph session which means nothing to us because we didn’t buy her album. Anyway, I’ve got to tell you she has good voice and nice song.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBaRc-28UAU&w=640&h=480]

#5.

#6.

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#7.

#8.

We then spend our night with Starker beer, playing Beans card games, sing birthday song, listen to the live band and eat birthday cake. I’ve got to say that the live band at there was pretty entertaining. Happy birthday once again to Wai Leong. =)

One more thing, for those who always visit Overtime, do you know where Starker beer is from? Starker beer is from our lovely Malaysia! Haha. Starker means ‘stronger’ in German and it’s a German-style beer so it tasted a bit sweet.

January 8, 2012
Good Morning Penang! Sunrise From Gurney Drive

Good Morning Penang! Sunrise From Gurney Drive – Woke up, shot the sunrise spontaneously, and sleep back again. Good morning! Noon reaching in half an hour time. Hehe.

It’s weekend already and I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend ahead. Sunrise is pretty, though the muddy and dry area at Gurney Drive’s seashore is an eyesore. Come on people, let’s do something on the muddy area on Gurney Drive, bring back the glory and beauty of Gurney Drive like in the 80’s.

Do you know that there’s actually a sandy beach in Gurney Drive back then? Sea turtles did actually come here to lay their eggs.

January 7, 2012
Random In George Town #271211

#1: Brother and friend.

Random In George Town #271211 – Do you know the capital of Penang, George Town is spell in two words instead of sticking together Georgetown? Now you know. =D Last time I didn’t know but now I know.

#2.

Do you know that you need to pay extra RM0.50 when you eat the famous Penang Road Chendol in the kopitiam behind it?

#3.

KOMTAR actually stands for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Tun Abdul Razak Complex). Tun Abdul Razak was the second Prime Minister of Malaysia.

#4.

Do you know parking beside KOMTAR’s Pacific open-air car park costs RM2.50 per entry after 5p.m.?

#5.

#6.

Do you know Penang is very beautiful? =D

January 5, 2012
Famous Kimberley Street Douhua (Soybean Pudding)

Famous Kimberley Street Douhua (Soybean Pudding) – The night falls and the heart of George Town calms down a bit where working people went back home after a long day of work. Another life of the city wakes up at night – the hawker stalls. Kimberley Street, also known as Shantou Jie (mandarin), Shantou Kai (cantonese), Swatao keh (hokkien) came alive at night where hawker stalls park along the road, offering delicious Penang’s Char Koay Teow and more.

There is one lorry that has been there for many years and that’s the Kimberley Street Soya Bean & Douhua (Soybean Pudding). It sells soya bean milk, soybean pudding (douhua), soybean jelly, grass jelly drinks, as well as fruit yogurt.

Besides locating on Kimberley Street, the stall has another branch at the famous Gurney Drive Hawker’s area. A bowl of douhua/toufufa/doufuhua cost about RM2.50 and it serves your after-meal desserts well. The soft and smooth pudding with taste of bean and the mixture of black sugar syrup makes it pleasant to it. It splashes and break upon entering the mouth, sliding down smoothly into the throat. However, it doesn’t feel as smooth as the douhua that I had in Hong Kong.

Brother is a douhua fans, but not me, I just eat it for fun, some times. How about you?

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=5.41729,100.332513&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004b5c47f84e73c08df0&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

January 5, 2012
Video: PENANG by Ameerul Affiq

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

Video: PENANG by Ameerul Affiq – A nice documentary travel video log by Ameerul Affiq during his vacation to the beautiful Penang. Shot with Canon EOS 60D.

January 3, 2012
Char Koay Teow For Breakfast At Perak Road Market

Char Koay Teow For Breakfast At Perak Road Market – After eating the famous Penang Hokkien Prawn Mee at Perak Road (Jalan Perak Pasar) Market, I realised there’s still space in the stomach, not feeling very full, and so I ordered a plate of Char Koay Teow to share with my friends.

It does looks pretty with a 3 shrimps in it, nicely fried with chilli sauce, and a few slices of Chinese sausage as well as beansprout. The experience with it was not the best, it’s not dry enough in my opinion as the “wok hei” 锅气, the heat / power of the frying wok was not strong enough.

After all, it does fill up my stomach well, not a bad char koay teow, just a SO-SO typical char koay teow to me, I want something drier, hotter, a little bit more spicy, more beansprout and it will be perfect.

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=5.399976,100.313705&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=0004b4abcf3c8783cf6b7&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

December 22, 2011

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