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Tag: Travel

Malacca Trip: Beautiful Cheng Hoon Teng Taoist Temple on Jalan Tokong

No, the above picture is not the famous Cheng Hoon Teng temple in Malacca. It’s just located on the same street as the temple. Cheng Hoon Teng temple is a famous Taoist temple in Malacca and also is the oldest Taoist temple in Malaysia, built in 1645 by authentic real China-man Kapitan Lee Wei King during the don’t now what dynasty. So it’s really a very very very very very old temple.

The temple is located on Jalan Tokong, which is the street next to the famous Jonker Walk and also right down Tang’s House, the guesthouse I was staying. According to the history book, this temple was built with real China material imported from China long ago, only then preserved and repaired by local people.

It doesn’t look old to me, probably because of preservation and repairing work, but then it is beautiful, just like Khoo Kongsi, Tua Pek Kong Temple in Penang. Although the compound is not super big but it has already shows it beautiness, the well-preservation work is good.

Good job for the people who do the preservation and repairing work. Another thing is, the place is very clean. Not dusty.

Spent some time taking photos and did some light praying, then off we go. It was sunset time and there’s still people coming in. It’s open until night time.

That’s the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.

A short while at Kampung Ketek.

While walking back to Jonker Walk to begin our night market shopping, eating tour, we found Kampung Ketek and kinda curious with the Malay’s leg house and we went to check it out.

Nothing much, it’s just a small place with a few Malay’s style houses with leg. Surprisingly, this little kampung is clean too. Wow.

Next up will be our night market tour at the famous Jonker Walk. =)

March 3, 2011
Malacca Famous Clock Tower Cendol Near Dutch Square

Hello people. I am back, from many places! From doing assignment, from Hong Kong, from Malacca and almost everywhere, but haven’t gone back home, Penang yet. I miss Penang’s food so much, so badly. OMG.

Today I want to talk about Malacca food because I went there 2 weeks ago. I think most people knows about the famous food in Malacca like chicken rice ball, satay celup, cendol and so on. But for me as a Penangite which also has a famous Cendol in town, it’s kinda surprise and curious for me to check out other’s famous cendol.

Having various spelling like Chendol, Cendol, I prefrebly call it cendol. There’s actually a few place in Malacca where you can find nice icy cendol and one of which is the one that is right opposite the famous Dutch Square which is a historical site. Selling my an Indian man which attracted quite many customers. It’s a nice dessert to eat and slurp during a super hot tropical weather in Malaysia.

The cendol, looking a little bit identical to Penang’s famous cendol, but selling at only RM1.50, it’s tasted similarly a little bit but it’s sweeter than the Penang’s, probably due to the usage of gula Melaka (Malacca Sweetener) in it. Different people have different feeling yet, I love the both feeling of Penang’s and Malacca’s. One is sweeter, and one is more to the taste of the cendol. IMO, I like Malacca’s more. =)

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215278323465761497274.000469feb8850ec72b675&ll=2.195591,102.249262&spn=0.010292,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=00049d95211db29615831&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

Which do you like more?

March 3, 2011
Malacca Trip: Afternoon Walkaround Jonker Walk / Jalan Hang Jebat

The above photo is actually the Tang’s House which was the guesthouse that we stayed in. Very good service, good room and good rate at only RM55 for two bed room. It’s just located at the end of the famous Jonker Walk which also known as Jalan Hang Jebat and there’s a parking area at RM2 per full day, great!

We couldn’t check in because we were too early, so left our stuff there and went for a walk to look for lunch on the famous Jonker Walk.

Nice Jonker Boutique Hotel.

A temple on Jonker Street.

Some rehearsal going on.

The weather that day was as usual, hot, no rain. If there’s little drizzle would be perfect but no. It’s freaking hot and I regretted not bring an umbrella with me. We just try to walk where there’s shade to cover ourselves from the sun. Haha. Perspiration got out pretty soon we walked for about 5 minutes.

Pineapple tart! =)

Though, it’s still nice checking the place out and taking photos.

Jonker Walk is famous for its night market which happens on weekends night and we came in a right time because it’s a Friday. Although it’s only happenings at night, but then there’s still shops to shop for stuff like t-shirt, and souvenirs which you will find it the same at the night market.

<3 Hueisean.

This is an old street featuring all the heritage shop houses built during the British and Dutch colony and this is more like a Chinatown to Malacca because long long time ago, this street was inhabitat by Chinese mostly. I like how they decorate and preserve the shop houses, unlike Penang, it’s so run down and ugly. Malacca really work hard on preserving their old buildings now.

A garden in the middle of the street, to be exact, house a public toilet in it.

Besides that, you will find a lot of antique shops and also clan house for different Chinese’s surname at there. It’s all gather at one place and not spreaded out like Penang, maybe because of this place is small. Malacca is really a super small state.

It’s pretty quiet during the day, but then when it comes to night, you can’t imagine how happenings it is, but on weekend only. I hope there’s place like this in Penang too, perhaps Campbell Street? Sadly, the Penang’s government haven’t take initiative in working this out.

Remember, it’s best to bring along an umbrella or wear a hat, it’s for the hot weather, super hot. =)

And finally we found famous chicken rice ball at the other end of Jonker Walk, which is known to be the start of it, but then that chicken rice ball (Jonker Chicken Rice Ball) was not a nice one. Recommend to try Hor Kee or Farmosa Chicken Rice Ball.

After lunch. We went to walk around the Dutch Square. Don’t want go back to the guesthouse just to check-in, so we went checking around the places before going back so it won’t waste our leg energy. Haha.

February 28, 2011
Malacca Trip: Checking Out The Hang Li Poh Well

Hello people, I went to Hong Kong last week, but I am not going to talk about Hong Kong this time, I am going to talk about Malacca, the historical state in Malaysia which I went, a week before Hong Kong. Yay. This time was on a road trip with my dearest Hueisean. Was thinking a Valentine’s trip together and Malacca was the destination.

I actually have been to Malacca for a several times, but the pictures were not really clear in my mind because I was quite young and I didn’t take it seriously. Haha. I have look online for information and the phone’s GPS was my guide to the little town down south from Kuala Lumpur.

We started our trip in the morning, without any breakfast as we were hoping to starve ourselves to eat all the nice food Malacca have. The road journey took about 1.5 hours to reach there from Kuala Lumpur. Very easy to go only, just drive south on PLUS highway and exit when sees the Malacca Town sign.

Our itinerary was pretty impromtu, there’s no plan and we go what’s comes into mind first. The first stop was the famous Hang Li Poh Well at Bukit Cina which is known as the older well in the city, built by the Chinese in Malacca long long time ago. I got fooled by the GPS for a few times as it leaded us to a wrong places and thankfully we found the place in the end.

It’s located outside a Chinese temple and it’s just a well, nothing much. Since I am a fan of temple so I wander around the places, not because I am a very religious person, just kinda attracted to religious architecture, they are pretty cool, and peace.

Everything was good but the weather was very hot. We came in from the behind of the temple and the well is located in front of the temple. Passed through the temple gate and we will find a well located in a walled location.

Walking into the walled garden-liked place, I find a well, that’s the Hang Li Poh’s Well or also known as the Sam Poh’s Well. I don’t know what’s so attractive about it. It’s just an old well with no design. Since everywhere on the Internet is talking about it, so I went to check it out. Haha.

After checking out the well, off we go. There’s no shade at the well and we didn’t want to be tanned, so went off quickly. If it’s not hot, I might check out what’s made it so special. Haha.

Off to Jonker Street / Jalan Hang Jebat to check into the guest house after that. =)

How to go: Look for Bukit Cina and you will find the temple. Just park your car by the roadside.

February 27, 2011
I Love Hong Kong

I love Hong Kong, City Where Asian Dreams Are Made Of. =D

Oh hello people, I am now in Hong Kong. Yeah, that’s right, the New York of Asia, just so much smaller than New York City but impressive and awesome skyscrapers. No I am not having a school holiday right now, just I am “forced” to come to holiday because university told us that I have a longer break but they changed the break schedule and so I couldn’t cancel my flight and hotel reservation, so again, I am here!

King’s Road, 英皇道。

To include my first visit when I was super young, this is my 3rd visit. Although I have already visited most of the attractions, still the feeling of visiting here again and again feels good, and friendly. I just love the atmosphere, the people, the skyscrapers, the MRT, the food and everything. It isn’t expensive afterall, somemore cheap than Singapore!

A little bit quiet here.

Arrived here at about 6.30pm and reached hotel at about 9pm because we took the public bus to save cost. So didn’t check out much, just walked around North Point. Weather was pretty cold on arrival, but the body slowly got suitable with the temperature around. It’s around 13-17 degree celcius here. =)

Gonna wake up early tomorrow early to do some little Hong Kong island tour on the tram while waiting for my brother to arrive here at noon. So good night! Happy last day of Chinese New Year too!

February 17, 2011
Duty Free Shopping Complex at Betong – Pengkalan Hulu Border

Hello people I am back. Sorry for on and off in blogging lately, it’s pretty difficult to manage my time right now due to heavy assignment load and holiday activities. Haha. As you know I just finished off my Chinese New Year break lately and same as previous year, I and my family will go to Pengkalan Hulu for a Chinese New Year gathering with relatives.

I have to say that it’s still as boring as before, somehow fun a little bit because get to meet all my relatives and cousin that’s long-time-no-see.

Because of boring-ness, and nothing-to-do, we went to the Duty Free Shopping Complex by the border of Betong, Thailand and Pengkalan Hulu, Malaysia. Pengkalan Hulu is a suburb super little small town in Perak, near to Thailand and it’s super duper peace. It’s my grandma’s hometown. =)

So back to the Duty Free Shopping Complex. Didn’t expect much, it’s just taking a little time off from sitting in the house doing nothing. The shopping house was not big but surprisingly people come and go. Both Malaysian and Thailand.

Since it’s a quiet town and there’s nothing much to see at there. Many chocolate, got clothing also, and also alcohol and food. But not really cheap, except for liquor. Though we, Malaysian cannot buy liquor without tax. Too bad.

Lalalalala. A supermarket in the middle of forest.

He is my brother. =)

Yeah, Apple. This is a little random post. =) Spent like half an hour there and we went back. One thing, we didn’t bring passport but still get to go through the custom because we told the custom just to visit the Duty Free thing. Somehow, we still can’t go through the Thailand custom. Yo.

February 13, 2011
Bandung Travel: Random Walkaround At Jl. Riau Area

Let’s talk back about my Bandung travel trip which I had last year. One of the places I went was Jalan Riau or simply known as Riau Road. This place is famous for many boutique outlet stores, but then the best was not there. The best outlet store, Rumah Mode is at other road.

On my first dat at Bandung, I arrived in the afternoon, after checked in and settled down our luggage at the hotel, we went to take a cab to Jl. Riau for a walk as this place is recommended by the Internet.

Well, in a simple town, not very small town, the traffic at there is pretty bad which is quite surprising. I though stuff like traffic jam only occur at big city or capital city of a country but this town on the Jawa island has a very bad traffic. Cab driver told us that many people from Jakarta would drive to Bandung during the weekends and that’s explain the traffic congestion.

It took us like 45 minutes to reach Jl. Riau and I stucked my face on the cab windows all the time. =D Another nice thing was that the cab ran on meter, which is not like the irresponsible cab in Malaysia, sucks.

The weather at there was a little bit dark, drizzled a little bit but we still manage to walk on the street. The cab drop us at somewhere I am not sure. I saw many many boutique outlet stores at there. Some say the brand at the outlet is authentic, some say is fake, and I feel it’s fake, and it’s top-grade immitation. Somehow, they are cheap!

Not many people walk on the street, but I see many cars. Tourist were like a little but locals were many!

It’s pretty interesting to check out those fashion boutique outlet. Branding from Versace, Lacoste, Polo and more. The outlets are really big and all have pretty nice interior design and store architecture.

Night falls, had dinner somewhere around there then we took a cab and went back to hotel. To Chi-Walk, we went and that’s the place where Sensa Hotel is located at.

Chi-Walk or Chihampelas Walk is another shopping destination on Jalan Chihampelas, but this is like a mini shopping mall for the locals and it’s quite cool. I just know that their stores are more high end and nicer than my hometown, Penang. Wow.

Well, the temperature at night is pretty cool, like 21-24 degree celcius. Like in a aircon room. Nice.

Bandung, yeah!

January 17, 2011
Bandung Travel: Fly From KLIA To Bandung Then Check-In At Sensa Hotel

Hello people, I think it’s time to share some traveling post with you guys. As you know, I went to Bandung, the cheap outlet shopping heaven of East Indonesia. It’s also my first visit and first step into the simple red and white flag, Indonesia, the neighbour country to Malaysia. I never thought of going to Indonesia all the time until I met a few Indonesian friend in university, they share about their culture and life at home then I found it’s kinda interesting.

When talking about Indonesia, most people know about Jakarta and Bali, I am not sure about Bandung. I think it only started to be famous just recently with the bloom of fashion outlet business. Bandung is well-known for selling branded clothing at outlet store, don’t know authentic or fake.

Anyway, I went to Bandung. =D Instead of flying from Penang, we flew from KLIA, Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It’s my second time being at this airport, the first time was very very super duper young like 10 years ago? I don’t really remember the outlook and the inner look of my home country’s biggest airport.

I have been to quite a few big airport in the world like the Changi Airport in Singapore, Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, Hong Kong Airport and so on. KLIA is huge but it made me disappointed because it’s not cool like airport at other country. The crowds were not there, it’s pretty quiet and I didn’t see much international flight. In term of airport shopping experience, there’s not many cool shop when compare to the Changi Airport in Singapore or even the Bangkok’s. Hope that they could improve their service and bring in more tourists and airport user.

So we took Malaysian Airlines to go to Bandung. As far as I know, Air Asia does fly to Bandung too and I don’t know already. Since Malaysian Airlines have almost the same rate as Air Asia that time, we picked Malaysian Airline because they have better hospitality on board with air-meals.

Forgot to mention the time that I went to Bandung, it was mid-August. =)

It was a afternoon flight and we were already there since 9am. Actually dad, mom and brother came from Penang to KL and I was in KL meet up with them. After checking in our luggage and ticket, we proceeded into the departure terminal. Due to nothing to shop or see in there, we spent our morning at Old Town White Coffee.

It’s a nice place to sit down and wait for flight as it’s just by the window, over looking the airfield and airplanes. Just sad that there’s not much airplanes going up and coming down and one funny thing is that it’s all Malaysian Airlines, I didn’t see other airlines, maybe that side was cater to Malaysian Airlines only.

From Kuala Lumpur to Bandung took about 2 hours. We got on the planes, sit for a while and the air-meal was served already. Not bad, kinda nice then I stuck my head on the windows all the time and didn’t want to take a nap, hoping that I could see superman flying in the sky. Haha, just kidding.

Sooner, I see lands and hills, a big piece of lands, different from hometown Penang where you will see seas, then I know I am there already. It’s hilly and the terrain are not flat. Bad urban planning and it’s buildings are not built “organizedly”.

The plane landed and I see a mini airport, looks a bit like the old airport of Penang, or the one at Phuket, Thailand.

There’s only a helicopter and our plane at there, no more and the cute thing is that there’s only one landing and take off lane.

Then we walked… No connecting bridge to the plane.

And get our passport stamped at the immigration. For your information, the departure and arrival share the same hall and counters. Go in and then out. It’s really a super duper duper small airport, but it’s international! I think Johor’s Senai Airport is bigger than this place man.

We then look for a cab to take us to our hotel, Sensa Hotel. Looking around the place, with old old buildings and people who don’t look Chinese, it feels like Thailand to me. But the local people are kinda tiny to be honest. So there are many different races in Asia.

Traveling from Bandung airport to hotel is like 15-20 minutes depend on traffic. It’s also the same left hand drive at Indonesia and the traffic at there not very nice. Weather felt a little bit windy, not very warm, I assumed it’s around 26 degree celsius, kinda nice.

The first impression of Bandung to me was like a little bit like Thailand, then it feels like Penang to me because of the houses and lots of trees. The bungalow and houses at there have the architecture of Dutch element because it was once Dutch’s settlement, long ago.

Sensa Hotel is quite a new hotel and it was ready 3 months ago before we arrived. We booked it online and it’s US$80 per night. Consider cheap, provided they have very good service, free WiFi, lots of cable channel, nice view, clean, and nice breakfast. =D

Hopefully the price would not hike and stay or even lessen. Another thing is that it’s located on Chihampelas Walk, which is a nice shopping district in Bandung. Though, traffic on that road is very bad, all the time, always jam!

Coming up, I will talk about shopping in Bandung, sightseeing and more! =)

January 5, 2011
Walkaround Kuala Lumpur Before College Started

Hello people, I am taking Diploma In Interior Design at Taylor’s University College, Lakeside Campus. Orientation is this week and class will officially starts on next Monday. I came last Friday to check in to my hostel which is pretty cool place located right in the campus. Small room but quite comfy. Will show you about it next time. I’ll talk about what I did here on last weekend which I spent it here with my family.

We spent 3 days going here and there and I went quite a lot of places. I’ll name some of the places I went, Pavilion, Lot 10, Sungei Wang, Low Yat Plaza, Corus Hotel, Carrefour Subang Jaya, Sunway Pyramid, Taylor’s University College, Jalan Alor, Mid Valley City, and basically that’s all the places I went. Haha.

Road to Taylor’s University College.

Dad drove us down. We started our journey at about 10am in Penang and reached like at 3pm. First place to go was my school, Taylor’s University College to do the check-in stuff and move all my electronics, gadgets and stuff into my hostel room. Only then I went to buy some personal stuff at Carrefour, Subang Jaya.

Waited quite long at the school and actually I was not allow to check in on that day because Friday was for International Student only. But then what’s the problem for local student? I called and asked and the person told me I could check in on that day and no saying on anything related to International Student, anyhow, I manage to convince the person to let me check in. I can’t leave there without checking in because I just have too many stuff in the car boot.

After settle everything at Subang area, we went to check in our hotel at Corus Hotel, Jalan Ampang. An incident happened and that was our booking made online was canceled because we came to check in late. Internet price was not entitled and we have to paid for walk-in price, worst is that our booking made surcharged us for one night room charge as if we canceled our booking because late check-in. Not yet finish rambling, we were given a room on the smoking floor. Sucks. Bad luck har?

Still continue, during our stay in the midnight, the aircon broke down for like 2 hours, the heat woke us up in the middle of the night and we had to call the hotel man to come and repair it. He screw and unscrew some stuff only then it started working again. Bad staying experience and after some complain made at the reception during check out, we get refund and extra free night for other time. Rocks. Haha.

Going back to what happened after checkin into hotel, we went to fetch my brother at Times Square and then went for supper. The KL City is really a place that’s very happening at night. Traffic jam happened in the middle of the night like at 1am. Looking for parking around Jalan Alor was pretty difficult. We did find a space though. Why Jalan Alor? It’s because we didn’t know other place that has food at midnight. Any idea or recommendation?

Another thing is that the arrival of my brother in Kuala Lumpur was also the arrival of my mighty Apple iPad. He bought it on the launch date which is that afternoon, and delivered to Kuala Lumpur to my hands. =D

Red Lens!

Branded camera bag!

Brother also brought his camera gear and right now he’s pretty a photog freak and he has a better gear than me!

Since we had an unpleasant stay, second day, check out! And move to other hotel. KL hotel is getting more and more expensive. Good hotel all starts from at least RM275. Hard to find cheaper than that already.

It’s still early after checkout of hotel and we went to Pavilion at Bukit Bintang for shopping. It’s a better place to shop when compare to KLCC, more spacious, more shops, colder AC, cleaner, and newer. Haha. But stuff at there are expensive. I bought something at there though. XD

I was walking around with brother. Dad was with mom. We were separated into our own groups. We more like to look at gadget and was looking for case for iPad. Went to all the Apple shop around this area and eventually, we went to Lot 10, Sungei Wang and Lowyat Plaza but found nothing. Went back to Epicenter at Pavilion to buy the iPad case. Not cheap!

You know what. Epicentre is also where my iPad was from, not Kuala Lumpur’s outlet but was the outlet in ION@Orchard. Rocks.

After Pavilion, we then went to checkin to another hotel at Mid Valley, Boulevard and that’s a better one, but the price was not nice. Haha. RM3hundred something. I’ve forgotten. Didn’t take much photo at Mid Valley and I bought nothing there. No idea why I have no shopping feel or I am broke. =( Mom bought those comforter and bed stuff for me at there.

One thing, Mid Valley is crazy on the weekend. Jam at the carpark, round the mall and people jam in the mall! Super duper crowded and feel not nice to walk. Gurney Plaza in Penang is better? Hahaha. Bye bye.

By the way, I am blogging from the Mac room in my school’s library. There’s like 25 27″ iMac in this room and they rocks! Internet speed is freaking fast too, just sad that cannot PPS or P2P.

July 29, 2010
Short Tour of Penang National Park with NS Friends

2 weeks ago, on a Sunday, it’s also the third day of a Penang trip with friends from NS (PLKN), some went home and some were still in Penang and so I brought them to National Park to take a short walk and lookaround.

Do you know that Penang has a National Park and it’s the smallest in Malaysia? Many people still don’t now. =D It’s at Teluk Bahang following the trail in National Park will lead you to Pantai Kerachut, Muka Head and Monkey Beach, the 3 main attractions there.

We registered ourselves at the counter and started walking into the park. We just walked a little bit to the beach only because we were not prepared for hiking trail, it’s just show them there’s a national park in Penang. ^.^

Chuan.

Weng.

Khang.

Tzou Xiong.

There’s Sumay and me from Penang island, Khang, Chuan and Weng from Penang mainland, Tzou Xiong from Perak and Tracy and Will from Pangkor Island . =D

It’s low tide so we could go down the beach at there. The beach was not pretty because there’s no ivory soft golden sand. It’s hard.

It’s pretty warm at that time, close to sunset, but it’s still fun.

Sumay and Tracy.

Before I go to KL to study, I want to go Monkey Beach once. This place is fun!

June 24, 2010

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