Teluk Kumbar, Penang

Today is Malaysia's 60th year since independence in 1957. It is a long holiday weekend ahead and we are off to Teluk Kumbar (teluk means bay) a less popular part of Penang island in the South.

After a tasty dim-sum meal we left Petaling Jaya at around 12.30pm and it didn't take long to realize that it is going to be a long drive. Traffic on the highway was bumper-to-bumper for most of the Selangor stage of the trip. 

After about six hours we arrived at Ipoh and had dinner at our favorite restaurant. Waze informed that it would take another four hours to reach our destination. 

Alas we arrived at the Lexis Suites Penang at about 11pm. It was unbelievable. Time to shower and hit the sack.

The next morning saw a light shower come down. Our room had a view of the bay (above). We'd be driving across the bridge to the mainland to visit our relatives in Simpang Ampat.

We had dinner at Hai Boey Seafood Restaurant near the hotel. It is dusk as a warm glow bathed the horizon (pic above).

I liked the beach as it wasn't packed like the ones in the north (Batu Ferringhi). In place of jet-skis and motor boats Teluk Kumbar has the rustic charms of fishing boats (above) and lazy dogs (below). The cool breeze was just the match for my cold beer in my hand. Bliss!

The Wedding of Haris and Ju Li in Penang - The Day After

Nicole and I rode around Georgetown on the bright red Vespa we rented. I can't think of a better way to end our Penang escapade than cruising around on the scooter.

 Nic beaming!

 Can hardly wait to hit the streets.

 Cenotaph in memory to the fallen soldiers of WWI and thereafter

 Famous Teochew Cendul

Time to say goodbye!

The Wedding of Haris and Ju Li in Penang - Part Two

The wedding dinner was held at Eastern & Oriental Hotel - another gem of Penang. Established in 1885 E &O had hosted a glittering array of celebrities like Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.

The groom being a good sport

Champagne flowing

The Wedding of Haris and Ju Li in Penang - Part One

It is 3-days and 2-nights in Penang Island. We left on December 29 around 8.30 am and arrived in time for the first instalment, Wedding Lunch at Suffolk House in Jalan Air Itam. The mansion was was built in 1804 but prior to that it was a simple timber and attap house occupied by Francis Light.

The lovely couple

Ju Li in the garden

Penang Island Break

Three days two nights (Oct. 4 - 6) holiday at Hard Rock Penang here we come! We traveled by air as everyone knows the highways will be choked up with traffic as Monday was a public holiday.

We boarded the 10.20 am flight on Firefly in Subang (Sultan SAAS Airport/SZB). The plane's approach upon landing was rather 'bumpy' as it was raining on the island. Next we hopped onto the hired mpv and onto our first stop - Ah Leng Char Koay Teow. I was the only person in our gang that had yet to savor this delicacy. It was superb - way, way tastier than the moody aunty in Lorong Selamat. The large prawns were cooked to perfection. It had that 'bounce' as you chewed on it. RM11.50 for a plate of koay teow (rice cake strip noodles) with big prawns, mantiss prawns, cockles and duck egg may seem steep but it is totally worth it. (Sorry no pics as we 'attacked' immediately - you can Google and there are lotsa pics online).

Satisfied we headed to the hotel in Batu Ferringhi. Check -in was 3.00 pm. After unpacking we planned for the next meal. Fast forward - we decided to have dinner at an old favorite, Happy Garden Restaurant. It's a quaint old house run by a Hainanese family.

Day Two (Sunday) - we decided to rent bicycles and visit the George Town (recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site  on 7 July 2008). We had planned to find the shop that rented the four-wheeled Town Car bicycles. We asked the chap at Chin Seng Leong bicycle shop (Lebuh Armenian) about it and he was so gracious to point us to the location. Many other person would have been less inclined to do the same. Naturally we stuck with him and proceeded to collect our rides. Nicole has yet to learn to ride so we got her a cute little tricycle (see video). The rain had by now become heavier but it did not dampen our spirits.

We'll definitely do this again on our next visit. It was a blast! It is now 'food-hunt time'!

Time to return the bikes

We chanced upon this coffee shop in the Moulmein area in Pulau Tikus. Nothing spectacular but we were hungry and most of the famous joints were closed by now. I don't recall the shop's name but it had a wall dedicated to Malaysian national bowler Adrian Ang. I'm guessing his family owns the joint.

For dinner we ordered takeaway from Happy Garden - same dishes same tastiness. The Fab Family then surprised me with an early birthday cake. Thanks guys. You got me!

Day Three (Monday) - our final day in Penang. We checked out at 3pm and took the scenic route across the hilly terrain of Teluk Bahang. The ride made me car-sick.

Our final food-stop was the New Lane Hawker area in Georgetown. We ordered BBQ chicken wings, pig innards porridge, kangkung sotong, char koay teow, fried oysters ... food-dizzy now. Fabulous! You cannot ever get enough of this. Having just enjoyed our meal we were already planning our return. Yes. We shall return in six weeks time.

Penang Break!

Sunday (Nov. 18) We headed north to Penang for Mama's birthday lunch in Seberang Perai - originally named Province Wellesley, after Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, Governor of Madras and Governor-General of Bengal (1797–1805).

 

We left home around 7am and stopped in Ipoh for breakfast. Both popular kopitiams (traditional coffee shop) Nam Heong and Sin Yoon Loong were packed with patrons circling tables like vultures waiting for clients to vacate their seats. As we did not want to waste time waiting we went to the kopitiam next door, Sin Yuan Foong (pic above) which was also starting to fill with other like-minded customers. When in Ipoh kopitiam, it is almost tradition to order the famous Ipoh White Coffee, toast and dry curry noodles. To our surprise the curry noodles were good.

Next stop Mama's place in Simpang Ampat for a brief visit and then on to Chai Leng Park for lunch.

 (above) Mama with 13 grand kids (Chee Seong's wife Jeni - extreme right)

(above) Mama with children and spouses.

For dinner we opted for the hawker food in Chai Leng Park. Main attraction was lok lok - our local version of steamboat. They had like seven different spicy sauces - fantastic! Nic chose the Angry Birds edition.

We didn't get to go for the assam laksa in Penang island this time - well, next visit then. We stayed a night and had a late lunch the next day (Monday) in Batu Kawan - a sumptuous seafood feast before leaving for home at 7.20pm.

Chinese New Year Day One

We got up early and headed to my mum's to pay our respects. Next we grabbed a bite before we left for the Hard Rock Hotel Penang (compliments of Mandy, many thanks!) at around 8.45am for a 4D3N stay. Traffic was medium to heavy I'd say and very bearable. We arrived at Mama's home in Tambun at about 1pm.

Next stop Penang island and traffic was mostly smooth with a few stop and go on the road near Batu Ferringhi.

The hotel was only opened last September and if first looks are anything to go by - it is great! I liked the LED lights that changed colors at the entrance (above).

After settling in we went to the beach where Nicole had fun atop "Ninja" (right). We had to stop her after this as she also wanted to go para-sailing, jet-skiing, ATV-riding - the works. Anyway she did not qualify for the first two sport.

After dinner at the Starz Diner we enjoyed a thrilling lion-dance performance. Those guys rock!

Penang Escapade (Sept. 10 - 12)

It is Hari Raya and we headed to Penang island for a 3-day 2-night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel. We made a stop in Ipoh where I met my old pal Martin for lunch. After that we hooked up with one half of our Penang relatives at Mama's. Nic is in her traditional Malay dress clutching our two babies (sugar gliders), yeah they came along too.

CNY - Day 3 & 4

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hard Rock as there were activities to keep us entertained - especially the lounge band, Ray & The Jazz Hats - very good. Better than what was playing at the cafe.

(Below) Martial Arts expert - it was a hot afternoon!

CNY - Day Two

The pool is real neat too as the floor is covered with sand thus giving it that beach effect. Nic had fun with another guest, Sarah (above).



Above are the Lagoon Deluxe rooms where you just walk out into the pool - nice!



Lunch time at the pizzeria! (Below) And after lunch - a different pool time! And yes, Nic had to give it a go too!