金马仑

this is not Cameron Highlands the highland place. It is a coffee shop (commonly referred as kopitiam 咖啡店 in Penang), as recommended by 食神50mmf1.4. Paid a visit there just now for dinner. The place is airy, not so cramped and lots of food stalls; char koay teow, siam fried rice, western food, ... and the 煮炒(in Hokkien spoken region, like Penang) or 大炒 (in Cantonese spoken region). Picture shown is 煮炒 and dishes included: belacan chicken, fried peas with minced pork, “Kum Heong" fish fillet甘香鱼片 and  omelette芙蓉蛋. First threes were recommended by 50mmf1.4 :)  The foos is excellent, will try others on the menu (as posted on the signboard above the cook) next time. When the bill came, I almost laugh out, haha......go and try, then you will know why. It's a good family eating out place, and be there before 730pm to get a table.


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Searching of Koay Jetty, in memory...

Koay Jetty, a long-gone historical sites that is famed along with Chew Jetty, has been demolished by the waves of modernization constantly affecting Georgetown Penang. Well, if Georgetown is accepted as one of the UNESCO heritage site much earlier in 2004, Koay Jetty may not be gone. It just have to give way to the construction of Jelutong Expressway. Thanks to the highway too, it does help to improve the daily life of Penangites, allowing faster and shorter distance to go to downtown from Bayan Lepas or Greenlane. Well, guess that Koay Jetty just shouldn't be there, it just can't follow the fast pace of urbanization and city life...

Koay Jetty is just unique. Different than Chew, it has vast space of swamp area in front of residential area. 1st picture shows the blending of modern building with the old wooden houses as well as the serene mangrove swamp, that's one of it's kind among those clan jetties. In fact that was the only mangrove swamp at east coast of Penang. It's just quiet. During our visits all residents have moved out, guess with compensation, though not sure if it's a good one. The feeling was nice, as if those isolated city park encompassed by modernized buildings, it's simply a jewel within the city that didn't seem to be interrupted by the quick pace of city life which was just very nearby. Bird chirping were heard loudly and if you don't know, the mangrove swamp was believed to be the home to 30 species of birds, including northern migrants and the largest nesting colony of the protected Black-Crowned Night Heron. During those old days, flocks of birds can be seen around this area, hovering on top of those high-rise apartments. Now, they are nowhere to be seen beyond the demolish of their habitats. Concerns of Malaysia Nature Society has come true. The highway just ended the mystical swamp area with the heritage buildings of Koay Jetty, together with the habitats of those bird species.

Well, enjoy these last 2 photos of Koay Jetty, just forget about searching for this heritage that fails to be preserved...

hide-out at the heart of Georgetown

well, since I am publishing this...it will not be a hideout anymore :( The location? can walk from KOMTAR/Lower Penang Road...it's just behind GAMA complex, 5 mins walk from the big screen in front of KOMTAR.

it's a great place for enjoying Chinese tea, having snack/real meal in a quiet and peaceful environment, and even for few puff (at the far end corner, see the 云烟厢signboard from inside as shown in one of the picture attached)...it's perfect for some real talk/conversation or just simply playing with the tea set inside an colonial era town house/bungalow (could be dated back to late 19th century), with two small gardens at both sides. Yes, you don't have to go to Melaka old town area to find one...there are still many in Penang, in good condition too...just look at the tiles...this is real. 

One does not have to kneel or sit on the floor to have all the fun. Food is good too at reasonable price. Had only tried the chinese tea 兰贵人(made from 高山茶) so far...pretty good and the 甘 taste will stay within one's mouth for a while. I am not a real tea expert, but do enjoy having this chinese tea. Had stayed for >2hrs in one occasion, and the owner or waiters didn't kick me out :) The decor is good with some bamboo outside, right beside the windows, yeah, good for window light shots of people. And another thing I like...I can park my car right in front of the cafe. Which is pretty rare in this part of the world...

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the other side...

where do all these freakin' vehicles come from? it does puzzle me when I was in massive traffic jam during a drizzling morning in weekdays - working days at 0630. The congestion usually occurs near the T-junction that my little hideout linked to the outside world-the main road. According to my "theory" and with some suggestions from others - they are mainly from Balik Pulau (in English - Return (to) Island) to avoid the dangerous road from Balik Pulau to Relau/Bayan Baru/Paya Terubung. It's located on the western side of the island and scarcely populated on the "other side"...was pretty surprise, I was driving average 60 to and fro as there were not many vehicles and everybody seems so relax...it's like I was in Kuala Kubu Baru (if you been to Fraser's Hill then you will know this little town). The pictures taken may not be revealing all - especially the laid back feel, but there are some real good spot to shoot the western shoreline with the town right under your foot...

Food: "Chee Cheong Fun" at Penang

many not-from-Penang would be surprised there is a good "Chee Cheong Fun" in Penang. In fact, I was, and still is :) But this another type of "chee cheong fun" with "prawn sauce gravy" and sweet sauce (brown sticky sauce), with sesame sprayed on top, and of course, chili sauce (as in most Penang food). It's great to find a place in Georgetown these days so packed in the morning, I am sure there are others hot spot...but just not this part near Komtar where many businesses had moved away. Lots of decent Penang food at this 2-unit merged "kopitiam" (Hokkien for coffee shop), and but have to look for parking...

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Colorful Penang

I always want to do a good introductory website for Penang island, a place where I stay but just simply don't have ample time. If you ask me what I like about Penang, well, despite the political environment, it just has rich varieties of scenery and also foods that I love, as well as the gang of frens for kopitiam chatting. Penang has beaches, hiking trails, hills, heritage buildings, national parks, you name it.

I'm not good at writing blog, but hope that my photos do justice of telling good story about heritage Penang. If u wish to know how I create the web template for rotating photos, no magic, just download a magnificient web template and install into adobe lightroom. Lightroom helps me to generate those interesting slideshows in flash thru preinstalled template. Go google "tiltviewer" to download the template. If the slideshow doesn't work on your PC, pls leave a comment and let me know. U can click on the photo to view the gallery. Enjoy the album...