mrsjono

17 February 2008, we said goodbye to each other at the airport. After months of preparation and module mapping, we are finally setting off on our own - him to Taipei and me to Beijing (I departed the following day). We had no idea when we'll see each other again, probably a good few months later.

Ever since then, I've learned alot about Taiwan from the photos he took and the stories he told me over our nightly msn video chat and when we returned home to Singapore. I knew all the names of the places of interest, the night markets and the food (the good and the bad) when I was putting together all the photos he took there into a poster for his 24th birthday. He played tour guide (on two separate occasions) for his parents and family-friends who visited him in May 2008 and travelled to quite a number of places outside Taipei with the locals and Singapore students. Looks real fun to me.


Tomorrow morning, we are finally going to Taipei together. I have waited 2 years for this and 9 months for it to happen. He will be spending his 26th birthday over there and we're going to visit (re-visit for him) some of the places you see up there, this time, together :)

Him: What time must you be at the airport next time?!
Me: 1 hour in advance...
Him: What???
Me: 1½ hour in advance...
Him: (Stares)
Me: Okok 2 hours in advance
Him: You better make sure
Me: Grins

I won't be doing justice to the yummy food here if I don't give a proper review. Penang is famous for its food and that's the only reason why we're here. You won't find the best (best meaning cheap and good) if you rely on Lonely Planet. Try vkeong's food blog instead. You can't go wrong with local recommendations. 

Char Koay Teow
Kafe Khoon Hiang @ Jalan Dato Keramat (opp Padang Brown)

The famous Ah Leng char koay teow with humongous prawns and generous serving of ingredients. Superb!

Assam Laksa
Joo Hooi Coffeeshop off Penang Road along Lebuh Keng Kwee

Lauded as one of the best laksa in Penang


But it was not to my liking. It had a fishy smell.

Cendol and Ice Kachang
Outside Joo Hooi coffeeshop

There's no queuing system here, shout out your order loud and clear else you'll never get your dessert!


People are standing around having their dessert bcos Joo Hooi doesn't allow bowls of dessert in their premises even if you're eating their food. Petty!

Prawn Mee
Gurney Drive

Woah we ate to our heart's content here. Shiok. It gets crowded on weekends. Go early before the sun sets else no more seats.


You tiao was hard like rocks


Worst rojak


I like the thin and smooth texture of the koay teow here.


麻辣云吞面


Springy noodles, crispy wanton with lean meat and vegetables. 全都和我胃口!


Best prawn mee ever!


Outside taste good but inside not fully cooked...


We were gonna explode and couldn't finish this plate of fried ngoh hiong with sweet sauce

Beef Koay Teow Soup
Junction of Lebuh Chulia and Pantai

Lady iron chef


Thick and rich

Curry Mee
Tua Pui Curry Mee @ Weld Quay

We took a long time to find this and it turned out to be a roadside stall. The stall looked clean and we didn't see any flies so we should be safe. The curry was good but I don't eat pig's blood...

Wanton Mee
Yi Garden @ Lorong Selamat

Taste good but rather oily

Char Koay Kak
Kedai Kim Lee @ Lorong Macalister

Char koay kak was fragrant (love those bean sprouts), koay teow theng was simple and nice.

Home-Made Durian Ice Cream
Kek Seng Coffeeshop @ Penang Road

Ice kachang was not nice. Pales in comparison to the ice kachang stalls at Penang Road. He said the durian ice cream was so-so only.

Weet weet


Come on up, I'll give ya a ride.


Vroom vroom


Only slim bikini babes get free ride

This is the icon of Penang but it was such a letdown. Kek Lok Si (also known as Temple of Supreme Bliss) is a complex of temples built on top of a hill. Some of the prayer halls were totally empty or converted to souvenir shops. The view from the top of the white pagoda was alright. It's the only building worth your time. The rest of the buildings, don't bother. Just spend half a day here will do. Some bloggers recommended to visit at night during the Chinese New Year period where the place is said to be beautifully lit with lanterns and lights.

Pasar malam leading to the temple was crap. Vendors sell everything from clothes to groceries to souvenirs, none of which were of any interest to us.


This is the fastest way up to see the Kuanyin statue.


And this was what we saw after paying RM4 (return) on the inclined lift. Newly constructed roof over Kuanyin's head was awful!


Cheong version of Disneyland characters


Spot the sparrow?


The hills of Air Itam are known as 鹤山


Combination of a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design and a Burmese crown


极乐寺


Curved arch feels Indian and Thai-ish


The interior wall of the pagoda is laid with 10,000 Buddhas. The turquoise tiles reminds me of the toilet though...


That's part of Penang behind us. Can see Komtar?