I AM THE BORNEO EXPLORER 婆罗洲探险者: July 2011

Penang Trip, Day 9 (Last Day at Penang)

My last day at Penang, and the only pace that I went is the Heong Shan Shi Buddhist temple. I was with my parent to attend a Buddhist chanting ceremony, as this is the month of July in the Chinese Lunar, so usually as a Buddhist it would be good if we go to the Buddhist center and pray.

There is a big puja ceremony at this Buddhist temple, and it starts at 9AM and ends at 8PM. Well of course in the middle there are break time.

This is the first time mom and dad come to Penang, and throughout this few days I bring them around Penang, and am really glad that they are having a good time here.

All of my brothers also concern about mom, cause she sometime worry to much about us. Guess all the mom in this world will do the same for their kids.

Thank you for following my travel post for this few days, and remember to bookmark my page, as I’ll continue to share some of the interesting about my daily life.

Cheers,

Wilson

Holiday ends today :)

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip Day 1 (post 1 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 2 (post 2 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 3 (post 3 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 4 (post 4 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 5 (post 5 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 6 (post 6 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 7 (post 7 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 8 (post 8 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 9 (post 9 of 9)

Penang Trip, Day 8

This morning my friend brings us to 2 gardens at Penang, which is the Botanical Garden, and the Penang

Municipal Park

Botanical Garden, Penang Municipal Park

Both of these park has a lot of people, this is nowhere to be found back in Kuching. I found out why when I start to walk in the municipal park.

Inside the park, there are free entrance, the government build a lot of outdoor gym equipment for the public, not just that, there are also 3 – 4 small swimming pools for the kids, several tracks which has their own unique themes, they also has a court specially for skateboard, and BMX bicycle.

A lot of senior people group together for morning exercise, and practice tai chi.

One thing that I regret is during my walk at the garden, I forgot to bring my camera…

Sorry guys, no photo to be shown here.

Goddness of Mercy Temple

This is also known as the Guan Yin temple, is a popular temple at Penang which specially dedicated to the goddness of mercy. It establish in 1728!!! That’s more than 300 years aleady, we went there around 7AM, there are already a lot of people there.

Some selling joss stick, some sells flowers, fruits, food. And also a lot of beggars sit near the temple, even inside the temple, and most of them are old people. Penang has a lot of beggar especially at spiritual places.

Vegetarian Breakfast

After all the walking, my friend said is time for breakfast. So we went to a vegetarian restaurant for breakfast. This restaurant is situated just near the place that we stay, I wonder why I didn’t notice this before.

I had fried rice, with foufu, spicy sauce, vegetarian sausage, and some small chili to spicy thing up. Mom doesn’t like spicy food, and she likes vegetable.

The restaurant is pack with customer; the business is good here, as my friend told us this is due to the reasonable price here. I guess this is the essence of doing business.

Peal Hill

Then, my friend bring us to one of the best view at Batu Feringgi, is a residential area called the Pear Hill Villa. Many huge and pretty houses was built along the way up the hill, and on the very top of the hill, there are also a Chinese temple.

It took us quite some time to look for the place, as my friend told us that the last time she was here is about 5 years ago. We asked for direction along the way, and finally got it right.

When we’re on top of the hill, is very windy, and I can see almost the entire Batu Feringgi area. The coast line, the buildings, and the trees are all just below this hill.

The temple is an old temple, I’m kinda impress on the people who build this, and they really know how to pick good location.

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip Day 1 (post 1 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 2 (post 2 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 3 (post 3 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 4 (post 4 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 5 (post 5 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 6 (post 6 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 7 (post 7 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 8 (post 8 of 9)

Penang Trip Day 9 (post 9 of 9)

Penang Trip, Day 7

Today I’ll drive my parent to visit a small town called Balik Pulau, and then will eat durian as lunch.

Tropical Spice Garden

I drive pass this garden, and went in to have a look what’s inside. The entrance fees is RM14 for adults, which I think is not worth it. The stuff that available in the spice garden are the stuff that I can easily found at India street back in Kuching, and even my mom plant most of the spices herself. For the spice garden, sorry guys, no photos…

Forest Recreation Park and Museum

For this park, there is a signboard hanging on the entrance saying that they suspect there are “mice pee virus” (something like that) in the park, so they now temporary close the park, and after they make sure that the virus is gone, only then they will reopen the park for visitors.

For the Forest Recreation Park, sorry guys, no photos again…

Balik Pulau Town

After that we drive along the mount road, the roads are like snake, some have danger 100 degree curve. And the road is just at the edge of the cliff, so have to pay full attention when driving here.

The Balik Pulau Town is at the western of the Penang Island, which situated at the downhill of the western side of Penang Island.

For me I would said is just like a small town similar to Lundu, Samatan back in Sarawak. They sell a lot of durians here. Here is the place where all the durian are planted, and then been distribute all over Penang Island.

Most of the residents here speak Hakka dialect (same as mine), so when negating with the seller we can get cheaper price.

Durian Lunch

We stop by at one of the stall along the road, and it has a sign board saying “Direct Sales” which means they plant, and sell their durian directly without middle man.

The owner introduce us the No.1 Durian at Penang called the “Red Prawn 红虾”, that durian is as big as a basketball, and for the taste…OMG!!! It really taste nice, I’ve never tasted such nice durian before, I kidd you not guys, when you come to Penang for Durian, ask for this, it really nice.

We also ate other type of durians, and all taste extremely delicious. All with a very cheap price, for example like the “Red Prawn” it weight 3.5KG, it sold RM10 for 1KG, after mom negotiate with the owner, he said he sell us the price of 3KG, which is only RM30.

Back in Kuching, my friend bought a normal durian for RM70!!! That’s freaking expensive!!!

My mom, dad, and me… we ate 3 huge durians, and FULL to the max. I wish my other 3 brothers are here with us, then we can have more, and it will be merrier. Wait next time I want to bring my other 3 brothers together as well.

Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory

While on our way back to Batu Feringgi, we drive pass one nutmeg factory. So I told my parent why don’t we go inside and have a look.

While we at the factory, we’re greed by the owner. He told us that he’s in his 60’s already, and he had start doing this Nutmeg business since 1953…OMG after ding my math, I found out that is more than 50 years.

He plants his own nutmeg, and by using the nutmeg fruit, he produce drinks, jam, cakes, medicine, and preserve food.

The owner is a Hakka as well, and is very nice, friendly, and honest, to us. He told us about his background, how he stats the business, also tell us about nutmeg, how to plant, how to differentiate a male and female nutmeg, how to store it, how to cook it, and a more.

He and my parents are like old friends that didn’t see each other for a long time. Mom buy a few nutmeg products from him, and he not only give us huge discount, but also give us a few as present.

I can’t believe there is such nice and honest person, and by far this is the best place to visit while at Balik Pulau here. Mom and dad are happy as well.

After all the talking, drinking and eating, we bit good bye to the owner, and ask him to visit Sarawak (he told us he never travel before).

I’m so full now, we went back to the place we stay, and have a nice evening nap after that.

Stay tune for my next travel post…

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip Day 1 (post 1 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 2 (post 2 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 3 (post 3 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 4 (post 4 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 5 (post 5 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 6 (post 6 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 7 (post 7 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 8 (post 8 of 9)
Penang Trip Day 9 (post 9 of 9)

Penang Trip, Day 6

On day 6 of my trip, I went to visit a place that I always wanted to go. The hospice center, the name of this hospice center called “Pure Lotus Hospice of Compassion” 净莲慈悲院.

Pure Lotus Hospice of Compassion

This is a center which establish by Buddhist monk, and is a non-profit hospice caring center for the cancer patients.

The patient that stays here are all free of charges, the main objective is to let the cancer patients to be able to ease their pain, and to leave this world with less suffering from their illness.

Although this center is run by Buddhist monk, inside the center have all kind of races, Chinese, Malay and India.

I’m glad that I’m able to bring my parent to come and visit the cancer patient, as I know my mom sometime complain about life a lot, and so I took this opportunity to let mom knows how suffer it is to fall sick, and how lucky we are to be able to stay healthy. And we should start appreciate what we have now, and focus on the positive stuff not the negative stuff.

The center is just situated opposite the Penang General Hospital, and it used 2 semi-detach houses, renovated it and become a hospice center.

They employed retired nurses to look after the patients, and also several general workers for cleaning, cooking, and daily chores.

I like this place, and in the future if when I’m tired of my daily working routine, I wanted to come here and work as a volunteer to help the people here.

Queesbay Mall

After the hospice visitation, I drove to the largest shopping center at Penang the Queesbay Mall. This place is mom’s favorite, and one good thing is the mall has a lot of discount going on. So we stay like 3 hours there, for me and dad we just wait at the walkway, and let mom do her shopping.

Not much to tell about while I’m at the shopping mall…

Flat House at Tanjong Tokong area

After the shopping, we went to the place we stay. We stay near Tanjong Tokong, and while mom and dad are resting, I went for a walk… at Penang, there are a lot of flat, and condominiums. Where back at Kuching, Sarawak. We have a lot of houses; this is because there are plenty of land at Sarawak.

When I walk pass by a flat house building, saw all of the units at the flat, all very pack, and they rinse their clothes just outside the corridor. It must be very noisy here, and not much privacy either.

I’m so lucky that I have my own house, my own car, my girlfriend, my dog (well plan to have one soon). And I have my own little garden, I can park my car within my house compound, I can rinse my clothes at my little garden, I can plant flowers, and I can have a lot of privacy. I love Sarawak….

Thai Pak Koong Temple Tanjong Toking

I can’t believe it, while I was roaming in the Malay village area, there are actually a lane which pack with tradition chinese village house here, and on the end of the lane is the beach.

There is a Chinese temple here; beside the temple is a seafood restaurant. That time is around 7PM, but here is west Malaysia, so is still very bright.

There is this old towel near the beach, and they put tiny India god statue next to the building. Here at Penang, is like a religious place, and it is full of india temple, mosque, Buddhist temple, and a lot of small chinese temple.

The people who stay here are so lucky, cause they get to go to the beach every day. This is the life that I want.

How about you my dear reader?

Stay tune for my next travel post…

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip, Day 5

Today will be visiting the Penang Bird Park. And the place is at Butterworth, so have to cross the mighty Penang Bridge. Dad and mom are so excited, as this is their first time to visit the bridge.

The Penang Bridge

We start our journey at around 8.30AM, the road condition today are smooth. I’m not so familiar with the road, and all I had was this map that I get when reached the Penang Airport.

I just follow the signboard and drive where ever it pointed. One good thing is it has an icon of the bridge on the road sigh, so is easy to recognize.

Reaches the bridge like around 9.15AM, and I drive around 70 Km/h. Enjoying the view along the way, while point mom and dad where the second Penang Bridge will be build.

We don’t have to pay toll when drive to Butterworth, we only need to pay when we’re on our way back to Penang Island.

Ok so now we’re at Butterworth, and our next stop will be the Penang Bird Park…

Several Gas Station…

On Butterworth here, there are a lot of express highway. Once you got a wrong turn, you have to drive a long way to get where you started. And this is what happen to me, the map is not that clear, it only label Penang Bird Park at one of the highway, but when I’m driving, there are like 4 – 5 highway in front of me, and the freaking road sign also didn’t state clearly where is that goddamn birdpark.

One thing good is that it has petro station along the way, so what I do is I stop by to the gas station, and ask for direction. The people at the station are also kind enough to point to me where is where.

It took me like almost an hour on the road, going from gas station to gas station, turning from junction to junction; paying toll to another toll (I even ask the toll guy where is that freaking birdpark). Got a bit frustrated, and the bird park better be a good place to visit, else I will be really !@#$!@#!$#$^@!!

Finally the Bird Park

The entrance for the bird park is RM15 for adults, and an additional RM1 if you have a camera. The owner claims that they’re the first establish bird park in Malaysia, and now they’re the largest.

We’re greed by two eagles at the entrance, their leg has been tie, pity bird…

After that, when entering the bird park, the names that I can tell are like owls, peacock, eagles/falcon, ostrich, hornbill, parrots, stork, flamingo, ducks, pigion, craw (penang are full of these birdy) and a bunch of students. Oh… the students are all visitors like my parent and me.

They also have reptiles like snakes, iguana, and crocodile. Talk about snake, when we’re half visiting the place, it starts to rain. Mom didn’t bring umbrella, so we have to take a shelter at one of the pavilion.

Then dad saw a huge cage just next to the pavilion, so he go and check it out. Then he called me to go quickly, he said a huge snake rolling itself there. Mom scare of snakes, so she don’t dare to go close, but dad keep on calling mom to go over. So mom go and have a peak, when mom is near to the cage, she ask “where is the snake?” then dad push mom forward the cage, and make a loud noise to scare mom…lols

Mom then scolded dad, she said she nearly have heart attack. Dad and I laugh at mom…. I should took a picture of mom that time, she looks so funny!!!

There is also a bird show which starts at 11.30AM, but it’s raining so the show had postponed nearly to 12noon.

The show is not as attractive, the lady owners is a bad performer. And the birds that morning also didn’t follow the instruction, so most of the tricks did not perform well. I will give it a 2 out of 10. Booooo!!!!!!

Before we left the park, mom and dad took some photos with the eagle and parrot. I’m scare of their craws, so I will skip…

The famous Hong Kong roadted duck rice

After the bird show, I feel to eating some bird (just kidding). We stumble upon on this stall unintentionally, and why I said if famous is because the customer just keeps on coming, it flows in just like water, nonstop.

I ordered duck rice which is enough for 3 people, and we waited for about 30 minutes for our food to come. But is worth it, because is really tasty. It cost RM30 for that whole big plate.

That’s the best food that I taste so far when I’m at Penang. Next time when I’m here again, if I’m still not a vegetarian, I’ll come back here and eat it again.

After the late lunch, drive dad and mom for a ride at the town area, and go back to rest.

Stay tune for my next travel post…

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip, Day 4

Today I’m gonna visit the Penang Hill a.k.a Bukit Bendera a.k.a 升旗山; I’m a bit lost when on our way to the Penang Hill. I’ve got a bit confuse when I refer to my map… hey tourism of Penang if you see this blog post of mine, I want to let you know that there is a mistake that you made in your map.

In the map, the place near the Penang Hill it wrote Air Intam, but when I’m on the road, the sign board keep on showing Air Hitam. I tough these are 2 different places, so I always avoid that place, and try to search for Sign board showing Kek Lok Shi.

When I notice that I’m going in circle, I then give up. I stop my car at one of the petro station, and asked for direction. Then the guy told me that I just need to follow Air Hitan, god damn it… I knew the map is wrong, or the signboard….

The Penang Hill, a.k.a Bukit Bendera

After several minutes, when reaching the Air Hitam area. I can see the Kek Lok Shi Buddhist temple from far distant, and I told my dad that we’re on the right track already.

When reach the place, I try to look for a place to park my car. There is a car park building just next to the entrance of Penang Hill, but is not open for public, and I don’t know why.

So I drive into the residential area, and park along the small lane (which mean free parking :D)

The tickets for the train to go uphill, Malaysia adults RM8, senior citizen RM4, and student RM4. I always wanted to ride the train, because last time I came the train was under maintenance. And now finally I get to ride it.

My patent and I sat at the last cottage, mom said the don’t want to face the downhill position cause she will get dizzy. Dad is exited, and I saw him start taking picture again with him nokia mobile..lols. he asked mom to smile at the camera, but mom just gave dad her bitter face :D

The train when going up are fast, it only took us like 2 minutes to reach the height of 450M above sea level. The view up there are nice, we get to see almost the entire George Town. But due to haze/fog… the view is not that clear.

On top of the hill, there is a mosques, and a Hindu temple. The weather are slightly cold, and windy. Is not Hot, this is what I like, cozy weather.

One thing that I’m very surprise is that the food stall here, they sell fried noodles, and fried rice. So in a tourist place like this the food should be expensive, but it sell like RM4 per place. That’s the same price we can get in a normal coffee shop. Cool!!!

There are also a lot of Thai tourists when we’re there. All are students I think cause they’re wearing the same t-shirt. Some of the Thai babe are pretty.

Kek Lok Shi Buddhist Temple

After the Penang Hill, because the Kek Lok Shi Temple is just like 5 minutes’ drive away, then I drove my parent to the temple again. After this trip, we wouldn’t know when will be our next trip to Penang again, so I told mom let’s go back again and took some more picture.

Mom likes to collect key chain, so she bought a lot of key chain while at Kek Lok Shi temple. And for me and dad, our legs feel numb, so we just sit at the staircases, and ate ice-cream while waiting for mom to finish her shopping.

While on our way home, dad and I are still thinking of the Durian that we ate yesterday. Dad suggest that we go back this Friday, I second it. Yup, to this coming Friday, I’m bringing you for durian fest again (virtual one…lols)

Lunch Time

Had our lunch at one of the coffee shop near the Penang Hill, I’m lucky enough to get a parking space just in front of the coffee shop.

When we’re in the coffee shop, I check on what to eat. Mom went and ordered a Hai Nan chicken rice. I was thinking of getting a fried noodles, but they don’t have it here. I saw Laksa, no thank you, then I saw curry noodles, no thank you as well….shit, not much stuff I can eat here (really not use to the food here).

I asked dad what to eat, he said “what ever you order, get one for me.” Sigh…this dad, he’s always so lazy to go order his food :D

Then I had no choice but to order the same Hai Nan chicken rice like mom had. I order the big portion one, but when it reaches, are you kidding me?!! is like very small portion #@$%@!!

Mom knew that I’m not full, so she bought a bun for me..awwww, but when I are the bun, hmmmm I told mom is not that delicious, because it has a strange taste. Mom agree as well, so I miss the bun at Kuching…

Dad sais he’s tired after the lunch, so we went back and rest early today.

Stay tune for my next travel post….

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip, Day 3

Today I told my mom and dad that I’m gonna bring them to the west side of Penang Island. And our first destination is to the famous Butterfly Farm.

The Penang Butterfly Farm

To find the butterfly farm is not that difficult, we stay at Batu Feringgi, and on the western side of Penang, the road is not that complicated like in George Town, I just need to drive strait, and able to reach my destination.

We are the first visitor to the farm; I went to buy the entrance fees. Hm… per entrance for adults is RM28. I asked my dad how old is he, he told me that he’s 58 this year, OMG~ my dear dad had fulfill the senior entrance fees. Poor dad, he had been working for all of these years to raise the 4 of us, give us education, and didn’t ask for any return. Love my dad…

So the farm was cool, but not what I imagine. Butterfly farm should have a lot of pretty flowers for the butterfly to collect honey. Here, not much flowers inside, and the butterflies most of them are small size, and looks the same to me.

When we enter the indoor exhibition, it also has other bugs display, tarantula, iguana, snakes, lizard (very BIG lizard which now still give me the goose bum) and a souvenir shop.

110725 Penang Butterfly Farm, a set on Flickr.

Lunch Time

We spend like almost 3 hours in the butterfly farm, cause my parent have to wait for me to finish taking photos. And dad has to wait for mom to buy the souvenir.

After that, mom said she’s hungry; look at the time is almost noon. I told mom they don’t have much chinese stall here, so we have to either go for Malay food or India food. I like the roti canai….

Then mom give me that face, oh well… so along the way, I stop by and ask an India stall where can I find a chinese food stall. And he’s kind enough to show me the direction, so I went…but all of the stalls close. I then bring mom and dad to the malay stall next to it, and we all had curry rich for lunch.

I ate a huge chicken drumstick, and drank a cup of delicious teh tarik. Mom said the food is spicy, she’s not use to eat spicy food.

Penang National Park

After the lunch, I found myself driving to the Penang National Park!!! So I park my car, and register ourselves at the counter.

The park ranger asked where we come from, I told him we’re from Sarawak. He told me that he’s from Sabah, I love Sabah, I then told him that I been there just last year, and had fallen in love to that land ever since. I will go back to Sabah again.

The park consist of several beaches, there are turtle beach, monkey beach, and several other beaches. But it all require 1 hours plus walking distant.

I know dad’s knee cap injure, so we went for the nearest one, to the suspension bridge which only took us like 15 minutes walks. Dad said next time we should come back here again, and bring food to picnic here. Good idea dad, I like that.

Fruits Garden

After the national park, our last destination for today is the fruits garden. The roads to the fruits garden are like snake, along the way, we drove pass the Dam of Penang also. We stop for photograph, dad just stay in the car.

Mom and I went for a walk at the dam, and took some photos. Mom likes to take photos as well…lols.

Then proceed on with the snake like roads, a lot of sharp turns. And dad keeps on telling me drive slowly…. “Don’t worry dad, I have everything under control.” This is what I answer dad each time he asked me to drive slow.

When we reach that tropical garden, the fruits that they plant there are like star fruits, mango, durian, papaya, rambutan, banana. So if were to enter the farm, we need to pay RM30 for each person.

Mom said that these fruits are very common to us. We can easily see it at our house backyard, so why pay the money to see those fruits? Well mom has a point, so dad then suggests why don’t we use that entrance money, and go have some durian while we’re on our way back.

Dad, you’re the cleverest dad in the universe. I hurry start the car, and on our way to the durian stall.

Durian fest…

There are a few stalls of durian along the road, and we stop by at one of it. The owner speack hakka (a local dialect) and surprisingly the same dialect with us.

The durians are insanely cheap here, at first we bought 2 for just RM10. Then dad said he wants to try the bigger one, so this is RM5 for 1KG, and the durian the owner pick is like RM8 only.

OMG, I shouldn’t take that curry rice as lunch. After finish the last seed of the durian, I barely move. I told dad that I’m extremely full now, and I can even skip my dinner later. Dad said same goes for him.

The durians that we ate are all very delicious, I suggest to mom and dad we come back here again for durians, dad said Yes…. :D

Stay tune for my next travel post…

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip, Day 2

This morning when I started the car engine, I saw rain drops in front of the car windshield. Great, I told my mom the weather forecast was right after all, it starts to rain now. So my mom asked me to take an umbrella along.

I plan to bring my parent to George Town for a city tour today, I hoping to walk them to most of the historical temple, and buildings. But the rain had ruin all my plan.

Fort Conwallis

I start to drive slowly to the Jetty, and before I reach the Jetty I saw is the fort Conwallis. Today is Sunday, and they have an event going at the esplanade. I parked my car near the ferry ticket counter. And punch in 60 cents to the parking machine for 45 minutes.

Just when I notice, the rain had stop. My parent and I walk to the main entrance of the fort, and we paid RM6 for 3 adults.

There is a dungeon looking building, I asked my mom and dad to go inside. When we’re inside, mom told me that the prisoners are so pity to be kept in this room, the air ventilation is not good, they will suffocate. Mom continues to mumble and said that if they put she inside this building, she will pass out immediately. I told my mom that she’s to timid.

The Penang Ferry

I look at my watch, OMG~ I told dad that is almost 45 minutes, we have to hurry and get back to our car. On my way back, I asked like at least 3 person (who I assume they live at Penang)…

“Hi, may I know how much do I have to pay for the compound if I overpark?”

Answer 1, from the girl that sells souvenir “I don’t know, not sure about that”

Answer 2, from the guy who looks after the private parking lot “Are you one of the Star Cruse passanger, I don’t know, you ask someone else…”

Answer 3, from pass by senior guy “I don’t know, maybe RM30” <- WTH

Then I told my parent let just get out of here, and I will fine a free parking myself. And I did, I park my car at the Jetty. Then we walk to ride the ferry to cross over Butterworth.

Ferry to Butterworth

I remember last time I paid like RM1 for the ferry tickets, and this time I notice a signboard saying free for passenger…. Hm…. Since when it is free?

Mom bought us some biscuit to eat, she asked me to eat 2 cause she said I’m hungry. I was thinking, how do you know mom?

I took some photos on George Town, the Star Cruse ship, and the Jetty. Magnificent view, also took some panorama shoots. Should get a wide angle lens…

When we reach Butterworth, we didn’t depart but just continue to stay in the ferry, and go back to George town again. The whole journey took us 1/5 hours, dad said this is his first time to see the Penang bridge himself, and mom enjoyed the journey too. I’m worry mom will get sea sick, but she said the ferry is quite stable, so she is ok.

The craw keep on flying into the ferry to look for food to eat, I try to scare them off, but they scare me instead. Damn you stupid craw….

Komtar Supermarket

After we depart, dad said he’s a bit tired. So I drive them to Komtar for lunch. I park my car at the multilevel car park, and I have to drive (in a circle direction) all the way to level 6 (dizzy). Paid RM3, and I am allow to park my car until 5pm today.

Inside the building, we had our lunch at one of the fast food coffee shop, and I took curry, and a chicken drumstick which cost me RM5…oh man, this is expensive!!!

After our lunch, we start to shopping. I bought a new deck of UNO card, I will teach my parent how to play, so when our journey back to Kuching we can play UNO while inside the plane.

One very good practice from the Penang shopping malls is they don’t give out plastic bag anymore. Most of the people bring their own recycle bag, after they shop, they will put all their stuff inside their recycle bag. If you didn’t bring any, you just have to carry the stuff like that…

We spend like 2 hours at Komtar, then dad said he want to go back and rest. So after that, I drive my parent back to rest.

Stay tune for my next travel post.

Penang Trip Report Reports:

Penang Trip, Day 1

Thai Buddhist Temple, Burma Buddhist Temple, and Kek Lok Shi Buddhist Temple

“Ok, we should turn here…”

“where are we now…”

“drive carefully son…”

“why are they so close to us…”

These are the few word that my parent keeps repeating today, I’m driving my parent at Penang here to visit some of the tourist attraction spots. And I don’t have a GPS…yet… so the only thing I can rely on is the map that I've got when landed at Penang Airport.

But my dad is not good at reading map, and mom don’t know how to drive. Is all depends on my six sense now.

I’ve been here 2 years ago, so roughly know the roads around. We stayed at Batu Ferringi area, so our first stop is to the famous Thai Buddhist Temple, and the Burma Buddhist Temple.

I drive down the Batu Feringgi road, pass Tesco supermarket, pass Gurney Plazza, and if not mistaken the temple should be here somewhere. I asked my dad to keep at eye for a building which looks odd. So while I’m concentrating on my way, then dad point on the right, asking me what is that buiding…Eureka dad!!! That the one, thanks to dad we made it to our first stop.

I came here 2 years ago; my photos that I took that time most of them corrupted, because I burn them into data CD. So this time, I took like 3 – 4 time more photos than last time, and save it nicely into my external hard drive.

The weather today are perfectly nice, I was very worry few days before my trip as I checked on the weather forecast it says that Penang is going to rain.

Burma Buddhist Temple

We visited the Burma Temple first, the temple are huge. I then acted as a part time tour guide and starts to explain the history about the temple to my parents (got the info from the internet actually) and I am also a part time photographer, and start to taking picture for my parent.

It always makes me feel happy when seeing the smiling faces on mom and dad. And dad as always are still so caring towards mom, each time when crossing the street he will hold mom’s hand. And this is a good example that I must learn from my dad.

Thai Buddhist Temple

The Thai Buddhist temple is just opposite the Burma Buddhist temple, and is huge as well. I’m so impress on the wall engraving are amazing. It is very details, and looks so real. There are a lot of stories about how the Buddha became from a prince to one of the greatest teacher in this world.

Unknown market for our lunch

After exploring the two Buddhist temple, I told dad that is almost time for tea break. So while roaming at the unknown roads, I saw this market which is pack with people. I am very hungry that time, and starts to imaging the fried clam kuih tiao of penang. I’m lucky to that a parking lot are just right in front of me when I think of the food.

Dad paid 60 cents to the India guy, he is kind enough to help us watch over our car, and are very polite as well.

The champion coffee shop

Why I call this place the champion coffeeshop is because the owner’s son is a bowling champion, and he’s the representative from the Malaysia team. A lot of trophy, cash rewards cert, and photos are hang at the wall of fame.

The business there are super good, we need to wait for our turns to get a spot to sit down. I ordered a penang prawn noodle for mom, a sweet roasted duck noodle for dad, and a fried clam kuih tiao for myself. I don’t understand why Penang people likes to mix the beehun and the noddles together. I find it very wired on mixing these two together.

My fried kuih tiao is not bad, but I don’t fine the legendary prawn noodles to taste good. I’m use to the food taste back in Sarawak…

Kek Lok Shi Buddhist Temple

I stop and asked for direction for 2 times, and finally I manage to find this famous temple. This temple had the biggest and highest Guan Ying Buddha status at Malaysia, and this is also one of the signatures here.

Dad and mom was like speechless when they’re here, lols. They keep on praising on how huge the temple is, and is magnificent.

I worry dad will get bad headache, so before we enter the temple, we had a cool coconut drinks to make sure they have enough water.

That temple are full of tourist, this is a good sign as another main sours of income for the temple are from the tourist. So I hope everyday this place will be flood by tourist.

I took a lot of photos of dad and mom together, the building, and the Buddhist statues. Not just that, I snaps a few panorama shoots as well. I want to take as much photos as I can to record down my wonderful trip with my parents.

Dad likes to take photos as well, as I saw him keep on using his nokia phone to take photos. Then he can show off to his friends when he get back home later. Lols…..

There are a spot at the temple where they plant a lot of flowers, the hibiscus flowers are pretty and big.

There is a big bell towel, after you make your wish, you use the wood to knock on the bell, and then your wish will come true. I teach dad and mom how, and they made their own wish. For dad, I maybe know what he wish for, if not mistaken maybe is the grand winner of the lottery :P

Call it a day

Dad and mom are tired after all the walking, praying, photography, and eating. We had an early dinner at one of the coffee shop near the temple. Dad are the Hai Nan chicken rice and it cost RM4.50, the portion are so little, is so expensive!!!

On our way back, it only takes me 30 min. I think I am starting to get familiar with the Penang roads now. Good start, see you guys in my next travel post.

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