Penang is an island located in the north of peninsula Malaysia. This island embraces modernity whilst retaining traditional architectures all over, including well-preserved heritage buildings in its capital, George Town. Penang was also regarded as the food capital in Malaysia. In fact, the foods and its beautiful coasts have entices visitors all around the world, particularly from western countries. This post is relatively long, and so, I will try to summarize as much as I could. On the other hand, please click on the images to enlarge the size.


Caption: Penang island


Caption: map of Penang

I am feeling extremely grateful for the travelling plan organised by aunty Georgia. This is probably the second time travelling to Penang. The first visit should be around 15 years ago. Our story began in a place called the Batu Ferringi, a place positioned somewhere in the north of the island. We stayed at aunty Georgia's condominium in "Miami Green" in Tanjung Tokong. The place is marvelous. However, the only dissatisfaction we had is when our personal car park is always occupied by some other residence. Basically, the security are doing nothing! I even suggested the security to make more money by clamping the cars parked at other people's space!


Caption: miami green condominium


Caption: the view from the condominium

The most exciting part of our journey is the never-ending food consumption. Guess what, we have been eating non-stop since the first day we reached the island. The schedule in most of my trips are usually crowded, packed with different activities (e.g. walking around, shopping). Indeed, this trip is very different. We enjoy the freedom, spending quality time for something we are interested with. Therefore, a tour is never fun if not well-planned.


Caption: Daryl and I


Caption: Daryl, Brandon and I

Liz decided to buy us some really nice fried banana (we called that as "pisang goreng" in Malay). Although I seldom consume fried foods, the taste was really very great. These fried bananas are definitely perfect savory-sweet treat, particularly for a special day brunch by the seaside. I think this is probably the best fried banana I have ever had! Liz suggest that the bananas are "crunchy in the outside and juicy in the inside".

We visited aunty Q the next morning. According to them, aunty Q has been staying in Penang for more than 50 years. In fact, she is a food critic herself. In any cases, she knows as much about food as she does about the taste of the fanciest meals. We are definitely out of luck if we hadn't bump into her in this trip, thank god.


Caption: fried banana


Caption: fried hawker foods


Caption: eating fried banana


Caption: mini hotel


Caption: the interior of the mini hotels


Caption: myself in the mini hotel

Anyway, aunty Q showed us some well-designed and unique heritage buildings around Penang. We have plenty of walking throughout the day. She showed us the one storey home-hotel, some traditional houses converted to mini hotels. It may sound a little old fashion. However, it provide you a glimpse into a traditional and historical blend into a rich cultural experiences when staying.


Caption: at aunty Q's place

Aunty Q brought us to the George Town city for Teochew Chendul. This Teochew Chendul has a proud history to begin with. According to what I understand, the founder of this Penang Road Teochew Chendul started the business in late 1945. Lately, they have expanded their business to 6 branches all over Malaysia. Therefore, they are extremely successful in this business (look at the amount of customers queuing up by the road). By the way, Chendul is a dessert, consist of green pandan flavour rice flour noodles, added with a variety of toppings such as red beans, coconut milk and shaved ice and dark sugar syrup. I am sure you will like it as soon as you tastes it!


Caption: Penang Road Teochew Chendul


Caption: enjoying chendul


Caption: Daryl protecting Liz in the crowd (the bodyguard from Malaysia)

Our next destination is the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion (also known as the blue mansion). The mansion provided a remarkable history of a successful Chinese entrepreneur in the 19th century. Having 16 childrens (8 males and 8 females), it was stated that his wealth could last for 9 generations. We spend an hour plus, touring around the blue mansion with a spokeman as a guide, telling us the succcessful story of Cheong Fatt Tze.


Caption: Cheong Fatt Tze's blue mansion


Caption: the entrance of the blue mansion


Caption: Liz and I


Caption: the green heritage home

Can you imagine increasing 7 kilograms of weight within a week? In fact, not everyone can do this! Why is that? People are usually reluctant to this because human are usually afraid of getting fat due to several reasons: (1) rise of cholestrol level (2) blood pressure. Sometimes, you need to attain sufficient stress in order to gain some weight (i.e. keep eating when you are struggling with pressure). If so, I should feel proud to increase my weight significantly under a stress free condition.


Caption: padang


Caption: padang (con't)


Caption: aunty Q waiting so happily for a seat


Caption: aunty Georgia eating Apom/Apam Balik (Malay food)


Caption: pasembur


Caption: Penang Popiah


Caption: Popiah

Our first street food with aunty Q was in a place called "Padang" (also known as Field if translated in english). In fact, the portion of the food is not massive, however enough for one person. The flavour of the food is definitely unique. We had popiah (a thin chinese spring roll wrapped with different ingredients, e.g. steamed turnips, bean sprouts, french beans, some slices of pork and tofu) and Pasembur (known as the indian salad, consist of cucumber, turnip, potatoes, beancurd, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, spicy fried crab, fried octopus and served with sweet and spicy nutty sauce). Because every culture has offer their signature dishes in a very different cooking style, the foods that I have had in places other than in Penang is very different. I believe that their special creation have represented a beautiful blend of tastes and spices, and of course, the creativity they have had for the food they produce is extremely tasty.


Caption: the monkey forest


Caption: Brandon, Daryl and I


Caption: deeper section of the forest


Caption: by the mini waterfall

To relax our digestive system, aunty Q brought us to a forest. I called it as the monkey forest and why is that so? Because the most attractive thing I ever seen in the forest is monkey. It is a very nice place indeed, particularly when we do not have to jog like other people when climbing the mountain, I could even feel the breeze by the small lake in the forest. I am feeling extremely relax at that time. We spend approximately an hour here before moving to other restaurant for food. Now you could start imaging how I have gained 6-7 kg within a week!


Caption: Ho Ping Chinese restaurant


Caption: a clearer picture of the stall


Caption: aunty Q and gang ordering the foods


Caption: "pork organ" mee soup

We travelled all the way back to the city again. Aunty Q suggest some really "nice" food. Truthfully, the pork meat, mee and soup was great. However, the pork organs are truely disgusting. Let see what were contained in the mee. They have mee, soup, pork meat and other organs such as pork belly, kidney, liver, brain, intesting and something else with which I could not recall at all. Well, I tasted very small portion of all the organs. Guess what, pork kidney is fine by me because it is tasteless. Except, the crunchy feeling when bitting it is a little disgusting to me. Pork brain on the other hand is truely bad. It tastes as if I am chewing a butter-and-oily tofu. I understand that consuming pork brain will help a human to think better (this is what the Chinese believe). However, mind me, Yucks! Anyway, it is definitely not aunty Q's fault. She thought we like to eat pork organs. By the way, anyone who want to taste the mee soup with pork organ should remember the name of the restaurant, the "Ho Ping" chinese coffee shop in George Town city.


Caption: the lake


Caption: Kim's Asam Laksa shop


Caption: in a place called Balik Pulau


Caption: 2-flavours Asam Laksa


Caption: nutmeg supplier store

Aunty Q and aunty Georgia decided to bring us to this place called "Balik Pulau" (known as returning to island if translated in english). They wanted to bring us to try on an extremely tasty hawker food, Asam Laksa. It is referred to as the sour-fish based soup with a kind of vermicilli noodle. However, travelling from Batu Ferringi is quite distance, about an hour. First, we stopped by a lake. According to Liz, the lake provide water to everywhere in Penang. This means that few drips of toxic should kill everyone entirely in Penang. That sounded scary! Finally we reached the chinese restaurant after driving for approximately 30 minutes. The taste of the asam laksa is extremely tasty. This is probably the best asam laksa on earth! The traditional asam laksa is sour. This is slightly different because it comes with 2 flavours; sour and with santan (coconut milk). The combination of sour taste with coconut milk will produce a brilliant taste. It is extremely special and something new for me. Though I do not prefer eating asam laksa, however, thumbs up to this. Please try if you ever visit the Penang island someday.


Caption: Cheong Kim Chuan (entrance)


Caption: Cheong Kim Chuan (inner)

We proceed to the nutmeg supplier to buy some nutmeg for relatives and friends, and the latter to "Cheong Kim Chuan" in a place called Bayan Lepas. Cheong Kim Chuan is a shop / company which is famous with its nutmeg oil. The nutmeg oil recognised as a traditional remedy and also effectively used as an emergency treatment to reduce rheumatic pain (e.g. limbs, joints and muscles), headache and diarrhea.


Caption: Kek Lok Si (the Guan Yin statue)


Caption: Daryl, Liz, Brandon and aunty Georgia


Caption: myself


Caption: Dog: one of the twelve chinese animals in the chinese astrology (click HERE)


Caption: myself and the God of Mercy


Caption: Kek Lok Si temple




Caption: Kek Lok Si (night view)


Caption: the pagoda (night view)


Caption: around the Kek Lok Si temple (night view)

The Kek Lok Si is a chinese temple located just opposite to Cheong Kim Chuan. It was also recognised as the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. The Kek Lok Si temple has a humongous-sized bronze Guan Yin (recognised as the Buddhist God of Mercy) statue, located in the middle of the temple. The history of the temple is a little striking when the Guan Yin statue was once strike by the lightning. Rumours said the statue detached and later reformed again few years ago. There is this cable car service, lifting visitors to different sections of the temple. However, the size of the cable car is too small to fit few of us. Therefore, we ignore using the service. Also, a complimentary and special thanks to Jordan Lyle for such wonderful night view photos.


Caption: Asia cafe


Caption: Portugal-style steam fish


Caption: roasted duck and bbq pork with rice


Caption: myself and the great fried oyster chef - Mr. Ming and his family


Caption: Mr. Ming frying the oyster


Caption: fried oyster


Caption: remember this fried oyster shop in Asia Cafe Penang Hill

We went for food again after the tour in the Kek Lok Si temple. Aunty Q decided to bring us to the "Asia Cafe" near the famous Penang Hill. There, we get to meet the famous "Fried Oyster" chef, Mr. Ming. Guys and girls, if you ever visit the Penang island and planned to taste the best fried oyster on earth, please visit this restaurant and look for this shop and chef. I can ensure you that you will taste the best fried oyster you have ever taste in your life! Rumours said that Mr. Ming was invited to many countries to cook his famous fried oyster for many catering events.


Caption: Hard Rock Hotel


Caption: myself in Hard Rock hotel


Caption:Liz in Hard Rock hotel


Caption: myself and the King of Pop's statue


Caption: a very nice ambience in the Hard Rock hotel


Caption: Hard Rock hotel


Caption: having some fun in the mini-park in the Hard Rock hotel


Caption: walking around the beach


Caption: Brandon is having some fun in the Hard Rock hotel

We returned to Batu Ferringi an hour later. Aunty Georgia brought us to the Hard Rock hotel. That is definitely a 5-star hotel from the price per room. The hotel was attached to the beautiful beach. Although it was dark at that time (around 8.00 PM), we have decided to walk around the hotel. We did not stay there due to the overpriced room they offer. However, we do enjoy walk around the beach. If you look at one of the picture in the above, you could see how excited Brandon is. By the way girls, Brandon is still single and available :)


Caption: nasi lemak


Caption: some nasi lemak we ordered

We went for food again next morning. This time, we had some traditional Malay food in Batu Ferringi. The food is just moderate, nothing really special to me. I think the reason is the bad-behaviour offer by their workers.


Caption: Gurney Plaza


Caption: inside the plaza


Caption: aunty Georgia and I


Caption: in the G hotel next to Gurney Plaza (we called that as the 'G'eorgia hotel)

After that, we went to this shopping complex called Gurney Plaza. Gurney plaza is a premier lifestyle mall located at the centre of Penang, George Town. We spend an hour or two, walking around the mall.


Caption: gambling


Caption: Liz was playing some songs for me


Caption: one of the 3 (43 inch) televisions aunty Q randomly won when shopping


Caption: glutinous ball Liz's grandma prepared for us for celebrating Winter Solstice

We returned home later and start gambling among each other. Initially, we do not use real money for gambling. Instead, we used some fake chips that act as money for gambling. However, we have invited aunty Q to join, and finally uses real money because she prefer gambling with cash. Anyway, she acted as the banker. Though we have many people dealing with her, trying to win all her money on the table, however I am quite reluctant to accept the fact that she is a great gambler with plenty of luck! Indeed, she is usually a very lucky person. Therefore, please think twice before gambling with people like aunty Q. Else, you may regret.


Caption: Sin Lee Hin Chinese restaurant


Caption: steam egg


Caption: steam brocolli and some vegetable soup


Caption: fried tofu and some french beans


Caption: fried fish and fried lemon chicken

We went for food again an hour later. This time, we came to this typical Chinese restaurant for a light meal. Originally, I am a person who prefer eating home cooked foods. The taste is just nice for me since all these are home-cooked foods.


Caption: Miami beach in Batu Ferringi, Penang


Caption: myself in Miami beach


Caption: Brandon and I were both enjoying the bbq corn


Caption: the process of bbq'ing the corn

We have also spend an hour plus walking around the beach. Although the weather was hot that day, but we were glad there is no downpour as we expected it through the weather forecast. We were soaking in the sun at one of the most beautiful beach in Malaysia, comfortably walking around the without any shoes. While enjoying the walk, Daryl bought us some bbq corns and coconut juice. The feeling was so great even after staying for hours in such a beatiful paradise.


Caption: Beach Corner restaurant


Caption: Hainan-style fried vermicilli


Caption: Duck and Yam dish


Caption: Hainan-style fried egg noodle


Caption: Hainan-style vegetables


Caption: Hainan-style vegetable, popiah and curry fish head


Caption: Hainan-style fried popiah


Caption: Ferringi Garden restaurant (entrance)


Caption: Ferring Garden restaurant (inner)


Caption: the ambience in the restaurant


Caption: they were booking a table from the restaurant

We went for dinner in the evening at the "Beach Corner" restaurant in Batu Ferringi. The foods are really unique and tasty. The chef has also cooked the foods with the Hainanese cooking styles, which produces a very different taste of food that I ever tasted elsewhere in Malaysia. I would strongly recommend the "Duck and Yam" dish to anyone who plan visiting this restaurant someday. After dinner, we decided to walk around. Brandon spotted a fine dining restaurant just opposite the shop. It was the Ferringi Garden restaurant.


Caption: Daryl, Liz, aunty Georgia, Brandon and I


Caption: Liz, Daryl and I before the dinner


Caption: we were enjoying our dinner


Caption: BBQ lobster


Caption: black cod fish


Caption: Grilled Salmon steak


Caption: French style fish and chips


Caption: French-style pasta


Caption: Liz and Brandon after the dinner

There is an online poll, stated that the overall rating for the Ferringi Garden restaurant is 74%. They voted 90% for the quality of the foods and the ambience of the restaurant. Because of that, you have to book your own table a day before the dining. Anyway, we all ordered different foods and really enjoyed them since it is really good. I also think the ambience and scrumptious cuisines in this restaurant has significantly improve our dining experiences. Overall, I would rate it as 8/10 myself. After the dinner, we spend an hour walking around the Shangri-la Rasa Sayang hotel. It is a luxurious 6-star hotel. This explained the reason of why the rooms are tremendously expensive during peak seasons. Roughly looking through the price list, a deluxe suite cost RM 2,200 (around USD $642) whilst RM 6,800 (around USD $1984) for presidental suite per night. That is really costly!


Caption: Shangri-La Rasa Sayang


Caption: in Rasa Sayang hotel


Caption:Daryl and Liz


Caption: Shangri-La SPA


Caption: SPA

We had our brunch before leaving home the next afternoon. The white coffee was really good. In fact, if you love drinking coffee, just order black coffee with milk in any Chinese restaurants in Penang since the taste is just great. Daryl ordered black coffee from all Chinese restaurants that we have visited in Penang to make comparisons, and he think the taste is just nice and thick.


Caption: the restaurant


Caption: Penang white coffee


Caption: Brandon eating Apam (a traditional Malay food)


Caption: leaving Penang


Caption: Penang bridge (one of the longest bridge in the world)

The fascinating fusion of the foods, sight seeing, walking around unique heritage buildings and beaches, tropical gardens and ornately designed temples, Penang is definitely a good place to spend your quality time, particularly with someone you treasure and love. I will definitely spend more time in Penang again, in the coming future. I would also take this opportunity to thank to aunty Georgia and aunty Q for spending their time wondering around with us in Penang, and to our gang for their time and laughter.