Went on a family trip to Penang for a few days. I was last there some 20 years ago. At a nearby kopitiam, found out that the owner had worked for a number of years in KK. Had a nice long chat with him. One of the reason GeorgeTown (we always incorrectly say Penang, which refers to the state) had so many old shoplots (now preserved under the 2008 UNESCO World Heritage Site) was due to the Rent Control Act (repealed in 2000).
He told me shop rental then was as low as RM100 per month! So nobody wanted to buy these properties in those days. Nowadays these old shoplots are selling above a million each (even with the preservation terms due to the World Heritage Site). So Penang is lucky to end up with all these tourism-promoting old shops.
So there are a lot of small enterprises (especially cafes, coffee bars ....) opened by young people in the renovated shoplots.
Unlike what it says on that sign on Penang Hill (see photo of Penang Hill below), "You haven't been to Penang, if You haven't had Nasi Kandar". Not wanting to wait till 10pm for Nasi kandar Beratur, I went to Nasi Kandar Line Clear. All very nice, especially if you ask for Kuah Banjir! If you are interested, search the internet for the story on the family quarrels (happened this year). I noticed a branch at the airport, but what's the fun to eat there?
Paid a return visit to Gurney Drive; just to say "Been There".
The Gurney Drive Hawker Center; now more touristy than ever ...
... so-so food. You want good Penang food, you need to search for it.
The kopitiam (first photo above) had this sign inside. I took this photo, which caused the owner to start talking to me. He told me some coffee shops even had a minimum RM spending condition (to prevent people from sitting down and consuming food they bought from outside!).
I visited those street art (by Ernest Zacharevic) ... though now deteriorating due to time, rain and sun.
This one looked like this now ...
... compared to then.
Even Bruce Lee couldn't keep the plaster from falling (especially if he keeps flying kick the cat!). Note that though many of these streets art are by Ernest Zacharevic, there are also those by other artists. He also visited and painted up Ipoh and Johor Baru.
A rather lazy cat ...
... as the tasty mouse was just round the corner!
The wall of the coffee shop showing the scene of the old time coffee shop.
My favourite was this one; Reaching Out For The Pau!!!
The Penang Peranakan Mansion deserves a good visit. Although it was the home of a non-Baba Kapitan Cina (named Chung), the mansion is a good reflection of residences of those times. Bought and restored by a well known antique collector (a lot of the antiques inside, including jewellery, are from his collection).
Riches galore ...
Intricate craftsmanship; underneath the stairs ...
... and the railings.
The most "modern" of the rooms; with an old tv, western dolls, and beds.
I am always buying books. I bought one from the jewellery display section on the house. There were other books there on the jewellery and also on the Straits Chinese.
The man who built the house; Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee (1821 - 1901). The mansion was completed in 1895 in time for his 75th birthday.
The man who bought and restore the house; Peter Soon (Property Developer and Antique Collector).
Hmm ... True?
A bit hazy; but you do get a good view. Nothing much else up the hill....
Even the train was modern...
... only now as a senior citizen, I pay the same rate as a child (see, its true what they say, grow old and become a child again!). I was told that there is a nice hiking and bicycling trail up the hill, very popular in the evenings.
Ah Soon Kor's Prawn Mee; very nice. The "Special" had deep fried mantis shrimps included.
A very popular Dim Sum place. Very good fung shui; shaded even at 10am!
Bacon wrapped prawns ....
Their version of Kiew Nyuk buns. Didn't order much as it was the second breakfast lah.
The Red Garden; better than Gurney Drive Hawker Center. Nice atmosphere for a spot of beer guzzling and fifties songs.
The was a huge art on the wall of the building outside. I believe it's by someone called Desmond Yeo?
When you have had enough of the local cuisine, then go for the real stuff; PORK!!!
Nice ribs.
Two places to visit before leaving Penang; First is Ming Xiang Tai, one of the nice cake shops...
... most cakes have expiry date of 1 week, but the egg tarts expire in 1 day. So I bought and ate on the spot!!!
The other place is the famous cendol stall ...
... either eat standing around or used to be, you pay the coffee shop behind the stall to eat inside ...
... but this stall had made enough profit to buy a shoplot about 10m away where you can eat in cool comfort!
Man, good enough to justify 2 bowls!
