Trip to Penang Part 2
Famous Char Koay teow?
Every Chinese makan shop you go to will surely have one hawker selling on item: char koay teow a.k.a fried kpay teow or fried flat noodles if you are totally alien to malaysian food. But they dont just give it any name like Ah Chongs fried koay teow or Boons Best Fried..etc... it can and only has one name... Penang Char Koay teow. Not Melaka, not Johor, not Perak, not Selangor, and not even Kedah.... for some reason, if its char koay teow, it has to be from Penang, or so they would tell you.
So what is a person to do for the first dinner he is to have while in Penang? The answer came almost by itself. Of course we all know Penang is supposed to be famous for its good food, so good so much that all local hawkers in the entire peninsular Malaysia feels obliged to put the word Penang in front of they char koay teow and Asam Laksa. So it seemed almost a sin not to at least try our hands on some koay teow that literally came from Penang. Where is the most famous place to eat in all of Penang.. Gurney Drive of course... named after the former Governer of Penang Sir Henry Gurney (I think ;p) I will confess, I had high expectations. After meeting countless Penang-nites who swear that the char koay teows in KL were all unworthy imitations of the real deal up north, I was eager to be impressed. Remember I had this theory that the old looking shop with the old looking man would often sell the best food? Well, there were no old looking hawkers stalls in Gurney drive. They were all very clean and up to date. for the benefit of tourist no doubt. But I did manage to find one particular char koay teow shop were there seemed to be a long line. And when you see people willing to line up for food, you know it must be good. That plus the man doing the frying looked reasonably old to me. So what the heck, I joined the line and awaited my turn.
Along the way we bought some fried meats, fried oysters etc etc etc.. it was turning out more and more like this was more an eating holiday than sight seeing holiday!
So how was this famous this dish that would probably have been our national dish if it were not made with pork oil? Well............ again disappointment, disappointment, and disappointment. As old has he was, the old cook dispelled my theory on age with the deliciousness of food. The rest of the night, we were too tired to do anything else, so we just walked around Gurney Plaza and went home to the hotel for some snoozing!
Back to the Photos
The next morning, we headed for the botanical gardens. Now, despite being called a botanical garden, the place really is notorious for something else; monkeys to be specific. The last time I was 3 feet tall and was 8 years old, visited this place, and was forever left with the image of a ferocious monkey stealing a poor girls potato chips. But still it remains a beautiful and green place, kind a kind a green lung for Penang Island.
The monkeys here are fearless of humans, and would attack and try to take whatever food you have on you. Needless to say, we were careful not to bring any food. I just hoped that the monkeys havent learnt how to use a digital camera, else even that would be stolen. Proof of the notoriety of these monkeys? Take a look at this sign.
Like I said... its always the company that make the trip special......
You know you can always have good fun and monkey around without making a fool of yourself.............
When you are with buddies you trust, and are comfortable with.......
Plus, they patiently wait for you until you get that shot just right!
I guess the highlight of the trip would always be going up Bukit Bendera. It took us 2 trams and 40 minutes to reach the top.. but I tell you, the view from the top was work all the waiting and cramming with tens of other people, some with hands smelling like dhall after just coming straight from the various famous Nasi Kandar shops around Penang. From the top you get to see a birds eye view of the city and the surrounding islands, and it was then and there that I decided coming for this holiday was not a mistake after all. We all need a break sometimes, and being nothing beats being among the mountains with the cool breeze blowing at you, beautiful sunny sky above and blue ocean stretching all the way as far as the horizon.... gosh, I need another holiday! Anyway, here's the rest of the trip in pictures.. if I tried typing more, it take me another silly week just to finish this post!
Trips like this always make me wonder about my friends... The more good times you spend, the more you realise good friends are hard to find... and even harder to find those you are comfortable being with.... It really is sad that friends come and go.. why is it that we can never have all the people we love and care for around us together at one time? Its always bits and pieces here and there..... But I guess you take what you get and embrace the moments that do come.. for all that it was worth, as short as it was, always remember to savour the times spent together.. you never know when the next time will be or if it comes at all..... If you can do that, then you will have no regrets in the future.
posted by Compulsive Blogger @ 1:36 pm
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