The Pearl of the Orient I: The Journey North

collagePenang2008
Swiped from williamnyk.

Almost half of three centuries had passed since I last set foot on Penang Island. My last visit there was with a rombongan sekolah for World Children's Day. I was also supposed to visit during Mel's sister's wedding but that plan somehow fell through. Normally, my CNY is spent cooped up at home. This year is an exception to the norm-- my sister invited the family to a food appreciation trip there. Never passing up a chance for a family trip, mum, bro and I signed on for it. 138 smackeroos per head. We left for Penang on CNY2 and also managed to cram in a pit stop at Taiping to visit an old friend of mum's. Traffic conditions were good, except at the Penang Bridge. Now I understand why I keep hearing the same traffic reports everyday. Bountiful toll booths, but they all eventually converge into a measley two lanes.

Lunch was at a random food court as not many places were open. Ordered chicken rice, Char Kuey Teow and Yong Tau Foo. The YTF was quite good, but strangely the only noodles they used were Cintan and glass noodles.

Since our departure date was determined quite spontaenously, lodging was not arranged beforehand. Sis had made some phone calls, but most of the hotels she called were fully-booked. To avoid sleeping under some flyover, we made walk-in inquiries. Starting from Tanjung Bungah, we wound our way to Georgetown. One does not even need to walk into the lobby, the valets will save you the trouble.

"Room sir? Sorry, fully-booked."

After about 10 hotels, we finally found 2 rooms at Grand Paradise Hotel at McAlister Road. Very dingy. The sight of their sheets made me itch. The linen still had hair clinging to it. Ewwww. The bathtub was peeling and the carpets were severely water-stained. Makes me wonder what their motto "Now Everyone Can Stay" actually means. Anyway, I didn't wake up with any rashes or anything, so I guess it was OK. Dinner was right at our doorstep as there were plenty of hawkers around. Had Chu Cheong Fun (with prawn paste, not sweet sauce, weird!), oyster omelettle (tasty, crispy egg), Char Kuey Teow (over-priced at MYR5.00 due to CNY), Popiah and Assam Laksa.

Post-dinner activities were held at Prangin Mall and Batu Ferrenghi. The mall was kind of a let down. Reminded me of the shopping complex from my childhood in Kuantan-- bad lighting and cheapo shops. At the beach, it was more promising as we did some shopping at their version of Petaling Street, only with better ventilation, cheaper souvenirs and DIRT CHEAP DVDs (a mere MYR4.00!). Quite surprising since it is a tourist trap. Tired out from the journey, we adjourned back to the hotel. I tucked myself in and bored myself to sleep watching Tsui Hark's "Seven Swords". At least it got my mind off fearing that I'd catch some dreaded skin disease from the sheets...



... to be continued ...