last of goodbyes

The day has come, for everything to end. But not before having the last of all adventures. Yes, or else this trip wouldn't be complete. You know me. ;)

We have one more place yet to visit. On the final morning, we left early towards Ayer Itam market. Waited for awhile for Sisters Yem and Kelly to arrive before we all began on our mini expedition. It was actually a dam that they were bringing us to. Good for me because it was definitely a new place for me, for I had not been here during my previous trip. You could say that this was the healthiest morning for us ever since our stay at Penang. About one and a half hours of walk along the trail rounding the dam. Truly an extraordinary experience for us, and me especially because it was just too close to nature. You could literally breathe in the freshest air possible, gaining shelter under the thick canopy of trees and with the sun's beams hardly breaking in on you. I make myself sound so environmentalist. ;P

There's actually a neat concrete path built for visitors. But don't underestimate it; its path is all winding and twisting and uphill and downhill. Really.

See? So protective and so thick that not even the sun's strong beams could penetrate it. That's the real nature. ;D

Spot the unusual. Flip-flops throughout this whole path. Odd enough? Nobody mentioned about having a long morning walk in the dense forest! So, the joke's on me.

Breathtaking huh? I thought so too. ;)

We three were the ones falling behind. It was only me in the beginning, with only one cause to point to. Camera. With the camera in hand, and also my over-enthusiasm when chucked in such a province, you bet I could spend the whole morning here and losing touch with the time ticking away and the people who were awaiting. Oopsieee ;P

And look what we found! Or rather, who.

Mr Thousand-Legged was crossing a highway, I suppose. I immediately gave out a cry when I spotted it right before I was about to put my foot forward. Who would have known what would become of him had I done so? Apparently, that cry gave a shock to momma and bro. ;P

Not more than five minutes were spent just to take pictures of this creature here. Bet it was a once-in-a-lifetime celebrity moment for him. ;D

Further down, we were visited by another of his friend, only much shorter this time, and, with less legs. ;D I was totally clueless as to what this insect could be. So were momma and bro. Because momma said, 

"It looks like chocolate. You bring home and eat it la!"

*expressioneless*

Tortoises! We spotted tortoises in the lake!

Doesn't this just gives you the feeling of being in Sound of Music? Maria and the children singing Do A Deer song. I could just roll down from the top if it's permitted. Yes, I would! ;D

Morning walk completed and time for breakfast! Jeez, I sound like I'm always eating. Or more like, eating is always on my mind. I need to workout!

Back to Ayer Itam market! By the way, the dam we visited was very near this market. In fact, it was the same way used when going uphill towards Kek Lok Si Temple.

Ma dumplings. Pretty healthy right? I know, to suit the exercise we just had. ;D

Wan Tan Mee. Quite a big portion, but it's bro who ordered it. So it would just do.  

Momma's Char Kuey Teow. 

Or was it the fried radish cake?

And French toast! Who would have known this dish would still be ordered while visiting the island of sumptuous food? But I still love it!

We went our separate ways after that meal. And so, it was time for goodbye. At least between us and Sis Kelly. While Sis Yem went back to pack her stuff, for she would be joining us back to KL, the three of us headed for our final visit to the famous Kek Lok Si Temple. The one place that cannot be missed because I know bro had been longing to visit it.

Also, this time I went up to the super-huge Guan Yin statue since I forgo it the last time. Momma declined going up, so I accompanied bro up there. It was, massive. Really, really massive.

Standing at the foot of it makes me feel so miniature. So timid, so small, so...dwarf?

Mickey mouse? Donald duck? No, those two on the far right look exactly like the cartoon figures! They are by far the cutest things here. ;D

So when the whole morning, close to noon already by then, we all left the place for our hotel once more. Only this, it'll be the last time for us coming back to this unnoticeable but comfy lodging. The kindness and helpfulness shown by the hotel uncle were far too great for us, really. He allowed us to check in later, perhaps no more than a couple of hours later. He even told us to take our shower and get ourselves clean and all set before leaving. How nice of him! ;) 

Bathed, packed, and all that was left for us to do was to wait. ;D

You know that feeling of having a sister that, (though never admits openly ;P) always syok sendiri? So if you ask me, "What can I do about it?" I'll say to you, "Nothing. Just bear with it." ;D

FINALLY, we took all our luggages and bags and whatever they we were supposed to bring back home with us, and replaced them in momma's car. Any last words? Nope, we'll have a perfectly safe journey, mind you. For I'll be driving, mind you. Always so pumped up about driving. ;P

So everything's final right? Hence there shall be one last meal in Penang before it's gone for, now. LOL

Bought a few packets of Pasembur from this stall. 

Never expected it would be so tasty. I would definitely try it another time. Basically, it's just like Indian rojak, but lots more ingredients were added to this dish and not to mention the gravy was something different from the ones we were so used to. Recommended! ;D

Penang curry laksa. The soup was awesome! It was more milky, I guess. And the belacan that came together with it had the perfect aroma.

Butter and kaya toast! ALl time favourite. ;D

Oh, do not ever leave with empty hands. At least, buy something for your family and friends. But what's better than getting some local cookies and biscuits?

It's just too bad they don't have those boxed Hiong Peng. Only packaged ones were available and I don't think it would be worth buying several of those packaged ones. There weren't too many and definitely not enough. Next time I'll buy again for you guys okay? ;)

And that was the last station for us. After that, it was really goodbye for now. Will not be visiting until the next time. ;)

I got my wish for driving back to KL again. My pleading cries and look granted my wish. HAHA!

Goodbye the island of awe. ;)

The drive home was so much longer than I anticipated. Not that much, but still so much. LOL

It was almost 9pm when we reached our place. So tired and exhausted. I could only be honest to myself, because when night had fallen and there actually was some slight rain, my eyes began to gave way. Coffee didn't help much either. I know, foolish was I. No more next time though. 

And for now, I'm looking so much to another such trip. I wanna drive this time too! ;P

away from epicentre

Oh hello again!

Here's a picture for your mind to envision. A mint-flavoured ice-cream atop a crunchy cone, wind rustling through the falling leaves, feeling a mix of sunshine warmth and icy cold simultaneously, laughter of children everywhere, and of course, overlooking the vast city below your feet.

Welcome to Penang Hill! ;)

Oh hey! I'm more than delighted to see you here with me, Jeremy! ;D

Captured this shot while waiting for Sisters Yem and Kelly to arrive at the foot of Penang Hill. See how the iconic statue of Guan Yin of Kek Lok Si Temple contrasts this vehicle here. I think it's really amazing how the people had made such a massive and magnificent sculpture on top a hill. People can really perform such seemingly impossible stuff that it's almost hard to believe sometimes. Makes me feel like in China. LOL

Strolling down the Walk of Fame. No, really, literally. Except that it's not humans that are honoured here, but more of miniatures of, well, trains. ;) Or more like, carriages?

In the carriage and on the way uphill. I never expected it to move at such a speed. I had always thought, since it's going against gravity and at such a height, then it ought to travel at a slow and steady pace. But the instant its engine was revved, I was taken by surprise. I'm almost certain it moved quicker than KL's LRT. Reallyyyyyy. 

The view just gets beautiful with every degree of elevation. 

And gosh, this tunnel. I could say I was lucky enough to have captured this shot with my, well, average and amateur camera. But still, it looks, presentable? HAHA

The trip upwards took about an estimation of 10 minutes. Or perhaps less. It was pretty fast because before you even realize it, you've reached the station uphill already. Well, that could be accounted for since besides the horizontally-increasing view of the island, lining along the track was only greeneries and more greeneries. And a monkey here and there occasionally. ;)

It, could be an eagle. Cause I couldn't think of any other bird that would fly so high and with so little flapping of its wings. I guess? 

Oh look! TM right in the middle of what, a forest? And I'm here in the heart of KL and yet I can't get a decent connection. Seriously, urgh.

So delighted to have spotted this phone booth! Of course, it's one hundred times incomparable to the adorable and classic red phone booth of UK. But for now, it'll just do. ;D

I don't know. There's something about this picture that's, pretty photogenic.

On this hilltop, you are free to roam about, as long as you don't venture into unfamiliar places and unused trails. Otherwise, it's mostly safe and there are even resorts opened to visitors. So we visited one of them, and I forgot what it was called. This was the view from the resort's balcony. We had a Malaysian-English style tea break while we were there. A glass of mango juice and kiwi juice each for me and bro. I prefer the mango over kiwi. It's pretty thick but the kiwi tasted a little, not right. ;P

If you're planning to go up there, make sure there's plenty of time allocated for this trip because it took us the whole of morning till afternoon just to tour this partial hilltop. And for a last good deed, momma asked me to give this pregnant monkey momma a supersized apple that we had brought with us. I threw it, and it caught it. So agile, so quick. ;) 

Several kilometres away was where the Butterfly Farm was. The last time I was here, I missed out on the chance of going in for I thought the price was quite costly. But this time around, momma was here and of course, with such a big group of us, you just can't turn down something like that right? ;D Lucky me!

Despite the average performance of my camera, I really love these selected pictures. And I especially love how beautiful the colours of these caterpillars and butterflies are. They're simply gorgeous!

Almost tempted to touch them. LOL

I love how these two blend together. A blue and a yellow. ;)

I find it angelic in this one. Pure and graceful. Because it's white. HAHA

And, GELI for this! They're really huge and long and thick! Gosh, I know it should be an interesting insect to learn about for people who adore science but this is like, crawly-creepy-legged-THING. Jeezzzzzz! 

Ooh! The snapping turtle, if that's the correct term for it. I never thought I really saw it right in front of my eyes! Because all this while, I've only watched it from television and never thought they exist in Malaysia as well. Oopsie. ;P

You know that awkward moment when you stumble upon something that you were not supposed to see and what's more, when an adult saw what you saw as well?

Heeeeee, it's just, science. ;D

Mandarin duck! They have beautiful feathers! So glossy and so smooth, from its looks. ;D

There were lots more in this site than I thought. After all the oohhs and ahhs, you can rest a lil at this mini theatre whose brief animation would only appeal to young kids than to us. But still, the air-con is a plus point after being burned in the hot sun for close to an hour. Well, if you're as crazy as I was, snapping away with every butterfly I saw. ;D

Then there were shelf after shelf of 'mummified' butterfly and larvae on display. They're um, preserved, right. And those shelves look like a futuristic science lab. ;D

BOO!

Chill, it ain't real. ;)

But this one down here IS!

Ooh, and this was the cutest thing ever! Aren't they cute, aren't they? Like Jack Sparrow's disguise in Pirates 2. ;D

I think, one thing that Sis Yem is always so consistent and good at is rounding the island. Yeap, she did that once, she's doing it again this time. ;P

Uphill, over the hill, zigzag and down the hill. 

And here we are, at Ayer Itam!

One of the cafe (not that there were many cafes in that little town) offered some pretty delicious and tantalizing Asam Laksa. There were two types, one was something something, and the other was another thing. Because I can't remember the name. LOL

I think it was Lemak one and sour one. I think.

So there you go. This was not sour, so I supposed it was the lemak one, coupled with a glass of ampulak drink. That's what they call it. This soup, love it till the last drop. Seriously.

And of course, how can you not savour the local durians? They say Ayer Itam has pretty tasty durians, so we might as well have a go with it. I'm not a huge fan of durian, but I still eat them. So, I don't really know much about it and can't comment much. But all I can say is, they taste pretty good. ;)

That particular night, we had it all for ourselves. The trio! We left hotel at about 7 something I guess, after a short nap. Drove to 1st Avenue just to have a look around. Gee, Brands Outlet was there and I was so so so tempted to step my foot in! 

One thing I learnt was, Penang's shops do not provide plastic bags. In KL, it's a No Plastic Bag Saturday. In Penang, it's No Plastic Bag Everyday. ;D I personally think that's a wise move. Hopefully, KL will soon follow its steps.

My sense of direction failed me that night. I had no idea which way to turn into when we went hunting for the Nasi Beratur. I knew it was on Jalan Masjid Keling something and yet I just couldn't find my way there. My bad, because I depended solely on feet during my previous trip there. After more than half an hour of going in circles, alas, we found the place!

That uncle from our hotel told us that this Nasi Beratur is actually Nasi Kandar. But as time goes by, its food got more and more popular among the locals to the extent that people have to queue up for it. And hence, born was the name Nasi Beratur. ;)

Like momma said, they didn't have to worry about their business. In fact, they only open at night, 10pm, and not sharp. They would just take their own sweet time in setting up the place and putting the food on the counter and cleaning up the place before they actually take in orders. Gee, I guess it was 10.30pm already by the time they were done setting up. If I'm a local, perhaps I wouldn't even think of waiting. But since we're new and trying the food here was our main purpose, so why not? ;)

See? Open only at 10pm.

Chicken, chicken and beef. I like beef. ;D

Some were quite good, some were just normal, for me. But overall, I find it a good experience for this trip. At least now I know what Nasi Kandar is. And I've yet to try Banana Leaf Rice. Sooner or later, I'm gonna have a taste on that! ;D

It was about time for Cinderella to return to her roots and have a beauty sleep before the sun rises again. So it was for us. A satisfying meal makes a satisfying night. ;)