IN PENANG FOR A WEDDING

I was in Penang from 9-13 December to attend a wedding of my wife's relative and also to walk about and look for food to eat. Sorry, I can't post photos of the wedding as I forgot my camera when I went to the E & O Hotel, Penang's oldest, for the dinner. So, I will just share some of my impressions below from that trip skewed more to Penang fare. I am not gluttonous per se but anyone worth his salt, food-wise, must want to know about Penang food which is very famous. In addition to the types of fare shown, we also went to Anandas' in Butterworth for what we crudely call "pukul mati" - South Indian rice and food served on banana leaf and eaten with hands, if you are so disposed.

As an aside to the trip, my wife also found out that she is related to Ms Nicol Ann David, (titled "Datuk" by the Malaysian King) currently ranked World No 1 for squash, who is her niece. There was also an opportunity for two of her uncles to meet a third one (bro no. 10) one of whom has not seen him for the last 50 years. What a re-union that was!

I must also add something about driving in Penang. Vehicular traffic has grown by leaps and bounds. One factor is the public transportation system and the other is the relatively low cost of running a car. For around 6k RM, one can buy a small 10 plus year old car. Petrol is comparatively cheap as the Malaysian government continues to subsidise it considerably. It's not uncommon to see 3 cars parked in many houses. In view of such a demand, the Penang Bridge has been extended to 3 lanes. Notwithstanding this, getting into and out of Penang by car is difficult especially in the mornings and evenings, and even more so, if it rains. Many people live on the mainland and commute daily to Penang to work. It works the other way too - for those living in Penang and working in the mainland. The government has responded to this by building a second bridge which is slated to come into service in about 2 years' time. That may ease the traffic flow considerably. The bridge is augmented by a car- ferry service which pre-dates it. The cost to enter Penang by bridge or car-ferry is around 7 RM.

Everyone who has been to Penang to taste its food will know about this Air (Ayer) Itam Penang Laksa stall, below the Khek Lok Si Temple. It's been around for yonks and still draws in the crowds everyday. The stall is actually perched on one side of a drain around a market. Marvellous. A bowl of laksa cost 3.30 RM. How about that? Mati mati must try!!

Another view of the famous stall.

On the way back to our Kulim accommodation, we could opt to stop for cendol here at the stall under a tree. Ingredients are cendol, coconut milk, gula Melaka, nice and soft red beans and pulut (glutinuous rice) as an option. One bowl - 1.60 RM! The seller owns two terrace houses next to his stall under the tree. Why work so hard, man? Go and sell cendol.

Penang food we had for lunch on our arrival there. Highlight is the pork trotter - succulent and packed with collagen!

McAlister Road, Penang. We were brought to New Lane off the said road to have Penang fare. New Lane is just one of many options for good food. Although Gurney Drive is famous, locals normally don't go there cos they complain that its food is not delicious yet very pricey. We had our fair share of the normal fare but not Penang laksa so we made a special trip to Air Itam just for that.

Two members of our group tucking away herbal duck mee suah while others went to hunt for food or were awaiting theirs.

Fresh seafood waiting to be BBQd.

Stalls selling Chee Cheong Fun and others in New Lane off McAlister Road

Penang char kway teow served in banana leaf. RM 3 - shiok!

Durian lovers will know about Penang durians called "Ling Fong Jiau", "Ang Heh", D14, "Hor Lor", etc. When we stopped at this Kulim stall, the seller said that the current rave is "Or Chi" or black thorns as shown. We picked up two durians weighing 6 kg for RM 120. My sources tell me that per kilo, the same fruit goes for RM 36 in Genting Highlands and RM 35 in JB. So, was it a steal? Look at the following pic and then decide!!

IN PENANG FOR A WEDDING (Cont'd)

A sneak preview of the orange-coloured flesh which is thick and creamy like ice cream.

These rambutans were 10 RM per bunch. Flesh sweet and firm.

A Parit Buntar market.

This Parit Buntar coffee shop stall-holder sells prawn mee. If you go north of KL and order prawn mee, don't expect big prawns. I once told a stall-holder in P Tikus, Penang, that she was selling prawn mee with "grandchildren" prawns as I had to search for them in the soup. Moreover, they were sliced in halves. But, having said that, the taste of Northern prawn mee is delicious.

Parit Buntar mee jawa, somewhat akin to our mee rebus but it tasted too sweet. But don't complain as it cost about RM 2.

About 10 km from Parit Buntar is this restaurant called "Restoran Kolam Ayer", which serves only fresh water fish. Getting to the restaurant from the main road was like getting a free massage in the car. The hut in front is where the food is served; a constant sprinkling of water helps to keep the zinc roof cool. Fish served is bred in many ponds around the restaurant.

Well, would you believe this is patin - deep fried of course. Tasted coarse and the skin was tough and looking at the portion served, the whole fish must be about the size of a baby shark.

Patin steamed with sambal. I find that bred patin is not so exciting as the type caught in the wild and doesn't taste as sweet.

Fried S African fish. Looks like the fish we had in the Mekong Delta in Saigon used to make spring rolls.