New World Park revisited.

New World Park Revisited.

My father suggested that we take mum to New World Park for its disable friendly premise after our Ching Ming activities. Arriving at 12 noon it was still very quite with plenty of parking space and table. Again Friendly car park attendant / security guards were in attendant, My Mother did not have any problems in getting to the table. So did others who were using clutches. Again it was nice and breezy at the food court, thanks to its design.

No Problem in getting to the table.

First off we got some tim sum, there were only 5 types left, it’s tasty but hard but it may be due to the time as the tim sum was from early morning.

Next we tried the Oyster Omelets, we ordered the RM10 per dish, look beautiful but tasted blend, even the chilies sauce provided did not help to improve it.

My wife took the asam laksa, her current favorite, said it is not asam (sour) enough. My two kids took the Yam rice and yong tau foo.

My brother took the Curry mee, which was ok and our maid order pasembore

It must have been an off day for most of the cooks here. I did not take any thing except for ice kachang, not because of the not so tasty food but because I was too tired running around. I forgot to ask for the Durian Ice Cream to come with the ice kachang.

Well it was a quite disappointing trip for us here, we have either order the wrong items, or from the wrong stall or at the wrong time. But dont get me wrong, Food here is still much better then some other places but it was not up to our expectation on this day, the only thing is our Expectation may be a bit too high and that it was the cooks off day.

We all decided to give it a try again at another time and also to try out the original coffee shop, as we usually take our meals there formelly.

BELOW ARE SOME GENERAL PHOTO'S OF THE FOOD COURT.

The Original Coffee Shop

Ching Ming, My Family Activities, Part 2

Continue from Ching Ming, My Family Activities, Part 1

We left Ayer Itam at 10.15 for our next stop, the Western Road Christian Cemetery, here we clean up 2 graves and place the flowers. It was very quite here. My Grandpa grave site is near the British Army section of the Grave yard, while my aunt is near the entrance.

Flowers Place at the Grave Site.

British Army Section of the Cemetery

Then it is onward to the Po Tay Buddist Temple, which allow a mixture of Taoist and Buddhist custom to be practice.

Interior View 1

Interior View 2

Offering, fore ground is what we brought in, Back ground are offerings prepared by the Temple Again my wife assisted me in setting up the prayer table, and joss stick is burn.

The bag of Paper Offerings. Please write name on Bag

When it was time the offering was burn, the offering was place in a paper bag with the name of my paternal grandparents, and was taken to burn.

What is inside the Bag?

Burning the Offerings

By this time it was 11.45 and it was time for lunch, at New World Park Food Court.

Photo taken with SE K750i on Fine Mode.

Ching Ming, My Family Activities, Part 1

My Family Ching Ming activities involves visiting 3 sites on the Island, to visit the columbarium where my paternal grandma ashes are intern, an Christian cemetery where my maternal grand father, and aunty grave site is located, and a Buddhist temple where my paternal grand parents ancestor tablets are place. My maternal grand mother grave is located in KL as such the responsibility is under my cousin who lives down there.

As the appointed leader and organizer, I am required to purchase all the necessary offering (Taoist believe), vegetarian food stuffs (Buddhist believe), & flowers (Christian believe). The offering were purchase one week in advance and consists of Paper “gold” & “silver” ingots, Paper “Bank notes”, Paper “clothing’s” and Paper “shoe” for my paternal grand parents. The Flowers and Vegetarian food stuffs were purchase from the market on that day itself. We decided to go for the Ching Ming 2 days after the actual day, on a Sat morning as we hope to encounter less traffic.

Departing from our House in Tanjung Bungah at 9am , our first stop is in Ayer Itam, at the Beow Hiang Lim Temple.

Entering from the rear entrance it was a quite day, This temple is well manage, a temporary car park have been set up with attendants to ensure smooth flow of traffic and to avoid jaga kerata harassment. Prayers are organize so you may join in if you want.

Groups Prayers

Monks on their Rounds

After setting up the prayer table, with the vegetarian food stuffs and fruits, and lit the joss stick and prayer candle, I move around to observe what was happening at this temple.

Prayer Table with Food Offerings, Fruits, Steam Cake, Vegetarian Noodles.

View of Penang Hill, Bukit Bendera, or Flag Hill, from the grounds.

Interior Photo of the Old Temple

Exterior View of the Old Temple.

The New Temple

To be continue in Part II

Firefly - The Penang Airline 2

Well what do you Know? Air Asia want to hand back the Rural Air Services in Sabah and Sarawak, currently operated by Air Asia, FAX to MAS, Firefly to operate.

In this news report in the NST today 12th April, Title: AirAsia ready to hand back rural routes to MAS, Air Asia Chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said the move makes sense. "It does not make sense to waste resources. There should only be one turboprop operator and that should be Firefly."

Full story here at this link: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Thursday/Frontpage/BT617881.txt/Article/index_html

Well Tony, 1) Firefly may be a Community Airline, just like the Rural Air Service, but with a big difference, It is suppose to be Penang Community Airline, Not one hundred of Miles away in Sabah and Sarawak. - All I can say is Penang wanted to be the Air Asia "Northern Hub" not too long ago. Nothing Happen.

2) "there should only be one turboprop operator", ever heard of competition? - Why don't we have only one long distance operator? That wont be fair right? for AAX

Comment: Is the Rural Air Service, to much for FAX, or Air Asia to handle? A Headache, No Profit, or is it that Air Asia Marketing Gimmick does not work in the Interior where there is limited Internet Connectivity and advertisement access and where you need ticketing agent to sell your ticket?, Well Hand it back over to the Government, and let the Government decide who should run it. Something I have learn long ago, not every thing will work the same way, things change what work here, will not work there.

Fly Firefly Fly, Big Bird is watching, You must be doing something right, You must be hurting somebody pocket.

Tanjung Bungah Burger

Not your Regular Ramli Burger

Every where you go in Malaysia, you will find your Neighborhood Ramli Burger. (Sometime I wonder how come Mc D is still around in Malaysia :-) with all this stalls).

However in Tanjong Bungah, Penang, there is a Burger Stall that is not Ramli Burger at all. Well know to Penang Hoteliers, due to it late operating hours (till midnight+) this Van burger stall which have been in operation for the past 25 years (I think), has gone through 2 Daihatsu 1000cc Vans, and is still going strong for the moment.

Operating from opposite the Copthorne Hotel that in its life have multiple names, along Jalan Sungai Kelian near the Esso Station, is one of the Unique Burger Stall in Malaysia. What is not standard are the Meat Patties (specially made), the Fried Onions / Cabbage topping place in all the Burgers, Banjoes and Hot Dogs, and Only Tomato sauce is use. If Ordering a Burger with Egg, all this are bungkus (wrapup) in the egg.

This features give the Burger here a unique taste, which I have not found anywhere else. Some may say the Burger may be a bit bland, not as tasty as Ramli, the only this is I will say is “You will not taste another burger like this”.

Don’t worry, for those who must have Mayo and Chilies sauce with their burger. Ask the Kind Uncle to add this sauce, also available is Mustard. Unique to this stall is the Onion Bun, Hotdog roll stuff with fried onions and cabbage. Just right for certain types of vegetarians.

Pricing: Premium Pricing apply, for this Hi Fiber Burger in Tanjong Bungah. Standard price from RM2.80 upwards.

Location :

Dark Green Spot on the My Food Map at this link http://malaysiansnapshots.blogspot.com/2007/03/food-map-tanjung-bungah-penang.html

Char Koey Teow at Tanjong Bungah Market, Penang

Another of my regular spot for Char Koey Teow is located at the Tanjung Bungah Market, Food Court, not too far way from Jalan Sungai Kelian. This Food Court operates in the Morning only, for breakfast. The Tanjung Bungah Market is located behind the Unused Tanjong Bungah Bas Station.

Tanjung Bungah Market, Food Court Char Koey Teow Stall This Stall features a verity of other fried items such as Hor Fun. Usually that is a sign that the Char Koey Teow is not so good, however unexpectedly this stall is in the top 90% of the Char Koey Teow in Penang. Come at the wrong time, expect a wait of around 30 mins. Full of aroma, and flavor, and the best is when you want to customize your plate, you will get what you want.

My Special Order of Large, no prawns, extra cockles, extra chilly, cost me RM3.30 per plate. To top it off, head to the back of the Market, and purchase some Roast Pork to go with this dish. This will fill me up till 3pm.

Origins: Operated from the Concorde Estate Market (10+ years), in a hawker cart offer.

Location:

Tanjung Bungah Market,

Char Koey Teow Stall nearest to Market.

On the way to Tanjong Bungah from Town, Turn Left at the Traffic Light, Axis Tower, BCB Bank, Tanjung Bungah Bus Station is your landmark

Note: Breakfast Only, Don’t go to late, Usually Close on Wednesday……

Black Dot on My Food Map at this link http://malaysiansnapshots.blogspot.com/2007/03/food-map-tanjung-bungah-penang.html

Chye Koey at Sungai Bakap

What is Chye Koey?

Chey Koey is basically cook jullian turnips encase in rice dough which is similar to those use in Har Kau a type of shrimp tim sum, another variation is with Ku Chai, a type of green vege similar to spring onions.

In a small town of Sungai Bakap (a 2 street town) on Penang Mainland (Seberang Prai Selatan), there are two restaurants where this simple dish is serve. So well know is this dish here that patrons from Bukit Mertajam and Butterworth (a distance of 50km one way) will travel here to have this dish for breakfast.

Well due to this recommendation, I have to give this dish a try. As inform there are two restaurant. On Wednesday one of them was close as such which restaurant i am to try was already chosen for me.

On the Northern end of the Old Town, along the Main road, (Note : if you see the hospital, reverse to the other end of the town. is the area where the Chye Koey is Located. The Restaurant is Named : Soon Lee Hou. Picture provided, and can be easily identified by the extra tables put out. The other Restaurant is located opposite this one and seen not to have a name.

As it was a wednesday morning, it was quite and my family was quickly attended to on our arrival. Our Tea order was taken, and we were ask if we wanted to order any soup, fish, noodles or not. Mind you this is a 8am in the morning. Looking around we realise that most of the table have indeed order this items along with some tim sum.

I ordered a Hokkian Char, the Penang version, not the KL version and ask them to bring out the Tim Sum, and the chye koey. What came out were not what you will get in big city restaurant. The tim sum here is not dainty pieces. What you get however are tasty pieces of food and limited to only a few dishes.

First off there is the stuff crab, we took 2 plates as my eldest daughter love it.

The there were the Chye Koey, we ended with 4 plates, 2 plates the Ku Chye type of chye koey, 2 plates of siew mai, and 2 plates of fried tim sum.

and one plate of Hokkian Char,

Interior shot of the Restaurant, the cooks were busy preparing more chye koey.

The Food is fresh and tasty. Total bill came up to RM27 for the 3 of us + one baby. The Chye Koey, well It is nice, especially the "Ku Chye" Chye Koey, which to me was excellent and aromatic. My wife prefer the standard chye koey, But I find it too mushy (soft).

Would i want to travel 50km one way for this only? Well no.

Would i want to drop in if i am travelling this way? Yes I would.

Who come here for Breakfast? Well i was inform that businessman from Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth, Local, and Golfers (Playing at Krystal Golf, and Bukit Jawi Golf Resort) will have their breakfast here.

In addition I notice one thing here at Sungai Bakap, of the 10 chinese base restaurant / coffeeshop in the area, 5 were selling roast duck at 8am in the morning. I am sure that there is a story behind that as well.

Firefly - The Penang Airline

Well look like Penang has a airline it can call its own. I notice a Penang Travel Agency is advertising Firefly, Fly and Stay packages in The Star today. Sure look intreasting, I sure hope that Firefly glow will be glowing for a long time.

I recall a former airline using Forker 50 planes, it did not have a good reputation at that time, with much delays and so on.

I hope that Firefly is just not about sending Penangnites and Tourists that stay in Penang Hotels to Firefly destinations. Hope that it will work both ways. Will Firefly do up a Destination Penang Fly and Stay Package?

Best of Luck Firefly, may you be spreading Penang Glow & Charm in the region for many years to come.

Rapid Penang

Penang use to have a fairly efficient bus system with bus going in to the housing estates providing public transportation. During my form 5 school holiday (more then 20 years ago). I use to travel down town to take up courses, to the public library, and once even coming back from school (about a month), with the bus right up within 50 meters to my door steps. Now the Penang Library is not even near a bus route.

That change a few years back with the bus companies cutting back where they use to go. Now I have to walk, 1km to the nearest bus stop. And when traveling down to KL, I take the bus to the Ferry, and going over to Prai and take the bus from Butterworth, as there are no public transportation to the Express Bus terminal in Sg Nibong.

One of the People in Power said those that take express bus, have private transportation to take them to the bus station and back home. Well I may have a car, but should i leave my car at the Express Bus Station for a few days or weeks? What about others who do not have their own transport, Take a Taxi? Well it will cost me RM55 to get back to Tg Bungah after Midnight (around 20km). For those who does not take the Express Bus down to KL, it cost less then RM30 for a bus ticket down to KL (one way). So in other words it will cost you a return trip to KL for your Trip back home from the Bus Station.

The Last revamp in 2006 help a little bit (for me at least), but the bus companies still refuse to use certain routes. What improve is the timing, at least for the KGN HIN (Blue) line, with bus living without being stuff full, and there is a bus at 6am from the Ferry terminal. (Before that I have to wait till 7.30 or take a bus to Komtar and transfer over.

Let's Hope that Rapid Penang can out things back to what they were before and if possible better in the future At times even with a car, its good to move around in Public Transport. And if we hope to improve our tourism, well public transport have to play their part. Let hope the People in Power enforce what the Rakyat want, and not to give more excuse. I hope to see the People in Power take bus to work daily. Then they may understand the Rakyat want with a public transportation system that work. One that is achieve, put the People in Power in a wheel chair or clutches and see how they can move around and work from there. This can only benefit the state in the long run and keep the rocket, or the moon at bay.

K750i performace in Function Conditions

Testing out the K750i in a Dinner Function Environment, with out any adjustment in the settings. Results are fairly good with a little grainyness in the photo. There are a little shakyness due to camera shake and people movement. But Fairly Decent photos, Wont win any prizes though for the photoes

Overall Verdict : Decent Camera, Poor photo is due to position, camera shake, etc. One Have to hold the camera phone as a camera, securely and properly and if using a housing be carefull when pressing the camera release. Lighting is improtant. Make do with what one can and I will have to get a flash for those low light contition to improve photo quality

Ching Ming Traffic Jam

Ching Ming, The Chinese all souls day usually cause a traffic jams near grave yards and crematoriums, This year due to my new place of work, the 6 km from my house to my workplace have 3 grave yards on the side of the road. What took daily a 10 min drive, today took me more then 1 hour. As usual Malaysia Drivers, will "break" all rules just to be "Faster" or is it just "Kiasu" or just to avoid walking that one feet further. Here are some of the photos taken of the antics of the drivers.

Ching Ming, The Chinese All Souls Day, Part 2

More Photo's from Ching Ming at the Village Grave Yard. These Photo's was taken on my way to work on Sunday 1st of April 2007. Due to the Traffic Jam, I have plenty of opportunities to snap away with my K750i.

Ching Ming, The Chinese All Souls Day

Ching Ming, The Chinese All Souls Day The Time of the year to visit our ancestors grave, at least for the chinese is here again. As in the Chinese custom, we have around 20 days to do so, as such those who wish to beat the rush have begin visiting their ancestors graves at various location in and around Malaysia. Unfortunately for my self, due to work (i need to work during weekends) and my daughter schooling we cannot go early but on the actual weekend it self, next sunday which is the only time i can take leave.

The Chinese believe that if our ancestors grave are well kept, the living descendants will prosper, as such it begin customary during this time of the year to offer prayers, and to spring clean our ancestors grave. Photo taken here are from the a Village Grave Yard, in the State Of Penang. Such scenes are not common, and are not witness by the City folks who have started to use crematoriums due to the lack of place.

Further it is also customary for the Entire Family, from Grand Parents to the Grand Children to visit, to burn offerings from Paper money, Paper Cars, Paper Servants, Paper Credit Cars, Paper Hand phone and many more, as such you will notice smoke in most of the pictures.

Its also a custom to go early at first light to avoid the Malaysian hot weather, especially at grave sites which presents a challenge to any camera, as it is a low light condition, with out any adjustment in settings, to add to the challenge i decided to take the photo from my car, while driving by. So please excuse the quality of the photo's you see here. It is meant as a test for "Snapshots" Photos in Low Light / High contrast situations.