Penang Weekend

Once again the end of the week came and we found ourselves at the airport. This time it was the MAE social club's weekend in Penang. In the past we have been to KL, Malacca and Bintan as a group so it was time to explore Penang. Eric took on the role of leader without any encouragement and everyone seemed to have a good time. We stayed the three nights at the Sunway Hotel, between Macalister Rd and Dato Keramat on Lorong Baru. We found it conveniently close to our favourite roti stall for breakfast and an easy walk to the shopping malls around Komtar. 

We were very late arriving as the departure was delayed at Changi so we began with a late breakfast at Pelita Nasi Kandar Restaurant. Then we wandered the streets, soon being drawn in by bargain shopping and searching for new street art. We were pleased to see a number of new restorations underway. It was a long weekend for Hari Raya Eidelfitri, the equivalent to the Muslim New Year. The traffic was often gridlocked and it made walking difficult as the footpaths are constantly blocked by parked motorbikes, vendors' deliveries, hawker street food carts or holes in the pavement. Nothing changed in that department. We had lunch with Heather at the Kashmir across from Sam's Batik where a number of the group found something to buy. 

When we got back to the hotel late in the afternoon it was time for a rest or swim, then we all joined Kathy and Eric for a shared meal at De Happy Restaurant. Both of them were celebrating a birthday and the restaurant were delighted we had chosen them. As well as the dishes we ordered, they put a huge bowl of 'birthday noodles' on the table, chips and a platter of fruit. We really didn't need all those extra dishes but what can you do? You have to eat it. 

A surprise element at the dinner was the arrival of Peter. He had told me he was joining the party celebrations but no one else so I had been keeping a secret for days which became more and more difficult as Eric kept changing the meeting point before the dinner.  He had prepared a short poem for both of them and certainly added some extra colour to the evening in that shirt. A very roudy evening followed in one of the rooms we occupied between us.

The next morning we awoke with the plan to go bird watching with Heather in the National Park at Teluk Bahang in the north west corner of the island. It has the dubious honour of being the smallest national park in the world, but since it incorporates mangroves, wetlands and beaches it has a good variety of birds. However, on looking at the overcast skies Eric quickly went back to bed. I made it as far as breakfast but just couldn't face the idea of driving all the way out there with a hangover and the likelihood that we would get caught it a heavy downpour and have a miserable time of it. I soon joined Eric on the bed. Later we ventured out towards Little India but didn't quite get that far, having been distracted by street art and a massage (from which I am still feeling the bruises). 

That lovely restoration is Campbell House in Campbell Rd, a Heritage Boutique Hotel that I'd like to stay in if we ever return. Everyone met at China House in Beach Rd for afternoon tea.  Comprising 3 heritage buildings, they have converted the spaces into a cafe, restaurant, wine bar, outdoor courtyard and gallery. It’s an interesting experience to sit among interesting old bookshelves laden with titles and at the same time be encourages to doodle on the paper tablecloths. We drooled over a long table weighed down with the cakes and desserts! Eric chose a whiskey and pecan tart while I had a slice of vanilla and coconut cake.It was a hard decision to make but the result deicious! 

In the evening we went out to eat again, yes I know. We seemed to do a lot of that. Last year when we visited we found this lovely restored building on the corner of Burma Rd and Penang Rds called Loke Thye Kee. Said to be the oldest restaurant in Penang, it first opened in 1919 and has been beautifully restored. There is a picture of it at the bottom left of the first collage above. The food was traditional Malay and not too pricey.  I could only manage Chap Choy which is their version of stir fried vegetables and a favourite dish of mine that our first amah (Ah Bouy) used to cook regularly. 
In the morning it was straight to the airport for check-in and after breakfast a flight back to Singapore where we had time to unpack before heading to work in the afternoon.