Breakfast at Taman Inderawasih Kopitiam, Prai - Butterworth

The Xin Feng Kopitiam (Traditional Chinese coffee shop) is located at the Medan Kikik 1 of Taman Inderawasih, Prai - Penang (N5 23.333 E100 23.218). It's a corner unit and easy to locate.

One of my purpose to visit this kopitiam is the Duck Egg Char Kuey Tiaw. It's common to see the chicken egg CKT but it's difficult to find a good Duck Egg CKT.  We were having it since our last visit and me and my family love it very much! But....too bad, it was a Chinese New Year holiday season that the stall hasn't in business yet! Oh! That's mean we have to taste other food which are selling here...

I ordered the Penang Curry Mee and Chee Cheong Fun. The Curry Mee was tasty and the Chee Cheong Fun was delicious!

Penang Curry Mee (Noodle)

The Penang Curry Mee is different from the Johor Laksa. Although the colour are look a like, but curry mee taste less coconut cream than Laksa. If you tasted both before, you definitely know the different.

The Penang Chee Cheong Fun (Rice noodle roll) is always my favorite! Because they serve with the local made shrimp paste which I hardly taste it at the Southern Part of West Malaysia.

Penang Chee Cheong Fun

I like both of it! It's just because they were authentic Penang foods! The prices were reasonable and it's cheaper than JB food but the portions were slight smaller. Me and my family love the foods here very much!

After our breakfast, we were heading to the World Biggest Toy Museum at Penang Island!

Location map of Xin Feng Kopitiam

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Famous Assam Laksa of Ayer Itam, Penang

After we got down from Penang Hill, we were starving for food! The best food and yet very close to us was the Famous Penang Assam Laksa at Ayer Itam of Penang.

The 2nd World War Monument at Ayer Itam Penang

So I decided to taste again the stall located beside the 2nd World War Monument (just beside the roundabout of Ayer Itam, Penang) (N5 24.347 E100 16.963). This was one of my All time favorite Penang Assam Laksa! I chose this stall rather than another Famous stall located at the Ayer Itam Wet Market is because of the poor Hygiene!

The Assam Laksa hawker at Ayer Itam, Penang

 Other hawker stalls along the road

The hawker stalls are just parked along the main road to Penang Hill Train Station, you will definitely won't miss this area if you hit the roundabout of Ayer Itam, Penang.

It was as crowded as usual

I ordered the Big size...cause I only be able to taste it once a year! Haha! Even the area was packed with customers, but the Laksa serve in 5 minutes! Impressed!

The Assam Laksa was tasty as usual! But it felt like below my expectation! The taste was the same but Not the soup! Honestly, I'm very particular with taste of the Penang Assam Laksa soup... (Lack of the assam sourness and spicy of the bird's eye chili)
Little disappointed after the meal, as for others...I believe they will say Good!

The bowl of Penang Assam Laksa cost MYR3.50 (CNY price)
Rated : 3.5/5

Location map of the Penang Assam Laksa Stall

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Penang Hill 2010, Penang

After the simple breakfast from the hotel, we continue our journey on the 2nd day on Penang Hill...

Tourists were everywhere when we stepped out the hotel. One of the popular spot where tourist love to take a rest is this...
You won't miss this small fountain if you happen to be there.

 

The small fountain at Penang Hill

The hawkers at the food court not yet open...seems like their business hour are short?!

The Food court of Penang Hill

Our plan was suppose to walk all the way to the Penang Hill Canopy Walk, the distance is about 2km. Suddenly, I noticed this tourist buggy! Yeepee! We no need to walk anymore! Otherwise the total journey will be around 4km!

We picked the other buggy which was able to take 4 persons in one trip, the friendly uncle named Jimmy Koh was our humour tour guide along the way...The charges was MYR30.00 per trip. We didn't really check it out weather is worth it or not, after all...support the local tourism isn't a bad thing!

Jimmy was a experience tour guide and he has been staying on the hill for more than 50 years...and I like the way he drove the buggy...slow and steady...haha!

The alley on Penang Hill

You can walk if you like to...because you can have a rest along the way by the chairs...there were many of them...

This bunglow (below) was built on year 1926, it was vacation house for the British VIP. But today, some lucky guy bought over it and stayed with his family in this beautiful bunglow. According to Jimmy - our tour guide.

The bunglow (I called it a mansion) below is belong to a guy - Mr Lau. I'm not so sure who is it...

Bunglow belong to Mr Lau.

We passed by this rest area where I quite like it because of the location. You can have Nice view of Georgetown and other area of Penang.

Beside this rest area, there were something you might interested...haha!

Beware! It's is an Offense to feed the monkeys! Offenders will be fined! 

(Wondering how much the fine is...)

Staircase to the jungle paradise!

And I spotted this beautiful Antique Post Box along the alley.

This colonial era post box, made in UK from cast iron by A. Handyside & Co Ltd during the reign of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was originally erected near the Beach Street fire station. It was presented by Pos Malaysia to the Penang Hill Residents' Association in 2005.
Similar post boxes are still in use in Malaysia.

You will notice there are many alley to the private bunglow along our journey...

And among all these bunglow, there are many colonial structures like the picture below...

15 minutes later on the buggy ride, we had reached the entrance of the 'broken' Canopy Walk' of Penang Hill. Maybe the repair cost is sky high, that's why the government is KIV the repair job! What a waste! The walk along the suspension bridge will explore the beauty of the nature of the jungle to all visitor! Just pray hard that the Canopy Walk will be re-open to public on my next visit.

The trail head of the Canopy Walk

The Suspension Bridge of Penang Hill

The Odd looking tree around the area

During the stop at the Canopy Walk area, I also noticed there was a road at the downside...the funny part was, even a name for the road! 'Tunnel Road West'.

That road was connected to a bunglow nearby, wow! What a Hidden Treasure! But we cannot go into the bunglow area because of 4WD is needed!

After the Buggy ride, we had a walk again around the Penang Hill area before we check-out from the hotel...

The First Indian Temple of Penang Island

I had another B & W photo which taken 30 years ago at same place...

but that time was on the glass...

The First Generation of the Funicular Train of Penang Hill. 

The first cabin is Reserve for British VIP. Not fair isn't it?

While we check-out at the hotel, one of the staff there sharing the info of this colonial building...The First Hotel of Penang Hill, but it's a abandon building today...oh! What a waste again!!

The First Hotel of Penang Hill during thr British Era

The Penang Hill Funicular Train service will be temporary cease operation from 22nd Feb 2010 onwards until further notice. Due to the major upgrading project on the train, there will be no stop (change train cabin) on the halfway after the upgrade, according to the news. (Presently, you need to change to another train cabin during the journey to reach the summit of the hill.)
I think we were the Lucky group of 2010...


It's Times Up! We had to say Bye-Bye to Penang Hill! We will see you again next year! (Hopefully...)

Got down from the hill and searching for our Favorite Penang Assam Laksa....!

Penang Hill 2010 related post :-
* Experience the Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang
* Bellevue Aviary Garden at Penang Hill, Penang
* Dinner at Bellevue Hotel of Penang Hill, Penang.
* The Night View Of Georgetown, Penang

The Night View Of Georgetown, Penang

We had a walk on the Hill after our dinner. After all, that was the purpose staying on this hill! :) It was good to feel the Fresh air and also good for digestion.

When we stepped out the hotel, the time was 9.30pm. That means all the peoples who work on the hill have gone down hill with the last train which left on 9.15pm. The Penang Hill at that moment was very quiet and Peaceful! There were less than 20 peoples hanging around on the hill....
NO wonder, not many visitor like to stay on the hill, because I can't even enjoy a cup of Teh Tarik after 9.15pm! My goodness!!

I just pulled out my tripod somewhere close to the station where I can get very nice view of Georgetown, Penang. It was really a good time for practicing the night shoot cause less distraction. I was trying with my kit lens and the 55-250mm IS Telephoto lens.

Georgetown and Butterworth night view from Penang Hill

I'm using the kit lens mounted on the cheap tripod for the photo above. Personally, quite like it!

Komtar night view from Penang Hill

I was quite disappointed the photo above, because of the blur focus. Even the lens was on manual focus! I found out the reason lately from the DCM magazine, said...normal or cheap tripod is not good enough to handle Telephoto Lens. OH! I miss the perfect moment! Should I go back again with another better tripod?!

 Penang Bridge night view from Penang Hill - captured by kit lens

Twisted, turning and snapping for more than an hour, till my eyes are getting blur from the 'viewfinder'...we lazily walked back to the hotel. We were smart enough to bought few cans of Tuborg beer to keep us company for the night...but...the lights were off at the hotel except the corridor, I felt a bit down cause seems like the situation force us to sleep as early as 10pm?! Oh! We were on holiday!

Luckily, the guy who stand-by night shift was very kind to on the lights for us at the garden area and let us enjoy our beer! We were happy with the arrangement and satisfied with their services. At that moment, we were the only group and felt like Own that area temporary! Haha!

The garden area with all the spot-light on

We chatting at the hut at the most right of the garden (if you notice it from my previous post) for the whole night with the company of this (below) and the beautiful night view of Penang....

Our bucket of Tuborg beer

The temperature getting cold & colder after midnight, it started to drop from 22°C to18°C. We finished our beers in a minute and jump into the blanket! That's cold weather end our Day 1 at Penang Hill.

Penang Hill 2010 related post :-
* Experience the Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang
* Bellevue Aviary Garden at Penang Hill, Penang
* Dinner at Bellevue Hotel of Penang Hill, Penang.
* Penang Hill 2010, Penang
 

Dinner at Bellevue Hotel of Penang Hill, Penang.

We were having our (day 1) dinner at Restaurant of Bellevue The Penang Hill Hotel. Took us a while to decide what to eat...

The order below :-

1)  Chicken Chop with french fries.

2)  Set dinner with fried chicken and dolly fish.

3)  Set dinner with vegetables, chicken and dolly fish.

4)  Fired Rice with fried egg (Chef special)

5)  Spring roll.

Chicken Chop with french fries

Set dinner A - Fried chicken, Dolly Fish with rice

Set Dinner B - Chicken, vegetables and Dolly Fish with rice

Fried Rice (Chef Special)

Spring roll

Overall the foods were just ok, average. Nothing to shout about it, expected. But the Spring roll was unexpectedly delicious! Honestly, the environment is much more comfort compare the foods serve by the restaurant...and also we didn't put a high expectation on the foods, but just to enjoy the dinner on 720 meter above sea level! That's Great!

The damage of the dinner : MYR129.00 included drink for 4 adults 1 child.

Despite the poor quality foods, we still enjoy having our dinner at the restaurant especially the night view of Georgetown, Penang.

Penang Hill 2010 related post :-
* Experience the Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang 
* Bellevue Aviary Garden at Penang Hill, Penang 
* The Night View Of Georgetown, Penang 
* Penang Hill 2010, Penang

Bellevue Aviary Garden at Penang Hill, Penang

Most of the staffs at Bellevue Hotel were continue invited us to the Bellevue Aviary Garden located just another 100 meter away from the hotel. So I decided to have some excitement for my daughter since she love small animal.

The entrance fee for this bird park are MYR5.00 for adult and MYR3.00 for children. Open daily from 9am - 6pm. Hotel guests will have free entrance.

My daughter curiously asking the name of the snake from the uncle.

Once you stepped in, the area was Full of Green! I love it very much!

Many birds are available here, of course you don't compare with the size of Bird Park around Malaysia. I noticed they really well taking care of the birds here because of the colour...or partly because of the weather too? :)

Parrots and some un-known birds

But I was wondering, why they didn't put a signage of the name for the birds and their type? It's good to let the visitors know more about the birds around...

The Hornbill

There were many type of parrots available here, and they are colourful too! One of the parrots continue greets us with the word :"HELLO!". So my daughter was anxiously looking for the bird who can speak....end up, we found a huge blue parrot which was in the last cage in the row...

Big Blue Parrot

The claws

Surprisingly, it wanted to shake-hand with us!! But it's not advisable because of the sharp claws.

We were hang around the park for more than an hour, walking around and enjoy the birds singing...there's also a small hall within the bird park for meeting and conference purpose.

Please do not pick the flowers in the park!

We had our evening walk along the area after came out from the park...once it getting dark, we were back to the hotel to enjoy our dinner at the elevation of 720 meters above sea levels...

Penang Hill 2010 related post :-
* Experience the Bellevue Hotel at Penang Hill, Penang  
* Dinner at Bellevue Hotel of Penang Hill, Penang. 
* The Night View Of Georgetown, Penang
* Penang Hill 2010, Penang