Restaurant by the sea~ QE II, Church St Pier, Weld Quay

Little celebration for our 2 years dating anniversary with candle light sunset dinner at this restaurant on the sea~ QE II. It is located at one of Penang’s heritage piers named Church Street Pier, Tanjung City Marina, Weld Quay. Our table is surrounded by sea, the sunset view has the most beautiful moment before nightfall. Food is wonderful~ we had Lobster Bisque and Linguini Carbonara and with red wine. He first shower me with bunch of rabbit toys, bling bling pendant appears in the middle, followed by a pair of earrings that match the pendant, then a ring come out of nowhere lastly.. Happy 730 days Oppa. Thank you for everything.

First time make Korean Chive Pancake

First time make pajeon - a basic one - follow a recipe from the Korean cook book that I get from Popular Bookstore. We highly doubt that the author is not Korean, because the recipe does not turn out well. The batter a bit thick despite follow the ratio given. Chili pepper to be slice into strips but no picture to refer so I mistakenly slice it in finger length lol (should be slice diagonally). Instead of Pa (Spring onion), the recipe ask for Buchu (Chives), and some onion - thinly slice. Turns out this is Buchu-jeon (Korean chives pancake) recipe; not pajeon (Korean spring onion pancake) as written. Anyway the taste is ok, pretty similar to the one we had in Korean restaurant, despite the pancake a bit thick. 

Bon Odori 2008~ Esplanade Penang

Our second time participating in Bon Odori together. There are a few "first time" this year : Highest attendance in the history - more than 30,000 people attended;  three teams of performers invited from Japan - Miyabi Taiko Drum Team, Ryukyu Koku Matsuri Daiko Troup & Tamagusukuryu Senjyukai Group - who performed for the first time in Penang; the Ryukyubuyo Tamagusukuryu Senjyukai's dance that we see for the first time in Bon-odori; and my first time tried out the Yukata. Thanks to Simmy-san who put it up for me. Next year I will try out Yukata again during the Bon-odiri festival.  

Morning dimsum~ Bali Hai, Gurney

Bali Hai Seafood Market selling seafood at night, and dimsum at day-time. Once in a while during the weekend we would come over for dimsum in the morning if I am not out for hiking. I like the outdoor sitting in gazebo along the pedestrian, facing the sea. Since it is situated in Gurney, you probably think the dimsum would be pricey, turns out it is not. Almost same price as we eat in at my usual dim sum place ~ Dim Sum House at Anson Road. Free parking and more places to park compare to Anson Road as well. We could walk to Bali Hai too since it is just few hundred meters away from my place. It's quite crowded in the morning so we usually come here after 10am. 

Weekend trekking to Monkey Beach, Penang National Park

One of the weekend trekking to Monkey Beach, Penang National Park with regular members. This time we have newbies and he is one of them. Here's our first stop also the first beach at USM CEMAC after 25 mins trek. Usually we will take a short break enjoying the soft sand and look for pinkish shell that scatters around the beach. That's me trying to catch white mini crab. After short break we further our trekking at the end of the beach into the jungle. Another half an hour later, we reach our destination~ Monkey beach, which is also the second beach of Muka head trail. As usual, we love to hang out at the giant rocks under the shady area, eat snack, watch others fishing or playing around the beach. 

After we spend enough time hangout here, we hired a boat ride back to park entrance instead of trekking back. Depending on boat sizes and number of pax, usually a boat will cost around RM80 for one way back for 8-10 pax. Ride on boat back to park entrance has become a routine for us after the trekking. The view along boat ride on the open sea is healing. We also can see the trail along the coastline where we trekked to Monkey beach (which we can't see much while we are inside the jungle). You will amazed how far you have trekked to reach Monkey beach in the 15 mins boat ride.

Queensbay Seaside~ Where Aeroplanes Flying Thru Closely

This is one of the seaside bay with Penang bridge view, next to Queensbay mall where we would come to see aeroplanes flying thru closely. Just stay here about 10 mins we already seen 2 aeroplanes fly thru. Off course it is not as close as the aeroplanes spotting hotspot in Batu Maung, but closer enough to see what airline the aeroplane belongs to and strong noise! It is quite windy (and salty seawater smell) but can be very hot even it is late afternoon since there are not many trees around. It is also a popular spot for sunset. 

Olive Korean fried chicken~ Korean BBQ chicken, Gurney Plaza

Newly open in Gurney Plaza, this first and only Korean fried chicken in Penang has become our favourite lately. My most favourite goes to their signature olive fried chicken. The fried chicken deep fried using olive oil is the most crispy yet savory fried chicken I ever had so far. Meanwhile I am not so fancy the Hot-Hot drum (spicy sauce drumstick) that he likes. I find it too spicy to swallow. The spiciness make my stomach feels burning after take few bites. Still, he didn't seems to get enough of the hot-hot drum so far.

Another weekend in Singapore~ The Cathay, Bugis Junction, Vicocity Harbourfront

Another weekend at Singapore after our visit in March. This time we stay for 3 days 2 nights, explore different areas and also meet up with my friends who work and live in Singapore. We chose to stay at the same hotel at Victoria St. again since we comfortable with it and familiar with the surrounding. After check in the hotel in the evening, we walk to Orchard Rd shopping districts and decided to head back to Bras Basah to watch movie "The Happening" at The Cathay Cineplex; where we attract by the building's outlook when we walked pass. As it is adjacent to School of the Arts Singapore, we could see many students hang around here. There's an Artwork exhibition from school open to the public where we spent some of our time while waiting for the movie showing time, also had Quick-a-bite's Yakitori-don as light dinner and it was good!

The next day (day 2) after breakfast at hotel, we walked to different direction from yesterday; this time to Chijmes, Raffles City and Suntec City where we spend our morning till noon before we back to hotel and rest a little. Evening we head to Bugis Junction to meet up my friends and we have dinner together here at Hong Kong Kim Gary, then all of us move to Marina Square play snookers and bowling with their friends till late night. 

Day 3 before fly back to Penang in noon, last minute we decided to detour to Vivocity at HarbourFront since we are taking MRT to Changi Airport. There is a revamp and renovation going on at Sentosa Island - the Universal Studio and Resort World Casino & Resorts which we could see from Vivocity Harbourfront. The new development is expected to be complete in coming 1 to 2 years so really look forward to visit Sentosa Island when we come to Singapore again for another weekend getaway! Thats how we spent our 3 days in Singapore with malls hopping this trip.

Round Penang Island~

It's his birthday, on a Sunday. I decided to drive him go round Penang Island in one circle since he never did that. I took him for lunch at Obake-ya~ a jail theme Japanese Restaurant at Leith Street. We tried the jail lunch-set which is Japanese curry rice with pork cutlet, serve on a stainless steel divided tray; comes with miso soup, green tea in plastic cup, 2 pieces of salted cracker and a apple - like how a meal serve in jail. The restaurant also have jail rooms for those who want private dining where you can enjoy your meal being lock-up. Interesting!

After meal we begin our journey via Federal Route 6. Starting from Leith St, Georgetown where we had lunch, we drove towards Tg Tokong - Tg Bungah - Batu Feringgi - Teluk Bahang Dam. Stop by Teluk Bahang Dam for a visit, then continue drive along Jalan Teluk Bahang to Sg Jernih and Durian estates. Follow by another pit stop at a view point near the Titi Kerawang Air Terjun before continue head to Balik Pulau. Our next stop in Balik Pulau is go to Bukit Genting for Thai food with hilltop view, then head home from Balik Pulau back to Georgetown.

More than a year ago, I discover Bukit Genting via a round island trip with friends. It is a private orchard turn into hilltop restaurant selling Thai food and private accommodation. If you are coming from the same direction like us via route 6, along Jalan Teluk Kumbar after passby a big and white PBA water tank on left, slow down for a right turn after you see a orchard with gate open with a sign of Bukit Genting. The road going up to the hilltop is narrow and hilly. When we were here for the first time, we were so afraid that our 1.2 hose power car might stall half way or move backwards while driving up haha! Well, no worries it never happen. There is a part of the road where we need to accelerate a little more harder before we reach the top but overall it is ok. 

Compare to last visit, the place changed a lot. There are individual gazebo along the hillside for outdoor dine-in and more parking spaces at the mini hilltop garden. Not only the view with Balik Pulau paddy fields and Straits of Malacca is magnificent, the Thai food is good too! Not sure about the accommodation that resemble a boat house is open for stay or not. It was still under renovation during our visit.