Goodbye Penang. Goodbye Gurney.

I've relocate to KL in October. Of all of my life in Penang, those years when I was living in Gurney is one of the most colorful and unforgettable moments in my life. I begin to miss my tiny apartment in Gurney where yellow birds like to knock on my room window every morning 7am; the Gurney Drive promenade that I walk home almost everyday in the evening after gym; my favourite spot in Gurney Drive~ the bench in front of Evergreen hotel for sunset; the mall next door~ Gurney plaza that I go almost everyday for meals and groceries; G hotel lobby where we hang out and meet up with someone; ckt & passembur at Gurney drive hawkers; midnight supper with McShaker fries at McD Sunrise Tower; nice and cheap chicken chop and chicken cordon blue at Mount Erskine; those weekends spent at Batu Ferringhi for food, and DVDs at night market; live band at Golden Sands; driving along the winding road along the coastal up to Teluk Pahang just because I love the sea view along the way, weekend treks to Penang national park, Muka head lighthouse...all these has become my precious memory now.

Trekking in slippers~ to Muka Head Lighthouse, Penang National Park

Oppa's cousin who is studying law at Seoul University, spent a month in Penang - staying at my place during summer break. Besides enrolled for English course, he also visit around Penang island mostly by himself when I was at work. On his last weekend in Penang before he return to Korea, I brought him to Penang National Park since he likes hiking or trekking as well. Turns out, he plan to trek to lighthouse in slippers because he didn't bring sports shoes with him to Malaysia. He said he did that before in Korea (wear slippers hike up to mountain) in Korea and he is confident... So, here goes our first time trekking at Penang National Park~ where I am wearing my pink hush puppy pink rubber flip-flops and he is wearing the Korean common slippers lol! Who knows. he probably is the first Korean who did that. Anyway, since I am well-versed with the trail and Monkey beach trail is one of the easiest trail in Penang National Park; Wear flip-flops and slipper trekking is no issue for us! However, it is really not recommended if you are first timer to the National Park! It took us about 1 hour and 45 mins to reach our destination~ lighthouse. Even though I've been here so many times, I am still thrill to see the view whenever I am up here. Now that I am going to relocate to KL soon (3 months later). I definitely going to miss Penang National Park the most and all those regular hikes and treks over the weekends. 

Uncle Jang Dakgalbi, Ampang

We drove 36 km from Kota Kemuning to Ampang just for Dakgalbi, again! This is the very first Dakgalbi restaurant in Malaysia opened about a year ago. Before they rename to Uncle Jang with the logo of a bald Korean uncle which is the owner, the restaurant was named "Chuncheon Myeongdong Bonga Dakgalbi". Where the name carry some meaning of Dakgalbi Origiin. First, Chuncheon is well known with Dakgalbi - a spicy stir-fried chicken dish with diced chicken, cabbage, sweet potatoes, scallions and tteok with gochujang-based sauce cook on a large iron case pan in the middle of the table. 

Secondly, there are three major alley selling dakgalbi in Chuncheon. Myeongdong (a downtown in Chuncheon, not the Myeong-dong in Seoul) is one of the most popular among three. This explained why this restaurant was named "Chuncheon Myeongdong Bonga Dakgalbi" when they first started their business. Great news is, owner told us that they have already expand to Solaris Mont' Kiara and Bandar Puteri Puchong. The branch will handle by other family members. Now we can choose to go to their Bandar Puteri Puchong branch which is so much nearer than coming to Ampang. 

They have 2 foreign workers who are very good in cooking dakgalbi! All we have to do is wear the apron (the sauce might splash around the table or our clothes during stir-frying!) and watch the waiter stir fry the dakgalbi! That icy-cold broth served in bowl is Dongchimi (Radish water kimchi)~ an appetizer or dessert that help to reduce body heat after having hot and spicy stir fried chicken. Complimentary lettuce, garlic, ssamjang, pickle onions and kimchi served along for those who like to had the dakgalbi in wraps where refill is available. 

Here is some tips of how to order and enjoy the Dakgalbi. There is a minimum requirement where you need to order min. 2 servings :

1. First, choose the dakgalbi - original flavour (which is mid spicy) @ RM19.00 per pax or spicy (can be very spicy) @ RM22.00 per pax. 
2. Choose extra sides to be added into your dakgalbi (optional). Choices are mushroom (RM8) udon (RM8), ramyeon noodle (RM6), tteok (RM6), sweet potatoes (RM6) and rice (RM6). We normally add 1 serving of ramyeon sari as extra here with the dakgalbi. 
3. Enjoy your dakgalbi with or without wraps.
4. Left about 1/3 of the dakgalbi, order rice to make fried rice with the leftover dakgalbi. The fried rice is strongly recommended as it taste so good after absorb all the flavours from leftover of dakgalbi and veggie!!

The restaurant is the typical Korean sitting on the floor type, there are 2 tables with chairs available if you can't tolerate sitting on floor. And, you will smell like Dakgalbi from head to toe after dine-in here lol! Something that cannot avoid when you dine-in at a Korean BBQ / Grill restaurant. 

The Sire Museum Restaurant, King Street, Penang

Our last dine-in at The Sire before relocate to KL. We discover this museum cum restaurant opposite Dewan Sri Pinang last year, where we have a nice dinner before the concert starts. Since then, we have been here thrice. Love the ambience and food here. The Sire is not just a restaurant but also a museum gallery that keep records of late Yeap Chor Ee's life and achievements. It is first and former house of Late Yeap Chor Ee. Today I had Seafood Cabonara and a cup of cappuccino while he had medium well beef sirloin. Also share a soup of the day. No picture of the beef sirloin and soup as I only remember to snap mine while waiting for his meal served. And Ella Fitzgerald's Misty fit the mood of the moment when we had lunch.

鹤屋日本料理~Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant, I-Avenue, Bayan Lepas

Blessed birthday dinner with Japanese food with my parents, sis, bro-in-law & baby nephew at Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant at I-Avenue. My baby nephew turned 3 months old this month and he is now at the stage where when I make funny sound he will laughing non stop haha~ cuteness overload. Maybe because my birthday often falls on CNY, I rarely gets to celebrate with birthday cake. So this birthday is one of the rare one with bday cake from my loved one~

My 31st Birthday~ The Ship, Batu Feringghi

Celebrate my 31st birthday at The Ship, Batu Ferringhi. We drive up to Batu Feringghi almost every weekend for food, beach, and strolling at the night markets for DvDs and stuffs. Different from The Ship in town, The Ship in Batu Ferringhi is housed inside a real ship! We order 2 main course and it comes with complimentary soup, salad, buns and butter. The soup of the day is creamy mushroom soup. We also order Prawns Mayonnaise - a salad consist of boiled shell-less king prawn, boiled egg, potato salad and an array of assorted veggie served with mayonnaise and cocktail sauce. A complimentary steak plate with sakura printing is given in conjunction of Chinese New Year season.

Both main course are Chef's recommendation in the menu. His choice is Charbroiled Rib Eye Steak - tender and succulent steak served with prime vegetables, corn on cob, baked potato and a bowl of salad. While mine is Charbroiled BBQ Spare Rib - marinated bone-in rib steak served with vegetables, corn on cob, baked potato and a bowl of salad. You can ask for with or without chili for the Charbroiled BBQ Spare Ribs. We choose one with chili and one without. But spiciness is too much for me to handle. Nevertheless, we have a great evening with delicious steak and ribs and a stroll at Batu Ferringhi night market before go home.

Thaipusam 2010 in Penang

My last Thaipusam in Penang before relocated to KL. This year we get to experience coconut smashing for the first time which is different from past visits to Waterfall Rd Temple for Kavadi and piercing ritual on Thaipusam. My company setup a booth for the first time in front of it's new building at Macalister Rd. where the Silver chariot will passed by upon the return to Lebuh Penang. We visit the booth to give a support, and surely not miss the chance to witness devotee break the coconuts on this busy Macalister Road. The coconuts were placing on both side on the road. After the chariot passed, the devotees begin to smash the coconuts on the road hard. Some of them smashed it so hard that the coconut shredded pieces flying off everywhere and I got my toe cut and bleed a little due to this. Lesson learnt, it is important to cover up our feet and legs to prevent incident like this happen.

There's something we find it amused but also amazed at the same time~ which is how efficient is the MPPP (Penang Municipal council) clear off the smashed coconuts with bulldozer. When there are many smashed coconuts fill up the road, we heard whistle blow to call for a temporarily stop. Immediately two standby bulldozers begin to push smashed coconuts off the road to and forth. Then whistle blow again and everyone continue with smashing coconut again; then repeat with bulldozer run thru and clear off again haha! It amused us including the devotees are laughing and say "here comes the bulldozers again" lol. What a fun and unforgettable Thaipusam for us. 

Last day in Seoul~ Seoul Station Lotteria burger, Lotte World, Gangnam, Dongdaemum, Cheonggyecheon, Myeongdong & Andong Jjimdak

Last 2 days in Korea, we head to Seoul via a midnight express bus from Busan and arrived at Seoul Station before dawn. While waiting for the earliest subway begin (we will take subway to our accommodation), I was amazed when I saw McDonald's and Lotteria just side by side in Seoul Station. We decided to have super early breakfast at Lotteria as I have been wanted to try Lotteria when we were in Busan. Lotteria is the biggest fast-food chain in Korea. It is like Korea version of McDonalds as both have many similarity in their menu and packaging! Burges and fries, fried chicken, meals set with toys, ice-cream and even shake-shake fries (that we always eat at McD). However there are something Lotteria have that McD don't offer~ Shrimp burger and Hanwoo burger (Korean beef burger)~ and that's what we eat, and it is really tasty!! 

Took the 5.30am subway to Jamsil where we will stay for a night; sleep for 2-3 hours, wake up and head out to Lotte world for lunch. Finally I am here at Lotte world~ I wanted to be here to see the Carousel if I visit Korea after watch that Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. Sadly, it is not what I expect~ it can't be see from outside thru the windows unless we buy theme park tickets and enter to the theme park. But it is waste of money since we have no time for the theme park - it's a huge theme park with indoor and outdoor like Disney world. It's okay, next time then... We had Dolsot Bibimbap and the  Dolsot Cheese Bibimbap is so addictive~ never know gochujang and cheese can be such a great combination for Bibimbap! 

From Lotte world, we take subway line 2 for 2 stops to Samseong-dong to visit COEX mall and look around the central of Gangnam District. Snow pile up everywhere outside as it snowed heavily last night. Thankfully it stops snowing today so we get to walk around outdoor more but not just indoor. A group of white Darth Vader is doing dance performance on Girl's Generation's Gee outside of the Samseong station exit and they are so cute! I took video but no idea how to upload here...

After Gangnam, continue to ride on subway line 2 and head to Dongdaemun. That's Cheonggyecheon Stream that flows through the heart of Seoul (from Dongdaemun to Gwanghwamun) and Dongdaemun shopping district / wholesale town behind me. Initially we wanted to take a stroll along the steam from Dongdaemun slowly to Namedaemum but our plan changed after we saw the snowy path. The fortress that guarded Dongdaemun since 1398 is Heunginjimun 흥인지문 (also known as East Big Gate). There are also North, South and West Gate - Total 8 gates (4 big gates + 4 small gates) around Seoul that worth to check out if happens to be in the area.

We slowly walk to Myeongdong from Dongdaemun. When we reach Myeongdong the sky already dark at 5pm in Winter. As sky dark the temperature drop below 21 celcius (this year happens to be one of the coolest winter for Korea), too cold to stay outdoor long hours. So we went for early dinner at Andong Jjimdak (Location: 3 Myeongdong 10-gil) for Andong Jjimdak~ its a sweet, salty and savoury Korean braised chicken where you can choose to add noodles (tangmyeon or udon). It taste so good! Doesn't taste like common Korean dish I had before but more like our Chinese dish taste. After meal we continue to checkout Myeongdong and I manage to get some Korean skincare products and made in Korea tops and blouses for myself and family. As it gest windy and chilly, our nose and cheek, hands and even feets feels numb. We decided to call the day off early and return to our accommodation.