Goodbye Penang. Goodbye Gurney.

I've just recently relocate to KL in the month of October. Of all of my life in Penang, the 6 years when I was living in Gurney is the most colorful and unforgettable. I started 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 every day after gym; our favourite spot~ the bench in front of Evergreen hotel for sunset; the mall next door~ Gurney plaza that we 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 at McD Sunrise Tower; nice and cheap chicken chop and chicken cordon blue at Mount Erskine; those weekends spent at Batu Ferringhi for food, the 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, 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 as I need to 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, this fella wants to trek to lighthouse with me in slippers only, because he didn't bring sports shoes with him to Malaysia. Also, he did that before (wear slippers hike up to mountain) in Korea. 

So, here goes my first time trekking at Penang National Park, in my pink hush puppy pink rubber flip-flops haha! He probably the first Korean who did that - wear the very common Korean slipper go trekking in Penang National Park. Since I am well-versed with the trail, also Monkey beach trail is one of the easiest trail. Wear flip-flops and slipper trekking is no issue for us! However, not recommended if you are first timer to the National Park! It took us nearly 2 hours to reach our destination~ lighthouse. I've been here many times, 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.

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 relocation. 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, cover up our feet and legs if we were to join the coconut smashing event again lol.

There's something we find it amused but at the same time amazed~ 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 stop. Immediately two standby bulldozers begin to push smashed coconuts off the road to and forth. Then whistle blow and everyone continue smashing coconut again, then repeat with bulldozer run thru and clear off again. haha It amused us even the devotees are laughing and say "here comes the bulldozers again" lol.  

Hanjeongsik~ Gimcheon Ulsan Restaurant & Jikji Cultural Park, Gimcheon.김천 울산식당 한정식맛집 과 직지 문화공원

Day 5 in Busan. Today we travel to Gimcheon for a business trip. It's our first time to Gimcheon - a city in North Gyeongsang Province. From Gupo station, we took the earliest Korail train to Gimcheon. Oppa said it's snowing in Gimcheon. Yeah finally I get to see snow again as Busan doesn't or rarely snow due to it's geography. He said he can't recall when it is the last time Busan snowed. During the 2 hours and 15 mins journey, we dozed off for almost an hour at the beginning. When we woke up again, we can see snow along the railway, grounds and mountain. After arrived Gimcheon, we had hot udon & kimbap as breakfast at a cafe next to Gimcheon Station exit before we depart to our destination.

After the meeting, we were invited to have Hanjeongsik lunch at a mountain town below Jijiksa. Jikjisa is one of the oldest temple in Korea constructed in 418 during the Silla Kingdom, located at the bottom of Hwangaksan, well known with it's temple stay. This small town in Daehang-myeon that covered with snow everywhere has restaurants and motels that accommodate people who came to visit the Jikjisa.

We have Hanjeongsik for lunch at this well-know matjib named 울산식당 Ulsan Restaurant. Hanjeongsik is a full-course traditional Korean meal served with an array of savory side dishes. It was served in the royal palaces for Kings and noble class during Joseon Dynasty. Side dishes can be vary according to the season or region. Main dish normally are meat or seafood. Here charcoal grilled bulgogi is served as main. There are 3 types of Hanjeongsik in their menu. Lowest is 13,000 won per pax and highest is 20,000 per pax. Except for the main dish (grilled pork and beef), the vegetable side dish are refillable. If you would like to try different types of Korean side dishes at once, Hanjeongsik restaurant can be the best choice with affordable price!

After meal. we take a stroll at the 직지 문화공원 Jik-ji Cultural Park which is just few miles away from the restaurant before head to train station and return to Busan. The park completed in 2004 has a natural steam running thru the park, surrounded by beautiful landscape, artificial fountain, sculptures and other facilities. Now it is covered in snow in winter so basically there is just white scenery everywhere.

How to get here:
From Gimcheon Train Station, take bus No. 11 or No. 111 to Jikjisa Temple
- The restaurant and Jikji Cultural Park is located few km before Jikjisa Temple.

Third & last Jjajangmyeon in Busan~ Beomtae Yetnal Sonjjajang, Seomyeon 부산서면범태 옛날손짜장

As Seomyeon is an interchange station, either metro or bus when we go somewhere, we came to Seomyeon almost everyday. Seomyeon is one of the most crowded and busy commercial district in Busan with Lotte Department Store, Lotte Hotel & Casino, underground shopping malls, retails, medical centre, plastic surgery clinics, tuition centre and etc. Today we came here to shop a little at Lotte Duty Free located inside the Lotte Department Store, also have late lunch / early dinner before go back. Since it is duty free, the items I purchase only can be collect at Lotte Duty Free in Incheon Airport on the day I return to Malaysia after I check-in.

After shopping, we have late lunch at 범태옛날손짜장 Beomtae Yetnal Sonjjajang famous with old school taste Jjajang with handmade noodle, located next to Lotte Department Store. This is my third and also last Jjangmyeon in Busan. The handmade noodle texture is different from the previous 2 Jjajangmyeon we had before. However I found their Jjim-mandu (steamed dumplings) is way more delicious than the Jjajangmyeon. Can't stop eating the steamed mandu once started and one basket seems not enough for 2 persons haha. We also wanted to try the famous 별난씨호떡 Byeolnam seed hotteok (a Korean style pancake with brown sugar filling and seeds) which is just around the corner but the queue is no ending, we end up give up.