1 Day Halal or Pork Free Penang Trip

Update on ** 11 December 2015**

When I was told by Malay friend, Safiah on 1 day halal or pork free Penang trip, I was quite shocked as Penang was a Chinese place. It means not much halal or pork free foods. What can Muslims go and dine? My curiosity drove me to involve in the tour. It was a great eye opening for culture and religion. Hopefully, this entry provides better information for Muslim especially dining options.

Next, this trip was organized by former student UUM, Cik Nurul Huda. She had the experiences to handle 1 day tour (e.g Penang, Lost World of Tambun, Langkawi Island, Hatyai) since 3 years ago for UUM students.  This 1 day Penang trip cost RM 60 that include entrance fees for Penang Hill, Pesta Pulau Pinang, Batu Feringgi, Padang Kota. The greatest advantages of following the tour was the tour bus fetched and also dropped me in hostel’s nearby bus stop. It was very convenient and totally hassles-free. 

Penang Hill

Our first stop was Penang Hill, Georgetown. It has the coolest air which was suitable for relaxing, calming and away from the bustling city of Georgetown. 

We used the Penang Hill Railway to reach the peak. It was constructed by British colonial. In 2000, Penang Hill Railway undergone renovation. The new Penang Hill Railway more faster than old one and carried more passengers. 

However, we waited 1 1/2 hour for the Penang Hill Railway. Penang Hill was packed with visitors. There was one fast lane option, you might took the fast lane to save times. I had no choice as my entrance fees (RM 5) was included in the tour. I also got the discounted prices for the entrance tickets because my current status as student. 

The view of whole Penang 

Detailed explanation of entire Penang view 

Didn't use the Panaroma mode shooting so can't capture the "Bukit Bendera" phrases to fit in one single photo 

Not forget to take photo with flowers 

At the back was owl musuem. Due to lack of times, we were not visit it 

6 years ago, I had been visited Penang Hill and never expected it changed as offered varieties of activities 

At the up of the owl musuem had the love lock. It was one of the important main attractions of Penang Hill. 

Sadly, the giant LOVE words not opened to public. Thus, we just took photo distance away 

Love locks were everywhere and constituted a beautiful backdrop for taking photos

Old Penang Hill Railway 

One of the hawker stall in Penang Hill that sold chickpeas (i.e kacang kuda in Malay language). It had 2 types of chickpeas: chickpeas masala and special chickpeas masala.

I opted chickpeas special masala (RM 5.00). The chickpeas were fried with murruku campur, chili powder, onions and curry leaves. Nothing so special about it as the chickpeas were tough and hard. Other than that, it was less aromatic and flavor. 

Tamil Street

Since we spend 3 hours in Penang Hill therefore Batu Feringgi was cancelled. I was told by Cik Nurul Huda we headed to Chow Kit.

What make me confused was I can't find any Chow Kit road in Georgetown through googling. In contrast, I found the Tamil Street had the places that I had been there. As a result, I labelled it as Tamil Street. For you information, Below attractions were located opposite Police Station of Georgetown (i.e blue and white color building).  

Fruit pickles of Pak Ali was very famous according to Safiah. Consequently, I grabbed few packets of fruit pickles for myself 

Flooded with Muslim customers. I believed it was pork free or halal fruit pickles. 

The workers non stop packaging the fruit pickles while tauke busy took money from customers in the counter 

In the Window Sherbet (i.e Ais Tingkap in Malay) stalls. Other than Window Sherbet, it had other desserts like Ais Kacang and Cendol. We tried Ais Kacang instead of Window Sherbet. 

So remorseful when writing now in not trying Window Sherbet because Penang food bloggers suggested it considered as one of the desserts that must try when visiting Penang. 

Ais Kacang (RM 2.20). It was fulled with red beans, corns, grass jelly. It didn't taste overly sweet and so aromatic. It's worth a try. 

Esplanade

Next, we off to Esplanade or Padang Kota Lama 

While walking to Esplanade halal hawker food stalls, we took photos while enjoying the sea breezes. 

Meeting few Penangites that were friendly and so helpful to help us as the "tourist" to take photos. 

I heard Safiah said Pasembur was one of the well-known foods in Esplanade. Thus, I just simply any photos of Pasembur stall. We run out of times to try nice foods at there 

Ais Kacang stall 

Coconut drinks/shake stall

Other brand of fruit pickles 

Seeing the parrot owner played the parrot with others 

Pesta Pulau Pinang 2015

It was in Sungai Nibong. We had paid RM 3 as entrances fees. 

A lot of fairy lights 

Not interested for the clothes. 

Fulled with fairy lights. It created the romantic atmosphere 

Can't resist myself in posting love gestures 

The children screamed here and there. So much fun at there

Hai Thien Restaurant, Kuala Perlis

Update on **10 December 2015**

Couple days ago, I followed my friends to Kuala Perlis for having seafood dinner. 

 Having seafood dinner in Hai Thien Restaurant. It was near to Kuala Perlis Jetty and visible at the main road. 

Empty when we reached there 5.30 pm. My friend, Shu Fang told me it was so crowded especially at the night times. 

The old Hai Thien Restaurant. We were at the new Hai Thien Restaurant (next to Kompleks Makanan Laut/KOMALA and opposite Putra Brasmana Hotel).

 Salad Batenkor (沙拉油条）RM 10.00 (small). It's a stir fried You Cha Kueh that stuffed with squid paste and served with Mayonnaise.  It was so crispy and crunchy and tasted perfect with Mayonnaise. I highly recommended this dish. 

 Fried Brinjal with Zhajiang sauce RM 6.00 (small). It tasted like ordinary fried brinjal with belacan that could be found in the cafeteria university 

 Butter prawns RM 15.00 (small). It had 4 prawns which catered each of us. Nothing to shout about it because it so tasteless once I peeled the prawn shells. 

 Deep fried squids RM 7.00 (small). It was crunchy and dipped with sweet chilies sauce for extra kick  

Fried chicken with honey RM 10.00 (small). It was very salty due to not much honey. Other than that, the chicken was hard and difficult to bite. 

Stir fried Balitong RM 7.00 (small). Balitong was the snails and cooked with spicy sauce. The spiciness left a fire on my tongue. The spiciness even escalated as I sucked the snails. The spiciness worked very well with the chewy textures of the snails meat. 

Tangerine juice (1 jug) RM 13.00. The juice was very "Gao" and not overly sweet

Strolling Around the Restaurant

Taken on 5.23 pm. It signified sunset was coming. And tomorrow was the brand new day and new hopes no matter what. Thus, I should kept on moving 

Sadly, 2 friends that next to me will leave university very soon. 

 with Shu Fang, the one that drove up to Kuala Perlis for dinner. Without her, I can't have the seafood dinners and enjoyed the stunning views of Kuala Perlis 

Can't even think the caption to describe it's beauty 

 A sense of tranquility surrounded me 

 The unique design of the mosque

Hope to come here again!!!

Tai He Tang Herbal Drink Shop,Mong Kok

We had visited Tai He Tang herbal drink shop almost 3 times during our Hong Kong trip. 

One of the reason was Naruto crazy for Taro Sago (芋头西米露）. The other reason was it's very near to our guesthouse. We walked back to our guesthouse within 2 minutes. 

 Vintage look of the exterior and interior.  It had operated for quite long times 

 It provided traditional herbal drinks (e.g twenty four flavors, sugar cane juice, five flower tea, fo ma yun). Hong Kongers consumed such traditional drinks daily or weekly basis because it helped to treat and prevent ailments. Besides that, it also served hot desserts. 

  Herbal drink shop served as the place for relax among Hong Kongers 

 Naruto's favorite, Taro Sago (芋头西米露）. She ordered the same desserts every visit. It was not too sweet. I love the creamy texture accompanied with aromatic flavor. 

Sweet potatoes dessert (番薯糖水）. The sweet potatoes was so tender. The sweetness of the soup came with the aromatic ginger flavor was very warm and refreshing.