Honeymoon's Over

It's back to the grind tomorrow.   The honeymoon's over.

I've had so much fun in Penang. Thank You. I will always cherish this memory. Special thanks to my cousin Moo Lan and her family for their loving-kindness and hospitality.

The Gurney Paragon Mall in Georgetown, Penang.

The Green Drink

I have started my veggie juice therapy. It was fun to make the beverage. I also shared it with Shella who seemed skeptical at first, but she later said it was delicious. She was also glad that I didn't mess up the kitchen.

I also had bread toast using olive oil. The only unhealthy thing was I sprinkled salt on my toast. Can't resist that. I love salt.

I know my aunts in Penang love me, or they wouldn't have shared the veggie therapy with me. 

It baffles me when I come across Buddhist practitioners who are conceited. It is a fundamental darkness that they may not be aware of. They have ingrained perceptions and are judgemental of others. All of the Buddha's teachings about tolerance, forgiveness, acceptance, unconditional love all seem to "fly out of the window" when they are with people who clash with their views and way of life.

The fault of others are easy to see but not thy own, or that of those they love. 

It doesn't really matter whether you are spiritually inclined or you're a devout religious practitioner, if you have flaws like conceit, prejudice, hatred or greed, and you keep nurturing it instead of being aware and conquering those flaws, then all the effort of your practice is just going down the drain.

I sound so preachy today. It must be the side effect of the green drink.

Awed by Khoo Kongsi

I almost gave the Khoo Kongsi a miss. I came up with excuses like "it's raining" and that there was time constraint as I was catching a flight home but Erick Khoo wouldn't take NO for an answer. 

When I stepped into the Khoo Kongsi, a Chinese clanhouse that marks the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang, I was immediately awed by the intricate carvings and mural paintings, magnificent ornaments and grandiose architecture.

I am not a history buff. But this place is a must see if you ever set foot in Penang. 

Look at the 3D images on the walls. And there are plenty of such images everywhere.

For the chronology of Khoo Kongsi, please click here.

This is Erick Khoo, who is turning 60 this August 31, showing me around.  Khoo Kongsi has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008. Fire had razed the original building in 1901 but it was rebuilt. Between 1999 and 2001, the temple was restored to the tune of RM4.2 million.

The clan house serves as an example of heritage conservation and restoration.

Erick is the chairman of the Toon Keng Tong, a sub clan of the Khoo Kongsi.

Some scenes of the 1999 movie "Anna and the King" were filmed here.

The restoration works were done by artists from India. 

The steps that lead you to the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi.

This is the genealogy of the Khoo clan beginning from the 8th generation who were from the Sin Kang village in Fujian province, China.

Do not come up with any excuses to not visit this place. Its detailed craftsmanship from a bygone era is a feast for the senses and the soul.

Made In Penang

Having coffee with Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng at the Made In Penang Interactive Museum. The entrance fee for Malaysians is RM15. Foreigners have to pay double. Penangites RM10.

It was worth the ticket price.  I also like the Opera Mask station where all you need to do is stand in front of a TV screen and the mask will come on.

And some of my other favourites.

This trip was really full of surprises.  While waiting for boarding time at the Penang International Airport, guess who came by?

The gentleman sitting next to me is none other than Johor Baru MCA public services and complaints bureau chairman John Cheah who was in Penang to attend a Rotary event.

I need to thank the universe for these sweet surprises. I also need to go on a strict diet. 

Arrived at Senai International Airport at 6.15pm.

Day Five In Penang

It is my last night in Georgetown, Penang. It has been a most enchanting, fruitful, magical holiday with many unexpected surprise meetings and unforgettable moments --- all unplanned.

In the morning I paid my last respects to my uncle who was cremated. The chanting was soothing and the weather was fine. Everything was settled before noon. 

I had breakfast with my cousin and three aunts.  I didn't need to order coffee or any beverage because my cousin had already made me a home-made lemon honey juice to bring to the funeral. She knew it was a hot day and it was good to drink honey lemon juice. 

I wouldn't trade my home-made lemon juice for any other beverage unless it was a breakfast or lunch set. Pure common sense, isn't it? I'm saying this because someone tried to make an issue out of me not ordering a drink. Jesus Christ, doesn't free will exist anymore? Not ordering a drink doesn't make me a rebel or a lesser person, right?

But it was a hearty breakfast nevertheless. That's life. If everyone says, thinks, acts and reacts the same way there would be nothing interesting to blog about. 

For dinner, I indulged in Miam Miam spaghetti in the Gurney Paragon mall

I also ordered a green tea parfait. I was told the French-Japanese restaurant doesn't allow takeaways or reservations.

After that it was shopping at the NaRaYa in the same mall for some souvenirs. This is a great shop to go to for affordably-priced dainty stuff.

Good night and pleasant dreams.

A Beautiful Day

A holiday cannot be complete without a body massage. So cousin Moo Lan brought me to this centre managed by the St Nicholas Home in Penang. A 28-year-old masseuse, Liew Yee Kuan, 28, gave my body a top-to-toe pampering.

Yee Kuan was among the six visually-impaired therapists working here after undergoing a wellness course offered by St Nicholas Home, a non-governmental organisation that works with the National Vocational Training Council.

The massage costs RM55. Part of the proceeds go to charity.

Earlier in the day, my cousin also brought me here 

1254W, Jalan Paya Terubong for breakfast. I enjoyed a bowl of "bak-kut bee hoon mee". Patrons can choose either the prawn shell based stock or the pork-rib based stock.

And after the massage, I had this bowl of milky fish soup bee hoon at Jalan Burmah in Pulau Tikus. The restaurant is called Restoran Sawara. The dish uses the garoupa fish.

Next, Moo Lan dropped me off at

where I indulged in some window shopping. After that I walked over to Gurney Plaza and the most amazing thing happened!

Johor former bureau chief Shahrum Sayuthi, who is now the NST political editor, spotted me in one of the shops.  He was there with our colleagues Balkin Kaur, Predeep Nambiar and Adrian Lai. We later walked over to the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre for a meal. I'm so happy to meet all of them.

I later joined Moo Lan and her daughter, Diane, for a meal at the Namoo Korean Dessert n Bistro. I had a tiny portion of rice and a bit of carrot cake, thinking that that was going to be my dinner.

I found myself hungry again after an hour or so. So I treated myself to a Fish-O-Fillet burger at McDonald's.

I am now a certified Chubby Chinese, no doubt about it!