Becoming acquainted with Leong San Tong

One of main attractions in Georgetown is the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi. It is the grandest clan temple in Malaysia.

According to its official website, its present premise was purchased in 1850. The buildings you see today is the end result of numerous rebuilding and restorations. In fact, the last major restoration took place from 1999 to 2011 at a princely sum of RM 4.2 million.
The genealogical chart that Khoo Kongsi adopts, which begins with KAY of the 8th generation, is inherited from the Chan family. It has 40 characters in the form of a poem with 5 characters to each line. A clansman with his middle name following this chart can easily locate his generation hierarchy. For example, Khoo Kay Poh with the middle name Kay belongs to the 21st generation. Today, the Khoo offspring have reached the 27th generation. (Source: www.khookongsi.com.my)Also known by its shortened name 'Khoo Kongsi', the buildings' elaborate and highly ornamented architecture is still preserved.

Main Entrance of Leong San Tong

Close up of head of lion statue guarding entrance of Leong San Tong

Lion statue at the right hand side of the door of Leong San Tong

Did you know? The Khoo Kongsi was used as a film location for 'Anna and the King', where Tuptim was captured by palace guards.

Penang - The Cradle of the Chinese Revolution

How many of you know that Penang was an important base for Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the founder of the Chinese Revolution?

Not many, I believe. Unless of course you have studied about the Chinese Revolution in school, or visited the old shophouse at 120 Armenian Street, which currently showcases an exhibition on Sun Yat Sen.

When we visited the antiquated building 2 weeks ago, we saw a sign stating that the admission fee was RM3 per person. The volunteer manning the reception ushered us to some seats, so that we could watch some snippets of the movie 'Road to Dawn' (《夜.明》). While the video clip was playing, he provided a running commentary on how Sun Yat Sen used the historical shophouse as a base to raise funds for the Canton Uprising, which ultimately led to the success of the Chinese Revolution in 1911.

In the following movie clip, you can listen to the awe-inspiring speech from the actor playing Dr. Sun Yat Sen.

Below are 4 images of the interior of the shophouse, also known as Sun Yat Sen Penang Base (孙中山槟城基地纪念馆).

The volunteer guide provided many explanations on the exhibits. As we were leaving, we thanked him for his hospitality and paid him the full admission fees.

Out of curiosity, we asked him whether it is a policy to collect the admission fees only when the visitors were leaving. He shared that in general, the admission fees are collected upfront, especially for those shutterbugs who just want to take quick snapshots and then depart.

For visitors who are genuinely interested in what the place has to offer, he believes that visitors will automatically pay the full admission fees in appreciation of what they have seen, heard and experienced. That has been the case so far.

Discover Penang National Park

Penang National Park is a 2,562-hectares national park located on the north-western tip of Pulau Penang. It's a popular destination for jungle trekking, swimming and fishing.
For those of you looking to get a golden brown tan, you may want to try Monkey Beach or Pantai Kerachut. You can get to Monkey Beach by walking along a coastline or by hiring a boat. The cost of hiring a boat to Monkey Beach is RM40, and a return fare is RM80. Going to Pantai Kerachut by boat is RM80, and a return trip is RM160.
My friend and I decided to jungle trek to Karachut Beach (Pantai Kerachut) and then return by boat, with a stopover at Monkey Beach.

On that clear day, it took us a full hour to climb up and down the steep slopes. Fortunately for us, it did not rain that day, otherwise it might have been unpleasant navigating through the muddy trails. The jungle trails are quite well sign-posted, so you should not get lost if you wish to jungle trek.

What can you see at Pantai Karachut?

1. Nice sandy beach - What I love most about Pantai Karachut is the (almost) absolute privacy you can enjoy here. This beach is generally not frequented by tourists, although locals may come here even on weekdays. Just a warning: The pristine white sand could be scorching hot at mid-day.
2. Turtle sanctuary - You may just be able to catch Green Sea Turtles coming up to lay their eggs from April and August. You can also see baby turtles in the hatchery.
3. Meromictic lake - This lake is formed by two layers of water of different temperatures. The bottom layer of sea water is normally warmer than the surface fresh water. It is generally visible for only six months of the year.

Our boat came at the prearranged time at Pantai Karachut. On our way back, our motor boat driver pointed out some rock formations, and shared their names e.g. crocodile, rabbit and tortoise.

When we arrived at Monkey beach, it was monkeys galore. Besides a few beach apes lying around on the thin strips of beach soaking up the sun, you could see real monkeys tussling over coconuts, resting on trees, or scampering around the grounds. I didn't stay long enough for them to attempt to steal my belongings. Haha.

Having gone to both beaches, I prefer Pantai Karachut for its larger stretches of pristine white sand and lack of crowd.

Address: Jalan Hassan Abas, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Penang
Contact: +604 8813530
How to get there: By car, taxi or bus 101 (this service runs from Georgetown through Batu Ferringhi beach)

Going up and around Penang Hill

In my previous post, I mentioned about The Owl Museum up on Penang Hill.

To get there, I took the Penang Hill Railway. A return fare is RM30 for an adult foreigner. For my local friend, it was only RM8. Guess the cheap fare is one of the perks of being a Malaysian citizen.

Penang Hill Railway	Peering at Georgetown through a telescope on Flagstaff Hill
Cannon	Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple

The ascent to the top was quite fast. As I understand from my Malaysian friend, it was much slower on the old Penang Hill Railway. It was even faster coming down, but that was to come when we descended from Flagstaff Hill.

When we reached Flagstaff Hill, we could feel the cool climate despite a blazing sun overhead. The cool environment was definitely a welcome relief. We walked around a while, seeing some bungalows, a disused cannon and the Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple along the way.

After we descended from Flagstaff Hill, we visited the Tien Kong Than (天公坛), which is in the vicinity of the Penang Hill Railway. Tien Kong Than is dedicated to the Jade Emperor (玉帝) or Tiangong (天公), the supreme deity in the Taoist pantheon. Out of reverence to the Jade Emperor, I did not take pictures of the deities in the temple grounds.

If you are interested to visit Tien Kong Than, the address is as follows:

11500 Hill Railway Road,
Penang, Malaysia, 10200

Going crazy about owls at Penang Hill

During my trip up Penang Hill, I came upon this quaint little museum with a peculiar name 'The Owl Museum'.

While my friend and I were enjoying the 'ABC' (shaved ice coloured with different flavoured syrups, nuts and jellies), we were accosted by promoters eager to pass us pamphlets.

Upon entering the museum, I was greeted by a sprightly-looking owl with outstretched wings (which is the picture you see above).

We were branded by a sticker when we entered the museum.


You can find all kinds of owl-themed arts and crafts here. I could certainly feel the ardour of the owner of this museum who has spent some effort assembling the collection.





When we visited last Thursday, admission was free as it was the 6th day of opening. As we understand it, the admission fees are RM10 for adult, RM5 for senior citizen, and admission is free for children below 12 years of age.

The museum is open daily from 0900 to 1800 hours. Do check it out when you are up Penang Hill.

They even have a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/owlmuseum

The Hawker Food I Love in Penang

It's been ages since I last visited Penang. More than 20 years I should say.

I was really too young to remember anything about Penang food. I was then 9 years old.

During my trip last week to Penang, I certainly indulged myself in tasty local Penang hawker food.

My fondest memories are of these:

1) Penang char koay teow - My favourite stall is the one at a street corner of Lebuh Melayu. At this unassuming stall, you can find a truly unique char koay teow. Unlike other stalls which use chicken eggs, this dish is prepared with duck eggs. So far the best I have eaten in my life.

2) Hong Kong Tim Sum - Not only is it good, it's cheap in Penang. The best I have eaten is at Bali Hai Seafood Restaurant along Gurney Drive (or 'Persiaran Gurney' in Bahasa Malayu). [Yes, I know tim sum cannot really be considered Penang local hawker food, but I thought it was worthy of mention]

3) Fried oysters - You can actually chew into fresh oysters. Most places are able to whip up nice hot plates of fried oysters quickly.

4) Barbequed sting ray - Another strongly recommended item.

5) Chendul - In one of the back alleys in Georgetown, you will find 'Penang Famous Teochew Chendul - Ice Kacang'. Crowds mill around the stall throughout the whole day. A truly satisfying dessert that cools your body after a hot day in the sun.

6) Bacon Tomato Onion Bagel - Another unusual find. I could barely discern the entrance of this cafe 'Amelie', since it was partly covered by the overhanging creepers. I found the Bacon Tomato Onion Bagel especially tasty. Isn't the sight of the bagel simply mouthwatering?

7) Tau Sa Piah - not hawker food, but definitely a local specialty. Him Heang is a very popular brand even among locals. I even had to queue for more than an hour to get freshly baked tau sa piahs.


Not necessarily the healthiest of options, but these treats should not be missed if you are visiting Penang.

A visual and audio feast at Taman Fatahillah

I have not felt inspired to write for half a year now. So apologies to those who have been reading this blog.

Today, I spent the day exploring Jakarta on foot. What a totally exhausting day it turned out to be.

My route spanned a total 8km from Plaza Indonesia to Taman Fatahillah, and included visits to Monum Nasional (also known as 'Monas' or 'Sukarno's final erection') and Museum Nasional.

View Larger Map

Perhaps it's way past my usual lunchtime hour, but I did not really relish the Batavia Burger and Fatahillah Punch at Batavia Cafe. At IDR150,000 after tax, it's not exactly a cheap meal.

After finishing my lunch, I walked around Taman Fatahillah.

You can find people peddling all kinds of stuff in the square. Above is a picture of a man selling macabre souvenirs in the forms of amputated feet, hands, fingers. Certainly, eye-catching and attention grabbing. But I am not sure how many takers there will be at the end of the day.
An One-Man-Operation (OMO) amusement ride powered by human leg power. The kids sure had fun.
I also saw oversized dolls (wayang puppets) dancing to deafening Indonesian traditional music.

I'm totally exhausted now. But I'm sure thankful I had good weather for the whole day today.

Gotta go now. Ciao.

Crime in Sing City?

(The following post may contain disturbing images. Parental guidance is advised.)

I thought I was witness to a crime scene.

'Gruesome' sums up my whole experience.

There were four 'corpses' in the art installation. A common theme that runs through is death by impalement. By not one instrument, but multiple ones. Murder weapons range from brooms, toilet bowl brushes to saws and screwdrivers.

Louie Cordero drew his inspiration for this art installation 'My We' from the recent spate of murders of people single Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' in Filipino karaoke bars.

I certainly hope there are no copycats in real life.

Take a step in Simon Fujiwara's mind, as you wander through 'Welcome to the Hotel Munber'. He spins a tale of oppression and release, with inspiration drawn from his personal experiences living in his parent's bar and hotel in Spain in the 70s.

There are 2 other art installations at the Singapore Art Museum, as part of the Singapore Biennale 2011. These include Julian Gothe's 'Events during Flood' and Ryan Trecartin's video works.

Stay tuned while we bring you other highlights from Singapore Biennale 2011 in future blog entries.

Celebrating Singapore's 100 years of aviation

16 March 2011 was a landmark date for Singapore's aviation history.

It marked exactly 100 years of aviation. To commemorate this event, the Singapore Aviation Centennial Celebrations was launched last night with a gala dinner.

Indeed, Singapore has come a long way. Visit Singapore and see the iconic air traffic control tower below, as you land at the Changi International Airport.


Don't forget to visit the old Kallang Airport, which is also one of the venues for this year's Singapore Biennale 2011.

This year's Singapore Biennale will feature the works of 60 artists from 30 countries.

Crave for a tasty American burger in Hanoi?

I have been scouring the streets of Hanoi. I constantly risk my palate to continue bringing you the unsung food outlets, bars and restaurants.

Sometimes, the disappointments have been so bitter. But I choose not to write about them.

On this occasion, I find something truly worthy of sharing.

Introducing: My Burger Mỹ

They serve the Super Works Mỹ Burger - an absolutely mouthwatering burger, with nice char-grilled beef petty, jalapeno peppers, chillis, thin strips of fried bacon, toasted cheese, and hot buns. A real bargain at VND125,000.


Also seen in the picture above is a glass of totally refreshing strawberry smoothie, specially made for me. It wasn't even on the menu. They serve smoothies made from seasonable fruits. What's in season now are pineapples, bananas, and mangoes (VND30,000). The mixed fruit smoothie is made from those fruits, and strawberries (VND35,000). As it's a special order, the strawberry smoothie costs VND35,000.

Besides burgers, they also serve Mexican food (e.g. nachos, burritos), and ice cream.

All these wonderful food brought to you by a wonderful American chef, who has been living in Hanoi for 3 years already.

My Burger Mỹ
Address: 5 Hang Bac Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Tel: 84.4.73090777
Mobile: 0912 223 966

The Race To Save The Hồ Gươm Turtle

Everyday, for the past two weeks, a crowd will gather during the day to watch the rescue obsession.

The hapless victim: the reverential Hồ Gươm turtle

I understand from my Vietnamese friends that news about the rescue mission has been broadcasted daily. I witnessed the news broadcast about the turtle today.

During the day, they will even peer through a mini-telescope from their office building overlooking the Hoàn Kiếm lake to see the progress of the mission.

Why is there such great interest over a turtle?

Well, the Hồ Gươm turtle is no ordinary turtle.

According to Vietamese folklore, the Golden Turtle God, Kim Qui, gave a magic sword to Lê Lợi, who became an emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Lê Dynasty.

One day, when the King was out boating on a lake in Hanoi, he saw a large turtle surface. The turtle told the King to return the sacred sword that had helped him defeat the northern Ming aggressors now that peace had returned. Lê Lợi unsheathed his sword and threw it to the turtle, who dove into the depths of the lake. Efforts to find the turtle and sword were unsuccessful. Lê Lợi acknowledged that the sword had gone back to the Kim Qui, and renamed the lake "Hoàn Kiếm" (Lake of Returned Sword).

Given this backdrop, it is not surprising there's so much excitement among the Vietnamese when they see the turtle. In fact, seeing the turtle is supposed to bring them good luck.

What happened to the Hồ Gươm turtle?

The legendary turtle has been injured by red-eared turtles, an exotic species. My Vietnamese friend said these red-eared turtles came from China, and may have been initially adopted as pets, before they were eventually released into the lake.

Pictures of the injured turtle have captured the imagination of the nation. They have revealed injuries on its neck and shell. Scientists have also claimed that it is suffering from fungal infection and pollution.

According to VietNamNet, it is an endangered species. Besides it, there are only three other giant turtles in the world, including one in Hanoi’s Dong Mo Lake, one in Hoàn Kiếm Lake and two in China.

You can read 'The death of the giant turtle in Ngoc Son Temple' for more information about the last giant turtle to die in Hoàn Kiếm in 1967.

Don't miss the cherry blossoms this year!

The cherry blossom festival beckons.

Around this time every year, Japanese waits in eager anticipation of the cherry blossoms (桜 sakura). The cherry blossom festival heralds the arrival of spring, and marks the beginning of the school and business year in Japan.

Starting from last year, thousands of volunteers have taken part in the Sakura Project to track the arrival of the cherry blossoms.

Japanese will lay down blue mats on the grass patches in parks to indulge themselves in their traditional custom of flower viewing (お花見 Ohanami),and drinking sake while viewing the cherry blossoms (花見酒 hanami-zake).

In the video that follows, you can see many mesmerising images of the sakura blossoms from last year.

Cherry trees blossom once a year, and cherry blossoms do not last long.

If you want to catch the cherry blossoms this year in Japan, you have to book your flight and accommodation soon.

They assumed the food was good :P

This was the customer feedback form that triggered it all.
I was so inspired I decided to write a review 'They assumed the food was good :P' on TripAdvisor.

During the process of submitting the review on Khazaana, I was prompted to rate the place. In the process, the link to the image I was trying to upload was dropped.

I failed to notice this, and as a result, the image was not uploaded, even though the review specifically mentioned about the 'offending' picture. :P There's also no way right now for me to refresh the review and upload the picture.

What will you have done if you see the form? Feel free to leave your comments. I will love to hear your views. :)