5D 4N @ Sitiawan & Pulau Pangkor Trip - Day 1

Happy New Year 2018~

This will be my first entry of the year 2018, therefore I would like to post about my recent last minute trip which suggest by my husband in conjunction of our wedding anniversary. Hahahaha~ Honestly speaking about this is our first time to Pangkor Island, I was quite surprise that he never been there?! Let cut the story short ok, let go!!~

As I waking up quite late and preparing for the last minute trip, therefore, we had our brunch before start our journey. We had brunch at Damanasara Uptown, around 10:30am, and we are lucky to find a parking which directly in front of this shop called Wan Xiang Noodles. Since we do not have anything particular to eat therefore, LET TRY~

Mix Pork Noodle Soup - RM9.00

This place is famous  with Kolok Mee, which is from Kuching, Sarawak. Since I am not a fan of Kolok mee, I took the Mix Pork Mihun Noodle soup, as you can see the pork portion is quite generous till I can see my noodles. The pork slice and others pork intestine is cook till perfection. I think maybe that I am too hungry which I finish the whole bowl of noodle in less than 10 minutes. The bill come to RM18.80 for 2 bowls of noodle and 2 glasses of water. is it expensive? I shall let you decide~ 

After brunch, we started to pack and plan our journey. Checking the highway traffic, weather condition, vehicle condition and etc. We leave to hit the road around 1:30pm. Since we started our journey quite late, therefore we decided to stay one night at Sitiawan, Perak. After an hour drive, we stop by Starbucks at R&R Rawang.

Lunch set - RM15.00 

after a break, we continue hit the road, as shown in Waze the traffic is quite slowing moving. Well, since is a school holiday, is as expected. The traffic build up after Slim River. We followed the Waze direction to exit via Gopeng.

Gopeng Sign

When we pass by Kellie's Castle is around 3:30pm, it was so hot and sunny day. I would rather skip the visit as I been to castle once and is nothing inside besides I don't like when the place is so crowded with peoples. 

Pass by Kellie Castle 

We reached Sitiawan, Perak around 4:30pm and check-in to the hotel to have a rest first. I forget to take a picture of the Hotel and the room since we are too tired from the journey. The hotel we check-in is Hi-star hotel, which is quite new and just directly opposite of Econsave. I book the through Expedia website and it cost around RM65 per room / night. Quite affordable right? 

Around 7pm, I was quite hungry since I only had noodle for brunch. After going through where and what to have dinner, I had decided to try Amu Coconut Villa Seafood Restaurant, which located at kampung cina. It  only took us around 15 minute drive from our hotel.

Red Wine Mee Suah (rice noodle) 

Coconut and Fried Potato Leaves 

Oyster Omelet and steam Sting Ray Nyonya Style 

Well, since only 2 of us eating and honestly this restaurant no menu and they just tell you what they have and what available only. Based on the recommendation therefore, I had ordered the above menu. Overall, the food is just OK and I was quite surprise as this is my first time having steam Stingray. I was expected them to grilled or maybe fried the fish before cook with the sauces?! We also ordered 2 coconuts and 1 white rice, the billed come up to RM57.00 for the meal. 

After dinner, we went to the nearby outdoor Bazaar at Aeon Mall Sri Manjung for a walk.
That end my first day trip in Sitiawan, Perak, and the next day, we will be traveling to Pangkor Island. 

Charcoal Noodles @ Little Wonton Cafe, TTDI

I was surprise that is a noodle shop above the 99 Speedmart at Lorong Rahim Kajai, TTDI.

Since it shop names is Wonton (means small dumpling in Chinese), therefore, I am expecting that they will be serving authentic Chinese egg noodles soup/dry with wonton either fried or soup. Guess what, we got it all wrong... 

This cafe is nothing as like I expected (I refer to the menu), cause they serve charcoal noodle in few different favor from soup to dry and the wanton also have 2 type which are salty or sweet. Interesting right? 

Modern Chinese and Fusion decoration

The atmosphere is cozy and clean

We had to order at the counter, and since we are only 2 pax, so we opt to have the set dinner for 2, which included, 2 bowl of noodle, 8 pieces of wanton and 2 drinks for RM30 nett. As for the price, I think is quite reasonable to try and it was quite pack after we reach where there are more youngster dine in as well.

Prawn Noodle soup (left top) and Curry Noodle (left bottom)

Banana Caramel wonton (left) and Spinach wonton (right) 

Drink is Ice Lemon Tea

 From the potions and the taste is both thumb up, I really like the noodles and for the wonton, since I am not a fan of fried wonton but I do find it interesting to have tasted something different, as sweet wonton. This place would be bit noisy when there are more customer, and since they only have 1 cashier and waiter, so please be patient on the food serve.

Overall, the food is nice and I do enjoy the charcoal noodle. The wonton is a must try since you don't get to taste the sweet type of wonton everyday. I will definitely to drop by again to try the dry noodles next time.   

  

Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee @ Good View kopitiam

When is the last time you go for a jog or exercise?

Staying healthy is very important but getting lazy is something much easy to be done. Please agree with me...

After a long nice jog in the evening, besides feeling tired and exhausted. I am hungry... 

Thought of not wanting any rice cause it will be quite heavy so I thought of having some noodles. Recommended by my husband that this noodles is super famous in Sekysen 17, so we drove there and hope that famous hokkien mee is available. For those who been grow up in KL, hokkien mee means the fried big fat noodle and black in color. As a Penang-Lang (my husband), hokkien noodle = prawn noodle in KL.

Maybe due to I grow up eating both Hokkien Mee and Loh Mee, therefore, my expectations for this fried Hokkien noodles is extremely high. Besides the pork lard, sauce, the most important ingredient is the big fat yellow noodle. You can never replace it with any other noodles cause it will taste totally different. Back to this kopitiam I went, reach there at 8pm and the kitchen told us the waiting time is 45mins?! OMG !? no choice, just agree and be a good girl and wait.

The kitchen - looking for the charcoal~ ^^

The different between normal fried Hokkien Mee and the charcoal fried Hokkien Mee is just due to the burn smell and taste. Using the charcoal to fried Hokkien Mee is normally means having the higher temperature to cook the broth and noodles and you might get some burn smell and taste bit sweet bitterness from the plate of noodles.

After waited for 30 minutes, my Hokkien Mee arrived first, while my husband still waiting for his fried 'Ying Yong' noodles. Ying yong, basically is the mixed of both vermicelli and Kway Teow noodles. If I not mistaken, this is a Cantonese type of fried noodles with lots of gravy. 

Kong Fu Ying Yong Noodle - RM8

Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee - RM8

Now, let comment about the taste, erm...I love my fried Hokkien Mee, since it do taste like what I had expected. No wonder they were sold out by 9pm, I saw lots of patron coming to take away than dine-in here. Well, it might due to the weekend after all. As for the Ying Yong, is just normal and nothing special or to be highlighted. But curiosity, is the Ying yong also charcoal fried too?

Overall, for the price we had been paying and the time spending for waiting, I think if maybe the chances for me to come back again might be very slim. But I might come back again if I really craving for the Hokkien Mee or when I wanted to try the Loh Mee next time.

4D 3N @ Hatyai & Penang Trip ~ Day 3&4

I had been super lazy lately, therefore, now I will continue my blog for Hatyai & Penang trip.

Please start your reading from the Day 1 and then continue to Day 2.

Well at Day 3, is actually the shortest since we have to travel to Penang from Hatyai by minivan. Most of our time is wasted at the journey and it took us like 5 hours to reach Penang. We woke up as early as 8am and had our simple breakfast opposite the place we stay. 

Opposite The Bed hotel 

We had our breakfast next to the seven-eleven which shown in the picture.

Since the minivan going to pick us up at the bed hotel at 9am, therefore having a quick breakfast from nearby is the only option for us. Since in a rush, I did not manage to snap of pic of our breakfast. However, I still will share the cost of our breakfast is 100THB, which include a pack of fried 'youtio', a bowl of noodle soup and a glass of coffee.

After check-out, we waited at the Bed hotel for 20 minutes before the minivan arrive. Haiz... it late ler, is it because of the time different?! after picking us up, the minivan going around other place to pick up more passenger. We leaving to Penang around 10:30am, then travelling to border of Thailand which taken around half hour there queuing. By the time we finally reach Penang, Komtar is at 3pm. OMG~ this is super long and I was so regret that maybe we should consider taking a flight instead... (but it won't be budget anymore....)

Having some friends in Penang do helps as she will be bring us around and continue with our food hunt. Since we are yet having any lunch, as soon as we reach Penang, our friends quickly bring us to some nice food.

from top left - famous teochew cendol, chai kueh, chee cheong fun

bottom left - char kuey tiew and asam laksa

When one person is hungry, he or she will.... order all the food available, eating and tasting all the available food and no talking or complaint about the food. Am I right? that is what happen to us while consume all the above food. As expected form the Penang road famous cendol, all the food is super delicious especially the cendol, all thumb up. Since the weather is super hot in Penang, having one of this cendol is like bringing me back to an heaven... (I think this is abit....- too much drama?)

The room for 4 pax

The view from the room and bathroom

Thanks for the help from our friend, she help us to book a big room with two king size bed. Cool right? Curious on where we stay? R-Residence at Gelugor, Penang. If I not mistaken, the room rate is at RM200 per night for the above room. To be honest, this is not a hotel or inn, basically is an corner lot Banglow, that converted to homestay. We do enjoy this place as it like a hostel which you can share the facility in the living room, kitchen and even car porch. Is not a bad place to stay over all.

After taken shower and rest, now is dinner time. From now on, my friend lead us to the best food in Penang and she even paid for all the food therefore, I had no idea where and how much is every meal cost. I was so touch and even feel bad since she had become our driver and even by us meal.

The market and the church in town

Pass by some cafe and shops

This seem to a popular place, and we are here for the wan tan mee

From R-residence to the town is about 20mins. I realize that parking is always an issue in Penang, as we had to park our car quite a distance to walk to Campbell street for the wan tan mee. The noodle is not bad but bit messy. Compare to the one I normally had in KL, is the chili and wan tan (soup) is separated and the sauces is bit dry.

Who said noodle can keep you full, so second round dinner is travelling all the way to another end of Penang which reach Bayan Lepas, Pisa Corner cafe. As you can see from the picture below, this is quite a happening place, and I can see there is lots of food stalls = more variety food.

The view of Pisa Corner Cafe

White Curry and Honey BBQ Chicken

Fried Oyster Omelette 

How can stop eating when you at Penang? now thinking back is like a food marathon here. After finish the second round dinner... guess what? time for supper!? hahaha~ is true... we tapao some food back and bought a 3 bottles of beer to continue happy hour at our room. Having a place where you can access and have the plate, spoon and fork, glass and others utensil is cool.

Apam, Satay, Roti Canai and Beer~ CHEERS!!!

Sleeping with the tummy full, this is how I get fat in Penang. I really duno how and when we fall asleep but we really have a nice sleep till the morning. So here come the day 4~

We planned to have breakfast at Toh Soon cafe but... what a luck~

CLOSED - OMG

What a bad luck we had... so change planned. Now my friend bring us to another famous cafe... 

Famous of lots rich people and political people use to have their coffee and tea here. This place name is... Kedai Kopi Kong Thai Lai. 

Nasi lemak and Coffee

Tea for me and Roti bakar and Steam roti

An authentic breakfast for local, the tea is nice since I don't take coffee and I had the nasi lemak and a slice of kaya butter roast bread. I not use to have the steam type of bread which I feel a bit too much yeast smell. My friends had the half boiled egg, which is not my favorite >>> scare of high cholesterol. 

After the breakfast, we have to check out by 12pm, therefore, we had everything pack and ready to go off as our flight back to KL is in the evening 6pm. We enjoy our stay and even made some friends in the home-stay. First thing after check-out will be... FOOD again? seriously?! Lunch time...

My friend wanted to drive us to the famous Asam Laksa in Balik Pulau... but guess what?! CLOSED

Again, we set for another alternative shop available there.

Asam Laksa, Nutmeg Drink, Popia and Fried Belacan chicken

We know Balik Pulau is famous with durian, however, we are too early for the season. Therefore, we finally set for the local kampung durian instead. Well, at least we had the durian at Balik Pulau. Mission accomplished... hahahaha~

Local Kampung Durian - RM15/Kg

Well, if I remember correctly is around RM15 or RM17 per kg. Since mostly the food is my friends paying so I really very much appreciate it. So touch with the hospitality provided and even keep on treating us meal by meal. No wonder I can gain 3kg after this trip. From Balik Pulau to Penang airport is around 30mins drive, but the three of us is already super sleepy with the stomach full. We reach the airport around 4pm and slowly taking our time to check in and waiting for our flight back KL. 

Overall, This 4D 3N Hatyai & Penang Trip is enjoyable and all of us is really enjoy eating lots until we totally forget about getting fat. Every time when we travel is always time flies therefore, we had to enjoy till fullest. That is life~ No waste and no turn back time... so continue step forward and explore the world!!! 

Cheers~