Batu Ferringhi and Monkey Beach

Batu Ferringhi, situated along the coastal road northwest of Georgetown, is most popular beach in Penang, lined with a string of international-standard hotels and resorts like Rasa Shangrila, Park Royal, The Lone Pine etc...

Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach and enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from banana boat rides, to canoeing and jet-skiing. For a spine-tingling adventure with a pinch of 'crutch' pain, try parasailing to enjoy the view of the beach from the sky. It's definately worth it!

We packed ourselves into a small boatand head our way to Monkey Beach north end of Penang Island. It took about 30 mins to get there. Frankly, I wouldn't have a clue that such an idyallic beach exists.







Monkey Beach, a secluded spot in the northwest of the island, is ideal for quiet picnics under shady casuarinas. The island is filled with lovely flowers which always brings a smile to my face.


Some locals were scrapping sand out to find shellfishes for their dinner. I was told that these shellfishes are really yummy when stir fried with chilli.

Spot the content look on this lady's face with a great smile!

Exploring the Kuan Yin Teng Kong Hock Keong, Temple of the Goddness of Mercy

There are a lot of similarities in Penang that I almost felt that I was brought back to where Singapore used to be many years back before. It sure brings back many good memories. It's such a pity that my camera went out of battery so fast. Otherwise, I would had taken even much more pictures.

Oh well, this is the best that I could get.

I got out of the car and saw this old fashion coin parking lot machine. I don't think this is even working anymore because nobody uses it!

Just across the road, I spotted this beautiful wooden green door. The color and the old worn look of the wall just complement the door so well. Yes! I know it's kinda odd to say that.

I had the opportunity to explore the the Kuan Yin Teng Kong Hock Keong, Temple of the Goddess of Mercy. The temple is located at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street), George Town. For those who like to explore this temple, please ensure that you are comfortably dress with light cotton shirts as it is a bakery inside the temple.

The constant burning incenses and offerings makes the entire temple a constant challenge to grasp for fresh air. The ventilation inside the temple which was suppose to help circulate the air does not work so be prepared to sweat it out!


We head off to a small store around the corner of the temple to buy some offerings. Here's a list of checklist of what you need to buy:

1. 2 packs of incenses
2. Huge, giant incenses (optional) - I was told by my friends that they would like to make a 'huge' offering and they had bought this at a price of RM12! It is important that their names are written on a piece of pink paper so that 'Kuan Yin' will know that you had given that offering. 'Just like giving ang bao at wedding so they know you have given it!' quoted from Keith! Hahahahahah!

Check out this HUGE incense above! It is almost as big as me!

These giant striking red incenses stood outside the temple as an offering to the deities.

By way of background, this temple was orginally dedicated to Ma Chor Po, the patron saint of seafarers but now this is a dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and it is a very populor temple among the local community.



The official name of the Kuan Yin Teng is actually Kong Hock Keong, which means, "Temple of the Cantonese and Hokkien community". In short, this means for "everybody's temple". I had realised that most of the Chinese here speaks Hokkien but a very different type of Hokkien from what I usually hear in Singapore.


Keith and Cecilia praying for blessings of good health and prosperity.....


A Penang Chinese lady praying intently .......

Penang

The name "Penang" comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means island of the betel nut tree (Areca catechu), family Palmae. In Chinese, Penang is known as 檳城 (pinyin: Bīnchéng / Bīngchéng). All three names can refer either to the island of Penang, the state of Penang or sometimes the state capital, George Town.

Penang is also popularly known as the "Pearl of the Orient"and 東方花園 in Chinese.

Penang has got great yummy food! I had a great time having Yum Cha with my good friends who happnen to be here in Penang as well. This place serves really yummy food that is out of this world.

Here's a look of how popular Yum Cha is in Penang. For those who are interested to have Yum Cha if you are visiting Penang, hop in a cab and tell the taxidriver to send you to Georgetown. The name of the restaurant is called Restoran Zim Sim, 35 Jalan Anson.

Check out the address on the back of this heavyset waitress. :) Well, this means that I can only indulge such a luxury once in a blue moon. Otherwise, I won't be able to fit into my dresses!



You won't believe how cheap and good are the food here in Penang. For a pax of 4, the total bill for this meal is only RM51!!!! Here's a some great glorious food that will set your mounth watering big time!!!! Yum Yum!!!!!