Coffee With Kevin

Does it hurt? You decide.....

2012-02-12T20:00:00.000+08:00

Recently Penang just celebrated Thaipusam. This is my first year to go shooting Thaipusam since I have owned my camera. I don't actually know much about Thaipusam but will do my best to explain to you what Thaipusam is.

Thaipusam is the feast of the son of Shiva, Lord Subramaniam. It's usually celebrated annually, In January or February. Usually it is a 3 days celebration.

Who is Lord Subramaniam?
Lord Subramaniam is the universal granter of wishes. All those who wish to ask for a future favor or fulfill a vow in return for a granted favor pray to him. Basically all Hindus will fall into one of these groups.

Who can be the devotees?
You can see Hindu Tamil and Chinese and other devotees gather in Penang to celebrate Thaipusam.

What do devotees do at this festival?
Each person shows devotion in a different manner. Some devotees will hang limes from their flesh with fish hooks and some devotees will pierce their tongues and cheeks. It's kind of scary when you see the piercing process. Does it hurt?

Of course, not all Hindus find it necessary to go to these extremes. I believe some will just offer prayers from the heart. You will see many people who have their heads shaved.

Thaipusam is not a simple traditional ritual. This was an intense demonstration of belief and devotion. Usually thousands of people attend this event in Penang every year. Tourists flock to see the colors, noises and activities of Thaipusam. It's crowded and it starts very early. I was there about 6.30am and there were already many devotees and people gathered. At Thaipusam, parades and rituals are held across the country with devotees performing ceremonial acts at different locations. The most famous being Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur where more than 1million people gather on Thaipusam each year. There are free drinks and food at the events which are sponsored by different companies, hotels etc....

Ok! This is all I know about Thaipusam. Many people who have lived in Penang also still do not know what Thaipusam is all about. I hope you enjoy my photos.

Penang A Visual Delight

2011-11-14T20:23:00.001+08:00

As I have recently returned from travelling in the USA, I wondered what it would be like for someone to visit Penang, my hometown and with limited time, what would a day look like.... so here is a day in Penang.

I start early and what better place but the market in Pulau Tikus. Already there is a busy crowd and loud noisy voices of locals and house-keepers buying fresh produce. There are many local varieties of fresh fruit as well as imported ones from overseas. The meat and fish areas are full of noisy chatter and the spice ladies are ready with their aromatic wares. Breakfast and a bowl of Hokkien Mee (Prawn Noodles) and a Kopi 'O' (Black Coffee) is the go. A sample of the multi-colored kuih (local dessert) completes my morning meal.

A short walk down Jalan Burmah brings me to Lorong Bangkok, a street that has a magnificent row of historical houses on both sides. One could imagine life here 100 years ago! A quiet walk and a right turn take me to another street that assails the senses, visually, auditorily and olfactorily. Two Buddhist temples line the street facing each other. The Thai one is richly colored and features the reclining Buddha whilst the Burmese one is a more leafy and tranquil place.

After an hour or so wandering around the temple and in quiet contemplation, I catch the Rapid Transit bus towards the centre of Georgetown. Air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi are available. I alight at the restored hotel, Eastern & Oriental. The walk inside takes me back to earlier times in Penang and the atmosphere of refined elegance. The bookshop is a fascinating place to spend some time and money if you wish a souvenir. If you wish, after a morning tea, a visit to nearby Cheong Fatt Tze is possible.

A short retracing of my steps will also bring me to the cemetery that is a font of historical information about the early colonists, including Governor Light. The pungent perfume of the Frangipani trees makes the cemetery a sensual, as well as historical experience. Across the road is the restored mansion #32. Two restaurants are housed here and whilst I admire the restrained opulence of the formal dining room, I decide to have lunch with a view of the sea. Beach Blanket Babylon is a casual romantic setting with sails protecting clients from the heat of the sun. The local food is accompanied by a cocktail!

Once again on the bus I note the historic buildings of Convent, St. Xavier’s and the museum. I alight at Armenian Street and am fascinated at how the restored buildings are being used as art galleries and boutique shops. After a short stroll I find myself on Harmony Street, so called because of the close siting of the Hindu temple, the Mosque, the Anglican Church and the Goddess of Mercy temple. My attention is drawn to the iron braziers and the smoke fumes heavy with incense. I also note the cages of small birds waiting to be purchased and released.

I go around the rear of the temple and witness how some of the older buildings in Penang are being restored and made practical for modern use, such as cafes, boutique hotels, even flashpackers! in Muntri Street. A quick coffee revives me as I walk along the old streets onto Penang Road and see the large tower Komtar, named after a former Prime Minister.

I have a short wander through the mall and shops before catching the bus north to the beach hotels. My ride takes me through the residential streets onto the beach road. I pass through areas that were swamped by the Tsunami, only to be amazed at the reclamation of land and new housing.

The bus takes me to Batu Ferringhi and I choose to have a fresh coconut drink sitting on the beach watching the sunset and reflecting on the full and interesting day in Penang.

Vegetable Stall

Fish Stall

Dessert Stall

Burmese Temple

Thai Temple

Penang Char Koay Teow

2011-08-21T19:03:00.002+08:00

As I woke this morning I found myself craving for one of Penang's most famous dishes- Char Koay Teow. Such a thought made my mouth watery as I recall the many times I have eaten this delicious dish . My first time was as a child and I was brought to a roadside Char Koay Teow stall by my grandma. I recall the smells, the sounds of the sizzling wok and the pungent smokey fumes. I also can smell the dust from the roadside. HAHA!!

I now know that Char Koay Teow is one of the dishes that are in the Penangites' minds even when they are living away from Penang. Many of these returning to Penang will request that several serves of this dish be available on arrival for consumption.

What is Char Koay Teow?

Char is "Stir" in English
Koay Teow is a type of rice noodle like Fettucine except it's softer than Fettucine.
A good Char Koay Teow will have ingredients such as cockles, Chinese salami(Lap Cheong), beans sprouts, egg and shrimps.

When this dish was first invented pork lard was extensively used and this is how Char Koay Teow got a reputation for being unhealthy. The dish had a high fat content and was low cost so was atrractive to labourers. It was a cheap source of energy and nutrients for them. Today there are many variations both within Penang and in other parts of Malaysia and the ingredients and taste does vary markedly.

What does it tastes like?
Char Koay Teow can taste salty to spicy or even extreme spicy.

What it smells like?
To me sometimes it smells like burnt wok and that's the best Char Koay Teow to me. A brand new wok can't cook Char Koay Teow to the perfection expected by those who know this dish. Usually I won't eat Char Koay Teow from a brand new open food court because I know it won't taste good; several months will have to pass before I will try this dish!
Ok so you have found yourself with friends in a brand new open food court, how are you going to spot a good Char Koay Teow?
Usually I will try to stop by in front of the stall and smell it. If I pass by and don't smell the choking fumes, I will just forget about the stall and move on. Second method is I observe how busy is the stall. If busy, this stall usually will have a good Char Koay Teow.

Like so many of the Penang dishes there are a range of opinions as to where you can get the best one and arguments arise as to what constitutes a good Char Koay Teow.
For an example can a Char Koay Teow be considered a great dish if there is no pork fat used in the cooking? Does a dish cooked halal, that is without the pork fat, taste right? Well I have tried this dish in many locations in Penang from the roadside to food courts to restaurants and even 4 star hotels. Some of my most memorable ones were at Lorong Selamat where you have to wait to be served. Nothing is prepared beforehand, the 'Song River' coffee shop in Gurney Drive and the one in Burmah road near the Pulau Tikus market. Surprising to me was the fine dish served up 'Halal' at the Parkroyal hotel. It certainly stands up for me as one of the best in Penang.

Do you know what is "Halal" means?
You may google it for your better understanding. HEHE!!!

You might see different spelling of Char Koay Teow such as Char Kwai Teow and Char Kuey Teow and they are all the same as long as you are in Penang.

Nero and Chi Chi

2011-08-16T22:52:00.004+08:00

Living in a hot tropical island such as Penang brings challenges to what in a more temperate and cool climate presents none. Having pets has always been one of the joys of my life and I am fortunate that I am able to have several even though I live in this climate and also in a condominium. I would love to have dogs yes more than one and have a yard to let them run and for me to play with them. Whilst that is not possible in the present situation I believe that I have been fortunate to have the pets that I now look after. I believe strongly in the work of the SPCA, animal shelters and do try to support their humane work.

So what pets do I have? Firstly there is my cat Nero. He is a neutered brown short haired cat and was only 10 months old when I adopted him as a pet at SPCA Penang.Such a good companion he greets me on my return from work, and follows me around my condo.

He also goes to the door to farewell me when I go to work. Nero is the first cat that I see for myself that doesn't eat fish or chicken. Nero only eats dry food. Nero is a very friendly cat., who will not scratch you or bite you if you accidentally step on his tail. Nero always loves to hide. I play hide and seek with him and often find him curled up in one of my closed drawers on my clothes.

Ohh!! Let me tell you why I choose Nero. When I am looking at so many cats in SPCA, Nero was in the first cage and what I notice is his long tail. I asked the SPCA worker to open the door so that Nero can come out and play with me. Nero came out slowly and he came to me and bit my finger gently whilst I am stroking him. Somehow I feel good with Nero and he appeared to attach to me and so I adopted him. After a few days I brought Nero home and he quickly started to explore my house, his new home. He excitedly jumped up and down and sniffed all the furniture. After that I realised that Nero was continually biting my finger gently because he was hungry so I fed him. I was learning about Nero as he was settling into my life. Nero's name was given by his previous owner and I just kept this name as there is no necessity to change his name. I also wrote a story about Nero and shared it with SPCA Penang.
You may read that story at this site (http://www.spca-penang.net)
Ok so this is my first pet, now I will tell you about my second pet.

A second more unusual pet of mine is a prairie dog called Chi Chi that I found Toby's Pet Shop. Chi Chi was together with another six prairie dogs. Chi Chi is not really a dog like you might imagine. Chi Chi belongs to the rodent family such as the Hamster or Guinea Pig. When I first got Chi Chi, he is only 4 months old and his life is in my hand at that time. He look exactly like a big hamster. The prairie dog originally came from Texas, USA where they live in the prairie so that is why they are called Prairie Dogs. I liked Chi Chi at first sight pet. I am really surprised as I don't even know what type of animal he is at first.

Although Chi Chi has a room for himself he lives in a large cage. He eats rabbit food and he is only allowed out of his cage when monitored because he might chew the cables and wires. Chi Chi needs a lot of attention. He wants you to stroke him and he can just lay on your lap for hours. He will fall asleep while you stroke him. Chi Chi is very protective and territorial. I have read articles about prairie dogs that said that prairie dogs can be very aggressive with strangers. At that time, I was laughing and I asked myself...how can this little cutie Chi Chi protect me and be seen as aggressive? One day when I had a party in my house i introduced my pets to the guests and that's the moment I said "WOW".

Why "WOW"?
This is the first time for me to see that Chi Chi can be so aggressive to my friends. He was just like a KING KONG. Biting the cage, shaking the cage and making weird noises. I did not dare put my fingers inside his cage as I know he will chew it off in no time. What I read from the article was actually correct. Don't judge a prairie dog by its size......
Chi Chi recognize his master, and gets along well with Nero. Chi Chi always tries to steal Nero's food. Nero hss not got a problem with that.

Although there are some specific challenges in having pets in Penang there are many rewards and the pets seem to thrive as long as they are well cared for and shown affection..
Next, I will tell you about my fish tank and my ferret!

Penang Hair Cut

2011-08-11T17:54:00.000+08:00

Whilst having my hair cut now, I decided to blog about the experience of having a hair cut in Penang. A hair cut in Penang can be as cheap as RM5.00 or as expensive as RM50.00 based on my hair cut experience. Let me tell you what's the difference between a RM5.00 and a RM50.00 hair cut.

What is a RM5.00 hair cut?
A RM5.00 hair cut can usually be found at an Indian barber shop. At the Indian barber shop the hair cut will range in price from around RM5.00 to a maximum of RM10.00. The lower price you pay does not include a hair wash. The Indian barber will just cut your hair and that's it. Some Indian barbers will give you a neck and shoulder massage. Some require RM1.00 extra for the massage. The Indian barber may also have a shaving service and that will also be an additional charge. No fancy equipment will be used in the Indian barber. The Indian barber does not have a machine to perm your hair like you find at the hair studio, but you may see some ancient tools that the Barber will use to shave and cut your hair. Lots of my western foreign friends and my Italian work expatriates including my manager will go to the Indian barber shop for their hair cut. These haircuts are just so cheap compared to the prices in their home country.

What is RM50.00 hair cut?
A RM50.00 hair cut is usually available at shopping mall, in a hair studio and high-end hair salon. The price range usually from RM30.00 to RM50.00. There is hairstylist grading such as Junior, Senior and Director. In these high-end hair studios, a male hairstylist will usually cut male hair and a female hairstylist will cut female hair. Before you have your hair cut, the staff will wash your hair and while washing your hair they will give you a head and neck massage. Once the hair washing is omplete and you are feeling relaxed after the massage, they will dry your hair by hair blower and then they will leave the rest to your favorite hairstylist. Many wellpaid people will expect the director to cut their hair. For those who still study and want an up to date hairstyle, they will usually choose the Junior or Senior to have their hair cut. Once you have your hair cut, the staff will wash your hair once more then blow dry your hair so that you can go shopping or hang out with friends right away. These kinds of hair salon and studio will have the latest machines and equipment to treat your hair. A true hair spa.

Which one do I usually go to?
Of course I will choose the hair studio. I pay between RM35.00 and RM40.00 for my hair cut. The hair studio's technique of cutting my hair is more consistent and I want my hair to look good on me. They also have more hairstylists in a hair studio so I don't have to wait for a long time to enjoy my hair cut.

A RM35.00 to RM40.00 per hair cut, Expensive?
Yes, it quite expensive but it also depends how you calculate them. If RM40.00 divided by 30days so each day only RM1.33 per day, not bad!

Alright, this is what I experienced so far and the final decision is up to you. Have a hair cut in a studio? or have a hair cut in a Indian barber shop? Maybe try both.

Penang Durian

2011-08-09T19:44:00.001+08:00

In a previous blog I mentioned the King of Fruits the Durian. This fruit has gained a reputation that divides people. Hotels ban its entry and Europeans often are repelled by the aroma to such an extent that they will not even venture to try it.

What is a Durian?

A brown-green oval shaped shell that is spiky to touch. I am not sure why it is spiky but perhaps it stops some animals from eating the fruit. Even though it is spiky, Durian still is the squirrel's favorite fruit. Local people believe that the Durian which is eaten by the squirrel is the best Durian as this animal knows the fruit that tastes the best. The Durian grows in tall trees in many South-East Asian countries. It varies in size and taste and pungency of aroma.

The spiky exterior does not give an indication of what delicacy is contained within. Using a sharp knife/machete the shell is split and prised open to reveal segments each separated by a fibrous membrane. Lying delicately are perhaps 2 or 3 creamy yellow flesh covered seeds. The seed is removed and placed in the mouth and a smooth textured creamy fruit is enjoyed.

The aroma? For some it is such an important part of the eating for others they are put off. 'Ho liao' say those who love the fruit and who can name the different varieties with their particular codes and characteristic tastes. As with all food in Penang you will get as many "best one" as you ask people. What does Durian taste like? Does Durian taste like its aroma? There are two common flavors you will normally find at a Durian stall. The first flavor will be bitter, the second sweet. Some people even say Durian can taste like alcohol too! Maybe you can tell me what Durian tastes like from the experience on your palate.

As the durian season approaches Penangites are already salivating and are planning their durian eating experiences. Each year there will be one type of Durian that will be chosen as ‘Durian of the Year’and that is a must try in the Durian season. The Chinese say it is 'heaty' so after a feast of the luscious creamy fruit I have to have a 'cooling' one. Often mangosteen is chosen. Itself, a strange looking fruit - purplish hard outer skin with white delicate segments. Also,locals believe that if you put some salt on the Durian shell and mix it with water it can solve the 'heaty-heaty' issue. Durians can be sold from RM1.00 each to RM80.00 each or even higher for the Durian of the year. Nowadays you even can purchase your Durian with a credit card at selected Durian stores. Amazing ah!!

Durian has really become much more available in other ways.

Try durian cakes, or durian ice-cream or as recently reported to me in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Malaysia itself you can enjoy a durian ice blend.

I really like to surprise my guests with vanilla ice-cream whipped with the creamy flesh of the durian fruit. Such a memorable way to end a meal.

Penang Assam Laksa

2011-08-01T21:20:00.000+08:00

Assam Laksa is a sour fish-based soup. Assam or Assam Jawa is the Malay word for tamarind. Tamarind is commonly used to give the stock a sour flavor. Some people will use dried slices of tamarind fruit to make the stock more sour. Modern Malay spelling of Assam is Asam although the spelling 'Assam' is still frequently used. The main ingredients for Assam Laksa consists of shredded fish, normally "kembung" fish or mackerel, and finely sliced vegetables including cucumber, onions, red chillies, pineapple, lettuce, common mint, "daun kesum" (Vietnamese mint or Laksa mint) and pink "bunga kantan" ginger buds. Assam Laksa is normally served with thick rice noodles. The dish is topped with a thick salty shrimp paste. Shrimp paste in Malay is 'petis udang' and in Hokkien is 'hae ko'. In Malays 'Petis' means paste and 'Udang' means shrimp and in Hokkien 'hae' means shrimp and 'ko' means paste. Salty shrimp paste is a must if you want to try the original Assam Laksa taste but if you are allergic to shrimp please avoid the paste.

As a true Penangite, I have a passion for the food that is typical of the island. To eat food such as Assam Laksa I, like most of my friends, am willing to travel around the island. Most of us have a favourite place to eat a particular dish. Yet if you ask ten locals you will hear of ten different places to eat. The dish will vary in its sourness its spiciness and other characteristics that all have different appeal to different people. The most recent Assam Laksa that I ate involved my travelling to Balik Pulau (Back of the Island). The hour journey was worthwhile as I enjoyed a great dish that to me had the right balance of flavours and an aroma that made my mouth water. The look of the dish also pleased my visual sense and added to the enjoyment of the dish. After such a dish what could I eat, the king of fruits Durian, but that is another story.

Penang Hill Sunrise

2011-07-28T23:26:00.002+08:00

Take your time to imagine what this photo will look like in full color instead of sketch! Penang Hill is the most favorite spot for photographers to capture a beautiful 'yolk' shaped sunrise. Whether you are professional or not, you will still able to capture the 'yolk' shaped sunrise.

I can't explain how it looks in a photo. You must see it yourself. I believe when you see this 'yolk' yourself you will say 'WOW'! Penang Hill is also known by the Malay name Bukit Bendera, that is Flaghill. The most convenient way up to the Penang Hill is by means of the Penang Hill Railway, a funicular railway from Air Itam. For those who love hiking, you can go to Botanical Garden to start your hiking experience. Don't be shy to ask others hiker the way up to Penang Hill and you might be lucky can have someone who willing to tell you the story about Penang while you are hiking together. Every Sunday morning around 8am beside Botanical Garden front gate, there will be a lot of cyclist cycling up to Penang Hill and that's very challenging. Penang Hill is also known for its magnificently spectacular panoramic views of Georgetown, the mainland and the Penang Bridge.

Penang Hill is 830 meters high (2, 750 feet) and it's much cooler than in the city below. The best time to visit Penang Hill is early morning. If you decide to shoot a magnificent 'yolk' shaped sunrise, I recommend you catch the first train up. Enjoy the cool and refreshing atmosphere before setting up your camera gear. Sunrise will be around 8AM and please get your camera ready with a steady tripod. Lens filter is needed as the sunrise is so bright.