No Souvenir...Food Aplenty

This trip, we didn't buy any souvenir as this is not the agenda of the tour. Food being the number one target and sight seeing as the little side kick.

On many occasions, we wished we have the stomachs of camel so as not to miss out the many attractions we found on signboards.

This "Fabric Washing Bridge Kay Si Wan Than Mee" which was found immediately after the Laksa "under the tree" in Penang.

This Black Feet Mountain Chicken in Bidor.

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There were also occasional surprises. For example, in Kuala Lipis where credible Chinese food is hard to locate, we found this Low Kwan Restaurant which is in Jason's recommended list. Main attraction is the Patin fish.

There was this impromptu birthday party hoisted at the little lobby of Hutton Lodge, Penang which was totally unexpected. A cake with toothpicks as candles! Thanks for the ingenuity.

Hutton Lodge: Plenty of memories.......

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My special thanks to Hui Min for her generosity for making available the Lexus to make this trip so much more convenient and hassle free. For me, this trip would have been less fun if I were not on the wheel. I thoroughly enjoyed the driving. No hesitation to do it again.

Teochew Chendul, Penang Road

We were there twice. We had wanted to have a final round the morning we left Penang for KL, unfortunately, it was not yet opened.

Even operating by the road side, 5 people were seen manning the store in full uniform. A little shop lot nearby is for those who would like to savour in the comfort of seats and fans away from sunlight.

Alicia was so fond of it that she was eyeing what little left in her sister's bowl after she finished hers!

 

The little shop is proud of the celebrities who have patronized their outlet. Among them is Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang.

Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng
Characters of Phua Chu Kang

Ms. Garmin the Navigator

The West Malaysia trip turned out to be far more interesting and rewarding then expected. With GPS, Ms. Garmin as the navigator, it has set a new standard for land traveling particularly in searching for food and lodging in unknown territory. With Ms. Garmin, tension between spouses would be a thing of the past.

 

"Yup, it's the navigating part that can be contentious. I confess that at one point at the start of the trip, the tension between the navigator and the driver got so bad that tempers were flaring up to breaking point".

The photo and quote above illustrate my point. (Sorry for using the photo without prior permission! ^-^).

Of course, there was moment of distress when Ms. Garmin failed to perform. One morning in Penang when we were ready to go after breakfast at Hutton Lodge, Ms. Garmin suddenly failed to load the map despite repeated trials. I really had cold sweat. "How are we going to continue the journey and to go back to KL ?". Not to panic, I made a few calls and finally my Garmin supplier called from KK to give me a few hints of solving the problem. After a few pushing of button here and there, the map finally appeared. What a relief! The adventure could resume.

Ms. Garmin is rated to have done a good job of navigating even with occasional interference and rivalry from the 3 ladies - back seat drivers!

I am sure everyone in the trip has thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I have never heard and seen so much laughter from the 3 sisters. Many untold stories of yester-years were revealed for the first time throughout the trip. I was really touched to see the bond they share and that they are still so opened and frank with each other even after all these years! I wish all siblings can be like this.

At Hakka Restaurant, KL

At Km 0, Kuala Lipis. Interestingly, this point which was first established by the British is regarded by tradition as the centre of Peninsular Malaya.

At entrance to Gua Tempurung, Ipoh

At Istana Kenangan, Kualau Kangsar, Perak

At Bidor

Already, there is talk of another similar tour, may be to the east coast up Kelantan and Thai border or even touring New Zealand.

Just wait and see.