Short Trip to Penang

Short trips are sometimes good. They leave us with little time to get bored and often, when we realise we are tired, we are almost home. It's been ages since we step foot on Penang Island so whe our Italy trip was cancelled owing to the Icelandic volcano ashes and cancelled flight, we went to Penang and Langkawi instead.

Staying at The Gurney Residence at Gurney Drive was a good decisions as it's very convenient with views of the sea. On our last trip, the view of the sea was rather disappointing, more mud that sea but this time changing weather made the same view a kaleidoscope of colours.

Most of the shots were taken from the bathroom where one can enjoy the view while

showering or taking a bath.

The eateries along Gurney Drive - we decided to give the hawkers at the end a miss this time and tried the others. The mango dessert at this quaint little Malay house on stilts called the Crepe Cottage was the best. It brought back child-hood memories of afternoons visiting my classmates and friends in the Malay kampong nearby.

We also went to this heritage mansion called Cheong Fatt Tze, also known as the Blue Mansion. Decades ago when we stayed with Daddy at the cheap but clean Warldorf Hotel across the road, I remembered seeing this run down old building inhabited by some labourers.

Wardorf Hotel with the little old shops which were Cheong's servants' quarters but

are now upmarket restaurants

This multimillionaire Cheong was a big shot with 8 wives and tons of dough and international connections, and this was his favourite house built for his youngest wife and son. But unlike the Chinese saying that wealth cannot be protected handed down for more than three generations, his immediate heirs could not even protect it for one generation and the place became derelict and was destined to be demolished. Fortunately, some Penangnite who appreciated the value of the building managed to salvage and restore it to its former glory. Who could foresee that his success, wealth and glory would be in vain he was once gone!

Below are the rickshaws used for transport and pulled manually

Another ruin of a school with Komtar in the background. The school's name is familiar, I'm sure Mum mentioned it before but I'm not sure if she went there. It's so sad when we come across something and wish we could ask some body, only to realise that the loved one had passed away and we will never be able to talk to them again.

This Thai temple in Burmah Road houses the famous sleeping Buddha.

Local pancake store outside coffeeshop. Everyone waited patiently for ages in the light drizzle for their turn. Penang logic is : anything worth eating involves some hardship and inconvenience so the longer the queue, the more people will want to buy.

The Two Timing Charmer

One day, he just appeared at our doorstep, whined and charmed and soon wheedled his way into our hearts. We spent time talking to him, bought him nice stuff, fed him with the best which he didn't quite appreciate and waited each day for him to make his appearance. On the rare occasions when he didn't appear at meal times, we become worried. Once or maybe twice, he went missing and when we found him, he was badly hurt because of a fight. We had to get medical treatment for his leg which was bandaged and prevent him from going out, something which he didn't like at all. All of which costs $$$$ as he's got no money of his own.

Now he comes and go as he pleases although he's always quite punctual at mealtimes. He even leaves the house in front of our very eyes despite our pleas for him to stay home. On other occasions, he tries to prevent me from leaving the house by sitting on my car.

One day, this woman came to our house and claimed the he was hers but owing to some disturbance and fights, the coward left home and they were frantic, going all over the place looking for him. He greeted her in front of me but didn't follow her when she called him.

From then on, we kept a lookout for where he went and became more suspicious. I found out that he goes to the house across the road which was used as an office of an advertising agency to chitchat and charm the ladies each afternoon teatime. Soon, they even have to audacity to shout for him across the road. He also disappear from the back of the house, sometimes climbing over the wall but even to-date, I have no idea where he goes to.

Nowadays, we find that he doesn't eat very much and tend to leave his food unfinished. Despite all that, his belly is growing. A few weeks ago, we found out that he's actually been sneaking out to lunch to his original home down the road. Not only, that he has also been sleeping there without our knowledge because he seems to be home early in the morning and late at night. Of course if we come home late at night, he will come to us, quite out of breath and sometimes if it's raining, he'll be slightly wet. Been sleeping around, eh? The two timing or maybe three timing animal!

In a way, it's a relief to share him with others and good that he's sleeping at some other beds since we do not let him into the house. What ever it is, we are grateful for the joy he'd brought into our lives and most happy to share him with everyone around.

Thank You Ah Meow!