After 3 days of travelling,I'm back at home.This time,Kuala Perlis and Penang Island are the places I visited.
Kuala Perlis
While most of you guys don't know where's Kuala Perlis,I snapped it down and hope this will bring some light to you.
Yup yup,this is where we board on the ferry and leave for Pulau Langkawi.
Getting there spent 10 hours for us,as we're convoying on an average 100kph only.The road from Melaka to K.L. and the earlier Upper North-South highway is alright but when it hit Simpang Pulai,it's scenic!Imagine you're going over the mountains and there're lots of curves on it,I'd reckon it's the best highway route I ever drove by up to date.
Here're some pics to share.
The Rocky Mountain.
The scenery.
The tunnel near Jelapang,Kedah.Once the longest tunnel in Malaysia,measuring 800 metres.
0000hr,we reached!A piece of advice for hardcore drivers that wish to drive long journey-Prepare RedBull,Livita kind of energy drinks,Sticks of chewing gums and some mints to blow up your mouth like Fisherman's Friend.
It's a small town with a Jetty that commute tourists thru&fro Pulau Langkawi.Budget Inns and backpackers' lodges are also common here as tourist could have a good night rest before going to P. Langkawi.
Food here are cheap but not really up to standard.Among all,there's this shop that sells mix-vege rice that have 1 special species of fish in their menu--Sharks' curry.
Picture this,it cost just about rm2,to take away endanger species' life.How would you feel?*insert your answer here*.Right,actually hunting for sharks aren't actually what it seemed to be.Why?It's because the fisherman there uses a kind of net which has smaller gap in between to catch more sea creatures and for the fact that the size of sharks are bigger,they're easily trapped inside hence the availability of sharks cuisine.
Padi field.
After food and posing for cousin's grad. photos,we left,to the next stop.
Penang
The first thing that came to my mind is the food!As well as the status,Straits Settlement.From the two statements there,I set my goal--To have the greatest local cuisine and to tour the UNESCO certified city.
Getting from K.Perlis to Georgetown took us 2 hours,as the people carrier that ferries us isn't in a very good shape and is only capable of doing 120kph all the way.Nevertheless,we reached safely and went through the 'once upon the time longest bridge'-Penang Bridge and it cost us rm7 to use the bridge thru&fro.
Next stop,lodging.The place that hold us for the night.
Still,it's a crap hotel with lots and lots of dispute.
Having checked in into the hotel,we went checking out the places.
First stop-Bukit Bendera
It was built by the English on 1923 as they were seeking for a cool hideout place in a tropic and they found Bukit Bendera.Commuting to the hill top was made easy when they introduce the slanting cable car which uses man-power at first.
The roundabout.If you look closely,you could see the tracks on the rail in the middle of the hill.
ALERT!Train Ahead.
Who says only Subang got AC,Penang also got ma.
Next,Gurney Drive Hawker Center
Penang Fried Kuey Tiaw,Prawn Mee,Fried Oyster,Penang Rojak,Penang Laksa and etc.
Wondering what's the flag on top of the hawker's stall symbolize?
Ok,I don't know as well but my wild guess tells me that they're 'shield' by some of the gangs there.
Nightlife in Penang-Jalan Pinang,this is the place where lots of clubs and bars are located.On a typical Saturday night,people here are blasting their car stereos as well as going bonkers in clubs.
P/S:Clubs here are using per head basis as well,either you pay a cover charge of rm25(inclusive of one house pouring--drafts beer,vodka,gin and etc or soft drinks.)or hard liqour basis.
The Atmosphere.
The next morning.
Fort Cornwillis,the fort that Mr. Cornwillis built when he was at Penang.
Penang Cityhall.
Penang Townhall,just beside Cityhall.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.
Typical Penang Beca.
Bla bla bla later,our energy level went low and we decided some local food could come into rescue,hence we move on to one of the must go kopitiam to have our simple yet delicious food.
The Location--Lebuh Keng Kwee.
The Shop--Just beside Jalan Pinang.
Penang Laksa.The soup's just fine,not too sour and the laksa's great.Certified good to eat by 'ho ciak' 8tv.
One of the best chendul of Penang.Just beside the foodstall.
Food later,for our home we left.Once again,I took up the challenge to be man behind the wheel.For driving just after lunch,Mr. Zhou tried his very best to get in touch with me,but I survived ignoring him.How??
iPod,Fisherman's Friend and Livita!!
The Scene.
Later that evening,having needs for our stomach,we stopped at Ipoh for the famous 'Nga Choi Gai'.
The crunchy bean sprout.
The Chicken.
The end came by,when after this particular meal,another 5 hours on the road.
Final Verdict--The upper North side of Malaysia is not really what I'd expected.Penang,has gone through some massive changes and the cost of living there isn't that high compared to Melaka itself and hands down it wins in terms of the preservations of their older aged buildings in comparison to Melaka.It's definately a place that worth your 2~3 days of stay.
Cost.
Car from Melaka to Penang and vice versa--RM100 for toll,RM250 for fuel.(Based on a 2 litre sedan)
Food and Lodging-A budget hotel could cost around rm100~200 and with capability to accomodate 2~3 person,however a lodging hotel could cost lesser.Street foods will cost around rm7 per meal with drinks and snacks.
Cheers.
It's a small town with a Jetty that commute tourists thru&fro Pulau Langkawi.Budget Inns and backpackers' lodges are also common here as tourist could have a good night rest before going to P. Langkawi.
