Class of 82 ~ Trip to Maxwell Hill, Taiping & USM, Penang

Ten of us started the journey from KL at 8am on Fri, 21 Aug and in approx. 90 minutes, we reached Bidor, our 1st Food Stop at Pun Chun Restaurant to eat Duck Noodle & Yam Cake.
Not up to standard, will skip next time.

Food Stop:The Food Court at Taiping Lake Gardens was not so fantastic either but I had a good cup of Kopi O Ice!

Let's go up the Maxwell Hill;

Where people & time almost stood still;

Never mind the weather, as long as we are together;

Let's go up the Maxwell Hill

(sing to the tune of "The Wild West Show)

Maxwell Hill, Taiping. 1,250 meter above sea-level. The British high-ranking officials used Maxwell Hill as a rest & recreation centre since 1884. It was renamed Bukit Larut in 1979. Before 1948, there was no tarred road and access was mainly by sedan chairs!

We reached the base of Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) at 2.30pm in time for the exciitng, undulating Land Rover Ride up to 1,200 meters at 3pm. Along the way, we see a Tea Garden which is due to open later this year and what a view!!

Maxwell Hill was cool, peaceful & tranquil!

The ladies were so excited that they did the Moulin Rouge!

We have Hi Tea at the Terrace of Kencana Hut. We took 3 family room & 2 doubles and the rates were US$43 (Nett) and US$23 (Nett)- simple rooms but comfortable with Hot Water & Fan.

Post Card Scenery

Kedai Kopi Taman Emas - nice Char Koay Teow!

Food Stop: 1st meal in Penang for lunch - Char Koay Teo lah, what else?

Moon Leng celebrated her Big 5 "O" at Rumah Perut Nyonya Restaurant

Waiting eagerly to check in at the E & O Hotel with large rooms, huge walk-in wardobe and living area, bathroom to accommodate 2 person at a go. E & O Hotel have a promo rate of US$160Nett (incluidng breakfasts fro 2) for Singapore & Malaysian residents

Breakfast by the Sea at E & O Hotel......nice!

Food Stop: Swatow Lane - Enjoying all kinds of hawker fare

Swatow Lane's famous Rojak & Ice Kachang!

Shop where we bought the famous Ipoh Salted Chicken!

At US$4.50 per chicken, it must be selling thousands of chickens per day!!

Penang ~ Pearl of the Orient in 24 hours

Jack Stanley, US historian, with Statue of Captain Francis Light in Fort Cornwalis and we also discover the grave of the Founder of Penang

Captain Francis Light was having dinner in his favorite Nyonya Restaurant and there was this new curry chicken dish which he was unfamiliar. So, he asked the smartly-dressed waiter

"What is this?" The waiter stood at attention, saluted and retorted "Curry, Kapitan!" (Kapitan being the Malay word for Captain). So, true till today, one of the more famous curry dish in Penang is the all-time popular chicken curry dish call "Curry Kapitan"

Penang Trip: 21 Feb to 22 Feb 2009
Food Stop #1: Penang Road Coffee-shop
This Coffee-shop proves to be the favorite for most of us with the best of Penang Hawker fares viz. Cendol, Char Koay Teow, Assam Laksa and the ever uniquely Penang's Lorbak.

Jack Stanley, historian, enjoying his Char Koay Teow...goes well with Coke!

Food Stop #2: Rumah Perut

We had probably one of the best Nyonya Food in Penang. Rumah Perut is housed in a bungalow along Jalan Kwlawai right behind Evergreen Hotel. With good ambience, good food and nice desserts, this place should be a "must visit" food itinerary!


(Above Top) Inche Kabin (Fried Chicken) & (Above Bottom) Ju Hu Char (Turnips) with popular Curry Kapitan

(Above) Lor Bak

Food Stop #3: Swatow Lane

The famous Majestic Penang Rojak is found in thgis corner Coffee-Shop between Northam Road and Burmah Road.
Here you can also taste some of Penang's favorites hawker fare such as Char Koay Teow, Char Koay Kark (Carrot Cake), Hokkien Mee (Har Mee or Prawn Mee), Assam Laksa, Lorbak and Ice Kacang.