Wuan and I made a quick trip to Penang last Friday evening. I needed to sign some legal documents pertaining to my apartment. We started our journey at 11pm. I drove all the way to this island that I used to call home. Somewhere at the Rawang Rest and Service Area, I nearly crashed into a barrel that was resting indiscriminately in the middle of the expressway. The barrel was used as a barrier for upgrading works along many stretches of the expressway and was somehow knocked off the side of the road and rolled into the middle.
We reached Penang safely at 4am on Saturday. Slept at 5am. Woke up at 8am. Met lawyer at 11am. Signed the documents and left Penang at around 2pm – not before we went to Macalister Road for 2 boxes of Ghee Hiang’s tau sah pneah. The tau sah pneah are pastry balls with green bean paste filling. Peter, his wife and their grandson hitched a ride with us. They wanted to go to Kajang where Elaine, their daughter, is residing now. We turned into Ipoh town to buy the famous Gunung Rapat beh teh soh – flaky pastry with molasses filling – the best I have eaten so far.
We then had dinner at one of the popular restaurants in Tanjung Malim. The menu was braised tofu with dried shrimps and minced pork gravy, deep-fried pig’s trotter, steamed fish and sitr-fried kangkung sambal belacan. For the price we paid, I would expect the food to taste better. I will not be returning to that place for food anytime soon.
After we dropped Peter and family off at Kajang, we reached home at about 12 midnight. It was one of the most tiring road trips Wuan and I have ever taken. We covered nearly 1,000km in 24 hours. Nevertheless, it was a trip well worth the time because I have accomplished what I was in Penang for – one of the few outstanding issues that I had promised Mum I will clear up shortly before she passed away.
I have learned that restaurants in smaller towns, despite being famous for their seafood or signature dishes, cost an arm and a leg, perhaps because they know that their customers are not likely to return anyway…?
So when are you coming to Terengganu, heh?
Peter:
Besides Pelf, what else is nice in Terengganu?
Besides Pelf, we have Pelf and Pelf and more Pelf. LOL. And of course, we have the TURTLES!
Err, there’s nasi dagang, there’s keropok lekor Losong (the famous ones, though I think they all taste the same), err, a lot of mosques (great for taking pictures), err, sotong goreng. Oh yeah, sandy beaches! 🙂
Peter:
Turtles and mosques yes. As for the other things that you mentioned, err…
Good Luck in your quest 🙂
Peter:
Thank you.
What’s wrong with having lots of Pelf? Errr.. OK..
Peter:
:X
Apa itu pelf ah??
Peter:
Please visit Pelf’s blog at pelf-ism is contagious.
Aww.. I’m confusing people, am I not?
Peter:
Yes you are. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought a Pelf is a soft and cuddly toy.