KULIM TOWN AT A GLANCE

25th MARCH 2018 ~ First I had to sail across the ocean from Penang Island to Seberang Perai. Then I met my cousin and her family at the ferry terminal and was taken to another state - Kedah. To get to Kulim from the ferry jetty at Seberang Perai, the journey took about 30 minutes as the traffic was smooth. I was there for another reunion sessions with relatives, ex-students and ex-colleague.

 Based on the map above, try to spot the town of Kulim. It is located right at the border of Penang and Kedah. You should know by now Geography is actually an important subject in school.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF KULIM: a quaint town which was not busy at all (when I was there) in contrast to Georgetown which I just left. One of the places people would consider staying after retirement.

CRUISING ON THE FAMOUS PENANG FERRY

25th MARCH 2018 ~ I finally did what other people must have done much earlier in their lives - getting a ride on the famous Penang Ferry.

When I arrived at the ferry terminal, I was searching for a ticket counter but there was none. I even asked one of the staff but he just asked me to get on the ferry without explaining. I thought I would have to buy the ticket on board. I did not know that the ride from the island to the mainland was free of charge. FREE! (You still have to pay a cheap fare if you are traveling the opposite direction).

This should be one of the historic moment of my life and I made full use of the short time on the ferry - enjoying the view and the experience.

There were not many people on the ferry so photographing was very easy. I guess it is not as popular now as it was last time.

arriving at the mainland

I was glad I had the chance to be on the Penang Ferry which was one of the earliest means of transportation in the country, before the Penang Bridge was completed. It might be a bit too late for a first timer but better late than never.

MY PENANG GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - REUNITED AT THE OLDEST NASI KANDAR RESTAURANT IN MALAYSIA

24th MARCH 2018 ~ Another reunion took place in Georgetown but this time not with a friend from my UPM TESL group. Mr. Mohd. Asrulnizam was a friend made during the era when PMR examination was still in operation and I had to go to series of  meetings for English held annually. We always made sure we would become roommates as we had to stay for the session for a few days. From there friendship developed.

A date was set and Mr. Asrulnizam took me to this restaurant called Hameediyah, the oldest Nasi Kandar (restaurant) in Malaysia. so this should be some kind of a historical eating place in the country. My other friends actually had planned to get me here the day before but the shop was not opened on Friday.

There were already people making a beeline at the food counter when we arrived, at 8:00 p.m. Guess the Penangites eat nasi kandar round the clock.

We did not eat nasi kandar though. I was introduced to Hameediyah famous briyani this time. And I managed to finally get to eat squid eggs after failing to get them from other places before this.

squid eggs

Even though the restaurant was old, the dining hall was modern and clean which I think should be of utmost important.

The food was prepared at the ground floor and the order will be transported upstairs by a pulley machine near the stairs.

The meeting was brief and I should thank Mr. Asrulnizam for the time and company for the evening. I just wonder when will we get to see each other again but we can always make it happen in the future when the time is right.

MY PENANG GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE: HAJI CENDOL

24th MARCH 2018 ~ I had spotted this "cendol" stall on the first day I was in town and managed to try the dessert the day after. It was stationed beside Lebuh Acheh Mosque and should no be difficult to find.

If you want to escape the tropical heat while enjoying your cold bowl of "cendol", you could sit inside the small restaurant at the back.

It was good and the taste was more Malay-ish, if compared to the Teochew Cendol I had the day before. The coconut milk was thicker, creamier and sweeter. Should be something you would crave for after walking around the city on a very hot day.

MY TEACHER'S DAY BOUQUET ARRIVED LATE IN SCHOOL

A delivery girl arrived in school - carrying a chocolate/flower bouquet for Teacher's Day - better late than never kind of thing. It was a surprise that happened once in a million years (even though I was already informed by the delivery girl herself she would be in school for delivery the night before). My heartiest thanks to Ms. Khaulah Abd. Rahim and Ms. Safia Ebi Shahrin, ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti SPM batch 2006, for the kind and thoughtful gesture. Only Allah may repay their good deed in this holy month of Ramadhan.