Saturday 4 May 2013

penang


I have been to Penang many times in my life, my mum grew up in Penang, she met my dad in Penang and we have, over the years, both as a family and as individuals travelled back on numerous occasions, keeping a connection with our culture, the food and family.

Every time we visit we notice a different Penang, a busier Penang, more high risers, more cars, more 'stuff', more land reclaimed, it is changing, as to be expected, maybe not in quite the direction I would have hoped for, but I guess luckily, well for the moment at least, it still retains that wonderful Penang essence. The smells, the amazing food, the colours, the wonderful tropical heat. As days pass I notice what I look for or what I photograph leans heavily in the Penang of my past, my memories, images that sit well with I remember. There is little in the way of garish and bright signs, traffic jams or multiple high risers. But it is what I felt was right for me.

Our days would often begin with a delicious and impressive breakfast, then some exploring until it would get far too hot, then a swim in the pool (the sea water is far too polluted), then we would spend some quiet time reading, playing, talking about food and embracing the space that these holidays granted us. Most days we would visit my uncle, aunt and cousins and mum and dad, who were staying with them, we would touch base, talk food and catch up in a gentle, easy way. Most days we had the pleasure of having my dad with us, delighting us with his enthusiasm, ease and beautiful nature, we all felt so much closer to him after these precious two weeks. I was lucky enough to sneak some one on one time with my dad, we walked, looked about and talked, it was one of my most favourite moments of our time away.
Hey, hold on, I can hear you oohing and aahing over the monkeys, yeah, yeah, well, stop. These are very scary creatures, yes, it is true that humans have enticed them over the years with various snacks that aren't even suitable for humans let alone animals, yes these monkeys know their humans from their light posts and yes I know that they are just looking after their broods if they seem to get a little, well narky. 
But there we were keeping our distance at the Botanical gardens, being respectful and just observing a beautiful little monkey family, doing their cute little monkey family thing, until one of them, yes, the leader, came running at my dad and Poe with teeth bared, I did let out quite a blood curdling scream as I had visions of Poe being mamed by a monkey and it soon backed down (yes, i can connect with my primal screams (ha, ha, get it) when necessary). Poe was in my arms quite quickly and kept repeating for quite some time 'that was so scary, that was so scary'. 
Yes it has been laughed about since, I think that one will go down with other monkey tales, carried through our family, including the one about my Amini (grandma) getting a sandal stolen by a monkey (Ilo requested to wear boots because of this factor), and my sister also discovering the ability to let one loose (no not a fart just an extremely loud ear piercing scream) as a 4 year old when a monkey joined her on a waterfall walk. 

13 comments :

  1. mmm... yummy. that third picture is amazing. the symmetry of the red roofs, then the high-rises contrasting with the mystic mountains...sounds like your cup was filled in so many ways. yumm.

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    1. thank you Umi, so glad you liked the picture, I quite liked the contrast as well. xx

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  2. Jay your photos as usual, exquisite! The one of Poe with the single grain of rice on his chin, perfection. A beautiful post, thanks for giving us an insight into Penang, your Penang. The photos are all the more beautiful and revealing because you have a heart connection with this land and its' culture. xx

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    1. Thank you lovely one, but hold on there will be more photos to come, oh yes, you will be begging me to stop. xxx

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  3. I still can't get used to Penang having a bridge lol :)

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    1. haha, when did you go to Penang, you would be shocked by all the other changes!

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    2. I was trying to think it through when I read your posts about Penang lol. First time must have been early - mid 1980s. Let me go check when the bridge opened. Wiki says 1985. That would be right. So I must have been there first about 1982. Aggh. I feel old lolol. We used to catch the old ferry over from Butterworth :)

      You are right about the changes. I nearly died when I saw the housing developments in one of your photos!

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    3. PS: at least the food's not changed. Have you read that wonderful Asian food blog by the couple that live in Georgetown? I head to it whenever I need a Penang food fix:

      http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2013/05/at-home-in-george-town-penang-china-house-ice-cream.html

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    4. Wow, how long were you in Penang for? My mum would take the ferry across to the mainland, as she once worked in and English teaching school there, my dad arranged to find himself on the same ferry one day, the rest, history.
      And yes, the one saving grace is that the food is still so wonderful. Oh and that blog you sent through is so wonderful, thank you, i am drooling already. Have you ever been to Mamak in Sydney, it has really amazing Malaysian food. xx

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    5. Don't you mean, haven't I QUEUED at Mamak's lolol. Oh yes. And have you tried the sweets at Alice's Makan??? Where's a link?:

      http://www.facebook.com/pages/ALICES-makan/152658614769813

      They even made it to the Hot 100 list in this month's Australian Gourmet Traveler, which now I think of it also had an article on Penang food. On no. Was Phuket food. But still excellent :)

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    6. PS: link to Alice's sweets menu:

      http://www.alicesmakan.com.au/images/kuihmenu(web).pdf

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    7. ha yes of course you have been there. And oh my goodness the kuih at Alice's, amazing. I love kuih especially pulut inti. But what i didn't realise was that Alice's was in the city, i had only been to the one at Thornleigh, Pennant Hills, but it has closed, according to my parents. Oh no, all those wasted days when i could have been eating kuih in the city, oh well, will have to visit next time. You realise i am now drooling all over the keyboard, oh so delicious. xxx

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    8. LOL. My family is in Bali so the sweets there are a little different but they still have their version of dada (tiny gula melaka and coconut filled pancakes) which I like to scoff for breakfast with black rice pudding and coconut cream.

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