Makan trip to Penang

8 March 2009 - Thought I go back to Ipoh this weekend, as I may not be able to go probably until April. As my sister is unable to go back, I drive back alone after work on Saturday (as usual). Anticipate a weekend of lazing at home or may be a day of mahjong.

But my aunts and cousins already planned a one-day trip to Penang on Sunday. My eldest cousin said this would be a makan trip to Penang. And yes, what a day of makan.

First stop, Sg. Bakap. We left Ipoh about 9.45am and reach Sg. Bakap at about 11am. We exited at Jawi Interchange and continue slightly north to Sg. Bakap for breakfast. Breakfast is like a bit of dim sum, which a slightly different bak kut teh, fried noodle, and 'chai kueh' - which is supposedly their signature dish. The shop is in front of the main road, but tables are placed on the walkway and the frontal road. Food is OK, but we were accompanied by lots of flies.

Then off to Bukit Mertajam to visit a relative and then to Saint Anne's Church. After we took the bridge and reach the island for lunch. I do not the name of the area, but been here with my hunters gang. Lunch consists of fried kueh teow (with salted duck egg), apom, chee cheong fun (with har-kou - not for me), lor-bak, prawn mee, laksa for some and popiah. After a full lunch, its off to Air Itam for the fame tau-sar-piah. From there, a few steps down for the Air Itam Laksa. Written on the card board and pasted on the wall, is Air Itam Laksa - RM2.70 a bowl. Was told this is also known as Toilet Paper Laksa. It appear to unhygienic to ask why Toilet Paper then. Well, I think the laksa is over-rated. I have tasted much better one else where.

After that a debate was on, (well, how could we not have a debate within the Tan family). At the end, a trip to the Batu Ferringi beach won over whether we should leave the island then to make a stop at Taiping. From the beach, we passed through Gurney Drive to access to the Ferry Terminal. A crazy strecht of road, where the traffic was at a horrible jam. Thanks mainly to people driving slowly to find a parking spot, or waiting for a car to reverse and leave.

Dinner was at Bukit Tambun. We reached there about 8pm, but still a lot of people still there. I suggest going to another restaurant (the last one along the strecht of road) in favour of the one we usually goes (the second last one), because this second last one was already very full. If we ate here, it will probably took us 2 hours. A good decision though, as the other restaurant served faster and the food is better than OK. What's for dinner - fish - ikan hantu, fried sotong, lala, vege, prawns.

That's a day of makan trip up north. And we reach Ipoh at 11pm. More than a 12-hours trip.

Who's who in the trip? - Big aunt, 2 aunt and family minus Wee Chong, 3 aunt and Emily, 4 aunt and family minus Ah Chu, 5 aunt and family plus Desmond's GF, And our family - everyone except Ce, Ed, & Ja.

And oh yes, what's the story of the toilet paper laksa. My sister-in-law said later in the car after eating, rumours had it the owner actually mixed toilet paper into the laksa soup. After it was boiled the toilet paper were torn and made to look like fish meat normally found in laksa. Believe it Or Not.