Deepavali Trip 2 : Ipoh

After getting down from Cameron Highlands, we proceeded on to another 'City of Delicacy', (apart from Penang of course), Ipoh.

Without having any idea about the direction nor location, that was the time when GPS came in use. With the help of my non-smartphone GPS, we managed to find Nam Heong Cafe, one of the famous eatery with good reviews.

Upon entering the cafe, we found it to be crowded and every table was full. We had no choice but to stand beside the 'targeted' table and wait for the patrons to finish their meal.

Our table of Hakka noodles with the 'liews', fried kuey teow and Chinese pastries

Love the flaky egg tart and char siew (bbq pork) pastry

The fried kuey teow do resembled the ones in Penang Island

After a satisfying brunch, we had a visit to the caves in Ipoh. One can never say he/she had visited Ipoh if they had not step foot on these caves.

Nan Tian Tong

The longevity bridge. Maybe one can try crossing it if they wish live longer? Haha

The wishing pond

Kek Lok Tong

The stalactites and stalagmites

As you go to the other side of the cave, a small park awaits

With beautiful scenery and total tranquility

After an approximately one hour and half journey, we reached our campus and got ready for the CF Family Camp the following day. With this our two days one night Deepavali trip came to an end.

Deepavali Trip 1 : Cameron

Our fifth semester in USM is filled with holidays. Right before the mid-sem break, we have this almost-one-week Deepavali holiday. Alright, at least this do our Indian friends right so that they can celebrate this special occasion of theirs.

After much thinking, we decided to go on a short trip to Cameron Highlands to escape the hot and humid weather in Penang. We left as early as 4 in the morning to avoid the traffic (and the sun. LOL). 

 Welcome to Cameron Highlands~

We stopped at Tanah Rata first, breakfast at The Lord's Cafe in mind. But alas, they were not opened until 10 a.m., that would be an almost 2 hours wait. We could not have waited so long, so farewell yummy scones and pies.

We arrived a little too early, so let's have a nap while waiting.

Local post office (at the background)

Bus Terminal Freesia

Marrybrown's swings

Next we headed up to Brinchang and checked into our hotel and unloaded our stuffs before moving on to our destinations.

1st Pit Stop : Big Red Strawberry Farm

Strawberry cheesecake

Hot waffle with ice-cream and cream. You can see two strawberries by the side

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2nd Pit Stop : Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm

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3rd Pit Stop : BOH Tea Centre

Breathtaking scenery here

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4th Pit Stop : Sam Poh Temple

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5th Pit Stop : Shops

One of the shops by the road, Strawberry Corner. Almost everything here are related to strawberries

Bonzai

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6th Pit Stop : Night Market

The local fire station nearby

Deep fried sweet potato balls

'Pearl' sweet corn. You can eat it raw. Super juicy and sweet

Deep fried mushroom

Xian Ding Wei 鲜定味 @ Queensbay Mall,Penang

Another 'leisure' weekend. Since its still the beginning of a new semester, before all the heavy load came crushing, we crossed the Penang Bridge to the island again.

Bobok in his new t-shirt.

Revisited Xian Ding Wei for lunch. After the last visit here to celebrate dad's birthday, I fell for the food and the ambience there. Definitely one of my top choice among those in Queensbay Mall despite the prices which are comparatively high.

Bobok's pick. Fried Fish with Tomato and Egg Sauce (RM18.90++)

This complement my rather dry choice.

My order of "9 Tael" Chicken Chop (RM17.90++)

Succulent meat coated in a thin layer of batter, the soup is still warm and plus credit to the braised pork rice. However, I find the popiah a tad too oily. 

Dessert was Eight Treasure Snow (RM6.90++)

Not too bad. However we failed to finish it as it was too filling with a lot of beans and big chunks of yam. 

鲜定味台湾茶坊

Xian Ding Wei Taiwanese Tea Room

2F 50-51 Queensbay Mall

100, Persiaran Bayan Indah,

11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Tel: +604-6461332

GPS Goordinate: N05 19.59  E100 18.24

Credit to Cariso Delicacies Corner for the menu.

Packed some doughnuts for dinner

(top from left) Forest Glam, JCrown Oreo, Durian Cream (I forgot the name)

(below from left) Green Tease, Blueberry and Cheese Sprinkles (I forgot the name again), Tira Miss U

J.Co Donuts and Coffee

GF 55-56 Queensbay Mall

100, Persiaran Bayan Indah,

11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang. 

Tel: +6017-3780177

Penang Hill . New Cable Car

Penang Hill also known as Bukit Bendera or Flagstaff Hill, is one of Penang Island's featured attraction. It is located 833m above sea level. Penang Hill had been closed for a period of time in order to renovate the cable car. 

On the second day it was reopen, we went there to take a ride on the new cable car. Initially we planned to go earlier but due to some reason, we went at 10 in the morning and was alarmed to see the crowd there. We had to wait for about an hour before it was our turn to go up the hill. 

The new operating hours are:

Weekdays : 6.30a.m. - 8.00p.m. (last train from top station)

Weekends : 6.30a.m. - 10.00p.m. (last train from top station)

Cable car's far:

Malaysia:

Adult - RM8

Children (aged 7-12) - RM4 

Senior Citizen - RM4

Monthly Pass - RM24 (for residents on the hill)

Disabled (with OKU card) - Free

Foreign Tourists:

Adult - RM30

Children (aged 7-12) - RM15

 This is actually the ticket. Hehe

 Outside of the cable car. The cable car runs every half an hour

 The cable car is capable of ferrying 100 passengers at one go

 Us inside the cable car

 View along the way

 We are 457.2m above sea level!

 Route of the cable car

 Penang Island under our feet. Kinda hazy though

On top of the Penang Hill

 Murugan Temple

 Guard House

 The old cable car

By the time we went down the hill, it was already afternoon. The non-residing amount of people waiting to go up the Penang Hill for its spectacular panoramic view of George Town, the mainland, the Penang Bridge and the Straits of Malacca.