Cuti Raya Day 8 - Penang and Permatang Bertam

Permatang Bertam 4, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Irfan's fever is better. He started to eat and oh boy, was he energetic. Julia has also settled in. We decided to cross over to Penang to visit my Grandmother. She lives with my auntie at the old family house right in the middle of the city, in Jalan Pahang. She suffered a number of strokes in her old age, and as a result, she is paralysed on her right side and was not able to speak.

We went there straight after breakfast at the resort. We arrived at Pahang Road around noon. Two of my uncles were also there, plus a couple of my cousins who also came over for visit. We hang around for a bt until the children got restless. We then headed out for lunch. It would not be a visit to Penang if we do not have nasi kandar.

Hameeeeeeed!Apparently this shop that we went to was run by a guy who used to cook at my father's favourite curry house in Kuala Lumpur. The curry was OK, but the one in Kuala Lumpur, at the shop we frequent was better. We should've gone to our regular near Chowrasta. It was however nice to try a new one from time to time.

We then headed back to the mainland and stopped over at Kepala Batas. I was born there. However the old house was empty since my grandfather passed away in 2006. There are three houses on that piece of land, one occupied by my uncle. The rest was however empty and the old house has turned derelict. It's a sad sight. Unfortunately as the land is not mine, I was not able to invest in it. I am sure those who were involved with 'harta pusaka' in the past understand the situation. I then visited one of my Mum's cousin at another kampong before heading back to Sungai Petani.

The pool at the ResortWe finally reached SP after 5, and both the boys wanted to try the resort pool. We spend an hour there before heading back to Kepala Batas to visit another uncle of mine. We had dinner there and finally settled in back at the resort before midnight. Tomorrow we will be travelling back to KL, so better rest up.

Pasar Malam and Me

The Pasar Malam in Kepala Batas, every Saturday Night in the the middle of the town centreI remember since I wan a child growing up in Kepala Batas that weekends mean 'Pasar Malam' or night market. In my kampung, the market is on every Saturday night. Often on Saturday afternoon, I go out to play football in the late afternoon, then rush back for a quick shower, then off we went for Maghrib prayers.

Malaysian delicacy the satay. It cost much cheaper here than in KL, and it tastes better as well.This pics shows my Pak Teh looking at some cakes. I don't think he bought any.

Straight after it is time for pasar malam. It usually jam-packed. Me and my friends will start off for some some food, usually the famous 'laksa buying', with plenty of 'otak udang' - shrimp paste. Then some sugarcane juice and then the walk-about. It is a big thrill if you were to bump into your classmates - that surely will be the topic of conversation when we return to school on Monday.

My Mum saying hi to an old acquaintance. Kepala Batas is still small enough that every one still know each other.Despite the sticky humid weather walking around was a lot of fun. There will be colourful traditional remedy seller (penjual ubat) whose herbs can cure all diseases, from toothache to diabetes to cancer, all in a single concoction. Now, I should have listened closely or better still, steal his secret recipe. Then I wouldn't have to use chemotherapy to treat my leukaemic patients, would I?