Penang Classic Exhibition @ Prangin Mall

A shopping trip to Prangin Mall, lead me to Penang Classic Exhibition, located at Prangin Mall Ground Floor just at the escalators to Lot 33.  Basically in tell you the tale of Historical Penang in Photos, Displays, Replicas and Mock-ups, Games and Food Try out.        

The Exhibition consists of the following

• ·         Replica of Clan Jetties
• ·         Replica of Sia Boey Market
• ·         Try of Area of Traditional Kid Games
• ·         A Dragon Dance Replica & Martial Art Corner
• ·         Time Tunnel of Historical Photos  (this is worth the visit by itself)
• ·         Penang Traditional Street Food (for you to try)
• ·         And a Stage for shows.  

Penang Digital Library

Updates :  
As of 15th of January
Existing & New Members are
1.  Required to be at The Penang Digital Library to renew / obtain new e card number & pay in cash for Membership Fee.
2.  RM60, Student Rate RM30 ,  Pls note in Email send to me its not stated if it a one time payment or yearly fee.

The Penang Digital Library

The launching of the Penang Digital Library is a very commendable effort by the Penang State Government to inculcate a reading community.  However much more effort must be made to build up the number of titles available, and with more copies each. 

I sign up pre Xmas (free till 31 Dec 2016), and there is around 1k members at that time, each member is allowed 2 e books up to 7 days, which means 2000 e books & their copies can be borrowed, there is like 700 titles currently in total.  From what I browse through there seems to be one copy available each.   

Hi There, Join me in Exploring the Penang Digital Library, To join up you will have to visit the Library to Sign Up. 

The Location 

Along Jalan Masjid Negeri, Near the Jalan Air Itam Junction, as heading towards the bridge it’s on the left,  Turn in after the Library, then drive around the entire building to get to the entrance / car park. 

The Premise

A White Colonial Bungalow, with a “Love a Loaf” café, Office and the Library Proper on the ground floor, with Events/Discussion room above.  The Library itself has free wifi, and a few tablets/pads for you to read the Preloaded Magazines there (not loanable – the tablets and the magazines). 

To Sign Up

1. 1.      Bring along your devise to sign up,  As at Jan 2017 there will be an entrance / annual fee (Amount TBA)
2. 2.       See the Friendly Counter Staff and inform him you want to sign up and follow his / her instructions.   
3. 3.       Connect to the Free Library Wifi, go to Google Play and Down Load “Readcasa” App
4. 4.       Open it and Sign in with Google (I did) and key in the Member number 

Café  

Love a Loaf Café at the Digital Library, offers snacks (Bakery Product) and beverage.  Their range of good look interesting, with regular café pricing.  

The Penang Digital Library is located within the compound of the Penang Free School, there are also a number of schools within a short walk away.

How to Borrow a Book at the Penang Digital Library

1. 1.       Each Member can borrow up to 2 books 
2. 2.       Open Readcasa, there will be some news on the front page
3. 3.       Tap the menu, on top left, then select Digital Library
4. 4.       Tap the 2^nd menu on the right,  select Subjects 
5. 5.       All the subjects will be listed, select one
6. 6.       You will see all the book displayed
7. 7.       Here is when it get a bit frustrating currently,  for me at least as the books I want is not available
8. 8.       You will see the books for that subject,  feel free to browse
9. 9.       On top of each book, you will see Available or Wait List as the Book Status

a.       If Available you can borrow the book 
b.      If Wait List, you can request to be inform via e mail when the book is available  

1. 10.   Click on the book, you will get some information on the book, read a sample, and of course to borrow the book itself, by clicking on the Borrow button.
2. 11.   You have now borrow that Book for 7 days

   

How to Read a Book you have borrow from Penang Digital Library

1. 1.       Open Readcasa, 
2. 2.       Tap the menu, on the top left, select digital library
3. 3.       Tap the 3 book Icons,  on the right
4. 4.       You will see the book you have borrow, how many days left, 
5. 5.       Click on read now to read or
6. 6.       Click Return to return  to free up your quota 

Food in Butterworth Town Center Area

Update  :  I have discontinue this page and replace it with this  (Link)

Beside Raja Uda there are many other places for you to find good food at all hours .

Chain Ferry / Jalan Assumption Curry Mee 

Here are some choices around the Butterworth Town Center worth a visit.

Pak Cham Kai Chicken Rice ,  Delicious Smooth Boil Chicken serve with Rice or Rice Noodles   Night Only

Chain Ferry Curry Mee   Old Brand Name Curry Mee, Breakfast Only @ Old Market Food Court  

Sweet Paradise Restaurant,  Old Brand Name Tim Sum at Butterworth, Taman Bagan Baru,  Off Jln Heng Choon Thean just beside Butterworth Police Station  

Apollo Market Char Koey Teow

Char Koey Teow @ Apollo Kopi Tiam, Apollo Market, Raja Uda 

Good Char Koey Teow in Butterworth is hard to find, finding the stall that will fry it the way I like it (half cook egg and blood cockles and very spicy), well let put it this way, I still head overseas to the island to get my fix occasionally.    

The CKT at Apollo Kopi Tiam, right at Apollo Market (soon to be renamed Geh Food Court) does it pretty well, manned by a elderly man who does both the running around and cooking. Open Morning for Breakfast.        

Notes Parking :  Street Parking prepare to walk, Hygiene : Food Court,  Pricing :  Butterworth Food 

Court Standard .   

    

More Hokkian Noodles Jln Raja Uda

Hokkian Noodles @  A No Name Shack @ Raja Uda 

Lots of Eateries @ Raja Uda Butterworth is basically a shack, a slightly upgraded kampong house with cement floors,  (Chain Ferry Curry Mee was house in one) 

Located at the corner of Jalan Raja Uda & Jalan Anggerik (Landmark Petron & Shell Petrol Station) is this no name shack that house a decent Hokkian Noodles, which can be customize with various addons  Open Morning for Breakfast

Here there is Marble top tables wooden walls, zing roof ……..       

Notes Parking :  Street Parking limited lots, Most Patrons park on road side, Hygiene : Old Kopi Tiam,  Pricing :  Butterworth Food Court Standard .   

Town Center Pak Cham Kai Chicken Rice for Dinner

Lucky Restaurant @ Butterworth Town Center

Pak Cham Kai or White Cut Chicken, serve either with Chicken Flavored Rice or Koew Teow Soup seems to a staple in the Butterworth area, and Most Places over here do it very well, resulting in a deliciously smooth chicken from which ever part of the chicken. 

Lucky Restaurant Version of this is covered with a dark sauce which gives an impression of the sauce being Oyster Sauce, which I personally don’t think it is.  The Green Chili sauce serve with the chicken is fiery even to someone brought up to consume tons and tons of chili.    

I normally drop by early around 7pm (note open for dinner only), as any time after this will result in a long wait due to a) high number of patrons b) chicken is cook in batches.  Do Note that you order the chicken according to the number of person or by quarter, half or the whole chicken,  You can request any particular part of the chicken, however it’s up to the cook if he will comply.

Lucky Restaurant is located along Jalan Bagan Luar, opposite the TM Building, right in the Heart of Butterworth Town,  approx. 100 meters north of the MPSP Padang. 

Notes Parking :  Street Parking, Hygiene : Food Court,  Pricing :  Higher Butterworth Food Court 

Standard .    Note :  Dinner Only

Other Recommended Food in the Area Click Here 

Blue Chendol

Update :  Stall Closed 

Blue Chendol, yes that right, chendol here is blue in colour, not the standard green. @ Guardian Food Court.      This stall also have ice kacang & laksa. 

Notes Parking :  Street Parking, Hygiene : Above Average Food Court,  Pricing :  Butterworth Average 

Food Court Standard .    Note :  From 4pm    

Location :  Middle of Jalan Kampong Paya, off Jalan Raja Uda (South) 

Butterworth Famous Curry Mee

For more information of Butterworth Town Food click here

Chain Ferry / Jln Assumption Curry Mee

One of the Long time Famous Food in Butterworth that lots of customer driving many kilometers to patronize is the Chain Ferry / Jln Assumption Curry Mee,  It was recently relocated as it former premise was taken over by the Harbour Place Project. 

Its current location is the “Old Market” Food Court, located at Jalan New Ferry (in between MayBank & Harbour Placa) very near to the Ferry Jetty.  Open for Breakfast only this Stall offer standard Curry Noodles, with no add ons.

Other Stalls that are open early morning is Chinese Style Fried Dough, Kuih Kuih, ½ Boil egg, Nasi Lemak, Wan Tan Mee  etc.  

It’s best to drop by early or you may have a long wait or it get sold out by 10am on a weekday. 

     

Notes Parking :  Street Parking,  Hygiene : Food Court  Pricing :  Reasonable 

Other Recommended Food in the Area Click Here 

Nonya & Western Dinning at Tiffin Cottage

Update: Tiffin have been upgraded

Tiffin Cottage

Is a newly open cafe along Jalan Ong Yee How, (the road from Jalan Raja Uda North heading towards Bagan Lalang) that offers a hybrid Nonya & Western Menu in a contemporary atmosphere.

Operated by a charming couple with international experience this café have the best chicken chop I ever had in Butterworth.  The Speghetti Napoletana we had has ingredients only 5 star hotels and restaurants use.  

Nonya Food offering is no slouch either, and is just as good as those Nonya Restaurants in Penang.  The Curry Kapitan, the Ju Hu Char, Cincalok Omelette  is good, but I love the sambal belacan even more. 

Notes Parking :  Street Parking,  Hygiene : Cafe,  Pricing :  Reasonable Café Price  Note :  See Pic for Opening Hours     

Other recommended food in the area click here

Festive Greetings

Merry Christmas !  

Photos Taken @ Queensbay Mall, Penang 

Butterworth Food Street ........

This page have been discontinue,  Please go to Link for full Raja Uda Eats Page


Jalan Raja Uda is the commercial hub of Butterworth, it is also Butterworth China Town, and also Butterworth Food Street.   all 4.4km of it of glorious food,  from shinny cafes in the southern part (Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda) and Teras Jaya, to the Food Court / Kopi Tiam / Seafood Restaurant located at the Northern Sections of the Road , Inter space all along there will be road side shacks offering street food!     

The 2 main Landmark is Apollo Market,  Butterworth principle market, is located at the northern end of this road near the 9 God Emperor Temple,  all house in make shift stalls, offering daily food stuffs, street food and other stuffs.  During Chinese New Year Hundreds of Red Lenten's will be providing a suitable ambiance.

Food that I would recommend in this area include the following

Note  -  From South to North

Click on the Food Name / Restaurant Name to go to the post.

Ah Hock Hock Kien Mee Restaurant .  A Penang Staple of Noodles in Prawns Broth, Open for Breakfast

Siew Loong Pau  @ Teong Hin kopi tiam  Juicy Pork Dumplings made right in front of you.  Open For Breakfast

Wu Kok   Deep Fried Yam Dumplings with Pork Stuffing, @ Apollo Market  Open For Breakfast

Fish Head Steam Boat  @ Zwi Wei Yuan Steamboat Restaurant  Best Steam Boat in Penang !  Open For Dinner Only,

Off Jalan Raja Uda 

Tiffin Cottage  Nonya & Western Cafe
   

Sree Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple, Butterworth

Sree Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple

Located at Jalan Jeti Lama (where in yesteryears butterworth folks use to take the sampan/ferry to George Town) is this 19^th century Hindu Temple, the oldest in Butterworth,  It is believe that in 1853 a person found the idol of the deity Amman or divine mother by the seaside and is house in a specially built hut before the temple was build in 1903.  

Photo of Temple Taken during BFF 2016

There is a sculpture of the sun god Surya with his chariot driven by 7 horses in front of the temple .  A Festival is held in June for approx. one week called Theemithi which feature fire walking and chariot processions

.   

Sun God Surya on his chariot driven by 7 horse

Deep Fried Yam Dumpling @ a Street Stall Jalan Raja Uda. Apollo Market

Deep fried Yam Dumpling / Wu Kok

While walking along at Apollo Market (Note : to the right of the Main Building) I have notice this wu kok seller,  made fresh, and deep fried on the spot, each batch will get sold out in minutes.   So one fine day while walking by, there were a few dumpling left, so I grab!  Nice Tasty, Juicy Dumplings,  At only RM1.10 each,  Open Mornings ……

Wu Kok is a dumpling made from mash yam as a skin and stuffed with mince pork and green peas and deep fried.  Can also be found at Tim Sum Shops  

Other recommended food in the area click here 

.    

Butterworth Fringe Festival - The Acts

Flying Knifes Act by Dynamike!

Butterworth Fringe Festival 2016 - The Acts I saw 

Butterworth Fringe Festival 2016 happened over the 13^th August – 14^th August 2016 Weekend from 5pm to 11pm daily.  The 2nd Edition of this festival was much better organise, made better use / show off the Old buildings in the area and more concise in terms of space.   

My only grouse was that only “Food Trucks” Food was Offered, I feel there should be open to other type of food vendors, as not all vendors can afford food trucks.    

Various Acts was Performed in 2 Main Venues, @ The Old Butterworth Market Parking Lot, and @ the Open area in front of the Indian Temple. 

I was lucky enough to enjoy the following acts which I manage to catch on camera, Menora of Kelantan, Dynamike, Living Space, The T.N.T. Show, Potehi – the Adventures of the Monkey King, Snuff Puppet, Hanuman.  Photos taken in this post is from the 14^th August 2016. 

    

Dynamike! 

Juggles Chainsaw, Knifes, while riding a 3 meter unicycle!

Snuff Puppet

Giant Puppet from Australia, but Maned by Penang Students telling a Malaysian Love story of the Durian and Mangoesteen !

Life Music for Snuff Puppet 

Living Spaces 

Comedy Street Performance with audience interaction

Warning!

 Tennis Match about to start with all the Sound Effects but no ball, and using balloon racquet!

Manora of Kelantan

Love Story from Malaysian Northern States, Perform by Pusaka

Intermission - Waiting for the Next Show to Start,  

Enjoy the Art and or Having a Bite 

The Market Place

Potehi - The Adventures of the Monkey King (about to start)

Chinese Traditional Glove Puppet telling the famous Tale 

"Journey to the West"

Waiting for the 3rd Edition of BFF in 2017

Butterworth Fringe Festival aka BFF

Butterworth Fringe Festival or BFF 

First held in 2015, BFF is an accompaniment or a satellite festival to the George Town Festival or GTF (Held to commemorate the 2^nd time George Town is declare a city), this 2 day affair (weekend) is held right in the middle of Butterworth Old town (Jalan Jetty Lama / Jalan Pasar), turning a sleepy market enclave into a hive of street activities with Local & International Acts, Arts, Music and much more.  – its organised by the GTF organizer En Joe Sidek.  

Photos for this post is taken in 2016  

For Photographs of 2016 Butterworth Fringe Festival 2016 Acts  click here

Tow Boo Kong Temple, Raja Uda, Butterworth / 9 God Emperor

9 God Emperor Temple, Raja Uda, Butterworth

The Magnificent Tow Boo Kong Temple is the most famous Chinese place of worship in Butterworth due to 1. its strategic location along Jalan Raja Uda, 2. Its large entrance archway, 3.. the yearly Pre Chinese New Year Pasar Malam. 4. Its magnificent complex of beautifully decorated prayer halls, and finally its beautiful lanterns lit up nightly.  

Photograph Taken during a Night Visit 2016  

With a humble start in 1971 @ an attap house, it evolve to this magnificent temple by 2000.  Yearly the 9 God Emperor Festival is on the 9^th Day of the 9 Luna Month according the Luna Calendar.  During this time devotees will consume only fully vegetarian meals, which can be purchase at stalls around the temple.  Such Vegetarian Food which according to Chinese believe, are cooked without using onions, garlic, egg and milk.

At the Start of the Festival, the temple Mediums will invite the Gods Spirit to descend to earth, within the medium bodies (in a trance). The Finale of the Festival will involve devotees & mediums walking on fire / swords or even bathing in boiling oil,  without harm.  

Photograph Taken during Pre Chinese New Year Pasar Malam Night Visit  2016,  Note Change of Lanterns Colour  

Smart Phone Comparison

Smart Phone Comparison

Lenovo P2

Big Battery 5k Mah

	Mi4i	Redmi 3s	RMN3	Mi Note
Status	Current	Ori	Ori	Ori
$$$$		RM699	RM850	RM899/999
LTE	Cat 4	??	Cat 6	Cat 4
Size / Type	5in/IPS	5in/ips	5.5/IPS	5.7/IPS
CPU	4X1.7, 4x1	8x1..4	2x1.8,4x1.4	8x2.5
Mem / Ram	2/16	2/16or32	3/32	3/16or64
Cam	13/5	13/5	16/5	13/4
Finger	No	No	yes	No
NFC	No	No	No	No
Build		Metal	Metal	??
Batt	3150	4100	4050	3000

I decided to first, compare the various Xiaomi Smartphone that are available officially in Malaysia, I exclude the Mi Max as at 6.4in is just way to big.  Of this lot Redmi 3s, the old Xiaomi Note, the Redmi Note 3 check most of the Boxes and being affordable at below RM900. 

My 2^nd comparison will be with Redmi Note 4 which is not officially in Malaysia yet, Xiaomi Mi 5 and  Lenovo P2 which caught my eye with its 5100 batt. 

	RMN4	Mi 5	Lenovo P2
Status	Import	Ori	Ori
$$$$	Sub 1k???	RM1399	RM1299
LTE	Cat 6	Cat 12	Cat 6
Size / Type	5.5 IPS	5.15 IPS	5.5 AMO
CPU	10x2.1	2x1.8,2x1.3	8x2
Mem / Ram	2/3 / 16/64	3/32	4/32
Cam	13/5	16/4	13/5
Finger	Yes	Yes	Yes
NFC	No	?????	Yes
Build	Metal	Metal	Metal
Batt	4100	3000	5100

Overall spec is just spec,  how does the phone fits and works together is important, and thanks to review sites we can find out without trying the phones our self.  RMN4 is better in specs then RMN3, however in terms of battery life RMN4 loose out it seems. I like the Mi 5 size, not so big, however lower battery capacity vs P2 make it an not so interesting in view of similar pricing, despite the higher LTE rating Mi5 have.    

Lenovo P2 looks like a better option,  vs RMN3 for around RM350 more we get better specification :  Higher Memory,4 vs 3, better CPU spec 8 core at 2ghz vs 6 core at different speeds,, NFC capability, extra 1k mah battery, though it loses out on camera mp. 13 vs 16.

However I am still debating which to choose as the review sites I check still have not done any review on the Lenovo P2, nor bench mark and there is no case for the P2 in the local market yet..

Either way it looks like it's Redmi Note 3 vs Lenovo P2,as a replacement phone unless something new pop up within a months time