Launching of Cookbook promoting Penang Authentic Nyonya Cuisine by Bee Lee Tan

My friend, Bee Lee Tan an author, cooking teacher and international food demonstrator hailing from Penang but based in Perth, Western Australia was in town recently for a book launch.

The launching ceremony of her new cookbook, Penang Authentic Nyonya Cuisine : Mother’s Recipes was held at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Church Street, Penang.

The photo for the new book cover

It was an honour for me when Bee Lee Tan invited me to the launching ceremony. The event witnessed the attendance of distinguished guests, journalists, chefs and eager readers. Among those who attended the launch party was Raymond Kwok the Nyonya/Peranakan historian and Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew.

Bee Lee Tan made an opening statement appearing in a kebaya which is a very important culture of the Peranakan people.

She gave her address to the crowd and unveiled her second Nyonya cookbook, The Penang Authentic Nyonya Cuisine : Mother’s Recipes. The cookbook with one hundred eighty pages includes more than a hundred traditional and authentic Nyonya recipes and also colorful photos personally handpicked by her.

The book can be purchased with an email order at Beelee@live.com.au for RM120.

The new publication, Penang Authentic Nyonya Cuisine

The event included a book signing session and a light teatime of delicious Nyonya kuih muih.

Nyonya/Peranakan historian, Raymond Kwok

Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew

Pixen @ pixieate.blogspot.com was there too!

Nyonya kuih in beautiful colours!

She has conducted master cooking classes at Beaconfield, Fremantle Australia as well as cooking classes in Perth’s T.A.F.E. Technical Colleges. Her website is at http://nyonyapassions.com/

I was very much impressed with Bee Lee Tan’s objective in promoting and conserving the dying art of traditional Nyonya cuisines. Do check out her first cookbook, Penang Nyonya Cuisine : Hawker’s Delight.

The Penang Nyonya Cuisine : Hawker’s Delight

Thanks to Bee Lee Tan for the invite and for autographing my book. I probably will be taking some time making my own Nyonya cuisines!

A Day Up In Penang Hill

Spending a day in the picturesque Penang Hill!

The Penang Hill also known as ‘Bukit Bendera’ in Malay and as ‘Seng Kee Sua’ in Hokkien. This hill is accessible by the funicular railway starting from Air Itam. The total journey with a short stop at the mid-point station takes approximately half an hour. Penangites and visitors alike can have an outing up to this lovely place in Penang.

Funicular Train - RM4 Per Trip

Visitors get to enjoy the panoramic view of George Town and the mainland.

      

 

On top of this hill you will be surrounded with a scent of green. There are plenty of places for photo shooting, refreshment and also live entertainment. Sightseeing can be done on foot or by cycling on rented bicycles.

 

Visitors could drop by the charming restaurant named David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace for a meal or the afternoon tea. It is a restaurant with indoor and alfresco dining in a beautiful landscape garden with plenty of flora and fauna.

The place just resembles a cozy and charming English cottage in the countryside. The cool air provides a relaxing mood.

It is indeed a nice change, having a peaceful time away from the busy and hot weather downtown. The best time to visit Penang Hill is in the morning as there will be more visitors later in the day.

Penang Clan Jetties at Weld Quay – Tan Jetty

In Penang there are six clan communities lining in a row along Weld Quay and they are known as the Clan Jetties which were built up during the 19th century by the Chinese immigrants. All the residents in these clan communities stay in wooden houses perched above the sea by stilts. These historical and unique houses over the water are inter linked by wooden walkways.

The clans at the jetties are Lim, Chew, Tan, Yeoh, Lee and the Mixed Surname Jetty. I visited the Tan jetty also known as Seh Tan Keo (in Hokkien) during one of my food outing.

It is nice to visit this place to see something from a bygone era. It can be quite hot in the day and I find the best time to visit would be during sunset.

I enjoyed this gorgeous sunset by the balcony of a house that double up as a place serving delicious Thai Food. The place which opens daily except   Tuesday from 11am till 9pm is run by the owner Madam Lee.

Old wooden houses build close to each other

At the end of the jetty you are able to capture a panoramic view of the port and the ships anchored in the distance.

A beautiful night scenario

Click here for the Map Location.

GPS Coordinates : N05 24.908   E100 20.218

Penang Heritage Post Box

Most of surviving heritage post box found in Georgetown was erected before Malaysia’s Independence in 1957. A few of this red box can still be seen standing around George Town at Jalan Macalister, Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Residensi and other part of the town.

The boxes of different shapes such as the pillar box, wall box and lamp box were made from cast iron and some of them displayed the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch.

 

The top of this pillar box is slightly bigger to protect the rain from getting into the entry slot. On the other hand, the entry slot was designed slanted to allow deposit of mail.

The collection time for this box is indicated by the side of the box. The name of the manufacturer, Carron Company can be seen at the base of the box which was painted black.

 

 

 

This particular heritage post box is one of those with a unique shape that I have come across so far. This box displayed the Crown and the Royal Cypher "GR" or George Rex, the reign of King George V (1910-1936). 

The collection time is indicated at the bottom of the box

 

This box with a beautiful coat of new paint also displayed the Crown and bears the Royal Cypher of King Edward VII (1901-1910). The base of this box can no longer be seen as its laid beneath the road.

 

Last but not least, the regular small size lamp post box without the Royal Cypher can be seen in many places around town.

Hopefully these post box stand on for the decades to come even though the sending of letters, post cards and greeting cards are getting lesser by the day with the wide use of electronic mails.

I am trying to find more of this type of post box, maybe one during the reign of Queen Victoria. Please  share with me if you do come across any of this post box around town! :)

Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) at Penang Kek Lok Si Temple with new Pavilion

 

The Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam is an iconic symbol of Penang Island and a tourist attraction. A pavilion was built recently to housed and shelter the towering bronze statue.

This new octagonal pavilion is already completed and is due for a grand opening to mark the 118th anniversary of the temple on the coming 6th December 2009.

My hubby caught some shots of the whole pavilion and its surrounding area which was lighted up brightly on our way to dinner at the nearby Terubong Seafood.

One could just marvel at the magnificent and beautiful sight!

 

 View the location of the  New Pavilion for The Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam in a larger map.

Penang’s top 12 Most Popular Attractions

There are many interesting tourist attractions in the beautiful island of Penang. Recently The Penang State Tourism has came out with an online poll for Penang’s top 12 most popular attractions.

1st place : Penang Hill

Penang Hill which rises over 830 meters above the sea offers tourists magnificent views of the sea and Georgetown in a cooling temperature. For those who like to watch the sunset over the town, do visit the hill around early evening. The view is not to be miss! Visitors can travel up this hill resort by the funicular railway which takes up approximately thirty minutes.

Funicular railway operating hours -
Sunday to Thursday – 6.30am to 9.30pm
Friday and Saturday – 6.30am to 11.15pm

The Penang Hill funicular railway service will be stop for upgrading works from 22th Feb 2010 and resume only in July 2010. Visitors could still visit the hill by jeep.

Nearby Eateries :
David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace

2nd place : Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi is famous for its beaches and night bazaar. You will find many stalls setting up in this tourist belt selling a wide variety of goods, from clothing to handbags, watches, paintings and many more.
Night Bazaar Hour : Daily 7pm – 12am

Nearby Eateries :
Ferringhi Garden Restaurant

3rd place : Gurney Drive
Gurney Drive is famous for its mouth watering cuisine, ranging from hawker food in open-air food courts to seafood and restaurants fine dining.

Nearby Eateries :
Gurney Drive Hawker Center
Bali Hai Seafood Market

4th place : Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple is the best know place of worship in Penang. It has many tourists visiting this place daily. The main attraction is the statue of the Goddess of Mercy which can be view from afar.

Nearby Eateries : Penang Assam Laksa (Air Itam Market)

5th place : Penang Bridge
This bridge is another landmark of Penang and is the place where the Penang Bridge Marathon is being held annually.

6th place : Fort Cornwallis & Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower
Explore Fort Cornwallis which has a gallery featuring historic displays with a public park. Right next to it is the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower.

Admission fees to the Fort : RM3 for adults and RM2 for children below 12 years old.
Open : Daily 8.30am to 7pm

Nearby Eateries :
The Sire Museum Restaurant

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

7th place : Street of Harmony (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
You can find Buddhist and Hindu temples and Malay mosques lining along this street. Indeed a sight to behold.

Nearby Eateries :
Ah Quee Street Lor Mee
Restaurant Kapitan

Masjid Kapitan Keling

8th place : Penang Ferry & Tanjung City Marina
Penang famous yellow ferries provides transport to many passengers from the island to the mainland and vice versa. Passengers can see many heritage buildings, including the Tanjung City Marina when approaching the island. The short ferry ride takes approximately fifteen minutes.

9th place : Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
No visit to Penang is complete without visiting the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Be amazed by this blue Mansion with architectural designs which was awarded the Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award 2000. This well preserved Mansion with beautiful courtyards and sculptures is open for visitors. For enquires : +604 2625289

Nearby Eateries : Tai Buan Porridge

10th place : St Anne’s Church
St Anne’s Church is located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. This church is the focus point of the celebration of St. Anne Feast and each year the feast draws around 40,000 to 60,000 devotees.

11th place : State Museum, Cathedral of the Assumption & Penang Art Gallery
Take a stroll down this memory lane filled with the history of early Penang.

Nearby Eateries :
Peace & Joy Coffee Shop – Curry Mee
Heng Kee Restaurant

12th place : Armenian Street
This street has many religious temples from various faiths and centuries old historical sites.

Nearby eateries :
Edelweiss Cafe
Nan Yang Chinese Cuisine