Tuesday, 23 April 2013

An Unplanned Visit to Penang Hill

It has been quite demotivating recently, so I planned a ladies' day out last Sunday. We were aiming for the afternoon tea at Suffolk House. Unfortunately, when I arrived, this is the sign that's waiting for me:


I have to make a quick decision so that the girls will not be disappointed. I have a few restaurant options in mind but my criteria was: it has to serve English Afternoon Tea in a pleasant environment. The first one that came into my mind was David Brown's Restaurant. I love the picturesque restaurant whereby we can enjoy an afternoon tea along a pond with fresh air. So, I made a call, confirmed that they do serve English Afternoon Tea, and headed to Penang Hill after met up with the girls.

They were very excited with this unplanned trip to Penang Hill. Some have never been up there, and most of them couldn't recall their last visit decades ago.


By the time we reached the cable car station, I was shocked to find that it is under renovation. (I would have gave up if this ad hoc plan doesn't work too.) Luckily the cable car is still in service. The two-way ticket cost RM30 per adult. However, if you have a MyCard, you can get your two-way ticket at the price of RM8 :)


The cable car ride is always fun if you are at the first car. The kid sit next to us was a bit nervous since this new cable car provide better (or scarier) view compare to the older version. I love being elevated while seeing more and more areas of Penang Island, and getting closer and closer to the green. (By the way, do you know that technically, this is a funicular and not cable car)


Just love the panorama view of Penang Island on top of Penang Hill. Like every other tourists, we took lots of photos before we even start exploring Penang Hill. 

After a short walk from the cable car station, David Brown's Restaurant is on your left. You won't miss it since you can easily see the patio umbrellas decorating the blue sky.  


You will first arrive at the newly renovated viewing platform (Sky Terrace) of David Brown's Restaurant. Great view, yes! Seems like a great place to chill, fully agree! Lively jazz music makes you wanted to stay, I can understand that. However, if you are here for the afternoon tea, don't get distracted. Please don't stop here. Keep going, find the stairs and continue your journey. 





You will then come to this lovely part of the restaurant, the original bungalow. The pond is full with pink and purple water lilies. If you are lucky, you can meet a few cute frogs jumping around too.

We were very excited. The garden is excellent for afternoon tea, the patio is very welcoming, and the indoor is with very authentic feel too. It was not very hard to choose though (who wouldn't want to sit under the trees by the pond with cool breeze and birds chirping?!). However, we couldn't help but to explore everything about the restaurant before we finally decided to sit down and take a look at the menu.

The price is slightly high for Penang standard. Obviously you are paying for the view :)

However, we have planned to pampered ourselves at Suffolk House anyway so price is not the issue here. It is already budgeted :)


This set comes with a pot of tea for two. RM78
We ordered all the 3 different choices listed under the afternoon tea menu. The food is just so so, but we love the ambiance. The girls imagined that this is how 贵妇 (ladies) spend their afternoon: chit-chatting, wandering around from time to time to take photos or for a sudden change of view, enjoy the tea, have some bites, laughing and joking around......

While we were there, besides being constantly harassed by 3 little wasps that love strawberry jam, we also spotted squirrels and musang running around between the trees.

We spent more than 3 hours at this restaurant, and we had lovely time. The fact that this is unplanned, the fact that this is a little surprise in life, the fact that we were close to the nature, the fact that we have friends that we can share some wonderful time, make these few hours memorable.



We left before sunset because some of the girls have other plans after the prolonged afternoon tea.


We wanted to take some selves-portrait photos but even the Facebook Queen couldn't get satisfying shots.


The "Big Sister" (not me!) decided to ask the tourist that was laughing at us be our photographer. So here's our group photo to conclude our Penang Hill Surprise Visit :)

Thursday, 18 April 2013

看牙医去

我看起来好像天不怕地不怕的样子,却当然也有死穴。牙医肯定是其中一个。进到牙医师,不知怎的,膝盖就无力,双脚发软。


上一次看牙医,没有十年也至少八年前的事了。这一次,要不是已经连续几个月刷牙流血,要不是恰逢有事得请假一天,我可能还没能下定决心去看牙医呢。

我今天看的是个女牙医,非常温柔。 可是由于我的是千年牙垢,洗牙可是大工程。整个过程至少一小时半,我张嘴张得全身酸痛。加上那些各种各样的仪器在我的嘴里发出各种各样令人毛骨悚然的声音,我即使穿着长袖外套仍觉得寒气攻心。那一个小时半仿佛过了几个世纪,可怜的护士除了得帮我抽嘴角的口水,还得帮我抹眼角的泪水……

洗完牙,女牙医语重心长地劝我半年后再来见她。“以后每一年都洗牙就不会痛啦~”我对她苦笑。届时再说吧~

至今七个小时过去了,牙根非常敏感不说,我吃东西仍然双颊肌肉酸痛。

唉,牙医……我知道你们是为我们好,只是……唉……

Sunday, 14 April 2013

北越逍遥游(二):河内街景

老实说,河内对我而言,实在没有什么看头。这反而好,我们就无所事事呗。

不知怎的,我总觉得河内的街景正合了外国人对东南亚的审美,老旧的、杂乱的、人性的、单纯的、强烈的……对于在东南亚长大的我们,却有点儿过量了,我不讨厌,但没有学会爱上它。

我喜欢悠闲的喝咖啡的日子,喜欢漫无目的乱走的脚步,是既来之则安之的自得其乐,与河内无关……

还剑湖为市区带来绿茵

到处可见中国文化的踪影

当然还有殖民地风情

信教的应该不少

还站在街角看报纸呢!

我的相机里最河内的一张照片

是学书法的吧?

民以食为天

有人爱狗。有人吃狗

累了?来一杯咖啡