Day 3 Penang 2014: A) Found in Georgetown and Beyond

We woke up to a cloudy but warm day. I was a little worried as the weather forecast for the day was rain and thunderstorm throughout the day. Hoping for the best weather possible as we have a full day of sightseeing (9:30am - 6:30pm).

For breakfast today, I tried a new dish - Vegetarian breakfast (egg with wholemeal toast, spinach, mushroom and ricotta) while the girls had Egg Florentine and Classic Egg with toast.

By 9:25am, we were off in our guide's car for a full-day adventure. First stop was the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. On route to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, our guide showed us various street art and wrought-iron caricatures around Georgetown. :) Some of the street art locations were quite obscure and only locals would know where to find them. Without our guide, we would never have been able to see/ find some of these street art. We spent about 45 minutes driving around Georgetown looking at the street art and we haven't seen all yet! We will continue looking out for street art throughout the day. (See below post on Penang Street Art II)
We only arrived at Pinang Peranakan Mansion close to 10:15am. We had a guide who took us on a guided tour round the mansion. He was most entertaining and was able to capture my girls' attention as he explained about the lifestyle and customs of the Babas and the Nyonyas in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore). Marieann and Juliane were especially in awe of the jewellery that the Nyonyas wore, actually me too! :P We spent close to two hours at the mansion. It was truly an educational and cultural experience for us! :) (See below post on Pinang Peranakan Mansion for photos)
After the Pinang Peranakan Mansion visit, we were a little peckish. The guide drove us to try the famous Penang Road Teochew Chendul. We didn't try eating by the roadside as the locals do as the girls were too shy. It would have been fun I think lol. We also tried the famous trishaw egg tarts, salted egg pastry and char siew fried pau from Ming Xiang Tai. Yum yum! :)

We dropped by Ghee Hiang, the oldest bakery in Penang (since 1856) to buy its traditional handmade Chinese biscuits such as the famous tau sar pneah (ground green bean biscuits), beh teh saw, hneoh pneah, and phong pneah as souvenirs for family and friends and for our own munching too. A total of 11 boxes haha. :P I also bought Ghee Hiang's white coffee and milk tea to try. :)

We managed to get to Penang Hill, just after 1pm. Thank goodness, there wasn't too long a queue as it was lunch time. By 1:15pm, we were seated in the funicular train and going up the hill. :) Penang Hill is one of the oldest colonial hill station established by the British, dated back to late 1700's. The climate was much cooler when we arrived at the top of Penang Hill and we definitely welcomed the cool respite. :) Too lazy to walk, we paid to take the buggy/golf cart which took us round the hill. By 2:30pm, we were back at the bottom of Penang Hill and on our way to try the famous Penang Assam Laksa at Pasar Air Itam. :)

Photo with the old train

Penang behind us (can see the Penang Bridge in the distance)

The oldest mail box

The Kachang Puteh stall

Going back down Penang Hill

Although it was after 2:30pm, it was crowded at the assam laksa stall at Pasar Air Itam. We decided to pack our laksa to go. Since we were already in the area, the guide took us to have a quick look at Air Itam Dam, the Kek Lok Si Temple and the Suffolk House, all without leaving the car lol. :P

Air Itam Dam

Kek Lok Si Temple

Suffolk House, Francis Light's residence

When we were back in Georgetown, we saw more street art and the attractions such as Cenotaph, Fort Cornwallis, Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, the Clan Jetties (Chew Jetty), etc. There were also plenty of heritage/ cultural buildings/ sights that we passed by during our drive around Georgetown looking for street art.

The Cenotaph

Fort Cornwallis

The lighthouse within Fort Cornwallis

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower (and a nutmeg sculpture)

St George's Church

Hainan Association & Temple

Supreme Court Building

Kapitan Keling Mosque

George Town Dispensary (est. 1889 and bldg erected 1926)

India House

Logan Heritage Building (erected 1880s)

Whiteaways Arcade

It was after 5pm when the guide took us to try Hon Kei (used to be a street food stall but has since expanded to a restaurant!). It was our lunner (lunch cum dinner) lol. 

The broth was really rich and full of flavour (minced pork noodle soup)

Yam rice with soup (assorted ingredients)

Buah long long: juice from a small green fruit, tastes sourish like lime but grassy. Refreshing on a hot day!

We finally made it back to Noordin Mews at 6:30pm. We were tired but we had a fruitful day of learning about the culture and history of Penang. There were so much to take in. :) Obviously the girls were not tired enough because they were playing/ swimming in the pool before 7pm! 
Nope, we haven't forgotten our assam laksa. We tried it after the girls had their shower and rest. Again the Noordin Mews staff was most kind as they helped us to heat up our laksa before serving it to us. It was a little spicy but I liked it. It is very different from the Singapore laksa. The rice noodles was in flavourful fish broth (fish flakes, assam, lemongrass, galangal, chilli) with fish flakes and topped with ginger flower bud, lettuce, onion, cucumber, mint leaves and a drizzle of shrimp paste (we told them to leave out the chilli!). :P

When we were having our supper, "Santa Claus" came. We found a different night snack and good night note. For tonight, it is Cow Ear Biscuit. We really love our nightly surprise and also our lovely-scented room as the turn down service included lighting up the oil burner in the bathroom.

10 Nov 14 turn down snack: Cow Ear Biscuits

Good night. Tomorrow is going to be free and easy. :)