Penang Street at One @ KentRidge (NUH Medical Centre) [next to Kent Ridge MRT Station]

Many Singaporeans are obsessed with Penang, an island in Malaysia that used to be part of the Straits Settlement (which included Singapore) in the colonial period, and this obsession can be seen from the photographs and status updates frequently posted on Facebook.

One key attraction is food, specifically the allure of Penang cuisine. It has been a nineteen-year hiatus since my last visit and i thought i should make a trip soon to catch up on lost memories.

For the moment though, we can still satisfy ourselves with the many dining establishments offering Penang cuisine that have sprouted up in Singapore's food scene. Penangites would be quick to remind us that most are hardly of standard (not to mention they are also much more expensive) but to me, it is seldom a case of authenticity when it come to food.

It was with the above attitude when i finally checked out a pretty new restaurant located quite near my workplace named candidly as Penang Street. 

Penang Cendol

Gula melaka features highly when it comes to a bowl of cendol and many of us would attack the rich, gooey layer of burnt brown sugar first with just a dash of ice. 

In Penang Street, the gula melaka was blended with ice, resulting in a sweeter yet more consistent taste. It was helpful for picky individuals although to me, i am more old school; i like to determine my own ratio of gula melaka. 

Penang Char Koay Teow

Among all Penang dishes, the Char Koay Teow is the most contentions with many gauging the authenticity of Penang-style restaurant / stalls using this dish. 

The above tasted zesty, a bit too dry for my liking and didn't really quite impressed me, at least not on the same level as i did when i was at Penang Place, a buffet restaurant at Fusionpolis. 

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Location

1 Lower Kent Ridge Road,

#01-09 & #01-19/20,

One@KentRidge (NUH Medical Centre)

[next to Kent Ridge MRT Station]

Price

Penang Cendol -S$5.80

Penang Char Koay Teow - S$8.80

[Subject to GST and Service Charge] 

Additional Information
My Muslim friends would be pleased to know that Penang Street is in the midst of getting the restaurant Halal-certified! 

Maokong Station & its Surrounding @ Taipei [Taiwan]

Before you wonder how the hell we got to the Maokong Station, it would be beneficial if you could refer to my blog post here for the gondola ride that originated from Taipei Zoo station.

The cable car journey took us a long thirty minutes from one end to the other and upon disembarking from the gondola; our stomachs were determined to search for a place where we can have brunch!

There was a slight problem; i didn't do any food research beforehand as that day was supposed to be a trip to Wulai but we woke up later than expected and i didn't realise there were so many choices!

Matters got worse when we were given three routes to choose when we exited Maokong station. It's like a game of chance even though it didn't take us long to decide that the road straight ahead might be our best bet.

Like any hungry stomach that requires food in order to stay sane, we were totally prepared to enter the first teahouse we came to. As a note, it was also encouraging to know that waffles were on the menu! With greater expectation came bigger disappointment; the place was not yet open for business!

Walked past this charcoal kiln display by the road; stomachs can wait as i snapped a few photographs. With the amount of fats i have, i strongly believe my tummy can withstand the slight delay. 

Brunch fulfilled at Da Guan Yuan teahouse! For my review, click here. 

Time to take a more relaxing stroll around the area to digest the food we had. The temperature wasn't as hot as Singapore although it was still quite a torture to walk with the sun toasting my hair! 

Zoomed in view of Zhinan Temple which i didn't manage to visit. I don't really understand why some people (even local Taiwanese) told me five days in Taipei were too long a stay. I think even the full nine days i spent in Taiwan would be insufficient for just Taipei / New Taipei area!

Farmland and tea plantation in front of us. I am unsure if it is private property although there didn't seem to be any worker whom i can ask for clarification. By the way, did anyone notice an item of interest in the photograph?

Personal interest for me that is; the tomb right smack in the farmland! p.s. guess that translates in 'private property'! I recollected from a conversation i had with a local cab driver that this is a common practice in Taiwan even though in Singapore's cultural context, it is a no-no to stay near a burial spot. 

We noticed the directional posts which would have meant the pathways were open to visitors! 

A mock granary store that acted as a rest area for tourists. Navigation along the path was straightforward and quite easy although the elderly would have to keep in mind that there were quite a number of steps and shelter was minimal. It would, however, be quite a nice walk in the cooler seasons. 

For those who have had the fortune to stay in a kampong would have plenty of memories reminiscing the good, old days when such scenes are aplenty. I enjoyed my village days and the only thing that put me off was the toilet with just a hole in the middle! Eeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuww!

The path we were on was known as the Camphor Tree Trail that was publicised as a reflection of village life in the past. 

I might have lived in a kampong but my family didn't owe any land, save for the zinc-roofed house we stayed in and small plots of land surrounding it. So, please don't ask me what plants these are. I took the picture simply because the little blue flowers were pretty.

Likewise for the above photograph! Judging from the shape of the leaves, I have a suspicion they are maple tree flowers; Canadian friends (i.e. Karen) would be a better judge on this!

When this view came to sight, i stopped momentarily in my track. When i was in primary school, i would often draw a similar painting based on my definition of an ideal home. A house in the middle backed with rolling hills, a pathway leading to town on the side, beds of flowers and a pond in front (which existed to the left of the photograph). 

I would add in a few animals as well. Sadly, not a buffalo or a cow as i didn't want to handle an enormous amount of shit. Remember, an ideal home in my young opinion then doesn't translate into a farmer's life. 

On second thought, i might have considered statues of these working animals instead. Less maintenance, less shit work and perfect for photo-taking. Would paint them brown though. 

Alex surrounded by yellow flowers. Despite my lack of knowledge for plants, i am aware what this plant supplies; an item often seen in Japanese restaurants. 

Edamame beans! I have fond memories of these beans as mom and i would play scissors-paper-stone, when we used to patronise Sakae Sushi for their buffet, and the loser would have to eat these beans! 

This sign clarified a lot more on the ownership of this farmland. According to what was written, it is private property and as visitors, we are of course not allowed to take away the plants / flowers (beans inclusive).

Chanced upon more tombs!

A closed up look; as you can see, some of them were more like houses and there was in fact a locked room behind the headstone. I am curious what lies beyond the locked door; a coffin or maybe a dried up corpse??

Start of the Camphor Tree Trail was actually right behind the restaurant where we had brunch! 

Another nostalgic display; this time an abode for pigs! From the Chinese-worded information panel, it was said that in the past, many farmhouses would build an area next to the kitchen to rear pigs. 

Darn, i need to lose some weight! The weight i managed to lose before i visited Taiwan was gained back in just the nine days i was in the country, with an addition of two kilos! 

No real piglet but better than nothing.

Walked back to the Maokong station where there were two stone cats. As mentioned before, i was under the impression that Maokong would be filled with cats. The origin of the name came from the potholes in the area which was known as to the locals as "cat hollows" (in the local Hokkien dialect, it is pronounced as neow-kang). 

With the Maokong gondola station behind us, to our left was a street with food stalls by the sides. It is also possible to walk to Zhinan temple using this way. 

One of the food stalls by the roadside. Charcoal toasted sweet potatoes would be great to have (to eat and to hold) if the weather was colder! 

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Map 

As above. There is a visitor centre within Maokong Station and i would suggest you check it out and take  copy of the English-language map which would help you in your journey. 

For an overview of my 9 Days, 8 Nights Taiwan Trip [Cingjing (清境) - Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) - Taichung (臺中) - Taipei (臺 北)], click HERE.

Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車) - Loving The Crystal Cabin with itsTransparent Floor @ Taipei [Taiwan]

When my colleague suggested Maokong as a destination for my Taiwan trip in April, i thought it would be a place filled with hundreds or even thousands, of paw-cleaning cats as mao is Mandarin for cat! 

Well, i don't recollect seeing any real feline while i was there but i do remember taking a gondola ride with an insane fellow who scared the hell out of me! Before you read further, do note that the "said" lunatic is none other than Alex.

First thing: buy a ticket! Since we only had the intention to take the cable to the last station, drop for some photo taking and then back, it was actually more worth it to buy single-trip ticket at NT$50 rather than round the trip ticket at NT$120 each. By the way, isn't this year the horse year!? 

The crystal cabins are of no difference from typical gondolas with the exception of one significant feature; the 48mm-thick reinforced glass flooring that can withstand the weight of five passengers! 

It's a no-brainer which one we chose; the crystal cabin of course! Beware of the queue that would be much longer than the line for normal, boring cabins. Luckily we visited on a Tuesday and it didn't take us more than ten minutes to get to the front of the line. 

As of December 2013, Hello Kitty was selected as the annual mascot for Maokong Gondola and you could find many images of the mouth-less cat spread all over the place! Not that it really matters to me even though if i have to choose, i would prefer the teddy bear theme at Sun Moon Lake ropeway.

Finally, our crystal cabin!

The excitement tapered off when we realised it would be a shared cabin. :( Guess we didn't have much choice as the crew's priority to shorten the queue for the crystal cabins which grew even longer than when we first arrived. 

Maokong Gondola has a total of four main and two angle stations over a distance of approximately four kilometers. It doesn't travel in a straight line and hence, require the help of the angle stations to make the "turn". The one in the above picture is the starting station; Taipei Zoo Station.

That feeling of soaring high above the ground was immensely scary for a person who is afraid of height. With both feet planted firmly on the glass, i was at the same time also grabbing on to the hand rails by the side of the cabins. It's never too early to prepare in case the glass gives way.

Don't give me bullshit about how strong the glass is, that it is CE certified etc; i watched too many Final Destination movies. Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. 

As we had strangers as 'company', we put on our best behaviour and simply took in the natural sights surrounding us. Frankly, it did get a bit boring after a while with frame after frame of greenery and more greenery.

Scenery got better after the cabin passed the Taipei Zoo South Station; the view of the suburban Taipei in front of us! At this moment, we should be at around an altitude of 100-200 meters.

What does this remind you of? Some of the Chinese should be able to draw references to the bwa bwei wooden blocks Taoists use for divination purpose. Its appearance means we should be reaching the Zhinan Temple Station. 

The drop, which wasn't horrifying so long you keep your eyes ahead of you, stay still and don't look down. 

Partially blocked Zhinan Temple. I would have enjoyed the temple as its patron deity is Lu Dongbin, one of the legendary eight immortals! Again, it's a pity i didn't have the time. 

A picture of the temple against the hazy looking Taipei 101! Check out the hill right below the skyscraper (which used to be one of the tallest in the world); do you know what those non-green structures are? They are tombs!! 

We exited the Maokong station, had lunch and walked a bit before proceeding back to the station for our trip back to Taipei Zoo station. Queue for the crystal cabin on our way back was much shorter!!! Many people must have been freaked out on their way in! Hahahaha. 

Anyway, it was a blessing for us as we were given the option to have a crystal cabin just for the two of us! Yipppppppeeeee!! We can laugh loudly, pick our nose, take a million photographs etc without disturbing anyone! 

There isn't any significance to the above picture but it proves to show we basically let go when we had the whole cabin for ourselves! 

Everything was alright until this bloody idiot insisted i took a picture of him lying on the glass!!!! I am telling you; my heart almost popped out when i saw him in this position!

One thing for sure, he is not acrophobic and could think of dozens of poses to take advantage of this rare opportunity! In the above photograph, he imagined himself to be a highly skilled martial arts expert who could hover in the sky.

He could even pretend to be scared while the real acrophobia (me) had to accede to his never ending demands to take pictures. It's not helpful when i kept having horrifying images of the glass cracking! 

I was persuaded to take a strike a pose too. Damn, what was i thinking then?!?!?!?! Maybe that explains why i looked a little unsound in the picture. 

To add salt to the injury, the indisputable scaredy cat in the Gang of Four took to appreciate the scenery using another angle; face down. $%#$%@%^

Sigh... i felt so useless, so weak... Okay, to comfort myself, it's easier to label the asshole as a lunatic! Guess that is the same label some friends gave me when i said i love to visit the cemeteries!

Alex literally maintained that position of looking down throughout the journey until we are about to reach the Taipei Zoo South Station (have staff mah, so have to put on our best behaviour coupled with Alex's innocent expression). 

The next crazy thing Alex did was after asking me what the Taipei zoo has. Like a little boy, he was thrilled to hear that the Taipei Zoo has pandas and dragged me out of the cabin at Taipei Zoo South Station! 

Hello buddy, time wasn't on our side!!! 

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Website (in English)

http://english.gondola.trtc.com.tw/

Map of Maokong

As above!

How to Get to Maokong Gondola

Damn accessible - take the metro to Taipei Zoo Station and walk less than five minutes to the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station. For other modes of transport, please refer to here. 

Operating Hours / Ticket Prices

Check the website of maokong gondola which is incredibly informative! There are also seasonal activities (for example, apricot blossoms from January to February) which you should really consider while you are planning your trip!

Additional Information

For ladies wearing skirts, please don't attempt to stand up in the crystal cabin. If you die die need to, do consider wearing pants. :) 


For an overview of my 9 Days, 8 Nights Taiwan Trip [Cingjing (清境) - Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) - Taichung (臺中) - Taipei (臺 北)], click HERE.