Penang, Or, How We Ate Our Way Through Penang

A and I balik kampung to Penang (well, his kampung) a few weekends ago to attend a wedding of a dear friend of A's. I can't imagine what it was like growing up in Penang, but i'm sure it must have been good fun - awesome food, proximity to the beach, great hills to climb, more awesome food, lovely colonial buildings and quaint tree-lined avenues (which, incidentally, you can appreciate while stuck in the island's notorious traffic).

It's the kind of hometown where everyone knows your name (at least, if your name is A's). I especially love the old parts of the town where you can still see remnants of the island's rich colonial heritage, like say the swanky KFC operating out of an old colonial house.

Did I mention the awesome food?

Supposedly the hands-down-best-in-class mee goreng in the world, located on Bangkok Lane. I don't know about that, but I've never had fried noodles with little soft nubs of potato peeking out. But I suppose I wouldn't throw it out of bed...

A enjoying a roadside dessert of the-hands-down-best-in-class-most-authentic cendol in the world. I'll have to agree with this one.

So this is where they hide all the good bread...

A's favorite breakfast joint: roti canai drenched in daal, curry and sambal (roti banjir).

Okay, so we didn't just eat like pigs. We also tried to improve our minds by buying cheap secondhand books from the market. A variety of books from accounting textbooks to your latest chick-lit bestseller. Dusty though.

I spied this store across from the E&O displaying some lovely wedding dresses. J'adore! Unfortunately, it was closed.

Our trip ended with the lovely wedding held at the E&O. Too bad we couldn't linger, but we had to rush back across the bridge before it closed at midnight for maintenance and shot straight back to KL so we could make it to work on Monday morning.