Zoey's Fasting Day

This is the second year Zoey is fasting and she's taking it well.  She couldn't wait for Ramadhan to be here and I had little trouble waking her up at 4.30am.  Her appetite was okay during her first sahur. I think it's because I cooked one of her favourite dishes - Ayam Goreng Minyak.  Very simple.

After sahur yesterday (29 June 2014) she decided to watch barbie and other animated series on youtube.  So she started from about 6am - sitting alone in the living room because all of us went back up after finishing with all the dishes.

 Around 5pm Papa called her up for Asar prayer.  That's how I found her later.  Tired of either fasting or too much youtubing.

About 5 minutes before iftar I woke her up.  She's contented with the fried beehoon yesterday.  Glad that she's doing fine.

Am proud of you Zoey!

All Aboard! - The Ferries of Penang

Ferry ride is a must in Penang.  We normally go to the island on ferry and leave it via the Penang Bridge.  Very rarely did we ride the ferry to travel from the island to the mainland because the queueing up is always tiring.  Everybody just wants to get home after a fun day in Penang.

The ferries, until a few years ago, were all yellow in colour.  Now, the authority painted them with many colourful designs.  They are still one of the main transportations and attractions to connect the mainland and the island.

We departed to Penang from Alor Setar and since we used the old road, this view greeted us.  We could see the island in the background.

The highway is right next to the port.

This is the Penang Port.

Thousands of containers await their turn.

And we were also greeted by huge oil tanks.

Constructions of any kind never stopped here.  We're still on the mainland.  The surrounding area was very hot. The sun was blazing with no trees around.

The toll plaza just before the pier was always jammed with traffic.

We had to wait in line for a few minutes before reaching the toll booth and paid RM7.70 per car.

A normal sight here.  No superstitious connection to our trip.

Nowadays, they put up a TV screen to inform the number of ferries operating that day (4) and the length of time (in minutes) the next ferry is arriving at the pier.  Before this everyone had to wait without any information whatsoever.

We're now on board the ferry.  I love the mechanic parts of it here. So as usual we got out of the car to explore all nooks and crannies of the ferry.  There are 2 level on all ferries. The lower level is always for cars (with motorcyles allowed on at the back) and the upper level is for a combination of vehicles and pedestrians.

Leaving the pier.

Getting all excited.

The last post at the end of the pier.

Ready and excited to explore the upper level.  Both the stairs (at the front and back of the ferry) were narrow and steep. One person at a time.

Careful there!  When someone is climbing the stairs, the person at the top has to wait his turn if he wants to climb down and vice versa.

There were pedestrians, people riding motorcycles, bicycles and a few cars on the upper level.

Both were a little shy because people were looking at them.

Enjoying the view and sea breeze from the upper level.

A ferry approaching from the island.

After that we came down and tried to get a standing space in front of the ferry but there were too many people there and we only managed to stand on the side.

An extension of the Penang Port into the sea.

They maintained this ferry with the original colour.  The skyline of the Penang island included the famous KOMTAR. 

The latest colour scheme of one of the ferries.  This one just left the island's pier.

A blue hue for this one.

And a combination of these colours for this one.

We've arrived at the island and leaving the ferry.

We're on the island now and those traffics were waiting to aboard the ferry to go to the mainland.

After this, our trip would always consisted of winding roads and confusing turns and getting lost on the island before reaching the intended destination (whatever and wherever they may be).  That's the fun of driving in Penang.

Till we meet again, Penang!

Penang State Museum

A trip to Penang is always looked-forward to by us.  We normally don't visit shopping malls.  Penang is all about history and culture to us and we love every nook and cranny of Penang.

This time we decided to take Zoey to the Penang State Museum.  The last time she was there was when she was about 3 or 4 years old.

The entrance fee is cheap - RM1 per person.  Ok, I'm too tired and too busy to arrange the pictures in the chronological order.  So, whatever comes first.

Cheap! Despite the restrictions, people took pictures all the same.

It's Nina's job to queue up and buy the tickets.

Meanwhile, Zoey's been busy posing outside.

The Japanese dollar used during the Japanese Occupation in the early 1940s (World War II).

Imitation at its best.  The facial expressions bear the same resemblance.

Another better imitation

Posing with the English Empire's emblem

A long hallway.

I love hallways.  Here, with pictures of old Penang hanging on both walls.

A Japanese samurai sword used during the Japanese Occupation.

I think this was the famous Japanese General Yamashita.

A section on old cafes in old Penang.

The philatelly section.

Imitating the lion and the unicorn.

An old agreement signed by, among others, Stanford Raffles.  I lurve the cursive handwriting.

One of the early rides in the city.

Resting while waiting for the girls.

 Authentic tiffin carrier. The Malay language printed sounds like Baba and Nyonya dialect.

Once practiced by the rich Chinese families.

 Musical instruments in the Indian hall.

The barber cutting hair.  Check out the barber's own hair! He braided his hair and wound it around his head.

 An old globe.

The explanation on the globe.

Used by the cigarette peddlar - Rokok Chap Kuching.

Pictures of the early days' Governors of Penang.

Inside the Malay Hall.

A Malay wedding.  I think this couple came from rich families because only the rich could afford to have their photos taken during those times.

Check out also the jewellery with the rings on almost all fingers.  Jewellery (especially gold) plays an important and integral part in the Malay society.  They tell people of your social status in society.  They are (Yup! Still  being practiced today) normally worn during festivals and most especially during weddings where families, relatives and friends gather together to celebrate the newlyweds (and to show off new jewellery items and try to outdo one another).

It's not openly talked about (and people don't normally openly praise you if you have beautiful or new jewellery items) but families and friends would quickly take a look at whatever items you're wearing (the size, the designs, the number of necklace hanging from your neck, the number of bracelets and bangles on your wrist - sometimes both wrists - including the rings - gold? diamond? Ruby? Emerald? etc...)  and then go on in search of close confidants to gossip about you.

Those being gossiped about would normally feel proud (oh yeah! They ARE aware of people gossipping about them because that's the purpose of wearing those jewellery in the first place) to be the talk of the day.  Crazy!
 

Outside the Chinese Hall - a display of many historical items related to the Chinese history in Penang.

In an adjoining area next to the Chinese Hall, there were displays of a few beautiful Opium Beds - beds used by the rich Chinese to smoke opium with family and friends.

A very large cooking urn.  Behind Nina and Zoey was a bathtub.  There were also a few Corinthian columns on display which I'm not sure of their significance to the history of Penang.  These were displayed outside the building - facing the main road.

Giving their last salute before we left the place.

There were many other interesting pictures and items in the museum.  Luckily, there were also not too many tourists which helped eased our movement.

We'll visit it again in the next few years and see whether or not there are differences - maybe new items etc.