Hard Rock Cafe Penang

International Lion Dance on Stilts Competition 2009 Penang

Sept 26th -Sept 27th 2009 Komtar Dome Penang Malaysia.

The night earlier, my friend TH offered to bring me for one of the best nasi kandar ( located in Transfer road ) and to snap the the lion dance on stilt competition. I was not aware about this until then so I decided to take up the offer.

We woke up late that day ~8.30am and left the house at 9am. True enough, there were not many choices left at the nasi kandar stall ( no pictures but will snap them the next time )

After that we left to Komtar. We were early and had to wait almost an hour before the event start. The stage setup for the competition was quite poor ,as IMHO ( in my humble opinion) they could even better promote it if they organize it at the open area at Gurney , Queensbay or Timesquare. Having a Lion dance competition in an enclosed area just does not give the "uuhhmm" feel. Secondly, I felt they could do better with the prompts as it looks like it is really a cheap stage ( the organizers lay cheap foams and matress around the stilts ).

Having said that, I was really amaze with the quality of the lion dance and dragon dance that was displayed. If you notice carefully, the stilts are constructed at an elevated level and it slowly gets higher. One of the team actually jump up at the middle section of the stilts which really amaze me as it it probably ~5-6 feet high.

Hopefully they will further promote this and I really enjoyed watching them perform.

Khuntai Restaurant Butterworth Penang

Last Saturday(5th Sept 2009), my family and I went on a trip to Ipoh to visit a family relative. One the way back to Penang, we detour to Khuntai ( Thai restaurant ) located in Bagan Ajam for dinner. I must admit that we got lost along the way but the journey there was worth it.

We arrived around 6pm and quickly made our order. The location is quite strategic as it is easily accessible through the north south highway and located very near to the sea. I like the settings of the restaurant as well as it gives me the seaside resort type of feel. The restaurant was 30% filled up by that time but by the time we left aroun 7.30pm, it was around 95% filled up so do call up and make bookings if you are travelling from Penang there to avoid disappointment.

We ordered
1) Kerabu mango
2) Clams
3) Kangkung
4) Crab fried with salted duck egg
5) Fish is thais hot and sour sauce
6) Tong yum seafood
7) vercemilli in claypot

All and all, the dinner was excellent as the seafood was really fresh and the price is quite reasonable. Personally, I like the vercemilli in claypot, crab fried with salted egg and the tong yum most. Do beware when you make the order as some of the food is really spicy ( spicy buyt tasty ) Thought I can eat "cilli padis" I still find the kangkung extremely spicy - but tasty.

I believe the food we order was enough for 8 ( though there was only 6 of us ) but then again the price is ~Rm160. I highly recomend this restaurant to all......

Contact no : Refer to the business card above

Directions to Khuntai Restaurant Butterworth ( from Penang ) :

• Once you exit Penang Bridge, head towards Alor Setar. Exit Left at Bagan Ajam/Sungai Dua (you should slow down to take note of this exit after passing permatang pauh)
• Once you exit on the left, keep to the right lane.
• Stay on the right lane and go straight as you pass thought the exit for Bagan Lalang and Sungai Dua.
• Keep on the left lane once you pass sungai dua as you get ready to make a U-turn below the flyover. ( Do not go up the flyover as it will lead you to a toll and it will cost you tollx2 to get back to Khuntai. On the bright side, if you do happen to overshoot like what I did, just enjoy the extra 3km drive per way to and fro and the view of Penang Island from the mainland )
• After the U-turn, stay on the left lane go straight and turn left when you see a "chinese kongsi" house at the corner.
• You should see the turning after a short drive through a stretch of terrace houses.
• As a preparation, do take down the phone number above and give them a call if you get lost.