Visit To Uncle Tan's Durian Orchard, George Town Festival 2013 (some murals from 101 Lost Kitten series) and Gertak Sanggul

Uncle Tan's Durian Orchard

Wow, it's our first time visiting a durian orchard during durian season. Uncle Tan is 爸爸's good friend and we had the good opportunity to visit his durian orchard near Jitra, Kedah :)

They enjoyed looking for durians, and even picked some wild plants on the way

弟弟 say that 姐姐 scratched him when she plonk down the durian so he was nursing his hand and didn't want to hold one here

Uncle Tan's orchard is very well kept, and we walked around easily. Sometimes we will hear a plop sound, which means a ripe durian has fallen. It's pretty fascinating. There are many types of durians at Uncle Tan's orchard, but I only remember 金瓜 :P

Other than durian trees, there are many cempedak trees too.

See how big the cempedaks are :)

One of their favourite fruits, rambutan! The ripe red ones were picked and eaten.

One of their favourite fruits is rambutan and they were asking to see the rambutan tree. We were eating by the rambutan trees while Uncle Tan is picking them from the tree. We had some dukong too which 弟弟 keep asking for more. Uncle Tan will be bringing us to another side of the orchard where dukong trees with ripe fruits are located.

Then we're back to the hut to have fruit feast. We enjoyed durian, rambutan and dukong. Even though I'm not much of a durian lover, however because it's so fresh, everything tasted super good! 姐姐 enjoyed the durians very much, but she was so full she couldn't eat anymore, we could see her tummy protrude out already :P

This mound of durians were taken on Uncle Tan and friends' trucks later

After eating, the children walked around, picked lots of wild flowers and saw butterflies. 弟弟 gave me the flowers he collected.

Next it's mangosteen and dukong time!

The guys were busy picking and collecting dukong, while the two children were lounging around and enjoying fresh dukong. I was lounging around too but in the name of supervising the children (and enjoying fresh dukong) :P

Busy at work collecting dukong

姐姐 is holding dukong. See the dukong tree with many dukong fruits in the background?

Goofing around with a branch with dukong

Later we stopped by another location to get more durians. We stopped to take a closer look at rubber trees, and 弟弟 went down to a little stream with uncle's friend.

A very close look to rubber tree at the orchard.
弟弟 washing his hands at a little stream with uncle watching him.

It's lunch time, we were treated to nasi ayam near the highway. It's quite good, many people stopped to eat here.

Lunch - nasi ayam

It's time to say goodbye, and Uncle Tan generously gave us cempedak, mangosteens, rambutan and dukong to bring back. Thank you Uncle Tan for the fruit feast and for showing us around the durian orchard! As we followed Uncle Tan's truck back to the North-South highway, the children say it seems like cempedak leaves were waving goodbye to us from the back of the truck :)

George Town Festival 2013 - Children's Craft and Games at Khoo Kongsi

Later in the evening, we went to Khoo Kongsi for Children's Craft and Games in conjunction with George Town Festival 2013. We reached there a little late, so some craft session were ending or no material left. Still had fun with whatever is available though. The volunteers deserve a clap on the back for being so friendly and kind to the visitors.

Trying out lino printing

Traditional bamboo stick game

Make-your-own-toy, this one is clothes peg and rubber band, I couldn't remember what is it called :P

Walking on coconut shell

Bamboo dance, they loved this one

Around and outside Khoo Kongsi

Since we have a map from the front counter, we went on the "chop-chop" trail. Only manage to get some of the stamps as it was past their operation time at certain locations and the caretakers must have kept it already.

While walking around, we noticed some Markings George Town sculptures that we have not seen before.

Acheen Street Ghaut. Description of the sculpture: "Much of the traffic of pilgrims to and from Muslim Holy Land for the haj went through Acheen Street, where tickets for the trip were sold. Shopping was also a favourite activity for both pilgrims and their well-wishers."

Armenian Street. Description of the sculpture: "The Hokkiens called this street Pak Thang Ah Kay or 'Coppersmith's Street', a reference to the early Malay braziery making tin and copper wares."   

Cannon Street. Description of the sculpture: "A cannon shot fired during 1867 Penang Riots made a large hole in this area, hence the name." 

Along the way we saw Cheah Kongsi which is open to public for George Town Festival. Noticed people were queueing for photos but didn't stop for the 101 Lost Kitten mural there. Maybe next time :)

Cheah Kongsi

Cheah Kongsi - an interesting door

On the way to dinner, we saw some of the 101 Lost Kitten series.

Good ole' Skippy

I think the mouse is the cutest, and the expression on the children's face trying to mimic it :)

They say it's a fake one haha, just advertisement for bicycle rental

After dinner, we saw Lee Clan Jetty having nice lights and went to take a look. Seems like they're having 88th anniversary celebration for Lee clan association.

Lee Clan Jetty entrance after the temple

That's the floating temple 玄母殿 (Hean Boo Thean temple) at the background

Another view of 玄母殿 from Lee Clan Jetty

The entrance at the front which attracted us to pay a visit

What a long day, fun but tired at the same time :P

Gertak Sanggul

The next day they are still up for seafood. We tried to look for a suitable beach at Gertak Sanggul but probably stopped at the wrong place. They still have fun with their beach toys.

The fleet of fishing boats at Gertak Sanggul

Starting to dig and play

Busy digging

Look peeps, a hole in the sand

斯文的 digging

Making another hole in the sand with his feet and hanging on to dear sister

Another rustic boat

Mantis prawn with salted eggs at Gertak Sanggul Fishing Stage Restaurant

A fun weekend with Ally

Ally is the children's cousin. She's embarking on her first solo trip and she chose to balik kampung! Of course she has to stay with us for the weekend.

What are the fun we had? Eat, play, talking, taking photos, FB'ing. Loads of food and noise :)

First we went for dinner at Kulim Forest Restaurant with their grandparents. The rickety road leading to this place is near to the rickety one we took to "bridge to nowhere" Pulau Bunting Bridge :) See the pebbles-type road with the restaurant sign, it's this way for a few minutes. Seems like eateries with gimmicks like fish-farming is popular, but it doesn't look like they rear the fishes at this place. I could be mistaken :P

Outside Kulim Forest Restaurant

We had durian before dinner, it was kind of forced on us. They brought out kampung durian and Green Skin durian. I had one pcs, 姐姐 had 3 pcs, 弟弟 tried one bite and said yucky again, the rest finished up by Ally and 爸爸. I couldn't take more as most of the stuff are just lumpy unlike the ones 爸爸 bought. Even 姐姐 say she likes durian, but she didn't finish the lumpy parts, and majority are polished off by 爸爸. Both Ally and 姐姐 prefer sweet-tasting durians. Whoa, the durian aftertaste really kills. And the durian smell afterwards too, as they just threw the skin and seeds at a box by our table. Food is really mediore, everything just tasted too sweet. 爸爸 ordered steamed catfish, assorted beans type veggie (supposed to be spicy but just tasted sweet), pork with salted fish, hot-plate tofu (lots of minced pork), sweet and sour pork, stir-fried veggie. Maybe he just didn't know how to order. Nice ambient but please don't ask me to go there anymore!

As soon as it gets dark, the mozzies start attacking Ally, the children and I (it is in the "forest" after all, so slather on mozzie repellant if anyone's still going to try this place. On our way back, we saw a few fireflies, though pales in comparison to the Nibong Tebal firefly watching trip.

Inside Kulim Forest Restaurant

Ally stayed the night with us and the children bugged her like mad :) The children told us the next day they stayed up really late :P

The next day, we went for lunch at Traders The Islander after 姐姐's Maths class. Unfortunately no western soup that day and I match the nice bread with coffee only. Strange that many tables are full of senior citizens :P I guess that's why they had "kiam chai ark" soup. Well, at least put out the regular mushroom soup. The children loved the desserts and ice cream as usual.

These photos taken by Ally

Ice cream at The Islander and durian display at Penang Times Square

We passed by Penang Times Square and I asked to for a photo of the durian display, to remember the durians we had yesterday but didn't take any shots as we got our hands messy (and ehem, smelly). See the blue sky in the durian display photo? The haze was bad last week, just clearing up during the weekend after a few drizzles. 姐姐 had music class replacement later, Ally and 弟弟 stayed home.

The play part comes next, even though they play at home. The children bugged us to go to playground, and I think they kind of remember where it is when they passed it. No photos there as they were running around so much and pity Ally as they pulled her arms to go here and there, screaming her name. Probably the whole playground knows her name already :) Then, window-shopping at Gurney Plaza since she hasn't been there quite some time.

Ally said 弟弟 took this photo :P

Of course after such a heavy lunch, we bring Ally for "lighter" dinner, the seafood noodle/porridge place at Sungai Tiram called Joo Leong Cafe. I had mee sua, 姐姐 and Ally had maggi noodles, 弟弟 had vermicelli (bee hoon), then there's the popular toast and satay to share upon 弟弟's request.

Taken by Ally again

Back home at night, the children bugged her to play again, and I think they all fell asleep trying to sing "12 Days Of Christmas" in the dark.

As it was 五月初五 端午节 (Duanwu Festival, 5th day of the 5th month in Chinese calendar), her mission is to lug back rice dumplings (she helped to make these) and Him Heang biscuits to Klang. Only 爸爸 eats rice dumplings at our home so she got a big pack :D 姐姐 hate fatty pork meat, and I hate five spice powder. Somehow 弟弟 haven't taken any liking for it despite being meat eater.

She made it back home safe and sound! Successful solo trip for a girl going into adulthood :)
See Ally's own encounter for her trip, didn't know she took so many photos with the children :P

Their first durian tasting

Children had been requesting to get a taste of durian.

As I do not take durian (rare for local person), I forbid any durian fruits in the house. Besides I can't stand the 街路边 durians. 爸爸 recommend 葫芦 durian as the first ones for the children as it taste sweeter and not so bitter. 红虾 durian have a bitter aftertaste according to 爸爸, the durian eater in the house.

He got one 葫芦 durian from the market, it costs RM14. Super expensive as it's now in the middle of durian season in Penang. Good thing about 打包 home is that the vendor will open the prickly fruit for you and put into a food carton. At least can reject on the spot and don't have to deal with any 虫虫 :)

In the car, even though the pack is closed, we can still smell it from the car boot. Phoey....
This is how the 葫芦 durian looks before eating.


姐姐 having her first durian. 蹲 at the balcony as I can't stand the smell at home. She quite like it and finished one seed by herself.


弟弟's expression after a small bite. He say, " Euk, it's yucky" and nearly vomit. He "drove" away quickly on his toy car. Well, durian eating is an acquired taste and we laughed over his reaction.