I always enjoy the annual trips back to the village for Qing Ming to pay respects to the Hub's paternal ancestors. Kampar is a little sleepy town trying hard to get out of a time warp but that's exactly what I love! Giant supermarket and a Watsons with familiar toiletries set among quaint, old fashioned shop houses and wet markets serving amazingly excellent hawker fare. All that food and there's really no more time for anything else on the itinerary.
(Top left) Nonya kueh only goes on sale at 6pm on the weekends and typically gets sold out by 8ish. That speaks volumes of how yummy the little glutinous desserts are.
(Top right) Deep fried suckling piglet for dinner. Disturbing cute and I really did not fancy it.
We headed off to Penang! More food! I also would like to highlight that I got one of my best hotel experiences at Noordin Mews, a refurbished shophouse that provided attentive pampering service. Highly recommended!
(Pictures above) Angsana tree (Pterocarpus indicus) in bloom all over Penang island. A rare sight on our own sunny island.
(Picture above) Dipterocarps in the canopy in the forests of Air Hitam (roughly translated as Black water) Dam. The town at the base of this hill serves amazing Penang laksa, fresh crunchy mint and basil strewn on luscious assam base soup, slightly tart without being overpowering and the prawn/ fish(?) paste. Really to die for. No photos cos I chomped it up before it dawned on me that I should.
