This evening, Iconic Hotel hosts an Engage And Taste (E.A.T.) event to showcase its latest wedding banquet packages. The event is held in one of the hotel’s function rooms. When all rooms are combined, the Iconic Ballroom can comfortably accommodate up to 40 banquet tables.

Iconic Hotel offers several banquet packages starting from RM899.00+ per table. The hotel requires a minimum of 20 tables. Today’s 8-course Chinese menu is priced at RM1,288.00+ per table. No pork is served at Iconic Hotel.

Starting with the appetizer, the Deluxe Happiness Platter comprises of 5 delicacies: wakame salad with hokkigai, pan-fried Shanghai dumplings with ginger mayonnaise, deep-fried whitebait with salt & pepper, chicken meatloaf with roasted sesame sauce, and smoked duck with fruit salad.

The next dish is a savory soup: Double-Boiled Black Chicken Soup. The soup is also infused with fish maw, dried scallops and napa cabbage. The overall taste is excellent; the soup has the ideal saltiness to keep the palate stimulated.

The next course is a poultry dish: Sesame Roasted Chicken. Cooked to golden perfection, the chicken has a coating of sesame seeds that takes the aroma to a new level. This dish comes with plum sauce and crispy prawn crackers.

Steamed Grouper Fish is served with Executive Chef Justin’s signature Nyonya sauce. The condiment strikes a fine balance between sweet, spicy and savory flavors. Of course, the fish can be cooked in another cooking style upon request.

The Braised Black Mushrooms are juicy indeed. They are accompanied by scrumptious fishcakes topped with sea cucumber and scallops. Broccoli at the center serves as counterbalance to the savory ingredients.

Deep-Fried White Prawns are flavored with tangy orange sauce. The seasoning is able to penetrate the prawns’ carapaces. This is not an easy feat by any measure.

XO Seafood Fried Rice is the penultimate dish this evening. Contrary to its name, the fried rice does not involve any liquor. Instead, the word “XO” refers to a savory seafood sauce called “XO sauce“.

The wedding feast concludes with two desserts: Mochi and Merry Me Ice Cream. For the latter, my favorite flavor is Gula Melaka.

Most banquet dishes are presented elegantly and make good first impressions. Taste-wise, they are largely delectable to my satisfaction. The serving size of each course is just right; there are hardly any leftovers at the end of the meal.

To present the best wedding experience, Iconic Hotel collaborates with established partners in this line of business, some of which are sponsors of today’s event.

First, Memories Bridal Gallery is a photo studio which specializes in wedding photography. The studio currently offers attractive packages from RM2,999.00. Memories Bridal Gallery also has the Sabah Wedding Package that covers photo shooting in Sabah and a night’s stay at Bungaraya Island Resort.

Two models are present this evening to model the studio’s wedding dresses and evening gowns.

Next, Squidoobooth provides photo booth rentals to keep guests entertained before and during any occasion. Participants can have fun taking photos with funny hats and masks.

Live entertainment this evening is provided by Fantastic 5. The band is well versed with songs from many genres. Live band is usually not part of Iconic Hotel’s wedding package, but the hotel can help to arrange one if requested.

Iconic Hotel is also taking the opportunity this evening to showcase several creative choices for meetings. Besides the standard sandwich-and-coffee tea break, event organizes can opt for any of these add-ons for RM10.00 per person.

The Merry Me Ice Cream Cart is a popular option for many organizers. The cart provides assorted ice cream flavors such as Soursop Sorbet and Tau Fu Fah. Toppings like caramel and chocolate sauce are provided.

The Chocolate Fountain is well received too. Food items that go well with melted chocolate are strawberries, apricot, grapes, macarons, cookies and marshmallows.

The Popcorn Bar comes with several buckets of salted popcorn. Each person is able to enjoy popcorn to one’s liking. I personally like to sprinkle my popcorn with wasabi and salted egg powder.

The Muah Chee Counter serves a local snack made of glutinous rice flour, sugar and crushed peanuts. Muah chee comes in two flavors: original and pandan.

Last but not least, Chai Tiam Ma presents a bicycle and mock sundry shop stocked with snacks and toys from the yesteryears. These items are only familiar to those who were around in the 1980s.

Parties interested in Iconic Hotel’s wedding banquet and meeting packages may contact the hotel at (+60) 4-505 9988 to acquire more information.

Name: Iconic Hotel
Address: 71, Jalan Icon City, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-505-9988
Business hours: N/A
Website: https://www.iconichotel.com.my/meeting-events
Coordinates: 5.34210 N, 100.43291 E
Directions: From the North-South Expressway, take the Bukit Mertajam exit and head east. Turn left just before Petron gas station, then turn right to the front entrance of the 15-floor Iconic Hotel. The hotel provides multistorey parking.

Baba & Nyonya Hall is a new event space in Ixora Hotel. Formerly retail space for tenants, the area now serves as a conference hall for corporate and private functions. This extra space complements the Grand Ballroom, which is often occupied on weekends and holidays.

The design of Baba & Nyonya Hall revolves around marine life. Besides starfish motif for the carpet, there are also tropical aquariums at the foyer. The interior designer obviously has an affinity for fish.

Baba & Nyonya Hall consists of two separate sections, Baba Hall and Nyonya Hall, which covers 108 and 226 square meters respectively. When combined, the overall area can accommodate 380 guests in a banquet setting.

Ixora Hotel is hosting a business cocktail this evening to showcase the Baba & Nyonya Hall. The buffet line is decorated with lobster-like ornaments, perhaps to underscore the hall’s marine theme.

Ixora Hotel’s banquet kitchen is staffed by an elite crew led by Executive Chef Ong. Food is served in tapas-style portions. Delicacies include smoked salmon, seared tuna, seafood ceviche, truffle brioche, asparagus crudités and crab meatballs.

Meanwhile, pasta choices are spaghetti, fettuccine and tagliatelle. Pasta is served with tomatoes and capsicum.

Three pasta sauces are prepared this evening: marinara, bolognese and carbonara. Parmesan cheese and chili flakes are provided.

The pastry chef also prepared sweet treats such as mango panna cotta, matcha crumble mousse, blueberry pavlova, cheese tartlets, tiramisu savoiardi, almond profiteroles and dark chocolate macarons.

Chardonnay Pinot Grigio is poured this evening. As for something non-alcoholic, Ocean Lemonade is prepared from lemon-flavored soda pop. The mocktail is infused with butterfly-pea flowers as a natural coloring.

Name: Baba & Nyonya Hall
Address: 3096, Jalan Baru, Bandar Perai Jaya, 13600 Perai, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-382-8888
Business hours: N/A
Website: https://www.ixorahotel.com/conferences-events
Coordinates: 5.37791 N, 100.39844 E
Directions: From Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (North-South Expressway), take the Prai exit and head west. After Megamal Pinang on the left, turn left and follow the road to Ixora Hotel’s basement parking. Baba & Nyonya Hall is located behind the lobby.

PARKROYAL Penang Resort is a 5-star beachside resort in Batu Ferringhi. This hotel serves as the flagship resort of PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts, which has a portfolio of 15 properties in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Today, PARKROYAL Penang Resort officially announces the completion of its yearlong refurbishment project. This is the hotel’s most significant makeover since its inception in 1990. Besides revamping all hotel rooms, Parkroyal also renovated many common areas including the lobby, restaurant and lounge.

The hotel’s new lobby incorporates timber furnishings into its design. Behind the reception counters, golden lighting presents a charming sense of opulence. The open-air hall takes advantage of rejuvenating breeze that blows perpetually from the Andaman Sea.

Beyond the lobby, the hotel’s expansive grounds provide unobstructed views of the renowned Batu Ferringhi beach. Hotel guests have access to a large swimming pool as well as a smaller one with water slides. Nestled among palm trees, sunloungers and cabanas allow guests to relax in this tropical paradise.

The former Tamarind Brasserie has been given a complete makeover. The new all-day dining restaurant, Cinnamon Asian Kitchen, is mostly air-conditioned. The dining section is fitted with light-colored wooden surfaces, presenting a family-friendly appearance with a touch of modernity.

Cinnamon also allows al fresco dining. The outdoor section takes advantage of refreshing air from the adjoining garden. Meanwhile, a long wooden table at the center encourages communal dining – not a bad idea especially for single travelers.

Like its predecessor, Cinnamon is named after a spice. This reflects the restaurant’s liberal approach to local herbs and spices. Its food menu features mostly local and Asian dishes. In addition, Cinnamon also serves international buffet lunch and dinner every day.

As for beachside dining, Uncle Zack By The Beach serves romantic dinners with scenic views of the sea as the backdrop. This eatery, alongside Cool Bananas and Sunset Bar, will be revamped in due time.

Directly above Cinnamon is Parkroyal’s spa center called St. Gregory. The spa facilities in all Parkroyal properties carry the same branding.

St. Gregory offers traditional body massages, hydrotherapy treatments and other Ayurveda therapies. There are 5 single rooms and 2 couple rooms.

Meanwhile, the Javana Lounge has also been renovated to present a more upbeat ambience. Located next to the lobby, the lounge serves beverages and snacks in a casual setting. Furnished with stylish sofa and lounge chairs, Javana Lounge is an ideal venue to relax and mingle with other guests.

Parkroyal has 284 guestrooms and 25 suites in total. Besides a king-size bed, the One-Bedroom Family Seaview Room has a daybed with a trundle. The extra bed accommodates an extra adult or 2 small children. Similar to the lobby, the room also uses timber as the main theme.

Most rooms at the sea-facing wing have private balconies. Rooms at higher floors enjoy panoramic views of the pristine blue sea, which stretches as far as the horizon would allow. All guestrooms in Parkroyal are non-smoking rooms. This restriction also applies to the balconies.

The Deluxe Room is substantially smaller but still provides reasonable comfort. This room does not have a sea view as its window faces inland. The Deluxe Room is furnished with a simple daybed which can accommodate a child if needed.

Each guestroom has an ensuite bathroom with a shower stall; bathtubs are fitted in the suites only. Unlike most hotels, Parkroyal uses Japanese-style sliding doors for bathrooms.

This evening’s celebration begins with a cocktail party at Javana Lounge, followed by dinner in a buffet setting. The opening speech is delivered by Mr. Edward Kollmer, the General Manager of PARKROYAL Penang Resort.

The next speech is presented by Mr. Law Heng Kiang, Penang State Exco for Tourism Development. This is followed by the launching ceremony, which Mr. Law officiated on behalf of the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Lim Guan Eng, arrived towards the end of dinner. After delivering a speech on Penang’s thriving tourism, the Chief Minister was presented a token of appreciation by Parkroyal. Joining him on stage are Mr. Edward Kollmer and Mr. Greg Allan, Vice President of Operations of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

Name: PARKROYAL Penang Resort
Address: Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-886-2288
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/malaysia/penang-resort.html
Coordinates: 5.47222 N, 100.24624 E
Directions: From Tanjung Bungah, travel west towards Batu Ferringhi. Parkroyal is approximately 5 kilometers from Tanjung Bungah’s floating mosque, located on the right of the road. There are parking spaces in front of the hotel.

Golden Sands Resort is one of the three properties in Penang under Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. This beach resort has 2 proper restaurants: Garden Cafe and Sigi’s Bar & Grill.

Just recently, the resort renovated the Garden Cafe in order to increase its capacity. The new section, known as The Terrace, can accommodate an additional 100 diners in a normal restaurant setting. The Terrace features a glass ceiling which allows natural sunlight to illuminate the area.

Golden Circle is Shangri-La’s loyalty program where members collect points when staying at any of its 116 properties worldwide. This includes the group’s renowned brands including Shangri-La, Kerry Hotels, Traders Hotels and Hotel Jen.

Just last week, the hotel chain started to allow Golden Circle members to book and check in any of its hotels through the Golden Circle mobile app.

Today, Golden Sands Resort celebrates the corporate-wide launching of The Table from Golden Circle. Golden Circle members may now accumulate points and redeem free meals at any of Shangri-La’s 500 plus restaurants and bars worldwide. For members’ convenience, the eateries are categorized into 5 “moods”: Intimate, Elegant, Upbeat, Adventurous and Chill.

To celebrate the launching of The Table, Golden Sands Resort is hosting a 5-course dinner this evening. The meal takes us on a gastronomical journey through all 5 moods. Before dinner is served, guests are provided some brown bread with herb butter and paprika butter as bread spreads.

Dinner begins with Pan Seared Scallop to represent “Intimate”. The first morsel is a slice of smoked salmon that is wrapped around ricotta cheese and topped with lumpfish caviar. Across the plate is a piece of premium Hokkaido scallop topped with basil leaf. Both delicacies are succulent indeed. The appetizer’s plating also involves semi-dried tomatoes, avocado purée and honey coriander dressing.

The next dish, Lobster Bisque, stands for “Elegant”. The rich soup is saturated with intense flavors of lobsters, making it a truly elegant experience. The bisque also includes a slice of baguette, which is topped with baby lobster and crispy nuts.

This is followed by Lemongrass Citrus Sorbet for “Upbeat”. The tantalizing piquancy of lemons is balanced by moderating effect of lemongrass. Served with apple and pitaya (dragon fruit) relish, the sorbet is presented over a solid block of ice.

The main course this evening, Australian Beef Rossini, illustrates “Adventurous”. This French recipe combines pan-fried beef tenderloin with duck liver and morel mushrooms. The steak is flanked by potato purée and asparagus, while the gravy is morel sauce. I really love the buttery aroma of liver; it is reminiscent of foie gras.

The fifth course, Chocolate Fudge, is meant to symbolize “Chill”. The fudge is dense and rich, much to my palate’s gratification. The center of the plate is filled with cookie crumble, mascarpone cream and assorted fruits. Last but not least, the plate is decorated with edible gold paint in the likeness of Golden Circle’s logo.

Last but not least, guests are treated to an assortment of pralines and cookies. The former has white chocolate and dark chocolate varieties. Served on a wooden board, the sugar confections conclude this evening’s meal on a sweet note.

The Table is fully integrated with the Golden Circle loyalty program and is free to join. To start, download and install the Golden Circle’s mobile app and start earning points automatically. Accumulated points do not expire and can be redeemed for rooms, meals and spa treatments. Redemption can be done through the app itself; no prior booking is required.

Name: The Table
Address: N/A
Contact: N/A
Business hours: N/A
Website: http://www.golden-circle.com/thetable
Coordinates: N/A
Directions: N/A

Lexis Suites Penang is a hotel under Lexis Hotel Group, which also operates 3 more resorts in Port Dickson: Lexis Hibiscus, Grand Lexis and Lexis. This evening, Lexis Suites Penang hosts its first Media & Bloggers Appreciation Night at the Hibiscus Grand Ballroom. With 554 square meters of space, the ballroom can accommodate over 40 tables in a banquet configuration.

Lexis Suites takes this opportunity to showcase its new Japanese wedding concept, an idea which is still in the stage of infancy in Malaysia. As an alternative to the mainstream Chinese wedding banquet, this new theme introduces Japanese elements into the arrangement of dining tables, serving counters and decorations.

Should marriage couple prefer, the hotel can also set the wedding event outdoors – on the lawn with scenic views of the sea.

Japanese cuisine usually revolves around seafood. Therefore, it is customary to serve chilled seafood such as snow crabs, mussels, scallops and shrimps.

There are also makizushi (巻きずし) and nigirizushi (握り寿司) with seafood toppings such as salmon (サーモン), yellowtail (はまち), shrimp (海老), squid (イカ) and tuna (マグロ). The sushi chef can also prepare sashimi (刺身) upon request.

Yakitori (焼き鳥) is skewered chicken breast and scallion (ねぎ). The chicken is basted with teriyaki sauce and then grilled over fire. Sweet and savory, yakitori is well-received by Malaysians in general.

In Japan, shioyaki (塩焼き) or salt-grilling is generally more popular as Japanese people have milder palate. Prawn Shioyaki (海老の塩焼き) is served today. In a typical Japanese izakaya (居酒屋), shioyaki is often paired with alcohol.

Oden (おでん) is traditionally a winter dish of fishcakes cooked in light dashi (出汁) broth. Other popular Japanese delicacies are Tori Katsu (とりカツ), Garlic Fried Rice (ニンニクチャーハン) and Teppanyaki (鉄板焼き).

Today’s event also features Japanese desserts such as Sakura Jelly With Green Tea Mousse (桜ゼリーと抹茶ムース) and Omochi Cone (お餅コーン).

Japanese pastries include Red Bean Cheese Cake (小豆のチーズケーキ) and Matcha Macaron (抹茶のマカロン).

Today’s coffee is brewed from beans roasted by Arabica Estate. Coffee is extracted using an espresso machine, but I think it would be nice to have drip-brewed coffee as well. After all, the Japanese are renowned for their expertise in brewing coffee.

Roselle is named after the hotel’s titular restaurant at the Mezzanine Floor. This cold beverage is blended from roselle syrup, milk and ice. The drink still has chunky pieces of ice – not homogeneously slushy as I would prefer. Instead of a blender, I think an ice shaver or snow flake machine should work better.

As for cocktails, Umi Bubble is concocted from Japanese dry sake (酒), Monin liqueur, cherry blossom and soda water. If you prefer non-alcoholic mocktails, the Umi Breeze is available too. These two drinks are currently served at Umi Japanese Restaurant, after which they are named.

Lexis Suites provides comprehensive wedding packages (not limited to Japanese theme) that can include the marriage ceremony, wedding reception, banquet, photography, entertainment, hotel stay and spa treatment.

Name: Lexis Suites Penang
Address: 28, Jalan Teluk Kumbar, 11920 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-628-2888
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: http://www.lexissuitespenang.com
Coordinates: 5.28698 N, 100.23265 E
Directions: From Bayan Lepas, drive along Jalan Teluk Kumbar towards the intersection with Jalan Gertak Sanggul. Lexis Suites Penang is the tall building on the left just before the intersection. As the only building more than 3 floors in Teluk Kumbar, it is impossible to overlook this hotel. There are parking spaces inside the hotel.

Botanica CT is a new township just north of Balik Pulau town center. The 300-acre landed residential development is under construction phase by phase. To provide homeowner with recreational amenities that condominium owners enjoy, the developer of Botanica CT took the liberty to build Botanica Mansion, a restaurant-cum-hotel-cum-clubhouse near Prince of Wales Island International School.

The mansion itself is perched on top of a small hill, providing panoramic views of the serene countryside. The 2-floor building boasts spacious lawns on all sides. In particular, the west-facing main door grants unobstructed view of the setting sun.

The building was originally an estate house that was constructed approximately 150 years ago. Abandoned and left in a state of decay for over a century, the township developer restored the mansion to its former glory. In case the building looks familiar, it was restored by the same contractor as Suffolk House.

Botanica Mansion started operating in November 2015 without much fanfare. Today, it proudly announced its presence to the outside world by opening its doors to the media. Besides serving food in the main hall, the staff of Botanica Mansion also took this opportunity to let us tour the entire mansion.

Botanica Mansion is available for rent for events such as birthday parties, baby showers, seminars and corporate functions. Over the course of several months, the mansion has also hosted several wedding events. Shaded by a 100-year old tree, the north lawn provides a good venue for garden parties.

For convenience, wedding cakes can also be arranged with Botanica Mansion. In fact, the hotel management also owns Our Bakery that is located within a short driving distance away.

Meanwhile, the interior sections of the mansion is furnished with a classy theme. The ground floor can comfortably host up to 90 guests with table service, while makeshift canopies provide additional space outside. In fact, Botanica Mansion has hosted a 200-strong wedding reception recently.

Should the newlywed prefer to exchange their vows indoors, this can be arranged in any of the many rooms in the mansion. Granted, Botanica Mansion is quite a distance away from Penang’s city center. But wouldn’t it be nice to stay away from populated areas for once in a lifetime?

Botanica Mansion includes 4 hotel rooms of exquisite prestige: Smoke House (75.62 sqm), Garden Suite (75.62 sqm), Planter’s Suite (37.75 sqm) and Orchard Room (27.11 sqm). Each room has a different layout, providing a luxurious level of hospitality.

Two of the rooms, Smoke House and Garden Suite, are located in what was originally a smokehouse. In these 2 rooms, the original brick walls of the smokehouse can still be seen. The walls have to be restored from time to time in effort to preserve the building’s historical value.

The Smoke House is located at the upper floor of this building. The front balcony provides scenic view of the swimming pool and lush greenery beyond.

The adjoining bathroom is furnished with a bathtub and well as a shower stall. White tiles decorate the sides of the room.

Located downstairs, the Garden Suite is similar in size as The Smoke House.

Once again, the original brick walls are visible in this room including the attached bathroom.

Meanwhile, the Planter’s Suite and Orchard Room are located in what was once the servants’ quarters.

Each room is equipped with modern conveniences such as television with satellite channels, Wi-Fi access and mini-bar. Hotel guests also enjoy complimentary breakfast for two, which can be served in the room, restaurant or garden at their own choosing. Room rates range from RM600.00 to RM1,000.00 per night.

Meanwhile, the former stables of the estate has been converted to a fitness center. Along with the adjacent swimming pool, the club facilities are open for membership to residents of Botanica CT.

There is a mural on a wall facing the swimming pool. The artwork is completed by Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian artist who is best known for his works on “Children on Bicycle” (Armenian Street) and “Boy on Motorcycle” (Lebuh Ah Quee) in George Town.

The restaurant aspect of Botanica Mansion serves primarily Western-style cuisine. English afternoon tea is also available. From time to time, the restaurant also serves seasonal items such as pizza.

Dining tables can be arranged according to needs. The different setups today is just to showcase possible table arrangements during private events.

Likewise, the cocktail food served today does not accurately depict the dishes that are several during normal operation.

Anyway for today, I think the mini chicken pies are the main highlight. I like the lovely pastry puff around delectable chicken filling.

There are also freshly-cooked crêpes that are served with gula melaka (palm sugar) and maple syrup.

I also enjoy the bruschetta with prawn and tomato toppings. Meanwhile, freshly-baked scones come with cream, jam and butter.

I am curious to explore the actual food menu at Botanica Mansion. This will have to wait for another day. Nevertheless, I am already impressed by the tranquil setting that the mansion has to offer.

Name: Botanica Mansion
Address: 156, Jalan Sungai Air Putih, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-866-3399
Business hours: 11:00am-10:00pm, closed on Mondays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/botanicamansion
Coordinates: 5.36851 N, 100.22459 E
Directions: From Jalan Sungai Rusa between Balik Pulau and Teluk Bahang, turn east to Botanica CT. Drive till the end of the road and turn left. Botanica Mansion is located just ahead. Guests can park next to the guardhouse, or continue driving along the uphill road to the front of the mansion.

21 May 2016 is the debut of Timeless Penang at Fort Cornwallis (Kota Cornwallis). Open to the public, this cultural event is held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.

Timeless Penang is a collaborative effort between Penang Tourism and Areca Traveller. The latter also manages Kota Dine & Coffee and Farquhar Mansion. The event serves to promote Penang’s rich history and cultural heritage to locals and foreigners alike.

Fort Cornwallis is the oldest and largest British fort built on Malaysian soil. It was constructed by Captain Francis Light (1740-1794) when he took possession of Prince of Wales Island (today’s Penang Island) in 1786. Although intended to serve as a military installation, Fort Cornwallis never saw combat and only served as an administrative center.

On the evenings when Timeless Penang take place, the dull appearance of the historical fort is transformed to a vibrant cultural fiesta. A colorfully lit stage greets visitors as they make their way to the amphitheater at the center of the fort.

While waiting for stage performance to start, visitors have no shortage of activities to keep themselves occupied. The flea market surrounding the amphitheater provides dozens of individual vendors – each representing a different facet of Penang’s multi-ethnic cultural diversity.

Visitors have the opportunity to witness how wayang kulit (shadow puppets) are crafted. Before the advent of movie theatres, wayang kulit shows are widely performed by the Malay community and represent the pinnacle of indigenous Malay art. Also exhibited is the intricate process of crafting wau bulan, a crescent-shaped kite which is known internationally as the corporate logo for Malaysia Airlines.

Another interesting depiction of Penang’s cultural heritage is the appearance of Tua Pek Kong (大伯公). This mythical character is believed to be based on Zhang Li, a Chinese adventurer whose arrival in Penang predates that of Francis Light. Deeply rooted in Chinese folklore, the deity is worshipped by a sizeable portion of Penang’s Chinese community.

Visitors can also get some hands-on experience on several types of handicraft, such as Hakka fan painting (客家扇画). Such activities are also a great way to educate children on the virtues of patience and meticulosity.

Many street vendors also make their appearance at Timeless Penang, showcasing various fine wares ranging from batik to crochets. Many of these vendors also have online presence, so be sure to collect their business cards if you are interested.

Penang is known far and wide for its diverse range of food, a fact well resonated in Timeless Penang. Over a dozen stalls vend different types of street food such as satay, kuih kapit (love letters), rice cakes (米揲糕), dragon beard candy (龙须糖) and murukku (முறுக்கு).

Ultimately, the success of Timeless Penang hinges upon the shoulders of dancers on stage. Starting at 8:30pm, the live performance is usually presented by Spring Production & Art Studio. The exception is on Fridays; the show is replaced with traditional culture dance performed by state government employees.

The dance performance is divided into several segments with short interludes in between. Each segment depicts an important chapter in Penang’s past, such as the founding of Penang by Francis Light, the arrival of Chinese laborers, role of Malay paddy rice farmers, rise of the Baba-Nyonya (Peranakan) community, and multi-ethnic harmony in modern Penang.

Condensing 300 years of happenings into a 45-minute performance, the concert provides the audience with a sketchy picture of the state’s rich history, of which tourists can explore further by visiting numerous historical sites across George Town. Interweaved with moments of awe and laughter, this family-oriented show is meant to appeal to people from all walks of life.

Admission to Timeless Penang is priced at RM50.00 per adult and RM40.00 per child between 6 and 12 years old. Admission is free for children below 6 years of age, but no seat is allocated. Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance of Fort Cornwallis. For a limited time, visitors receive a free ticket for each paid ticket.

Name: Timeless Penang
Address: Kota Cornwallis, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-263-9855
Business hours: 5:00pm-10:00pm (Friday-Sunday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/timelesspenang
Coordinates: 5.42043 N, 100.34386 E
Directions: Fort Cornwallis (Kota Cornwallis) is located opposite the Penang State Assembly Building (Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri) on Light Street (Lebuh Light). There are two entrances to the fort: at the east and west walls. Street parking is available around the esplanade at Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah and Jalan Padang Kota Lama.

i1Holiday is an online portal which aggregates room pricing from various hotel booking websites. Instead of visiting individual webpages, users of i1Holiday are given a one-stop convenience to find the best hotel deals available. This tool is completely free to use.

i1Holiday has established worldwide availability, allowing users to compare and find the best hotel deals around the globe. There are plans to expand the capabilities of i1Holiday to other tourism sectors in the near future, such as airlines, cruises and car rental services.

i1Holiday is currently developed for web browsers. As mobile computing has become ubiquitous, the website’s layout is also optimized for smartphones. In the near future, i1Holiday will also have a standalone mobile application tool, giving its users instant access through a single tap on the phone.

i1Holiday is developed by World Cloud Ventures Sdn. Bhd., an information system solutions company based in Subang Jaya. I had the pleasure of meeting the top executives of the company, including Mr. Darren Tan (Managing Director) and Mr. Marcus Tham (IT & Solutions Director). Software programmers at heart, Darren and Marcus expressed enthusiasm and belief that i1Holiday will deliver much value to its users.

In conjunction with the official launching of i1Holiday, World Cloud Ventures sponsored a hall-full of movie tickets to X-Men: Apocalypse, which like i1Holiday, also debuted on the same day. The event was held at Golden Screen Cinemas in Gurney Plaza. Moviegoers are also introduced to the video commercial of i1Holiday prior to watching the movie.

As part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, children from The Salvation Army Penang Children’s Home were treated dinner and invited to watch the movie together. It is heartwarming to see local companies that take an active role on social welfare initiatives.

To encourage more people to use i1Holiday, World Cloud Ventures is giving away a free trip to Bali to a pair of lucky winners. To participate, each contestant is asked to:
– Like the Facebook page of i1Holiday;
– Share this poster on one’s own timeline; and
– Tag a friend whom one wishes to come along to Bali.
This contest ends on 31 May 2016 and the lucky pair of winners will be announced on the following day.

Name: i1holiday
Address: N/A
Contact: 03-8023-1639
Business hours: N/A
Website: http://www.i1holiday.com
Coordinates: N/A
Directions: N/A

Sunway Carnival Mall used to have its restaurants concentrated at the LG Floor. Just recently, Level 2 has been extensively refurbished to accommodate more restaurants. Most of these new restaurants are popular brands in Penang’s food arena.

One good example is Kaffa Signature, which is the fourth outlet after other ones in Penang International Airport, Auto-City and China Street (Lebuh China) in George Town. The outlook of each outlet is slightly different to accommodate the demographics in each area.

This restaurant borrows heavily from 1960s American vintage theme. The centerpiece display is an actual Mini which the owner has acquired as part of his antique collection. The mural behind features Hollywood legends Elvis Presley, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. Other antique collections include coffee grinders, gramophones and typewriters.

Wood is used extensively in the design of Kaffa’s dining area. Should customers prefer privacy, there are also a couple of private dining rooms. Towards the far end of the restaurant is a raised platform where live bands perform every evening. Most of the performers are local artists.

Café Freddo (RM13.10) is Kaffa’s signature coffee and is available at all outlets. Served with a layer of foam on top, the cold drink features a different smiley every 2 months. As for hot beverages, Salted Caramel Macchiato (RM13.15) is popular among regulars.

The food menu presents a number of predominantly Western-style dishes. For something light, the Pepperoni Pizza (RM13.90) uses thin crust similar to New York’s. Pizza toppings include sausage slices, pineapples and grated cheese. If this 10-inch pizza is too large for one person, there is also a 6-inch version for RM10.90.

Kaffa Signature is named after the Kaffa region in southwestern Ethiopia, where coffee was allegedly first discovered. Besides coffee and light snacks, the restaurant also features proper dishes such as Big Bite All Day Long (RM20.80), Nasi Lemak Kapitan Chicken (RM16.50) and Phrata Ala Mode (RM12.90).

The neighboring restaurant is The Cruises Steak House. As the name implies, the restaurant specializes in steaks and Western cuisine in general. This is the steakhouse’s sixth outlet since its first outlet at Logan Heritage in 2011.

The theme of The Cruises Steak House is a cross between a wooden ship and the Wild West. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate around 150 people at full capacity. There are also a number of photo-opportunities such as the POS terminal which masquerades as a telephone booth. Clark Kent would certainly find it useful.

One of the bestseller is D’ Cruises Lamb Rack (RM39.90), which features three ribs of marinated Australian lamb. Grilled to perfect doneness, the lamb is seasoned with tantalizing brown sauce. Side dishes include fried potato wedges, mashed potato and corn on the cob.

D’ Cruises Smoky Chicken (RM23.90) features an attractive piece of whole chicken leg. The chicken is glazed with honey and smoked to smoky perfection. Brown sauce is provided separately on the side. Also included on the wooden platter are mini sausages wrapped with bacon, fried potato wedges, corn on the cob and fruit salad.

As for seafood, Blue Fish (RM32.90) is one of the recommended ones. A tender slab of grilled fish fillet is served over a heap of fried potato wedges. Creamy pumpkin sauce provides buttery sensation and helps the dish to carry its aroma far and wide.

On the other hand, customers who prefer to go meat-free can visit the adjacent Idealite (品味舒食). Besides being vegetarian in nature, Idealite also promotes balanced diet. To this end, the restaurant employs nutritionists to serve and advise customers on healthy eating – the first and only restaurant to do so.

Vegetarian meals can be as varied and colorful as its non-vegetarian counterparts. Therefore, Idealite’s food typically involves a variety of fresh ingredients that contribute to balanced diet. For example, the Pumpkin Vege (菇菜金瓜, RM14.90) is served with brown rice, vegetable, soup and fruit.

Idealite’s Bak Kut Teh Rice (豆菇茶饭, RM16.90) is one of its most popular dishes; the restaurant was once overwhelmed with 100 orders in an hour! The soup is infused with essence of more than 10 types of medicinal herbs including female ginseng (当归), which is used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine. In lieu of pork, Idealite’s vegetarian recipe relies on hericium mushroom (猴头菇) to provide savoriness. This mushroom is said to have antioxidant and neuro-protective properties.

Fresh vegetables are one of the best source of vitamins. To take advantage of this fact, the Hokkaido Vege Sushi (北海道蔬菜寿司, RM10.90) is filled with a colorful assortment of fresh vegetables including carrots, yam and purple cabbage. Rolled in rice sheets, the sushi is sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Other notable dishes at Idealite are Provence Tempura Mushroom (普罗旺斯天妇罗鲜菇, RM11.90), Idealite Satay (舒食沙爹串, RM12.90) and Mango Soya Parfait (芒果豆浆之恋, RM7.90). The restaurant is adamant about using gluten-based meat analogue; millet is used instead. Eggs may be used for certain dishes, so it is important to inform the server if you are on a strict vegan diet.

Looking for a cozy place to enjoy coffee while surfing the Internet? Looking for a relaxing setting for business meetings? In either case, La Espresso is a place to consider. This outlet is the restaurant’s second one; the first outlet is located just outside Sunway Carnival Mall.

At La Espresso, there are 2 types of coffee blends: 80/20 Gold Blend Italian Taste and 100% Arabica Bernini Blend. Coffee is brewed one cup at a time so that the barista can give undivided attention. Besides coffee, La Espresso also serves pasta, sandwiches and desserts.

Last but not least, Sunway Carnival Mall is the home of Yoshinoya Hanamaru‘s first outlet in Penang. Owned by Texchem, the same company which operates Sushi King and Waku Waku, the restaurant uses colocation concept of 2 distinctive brands from Japan: Yoshinoya Japanese Kitchen (吉野家) and Hanamaru Udon (はなまるうどん).

Yoshinoya is the Japan’s largest chain of restaurants that serves of beef bowl (牛丼). The menu also includes chicken, curry, hot pot and teishoku (定食) dishes. The restaurant uses self-service concept: customers place their orders, make payment and collect their food when the buzzer sounds.

Ontama Yakitori Bowl (温玉焼き鶏丼, RM17.80) features a bowl of rice and pan-fried chicken. The chicken is cooked with sweet-savory teriyaki (照り焼き) sauce. Also included is a partially-boiled egg called onsen tamago (温泉玉子). Cooked in simmering water of very specific temperature, the egg’s albumen solidifies somewhat but the yolk remains runny.

Meanwhile, Aburi Salmon Bowl (炙りサーモン丼, RM19.80) features delectable slices of salmon over a heap of rice. Just before serving, the salmon is torched briefly so that there is toastiness on one side. Also added on top are cream cheese, wasabi (山葵) and seaweed (海苔). This is my favorite dish in Yoshinoya’s menu.

Meanwhile, Hanamaru is an udon (うどん) specialist from Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture. Like Marugame Udon (丸亀製麺), Hanamaru produces udon on site in its open kitchen, giving its noodle unparalleled freshness and springiness. The restaurant imports flour directly from its parent company in Japan.

Spicy Kamatama Udon (スパイシーかま玉うどん, RM13.80) is one of the special dishes on Hanamaru’s menu. As per tradition in Kagawa Prefecture, hot noodle is tossed in a mixture of raw egg and soy sauce. Spicy gravy, made from minced chicken, is meant to be stirred with noodle. This bowl of noodle also includes fried anchovies, chili flakes and chopped scallion.

The bowl of Curry Udon (カレーうどん, RM15.80) uses Japanese curry, which is mildly spicy by Malaysian standards. In fact, “sweet” is a better word to describe the curry’s primary taste. The bowl of Curry Udon contains chunks of chicken, potatoes and carrots.

Hanamaru’s customers place their orders at the noodle station, collect their noodles after several minutes, then proceed to pay at the end of line. There are various types of tempura (天ぷら) that customers can pick up along the way. Examples are shrimp (えび天, RM4.80), chicken (から揚げ, RM3.80), pumpkin (かぼちゃ, RM2.80), sweet potato (おいも, RM2.80) and mixed vegetables (かき揚げ, RM3.80).

With so many restaurants at this section of Sunway Carnival Mall, it is difficult not to find something that suits everyone’s palate. The proximity of these restaurants to Golden Screen Cinemas makes them convenient places to have meals before and after watching a movie.

Name: Sunway Carnival Mall
Address: Sunway Carnival Mall, 3068, Jalan Todak, Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya, 13700 Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-397-9888
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Website: https://sunwaycarnival.com
Coordinates: 5.39912 N, 100.39806 E
Directions: Sunway Carnival Mall is a shopping mall in Seberang Jaya. The mall has a multilevel parking garage.

In conjunction with the Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇大帝), several eateries are offering vegetarian food for the convenience of devotees. One of the larger ones is located along Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang in Jelutong. Operated by Hsinchu Garden (新竹园素食阁), this event runs from 12 October 2015 (eve of 9th month of Chinese lunar calendar) to 21 October 2015 (9th day of the month).

Like the proper restaurant at Perak Road (Jalan Perak), this special event features a large number of dishes for economy rice. In vegetarian style, of course. There are more than 60 dishes on rotation basis; around 40 dishes are available at any time.

For casual vegetarians, switching abruptly to vegetarian diet can be difficult. Therefore, there are a number of meat substitute dishes to allow them to get accustomed.

For example, there is a dish of sweet-and-sour “pork” with sprinkled sesame seeds.

Also, check out the braised “fish” in dark sauce.

Fried bean curd (豆干) is one of the popular specialties here. I highly recommend this.

Other specialties are fried money bag (百宝福袋) and dumplings (云吞).

As for stews, there is a vegetarian version of “pork slices”.

These “pork chunks” in curry are also quite delectable. It is definitely worth trying.

Meanwhile, the chai boey (菜尾) is a traditional dish which uses Chinese mustard (芥菜) and various spices to create a sour stew. Although no meat is used, this stew is still appetizing nevertheless.

Apart from economy rice dishes, there are other hawker-style food choices such as Jawa Mee (爪哇面), Char Hor Fun (炒河粉) and Veggie Burger (素汉堡包).

In addition, there are also various types of traditional pastries and confectionery.

Part of the proceeds from this 10-day event will be donated to charitable organizations. In addition, Hsinchu Garden welcomes donation of food and household items too.

Name: Hsinchu Garden (新竹园素食阁)
Address: Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang, 10100 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-434-3493
Business hours: 6:00am-12:00pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hsinchugarden
Coordinates: 5.38788 N, 100.30534 E
Directions: Traveling southbound on Green Lane (Jalan Masjid Negeri), turn left to Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang after Petronas petrol station. Hsinchu Garden is located along Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang on the right. There are parking spaces around the commercial square and Batu Lanchang wet market across the road.