We used to chase headlines and bylines up till two decades ago. Esah as she is fondly known (by me) had a great nose for news and could be counted on to deliver updates in a timely and accurate manner, as befitting scribes at our national news agency, Bernama.
Today, she presents something else altogether to her audience. This home cook and excellent baker has proven her worth over many festive open houses we have been invited to.
She seems to have come full circle and operates a stall at the very spot we journalists used to hang out for breakfasts and countless cups of teh-tarik and kueh at teatime!
Next time you are in Pulau Tikus, swing by Jones Road (off Kelawei or Burma roads) before 2pm from Monday to Friday (except on public holidays).
P.S Her made-to-order rendangs and frozen curry puffs (which can be air fried) have received the thumbs up and even been on road trips to neighbouring states in their frozen form.
Save the dates from July 15-30 for yet another edition of the George Town Festival (GTF).
‘Celebrating the Power and Possibilities of the Arts in the City’ is the theme adopted for this 14th edition of what continues to be a promised spectacular celebration of art, culture, and heritage for all to experience.
The festival presents a myriad of outstanding artistic works by Malaysian and international artists, (including those from Penang) featuring productions across varied art forms ranging from traditional, contemporary, experimental, and multidisciplinary.
“This makes George Town Festival 2023 the most exciting iteration in recent years, bridging tangible and intangible heritage through continued global artistic partnership and exchange,” its organisers said in a statement.
GTF was first mooted in 2010 to honour George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Over a decade later, the festival continues to elevate the visibility of the city’s heritage while creating spaces and platforms for increased cultural engagement through the arts.
“Since its inaugural edition, GTF has become a hallmark event in Malaysia and remains an avenue for creatives, festival-goers and stakeholders to engage with the arts and one another, spurring discussions, bilateral relations, and increased collaborations through and for the arts,” say it’s organisers.
Currently in its 14th edition, GTF 2023 features over 50 programmes with free access to 70% of its shows and events.
They will be spread across 20 over locations in George Town and the wider Penang area.
To further stimulate global artistic partnerships, GTF 2023 will facilitate performances and events between artists from East and West Malaysia and creative exchange with Taiwan and Australia.
This year, the festival is partnering with the Australian High Commission as a channel to honour the 50th-anniversary celebration of George Town and Adelaide as sister cities.
A highlight of this is ‘The Senses’ which will present a sensory and immersive musical experience within the naturescapes of Penang Hill’s 130-million-year-old rainforest.
In its effort to deepen awareness and appreciation of traditional art forms, GTF 2023 also includes several ethnic-traditional cultural performances to help elevate the visibility of intangible heritage in Penang and beyond.
Highlights in the programme are Panggung Semar, bhumiMATA, and The Monkey King Adventures: Love of Onibaba.
George Town Festival 2023 is a project by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), organised by TLM Event, and endorsed by the Penang State Government and the Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy.
It is fully supported by the City Council of Penang Island and Penang Global Tourism.
They are usually up at the crack of dawn to prepare the batter of rice flour, eggs and sugar for their ‘apom manis’, which is known to locals as apam, apom lenggang and local crepes or pancakes.
Ravi (above) and his wife Devi (below) greet all customers with warm smiles and have no problems with remembering orders or the sequence they are placed.
Bone and I had a lovely time today watching them deftly prepare our special order and place them expertly in plastic containers with their signature banana leaf for styling purposes.
The humble push cart located outside the New Cathay coffee shop in Pulau Tikus, George Town is frequented by locals and tourists from 7.30am till around 11am from Mondays till Saturdays. Takeaways have and continue to be enjoyed by local and foreign royalty, and other dignitaries.
A pack of 5 apom manis is priced at RM4 and no accompaniments are needed as they melt in your mouth. A “premium” or more “atas” version is also available with an egg on top.
Thank you Devi and Ravi for opening earlier than your usual operating hours today, just so that our special visitors to Penang could enjoy your delicious apom manis for breakfast🙏🏼
She promised us Dec 1, 2019 as the date the E&O Hotel would open the doors to her newly-upgraded Heritage Wing, and Alison Fraser kept to her word.
The custodian and general manager of Penang’s Grand Dame of Hospitality – the Eastern & Oriental Hotel – greeted members of the media and bloggers to the hotel ahead of its annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and played the gracious hostess.
The walkabout around the newly spiffed wing was a treat and left us all happy that the 134 year-old ‘Grand Lady’ is now refreshed and ready to “welcome home” travellers and Penang residents to her beautifully and luxuriously-appointed suites and to savour fabulously-developed food and beverage offerings.
The WiFi connection has been boosted, delicious beddings spread out, Panpuri Spa amenities placed in all the rooms, and other luxuries both big and small await the guests.
Dear and familiar faces like Jimmy Lee, Jesvinder Singh, JJ and the khaki-uniformed doormen will be on hand to welcome the paying public when doors officially open for business on Dec 20.
The now-famous front desk which featured in the opening scene of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ will no doubt be a talking point for those hanging out in the lobby or checking in.
And who among us is not looking forward to a spot of the hotel’s famous afternoon tea in newly-created spaces around the property?
I know some of my friends who have checked out the Farquhar’s Bar and are looking forward to spending many happy evenings there after Dec 20!
Kudos and special mention to Faisol ‘Davo’ Abdullah for the spanking new and sharp uniforms designed.
Congratulations again Alison for all the hard work put in and showing us yet another female GM who stays at the top of her game!!!
The view from the parking lot at sunset is a warm enough welcome to Penang’s latest accommodation-by-the-sea, Hompton By The Beach.
Dottie and Steph are very blessed to be taking in such beauty when they step into work each day was my first impression when taking in this sunset.
The hotel and its staff are unpretentious , judging from the warm hospitality, genuine smiles and good food served earlier.
The fresh salmon and tuna won me over and were such a welcome from the usual frozen variety found in other establishments.
The festive-themed buffet dinner was all about freshness and good taste and it did not have the taste of the usually mass-produced food found in hotel buffet lines.
Even the Christmas desserts – like the fruit cake and panna cotta – had a home-made touch and taste to it.
The Seafood Galore Buffet Dinner on Saturdays and Sundays from 7pm-10pm is priced at RM108 nett for adults with free flow of beer and red and white wines (senior citizens are charged RM88 nett). The buffet only option costs RM78 nett per person (senior citizens aged 55 and above pay RM58 nett) Kids aged 12 and below dine for free. And the best part is that it is served in the hotel’s sea-fronting Spice Garden outlet on Level 11.
A special promotion currently has buy 3, pay for 2, buy 5 pay for 3 and buy 7 pay for 4 deals respectively.
Call 04-3733233 to book your tasty dinner with an awesome view!
Dear Bibliophiles and those visiting Penang this weekend,
The George Town Literary Festival and it’s related events are set to keep us all on our toes as we have fun being introduced to new book titles and their authors and have a great start to Christmas shopping!
How about taking some time out and going on a photographic exploration of love, caring relationships, social and filial ties?
It is being presented by Karyn Coxall-Leong from Friday 22/11/2019 till 29/11/2019 at Viva Victoria’s Upstairs Gallery at 169, Lebuh Victoria.
The exhibition opens at 6pm this Friday and runs from 12 noon till 11.30pm on other days.
“In a time and place where technology, convenience, consumerism lead, it is so very easy to get caught up in the everyday goings-on, ” says Karyn.
“No matter your circumstances or where you come from, we must all make an effort to remember family and community as the true lynchpins of life.”
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