JUST TO SHARE (Lau Tai Onn): 3D2N Trip to Bukit Mertajam, Penang from June 28th to 30th , 2024

As suggested by my wife Soh Ai, we (including Wai Kit and Wai Yu) went to Bukit Mertajam from Friday, June 28, 2024 till Sunday, June 30, 2024 to pay a visit to her mother who suffered a mild stroke last month and now staying with her brother Sze Hean and family in Tropicale Residency, jalann Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam (hereinafter referred as BM), Penang.

This was the first time we travelled outstation in Wai Kit’s new TESLA EV car bought 2 months ago.

Day 1 (28/06/2024)

We left home at 9.15am. Picked up Wai Yu at Taman YARL and had breakfast near The Market Place, Taman OUG.

Stopped over at Kawasan R&R Arah Utara, Tapah for lunch and had TESLA charged at Shell Station Simpang Pulai (as the charging station at R&R Tapah was unavailable because of upgrading work).

The charging took 45 minutes from 48% battery strength and we rested at Shell Cafe until 3.00pm.

We arrived at Tropicale Residency, BM at 4.45pm. We were much relieved to find Ah Ma in better health and mood now, though she still couldn’t walk and currently being looked after by a full-time live-in Indon maid.

At 7.00pm, Ji Wei led us to have dinner at Lau Yew Hawker’s Centre (老友美食中心). There were plenty of food stalls and we enjoyed a variety of food amid beautiful sunset ambience.

Taking the first break at Kawasan R&R Arah Utara, Tapah

Wai Kit charging his TESLA EV at Shell Station Simpang Pulai.

It took about 35 min. to fully charge from 52% (fast charging).

At Shell Cafe while waiting for TESLA charging

Arrived at Tropicale Residency, BM

Ah Ma on the left. The 2-yr old kid on the right is being baby-sat by YenLi.

Selfie outside Sze Hean's house

Lau Yew Hawker Centre, Taman Alam Jaya, BM

Wai Yu (left) and Jia Wei

Beautiful sunset

Day 2 (29/06/2024)

I went out for a brief walk in the neighborhood from 9.15am to 9.45am passing by the well-landscaped garden.

Wai Yu had gone out with Sze Hean, Yen Li and the 2 babies baby-sat by her for breakfast earlier. Wai Kit, Leyi. Jia Wei and I (Soh Ai didn’t join) went and had brunch at the same restaurant OO White Coffee at Pusat Perniagaan Sentral Jaya, BM at 11.00am. Wai Yu waited and joined us for outing later.

After brunch, we visited Sunway Carnival Mall at Perai where Wai Kit charged his TESLA EV for the second time of this journey.

We walked around the Mall and I bought some 7 items of drinks and candies at KKV for RM30.70. We had the largest Giant Squid (RM16.90) from Squid Boy before leaving at 3.30pm.

We had dinner with Sze Hean’s family at Restoran Liang Khee (良记小食馆) at Lorong Berjaya B, BM. Hean ordered Thai Tomyam Seafood, Pattaya Pork Knuckle (炸猪手), Claypot Togan (豆干)，Gam Hiong Fried Mantis (金香炒虾羔)，Mix 4 Thai King (四大天王)，Fu Yong Egg (芙蓉煎蛋). The total amount of this dinner for 8 of us including drinks, rice and 6% service charge was RM233.87 footed by me. All the food were very delicious (especially the pork knuckle) and not pricey.

After dinner, the 4 children proceeded to Auto City, Penang in Wai Kit’s car, while Soh Ai and I followed Hean to return to Tropicale Residency.

At about 9.00pm, Hean drove Soh Ai and I to briefly visit Pek Kong Cheng Food Court, BM (大山脚伯公埕美食街). The road leading to this place was fully parked with cars and Hean just dropped us off and waited for us. Needless to say, the food court was packed with people.

I bought from a shop called Ah Kong Dao Hua (阿公豆花@ Pek Kong Cheng) one bowl of hot bean curd + red bean + peanut (RM6.50) and another of hot bean curd + peach gum + grass jelly + sago (RM8.00). Upon returning Hean’s house, I found out there wasn’t any peach gum given and felt short-changed.

Morning walk for half an hour in the neighborhood

Tropicale Residency garden

OO White Coffee at Pusat Perniagaan Sentral Jaya, BM

Background of OO White Coffee

Wai Kit (left) and Jia Wei

LeYi

My chicken drumstick noodles (RM12.90)

Hokkien Mee (large- RM11.90)

Steam bread and golden beach toast (each bucket RM4.80)

The total bill plus 10+6% tax came out to be exactly RM90.00

TESLA being charged at Sunway Carnival Mall, Penang

Sunway Carnival Mall at Seberang Jaya, Perai, Penang

Restoran Liang Khee, BM

Thai Tomyam seafood (RM48.00)

Pattaya pork knuckle (RM48.00), Mix 4 Thai king (RM20.00), claypot togan (RM20.00)

Gam Hiong fried mantis (RM26.00)

The total bill plus 6% service charge was RM233.87.

Pek Kong Cheng food court, BM

Day 3 (29/06/2024)

We bid Ah Ma farewell and left Tropicale Residency at 9.05am and went to Pek Kong Cheng Food Court for breakfast. A bowl of kueh teow soup only cost RM6.50, while that of char siew wantan noodle RM6.50. A glass of iced coffee was RM2.50. Very cheap indeed! I also bought an assortment of cakes or kuih for RM38.00 before leaving.

We reached Ipoh at 2.00pm and had sprout chicken rice at Restoran Tauge Ayam Ong Kee (安记芽菜鸡沙河粉), Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee. We ordered one whole chicken (RM76.00), medium size bean sprouts (RM12), 6 pieces of pork and fish balls (RM6.00), 2 plates of rice and 2 bowls of noodles (RM10.00) and 4 glasses of drinks (RM12.00). The total cost was RM116.00.

I bought 4 pcs bride cakes (each RM3.90) and a packet of heong peng (RM10.00) from Lam Fong Biscuits before leaving.

After sending Wai Yu back to Taman YARL at about 9.00pm, our car suddenly had a flat tyre at the rear left-hand side near Seri Kembangan. Wai Kit has to call TESLA Service Centre and get a tow truck to tow our car to a car service shop in Bdr. Sg. Long.

We returned home at about 11.00pm after Wai Kei come out from home to fetch us.