Hat Yai Again!

My second visit to Hat Yai occurred because I needed a Visa Run again--the change in forms this year was really causing delays for our Work Visas.

As I approached the town, I managed to capture a few amusing scenes. Like shop houses selling rocks, a very large Buddha Monument, and a pick up truck that is over-loaded.

Once again, only the food and friendly people made up for the grungy city.

Wandering through the hawkers near Kim Yong Market, I began with:

Pla Tod (fried fish cakes) 20 baht (Rm2, or US$0.70)

Next up was grilled Thai sausage 15 Baht (RM1.5, US$0.50). The vendor insisted that she re-heat mine over the charcoal embers before serving it to me.

Then it was Nam Prik Kra Bi (Vegetable Crudites with a spicy prawn paste relish, served with rice) 50 Baht (RM5, US$1.75)

After that course, I had to cool off with a toasted coconut for 25 baht (RM2.5, US$0.80)

Next, I had to get some protein and spotted this fried pork stall with pork loin chops, thick belly cuts and short-ribs. I got an assorted bag for 80 baht (RM8, US$2.50).

By now, I was itching for dessert. So I walked out of the Kim Yong Market Area towards Lee Garden Plaza to my Sticky Rice lady who remembered me. There, I found a MASSIVE section of durian with shriveled seed. She apologized that it was pricey, but it looked so good I had to buy it with sticky rice and coconut cream. 150 baht (RM15, US$5).

On the way back to the hotel, I passed by some classic steamed Tapioca.

Back in the hotel room, I enjoyed dessert with a view and some soccer on satellite TV.

At the border crossing on the way back to Penang, there was this rocking street food scene, but sadly there was no room in my belly after having my farewell breakfast of yam porridge and braised pig trotter (showcased in my first article about Hat Yai).

So I settled for a photograph.

~ Shien

Scrambling Frozen Eggs and Homemade Sushi Feasts

Ian and Aria have become very skilled at scram- bling eggs. So one morning, Aria volun- teered to scramble some for us, but when she cracked the eggs into a bowl, she found a surprise! 

So, I took over and scrambled frozen egg! The cold spots in our fridge strikes again!

After reinforcing our gas-grill purchased used from a colleague for RM50 (US$18), I fired it up for the first time and was rewarded by amazing grilled food!

It was almost enough to make me forget the heinous trials with the charcoal grill!

Ian has been badgering me to get us to make sushi at home.

So, I got some surimi crab, seaweed and boiled up some rice for a feast of crudites, panseared chicken and sushi!

~Shien

Hunters on the Prowl

Which animal is fiercer--Mochi...

...or Aria?

~ Shien

Thankful on Thanksgiving

We began our Thanksgiving Weekend with a slow, easy morning. All "3" of our children, Ian, Aria, and Mochi were lolling on Aria's bed.

Meanwhile, Monica and I were whipping up a Thanksgiving Feast in Penang. Mochi could not stand not being able to eat the food, and wanted out...

Here's our Thanksgiving Chicken Feast--Turkey was going to be US$100 a bird!

We kept the scene casual (shirt optional).

Ian: "Enough talk, enough pictures! Let's eat!"

A moment of salivation, reverence, and gratefulness before sharing what we were truly thankful for as we ate.

Don't forget dessert--Apple Crumble and Pumpkin Pie!

Cleanup was a breeze with all hands on deck!

Then we went back to lolling...

~ Shien

Python Leather

We are getting much closer to achieving python leather!

I decided to bring the hide home to hang dry in the final stages of the process. Even the iridescent blue sheen has been retained and is being revealed as the tanning oil is pressed out.

Here it is on our balcony. The family still does not like the gradually fading cough-syrup/stale flesh smell. Mochi is very intrigued by it!

~ Shien

Grateful for McDonalds

We extended our range of exploration by going to the Queensbay Mall by the airport on the Southside of the island today.

We did not find food from food courts that appealed to us, so we settled down to a McDonalds lunch. I however, being the McDonalds snob that I am, refused and hunted down some fried chicken and supermarket sushi.

We had arrived with excitement, but realized that with the exception of the Popular Bookstore with the Starbucks within (it had free WiFi), there was not much to beckon a return.

Then, as dinner approached, we realized that the traffic from the bridge was going to cause gridlock. We bought more supermarket sushi, and settled in the food court for the first big food blunder since arriving in Penang. We ordered a premium fruit juice thinking it was fresh fruit and got syrup loaded with dyes and sugar instead.

Disgusted, we left the mall and slogged home through the 2 hour gridlock realizing we should have stayed to eat the sushi in the mall.

~ Shien

Dinner and a "Show"

Our wonderful neighbors, the Chans, intro- duced us to the Northam Stalls for dinner one evening.

Think of an open air food court lined with a wide selection of local and western food just next to the infamous Gurney Drive, but without being a tourist trap.

The other lovely feature was that these stalls were on the waterfront, and we went early before the masses arrived.

So the children had a lot of freedom to amuse themselves after they ate, giving us some time by ourselves to chat.

We are grateful for this discovery of another fun spot for our family and guests!

(Ian was under strict instructions not to "uncage" Mr Chan after feeding him!)

~ Shien

Pre-Performance Blues

We were on our way to our first theatrical performance in Penang and very excited--our school was presenting an original play called "Romans on the Couch".

We had to find dinner enroute.

So, to continue our tradition of celebrating such nights, we went to the Charlie Brown Theme Restaurant in the same complex of the newly finished Penang Performing Arts Center.

The decor was outstanding and everything Peanuts. The service was cordial and surprisingly accommodating. The food was...uh, well--just look at my face!

It was really our fault--the kids ordered burger and hot dog. We ordered local food.

We're in Penang--how could anyone possibly screw up local street food.

Well, we found a place that will!

Nevertheless, I put on a happy face for the kids.

The kids were very happy!

We took lots of pictures since we were there before moving on to the very funny performance!

~ Shien