As my promised on my previous blog, this is my travel report to Hat Yai and Penang. Just a quick update... am still pretty tired just back from the trip. It was almost 1300 km trip over the long weekend. As our friend's recommendation, we drove up to Hat Yai through Bukit Kayu Hitam toll. We left KL at 2.15 am and expecting to arrive in Hat Yai at 8.00 am. Middle of the road, we just realized that we forgot to bring the car registration car for customs purpose. Lucky us that my husband ever sent email to his car insurance agent. I download the scan copy from the email. Before entering the immigration area, we stopped by in the hotel nearby and printed out the scan copy.
In Malaysia Immigration office, all you need to do is show your passport, they'll check and stamp the passport (if you are foreigner). After Malaysia Immigration, we entered the Thailand immigration area, it is in Sadao area. It was a bit complicated process. We parked our car in the parking area. Then got the embarkation from the immigration office, it was behind the counter. After completing the form, lined up in the counter and got stamp. I saw one family put 1 ringgit inside the passport. Maybe it's tips for immigration officer. We proceed to the custom counter to obtain the car import permit. Showed copy of car registration and car's owner passport and then got print out for the car permit. Some blogs says that we need to buy insurance. But at that time, no one requested us to buy insurance in Thailand. Turns out we didn't pay anything for the car permit.
Once all procedures completed, we drove to Kosit Hotel for checking in. It was almost one hour drive to the hotel. The hotel is located in the city. It was an old hotel but located in the city center. The room is quite old eventhough they said it's already renovated. They provided free wifi but you should request since the wifi connection is only available on the 6th floor. Actually we didn't expect much since the rate is THB 590 only. Consider ok for budget travel !
The shower curtain was old, looked dirty.
They provided soap, shower cap and shampoo but not toothbrush. Make sure you bring toothbrush and toothpaste when you want to stay in this hotel =)
Two bottles of mineral water are free in the refrigerator.
After checking in and took a bath, we went out for lunch. We went to Odeon Department Store and parked our car. Around this shopping center, there are many hawker stores. Our first lunch in Hat Yai was McD, wanted to try the Pork Burger which we can't get it in Indonesia and Malaysia. I also ordered chicken pie. I like the pie more than the burger =P
Our dessert was Mango Rice, our favorites ones. It was 50 bath per portion.
Next destination was Kloang Hae Floating Market. It took more than one hour to find this floating market. The map that hotel gave us didn't show where the floating market is. Make sure you bring your GPS and update the map. This floating market only opens from Friday to Sunday, starts from 4 pm.
Compare to the Bangkok floating market, this floating market is totally different. All the vendors were selling Thai traditional foods.
We tried some Thai dishes for sure. It was so cheap. We bought one stick of satay for 10 Bath only.
and also one bowl of Thai mee hun was only 30 bath. The taste was delicious.
One bowl of ice cream, we can bring the bowl back. The price was 20 bath. The taste was not really good, prefer same type ice cream in Chaktucak =)
Many boat and stalls were selling drink with special shape mug. They sold small mug at 20 bath and bigger mug at 25 bug. Actually they are not selling the drinks but the mug. The drink was not really good. My husband bought one mug for souvenir.
All the vendors were so friendly, keep smile and offering their products.
We walked across the bridge and found one stall selling crunchy fried insect, such us (*_*). Didn't dare to try....
If you come to Hat Yai, you should come to this floating market. A tuk tuk car cost about 20 bath per person. But not sure you can get tuk tuk car for going back to the city center. It's difficult to find tuk tuk in this market.
On the way back to hotel, we had dinner. We asked tuk tuk driver the best Char Kuey Teow. He brought us to the road side stall. Many people lined up to buy this Kuey Teow. We ordered two big portion Kuey Teow and drinks for 4 persons, cost us about 220 bath.
We went back to hotel for Thai Massage. We already ordered the therapy to come to our room. It cost us 300 bath per 2 hours per person.
On Day 2, before we continued our trip to Penang, we stopped by at Odeon Department Store and bought wasabi green peas, peanut and seaweed. We had also our lunch in this shopping center.
We orderd Tom Yam noodle and Chicken Rice. The price was 40 bath per portion. The Tom Yam noodle was spicy and very nice. Chicken rice was also nice, many people lined up to buy the chicken rice.
We parked our car on the road side.... when we went back.... o ooow.... need extra effort to get out from this situation.
We left Hat Yai at 3.30 pm. In the immigration office, we lined up at the counter to get the stamp and return the departure card. The officer asked us to pay one ringgit.... mmm dunno for what. We gave the car permit for to the customs counter.
Arrived in Malaysia Immigration, there were car checked. They did 2 times. Make sure that you don't buy air gun in Hat Yai ^_^
The trip to Penang took 2 hours, we had dinner in New Line when we arrived.
There were many hawker store in this area, including the Penang famous food... Char Kuew Tiaow.
We ordered.... fried tofu... This is the best fried tofu I ever ate.... got 5 stars point from me!
Seafood Char Kuew Tiaw.... 2 tumbs up!
BBQ fish served with special bumbu. My sister in law said BBQ fish in Pucong is better than Penang.
After a great meal on appetizers and main course, we ordered Tong Sui (in cantonese means sweet soup). It's a typical chinese dessert taken after meals.
Almond Tong Sui
Red bean, lotus and longan tong sui
We went to our hotel for checking in. We booked Tune Hotel Penang through website, it cost us RM 80,38 inclusive 12 hours aircon. As usual, Tune Hotel was clean and comfortable. We requested a room with window.
The room with window...
Bathroom... small but clean =)
View from the room... New World Park next to Tune Hotel. We parked our car there for free.
7 Eleven is avalaible in the same building... if you forget to bring toothbrush and soap, you can buy here.
Our last day itinerary in Penang was... makan - makan \\(^_^)// First starter... Pancake at Bangkok Lane.. the best pancake in town!
This uncle is a "professional" pancake maker....
The price is very very cheaaap....
I recommend to order the Banana pancake... it's really nice! ** stomach groaning (^_^'!)
Still in Bangkok lane... another recommended food.... Bangkok Lane Mee Goreng. It's a legendary Mee Goreng in Penang (they said... hehehe but it's true!)
The chef is Indian.... his cooking skill is fantastic. Many newspapers wrote about his Mee Goreng... I saw few newspapers on the store wall.
This is the result.... Mee Goreng Sotong + Telur (RM 4). The taste is different than other Mee Goreng. It's tasty and a bit spicy.
Unique old building on Bangkok lane....
We stopped for a while to buy Him Heang Tambun Biscuit for my mom.
There are many brands of tambun biscuits in Penang, but my husband said It's the best in town. The ingredients are not too dry nor wet and just the right level of sweetness.One box costs RM 9,20 and comes with 32 pieces.
Next culinary destination.... Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul and Asam Laksa.
Chendul had always been Penang choice dessert for a long time. It consist strips of smooth, firm green pandan noodles together with red beans, coconut milk and brown sugar syrup. One portion is RM 1,80.
Penang Asam Laksa is the number 2 Must Eat hawker food in Penang (based online poll on the Visit Penang website in 2009). The strong aroma, the sourness of the soup makes the Asam Laksa soooo nyummy! The best asam laksa is in the Air Itam Market.
Break from makan - makan... we visited Sun Yat Sen Center for photo session.
Then we continue our trip to Kek Lok Si Temple. It's a Buddhist temple with the biggest Kuan Yin statue.
Before we went up.... we stopped for another culinary destination...Penang Hokkien Mee. It's a spicy soup of mee and bihun (rice noodles) garnished with sliced boiled eggs, prawns and fried onion.
On the way to the temple, there are many souvenir stalls. Don't forget to bargain =P
When we were about to reach the temple, there were a large pond with hundreds of tortoise.
Second level of Kek Lok Si Temple...
Many Buddha statues with a swastika.
If you want to get a close up look of Kuan Yin statue, you will need to take the inclined lift. It costs RM 4 for 2 way.
The Kuan Yin statue was completed and open for public in 2002, it's 30,2 meter tall.
Time to say Bye bye to Penang... yes, we went back to KL!
Makan - makan stop again... Tauge Ayam in Ipoh.... hen hao chi \\(^_^)// This is one of the celebrities' favorite restaurant as I saw all famous local, regional and international celebrities' photo who visited the restaurant before on the restaurant's wall.
We ordered steamed chicken, tauge (bean sprout), pork meat ball and soupy ho fun. It's "A MUST TO TRY" when you visit Ipoh.
Tauge Ayam is the last makan - makan destination before I went to LCCT airport for my departure to Jakarta. It was a record for me... had 7 meals in one day.
It's been a fun and enjoyable trip even though we were tired driving and eating. Thanks to my hubby and my bro & sis in law for giving me a memorable and foodable trip ^__^
Note : For toll fees cost around RM 131,80 and fuel cost will depend on your vehicle and driving style... our Ms. Suzuki white cost less than RM 230 driving from KL - Hatyai - Penang - Ipoh and back to KL (LCCT Airport).
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