Rifqi Naufal’s 5th Birthday @ Jitra, Kedah & An Island Home Rendezvous @Straits Quay, Penang Old Town & Gurney Drive.

On the 8th December which was yesterday was my nephew, Rifqi’s birthday. He now reached the age of 5 already; yeah, how time flies, no? Since my parents went down to Putrajaya to fetch him back to Jitra, Kedah, Rifqi now is spending his school holidays here with Tok, Wan & Yeye! The arrangement of the close-knitted celebration affair was a bit of helter-skelter as before hand, I’ve already concocted a plan with Miss T to visit Penang; and Rifqi’s celebration was an eleventh-hour. But, can’t disappoint that little chipmunk, aite?

Rifqi with the flower hat (handmade by Mak!). She’s creative, isn’t her?

The beach-side pavement in Straits Quay, Penang.

So, around 11 A.M., I called the Pizza Hut Delivery and then had shower and off went to buy my contact lenses (the old ones were loosening intactness!); and then off to Maybank to do some cash-deposit; and then off scouting for Rifqi’s birthday cake. It all took me around one hour and a half to settle everything (I was racing with time as my appointment was scheduled on 1 P.M. at Miss T’s crib in Alor Star!). Mak cooked Laksa and was shocked to learn that I am to go Penang (told her several times; but she paid no heed); so she abruptly prepared everything on the table so that the Birthday Moment can be captured via camera for Kakak & Abang Zam so that they can see the pictures in Facebook! So, Happy 5th Birthday my dear nephew! May ALLAH SWT bless you!

All courtesy of Tok & Wan. They love you so much, Rifqi. So Study hard, OK? (,”)

Around 1.30 P.M., I pushed off to Alor Star; only to have lost for about one hour and a half looking for Miss T’s crib because of the MISCOMMUNICATION of a one-goddamn-junction! Haahaha, imagine THAT?! But anyway, around 3.30P.M. (after a few bickering via phone; Kekekee), we pushed off to Penang using hers as I parked mine at her crib’s. Off to Penang, Pearl Of The Orient!

In the ferry. Heading towards the Island Home, Penang.

As expected, The Swettenham Pier in Province Wellesley (Seberang Perai) was congested with vehicles! Have to wait before we proceed into the ferry. The feeling of having sea breeze blew upon the face as well as seeing the waves of Malaccan Strait have never fail to enthral me. I miss the Island Home. We then went to a shoemaker’s shop for Miss T’s custom-made shoes. It was said this Mr. Wong happened to be the course-mate of Datuk Jimmy Choo (of the renowned international Jimmy Choo, that is!) and both of them learned from this Mr. Wong’s grandfather. Instead of carving the same niche like Jimmy Choo, Mr.Wong had to continue managing that hereditary family business of shoe-making, thus still make a living in Penang. But I guess it is indeed a well-known amongst local people as his shoes are quite impressive and customers come from different stanza of life. 

On the way to Straits Quay, we used Pulau Tikus Road. Came across this bookstore that my family used to frequent to buy textbooks and story books – TAN MARK BOOKSTORE! Most of my story books derived from this shop!

We then proceeded to Straits Quay, a so-called new Colonial-style shopping mall;situated at Batu Feringghi facing the sea; with a seaside pavement ala Padang Kota Lama (YES! Inside the shopping mall’s compound!!) with a seemingly mini-lighthouse and a zone housing a few yachts. Phew, talking about the lifestyles of the filthy riches. But the atmosphere is undeniably comes with strong Colonial Era (it is said that it is the brainchild of E&O Developments). I guess Penangites, Malaccan or Singaporeans will totally feel relate to the atmosphere. Hybrid of English features and of course, you can see a lot of expatriates and foreigners thronging in Straits Quay especially the cafes/restaurants facing the sea. Yeah, whatever, who cares aite?

Coffee Bean in Straits Quay. I LOVE the caramel! Cream on the top!

Had a peekaboo on the famous “Nasi Kandar Line Clear” which is at the heart of Penang Old Town. Just a small alley is allocated for that to retain its authentic Nasi Kandar-feel; but you see people all THRONGING the place. Is is good? Superb! And of course there’s this “Telur Sotong” (Squid’s Eggs) which can be found only in Penang (I’ve never seen such in Nasi Kandar outlets outside from Penang!); and to be specific – The Old Town area of Penang! Alhamdulillah, fingers-licking and lips-smacking!

Miss T trying to look demure in front of the gigantic Christmas Tree in Straits Quay entrance!

The yachts zone.

The beach-side pavements in Straits Quay. Heavily-influenced by Colonial Era architecture and atmosphere. A new must-go haven for expatriates living in Penang!

Been scouting for Karaoke place around Old Town but prove to no avail. So we resorted to Gurney Plaza, in Gurney Drive. Went to Red Box and karaoke-ed there for like 4 hours! Hahahha actually there were 2 hours left but just left earlier because we had a long journey going back to Kedah after that. It was a full-throttle all out- especially for me since I had bad cough last week and my throat has just a bit recovered- and now the vocal chord was stretched that the throat is a bit sore now. But no regrets, it was just cool experimenting songs we never sang before; and the audio system in Red Box is amazing! Of course, that’s cost a lot – I mean. you want the best; you gotta pay the best, aite?

The famous Line Clear “Nasi Kandar”. Delicious with “Telur Sotong” (Squids’ Eggs)!

It was around 1.30 A.M. when we left Gurney Drive. And off the journey back to Kedah. Arrived at Miss T’s crib around 3.00 A.M.and I arrived at Jitra, Kedah around 3.30 A.M. Tiring, but it was a nice reminiscence of my Island Home, Penang. 

The Christmas atmosphere is donned and built in Gurney Plaza. Even in the part of the world where snow is an alien, Christmas is inevitable with its snow-affinity! I am getting my first taste of winter-snow in China; 21st December, no less! Hahaaha *Shudder in a exciting feel!*

I’ve always make a point to myself to visit Penang at least once a year. The birthplace; of course everyone will miss it, don’t you? Every time I hear this song “My Island Home” performed by Christine Anu for the Summer Olympics 2000 in Sydney, Australia, it reminds me of Penang. The lyrics speak an honest dedication to an island home. I guess only people originated from an island can relate to this feeling. The feeling of being closely connected to the sun, sea and sand.

I come from the salt water people 
We always lived by the sea 
They say home is where you find it 
Will this place ever satisfy me? 
My Island home 
My Island Home 
My Island home is waiting for me (x2) 
Six years I have lived in the desert 
and every night I dreamt of the sea 
Now I’m down here living in the city 
with all of my family 
My Island home 
My Island Home 
My Island home is waiting for me (x2) 
(bridge) 
In the evening the dry wind blows 
from the hills and across the plains 
I close my eyes and I’m standing on a boat on the sea again 
And I’m holding that long fishing line/turtle spear 
and I feel that I’m close now 
to where it must be 
My Island home is waiting for me 
My home is Australia 
We are a land bound by sea 
And though I may travel far across the ocean 
It will never forget me 
My Island home 
My Island home 
My Island home is waiting for me (x2) 
(Outro) 
My Island home, my island home, my island home, my island home.