Penang 1/3 – Bon Odori
This Cutie was seen on Ipoh Bus Terminal.
As my effort to make my holiday more rewarding than usual, I planned a simple trip to Penang, with Yoci, one of my close pal, we set off early morning of 16th, and return on 18th night. Here is a short compilation of my trip, my story.
This is part one, and i will be posting the other two parts from time to time.
Refer to the title, as it suggest, the 1st day there I was so lucky to bump into the Bon Odori Fest. It was totally unexpected and i never took it into account, that’s why the hotel room on 16th are almost fully booked.
Looking for A Stay
As I arrived in Butterworth I took a ferry over to the island and from there i hop on the free shutter. Dropping at station number 7, which is right opposite the Cititel Hotel Penang, I started hunting for the 2 lodging that i wanted to stay in, which is Ryokan and Chulia Heritage. Both hotel were fully booked, too bad, but the owner of Chulia Heritage is super friendly and helpful, he hand-drew a map to direct me to another low cost lodging and told me that he pre-booked a room on the hotel, if we want to, we can check in the hotel with that name. But in the end we did not, we checked into an old looking hotel--- Cathay Hotel instead.
On the Ferry, enjoying the breeze.
The Streets
One of the attraction along our hunt for the hotel, at Lebuh Muntri.
Ryokan Hotel, rated top on Tripadvisor for speciality hotel.
Will try it next time though.
A small trail crossing over Lebuh Muntri and Lebuh Chulia.
Chulia Heritage.Grand, new, simple, clean.
Cathay Hotel, transform from a old mansion to an antic lodging.
Bottom left: the entrance to the room.
Ready and Go
After settle down our stuff, we went for town hopping. With aid of a map (please get a map of George Town if you are planning you trip here, Luckily I did because the local free map was to blur and not detailed.), we walked our way to Komtar Building, wishing to go up to the top and enjoy the marvellous night view of George Town. We were disappointed when we came across that the shoplot in Komtar actually closed at 6 (the time we are there was already 6:15). The whole Komtar was dead, and I failed to find a way to go up as there are too many places under renovation… Sad tho :(
A few benches to rest your feet, in the middle of a junction.
Line Clear Nasi Kandar, on of the famous nasi kandar in town.
Entrance to the Campbell Street
Hawker selling eateries and other local specialties.
Komtar Tower.
Remember, Konsortium Express in Malaysia is a Joke.
PM me for more info, lol.
Bon Odori
It was already late and we cross the road from the shopping complex to the bus terminal to take the free shutter to the Esplanade for the Bon Odori Fest. I was not prepared for the fest, I did know what was there for me to expect except of some food. And soon we see some pretty celebration, crowd of mixed races, dances, and FIREWORKS.
What surprise me is the people. I cant tell you how or why, it is IN-Malaysia, but the mentality is so so much different. After the crowd dispersed as the firework marks a significant success and ending to this meaningful event, we cant find a single piece of rubbish on the Esplanade. The garbage bin was all filled up and so is the recycle bin. There are no rubbish on the road, not on the field, not anywhere else than where the garbage should belongs to. Which suddenly reminds me: Penang is clean. Anywhere I go, I dont find a lot of litter on the floor like KL or JB Downtown. BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. I mean it.
The Bus was already crowded.
A glimpse of the event.
You can say it is over-dressed.
Only Eastin Hotel have their stall design so brilliantly outstanding.
Glass-bottled Carbonated Drinks! Nostalgia!!!
Wow! Conveyer-Belt Sushi!
Look like a castle aint it?
Bon Odori! Dance!
On the stage, the dancer are dancing and the public can join the fun by dancing around the stage.
Truly amazing, fun and laughter-packed.
The Fireworks.
The Moment i wish i Own a DSLR or a MILC, to capture those very precise and beautiful moment.
Who wanna sponsors me?
Penang Night Life
After the Bon Odori, Yoci and I went back to the hotel for a quick shower and rest. We then decided to go Upper Penang Road, which is famous for it’s dazzling night life for a drink. Both of us are not clubbing-kaki, but we would just like to sneak in and enjoy a moment.
We walked across Upper Penang Road, and there are a lot of Clubs and Pubs. But all those are so packed with people and the music are so loud. Since it was just two of us and we are not familiar with the place, we walked fro the Upper Penang Road to the nearest hang-out place to our hotel, The Soho Free House. We took a seat outside the club, over looking the street and enjoy a warm, smokey little breeze; along with our beer.
-The 2 Pictures are the crowds of Upper Penang Road and the sign board of the Clubs. Sorry for low quality pict, wait until I own a better camera, I will retake the photo. (so, someone!!!! sponsors me!!!!)
For a casual drink, beer is the simplest and coolest.
Heineken.
Cheers!
This guy eventually cant drink: Red face, Extra-fast heartbeat, High body Temperature…
Dont take this guy for a cool night hanging-out, or you will suffer XD
P.S. During our drink we witness one rare occasion where there was a fight in the club and the bouncers were called in to stop the fight. Eventually the bouncers failed and the problematic guests starts kicking and fighting in front of the club instead (which is also in front of us as we are sitting outside.). Dramatic. The fight was quickly resolve after the manager come out and calm the guests, he then take the guest away for some “personal consultation”, lol.
So what I would like to say is, Clubbing occasionally might be interesting, but do go with friends and keep yourself away from trouble. You dont want to turn your Bloody Mary in to something really “Bloody”.
[Dedicate this post to my Hong Kong Friends who missed to explore this Pearl of Eastern]
Follow me : @Icchiey
志得其乐：http://icchiey.blogspot.com/
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