Lunch time!

The red bowl has Assam Laksa, or Nyonya noodles in spicy and tangy fish broth/soup. It is a combination of Chinese and Malay cuisine. It is arguably the best hawker food in Penang.  Unfortunately this was not very good and we didn't get time to try any others.








The rojakis a fruit salad usually served with thick, dark shrimp paste and topped with chopped or crushed peanuts. The ingredients of vegetables and fruits would consist of pineapple, mango, cucumber, buah umbra (a.k.a. kedondong), and jicama. The way to eat rojak is by poking the fruits with a thin, wooden stick and dipping them into the sauce.

The Tropical Spice Garden

Situated along Penang’s north-western shores the Tropical Spice Garden is located on an abandoned, rubber plantation. This award winning garden  has three jungle trails; the Spice Trail, Ornamental Trail and Jungle Trail.. Each ‘room’ features special plant collections such as spices and herbs, aquatic plants and jungle flora. 

The Bat Plant

An unusual plant introduced from parts of Malaysia, India, and East Asia.  The main attraction of the plant is the strange, unique, purple-black flowers. The flowers superficially resemble a bat in flight with long whiskers.

Spice Garden, Penang

Throughout the three trails are 11 themed areas featuring special plant collections such as spices and herbs, aquatic plants, bamboos, gingers, heliconias and rare palms.  In addition to plants, numerous interesting  features such as bridges, doorways, hammocks, gazebos, pergolas, giant swing, stone walls, and benches with viewing points have been built at transition points between the different themed areas. Here is a glimpse at the sea from one of the viewing points

Spice Garden

Children's artwork displayed along side this  Tsunami memorial.
















Most  people call this plant red ginger because of its apparently showy red flowers. But it doesn’t have red flowers. Its flowers are white. The true flower buried inside the red bracts.

Reflexology Walk - Spice Gardens

I was going to try this 12 foot reflexology path - but when Regina started to cry out in pain - I opted out.  Instead I admired the colorful rattan butterfly.

Street Food, Gurney Drive

At the end of our busy second day we headed to Gurney Drive.  Fried oyster omelette is a must try food in Penang. It is usually a dish taken as an accompaniment - so we had it with stingray.  

Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, also called Pusat Penjaja Anjung Gurney, is one of the biggest and most famous eatery in Penang. Started in the 1970s it serves a wide variety of foods.