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PHOTOGRAPHYCORRINAFOONGartdirectionmerrissaemildacamera
andgpsdeviceTHANKSTOTHECLICKSHOPANDAECOTECHNOLOGIES
Day one
Stop 1: Cheong Fong Coffee Shop
12, Jalan Besar Kalumpang, 44100 Kerling, Selangor
Opening hours Early morning to evening
Cheong Fong, a coffee shop with over 80 years in business,
seems like the place to be for breakfast in
the quiet town of Kerling, though there isn’t
an overwhelming crowd when we arrive.
We try the curry noodles; the soup is bland
(perhaps we’d gotten used to MSG-laden
ones) but the slices of roasted pork (siew
yuk) are packed with flavours! The
nasi lemak is something else,
with sambal so perfect
we’re still thinking about
it! Having breakfast in
the cool morning breeze;
what could be better?
Stop 3: Gopeng Heritage House
6, Jalan Sungai Itek, 31600 Gopeng, Perak
Call 05-3597828
Opening hours 9am to 3pm on weekends
From Kampar, we take the much-improved trunk
road to Gopeng. The once deserted town has been
revitalised recently, thanks to
better road infrastructure and
mushrooming local attractions
such as the Adeline Guest-
house and Gopeng Heritage
House. The latter, a privately-
owned-and-run property,
officially opened in April
2011. A fan of antiques? Then
you’ll love it here as it show-
cases artifacts and old memo-
rabilia from pre-war days,
some dating back 100 years.
If you’ve got time to spare,
check out Gopeng Museum,
located on Jalan Eu Kong 2.
Stop 4: Indulgence Restaurant and Living
14 Jalan Raja Dihilir, 30350 Ipoh, Perak Call 05-255 7051
Opening hours 9am to 11.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Indulgence Living (the hotel) opens year round.
Set in a refurbished colonial bungalow, Indulgence Restaurant
and Living offers only the best in dining and accommodation in
Ipoh. The restaurant – serving modern European cuisine – im-
ports ingredients from Australia and Europe mainly, with 80 per
cent of it being fresh, seasonal produce which are incorporated
into its special dishes. The menu is changed on a yearly basis,
with only the meat section remaining the same. Take note: the
restaurant offers over 300 types of cakes, with something differ-
ent served every day. After an indulgent evening of fine food, we
head to our homely rooms, just one floor up!
“I seek and hunt for good food
wherever I go.” – Julie Song, owner
and chef of Indulgence
Restaurant and Living.
KL-Penang-KL, stopping at small
towns along the way, in under 72
hours? Challenge accepted! By
ZaraNasarudin and RachelLaw
Hitting
the road
Stop 2: Yau Kee Restaurant
55, Jalan Idris, 31900 Kampar, Perak
Call 05-465 1738
Opening hours 6am to 10.30pm
Stepping into the restaurant, we are greeted by the
delicious aroma of freshly-baked bread. Gargan-
tuan loaves sit in their golden glory in the display
cabinet while Yau Kee’s custom boxes are piled up
at the side for takeaways. We order the smallest of
the lot (which serves a minimum of four people,
so small is not the right adjective), then a staff
butters and cuts open our loaf, revealing steam-
ing hot chicken curry! Bread dipped in curry with
pieces of chicken can be the most heavenly meal
on earth – after desserts, of course!
Price RM28 for a small loaf
In Gopeng
WithJulie
wejustlovethetranquiLlity
of smalltowns!
currylaksafor
breakfast?whynot?
tender south
australianlamb
ribswithbaby
kipflerpotatoes
freshraspberryand
mascarponetrifle
fairy-tale-inspired
bedroom;swoon!

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jalan
lim
bo seng
jalan verasamy
jalan
sultan
idris shah
jalan toh puan chan
jalandato
onnj
aafar
jalan
foo
yet kai
jalan
horley
jalanyang
kalsom
jalanjubilee
jalanrajamusaaziz
Jalanmus
taphaal-bakri
Jalanle
ongsinnam
jalandatotahwilazhar
Jalansultanidrisshah
Stop 5: Gerbang
Malam Ipoh
Jalan Tahwil Azhar, 30330 Ipoh, Perak
Opening hours 7pm to 2am
Let’s be honest with you; the nightlife
in Ipoh leaves much to be desired.
Make your way instead to the city’s own
version of Petaling Street. Here, amidst
knock-offs, treasures can be found. We
come so close to getting a Bally leather
clutch at one of the secondhand stalls,
but alas, it’s not meant to be! There
are a few vendors selling flats and
slip-ons from Thailand, cheap
and incredibly comfy they
are! Make sure to drop by
the only art stall here. The
artist sells sketches that
are screen-printed on
thin plywood pieces.
Day two
Stop 1: New Hollywood
Restaurant
38, Jalan Lee Kwee Foh, Canning Garden,
31400 Ipoh, Perak
Opening hours 7am to 3pm
Rather than having breakfast in the old part of
town, where cafes and restaurants are packed
with tourists, we head to New Hollywood, a
breakfast spot popular with locals. What’s
special about this kopitiam is that the stalls
here only serve pork-free dishes. Here are the
must-tries: Hong Kong chee cheong fun, fried
kuey teow, pan mee and yau char kwai.
GARMINNÜVI
50LMWe found 95 per cent of the
locations we were travelling to
through this device, how delightful!
Unlike unpleasant experiences
with other GPS devices (we would
often miss turnings!), we found
the Garmin nüvi 50LM helpful.
To illustrate, the ‘junction view’
feature previews realistic visuals
of upcoming junctions while
‘lane info’ guided us onto specific
lanes and helped us to avoid last-
minute manoeuvres. It gives clear
directives on its 5” screen display,
and is unbelievably user-friendly.
You may want to use it even if you
don’t need to!
Rating: KKKKK
Stop 2: Memory
Lane market
Along Jalan Horley and Jalan Lim Bo
Seng, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Opening hours 6am to 1pm on Sun-
days only
Fancy yourself a real vintage suitcase,
retro eyeglass frame or Coke memo-
rabilia? This flea market
is the place to look for
it. Also known as Pasar
Karat, we see old Polaroid
cameras, secondhand
leather handbags (prices
start from RM20) and
even turntables here.
We go ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ as
we spot familiar knick-
knacks from our child-
hood. It’s best to come
early; you wouldn’t want
to roast under the midday
sun. Hold on tight to your
belongings; this is prime
pick-pocket territory.
FUJIFILMINSTAXMINI50SAh, what’s a girls’ road trip without a good ol’ instant camera? The first time
we laid eyes on the Fujifilm Instax Mini 50s, we fell in love with its sleek,
shiny, piano-black finish and weightless body. Being on the road from dawn
to late night, we loved how quick and fuss-free it was to capture spontaneous
moments. The camera automatically adjusts its shutter speed according
to the background, so you’ll get clear and bright pictures even in low light.
There are two capture buttons, one at the top and one near the lens, so
make sure to switch off the camera before passing it around lest you end up
snapping random, failed shots like we did.
Rating: KKKKK
feature
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lebuhjayceepark
lebuhleekweefoh
canning
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jalancanning
estate
jalancho
wkai
look,afunfair!
RM20,what
asteal!
fatponies,anyone?
slurp-worthypanmee
vintagehandbagsgalore!
huntingfor
bargains
Smile!
jalan

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jalan
tran
sfer
jalanhutton
lebuhcl
arke
jalanargyil
jalandatuk koyah
jalanhutton
jalan argyil
jalanhutton
Jalanmus
taphaal-b
akri
jalanyautetshin
Jalantheatre
jalanyang
kalsom
jalanrajamusaaziz
Funny mou
ntain
aun khenglimsalted
chicken
Stop 3: Funny Mountain
49, Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh,
Perak Opening hours 10.30am
until everything’s sold out!
Funny Mountain’s silky-smooth,
melt-in-your-mouth tau fu fah
takes the Chinese dessert to a
whole other level. It’s so good on
its own that you won’t need to add
brown sugar to it! The 60-year-
old establishment offers a drive-
through service too. Nothing makes
us happier than slurping down a
bowl of hot soybean curd in the
comfort of an air-conditioned car.
Price RM0.90 for a bowl of tau fu
fah; RM1.90 for a small bottle of
soybean milk
TOYOTARUSHFor a laid-back and long journey up
north and back, this seven-seater
offered spacious comfort and we
love its green factor. The VVT-i
engine emits cleaner emissions
and is highly adaptable to changing
situations. In other words, it
projects power when you’re cruising
down the highway and saves fuel
when you’re on a leisurely ride. We
had a safe and comfortable journey
home, thanks to the projector
headlamps and fog lamps, which
helped us see clearer through the
dark, rainy, evening drive back to
KL. We love the sporty yet not-too-
masculine look of this SUV; perfect
for the adventurous female team. If
only it comes in pink!
Rating: KKKKK
PETRONASPRIMAX95XTRAFuels, they’re all the same right? Not exactly! We went with one of
the best, Petronas’s Primax 95 Xtra. The commercial grade gasoline
is formulated with advanced additive technology. It reduces internal
friction between the cylinder and piston rings, which in turn, gives
you more kilometres for every litre you use. It keeps your engine
clean all the time for maximum performance. Overall, we spent less
than RM160 for our three-day drive; our wallets are definitely happy!
Rating: KKKKK
Stop 4: Aun Kheng Lim
Salted Chicken
24, Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Call 05-254 2998
Opening hours 10.30am onwards
With 25 years in the business, Aun Kheng
Lim reigns as the city’s best salted chicken
connoisseur. Imagine a whole free-range
chicken, wrapped in paper with dong guai
(Chinese herb) and wolfberries then covered
and baked in Australian sea salt in huge
woks. As you tear open the paper, you’re hit
by the fragrances from the herbs. The salt
and herbs give
the tender chicken
a mouth-watering
flavour. Best way
to savour this?
We recommend
bare hands!
Price RM17 for
a whole chicken
Stop 5: Taiping Lake Gardens
One of the oldest gardens in the country,
it hosts a variety of
plants, trees, flow-
ers, insects – and as
we witness – baby
monitor lizards! The
64-hectare area was
once mining land,
which is hard to
believe with all the
greenery around. We
find a spot under a
huge tree with spread-
ing canopies and have
a late lunch. A great
way to spend a lazy
afternoon. Taiping
folks, we envy you!
Stop 6: Penaga Hotel
Corner of Jalan Hutton and Lebuh
Clarke, 10050 George Town, Penang
Call 04-261 1891
Standing tall in the heart of George
Town, in a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, this boutique hotel was converted
from a cluster of pre-war terrace and
shop houses. It holds 45 rooms, a
restaurant, a bar and lounges as well
as a quiet garden and pool to spend a
lazy afternoon in. We check into its
Clarke Terrace House, which has two
bedrooms and a living area, perfect for
the four of us. The rooms at Penaga are
furnished with antique Chinese pieces
with a modern twist and original con-
temporary art works. Each also comes
with a Jacuzzi spa bath, so handy after
a day of travelling! The hotel normally
sees a much older crowd but we do
spot young couples enjoying the break-
fast spread.
Ice cream!
lookatthequeue!
silkysmooth taufufah
clarketerracehouse’s
spaciouslivingarea
theoh-so-serene
taipinglakegardens
jalan
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jalan
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ngai
jalan
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dok
upih
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on
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lama
jalan tanjung tokong
jalan tanjung tokong
jalan
fettes
jalan seri tanjungpinang
OURROADTRIP
PLAYLIST!
Stop 7: Straits Quay
Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung
Tokong, 10470 Penang
Call 04-891 8000
Opening hours 10.30 am to 1am
For fun, food and festivity by the
sea, head to Straits Quay! Located in
Seri Tanjung Pinang, a world-class,
master-planned waterfront communi-
ty, it is currently the island’s first and
only seafront retail marina. Must-gos:
Delicious, Kaffa Kafe and Huey&Wah
Cafe (gourmet marshmallow cafe).
Stop 8: Spasso Milano
3C-G-2, Ground Floor, Straits Quay,
10470 Penang
Call 04-891 2888
Opening hours 12noon to 11pm
This pork-free restaurant uses imported
ingredients and produce as much as
possible to serve you authentic Italian
fare. With Milanese chef Felice Marti-
nelli in the house, we don’t have to ex-
plain why we think it’s doing a mighty
fine job! At Spasso Milano, it’s all about
the food (and wine), so it doesn’t have
any of that pretentious ambience some
Italian restaurants have. You can dine
indoors or al fresco.
Stop 9: The Library
3E-G-3, Ground Floor, Straits Quay,
10470 Penang
Call 04-890 5073
Opening hours 11am to 1am on
weekdays, 11am to 2am on weekends
After a heart-warming
dinner, we head
to The Library for
a round of non-
alcoholic drinks. A
fat glass of ‘Very Safe
Sex On The Beach’,
accompanied by the
soothing melodies of a
live performance and
calming sea breeze;
perfect way to end
the night. Can we just
say that some of the
waiters there are hot,
hot, hot!
Stop 1: Penang National Park
Jalan Hassan Abbas, Teluk Bahang,
11050 Penang
Call 04-881 3500/ 04-5513530
Opening hours 7.30am to 6pm
Gazetted as a reserve in 1928, Penang Na-
tional Park is the country’s smallest national
park at only 2,562 hectare but home to 46
species of birds alone. An expedition in 2000
by the Malaysian Nature Society recorded
417 flora and 143 fauna species. We
go on a 90-minute hike over hilly
terrain to Pantai Kerachut. Fret not;
it is a fairly easy hike. Warning: the
beach may look idyllic but jellyfish
roam its waters. The beach is also
unsafe for inexperienced swimmers
because of the sudden drop off. From
the beach, we take a boat back to the
park entrance. Plenty of eagles can be
spotted along the way!
Stop 2: Food stalls
at Balik Pulau
Market Complex
Jalan Tun Sardon, 11000
Balik Pulau, Penang
We’re here for one thing, and one
thing only: nutmeg juice. We settle
down at stall #17 (Kheng Hoe Cafe)
because the owners look more
welcoming. Made from fresh nutmeg
sourced from the surrounding farms
of Balik Pulau, the juice tastes tangy
and sort of weird. But we get used
to it after a few sips, and drink the
frothy beverage until the very last
drop. Head inside the market to stock
up on preserved and fresh fruits,
shrimp paste and fish crackers.
Day THREE
Stop 3: Kim Laksa at Nan
Guang Coffee Shop
67, Jalan Balik Pulau, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang
Hours 11am to 5pm (Closed on Wednesday)
Laksa, laksa, laksa! That’s all we can talk and
think about all the way to Penang. We actually
plan to sample a bowl at Laksa Janggus but find
it closed. So we head for Kim Laksa, a stall in a
humble-looking coffee shop next to the former
Balik Pulau market. It is one of the best asam
laksa we have tasted. The soft yet springy rice
noodles and chunks of sardines come in a thick,
sour and spicy broth. They don’t skimp on the
condiments and shrimp paste, which add a
sweet taste to the laksa. Well worth our winding
drive to Balik Pulau!
Price RM3 for a small bowl of
Asam Laksa or Siam Laksa.
Stop 4: Nasi
Kandar Kapitan
93, Lebuh Chulia, 10200 Penang
Call 04-264 1191
No way can we leave Penang without
having a plate of nasi kandar first!
So after a quick shower and check-
ing out, we make our way to one of
the island’s more famous restaurants
and sample its all-time favourites:
Briyani Chicken La Coppera and
mango lassi. We’ll let the picture do
the talking.
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holidays,thestall
sellsupto400
bowlsoflaksa!
jalan
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jalan
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jalan
teluk
bahang
jalantelukbahang
jalan
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loronghassanabassatu
Did you
know?
Asitcontains
myristicin,largedoses
ofnutmegcancause
ahallucinogenic
high!
Tiramisu K
Sip,sip,sip!
Asam boi?
millefogliewith
mascarponecreamand
rum-infusedoranges
wood-fired
rusticapizza
arewethereyet?
cutebabyturtlesat
penangnationalpark’s
turtlehatcherycentre
deliciousbowl
ofasamlaksa!
pinang