Rara And Reddy Goes To Penang - Muntri Grove

Penang! It was a short 1.5 hour of drive from Alor Setar, after dozing off for a snooze in the taxi we hired, the next thing we know, Penang Bridge has come in sight. It was somewhat a surreal experience, as the only time I have seen the bridge was on the telly, or from school textbooks from (obviously) many years ago. Penang is located almost way up north (northwest to be exact) of the Malayan Peninsula. It shares its borders with (the other small) state of Kedah and Perak. Despite being the second smallest state (by land mass) in Malaysia, it is the second largest city by population. Yup , that is how dense this little state is. Penang also holds the esteemed recognition from UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (the other 4 in the country being Lenggong Valley in Perak, Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Kinabalu Park in Sabah and the historical town of Melaka). Can you believe that this is my first visit here! So close to home and yet it took me many years to find myself landing in this fascinating place steeped in years and years of rich history. I am such an ardent fan of anything old, and judging by the sheer amount of "oldness" within the vicinity of where I chose to bunk in for a 2 nights, I am thrilled beyond words and cannot wait to share what Rara and Reddy been up to in the city also known as the Pearl Of The Orient.

 
What more appropriate a choice than a charming boutique hotel housed in a compound of refurbished old shophouses. Simply lovely :)

A Slice Of History Over Lunch - Chong Wen Ge Cafe

I love everything old. There is just something "more" about old stuff - more character, history, charm. Many a time, I would stand and literally stare, at the intricacies of old buildings. How things were put together, how every piece of tile was painstakingly handpainted, how every piece of carving tells a story, how the walls are adorned with meticulous artwork made possible only by the hands of a skilled artisan. Which brings me to one of my favorite lunch joints in the CBD - Chong Wen Ge Cafe.

Intricately decorated pavilion now play host to an outdoor seating area

Heritage Trail - Boat Quay to Singapore National Museum

Am a poor sucker for long walks, especially after a gruelling day at the "Earn-A-Living-Place". It was a beautiful evening, sun's not too harsh and soft blowing wind set the mood for a nice long walk. Started off from the outer fringe of CBD, zigzagged past the massive after-office-hour crowd and finally broke "free" into Boat Quay through Raffles Place underpass. You may notice some "Anookis" on the facade of the National Museum in the picture below, yea, this is a long overdue post from a walking session sometime in 2015 during the Singapore Night Festival period in August. If you are an avid history buff with a keen interest in all things historical, then feel to read on :)
Do let us know if you have some interesting facts you would like to share along with ours! We'll be more than happy to hear from ya!

Soothing shades of pastels, perfect as a backdrop for the Anooki facade show beamed upon our iconic National Museum building.

RaRa and Reddy's Sensory Treat - SG50 Light Show

This is the year our Lady Singapore turn 50. We were not able to catch any fireworks though... but managed to catch this light show spectacle smack right in front of our seats (on a wooden patio in front of Marina Bay Shoppes). The light show is actually a nightly affair at MBS, but just for this year's Jubilee celebration, Fullerton Hotel concurrently doubled up as a backdrop for projected images to tell a story along with the light show. We couldn't have picked a better seat, the water fountains were sprouting right in front of us (it was a 3D sensory extravagance as well haha, we could feel the sprinkles of water as the show went full swing!), flames swooshed majestically and the lights danced along with the melodious tunes.

Very Bellagio!

Dinner Time With The Crazy Crowd - Song Fa Bak Kut Teh @ New Bridge Road

I love a good Bak Kut Teh (especially the Malaysian version, with darker broth and less pepper), living here for the past 2 decades has made me appreciate both versions - both are good in their own rights. Must have been living under a rock, as this is my maiden visit to Song Fa. Experienced quite a culture shock when I learnt one have to "queue" for a meal here. Yes, queue with throngs of tourists? Strange but yes. I suppose this is a "must-eat Bak Kut Teh" for tourists, just as how Tian Tian represents the humble Chicken Rice to visitors of our Little Red Dot.

Dip this in chilli laced thick soya sauce? Ecstasy. Full stop.

RaRa and Reddy's Day At The Museum - National Museum

Ahh, The National Museum. What colourful history this building hold. It used to be known as Raffles Library and Museum (1887-1942) and was used as a space to hold educational resources. Over the years as these resources grew, works were done to the interiors and exteriors, facilities such as fans, telephones and electric lights were installed. 

As described by EResources of our National Library Board archives, "The exterior walls were repainted from a dull yellow to a combination of white and cream, and then a dado of dark brown and with a thick black line for contrast. Concrete and Italian tiles were used to replace its worn floors made of timber." 

Done in typical European influenced colonial architecture, built in fashion of that time such as the Palladian, Renaissance, or Neoclassical styles during the era of the British colony.

Heritage Trail - Clifford Pier to Boay Quay

On a very lazy Sunday afternoon, just after an scrumptious Local Afternoon Tea at Clifford Pier,
RaRa set off on a walk around the Fullerton Heritage area and eventually where those little feet can afford to meander to. It was a beautiful day, very clear blue skies with almost no clouds, there was a draft of sea breeze accompanying each step of the walk. Perfect setting. Almost. Too perfect.