Last year I came up with a list of things I wanted to do around Penang in the next two years. I have to say, I’ve done a pretty good job at crossing items off this list (having visitors really helps a lot with checking off some of the tourist stuff.)
There’s a few things left uncrossed on the list, and there’s a lot of things I want to add to the list. Hopefully I’ll get around to making a new list and doing a “year in review” list soon – the last few weeks months have been busy with moving across town, unpacking all our stuff, spending quality time with a visiting friend and Penang friends about to move back to Oz, you get the idea…
Anyway, let’s take a look at that list, shall we?
Things to do around Penang (as listed on January 2011)
Drive a lap of the whole island, more than once – We drove around the island while my family was here last year. I enjoyed the trip and was amazed at how different the “vibe” was on the other side of Penang Island – very laid back and rural. I hope to do another drive or two in 2012.
Take a day trip to the Thai border – I was able to do this back in October 2011 with some visiting friends of Mr B. While I enjoyed the experience of crossing over to Thailand for the day, Hat Yai wasn’t as awesome shopping wise as I’d been led to believe. Mind you, I wouldn’t knock back a chance to do it again.
Visit Penang’s national park – Not yet.
Visit the Butterfly farm– Done! Absolutely loved it, as did my visiting friend. I think Mr B may have enjoyed using his camera to get some cool snaps too. Must do a blog post about this soon.
Visit the Blue Mansion – Did this when my family was in town. I have to say, the mansion is a beautiful building but the tour is somewhat lame (lots of talk, not much moving around the place) and was, in my opinion, over priced. I think I prefer the Green Mansion for showing visitors a glimpse of Penang’s Peranakan past.
Get my Indian sari made up – Wore it to a ball, in fact. Needed an Indian amah to help me get into the thing, but the end result was pretty glamorous.
Hike to the very top of Penang Hill – Not yet. I must do it at least once in 2012, I must!
Eat dinner at the top of Penang Hill – When my family was here we had lunch at David Brown’s restaurant on the top of the hill. The views were stunning (even with the haze) and we had the place to ourselves. Food was delicious, if expensive. Definitely worth a repeat visit.
Get some good photos of someone making teh tarik – Done!
Visit Kek Lok Si properly (I haven’t had a decent explore of the place yet!) – I’ve been to see the 10,000 Lantern display twice and took my friend up to Kek Lok Si in the daytime during her visit. I think I’ve covered that Buddhist temple pretty comprehensively!
See Kek Lok Si lit up for Chinese New Year – Here’s the proof for that one – we even went twice!
Go on a Thaipusam tour – Done. Check it out here.
Go on a group tour of the Clan Jetties – Another one done. I’ve had a blog draft sitting around for AGES about this tour, I’ll have to post it up sometime before leaving Penang!
Eat a duck lunch at Kristal (I have a feeling I’ll want to do this more than once!) – I have yet to do this, believe it or not. Please believe me when I say I’ve tried out plenty of other places though. Next year I will be in walking distance of this place, and I intend to do that walk.
Have high tea at Suffolk House (and also dinner!) – I’m yet to have high tea at Suffolk House but last year we went there for a group dinner for Mr B’s work. The food was divine and I’d love to go back. I had high tea at the E&O a few times this year, and as usual, it was delicious.
Take some photos around Georgetown in the early morning, when the light is at its best – I’ve taken some great pics around Georgetown, but not in the early morning. Can I get up the motivation this year? Time will tell.
Go on a rickshaw ride around Georgetown – Done! Did this while the family was here, sharing a rickshaw with Mr B. A lovely, leisurely way to see the sights in Georgetown.
Spend a day exploring the streets of Georgetown on foot – Not a day, but I’ve definitely done a morning or two. Too hot for all day, lah! I even walked into town from my new home, then walked back home again and loved finding all sorts of interesting streets I miss when I’m in a car.
Visit Tua Pek Kong temple, Yap Khongsi and Cheah Kongsi – Done, during visits from family and friends and also as part of a tour.
Take more cooking classes at the Spice Gardens – I did a cooking class with the same woman who ran the cooking classes at the Spice Gardens last year, but it wasn’t at the Spice Gardens. I hope to do at least one more this year, and also have ideas for a few others as well.
Do more batik painting – Did this once with my mum last year and with my friend this year; definitely something to do with the visitors heading our way in 2012.
Learn how to make rotis – Still dying to learn how to do this, as well as make Indian sweets, recreate hawker food favourites, etc…Help!
Try and make at least one pair of handmade beaded shoes – I’ve just recently finished beading my first pair and need to take them to the shoe maker. Not bad for a project I’ve worked on in very short spurts for…a year. Oops.
Treat myself to more hair washes at Sunbean – I had a few, until Sunbean closed down. RIP Sunbean, I will miss those fabulous massaging hair washes.
Start getting regular massages – No. Note to self: You’re mad to not be getting regular massages. Rectify this ASAP!
Get some portrait photos taken of Mr B and I around Georgetown – This would require the cooperation of Mr B. Mr B has been somewhat elusive on this subject…
Do a walking tour of Pulau Tikus – Nah. But easy enough to do in our new location. I could even do it on my bike!
Try foot reflexology – Not yet. I’ve had plenty of pedicures though, does that count?
Try and attend some sort of Chinese New Year celebrations – Not really. Would have been fun to crash someone’s open house but it didn’t eventuate. But this year we had a lot of fun watching the fireworks and hearing the celebrations from the windows of our new home.
Take photos of my local wet markets – Surprisingly I have a few photos taken from when my folks were here, but I want to go there and do a proper job of it.
Stay at the E & O again (or perhaps Rasa Sayang, or Hard Rock) for a night as a treat – Nope. Got to do it at least once before we go though.
See the lighting of the E & O Christmas Tree – Too busy travelling.
Get a photo of the funny driving school – Driven past plenty of times, no pics yet.
Eat at the Thai restaurant at Bukit Genting on sunset – Nope.
Get some tailor made clothes made – Kept using the “I’m going to wait until I’ve lost some weight” excuse. But if I get them made, Murphy’s Law dictates I will then lose weight. Hmm, food for thought…
Now that I’ve got this post out of the way, I hope to be back soon with a “year in review” post and a new bucket list for 2012.
Photo taken on October 22, 2011, on a gorgeously clear afternoon on Penang Hill. A hill I hope to reach the top of, on foot, in 2012…
(Note: This list has been sitting in my draft folder for ages, and I was reminded of the existence of this list while having lunch with a friend today. Thanks for the reminder Em!)
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