My latest article is Femina is talks about my serendipitous meals in Penang.
Hope you can read this. The original text follows after the pic
What sort of a traveller are you?
Do you do a lot of research before you
reach a place? Do you have your plans all chalked out before you land? Or do
you arrive at your destination and then figure out what to do?
reach a place? Do you have your plans all chalked out before you land? Or do
you arrive at your destination and then figure out what to do?
Those who do the former will say that you
might miss out on must dos if you don’t plan in advance. The other camp will
talk of spontaneity being the high of an unplanned travel.
might miss out on must dos if you don’t plan in advance. The other camp will
talk of spontaneity being the high of an unplanned travel.
I must confess that I don’t do much
research before reaching a place. The odd twitter query at the most to take
some broad decisions on where to go and where to stay is the most I do. The journey
comes alive for me when I reach a place. That’s when I start asking around in
earnest looking for things to do, places to eat in. I tweet, ask on Facebook
and normally get my answers. The best ideas though come by when I ask locals on
where to go to eat. The answers that come might not meet the specs of a ‘best of’
list but the suggestions have a lot of character and flavor which make the experience
of following them unforgettable.
research before reaching a place. The odd twitter query at the most to take
some broad decisions on where to go and where to stay is the most I do. The journey
comes alive for me when I reach a place. That’s when I start asking around in
earnest looking for things to do, places to eat in. I tweet, ask on Facebook
and normally get my answers. The best ideas though come by when I ask locals on
where to go to eat. The answers that come might not meet the specs of a ‘best of’
list but the suggestions have a lot of character and flavor which make the experience
of following them unforgettable.
One such trip for me was to Penang in Malaysia.
I had landed at Georgetown, the capital of Penang, not knowing what to do. All I
knew was that is is called the food capital of Malaysia. I didn’t know where to
go or what to eat.
I had landed at Georgetown, the capital of Penang, not knowing what to do. All I
knew was that is is called the food capital of Malaysia. I didn’t know where to
go or what to eat.
I checked in to my hotel and then asked the
staff in the lobby about where to go to eat. ‘Tell me where you go to eat. I
will go there’ I said.
staff in the lobby about where to go to eat. ‘Tell me where you go to eat. I
will go there’ I said.
The folks seemed nonplussed and didn’t know
how to react. I almost gave up and resigned myself to eating in the hotel when
a gentleman came up to me. He had come to meet some friends in the hotel and
had heard my query. He said he was free and offered to show me around.
how to react. I almost gave up and resigned myself to eating in the hotel when
a gentleman came up to me. He had come to meet some friends in the hotel and
had heard my query. He said he was free and offered to show me around.
He told me that his name is Hanif. That he
is a second generation settler in Penang and that his father had come here from
Punjab.
is a second generation settler in Penang and that his father had come here from
Punjab.
Hanif offered to take me around and he took
me in his car to a Nasi Kandar place where he often eats. Hanif explained that
Nasi kandar referred to the food of the Indian settlers in Malaysia and their practice
of taking packed meals of rice (nasi) with curries to the fields where they
worked.
me in his car to a Nasi Kandar place where he often eats. Hanif explained that
Nasi kandar referred to the food of the Indian settlers in Malaysia and their practice
of taking packed meals of rice (nasi) with curries to the fields where they
worked.
On Hanif’s recommendation I had rice with
pigeon curry. The thin slices of meat were tender. The coconut based red curry,
which was served on the rice, reminded me of Mumbai’s Malvani restaurant curries.
pigeon curry. The thin slices of meat were tender. The coconut based red curry,
which was served on the rice, reminded me of Mumbai’s Malvani restaurant curries.
Hanif asked me to try the ayam negra, a favourite
of his. This slightly sweet and tangy black curry has soya sauce in it and is a
happy marriage of Chinese and Indian cooking traditions.
of his. This slightly sweet and tangy black curry has soya sauce in it and is a
happy marriage of Chinese and Indian cooking traditions.
Hanif next led me to an experience I woukd
never have tried by myself. Eating a durian. The reputation of the noxious
smell of this fruit had deterred me till then. Hanif explained that this
favourite fruit of his is best enjoyed fresh. Apparently packing and
transporting it is what leads to its bad odour.
never have tried by myself. Eating a durian. The reputation of the noxious
smell of this fruit had deterred me till then. Hanif explained that this
favourite fruit of his is best enjoyed fresh. Apparently packing and
transporting it is what leads to its bad odour.
I held my breath and tried the fruit. I
must admit that the delicious creaminess of the fruit won me over. The smell
was bearable. As Hanif warned me, I did have post durian burps through the rest
of the day.
must admit that the delicious creaminess of the fruit won me over. The smell
was bearable. As Hanif warned me, I did have post durian burps through the rest
of the day.
Before bidding me goodbye Hanif told me
where I could go for breakfast the next day.following his lead I went to a place
called Line Clear the next morning. I followed Hanif’s lead and ordered a tea Teri
(pulled tea) and roti canai and fish curry. As I relished my breakfast I fondly
remembered Hamid’s generosity to take the time out and take me around.
where I could go for breakfast the next day.following his lead I went to a place
called Line Clear the next morning. I followed Hanif’s lead and ordered a tea Teri
(pulled tea) and roti canai and fish curry. As I relished my breakfast I fondly
remembered Hamid’s generosity to take the time out and take me around.
At the end of the trip, I wasn’t sure if I had
done a ,
done a ,
‘Best of’ Penang trip but seeing it through
the eyes of a local really made the town come alive for me.
the eyes of a local really made the town come alive for me.
Nope, can't read it.
I realised so have put the original text
Antara, I too took a bus there and went but couldn't find the dive
Feels good somebody apart from me has come back from Penang without making it to the much acclaimed Gurney Drive. Trust me I tried, with and without a map, on our rented scooty and somehow could never find the damn place. But it was a beautiful place nevertheless, lots of good food and old world small town charm despite the furnace of a weather