Saturday, June 13, 2009

A different side to Penang

Honestly, the first thing i think of when someone mentions Penang is food.

Hokkien mee or prawn noodles, one of my faves

A week ago, I took my wife back to Penang to meet some of my relatives who could not make it for our wedding dinner. It was a very short trip, but I think we ate enough for 1 week. Ok lar...it was me who did most of the eating...

During the trip, one of my cousins unexpectedly brought us to this durian orchard in Kampung Sungai Pinang...not far from Balik Pulau (ya...what a name). This is a place that I've never heard of before, let alone been to. I've always thought that Penang is a super high density area (it is in some areas) that is running out of land...but this place changed my thinking. Penang island is bigger than I thought!

Tall durian trees... they say falling durians can kill? Now you know why

This nets are used to catch the 'good' durians

The so-so quality durians have no nets...but they are used to make durian cakes

I thought this was a cactus, but was told it was a dragonfruit plant

Red pinapple

Home made nutmeg drink. Delicious!

Needless to say, we ate durians like the world will end the next day. The orchard owners themselves didn't touch the stuff at all...I wonder if I had a durian orchard, will I be sick of eating durians too.