The Kuan Yin Temple in Kampung Baru Kampung Timah

1.

Last December 2012, when I went back to Ipoh, my brother took me to a newly built Goddess of Mercy Temple located in Kampung Baru Kampung Timah (tin village). It was a pleasant journey by car with scenic views of the rustic countryside along half tar, half dirt roads to this quaint little village in the outskirts of Tanjung Tualang town. "Kampung Timah" literally means "tin village".

Inside this temple is a huge, glittering statue of Guan Yin sitting on a golden lotus bloom. There is a moving waterfall and man-made rocks behind the statue. When a devotee kneels on the red cushion in front of Guan Yin, water flows out from the vase she's holding in her hand. This holy water can be splashed onto the face or drank. (Actually, there is a mechanical device that makes the water spurt out from a hose whenever this cushion is pressed upon).

2.

The common features of Chinese temples are the red lanterns, the Door Gods* guarding the entrance and a beautifully designed incense urn with dragon features.

More information about Chinese Door Gods, click on the following links:
1. Wikipedia
2. Ministry of Culture, Taiwan

“The Kuan Yin Temple in Kampung Baru Kampung Timah”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Malaysia Daily Photoblog by Autumn Belle @ http://mymalaysiadailyphoto.blogspot.com on February 28th, 2013.

3.

The place here is very tranquil and calm, so quiet you can hear the birds chirping. I'm so glad to be away from the sounds of city traffic. When we were on the road, there were no other cars occupying the road, except for the occasional scooter or bicycle. We had ample space for parking. 

4.

The local name of this temple is Tokong Cina Kuan Yin Kampung Baru Kampung Timah, Tanjung Tuallang.

This new Kuan Yin temple is not to be confused with another old temple called Tokong Guan Yin Dian Kampung Timah in the vicinity of Kampung Tersusun Teronoh Mines, Kampar.

5.

On the way back, we came across this huge rambutan tree by the roadside. 

6.

Rambutans were in season and their season usually coincides with durian, duku, langsat and mangosteens.

Famous Penang Asam Laksa at Air Itam Market

A trip to Penang is never complete without a visit to the famous Penang Asam Laksa stall at Air Itam market. Actually it is very near to Kek Lok Si Temple.

After all these years, it is not difficult to locate the same old stall. 

We call this sidewalk stall, a "Tai Pai Dong" (大牌檔) but now you can also say that this is "al fresco dining Malaysian style", yeah?

There are other stalls in Penang that serve equally good or better asam laksa, but for me, this is the Penang Asam Laksa I'll always remember and cherish. My parents brought me here. So did my school friends, colleagues, acquaintances and loved ones. How many times I had sat on the stools here and enjoyed the asam laska served through the ages. Then it was their elders, now it is the younger generation who are manning the stall. It's the memories you know.

“Famous Penang Asam Laks at Pasar Air Itam”, a copyrighted post, was written for Klang, Malaysia Daily Photo blog by Autumn Belle @ http://mymalaysiadailyphoto.blogspot.com on Oct 3rd, 2012.

The secret? Besides the poached, flaked and crushed mackerel fish (ikan kembung), shrimp paste, rice noodles and tamarind in the fish broth, can you see the tiny pieces of finely chopped pinkish raw torch ginger (Etlingera eliator) flowers (bunga kantan)?

The garnishing used here are mint leaves, thinly sliced cucumber,onion and chili. I can just wallop everything inside the bowl; garnishing, noodles and soup.

This dish is sweet, salty, sour, spicy and flaming HOT! There is a burning sensation on my tongue and I will always sweat and have a running nose. Its the capsaisin in the chillies! But no problem. This asam laksa is worth the 'torture'.

The antidote? Some cold desserts of course.
Its like using iced water to douse the flames!

Cendol with red bean, kidney beans, tapioca pearls and coconut milk.

Bubur Cha-Cha
- Yam, tapioca and sweet potato dessert with coconut milk,
agar-agar jelly, sago and tapioca pearls with ice-cubes.

Iced lychee drink.

Asam laksa on the double for each person.

The Assam Laksa stall is located at the Air Itam Market Pasar Road (Beside the Air Itam Market) at 11500 Air Itam Penang. It is just 5 minutes walk from Kek Lok Si Temple.

A stall selling traditional You Tiao (油条), our Chinese styled fast food fritters.
I call these Yau Char Kway (油炸粿) and Ham Chim Peng (咸煎饼).

Young coconut juice freshly prepared by hand.

Freshly pressed sugar cane drink with no sugar added.

That's the beauty and charm of PENANG.