Sunday, November 30, 2008

New Lane Hawker Stalls

There is a hawker street that came alive after 5pm at New Lane, just outside Sunway Hotel Georgetown.

There are a variety of food can be found along this stretch of street. One can opt to sit down to enjoy the food or take away. I decided for a take away and enjoy the food at the comfort of my own hotel room.

I came across a this hawker stall and decide to try some of the dishes. All the food along the street look delicious.

I ordered Sotong Kangkung (RM6). Mix the squid and the vegetable with the gravy sauce and it's heaven. The sauce is a bit hot and spicy.

Tom Yam Fried Rice (RM3.50). Taste really good with huge prawn and squid inside it. Tom Yam flavour is also present. Hot and spicy.

Another dish not to be missed is the famous Penang Kway Teow (RM4)

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Around Sunway Hotel Georgetown

Sunway Hotel Georgetown location is ideal and most of the city's attractions are within walking distance.

Some of the famous Penang Biscuit stalls were just outside the hotel. I counted 3 stalls at New Lane

Penang Times Square at Jalan Dato Keramat is still under construction and will probably open soon. Another modern shopping complex in Penang, Times Square is just behind the hotel

Penang Times Square is probably constructed and managed by Ivory and its office is at this Birch House, just next to the Time Squares

There are 2 Hindu temples nearby the hotel at Jalan Dato Keramat. One of them is the Penang Nagarathar Sivan Temple.

There is another Hindu temple opposite the Penang Nagarathar Sivan Temple. Interesting thing is they drew something on the main road, in way of the temple's main entrance

Komtar building also can be seen vividly from the hotel. Komtar is the tallest and most prominent contemporary building in Penang. Situated in this 65 storey tower are government offices, private enterprises, restaurants and departmental stores

Adjacent to the famous Komtar tower is the Prangin Mall. Prangin Mall is the largest shopping mall in Penang.

There is also a departmental store called Gama nearby (Jalan Dato Keramat)

Lastly, the UMNO building

There are more attractions around Georgetown is within walking distance from this hotel. What I show here are probably within the 100m radius from the hotel. I even walk up to Fort Cornwalis from the hotel. I will highlight some of the attractions in my future post.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Sunway Hotel Georgetown

In my recent visit to Penang, I stayed in Sunway Hotel Georgetown. This 4 star hotel is always my first choice when staying at Penang Island. This is my second stay at this hotel. My first stay was about 3 years ago.

Sunway Hotel is strategically loacted at New Lane, Off Macalister Road. I saw this signboard at the ferry terminal. I doubt it is 2km away from the ferry terminal as I walked here to the hotel (about 20 minutes walk) on several occasions in my recent trip to Penang.

An overview of how the hotel looks like from the outside.

The lobby was spacious and the check in counter can be spotted rather easily. Check in is efficient and without issue. There were new faces at the reception counter as the previous receptionist who checked me in last time was no longer around.

There is also a Lobby Shop which is actually a mini convenience store. A travel agent is also available for tour and etc beside the convenience store. There is also a jewellery display at a corner.

The hotel's welcoming folder is rather useful as it also include map for the guest, in case they get lost when exploring the city.

Inside the welcoming folder are the door key card, breakfast coupon and a welcoming drink coupon.

This placard in the elevator should give one a picture of what type of facilities the hotel got to offer. I found out that the non smoking floor occupied 6-12th floor while the smoking floor occupied higher up, hence better view, I reckon.

The corridor leading to my room.......... Room 715

The room is spacious and comfortable. By the way, the room rate is RM150 (corporate rate). Used to be RM125 in my last visit 3 years ago.

The toilet is also spacious and I am impressed

Interestingly, there is a guide at the bathroom's door knob on how to open it in case one locked the door accidentally. I know this trick since I was a kid. Screwdriver will work fine as well.

I am glad they gave me a nice view. I had the same view in my last visit. I really enjoy these views

I really enjoy sitting on the chair and admire the Komtar building

Taxis are easily available at this hotel as there is a taxi stand outside the hotel. I notice there is even taxi on standby early in the morning.

Cafe Tropics at the lobby area is the main restaurant of this hotel and where the guests go for breakfast.

The breakfast is satisfactory for a 4 star hotel. The food choices live up to my expectation.

This is the welcoming drink from the earlier coupon. It's just orange juice.

I had a Chicken Burger (RM13) at Cafe Tropics late one night as the hawker food nearby failed to fill me up. The food is nice and the service is satisfactory.

There I met a waiter called Joe who we had a good chat. He introduce new restaurants nearby and some places of interest around Penang. I not sure whether this nice lad is still around as he told me that he plan to switch job.