Malaysian Grub

We are in Malaysia now, Georgetown to be exact, and our bellies have not let us leave Penang Island (where Georgetown is of course). The city of Georgetown was colonized by the East India Trading Co. and attracted several different cultures to the island. It is a thriving melting pot of Malay, Chinese and Indian people (and several other sub-cultures). It has been recently named a World Heritage Site for it's colorful history and architecture. Walking down the street you will see a mosque, an Indian Temple, a Chinese clan house and a church all around the corner from another. It's rich culture also brings an amazing selection of delicious foods which we just can't get enough of.

After being teased by expensive Indian food in resort towns in Thailand we were finally able to indulge in curries, samosas, tandoori chicken and simple roti canai (roti served with curry for dipping). We have had several snacks consisting of roti canai and blackcurrant lassis for a grand total of $1.60. Food is amazingly cheap here, so there are a lot of second dinners and snacks.

The Chinese food is equally as good, some of the dishes we like are curry mee (a coconut broth soup with noodles, prawn, tofu, mussels and beansprouts garnished with mint) and Chee Choeng Fun (wide noodles stuffed with prawn and pork served in an oily dipping sauce with peanut sauce on top). Another delicious snack, Char Kuih Kar, is noodle chunks fried with garlic, chili paste and bean sprouts served in a banana leaf cone wrapped in newspaper. Stands up and down most streets serve up specialties from fresh squeezed juices to fried noodles and banana wrapped surprise (always a surprise to see what's in the banana leaf).

And of course there is dessert! Strange, but delicious, Cendol consists of pea flour noodles served in coconut juice, shaved ice and brown sugar with red beans. And sweeter ABC Special, shaved ice, fresh fruit, kidney beans, corn, ice cream, lychee pieces, and strange black noodle something-or-other. It sounds weird, but it's good. Malaysia so far has been a treat.