Recently, Nathan told us that he really really really wants to go to: (in no particular order) New York, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, London, Rome, Bangkok.

We were curious how his geography seemingly improved or if it was some stock market news he heard cos many of these were all major markets! Well, they were all from Cars2! Thanks or no thanks, my boy now has dream holidays to these big cities!

Some have been asking me, what do we pack for a family holiday? We did a post once on Family Fun Vacation and it’s time for an update! So besides the clothes & shoes, here’s our list!

With our family—7 yo, 5 yo and 4 yo, this is what we pack for our trips:

1. Pull-up Diapers – In the hand carry bag, and in the bag you bring around everywhere. Emergencies are aplenty and they have a tendency to happen at the dirtiest mall, or on long road trips!

2. Notepads for each child with coloring pencils or just a pen – They love to draw, write notes, and scribble. This occupies them for many hours.

One of the tasks we get them to do is to write down all of our room numbers. (this includes all family members traveling with us, or friends) It also helps them remember their own room number!

3. Toy Cars (matchbox size) – Nathan’s current big love. He can play with 3 cars all alone for a entire afternoon, making strange noises. Best part—it works even in confined spaces like plane seats!

Do note that the cars trigger the metal detectors at the airport!

4. Books – One thin book for each child to read. For Nicole, we even brought her spelling list once! No choice, cos the spelling test would fall on the day after we reached home.

5. Basic kiddy travel pack – Tissues, Babywipes, Hand Sanitisers, Water Bottle, Long sleeve warm top.

At the end of the day, we got the kids to be part of the packing process. They know what’s packed and what’s left behind, so they do have some responsibilities too!

Besides the normal sites such as E&O Hotel and Museums such as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, you must be wondering if there is anything  specifically for the kids in Penang!

Well, you won’t be disappointed, as Adventure Zone in Penang is definitely something that your kids will enjoy  

Adventure Zone is a 10,300 sq ft air-conditioned facility with exciting drop slides, where the family can interact in a safe secure environment.

If you are thinking that these slides are going to be just for children, you will be pleasantly surprised that the slides present a level of difficulty even for adults.

Here are some more pictures of the slides:

It is about a 2 storey vertical drop, so, it is definitely quite scary when you are sitting on top of the slide.  I sat there and paused for a while, before I tried out the slide myself… 

Adventure Zone is located within Golden Sands Resort and it is a great place to drop off the kids for a day (You do not need to be a guest at the resort to use the facilities, as Adventure Zone is open to the public). There is also a cafe facing the slides, so that you can enjoy your coffee, as you watch over the kids as well.

As a seasoned traveller in Malaysia, one realizes that many of the facilities are not well-maintained. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the level of hygiene in this adventure park, and the fact that it is already a few years ago, was another added surprise!  

For 2 hours, it will only cost 30MYR per kid (For guests not staying at Golden Sands Resort) and 20 MYR for Hotel Guests, adults are free.

Dress Code
- Socks must be worn when on the play equipment
- Long sleeve shirts must be worn when using any of the slides
- No wet clothes or swimming costumes in the play equipment area

Opening Hours
10am to 7pm

For reservations or enquiries, please call (604) 886 1911.

For more information, click here

Besides the Char Kuey Teow and Hokkien Mee in Penang that you must savour, you can also venture to try the local Peranakan food in Penang.

Penang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it is not surprising that this restaurant is also truly well maintained, with deco that will bring you back in time.

The moment you step in, you will be brought back in time, and you will definitely enjoy walking around the restaurant, looking at the Peranakan decorations.

How was the food at Perut Rumah?

Peranakan food in Penang is very different from those that we are used to in Singapore and Malacca.  I really like the Salted Vegetable Duck Soup, Fried Chicken and Ngoh Hiang.

My wife prefers the Peranakan food in Malacca, but the whole experience of the restaurant is really quite fun, as the decor in this place is really exceptional. The waiters understand English and therefore ordering is not a problem.

Prices are on the more expensive side, as compared to local hawker food, but still affordable for Singaporeans and cheaper than a Crystal Jade Restaurant.

The business hours are from 11am – 3pm & 6pm -10pm (daily).

Address : No. 17, Jalan Kelawei, 10250, Penang.

Tel : 04-2279917

Singaporeans seem to love Steamboat, and if you are looking for something along those lines in Penang – you will not be disappointed.

Take a walk down memory lane as you enter this restaurant with traditional Charcoal Steamboat.

Truthfully, I am in my late 30s, and I myself have not seen a contraception such as this. With its huge chimney and charcoal fire, the whole steamboat experience is brought to a new level of nostalgia.

If you are wondering what to order at this Chinese Teochew Restaurant, you will not be lost – as the service here is excellent. Chinese Coffee shops are not renowned for good service, but this restaurant is really good at what it is doing (as ranked against Singapore Standards).

Before you can ask for a refill for soap, the waitress is already topping up your soup. And she will do it continually, until you say that you had enough.

In order to increase the heat of the Charcoal fire, the waiter also puts a mobile fan, at the mouth of the stove. This ingenious use of the mobile fan, really brings up the flames, and it is a definite worthy substitute as compared to the traditional fan.

Verdict on food – I think it is a typical steamboat, with very decent dishes. I did not really try anything from the menu that makes me say “Die-Die Must Try”, but it was a really educational experience, for the kids and even me. Overall, we had a decent meal, and with a set menu at about $70 RM for the 6 adults and 3 kids, it was definitely very affordable.

If you like having this type of traditional steamboat meal, do give them a call to make a reservation. Click here for the Map Location.

Goh Huat Seng Restaurant
59A Kimberly Street
10100 Penang

Tel : 04 2615811

Business Hours : 5.30pm – 9.30pm

Closed : Every alternate Monday

If you are keen on going to Penang for a holiday, I am sure that you would be looking for a good hotel to stay in.

Besides the classy E&O Hotel which I mentioned earlier, what other options are there?

If you are thinking of staying in Georgetown, your hotel search on Trip advisor may have given you the option of Cititel Hotel Penang.

The location is great! The good food are all within walking distance from the hotel. So it’s really convenient to eat, go back to the hotel to rest, eat again, and rest!

This is a good place to stay, if you want to be near the E&O hotel and historic sites such as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and other temples.

The hotel also had a really huge lobby which made it really quite grand. There was definitely lots of space here for the kids to run around and for tour groups to gather.

However, there are some shortcomings about this place….

The rooms are nothing to shout about. They were small, clean & functional, like in a 3 star hotel (Except that it is supposed to be a 4 star hotel).

But the biggest disappointment about Cititel Hotel happened at check-in…

We made our booking online via the hotel’s website. Well, on the site, you are guided to choose the type of room you want (superior/deluxe etc). And right at the bottom of the form, there’s a BLANK box where you need to put in your request.

We made our BIGGEST mistake here. We just put in "adjoining rooms please" cos we had zero idea, what other possible request we can put in.

Well, when we checked in, they gave us two adjoining rooms on a smoking floor. So we asked for non-smoking floor. That’s when they said, ok, but your rooms are not adjoining. Cos non-smoking floor doesn’t have adjoining rooms. And it went on that both rooms are have twin single beds. Cos we didn’t say we wanted King or double beds.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t give us better rooms. We ended up with two rooms side by side, but separated by an electrical room. Both rooms are with single beds. Really awful start to a holiday.

Lesson learnt: be as specific as you can in that little box when you make your booking.

As I was driving around in Penang, I reckon the Best Place to Stay in Penang is not in Georgetown but at Batu Ferringhi.

Resorts that are nice are the Holiday Inn (Stay in the new block) and the brand new hotel called Hard Rock Cafe Hotel.

Yes…Hard Rock has a cafe and hotel in Penang…I did not even think they had one there

This Hotel was just built in 2009, so everything is still relatively NEW.

They have a really cool lobby with the “The Beatles” to welcome you at the fireplace.

Lots of places for you to pictures and “cam-whore” at…:)

But what really got me and the kids excited…is the Water Play for the kids!

Isn’t that COOL!

I felt like I was at the Singapore Zoo’s Water play area…and the swimming pool even goes right up to the patio, if your room is on the ground floor! Just open your balcony and JUMP right into the POOL!

I tried booking a room over the weekend, but it was fully booked out! Will definitely be trying out this hotel, the next time I am in Penang!