Captain of the Channel
6 min read
Every Penang kid grows up seeing homely yellow ferries ply between the island and the mainland. It is like clockwork. One docks, one leaves, one docks, one leaves.
Death and The Undertaker
5 min read
When a family mourns a loved one recently departed, there is no greater help than that offered by the undertaker. pem talks to Ooi Thean Choo, a funeral director whose experiences have made him ever more philosophical and caring.
Happiness is a Haircut
6 min read
Goonalam started off his career by working at his grandfather’s shop in Pulau Tikus. He then plied his trade off the Tanjung Bungah main road for a while before permanently relocating to his current location in Jalan Concord. There he has been for the last 32 years.
Cooking From The Heart
3 min read
PEARLY IS A bundle of cheery energy and it’s apparent that her enthusiasm for life translates into intense, rapid-fire cooking classes. “An American...
The Newsagent on China Street
3 min read
Syed Ibramsha is a very happy and friendly newsagent. His stall is based at the TNB box where China Street meets Beach Street. He is a working-day fixture selling newspapers, magazines, cigarettes and sweets off his small metal pushcart stall.
The Tailor of Bishop Street
3 min read
I first met Lee in 1999 when my husband suddenly moved to a job that required him to be in an office and wear suits. Tukang Jahit Soon Loong was recommended by...
The Uncle of All Burgers
3 min read
Wong Keat Hin.One can find all the flavours of the world at Tanjung Bungah. From Bulgarian to Mexican cuisine, the variety reflects the multiculturalism t...
Bringing the Cendol to the World
5 min read
Penang’s street food is top notch – no arguing about that. But the work that goes into making these delightful dishes is often backbreaking: it is a labour of blood, sweat and – if you’re in the business of frying stuff, tears as well.
The Supplier of Local Seafood in Tanjung Bungah
3 min read
A fisherman sorting out his net.Along Penang’s north-west coastline, semi-wooden houses lie in the shade of skyscrapers. Even before the sun rises a...
The Fish Farmer of Tanjung Piandang
4 min read
Tan Wei Kang.Have you ever wondered where the siakap or ang sai that you just ate for lunch or dinner came from? Most of us would think it was caught from...
Drive-thru for Yummy Snacks at Cintra
3 min read
A CAR ROLLS to a stop in front of a push cart along Lebuh Cintra. The driver places his order, “Two ham chim peng and two pak tong kou, please.” It’s teatime and nothing quite hits the spot like a traditional street snack, straight out of the wok.
Let’s Talk Food – Across Religious Divides
2 min read
Most religions are defined by their rituals and by the regimenting the collective behaviour of its followers. That is what ultimately defines a “religious...
