Shrimp Paste Process

During our short trip to Balik Pulau, we actually stopped by to shrimp paste manufacturer while we were on the way back - The Oldman Trademark, is the name of the manufacturer. Most of us thought the shrimp paste is kinda smelly when they are under process but surprisingly when I stepped down my first step there, what I smelled is the heavenly fragrant that welcomed our visit that noon. It was a great experience to be acknowledged about how the shrimp paste is made. According to the manufacturer, if the shrimp paste smells terrible, it is not fresh or something has went wrong during its process. Well, I do not know anything about the processes so I nodded my head in agree of what he said as in the shrimp pastes he produced were not smelly!


Basically, the shrimps were stirred and blended with a machine at which a 3 kilogram of shrimps were stirred and blended into only 1 kilogram of them. The process continues for a few times after stirring, blending, and drying to ensure that its quality of the shrimp paste produced is up-to-level.


The stirred and blended shrimp pastes were being accumulated in a pail before they were exposed under the sun to be dried up outside.


The shrimp pastes are then exposed under the sun for few hours to let them dry up. The repeating process continues until they are packed into a rectangular size of shrimp pastes that we consume and buy from the dealers and retailers in the market at a controlled posted price.

A Short Trip to Balik Pulau

Balik Pulau, it is a town located at the other side of Penang Island away from Georgetown and Bayan Lepas. It took almost an hour drive for us to reach Balik Pulau. The very first thing we did was to find a place to fill our stomach as breakfast in one of the random coffee shop.


Balik Pulau's town. We had finally arrived our destination in the morning after almost an hour of ride in the car.


Choo Kim Choon Coffee Shop.


The chicken rice served was very delicious and it tastes like Fatty Loh's but better of coarse. A delicious breakfast filled into stomach, what is the next? Well, we were actually looking for the beach called Long Sand Beach ( Pantai Pasir Panjang ) in Pulau Betong.


It took us another few minutes of drive to the southwest towards Pulau Betong. On the way, this coffee shop became our landmark and turned left right after it.


Frankly, I never been to this Long Sand Beach before as a Penangite. The sands in the Long Sand Beach are rough together with the kinda strong waves but I still prefer the sandy beaches in Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut. Long Sand Beach was named with its long sandy beach from one end to another. Perhaps, what is nice about this beach is, there are just a few people visiting and having activities here on the Long Sand Beach.


There are two islands that resembles a shape of a turtle from its side while you are on the way to Long Sand Beach. You have to stop by on the roadside to take photos if you want to. It was a great morning adventure together with my parents looking for the Long Sand Beach and the islands after having our delicious breakfast in Balik Pulau. Besides, there are still a few tourism spots to pay visit to next time on my upcoming adventure.

Monkey Beach Penang 13/01/2011

Went for a hike to Monkey Beach on that Thursday together with Raymond, Chun Chuen, Ken Jeen and Wilson. We started hiking on 8:30 in the morning, we missed the sunrise. It took us about 2 hours of hike to reach Monkey Beach. The track was different than the track linked towards Pantai Kerachut at which, the track linked towards Monkey Beach is more challenging.
It was a fun and adventurous hike especially with high school buddies.


The entrance of the national park of Penang, Malaysia.


Fishing boats and water taxis at their ports.


The group photo on the begining of our adventurous hike.


A best relaxation place to spend with when you are feeling stress out in the city or it might be the a place where couples can choose to hang out to the beaches.


Frankly, I do not know what are they but at the first thought, they are abandoned structures of fishermen's housings.


The sea view from a rock we climbed onto. The waves that day was strong, splashing towards the rocks.


Panorama of the sea view. There is a port for University Sains Malaysia's research center.


The sea water there is clear outside the USM's research center.


A crab hiding in its dug-hole.


Have you ever wonder that where does this coconut came from? Mainland?


A random shot of a flower. I do not know what it is called.


About 2 hours of hike, we finally reached our destination and it was the time to relax ourselves in Monkey Beach.


In Monkey Beach, you are able to enjoy riding water jet ski, bbq, and some other various kinds of activities on the beach.


Water Taxis are available for 50RM for a single ride back to where we started from.

The joy and the adventurous hike made our morning into an extraordinary morning. Appreciate that we had the opportunity to meet up with high school buddies and went for hiking together after graduated from high school. Will be looking forward to different tracks of hikings in the national park again.

Hui Chi's Farewell

A friend of mine in my semester has dropped and transfered to HELP University College for Bachelor of Psychology from INTI College. It was a surprise farewell planned for Hui Chi at Kim Gary's Queensbay Mall that afternoon.



It was short but a meaningful farewell with gifts given to Hui Chi.
Hui Chi, thank you for all the advises and concerns you gave throughout the semester last year.
All the best in your new college life and your Bachelor of Psychology in HELP, keep in touch!