Optician: Vision First - Ground Floor, Block B, Prangin Mall, Georgetown (Top Pick)

After what was really too long a wait I finally decided to go get my eyesight tested to see if any prescription variation was needed.  I have to say I spent a LOT of time researching this as I wanted to find a place that I felt I could trust, somewhere that would ONLY recommend a prescription change if I really needed it based on a thorough testing.  I also hoped to find somewhere where the service was good and the prices reasonable.

Luckily a managed to find Mr Patrick Ung's 'Vision First' in block B of Prangin Mall (the block that has Pizza Hut on its corner), Georgetown.

Luckily when I called in the were able to slot me in straight away for a very thorough eye test, more thorough in fact than I'd experienced when using highly recommended opticians in the UK.  Patrick did the testing himself and I have to say that he is a very personable and friendly guy, putting you at ease, allowing you to relax which is important for the testing.

Once the test was completed a number of options were discussed in terms of my long and short range vision needs with reading being the main issue.  At this point you become more involved with the rest of Patrick's staff who are also very friendly and helpful.  We discussed a variety of lens and frame options and, importantly, there was no attempted up-selling to detract from what I wanted.  As it is I opted for multi-coated, thin shaved lenses in an ultra-lightweight titanium BCBG Max Azria frame for a total cost of around RM 630 and a wait of only 4-5 days.  That to me is VERY good value and very good service!  Patrick also cleaned up and replaced the nose pads on my old glasses, advising I keep them for computer use.

If you look on Trip Advisor you will see that Vision First has a lot of positive reviews and it's easy to understand why.  Patrick and his staff are very professional, very friendly ands very welcoming and I found the service, and indeed the cost, second to none.  What is particularly worth mentioning is that Vision First are more than happy to provide a level of service particularly suited to visitors to the island in that they will even arrange to pick you up from your hotel (or wherever you are staying) and take you back, and even deliver the your order to you.  Come across that anywhere before?  Somehow I doubt it.  Vision First can be contacted on: +60 4 262 8132 / +60 4 263 8132 or can be emailed at: opticalserv@gmail.com.

So, there it is.  My experience with Patrick Ung, his staff and Vision First and what a pleasant one it was.  As it stands, I see no reason to go anywhere else in the future and Vision First gets a very well earned 'Top Pick'.

Renewing a UK Passport from Penang

I recently had to apply for a passport renewal from Penang and thought I'd provide some information that might prevent so much running around for anyone looking to do the same in future.  In fact, save for the actual passport application itself, the related services could be used for any passport application.

Firstly, as of this year the UK centralised the issue of passports, closing a number regional offices that were previously responsible fro processing applications if you applied from overseas.  Aside from the well publicised problems over the massive backlog faced by Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) from around April onwards (caused by a variety of reasons) I actually think it's a better system from the application point of view but falls way short on service standards once you have applied.  For a simple renewal you can apply and pay online here then it's merely a case of printing out and signing your declaration and sending that together with your old passport, any other documents your application may require and two recent passport photos (which do not need to be countersigned if you can still be recognised from your previous picture).  I used the services of three excellent Penang based companies to facilitate my application.


Photos
These can be surprisingly difficult to get in Penang as they need to meet the strict HMPO guidelines.  I used HK Photo on the first floor at Midland One-Stop shopping mall, Burma Road who did the photos while I waited for RM 20.  The photos were accepted without problem by HMPO.  Further details about HK Photo can be found here.


Printing
One of the things I decided not to do here in Penang was buy a printer.  I don't do anywhere near enough printing to justify the costs which can be considerable given that inkjet colour printer cartridges dry up VERY quickly if you don't use them, such that at times you can get to use just 10% of the ink they are loaded with, and that laser printers are very expensive unless buying black and white only.  Given that I sometimes need to get documents in colour, these days I opt to use local printers.

I have already written about a very good print shop in Jalan Fettes, Tanjung Tokong here but as part of my running round took me to the Pulau Tikus area (see 'Courier' below) I was delighted to find this excellent print shop just to the left of Pulau Tikus Police Station on Jalan Burma.  Parking can be a bit tricky unless you're on a bike (but then isn't it everywhere?) but their service is very good and prices very cheap.  You merely go into the shop, take a seat at one of the numerous computers (I always use the two near the door), plug in your USB drive (if you use a Mac make sure your drive is formatted for 'FAT 32' and NOT 'Mac OS X Extended') and select the documents you wish to print.  You may need to delve into 'Printer Settings' if you want to print double sided or if you want to change to a colour printer but the staff will assist you if you are not computer minded.  I think I printed out about 20 pages while I was there (I had a few non-urgent documents saved up) and think I paid around RM 5-6!!

If you are using a car which you plan to park near to DHL to use the courier service after you get your printing done (see below) the print shop is only about a 5 minute walk from DHL.  This will be much easier than trying to park on or near Jalan Burma.

Courier
Not only did I want my documents to arrive quickly, given that my old passport with the live MM2H visa was in the package, I wanted as much guarantee as possible that they WOULD indeed get there.  I opted to use DHL whose Penang office is just round the corner (before)  the print shop in Jalan Cantonement, on the left before your reach Jalan Kelawai.

I'd put all of my documents into an envelope already and if you do the same DON'T seal it as the DHL staff will wish to take a photocopy of your passport details page as confirmation of its enclosure.  After that it's merely a case of filling out your details on the sales form and then double checking the recipient details they give you on the printed out receipt and confirmation of postage.  By default it seems they will suggest a fee of RM 250 which would guarantee my documents would arrive on the Friday (I was posting on the Wednesday) but I opted for the RM 150 option which guaranteed delivery by Monday, for me, the the few days extra wait (given that two were the weekend) didn't warrant the extra RM 100 cost.

I have to say I found the DHL service to be very good and by the Friday, just two days after posting, I had an SMS from DHL in the UK to say my package had been delivered to HMPO and even gave the name of the person signing.  It's worth mentioning that if driving to DHL you are best turning left into the small service road that skirts round the shop frontages, the entrance to which is on the left BEFORE you reach the traffic signals to turn left from Jalan Burma to Jalan Cantonement.

So that's it.  A fairly painless process made even more palatable by the fact that HMPO has now cut the costs of overseas applications considerably to £110 for a 48 page passport.  That said, that assessment applies JUST to completing the application, the service levels offered by HMPO are a different matter and, despite Government intervention to sort out the shambles, remain terrible when compared to the service you get could from UK Embassies a mere few years ago. Five, six, seven and eight weeks are still being quoted on internet forums as the turn round times for overseas applicants from this 'new and improved' HMPO centralisation with supporting documents (including old passports with 'live' visas in) arriving a week or even more after the new passport.  Fat lot of use it is receiving the new passport if you can't use it because you need the residence visa in your old passport!  What absolutely beggars belief though is that with documents as vital as passports (old and new) and despite the fact that you PAY for courier services, HMPO does not provide overseas applicants with ANY tracking numbers for either the new passport or the old one!  As such you have no idea where they are once sent and how are people supposed to know if either of the documents has gone missing if you cannot establish when they should have arrived?  Quite why HMPO does not provide such BASIC but vital information to overseas applicants is totally beyond me and, apart from the excessive 'wait' times, is the biggest failing IMO of the new system and demonstrative of the abysmal level of service still being offered despite HMPO making a profit of £70m last financial year!

Hopefully the above information will be of some help in short-circuiting some of the running round and research you otherwise might need to do when you come to renew a non-Malaysian passport from Penang.

Join the MOB!!!! Monday 18 / Tuesday 19 August 2014 - Georgetown!!

One concept, two great events! MOB Party at Traffic (Bishop Street) and Traffic (Queensbay) on Monday 18th (7pm til late) AND the MOB street catwalk fashion show around midday Tuesday 18th @ Beach Street, Georgetown brought to you by Chan Brothers & Big Cartel.

Looking forward to seeing great chums, who also just HAPPEN to be some of the hottest talent around, including guest DJ and celeb Leng Yein, the famous Chan Brothers Ambassadors Cecilia Black, Jenny Lim, Elene Ong, Ann Liew and over a dozen stunning Penang catwalk models including the beautiful Joelle Tan, Jinju Koid and Roxanne Khor.

Monday night kicks off with the first of two launch events, this one at Traffic Logan (Bishop Street, Penang) from around 7pm with guest DJ Leng Yein and the Chan Brothers Ambassadors. Good music, good atmosphere, meet the organisers and many of the models and of course, photo ops. The tour will then move to Traffic (Queensbay Mall) for around 9pm, with the same line up, to return to Traffic at Bishop Street just before midnight.

On Tuesday 19th, from the early hours there will be a row of sports cars parked up at Beach Street, Georgetown to set the scene and provide a nice backdrop. Then from around 12.15 the show will start with the street / catwalk fashion show featuring some of Penang's top models and of course, Chan's Ambassadors.  Sure to be a great event and the first of it's type in Malaysia. One not to miss I think :)

NB:  An album featuring shots from this event, primarily from the Fashion MOB street parade can be found here.

Food Court: One Stop - Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus (Top Pick)

Well, after what seems an age of not venturing in to any places worthy of a 'Top Pick' we get three in a row and all of differing styles.  A marina restaurant, a chic restaurant featuring North Indian cuisine and now, subject of this article, a food court with an excellent stall selling one of my favourite foods - Thai!

The stall in question is quite large and actually seems to encompass 3-4 separate sections, all under the same ownership.  It doesn't appear to have a name but it's located on the mezannine floor of the 'Midland - One Stop' shopping mall in Jalan Burma.  To find it, once parked you walk up the central steps of 'One Stop' and go straight ahead.  This food stall is actually to the right of a large cluster of stalls in the centre of this level of One Stop, you can't miss it really.  Despite living here all this time I've never come across this place before so I'm indebted to my good chum Kevin from Hat Yai for pointing this place out.  The reason it came to light is that we were chatting online about my craving for ka-nom-jeen, the delicious Thai style vermicelli noodles served with a variety of, often curry style, sauces.  He advised me to try here and wow, am I glad he did!



There is a bewildering array of food on offer here and what is pleasing to see is that the place is VERY popular so there is a high turn-over, no food left stewing in the eat for days on end here.  Honestly it all looked delicious and I was tempted to just plunge in and load up a plate or three.  Next time I likely will.





But, this time we were here for the ka-nom-jeen and that's what we opted for.  I have to say, the lady and other staff at the store were quite taken aback when I spoke to them and ordered in Thai, I guess a 'falang' speaking Thai is a rarity enough, especially in Malaysia LOL.  The dish was prepared quickly and the sauce was absolutely delicious, a slightly spicy, creamy curry style sauce with more than hint of coconut, it really was superb.  There is a nice array of vegetables that you are also expected to add yourself including bean-sprouts, chopped cabbage, diced French beans and Thai Holy Basil (an absolute MUST have).  The tables also have traditional Thai condiments including flaked dried and chopped fresh chilli.  Awesome!



To accompany the noodle dish we also opted for another Thai classic, somtam, a very fiery shredded green papaya (NOT mango as some seem to think) salad served with tomato, fresh chilli (and often Blue Crab) and dressed with the very salty nam-plaa (Thai fish sauce) and lemon juice.  This was freshly prepared and again was superb.



As a desert I ordered a traditional Thai style coconut ice cream.  The portion was very generous and was served with a coconut infused green sticky rice and Thai style cake cubes (more akin to brioche) soaked in coconut milk.  That I have to say was out of this world and it took me all my will-power to stop having another!

To round it off, or rather to eat later at home, we opted for yet another Thai classic.  'Khâo nǐiao má mûuang' or mango sticky rice.  Again two very generous portions with freshly prepared mango, two varieties of sticky rice and a very creamy coconut milk sauce.  Yum!!!  With a couple of cokes the whole lot came to a VERY reasonable RM 32!!



I was most impressed with the food and the staff here and plan to return often.  The standard and sheer variety of the food was so high that it easily justifies a 'Top Pick' from me.

They are open daily from around 10am until late and lovers, or even casual fans, of Thai food I think would struggle to be disappointed with the food and welcome on offer here.

Bagan: The Phoenix rises from the ashes!!

Long term followers of the blog will know that one of my absolute favourite haunts in Penang was the 'Bagan' club in Jalan Bagan Jermal, Tg Tokong.  It really was a superb place, heritage look and feel, a good mix of bar, lounge and restaurant with good live music and superb DJs.  I think that for me, one of the reasons I liked it so much was the look and feel of the place a contemporary take on a classic heritage look, sort of 'shabby chic' - I don't know how but it just worked.

Sadly Bagan closed it's doors a couple of years ago but the cloud seemed to have a silver lining as the owners of Bagan intended to open up a 'New Bagan' at Macalister Mansion (MM), one of my fave hotels and restaurants in Penang.  Despite the excitement, and despite the success of the rest of what makes up MM sadly, for me, New Bagan didn't work.  It failed to capture the essence of the old Bagan and if entirely new was what was being looked for, I have to say, that didn't work also.  New Bagan eventually closed becoming The Cellar wine bar, a concept that is actually much more in keeping with the classy MM theme.

Recently however, a little bird told me of the intention of the owners to open up a Bagan again, in the centre of Georgetown.  Further, I was told that the intention is to re-capture the look, feel and success of the original Bagan.  I can't say too much more now but stay tuned for more information.  The good news is you won't have to wait long!  

So, the Phoenix rises from the ashes again!!!  Let's hope the latest iteration of Bagan really does bring back the very unique theme of Bagan I, something which is now sadly lacking in Penang.

Festive Dining: Macalister Mansion - Georgetown

And with the last of 3 updates today regarding festive dining I have saved what for me would be the best until last, Macalister Mansion.  OK, there may be only the slightest chance of frost, snow and ice on the day (it pays to be optimistic!!), but the festive offerings at MM really to do look enticing, complete with wine pairing menus.  Details can be found here.

Festive Dining: E&O Hotel - Georgetown

Another option for those who have left it a bit late to plan dining out over the festive period a variety of options will be available at the E&O Hotel, right in the heart of Georgetown.  Details of the range of festive offerings can be found here.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) - Penang

Previously when needing to get much done involving the Road Transport Department (JPJ -Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan) I have always travelled to Butterworth, despite there previously being a JPJ branch out at Batu Uban (now closed).  Now though, JPJ have moved to their new location at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, near to the University Sains Malaysia (USM) and is much more accessible for those in the North of Penang.

First time I went there it took me a while to find, mostly because I'd always seen it while passing on the way to the airport and if travelling from Georgetown you actually need to turn off before you see JPJ.  The directions, or at least as best as I can describe them :), when driving from the direction of Georgetown, are as follows:

- Drive along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and turn right at the roundabout (in the direction of the airport) - Drive through first lights (you will see USM's sports field on the right)
- Next set of traffic lights turn right - signposted P15 (Jalan Sungai Dua)
- Drive to first set of traffic lights (you will see a KFC), turn left
- Drive along this road and then take second left turn. Follow the road to the JPJ car park.



JPJ does get very busy at times but opens at 07:45 and getting there early will mostly avoid the queues.  It may also be advisable to avoid a day or two before and just after public holidays, especially extended ones.  JPJ Penang can handle the full range of JPJ administrative procedures, including one I'm regularly asked about by expats, driving licence conversion.

The full address and contact details are here:

Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah
10510 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-656 4131 / 04-656 4087
Fax: 04-656 4080

The JPJ website is here and they also have a Facebook Page here.

Hotel: Macalister Mansion - Macalister Road, Georgetown (Top Pick)

MM location map

It’s rare these days that I find hotels to get too much excited about.  Most tend to be either corporate chain establishments with little to endear, increasingly popular boutique hotels, some of which manage to pull the concept off much better than others, or the ‘cheap as chips’ glorified guest houses.  All in all, a bit meh.  Once in a blue moon however you come across a truly outstanding establishment  which really impresses at every level.  One example is Macalister Mansion which, for ease of reference and conveniently, is located in Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

I think it’s fair to say that the vast majority of visitors coming to Penang do not come for the beach experience.  While the option is there, with numerous hotels in the Batu Ferringhi area, its is clear that the ‘down-town’ experience is in hot demand with visitors in abundance at the numerous heritage sites and areas in Georgetown, soaking up the ambience, indulging in Penang’s famed street food, shopping in central Georgetown and the maze of ‘Komtar’ and wandering round the backstreets that make up Little India and the Chinese Quarter.  For many, this is what Penang is all about.  But where do you stay, or more pertinent to this article, where do you say if you want somewhere a cut above the rest, somewhere with some class and style?  And of course it’s not only visitors from afar who will at times wish to seek out the occasional gem of a hotel.  Local residents searching for somewhere to stay for that special occasion or celebration, a couple looking at a super-special place to host a wedding dinner and maybe even have a few special invited guests to stay a couple of days, or visitors from out-station just looking for somewhere special to spend a few days in the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.  So why is this hotel special, what makes it really stand out.  Read on…….

Reception

Macalister Mansion, or MM as it is known locally, is housed in a magnificent heritage building which is very befitting to its name.  Sweeping in from Macalister Road the driveway can swing you round right outside the front door with ample off-road parking for your car, a godsend in this part of town!  

As you enter the reception you will immediately be struck by its style which flows throughout the establishment (unlike many corporate boxes where the, ahem, ‘style’ comes to an abrupt halt once you go beyond reception), it exudes chic and elegance and yet is done in a very tasteful way which compliments the heritage exterior of the hotel.  Spacious, minimalist and tastefully lit, the reception area sets the scene well.  The staff are also worth a mention, friendly and welcoming with nothing too much trouble.

One of MMs superb rooms

Once checked in you will be shown to your room and I have to say that these are probably some of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen in a hotel, far better, for instance, than some of the (so called) 5 star gilt-heavy glitz that you see in some chain hotels.  

An equally superb bathroom

Spacious, beautifully designed and furnished, with big comfortable beds, large flat screen TVs (some of which spin to allow you to watch the super-size screen in the bath!) and outstanding bathrooms.  The beds are superbly comfortable and the rooms quiet!!  No thumping discos and adjoining nightclubs here!  The rooms alone are enough to warrant a true 5* rating IMO but there is so much more to Macalaister Mansion too.

MM's restaurant

Without doubt, one of the finest restaurants in Penang is also located at Macalister Mansion.  Again, tastefully decorated and appointed, the restaurant is definitely a place to linger with a partner or with friends as you savour some of Penang’s finest cuisine.  

Exquisite fine dining at MM's renowned restaurant

Under the watchful eye of head chef Lance U’reen the kitchen team produce some truly inspiring dishes with more than a hint of classical French influence fused with a distinctly Asian twist that gives the restaurant its unique appeal.  

Each dish a feast for the eyes and palate!

Reasonably priced and with an excellent wine cellar (the restaurant also serves a superb wine-pairing menu) Macalister’s restaurant is a great place to dine, whether or not you are staying at the hotel.

The Living Room cafe

The hotel also houses its own café, 'The Living Room', decorated in a fresh and airy ‘garden’ style, the café is open all day until turned midnight and offers a superb range of very reasonably priced dishes, delicacies and cakes for a great mouth-watering lunch, high-tea or supper.  

Delicious Hokkien Mee at The Living Room

The café also serves something which I find increasingly difficult to get these days, good coffee, you know, coffee that TASTES like coffee!!!  The café is a superb place to chill, chat and relax as you take a break from exploring town.  

The Living Room's 'Gourmet Shop'

The newly opened 'Gourmet Shop' at the cafe stocks and sells a wide variety of delicacies and you can even pick up a loaf or two of your favourite freshly baked bread when visiting.  

Fashion show at MM

Occasionally MM also plays host to themed events such as fashion shows.  Such is the quality of the food and environment at the restaurant and café they will both be subject to their own dedicated reviews.

The Cellar

Speaking of chilling, also housed within MM is ‘The Cellar’ wine bar, a modern and luxuriously furnished wine bar with an extremely well stocked cellar, a wide range of whiskies and spirits and also specialist imported beers.  

Lounge at The Cellar

You can choose to sit at the bar, at one of the tables with high stools (one of which can easily accommodate 8-10 people) or at one of the very comfortable low tables with leather armchairs or sofas, there’s even a sofa in front of flame effect fire that is very cosy.  

Superb cheeseboard at The Cellar

While talking about ‘The Cellar’, it would be remiss not to mention the exceptional cheeseboard here, available in two sizes, the largest costs just RM 35 for a great selections of cheeses, biscuits and accompaniments, great with a glass of your favourite wine and, given the price of imported French cheeses in these parts, exceptionally good value.

The Cigar Lounge

Moving on again, the hotel also boasts a very chic ‘Cigar and Wine / Champagne’ lounge, The Den, nestled near to reception it’s a great place to indulge one of the many fine cigars stocked at MM which I suspect will have something to appeal to even the most hardened connoisseur.

MM's pool and pool bar

Finally, and moving outside the hotel, despite its very convenient central location, MM boasts a very nice pool area and poolside bar, great if you fancy a cooling dip or an afternoon / early evening (or morning for the ‘early risers’!) relax with a cocktail as the sun goes down, and of course to work up an appetite for the superb restaurant!

That then is MM, a real gem of hotel, a cut above the rest, with an unrivalled air of style and panache, and right in the heart of Georgetown.  Whether it’s to stay, eat dinner, doing lunch or chilling at ‘The Cellar’, MM IMHO offers a 10/10 experience and is most definitely worth a visit.  Understandably it qualifies with ease for a ‘Top Pick’!  You can visit the hotel's website here and their Facebook Page here.

Are you ready for the 'STORM'??

Via Pre Restaurant: Weld Quay, Georgetown, Penang (Top Pick)

I finally got round to trying this restaurant, having heard about it from numerous people.  I'm quite fond of Italian food and, while I have found eateries in Penang that serve reasonable enough Italian fayre, I'd not found anywhere that really encompassed the Italian experience, great food, fresh ingredients, good prices and, above all, that great taverna atmosphere.  With Via Pre I think I might have.

Via Pre is in Georgetown and is situated on Pengkalan Weld.  There are numerous maps showing its location but it pays to be a bit sceptical of the accuracy of some of the mapping programs I find!  The best way to describe the location IMO is that Via Pre is almost directly opposite the entrance to the Church Street Pier, the pier on which the QEII bar and Chin's Stylish Restaurant are based.



The first thing that strikes you about Via Pre, both from outside and inside, is that they have got the ambience just right.  It just looks and feels like an up-market Italian taverna, spacious and tastefully appointed and decorated.  As soon as you walk in it sets the scene for an evening of relaxing and good food.



The menu is extensive with a wide range of classic Italian starters and main courses, including of course the ever popular pastas and pizzas, all of which seemed to evidence a Via Pre exclusive take on the dish.  There is also a good range of daily specials displayed within the menu and on the chalk boards.  For me the restaurant would benefit from having at least one soup on the menu, even the often d'rigeur Minestrone, but look as I might I couldn't see one.  The menu was very reasonably priced with many of the starters being around RM 12-15 and the mains (pastas and pizzas) around the RM 25-40.  Some of the specials get more pricey, often reflecting the more extravagant ingredients involved.  There is also a very good wine list.

One thing that did concern me was the slightly pushy approach of the waiter in trying to steer you towards the the more (if not most) expensive dishes of the day (lobster etc.).  This time I put it down as a 'one-off', if it happens again I will tell them in no uncertain terms that I consider it is for the customer to scan the menu and make selections, not for a tacky and somewhat pushy hard-sell of 'specials', not in a restaurant of this calibre.  I'm quite happy to have the specials pointed out but having the waiter turning menu pages and all but selecting the options for you, merely waiting for a 'yes' is pushing it too far.



That slight hiccough aside, on to the dishes we sampled.  We started with an excellent salad (simply titled Cinque) on the menu which combined lettuce, rocket, prosciutto and slithers of parmesan with a superb dressing.





This was accompanied by two bruschettas, the 'Classico' (with a blend of fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and garlic) and.........







.......a new one on me, the 'Crostone Rustico', cured salmon topped with cheese.  Both were excellent and exuded freshness and flavour, the slight saltiness of the cured salmon blending perfectly with the strength and sharpness of the cheese.





On to the mains and we opted for a pork steak at RM 39 which was served with lemon and a good salad accompaniment and.....






.........the excellent suckling pig special, again served with a well-dressed salad and vegetables.  The most expensive of the two was the Braciola di Miale (suckling pig) at RM 62, but even this was reasonable IMO.

Although we struggled to find room for a dessert we battled through and opted for the Creme Brûlée (RM 12), which was a little on the sweet side for my taste, and the Apple and Walnut cake (RM 15) which was superb, moist and tasty and served with cream and a light chocolate sauce.

The meal was accompanied by a bottle of Chianti Cesari Principe at RM 149, bottled water (a little pricey at RM 19 but you can opt for the jug/filter iced water) and rounded off with an excellent cappuccino coffee at RM 8.  The whole bill came to around RM 400.  It would obviously be considerably less if sticking to the pasta/pizza mains and omitting the wine but, for what we had, I thought the price was reasonable.

Overall I was very impressed by Via Pre and will certainly visit more often.  I'm told they also do a very good lunch menu at RM 38 per person.  Via Pre has everything I would look for in a quality Italian restaurant and the food certainly delivers.  The only things I would look to change would be adding a soup to the menu and toning back on the hard sell of specials, it's tacky and cheap.  Those minor points aside Via Pre is definitely worth a vista IMO and gets a 'Top Pick' from me.  Their website is at the link above and you can also visit their Facebook Page.

Festival: Georgetown Festival - Penang (7 June - 7 July 2013)

Penang's popular month-long George Town Festival (GTF) returns in 2013 from 7 June to 7 July. GTF is a contemporary arts festival celebrating art, music, theatre, dance, opera and film and this year the GTF secretariat received over 200 proposals from artistes from around the world including, of course, Malaysia.  GTF draws in more than 150,000 visitors from the region, and is widely covered in international, regional and local media. It was inaugurated and initiated by the State Government of Penang in 2010 to commemorate George Town’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing on 7 July, 2008.  'Pick of Penang' hopes to capture some, if not all, of the highlights from GTF 2013.

This year’s programming is led by the keywords ‘community’, ‘interaction’, and ‘spaces’, says festival director Joe Sidek. He elaborates: “As in previous years, we hope to present the best of art and cultural productions here in Penang. We are truly humbled by the expectations expressed of us and we are taking this as a sign of confidence that George Town is well poised to be a vibrant and diverse cultural centre in Malaysia and in the region."

There are five extremely public and accessible highlights: the opening ceremony and kite festival Taking Off, the all-new trail of art and greenery Secret Gardens of Earthly Delights, the specially commissioned contemporary dance performance Bridges & Kaki Lima, the three-day community celebrations, Heritage Celebrations, Intriguing Instruments under the Victoria Street Project, and the talk and exhibition series Arus Melayu.

Two exciting events have chosen to make their debut at GTF2013: Roughcut, the film symposium by Tropfest South East Asia, and the photography festival Obscura Festival. Tickets for the three top tier productions will be made available soon. Early bird tickets, students rates, and senior citizen prices for Sutra, I Musici and Pro Musica. Equally exciting and prestigious is the art exhibition from seven of the top regional artists presented by Valentine Willie.

GTF2013 HIGHLIGHTS

SUTRA
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui/Sadler’s Wells London
Date: 29 & 30 June
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Dewan Sri Pinang
Admission: RM60, RM80, RM100 (Students RM20, Seniors 50% off)

Celebrated Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents a brand new dance work, SUTRA, inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks. He has collaborated closely with Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley, who has created a design consisting of 21 wooden boxes which are repositioned to create a striking, ever changing on-stage environment.

Featuring 17 monks directly from the original Shaolin Temple in China, the piece also includes a beautiful brand new score for piano, percussion and strings by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska which is played live.

I MUSICI
Italian Chamber Music Orchestra
Date: 7 June
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Dewan Sri Pinang
Admission: RM60, RM80, RM100 (Students RM20, Seniors 50% off)

The renowned Italian chamber music group I Musici presents classical excerpts from some of Italy’s famous composers through several eras, as well as a contemplative interpretation of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

I Musici is the oldest chamber group in Italy, and based on reviews, their performance here in Penang promises to be an emotional and majestic aural experience. This live performance will be truly memorable as even the ensemble’s recorded CDs have been awarded prizes by specialised juries; their production of Four Seasons by Vivaldi sold more than 25 million copies!

ART@WHITEAWAYS
Valentine Willie presents 7 artists
Date: 7 June - 7 July
Time: 10.00am - 6.00pm
Venue: Whiteaways Arcade
Admission: Free

Top contemporary art collector, gallerist and curator Valentine Willie presents works by Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Cho
ng Siew Ying, Kow Leong Kiang, Rebecca Wilkinson and Chan Kok Hooi from Malaysia, and Agus Baqul Purnomo from Indonesia.

Visit here for more information.

BRIDGES & KAKI LIMA
GTF2013 Commissioned Dance Project
Date: 29 June
Time: 6.15pm

Venue: Victoria Street, starting from Lorong Lumut
Admission: Free

This contemporary dance journey revitalises the tradition of street performances in the city, mapping the energy, behaviour and playfulness of George Town. This choreography is devised to celebrate cultural commonalities and to draw bridges across differences between our neighbouring countries, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Streets and five-foot ways (‘kaki lima’) will be used as performance stages in this delightful journey of dance, play and memory. Kaki Lima is presented by Ombak-Ombak ARTStudio and PEARL (Penang Arts Link), choreographed by Aida Redza (Malaysia) and Jefri Andi Usman (Indonesia) and features dancers from NAFA Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore and Ombak Dancers Penang.

Bridges & Kaki Lima will be performed during the Victoria Street Project, a one-day event along the stretch of Victoria Street in George Town, Penang.


PRO MUSICA GALA CONCERT
Date: 6 July
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Dewan Sri Pinang
Admission: RM40, RM60, RM80 (Students RM20, Seniors 50% off)

Pro Musica returns in our programming this year with four outstanding international opera singers: Julie Mossay (soprano), Ines Madeira (mezzo soprano), Enrico Casari (tenor) and Laurant Kubla (bass/baritone) with a repertoire by Handel, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Bizet, Delibes and Rossini.


OBSCURA
Photography Festival
Date: 21-30 June
Venue: Various locations

This inaugural photography festival aims to engage and exhibit photography works by both professionals and amateurs through a series of public exhibitions, talks and forums, workshops and portfolio reviews.

Participating photographers include Texas-born Maggie Steber (who worked with the Smithsonian and National Geographic), Ian Teh from London (Time and Newsweek) and Che Ahmad Azhar (‘Chemat’) from Multimedia University, Malaysia.

The full schedule of events can be found here.

ROUGHCUT
Film Symposium
Date: 28 June
Venue: PenangPAC, Straits Quay

'Roughcut' features regional filmmaking talent in Tropfest South East Asia’s first public activity in Penang. Tropfest SEA, part of the world’s largest film festival, present this film symposium together with a series conversations focused specifically on the craft and production of storytelling. This full-day event aims to cultivate outstanding storytelling on-screen and cultivate dynamic and creative filmmakers.


SECRET GARDENS OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Date: 7 June - 7 July
Venue: Various locations
Admission Free

As an expansion to Mirrors George Town by Ernest Zacharevic (GTF2012), Secret Gardens of Earthly Delights continues to capture the spirit and living heritage known to Penang and George Town. Unique gardens are created in selected sites around George Town to form a public trail. Gardeners, landscape artists and installation artists were invited and selected to contribute their artistic skills towards improving the city’s landscape. The project launches on June 7.


TAKING OFF
Opening Ceremony
Date: 8 June
Venue: Esplanade field

Catch the master kiters with their beautiful kites at our opening ceremony, featuring representatives from ASEAN Kite Council, a rousing percussion group, a fiesta of events and activities from our NGO and community friends. Free kites will be distributed. The event’s main highlight happens in the evening, so hang around.



ARUS MELAYU
Forum, Dialogue & Music Gala
Date: 15 & 16 June
Venue: Town Hall
Admission: Free (Talks - upon registration)


Arus Melayu explores the complexity and diversity of the word and notion of ‘Melayu’ in the presentation of artefacts, ideas, perspectives and theories on genealogy, language and literature, design, motifs and architecture. The highlight of the event, which includes exhibition and music from Penang and the Malay diaspora, is a full-day talk featuring an exchange of ideas and perspectives by some of the top thinkers and experts on the evolution of Malay literature and language, genealogy, diaspora, trade and commerce, and the exchange of culture. Confirmed speakers are Dr Shaharir Mohamad Zain, Dr Muhammad Haji Salleh, Dain Said, and Eddin Khoo.


HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS
UNESCO World Heritage Site Anniversary Celebration
Date: 5 - 7 July
Venue: Various locations

A 3-day long celebration commemorating the inscription of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008! It is a celebration of the living heritage of George Town, demonstrated through traditional and multicultural arts and practices, food, craft, and events that highlight historical and cultural pride. This year’s Heritage Celebrations will take place on July 5, 6 and 7.

An online event booklet can be accessed here.