Chapter 1: Accomodation
We stayed in Krystal Suite, about 5-10 mintues drive from USM, and also Queensbay Mall, 20-30 mins drive to Bayan Lepas Airport. Our suite is quite good, with a bedroom, a small living room, study desk, dining table, a small fridge and microwave oven. Room rate also quite reasonable.
Looks like a small apartment isn't it?Chapter 2: One day tour
We rented a car and decided to tour around penang ourselves the day before the conference. With a map in hand (from the hotel), we managed to find our way to 3 temples. Not to mention all the 'misses' and 'passing the same route again and again and can't get out' etc. We kept forgetting that Penang is a small island, so the scale of the map used is not as what it is in Sarawak. Anyway, we managed to get to Kek Lok Si, Burmese Temple and Thailand Temple. I've have been to all these temples few years ago when I visited Penang. It's good to be back in the same place and see what have changed.
This 'goddess of mercy' statue is a new one. It is not there during my previous visit to kek lok si. You need to take cable cars to reach there.
Fish feeding in the pool near the statue.
The thai temple
The burmese temple. The buddha statues remain still, yet I'm not the same girl as I was few years ago. Time passes, what is left behind? 人面不知何处去，桃花依旧笑春风。（菩萨依旧慈眼视众生）Chapter 3: Conference USM
This is my first time doing oral presentation outside UNIMAS. Luckily I did okay. So much to see. Impressed with other PhD students' presentations. Inspired by lectures and talks given by the keynote speakers and plenary panels. Felt a little inferior when people question our methods (although not me), but need to keep myself motivated. It is not as easy as one can imagine doing research in UNIMAS. I believe we did our best in the given condition and environment. And if only others can understand our situation, they will appreciate our effort more. Anyway, we are doing research for the name of knowledge, not to impress others. So, Gambateh!
Chapter 4: FoodPenang is a paradise for food. But i came to Penang ended up eating Japanese food. Haha. Anyway, I treated this trip as a 'job', so food and tour is not my major focus. Did not try the local Penang Laksa cause I didn't like the taste (previous experience). Ate some kueh tiaw soup, the famous char kueh tiaw and also fried yi mee. Bought some nutmegs, tam bun pia, that's all.
Penang char kueh tiaw. I got this from a hawker centre near our hotel. Yummy!Chapter 5: Others
I was in Queensbay Mall the night before I left Penang. And as I was walking, this painting captured my attention.
It is a painting by kids. With our prime minister and ex-Penang chief minister potraits and big Malaysia Flag. But what touches me is the lower part of the painting. All the people hand in hand, in harmony, enjoying the prosperity, fairness and justice, not loosing their own identities, but are proud to be Malaysian. I pray that one day this dream will come true.
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