An evening stroll in Botanical Gardens

Rush for passports in Penang

MAD RUSH: Reacting to a speculative report on higher passport fees from Friday, thousands of applicants made a beeline for the Penang Immigration Department on Monday. - STARpic by K.T. Goh (Star, 29th August 2006)

Typical KIASU Penangites.

Mega Sales in Penang

Currently we are still having Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2006 (23rd July to 3rd September 2006). Past few weeks I have been pretty busy, with most of my weekends were occupied.

As the sales is approching an end soon, yesterday I decided to check out Prangin Mall, one of the so called 'happening' places in Penang.

I have not been here since nearly a year ago. Looked like there were lots of changes seen.

Interestingly, a lot of 'hawker shops' had mushroomed around here. I guessed, due to many non-taker of the shoplots, the owners had desperately rented out their premises to these eating outlets. This was the first time and probably the only place where I saw lots of hawker stalls in a shopping complex. Many makeshift side-stores lined up some of the side ways at level 3 selling variety of local hawker foods, with tables and chairs been placed at the side walk too.

But, what the heck? This is Penang! Haven for food.

Anyway, I decided to check out the Wan Than Mee and Asam Laksa, albeit bit pricey.

Asam Laksa
Price: RM 2.50 (Small)
Rating: 6.5/10

Wan Than Mee
Price: RM 2.50 (Small)
Rating: 7.0/10

I was a bit dismayed because, looked like there were not many interesting or exciting stuffs or bargains to look out for. Most shops sell unbranded merchandise ranging from garments to shoes.

Something I noted though, there was a lot of hair salons and eating outlets here. The 'tech corner' selling computers and accessories was rather not so high tech after all, in term of bargains. Prices were not so competitive, probably due to the recent computer fair just over.

Then, there was this particular 5th floor, where many of the shoplots had been turned into videogame archades with gambling machines. It just made this place looked so cheap. But what to do?

This place, once a regular hunt for pirated DVDs and CDs looked sombre too. Most shops were closed due to frequent raids by the anti-piracy authorities and I learned that they only opened for certain hour and timing. It was like, "now you see, now you don't". Amazingly, they would opened and closed shop in seconds, phenomena also observed by Chen.

So, I decided to cross over to the other side, via the connecting bridge to Komtar and see what was happening there.

I passed through this place, once housed the ever popular Yao Han Departmental Store(it was later changed to Active Life Store, and later took over by Parkson Grand). Now, in a very pathetic state.

They had closed shop.

And what happened to Super Komtar now?

A sad state of near bankcruptcy.

Only few non-branded garments left.

The store is only open from level 1 to three, even then only a very small section has merchandise been displayed.

The once most active, famous, busiest and centre of activities in the ground floor, is now permanently shut.

The same fate fell on Komtar too.

Here were some of the stores at third floor, once a busy side walks.

Gone are the glory of the grand old Komtar. Wonder where had most of the Penangites gone to during these sales period?

Cause of chest pain

This lady presented with atypical chest pain and shortness of breath.

The CXR showed an opaque shadow over the right heart border.

The CXR was repeated after a NG tube insertion.
Guess what it was?

CTC in Limelight Again

In response to L.P.C.'s letter.

Not the picture painted

18 Aug 2006
K. KANAPATHY Penang

I REFER to "Hospital has enough surgeons" (NST, Aug 10) by Penang’s director of health Dr Ong Chee Leng.

I am surprised at the response by Dr Ong. Surprised that the waiting period for a bypass operation in Penang Hospital is only two months.

My father and some others he had befriended at the Penang Hospital on visits for his heart condition definitely waited more than two months to be admitted. It was close to four months with no calls for admission. They then opted to have their operations done in private hospitals here because their condition was worsening.

The claim that there was a backlog of cases because a surgeon was not available and that many heart surgeons had left in recent months is also true.

I’m sure that L.P.C. ("Heart patients who wait and wait" — NST, Aug 8) must have done his/her research thoroughly before writing in. I, too, did my research and went on a fact-finding mission to find out the cause of the delay and also came up with the same findings as L.P.C. I think the hospital authorities should take proactive steps and try to rectify the matter instead of denying what seems evident.


Dr. Ong Chee Leng's reply:

Meet the hospital director

21 Aug 2006
DR ONG CHEE LENG, State Medical Director, Penang

I REFER to "Not the picture painted" (NST, Aug 18) by K. Kanapathy on the matter of surgeon availability at the Penang Hospital.

The State Health Department takes a serious view of the matters raised by him.

He is welcome to see the director of the Penang Hospital after making a prior appointment .

Wan Than Mee with extra chicken thigh

Where? Relau Medan Bayan Hawker Centre

Wan Than Mee with extra chicken thigh (Large)
Price: RM5.00
Rating: 7.0/10

PHFSA

PHFSA in Lim Kit Siang's blog.

Penang Asam Laksa

Where? Genting, Island Glades

Price: RM2.60
Rating: 7.5/10

Cytusm Balik Pulau

Visited HBP.

A&E (In the middle of the hospital)

Male ward (near main entrance).

Hemodialysis unit with 4 machines.

MO on-call room.

A&E

Therapeutic garden.

Distance from BP.

Various directions.

BP main town.

Market store.

BP main town.

Spectacular view from the hilltop.

Sense of serenity.

View of Relau from hilltop.

Performance for Hungry Ghosts

Phor Thor celebration at Bukit Gambir

Anorexic

Elephantiasis

Plastic