Back to where I used to belong before.

After so many years, we went back to Penang for a round over the weekend. Papa had a wedding dinner of his ex-colleague and we tagged along for a night stay at the hotel. I would have liked to show my kids of the state where their parents met but all they were interested in were the tech gadgets. Heiz.. what boring childhood they have!

I wanted to show them the beauty of Gurney drive, where we stayed this time, the wonderful place where I remembered going when I was a kiddo, enjoying the sea breeze, while the adults chat and laughed while we munched on snacks sold along the pavement.

Unfortunately, I think it has really lost almost all its glory. At night, there weren't many people strolling or hanging around, well, maybe it was drizzling too, but I can't help observing there were people in the food court, and many were in Gurney Plaza. And there certainly not many couples seen at the other end of the it, where it was well known to be the pakthor place.

We had a very satisfying dinner by ourselves though, well, at Gurney Plaza, which wasn't part of Penang authentic food, but we did have a go at a traditional open air food court in the late afternoon with my aunt and uncle. We had lok-lok where the pot of boiling water is placed in the middle of the table and the owner would bring all the food on the table for us. Of course, charges are only for the number of empty sticks on the table. Didi said we could hide some of the sticks, but I told him, yeah, we could, but we won't, cause we are honest people, right?

An old friend of mine, very very old good friend, came by to met up and we just had a good time catching up. *wave* Hi, Siu Mun! 2 hours passed too fast, it was so good that it almost seemed to me that was the best part of my whole trip. In fact, it was!

I had other plans in mind to bring the kids to see the major tourist spots, like Kek Lok Si, Penang Hill, Botanical garden, Khoo Kongsi, of course, we won't be covering all in such a short time, but guess where we landed in eventually? None! blek!

The weather was just tooooo HOT! And we weren't dressed appropriately (lame excuse!).

So. Those ideas have to wait for the next Penang trip.

In fact, what I wanted to do the whole time there was just to lie on the bed and watched the movies I prepared for the trip. *guilty*

Anyway, we did get them to experience the ferry ride though, which we used to cross the straits to Penang. The trip home was via the Penang bridge route.

On the way back, before leaving Penang, we took 1 round USM. Oh, how I missed the place. I was awash with all the wonderful memories of those 4 years. The sidegate's 4th stall (which was long gone though), where we used to jam every night after lecture, desa aman, pusat kimia, the pool, guest house, red house, oh dear, red house was gone! I missed those fried squids! The food there was really good, that so very often, we felt it was worth the long and tiring walk up and down the hill for.

I guess while I was reminiscing the moments that was so part of me, the others in the car were oblivious to my thoughts that were running in my mind. I guess it's understandable, but I'm sure my friends from USM would know what I meant. I should have gone with them instead. If only there's a time where we can gather together and take a walk round the campus. It would be so much fun, I believe. We had a lot, a lot, A LOT of fun together during those years.

I wonder what the kids would remember of their childhood when they are all grown up. iPad and iPhone games only? Heiz.. I think mine is much more colorful than theirs even though I had no vacations other than Penang or KL when I was small.