PEN Day 6 │ Cat's Birthday!

Penang Day 6 — It’s Cat’s Birthday!

With nothing planned for today, we slept in and woke up close to 9:00am. I did some video editing before we got ready to check out of Hutton Central.

At 12:00pm, we checked out and stored our bags with the front desk, then walked across the street to Hotel Penaga to confirm our booking for the night.

A Birthday Walk & Lunch at SmokePapa BBQ

We walked out to Jalan Transfer, then headed to the 7 Eleven bus stop along Jalan Penang to catch the free Rapid Penang CAT bus to Padang Kota. From there, we crossed Lebuh Light and continued along Lebuh Penang, passing the Merlin Hotel before turning onto Lebuh Bishop.

There were plenty of eateries along this stretch, and after some deliberation, the birthday girl chose SmokePapa BBQ.

We asked the waiter for recommendations and settled on:

• Pork Rib Set — RM27.90
• Smoked Pork Crackling Set — RM28.00
• Small Heineken — RM16.80
• Cold Lemon Tea — RM5.50

With service charge, the birthday lunch came to RM86.00 (≈ USD20/EUR18).

After lunch, we walked back to Padang Kota and caught another free CAT bus to Weld Quay, where we switched to Rapid Penang 101 for RM1.40 back to the 7 Eleven stop on Jalan Penang.

Checking In at Hotel Penaga

We walked back to Hutton Central to collect our luggage, then crossed Jalan Transfer to Hotel Penaga. Check in was smooth, and the first sight of our room was stunning.

If Hutton Central was chic and modern, Penaga was the complete opposite — in the best way. Our boutique heritage room was, as Penaga described, “gorgeously furnished with wood and antiques… an opulent feel.”

In our own words, it felt like stepping back into history. The room even came with a jacuzzi, so we decided we wouldn’t be going out again until evening.

We had a short but productive nap, and I continued editing videos while Cat relaxed.

Birthday Dinner at Bibik’s Kitchen

We emerged close to 8:00pm and took a leisurely walk along Lebuh Clark, then turned left onto Jalan Argyll, and right onto Jalan Sri Bahari. There were many eateries, but the birthday girl only made up her mind when we reached Bibik’s Kitchen Nyonya Cuisine.

Eager to experience Peranakan food from a Penangite perspective, we walked in and were lucky to get a table — most were reserved.

We ordered:

• Fried Fish Sambal Petai
• Cincalok Pork
• Okra Sambal
• Large Plain Omelette
• 2 servings of Mix Coloured Rice
• 2 desserts of Bubur Cha Cha

Dinner came to RM115.50 (≈ USD26/EUR25).

With full bellies and a happy birthday girl, we walked out toward Jalan Penang, crossed Lebuh Campbell, and continued on. We had hoped to buy pickled fruits from Chowrasta Market, but the shops were closed — likely due to New Year’s Eve.

We then headed back to the hotel, reminding ourselves that we were staying at Hotel Penaga, not Hutton Central.

Tomorrow…

We have an Aeroline bus to catch at 8:30am, which means we’ll need to hail a Grab to Queensbay Mall by 7:00am.

Good night, everyone — and happy birthday, Cat!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/mUAgDV6NQ2etaP8n7
7-Eleven Jalan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/pXUrUijwzLKm7fk59
Padang Kota Lama - https://goo.gl/maps/PbvL5w563KXwmoCK6
SmokePapa BBQ - https://goo.gl/maps/mfPciUwiJY1Nbp7v7
Hotel Penaga - https://goo.gl/maps/jAzmtB2zYsdq2iL69
Bibik's Kitchen Nyonya Cuisine - https://goo.gl/maps/H7d3TrVLkBXGij65A

PEN Day 5 │ Pekan Air Itam • Morning Market • Gurney Drive

Penang Day 5!

We woke up bright and early and left the hotel at 8:15am. From the 7 Eleven bus stop along Jalan Penang, we caught Rapid Penang 201 for RM2.00 (≈ USD/EUR0.40), which took us all the way to Pekan Air Itam.

We got off right in the thick of the morning market and began our stroll. We walked to one end of the market, doubled back, then entered the wet market. After exploring, we continued along Jalan Pasar until we reached the food court for breakfast.

Breakfast at Air Itam

We had hoped to try the famous Laksa Bisu, but we were too early. So we walked around the food court and settled on:

• Wan Tan Mee
• Toast Bread with Half Boiled Eggs
• Drinks

Breakfast total: RM13.80 (≈ USD/EUR3) — not as cheap as yesterday, but still reasonable.

Cat then asked for another stroll through the morning market to look for a snack she hadn’t had in ages. At the far end of the street, she found a stall selling Apom — a nostalgic treat we couldn’t even find a proper online description for.

Back at the bus stop, something else caught her eye: a tiny stall selling Chinese New Year cookies. She picked up a container of Fried Arrowhead (Ngaku Chips) and a Malay sponge cake (Ma Lai Go).

The Bus That Wouldn’t Stop

We waited for the bus… and were denied passage twice. Excuses ranged from “this bus doesn’t go to KOMTAR” to “you’re at the wrong stop.”

Third time’s the charm — we finally caught Rapid Penang 201 again for RM2.00, which took us back to the hotel.

A Quiet Afternoon

Feeling a little weary, we decided to stay in for the afternoon. We bought takeaway from 126 Hui Ong Café:

• Kao Kai Jiao Moo (Omelette with Rice) — RM9.00
• Pad Kha Prao Moo (Basil Fried with Rice) — RM9.00

Lunch total: RM18.00, eaten comfortably in our room. We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and editing videos.

Evening at Gurney

At 5:15pm, we headed out and hailed a Grab to Gurney Plaza. We needed a small overnight bag since we had bought a few items that wouldn’t fit in our luggage. After checking Adidas and JD Sports, we finally found the perfect bag at Puma.

We then walked out of Gurney Plaza toward our dinner destination. After a short five minute stroll, we arrived at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and surveyed the stalls before settling on:

• Penang Rojak — RM6.00
• Prawn Lam Mee — RM6.50
• Hokkien Char Mee — RM7.00
• Coconut Juice — RM6.00
• Apple Juice — RM3.00

Dinner total: RM50.00 (≈ USD/EUR11) — expected, given the touristy location.

The Bus That Never Came (Again)

After dinner, we walked along Gurney Drive, crossed Jalan Kelawai, and reached Jalan Bagan Jermal to wait for a bus. The first Rapid Penang 103 refused to take us, and the next Rapid Penang 101 was full and didn’t stop.

We gave up and hailed a Grab for RM14.00 (≈ USD/EUR3) back to the hotel.

My lower back continues to improve, but we’re still being cautious.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow is Cat’s birthday — and we’re hoping for a smooth, pain free day ahead!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/mUAgDV6NQ2etaP8n7
7-Eleven Jalan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/pXUrUijwzLKm7fk59
Pekan Air Itam - https://goo.gl/maps/sCT3VajTKYggVUv7A
Air Itam Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/azheUVzbxiPCU8fg8
126 Hui Ong Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/rsTqv3TEzRBoQTy66
Gurney Plaza - https://goo.gl/maps/EU4hHYaFfy5rauKUA
Gurney Drive Hawker Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/vhNYCo4UxTZdW8oq6

PEN Day 1 │ Tawfid Pawanchi • Gurney Plaza • Nasi Kandar Pelita • Mohabath Pasembur

Penang Day 4!

Feeling a lot better after yesterday’s chiropractic treatment and rest, we were up reasonably early and left the hotel at about 9:00am.

We walked to the bus stop at the 7 Eleven along Jalan Penang and caught the free Rapid Penang CAT bus to KOMTAR. There, we had breakfast at Tawfid Pawanchi — Nasi Lemak and Fried Vermicelli. With drinks, breakfast came to only RM6.80 (≈ USD1.50/EUR1.40).

Ice Pack Mission at Gurney Plaza

We then caught Rapid Penang 103 for RM1.40 (≈ USD/EUR0.30) to Gurney Plaza, hoping to find an ice pack as recommended by Dr Chuah. Success — Watson’s had one.

We then walked across to Foto President to look for a backpack, since Dr Chuah noted that my heavy sling bag was causing me to slant to one side. Unfortunately, nothing suitable was available.

We headed back out to the bus stop and waited more than half an hour before the 103 finally arrived. Again, for RM1.40, it would have taken us back to KOMTAR, but we decided to get off along Jalan Macalister for lunch at Nasi Kandar Pelita.

First Nasi Kandar of the Trip

After four days in Penang, this was somehow our first Nasi Kandar experience — shame on us.

• I had Mutton Curry
• Cat had Onion Fried Chicken with Rice
• Drinks for both

Lunch came to RM31.65 (≈ USD/EUR7).

We then caught Rapid Penang 101 outside Pelita for RM1.40 back to the hotel.

Afternoon Rest & Recovery

We stopped by several sundry shops before finally getting ice cubes from Toon Leong Coffee Shop to fill the ice pack. Back at the hotel, we spent the afternoon tending to our respective chores — and I found great comfort in the newly acquired ice pack.

Dinner at Padang Brown

After dusk, we took things easy and hailed a Grab for RM6.00 (≈ USD/EUR1.30) to Padang Brown, home to a well known food court. Inside was a cuisine we had never tried before: Pasembur — an Indian Muslim rojak of vegetables, fritters, seafood, and a sweet potato based gravy.

We went to Mohabath, the only Pasembur stall, picked a plate of assorted fritters, and watched them being deep fried. The thick red gravy looked like chilli paste at first glance but tasted completely different.

• Plate of fritters — RM21.00
• 2 Iced Teas — RM4.00

Dinner total: RM25.00 (≈ USD6/EUR5).

Our verdict? Similar to Chinese Lor Bak, but the red gravy made all the difference — definitely worth trying.

Bus Ride Back

We checked Moovit and walked to the Padang Brown bus stop, only to realise we were at the wrong one. After relocating to the other Padang Brown, we soon caught Rapid Penang 201. For RM1.40, it took us straight back to the hotel.

Hoping for a Better Tomorrow

The pain in my lower back is improving. We’ll still err on the side of caution, but if all goes well, we hope to visit a morning market tomorrow!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/mUAgDV6NQ2etaP8n7
Kopi Tiam Tawfid Pawanchi - https://goo.gl/maps/jGKCExeq6nWzqnKx6
Gurney Plaza - https://goo.gl/maps/WhE2bvHuKUoJsPZf6
Nasi Kandar Pelita - https://goo.gl/maps/srBKnk98ebrZM4bKA
Toon Leong Coffee Shop - https://goo.gl/maps/4VS9gymGo5nZx1JR8
Padang Brown - https://goo.gl/maps/c34kiFvLdnwG3QCaA
Mohabath Pasembur - https://goo.gl/maps/a8XYYLCuoc18PCGNA

PEN Day 1 │ Suspected Slipped Disc!?

Penang Day 3!

We had meant to wake up early again, but we overslept — and with good reason. The pain in my lower back had gotten progressively worse overnight, and we had to seriously consider seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible.

I called a few clinics, and only The One Chiropractic Centre could see me today. We booked a 12:30pm appointment.

By the time we got ready, it was already 10:15am, so we left the hotel and strolled along Jalan Transfer. Roti Canai Transfer Road was packed to the rafters, so we continued walking until we reached Toon Leong Coffee Shop.

We ordered two sets of toasted bread with drinks for RM9.60 (≈ USD/EUR2).

Off to the Chiropractor

After breakfast, we checked Moovit and found that Rapid Penang Bus 206 would take us directly to Taman Free School. We walked along Jalan Argyll, then Jalan Penang, and caught the bus in front of 7 Eleven for RM1.40 each (≈ USD/EUR0.30).

Twenty five minutes later, we got off at the Taman Free School stop along Jalan Terengganu and walked a short distance to The One Chiropractic Centre.

We were about an hour early. Since it was my first visit, I filled out the registration form and waited. Dr Chuah saw me right on time. After a ten minute assessment to pinpoint the problem area, he administered the twist that produced the pain relieving pop.

Hallelujah — I could stand and sit without excruciating pain again.

The treatment cost RM180.00 (≈ USD41/EUR38), and subsequent sessions will be RM110.00 (≈ USD25/EUR23). We thanked Dr Chuah and the front desk staff, Cheng, and I walked out feeling much better. The pain was still there, but at least I had regained mobility.

Lunch at Taman Free School

We crossed the road to Medan Selera Taman Free School and ordered:

• Curry Mee Stadium — RM5.50
• Koay Teow Th’ng — RM5.00
• Assorted Lor Bak — RM9.70
• 2 Iced Pat Poh Herbal Teas — RM3.60

Total: RM23.80 (≈ USD/EUR5).

We had hoped to catch the 206 bus back to town, but the next one was an hour away. So we hailed a Grab for RM15.00 (≈ USD/EUR3) to KOMTAR.

Afternoon Errands

At KOMTAR, we stopped by Maybank to replenish our Federal Reserves. Then we walked up to ICT Mall in search of an external hard drive to back up our mountain of footage. We eventually found a 1TB Western Digital for RM186 (≈ USD40/EUR42).

Since Dr Chuah advised me to get an ice pack, we walked to 1st Avenue Mall, but the pharmacy was out of stock. We were told to try Prangin Mall, but no luck there either.

The pain began to worsen again, so we hailed a Grab for RM7.00 (≈ USD/EUR1.50) back to the hotel, where I spent most of the afternoon lying down.

Dinner In

Evening came, and we followed Dr Chuah’s advice to rest. We stayed in and ordered GrabFood:

• Char Kueh Teow with Duck Egg (for Cat)
• Som Tum Thai Original (for Cat)
• Kai Jiao Minced Chicken Omelette with Rice (for me)

Total: RM36.30 (≈ USD/EUR8).

Although I regained mobility and could stand and sit without difficulty, the lower back pain remained constant.

Hoping for Better Tomorrow

We’re hoping tomorrow brings a speedy recovery — fingers crossed!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/mUAgDV6NQ2etaP8n7
Toon Leong Coffee Shop - https://goo.gl/maps/4VS9gymGo5nZx1JR8
The One Chiropractic Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/sNqBmvokza5CGihL8
7-Eleven Jalan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/pXUrUijwzLKm7fk59
Medan Selera Taman Free School - https://goo.gl/maps/2g4jddEYuMLtrjVVA
ICT Digital Mall @ KOMTAR - https://goo.gl/maps/qSHgUvedTFaM5VgW9
1st Avenue Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/wQywJxW96FiYzKxaA
Prangin Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/8mBxm4paQhmLX5G69

PEN Day 2 │ Nasi Lemak Ali • Sunny Phoon • Chowrasta Market • New World Park

Penang Day 2!

We had meant to wake up early and take a morning stroll to our breakfast destination, but we overslept. The niggling pain in my lower back was still there, which probably contributed to the extra sleep.

By the time we got ready, it was already 9:00am, but we were determined to have breakfast at Nasi Lemak Ali, so we hailed a Grab and arrived in five minutes.

The crowd wasn’t too bad. We got our packets of Nasi Lemak and found seats within ten minutes.

• 2 packets of Nasi Lemak — RM5.00
• Drinks — RM5.00

Breakfast total: RM10.00 (≈ USD/EUR2).

Chowrasta Market Stroll

We caught a free Rapid Penang CAT bus to 7 Eleven Jalan Penang, then walked to Chowrasta Market. We strolled through the morning market and, at the end of Jalan Chowrasta, turned right onto Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

Here, Cat bought two pairs of batik pyjama sets for RM30.00 each (≈ USD6/EUR7). At the other end of the street, we bought half a watermelon, half a cantaloupe, and some bananas for RM26.00 (≈ USD5/EUR6) — a little digestive support for the day.

We returned to the hotel to store our fruits and retrieve the spectacles I had left behind, then walked back along Jalan Hutton. Cat found a hair salon that looked surprisingly 

barbershop like but catered to both men and women. Her haircut cost RM45.00 (≈ USD5/EUR6), and she was very pleased with her new look.

KOMTAR Errands & Bus Ride Back

We caught another free CAT bus to KOMTAR, walked up to the ICT Mall, and crossed the pedestrian bridge to 1st Avenue Mall in search of lozenges.

We then walked back into ICT Mall and made our way to the bus stop at KOMTAR Utara, where we eventually caught a Rapid Penang 101 for RM1.40 (≈ USD/EUR0.30) back to the hotel.

Lunch at 126 Hui Ong Café

We decided to have lunch next door at 126 Hui Ong Café and ordered:

• Marmite Chicken with Rice — RM9.00
• Kam Heong Chicken — RM9.00
• Drinks + takeaways — RM8.00

Total: RM26.00 (≈ USD/EUR6).

We then returned to the hotel and spent the afternoon tending to laundry and videos.

Dinner at New World Park

We stepped out at 7:00pm, taking a stroll along Jalan Hutton — this time heading northwest instead of southeast. In no time, we reached New World Park Food City.

After browsing the stalls, we settled on:

• Mixed Grille Platter — RM28.00
• Wat Tan Hor — RM10.00
• Lor Bak — RM8.00
• Drinks — RM4.00

Total: RM50.00 (≈ USD/EUR11) — reasonable and satisfying.

We walked back to the hotel afterward. The pain in my lower back is getting worse, and we hope it subsides soon.

Tomorrow…

With absolutely nothing planned again, let’s see what tomorrow brings!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/mUAgDV6NQ2etaP8n7
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang - https://goo.gl/maps/mrWrDy9HzEcqtQjBA
Sri Weld Food Court - https://goo.gl/maps/JVqRkGgdttCsorYNA
7-Eleven Jalan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/pXUrUijwzLKm7fk59
Pasar Chowrasta Pinang - https://goo.gl/maps/8hqd5bBs1ooVNS3R6
Sunny Phoon Hair Studio - https://goo.gl/maps/Packki64RqiksnVF6
ICT Digital Mall @ KOMTAR - https://goo.gl/maps/qSHgUvedTFaM5VgW9
1st Avenue Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/wQywJxW96FiYzKxaA
KOMTAR Utara - https://goo.gl/maps/mxhaSEREq8b1m4329
126 Hui Ong Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/WeMoSsA2vha14ftx9
New World Park Food City - https://goo.gl/maps/FZHsEUivzaRzhRtf6

PEN Day 1 │ Aeroline • Hutton Central • KOMTAR • Red Garden

Penang Day 1!

As mentioned in our previous post, Christmas Day was a low key affair. I went for a haircut, then Cat and I headed to Brickfields for Banana Leaf Rice. We didn’t film anything — we wanted a break.

This morning, though, we woke up bright and early and hailed a Grab to Corus Hotel for RM10.00 (≈ USD/EUR2). Yes, we were taking the Aeroline bus to Penang again.

We arrived at Corus Hotel at 8:00am, and after a short wait, we were told to board. The bus departed a little after 8:30am and, aside from a 20 minute pit stop at Simpang Pulai, made good time.

Four hours after leaving Kuala Lumpur, we crossed Penang’s Second Bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge), and half an hour later arrived at Queensbay Mall. We hopped off and took a Grab to Hutton Central for RM16.00 (≈ USD4/EUR3).

Traffic in George Town was terrible, and it took almost an hour to reach the hotel. 

Thankfully, although it was only 2:00pm, our room was ready and we were allowed to check in an hour early — woohoo!

Late Lunch at Nana Tomyam

We dropped our bags and walked to Mydin along Jalan Penang to get a can of Dettol spray and some drinking water. Then we looked for lunch and settled on Nana Tomyam along Jalan Transfer — conveniently close to the hotel.

We ordered:

• Mixed Tomyam
• Oxtail Soup
• 2 Plain Omelettes
• 2 White Rice

With drinks, the total came to RM24.00 (≈ USD/EUR5) — an absolute steal. Do pay Nana Tomyam a visit for authentic Thai food prepared by actual Thais at very reasonable prices.

We walked back to the hotel, showered, changed, and while Cat tended to the laundry (yes, our room had a washer/dryer!), I began organising the videos from earlier.

Evening Errands & Dinner

We spent the afternoon indoors and stepped out again at 6:45pm. Rather than wait until we returned to KL to edit videos, I wanted to set things up here — so we went to Mydin to look for cables to connect my laptop to the TV.

No luck there, so we walked to KOMTAR’s ICT Mall and found what I needed. We then strolled through 1st Avenue Mall before heading back out to Jalan Penang.

Cat had a craving for pickled papayas and bought a bag for RM8.00 (≈ USD/EUR2). We continued northeast along Jalan Penang and turned right onto Leith Street.

Dinner was at Red Garden Food Paradise, where we ordered:

• German Sausages — RM20.00
• Belacan Fried Rice — RM12.00
• Penang Rojak — RM10.00
• Apple Cider & Orange Juice — RM22.00

Total: RM64.00 (≈ USD/EUR14) — triple the price of lunch, but triple the fun.

We walked back to the hotel afterward. I had a slight pain in my lower back and hoped it would go away with rest.

Tomorrow…

We had nothing planned for the next day — so let’s see where Penang takes us!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur - https://goo.gl/maps/XgjUv3gdibkgvHsRA
Aeroline (KL) FLY From the City! - https://goo.gl/maps/Hfx6BEC73ksuBuj1A
Simpang Pulai Northbound LayBy - https://goo.gl/maps/YVDWtmLKPTiiURio7
Aeroline Queensbay Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/yykmviRwPxSj651u9
Hutton Central Hotel by PHC - https://goo.gl/maps/NwhU3PBXNqNrxZMh6
Mydin - https://goo.gl/maps/uMpc8TLxJ3GqzN726
Nana Tomyam - https://goo.gl/maps/QKoK5BvjAufGondH8
Octopus Pedestrian Bridge - https://goo.gl/maps/J6jp237s76pbmEWU8
ICT Digital Mall @ Komtar - https://goo.gl/maps/HVUqmEUDgKUFoMZ57
1st Avenue Mall - https://goo.gl/maps/X8i3PULJybAiX7vE7
Pasar Chowrasta Pinang - https://goo.gl/maps/VoPvXNuyjhSpbfaG8
Red Garden Food Paradise - https://goo.gl/maps/SYiePU5sgyRUUUHd6

Christmas Eve │ New Gear Day: DJI Action 3!

It’s Christmas Eve!

I had been completely engrossed in my day job the past week as an important project crossed one of its many finish lines. With the final deadline of the year finally met, I could at last focus on the fact that tomorrow is Christmas.

Last week, we got our hands on the DJI Action 3, and I updated it to the latest firmware (V01.02.1010), which supposedly fixed its infamous out of focus issue. We were eager to test it properly, so we made our way to Sogo Kuala Lumpur for lunch.

This entire video was shot with the DJI Action 3, except for some close ups of our meal, which were taken with an iPhone 12 Pro.

Lunch at DubuYo

On the way to the sixth floor food court, Cat picked up a handbag that was on sale. Once we reached the food court, we took a moment to decide and eventually settled on Korean food at DubuYo.

We ordered the Meal Set for Two, which included:

• Soondubu Jigae Chicken
• Honey Mustard Wings
• 2 × DubuYo Rice
• 2 × Roasted Barley Tea
• 2 × Citron Dubu (small)

The total came to RM59.90 (≈ USD14/EUR13) — reasonable for a novelty restaurant in a mall.

After lunch, we went up to the seventh floor. Cat picked up wet wipes from Guardian Pharmacy, while I grabbed my favourite Vietnamese Coffee from the Kee Nguyen stall.

A Little Christmas Treat

We took the elevator down to the ground floor and bought a Platinum Collection Royal Chocolate Cake, just enough for the two of us. With that, we walked home and began packing for our upcoming trip.

Our Verdict on the DJI Action 3

• Outdoors: Excellent — sharp, vibrant colours, great audio.
• Indoors: A little soft, sometimes grainy and noisy.
• Low light: Tends to “hunt” for focus.
• Bonus: It can shoot 4K timelapse, something the Pocket 2 cannot do.

Will it replace our DJI Pocket 2 as our go to walkabout camera? Only if it rains. We bought the Action 3 to complement the Pocket 2, not replace it.

Looking Ahead

Christmas Day this year will be a low key affair since Brendan is away at varsity, busy with his Final Year Paper submissions and exams.

But on Boxing Day, we’ll be hopping on a bus to our favourite island — the Pearl of the Orient.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
SOGO Kuala Lumpur - https://goo.gl/maps/ye8Y8jW9Jw7pj6d96
Dubuyo Sogo KL - https://goo.gl/maps/tS6X4ifGqBfF7jcn8
Kee Nguyễn SOGO Kuala Lumpur - https://goo.gl/maps/Jt7bD1oDYj5YoQft7
Secret Recipe Sogo - https://goo.gl/maps/frRxEv8Tvs6xj1Ri6

Christmas Shopping │ New Gear Day: DJI Action 3!

Weekend Before Christmas!

I had been focused on my day job for the past week, fully immersed in chasing several deadlines. With my deliverables finally out of the way, we could turn our attention to what truly mattered — Christmas shopping.

We had been using the DJI Pocket 2 for more than a year without complaint… until the monsoon season arrived. With rain almost every day, it felt like the right time to invest in a second small system — and naturally, we gravitated toward its cousin, the DJI Action 3.

As with most of our camera purchases, there was only one store in mind: Altech Camera.

Shopping at Berjaya Times Square

We hopped into a Grab to Berjaya Times Square and took the elevator up to the sixth floor, only to find Altech still closed. I called CM (our usual go to guy), and he told us to come back a little later.

So we headed back down to the ground floor and spent some time shopping at LC Waikiki, where we found matching Christmas T shirts and a few pairs of short pants for Cat.

We then returned to Altech — and soon enough, we were holding a brand new DJI Action 3. We opted for the Adventure Combo, which included:

• 3 × DJI Extreme Batteries
• DJI Multifunctional Battery Case
• 2 × Lens Protective Covers
• 2 × Adhesive Base Kits
• DJI Extension Rod (4.9')
• Horizontal/Vertical Protective Frame
• 2 × Locking Screws
• USB C PD Charging Cable

For RM2,199.00 (≈ USD/EUR500), we felt it was a bargain — especially with three batteries, perfect for long walkabout days. We also picked up two 128GB Sandisk Ultra microSD cards for RM150.00 each.

We bade Eric and the team farewell, and as we headed to the elevator, we bumped into CM! We wished him a Merry Christmas before making our way down to the Lower Ground Floor.

Lunch & Errands at Sungei Wang

We had planned to eat at the Taste of Asia food court, but it was packed. So we exited Berjaya Times Square and walked to Sungei Wang Plaza instead.

On the third floor, we found Vinh City Vietnamese Restaurant and ordered:

• Beef Fried Rice
• Beef Noodle Soup
• Vietnamese Coffee
• 2 × Green Tea

Lunch came to RM43.61 (≈ USD/EUR10) — not bad for a novelty restaurant in a mall.

After lunch, we crossed the floor to Mr DIY for some provisions, then headed down to the ground floor where I found a pair of glasses I liked. Since they needed an hour to prepare them, we walked to an ATM to replenish our Federal Reserves, then browsed a pharmacy for hand sanitiser.

To pass the time, we had drinks at Ah Cheng Laksa, and right on schedule, my glasses were ready. We then stopped by another pharmacy so Cat could pick up a bottle of shower foam.

With our errands done, we hailed a Grab and headed home.

Looking Ahead

We’ll be spending Christmas week on our favourite island — the Pearl of the Orient.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Berjaya Times Square - https://goo.gl/maps/rXwcFv9uoNKiBrZt6
LC Waikiki - https://goo.gl/maps/i24zYspqWQbvNoGp6
Altech Camera - https://goo.gl/maps/2T5rf2Lrsbjxke5U7
Sungei Wang Plaza - https://goo.gl/maps/N6pDwAtDZEFVswSU8
Vinh City Vietnamese Cuisine - https://goo.gl/maps/71tZMq8vFJwBfGCo8
Eyes Vision Optical - https://goo.gl/maps/o2q1UbFAEY5Bjosw7
GUARDIAN Sungei Wang Plaza - https://goo.gl/maps/itFTcXpqG4jRyfAu5
Ah Cheng Laksa (Sungei Wang Plaza) - https://goo.gl/maps/9MCpeiVdRKYUnqzh6
Watsons Sungei Wang Plaza 2 - https://goo.gl/maps/XG6wSyeuKmCXHrX57

P/S: I downloaded the latest firmware (V01.02.1010) later that night, which among other things is purported to fix the DJI Action 3's infamous out-of-focus issue. We'll see how it goes when we take it out for a proper test in the weeks to come.

To KLIA Again │ Brendan's off to Kuching!

KLIA Again!

It had been two weeks since GE15, and it was time for Brendan to return to varsity. We left home at 10:00am and arrived at KLIA an hour later. Brendan checked in his luggage, and we made our way (where else?) to McDonald’s for the Millennial’s lunch. I had a large Americano, while Cat and I shared a large packet of French fries.

An hour later, it was time for Brendan to board. We said our farewells and watched him — piercings and all — walk through the security checkpoint.

Lunch Hunt After KLIA

We then drove a short distance to Nasi Padang Minang Batang Kapeh, but despite Google listing it as open, the restaurant was closed. We drove around a little more and soon settled on Nasi Kerabu Tumis Kok Lanas.

Nasi Kerabu — blue coloured rice dyed with Bunga Telang and served with dried fish or fried chicken, crackers, pickles, and salads — is Cat’s favourite dish. We watched the staff grill fish, but since it would take a while, we opted instead for:

• Kerabu Rice with Honey Fried Chicken
• White Rice with Honey Fried Chicken
• Iced Coffee
• Iced Lemon Tea

Lunch came to only RM21.00 (≈ USD/EUR5) — a real bargain in our books.

Puteh Gets Some TLC

After lunch, we drove a short distance to a car wash since Puteh was in desperate need of some TLC. We got home about an hour and a half later.

A Short Hiatus

We’ll be taking a short break until Christmas as I need to focus on my day job — several pressing deadlines await. Once those are out of the way, Cat and I will be spending Christmas at our favourite island, the Pearl of the Orient.

See all of you real soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport - https://goo.gl/maps/ZKny1DBPGRpcAnXF8
Nasi Padang Minang Batang Kapeh - https://goo.gl/maps/WKQoj4bXai6gwLby7
Nasi Kerabu Tumis Kok Lanas - https://goo.gl/maps/6V7LdaFSKVUvGULMA 

DJI POCKET 2 │ Timelapse Again!

Time Lapse!

The Northeast Monsoon from November to March is upon us, which means we’ve officially entered December.

Much like the video, this post is short and sweet. It had been a while since we last tried our hands at time lapse photography, so we decided to do it again — this time capturing the Kuala Lumpur skyline, with KLCC glowing in the distance as the sun slowly set.

We set the DJI Pocket 2 to capture one frame every three seconds over a duration of three hours — an hour and a half before sunset and an hour and a half after. For good measure, we slapped on an ND8 filter.

A simple setup, a calming ritual, and a beautiful KL evening.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Home - https://goo.gl/maps/pN3u1fwBWrsV5nfb9