PEN Day 6 │ ETS Butterworth to KL!

Going Home

We were catching the ETS 9107 train at 1:05pm from the Butterworth KTMB station later today. We woke up at 8:00am and spent the morning packing and getting ready.

I booked a 6 seater Grab in advance for 10:00am, and at 9:45am we received word that the driver was already on the way. The fare was RM27.00 (≈ USD/EUR6).

By the time we walked down the staircase, our Grab car was turning the corner. Five minutes later, he dropped us off at the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal.

Ferry to Butterworth

We tapped through the turnstiles with our Touch ’n Go cards and were immediately ushered onto the ferry departing at 10:00am — perfect timing. The ride cost only RM2.00 (≈ USD/EUR0.40).

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth and walked toward Penang Sentral.

Brunch at Penang Sentral

With plenty of time before our train, we decided not to head straight to the KTMB station. Instead, we explored Penang Sentral and settled on Iqbal’s Café for brunch.

We all had white rice — Cat and I with fried fish, Brendan with curry chicken. With drinks, our meal came to RM43.30 (≈ USD10/EUR9).

We left the café at 12:00pm and walked to the KTMB station. We were allowed to check in but not yet permitted to go down to the platform.

At 12:45pm, the gates opened. Our luggage was heavy, so we waited for the elevator instead of taking the stairs.

The Train Ride

The ETS 9107 departed Butterworth at 1:06pm. The ride was uneventful, smooth, and at times reached speeds of over 140 km/h.

The train stopped at Bukit Mertajam, Taiping, and Ipoh. Instead of KL Sentral, we chose to disembark at Kuala Lumpur Station, arriving just before 5:00pm.

We hailed another 6 seater Grab for RM18.00 (≈ USD/EUR4) back to our condominium.

Door to door, it took seven and a half hours to get from Hutton Suites to our home — not bad at all.

Final Thoughts

If we had to do it all over again, we would have taken the Aeroline bus back. Lugging heavy bags from Grab → ferry → train → Grab again wasn’t fun. That said, we’d definitely take the train if we were travelling light.

Just our two cents.

It’s back to the daily grind now — but stay tuned for a special trip at the end of January.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal Georgetown

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qmf7ZogsMiVqJD3t7

Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal Butterworth

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/9JuupU4giNDEtFwS6

Butterworth Penang Sentral - https://maps.app.goo.gl/WqtpTyaYQmjuAX8t6

Butterworth KTMB station - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YhNki4fj5LFSStHE7

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station - https://maps.app.goo.gl/pBmCDMbh4AeuDMTN6

Havironia Music - https://maps.app.goo.gl/VaMbgpguY7mawN1p9

PEN Day 5 │ Penang Chingay Parade 2024!

Chingay Parade 2024

We picked you up again late in the evening when Cat heard a commotion downstairs.

Truth be told, we had been standing by for the Chingay Parade, which was scheduled to pass along Jalan Transfer. Based on last year’s experience — when the parade only reached our homestay near midnight — we didn’t expect it to arrive so early.

But at 7:30pm, the parade suddenly appeared along Jalan Transfer.

I immediately ran out of the hotel toward the main road, while Cat took a moment to change and joined me shortly after.

From several Facebook pages, the parade was described as a vibrant cultural celebration featuring giant flag performances, dragon and lion dances, Boria, Indian martial arts, and even a photography competition. It began at Padang Brown and would end at Padang Kota Lama — a free, colourful showcase of Penang’s heritage.

Dinner Break

After about half an hour of watching the parade — which was starting to get backed up — hunger got the better of us. We slipped away to Nana Tomyam, just a few doors down.

Without thinking too hard, we ordered:

• Mixed Tomyam
• Beef Soup
• Plain Omelette
• 2 Sugarless Iced Tea

Our simple dinner came to RM23.00 (approximately USD6/EUR5).

After eating, we made the short walk back to the hotel.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we ride the ETS back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Nana Tomyam - https://maps.app.goo.gl/q5qMJqoNpyVyc5Sz5

PEN Day 5 │ Gurney Plaza • Holy Guacamole

Mall Crawling

We picked you up again after returning from our walkabout at the Chowrasta morning market.

Cat tended to the laundry, as always, while I continued working on the growing collection of videos from the past five days. We woke Brendan at 10:00am and left the hotel an hour later.

We walked the short distance to the bus stop in front of 7 Eleven along Jalan Penang. After a short wait, we caught the Rapid Penang #101 bus — free with the Mutiara bus pass — all the way to the stop along Jalan Kelawai.

Gurney Plaza

We crossed the road and entered Gurney Plaza, spending the next hour browsing the various shops. Cat picked up a couple of dresses from Marks & Spencer for RM154.80 (≈ USD35/EUR33).

Eventually, hunger caught up with us. After wandering around indecisively for quite some time, we finally settled on Holy Guacamole.

Cat and I opted for the Loco Lunch Set, while Brendan went à la carte:

• Cat: Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup, 2 Baja (Fish) Tacos, Iced Lemon Tea
• Me: Same soup, Quesadillas Calabaza (Pumpkin), Iced Lemon Tea
• Brendan: Beef Chimichanga, Coca Cola

Our lunch came to RM125.30 (≈ USD28/EUR27).

Heading Back

We continued browsing after lunch, then exited Gurney Plaza and crossed Jalan Kelawai again to catch another Rapid Penang #101 bus — once more free with the Mutiara pass — all the way back to Jalan Transfer.

From there, it was just a short walk back to the hotel.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we join a street parade later this evening known as Chingay.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Gurney Plaza - https://maps.app.goo.gl/JfWAtbvJDUP1QLFf8

Holy Guacamole [Gurney] - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kmEHx7ZiLpLeTQhA7

PEN Day 5 │ Chowrasta Morning Market!

Koay Teow Th’ng

If there’s one Penang delicacy Cat is especially fond of, it’s Koay Teow Th’ng. Th’ng means “soup” in Hokkien — a nod to the clear, comforting broth that Chinese immigrants brought to Malaysia centuries ago. The flavours are simple: a light pork or chicken broth, soft slippery koay teow, and that unmistakable Penang warmth.

Because of this, we were up at 7:30am and made our way to the Chowrasta Morning Market half an hour later. Brendan decided to sleep in and didn’t join us.

Breakfast at Chowrasta

No surprises here — Cat ordered her beloved Koay Teow Th’ng. I went for the customary Western Breakfast (B Set), and with a round of drinks, our typical Penang breakfast came to RM17.20 (≈ USD/EUR4).

After eating, we wandered through the morning market, and in that short time Cat managed to pick up:

• A colourful batik blouse — RM8.00
• Long pants — RM20.00
• 4 sets of batik pyjamas — RM25.00 each

Total: RM128.00 (≈ USD29/EUR27).

We also bought several packets of mixed fruits for RM9.00 (≈ USD/EUR2), and finally two printed tote bags as souvenirs for friends at RM20.00 (≈ USD/EUR4) each.

With our morning haul complete, we headed back to the hotel.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we head to a mall for lunch for a change.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Chowrasta Morning Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SnosQQceBhycZhN37

PEN Day 4 │ Red Garden Food Paradise and Back!

We're Back

We picked you up again very late in the evening, after napping for a few hours and waking up at 8:00pm. We left the hotel half an hour later, headed north along Jalan Penang, then turned left onto Lebuh Leith.

We continued on and eventually settled on the touristy but beloved Red Garden Food Paradise. It’s not a place for locals, but we absolutely love it — the noise, the bustle, the slightly chaotic charm. Yes, the prices are inflated, but Red Garden more than makes up for it with its style and character.

Dinner at Red Garden

After some deliberation, we ordered:

• Vietnamese Spring Rolls — RM16.00
• Wat Tan Hor Fun — RM9.00
• Grilled Lamb — RM38.00
• Cheesy Fries — RM15.00
• German Sausages — RM22.00
• Double Ambra Juice — RM7.00
• Coca Cola — RM4.00
• Large Heineken — RM21.00

Our dinner came to RM132.00 (≈ USD30/EUR28).

We were entertained by a troupe of singers who started off rather poorly with English songs, but improved dramatically once they switched to their bread and butter Cantonese and Mandarin tunes.

We added three slices of cake for RM45.00 (≈ USD/EUR10) before leaving.

Walking It Off

To work off the extra calories, we walked west along Lebuh Leith, crossed Jalan Penang, and then realised we hadn’t taken a thumbnail photo of the food court. So we doubled back, snapped what we needed, and continued northeast along Jalan Penang before turning right onto Jalan Hutton.

A few minutes later, we were back at the hotel.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we have breakfast at Cat’s favourite morning market.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Red Garden Food Paradise - https://maps.app.goo.gl/MP5DMyKYbzkwYpqu8

PEN Day 4 │ The Lighthouse Bakery • Chowrasta Market

Light Lunch

We picked you up again after returning from our long walk to and from Cecil Street.

We busied ourselves the entire morning — Cat tended to our laundry while I continued editing the ever growing collection of footage from the past few days.

Lunchtime came and went, but we still didn’t feel hungry. Even so, we left the hotel at 2:00pm in search of something light.

Lighthouse Bakery

We first stopped by Emily Darling Café, but most of their cakes were sold out, and the atmosphere felt a little too pretentious for our liking. So we continued on and eventually settled on the no frills Lighthouse Bakery.

We quickly ordered:

• 2 Chicken Mushroom Pies
• 1 Milo Dinosaur Ice
• Calamansi (Keat La) with Sour Plum Juice

Our light lunch came to RM24.70 (approximately USD/EUR5).

Souvenir Run at Chowrasta

After eating, we headed back along Jalan Penang and arrived at Chowrasta Market to pick up some pickled fruits as souvenirs for our neighbours.

From Jeruk Madu Pak Ali, we bought three packets of mixed pickled fruits for RM23.40 (approximately USD/EUR5).

Inside the main market, we stopped at Shin Huat and picked up:

• 500g pickled papaya
• 500g pickled mango
• 5 boxes of Tau Sar Piah

The total came to RM77.00 (approximately USD/EUR17).

Our final stop was Zent & Art Souvenir, an art shop selling printed bags and T shirts. We bought two tote bags for RM40.00 (approximately USD10/EUR9).

With our errands done, we walked back to the hotel.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we have dinner at our favourite food court in all of Georgetown.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Emily Darling Cafe - https://maps.app.goo.gl/guWZuYPL8cbnN74M8

The Lighthouse Bakery - https://maps.app.goo.gl/m3jkStk1y1idFBtz6

Jeruk Madu Pak Ali - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6c6GMjzakASHDNdL7

Chowrasta Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/JxcfY871suMowVgEA

Shin Huat (Pasar Chowrasta) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/L28hdCZULJBkwoAG7

Zent & Art Souvenir - https://maps.app.goo.gl/y4R9QrZ1opFerfLU7

PEN Day 4 │ To Cecil Street Food Court and Back!

Breakfast @ Cecil Street

This morning, we made a concerted effort to wake up as early as we could. Determined to atone for last Christmas — when we tried twice but failed to eat at Cecil Street Food Court — we were up at 6:30am.

Brendan didn’t wish to join us, so we left the hotel at 7:00am and took a leisurely stroll along Jalan Penang, crossed the Octopus Pedestrian Bridge, continued along Jalan Penang, then turned left onto Jalan Magazine.

From there, we walked across to Lebuh McNair and continued for about a kilometre before finally arriving at our long awaited destination.

Breakfast at Last

We browsed the various stalls before settling on:

• Drinks — RM8.00
• Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng — RM7.00
• Western Breakfast — RM6.50
• Chee Cheong Fun — RM4.50

Our long overdue breakfast came to a very respectable RM26.00 (≈ USD/EUR6).

After eating, we wandered over to the cake stalls and picked up RM14.20 worth of sweet cakes to take away.

The Walk Back

We made our way back to the hotel by walking across Lebuh McNair onto Lebuh Cecil, then turning right onto Jalan Gurdwara. We continued for about a kilometre before heading along Jalan Dato Keramat, Jalan Macalister, and finally back onto Jalan Penang.

We crossed the Octopus Bridge once more and briefly considered picking up some pickled fruits from Chowrasta, but it was still closed. So we continued on and reached the hotel at 8:45am.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we look for something light for lunch.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Cecil Street Food Court - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lxf3PmqzWRAtZt9N7

PEN Day 3 │ Boxing Day • Skin Nation Tattoo!

Boxing Day

After lunch, we walked back to the hotel. While Cat tended to laundry, I picked up my iPad — essential for what I was about to do next — and headed out again.

I followed the same route as before, but this time crossed Jalan Penang and continued on to my destination. I had long wanted a tattoo of the Manchester United crest, outlined in the shape of a Red Devil holding a trident. Today was the day that wish would finally be fulfilled.

Skin Nation Tattoo

Knowing we would be in Penang for Christmas, I had contacted Darren of Guntur Tattoo in Kota Kinabalu to ask about Penang based artists. He referred me to Skin Nation Tattoo, which — by pure coincidence — was located very close to our hotel.

I reached out to them and made an appointment with MC for 1:00pm. He was ready and waiting when I arrived. We discussed the design, tried a few placements, and eventually decided on my inner left forearm.

MC began working on his masterpiece while I spent the next four hours listening to Joe Rogan podcasts — hence the iPad.

The Tattoo

Getting the Manchester United crest encased in the shape of the Red Devil on my left arm felt like a rush of pure joy — as if all my years of loyalty, late night matches, childhood memories, and unshakable belief in the club had finally taken shape on my skin. In that moment, the crest became more than ink. It became a piece of my identity, a reminder of where my love for football began, and a symbol of the pride and belonging I’ll carry for the rest of my life.

We took several breaks, and MC was finally done close to 5:00pm.

The result? Absolutely breathtaking.

I paid MC his dues, then headed out along Jalan Penang in search of Cat, who was having desserts at a bingsu café. We walked back to the hotel together, and since we had no plans for dinner — and I was knackered from the four hour session — we ordered in via GrabFood.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we head out to Cecil Street tomorrow morning to finally have breakfast at its food court.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Skin Nation Tattoo - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YnB91AdarvfrWsn56

PEN Day 3 │ Boxing Day • Ayam Garam Xiang Peng Peng!

Boxing Day

We slept in again. I got up at 9:00am to work on the footage from the last few days. Cat woke up soon after, while Brendan only emerged at 11:00am.

We all got ready and left the hotel at 11:45am, walking a short distance along Jalan Penang. We were headed in the same direction as yesterday, but this time our plans were for lunch across the road from CEKI.

Salted Chicken for Lunch

We had come across Xiang Peng Peng Salted Chicken on Instagram — touted as “a healthy, gluten free, home made salted chicken prepared from a traditional recipe more than 100 years old.” That alone was enough to pique our interest.

We walked in at 12:00pm and had the place to ourselves. The menu was small, which made choosing easy. We settled on:

• Half a Chicken (Original Flavour)
• Stir Fried Roasted Pork
• Plain Omelette
• Pork Ribs Soup
• 1 Kumquat Sour Plum
• 2 Coca Cola

Our unique Boxing Day lunch came to RM110.00 (≈ USD25/EUR24), a little pricey by our reckoning, but still an interesting experience.

After lunch, we made the short walk back to the hotel to rest.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as I add to my collection of body art at Skin Nation Tattoo.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Ayam Garam Xiang Peng Peng - https://maps.app.goo.gl/EgLCprW3cNfxdZ447

PEN Day 2 │ Christmas Day • New World Park Food City!

Christmas Day

We had initially planned on Christmas dinner at a hot pot restaurant, but after two lavish meals in a row — Choux Choux last night and CEKI Nyonya this afternoon — we were in desperate need of something a little more down to earth.

New World Park Food City appealed to us immediately, so we left the hotel at 6:45pm and walked northwest along Jalan Transfer for about ten minutes. The food court was brightly lit and impossible to miss.

After checking out each stall, we eventually settled on:

• 2 plates of Char Koay Teow — RM8.00 each
• 1 large serving of Lor Bak — RM12.50
• Grilled Lamb with Curly Fries — RM30.00
• 1 medium plate of Rojak Buah — RM9.00
• 2 glasses of Sour Plum — RM7.00
• 2 cans of Lemon Juice — RM5.90

Our grand total came to RM93.30 (≈ USD21/EUR20), which felt very reasonable after our recent splurges.

While Cat and Brendan waited for the food, I took a walk around to explore the stalls. We hope the footage will help you appreciate just how vast this food court is.

We enjoyed ourselves here — eating, chatting, and people watching in the lively evening atmosphere.

A Different Route Home

After dinner, we decided on a change of scenery. We exited onto Jalan Burma and headed southeast before turning left onto Jalan Transfer. From there, we crossed over and turned right onto Jalan Hutton, reaching the hotel in no time.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we check out a salted chicken restaurant.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

New World Park Food City - https://maps.app.goo.gl/88Z9eeWBrRbTJAQC9

PEN Day 2 │ Christmas Day • CEKI Nyonya Restaurant and Beyond!

Christmas Day

We slept in and only got up at 9:30am. As is our tradition on Christmas Day in Penang, we had already made lunch reservations at a nearby Nyonya restaurant.

We got ready and left the hotel at 11:35am for the ten minute walk to Jalan Bahari.

Two years ago, we celebrated Cat’s birthday at Bibik’s Kitchen Nyonya Cuisine. Last year, we celebrated at BaBa Phang. So it felt only natural to complete the Nyonya trifecta along Jalan Bahari with a visit to CEKI Nyonya Restaurant today.

Lunch at CEKI

We were immediately impressed by the décor the moment we stepped inside. I got a little carried away taking photos of the interior.

After carefully browsing the menu, we settled on:

• Assam Pedas Fish
• Tau Ewe (Thick Soy Sauce) Bak
• Plain Omelette
• Tetae Lemak (Sweet Potato Leaves)
• Rendang Beef
• 2 Lemongrass Juice
• 1 Coca Cola

Our traditional Straits Settlement Christmas lunch came to RM332.20 (≈ USD74/EUR71).

Afternoon Errands

After settling the bill, we walked a short distance to the bus stop in front of 7 Eleven along Jalan Penang. From there, we caught a free CAT bus to KOMTAR to renew our Mutiara bus pass.

I then walked into Maybank to replenish our Federal Reserves before we crossed KOMTAR to catch a Rapid Penang #101 bus back to Jalan Transfer.

We alighted at the Wisma MCA stop and walked to Mydin Emporium to pick up some provisions before returning to the hotel to escape the intense afternoon heat.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we check out a hot pot joint near the hotel.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

CEKI Nyonya Restaurant - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jzt4dpw5Z8AkdeeaA

CAT Station 9 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/NS9agJFdubByNqB47

Maybank (Penang Road) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jNX2G34TqxNPxeWq5

Wisma MCA bus stop - https://maps.app.goo.gl/mGrGh2fAxnyiMHjE9

Mydin Emporium - https://maps.app.goo.gl/EVWjnaQEs93fQ1sv9

PEN Day 1 │ Christmas Eve • To Choux Choux and Back!

Christmas Eve Feast

We picked you up again in the evening after checking into our hotel apartment.

We had made a reservation with Kelvin months in advance, planning to share our Christmas Eve dinner with Prem, Brendan’s old varsity mate. Unfortunately, Prem was called away for an urgent family matter at the last minute, so it would just be the three of us dining at Choux Choux.

We hailed a Grab for RM5.00 (≈ USD/EUR1) and arrived at 6:45pm.

Dinner at Choux Choux

Kelvin and the rest of the bubbly Choux Choux crew welcomed us warmly. When he found out our party was short by one person, Kelvin immediately adjusted our order without us even asking — thoughtful as always.

Our Christmas Eve feast consisted of:

• Phenomenal Iberico BBQ Ribs
• Organic Rotisserie Chicken
• Lamb Shoulder Braise
• 1 French Onion Soup
• 2 Truffle Mushroom Soup
• Green Apple Juice
• Lemonade
• 3 Coca Cola
• 2 Baileys Irish Cream

The meal came to RM680.90 (≈ USD152/EUR146), a hefty price but absolutely worth it. It’s not often we splurge, and this was a feast we thoroughly enjoyed.

We settled the bill and wished Kelvin and his merry crew a very Merry Christmas before making the one kilometre walk back to Jalan Hutton.

What’s Next

Join us tomorrow as we head to Jalan Bahari to complete the trifecta of Nyonya cuisine in the area.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Choux Choux - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6xyEZqE9QyKxHMMU6

PEN Day 1 │ Home Away From Home • Hutton Suites Hotel!

Home Away From Home

We picked you up again after disembarking from the Aeroline bus at Queensbay Mall and taking a 6 seater Grab to Jalan Transfer.

We arrived at 4:30pm and were greeted by Amirul — the same front office staff from two years ago. He immediately escorted us across Jalan Transfer and along Jalan Hutton to our apartment unit, even helping with our luggage. He did this so we wouldn’t have to endure the less than ideal conditions at the Hutton Central front office, where the air conditioning had malfunctioned.

Checking In

We reached Hutton Suites and were given the key codes to the front door. We walked up the stairs and took a seat at the dining table while I filled in the registration form and paid the heritage tax of RM2.00 per day, totalling RM10.00 (≈ USD3/EUR2).

For those unfamiliar:

• Hutton Central fronts both properties and offers one room apartments.
• Hutton Suites shares the same front desk but offers two room apartments.

The hotel describes itself as a heritage stay in Georgetown with air conditioned rooms, a kitchenette, fridge, microwave, kettle, safety box, flat screen TV, private bathroom with bidet, and a seating area.

We last stayed here in August 2022, and our memories of the place were nothing but fond.

Our Apartment

Most of the time, the price for this apartment is quite steep, so we were lucky this round — we managed to book five nights for RM2,187.49, which works out to RM437.50 (≈ USD98/EUR94) per night.

The unit was exactly as we remembered:

• an exceptionally large two bedroom apartment,
• a cosy living room,
• a well appointed bathroom,
• a kitchenette with washer dryer,
• and a comfortable master bedroom.

Brendan’s room was smaller but perfectly adequate. The Hutton collection of refurbished shophouses has always been a firm favourite of ours, and this stay reminded us why.

We hope the footage we captured will paint our thousand words of praise for this lovely apartment.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we set out for a Christmas Eve feast along China Street later this evening.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Queensbay Mall - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SHYfrjepXd6tH5CD6

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

PEN Day 1 │ AEROLINE: KL to Penang • Here We Go Again!

Christmas Eve

As mentioned in our previous videos, we planned to spend Christmas in Penang again — our third year in a row.

We booked our Aeroline bus tickets online for RM72.00 (≈ USD16/EUR15) each, and were fortunate to know someone in our condo who runs a taxi service. We arranged for Din, our neighbour one floor below, to meet us at the car park on the fourth floor at 8:00am.

True enough, Din was already waiting. Once we loaded our luggage, he drove us the short distance to Corus Hotel. We were embarrassed when he refused to accept any fare, and thanked him sincerely for his generosity.

Breakfast at Corus Hotel

With time to spare before our 9:30am departure, we decided to try the buffet breakfast at Dondang Sayang Coffee House for RM34.80 (≈ USD8/EUR7) per person. We spent a relaxing hour enjoying breakfast and chatting while waiting for the bus.

At 9:30am, I went to settle the bill and checked with the Aeroline ticket office — the bus to Penang was delayed by an hour. So, we continued waiting comfortably at the coffee house.

The bus finally arrived at 10:00am and departed at 10:30am.

The Journey North

We feared a repeat of last year’s nightmare 10 hour drive, but despite the government declaring toll free days, traffic along the North–South Expressway was surprisingly light.

At 2:00pm, we made a short pit stop at the Simpang Pulai rest area before continuing the journey.

We crossed the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge at 3:00pm and arrived at Queensbay Mall half an hour later.

We alighted, thanked the crew, collected our luggage, and headed inside for a quick restroom break.

Grab to Hutton Central

We booked a 6 seater Grab, but the first driver, Teh Ah Mong, cancelled on us. The second driver picked us up at 3:40pm for RM24.00 (≈ USD/EUR5) and drove us to Hutton Central Hotel.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we check into our two bedroom converted shophouse apartment.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Corus KLCC - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fX88AZfLFZE4czpU8

Dondang Sayang Coffee House - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1Wh21pMc6Ugyu6qq8

Aeroline (KL) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/vvQno2NEqV5ncmQh8

R&R Simpang Pulai Northbound - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BUBgWMiBR1BqWnii6

Aeroline Queensbay Mall - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qAzcm4qNVEBNXqzn7

Hutton Central Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUGAtyMMvLa79Afj9

Hutton Suites Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZ99jYPEefN3xasR7

Ode to KL's Public Transport │ Xmas Decs • 7 Mall Hop!

Happy Winter Solstice

It was a Saturday, and with Christmas right around the corner, we left our condo at 9:30am bound for Capital Café along Jalan TAR. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we crossed the road and eventually found ourselves at the lower ground floor of Sogo KL, where we had breakfast at Bungkus Kaw Kaw.

After eating, we headed up a floor to the main foyer of Sogo KL — the first of seven malls we hoped to visit today. Our mission: capture the Christmas themed decorations at each mall.

Mall 1: Sogo KL

We took a few shots, then exited via the crosswalk connected to Bandaraya LRT Station. For RM1.10 (≈ USD/EUR0.20), we rode the LRT to PWTC.

Mall 2: Sunway Putra Mall

We walked in and captured their Christmas decorations before returning to PWTC LRT.

For RM1.70 (≈ USD/EUR0.40), we rode to Hang Tuah.

Mall 3: LaLaport BBCC

We walked over and filmed the decorations here, though they left us underwhelmed.

We exited LaLaport and crossed the footbridge toward Jalan Imbi.

Mall 4: Sungai Wang Plaza

We entered the mall and found Chinese New Year decorations instead — also underwhelming — but it didn’t matter since we planned to have lunch here anyway. (Stay tuned for our Vinh City Vietnamese Cuisine video.)

After lunch, we rode an elevator down, crossed Jalan Bulan 1, and made our way across another footbridge.

Mall 5: Berjaya Times Square

This time, we entered the other wing, and were not disappointed — the Christmas decorations here were clearly done with effort. We also stopped by LC Waikiki to get matching Christmas T shirts for our Penang trip.

We exited and crossed another footbridge onto Jalan Bulan 1.

Mall 6: Sungei Wang Plaza (Again)

We walked in, but the decorations here were underwhelming too. We exited via a footbridge onto Jalan Sultan Ismail, then ducked into the MRT underpass to cross Jalan Bukit Bintang.

We pushed through the usual weekend crowd near Fahrenheit88 and Starhill.

Mall 7: Pavilion KL

We finally reached Pavilion KL, where we captured their immaculate Christmas decorations — both at the Crystal Fountain outside and the main foyer inside. Pavilion never disappoints.

We then entered the Bukit Bintang MRT and rode to Tun Razak Exchange for RM1.20 (≈ USD/EUR0.30).

Mall 8: The Exchange TRX

Our seventh and final mall of the day. The Christmas decorations here were exquisite and absolutely worth the effort. With our feet aching, we returned to the MRT and rode to Muzium Negara for RM1.80 (≈ USD/EUR0.40).

Nu Sentral & Lunch

We navigated a maze of escalators and arrived at Nu Sentral, where we wandered around before settling on Tea Garden NU Sentral for lunch. We ordered:

• Cat’s Hor Fun Soup
• My Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken
• Calamansi Juice with Sour Plum
• Ribena Lemon Soda

Our meal came to RM76.00 (≈ USD17/EUR16).

After lunch, we walked into Nitori to look for a replacement for my tattered office chair — and found the exact same model. We placed an order for delivery after New Year’s.

Heading Home

We made our way to the KL Sentral Monorail and rode to Medan Tuanku for RM3.40 (≈ USD0.80/EUR0.70), then walked the short distance back home.

What’s Next

In our next video, we’ll be catching the Aeroline bus to Penang — stay tuned!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8
SOGO Kuala Lumpur - https://maps.app.goo.gl/7VR1F5HLefBcD75i9
Sunway Putra Mall - https://maps.app.goo.gl/t1wLtfSvdSSeJTgZ9
LaLaport BBCC - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qzvyBt2vFKXgLgVSA
Berjaya Times Square - https://maps.app.goo.gl/hgBc7xqYnNTjmCdU9
Sungei Wang Plaza - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qbiptseoozosHwnJ7
Pavilion KL - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dYGnyFes9mJ8t3N58
The Exchange TRX - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kibCsYAs1DXvE9m76
Nu Sentral - https://maps.app.goo.gl/y1j55VRVhrvawhMm6

Putrajaya to KL │ Yuen Chun Heong BKT

Going Home

After the exertions of last night, I slept in and only woke up at 9:00am.

I began packing and woke the rest so we could all get ready. Before leaving, I took one final sweeping shot of the Airbnb. By the time we dropped the key cards back into the mailbox, it was 10:50am. We then punched in our destination for an early lunch in Seri Kembangan.

Brendan left first with Puteh, while we settled the key deposit and followed behind in BiBi.

Bak Kut Teh Lunch

We arrived at Yuen Chun Heong Bak Kut Teh Restaurant twenty minutes later and quickly settled on:

• 2 servings of Bak Kut Teh soup
• 1 serving of dry Bak Kut Teh
• 3 servings of Yam Rice
• 2 servings of Yu Tiao
• 3 glasses of iced Chinese tea
• (Brendan later added) 1 Coca Cola

Bak Kut Teh is a beloved Malaysian heritage dish — pork ribs simmered for hours in a complex broth of herbs and spices. Despite the name, there’s no tea in the dish itself; the “tea” refers to the Chinese tea traditionally served alongside it.

Our herb infused lunch came to RM84.40 (≈ USD19/EUR18).

Heading Home

After lunch, we resumed our drive and reached home at 12:45pm.

We’ll be heading to Penang for Christmas a week from now — so please stay tuned.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

 📍 Location:

Clio 2 Residences - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN4gFwQ7Y4goF6Yq8

Yuen Chun Heong Bak Kut Teh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kDojHK2BHWJnQ7BV7

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Le Méridien Putrajaya │ Sound Check • Annual Dinner

Le Méridien Putrajaya

Today was the day of my office’s annual dinner, and our band was asked to assemble before 9:00am for sound checks. We left the Airbnb at 8:30am, and by the time we arrived at Le Méridien Putrajaya, some of my bandmates were already waiting patiently.

While we waited for our turn, Brendan and Cat went off to explore the vast expanse of IOI City Mall, which is directly connected to the hotel.

It turned out the event’s sound engineers needed more time — almost two hours — before our instruments were fully set up. Once everything was ready, we ran through a few songs to make sure the audio balance was just right. Half an hour later, we were done.

Since none of us had eaten all morning, we headed to the nearest mamak at the Conezion cluster for a quick brunch.

Rest Before the Big Night

We returned to the Airbnb and rested the entire afternoon. Later in the evening, we made our way back to the hotel. Brendan dropped me off first, then parked Puteh, after which he and Cat continued exploring IOI City Mall while I prepared for the dinner.

The Annual Dinner

The event was a joyful occasion — lively, warm, and full of familiar faces. Our band’s performance was a roaring success, and we shared a few snippets here and there. You can catch the full performance on my other channel, Fatboy Blimp:

https://youtu.be/9s3icaTU8Yw

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we check out of our lovely Airbnb unit and head out for an early lunch.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

 📍 Location:

Clio 2 Residences - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN4gFwQ7Y4goF6Yq8

Le Méridien Putrajaya - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2x1tNL1xmRov6ZXa7

AIRBNB │ The Clio 2 Residences

Clio 2

In conjunction with my office’s annual dinner, I spent quite some time scouring both Airbnb and Booking.com for suitable accommodation before finally settling on Brandon’s unit at Clio 2 Residences. At first, I booked only one night, thinking we needed the place just for Saturday. Later, I realised it would be far more comfortable to check in a day earlier so I could attend the sound test at Le Méridien Putrajaya the next morning without rushing.

Brandon’s listing on Airbnb invited guests to “relax with lush greenery overlooking a serene forest… just a short stroll from IOI City Mall… ideal for families and friends.” It sounded perfect for our needs.

Earlier today, Brandon texted us to say we could check in substantially earlier than the listed time — something we appreciated immensely.

Checking In

At the appointed hour, we arrived at Clio 2 Residences. We had been provided with a QR code beforehand, which we showed to the personnel at the guardhouse. They directed us to the mailbox at Block C, where we collected our key cards.

We then drove around the building and into the P3 parking area, continuing until we found pillar E27, our designated spot. From there, we took the elevator up to the unit.

The Unit

The moment we stepped inside, we were struck by the cleanliness and simplicity of the space. The three bedroom, two bathroom apartment was tastefully furnished and well appointed. We hope our footage of the unit — as well as the Level 5 facilities where the swimming pool and gym are located — will do it justice.

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat that’s still close to shops and a massive mall, Clio 2 Residences fits the bill perfectly. The unit is literally enveloped in soothing greenery, and peace of mind comes easily here.

Our two night stay cost RM520.00, which works out to RM260.00 (approximately USD58/EUR56) per night — a real steal in our books.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as my bandmates and I sound check our instruments at Le Méridien Putrajaya.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

 📍 Location:

Clio 2 Residences - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN4gFwQ7Y4goF6Yq8

KL to Putrajaya │ Start of a 48-Hour Sojourn!

Putrajaya

As mentioned last week, we planned to spend 48 hours in Putrajaya this weekend because I had an annual dinner to attend — and I would also be performing with my office band.

During rehearsals last night, I broke a guitar string, so this morning I made an appointment with Jack of Jovis Music to have it restrung. We left our condo at 11:30am and drove to Desa Sri Hartamas, where we dropped off my Tokai replica guitar at Jack’s place.

We then parked at the basement of Glomac Galeria Hartamas and walked up to the surface level. For lunch, we stopped at a simple unnamed roadside stall right across from Jack’s shop. Both of us had rice with fish, and with drinks, our meal came to RM16.00 (≈ USD/EUR4).

A little while later, Jack texted to say the guitar was ready. I walked over to collect it while Cat went to look for drinking water. With everything sorted, we returned to BiBi and began our drive to Putrajaya.

Arrival in Putrajaya

I had booked two nights at an Airbnb in Clio 2 Residences, right across from IOI City Mall, where the dinner would be held (at Le Méridien Putrajaya, to be exact). Brendan would be joining us later tonight after his postgraduate classes, so it was a relief that the Airbnb came with two allocated parking spaces.

We arrived in Putrajaya at 12:30pm and first stopped at emart24 in Conezion Commercial Centre. With time to spare, we then drove to a Petronas station in Presint 16 to fill BiBi up before finally heading to Clio 2 Residences.

Our host, Brandon, graciously allowed us to check in a little earlier — something we really appreciated.

What’s Next

Be sure to catch our next video as we check into his lovely unit.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

 📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Jovis Music PLT - https://maps.app.goo.gl/XXVJvWMcm4j1ryu58

Glomac Galeria Hartamas - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1udURVLB2KzE1ZGJ7

emart24 IOI Conezion Putrajaya - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wkRtn9GAP48Mua7w7

Petronas Presint 16 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/NgETk5fag164QtmN9

Clio 2 Residences - https://maps.app.goo.gl/fN4gFwQ7Y4goF6Yq8

IZZAT & ADIBA ┃ A Wedding Reception!

Izzat & Adiba

As mentioned last week, today we attended my colleague Izzat’s wedding. A graphic designer who joined my department a couple of years ago, he has spent months planning (and saving) for his big day. Today was the first of two receptions — this one hosted by Adiba’s family. We’ll be attending Izzat’s family’s reception next weekend as well.

We left our home at 12:30pm and made our way down to where BiBi was parked. After punching the destination into Waze, we began our drive to Gombak, which took about half an hour. Unfortunately, we missed the very last turn and had to make a huge loop, costing us another fifteen minutes.

The Wedding

The reception was held at Dewan Astana Puteri Gombak, a converted warehouse beside a volunteer fire station. We parked at the designated lot and walked into the hall, taking a slow, steady entrance shot for the vlog.

The hall was tastefully decorated and already in full swing. We hoped our footage would do it justice.

We took our seats, then headed to the buffet for Nasi Minyak with chicken and beef dishes. At our table were colleagues from my office, and a little while later our CEO joined us. Once everyone had eaten, we waited our turn for a photo with the bride and groom.

Errands After the Reception

After saying our goodbyes, we hopped back into BiBi and drove to the dry cleaners. I had worn a suit earlier in the week that needed cleaning and pressing, and I had also recently bought a purple suit for an upcoming annual dinner that needed pressing too.

We drove to Drop & Wash along Jalan Tun Razak — but the person at the counter was so rude that I stormed off with both suits still in hand. We then tried another dry cleaner along Jalan Putra in Chow Kit.

This time, we were treated with dignity and respect. They asked us to collect the suits in a couple of days.

With that settled, we drove back home.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we spend 48 hours in Putrajaya next weekend — and if you’re lucky, we might even share footage of my band’s performance during the annual dinner.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Dewan Astana Puteri Gombak - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YbLVSLN8dyvtknXb9

Drop & Wash - https://maps.app.goo.gl/xZHcyHrSzpNsGgGa8

Wah Li Drycleaners - https://maps.app.goo.gl/QodUQn1SsVa3LPuu7

Sunday Stroll │ KL Sogo • Johnny's • Sunway Putra

Another Stroll

A week after our walkabout to KL Sentral, we were itching to create content again. We had gone out yesterday to run some errands off camera and even had lunch in Subang Jaya, but today we wanted something different.

Tired of the selection on the GrabFood app, we decided to take a walk to Sogo KL for lunch. We left our condo at 11:45am, walked along Jalan Munshi Abdullah heading north, then turned onto Jalan Dang Wangi heading east.

A few minutes later, we reached the intersection between Pertama Complex and Sogo KL, crossed Jalan TAR, and headed straight inside.

Lunch at Johnny’s

We went up to Food Garden on the 6th floor, where a variety of eateries awaited. I had tried Johnny’s with my office mates earlier in the week, so today it was Cat’s turn.

The restaurant was still quiet, so we had our pick of seats. We scanned the QR code and browsed the menu before settling on the Combo Meal Set:

• My choice: Chicken Sweet Basil & Egg with Rice
• Cat’s choice: Chicken Tomyam with Beehoon
• Both sets came with Thai Tea, zesty Tom Yam soup, and a scoop of ice cream

Our delectable mall lunch came to a very reasonable RM25.80 (approximately USD6/EUR5).

Sunway Putra Mall

We rode an escalator up to check out the so called “Black Friday” electronics fair, but the massive crowd quickly discouraged us. After a quick browse at a pharmacy, we took the elevator down and exited Sogo via the crosswalk to Bandaraya LRT Station.

For RM1.10 (approximately USD/EUR0.20), we rode the train to PWTC and walked into Sunway Putra Mall.

On the 4th floor, we visited Swee Lee, where we bought two shakers and a guitar slide for RM75.00 (approximately USD16/EUR15). One floor down at Kaison, we picked up some Christmas decorations for RM81.00 (approximately USD17/EUR16).

Back on the ground floor, we stopped by Uniqlo, where I got two Star Wars T shirts for RM119.80 (approximately USD25/EUR24).

On the lower ground floor, we found a stall selling Sarawak Kek Lapis and bought three flavours for RM35.00 (approximately USD17/EUR16). We also picked up pastries from Bread History for RM21.40 (approximately USD5/EUR4).

With our bags filling up, we headed back to the LRT station.

Heading Home

We caught another train — again RM1.10 (approximately USD/EUR0.20) — back to Bandaraya LRT Station, then walked the short distance home.

What’s Next

Stay tuned as we attend a colleague’s wedding this coming weekend.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

SOGO Kuala Lumpur - https://maps.app.goo.gl/EdLJMqR9UwuezkZg6

Food Garden @ SOGO KL - https://maps.app.goo.gl/svj7LYsDisUS79Ed6

Bandaraya LRT station - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f72Jxhr6QiQyTZgc9

PWTC LRT station - https://maps.app.goo.gl/xVJ9hLbzWLDdWYnW6

Sunway Putra Mall - https://maps.app.goo.gl/XkhDPsxfrFGQA6DB7

Swee Lee Store Sunway Putra - https://maps.app.goo.gl/gs2dLNqkLuVbdKLdA

KAISON @ Sunway Putra - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TpNrTdUV2RDkoYS77

Bread History @ Sunway Putra Mall

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/JH9qAZrCB6PZVfXC9