值回票價的檳城娘惹菜／李明熙
早在明朝鄭和下西洋時，已有不少福建、廣東人下南洋謀生，亦將閩、粵菜式南傳到馬來西亞。華人跟當地馬拉人通婚，文化交融，經過幾世紀的演變，產生了一種南洋獨有的「娘惹菜」。在檳城的最後一夜，當地友人推介一間名為「娘惹小廚房」的私房菜。朋友事前聲明，價錢與分量不成正比，但味道和體驗，保證值回票價。
我們訂了晚巿 7 時，駱老闆接待時第一句問我們是否趕時間，我們說不。他說先喝點茶，四處參觀拍照，培養一下吃飯的情緒。這間前舖後居的古老大宅，佈置古典華麗，若全店滿座應可坐 20 人左右。沒有菜單，牆上只寫著五餸和八餸兩個套餐選擇，卻沒說明是甚麼餸。我們知道分量少，二話不說點了八餸套餐，每位 128 令吉。
開飯前，駱老闆指著牆上外公外婆的照片，開始說自家「娘惹菜」的歷史。老闆外公是商人，外婆是第三房夫人。外公因生意上的來往，經常要招呼客人回家用膳，外婆看準「以抓著男人的胃去抓著他的心」這點，在烹調上出絕法寶，好讓外公常帶客人回家。
外婆的「娘惹菜」有八類：湯、魚、蝦、牛、雞、菜、咖哩、飯，而因為外公帶來的商人有中、英、泰和馬拉人，外婆再配合不同風味和辛辣程度，變化出至少 32 道菜式。說到此，駱老闆的老媽推著做飯的材料出來，駱老闆說老媽得到外婆的烹調真傳，當晚的菜就是老媽親自下廚。
八餸同時上桌，每碟分量少，但若以日式懷石料理的心態品嚐，絕不過份。最重要是味道一流，我們八餸清碟，很飽，還附送杏仁豆腐花作甜品。
娘惹小廚房（Little Kitchen@Nyonya）
Address: No. 179, Lebuh Noordin, 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +604-261 6731
Penang Monster/Kimberlogic
Having three days on the island of Penang, Malaysia, I was excited to learn about the Penang National Park. One of the beaches in the park is called “Monkey Beach”, so I knew we would likely encounter monkeys. The trail started off as a leisurely stone pathway before turning into a rugged trail hiking. On the wide stone pathway the monkeys we saw in the distance were cute and I was eager to see more. After meeting a few groups of monkeys on the narrow trails, I am convinced that anyone who says they like monkeys has never been up close to one. Monkeys are evil. At one point of our hike, there was a monkey that would not let me pass. He stood his ground and blocked the trail as I heard all of his friends moving in the bushes surrounding me. I never thought I would be scared of a little monkey, but I was proven wrong that day.
After my run-in with the evil creature, I did gain a more confidence, but I would stop and prepare myself every time I heard the leaves rustle. I was standing on a low bridge with leaves and boulders underneath me when I heard a giant commotion. I could feel the movement under me. I was preparing myself to see another monkey, but what came out of the bushes I was not prepared for. I was frozen, I couldn’t move or talk for a few minutes. Ming Hay did not see what I saw. I didn’t know how to describe to him what I had seen. Was it a crocodile? Was it a dinosaur? No, it was a monster!
I had never heard of a monitor lizard before that day, and I would be happy to never see one again. This monster was huge! Forget about evil little monkeys, I can handle them; these monsters are on a whole other level! These “lizards” look like the small lizards you see everywhere in tropical areas, except they are enormous! This creature was at least as long as I am tall and moved quicker than I can run.
The next hour of our hike was excruciatingly stressful. We saw three more monsters and I was almost in tears. I am normally not very “girly”, but I had a total “girl moment” in the fact I almost made Ming Hay carry me the rest of the way because I was so frightened. We eventually made it to the beach and had a relaxing time sipping coconuts and swimming.
As the sun started to go down, Ming Hay knew there was no way he could get me to walk back. We were able to hire a boat to drive us back to the entrance of the park. Since we were the only tourists left at the beach we had to pay for the entire boat, but it was fun and because I didn’t have to encounter any more monsters I really enjoyed the experience.
