Coconut @ Abu Siti Lane Penang

Travel advertisements always paint pretty pictures of tropical destination as if you are visiting heaven on earth. With swaying palm trees, golden sunshine and the hypnotic effect of waves repeatedly washing up the sandy beach; how can anyone resist the temptation of this wonderful place? 

It may be true if you are just visiting for a holiday. It may be another story altogether if you are to stay there permanently. The intense heat and humidity on a daily basis all year round is not an easy feat for anyone to endure. Welcome to the land of eternal summer! Fortunately, nature works in mysterious way in making sure that there is always a balance to everything. With the intense heat, nature gives us the coconut!

Located along Abu Siti Lane in Penang is Anba Coconut. They have so many coconuts everyday that their stall physically spills onto the street. It is a very popular place among the locals where people will just park their car by the roadside and buy a coconut or two to cool down from the extreme weather.

The ordinary coconut is good enough to cool you down but I will suggest you go for the pandan flavoured coconut as its taste is simply wonderful. Its hints of pandan fragrant simply adds to the sweetness of the drinks. For an extra 50c to RM1 I think it is really worth it. Coconut drinks (椰水) is definitely my thirst quencher in the tropics.

Air Itam Curry Fish Head

Asia is renowned for hot and spicy food that you can never find in any western country. And Penang being the street food capital of Malaysia has it all! Curry fish head (咖喱鱼头) is one of Malaysian's favorite delicacies that is enjoyed by people of all races. You can find curry cooked in Indian, Malay or Chinese style; all with their own unique flavour. 

Close to one of the most famous tourist attraction of Penang; the Kek Lok Si Temple is a little stall located in the food court section of Air Itam market. It is a mixture of Chinese and Indian curry that makes it unique around this area. 

Besides fish head, you will also have lady fingers and tomatoes. Once the dish is cooked, it is garnished with sliced onions and mint leaves as the final touch. The fish head is usually steamed before being cooked in the aroma packed curry soup.

The soup is rich in flavour with all the spices that have been tossed in. And the best thing is they are not stingy with their soup. You got more curry soup than you actually need and you can take away the left over and cook your own curry fish head the next day! This is indeed value for money!