I was asked by the team “Turtle Rocks Evolution” to be their research member for Spirit Of Penang. I didn’t have to run with them, but I would have to do research (online) and supply information to them if and only they managed to qualify for the top 20. Therefore, regardless they qualified for the top 20 or not, I had to be in Penang.

Turtle Rocks Evolution consisted of

Ivan Cheong,

Chia Hur,

Pelf Yeen,

Clement (Pelf Yeen’s boy friend.),

And myself.

I boarded the 11.30AM bus from Malacca and reached Puduraya Bus Station at 2:15PM.

“Please gather at the bus station at 2.30PM sharp. Don’t be late.” - Pelf Yeen.

“The bus is at 3PM. Please come before 2.30PM and don’t be late.” - Ivan Cheong.

Ironic, Ivan and Chia Hur came around 2:45PM while Pelf Yeen and her boy friend came at 2:50PM. I had to wait for them for almost 40 minutes before they arrived. -shrugs- Our bus was supposed to arrive and depart at 3PM, but it was delayed by almost an hour. 4PM, the bus finally decided to start its journey. It was about 9PM when the bus reached the Penang Bridge’s toll and another 20 minutes to reach Penang’s bus terminal.

Since most taxis were reluctant to fetch us to our hotel due to the massive jam, the taxis drivers suggested us to grab something to eat and come back 30 minutes later. Ivan suggested to have a drink at the food court at the top of the bus terminal.

My first meal of the day was this tasteless fried rice. Splendid! -sarcastic-

By then, the traffic wasn’t as bad as before and the taxis drivers fetched us to our hotel, Continental Hotel at Penang Road. We checked in into our rooms (RM162 for a room with 2 double beds.) and headed out for another round of dinner.

The mamak stall serves a huge varieties of roti canai, that come with special names such as roti England, roti Argentina, roti Singapura, roti Hong Kong, roti Japan, roti Tajmahal and etc. Clement ordered roti Hong Kong, which is basically roti John with 2 sunny side up on it. It tasted quite good actually.

From this point onwards, Chia Hur has been bugging Pelf Yeen and the rest on the issue of love, why he couldn’t get a girl friend, why girls are like this or that, and etc. for the next 3 days. I pity Pelf Yeen. -shrugs-

We chilled ourselves while waiting for the other to finish his / her bath before calling it a day.

“Why no girls like me one?” exclaimed the soon-to-be-desperate Chia Hur.

Moments before lights out, Pelf Yeen greeted me good night.

“Good night, Jason kor.”
“Har?” -surprised-

5 seconds later…

“Oh, good night.”

Nothing wrong with that, but I just felt weird and a little funny. Very polite lah you, Mei Mei. -Pats Mei Mei’s head-

3AM, I was still wide awake and I asked Ivan.

“Eh, the mamak stall opposite the hotel got damn chun sup kambing. (Verified by dSaint.) Want to go and try or not?”
“……”
“How?”
“You not full meh?”
“Fine.”

We woke up at 6AM and got ourselves ready for Spirit Of Penang. We walked to Jalan Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade), about 20 minutes from our hotel, the flag off point for the race. We took photos while Ivan went to register themselves.

The Turtle Rocks Evolution team - Ivan, Chia Hur, Clement and Pelf Yeen.

Before.

During.

After.

While waiting for the VIPs to arrive, someone came up to me.

“Are you Jason from jasonmumbles.com?”
“Yes.”
“I am Teddy, the one that added you in MSN?”
“Err…”
“teddy_skool?”
“Oh. The aviation one.”

The fella who took this picture for me ought to be shot dead. Your photo taking skill totally sucks. My only photo with a Radio DJ got wasted because of you. That’s me and Terry from Red FM.

Turtle Rocks Evolution in action.

To read more about Spirit Of Penang, and what they did throughout the race, please click here to view the photos. Exclusive report by Jason Lioh, who had nothing better to do but tagged along and snapped pictures of other participants.

While TRE ran throughout the race, I took my own sweet time by walking behind them, taking pictures of other participants too. At one point of the race, they were too far ahead for me to catch up and I lost them. It didn’t really bother me as I continued walking myself.

One of the station required the participants to eat ice kacang, the traditional type. One giant ice ball with fillings in it. It is fun eating it this way which you have to suck the big ice ball before it melts and dirties your hand and shirt. However, it is kind of messy though. First, make a half ice ball. Put the red beans inside the ice ball and cover it with another half ice ball. Pour red syrup over it and suck the ice ball. Being tam jiak, I asked the Indian guy who was making the ice ball made one for me to try. -lol-

Walking further down, I reached Prangin Mall and Komtar.

I knew Penang Road is somewhere nearby already. I asked the local to point me to the direction of Penang Road when I was at the roundabout. I wanted to go Penang Road because of one reason - Penang Road’s famous “Teow Cheow” Chendol.

Don’t play play, even Phua Chu Kang was here before.

It’s been quite some time since I last tasted their chendol. Compare to Malacca’s chendol, both are different in terms of style, taste and colour. However, both taste equally good.

While slurping on my chendol, I SMS-ed Domestic Goddess (self proclaimed) to ask her about Asam Laksa.

Walking further down Penang Road, there were this bunch of old men playing checkers right in front of a hotel. What a sight. Do that in KL, and you might be swept up into DBKL’s truck or die of air pollution. -lol-

What happened to Turtle Rocks Evolution?
Did they qualify for the top 20?

Stay tune for Part II.