Food for the soul: Idris (left) having a sumptuous New Year’s Day breakfast of nasi lemak, lontong, satay, halal Taiwanese-style dumplings and Teochew porridge with his family at a bistro in Penang’s heritage enclave. Jasmin snaps a photo of the family while Noor Malija, Hani, Iman Safiyya and Iman Sumayyah pose for the camera. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
Mid-week New Year’s Eve, Day gives locals space to enjoy eateries
GEORGE TOWN: Penang residents typically stay home during long weekends that coincide with holidays as the streets will be jam-packed with visitors.
However, the typical tourist crowd on New Year’s Eve and yesterday proved to be smaller than usual due to the fact that both days fell in the middle of the week.
For those who look at the bright side, it is the perfect opportunity to bring their families out to their favourite eateries without needing to jostle with visitors.
For example, retired businessman Idris Hassan, 58, and his family from mainland Penang went for breakfast at a popular Malay bistro at the end of the heritage enclave near Komtar.
The relative quiet gave them the chance to savour halal Taiwanese-style dumplings, Teochew porridge, koay teow soup and char koay teow alongside classic Malaysian dishes such as lontong, nasi lemak, cucur udang and roti jala.“It’s the new year and my children and grandchildren are on holiday, so I want to be with them.
“We spent a night at a hotel in George Town and went sightseeing, checked out some attractions and counted down to the new year.
“Time is precious and we are cherishing it through valuable moments together,” said Idris, who was joined by his wife Noor Malija Musa, 57, daughters Jasmin, 28, Nur Hani, 25, and granddaughters Iman Saffiya Mohd Ikhsan, nine, and Iman Sumayyah Mohd Ikhsan, six.
For 46-year-old contractor Tommy Ooi, the family’s New Year breakfast was dim sum at a popular shop in the heritage enclave, a place that is typically packed during holidays.
He and his wife visited the eatery with his father Hong Lim, 75, and son Jee Yi, eight.
Although the shop was packed, the family found a central table and enjoyed their favourite selections.
“We eat out together often but usually during weekends.
“With the holiday in the middle of the week, we could all come out for dim sum as the first meal of the year, with hopes for a better year ahead.
“I wish my father good health; he now relies on a wheelchair to move around since he had a stroke,” he said yesterday.
Temples were also filled with devotees offering prayers for a good year ahead.
Technician K. Krisna, 31, who prays on New Year’s Day annually, said he always wished for his family’s well-being and was grateful that all has been well.
“It’s the start of the year, so we perform our prayers (and worship) to seek blessings for a better year ahead.
“Last year has been challenging at work, with the shortage of manpower in the industry.
“I hope the economy will improve and companies will be able to resume hiring to bring our operations back to full force,” said Krisna, who was accompanied by his wife M. Koki, 31, and their three-year-old son K. Thisen, at the Penang Nagarathar Sivan Temple in Jalan Dato Keramat.
