Kandy-land

Lovely Kandy Lake

We left dry plains of Sri Lanka's cultural triangle with our private driver & slowly entered a completely different territory. Up into the tangled green hills of the central highlands we chugged passing ever-surrounding green forests, tropical plantations & bustling hillside towns. Our destination was the undisputed cultural capital of Sri Lanka - Kandy. Sri Lanka's second largest city, Kandy became the capital of the Sri Lankan kingdom in 1592 - the last capital of the ancient kings era & the last independent bastion of the Sinhalese. What makes this city so special is the fact that it's unique customs & culture remain remarkably preserved due to the long lasting freedom the Kandyan kingdom clung onto long after the rest of the island had fallen to the Portuguese and Dutch. We were greeted to graceful, old colonial buildings & a pleasantly temperate climate in a beautiful, aristocratic scenic highland setting! A refreshing change from the heat, humidity & exhaustion we dealt with the previous few days exploring the ruins.

Amazing Home Cooked Sri Lankan Feast (Sujatha in the Back)

I booked a highly-rated bed & breakfast before our arrival and it turned out to be fantastic place for us. We spent 2 nights in a beautiful, hillside Sri Lankan home just outside of the bustling city with a woman named Sujatha and her husband Ronnie. It was so nice to arrive to some delicious tea & breathe in the refreshing mountain air while relaxing & getting to know our wonderful new hosts. We learned a lot about Sri Lankan culture & had some in-depth discussions with the couple about religion & politics over a few Lion beers. Also, Sujatha prepared an incredible Sri Lankan feast for us one night. Particularly delicious was the dessert of buffalo curd yogurt & Sri Lankan honey.

Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic - one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. Believed to be home to Lord Buddha's left upper canine tooth, the relic has played an important role in Sri Lankan politics because it is believed whoever holds the relic, holds the governance of the country. Originally taken from Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre & smuggled into Sri Lanka in 313 AD, the tooth has been an object of great reverence for the reigning Sri Lankan kingdoms over the centuries. The Kandyan temple that houses the relic was built in 1687 & still stands tall despite ongoing 18th century wars & bombing raids by Hindu Tamil separatists in 1998. At first glance, the outside doesn't look like anything special. The large complex isn't elaborately decorated on the outside like a Thai temple would be. The interior however is richly carved & decorated with inlaid woods, ivory & lacquer. The tooth itself resides in a two-story inner shrine guarded by two large elephant tusks & elaborately dressed drumming guards. The relic is encased in spectacular jeweled caskets that sit on a throne only available for viewing during daily rituals 3 times per day.

Hundreds of Devotees

Ornate Halls in the Temple of the Tooth

Constant Drumming Protecting the Shrine Room

As Close As We Came to Buddha's Tooth

We arrived around 6PM for the evening ritual and proceeded to slowly inch forward with hundreds of other tourists & devotees eager to catch a glimpse of the holy relic. We inched forward feeling herded like pigs in a stable. Finally, we entered the room where the tooth resided. Hundreds of Sri Lankans dressed in white were praying & offering lotus flowers. The air was thick with reverence. Finally, I arrived at the front of the line, caught a quick glimpse of the golden casket & then got rushed away. Apparently, you cannot even see the tooth itself! Feeling a bit let down, we checked out one of the royal library's and the murals depicting the improbable history of the tooth. We learned from Sujatha later that the tooth is only removed from it's shrine once per year for a 10 day torchlight festival parade. However, due to tensions with the Tamils, the relic has not been brought out during the festival since 1990! It makes the devoutness & dedication these pilgrims show in their daily rituals even more impressive. To me the whole experience seemed like a big tourist trap. I know the relic is of supreme importance to Sri Lankan Buddhists & I respect the value it has to the people, but we were constantly ushered along so quickly through the 'temple' that we didn't really get a chance to study the pieces & reflect upon them in relatively quiet surrounding. Add to that the fact that we didn't even see the tooth & had to pay quite a bit just to enter, then an additional 'donation' to store our shoes, and you can see why I feel this way! Being fairly familiar with the religion & its principles after our time in Thailand & seeing Buddhist culture in action in countries all over the world, I'm not so sure Lord Buddha would have wanted this holy relic experienced in such a way.

Strange Trees at the Botanical Gardens

Monster Bats!

One day we checked out the Royal Botanical Gardens. Considered the best in Sri Lanka, these gardens date back to the ancient kings of the country. There was a great assortment of different trees & flowers on offer from all over the region & it was a great place to kill a few hours. We strolled through an orchid house, a suspension bridge & rows of strangely curved trees (I'm assuming from the wind?) At one point, I kept hearing these squeaks from above & peered up to see of hundreds of massive bats sleeping in the trees! These terrifying winged creatures were so big, I felt like they could have swooped down & carried us away. The public bus ride back to town was quite an experience as well!

Lovin the Sri Lankan Tri-Shaws

To even further our understanding about Buddhism, we went to the Buddhism museum which was very interesting. Each of the rooms was themed for Buddhism in a certain country so that was neat to see & learn about the differences in the religion all over the world. We spent hours strolling around Kandy with it's modest grid of narrow, low-rise streets situated around a big man-made lake at it's center. Despite the dense crowds of people & traffic, Kandy somehow retains a small-town atmosphere & it was a very interesting city to explore. We motored around on little Sri Lankan tri-shaws which was exhilarating. Buzzing about the busy Kandy streets was always a thrill.

One Talented Dancer

One of the nights we went to a traditional Kandyan dancing and drumming show. Although it was kind of a tourist trap as well, it was a good way for us to see traditional Sinhalese culture at it's most exuberant. Brilliantly costumed dancers performed many different stylized dances to an accompaniment of explosively energetic drumming. I found it intriguing that some of the better dancers weren't in the greatest physical form. In America, some 'junk in the trunk' would get you thrown off the stage but in Sri Lanka it's considered beautiful & the bellies of thicker women were on display everywhere we went in the country. After the dancing, we were witness to a few of the dancers walking over hot coals with their bare feet. Something I've never seen in person before.



We only ended up staying 3 days in Kandy and I feel like that was the right amount of time. It's a fantastically beautiful city set in a gorgeous natural surrounding & a nice break from the other tourist hotspots in Sri Lanka. The ancient Sinhalese culture can still be seen in everyday life here & Kandyans definitely have a visible pride in their heritage. Our experience was made even better by the gracious hospitality that Sujatha and Ronnie showed us in their beautiful home! A fantastic lasting impression of the scenic Sri Lankan central highlands!

Family Lovin the Temperate Weather & Beauty of Kandy

Sri Lanka's Glorious Past - The Cultural Triangle

The history of Sri Lanka goes back a long ways - around 30,000 years ago when the island was first inhabited by prehistoric man. Throughout the centuries, powerful civilizations have risen to power & fallen just as quickly leaving behind remnants of a glorious past. Sri Lanka's cultural triangle situated in the center of the island is home to most of these World Heritage sites & the region became a must visit for us after a bit of research. We spent a total of 4 days exploring these incredible past kingdoms & were able to really reflect on the grandeur and influence that these ancient civilizations had and still have today.

We woke early, eager to tackle the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's capitals - Polonnaruwa. This city was first declared capital in the 11th Century AD when the Chola invaders were defeated to reunite the country under a local leader. For over 200 years, 3 kings reigned supreme over the island & brought great wealth & power to their people. Enclosed within three concentric walls, the city contained royal palaces, bathing ponds, monasteries and sacred architecture such as dagobas and image houses. The great man-made lake Parakrama Samudra greeted us upon arrival. Built in 1200, this massive lake provided the medieval city with water, cooling breezes, an additional line of defense & irrigation for over 90 square kilometers of paddy fields! In addition, the city itself remains one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country. Definitely a long standing testimony to the discipline & greatness of the kingdom's rulers.

These Guys Were Everywhere!

Despite being ravaged by invasion in the 13th century, Polonnaruwa's ruins remain remarkably well preserved. Stone reliefs remain extremely detailed, massive pagodas & stupas still stand erect & the structured city plans remain clearly visible. We strolled around the grounds in the oppressive heat, stumbled in and out of crumbling palaces & splendid Buddhist shrines while marveling at ornate statues and trying to imagine how glorious this civilization must have been at it's peak. Packs of wild monkeys went about their daily routine on the ancient stone structures with us.

LOVED This Place!

Among Polonnaruwa's highlights was the Vatadage (circular relic house) in the Terrace of the Tooth compound. Considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Sri Lanka, this incredible circular structure is a fantastic riot of artistry meant to house one of Sri Lanka's most sacred relics - Buddha's tooth. Almost every surface is carved in a melee of decoration without parallel. Four sets of steps lead up to the upper terrace, each one covered with masterpiece carvings of dwarfs, lions & makaras (Hindu mythical creature) & guarded by seated Buddha statues. At the base of the steps lies some of the best preserved moonstones in the entire country. These semi-circular stone slabs are only placed at the entrances to Buddhist temples and serve as doormats where people could wipe dirt from their feet before entering important buildings. Engraved on the moonstones are rows of detailed animals which embody the teachings of Buddhism. It was strange to walk over these beautiful carvings in part because in Thailand your feet are considered the dirtiest & lowliest part of the body and stepping over something important or beautiful is considered rude. Not so in Sri Lanka, so we stomped away!

Nice Sandal Tan!

Jody Saying Hi To Mr. Buddha

We gazed at the beautiful Gal Vihara or "Stone Shrine" which represents the pinnacle of Sri Lankan rock carving. Four Buddha statues in different postures are all carved from one massive slab of granite here. The consistency of the rock is flecked with natural black sediment giving it a wood-like appearance. The deities themselves are supremely graceful & serene in their poses & facial postures. Just fascinating to marvel at. It's easy to see why this is one of the most celebrated sights in Sri Lanka - there's just nothing like it that I've ever seen before!

Awesome!

There were plenty of massive stupas (dagobas) to gaze at. These huge structures housed relics & were built for worship. Image houses & flower alters are located around the circular foundation giving devotees a place to pray. We strolled around the wide sand terraces surrounding these stupas and marveled at how these incredible structures were constructed over a thousand years ago! Polonnaruwa was a fantastic introduction to Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle & to top it off, we caught a glimpse of a wild elephant grazing in a pasture on the way back!

Some Perspective

:)

Mom Finding Serenity After A Long Day at the Ruins

We spent these evenings eating, drinking & conversing at our guesthouse. We sampled the drink of choice in Sri Lanka - Arrak. This spirit distilled from coconut has a rum-like sheen due to the addition of burned sugar. It's dangerous, strong & so cheap that most of the locals are in a state of perma-drunk - a serious problem in the country. It really didn't taste too good, but mixed with coke it was manageable & paired nicely with the bevy of Sri Lankan cuisine our hosts cooked for us every night. We shared our lodging with monkeys who woke us up in the morning with their scampering on our roof & praying mantis's who fluttered about in our open dining room while we ate. One evening, we strolled through a bustling local market & bought some presents while seeing what's on offer. The pungent smell of fermenting fish permeated the makeshift tent-city & loud yelps of market sellers pierced our ears. A memorable invasion of the senses.

Enjoying the Local Market

Mom & Jody On a Pilgrimage to the Top of Mihintale

Another early wake up the next day as we headed an hour north to the Mihintale temple & the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura. Mihintale isn't at the top of the guidebook list of places to visit, but I'm so glad we added it into our itinerary - it was a highlight! Believed to be the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Mihintale is a mountain peak much frequented by locals as a pilgrimage site. We climbed the thousands of ancient steps along with locals & hoards of resident monkeys (2 species!) up to the sacred rock where the Buddhist monk Mahinda is believed to have descended from the sky to bring Buddhism to Sri Lanka for the first time in the 3rd Century BC! The ascent was a little stressful because of the height, the unstable iron railings & the barefoot climb around pilgrims; not to mention aggressive monkeys & jagged rocks surrounding us. We finally reached the apex & were rewarded with spectacular views of the fertile landscape below. The place did hold a sense of mysticism as Sri Lankans dressed in white prayed & chanted at the "sacred" peak. We marveled at the landscape & were startled when a vigorous toque macaque monkey (only found in Sri Lanka) leaped up the lamp-pole and sat at the top for an even greater view! This guy must have been the king of the monkeys because he proceeded to sit regally on the rock and look out over his Kingdom.

Territorial Residents of Mihintale

We strolled around the grounds for a few hours checking out the massive white Buddha statue, the families of gray langur monkeys playing all over the place & the giant stupa where the relics of Mahinda still reside. We absolutely loved Mihintale, but it was time to move on to our next supremely holy site of the day - the Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

This is One Important Tree!

Perhaps the most revered site in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle is the Sri Maha Bodhi - the sacred Bodhi tree in the first ancient capital of Anuradhapura. This ancient fig tree has been grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree in India under which Buddha attained enlightenment! It's the oldest documented tree in the world with a chronicled history since the time it was planted in 288 BC. The place was an absolute frenzy of devotees & priests worshipping & meditating while offering lotus flowers, fragrant incense & coconut oil lamps. Since we weren't Buddhist, we felt a little out of place & intimidated by this supremely sacred spot. We didn't have anything to offer & weren't dressed in pure white like the hundreds of devotees worshipping around us. Despite the chaos, the tree retained a sense of tranquility and peacefulness that made it special. It was something I'll never forget, and I think my Mom may have been tempted to convert to Buddhism after the experience.

Offerings

More Stupas!

The rest of the day we marveled at the ruins of the greatest kingdom in Sri Lankan history - Anuradhapura. This kingdom flourished for almost 1500 years from the 4th century BC up until the 10th Century AD when invasions from southern India moved the capital further south to Polonnaruwa. We stared in awe at more palaces, monasteries, monuments & even larger stupas! Jody and Mom offered some lotus flowers at the base of one along with the hundreds of Sri Lankans who were doing the same. Countless more monkeys greeted us at these ancient sites - a theme that followed us everywhere we went in Sri Lanka. Despite the old age of these ancient structures, we were able to get a sense of the majesty of the kingdom from the remaining ruins. It served as the political and religious capital of Ceylon (Old Sri Lanka) for over 10 centuries! Anuradhapura stands as a permanent manifesto of the culture of Sri Lanka, impervious to outside influence and is a must visit for any tourist.

Ready to Climb Lions Rock - Entrance Through Ancient Gardens

Sigiriya's Gateway Amidst Lush Forest

We were a little "ruined" out by this point, but we still had the most visited historic site in Sri Lanka to see the next day - Sigiriya or 'Lion Rock'. One of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning, this aged palace is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 700 feet high! Built in 495 AD, King Kasyapa built his palace on top of this rock for protection & superiority and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. We approached through a series of elaborate gardens that run up to the foot of the rock. These gardens are considered one of the most important aspects of the site because they are among the oldest landscape gardens in the world! The water, cave & boulder gardens were terraced in a perfect geometric line leading up to the great rock.

Admiring the Ancient & Beautiful Cave Paintings

It was foggy the day we were there, so the top of the rock was shrouded in a eerie layer of invisibility. We started our ascent passing ancient rock shelters that indicate the area was occupied nearly five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period! Up and up we ascended on the stone stairway past caves where early Buddhist monks lived and worshipped to a gallery half way up the rock called the 'Mirror Wall'. Originally, this wall was so highly polished that the King could see himself while he walked alongside it. The wall is now partially covered with verses scribbled by visitors dating back to the 8th century. In essence, it's a very early graffiti wall! Continuing upward through a series of spiral staircases, we arrived at a naturally protected niche in the rock face where amazing frescoes were painted into the rock. Originally, these paintings would have covered most of the western face but over time with the elements, they became lost forever. The remaining paintings are considered unique in style & depict beautifully elaborate maidens which testify to the advanced Sinhalese civilization at a time when Europe was in the Dark Ages.

At The Feet of the Great Lion

Final Ascent Into the Clouds & The Fortress

Stumbling upward even more, we reached an ancient gateway built in the form of an enormous lion! Only the massive paws remain today, but they indicate how gigantic the rest of the carving must have been. We proceeded up a new metal stairway that would have taken us through the lion's mouth; up to the summit - hence Sigiriya's alternative name, "Lion Rock". I couldn't help but marvel at the incredible feat of construction. Without these modern staircases, we would have had to traverse straight up the vertical rock face! Apparently, small niches were carved into the rock for the ancient people to gain a foothold & ascend. After a harrowing hour climbing up the rock, we reached the summit ruins at last!

Jody @ the Summit Enjoying the Royal Baths

It's too bad visibility was poor on the day we went to Sigiriya because I'm sure the panoramic views would have been fantastic. Every once in a while, the fog would lift a little and we could catch a quick glimpse of the lush surroundings and the extremely well-reserved garden layout below. The top consisted of an complex of terraced palace ruins that must have been pure luxury back in the day! We marveled at what's left the ancient fortified palace and strolled around the remains of King Kasyapa's private bathing pool. The capital and royal palace were abandoned after the kings death yet the site was still used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. The grandeur of this astonishing rock lives on & will continue to do so for centuries. It was a fantastically unique place & something I'll never forget. They say Sigiriya qualifies as the 8th wonder of the world - ranked closely with the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal...I have to agree.

Happy Family After Conquering Lions Rock

4 days in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and we were exhausted! Time to move on to the next destination - Kandy.

Welcome to Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka for me was a total blank page. We were never planning on visiting during our Asian adventure. However, after two and a half months backpacking throughout Southeast Asia, we decided to meet up with my parents someplace totally different. Someplace relatively off the tourist map and exciting. Sri Lanka fit the bill perfectly! We spent 2 weeks traveling through this fascinating country & loved every minute of it!

We arrived in Sri Lanka's capitol & biggest city Colombo after a 4 hour jaunt across the Bay Of Bengal on a red eye. Our first impression was pretty rough - a long line of touting taxi drivers vying for our attention and money after our guesthouse driver bailed on our airport pickup. Add to that stifling heat, humidity & a completely foreign culture that we weren't used to at all. We took a short taxi ride to the ocean side city of Negombo and spent our first few days relaxing on the Indian Ocean and learning about the country during long conversations with the awesome owner of our guesthouse - Nishan.

Fishing Boats on Negombo's Coast

In the 1970's Sri Lanka was experiencing a tourist boom until civil war broke out, and for 25 years, the country was locked in a constant state of chaos. The majority Sinhalese government & the minority Tamil tiger militants battled constantly for over 2 decades crippling Sri Lanka's population, environment & economy with an estimated 100,000 people killed during it's course. It wasn't until May of 2009 that the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers finally bringing war to an end. Throughout our time here, it was clear that the country is still reeling form it's recent strife. To make matters worse, Sri Lanka endured a recent, terrible natural tragedy as well. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that ravaged the tiny island's coastline and killed over 47,000 people! The waves engulfed entire trains. Boats swept out to sea, houses ripped off their foundations. In places, the tsunami waves went inland as far as 1 mile! The fisherman living in wooden beachside shacks simply didn't stand a chance as waves up to 30 feet high smashed into the coastline on that fateful day. Nishan told us about the British couple who was staying at his guesthouse that week. They had left their bags at the guesthouse with the intention of picking them up a week later at the end of their trip before heading home. They took a seaside train along the Eastern coast and were never heard from again. Nishan went on to tell us that after weeks of no word from the couple, the British government requested they ship their bags back to England. The reality of the tragedy sunk in for us at that point.

Beach Side Fishing - A String Is All You Need!

The Days' Catch

We went on a long sunset run around the neighborhood, along the coastline where kids were playing Sri Lanka's beloved cricket in the sand & into the lush hills past crumbling buildings, burning trash & cattle jingling their way down the road led by their owners. A fascinating landscape. The locals totally stared at the crazy white couple running! Not something they see everyday I suppose, yet we took pride in this & the fact that we got to see a bit of everyday Sri Lankan life. We motored around in a Sri Lankan Trishaw (a tuk-tuk of sorts) & had our first taste of Sri Lankan cuisine - Rice & Curry along with Sri Lanka's national beer - Lion! It was a nice introduction to this interesting Island on the Indian Ocean.

First Real Meal in Sri Lanka

Despite the recent dark days, Sri Lanka is showing signs of a resurgence. Per capita income in Sri Lanka has doubled since 2005 & quality of living has increased greatly in recent years. Tourists have began to come in droves to Sri Lanka and after our experience, it's easy to see why. The whole world will fall in love with this place and it's already jumping up the list as one of the "places to see" on the planet. After a joyous reuniting with my parents after over a year of being apart, we hopped in our pre-arranged van & headed inland towards the Cultural Triangle & a treasure trove of some of the island's, if not the world's finest ancient monuments.

Bout Sums Up Negombo For Us - Ready To Explore The Rest Of Sri Lanka

Penang, Malaysia - A Foodie Paradise

Awesome Street Art in Georgetown

If you look at any Penang blog, almost every page you'll find is related to food. The tiny island on the Northwest of Malaysia is world famous for its unique, delicious cuisine. Being the foodies we are, Penang was always near the top of the wish list of places to visit during our time in Asia. We spent a total of 5 nights in Georgetown, the island's capital & quickly found out the place has more to offer than food.  Georgetown is filled with beautiful, old colonial buildings and retains a lovely small town charm. The hostel we stayed at in Little India is actually one of Georgetown's many 'heritage houses' - well preserved homes which display unique architectural styles brought about by the multicultural society who took up residence here. The quaint streets are flanked by these colonial houses, Malay mosques, Hindu and Chinese temples & awesome street art! The city is simply a joy to wander around & we now know why it's dubbed 'The Pearl Of The Orient'.

Such a Fun Night at Red Garden with Jenny!

Hilarious Lady Boy Show!

Our first night in Penang was very memorable. We met Jenny, the nicest cab driver upon arrival and she invited us out that night to join her and her family for dinner, drinks & entertainment at one of Penang's most well known night markets - Red Garden. It turns out Jenny is kind of a big deal in Georgetown, so we were given VIP treatment all night and she seemed to know everyone! We had way too many beers, dish after dish of incredible Penang hawker street food & really enjoyed the raunchy lady boy show even though we didn't understand most of it! Jenny introduced us to all kinds of friends including the owner of the extremely successful Red Garden market, nearly every waitress stopped by to gulp down Carlsberg with us, and I even got to talk to the star of the night - the lady boy after her(his) gig. It was then that something unexpected happened. She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her breast. Jenny's old Chinese father who hadn't spoken a word of English all night then said to me - "Apples or Oranges?" Seriously, that is the hardest I'd laughed in a long time! A great night out & a great introduction to Penang - thanks Jenny!

On Top of Penang Hill Overlooking Georgetown With Some Monkeys!

Monkey Beach at Penang National Park

During our time on the island, we climbed the exhaustively steep Penang Hill & pissed off a ballistic monkey at the peak who jumped off a roof & sprinted straight at us! He chased us for a good 30 yards before finally stopping after I screamed at him!! We enjoyed a leisurely evening watching the sun set over Georgetown & the sprawling Malaysian mainland in the distance. One day we went to Penang National Park & hiked through the jungle to deserted Monkey Beach. We looked down at the jungle on the canopy walk, refreshingly took a dip in the natural pools & lounged on the beach for hours. We learned about Penang's interesting history at Fort Cornwallis & strolled around the countless halls, pagodas & lakes that make up Kek Lok Si Temple.



Like I mentioned before, one of the main reasons we came to Penang was the food and it definitely didn't disappoint. It's a tough call, but overall I think I liked Malaysian food more than Thai food - call me crazy! The incredible cuisine here is a result of Penang's convenient location on the Straits of Malacca. This strait has been the main shipping channel between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, linking major Asian economies such as India, China, Japan & South Korea for centuries. The influx of exotic cultures has resulted in a uniquely Malay blend of flavor. There is very traditional Indian & Chinese food on the island but there's also one-of-a-kind dishes you'll only find in Penang. 5 days eating our way through Penang has changed my palette forever & I'll never forget the incredible flavors that make this tiny Island such a food paradise! Here are some of the highlights:

Breakfast of Choice in Penang - Roti Canai (Indian Flatbread with Spicy Curry Sauce)

Killer Chinese Food at Tek Sen Restaurant (Twice Fried Pork, Fish Head Curry and Sauteed Asparagus With Shrimp)

Incredible Indian Specialties at Jaya

Rojak (Sweet & Sour Fruit & Veggie Salad)

Keeping Cool in Penang's Heat with Refreshing Ais Tingkap (Rose, Coconut & Basil Seeds)

Hokkien Mee (Spicy Prawn & Pork Noodle Soup)

Incredible Nasi Kandar (Indian Curry Buffet) at Line Clear - Anthony Bourdain Knows Best!

Chendul (Sweet Shaved Ice Dessert with Coconut Milk, Palm Sugar, Kidney Beans & Rice Noodles)

Penang's Version of Pad Thai - Char Koay Teow (Way Better BTW)

Grilled Stingray

Penang Asam Laksa (Sour Tamarind Based Fish Soup)