Dinner at Hai Thien Restaurant, Kuala Perlis

Just walk on the planks to the restaurant

We hunted for Hai Thien Restaurant since last night but got lost along the way. Well, we finally found it on our last day in Perlis. We had read many good reviews from the Internet and decided to check it out. It was along the same stretch as the Ferry Terminal. We saw the restaurant signboard and walk along the wooden planks to the restaurant by the sea.

You can also order satay from this stall to the restaurant

When we arrived at about seven p.m., it was almost packed with patrons and some tables had already been reserved. However, we were lucky to get a small table near the counter. 

It was Christmas eve and we could see that the people here were all in Christmas mood and even the chefs (I happened to see them on my way to the washroom) were donning red Santa's hat in the kitchen.

Packed with patrons of all races

To our surprise, we could see Malay waitresses and workers working here in this restaurant in Kuala Perlis. This would be a rare sight in Penang where we were from. Not only that, but also we observed Malay, Indian and Chinese families were also eating their dinner happily here. Well, this restaurant was pork-free but I was sure whether it was halal or not. In short, food did unite Malaysians.   

So, it was time to order our dinner. We ordered a Teow Chew style steamed fish, stir-fried kai lan, a hot pot of fish maws, squids and prawns and fried chicken.

The Teow Chew style steamed fish (RM 26)

Stir-fried kai lan (RM 4)

The precious hot pot of fish maws, squids and prawns (RM 18)

Fried chicken with chilli sauce (RM 5)

Overall, the total cost was RM 60.90 including our fruit juices and two plates of rice. We were satisfied with our dinner and the fish was definitely the freshest. The precious hot pot of fish maws, squids and prawn were tantalising. 

After dinner, we took a stroll around the ferry terminal and walked past the floating mosque, Masjid Al-Hussain. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Al Hussain floating mosque lit up at night

The mosque entrance

Then, we drove to Jalan Sarawak and did some last minute shopping at the night market. Most of the things sold here looked similar to the ones at Padang Besar. You can find imitation T-shirts, toys, preserved fruits and food, handicraft, slippers and etc. I managed to find some shops with fixed price and bought a T-shirt and a handwoven basket.

Preserved fruits and food sold at the night market

Colourful sweet treats sold at the night market

So, this is the last post on our Perlis trip for 2012. We will keep you posted on our next outing which is even more exciting in the year 2013.

Hai Thien Retaurant details:

Address                 : Kampung Perak, 02000 Kuala Perlis, Perlis.

Telephone number : 04-9855149

Business hours       : 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

Picturesque Countryside in Perlis

My favourite shot: fishing boats lining the stream in the evening

Perlis state is unique in the sense that it boasts both paddy fields and fishing villages side by side.

Green green paddy 

After visiting Perlis Snake and Reptile Farm, it was already evening and we drove all the way to the coast of Perlis hoping to catch the beautiful view of the countryside and in particular, paddy fields and fishing villages.

It must have been blissful to have your house surrounded by green paddy field

Irrigation canal in the middle of the paddy field

I believe that is where the harvested rice is sent to

If the sky was clear, we could see beautiful sunset by the beach. Since it was a rainy season, the day was cloudy and windy and probably, there would be a downpour. So, it was tough luck to view any sunset that day.

A breathtaking view of paddy field with the mountain range in the background

Green and yellow paddy field

We find that the rice planting season here is similar to those in Sekinchan, Selangor. So, if you are lazy like us to drive all the way to Sekinchan, then head north to Perlis.  The view of these paddy fields will not disappoint you.

Bright yellow paddy field signifies harvesting period (in December)

Although the weather was gloomy, we did not give up hope of capturing photos of picturesque fishing villages in Kuala Sungai Baru which was situated to the south of Kuala Perlis.

Food stalls by the roadside at the coastal road

Going fishing, anyone?

Some boats anchoring 

From Kangar, we started heading towards Kuala Perlis and Kuala Sanglang. The road signs were quite clear, so we just followed them. Finally, we reached the fishing village and saw many fishing boats along the stream.

A peek of the fishing boats from the side of the stilt house

Fishermen at work

Fishing boats lining neatly along the stream

Capturing the photo below was rather dangerous as we were standing in the middle of the busy road-cum-bridge with many vehicles passing by us.

A fishing boat in action

Later, we headed back to Kuala Perlis and dined in Hai Thien Restaurant, a popular seafood restaurant with the locals and tourists.

Direction:

Take the Changlun-Kuala Perlis Highway and head towards Kuala Perlis and later, look for signage to Kuala Sanglang and Kuala Sungai Baru. The paddy fields are on your left along the coastal road and the fishing village is on the right when you reach Kuala Sungai Baru.

Perlis Snake and Reptile Farm

Visiting a snake farm was not my kind of thing. But a visit to Perlis would not be complete if we had missed the only snake farm in Malaysia and also the biggest in Asia, right?

The yellow tram parked in the compound of Snake and Reptile Farm

When we reached the Snake and Reptile Farm, we found that the place was quiet and peaceful unlike other tourist spots we had visited. This place was surrounded by hills and a lot of trees. So, it calmed my nerve a bit. Next, we proceeded and bought our entrance tickets. It was RM 4 per adult. We also needed to pay RM 1 per camera. However, camera phones were allowed without any charge.

The entrance to the farm

A small children's playground in the compound

First, there was an exhibition room for snakes and there were many types of snakes in their own cages. There were poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Each cage had a description of the snake.

A yellow cobra hissing at the camera

What I remembered about them was they were all creepy and slimy. Despite that, we were also having fun trying to locate the snakes in the cages as most were either hiding in the trunks, holes, or practising their camouflaging skill.

A brown snake in camouflage 

Black and slimy snake with some yellow spots

Next, what caught my attention was the green iguana. From the description at the cage, to my surprise, it fed on fruits and vegetables. In other words, it was a herbivore. Although it gave me the creeps too, I could not help admiring its bright green skin and innocent look.

The green iguana is a herbivore?

The biggest snake in the room was the python or ular saw batik called Manja (which meant spoilt or pampered). It was all coiled up when we were there. 

Python by the name of Manja (means spoilt or pampered)

We also saw ostrich eggshell. It was really huge. We learned that an ostrich egg was equivalent to two dozens of chicken's eggs and it took 35 to 45 days to hatch. This was the first egg laid by the pair of ostriches in the farm in 2011.

Ostrich egg is 24 times the size of a chicken's egg

Besides the indoor exhibition room, the place also had bigger snakes caged up outdoors. 

Outdoor cages for bigger snakes

These chicken are the food of the snake dipping in the water

The snake egg's shells that had been tied up for display 

Other than snakes, this farm also had other animals such as the crocodiles, deer, monkeys, ostriches and poultry.

Swimming quietly, this crocodile is waiting for its prey

Ostrich in the farm loves entertaining visitors

Three ducks crossing the road?

Direction to Snake and Reptile Farm:

We had actually followed the signboards from Kangar and they led us there. So, just follow the signboard if you are driving.

Visiting Hours (quoted from their banner):
Sat to Thu: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fri: 9 a.m. to 12.15 p.m., 2.45 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Also open on public holidays.

Vines hanging from the tree

Coming up next...sightseeing at paddy fields and fishing village.

Arau, the Royal Town in Perlis

The colourful wall of a flyover in Perlis

Perlis is also known as Perlis Indera Kayangan. I am not sure of its English translation but I know that kayangan in Malay means heaven. The head of this smallest state in Malaysia is the Raja of Perlis.

The golden roundabout of Arau town

Well, after travelling to Perlis, I have found that Perlis is now associated as an education hub. That is why there was this signage of Perlis Negeri Ilmu (Perlis: the state of knowledge) erected along the Changlun-Kuala Perlis highway. It was no surprise that there were countless institutes, colleges and universities that were set up here like the UniMAP, UiTM and others.

Perlis: the state of knowledge

We drove to Arau, the royal town first and caught a glimpse of the Royal Gallery (Galeri Diraja) and Royal Palace (Istana Arau) entrance. They were located just opposite the state mosque. The state mosque was a beautiful sight with its golden minarets.

Royal Gallery

The entrance of Royal Palace Arau

Perlis State Mosque

As we drove around, we found the town that we thought was a sleepy town instead was so lively and flamboyant. We could not help but to photograph it. The same went to Kangar. 

The colourful shoplots

Shops of vibrant green, pink and yellow

Complex Arau has a supermarket in it and is also a place to shop for some handicrafts.

Arau Complex with a supermarket inside

Paddy fields are a common sight around Arau. The beautiful camouflage of the green house amid the green paddy field.

A good camouflage of green

We also managed to zoom in our lens and capture this white bird of prey at the paddy field.

A typical sight of white birds at the paddy fields

Lastly, the clean and wide Changlun-Kuala Perlis highway linked Arau town to the Kangar, the capital of Perlis.

Changlun-Kuala Perlis Highway