The Market Lane Tuak Shop, or Kedai Tuak Lorong Pasar, is one of the few tuak shops remaining in Penang. (Another one still standing is the Cantonment Road Tuak Shop.) Also called toddy or palm wine, tuak is an alcoholic beverage made from the undeveloped flower of the coconut palm as well as the sugar palm. In Penang, the collecting and market for tuak was entirely an Indian affair, with the majority of its drinkers being Indian laborers. The sugary palm sap is collected in bamboo containers and fermented. The fermentation takes place almost as soon as the palm sap is collected. This is due to the natural yeast in the air as well as residuel yeast in the bamboo recepticle. The drink is whitish in color, having the appearance and consistency of barley water - but of course the taste is downright different.
Getting there
From the Weld Quay Bus Terminal, cross Pengkalan Weld using the pedestrian bridge. Then turn left and walk along Pengkalan Weld until you reach Gat Lebuh Chulia. Turn right into Gat Lebuh Chulia and walk the distance. At the junction of Lebuh Pantai, Gat Lebuh Chulia becomes Lebuh Chulia. Continue along Lebuh Chulia until the junction with Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Cross Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and then turn right. A short distance down Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, turn left into Lorong Pasar. The tuak shop is a short distance down Lorong Pasar, on the left.
Stretching your budget in Penang
If you are a prudent traveller, you can spend less than $20 per day in Penang, including your accommodation! Here's some useful tips for budget travellers to Penang, to help you manage your budget and have a great time.
Penang Tour Guides
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can explore Penang using the travel articles in Penang Travel Tips. You may print them out for your own personal non-commercial use. However, nothing compares to having a professional tour guide to show you around. If you need a tour guide, contact me and I'll arrange one for you, according to your schedule and interest. If I happen to be free, I would gladly show you around too. Just write to me at:
Finding Budget Accommodation in Penang
If you're coming to Penang on a budget, you'd be pleased to know that there's quite a number of places in George Town as well as in Batu Ferringhi that offers good clean accommodation without costing you an arm and a let. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood, which happens to belong to a friend of mine. If it is occupied, there are plenty of other places that cost less than US$12.00 per night. Here are some suggestions:
Hutton Lodge, from US$8.25
Baba Guesthouse, from US$7.57
E.T. Budget Guesthouse, from US$6.05
YMCA Penang, from US$6.53
Ali's Ferringhi Guest House, from US$9.63
Despite the best intentions to provide you information that is as accurate as possible, do be aware that prices may have changed and exchange rates fluctuated since I wrote this. So please personally and carefully screen through the available accommodation before making your booking, to avoid any disappointments.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
Market Lane Tuak Shop (1 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Market Lane Tuak Shop Location Map
|
