Mengkuang Dam

Note - this place seems closed for upgrading works (as of 23 Feb 2014). If you happen to know why and when it will re-open please leave a comment. Tx...

Empangan Mengkuang or commonly known as Mengkuang Dam is one of Penang's water reservoir located in Mainland Penang. The other famous dams in Penang include the Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam.

You know what, I've seen dams, but never seen a Hydro-Electric Dam, those must be even more huge!

Few weekends ago we decided to go to Mengkuang Dam. The place offers a serene view, nice jogging track along the damn, benches for family and grass to just sit, loiter and enjoy the view and breeze. People come here to relax, jog and exercise, and take a break from the hectic life.

Last checked (26 Feb 2010), Alhamdulillah the dam still has lots of water during this drought

Empangan Mengkuang also offers some nice picturesque spots and views for those into photography.

Pretty nice sunset. I'd say the sunrise here would be spectacular

Parking itself if a lot, however it does get quite full during the weekends.

Notice the parking area behind me, yes, rather large

Getting to Mengkuang Dam is a little tricky to the non-locals of the area.

How to get to Mengkuang Dam / Getting there :

The best way to get there would probably be by getting on the Kulim Highway (BKE), if coming from Penang, means heading towards Kulim, and take exit Penanti / Berapit. Once you have exited, if memory serves me correct take the right, i.e towards Berapit and drive along. The drive would be around 10 minutes after the toll exit. If you're looking for a LARGE signboard written "Welcome to Mengkuang Dam / Selamat Datang ke Empangan Mengkuang", well just continue looking as I never found it. Instead look for a rather medium sized sign-board showing PBA (the water authority of Penang). Following the sign, i.e turning right on the long winded road brings you into Mengkuang Dam, just drive up and look for parking.

Ok enjoy nature.

My Name is Khan

My Name is Khan, recently released in cinemas in Malaysia. For Penangites you can watch it at Bukit Jambul (BJ) Cinema.

The movie stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol plus a number of other strong actors including a kid who acted in Tare Zamin Per as Khan in younger days in the movie. SRK (Shah Rukh Khan) plays the role of an individual with autism well, not over-doing it and Kajol also performance well. For most Malaysians, the SRK + Kajol couple most remembered is Kuch Kuch Ho Ta Hai.

Quoting from http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/11858-my-name-is-khan,

"Shahrukh Khan, the actor playing Rizwan Khan, explains: “it’s not about a disabled man’s fight against disability. It’s a disabled man’s fight against the disability that exists in the world—terrorism, hatred, fighting . . . It is also about Islam and the way the world looks at Islam but we are not taking any sides. We are only trying to say that there are only good people and bad people. There are no good Hindus, bad Hindus, good Christians, bad Christians. Either you are a good person or a bad person. Religion is not the criterion, humanity is.”

Overall the movie was strong and nice. It had many positive messages, and was well edited. There were some sweet moments, laughter, and also sorrow. I did find the part of Khan returning to Georgia a little to long winded, however I guess it was needed for the movie to justify Khan meeting the President after his heroic work there. However the movie picks up again after the Georgia section.

It seems a certain part was edited out of the movie, not sure why, either since typically Hindi movies are little long (cinema's can then play lesser showings per day) OR due to sensitivity. Again, just guessing. Talking about Hindi movies, if you've seen them in the cinema, you'd notice half way, it comes up "INTERMISSION". Yes in India, there is actually a physical break where the movie stops, so people can go buy some more popcorn, drinks and even bio-breaks. A good marketing approach wouldn't you say?

In an interesting interesting quote un-quote the director Karan Johar to say "[...] What's really shocking is the fact that when I was writing the film, I never thought that what happened to the protagonist of the film would happen to Shah Rukh."

The most entertaining part would be the beginning thru mid part of the movie, which later continues to carry a heavy topic.

So what's your name? ....

Enjoy.