Dorinda Gym

3 Restaurants in Penang Where I’d Celebrate a Special Night (Tried & Loved)

I’ve always believed that the best kind of celebrations are the small, meaningful ones — a good meal, a beautiful setting, and the right people. I’ve been exploring spots around the island that make me go, “Yes, I’d totally celebrate something here.”

These aren’t your typical travel-guide picks — they’re personal favourites I’ve either celebrated at, or would recommend for a cozy birthday, date night, or just because-it’s-Thursday-and-you-deserve-it dinner.

So if you’re looking for a place with good vibes and memorable food, here are my top 3 picks in Penang island for a special night out.

1. The Firewood

If I had to describe this place in one word, it would be: elegant. I remember being impressed the moment I stepped in — the lighting, the open kitchen, the little details. It has that “quiet luxury” feel without being too intimidating.

What stood out most was the food — I ordered steak as per usual and it was really impressive and easily one of the best steals I've had.

It’s not a cheap meal, but if you're celebrating something meaningful, it’s worth the splurge.

🕯️ Best for: Romantic celebrations, anniversaries, birthday dates
📍 Location: Georgetown
📷 Tip: Sit near the kitchen if you love watching chefs in action

2. Fam Dining

I discovered this gem after doing some research on XHS. It was love at first post — moody lighting, intimate setup, and what looked like an 6-course meal with gorgeous plating. I knew I had to try it.

Dining here is like being invited to someone’s home where the chef just happens to be amazing. There’s no à la carte — you just trust the chef and enjoy each course as it comes. And it’s surprisingly calming not to have to choose anything.

🍷 Best for: Couples, small birthday dinners, foodie experiences
📍 Location: Jelutong area
📆 Tip: Make a reservation — they don’t take walk-ins

3. Kool Kongsi

Now this one’s totally different. Think artsy meets chill, perfect for birthday dinners with friends or something casual but memorable. It’s an open-concept space and little artistic corners you’ll want to photograph.

Food Recommendation: A Must-Try: Kongsi Bikini Sandwich. Further, the steak is surprisingly good — dip it in the egg before eating to elevate the flavour. Last but not least, don’t miss their Tiramisu! It was a delightful surprise and the perfect dessert to end the meal on a sweet note.

🎉 Best for: Group hangouts, casual celebrations, birthdays with friends
📍 Location: Hotel Mokoyozo Georgetown
📸 Tip: Go before sunset for the best lighting if you want pretty photos

I know Penang is full of amazing restaurants, and everyone has their own favourites. But these three places felt personal to me — the kind of spots where you forget to check your phone because the food, the people, and the moment feel just right.

If you’ve got your own go-to place for celebrating, I’d genuinely love to hear about it. Leave me a comment or DM me on IG — I’m always looking for my next excuse to dress up and dine out ✨

✨Bonus:

If you're looking for a bar to chill after dinner, how about a Rooftop Bar tucked in Georgetown? Visit Sphere for a enjoyable night. Do note that it may be a bit hot since it is an open-air bar and doesn't come with AC. Might not be ideal if it's raining as well.

Well, I was lucky when I visited. Even managed to catch the sunset! 😍

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, by dorindagym

Penang

Firewood Penang: One of the best steaks I've had!

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, by dorindagym

Sim Card

What SIM Card to use for a 10-day trip in Turkey

Going to Turkey is definitely exciting, I mean have you seen those hot air balloons pics in Cappadocia before? They're stunning and magnificent!

TL:DR
We tried Vodafone at RM 98 for the 10-day trip, had a good experience.

Which Turkey SIM card to use when travelling there?

Before going to Turkey, other than worrying about our meals, the most important concern was none other than the access to the Internet or in other words, having mobile data. We wanted to make sure that we have internet wherever we are in Turkey.

So let me give you a little background. In Turkey, there are 3 main mobile operators, namely Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom. Turkcell has the biggest subscriber base, with Vodafone as the second largest, followed by Turk Telecom. If you would like to know more, you can check this link to see the latest figures.

Check it out here

Should you purchase the Turkey SIM Card at the airport?

There is no right or wrong with purchasing the SIM card first or after arriving in Turkey. However, since we are traveling in a big group, we'd figured that if we get it in advance, it will save a lot of time when we are there.

In order to skip the hassle of stopping or queuing at the airport, we decided to purchase the SIM card in advance. Our friend helped to check some of the options available in local e-commerce site Lazada and we ended up choosing this - https://bit.ly/34tImus

Actual product received of the Vodafone SIM card we purchased for the Turkey trip:

Review of the Turkey Turkey SIM card - Vodafone:

Price	RM 98 for 10 GB of data (we enjoyed discount as we bought in bulk)
Validity	10 days
Waiting time	We received it the day after payment was made, FAST!
Link	https://www.lazada.com.my/products/turkey-travel-sim-card-i443202685-s658465683.html?spm=a2o4k.searchlist.list.1.44f46cd9sa5qpD&search=1%22%3E
Connection	Fast, strong and stable Throughout the whole journey traveling in Turkey 【Locations that we travelled to - Canakkale, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Ankara, Bolu】the data coverage were consistently excellent.
Instructions	You need to contact the person to activate the SIM card one day before departure. Just drop a text, easy as ABC ;)

Friendly reminder: The SIM doesn't come with the PIN, please bring along yourself

What about other Turkey SIM Card?

As I mentioned, we went with Vodafone so I didn't get to try other networks. However someone in our group did purchase Turk Telekom and did not have a good experience as there were disconnections on and off.

Additional information:

Do you need to purchase mobile data in Turkey?

If you have read the above, I guess you're thinking about getting a SIM card for internet usage in Turkey. So the next question that you have might be: "Is it needed for everyone to get their SIM card?"

Well the answer actually depends greatly on the user. If you want to share every moment, like posting Instagram Stories or going live in Facebook, then it's definitely a yes. You can also ensure that you are able to stay connected with the group of people whom you are traveling with via Whatsapp, WeChat or any messaging platforms.

Other than that, almost all the hotels that we stayed provided WiFi. If you don't need it for those #InstaMoments, then you don't really have to get it.

Guys I made a video below compiling some of the Instagram Stories that I have posted during Turkey trip, check it out :)

Hope you enjoy your trip in Turkey as well!

-Love, Mel

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, by dorindagym

Tips for Renting a Car in Jeju, South Korea (Malaysia Edition: Guide for first timers that you cannot find anywhere else!)

Renting a Self-Driving Car in Jeju, Korea

Let me tell you something straight, it’s highly not recommended to drive yourself if you have more than 5 pax in your group (which means you will driving a bigger vehicle than usual).

Our family of 7 got into a minor car accident- on the FIRST DAY of the Jeju trip. Yup, I said it. It was really a huge blow-off and generated lots of anxiety until the incident was settled.

If you have decided to self-drive in Jeju/ rent a car in Jeju:

1. First thing first, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INCLUDED COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE in whatever package that you have signed up.

This is very very crucial! For our case, our insurance is not comprehensive but just partial. So we had to pay a part of the damage cost while insurance covering the rest of the damage cost.

If we had purchased the full insurance, we would have only paid for the rental cost that the rental car company lose.

2. Make sure you have someone who is a good driver

As the driver seat would be different from Malaysia, which is on the left. It might take some time for the driver to actually get used. Not only does the driver has to get familiarised with the different seat, the entire road is different. Like how cars are making turns, which way to look, even the roundabout becomes anti-clockwise.

2A. Make sure you also have a good GPS Navigator assistant

As mentioned in point 2, it’s already a difficult task enough for the driver in getting used to the different driver seat and road condition. The last thing he/she wants to be doing is to be distracted on checking out on the GPS.

Of course you can choose not to use the in-car GPS and choose your own phone if you prefer that way. Still, the driver will need someone to help so he/she can stay focused on the road instead.

And please, do the driver a favour and don’t sleep throughout the journey. Since the distance between different tourist spots could be from 30mins up to 1.5hours or more (depending on how you arrange your itinerary). But you get my point, it’s better if the driver has some sort of support from the passenger seat.

3. TRY TO ARRANGE YOUR ITINERARY IN EARLIER DAY

My traveling period was quite a popular season of the year- Autumn, 18-21 October. I can say that the day starts really early, and the day ends even earlier. The sky starts getting dark as early as 5pm+. Which also means your visibility starts decreasing 6pm onwards. It’s going to be more difficult for your to find the routes.

4. Check if your hotel/Airbnb provides parking space (and still be prepared to look for parking space even if they do)

Obviously when you are renting a car, you will need to park it in the property that you are staying. For two consecutive nights, we had some difficulties to park. First night was due to the incredibly small parking space to fit our 7-seater car. Second night, the car park was full. We didn’t even get to see the car park and wasn’t sure how many parking space exactly do they have.

5. Parking space are REALLY SMALL and roads could be narrow in the Jeju town area

We were in the area near the black pork street, I’m not even kidding, the roads were so so narrow and the cars were just simply parked on the side of the road. Literally we had to check left and right to make sure we don’t brush any cars. Phew!

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, by dorindagym

[FREE] Aesthetically-pleasing life quote wallpaper

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FoodForThoughts

Learn To Be Positive (Sharing my secret on how I stay positive!)

This post has been on my head for some time now, I kept having ideas on writing it till a point where it will come 'saying hi' to me every now and then. So, I figured that okay I gotta quickly pen (digitally) this down so I can cross it off my to-do-list and it will stop "calling" me all the time while I'm doing my other work.

Now that you are reading this, this Gif explains my mood perfectly

I'm not sure if you read a book in high school before, it's called the Chicken Soup or in Chinese 心灵鸡汤. I vaguely remember what is it about, but I do recall that the book series are stories that touch our hearts. I remember going to the school library to read those books and I would feel comforted in some way. Well things kinda changed over the years, I found another way to make me feel comforted and it's actually through listening songs.

If you know me personally, then you would know I'm a singing maniac. I love singing and love listening to songs. Some songs are capable of making me feel calmed and motivated at the same time, just giving me a lot of positive vibes you know. When I first had this blog idea in my head, it was about sharing a few songs that are really positive and love-sharing. Maybe I'll add some other points beside the songs too, we'll see how this goes.

There are different ways to try to be positive. You might speak to your friends, family or partner to get some positive vibes. But I believe there are times, when you're alone and then some negative thoughts might appear in your head again. So what do you do then? My best advice, and it has been proven to be working fine for me- is to listen to songs. I'm not sure whether it works for you as well, but you can always try and see what is the result right?

Here in this post, I want to share with you a song that I think is really meaningful and beautiful. I'll give some descriptions and lyrics below, but really, I think you should just listen it on your own to absorb and digest the positivism in you too.

Drum-rolls please...

Jason Mraz - Have It All
First of all, the rhythm and tune itself are uplifting and so nice to our ears already. Wait till you listen to the lyrics!

May you have auspiciousness and causes of success
May you have the confidence to always do your best

You know during new year, we always like to wish people with abundance on this auspicious occasion. But we shouldn't only remember this on occasions like new year or Christmas. I wish that people around me are motivated to be successful (in your own definition, doesn't necessarily mean a great career or wealth, could be anything!) all the time. Let there be lesser self-doubts and more self-convincing and self-loving moments. I know it's not easy to stay confident in the society today because negative words and criticism are everywhere. Especially in the prime age of Social Media, so many people are trying to bring people down and say hurtful words without thinking about the implications.

With all these on-going, yet I still urge you to find, listen and hold on to your inner voice.

May you take no effort in your being generous
Sharing what you can, nothing more nothing less

You know the saying, "giving is better than receiving"? I know it's not a human nature to give instead of taking, but can you imagine a world or a society where everyone is thinking about 'take, take, take' and no one's giving back? I believe that what goes around comes around, if you make a positive impact, one day something positive happens back to you. Of course I'm not asking to you give with the pure mindset/intention that you want to get back something for sure. When I refer to giving, it could be anything, for example, you can give compliments, moral support, share knowledge and etc.

One experience I want to share is that- there was this time where I was queuing up to buy McD ice-cream, the queue was pretty long... And everyone was in sort of a less-patient mode because who likes to wait right? Now think about this, imagine what we need to do is wait (while playing with our phones maybe), make order, pay then walk away while enjoying our desserts. But what about the person who is working? She must have been so exhausted with making ice-cream non stop! and the queue behind is not getting any shorter... So when it was my turn, so happened I saw that she wore really nice makeup (she is a young Malay girl). And I just couldn't help but complimented her. "Wow your makeup is really pretty, I really like it! And you have really pretty eyes." Almost instantly, I could see her face which was stressed up earlier changed and glowed up. Huge smile could be seen on her face. Blushing away, she then said thank you (very shyly haha!) But I knew at that moment, she really genuinely felt happy. Amidst a busy work day serving that many customers, who would have thought that she would receive a compliment like that. Well for me, I was just stating the fact, her makeup was really pretty and her eyes were really nice. But for her, it could something that made her day.

When was the last time you gave something (could be tangible or intangible)? And I wonder if that move sparked any positive emotions in you?

May you know the meaning of the word happiness
May you always lead from the beating in your chest

Happiness, something that everyone is looking for. Some find it, some don't. There is no right or wrong because it's something that is so subjective. I myself is also constantly looking and appreciating it. People around me always ask me: "why are you always so energetic? why do you sound so active and positive all the time?" I don't really have an answer actually, it's just how I am. Have I already achieved happiness? Nooo la, where got such thing eh?

My best answer if I think really hard now is that you must be able to count your blessings. If you keep comparing yourself with others, especially with people who have more possessions than you; then you will always see yourself lacking here and lacking there; how can you be happy with this mindset. The fact that you cannot make peace and accept yourself as who you are is a big factor why you cannot be happy.

Again, everyone's definition of happiness is different. I hope you keep searching for yours until you find it, then treasure it dearly.

May you be treated like an esteemed guest
May you get to rest, may you catch your breath

Phew, finally it's time to wrap up the last point. don't forget to get the rest you need. I'm not just referring about getting enough sleep; Just like your body, your mind also needs regular rest. It's okay to pause or go slower when you feel like things could be overwhelming. There is a Chinese saying that "To rest is for a longer journey that we are going to take". So don't be afraid to take a break, you will bounce back even stronger after that!

We don't deserve Jason Mraz at all 😢 His music has always been such a sweet and pleasant gift.

Introducing... Have It All by Jason Mraz

There is really more to it than just this song. In fact, I think the whole album - Know is just so precious and extremely needed in our society now. It has got so much positivism in it then you cannot help but to feel the love in it.

If you can, listen to the whole album. It has got some magic in it I promise!
I'm planning to share a similar blogpost but talking about a Cantonese song, what do y'all think?

Just one more song for you okay?

Have a good day, good night or good afternoon to you wherever you are ❤️

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, by dorindagym

10 MAC Lipsticks that every girl needs

Ruby Woo

The matte, vivid blue-ish red lipstick has been on every girl’s makeup pouch, or at least on their to-have-list. Especially suitable for pale skin, the color is rich, soft, matte and moisturizing. It’s one of the best MAC lipsticks that flatter almost everyone, not only the ones with pale skin tones. Celebrities like Rihanna, Rita Ora and Taylor Swift are also fangirls to this shade.

Candy Yum-Yum

When you feel like going a little extra like how Katy Perry does it all the time, this neon pink shade will get the job done. Although it is in matte finishing, the neon pink colour is still able to make your look pop. Being one of the most popular pink lipsticks, instantly you are taken back to the 80’s when you put it on.

Velvet Teddy

If you are looking for the go-to nude shade, this is your answer. Velvet Teddy is a deep beige with matte finishing colour that is ‘just right’. If you are into Kylie Jennner lip trend, chances are you’ll love this too! Since the colour is not too overwhelming or underwhelming, this is suitable for your daily wear.

Sin

On days where you want to look more serious, this dark burgundy shade is what you can count on. It's one of the best dark lipsticks around. This unique shade brings out the serious feeling yet adds glamour to your look.

Russian Red

This is very close and an alternative to Ruby Woo. The bold and intense bluish-red will give you long-lasting wear all day long. Add suspense and drama to your humdrum everyday life by simply wearing the Mac Russian red matte lipstick. The red lipstick is ideal for fair skin, giving a smooth and opaque finishing.

Rebel

A purple and berry colour that is unapologetically bright. Rebel is a satin lipstick with sheer to full-coverage that showcases that fierce look of yours. Not only it gives your beautiful colour, it stays on your lips for hours. Now are you ready to add a pinch of electricity to bring your look to the next level?

Twig

Mac Twig is an old-school favourite that comes in shades of soft brownish-pink. It’s definitely a combination of lovely nude and standard mauve. Since it comes in a satin-finishing- it means it is a little glossier than matte but still suitable for everyday wear. The colour is a dusty rose/brown colour that gives you that creamy and buttery look.

Heroine

Bright purple may not be the common choice when it comes to picking up a lipstick but Heroine is definitely worth trying. The bright purple hue of Heroine doesn’t only define the lips, but brings out a different character that usual colours like red or pink are unable to. It could be a light sheer of purple or layered to an intense purple - suitable for day and night wear.

Honeylove

The perfect beige lipstick that you need can be none other than Honeylove. It is closest to having your naked lip but in a nicer shade. The longtime favorite is a staple color that everyone should invest. Honeylove is able to bring attention to your lips without going too obvious with other colours. It makes your lips stand out naturally.

Diva

Whether you are having that diva mood or feeling like a boss, this intense reddish-burgundy dark lipstick is the perfect choice. Wonder Woman Gal Gadot wears Diva for bold lips even on the red carpet.

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, by dorindagym

What if I went on a cruise? 💭 like on SuperStar Gemini

I recently wrote a piece to participate in a contest, wrote it in less than 2 days (that is after working hours), figured I shouldn't waste it- so here goes:

"tell us why you think you need to go on a cruise holiday, and what you feel would make the trip a memorable one."

On one fine night, I was driving nearby Weld Quay in Penang and cannot help but to be attracted by a building lighted up in purple lights along the Penang Port. I looked up and gazed upon it for a few seconds, to realize that it wasn’t a building. It was a cruise ship! I was thinking in my head, “oh my, what a gorgeous cruise ship!”. It was at that moment, I knew that I wanted to go on a cruise holiday.

This will be the first time ever for me to step into a cruise ship. I can already foresee the excitement in me when I look at all the facilities and the sophisticated designs on board. Before, I have only heard all kinds of entertainment that guests get to enjoy on a cruise ship. Now, I am ready to see them with my own eyes and experience them first hand.

First thing first, a dip in the outdoor pool is a must. Swimming in the pool and sipping some cocktails while sailing in the middle of the ocean is what I imagine in my head as I am writing this. The thought of swimming on a cruise ship fascinates me and reminds me of the scene from Life of Pi, where the waters are as if magical and even sparkle as the stars light up the night.

A scene taken from Life of Pi showcasing magical ocean

Of course, I would not miss the entertainment on board. I will make sure that I catch a live stage show at the Stardust Lounge, am really looking forward to witnessing performance of either Asia’s hottest bands or world-famous illusionist. I also heard that professional dance troupes often perform on board. It must be glamorous as hell and Burlesque scene is now being cued.

Photo source

A karaoke-fan like me would steal a moment and ‘perform’ in the KTV Observation Lounge. I might even dress up as if I am an artiste and sing to Kelly Clarkson’s "A moment like this". After all these fun activities, how about a relaxation session at the spa to unwind and recharge? How luxurious it is to have the masseurs massaging me while the cruise is sailing!

Next up, what would make it a perfect and memorable cruise trip is a proper dinner serving me some quality steak cooked to medium rare, and a glass of wine to complete the meal. Not only that, I would love to try other cuisines prepared by award-winning chefs as well.

Having steak with this sunset view

I certainly will not let any second of this memorable and lavish trip slip away. Batteries and memory card will be ready so I can record the whole journey and replay it over and over again. My dear camera #CanonM10, are you ready to go on this SuperStar Gemini cruise trip with me?

So I heard #Sony has better vlog cameras, let me know if you have any experiences with Sony or Canon.

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, by dorindagym

Pages

Dorinda Gym

3 Restaurants in Penang Where I’d Celebrate a Special Night (Tried & Loved)

1. The Firewood

2. Fam Dining

3. Kool Kongsi

Firewood Penang: One of the best steaks I've had!

What SIM Card to use for a 10-day trip in Turkey

Which Turkey SIM card to use when travelling there?

Should you purchase the Turkey SIM Card at the airport?

What about other Turkey SIM Card?

Do you need to purchase mobile data in Turkey?

Tips for Renting a Car in Jeju, South Korea (Malaysia Edition: Guide for first timers that you cannot find anywhere else!)

Renting a Self-Driving Car in Jeju, Korea

[FREE] Aesthetically-pleasing life quote wallpaper

Learn To Be Positive (Sharing my secret on how I stay positive!)

10 MAC Lipsticks that every girl needs

What if I went on a cruise? 💭 like on SuperStar Gemini

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1. The Firewood

2. Fam Dining

3. Kool Kongsi

Which Turkey SIM card to use when travelling there?

Should you purchase the Turkey SIM Card at the airport?

What about other Turkey SIM Card?

Do you need to purchase mobile data in Turkey?

Renting a Self-Driving Car in Jeju, Korea

About Me

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