MellemPix

I always believe in supporting local businesses as these people work hard to earn an honest living. Of course, when I say local businesses, I mean the legal ones. We came across a number of local businesses in Penang which I found interesting and would love to pay tribute to them.

Canvas Art

This is an artist who draws pictures of your pets on bags or canvas. You can buy pre-drawn ones for RM50 (if I’m not mistaken) or have them custom drawn by giving him a photograph of your beloved pet and he will get it done in a couple of days for you for RM60.

I watched him draw live while I was waiting for my car, and it was such a treat. He’s a remarkably talented man, a great copy artist. You can visit and like his page here and you can find him on Gurney Drive, Penang at night.

 

Nutmeg Oil

I was looking for nutmeg massage oil which is great for a number of ailments and my hubby found this   supplier/warehouse that makes really potent and authentic nutmeg oil. I’ve used a number of different ones on the market, and I have to say, this one is definitely different. You can really feel it.

I had the opportunity to meet the owner of this plantation, Mr. Chang. A very healthy 72 year old man who has been in the business since he was 15 years old. This business has been in the family for 3 generations. Their method of making the nutmeg oil is so pure hence why it is so potent. I also found out that when massage oils such as these leave an oily residue on your skin after application, it is not as pure. His brand, Ghee Hup doesn’t leave an oily feeling after application, which I find pleasing. Also, oils that are green or yellow in colour are only that colour because of colouring agents and are not natural in nature. His oils when distilled are white, as oil should be and turn red only when he adds in the nutmeg flower to enhance its effectiveness. His pricing is marginally higher than commercial brands sold in hypermarkets but it is well worth it.

Mr. Chang’s shop front, Ghee Hup Nutmeg Oil Plantation.

There’s nutmeg jam for customers to try and other nutmeg products to sample as well.

Here Mr. Chang is talking to a customer, explaining how the nutmeg oil is processed and made.

You can visit his nutmeg plantation at the following address:

Kilang Buah Pala Ghee Hup
Chang Kun Mim (Managing Director)
202A, Mk. 3, Sungai Pinang, 11010 Balik Pulau, Penang.
Tel: +604-866 8426
Email: gheehup@gmail.com
GPS: N 05d 23′ 53.6″ E 100d 12′ 58.3″

Below are more photos taken at Ghee Hup’s plantation featuring the nutmegs in raw form.

 

Bedak Sejuk @ Cooling Powder

Another small enterprise I would like to highlight is this family run business. They’ve been doing this for years and are industry experts. The brothers were very hospitable and open to show and share with us how they make Bedak Sejuk which is really good for those with problem skin, wanting to maintain soft supple skin or merely cool down in the warm tropical weather. Many of the locals around the area are long time customers of their product.

I met a lady from Hong Kong who goes over to Penang every six months just to replenish her stock of Bedak Sejuk. She buys them in cartons and has shown me her stash. She professes to the wonders of the product as she is a sufferer of severe acne, of which I can attest to as I see the scars still evident all over her face. However, her skin is clear and complexion fair aside from that. She said that she stumbled upon Bedak Sejuk on one of her trips to Malaysia, tried it, as all the other super expensive branded products in the commercial market had failed her, and this simple product worked wonders for her skin! She has never looked back since.

This is where their shop is located, but it was a tad difficult to find. You have to drive over a small arched bridge to get here.

This is where they make their Bedak Sejuk pellets that end up in bottles as per below. It’s a lengthy, labour intensive and tedious process to make these little white powder puffs. You use it by popping one or two out, or however many you wish, and add some water to it smearing it around in the palm of your hand. Then you pat down the area you want covered in the powder and leave it on.

A standard bottle of Bedak Sejuk.

One of the Yeoh brothers showing us where the pellets are dried and stored in their warehouse before bottling.

This is a certificate of analysis of the ingredients of the Bedak Sejuk to show customers and distributors/dealers that the product has been tested and is certified to not contain any harmful content.

You can visit them at the following address:

Perniagaan Bedak Sejuk Lean Seng
Yeoh Keng Beng
No. 160, Mukim-D, Kuala Jalan Bharu, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang.
Tel: +604-866 0622
Visit them on Facebook here.

Below are more photos taken at their warehouse. It shows the entrance of the property for those looking to head directly there to purchase the Bedak Sejuk, photos of the raw unpolished, unprocessed rice used to make it (which is very healthy), and some other photos taken of the manufacturing process.