Emily's Steakhouse @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Well-established and known to serve some of the best steaks in Derby (United Kingdom)... Penangite owner Emily is bringing a taste of Britain back to Malaysia, opening a branch here at Victoria Street, central Georgetown. Housed in Reunion Heritage House, Emily's Steakhouse is an undisputed carnivore's paradise, serving a char-grilled meat-focused menu along with some English classics like Fish and Chips and breakfast. Only available in the evenings, Emily's Steakhouse has a casual setting with relaxed atmosphere, featuring the same interior decor as the main branch in Derby. This is a spot fits for any occasion or just a simple meal over some seriously good meat and Wines.

Many Thanks to Emily's Steakhouse for hosting us.

[Hotel Review] The WEIL Hotel @ Ipoh, Perak.

An elegant-lofty building next to the central shopping mall of Ipoh- Ipoh Parade; apart from its strategic location in the heartland of Ipoh town, The WEIL Hotel is fully equipped with everything you need for a seriously comfortable stay. Opened in early December of 2014, WEIL Hotel has been upholding its status as the town's most glamorous hotel and to live up to its standard as a 4-star hotel. The city hotel is also the de-facto hotel choice for many corporate events or special occasions... or merely a time for celebration over good food.

Many Thanks to WEIL Hotel for hosting us.

Plaque Noire Dessert & Cocktail Bar @ Kimberley Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The concept of combining two beloved things- desserts and cocktails has been creating excitements at the other parts of the world. Introducing this playful concept to Penang, Plaque Noire is the first of its kind. The proprietor was trained in Taiwan and France before settling down in Penang. Painted in shades of black, the place exudes a mysterious sense; as you walk in, you will be greeted by the friendly servers. The place is not big... only with limited seating but visitors can opt to enjoy their booze at the bar counter or the tables at the end of the bar. Offering-wise, it has a small selection of sweets, which to be changed and updated on monthly-basis; a list of in-house Cocktails and classic blend. Prices however, are on the higher side but the quality is set to impress.

14th Coffee 拾肆室 @ Taman Seri Impian, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

14th Coffee 拾肆室 has been taking social media channels by storm despite of its rather hidden location. The place is a residential-terrace turned cafe, with modern, chic and minimalist design. The place can be found behind AEON Mall at Alma; the exterior does not suggest much, especially to a cafe and the best part is, the entrance to the cafe is at the side, not the front... making it extra hard for first timers to come by. Being a vegetarian cafe, the place offers a simple menu featuring some mains (not the usual-boring vegetarian fare) including but not limited to, Shepherd's Pie, Sandwiches, Noodles and Souffle Cheese Cake. Good quality of food despite wallet-friendly prices.

Three Fifteen 三点三 Meet @ Jelutong, Penang.

Three Fifteen 三点三 Meet is a place that you get to enjoy local breakfast in a city but surrounded by serene village setting. It's hard to come by... imagine enjoying local Kaya Butter Toast while watching the chickens moving freely within the compound. The place can be found right opposite to Lam Wah Ee Hospital along Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim; it is manned by one of the residents staying in the village houses, part of the compound is transformed into a breakfast place. Do not expect big menu though... merely simple Hainanese-styled Toasts, Polo Bun, Half Boiled Egg etc. 

[Year 2019] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Ipoh, Perak.

Ipoh, the capital city of Perak, makes a great destination for a quick getaway from Penang. Merely an hour half drive from Penang, Ipoh is blessed with many delicious food. Our previous food guide was in Year 2016, this post on the other hand, features the latest cafes and trendy eats in Ipoh; not only showcasing the local food scene, cafe trend but also proper restaurants suitable for occasions.

1) Woong Kee Bean Curd 旺记祖传豆腐花

Pork Free

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 291, Jalan Bercham, Taman Desa Kencana, 31400, Ipoh, Perak.

Business Hours: 12:30 pm to 7 pm. Opens Daily.

Sister Kam Yong Tau Foo (两姐妹酿豆腐) @ Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Yong Tau Foo is an unlikely affair at the light industrial zone of Seri Kembangan but one particular shop stands out. Those who are in the know will find their way to Sister Kam Yong Tau Foo, a Yong Tau Foo specialist that offers home-made Yong Tau Foo. The variety is rather limited but ardent fans of Yong Tau Foo will find the rows of Hakka delights more than satisfying; though prices seem to be on the higher side for Penang's standards. A no-frills casual lunch spot that you may consider to drop by if you are in the vicinity. 

Munchies Cafe @ GAMA, Georgetown, Penang.

Found in an unexpected location, Munchies Cafe is housed in a snug but cozy corner in GAMA supermarket.... right smack in Georgetown. It's hard to notice this place if you have been paying attention... it can be found at a corner of the building, towards Jalan Gurdwara, a little off from the main entrance to the supermarket. The cafe has a Malaysian-friendly menu, featuring a blend of Western dishes with local delights. Unique to Munchies Cafe would be their Umami Rice Bowl- basically rice topped with various toppings and occasionally, it rolls out special of the day. The weight-watchers would be glad to know that this place offers healthy Sandwiches and home-made Yogurt.

Crumbles & Cream @ Iconic Hotel, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

While there is no shortage for dessert spots in Icon City, Bukit Mertajam but the in-house restaurant of Iconic Hotel- Crumbles & Cream should not be forsaken. With a name like Crumbles & Cream, one would assume that the place rolls out a dessert-focused menu... though that is not completely wrong, the place does have an interesting savory-main menu. Flip the menu open and the first page is good enough to give you toothache... with a vast selection of sweet treats, Afternoon Tea promotions and colorful cakes on the display fridge. But as you going through the menu carefully, you will notice the mains are equally attractive. The place has undergone a major refurbishment lately and since its reopening, the place has been under the limelight due to its chic, feminine interior decor.

Many Thanks to Iconic Hotel for hosting us.

Dragon Noodle (龍鬚麵) @ Solaria Square, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A new member to Solaria Square at Bayan Lepas- Dragon Noodle (龍鬚麵) dishes out piping hot Sze Chuan-inspired noodle dishes. The noodle shop has a simple menu... just pick between 2 ingredients or 3 ingredients and proceed to select the noodle type as well as toppings. There are several soup bases as well; the basic ones can be quite affordable but it can also be quite a damage to the wallet as you add more stuff to the bowl. If you are in the vicinity and looking for a decent place for a quick fix, this place can be one of the options.

Tim Choi Sam Dessert (甜在心) @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

If you are looking for a dessert place in Georgetown that offers classic Chinese desserts, look no further than Tim Choi Sam Dessert (甜在心). This new kid in town serves up to 15 types of traditional Chinese desserts; familiar items like Mango Sago, Red/ Mung Bean Soup, Glutinous Rice Balls, Black Glutinous Rice Dessert, Peanut Soup, Peach Gum etc are on the menu with wallet-friendly price tags. It opens slightly before dinner time but given that the place is on the same row as the famous Chu Char Tek Sen restaurant, this place gets a little crowded from 7 pm. Though choices are not overwhelming, this place can be a decent choice to ease your cravings for old-school desserts.

Yao Ya Gan Dim Sum (有一间点心) @ Batu Lanchang, Jelutong, Penang.

Yao Ya Gan Dim Sum (有一间点心) is probably one of the less-known Dim Sum joints in Penang... first, the newly opened Dim Sum joint is merely 2 month-old and it is housed within a residential neighborhood of Batu Lanchang. It does take some effort to locate this place if you are unfamiliar with this area, it is of the same row as Sebaidee Thai Restaurant and Soon Lai Seafood. Occupying more than 3 shop houses on the same row, Yao Ya Gan Dim Sum is like the communal dining place for the folks living nearby; the variety may not be as extensive as some established ones but the prices are friendlier and the tables are well-spaced. Air-ventilation is good, offering windy and airy atmosphere. Not a place for absolute taste but more to a place for casual-weekend family breakfast.

Krong Nok The Bird Cafe Thai Cuisine @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Krong Nok takes over an unoccupied lot along Nagore Road, the shop house turned restaurant is hard to miss... with its flashy, attractive blue signage that writes "Real Thai Food" would make any Thai food lovers excited over the moon. The proprietor seems to be very experienced in the F&B industry particularly in offering Thai food. The menu is quite big, featuring many Thai delights that Malaysians are familiar with; prices are of restaurant-level with comfortable seating and dining atmosphere. With its strategic location in the heartland of Georgetown, this is one decent place to ease your Thai food cravings.

Revealed! What Nobody Will Tell You About CompTIA A+ Certification

Wondering how you can build a career in the prestigious IT industry? If so then an entry-level IT certification may be perfect for you. With the recent reports predicting a 28% increase in job opportunities by the next decade, IT jobs are arguably one of the fastest growing jobs across the globe.

But the question is, what should be your starting point if you are new to this field? Well, various entry-level credentials are available to help you get started on the right foot. The key to choosing the best entry-level certification is understanding your skill set and personal interests.

So, if you are new to the IT world, CompTIA is the best vendor for you to become certified. It has developed reputable certifications for all tastes, from the complete beginners with no experience background ITF+, to those who need to deepen their skills and knowledge A+, and those who advance their skills in the already chosen area Network+ and Security+, among many. In addition, CompTIA offers vendor-neutral certifications, which allow you to work in any company you’d like and are ideal for career growth.

This article is your updated guide to the CompTIA A+ credential and it will help you make an informed decision regarding your career goals. So, without further ado, let’s take an in-depth look at this credential and why it’s important to become certified in 2019.

About the CompTIA A+ Certification

The CompTIA A+ credential is the minimum qualifying standard for jumpstarting your career in the IT world. This certification equips you with the technical skills you will require to serve in various IT operational and technical support roles.

In the highly dynamic IT sphere, earning the CompTIA A+ certification is more than just a way to acquire the PC repair skills. It equips you with the helpful skills necessary for troubleshooting and solving problems. In addition, it also shows your competency in wide-ranging issues such as networking, operating systems, security, and mobile devices.

Career Prospects

The CompTIA A+ certification is recognized globally by such companies such as Intel, Dell, HP, and Nissan. Keeping this in mind, earning this credential qualifies you for noteworthy professions all of which bring enviable financial rewards. Thus, being A+ certified, you can apply for such positions as

Support Specialist, and earn an average of $54 500 per year, or become Field Service Technician and make a median salary of $46 000 annually, or you can opt for Desktop Support Analyst and get the average annual salary of about $60 000.

Required Exams

To attain this certification, you will have to pass the two required exams. Pending the retirement of the 900 series exams later this year, you have two options to choose from at the moment. You can either take the soon-to-retire 900 series or the newly developed 1000 series.

The 900 series includes 220-901 and 220-902 exams. Speaking of the retired exams, CompTIA is known to revamp its certification programs every three years and as such, it is soon replacing these exams with the said 1000 series. The 900 series launched on December 15, 2015 and their three-year validity period has since come to pass. In fact, the English version of the 900 series exams is retiring on July 31, 2019, while other languages will retire on October 1, 2019.

The new exams include 220-1001 and 220-1002. These tests have additional content relating to the aspects of the IT support role. Here’s a quick overview of the said exams.

Exam 220-901

This test verifies your skills associated with mobile device hardware, PC hardware and peripherals, networking and troubleshooting hardware, and network connectivity issues.

Exam 220-902

This exam validates your ability to install and configure operating systems including Android, Apple, Windows, iOS, and Linux. In addition, it also tests your skills in working with operational procedures, security and the fundamentals of cloud computing.

Exam 220-1001

With an extended scope, this test addresses networking technology, mobile devices, network troubleshooting, hardware virtualization, and cloud computing.

Exam 220-1002

This exam marks the last part in the 1000 series and checks how proficient you are in completing tasks that relate to operating systems, in particular, denoting installation and configuration, it tests your deepened skills in security, and your ability to carry out software troubleshooting.

Exam Description

Aside from the expanded content of the 1000 series exams, the mentioned four exams share various similarities. For instance, all the exams test 90 items related to the CompTIA A+ certification that should be solved in 90 minutes.

Furthermore, the question formats are the same and include multiple-choice questions (single and multiple responses), performance-based and drag and drops. Grading is done on a scale of 100-900 with the passing score set at 675 for the 220-901 and 220-1001 exams and 700 for the 220-902 and 220-1002 exams.

Recommended Experience

It's highly recommended that you must have acquired at least 9-12 months of hands-on experience in the field or lab prior to scheduling your test.

Exam Preparation Options

The CompTIA official website offers tons of study materials for certification exam candidates. If you are preparing for your A+ certification exams, then you certainly have plenty of study materials to choose from. Here are a few to begin with.

CertMaster Learn for A+

This is an exhaustive eLearning solution that was designed by CompTIA for certification exam training. Known to be a self-paced and interactive platform, Cert Master Learn for A+ tests provides performance-based questions and a customizable learning plan that improves your chances of acing the exam at the initial attempt. You can find it for cheap from the CompTIA website.

CertMaster Practice

You all know the benefits of practice exams during the IT certification journey. Right? The CertMaster Practice verifies your knowledge of the exam concepts in readiness for the actual test. It helps build confidence by confirming your strengths and weak areas that need extra effort.

Study Guides for A+

If you prefer the traditional mode of learning that involves reading textbooks and other published materials, then check out the Official CompTIA Content books for the A+ certification exams.

Instructor-Led Training

How about engaging in live online training from your own comfort? How would you like it? Whether a team or just an individual, CompTIA’s instructor-led training platform has plenty to offer the certification exam candidates.

Optional Resources

Along with the material offered by CompTIA, you can enhance your preparation searching for additional prep material. For example, Examsnap.com website offers the most reliable exam dumps for a great number of tests and exams. Most files are free, though you can get a premium bundle that includes the questions and answers checked by IT experts for A+ certification exams for just $34.98 now. In addition, Examsnap offers training courses for your exams and a number of useful articles on how to pass them.

Renewal

You can maintain the validity of your certification by meeting one of the three requirements. The first option involves completing the CertMaster CE, a self-paced course that is readily available online.

Besides, you can also collect a minimum of 20 Continuing Education Units (CEU) within a period of 3 years before uploading the same to your certification account. This automatically updates your A+ credential. After being confident in your knowledge and skills, you can opt for the certifications of the higher level. The benefit of building a career in IT is that there’s always a place to grow your skills.

Conclusion

So that marks the end. With the highly volatile IT industry, the demand for IT technicians couldn’t be higher. Stand out from the competition by attaining the CompTIA A+ certification to advance your career. Looking to attract better jobs and command higher salaries? Then go for it.

Liu Bing Shi (六號冰室) @ Lorong Selamat, Georgetown, Penang.

Enjoy a taste of Hong Kong at this newly opened Hong Kong cafe along Lorong Selamat that serves up Hong Kong delicacies. Started in late 2018, Liu Bing Shi (六號冰室) tries to bring in the classic Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng dining experience... with the whole place turning into Hong Kong-styled coffee shop, offering a menu comprises of a variety of Hone Kong delights. Expect to see the instant noodles-alike dishes, Wan Ton Mee, Cheese Baked Rice, Soup Macaroni, Toasts and some Hong Kong street food. There were some hits and misses but still a decent place to ease your cravings for Hong Kong food.

Hanjan Eatery Soju Bar @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

There are plenty of Korean joints in town but nothing unlike Hanjan... a newer spot on the list that embodies Soju (or alcohol) with classic Korean delights. Probably the first and only Korean Soju Bar in town, Hanjan welcomes its guests with an impressive entrance... a huge wall with displays of alcohol on the right and classy-elegant seats right in front. The proprietor pays great attention to details and greets guests promptly. He would also suggests some recommendations to guests as to what they could offer, such friendly gesture certainly adds some marks. The food menu features an array of Korean delights... as light as Kimchi Pancake, Korean Rice Cakes or heavier options like Noodles, Rice or Fried Chicken; most of the dishes and small bites are designed to go particularly well with Soju and Beer. The drinks menu are more extensive- with a list of Korean-influenced Cocktails and Mocktails, Beers, Wines and hard liquors. Excellent atmosphere with delicious Cocktails, not so much for the food but it certainly adds credits to an evening's merriment.