kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Danny Moore (pony123@unwired.com.au)
"Just found the site and brought back some very good memories. The Hong Kong Bar was always my first bar when I went ashore in Penang, followed by the Archoo Bar and others. Was a very popular boozer with Aussie Sailors in the 70s and 80s and a must visit".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Lars (83ahlgren@telia.com)
"In the sixties-seventies Hong Kong Bar was a favorite on the Far East trade. The great hospitality made you feel at home and as a part of the family. I especially remember an afternoon as the only guest, "talking of many things" with the girls and the youngest daughter and joking about an article in a newspaper they were reading where "making love" was said to be very hard work. Being Swedish and the reputation we had at the time I was in center of their jokes. I also had a beer in the back, watching TV and solving problems of the world with the father. I guess I fell a little in love with the daughter who was very pretty and last time I was there she told me to be careful about spending my money and if she was married to me she would really keep an eye on those matters for me!? Sorry I never came back, I would have asked her to! The fire was a real blow and I hope that the family is allright and things are going again. I wish I had had a camera myself that time so I could have contributed to restoring the albums. All the best! Lars
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Paul Daniells (paulie906@gmail.com)
"brings back good memories 8/9rar nov78-feb79 thanks"
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Barry (Cocko) Cochrane (bmcockos@bigpond.com)
"I was in Butterworth with 75 Sqn during 1972 - 75 and lived on Penang in Jalan Bunga Pisang. What great memories came flooding back when I looked at the photos. Didn't see one of The Hostie though. I'm hoping to go back for a holiday early in 2009 and from what I've seen of Penang on the internet the place has changed just a bit since January 1975".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Mark Pearson (webmaster@89rarassociation.org.au)
"Given the battalion's association with the HK Bar, I hope you don't mind that I have create a link to this page on our links page".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Anthony Khong (five.pilgrims@fsmail.net)
"I dropped by the Hong Kong Bar with my wife a couple years ago and it was very nice for a total stranger, a gentleman in the name of Irish Bill who insisted in buying us a drink. Ah Seng was there as well. It was a very welcoming place to kill a few Tigers".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Pidge (steve.schwartz.g@gmail.com)
"Two great RCB tours with A and B Coy 3RAR in the eighties (G'day Shorty and Owiee). Really sad to hear of the fire but great to hear you're both safe and on your feet again. When my boy's a little older we'll come for a visit".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Kevin Wright (kevin_wright@kingston.com.pg)
"I drank many a Tiger at the HK Bar in 1990 with 5/7 RAR (MECH). Anybody out there from this trip?"
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Paul Winton (pjw5758@hotmail.com)
"Hello again, I originally went to the Hong Kong bar in 1982 with 8/9 RAR and it was very much like in the above photo's. However I have been back to Penang and the Hong Kong bar quite a few times since, especially since the fire. I was there in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to celebrate my 50th at the Hong Kong Bar, and ill be over there again for 8 weeks in 2009. I was wondering if more updated photos of the Hong Kong bar can be added to the above to show what it is now like since the fire, I am sure many people would be interested to view the change and to see that some of the memorabilia had been saved from the fire. I am sure Peter and Jenny wont mind. Thank you for this great site".
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Ric Francis
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 18
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December 19, 2008 10:15am
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Good shot Kayes from where you took this photo outside Air Asia office. Well each time I see this site from the office on the second floor it reminds me of long ago like fifty years when I was a regular in the Bar as a young serviceman
Ric
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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Anthony Khongs,mention of Irish Bill,reminded me of the time I was drinking with Bill,in the Hong Kong Bar and a German Merchant Seaman was becoming rather obnoxious toward us.Bill said to him"I have only two words to say to a German,Bomber Harris" it certainly shut the gentleman up
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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December 20, 2008 12:05am
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hi Ric, I am sure it was a boisterous bar back then 
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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December 22, 2008 10:29am
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Actually Kayes,the Hong Kong Bar,in my days at least,whilst being,As you put it,Boisterus,was quite well run,and nobody stepped out of line,lest they incur the wrath of Jenny.That wrath was almost Biblical to Behold.I would add that another lady,who worked behind the bar,in the Ah Chew Bar,was a very interisting Lady to talk to.She had in fact been born in that Hotel,in Kimberley Street?I think.A very interesting lady to speak with,with much Pinang history to tell if you wished to listen.I did
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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Merry Christmas to all.To those who don't Celerbrate it.I still wish you"Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all"
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Peter
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 26
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Hi Jim, Agree with your sentiments. Perhaps one day we will put it all behind us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all PenangTalkers and their families. May the angel/spirit of Good Fortune shine of all of you!
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Peter
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 26
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I should have added I hope the Tigers don't roar in the night!
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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Peter,my regards to Jenny and of course Irish Bill,if he is still around?
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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I should have added,"Let the Tiger Roar all it wants,we will still wrestled it" Though perhaps come up "Wounded In Action"
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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Those of us who,over the years,have indulged in your Hospitality Peter and Jenny,know there is few better
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Peter
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 26
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Hi Jim, just letting you know that I am not Peter from Hong Kong Bar but I used to post as Aussie Pete. They were especially fine Mein Hosts on my last visit after the fire and I too wish them well. Hope to be back within the next year.
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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December 24, 2008 12:50am
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I do apologise Peter,pardon my assumptions.There really is a lot of History in some of these places if only people would take the time to look,listen and learn.Yes they may have been boisterous and bawdy in their day,as I am sure a lot of Seafarers/Military Bars have been.But it all adds to the character of George Town and the History.Perhaps Pinangites could sometimes Ponder the amount of History they are part of,not just locally but globally.I am happy to see parts of George Town heritage listed,I really am
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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In Batu Uban there is a Wooden Mosque,that pre-dates European Settlement,here in Australia.In Bagan Serai there is another,beautiful Wooden Mosque,which dates I confess I do not know,in Pinang near the corner of Chulia Street and,I think Leboh Farhquar?is a Mosque built by Bengalli's.The Museum in Taiping is,I believe,the Oldest One in Malaysia.I don't know the correct name,so please pardon my ignorance,but in Kedah there is a Mountain,that we used to call "Kedah Peak"where remains of a very ancient civiliastion have been found.Malaysians have a very rich History,they drive past it every day.Richer,in fact than the United Kingdom or Europe.They just don't realise it
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Jim Joyce
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 46
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I stand corrected on my last,For Chulia Street and Leboh Farhquar,please read Chulia Street and Leboh Leith
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alan eaton
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 1
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February 19, 2009 12:39am
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Revisited the Hong Kong bar in early Sept 2008 after 22yrs.It was the highlite of our 7 days in Penang.To be able to show my wife where I spent a lot of my early yrs in the army was great.Jenny's smile never changes,same great service and icey cold Tiger beer.I will go back one day,hope its not another 22 yrs between dinks.
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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September 24, 2009 12:00pm
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Email from Michael J Quinn (michaelj.quinn32@bigpond.com)
"Went back again Xmas 08 and had New Years Eve at the bar in good company. Will be back January '09.Ex 3 RAR and 2/4 RAR.Best tour was with Charlie Company 3RAR. Also had a good one with 12 platoon (THE DIRTY DOZEN) Delta 2/4 1987".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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September 24, 2009 12:02pm
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Email from Steve Ferrell (s.ferrell@bigpond.com)
"Have some Great memories of the bar and still have all the old photos will try and down load them. Swanny remember having too find P.J.on the "ROCK" the nigth he got tied up and was awol".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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September 24, 2009 12:03pm
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Email from Steve (imse853@hotmail.com)
"I visited the HKB a number of times in the late 70s and early 80s while in the US Navy. Had many good times there he Ah Chew Bar and the Crazy Horse Saloon. Also remember the great steaks at the Eden Cafe. Will never forget the times I had at all of these places".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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September 24, 2009 12:09pm
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Email from Mick England (Mickengland2003@yahoo.co.uk)
"I was in the hong kong bar in 92, I was on a short break, a week from life in Bangkok, what a good bar, looks like it has not changed a bit".
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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Email from Steve Holt (steve@inuendos.co.uk)
"My first visit to Penang was in 1980 and I was hooked on the culture the lifestyles the history the people but most of all a strange kind of intangible magic that grabbed my soul. Now I've got to keep returning to make sure its ok - my soul that is. I try to get back at least once a year. Well maybe you will all know from previous comments which is my favourite bar in all the world - yep Hong Kong Bar on Chulia St. I have so many happy memories of that bar, every bar has a right to have character but the Hong Kong abuses the privilege. The family that runs it seems to remember everyone and sometimes its hard to get out when its quiet and Annie is saying awww go on have one for the road; hey should I care though. There is a picture of me as a much younger man in one of their books in the back room and many of my stories and signatures in the books below the bar. Maybe Penang itself isn't quite the same now as it used to be, but where is? I would still love to retire their from the uk, eventually, and then I could become a regular at Hong Kong bar. Of course I know that there is much much more to the Pearl of the Orient - Penang, than a bar on Chulia Street. What a great site, thanks so much for all the pictures".
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tifino
Registered: December 2010
Posts: 6
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December 16, 2010 11:13am
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HkBar has held special memntion in my own memories over the various return visits (military) to Butterworth; 1981, '84 & '93-'96.
In '95 the bar one night evolved into an engagement party to the now-ex. The place hummed with a regular flow through of filipinas, and for anyone walking in, they'd be forgiven for thinking we were back in downtown (backstreets) Manila. Come to think of it, the party was just about the most exciting part of a soon to be doomed relationship. For that night at least - thank you hkbar.
I hope & believe the place is back to its previous glory since the fire. Sorry all those signing books probably went up. Precious memories. Good luck to your future.
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Posts: 2,791
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An email from Shane Pilkington:-
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