After I flew to Penang with Thai Air Asia by evening flight, I checked-in to Robe Walk Guesthouse to take a rest. I chose this hotel because it is located in the heart of Georgetown which is in walking distance to many tourist places. Furthermore, it is old style hotel which second floor is wooden building. It recalled my childhood memory when I stay at my old house in my hometown.
The next day after my arrival date, I woke up at 8AM to freshen-up and have easy breakfast what I bought from minimart since last night. Then, I was ready to explore the world heritage island. The first destination in Penang was Penang Hill which is the iconic of this city. I reached by taxi hailing in GRAB application. The cost was only 17 MYR (3.80 USD). It took about 30 minutes.
Penang Hill
Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) is a hill resort comprising a group of peaks in the center of Penang Island. It has been developed into a hill station and a UNESCO recognized Biosphere Reserve. The top peak is 833 meters above sea-level. At Penang Hill, visitor can enjoy the fantastic bird-eyes views of the island. The visitor can get to the top hill by trekking (traditional way) or using the funicular (modern way). Of course, I selected funicular. 🤗
The round trip ticket for funicular (uphill and downhill) could be purchased by online or at ticket counter at Funicular Service Station. The tickets have 2 types, regulation and fast-track. My suggestion is buying online ticket in advance and redeem the boarding ticket at ticket counter on visiting date to skip the queue. The regular round trip ticket cost for adult was 30 MYR/person (6.50 USD). Furthermore, as this place is one of the most popular landmark of Penang, the boarding queue is tend to long everyday (both uphill and downhill). I would recommend to buy fast-track ticket which is 80 MYR/person (17.50 USD). Because, on my visiting date (Sunday), I arrived Funicular service station at 9.30AM, I could be boarding the funicular at 10.45AM. The funicular took about 10 minutes journey per trip. Funicular service open daily from 6.30AM to 11PM (the last trip from lower station is 9.45PM).
On the top of Penang Hill, it is like the nature park with plenty of view points, restaurants, cafeterias and activities for the tourists. The temperature there is lower than the city center about 5 °C. I could stroll around to enjoy the greenery of nature and relaxing atmosphere.
Funicular service station
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The Funicular to Penang Hill
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Indian Temple on Penang Hill
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I spent almost 2 hours in the Penang hill (include waiting time to queue-up the downhill for 20 minutes). I could feel relaxing even it had crowded on that day. It was the well blended between the historic commercial city like Penang and the nature of the hill. Many visitors came with family and children to enjoy the weekend together. It was the moment of happiness what I could resist to feel joyful every-time when I see them. At 1PM, I could back to the Funicular service station and had lunch at fast-food store there. Then, I moved to another landmark of this island, Kek Lok Si Temple. To get there, I hailed the ride by GRAB application in front of Funicular service station. It took about 15 minutes with the cost only 12 MYR (2.70 USD).
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Kek Lok Si Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. The temples was built over a period from 1890 to 1930, an inspirational initiative of Beow Lean, the abbot. The word “Kek Lok” means “Supremely joy” and “Si” means “Temple”. In Kek Lok Si temple, it has the complex of prayer halls, pavilions, and pagodas, all in different sizes and styles, making for an engaging visit framed by rainforest covered hills. The iconic of this temple are ordination halls in Chinese style, the bronze Guan Yin statue and Trio-style pagoda (the pagoda what has Thai, Chinese and Burmese style s in one). Kek Lok Si Temple open daily, 8.30AM – 5.30PM with free admission. But the visitors must pay some small cost to visit the Trio-pagoda (2 MYR/person or 0.50 USD) and to use inclined lift to Bronze Guan Yin Statue (6 MYR/person or 1.50 USD).
I arrive at Kok Lok Si Temple at 2.30PM and started to walk around the temple by getting in every place to admire the beautifulness of faithful power of Chinese culture in Malaysia. Everything in this temple looked grande and magical. However, the premisses were still peaceful and respectable.
The Trio Pagoda with 3-slyles in One
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Kek Lok Si Temple attracted me to stay there almost 2 hours as it has huge area and every corner is interesting. Then, as the weather in Penang is so warm and humid, it made me feel exhaust than usual . I decided to bid farewell to Kek Lok Si Temple and use GRAB application to call the ride back to the hotel to rest for a while before continue my mission in the evening.
I reached the hotel about 5.30PM and take break about an hour. Penang has timezone as GMT+8, but its location is in timezone of GMT+7, it makes this city has sunset at 7.30PM. So, I had enough time to capture everything before the sky getting dark. 😎
At 6.30PM, I went out again to catch up my evening mission by starting to one of the most important place of the island, Fort Cornwallis which is 1.5 km away from the hotel. I could get there by foot which took only 20 minutes.
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Fort Cornwallis
Fort cornwallis is located adjacent to The Esplanade. It is Malaysia’s oldest and largest fort. The fort marks the spot where Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang Island, first landed in 1786. It was built by British East India Company in 1786 by using using nibong palms by the British to protect Penang Island. Then, It was gradually rebuilt with bricks and completed in 1810 into the fort we see today. The fort never engaged in combat during its operational history. Fort cornwallis is open daily 8AM – 11PM. The admission fee is 20 MYR/person (4.50 USD). The payment can be done by credit and debit card or internet banking only, no cash accepted.
At Fort cornwallis, I could feel I was traveling back in time to the colonial era. The wall, moat and canons were still looked complete. The fort with the background of the beach and sea makes this scene as one of the beautiful scene in Penang island. However, the area of this fort is not big, visitor could stroll around and see every corner within 30 minutes.
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At sunset, I waved goodbye to Fort Cornwallis and moved to another interesting area for the nightlife, Love Lane. It is just 15 minutes walk.
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Love Lane
Love Lane is a narrow lane that runs from north to south, linking Farquhar Street and Chulia Street. It the past, this street had plenty of shophouses what made it looks like commercial area. Nowadays, those shophouses have been transformed to boutique hostel, trendy cafe and bars. Hence, the person who loves in bouncy and colorful nightlife must not miss this area when visiting Georgetown. However, me, who is not the fan of drink, I just visited this street to absorb the atmosphere of the funny life before continuing to another area for find some yummy dish for dinner. 🤪
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For Love Lane, I continued walking on Pintal Tali Street about 10 minutes to Kimberly Street Food Night Market. Actually, this area is just 2 minutes walk from my hotel. I targeted this area since a day before. 😛
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Kimberly Street Food Night Market
It is just a short street in the heart of Georgetown what is transformed to be walking street in the night with plenty of local food stalls and shops. The visitor can enjoy the local foods in “Real Penang Style” with extremely local price. Everything from every shop is looked yummy. I did try Jetty Lok-Lok, the fish ball and skewer stall what you can select the choice of yourself for deep-frying or boiling. The tips of this stall is the dipping sauce what the sweet, sour and mild spicy are well-blended and very matched with the fried or boiled fish balls. Furthermore, Char Kuay Teow (Stirred fried flat noodle with seafood) is the one of the most famous food what you cannot miss out. Finally, ending the dinner with local soya milk at the uncle’s shop made this dinner so perfect. 👍
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Char Kay Teow with seafood and no chili
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Mixed fish balls by choice of myself at Jetty Lok-Lok
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Iced Soya Milk in Penang Style
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I finished my local dinner at 9.30PM. Then, after my belly has been fulfilled, it was the time to back to the hotel to re-charge my energy for the next day as my Penang mission is not completed yet. My first full day in Penang was so colorful, even I was exhausted, but I could feel happy to gain more chapter of adventure into my life. It made me have one of the sweetest dream day. 😴🛌💤
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The second full day in Penang, it was my last day of this short trip too, I woke up at 8AM (this time may be seemed late, but Sunrise time in Penang is 7.30AM 😎). After getting sober and having breakfast, I checked-out from the hotel at 9.30AM and deposited by baggage at the hotel to make me roam lightly. The first place of the last day in Penang was Pinang Peranakan Mansion which is 1.20 km away from the hotel. I could get there by foot within 15 minutes.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
Pinang Peranakan Mansion (Aka : Babas and Nyonyas) is a museum dedicated to Penang’s Peranakan heritage. It was once served as the residence and office of a 19th-century Chinese tycoon, Chung Keng Quee. The mansion contains thousands of Peranakan artifacts, antiques and collectibles, as well as showcasing Peranakan interior design and customs, such as the typical grand long dining table (Tok Panjang). Pinang Peranakan Mansion is open daily, 9.30AM – 5PM with admission fee of 25 MYR/person (5.50 USD). The guided tour is complimentary with the admission ticket.
Since my first met, I really love the mint-green color building with mixed style of Chinese and Malay. Furthermore, the invaluable objects and furnitures in the museum were looked timeless and showing the rich culture of Chinese in the colonial era of Penang. No any words explain the beautifulness of this mansion better than your eyes.
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Pinang Peranakan Mansion has 2 floors. I spent about 1.50 hours to stroll around and capture the photo at every corner as well as joining the guided tour. At 11PM, I bidded farewell to the heritage house and walked to another area to see different culture in Penang, Little India which is only 350 meters away.
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Little India
Little India, as its name, is the community of Indian-Malaysian in Penang island. It is one of business district and busy part of this city. The charming of this area is the colorful of the decoration in Indian style. Visitor could enjoy the strength of spices by tasting Indian food from many food stalls and restaurants. Furthermore, many of Indian merchandises like Indian fabric (Saree), grocery and trinket are available here with reasonable price.
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I just walkthrough the little India area to absorb the Indian atmosphere and explore the life of India people in Penang for 15 minutes. Then, I moved to one of the most popular place of Penang where every visitor cannot miss, Armenian Street and Penang Street Art. It is only 400 meters from Little India.
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Armenian Street and Penang Street Art
Penang and Georgetown is belong to the list of world heritage site as of 2008. When the people talk about Penang and Georgetown, the street arts and old buildings are the one thing what is popped up. The combination of rich culture and street art makes Penang is a living museum and attracting many tourist to admire the city where modernity and heritage are smoothly blended. Capturing the photo of yourself with chic & cool street art painting in Penang is A-Must-Thing-To-Do. In addition, at Armenian street, the visitor could soaking into the atmosphere of Chinese clan houses as well as enjoy the local food and antique & souvenir from street stores.
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At Armenian Street and Street Art Area, it has many alleys where the painting arts are located in every corner. I could enjoy the vintage house and local life around this area until I forget the time. Once I looked at the watch, it was almost 1PM. It’s time to catch-up the last place of my plan in this trip, Chew Jetty which is only 10 minutes walk from Armenian Street.
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Chew Jetty
Chew Jetty is one of the clan jetties along the waterfront of Weld Quay in Penang. It was established in the 19th century as a traditional Chinese water village inhabited primarily by members of the Chew clan. The jetty features wooden stilt houses connected by wooden walkways with the unique lifestyle of the fishing community. Over time, it has become a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors cultural insights and scenic views of the Penang waterfront. Visitors can explore the narrow walkways, visit small shops, and experience the local way of life. Chew Jetty is open daily 9AM – 9PM.
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I spent the time at Chew Jetty for 30 minutes before looking something for lunch. Nearby there, it has The Jetty Food Court where the visitor can enjoy the local style food. At Penang, it has one of the most famous local dish what is only available in this city, Asam Laksa (Rice noodle in fish and tamarind soup). So, I would not miss this opportunity to try this one before flying back to Bangkok. 😋
Asam Laksa (Rice Noodle with fish and tamarind soup) in Penang 🍜
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About 3PM, I went back to the hotel to pick-up my deposted baggage and hailed the ride to the airport. I booked Thai Air Asia flight to Bangkok at 6.55PM. From hotel, it took about 30 minutes to the airport.
Finally, my small dream to visit Penang has been fulfilled and I could add one more city into my experience list. Even it was just short-trip, but I could get every taste of the travelling in tris trip. The nature of heritage island in Andaman Sea, the moderity of the city what is travelling the time from colonial era to the civilization world, the old style houses & structure what are the living museum and the unique culture of Peranakan in Malaya peninsula are all-in-one at Penang, the one of world heritage site where the traveling lover must not miss out.
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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth
Shipy-Ship 