Experience in Penang, a week is not enough
The island of Penang, taken from the old Malaysian name pinang, is a very good place to put your wish list if you plan to explore other places in Malaysia besides Kuala Lumpur. Penang is a miniature world of culture, both modern and ancient that I have felt right from the first come here. Penang not only has George Town, but also a land of art, of coffee-style corners and a rich culinary background.
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A lot of different ways to get to Penang
By plane
If you depart from Hanoi and want to get to Penang directly, the plane is the best, although usually you have to transit in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, Malaysia's domestic flights are very cheap with AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines, Kuala Lumpur - Penang roundtrip tickets are often under 1tr VND. Penang also has direct flights from other Southeast Asian cities such as Yangon, Bangkok or Singapore.
If you depart from Hanoi and want to get to Penang directly, the plane is the best, although usually you have to transit in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, Malaysia's domestic flights are very cheap with AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines, Kuala Lumpur - Penang roundtrip tickets are often under 1tr VND. Penang also has direct flights from other Southeast Asian cities such as Yangon, Bangkok or Singapore.
From the airport to the city:
The easiest and quickest way is still a taxi, but to save you can take the bus. The airport is about 20km away from George Town (usually frequented by tourists or hotels) and noted that the traffic in Penang is crazy. Road is very beautiful but also many cars, red lights are too long leading to the traffic jam as rice.
The bus from the airport to the city is located just outside the airport hall, under the public bus operator of the public transport here is Rapid Penang. You can catch the 101 bus to enter the city, the fare is only 2.7RM, but sometimes the bus runs more than an hour. In the afternoon you catch the bus again, but very bad luck. I do not have 101 cars to take to the airport, lastly too afraid to catch a taxi at 35RM (bargain from 40RM). The taxi is pretty fast just 30 'to the airport although the road is also quite clogged. (1RM ~ 5500VND)
If you go to Penang from Kuala Lumpur or other Malaysian cities
Penang is not far from the mainland but there is a large bridge crossing the sea between the mainland and the island so there are many other ways to get to the island.
By train: The train from Kuala Lumpur takes 10 hours to reach Jalan Bagan Dalam and stops at Butterworth Railway Station mainland section near the ferry terminal, to the island you have to catch the next taxi or ferry. Ferry runs from 6am to 12:30 am every 10 'there is a trip and take 20' to the island, fare is also very cheap only 1.5RM and free afternoon.
By bus: There are several bus services from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, the run time is 5 hours and usually to the end is Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal near the airport.
Traveling on Penang Island
Motorbike rental on the island
Although buses run on the island quite often, I recommend that you hire a motorbike for the ride. Car rental in Penang is not that gasoline in Malaysia like to say, gasoline price is only two thirds of gasoline in Vietnam.
You go along Lebuh Street Chulia has a lot of motorcycle rental shops, I rent a car from an older guy, long hair and tall. This guy is quite fierce and looks carefully, the car for me to guide each glass, instructing down that to go carefully and keep the car. The price depends on the type of car, the cheapest car is Dream, a car number. I rent a very new car price 29RM / day, too cheap that the car is very good quality.
Traveling by motorbike on the island you should note that Malaysia has laws go left side of the road against Vietnam so you need to get used to it. The roads in Penang have to be very beautiful, the traffic is conscious, when you stop at a certain point remember to leave the car properly, usually will have clear lines. Only one crazy thing when riding a motorbike in Penang is the many traffic lights that wait for the light is super long, the large intersection 2.5 minutes a turn.
Walking in George Town
George Town is also quite wide, but you can easily walk to see and eat. In the heart of George Town there are plenty of shops, eateries, good for walking, and Street Art is also a great walk.
Where to travel Penang
George Town Old Town: Obviously, this is the center of all service on the island. The price of the room here is quite cheap but close to the night market, food super rich. This area is 40 minutes' drive from the airport.
Batu Feringghi Beach Resort: This is an area of many resorts and five star hotels, 45 'from George Town. Through the center or traffic jam is running around the mountainside beautifully deserted.
Also you can refer to the hostel The Frame Guesthouse that I stayed in when coming to Penang, this hostel is located on Lebuh Chulia Road in the old town of George Town, a dusty but very clean design. Space in hostel is quite cool, mainly European dust tourists should stay very comfortable. Price range 35RM / bed in a mix room with 6 beds, breakfast included.
Explore Penang Cuisine
It is no coincidence that I put the title for the article that "Penang travel a week is not enough", besides many attractions, one thing that pulls you back in the city - this beautiful island is cuisine. Penang has traditional Muslim dishes, a wide variety of street food and many restaurants and cafes with their own signature dishes, which one week to try is not enough.
Street food is bustling and most famous in Chulia Street, at night the restaurant is open until 12 pm. The streets are countless as:
Char Koay Teow 炒 粿 條 - egg noodle with shrimp and bean sprouts.
Koay Teow Th'ng 粿 条 汤 - a kind of soup accompanied with meat, fish and rice noodles (noodle).
Penang Assam Laksa: A well-known traditional dish in Penang with steak mackerel in broth with tamarind, lemon shrimp, chili and shrimp, extremely tasty.
Penang Rojak: A characteristic salad of Penang with peanuts, squid and some thin slices of pineapple.
Nasi Kandar: A Muslim dish, if one is unfamiliar it will be quite difficult to eat, the look is typical of the dominant color of cari and curry.
Curry mee: The dish is very popular in Penang, the main ingredients are yellow egg noodles and noodles, prawns, oysters, cuttlefish, tofu and meat with mainstream curry.
You can also enjoy some of the cafes, as every pub has their own cabinets. For example, the Mugshot cafe with the famous Bacon egg bagel.
Walking around the attractions in Penang on motorbikes
The list of the main attractions you can note below:
Wandering Chulia Street - the bustling streets of George Town
Referring to George Town, probably everyone thinks of Chulia as it's the main street of cafes, restaurants and street food, especially bustling in the evening. If you love nighlife - nightlife can not ignore the bar here, there is vibrant music, delicious drinks and fine dining.
There are many other attractions in George Town. George's Church, Little India, .. Please rent a Trishaw, the typical facility in Penang for the whole group to pedal around the street and take a picture.
Take pictures at Street Art Street
This also seems to be a symbol of George Town with many paintings on the large walls stretching across many streets. Penang can not help but take pictures of these fun-filled pictures.
Tip: The wall paintings can be found in different streets, but you can look at the map clearly, but some of them have been removed and replaced so do not be surprised if you do not. Find the painting you need to find. Some of the paintings are located in the streets than you have to drive around to see.
Take the boat up Penang Hill
Every big city has a place for you to stand on and see the whole city, Penang Hill is such a place. On Penang Hill is a fun complex with Ba Na Hill in Da Nang, although not as large, with restaurants, gardens and bridge quite romantic. The highlight of Penang Hill is the train that takes you to the top of the hill, not the cable car but a small train going up the steep rails.
Getting There: Penang Hill foothills buys tickets at 30RM per adult.
Tip: You should come here in the afternoon and be able to stay up to night to see the city shimmering at the lights. In the morning, if you have bad luck, you will not see anything in the morning. The train time is 6.30am - 11p.m.
Gourmet Drive
This street next to Chulia Street is the world of street food of Penang. Here you can find almost all of Penang's signature street food, which is open from late morning until late at night, but at a very cheap price. Also near Gurney Drive is busy shopping area Gurney Plaza is a lot of high-end fashion, if you are a shopping fan can not ignore this place.
Speaking of food, you can consider the Viva Local Food Heaven, a true culinary paradise. This is almost like a Foodcourt-like concentration camp with a 1000m2 campus, each bar is a small stall around and in the middle of the table for visitors. If you want to eat something then order them then bring them to the table, the number of eateries as well as dishes are many to choose from.
Wat Kek Lok Si
This is the largest temple in Penang, quite close to Penang Hill, so if anyone has to go to Penang Hill should be jointly this place on the same journey. Although not large and magnificent Buddhist temples in Kao Kung - Taiwan but Kek Lok Si is also the largest in Southeast Asia. The pagoda is located on a mountain not too high can be motorbike up, standing here can see the sea, high buildings in Penang.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
This beach is located in the North West of the island, where the resort, luxury 5 star resort. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive from George Town depending on traffic conditions, but the mountain road is very beautiful. Batu Ferringhi Beach has a long sandy beach, but due to the lack of flora in Langkawi Island, most people come here for walks, bathing and playing games such as paragliding.
Near Batu beach, there is a night market selling a lot of items, but mostly clothes such as clothes, hats or bags, etc. The clothes are not very nice, You can not go around the city.
Visiting the old houses
Penang is a city with a long history, and has been a bustling trade center for hundreds of years, so the island houses many ancient and highly valued houses. Old houses such as the Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion (Blue Mansion) or Peranakan are open to the public, with tickets up to 15RM. These houses are architectural styles of Indian or Chinese ancients are worth a visit.
ESCAPE Adventureplay and Penang garden butterfly farm
ESCAPE Adventureplay is located far away from the CBD, passing through Batu Ferringhi beach and is a place for those who love adventure and adventure. Here are some traditional and modern games such as stunts, bungee jumping, walking, ...
Near the playground is the Penang butterfly farm, also known as the famous butterfly farm. The flora is extremely rich and green, a good environment for flowering plants as well as thousands of colorful butterflies living with nectar. The farm, which opened in 1986 with a campus of nearly 1 hectare, also acts as a research center for butterflies.
Chew Clan Jetties
This floating village is located just off the East Coast near George Town, built in the 19th century by migrants from Fujian, China, once a bustling trading port. The houses in this area are now protected as a cultural heritage. Come here for a walk on wooden bridges, join in the daily life of the people and buy cute souvenirs.
In addition to the main attractions mentioned above, you can visit night markets in Tanjong Bungah, Penang National Park, Penang City Hall, Penang. At first glance, the island is not too big. Experience Penang delicacies, gorgeous coffee houses or the iconic old houses of Penang, with a tight schedule, you need a reasonable schedule and enough to not miss the must-see spots in Penang. submit.
The easiest and quickest way is still a taxi, but to save you can take the bus. The airport is about 20km away from George Town (usually frequented by tourists or hotels) and noted that the traffic in Penang is crazy. Road is very beautiful but also many cars, red lights are too long leading to the traffic jam as rice.
The bus from the airport to the city is located just outside the airport hall, under the public bus operator of the public transport here is Rapid Penang. You can catch the 101 bus to enter the city, the fare is only 2.7RM, but sometimes the bus runs more than an hour. In the afternoon you catch the bus again, but very bad luck. I do not have 101 cars to take to the airport, lastly too afraid to catch a taxi at 35RM (bargain from 40RM). The taxi is pretty fast just 30 'to the airport although the road is also quite clogged. (1RM ~ 5500VND)
If you go to Penang from Kuala Lumpur or other Malaysian cities
Penang is not far from the mainland but there is a large bridge crossing the sea between the mainland and the island so there are many other ways to get to the island.
By train: The train from Kuala Lumpur takes 10 hours to reach Jalan Bagan Dalam and stops at Butterworth Railway Station mainland section near the ferry terminal, to the island you have to catch the next taxi or ferry. Ferry runs from 6am to 12:30 am every 10 'there is a trip and take 20' to the island, fare is also very cheap only 1.5RM and free afternoon.
By bus: There are several bus services from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, the run time is 5 hours and usually to the end is Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal near the airport.
Traveling on Penang Island
Motorbike rental on the island
Although buses run on the island quite often, I recommend that you hire a motorbike for the ride. Car rental in Penang is not that gasoline in Malaysia like to say, gasoline price is only two thirds of gasoline in Vietnam.
You go along Lebuh Street Chulia has a lot of motorcycle rental shops, I rent a car from an older guy, long hair and tall. This guy is quite fierce and looks carefully, the car for me to guide each glass, instructing down that to go carefully and keep the car. The price depends on the type of car, the cheapest car is Dream, a car number. I rent a very new car price 29RM / day, too cheap that the car is very good quality.
Traveling by motorbike on the island you should note that Malaysia has laws go left side of the road against Vietnam so you need to get used to it. The roads in Penang have to be very beautiful, the traffic is conscious, when you stop at a certain point remember to leave the car properly, usually will have clear lines. Only one crazy thing when riding a motorbike in Penang is the many traffic lights that wait for the light is super long, the large intersection 2.5 minutes a turn.
Walking in George Town
George Town is also quite wide, but you can easily walk to see and eat. In the heart of George Town there are plenty of shops, eateries, good for walking, and Street Art is also a great walk.
Where to travel Penang
George Town Old Town: Obviously, this is the center of all service on the island. The price of the room here is quite cheap but close to the night market, food super rich. This area is 40 minutes' drive from the airport.
Batu Feringghi Beach Resort: This is an area of many resorts and five star hotels, 45 'from George Town. Through the center or traffic jam is running around the mountainside beautifully deserted.
Also you can refer to the hostel The Frame Guesthouse that I stayed in when coming to Penang, this hostel is located on Lebuh Chulia Road in the old town of George Town, a dusty but very clean design. Space in hostel is quite cool, mainly European dust tourists should stay very comfortable. Price range 35RM / bed in a mix room with 6 beds, breakfast included.
Explore Penang Cuisine
It is no coincidence that I put the title for the article that "Penang travel a week is not enough", besides many attractions, one thing that pulls you back in the city - this beautiful island is cuisine. Penang has traditional Muslim dishes, a wide variety of street food and many restaurants and cafes with their own signature dishes, which one week to try is not enough.
Street food is bustling and most famous in Chulia Street, at night the restaurant is open until 12 pm. The streets are countless as:
Char Koay Teow 炒 粿 條 - egg noodle with shrimp and bean sprouts.
Koay Teow Th'ng 粿 条 汤 - a kind of soup accompanied with meat, fish and rice noodles (noodle).
Penang Assam Laksa: A well-known traditional dish in Penang with steak mackerel in broth with tamarind, lemon shrimp, chili and shrimp, extremely tasty.
Penang Rojak: A characteristic salad of Penang with peanuts, squid and some thin slices of pineapple.
Nasi Kandar: A Muslim dish, if one is unfamiliar it will be quite difficult to eat, the look is typical of the dominant color of cari and curry.
Curry mee: The dish is very popular in Penang, the main ingredients are yellow egg noodles and noodles, prawns, oysters, cuttlefish, tofu and meat with mainstream curry.
You can also enjoy some of the cafes, as every pub has their own cabinets. For example, the Mugshot cafe with the famous Bacon egg bagel.
Walking around the attractions in Penang on motorbikes
The list of the main attractions you can note below:
Wandering Chulia Street - the bustling streets of George Town
Referring to George Town, probably everyone thinks of Chulia as it's the main street of cafes, restaurants and street food, especially bustling in the evening. If you love nighlife - nightlife can not ignore the bar here, there is vibrant music, delicious drinks and fine dining.
There are many other attractions in George Town. George's Church, Little India, .. Please rent a Trishaw, the typical facility in Penang for the whole group to pedal around the street and take a picture.
Take pictures at Street Art Street
This also seems to be a symbol of George Town with many paintings on the large walls stretching across many streets. Penang can not help but take pictures of these fun-filled pictures.
Tip: The wall paintings can be found in different streets, but you can look at the map clearly, but some of them have been removed and replaced so do not be surprised if you do not. Find the painting you need to find. Some of the paintings are located in the streets than you have to drive around to see.
Take the boat up Penang Hill
Every big city has a place for you to stand on and see the whole city, Penang Hill is such a place. On Penang Hill is a fun complex with Ba Na Hill in Da Nang, although not as large, with restaurants, gardens and bridge quite romantic. The highlight of Penang Hill is the train that takes you to the top of the hill, not the cable car but a small train going up the steep rails.
Getting There: Penang Hill foothills buys tickets at 30RM per adult.
Tip: You should come here in the afternoon and be able to stay up to night to see the city shimmering at the lights. In the morning, if you have bad luck, you will not see anything in the morning. The train time is 6.30am - 11p.m.
Gourmet Drive
This street next to Chulia Street is the world of street food of Penang. Here you can find almost all of Penang's signature street food, which is open from late morning until late at night, but at a very cheap price. Also near Gurney Drive is busy shopping area Gurney Plaza is a lot of high-end fashion, if you are a shopping fan can not ignore this place.
Speaking of food, you can consider the Viva Local Food Heaven, a true culinary paradise. This is almost like a Foodcourt-like concentration camp with a 1000m2 campus, each bar is a small stall around and in the middle of the table for visitors. If you want to eat something then order them then bring them to the table, the number of eateries as well as dishes are many to choose from.
Wat Kek Lok Si
This is the largest temple in Penang, quite close to Penang Hill, so if anyone has to go to Penang Hill should be jointly this place on the same journey. Although not large and magnificent Buddhist temples in Kao Kung - Taiwan but Kek Lok Si is also the largest in Southeast Asia. The pagoda is located on a mountain not too high can be motorbike up, standing here can see the sea, high buildings in Penang.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
This beach is located in the North West of the island, where the resort, luxury 5 star resort. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive from George Town depending on traffic conditions, but the mountain road is very beautiful. Batu Ferringhi Beach has a long sandy beach, but due to the lack of flora in Langkawi Island, most people come here for walks, bathing and playing games such as paragliding.
Near Batu beach, there is a night market selling a lot of items, but mostly clothes such as clothes, hats or bags, etc. The clothes are not very nice, You can not go around the city.
Visiting the old houses
Penang is a city with a long history, and has been a bustling trade center for hundreds of years, so the island houses many ancient and highly valued houses. Old houses such as the Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion (Blue Mansion) or Peranakan are open to the public, with tickets up to 15RM. These houses are architectural styles of Indian or Chinese ancients are worth a visit.
ESCAPE Adventureplay and Penang garden butterfly farm
ESCAPE Adventureplay is located far away from the CBD, passing through Batu Ferringhi beach and is a place for those who love adventure and adventure. Here are some traditional and modern games such as stunts, bungee jumping, walking, ...
Near the playground is the Penang butterfly farm, also known as the famous butterfly farm. The flora is extremely rich and green, a good environment for flowering plants as well as thousands of colorful butterflies living with nectar. The farm, which opened in 1986 with a campus of nearly 1 hectare, also acts as a research center for butterflies.
Chew Clan Jetties
This floating village is located just off the East Coast near George Town, built in the 19th century by migrants from Fujian, China, once a bustling trading port. The houses in this area are now protected as a cultural heritage. Come here for a walk on wooden bridges, join in the daily life of the people and buy cute souvenirs.
In addition to the main attractions mentioned above, you can visit night markets in Tanjong Bungah, Penang National Park, Penang City Hall, Penang. At first glance, the island is not too big. Experience Penang delicacies, gorgeous coffee houses or the iconic old houses of Penang, with a tight schedule, you need a reasonable schedule and enough to not miss the must-see spots in Penang. submit.
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