Penang Malaysia

Kek Lok Si Temple

 We had a quick 3 day weekend get away to Penang. We picked Penang because it is a cheap quick flight and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I loved it and would be happy to go back anytime. It wasn't crowded, in fact we were the only westerners at most sites. It felt authentic. The people are helpful and friendly and easy to communicate with. The taxis are cheap and rates are established. 

We spent the first day on the Feringgi beach relaxing and recovering and watching Burka clad women parasailing. We ate dinner at the beautiful Feringgi Garden restaurant and then walked around the night market where we bought a street painting and a lovely batik. 

 Saturday we toured George Town which is the UNESCO site. I fell completely in love with the old restored shophouses and managed to edit my huge assortment of photos to these 5:

This last photo is an excellent example of the Chinese shophouse right next to a British shophouse. I am rather obsessed with them. They have mostly been torn down in Singapore.

We visited craftsmen of endangered trades. 

A rattan furniture builder.

A boat anchor welder.

A shoe maker. This is the very shop where Jimmy Choo got started. He started his training here and comes back regularly to visit. As you can expect there are photos of him in the shop. Next time I am here I am going to order shoes to be made.

Ike's foot next to the very last pair of shoes made for a woman with bound feet. She passed away before she could pick up the shoes. 

In Penang its all about the food. Every meal we had was delicious. We ate from street carts, hawkers, markets, and restaurants.

 This is the nutmeg fruit. That brown seed is the nutmeg we use in cooking. If you go be sure to order Nutmeg drink. Make sure it is made fresh, they add lime and honey and it is good!

 Sweet light crepes, of course they have a Malaysian name. You eat them plain. 

 Jackfruit

Rice bundles with salted duck egg inside. Didn't try these.

Penang has a great art scene. The streets are filled with paintings and steel art works that give the history of George Town. There are hip cool galleries next to junky dusty stores packed to the ceilings.

 A steel sign describing how this street used to have brass and copper production but now is mostly recycling.

This painting is famous with a line of photographers clicking away at it.

It seems that around every corner there is new art to discover.

On Sunday we went to Buddhist Church. 

Right after breakfast take a taxi to the top of Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest and most popular temple of Malaysia. taxi to the top and walk down. Pay the extra fees to ring the bells and see hidden gardens.

Where to Stay:

Keng Yeng Hotel - clean, well priced, quiet, good AC, decent breakfast, safe (although there are prostitutes on the street at night) 

The Campell House looked nice too. We ate lunch there.

Where to eat:

Hawker Stand and street food: Curry Mee (can order vegetarian) Char Kway Teow (can order vegetarian) Wan Tan Mee (again, can order vegetarian) Sesame balls, Yam balls, Corn Dumplings (my favorite)

JAWI House Cafe Gallery - authentic Peranakan food done right - order the Laksa - visit with the owner. She is at the crest of the movement to empower Malasian women, especially single moms.

Tek Sen restaurant - seriously the best Chinese food I've ever had - not expensive

Order Nutmeg juice 

If you are a meat eater here are more ideas: http://www.misstamchiak.com/10-must-try-hawker-food-in-penang/

Guide:

We hired Joann Kraw to show us around for 3 hours. She was delightful and taught us all about Penang. She builds her tours around your interests. Go in the morning before it gets too hot. email: jsk_27@hotmail.com

Other things:

The Feringgi beach is fine but I think your time is better spent in George Town. If I go again I would stay in a hotel high on Penang Hill one night. We took a train to the top and it was cool and breezy and refreshing. It might be nice to stay up there and relax/sleep/read for a day at the beginning or end of your trip. 

It is stinking hot in Malaysia so we scheduled our touring in the morning and then went back to the hotel around 2:00 for an airconditioned nap and lots of water and then headed back out in the evening. 

Go to the Batik Painting Museum. Roland's favorite thing in Penang.

Also walk around the Clan Jetty. 

Make sure to have a back up camera battery.

Penang can easily be done in 2 days.