TukTuk Travel Magazine
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & Oceania
    • Europe
    • North & Central America
    • South America
    Ioannina

    Exploring Ioannina: A Journey Through Time in One of Greece’s Oldest Cities

    Modena (1)

    What to Do And What to See In Modena, Italy

    Huacachina

    10 Beautiful And Less-Known Places To Visit In South America

    Bangkok

    10 Ways To Save Money While Visiting Bangkok

    save big on south america transportation costs fhx

    How To Save Big On Transportation Costs During Your South America Adventure

    exploring south america on a budget ybv

    How To Explore South America On A Budget – Mastering Tours And Activities Costs

  • Travel in Romania
  • Food & Drink
    Best Tapas In Barcelona

    How To Find The Best Tapas In Barcelona

    what to eat in thailand

    What to eat in Thailand. Thai dishes recommended for travelers

    travel destinations for vegans

    Best travel destinations for vegans

    Japanese tea ceremony

    Experiencing the tea ceremony in Japan, a spiritual tradition

    japanese food

    Japanese food. Culinary habits in Japan

    brennivin

    What to drink in Iceland. Which are the most famous Icelandic drinks

  • Travel Tips
    How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America

    How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America – Essential Tips For Budget Travelers

    save big on south america transportation costs fhx

    How To Save Big On Transportation Costs During Your South America Adventure

    exploring south america on a budget ybv

    How To Explore South America On A Budget – Mastering Tours And Activities Costs

    what not to do in Varanasi

    What Not to Do in Varanasi, India: Respecting Sacred Traditions

    Colorado rafting

    Best Guided White-Water Rafting Tours in Colorado

    Packrafting in Alaska

    The Ultimate Guide to Packrafting in Alaska’s Wilderness – a Niche Adventure for Thrill-Seekers

  • Travel Stories
  • Video
No Result
View All Result
TukTuk Travel Magazine
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & Oceania
    • Europe
    • North & Central America
    • South America
    Ioannina

    Exploring Ioannina: A Journey Through Time in One of Greece’s Oldest Cities

    Modena (1)

    What to Do And What to See In Modena, Italy

    Huacachina

    10 Beautiful And Less-Known Places To Visit In South America

    Bangkok

    10 Ways To Save Money While Visiting Bangkok

    save big on south america transportation costs fhx

    How To Save Big On Transportation Costs During Your South America Adventure

    exploring south america on a budget ybv

    How To Explore South America On A Budget – Mastering Tours And Activities Costs

  • Travel in Romania
  • Food & Drink
    Best Tapas In Barcelona

    How To Find The Best Tapas In Barcelona

    what to eat in thailand

    What to eat in Thailand. Thai dishes recommended for travelers

    travel destinations for vegans

    Best travel destinations for vegans

    Japanese tea ceremony

    Experiencing the tea ceremony in Japan, a spiritual tradition

    japanese food

    Japanese food. Culinary habits in Japan

    brennivin

    What to drink in Iceland. Which are the most famous Icelandic drinks

  • Travel Tips
    How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America

    How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America – Essential Tips For Budget Travelers

    save big on south america transportation costs fhx

    How To Save Big On Transportation Costs During Your South America Adventure

    exploring south america on a budget ybv

    How To Explore South America On A Budget – Mastering Tours And Activities Costs

    what not to do in Varanasi

    What Not to Do in Varanasi, India: Respecting Sacred Traditions

    Colorado rafting

    Best Guided White-Water Rafting Tours in Colorado

    Packrafting in Alaska

    The Ultimate Guide to Packrafting in Alaska’s Wilderness – a Niche Adventure for Thrill-Seekers

  • Travel Stories
  • Video
No Result
View All Result
TukTuk Travel Magazine
No Result
View All Result

A trip to Malaysia: how to spend time in Penang, this Silicon Valley with lots of surprises

Eddie T. by Eddie T.
in Asia
Reading Time: 17 mins read
0
penang malaysia

Street art in Penang / Photo by moto moto

Penang. You may not have heard of this region in Malaysia. Or maybe, on the contrary, you heard about an area called the “Pearl of the Orient”. Of course, there are many “pearls” throughout Asia, but one more has the reputation of being the gastronomic capital of Malaysia: Penang. Many would’ve heard already about the Penang Malaysian cuisine. Many would ask themselves after reading this: is there a Penang Malaysian restaurant near me?

Anyway, after a refreshing flight with Qatar Airways (directly to Penang, via Doha), the first meal taken in Penang confirms this to me. I’m at Hai Nan Town Restaurant, and in the middle of a spinning table, a woman continuously brings bowls and plates with local delights. They call them Nyonya and Hainanese, and whatever that means, they’re delicious. To define them, though, Nyonya is a subgroup of the Chinese community, and Hainan is the southernmost province in China, an island with a tropical climate. Regarding food, Nyonya + Hainan = love, in the decor of Penang.

I’m on the island of Penang (Pulau Penang, to be rigorous), in the capital of George Town. The region also includes a continental part (they are divided by the Strait of Malacca), but this does not make it more than the second smallest Malaysian state. With a population of 1.7 million, Penang breaks records related to density. By contrast, George Town is the second-largest city in Malaysia.

The streets of George Town
The streets of George Town
chandra malaysian guide
Chandra, the guide
penang food
penang food
penang food

Chandra delivers these pieces of information in an effective mangleese. First of all, Chandra is not a genuine sexy Malaysian, ready to seduce you after she gives you a killer look, but he’s our guide. With a look that brings a combination of a late hippie and a taxi driver anointed with all the alibis, Chandra is nicknamed “The Moon” because, of course, this name is a Hindu moon deity. And the mangleese (“manglish”, in fact) is the legacy leftover from the British colonial period. You get it, don’t you: Malaysian + English = love. It’s all an equation with dozens of known. To be fair, Chandra speaks English because if he would speak manglish, we’d get confused.

Table of Contents hide
Penang, the second Silicon Valley
What to do and what to see in Penang
Nightlife in Penang
Penang Hill, the mandatory target
The Habitat – a walk through the rainforest
Where to stay in Penang

Penang, the second Silicon Valley

The fact is that Chandra knows everything. And if he doesn’t, he’s probably making it up. Anyway, he’s been doing tours for 30 years and knows every island crest. The happiest is when we go through the local Silicon Valley. Penang is the second-largest producer of microchips globally, after San Francisco. And that’s enough to make this island a little paradise. In other words, people do it well; they earn well, eat well, and thrive. Until last year they didn’t even have taxes, and the 8% imposed recently upset the ruling party. “In Penang, we always vote backward, with the opposition,” Chandra explains. “That’s why they got mad at us and introduced taxes.” 8%. .

penang
penang

Malaysians use ringgits as currency. At the time of my visit, one ringgit was 0,24 USD. Here, the price per liter of petrol is 2.5 ringgits. The price of a four-room apartment is 75,000 ringgits. The minimum wage is 1,000 ringgits. A middle manager probably would reach 3-4000. If he has a wife who wins 2000, his family makes a good living. The 500 microchip factories are doing good.

The urban landscape is a mix of semi-skyscrapers and rural houses. Chandra says that Penang Island was a big village when he was a child. Everything that’s a high-rise building has been built in the last 30 years. It’s normal: what microchips were we making 30 years ago? Maybe micro faces carved in wood. Or coconuts.

Street art in Penang
Street art in Penang

The history of Penang began only at the end of the 18th century when Captain Francis Light laid the foundation of George Town. In 1867, Penang became a British colony, and things remained until the Japanese invasion during the Second World War. Tenacious people, the Insulars returned in 1845, but Penang then entered the Malaya Federation, which in 1957 gained its independence and became Malaysia. It’s not a worse or milder history than others – rather significant is that the island of Penang began to matter in the 70s when it was oriented towards the tech area.

READ ALSO:
Hiking in the Japanese Alps

I’m picking up another caramelized shrimp and watching a new round of rain descending on the Penang. The monsoons are doing their job in October without straying too hard. Come and see Penang from January to March to enjoy the dry season. And it’s not dry anyway because the moisture never goes below 75%. But then it doesn’t rain. Now it rains, then stops, then rains again, so you have no choice but to pray to the Rain Goddess (possibly with a splash) or dribble the showers, sheltering yourself for lunch or a coffee.

Want a coffee in Penang? Here are 7 cafes in Penang that locals love to spend time in.

What to do and what to see in Penang

But what to do and what to see in Penang? This is the question… of every traveler and even of every tourist. At first glance, Penang does not seem to be an exceptional island offering compared to, say, the neighboring northern Langkawi, perhaps Malaysia’s most famous beach destination. That is not the case, however.

I am embarking on a “UNESCO” tour of the capital of George Town. The Lonely Planet Guide writes that George Town is an “urban cocktail .”A combination of old and new, in which Little India and Chinatown are the two poles of “power” and in which the Old Town streets delight any walk through the city with over 700,000 inhabitants.

The Town Hall of Penang
The Town Hall of Penang

It is a general relaxation in George Town, floating in the air like a mango flavor (I avoided saying “durian,” the fruit so loved by Malaysians and so cursed by anyone who smells it). Restaurants, smaller or larger, souvenir or everyday object stores, even malls, here and there.

Somewhere, George Town keeps the colonial air of his time. I breathe a lot of it, walking Lebuh Armenian. Like, Armenian street. In the old days, it was assumed that Armenians lived here. At a specific moment, miraculously and mysteriously, they evaporated, and in their aftermath, the most luxurious establishment of the island remains Eastern & Oriental Hotel. But there were Chinese secret societies also, which wreaked havoc through Penang in the second half of the 19th century. 

penang street
The Armenian Street, in George Town

All in all, Armenian or Chinese, this street is the pride of the locals. I suppose it’s primarily because of the bohemia that he displays. Chandra exults, pointing to street art, materialized in a few drawings on the walls of houses that maintain a romantic appearance. And the central theme of these drawings is the bicycle (although Chandra seemed more excited about the picture of a nearly wiped mouse lurking behind the corner of a house of a blasphemous cat – “Come see the mouse! The Mouse!!!”).

penang street
On the streets of Penang
Versailles5 1
Versailles4 3
Versailles3 4
penang street 9

Besides drawings and houses, boutique hotels and Chinese temples complete the picture of this picturesque area. Once I turn to the right, next to such a temple, looking at the bored rickshaw drivers waiting to walk tourists with bourgeois air, I realize that the charm of this city should be enjoyed at length for several weeks. We stop in a cafe where two kids smile while bringing drinks to your table, and from the balcony, George Town reminds me of one of my childhood places, called Traian Hall, in Bucharest. I expect to hear a tram tumbling on the tracks. Still, there are no trams in Penang, so I quickly return to reality after a few steps that take me into a unique area, not before crossing an intersection with the first diagonal pedestrian crossing I have ever seen.

Four different places of worship were in a common area: a Hindu temple, a mosque, a Chinese temple, and an Anglican church. Three constructions that “speak” about tolerance and understanding remind me that in Malaysia, there are 21 public holidays that pertain to different religions and are celebrated jointly by all believers. In short, if it’s Christmas, it’s also celebrated by the Hindus.

I enter the Chinese temple, where the smoke of scented drunks surrounds me. In a room, the urns of those transformed into ashes are crammed on a wall, and I imagine their spirits haunting, invisible, the perimeter. I go out into the yard, where a lousy dog barks, and I continue walking towards the white mosque, which I find is 217 years old.

The Anglican Church in George Town
The Anglican Church in George Town
Masjid Kapitan Keling Mosque
Masjid Kapitan Keling Mosque
Sri Mahamariamman
Hindu temple Sri Mahamariamman
The Chinese Temple george town
The Chinese Temple

Then I enter the Anglican Church St. George, greeting the respectable guy at the entrance, who tells me three times that, next year, the church will turn 200 (which makes it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia). I tell him we have an Anglican church in Bucharest and show him its picture. “It’s very beautiful, but it’s different.” It is: ours is red brick, theirs is white limestone. Although under the beams is mahogany, brought from India, which is why the venerable is proud and, before leaving, reminds me one thing: “I am not a member of this order, but know that this church celebrates 200 years of existence this year.” Amen.

READ ALSO:
The Untouched Islands of the Philippines
Clan Jetties george town
Clan Jetties – the water houses of ancient Chinese

While walking through George Town, I passed other objectives of interest, which, if you get here, you can study, more or less. Among them, Clan Jetties – six piers (initially seven), considered the last bastions of the old Chinese who lived in Penang. In fact, a row of houses on the water, named after the ancient Chinese clans, Chew Jetty is the most popular among tourists. You can go on the long pontoon, which pierces the water, bordered on both sides by houses and shops, at the end of which a small temple awaits you.

You can also record, if necessary, historical buildings such as the State Museum and Art Galleries, Fort Cornwallis, City Hall, and the old City Hall. Consider, however, not to miss a spectacular house transformed into a kind of museum: Peranakan Mansion.

Peranakan Mansion was once the home of Chinese captain Chung Keng Kwee, a hero of the 19th century, a millionaire philanthropist, a visionary, an entrepreneur and a trader, respected by both the local community and the colonialists, the leader of a secret society, and, I believe, a sort of mafia in the good sense of the word.

Perakanan Mansion
Perakanan Mansion
Perakanan Mansion
Perakanan Mansion
Perakanan Mansion
Perakanan Mansion

On the other hand, the Peranakans represented an influential Chinese local culture (they included two communities: Baba and Nyonya), representative of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. These Chinese immigrants to Malaysia in the 16th century had a unique lifestyle, with customs and traditions that defined a significant heritage, whose influences are still evident in Penang’s language and gastronomy.

In the Peranakan Mansion, built at the end of the 19th century, you discover a fantastic world transposed in a truly restored palace, with fabulous rooms, from the sumptuous dining room and the dining room (with plates and cutlery prepared), to the rooms dedicated to jewelry, shoes, artifacts, etc. An eclectic mix of English tiles, Scottish hardware, European furniture, and Chinese panels carved in wood. 20 lei at the entrance for a tour of about an hour, which is impossible not to enjoy. I remain with the image of the two huge mirrors on both sides of the dining place, their presence explains that sitting at the head of the table, facing the entrance, Chung Keng Kwee could see at any moment if there was a sudden attacker, left, right or front.

Nightlife in Penang

Penang’s nightlife isn’t a trivial chapter either. The main recommendation is to go to street food in George Town. I took Chulia Street, where I stopped in a bar with live music to enjoy a plate with Char Koay Teow, probably the most representative Malaysian dish — fried rice noodles with soy sauce and oysters, and various things among them, from shrimp to peanuts.

Char Koay Teow
Char Koay Teow – the popular Malaysian dish of Penang
penang street food
The skewers

On Lebuh Chulia (you caught that “Lebuh” means street), I discovered stalls with “sticks” (Lok Lok). More precisely, with all kinds of skewers, vegetables, and animals. The hungry who want to save themselves follow the procedure: ask for a plate, after which it serves themselves with as many sticks as it wants, taking care to keep them. The skewers have the heads you grab colored in different colors, each representing a category (with a different price): chicken, fish, seafood, vegetables, etc. When you’re done eating, the seller counts your sticks and makes the total. How much is one of them? The most expensive was 1.6 ringgats. With ten ringgats you eat a hearty dinner.

Penang Hill, the mandatory target

They say you weren’t in Penang if you didn’t go up to Penang Hill. I mean on Penang Hill, which I thought was more like a small mountain. But we talk about several hills, the tallest of which is 833 meters. Penang Hill is about 6 km from George Town and can be reached by a train, the Penang Hill Railway. This fast funicular boasts two things: it transports annually over a million visitors on Penang Hill, and it has the steepest tunnel in the world and the longest in Asia (1996 meters).

READ ALSO:
Relaxing On The Red Beach in Santorini, A Must-Visit Destination In Greece
Penang Hill
On the way to Penang Hill

Right, the funicular is impressive. Penang Hill Railway was inaugurated in 1920 by British colonialists who wanted to climb the hill for fresh air. After several renovations over the years, 2010 it was changed entirely, allowing passengers to make their way one piece (and not two, as was the case until then).

Up to about 5 minutes, the ticket costs 30 RM (short version, without queuing) or 10 RM (queued version). The question is what you find upstairs, but given that everyone’s climbing up the hill, it’s clear there are exciting things. First of all, the landscapes. There’s no better place to “fly over” the island with your eyes, and photographing the landscape will eat your time a lot. Whether it’s the sea, the high blocks, or the rainforest, the views are extraordinary.

Penang Island
Penang Island, view from Penang Hill

I was greeted by an atmosphere of some fairground. It was as if the Malaysians had gone to a picnic in the woods with their families. And yet, it was a fair of retained elegance. On a terrace, they played quality music; people were quiet, and you didn’t see “small” smoke coming out of who knows what disturbing barbecue. On Penang Hill is an ancient building (Convalescent Bungalow, dating back to 1803) and several other examples of British colonial architecture alongside modern Asian facilities.

Among the first is Bel Retiro, a bungalow built in 1789 for the island’s governor, which has since remained the authorities’ property. In addition, you can visit a Hindu temple, a mosque, admire a 250-year-old cannon, and, most of all, hike. There’s also an owl museum, a pavilion where you can experience an earthquake and typhoon simulation, a mini-village, a garden with “dinosaurs,” a spa, and all these other attractions to make you spend a busy day.

The Habitat – a walk through the rainforest

The Habitat Tree Top Walk
The Habitat Tree Top Walk

But the central (and most interesting) part of the trip on the hill was the walkthrough of The Habitat. This place aims to reconnect with nature, throwing you into the middle of a rainforest that’s 130 million years old. It is, practically, a walk for about an hour through the middle of this forest on an excellent route arranged (actually, The Habitat was opened only two years ago), in which you learn about the flora and fauna of the place: plants, trees, insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.

The rain forest in The Habitat
The rain forest in The Habitat

The route ends with Curtis Crest Tree Top Walk, a circular path perched on top of some pillars, where you get a 360-degree view of the entire island. It is not recommended for those with a fear of heights, but it is highly spectacular. And although I haven’t had the chance, I imagine it’s where you can capture an incredible sunset. So, if you intend to visit Penang Hill, synchronize everything so they catch you there at night.

The rain forest in The Habitat
The rain forest in The Habitat
penang habitat
penang habitat
penang habitat

The bottom line is that Penang is a destination to visit within Malaysia. Apart from the ones we discussed above, there are many other places to explore (Penang also has beaches, for example); therefore, without huge expectations, they are suitable for any traveler curious to discover the world. Some would say that you have nothing to do here, but I would argue otherwise: if you can find its charm, Penang is an island you can fall in love with. Until then, spend 2-3 quiet days looking for its meanings and magic.

Where to stay in Penang

Penang has many hotels, and most define themselves as boutique hotels. I stayed two nights in one of them – Penaga Hotel, very well placed, near the old center of George Town. It was built in the 20s and renovated in 2008 to be transformed into an establishment that keeps a good part of the original furniture.

Penaga Hotel
Penaga Hotel
Penaga Hotel

Although you might think it’s an old hotel at first glance, you immediately realize that this patina of time is mainly applied. The rooms are large, wooden furniture, with interesting pieces, which you discover thanks to the inscriptions on the walls, which tell you about them. Warm staff and a welcoming atmosphere for this 4-star hotel in the heart of Penang’s capital.

You may also like: 10 tips for a trip to India – a guide for the paranoids

Tags: malaysiapenang
ShareTweetSend
Booking.com
Eddie T.

Eddie T.

Over 25 years of experience in journalism, he was the chief editor of the most successful Romanian men's lifestyle magazines. In 2010, he created TukTuk.ro, one of the best Romanian travel online magazines. Eddie has a limitless passion for traveling and finding new places to tell the world about, so he is waiting for you to embark on his "tuk-tuk" journeys.

Related Posts

Bangkok
Asia

10 Ways To Save Money While Visiting Bangkok

what not to do in Varanasi
Asia

What Not to Do in Varanasi, India: Respecting Sacred Traditions

Next Post
How to drink Raki

How to drink Raki, the Turkish national spirit

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
prices in romania

Prices in Romania. How much does a holiday in Romania cost

lesser-known greek islands

10 lesser-known Greek islands for a dream holiday

unusual places to visit in Romania

7 unusual places to visit in Romania

Loire Valley castles

Loire Valley castles. Visiting France’s charming royale chateaux

prices in romania

Prices in Romania. How much does a holiday in Romania cost

3
Hydra island

One day trips from Athens

2
Edo-Era Landmarks in Tokyo

Top 7 Historic Edo-Era Landmarks in Tokyo

2
Corvin Castle

Top 10 most beautiful castles in Romania

1
Ioannina

Exploring Ioannina: A Journey Through Time in One of Greece’s Oldest Cities

Modena (1)

What to Do And What to See In Modena, Italy

Huacachina

10 Beautiful And Less-Known Places To Visit In South America

How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America

How To Cut Your Travel Costs In South America – Essential Tips For Budget Travelers

logo tuktuktravelmag travel magazine

TukTuk Travel Magazine is bringing you the best destinations in the world.

About Tuk Tuk Travel Magazine

About us, here.

Contact

Please contact us here!

TukTuk Magazine Instagram

    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to refresh it.

Visit Romania!

Monasteries of Northern Moldova Romania
Europe

The Painted Monasteries of Northern Moldova Romania

The painted monasteries of Northern Moldova, Romania - a region called Bucovina - are a treasure trove of religious art ...

best hotels to stay in oradea
Romania

Best hotels to stay in Oradea, Romania

Looking for the best hotels in Oradea, Romania? Check out our roundup featuring Hotel B4, Hotel Glory, Ramada by Wyndham ...

danube delta
Romania

Visiting the Danube Delta, in Romania

Discover the wonders of the Danube Delta, a hidden gem of vibrant flora and fauna, labyrinthine waterways, and diverse wildlife. ...

transfagarasan
Romania

The Ultimate Guide to The Transfăgărășan Road

Discover the captivating beauty of the Transfăgărășan Road in Romania. This ultimate guide takes you on a thrilling journey through ...

vampire travel romania
Romania

Unveiling the Dark Legends of Vampire Tourism in Romania

Embark on a mesmerizing journey as we unveil the dark legends of vampire tourism in Romania. Explore spine-chilling tales and ...

Recent Posts

Ioannina

Exploring Ioannina: A Journey Through Time in One of Greece’s Oldest Cities

Modena (1)

What to Do And What to See In Modena, Italy

Huacachina

10 Beautiful And Less-Known Places To Visit In South America

© 2022 TukTuk Mag Romania - TukTuk Travel Mag is the English "brother" version of TukTuk.ro .

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Destinations
  • Travel in Romania
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel Tips
  • Travel Stories
  • Video

© 2022 TukTuk Mag Romania - TukTuk Travel Mag is the English "brother" version of TukTuk.ro .