When was the last time you’ve made
your way to Penang ? One year ago?
Ten years ago? If your last trip to Penang
is nothing but distant memory, it’s probably time to start planning for a new
journey to Malaysia Pearl
In this feature, allow Leisure
Travel to take you on a three-day two-night trip to this world-renowned
destination located right at our very own backyard. Think you’ve seen it all? Guess what, you just might be mesmerized by
the magic of this traditional yet modern destination all over again!
Time : 1:00pm
Place : Sri Weld Food Court
Address : Lebuh Pantai, Georgetown Georgetown Penang
Coordinates : 5.417936N，100.342722E
Pricing : From RM1.50
Contact : +6016 – 769 9585
For those who want a taste of
cultural Penang , you may wish to begin your
adventure at Lebuh Pantai (“Beach
Street Georgetown
More popularly referred to as Bank Street, Lebuh Pantai is a very old street
flanked by a good number of financial institutions, a characteristic that came
into place all the way back in the British Occupation era. When you stand in front of the humble
shop-fronts here (all remnants from times before the Second World War), it is
hard to imagine that this nostalgia-inducing locale was once nicknamed “Wall
Street of Penang ”! Literally, to fully appreciate Georgetown
But Lebuh Pantai is not just about
ancient buildings and olden pathways; it is, somewhat surprisingly, also a
foodies’ haven. For those looking for
authentic local food experience, look no further than the Sri Weld Food Court, which feature a stunning variety of all-time-favourites
from Penang all under one roof. Don’t
worry if you don’t have a map – the food court stands out so prominently
against the surrounding architectures you’ll have absolutely no trouble
locating it from afar!
If you don’t already know, beef
really isn’t a popular ingredient in Penang as
most Penangites do not consume it for religious purposes. That is why it may come as a huge surprise
that one of the most famous food stalls at Sri Weld specializes in beef kuey teow – which is basically
flat noodle served in a bowl of steaming beef broth. Reportedly, the absolutely flavoursome broth
is a recipe passed down through generations, and takes a good number of hours
to prepare every morning. If you’re not
adverse to beef, it is definitely worth checking out.
Another wildly popular stall in Sri
Weld is Ali Nasi Lemak, which serves
traditional coconut rice with ikan bilis, hard-boiled eggs with a choice of
prawns, fish, chicken or squid on the side.
According to the stall operator, the sambal is made from a secret recipe
originating from an undisclosed location in Indonesia
Time : 3:00pm
Place : Escape Park
Address : 828 Jalan Teluk Bahang, Teluk
Bahang, Penang
Coordinates : 5.449075N，100.215118E
Contact : +604 – 881 1106
Operating Hours: 9am – 6pm
Website : www.escape.my
Pricing : RM45 (aged 4 – 12); RM60 (aged 13
– 60)
Looking for an adrenaline rush in Penang ? The
relatively new Escape Park
Reportedly the world’s first theme
park based on the concept of “adventureplay”, Escape Park takes you back to the
embrace of Mother Nature, where you can literally escape from the mundane sceneries of the concrete jungle and
challenge yourself to extreme activities you normally would not have the chance
to take part in. The park is open to
anyone from 4 years old all the way to 70 years old, which makes it a great
place to visit for those travelling with family.
So what can you expect from this
very different theme park? For now,
there are nine different facilities that could see you testing your balancing
skills high up in the air, hanging for dear life on the side of a tower,
sliding downhill at speed with nothing but a tubby tube … all whilst being
secured by safety equipments, of course. One thing’s for sure: you will leave the park
with more than just a few drops of perspiration on your forehead.
For the Leisure Travel gang, our
personal favourite is undoubtedly the three-storey contraption where two
participants challenge each other in a race to the top (where you hit a green
button to stop a timer). There are no
rules when it comes to making your way up the tower; you could leverage on the
strategically-placed wooden planks, hurl yourself up using a window frame, or
climb up the very tricky wooden ladder.
As long as you make it up the first, you’re the winner.
And the most fun part? Jumping off
and allowing gravity to take over as you slide down to ground level when the
contest is over!
Tips:
- Wear gloves to protect
your hands in the robust outdoor terrains.
- Put on sunscreen to
combat harmful UV rays.
- Bring along a small
towel to wipe off those perspirations.
- Pack a second set of clothing so you don’t
move around all day long in stinky shirt.
- Use a compact camera,
because you won’t have time to look after your expensive camera equipment when
you’re climbing up towers and ropes.
- Lastly, wear your
contacts instead of normal glasses.
Time : 6:00pm
Place : Beach Corner Seafood Restaurant
Address : 72D Jalan Batu Ferringhi, Batu
Ferringhi, Penang
Coordinates : 5.474075N，100.247916E
Contact : +604 – 881 1867
Operating Hours: 12
noon – 2:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:30pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
After hours of climbing and
swinging at Escape
Park
On first impression, this laidback
seaside restaurant may look like a beachfront café (which incidentally, is part
of its charm). But venture in, and
you’ll be amazed by the astounding range of dishes and an incessant crowd any
restaurant operator would be proud of.
The man in charge of Beach Corner
Seafood Restaurant is a humble Hainanese cook, Chef Chuan. While we were there, Chef Chuan left a
lasting impression on all of us by single-handedly managing four red-hot
cooking woks… all at the same time! And
as he moved with amazing agility from one side of the kitchen to the next,
skilfully prepping one dish after another for the huge crowd waiting outside;
Chef Chuan maintained a supremely calm disposition and an evidently good sense
of humour throughout. Perhaps not all
kitchens are as unnerving as the one you see in “Hell’s Kitchen” after all!
True to Chef Chuan’s specialty,
Beach Corner Seafood Restaurant specializes in Hainanese cuisines. Whilst I was extremely lucky to be served the
chef’s signature dish, a hand-rolled spring roll with a stunning variety of
textures; we were told that most customers would have to make pre-orders in
order to avoid disappointment.
A tip for Leisure Travel
readers: make sure you savour those tasty spring rolls on the spot. We were told the spring rolls lose their
flavours rapidly once you leave them out for too long!
Ultimately, Beach Corner Seafood
Restaurant is one of those places that truly typify a Batu Ferringhi
experience. It’s got a glorious sea
view, excellent food, and a relaxing outdoor setting where you can dine against
a nice cool breeze. And while you are
here, make sure you pre-order the two most popular dishes: Yam Duck and Cheesy
Lobsters. You won’t regret it!
Time : 8:00pm
Place : Batu Ferringhi Night
Market
Address : Jalan Batu Ferringhi, Batu
Ferringhi, Penang
Operating Hours: From 7:00pm (daily)
The famous Batu Ferringhi Night
Market is an attraction that needs little introduction. Filled with anything from bags to clothing to
decorative trinkets, this is the undisputed hub for the souvenir hunters. For some, you simply couldn’t come to Penang and not make it here at some point.
A tip for those looking for cheap souvenirs
from Penang , check out the wooden stringed
puppets sold at Batu Ferringhi Night Market for RM4 per piece and RM10 for a
bundle of three. Another great memento
are the truly kawaii doll-shaped
paper lamps, though they are somewhat pricey at about RM50 per piece. Personally, I was eventually priced out of a
purchase for the said lamp, despite my best efforts to bargain with the stall
owner. Next time then!
Time : 9:30pm
Place : Three Sixtyº Revolving
Restaurant / Sky Bar
Address : Level R, Bayview Hotel, 25-A Lebuh
Farquhar, Georgetown
Coordinates : 5.422116N， 100.336335E
Contact : +604 – 263 3161
Operating Hours: 4:00pm – 1:00am (Daily)
If you think 9:30pm is a bit too late to come out of your
hotel during your travels, you’re missing out big time when you’re in Penang . However,
if you’re looking for a place to chill and perhaps mingle with some trendy
crowd when it’s relatively late, we’d recommend that you visit Three Sixtyº.
Located within the Bayview Hotel, Three
Sixtyº is made up of two sections: a revolving fine-dining restaurant and a sky
bar. Tastefully decorated with a classy
ambience, Three Sixtyº boasts a great western fare and is visibly made for
those who want to spend a night out pampering themselves. For the travelling couple, this is the place
to enjoy a romantic night.
For those wondering why the place is named Three Sixtyº, it is because the restaurant and sky bar
offer an immersive view of Penang
Island Georgetown
Tips:
-
Minors
below the age of 18 are not allowed into the premise after 9:00pm .
-
Slippers,
singlet and short pants are not allowed.
-
Outside
food are strictly prohibited. Cakes can
be brought in at a fee of RM25.
-
When
coming in via the hotel, turn right at the reception area and take the elevator
up to Level R.
-
Short
skirts are not advised for the ladies as strong breezes are common occurrences
at the sky bar.
Time : 10:30pm
Place : Eastern & Oriental Hotel
Address : 100 Lebuh Farquhar , 10200 Penang
Contact : +604 – 222 2000
Website : www.eohotels.com
Pricing : RM750 – RM1,500
Established in 1885 by the Sarkies brothers,
Eastern & Oriental Hotel had long been a prominent landmark of Georgetown Penang travel, the Leisure Travel gang was
extremely fortunate to be offered accommodation at the hotel’s all new
modern-classic wing known as Victory Annexe (the other wing being the original
Heritage Wing).
Standing
at an impressive 16 stories, the Victory Annexe features a grand total of 122
modern-classic suites – 117 units of 55-square-meter Superior Suites, and 5
units of 123-square-meter Corner Suites.
Every suite features separate living area, reading table and oversized
changing area – luxuries in an era where hotel rooms are getting smaller by the
year.
Beyond
the luxurious settings of the suites, the Victory Annexe is equally impressive Full-facility gym and a splendid swimming
pool are complemented by VIP areas
on the sixth floor (where residents get to enjoy Champaign, red wine, beer,
juice and other tasty beverages between 5:00pm and 7:00 pm everyday). Importantly, the entire premise is connected
to high-speed broadband via WiFi, so facebook geeks like us could stay
connected at all time.
Personally, staying at the Victory Annexe was
akin to a time travel for me. As I
walked through the expansive corridors, with its English décor and walls filled
with paintings of olden Penang ; it was as if I
was being transported back to a few decades ago when Penang
was still a British colony. The feeling
was strangely nostalgic, yet utterly wonderful.
Time :
Place : Tai Tong Restaurant
Address : 45 Lebuh Cintra , 10100 Penang
Coordinates : 5.417762N，100.333595E
Contact : +604 – 263 6625
Operating Hours: 6:00am – 12:00pm (Dim Sum); 12:00pm – 3:00pm (Seafood); 6:30pm – 12:00 midnight
(Dim Sum, Seafood)
Pricing : RM1.50 – RM5.00 per dim sum dish
Nestled
within Cintra Street
When
it comes to Tai Tong Restaurant, it is all about the DIM SUM. From prawn dumplings to buns to steamed ribs,
the restaurant boasts well over 100 different varieties and most importantly,
they are all made in-house!
For
a real treat, try out the restaurant’s Huang Di Bao (“Emperor Bun”), which
contains sticky rice, tender chicken, mushrooms and other ingredients within an
intricate shell-like outer-skin. According
to the restaurant owner, Emperor Bun was once featured in a prominent travel
magazine in Japan
On
a personal note, Tai Tong Restaurant is probably the only dim sum joint that
gave me trouble over what to choose due to its massive dim sum menu. While having breakfast here, the Leisure
Travel gang had to rely on an elderly staff to help us choose our dim sum. It was actually pretty hilarious!
Time : 10:00am
Place : Chew Jetty
Address : 59A Chew Jetty, Weld Quay, 10300 Georgetown Penang
I
am no stranger to Penang ’s famous Chew
Jetty. In fact, I’ve been here several
times as a university student. For
reasons unknown, the place just seems to draw me back once every few years, and
I have come to accept this as a vital pit-stop whenever I return to Penang for a holiday.
Built
in around the 19th Century, the Chew Jetty actually refers to an
entire settlement built on stilts, erected by Chinese migrants with “Chew” as
their surname. For the Penangites,
however, this is more than just some old houses from the past; this is a
testament of the living heritage of Penang .
Before
the Chew Jetty became the popular tourist destination that it is today, the
area was unassuming and at best, humble.
Since then, many local residences had made way for new eateries and
souvenir stores, as the jetty gradually becomes more of an attraction and less
of a settlement. Nonetheless, the air of
history remains strong here. For
Penangites, it still conjures a sense of the yesteryears that is increasingly
fading from many historical settlements elsewhere.
History
aside, Chew Jetty is blessed with an awesome view of the sea; making it the
perfect place to capture sunrise or sunset on camera. For me, it is one of the few places where you
could simply sit down and allow the magnificent sceneries to take you
over.
A
side note: while making our way around Chew Jetty, we saw a very old lady –
obviously still a resident here – resting at her home with the doors ajar. With more and more travellers coming to this
part of Penang , I am hoping our “foreign
presence” doesn’t cause her to close her doors for good… for that’ll be a real
shame.
Time : 11:30am
Place : Nasi Kandar Merlin
Address : Penang
Street , Georgetown
Coordinates : 5.419530N，100.341714E
Operating Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm (daily except public holidays)
Pricing : RM7 – RM10
Whenever
I make my way to Penang , I always do my best
to avoid Nasi Kandar Merlin. I do this
not because I hate the food here, but because I love it too much… just like the thousands of other patrons that
come here for the amazing food on a daily basis. That’s right, I avoid the place for fear of
the long queue I may need to overcome, and the possibility of disappointment
from not being able to get the dishes I crave for.
Yet,
here I was again with the Leisure Travel gang, as always… despite all the
complaints of long queue and the talks of not coming here ever.
Reportedly,
Nasi Kandar was once sold by Indian-Muslim hawkers who peddle the streets using
thick bamboo sticks to hold the rice and dishes. Because Nasi Kandar is essentially a fusion
of Indian and Muslim cooking, the dishes pack a real kick just like traditional
Indian cuisines, but are at the same time, Halal. For this reason: Nasi Kandar eventually
became one of the staple foods of Malaysia
For those looking for a traditional Malaysian
lunch in Penang , Nasi Kandar Merlin is top on
my list. The fish curry, chicken curry
and barbequed chicken are crowd favourites; but you could do absolutely no
wrong here. In fact, a simple plate of
rice with a piece of fried chicken, a hard-boiled egg and some stir-fried
vegetable on the side is guaranteed to have you coming back for more. Just don’t forget to drown your rice with ALL the tangy curry sauces available, and you’re
good to go!
Time : 2:00am
Place : Georgetown
Ever
since Georgetown Georgetown
When
you’re here in Georgetown
If
you like street art of a different kind, watch out for steel sculptures located
all over Georgetown Penang
streets to famous local landmark structures.
Humour is a big part of such art form, so do expect a laugh or two when
you’re out hunting for street arts here in Georgetown
For
the Leisure Travel gang, our street art search involved well over two hours of
walking, though half that time was spent in cafes. Truthfully speaking, the coffee was just as
good as the art!
Place : Art China House
Address : 183 B Victoria Street Penang
Coordinates : 5.414978N，100.338651E
Contact : +604 – 263 7299
Website : www.chinahouse.com.my
This
unique establishment consists of an art gallery on the upper floor and a café
on the lower floor. The café is usually
crowded to the max. If you do have the
chance to sit down, remember to order its extremely popular Tiramisu.
Place : Edelweiss Kafe
Coordinates : 5.415000N，100.337722E
Contact : +604 – 261 8935
Website : www.edelweisscafe.com
Don’t
be mistaken, this pub look-a-like is actually a café! Reportedly, the café was established by a
tour guide who used to have real trouble finding a decent cup of coffee
whenever he led a tour group here.
Eventually, he decided to set up a café himself right on this spot.
When
Leisure Travel eventually located the aforementioned tour guide, this was what
he said.
“It doesn’t feel good to see buildings
from olden Penang falling one by one into the
hands of foreigners. This is the reason
I’ve decided to spend my life savings into buying this shop. Of course, my intention is also to set up a
café where travellers can take a break too”.
Nutmeg Juice – RM8
Café de Paris – RM26
Time : 6:00pm
Place : Ocean Green Restaurant &
Seafood
Address : 48-F Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Georgetown Penang 10050
Coordinates : 5.414978N，100.338651E
Operating Hours: 12
noon to 11:00pm
When
travelling on an island surrounded by sea, there’s simply no way one should
leave without trying out the local seafood.
In Penang , one of the best places to do
so is the Ocean Green Restaurant & Seafood – a supremely-packed
establishment where pre-booking is not so much an option, but a must.
For
those who do make it here, one of the must-try dishes is the boiled
prawns. As the name suggests, the dish
involves you dipping fresh prawns into boiling broth, before sending them into
your mouth. Sounds too humble for your
liking? You could be in for a surprise!
The cooking approach, though simplistic, actually amplifies the
sweetness of the prawns. For me, it was
the best prawn dish I’ve had for a long, long time.
While
we were dining at the Ocean Green Restaurant & Seafood, we treated
ourselves to a feast of durians (courtesy of Penang Global Tourism). This captured the attention of a couple of
foreigners sitting at the next table, who proceeded to enquire if they could
have a taste. Though we’re not sure how
they took to the durians, they eventually returned the favour by sending a
bottle of red wine our way. A durian for
a bottle of wine? I’ll probably remember
this amazing exchange for life!
Time : 8:00pm
Place : Straits Quay
Address : Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang ,
Tanjung Tokong, Penang
Contact : +604 – 899 5228
Website : www.straitsquay.com
Our
final itinerary for Day 2 saw us coming to Straits Quay – a very classy-looking
seafront mall targeted at higher-end consumers.
Because Straits Quay is located right by the sea, one look outside and
you’ll see dozens of yachts and cruises parked at their respective bays. The atmosphere really is unlike any other
shopping malls found in the capital.
Though
Straits Quay is packed full of retail outlets, it’s just as enticing as a
tourist attraction. For the foodies, the
mall has a wide range of restaurants and eateries that will entice your
palates; but for nature lovers, stroll beyond the mall’s entrance and you will
find yourselves catching a glorious view of the sea as well as a face full of
coastal wind. For those travelling with
groups of friends, I’ll highly recommend diving into one of the sea-facing
cafes or pubs and have yourselves a good time chatting the night away.
Time : 10:00pm
Place : Macalister Mansion
Address : 228 Macalister Road Penang
Coordinates : 5.418842N, 100.31869E
Contact : +604 – 228 3888
Website : www.macalistermansion.com
A
boutique hotel in a revitalized 100-year-old colonial mansion, Macalister Mansion Singapore Macalister Mansion
For
those who like their hotels exclusive and fancy, Macalister Mansion
The
feeling of grandiose continues when you enter the mansion, which has six
designated sections: a vast living area to hang back and relax, a posh
restaurant to dine in, a classy bar for a drink or two, a smoking and drinking
room, eight amazing rooms and an outdoor area serving light refreshments. When you dine at the Macalister Mansion
Perhaps
one of the most astonishing facts about the Macalister Mansion
Thanks
to Josephine from the Macalister Mansion PR Department, we were given a quick
tour of Room 3 and Room 4; the former is located right on top of the living
hall and has arguably the best view, whilst the latter features a wrought-iron
spiral staircase that goes up to a mini attic.
On
this day, I think I finally understood the true meaning of “luxury”.
Time :
8:00am
Place :
Seow Fong Lye Cafe
Address :
94C Macalister Lane Penang
Coordinates : 5.426314N，100.338651E
Operating Hours: 6:30am
– 12:00 noon
On the third and final day
of our Penang trip, we woke up extra early and went in search of Seow Fong Lye
Café, a somewhat low profile breakfast place (albeit with a big reputation)
located within a small lane near Menara Komtar.
For the record: Seow Fong
Lye Café can be hard to locate even with a map.
As it is pretty well-known amongst the locals, pulling a passer-by aside
and asking for directions is still the best way to find this illusive
establishment. Additionally, the café is
usually packed to the seams in early morning.
When we arrived at approximately 8:20am ,
finding a place to sit proved to be a real challenge!
So what does one eat at Seow
Fong Lye Café? If you love noodle, the
Hokkien Mee at RM3 per serving is one of the more popular foods here. Another recommended breakfast is the rice
noodle roll, better known as Chee Cheong
Fun, which is sold at RM1.80 per serving.
The Hokkien Mee has a fragrant soup base whilst the rice noodle roll
comes with a tangy local shrimp paste. If you can, try both!
Maybe the food here was just
too good. After having my Hokkien Mee
and rice noodle roll, I called on a third dish – carrot cake fried with egg (at
RM2.70). When the food arrived, the
saliva-inducing aroma was unbelievable, even to the extent of being overpowering
(but in a good way). Like the other two
dishes, I emptied the plate in record time.
Time :
12:00 noon
Place :
Lim Wah Thai Local Food Products
Address :
3-A Jalan Gottlieb, 10350 Penang
Coordinates : 5.434043N，
100.302187E
Contact :
+604 – 228 1063 / 4
Operating Hours: 9:00am
– 6:00 pm
Lim Wah Thai Local Food
Products is one of the oldest establishments in Penang
that specializes in local foodstuff. Established
37 years ago, the business is now managed by the founder’s son, though business
remains just as good as the good old days.
If you’ve never been to Lim
Wah Thai Local Food Products, make a mental note that this place is almost
always full of tourists. When we arrived, we had to manoeuvre our way past a
sea of local and foreign visitors just to get to the goods – a small price to
pay considering the quality and variety of foodstuff on offer here.
At Lim Wah Thai Local Food
Products, not knowing what to buy is almost a guarantee if you’re coming here
for the very first time. From pre-packed
Bak Kut Teh spices to tea leaves to coffee powder to Penang ’s
famous Tambun Biscuit; you will find yourself holding an armful of goodies and
still craving for more… just like the person next to you, and the next. Literally, you will be spoilt for choice
here.
Need some shopping
advice? We’d recommend that you go for
the Tambun Biscuit, a sweet-salty snack with a crunchy outer layer and a moist centre. Another excellent choice is the
establishment’s very own traditional medicated ointment, which is used to
relieve pain with surprisingly efficiency.
Looking for something different?
Go for the Durian-flavoured coffee, which is actually really tasty
despite the weird combination!
Ultimately, if you’re looking
for something authentically Penang to bring
home to friends and family, you should not miss out on Lim Wah Thai Local Food
Products.
Time :
4:00pm
Place :
Penang Hill
Coordinates : 5.405784N，
100.282420E
Operating Hours: 6:30am – 8:00
pm
Pricing : RM8 (Malaysian
adults); RM4 (Malaysian children, students and retirees); RM30 (non-Malaysian
adults); RM15 (non-Malaysian children)
Standing at an impressive
735 meters above sea-level, Penang Hill is the undisputed landmark of Penang and an all-time-favourite of locals and foreign
visitors to escape the scorching heat of Malaysia Penang without at least stopping by Penang Hill, then you
haven’t really come to Penang at all!
The last time I visited
Penang Hill, I was still a primary six student.
This time, the super-slow and very stuffy train in my memory was
replaced by a much speedier, fully air-conditioned version – which really made
a world of difference.
The moment we disembarked
the train at the top of the hill, we were immediately greeted by a blast of
cooling mountain air – very much welcomed under the sweltering afternoon sun.
For me, Penang Hill had changed drastically from my childhood days. The colonial buildings and the impressive
gardens were still there; but the sense of development was very evident
compared to the picture I had in my mind.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by sentiments of days
gone by.
A tip: to better explore Penang Hill, we’d recommend that you hire one of the
tour coaches available. For RM30, you
could enjoy a ride along a scenic route and have the guide point out the best
photo spots and explain to you the history of Penang Hill.
Time really does fly when
you’re enjoying yourselves. At the blink
of an eye, Day 3 was over, hence concluding our itinerary-packed adventure of Penang .
Till next time!
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