Penang Part 1

Penang is a state on the north west coast of Malaysia and also the name of it’s constituent island. The bridge joining the island to the mainland is 13.5km long (with 8.4km over water).

A second bridge should be completed in February this year and is 24km long (with 16.9km over water) making it the longest bridge in SE Asia.

Penang’s capital, Georgetown, has been accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and is also famous for it’s food and street art.

We have visited Penang twice now with our daughters and their partners. On our first trip the car broke down but luckily a passer-by phoned his mate (a mechanic) who came to help us out. We spent a hot couple of hours in his repair shop waiting for a radiator to arrive from Ipoh. Luckily we had packed plenty of beers and snacks.

If it’s time for breakfast in Penang , then it’s time for Roti Canai and Teh Tarik (literally pulled tea).
The hot and crispy roti is served with curry sauce and dahl and is absolutely delicious and addictive! It is very cheap at RM1 (AUD 0.30) per serve and a favourite breakfast among Malaysians.

For desert (do you call it that when it is after breakfast?) we had Roti Tisu which is a fantastic creation! It is dribbled with condensed milk and is divine. I must find out how to order it properly as sometimes it comes accompanied by curry sauce and dahl – very weird.

Roti Tisu

Teh Tarik is tea made with condensed milk and then poured very flamboyantly from one vessel to another to give it a foamy head. At first I found it a bit too sweet but now I love it.

Along the north of the island is the Batu Ferringhi area which is a beach strip lined with hotels and restaurants. The beach is OK but certainly (in my opinion) not the highlight of the island. The water was very warm and a bit murky but there are some interesting attractions nearby.

The Tropical Spice Gardens showcases the many spices used in Asian cuisine and is a beautiful, shady paradise to stroll through.

We especially loved the large swing and I could have played there for hours.

In the garden’s grounds is the Tree Monkey restaurant where we had cocktails on the deck watching monkeys in the trees and the sunset.

Just don’t order any of the cocktails containing chilli – their Monkey Mojito was so full of chilli my lips were numb and I could only manage a couple of sips. I have no idea who would enjoy this drink!

As we were leaving, we were lucky to see a whole troop of monkeys making their way home along the telephone wires.

Also in the area is the Penang Butterfly Park which is delightful!  We had so much fun with the beautiful butterflies fluttering all around and landing on us.

When it’s open …

When it’s closed!

 

The Red Garden Food Paradise has become a firm favourite place for us to eat. It is a hawker food hall that is very popular with tourists and locals as there is great food and lively entertainment. It is a lot more organised than it looks and you have a dedicated waiter who looks after your every need. Tables are numbered so if you order something from a stall, they can find you. The food is awesome and the atmosphere is very vibrant.

This is Cendol – a dessert believe it or not – and it doesn’t taste too bad despite the beans! The dessert’s basic ingredients are coconut milk, green jelly noodles, shaved ice, red beans and palm sugar.

We visited the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre which was also fun although parking is a nightmare (we got a ticket) and we didn’t think the food or ambience was as good as the Red Garden.

Penang Hill is 6km from Georgetown and the highest point in the range is 823m above sea level. You get to the top on a very steep funicular that whizzes you to the top in about 5 minutes.

The view from the top can be quite spectacular depending on the weather and you can see the 2 bridges, Georgetown and surrounds.

We also visited the Kek Lok Si Temple (Temple of Supreme Bliss) which is a Buddhist temple on the hillside near Penang Hill. We were not feeling especially energetic and so we just drove all the way up the the top  to see the 30.2m statue of  Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy.

We had fun sitting on the statues of our Chinese Zodiac sign.

Another delicacy that we tried is the Ramly Burger served from a mobile cart outside a pub we went to. Delicious after a few beers!

People were eating at tables on the pavement and I noticed this baby parked up against the wall. I wonder if the restaurant provides the fan or if the parents brought it along?

In Part 2 I will show you the Heritage areas of Penang and the great street art.

It really is a magical place to visit!