In this post, we will share information on where to stay, eat, shop and also how to get around Penang!
1) Stay
Penang is divided into a few area but the most common area to stay @ is either the beach front @ Gurney Drive district or the City Center @ Georgetown district. Unless you are pretty sure you would wanna just chill in the beach all day, we have concluded it is easier to stay in the Georgetown as it is easier to travel around and the "town" itself is already an attraction on its own!
Georgetown is rather "huge" and staying at the different part of Georgetown do play a part in how it may affect your travel. We highly recommend Le Dream Boutique Hotel for a great stay and accessibility. It is located within 5min walking distance from Komtar Bus Terminal where there are many buses that link you to the Airport, Gurney Drive, Kek Lok Si and more! It is also walking distance to Prangin Mall which is a shopping mall next to Komtar Bus Terminal!
Front of the Hotel
Check in Lobby!
King Size Bed!
Clean and uniquely designed toilet!
In addition to all the convenience, what is great about Le Dream Boutique Hotel is the wonderful service provided by their team of friendly staff! The hotel have a Sky Roof Bar which have a Jacuzzi and Al Fresco setting eating area with some entertainment. Every night they provide their guest with free pop-corn and movie and also free snacks and drinks! It is a Great place to chill and really just slow down and enjoy your holiday!
Jacuzzi!
You can see Prangin Mall from the roof top bar!
Furthermore, their PR Manager, Rita Lee greets us every morning by name; Ms Tan, as we walk into the breakfast area. Talk about service with a smile, this is indeed service with style! The small hotel settling allows them to give the best to all their guest and to eat an personal touch to they stay!
A good variety of Breakfast Selection with Nice Roti Prata!!
Breakfast for Champion!!
Therefore, if you have a chance to visit Penang, do stay @ Le Dream Boutique Hotel!
2) Travelling Around
Travelling around Penang is not difficult as it is a city after all. Thus, there are buses that brings your around else if you find it too troublesome you can simple Uber! It is real cheap to Uber in Penang, a Trip from Gurney Drive to Georgetown cost us about one third of what was quote by Taxi Drivers along Gurney Drive. Furthermore, the interesting thing is that all the Uber drivers we met are female! So I would think it is rather safe!!
From Gurney to Gerogetown.
From Gerogetown to the Airport.
Else if you do not want to Uber, and are staying within walking Distance from Komtar Bus Terminal, you can take the following buses to the various places of interest. Their buses are clean and real cheap.
a) From Airport to Georgetown; Komtar Bus Terminal (vice-verse) - 401 or 401E
b) From Georgetown to Gurney Drive, Gurney Paragon or Gurney Plaza (vice-verse) - 103
c) From Georgetown to Kek Lok Si or Air Itam Asam Laksa (vice-verse) - 203
Bus Tickets!
Komtar Bus Terminal!
Else if you are just travelling within Georgetown, you can choose to walk! Walking allow you to find all the street art and also burn off the food that you will be eating non-stop!! Great way to explore the streets!
Tip is to get a map of Georgetown, mark all the places you want to eat or visit and that start walking in a clockwise direction!
3) Where to eat!
Food is the soul a culture and thus food is a key to knowing the culture and the life of a person or country. Stanley loves food and when we travel, we will hunt for good food be it street food or not. So here are some must try in Penang!
a) Kimberly Duck Kway Chap (Lebuh Kimberly, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
They opens @ 5.30p.m. on Sunday but the Q starts way before 5.30p.m.
Front of the stall
All the ducks!
RM 8 (duck meat kway chap) / RM7.50 (small mixed kway chap)
b) A1 Lor Bak; right beside Kimberly Duck Kway Chap.
Looks more like wu xiang in Singapore, but it is a little different in taste but really nice!!
c) Lao Hu Char Koay Teow @ Lebuh Carnavon - Opening Hours 7.20a.m. to 2p.m.
This place is like a little coffee shop with stalls that sell different food.
Must try is the DUCK EGG Fried Koay Teow!
Kinda taste like salted egg in the CKT!! Tasty!!
d) Air Itam Asam Laksa @ the base of Kek Lok Si.
Look @ this!! Wow right.
Have tuna in it, but the soup makes it really good!
4) What to see!
a) Georgetown; this little town in Penang in a UNESCO Heritage Site! It conserve the heritage of the past traders and pioneers of Penang that are mainly Chinese and Indians. In the town itself, you will be able to identify "little india" and "chinatown" as you walk past the different portion of the town. Within the town there is also street arts that are preserved and a walking tour will help you find them all!
Places in the town that is worth a visit to better understand the heritage of Penang are;
i) Georgetown Morning Market; Jalan Chowrasta
ii) Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion; 14 Lebuhraya Leith
iii) Chew Jetty
Morning Market where they sell all the daily needs!
Stop for a bowl of Soya Bean Curd.
Yum!
Cheong Tze Fatt Mansion aka Blue Mansion
Tour @ 11a.m., 2p.m. and 3p.m.
Visit the Mansion to understand the life of an important trader from past Penang and also how he develop the area with his influence.
Chew Jetty.
Old Jetty where fishermen used to live by the sea.
Some are still staying there now.
Fun places to visit in Georgetown;
iv) Purr-fect Cat Cafe; 53 Jalan Muntri
v) Camera Museum; 49 Lebuh Muntri
vi) Street Art; all over Georgetown!
Visit this place if you love cats!
They are real cute!
Just purchase a drink and you can spend the day with the kitties!
Meow!
Camera Museum
Camera Tricks to play!
Street Art inside!
Street arts is all around Georgetown.
So do walk around to hunt for them!
b) Gurney Drive, Gurney Paragon and Gurney Plaza.
A place to chill and shop but really, Stanley and I spend time there more as a date day in our trip! If you are visiting there and you do have time to spare, do try the Beanie Cinema @ Gurney Paragon!
Comfy Beanie seats while you watch movie!
c) Kek Lok Si Temple.
One of the largest temple there. A visit there allows you to try the famous Asam Laksa as well!!
Tram to head up!
Steep way down!
Ticket for RM6 to go up and down.
Fat Cat!
Overall, we had a wonderful and fun time in Penang. With lots of great food and a walking adventure! All is fun and well when you travel with the person you love! To more travel time in June!
