Holiday in Penang Malaysia
May 29th, 2007I have not posted any articles over the last week as I have been on holidays in Penang Malaysia. Penang is a very small island just off the coast in the northern part of Malaysia. Although Penang is only a tiny island of 293 square kilometers it is one of the most densely populated regions in all of Malaysia. Penang is considered a state of Malaysia and is in an area called the Straits of Malacca. Penang is so close to the mainland of Malaysia and the town of Butterworth that you can drive there via one of the longest bridges in Asia. Penang Bridge stretches over 13 kilometers from Butterworth to the Penang capital of Georgetown.
Penang in many areas is a beautiful green tropical island although if you arrive via Penang Bridge you will first find the city of Georgetown which is just another overpopulated Asian city. Georgetown Penang is not so exciting but it is where many of the shops are if you are looking to do business, stay in very cheap accommodation or use as a good base to travel from to see the other more scenic places in Penang.
Penang is a popular destination for travelers seeking tourist visas, non immigrant work visas or other types of business visas for people heading to Thailand and other neighboring countries in South East Asia. The Thai Embassy in Penang is located in Georgetown about 15 minutes drive from the center of Georgetown. If you are coming from the airport on the lower or southern part of Penang it will take you about 40 minutes drive by car to get to the Thai Embassy Penang. For those lodging visa applications at the Thai Embassy in Penang you need to arrive between 9am to 12 midday on a weekday and then pick up your new visa the next day in the afternoon between 2pm to 4pm. Arrive late and you will have to come back the next day, so it’s best to get there early at those times.
Taking a trip to the top of Penang Hill is well worth the effort as the view from the top of the island is the best in Penang. The top of Penang Hill is about 800m above sea level and has a great view back towards the city of Georgetown with the giant Komtar tower and shopping complex in the heart of Georgetown. The view from Penang Hill allows you to get a good idea of the expansiveness of Penang Bridge. Penang Bridge is one seriously long bridge when looking down from a height.
There is quite a lot of traffic in Penang, especially in Georgetown but once you get out of town a bit it does look a bit more scenic. The problem is however with the roads that have been built in Penang is most of them are built inland from the coast so you can’t get a great view of the water while traveling along the road. At the northern end of Penang along Gurney Drive at Palau Tikus the road does run closer to the water than just about any other area in Penang but it can also be quite congested with traffic.
One of the nicest areas of Penang with a beautiful tropical feel is around Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi. Both of these suburbs Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi are at the northern tip of Penang Island and have some fine hotels and resorts to choose from. If you don’t want to spend big money on resorts you can get ultra cheap accommodation in Georgetown for around $5 per night. For $5 you even get your own room but it only has a bed and a fan, sorry no air conditioner at that price and you have to share toilets and showers. Most of these budget priced hotels and guesthouses are reasonably clean and serviced by friendly locals who will provide information about cheap travel in Penang and whatever else you need to know.
One of the best things about traveling in Malaysia is the fact that many people can speak English so this makes communication so much easier, unlike in certain parts of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia where you will need to use hand signals to communicate if you can’t speak the local language.
Penang is a real multicultural environment with its mix of numerous Asian and Indian cultures especially, but is a place where you could very easily bump into anyone from all corners of the globe. I felt completely safe walking the streets any time of the day and night any where in Penang and loved the food. One thing I have noticed while I have been living in Asia for the past couple of years is the best food you can usually get in any country within South East Asia is on the street. Eating food from street vendors who cook your food in front of you is almost always the cleanest and safest place to eat. The local people eat the street food because it’s always fresh and it’s incredibly cheap and not to mention tastes great.
If you are heading to Penang for business, getting a visa or for pleasure try to get away from the busy streets and take a look around. You won’t be disappointed and may well find a cozy little spot to kick back and relax. By the way, don’t forget your sunscreen as Penang is hot and mostly sunny all year round.
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