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This is why we opted for the ferry service provided by Civitatis to travel to the Gili Islands from Ubud and then on the return trip, they dropped us off in Canggu, saving us a considerable amount of time and money. Here is a list of essential activities to participate in Ubud in case you also plan to visit this town .
Penang is art. It is a faded and dirty museum where the walls have so much to tell. Streets without sewerage are the perfect spot for these masterpieces painted over chipped walls.
The rationale for this explosion of street art is due to a city enhancement Project which emerged when UNESCO declared it a World HeritageSite in 2008. Since then, it became a necessary stop for any traveler touring Malaysia.
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- Recommendations for touring Death Valley
Table of Contents
Things to do in George Town – Penang in three days
The three days we had to explore Penang were spent seeing iconic sites. On the first day, we visited the most famous places in George Town and browsed the streets renowned for their murals. On the second day, we traversed the National Park. Finally, on the last day, we finished viewing the city center – all enhanced by Malaysia`s finest cuisine .
George Town Best Attractions
George Town came as a culture shock. Streets far dirtier and in worse condition than any tiny city in Penang had been seen before. Regardless, precious gems of immense value and countless must-see things exist among the ruins.
The center of George Town can easily be explored on foot. Its heart is quite small, so we were able to walk through the same areas several times.
KHOO KONGSI
One of the most striking attractions is the Khoo Kongsi, which served as the family residence (kongsi) of the Khoo family. This clan of Chinese immigrants saw growth both in numbers and wealth through commerce, leading them to develop a miniature city with its own temple, administration, financial, and educational establishments.
Today, the ground level of the main construction of Khoo Kongsi is used as a museum, showcasing everyday items from that time period. These comprise belongings of their ancestors, and countless commemorative plaques where the names of the most influential clan individuals appear.
The exceptionally large wealth that this family possessed is still evident. One simply needs to see the numerous details in gold that blanket the entire top floor of the main building, which is still used for prayer.
The courtyard where the buildings are situated, is employed for ceremonies and shows on unique dates.
To visit the Khoo Kongsi you need to pay an entrance charge which costs 5 MYR (1€). The entrance fee is not sold right in the complex, you would instead buy it in an establishment which I marked in red on the map below. They will explain how to access the temple, which is just a minute away from the store.
BLUE MANSION
The next most visited attraction is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Mansion. It is also the home of a very prosperous Chinese merchant, Cheong Fatt Tze, who is prominent for his political role.
The mansion was constructed adhering strictly to Feng Shu principles throughout, having 38 rooms. The most notable feature is its indigo blue hue and Art-Nouveau architectural style. This property was sold and is now divided into two sections. One part functions as a museum displaying objects donated by the family, while the other operates as a hotel with 16 rooms.
Entry to the Blue Mansion can only be through a guided tour running daily at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00. The cost is 12 MYR (2.5€).
CLAN JETTIES
To conclude the tour through George Town, you must visit the Jetties Clan. Currently there are a total of 6 piers belonging to 5 clans or families of Chinese immigrants (+1 mixed).
HISTORY
Different families of Chinese origin arrived in George Town at the end of the XIX century. Because they had very little funds, they could not afford conventional housing. For this reason, they began to build residences on the water, forming jetties. Only members of the same family lived on the same jetty. Because they didn’t live over normal ground, they were able to avoid paying taxes. However, the construction materials they used were of poor quality (Straw and Wood), and fires often transpired.
Some of these families earned their livings loading more sizable vessels utilizing their petite boats. Others partook in the firewood and coal commerce, obtaining raw material originating from the mangroves lining the coast.
Competing businesses caused rivalries between different clans to intensify, so clashes between them were typical.
Originally, The Jetties Clan was seen as a slum area, and at one stage the jetties were at risk of being demolished. Thankfully, they eventually became part of a conservation initiative that was carried out when George Town was designated a World Heritage Site, highlighting its portrayal of a traditional lifestyle within an urban setting.
Some inhabitants still reside in the area today, so try to be discreet when taking photographs. It is not uncommon to see someone reclining on furniture or preparing a meal in the kitchen, and while many locals earn income from tourism, others may still feel annoyed if their private domestic space is intruded upon.
DISCOVERING LIM JETTY AND CHEW JETTY
We exclusively toured the Lim Jetty and the Chew Jetty, and I appreciated the initial one more. It seemed more genuine, there wasn`t actually a solitary traveler (aside from us) and we sat there for some time taking a gander at the scene.
Chew Jetty is possibly the most renowned, though it offered too much preparation for visitors and lacked the authenticity of prior stops. Nearly every home aimed to sell juices, cakes, souvenirs, etc.
I recommend seeing at least these two spots, and preferably at sunset.
Other must-sees in GEORGE TOWN
Additionally, intriguing things can be found in every corner of the city. Of course, spending 3 days allows for a thorough exploration of George Town and Penang.
One of the most recommended places to explore is Little India located between Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. In this region stands the Hindu temple Sri Mahamariamman, and very near to it, the mosque Masjid Kapitan Keling.
We also really enjoyed strolling the streets of Love Lane. Certainly one of the streets with more spirit in Penang. Ideal for meeting other travelers and conversing in any bar with a hipster atmosphere.
Although we will discuss more thoroughly in the gastronomy section, one of the things that we liked the most in George Town was the Red Garden. You should have dinner there at minimum one day.
And after dinner, nothing is better than a stroll along the promenade. From here, you can see the English forts of Padang Kota Lama and Fort Cornwalli. We only viewed them from the outside, because according to what we read, the admission price did not justify going in.
Street art in George Town
In this segment we will discuss the Street Art present in George Town, which, despite having viewed numerous graphical portrayals beforehand, astonished us much more when we were stationed there in person.
As we mentioned in the introduction, the town began to be beautified after being awarded the title of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008. After this occasion, an artistic competition was held where numerous artists participated. Ernest Zacharevic and Tang Mun Kian were selected to be responsible for providing the town a fresh appearance.
Although both artists showed their skill, the first creator particularly shone through his depictions along the city walls.
Tang Mun Kian, however, developed cartoon style pieces with forged steel. These explain the meaning of the main streets names in the city.
Since then, numerous artists have contributed to the visual landscape seen on the streets of George Town.
WALL PAINTING IN GEORGE TOWN
Here, I show you a few examples of the street art we found. Also, at the end of this post you’ll find a map with their locations. Nonetheless, I invite you to discover how beautiful the deteriorating art can be in person.
These are only a few examples of what we saw, but there are countless other ones. In restaurants or information spots, you can ask for a map showing the locations of all the paintings.
PENANG NATIONAL PARK
Undoubtedly, what I most enjoyed about Penang was the Penang National Park. It`s why I look forward to returning to this Malaysian island.
Featuring untouched jungle full of monkeys, paradisiacal beaches, and dreamy sunsets – it is mandatory that you go to Penang National Park at least for one day if you travel to Penang for three.
You require no less than one day to explore this recreation center. In any case, if I get back, I will undoubtedly camp on one of its sea shores. We spent just a single day and left numerous things to do, along these lines on the off chance that you need to investigate comprehensively, convey a tent with you.
Due to the extensiveness of Penang National Park, we have decided to write a separate post. Here, you will find all you need to know about the park and getting there from George Town.
Where to Eat the Best Food in George town – Malaysian Cuisine
And I was not going to close the Penang chapter without recommending some places to eat on this island. Certainly, George Town is not only the capital of Malaysian street art, but also of culinary art.
RED GARDEN
The initial and mostly celebrated, the Red Garden, is a food marketplace where we finished up having dinner every night. The location has a terrace with furniture, encircled by limitless types of food stalls. Each table has a designated number. Choose the table you want and provide them the number when requesting food at the stalls. This will be paid once you are served straight at the table.
None of the stalls sell drinks, these are actually ordered directly from the waiters who serve the tables. The drinks menu is on the terrace. They serve mostly beers and all kinds of juices.
The cherry on the cake was that there is a stage where artists come to perform every night. Sometimes they play Western and other Asian songs. Some days there are even Ladyboy Shows.
Most patrons who visit the Red Garden are local community members or Asian tourists, giving it quite an authentic quality. We enjoyed it thoroughly and returned each night based on our positive experience.
In terms of cuisine in Malaysia, we are going to mention sites that we appreciated most in the following. At the Red Garden, you will find an amazing variety that added to the entertainment of live music which makes it our top place to eat in George Town Penang.
EE BENG VEGETARIAN FOOD
The second area I advise you is the Ee Beng Vegetarian Food. Without question, it was the location where I had the most outstanding meal of the whole trip. My cousin, who is not a vegetarian, really enjoyed it too. It is an all you can consume vegetarian buffet, where you serve yourself what you want to try. Most of the dishes are Asian-style using soy meat as the primary ingredient. It was delicious. We were not very clear on how the price of food is evaluated. After filling your plate, you go through the cashier and based on what you took, they would then tell you the cost. We tried everything and drank juices, and in total we were charged 5 MYR each (1 €).
Comparable to any Chinese bistro, the dishes were rice, pasta, potatoes, and also constantly accompanied with soy meat.
KASHMIR RESTAURANT
The last place I wish to propose for you to experience Malaysian cuisine was discovered by chance. When we were returning to Spain we noticed a highly regarded restaurant in another travel guide. It is Kashmir Restaurant, the dishes they serve reminded me of Indian food.
What we appreciated most was the carrot drink. After trying it there, we longed for it during our entire excursion but none other could match its flavor. We recommend giving it a taste – it`s delicious.
Before concluding this section, I want to let you know that in addition to restaurants, there are plenty of street food vendors to eat from. While touring George Town, you should stop at each stall that you see. This is how we ended up trying homemade durian ice cream and coconut ice cream, vegetable dumplings, cakes, and other items. My advice for enjoying Malaysian cuisine is to TRY IT ALL!
Our hotel in George Town – Accommodation
The hotel where we stayed during our trip around Southeast Asia that offered the poorest conditions and service with no other equal was the Guest Inn Muntri in George Town. Although other establishments could also be considered for the lowest rankings, this one stood out as the undisputed worst.
The hotel was on Muntri Street in downtown. The room reeked of dampness without windows, the walls were chipped and the air conditioning only functioned if the light was on. Since it was very hot, we ended up sleeping every night with the light on and blocking it out with sleep masks.
Additionally, the WiFi in our room did not function, requiring us to go to the dining area each night before bed. Also, a rodent the size of a housecat would routinely roam the kitchen counter area.
ACCOMMODATION THAT WE RECOMMEND IF YOU TRAVEL TO PENANG
If traveling to Penang, it`s best to avoid the Guest Inn Muntri hotel unless a fondness for rodents is what you seek and you want to utilize protective masks.
Our recommendation, if traveling with friends and backpackers, is to stay at the Reggae Mansion on Lebuh Chulia Street. We tried this youth hostels chain in Kuala Lumpur and really enjoyed the ambiance.
We also went through the doorway and observed fine. Nothing akin to the hotel we stayed in. If you are going to share accommodations, obtain cost-effective travel protection at minimum.
Transport from Penang airport to George town
George Town is half an hour from the airport by automobile or an hour and a half by bus. As we were traveling on a low budget, our plan was to catch a bus. However, we had not considered that there would be no buses operating anymore when we reached Penang at midnight.
Fortunately, what could have become an indefinite night awaiting the bus service to reopen, ended up being an anecdote that taught us much about the benevolence of Malaysian people which we will recount to you at the conclusion of this section.
AIRPORT – GEORGE TOWN BUS
The public transportation that travels between the airport and historic core of George Town is bus 401E. It operates every 25 minutes and costs 3 MYR (less than €1).
The final service is at 11:00 and the initial service at 5:20.
If time permits, you may wish to stop by the Temple of Serpents which is halfway to town, although we did not have interest.
An account of Malaysian kindness
During the flight to Penang, I sat near a 4-year-old. His mother sat 4 rows ahead, so I substituted seats with her so that she could be next to her son.
Upon arrival in Penang, we asked her if she knew where to find buses to George Town. Regretfully, she informed us there were no buses available at that time. After noticing we were backpacking travelers, she inferred we would not take a taxi and offered to give us a ride to George Town.
During our trip, we asked our driver if she lived near our lodging. Surprisingly, she informed us that she resided around half an hour away from the airport by car, heading in the opposite direction. Given that we arrived at midnight in Penang, they would reach their home at approximately 1:30 in the morning.
I cannot believe that someone who did not know us in any way would do us such a favor.
I truly could not have envisioned a more welcoming reception to a new country. It was our initial time in Malaysia and we could not believe how good its people were.
GEORGE TOWN MAP
With this we bid you farewell. Be sure to return here to tell us about your experience in Penang.
