One for the road...: August 2011

Penang: The Pearl of the Orient
Click on photos to enlarge for a better view.

We have been talking and talking about visiting Penang…but talk is cheap and in the past 3 ½ years we hadn’t managed to make a trip…always going in other directions. However, we pulled ourselves together and took the 4 hour drive up to Penang. And we couldn’t be happier that we did. It turned out to be a wonderful weekend and exceeded our expectations.

Penang is an island off of the west of Malaysia. It is the oldest settlement in Malaysia. It was established by Francis Light in the year 1786 and was the first British trading post in the Far East. It was also to become the location of the seat of government for both Malaysia and Singapore. Penang is also known as “The Pearl of the Orient” and today it is connected to mainland Malaysia by a bridge. For more info and history of this island please click HERE.

So Penang has some stereo types about it…good food, lively night life, and resorts. We found some of them to be truer than others…and we found some hidden surprises! We made some great memories and had an awesome getaway…one that I would recommend any one who is trying to escape the heat and traffic of KL.

Georgetown

Georgetown has a lot of charm…it is old…it is rustic…it isn’t sterile…it is a wonderful place to walk around and take in the sites.

Georgetown was founded in 1786 by British trader Francis Light. Georgetown used to be the capital of Malaysia and Singapore and is still one of Malaysia’s largest cities. Today the town is filled with well-preserved colonial buildings, with shophouses dating from the 19^th century to the 1930’s. Time seems to have stood still in the little backstreets, and many of the shophouses are still working in the trades of old. Georgetown was also listed in 2008 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Fort Cornwallis:

The fort, named for Charles Cornwallis is built on the site where Captain Francis Light, founder of Penang, first landed on August 11, 1786. It was first built in 1793. The fort was built for defense and is in the shape of a star, the only buildings still standing are the outer walls, a gunpowder magazine and a small Christian chapel.

We started our Georgetown tour by checking out Fort Cornwallis. Fort Cornwallis is a star shaped fort…very similar to those I have seen in Kinsale, Ireland; Macau, China; and Charleston, NC.

Look familiar? Click Here.

Downtown Georgetown

Strolling on from the fort we get into the charm and soul of Penang; the old colonial buildings of Georgetown. The colonial architecture, the fading paint and tropical climate, make for a visually stunning combination. It takes you back in time…and I hope it stays that way for as long as possible. After walking around, sight seeing and getting in a bit of shopping, the heat of the day was baking our bodies, so we escaped into the famous Eastern and Oriental Hotel for Tiffin (lunch). We had a lovely chicken curry and a read of the local newspaper accompanied with a side of some much needed aircon. After filling up and cooling down, we were re-energized and ready to take in the rest that Georgetown’s colonial architecture has to offer.

Hawker Stalls

Eastern and Oriental Hotel

Penang Hill….Tea and Scones with a View!

Just before sunset we decided to get out of the heat once and for all and head on up to some higher ground. We took the funicular (very steep uphill train) up the hill to the peak. Where it was a pleasant 5 degrees cooler and to our surprise there was a sister to the Ye Old Smokehouse in Cameron Highlands…and one thing I know about The Ye Old Smokehouse is there is some tea and fresh scones with butter, jam and clotted cream to be had! And did we ever do it in style; way above the city, cool temps, hot cups of tea, amazing fresh scones, all in a beautiful garden setting, with a view relish in. We decided to stay up there until the sun set and watch the city lights come to life below.

The Train Tracks

Best Scones in Penang

Penang Hill

Going back down in the evening...so pretty!

View of Penang from Penang Hill

The Funicular

Once we were sufficiently relaxed and sunburned we headed to the Hard Rock Café for a bit of dinner and some good music before calling it a night. I would recommend the Hard Rock Café for at least one meal while staying in Penang…located on the beach, it has yummy food, good tasting cocktails, great service, and good live bands.

Boating/Fishing/Tropical Beach

The next day we decided to take an easy beach day. We had planned to relax by the pool with some lunch…which we did. And then Fint sorted the day of days! He arranged for us to take a private boat tour to a private beach. The landscape on this boat ride was magnificently beautiful…the rainforest jungle meeting the sea…breathtaking. I was in awe of the scenery the entire trip. We even got in some fishing…where I caught a puffer fish…after looking at that cute comical fish, I decided to hang up my hook and not risk catching another character from Spongebob Square Pants.

Boat Ride

Mr. Crabs!

So happy on the beach!

This was the monkey who stuck his naughty fingers into the beer bucket and tried to steal one!

Perfect.

He was crabby! ;) And big!

Once we made it to the beach and went ashore…I was in paradise! There were huge grumpy crabs and mischievous monkeys roaming the beach (who tried to steal Fint’s beers from his bucket), and a cozy hammock to relax in and take in the jungle and ocean sounds and scenes. As I relaxed the afternoon away swinging in the hammock tied to the coconut palms, the rest of the world melted away, and it was just me, Fint, and the tropics. Not a bad way to spend a weekend…not a bad way indeed.

More Photos Around Penang