DAY 11 IPOH – PENANG
Road journey to Penang, via Kuala Kangsar: we left Ipoh and headed north-west towards the island city of Penang. En route make a quick sightseeing stop at Kuala Kangsar where we saw the majestic Ubudiah Mosque and the official palace for the Sultan of Perak.
Penang
Once known as ‘the Pearl of the Orient’, Penang is a fascinating fusion of East & West, embracing modernity while still retaining its traditions and old-world charm. The capital, Georgetown has been listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and is an energetic mixture of English, Chinese and Indian culture and has some fine colonial architecture. Behind the historic promenade and Fort Cornwallis lie busy streets with shops, markets and restaurants selling fresh food from around the world – Penang has long been regarded as one of South East Asia’s food capitals. Outside the town lies an island of beaches, fishing villages and green forest-covered hills.
Our choice in Georgetown is the Eastern Oriental Hotel or better known as “THE GRANDE DAME OF GEORGE TOWN”
As soon as we arrived we headed out to get our bearings and found a little cafe called Spitfires which was dedicated to all things to do with WWII planes, a bit quirky to say the least.
DAY 12 PENANG
Georgetown Street Tour: This morning we set out to explore Penang, the Pearl of the Orient and Malaysia’s oldest British settlement. We then took a short walk through colourful Little India, passing shops filled with vibrant sarees and the rich scent of spices. Along the way, we passed Penang’s oldest Hindu temple and the Teochow Temple, admired for its ornate rooftops and intricately carved dragon pillars.
We visited the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, which showcased the lavish home of a wealthy Peranakan family from over a century ago.
tonight we had a wander around Little India and the Armenian area of Penang
tonight we had a wander around Little India and the Armenian area of Penang
DAY 13 PENANG
Morning tour of Penang Hill & Temples: This morning we headed to the highest peak in Penang to enjoy panoramic views over George Town and the mainland. We visited Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia, also known as the Temple of Supreme Bliss. There we saw the towering bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy overlooking the temple complex and climbed the seven-storey pagoda housing more than 10,000 Buddha statues.
We then rode the funicular up to Penang Hill, the island’s highest point and the site of the region’s oldest British hill station. Finally we headed to Chew Jetty to see life on the water
Some fit people walked up the hill, we decided to take the rollercoaster both up and down, the downward trip was more fun
In the afternoon we decided to have a last street art hunt around Penang. The art is everywhere and you have to make sure that you look up, left, right and behind you if not you will miss some of the pieces.
Whilst walking through Little India, we came across this guy with his puppet playing the violin
We then flew on to our next destination:
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