Penang, Malaysia

Day 27

We spend the day resting as next day we would travel to see the island of Penang and it's biggest city George Town. We checked the best bus company to use and planned what to visit and where to stay.

Day 28

In the morning we went to Pudu Sentral bus station and took a bus to Penang. We stayed awake very late last night so most of the trip went by sleeping. I woke up for short time near city of Ipoh and I saw impressing rock formations next to the road. Next time I woke was at the bridge to the Penang Island. I woke up Mason to see the view of turquoise sea. The bus left us at Sungai Nibong bus terminal where we took a local bus to George Town's Komtar Terminal. Our first mission was to find hostel. We had checked a good hostel from internet and we found it easily. Unfortunately it was full but they recommended other hostel for us. The next hostel was full too but they had also recommendation for us. It was new hostel called Room Mates and they had space! The workers in the hostel were very helpful and friendly and I really recommend it to everyone. The hostel was also very clean and perfectly located in the heart of George Town.

First we went to find food. Hostel staff recommended us some places to us and we went to see one of them. For dessert I had cendul, my new favourite dessert. After eating Mason really wanted to go see Kek Lok Si Temple outside of the city when me and Jon wanted to stay today in the city and go see it tomorrow. Somehow Mason won and soon we were in the bus going to Kek Lok Si. During the bus ride it started to rain and when we arrived to Kek Lok Si it was still raining hard. We started to to walk up to the hill and heard from people that were walking back down that the temple was closing soon. The temple has 2 levels, upper and lower. We had quick look around the lower level and then we climbed to the upper level where the big statue of Buddha is sitting. In there we had even quicker look because the temple was closing in a minute. Well I had more quicker look than the others because I had to make a bathroom break on the way. Thankfully it had stopped raining and on the way down I enjoyed the colours that sunset created on the clouds. Mosques also started to call people for evening pray and that sound created even more magical atmosphere.

Jon had actually lost Mason and I at the temple and we found him from the supermarket at the bottom of the hill. We took a bus back to city and then had dinner at the evening street market. After dinner we walked to the beach and found nice a spot to sit down behind Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Moon was shining from the clear sky so the view was nice. After sitting there some time we walked back to the hostel and passed some nice colonial buildings like St. George's Church. The buildings are nicely lit in the night.

Day 29

I must say that all kinds of stupid drama happened between the three of us since Melaka and I had enough of it this day. But drama is always there when you travel with friends. Soon you will know why I mentioned this.

I was first one awake in the hostel. I was also first one to go to sleep last night because I was feeling quite unsocial. Soon Mason joined me and then other hostel guests but I while I was alone I had nice talks with the hostel staff. When Jon woke up and had his breakfast we went for a walk. We visited in Kuan Ying Ten Temple which was near the hostel. Then we decided to visit in Pinang Peranakan Museum which was only short walk away. The museum is an old mansion of wealthy Peranakan family. The style was too European for my taste (well I like old European style but not outside of Europe) but it was very pretty museum.

From the museum we walked to the harbour to took some pictures. On the way there we passed some very European looking big buildings. I must say that I like very much the look of the George Town's historical centre. Penang is also famous for its food but I didn't had anything that was better than in other parts of Malaysia. But the island is must place to visit in Malaysia for beautiful George Town and impressive Kek Lok Si Temple. Mason wanted to go see the botanical gardens but we had trouble finding out which bus would take us there. I got frustrated and decided to skip it and stay in the city while Mason and Jon could go the gardens. I walked along one of the heritage paths that was marked on the map and I saw too many Chinese temples, some mosques and a Hindu temple. 2 days was enough for me in George Town but if you want to explore more of the island I recommend you to stay there longer.

While I was taking a break Mason texted me that he and Jon didn't go the botanical gardens but instead they went to a beach resort which was far from George Town. I got now very frustated (and I already mentioned in the beginning that I had been little annoyed couple days) and decided to leave back to Kuala Lumpur with or without them. I texted that I bought already bus tickets and they can come with the same bus or with some other bus. The bus left in the evening I was hanging around the city while waiting for it. Mason didn't come with the same bus as I. Jon decided to stay still one day in Penang.