Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang

• the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is in Georgetown's Old City (the UNESCO Heritage Site area). Any lodging in Old City puts you in the heart of things
• getting around Penang by bus is convenient as there are many buses to several destinations. However, the bus takes the longest and circuitous route so be prepared for a long ride. For more information about Penang buses, go to Rapid Penang

How to Get to Penang (Georgetown) from Kuala Lumpur

1. train - with the modern ETS fast train, the travel time has been reduced to 3 hours 50 minutes. It's not necessary to take the sleeping train or bus anymore. And you can buy train tickets online at the KTMB website **. Go to KL Sentral and buy your ticket at the KTM InterCity office on the 2nd level, B79. Wait in the waiting area until the train comes and the staff opens up the gate to let you down to board the train - 3 hours, 50 minutes. ETS train schedule
2. ferry - from the train station, it is a 5-min walk to the ferry station (Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal) to board the ferry for Georgetown - 20 minutes, MYR 1.20. Ferry leaves every 40 mins. First ferry from Georgetown departs 5:40 a.m. and last ferry departs 1:00 a.m. From Butterworth, first ferry departs 5:20 a.m. and last ferry departs 12:40 a.m.
3. bus - from the Jetty (Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal, aka - Jetty), walk to the bus terminal in Georgetown for a trip to the city center. There is a free bus - Free Cat, which takes you around the Old City of Georgetown, where most of the backpacker hostels are located. The free bus departs every 15 minutes. The free Jetty-Georgetown bus takes a different route from the Georgetown-Jetty free bus

Things to do, Places to go in Penang

1. food - needless to say, there is no bad food in Penang. Every local has a recommendation on the must-haves, the food bloggers all have their opinion on where to eat and what to eat. But again, you don't have to search far and wide - the eating stall across you is probably a good bet already
2. street art - in Georgetown, there are numerous street art adorning the walls. Walk around and be surprised. There is even a Penang street map devoted to street art - ask for one from your hotel concierge
3. Batu Ferringhi - beach resort town 30 minutes from Georgetown, MYR 2.70 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus
4. Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) at the National Park (Taman Negara) - free admission, beach, camping, trekking and maybe you get to see a turtle lay eggs, MYR 4 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus, 1.5 hours, 22 kms
5. Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) - 6 kms, bus 204, 1 hour, MYR2 from Comtar to Penang Hill. Penang Hill rises 833 meters up a tram system. It covers several hills and could take a whole day to explore on foot. Tram fee MYR30 round trip
6. Botanical Gardens - developed in 1884, the garden is 29 hectares of prime evergreen tropical rain forests just on the outskirt of Georgetown. 10470 George Town, Penang | 5am–9pm | +60 4-227 0428
7. Penang National Park - with 2,562 hectares, the park is home to 46 species of birds such as the stork-billed kingfishers, white-breasted waterhens and great egrets. The sandy beach of Pantai Kerachut is also a nesting place of Green turtles from April to August. Phone: +60 4-881 3530
8. Pinang Peranakan Mansion - a stately home has been renovated to back to its former glory to showcase the opulence, lifestyle and times of the Peranakan a century ago. Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Admission: MYR20.00
9. Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum - modern interactive 3D art Museum with the "Glow in the Dark" theme | 145, Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 Georgetown, Penang | Adult MYR 18, kids MYR 10 | Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 18:30, Sat-Sun: 10:00 - 21:30

Suggested Destinations after Penang

• Cameron Highlands -
• Perhentian Islands -
• Langkawi Island -
• Taman Negara -
• Hat Yai -

Penang Cost Index

• MYR 40/hour tri-shaw (pedal-powered rickshaw) around the city
• MYR 5-8 small bottle of beer
• MYR 5-8 standard price for a soup noodle or rice topping dish
• MYR 6 hot coffee in a decent cafe (cold coffee is more)
• MYR 10 bicycle rental, 8am to 6pm
• MYR 5 coin operated laundry
• MYR 1-2 local bus rides, no change given, have exact fee
• MYR 18 cheapest dorm room, shared toilet during low season
• MYR 2 one hour, internet cafe
• MYR 2.70 1.5 liter drinking water
• MYR 79 ETS fast train from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang pier area)
• MYR 18 standard admission fee for museums for 1 adult. eg - Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum
• MYR 7 haircut

1. Penang (Malaysia) Immersion May 27-Jun 19, 2016
2. Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016
3. Encounters with the Guru-Types of Penang Jun 17, 2016
4. Overnight Camping at Turtle Beach Jun 10, 2016
5. Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation in Penang Jun 10, 2016
6. Daytrip to Batu Ferringhi Jun 9, 2016
7. Savouring the Food of Penang May 27 - Jun 6, 2016
8. Surreal Glow-in-the-Dark 3D World at Dark Mansion June 3, 2016
9. The Animated Street Art of Penang Jun 3, 2016
10. Exploring the Lush Greenery of Botanic Gardens May 29, 2016
11. Up up and Away to Penang Hill May 28, 2016
12. About Penang May 27, 2016