Reason go to Penang

Yes, its another travel report from us. We've been traveling in Penang (Pulau Pinang) in 16-18 September 2011. Penang is a small island, off the northwestern coast of Penisular Malaysia.  Small Island, short time but a lot of stories and wanna back there someday.

This "Pearl of the Orient" of Malaysia may not so popular as holiday destination for Indonesian people. Many people from Medan (some from Surabaya) came to this place for medical treatment. Penang has world-class hospital and affordable medical service -I heard this from an aunty from Surabaya. We met this aunty and her daughter in  Kek Lok Si Temple. She said that medical check-up in Penang hospital cheaper than Jakarta, plus they have better service. She also told us that Her brother recover from his illness (I forgot the case) without surgery. Less painful and less expensive. Beside this "medical tourism" topic, we found some reason to visiting Penang as a trip destination:

1.  Cheap Flight

AirAsia as a Malaysian-based low cost carrier has cheap and daily non-stop flight from Jakarta to Penang. They often offer a sale fare ticket and we take the early bird  fare for IDR 250.000/one way/pax (before tax). Beside the flight ticket, accomodation in Penang is suit to every budget. If you dont want to use taxi, public transportation also cheap and comfortable. Get Rapid Penang bus with fare from RM 1.4 to RM 4.0 depends on the distance. Delicious hawker food can be found everywhere, usually less than RM 5. 

2. Food Paradise

This may be the best reason that makes people love to come and back again, including us. Penang has a plenty of cheap and tasty hawker food. Penang Laksa Assam  has been voted as  World's no. 7 most delicious food by CNNGo. This noodles-in-fish soup  wasn't our favourite one, but still many dishes won't miss: hainan chiken rice, duck rice, char kway teow (should try!)  lor bak,  curry mee, hokkien mee. 

They also have famous, sweet and cold dessert called Ais Kachang, mostly called as ABC (Ais Batu Campur) by local people.  ABC made from red bean, sweet corn, grass jelly, agar-agar, shaved ice and final topping by condensed milk, coloured syrup and sometimes with a scoop of ice cream, yummy!. Penang also has premium Durian cultivation zones in Balik Pulau. Come to Penang in Durian season in May-July to take durian eating tour (all-you-can-eat) and taste various kind of this King of fruit. We lucky enough to taste Ang Hae (Red Prawn), the most famous  and delicious durian variety. This sweet and bitter taste maybe the best we ever ate.  

3. World Heritage Site

Georgetown, the capital state of Penang is UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2008. This old city has beautiful colonial architecture, and many building that express chinese, indian and malay culture. Georgetown is a place to learn about history, multicultural heritage and religious site in one place. Here we can found religious building and house of worship of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Chinese religion which combine Taoism, Confucianism,  and Buddhism.