As far as I know, the only time I've heard of "Penang" was in the drama "Nang Ai" starring Joy Sirilak, which was a long time ago (revealing my age). And I've never been interested in it at all.

The plan to visit Hat Yai led me to a surprising discovery: why would a trip to Hat Yai involve crossing over to Penang?

Penang's allure lies in its unique blend of cultural heritage, culinary delights, and natural beauty. Its rich history, diverse population, and strategic location have shaped its vibrant character, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe.

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Part 2 ... Penang Adventure in June

Continuing from our previous visit to Hat Yai, we spent one night at the Railway Hotel before embarking on our journey to Penang the next day.

Our journey to Penang was facilitated by a van provided by KST Travel, a tour company. This mode of transportation proved convenient, as the van transported us directly to and from our accommodations in Penang.

We opted for the first bus, departing at 9:30 AM. The journey took 4 hours and cost 800 baht per person for a round trip.

... Alright! The bus leaves at 9:30, and it's only 7:00 now. I have plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before I go. I was originally planning to go eat dim sum at the "Khonang" restaurant, but the rain looks like it's about to start.

Drawn by the sight of a bustling eatery teeming with patrons right by the train station, I decided to give it a try.

This morning, I had congee for breakfast. The taste was similar to the congee I used to eat as a child. As I finished eating, it started to rain. Let's see if it will stop by 9:30 am.

After an hour, the rain stopped, and we checked out promptly at nine o'clock.

From the train station, walk a short distance to the KST office to catch the bus. Walk straight past Robinson and you will come to a traffic light. Turn right and walk about 50 meters. You will arrive at the office. Let's go and wait for the bus!

It's time to travel to Penang... I started to get excited when I was about to pass through Malaysian immigration!! Because I have never traveled abroad before. My passport is completely white!! But I have prepared myself properly. I dressed modestly to respect the fact that we are going to visit their country.

No worries, the immigration process was a breeze. The officers didn't even ask about my health. Let's head in and enjoy our trip!

As we continue our journey, we approach the Penang Bridge, marking our arrival in Penang. Let's celebrate!

3:30 PM: Arrival at the Hotel

The van dropped us off at our booked hotel at 3:30 PM. The arrival was delayed due to the van making other passenger drop-offs first. We will be staying at Tune Hotel for two nights. We booked the accommodation through Agoda for 800 baht per night, which includes air conditioning.

From the room, you can see the Komtar building, the tallest building in Penang, which is a central hub. Around this building, there are shopping malls and bus stops for all routes.

... Penang, officially ...

Street food .... Upon arriving in Penang, the first order of business is to explore the street food scene.

Exiting Tune Hotel, head towards the Komtar building. The street food will be located on Lorong Baru Street, next to the Sunway Hotel. Google Maps is proving to be quite useful today!

This... This shop's snacks are really delicious.

Don't miss the ... noodle stall, where the queue stretches endlessly. It looks similar to our Pad Thai, as many have mentioned. However, we believe the taste is distinct from Pad Thai. But how is it? We won't tell... you have to try it yourself!

That's all for today, as I need to walk back to the hotel. I try to avoid being out too late, especially since we're in a new place and it's important to be cautious. However, it gets dark quite slowly here, and it's still not dark even though it's past 7 pm.

The next morning, I planned to wake up early. I had read that if you visit Penang, you must walk around to find street art. It's best to walk early in the morning because the afternoon sun is very strong. I'm not afraid of the sun, but I am afraid of freckles on my face!

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So what! I woke up late. It's already eight o'clock. Let's go find some breakfast first. An army marches on its stomach, right!

Ming Xiang Tai Restaurant While walking around looking for a place to eat, we came across a famous egg tart shop. This shop has two branches, and this one is located opposite the hotel where we are staying. We will buy some as souvenirs on our way back.

After walking back to the right side of the hotel, you will find this restaurant within a short distance. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes from different vendors, similar to a food court. There are many food courts in this area.

We ordered wan than mee to try. It's essentially red pork noodles. They don't provide condiments here, but instead serve it with chili-vinegar sauce. Pour the chili-vinegar sauce in and mix it – it's delicious! The combination is perfect.

After passing the egg tart shop, I decided to stop by and buy one to try. And wow, it really was delicious!

Full of energy after a delicious meal, it's time to exercise. But where to begin?

To begin, take the free shuttle bus to shorten the distance. The nearest bus stop to the hotel is located near the Comta Building. Walk from the hotel for about 2 sois (small streets). Look for the HP Hotel at the entrance of the soi and turn left. Walk less than 100 meters and you will find bus stop no. 11, which is located opposite the police station.

The bus journey continued until the final stop, which was the jetty bus depot.

The first place we will go is Chew Jetty. We are planning to eat durian ice cream there!! After getting off the bus, walk to the left (facing the road). It's not far from there.

The first image of the day.

This location resembles Bang Bao on Koh Chang, but without the seafood vendors. Instead, it primarily offers souvenirs.

A giant bowl of noodles shop, but we didn't eat there because we were going to have Indian food later.

I've finally had it! Durian ice cream. It tastes like frozen durian paste. The durian flavor is so strong! Besides ice cream, they also sell éclairs.

At the end of the path, there is a pier with a shrine. It is believed to be the ancestral shrine of the Chew family.

It's time to move on, let's go hunting for street art. Start!!!

Crossing the road from Chew Jetty, this is the scene that greets you.

Let's continue walking...

After walking around for a while, I came across this shaved ice shop! I had to try it.

Rainbow ice ball: A round ice ball with a choice of 3 flavors. The lychee flavor is delicious, highly recommended!

An ice ball can help cool you down.

Let's continue our street art exploration... Please don't ask me where each piece is located! I wandered around aimlessly, but the artwork tends to be clustered in the same general area. You might find some hidden in nooks and crannies.

Walking under the sun, I arrived at Little India. I knew it was the right place as soon as I arrived. The houses and buildings clearly showed Indian influences, and the music confirmed it.

We will stop by **Restoran Kapitan** for a break and enjoy some Indian cuisine. During my research, I came across numerous positive reviews about this restaurant's delicious food. Let's give it a try and see for ourselves.

The shop is directly opposite the Masjid Kapitang.

Alright, let's order all the dishes that are said to be delicious...

Naan bread is truly delicious. Its flavor is not exactly like roti, but the dough is thick, soft, and has a slightly burnt aroma.

This glass, a lemon tea .... He put whole lemons in it. It was quite delicious, sour, sweet, and a bit astringent. ....

After resting our legs and having a satisfying meal, we feel re-energized and ready to tackle the remaining images. Let's continue!

..She's Chinese..

Some images are hidden on the door panels, beside the walls of people's houses.

Penang's artistic heritage is evident in the numerous architectural masterpieces that line the streets, solidifying its reputation as a true city of art.

We had been walking around since nine in the morning until four in the afternoon... Wow! Four in the afternoon?! No wonder our bodies are almost falling apart and our feet are about to break. We should probably head back to the hotel and rest. But which way should we go? ... We decided to walk to the jetty and catch a ride from there.

This should be a public park.

Walk past the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

Wandering aimlessly, I stumbled upon bus stop number 5. Thankfully, it was a free bus stop! This stop is located opposite the town hall.

Upon returning to the hotel and resting for about an hour, I suddenly remembered that there was another place we hadn't visited yet.

Nagore Square: A Nightlife Hub in Penang

Nagore Square is renowned as a vibrant nightlife district in Penang. While known for its bustling atmosphere, the area tends to come alive later in the evening. During our visit around 6:30 PM, many establishments remained closed, suggesting a later opening time. This suggests that Nagore Square truly transforms into a lively hub as the night progresses.

This area also offers opportunities to capture street art.

The evening has arrived, and it's time for another meal! However, I'm not feeling up to walking to the street food area I visited yesterday. Instead, I've decided to explore the nearby restaurants. Perhaps I'll stumble upon a hidden gem!

And then we finally met, and they were right under our noses.

This is the place! They sell delicious chicken biryani from a humble food cart, and there's always a line of customers. It's conveniently located right across from my hotel.

Delicious and within walking distance ...

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This is my last day in Penang. Let's end it with some delicious food.

Yesterday, while walking past an egg tart shop, I noticed another shop next to it selling some kind of noodles. I decided to try it out and see how delicious it was.

This translates to: "He sells curry mee, which is a type of curry noodle soup."

This dish is called Hokkien prawn mee... Oh my! It's delicious!

This bowl is called low mee... It's not as delicious as the first bowl. This one is a bit sweet and thick.

Guava juice ... but I wonder if the guava juice here also contains plum!

Full! ... You can go home.

Go back to check out at the hotel and then wait for the van in front of 7-11 under the hotel building.

A beautiful end to my Penang trip.

Now I know why everyone wants to visit Penang... why so many people are in love with Penang.

Because Penang.... is like this!!!

Safe return to Thailand.

Thank you for stopping by to read.

See you on the next trip.

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