Location: Penang, Malaysia
Time of Travel: October 2018
I planned this trip from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown Penang in late 2018. One of my very good friends was studying at Petronas University in Kiri Eskander near Ipoh. I decided to stop for a night in Ipoh before heading out to explore Penang Island. I had read a lot about the rich cultural history of the Penang and had a complete list of things to do and places to explore in Penang.
I planned this trip from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown Penang in late 2018. One of my very good friends was studying at Petronas University in Kiri Eskander near Ipoh. I decided to stop for a night in Ipoh before heading out to explore Penang Island. I had read a lot about the rich cultural history of the Penang and had a complete list of things to do and places to explore in Penang.
Driving from Kuala Lumpur to Penang
I rented a car from KLIA. The long term rentals at the airport are very cheap as a mid-size sedan can cost below USD 25 per day. The intercity road network in Malaysia is world-class. If you are comfortable with driving, I highly suggest renting a car and explore the country at your own pace.
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| Stopover on the way to Penang |
The stopovers along the way along the intercity freeway are very clean and well-maintained. You can have a cheap lunch under RM 10 or eat at one of the fast-food chains. Clean toilets with showers are available during these stopovers. I liked the Muslim prayer rooms that are well managed.
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| The bridge connecting Butterworth with Penang |
Penang is connected to mainland Malaysia by a 7-mile long bridge. The old part of the town is located near the eastern shoreline of the Island. During this trip, I stayed at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel ( 5- Star Heritage Hotel) located at 1 Penang Drive. The location of the hotel is ideal as Penang Street has a number of clubs, bars and cafes.
Exploring Gurney Drive and Night Markets in Penang
Gurney drive is a more posh, trendy and uptown area of Georgetown with high-end hotels like G hotel, Gurney Hotel and Evergreen Laurel Penang. Gurney Paragon Shopping Mall and Gurney centre Shopping Malls are also located on Gurney Drive.
If you are planning to visit Penang with your family, I highly recommend renting a hotel on Gurney Drive.
Gurney Drive waterfront area gets quite crowded in the evenings and parking is hard to find. Most shopping centres offer free parking for the first few hours. I parked my car in a no stopping zone near the roundabout at the end of Gurney Drive.
Walking back from the dinner at TJI Fridays in Gurney Paragon I noticed that my car was being towed away. Luckily officer on duty was present and issued me a fine of RM 60. I was able to save my car from being impounded.
Most hotels in Georgetown organize a free shuttle to Gurney Drive is one of the most popular destinations in the area.
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| G Hotel Lobby |
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| TGI FRIDAYS at Gurney Paragon |
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| Gurney Paragon Shopping Mall on Gurney Drive |
In the daytime, the waterfront at the Gurney drive commands a great view of the causeway bridge and the city of Butterworth located across the water. Walk along the waterfront is quite enjoyable. The area towards the end of the street at night time is converted to the night food market and you can enjoy a number of local delights as well as fresh seafood.
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| Gurney Drive at day time |
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| Waterfront at Gurney Drive |
Visiting Batu Ferringhi in Georgetown
Another ten kilometres along the Gurney Road you can drive into Batu Ferringhi which is quite popular with holidaymakers. Batu Ferringhi has plenty of quality five-star resorts including Hard Rock, Shangrila Rasa Sayang, Golden Sands Resort and BayView Beach Resort.
Keeping in view changing weather and jellyfish in the ocean it is a good idea to book a resort with indoor pools and water sports. The beaches are not necessarily clean and there is plenty of jellyfish in the ocean around February and March.
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| Batu Ferringhi Beach |
Lifeguard at Batu Ferringhi Beach
Water can become very choppy in the ocean and it is recommended to swim within the flags placed by a lifeguard. Most visitors prefer to use facilities in the oceanfront resorts as the quality of water in the beach area is not that great. Hard Rock Resort has outdoor pools and a splash area for the children.
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| Water Sports at Hard Rock Hotel |
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| The pool at Hard Rock Hotel |
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| Hard Rock Hotel |
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| Lobby area of Bayview Resort in Batu Ferringhi |
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