Last week, my grandmother, mother, little sister and I embarked on a three-day roadtrip to Penang, envisaging a trip full of great sights and even greater food – we were not disappointed!
Ernest Zacharevik’s ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’ mural on Armenian Street
We stayed at G-Hotel, which was situated by the seaside right on Gurney Drive – in terms of location, it was stellar. Especially with our car on hand, it was easy to navigate around Georgetown, since we were already in such an ideal spot. I would definitely reccomend this hotel, and try to get a sea-facing room if you can – the view is stunning. Its also situated directly beside Gurney Plaza and the Gurney Paragon Mall is just down the road; this was excellent for shopping and watching movies at the GSC cinema (watch Captain Ameria: The Winter Soldier, it was so good!). As we were only there for a few days, we had to make the most of the time we had, cramming it full of shopping, sightseeing, and all that hawker food of course!
Indulging at the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre
‘Don’t interrupt me while I’m eating’
Everyday we lulled ourselves into food comas, going overboard with as many different dishes as we could possibly stomach, always trying to find the best kuay teow, cendol, or rojak (our favourites). My popo loved seeing all the temples, especially the Wat Chaiyamangakalaram or Reclining Buddha temple – she hadn’t been to Penang for years and I feel like the trip brought back very happy memories. Snake Temple was exciting for all of us; at the Tokong Ular, we saw vipers draped across altars (in an architecturally ornate and beautiful temple, I might add) and I even had a huge python draped across me!
In front of Wat Chaiyamangkalaram
My eight-year old and eight foot long reptile friend
Armenian Street, where I insisted we visit because I was determined to see ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’, proved to full of hidden gems. Not only did we see some fantastic street art, but walking up and down the street we stumbled upon a batik museum, and one of the best henna artists I had ever encountered. Entrance to the non-profit museum was RM 5, and it contained three floors displaying the works of some of Malaysia and Asia’s best batik artists. It’s a pity that we weren’t able to purchase any of the pieces displayed – my mother desperately wanted some for the house, just like the one below. Batik painting as a fine art form was not something I had encountered before, but I think I’ve developed a new found love for it. The detail and skill going into each work was astounding, not to mention the diversity of the medium – if we could have brought any of those paintings home, I have no doubt we’d try and take it all!
An example of Ismail Mat Hussain’s work
While we took turns to have our henna done on Armenian Street, we bought ice-balls from a stall opposite that sold huge balls of shaved ice drenched in either orange, rose, or sarsi flavoured syrup, perfect in the sweltering heat. This was the first time I had colour on my henna, and the artist Ratna Geetha (you can reach her at 0164359981) worked quickly, expertly, and also charged a reasonable price (RM 45 for my mother’s foot, and both my little sister and my hands). The finished products were fantastic.
Rediscovering Penang was an experience we all enjoyed, with its colonial inspired streets, multicultural sights and mouthwatering food. As we made our way back home, crossing the Penang Bridge and then stopping in Tapah on the way for some rest and some more delicacies, I felt like my love for Malaysia had just grown exponentially. It’s a wonderful thing to restore a fascination with old destinations, and so too is it to renew one’s love for home.
Buttery Things 