Weekend Escape in Penang, 7-8 Juni 2014

I know that it's been a long time since I  write down my travelling journey. I was busy with my job and I crave for holiday. So I hope with write down my experience, I will get another trip soon.

June is my birthday month. I still lived in Medan at that time as a management trainee in Nutricia and all my friends already comeback to Jakarta. I left alone. Having birthday alone in Medan? Doesn't sound good. That's why I plan to have an escape trip to Penang, Malaysia.

Why Penang?

1. I don't need visa

2. Plane ticket was really cheap. IDR 500k for two ways

3. Small city with a beautiful heritage to explore in 2 days.

I always scared to travel alone but I know that I need to do this. I want to spend my birthday in other country and feeling happy. I went on 7th June and I comeback on 8th June.

I slept in Tofu Cafe, Beds and Bikes in George town and I was falling in love with this hostel. This is the best hostel that I've ever had in my life. The owners are so friendly and helpful and the place is nice. They have a really good dorm. It looks like a capsule, and in each capsule you will get a fan, reading light, towel rail and basket to put your stuff. We get a locker to secure our bag, and there is some cozy corner to read or just chatting with your roommate.

The location of this hostel also a good point for me. It located near the station and not too close from the crowded place, like a bar and other hostels. So, you will not find a man who drunk or make a noises at night. I really concerned about this kind of stuff because I want to get a good sleep at night.

Where is the place to visit in Penang?

FIRST DAY

1. Kek Long Sie

How to go there?

The Bus Station's name is KOMTAR. From komtar, you take bus no #201, 203, 204, 206, 306 or 502 to Kek Long Si. After you arrived, just follow the crowd and sign to Kek Long Si. It was located uphill and you going up between the souvenir shop. I doubt it at first, because along the way I just see the souvenir shop. But after 5-10 minutes (if you don't stop by at the shop), you will arrive at the Pond of turtle. There are many people that feeding the turtle. If you see that, then you arrive at the right place.

The place is so pretty. I spend my 2 hours there. It was really crowded and I realized that I come when it was a school holiday.

What I ate?
There are a lot of chinese and malay food there. I saw many noodle stall. I heard that the noodle stall there is famous, but I am not sure whether there was pork or not so I went to a vegetarian restaurant. The concept of this restaurant is self service. You pick the food by yourself and you pay before you eat.

2. Explore the city and get lost!!

I comeback to the hostel at the afternoon, take a shower and ready to explore the city. I don't have any idea where I am heading. I just going around, follow the crowd and searching food for dinner.

What I ate for dinner?

NASI KANDAR LINE CLEAR

Address: 177 Jalan Penang, Georgetown

It was not easy to find this place. I meand it only located in an alley. I am quite lucky because when I went there it was near dinner time so there are a lot of people queuing that make it "visible". I just joined the line and I can see the preparation, food everywhere. Everything looks so appetizing. Chicken, shrimp, beef, squid, fish. They put it around you and you will be confused which one you want to eat ( That was me. The thing that I regret when travelling alone is you can't taste all the food).

I had to say that this food taste good. I don't want to say the price, because it was quite expensive in my opinion. I look on the internet and I realized the one that make my food so damn expensive is that huge prawn!! It cost RM 30 alone. But it was so good. They give us a big portion of rice and I choose shrimp because it looks tempting. I will definitely comeback to this store when I back to Penang!!

SECOND DAY

I wake up late, praying and feeling blessed as I can enjoy my birthday in Penang. It was so refreshing that you can take break from your job and have a holiday. I don't want to feeling rush in this trip so I don't plan anything for the second day. I rent a bike and think that it will be interesting just to explore the city. So, that what happened. I follow the crowd, follow the people and just get lost

Penang is famous for their heritage building, street art, so it was a pleasant view. You can just walking leisurely, or follow me by using bicycle. I know it is quite hot by it still a good experience.

3. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

It was a house like museum so you can learn about China Peranakan. I love here because the place just beautiful. The plate and the furniture!! I love it.

4. FOOD FESTIVE

This is what I love from travelling. You can try a different kind of food!! I love to eat and I travel to eat food around the world!!

I was so satisfied in my journey to Penang last year. Hope to travel more in 2015!!!