The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
What to do in Phuket if you have only one day? We travelled to Phuket with Mariner of the Seas and took their tender boat to start our one day tour in Phuket. If you want to maximise your day at Phuket, be sure to queue for …
A guide to the best food in Penang, George Town Coffee and Bread If you are finding food in Penang for breakfast or afternoon tea, Eng Loh Kopi Tiam (translated as Eng Loh Coffee Shop) might be a good option. Along with traditional Chinese coffee …
Looking for things to do in Penang? With a well-preserved cultural and historical heritage, George Town, Penang’s capital city, was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Get lost in the maze of narrow lanes as you admire the town’s eclectic mix of architecture–colonial shophouses, mosques, shrines, temples and shopping complexes. Famous for its wall arts, the town’s burgeoning artistic vibes can also be seen in its shops, modern cafes and bars.
Penang is also famous for it’s delicious cuisine, to name one, the Penang Laksa. And here at George Town, you can get a lot of good food, with people willing to wait in snaking long lines. (Stay tune for the food guide.)
Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is near the pier where we alighted from the Mariner of the Seas for our one-day tour in Penang. This 60ft-high tower was commissioned in 1897 by a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Each foot represents a year of the Queen’s 60-year reign.
St. George’s Church Penang, is the oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia, built between 1817 and 1818. During World War II, the church was badly damaged by one of the many Japanese air raids and then looted of nearly all its contents. The only original artefacts left are the Bishop’s Chair and the Baptism Font.
Penang Clan Temples are built by the various clan associations during the mid-19th to early 20th century, for worshipping deities and revering ancestors. Clan associations are set up to assist fellowmen to settle into the new environment and find employment in Penang.
The Peranakan Chinese (Babas and Nyonyas) were a prominent community in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore). Adopting ways of the local Malays and British, the Peranakan Chinese developed a unique culture, cuisine and language.
Pinang Peranakan Museum is a two-storey mansion, typical of a rich Baba a century ago, recreated to offer a glimpse of their opulent lifestyle, customs and traditions. The beautifully preserved architecture is made of Chinese carved-wood panels, English floor tiles and Scottish ironworks. There are over 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectables displayed here.
On one side of the mansion is an ancestral temple, and on the other side, a mock-up kitchen. There are also air-conditioned jewellery galleries for you to gawk at the bling.
If you only have time for one attraction in Penang, I would recommend this. It’s the #1 of 87 things to do in George Town on TripAdvisor anyway. Tour the replica of a luxurious house for old Peranakan families. Details were put into the whole museum, so much so that the famous Channel 8 show, Little Nonya, by Jeanette Aw, was also filmed here.
There are guided tours in English or Mandarin. If you are lucky, you will be guided by a true Peranakan, the old lady seen in the picture below. She only speaks English.
www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my
Daily (incl Public Holidays), 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Adult: RM20; Child: RM10
This museum houses a plethora of Penang historic artefacts. However, after a tour at the Peranakan museum, the information about the Peranakan in this museum seemed lacking. But you get to learn about Penang’s history and other main cultures, such as the Malays, over here. There was quite a bit of information and exhibits for you to read and explore. The air-conditioned first level was a cool respite in the sweltering heat. Do note that the whole place is a bit run-down.
www.penangmuseum.gov.my
Daily 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Friday and Public Holidays
Admission: RM1
There are various markets to look around — a wet market, shops selling clothes, etc. Chowrasta Market is a place to go if you want to get local titbits such as preserved nutmeg and Tau Sar Piah 豆沙饼.
Located along the Weld Quay are Penang’s historical clan jetties, home to families of the various clans. Each of these century-old jetties is named after a Chinese clan. There were originally seven clan jetties, with one destroyed by fire. The Chew Jetty, straight down from Lebuh Chulia, is the most welcoming to tourists and has the most stilt-houses and the longest walkway.
I have heard a lot about Penang’s wall art. So it’s exciting to spot them all around the town! In 2012, Ernest Zacharevic was commissioned to paint murals, including the famous ‘Kids on a bicycle’. Since then, other artists have contributed. You can look at the map below to guide you in finding the different murals.
Other than murals, we spotted another form of art–wall sculptures. Started as a competition by the Penang State Government, 52 unique and humorous illustrations in the form of iron rod sculptures were installed on the city’s building walls. They pop up at random buildings–sometimes they are right in your face, other times, you have to look up the building to spot one.
What other attractions are you visiting in Penang? Share your suggestions below in the comments section. Travelled in December 2015, and the trip was fully paid by us and in no way sponsored.
You might also want to check out my other posts on Malaysia. Leave your comments or questions below. Love to hear from you. :)
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With sky high accommodation prices in Tokyo, Airbnb was a great alternative for us. And… I won a $250 Airbnb voucher while looking for accommodation! Thank God for this blessing. :) We started searching for the accommodation only 5 to 6 weeks prior to our …
My husband and I decided to each get a Yokoso SIM Card to travel around Hokkaido and Tokyo. My husband got the 15-day SIM card for the whole Japan trip, while I got a 8-day card for our 8.5 days stay in Hokkaido. And for the rest …
It’s becoming a great desire for people to stay connected with internet as they travel. The posting of photos on Facebook, Instagram, etc. While it may not always be a need, an internet connection is more of a necessity than a want if you are travelling around Japan and don’t speak Japanese. You will find it useful to google map your directions, online translate any chicken-and-duck communication, and find the shops you want to go–because you just can’t figure out the Japanese signboards.
There are a few internet options to choose from, you can even rent an iPhone or Android device. But the huge debate for most short term visitors would be whether to get a Pocket WiFi or Prepaid SIM Card in Japan. Read through to the end to find out which option I chose.
But before that…
If you are really tight on budget and/or are okay to wander around without a continuous internet connection, make sure you keep a list of free WiFi hotspots by your side. Free WiFi is usually available at train stations, major shops (e.g. BIC Camera and drugstores) and convenience stores. Note that free WiFi Hotspots will be more readily available in major cities like Tokyo and Sapporo. Check the individual website for a detailed listing.
Image: www.jinlovestoeat.com
Pocket WiFi is a lightweight and battery powered device that “creates” a mobile WiFi hotspot for you to connect multiple mobile devices on the go. It’s similar to a WiFi router at home, except you can easily carry this pocket WiFi around with you as you travel.
Prepaid SIM Card is like your current SIM card, inserted directly into your mobile devices. Do note that most of the prepaid SIM cards from Japan’s local carriers do not allow voice calls to non-residents but only data usage (though you can still find this calling function with PAYG SIM by b-mobile.) But with a data SIM card, you can easily do calls with WhatsApp, LINE and Skype.
One thing I like to highlight, pocket wiFi and most of Japan’s “tourist” SIM cards do not have voice call function, but only data. But you can connect Whatsapp/Skype calls with the data.
A reader did email me a good question, “If there is an earthquake, will I have difficulty in using my mobile with only data sim & no voice call function?”
I was reminded of the history of “Line” app. From Wikipedia, “Line began as a response to disaster. Japan’s devastating Tōhoku earthquake in March 2011 damaged telecommunications infrastructure nationwide, obliging employees at NHN Japan to rely on Internet-based resources to communicate.”
So sometimes, data might work better than voice during earthquakes.
There are many providers that provide both pocket WiFi and SIM Card options. I will list down my shortlisted choices (though not the cheapest in the market):
You can usually buy your SIM card or pocket WiFi at the destination airport or designated stores in your home country. Otherwise, you can order online and have it sent to your hotel, accommodation or home.
It would be good to buy or reserve pocket WiFi in advance during the peak season because supply can be limited. You can then collect it at the airport or your accommodation.
We were initially looking at Global Communications pocket WiFi, but it was stated on its website that we should get the premium version for travel in Hokkaido. Premium version = more expensive. Then, I emailed Changi Recommends about their pocket WiFi for Japan and was told that the router will experience slow connectivity in mountainous, underground and coastal areas, otherwise okay.
That didn’t sound too good, and we were not ready to fork out the money for the premium pocket WiFi. SIM card might have the same connectivity problems, but at least it is not as expensive. But..but I was quite unsure about the changing of APN settings for the SIM card. Seems like a hassle and the settings might not work for my phone.
In the end, my husband and I decided to each get a Yokoso SIM to travel around Hokkaido and Tokyo. I got a 8-day card for our 8.5 days stay in Hokkaido. And for the rest of the trip in Tokyo, I tried out the pocket WiFi provided by our Tokyo airbnb host. My husband got the 15-day SIM card for the whole Japan trip.
One major factor we chose SIM card in the end was the price. Since we only have two people with two devices in total, it was more value for money to get two SIM cards (or one SIM card and tether) than one pocket WiFi.
Read about our review and experience of Yokoso SIM and pocket wifi, and find out where to get a cheap Yokoso SIM.
Travelled during February & March 2016.
Japan Itinerary Be sure to bookmark this page as I update this page of my Japan Itinerary with useful tips and navigation around Hokkaido and Tokyo. Find out interesting attractions to visit, accommodation to stay and food to eat. Useful Travel Information Important Tips for Winter …
What to do on Mariner of the Seas? There’s a variety of sports, recreational, and chillax activities for you to choose from and do. Otherwise, enjoy the entertainment on Mariner of the Seas that I have listed down in this post. 1) Dreamworks If you or …