Penang Island (Pilau Pinang) is a 5 hour bus trip northwest of KL..and a zoom past the luscious rainforests of the Cameron Highlands..
This small city is full of architecture and antiques. 'Charming' is the best way to describe Penang. Curved archways lead you past Chinese medicine shops, dark shophouses (godowns) with quaint second-world war houses lining sleepy streets. Muslim prayer calls mingle with the scents of Chinese ancestor worship incense..an incredible mix of cultures, languages and beliefs.
The town is known for its well preserved colonial buildings, surviving from the 1930's it gives the streets an ancient feel. It confuses the mind, I can't work out if Penang is a modern city or an ancient Chinese town. It's definately multicultural. Muslim mosques decorate the skyline with minarets, psychedelic Chinese temples color the streets and in the distance you'll catch a glimpse of high rises rivaling KL's glossy, glass covered skyscrapers.
However to the Malay, Penang is best known for its street food! Hawkers line the small streets, especially on the tourist Chulia Street. Char Kuay Teow - bean sprouts and slightly charred flat noodles with seafood, chilli and soy sauce is special here. But, there are a plethora of food choices to tantalise and satisfy the senses. Man, I love Malay cooking...Mum makes a mean chicken curry and any number of delicious Nonya dishes, and eating here tastes like home.
I've found Josh chilling out in the Soul Kitchen playing music with the "Love Bus bandits..we are set to explore the rest of this lovely place!
Look out, here come two little Australian-Malay monkeys to play :)
