Penang, Malaysia: A Photographer's Paradise

Penang, Malaysia, may be a small island, but it packs a punch when it comes to attractions. It's a haven for photographers, offering endless opportunities to capture stunning images around every corner. This charming island boasts a rich cultural tapestry, blending historical heritage with vibrant street art, making it a truly captivating destination.

Join us on a 4-day, 3-night adventure as we explore the wonders of Penang.

Day 1:

• Our journey begins with a 6:45 AM flight, arriving at Hat Yai Airport around 8:45 AM.
• Head to the passenger pick-up area and turn right, passing the parking lot. You'll find the passenger pavilion where you can wait for a ride to Kim Yong Market (40 baht, 35-minute journey).
• From the market, walk to the KST Travel van company, located opposite the Aloha Hotel.
• Vans depart from Hat Yai to Penang at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. One-way fare is 400 baht, roundtrip is 750 baht. The van drops you off directly at your hotel.
• The advantage of purchasing a roundtrip ticket is not only the discounted price but also the convenience of having the van pick you up from your hotel.
• We booked our tickets a day in advance by calling 081-6907253. Our 12:30 PM departure gave us some time to explore Hat Yai city in the morning.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in Penang!

Follow us for more captivating photos:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepinaphotograph
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/au.keepinaphotograph

We searched for a money exchange shop and found 'Namchai'. The staff was very friendly and gave us advice on how to use Ringgit. We exchanged about 2500 baht each.

We still have some time to spare, so let's take a stroll through the Kim Yong Market to buy some snacks for the road. At 12:30, we'll board the van and get ready to depart.

Around two in the afternoon, we arrived at the Malaysian immigration checkpoint. After our documents were checked, we continued our journey.

We arrived in Penang around 6 pm and checked into the 'Red Inn Heritage Guesthouse' for 457 baht per night. It was a shared bathroom, and we booked it through the Agoda app. Staying in a hostel was a good option because it was affordable and allowed us to meet new people. The guesthouse was located on 'Love Lane' within walking distance of the Komtar building and close to restaurants and 7-Eleven.

As it was already evening when we arrived, our first stop was the Gurney Drive night market. We walked from our accommodation to the Komtar building to catch a bus. The bus stop is located under the building. We took bus number 101, which cost RM1.4 per person.

When boarding a bus here, you must enter through the front door and inform the driver of your destination. They will then inform you of the fare, and you must have the exact amount ready as buses do not provide change.

Take a bus to Gurney Plaza. Walk through the back of the mall to the beach road, where you will find the market.

Gurney Drive Night Market is a relatively small night market with a decent number of stalls.

The market is less crowded today, perhaps because the rain has just stopped. Our dinner tonight is 'chakuaytaew', which is similar to our Pad Thai.

Next, we had a delicious dessert called 'Cendol'. It's a must-try!

After finishing my meal, I walked back to the bus stop where I had gotten off earlier and boarded the 103 bus. The fare was 1.4 RM. I got off at Komtar and walked back to my accommodation, passing through Lebuh China Street. Today, there was an event that seemed to be a Chinese deity worship ceremony. There was a Chinese opera performance, and statues of Chinese deities were displayed for people to pray to.

It's been a while since I've seen a Chinese opera, and it was a real treat. Soon, the locals started bringing out their chairs and settling in to watch, creating a unique atmosphere. After watching for a while, I headed back to my room. I need to get some rest tonight so I can explore Georgetown tomorrow.

Day 2:

We woke up early today and went out to find something to eat. There is a restaurant near our accommodation that serves dishes similar to Thai khao rad gaeng.

After finishing our meal, we walked to the Komtar building to catch the bus as usual. Bus number 101 goes to Batu Feringhi Beach. The journey from Georgetown takes about 1 hour and costs RM 2.7. The driver will shout out when we arrive.

Batu Feringhi is the most famous seaside town on Penang Island. It offers a variety of activities for tourists, including jet skiing, banana boating, and parasailing.

Please translate the following sentence from Thai to English:

After strolling along the beach for a while, we decided to have lunch at 'Tan sam guan seafood' restaurant. We saw tourists dining there, and the food looked delicious.^^

Around noon, we took a car back to George Town.

Our exploration of George Town begins at 'Lebuh keng kwee' alley, a bustling street lined with numerous stalls offering a variety of delectable treats.

A large crowd was observed entering this establishment, identified as 'Penang road famous teochew chendul ice kacang'.

We stopped for a cup of 'Cendol' each and continued walking to the 'Camera Museum'. This museum houses a vast collection of antique cameras, tracing the history of photography and its evolution. Visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the past.

The display cases and shelves outside are filled with fascinating toy cameras and paper cameras, creating a truly captivating sight.

The opening hours are from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The entrance fee is 20 RM per person. If you don't want to pay the entrance fee for the upper floor, you can just visit the lower floor. There are cute corners, souvenir shops, and a cafe. Afterwards, we walked around taking pictures of street art. The most important thing to bring is a map, as it will make it easier to find your way around.

Image Title: 'Budget Hotels'

Image title: 'Cheating Husband'

Image title: 'Ah Quee'

Image title: 'Old Motorcycle'

Image title: 'Bruce Lee'

We walked until we reached 'Chew Jetty', a village built on the edge of the sea. There are guesthouses, souvenir shops, and food stalls selling snacks and meals all along the way.

Leaving the fishing village, we walked straight to Armenian Street. Today, there is a walking street.

This area has many trendy restaurants and cafes.

And there are still Street Art for us to take beautiful pictures all the time.

In the evening, we stopped by Little India for dinner. This area is steeped in the sights and smells of Indian culture.

The restaurant we ate at was called 'Sri Subham Restuarants'. We asked them to recommend a dish that wasn't spicy, and they suggested 'Chicken Biryani'.

The staff were all very friendly and smiled constantly. Whenever we raised our cameras to take photos, everyone would strike a pose and encourage us to take more. It was a truly delightful experience.

Adjacent to Little India is Chinatown, but when we arrived it was already evening, so it wasn't very lively. After strolling around Chinatown, we returned to Lebuh Chulia Street, where there were many local food stalls open at night.

Day 3:

This morning, we planned to visit Penang Hill. On the way, we stopped at Lebuh Kimberley to eat Wan Tan Mee at the Seng Thor Coffee Shop. The shop was very crowded, but the food was delicious!

The elderly gentleman who spoke Thai greeted us and asked if we were Thai. He then informed us that wan tan mee is the same as our wonton noodles.

We then took bus number 204 from Komtar to Penang Hill. The bus took about 45 minutes and cost 2 RM.

To reach Penang Hill, visitors must take the funicular railway, also known as the Cable Car.

A round-trip ticket on the funicular costs 30 RM (approximately 300 Thai baht).

Penang Hill is a renowned tourist destination in Penang, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the island. Its expansive vistas, encompassing the cityscape and the vast expanse of Penang Island, captivate visitors with their scenic beauty.

This area boasts a cafe and restaurant, along with a variety of activities such as portrait drawing, panoramic Penang city views through telescopes, and photo opportunities with heart-shaped padlocks.

After a short walk, we had lunch at the food court, which offered a wide variety of local dishes. A little further up, there is a beautiful Hindu temple, but it was under renovation on the day of our visit.

And there will be a mosque nearby.

The weather today is not too hot, it's cool and comfortable. After walking around, we went down from Pinang Hill. There is a bus stop for bus number 204 at the bottom. Take it to Kek Lok Si Temple. It takes about 5 minutes to reach the market.

Following the signs, you will reach the temple entrance, marked by a small bridge lined with vendors. The view from the top is breathtaking.

Kek Lok Si Temple is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. The highlight of this temple is the Rama VI Pagoda, which is decorated with 10,000 bronze and white marble Buddha statues. The pagoda's design combines Chinese, Thai, and Burmese elements, creating a stunning visual effect.

After paying our respects and taking photos, we returned to George Town and stopped for smoothies at 'Mugshot' on Chulia Street. This small, unassuming cafe is a popular spot among tourists. Housed in an old building, the interior is decorated in a minimalist style.

Day 4:

This morning, we had arranged for a van to pick us up at our accommodation around 8:30 am. We had some time to spare, so we decided to grab a bite to eat. However, it was still early and many restaurants were not yet open. After walking for a while, we came across a small eatery serving Malaysian-style cooked-to-order dishes. We ordered shrimp and char siu fried rice, which was quite delicious.

After lunch, it was time to get on the van. When we arrived in Hat Yai, we asked the driver to take us to the airport for an additional 100 baht, which was convenient.

Thank you to everyone who followed our journey and photos. See you again on our next trip! ◡̈