Day 2 – Water Water Everywhere
I had assumed that because Penang was an island it would have beautiful beaches and swimming. Apparently not, the beaches are nice, but nice for lying on, not great for swimming.
Being the very organised individual that I am, no seriously, I am reasonably prepared. I had booked a snorkelling trip to a small island out towards Langkawi.
The departure was at 730am so up super early and out the door. Due to my off-road adventure the day before I had no food in the house, I was hopeful to be able to grab something on the way to the pickup point.
Walking to the pier was bloody warm, even though it was still super early.
Nothing was open, damn it, but there was a vending machine at the jetty so a healthy variety of chippies and Oreo cookies – breakfast of champions!
We were all organised into the appropriate lines and shuffled onto the vessels that would take us out to the pontoon for a day of snorkelling. I did not realise that it was a 2 hour boat ride! The sea was flat the boat was terrifying, it reminded me of something out of an old war movie.
You know the ones, the aircraft carrier had just been blown up so they all get into those little bubble craft, with the windows just above the water, and no circulating air. Crammed with people in every available inch of space.
To top it off there was no safety briefing, if there were life jackets, no one knew where they were, so I just hoped that the boat was more sea worthy than it looked.
A move was played on a screen, for our entertainment – or just to keep us distracted from our surroundings, and it was San Andreas. Awesome, a disaster movie when you are floating along in something that looks like a prop from that movie!
After what seemed like an eternity we finally arrived at our pontoon. It was anchored just off the little island Payar and we all piled into it.
The pontoon held around 200 people, of which I was one of three non-Asian people. I mention this because this is clearly their target demographic, so all things are focused on ensuring their Asian guests have a great time.
This includes smoking areas. Lots of smoking areas, there is no where you can actually escape from the smoke, other than in the water. GRUMBLE.
Quite interesting to be a minority.
Luckily I am more than happy to travel on my own, so I set up camp at a table with my fellow outcasts, got changed into my swimsuit and hit the water.
And the water was amazing, so blue, so warm, and so pretty. You were not allowed fins, only masks and snorkels. Apparently some tourists have the annoying habit of kicking coral and killing it.
This actually worked in my favour, as 90 percent of the tourists could not swim far so I pretty much had the entire beach zone to myself. Which would have been idyllic if it weren’t for all the rubbish through the water, on the beach, and in the bush.
Very disappointing people, pick up your sh*t and recycle!
Anyway that little rant done with, I spent hours in the warm water, following fish and enjoying the scenery. I swam to the island and went for a walk. Granted I should have learnt from my earlier experience, but I am not that bright. So, in bare feet, I thought “wow, a jungle, on an island, I should go for a walk” cause sometimes, I am not very bright.
There was a slightly marked path and it was very pretty, trees, flowers, views, the creepy feeling that something is watching you. Something with more legs and more eyes than any creature should have. Rustling under the leaves. I am in bare feet (of course), anyway, I continue on and the views are spectacular. What a beautiful place this is.
It takes less than 40 minutes to circumnavigate the entire island. With photos taken, the creature (undoubtedly closing in to ensure my demise) I return to the beach and to the water. Jandals, tires, water bottles, rubbish, grumble. You have a slice of heaven here, take care of it!
Ok, anyway, it was an entire day on the pontoon, and it was lovely, the food was delicious and I was completely exhausted by the time we boarded the boat on the way back I was ready for sleep.
BUT how could I possible sleep when the world’s WORST Bollywood movie was being broadcast on the boat, without sound. I was hooked! I ended up watching every over inflected scene, every dramatic dance move, and taking photos to share with Selena! Ahh the joy.
Anyway, we arrived back in town I was exhausted and, despite eating my own weight in BBQ lunch, I was starving.
But it was my last night in Penang and I was not going to waste that sitting around being tired and hungry, it was time to hit the town J well, not really, I didn’t go partying or anything but I did go walking around town, and it was great. I felt very safe. Then I found the food market, oh MY GOOD GOD, heaven!
As always I struggled to figure out what I wanted to eat. The choices were so amazing, and so many of them. I had no other option, I had to buy them all. So I did, that is an awful lot of food. Even for me 🙂
One of the guys at the stalls asked how many I was feeding, he looked shocked/impressed when I indicated it was all for me 🙂
I dragged my bags of food back to the accommodation, ate what I could and fell into bed. Happy, happy sleep.
Last day tomorrow, and it is only a half day.
Final Day in Penang
I had an amazing time so far, squished a lot into the small amount of time, but there was no way I was going to let up just yet.
So I got up super early and decided to go sightseeing around the town before heading to the airport.
I had heard about the street art and wanted to see it.
Up, dressed, small snack (small by my standards) of leftovers from last night, then out on the street at 700am. And it was hot, damn hot! By 730 I am dripping.
I spend the next few hours following the map and photographing some of the coolest street art I have ever seen. So clever, using bikes and chairs to turn the painting into 3D art. The crowds were starting to build though, HOW DARE they, and by 10am I was getting tired of the people.
I stopped off to get breakfast at a local place, picking food from pictures on the menu (like stomach lucky dip). I picked well and had a true breakfast of champions with two different types of curry. Happy, happy, happy place.
The last place to see was Chew Jetty. The Clan jetties consist of eight jetties, named after their surnames, “Lim”, “Chew”, “Tan”, “Lee”, “Yeoh”, “Koay”, “Peng Aun” and Mixed Clans. “Chew” is the famous last name and it means the entire long stretch of jetty are residence with “Chew” as their last name.
Chew Jetty, is the largest and most active jetty at the end of Gat Lebuh Armenian. The Chew Jetty settlement is the biggest of the lot, having grown from about 10 families back in the 20s to over 1,500 residents today. Not that I saw 1500 people myself, but the jetty was so cool. Tiny little houses and shops, all snuggly located on their pier. You want to take photos and at the same time its kind of weird, I mean its their front porch as well.
It is definitely worth a visit and gives you an idea of what life must have been like in these tiny little jettys. I got a bit caught up in my sightseeing and the next think you know…
DAMN IT, I was late, too far from my accommodation to walk back, it is UBER time!
I clearly lucked out again! The Uber driver was fabulous, like a built in tour guide. Not only did he give me a rundown of the town, history, area, food, entertainment, but he also said he would wait whilst I grabbed my stuff, and take me to the airport. Uber Angel.
All the way out the airport we talked politics, travel, and general conversation. I wish there was a greater than 5 star ratings for those exceptional drivers. Alas, I could only rate him a 5, and outline all the aspects of his coolness!
I arrived at the airport on time, only to find my flight was delayed.
No worries, I will sit in the bar and wait. HAHAHAHA, wrong, no bar. No booze.
Goodbye Penang, you were a blast.
I would highly recommend making his a location to see. The food and accommodation is affordable, you can get around easily, the people are friendly, the food amazing. There are trips to islands and resorts you can do without having to stay at expensive resorts. Oh and the food is good.
I will definitely be back.
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