April 2013 Siem Reap trip : Butterworth - Penang

It’s 06.30 AM when the train stops at Butterworth. To go to Penang (which is an island) we have to get a ferry to cross or ride a taxi to cross the bridge but for sure this will cost much more. Since it’s still dark and raining when we arrived, we waited a bit for the sun to shine to find a way to go to the ferry. There were some taxi drivers offering there service, but we were not interested. Too bad there were no officers or information desk available for us to ask the way to the ferry terminal. 

 While waiting for the rain I talked to a lady with her lovely daughter (sorry I forgot her name) she is originally from Butterworth and visiting her family. From her I found out that the railway station is still under renovation to make it adjacent with the ferry terminal (and bus station if I’m not mistaken). Turns out while I was talking to her, hubby was talking with a local person as well and he was going to Penang by ferry too, so we went there with him. Turns out the ferry terminal is not far at all, we just have to walk and cross a overpass which has no roof yet (still being under renovation I guess), it only took a 5 minute walk.

Luckily by the time we reached the terminal there was a ferry ready, we only waited about 5 minutes for it to sail. The ferry is an opened type, sitting is available around the railing and in the middle, while on the left and right side is space available for cars. The ferry ticket cost RM 1.20 / person from Butterworth to Penang island, as from Penang to Butterworth it’s free. At the ticket booth we changed RM 5 to small changes since we have to pay using coins to pass to the terminal dock. For the ferry from Butterworth to Penang island, it cost RM 1.20 for adult, RM 0.60 for children 5-12 years old, RM 1.40 for bikes, RM 4 for motorcycle, RM 7.70 for cars.

At the time our ferry started sailing, we could see Penang island from afar still with city lights on, since sky was still a bit dark and the sun just started to rise. It’s really nice having a sunrise view on our ferry ride from Butterworth to Penang island. The ride took around 15 minutes, we could see Penang bridge, Georgetown the more the ferry reaches Jetty dock (Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal - Weld Quay) to berlabuh.

Arived at the Jetty dock, we still don’t know which way to go since check in time at Tune Hotel is at 2 PM (and we are sure we won’t have luck with early check in as we had at Borei). Thankfully at Weld Quay Bus Terminal there is Hop on Hop off CAT (Central Area Transit) bus which is free, so we just hopped in while thinking which places we wanted to see.

In our way, we saw a beautiful church which is one of Penang’s icon, so we went down from the bus at the church’s bus stop. It’s St George’s Church, built at 1818, and it is said to be the oldest Anglikan church in South East Asia . In front of St George’s Church, there’s the Penang High Court Building which was built in 1903, before being High Court, it was a Courthouse which was built in 1809. We continued our journey in Georgetown on foot. We also pass a building which seems like a school built in 1852 in Convent Light Street.

In Penang, especially at Georgetown, there are lots of old building and still being used until now.

One of the restaurant still keeping it's original state

Logan Memorial

Mahkamah Tinggi

We wanted to visit Fort Cornwallis when we past it, but we will have to wait another hour for it to open. So we decided to hopped in the free CAT bus again to bring us to other places, turns out the bus brought us back to the Jetty dock and the driver took his break, so we just waited at the bus stop while waiting for another free CAT bus again J

Tanjong City Marina

Church Street Pier

After getting on the CAT bus, we went down at an area where it looks crowded for food stalls, since we were famished and needed breakfast badly. We finally decided to have our breakfast at Kedai Kopi Ho Ping at Malabar street, we ordered Char Koay Teow and meat ball. The Char Kwey Tiau was ok, as for the meat ball is delicious but the noodle inside the meatball is not too good. At the time we entered this place, there were still lots of tables available, but when we finished it was full.

Then we just hopped on the free CAT bus again to KOMTAR Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak). KOMTAR is the highest building in George Town, it has a mall and many destination bus terminal in it.

We took the Rapid Penang bus to go to Penang Hill, it’s not free but still cheap it cost RM 2 to go there, just make sure you have the exact change as the bus driver won’t have any change, as we just put the money in a box and the bus driver will give you ticket according to your destination and cost.

After around 45 minutes, we arrive at Penang Hill. It is said to be the highest point in Penang island (cmiiw). Truthfully we came there not to see Penang Hill itself, but we were curious from other bloggers story about the train which transport us to the peak of Penang Hill.

The ticket for foreigners cost RM 17 (one way) and RM 30 (return). As for Malaysian citizen and holder of MM2H Visa only cost RM 8, for senior citizens and children 4-12 year old cost RM 4. Hubby had a naughty idea of being a Malaysian since we do look like the locals. And at the ticket counter, the officer talked in Malay. He wanted to act as local but being afraid for the having asked the ID card to be shown, we just paid the tourist price for return ticket RM 30x2 people = RM 60.

Queuing to get on the train 

Going up the hill

View of going down

Tips : For going up the hill, it’s a better position to sit at front, since we can feel the sensation of the steepness which is quote thrilling. But sitting way at the back is quite an experience as well. If you sit in the middle, you won’t get any of that feeling at all whether for going up or going back down. As for going down the hill would be the same thing, taking the front position would give the best experience. Personally we liked the sensation when the train goes down, especially at the from seat (as we did) as we can see the train’s rail which is really steep, kind of a roller coaster ride feeling J

On top of Penang Hill, we can see Penang surroundings from above, we could also see the Penang Bridge. They also provide telescope for RM 1 so we can see the view much clearer.

Done walking around Penang Hill, we went back using Rapid Penang to KOMTAR. Our next destination is to check in at Tune Hotel, since we don’t really know where it located at Jl Burmah (keep in mind that this road is quite long) we just wanted to arrive at KOMTAR and see it from there. But as we are approaching KOMTAR, we saw a red and white building which looks like the hotel. We asked the bus to stop immediately, thankfully the bus driver is able to stop nearby, since we could just walk for a little bit to reach the hotel from there. As if we had to stop at KOMTAR it would be a hassle to reach Jl. Burmah again.

It only take about 300 meters from our stop to Tune Hotel. The location is quite strategic, just nearby it there’s the New World Park, 7 eleven is available at the ground floor to buy drink and snacks. Since it is still 13.00 we stop by at a restaurant next to the hotel for lunch while waiting for the check in time at 14.00

Fatty Boy Chicken Rice

The restaurant name is Fatty Boy Chicken Rice, I ordered 1 mix plate of pork and chicken, 2 rice and 1 bowl vinegar pork leg, thinking that if we were still hungry we’d just order more. It was a good decision since it really made us full. All the food we ordered tasted really delicious, I was hoping that tomorrow morning we could still eat there again before our flight but it wasn't possible since our flight is really early. I forgot how much it cost but it wasn't expensive at all.

After lunch we went to the hotel straight away to check in. The lobby is not at the 1st floor, so we have to go up the elevator first to the second floor. The lobby is quite OK, it has the internet corner, massaging chair (you have to pay for it though), and there is even travel agent available. Our check in was very smooth, the front officer was very nice and handled everything efficiently. We went to our room straight away, took a shower and take a nap which both of us really needed.

Woke up at 7 PM, washed our face, and ready to start our exploration again. Our destination is Gurney Drive (Anjung Gurney), it’s an area nearby the beach (?) where it has a big eating area with lots of food stall of selling mostly Penang food. We were running out of Ringgit, while we still have to pay for the taxi back and forth to Gurney Drive, taxi for next morning to Bayan Lepas airport, dinner at Gurney Drive, etc. So the first thing we have to do is looking for 'pengurup uang' (money changer). We deliberately walked, in fear that if using taxi we would miss it / harder to find. Turns out it’s not that easy to find a money changer on the way to Gurney Drive especially at night , as we didn’t find any that day. Too bad we didn’t go at day time while we were in Komtar area, as there were quite a few money changer there.

Church we passed on our way to Gourney Drive

Seeing a medium sized mall, we went in with eagerness hoping there’s a money changer inside. Asking the security of the mall for the money changer in English, he didn’t undestand, asking again in Malay, he didn’t understand us too, probably he is not Malaysian. Frustrated, we asked the supermarket’s cashier, and the news is there is no money changer there.

Continued our walking adventure again, it’s 8.30 PM already we still haven’t found money changer and it’s already ½ way to Gurney Drive. Finally we saw a person which looks like a local and asked him for the nearest money changer, and the nearest one is at Plaza Gurney, near by Gurney Drive. We really hope we can get there on time, since it still needs 20-30 minutes walking to reach the place.

From our plan to ride taxi to Gurney Drive, finally we went there on foot which was quite far, probably around 4km. Considering that we don’t have much time to reach Plaza Gurney on time, from a relax pace now we have to speed up, since it would be a disaster if the money changer is closed already.

Finally we have reached Plaza Gurney and found our beloved money changer still open.. yeay!!! J

It only took a 5 minute walk from Plaza Gurney to Gurney Drive. The places we wanted to go in Penang besides visiting their world heritage UNESCO old buildings, getting on the train at Penang Hill, Gurney Drive is certainly one of them for the culinary experience for cheap Malaysian food.

Gurney Drive eating area

Wan Than Mee - Sui Kow - Prawn Mee

Oyster Omelete - Assam Laksa - Chendol

Hawkers @ Gurney Drive

We had a good time at Gurney Drive looking around for foods at hawker stalls, as there are lots of them. I'm not sure but I got a feeling that they are dividing the stalls in 2 parts of halal and non-halal food stalls, it's not really obvious but you can feel it. Not all the foods we tried are all good, but my favorite is the Sui Kow which I ordered with the Wan Than Mee.

Traffic jam around Gurney Drive

the "beach area"

Gurney Drive was packed that night, there was a 1 km traffic jam going to the place (blessing in disguise for walking there), probably because it was weekend or maybe every night is like that we were not sure. The “beach area” in front of Gurney Drive is packed as well, there were youngsters, family, friends and couples enjoying the night sea breeze. Why I said “beach area” since it is not the usual sandy beach where we can play around, this is more of a pedestrian walk and a knee high wall to border the walking area from the sea.

Fulfilled and satisfied our curiosity for Penang street food, we went back to hotel. While strolling on the pedestrian beach walk, we were looking for a taxi to go back. Though walking quite far we still can’t find a taxi, truthfully there were some available taxis but once we mentioned wanting to go to Tune hotel they refused, don’t know why.

Walking half the way back finally a taxi would take us back but for RM 15, feeling it’s only half way back we finally decided to go back. All in all we walked aor about 8 KM, didn’t expect to have that stamina on us, if we were to do it deliberately planned I’m sure we won’t do it :D

Just FYI : Though the taxis has meter (Argo meter), but the taxi in Penang won’t follow it. At the time of our visit an average cost for taxi in Georgetown area will cost RM 10.

Very happy to see our hotel at the end of our night stroll, hanging around in the lobby for a while, then go straight to our room for bath, packing and sleep since at 06:30 AM we have to arrive at Bayan Lepas Airport.