Penang photos we snapped in the past month essay life beyond cliché.
I am in love with Penang Island. I can hear your smug reply: “Yeah, who doesn’t.” Here is the thing: most probably, we are talking about different things.
The island is sharply divided into two distinct parts. I would call the first one The Greater George Town in the same way as many American cities refer to their surroundings. This area roughly includes Penang National Park, the best beaches along the coast, George Town itself down to Bayan Baru, and extends inland up to Penang Hill. Essentially, this is the part of the island where 99% of attractions and must visit places mentioned on TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet is.
The Greater George Town is THE place to spend a day or a week-long vacation. I would call it tourist paradise. Colonial sites, museums of any imaginable and beyond topics, food tours, boat rides, nightlife, exotic shopping, and huge modern malls are all there. The ultimate vacation would be an appropriate term to describe a visit to the island’s capital.
I love Penang. Not the glamorous part of it (aka George Town and vicinity). It’s nice but too touristy and crowded. Leaving the city is like a breath of fresh air and been transported back in times. Fishermen might have cell phones, and fishing boats are equipped with engines nowadays, but the art of fishing is as strong as ever in coastal villages.
The rest of the Island is antipodal to its flashy capital. Still colorful and multicultural, it is much quieter and, I dare to say, dignified.
From the hills down to the beaches, villages and tiny towns look like postcards from a bygone era. The old-fashioned way of living is poking out through holes in fences overpowered by mighty rainforest greenery.
Fishing villages, fruit orchards, and mangroves do not care about time. They exist in its own universe where the carefree days of summer never end. This is the island I love.
Sadly, fairy tales do not exist in real life. This idyllic scenery has come under attack from an army of high rises. What else is knew? The canopy of lush greenery got pierced by white spears creating an illusion of some outer space giant thumbs sticking out of the futuristic sea. Or, on a less poetic note, nature had been pushed back to satisfy real estate moguls.
Cows, however, missed the memo. Rapid gentrification does not concern them; what’s on the other street of the road does.
Cheers, see you in Penang!
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I was in Georgetown back in 2001. We’ll be there in a little over 2 weeks and I’m curious. I’ve heard many people say it’s gotten touristy and I have a hard time equating that with my memories. But I do remember the great food and look forward to that!
Frank (bbqboy)
Frank, great to hear from you :). It took a long time to get some reasonable internet connection and check what’s happening with the blog. By now, I think you are in Georgetown. I wonder how it compares with your recollections from 2001? Personally, I liked some parts of Penang Island, but not Georgetown in particular. Also, I grew fond of Ipoh. We traveled there twice in less than two months. By the end of our second trip, I was seriously considering coming there long term when we will be in SE Asia next time. Cheers!
Penang with its cows reminds me of the Indian beach towns. There is a rustic charm in these. Penang in fact, appeals to me with all that.
Thank you, Ami :). You are so right about Indian beach towns. We saw quite a lot of locals of Indian heritage in those coastal villages.
😀 The cows are crossing quite a busy road. I love all of the small details like this that really make the place. The fishing area looks like somewhere I’d love to roam around with my camera for the day. Good job at finding the less well known spots of an otherwise touristy place, too!
Thank you, Chantae 🙂
Those pictures really capture Penang well! So much nature! Please tell me you went to the food markets near the beach to eat with the locals?!?!
Thank you, Thuymi :). Penang food – oh, yes! By now (it is our 6th week staying in Penang), we ate through many different areas of the island: coastal villages, mid-island rustic towns and Bayan Lepas residential projects. The most amazing thing is that outside of George Town the most delicious food is unbelievably cheap. Dinner for two in the area we live costs about $2.50USD.
Seeing the roaming cows on the streets I remembered India. There you will find a similar urban view. I agree with you, I don’t like touristy areas. I prefer the quiet undiscovered gems.
Its the best place to explore when there’s no tourist i love the quiet beach you xan have it on you own fantastic place to laze around.
The beaches on your pictures are really beautiful and I love the one with the fishing boat 🙂 Also it must be so surprising to see cows roaming in the street like this!! People must be really careful when driving I guess
I’m also keen on exploring non-touristy areas in touristy cities when I travel, so really enjoy reading your article 🙂 The city outskirt where you visited looks exactly like some rural provinces in Vietnam where I come from, which is quite interesting. I need to plan a trip to Penang soon!
Thank you, Fiona 🙂
Loved the “LOVE” sign!
😀
Personally i liked your photos with empty beaches and less crowded areas.
Hope there are no accidents due to cows in roads
Penang is beautiful in every way….even with roaming cows. It just has a very culturally inclined rustic charm to it I guess 🙂
I was in Penang couple of years back, main city part though. It is very well maintained and well kept for tourists. I didn’t see any cows roaming there, it may be happening in old parts of Penang. Yes the canopy of greenery is receding though.
Dogs, cats and sometimes chicken and roosters are familiar sights here in the Philippines, but roaming cow?! Not in the city unless its a festival! But in the rural and provincial areas, its normal 🙂
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