Welcome to Penang.

Penang is famous for its Nasi Kandar. Do try and and have a taste.
While there, you may want to ask the waiter, when would be the next gathering.
If you are lucky to be invited to one, you might even get a RM 100 for your efforts.

To hang out in a non-touristy trap place, I would suggest Komtar.
Not to be confused with the Sg Wang wannabe Prangin Mall, Komtar is the real deal.
Just in there you can see a melting pots of regional country shops, a truly multicultural group of people gathering around inside the shopping centre.
Since Penang hires a lot of foreign talents, Komtar has been their defacto gathering place for these groups of selected expatriates.

For the so called 'stuffs', you happened to come at the right time to one of the top event of penang.
Held annually in Mount Erskine, it is truly a sight to behold.
The annual fest see Mount Erskine transform from a normal mountain to a smoky one, which from far would reminds you of an active volcano.

To see this, just pick a weekend from now on. It should be easy to reach, since most people would drive there.
Just join in the crowds.

For shopping, the most secret best place to get a bargain can be found in the corner of lebuh armenian and the sun yat sen house.
It is a market that offers nothing like this in the whole of Penang, and usually operates about dusk anyday.
Located in the historical enclaves, you can wander from stall to stall marvelling at the items there.
Looking for a classic Puma runner that could be a collectible item ? Look no further than this specialised market.

I hope all this will help to put you into a better perspective that Penang is not a tourist traps.
Hope you will enjoy this island so much you will come back again.

Really.

Well, it's gotta be the west part of the island.

.
.
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Have I busted any arteries ?

Alright, patched it up and remember you owe me one.
Bukit Genting.

Well, the snake temple is located near the airport.
Contrary to belief, there is still a snake there.
It just so happens that it belongs to the photographer.
Do cross the snake temple out from your travel itinerary.

Unless you absolutely have to see the industrialised side of penang island.

Kek Lok Si, is a grand, disney-fied version of a chinese temple.
Rather than drive all the way there, it would be better to drive all the way up to the Air Itam dam.
That, is worth a visit, particularly in the early morning.
It's located on the same road that goes to Kek Lok Si.

As for drivign around penang, heck you better get a map.
or a local guy.

you might end up driving in rounds since the pre-war shoplots all looks the same.
and it's pretty easy to get lost in penang, with all the one way roads.
since the roads are pretty narrow, once you missed a turn it's pretty hard to backtrack.

oh, and the bikes are the king of the roads here.


enjoy your drive here haha...

Waldorf hotel is within the walking distance to some of the famous eating places in penang road.
Well known only to the local, it is located opposite a blue mansion tourist site which is smack right in the middle of the town itself.
Around the area is upper penang road, line clear nasi kandar, late nite bak mooi and beef noodles.