A Weekend in Penang

It’s been two decades since my last visit to Penang.  There have been many changes in this heritage status city, Georgetown.  Penang is the island and Georgetown is its capital. We flew in, arriving only in the evening because of a flight delay.

The hotel, a heritage hotel by virtue of its building, was clean and passed muster. Facilities were very basic.  My only grouse was that it didn’t have a mini-fridge so I couldn’t keep my eye drops chilled. Fortunately it was only for the weekend after which I had to dispose of the eyedrops.

Our visit there was made a very happy and delightful one by a wonderful friend who not only took us to see the sights in Georgetown but arranged inbound tours for us too.  He also took us to places which had the best local cuisine. Only the locals would know which places serve the best of the famous signature dishes for which Penang is renowned for.

We had the Oyster Omelette or O chien and there were lots of succulent oysters in the omelette. It was very well cooked, not oily and very tasty.

Then we had the famous “char kwey teow” ( flat rice noodles) as well on our first evening in Georgetown.

Breakfast was Penang Prawn Mee (Har Mee) which was very tasty with is prawn based spicy soup and banana pancake. So engrossed was I in tucking in that I forgot to snap photos!! However lunch was Assam Laksa (noodles in  spicy sour sauce) and cendol ( dessert with palm sugar and coconut milk)

 Saturday night dinner was at the Penang Swimming Club which had a fantastic view of the sea.

The dinner comprised fish maw soup, taufoo, fishhead curry, spring rolls and spinach. 

My classmate (class of ’59) joined us for dinner and we had a good time reminiscing over old times.

Sunday breakfast was just a short distance away from our hotel, “Kueh Teow Thng” ( Flat rice noodle in soup, with chicken and fish balls).

Sunday lunch was in Balik Pulau, an area famous for its durians.

 We had laksa lemak which I didn’t really like but the sotong kangkong ( cuttle fish and a vegetable) and Hakka Yong Tauhu ( veg stuffed with fish paste)

Then our friend took us for delicious steamboat dinner on Sunday night which also happened to be Mother’s Day. The restaurant was housed in a large bungalow and all the tables filled up very quickly.

 We flew home on Monday morning after a warm soupy breakfast at the airport which was very cold.
That plus a hot drink warmed me up.  Perhaps it has to do with growing old.  One feels the cold more.


Our friend said that this visit was too short as we hadn’t tried out all the good eating places Penang had to offer and we hadn’t seen all the places that we ought to have seen.  So we were told to make another trip and to stay longer next time.  Hopefully we’ll be able to do so sometime.