Scott & Jody's Adventures Abroad: Penang, Malaysia

Awesome Street Art in Georgetown

If you look at any Penang blog, almost every page you'll find is related to food. The tiny island on the Northwest of Malaysia is world famous for its unique, delicious cuisine. Being the foodies we are, Penang was always near the top of the wish list of places to visit during our time in Asia. We spent a total of 5 nights in Georgetown, the island's capital & quickly found out the place has more to offer than food. Georgetown is filled with beautiful, old colonial buildings and retains a lovely small town charm. The hostel we stayed at in Little India is actually one of Georgetown's many 'heritage houses' - well preserved homes which display unique architectural styles brought about by the multicultural society who took up residence here. The quaint streets are flanked by these colonial houses, Malay mosques, Hindu and Chinese temples & awesome street art! The city is simply a joy to wander around & we now know why it's dubbed 'The Pearl Of The Orient'.

Such a Fun Night at Red Garden with Jenny!

Hilarious Lady Boy Show!

Our first night in Penang was very memorable. We met Jenny, the nicest cab driver upon arrival and she invited us out that night to join her and her family for dinner, drinks & entertainment at one of Penang's most well known night markets - Red Garden. It turns out Jenny is kind of a big deal in Georgetown, so we were given VIP treatment all night and she seemed to know everyone! We had way too many beers, dish after dish of incredible Penang hawker street food & really enjoyed the raunchy lady boy show even though we didn't understand most of it! Jenny introduced us to all kinds of friends including the owner of the extremely successful Red Garden market, nearly every waitress stopped by to gulp down Carlsberg with us, and I even got to talk to the star of the night - the lady boy after her(his) gig. It was then that something unexpected happened. She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her breast. Jenny's old Chinese father who hadn't spoken a word of English all night then said to me - "Apples or Oranges?" Seriously, that is the hardest I'd laughed in a long time! A great night out & a great introduction to Penang - thanks Jenny!

On Top of Penang Hill Overlooking Georgetown With Some Monkeys!

Monkey Beach at Penang National Park

During our time on the island, we climbed the exhaustively steep Penang Hill & pissed off a ballistic monkey at the peak who jumped off a roof & sprinted straight at us! He chased us for a good 30 yards before finally stopping after I screamed at him!! We enjoyed a leisurely evening watching the sun set over Georgetown & the sprawling Malaysian mainland in the distance. One day we went to Penang National Park & hiked through the jungle to deserted Monkey Beach. We looked down at the jungle on the canopy walk, refreshingly took a dip in the natural pools & lounged on the beach for hours. We learned about Penang's interesting history at Fort Cornwallis & strolled around the countless halls, pagodas & lakes that make up Kek Lok Si Temple.

Like I mentioned before, one of the main reasons we came to Penang was the food and it definitely didn't disappoint. It's a tough call, but overall I think I liked Malaysian food more than Thai food - call me crazy! The incredible cuisine here is a result of Penang's convenient location on the Straits of Malacca. This strait has been the main shipping channel between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, linking major Asian economies such as India, China, Japan & South Korea for centuries. The influx of exotic cultures has resulted in a uniquely Malay blend of flavor. There is very traditional Indian & Chinese food on the island but there's also one-of-a-kind dishes you'll only find in Penang. 5 days eating our way through Penang has changed my palette forever & I'll never forget the incredible flavors that make this tiny Island such a food paradise! Here are some of the highlights: