We've been talking about going to George Town since we arrived in Langkawi six weeks ago. But for various reasons we never got around to, until this Wednesday. We blame our guide book for not writing a selling enough description of this charming place. Now after we've been there we only wish we would have discovered it sooner.
George Town is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. From its humble beginnings as a swampy British colony in the late 18th century it has developed massively, yet somehow kept the historic touches and can now be described as a busy modern city with the small-town charm intact. Here you'll find an interesting mix of nationalities, religions and cultures co-existing harmoniously.
Since teleportation isn't invented yet the communication network between the two islands is as good as it gets. You can choose to go by ferry (3 hours) or plane (25 minutes). For obvious reasons we chose the later. The trip went as smooth as smooth gets and not long after leaving our apartment in Langkawi we found ourselves checking in at
G Hotel. We liked our new found "G-spot" right from the start. The homemade ice cream they treated us to didn't hurt.
After a nice shower we took a cab to Chinatown, a short while later we ordered some local Chicken Ginger with rice and BBQ Pork with noodles, delicious and the bill read only 12 Rinngit (24 SEK or 9 PLN).
Nelly was getting tired, it was time to head back to the G-spot. We found a cab and this time we instantly liked the driver so we made plans with him to pick us up at our hotel the next day for some sightseeing. In Malaysia taxis are cheap which makes them a convenient way to explore a new town.
After Nelly took a nap we went out again for some
Bibimbap. That's a popular Korean dish with rice, egg, vegetables, carrots and sliced meat, very tasty. Later on we went back to the hotel for drinks in the lobby. It was still happy hour and all three of us felt very privileged to be there. Especially Nelly who was cruising around all over the place in her own very characteristic and flirtatious way.
Next day we called our taxi driver Ahmad who we met the day before. He picked us up right away and took us on a tour of the city. He showed us Little India, Chinatown,
Fort Cornwallis,
Pinang Peranakan Mansion and the very impressive Buddhist temple
Kek Lok Si. Ahmad proved to be a terrific guide who knew Penang like the back of his hand so if you ever need a pleasant cab driver/guide send him an e-mail: ahmad.badrul@yahoo.com. We will definitely contact him next time we visit Penang or "The Pearl of the Orient" as the slogan says. Hopefully that's very soon cause our stay here felt way too short.
Nelly admiring herself.
The relaxing lounge Lobby at G Hotel.
Nelly takes a short break from raising hell in the lobby at G Hotel.
-These coasters go down real easy, are you sure it's just carbon paper?
Super cool make-a-wish fountain at the
Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. One of the oldest temples in Penang, founded in 1803.
Guy with dragon tattoo in front of a dragon statue at the Dhammikarama Temple.
Vietnamese temple.
Bicycle taxi passing through a narrow alley in Chinatown.
The century old Pinang Perenakan Mansion (privately owned but opened for public).
Balcony at the Peranakans, also known as the Babas and Nyonyas.
Nelly and our Chinese Charlie Chaplin look-a-like guide at the Pinang Perenakan Mansion.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion displays the typical home of a rich Baba 100 years ago.
Kek Lok Si tempel (or in plain English the Temple of Supreme Bliss). Construction begun in 1890 and hasn't ever really stopped. Sky's the limit!
Our nice taxi driver Ahmad taking a well deserved break with Nelly.
The pool at the G Hotel.
Finally after two busy days it was time to fly back to Langkawi. Check out the rhino on the woman in the seat in front of us.
