Sunday 8/9/24
We took a Grab to Chulia Street which was about 25 minutes ride at RM15 (or S$5) and reached at 4.05pm. We wanted to explore the different streets in George Town.
It turned out there was nothing much to see at Chulia Street besides food and drinks. So we wandered around, soaking in the culture and history of George Town.
We stumbled upon the Central Fire Station 1908, a beautifully well preserved structure dating back to 1908, the year it was first constructed.
George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the streets overflow with rich history and culture, transporting us back 40 or 50 years ago where the past meets the present.
Most of the attractions in George Town are free to explore except for entering museums. The side of the fire station is an interesting street lined with Malaysia flags hanging overhead, creating a festive atmosphere as we walked by.
The street was enhanced by the mural art on the walls, showcasing George Town's street art scene. These works, created by both local and international artists, are scattered throughout the town, drawing tourists from around the globe to witness the city's heritage.
10 minutes walk away was Armenian Street which was a more lively walking street lined with array of cafes, local craft shops and souvenirs, and popular street arts where people queued to take photos.
I got my mum a small cloth bag here at RM10 (or S$3.33) as she loves carrying these small bags when heading out to market or gathering.
I went over to this cute shop selling all kinds of souvenirs, I picked up a few items for my friends and myself, something to remember from this trip.
We found a picturesque alley with nicer street art, every corner of Armenian Street has something different to see. The vibrant murals and shops kept us occupied as we explored.
I bought a packet of sesame biscuits and peanut sesame biscuits for my grandma at RM15 (or S$5). I only picked two because my baggage was already full.
By the time we reached Chew Jetty, it was already 5pm and the sky looked gloomy. We hurried our way through the wooden stilt houses along the village walkway, which looked like the 19th century, a piece of history slowly fading away in the modern world.
The wooden stilt houses were built over water, giving insights into the kelong past. It was a fascinating place to visit, steeped in history. Several clans still reside there, preserving this unique way of life.
Chew Jetty offers a glimpse of the fishermen’s way of life. The simplicity and charm of this place awakened my senses, brought me back to a time when life was slower and more connected to nature.
Being so close to the sea, it was quite winding here so we had to be careful over here as there was no barrier along the edge. While taking photos, I felt droplets of rain starting to fall, so we hurried back to the main street. It was a pity that I only had about 10 minutes there and did not have enough time to fully explore the other Clan Jetties.
As the rain got heavier, it took us awhile to cross the road due to the heavy traffic and lack of traffic light nearby. We had to embrace the downpour and crossed over to the coffeeshop before hailing a Grab ride back to our hotel, which cost RM10 (or S$3.33).
We reached hotel at 5.45pm and took a 45 minutes rest before heading out again. Here's a glimpse of my shopping haul from the afternoon.
We went back to 1st Avenue Mall since it was still raining. After 50 minutes of walking around, we settled for Daseo Mini at 7.20pm, a Korean restaurant with variety of pork-free menu. I had Ice Honey Citron at RM8.37 (or S$2.79) and Buldak Chicken Rice Bowl, featuring boneless chicken leg with teriyaki sauce at RM21.09 (or S$7.03) after tax.
Daseo Mini
LG-06, 1st Avenue Mall, 182, Jalan Magazine, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Operating hours: 11.30am to 10pm daily
We just chilled in the restaurant until 8.30pm, taking our time before a final round of shopping around the mall. By 9.20pm, we were back at the hotel, wrapping up the day.
Monday 9/9/24
It was another restless night but slightly better than the first night. I went to bed after midnight, woke up around 2 plus and stayed awake until after 3 plus. Then I woke again at 5.45am and remained up until 7am, when I started getting ready for the day.
Our 3D2N short trip to Penang was coming to an end. It was a fulfilling one as I managed to tick off most of the places I wanted to see and even shopped more than I did in Kuala Lumpur. My ideal vacation need to have both sightseeing and shopping.
After checking out of the hotel at 8.40am, we hailed a Grab ride back to Penang International Airport, which cost RM55 (or S$18.33) for 25 minutes drive.
After collecting our air tickets, we headed to McDonald for breakfast. I tried something that was not available in Singapore, Omelette Wrap with Hash Browns and Crispy Chicken and Hot Chocolate at RM16.41 (or S$5.47). I enjoyed the simple yet delicious breakfast.
This was no delay and we were seated in the plane by 11am on schedule and took off at 11.25am.
I got my favourite window seat. With no in-flight entertainment, I just immersed myself in the view outside the window. We touched down at Changi Airport at 12.33pm. Though our vacation felt like we had been a world away, we were just an hour's flight from home.
We landed at Terminal 3 and decided to head to the nearest restaurant for lunch, which happened to be Swensens. A familiar choice to end our trip.
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