Our journey to Malaysia has already started in Hat Yai. Through the portal 12go.asia, we bought tickets for a bus that goes directly to George Town, on Penang in Malaysia. The price of two tickets cost us about 130 PLN.
We crossed the border at the Sadao Border crossing. We managed to do it without any unnecessary waiting. I must admit that it was probably the most efficient crossing of the border in my life. The bus driver instructed the passengers where to go and then waited for us at the designated place on the other side. Leaving Thailand and entering Malaysia took place without unnecessary questions. The only question the guard asked us was what our plans were for our stay in Malaysia. I answered truthfully, put my fingers to the scanner and after a minute I received my passport back. All I need is my luggage through the scanner and I’m in Malaysia.
Penang Bridge
After crossing the border, we drive for about two hours towards Penang Island. The panorama of the island and nearby cities, including George Town, is impressive. The 13.5 km long bridge connecting the island with the mainland guarantees a great view of the cities, sea and mountains at the same time. This is the first attraction that awaits us during our visit to the island.
George Town on Penang, Malaysia
George Town, a historic city included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If you are going to Penang, the richest accommodation options can be found here. This city is primarily old, colonial buildings, street art, atmospheric pubs and tasty food. There is a free CAT bus within the center, which has a total of approx. 20 stops at the city’s biggest attractions. Masks are still mandatory on public transport, and we enter through the front entrance and exit through the back. Besides, it only goes in one direction. There are no timetables at the bus stop – we just sit down and wait for it to arrive. To get to know the city well, safely reserve 2 days for sightseeing.
More about George Town you can find HERE
Kek Lok Si Temple
I’ll admit that after almost two months of traveling in Asia, I didn’t expect any temple to impress me yet. And Kek Lok Si did. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, built at the foot of Mount Penang in Air Itam, and can be reached from the center of George Town by public transportation. Rapid Penang buses run within the city and surrounding areas, costing 2 – 4 MYR. You can get to the temple by bus no. 203 or 204. You have to give the driver the calculated amount, he doesn’t give change.
Entrance to the Temple is free, but only to the „main part”. If you want to go further and climb to the top of the phenomenal Pagoda, you have to pay a symbolic 2 MYR. According to information, all the money earned goes to renovating the place. Probably after the fire that took place several years ago.
If you want to see the huge statue of Guanyin (Chinese Goddess/Bodhi Compassion Being) which is located at the very top of the entire complex, you will need to spend an additional 8 MYR for the cable car to take you to the top. To find the „cable car”, you have to go through the entire large souvenir shop, uncomfortably packed along the route around the temple. If you don’t want to wait in line, feel like walking, or just don’t want to pay, you can walk. Unfortunately, 30 minutes uphill in the sun on concrete doesn’t sound good. Despite the ubiquitous commercialism and shopkeepers urging you to buy ice cream, it’s a place worth visiting while in Penang, Malaysia. You need to allocate approximately 2/3 hours for the visit + travel time.
Batu Ferringhi Beach & Beach of Moonlight Bay
Penang in Malaysia is not a typical resort. There are some quite nice and well-kept beaches here, but don’t expect too much. Anyway, if you are not planning a visit to Langkawi (like we decided against), Batu Ferringhi Beach is quite a nice option to spend a day at the beach. We can get there from Georgetown by Grab (Asian substitute for Uber) for about 20-30 MYR in about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic jams. You don’t have to worry about crowds, and the basic „infrastructure” is well developed. There are pubs, shops, a jet ski rental and a few other small businesses. The beach has thick, slightly pebbly sand, but you can easily lie down on a towel in the shade next to the growing trees.
Beach of Moonlight Bay is a smaller and quieter beach halfway to Batu. As the name suggests, it seems to be perfect for a romantic walk in the moonlight.
Penang Botanical Garden
It’s quite a nice place to visit on a hot day when walking around the city becomes tiring. We visited the botanical garden right after visiting the Kek Lok Si Temple. We paid about 10 MYR for Grab from there. Entrance to the garden is free. During an approximately hour-long walk you will walk through the jungle, the Japanese garden and the path by the river. You definitely won’t take a picnic, although the place is great for that. The garden, especially at the entrance, is full of monkeys, ready to fight for food. In front of the entrance you’ll find signs telling you not to feed the animals. I suggest you stick to that.
Speaking of animals – I also advise you to look under your feet. While walking through the jungle, R. nearly stepped on a snake. It was small and I walked past it without even noticing it. But don’t worry – it’s worth visiting the place anyway 🙂
Penang National Park in Malaysia
We were thinking about visiting this place. I thought about it for a long time. There are several places I wanted to see, but in the end we gave up. The reason was the price (50 MYR per person!) and current reviews on Google and online forums that I follow. Many frustrated people write about the dirt, the poorly maintained paths, the beautiful but absolutely littered Monkey Beach, where monkeys steal whatever they can find and then throw it away. Due to these negative opinions, I decided to let go of disappointments.
Penang Hill, Malaysia
Another attraction that we didn’t go to because of the weather. There was a merciless downpour in the morning, and heavy clouds hung over Penang for half the day. Also the price (for a tourist 60 MYR per person!) was to high. Opinions about this place vary, but nevertheless, if the weather was more favorable, I would like to see the view from the top.
*Penang Butterfly farm
I marked this place with an asterisk because I think it is primarily an interesting attraction for children. Apart from butterflies, as the name suggests, the place also has interesting species of insects and reptiles. Admission costs 65 MYR per person.
*Aqua Park Escape
Similar to the above. If you are traveling with a child and want to, keep him entertained 😉 then there is a water park on the island where you can spend a few hours having fun. An entrance ticket costs about 150 MYR.
To remember if you are entering Malaysia from Thailand!
- When entering Malaysia from Thailand, we move the clock forward one hour. (6 hours ahead of Poland)
- In Malaysia, unlike Thailand, possession and smoking of marijuana is strictly prohibited. If you transport any prohibited „souvenirs”, you will face severe penalties. (The Malaysian government is considering legalization in the coming years).
- Malaysia is a majority Muslim country. In tourist places there is much greater tolerance for women’s clothing. Anyway, for your own comfort it is better not to reveal too much.
- GRAB – the Asian replacement for Uber/Bolt – operates in the country. If we want to get somewhere, it is worth monitoring the prices and waiting to book a ride. Penang is heavily congested and depending on the time of day, ticket prices can vary significantly. (For example, Grab charged 36 MYR to get to Batu Ferringhi Beach from our hotel during peak hours. An hour later it was 21 MYR. And We managed to book the return trip for MYR 19).
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