Let me first start with the Hard Rock Cafe Resort where we stayed. The pool with the close proximity (literally steps) from the beach (Batu Feringgi) made relaxation very easy. Of course we enjoyed the western food selection at the Cafe and the kids enjoyed seeing all the "old" singers and instruments on display. We enjoyed the beach, water slides, poolside drinks, and entertainment each day to the fullest.
Now I have to take time and mention the food. There are few places in Southeast Asia where the food is a main attraction. Penang, with its unique blend of Indian, Chinese, and Malay influences, is an attraction within itself. The majority of the "hawker" (open air street food complex) food is very cheap and so delicious! Our favorite place to dine was at the Long Beach Cafe which had various food Hawker stalls specializing in Satay (below), Fried Char Koay Teow, and so much more.
Of course we took some time to do some exploring when we were not relaxing at the resort or eating. We took a day to enjoy Penang heritage via a Trishaw Tour. What is a Trishaw you ask...? Well here are a few pics!
Continuing our Trishaw ride we saw the Town Hall which was built in the 1880's. Following this we passed Esplande which is a seafront promenade with a war memorial for fallen soldiers. Next we stopped at Fort Cornwallis which was built by captain Francis Light upon first landing in Penang.
Then we rode past Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee each year.
A very interesting part of our tour was visiting the Clan Jetties, located along the Weld Quay which is home to families of traders, fisherman, and dock workers. These were built during the 19th century as traditional houses built over the sea on stilts and connected by wooden walkways.
Traveling on we stopped at Khoo Kongsi which was completed in 1906, a temple belonging to the Khoo Kongsi Clan. The temple features fine Chinese architecture and craftsmanship.
Riding onward we passed Little India, a quarter of South Indian culture. Early immigrants settled down here to make Penang their home.
Next we visited the Mahamariaman Temple built in 1883, it is the oldest temple in George Town. Lastly we stopped to take some photos of the Floating Mosque which accommodates up to 1,500 worshippers with local and Middle Eastern architecture.
Another day of our vacation we decided to hire a driver and take us around to some of the key attractions that we could not travel to via a Trishaw. Our first stop was at Wat Chayamangkalaram. Built in 1845, the Thai temple has one of the largest Reclining Buddha statues in the world.
Located across the street we then went to see the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple. This is a traditional temple used to celebrate New Years Day in Thailand.
Next stop was at Penang Hill. This offered a panoramic view of the city (2,000 ft above sea level) and reaching the top via a funicular train.
We then arrived at Kek Lok Si Temple which is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.
We spent many evenings on our way to and from the Food Hawkers by passing through thr Batu Feringgi Night Market where the locals would sell souvenirs and fake merchandise.
We had a such a great vacation and it was a beautiful mix of culture and relaxation!
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