Sungai Alor Merah

We landed in Penang in the late afternoon and headed straight out to find something to eat. Very soon after beginning our walk, we found a large hawker centre with plenty of food options from all over the world. We settled on a Malaysian dish of hot noodle soup with prawns. After dinner we headed out to see China Town, which was glowing with lanterns and decoration for Chinese new year.

The next morning, we headed out to do some sight seeing. Penang is made up of small villages, each with their own culture, foods and language. Mosques, temples and churches sat alongside each other on a single street. The most beautiful of the buildings all had welcome signs and appropriate clothes to borrow for visitors who wished to have a look inside. We were told that locals were extremely tolerant of each other and embraced each others food and culture. This resulting in delicious and unique food and experiences.

First we headed over to the Clan Jetties. These jetties were originally used as homes for Chinese immigrant fisherman. Now, locals still live and operate out of the jetties but they are also a tourist destination, so full of cafes and souvenir shops. Next we walked through Little India - you could literally smell it before you could see it. It was truly ‘Little India’. The streets were lined with people cooking curries and nan and selling spices in an array of colours. The old town of Penang is full of old British and colonial architecture. Many of the buildings have been preserved including an old fire station. To end the day, we headed back through China Town to sample the food and look at the street art.

Our final day was spent mostly planning our onward journey, but to end our Penang trip we joined a cooking class in the evening. We cooked three Malaysian dishes - the first was called Nasi Lemak which was basically coconut rice with sides. Next, we cooked a Malaysian stir fried noodle dish. Finally we made fried banana.

Penang is not only a lesson in tolerance of difference but a celebration of culture, creativity and history.Read more