George Town - Penang

Although the journey via the mainland would have been cheaper, we opted for the shorter and more enjoyable route via ferry. This took us from Langkawi to George Town on the island of Penang in just over three hours.

The skyline of George Town is very different from the islands of Langkawi and Pulau Pangkor. Massive skyscrapers dominate the cityscape. Seen from the ferry, George Town strongly resembles Kuala Lumpur. However, the city centers of the two cities are quite different. George Town is characterized by buildings from the British colonial era, Chinese business and residential buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and mosques. The cultural and religious diversity is immense.

The diversity is also visible on the plate. Penang is a food haven. It is known for its numerous food stalls that serve unique dishes. Some well-known dishes here are Asam Laksa - a salty, sour, and spicy noodle soup with mint leaves - Char Kway Teow - a noodle dish with eggs and shrimp - and Hokkien Mee, a Chinese noodle soup. The taste of the first mentioned dish may take some getting used to. Not every choice of food agreed with our stomach, but fortunately, these minor disturbances quickly subsided.

In addition to the food, George Town is also known for its architecture and street art. Numerous paintings adorn the walls of houses along the streets. The search for the small and large works of art is reminiscent of a treasure hunt. Nobody knows exactly how many paintings there are in the city and where they are all hidden.

Penang also has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife. For example, there are many small bars on Love Lane. Here, tourists and locals meet. We were also fortunate to meet a group of young Malays. The young police officers, who all graduated from the police academy together, meet in Penang every few years. It was a diverse group. Chinese Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims sat at the same table. Conversations about culture, politics, and religion showed that Malaysia is a complex but extremely fascinating country. Malaysia impressively demonstrates that coexistence and mutual respect among different religions is not only possible but also enriching.

Penang was our final destination in Malaysia. We leave the country with exclusively positive impressions. One thing is certain: we will be back!

Today we continue to Bangkok, Thailand.