Penang

Upon arriving by train, we took the ferry and crossed over to the island to the district of George Town. Everything was very straightforward and well-coordinated. After very simple accommodations that were full of mosquitoes, we were delighted to stay at our small boutique hotel with air conditioning and set out to explore the culinary specialties of the city. Fortunately, a brand new hawker center had just opened around the corner, where we could indulge in a diverse selection of inexpensive dishes.

We spent the next few days leisurely walking through the old town center with its Chinese, European, and Indian quarters, interspersed with nice street art. Very touristy, but a good atmosphere and a great ensemble. One day, we spent time at Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Here, you can invest your donations directly into the temple's ongoing construction by purchasing, for example, a package of roof tiles, Buddha statues, or tiles, and in some corners, you could watch the craftsmen integrating the donations right away. Plus, you had a wonderful view over the city.

On Penang Island, there are quite a few nice beaches and tourist attractions, but we preferred to let ourselves drift through the city, visit cafes and night markets, drink Tiger beer, and treat ourselves to a massage.

With a deep sense of relaxation, we took the ferry back to catch the intercity train to Kuala Lumpur (we had briefly been here after Melakka, but we are combining the two visits in one post).