George Town - Penang Island

George Town - Penang,

Anyway, the fresh air was good and hiking was perfect. Nevertheless, I got back on the bus and reached Butterworth after a good 4 hours. Specifically, the "Sentral Bus Terminal", which stands colossally like a rock in the surf. Huge, spread over several floors, including a shopping center. And at the back exit, you are right at the ferry station. And after a 10-minute ride, you are already on Penang Island. Although one should stop dreaming with the term "island". A large part here is covered by the city of George Town. A historically significant, beautiful and multicultural city. One could actually say that all religions live peacefully side by side here. Yes, culture is highly valued here, and the many street arts immediately capture your attention.

I spent my two days here packed with contrasts. First, I roamed the inner city center, where many Chinese temples, Indian temples, and mosques are located. Of course, I was looking for Buddhism, and it did not disappoint. However, a 3 km walk was necessary to get there, but it was worth it. The Thai temple and the even more beautiful Burmese temple are located right next to each other.

Actually, I wanted to go up to "Penang Hill" with the cable car and enjoy the beautiful view and all the people. The latter is why I decided to visit the Botanical Garden instead. Here, it is pure tranquility once again. At some point, I found a staircase to the left, being curious as I am, I followed it without realizing that it would be a steep and sweaty 30-minute uphill walk. Yet, it was still the right decision, and when I reached the top, there was a beautiful and well-marked jungle trail that led me further until it eventually went steeply downhill and I found a stunning waterfall. It turned out later that it was located on the private property of a company, which was also the reason I was allowed to enjoy the cool water all by myself.