5/5 Pao Fook S. 2 years ago on Google
PEARL
OF
THE
ORIENT
(Penang
Holidays)
An
exotic
name
befitting
its
multi
culturalism,
uniqueness
and
beauty.
Penang
island,
once
a
duty
free
port,
is
separated
from
the
mainland
by
the
11
kilo
meter
wide
Penang
Straits
before
the
14
km
bridge
was
built
over
it.
Prior
to
1986,
the
iconic
ferry
was
the
only
means
of
transport
for
the
masses
to
go
to
work,
business
and
pleasure.
Now
the
ferries
which
are
still
in
operations
are
used
as
tourist
attractions
and
by
others
more
of
a
novelty,
leisure
and
unhurried
crossing
option.
With
construction
of
the
Penang
bridge,
travelling
to
Penang
is
made
easier
and
I
drove
my
family
of
4
for
a
short
holiday
there.
Indeed
it
was
an
eventful
one
-
my
car
battery
went
flat
at
the
Butterfly
Park,
my
son
fell
sick
and
lost
our
way
in
the
βBermuda
Triangleβ
of
Komtar.
We
stayed
at
a
less
than
fashionable
seaside
hotel
with
a
small
swimming
pool
in
Tanjung
Tokong.
The
first
thing
we
found
on
the
beach
was
a
lifeless
catfish
which
my
younger
son
proudly
lifted
up
with
both
hands
for
me
to
take
a
quick
photo
shot.
Coincidentally,
we
were
surprised
to
meet
a
couple
from
our
church
who
were
also
there,
on
holiday,
at
the
pool.
Being
unfamiliar,
we
drove
aimlessly
to
find
a
hawker
food
haven
but
ended
up
at
Macalister
Road
which
was
patronized
more
by
tourists
than
locals
for
our
dinner.
A
Penangite
ex-colleague
lamented
to
me
that
the
good
ones
were
hidden
from
public
eyes
and
only
a
local
could
take
us
to
these
food
gems
and
havens.
The
roads
were
already
choked
with
traffic
and
holiday
makers
like
us
had
made
the
situation
worse.
But
the
more
painful
part
was
losing
our
way
due
to
the
confusion
that
many
of
its
formerly
2
way
roads
had
been
converted
to
one
way.
A
moment
of
indecision,
either
a
wrong
turn
or
missing
it,
had
caused
us
a
delay
of
at
least
10-20
minutes.
Some
locals
even
begged
holiday
makers
in
the
social
media
to
bypass
Penang
as
their
choice
destination
to
spare
them
the
agony
of
enduring
thronged
roads,
eateries,
places
of
attraction
etc.
We
found
it
so
amusing
that
at
the
heat
of
the
moment,
we
jokingly
vowed
not
to
drive
here
again
and
if
we
did
it
was
better
to
stay
put
and
spend
our
quality
time
at
one
of
their
famed
Batu
Ferringhi
beach
hotels
instead.
With
modern
technology,
one
could
even
use
our
handphone
to
access
google
maps
or
waze
apps
with
voice
aid
to
take
us
to
the
places
we
have
not
been
before.
On
an
earlier
trip,
I
had
a
more
relaxing
time
in
Penang
when
I
accepted
the
invitation
of
a
friend
whose
girlfriend
was
willing
to
accommodate
the
5
of
us
in
her
parentsβ
home.
It
was
so
organized
and
memorable
as
our
the
brother
of
our
hospitable
host
took
us
on
a
round
trip
to
the
Botanical
Gardens
for
its
sights
and
sounds,
hiked
up
a
hill
to
view
the
panoramic
scenery
below
and
the
iconic
Batu
Ferringhi
beach
to
admire
its
beauty.
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