This week I’ve had a well needed break from small village life as I headed to Penang to renew my visa! I’ve made a quick list of dos and don’ts for any other solos travellers wishing to check out this amazing city!
Day 1 – Do
- Do download the “grab” app before you head to Penang- it is a life saver – it’s like Uber but far far faster and cheaper.
- Do get a Malaysian SIM card- this cost me less than £6 (28 ringgit) and ensured that I could used google maps to get everywhere which was incredible.
- If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Penang check out Rope Walk Guest House – I stayed in a 12 bed female dorm room in this incredible hostel and I really can’t recommend it enough! It was an ideal location, clean, the staff were lovely and the western showers, hot water and toilets were a dream come true after 2 months in rural Indonesia.
Don’ts of Day One
- Don’t naively assume that all of Asia is the same – being the second Asian country I’ve visited, Malaysia really surprised me – it felt more like San Francisco to me than it did Indonesia!
- Don’t be prejudiced!!! Something I encountered my first night in Penang was a rather hostile attitude from some Australian tourists, who decided to criticise one of the local guys for owning an Australian themed bar. Within seconds of him telling them about his bar they proceeded to shut him down and tell him that he knew nothing about Australian culture. Since they had only spoken to him for about 10 seconds before this point, it was clear that this assumption was based on A- the colour of his skin and B – his accent. I think a lot of travellers need to remember that we are guests in another country.
Day 2 – Dos!
- Do wake up early – it’s great to get out and make the most of the day
- Do visit temples! I had been a little worried about heading to the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple and it’s neighbouring Thai temple as I wasn’t sure whether Buddhist temples were the place for tourists. Having been though I would definitely recommend- I felt no more out of place than I would have exploring a cathedral. These temples are breathtaking and totally free! Donations of course are welcome however.
- Do explore the street art on your own! While it is possible to book a tour, you will see plenty of the street art just by wandering around near beach street.
- Do buy/ bring a good book! This was my first time properly travelling alone and I realised that when you are waiting for food on your own or even just sitting in a cafe/ bar alone it can be great to have something to read. A book can also be a great “do not come and sit with me” message to everyone who assumes you need company.
Don’ts – Day 2
- Don’t talk to people at the visa embassy – it will result in several questions about whether you have “found your husband yet” and delay you filling in your form.
- Don’t be surprised to find homeless people at the temples- I actually respected the temples more having discovered that they allowed homeless people to sit in them- it showed that the temple owners cared more about compassion than about making sure tourists got the best photos.
- Don’t assume that you can spend a whole day at the botanic gardens – unless you have a good book with you! The Gardens are a great place to sit and read for a while, but unless you’re really interested in different plant species I wouldn’t suggest spending a lot of time there.
Day 3 Dos
- Hike Penang Hill!! I was a little worried about this trek, but having done it I can confirm it is feasible! It took me around 2 hours, I did the first half on the road and the second half through the jungle. If you take the road on the left of the botanic Gardens and stick to it you won’t get lost.
- Get the train down from Penang hill- I did not want to walk both ways and the train is a great experience!
- Head to Kek Lok Si temple – lots of temples on my list but they really are incredible!
- If you head to the Colonial Museum expect an incredible tour guide! While this museum might not be for everyone the tour guide here was absolutely fascinating!
Don’ts – Day 3
- DONT TRY TO TAKE PHOTOS OF MONKEYS ON PENANG HILL- don’t even go near them. I learnt this the hard way and found myself running faster than I have in a long time!
- Don’t expect all temples to be touristy- I head to the waterfall hilltop temple and felt a little out of place- it’s a beautiful spot but with less tourists round, which made me worry more about disrupting people’s worship.
Day 4 – Dos
- Do head to a beach!! I had heard pretty negative reviews of the beaches around Penang but since I love the sea I decided to risk it anyway! I went to Batu Feringgi and was pleasantly surprised! While I didn’t swim as I’d heard that the water is pretty unclean, I was very happy sitting on the sand with a good book for the morning!
Day 4 – Don’ts
- Don’t be ashamed to use self timer/ ask people to take photos – you won’t be the only one!!
Rosie Roams 