Penang Questions:

-Is it worth taking the furnicular up Penang Hill for the view? I've read about long queues, etc that have put some people off.
-Any suggestions for places to have dinner on Batu Ferringhi?
-Has anyone rented a car/motorbikes to get around the island? How was the experience?
-If we don't get our own transportation, is it easy to use the buses/take cabs to get around the island?
-Anyone been to the Snake Temple, and is it worth visiting
-Toy museum, butterfly farm worth a visit?

Background: My husband, myself and another couple (late 20's, early 30's) are visiting KL and Penang next week. We'll be in Penang for about 2 days, so would appreciate any advice. We are staying at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel on Gurney Drive. We plan on checking out central Georgetown (Fort Cornwallis, clock tower, etc, the Cheong Tze Fatt mansion, Khoo Kongsi). We're also planning on going to the Kek Lok Si Temple and maybe up Penang Hill. Of the 2 nights we'll be in Penang, one night we plan on checking out the hawker stalls on Gurney Drive and the second night at the night market in Batu Ferringhi. We don't want to do any shopping, as we're taking an Air Asia flight to BKK (need to keep the weight down) where we plan on doing some serious shopping. Any Penang tips/advice as well as restaurant recommendations will be much appreciated. Thanks. Sharon.

Hard to take buses around. There's lots of cabs waiting at the tourist spots. They don't use the meter. Agree on the price. Usually they will charge quite high for tourists. I don't recommend getting motorbikes. From personal experience there's quite a number of reckless drivers there.

The Batu Ferringhi night market can't compare to the ones in Bangkok. There would be lots of food around the Batu Ferringhi. Mostly patronised by tourists prices are above average. I found the food quality average.

checkout this blog for Penang food recommendations.

http://pasankia.blogspot.com/2007/01...-continue.html

We stayed right in Georgetown at the E&O in Nov. 2006 which was simply fabulous. We found better hawker food in Georgetown than on Gurney Drive. If you do a search for Penang, You'll find my Penang, Chiang Mai and Bangkok Trip Report.

We spent 6 nights in Penang, and found plenty to do just in the Georgetown area.

At Batu Ferringhi the Eden restaurant for seafood, also a 'pirate' sort of place, like a pirate ship ( if it's still around ), there is(or at least was ) a great Indian restaurant just across the road from there.
I don't know if it's changed but hotels would not allo taxis to ply for business there so you go to the road, as suggested agree the price first. Buses are ok if doing a direct trip that is simple such as Batu Ferringhi into Georgetown.

I have stayed at the Evergreen Laurel, nice hotel, very 'business like' place and efficient, few years back but rooms were fine but again very much seemed a 'business hotel'( Evergreen Hotel Group is owned by Eva Air ). You can walk along north from there to the hawker food stalls.
If you are therefore planning to go to Batu Ferringhi ( main beach area ) at night then use taxis for sure. Probably worth the trip if going to Eden for Seafood, they used to have live entertainment but don't know if they still do.

Thanks for your responses.

KMLoke, thanks for your tips on using the cabs. I guess its not a very good idea getting motorbikes to get around...

Kathie, I'd read your report before and taken notes. Am definitely going to try Kheng Pin Café... Would have loved to stay at the E&O, but it was a little beyond our budget...

JamesA, had read about the Eden restaurant in my LP guide. Will check that out. Also good to know the Evergreen is a decent enough hotel. Any other recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Sharon,

1. Penang Hill is too much trouble. Suggest you skip it.

2. The "pirate" ship mentioned by JamesA is still around. Yes, good place for western food. But if you need a jolt of good local food, try "Hot Wok" in Jalan Tanjung Tokong. The road is connected to Gurney Drive. Last year, I took 3 fodorites from US (they made pitstop with Princess cruise) to HW and they loved it. Nyonya food.

3. Don't drive or ride in Penang. You will never get use to the chaotic traffic there. It is not an island resort. The place is urbanised and crawling with reckless vehicles.

4. Bus is unreliable. I guess you'll have to take the cab. Meters are not used (although by law it's compulsory). Bargain and agree on the price before hopping in.

5. Snake Temple is Ok if you want some quirky photos to take home. Green viper snakes can be seen on altars. No news of snakebites so far. They are probably too dazed from the josstick smoke.

6. Skip Toy musuem. It's pretentious. Don't miss butterfly farm. It's the only place in Malaysia where you can view rare Brooke butterflies, stick insect, orchid mantis ... many weird creatures which can only be seen if you take a 2-3 hrs night trekking trip into leech infested jungle. There's also a Spice garden and batik factory nearby.

Evergreen Laurel is flanked by lots of local eateries. Food will not be a problem. You can also walk to Gurney Drive's hawker stall, 30 mins away.