Penang - Where Is The Fun?

[drummer]

I'm here for the first time today - I really note that the different cultures are far more visible than they are in Thailand. Thailand - even Bangkok, is far more mono-cultural than Penang. Maybe the difference between the US and Canada?

Anyway, my .02 Ringgit...

[PeaceBlondie]

I'm here for the first time today - I really note that the different cultures are far more visible than they are in Thailand.  Thailand - even Bangkok,  is far more mono-cultural than Penang.  Maybe the difference between the US and Canada? 

Anyway,  my .02 Ringgit...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Drummer, maybe that was you I bumped into. Yeah, Penang - Georgetown, anyway - has a real cultural mix. I've never been to India, but I think I'm seeing a lot of natives of India here. I wish I'd found this thread before arriving. I'm just here on a stinkin' visa run, and didn't research it ahead of time. Left my luggage in Hua Hin....I must be getting even more forgetful as I grow old gracefully. Prices here seem reasonable, maybe 20% higher than Thailand, about 30% the cost of Ireland or Spain.

And almost everybody speaks some form of English! That's a welcome relief.

Well, tomorrow I think I'll walk down to the waterfront and watch the pigeons. Then head back to Hua Hin and watch the frogs and the monkeys.

[numpty]

i never enjoyed penang when i had to go there for visa runs but i started goin more often when a mate moved there and started to enjoy it a lot more. now i go 2 or 3 times a year

try the kashmir for quality indian food

for somethin different try this walk

best start early mornin

[taxout]

The tandoori chicken at Kapitan, on Chulia Street near Kapitan Mosque. is plain extraordinary.

http://www.friedchillies.com/review.php?id=84

[meadish_sweetball]

For shopping - island Plaza is good.....but dont expect too much.

Best things to do in Penang is take the overnight boat trip - Amusement world.....cheap cocktails and a lot of Karoake....as long as you can stop yourself venturing to the casino....

Food is free...

The Hol Equatorial is magnificent - but pricey...worth a look...

As to the locals - well they are great at ripping the shit out of you any way the can....been to Penag twice - last time 3 months ago for 8 days....will be 8 years until i go back....

Been in Penang 3 times, and not ripped off once - must be something you drank...?

[baht&sold]

Didn't read the entire thread but I hope someone mentioned "Kashmir" the best indian in all of SE Asia down from Soho pub, nearer to chulia st

[numpty]

read post 33!!!

[girlx]

i'm in penang now and let me tell you, nothing makes me appreciate thailand more than a visit to this place!

[Khun Bob]

girlx - u dont like penang - what happenned ?

[girlx]

nothing happened, and i haven't seen much of penang outside of georgetown... it's just nothing special to me. the people seem friendlier in general than thais, there is a much more interesting mix of cultures and food. but that's about it as far as i can see... thailand's just so easy, beautiful, and fun, nothing compares to it for me!

i have to say though it would be much more enjoyable here if i could walk down the street for 5 minutes without some nasty indian or muslim man falling into step behind me and hissing/whispering obscenities. last time i was here (almost a year ago) i had a man on motorbike follow me around for three days- he always managed to catch me alone on a deserted block. to my dismay the same man is still here! has any other girl ever run into him? i think all he does all day every day is harass solo female tourists. he's creepy and gross.

[ProfessorFart]

Girlx, the Malay police are far better than their Thai counterparts. Report this piece of filth at once.

[girlx]

thanks but i have already left, and whenever he was around i got so nervous i didn't think to get his license # or anything... but a warning to other solo females! he hangs out near the hong kong bar on chulia street. he will start with something innocent like "you sure are pretty"...but will follow you all day escalating to things like "i am going to lick your p**** all night long".... ugh. he is really dark skinned, stocky, indian, bit of a beard as i recall. i yelled at him a few times but it seemed only to excite him further.

[snakestick]

Eye adore Penang a hole lot more than Thailand four sure. Eye've never had any problem about anybuddy trying to rip me off. In Thailand, my day is filled by won attempted ripoff after another. Eye must say that eye'm sick & tired of that. Eye also do knot like all of this Indian/muslim guy bashing. There is know comparison in the ease of dealing with Penang over the bombardment of harrassment somebuddy has to deal with inn Thailand. Thailand is the LOHR, Land of Harrassment and Ripoff

[Tyree D.]

when I was in Penang I couldn't wait to get back to LOS. The ocean is unswimmable (too many jellyfish), everything costs more, the women are more diverse but less appealing. Everybody wears a motorcycle helmet. The food is oily and I couldn't find much pork. ou should be fine if you are not looking for boys or girls because you won't find anything good anyway.

p.s. drugs are bad; no, they really are bad in Malay.

[monochaser]

Penang is a decent place. I don't think it is right to label people or judge their culture. It is entirely possible that they use a much different approach to picking up women than other cultures. Who are we to condemn their customs. If people don't like the place then they should get their visas elsewhere. It aint the only place to go but I can assure you that I will go no where else. I rather like the people and their attitude toward Hollywood and world politics. I have had in depth discussions with the locals about these issues. No one tells them what to do. I like that about those people and they are highly intelligent

[Khun Bob]

Girlx - i concur with the Prof - the malaysian police are far less financially motivated than their thai counterparts - and if you happenned to mention that yu reporting this incident to your contries embassy/consulate in malaysia so as to warn other single female travellers in penang you may see some very effective police work

But i fear this may have put you off wanting to return to penang. My experiences there have certainly been helped by the fact that i know some locals well and they have helped me alot. There is dual pricing in penang - but not as much as what i have experienced in thailand.

Unfortuneately crime is rising in penang and i have seen much more british type yob culture in the last 2/3 years. There are also more crimes like theft and bag snatching taking place. So it is wise to be on the lookout.

The feeling in penang and some other parts of malaysia is much more opressed than in thailand and i fear that is because of the religous climate. However among the chinese community this is not so to a large degree. This is one of the reasons why i beleive you had a bad experience there.

In thailand i havent felt this kind of opression - only when i want to smoke shisha and have a beer in suk soi 3 do i find this...

[girlx]

he hangs out near the hong kong bar on chulia street. he will start with something innocent like "you sure are pretty"...but will follow you all day escalating to things like "i am going to lick your p**** all night long"....

It is entirely possible that they use a much different approach to picking up women than other cultures. Who are we to condemn their customs.

ha- someone who was followed for 3 days by a creepy man on motorbike yelling obscenities, you clueless idiot...

[thaiflyer1]

It is entirely possible that they use a much different approach to picking up women than other cultures.

Must admit "I'm going to lick your p**** all night long " is one hel_l of a chat up line monochaser.

Edit............sorry girlx hadn't read the 2nd page before posting.

Edited November 20, 2005 by thaiflyer1