I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

Do you remember the British Forces beach hotel on the road to Batu Ferringhi? I stayed there a couple of times. Long gone now, I expect.

Penang ? I think you either like it or you don't..... But one thing about Malaysia is that they welcome foreigners and not just their money. Free visa, right to own a house, car, bank account, law and order, albeit a slightly Asian version, but at least you have basic rights. I've been in Thailand coming up to thirty years now, and strangely enough if i had to bail out it would be to Malaysia for the above reasons...... If i wanted a bit of horizontal excercise just pop across the border at Had Yai, all you need ! ( Prostitutions illegal by the way) Malaysia has got some good points, and i think they become more apparent when the glitz (Short time glitz) wears off..........Thailand was great twenty odd years ago, but now it's looking a bit shabby.........Just like Chulia twenty years ago, great night scene, but of course destroyed by progress (Government).... Just my opinion......

I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

Do you remember the British Forces beach hotel on the road to Batu Ferringhi? I stayed there a couple of times. Long gone now, I expect.

No, the closest I got to the Brits was at the Hong Kong, but there were a group of Aussie aviators--stationed in Butterworth, I think--when I visited there last.

I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

Do you remember the British Forces beach hotel on the road to Batu Ferringhi? I stayed there a couple of times. Long gone now, I expect.

No, the closest I got to the Brits was at the Hong Kong, but there were a group of Aussie aviators--stationed in Butterworth, I think--when I visited there last.

so you didn't get close to any Brits?

I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

Do you remember the British Forces beach hotel on the road to Batu Ferringhi? I stayed there a couple of times. Long gone now, I expect.

No, the closest I got to the Brits was at the Hong Kong, but there were a group of Aussie aviators--stationed in Butterworth, I think--when I visited there last.

so you didn't get close to any Brits?

There were Brits at the Hong Kong in the old days, Aussies were there later; don't you speak English?

I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

Do you remember the British Forces beach hotel on the road to Batu Ferringhi? I stayed there a couple of times. Long gone now, I expect.

No, the closest I got to the Brits was at the Hong Kong, but there were a group of Aussie aviators--stationed in Butterworth, I think--when I visited there last.

The Aussies are still there. They have RAAF planes flying out of Butterworth.

I would agree with Thaibeachlovers, Thailand is far superior in every regard to Penang. I stayed there for 1 week and apart from the food found in boring. I also spent 1 week in Langkawi and loved it, also KL for 3 days. Overall, there is nowhere like Thailand in my estimation.

This is interesting. I found Langkawi to be much quieter. For me it was fine for relaxing, but I can see how many would view it as boring. Not much to do there.

I though Penang had plenty of activities to do.