Malaysia (Covid-19 National Recovery Phase 4 - My Cuti Cuti Malaysia No 25 to Geogre Town, Penang - UNESCO) Jan 10 -14 2022 Day 2

Penang Hill, Ayer Itam, Penang Island

Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam,
Penang Island

Chew Jetty, Pengkalen Weld,
George Town, Penang Island

Day 2 (Tuesday Jan 11 2022) - Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) & Makan Makan (Small Eat) focussing our group's visit to Penang Hill, Air Itam, Kek Lo Si Temple & Clans Jetty in Pengkalen Weld, George Town (by public bus) 

Travel itinerary: Chowrasta Market > Penang Hill Lower Station > Air Itam > Kek Lok Si Temple > Chowrasta Market (approx 17km by public bus)

1) Chowrasta Market, Jalan Pinang, George Town, Penang Island

2) Rapid Penang Bus Stop in Chowrasta Market, Jalan Pinang, George Town, Penang Island (in front of Chowrasta Market & opposite of Pejabat Polis Kontijen Pulau Pinang) - boarding Rapid Penang Bus No 204 > Lower Station, Penang Hill, bus ticket (one way) - Rm1 (US$0.23, senior citizen)

Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontigen
Pulau Pinang, Jalan Pinang

A food stall in front of
Chowrasta Market Bus Stop

3) Penang Hill (830m above sea level), Air Itam, Penang Island - also known as Bukit Bendera or Flagstaff Hill, the 1st colonial hill station developed in Malaysia, a hill resort comprising a group of peaks on Penang Island, located within the Air Hitam suburb, 9km west of the center of George Town. 

Penang Hill Lower Station / Ticketing Counter / History Galley / Merchandise Store / Train Boarding Platform, Air Itam, Penang Island - fewer visitors during the weekday, cool & pleasant weather, admission fee Rm6 (US$1.40, senior citizen), my last visit to Penang Hill was probably 30 years ago ! 

Funicular train ride from lower station to upper station

Skydeck East, Penang Hill - scenic & dramatic views

Malaysia Biggest LED Love, Little Village & the surrounding, Penang Hill 

Thirumurugan Temple, Penang Hill

Penang Hill Mosque, Penang Hill 

The Gate House, Penang Hill, - built in 1789 for the governor of Penang, the bungalow is out of bounds to the public but one can walk up to the front gate, a beautiful brick structure with an arch entranceway. 

The Guard House, Penang Hill

32-Pounder Cannon, Penang Hill

Information Center, Penang Hill 

History of Railway, Penang Hill - the funicular railway was designed in April 1909 & constructed in 1920, it was opened to the passenger traffic in Oct 1923 !

Dataran (Square), Penang Hill

Police Station (1929), Penang Hill

Buggy Service, Penang Hill 

The Habitat, Penang Hill - offers authentic, diverse & educational rainforest experience in Malaysia; admission fee Rm49.50 (US$11.60).

Sky Terrace, Penang Hill - closed at the time of our visit !

David Browns Hilltop Garden Restaurant, Penang Hill.

Indian rubber fig / bush, Penang Hill 

Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in Penang Hill

Funicular train ride from Penang Hill Upper Station to Lower Station

3) Ayer Itam, George Town, Penang Island - a suburb located approx 6km southwest of the city centre

4) Kek Lok Si Temple (1893), Air Itam, Penang Island - an over 130 year old Buddhist temple located in Air Itam, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore & other countries in Southeast Asia; our group chose to walk up instead of taking the cable car (Rm6 return) to the temple, fewer visitors were seen at this famous tourist site ! My last visit to Kek Lok Si Temple was 5 years ago ! a fire broke out in the mid-section of the temple on Oct 2021 !

Day 2 - Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in UNESCO Core Zone, George Town, Penang Island

1) Jetty Bus Terminal Pengkalan Weld, Weld Quay, George Town, Penang Island - the main bus station in George Town

2) Jalan Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang Island 

2) Lim Jetty, Jalan Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang

2) Chew Jetty, George Town, Penang Island

3) Lee Jetty, Pengkalen Weld, George Town, Penang Island 

4) Temple of Monkey God, Pengkalen Weld, George Town, Penang Island 

Makan Makan (Small Eat) - group's breakfast in Chowrasta Market, George Town, Penang Island - Prawn Mi + Chee Cheong Fun + White Coffee = Rm11 (US$2.58)

Penang White Coffee Rm2.60 (US$0.60)

Prawn Mee Rm5 (US$1.17)

Chee Cheong Fun (Rice Rolls)
Rm2.60 (US$0.60)

Takeaway food from Chowrasta Market, George Town, Penang Island (as lunch in Penang Hill) - Economy fried mi hoon + Dumplings = Rm23.40 (US$5.50)

Economical Fried Mihoon + Egg
Rm1.80 (US$0.42)

Zongzi Sticky Rice Dumpling Rm5 (US$1.17) per piece

Eating Zhongzi
Penang Hill 

Group's light lunch in Air Itam Market, Penang Island - popiah + cendol = Rm18.50 )US$4.35)

Popiah Rm4 (US$0.94)

Cendol Rm3.50 (US$0.82)

Takeaway Indian snack food from Ayer Itam Market, Penang Island - Puthu Mayung + Puthu Piring = Rm4 (US$0.94)

Puthu Piring Rm2 (US$0.47)

Puthu Mayung RM2 (US$0.47)

Group's dinner in a Fish Head Mi Hoon Restaurant,  Pengkalen Weld, George Town, Penang Island - Fish head mi hoon + Lobak = Rm33.50 (US$7.90) 

Fried Fish Head Mihoon Rm9 (US$ 2.10)

Fried Fish Head Mihoon +
Fish Balls Rm10.50 (US$2.47)

Lobak Rm5 (US$1.17)

Group's supper in Kimberly Food Street, George Town, Penang Island - Dried ho fun + assorted braised tau fu / egg / chicken feet + hot dessert = Rm35.50 (US$8.35) 

Dried ho fun Rm5 (US$1.17)

Braised tau fu / egg / chicken feet Rm13 (US$3.17)

Hot Dessert Rm4.50 (US$1.06)