Penang, Malaysia: A Chaotic Love Letter to George Town
penang-what a mess. in the best way. i landed here after that weird string of numbers in my notes (1735498, 1458639918-no clue what they mean, probably a booking reference from a fever dream) and stepped into a wall of humidity so thick it felt like swimming through soup. the weather report said 22.97°C but with 85% humidity it felt like my lungs were wrapped in wet towels. still, i kinda loved it.
walking through george town felt like wandering into someone's attic full of forgotten treasures. colonial buildings painted in pastel blues and yellows, crumbling walls covered in murals that make you stop mid-step, and the smell of something frying in chili oil around every corner. i heard from a local at a street stall that the best char kway teow is at a cart with no sign-just follow the smoke and the line of hungry aunties. sounded like drunk advice, but i tried it and nearly cried into my noodles.
"don't trust the map, just follow your nose," said an old man stirring a wok the size of a tire.
stayed in a guesthouse that looked like it hadn't changed since the '70s-ceiling fans, creaky wood floors, and a cat that judged me silently from the staircase. the owner, mr. lim, told me over milky tea that penang was once a pirate hideout. i don't know if that's true, but i want it to be.
*georgetown's street art is everywhere-sometimes it's a giant cat mural, sometimes it's a kid on a real bicycle painted on a wall. you'll spot something weird in every alley. and if you get bored, kuala lumpur and langkawi are just a short drive or ferry away, if you're into that sort of thing.
i checked the forecast again-still hovering around 23°C, feels like 24°C, and my hair is permanently frizzed. but the food? worth it. tried cempedak fritters from a night market and almost proposed marriage to the vendor. someone told me that penang road famous teochew chendol is overrated now, but the line says otherwise.
if you're planning a trip, tripadvisor has some solid guesthouse picks, and yelp is weirdly useful for tracking down the best hawker centers*. just don't expect anything to open before 10am-penang runs on island time, and honestly, i respect it.
after three days here, my notebook is full of illegible scribbles, my camera roll is 90% food pics, and my shoes smell like curry. would i come back? in a heartbeat. just maybe with better hair products.
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