This trip was born from the shared passion for travel of two friends, one older and one younger. One was tired of work, the other tired of studying. The older friend suggested a trip to Penang, a place known for its trendy and relaxed atmosphere. The younger friend readily agreed, and the trip was planned.

Day 1: The first day of the journey

Departing from Don Mueang Airport --> Hat Yai --> Penang

We met at Don Mueang Airport at a time that depended on our arrival, as we had to fly from Khon Kaen to Don Mueang first. The flight departed from Khon Kaen at 08:35 and arrived at Don Mueang at 09:30 according to the flight schedule. I thought, "Oh, I'll make it!" with a connecting flight to Hat Yai at 10:40. But at 10:00 AM, I was still on the plane from Khon Kaen! As soon as I got off the plane, I ran, thinking, "I have to make it! I have to make it! I have to make it!" I ran and hoped, with my heavy luggage. When I arrived, my friend was already waiting. As soon as I saw him, I ran again! And finally, I made it! It was 10:20 AM, just in time before boarding. It's a good thing I checked in advance on the app.

It took 1 hour and 25 minutes to reach Hat Yai Airport at 12:05 p.m.

The first thing I did was call the van company that I had booked in advance to make sure I would be on time for the van that was leaving at 12:30 p.m. I jumped into a taxi and called the van driver to arrange a meeting place. I don't know my way around, haha.

*We booked with KST company (Tel: 081-6907253) for 450 baht/trip. If round trip, the price is 800 baht (we booked round trip).

Minibus to Penang

Departures:

• 09:30
• 12:30
• 15:30

Return times: 5:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM

Upon boarding the bus, I encountered fellow Thai travelers, P'Tei and P'Dream, who were also heading to Penang. P'Tei possessed an impressive wealth of knowledge, boasting detailed coordinates and recommendations for the best local eateries. Despite my own extensive research, I was humbled by P'Tei's expertise. During our journey, we engaged in lively conversation. While P'Tei planned to continue their travels to Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, my limited time allowed only for Penang.

After a 7-hour journey by van, filled with sitting, chatting, and napping, we finally arrived. Crossing the Penang Bridge, the longest in Southeast Asia at 13.5 km, we connected the island of Penang to Butterworth.

Upon arriving, we walked in to find accommodation. After searching for a while, we finally settled on the Old Penang Guesthouse for 700 baht per night. It was a private room with a shared bathroom, which we booked for two nights.

After packing our belongings and taking a short break to recover from our fatigue, we eagerly set out in search of food to satisfy our ravenous hunger. Stepping out onto the street corner, approximately 100 meters away, we were greeted by a vibrant array of street food vendors, offering a diverse selection of culinary delights. The bustling atmosphere was filled with a mix of local and foreign tourists, all eager to indulge in the gastronomic offerings. With anticipation building, we embarked on our culinary adventure.

Menu 1: Wan Tan Mee, a semi-dry, semi-watery noodle dish similar to our own beloved "ba mee" in Thailand. It's not quite dry, nor is it quite soupy, but one thing's for sure: it's delicious! (Or maybe it's just because I was hungry, haha.) Price: 3 RM, approximately 30 baht.

Menu 2: Lok Lok

This dish, which we jokingly called "Lok Lok" due to its resemblance to skewered food that is dipped in boiling water, features a variety of skewers for customers to choose from. Once selected, the skewers are dipped in a hot pot and then enjoyed with a variety of dipping sauces. After finishing, the used skewers are collected and presented for payment. The price is determined by the color of the tip of the skewer, with different colors corresponding to different price ranges. We believe this dish is a signature offering of the establishment, and its appeal lies in the delicious dipping sauces and the communal dining experience it fosters. The act of standing and eating together, perhaps even playfully competing for skewers, adds to the enjoyment of the dish.

**Warning:** Be careful not to overeat without realizing it.

Price: I enjoyed the food so much that I don't remember the exact price. I think it was around 200 baht.

Menu 3: For those who can't live without sweets after a savory meal, let's head to a nearby coffee shop for a shot of green tea. The shop is decorated with car wheels, which is in line with its name.

Wheeler's coffee shop

We sat down to plan for tomorrow, and the baristas at the shop helped us with suggestions for routes and tourist attractions. Thank you very much! (P.S. We can ask for maps at our accommodation and at coffee shops, as they almost always offer this service to tourists.)

After that, we went for a walk around the city for a while.

Day 2: Exploring Penang's Street Art and Scenic Hilltop Views

Today, we plan to visit Penang Hill and explore the street art scene.

We began our journey at 8:00 AM. Since our accommodation was not far from the street art, we decided to walk and explore the various paintings and iron bars located in the nooks and crannies of the streets.

Around 10:00 AM, we captured some images (we will return in the evening to capture more). It's time to move on.

We walked to the jetty area to find a bus to Penang Hill. The jetty is a pier that crosses from the Butterworth side. This area is like a bus depot, the starting point for all buses. You can start your journey to anywhere from here.

The ticket price to Penang Hill is RM 2 per person, which is approximately 20 Baht. The journey takes about 1 hour by car.

The bus will stop right in front of Penang Hill, as if it were the end of the line. On the way back, you can get on the bus at the same place. The bus will stop at the same place. There are buses running until around 10:00 p.m. Overall, the journey is easy, convenient, the bus is clean, and the air conditioning is cool. I give it a pass!

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Upon arrival, we purchased tickets for 30 RM per person, which is approximately 300 baht. We then queued to board the electric tram. The day we visited was quite crowded, possibly due to it being a weekend. We waited in line for about an hour. When the tram arrived, everyone rushed to board, filling every carriage. Once on board, we secured a standing spot and held on tight. Then, we were off!

Penang Hill: Open daily from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM (ticket counter closes at 10:30 PM).

It takes about 15 minutes to reach the top, where you will be rewarded with million-dollar views of the entire city of Penang in a panoramic vista. However, be prepared for the scorching sun, which feels like a hundred million degrees. It's so hot that it burns your skin. It's recommended to visit during the evening hours for a more pleasant experience.

According to the plan, we will have lunch here. Since we are very hungry, the first thing we look for is a restaurant. There are restaurants and cafes on this floor. For those who want to enjoy the atmosphere of a dinner in the evening, I think it would be great. However, the price is a bit high, which is normal, right? The higher you go, the higher the price (is it related?).

This meal cost 32RM (approximately 320 baht) for the set. The set also includes a drink.

After a satisfying meal, we continued taking photos for a while.

Initially, we planned to visit Batu Ferringhi Beach. We thought, "Hey, since we're here, let's check out their local beach." However, due to the scorching heat and fatigue, we exchanged glances and decided, "Nah, we don't have to go, right?" So, we opted to relax at the street art, taking photos, exploring the city, and enjoying a leisurely coffee. If you're interested in visiting Batu Ferringhi Beach, you can take bus number 101 for RM 2.7 (approximately 27 baht). The journey takes about an hour.

On the way back, we boarded the same bus and got off at the Comtar building (Comtar is the fifth largest shopping mall, the building is tall and easy to find, like a central point on Penang Island). Then we walked back to the street art, walking again. Walk, walk, walk, and walk.

I came across this building, the George Town World Heritage Incorporated. At first glance, I was impressed by its beauty and uniqueness. I had to take a picture! I ran across the street for a while, luckily I didn't get hit by a car. After taking the picture, I went inside. I realized that I should have come here first before going anywhere else. This place is like a tourist information center. There are staff at the counter who can answer all my questions about tourist attractions and travel information. They also have a lot of maps to give away, including the locations of street art, various places in the city, government offices, mosques, temples, and everything else.

With the treasure map in hand, we set off on our quest to find the hidden drawings. This time, we decided to rent bicycles, as we couldn't bear the thought of walking all day. We rented two bicycles for 10RM each and set off on our adventure.

Let's continue with a rapid series of images.

After completing the mission of searching for paintings everywhere (but not all of them, there were too many), it was time to relax and sip tea. We opened the internet to look for reviews and found a recommendation for Coffee on the Table, a cafe that serves 3D art coffee.

And here we have it... I've fallen victim to the marketing of cuteness! As for the taste, it's pretty good, it's just hot chocolate after all. 5555

Let's move on to the dinner menu that we had today.

Menu 1: Char Kuey Teow, similar to our Pad Thai, comes with approximately 3-4 shrimps and costs around 30 baht.

Menu 2: Lok Lok from the same vendor. I was so impressed the first time, I had to come back for another round.

Menu 3: Cendol, a refreshing shaved ice dessert originating from Southeast Asia. (Surprisingly, we already have this dessert in our own country!)

Day 3: On our last day before returning, we had half a day left. We arranged for a van to pick us up at the same place at 12:00 p.m.

We woke up early and, if you remember, on the first day we asked the baristas at Wheeler's Coffee for their travel plans for the day. Today, they offered to take us on a tour! We were initially hesitant, but they were so enthusiastic that we couldn't refuse. We arranged to meet at 8:30 AM in front of the shop. They picked us up and took us to Kek Lok Si Temple, had lunch, visited the Jetty, and even stopped to buy some souvenirs before heading back.

4:00 PM. The van took us to Hat Yai. Then we took a flight from Hat Yai to Bangkok. The trip is over. Hooray!

You're welcome. 🙏🏻