I really need to get to Penang more!

It's essentially in my back yard in Malaysia offering amazing food, art and antiquity, kind and chill people, and firm grip on it roots from whence it came.

A few months back, I traveled to Penang.  Arriving in the afternoon, I was excited as our hotel was 300m from a nice outdoors hawker area (a collective of street food stalls).  The food always attracts me to any place, and Penang is no exception offering what many in Malaysia and SE Asia consider to be some of the finest street food one could partake.  But I went there for more than the food on this trip.  While this hawker center isn't known as the best within Penang, the food on offer there is superior to most other parts of Malaysia and Singapore - it only gets better from there within Penang!

The next morning, I woke up very early and Ubered my way to Penang Hill to take the tram up the hill to shoot a sunrise.  Shooting sunrises and sunsets is always a crap shoot - you never know what you are gonna get until it just happens.  Unfortunately, we had a lot of heavy cloud coverage due to overnight rains - not terribly surprising as it was still monsoon season when I was there.  But, I was hopeful that there would be enough breaks in the clouds to give me a mix of light, color and texture.  I wasn't disappointed.

The scenery coming down the hill was much better thanks to the clearing clouds and the sun.  It was cool to come down this very steep hill and shoot.

When heading into the old town area I was reminded how I am constantly amazed that while Penang is one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia and SE Asia, there is a concerted effort to retain their history and identity.  In fact a section of this area is a UNESCO World Heritage site - that's how important it is.  In Penang, it isn't all about progress - they make room for that but they are adamant to hold on to who they are.  This is in stark contrast to some other locations within SE Asia who prioritize progress over all else.

The people of Penang are really wonderful.  They are so kind and hospitable.  They also kindly tolerate people like me wanting to take their photos - given how many tourists come to Penang that makes these people incredibly patient as well!

36 hours isn't enough.  I need to go to Penang again - maybe I'll see you there!