Get Around

Public transportation around the city is not very well organized. There are, however, buses that ply the length and breadth of the city, and even one that can take you around the island itself. Having said that, there is a chance you master the system by going either to the KOMTAR building or the ferry terminal. There, all busses stop on their route, and if you don't mind going around the city a bit if you actually want to leave it, you have good chances of getting where you want. But if you're planning to venture out of Georgetown to the suburbs and beyond for a day's tripping, do bear in mind that the public buses STOP picking up passengers AFTER 10PM daily - apparently even on weekends and holidays (as of November 2006). And if you need to take a taxi back to your quarters after midnight, be prepared to pay a 100% surcharge on top of the usual quoted fare.

Going to and from the airport (Rapid Penang bus 401, 401A, 401E from the airport to Komtar and the Jetty, and vice versa) takes about an hour, and the buses come once every 30 minutes. The bus fare is RM2.70. This is in contrast to the official taxi fare of RM38 with a journey of about 45 minutes from the airport to downtown Georgetown, and vice versa.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, "City taxis are required to charge according to the meter effective from August 2006" (from "Penang: Pearl of the Orient", published May 2008). However, as in Kuala Lumpur, many taxi drivers have no respect for the law or at least believe that foreigners have no legal rights and will even try to cheat foreigners.

Therefore, taxi rides within the city may cost up to RM20; agree on the fare before you get in. Taxis can also be hired for a minimum of 3 hours at RM25 per hour. A good way to see the Northern and Western parts of the island if you don't have your own vehicle.

Trishaws cater to tourists and charge around RM30 per hour. However, these trishaw rides are becoming more of a curiosity rather than the norm as the number of trishaw peddlers are now lower in number than before.

You may also rent your own motorbike or little scooter to get around. These shops can be found along Chulia Street and also Penang Road. Cost around 25 ringgits for 24 hours rent. Deposit is 200 ringgits but most do though accept other currency as well.

Street view of Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street)

Street names can be confusing: the street signs are in Malay, but locals will invariably use the old English names, e.g. Pitt Street instead of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Beach Street instead of Lebuh Pantai, etc. Lebuh, Jalan, Lorong, etc. are the Malay words for street, road, lane, respectively.

Georgetown is a pedestrian nightmare as there are very few footpaths. In places without footpaths it is almost impossible to get around on foot due to the heavy traffic and prevalence of deep, wide, disgusting open sewers.

-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-

Mid Range Accomodation

Mid-range

* Berjaya Georgetown Penang, 1-Stop Midlands Park, Burmah Road, Phone:+60 4 227-7111, Fax:+60 4 226-7111. Location: 5 deg 25'58.62"N ; 100 deg 18'25.05"E. Rooms rate from RM 250 per night.

* Cititel Penang, 66 Penang Road. Phone:+60 4 370-1188, Fax:+60 4 370-2288. Rooms rate from RM130-RM350 per night. http://www.cititelpenang.com/

* Bayview Hotel Penang, 25A Farquhar Street, Phone:+60 4 263-3161, Toll free within Malaysia:1-800-888854, Fax:+60 4 263-4124. Location: 5 deg 25'18.68"N ; 100 deg 20'9.01"E. http://www.bayviewhotels.com/georgetown/

* Hotel Continental Penang, 5 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-6388. http://www.hotelcontinental.com.my/

* Hotel Grand Continental Penang, 68 Brick Kiln Road (Jalan Gurdwara), Phone:+60 4 263-6688, Fax:+60 4 263-0299. Location: 5 deg 24'43.90"N ; 100 deg 19'43.19"E. Hotel Grand Continental is centrally located in the city. However, tourist should take due precautions as the location of the city is in the slightly run down area in the city.

* Hotel Malaysia, 7 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-3311, (Fax:+60 4 263-1621, hotelmal@tm.net.my). 3 stars hotel with budget rates. Highly recommended by local tourists. http://www.hotelmalaysia.com.my/

* Midtown Hotel, 101 Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 226-9999 Fax:+60 4 229-5149, Closed down , change to Grand Paradise Hotel

* Naza Hotel Penang, 555 Jalan CM Hashim, Tanjung Tokong, Phone:+60 4 890-9300, Fax:+60 4 890-8600. http://www.nazahotels.com/

* PPisland Hotel, Penang, 33A, Abu Siti Lane, Georgetown, 10400 Penang. Phone:+60 4 2299 071, Fax:+60 4 2299 072.A new boutique hotel with 3 star qualities and 1 star price. Rooms rate from RM 68 (promotion) per night. http://www.ppislandhotel.com/

* Red Rock Hotel (formerly Agora Hotel), 202A Macalister Road, Phone:+60 4 227-2655.

* Sunway Georgetown, 33 New Lane (Lorong Baru), Phone:+60 4 229-9988, (Fax:+60 4 228-8899). Location: 5 deg 24'51.44"N ; 100 deg 19'32.88"E, centre of Georgetown, walking distance to KOMTAR and famous New Lane hawker centre (night time). May ask for room without breakfast since there are many food stalls around the area. RM140-RM460 per night. Highly recommended in this range. http://www.sh.com.my/index_sg.htm

Events

Food and fun fair

The YWCA Food and Fun Fair Bazaar will be held on May 29 from 10am to 3pm at YWCA pre- mises at 8A Jalan Masjid Negeri. There will be games, face painting and hawker food in the bazaar. Tickets are available for sale at the YWCA office. For details, call 04-8280741/8281855.

Activities

Youth carnival

Entries are now open for various indoor and outdoor events to be held as part of The Star’s Galaxie & Youth Carnival at the Penang Times Square on May 15 and May 16. Among the indoor events are a B-Boy street dance battle, computer games challenge, cosplay competition and talent search while the outdoor events in-clude 3-on-3 basketball, treasure hunt, battle of the bands and 3-a-side soccer. For details, call The Star’s accounts executive (advertise-ment sales) Nurul Huda Ridzuan at 019-4722662 or circulation executive Soon Chun Keat at 016-4105 521.

Promoting herbs

Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens Society will hold an event involving local herbs concoctions for health on Saturday from 10am to noon. Learn about tea concoctions from herbs and their health benefits through tea demonstrations and sampling at Botanika Outreach (opposite Moongate). For details, call 04-2279915.

Food fair

Eden Handicap Service Centre will hold its Charity Food Fair 2010 at the Penang International Sports Arena car park in Relau, Penang, from 10am to 3pm on Saturday. For tickets or details, call Derrick Cheah (04-2282758).

-News courtesy of The Star-

Budget Accommodation

Budget Accommodation in Penang

* 100 Cintra, 100 Cintra Street. Rebuilt (in 1990 after fire damage) atmospheric Chinese warehouse with rooms on the 2nd floor as well a small museum of antiques and cultural artifacts on the 3rd floor (entrance fee: RM5). Friendly staff and free wifi throughout (though no Internet services for those without laptops). Also, shared satellite TV with CNN etc., on the ground floor. Be aware that this residence has problems with bedbugs, request a discount or refund upon problems. It also is close to a 24-hour technoclub that plays into the late hours of the morning. Good for getting your satellite TV and Internet fix. RM15 for dorm, RM30 for single, RM40 for double. Shared hot water bathroom.

* 75 Travellers Lodge, 75 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2623378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. Dorm beds from RM 8 Single Rooms from RM 15-18, Double/Twin Rooms RM 18-22. Friendly and cheap, right in the middle of chinatown. Free 1 hour internet included in the room rate plus free 24 hour WiFi.

* Tune Hotel, 100 Burmah Road, 5 mins from Komtar in George Town. Phone: +60 3 7962 5888, single room from Rm70. nice and clean. http://www.tunehotels.com/tunehotels-city-centre-penang-room.aspx

* Blue Diamond Hotel, 422 Chulia Street, Phone:+60 4 261-1089. Room Rate: RM40. Dorm room, from RM8.80. Not recommended unless you have a penchant for rock-hard shaky bunks and are altruistic with respect to the feeding of fleas. Rooms seem so dusty that they have not be cleaned for the last 20 years. Rock music plays in the courtyard until 12-1AM. RM35 for double with fan and brown bathroom. Dorm available.

* Cathay Hotel, 15 Leith Street, Phone:+60 4 262-6271, Fax:+60 4 263-9300. Famous among western backpackers.

* Eastern Hotel, 509 Chulia Street, Phone:+60 4 261-4597, Fax:+60 4 261-0008.

* Federal Hotel, 39 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-4179.

* Friendship Motel, 20 Penang Street, Phone: +60(4)2618909, +60(4)2628909, +60(4)2629909, Email: friendsm@tm.net.my. Prices start at 28 RM for an air-con (small) room with shared bathrooms. Free Internet service. http://www.friendship-motel.com.my/

* Gallant Hotel, 6 Jalan Transfer, Phone:+60 4 379-584. Under new management change name to Regal Malaysia Hotel

* Georgetown Guesthouse, 7 Love Lane. Singles for 12RM (and negotiable), possibly the cheapest in town. Tiny rooms with fans and ultra-thin walls. Free breakfast (coffee and toast) and 1/2 hr internet.

* GoodHope Inn, 22 Jalan Kelawei, Phone:+60 4 229-0111, Fax:+60 4 229-0222. Room Rate: RM50. New in town.

* Hotel 1926, 227 Jalan Burmah, Phone:+60 4 228-1926, Fax:+60 4 227-7926. Heritage Boutique Hotel. Re-opened on 15 August 2007. Room Rate: RM80-100.

* Hotel Mingood, 164 Argyll Road, Phone:+60 4 229-9922, Fax:+60 4 228-0766, sales@hotelmingood.com. Room Rate: From RM80. Highly recommended by tourists.GPS Position - Lat : N5.421829, Long : E100.330421 http://www.hotelmingood.com/

* Hotel Oasis, 23 Love Lane, Phone:+60 4 226-2126, Fax:+60 4 261-3884.

* Hotel Rio, 64-1 Bishop Street, Phone:+60 4 262-5010.

* International Hotel, 90-92 1st Floor, Transfer Road, Phone:+60 16 434-2775. Room Rate: RM30.

* Jim's Place, 431 Chulia Street. Just look out for the Reggae Colors. Rooms about the same price as in the other places. The big perk of this hostel is the owner who is the most knowledgeable and helpful person I've met through my travels in Malaysia. He even recommends food stalls outside of his restaurant, so his own gain is not his main interest. Also a very interesting person to talk to (especially if you're looking for a movie script :)

* Old Penang Guesthouse, 53 Love Lane, 10200 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, Phone:+60 4 263-8805, oldpenang@gmail.com. http://www.oldpenang.com/

* Oasiss Hotel, Chulia St. This is the old backpacker's standby "Swiss Hotel" under new management. The atmospheric courtyard where backpackers used to hang out is no more. RM35 for a single.

* Oriental Guest House (formerly known as W & O Guesthouse), 81 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2613378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. Charming 2-storey shop house building, same owner as 75 Travellers Lodge a few doors away. Large airy rooms with Windows, Fan, Sink. Single Rooms RM 15, Double/Twin Rooms RM 20-30, Triple Rooms RM 30-40. Friendly, clean and efficient, right in the middle of Chinatown. Cafe (known as Western Oriental Cafe) with television serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in front of the reception; Internet 3 RM per hour, 2 RM per half hour; laundry service available; arranges local tours; sells boat, bus and train tickets; helps to apply for Thailand visas.

* Oriental Hotel, 105 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-4211. Location: 5°25'12.47"N ; 100°19'58.51"E. Check your room carefully. Bedbugs have been a problem here. http://www.oriental-hotel-penang.com/

* SD Guesthouse, 15 Love Lane, Phone: +60(4)2643743, and 28 Muntri Street, Phone: +60(4)2616102, Email: sdghpg@streamyx.com. Room fares from 18 to 55 RM with free Internet service, free coffee, and very nice location and service.

* Star Lodge, 39 Jalan Muntri, Phone: +60 4 2626378, Email: 75lodge@gmail.com. All rooms with Windows, Fan, Sink, Toilet and Hot Shower. Single Rooms RM 28-32, Double/Twin Rooms RM 35-40, Triple Rooms RM 45-60. For AirCon add on RM 10 per day. Free 1 hour internet included in the room rate plus free 24 hour WiFi.

* Towne House Hotel, 70 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-8621. Room Rate: RM69-RM90.

* Waldorf Hotel, 13 Leboh Leith, Phone:+60 4 262-6141. Room Rate: RM49-RM60.50

* White House Hotel, 72 Penang Road, Phone:+60 4 263-2385.

* YMCA International Hostel, 211 Macalister Road. RM66 to RM85 per night.

* YWCA Penang, 8A Jalan Mesjid Negeri (Green Lane), 11600 Penang, +6-04-8280876. Only has 5 single rooms, 5 double rooms and a dormitory. So call to book first. Also, it is next to the State Mosque. http://www.penang-hotels.com/ymcapg/

* Banana Guesthouse

Banana 1
No 355, 357, 359 Chulia Street, 10200 Penang.
Tel: +604-2626171 Fax:+604-2610062

Banana 2
No 84, Penang Road, 10000 Penang,
Tel: +604-2621171 Fax: +604-2622171

Banana 3
No 326, Chulia Street, 10000 Penang
Tel: +604-2612171 Fax: +604-2629181

Email: info@banananewguesthouse.com
Website: http://bananapenang.com/main/

-Info courtesy of Wikitravel and is subjected to change without prior notification-

Luxury on wheels

Luxury on wheels

IF you think travelling on a public bus is boring, try hopping on one equipped with a computer, flatscreen television and PlayStation 3.

The newly launched Rapid Hitz on Wheels bus, which is touted as the first of its kind in the country, kicked off in George Town on Thursday for a three-month trial run.

A joint effort between Rapid Penang and AMP Radio Networks, it is specially tailored to those aged between 16 and 24.

Rapid Penang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said they hoped to shift the youngsters’ mindset on public transport with the introduction of Rapid Hitz on Wheels.

“Many of them view public buses as just the transport mode of the low-income group when it can actually be a fun way of travelling for professionals and youths,” he said after launching the bus with AMP Radio Networks executive director Datuk Borhanuddin Osman on Thursday.

Crew of Hitz.fm, an English radio station under AMP, will drop by at different bus stations to pick up 15 lucky commuters for a short free tour.

There will be live broadcasting and quizzes on the bus from time to time. Those who answer the questions correctly will receive goodies.

The crew will also provide free canned drinks and magazines for commuters.

Those who wish to enjoy the fun ride can look out for the bus from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when it takes the route along Belissa Row in Pulau Tikus, Gurney Drive, Farquhar Street, Weld Quay and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling before returning to Belissa Row.

On Friday from 6pm to midnight, Rapid Hitz on Wheels can be spotted along Jalan Bagan Jermal, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Bayview Beach Resort, Jalan Fettes and Jalan Burma.

From 3pm to midnight on Saturday, the bus will go to Gurney Drive, Penang Bridge, Jalan Juru, Weld Quay, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and Belissa Row.

On Sunday from 11am to 8pm, the bus will ply the route from Belissa Row to Jalan Perak, Jelutong Expressway, Jalan Aziz Ibrahim, Weld Quay and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah before returning to Belissa Row.

Borhanuddin said they chose to have the first of its kind Rapid Hitz on Wheels in Penang because they believed Penangites were quite receptive to changes.

“We want to promote public transport to youths before they decide to purchase cars and make the roads more congested,” he said.

Asked if there were plans to have more of such buses or extend the three-month trial period, Borhanuddin said they would decide later.

Azhar later introduced press members to the company’s first 'Go Green’ concept bus that was developed to promote environmental-friendly public transportation system.

Designed with flora and fauna images in the interior, the bus is equipped with pipe-in music of nature’s sounds, including the chirping of birds.

-News courtesy of The Star-

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