6-Oct-2025, I was taken by surprise but as it turns out, I cannot be in Indonesia while my company is applying for a new business visa. The business visa is needed for my upcoming projects in Indonesia itself. I am excited to do some installations in Indonesia so that I do not have to travel so far and I get to explore a bit more of the country in the more local areas and cities. The business visa application takes seven days and during this whole process I am asked to be outside of the country. So within a matter of days, I am planning a last minute trip to Penang (a state in Malaysia). On Wednesday I received the news and by Sunday I was catching a plane to Malaysia. I travel often and I travel a lot, so this was hardly an issue, I am pretty much on stand-by most of the time. From friends I hear many good things about Penang so I wanted to explore it myself. I will be mostly staying in the city of Georgetown and although it’s not my first visit to Penang, I will treat it as such. My first time was back in 2012 with one of my best friends, but this being such a long time ago I already forgot most of it and I have no doubt this place has changed a lot as well.

I have been out exploring Georgetown for most of the time that I have been here. Georgetown is on the UNESCO heritage list and is absolutely a beautiful place to stay. It attracts many tourists for its rich multicultural heritage and architecture from the English Colonial era from the 18^th century.  Nowadays there is also a lot of street art to be found and famous for its diverse and delicious food scene and trendy coffee shops. It is a great place to explore for a few days and to check out the abundant amount of historical landmarks mixed with modern development. Here are a whole bunch of photos to tell the story.

Cheah Kongsi Temple, built in 1810, is one of the oldest clan houses in Penang. It is a beautiful preserved building and now open for visitors. The temple’s architecture is a blend of European and Chinese styles with beautiful iron railing details at the entrance.

Chew Jetty is a small settlement by the river, built by the Chinese immigrants many decades ago. From a small fishing village it grew into a rich (in culture) and vibrant community. Present day tourist, visitors and residents co-exhist on these jetties. And many houses built above the water are still occupied. It’s a small but interesting place. Unfortunately it was already dark by the time I arrived there and there wasn’t much to do anymore. Most people living here are getting ready for a peaceful evening.

There is an abundance of street art to be found here in Georgetown. Murials and other type of arts are scattered all over the town and this makes it an interesting experiencing to explore everything by foot. Whenever I was not exploring around, I went to a beautiful yoga studio for an intermediate level of Hatha yoga. Even during my travels I often do yoga to keep my practice in tact.

Besides going around town and doing yoga. One of my first (and favorite) activities at Penang Island is hiking up the Penang hill via the heritage trail. The top of Penang hill sits 833 above sea level and is the highest point of the island. It’s a flat hilltop with many tourist attractions; a food court with local foods, restaurants, a museum, many shops and street stalls where they sell souvenirs, a museum, historical buildings, a temple, canopy trails, and several viewpoint decks. All in all, a true hotspot for tourists, there is something for everybody. And of course, most people at the top are not as crazy as I am. They hop on the funicular train, and it brings them to the top in a matter of minutes. I, on the other hand, enjoy a good challenge and as is evidently from my blog, I am also an avid hiker. My goal is to hike all the way to the top. Information online states that it is a challenging hike. Perfect! Just what I am looking for.

Penang hill is a place where people have been coming for hundreds of years. In the past it was colonized by the British and used for its strategic location and cooler climates. They used it to rest and heal before sailing back to their home country in Europe. Back in the 1800s there was even a colonial hill resort (which today is abandoned). Only recently they have turned this place into a tourist destination with historical value.

Back to my hike, I am taking the so-called Heritage trail, and I start around 9am (if it hadn’t rain earlier this morning I would have started at 7am). This trail follows the old route to the top, the route that people took before they built the funicular railway. Many people and for hundreds of years have taken this route and I am excited to do the same. Nowadays the route has been modernized and improved in safety, but the directions remained the same. It’s a trek of more than three kilometers and it zig-zags around the railroad track. The ascent is almost 700 meters, and the number of steps seem endless. The hike begins at the lower station and especially the first part of this hike is the most challenging part, with a very steep and constant climb before reaching middle station. Middle station does not really seem to be used anymore but it is a great spot for a quick rest, while enjoying the views of Georgetown, which lies at the foot of the hill. The hot and humid weather makes this hike extra challenging, and I am soaking wet from the sweat. This is result of starting so late in the morning. The views make it very worthwhile though. From middle station the slope is a bit gentler, which makes the hike easier overall. It’s a beautiful hike with lots of flora and fauna to admire and I saw different groups of monkeys flying by in the trees.

After a two-hour hike, I finally reached the top. Despite the dry weather, people must’ve thought I had a shower with my clothes on, I was completely drenched but I also feel very satisfied after such an accomplishment. The hike itself isn’t actually that challenging, but the humid weather definitely was. As I shared earlier, there are a lot of activities at the top of the hill and I spent a few hours here; resting, eating and exploring further. I visit the historical sites and the Eco-tourism discovery center (called The Habitat). From here there is a beautiful trail and canopy-walk along the rainforest treetops and a view tower to enjoy 360 degrees views. There is an entrance fee to be paid at The Habitat, and I guess because of this, it’s a very quiet and serene walk. I enjoyed it very much. The weather was a bit overcast while I reached the top but it stayed dry for the most part.

A visit to Penang hill is definitely worth the trip but after a few hours I have seen enough. To get back down to lower station I take the funicular train. Not because I was too tired to walk, but because I was running out of time. I don’t want to be late for my Thai massage! The ideal way to relax after a long and tiring hike.

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