Day 2
Arrive at Penang Island
The bus reached "a terminal" at around 5:30am. It is far from dawn. I looked for a place to charge my phone and get wifi, but I couldn't. I ended up sleeping in the waiting area. My signal to move around is the sunrise.
However, I woke up at around 8am. The sun is blazing hot outside. At the moment, I still don't have an idea of where I was. When I asked our bus driver earlier, he couldn't even understand me. I was somehow sure that I'm not in Butterworth station.
Afraid of the touts, I moved out of the terminal after having breakfast. I tried to ask another local but I failed to get some concrete answers. Thank God for English.
I walked for about a kilometer and I reached a bus stop in the middle of a forest-y place. Yeah, it was a weird thing. I kept on walking but the more I walked, the more I saw trees. I decided to go back to the bus stop, where a local was waiting. I approached her and asked if she knew how to converse in English. Good thing, she did and I thanked God again for English.
I confirmed my gut feel after she told me that I am in Penang Island. This is my destination but I still felt cheated on because I was supposed to be dropped at Butterworth in the mainland. She instructed me on how to go to the Jetty by bus since it is near to my hostel.
I took bus 401. I was worried, it being my first rapidBus (commuter bus) ride in Malaysia. The walls are too thick for me to give instructions to the driver. I also felt it was too much for him to drop me in Lebuh Chulia. By the way, at this point, the only street I know is Lebuh Chulia. There were some times when I felt like it was the right place, then turns out to be a few kilometers away from my real destination.
Tip: If you are using Google Maps, you can download a portion of the Penang Island by typing "ok maps" in the search bar. This way, you can use the GPS sans internet connection. You could also ask for a tourist map of Penang from the airport or from KL Sentral Information counter attendants. This way, you'll get familiar with the street names. From the bus, you'll see the signs and you can now decide where you want to alight.
It was a good thing that I've saved a screenshot of instructions on how to get to my hostel. When I reached Lebuh Chulia, all my uneasiness was gone. The familiarity of the name was enough to make me feel safe. It was a good feeling to roam around the streets knowing that you're not too far from your temporary home.
It was a little over 9am and I still have enough time before check-in. Walking around, I saw a money changer. I had pesos changed so that I could pay for the hostel. I also scouted for places to dine in but most of the shops open are either fancy or Indian. I'm not racist but I still haven't got the guts to try their cuisine... yet.
Ten in the morning and after not trying the food, I searched the area for my hostel. I found it: the Dreamcatcher Traveller's Refuge. The lady who was in-charge of the house was very accommodating. She told me to rest inside their common room after confirming my reservation.
Later, when the guests occupying my quarters have checked out, she prepared the room and assisted me. The room is shared with two double decks and a common bathroom. I was the only one checked in the room at the time. I just enjoyed the wifi and the ac blowing 17 degrees, before taking a bath and planning my road trip.
Tip: For me, nothing beats the Dreamcatchers' as a budget hostel. They have a very clean hallway and bathroom, and their common area is so spacious for all the occupants (I compared this to The Hostel, where my newly met friends were checked in). Their house's design is the same as most Malaysian homes, with a space for a garden inside. You can book them thru airbnb or booking.com but I prefer sending an email so that I could interact with the owner. For (somehow) a more legitimate experience, you can choose them over the regular motel-style establishments. (I'm not getting anything from Dreamcatchers, I'm just really happy about how well maintained their place is. But if you wish to book them through email, a mention of this site might mean something to me. Thanks!)
Still not feeling adventurous, I sought for stalls selling Char Koay Teow. I only knew Char Koay Teow from a college friend who've been in Penang before. Trusting her food choice, I think it will be enough to get me through the afternoon. After searching street upon street, I found a Chinese restaurant carrying the dish in Lebuh Kimberley. Further research told me (Tripadvisor) that they cook one of the best Char Koay Teows in Penang Island and I could not agree more. Together with a glass of Iced White Coffee, it was enough to satisfy my hunger.
The rest of the afternoon was devoted to roaming around, on a loaned bike. For RM10 a day, this rate goes a long way. Familiarization of the immediate area will also be an asset in my arsenal.
Tip: Biking is not that safe in the major streets (like Lebuh Chulia). There could be buses and private cars anytime and most of these four-wheeler drivers won't make way for you, so unless you have enough left-hand side road experience with a bike, go on and rent one.
Sunset, I went back to the Refuge and met the other travellers staying there. I had dinner with them in a busy hawker station somewhere in Penang. I ordered White Curry Mee and Iced Kacang, which really go well together. The mee was too spicy for my taste but the kacang took away the heat. We ended the night by sharing stories of our hometowns and of the travels we made in the past.
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