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Broke Travel Guide : 3 Days Penang with Less than $200

February 13, 2019 By .Fad 32 Comments

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From trishaws peddling past British colonial shophouses to having a mosque resides peacefully beside a temple, Penang has a kaleidoscope of cultures and a rich history. With a population of 1.8 million and a staggering 70% of them is Chinese, Penang stands out from the Malaysian island and oozes out its own character. Here is how I survived with $200 or less (including buying a bus ticket to Hat Yai) and had an exciting time in this splendid island of Penang. 

penang views

Honestly, this decision to leave my comfortable place of zen and peace in Singapore for Penang was on impulse. Therefore, on a fine day where daydreaming caught me and my tight budget didn’t stop me, I decided to hop on an adventure that brought me all the way to Thailand with only $500. No fuss, no muss.

hobbit going on an adventure
Solo Trippin’

Located 720km away from the +65 and that’s about 8hrs ride up, I should have done this sooner and often. I crossed the border and bought a ticket to Penang from Larkin, Johor. Also, if any of you are asking why the hell from Larkin and not from Golden Mile, Singapore, why the inconvenience and hassle – Simple! I’m broke and gotta cut costs at every corner.
Here’s the comparison :
Singapore → Penang (by flight): $75sgd
Singapore → Penang (by bus): $45sgd
Larkin → Penang (by bus): $25sgd

We have an obvious winner, haven’t we.

Sitting, waiting
At Larkin Bus Terminal

Getting Around

After doing much research in the bus on the way to Penang (I didn’t even bother reading this much for academics), it has a solid transit system called Rapid Penang. From which I often used for my commute. It can get you pretty much anywhere for about 2RM (0.60SGD) in a clean air-conditioned bus. However, the only downside about Rapid Penang is the bus stop, you won’t even know you’re standing at one.
Additionally, you can take the grab services too, by all means, it will usually cost you around 8RM(2.70SGD) or more. So, I took the grab from Georgetown to
Batu Ferringhi and it almost killed me, 20RM (6.66SGD)! And, I know it’s not a lot but I’m traveling on a tight budget remember.

Total cost on transport : 38RM + 75RM (bus to Penang) = 113RM (37.7SGD)
Total spent so far : 188.1RM (62.7SGD)

  • Bus Stop in Penang
    How am I to tell this is actually the bus stop?
  • Rapid Penang

Is it dangerous?

Certainly, I can tell from a man point of view that is extremely safe, however for ladies, I’ve seen dozens of them traveling solo and wandering around the streets of Penang be it night or day. In contrast with Bali, where men approach you for “shrooms-shrooms or wik-wik” at almost every turn (or maybe I have yet to encounter).

Most countries in Southeast Asia are known for its welcoming vibes and thus attracted cooler and laid back travelers. Consequently, you will tend to meet fun-loving people from wherever so you won’t ever feel lonely if you’re traveling solo.

Where did I stay?

Traveling solo means you have to bear all the costs by yourself. Thus, posh hotels for broke and solo people like me can’t gel well.
Georgetown is sprawled with various fun hostels for backpackers and digital nomads as well as normal travelers. With the endless option, you will always be spoilt for choice.

  • Georgetown residences
  • Lobby

A quaint and cozy hostel with an exterior of a shophouse. Georgetown Residences provides one of the lowest rates in town and excellent accommodation. Furthermore, with free breakfast, strong Wifi connection and privacy for each bed, it lives up to the rating of 8.2 from Booking.com


OR

Located at the corner of Lebuh Chulia, with the surfeit of hostels, travel agencies, bookstores and food stalls nearby. After dark, Lebuh Chulia lit up with food trucks and bars. Additionally, there’s an intersection within walking distance called Love Lane with an array of bars and shisha lounges.

Total cost on accommodation for 2 nights : 24 SGD
Total spent so far : 260.1RM (86.7SGD)

  • Shisha
  • Love Lane

How much did I spend on food?

Now, what is Penang without its plethora of choices when it comes to eating? I almost went broke (I thought so) satisfying my tummy and never looking back with regret.
Penang is all about its street food so be adventurous about it. The best of Chinese, Indian and Malay street food dishes are all here. I was salivating and too excited to eat that I didn’t join the millennials-picture-taking group, but I tried some.

Total costs on food, drinks and shisha: ahem moment of truth… 128.8RM (42.7SGD)
Total spent so far: 386.1RM (128.7SGD)

  • nasi kandar raffee
    Nasi Kandar
  • chendol
    Chendol
  • Best Teh Halia (Ginger Tea)

Chendol is a must to try when in Penang (& yes Chendol is originated from Malaysia, not from Singapore). It is a bowl of shaved ice, green rice-flour jelly, palm sugar , and coconut milk. Also, a bowl (about 2RM) will suffice to respite from the heat but you’d always come back for more.
Highly recommended: Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

Nasi Kandar is a meal you can have at almost any time of the day. The thought of the burst of flavor from the mixed curries and gravies is enough to salivate you (I am now). It is the Penang’s dish and you can’t leave Penang without trying a plate of it. (9RM)
Nasi Kandar is made up of piping-hot steamed rice, an array of meats, fishes and veggies of your choice and the linchpin to the meal is the mixture of gravies.
Highly recommended: Deen’s Maju Nasi Kandar

Deen's Maju

What did I do there besides eating?

Interesting question. Although Penang is known for its cuisines and gastronomical adventures, it is not lacking in the activities section either. You can’t escape the street murals of Penang in Georgetown, it is everywhere at every turn. Some would rent a bike to hunt all of them down, others like me, prefer to walk. Under the sun.
Also, if you are really into it, here is the map to all of them. Good luck hunting!

Street Murals

Now, I would say that this is my favorite part of the broke trip. Firstly, it is the different side of Penang. With more greeneries and laid back nature, it is a beauty to witness the zen Penang brings amidst the hustle and bustle. Lastly, it is free! (hehe) Warning, it’s gonna be a long walk.

From Batu Ferringhi, take a slow walk and hike all the way up till you see some cars parked along the road with food stalls by the roadside. (Don’t worry it’s not like hiking up Adam’s Peak or Lombok’s majestic Mt Rinjani) & viola! You have reached the site of Titi Kerawang Waterfall.

  • Titi Kerawang
  • Titi Kerawang Waterfall

I must say traveling broke is a whole new & humbling experience. There is so much you can do within a small budget and still get the best out of it. Although it is risky, do have spare cash or extra amount in your bank for rainy days.

& oh I bought a bus ticket to Hat Yai, Thailand for 60RM(20SGD)
Total spent so far : 446.1RM (148.7SGD)!!!

Finally, to conclude the trip, head back down to Batu Ferringhi, the famous stretch of beach in Penang, sit back with a drink in one hand and bask in the beauty of the golden sunset. Hands down Penang!

Sunset at Batu Ferringhi

There I have it! As I typed out this blog, I’m pretty amazed myself as I managed to survive with, not $200 but $150 in 3 days in Penang!! Hence, the remaining money was brought forward to my next adventure in Thailand.

Stay tuned!

 
Transparency is key. The links in the post above are affiliate links. Meaning I'll receive
a small commission on every time a purchase is made at no extra nor hidden charges to you. 
Regardless, I only recommend products/services that I believe 
will add value to my beloved readers. 

Filed Under: Malaysia, Travel Tagged With: Budget, Malaysia, Penang

Top Things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia

May 10, 2018 By .Fad 19 Comments

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Pinterest Langkawi Pin

Langkawi. Known to many as the jewel of Kedah, is an archipelago of 99 islands, 30km off the north-western mainland of Malaysia. Primeval nature, luscious trees and breath-taking views beckon the visitor. Take a journey with me and explore beauty beyond your imagination.

Accommodation

Langkawi Airbnb

Through Airbnb, we resided far away up north and away from the hustle and bustle. Langkawi’s traditional stilt houses complement their natural settings. Such architecture is associated with the culture of the indigenous people of Malaysia, also known as the Malay people.
Despite the lacking number of activities in the area, we are able to witness the authentic beauty of Lankgawi.

Upon checking into Langkawi Lagoon, we realised we were the only guests around the area which only added to our peace. (eerie)
For first timers to Airbnb, now is the best time to sign up! You will get SGD$45 (USD$33) off a home booking with this link – as long as you spend over SGD$100 (USD$74) on your first booking.

Additionally, the rooms were undeniably clean and cosy with a balcony by the calm sea. However, the surrounding area is practically dead, with little or zero nightlife accompanying it. There are local shops and houses up the bridge to explore and feast on some authentic and local dining experience. And most importantly, it’s about 8km (10mins ride) from the lagoon to Pantai Cenang.
If you are looking for a place to crash with more bustling nightlife and happening crowd, there are tons of resorts/motels around Pantai Cenang priced as low as 60rm. One I recommend is the Boxpacker Langkawi. A brilliant, low-cost option where you can chill with fellow backpackers. A walking distance to the beach too!

Beaches

Langkawi Beach

Now what is a paradise without its pristine beaches? Unlike its neighboring island Penang, Langkawi’s islands are sprawled over a myriad of beautiful beaches. It is amazingly clean and spacious. Moreover, not just is the island filled with an endless array of beach bars, one can also participate in engaging water activities.
On the other hand, Langkawi even had the honour of hosting the prestigious Beach Volleyball World Tour 2018 right at Pantai Cenang, underscoring the island’s recognition internationally.

Let’s take a look at some of the beaches:
Pantai Cenang; the most populated beach is filled with activities from volleyball to jet skiing. It also has chic bars all over. While known for being touristy and packed, it tends to close earlier than expected, around 11pm or 12am. This heavenly hotspot has cosy cafes by the sea for shisha at 30RM. Though the shishas aren’t tasteful, the ambience more than makes up for it. With the sound of waves crashing and the cool breeze blowing, one can expect a confirmed night of chillaxing. (Do it for the gram!)

Pantai Tengah is just around the bend of Pantai Cenang and is actually a continuation of the latter beach. Still providing the same activities but with lesser bars, it has the highly recommended club to patronise; Marrakesh Club. A particular regret is that we did not experience the nightlife there as we were rushing for dinner and massages (who would skip seafood man?).

Langkawi

While the aforementioned beaches are located at the southern tip, the northern beaches are cleaner and less patronised. Some of it include; the Black Sand Beach, Pebble Beach (literally a beach with just rocks of different sizes and shapes, it’s cool), Tanjung Rhu Beach and Tengkorak Beach. Despite lacking all the sea activities, these northern beaches are definitely worth a ride up for the picturesque views and amazing sunset. If you’re lucky, on a clear day you can spot the islands of Thailand within a distance. 

Things to do

Kilim Geoforest Park
Island Hopping @ UNESCO Kilim Geoforest Park

There are plenty of things to do in the archipelago of 99 islands and island hopping is one of the activities to look forward to with a speed boat taking you to various surrounding islands. Breathing in the fresh air and indulging in the sea salt sprayed right in your face, as the boat whizzes past is a must try. If it is a sunny and clear day, you will be able to spot Thailand in the distance and the view itself is a treat.

Bored of the sand and the sea and looking for an adventure nature can offer? Head up north for stunning views and greeneries. Langkawi Cable Car is a must go provided the sky is clear. The cable car will take you all the way up to 2200m above sea level. Unfortunately, we went during a period where the fog was thick and everything up there was unclear for the paramount view.
Also, there is an optional mini hiking at the top which leads to the Langkawi Skybridge.

Riding around the area introduces you to several natural wonders like the Seven Wells Waterfall, Temurun Waterfall and hidden beaches. So definitely, any Langkawi trip is not complete without a ride up to the north.

Getting Around

Langkawi transport

As Langkawi is surrounded with nature and spectacular views, renting a scooter would definitely be a great choice. For a small amount of 30-40rm per day, you will be able to witness the beauty of the island first hand. Taking pit stops to snap pictures or sampling local delicacies by the roadside is so much easier with a scooter.

There are few rental transport services operating at the airport which is reliable and efficient. Both pickups and drop offs are at the airport itself: saves the hassle of finding a transport.
For GPS, Waze app is the more trusted app to use to get around in Malaysia.

And we also enquired about the car renting service at the airport and it costs about 200rm for three days. Not really recommended as the parking spaces in Langkawi is restrictive.

Grabbing a cab? Always have the Grab app in your mobile phones instead of flagging down a cab. It is so much cheaper and trustworthy.

Have fun!

In a nutshell, Langkawi has its own beauty that can’t be compared with other islands around the world. There’s a reason why they are crowned the Jewel of Kedah. Hope you will find Langkawi even more beautiful than I ever did and if you planning to continue your trip to Penang, check this guide out here.

Godspeed y’all!


 
Transparency is key. 
Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. 
Meaning I'll receive commission on every time
a purchase is made at no extra nor hidden charges to you. 
Regardless, I only recommend products/services that I 
believe will add value to my beloved readers. 

Filed Under: Malaysia, Travel Tagged With: Kedah, Langkawi, Malaysia

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