Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
244
BY FERRY
The ferr y to P enang is nestled betw een the B utterworth Railway S tation
and the Butterworth bus terminal. It operates from 6am to 12:30am daily and takes 20
minutes from pier to pier. Ferries leave every 10 minutes. Purchase your passage by drop-
ping RM1.20 (35¢/20p) exact change in the turnstile (there's a change booth if you don't
have it). Fare is paid only on the trip to Penang. The return is free. The ferry lets you off
at Weld Quay (
&
04/310-2360
).
BY TAXI
The
outstation taxi
stand is in Butterworth next to the bus terminal (
&
04/
323-2045
). Fares to Butterworth from KL will be about RM350 ($102/£63).
Getting Around
BY TAXI
Taxis are abundant, but be warned they do not use meters, so y ou must agree
on the price before you ride. They frequently rip off tourists. Most trips within the city are
between RM5 and RM10 ($1.45-$2.90/90p-£1.80). I f y ou're staying out at the B atu
Feringgi beach resort area, expect taxis to town to run RM25 to RM40 ($7.25-$12/£4.50-
£7.20). The ride is about 15 or 20 minutes but can take 30 minutes during r ush hour.
BY BUS
Buses also run all over the island and are well used by tourists who don't want
to drop cash ev ery time they want to go to the beach. The dark-blue no. 93 and the
white-with-blue no. 202 both operate between KOMTAR in Georgetown and the beach
resorts at Batu Feringgi. Fare is anywhere under RM3 (85¢/55p). Get exact change from
your hotel's cashier before you set off, and ask the bus driver about the exact fare to your
destination.
CAR RENTAL
If you want to driv e, call A vis at the P enang International Airport at
&
04/643-9633.
They can also provide a car with driver for RM80 ($25/£14) per hour,
for a minimum booking of 4 hours. I f you plan to visit areas off Penang Island, the rate
will increase.
BY BICYCLE & MOTORCYCLE
Along Batu Feringgi, there are bicycles and motor-
cycles (little 100cc scooters, r eally) av ailable for r ent. I don 't r ecommend r enting the
scooters. You can never be certain of their maintenance r ecord, and Penang's drivers are
careless about watching your back. A sad number of visitors are injured or worse because
of scooter accidents.
BY TRISHAW
In G eorgetown, it 's possible to find some trishaw action for about
RM30 ($8.70/£5.40) an hour. It's kitschy and touristy, and I completely r ecommend it
for traveling between in-town sights, at least for an hour or two. Bargain hard; these guys
are skilled negotiators, but they do wor k hard for the money.
ON FOOT
I think ev eryone should walk at least par t of the time to see the sights of
Georgetown because in between each landmark and exhibit there's so much to see. A taxi,
even a trishaw, will whisk y ou past back alleys wher e elderly hair cutters set up alfr esco
shops, bicycle repairmen sit fixing tubes in front of their stores, and Chinese grannies fan
themselves in the shade. G eorgetown is stimulating, with the sights of old trades still
being plied on these living str eets, the noise of ev eryday life, and the ex otic smells of an
old Southeast Asian port. Give yourself at least a day her e. Start wandering early in the
morning, by the waterfront, down the back alleys, before the heat of the sun takes hold—
the lighting is perfect for photography and you will find fantastic subjects her e.
13
Fast Facts: Penang
Penang's
area code
is 04. The
banking center
of Georgetown is in the do wntown area
(close to Ft. Cornwallis) on Leboh Pantai, Leboh Union, and Leboh Downing, but you'll
