Difference between revisions of "Penang island"

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== Getting around ==
 
== Getting around ==
 
 
Malaysia used to have a big culture of hitching and people are still familiar with the idea. In Penang they appeared particularly helpful, it was very easy to get around by hitching.
 
Malaysia used to have a big culture of hitching and people are still familiar with the idea. In Penang they appeared particularly helpful, it was very easy to get around by hitching.
  
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== Hitching out ==
 
== Hitching out ==
  
The city is quite developed, scattered with skyscrapers and surrounded by big highways, it's rather tough to hitch out from the island.
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The city is quite developed, scattered with skyscrapers and surrounded by big highways. It's rather tough to hitch out from the island.
Your best bet is to get to central bus station of [[Georgetown, Malaysia|Georgetown]] (basically any bus will take you there from anywhere on the island for 1 to 4 RM (in 2012)). Or just walk there, as you'll probably be staying in Georgetown anyway.
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Your best bet is to get to central bus station
  
The bus station is by the sea, and there's a frequent and free ferry out to Butterworth, which is a city on the peninsula. (Note that the ferry is '''not''' free on the other way around, '''to''' the island.) The journey takes about 15 minutes.
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The bus station is by the sea, and there's a frequent and free ferry out to Butterworth, which is a city on the peninsula. (Note that the ferry is '''not''' free the other way around, '''to''' the island.) The journey takes about 15 minutes.
  
 
In Butterworth again, there is a big bus station just where the ferry drops you, and you can ask the the cashiers at the bus station for a bus which takes you out on the big North-South highway (E1) which goes from Thailand all the way to Singapore.
 
In Butterworth again, there is a big bus station just where the ferry drops you, and you can ask the the cashiers at the bus station for a bus which takes you out on the big North-South highway (E1) which goes from Thailand all the way to Singapore.
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=== North towards [[Thailand]] ===
 
=== North towards [[Thailand]] ===
  
There is a big local traffic on the highway near Penang, and people told us the long-distance traffic only goes to Kuala Lumpur, not to Thailand. Our experience was different though, someone going to near the Thai border stopped for us in 10 minutes.
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There is a lot of local traffic on the highway near Penang, and people told us the long-distance traffic only goes to Kuala Lumpur, not to Thailand. Our experience was different though, someone going near the Thai border stopped for us in 10 minutes.
  
 
--
 
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From the port/mainland you can take a bus to Kepala Batas and then walk to the toll gate on the other side of the bridge - it was hot and tiring but at the toll gate I got picked up instantly!
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From the port/mainland you can take bus 601 to Kepala Batas (RM 2.70) and then walk to the toll gate on the other side of the bridge - it was hot and tiring but at the toll gate I got picked up instantly!
  
 
=== South towards [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Ipoh]] ===
 
=== South towards [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Ipoh]] ===
  
Take the free ferry to Butterworth. If you walk out of the port, you will see a bridge with ramps. You need to go in direction south which is right when you leave the port. After a few kilometres, there is a toll bridge, from where you can walk to a ramp of the main north-south highway.
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Take the free ferry to Butterworth. If you walk out of the port, you will see a bridge with ramps. You need to go south, which is right when you leave the port. After a few kilometres, there is a toll bridge, from where you can walk to a ramp of the main north-south highway.
 
 
== Places to avoid ==
 
  
== Accommodation and Sleep ==
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From Panang Sentral bus stop we took bus number #706 going to Jalan Nagasari then walked 2 km to Shell gas station on E1 highway. There is a fence, but fear not - there is also a gate. We did catch a ride within 25 minutes to Ipoh.
  
We were told that the beaches of the southern city Tanjong Bungah are safe and legal for camping. This might apply to other beaches of the island as well.
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== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
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{{nomadwiki}}
  
== Other useful info ==
 
  
 
[[Category:Malaysia]]
 
[[Category:Malaysia]]
 
{{IsIn|Malaysia}}
 
{{IsIn|Malaysia}}
__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Island]]

Latest revision as of 18:37, 21 September 2020

Penang is an island in Penang state, Malaysia. Being Malaysia's financial and commercial capital it's very developed, scattered with skyscrapers, there are huge good quality roads everywhere and you basically see no pedestrians. The island is connected with the Malaysian peninsula by a 2x3 lane, 10-12 km long bridge.

Getting around

Malaysia used to have a big culture of hitching and people are still familiar with the idea. In Penang they appeared particularly helpful, it was very easy to get around by hitching.

Also, almost everybody in Penang speaks a fair English, which makes things really easy.

Hitching out

The city is quite developed, scattered with skyscrapers and surrounded by big highways. It's rather tough to hitch out from the island. Your best bet is to get to central bus station

The bus station is by the sea, and there's a frequent and free ferry out to Butterworth, which is a city on the peninsula. (Note that the ferry is not free the other way around, to the island.) The journey takes about 15 minutes.

In Butterworth again, there is a big bus station just where the ferry drops you, and you can ask the the cashiers at the bus station for a bus which takes you out on the big North-South highway (E1) which goes from Thailand all the way to Singapore.

North towards Thailand

There is a lot of local traffic on the highway near Penang, and people told us the long-distance traffic only goes to Kuala Lumpur, not to Thailand. Our experience was different though, someone going near the Thai border stopped for us in 10 minutes.

--

From the port/mainland you can take bus 601 to Kepala Batas (RM 2.70) and then walk to the toll gate on the other side of the bridge - it was hot and tiring but at the toll gate I got picked up instantly!

South towards Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh

Take the free ferry to Butterworth. If you walk out of the port, you will see a bridge with ramps. You need to go south, which is right when you leave the port. After a few kilometres, there is a toll bridge, from where you can walk to a ramp of the main north-south highway.

From Panang Sentral bus stop we took bus number #706 going to Jalan Nagasari then walked 2 km to Shell gas station on E1 highway. There is a fence, but fear not - there is also a gate. We did catch a ride within 25 minutes to Ipoh.

Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)