We are taking a mini “vacation” and going to see Penang.

We stay in a small heritage hotel, Armenian House,  located in the charming UNESCO Cultural Zone of Georgetown, the capital on Penang.

Breakfast at Armenian House

Armenian Street, Lebuh Armenian, has surprised us with the street art – the unique wrought-iron caricatures with anecdotal descriptions of the streets that they adorn.

Asian tourist can’t pass a single wall painting ….

Mode of transportation in the Old City

Another island’s attraction is Penang Hill. The panoramic view was not too “panoramic” because of the haze. However, we were awarded with a wonderful discovery – a visit to the Hindu Temple at the top of the hill. (I took a few pictures from the top of the hill using the old conventional camera, not a smart phone. Unfortunately, I forgot the cable and can’t transfer the pictures to the computer and publish them on this post.)

The main reason to visit Penang was not the sightseeing. International Living named Penang #1 in the list of the Best Places to Retire Overseas For Families (http://internationalliving.com/2014/01/best-places-retire-overseas-families/). We decided to check the best Penang’s neighborhoods in the North part of the island. These areas are Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong and Gurney Drive (breathtaking views below).

All three areas have the beautiful modern condos, single houses (the bungalows), modern shopping malls, etc. Looks like a perfect place to live…

Coffee Shop and the Foot Massage Center at the Gurney Paragon Mall

However, there are a few key points that prevent us from considering Penang for retirement (or having it as a hub – the place where we want to come and stay for three months or so):

1. You must have a transportation to move around (car, bus, or taxi). Only in Gurney Drive you can manage without the car. But the tides are low, and you can see the accretion of silt or mud off Gurney Drive.

2. The air and sea pollution is getting worse as I write. Google the “Penang sea pollution” or “Penang air pollution” and you see. (A sewage … one of the causes of water pollution at Ferringhi beach).

3. The sea has a “dead” feeling. We did not see any fisherman boats or seagulls, just dirty sand, papers, empty cans, etc. People are not swimming.

We are glad that we visited Penang and experienced the place. So far, Kuala Lumpur is the winner. We are choosing it as our hub and will be coming back when we can.

The journey continues, today we are flying to Langkawi.