10 THE WEEK GUERNSEY PRESS Saturday 27 January 2018 THE WEEK 11

Khoo Kongsi Left: George Town’s Chinese clan The island of , Boats at the lit up Chew Jetty. colonial architecture. house is the with fireworks. (Picture by grandest , has long been an (KeongDaGreat/ Xiquinhosilva) clan house in important link between the Shutterstock) Malaysia. territories of Asia and the markets of Europe. Boasting stunning scenery, statuesque and bustling markets, it’s not known as the Pearl of the Orient for nothing, as Jessamy Baldwin discovered

Left: Foodie Jessamy heaven. and her husband David at the wedding of their Paradise friends Kara and Chris Broadhurst. discovered

Far right: The newlyweds.

Tuck in... THE street food scene is legendary in Penang and Batu Ferringhi the Batu Ferringhi night food market was one of the sunset. best I’ve been to in Asia. With a dazzling array of cuisines from the island’s Chinese, Malay and Indian communities, there’s sure to be something to get your taste buds going. From rich, sticky chicken satay and prawn noodles to fresh fruit smoothies and spicy curries, it’s foodie heaven. Five local dishes to try... 1. Mee goreng Thin yellow noodles fried up together with meat or prawns or chicken, mixed with chilli, egg, Chinese LOVE a good wedding. Who cabbage and pickles. Has its origins in doesn’t? In the words of John Paul Chinese chow mein-style dishes. Young, ‘love is in the air’, there’s champagne galore, you get to catch 2. Penang Assam laksa (left) up with old friends and there’s a This local variation of Malaysia’s feeling of such positivity that no spicy noodle soup has a Iother occasion can match. tamarind-scented fish-based I was recently invited to a destination broth and is served with flaked wedding in Penang, a tropical island off fish, finely sliced onions, the north-west coast of Malaysia, and Sunset at cucumber, red chilies, lettuce, my husband David and I jumped at the the beach. mint and ginger. Prawn paste can chance to visit this exotic corner of the (Picture by be added for extra flavor. May be world. One of his best childhood friends, Ah Wei) an aquired taste. Kara, was marrying Chris after 10 years Passport together (aaahhh) and it was set to be 3. Char Kway Teow the wedding of the year. Exploring George Town is best done trek through dense jungle and enjoy the We spent nine days soaking up the earlier in the day or once the sun has Penang Hill actually covers a number of marine reserve. to Penang Stir-fried flat rice noodles with shrimp, sights, thrills and strong cocktails of gone down – a lesson we failed to heed hills, with the highest point at Western Around the rest of , visit cockles, eggs, bean sprouts, chives and Chinese Penang and if you’re planning a trip to but did learn. We set off with SPF 50 Hill, which is 833m. above sea level. It’s the Entopia Butterfly Farm, the u , off the coast of dried sausage in a mix of soy sauce. Similar to phat Malaysia soon, it’s well worth a trip to slapped on, all gung-ho, wanting a taste the oldest British hill station in south- Escapeadventure park if you’re bringing the Malaysian peninsula, is home Thai. the ‘Pearl of the Orient’. of local life, but alas more than a few east Asia, dating back to the late 1700s, kids, durian farms and the Ghee Hup to more than 700,000 people in Penang has long served as the link times had to dive undercover for chicken and there’s a nature trail to follow Nutmeg Factory, a reminder of how an area measuring 293sq. km. 4. Popiah between Asia’s territories and been satay and cold beers for fear of melting through the rainforest. You can join it important the spice trade once was to Fresh, rather than deep-fried, spring rolls. Rolled an important outlet to the markets of onto the pavement. ‘Mad dogs and after getting off the funicular train that Penang. u The British East India Company crepes filled with soyabean curd and/or seafood, Europe and the Middle East. Listed Englishmen’ after all… takes visitors up and down. founded a trading post on the eggs, vegetables and Chinese lettuce and served with as a Unesco World Cultural Heritage Everything can be done on foot, which The Penang island in 1786. Together with dipping sauces. Site in 2008, this lush paradise has no is great because that’s the best way to Beaches and , the shortage of history, cultural sights and explore any city. For a hit of Penang’s Botanical Gardens island became part of the Straits 5. Roti canai stunning natural scenery. It’s famous for multicultural society, start off at the The beaches of Penang are a must-see Settlements, which became a The Malaysian version of the Indian paratha roti or its marble-white sandy beaches, fishing ornate swirling domes of the 1803 and I’m sure you need no convincing Located in a valley along Jalan Kebun British crown colony in 1867. flatbread. It is served with curry, the most common villages, mountainous jungle, farms . Nearby is here. Check out Batu Ferringhi and Bunga, the Botanical Gardens are a being dahl and kari ayam (chicken curry). growing nutmeg/durian and is fondly an Indian pavement shrine whose . Or, take a boat that veritable feast for the eyes (and camera). u The island is connected to the There’s also a teeth-achingly sweet version sold as a regarded as the food capital of Malaysia worshippers leave fragrant jasmine hugs the coast, stopping off at idyllic The gardens feature 12 sections, among mainland by two road bridges. street snack where the roti are drizzled with condensed – and for good reason. Our bathroom flowers and crack open coconuts, as Monkey Beach for a swim before them a Tropical Rainforest Jungle The newest opened in 2014 milk and sprinkled with sugar – delicious. scales can vouch for this (worth it). well as the arriving at the turtle hatchery and Track, Aroid Walkaway and Cactus and is 24km long, making it the There’s an exceptional art scene – Penang’s foremost Chinese temple oasis-like meromictic lake at Kerachut House. There’s a special ‘monkey path’ longest bridge in south-east Asia. alongside vibrant festivals and an – where Buddhists light giant incense Beach. that leads up to Penang Hill, which is undeniable enthusiasm from locals and sticks and burn ritual offerings. about an hour’s walk away. It is a steep u More than 50 per cent of tourists for Penang’s long history and Next, dive into the city’s maze of narrow, but highly rewarding trek. the island’s inhabitants claim Above: kaleidoscope of cultures. A fascinating bustling streets. Get lost, photograph Tropical Spice Garden Chinese ancestry. There are also Kek Lok Si fusion of the East and West, Penang colonial buildings and if you’re feeling The Tropical Spice Garden – the sizeable ethnic Indian and Malay buddhist cleverly balances modernity while up for it, join a walking tour around the only spice garden in south-east Asia Island hop populations. This cultural mix, temple. retaining its classic, old world charm. city’s Unesco sights. – is a true gem. Paths lead through If you fancy exploring a little further, along with the island’s colonial (Shutterstock landscaped jungle, past hundreds of hop over to Langkawi island. The ferry links, mean the local cuisine has picture) species of exotic plants, flowers and takes around three hours from evolved to include a diverse of George Town Ayer Itam spice terraces, through water gardens Penang and it’s a stunning place to different flavours and dishes. At Penang’s heart is diverse yet distinct, Once you’ve had your fill of George and bamboo groves. put up your quaint yet cosmopolitan George Town. Town, head towards the centre of feet and u Malaysia has four offical The island’s main city and urban the island to bustling Ayer Itam. The indulge. languages – Malay, English, hub delivers old-world Asia in true friendly town is tourist-free and its Penang National Park, Think palm Chinese and Tamil – however Trishaws authentic style and doesn’t disappoint. colourful markets are worth perusing. fringed the island also has its own are still a As Lonely Planet affirms: ‘Think Nearby, the Kek Lok Si Temple – the Balik Pulau beaches distinct dialect, known as Penang common sight. trishaws pedalling past watermarked largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia – is From the Penang National and Hokkien. (Picture by Chinese shophouses and blue joss smoke marked by a towering 30-metre statue of Park headquarters on the north- turquoise Jessamy Frying roti on a giant hotplate. (Sybili Fakih/Shutterstock) Baldwin)

travel perfuming the air.’ the goddess Kuan Yin. western tip of the island, you can lagoons.