1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:13,453 Speaker 1: from news Talks at b Travel Corus. 3 00:00:13,453 --> 00:00:16,373 Speaker 2: Wonder Mike Hardley is taking us to Penang in Malaysia 4 00:00:16,413 --> 00:00:17,693 Speaker 2: this morning of morning Mike. 5 00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:21,013 Speaker 3: Good morning Jack. I wish I was still there. The 6 00:00:21,253 --> 00:00:22,413 Speaker 3: weather is atrocious. 7 00:00:22,533 --> 00:00:28,773 Speaker 2: Oh really back home? Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah. Yeah. 8 00:00:28,813 --> 00:00:31,453 Speaker 2: So the island of Penang is kind of a it's 9 00:00:31,493 --> 00:00:34,053 Speaker 2: kind of a side trip if you're traveling through Southeast Asia, right, Like, 10 00:00:34,053 --> 00:00:37,013 Speaker 2: it's a relatively relatively convenient and easy to get to. 11 00:00:38,133 --> 00:00:38,653 Speaker 3: Definitely. 12 00:00:38,773 --> 00:00:39,053 Speaker 1: Yeah. 13 00:00:39,093 --> 00:00:42,133 Speaker 3: It's just a few hours drive from Kuala Lumpa. And 14 00:00:42,173 --> 00:00:43,973 Speaker 3: in fact, if you do want to drive it, it 15 00:00:44,013 --> 00:00:47,053 Speaker 3: is so cool because the island of Penang is pinned 16 00:00:47,093 --> 00:00:50,413 Speaker 3: to the Malay Peninsula and you've got some seriously impressive 17 00:00:50,413 --> 00:00:53,853 Speaker 3: bridges spanning the Strait of Malacca. There was one bridge, 18 00:00:53,933 --> 00:00:59,493 Speaker 3: Jack that stretches seventeen k wow across the water. That's 19 00:00:59,573 --> 00:01:03,253 Speaker 3: quite a drive if you're in ben Kok. It's just 20 00:01:03,293 --> 00:01:07,053 Speaker 3: a ninety minute flight from Singapore, just sixty minutes away. 21 00:01:07,373 --> 00:01:10,213 Speaker 3: In fact, my taxi driver remarked to me how a 22 00:01:10,213 --> 00:01:13,253 Speaker 3: lot of Singaporeans they'll fly to the island of Panang 23 00:01:13,293 --> 00:01:16,293 Speaker 3: for lunch. And then head home. So if you were 24 00:01:16,293 --> 00:01:19,893 Speaker 3: heading to Southeast Asia, maybe stopping over en route to 25 00:01:19,933 --> 00:01:22,733 Speaker 3: Europe or on the way home, Panang is a really 26 00:01:22,773 --> 00:01:24,293 Speaker 3: stress free side trip. Yeah. 27 00:01:24,453 --> 00:01:27,093 Speaker 2: Nice. Where would you recommend staying? Where's best to stay? 28 00:01:28,133 --> 00:01:31,253 Speaker 3: Well, the major tourist district is in Georgetown, although the 29 00:01:31,293 --> 00:01:35,933 Speaker 3: widest city around the historic core has exploded in growth 30 00:01:35,973 --> 00:01:38,013 Speaker 3: in recent years. It just blew me away when I 31 00:01:38,053 --> 00:01:40,733 Speaker 3: was there a couple of weeks ago. So it's really busy, 32 00:01:41,213 --> 00:01:44,533 Speaker 3: lots of traffic, congestion. They're groaning under the weight of 33 00:01:44,573 --> 00:01:47,773 Speaker 3: their congestion. It is an urban jungle. So I would 34 00:01:47,813 --> 00:01:52,613 Speaker 3: strongly suggest you mix Georgetown with the beach and base 35 00:01:52,693 --> 00:01:56,173 Speaker 3: yourself in the north of the island at Bartu Faringi, 36 00:01:56,213 --> 00:02:00,493 Speaker 3: which overlooks the Endomin Sea. It's one of Malaysia's best beaches, 37 00:02:00,573 --> 00:02:04,653 Speaker 3: Bartu Faringi. And I loved the hard Rock Hotel. It's 38 00:02:04,733 --> 00:02:06,333 Speaker 3: the first hard rock I've actually stuck. 39 00:02:07,253 --> 00:02:10,293 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, right, I mean hard rock is like quite 40 00:02:10,373 --> 00:02:11,413 Speaker 2: popular in Asia, right. 41 00:02:12,493 --> 00:02:16,093 Speaker 3: It's really interesting because yeah, that the hotel brand hasn't 42 00:02:16,293 --> 00:02:20,133 Speaker 3: penetrated Australasia. There is a hard ROCKFA in Sydney, but 43 00:02:20,613 --> 00:02:22,453 Speaker 3: not a hotel in our part of the world, but 44 00:02:22,893 --> 00:02:26,293 Speaker 3: across Asia, the Middle East and Europe they have just 45 00:02:26,653 --> 00:02:30,373 Speaker 3: like grown like wildfire, bit like North and South America. 46 00:02:30,453 --> 00:02:33,533 Speaker 3: But the memorabilia at the hard rock Panangjeck it is 47 00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:38,093 Speaker 3: so absorbing. I felt very, very excited with the upcoming 48 00:02:38,133 --> 00:02:40,973 Speaker 3: release of Taylor's new album, and I was standing in 49 00:02:40,973 --> 00:02:44,333 Speaker 3: front of the glass cabinet looking at Taylor's stage costumes. 50 00:02:44,693 --> 00:02:47,853 Speaker 3: So I think that's as close as I'll ever get 51 00:02:47,893 --> 00:02:51,813 Speaker 3: to the real thing. So yeah, the rock star. Theming, 52 00:02:52,213 --> 00:02:55,053 Speaker 3: obviously at these hard rock hotels is laid on thick. 53 00:02:55,413 --> 00:02:58,453 Speaker 3: The best thing though about the Pananga Post is the poll. 54 00:02:58,613 --> 00:03:01,973 Speaker 3: Oh my god, it's the biggest pool in northern Malaysia. 55 00:03:02,453 --> 00:03:07,173 Speaker 3: So it's this free form sprawler of a pool and 56 00:03:07,213 --> 00:03:10,733 Speaker 3: it starts off like a shallow lagoon with a sandy base, 57 00:03:11,133 --> 00:03:13,453 Speaker 3: which I thought is quite clever for a pool, and 58 00:03:13,493 --> 00:03:18,373 Speaker 3: then it just seamlessly transitions into an ocean blue deep 59 00:03:18,413 --> 00:03:23,093 Speaker 3: pool with underwater rock music. It is utterly addictive. I 60 00:03:23,213 --> 00:03:24,933 Speaker 3: was marinateing many hours in that joy. 61 00:03:25,093 --> 00:03:27,613 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, it certainly sounds like an experience. So that's 62 00:03:27,653 --> 00:03:30,213 Speaker 2: in the North, right, the heart hotels in the North. 63 00:03:30,293 --> 00:03:31,533 Speaker 2: How far away is Georgetown. 64 00:03:31,613 --> 00:03:34,613 Speaker 3: Then it's only a thirty minute drive. And this is 65 00:03:34,693 --> 00:03:37,693 Speaker 3: the really good thing for Kiwi's. The New Zealand dollar 66 00:03:37,853 --> 00:03:41,053 Speaker 3: serves up a lot of ringits, so bang for buck. 67 00:03:41,453 --> 00:03:44,333 Speaker 3: Malaysia is as cheap as chips, So it was about 68 00:03:44,333 --> 00:03:47,533 Speaker 3: ten dollars to get a taxi to Georgetown from Buttu 69 00:03:47,573 --> 00:03:51,613 Speaker 3: Feringhi in Malaysia they use Grab. They don't do Uber, 70 00:03:51,773 --> 00:03:56,013 Speaker 3: so download the Grab app and grab as you go 71 00:03:56,053 --> 00:03:59,293 Speaker 3: to the historic heart of Georgetown is a cracker. The 72 00:03:59,333 --> 00:04:03,173 Speaker 3: widest city, as I said, a jungle, but the historic 73 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:08,053 Speaker 3: core absolutely stunning. It's all UNSCO protected, so they've got 74 00:04:08,173 --> 00:04:16,053 Speaker 3: seventeen hundred heritage shophouses guarded by that UNSCO protection, temples, 75 00:04:16,533 --> 00:04:21,253 Speaker 3: a sizzling dining scene, awesome street art, great shopping. There 76 00:04:21,333 --> 00:04:24,333 Speaker 3: is the super cool street jack where you've got a mosque, 77 00:04:24,573 --> 00:04:29,133 Speaker 3: a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, and two Christian churches 78 00:04:29,333 --> 00:04:33,653 Speaker 3: all shoulder to shoulder. So it is the ultimate religious 79 00:04:33,653 --> 00:04:37,693 Speaker 3: and cultural melting pot. And yeah, I just think Georgetown 80 00:04:37,773 --> 00:04:41,333 Speaker 3: is one of those places that just instantly casts you 81 00:04:41,573 --> 00:04:43,853 Speaker 3: under its spell. So good to dip in and out of. 82 00:04:44,013 --> 00:04:47,453 Speaker 2: Oh fantastic. What about hiking, Yes. 83 00:04:47,453 --> 00:04:50,133 Speaker 3: Back at Bartu Faringhi. The really good thing about the 84 00:04:50,133 --> 00:04:53,413 Speaker 3: beach is that it's backed by Pinnang National Park, So 85 00:04:54,053 --> 00:04:58,453 Speaker 3: this park teeming with birds long tailed macacs. You could 86 00:04:58,453 --> 00:05:03,093 Speaker 3: easily spend all day on its hiking trails and only 87 00:05:03,173 --> 00:05:06,333 Speaker 3: run into a handful of people. It is remarkably un 88 00:05:06,813 --> 00:05:12,013 Speaker 3: populated by tourists. The other really good option closer to Georgetown. 89 00:05:12,173 --> 00:05:14,893 Speaker 3: If you would like to, as I did, refresh your 90 00:05:14,973 --> 00:05:20,373 Speaker 3: fetish for forniculus, take a jaunt up the Panang Hell Railways. 91 00:05:20,413 --> 00:05:23,093 Speaker 3: It's just out of Georgetown and the summit has been 92 00:05:23,133 --> 00:05:26,893 Speaker 3: a hilltop retreat from the steamy heat for centuries. But 93 00:05:26,933 --> 00:05:30,093 Speaker 3: aside from the awesome buse you get up there, they 94 00:05:30,133 --> 00:05:34,013 Speaker 3: have got fabulous hiking trails leading off the summer to 95 00:05:34,053 --> 00:05:36,893 Speaker 3: get your full of jungle greens. Really good spot to 96 00:05:36,973 --> 00:05:37,293 Speaker 3: check out. 97 00:05:37,413 --> 00:05:39,453 Speaker 2: Yeah, what about street aches? What did you like? What 98 00:05:39,533 --> 00:05:40,053 Speaker 2: hit the spot? 99 00:05:40,893 --> 00:05:41,253 Speaker 1: Oh? 100 00:05:41,333 --> 00:05:44,373 Speaker 3: My goodness, so many choices, Jack and I've got really 101 00:05:44,413 --> 00:05:47,053 Speaker 3: good night markets at Bartu Feringi as well. So like 102 00:05:47,133 --> 00:05:49,573 Speaker 3: beyond the hotel, you can just throll along the beach 103 00:05:49,613 --> 00:05:53,213 Speaker 3: and not away as you watch a sun sets into 104 00:05:53,213 --> 00:05:57,253 Speaker 3: the end ofmen Cea chark waytwel is extra good in 105 00:05:57,293 --> 00:06:03,493 Speaker 3: Panang because the Panang version is particularly charred in aromatic. 106 00:06:03,973 --> 00:06:07,053 Speaker 3: So the rice noodles of fried and high heat with 107 00:06:07,133 --> 00:06:10,533 Speaker 3: prawns and cockles and eggs and bean sprouts, and they 108 00:06:10,573 --> 00:06:14,853 Speaker 3: do it in this very fiery display over a charcoal fire. 109 00:06:16,133 --> 00:06:21,733 Speaker 3: Panang's Assam luxA also really good, sour and spicy noodles 110 00:06:22,133 --> 00:06:26,053 Speaker 3: with a tangy fish fish broth. And your bowl of 111 00:06:26,133 --> 00:06:32,933 Speaker 3: thick rice noodles just brims with finely sliced onions and cucumber, pineapple, 112 00:06:33,253 --> 00:06:39,093 Speaker 3: red chilies, mint torch, ginger buds. And then I noticed 113 00:06:39,133 --> 00:06:41,373 Speaker 3: the locals had a bit of porn paste, which is 114 00:06:41,373 --> 00:06:45,293 Speaker 3: a nice sweet touch, really zesty dish. And by the way, 115 00:06:45,413 --> 00:06:47,773 Speaker 3: if you need a cool down, have you ever come 116 00:06:47,813 --> 00:06:55,813 Speaker 3: across chen dole CNDL, So it's either pronounced chen dole 117 00:06:56,493 --> 00:06:59,973 Speaker 3: or in some parts of Southeast Asia chun dole, which 118 00:07:00,013 --> 00:07:03,373 Speaker 3: doesn't sound quite as advertising. I have to say, you 119 00:07:03,413 --> 00:07:06,893 Speaker 3: don't want a chunder on your chin dole. But Jindle 120 00:07:07,133 --> 00:07:12,133 Speaker 3: is this sweet, icy delight and it consists of green 121 00:07:12,293 --> 00:07:16,333 Speaker 3: jelly noodles and they serve it over shaped ice with 122 00:07:16,493 --> 00:07:20,813 Speaker 3: kidney beans. Then they slather it and copious amounts of 123 00:07:20,813 --> 00:07:22,733 Speaker 3: coconut milk and palm sugar syrup. 124 00:07:24,013 --> 00:07:27,093 Speaker 2: I mean that does so good. Yeah, although I'm looking 125 00:07:27,133 --> 00:07:29,333 Speaker 2: at photos of it, it looks I mean it does 126 00:07:29,373 --> 00:07:33,733 Speaker 2: look really different. Yeah yeah, yeah, busy. That's a good 127 00:07:33,253 --> 00:07:41,693 Speaker 2: busy and buzzy. It's like quite a verdant green ah. Yeah, yes, wow, 128 00:07:41,893 --> 00:07:45,373 Speaker 2: I can't. I'm look famously open minded, of course, and 129 00:07:45,733 --> 00:07:47,653 Speaker 2: especially when it comes to dessert. So that does sound 130 00:07:47,693 --> 00:07:50,333 Speaker 2: like a bit of meat, Yeah. 131 00:07:49,933 --> 00:07:50,213 Speaker 1: It does. 132 00:07:50,453 --> 00:07:53,933 Speaker 3: It does call you down, that's the key thing. You'll 133 00:07:53,933 --> 00:07:55,973 Speaker 3: get a sugarhead as well, but it does call the 134 00:07:56,013 --> 00:08:00,053 Speaker 3: body and you need that obviously in places like banana. Yeah. 135 00:08:00,093 --> 00:08:02,333 Speaker 2: So I wonder why you see that people fly up 136 00:08:02,373 --> 00:08:04,053 Speaker 2: from Singapore to go for lunch. 137 00:08:04,093 --> 00:08:04,293 Speaker 1: Yeah. 138 00:08:04,533 --> 00:08:06,733 Speaker 2: I wonder what you get in Panang that you can't 139 00:08:06,773 --> 00:08:08,893 Speaker 2: get in Singapore. You know, maybe it's just that it's 140 00:08:08,893 --> 00:08:11,213 Speaker 2: just for the excursion or something, because I mean, they're 141 00:08:11,293 --> 00:08:14,773 Speaker 2: they're very close as the crow flies, aren't they. And 142 00:08:14,813 --> 00:08:16,013 Speaker 2: the foods are pretty good. 143 00:08:16,093 --> 00:08:19,293 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, and the food is really good in Singapore 144 00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:22,773 Speaker 3: obviously as well. But yeah, I've just noticed that a 145 00:08:22,813 --> 00:08:25,653 Speaker 3: lot of dishes you will find in Singapore and Penang 146 00:08:25,693 --> 00:08:27,933 Speaker 3: they just seem to have a bit more heat to them, 147 00:08:28,013 --> 00:08:30,253 Speaker 3: you know, yeah, more spice content. 148 00:08:30,533 --> 00:08:30,893 Speaker 1: Yeah. 149 00:08:31,013 --> 00:08:32,733 Speaker 2: Oh that sounds like a bit of me. I love 150 00:08:32,813 --> 00:08:37,973 Speaker 2: Malaysian food. I just think it's so good. Okay, that's fantastic, mate, 151 00:08:38,053 --> 00:08:39,933 Speaker 2: And like you say, a really good option for a 152 00:08:39,933 --> 00:08:42,013 Speaker 2: little stopover and maybe if you're making way through Asia, 153 00:08:42,133 --> 00:08:44,813 Speaker 2: really convenient to get to and just a little bit different. 154 00:08:44,853 --> 00:08:48,453 Speaker 2: So thank you. All of Mike's tips on traveling and 155 00:08:48,493 --> 00:08:50,773 Speaker 2: tripping through Penang will be up on the news Talks 156 00:08:50,813 --> 00:08:53,133 Speaker 2: he'd be website and we'll catch up with them again 157 00:08:53,173 --> 00:08:57,053 Speaker 2: for another mouth watering destination, no doubt, this time next week. 158 00:08:57,533 --> 00:09:00,653 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 159 00:09:00,733 --> 00:09:03,573 Speaker 1: to news Talks he'd be from nine am Saturday, or 160 00:09:03,653 --> 00:09:05,533 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.