Penang - one of 10 destinations in Asia that seem to be straight out of a fairytale

If you have never been to Penang and may sometimes wonder about it, you might find this little snippet of information useful.

Penang, with its tasty mixture of Indian, Chinese and Malay influences, is literally a nirvana for bona fide lovers. From spicy curries to delectable laksas and savoury soups, Penang has a wide array of mouth-watering treats that will definitely appease your taste buds and cravings. As an added plus, most of the restaurant food in Penang is amazingly cheap, allowing you to binge without breaking the bank.

But, there’s more to Penang than its blooming and established culinary scene. Drenched in history, natural beauty and culture, Penang is also rich in ornate religious sites, sand beaches, kampungs surrounded by rice paddies, and sprawling unbeaten jungles. Furthermore, it is dotted with charming, picture-perfect historic buildings that would remind of your fairytale buildings and scenes.


The piece above borrowed from Homeaway by Expedia lists Penang as one of 10 destinations in Asia that seem to be straight out of a fairytale.

Penang is also drawing tourists for their street art (as in image) and other art installations on the island. The street art pieces are mainly the work of Lithuanian artist.

In conjunction with Penang Georgetown Festival a few years ago, certain old walls within Georgetown (Penang's capital) were given a new lease of life, thanks to the talent and efforts of Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic, Penang Street Art artist.

Mr Zacharevic leaves his mark of beautiful wall paintings of children, of life, all across historical Georgetown. I have friends who have gone a-hunting for these art pieces. The artworks are funny, fascinating, and they tell a story of an era past in this rich historical part of the country.

Some examples borrowed from OnlyPenang below..

Penang Street Art, Ernest’s neighbour, who is actually famous wooden clogs painter, Mr. Ng Chai Tiam, Armenian Street Art Cafe

Penang Street Art, “Children in a Boat” Mural, Chew Jetty, George Town, Penang

Penang Street Art, “Little Children on a Bicycle” Mural, Armenian Street, George Town, Penang

Besides the paintings, another form of art installation to watch out for when in Penang are the wire caricature installations. These metal sculptures blend humour and historical facts of the early settlement days that give some streets their name.

There's even an installation for Jimmy Choo at Lebuh Leith/Lebuh Muntri. This is where the famous shoe designer started his apprenticeship. That's right. Jimmy Choo is a Penangite.

Now, are you stoked enough to go street art hunting (besides food hunting) in Penang? To help you along, here's a map from TourismPenang. It shows all the locations of the art installations, both the paintings and wire caricatures. Print a copy to bring along.

Happy hunting!


For more information about Penang, visit:

- Penang Tourism

- Tourism Malaysia