I was in George Town Penang in 2006 and left it a mere mortal of a city. I have returned to George Town in 2009 to a UNESCO World Heritage City.
George Town World Heritage Site
I have enjoyed the city more on this second trip. The first time here I had read such good things about George Town that it didn’t really meet my expectations. Now on my second time here I have come without expectation and have found this city to be one of my favourites in Asia. Now that I have told you this I have loaded you with unfair expectation and you may thus arrive dissappointed.
I came back to George Town to get the ferry to Medan in Sumatra. I try not to back track to cities I have been if I can go somewhere else. Sometimes though you end up passing through visited cities to get to new ones. I would be happy to come back to George Town again.
So far I have been impressed with the wireless situation in Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur I paid 10 MYR ($2.75 USD) for the privilege of gaining the wireless code at the guesthouse I was staying. You can use that code for the length of your stay.
In Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands the rate was 5 MYR ($1.37 USD) for unlimited access for the length of your stay.
My final stop in George Town Penang has been even better – Free! was looking online to find which place offered free wireless but it is not prominently advertised as a feature. My first night here I stayed in one of those classic backpacker flophouses and I was surprised to find when I opened my laptop that I had access to free wireless.
In George Town even the flophouses have wireless
I upgraded myself to a nicer guesthouse on my second and third night also had free wireless.
It is good living for a nomad in George Town. There is so much great food, accommodation is cheap and good access to wireless.
