How to Visit Penang’s Kek Lok Si Temple (and What to Eat)

By Mark Wiens 78 Comments
visiting Kek Lok Si temple
Lovely view from the top of Kek Lok Si Pagoda

Penang, Malaysia, has a strong and influential Chinese community.

And although I mostly experienced Penang’s Chinese influence on my plate, I also took the opportunity to visit one of Southeast Asia’s largest Chinese Buddhist temples, known as Kek Lok Si.

Kek Lok Si is one of the most well known attractions in Penang, and a pilgrimage site for some Buddhist followers throughout Southeast Asia.

When I was in Penang, my wife and I decided to take a day, see Kek Lok Si temple, and do some eating in the area while were there.

Here’s what we did on our quick day trip to Kek Lok Si Temple:

how to get to kek lok si
To get there, take bus 203 or 204 to Air Itam

How to get to Kek Lok Si

The two main ways to get to Kek Lok Si Temple are either private taxi, which costs about 25 MYR (according to Lonely Planet), or take the public bus for 2 MYR ($0.54) per person.

My wife Ying and I were staying at Armenian Street Heritage Hotel* in George Town, and we chose to take the public bus to get there.

From our hotel, we walked over to Komtar Bus Terminal, which is the main bus terminal station for George Town. The bus station was quite organized, with the bus numbers organized by lanes. It was pretty easy to see which buses went to which destinations in Penang.

To get to Air Itam, the area where Kek Lok Si temple is located, you can either take bus #203 or #204. Bus #204 came first and so that’s the one we jumped on.

The bus cost 2 MYR ($0.54) per person, and it took about 30 minutes to get to the market at Air Itam.

I didn’t exactly know where we were going, but despite winding around for a bit, we eventually ended up in Air Itam, and we got off at the terminal station along Jalan Air Itam, just a short walk from the bottom base of Kek Lok Si temple.

Sister Curry Mee
Sister Curry Mee

First, Sister’s Curry Mee

I’ll be covering Sister’s Curry Mee stall in a full blog post separately, but I just wanted to quickly share it here as well.

We got off the bus at Air Itam (also sometimes spelled Ayer Hitam), and we were immediately surrounded by a sprawling busy market with lots of tempting food.

Before proceeding to the temple, I first wanted to check out Sister’s Curry Mee, a street food stall located just a stones throw from where we were let off the bus.

Run by two sisters, and started back in 1946, Sister’s Curry Mee is just about everything you could hope for if you love street food – friendly Grandma’s cooking, boiling pots of unknown soups and liquids, a few random stools and one table, and just a frenzy food filled environment.

curry mee in Penang
Bowl of curry mee in Penang

We ordered two bowls of curry mee.

The curry mee included an assortment of different noodles, submerged in hot boiling curry soup, then topped with pieces of squid, and a dollop of sambal chili sauce.

The curry mee had a shrimpy flavor, it was spicy from the sambal, and wasn’t overly rich, but had a hint of butteriness from coconut milk.

Part of the reason the curry mee was so good at Sister’s Curry Mee was just how amazing the two sisters were.

They are absolute legends in Penang.

things to do in Penang
View of Kek Lok Si Temple in the near distance

Visiting Kek Lok Si Temple

After slurping down my bowl of curry mee, I felt much better about heading to Kek Lok Si temple.

Kek Lok Si Temple sign
This Kek Lok Si Temple sign is right above Air Itam Asam Laksa restaurant

At the corner of Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Pasar, you’ll see a big sign pointing towards the temple.

This sign is right above the ultra famous Air Itam Asam Laksa (I decided to come back and eat there after visiting the temple, but you could eat there before as well).

Follow the sign down Jalan Pasar, and when you come to the T in the road, turn left. Soon you’ll see a small alleyway path, and that foot-path to the left leads to a set of stairs, which is the main walkway to Kek Lok Si temple.

To get to the temple, you first have to walk up a gradual inclining set of stairs and walkways, that are all sheltered by a labyrinth of souvenir shops.

It almost felt like a cave packed with souvenirs, and there was hardly any air or breeze walking up – so be prepared to start dripping with sweat.

turtles
It looks like a little prison cell of turtles

It didn’t take long to reach the top of the stairs and we arrived at the turtle pond, a murky algae filled pond surrounded by, you guessed it, more souvenir shops.

The pond was filled with frightening amount of turtles.

From the turtle pond, we continued walking up, winding through the beginning of the Kek Lok Si temple compound.

At this point, there was either a choice to go left and follow the path to the Kuan Yin statue, or go right to the Kek Lok Si pagoda. We chose to first see the Kuan Yin statue first.

things to do in Penang
Walking through Kek Lok Si Temple

I walked through even more souvenir shops, and then came to a dead end where there was no choice but to take the “Inclined Lift,” to the top for a view of the statue.

Kuan Yin Statue
Inclined Lift to the Kuan Yin Statue

After paying 3 MYR ($0.80), we entered the slanted elevator, which just took about a minute, and it whisked us to the top.

It was a very short ride, and I wish they would have had a flight of stairs next to the included life to be able to take alternatively, but they didn’t.

Kuan Yin statue
The giant 36.5 meter Kuan Yin bronze statue

Kuan Yin Statue

Probably the busiest part of Kek Lok Si temple is the 36.5 meter high bronze statue of Kuan Yin (also Guanyin), the Goddess of Mercy.

Surrounding the statue is an even bigger octagon shaped pavilion. There were also some other small shrines and pagodas in the area, as well as a deck for a view of Penang.

It looked to me like many of the local Chinese Malaysians came to Kek Lok Si mainly to visit the Kuan Yin shrine.

Ban Po Thar
Kek Lok Si Pagoda (Ban Po Thar)

The Kek Lok Si Pagoda (Ban Po Thar)

After spending a few minutes walking around the Kuan Yin statue, Ying and I decided to take the road to walk down towards the pagoda, which is officially known as Ban Po Thar.

It took about 10 minutes to walk down – and from what I saw, I didn’t notice an easier walkway to get to the pagoda – you just have to take the road which is a little out of the way, or you have to take the inclined lift back down.

Visiting the pagoda was the highlight of my time at Kek Lok Si.

After paying the 2 MYR ($0.53) for the entrance fee, I walked into the pagoda section, past a few temple shrines, and then onto the pagoda itself.

Ban Po Thar
Ban Po Thar

The Kek Lok Si Pagoda is interesting because of how it was built.

The base of the pagoda was built in a Chinese style, the center is Thai, and the top is Burmese. So there are three sections of culture and history within the pagoda, and you can really see the difference both inside and from the outside structure.

The pagoda has 7 levels, and the climb to the top took just about 5 minutes. The stairs can be a little narrow, so be careful not to slip.

tokong kek lok si pulau pinang
Inside decoration in the pagoda

Winding around the levels of the pagoda while climbing the stairs, I could see the different styles of Buddhas, shrines, and decorations, from Chinese, to Thai, to Burmese.

Kek Lok Si Pagoda
The view from the top of Kek Lok Si Pagoda

The view at the top of the pagoda was amazing.

And along with gorgeous views of Penang and an overview of Kek Lok Si temple and the Kuan Yin statue, when I got to the top, I was the only one there, so it was peaceful and calm with a cool breeze.

pagoda
View of the pagoda

From the ground, the pagoda didn’t look that high, but at the top, it looked a lot higher, and the views were fantastic.

laksa close to Buddha statue
Air Itam Asam Laksa

Air Itam Asam Laksa

After walking around Kek Lok Si, we were ready to eat again.

Since we had already tried Sister’s Curry Mee in the morning, this time we walked straight to Air Itam Asam Laksa, one of Penang’s most famous street food stalls to eat asam laksa.

Again, I’ll post a full blog about this laksa restaurant, but here’s a quick overview.

We arrived to Air Itam Asam Laksa right at prime lunch time – it was about 12:30 pm – and it was packed out.

I could literally smell the aroma of the sour laksa from across the street as we approached.

asam laksa in Penang
A bowl of Penang style asam laksa

It took a little while to figure out the ordering system, but soon enough I figured out that we should just grab a seat at any empty table, then a lady came around and served us a bowl.

I think everyone who sits down wants a bowl of asam laksa, so you just sit down, and they give you a bowl.

The asam laksa at Air Itam Asam Laksa was filled with sliced herbs and lettuce, topped with a handful of thick rice noodles, and filled with the asam laksa fish based broth.

It was a little on the sweet side for me, but it was still very good, and I especially loved the herbs in it.

It was quite a bit different from other versions of laksa I had tried.

penang rojak
Some rojak to finish things off

Rojak

After a bowl of asam laksa, Ying and I spotted a man on a motorbike street food cart across the street serving rojak, a mixture of fruit and crispy fritters, mixed in a sweet shrimpy paste.

The rojak was alright, not nearly as good as other versions of rojak I’ve had in Malaysia.

buses in George Town
We took the bus back to George Town

Back to George Town

Sun beating down in the middle of the afternoon, Ying and I decided to head back to our hotel to relax, get some work done and take a nap.

We found a bus station across the street from the market, just down the road from Air Itam Asam Laksa, and caught bus number 203 back to George Town.

If you wanted to visit more places on this Kek Lok Si day trip, you could also proceed from here to visit Penang Hill, or vice versa.

Air Itam
Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia

Here’s a video that covers everything in this blog post.

It’s about 14 minutes long, but I think you’ll enjoy it as it covers all the details of how to get there, what to do, and those delicious bowls of noodles we ate:

(Of you can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RftarTmAhXM)

Conclusion

Kek Lok Si is one of the biggest and most important Chinese Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia.

When my wife and I were in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, we took the bus to Air Itam (the area of Penang where the temple is located), just a short walk from the temple.

Though the temple is huge, the main two sections include the bronze statue of Kuan Yin, and the Kek Lok Si pagoda with its layers of architectural style. My highlight was climbing the stairs to the top of the pagoda.

Additionally, if you visit Kek Lok Si temple when you’re in Penang, make sure you take advantage of the delicious street food available in the area – there are plenty of delicious foods to try.

Kek Lok Si makes an excellent day trip when you’re in Penang.

Kek Lok Si Temple Information:

Address: 1000-L, Tingkat Lembah Ria 1, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang, Malaysia
Opening hours: 7 am–9 pm daily
Entrance fee: The entrance fee is free for most of the temple, but the elevator lift costs 3 MYR ($0.80), and the entrance to the pagoda is 2 MYR ($0.54).
How to get there: I wrote more extensively about how we got here at the beginning of this post, but you can either get there by private taxi (25 MYR) or public bus (2 MYR).

78 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • vishal kaushik

    3 years ago

    Amazing!! Keep writing.

  • Ike Rahimi

    3 years ago

    There’s never a single blog of your’s without mentioning the food and that’s good. Anyways, thank you for this beautiful guide on how to get to Kek Lok Si and what to do there.

  • Sophoan Livan

    6 years ago

    Dear Mark Wiens,

    A comprehensive blog written and useful for my visit on 24-25 November. Thanks 🙏🏻 a lots!

  • Marie Bungay

    6 years ago

    Looking to visit Malaysia in 2020 & spend a few days in Penang (my mums birth place) really enjoyed watching your video

  • Jan

    6 years ago

    I’m planning on going back to the temple to take my time to explore it.
    Would you happen to know if someone there might talk to concerning their faith?
    Thank you!

  • Ted

    6 years ago

    Informative but I want to see the temple lit up this week. When is the best time to go to avoid to many crowds?

  • John Hudson

    6 years ago

    Hello Mark. Love your work. I lived on Penang Island in the mid 1970s when I was there with the Royal Australian Airforce. My wife, children and I loved the place. It all looks so different but obviously still has the same vibe. We are going back this coming June/July for a holiday. Your excellent blog has certainly wetted my appitite for the place. JOHN H.

  • Leslie

    6 years ago

    You did a great job on creating this video and giving us a wonderful insight into the sights and sounds of your day trip. I was there last week in Penang and can identify with the place and delicious food you mentioned.
    Keep it up!

  • Laura

    7 years ago

    Enjoyed watching your video on Kek Lok Si.
    I was drooling watching you eat the curry mee and asam laksa.
    Always find your video very informative and interesting.
    Thank you

  • Leo

    7 years ago

    I also never eat laksa in Singapore. Do you think that there laksa with which you eat in malaysia?

  • Ritu

    8 years ago

    Great article and nice video with the info on what food u tried out ! Enjoyed it .. Keep recording and posting 🙂

  • nurul

    8 years ago

    hiii . im tourism student. i would like to have a visit to this temple. is it open to all religion? the architecture is really attractive. can we, the muslims make a visit to this temple? i would like to know the history behind the temple, the statue, the design from this place. is it okay for us to make a visit there? tq

  • Planetgravy

    8 years ago

    Thanks for the tips! We’re going to Kek Lok Si Temple tomorrow, so this came quite in handy! ????
    Today we had dinner on the Kapitan Restaurant like you said on your George Town video. Tomorrow we’re going back to try the tandori chicken!

  • Serhat Engul

    8 years ago

    This temple looks like a fairytale. Thank you for the excellent photos and great food suggestions.

  • Albert

    8 years ago

    What a great post! I got back from Malaysia trip in Penang and your blog post was very well written! Great find and I look forward to reading more of your content.

    • Mark Wiens

      8 years ago

      Thank you very much Albert, good to hear that!

  • Bobbie

    8 years ago

    I am travelling with a bowel disease. Good toilet facilities rule every trip we make as a family. Please can you include information on available toilets everywhere you go?

  • Luis Hidalgo

    8 years ago

    Could you help me , i need to know the brand of inclined elevator. I woul like to much make to much bussines with this type of elevator in Chile.

    Thank you very much and best regards

    Luis Hidalgo from Santiago of Chile – South America

  • Victoria roth

    9 years ago

    Hi Mark and Ying,
    I just discovered you on YouTube and really enjoying it. I agreed with one of the viewer that you should be the next Anthony Bourdain and do you have that plan in the future? I think people in the State are ready to watch you on their big tube. Does Ying speak English? I would love to see her eating sometime and comments on her food a little bit, she is part of the package on your traveling and we just got a glimpse of her in the background, you are one lucky man, Ying is very pretty, actually you both are good looking couple. You mentioned that how you make money doing what you do, are the money making is better now that you been doing it for a while? How often do you and Ying come to US?

    Victoria Roth.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Victoria, great to hear from you, thank you for the comment and for watching our videos. Not sure about TV, but if it happens, it would be an honor. Yes, Ying speak English quite well, but she’s still a bit shy, so maybe in the future. Yes, we’ve been building slowing and continue to build and we are able to sustain the traveling while earning through what we do. We have come back twice in the last 2 years, but not sure if we’ll be able to come this year. What part os the US are you from?

    • Victoria Roth

      9 years ago

      I’m from Henderson Nevada but original from Vietnam. I’ve been back to VN many times and visited ThaiLand many times in the pass. I’ve always afraid of eating street food because of the sanitary but I guess you can develop a strong stomach for this kind of things. I may try it next time when I’m in my Motherland, maybe bringing your own plastic utensils would help. I wonder if you guys ever think about come back to the State and open a Thai restaurant? In Vegas there are many but only a few that very very good, Archie’s and Kungfu are the two that have long line waiting. They are both family operated and alway pack with people. I will continue watching your video and looking forward someday to see you and Ying on the big screen….it can happen if you have the right connections, you already got what it takes. Keep up the good work!
      Victoria Roth.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Victoria, thank you for sharing. We haven’t really thought about coming back to the US to live, but if we do, a Thai restaurant might be a good idea. Thank you for your support!

  • Saravana

    9 years ago

    Nice photographs, your posts will make anybody to want to visit that place.

  • Niki

    9 years ago

    Hi Mark it me again Niki I just let you now I don”t have time went to visit Penang Kek Lok Si In Penang net trip if I really I let you now and you tell me about Changmai how to get there and how to rent a room for me and my husbands Mark I Thankyou A lot and if I have changed we well meet bye Mark

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Niki, great to hear from you, glad you’ll be going to Chiang Mai. The last time I was in Chiang Mai I stayed at Sunshine House which was very nice. If you want a room in a house you might want to do a search on Airbnb.com. Hope you have a great time there.

  • hossaingoni

    9 years ago

    Very excellent place and the picture was captured beautifully. I heard the temple before. It Is the place of peace and knowledge.

  • Tosh

    9 years ago

    Mark, the “inclined lift” or “slanted elevator” is called a funicular. They are all over the world but are especially common in Europe. Really enjoyed the video. – Tosh

  • Baishali

    9 years ago

    Enjoyed this Penang post, Mark and the photos with it. I love curries and I would like to visit that Sister’s Curry Mee place if I travel there someday!

  • Arianwen

    9 years ago

    I really enjoyed this post. I’m about to fly to Asia and can’t decide if I’ll revisit Malaysia or head straight over to the Philippines. Malaysia was the first country I ever backpacked in!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Arianwen, good to hear from you, glad you’re coming back to Asia soon. Hmm, that’s always a tough choice, but whatever you choose, there are great experiences anywhere you go. Have a great trip!

  • Pam

    9 years ago

    Sawdadee ka Mark,
    I really love watching your videos on YouTube. I love the face you make when you take a bite of food. It is priceless. I think you should be the next Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern and have your own travel/eating show.

    Keep up the excellent work!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thank you very much Pam, really appreciate your support!

  • KH

    9 years ago

    Hi Mark,

    First of all, good stuff and I always enjoyed your posts and videos, but I’ve not commented any. The curry mee and the Laksa was definitely the food you have to eat or “makan” if you visit Ayer Itam. I was born and raised here and to me, these two were like staple food to me 😀 , and yes, I’m drooling while watching your video ! Haha ! If you ever going back to visit Ayer Itam again, perhaps you would want to try out the Koay Chiap aka flat sheets of rice noodle served with duck meat. This stall is just opposite where you had your laksa.

    I hope you had a great trip to Penang and hope to see more of your post and video too. Cheers !!!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi KH, great to hear from you and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. The koay chiap sounds delicious too, would love to try that next time. Thank you!

    • KH

      9 years ago

      Hi Mark, i forgot to tell you that besides the curry mee, the sister also sells fried mee hoon (rice vermicelli). I’m not sure if you would had seen it the other day, but it was fried with dark soy sauce and the pot is sitting just in front of the sister.

      These fried mee hoon goes very well with the curry. Some take them separately but the secret of eating it the best way is:
      1) Finish your bowl of curry mee – but not the curry soup
      2) Ask the sister to add in the fried mee hoon into the existing curry with extra chili. Take note, this chili is somewhat different from the curry mee chili, so the aromatic flavor adds to the already excellent curry soup
      3) Mix them all together and wallop it down ! (of course add in the extra cuttlefish)

      I’ll be going back to my hometown Ayer Itam Penang end of the month. I hope I’ll be able to visit them and take a few pictures and share it with you. Until then, cheers and can’t wait to see your other reviews !

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hey KH, awesome, that is a true pro tip. Next time I go there I will follow your steps for sure with the mee hoon!

  • Chandan

    9 years ago

    Mark please come on India kolkata and visit with me 🙂 I see your kolkata video in youtube it’s awesome 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Chandan, thank you for watching, I really hope to visit again in the future.

  • Al

    9 years ago

    Hey Mark,

    Nice video and every time I need to remind myself to make sure that I have eaten before watching your videos. Just to be safe from hunger pangs!

    You should also do a trip to my hometown, Kuching. There you can enjoy a nice bowl of Sarawak Laksa which you tasted in Langkawi Laksa event and this laksa is basically our *almost daily* breakfast ritual in Kuching, young and old. Even Anthony Bourdain swears by it. Twice. 🙂

    There are also a huge varieties of local food you can try; ayam (chicken) / babi (pork) pansuh – cuisine of the Dayak people there, which is basically chicken/pork stuff with herbs in the bamboo, umai (I guess our version of cerviche??), local wine called Tuak, various version of noodles, local dishes, seafood, all kinds of layered cakes, basically full of non spicy and spicy food. We also have a yearly Kuching Food Festival which normally takes place in August.

    Keep the videos coming.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hey Al, great to hear from you, thank you very much for your support. I would love to visit Kuching in the future, and I know for sure I would be eating Sarawak laksa everyday for breakfast! Thank you again!

  • jenjenk

    9 years ago

    I looooooved the Laksa at Air itam!! It had this unusual flavor that i just couldn’t put my finger on…I wanted another bowl but didn’t want to be the fatgirl eating like a pig! 😉

  • Gia Mukherjee

    9 years ago

    Really loved this one! You explained a lot but didn’t make it boring at all… Not that I find any of your videos boring!!!!

  • Akbar kp

    9 years ago

    I liked the way you described your trip and food stuff seemed mouthwatering. Can we get Muslim food in the roadside restaurant s
    Thanks
    Akbar kp

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thank you very much Akbar. Yes, there is plenty of Halal food available throughout Penang as well. Right across the street from where I ate at Sister’s Mee there looked to be a very good Halal nasi kandar restaurant – I wish I would have tried that too!

  • Top secret

    9 years ago

    You just delivered another good video. Very surprised by Sisters curry mee that survived to this day, if they indicated since 1946, that’s close to almost 70 years running! Gotta make a trip to try their version. Rojak, as a street food will vary in taste, quality and pricing, and the one you had looked quite decent and standard rojak ingredients. If the price was correct, 60 m’sian cents is quite a bargain! Personally, I’m not a big fan of Assam laksa, preferring mostly for curry laksa instead. However, the spot you went to must be really good with those packed tables. Have you tried the Hokkien prawn mee, which is another one of Penang’s most famous dish? The spot on Lebuh Kimberly is an excellent choice. Happy eating!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thank you very much for watching. Yah, 70 years serving the same dish by the same generation is incredibly impressive. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to try the Hokkien prawn mee, I had some in KL a few years back, but not in Penang. Still have some foods to wait for next visit. Are you from Penang?

    • Top Secret

      9 years ago

      Hello Mark, I’m from the capital city, as they all say “Kay-El”. As you might’ve guessed, many M’sians do visit Penang often for the heritage attractions, and especially the food. I’d been there a couple of times myself, but currently I’m based in the United States, west coast.

  • Thomas

    9 years ago

    Hi Mark
    Enjoyed your blog on the Foods of Penang. Yeah the Assam Laksa is famous even the flies are attracted to it. When you visit Melbourne I’ll cook it for you and Ying.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thank you very much Thomas, appreciate the invitation too, that would be awesome!

  • d

    9 years ago

    loved the curry mee bit. made me drooling over it. wish I was the one eating it

  • Alwyn

    9 years ago

    Thanks for sharing this information with us Mark. I am now looking forward to visiting these sites first hand.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thanks for reading Alwyn, glad to hear you’re planning to visit.

  • Izy berry

    9 years ago

    This temple wow I am in love and the food looks delicious

  • Carol

    9 years ago

    Mark, you are amazing……fun……always happy!!! It is a delight to receive and watch your videos!!! Continue to enjoy life!!!!

  • mark

    9 years ago

    Visited Kek Lok Si in March 2014. Missed out on eating at 2 Sisters but enjoyed Asam Laska. Tried the white coffee with my rojak. The temple, food and bus ride was great. Hope to return to Penang in 2016. Envious of how you are able to travel and enjoy sampling the world. Best of luck and happy travels.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Mark, great to hear you visited Kek Lok Si, glad you enjoyed it too!

  • Rahul

    9 years ago

    As usual great pics Mark. Penang is definitely on my future list.

  • Terry B.

    9 years ago

    Aaaaaah, so THAT’S what that big temple and statue are!

    Some friends and I were travelling on a bus to visit the Penang Hill and we saw that but didn’t know what it was since it wasn’t in any of the free maps and guides we got in town. We thought maybe that was our destination, but when we realised it wasn’t we were planning to go there after were done. But our day trip turned out to be a much longer (and difficult!) one than we thought.

    Word of warning: although the cost of the tram up the Penage hill is very expensive, don’t be tempted to save money and hike up to the top on your own unless you are in really good condition (i.e. not hungover, haha). Also, the free maps they give you there do not explain anything very well to hike up either. The ultra-steep trail mysteriously ends halfway up, and took us a very long time and a lot of walking to find the rest of the way up… and when we finally did round the last corner there were a few locals there clapping for us and telling us “well done” haha.

    I just got back from my visarun to Malaysia a month and half ago, and my 3 week visit to Penang and the Perhentian Islands was one of my best trips ever! So thanks for your blog post as a reminiscing reminder.

    Your photography skills keep getting better and better too!

    P.S.: This Wednesday I am flying to Yangon for a few weeks, and I had a fun time going through your old vlogs on that city when I was first planning this trip a few weeks ago. And is very cool that one of my favorite travel bloggers posted this inspiring ing post right before I gettting ready to leave since I always get a lot of pre-travel jitters before I go anywhere.

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hey Terry,

      Excellent, thank you very much for sharing about your Penang adventures. Thanks for the Penang Hill tip. Have a great time in Yangon, and enjoy the food!

  • Carol Taylor

    9 years ago

    Food looks delish can’t wait to try 🙂

  • Nath

    9 years ago

    Beautiful pics tempts me and my family to see all these places in reality. Worth spending money and seeing in one’s lifetime

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Thank you Nath!

    • Hans Feurer

      8 years ago

      I actually wantend to send you an E-Mail but did not fing your adress, so I misse your Comment Box.
      Your last Issuing, 11Must-Eat Janese Foods in Osaka, I cant open. It only Shows for a Moment a plat with Sashimi and sushi. May I ASK You to er-send your last edition about Foods in Osaka, because I will leave for Osaka Monday 5th of Octobre fol. holidays.
      I workend for 10 Years as Expat from Switzerland. And now I every Year to Japan for holidays.
      I read each issue with Great plesure.
      Kind regards
      Hans

    • Mark Wiens

      8 years ago

      Hello Hans, nice to hear from you. Hmm, I’m not sure why it’s not opening, here’s the directly link: http://migrationology.com/2015/09/osaka-food-guide-japan/ Let me know if that works!

      Thanks,
      Mark

  • Mickey Harman

    9 years ago

    You should visit the Philippines, I will show you around and introduce to some of the native cuisine and restaurants in Cebu Philippines..

    • Nath

      9 years ago

      Many thanks
      I will take the earliest opportunity to contact you.
      Nath

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Mickey, thank you very much. I’m going to visit Manila for a conference next month, but not sure if I’ll make it to Cebu, if I do I’ll let you know. Thanks!

    • Mickey Harman

      9 years ago

      If you have time when in Manila a flight to Cebu will run you maybe $40.

      I really enjoy watching your videos and have to smile every time you make that delightful face when the food hits those taste buds.

    • Mickey Harman

      9 years ago

      By the way I sent you a friend request on Facebook, you can contact me there in the event you do make it to Cebu.