Well folks. Leaving next week for my yearly visa pilgrimage. Unfortunately I have to go to Penang.
Any suggestions for places to go? Nightlife? Good bars? Massage joints? Places with free wi-fi?
Anything?
Throw me a bone. I’m dying here…
40 Responses to “Penang - any suggestions?”
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haven’t been for a few years, but i like Penang. great food, architecture, even shopping (dodgy-DVD selection/quality better than Thailand). try Komtar Centre, tallest bldg in town. the older parts of Georgetown have great crumbling buildings, signage and streetscapes, and excellent Chinese/Indian/Malay eateries.
of course all this will be ignored by the backpackers who are just on their way to Somewhere Else. the Lonely Planet Mafia hotels on Leith St are havens of blonde-dreadlockians. and the Thai “consulate” is an air-conditioned shed surrounded by plastic seating.
as for “nightlife,” dunno what u want. alcohol is available, cheapest place is 7-11 i guess. there are nightclubs and bars.
as for P4P, try:
http://www.worldsexguide.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=977
the northern part of Georgetown, around the Cathay and Waldorf Hotels, has some action, though don’t expect Pattaya. any hotel “health center” will feature girls. if you cross Jalan Penang and head west on Jalan Burma, you’ll find some places, including the Mingood Hotel. can’t remember if there was an HC there, but i did have a fun time with a lovely Chinese girl at the Mingood. but there are others. trishaw drivers will offer P4P services but it’s probably best to decline any offers the trishaw-guys make.
down J Burma is a rough-looking bar i went to in 1993. it’s dark and offputting, but has Indian and Chinese working girls. as a foreigner, the Chinese gals would NOT go with me but the Indians were good to go, my first time there, i lucked out with this very attractive and very dark gal named (of course) Shakti, 22 she said. no oral action but a very nice fuck for RMB 60 and yes, she had that red “third-eye” on her forehead (this place is a bar, but has a number of short-time rooms on premises). can’t recall the name but it has a sign with an Anchor beer logo…before you get too excited, i should mention that i went back awhile later and while the Chinese cuties were still giving me the air, “Shakti” was of course nowhere in sight and the new South Asian gals were kinda…Shamu-like. i bolted.
there is however no harm in going into any dodgy-looking bar in Penang, ordering a drink and inquiring discreetly. people speak English and as long as you’re polite, shouldn’t have any problems. if all else fails you can always go to a “Health Centre”…
i hate looking for maps on the Net as u often get stuck with some nonsense interactive/zooming/hotels-only horror. just gimme the damn map! here’s one, not much detail but it’s fine:
http://www.abcmalaysia.com/maps/penang_map1d.htm
JtB
View all comments by Jack B
Let’s just say this is a story and not true but thinking about this, it’s the stupidest thing I did while I was in Thailand last time. When my border run came up I gave my passport to a cop along with 1500 baht. Got it back later no problem and all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted. A friend pointed out that even though there was no problem it was a very dumb thing to do.
Think I will make the effort next time.
View all comments by Young Royal
@YR: Back in 2003, a whole bunch of farangs got deported and blacklisted for doing just that. Careful now…
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
I am not too fond of the place. Boring me thinks. Nightlife is a joke.
Free wi-fi places I know of: Starbucks at Pinang Mall & Malibu Guesthouse.
View all comments by rick
It was just a story BBB…..But I wouldn’t do it again.
View all comments by Young Royal
Penang? Great food. Nice airport…that’s about it. Maybe the horses will be in town. Bet any three horses on form at 12-1 or better. You should break even.
You guys are again officially recognized in my blog for a VERY good reason.
Cheers…see you soon.
View all comments by The Asian Badger
Forgot to add…who’s the girl in the “Think You Can Handle Me?” pic?
View all comments by The Asian Badger
bbb and yr - used to be a bar in silom that you would drop in - have a drink and leave your passport with the cashier. Come back in a few days for another beer and you would have another 90 days. the good ole days…
rick - so right but I have no choice. need to make lemonade!
ab - many thanks.
that is kung - who takes the “big Mango” name to heart.
behind her is kai.
View all comments by smitty
Smitty…tell Kung that Khun Pilot Asian Badger will be in town within the next three months….let her FANTACIZE about her good fortune. (LOL).
Cheers…
PS I am bringing the YM to the Big Mango as per my blog.
View all comments by The Asian Badger
ab: will do
for fellow readers go here:
http://asianbadger.wordpress.com/2007/08/11/thursday-did-suck/
we will keep the beer cold for both of u…
View all comments by smitty
Here you go:
http://www.mangosauce.com/visa_run/the_sleazy_charm_of_georgetown_penang.php
View all comments by Andy
i lived and worked in penang for 5 months and eff me the nightlife if dreadful
especially when i moved there straight after a 3 weeks of debauchery in phuket, pattaya and bangers respectively
150baht for tiger? WTF?
it helps if you can speak a bit of hokkien or/and malay as that shines them on
how did you find soho, glo and SS? got some great soapies there though - great chinese chicks for 1000baht all in
View all comments by Stevie G
sg - so what soapie is a must go to? I leave tomorrow.
need to know.
View all comments by smitty
i used to live at ‘midlands condo’ which is right next to ‘one-stop shopping centre (i dont know if you know it?) is a 5 minute walk from gurney plaza shopping centre………. and theres a whorehouse behind called either ‘aruna’ or ‘arula’ court
directions are hard to explain especially if you dont know the area
best bet is to ask a taxi driver for the best in town, but as arule of thumb never pay more then 180-200 ringgit (1800-2000baht)
you will get either a chinese chick or if you are lucky a good malay chick
i stand by that malay woman are the finest looking woman in the world, just unlike thailand, they are fewer and further between but the good ones blow any race out of the water - saying that some of the chinese chicks are sensational too
my apartment used to house the high end chinese girls working behind my apartment and there were some of the finest girls you will see bu obviously snapped up qucik as penang has lot of rich chinese businessmen
i used to love leaving my apartment at 9oclock to go 7eleven for snacks only to get in a lift with 10 stunning chinese hookers talking about me in hokkien on there way 2 work
where u staying?
View all comments by myspace.com/penfold_xxx
I am going to find a room when I get there. all the stuff I tried to book online was full. should be fun.
more looking for the best sauna/massage joint to hit
View all comments by smitty
In penang
anyone got a suggestion for best massage joint with bennies?
thanks!
View all comments by smitty
hey man sorry i wasnt able to recommend any in time i logged off before i read your last post
View all comments by myspace.com/penfold_xxx
Im Penang bound now as well. Any recommendations for:
1) A visa agency
(especially any that can sort a visa in 1 working day)
2) A cheap place to stay - but where laptop should be ok in room. air-con. And perhaps have free wifi.
3) Any good free wifi spots in restaurants, bars etc. I need keep up with work whilst away.
Some ideas that need appraisal:
1) Has anyone flown to Hat Yai instead of Penang. Then gone overland to Penang from Hat Yai. How long and much is this transfer? Think would be ~3 hours in taxi. But how much for taxi?
Think flying to Hat Yai could be much cheaper - less tax for one thing being domestic flight.
2) Im considering just going to Penang. Then using a Thai consulate in UK by post (am British). Have read reports on some of them on web and they seem bulletproof. no games and uncertainty. Anyone done this? What is fastest way to get your application to Uk and back? Never done fedex, UPS etc. How much will it be aprox and how fast? Looked at their websites - they dont seem to have any prices, and seems very usa centric. No kind of interface where i can put in the 2 place - origin and destination. Weight. Time horizon desired. And get a price. So - anyone with experience of any kind of international mailing/courier - would be very grateful to hear.
View all comments by penang
@penang: Visa applications at the Penang consulate are in the morning. Collections on the afternoon of the following day. Not aware of any exceptions, visa agency or otherwise.
Smitty took his laptop to the something Banana guesthouse on Chulia in Georgetown. There’s a post on here somewhere - search for “banana” (he says, with mild trepidation)…
Isn’t Hat Yai where they blow people up?
Mailing your passport to the UK for a visa while overseas is illegal. Don’t even think about it.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
I think if get visa abroad whilst in thailand - bad news.
But spoke peeps at Hull consulate in UK - they said mailing for visa from malaysia would be fine….with them at least. but would have to go thru a proxy address in uk. they cant correspond with a malaysian address. needs be a uk address doing the posting and receiving.
are u sure about the illegality? maybe its against malaysian law for me not to have passport at all times. But think is not illegal to send passport in post. DHL etc. even have a catagory for passport delivery. Indeed - when received my passport came to me in post.
View all comments by penang
“Isn’t Hat Yai where they blow people up?”
could make the flight price to there nice. tho - people fleeing - maybe flight back will be very expensive.
View all comments by penang
The Hull consulate may indeed turn a blind eye, but it’s still illegal. Check thaivisa.com/forum for details.
I have no idea what you’re trying to achieve here.
If you go to Penang, there’s a Thai consulate there. Fill out the form, pay the moment, and you’ll get the visa the following day.
Or you could go to Penang, then Fedex your passport to a mate in the UK, who posts it to Hull, where the officer sees that the passport has a Malaysia entry stamp without the corresponding exit stamp (this is how you get caught), then posts it back to your mate (if you’re lucky), who then Fedexes it back to Malaysia. Why?!
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
*moment=money, oops.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
For this postal idea - its looking like would take so long waiting for it to get there and back. Why it should take so long - i dont know. Hull can turn it around it one working day - that not rate limiting. The prob comes with finding a courier/postal service that can do this nippily. I would be prepared stay a bit longer in Malaysia for the Hull option - cause think i can get a non-immigrant “o” from them. but the courier time im finding on web seems really long. at least 3 days one way. thats 6 days return. plus one day at hull. thats 7. then with my proxy address (father) sysem - adds a day at least.
View all comments by penang
ah. yes. sorry. should have said why:
non-immigrant “o”
as opposed to tourist
visa
Keen to get non-immigrant “o” for various reasons.
eg. can get a true wifi contract! 500 baht per month.
many pluses to it over tourist. many many…..more rights.
View all comments by penang
can get non-immigrant “o” easily from home country. from malaysia etc. its rock.
need be married to thai, be 50+, be loaded - or something else unreasonable.
View all comments by penang
think this postal idea is non-flyer.
think just going for tourist now.
am overstaying now. and just need get this sorted asap.
View all comments by penang
my posts about penang are here and I discuss hotels and free wifi:
http://www.2thebigmango.com/category/trip-report/
on another note there are local agencies in penang that do all the leg work for you. U give them all the stuff and they go stand in line for you, fill out the forms and pick it up. Given my disdain for the taxi cab drivers I may use this option if it is not too expensive.
I also have considered taking the train to penang to make a trip out of it all or doing my visa run via Hat Yai so I can check the place out.
View all comments by smitty
@penang: I think tourist is the way to go, or pay someone like Sunbelt for a legit non-imm B if you don’t want to travel to UK.
Remember - even if the Hull consulate turn a blind eye to your Fedex’ing your passport around the world, there’s no reason to think that Thai Immigration will be as helpful.
ie. You go to Penang for 2 weeks, then return to Thailand with a UK-issued Visa, but no sign in your passport of having been to the UK in that time. I think they might want to ask you a few questions…
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
So. I touch down at 10am with Airasia at penang. Visa applications close at 12. Can I make it? Do I take taxi straight to consulate? How much would that be?
I arrive 10am Monday. Leaving 10.30am Wednesday.
So have a surplus of one day - so if cant get it in for Monday. But would like to just get it in on Monday. Be done with it.
Any visa agency recommendations would be great! And what kind of mark up are they working on? And can they save me even going to the consulate?
Found your banana recommendation. Also found these options:
hotelmingood
oriental-hotel-penang
Google them. tried putting links….but no go.
So, my remaining questions really?
1) can i make it on a 10am touchdown? how get to consulate from airport? And how much?
2) Any visa agency recommendation? And how much they cost?
BTW. I considered going for little holiday to Laos, Burma, Cambodia etc. But from what i read - was risky. May get no tourist visa even! Penang is safest for cheapest bet. Though cant say im that excited about trip.
View all comments by penang
Smitty wrote all this up in one of the posts he just linked to, but I’m feeling generous
1. Taxi to Consulate from Airport is 38 ringit from memory (it’s a set fee, book at the airport). Yes, I made it in plenty of time. Obviously if your flight is delayed you may have problems.
2. I didn’t use an agency, dunno why anyone would bother. It’s easy. Taxi driver even offered to wait outside the Consulate for me, then took me to a hotel after I applied. Sold. Unmetered rate is actually cheaper than the set rate you pay from the airport. If only Bangkok were like this.
Cambodia is great fun, but the Thai Embassy are renowned for being very hostile. Don’t rely on getting a visa there. Laos is good for tourist visas - Savannakhet or Vientienne. Haven’t holidayed there though, and haven’t been to Burma at all yet.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
Thanks BBB.
View all comments by penang
stupid q - does airasia use the new bangkok airport? doesnt specifiy in itinery or on their site from what i can find. makes me think is new “default” airport. but thought would just check. just in case.
View all comments by penang
new airport.
I would never use sunbelt…
View all comments by smitty
Yeah, I thought twice before mentioning Sunbelt - I knew you’d say that
My pal just got a 1-year multi-entry non-imm B through them. If I knew anyone else who offered the same service, I’d have mentioned them too.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
btw. seen on web you can rent motorbike in penang for ~20 malaysian per day. thats 3 pounds or 6 usa.
could be possible solution to taxi headaches.
that banana guest house rents them - seen on its website
on that note - does anyone know of a motorbike rental place in bangkok? I know the dangers - but think it would add so much to my bkk life. the traffic is so bad - i spend my life in a taxi. at least on bike - make some progress.
skytrain and mrt - all well and good. but wat if u want go somewhere not covered? And if this is between 3 and 10 - u r boned basically.
dont have license. dont know how that would work? Can i pay off police? isnt that wat every1 does? maybe i wear full helmet to hide my farang features to stop me being immediate target.
View all comments by penang
@Penang: try the following website http://www.someonetowipemyassforme. It should be full of useful information on the best way to do everything.
Smitty/pmmp. sorry, i just couldn’t stop myself.
View all comments by anonimus
thanx. great resource.
View all comments by penang
whats bad about sunbelt then?
im getting a muti-entry from UK but was thinking of doing in thailand and wondered if sunbelt had a bad rep?
all honest answers would be appreciated
my only experience with them is i used to play for there football team and if there visa service was anything like the standard of football id stay well clear
as alan hansen would say……… “SHOCKING”
View all comments by myspace.com/penfold_xxx
well. not going to bad mouth anyone here but we used to work with sunbelt and all I can say is we worked really hard to find an alternative. For simple things, personal visa, they are very cheap and seem to be okay but for more complex transactions I would steer clear of them.
Your football analogy is warranted.
View all comments by smitty