The maps I picked up at Penang International Airport- and I’m pretty sure numerous blogs and websites do this as well- listed dozens of tourist hotspots I should visit in George Town, the heart of Penang. Honestly, I tried to follow every single one of them (my numero uno mistake) and ended up getting frustrated under the unforgiving Penang sun. Furthermore, I picked up four maps (second mistake) and concluded after much headache that they didn’t contain the same information. Or my map-reading skills were seriously lacking. 

Recipe for disaster

Despite everything, I enjoyed George Town and here are my favourite spots:

- Khoo Kongsi Temple

- Georgetown Street Art

- Fort Cornwallis

Regardless of the long hours it took to reach Derawan, Derawan did not disappoint me at all. Derawan is gorgeous, and for divers, it is a must-go destination. Note that the best time to visit Derawan is between May until early August, other than that, the weather becomes unpredictable and not nice.  As an added bonus, if you were single, maybe you can find your sweetheart here. Derawan does have its magic, and it really happened to me :P

Gotcha! Did the title bring you here? Are you in Penang right now, feeling pissed off because it is raining non stop and you don’t know what to do? No, the universe doesn’t hate you. And no, you’re not the only person in the world who has experienced it. Shit happens, sun rises in the east. Rain pours, get over it (hey, it rhymes!). Anyway, here’s my story.

It started as what seemed like a typical day in Penang. I didn’t even realize if the sky was darker, or if the weather felt more humid than the previous day. That day, I ate breakfast, walked to the station, and hopped on a bus to my destination: Bukit Bendera. True to its namesake, Bukit Bendera, or Penang Hill, is a hill at Air Itam area that overlooks Georgetown from 883 m above sea level. According to its website, aside from the spectacular view, you could also see some unique plants and historical sites.