Day 03: From Hat Yai to Penang

"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow..." - Anita Desai

(Malaysian Football legends)

Day 03: 11 Aug 2026 (Tuesday)
Route: Hat Yai to Penang
Hotel: BNM Resort Batu Ferringhi

Breakfast was at Khaled Restaurant, right next door. This popular, budget-friendly halal eatery is known for its authentic and comforting Malaysian East Coast breakfast as well as local Southern Thai dishes. We had our usual favourites - nasi dagang and roti canai - a satisfying start to the day.

We checked out early and headed towards the Thailand–Malaysia border at Sadao. Border clearance was quick and hassle-free, and soon we were on our way to Penang for a three-day, two-night holiday.

(Ready to cross the border and head to Penang)

(Entering Malaysia at Bukit Kayu Hitam)

(Crossing the Penang Bridge to George Town)

We arrived in Penang early and stopped for lunch at the Tanjung Bungah Food Court, located directly across from Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah. The undisputed star of the food court is Lidiana Nasi Campur, which is incredibly popular for its delicious Malay dishes and wide selection of fresh ulam. With so many tempting choices, it was not difficult to understand its popularity!

(Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah at the background)

(The eatery is popular among locals)

(Simple tasty dishes)

As it was still too early to check in, we drove to Masjid Jamek Teluk Bahang for our prayers. The mosque is a well-maintained and peaceful community mosque in the coastal town of Teluk Bahang. It is also a convenient place for locals and visitors to stop for prayers while exploring nearby attractions such as Penang National Park, ESCAPE Penang and Entopia.

(Masjid Jamek Teluk Bahang)

By 4.00 pm, we finally checked in at the BNM Resort Complex in Batu Ferringhi. As a perk to BNM staff and Alumni members, we are privileged to stay at the Bank's resorts at a discounted rate. We were last here for a family holiday in November 2023, so it was lovely to be back.

The resort has direct access to Batu Ferringhi Beach and is situated in a vibrant part of the area, close to attractions such as Hard Rock Cafe Penang. The lively surroundings do mean that we can expect a little ambient music and noise at night, but the convenient location and beachfront setting make it a pleasant place to stay.

 

(The bungalow unit at the back)

For dinner, we headed to Hussain Pasembur King, a legendary, generations-old street food stall at the Medan Renong Food Complex, or Padang Kota Lama, in George Town. Operating since 1951, this Penang institution started as a humble handcart and has grown into a well-known name for authentic Penang-style pasembur, also known as Mamak rojak.

(Sharing a large plate of pasembor)

(The tasty paste makes the difference)

(A leisure stroll after dinner)

After a filling dinner, we drove back to the resort through the pouring rain. It had been another full and enjoyable day, from crossing the border and returning to Penang to good food and a relaxing evening by Batu Ferringhi.

Day 04: A Free-and-Easy Day in Penang

"We carry the places we have been and the people we have met..." - Unknown

(Chinese dolls at Hin Bus Depot)

Day 04: 12 Aug 2026 (Wednesday)
Activity: Penang Free and Easy
Hotel: BNM Resort Batu Ferringhi

Today was a free-and-easy day in Penang, with no fixed itinerary. We simply took things at a leisurely pace, exploring a few places, enjoying good food and making the most of our time on the island.

Early in the morning, we drove to Nazzeeras’ Roti Bakar Kacang Phool, a popular Muslim-owned breakfast spot at Desiran Tanjung Food Court. The stall is widely known for introducing traditional kacang phool to Penang. Their signature kacang phool is served with thick slices of toasted local bread, available in several varieties such as Garlic Cheese, Butter and French Toast. Besides the kacang phool, we also had their mushroom soup. It was a hearty and very filling breakfast - certainly enough to keep us going for the morning!

(Top spot for kacang phool in Penang)

(The menu display on the wall)

(Well presented and tasty)

We are certainly not art connoisseurs, but we never miss an opportunity to visit an art gallery whenever we come across one. Today, we visited the Penang State Art Gallery, located within the Dewan Sri Pinang building.

The gallery is a public art institution dedicated to modern and contemporary art from 1965 to the present. Its collection and exhibitions feature local and international works exploring themes such as identity, urbanisation and globalisation. There were paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photography and various emerging art forms on display. Even though we may not understand all the artistic expressions, it was interesting to see how artists interpret the world around them.

(Devoted to pioneer and contemporary artists)

(Displays of modern and contemporary arts)

From there, we headed to Hin Bus Depot, another of Penang's well-known creative spaces. Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic helped transform the former, rather neglected bus depot into an independent art and exhibition space. Today, the old depot has become one of Penang's popular cultural enclaves, blending heritage with creative markets, cafés, galleries and live performances, particularly during weekends.

(The former Hin Bus Depot)

(Taking a rest after a long walk from the car park)

(Collections of arts and sculptures)

By lunchtime, we were ready for another round of Penang food!

We headed to the Astaka Selera Food Court at Padang Kota Lama and made our way to Mee Sotong Hameed Pata, one of Penang's legendary Mamak-style street food stalls. The stall is famous for its vibrant red, intensely flavoured noodles topped with its signature sweet-and-spicy sambal sotong. We also bought some Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang to take away and, to cool ourselves down, had a refreshing bowl of air batu campur.

(Sharing a plate of Mee Sotong and ABC)

By the time we finished lunch, we were sweating profusely. The weather was unbearably hot and humid! Back at the resort, we spent the rest of the afternoon in our room with the air-conditioning running at full blast. The cool room was such a welcome relief, and before long, we were both enjoying a refreshing afternoon nap.

In the evening, we took a leisurely stroll to Ferringhi Walk, a modern two-storey beachfront retail and lifestyle hub along Jalan Batu Ferringhi. It combines indoor conveniences with a lively, open-air beach atmosphere and has become a popular hangout for both locals and tourists. We had a simple but satisfying dinner of Thai roti, shrimp doughnuts, iced Thai tea and iced white coffee. Nothing too heavy, but just right for the evening.

(Street food stalls along the Ferringhi Walk)

(Simple street food for dinner)

After dinner, we walked back to the Resort Complex. It took us about twenty minutes, and we were pleasantly surprised to see quite a crowd even though it was a weekday. The area certainly seems to be getting busier, and business appears to be picking up.

Back at the resort, we settled in for the night. Despite the lively sounds coming from the neighbouring Hard Rock Cafe, we managed to sleep well.

(BNM Resort Complex)

(Our single room apartment on the upper floor)

Another relaxed day in Penang - good food, a little art and culture, plenty of walking, and, most importantly, time to simply enjoy.

Day 05: Penang to Home

“Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs...” – Susan Sontag

(BNM Resort Complex at Batu Ferringhi)

Day 05: 13 Aug 2026 (Thursday)
Route: Penang - Kuala Lumpur

Before checking out, we took a leisurely stroll along the beach. Just behind the Resort Complex is the Sungai Satu Outfall, one of Malaysia's early twin sea outfall structures, located along Batu Ferringhi Beach. Built together with the nearby Sungai Batu Ferringhi outfall, it serves an important infrastructure purpose while also becoming part of the beach landscape. The outfall helps to reduce the impact of strong surf and mitigate beach erosion.

(The Resort Complex from the beach)

(Sungai Satu Outfall)

(A popular place to chill out)

After checking out, we drove through Balik Pulau, hoping to find somewhere for breakfast. Unfortunately, our search was unsuccessful, and we continued our journey towards the Penang Second Bridge.

Officially known as the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge, the Penang Second Bridge is the longest bridge in Malaysia and one of the longest in Southeast Asia. Stretching approximately 24 kilometres in total, with about 17 kilometres over the sea, the bridge provides a spectacular route connecting Penang Island with the mainland.

 

(Crossing to the mainland via the second Penang Bridge)

By then, however, our hunger had become impossible to ignore! We were feeling rather famished when we finally stopped for lunch at Teratak Warisan Kampung in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. The highly rated traditional Malay restaurant is known for its authentic masakan kampung, extensive selection of lauk-pauk and nostalgic, traditional atmosphere.

Unfortunately, despite its popularity, the food did not quite suit our taste. Perhaps after several days of enjoying Penang's food, our expectations had become a little too high!

(Lunch at Teratak Warisan Kampung in Kuala Kangsar)

(Masakan kampung for a late lunch)

After lunch, we continued our drive towards Kuala Lumpur. We made a stop at Petronas Simpang Pulai Southbound to refuel and perform our prayers before continuing the final leg of our journey home.

 

(A massive southbound traffic)

By the time we arrived home, we were quite exhausted, but grateful for a safe and enjoyable trip.

And just like that, our little Hat Yai–Penang getaway came to an end. From crossing the border into Thailand, enjoying two relaxed days in Hat Yai, returning to Penang for good food and a little sightseeing, to finally making our way home. It was a short but satisfying escape.

Sometimes, the best trips are the ones that don't require a packed itinerary. A few good meals, interesting places, a comfortable stay and time together are more than enough.

Next trip: Labuan Bajo Sailing Adventure