Colorful Penang

I have always been fascinated by color. Sunsets move me more than orchestras; the blending hues of blood reds, fiery oranges, muted yellows and deepening purples creating silent symphonies that reverberate within me far longer than the final haunting note of any piano, violin, jazz flute or guitar ever could. I can stare endlessly at the dazzling aqua, teal, turquoise, and midnight blues of the sea; I become enraptured watching sunlight dance across landscapes and shroud fields in the golden halos of late afternoon. As a child I would collect those strips of paper with the color samples from home improvement stores simply because I loved the varying shades. I still sometimes resist the urge to grab a handful of them if I walk past a display wall; I almost fear the day I become a homeowner with the freedom to use the walls as my canvas.

It’s no wonder then that Pulau Penang captured my attention and held me willful prisoner from the moment I stepped off the bus to the day I silently said farewell while slowly slipping away on the ferry. The idyllic Georgetown boasts both a contrast of the modern era and architecture of yesteryear side by side in its buildings. The crisp, new, freshly painted, pulsating purple concrete shop stands next to a tired old shack, its fading blue and green splattering of paint peeling gracefully around the edges of the splintering wood of the windowsill. I fell in love with the red door that splashed color onto an otherwise fading, mottled grey and black cement building, and the yellow awnings waving hello in the gentle breeze next door. Street art, delicately drawn with care and detail inside coffee shop walls to boldly leaping off building facades, only adds to the charm. This rainbow city seduced me more at every turn down new streets.

Aromas of sizzling meats and spices continuously waft through the air, compelling me daily - often multiple times a day - to grab a seat and tuck into some asam laksa or nasi kandar from one of the many street stalls. Georgetown, along with all of its visual delights, is well known as the food capital of Malaysia. A culinary melting pot; influences of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan, Thai, and European cuisines are incorporated into local dishes to create unrivaled bursts of flavor. The sweet smell of banana roti accompanies the invites of a street hawker to indulge in some dessert. You could spend entire days just eating and still be wanting more, and to this day I myself have never eaten more in a day than I did in Penang.

Penang National Park, the world's smallest national park, is the perfect day trip. Easily walkable trails snake through mangroves and dense undergrowth. The clean sands and idyllic palms of Monkey Beach - very aptly named - provide a serene hideaway to grab a book and relax; the cerulean waters inviting you in to cool off when the heat becomes unbearable.

Go to Malaysia. Go to Penang. I spent a week in Penang, longer than originally anticipated. In fact, I hadn’t planned to go to Penang at all. I was on the bus in Ipoh on the way to the main station when I got to talking to a young teen. I really wish I could find him and thank him now. He asked where I was going. “I don’t know” I shrugged, “maybe Penang, maybe Langkawi, maybe east bound.” His face brightened at one of the options. “Go to Penang!” he urged excitedly, “I love it! All the amazing food, the beach, the national park, the old walks, Penang has everything!” So I went to Penang. I am so glad I did, too, because in Penang I found a haven for both my eyes and heart… despite my nudist dorm mate. But that’s another story for another day.