Travel Log: Going HOHO in Penang

Destination: Penang, Malaysia

Duration: 1 Day (Sep 20, 2015)

As a Penangite, we’ve always drove pass the Penang Hop on Hop off (HOHO) bus and first thing that comes to our mind is – when is it going to cease operation? The bus is always empty or almost empty and we really wondered how the business is going to be sustained. Is it really that BAD? The sight is such a contrast from when it was first launched and offered free ride last year. We did not get on the free ride but we finally decide to try it since it’s now having RM5 promotion (from Sep 01 – Nov 30, 2015) for myKad member. Here is the link for the registration (link)!!!

Penang HOHO Bus Route

Penang was plagued by haze for few days and thankfully the haze ‘kind of’ cleared up on our little day trip. Determine to experience Penang as tourists, we started our day by going to Dim Sum House (点心之家) at Macalister Road for brunch. The place was so fully packed until we had to share a table with another couple. Love their HK style Chee Cheong Fun! The skin on the Har Gow (Crystal Skin Shrimp Dumpling) was kind of hard and thick though.

Dim Sum for Brunch!

We finally parked our car at Kimberly Street at around 1pm – Kimberly Street parking system is GREEN which means it’s free parking on Sunday! Kind of unbelievable for a street that is bursting with tourists and locals right? After we parked the car, we walked to the HOHO bus stop at Chowrasta market and managed to get on the city route bus in no time. Good Timing as a foreigner couple was telling us they have been waiting for an hour for the bus… Oops! We gave our printout and money to the bus 'conductor' onboard and he prnted out our ticket on the spot. Btw, child under 5 years old is FREE! =)

At Chowrasta Market selling Penang Food Souvenirs

Waiting waiting...

Oh Wow! Biker Gang?

Our Printout for RM5 Promo!

Finally the Bus is here!

We were really excited and went to the top air conditioned section. There is no way we are going to sit outside as we do not want to get roasted in the slow city traffic. There were basically only few of us there and they were all foreigners other than us. How come no one take advantage of the RM5 promotion? *baffled*

Getting Ready to HOHO!

One thing we immediately realized – there was no commentary on the bus. The guide simply announced the station they will be stopping and that’s it. I thought HOHO bus should always provide commentary or at least a TV with introduction? There were some TV there but out of few buses we went on – only one is working and it is not providing any information too. Thankfully they did provide booklets.

Riding Pass the Library Cruise!

Anyway, the bus makes a round in the city before proceeding to Gurney Drive. We disembarked at this stop to change for Beach Route and the PIC there told us we might have to wait for more than 30 minutes. We were halfway of walking to Gurney Plaza to escape the heat before the PIC suddenly ran to us and told us after he called, a Beach Route bus would be here in 5-10minutes! Great services! *thumbs up*

At Gurney Drive Station

 We quickly got on the Beach Route HOHO and managed to take some pictures before the bus departed. Frankly speaking, it was kind of boring if we are just sitting inside the bus. 

Get Ready for Beach Route!

But let us take a picture 1st!

Gurney Drive from Open Top Bus

Thus after the bus reached Strait Quay and on the way up to Batu Ferringhi, we started to stand at the open top section and thoroughly enjoy the view, haze wind, and sunshine (remember your sunscreen!!!)! We didn’t even bother to sit down and stand all the way and let the haze wind blasting on our faces and giggled all the way. I think we looked like crazy people but thankfully the bus was almost empty.. *facepalm*

This is Strait Quay..... behind TONsss of Trees..

It's time to get CRAZY!!! SUN & WIND!!

Start our Journey to Tanjung Tokong

Some Random Beach

Going UP UP UP!

The Floating Mosque

Moonlight Bay?

Our "Brush" with Tree Branches begins here!

More Penang Seaside!

Anyhoo, if you plan to play titanic on the open top section in the beach route on the way to Baru Ferringhi – AVOID STANDING AT THE LEFT! Just imagine everything was so fun and romantic and you got struck by a tree branch! Hahhaa… it really happened! The bus was so close to the left that it keeps hitting tree branches so just be careful! Don’t say I didn’t warn you! =P

Winding the Batu Ferringhi Narrow road..

The Driver must be special trained!

Oh no! More Tree Branches!

Here is the Ship!

Hardrock - missing the H!

Continue on! Is that Tree Branch?!

We didn’t really have a destination in mind other than stopping at Holiday Inn station to walk to Ferringhi Garden Restaurant to take a look at the Helen’s Handmade Bear 4th Solo Exhibition. We ended up riding from Gurney Drive until the end of the line at Taman Rimba where the bus stopped for 10 minutes (so-called compulsory stopover). We didn’t bother to disembark and finally the bus made a u-turn to Gurney Direction. By the way, the butterfly farm was closed for renovation until January 2016.

Batu Ferringhi Coastline?

Spice Garden Stop

Giant Carnivore Plant in Teluk Bahang Roundabout

Penang National Park

Lil one Trapped!

More wind!

Adventure Park - my only pic is a BANANA of it. Haha..

The Last Stop

We finally disembarked at Holiday Inn Stop and tried to find the exhibition location – apparently we were not the only one asking. The answer was – Yes there is an exhibition but it only started at 6pm! *facepalm* The HOHO bus only runs until 8pm and we had an appointment at town at 6pm thus we had no choice but to leave after ‘borrowing’ the restroom at Park Royal Hotel acting like we were tourists. =P

We waited at the bus stop for around 30 minutes+ and the bus finally approached. Our observation? The Rapid Penang Bus was more frequent! There were three No. 101 buses (Teluk Bahang <-> Jetty) and one No. 102 (Teluk Bahang <-> Airport) bus passing through while we were waiting. So if you are in a rush to another destination, perhaps you should just take the Rapid Penang Bus! I believe it would be much cheaper too. Here is the link to Rapid Penang (link). =P

FINALLY!!!

We disembarked at Gurney Drive for Gurney Plaza to enjoy the air condition before taking the HOHO to Chowrasta Market station to get our car. Dinner was at Patio bar de Tapas using Groupon cash voucher. However, it seems that everything is out of stock though thus we ordered Mushroom Soup, Nachos, Bombas, Tempura Beer Batter Tilapia & Tinta Negro Aglio Olio. The soup was really salty and the fish super oily. We did enjoy the aglio olio, bombas & nachos though. I wish the salsas were as great as the Mexican restaurant we went in Sunnyvale though (link).

Boarding another HOHO to Chowrasta Market

This is Gurney Plaza behind all the trees.. :p

At Patio

Paella from Previous Visit but Out of Stock today...

Soup of the Day - Mushroom soup

Nachos & Bombas

Tempura Beer Batter Tilapia

Tinta Negro Aglio Olio

We were beyond stuffed after dinner and since Chew Jetty was just opposite the restaurant, we’d decided to complete our touristy day with a walk at Clan Jetty. It was actually our first time stepping into Clan Jetty as even though we were born and raised in Penang. =P 

1st Time to Chew Jetty!

It's getting Dark..

Chew Jetty was really quiet with only a few souvenir shops still opened. There was this small ice store with really nice deco but there were no other lighting or lantern along the jetty. I guess they only have those during Chinese New Year.

Cute little Cafe - look at the number plate on the bike! And the dog! And the Handsome foreigners!

Minion! Don't forget to look at the Colorful Umbrellas..

They even have Minsu!

Nice view  huh?

This is the Minsu - they even have a balcony to enjoy the view.. Don't jump into the polluted sea though.. :p

Dragon Boat

Bye Chew Jetty

Feeling a bit underwhelmed, we walked to Lee Jetty and this one did have beautiful red lanterns adorning the alley. What a nice place for photoshooting! There was also a really beautiful temple at the right which looked like glittering diamonds in the dark. However, the path at Lee Jetty seems to be shorter though. If we would’ve walked further, I think there should be a Lim Jetty but we were too lazy to do so after a full day ‘tourist-ing’. For your information, the HOHO city route bus actually does stopped at Clan Jetty – we just didn’t want to take the risk of missing the last bus after dinner. =P

Lee Jetty

Look at all the pretty lanterns!

I want!!!

The Glittering Temple in the Dark...

Yet another view at Lee Jetty

Going to the end of Lee Jetty

All in all, if was a fun ride! If you just want a bit of R&R and have tons of time on your hand – go HOHO! Don’t put too high expectation and go crazy on the open top! I kind of wished the service will go on till later in the night… come on! We need to see Penang night view!