Pack Your Bags - To Penang, Malaysia

Pack Your Bags - To Penang, Malaysia

Penang is home to heritage, colonial architecture and a range of arts and festivals, all in the backdrop of a bustling city. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Penang is a gastronomical capital and is famous worldwide for its cuisine. Penang is highly acclaimed for its street food and local cuisine. It seems, in Penang, food is life.

I recently got a chance to attend the Penang Sales Mission to India 2019 at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. Penang, situated in Malaysia, is a booming tourist destination. 

Mr. Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, shared that 2018 witnessed an 11 percent increase in tourists to Penang from India. There were around 40,000 direct arrival tourists from India, excluding those which weren’t recorded due to arrivals in Kuala Lumpur. Of the 80,000 business travelers to Penang, 80 percent were Indians. 

Mr. Gunasekeran also said that India featured in the Top 10 Leisure Inbound tourists and Top 5 Business Inbound tourists list. The top inbound Indian sectors are information technology, engineering, pharma, medical and agriculture.

After visiting the roadshow, I feel an urge to visit Penang. As an upcoming destination, it is not overcrowded with tourists and has preserved its culture and beauty. Penang, a tropical paradise, is a full package. It has beautiful beaches, lush rainforests and even the UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town. 

Penang is home to heritage, colonial architecture and a range of arts and festivals, all in the backdrop of a bustling city. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Penang is a gastronomical capital and is famous worldwide for its cuisine. Penang is highly acclaimed for its street food and local cuisine. It seems, in Penang, food is life.

Its coffee shops, hip cafes, mom and pop restaurants, and fine dining establishments have traditional cuisine living in them. You won’t be disappointed by the variety of the cuisine. 

There is Nyonya Cuisine, Kopitiam Breakfast, Nasi Kandar, Malay Cuisine, Indian Cuisine and much more.

Why Penang could be your next travel destination?

Penang delivers authentic Asian cultural and heritage experience as well as modern comfort.
It offers a variety of hotels and resorts to choose from for a comfortable stay. Along with a range of hotels, the city also offers many unique venue options for your next event or special occasion. Be it Chinese Clan House, Peranakan Mansion, Botanical Garden, Nature Center, Beach Resort, Hotel Ballroom or Convection Center, the city has it all to make your event perfect.

Penang is home to the living museum – George Town. The UNESCO heritage town bursts with heritage and culture. This historic city center has people from various cultures living in harmony. 

Penang is directly accessible from 25 major local and regional airports and over 100 local and international destinations via Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The city is modern and has Wifi facilities almost everywhere. Getting around Penang is convenient with easy and cheap public transportation. Major credits are accepted in most of the restaurants, tourist attractions, and retail stores.

Penang’s itinerary can go up to six days and still you are unlikely to have enough of the place. Get ready to also fall in love with the city's handicrafts and street art culture. Places to check out are:

ñ  Armenian street - popular for its murals and other street arts. 

ñ  Find India in George Town’s Little India and see Penang’s spice trade legacy. 

ñ  Witness traditional Songkok maker, Chinese tradesmen, and get hands-on experience making Nyonya beaded shoes.

ñ  You can also see Chinese signboards and crafting paper oblations of Chinese deities all in the city of Penang.

Some untouched cultures & traditions of Penang include The Penang Batik Factory, Clan Jetties dating back a century, Penang Trishaw and the Penang Ferry Service. 

In terms of the city's rich preserved heritage, there are several architectural gems that unravel the secrets of ancient Penang - like Kek Lok Si Temple, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Koo Kongsi, Pinang Peranankan Mansion, Tow Boo Kong Temple, Shri Mahamariamman Temple, and Masjid Kapitan Keling. 

The luxurious colonial architecture lets you soak in the treasures of old Penang, like Fort Cornwallis, St. George’s Church and St Annes Church. 

Want to add some adrenaline rush in your trip? Then there are several urban adventures like Escape, Tech Dome and The Gravityz waiting for you. 

Penang’s things-to-do list is endless. From heritage to urban adventures, from preserved cultures to modernity, from city life to lush natures, and the insatiable gastronomy, Penang has definitelymade its way to my bucket list. Has it to yours? So, when is your trip to Penang? 

Mazgaon- A Hidden Gem in Mumbai

Mazgaon- A Hidden Gem in Mumbai

What does the average Mumbaikar know about Mumbai? Marine Drive, Queen's Necklace, Juhu Beach, Malabar Hills, Powai Lake......But does he know about Mazgaon? Does he know that Mazgaon houses much more than the docks? Does he know that you can `visit` China in Mumbai? My blog takes you through the lanes and bylanes of Mazgaon, where dwells history and lots of nostalgia. 

Sundays are generally to laze around. But on this Sunday, I decided to do something productive and went for a heritage walk organized by The Indo French Hub, Mumbai. I was convinced that I wanted to be a part of this once I read about it. The walk was going to take us through the unexplored parts of Mazgaon, Mumbai. Mazgaon is generally known for it’s docks. So, what else could be explored there? But as it turned out, there was more than what we expected. 

A perfect place to chill with friends!

At Joseph Baptista Garden.

Finally got to visit the Eiffel Tower :P 

Our meeting point was Café Coffee Day, Mazgaon. The first stop was Joseph Baptista Garden. We wondered why we were being taken to a garden. But we found out to our surprise that the garden is actually located on a historic fort. The garden is located on a fort on Bhandarwada Hill. It covers an area of about 1.5 acres and is 105 feet (approx) above ground level. 

The garden is amazing with its vast flora and beautiful landscapes. It has replicas of the seven wonders of the world, and we thought it was there only in distant Kota, Rajasthan? Be it early morning jogs, spending some relaxed moments or just strolling around with your friends, the garden is perfect for all.

The highlight of the garden is that it overlooks the sparkling harbour, mazgaon docks, busy dockyard station and the bustling roads. We surely did not expect the garden to be so appealing and beautiful. 

The British chose Bhandarwada Hill to build a fort for trading purposes of The East India Company. The fort was later destroyed by Siddhi ruler Yakut Khan. The 150 years old fort also homes the lesser known Gaon Devi Temple. The path to the temple is steep. But once we reached the temple, we felt serene. This small, calm, powerful and ancient temple was built by Shimaji Appa, younger brother of King Bajirao. 

View from the garden

Way to the temple

The temple’s priest told us that initially the idol only had the face of the Devi. He, who is a sixth generation priest, also told us that the fort back then was surrounded by water on all sides and was used for trading purposes. 

We then headed towards an even lesser-known temple - The Chinese Temple. We walked through the streets and lanes of Mazgaon and discovered a completely new part of Mumbai. Kwan Tai Shek Temple, situated on Nawab Tank Road, is a small secluded temple, surrounded by 400 Chinese families. 

Parsee temple on our way to the Chinese temple.

Entrance to the Chinese Temple

Chinese decor buildings

The Chinese Temple

The Cantonese Chinese have been living in the area for decades. They, besides working in the docks, have been in professions like dentistry, shoemaking and hairstyling. A lot of families migrated post the 1962 India-China war. When we entered this two-storeyed temple, it felt as if a little part of China dwells in Mumbai. There were Chinese decorations and idols in the temple, which gave a true essence of the country's culture.

The wooden beans

The wooden beans in the temple are said to predict if your wishes will come true. It is believed that if you roll and drop the beans and they fall facing the same direction, your wishes will come true. There are also sticks that predict your future. It was a very interesting and new concept for us. The whole area took us into a completely different world, and is a Must Visit.

Portuguese style house of Matharpacady

Our next stop was the heritage village of Matharpacady. The quintessential village is known for its characteristic Portuguese-styled houses. In its calm lanes live East Indians, Bohri Muslims, Roman Catholics and Maharashtrians. 

Once you step into the village, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and enter into a world of it’s own. The village is in the fishing neighbourhood of Mazgaon, and it houses some of the city's oldest homes. The houses here are splattered with color, with the locals sipping cups of tea in their balconies and cats snooping around in the lanes. There is also a small chapel, where the locals come to pray. 

The Association of Paroda

The village has a dormitory too - The Association of Paroda - which charges Rs 100 per month, but is available only for the locals of Paroda. Another historic spot is the Lion’s Den built by Leao’s grandfather Daniel in 1829. It is modeled after its biblical namesake from the book of Daniel. The village is truly a hidden gem in Mumbai City and it needs to be saved from builders trying to make skyscrapers out of these pretty homes. 

Matharpacady village

Chapel in the village

Our final stop was The Taj Mahal of Mazgaon. Yes, you read it right - The Mausoleum of Agha Khan Hassan Ali Shah is also called Mazgaon’s Taj Mahal because of its three white domes, intricately crafted minarets, and the architecture. The monument takes your breath away. It is amazing to find this serene structure in between shops and the hustle and bustle of people.

To make our day even better, we indulged in some amazing authentic breakfast at the iconic Byculla Bakery. 

Breakfast at Byculla Bakery

Hot from the oven!

I would like to thank The Indo French Hub for giving us the opportunity to discover this beautiful, hidden part of the city and learn about the incredible history of Mumbai. 

It was a Sunday well spent, and I look forward to discovering more such parts of Mumbai.