Kuala Lumpur
#16
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SE Asia
Programs: Thai ROP GOLD, SIA Silver Kris, QANTAS FF, Velocity Rewards, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 339
Penang for sure. Food, heritage district, food, nice island, food...you get the idea.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,658
Depends what you want to do. Both are nice cities but different. Kuching is a much smaller city compared to Penang but most of Kuching's attractions are outdoors - national parks, orang utan sanctuary, hiking. Penang is about the world heritage colonial centre (Kuching has colonial architecture although on a much smaller scale), temples, OK beach. You can hike up Penang Hill (signs aren't that clearly marked but Google Maps work fine).
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,828
Depends what you want to do. Both are nice cities but different. Kuching is a much smaller city compared to Penang but most of Kuching's attractions are outdoors - national parks, orang utan sanctuary, hiking. Penang is about the world heritage colonial centre (Kuching has colonial architecture although on a much smaller scale), temples, OK beach. You can hike up Penang Hill (signs aren't that clearly marked but Google Maps work fine).
#20
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,658
No. You won't be near the orangutans (maybe minimum of 10 meters away). They can get close to you but you can't approach them. They are semi-wild orangutans and they are being trained to survive in the wild. Sighting/appearance during feeding time isn't guaranteed, especially during fruiting season. It's a good sign if they aren't there during feeding time - that just means they are in the forest looking for fruits themselves.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,828
No. You won't be near the orangutans (maybe minimum of 10 meters away). They can get close to you but you can't approach them. They are semi-wild orangutans and they are being trained to survive in the wild. Sighting/appearance during feeding time isn't guaranteed, especially during fruiting season. It's a good sign if they aren't there during feeding time - that just means they are in the forest looking for fruits themselves.
#22
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,658
You can take a photo of an orangutan itself or you can take a selfie with the orangutan behind you. It really depends on how close they approach you/other tourists. I was standing at a spot and he was maybe 5 meters away as he came over to my area to eat his bananas. You won't be holding or touching them if that's what you are thinking.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,828
You can take a photo of an orangutan itself or you can take a selfie with the orangutan behind you. It really depends on how close they approach you/other tourists. I was standing at a spot and he was maybe 5 meters away as he came over to my area to eat his bananas. You won't be holding or touching them if that's what you are thinking.
Decided to do 3 nights in Penang, take the Aeroline Bus to KL, and then 3 nights in KL before moving on to the next place.
Last edited by Sandeep1; Dec 19, 2019 at 2:33 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,828
Have you heard of Cheong Fatt Tze - Blue Mansion? 14 Leith Street, George Town
OR
SAVV Hotel - 39C Pengkalan Weld, George Town
Both of those look solid. Most important to me is being able to walk to the place of interest.
Last edited by Sandeep1; Dec 19, 2019 at 3:43 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Kam Leng; Two Dragons GH
Posts: 1,615
Blue Mansion has lots of tourists. It's an actual attraction, which may or may not be ok with you.
SAVV location isn't very good, IMO, on a busy street.
Seven Terraces is another option. Haven't stayed there, but passed it a lot. Ok location. More modern than heritage. E&O is worth a look, but too big for me.
23LoveLane ticked all the boxes, but don't get a mews room. In these heritage places you want a room in the main house.
SAVV location isn't very good, IMO, on a busy street.
Seven Terraces is another option. Haven't stayed there, but passed it a lot. Ok location. More modern than heritage. E&O is worth a look, but too big for me.
23LoveLane ticked all the boxes, but don't get a mews room. In these heritage places you want a room in the main house.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,828
Blue Mansion has lots of tourists. It's an actual attraction, which may or may not be ok with you.
SAVV location isn't very good, IMO, on a busy street.
Seven Terraces is another option. Haven't stayed there, but passed it a lot. Ok location. More modern than heritage. E&O is worth a look, but too big for me.
23LoveLane ticked all the boxes, but don't get a mews room. In these heritage places you want a room in the main house.
SAVV location isn't very good, IMO, on a busy street.
Seven Terraces is another option. Haven't stayed there, but passed it a lot. Ok location. More modern than heritage. E&O is worth a look, but too big for me.
23LoveLane ticked all the boxes, but don't get a mews room. In these heritage places you want a room in the main house.
E&O and 7 Terraces look nice but slightly out of my price range. I'm going to be in Asia for a month so can't afford to go luxe each night.
Update: Decided to go with The Edison Georgetown (right around the corner from 23LoveLane.
Last edited by Sandeep1; Dec 19, 2019 at 3:32 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Kam Leng; Two Dragons GH
Posts: 1,615
Straits Eclectic. I took a picture of the key. I think the other one is similar.
IMO, 23 Love Lane is better than 7 Terraces/E&O. I mentioned them since there are generally higher end people (than me) here. I got upgraded by luck at both Noordin Mews and 23 Love Lane.
Added: I looked the available rooms up on Agoda. My recollection is that they're one of a kind, but some show multiplies available. Anyway if you get a big, non mews room, you should be fine. Killer location.
IMO, 23 Love Lane is better than 7 Terraces/E&O. I mentioned them since there are generally higher end people (than me) here. I got upgraded by luck at both Noordin Mews and 23 Love Lane.
Added: I looked the available rooms up on Agoda. My recollection is that they're one of a kind, but some show multiplies available. Anyway if you get a big, non mews room, you should be fine. Killer location.
Last edited by rjh; Dec 19, 2019 at 6:13 pm