Trip to Penang

[Nohnemwan]

This reply is probably too late for you as you've gone and returned safely.

 

This posting is for others thinking about driving up.

 

I visited Penang recently. I've been a regular visitor, driving each time. I used to look forward to trips to Penang. My mind has changed about driving TO and IN Penang. Not for the next 10 years until they straighten out the place and the drivers either die or grow up.

 

It used to be barely tolerable; the traffic conditions and road quality. Both are now unnacceptable. Penang has an unflaterring reputation of being the armpit of Malaysia. It's now been promoted to ar5ehole of Malaysia.

 

I'm not the only one who thinks that Penang drivers / riders are the worst in all of Malaysia. See:

 

http://kristinlam.wordpress.com/2005/08/10...nd-the-drivers/

 

http://blog.thestar.com.my/permalink.asp?id=10262

 

Driving in Penang makes driving on Serangoon Road on Sunday look like child's play.

Edited December 11, 2007 by Nohnemwan

[Kelpie]

1. So bad meh? I was in Penang recently for 4 nights and I drove around for food and shopping and I didn't find them any worse or better as compared to JB. Penang probably have many small lanes to play with and I often found myself in those situation to have to cut acorss a double line traffic to go over to the other side.

 

2. SG roads are always child play. ShenZhen and GuangZhou worse than anywhere else. So far, Japan is the best, very orderly.

 

Regards,

[Poortraveller]

if you can survive manila, you can drive anywhere

[Kelpie]

if you can survive manila, you can drive anywhere

 

My colleagues told me India and Indonesia are also pretty bad. Manila? then have to ask my wife, she visit their company branch office there.

 

Regards,

[Nohnemwan]

I think perhaps you've been fortunate to avoid the rush hour traffic.

 

I was stuck in a 6pm jam from Bayan Lepas to Batu Feringghi, jotsling with the mob who work in Bayan Lepas and live in Butterworth. 90 minutes to do the trip.

 

JB is a good comparison, but at least the JB jam is not as pervasive. Also, Penang drivers all seem to think that they are driving Honda Cubs with 4 wheels and aircon. They wander everywhere, try to charge into the smallest gaps and have no farking lane discipline.

 

And then road design - wa lau, everywhere there are disappearing lanes (merging without warning, then reappearing magically). The local Kancil drivers will hug the road divider even when 10m ahead the lane is going to disappear, then they expect traffic on their right to just let them squeeze in right at that point. They can't even farking think 10m ahead.

 

At least in Indon and Saigon they just meander around at a constant safe pace. That sort of chaos is like fish schooling - there is a sort of organic "form" to the seeming confusion, with an invisible hand moulding the shape of the movement. In Penang they just charge full throttle as soon as they see a gap in the traffic.

[Kelpie]

Hi Bros,

 

I think all you need is a GPS .

 

Regards,

[Kb27]

I was in Penang last week. I arrived at 5pm right at the peak of jam. Took me about half-hour to cross the bridge.

Then it rained and quite heavily too as I was trying to get to Batu Ferringhi.

 

I know it's peak hour traffic but I don't see why anyone should comment about the way they drive. I don't think Sg driver is any better.

 

I agree their road lanes is a little weird where it suddenly becomes a right turn, but it's no different in JB.

 

Maybe it's just we are not used to it.

[Kb27]

Manila has good traffic...only after 12am.

 

During peak hours, just to get out of the hotel around the back road can take half hour on a bad day.

[Nohnemwan]

I was in Penang last week. I arrived at 5pm right at the peak of jam. Took me about half-hour to cross the bridge.

Then it rained and quite heavily too as I was trying to get to Batu Ferringhi.

 

I know it's peak hour traffic but I don't see why anyone should comment about the way they drive. I don't think Sg driver is any better.

 

I agree their road lanes is a little weird where it suddenly becomes a right turn, but it's no different in JB.

 

Maybe it's just we are not used to it.

 

Half an hour to cross the bridge INTO Penang is nothing.

 

If you know Penang you will know that from 5pm onwards the flow is FROM Penang TO the mainland. Try crossing the bridge from Penang to the mainland at 6pm on a weekday. See how long it takes. For extra adventure start at Bayan Lepas.

 

The traffic from the bridge TO Batu Feringgi after work is just normal Penang congestion, just like the CTE is now almost always jammed..

 

You can have your opinion about SG drivers. I think they are way better. If they are not skillful at least they are disciplined. It is a fact.

 

I've driven in Penang since before the days when Jalan Utama etc were sectioned off into one-way streets. This last time I was there for 5 days. Each day I drove about 3 hours at various times of the day visiting relatives and doing all those holiday errands. So I have about 15 hours spread over 5 days of driving on which to base my observations.

 

Even the Penangites are pi55ed off with their own traffic problems. The way that KL has advanced in terms of road design and traffic management, in spite of their traffic problems, has made Penang look like Bombay on a good day. And I have tasted Bombay traffic many times. Literally tasted it. The air there smells and tastes like a sewer. But that's another story.

[Nohnemwan]

GPS only shows you are and where to go, not what some idiot is going to do...

 

Invent an anti-road-idiot device and you'll be a rich man.

[Kelpie]

GPS only shows you are and where to go, not what some idiot is going to do...

 

Invent an anti-road-idiot device and you'll be a rich man.

 

When I mentioned GPS, I was talking about your comment on :"And then road design - wa lau, everywhere there are disappearing lanes (merging without warning, then reappearing magically).". This is where the GPS will help. Driving to popular places in MY become a no-brainer task with a GPS, just have to concentrate on the road conditions and situations.

 

Regards,

[Zenixth]

I thought the toll is one-way only. Are you using the Malsingmap, good for Penang?

 

Toll 1-way is abt RM100.

Yes, I am using Malsingmap, good enough for Penang.

[Nohnemwan]

GPS got enough detail to show when 2 lanes merge into 1 / 1 lane split into 2 or more meh?

[Voodooman]

Thanks, just got back from Penang, the toll is about there. Actually I was asking about the toll payable to cross Penang bridge. I think it is RM4-6 or so. Agreed that Mapsingmap is good enough for Penang. I am glad I have the GPS, there are lots of 1-way street and coupled with the Penang drivers' penchant to horn at the slightest delays, it was a blessing, I was driving like the locals but less agressive.

[Voodooman]

You can have your opinion about SG drivers. I think they are way better. If they are not skillful at least they are disciplined. It is a fact.

 

I second that, you are right on with that statement, especially the part about lane discipline. But judging from the way they drive (definitely more aggressive) and the more chaotic traffic condition (merging of lanes, motorcyclists driving against traffic, etc.), I should have seen more traffic incident. There were none in my 3 days there and I drove around quite a fair bit. Overall, I find Penang drivers more willing to give way to other drivers, especially when you signal your intention.

Edited December 21, 2007 by Voodooman

[Kent]

bro, wats the parking charges for evergreen? or free if u re a hotel guest?

[Mlangelo]

Hi all, my first contribution to this forum.

This is a sharing on my trip to Penang (also posted in the Suzuki Club forum)

Hope this helps those intending to go to Penang. It is nice to drive there.

 

Singapore To Penang.

 

Day 1

5.00 am leave Singapore for causeway

5.30 am reach causeway, pay S$1.20, RM$2.60

Highway in the morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptaMFflcq7Q

 

5.45 am hit the NS highway E2, pay RM$2.10

The day breaks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Zc-ccWy-E

 

9.30 am have a break along NS highway before KL.

Some prefer to turn off after Nilai using the Elite highway E6.

I drove through KL town instead. Sungei Besi exit RM$41.30

No jams except that I got caught at some road works which took about another 45 min of my time. Took E5 then E11 (I followed the signs and of cos, got lost but eventually reached E1, the other part of the NS highway. Paid RM$1.50 and RM$2.00 in toll charges.

11.15 am Reached Ipoh. Bought map of Penang. Paid RM$24.60 in toll. Had lunch and walked around the shopping centre.

 

1.30 pm. Left Ipoh for Penang. Drove down the steep slopes of Perak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQmTXk-HQ00

 

saw accident along the way

 

3.00 pm Reached Penang bridge. Toll charges RM$16. To use bridge, you got to pay RM$7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1MUhhVFfMI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfD4kXINvAA

 

 

3.30 pm Reach Copthorne Orchid hotel. I also stayed at Berjaya Hotel and booked the hotels via this website : http://www.penang-hotels.com/

 

Drove to Ferringgi beach.

 

We enjoyed the food at Gurney Drive. We had Cuttlefish, Oyster Omelette, Laksa, Fried Mee Sua, Char Kway Teow , Kueh Pie Tee, Apom, Rojak, Satay, Ice Kachang, Bubor Chacha

Edited January 6, 2008 by Mlangelo

[Dwoon]

Errr...when were you at Berjaya Georgetown? I was there for 6 nights from the 21st Dec to the 27th Dec.

 

Wonder if you are one of the Sgp cars parked in their awfully cramped & limited carpark.