Road Trip to Penang

[Crystal_tiong]

yes , u can , google and u will find out the car rental.

[Carbine-]

rainy season is coming, better get good wipers to go for long road msia trips.

[Topspin]

Firstly, don't take the risk as there is a chance that their anti-corruption team might be accompanying them. Its a RM10,000 fine if I'm not wrong.

 

Second, why feed the dogs and encourage them to work so hard? If stopped, just ask for tiket and settle the RM150 fine. Take it as a fee for using their race track. Sometimes they only try their luck when dey didn't take yr car's pic.

 

Absolutely agree. Do not encourage corruption. Two wrongs don't make it right. Pay the fine and the fine at least will be used to maybe repair some roads elsewhere or build some new clinics in some village.

[Nainar]

Recently did a Singapore - Penang trip, three weeks back. Was not stopped by any one. Only while coming back, noticed a checkpoint by Malaysian police but they waved me to continue. They had stopped two Singapore registered cars before me. Don't know why the let me go.

 

But the road are fantastic. Even though I had a GPS, it did take a while when entering Malaysia to hit the NS highway. Otherwise it is difficult to get lost, unless one makes a serious effort.

 

By the way, driving in Penang was not that difficult at all. Quiet orderly, except I had difficulty in reading their lane markings. Especially when taking turns, as they dont have the kind of stuff we have in Singapore, exclusive turning lanes. One need to watch out for that and beyond that it is piece of cake.

 

Am planning a road trip to Thailand next. Let me see.

 

Nainar

Edited July 16, 2012 by Nainar

[Priccichan]

Hey hi brother, i just came back from Penang too. Had an excellent time there and driving up was a sheer pleasure. I am also planning a trip up to Thailand. I have done some staff aids that can help our way up there. I will attach it just check it out. ROUTE_CARD_2.docMaybe i can hook up with you?

[Priccichan]

I just went there a few days ago. It took me 1.5hrs. ya

[Priccichan]

thumbs up brother. Just finished my Penang trip next year planning to hit Hatyai. Advices mate..

[Nainar]

What is this Road Card for? I see some roads and could not correlate..

 

I might make another trip to Penang during the National day. Let me see. This time going to stay in Batu Ferringhi and enjoy the beaches. And if it rains, nothing like that... Rain and high way driving - sheer irresistible pleasure.

 

Nainar

[Daryl76]

miss the trip i made last yr to penang.. took me 8.5hrs to penang

 

enjoyed it alot especially with the great makan there.. feel like going back there soon

[Priccichan]

Actually this route card is for convoy movement. If any car lose track they can reach us on the next known rest area or otherwise stated on the card. I tested it and works especially in Penang with so many minor roads. Ya but said this we have to do our homework too. When u planning to go up Thailand bro?

[Nainar]

Dates are not yet finalised bro. I plan to do it around last week of December, as have an annual week long shut down, and then carry forward to January but the feedback I have been receiving is that it is peak tourist season and could run out of options for accommodation. I am thinking of November but not sure yet. What are you planning?

 

BTW, for the National day holiday weekend, am going to Penang again, but this time going to stay in Batu Ferringhi and enjoy the beaches.

 

I have Garmin GPS and it worked well in Penang, KL. Unfortunately it has only Singapore, and Malaysia. I do have Sygic maps on my iPad and iPhone which serves the purpose as well, to a great extent but has Thailand and Indonesia too. The maps are in local device and so no need for data connectivity. Have tried it in Malaysia and it worked well. Have not tried Thailand as I never went there.

 

Nainar

Edited July 26, 2012 by Nainar

[Nainar]

Tomorrow leaving for Penang. Three nights stay, two nights in Batu Ferringhi and one night in George town. Hope the drive is pleasant without any hickups. Any one travelling to that part of the world? Am leaving by tomorrow early morning, @5:00 AM from Singapore.

 

Nainar

[Hotshot85]

Tomorrow leaving for Penang. Three nights stay, two nights in Batu Ferringhi and one night in George town. Hope the drive is pleasant without any hickups. Any one travelling to that part of the world? Am leaving by tomorrow early morning, @5:00 AM from Singapore.

 

Nainar

 

Hey bro lemme know how's it like in Penang now. Been donkey years since I last went back there to visit relatives.

[Nainar]

Drove from Singapore on 9th August early morning. Was pulled over after an hour's drive from Tuas check point. They were stopping all cars. One guy had a note pad kind of thing and was stopping cars looking at that.Was following a Malaysian Altis, who himself was going very fast. He was allowed to go, while we were pulled up. And then see a series of cars, and all Singaporean. The officer said we were doing 129 kmph but that was not correct. Anyway took the summon and said we will pay the fine as we were actually speeding. So, no complaints. It is supposed to be 150 RM it seems and I cannot pay on the spot. Have to find a police station and pay.

 

Drove in the vicinity of 110-120 kmph for the rest of the journey. Just after Ipoh there was s road block and the officer kept looking at the chart and letting vehicles go. They stopped a few Malaysian vehicles, but allowed us to go.

 

So, I am really curious, whether they capture the speed at some random points and stop vehicles. I am beginning to believe that their is method to the madness and not necessarily Kopi money.

 

But otherwise the drive towards was uneventful. Stayed at Holiday Inn, Batu Ferringhi and Yeng Keng Hotel in Georgetown. The Yeng Keng hotel is a fantastic place. Penang as such is a fun place to be.Batu Ferringhi has two clubs Hard Rock Cafe and Sixty Nine if you are into clubbing. The Sixty nine had a swimming pool inside and you can sit in the water and drink. Kind of cool. Upper Penang road as happening as ever with bars and clubs. So, yeah, you can definitely spend 3-4 days there. I have made two trips and I dont think I will visit here again, have more to see in Malaysia.

 

Nainar

[Raymondism]

for drive to penang , i would suggest breakfast at bidor or ipoh...

 

[Raymondism]

Dates are not yet finalised bro. I plan to do it around last week of December, as have an annual week long shut down, and then carry forward to January but the feedback I have been receiving is that it is peak tourist season and could run out of options for accommodation. I am thinking of November but not sure yet. What are you planning?

 

BTW, for the National day holiday weekend, am going to Penang again, but this time going to stay in Batu Ferringhi and enjoy the beaches.

 

I have Garmin GPS and it worked well in Penang, KL. Unfortunately it has only Singapore, and Malaysia. I do have Sygic maps on my iPad and iPhone which serves the purpose as well, to a great extent but has Thailand and Indonesia too. The maps are in local device and so no need for data connectivity. Have tried it in Malaysia and it worked well. Have not tried Thailand as I never went there.

 

Nainar

 

 

just go to garmin distributor, u can loan thai n indon map for a small fee

[Sga54g]

Hi Nainar... My frens & I left Tuas Immigration at abt 540am and reached Ayer Keroh for b/f.

 

However, we didn't meet any of the roadblocks. Yes, we did see more patrol polis cars stopping car singlehandedly & we just drove by quickly. Ended up in Ipoh for a 3d/2n stay.

 

Drove from Singapore on 9th August early morning. Was pulled over after an hour's drive from Tuas check point. They were stopping all cars. One guy had a note pad kind of thing and was stopping cars looking at that.Was following a Malaysian Altis, who himself was going very fast. He was allowed to go, while we were pulled up. And then see a series of cars, and all Singaporean. The officer said we were doing 129 kmph but that was not correct. Anyway took the summon and said we will pay the fine as we were actually speeding. So, no complaints. It is supposed to be 150 RM it seems and I cannot pay on the spot. Have to find a police station and pay.

 

Drove in the vicinity of 110-120 kmph for the rest of the journey. Just after Ipoh there was s road block and the officer kept looking at the chart and letting vehicles go. They stopped a few Malaysian vehicles, but allowed us to go.

 

So, I am really curious, whether they capture the speed at some random points and stop vehicles. I am beginning to believe that their is method to the madness and not necessarily Kopi money.

 

But otherwise the drive towards was uneventful. Stayed at Holiday Inn, Batu Ferringhi and Yeng Keng Hotel in Georgetown. The Yeng Keng hotel is a fantastic place. Penang as such is a fun place to be.Batu Ferringhi has two clubs Hard Rock Cafe and Sixty Nine if you are into clubbing. The Sixty nine had a swimming pool inside and you can sit in the water and drink. Kind of cool. Upper Penang road as happening as ever with bars and clubs. So, yeah, you can definitely spend 3-4 days there. I have made two trips and I dont think I will visit here again, have more to see in Malaysia.

 

Nainar

 

[Nainar]

Hi Nainar... My frens & I left Tuas Immigration at abt 540am and reached Ayer Keroh for b/f.

 

However, we didn't meet any of the roadblocks. Yes, we did see more patrol polis cars stopping car singlehandedly & we just drove by quickly. Ended up in Ipoh for a 3d/2n stay.

 

 

Came back today, and driving back was without any hassles. Left Penang at @12:45 and reached Tuas Checkpoint by 7:45 only to be stuck at the checkpoint for more than an hour before leaving. I did see many police patrols, in both cars and motorcycle but no road blocks. I think it is more of a seasonal thing they do once in a while. If you happen to travel on those days you are screwed. And they register the name and passport number of the driver. So, changing plates will not help.

 

There is lot of news that they are installing speed cameras all over NS. So, better watch out if you are speeding.

 

Nainar