Holidaymakers check out popular attractions in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: As some people make a beeline for the Hari Raya open houses, holidaymakers took the chance to explore the state’s popular attractions during the public holiday.

Indonesian Laila Saputri, 26, was taking photographs with her colleagues Mega Rizki and Maya Sari, both 24, in front of a street art piece in Acheen Street.

“We work in a factory in Bayan Lepas. As we couldn’t make it back to Medan for the Hari Raya celebrations, we decided to spend some time at the heritage area,” Laila said.

Four university friends – Zhao Dan, Yu Haiyue, Fu Rining and Chen Xin, all 22, from Zhejiang, China – were having fun cycling around the heritage enclave.

Zhao said Penang was one of the destinations in their 10-day visit to Malaysia.

“This is our graduation trip. Earlier, we were at Pulau Redang and we will be going to Kuala Lumpur after Penang.

“Penang is a nice and relaxing place,” Zhao said yesterday.

“We enjoy cycling and checking out the murals here.

“We also bought some local products such as dried durian as souvenirs.”

Over at Armenian Street, engineer Daniel Fong, 32, was checking out the famous “Little Children On A Bicycle” mural with his wife and two children.

“I have not been to Penang for about 10 years and it has certainly changed a lot.

“There are now more tourism products and attractions compared to before,” said Fong, who is from Klang, Selangor.

Meanwhile, nature lovers chose the Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang over the other crowded sites.

Joyce Lim, 35, and her boyfriend Jeffery Low, 36, decided to explore nature and challenge themselves to a spot of hiking.

“It took us about two hours to trek up to the lighthouse in Muka Head,” said Joyce, who is an accountant.