Locals swarm Penang for a long weekend getaway
GEORGE TOWN: Looking for some downtime from the hustle and bustle of work and traffic jams, many locals swarmed Penang for a short getaway during the extra long weekend.
Many took Tuesday off to enjoy a five-day stretch from Saturday to today with Monday being the public holiday in replacement for Wesak Day which fell on Sunday.
Today is Nuzul Al-Quran which is a public holiday in Penang, Kelantan, Perlis, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu.
Chef Huo Kok Tung, 23, from Sabah, was in town to visit his girlfriend and explore the city.
“My girlfriend lives in Kedah, so I am here to visit her and we decided to explore the island today.
“We have the day planned out and will be visiting the Peranakan Mansion, checking out the street murals and maybe a few modern museums like the Glass Museum,” he said when met at Chew Jetty in Weld Quay here yesterday.
Huo said this was his second time in Penang, noting that he found this trip a little quieter and more refreshing.
“The last time I visited Penang was not during a holiday period, but it was oddly crowded.
“This time, somehow, it is nice and feels more relaxed with lesser traffic,” he said.
Housewife Lim Li Li, 42, who was visiting from Kuala Lumpur with her husband and son, said they chose to explore Penang after her husband took additional leave on Tuesday to get five days off in a stretch.
“We were here a few years ago, but not for such a long period.
“My son, who is five, is now old enough to enjoy some of the attractions here,” she said when met in the heritage enclave.
At the Snake Temple in Bayan Lepas, Carol Ooi, 34, who works as a household items supplier in Klang, said she decided to spend the holidays with with her family.
“I brought my nieces and nephews to the temple here since they are also on a long school break.
“My family members and I now work and live in Klang. But we grew up in Penang, so it’s like a homecoming trip for us to eat, shop and visit some of the more familiar places here,” she said.
Businessman William Tong, 30, from Kuala Lumpur, said he was here for a two-day trip with his family.
“Though it is short trip, we hope to visit places and get the most out of our visit,” he said.