Penang - Straits Quay and the Penang Hill Station

The next morning we took the train from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, where we planned to spend a month. The train is such a nice way to travel and our hotel was even connected to the station. 

Once we arrived in Penang, we took a grab taxi to our Airbnb in Straits Quay (pronounced key). Grab is like an Uber, but super cheap and everywhere! This would be our primary mode of transportation while in Penang.

Straits Quay is fancy. There is a marina, a seaside walkway, dozens of restaurants, and even a grocery store on the ground floor of our apartment. The kids were shocked by all this luxury.

Morning view from our flat. They are building an island out there.

One of the first outings we did here was visit the oldest British Hill Station in Southeast Asia, Penang Hill. This was also the highest point, so was a great place to get a lay of the land. 

Plus, we got to take a funicular up. 

At the top, we headed to “The Habitat” which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which I think are just big words for a pretty spot to visit. It was. 

We also ended up spotting some lizards, a black squirrel, spiders, and also getting lessons soap plants while there. 

Learning how to wash our hands with soap leaves.

Tom got a cool spider video.

On a great tip from friends, we headed to the Monkey Cup cafe for some of the best cake and coffee of my life.

Then we toured their special monkey cup garden. I had never seen a monkey cup before and they were fascinating. A monkey cup is the nickname for the tropical carnivorous plant, Nepenthes. The plant’s large, colorful cups are filled with a nectar that attracts insects. They are called monkey cups because occasionally monkeys will come and drink out of them. 

I think they are gorgeous. 

Afterwards, we wandered for several kilometers back to the top, finding more fun things along the way. 

stuck in the monkey cups

We got our obligatory photo from the top and then headed back to Straits Quay.