<strong>The</strong> footprint may not be the most visually spectacular sight on the island, but the multiple legends behind its origins, which represent each of Malaysia’s three distinct cultural traditions, are reason enough to take a drive to this sacred site. Driving the Southern Coast With its dense, largely uninhabited patches of jungle and the small kampung villages lining the road, here on the southernmost part of the island Gurney Drive feels worlds, if not years, away. <strong>The</strong>re are a few main roads in the area, and two that are particularly worth exploring. <strong>The</strong> first is road P10, which takes visitors from the Sam Poh Temple straight into the jungle towards the sea. <strong>The</strong> road is dotted here and there with traditional Malay stilted houses, populated with families enjoying the cool shade of the jungle canopy above them while cows graze in beds of flowers and villagers passing on their bikes. Just a handful of footpaths extend from the road itself, making the area traversable for those adventurous enough to head into the jungle itself. <strong>The</strong> second is road is P224, which runs parallel to the southern coast of Penang. <strong>The</strong> road takes visitors past several small fishing villages facing the coast. Drivers can explore the villages either by car or by parking and walking. Fresh fish restaurants situated right on the water can be found in every village, a few of which have gained a kind of cult status among Penangites willing to take the drive south. Several tiny beaches line the coast, and are often frequented by villagers who swim near its shores in their shorts and shirts, with women in their baju melayus. Stopping towards the end of the road for a picnic or a drink on the beach and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the fishing villages is a singular pleasure. <strong>Hidden</strong> Gems in Bayan Lepas Just twenty minutes’ drive from the centre of George Town, Bayan Lepas is positioned to be “the next big thing” in Penang, with two massive developments underway: <strong>The</strong> Light and Penang World City. Thanks to its free trade zone status, the area has become fairly international and boasts a population of around 150,000. <strong>The</strong> area is sure to develop further in the coming years but, for now, Bayan Lepas remains a peaceful, very walkable part of the island. <strong>The</strong>re are plenty of green spaces and stretches of coastline to enjoy and while the main draw may be Queensbay mall, there are a few hidden gems worth a visit. One of my favourite secret hideouts in the area is a fresh fish stall, or ikan bakar, just a block away from the mall. Nestled between two giant apartment complexes along the Bayan Lepas coastline, Hammer Bay serves up giant portions of fresh fish any way you want it, including barbequed in a banana leaf, sauteed with ginger and garlic, or with lemongrass. <strong>The</strong>y serve some of the best seafood Tom Yam I’ve had anywhere as well as fried rice, and freshly-squeezed juice, all for a dirt-cheap price. But the food is just one of the wonderful aspects at this fish stall. Located right on the coast, visitors can enjoy wonderful views of Pulau Jerejak if they come before sunset. Given how few non-locals populate this joint, the servers here are likely to remember foreign faces when you return, which only adds to this wonderfully Malaysian experience. For a more international flavour, visitors can head to the Bayan Bay stripmall for some of the island’s best Japanese food, accompanied by a fine selection of wines from all over the world. Vino Vino may look unassuming from the outside, but the interior of the cosy restaurant is quite impressive, with a good-sized bar and entire wall of wine and fine whiskeys. <strong>The</strong> menu serves all the classic Japanese fare for a reasonable price, including soba noodles in miso broth, sushi, and sashimi, as well as a few superb grilled items including beef-wrapped asparagus and grilled chicken meatballs. It’s a wonderful place to sit back and relax. Southern Penang offers visitors another view of the island that is charming in a different way to the larger neighbourhoods up north, and it’s certainly an area worthy of exploration. Penang International 17
travel Rebak: Langkawi’s Secret Haven Just off the western coast of Langkawi lies Rebak Island, a 400-acre private island which houses a fi ve-star resort and a yacht marina. It’s one of the 99 emerald islands that make up the Langkawi Archipelago, and Frances Wilks sampled the natural beauty of its rainforest and unspoilt beaches. 18 Penang International
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