Padang Kota, Penang

The Padang (field) is the venue for most of the island's important events, such as the Chingay Parade during the Lunar New Year. In the olden days, Sepoy regiments used it for target practice and the Manila Band played from a bandstand from 1890 to 1954. Portions of the Padang's expanse have been carved out for a children's playground, a hawker center selling Malay food and a much-needed car park. Some of the numerous trees here boast of Royal connections, as they were variously planted by visiting foreign dignitaries, including the Japanese Emperor, a Sumatran Governor and a South Australian Premier.

Padang Kota is simply the best place for the people in Penang come to hangout with friends or family, or come for lunch and dinner or even supper.


There are a lot of food stalls with variety of foods here. Laksa penang. Pasembor. kerang Bakar. Mee udang. Satay. Just name it!

mee udang

Pics below are from other time i went to Padang kota with friends at night. See the delicious pasembor, and kerang bakar. Both are the most famous food here.


While you're here, don't forget to try out the trishaw. If in Malacca they call it beca, here it's called lanca. Lanca/Trishaw is a three-wheeled human-powered vehicles. It is a good idea to take the lanca to have a city tour. Many trishaw riders are also excellent 'tour guides'. Negotiate the fare first before getting on a trishaw; it is advisable to hire them by the hour for extended sightseeing.



p/s:
There are a lot of tour places around Padang Kota such as the Fort Cornwallis and Penang Museum. I will try to post about the places later.