As the bus takes us to George Town for breakfast, I glance out the window and see how similar Penang and Phuket islands are to one another. Both old cities are home to a unique collection of magnificent classic Sino-Portuguese buildings that harmoniously fuse Eastern and Western architectural styles.
To observe a way of local life, we sit at a cosy-yet-sleek cafe and enjoy delicious coffee that pairs well with freshly baked bagels stuffed with eggs and ham or salmon cream cheese. At the same time, a nostalgic look at a network of artistic streets allows us to picture Peninsular Malaysia in 1786 when British Captain Francis Light convinced the Sultan of Kedah to grant Penang Island to the British East India Company, turning it into a vital hub for marine trade between India and China.
