"A weekend respite" Penang by Callavetta

A long but interesting and very fulfilling week in Ipoh earned me a weekend at the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa (a Shangri-La property). We left Ipoh at 4 pm on a Friday and it was a long and stormy drive!

Crossing the bridge to Penang it was raining so hard that you couldn't even see the Straights of Penang. But by the time we got to George Town the torrential downpour pretty much stopped and we crawled along with the rest of the Friday night traffic gave me a good look at what I am sure is a fascinating and fun town to explore. The combination of churches, temples and mosques promises a delightfully diverse and interesting mix of people (and food) and Penang's reputation as a foodies delight is no secret. We slowly make our way down Guerney, Penang's most expensive boulevard, past the 5 star "G" hotel and then the high rise multi-million dollar apartments.

It's not until we exit the urban sprawl of Penang and round the top curve of the island that we start to be in a tropical paradise and I feel the tiredness of the workweek fall away. It's beautiful. Glimpses of the sea promise a weekend that will not disappoint.

An oasis of calm with tranquil fountains and exotic birds providing the background symphony.

Spider roll

And the options do not disappoint!

• Pros:good food, lovely people, great scenery
• Cons:Traffic!
• In a nutshell:Malaysia is really a special place