Buy souvenirs and gifts for relatives and loved ones during the trip - sometimes not easy. Typically, this case is left at the last moment, and then the panic begins, as a result of which you just buy everything in a row.
And buy souvenirs on Penang can become another headache, as unlike many other countries of the world, Malaysia and Penang in particular inhabit a variety of peoples with their unique culture, so it is quite difficult to determine some one thing that is really Describes Malaysia- Chinese, Indian, Malayskaya? So what to buy? .. So, that's what you can buy on Penang and where to go behind it.
Let's look at the culture of Malaysia on the other side. Maybe not so bad, it is a variety, on the contrary, it is a saving grace!
Since it is believed that Penang-"Culinary Capital" of Malaysia, the food, it seems, it turns out, the best souvenir with Penang. Although the portions of famous dishes are not necessarily to take home. But you can try to take away instead of your beloved taste among tourists: Tamboon.
These something like buns, inside of which puree from beans with spices. Quite interesting taste, unusual. Do not everyone likes it, but you can try. This souvenir number one on Penang and is sold everywhere.
Malaysian tea and spices - Also known souvenir. You can also buy Chinese citades, such as draining, or Sino-Malay Tasty, candied nutmeg.
If you prefer to buy as a souvenir what just longer just longer, then you can buy traditional Malay batik.
I hope to explain what a batik is not necessary. But okay: the batik is a hand-painted tissue using special compositions. Batik's birthplace is considered to be Indonesia. Well, the neighbor Indonesia, Malaysia, picked up this wonderful art. Manual batik is famous widely outside these countries.
The process of manufacturing a painted batik is complicated. Usually, molten wax is used to secure the pattern - and, the main thing here is to observe the measure and melt wax until the stage so that it is not very liquid, and not very "tight."
Pictures are applied on mostly natural tissue silk, cotton. Pictures can be a variety of, but for the most part - plants, animals, landscapes. Then from the huge painted canvases (which make several people) sew clothes.
Top Trade made Penang one of the richest cities in Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century, and to this day you can find excellent quality in Penang. Tiny dishes and decorations . On the other hand, a strong Indian influence means that there is a beautiful cotton and silk on Penang at very reasonable prices. And also do not forget about carved Indian baubles and decorations.
In Georgetown, all of the above can be found in stores and kiosks along Jalan Penang, and in the neighboring Chowrasta Bazaar, on Jalan Chowrasta Street. Since they spoke about the capital of the island, it is worth mentioning a little street Penang Street Market. (At the end of Penang Road) - this is another fantastic place where you can catch up with a variety of delicacies and trinkets, such as traditional satellite slippers of Nyon people, colorful fabrics, organic soap and unusual work of decorative and applied art.
In addition, you can go to the area Little India (Little India), Where can I buy Sari, Sharovari (Shalwar Kamiz), decorations, figurines and Indian sweets that can be taken home. In this little India, in principle, it is very interesting to just stroll.
Alternatively, you can go to the night street market in Batu Ferringhi. This is an area in the north of the island, by the sea, a 25-minute drive from Georgetown. There you can buy some Asian (rather Panasian) pieces, including Vietnamese lacquered souvenirs, Chinese silk and lanterns, Thai wooden carved items, as well as fake design goods - bags, watches and even perfumes and shave lotions (Da- Yes, we know where to save).
Returning to Georgetown, it is worth noting that in this city there are a number of other stores where it is also worth going for unusual gifts. One of the best - VENG TATT SOON GROCERY STORE (at Lebuh Campbell, 101, at the corner of Lebuh Cintra). This is a real traditional Chinese grocery shop - still lively and prosperous, in the very center of fashionable Georgetown.
In this old-fashioned store, the fuels will have to be hard, because the entire store is enveloped by the aroma of traditional (and not only) Chinese snacks, seasonings and delicacies. Of course, many of the products are Chinese, not Malaysian, but, as I wrote, the Chinese in Malaysia are fully, and these all dishes are as common as in China itself.
Banks and bottles with exotic dried fruits, powders and seasonings - everything that stands behind the counter and on the shelves are really intrigued, and the sellers are only happy to give you a little bit of this and on the sample (if you wish). Well, it is best to capture a bottle of high-quality soy sauce, traditional tambuna, prunes and a package of spices and cook your favorite Malaysian dishes at home.
Another interesting store - Sam's Collection (159-161 Jalan Penang).
The owner of the store is Hindu, and this is a family store that has become a kind of legend in Penang. And all because the store has been working for more than one year and all this time supplies tourists and local quality fabrics and Indian clothing, including sharovar, sari and scarves, and beautifully embroidered pillows and sophisticated products from cashmere, cotton and batik. Nevertheless, it is very easy to get lost in this "cave", among countless racks with bright clothing. But the most pleasant thing is that here you can buy things at very reasonable prices, and friendly staff will be happy to help you in creating your own dressed in Bollywood style.
You must also stop in a charming "14 Living Story" (14 Lebuh Armenian), which you will hear before you see - thanks to the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese songs that have been coming from the inside.
And then you will learn that the source of this atmospheric music, in fact, the Japanese string tool that resembles some typewriter. This store is an artistic space where you can buy souvenirs and plunge into the atmosphere of old Georgetown.