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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2017 43 sauces from the Indian stall and a side dish of stir-fried noodles from the Malay stall not too far off. In- dulgence in these Asian flavours left me pretty stuffed, though not full enough to skip the sweet and I rounded off this culinary evening with some interestingly-shaped sweets, filled with marzipan, cream and coconut and then went on for a crepe-like pastry with Nu- tella and strawberries. After a long evening of exchan- ing pennies for food I checked the contents of my pockets, only to find that I had spent a grand total of €7.50 – how's that for value for money! Though the food markets are are must, don't let them suck you in and hold you there for your entire trip as there is plenty to see on the island. Check out some of their famous monumenhts, temples, museums and graffiti by artists the likes of Ernest Zackarevicsuch. Take some time to get out of the city and drive to the north of the is- land to their National Park. There are some great trekking trails with some fantastic indigenous species of flora and fauna as well as beach- es along the way. Although there are some mammal species that live here, this area is most famous for bird watching as a few endangered species make their home on the island of Penang. Along the coast of Penang there are a number of small fishing villages that boast character and colour and are most definitely worth a visit. The people of Penang are island- ers at heart and take great pride in their island, and a most hospitable bunch. The duration of your stay will depend on how much time you have to kill. Whether just pass- ing through, or taking the time to discover every nook and cranny, be sure to cover the cultural high- lights, the food markets and the natural beauty of the north for a complete picture of Penang. Getting there and around Getting to the island is easy as there are regular flights from most major airports in the world and ferries run constantly from the mainland. Due to the popularity of this destination, I would advise that you book accommodation in advance. Trip Advisor and Agoda have a good set up with a vast range of places to book. You are looking at an average of €15 per day to eat to your heart's content, use transportation and enter one of the many cultural sites. Before you decide on a destination date, check out the cultural calendar online as there are a number of events that are highly entertain- ing, full of colour and a great expe- rience to be a part of. Travel flavours in the heart of Malaysia How to get there Emirates offer regular flights to Penang with a stop over in Dubai. Flights departing from Malta on 17 February and returning on 2 March were priced at €961.15 including tax at the time of going to print. Total flight time is approximately 17 hours.