Muntri Street is a street that leads from Penang Road to Stewart Lane. It has one of the best-preserved façades of Straits Eclectic style houses.
Two of the major hospitals in Penang were founded here, namely Lam Wah Ee Hospital in 1883 and the Adventist Hospital in 1924. The original Lam Wah Ee Hospital building was destroyed during the Second World War, even though Muntri Street retains that memory among the Hokkiens, who call it Lam Wah Ee Kay, or Lam Wah Ee Hospital Street.
The original building for Adventist Hospital is still standing today, at the junction of Muntri Street and Leith Street, and today houses Lum Fong Hotel.
Muntri Street is said to have been named after the 19th Century Menteri of Larut, Ngah Ibrahim. It houses a few trade guilds of the bygone era, including the Penang & Province Wellesley Cafe Association formed by Hainanese coffeeshop owners, Penang Restaurants and Tea Shops Association, Penang Goldsmith Association, among others. Cantonese district associations also locate themselves here, including the Wooi Ning Wooi Koon. King Wan Association is a trade union for shopkeepers and clerks - the name "King Wan", which was chosen after the original association got banned, means "warning the stubborn".
75 Muntri Street was the home of famous 19th century Baba-Malay novelist Chan Kim Boon (1851-1920), who is better known by his pen name Batu Gantong. He earn his fame for translating Chinese classics into Baba Malay, a patois mixing market Malay with Hokkien, producing witty pieces that amused his local readership.
Muntri Street is not served by buses. The nearest bus stop is at Penang Road. You can reach Muntri Street by taking the Rapid Penang Free Shuttle Bus to Station No. 7 (Lebuh Muntri) and walk a short distance from Penang Road to Muntri Street. Alternatively, Rapid Penang bus 10, 11, 101, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, U204, 206, 301 and 302 are among those that pass through Penang Road.
If you're coming to Penang on a budget, you'd be pleased to know that there's quite a number of places in George Town as well as in Batu Ferringhi that offers good clean accommodation without costing you an arm and a let. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood, which happens to belong to a friend of mine. If it is occupied, there are plenty of other places that cost less than US$12.00 per night. Here are some suggestions:
Despite the best intentions to provide you information that is as accurate as possible, do be aware that prices may have changed and exchange rates fluctuated since I wrote this. So please personally and carefully screen through the available accommodation before making your booking, to avoid any disappointments.
In Other Words ...
In Hokkien: Lam Wah Ee Kay (Lam Wah Ee Hospital Street), Sin Hailam Kongsi Kay (New Hainanese Clan Association Street)
Muntri Street has one of the best preserved Straits Eclectic houses in George Town. Now many of these houses are being carefully restored to reflect the early 20th century style of the time it was built. Shown here are a selection of the more interesting houses along Muntri Street. The date in brackets show when the photograph was taken, so these houses may have since been restored or repainted.
It is often more practical to book your tours online. You have the luxury of time to go through what are the tours you intend to take, rather than having to make a decision on your feet. Check out the local tours in Penang that you can book online. The tours are provided by Viator, a reputable international tour company.
If you are coming to Penang, you can arrange airport transfer from airport to city in advance. A van will be waiting for you to pick you at the airport. This service is very useful and cost effective if you are arriving as a group.
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Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.
