Permatang Damar Laut is a village on the southeast coast of Penang Island. Along with Batu Maung and Teluk Tempoyak, Permatang Damar Laut is hemmed in by the Bayan Lepas International Airport. On this part of the island, within view of the airport runway, life continues as it has always had for the past thirty years.
For those searching for the picture postcard Penang, it can still be found if we search for it in Permatang Damar Laut. Here, the waters of the South Channel blends with that of the Straits of Malacca. Off the coast of Permatang Damar Laut is Pulau Rimau, an ink-blot shaped island on the southeastern tip of Penang.
I am very well acquainted with Permatang Damar Laut because I actually grew up here. However, it has been several years since I last explored Permatang Damar Laut. Recently I returned here to take some shots. I found that the sea is not clean, as I have more or less expected. The shore is littered with trash, and it requires some effort to find an angle to shoot that does not have trash cluttering the photograph.
Stretching your budget in Penang
If you are a prudent traveller, you can spend less than $20 per day in Penang, including your accommodation! Here's some useful tips for budget travellers to Penang, to help you manage your budget and have a great time.
Penang Tour Guides
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can explore Penang using the travel articles in Penang Travel Tips. You may print them out for your own personal non-commercial use. However, nothing compares to having a professional tour guide to show you around. If you need a tour guide, contact me and I'll arrange one for you, according to your schedule and interest. If I happen to be free, I would gladly show you around too. Just write to me at:
Finding Budget Accommodation in Penang
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:
Hutton Lodge, from US$8.25
Baba Guesthouse, from US$7.57
E.T. Budget Guesthouse, from US$6.05
YMCA Penang, from US$6.53
Ali's Ferringhi Guest House, from US$9.63
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.
Map of Southeast Penang: Location of Permatang Damar Laut
Permatang Damar Laut Photo Gallery
Coconut trees reach to the sea at Permatang Damar Laut
Above: The coconut trees of Permatang Damar Laut. In the horizon is Pulau Rimau. Below: The crown of a coconut tree.
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 | Left: A lifeless tree trunk against a boulder.
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Fungi growing on a decaying trunk along the hill path at Permatang Damar Laut.
At the end of the hill path along the Permatang Damar Laut coast is a Toaist shrine.
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