I had a close call in Penang, Malaysia. Back when I traveled there with my mom, I was super stubborn and didn’t want to spend a lot of money on hotels/hostels. But my mom was determined to stay at the grand old Eastern & Oriental Hotel.
There was a youth hostel next door, where I was going to stay. But when we arrived there, it was empty and no staff person was in sight. So I caved in. And boy was I glad I did! Check out the back of the hotel.
We ate inside the night we arrived and I felt like I was in a John LeCarre novel. Another guest from the hotel joined us and it was fun to talk like Old Asian Hands.
Then in the morning we ate outside on the verandah. Pure bliss.
I’ve heard the E&O has undergone massive renovations since my stay there in 1991. Thank goodness it was affordable back then!
Hi Susan, I enjoyed looking at your photos of the E and O Hotel, hotel in Penang. I stayed there in 1980 and it was then as it is in your photos. I have also have had the pleasure of staying there in its renovated and larger configuration. Whilst appreciating the care and attention taken to duplicate colonial days it was good that I was to experience it as it actually was as well.
Having visited Penang many times over the years I am amazed at the speed of transition and growth of the island in such a relatively short time, and this is reflected in the growth and modernisation of the E and O itself.
Growth is always inevitable but I am glad I first experienced Penang and the E and O when I did.
Thank you so much for your comment! It must have been quite stunning to see the E&O in 1980. I think quite a few of these grande dames were falling by the wayside before the 2000s and are fully restored and very expensive now, so it’s nice that we could see some of them before they had these big make-overs. I imagine the waterfront patio at the E&O is quite nice now!