On Top of Penang — Daily Dose of Chemo

After struggling to make way from Love Lane to KOMTAR, I was glad that the first sign I saw when I crossed one of the busy roads around the complex was an arrow towards THE TOP. I just followed it through, and it took me up a few more escalators through some restaurants and some booths. After asking around, there were tickets sold there at an elevator which would take me straight to the Observation Deck on the 65th floor. I could not remember how much I paid, but it was worth it.

It was a Monday, and not many visitors were around. Within a minute, I exited the lift into a small dark room where the monitor gave some explanation of KOMTAR’s redevelopment. KOMTAR - Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak - was built in 1974. But the main building was only completed to the 65th floor in 1985, making it the tallest building in Malaysia - it stayed that way until Menara Maybank in KL was opened in 1988.

It was going nowhere until the place was redeveloped in 2015, adding three more floors to the top - the observation deck which I was in being one of them. This new space housed restaurants, shops and decks. And to top things off, the roof was turned into a bar with an area for parties. At one of the end, there is a glass platform which jets out of the main building - a sort of arch into the open air. This is called the Rainbow Skywalk. Rather neat. And again being Monday, there was hardly any queue there. So, I could selfie to my heart’s content.

Around the observation floor, for the more adventurous, you can hook yourself on a set of ropes and traverse the outside of the building. Not for the faint-hearted. The upper floor also hosts a formal restaurant which hosts weddings and event, as well as buffet on certain occasions. You can eat there - a selection of pre-prepared multi-course meals - if you book it online. I did not see any diners there though. You can always order some snacks instead while enjoying the open space outside if you prefer.

I did not hang around for too long as I was hungry and Anita and the kids were making their way to Penang Hill. I took the lift down and had some lunch at the outlets at the bottom of the complex. Then it was Grab-ride away to Bukit Bendera for me.

Looking towards the older part of Georgetown

It was worth the trip, and I am sure that children would enjoy it even more. The price was on the steep side, but it was worth the entrance fee you paid.