Penang: Upper Jalan Penang, George Town

After our dismal visit to Siem Reap’s Pub Street, we tried the equivalent entertainment area in Penang’s George Town – the northernmost end of Jalan Penang (see in Google Maps). That was equally dismal – unless you never want to go to the toilet.

This pedestrianised section of the road is easy enough to navigate and it’s full of bars and restaurants on both sides. The good news, from the point of view of wheelchair access, is that many if not most of them have downstairs seating outside. It’s easy enough to roll up and be seated at a table. So, yes, you can go out for a drink and a meal here. The problems start if you need to use the loo. Invariably there are steps and various other obstacles in the way, and in many cases the toilets are on an upper floor.

If you ask the staff about catering for disabled people, they’re mostly friendly, a very few are a bit hostile. My overall impression was that I might have got a better response if I’d gone in and asked if they catered for Martians.

Why does it all have to be so darned difficult? You know what, I think that sometimes disabled people are invisible – well, they would be, wouldn’t they, if they can’t get access? And then people just don’t think about the issues. We are going to change that! Please help us.