You won’t find the usual novels at this local bookshop on Acheh Street, where the earliest Malay pilgrims used to congregate while waiting for safe passage to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia (the gateway to Mecca). Rather, Areca, which also publishes its own titles, stocks books that highlight Malaysia’s social history, cultural heritage, architecture, biographies and more. Stop by for hard-to-find literature to bring home as a souvenir, and learn more about Penang and its multi-faceted history even after your trip.
