Penang Trip

Penang Things To Do Tips 1 - 25 of 31
Popular Things To Do (31) | Miscellaneous Things To Do Tips (267) | All Tips (824)
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Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) (8) &e'ie(s * 12+ ,hotos)
Kek Lok i (Buddhist) Te!ple (72 &e'ie(s * 11) ,hotos)
Khoo Kongsi (Khoo "lan te!ple) (42 &e'ie(s * -7 ,hotos)
Bur!ese Te!ple (Dha!!ikara!a) (4) &e'ie(s * 6+ ,hotos)
#heong $att T%e &ansion (32 &e'ie(s * -) ,hotos)
'e"lining Buddha te!ple ((at #ha)a!angkalara!) (32 &e'ie(s * 4+ ,hotos)
Bea"hes in Penang (27 &e'ie(s * 2+ ,hotos)
*oddess of &er") (+uan ,in) Te!ple (2- &e'ie(s * 33 ,hotos)
The Botani"al *ardens (!onke) park) (24 &e'ie(s * 34 ,hotos)
*urne) Dri-e (sea-.at"h / ha.ker food) (23 &e'ie(s * 22 ,hotos)
$ort #orn.allis (2) &e'ie(s * 28 ,hotos)
Little 0ndia / Kapitan Keling &os1ue (18 &e'ie(s * 23 ,hotos)
Butterfl) far! (16 &e'ie(s * 27 ,hotos)
The nake Te!ple (13 &e'ie(s * 14 ,hotos)
#lo"k To.er (12 &e'ie(s * 16 ,hotos)
2splanade and #it) Hall (11 &e'ie(s * 1- ,hotos)
K3&T4' (1) &e'ie(s * 18 ,hotos)
P2545* B'0D*2 (1) &e'ie(s * 6 ,hotos)
The tate &useu! (8 &e'ie(s * 1) ,hotos)
ri &aha-&aria!!an Te!ple (7 &e'ie(s * 7 ,hotos)
t *eorge #hur"h 6 $ran"is Light &e!orial (7 &e'ie(s * 8 ,hotos)
#olonial old houses (7 &e'ie(s * 1) ,hotos)
Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 it8s "ool up there
Tip &ating!
an socia"le $on.e
" ellielou/
3 $ore photos
Sen0 ,hoto to a 1rien0
,enang 2ill is an interesting (a to spen0 an hour or t(o3333one o% the reasons is that it4s so $uch
cooler than the rest o% the cit 0o(n "elo(3 5t4s a lush place/ (ith nice 'ie(s o% the cit an0 the
(ater/ an0 so$e lo'el "ir0s/ an0 se$i*aggressi'e $on.es3 5n a00ition/ there4s an interesting ol0
hotel/ an0 i% ou sit on the 'eran0a (6ust li.e an ol0 colonialist) ou can chec. out the pit 'ipers that
li'e there3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 trainride to the sk)
Tip &ating!
going up the hill
" Tattugran
a $ust 0o is ta.ing the 1unicular train up ,enang 2ill3 ou (ill see "reatheta.ing 'ie(s on the (a up
an0 once up the top3 5t is 7)1 $etres a"o'e sea le'el39nce ou get to the top there are gar0ens to
(al. aroun0 in an0 %oo0 stalls to get so$ething to eat or 0rin.3 The rail ser'ic:e "egins at 633)a$
an0 en0s at +33) p$3 the %are is &M43)) %or a0ults an0 &M23)) %or chil0ren3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
Phone7 )4 828 3263

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 #a9le #ar
Tip &ating!
The s$all ca"le*pulle0 rail(a cars (ill ta.e ou up to ,enang 2ill an0 "ring ou "ac. 0o(n3 Ta.e a
loo. aroun0 (hile ou are up there3 9n the top ou (ill %in0 a hotel ; restaurant/ a 2in0u te$ple/
an0 a $os<ue3 9n clear 0as there is a great 'ie( o% the islan03 5t is also goo0 %or "ir0ing 3 =e sa(
se'eral "ir0s3 Spea.ing o% "ir0s there is also a a'iar on the hotel groun0s3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 2n:o) the "hange of
"li!ate and pa"e;
Tip &ating!
The "ase o% ,enang 2ill
train
" D:enion
2ea0 to the "ase o% ,enang 2ill (e'er ta:i .no(s (here it is) roun0 late a%ternoon3 >u$p on a train
(hich 54$ sure is the onl one "uilt on a 4- 0egree angle an0 en6o the slo( "ut 'er scenic ri0e up
to the top3 The train stops hal%(a up an0 ou can get o%% here an0 (al. the rest o% the (a or %ollo(
e'erone else to the train on the a06acent trac. (hich (ill ta.e ou up3 9nce at the top/ ou can gra"
a $eal at an o% a nu$"er o% stalls or go to the resturaunt right at the top3 ?reat 'ie(s %ro$ the
open gar0en out the "ac.3 @ou can get sou'iners here "ut the are cheaper in ?eorgeto(n3 @ou can
also 'isit a "ir0 enclosure (hich/ apart %ro$ it4s siAe/ (ill put the ,enang Bir0 ,ar. to sha$e (ith the
'ariet an0 nu$"er o% "ir0s in here3 ,hotographers note! The (ire on the cages has a "ig enough
gap to satis% $ost photographers (ho 0on4t (ant the 46ailhouse4 loo. in their nature photos3 =atch
the spectacular sunset an0 then get the ne:t train 0o(n3 A (in0o( seat is goo0 %or 'ie(ing the
antics o% the (il0 $on.es as the (ait " the trac.3 Don4t (orr i% ou4'e $isse0 the last "us "ac.
to the cit as there (ill "e a nu$"er o% ta:is (ho (ill ta.e ou3 D9#T pa $ore than 1)&M as this is
the nor$al local price3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 3n top of the .orld -
Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)
Tip &ating!
,enang 2ill is one o% the $ost popular tourist 0estinations3 5 ha'e "een there u$pteen ti$es an0 still
al(as %in0 it a great get*a(a3 There are no cars up there3 The entire ?eorge To(n is 8)) $eters
"elo( our %eet3 The $ost popular an0 reco$$en0e0 (a %or tourists is to ta.e the %unicular train3
There is a (aiting ti$e an0 so plan ahea03 The secon0 (a (hich use0 " local hi.ers is the trail o%
BMoon ?ateB or B84B %ro$ Botanical ?ar0ens or the steeper route %ro$ 2eng Tei. Cstate o% Air 5ta$
or e'en the $ost a0'enturous route %ro$ Air 5ta$ Da$3 The thir0 (a is " 6eep %ro$ the Botanical
?ar0ens "ut this is reser'e0 %or hill top resi0ents an0 %or e$ergenc situations3 During school
holi0as an0 (ee.en0s/ the %unicular train can "e 'er cro(0e0 (ith long <ueues3 9%ten tic.ets are
sol0 out3 #o( sa$e 0a tic.et can "e "ought in a0'ance an0 ou can 6ust co$e "ac. at our
assigne0 ti$e3 @ou can co$e 0o(n at an ti$e "ut %actor 3) $inutes to an hour (ait3 &oun0 trip
tic.et at &M4 %or an a0ult is a steal3 Dp at the top/ ou ha'e e:cellent 'ie(s o% ?eorge To(n/ ,enang
Bri0ge an0 the $ainlan0 across the channel3 =orth ha'ing co%%ee or tea at the Belle'ue 2otel %or an
outstan0ing panaro$ic 'ie(3 5t is cool an0 can "e chill an0 (in0 at night especiall a%ter a rain3
#ight 'ie( (hen the lights are out is spectacular3 So i% ou (ant to see that/ plan to sta up until
8p$3 The %unicular train is a t(o le'els sste$3 Cach le'el has t(o tra$ coaches lin.e0 " a ca"le
an0 pulle3 The tra$ coaches (ill pass each other at a 6unction3 This is a great ti$e to ta.e a photo3
There is a BMi00le StationB (here passengers alight an0 trans%er to the other le'el sste$3 Dsuall/
passengers (ill rush to the ne:t coach to get a seat3 Sa%et co$es %irst especiall (ith ounger
chil0ren an0 seniors3 So "e prepare0 to stan0 all the (a up3 Train arri'es e'er 1- $inutes3 Total o%
3) $inutes to get to the top o% the ,enang 2ill3 The (aiting ti$e can "e up 2 hours on cro(0e0 0as3
Eisit to ,enang 2ill a $ust i% ou ha'e ti$e3
4ddress7 Air 5ta$/ ,enang 5slan0

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 -isit the fa!ous nut
!an<
Tip &ating!
the $an hi$sel%

" ellielou/ 1 $ore photos
As usual in ,enang/ goo0 %oo0 is ne'er that %ar a(aF Dp on ,enang 2ill/ there is the ,enang 2ill
1a$ous ,eanut 2ouse3 5t4s not a house e:actl/ an0 5 0on4t .no( ho( %a$ous it is/ "ut it4s goo0/ an0
the gu is reall nice3333(e spent a %airl long ti$e tal.ing a"out chic.peas/ an0 the 'arious na$es it
goes "! gar"anAos/ channa/ cee*cee "eans/ etc3333 5 as.e0 i% he coul0 $a.e curr chic. peas/ an0 he
0i0F 1resh curr333'er 0elicious/ an0 (orth a stop (hen cooling o%% on the hill3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
Dire"tions7 ,enang 2ill

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 Penang Hill
Tip &ating!

?eorgeto(n 'ie( %ro$ ,enang
2ill
" 8an0S
Ma.e sure ou go up ,enang 2ill i% ou get the chance333the "est ti$e is late a%ternoon so ou can
see the 'ie( in the 0a ti$e an0 a%ter sunset also3 5t ta.es a"out hal% an hour to get up the hill so
gi'e oursel% enough ti$e %or the trip up an0 "ac.3 8osts are! 4 &M %or a0ult return an0 2 &M %or
chil0ren un0er 12
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
Phone7 )4 8283263

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)7 $oot of Penang Hill
Tip &ating!

1oot o% ,enang 2ill

" i$stress
1ro$ the %oot o% ,enang 2ill/ ou can see the steep trac. o% the %unicular (hal% (a)3 The ta:i (ill
ta.e ou 0irectl to the %oot o% the hill (here u can purchase our %unicular tic.ets %or &M43 Man
people are <ueuing %or the %unicular so go earl to "eat the cro(03 There are a %e( shops selling
tourist ite$s3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
4ddress7 ,enang 2ill/ Bu.it Ben0era/ Air 5ta$
Dire"tions7 Air 5ta$/ ,enang 2ill/ BuGit Ben0era
Kek Lok i (Buddhist) Te!ple7 Kek Lok i
Tip &ating!

Dni<ue pago0a (ith 3 "len0s

" .enneo
=hat it $eans =ithout 0ou"t one o% the largest an0 "est .no(n te$ple in ,enang/ the Te$ple o%
Supre$e Bliss/ "etter .no(n as Ge. 7o. Si/ staggere0 on the hillsi0e o'erloo.ing the to(n o% Aer
5ta$3 Since the ol0en 0as/ the hills o% Aer 5ta$ are regar0e0 as i$portant geo$anticall3 Gno(n as
2e San/ or 8rane 2ill/ the are reco$$en0e0 as a retreat %or Taoist practitioners stri'ing %or
i$$ortalit3 2o( it starte0 The Ge. 7o. Si pro6ect (as $oote0 " the chie% $on. o% the ?o00ess o%
Merc Te$ple o% ,itt Street3 =ith the support o% the consular representati'e o% 8hina in ,enang/ the
pro6ect recei'e0 the sanction o% the Manchu C$peror Guang 2si/ (ho "esto(e0 a ta"let an0 gi%t o%
7)/))) 'olu$es o% the 5$perial C0ition o% the Bu00hist Sutras3 8onstruction o% the te$ple starte0 in
18+3/ "ut it (as onl in 1+3) that the ,ago0a o% &a$a E5/ na$e0 a%ter the Thai .ing (ho lai0 the
%oun0ation stone/ "ut "etter .no(n as the ,ago0a o% 1)/))) Bu00has/ (as co$plete03 This pago0a
co$"ines a 8hinese octagonal "ase (ith a $i00le tier o% Thai 0esign/ an0 a Bur$ese cro(n/
re%lecting the te$ple4s e$"race o% "oth Mahaana an0 Thera'a0a Bu00his$3 ?igantic Statue o%
?o00ess o% Merc ( Guan @5n ) The latest a00ition to the te$ple co$ple: is the 3)32$ "ronAe statue
o% the A'alo.ites'ara * ?o00ess o% Merc or Guan @in * on the hillsi0e a"o'e the pago0a3 This statue
(as co$plete0 an0 open to the pu"lic at the en0 o% 2))23
Bea"hes in Penang7 (ater sports at Batu $erringhi
Bea"h
Tip &ating!
" S77ie(
,enang $ost %a$ous "each is along Batu 1erringhi (,ortuguese roc. in Mala)3 There is a string o%
hotels li.e ?ol0en San0s/ &asa Saang/ 2oli0a 5nn/ Ba'ie( Beach/ etc3 Beaches are pu"lic an0 so
ou can 6ust (al. in through so$e o% the pu"lic access or through one o% the hotels3 &eco$$en0
par. %ree at ?ol0en San0s an0 (al. through3 ,lent o% (ater sport acti'ities to choose %ro$ * s.
parachute/ 6et s.i/ (ater s.i an0 sailing3 #o (a'es %or sur%ing3 Be care%ul "ecause acci0ents an0
%atalities ha'e happene03 Also horse"ac. ri0ing an0 %oot re%le:olog $assage is a"un0ant3 5%
s(i$$ing/ "e(are o% 6ell %ish3 As. hotel sta%% or local "e%ore 6u$ping into the open sea3 =on0er%ul
sunset i% ou can hang aroun03 Best to sta at one o% the hotels/ s(i$ in the si$$ing in the pool/
laAe on a 0ec. an0 (al. along the "each3
Dire"tions7 Dp north

Bea"hes in Penang7 Batu $erringhi
Tip &ating!
Batu 1erringhi
" ::angel::
This is the "est "each in ,enang/ <uite s$ooth san0 especiall " the (ater3 @ou can (al. along past
lots o% hotels (ith the (ar$ sea lapping at our %eet * 'er rela:ing3 @ou can also ta.e part in a
'ariet o% (atersports such as going on a 6et*s.i3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
*urne) Dri-e (sea-.at"h / ha.ker food)7 =isit
*urne) Dri-e
Tip &ating!
=hen ou are in ,enang 0o pa a 'isit to ?urne Dri'e3 1or the %ull e%%ect/ co$e in the e'enings an0
ta.e a stroll3 Don4t 6ust 0ri'e throughF 5n the goo0 ol0 0as the nu$erous ?urne Dri'e ha(.ers
(oul0 set up their stalls/ in the e'enings/ along the roa0 si0e3 Due to the large nu$"er o% patrons/
the light(eight ta"les an0 $etal stools (oul0 ine'ita"l an0 casuall spill onto the roa0/ ,esiaran
?urne/ itsel%/ there%ore causing $ini*tra%%ic 6a$s (nothing (hen co$pare0 to G7333)3 9'er the ears/
things ha'e "eco$e less chaotic an0 $ore organise0 "ecause the ha(.ers ha'e "een $o'e0 in(ar0s
a little3 The no( occup an open space/ instea0 o% "eing set up along the si0e o% the roa03 5 ha'e to
sa that 5 li.e0 it "etter the (a it (as "e%ore/ "ecause goo0 %oo0/ great s$ells an0 chaos/ see$e0
to go (ell/ han0*in*han03 (5 %eel so nostalgicHsighH) =ith $an $ore ha(.er centres an0 %oo0
courts "eing set up/ the ?urne Dri'e ha(.ers are consi0ere0 to "e a "it BpriceB " ,enang
stan0ar0s/ "ut 5 (oul0 sa it is still 'er pleasant an0 the at$osphere here is uni<ue/ set as it is "
the sea3 Apart %ro$ eating an0 0rin.ing/ ou can also ta.e a seat along the "enches that %ace the
sea%ront3 During the 0a/ ou coul0 go shopping as ?urne Dri'e has seen the 0e'elop$ent o% tall
shopping $alls (eg3 ?urne Mall)3 There are a %e( restaurants an0 ca%e/ e'en a Star"uc.sF Se'eral
sea %acing hotels an0 con0o$iniu$s ha'e also "een "uilt here3 ,S3 The picture 0oes not 0o the area
6ustice*'er sorrF
*urne) Dri-e (sea-.at"h / ha.ker food)7 *urne) Dri-e

?urne Dri'e ha'e one o% the "est 'ie( o% ,enang sunset/ is a %a'ourite a$ong %a$ilies an0 lo'ers3
This coastline stretch is a up$ar.et resi0ential area/ $an "ungalo( lots ha0 ga'e (a to the
0e'elop$ent o% 2 hotels/ con0o$iniu$s (one o% the $ost e:pensi'e on the islan0 costing &M2$il
each)/ an0 a shopping co$ple:3 @et/ in earl $ornings/ people can "e seen ta.ing their (al.s along
the coastline an0 ha'e their "rea.%ast at the restaurants there3 1a$ilies en6o spen0ing ti$e or %ling
.ites3 5n the e'ening/ cro(0s (ill %loc. to the %a$ous ha(.er %oo0 stalls at the roun0a"out/ an0
lo'ers can "e seen strolling along the coast33
$ort #orn.allis7 $ort #orn.allis
The %irst ti$e 5 set %oot on 1ort 8orn(allis (as 12 ears ago/ (hen 5 chose 1ort 8orn(allis as $
histor pro6ect3 The 1ort 8orn(allis (as "uilt " 8aptain Sir 1rancis 7ight at the northeastern tip o%
,enang 5slan0 a%ter ta.ing possession o% the islan0 in 17863 C'en though the %ort (as originall "uilt
%or the &oal artiller troops an0 the $ilitar/ the %ort ha0 ne'er "een engage0 in an "attle in its
entire histor3 To0a/ (ith its age0*ol0 an0 rough characteristics/ the %ort has lost so$e o% its
structures e:cept the gunpo(0er $agaAine/ a 8hristian chapel/ cell roo$s/ %lagsta%%/ har"our light
an0 se'eral cannons3 A $o0ern a$phitheatre (as "uilt insi0e the %ort to pro$ote cultural acti'ities3
The (alls/ entrance gate an0 the $oat ha'e "een restore0 to e:perience the 1ort 8orn(allis as it (as
in the ol0 0as3
2splanade and #it) Hall7 The 2splanade
Tip &ating!
This is a $a6or tourist stop3 At the Csplana0e is 1ort 8orn(allis (ith the %a$ous cannons
(here Sir 1rancis 7ight/ the %oun0er o% $o0ern ,enang/ erecte0 the %irst (oo0en stoc.a0e3
There is lighthouse/ t(o (ell preser'e0 8it 2alls/ a cloc.to(er co$$e$orating Iueen
Eictoria3 The large Csplana0e is the 'enue o% $a6or %esti'als (here ou can (atch the
%ire(or.s too at night3 5t is a popular place to %ish 0a or night3 At night/ there is a
%oo0court/ one %or 2alal an0 the others non*2alal (non Musli$ %oo0 ser'e0)3 @ou can the
har"or/ Butter(orth on the $ainlan0 an0 ?unung >erai across in Ge0ah3
Dire"tions7 #e:t to 1ort 8orn(allis

2splanade and #it) Hall7 &a:esti" (hite #it)
Hall
Tip &ating!
9ne o% the $ost outstan0ing colonial "uil0ing in ,enang is the 8it 2all/ "uilt in 1+)3 (ith
the classical Cnglish ,alla0ian stle (ith a s$all 0o$e/ arches an0 resplen0ent po$p3 5t is
painte0 (hite an0 locate0 a the pro$inent corner o% the pro$ena0e near the sea an0
loo.ing opposite ,ort 8orn(allis at the Csplana0e3 8urrentl it houses the licensing an0
ur"an ser'ice 0epart$ent o% the ,enang Municipal 8ouncil3
4ddress7 Csplana0e/ ?eorge To(n " the sea
Dire"tions7 #e:t to 1ort 8orn(allis
ri &aha-&aria!!an Te!ple7 #olourful
This tpical southern in0ian stle 2in0u te$ple is one o% the $ost i$portant 2in0u te$ples in
,enang3 ,enang4s Thaipusa$ %esti'al "egins here3 This 'er colour%ul te$ple (as "uilt in 18833 5
e:pecte0 so$ething "igger an0 taller "e%ore 5 arri'e03 So/ it4s another e:a$ple o% 0on4t ha'e an
hope an0 ou (on4t get 0isappointe03
#lo"k To.er7 #lo"k To.er
Tip &ating!
The $oorish*stle cloc.to(er at the 6unction o% 7e"uh 7ight an0 7e"uh ,antai is si:t %eet tall/ one
%oot %or each ear o% Eictoria4s reign3 A corner o% the (all surroun0ing 1ort 8orn(allis appears "ehin0
the to(er/ (hich (as "uilt to co$$e$orate Iueen Eictoria4s 18+7 >u"ilee3 This cloc. to(er is 6ust
ne:t to 1ort 8onalis site (ithin (al.ing 0istance to the (ater %ront/ the ol0 to(n council "uil0ing/ ne:t
to this (ater %ront there is %oo0 stall/ pu"lic toilet
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
Natural Gateways and Parks
Minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city is Penangs natural heritage: her emerald
green hills and golden sandy beaches. Leisure activities are varied tennis to golf, riding to
scuba diving. Penang is one place where you can jog, cycle, sunbathe, sail, beachcomb, snorel
and windsurf.
Ayer Itam Dam
.
!ne of the most popular and scenic spots for e"ercise enthusiasts is the #yer $tam %am.
Located above the famous &e Lo 'i (emple in the #yer $tam village on the outsirts of )eorge
(own, the %am is Penangs answer to the *oover %am in +'# or the #swan %am in ,gypt,
although at a smaller scale. -lic here for full story.
The Aquarium of the Fisheries Research Institute, .atu Maung
*ave you ever visited an a/uarium0 $f you have not, now1s the time to see and touch our diverse
marine wonders at the 2isheries 3esearch $nstitute a/uarium at .atu Maung. 4hat are you
waiting for0 -lic here for full story
#dmission: 3M5 for adults, 3M6 for ids 7 to 86 years and 3M8.59 for school groups.
(here is no charge for ids below 7 years.
(he a/uarium is located at the 2isheries 3esearch $nstitute grounds at .atu Maung.
(el: 9:;<6< =>65 and 2a": 9:;<6< 6689.
Balik Pulau
(he hills of .ali Pulau abound with clove and nutmeg trees which bear fruit in ?ovember to
@anuary and @uly. !r savour durian, a seasonal fruit which is the luscious ing of fruits.
Bukit Jambul Orchid and ibiscus !arden, .uit @ambul
*ome to e"otic snaes, birds and plants, the two hectare .uit @ambul !rchid A *ibiscus )arden
and 3eptile *ouse are located along Persiaran .uit @ambul, close to the *otel ,/uatorialB only a
leisurely 5;minute drive away from the Penang $nternational #irport. -lic here for full story
!pens: >:=9am to <:=9pm daily Clast entry at 5.=9pmD
#dmission: 3M 89.99 adults and 3M 5.99 children. # charge of 3M8 for camera use.
'nae show: 'aturdays, 'undays and public holidays, 88.=9am and =.=9pm
Beaches and fishin" #illa"es
Most activities are centered around .atu 2erringhi, where most of the popular beach resorts are
located. (heir facilities include watersiing, sailing, windsurfing, water scooters, and watersiing.
(his prime stretch of beach is always a hive of activity with elite nightspots and restaurants which
come to life in the evening.
2urther down is the e/ually lovely (elu .ahang .each, which houses an international beach
resort and is home to ampungs and a fishing village. $f privacy is preferred, head for the
secluded beaches of (elu %uyung, Money .each, Pantai &erachut and Pantai Mas which are
accessible via the trails in the Pantai #cheh 2orest 3eserve from (elu .ahang.
(he Pasir Panjang .each at the south;western tip of the island is a secluded stretch of beach and
clear waters, at the end of a 65;minute hie over challenging terrain from .etong.
'ee also .atu Maung, a small fishing village at the south;eastern tip of the island, which owes its
fame to the beach;front shrine dedicated to Admiral Cheng Ho, the famous -hinese admiral who
featured prominently in the history of the Malacca 'ultanate.
(he huge footprint in the vicinity is said to be that of the #dmirals and is worshipped as
something sacred. (here is a belief that anyone who lights joss stics and places it in an urn
beside the footprint will be bestowed good fortune. (he best seafood on the island can also be
found here.
Botanical !ardens, @alan #ir (erjun
(his =9;hectare sprawling garden of flora and fauna is a favourite recreation spot for locals.
-entral to the )ardens is a waterfall that start over a hundred metres above, hence its more
popular monier of E4aterfall )ardensE. (oday, the waterfall is a restricted area and hidden from
public view by the green foliage.
4hile the vibrant hues of Penangs native fauna is the prominent feature, the star attraction is the
large number of maca/ue moneys that greet visitors from the entrance right to the heart of the
garden. 4alers, joggers, runners, picnicers and lovers fre/uent this gem of a garden for its
spacious and blissful settings.
,very year, the Penan" International Floral Festi#al will be held for about a wee at the .otanic
)ardens. (he entire garden will be transformed into a floral wonderland with thousands and
thousands of flowers and blooms, of all siFes and gorgeous colours. -lic here for full story.
2or more information on Penang .otanic )ardens, visit its official website at
http:GGwww.supp.gov.myG&ebun.ungaGmain.html
#ddress: @alan &ebun .unga, 89=59 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
(el: <9:; 6679 :6H, 6678 =5: Cdirect lineD I 2a": <9:; 66H< 975
!pen from 5.99 am to H.99 pm every day of the year.
!pens: %aily from 5.99am ; H.99pm I #dmission is free.
Bukit $erta%am Recreational Forest
(he .uit Mertajam 3ecreational 2orest lies :57 metres above sea level and covers an area of
=7 hectares. 'ome locals refer to .uit Mertajam as .uit +bat Cor medicinal hillD because of the
therapeutic /ualities attributed to it people with minor ailments actually claim of feeling relieved
after a hie. !ne of the more popular pars on the mainland, it is usually paced with people
during holidays. 2acilites include a swimming pool, camping and picnic spots, jungle tres and
comfortable accomodation. -lic here for full story
Bukit Panchor Recreational Forest
Located 89m from ?ibong (ebal or 59m from )eorge (own lies the .uit Panchor 3ecreational
2orest an ideal getaway for picnics, camping and jungle treing. # perfect place for the family.
-lic here for full story
Butterfly Farm, (elu .ahang
Located at (elu .ahang, 69m from )eorge (own, the .utterfly 2arm covers an area of 9.H
hectare. Jisitors can marvel at the hundreds of species of butterflies and local insects in their
natural habitat.
(he best time to visit is in the late morning or early afternoon, when the butterflies are most
active. -lic here for full story
Jisiting *ours: Mondays to 2ridays from >:99am to 5:99pmB 'aturdays, 'undays and Public
*olidays from >:99am to 5:=9pm
#dmission: 3M 86.59 CadultD, 3M <.65 Cchild from 5;86 years of ageDB 2ree for children below 5
years of age.
#ddress: ?o H=9 @alan (elu .ahang, 88959 Penang
(el: <9:;HH5 865= I 2a": <9:;HH5 6988 G HH5 87:8 I ,;mail: infoKbutterfly;insect.com
www.butterfluy;insect.com
The &s'lanade( A microcosm of Penan")s colourful le"acy
?o well;planned and pictures/ue city is ever complete without a par and )eorge (own is no
e"ception. Pars can range from grand landscapes lie -entral Par in ?ew Lor -ity or *yde
Par in London, to modest affairs lie Penang1s ,splanade, landing point of 2rancis Light and
home to a historical battle fort. -lic here for full story.
*am'un" +eronok, .atu Maung
(he name E&ampung 'eronoE originated from a suggestion by an ,nglish engineer, %.4.
)rehan who had, on a number of occasions, shared in the joy and merrymaing of the ampung
fol, the the days shortly after the @apanese 'urrender.
4hat maes it uni/ue is the fact that it is virtually 1open1 to visitors who are free to observe and
participate in the various cultural activities, traditional games and rural economic pursuits of the
people, showcasing the intrinsic values of traditional village life. -lic here for full story
Penan" ill
Penang *ill is actually made up of a series of hills which rise above the island. (he pea stands
at H68 metres above sea level, which maes it a cool getaway from the tropical heat below.
(he hill is accessible via a funicular train which was first opened for use in 8>6=. (he train
operates in two sections and passengers change railcars at midpoint. $t taes about half an hour
to reach the summit and the train service operates at half hour intervals.
#lternatively, the fit and adventurous can hie up the hill from the many hiing trails available
the most popular trails start at access points close to the Botanical Gardens. (he hie itself is
about <.7 m or :.5 miles long, which will tae hiers an average of 6 to : hours, depending on
level of fitness.
+pon reaching the summit, one is rewarded with a panoramic view of Penang island. (here are
also old bungalows, a hotel, bird par and waling trails which are worth checing out. -lic here
for full story.
Penan" ,ational Park - our little "reen 'ocket
(he Penang ?ational Par C(aman ?egara Pulau PinangD is
one of the few natural forested areas left on the island. $t is
also currently the world1s smallest national par.
(he Par is located at the north;western corner of Penang
$sland, on what resembles the side profile of a face, hence
the name Mua *ead Cmua literally means faceD. 4ith 88H8
hectares of forest and 8=H8 hectares of wetlands, the Par1s
ecosystem is a diversity of habitats with hills, sandy and
rocy beaches, streams and coastal forests ;representing
much of the natural habitats of Penang. -lic here for full
story.
Pulau Jere%ak
Pulau @ereja is only minutes away from Penang city life yet tuced away among the
magnificence of a lush tropical rainforestB also nown as the Evirgin jungleE island as it is one of
the few reamining preserves of primary forest in Malaysia. # virtually undisturbed island graced
with the rich diversity of =<6ha of over 689 species of flora and fauna. (owering tropical trees,
lingering lianas and e"otic orchids prove to be shelters to some of the most remarable living
creatures, such as the Monitor LiFard and the 4hite;.ellied 'ea ,agle.
(he island also boasts of an ancient emerald environment, older than the e/uatorial forests of the
#maFon or the -ongo, thus producing a marvellous ecosystem that is both inspiring and
engaging. ,/ually intriguing is the island1s hisory as a penal colony a mystical tourch tot he
surounding pristine nature.
-lic here for full story on @ereja 3esort and 'pa.
Pulau Aman
Pulau #man in .hasa malaysia means Eisland of peaceE and as its name suggests, it is the
gateway to tran/uility and serenity. 'ituated on an island covering and area of 6HH acres, it is 6.5
nautical miles from the mainland just off the coast of 'eberang Perai1s southern district. (he
nearest town is .uit (ambun.
#n idlyllic fishing village with a population of only three hundred, the majority of people on Pulau
#man ar elderly fols and laughing, carefree children.
2ishing, water sports and jungle treing are some of the popular activities of hoiday;maers on
the island. Places of interest, each with their own fascinationg story to tell, await the e"ploration of
the adventurous.
Teluk Bahan" Recreational Forest, @alan (elu .ahang
(he diehard nature lovers will find delight in the recreational forests of (elu .ahang, 'ungai
(uun and Pantai &erachut on the island and .uit Mertajam on the mainland.
(here is a bewildering range of flowering plants and numerous species of insects, e"otic birds,
butterflies, snaes and liFards. ,"pect to find jungle tracs that lead to the heart of the forest with
camping sites along the way. -lic here for full story
Tro'ical Fruit Farm, @alan (elu .ahang
(ropical fruit farm is situated at about >99 ft above sea level on the hilly terrain of (elu .ahang,
the orchard covers 65 acres and it was developed bac in 8>>= to converse the rare and e"otic
fruit trees and to educate and promote to the locals as well as foreigners on the gift that our land
is blessed. -lic here for full story
!pens: >.99am to <.99pm daily
#ddress: .atu 8H, @alan (elu .ahang, Penang
(el: 9:;667 <66= I 2a": 9:;66> 987> I ,mail: infoKtropicalfruits.com.my
www.tropicalfruits.com.my
Tro'ical +'ice !arden, @alan (elu .ahang
(ropical 'pice )arden provides an enchanting escape for tired souls1 it is a garden of discovery
for those who miss out on simple pleasures lie waling barefoot on dewy grass or stopping to
smell the flowers. $f you are in need of stress therapy to invigorate your body and mind, this
microcosm of diverse ecosystems is the perfect respiteM -lic here for full story
Lot 5>5 Muim 6, @alan (elu .ahang 88899 Penang
(el: <9:;HH8 87>7 CLeslieD I www.tropicalspicegarden.com
!pens daily from >.99am to <.99pm. Last admission at 5.=9 pm.
#dmission fees to the 'pice )ardens:
Family C6 adults and up to = childrenD: 3M6H Cself;guidedD or 3M:5 Ctour guidedD
Adult 3M8= Cself guidedD or 3M69 Ctour guidedD
.hild Caged :;86D: 3M5 Cself or tour guidedDB 2ree for children under : years of age
.
#dmission fee to the Jisitor -entre: 3M8 C2ree for children accompanied by parentsD
$ncludes admission to the 'pice Museum, )arden 'hop, )ift 'hop and 'pice -afN.
/outh Park
?ested under a canopy of mature trees, the Louth Par is Penang1s largest recreational area.
(oday it boasts new outdoor adult e"ercise machines, children1s outdoor pools and play
e/uipmant, lush tropical gardens vibrant with colour, and /uiet conversation corners.
(ourism Penangs *alal A Jegetarian 2ood %irectory
2oodwise, theres just so much to choose from in Penang that even locals are perple"edM (he
varieties are seemingly endless. (he ne"t time you are faced with the conundrum of where to eat
and how to get there, chec out (ourism Penang1s *alal A Jegetarian 2ood %irectory.

-lic on the image to download P%2 versions of the list of over a hundred restaurants on the island
and mainland, accompanied by descriptions of the place and house specialities, contact info and
useful legends.
*aving a reputation as a food paradise, be it haute cuisine, or cuisine bourgeoise Chawer fareD,
Penang offers a heady and e"otic mi" of delicious cuisine to choose from.
$n a word, Penang food is both famous and fabulous. 4hen people mention Penang food, they
are more often than not referring to hawer food and coffee shop dining. $t1s true that some of the
hype is overblown but it cannot be denied that Penang is home to many uni/uely delicious chow.
$ronically, hawers in other states or towns have been nown to pull the crowd by simply
advertising their food as hailing from Penang, regardless of its authenticity or /uality. (hen there
are the Penang hawers who advertise their cusine as specialties from another state, lie @ohor
bak kut teh, $poh chicen and bean sprouts or laksa &edah. $n short, an infinite variety of dishes
are yours to savour all you need do is pic and choose.
Penang hawer food can be broen down roughly into several varieties, with each being
attributable to Penang1s multi;cultural character: ?yonya, -hinese, vegetarian, $ndian, Malay,
*aa;styled 4estern, seafood and desserts. *ybrids are also nown to e"ist, and some famous
e"amples are Malay style chicen rice and char koay teow, and -hinese satay and nasi lemak.
Prices are cheap and reasonable.
4ith fishing being a major economic activity on the island, Penang is naturally a haven for sea
food, and a handful of restaurants have already achieved legendary status among locals and
foreigners.
(uced away in remote corners, these eateries are not easy to find without local guidance but are
definitely worth the e"tra effort seeing out.
%esserts play a major role in Penang gastronomy. (here are as many varieties as there are races
in PenangM (o mention a few would do injustice to the rest, so you1ll just have to let your eyes and
your nose be your guide. # word of warning though most local desserts tend to be sweet and
rich, as coconut mil, flour and sugar are main ingredients.
(hans to early -hinese migrants, -hinese cuisine ranges from -antonese to (eochew to
*oien to *ainanese to 'Fechuan cooing. (here1s also Penang ?yonya food, which is a
combination of -hinese, Malay and some (hai. (he Penang variety of ?yonya food, apparently, is
different from the Malaccan or even 'ingaporean versions. 2or a touch of lu"ury, try a five or ten;
course -hinese meal at one of the restaurants or hotels in town.
$ndian cuisine goes by two names generally banana leaf rice and nasi kandar. .oth are hot and
savoury with rice being the main staple, and a menu from north $ndian tandoori and nan bread, to
'outh $ndian rice and capati (photo left).
Nasi kandar is famously popular with Penangites, and many restaurants selling it are well nown
not only to those on the island but those in other states as well. $t is /uite common to find people
from other states detouring to Penang just to stop for a meal of nasi kandar before proceeding on
their journey elsewhere...
$ndulgeM 'avourM
+ntil sometime in the late 79s, Penang was a free port. 'hoppers from other states Cincluding
'ingaporeD would travel regularly to Penang to chec out the latest bargains especially
cosmetics, perfume and electrical items. (he honour of a duty free port has since been given to
Langawi to boost tourist inflow.
,ven without the duty free privilege, shopping in Penang is still an e"citing e"perience. #nti/ue
and curios stores well stoced with things art deco, art nouveau, baro/ue, rococo, chinoiserie,
silver, china, glass, objet d1art and bric;O;brac are still doing bris business along -hulia 'treet,
Penang 3oad and .urmah 3oad. -ampbell 'treet Ca half pedestrian mallD is a hive of activity and
the place to head to for the best bargain on shoes, clothes, luggage, cosmetics, perfumes and
food. )reat bargains can also be found at roadside stalls which sell leather goods, clothing and
souvenier items.
$f moseying in malls is your cup of tea, there are plenty to choose from at least three right
smac in )eorge (own, and several more on the outsirts. #ll prices in the departmental stores
and bigger shops are fi"ed, but elsewhere it is advisable to compare prices before buying. $t is
also customary to bargain.
$f you crave the unusual, head on down to the flea maret at Lorong &ulit, which is open from
morning until around 6:99pm daily. %ubious looing anti/ues lie side by side with throwaway jun,
and new things ju"tapose with used items, but with a little patience and perseverance, you might
unearth a hidden gem from underneath all the jumble and hodgepodge. Pea days are weeends
and public holidays, e"cept (haipusam, when the grounds are used to prepare avadi carriers.
#lthough )eorge (own isn1t e"actly a city that does not sleep, night life on the island is abuFF with
e"citement until the wee hours Clonger on weeendsD. #ll hotels feature at least some form of
entertainment other. (here are also numerous colorful bars, nightclubs, discothe/ues, all;night
coffee houses and restaurants.
$f mingling with the masses is your idea of fun, chec out the pasar malams, or night marets for
some ine"pensive shopping and dining. Lie a traveling circus, pasar malam traders move from
town to town, village to village and community to community nightly to peddle their wares
P,?#?) *$'(!3L
#lthough the .ritish were described as latecomers in a line of 4estern -olonialists in Malaysia1s
history, they arguably left the most enduring legacy, particularly in the form of legislation and the
development of )eorge (own into a 1modern1 city. ,ven a short gallop through the history of
Penang will not be complete without mention of the arrival of the .ritish in 87H<, and the
subse/uent introduction of .ritish rule in the day;to;day administration and governance of
Penang.
!ne could conjecture that had there been no .ritish authority in Penang, the shape and destiny of
heritage conservation could have turned out to be entirely different. 'horn of .ritish influence, the
built heritage and living culture of the ethnic enclaves could very well come to the fore. .e that as
it may, historical landmars in Penang bear the inspiration of various influences. Many still stand
till this day, although in the preface to the 6nd edition of treets of George !own, the author
lamented that Emany heritage buildings have fallen.E
)eorge (own, the capital of the state of Penang, has one of the largest collections of 8>th, and
early 69th century buildings in 'outheast #sia. $t is a living historic city, with inner city
communities, places of worship, guilds, wet maret and baFaars, traditional trades and retail
shops, trishaw peddlers and hawers.
'ince 8>:H, )eorge (owns heritage buildings had been protected under a 3ent -ontrol #ct. #
8>>: census showed that Penang had 86,:5= rent control premises with H,65> located in the
heart of )eorge (own. (he repeal of 3ent -ontrol at the dawning of the new millennium has seen
the transition of some tenants to other parts of Penang. *owever, the 'tate )overnment is doing
all it can to ensure that )eorge (owns heritage landscape and living culture will survive this
transition. )etting )eorge (own listed by +nesco as a 4orld *eritage 'ite will go a long way
towards this goal.
%aily, hundreds of tourists both local and foreign, visit this vast preservation of treasures in
)eorge (own, in which may be seen and enjoyed the story of Penang1s man;made heritage. #s
the starting point of Penang1s multicultural community, the inner city of )eorge (own has many
houses of worship, guilds, mos/ues, temples, clanhouses, district associations, sanghams and
lodges which are Penang1s 1open museums1 of migration and cultural history. (he many heritage
tour guides are only too happy to reveal to the visitor the beauty and wonder, and the inspiration
and spiritual meaning that lie behind each building, each community and each culture.
# nimble amble through the historical sights in )eorge (own: the first four streets mapped out by
city fathers in )eorge (own, namely .each 'treet, Light 'treet, Pitt 'treet Cnow @alan Mesjid
&apitan &elingD and -hulia 'treet are still very much relevant and bustle with traffic everyday.
@ust around the corner from .each 'treet lies the -olonial Puarter, where 2ort -ornwallis,
,splanade, -ity *all, -ourt;house, 't. )eorge1s -hurch, -onvent Light 'treet, -heong 2att (Fe
Mansion, the Protestant -emetery, and other historical buildings are situated.
# short distance away are what is described as the historic port settlements or 1ethnic enclaves1
the Little $ndia commercial orb, &apitan &eling mos/ue, )oddess of Mercy (emple,
Mahamariamman (emple, #rmenian 'treet, #cheen 'treet, &hoo &ongsi, &ing 'treet, 4eld Puay
and others.
Places of Attractions( ,atural "ate0ays 1 'arks
(he Penang ?ational Par C(aman ?egara Pulau PinangD is
one of the few natural forested areas left on the island. $t is
also currently the world1s smallest national par.
(he Par is located at the north;western corner of Penang
$sland, on what resembles the side profile of a face, hence
the name Mua *ead Cmua literally means faceD. 4ith 88H8
hectares of forest and 8=H8 hectares of wetlands, the Par1s
ecosystem is a diversity of habitats with hills, sandy and
rocy beaches, streams and coastal forests ;representing
much of the natural habitats of Penang.
!a2ettin" the Park
4ay bac in 8>5H, the Pantai #cheh 2orest 3eserve was first proposed as a nature conservation
area by a group called the E-ommittee for the Preservation of ?atural .eautyE. 'ince that time,
both nature interest groups and even government reports have proposed that the 3eserve be
turned into some ind of par and conservation area. (he Malaysian ?ature 'ociety CM?'D made
several representations to the state and federal governments to turn Pantai #cheh into a national
par.
$t was on : #pril 699= when Pantai #cheh 2orest 3eserve was finally declared the Penang
?ational Par by the then deputy Prime Minister %atu 'eri #bdullah #hmad .adawi.
(he Penang ?ational Par is the first protected area legally gaFetted under the ?ational Par #ct
of 8>H9, signifying the 'tate and 2ederal )overnments1 efforts in protecting the environment. $t
goes without saying that funds will be allocated to develop the Penang ?ational Par, within
guidelines. #ll logging activities stopped since 8>><. Part of the Pantai #cheh 2orest 3eserve had
been logged before 8>55B none have been logged since.
The natural 0onders of Penan" ,ational Park
(he Par is uni/ue as it contains several different types of habitat including a meromictic lae,
wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches.

# survey conducted by the M?', together with +niversiti 'ains Malaysia C+'MD indicated a
reasonable rich fauna. 'mall mammals such as tree shrews Ctupai glisD, slow loris, flying lemur
C-ynocephalus variegatesD, civet cats, lepoard cats, sea otters and pangolins have been spotted.
$f you1re lucy, some of these shy creatures mae an occasional appearance at Pantai &eracut,
where the meromictic lae is located.
.esides mammals, the Par is also home to many birds, reptiles, amphibians and of course the
famous turtles, especially the )reen turtles C-helonia mydasD, the 3idley turtles CLepidochelys
olivaceaD, the Leatherbac turtles and the *awsbill turtles C,retmochelys imbricateD.
4hen you are at the Par, loo up and see if you can spot a .rahminy &ite, 4hite;bellied 'ea;
eagle or the -rested 'erpent;eagle that are commonly seen soaring gracefully above.
$f you come across any snaes along your path, you would be happy to now that most of the
snaes at the Par are non;poisonous. *owever, tae note that there is no sure way to tell a
poisonous from a non;poisonous snae, thus it is best to eep your distance from them.
%id you now that spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes belong to the same group ;
#rthropada0 (hey are, however, from different classes. &eep an eye out for these little creatures
along your hiing trail. $nsects, by far, are the most numerous deniFens of the Par.
(he flora at the Par is one which is characteristic of the coastal dipterocarp Cor winged seedsD
forest. 14ings1 help seeds to have a better chance of being blown far from the parent. 'ome trees
from the %ipterocarp family are -hengal, Meranti 'eraya, @elutong, )aharu and .intangor. 4hen
cultivated, these trees provide valuable and aesthetic hardwood. !ther plants that populate the
Par include ferns, palms, pitcher plants, meromictic flora, climbers, fungi and mangrove.
(here are altogether an estimated :87 flora and 8:= fauna species, according to a local daily
report in May 699<.
o0 to "et to the Penan" ,ational Park
*op on a *in .us no. 8;8 from &omtar. (he =9m journey, barring traffic jams, will tae around :5
minutes. (he bus will pass urban and rural settings. Located at the end of .atu 2eringghi 3oad is
the fishing village of (elu .ahang, and the entrance to the Par.
Facilities at the Park
Penang ?ational Par only receives daily visitors. 2or camping, visitors are re/uested to see
permission from the management. -amping and weeend programmes organised by the ?ational
Par are also available for students who are interested in this activity. *owever, accommodation
is not provided in the ?ational Par. Jisitors are recommended to stay at the nearest hotels
around .atu 2eringghi and (elu .ahang.
Jisitors are also reminded the deposit their litter in the 1money;proof1 trash bins where one has to
push a leaver to open the hatch. (he bins are located along popular hiing trails. 3emember, pic
nothing up Ce"cept rubbishMD and leave nothing behind.
3est stops e/uipped with picnic tables are also strategically placed throughout the Par for your
enjoyment.
Recreational acti#ities
Penang ?ational Par offers vast opportunities for research, education, recreation and
ecotourism activities such as climbing, treing, swimming, wildlife observation or simply enjoying
the natural environment, which is a combination of the forest and sea.
3ich in biodiversity and wildlife, the par has attracted world;renowned scientists, researchers
and even the ?ational )eographic crew to study and learn from its pristine surroundings. $n this
pocet of undisturbed natural beauty, we must learn to appreciate the natural heritage and help to
promote their conservation for future generations.
?ote: (he Par is for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. +pon registering, the rules and
regulations of Penang ?ational Par will be made nown to you via a flyer, as you collect your
entry pass. %o comply and have a wonderful e"perience at the current world1s smallest national
par.
For more information, contact(
+u'erintendant
Penang ?ational Par
@alan *assan #bas,(elu .ahang,
88959 Penang
(el: <9:;HH8 =5=9G HH8 698<,
2a": <9:;HH8 698<
,;mail: tnppKstreamy".com
Director
%epartment of 4ildlife and ?ational Pars Penang
Level :9, &!M(#3, 89999 Penang 3oad, Penang
(el: <9:;6<8 =9=>, 2a": <9:;6<8 9==9
,;mail: jphltnppKstreamy".com
*uan /in Tem'le 3
a house of bene#olence on a street of harmony
A 4ho is *uan /in5
!ne of the most famous of all .uddhist deities is &uan Lin, who is also nown as the )oddess of
-ompassion among her many devotees.
*er name is -hinese for .odhisattva #valoitesvara in .uddhism, a bodhisattva is someone
who has achieved nirvana but decides to remain in the material world to help humanind reach
enlightenment.
$n ,nglish the name &uan Lin translates appro"imately to E(he !ne who *ears the -ries of the
4orld.E @esuit missionaries in -hina, struc by the similarity between &uan Lin and the Jirgin
Mary gave her another name the )oddess of Mercy.
&uan Lin C#valoitesvaraD was originally depicted as the young Prince 'iddharta and is male.
'ometime during the 89th century, &uan Lin1s gender slowly assumed more feminine
characteristics, according to -hinese scholar Professor -hQn;fang LQ, who has written a boo
about &uan Lin C"uan#yin$ !he Chinese !ransformation of A%alokites%araD. .y the time of the
Ming %ynasty C8:th centuryD, Lu said, the &uan Lin had become a goddess.
*uan /in)s 'o'ularity
&uan Lin1s devotees number by the millions in many parts of #sia and the world, from
cosmopolitan cities to the remotest villages. *er statue is commonly found in homes and
.uddhist temples in various incarnations, often cloaed in white robes.
'he is depicted either standing or sitting on a lotus flower, sometimes with a baby. 'he holds a
string of prayer beads in one hand and the Lotus 'utra or vase in the otherB the former a sign of
her devotion and the latter symbolising her compassion to the world.
'he has also been presented as having many arms and eyes, with which she uses to see the
needy and to help them.
!ne of the most majestic statues of &uan Lin is found in Penang, built on a hillslope ne"t to the
&e Lo 'i.
The oldest tem'le in Penan"
(he &uan Lin (emple, situated on Pitt 'treet Cnow @alan Mesjid &apitan &elingD was constructed
in the early 8H99s by -hinese migrants, on land given by the ,ast $ndia -ompany.
(he temple was built in the style of classic -hinese architecture with ornate curved;ridge rooftops
made to loo lie ocean waves, decorated with dragons and supported by pillars which also
feature carvings of dragons. (hese mythical creatures are believed to be temple guardians.
$t was originally called &ong *oc &eong and ownership was claimed by both the -antonese and
*oien communities. $n 8H<6, Penang philantropist &haw 'oo -heang Cthe father of &haw 'im
.eeD made a siFable donation to the temple so major repairs could be carried out.
%espite the name, the temple is actually dedicated to two deities &uan Lin and Ma -hor Poh,
the latter being the patron saint of seafarers. .eing oceangoing travelers, these two deities were
especially significant to the -hinese.
4ithin the temple, in an inner chamber, is a statue of an 8H;armed &uan Lin. $n the courtyard are
two huge iron stoves where devotees burn paper offerings, and an octagonal well which once
served the -hinese community.
(here are several stories regarding the temple, although very little are documented in official
records. 2or e"ample, it was claimed that during 446, the @apanese dropped a bomb on the
temple with the intention of destroying it. (hrough sheer luc Cor divine interventionD, the bomb
dropped in the courtyard instead and the temple was untouched. !thers described how a large
number of Penangites too shelter in the temple during the war.
*uan /in feast days
(he high point of the temple is of course during &uan Lin1s birthday, which is celebrated thrice
annually on the 8>th day of the second, si"th and ninth lunar month.
%uring these occasions, the temple becomes a veritable hive of activity manifold acts of
compassion by the throng of devotees, and for days afterwards, the scent of incense from their
burning joss stics hang thicly in the air.
-hinese puppet theatre Csomewhat similar to the portable !h&'tre de guignolD is performed
outside the temple during the )oddess1 feast days, featuring marionettes of characters from
popular -hinese opera. ?earby stalls selling fresh flowers, oil and fragrant stics are especially
busy during this time.
%aily, the hundreds of wild pigeons which descend on the courtyard are fed by the devotees while
the local *are &rishna movement distributes free food to the destitute and the hungry, whatever
race or faith they may be.
Many Penangites will remember an event which happened during a significant and rare event for
devotees of &uan Lin one which occurred every <9 years on =8 @uly 8>HH. !n that day, a
mammoth crowd of many thousands gathered in Penang to watch a procession, and also to offer
prayers at the temple on Pitt 'treet. (he streets of )eorge (own were so paced with people
standing shoulder to shoulder that even waling from one point to another became ne"t to
impossible.
!ver on the mainland, a large number of -atholics were also celebrating the feast day of a
venerated female 't. #nne. 'adly for many Penangites, the day of the twin celebrations ended
in tragedy. (he 3aja (un +da ferry terminal in Penang, built in 8>5<, collapsed under the
tremendous weight of the celebrants.
(hirty;two people died, and thousands of others were injured. $ndeed, that terrible day in @uly
would go down as the blacest in the memories of many Penangites.
+i"nificance to Penan")s multi-culturalism
Pitt 'treet is also nown affectionately and appropriately as the 'treets of *armony, for here are
found three historical houses of worships all in the same row the &apitan &eling Mos/ue, the
&uan Lin (emple and 't. )eorge1s -hurch. (hey were all built at around the same time Cin the
8H99sD, indicating that the surrounding areas were themselves multi;racial and multi;religious
-hinese, Malay, $ndian, Muslims, .uddhist and -hristians.
(his microcosm of communal consonance is still evident and vibrant today, and this is due largely
to the fact that the geography of old )eorge (own has not been disturbed too much.
(he compassion of .uddhism, the simplicity of $slam and the serenity of -hristianity each
uni/ue in its own way, but together they represent the intertwined strands of )eorge (own1s
populace.
Standard 6 students from Hutchings School exploring the Streets of Harmony, visiting various places of
worship to gain a better understanding and first hand experiences on the different faiths in Penang. This
trail was part of the the 'The Penang lobal !thic Pro"ect', a month#long series of programmes to promote
concepts of universal peace and multi#religious harmony.
4ritten by 3aja #bdul 3aFa
Photos by #drian -heah R #ll rights reserved
.omments To This Article(
The role of $a .hor Poh (asiae(plorers) *+,*-,.**/ )
(hans for the article. #s mentioned, it was dedicated to both the &uan Lin and Ma -hor
Poh. *owever, as $ mentioned in my page,
http:GGwww.asiae"plorers.comGmalaysiaGpenangGuanyinteng.shtml the &uan Lin (eng was
originally dedicated to Ma -hor Poh, whose patronage was more relevant to the newly
arrived settlers, who offered to the deity for safe sea passage. !nly later did the &uan Lin
eclipse the Ma -hor Poh, when the community has stabilised.
A stroll amon" the flo0ers and animals
at the .uit @ambul !rchid, *ibiscus A 3eptile )arden
Penang is nown as a nature lover1s paradise for several reasons. $t has a world;famous butterfly
farm, botanic garden, two a/uariums, recreational forests, numerous hiing trails and a !rchid,
*ibiscus and 3eptile )arden. ,nough to provide the most satisfying e"perience that an
adventurer and a nature lover can have, one might hasten to add.
An e6citin" addition to Penan")s natural 0onders
(he idea behind the creation of the .uit @ambul !rchid A *ibiscus )arden and 3eptile *ouse,
as it is called, came from two friends, a horticulturist and herpetologist. $t is located along
Persiaran .uit @ambul, close to the *otel ,/uatorial and easily within reach from any part of
Penang.
(he par is very popular with foreign and domestic visitors, and sees many visitors per day. Pea
days are on 2riday, weeends and public holidays.
Presently, the two hectare par is home to an amaFing variety of plants and animals, some of
which are uni/ue in this part of the world. (hey include:

I # pair of .engal tigers which arrived at the farm about < years ago when they were cubs. (he
baby tigers were very popular with the crowd because photography sessions were permitted. (he
tigers are fed a daily diet of meat and chicen.
I # collection of flightless giant birds lie the emu, ostrich and asawari
I # variety of 859 to 699 flowers
I #bout 85 types of snaes
I # taling parrot which greets visitors with a cheery EhelloME
I 2our giant land tortoises from 'eychelles
I 'napping turtles
I 'i" arapaima gigas Cone of the largest freshwater fishesD
I # pair of hibiscuses named after former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and his wife 'iti
*asmah
I (he world1s largest tiger orchid, whose flowers measure = inches across. $t blooms but once a
year, in 'eptember
I -actus garden
Passionate about all things scaly0 (hen head on to the building which houses 59 glass tans
filled with a variety of e"otic reptiles including:
I (he -hinese rat snae C,laphe carinataD also nown as &ing 3atsnae or interestingly, the
'tining )oddess, because of a strong odour which it emits when being handled
I )reen tree viper C(rimeresurus albolabrisD
I #lbino .urmese Python CPython molurus bivittatusD which can grow up to < meters
I )reen anaconda C,unectus murinusD ; growing up to a ma"imum weight of 699g C::8 poundsD
and measuring > metres C6>.5 feetD, the green anaconda is the largest of the giant snaes found
in 'outh #merica.
I .lue tongue sin C(iligua gigasD
I Pair of saltwater crocodiles C-rocodylus porosusD
#ll snaes are fed weely with white mice and chicen meat. 4hen they fall ill, treatment is
conducted in;house or by a visiting vet. $ncidentally, a .urmese python that has been
painstaingly 1tamed1 for photography sessions with visitors died suddenly. (raining a .urmese
python must be done from infancy and taes years, and the garden has plans to train a new one.
#fter that, photography sessions with the python can be resumed. .urmese pythons are the
preferred choice for mingling safely with humans because they are more docile than other breeds
of pythons.
Mae sure you allocate some time at the garden to catch the snae show which is performed
twice on weeends and public holidays at 88.=9am and =.=9pm. (hey are designed not only for
entertainment but for education as well, so bring your ids along to watch.
'ome interesting facts that will be learnt include, for e"ample, the warning to eep away from
rivers and water bodies because those are the natural habitats of snaes. %id you also now that
snaes would rather run away from humans than to attac them0 Lou will also learn that there are
also different 1strengths1 of snae bites, ranging from scare tactics to those that paralyse and ill.
#nd what1s a snae show without the thrill of watching the snae charmer plant a iss on the head
of the ing cobra, one of the deadliest snaes, and live to tell the tale0
!ther attractions on the )arden grounds are a cascading waterfall, ornamental @apanese pond
and pottery corner. (o tae a brea from the adventure, you can cool down and rest your feet at a
tea ios.
Take some home 0ith you
Part of the pleasure of visiting the par comes from the ability to tae some of it bac with you
when you leave. 'everal species of orchids, hibiscuses, bromeliads and banana plants are
available for sale, with prices ranging from 3M89 to 3M899 for orchids, 3M65 to 3MH9 for
bromeliads and 3M65 to 3M59 for dwarf banana trees.
4hile shopping, don1t forget to chec out the souvenir shop selling t;shirts, fridge magnets,
frames, -hinese vases, wooden snaes and other things to remind you of your visit.
7isitin" hours
(his par is open from >.=9am to <.=9pm daily with last entry being at 5.=9pm.
'nae shows are on twice every 'aturdays, 'undays and public holidays, at 88.=9am and
=.=9pm
#ddress: .uit @ambul !rchid, *ibiscus and 3eptile )arden
Persiaran .uit @ambul, 88>99 Penang I (el: 9:;<:: HH<=, 2a": 9:;66H 57==
#dmission 2ee: 3M89.99 adults A 3M5.99 children.
3M8 charge for camera usage.
%o en/uire about special pacages for school ids.
?ote: ?o dogs or other animals are allowed to enter the par.
loron" *ulit
a ra"ba" and %umble of odds and ends
0a1a Abdul 0a2ak 3 4illiam Chow
flea market n. A market, usually held outdoors, where antiques, used household
goods, and curios are sold. [Translation of French march$ aux puces.]
serendipity n. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. [From
the characters in the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip, who made such
discoveries] from the American !eritage "ictionary#
% safe but sometimes chilly way of recalling the past is to force open a
crammed drawer. &f you are searching for anything in particular you don't
find it, but something falls out at the bac' that is often more interesting.
J. M. Barrie $%&'($)*+#, ,ritish -laywright.
.rote the -lay Peter Pan in $)'/.
ove it or loathe it, Penang1s flea maret at Lorong &ulit has gained /uite a
reputation among Malaysians and tourists alie. 4hether or not the Penang flea
maret is similar to Cor different fromD other flea marets around the world is a
matter of personal opinion but it definitely fits in with the description above, which
was taen from the #merican *eritage %ictionary.
Penangites will tell you that shopping at the flea maret cannot compare with
shopping in a megamall or modern shopping comple". #lthough both are in their
own way interesting and colourful, shopping in a modern comple" somehow lacs
the e"citement of uncovering hidden surprises ; lie discovering a long lost and
forgotten treasure under a pile of throw;aways. (he saying that E,ast is east and
west is west and never the two shall meetE holds true when you tal about flea
marets and shopping comple"es in the same breath. $nterestingly, some shopping
comple"es in Malaysia have introduced the concept of the flea maret into their
premises, two e"amples being our very own Prangin Mall Cevery 'unday from 8 to
HpmD and #mcorp Mall in &uala Lumpur. .ut $ digressS
$1m not sure when Penang1s flea maret started. #s far as $ can tell, the place
started from humble Cand shadyD beginnings at 3ope 4al, off Prangin 3oad.
'ince then, the maret has grown and e"panded into a semi;legitimate gathering of
peddlers selling everything from discarded things to mundane household
paraphernalia to genuine anti/ues and curios.
4hy semi;legitimate you as. 4ell, the flea maret Cnown to locals as Lorong
&ulit, after the road where it is now situatedD did have Cand still has, $ hasten to
addD a reputation of being a thieves1 maret. $f that last bit conjures in your mind
images of 'cheheraFade and a colorful Middle ,astern maretplace filled with
scoundrels, thieves, magicians, pirates, princes and treasures, you1ve got another
thing coming. (he only thing reminiscent of #li .aba and the !housand and 5ne
Nights in Lorong &ulit are old and tarnished brassware, the occasional snae in a
baset, old coins and maybe a hooah.
2or the record, there occassionally are stolen goods in Lorong &ulit, but they loo
no different from other used goods on sale. -ase in point a friend who once lost a
pair of stilettos was told that she could probably get them bac at the flea maretM
'o off she went with some mean looing relatives Cfor protectionD and lo and
behold, there were her shoes, which were returned to her after some heated
threats were e"changedM
'ome of the things you get there loo too good to be discards, although they are all
lumped together. $f you loo carefully enough, there are bargains to be had ;; for
e"ample, $ once piced up a full 8 ounce bottle of 67air du temps perfume. $t
would1ve cost a couple of hundred ringgit on the maret, if you can find it, but $ paid
3M85 for it. #nd tae it from someone who nows what the real thing smells Cand
loosD lie, this was the real thing, right down to the gold painted doves on the
flacon. #t those prices, you don1t really care to now where the seller got his stuffM
(hen there was the time $ piced up an old record for 3M=. # few months later, it
sold on ebay Can online auction siteD to a buyer in the +& for +'T885. $ still have an
$ndian pressed 7Hrpm shellac of P. 3amlee and 'aloma singing )unung Payong
Cfrom the classic Malay movie Batu Belah Batu BertangkupD on one side and on
the other the more upbeat Chiki Chiki Boom, which $ found several years ago at the
flea maret. (he reason why $ haven1t parted with it is because aD P. 3amlee is the
most endearing personality in the entire history of Malay cinema and bD (here was
a picture in !he tar, not too long ago, of %r. Mahathir dancing to the same record
which was spinning on an old fashioned horn phonograph.
(here1s no telling what you will unearth at the flea maret. Lou may be looing for a
particular thing, but come across something else that stries your fancy, which you
were not looing for in the first place. $sn1t that the essence of serendipity0
3ecord collectors will s/uat patiently while flipping through a pile of dusty, moldy
and scratchy records. .ehind him, other collectors patiently await their turn. .etter
to wait than to come bac later and find that the best have been taen by another
sharp eyed collector.
ooing for an old copy of 8emale Annual from the 79s or the traits !imes Annual
from 8><=0 !ld copies of the traits 9cho0 *ere1s where you might find one, if you
are lucy, for as little as 3M6 or thereabouts. Prices vary. 'ome sellers who thin
they now all there is to now about anti/ues demand ridiculously high prices for
their wares, which includes photos of -hinese film stars and divas from a bygone
era. 3usty and faded sign boards with drawings of -hinese damsels in
cheongsams advertising cigarettes and soft drins stare out forlornly at passers;by.
$ once overheard a seller offering for sale a rusty and tatty looing keris for
3M8,599, which $ thought was ridiculous. !n your lucy day, another seller who
might not now the value of his merchandise may part with something valuable for
a song. $t all boils down to how much you are willing to pay for something,
regardless of its maret value or as some would say Ebeing at the right place at
the right timeE. 4hen something catches your fancy, there really is no time to thin
about the actual value of an object, unless you are an e"pert. !n the verge of
indecision, you do what every self;respecting Penangite does best you bargain
and you wheel and deal until some deal is struc and a satisfactory price arrived atM
Medicine men peddle everything from creams to get rid of fungal infections to live
eels, dhabs Ca large liFard found in 'audi #rabiaD and oils and potions that just
might remove flagging spirits and grant men the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
2orget Jiagra. # talative and loud personality with a microphone and cheap P#
system and rapid;fire lecture on the importance of libido, peppered with double
entendres, and a stash of naughty photos, definitely draws a male;only crowd lie
nothing else can.
'ome H9 per cent of sellers and stalls in the flea maret are permanent fi"tures,
the rest operate on an ad;hoc basis ;; here today, gone tomorrow, bac again a few
days later. 3egular vendors sell things lie handphones and related peripherals,
gemstones, fae watches, spectacles and ine"pensive electronic accessories C$
actually found a new remote control to replace the one that broe for my 86 year
old 'ony (J, for 3M86MD. -heap and awful sounding Ehi;fiE components blast away
the latest and most popular nondescript dance music with incomprehensible
foreign lyrics.
# common sight in the flea maret two years ago were the pirated J-% and music
-% stalls. 'ince the government1s efforts to wipe music and movie piracy off the
face of Malaysia, nearly all the J-% stalls have ceased operations and former J-%
sellers are now selling handphones, a/uarium fish and bric;a;bracM +sed J-%s are
/uite easily available still and one or two pirated J-% and music -% sellers are
maing a modest comebac.
.argain price fruit stalls attract the most customers who go there in droves to buy
apples, oranges, plums and other local fruits by the cartload.
'uffice it to say that whether you are looing for new and used clothes and shoes,
an old gramophone or a charcoal iron, porcelain lamp shades, used and new
counterfeit J-%s, official papers issued by Penang1s pre;Merdea government,
pungent attars, se" toys, decorative bottles, comics old and new, furry and scaly
pets, plants and short of nearly everything under the sun, you1d be hard pressed to
find another place in Penang that will have it all. $t just taes a certain amount of
perseverance, patience, leg wor and sweatM
# haughty visitor from &uala Lumpur, having heard /uite a bit about the flea maret
at Lorong &ulit, decided to pay the place a visit to shop for boos. *e wasn1t at all
happy with the place, the crowd and the wares. *e compared Lorong &ulit to some
of the flea marets in ,ngland Cwhere he had obviously spent some timeD and
scoffed that those places sold real treasures all organised in a neat and proper
manner.
$t may be that the flea marets in ,urope are far more attractive than Lorong &ulit,
or for that matter, other flea marets in Malaysia. (rue, you1re bound to find
something that is of value and aesthetically beautiful, lie a gown made of old
Jictorian lace or an early edition of Alice7s Ad%entures in 4onderland in pristine
condition. Lou1ll meet people who would never, under any circumstances, sell you
something defective or heaven forbid, stolen. #ll well and good, you might say.
#nd yet, there is a certain 1e ne sais :uoi charm that imbues Penang1s one and
only flea maret. # feeling of inship with the, dare $ say it, heart and soul of every
Penangite0 (he innate ability to now a good thing when they see it0 (he love of
bargaining0 (he joys of indulging in ine"pensive pleasures0 (he thrill of uncovering
little gems0
4here else but the flea maret in Lorong &ulit can one indulge with abandon0
Note: &ntrepid souls can chec' out the flea mar'et from (am to )pm every day except when
it rains. &t is now located in Pera' *oad, behind the Penang stadium in +atu' ,eramat
*oad, next to a food court and fruit stalls. The spot where it used to operate, in -orong
,ulit, next to the Tenaga .asional /erhad office, is presently used as a par'ing lot. The
state government has promised to 0relocate0 the flea mar'et traders bac' from Pera' *oad
to -orong ,ulit after completion of the stadium's renovation. 1e don't 'now when that will
happen, but & rather li'e the present location of the flea mar'et, which unli'e the previous
location, is dotted with shady noo's here and there offering a respite from the heat of the
day for weary bargain hunters. Plus, the area is larger and there are more traders.
The new location has also allowed some opportunistic petty traders to set up shop in the
2uaint bac' lanes and sidewal's. % few enterprising shophouse owners are also ta'ing
advantage of the situation by opening their bac' doors 3literally4 and selling food and used
electrical goods right at their bac'yard5 Tal' about a yard sale5
.omments To This Article(
!verall 3ating 2or (his #rticle: 0000000000
Attentions8888 (predators) *;,*<,.**/ ) 0atings$ 00000 )
$ts me, %anial, Penang 'ang &uriang 5: team. Lorong &ulit a..a. 3oad 4al was mine and my
friends1s playgrounds. 'ee u there. +1ll meet 'yahril Pnd, Mamu Mali, #mirul, #lon, 'yah Mat .j,
.oy .atman, ,my -a +benF, else. #ll these guys are nutF A friendly. #has..
9oron" *ulit (abangtan1ong) .<,;.,.**= ) 0atings$ 00000 )
(his flea maret is one outstanding place to visit. (hieves Maret is another synonym for this trading
areaM (hose who lost their shoes at the mos/ues might be suprised to come across their pair hereM
hehehehe.
Lou can find everything here from computer parts to old nics and nacsM
!ne of Penang1s highlightsM
Recommended Nyonya restaurants in Penang:
.hi-ki ,yonya Restaurant
@alan .urma, Penang I (el: <9:;66> <6<<
Dra"on *in" Restaurant
>>, .ishop 'treet, )eorge (own I (el: <9:;6<8 H9=5
ot 4ok
=*, @alan Pantai Mole, (anjong (oong I (el: <9:;H>9 7H5H
,yonya .orner
::;:< @alan ?agore, 89959 Penang I (el: <9:;66< H<8<
The sensational :kin" of the fruits:
ULou should wash your hands using the water poured from a durian sin. $t will remove the smell
from your fingers,E urged Mr. (eh, my neighbour who accompanied me on a durian feast at .ali
Pulau. 4e had a satisfying breafast lie no other amidst the natural surrounding of a durian
orchard.
Mr ?ah )in )uan, the tenants son of the durian orchard, was silful in opening the durians. 4ith
a sharp cleaver, every single fruit was pried open at the tail end where the indicative slicing lines
met.
-ome durian season, for as far as $ can remember, my father however, deploying a stic;stump
appro"imately eight inches long with a slightly sharp end to do the same job.
$ on the other hand, would now prefer the much safer and easier method to get the durian seller
to open part of the fruit for me. (his way, $ am certain of the /uality $ am paying for. $n the past
nothing else can.
foreign lyrics.
manner.
little gems0
there were times when the inner sin merged and did not give way at the trust of the nife the
tussle sometime drew blood.
(he durian tree C.ombaceae %urio Fibethius L.MurrD is native to moist e/uatorial forests in
'outheast #sia. $t can grow to 899 feet tall and produces heavy, thic;sinned, brownish;green,
soccer;ball siFe fruits covered with sharp thorns.
U%urianV come from the word UduriV translates from .ahasa Malaysia as thorn. (herefore durian,
by name is the thorny fruit. 4hich indeed, it is.
,ach individual fruit is divided into five compartments, each containing a brown seed covered by
a sac of thic, creamy pulp with an aroma that is legendary.
# popular believe is that the older the tree, the better the fruit. %urian from an older tree will bear
fruits having a wrinled te"ture with smooth, thic, creamy flesh that taste sweeter and have a
stronger fragrance and flavour.
+sually, seed trees will start bearing fruit after about five to si" years. 'ometimes, four to five;
year old trees can start to flower. (he mature durian tree needs at least three to four wees of dry
weather to produce flowers to fill its branches. !ne month late, the flower will be in full bloom.
(hree months after that, the durian fruit will start to ripen and drop.
(he UchampionV durians which we savoured that morning were from trees that were more than :9
years old amounting to about <5 per cent to the trees at the orchard.
#ccording to Mr ?ah, initial yield may be 89 to :9 fruits for the first year of UfloweringV to about
899 fruits for the si"th year. Lield of up to 699 fruits is common after the 89th year of fruiting. ,ach
durian season, this =9 acres orchard Cwhich combines two farmsD in .ali Pulau can produce as
many at 85,999 durians.
%urian generally bear one crop a year but may UflowerV twice a year if influenced by the right
conditions. ?ormally, durian fruits are allowed to drop when they are ripe.
*owever, the fruits may also be harvested from the tree, as is a common practise in (hailand. .y
harvesting the shelf life could be e"tended from nine to 88 days compared to three or four days
when allowed to drop from the tree.
%urians are lie grapes and wine, or lie cheese. (hey are a food for gourmets, for connoisseurs.
2or genuine durian lovers, differentiating taste in accordance to variety can be a true science.
rading the durians by 2uality
and si6e before it is transported to
the /ali' Pulau mar'et for sale.
(o judge the /uality of the durian, there are three important criteria to remember. (he first is the
appearance of the durian. (he colour must be even ranging from pale white to golden yellow, and
to orange. 'econd is the aroma. $t must have a strong or a light smell. (hirdly, the te"ture it
should be creamy wet or creamy dry, sweet or bitter sweet. (he flesh must be smooth and fully
cover the whole seed.
%ifferent people crave different varieties. (he sweeter type of durians are yellowish and creamy in
te"ture. (his include high;sounding names lie *or Loh, Lipan, )reen 'in, %6, %85, %>5 and
&un Poh. (he optional bitter sweet type are usually pale in colour reminding me of a blue;and;
nothing else can.
foreign lyrics.
manner.
little gems0
blac pinch would that is easing off. #ccording to Mr ?ah, the orange coloured variety Ce.g. Eang
hehE literally means red prawnD are usually not as sweet as the yellowish type. *is orchard has as
many as 69 popular varieties of EbrandedE durians and more that 59 other types waiting to be
gived a name.
!ur buffet spread that morning included some of the above. My preference were the yellowish
ones called %<9: and %8:. (hey had thic flesh with rich sweet butter;lie te"ture. ,ating them
even as they fell off the trees was the best guarantee of their freshness. $t was indeed the best
way to get ones fill.
(he fruits we ate that morning were of average siFe. (hey were not as big as that of the (hai
variety which $ usually avoid. (he (hai varieties are paced with bulging fruits and the taste is less
creamy, more fibre and rather bland. More is not better here for when it come to durians, /uality is
ing.
$ can also remember after a hefty durian feast, my mother would insist that my brothers, sisters,
and $ fill the empty shell with water, add a pinch of salt and drin it. 'he would e"plain that by
doing so, the shell which contains Eanti;heatE properties that would help cool down body heat. $t is
believed that durian maes the body feel warm.
4e were also warned not to consume alcohol together with durian or having it before or after
eating durian. (his is because, durian is rich in protein and when mi"ed with alcohol, becomes
yeast. !ne might feel uncomfortable if one were to consume both durian and alcohol together. !f
course, my mother said that if we did so, we would just die. 'he would add on giving e"amples of
dead uncles.
$n the Malay #rchipelago, about 859 years ago, famed Jictorian naturalist and evolutionary
theorist #lfred 3ussle 4allace wrote, E(o eat durian is a new sensation worth a voyage to the
,ast to e"perience.E *e spent eight years e"ploring Malaysia and $ndonesia in the days before
the steamboat. *e must have discovered that this fruit with the powerful smell had even a more
awesome taste.
(hat morning, we waled away from our buffet breafast with a smile on our faces, feeling very
satisfied and being able to share 4allaces e"perience.
4e each paid Mr ?ah 3M85 and vowed to return ne"t wee to relish the sensation again before
this durian season draws to an end.
$f you are not, and have not sampled durians before, $ highly recommend that you do. Lou will
either love it or hate it. ?o two ways about it. 4hatever the consensus, one must admit there is
nothing /uite lie the durian Eing of the fruitE.
An &atin" !uide in Penan" at your fin"er ti's(
'eafood eateries
Be"inin" of the 4orld
.atu Maung, Penang
(el: <9:;<6< 6<58
&den +eafood 7illa"e
?o. <># .atu 2erringhi, .atu 2erringhi, Penang
(el: <9:;HH8 8H56
*ours: <.99pm ; 88.99pm daily
-uisine: 2ish and seafood fresh from the tans
ai 9ee +ea-Food 1 .aterin" +er#ices
i. ?o. 6, Lorong *utton, )eorge (own I (el: <9:;66> 6867
ii. @ln Woo, #ir $tam, Penang I (el: 9:;H6< 56>=
Ocean !reen +eafood Restaurant
@alan 'ultan #hmad 'hah, 89959 Penang
(el: <9:;66< 6<H8
Oriental +eafood
@alan Macalister, )eorge (own
(el: <9:;66< 9><>
Restoran Fisherman)s !rill
@alan 3elau, 88>99 .ayan Lepas, Penang
(el: <9:;<:= <69<
Restoran +ea Palace
Pearl $sland -ountry -lub, Persiaran &elicap, .ayan Lepas, Penang
(elG2a": <9:;<:< <H<8
eafood7 easide eafood 'estaurant on *urne)
Dri-e
Tip &ating!
Satis%action!
" S77ie(
5 en6o eating at this sea%oo0 restaurat "ecause it is the onl restaurant that is ne:t to the sea
(a'es3 @ou cross a s$all "ri0ge to the restaurant on stilts o'er the sea3 The other sea%oo0
restaurants o% ?urne Dri'e are separate0 " roa0 %ro$ the sea3 @ou can choose our li'e sea%oo0
%ro$ tan.s an0 there is an a$ple selection %ro$ lo"sters/ cra"s an0 to the $ore e:otic $arine li%e3 5t
is popular (ith tour pac.ages "ut it is nice to eat ne:t to the sea (ith the gentle "reeAe "lo(ing at
night3
The!e7 Sea%oo0
Pri"e7 DSJ11*2) K 8urrenc 8on'erter
#o!parison7 a"out a'erage
4ddress7 ?urne Dri'e/ ,enang 5slan0
Dire"tions7 #ear to ?urne ,laAa/ at the roun0a"out

eafood7 #heap and $resh eafood .ith a =ie.
Tip &ating!
Satis%action!
>ett Sea%oo0
" 6o+))1/ 4 $ore photos
This is pro"a"l one o% those o%% the "eaten trac. .in0 o% restaurant3 As (e 0ri'e through along the
coastal roa0 lea0ing to Batu Maung 5 a$ (on0ering i% it4s (orth the 0ri'e3 Then (e turne0 into s$all
roa0/ (hich lea0s us to Sa$ ,oh Te$ple/ (e continue0 0ri'ing until (e see a pri'ate shipar03 9./
ou see "oats aroun0/ so$e lu:ur atch333interesting333an0 (hen ou %inall arri'e at the restaurant
* =hoaF =hat a nice 'ie( o% the seaFF 5t is one o% those B.elongB stle restaurant 'er rustic %eeling3
=e arri'e0 there aroun0 -p$/ the restaurant (as not opene0 et/ luc.il (e ha0 so$e T5?C&/ so (e
sat there an0 en6o the 'ie(3 5 (as (on0ering i% the %oo0 (as as goo0 as the 'ie(L @ou .o( ho(
so$e places are * goo0 'ie( an0 0eco "ut the %oo0 suc.s "ig ti$eL =C77F @ou (ill not "e
0isappointe0 (ith this place3 The %oo0 is 6ust as goo0 as the sea 'ie(3 The o(ner gets %resh sea%oo0
%ro$ the %isher$en (ho co$e " a%ter their catch3 Besi0e the great an0 cheap %oo0 an0 'ie(/ (hat is
great a"out this place is that it is the "est .ept secret/ i3e/ har0l an tourists3 Dnless ou (or. an0
sta aroun0 Batu Muang/ our ,enang %rien0 $a not e'en .no( o% its e:istenceF 5t is not in an
gui0e "oo.F ?reatF That $eans/ the o(ner (ill not ha'e a chance to raise his price333$ore cheap
goo0 %oo0F
8hoose an sea%oo0/ it is (on0er%ull %reshF The "est (a to eat %resh %ish/ is to si$pl stea$e0 the
%ish (ith si$ple ingre0ients li.e ginger/ spring onions an0 so sauce to "ring out the s(eetness o% the
%resh %ish3 The pra(ns (ere reall B5? s(eet an0 succulent3 2o(e'er/ it (oul0 ha'e "een "etter i% $
%rien0s ha0 0eci0e0 to go %or the 8urr 7ea'es an0 8ereal ,ra(ns as suppose0 to To$@a$ Soup3
Sorr/ 5 a$ not a "ig To$ @a$ %an3
7ea'e a 8o$$ent
The!e7 Sea%oo0
Pri"e7 less than DSJ1) K 8urrenc 8on'erter
#o!parison7 less e:pensi'e than a'erage
4ddress7 Batu Muang
Dire"tions7 7ocate0 at a pri'ate shipar0 in Batu Muang/(the coastal roa0)/ on our (a to
Baan 7epas Airport3 @ou (ill co$e across Sa$ ,oh Te$ple/ continue 0ri'ing until ou co$e to a
pri'ate shipar03
3ther #onta"t7 9peration hours! 6p$ to 11p$

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Penang Things To Do Tips 1 - 25 of 31

the $an hi$sel%

1oot o% ,enang 2ill

Dni<ue pago0a (ith 3 "len0s

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