PENANG, 370km from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia's
northwestern coast, is a state and an island. Everything of
interest in Penang State is on Penang Island, locally called
Pulau Penang. A large island of 285 square kilometres, it is
connected to the mainland by a bridge and by
round-the-clock ferry services from Butterworth. The island's
capital and Malaysia's second-largest city, Georgetown, is
also often referred to as "Penang". Most visitors make
day-trips out from Georgetown to the island's north-coast
beaches of Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah. These
beaches, boast 5 star hotels and great water sports.
northwestern coast, is a state and an island. Everything of
interest in Penang State is on Penang Island, locally called
Pulau Penang. A large island of 285 square kilometres, it is
connected to the mainland by a bridge and by
round-the-clock ferry services from Butterworth. The island's
capital and Malaysia's second-largest city, Georgetown, is
also often referred to as "Penang". Most visitors make
day-trips out from Georgetown to the island's north-coast
beaches of Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah. These
beaches, boast 5 star hotels and great water sports.
Five kilometres west of Batu Ferringhi, the small fishing
kampung of TELUK BAHANG is the place to come to escape
the development. The long spindly pier towards the far end
of the village with its multitude of fishing boats is the focus
of daily life. Beyond the pier, a small path disappears into
the forest and it's a two-hour trek west to the lighthouse at
Muka Head . The beaches around this rocky headland are
better than the ones at Teluk Bahang itself, but since the
big hotels run boat trips out here, it's unlikely that you'll
have them to yourself.
kampung of TELUK BAHANG is the place to come to escape
the development. The long spindly pier towards the far end
of the village with its multitude of fishing boats is the focus
of daily life. Beyond the pier, a small path disappears into
the forest and it's a two-hour trek west to the lighthouse at
Muka Head . The beaches around this rocky headland are
better than the ones at Teluk Bahang itself, but since the
big hotels run boat trips out here, it's unlikely that you'll
have them to yourself.
 | |  | |  |
| | | | |
Southwest from the fort, Lebuh Pantai
holds some fine colonial buildings,
including the Standard Chartered
Bank and the Hong Kong Bank. West
of Lebuh Pantai, on Jalan Masjid
Kapitan Kling (or Lebuh Pitt), stands
the Anglican St George'S Church one
of the oldest buildings in Penang
(1817-1819) and as simple and
unpretentious as anything built in the
Greek style in Asia can be.
Next to the church on Lebuh Farquhar,
Penang Museum and Art Gallery has
an excellent collection of rickshaws,
press cuttings and black-and-white
photographs. The area east of here,
enclosed by parallel Lebuh King and
Lebuh Queen, forms Georgetown's
compact Little India district, full of
saree and incense shops, banana-leaf
curry houses, and the towering Sri
Mariamman Temple on the corner of
Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Chulia, a
typical example of Hindu architecture.
holds some fine colonial buildings,
including the Standard Chartered
Bank and the Hong Kong Bank. West
of Lebuh Pantai, on Jalan Masjid
Kapitan Kling (or Lebuh Pitt), stands
the Anglican St George'S Church one
of the oldest buildings in Penang
(1817-1819) and as simple and
unpretentious as anything built in the
Greek style in Asia can be.
Next to the church on Lebuh Farquhar,
Penang Museum and Art Gallery has
an excellent collection of rickshaws,
press cuttings and black-and-white
photographs. The area east of here,
enclosed by parallel Lebuh King and
Lebuh Queen, forms Georgetown's
compact Little India district, full of
saree and incense shops, banana-leaf
curry houses, and the towering Sri
Mariamman Temple on the corner of
Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Chulia, a
typical example of Hindu architecture.
| Fort Cornwallis The site where Captain Francis Light landed in 1786. Originally a wooden structure, the fort was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810. Named after Charles Marquis Cornwallis, a distinguished Governor General of India, the fort was designed to protect the harbor from attacks. |
Much of the old fort still remains today.
The grounds have been converted
into a public park with an open air
theater, Cannons retrieved by the
British from pirates still keep guard
over the old fort. The most famous of
the old cannons is the Seri Rambai,
which dates back to the 1600s. Local
beliefs have it that infertile women can
become fertile by placing flowers in the
barrel of the cannon and offering
special prayers
The grounds have been converted
into a public park with an open air
theater, Cannons retrieved by the
British from pirates still keep guard
over the old fort. The most famous of
the old cannons is the Seri Rambai,
which dates back to the 1600s. Local
beliefs have it that infertile women can
become fertile by placing flowers in the
barrel of the cannon and offering
special prayers
Trishaw riders taking an afternoon nap under
tropical trees is now the scene inside the fort.
Visit the fort and take in the view.
tropical trees is now the scene inside the fort.
Visit the fort and take in the view.
KHOO KONGSI - To the south,
in a secluded square at the end of an
alleyway off Lebuh Acheh, stands the
Khoo Kongsi one of many kongsi, or
traditional "clan-houses" in Penang
where Chinese families gather to
worship their ancestors. The original
building was started in 1894 by the
Khoo family and meticulously crafted
by experts from China. Its central hall is
dark with heavy, intricately carved
beams and pillars and bulky
mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture. The
hall on the left is a richly decorated
shrine to Tua Peh Kong, the god of
prosperity; the right-hand hall contains
the gilded ancestral tablets.
Connecting all three halls is a balcony
minutely decorated in carvings of folk
tales.
in a secluded square at the end of an
alleyway off Lebuh Acheh, stands the
Khoo Kongsi one of many kongsi, or
traditional "clan-houses" in Penang
where Chinese families gather to
worship their ancestors. The original
building was started in 1894 by the
Khoo family and meticulously crafted
by experts from China. Its central hall is
dark with heavy, intricately carved
beams and pillars and bulky
mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture. The
hall on the left is a richly decorated
shrine to Tua Peh Kong, the god of
prosperity; the right-hand hall contains
the gilded ancestral tablets.
Connecting all three halls is a balcony
minutely decorated in carvings of folk
tales.
Batu Feringgi, situated along the coastal road north-west of Georgetown and lined with a string of
international-standard resorts, is the most popular beach in Penang. Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach
while you enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from wind-surfing to canoeing. For a spine-tingling adventure, try
parasailing to enjoy the view of the beach from the sky. As the sun sets, Batu Feringgi comes alive with a
carnival-like atmosphere with an open-air bazaar selling anything from ornate curios to enticing souvenir
items. Watch local artisans demonstrate the intricate art of craft-making and batik-painting. Dubbed the
Feringgi Walk, the bazaar offers shoppers a host of attractions. A short taxi ride away is the Spice Garden, a
beautifully landscaped garden with a little coffee house (delicious cakes!) and short jungle trail attached.
For more information, please contact the Penang Tourist Information Centre Tel: +604 264 3494 / 263 4941
Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
international-standard resorts, is the most popular beach in Penang. Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach
while you enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from wind-surfing to canoeing. For a spine-tingling adventure, try
parasailing to enjoy the view of the beach from the sky. As the sun sets, Batu Feringgi comes alive with a
carnival-like atmosphere with an open-air bazaar selling anything from ornate curios to enticing souvenir
items. Watch local artisans demonstrate the intricate art of craft-making and batik-painting. Dubbed the
Feringgi Walk, the bazaar offers shoppers a host of attractions. A short taxi ride away is the Spice Garden, a
beautifully landscaped garden with a little coffee house (delicious cakes!) and short jungle trail attached.
For more information, please contact the Penang Tourist Information Centre Tel: +604 264 3494 / 263 4941
Email: mtpbpen@tourism.gov.my
| Travel Website |
Malaysia
Fantastic
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| T Sites - Penang |
| Movies filmed in Malaysia Anna & the King Entrapment South Pacific Survivor Series |
| Dinner on the ocean front is a nightly affair in Penang |
| Shangri La's Rasa Sayang Resort Penang Island |
| GRAND PLAZA PARKROYAL - Batu Ferringhi Beach - Penang |
| The Grand Plaza Parkroyal is famous throughout South-East Asia and Malaysia for the quality of its food and beauty of its beaches. Penang Island is where the Malaysians come to enjoy a tropical getaway, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. |
| EASTERN AND ORIENTAL HOTEL |
| The Majestically historic luxurious all suite hotel located on the waterfront in Georgetown. Fully renovated colonial style suites with 24 hours butler service and complete guestroom amenities. |
Ornate design of the Khoo Kongi Clan house
Dinner at the Khoo Kongi Clan house
| Malaysian Hotels Best Value, Quality, Price, A-Z |
| Island of Penang Excellent Destination Great Beaches Warm Waters Snake Temple Peranakan Mansion Kek Lok Si Chinese Temple Batu Ferringhi's Sidewalk Bazaar Botanic Gardens Penang Hill |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| All Rights Reserved. 2005 Fantastic International Inc. |
Working with
