See & Do
Penang
In Malaysia you can be on a beautiful beach one weekend, and exploring a historical site the next. In Penang, you can do both, and so much more. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Penang is one of Malaysia’s most popular islands and, according to AsiaWeek, one of the most livable cities in Asia. Daily flights to Penang on Air Asia (www.airasia.com) are swift and inexpensive. Alternatively you can go on the bus – Aeroline does daily trips (www.aeroline.com.my) – or you could make the six-hour drive yourself.
Many come to historic Georgetown for the delicious and plentiful food options. It can seem like nobody sleeps in Georgetown, as street-front hawker stalls are bustling all night with waiters yelling orders of asam laksa, mamak mee and fried kway teow to the back kitchens. Make a trip here in June for the annual Food and Fruit Festival to make the most of the delicious local food. Before leaving, head to Market Street in the heart of Little India to stock up on spices and curries to take back to KL.
About 20km outside Georgetown is Batu Ferringhi, Penang’s most popular beach. While there are more attractive beaches in Malaysia, this is perfectly acceptable for some sun, sand, watersports and an entertaining nightlife scene. Be careful in the uncharacteristically murky water though: it often hides jellyfish, which can give a nasty sting. However, the sandy beach is lovely and invites lazy afternoons lounging in the sunshine.
Visit Penang in late November or early December to catch the world-class Jazz Festival (www.penangjazz.com), featuring top-notch international artists, workshops, competitions and exhibitions. In May, Penang hosts the World Music Festival in the Botanical Gardens (www.penangworldmusicfestival.com), where music lovers can enjoy the rhythms of local and international artists in truly inspiring surroundings.
Sightseers can spend days exploring the many architectural, spiritual and historical offerings of Penang. A definite item on anyone’s checklist should be the world’s third largest reclining Buddha at Wat Chayamangkalaram on Jalan Lorong Burma. The historical Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (www.cheongfatttzemansion.com), otherwise known as the Blue Mansion, recently won Unesco’s Asia-Pacific’s Most Excellent Heritage Project award. For just RM10 you can explore all 38 rooms of this unique architectural landmark.
For an inspiring and uninterrupted view of Georgetown and the Penang Bridge, climb Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill), located 830m above sea level on Pulau Pinang. Aim to get to the top in time to witness the panoramic sunset over the Straits of Malacca.
Many come to historic Georgetown for the delicious and plentiful food options. It can seem like nobody sleeps in Georgetown, as street-front hawker stalls are bustling all night with waiters yelling orders of asam laksa, mamak mee and fried kway teow to the back kitchens. Make a trip here in June for the annual Food and Fruit Festival to make the most of the delicious local food. Before leaving, head to Market Street in the heart of Little India to stock up on spices and curries to take back to KL.
About 20km outside Georgetown is Batu Ferringhi, Penang’s most popular beach. While there are more attractive beaches in Malaysia, this is perfectly acceptable for some sun, sand, watersports and an entertaining nightlife scene. Be careful in the uncharacteristically murky water though: it often hides jellyfish, which can give a nasty sting. However, the sandy beach is lovely and invites lazy afternoons lounging in the sunshine.
Visit Penang in late November or early December to catch the world-class Jazz Festival (www.penangjazz.com), featuring top-notch international artists, workshops, competitions and exhibitions. In May, Penang hosts the World Music Festival in the Botanical Gardens (www.penangworldmusicfestival.com), where music lovers can enjoy the rhythms of local and international artists in truly inspiring surroundings.
Sightseers can spend days exploring the many architectural, spiritual and historical offerings of Penang. A definite item on anyone’s checklist should be the world’s third largest reclining Buddha at Wat Chayamangkalaram on Jalan Lorong Burma. The historical Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (www.cheongfatttzemansion.com), otherwise known as the Blue Mansion, recently won Unesco’s Asia-Pacific’s Most Excellent Heritage Project award. For just RM10 you can explore all 38 rooms of this unique architectural landmark.
For an inspiring and uninterrupted view of Georgetown and the Penang Bridge, climb Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill), located 830m above sea level on Pulau Pinang. Aim to get to the top in time to witness the panoramic sunset over the Straits of Malacca.
