5 thing you can do in Penang! :)

Penang has been listed as one of the TOP 10 Islands to Explore Before You Die by Yahoo! Travel in 2011. In Penang, the journey never ends and the excitement never stops. 

You must be wondering what to do in Penang, what are the places you must visit, what experience you must not miss and what are the top things to do in Penang? Truth is, there is so much to explore in Penang to really experience the culture and all that this beautiful paradise has to offer. Be adventurous and explore!

We believe that some of you who have never set foot in Penang. Therefore, if you have the desire to having a vacation there, maybe you can do the following activities that can make your journey awesome! :)

1. Stroll around the UNESCO World Heritage core of Georgetown. 

Step back in time in Georgetown, Penang: Stroll through the heart of Georgetown basking in the old-time shops bringing back memories of times gone by. Experience the unique charms of Straits eclectic architecture and sights from our colonial past that has earned Georgetown a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage site listing. 

Here, every clanhouse and building represents a page of Penang’s colorful history and every street corner has a tale to tell.

 Clan Jetties

 Khoo Kongsi

Queen Victorial Memorial Clock Tower

2. Jump into a Beca (Trishaw) for a true Penang experience.

Holiday in Penang will never be complete, if you do not take an old fashion ride in Penang trishaw. It is the best way to see and explore the city of Georgetown in a much slower pace. You will be able to cover every nook and cranny of Georgetown heritage trials using the eco-friendly mode of transportation that are fast gaining popularity among tourists. The nostalgic feeling sitting on top of the three wheeled Beca is indeed an unforgettable experience. 

A fantastic opportunity for you to experience the busy Penang streets the traditional way, riding in a Penang trishaw is definitely one of the top things to do in Penang!

3. Indulge in Penang’s famous culinary scene.

In fact, this should be the No. 1 among the top things to do in Penang.

Penang was voted Best Street Food 2004 by Time Magazine. Penangnites love to eat! As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do! Penang has a world renowned reputation as a food paradise, whether its Haute cuisine or hawker fare. 

Penang offers a heady and exotic mix of delicious cuisine to choose from. Penang food can be broken down roughly into several varieties, with each being attributable to Penang’s multi-cultural character: Nyonya, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Western, seafood and desserts, Many foreigners who have chosen to make Penang their second home end up falling in love with the food as much as the place itself.

 Penang Road Cendol

 Char Kway Teow

 Pasembur

 A wide varieties of authentic Penang Food

 Penang Asam Laksa

 Penang Hokkien Mee

Satay

4. Relax and indulge in the fine beaches at Batu Ferringhi.

Aside from Georgetown, Batu Ferringhi is arguably the second most visited destination on Penang Island. There are so many things to do in Penang, especially at this place.

Night bazaar at Batu Ferringhi

5. Enjoy the views from the top of Penang Hill.

Penang Hill is one of Penang Island’s featured attractions. Well known for its cool and fresh climate from the tropical heat of Georgetown, it is a popular holiday retreat to the locals as well as tourists. Penang Hill is also known for its magnificently spectacular panoramic view of Georgetown, the mainland, the Penang bridge and the Straits of Malacca which can be viewed from the Penang Hill Summit.

Enjoy reading!

What to eat in Penang?!

Penang has variety of delicious food offered to the visitors. Once you try, you will go back to Penang and find that food again. Trust us!

Let us list down several famous cuisine in Penang. :)

1. Acar acar

Penang Acar is a type of Nyonya salad. Crunchy and aromatic, Acar is usually made by mixing hard vegetables such as carrots and cabbage with a rich and spicy gravy garnished with crushed groundnuts.

Acar acts as a welcome condiment to any meal and is scrumptiously devoured with haste by locals. There is even a fish-based version of Acar!

2. Asam Laksa

Originating from the Peranakan (Straits-Chinese) culture, assam laksa is a dish of thick rice noodles served in spicy and sour fish broth. Penang assam laksa is made using mackerel flakes and tamarind, which gives the broth a sourish flavour. Other ingredients used in the making of this national dish are lemongrass, chillies, galangal, thinly-sliced onions, prawn paste and finely-shredded torch ginger flower. 

While assam laksa can be found at just about anywhere in Penang, it has been said Ayer Itam Pasar serves the best assam laksa in Penang!

3. Char Kuey Teow

Penang char kuay teow is known the world over, and is the most popular variety of char kuay teow out of many in Malaysia. It’s a hawker dish of flat rice noodles stir-fried in a large wok over open fire together with lard, soy sauce, chillies, prawns, cockles, eggs, bean sprouts and chives. 

The ones in Penang are often garnished with crab meat on top for extra flavour. Rich in taste (and fat), Penang char kuay teow is a popular hawker dish much sought-after by ardent foodies to this island. Hawker centres are the best places to find this dish, particularly in Georgetown and along Gurney Drive.

4. Hokkien Mee

Just like char kuay teow, Hokkien mee comes in different versions in this country. The Penang version is soup-based and watery, as opposed to the Kuala Lumpur version which is fried in dark soy sauce and quite sticky. 

The soup is probably the most important part of the dish. Made from fragrant stock consisting of shrimp paste and dried prawns which are then brought to the boil with a bit of lard for texture, it gives the dish its intoxicating aroma. It is then served in a bowl with noodles, together with prawns, fish cakes, leafy greens, pork ribs, squids, vegetables, crisp deep-fried shallots, spring onions, fresh lime, chillies, light soy sauce and a bit of sambal on the side. 

This dish can also be found in hawker centres along the main streets.

5. Nasi Kandar Line Clear

Originating from the Indian-Muslim culture, Nasi Kandar is perhaps Penang’s best-known dish. The dish got its name from the way it was peddled decades ago – by balancing pots containing the rice and the curries across the shoulders using a long wooden rod. 

It is basically steamed white rice served with a variety of side dishes which include a variety of thick, rich curries and vegetables. There are plenty of 24-hour Nasi Kandar restaurants and stalls in Penang, particularly around Georgetown.

6. Rojak Pasembur

An Indian-Muslim dish, rojak pasembur is a Malaysian salad comprising shredded cucumber, turnip, potatoes, beancurd, bean sprouts, pieces of prawn fritters, squids and boiled eggs mixed together with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. Simple and wholesome, this dish can be found mostly along Gurney Drive.

Enjoy reading!

Penang Attractions. :) #part2

As promised, we will reveal to you about Penang attractions, part 2! :)

1. War Museum, Batu Maung

If you want to know what life was like in Penang during wartime, you'll find some of the answers at the Penang War Museum. Housed in what was once a British fort built during World War II, the museum is the only one of its kind in the country.

Penang War Museum also offered dark tourism. Must try it! :)

2. Tanjung City Marina, Pengkalan Weld

The RM44-mil Tanjung City Marina (TCM) in Penang, the first inner city marina in the country, was completed in October 2005 and is fully operational. The new marina is a stepping stone to turn the Penang into an international cruise centre by attracting sailing vessels from all over the world.

3. Dr. Sun Yat Sen Museum, Lorong Susu

The Sun Yat Sen Research Centre and museum is open to public. It serves as a nerve centre for planning and collecting information, records and artifacts of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's six years involvement in Penang.

4. State Art Gallery, Dewan Sri Pinang

Located within the Dewan Sri Pinang, the Art Gallery features two exhibitions. A permanent collection featuring the cream of Malaysian artists situated on the third floor, and a contemporary collection on the ground floor. 

5. Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Church Street

A very good example of adaptive reuse, the former home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee has been converted into a showcase of the opulent lifestyle of the Peranakans and their many customs and traditions, displaying over a thousand pieces of antiques and collectibles of this unique community.

6. Penang Museum and Art Gallery, Lebuh Farquhar

Located at Lebuh Farquhar, the Penang Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most popular attractions in Malaysia. The building which houses the museum was built in 1821 and was formerly the Penang Free School. It showcases old photographs, maps, charts, historical relics, paintings of early Penang, all of which provide an insight to Penang's history.

Enjoy reading!

Penang Attractions. :)

In this post, we will introduce you to the attractive places in Penang. :)

As one of the heritage site in Malaysia, Penang owned a lot of beautiful places, with a beautiful scenic. It is also a common places that will visited by the tourist inside and outside of Penang, and Malaysia.

Most of the places located in island or George Town area. George Town, named by the British after King George III, is Penang’s capital city. The government centre and its financial heart, George Town is an interesting and bustling city with modern high rise buildings, cathedrals, mosques, government offices, temples, bazaars, shops and cafes. A myriad of delights, George Town is very compact – the older part of the city is a labyrinth of narrow lanes and alleyways, which makes it a pleasure to walk and sight-see.

So guys, lets check it out the places!

1. China Town

China Town on the island stretches from Weld Quay to Lebuh Stewart, lebuh Muntri, Lebuh Campbell and Lebuh King. China Town is so large and well-preserved that you will sense and feel the lifestyle of Chinese immigrant settlers who came here in the 1800s.

Visitors will be intrigued by the many clanhouses, shophouses and temples found along these streets, which reflect the heritage left behind. Stepping into these streets will certainly take you back in time.

2. Clock Tower, Persiaran King Edward

The clock tower was presented to Penang by local millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

It towers 60 feet in high – one foot for each year of Her Majesty's reign. The Queen had died by the time the clock tower was finally completed in 1920.

3. Esplanade

Next to Fort Cornwallis is the Esplanade, a popular waterfront promenade which stretches from the hawker stalls at one end to the clock tower at the other. Central in the Esplanade is the Padang, a huge square of town green.

Standing proudly beside is the City Hall, a stately colonial building which is a fine example of British palladian architecture featuring magnificent Corinthian columns and huge windows. It was once the seat of local government.

4. Fort Cornwallis, Padang Kota Lama

Fort Cornwallis is situated at the spot where Captain Francis Light was supposed to have landed in 1786. Originally a wooden structure, the fort was rebuilt between 1808 and 1810 with convict labour. 

It was named after Charles Marquis Cornwallis, a distinguished Governor General of India, and designed to protect the harbour from possible French attacks.

Today, much of the old fort remains, but its precincts have been converted into a public park and an open air theater. It is still guarded by old cannons, which were retrieved by the British from pirates who had captured them from the Johore Sultanate. 

The most famous of the cannons is Seri Rambai, which dates back to 1613. Local beliefs have it that childless women can become fertile by placing flowers in the barrel of the cannon and offering special prayers.

5. Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR), Jalan Penang

KOMTAR, a prominent Penang landmark, houses Government departments, commercial offices, department stores, shops and restaurants.The 65-storey complex also contains theaters, squash courts and a geodesic dome which serves as a multi-purpose hall, while the 55th floor offers a panoramic view of the city and on clear days, also of Gunung Jerai in Kedah.

6. Little India

This enclave boasts a rich living history that spans over two centuries. Popular with heritage enthusiasts, international conservationists, tourists and locals, Little India features a thriving and vibrant collection of historic attractions, places of worship, shops, restaurants, florists, barbers, astrologers, millers, money changers, fruit sellers and herb dealers.

Just these 6 places? Of course not! We will updated to you in the next post okay. :)

Keep blogging with us to know more about the other attractive places in Penang guys!