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 Penang, Malaysia travel tales
Our customers share their travelling experiences in Penang, Malaysia.
Read about first hand stories on travel tips and guides, events, entertainment,shopping, food, business and transportation.
Also, you might want to read our
Kuala Lumpur city guide,
Langkawi city guide,
Melaka city guide,
and Penang city guide.
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| S Velegrinis |
17 November 2003 |
Stayed at Ferringhi Beach Hotel, Penang - Penang, Malaysia.
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Penang is a strange mish mash of attractions. Despite the obvious and aggressive pace of development, some interesting shopping, historic and natural attractions remain. Foodies will also love Penang.
I'd recommend visits to Mansion of Cheong Fatt Tze, Penang Hill, Gurney Drive for food and shopping (try the Penang Laska, Penang Char Kuay Teow and the Chendol)and probably the night market at Batu Ferringghi (although it is very similar to any other night market in South East Asia).
For tourists into architecture and design, I would recommend going to see some of the Ken Yeang Buildings such as Menara UMNO and I'd strongly recommend seeing the Mansion of Cheong Fatt Tze. They also provide very unique accommodation for the discerning traveller.
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| J Lewis |
24 October 2003 |
Stayed at Oriental Hotel Penang - Penang, Malaysia.
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Penang is food heaven - simply choosing is the hardest part! Recommend renting a car (cheap) and checking out the whole island - a great day out!
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| Y Hoe |
20 October 2003 |
Stayed at Oriental Hotel Penang - Penang, Malaysia.
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The curry fish head at Kayu Nasi Kandar is very good just a walking distance from hotel.
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| T Chow |
02 October 2003 |
Stayed at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel - Penang, Malaysia.
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Stopped in Penang on way to Langkawi. The ferry was hell - later found out we could have flown to Langkawi for not much more money.
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| G Randall |
01 October 2003 |
Stayed at Lone Pine Hotel - Penang, Malaysia.
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Recommended in Penang : Georgetown, Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si temple complex, the Khoo Khongsi, the butterfly farm, the fishing villages in the west and south of the island.
Definitely NOT recommended: the snake temple. This temple is now nothing more than a device for sucking money out of tourists while offering very little in return. Situated in the middle of a massive and ugly industrial park near the airport, the temple is small and contains a handful of pit vipers.
From the moment you enter, you will be hassled to spend money. Entrance to the temple is *supposed* to be free, the idea being that you make a voluntary donation. In reality, the temple staff steer you towards the donation box and wait while you stuff some money in. You will then be asked if you want to buy some incense sticks or a prayer candle; again, the assumption is that you WILL buy them and you need to be firm if you don't wish to.
After you have seen the temple proper (it's only one room and takes a few minutes at most) you'll be steered towards the large, unattractive area where you can have your photo taken with de-fanged pit vipers draped over you. You cannot take your own photos with your own camera, you have to pay for the official photographer to do it.
While the photos are being printed out you are encouraged to walk out into the back garden where there is another temple, and where you will be hassled to spend more money buying incense sticks or prayer candles.
We were 'hugely' disappointed by the snake temple, and cannot recommend that you make a special journey to see it. If you can time your visit to coincide with a tour group, you might be able to use the crowd to your advantage and sneak in and out without being collared by one of the staff to make your "voluntary" donation; when we visited, we were literally the only tourists there, so the staff had no distractions and could give us their full sales pitch.
My father visited the temple back in 1958, when the surrounding area was still jungle, there were dozens of snakes (including pythons) and there was nobody hassling you for money. Times really have changed...
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| E Liew |
30 September 2003 |
Stayed at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel - Penang, Malaysia.
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Penang has everything you need to enjoy and have fun. If you are into hiking, head to Botanical Garden, look for a path on the left to Penang Hill (approx 1km from the Garden's main gate). You can hike all the way (takes about 2- 4 hours to hike) to Penang Hill (803m above sea level). At about 100m - 200m, there's a small little stall that serves free drinks and snacks for hikers. Also, when you reach the top of Penang Hill, (you can also take the tram up to the top. Cost RM 4.00 for a return trip. Takes about 30mins to reach the top) go for the Canopy Walk which is 1.7km away from the food centre. This is one adventure you wouldn't wanna miss. It's high and scary. But it's safe! At one time, there was a bright green lizard standing in the way of the canopy walk.
If you could, take a drive around the whole Penang island especially the west part (do not take the middle road leading to Balik Pulau, take the coastal road where the view is so picturesque). Along the way to Teluk Bahang from Balik Pulau, there's a tropical fruit plantation where you can quench your thirst. The seats are over looking the hills too. Very beautiful.
By the way, if you are into beaches, head towards Monkey beach at the north western tip of Teluk Bahang. You can have your privacy here. By the way, the hotel's beachfront has nice interesting seashells for your collection.
If you love food, Penang is filled with different kinds of food (though KL's food tastes much more better). Try the infamous Gurney Drive road for all kinds of street food. Or head to the shopping complex down the road for some nice Taiwanese food at 600cc Restaurant (reasonably priced too).
Well, I think I'm running out of space to write, hope everyone has a wonderful time in Penang!
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| F Lee |
24 September 2003 |
Stayed at Casuarina Beach Resort - Penang, Malaysia.
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Many, many places to eat at Batu Ferringhi, but the best of all has got to be the hawker areas. Loads of choices, freshly cooked and very cheap.
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| N Avard |
20 September 2003 |
Stayed at Oriental Hotel Penang - Penang, Malaysia.
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Get a local guide to show you around (they charge about $8 an hour incl the transport-there was 7 of us) and you see the real penang. Ask for Thomas Chin -funny trustworthy reliable, superb manners and full of info. Email him at pdh8895@lycos.com, tel 6048907443.
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| B Lin |
13 September 2003 |
Stayed at Sunway Hotel Georgetown - Penang, Malaysia.
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The huge KOMTAR shopping complex is a short walk away. The foodstalls referred to are the McAllister Road stalls.
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| M Mokhtar |
12 September 2003 |
Stayed at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel - Penang, Malaysia.
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Disappointed with Penang. The beaches were not as clean as before and stalls (food or souvenirs) were cluttered. Shopping complexes were dirty and unorganised. I personnaly think that Penang government is not sure what they focus on.
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