Penang, Malaysia. Ideal solution to spend time here

Penang is a large island in Malaysia and a convenient city to live in. Penang is so developed that it is second only to Kuala Lumpur. Penang has beautiful nature, skyscrapers, shopping centers, many attractions, but not very good beaches.

Penang Island, Malaysia

Where to stay in Penang

• Muntri House
• Kimberley House
• Apollo Inn
• D'Nice Heritage House
• Chulia Mansion

All hotels in Georgetown

One thing I knew for sure. I never wanted to come to such a cool island as a visa-run from Thailand or Indonesia for 1-3 days, as many do. This is not Laotian Vientiane. During this time it is impossible to take a closer look at Penang. Jogging around the area and taking a photo with graffiti in the background is not enough for me.

You can just go out and walk the streets, discovering all sorts of interesting things


Is this really Asia?


Penang, despite such rapid development, was able to preserve nature

Penang reviews

The island is worthy to spend much longer time here. Weeks and even months. But these are all dreams, because there are no long visas to Malaysia, except for study, work and the ““ program, which we are not yet able to do, since we don’t want to study or work, and we won’t be able to handle the MM2H yet.

Shopping centers

In Penang, no matter what area you live in, you will find a shopping center. Huge malls in a developed country are not a surprise, but still nice. You can buy yourself not only clothes and groceries in the supermarket, but also have a snack in food courts or McDonald's / KFC, which are one of the most budget-friendly types of food in Malaysia.

Public transport

What we noticed on our first day on the island were the buses. Public transport runs from 7 am to 11 pm. Air-conditioned modern buses. There are even two-story ones. We've already ridden one of these. For the first time in my life, I rode on a city double-decker bus, like in Hong Kong or London. We rode on the second floor, of course. Green city visible from above.

Payment to the driver, as in America. You have to throw money into a metal box. They don't give you change, so you have to carry change with you all the time.

There are also these tourist double-decker buses with an open roof that travel around the island. You buy a ticket for a day and you can go to sights, get off and then get on the next one.

Cool bus with funny name Kuti-Kuti will take you all over Penang

Sidewalks

Another important advantage for tourists in Penang is the presence of sidewalks. Free sidewalks and even ramps for people with disabilities. Traffic lights for pedestrians are activated by a button. A country for people!

Beaches of Penang

Penang's beaches are beautiful from the outside, but not so good from the inside. This means that when you find yourself on the coastline, the landscapes around you are amazing, you want to take off your clothes and run for a swim. Especially when I saw that the water was so calm that it was barely moving. And there are no people on the beach. And there is shade from the trees. But the transparency and color of the water leaves much to be desired. The sea in Penang seems blue from afar, but up close the water is cloudy. There is no garbage floating, except natural debris. But according to reviews, the island has problems with wastewater treatment plants. And also here all year round jellyfish. Although, after walking along the beach, we didn’t notice a single jellyfish on the shore.

Tajung Bunga Beach. Swimming is not an option here. We will continue to look for a swimming beach in Penang

History of Penang Island

The history of Penang is very fascinating. I dug a little further and found out that initially, the English company East India bought Pulau Penang from the Sultan of Kedah. Apart from the jungle, there was almost nothing here, roughly speaking.

Later, in addition to the permanent Chinese, Burmese and Tamils ​​from India began to arrive in Penang. That is why there are so many Indians on the island now that visually it seems that there are even more of them than the Malays and especially the Chinese.

The majority of Penang's population are immigrants from different countries. First of all, these are India and China. There is also a Burmese quarter and an Armenian one.

They write that in ancient times Penang was occupied by Japanese troops. The Europeans living in those years fled the island, and the Japanese continued the war for about four more years, tormenting the local population. After the war in 1963, Malaysia gained independence, by that time colonial times had come to their logical conclusion, and Penang got a second wind.

Penang is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colorful neighborhoods, a mixture of races and styles in architecture. Modern skyscrapers intertwine with low houses.

Typical Penang. Skyscrapers are adjacent to an old two-story house


Penang at its best

In the old city in the center of Georgetown, there are mainly old 2-3 storey houses.

A mosque, a Burmese pagoda, and an Indian temple across the road could be built here on one street.

Chinese temple

Muslim mosque

Catholic Church

Hindu temple

A unique mix of cultures. Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism. Everyone lives together and no one conflicts on religious grounds. This is probably only possible in Malaysia!

In Chinatown

Penang is a unique island; its multinationality creates a unique flavor that cannot be seen anywhere else in Asia. For gourmets, this place is simply paradise - Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisines, fresh seafood dishes and a huge selection of tropical fruits are presented, and all this variety is very inexpensive.

General information

Penang Island is located in the Andaman Sea, off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The island is connected to the mainland by a thirteen-kilometer bridge, the third longest in the world. The area of ​​Penang is about three hundred square kilometers, the landscape is hilly, in the north of the island there are tropical forests that once covered the whole of Penang.

The discoverer of Penang was a Chinese admiral in the 15th century. The island was first named Ka-Satu, translated from Malay as “First Island”. Later, due to the abundance of areca palms growing in the forests, the island began to be called Pulau Pinang, which translated from Malay meant “Island of the Areca Palm.”

In the 18th century, the English navigator and merchant Francis Light acquired Penang on behalf of the East India Company from the Sultan of Kedah, who at that time owned the land. The Sultan made such a deal in the hope of getting help from the British in the event of an attack on Kedah by Burma or Siam. Hopes were dashed, and four years later, when Siam attacked Kedah, the country received no effective aid from Britain. The Sultan's attempt to invalidate the Penang deal was unsuccessful; he only managed to obtain an annual rent for the island from the British. This payment is still made today, now by the Federal Government of Malaysia to the state of Kedah.

In order to attract migrants to the island, the British authorities announced that everyone who moved to Penang would receive as much land as they could clear from the jungle. And the population of the previously uninhabited island began to grow rapidly, despite the fact that many Europeans died here from malaria. Today, Penang's population consists of Chinese, Malays and Indians. The official language is Malay, but both Chinese and English dialects are spoken here. The official religion is Islam; the island's population also professes Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism, there are Catholics and Protestants.

The capital of the island and the entire state of Penang (it also includes the coastal part of the mainland) is the city of Georgetown, it was founded by the British after purchasing the island. Penang's economy today is based on the electronics industry, tourism and agriculture. Penang Port is a transport hub linking Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Weather in Penang

The island has a humid equatorial climate. There is practically no temperature difference throughout the year; on the island all year round it is about + 30 °C during the day and approximately + 23 °C at night. The water temperature off the coast also does not change; the water in the sea is + 28 °C all year round. The wet season lasts from May to September, so it is traditionally considered best time To visit Penang the period is from October to April.

Penang Transport

The best way to get to Penang is by plane from Kuala Lampur in about an hour. You can get to the island by land transport- across the bridge connecting Penang and the mainland. In terms of cost and time, an airplane and a bus are approximately the same. There is also a ferry service.

It is convenient to move around the island by shuttle buses Rapid Penang Company. The buses are comfortable and air conditioned. You can get significantly greater freedom of movement by renting a motorbike. To do this, you will need a driver's license, you will also need to fill out an agreement and leave a deposit.

The roads on the island are not bad, drivers drive quite carefully, and they only wear helmets when riding motorbikes. Bicycles are also available for rent.

There are taxis on the island that can be ordered at the hotel reception, but they are quite expensive. A trip from the hotel to the airport will cost about 60 ringgit (approximately $20). For comparison, a bus ride will cost 2.7 ringgit.

Beaches of Penang

The beaches of the island are not amazingly beautiful and lovers of a purely beach holiday may feel disappointed. The beaches are not very clean, the infrastructure is poorly developed, and there are a lot of jellyfish in the coastal waters, which can seriously burn you while swimming.

• Batu Ferringhi Beach is the main beach of the island with a length of about two kilometers. It has quite decent infrastructure and various water activities. The beach is sandy, clean, there are almost no jellyfish. Along the beach there is a resort area with hotels, restaurants and bars. The beach and resort area are located about ten kilometers from Georgetown.
• Monkey Beach is the second most famous beach in Penang. The name of the beach speaks for itself - there are a lot of monkeys. The beach is located on the territory of a national park, the infrastructure is more than modest: shelters, camping area, shower and toilet. There are two more beaches in coves nearby: Pantai Keracut and Pantai Ma s.
• Teluk Bahang - this beach is located in a small fishing village; it is not very suitable for swimming due to the large number of fishing boats that moor along the shore.
• Tanjung Bungah - the beach is located just five kilometers from the center of Georgetown, in the tourist area. Its disadvantages are that it is not entirely clean, and the coastal waters are infested with jellyfish.

Penang attractions

There are many attractions on the island, so lovers of active and educational recreation will be satisfied. In the capital of the island there are many temples: Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, as well as mosques. Each temple is unique, as is the opportunity to see religious buildings of the most basic religions of the world in one city.

• George Town - this city founded by English colonialists at the end of the 18th century is a landmark in itself. Here you can see a bizarre mixture of English colonial style with traditional Asian architecture and ultra-modern buildings. The most convenient way to explore the city is by purchasing a ticket for a special excursion bus.
• Fort Cornwallis - the fort was founded by the British immediately after acquiring the island. At first it was made of wood, then the buildings were replaced with stone ones. Within the walls of the fort there is a historical museum, and nearby there is a park with numerous cafes.
• Chinatown is the old part of the city, protected by UNESCO. There are temples, shops and souvenir shops, markets and night bazaars. Chinatown is the heart of the island and its most colorful place.

Temples of Penang

• St. George's Church is the oldest Anglican church in Malaysia, built in the early 19th century.
• Sri Mahaariamman Temple is an Indian temple famous for the statue of God Subramaniam, made of precious metals and inlaid with precious stones.
• Captain Keling Mosque (Kapitan Keling Mosque) - the mosque was built by the first settlers from India, its architecture vaguely resembles the world famous Taj Mahal mausoleum.
• The State Mosque is the main mosque in Penang province, which can accommodate up to five thousand worshipers at a time.
• Snake Temple - a Buddhist temple built in the mid-19th century, still retains a mysterious atmosphere: there is always a fire and cobras live here. The temple is located near the airport. Temple of Supreme Bliss - This Buddhist temple took almost 20 years to build and is decorated with a thirty-meter pagoda that combines Chinese, Thai and Burmese architectural styles. Goddes of Mercy Temple - This temple was built by the first Chinese settlers.
• Golden Temple (Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple) is a Buddhist temple in the courtyard of which there is a sacred Bodhi tree and a wishing well.

Penang Museums

• Kampung Seronok is an ethnographic Malay village, here travelers can get acquainted with the life and way of life of the local population.
• Penang Museum and Art Gallery (Penang Museum) - the exhibition of the museum, located next to Fort Cornvalis, is dedicated to the history of the island, and in the Art Gallery you can get acquainted with the works of local artists.

Nature of Penang

• Butterfly Factory (Penang Butterfly Farm) - here is a garden where several thousand butterflies of various species flutter freely in a huge enclosure. There is a museum with hundreds of specimens of various insects on display.
• Bird Park (Penang Bird Park) - the park is located behind the ferry crossing, on the mainland of Penang state, several hundred species of birds live here, the park itself is cool, with artificial ponds, orchid and hibiscus gardens.
• Penang Hill is an 830 meter high peak from where you can admire views of the island and its capital. The oldest funicular in Asia takes tourists to the top, opened in 1923 and still working properly.
• Botanical Garden(Botanic Gardens) - located half a kilometer from Mount Penang, in the garden you can see various types of flora and fauna, the garden itself is about 100 years old. Tropical Fruit Farm is a large garden in which almost all fruits grow Southeast Asia. You can try them right on the spot, or order freshly squeezed juice.
• Teluk Bahang Park is a very beautiful park that houses a forest museum.

Penang Restaurants

Food prepared and sold right on the street by hawkers is a kind of calling card of Penang. The multinational population gives the island's cuisine a unique diversity. The food bought from the stalls is very tasty and it is quite safe to eat this way on the island.

Of course, there are restaurants and cafes in Penang. Although the difference between a cafe and a street stall is small: they cook right on the street, under a canopy, and there are tables here. There are, of course, pretentious restaurants, but travelers prefer street cafes - cheap and very tasty. The cuisines are varied: Malay, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and European. In small cafes, you often find a menu that is a hybrid of dishes from different cuisines.

Shopping in Penang

The largest shopping center on the island is located in Komtar. This is a 65-story skyscraper, it houses offices, shops, boutiques and restaurants. At the very top of the building there is an observation deck and a revolving restaurant. In the shopping center you can buy items from world famous brands. In markets and shops on the streets of Georgetown, counterfeits are sold, most often these are copies of branded clothing, electronics and watches.

Traditionally in Malaysia and Penang they buy:

• utensils made of copper and tin;
• silk, batik and hand-painted fabrics;
• spices and seasonings.
• wood products: local craftsmen can quickly cut a custom-made item for a buyer;
• rattan products and furniture;
• antiques: in the bazaars you can still find something from the colonial period;
• souvenirs: figurines of spirits and gods, amulets, vases, knives, boxes and much more; Given the multinational flavor of the island, you can buy a wide variety of souvenirs and very unusual ones.

Penang Hotels

Penang leaves an unforgettable impression; you can travel around the island on your own with pleasure; it is safe, interesting, tasty and very beautiful. And for a beach holiday, tourists often go to the nearest islands.

Penang is an island 3 km off the northwest coast of Malaysia. Together with Sebarang Perai on the mainland it forms the state of Penang. The island's beaches are slightly inferior compared to other tourist regions of Malaysia, but this deficiency is fully compensated by the island's rich historical and cultural heritage with characteristic Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences. Penang has also earned the title of "Gastronomic Capital of Malaysia" due to its delicious cuisine.

Cities

Batu Ferringhi(Batu Ferringhi) is a beach resort on the northern coast with white sandy beaches, luxury hotels and restaurants, a popular holiday destination for locals and tourists. More details in the article Batu Ferringhi

Brief description

The airport receives flights from AirAsia (http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page), Firefly (http://www.fireflyz.com.my/), Cathay Pacific Airways (http://www .cathaypacific.com/), SilkAir (http://www.silkair.com/SAA-flow.form?execution=e2s1), Jetstar Airways (http://www.jetstar.com/my/en/home), Tiger Airways (http://www.tigerair.com/sg/en/), Thai Airways (http://www.thaiairways.com/) and Malaysia Airlines (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/hq/en .html). Direct domestic flights are available to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Langkawi. Direct international flights Available to Jakarta, Koh Samui, Surabaya, Macau, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Medan, Singapore, Phuket, Perth and Banda Aceh. From the airport, you can use the services of an official taxi. They charge fixed fares from the airport to a specified destination through a coupon system (you first pay for the ticket at the taxi counter inside the airport, then go outside and get into the taxi). The most economical option to get from the airport to the center of George Town is by public company Rapid Penang bus #401 and #401E (cost approximately $1). Buses leave from the airport every 30 minutes. Rapid Penang buses have a ticket sales counter on the ground floor in the Arrivals Hall. The bus will make a number of stops along the way, with the final stop being Komtar Tower in the city centre. On the ferry. Ferries from Butterworth (a port town on mainland Malaysia) dock at Weld Quay (also known as Pengkalan Weld) on the eastern edge of the city. The swim takes about 20 minutes. There is a bus terminal nearby (on Victoria Street). There is no charge for the ferry returning from Georgetown to Butterworth. Ferries operate daily from 05:30 am to 01:00 am. Ferries to Langkawi leave from Swettenham Pier (near the Clock Tower, about 700m north of Weld Quay Jetty). Langkawi Ferry Services (https://langkawi-ferry.com/Home/About.aspx) operate from Langkawi to Penang at 14:30 and 17:15 daily, sailing time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. There is no restaurant on board the ferry. Check-in 30 minutes before scheduled flight departure. By bus. Intercity buses arrive at the new intercity bus terminal in Sungai Nibong (official name is "Terminal bass Expres Sungai Nibong"). Sungai Nibong is the name of the city where the bus terminal is located. It is close to Penang Bridge and the small town of Bukit Jambul. Buses depart from here to many cities in the country, neighboring Thailand and Singapore. The easiest way to get to Sungai Nibong is by taxi. Bus #25 runs from Sungai Nibong to the center of George Town, stopping at Komtar Tower. You can use the following major Malayan bus companies: The bus routes of these companies cover the entire territory of Malaysia, with their help you can also get to Singapore and Thailand. Tickets can be ordered directly from these companies or online at BusOnlineTicket.com (http://www.busonlineticket.com/). BusOnlineTicket.com is the ticket booking portal for major bus companies in Malaysia. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets from George Town tour operators in the Penang Road area (located in Chinatown). The journey from Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur takes approximately 6 hours. Buses from Johor Bahru and Singapore travel 10 hours, Krabi – 8 hours, Phuket – 12-14 hours, Bangkok – 18 hours. By car. By car. The Penang Bridge connects the island to the Malaysian mainland. Cars and motorcycles are charged a toll to use the bridge. There is no charge when returning from Penang to Butterworth. Taxi There are two types of taxis on the streets of Penang Island cities: Regular taxis (inexpensive ones) are painted red with some white stripes or designs; elite taxis (also called “executive taxis”) are blue. Travel in them is more expensive, but the service and the cars themselves are much better. Starting from August 2006, city taxis are required to charge the trip according to the meter. However, as in Kuala Lumpur, many taxi drivers do not follow the law and often refuse to use meters. In this case, agree on the fare in advance before getting into the car or try looking for another taxi. Red taxis are the most common, they wait for their clients in the area shopping centers, hotels and iconic attractions. Try to choose a taxi that agrees to use a meter. Don't be too fooled if you find a sticker on a car door indicating that a taxi uses a meter. As a rule, this is just a ploy to attract customers. The best option is to catch blue taxis, which, as a rule, go by meter. Unfortunately, blue taxis are not easy to find on the street. If you don’t rent a car and want to visit remote attractions of the island, book an hourly taxi for at least 3 hours, it will cost less. Taxi fares increase by one and a half times from 24:00 to 06:00. Car rental. Renting a car is the most economical option if you plan to visit the remote western or southern regions of the island. Please note that in Penang a number of streets are one-way. Also keep in mind that many locals ride motorcycles and often disregard traffic rules. Avoid driving in George Town during peak hours between 07:30-09:30 and 17:30-19:30. There are many car rental agencies located at the airport and George Town (on Chulia Street and Penang Road). Here are some sites: Beaches Penang's beaches are located along the northern coast of the island. The most famous of them is Batu Ferringhi, less famous are Teluk Bahang and Tanjung Bungah. The water around the island is a bit murky compared to other beaches in Malaysia. Yes, there is sun, sand, and the beaches along the north coast provide good opportunities for a variety of beach and water sports (windsurfing, parasailing), but there is no snorkeling or diving. If you really want to enjoy a pristine beach, scuba diving and rich marine life, head north to Langkawi (120 km away). There is a daily ferry from George Town to Langkawi, and there are also flights between the two islands. Read more about Batu Ferringhi in the article e Batu Ferringhi What to see (attractions) Kek Lok Si Temple(Kek Lok Si Temple) is a complex complex of monasteries, temples and beautiful landscaped gardens. This is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and the most frequently visited by tourists on the island of Penang. The temple was founded in 1890 and its main attraction is the impressive Rama VI Pagoda, nicknamed the “Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas”. The seven-storey pagoda, more than 30 meters high, incorporates a mixture of Thai, Chinese and Burmese architecture, and is currently the largest structure of its kind in Malaysia. Another attraction of the temple complex is the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings with a statue of the Laughing Buddha in the middle and a massive bronze statue of Guan Yin located on the hill. Kek Lok Si is the center of celebrations for Penang's Chinese community. Particularly colorful celebrations take place here during the Chinese New Year in January or February. The complex is hung with beautiful lanterns, illuminating it throughout the night. During Chinese New Year celebrations, the temple complex remains open until late at night. Opening hours: from 07:00 to 21:00 daily. Entrance is free except for a small fee for access to the pagoda and cable car. From the top of the pagoda there is a beautiful panorama of the island. Address: Air Itam city, Penang Island (6 km from Georgetown). Penang Hill(Penang Hill) is a mountain resort located in the hills in the vicinity of the city of Air Itam, 6 km from Georgetown. It was the first colonial hill resort established by the British in Malaysia. The forested hills of Penang Hill stand out against the backdrop of the island's lowlands. The most important feature of Penang Hill is its more cool climate, average temperature, typically five degrees cooler than Georgetown. There are 5 hills in total, the height of the highest of them is 833 m above sea level, a number of others exceed 700 m. From the outskirts of the city Air Itam to the top of one of the hills (Flagstaff Hill, 735 m) cable car length 2 km. The trip takes about half an hour, stopping at intermediate stations on request, the funicular runs every half hour from 06:30 to 21:00 daily. In addition, there is a 5.1 km long road leading to the summit, called the jeep track. It is only open to vehicles of residents living in Penang Hill. The jeep track is also used by fans of cross-country driving. There is also a popular hiking trail. It starts from the Penang Botanical Garden and climbs to the top of Penang Hill. The trail passes through so-called pit stops, which offer beautiful views of the island. At the top of Penang Hill, tourists can enjoy food courts, souvenir kiosks, buggy rides, a Hindu temple, a mosque, a post office, and the Bellevue Hotel - the only operating hotel on Penang Hill. Serpent Temple. The Snake Temple on Penang Island was built in 1850 in honor of Chor Su Kong, a monk revered for his many good deeds, including healing hopelessly ill people. Legend claims that after construction was completed, snakes appeared in the Temple themselves. The monks gave them shelter and, in gratitude, the reptiles did not bite a single person. Among the snakes, the most common is the temple keffiyeh. Snake farm. There is a snake farm on the territory of the Snake Temple (to the right of the entrance). The farm is privately owned and the owner is a professional herpetologist whose expertise helps care for the snakes at the Temple. Here you can touch and even hold poisonous snakes. The farm is open to the public from 09:00 to 17:30. How to get there. The Snake Temple is located in Banyan Lepas on Jalan Tokong Ular, close to Penang International Airport and Queensbay Mall. Rapid Penang buses #401 and #401E depart from Weld Quay and Komtar Tower in George Town and stop at the temple. When you board the bus, ask the driver to stop near the Snake Temple, he will stop the bus on the road within sight of the temple. The Snake Temple is open daily from 07:00 to 19:00, admission is free. Snakes are removed from the temple grounds during Chinese New Year celebrations. How to get there to Balik Pulau. Rapid Penang Bus #401 or #401E departs from the bus terminal at Weld Quay and Komtar Tower in George Town and stops at Balik Pulau. Penang National Park Museums Suffolk House(Suffolk House) is the estate of Captain Francis Light, who founded a number of English settlements on the island of Penang. Francis Light settled and lived on the property until his death in 1794. After Light's death, the building fell into disrepair and was recently restored and turned into a museum. Managed by Badan Warisan Malaysia, a non-governmental organization dedicated to preserving Malaysia's architectural heritage. In addition to the life and work of Francis Light, the Museum showcases the history of Penang during the period of English colonization of the island. There is a small restaurant and gift shop here. Suffolk House is open for guided tours and self-guided visits daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30). Entrance fee is RM10, children under six years old are admitted free. Located 6 km from Georgetown in Air Itam. The bus departs from Komtar Tower. Address: 250 Jalan Air Itam, Penang Island. Owl Museum(Owl Museum). The museum's collection consists of more than 1,000 objects collected from 20 countries. Owls are made of different materials: wood, stone, metal, glass, clay, plastic, buffalo horns, shells, beans, plant fibers, crystal, porcelain, earthenware, paper. The museum has a store that sells model owls and T-shirts promoting the Owl Museum. The museum causes complaints from tourists who visit it that it is more like a store, for which you have to pay money to visit and does not provide interesting knowledge about owls. The museum is located at the top of Penang Hill, you need to take a cable car to get to the top of the hill. Opening hours: daily from 09.00 to 18:00, address: Level B3, Penang Hill New Visitor Centre, Penang Island, website http://theowlmuseum.com/home.html Kitchen Shopping Read more about shopping on Penang Island in the article. Shopping in George Town (Penang Island) Holidays and festivals Just like any other region of Malaysia, the people of Penang celebrate all the major religious holidays, namely Eid al-Fitr (Muslims), Chinese New Year and Vesak (Buddhists), Diwali and Thaipusam (Hindus). Chinese holidays are celebrated most widely, which is not surprising, since the Chinese make up the majority of the island's population. Eid al-Adha(Hari Raya Aidilfitri). The Muslim holiday celebrates the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Chinese New Year. Celebrating the New Lunar Year according to the Chinese calendar. The most spectacular part is the launching of fireworks and burning of incense. The largest celebrations take place on Lebuh Chulia Street. Thaipusam. A Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Pausha (January/February). The most spectacular part of the festival is the kavadi ceremony. Pilgrims pierce their cheeks or tongue with skewers, and use hooks to attach lemons, tangerines and other fruits to the skin of their chest, back, thighs and forehead. Vesak(Vesak or Wesak). Buddhist festival to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha Penang Buddhists take to Jalan Burmah to take part in a lavish night procession. Occurs annually, the date depends on the Chinese Lunar calendar (on the full moon of the 5th or 6th Lunar month). Georgetown Holiday. Held annually since 2010 in honor of the inclusion of the city in the list World Heritage UNESCO in 2008. The cultural event is accompanied by concerts, theater performances, dances, opera and film screenings. Typically lasts from June to July and attracts a lot of attention from participants from all over the world. Website http://georgetownfestival.com/ Bon Odori Festival(Bon Odori Festival). The Bon Odori Festival is the Japanese version of the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, where everyone pays respects to their deceased ancestors. The holiday is usually accompanied by performances by dancers and drummers and takes place in June. Feast of St. Anne(The Feast of St. Anne). Takes place every year on July 29 in the Church of St. Anne. The Catholic religious holiday includes a solemn night procession with lit candles around the church. Nine Emperor God festival. The holiday is celebrated for 9 days. The holiday begins on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, usually at the end of September or October. Believers observe fasting for nine days. During the holiday, you will have the opportunity to watch the piercing of the human body with sharp skewers, walking on hot coals, and opera performances. Apart from Malaysia, the holiday is widely celebrated in Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand. Diwali(Deepavali). The Hindu Festival of Lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil, as a sign of which candles are lit everywhere. Celebrated in late October - early November. Penang Flower Festival(Penang Floral Festival) is held annually at the Penang Botanical Garden in the month of June. The main attraction of this festival is the procession of floats elaborately decorated with flowers. Songkran(Thai water festival). Takes place in the area of ​​the Buddhist temple Wat Chayamangkalaram on April 13-15 every year. Participants pour water on each other on the street. Climate and when to go Penang Island, like other regions of Malaysia, has a warm equatorial climate. But, being an island, temperatures here are often higher than on the mainland. Temperatures range between +29 °C +35 °C during the day and +26 °C +29 °C at night. From June to August is the hottest period. Humidity ranges from 70% to 90%, annual precipitation is about 2400 mm. The driest months are generally January and February. The wet period is usually from September to November and from April to May. Peak tourist season falls on Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year (check the lunar calendar; it may fall in late January or early to mid-February). Accommodation Hotels according to the attractions of Penang Island Penang International Airport(Penang International Airport), recommended options on booking.com at this link Kek Lok Si Temple(Kek Lok Si Temple), recommended options on booking.com at this link Butterfly Farm(Penang Butterfly Farm), recommended options on booking.com at this link

In the town of Ayer Itam (Ayer Hitam), located near Georgetown, one of the most beautiful towns in Southeast Asia rises above the city. Buddhist temple Kek Lok Si. Construction of the temple began in 1890 and lasted more than two decades. The largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia is still active to this day. Thanks to the mixture of three different architectural styles - Burmese, Thai and Chinese, the structure makes a huge impression. Particularly striking is the richness of the interior decoration, the brightness of the colors and the sculpture of Guan Yin - the Goddess of Mercy. At the entrance to the temple there is a large area for prayers; inside the temple there are a huge number of Buddha sculptures; local residents claim that there are over 10,000 of them.
The courtyards with fountains, ponds with turtles, tropical gardens and picturesque landscapes of the temple complex are amazing, and what an incredible view opens from the height of the seventh level of the Ban Pa Thar pagoda.
Transport: Rapid Penang city bus to Ayer Itam town, travel time less than an hour, then taxi or walk along the market to Crane Hill. The pagoda and Guan Yin statue are visible from afar.

On the territory of the Temple of Supreme Bliss there is a seven-tier Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas, dedicated to the Bodhisattva Tsi Tsuang Wang, who refused to enter nirvana after enlightenment in order to then help others along the path of knowledge. The height of the pagoda is 30 meters.
The temple is open daily and there is no entrance fee. Entrance to the pagoda is RM 2 (0.6 S). There is a fee for the funicular and ski lifts on the territory of the complex.

The Snake Temple was built in 1850 and is dedicated to Chinese Buddhist monk Chor Su Kong. He was a healer and gave shelter to animals, including snakes. The temple was originally called "Temple of the Azure Cloud" - Temple of the Azure Cloud in honor of the beauty of the Penang sky. Then snakes appeared in the temple, and to this day a huge number of poisonous snakes live on the territory and in the interior; they say that their poison is neutralized by incense and sacred smoke. On the saint's birthday, which is celebrated on the 6th day of the 6th month according to the lunar calendar, a huge number of snakes crawl into the temple.
There is a small snake museum next to the temple. Price entrance ticket- RM5 (1.55 S). Opening hours: 9:00 - 18:00
How to get there? The temple is located 3.5 kilometers from the airport on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. Bus No. 401 and No. 401A from KOMTAR station. Stop in front of the Osram building.

At the farm you can see how various exotic tropical fruits grow, try them or drink freshly squeezed fruit juice. The farm can be visited daily from 9.00 to 17.00. Ticket prices: adults - RM28 (12.5 S), children RM20 (6.2 S). Transportation: From Weld Quay or Komtar, take bus No. 101 to Teluk Bahang stop, then bus No. 501.

The bird park is not located on Penang Island, but on the mainland of Penang Seberang Perai in the city of Seberang Jaya. Of course, the Penang Bird Park cannot be compared with the Bird Park in Kuala Lumpur either in size or in the number of birds living there. But there is also something to see here; landscape designers have created a magnificent garden of orchids and hibiscus, ponds of various sizes, alleys - a walk will be a real pleasure. There are more than three hundred species of exotic birds in the park, most of them are not in aviaries or cages, but fly freely; a net stretched over the territory does not allow them to leave the park. There is a bird show every day at 11.30. The performance features trained parrots who play basketball, find hidden balls under cups and put garbage into a bucket. Not only birds can be found in the park; crocodiles, goats, deer, and snakes also live here.
The park is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00. Ticket price: adults - RM29 (9 S), children under 12 years old - RM10 (3 S). There is also a RM1 fee for cameras.

Next to the Bird Park near the town of Bukit Mertajam, 18 kilometers from the Butterworth ferry pier, is the Bukit Mertajam Recreational Park. The park is located on the hills at an altitude of several hundred meters above sea level. Thanks to this, the air in the park is cool and fresh; eucalyptus trees, various types of ferns, and flowers predominate among the plants. The fauna is represented by a variety of birds, insects and amphibians.

Not far from Teluk Bahang village is one of the world's largest Butterfly Farm or Butterfly Park, owner David Goh founded the farm in 1986. On an area of ​​8 hectares, the mesh enclosure contains from three to five thousand butterflies of various species. In addition to them, insects live on the butterfly farm - spiders, scorpions, bees and snakes, frogs, geckos and water dragons. There is also a tropical fruit garden with more than 250 species of fruit trees, including durian and West Indian cherry.
A rock garden, an artificial waterfall, a pond with lilies, and a mud pool have been created on the territory. There is a cafe and souvenir shop.
The Butterfly Park is open to visitors daily from 9.00 to 18.00. Entrance fee: adults - RM27 (8.5 S), children over 4 years old - RM12 (4 S).
How to get there? Address: No. 830, Jalan Teluk Bahang. Bus N101 from Weld Quay station via Komtar to the last or last stop Jalan Teluk Bahang.

The botanical garden is located 8 kilometers from Georgetown. The name Waterfall Gardens was given to the garden because of the waterfall located on its territory. The area of ​​the Botanical Garden is over 30 hectares; it appeared thanks to the English colonialists, who founded the garden in 1884 in honor of the first governor of the island, Charles Curtis, who was fond of searching for rare and unknown plants in the jungle. Currently, the collection of the Botanical Garden includes almost all types of tropical flora and fauna of this region. The park is popular not only among tourists, but also among local residents as a place for walks and active recreation. There are especially many rhesus monkeys in the Botanical Garden, so tourists should be vigilant and carefully monitor their belongings. Several convenient walking routes to Mount Penang start from the Botanical Garden.
There is no entrance fee to the Botanical Garden; the garden is open daily from 5.00 to 20.00.
How to get there? From Weld Quay or Komtar, take the N10 bus to the final stop, but the interval on this route is one hour, the best option is a taxi.

It is more convenient to go on an excursion to Pulau Payar Marine Park from Langkawi Island, as it is only 19 miles (33 km) from Pulau Payar Island, and 40 miles (75 km) from Penang Island. The territory of the marine park also includes islands
Pulau Segantang, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Kacha. Pulau Payar Island has the largest number of coral species recorded in Malaysia, and the famous Coral Garden is located on the southwest side of the island. This is an ideal place for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

The forest recreational park, located on 32 hectares, is a popular holiday destination among local residents and tourists; it has been given the status natural heritage Malaysia. A few kilometers from the park is the fishing village of Teluk Bahang and nearby the luxurious resort - Mutiara Beach Resort. Another attraction is the Penang National Park located next to the Teluk Bahang fishing pier.
The forest park and arboretum was officially opened by the Governor of Penang Tun Datuk Syed Sheh Alhaj Bin Syed Hassan Barakbah on December 11, 1974.
Located within the park Forest Museum, which opened to the public on May 5, 1983. The museum contains detailed information about the features and functions of the forest, the history of the forest and the many varieties of native and exotic flora and fauna. A large number of pedestrian paths cross the park, providing ease of movement. There are four forested jungle trails - Monkey Cup Trail, Simpoh Gajah Trail, Charcoal Kiln Trail and Ridge Top Trail.
How to get there? Rapid Penang Bus No. 101 to Teluk Bahang Village. Then transfer to bus number 501 to Balik Pulau.

Penang National Park is located in the north-eastern part of Penang Island opposite the Strait of Malacca and covers an official park area of ​​1181.949 hectares and 1381.014 hectares of sea, possibly making the park the smallest in the world. Despite this, Penang Park is a unique nature reserve with several distinctive ecological systems not found in other major nature reserves in Malaysia. Namely - meromictic lake on Pantai Kerachut, wetlands, mangroves in Pantai Mas and Sungai Tukun, mud flats (coastal strip that dries up during low tides), coral reefs (not found only offshore Teluk Duyung, Teluk Ketapang and Teluk Kampi) and nesting sites (egg laying) of green turtles and olive ridley turtles on beaches Pantai Keruchut, Teluk Ketapang and Teluk Kampi, as well as eight sandy beaches, each of which is worth a visit and has its own interesting features. The number of plant species exceeds a thousand, and the diversity of wild animals makes the park the only place where you can see leopard, long-tailed macaques, dark leaf monkey, mouse deer, pangolin, otter, porcupine and other small animals.

How to get there? The distance from George Town is approximately 30 kilometers, you can take a taxi or Rapid Penang bus No. 101 from Weld Quay.
Entrance to the park is free. Parking cost: free along the road, on the territory of the fishing complex, in a guarded parking lot RM2. Registration and entry permit are required.

There are a huge number of attractions in Penang, the main ones are indicated on the free map, which can be taken at the hotel or upon arrival at the airport of Penang Island, as well as on Penang Hill.

First, let's deal with definitions. Penang (Penang) - island in the north Malaysia. The length of the island is about 25 km, width - 15 km. The center of the island is occupied by hills, high hills, overgrown with jungle. Penang Island is located a few kilometers from the Malaysian mainland, and is connected to it by a bridge and a permanent ferry service.

View of Penang from Kek Lok Si Pagoda

On the island of Penang there is a beautiful Georgetown city, where Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures mixed (see). A great place to see China, India and Malaysia itself at once. And here I spent two weeks at the end of November - beginning of December 2011.

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Indian Quarter "Little India" in Georgetown

Modern Georgetown is a shopping center, port and old resort, where you will find ancient Chinese streets with a taste of old lady England (the city was founded by the British during colonialism), stunning walls, windows, roofs, eaten away by tropical downpours, Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and churches, and with them the modern buildings of hotels and shopping centers made of glass and concrete. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Georgetown, center

There are other smaller settlements in Penang (for example, I accidentally visited the secluded agricultural Balik Pulau and, of course, went to Teluk Bahang - the doors to national park), but it all looks like a single urban agglomeration, connected by regular and comfortable bus service. The total population of the Penang agglomeration, according to some estimates, is about 2 million people.

Chinatown Luxury - Cheah Kongsi Clan House -

How developed is Penang, what kind of people live there?

In Penang there are, in fact, four types of development - the old city of Georgetown (ancient houses and streets in very different conditions), business Penang (modern shopping and business centers, malls, banks), bedroom Penang ("ordinary" high-rise buildings) and rural Penang (private houses and self-built restaurants).

One of the grocery hypermarkets in Georgetown

In general, the island, like the whole of Malaysia, is well developed in terms of infrastructure, there is a large middle class, and poor people are rich enough to live at a good standard of living - no poverty, dirt or squalor, on the contrary, it is, on average, comfortable here, comfortable and modern, Penang residents can only envy, but there are exceptions.

Sleeping?

Most of the population of Penang are Chinese and, judging by the feeling, almost as many are Malays. A large ethnic minority is from India.

Penang people are very peaceful and polite. It seems that there is complete order on the island and in the city, with crime, theft, and so on. no problem.

Lebuh Chulia Street, George Town Center

As for the exceptions visible to the naked eye - on the main backpacker street Lebuh Chulia at night (and not only) you can see a few homeless people sleeping under arches, and prostitutes offering themselves from the darkness, some of whom look scary even in the dark, probably some Some of them are addicted to hard drugs (at least there is one drug addict hanging around there, completely crazy). You can see a lot of rats there at night. But even this street is quite decent, and does not pose any danger - at least that's how I felt and regularly goes to the Indian restaurant "Captain" in the middle of the night, sometimes quite deep.

Old Georgetown is relatively clean - no sewage or rotting mountains of garbage, although all the garbage accumulates in the evening. Expensive business areas and the private sector are cleaner.

The prohibitory sign says that you cannot leave garbage here - the fine is 500 ringgit (5,000 rubles).

Someone placed bags of trash right under the sign.

Another prohibitory sign - do not park bicycles and motorbikes - there is a bicycle and a motorbike next to it. Such a sense of humor.

What is the weather like in Penang in late November - early December

View of the Strait of Malacca from Chew Jetty

I was in Penang at the end of November - beginning of December - two weeks. In the morning it is usually clear, the sun's rays are getting hotter. From 11 am to 2 pm the sun is almost always bright and very hot. It's easy to burn, even if you have a tan. However, most houses in the center of Penang have arched passages along the streets, so there are additional opportunity avoid contact with sunlight. From 15 o'clock there is often partly cloudy weather - gaps are visible here and there, sometimes the sun is completely hidden by clouds, there is no direct solar radiation. Sunset at 19-30 local time; Before sunset, the sky often clears up and cumulus clouds appear, beautifully illuminated by the setting sun. The nights are warm and humid, but not hot or wet - comfortable. Rain can fall at any time of the day, but is still more common in the afternoon. In the 14 days I was here, there were only two mostly rainy days.

How long can you stay in Malaysia without a visa?

Indian Quarter Street

There is a stamp in my Russian passport - under the date of entry it says something like this - you are allowed to stay for 30 days (end of November 2011). I entered by bus without any pre-arranged visa.

How much does it cost to get to Penang?

Old Georgetown, with modern buildings in the background.

You can get to Penang by bus from other cities in Malaysia (for example, from Kuala Lumpur, the fare is about 35 ringgit), Malacca (47 ringgit), from Cameron Highlands (50 ringgit) and from cities and islands Thailand, for example, from - 65-70 ringgits. Popular destination- from Penang to Langkawi island and back. Those who want to see orangutans in Sumatra ( Indonesia), can buy an air ticket Penang - Medan on airasia.com at a price from 83 ringgit (only 830 rubles!!!) - Penang airport is located in the south of the island, from where you can easily get to Georgetown by bus.

Georgetown has European architecture, but it's mostly a Chinese city

How to get to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur?.. You can get to Kuala Lumpur by plane, well, from almost all cities in the world - for example, there were tickets for December Moscow - Kuala Lumpur for 10,000 rubles one way. But later, of course, there were no more tickets. !

Penang. Chinese rose in bloom.

Cost of living in Penang

Chinese Georgetown ().

The cost of living in Penang varies depending on the season. November and December, which are discussed in the post, are high season. Housing will be cheaper outside the winter months.

The cost of budget accommodation in Penang and its main city of George Town is perfectly reflected on booking (see offers for George Town), where you can book a place in hostels and inexpensive guesthouses. The prices on this site are not inflated. Accommodation in hostel dorms - from 23 ringgit. RM28 - in my hostel and in the hostel next door, as well as in other places - see the sites mentioned.

The black veranda at the Reggae Hostel is an amazing place!

For 1 ringgit they give about 10 rubles. To get prices in rubles, multiply all prices in ringgits by 10 - very simple!

In my case - a hostel Reggae Penang Love Lane Hostel(description on hostelworld) - 28 ringgits - accommodation includes overnight stay in a shared room for 14 people, shared shower, free light breakfast, free wi-fi (works well only in the computer room). Clean and polite. At 5 with a minus.

Indiatown has a large selection of Indian movies on DVD; There are posters of these types of heroes all over the place.

Accommodation in guesthouses and inexpensive hotels - prices for a room with two beds are around 50 ringgit.

Penang with Kek Lok Si

Another extensive source of information on cheap hotels and guesthouses in Penang is here. The list is not the newest, but it will also be useful.

New buildings for ordinary people

You can come to Georgetown without a reservation - there are a large number of hotels, guesthouses and hostels in the city center. But in the high season, sometimes there are few available places, so to avoid running around, it is better to book and then, if necessary, extend your stay in advance.

Buddhist architectural complex Kek Lok Si Pagoda - built by Thailand in the 19th century

Many budget accommodations are located in the center of George Town on Lebuh Chulia streets, in particular around the corner of Chulia and Love Lane - it is a 15-minute walk from the Jetty bus station, where the ferry pier is located . Ask the locals - they will tell you where to go.

Cost of food in Georgetown

Window of an Indian restaurant on Lebuh Chulia, in the Little India quarter

Georgetown is a great place to meet real Chinese, Indian, Malay and Thai cuisines.

In inexpensive restaurants (of which the absolute majority are here), the cost of a hearty lunch with meat and a soft drink costs about 8-15 ringgit.

The walls of Georgetown are clean and warnings are posted everywhere - "do not post notices." However, in the Indian quarter, advertisements and posters are also hung on the walls. Some Indian celebrity.

I ate Indian food - there is an Indian quarter in the city center. The restaurant "Captain" on Lebukh Chulia is good, it is also open at night. The restaurant opposite "Captain" is also good. The restaurants do not have ideal sanitary conditions, but in my slightly squeamish opinion the conditions are acceptable. My average bill for lunch here is RM9-11. However, in other restaurants - both Malay and Chinese - food costs the same, if you do not take the most expensive dishes.

A vegetable garden with cucumbers under the walls of the Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple.

A cup of tea - 1.5 - 2.5 ringgit.

Juice - 3 - 4 ringgit.

Wheat flatbread with cheese - 3.5 ringgit.

Tender Pepper Chicken - RM7.5. Purely chicken, so more expensive than the rest.

Plain rice loaded with Indian spices - RM3 for a large portion.

This is rice with a piece of chicken - 8.6 ringgit.

Me and Matthew (pictured) in "Captain"

In this photo you see the same rice for 3 ringgit (briyani claypot rice), in Matthew’s hands there is naan, and the black something is pepper chicken - very tasty!

Food on a banana leaf. This set costs around RM8.

I also like Malay cuisine - especially chicken fried rice (Nasi Goreng Ayam). A plate of fried rice with seafood from Teluk Bahang (a village near the national park) costs about RM6. Roughly the same prices in other places. Plates This is enough for me to fill myself, loosely, but completely.

Malay style seafood fried rice - really delicious!

For food lovers, Penang is a real haven!

And the last question - all this meat, this chicken, fish - doesn’t it all rot in the heat?? To be honest, this question tormented me. I don’t know how it doesn’t spoil, but I’ve never been served rotten meat. By the way, in the Indian restaurant opposite "Captain" you can buy excellent fried fish - delicious! - for 3.5 ringgit for a 75-100 gram piece.

Transport prices in Penang

Penang bus from the inside. They're all so cool

You can get around the city by taxi and buses. Bus service is well developed and plus. The fare depends on the distance - you can see the price table at the driver's seat. For the longest distances (over 40 km) the ticket price is 4 ringgit. If they give you a large bill and it has already gone into the payment box, don’t wait for change! In general, they don’t give you change, so keep small change with you.

Jetty Bus Station in George Town Old Town - Buses go from here to all corners of Penang

The buses have air conditioning - it's cool, the buses are clean, modern, spacious, I haven't seen crowds like we have in St. Petersburg here, but traffic jams happen regularly.

In the city center, on the corner of Love Lane and Lebuh Chulia streets (just where there is a lot of budget accommodation) there is a magnificent stand that will help you plan your trip - it has everything about the routes, schedule, location Penang attractions.

Attractions of George Town and Penang and prices

Kek Lok Si Pagoda (19th century)

There are many attractions in Penang for a long time - a list of several dozen large and small attractions can be found on the free map of Penang, which you can get at your hotel/guest or at the tourist information center.

Chew Jetty is a fishing village on a platform preserved in the center of George Town. Life has almost left her, but the forms are still the same - to the delight of tourists.

Hindu temples (the oldest is in the Little India quarter), Buddhist temples (I recommend the Kek Lok Si complex - 2 ringgit entrance to the pagoda, 2 ringgit elevator ride to the huge Buddha on the mountain), mosques (Floating Mosque), churches.

Floating mosque in Penang

Butterfly Farm (entry fee RM27), Tropical Fruit Farm (RM25), (free entry) and so on. Also go to Penang Hill - there is a wonderful panorama from there. I also heard good reviews about the Toy museum and the Snake Temple.

Chinese Goddess of Mercy Temple in Georgetown. Huge stinking sticks are burned here; leaving the temple, believers raise regular-sized stink sticks above their heads, shaking them and saying something... And on the left is obviously a Chinese pepelats...

Botanical Garden, Tropical Spice Garden, Penang Art Gallery, Burmese and Thai (with a 33-meter reclining Buddha) Buddhist temples... The list of interesting things is long - it’s simply impossible to visit everything, and it’s not necessary - the main thing is that there is plenty to choose from!

Interior of one of the buildings of the Kek Lok Si complex

Beaches of Penang

Penang Main Beach - Batu Ferringhi

Well, of course, I want to swim. The beach area is the north of the island. In fact, nice beach there is only one here - Batu Ferringhi, the rest are just modest sandy locations... (I've already become picky!)

You can get to Batu Ferringhi by bus from the center of George Town (for example, number 101) for 2.7 ringgit. Travel time is about 40 minutes. On the beach they offer a ride on a water scooter for 70 ringgit for 15 minutes and a water parachute (this is when you powerboat drags, and you fly by parachute) - 80 ringgit for a solid circle around the sea alone and 150 ringgit for the same thing, but in tandem with a second person.

Batu Ferringhi resort, highway. This photograph may well pass for an average image of the island of Penang (but not the ancient town of Georgetown, of course).

The second most famous beach in Penang is. Located on the territory of the national park (to the national park, for example, bus 101, 4 ringgit) - you will have to walk around the national park for a little over an hour along a difficult path along the sea, past other small beaches. Or go from the pier in the village of Teluk Bahang, near the national park, by boat - a round trip cost 100 ringgit (seven people).

Monkey beach, or Monkey beach. There are, however, a lot of monkeys roaming around there.

Jellyfish are found in the sea waters of Penang. There are warning signs along the beaches about this. At the hostel I met two people who claimed to have been stung by a jellyfish - painful, but not dangerous. I hoped to experience for myself what it was like, but the jellyfish basically ignored me.

If I started talking about the horrors of the tropics... I almost didn’t see mosquitoes in November-December 2011 - well, sometimes in the evening a couple or three appeared on the veranda. But in Penang National Park, if you stay there overnight, you can see turtles crawling out of the sea waters onto the beach - egg-laying season, as I was told. I remembered about turtles in order to finish the report on my independent trip to Penang Island on a positive note :)

Conclusion

Penang Island- a convenient and quite comfortable place for a long holiday, where you can combine beach tourism, walks along diverse streets, visiting museums and temples and communicating with the nature of the tropics. I recommend!

This was a report about my travel and vacation in Penang! Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your questions and comments! Always yours, David.

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