malaysia travel : Penang guide

Here are maps of Penang, and here’s information on Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport and how to get to Georgetown from there. If you are taking an express bus, you will probably arrive at the new bus terminal Sungai Nibong and the Railway Station is on the mainland, located at Butterworth, Seberang Prai, if you took the KTM train. Ferry services are also available from Langkawi daily.
There’s so much to see and do in Penang, good food everywhere, and beautiful beaches to relax your mind.
Most of Penang’s fancier accommodation is in the form of beach resorts on the main tourist beach of Batu Feringghi. More backpacker-friendly options, as well as a few classical luxury hotels, can be found in Georgetown.
Penang (Pulau Pinang in Malay language) is situated 370 km from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia’s north-western coast, and consists of a strip of land (Seberang Prai) on Peninsular Malaysia and a turtle-shaped island. The Penang Bridge connects Seberang Prai on the mainland of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula and Gelugor on the island of Penang. The island of Penang has also been known as ‘Prince of Wales Island’, and more recently ‘The Pearl of the Orient’.

Penang used to be the oldest British settlement in Malaysia predating Melaka, today it is one of Malaysia’s main tourist draws. Although the beaches here are a little lacklustre when compared to many others in Malaysia, but this is more than compensated by Penang’s rich multicultural history which is full of colonial heritage and Chinese influence. Take a walk around Georgetown, the biggest city of the island, as it comes to life with places of worship, inner city communities, wet markets and bazaars, guilds, retail shops and traditional trades, hawkers and trishaw peddlers. The place illustrates a history of peaceful religious co-existence and cultural exchange among the followers of the great faiths of Islam, Buddhism,Hinduism, Christianity, as well as the Chinese religion, which combines Confucianism,Taoism and Buddhism.
For beach lovers, Penang’s best beaches are on the northern side, particularly Batu Ferringhi, but do be prepared for the heavy tourist crowd especially during peak seasons.
Penang is more than just beaches. The most unique tourist attraction is the Snake Temple, swarming with poisonous pit vipers. Apparently these poisonous snakes are believed to be made drowsy by the smoke of the burning incense. The 33m long reclining Buddha is the main attraction in Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, which is believed to be the 3rd largest in the world.
Penang Hill is set amidst the island, with a 730 metre or 2,300 feet peak, where tourists who don’t mind the long queues for the funicular train are rewarded with beautiful views and jungle walks.
You can see Penang’s top sights in a rush on an overnight stay, but you’ll need at least two days to do them justice, and three or four days to really get a sense of the island. In a week, you can get a good look at most of what Penang has to offer.
Welcome to Penang, The Pearl of the Orient.

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