"Island of Hawkers Food, Motorbikes and... " a Penang Travel Page by Audrey118

As a child Penang to me was just temples, temples, temples, trishaws, funicular ride to Penang Hill, good hawker (street) food.... where you see endless signage that says "Famous Penang Fied Juew Teow", "Penang Best Laksa" etc... that even in Kuala Lumpur city you see lots of cafes with names such as Penang Street, Penang Village, Little Penang....

The first time I have been to Penang was when I was a child - under 5 years old.It was also my first time to take a flight - it was in a very noisy plane - Forker Friendship. It is still a favourite local destination for me.

When I was a child besides taking the flight to Penang, the one and only other way to reach Penang Island was via Ferry. All kinds of motor transport gets atop the ferry and is ferried across from the main peninsular to the island. It was quite a joke when I was very young my dad would drive his Mercedes benz and park it to the old jalopy ferry and there would be herds of motorbikes lined in front of you, at the back of you...everywhere in the ferry. Today the ferry still exist, but most people would go across via this beautiful bridge. While you are up there you get a wonderful view - but too bad - you are not allowed to pullover to enjoy the view.

* Best is to stay within Batu Ferringhi - at one of the top hotels with access to the beach. The beach itself is not the best in the world, you may see some stray dogs sometimes. My idea is to ride a horse during the sunset hours. Some hotels can try to arrange that for you. And if you like night markets, the main road along Batu Feringghi has lots of stalls - just one too many!

* Go to Ayer Itam and visit these attractions - Botanical Garden, Penang Hill or Ayer Itam Dam.

Botanical Garden offers a nice green walk among tall palms, you can admire orchids at a stall (plants are for sale). Often you will see monkeys roaming around the park.

Not far is the Penang Hill (Flag Hill)
and you take the steep train ride up is every 1/2 hour. Avoid public holidays. At the peak take your time and enjoy a spectacular view of the island - relax - buy some snack food to enjoy or sometimes you can buy some fried fruit fritters up there from local stalls.

Also around Ayer Itam is this ornate temple with a humungous Goddess of Mercy temple. Take your time to explore the huge garden temple, climbing up lots of steps.

Within the city, go around and visit historical temples, once belong to Burmese natives, Thai temples along Lorong Burma. And walk towards the polica station there are two great coffee shops selling delicious local breakfast of noddles, pancakes (apom) etc...both shops are equally good. Have a cuppa of local coffee - without milk.

Not far is Lorong Bangkok, also look out for old houses known for its architectural - a blend of East and West .

Go to visit kongsis - there are several kongsis around Lebuh Amernian - area. Within that area you can explore by foot, visiting hitstorical mosques, temples, and kongsis....old houses for rich Arab traders, and Dr Sun Yat Sen's base in Penang. Kongsi are Chinese Clan houses - you can appreciate their detailed and ornate houses.

Nearby our colonial past can also be seen in some old churches, smack together with oldest Chinese temple Kuan Yin etc....

One of my favourite things to do is a visit the Blue House, a very nice mansion called Cheaon Fatt Tze Mansion. They have tours around the interesting houses...at 11 am and 3 pm...i highly recommend that!

In the evening, enjoy the sunset at the beach, ride horses along the beach, or go and join the locals at Gurney Drive and walk along the esplanade, eating all kinds of local street food or feast at a seafood restaurant.

If you want to try a local favourite biscuit - very Penang is to buy some Him Heang biscuits. The business is so brisk you have to over well in advance from the factory - tele 04 2286129