Penang Things to Do Tips by ellielou

Without a doubt, this was the finest museum I saw during my trip to Malaysia. It clearly presents the people who were in the area and who came to settle, and the development of the area. Despite presenting such historical facts, it wasn't too heavily text-based. The layout was really clear, and the galleries small, yet never felt cramped.

I'd highly recommend this as your first stop in Penang. Also, it is here that you can pick up that difficult to find walking tour map of Georgetown.

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Address: Lebur Farquahar

During the excellent tour you get of the mansion (and you need to go on a tour), you learn that Chung Fatt Tze was "the last mandarin, the first capitalist.' The house, and the man are fascinating.

You really shouldn't miss this....it's full of delights, and is a great learning experience and introduction to part of the history of Penang.

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Phone: +60 4 2625289
Address: 14 leith street, 10200 penang, malaysia
Website: http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/

Where does one being to describe this place? It's really a complex: multiple temples, building, statues, buddahs...plus, it's a hike up a hill...but you don't really know that it's such a hike, since it's relatively enclosed, with shops lining the sides.

I don't want to offend anyone with this next comment, but this complex is the Las Vegas on temples....really, there's an unreality about it, there's stuff to buy everywhere, there are ways to part you from your money buy supporting even more building of the temple....all in all, a pretty amazing place....

Once you reach the top, you're treated to great views of Penang below!

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Address: Ayer Itam
Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular

The Goddess of Mercy Temple is an incredibly active place. There are people cooking outside, and more smoke from the tons and tons of incense burning. (This also could be due to my being there on the 15th...since offerings are given during the middle of the month.)

According to the walking tour brochure, this temple was founded in the 1800s....even if you've seen many temples, this one is so active that it's worth seeking out.

Although many people are there to ask for good fortune, there are quite a few who are down on their luck...keep an eye on your bag, your belongings, and use common sense caution.

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Address: Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

I've never been to Burma, so I've never seen a Burmese temple. I'm not sure if this is what they are really like there, or is a Penangish version of what. In any event, it was really color, and I hope I'm not insultinig any Burmese Buddists who may be reading this, but it was sort of a fun place to visti.

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Address: Lorong Burma
Directions: Between Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi area approx 10 mins from Georgetown

Just like the 'blue mansion' the Peranakan Mansion is someone's home that has been turned into a museum.

Peranakan is the name of the Straits Chinese, who, to my knowledge, settled mainly in Singapore, Melaka, and, obviously, Penang. They seemed to have their heyday about 100 years ago, at the turn of the 20th Century, and built these amazing, and ostentatious mansions, and seemed to enjoy living the high life....

This mansion is beautiful, and filled with the lavish artifacts of these wealthy people. While you are allowed to wander the downstairs alone, you will need a guide for the upper floor. There is a separate chapel in the back.

It's on the HIstoric Georgetown Walking tour....and a small admission fee is charged.

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Address: 29 Lebuh Gereja

Penang Hill is an interesting way to spend an hour or two....one of the reasons is that it's so much cooler than the rest of the city down below.

It's a lush place, with nice views of the city and the water, and some lovely birds, and semi-aggressive monkeys.

In addition, there's an interesting old hotel, and if you sit on the veranda (just like an old colonialist) you can check out the pit vipers that live there.

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As usual in Penang, good food is never that far away! Up on Penang Hill, there is the Penang Hill Famous Peanut House. It's not a house exactly, and I don't know how famous it is, but it's good, and the guy is really nice....we spent a fairly long time talking about chickpeas, and the various names it goes by: garbanzos, channa, cee-cee beans, etc....

I asked if he could make curry chick peas, and he did! Fresh curry...very delicious, and worth a stop when cooling off on the hill.

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Directions: Penang Hill

well, this isn't really a big 'things to do' tip, but the food in Penang was so amazing, that it would be a shame if you didn't entertain yourself just a little bit by watching them make something....food is generally made quickly and before your eyes....and, you may just get a mini-show if you watch the people at coffeshops or hawker stalls make something for you, while you watch through the lens of your camera.

if you've read my into to Penang, you can tell that I was super impressed by the roti.....what follows are the stages of getting the roti from the dough, to my plate....

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Address: around town

I think it's always a good idea to visit art galleries, wherever you go, and if you take the Historic Georgetown Tour, you'll pass at least two. I was impressed by one, less so by another, but it was still a nice break to learn what' s happening now in Georgetown, instead of just historically....

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