Penang Off The Beaten Path Tips by RoyJava

Tua Pek Kong Temple

There is a truly "Street of Harmony", right in the Pitt Street. See the KUAN IM Temple, the Hindu Maha Mariamman Temple and the famous Kapitan Keling Mosque (Captain Kling Mosque). There may be too many tourists, well, step further on and see other temples (like the Hakka Tua Pek Kong Temple, the Yap Kongsi and the famous Khoo Kongsi Clan Temples).

The Hakka Tua Pek King was God of Prosperity, bringing luck, prosperity and good health. So the people of this temple do organize once every 12 years a procession (Year of the Tiger, the symbol and mascot of this deity).

Tua Pek Kong

Malaysian Ringgit

Time's changing, so today currency 1 Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is 100 sen. There are notes in 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 RM, and 50, 20, 10, 5 1 sen coins.

1 USD = 3.80001 MYR
1 Euro = about 5 RM

Website: http://%bhttp://www.kiat.net/malaysia/travelinfo.html

Golden, Green & Red Bamboo

Get up the Penang Hill Railway, Keretapi Bukit, a fascinating little cable train service that lifts you out of the heat and humidity of the coastal plain and up to a fabulous view and cool breezes. And see the largest bamboo ever. Though you can see bamboo everywhere. Did you know bamboo is actually a giant grass?

The bamboo family has over 1400 species, and bamboo plants "run" in a very quick way and can be seen far in the neighbourhood. See the beautiful red and golden bamboo I loved to play with when childhood ...

Website: http://%bhttp://www.lewisbamboo.com/

Special Spot For A Goddess

Described a thousand times the Kek Lok Si Temple still is one of the finest Buddhist temples in South-east Asia. The temple is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Tsi Tsuang Wang - who, like the Goddess of Mercy, got the state of eternal bliss in order to assist others. See the maze of gardens, courts and passages and going back for the souvenirs stands you could visit the beautiful bronze Kuan Yin statue, the Goddess Of Mercy.

For now a bronze statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy! The original snow-white Kuan Yin statue once stood right in the bushes, surrounded by the mythical telling that a nun survived in bad times on this mid-hill spot within the bushes. She helped and cured people and, after she died they honoured her with the statue of a snow-white Kuan Yin statue.

One of the numerous Buddhist images in the Kek Lok Si Temple was a huge snow-white Kuan Yin statue (80 ft.). It is told heavy storms knocked the statue down and some people believe the Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, "wanted" to be right next to the 10.000 Buddha's ... and a new bronze Kuan Yin statue was created and placed next to the 10.000 Buddha's at the end of 2002.

The old part you still can see above the building when entering the complex where Kuan Yin is specially dedicated as the Greatly Compassionate & Sagely Kuan Yin Bodhisattva (tidings by Ben van Wijnen!)

A while ago I got lucky to visit the spot on the mid-hill and still could enjoy the beautiful snow-white Kuan Yin ...
Kek Lok Si Temple
Beautiful pics by Ben van Wijnen

Website: http://%bhttp://asiaforvisitors.com/malaysia/peninsula/penang/kekloksi/

One Price Stores

Enjoy Penang shopping and get best bargains in the "shopping streets" with its numerous pre-war shophouses. It's heaven and still new shopping complexes/mega malls come to life. Shop for souvenirs, curious little things, clothes and ...

One tip; walking around you'll be able to walk up to those colour-full "one-price" stores. No bargain and, please get surprised what you can buy inside ... you won't be disappointed!

Website: http://%bhttp://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2766924-penang_shopping-i