Penang Guide

Penang Guide, Event and Festivals

Penang Events and Festivals in January - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Chinese New Year - perhaps the most special time of year for the resident Chinese, when elaborate celebrations are held all over the island in honour of Chinese New Year. Colourful feasts and lion dances take place everywhere

Penang Events and Festivals in February - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Chap Goh Meh - an unusual February festival, Chap Goh Meh is a time when young, unmarried women throw oranges into the sea to find suitors. It is a tradition brought to Southeast Asia by the Hokkien, and is considered the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day

Penang Events and Festivals in April - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Songkran - celebrated in mid-April, Songkran is held in honour of the Thai New Year. Thai Buddhist temples host festivities around the island, including the water-splashing that goes on between festival revellers

Penang Events and Festivals in May - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Penang International Triathlon - the triathlon is held annually every May, drawing hundreds of athletes to Penang. It is an incredibly gruelling, fast-paced race that involves swimming, cycling and running

Penang Events and Festivals in June - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•International Dragon Boat Festival - every June, teams from around the world descend on Penang for the annual Dragon Boat Festival, held in the waters off Batu Uban. This event is well-known for being Southeast Asia's most colourful boat race, and is all about friendly competition

Penang Events and Festivals in July - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Penang Beach Carnival - taking place over the course of a week every July, the Beach Carnival is held at Batu Ferringhi and features local foods, seaside celebrations, cultural events, shows, fashion parades, inter-hotel competitions and of course, plenty of partying

Penang Events and Festivals in August - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Penang Cultural Festival - a month-long celebration of the island's rich heritage, the Penang Cultural Festival features special performances and shows throughout the month of August in conjunction with the Penang Food Festival
•Malaysia National Day - the island joins the rest of Malaysia on August 31st to celebrate its independence with colourful parades, performances and various shows

Penang Events and Festivals in September - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Malaysia Fest - every September, major hotels and resorts team up with the island's largest shopping complexes to attract visitors for a celebration of all things Malaysian, including culture, cuisine and handicrafts

Penang Events and Festivals in October - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Shopping Carnival - Penang, Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur hold a yearly shopping extravaganza as an extension of Malaysia Fest in October, a carnival featuring two weeks of special sales and product offerings

Penang Events and Festivals in November - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Pesta Pulau Festival - this festival is held every November to remind island residents of their harmonious and unique multi-cultural heritage

Penang Events and Festivals in December - Penang, Malaysia, MY
•Christmas – the island celebrates Christmas on December 25th with religious traditions at churches everywhere, while the shopping centres, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues also feature festivities in honour of the season

Thing to do in Penang
Penang State Museum

The Penang Museum was built in 1965 and houses a collection of priceless artifacts and state treasures. Eight of the ten original oil paintings by the famous artist Captain Robert Smith are found here. Other items on display include porcelain, furniture, jewellery and costumes from past historical eras. There are also maps, charts and memorabilia used by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. A short distance away from St George's Church is the Penang State Museum. This was the former premise of the Penang Free School, which was built in 1896 and extended in 1906.

Opening Times : 9.00am - 5.00pm everyday except Friday
Admission Fee : Adult RM1.00 Child RM 0.50

Penang Botanical Gardens

The British officials seemed to have really loved their parks and botanical gardens. Everywhere they set up camp, they would just as soon landscape a piece of the scenery into a park and such. Just as well that happened, as all the gardens and parks in Malaysia that the Brits had gazetted are still enjoyed by the communities. Penang's botanical garden is no different. Tucked away at the foot of the hill, the garden is ideal for strollers, joggers and those just interested in flora. Charles Curtis, its first superintendent was the designer and architect. He started work in 1884, replanting the former granite quarry with local and introduced plants. The gardens were originally intended for a nursery. Horticultural plants were sent over from Kew Gardens in England in hope of planting crops in Penang for the future. However, the gardens were eventually opened for public use. The variety of plants and trees have pretty good information boards for those interested. For others, there is a fair amount of shade from towering trees along the pathways to keep visitors cool. The 72 acre gardens also has herbariums and nurseries. Unfortunately these aren't open to visitors, plus the plant items looked in need of some nurturing. There are usually families of The Silver Leaf Monkeys (peace loving, cut and adorable) and The Macaques (aggressive, smart, sneaky and greedy sound like anyone you know?). Do keep clear away from the macaques, they can get quite nasty. Also try not to tempt them with food. There was a personal experience at the age of 4 - carrying a bag of peanuts at the botanical gardens - watching in slow mo as a huge macaque came galloping on all fours eyeing the bag of delicious snack - not much taller than the monkey itself - was bowled over by the cheeky so and so - ending in tears and an age old phobia of macaques

Penang Hill

On Penang Hill you can escape the heat of tropical Georgetown. The hill, also known as Bukit Bendera, is 830 meter high (2,750 foot) and it's much cooler than in the city below. It's about 3 degrees cooler than the places near the coast. The station to get to the top is located in Air Itam. From Georgetown, take a Transit Link bus No 1, or No 101, or Lim Seng bus No 91, or minibus No 21 from Lebuh Chulia to the Air Itam Terminal. Penang Hill has a population of about 1000 locals.The funicular at the railway station takes you to the top and it will cost you RM4.50 for one way. The train leaves the station at Air Itam at 6.30am and at half hour intervals. The funicular railway will not take you straight to the top, you have to change trains halfway. in the meantime you'll pass several small stations, where the local people get off. There are are also some small hotels and guesthouses on this stretch. The railway was built in 1923 and it takes about half an hour to the top. At the top of the hill, you'll find a tea kiosk, restaurants, souvenir stalls, a mosque, Hindu temple, and the old Bellevue hotel. The summit offers a magnificent panoramic view of Georgetown, the mainland and Penang Bridge. The best time to visit Penang Hill is early morning, around nine o'clock. Later on there will be more visitors and you have to queue up, before you can get on the train. Well that was it.....for most visitors! You want more??You can go to the Canopy Walk at Penang Hill. Walking from treetop till treetop is worth a visit, specially for those, who haven't visit FRIM (near KL) or Taman Negara.

Penang National Park

Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang in Bahasa Malaysia) was declared a national park by the then Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 2003. It was formerly known as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve. Covering an area of 2,562 hectares (9.9 sq mi), it is the smallest National Park in Malaysia. It is located on the North-Western tip of Penang Island.The unique features about this park is that it contains a collection of habitats not found in other national parks in Malaysia: merometic lake, wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches.There are eight beaches in the park. Because of its remote location, it boasts among the best beaches in Penang. They are:

1. Teluk Bahang
2. Teluk Tukun
3. Tanjung Aling
4. Teluk Duyung (Monkey Beach)
5. Teluk Ketapang
6. Pantai Kerachut
7. Teluk Kampi
8. Pantai Mas
There is also a lighthouse in the park. It is located at Muka Head and is accessible through the far end of Teluk Duyung. Built in 1884 at a cost of £37,929 by the British, it is located 242 metres (794 ft) above sea level.
How to get there
The entrance to the park is located at the fishing village of Teluk Bahang. It is approximately 30 minutes by road from Georgetown.

Clock tower
The Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was donated by Cheah Chen Eok, a wealthy Penang citizen, in 1897 on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. The 18.6 meter (60 foot) high clock tower symbolised 60 years of the Queen's reign, and was only completed in 1902 after her death. The tower cost 35,000 Straits Dollars to build. During World War II, bombs dropped on King Edward Place caused the clock tower to tilt slightly.

Penang War Musuem

This Penang War Museum situated on Bukit Batu Maung was erected on the original defence complex built by British before World War II. It became a defence fort during the war. Today, it is a sprawling historical complex exhibiting many war objects, showing historical timelines of events. This war museum is a dedication to those who have served and died in defence of the country. Remember to dress in light, cool clothing; wear comfy shoes, a dull coloured hat, and be armed with a pair of binoculars, insect repellent, notebook and pen.

The Unique Tropical Spice Garden Story

Tropical Spice Garden is situated in what was once an abandoned, rubber plantation along Penang's north-western shores. It took the vision and determination of David and Rebecca Wilkinson funded by Bertam Consolidated Rubber Co. Ltd. who with a talented team that have included Lim In Chong, Frederick Walker, and still include Katharine Chua and husband Kenneth Khoo, have transformed an overgrown plot into this garden of unique design and soul into a remarkable eco-tourism venture.