Travel Fair Guide

1. Sightseeing
Historic sites/architectural landmark:
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (recipient of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation);
Leong San Tong Khoo Kong... More>>>

1. Sightseeing
Historic sites/architectural landmark:
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (recipient of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation);
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (1850, extravagant clan-house for members of the Khoo family);
Jubilee Clock Tower (1897, colonial reminder commemorating he Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria);
KOMTAR (Komplex Tun Abdul Razak);
Fort Cornwallis (1793, site of Captain Francis Light's first landing on Penang), Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Penang Base.
Religious sites:
Kek Lok Si Temple (largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia);
Wat Chayamangkalaram (1845, houses one of the world's longest reclining Buddhas);
Dharmikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple (1805, opposite the Wat Chaiyamangkalaram);
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple (1883, Penang's oldest Hindu temple);
Kapitan Kling Mosque (most prominent historic mosque in Penang);
Snake Temple (1850, renowned for free-slithering devenomed vipers and snake exhibition with tanks);
Maha Mariamman Temple (1833, the oldest Hindu temple in Penang);
Goddess of Mercy Temple (1801, Penang's oldest standing temple);
St. George's Church (1818, the oldest Anglican Church in Souteast Asia); Acheen Street Mosque.
Parks & gardens:
Penang Botanical Gardens;
Bukit Jambul Orchid, Hibiscus& Reptile Garden;
Penang Butterfly Farm;
Tropical Fruit Farm;
Tropical Spice Garden;
Penang Bird Park;
Fisheries Department Research Institute Aquarium.
Museums and galleries:
Penang Islamic Museum;
Penang War Museum;
Penang State Museum;
Alpha Utara Gallery.
Natural getaways and beaches:
Penang Hill (Penang Hill Railway cable train; fabulous panoramic view and cool ocean breezes and mountain air);
Gurney Drive (beachfront promenade teeming with hawkers stalls and picnic sites);
Batu Ferringhi (beachfront resort township with nice beaches, luxury resort hotels, restaurants and hawker stalls);
Teluk Bahang (less visited and more serene and shady than the nearby Batu Ferringhi);
Tanjung Bungah (uncrowded beach closer to Georgetown);
Jerejak Island (small island off the main island, with rich diversity of flora and fauna and a Pulau Jerejak Resort known as the Alcatraz of Malaysia).

2. Dining and Shopping:
Cuisine style:
Hawker food blending Chinese, Nyonya, Malay and Indian influence, with Cantonese dishes, Hainanese specialties and spicy treats of Szechuan cuisine, milder Moghul dishes from northern Indian and spicier fare of southern India, and local specialties reflecting typical Malay heritage practicallyavailable everywhere on the Island.
Places to dine:
Hawker stalls along Gurney Drive, Pulau Tikus, New Lane, Swatow Lane, Penang Road and Chulia Street; Local Chinese Japanese, Korean, Italian and Western restaurants; fast food outlets and coffee joints
Shopping areas and markets:
Chinatown ( around Campbell road);
100 Cintra Street Bazaar;
Little India (around Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Chulia);
Little Penang Street Market;
Jalan Pintal Tali, or Rope Street (antiques);
Numerous night markets along Batu Ferringhi road.
Shopping malls:
Bukit Jambul Complex;
Gurney Plaza;
Penang Plaza;
Prangin Mall;
Queensbay Mall;
KOMTAR shopping center;
1 Stop Midlands Park Centre.

3. Recreational activities:
Beachfront Sports and Activities:
Canoeing, parasailing, scuba diving, speed boat riding, swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing, etc.
Jungle trekking & camping:
Bukit Panchor Recreational Forest;
Penang National Park;
Sungai Tukun Recreational Forest;
Teluk Bahang Recreational Forest.
Golfing:
Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Club (18-hole, designed Robert Trent Jones Jr. );
Bukit Jawi Golf Resort (36-hole);
Penang Golf Resort (18-hole);
Kristal Golf Resort (18-hole)

Given Penang's year-round hot and humid climate which is typical of the equatorial variety, preferred attire in Penang is undoubtedly lightweight casual clothing made of cotton or other moisture ab... More>>>

Given Penang's year-round hot and humid climate which is typical of the equatorial variety, preferred attire in Penang is undoubtedly lightweight casual clothing made of cotton or other moisture absorbing fabrics.
Shorts, tee shirts, and comfy walking shoes with good with ventilation or strappy sandals are fine for sightseeing, and swimsuits, sunglasses and sun block come in handy for days on the beach (mind that topless sunbathing is prohibited).
While casual wear is almost acceptable everywhere in Penang, in places of worship shorts and tight revealing attire are considered affront to the religious beliefs. If you plan to dine in one of the classy dining establishments or dance in one of the clubby bars which observe some certain dress codes, don't leave that designers gown and high heels behind.
An umbrella comes helpful because downpours make their frequent surprise visits throughout the year, especially between August and November. Insect repellant would be nice to keep away from the Aedes mosquito. If you don't wanna fill up your suitcase or rucksack, you can always buy everything fairly cheap in Penang.

Assam Laksa:
Rice noodles in spice sour soup mixed up with tamarind, fish flake, fruits, veggies and a chili.
Best sites to sample Assam Laska are found in Air Itam market, Gottlieb Roa... More>>>

Assam Laksa:
Rice noodles in spice sour soup mixed up with tamarind, fish flake, fruits, veggies and a chili.
Best sites to sample Assam Laska are found in Air Itam market, Gottlieb Road, Gurney Drive, etc.
Hokkien Mee:
Noodles in prawn and pork soup garnished with prawns, fish cake, leafy greens, beans sprout slices of pork, pork ribs, hard boiled egg, deep-fried shallots, spring onions and fresh lime.
Stalls in Gurney Drive Hawker Centre recommended.
Char Keow Teow:
Stir-fried flat rice noodles tossed with prawns, bean sprouts, egg, cockles, chilli and other spices.
Best choices for Char Keow Teow are found at found at Lorong Selamat and Macalister Road Sister's Char Koay Teow.
Koay Teow Thng:
Flat rice noodles cooked with fish balls, meat balls, fish cake& meat (duck, chicken or pork), garnish with chopped spring onions, fried garlic, and chillies.
Sar Hor Fun: Fried flat rice cakes in broth of pork or fish meat, pig's liver, grilled pork, beaten eggs and seafood bits, thicken with tapioca flour and garnished with prickled green chillies.
Nasi Kandar:
Steamed spicy rice served with a variety of curries, fried food, and other side dishes.
Restaurants and stalls along Penang Road have the best samples.
Nasi Lemak:
Rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves, served with anchovies, boiled egg, chillies, curry, sambal and cucumber.
Curry Mee:
Scalded yellow noodles and vermicelli in curry soup of chillies, shallots, spices and coconut, tossed with cubes of pig??s blood, bean sprouts, cuttlefish, cockles, deep fried bean curd, boiled prawns, and fresh mint.
55 Lorong Seratus Tahun is said to have the best curry mee.
Hainanese Chicken Rice:
Rice cooked in chicken stock, goes with slices of steamed or fried/ roasted chicken meat, or barbequed pork, char siew, gizzards, innards, and other side dishes, garnished with sliced cucumber, celery, ginger, and eat with fresh garlic chilli sauce.
Rojak:
Penang-style salad with cucumber, yam bean, pineapple, jicama, mango, guava, cuttlefish, bean curd pieces tossed in Hae Ko (shrimp paste), chili, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, deep fried bean curd, nutmeg and roasted belacan.
Gurney Drive hawker center has the best samples of rojak.
Jiu Hu Eng Chai:
Cuttlefish and water convolvulus salad tossed with prawn paste, chili, sweet sauce, and topped with sesame seeds and grounded peanuts.
Stalls in Gurney Drive Hawker Center have the best of such delightful goodness.
Popiah:
Fillings of yam bean, fried bean curd, fried egg strips, crab meat, fried onion flakes and a piece of lettuce leaf, wrapped in fresh spring roll skin which is spread with chilli & hoi sin sauce.
The best Popiah are found at Padang Brown Hawker Center.
Otak-Otak:
A Nyonya specialty made of steamed spicy custard of fish fillets, eggs, and wild pepper leaves.
Cendol:
A mixture of pandan-flavored noodles, shaved ice, mushy red beans in coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.
Cendol can be found anywhere but the best is at Padang Brown hawker complex and on Padang Road.

1. Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang
Tel: +60 4 222-2000; 10 Farquhar Street, Georgetown. Penang's grandest old colonial hotel founded by the eccentric hotelier Sarkies brothers in 1884; Tast... More>>>

1. Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang
Tel: +60 4 222-2000; 10 Farquhar Street, Georgetown. Penang's grandest old colonial hotel founded by the eccentric hotelier Sarkies brothers in 1884; Tastefully furnished suites, fine restaurants and a pleasant terrace overlooking the sea; Rudyard Kipling, Noel Coward, Hermann Hesse, Douglas Fairbanks, Somerset Maugham and others once stayed here; One night in here would set you back RM 450.
2. Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort
Tel: +60 4 881-1811; Batu Feringghi Beach. Facing the Andaman Sea; Packed with amenities and activities in and around a landscaped 30-acre tropical garden, such as the CHI Spa, a Par-3 Executive Golf Course, 3 swimming pools, half a dozen restaurants and bars, floodlit tennis courts, bird watching, incentive business meetings and conventions facilities, jungle trekking, beach walking, and theme parties, for guests' total indulgence.
3. Bayview Beach Resort
Batu Ferringhi Beach. A full-service chain resort with a full range of recreational and business facilities located at the quieter end of the most established beach destinations in Penang, 10-minute walk away from the main shopping and restaurant strip; Set in palm-swaying gardens, overlooking the tranquil Batu Ferringhi Bay.
4. Evergreen Laurel Hotel
Tel: +60 4 226-9988; 53 Gurney Drive (Pesiaran Gurney), west of Central Georgetown. A 5 class monolithic international business-oriented hotel facing the sea; with uninterrupted view of the Sea or Georgetown and Penang Hill; All expected business facilities are top-notch, with an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, Tennis Court, Cafe Laurel, Lobby Lounge, the Evergarden Chinese Restaurant and many other amenities adding add an extra touch of class.
5. Grand Plaza Park Royal Penang
Tel: +60 4 881-1133; Batu Ferringhi Beach. Prime location on the finest stretch of beaches in Penang, with family-friendly facilities like spacious rooms, suites with sea-facing balconies, landscaped gardens by the beach, water-sports centre, water slide, pool games, games room, and even better diversions nearby, including frequent night markets, hawker centre, and a slew of cultural attractions.
6. Mutiara Beach Resort
Tel: 1-800-88-3838, 800-8800-3838, +60 4 886-8888; 1 Jalan Teluk Bahang. Set on 18-acre of lush greenery along Teluk Bahang beach to the west of Batu Ferringhi. A 5 star Pearl of Penang with quintessential Malaysian character. All units are non-smoking and with balconies facing the sea.
7. Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La
Tel: +60 4 886-1911; Extraordinary resort on Penang's world-famous Batu Feringgi beach, with seaview rooms facing the beach, or the swimming pools and gardens, and Hillview rooms featuring views of the tropical landscapes of the Island; Other highlights include award-winning restaurants, 2 swimming pools, and the Adventure Zone Family Entertainment Centre. Complimentary shuttle to Georgetown and limousine airport transfers available.
8. Traders Hotel Penang
Tel: 1-300-88-7388, +60 4 262-2622; Magazine Road, Georgetown. Formerly the Shangri-La Hotel Penang; in the heart of Georgetown's shopping and business districts, next to Prangin Mall and KOMTAR; Boasts one of the largest ballrooms in Penang; Guests have access to spa, restaurants and bars at the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Golden Sands Resort hotels.
9. Northam Hotel All Suite
Tel: +60 4 370-1111; 55 Northam Road (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), Georgetown. Malaysia??s first all-suite hotel with a unique resort-cum-business setting; Worth an extra outlay for its specious separated living areas, and a host of fine restaurants, the Suite Spa, Fitness centre, a rooftop swimming pool with timber deck sun-loungers for either relaxation, recreation and a spectacular sea view, and a Walking/jogging track along the Gurney Drive promenade.
10. Dorsett Penang
Tel: 04-2267888; 3 Jalan Larut, Georgetown. Formerly the Sheraton Penang Hotel; Adjacent to the Penang Plaza shopping complex; Surrounded by impressive Colonial era buildings; 5 minutes drive from the ferry terminal; A short drive from KOMTAR and the food hub of Macalister Road.
11. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Tel: +60-4-2620006; 14 Lebuh Leith, Georgetown. An exquisite 19th-century Chinese mansion converted into an exclusive hotel, for unique homestay in a heritage house with intricate architectural elements and pleasing surroundings; Each of The 38 elegantly furnished huge rooms comes with a unique style and a personal valet; An attraction in itself which has won UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation, where guided tours (Daily at 11am and 3pm) available for RM12.

1. By Air
Penang International Airport: Located in Bayan Lepas in the south of the island, some 20 minutes from Georgetown.
Malaysia Air System (more than 20 flights daily to/from Kuala Lu... More>>>

1. By Air
Penang International Airport: Located in Bayan Lepas in the south of the island, some 20 minutes from Georgetown.
Malaysia Air System (more than 20 flights daily to/from Kuala Lumpur, at least one flight daily to/from Singapore and Medan in Sumatra);
AirAsia (discount airline to/from major domestic destinations and Bangkok, lowest rates for flights to/from Kuala Lumpur);
FireFly (low cost flight to/from major domestic destinations, and Ko Samui and Phuket in Thailand);
Singapore Airlines (to/from Singapore);
Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air (to/from Indonesia);
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong);
Korean Air (Incheon, South Korea);
And American Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen Airlines, etc.
Airport transfer options:
Taxis, buses, and limousines to reach any point around the island.

2. By Rail
Butterworth train station (located on the mainland): Trains from Thailand (Bangkok, Hat Yai, etc), or from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur. Contact +60 4 323-7962 for more details.
From the train station, you can take ferry to Georgetown at the Butterworth ferry terminal just next to the train station, or take a taxi across the magnificent Penang Bridge to the island.

3. By bus
KOMTAR bus terminal (in Georgetown):
Minibus services out of Malaysia to/from destinations in Thailand, including Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket, Trang Ko Phi Phi, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and even Bangkok.
Sungai Nibong (near the airport):
Long-distance buses to/from a variety of Malaysian towns.
Fares and timetables vary by operators.

4. By boat
Langkawi Ferry Services operate ferries to/from Langkawi, and Medan in Indonesia.
Single trip to/from Langkawi costs RM50/adult, RM35/child (3-11), RM20/infant in about 2 hours and 30 minutes;
Single trip to/from Medan's port of Belawan costs RM110/adult, RM60/child (3-12), RM40/infant in up to 5 hours 30 minutes.
For more details, contact Langkawi Ferry Services at +60 4 264-2088 in Penang, +60 4 966-3779 in Langkawi, +62 61 4521666/4527555 in Medan Thiland.

5. By car
Cars can take advantage of the Penang Bridge which links the island to the mainland and the North-South Expressway which in turn links major cities on the west side of Peninsular Malaysia, like Alor Setar in the north all the way through Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru in the south.
To get in the island, the bridge charge is set at RM7.00 (RM5.60 for Touch 'n Go card holders); Free for returning trips to the mainland.

1. The Name
The name Penang can refer either to Pulau Penang (the island of Penang), the state of Penang which consists of Penang Island and the mainland portion called Seberang Perai, or s... More>>>

1. The Name
The name Penang can refer either to Pulau Penang (the island of Penang), the state of Penang which consists of Penang Island and the mainland portion called Seberang Perai, or sometimes the state capital, Georgetown. Since almost everything of any interest in Penang state is on the island, Penang is generally referred to the island of Penang.
2. Peak Season
Book your accommodations in Penang well advance for your visit during the high season around Christmas, and Chinese New Year (late-January or early-February). Prices tend to be higher and rooms seem to be packed during this period of time.
3. Bargaining
Visitors should not be afraid to haggle over prices, since bargaining is very much a way of life in Penang, This is very true when shopping around the street markets, and getting around on a taxi which doesn't use the meter.
4. Religious and customary taboos
Islamic practices are exercised in Penang, which means that visitors should pay common courtesy while communicating with locals, respect for religious beliefs and social customs, and special attention to the way one dresses and behaves in public, especially in places of worship. Topless sunbathing is not allowed anywhere in Malaysia. Homosexual relationship is against Islamic tradition. Pointing your forefinger, foot, or soles of your feet, and touching anyone's head are taboo under Islamic law.
5. Safety
Exercise common sense and normal safety precautions such as traveling in groups, avoiding walking alone in deserted places after dark, keeping an eye on your valuables and being wary of pickpockets and snatch theft - especially when wearing jewelry, and/or carrying bags in the crowds.