Travel destinations: Penang Island, Malaysia – Part 1

Penang Island has always been a favorite retreat for those familiar with its beauty. Situated in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, this little Pearl of the Orient is sought after by both the locals and foreigners. It is no more than a jet-hour away from most major capital cities of Southeast Asia. It is now linked to the mainland by the 13.5 kilometer-long Penang Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the world. It has become another prominent landmark of the tropical isle.

The island, also known as Emerald Isle, is unique in many ways. For those who love a quiet holiday, it offers world-renowned stretches of clean golden beaches and cool jungle walks high up in the hills. For those who fancy exotic food, the island is a gourmet’s paradise where they can sample almost all the best delicacies of both east and west. The hub of the island, Georgetown, is a city of half a million people. Here, history and culture are represented by a fascinating mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian and British colonial art and architecture. This little metropolis of the east with centuries of trade and commerce has all the excitement and amenities to offer for a perfect holiday.

For a start, the visitor could get to know Penang Island better by taking a drive round the island, a distance of about 64 kilometers. Proceeding from the city and traveling northwest, the first stop could be Tanjung Tokong, a small fishing village. This is also the start of a twenty-kilometer stretch of fine golden beaches, notably Tanjung Bunga, Batu Ferringghi and Teluk Bahang. Secluded between rocky promontories and shaded by coconut palms and casuarinas, these beaches have made Penang one of the most renowned holiday islands in the sun.

From Teluk Bahang, the visitor can proceed southward and visit the ever-popular butterfly farm. The next stop is Balik Pulau, a small town famous for nutmegs and cloves. If it is during the fruit season, the whole town will be flooded with durians, rambutans, mangosteens and others. There is a crocodile farm near by. En route back to the city, the visitor may wish to drop by the popular snake temple at Sungai Kluang. At the temple, you will find harmless snakes coiled on incense burners, altars and beams in the temple. A daring visitor would want to have a picture taken with a snake coiled around his neck or hand.

Back in the city, you can get something excitingly different by eating out. There are the spicy Indian curry and rice, a sumptuous Chinese dinner or the simple char kway teow, or the Malaysian delicacy of satay as well as Penang’s specialty, the laksa and a range of seafood. Besides eating, you can also shop to your heart’s content. Penang Island has developed a big trade in watches, cameras and similar articles. A wide selection of curios as well as oriental goods are available in a large number of shops.

There are a few other places of interest which are a must for the tourists. They are, namely, the Penang Hill, the Kek Lok Si Temple and the Botanical Gardens, all within a ten-kilometer radius from the city center. The Penang Hill, 701 meters above sea level, offers a magnificent panorama of sky, sea, beaches, steamers and the whole city. A funicular train takes visitors up to the top, where the temperature drops to about 18 degrees Centigrade. The Kek Lok Si Temple is a seven-storeyed pagoda situated at the foot of the Penang Hill. The Botanical Gardens contain fascinating flora collected from various parts of Malaysia. Set in a valley surrounded by rolling hills landscaped with flowering plants, it is just ideal for family outings.

Where Beauty and Color Just Flutters by

 

Located just a few minutes away from the stretch of hotels and resorts in Batu Ferringhi the Penang Butterfly Farm is the first of its kind in the world. First established in the year 1986 the farm now features over 150 species. The Butterfly Farm also has incorporated a nature park into its complex which means it also has a reptile enclosure where these no legged animals can be seen in their natural environment.

Visitors can walk around the lush tropical environment of the farm, where they will encounter numerous species of butterfly. The well designed garden is lined with several pathways visitors can chose which one they want to take and plan their excursion in to the park. Apart from the butterflies a number of other attractions can also be found here, the Mini Zoo has a collection of live insects such as lizards, toads and beetles. The Insect Museum also displays various species of butterfly, lizard and other reptile and amphibian creatures.

Of special importance is the collection of Asian artifacts that are housed at a museum called the Art and Artifact Museum., the museum claims to display the largest collection of south east Asian art and other regional tribal artifacts. The Caterpillar Club is targeted at younger visitors and serves as an introduction to etymology for children. The well stocked gift shop is a great place to pick up something for friends and relatives back home. It has a collection of gift items such as butterfly key chains and crystal paperweights that have various butterfly specimens inside.

When the Penang Butterfly Farm was founded the creators of the project wanted it to be more than just another tourist attraction in Malaysia. The purpose behind its establishment was to build a live museum that would educate the public about the importance different species in the eco system and also to serve as a regional research centre on insects and etymology. Since it is located in a reputed tourist belt there would be no difficulty in finding a Penang hotel for accommodation.