Penang Malaysia....

The size of  285 sqkm seems quite large but most of the island are steep hills that means the useable area is quite small have a look at the satellite map that tells more. For q quick overview have a look at our Penang map If you want to relax in an exotic environment with plenty of beaches, a partially colonial flair and a old Chinatown at Georgetown, Penang is probably the right place. For the first impressive view after your arrival at the island take the elevator at the Komtar Tower and have a look around, the Komtar tower is the highest building at Penang and a great view is available from the top floor. Penang hotels are plenty and easily available all over the island in every price

range. There are Penang hotel accommodations at the beach sites and at Georgetown and discounted deals on budget hotels, but not only, certain luxury hotels in Penang offer also some price deals via online hotel bookings. A good alternative on your Penang travel is to rent a apartment, in particular at Georgetown Malaysia plenty are available. Penang is not only for tourists, honeymooners and

- Flights Penang - flights Malaysia  and flights from Penang

all are leaving at Penang Airport and arriving at Penang Airport. Flights to Penang or a Penang flight is available from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Phuket and various long haul international destinations in particular China and Taiwan.

Since the majority of inhabitants of Pulau Penang are Chinese cheap flights to Penang from different Chinese cities are available. Actually Pulau Pinang is one of the few remaining places in the Chinese world where old Chinese architecture is preserved as an heritage, this is in contrast to China and in particular Shanghai where almost all Chinese architecture falls pray to the demolition ball and what for ? Just to pull up some more skyscrapers without heritage and soul. Communists have no heritage and no soul, so what?

Now the best way to enjoy some real old fashion Chinese is a flight to Penang, the sooner the better, since sooner or later all old China is destroyed by some communists who have no sense of heritage and the feeling of the people.

The high-rise buildings on Pulau Penang opening up great panorama views over the Andaman Sea, the Penang Bridge and other travel spots. High rise accommodations are excellent vacation spots when you like to stay in Georgetown and do the short ride

Legend tells that a hermit gave refuge to poisonous snakes. After he died, a spiritual cloud took possession, on certain days the temple is overcrowded by snakes.

Snakes are in the snake temple now all the time, the bigger are Burma or Myanmar python, the smaller, I don't know.
 

Snake Temple Nun

The little problem is with at many places on this planet development cuts away the jungle.

Until a few years ago at the back of the snake temple was still lush tropical jungle and the snakes moved into the snake temple from the back, out of the jungle.

Now this jungle is gone and the snakes wont come in from that side anymore, they bring them in now.

-Penang Malaysia botanical garden, butterfly garden, spice garden and the monkey spot

near the Penang botanical garden are places everyone should visit. You want some fun with the monkeys, no problem you can have it, they play with you, buy be careful, they are much faster than you...monkey fast... Don't carry anything around like glasses, bags or anything which can be taken away quickly, the Penang or Pulau Pinang monkey will take it and run, they are like the small kids, monkey want to play and have some toys. Also keep in mind monkeys have parasites on their body, so its better not to touch them, this little jumper insects will easily jump over to you and give you a scratchy time. It's difficult to get rid of it.

Monkey Spot near Botanical Garden

Spice Garden

-There are great restaurants at Georgetown Penang

with beautiful decoration, such as this Indian Restaurant pictured left. Its just in the center of Georgetown where all the big hotels are, the food is good but as in most Indian restaurants the portions are to small, by this trick they try to encourage to buy more  food.

This is not very wise since if I have to order 5 main dishes to get somehow enough to eat its better to go to the open air Chinese food court nearby and also get great food, 3 times the size. Unfortunately all Indian restaurants try it this way to leave you hungry when you only take about 2 dishes. They don't know, this is not a hit and run business. 

you will find plenty of exotic items, like handicraft, colorful dresses for the ladies, exotic items from China and India, interesting books. One of the best shopping places is "little India", actually a visit of Pulau Pinang without a stroll through "little India" means you haven't been in Penang.

Since the island has a long history as a cosmopolitan place it’s the right travel destination for exotic shopping. Antiques from all over Asia and more are on sales in small dark shops.

There are Buddha statues in different style from China, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Myanmar and elsewhere, gold plated, pure brass, bronze, carved wood and porcelain.

Shopping is a the great past time in a city such as Penang Georgetown, hunting for a great bargain a real exotic purchase. The best shopping destinations at Penang is Georgetown

Chinatown with great antiques hiding behind the window. There is a great variety of other shopping malls in Penang, shopping centers and hundreds of shops at Georgetown, in addition enjoy exotic dining also around in the area. There are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Thailand and other restaurants around plus several food courts. Penang shopping is really exciting, but the real exotic stuff is in the backstreets of Georgetown, that finally is real shopping in Penang.

-Penang Food
 

Penang food is is very diverse, there is Malay food also called Malaysian food, there are variants of Indian food, southern Indian food, northern Indian food and variants in between. All kind of Chinese food is integrated into Penang food, something very special in this direction is Nyonya food. Named after the women who are descendants of Chinese immigrants and indigenous Malayan, they invented several great culinary delights called Nyonya food, could also be called Peranakan food. Penang hawker food is another variant of famous food in Penang. Everyone who is on Penang travel will sooner or later eat some hawker food, either as street food or in one of the Food Courts.

Penang Hawker Food

Another very tasty and exotic food is Penang Laksa as you can see at the photos below.

Laksa comes from Sanskrit and means 1000 add on. since no one has 1000 add on's everyone uses the ingredients available and creates his own laksa. Laksa is a typical Malaysian dish, has usually a low price and can be seen everywhere in Malaysia, almost every greater region has its own laksa variety, like Penang Laksa, Laksa Kedah, Johor Laksa, Melaka Nonya Laksa, Curry Laksa and so on.

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