Malaysia island penang on the map. Penang Island, Malaysia: our review, photos, useful information, attractions, prices. What to choose Penang or Langkawi? Shops, shopping and food in Penang

Penang Island is located off the west coast of Malaysia and is a separate state with its capital in George Town. Speaking of an island, we usually imagine a small piece of land with palm trees and sand, but Penang does not fit into this framework: huge, with well-developed infrastructure, high-rise buildings, offices of the largest corporations and a stream of cars.

Georgetown itself is just a fantastic mix of cultures and peoples, it’s not for nothing that the island was recognized the best direction for gastronomic tourism in Asia - there is Chinese, Indian and, of course, local cuisine. Once the island was a colony of the British and colonial architecture has been preserved here in good condition, like the one we saw in. Read about the sights of Penang and interesting places with photos below.

How to get to Penang?

By plane

Penang Airport is located 18 km south of Georgetown and receives flights from many airlines from many cities in Asia. Flies here and such as Air Asia.

From Russia, it will be easiest and cheapest to fly with a transfer in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, but you can try to catch sale tickets to Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta and fly from there. For example, a Kuala Lumpur Penang ticket can be easily bought for $7-10 from Air Asia. It's even cheaper than getting to the island by bus.

A taxi from the airport to the city costs about 45 RM, the journey takes half an hour, or you can take the 401 bus in an hour and 3 RM. Buses run from morning to evening every half an hour.

On a ferryboat

The city of Butterworth is the main access point to the island of Penang. The cheapest option is to take a ferry for 1.2 RM, and this amount is taken only for travel there, and back for free. The cost of transporting a car is 7.7 RM.

Ferries leave every 15 minutes from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, and run until 1:00 am, but less frequently. The pier is located next to the railway station and bus station in Butterworth - it’s convenient that you don’t have to go through the whole city - I moved and that’s it.

From Penang you can get to Langkawi and vice versa - the cost of ferries is 60 RM one way, travel time is 2-2.5 hours. Ferries leave from Penang in the morning at 08.15 and 08.30, as well as at 14.00. From Langkawi to Penang - at 10.30, 14.30 and 17.15.

By bus

The bus station in Penang is called Sungei Nibong and can be reached from Kuala Lumpur, Ipo, Cameron Highlands, Singapore, Kota Bharu and many other cities in Malaysia, as well as from Hat Yai in Thailand.

You can also get to Butterworth, and then by ferry, as mentioned above. A taxi from the Penang bus station to Georgetown will cost about 25 RM, and from Butterworth to the same place - 50 RM.

By train

The railway station is also located in Butterworth, where there is one train per day from Hat Yai (about 4 hours) and four trains from Kuala Lumpur (about 6 hours). Prices differ depending on the class of the wagon.

Cruise ship, probably sailing to Langkawi

Transport in Penang

It is very cool that the island has a network of bus routes owned by the state-owned company Rapid Penang. They cover all important and interesting points on the island. The main buses you may need:

401 - goes from the airport, through the bus station to the center of Georgetown

101 - from the pier through the center and shopping center and Komtar bus station along the northern road to Batu Ferrenghi and the national park.

204 - from the pier to Penang Hill.

You can also rent a motorbike or bicycle, and taxis can be found everywhere, they are metered. Another, authentic way of transportation are cycle rickshaws called trishaw (trisho).

Trishaw drivers rest in the shade

They are at work

Sights of Penang

The most important and famous attraction of Penang is city ​​of Georgetau n with colonial architecture, Chinese and Indian quarters (Chinatown and Little India), mosques, Chinese temples, Indian sanctuaries. Just walk around the center, absorbing the sounds and smells, chat with people living in these places, especially English language at a decent level, almost everyone knows.

Courthouse

It is very interesting to look at the so-called clanhouses or clan houses. They appeared during the settlement of Penang by the Chinese, they formed something like their own quarters, with a way of life almost like in China.

Chinatown

You will probably not find so many beautiful doors anywhere else.

Walking around the city, be sure to stumble upon a Chinese temple

In the center there are the remains of a fortress called Fort Cornwallis with cannons and the mast of a large ship.

For lovers of museums, there are a couple of them in the city, but we didn’t go into them, so we don’t know how it is there. I indicated the main points of interest on the map of Penang at the bottom of the post.

By the way, there are free tourist buses that carry on the main interesting places— to use them is a great idea, we recommend!

They also drive expensive double-decker sightseeing buses for European pensioners :-) Not a budget option

Expensive sightseeing buses

Penang is also famous for its street art: artists simply take whole walls or part of them and paint them. It turns out beautifully and gives the city center a special charm, along with ancient buildings.

Street art in Georgetown

Beautiful and realistic drawings!

Yes, it's Minion!

We have a whole series of photos with multi-colored doors, you can even make a photo collage! A very photogenic city

The majority of the population is Chinese, there is also a significant proportion of Hindus and Malays. Only in the city you can find many religious buildings that peacefully coexist with each other.

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Another, more colorful mosque

Be sure to try Indian and Chinese cuisine at local authentic restaurants. We are big fans of Indian cuisine, so we ate several times in one delicious, but at the same time inexpensive place - Sri Ananda Bahwan. They serve dishes of southern and northern India, real colorful Indians, and are very inexpensive - you can eat and drink for two for 12 RM ($ 3).

Vegetarian set

Indian Restaurant, Georgetown

The capital of the island is also suitable as a place for excellent shopping, for example, the tallest building on the island is the Komtar shopping and office center.

Outside Georgetown:

Penang Hill- a high mountain with excellent views of the island and the sea, especially at sunset. To climb here you can use the lift for 30 ringit (round trip). Theoretically, you can climb the road from the botanical gardens for about 5-6 km, or vice versa, go down the mountain to the gardens.

Kek Lok Si Monastery- one of the largest Buddhist temples in Malaysia, the construction of which was funded by the Chinese community of Penang.

Batu Ferrenghi — best beach on the island of Penang. Although the island is mostly visited not for swimming and beach holiday However, there are beaches here. On Batu Ferrenghi you can find various water activities, massages and restaurants, in a word, everything that is usually found in resorts.

penang national park. The park is located on a cape in the northwest of the island, and it is the smallest in Malaysia. It's nice to walk through the jungle, swim in the sea and lie down in hammocks on quiet and deserted beaches. While walking along the path in the forest, we met huge one and a half meter monitor lizards three times! They have never been seen before, even in the zoo, but here they are in their natural environment.

There are several trails in the park, a map of which you will be given in the information window. Admission is free, and you will have to pay 7 ringit for a walk along the hanging path through the trees, although it was under reconstruction during our stay.

Farms of tropical fruits and butterflies. Not far from the national park there are farms where you can see how fruits are grown and taste the juice from them; or look at butterflies.

These are just the main attractions of the island, ask at the guesthouse and they will tell you more what to see in Penang.

Other posts about Malaysia:

Penang Hotels

It is best and most convenient to stay in Georgetown - there are interesting neighborhoods and all transport to other parts of the island. Many hotels in Penang are simply charming! Old colonial buildings with high ceilings, unusual layout and stucco.

We lived in a guesthouse - it became just an outlet, we were already tired of living in standard boxes or bungalows. There is round-the-clock tea and coffee, a refrigerator and a microwave, soft sofas in the lobby - a pleasant and cozy atmosphere, in general! A double room costs from 50 ringit - clean and tidy.

You can find and book a hotel in Penang on the website or right here on the hotel map.

Also, take a look at what options are available on the largest service for renting housing from owners (follow the link and get $20 as a gift!)

Historic neighborhoods of Georgetown

Penang map

We put important points on the map of Penang to make it easier for you to navigate - use it!

In those days, Penang was called the island of the Prince of Wales, and its capital was named after the son of King George III. Currently, Penang has the second largest economy among the states of Malaysia and a population of over 1.6 million people. It is also the center of the country's electronics industry.

For the most part, life in Penang is centered in the city, but you can relax at a coastal resort or escape the heat by taking a train to the top of Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera). While George Town is dominated by the Chinese population, the western part of the island is the Malay countryside with orchards and fishermen's villages that attract with their original old-fashionedness.

Today, Mount Penang rises in the center of modern and vibrant George Town. Its height is almost 900 m, it dominates the island, from the top there are wonderful views not only of the city and the entire island - on a clear day you can even see the mountains on the mainland.

It takes about two hours to hike up Penang Hill, but the best way to see the sights is by cable car. The road was built by Swiss engineers, and the carriage slowly climbs the hill on incredibly steep rails, allowing you to get a good view of the palms, lianas and tropical flowers in the forest around. At the top of the hill there is a plateau, there are several shops, cafes, a small Hindu temple and a mosque. A hotel from the 1930s is also located here. There is even a bird sanctuary in the elegant park around it. Other attractions include a botanical garden and a rope bridge.

Approximately 15 km northwest of George Town are the resorts of Batu Ferringhi with sandy beaches and rows of luxury hotels where you can enjoy water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, horseback riding and other outdoor activities. There are also small hotels for poor travelers. Pursuing water sports sports, be especially careful as there have been accidents and the beaches can be a disappointment to those who have traveled elsewhere in Malaysia.

You can also visit Penang National Park. This forest reserve occupies 20 km² in the northwestern tip of the island. Of the accommodations, only campsites are available here, and there is no transport, but you can watch the life of the wild nature - you will see wild pigs, leopards, slow lorises, lemurs, langurs (a kind of monkeys), macaques and black squirrels. The landscape is replete with outcrops of granite.

Penang National Park is one of the two natural meromictic lakes in Asia, located next to Pantai Kerachut Beach. The lake is seasonal, it is filled with sea and fresh water only during the monsoon period (April - May and October - November). The lake is unique, there is practically no water circulation between the layers of different mineralization.

Near the urban center of Teluk Bahang is the Tropical Spice Garden and the Penang Cultural Center. In the latter, you can see art, handicrafts, local music and dance, as well as traditional Malaysian architecture. At the south end of Teluk Bahang village is the Penang Butterfly Farm, which has hundreds of different species of butterflies fluttering behind the mesh fences of landscaped gardens.

Just 8 km from Teluk Bahang is a tropical fruit farm, where 140 species of exotic fruit trees have been grown on 10 hectares since opening in 1992.

How to get there

The island can be reached by car or by train, from the industrial city of Seberang Prai there is a ferry via Selat Selatan. You can also drive 7 km on the road over the Penang Bridge, which offers amazing views of the harbor. To the south of this bridge is the second Penang bridge (due for completion in late 2013) connecting Batu Maung to Batu Kavan on the mainland. Aircraft, including international flights, land at international airport Bayan Lepas, located 18 km south of Georgetown.

Deforestation

At the northeast end of the coastline, Kedah Point marks the site where Francis Light established the first English settlement in Penang. They say he came up with a clever way to get logs from the nearby forest for the city. He loaded a cannon with Spanish silver dollars, fired into the woods, and had local laborers cut their way through the undergrowth to get to the money.

Penang Island (Malaysia) is located off the coast of the Malay Peninsula, which, in turn, is the southern tip of the Indochina Peninsula. The humid equatorial climate characteristic of these latitudes contributed to the formation of a wide variety of flora and fauna, which did not know human presence until the end of the 18th century.

A mixture of nations, languages, cultures

At present, despite the fact that the island is part of the state of Penang, the state of Malaysia, the local residents of the island are predominantly Chinese. A minority of the population are Malays and Indians. Accordingly, they speak different languages ​​here, including English (a reminder of the colonial past), but Malay is official.

There are quite a lot of religious denominations: along with Islam, officially approved, as in all of Malaysia, the inhabitants profess Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism and Taoism. That is why in a relatively small area you can see a unique mixture of architectural styles, religious cults and holidays. All this, as well as nature, ancient and modern sights, seem extremely attractive for tourist recreation.

Charming Oriental Pearl

Tourism here began to develop a few years after the appearance of the first city (Georgetown) at the end of the 18th century. Undoubtedly, at first, it was nature and climate that were the most important components of the charm of this island, which was called the Pearl of the East. There are no sharp temperature drops here, and, depending on the season, the air is warmed up in a comfortable range from +23⁰C to +32⁰C, which, combined with warm water (+26⁰C…+28⁰C), creates the most favorable conditions for relaxation.

The high season starts in December and ends at the end of winter, more precisely with the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It was at this time that the tourist infrastructure was developed to the maximum on the island: all sights are open for viewing, discos are held, bars and restaurants, shopping centers, kiosks, and shops are open. The cost of living in the high season is the highest.

Where to live, there is always a choice

Housing can be chosen for every taste and budget. Considering that the island of Penang has always been popular among tourists since the time when it was an English colony, finding a place to stay and stay here is easy. You can make a reservation in advance, the day before or already upon arrival on the island.

There are 120 5 * hotels in Penang, and the number of options for simple and affordable housing is many times greater. There are also guest houses, hostels and guesthouses.

More expensive housing in the center of Georgetown and in the Batu Ferringhi beach area. Comfortable and economical vacation can be arranged while staying in 3-star hotels, where the average price per day in these popular areas is $50-60. Hotels from 4 stars offer accommodation in the region of $80-90 per day.

If desired, you can find cheaper rooms (including in 3* hotels) for $11 per night. This is in not too prestigious areas and, accordingly, with less quality service and fewer amenities.

Find out the RATES or book any accommodation using this form

From the usual McDonald's to oriental exotic

Penang is unofficially considered the culinary capital of Malaysia. Here, the menu of establishments reflects the diversity of nationalities and traditions. Here you can always eat deliciously in restaurants or take a chance to try exotic street food.

Conventionally, all places where they offer to eat can be divided into groups:

• fashionable restaurants;
• inexpensive cafes and family restaurants;
• Makashnitsy - stalls with street food.

Food prices

• The average check for one in an inexpensive establishment is 12 RM ($3).
• Dinner for two (from 3 courses) in an institution of an average level - 60 RM ($15).
• Combo set at McDonalds -13 RM.
• A bottle of local beer 0.5 l - 15 RM.
• Mineral water (0.33) - 1.25 RM.

At food courts, prices are even lower, and dishes are more interesting.

• Spicy chicken costs about $2
• Rice with vegetables, seasoned with spices - $ 1
• A glass of juice - about $1
• Fried rice with seafood can be bought for $2.

What's the fare?

Public transport fares are affordable: a one-way bus costs an average of $0.45. A free bus runs to places of interest.

If you do not live in a big way, but do not save a lot, on average, a vacation in Penang will cost $ 50 - 60 per person per day.

Shopping and nightlife lovers should be prepared to spend more. In Georgetown, you can always spend time in night bars and discos. In Batu Ferringhi, the most attractive place at night is the sparkling night market on Jalan Street, where you can bargain and buy something interesting.

Prices on the page are for February 2018.

The beaches of Penang

The best beaches of Penang are located in its northern part, where they are landscaped and adapted for swimming. In other places coastline although it seems attractive from afar, covered with beautiful sand, it is not suitable for a beach holiday and swimming. There is quite dirty water and the dominance of jellyfish.

Batu Ferringhi

The most popular beach with developed infrastructure. Quite spacious, located 10 km from Georgetown in the town of Batu Ferringhi.

Coarse white sand, both on the shore and when entering the sea. Nearby there are many cafes, restaurants with European cuisine, Chinese, Malaysian - in a word, for every taste. All kinds of entertainment are offered: boating, parachuting, windsurfing. Jellyfish can be found in the sea, and for lovers of natural beauties - spectacular sunsets. In the photo, Penang is especially beautiful in the rays of the setting sun.

Tanjung Bungah

This yellow sand beach spread out on the northern tip of the island. Banana rides, parasailing behind a boat serve as an addition to regular swimming. There are places to eat, buy interesting little things in the stalls.

The proximity to the city center (five kilometers from Georgetown) makes itself felt by the presence of pollution and jellyfish, apparently attracted by the smell of sewage. As an alternative to vacationers, swimming pools in hotels are offered. But it is here that the water sports center is located, where you can spend time playing active sports.

This beach is part of the Penang National Park. It can only be reached on foot or, alternatively, by renting a boat. One of the sections of the beach was chosen by green turtles, who come here from September to February to lay their eggs.

An interesting natural object is a meromictic lake, consisting of two immiscible layers of water, each of which is heated differently. The lower layer is fed by seawater seeping here, while the upper one is fresh and, surprisingly, colder.

Teluk bahang

The name of the fishing village of the same name on the northern coast of the island means "heat wave bay", probably due to the warm wind constantly blowing from the sea. People come here not for swimming, but to visit a butterfly farm, see a batik factory and see how orchids are grown on special farms.

Some tourists specially come to this beach in Penang from other cities of Malaysia for interesting photos.

Monkey Beach in Penang National Park is the quietest and most remote. It can only be reached by boat or on foot through the jungle. In the second case, on the way among tropical trees you can see flying squirrels, macaques, lemurs, as well as crab-eating macaques that live on the island.

In the mountains, a little further from the beach, you can visit the lighthouse, built in the colonial era.

When to visit Penang?

For a comfortable beach holiday, it is better to come to the island in December - January. At this time it is not so hot and it is sunny all the time. February and March are the hottest months. It is especially exhausting to wander around the city at this time. But if it is a beach holiday that is interesting for those arriving in Malaysia, then Penang at this time is quite suitable for them.

For those who are more interested in sightseeing or shopping and want to save on accommodation, you can use low prices in the best hotels during the rainy months, May and October. It is not necessary that it will rain every day, but if it does, you will have to experience a real tropical downpour.

How to get to Penang from the capital of Malaysia?

By plane

This is the fastest and most convenient way if you choose how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. AirAsia, Malaysian Airlines (from KLIA airport) and FireFly, MalindoAir (depart from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah) fly in this direction. In total, there are about 20 flights per day, the flight time is about 1 hour.

If you look for tickets in advance, you can fly cheaply, for $ 13 or less. In high season, a few days before departure, a ticket can be purchased for $ 22 - this is without luggage, only free of charge hand luggage up to 7 kg. With luggage, the cost will increase.

• First you need to take the route to the city of Butterworth, located on the mainland.
• Then you need to use the ferry and in 20 minutes you will be at the pier near the center of Georgetown, the capital of the state of Penang, Malaysia.

It should be noted that not only do the trains have to run 6 hours according to the schedule, but they are often delayed along the way.

Related posts:

Penang is a unique island, its multinationality creates such a unique flavor that cannot be seen anywhere else in Asia. For gourmets, this is simply a paradise - Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisines, fresh seafood dishes and a huge selection of tropical fruits are presented here, and all this variety is very inexpensive.

General information

Penang Island is located in the Andaman Sea, off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The island is connected to the mainland by a thirteen-kilometer bridge, the third longest in the world. The area of ​​Penang is about three hundred square kilometers, the landscape is hilly, in the north of the island tropical forests have been preserved that once covered the entire Penang.

A Chinese admiral became the discoverer of Penang in the 15th century. At first, the island was named Ka-Satu, translated from Malay - "First Island". Later, due to the abundance of areca palms growing in the forests, the island began to be called Pulau Pinang, which in Malay meant "Island of the areca palm."

In the 18th century, the English navigator and merchant Francis Light acquired Penang on behalf of the East India Company from the Sultan of Kedah, who at that time belonged to this land. The Sultan agreed to such a deal in the hope of helping the British in the event of an attack on Kedah by Burma or Siam. Hopes were not justified, and four years later, when Siam attacked Kedah, the country did not receive effective help from Great Britain. The attempt of the Sultan to invalidate the deal on Penang was not successful, he only managed to get the annual rent for the island from the British. This fee is made to this day, now by the Federal Government of Malaysia to the state of Kedah.

In order to attract settlers to the island, the British authorities announced that everyone who moved to live in Penang would receive as much land as they could clear from the jungle. And the population of the previously uninhabited island began to grow rapidly, despite the fact that many Europeans died here from malaria. To date, the population of Penang consists of Chinese, Malays and Indians. The official language is Malay, but Chinese and English dialects are also spoken here. Islam is considered the official religion, the population of the island also professes Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism, there are Catholics and Protestants.

The capital of the island and the entire state of Penang (it also includes the coastal part of the mainland) is the city of Georgetown, it was founded by the British after the purchase of the island. The basis of Penang's economy today is the electronic industry, tourism and agriculture. Penang Port is a transport hub linking Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Weather in Penang

The island has a humid equatorial climate. There is practically no temperature difference during the year, on the island all year round it is about + 30 ° C during the day and about + 23 ° C at night. The water temperature near the coast also does not change, the water in the sea is + 28 ° C all year round. The wet season lasts from May to September, so it is traditionally considered the best time to visit Penang from October to April.

Penang Transport

The best way to get to Penang is by plane from Kuala Lampur in about an hour. You can get to the island ground transport- across the bridge connecting Penang and the mainland. In terms of cost and time, an airplane and a bus are about the same. There is also a ferry.

It is convenient to move around the island on the Rapid Penang shuttle buses. Buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. Significantly greater freedom of movement can be obtained by renting a motorbike. To do this, you will need a driver's license, you will also need to fill out an agreement and leave a deposit.

The roads on the island are not bad, drivers drive quite carefully, they use motorbikes only in helmets. Bicycles are also offered for rent.

There are taxis on the island, which can be ordered at the hotel reception, but it is quite expensive. The trip from the hotel to the airport will cost about 60 ringgit (approximately $20). For comparison: a bus ride will cost 2.7 ringgit.

The beaches of Penang

The beaches of the island do not amaze with their beauty, and lovers of a purely beach holiday may feel disappointed. The beaches are not very clean, the infrastructure is poorly developed, and there are a lot of jellyfish in the coastal waters, which can burn quite sensitively while swimming.

• Batu Ferringhi Beach is the main beach of the island with a length of about two kilometers. It has quite a decent infrastructure, there are various water activities. The beach is sandy, clean, almost no jellyfish. Along the beach there is a resort area with hotels, restaurants and bars. The beach and resort area is located about ten kilometers from Georgetown.
• Monkey Beach is the second most famous beach in Penang. The name of the beach speaks for itself - there are a lot of monkeys. The beach is located on the territory of the national park, the infrastructure is more than modest: sheds, camping site, shower and toilet. Nearby there are two more beaches in coves: Pantai Keracut and Pantai Ma s.
• Teluk Bahang - this beach is located in a small fishing village, not very suitable for swimming due to the large number of fishing boats that moor along the coast.
• Tanjung Bungah - the beach is located just five kilometers from the center of Georgetown, in the tourist area. Its disadvantages are that it is not entirely clean, and the coastal waters are teeming with jellyfish.

Sights of Penang

There are many attractions on the island, so lovers of active and educational recreation will be satisfied. In the capital of the island there are many temples: Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, as well as mosques. Each temple is unique, as is the opportunity to see the places of worship of the most important religions of the world in one city.

• Georgetown (George Town) - this city, founded by the English colonialists at the end of the 18th century, is an attraction in itself. Here you can see a bizarre mixture of English colonial style with traditional Asian architecture and ultra-modern buildings. The most convenient way to see the city is to buy a ticket for a special sightseeing bus.
• Fort Cornwallis - the fort was founded by the British immediately after the acquisition of the island. At first it was wooden, then the buildings were replaced with stone ones. Within the walls of the fort there is a historical museum, next to it there is a park with numerous cafes.
• Chinatown is the oldest part of the city protected by UNESCO. There are temples, shops and souvenir shops, markets and night markets. Chinatown is the heart of the island and its most colorful place.

Temples of Penang

• St. George's Church is the oldest Anglican church in Malaysia, built at the beginning of the 19th century.
• Sri Mariamman Temple (Sri Mahamariamman Temple) - Indian temple, famous for the statue of God Subramaniam, made of precious metals and inlaid with precious stones.
• Captain Keling Mosque (Kapitan Keling Mosque) - the mosque was built by the first settlers from India, its architecture vaguely resembles the world-famous Taj Mahal mausoleum.
• The State Mosque is the main mosque in the province of Penang, which simultaneously accommodates up to five thousand believers.
• Temple of snakes (Snake Temple) - a Buddhist temple built in the middle of the XIX century, still retains a mysterious atmosphere: fire is always kept here and cobras live. The temple is located near the airport. Temple of Supreme Bliss - This Buddhist temple has been built for almost 20 years, it is decorated with a thirty-meter pagoda that combines Chinese, Thai and Burmese architectural styles. Temple of the Goddess of Mercy (Goddes of Mercy Temple) - this temple was built by the first Chinese settlers.
• The Golden Temple (Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple) is a Buddhist temple, in the courtyard of which the sacred Bodhi tree grows and a wishing well is arranged.

Museums in Penang

• Kampung Seronok is an ethnographic Malay village where travelers can get acquainted with the life and way of life of the local population.
• Penang Museum and Art Gallery (Penang Museum) - located next to Fort Cornwallis, the exposition of the museum is dedicated to the history of the island, and in the Art Gallery you can get acquainted with the works of local artists.

Nature of Penang

• Butterfly Factory (Penang Butterfly Farm) - there is a garden where several thousand butterflies of various species flutter freely in a huge aviary. There is a museum with hundreds of specimens of various insects.
• Bird Park (Penang Bird Park) - the park is located behind the ferry crossing, on the mainland of Penang, several hundred species of birds live here, the park itself is cool, with artificial ponds, orchid and hibiscus gardens.
• Mount Penang (Penang Hill) is a peak with a height of 830 meters, from where you can admire the views of the island and its capital. The oldest funicular in Asia, opened in 1923 and still working properly, delivers tourists to the top.
• Botanic Gardens - located half a kilometer from Mount Penang, in the garden you can see various types of flora and fauna, the garden itself is about 100 years old. Tropical Fruit Farm is a large garden where almost all fruits grow South-East Asia. You can try them right on the spot, or order freshly squeezed juice.
• Teluk Bahang Park is a very beautiful park that houses a forest museum.

Penang Restaurants

Food that is prepared and sold right on the street by hawkers is a kind of visiting card of Penang. The multinationality of the population gives the cuisine of the island a unique diversity. The food bought from the stalls is very tasty and it is quite safe to eat this way on the island.

Of course, there are restaurants and cafes in Penang. Although the difference between a cafe and a street stall is small: they cook right on the street, under a canopy and there are tables here. There are, of course, pretentious restaurants, but travelers prefer street cafes - cheap and very tasty. The cuisines are different: Malay, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and European. In small cafes, there is often a menu that is a hybrid of dishes from different cuisines.

Shopping in Penang

The largest shopping center of the island is located in Komtar. This is a 65-storey skyscraper, it houses offices, shops, boutiques and restaurants. At the very top of the building is an observation deck and a revolving restaurant. In the shopping center you can buy things of world famous brands. In the markets and in the shops on the streets of Georgetown, fakes are sold, most often these are copies of branded clothing, electronics and watches.

Traditionally in Malaysia and Penang they buy:

• dishes made of copper and tin;
• silk, batik and hand-painted fabrics;
• spices and seasonings.
• wood products: local craftsmen can quickly carve a piece for the buyer to order;
• rattan products and furniture;
• antiques: you can still find something from the colonial period in the bazaars;
• souvenirs: figurines of spirits and gods, amulets, vases, knives, boxes and much more; given the multinational flavor of the island, you can buy a variety of and very unusual souvenirs.

Penang Hotels

Penang leaves an unforgettable impression on itself, you can travel around the island with pleasure on your own, it is safe, interesting, tasty and very beautiful here. And for a beach holiday, tourists often go to the nearest islands.

Let's deal with definitions first. Penang (Penang listen)) is an island in the north Malaysia. The island is about 25 km long and 15 km wide. The center of the island is occupied by a hill, high hills, overgrown with jungle. Penang Island is located a few kilometers from the mainland of Malaysia, and is connected to it by a bridge and a permanent ferry service.

View of Penang from Kek Lok Si Pagoda

On the island of Penang there is a beautiful Georgetown, where Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures mixed (see). A great place to see China, India and Malaysia itself at once. And here I spent two weeks in late November - early December 2011.

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Indian Quarter "Little India" in Georgetown

Modern Georgetown is a shopping center, a port and an old resort, where you will find ancient Chinese streets with a touch of old England (the city was founded by the British during colonialism), stunning walls, windows, roofs eaten by tropical rains, Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and churches, and with them the modern buildings of hotels and shopping centers made of glass and concrete. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Georgetown, downtown

There are others in Penang settlements smaller (for example, I accidentally visited the secluded agricultural Balik-Pulau and, of course, went to Teluk Bahang - the doors to the national park), but it all looks like a single urban agglomeration, connected by regular and comfortable bus service. The total population of the Penang agglomeration, according to some estimates, is about 2 million people.

Chinatown Luxury - Cheah Kongsi Clan House -

How developed is Penang, what kind of people live there

In Penang, there are, in fact, four types of buildings - the old city of Georgetown (old houses and streets in a very different state), business Penang (modern shopping and business centers, malls, banks), bedroom Penang ("ordinary" high-rise buildings) and rural Penang (private houses and self-built restaurants).

One of Georgetown's grocery hypermarkets

In general, the island, like the whole of Malaysia, is well developed in terms of infrastructure, there is a vast middle class, and poor people are rich enough to live at a good standard of living - no poverty, filth and squalor, on the contrary, here, on average, it is comfortable, comfortable and modern, Penangese can only be envied, but there are exceptions.

Sleeping?

Most of Penang's population is Chinese and, judging by the feeling, almost as many are Malays. A large ethnic minority are immigrants from India.

The Penang people are very peaceful and polite. It seems that the island and the city are in complete order, with crime, theft, and so on. no problem.

Lebuch Chulia Street, downtown Georgetown

As for the exceptions visible to the naked eye - on the main backpacker street Lebuh Chulia at night (and not only) you can see a few homeless people sleeping under the arches and prostitutes offering themselves from the dark, some of which look frightening even in the dusk, probably some some of them are addicted to hard drugs (at least, there is one drug addict hanging around there, completely crazy). You can also see a lot of rats there at night. But even this street is quite decent, and does not pose any danger - at least I felt so and regularly go to the Indian restaurant "Captain" in the middle of the night, sometimes quite deep.

Old Georgetown is relatively clean - no sewage and rotting mountains of garbage, although any garbage accumulates by evening. Expensive business districts and cleaner private sector.

On the prohibitory sign it is written that it is impossible to leave garbage here - a fine of 500 ringgits (5000 rubles).

Directly under the sign, someone put garbage bags.

Another prohibitory sign - do not put bicycles and motorbikes - there is a bicycle and motorbike next to it. That's such a sense of humor.

What is the weather in Penang in late November - early December

View of the Straits of Malacca from Chew Jetty

I was in Penang in late November - early December - two weeks. In the morning it is usually clear, the sun's rays are getting hotter. From 11 to 14 almost always shines a bright, very hot sun. It's easy to get burned, even with a tan. However, the houses in the center of Penang are mostly equipped with arched passages along the streets, so there is an additional opportunity to avoid contact with the sun's rays. From 15 o'clock partly cloudy often comes - gaps are visible in some places, sometimes the sun is completely hidden by clouds, there is no direct solar radiation. Sunset at 19-30 local time; before sunset, the sky often clears up, cumulus clouds appear, beautifully illuminated by the setting sun. The nights are warm and humid, but not hot and not wet - comfortable. Rains can fall at any time of the day, but still more often in the afternoon. During the 14 days that I have been here, there have been only two predominantly rainy days.

How long can you stay in Malaysia without a visa?

Indian quarter street

In my Russian passport there is a seal - under the date of entry it is written something like the following - it is allowed to stay for 30 days (end of November 2011). Entered from by bus without any prearranged visa.

How much does it cost to get to Penang

Old Georgetown, with modern buildings in the background.

You can get to Penang by bus from other cities in Malaysia (for example, from Kuala Lumpur, the fare is about 35 ringgit), Malacca (47 ringgit), from Cameron Highlands (50 ringgit) and from cities and islands Thailand, for example, from - 65-70 ringgits. Popular Destination- from Penang to Langkawi and vice versa. Those wishing to see orangutans in Sumatra ( Indonesia), can buy an air ticket Penang - Medan on airasia.com at a price of 83 ringgits (only 830 rubles !!!) - penang airport is located in the south of the island, from where you can easily get to Georgetown by bus.

Georgetown has European architecture, but it's mostly a Chinese city

How to get to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur? .. You can get to Kuala Lumpur by plane, well, from almost all cities in the world - for example, there were tickets for December Moscow - Kuala Lumpur for 10,000 rubles one way. But later, of course, there were no tickets. !

Penang. China rose in bloom.

Cost of living in Penang

Chinese Georgetown ().

The cost of living in Penang fluctuates depending on the season. November and December, which are discussed in the post, are the high season. Housing outside the winter months will be cheaper.

The cost of budget accommodation in Penang and in its main city, George Town, is perfectly reflected on booking (see offers for George Town), where you can book a place in hostels and inexpensive guesthouses. The prices on this site are not overpriced. Accommodation in the dorms of hostels - from 23 ringgits. 28 ringgit - in my hostel and in the hostel next door, as well as in other places - see the mentioned sites.

The black veranda at Reggae Hostel is an amazing place!

For 1 ringgit they give about 10 rubles. To get prices in rubles, multiply all prices in ringgit by 10 - very easy!

In my case, a hostel Reggae Penang Love Lane Hostel(description on hostelworld) - RM28 - Accommodation includes accommodation in a shared room for 14 people, shared shower, free light breakfast, free wi-fi (works well only in the computer room). Clean and polite. 5 minus.

Indian Quarter has a great selection of Indian movies on DVD; posters with this type of heroes are pasted everywhere

Accommodation in guesthouses and inexpensive hotels - prices for a room with two beds are around 50 ringgit.

Penang with Kek Lok Si

Another extensive source of information on cheap hotels and guesthouses in Penang is at the link. The list is not the newest, but it will also be useful.

New buildings for ordinary people

You can come to Georgetown without a reservation - there are a large number of hotels, guesthouses and hostels in the city center. But in the high season, sometimes there are not enough places, therefore, in order to avoid running around, it is better to book and then, if necessary, extend your stay in advance.

Buddhist architectural complex of the Kek Lok Si pagoda - built by Thailand in the 19th century

Many budget accommodations are located in the center of Georgetown on the streets of Lebuh Chulia, in particular, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe corner of Chulia and Love Lane - this is a 15-minute walk from the Jetty bus station, there is also a ferry pier . Ask the locals - they will tell you where to go.

Cost of food in Georgetown

Showcase of an Indian restaurant on Lebuh Chulia, in the Little India quarter

Georgetown is a great place to get to know real Chinese, Indian, Malay and Thai cuisines.

In inexpensive restaurants (which are the vast majority here), the cost of a hearty lunch with meat and a soft drink costs about 8-15 ringgits.

The walls of Georgetown are clean and warnings are posted everywhere - "do not post ads." However, in the Indian quarter, ads and posters are also hung on the walls. Some Indian celebrity.

I ate Indian food - there is an Indian quarter in the center of the city. Good restaurant "Captain" on Lebuh Chulia, works at night. Good and restaurant opposite the "Captain". Sanitary conditions are not ideal in restaurants, but in my slightly squeamish opinion the conditions are acceptable. My average bill for lunch here is RM9-11. However, in other restaurants - both Malay and Chinese - food costs the same, if you do not take the most expensive dishes.

Garden with cucumbers under the walls of the Buddhist temple Kek Lok Si.

A cup of tea - 1.5 - 2.5 ringgit.

Juice - 3 - 4 ringgits.

Wheat cake with cheese - 3.5 ringgit.

Tender pepper chicken - 7.5 ringgit. Pure chicken, so more expensive than the rest.

Rice without anything stuffed with Indian spices - RM3 for a large portion.

This is rice with a piece of chicken - 8.6 ringgit.

Me and Matthew (pictured) in "Captain"

In this photo you see the same rice for 3 ringgit (briyani claypot rice), in the hands of Matthew naan (naan), and something black is pepper chicken (pepper chicken) - very tasty!

Food on a banana leaf. The cost of this set is about 8 ringgits.

I also like Malay cuisine - especially chicken fried rice (Nasi Goreng Ayam). A plate of fried rice with seafood from Teluk Bahange (the village near the national park) costs about 6 ringgits. Approximately the same prices in other places. Plates This is enough for me to eat not tightly, but to eat.

Malay seafood fried rice - really delicious!

For food lovers, Penang is a real expanse!

And the last question - this is all meat, this chicken, fish - all this does not go out in the heat ?? To be honest, this question bothered me. I don’t know how it doesn’t spoil, but I have never been served rotten meat. By the way, in the Indian restaurant opposite the "Captain" you can buy excellent fried fish - delicious! - for 3.5 ringgit for a 75-100 gram piece.

Transportation prices in Penang

Penang bus from the inside. They are all so cool

You can move around the city by taxi and by bus. Bus service is well developed with a plus. The fare depends on the distance - you can see the price table at the driver's seat. For the longest distances (over 40 km) the ticket price is 4 ringgit. If you were given a large bill and it has already got into the payment box, do not wait for change! In general, change is not given, so keep some small money with you.

Jetty bus station in the old town of Georgetown - from here buses go to all corners of Penang

Air conditioners work in the buses - it's cool, the buses are clean, modern, spacious, I haven't seen crowds, like we have in St. Petersburg, but traffic jams happen regularly.

In the city center, on the corner of Love Lane and Lebuh Chulia (just where there are plenty of budget accommodations), there is a great stand that will help you plan your trip - it has everything about routes, schedules, location attractions in Penang.

Attractions of Georgetown and Penang and prices

Kek Lok Si Pagoda (19th century)

There are many attractions in Penang for a long time - a list of several dozen large and small attractions can be found on the free map of Penang, which you can get at your hotel / guest house or at the tourist information center.

Chew Jetty is a fishing village on the piers preserved in the center of Georgetown. Her life has almost left, but the forms are still the same - to the delight of tourists.

Hindu temples (the oldest one is in the Little India quarter), Buddhist temples (I recommend the Kek Lok Si complex - 2 ringgit entrance to the pagoda, 2 ringgit lift to the huge Buddha on the mountain), mosques (Floating Mosque - Floating Mosque), churches.

Floating mosque in Penang

Butterfly farm (entrance fee RM27), tropical fruit farm (RM25), (entrance is free) and so on. Go also to Penang Hill - from there a beautiful panorama. I also heard good feedback about the Toy museum and the Snake Temple.

Chinese Temple of the Goddess of Mercy (Goddess of Mercy Temple) in Georgetown. Huge stink sticks are burned here; leaving the temple, believers raise stink sticks over their heads of the usual size, shaking them and saying something... And on the left, obviously, Chinese pepelats...

Botanical Garden, Tropical Spice Garden, Penang Art Gallery, Burmese and Thai (with a 33-meter reclining Buddha) Buddhist temples... List interesting is great- it is simply impossible to visit everything, and it is not necessary - the main thing is that there is plenty to choose from!

The interior of one of the buildings of the Kek Lok Si complex

The beaches of Penang

Penang main beach - Batu Ferringhi

Well, of course, I want to buy. The beach zone is the north of the island. In fact, there is only one good beach here - Batu Ferringhi, the rest are just modest sandy locations ... (I managed to become picky!)

You can get to Batu Ferringhi by bus from the center of Georgetown (for example, number 101) for 2.7 ringgit. Travel time is 40 minutes. On the beach, they offer a ride on a water scooter for 70 ringgits in 15 minutes and a water parachute (this is when a motorboat drags you and you fly by parachute) - 80 ringgits for a solid circle around the sea alone and 150 ringgits the same thing, but in tandem with a second person.

Batu Ferringhi resort, track. This photo may well pass for the average image of the island of Penang (but not the old town of George Town, of course).

The second most famous beach in Penang is. Located on the territory of the national park (to the national park, for example, the 101st bus, 4 ringgit) - you will have to walk around the national park for an hour and a half along a difficult path along the sea, past other small beaches. Or go from the pier in the village of Teluk Bahang, which is near the national park, by boat - they went for 100 ringgits round trip (in the amount of seven people).

Monkey beach, or Monkey beach. There are, however, a lot of monkeys running around.

AT sea ​​waters ah Penang are found jellyfish. There are warning signs along the beaches. At the hostel I met two people who claimed to have been stung by a jellyfish - painful but not dangerous. I hoped to experience for myself what it was like, but the jellyfish ignored me on principle.

If I started talking about the horrors of the tropics... I hardly saw mosquitoes in November-December 2011 - well, sometimes a couple of them appeared on the veranda in the evening. But in national park Penang, if you stay overnight, you can see the turtles crawling out of the sea waters to the beach - the season of laying eggs, I was told. I remembered about turtles in order to finish the report on my independent trip to Penang Island on a positive note :)

Conclusion

penang island- a convenient and quite comfortable place for a long vacation, where you can combine beach tourism, walks along the diverse streets, visits to museums and temples and communication with the nature of the tropics. Recommend!

It was a report about my trip and vacation in Penang! Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your questions and comments! Always yours, David.

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