• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to content

cushtravel asia travel blog

South East Asia Travel Blog

  • Asia
    • Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
        • Phnom Penh
        • Siem Reap
        • Sihanoukville
      • Indonesia
        • Bali
        • Bandung
        • Batam
        • Jakarta
        • Lombok
        • Medan
        • Surabaya
        • Yogyakarta
      • Laos
        • Luang Prabang
        • Vientiane
      • Malaysia
        • Kota Kinabalu
        • Kuala Lumpur
        • Langkawi
        • Malacca | Melaka
        • Pangkor Island
        • Penang
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
        • Baguio
        • Bohol
        • Boracay
        • Cebu
        • Davao
        • Manila
        • Palawan
        • Puerto Galera
        • Puerto Princesa
        • Subic
        • Tagaytay
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
        • Bangkok
        • Chiang Mai
        • Hua Hin – Cha-am
        • Krabi
        • Pattaya
        • Phuket
        • Samui
      • Vietnam
        • Hanoi
        • Ho Chi Minh
        • Hoi An
        • Hue
        • Nha Trang
    • South Asia
      • India
        • Agra
        • Bangalore
        • Bangladesh
        • Calcutta
        • Chennai
        • Goa
        • Jaipur
        • Jodhpur
        • Kochi
        • Mumbai
        • New Delhi
        • Srinagar
        • Udaipur
        • Varanasi
      • Maldives
      • Nepal
        • Kathmandu
      • Pakistan
      • Sri Lanka
    • Middle East
      • Bahrain
      • Israel
        • Eilat
        • Jerusalem
      • Jordan
        • Amman
        • Aqaba
      • Kuwait
      • Lebanon
        • Jounieh
      • Oman
      • Saudi Arabia
        • Al Khobar
        • Jeddah
      • United Arab Emirates
        • Dubai
    • East Asia
      • Korea
        • Busan
        • Incheon
        • Jeju-do
        • Seoul
      • Macau
      • Taiwan
        • Chiayi
        • Hsinchu
        • Hualien
        • Kaohsiung
        • Nantou
        • Taichung
        • Tainan
        • Taipei
        • Taoyuan
        • Yilan
    • Central Asia
      • Kazakhstan
  • Europe
    • Azerbaijan
    • Georgia
    • Italy
  • Pacific
    • Fiji
    • Guam
    • Papua New Guinea
  • About
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Asia
    • Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
        • Phnom Penh
        • Siem Reap
        • Sihanoukville
      • Indonesia
        • Bali
        • Bandung
        • Batam
        • Jakarta
        • Lombok
        • Medan
        • Surabaya
        • Yogyakarta
      • Laos
        • Luang Prabang
        • Vientiane
      • Malaysia
        • Kota Kinabalu
        • Kuala Lumpur
        • Langkawi
        • Malacca | Melaka
        • Pangkor Island
        • Penang
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
        • Baguio
        • Bohol
        • Boracay
        • Cebu
        • Davao
        • Manila
        • Palawan
        • Puerto Galera
        • Puerto Princesa
        • Subic
        • Tagaytay
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
        • Bangkok
        • Chiang Mai
        • Hua Hin – Cha-am
        • Krabi
        • Pattaya
        • Phuket
        • Samui
      • Vietnam
        • Hanoi
        • Ho Chi Minh
        • Hoi An
        • Hue
        • Nha Trang
    • South Asia
      • India
        • Agra
        • Bangalore
        • Bangladesh
        • Calcutta
        • Chennai
        • Goa
        • Jaipur
        • Jodhpur
        • Kochi
        • Mumbai
        • New Delhi
        • Srinagar
        • Udaipur
        • Varanasi
      • Maldives
      • Nepal
        • Kathmandu
      • Pakistan
      • Sri Lanka
    • Middle East
      • Bahrain
      • Israel
        • Eilat
        • Jerusalem
      • Jordan
        • Amman
        • Aqaba
      • Kuwait
      • Lebanon
        • Jounieh
      • Oman
      • Saudi Arabia
        • Al Khobar
        • Jeddah
      • United Arab Emirates
        • Dubai
    • East Asia
      • Korea
        • Busan
        • Incheon
        • Jeju-do
        • Seoul
      • Macau
      • Taiwan
        • Chiayi
        • Hsinchu
        • Hualien
        • Kaohsiung
        • Nantou
        • Taichung
        • Tainan
        • Taipei
        • Taoyuan
        • Yilan
    • Central Asia
      • Kazakhstan
  • Europe
    • Azerbaijan
    • Georgia
    • Italy
  • Pacific
    • Fiji
    • Guam
    • Papua New Guinea
  • About
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us

Penang

Penang

Penang Island has long been one of Malaysia’s major tourist draws, with such illustrious names as Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham and Queen Elizabeth II herself on its tourist list. This lovely island in the tropics is a fascinating location to visit, a place so steeped in history that whole streets exist as testament to times long past, yet also a place where the enjoyments of today are at their best, with the island’s shopping and modern dining experiences among the best in all of Asia. Penang is a place full of answers for the eager tourist—the only question he really has to ask is, “Where do I start?”

One can start with Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage site that stands as one of the most charming memorials to the country’s colonial past, even while managing to keep the thrumming energy of The Now animating its quaintly antique veins. Indeed, half the attractions of Penang are in Georgetown, where one may see such sights as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and the Wat Chaiyamangalaram—the latter also housing another attraction in its own right, the 33-metre reclining Buddha.

Georgetown’s success as a tourist spot has always been in its ability to please everyone, though, so don’t be too quick to think it a mere memorial of olden times. This is a place where you can go straight from walking whole streets of preserved colonial houses and shopfronts, then turn a corner and find yourself in a hip urban district populated with modern clubs and bars.

Penang on the whole is a smorgasbord of tourist experiences. From the inland sights in Georgetown and the Penang National Park (which is a superb place for trekkers, by the way), one can easily migrate to the coastline fun always happening around Batu Ferringhi. Batu Ferringhi, actually, is another of the must-visit spots on the island. This is the most developed of all the coastline hangouts and as such one of the most exciting locations here. Batu Ferringhi is all about white sands and tropical waters bordered by posh resorts and hotels—and with so many competing tourist establishments in the same area, you can expect lodging prices to stay reasonable. And when you put that sort of economic reasonability with the tourist appeal of this place, how can you stay away? Penang is definitely one of the places to see in Malaysia—perhaps even, some may say, THE place to see.

You Are Here: CushTravel > Asia > Southeast Asia > Malaysia > Penang

Queensbay Mall, the Largest Shopping Mall in Northern Malaysia

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Queensbay Mall holds the title of largest department store in Penang, Malaysia. It opened for business only on December 1, 2006 and today it is one of the most iconic modern structures in northern Malaysia.

Queensbay Mall in Penang
Queensbay Mall in Penang – Malaysia

Known simply as “Queens” to most of its patrons, this modern shopping center is the largest mall in northern Malaysia. It is the heart of a stunning waterfront development program in Bayan Lepus, covering a total land area of 73 acres. It is only a few minutes away from Penang Bridge. This huge shopping mall has more than 500 retail stores distributed into five floors or exciting shopping experience. The design guarantees a low-rise walkthrough layout that allows shoppers to see and identify a store 500 meters away. For Queens, a customer’s satisfaction and convenience is prime. Even children and teenagers were given a special place. The third floor features a number of fun entertainment and leisure attractions, which include a roller skating rink. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: malaysia, penang, queensbay mall

Kapitan Keling Mosque: A Place of Worship, History and Culture

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Kapitan Keling Mosque is arguably the most popular mosque in Penang. It stands on the corner of Buckingham Street and what used to be Pitt Street but was renamed Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling after the iconic mosque. It is also the largest among the historic mosques in Georgetown.

Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang
Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang – Malaysia

The name “Kapitan Keling” pertains to a real person who bore the title Kapitan Keling. He was Caudeer Mohudeen, an Indian Muslim merchant and the captain of a South Indian Muslim community that was credited to have built this majestic mosque in the 1800s. He brought in workers and stones all the way from India to complete the mosque. “Kapitan Keling” literally means “headman” or “leader” of an Indian group. “Keling” was derived from “keling-na”, which was a term used by a local Hokkien community to refer to Indian people in general. “Kapitan” is quite clearly a corrupted translation of “captain”. During those times, the leaders of Chinese communities were called Kapitan China. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: kapitan keling mosque, malaysia, penang

Penang State Museum: Historic and Full of History

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Penang is a vibrant Malaysian Island off the north-western coast of the peninsula. There is so much history to Penang, which is still now physically visible with the many colonial buildings and temples still standing in Georgetown, its capital city. Penang’s glorious past is still with us today, and much of it is showcased at the Penang State Museum.

Penang State Museum
Penang State Museum – Malaysia

Penang was known in earlier times as “Pulau Ka Satu”, which means quite literally “only one island” in Malay. According to legends, the name was given by a certain traveling merchant named Ragam. He used to trade between Linggi and Kedah, and Penang was the only island he saw along that route. “Pulau Ka Satu” stuck until the 18th century when the British came and named the island “Penang”. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: best places for shopping in malaysia, penang state museum

Penang Hill: See Penang the Way You Should

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

The most charming sights in Penang (and arguably in Malaysia) are Georgetown and Penang Bridge. There’s no way for you to truly enjoy Penang, Malaysia’s premier tourist destination, without being mesmerized by the beauty of its capital city and the iconic bridge. This is why Penang Hill is so popular, too. You get the best view from Penang Hill, especially at night when the city and bridge are flooded with spectacular night lights.

Penang Hill
Penang Hill – Malaysia

Getting on top of Penang Hill is not a problem at all. You simply take the Penang Hill Railway for a return fare of RM 30 if you are an adult foreigner. Child tourists are charged RM 15 for fare, while local adults pay only RM 8 and local children only RM 4. You can catch a ride every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Most visitors take the 10-minute ride in the evening when it is really cool on top of the hill and the sights become much more stunning. You can also see the Straits of Malacca from there. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: malaysia, penang hill

Gorgeous Georgetown in Penang

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

You cannot and must not visit Penang without passing by Georgetown. It is Penang’s capital and easily the most beautiful and captivating destination in Penang and most parts in Asia. Penang can boast of many attractions, but Georgetown is clearly the best; a definite must-see.

Georgetown in Penang
Georgetown in Penang – Malaysia

Georgetown (or spelled as two words, George Town) was named by the British after King George III. It is until today the heart of Penang’s commerce, finance, religious activities, social functions, art, culture and tourism. It is a modern city and historic landmark at the same time. Cited by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Georgetown boasts of preserving 19th century cathedrals, temples, and mosques as well as old houses and shophouses. Very charming bazaars, shops and cafes are very near each other since Georgetown is quite compact. There are narrow lanes and alleyways that make strolling and biking a very pleasurable sightseeing experience. A ride on a traditional trishaw is also fun and very cultural. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: georgetown, malaysia, penang

Discover Bukit Jambul Orchid, Hibiscus & Reptile Garden in Penang

January 10, 2014 By //  by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Clearly one of the most interesting attractions in Penang is Bukit Jambul Orchid, Hibiscus & Reptile Garden (last admission at 5:30PM). Located near Hotel Equatorial and only about 10 minutes from Penang International Airport, Bukit Jambul is home to Malaysia’s largest tame snake, a rare albino python, as well as many other amazing reptiles, animals and plants.

Bukit Jambul Orchid Hibiscus in Penang
Bukit Jambul Orchid Hibiscus in Penang – Malaysia

This 2-hectare nature garden was first thought of and was established by two friends, who were a horticulturist and herpetologist. The park is widely known among local and international visitors for its amazing plants and animals that are unique in this part of the world. Some of the park’s highlight attractions are a pair of Bengal tigers that grew up here since they were tiny cubs, a host of flightless birds (emu, ostrich and cassowary), different species of flowers (about 100 to 150 varieties), 15 species of snake, four giant tortoises, hibiscuses (two of which are named after former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and his wife), a cactus garden, and the largest tiger orchid in the world, with flowers that grow up to 3 inches across. Visitors are welcomed to the garden by a lovely, colorful parrot with a snappy “hello” greeting. …

Filed Under: Penang Tagged With: bukit jambul orchid, hibiscus & reptile garden, penang

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • …
  • Page 6
  • Next Page »

Copyright © 2021 . CushTravel.com Travel Blog . Privacy . Terms . Sitemap