A popular rendezvous for local
and tourists alike is Penang Hill which at 830 metres
above sea level, is a pleasant 3 degrees cooler
than the lowlands.
Journey to the top is by the funicular train which
takes 30 minutes or by powerful four-wheelers on
tar road. The summit offers a magnificient panoramic
view of the mainland.
There's a children's playground,
tea kiosk and hotel on the Penang Hill. |
A 200 year old
landmark where Captain Francis Light, the founder
of Penang landed in 1986. Bulit between 1808 and
1810, it was originally a wooden structure but was
later replaced and rebuilt by convict labour. Its
walls are moss-covered and protuding from the ramparts
are several age-old cannons retrieved by the British
from the pirates.
The main cannon 'Seri Rambai' is said to date back
to 1618 and don't be suprised if you happen to see
flowers and jossticks offering near the main cannon.
According to a local believe, childless women can
conceive by placing flowers in its barrel and offering
special prayers. |
Occupying 30 hectares
of Penang's precious land, this garden have a fine
collection of the flora and fauna of Malaysia and
other parts of the tropics.
There are hundreds of tress and flowering plants
and dozens of plant houses and nurseries. It also
have a fern garden, a cactus house, orchid farm
and lily ponds. |
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The
garden is also well known for its friendly Rheses
monkeys, visible even on the entrance and also every
where else in the garden. A favourite spot for family
picnics or outings. |
| A strecth of sandy
beaches and tranquil sea. It is a perfect place
for sea sports, sun bathing or pure relaxation.
Aside from the Ferringhi Beach, other beaches share
the same shoreline namely Tanjung Bungah and Teluk
Bahang.Along this stretch that you will find world- |
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| class resorts that offer excellent accommodation
and facilities. |
Secluded beaches can also be
found but one may have endure thrilling, jungle
trails to get there. Among them are Teluk Duyung,
Monkey Beach and Pantai Mas |
This is the largest Buddhist
Temple complex in Malaysia and one of the finest
in South-East Asia.
Work on the Kek Lok Si Temple, built on a hill in
Air Itam began in the year 1890 and took more than
two decades to complete.
The temple is dominated by the
seven-tier Ban Po Thar pagoda whick rises 30 metres
high. The pagoda combines Chinese, Thai and Burmese
Architecture and craftmanship. The octoganal basi
is typically Chinese, the middle tiers Thai and
the spiral dome Burmese.
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This Buddhist temple of Thai
architecture in Lorong Burmah houses the 3rd.
largest reclining Buddha in the world. The statue
measures about 33 metres or approximately 108
feet.
Behind the statue are niches where urns containing
the ashes of the dead are stored. |
It's wall are full of unique
carvings and decorations done by artists from
Thailand. However, photography is not allowed
inside the temple. |
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Built
in 1850, it is dedicated to the deity Chro Soo
Kong and is a sanstuary for pit vipers which can
be seen coiled round vases, beams and potted plants
inside the temple itself. |
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poisonous, they are not known to bite. Devotees
refer to these snakes as "officers"
of the deity and regard them (the snakes) as holy
and harmless.
For visitors who are not afraid,
they can pose for photographs with a pit viper
coiled round their necks. |
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| Kongsi(s) or clan houses
are associations originated from China centuries
ago for people with the same surname. Today, the
have bacome benevolent associations which look
after the affairs of members and also safe guard
the principles of ancestral worship.
The idea of a temple was first mooted in 1836
and was completed 8 years later. The Leong San
Tong of the Khoo Kongsi in Cannon Square is the
most picturesque clan-temple in Malaysia. The
richly ornamented carvings of the roofs, walls
and pillars reflect the art and architecture of
acient China and mad eof the finest wood.
The elaborate Dragon Mountain
Hall, built in 1906 and renovated in the mid 1950's
contains excellent samples of sculpture created
by master crafts-men from China. This celebrated
clan house is also one of the most intreicately
decorated kongsi(s) in the whole of Malaysia and
is definately worth a visit.
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| Opened
in March 1986, it is the world's largest butterfly
farm with more than 4,000 living specimens of
over 50 species. The farm itself occupies 0.8
hectares on which stand a garden enclosure, breeding
area, laboratory, exhibition area, souvenier shop
and information counter.
Other interesting features include a lily pond,
artificial waterfalls, a rock garden, tunnel and
bubbling mud pool.
There are also many educational
exhibits and facilities for observing the life
cycle of butterflies and small-sized reptiles.
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Penang
Bridge is the first and only road link to the
island from the mainland. Completed in the September
1988 it stretches 13.5 km. from Seberang Prai
on the mainland to Gelugor on the island.
This architectural wonder is officially acclaimed
the longest bridge in South East Asia region and
the 3rd. longest bridge in the world.
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