A Merry Christmas To All From Penang Malaysia!

Exploring Penang With My Family This Christmas



A Merry Christmas to all my friends! First, let me wish you a merry Christmas and a happy prosperous coming new year as we go on to live a life we always want. December holiday has always been great festive mood for everyone as the kids are on holiday and parents will take time off to be together with them to enjoy a vacation. No difference for me as I celebrated a short Christmas vacation with my family in Penang. We put ourselves up in a nice suite hotel in George Town, The Northam Penang – All Suite Hotel, to enjoy a slower pace. Below is a picture of the facade of the hotel we stayed in for the 4 days when we were in Penang.

Click here to find out more details about Northam!

First, let me share some research information with about Penang with you. Penang, commonly referred to as the Pearl of the Orient, is one of Asia’s famous islands. Penang entices many tourists who are drawn to the beautiful beaches and to the deep culture embedded within the island. Penang was recently declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is situated on the north-west coast of the Malaysian peninsula, by the Strait of Malacca and it is the second smallest and eighth most populous state in Malaysia. The name Penang found its origin from a modern Malay name, Pulau Pinang, meaning the island of the areca nut tree. Penang can refer to the Penang state (Negeri Pulau Pinang) or the Penang island (Pulau Pinang). The capital of the state is George Town. The island of Penang is one of the main tourist attractions in Malaysia. The island has a fabulous coastline along with its rich multicultural history that is filled with European, Indian, Chinese and Malay influences. It is also known to be the ‘food paradise” of Malaysia.

Getting Around Penang By Taxi

Due to the island’s high population density, Penang is pretty congested during the rush hour both in the mornings and in the afternoons. The roads on Penang Island are also narrow, having been built during a period where such a large volume of future traffic wasn’t expected. We chose to use Taxis as they are easily and widely available around the island; it is the most common means of getting around by visitors. But bear in mind that the taxis here don’t use meters, so be sure to agree on a price first before boarding the taxi. Start by asking how much it is to get to your destination; you can negotiate on the prices quoted if you feel that they are too high.

Some Of The Places We Visited

Day 1

Queensbay Mall

Right away, we headed for Queensbay Mall after checking into our hotel as we needed to get all the things needed for the holiday. Queensbay Mall opened for business on 1 December 2006. It is currently the largest, longest and most modern shopping mall in Penang with a gross built up of 2.5 million sq ft and over 1 million sq ft net lettable area.

The Mall is located in Bayan Lepas, minutes away from the Penang Bridge, the heart of a prime waterfront development sprawling over a land area of 73 acres.

It is the most preferred shopping destination for both the locals and tourists – with 5 levels of retail’ Jusco as its anchor tenant with more than 10 junior anchors and 500 retail merchants.

Besides a well-planned tenant mix, shoppers can enjoy the “low rise walk-thru” layout which stretches as far as 500 meters with excellent visibility of the shop façade and merchandizing displays. The facility and amenity signages are meticulously planned to enhance the convenience and comfort of the shoppers.

The overall interior design and lightings are aimed to create a conducive and safe shopping environment for the whole family. Added to the attractions are the integrated entertainment zone on the third floor that provides a wide range of entertainment and leisure attractions ranging form multiplex to roller skating.

Queensbay Mall with its tagline “It’s all happening here!” aptly epitomized the “enriched” lifestyles that Queensbay Mall offers – a place which is vibrant and full of activities, one can shop, play, relax, get together, entertain, be entertained. It is a “family lifestyle mall” of international standard catering to households who are looking for good value for money and the latest in designs and style.

Day 2

Penang Hill

After our sumptuous breakfast, we headed toward the popular Penang Hill. Amazing as it may sound. A cooling environment in the hot and dry weather of Penang. Penang Hill or affectingly known by locals as "Bukit Bendara", is one of the only cool places to visit in Penang. A hill with elevation of about 833 m (2723 ft) has proved that it is one of the main attractions not only to the foreigner but also locals.The cooling and serenity of the hill especially when you are at the peak will provide a much needed calm and relaxation from the hot and bustling stress by the city of George Town. With the temperature ranging from 20 to 25 degree Celsius, it is going to be a place to relax, remember and rejuvenate.

The hilly and forested Penang Hill is founded by Sir Francis Light during his pack horse track back in the year 1788. However, it was during the 19th century that construction is carried out to build the hill into a place well accessible by local or even tourist alike which brings about the funicular railway construction at the cost of about $1.5 million.

Depending on the time that is available, you can either go up the hills by foot or by using a famous red Swiss made funicular train. Of course if you were to take a more relaxing train to the hilltop, you are going to miss on what nature has to offer such as a mist covered valley, giant bamboo trees, crystal cool pond, farm, wild dogs, birds and of course various species of plants.

Funicular train leaves every 20 to 25 minutes at a cost of RM4 per person that can carry a max of 80 passengers per trip.

Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple

This holiday trip is not just a family vacation together but also an opportunity to fulfill our spiritual needs and to give as we have really been blessed. The Buddhist temple of Kek Lok Si is situated in (H)Air Itam, a suburb of Georgetown. You can make that by local bus from the Komtar, but you can also make it by taxi. I prefer taxi, because the taxi takes me up the hill (the Kek Lok Si is halfway on a hill). I like to walk down, but not to walk up the hill in a tropical climate. Taxi ride from Penang Hill cost us about RM15.

The temple was begun in 1890 and, from all appearances, construction really hasn't ever stopped. And it's still going on! The temple is supposedly the largest in Malaysia.
The Kek Lok Si project was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple of Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Kuang Hsi, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras.

Without doubt the largest and best known temple in Penang, the Temple of Supreme Bliss, better known as Kek Lok Si, staggered on the hillside overlooking the town of Ayer Itam. Since the olden days, the hills of Ayer Itam are regarded as important geomantically. Known as He San, or Crane Hill, they are recommended as a retreat for Taoist practitioners striving for immortality.

Construction of the temple started in 1893, but it was only in 1930 that the Pagoda of Rama VI, named after the Thai king who laid the foundation stone, but better known as the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddha's, was completed.

This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown, reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.

The latest addition to the temple complex is the 30.2m bronze statue of the Avalokitesvara - Goddess of Mercy or Kuan Yin - on the hillside above the pagoda.
This statue was completed and opened to the public at the end of 2002.

If you want to get a close-up look of the Kuan Yin statue, then go left as you get to the furthest hall, which is also the largest and look for the signs for the 'incline lift' to the goddess.

The incline lift is more of a tram -- an elevator-sized glass box mounted on rails which go up to the terrace above the existing temple where the goddess stands.
Use of the lift costs RM 2 each way.

It was really a great experience visiting the "Goddess of Mercy". If you haven't, then this is the moment to do it now! You will then understand what I have experienced!

Gurney Plaza

Wow! It was really an experience for the whole family after visited Penang Hill & Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple. It was time for some food and shopping next and we headed to the famous Gurney Drive where Gurney Plaza is!

Gurney Plaza is one of the major shopping malls in Penang. Strategically located at Gurney Drive, it is set among the lush landscape of Gurney Park, overlooking the sea.

With seven levels of retail, leisure, and entertainment outlets, Gurney Plaza is designed as the ultimate one-stop shopping centre for locals, a meeting place for business associates and a shopping paradise for tourists. It also enjoys quality shoppers’ traffic from the good-class residential districts. There are many eateries there such as Dome, McDonalds, Secret Recipe, Starbucks, Coffee Bean and so on. There is also a food court at the basement. If you need any groceries, you can go to Cold Storage which is located at the basement.

Day 3

Wat Chaiyamangalaram (Reclining Thai Buddhist Temple)

With a short stay, we decided to visit the Wat Chaiyamangalaram (Reclining Thai Buddhist Temple) on our third day. This temple is located along Burmah Lane, Penang. Actually, it’s opposite Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple. There is a statue of a reclining Buddha resting on his right palm inside this temple. This statue, at 33m, is the 14th longest in the world. The top 5 longest is located in Myanmar. However there are two others which were not included in the list, one in Afghanistant believed to be 350m but it is buried in the sands, and there is another in Kulen, Vietnam which could not be identified.

The internal of Chaiya temple is a serene and peaceful place. The floor tiles are imprinted with repeated motifs of lily plants - a very oriental feeling. A HUGE reclining Buddha at the middle of the temple was only built in 1958, in conjunction with the 2500th anniversary of the birth of Buddha, at a cost of RM100,000.

Dhannikarama Burmese Temple

With a short walk across the road, we visited the next attraction located just opposite the Wat Chaiyamangalaram Thai Buddhist temple which is the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple.

It has a much earlier period in its development history. Based on the record, it was founded way back in 1803 (officially, it was 1st. August, 1803). The 200+ years old temple was formerly called Nandy Moloh Burmese temple. According to temple's record, the land was purchased by a Burmese, NONYA BETONG from a British named George Layton for 390 Spanish dollar with official permission granted by Lt Governor Prince of Wales Island, George Leith Baronet. After receiving the land grant title, NONYA BETONG donated the land for the construction of Dhammikarama temple. Even today, the lane that houses two distinctive temples is named Burmese lane (many streets and alleys in Penang island still retained old British names). Technically, this Burmese temple can be regarded as the earliest Burmese Buddhist temple in Malaysia.

The main attraction for Buddhist and tourists alike are a historical Pagoda, a 200 years old well for early settlement of monks, the main shrine hall, and the Sime Hall where a very tall and large all-marble Buddha image situated. Due to its long history, this temple was designated as one of the fifteen Penang State Heritage Sites to be preserved as tourist attraction for Penang back in the Visit Penang Year, 1988.

Batu Ferringi

In the evening, we headed out of the city for a more relaxing evening enjoying the sand and beaches at Batu Ferringi.

It may not be of the Malaysia "best" as the water is not tropically clear that you might expect but with the numerous activities that is going on - One may just forget about clear blue water. The beach is however kept clean, even on weekends when hordes of day-trippers visit.

The name "Batu Ferringhi" originate from a Malay term - Rock (Batu) & Portuguese(Ferringhi). It was during the 16th century when the Portuguese traders in search for spice, landed in the rocky isle of Batu Ferringhi (also known as "Lover's Isle") to obtain fresh supplies of water that the name initially favored.

When the Portuguese left the island, the local embrace the "Ferringhi" name to all foreigners, particularly Westerners. And this name has been affectionally called ever since.

Walking along the soft & beautiful white sandy beaches, you can spend hours admiring the beauty & tranquility of the palm shrouded beach.

The gust of morning wind will makes you feel that there is still a place for you to relax, rejuvenate & to admired the alluring picturesque beauty of the white sandy beach.

Others activities that you can enjoy the action pack water sport activities - Parachuting, canoeing, sailing, horse riding and more.

The best time to visit Batu Ferringhi is in the morning and late evening.

The roadside of Batu Ferringhi's beach hotels transforms into a bazaar after sunset every day. In a tribute to free enterprise, traders from all over the island set up their stalls under colorful canopies all along the stretch at this famous tourist attraction in Penang.

Much like the night market (pasar malam), everything from food to clothing, batik, vcd, dvd, watches, pens, souvenirs, cameras and personal accessories are sold here and bargaining is the order of the Night Bazaar at Batu Ferringhi day and this colorful carnival surroundings is a popular places of interest during night time. Tourists should take the opportunity to buy cheap souvenirs from the operators of the many souvenir shops here.

It has been a wonderful and spiritual holiday for us and there are still lots of attractions, good cuisines and stuffs that I could not cover here in this post as it was a very short holiday. I shall leave you here to explore Penang yourself and learn to enjoy your life a bit more for this coming New Yea. Last but not least, best wishes to all and I shall catch up with you very soon!