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The picturesque island of Penang is situated
in northern Malaysia, just across the border
from Thailand. There are many reasons to visit
Penang. With its beautiful beaches, Kek Lok
Si - perhaps the largest and finest Buddhist
temple in Asia - and spectacular scenery, it
is easy to see why the island has earned the
nickname Pearl of the Orient.
Although the island has long been popular with
Asian tourists, an increasing number of Western
tourists have been making their way to Penang
in recent years. One of the main reasons for
this is that this is one of the easiest places
to make long tourist visas. Although most of
Thailand's neighbouring countries can only issue
30 or 15 day visas, it is possible to obtain
a 60 day visa here, which can be extended for
a further 30 days in Thailand.
Those wishing to make this visa can simply
head over to Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street) where
there are plenty of guesthouses and coffee shops
offering to make the visa for a small fee. Just
hand over your passport before 11 o'clock in
the morning and it will be returned complete
with visa the same day, in plenty of time to
catch the evening plane or train back to Thailand.
There are plenty of things to do in Penang,
so most people take the opportunity to spend
a couple of days sightseeing before heading
back to Thailand.
How much does it cost?
The cost of living is roughly the same as in
Thailand. Although it is possible to find cheap
rooms with fans for 20 Ringets (200 baht), it
is also possible to stay in a luxurious hotel
with all the usual modern conveniences for RM
200 (roughly US$54).
Food can also be bought cheaply, with filling
Indian curries starting at RM 6 or 60 baht.
Buses are available to get to most places on
the island and fares tend to be RM 10-20.
What to do
Don't miss Kek Lok Si, the terrific seven-tiered
pagoda-style temple of the Kek Lok Si Temple,
the largest and most striking Buddhist temple
in Southeast Asia, situated near Penang Hill.
Not only is this a great place to relax and
meditate, but the views from the top are spectacular
as well.
Penang Hill offers spectacular views of the
island from the top. Although the going is steep,
it is possible to climb to the top or take the
Penang Hill Funicular cable car, which takes
just 30 minutes to reach the summit and provides
panoramic views along the way. There are a couple
of temples to explore at the top as well as
a pretty canopy walk.
Check out the Penang Butterfly Farm located
at Teluk Bahang. The butterfly farm is set in
picturesque tropical gardens and has thousands
of species of butterflies and insects. Open
daily 9 a.m-5 p.m, entrance RM 4.
The Botanical Garden is also worth a visit.
This 30-hectare garden was created in 1884 and
features a waterfall as well as beautiful wild
Rhesus monkeys. Open daily 7 a.m-7 p.m, entrance
free.
Situated in the small town of Bayan Lepas,
the Snake Temple was built in 1850 in memory
of Chor Soo Kong, a renowned Chinese monk. The
fact that a number of snakes lives within the
temple grounds is attributed to the local legend
that Chor Soo Kong, who was also a healer, gave
shelter to the snakes of jungle. The snakes
slithered their way to the temple shortly after
it was completed and have been devenomed for
the safety of other visitors.
Fort Cornwallis is located in George Town and
was built in 1786 by the British under Captain
Francis Light. Now turned into an outdoor museum,
this is a good place to learn about Penang's
history.
Wander around George Town. Full of spectacular
Chinese temples and Indian shops selling everything
from curry to Bollywood movies, this is an interesting
area to explore on foot as there is always something
to catch the eye.
Although there are a couple of beaches on Penang
they are nothing much to write home about as
there are jellyfish swimming in the sea and
belongings left unattended on the beach tend
to go missing. However, it is possible to soak
up the sun on the sand for a while.
What to eat
Penang is well known for its food. People flock
to the island from all over Malaysia, Singapore
and Thailand to sample the wide range of cuisines
available, which include Malay, Chinese, Indian,
Nyonya, Thai and a sprinkling of Western dishes
such as pasta and hamburgers.
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