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Penang
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Penang is known as ?the Pearl of the Orient? and the word ?Penang? in Malay means beetle nut. In 70s Penang used to be the place for hippies, but now it?s a bustling city with modern infrastructure and a thriving economy. But it still remains a place of mysterious temples and white sandy beaches. Even though modernity has left a deep mark, this city has retained many of its cultural heritages that date back to many centuries. Waves of migration and colonial rule have crafted this unique place and a unique way of life.
Reflecting the multicultural character of Penang, numerous places of worship cater to different races i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism Islam etc. One of the most visited temples in Penang is Kek Lok Si temple. This temple features Turtle ponds, beautiful sculptures and nice gardens. Another attraction is Snake Temple. It?s situated in Sungai Kluang. Legend has it that this temple has healing power and it is visited by people cutting across race and religion. You can visit Kapitan Kling Mosque. This mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia and it was built in 19th century. Mosque volunteers would be more than happy to show you around and give you a free guided tour. Once you are out of mosque, head straight across the road and you can find yourself in the heart of Little India. Little India in Penang is famous for Indian goods and food. The aroma of spices would tell their own story. If you can?t stop yourself from salivating, just jump into one of the numerous restaurants and get yourself pampered with hot and spicy Indian food. Roti chanai and Biryani are must on the menu. After you satisfy your taste buds, head towards the bay area to get some cool breeze and enjoy solitude. Do check the horizon to find the mast of the ship that was used by Portuguese to land at Penang long time back. If you want you can use the stairs to go up the mast of the ship, but better not to be a daredevil. The tallest building of Penang is KOMTAR and you can see it from anywhere in the island. If dinning and lavish shopping are on your menu then KOMTAR is the place for you. One of the most famous festivals of Penang is Thaipusam. This is a Hindu festival (which traces its root to Tamil Nadu in India), in which devotees pierce their body and walk along the road. Even though its might be a bit gruesome, but still you should not miss this.
If you a nature lover and want to trek through the dense Malaysian rain forest, then head towards Bukit Mertajam. There are many trails out there, but you should choose the trail that will take you towards the other side of the forest that is called the Monkey beach. This beach is not accessible by road, thus you have to either trek or catch a boat. Pristine beach, open sea and thick forest would be more than enough to make you forget the pain of hour long toil.
If your appetite is still not satisfied for natural beauties of Penang, then you can consider paying a visit to Titi Krawang (TK). This is a small water fall deep inside the forest. From Penang it would take almost an hour long drive to reach TK, but it would be worth trying. As they say journey is more important than destination, you would enjoy the journey to KT for sure.
Above all the best landmark of Penang is Penang Bridge (PB). PB connects Penang Island to mainland Malaysia. PB is one of the longest bridges of South East Asia, spanning 13 KM. This bridge becomes even more beautiful after the sunset when this man made structure glitters like a necklace in the vast sea of darkness.
If you are a bird watcher, then the best places for you would be Mengkuang Dam and Bukit Metrajam. If you are in Penang in the month of August, don?t miss the Dragon Boat festival.
And how can I forget the most attractive thing about Penang. Well you got it right, its food. You name it and you can get it in Penang. With multicultural population, come multicultural cuisines. Never shy away from the street food that Penang is famous for. Hawker food might seem a daunting task for some, but without this your Penang odyssey would remain incomplete.
More information:
http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/
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