I'm going to make a confession. I never gave the country of Malaysia much consideration when planning trips out of the country. Why? Plain and simply because for some reason, I always believed that Malaysia and the Philippines were too much alike, I wouldn't really feel like I was in a foreign country.
You see, usually when Rina and I discuss our options and what country we want to travel to next, we usually have two requirements.. Rina wants to go to a country with a beautiful theme park, and I prefer a country colder than the Philippines. Given those two elements of our criteria, you can see why Malaysia never really came under our radar, and this is all despite the fact that several people I know could attest to how stunning that country is.
It's rather unfortunate because had I listened to them earlier, I would have had been able to visit this enchanting country much sooner!
It's rather unfortunate because had I listened to them earlier, I would have had been able to visit this enchanting country much sooner!
Not one to cry over spilled milk, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to visit the city of Penang via Air Asia a few weeks ago, to take a tour of the stunning sights and delectable food that the city, richly steeped in culture, has been known for!
We reached Penang by utilizing Air Asia Philippines' incredibly convenient "Fly-Thru" service. Since you'll be hard-pressed to find a direct flight from Manila to Penang, Air Asia offers cost effective option, wherein you have a stop over in Kuala Lumpur, before heading off to Penang. Despite the short layover, you only need to check in your baggage once, and Air Asia will take care of the rest! My Luggage was waiting for me safe and sound as soon as we got to the Penang Airport.
The combination of convenience, and excellent service, and budget friendly airfare, makes Air Asia the obvious choice for travelers.
I won't lie to you, my main mission in going to Penang, which is known as the Food capital of Malaysia, was of course, to eat like there was no tomorrow. However, I was suprised to find myself captivated by the surprising beauty of a country I had sorely underestimated, that our sight seeing tour left me spellbound with every landmark we visited.
In case you were wondering what exactly I did in my four days in Penang, Malaysia, here's a rundown of the 7 of the most memorable places I visited.. I highly recommend you try to drop by these places when you visit Penang as well!
Please take note that this doesn't include any of the restaurants I tried yet, as I decided that deserved its own separate post (Coming soon)!
1.GOT BUGGED OUT AT ENTOPIA
Learning more about topics such as Butterflies, insects and a variety of other creepy crawlers through a book may sound like a new way of "counting sheep" to some, but what happens when you yourself are thrown into their environment so you can get a first hand experience on how they behave in their own natural habitat?
Enter Entopia, Penang's Butterfly Farm.
Though the Penang Butterfly Farm has been open since 1986, it underwent a multi million Ringgit "face lift", and has morphed into the impressive Nature Discovery Hub that is now known as Entopia.
Entopia has an almost Theme Park like feel to it, that makes learning become more from for Children and even adults of all ages!
Entopia gives you a glimpse of how insects in caves live..
Even Worms that burrow tunnels
Scorpions? Oh, hell no!
Not a fan of snakes.. I'm so glad there's a glass window between us!
That is one hairy looking spider!!
The Home Tree is one majestic sight, and you will bask in the sunlight as Butterflies freely fly around you!
Spotted the lovely Tummy Traveler taking pictures of some butterflies!
I was able to get up and close with some creepy crawlers.. Perhaps a little too close for comfort! 
Apart from recreating insect environments, there are several state of the art information kiosks that feature interactive games on large touch screens, that help give people a better understanding of the insects.
Really Eye-Catching!
If science class during my time was like this, I probably wouldn't have had to go to Summer School in '89! Hahaha.. Hehehe.. hehe.. heh... :~(
ENTOPIA By Penang Butterfly Farm
Jalan Teluk Bahang,
11050 George Town, Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia
2. WENT ON AN OUTDOOR ESCAPE
If Entopia brought out your inner nerd, Escape Adventureplay will surely bring out the outdoors adventurer in you.
It was enough to cure self-confessed Computer Addict Chuckie Dreyfus's craving for his mobile devices, even if it was for a couple of hours!
Monkey Business will help your rope climbing skills, but you're secured to a line which makes this safe, even for kids!
The Coco Climb was like a scene out of the Disney Classic, "Mulan", where the man reached the top of the pole using nothing but his bare hands and feet. The man reached the top, but no clue if the experience made a man out of him.
Watching some young budding trapeze artists in action was rather exhilarating! Also, watching how the young ones maneuvered up the Gecko Wall was fun, but at the same time, reminded me of my age, knowing that even the simplest of attempts might trigger my muscle spasms.
The shrieks coming from those that took a dive at Atan's Leap got me intrigued, but it was the climb up that worried me more than the fall hehe.. So I ended up declining their offer to try it out.
I was more at home at the Base Camp, where I could just chill out in the woods and continue my commune with nature. Tents are set up in different areas and you can even have a bonfire in the evenings, and even set up a BBQ! Oh and Roasted Marshmallows? YES PLEASE!
3. TOOK A TRAIN UP PENANG HILL..
One of Penang's Iconic tourist attractions, is Penang Hill.
Dated in the late 1700's, Penang Hill Station is the oldest British Hill Station in South East Asia. Tickets Prices are RM10 for Adults , RM3 for Children, and RM5 for Senior Citizens, and runs daily from 6.30 a.m to 11.00 p.m, and has a trip usually every 30 minutes.
For more ticket information visit http://www.penanghill.gov.my/index.php/ticket-service
Fortunately, my group found room in the last car, which gave us a good idea of just how high up the hill we were going. The uphill trek takes roughly around 10 to 15 minutes long, and the incline is rather steep, so make sure you've got a good grip on something in case you're unable to get a seat.
But believe me, when you get up there and see the city of Penang in all its splendor, it's all totally worth it.
The viewing deck offers a 360 degree glimpse of the breath-taking city of Penang.
That bridge getting there, as scary as it looks, makes for a nice picture as well!
4. ... And Went Nature Tripping at The Habitat
A short stroll from the Viewing Deck will get you to The Habitat at Penang Hill! This is a world class eco-tourism site where nature lovers can go on a nature tour, and discover a wide array of rare plants and a plethora of animals roaming freely in around the forest.
Appreciating the beauty of the lush rain forest gives you a better understanding of the importance of its conservation and preservation.
Though it is admittedly quite the walk, you will come across some features such as this giant swing as your make your way around the trail.
Penang Hill
Like The Habitat Penang Hill on Facebook
5. WAS LEFT SPELLBOUND BY THE STUNNING ARCHITECTURE
Penang is a city with a rich history, that spreads through different cultures. That is why it comes to no surprise that you will find a number of visually stunning structures all throughout the city, which belong to different ethnicities and religions.
The magnificent Khoo Kongsi Clan House, a ancestral home that has been standing for over 100 years, and holds the distinction of being the grandest clan house in Malaysia. Incidentally, the home was used in the movie "Anna & The King" starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fat when producers had trouble securing a permit to shoot in Thailand.
In the heart of George Town, you will find The Goddess of Mercy Temple
Another stunning building is the St George's Church, also in George Town. Built in 1816, St. George's Church is the oldest Anglican church in South East Asia.
I found the Kapitan Keling Mosque, also located in George Town, to be one of the most beautiful landmarks I had seen throughout my entire trip.
We stopped by the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a 19th Century home that gives you a taste of what it was like to live in the lap of luxury during the time of the Peranakans.
The mansion house a priceless collection of antiques, including a massive collection of Shoes, Bags, and Jewelry that would make even Imelda Marcos jealous.
For more information, visit: http://www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my/
6. WALKED DOWN THE CHEW JETTY PORT
Something that further reinforced my amazement with the people of Penang, was how unbelievably clean the Chew Port Jetty was. I'm not just talking about the port itself (which is indeed, rather sparkling clean in "port" terms), but I couldn't find a single piece of trash floating in the water. Something that would be sadly unheard of in the Philippines (As much as I hate to compare, but I can't help it. In order to know where we as a country can improve, it's important to know our mistakes so we can address it).
Though the water may not have been clear blue like in a beach or anything like that, it was refreshing to see the discipline the people of Penang have in treating their surroundings.
The remarkable thing about the cleanliness, is that people actually live in these homes built on stilts. However, the pride they feel upon living in a place that has been declared a World Heritage site by no less than UNESCO is evident by their efforts to keep their surroundings as spotless as they can, understanding that the distinction also instills in the residents a sense of responsibility to the rich contribution the Chew Port Jetty has given to their culture.
Though I wasn't able to stop by for some eats, there were numerous places that offered delectable meals, including this restaurant that served a HUGE bowl of Ramen for groups, which could easily feed four to five people!
7. GOT LOST AMONG THE STREET ART AT CANNON & ARMENIA STREETS
I was totally blown away by the the street art that is lined around Cannon and Armenian Street. The art utilizes the walls from the existing buildings, however the artists makes use of Thee Dimensional props, such as bicycles and motorcycle bodies, to make it more of an art piece than a mere "painting".
There is actually so much more places you can visit when you're in Penang, but unfortunately it was difficult to squeeze in everywhere we wanted to go in two full days!
On my next post about Penang, I'll be showing you some of the most fascinating places we dined at!
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