Penang is listed in the top 10 islands you must visit before you die in Yahoo Travel.

Amazing, Yahoo Travel has listed Penang as one of the top 10 island that you must visit before you to die. They got it right ! If you're talking about food, food or food, then this is the place to be. 


The top 10 destinations are as follow.

1. Bali Island
2. Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
3. Easter Island, Chile
4. Ischia, Italy
5. Chiloé
6. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia ( Tahiti )
7. Key West, Florida
8. Penang
9. Galápagos Islands, Puerto Ayora
10. Palm Islands Dubai

If you want more details, why you should visit all these islands check out the article at http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-37926474

Parasailing in Batu Feringhi, Penang

Wondering what to do in Penang. 


Why not go for a parasailing at Batu Feringhi Beach.   I am not sure how much the operator charge you but it something that you don't want to miss when in Penang.  


It's water and air activity, the parachute is tied to a boat and once you're ready the boat rider will pull you up to air. 


The ride will takes about 3- 5 minutes and you will have a good bird eye view of Batu Feringhi beach and it's vicinity.


Just remember to pull the parachute correctly during your landing. Something that I might want to try myself on my next trip to Batu Feringhi, Penang.

GO Penang International 2010

Go karting, originally uploaded by roberto_blank.

From 12 to 14 March 2010 please don't forget to join the GO Penang International 2010 at Penang Esplanade. The event will open daily from 9am to 12am.

The main attraction at the event is Go Karting. Hire a kart to experience to the fun of riding mini F1 car. No license and age limit applied to ride the kart.

Plus, you could enjoy types of gourmet ranges from street food to fine dining.

Other events are as follows.
Miss Umbrella Girls 2010
Mini Umbrella Girls 2010
Go Mad (Music And Dance)
Supercars
Penang Must Try & Must Buy Delicacies
Mile Long Grill Out
Booth Expo
100 stalls bazaar
World Market (Little Korea,Little China,Little Penang)


Others
Colouring & Drawing contest
Fun Karting
Inflatables
Bumper Boat
Bumper Cars
Charity Photo Shoot with Miss Umbrella Finalists
Pit Stop Challenge
Wall Climbing & Flying Fox
Paintball Target Shoot

For further details, please visit http://gopenang.com.my for details.

Penang Esplanade | Map

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Penang New Year's Eve Celebration

This New Year's Eve, expect an exhilaratingly good time as there are more than one parties lined up for you to attend! Join us and the rest of Penang as we celebrate eventful 2009 and welcome 2010 with the roar of a tiger! Select your countdown party place of choice from Esplanade, Queensbay Mall, Gurney Plaza, Autocity-Juru, Pesta Pulau Pinang and many more! Here in Penang, just like our food, we have a variety of local flavours to suit your taste, and just exactly too as we throw celebrations according to how you want this joyous occasion to turn out!


For the biggest annual new year countdown party, Esplanade, Penang is where you will want to be for tons of entertainment! Expect international singers and hot bands rocking your socks off over at the historical scenic venue with a mega concert and an outrageous fireworks display to bring in the new year at the stroke of midnight! Come on over to this site if you're looking for a crowd who will join you in loud cheers to welcome the year 2010!


At Gurney Plaza, join us as we usher in the new year from 7.30pm onwards with the launch of VisitPenang Year 2010-2012. That's right, we will be there to celebrate the next three years in attracting more tourists to experience unforgettable Penang! Present to launch VisitPenang Year 2010-2012 will be Honourable Chief Minister of Penang Y.A.B Tuan Lim Guan Eng followed by several numbers of captivating colourful local cultural Malay, Chinese and Indian performances brought to you by Seni Mutiara, Spring Productions and Temple of Fine Arts. After that, three different live bands are set to pump up your night leading to the closing of year 2009 and the beginning of 2010 with an enticing 10-minute firework display to usher in the new year!

Head on over to Queensbay Mall if you want to have an 'Energizing 2010' with first class concert performances from one of the biggest Taiwanese super star acts: The Power Station and TANK. On top of that there will also be performances by many promising and upcoming Malaysian artistes such as Manhand, Eric Lin Jian Hui, Vinz Lin, Katherine Chan, Candy Cheah,
PeiJie, Jojo, Julio and two MyStarz LG winners, Wana and Nashrin, cultural performances, pre-concert activities and fun filled games lined up from 3pm!

The mainland certainly does not see less of a party as the Auto-City Juru New Year Countdown Fiesta will kick off from 6pm till 12midnight on 31st December 2009 to revel in the new year mood with MC Kishz a Malaysia Book of Records holder for the 'Longest Non-stop MC', hunky Hong Kong Artiste Ron Ng as well as other recording artistes such as Mahadhir, Rey and
Serena!

For a feel good ol' time at Penang, Pesta Pulau Pinang would be ideal to bring your family to join in with the crowd of the neverending choices at the bazaar carnival as well as the Euro' fun fair for an adventurous night out on New Year's eve! Bring friends, family and little ones to this enjoyable event to make sure they experience nothing other then unforgettable merrymaking to celebrate the new year!

That's five great parties for you to be at! Whether you choose to stay in one place or party-hop to several destinations, remember, safety should be your No.1 priority. So stay safe, plan your occasion ahead of time and enjoy a fabulous night out in nowhere else but Penang!

Wishing you HAPPY 2010.....!!!!!


source : http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/

Penang Malays Art Gallery

It has been there for years.

But last week only I got an opportunity to visit Penang Malays Art Gallery. Located just besides Kapitan Keling Mosque in Georgetown, Penang it offers the best work of Malay artists from Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

The gallery showcase contemporary works done by establishment Malay artists and also a venue for talented new artists to showcase their work.

Most of the artworks exhibited in the gallery are in oils, pastel, charcoal acrylic and mix media.

When I went, the work of 8 artists based in Sabah were there. “Ngintom aku Masa Dedoou” is a bajau phrase for “Recollection of My Memories” is the title of the exhibition done by Sabah Painters. They are Datuk Mohd Yaman, Datin Maimun bte Pg. Bagul, Dzulkifli Abdul Rahman, Christianne Goonting, Zaimie Sahibil, Mohd. Fuad Bebit, Jennifer Linggi & Datu Ruslan Sulai.

For further details about the artists, please go to http://www.sabah.gov.my/artgallery/

Each artist in his or her own artwork try to showcase the their past experience or memories. It is their way of reminding us to preserve our heritage.

For further details about the visiting hour, please get in touch with Penang Malays Art Gallery.

Penang Malays Art Gallery | Address

Penang Malays Art Gallery,
167, Lebuh Chulia, 10200
Pulau Pinang
Tel No : + 604 – 262 2860
Fax No : + 604 – 262 2860
H/P No : + 6016 – 416 0859

Penang Malays Art Gallery | Map


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Penang Bridge

Thank Allah & the government for expanding Penang Bridge.

It is totally a smooth ride from Butterworth to Penang Island , after the bridge has been expanded from 2 lanes to 3 lanes.

Before this is if there was any mishap at the bridge, like an accident or lorry overturns, it will cause severe traffic jam and loss of productivity.

Plus, the heavy traffic between mainland and Penang Island itself in the morning rush hour and the evening after work is real trouble some.

Any disruption to the bridge will almost has an immediate impact the economy of Penang Island. Since it is cheaper to rent or buy a house in mainland than in Penang Island, most of Penang Free Trade Zone workforce use the bridge.

For completing the expansion work on time, thumbs up for the contractor (UEM Builders).

Now we done have to worry much about traffic jam in Penang Bridge !

Quick Facts about Penang Bridge.

Length : 13.5 km, 8.4 km above water

Year Built : 1982

Year Completed : 1985

Official Open to the public : 14 September 1985

Project Duration : 3¾ Years

Bridge Design Name : Cable Stay Concrete Girder

Main Contractor : Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Co. Ltd, Korea

Consulting Engineer : Howard Needles & Tammen, Bergendoff Intl. Inc. SA/JK(SEA)

Tol Price : RM 7.00

Penang Bridge

Penang Bridge | Facing Penang Island

Jerejak Island

Penang Island

Penang Bridge | Map

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St George’s Church Penang, South-East Asia’s oldest Anglican church

St George’s Church Penang, South-East Asia’s oldest Anglican church and the largest in Malaysia.

Completed in 1818 under the initiatives of Penang Colonial Chaplain, Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings .

Cost about 60,000 Spanish Dollars and built by Indian Convicts. The church architecture is based on Western neo-classical style and George Palladian design.

Former British Governor of Penang Colonel John Alexander Bannerman’s daughter married there to Governor E. Philips Esq on June 30, 1818. During world war 2, St George Church escaped Japanese bombardment. Most of the walls, porch, columns and pillars are still intact. From 1941 till 1948, the church had no roof.

Due to it's historical significant in Penang, St George Church has been recognized as one of National Heritage Building in Malaysia.

Mass service are held on every Sunday at 8.30 a.m till 10.30 a.m for Christianits. On weekdays, it is open at the discretion of church officials. Admission is free

It is just walking distance from Little India area and also Masjid Kapitan Keling. From Penang Jetty take Rapid Penang bus and get off the bus at Little India, then take a walk to the Church.

For details about traveling in Penang via bus, please visit Rapid Penang Site. Buy a Rapid Penang Tourist Passport for only RM20 and enjoy a week of unlimited travel onboard all Rapid Penang buses.

There are lot of accommodation choices for you according to your own budget and needs.

Penang accomodations near St George Church are as follows:

Hotel Royal Penang

Hotel Bayview Georgetown

Hotel Mingood

YMCA Penang Hotel


Enjoy your stay in Penang !


St George’s Church Penang | Map



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Penang Religious Site | Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque

Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque

In your way to Batu Feringhi beach you will pass this nice mosque located at Tanjung Bungah beach.

Our Federal and State government spend nearly RM 15 million to build this mosque.

Unique for it's design and built on top of sea, it gives a new inspiration for Islamic architecture.

There are two more mosque in Malaysia built on top of water surface. One in Kuala Ibai built near Kuala Terengganu beach and another is the Putrajaya Mosque.

This mosque can accommodate up to 1500 worshipers at any time and has parking lot for 250 cars.

The main reason you want to be here as tourist is to have some ideas about Islamic architecture and also you could have a look how does a Muslim's worship place looks like.

A mix of middle east design and local architecture which creates a nice and peaceful environment to have our daily prayer.

Plus, we could take a short break or nap before continuing with our daily chores.

You don't need to pay any fee to enter the mosque, but please follow the dressing code. Just ask the locals if you need assistance, they will be please to assist you.

Take Rapid Penang Bus number * U101 to get there or via taxi.

For details to travel by bus in Penang, please visit Rapid Penang Website at http://www.rapidpg.com.my

To enjoy great saving traveling Penang on bus, then I would like to recommend to you to buy Rapid Penang Tourist Passport for only RM20 and enjoy a week of unlimited travel onboard all Rapid Penang buses.

You can get Rapid Penang Tourist Passport at the following outlets.

Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd (Head Office)

Lorong Kulit, 10460 Penang.

Tel: 04-238 1313 | Fax: 04-228 1070

Rapid Penang Information Booth at the Penang International Airport

Rapid Penang Weld Quay Bus Terminal

Selected affiliate outlets.

Rapid Penang Contact & Address

Address:

Lorong Kulit,

10460 Penang

Telephone: 04 - 238 1313

Fax: 04 - 228 1070

Twitter : http://twitter.com/rapidpg

Website : http://www.rapidpg.com.my/contact-us/

Floating Mosque Address

Masjid Terapung,

Jalan Tanjung Bungah,

Penang

Floating Mosque Map

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Penang Attractions | Pulau Pinang National Park

From Penang Hotels Review

Main Entrance To The Park

Pulau Pinang National Park | Location


Pulau Pinang National Park is located at the northwest corner of Penang Island overlooking the Straits of Malacca. The park is about 400 km from Kuala Lumpur and about 30 km (45 minutes) from Georgetown, Penang.

From Penang Hotels Review

Pulau Pinang National Park | Accommodation

The park caters for day use visitors only. There will be no accommodation and campsite for tourist so as to minimize human impacts on the park.

Overnight camping is offered only through organized nature camp / conservation education programs by the Park Service for schools, colleges and higher learning institutions.

Visitors / tourists should stay at the numerous hotels available at Batu Ferringhi and Telok Bahang, a well-established tourism area.

These areas are well supported with food outlets, convenient stores, souvenir shops, entertainments, clinics and other tourist services.

Pulau Pinang National Park | Attractions

Pulau Pinang National Park, a natural forest sprawl at Penang Island’s northwestern most tip, is called “Bay of Glowing Embers” due to its scenic and spectacular sunset.

The natural attractions of Pulau Pinang National Park include the Hill / Lowland Dipterocarp Forests, Mangrove Forest areas, Sandy Beach habitats, the unique seasonal meromictic lake and the open coastal seas.

Stands of Seraya (Shorea curtisii) trees, common feature of coastal Dipterocarp Forest, can be easily seen on steep slopes around Muka Head.

There are over 1000 species of plants recorded which are dominated by the family Dipterocarpaceae, Leguminoceae, Apocynaceae, Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae.

The historical Muka Head Lighthouse is sited on a granite peak with steep slopes and rocky cliffs fronting the coastline of the Straits of Malacca.

Built in 1883, this vintage lighthouse is a historical site to visit by following a steep jungle trail at Muka Head.

There are abundant wildlife species that take up residence in various habitats of Muka Head. A total of 190 species of fauna recorded which include 28 mammal, 14 reptile, 148 bird species and other reptiles, insects and amphibians.

Common animals include monkeys, otters, mousedeer, wild boar, flying lemur, squirrels, monitor lizards, turtles and pythons.

The white-belied sea eagle and their nests on tree canopies can be easily observed at coastal forests.

Two species of turtles, notably the green (Chelonia mydas) and olive-ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles, frequent the west facing beaches to nest from April to August and between September and February respectively to nest, especially at Pantai Kerachut.

The Irrawaddy dolphins are sometime seen in coastal seas of this park. Migratory birds are abundant during migration from October to January.

The small time local fishermen are the main user and beneficiaries of this park, where fishing activities are limited by using hook and line, small nets, fish traps and aquaculture fish cages on pontoons.

Their activities are a sight to see especially in the evening before sunset.

Pulau Pinang National Park | Ecotourism as an effective conservation tool

Tourism in protected areas is becoming an important component of our government policy since it has tremendous potential as a tool to conserve natural and cultural heritage of Malaysia.

While protecting the biodiversity and environment, the park will practice sustainable management of ecotourism. This is to ensure the conservation of the park’s biodiversity resources on which ecotourism activities depend so as to be sustainable in the long term.

Among others, this means that the park’s resources is regulated and not overuse, the natural environment of the park and adjacent / surrounding human environment protected, and the local community involved and benefited from this nature-based ecotourism activities at Pulau Pinang National Park and its vicinity.


Pulau Pinang National Park | Park’s Area Description

It is a metropolitan national park of 1,213 hectares and consists of pristine coastal-forested area harbouring a wealth of flora and fauna.

It remains a sanctuary for nature within a hilly and forested part of Penang Island.

Among its unique assets are 5 habitat types not found in other major nature reserves in Malaysia, the only confirmed meromictic lake in Peninsular Malaysia, wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, coral reefs, and turtle nesting beaches.

Pulau Pinang National Park | Access and Circulation

Entrance to the park is through Telok Bahang, located at the end of the Batu Ferringhi Road. The park is accessible through a walking trail or by boat from Telok Bahang fishing village’s jetty.

From Penang Hotels Review

From Penang Hotels Review

Unique meromictic lake at Pantai Kerachut

The park is well link by a network of forest trails from the entry point at Telok Bahang to development areas at Sungai Tukun, Telok Aling, Muka Head Lighthouse and Pantai Kerachut.

A nature trail also looped around the unique meromictic lake at Pantai Kerachut.

There are jetties at Telok Aling and Pantai Kerachut for visitors that enter the park by boat.


Pulau Pinang National Park | Contact Details & Address

Taman Negara Pulau Pinang
Jalan Hassan Abas,Teluk Bahang,
11050 Pulau Pinang
Pulau Pinang
Tel: (604) 881 3530/ 04-881 3500
Faks: (604) 881 2016
E-mel: tnpp@streamyx.com
http://www.wildlife.gov.my

Pulau Pinang National Park | Map

View Penang National Park in a larger map

Pulau Pinang National Park | Gallery

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Rest Place

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Bridge

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Walkway

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Sea Eagle

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | RainForest

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Ferns

From Penang Hotels Review

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Telok Bahang Fishermen Jetty

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Cage Fishing Activities

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Area

From Penang Hotels Review

Penang National Park | Sea Eagle

Penang Attractions | Balik Pulau Scenery

From Penang Hotels Review

From Penang Hotels Review

From Penang Hotels Review

From Penang Hotels Review