Thaipusam Festival in Penang

Thaipusam Festival in Penang

Thaipusam Festival in Penang is one of the major Hindu festivals, which is celebrated by thousands of devotes of Malaysia each year. This festival of Penang in Malaysia is celebrated on a full moon day in the tenth Tamil month either in January or in February. Observing the consecration of Hindu deity, Lord Murugan, Thaipusam Festival celebrates the day when Lord Siva's wife, Parvathi, gifted her son, Murugan, the weapon to defeat three demons.

Features of Thaipusam Festival in Penang
- During Thaipusam Festival in Penang, a kavadi or a frame of colored papers, tinsels, fresh flowers, and fruits is made and carried to the temple at Waterfall Gardens.

- In a show of penance, they also practice mortification of flesh by piercing cheeks, tongues, or foreheads with spikes, skewers and other metal implements.

- The procession is carried on a silver chariot carrying the statue of Lord Murugan, also known as Lord Subramaniumm bedecked with gold, diamonds, emeralds and rubies

- Honey or milk is also offered

- Much before the festival, devotees practice meditation, a vegetarian diet and rigorous hardship

- Thaipusam Festival in Penang also includes sale of religious artifacts, Indian food, decorative items and audio cassettes.

Penang - Botanical Garden

Penang - Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden in Penang or waterfall garden as it is popularly referred as is not only a popular tourist destination but it is a life time experience which casts a mystic spell on its visitors. Amidst the var5ious parks and gardens the Botanical Garden in Penang has created a distinct position for itself.

Features of Botanical Garden in Penang

- Botanical Garden in Penang came into existence from 1884 and the plethora of natural heritage mark the exuberance of this famous tourist destination which is the only one of its kind in Malaysia.

- Botanical Garden in Penang is enveloped by a cascading brook that strolls through a extensive 29 hectares of prime and undulating grounds and the lush greenery and tranquil setting.

- The creative design of the Gardens was indeed a major accomplishment for it mingles naturally with the setting of the tropical rainforests.

- Botanical Garden in Penang was acknowledged as the healthy recreational gardens and tourist destination by the Health Ministry of Malaysia.

- Botanical Garden in Penang offers a wide range of facilities including Recreational / Picnic areas, toilets, wheelchair access walkways, bandstand, gazebos, jogging tracks, jungle trails, resting lawns and plant nursery.

- Botanical Garden in Penang remains open on all the days of the year from 5.00 am to 8.00 pm and there is no entrance fee.

I've been here training (karate) at this pondok before. Floor filed with tiles and I still no idea is this a dancing stage or ....for some voodoo ceremoney?

Yea....you can see this weird-weird tree just after the entrance.

Nope...I don't know what is that. No, not coconut (Definitely not coconut lar...) . No, not pamelo =.="... ( I never see a pamelo tree before...definitely won't look like this ler ~)

Wow...never been there for yearssss , never see this before. Wow-wow looks like Ipod Shuffle!

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Penang Hills - Penang Famous Tourist Attractions

Superb View & UnforgettableMoments At Penang Hills

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 are 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.You can buy your ticket at the ticket counter and after you do that, take some time to visit the gallery that is located behind the ticketing counter.The gallery showcase some of the old Penang Hills history which includes photos and antique items.

Jungle trekking remains one of the popular activities in Penang Hills. Various attempts were made to climb up the hill by local, foreigner and also hiking enthusiast. Some of the popular trekking route will be from botanical gardens, Hye Keat Estate in Air Itam and the most vigorous trail of Tiger hill.Ask anyone who jungle trekked to the hill top before and they will gives you double "Thumbs UP"But! Before you make any attempt to climb the hill, it is best if you can get some partner to accompany you and to start ascending during the morning. Just a note to remember is that all the jungle trail are not lighted, so just in case you miss time your trek and descend during night fall, bring also a flash light. You do not want to get lost in the dark right?Another way to go up the hill is by hiring a 4WD vehicle which is the least popular choice. Hotel Bellevue provides this service from RM70 to RM130 depending which part of the island are you from.

Some of the activities that are available at The Penang Hills will be:

1. Visiting a bird sanctuary at the Bellevue Hotel grounds.
2. Canopy Walk, which is a suspension bridge hanging over the treetops. There is no entrance charge and it is opened seven days a week. You need to walk up the hill if you want to see it.
3. Mouth watering delicacies from the Bellevue hotel that is located at the hilltop. The price is rather competitive. It also provides room in case you'll like to stay for a night.
4. Visiting an Indian Temple and Mosque which is built side by side with no racial conflict and tension.
5. Hold a conferencing or business meetings at the Railway Bungalow on Penang Hills. It has all the audio visual facilities and can accommodate from 30 to 50 participants.
6. Experience the Flora of Penang Hills. It house some of the interesting plant such as Dipterocarp forest, parasitic plant, Exorhopalia Ruficeps, Hazel Maingaya Malayana and many more.
7. The Fauna of relatively undisturbed forest are much to look out for too. Wild boars, small and medium sized mammals such as the squirrels, monkeys and tree shrews can be easily sighted. Others include civets, flying lemurs, flying civets and bats.
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8. And in the evenings cicadas and crickets come out. It is known that about 100 species or 80% of the birds found on Penang Island have been recorded here. They range from the common garden species to rare deep forest inhabitants.
9. You will also get to see the panoramic view of George Town, Tanjung Bungah and the mainland.
10. Lastly, visiting souvenir shop at the groundWith so many things to see, to feel, to experience and to look for, no wonder people keeps coming back to this hills. Just experience for yourself and you'll agree with me that Penang Hills is definitely one of the places in Penang worth visiting.

The Penang War Museum

Remembering the atrocities of WWII

Goya's The Third of May, 1808

Like other countries during the Second World War, Malaysia (and Penang) suffered greatly. Lives were lost, families were torn apart, homes were razed and food was scarce. For sure, the war left no fond memories for those who suffered through it.

Enter the country's premiere War Museum, located right here in Penang. It is here to tell stories covering all aspects of life in wartime. Its purpose is to encourage the study and understanding of the history of modern war and how it affects our lives and as a memorial to those who died defending the country.

Take a trip back in time and get a first hand account of wartime with the impressive exhibits, including a 'glimpse' into the daily lives of soldiers during WWII.

Situated on Bukit Batu Maung, the 70 year-old old former British fort was 'rediscovered' by Johari Shafie during an adventurous and brave hike. Because the hill was reputed to be haunted, it was avoided by everyone except the brave and the skeptical. But this is a good thing for the museum because it provides an excellent ambience to the scenario. With a little imagination, one could even imagine hearing the phantom screams of soldiers brutally tortured and killed here.
To add a further touch of realism to wartime ambience, the War Museum plans to hold war games where opposite teams will be armed with paint gun to shoot paint balls at their 'enemies' while trying to steal their flags.

According to Johari the fort was manned by soldiers of different races - English, Indians and Malays mostly. When the fort fell to Japanese hands, parts of it were turned into torture chambers where executions took place.

The parts of the fort that have been restored so far are the aforementioned torture chamber, medical infirmary, ammunition store, observation tower, canon firing bay, well, generator room, quarters, pill boxes, tunnels, lock up and cook house.

A forthcoming addition to the museum will feature exhibitions and information on naval warfare.
My mother visited the museum last year and she described the place as a little "creepy" although she appeared visibly excited by the experience. Having been a war child herself and then going through the May 13 incident as an adult, the museum must have suddenly reawakened memories of suffering.

Although the Penang War Museum will play a significant role in educating visitors of all ages about life during wartime, one could do well to also recall Picasso's Guernica, Goya's The Third of May or Ibrahim Hussein's May 13 and remind oneself that there is no glory in war.
Thankfully today, Malaysia is a strife-free country. We can go about our business with little or no worry. Be that as it may, the museum will serve to continually remind us, lest we forget or take for granted, of the importance of maintaining peace in the country.

When visitng the museum, you are advised not to do the following: take any photographs of the exterior or the interior; bring pets, radios or bicycles into the museum or smoke. You should dress in light, cool clothing; wear comfy shoes; put on a dull coloured hat and be armed with a pair of binoculars, insect repellent, notebook and pen.

Penang Char Koay Teow

Penang Char Koay Teow is a fried flat rice noodles, tossed with bean sprouts, egg, prawns, chinese sausage, cockles and chilli. Some people have added duck eggs rather than chicken eggs to give the dish more aroma.

The rice noodles, called koay teow, are stir fried in pork fat, and crisp pieces of pork lard, called bak yew phok, is considered a delicacy by many.Char Koay Teow had its origins among the labourer class. Due to its high fat content, it was a cheap source of energy among the working class. Today, however, Char Koay Teow is accepted as a dish for all classes of the community, and some of the most famous Char Koay Teow stalls are literally dishing it out at premium prices.

Where to find Char Koay Teow??

Char Koay Teow is available at the following coffee shops in Penang:

Sin Hwa (lunch), Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus.
Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (dinner), Persiaran Gurney,
Xin Lai Lai Coffee Shop, Jalan Terengganu,
Behind Pulau Tikus market next to the Lok Lok stall nearer to Cantonment Road side,
Roadside, junction of Siam Road and Anson Road,
Anson Road Char Koay Teow, in front of Ban Hin Bee Electrical Shop, opp Siam Road junction, evening,
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow (breakfast, lunch), Kafe Khoon Hiang, Jalan Dato Kramat, opposite ex Federal cinema,
Asia Cafe (breakfast), on the left, right before the roundabout going towards Penang Hill, coming from town. Open only in mornings,
Restoran Bee Hooi (lunch), 415 Jln Burma, Pulau Tikus,
Coffee Shop in front of TNB Lorong Kulit,
Coffee Shop opposite Peng Hua, Jalan Gottlieb,
Lorong Selamat Coffee Shop (lunch),
Penang Turf Club Clubhouse,
Song River Coffee Shop (dinner), Persiaran Gurney,
Teluk Bayan Food Centre (dinner), Sungai Nibong,
Bayan Baru Market (breakfast), Bayan Baru
BB Coffee Shop (lunch), Bayan Baru
Eng Loh Coffee Shop (breakfast, lunch), 48 Lebuh Gereja,
Ho Ping Coffee Shop (lunch), 211 Jalan Penang
Kheng Pin Coffee Shop (lunch), 80-82 Jalan Penang
Kedai Kopi Kwai Lock (breakfast, lunch), Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus
Northam Beach Cafe (dinner), Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
Poly Coffee Garden (lunch), Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus
Restoran Hup Kee (breakfast, lunch), Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus
Sin Hup Aun Cafe (breakfast, lunch), Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus
Sin Yin Nam Cafe (dinner), Jalan Macalister - New Lane junction

If you are wondering whether the Char Koay Teow is the one you're looking for. See how the chef present the ceremoney of Char-ing the Koay Teow. It should be like a Voodoo spell ceremoney where the fire goes up and down under the 'wok' . Then the chef will be like Lion Dance action, swinging the 'wok' with qing qing qiang qiang music hitting the 'wok'.... If your eyes from =.=" to O.O" then YES...this is the one....=}

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Penang Laksa

Laksa is amongst the best known and loved of hawker fare in Penang. A bowl of steamed spaghetti-sized rice vermicelli is first generously garnished with finely sliced vegetables including onions, cucumber, red chillis, pineapple, lettuce, mint and pink bunga kantan (ginger buds).Onto the mixture is poured a steaming hot curry soup that is sour and thick with fish meat. A spoonful of fish paste is provided for those who favour the addition. While for decades, Penangites and visitors only knew this variety, a lemak (coconut milk) version was subsequently introduced as an alternative.

Apart from breakfast, laksa time is almost every time for some Penangites – lunch, tea, dinner or supper. And whilst this ubiquitous meal is available at most of the hawker complexes or coffee shops in the city centre of George Town and in the surburbs, the discerning enthusiast would prefer to go to one of three places.If you are in the city, the stall at Lorong Selamat off Macalister Road is a premium choice. It sells Penang laksa at tea time and both the sour and lemak varieties are available.The sour variety is piquant yet "sharp" while the lemak alternative is rich yet not too heavy on the stomach. A generous spray of chilli powder and/or spoonful of chilli oil is available upon request for those who enjoy the hot challenge. At RM3.00 a bowl and 50 sen extra for an additional fish to add more body, the price appears slightly on the high side but it is value for money.

For years, the market- place in Ayer Itam, next door to the famed Kek Lok Si Temple, has been the place locals congregate to enjoy their Penang laksa. The quality has been consistently the same through the years, the inevitable hot surroundings adding perhaps to the challenge of the flaming hot Penang laksa.True to old tradition, only the sour variety, perhaps enhanced by many slices of tamarind slices is available at the price of RM2.00 per bowl; visitors and tourists are sometimes known to have slurped up this Penang laksa with relish, go for an extended walk at the Temple grounds, then return for a second round.

No visitor who "knows" his laksa would miss that in Balik Pulau for the world. The corner coffee shop opposite the T-junction leading into the main and only street of Balik Pulau houses the most popular laksa stall in the village. Both varieties match in quality. The sour variety has maintained its sharp yet exciting flavour and aroma over the years and the fish content is thick yet smooth.If the lemak variety is not so popular, it could be because the patrons, especially those from the village, have been too used to the original sour recipe which is so much a trademark of Balik Pulau laksa as it is known over the years and as it was known decades back. If you are in a quandary about what to choose, either take one of each or simply have a half and half. At the price of RM1.70 a bowl, it is still a steal for value.