Beach: Floral Cape Heaven

Floral Cape Heaven 

The beach known for it’s name-Tanjung Bungah Beach - is a total paradise on earth for tourist and locals alike. Located on the seaward of the Paradise and Crown Jewel hotel, the stretch of sand along Tanjung Bungah is the gem of the Pearl of the Orient. Sandy smooth fine sand, white waves eating up the shore and the brilliant sunset at dusk are seemingly something I would definitely put on my bucket list. The beach is a beach resort in the heart of Tanjung Bungah that winds it way northwards to the end of Batu Feringgi. It’s strategic location smack right in the middle of tourist lodging and scrumptious food. A variety of hotspot pubs and restaurants fronting the hillside beckons you want to grab a beer and chill out with your mates or loved ones after a fun time at the beach. What fun you may ask..when all I see in the movies are strolling on the beach and building sandcastles? Well yes, there is that too, and more that will definitely make you want to come back for more.

 Penang is an island paradise, and it is then no surprise that the stretch of 2 km of shady and sandy beaches provide ample opportunity to unwind, relax and spend your vacation. But ah, what about those who have the spirit of an adventurer? One who has seen it all and wants something to kick in his adrenaline and feel the blood rushing in? The water shack is known for its water sports that feature parasailing, jet skiing, banana boating, water-scouter riding and even sailing! You can indulge in all these water sports, which costs from 50 ringgit to a hundred depending on the time spent. I actually tried the jet ski and parasailing both for fifty ringgit and had an enjoyable time on both of them. If aquatic thrills are not your thing, then just languishing all morning and evening on the beach with a good book, or engage in your own private yoga and meditation soothed by the lapping waves. for As for parents with little children, you can take a deck chair and sit with your little ones watching the changing colours of the sunset as your kids play, skim rocks, pick shells, chase after the waves or build sandcastles safely by your side.  

After all is said and done, you might want to de-stress the body and de-clutter the mind with a satisfying massage from top grade professionals offered at the hotels overlooking the beach. Now that’s what I call a day well spent!  

Article and Photographs provided by Josh Tan for Penang Passion

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Gurney Drive ( Persiaran Gurney)

Gurney Drive 

 

Gurney Drive, or Persiaran Gurney, is a seaside promenade along what was formerly North Beach, in George Town, Penang. Gurney Drive is famous throughout Malaysia as the place to go to enjoy the best of Penang food. This seaside promenade was named in honour of Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney, the British High Commissioner who was ambushed and assassinated by guerillas of the Malayan Communist Party on 6 October 1951 near Fraser’s Hill in Pahang.

The intention to build a coastal road was already in the plans as early as 1930. The idea was the extend North Beach, as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah was called. The first 510 yards of Gurney Drive was completed in 1934, and at that time, it simply extended the name "North Beach". This section of Gurney Drive was planted with Casuarina trees in 1962, and is a distintive section of the promenade.

 The wealthy built beach-side bungalows here, many of which are today incorporated into the design of upscale condominiums. At the Pangkor Road end of Gurney Drive was the fabulous mansion of Kapitan China Chung Thye Pin, son of Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee, occupied today by the 1 Persiaran Gurney condominiums. Gurney Plaza, one of the more upscale malls in Penang, is located at the northern end of Gurney Drive.

Although Gurney Drive is often thought of as having some of the most modern skyscrapers in Penang, it is also where you will find handsome homes belonging to the well-to-do of yesteryears. One of these is the Loke Mansion. Also at Gurney Drive is the St Joseph’s Novitiate.

Content and Photographs courtesy of penang-traveltips.com

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Permatang Damar Laut Beach

Permatang Damar Laut is a village on the southeast coast of Penang Island. Along with Batu Maung and Teluk Tempoyak, Permatang Damar Laut is hemmed in by the Bayan Lepas International Airport. On this part of the island, within view of the airport runway, life continues as it has always had for the past thirty years.

For those searching for the picture postcard Penang, it can still be found if we search for it in Permatang Damar Laut. Here, the waters of the South Channel blends with that of the Straits of Malacca. Off the coast of Permatang Damar Laut is Pulau Rimau, an ink-blot shaped island on the southeastern tip of Penang. 

Content and Photographs courtesy of penang-traveltips.com

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Gertak Sanggul

Gertak Sanggul 

Looking in Pulau Rimau View.

Gertak Sanggul is a fishing village on the southwest coast of Penang Island. With coconut palms swaying overhead, Gertak Sanggul offers the perfect picture of a Malaysian fishing village, complete with a white sandy beach and fishing boats bobbling in the waves. The people of Penang knows Gertak Sanggul as the place where the Yellow Bus turns around. It being the final stop at the southwestern tip of Penang Island, the commuter buses reach their final stop before heading back to town. Despite the romantic surroundings, the waters off Gertak Sanggul is not suitable for swimming, as it is contaminated by the many pig farms in the area which discharge waste directly into the sea. From Gertak Sanggul, you can see the "half submerged" shape of Pulau Kendi, the most distant island in Penang state. A day trip to Pulau Kendi can be arranged whenever there is sufficient participants (or eight persons or more), or if anybody is willing to pay to hire the whole boat.
 

 

 Penang Island is the classic fishing village of Gertak Sanggul. 

Gertak Sanggul is a hilly range that juts into the sea.

Content and Photographs courtesy of penang-traveltips.com

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Penang Museum

Penang Museum 

Museum and Art Gallery in building from 1821 about the History Penang. One of the best museum in Malaysia. Exhibits on the costums and traditions of Penangs various ethnic groups. Museum was officially opened on 14 April 1965. 

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Pulau Aman, Pulau Pinang

Pulau Aman, Pulau Pinang 

  Pulau Aman is the nice and peaceful place to visit. Pulau Aman is an island off the coast of Bukit Tambun (Seberang Perai) somewhere close to the southeast of Penang Island. An idyllic Malay fishing village, Pulau Aman is known for having the oldest Sukun (breadfruit) tree in Malaysia which can be found in abundance perhaps more populated than the inhabitants themselves. A short 10mins ferry boat ride is really exhilarating under fine wheather and for a small fee of RM6 for a return ticket is just worth an outing. The kampung of Pulau Aman is located on the northeast side of the island.

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Lovely View From Penang Hill

Lovely View From Penang Hill 

Penang Hill is one of the oldest colonial hill station established by the British during their time in Malaysia. Explored in the late 18th century, a horse trail was cut by the Waterfall Gardens (present day Penang Botanic Gardens) to the summit of the hilly spine of Penang, allowing the British to escape from the chaos of George Town to the cooler climate on the hill. Penang Hill comprises several hills including Strawberry Hill, Halliburton’s Hill, Flagstaff Hill, Government Hill , Tiger Hill,and Western Hill. The highest point of this range is at Western Hill, with an elevation of 833m (2,723ft )above sea level. The range also serves as the largest water catchment area on the island, and a number of tributaries to major rivers in Penang. The earliest mode of transport to the hill was via horses, or a system called ‘doolies’, where masters were carried up the hill on special sedan chairs. To further explore the potential of the hill, systems of bridle paths were cut by Indian penal servitude prisoners for the establishment of more bungalows on the hill. The Penang Hill Funicular Railway was the second mode of transport established for access to the summit. The first railway was constructed in 1901 and completed in 1905 but was rendered useless, due to technical faults. A second railway was commissioned in 1909, and works for the second line started in 1914 with a budget of 1.5 million Straits Dollars. On 1st January 1924, the 2,007m long funicular railway was officially opened by then Governor of Straits Settlement, Sir L.N.Guillemard. The last upgrade was in 1977, before a complete overhaul of the system in 2010. 

 

Source: http://www.penanghill.gov.my

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Snake Temple Penang

Snake Temple: The Attractive Place

The Snake Temple in Sungai Keluang, Bayan Lepas, officially called Hock Hin Keong, but known variously as Ban Kah Lan Chua Beow or Ser Miau, is one of the most peculiar temples and probably the only one of its kind in the world. It was built in 1850 (some websites incorrectly put the date as 1805, which is highly improbable) to venerate a deified Buddhist monk named of Chor Soo Kong, the Hokkien name for Cheng Swee Chor Soo. In Cantonese, Chor Soo Kong is called Chou See Yeah. "Chor Soo" is in fact an honorific title for an eminent historic figure who is to be continuously revered by subsequent generations. Chor Soo Kong and Chou See Yeah means the same thing: "The Much Honoured Chor Soo".

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