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T
he
“Pearl of the Orient”
is always known for its
diverse ethnicity, culture,
language and religion. A
trip to Penang is a cul-
tural experience. It is also
amust-visit destination for
foodies and those who like to experiment
with local cuisine as Penang hasmore than
plenty of that to offer.
Accessible by land via the two Penang
bridges, by water riding a ferry or plane
with just less than an hour’s flight from
Kuala Lumpur, a trip to Penang will be
both gratifying and easy on thewallet.With
get
away
Planning for a diverse cultural adventure and fulfilling food-hunting sessions? Penang is
just the place to be.
Penang: The Cultural Walkthrough
breathtaking architecture and scrumptious
street food, it is not a surprise that Penang
is one of themost visited states inMalaysia.
A trip to Penangwould not be complete
without a visit to Penang Hill. Sitting at
821m above sea level, visitors will get to
enjoy the fresh unpolluted air of the highest
peak on the island. There are colonial
mansions which have been now turned
into restaurants and guest houses for
uninterrupted relaxation … all providing
a stunning view of the island. For the
adventurous type, Penang Hill is accessible
via theBotanicGardenswhere you canhike
up for three hours through the greenery or
alternatively, the funicular train ride up
the hill takes only 30 minutes from the Air
Itam station.
After relaxing on the hill, it is time to
explore the rich architecture of Penang
Peranakan Mansion, a perfect representa-
tion of Peranakan culture. Built in the 19th
century, the mansion encapsulates the
best of Baba-Nyonya culture with more
than 1,000 pieces of antique furniture
and household items in it. After years
of abandonment, the mansion has been
restored to its full glory with the original
English tiles, Scottish ironworks alongwith
European art pieces and Chinese carved
W o r d s :
H a n n e f E s q u a n d e r
Railway at Penang Hill
Kek Lok Si Temple
Penang night market