Looking for feedback on attractions listed below and other suggestions on things to do and see. Anybody walked the Heritage Trails?

Tropical Spice Garden
Tropical Fruit Garden
Snake Temple
Fort Cornwalis
Bukit Jambul Orchid, Hibiscus & Reptile Garden
Penang Bird Park
Kek Lok Si
Penang State Museum
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Syed Alatas Mansion

Have you read my trip report? Kathie's Penang, Chiang Mai and Bangkok Trip report 2006

We spent all of our time in historic Georgetown, stayed at the E&O, which is fabulous.

The Choeng Fatt Tze Mansion is a must-do. They have tours several times a day and the docents are excellent. Fort Cornwallis is interesting, but do make sure you walk the nearby streets with all of the intact colonial architecture. Little India is right next to this area. You'll also want to walk the Chinatown streets. We visited a number of Buddhist temples, including the Thai temple, and we visited the Khoo Konsi, which was also worthwhile.

Indeed, walking the streets and eating at the hawker centers are the two mus-dos in the area. My report includes the names of two books we used in choosing hawker stalls.

Enjoy!

I'd skip the Tropical Spice Garden, which is small and there is freaking nothing to see. It looks like just another neighborhood park.

Traffic is pathetic in Penang and thus you should rent a car (and deal with parking) or hire a private car. Taxis are not readily available.

In Georgetown itself, there are ample taxis and rickshaws. If you are staying in Georgetown, you certainly don't want to rent a car.

Kathie, nice report, got my interest up. Plan to stay in Georgetown. E&O looks very nice.

Barkinpark, getting around is a concern. Was not planning on a rental car. Thanks for the tip on the spice garden.

http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/page.cfm?name=ht02

I was able to get the beat price for the E&O from their own website. It is really a fabuous hotel. I'd go back just to stay there (ok, also to eat the Hawker food...)

I'm an expat currently working in a MNC in Penang. It's been one year now but I can't get over Penang yet. There's so much to explore and see.

Penang is a heritage place to see and it's famous for its food. The main attraction in Penang century-old Kek Lok Si Temple with its 30m high pagoda which houses 10,000 Buddhas. You should not miss out Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. You will be charged an entrance fee but it's worth. There's a Wat in Burmah Lane - Wat Chaiyamangkalaram that you should spend time there. The Khoo Kongsi clanhouse temple is one of the most intense and ornately decorated buildings I have witnessed in Malaysia. I don't want you to miss out Botanical Garden, Penang Hill and Tropical Spice Garden. You can find one large swing in Tropical Spice Garden where you can sit and relax. It's really suitable for those who likes nature there's a spice market, you can take a free ride by monorail if you are tired of walking. There's also a Bamboo garden which I personally like it very much. You should check it out.

It's easy to get around in Georgetown by foot and a map. People in Penang is friendly and is willing to help you with the directions. But you probably need a guide or taxi to travel out of Georgetown. All the expats in our company use this taxi driver. He's knowledgeable and he charges reasonably. He's highly recommended. He will be able to a round island tour, city & heritage tour or anywhere that caters to your needs and wants. Tell me if you would like to have his contact.

Somewhere in Aug/Sept during Chinese Festivals which is now, you will have a chance to watch chinese opera or singing performances by the locals. They set up a stage by the roadside or open field where you can watch for free. It's the time where you can come face to face with the locals in Georgetown and discover their cultural heritage.

I would not suggest Penang Bird Park to you as it is located in the Mainland Seberang Jaya. Again, you can get there by hired taxi or cross over by ferry and take a taxi when you reached the Butterworth ferry terminal in the mainland. For the fun of it, you can just try the ferry. It's cheap you can have a round trip back to Penang island.

I won't be able to tell you about the Penang Heritage Trails. But I have been to all the places that PHT covered with our hired taxi driver.
You can check out their website http://www.pht.org.my/


I have found this link to be useful too
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysi...avel_guide.htm

Nutshell, thanks for the great info. Thinking of a four day trip.

ttt

Wondering why more people have not visited Penang? Malaysia in general doesn't seem to garner that much attention on this forum.

I think quite a few have been.

I have visited Penang quite a few times over the years, stayed Batu Ferringhi Beach usual places, also not a good stay at Tanjang Bungah (sp?).

But for beaches Langkawi is better, nothing wrong with Penang but not easy to pinpoint reasons to choose it over somewhere else, that might be the case.

I think, like anywhere it's what you are looking for.

Degas, as you know I've been to many places in Malaysia and have very much enjoyed it, but it is true that lots of people on this board have not been.

Penang has beaches, but they aren't that nice. So people who want beach usually don't go there. I think not as many people are aware of the cultural/historic attractions of Penang. Actually, I'm happy going somewhere that isn't as much "on the tourist map."

JamesA & Kathie

Appreciate your inputs. I also usually enjoy less visited places. Perhaps I was expecting a little more "passion" like you see about thailand.