Things To Do In Penang
ShoppingThough Penang is not exactly known for shopping, you can get some good souvenirs. One can shop from intricate handicrafts and hand-made jewelry to designer goods such as watches, leather bags and sportswear. Most tourists in Penang like shopping at the road-side shops. For shopping in malls, visit Georgetown, the provincial capital. Shopping in the "pasar malam" or the night markets is a distinct experience. You would get to see the life of Penang in close quarters in these markets.
Nightlife
Penang greets the fun-loving visitors with its pubs and bars. Batu Ferringhi is the meeting place of the colorful. As soon as the night descends, people start pouring in the nightlife spots. Most nightclubs here are basically discotheques tailor-made for the young and trendy. Some clubs are classical style too offering refined entertainment. You can visit Pulau Tikus region for such places.
Dining
Savoring local dishes in Penang is something you must not miss. Taste the traditional fare on the streets. Just ensure that the hawker is hygienic. Food offered in touristy areas is many a time doctored to Western palate. So ask the cook to make it real local cuisine, and not Westernize it. You could taste dishes like Char Kway Teow, Lor Bak, Tau Sah Piah and Penang Laksa.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing is of course the first among the things to do in Penang. Foremost activity to do is to visit the beaches like Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang. When you have done the beaches, there are temples like Mariamman, Kek Lok Si, Khoo Clan, Quan Yin or Dhammikarama. St George Church, Esplanade and City Hall are also good places to visit in Penang. The children would love to visit the monkey park, lying over 30 hectares of forested hills. Lily ponds are dotted throughout the park. The state museum offers some interesting things related to local history. In the Butterfly Farm, you can see thousands of butterflies, frogs, and other creatures.