Penang Travel Guide

Art Galleries This little Betel Nut island packs a potent punch when it comes to art and culture. The art scene started blossoming with the recent wave of trendy art galleries. A pioneer spearheading the movement, The Art Gallery, clinches the top spot as a hunting ground for the art connoisseur. Souvenirs that encapsulate the essence of Penang can be found at Yahong Art Gallery, Little Heritage House, Gamecomer and Hong Giap, although their prices tend to favor fatter wallets. But if you hope to spare your pocket undue damage, then Lean Giap Trading and Craft Batik come to the rescue, offering locally made souvenirs especially for the financially challenged visitor.

Museums One of the best museums showcasing a wealth of history is the Penang Museum. Located in the heart of Georgetown, and easily accessible from anywhere, it proves hard to find engulfed in a sea of greenery. The other lesser known, but still noteworthy, Penang State Forestry Museum, located on the other end of the island, chooses to educate visitors to the lush flora and fauna that envelopes the island.

Music & Dance Much to the delight of Penang's youths, the recent tsunami of dance halls and clubs awakened this sleepy island, more often known for its mouth-watering delicacies and colonial architecture. The one and only music hall on the island, VOR Amphitheatre, offers an excellent prelude to the budding cabaret scene. Those who prefer the raw acoustic strains of Mandarin pop should head down to the Rice Cafe, Pub & Bistro while Brix (Bar & Bistro) presents a popular joint for those looking for techno beats.

Fun Zones Family-oriented activities abound throughout the island, as Penang prides itself as being an all-rounder family destination. Bowling seems a passion with the locals, as witnessed by the current mushrooming of high-tech bowling alleys. The young ones will soon tug at dad and mum's sleeve when they hear about the Great World Indoor Theme Park. To cool off after a hot day of fun, try your hand (or feet!) at ice-skating or snowboarding at Snow Land.

DISTRICTS

Batu Ferringhi More than meets the eye hales from Batu Ferringhi, apart from its endless row of five-star hotels and gourmet cuisine. A favorite pastime of many Malaysians entails a leisurely stroll through a Pasar Malam. Animated haggling between the vendor and buyer over price typifies these markets, and you should always bargain for a lower price. That makes your special purchase worthwhile.

For a relaxing time with the family and that pint of draft, Beers Pub sets the pace for the entire family to lay back and unwind. But once your feet start tapping and that rhythm gets to you, Borsalino Pub and Lounge and Shock Egypt welcome you with open arms with their infectious tunes that let you boogie the long night away. If you feel claustrophobic on Batu Ferringhi's crowed beaches and would like a little solitude, then try the Other Beaches of North Coast and Teluk Bahang Beach. They also offer a perfect place to work on that tan.

Belissa Row Located right smack in the heart of Pulau Tikus, this residential area hosts the higher echelons of society. But come the weekend, it sheds its inhibitions and exchanges them for a kaleidoscope of rolling good times to paint the town in every color imaginable. True to its name, the Orange Cafe and Bar, just across the street, is a godsend once those hunger pangs kick in. Modesto's (Bar, Bistro & Club) and Club Mixx blast it up with feel-good music, and it is no wonder that both clubs pack in patrons to the brim on weekends. When those legs feel exhausted from all that partying, Vintage, a stone's throw away, affords an alluring suggestion with sophistication in a wine bottle and the opulence of leather seats.

Chulia Street Love, war, peace and a decade of hippiness, typified Chulia Street in the 1960s and 1970s. But nowadays, only the lucky see the long-haired, flower-power hippie giving the peace sign, complete with that toothy grin. Yes, that luxuriously decadent era has passed, but if you look hard enough, Chulia Street still has scant remnants of her glorious past. Graffiti-laden Hard Life Café, the Secret Garden and the Green Planet furnish favorite haunts for budget travelers and provide a meeting ground for backpackers to gather and exchange travel tales; while the Hong Kong Bar, located on the same row, brings back fond memories for sailors. If you tire of tripping down memory lane and long for the high-tech age, scores of Internet cafes, such as the STC Net Café, are at your beck and call.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 364