Came to Penang to have a quiet holiday and got bored of being it too quiet? Time to go to the most famous George Town and get entertained. The number of disco clubs and randomly hiding Chinese parlors with extremely cute Asian girls is incredibly high.

Whether you are craving for a cold pint of draft beer and willing to sit by the streets to watch people go by or dreaming of dancing being surrounded by beautiful Chinese girls, your best shot is George Town, it is literally the place to look for everything.

There are very few bars where you have to pay to enter and it usually happens only at weekends, in some of the places you may be asked to prove that you are over 18 years of age but that is only required if you would like to go to a nightclub (where may be some ladies of ‘unusual’ interest). Most of the places offer a very nice and friendly atmosphere with a great choice of drinks and food.

There are plenty of disco clubs where you can dance to the loudest beats of excellent music performed by local as well as foreign DJs. In case if you don’t enjoy loud music and would like to sip you drink in a quiet place or listen to live bands there are quite a few.

The most common and easiest thing to do to relax is to go to any bar, order a drink and the friendliness of local people will inevitably lead to a conversation, this is how most of travellers prefer to spend their evenings in George Town.

Penang truly has something mysteriously beautiful about the night time, as soon as it gets dark and the traffic slowly disappears you instantly begin feeling relaxed even in the middle of town sitting outside the bar with your shiny cocktail.

We all know how pleasant and relaxing we feel after a visit a spa. Penang offers a great variety of spas that specialise in all kinds of procedures aimed to make you feel on the top of the world.

Penang is an excellent place to get the kinds of massage that sometimes we just crave for. This fabulous island can satisfy even those who are looking for something really exotic. To a lot of use Javanese massage sounds exotic enough and the good thing is that you can have it at Penang. Sundanese, Balinese and Thai kinds of massage are also practiced around here and you can expect really decent quality.

If you didn’t know that just one single visit to Penang’s spas can calm your mind as well as make you feel extremely good and charged enough for the following trip, then it is truly time to try it.

Beauty hunters will be impressed with a wide range of rejuvenating procedures that can make your skin literally shine. Enriching your facial skin and lowering the stress levels does make a big difference and any woman who values her appearance should have a couple of visits to local spa.

Excellent relaxing music, brilliant scents and the atmosphere of total peace will definitely make you want to come back. If you have never experienced ultimate feeling of tranquility then you have basically no choice but to go and feel the beauty of the spas that by doing their best will ensure you will say: “Life is good” by the end of the session.

One of the convenient aspects of staying on the small but compact island of Penang is its location to other places offering diverse and interesting day trips and a gateway to further Asian destinations.

Butterworth is a small town on the mainland side of Penang state in Malaysia and is accessible by ferry from Penang. It is a more industrial destination than nearby Georgetown with little of the formers charm; however, it is a main hub for train and bus services which do not go directly to Penang Island.

For a mere 25 ringgits buses leave Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur almost hourly and the stop is located right next to the train station, just ask a representative for directions.
This is the best way to get to KL and the five hour journey is half the time of the less frequent trains. Much of the journey is very beautiful and most of the coaches have AC and show movies for the same reasonable price. Prices can be secured at local vendors at the bus stop but it is worth remembering that most coaches do not offer rest rooms although they do make regular stops on the journey. But do bring your own toilet paper if you need it.

Bangkok is another Butterworth travel destination and it takes about 13 hours by train.

Thai beach destinations also leave from Butterworth on The International Express.

Penang state destinations are also easily found from Butterworth.

Day trips around Penang Island itself can be easily found on the island at hotel and tour operator offices.

One of the convenient aspects of staying on the small but compact island of Penang is its location to other places offering diverse and interesting day trips and a gateway to further Asian destinations.

Butterworth is a small town on the mainland side of Penang state in Malaysia and is accessible by ferry from Penang. It is a more industrial destination than nearby Georgetown with little of the formers charm; however, it is a main hub for train and bus services which do not go directly to Penang Island.

For a mere 25 ringgits buses leave Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur almost hourly and the stop is located right next to the train station, just ask a representative for directions.
This is the best way to get to KL and the five hour journey is half the time of the less frequent trains. Much of the journey is very beautiful and most of the coaches have AC and show movies for the same reasonable price. Prices can be secured at local vendors at the bus stop but it is worth remembering that most coaches do not offer rest rooms although they do make regular stops on the journey. But do bring your own toilet paper if you need it.

Bangkok is another Butterworth travel destination and it takes about 13 hours by train.

Thai beach destinations also leave from Butterworth on The International Express.

Penang state destinations are also easily found from Butterworth.

Day trips around Penang Island itself can be easily found on the island at hotel and tour operator offices.

There is much to see and do on the small island of Penang, which has been described by ancient sea traders as the Pearl of The Orient. There are many tour operators on the island which offer English speaking guides or for the more independent take a cab bus or train to sightsee this beautiful island.

The island is very compact so the freely available map is easy to follow as is a trip up Penang Hill scaled by R2 railway so you can see where you want to go.

Temple lovers will enjoy Thee Kong Tua (Jade Emporer’s temple) in Air Itam built by Taoists and recently renovated, for Thee Kong who they believe to be the supreme ruler of Heaven. There is also Chor Soo Kong Temple (Snake Temple) guarded by vipers which have had their venom removed….let’s hope permanently

Lastly there is Key Lok Si Temple (Temple of Supreme Bliss) the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, overlooking Air Itam, it is perhaps the best known temple in the region.

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Chayamangkalaram was built in 1845 by a Buddhist monk. Situated in the old town of Pulau Titus it is 33 meters high and covered in glistening gold.

Nature lovers will enjoy The Butterfly farm which is home to many species of fluttering butterflies as well as scorpions and other fascinating insects.

The Tropical Spice Garden is a great place for an afternoon drink and view over 500 different types of tropical fauna.

Penang National Park (Muka Head) in Pantai Acheh compact but with many eco exhibits including a salt and fresh water lake, as well as a fully functioning lighthouse making it the perfect location for a picnic or a relaxing rest in the tropical sunshine.

The nightlife in Penang is a little more sedate and not as girly as Bangkok though there is still enough going on to keep you up till 3am. There are many pubs and clubs in Georgetown offering a lovely cool pint of draft Guinness or a whole host of exotic cocktails including the famous Singapore sling.

There are small drinking stalls where you can dance or people watch as well as the usual Asian discos and inevitable karaoke.

Many hotels on the island have non-resident bars offering an up market colonial feel like the Eastern and Oriental and well worth a visit.

The biggest centre for nightlife is around Slippery Senoritas with live music, though at the weekend there is a 50 Ringit entrance fee and just nearby The Uptown which also has bands.

The Condotel also has a fashionable nightclub with minimum age eighteen.
Ferrighi beach offers many bars and clubs beachside with lots of surf boards and huts which if that is your thing jump in a friendly cab and pay them a visit.

The island has many cinemas which show American films though subject to censorship which can actually be hilarious, however, if your film choice is something you really want to see be warned that Malaysians are not the best behaved cinemagoers. Mobile phones will ring and audible conversations will commence especially in the quieter dramatic moments!

Walking around Penang is a delightful experience full of museums, temples, mosques, bustling markets, rich smells and wondrous sights. Articles to buy, barter and talk about. It’s almost like going to several countries at the same time as you stroll by Chinese temple shops, Bangladeshi horse-chestnut sellers, English bookstores and everywhere diverse inexpensive food.

For the more serious walker the jungles and beaches of the island offer a treasure trove of natural sites, ancient colonialism, an old lighthouse at Muka Head and fascinating wildlife everywhere. Put on good footwear, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, pack a widely available map and off you go. Many people like the guided tours which are advertised all over the island and are inexpensive and informative.

The visitor can walk through the reserve forest in Teluk Bahang at the Northwestern cape of Penang Island encountering spectacular fauna and jungle sights and sounds. Not only can one observe the jungle on this trek but also staggeringly beautiful beaches and like walking in the multi cultural Georgetown there is so much to see here compressed into a lovely compact island paradise.

Here one can also see miles of quiet beaches with a safe and gorgeous horizon. If the jungle trip sound too much for you or you don’t like the creepy crawlies you can take a boat from Kampung Nelayan, situated 1km from the small roundabout located at Teluk Behang, to the beaches of Pantai Kerachut, Muka Head and Teluk Kampi.

Malaysia with over 200 golf courses is fast becoming a mecca for the enthusiast and with well designed inexpensive courses set in tropical paradises it’s easy to see why. Penang offers some of the best here are details of two extraordinary places to play. Bring your clubs or use theirs. How can you resist?

Penang Golf Resort: This wonderful sprawling tropical five hundred acre course set in the heart of Kepala Batas in northern Seberang Perai, providing a haven for the seasoned golfer, this 36 hole course is a must. The course was designed by Former Malaysian and US Senior Open champion Graham Marsh. The resort provides beautiful real estate set in striking greenery. Penang Golf resort is also perfect for families with swimming pools, tennis courts, karaoke, children’s playgrounds and computer room

Kristal Golf Resort: is a little smaller located in 287 acres of tropical fauna, this 18-hole international standard golf course, is simply perfect, crafted around the natural undulations of a scenic valley. This Malaysian-Japanese joint-venture is situated in Sungai Bakap, 24 km from the Prai end of Penang Bridge. Designed by the Japanese Firm Eiwa Sekkei, and assisted by 1973 Malaysian Open champion Hideyo Sugimoto, it combines natural climbs and drops in the hilly terrain. The first few holes are relatively simple but become more challenging. Watch out for the water-lined stretch from Hole 14 to Hole 17.

Kristal offers two clubhouses – the main Golfer’s Clubhouse which is the golfing focal point, and the Family Clubhouse, located at the highest point of the resort some 100 metres above sea level. Facilities are excellent at both serve delicious Oriental, Western and Japanese cuisine.

Malaysia has 4800kms of exotic beaches offering a terrific variety of water sports to the active and non-active visitor.

The small island of Penang is a major water sports centre offering safe waters exquisite beaches. The water sports which are famous in Penang are wind surfing swimming, angling, boating, Banana boat rides, canoeing catamaran sailing, jet skiing, deep sea fishing, parasailing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, water skiing and speed boating.

Although safety and supervision are paramount to hotels and beaches on the island water rafting is not allowed for kids, however, all of the other beach activities should keep them busy and make for an unforgettable family holiday.

Water sports like boating, angling, sailing, catamaran sailing, swimming, speed boating and can even be attempted by small children. While the other activities offer a little more danger and thrill seeking courage.

Sailing around Penang is a little less touristy for those used to sailing around nearby Singapore with remnants of the old Straits Settlements and its glorious old colonial buildings. Many hotels on the island hire boats and the area is easy to navigate. Penang Batu Ferring beach is the most famous on the island and offers the visitor the most beautiful of Asian beaches and great facilities.

Penang is a great place for the seasoned sailor and those wanting to learn the craft. Its waters are among the safest and most beautiful in Asia and well worth visiting by young and old alike.

Visitors to Penang will find many educational courses to do and there are also many English affiliated universities on the island.

The most popular courses for the visitor to take on the island are diving and cooking.
For a diving course you need to be in good physical health and a strong swimmer. A doctor’s certificate is also required before you start. Courses offered are PADI or SSI and are spread over three days for a beginner’s course. Tuition, transport, lunches equipment are all provided and after you have learnt the basics of the buddy system(communicating with other divers underwater)how to put on the suit and breathing equipment and confined water dives you are already for your first dive supervised by qualified teachers at the glorious marine Park reef. More advanced course taking four days are also offered many people get hooked, do further courses and go all the way to becoming diving teachers themselves.

Penang offers the visitor many cuisines from around the world from Indian to Chinese from Singaporean to Malay and you may be interested in learning to make some of the delicious fare on offer yourself. Great tuition by English speaking tutors and you can choose from general home cooking course learning everything from basic salads to curries and desserts. Or, perhaps you are wanting something a little more advanced and specific when top master chefs give their hard learned secrets of Asian cooking too you. Course run form simple daily course to three days and beyond all abilities are welcome offering an unforgettable hands on experience and a great gift for your dinner quests when you get back.