Penang : Pearl of the Orient.....

Penang (Malay: Pulau Pinang) is an island off the North West of Peninsular Malaysia and one of Malaysia's main tourist draws. Penang's beaches are a little lackluster compared to some other Malaysian sites, but it more than makes up for this with a rich multicultural history full of colonial and Chinese influences.


HOW TO REACH: Penang has an international airport, near the city. Taxis have fixed rates to specific points. Penang bridge is the road link with the mainland. There is a round-the-clock ferry service for passengers and vehicles from Butterworth on the mainland, to and fro. It takes 6 hours from KL to Butterworth on the mainland by train. Rail journey is more comfortable and it enables sight-seeing. In Penang, taxis, buses, trishaws, cars, rent-a-bike, cruise coaches etc are available.

Ultimate Tips

• Instead of taking the taxis from the arrival hall, you can catch taxis at the departure hall and negotiate for a lower price to get to your destination.

Accommodation: Everyday, tourists from all around the world come to Penang. The hotel industry has continue to flourish with the rising number if tourists each year.
Many hotels were built along the Batu Ferringhi beach front.

With the Batu Ferringhi beach as a major tourist attraction itself, the location is strategic for the industry.

Shangri-La’s Golden Sand Batu Ferringhi Beach 11100 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: (60-4)8811911 Paradise Sandy Bay Jalan Tanjung Bungah 11200 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: 604-8999999 Cititel 66 Jalan Penang10000,Penang Malaysia. Tel: 604-3701288 Hotel Equatorial 1 Jalan Bukit Jambul Bayan Lepas 11900 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: +604 6438111 Hotel Grand Continental 68 Brick Kiln Road10300 Penang Malaysia Tel: 04-6366888 Penang Parkroyal Resort Batu Ferringhi Beach 11100 Penang, Malaysia Tel: (60-4)8811133 Ferringhi Beach Hotel Jalan Low Yat11100 Batu FerringhiPenang, Malaysia Tel: (604)8905999 Sheraton 3 Jalan Larut 10050 Penang, Malaysia Tel: 604-3701111

Ultimate Tip

• Stay near by the beach. There's a night market and plenty of cheap and good food around the beach area.

BUTTERFLY FARM
But why a butterfly farm? Visiting national parks, museums and heritage buildings is a favourite pastime of many Malaysians. Such outings allow and encourage us to appreciate our natural and man-made heritage, many of which are threatened by the onslaught of modern development. There are some who even go as far as to say that such recreation fosters closer bonding between family members, but we'll delve into that later.

First things first. Although well known amongst all Penangites, most Malaysians and some tourists, an introduction to one of Malaysia's more better known landmarks dedicated to a most interesting member of the animal kingdom – the Lepidoptera, otherwise more commonly referred to as the butterfly, is still relevant. The Penang Butterfly Farm (PBF), the first tropical butterfly farm ever set up in the world, was founded in 1986. It is located in Telok Bahang, a fishing village located north of the island.

Talk about dreams coming true and ideas taking shape. Out of the strength came forth sweetness – and one man's lifelong fascination with butterflies has resulted in a 1 hectare (and growing!) home and sanctuary to a wide variety of insects, reptiles, fishes and plants. Protected from natural predators and unfriendly environments, butterflies in this sanctuary turn into little Methuselahs, living for as long as 14 days. In their natural habitats, the average lifespan would be about three days.
At the last count, the Penang Butterfly Farm is sanctuary to an average flying population of 4,000 Malaysian butterflies from 120 different species, including some very rare and famous ones, like the Indian Leaf (Kallima paralekta), the endangered Yellow Birdwing (Troides helena) and the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing, arguably Malaysia's most well-known insect.
So what makes butterflies such mesmerising creatures? What's the attraction? Why a whole farm for such a fragile and short-lived creature?
Opinions vary, but British novelist Elizabeth Goudge said it all when she described butterflies as "not quite birds, as they were not quite flowers, mysterious and fascinating as are all indeterminate creatures."
Mysterious? Maybe. Fascinating? Definitely. The Penang Butterfly Farm is unquestionably Malaysian, without a doubt, yet it is also a reputation to be reckoned with overseas.
A fun place for the family Recognising that long periods of hard work result in parents not spending much quality time with their families, the Penang Butterfly Farm has introduced several attractions to provide your loved ones fun time, as well as a great way for children of all ages to get to know one another while having lots of fun. One of these activities is the Caterpillar Club.

Upon entering the Farm, the visitor is greeted by a lush and well designed landscaped garden lined with several pathways, dotted with cages here and there, flowing fountains and a fish pond. Myriad butterflies flutter and flit silently against a multi-coloured backdrop of the different flowers and plants that fill the grounds, apparenlty impervious to the many humans walking around them. It all looks very harmonious, well-proportioned and peaceful. Who knows, a visit to the Farm might just be the tonic for frazzled nerves!
At the time of writing, plans are afoot to expand the size of the PBF from its present 1 hectare to a whopping 4 hectares.

PBF general manager, Eddy Low (picture right) also revealed that a dragonfly enclosure measuring 1,200 sq. ft., the first in the world, is being constructed. In the meantime, whether you are a kid, an aduly, a zoologist, an entomologist or just plain curious, the PBF is still an interesting place to spend time.

Ultimate Tip

• The is an interest educational show that allows you to get close to some of the creepy crawlies....don't miss it unless you have a phobia!