Chinese New Year Sightseeing

Some of the places that I took my coursemates from university to during their short visit to Penang.

Destination No 4: Khoo Kongsi, Armenian Street

Comments : I actually like this place a lot. The carvings and statues and drawings are classically old with a tinge of old China nostalgia. Each and every carving of animals, deities and drawings carries a meaning and have functions of their own, usually to ward of evil or as a sort of advice to the mortals on Earth. At night, when the lights are turned on, the place looks like a shimmering golden house.

Entrance fee : RM 5 or RM 1 for students and children

Number of times visiting : Since Dec 08 till now....5X

Destination No 3: Pinang Peranakan House aka Green Mansion, Church Street

Comment : This place is also very special. Just newly opened last year. My second time here. I expect to step my feet inside this place for many more times, not because I love it but because I have to bring someone visiting Penang here. This house belong to an old man from China (which I forgot the name) and currently owned by some antique collector. All the walls, doors, floors are restored to their original glory. The antique pieces belong to the current owner. There are a lot of displays showing the past and evolving culture of the Baba and Nyonya living in Penang. The famous Singaporean drama series Little Nyonya was filmed here as well. For those that have no inkling about Baba and Nyonya and Chinese home architecture should pay this place a little visit. Another similar house in Penang would be the Blue Mansion aka Cheong Fatt Tze on Leith Street. The house is a good place for understanding chinese architecture combined with feng shui.

Entrance fee : RM 10

Number of times visiting : 2X

Destination No 2 : Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam

Comment : For me, I only come here during CNY celebrations because of the lightings. At night the scenery is good and the newly built Kuan Yim statue behind the Pagoda is a good visit as well. What I hate about this place is that there is only one way up to the temple and it is always jammed during CNY. I drove my friends here at about 11.30pm and the jam was still horrible and the lights are off at 12 midnight. That only left us 20mins to look around.

Entrance fee : Free to certain areas, Access to certain areas would cost RM2

Number of times visiting : Lost count
Destination No 1: Penang Butterfly Farm, Teluk Bahang

Comment : If you like insects and butterflies and reptiles, this is the place to visit. They have scorpions, mandarin ducks, turtles, insects and many many butterflies flutting around near you. If you smell like a flower, the butterfly might even make you as its pit stop. If you like insect photography you should come too. Although my photography skill aren't superb, the pictures of butterflies below are captured by moi.

Entrance fee : RM 10 for Malaysians and Retirees. RM 20 for foreigners. I forgot the price for children.

Number of times visiting : Lost count. But from Dec O8 till now I think maybe 4X

These places, I didn't rank them. I just arrange them according to the sequence that I visited them. So friends (or strangers) reading this, have you been to these places eventhough you are a Penangite?