Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 436

shrine to Tua Peh Kong, the god of
prosperity; the right-hand hall contains
the gilded ancestral tablets. Connecting
all three halls is a balcony minutely
decorated in carvings of folk tales,
with dragons and immortals an
important part of the cast. he clan
house is currently overseen by the 29th
generation of the original Leongs who
settled in Georgetown.

and libraries, separated by courtyards
and gardens, have been restored, and
tours of the interior give you a fascinating
glimpse into the life of the wealthy
Straits Chinese at the time.

Kek Lok Si Temple
Bedecked with flags, lanterns, statues
and pagodas, the sprawling and
exuberant Kek Lok Si Temple (daily
9am-6pm; free), also known as the
“Temple of Supreme Bliss”, to the west
of the city, is the largest Buddhist
temple complex in Malaysia. he
“Pagoda of its housand Buddhas” is
the most prominent feature of the
compound, with its tower of simple
Chinese saddle-shaped eaves and more
elaborate hai arched windows, topped
by a golden Burmese stupa. It costs
RM5 to climb the 193 steps to the
top for a great view of Georgetown
and the bay.
Visit in the evening and find Kek Lok
brightly lit with multicoloured fairy lights
and flashing neon. Getting there involves
a thirty-minute bus ride west on bus
#201, #203, #204 or #502; ask to be let
off at Air Item for the temple. Buses leave
around every half an hour after 8pm; the
last bus is at about 9.30pm.

6

Pinang Peranakan Mansion
his wonderful mansion, at 29 Lebuh
Gereja (daily 9.30am-5pm; RM20;
W

pinangperanakanmansion.com.my),
re-creates the sumptuous lifestyle of a
wealthy Peranakan family, also referred to
as Baba and Nyonya, descendants of
Chinese migrants who intermarried with
Malays. he Peranakans adopted Malay
customs while living in line with British
colonial traditions. he nineteenth-
century stately home displays over a
hundred antiques and collectables
that embrace a variety of styles, from
Chinese carved wooden panels to
Scottish ironworks.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
On the western edge of Georgetown, at
14 Lebuh Leith, is the stunning Cheong
Fatt Tze Mansion (guided tours Mon-Fri
11am, 1.30 & 3pm, Sat & Sun 11am;
1hr; RM12), whose outer walls are
painted a striking, rich blue. It's the best
example of nineteenth-century Chinese
architecture in Penang, and was
commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze, a
Hakka businessman, in 1880. he
elaborate halls of ceremony, bedrooms

Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera)
A trip up to the highest point in Penang
(833m) is very worthwhile for the
commanding view of the island and
the mainland beyond - particularly
impressive at sunset. Asia's longest
funicular railway , with the steepest tunnel
track in the world, runs from the base of

TRANSPORT FROM BUTTERWORTH
The industrial town of Butterworth is the main port for the island of Penang and its capital,
Georgetown, and a major transport hub. The bus station , port complex, taxi stand and train
station are all next door to each other on the quayside.
By bus to: Bangkok, Thailand (2 daily; 18hr);
Hat Yai, Thailand (2 daily; 5hr 30min); Ipoh
(hourly; 3hr); Kota Bharu (2 daily; 6hr); Kuala
Lumpur (every 30min; 7hr); Kuala
Terengganu (2 daily; 8hr); Kuantan (3 daily;
12hr); Lumut (4 daily; 4hr); Malacca (daily;
6-10hr); Singapore (3 daily; 9hr); Surat Thani,
Thailand (2 daily; 10hr 30min).

By ferry The passenger and car ferry service
(6am-1am; 20min; RM2 return) runs three
times an hour from the port complex to
Pengkalan Weld in Georgetown.
By train to: Alor Setar (2 daily; 2hr); Bangkok,
Thailand (daily; 23hr 30min); Hat Yai, Thailand
(2 daily; 4hr 45min-6hr); Ipoh (daily; 5hr);
Kuala Lumpur (daily; 10hr 25min).