Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Botanical Gardens are located about 8km outside of George Town. To get there,
take bus 102 (RM2) from Komtar Bus Station or Weld Quay Bus Terminal; a taxi will
cost at least RM25.
Air Itam & Jelutong
KEK LOK SI TEMPLE
(cable car one way/return RM4/2; 9am-6pm, cable car 8.30am-5.30pm)
The 'Temple of Supreme Bliss'
is also the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and one of the most recognisable buildings
in the country. Built by an immigrant Chinese Buddhist in 1890, Kek Lok Si is a corner-
stone of the Malay-Chinese community, who provided the funding for its two-decade-long
building (and ongoing additions).
To reach the entrance, walk through a maze of souvenir stalls, past a tightly packed
turtle pond and murky fish ponds, until you reach
Ban Po Thar
(Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda; ad-
mission RM2)
a seven-tier, 30m-high tower. The design is said to be Burmese at the top,
Chinese at the bottom and Thai in between. A
cable car
whisks you to the highest level,
which is presided over by an awesome 36.5m-high bronze statue of Kuan Yin, goddess of
mercy.
There are several other temples in this complex, as well as shops and a
vegetarian restaur-
ant
(mains from RM5; 10am-7pm Tue-Sun)
.
A taxi here from the centre of George Town starts at about RM25, or you can hop on
bus 204 to Air Itam (RM2).
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
P RAMLEE HOUSE
(4A Jln P Ramlee; 10am-5.30pm Tue-Thu, Sat & Sun, 10am-noon & 3-5.30pm Fri)
F
This centre consists
of three sections dedicated to Malaysia's biggest megastar, P Ramlee. Ramlee was partic-
ularly known for his singing; he also acted in and directed 66 films in his lifetime. Oppos-
ite the large building that functions as a performing-arts centre, a small museum contains
artefacts and photos about P Ramlee's life. Adjacent to the museum is Ramlee's birth-
place, a humble, thoroughly restored
kampung
house built in 1926.
P Ramlee's music plays as a constant soundtrack throughout the grounds. Although vis-
itors may not be familiar with his work, the old photos and the house are interesting, and
there are a few kitschy souvenirs in the museum's gift shop.
MUSEUM
