Penang is a pleasant shopping centre. Its shopping facilities - ranging from modern complexes to roadside stalls and the 'pasar malam' (night markets) - offer an almost endless range of products. The main shopping centres are in Penang Road, Burmah Road and Campbell Street in the city. One of the more prominent shopping complexes on the island is Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) in Penang Road; it has over 200 shops. Bona fide tourists, whose stay does not exceed 14 days, can purchase goods at special prices from duty-free shops. These shops display the `duty-free' sign. Roadside shops are Penang's most popular bargaining centres. Prices are negotiable and reasonable, depending on one's skill at bargaining. Prices are however fixed in the larger departmental stores.
Certain parts of George Town are also famous for certain things for shopping:
Lebuh Campbell: Chinese jewellers, Rolex watches, luggages, clothes, electrical items and Chinese medicines and herbs
Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling: Indian jewellers, money changers and florists
Chulia Street: Clothes, antiques, framed art and glass items
Bishop Street: Imported clothes, carpets, antiques and banks
Penang Road: The entire stretch of Penang Road is lined with shops selling clothes, shoes, imitation perfumes and edible favourites like nutmeg, pickled mangoes, banana chips, cookies and belacan.
Shopping tips :
Bargaining is still very much a part of life here; so don't be afraid to politely ask for a discount (except at departmental stores, hypermarts and chain stores) if you really want an item. Remember that bargaining involves offers and counter-offers, so be patient and slowly work the price down to something both you and shopkeeper are happy with. A word of advice - don't bargain if you have no intention of buying.
Shopping calendar:
The annual Mega Shopping Carnival is definitely a great SALE day for almost anything. Check the local papers for dates, which vary slightly every year. All shopping complexes and chain stores hold special sales frequently, and usually just before a major Malaysian holiday. Some great bargains can be found during this time. Flyers and announcements are widely distributed by stores and complexes to homes and offices just before a sale is lauched. The mass-media (newspapers, radio and television) also announce and advertise sale carnivals, so keep your ears and eyes tuned for shopping updates.
Penang's northern shoreline is famous for its beautiful beaches
of golden sand and deep blue seas. The Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi
and Teluk Bahang beaches offer expansive stretches of glittering
sand interspersed with secluded coves within the shelter of gigantic
rocks. It is along this famous coastline that resorts of international
standard have sprouted up, offering a host of water-based recreational
facilities.
If you crave for privacy, head for Teluk Duyung, Monkey Beach, Pantai
Keracut and Pantai Mas accessible via the trails in the Pantai Acheh
Forest Reserve from Teluk Bahang. The Pasir Panjang Beach at the
southwestern tip of the island is a good clean stretch for swimming
and can be reached after a 25-minute hike over hilly land from Betong.
Tropical Fruit Farm which is situated at about 800ft above sea level on the hilly terrain of Teluk Bahang, Penang is an ideal location for cultivating many types of tropical and sub-tropical fruit trees. The orchard covers 25 acres and it was developed back in 1993 with a few objectives in mind. First of all, to conserve the rare and exotic fruit trees. Secondly, to educate and promote to the locals as well as foreigners on the gift that our land is blessed with and lastly, to make a positive role towards agriculture and eco / agro tourism amid the intensive development in our state's rural areas.
Over the years, the orchard has acquired many rare and exotic fruit trees from the region as well as from far-flung corners of the globe such as Central and South America, Central Africa, India, the Middle East, the Caribbean's, the Pacific Islands etc. Today the orchard boasts of a collection of over 200 different species and the list is still growing.
Apart from viewing the fruits of course there would be sampling of the variety of flavors that is unique to each individual fruit. The orchard also prepares light snacks, juices and a hefty BBQ buffet spread on the weekends and public holidays.
Farm Address: Batu 18, Jalan Teluk Bahang, Penang http://www.tropicalfruits.com.my
With a population of more than one million, Penang is a melting pot of culture. Apart from the three main racial communities of Malaysia - Malay, Chinese and Indian - there are Arabs and Eurasians, the latter being a result of inter-racial marriages. As it is, one is exposed to a variety of cultural experiences which give the island an added touch of colour.
At the first sign of dusk, the city reveals another facade of its exciting life. As the night sets in and the city lights come on, the evening pulsates with promise. For those who have brought their dancing shoes, there are numerous night spots throughout the city to dance away the night. Most hotels have discotheques and/or live bands to liven up the evening for their guest. On occasion, concerts and cultural shows are staged at various public places in the city. Bars and pubs are open till late in the night.
The toy museum, 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sq m) in all, is said to be the largest of its kind in South-East Asia and houses one of the most comprehensive collections of modern and contemporary toys in the world. The toys in the museum are displayed in simple shelves and arranged in a manner to suit the ambience. Even toys of the latest in the series can be seen such as Aliens, Spiderman 2 , Hulk , Spawn , X-Men , Matrix Reloaded , Terminator 3, and The Lord of the Rings to name a few. The astonishing diversity of toys and models is like watching hundreds of movies in mini displays over a span of a couple of hours. There are also limited edition collectibles of living life characters such as Jackie Chan, Mr. Bean , Britney Spears and Michael Jackson. Dont be alarmed when some toys suddenly start moving their hands and claws, or if you hear chilling voices in certain sections of the museum; it makes the whole experience even more thrilling.
