Here are maps of Penang, and here’s information on Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport and how to get to Georgetown from there. If you are taking an express bus, you will probably arrive at the new bus terminal Sungai Nibong and the Railway Station is on the mainland, located at Butterworth, Seberang Prai, if you took the KTM train. Ferry services are also available from Langkawi daily.

Most of Penang’s fancier accommodation is in the form of beach resorts on the main tourist beach of Batu Ferringhi. More backpacker-friendly options, as well as a few classical luxury hotels, can be found in Georgetown, Other areas to stay in Penang Island include: Tanjung Bungah, Gurney Drive, and Bayan Lepas. Seberang Perai (Mainland) offers several other accommodation alternatives.

Many of Penang’s top sights such as Georgetown, Penang Hill, Weld Quay Clan Jetties, Kek Lok Si Temple, and the Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, are in Penang Island. For beach lovers, Penang’s best beaches are on the northern side, particularly Batu Ferringhi, but do be prepared for the heavy tourist crowd especially during peak seasons.

Eating is almost considered a national past time here, so dine on authentic Malaysian cuisine in an excellent restaurant, or simply grab a chair by the countless food stalls. Consume a Char Kway Teow along Penang street, and you’ll realize why it’s my favourite dish in Malaysia.

You can see Penang’s top sights in a rush on an overnight stay, but you’ll need at least two days to do them justice, and three or four days to really get a sense of the island. In a week, you can get a good look at most of what Penang has to offer.

Welcome to Penang, The Pearl of the Orient.

My thoughts through the lens

“Rain rain go away, come again another day.” This ditty seemed to echo in my mind as I stepped out from the house and into the car. Although cloudy skies bring dramatic effects to an image, many photographers would agree that the rain could also be one of the photographers’ biggest adversaries. Nevertheless, I had packed my backpack and was ready to take my chances, hoping that the sun would make its presence later.

Miraculously, when I arrived at the gate of the Kek Lok Si temple, the rain had turned to a drizzle and the skies were beginning to clear. The moody-looking clouds seemed to make way for the white clouds and even the skies gradually turned blue. I thought that I would be confined to taking indoor shots of the temples but I think Lord Buddha had other plans for me…*wink wink*..

I was excited, to say the least.

I am sure the Kek Lok Si temple is synonymous to most Buddhist devotees around this region; in fact, the Temple is also featured in Shenzhen’s Window of the World Theme Park in China, making it an iconic symbol that has received acknowledgment around the globe. I was in Shenzhen in December last year and this had me pleasantly surprised.

In this assignment, my intention is to showcase this magnificent landmark in a two-part (possibly three) series. I am pleased to take this photographic journey and will walk with you through the stairways and slopes, and hopefully, be enlightened along the way.

To all devotees and readers, Happy Wesak Day!

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok
p/s: The series will take a break next week and will most probably be back the following week.

The Pagoda of A Thousand Buddhas looking majestic and seem to dwarf the hundreds of visitors on that particular morning. Being a long weekend, the temple was one of the ‘must visit’ sites in Penang which saw local and foreign visitors making up the large crowd.

To reach the pagoda, you would need to make a slightly steep ascend starting from the covered walkway seen on the right side of this image.

One of the first of many places to visit in Kek Lok Si is the prayer hall. This shot was taken hand-held with no flash as I intended to capture the statue of Lord Buddha being illuminated by the flames of the pineapple-shaped candles on the altar.

The Sanskrit name “Avalokitesvara” is interpreted in many ways: “The One Who Hears the Cries of the World”; “The Lord Who Looks Down”; “The Lord Who Looks in Every Direction.”

On your way up to the mid level of Kek Lok Si, be prepared to catch your breath and the surrounding sights as well. Even a humble-looking stone staircase and wall could present a beautiful photographic moment, as this couple would attest.

A row of Buddha’s statues greeting visitors as soon as they complete their ascend to the mid level of Kek Lok Si temple. On the background is the ever-present Pagoda.

A set of Buddha’s statues lining up one of the corners of a smaller temple within Kek Lok Si. I was drawn to the carvings of the dragon (foreground) and thought it would make the image interesting by framing it between the red pillar and Buddha’s saffron robe.

A large statue of Lord Buddha being surrounded by lotus candles placed by devotees and visitors. This smaller temple, located at the mid level of Kek Lok Si temple, is a popular pit-stop for visitors wanting to get some fresh air and purchase memorabilia to bring home apart from the memories.

An aerial view taken from one of the corners of the temple. After making the ascend to the mid level, visitors will get a chance to take a breather and admire the scenery of the nearby Air Itam town.

A young boy praying in front of an altar at the prayer hall. Notice the lighted candles in the form of pineapple (‘ong lye’ in local Hokkien dialect) vases. With messages tied around the neck of the vases, devotees often pray for the blessings for the entire family to have a bountiful and prosperous year.

Bathing of the Buddha: The Kek Lok Si temple is a hive of activity, especially in the run-up to Wesak Day on 9th May this year. There was an air of serenity as devotees took turns to bathe the statue with some taking home the fragrant holy water for consumption.

This shot was captured using a very low shutter speed (1/6 seconds, hand held) which resulted in some intentional blur or softness. The little girl in blue suddenly pirouetted in front of my camera, resulting in a welcomed streaks of blue which rendered some elements of Impressionistic art to the overall image, in my opinion, and making it appear dream-like and mysterious.

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

After a month’s spotlight on George Town and its inhabitants, I would like to introduce you to another largely undiscovered gem of Penang, the fishing villages.

The southern part of Penang island has a string of fishing villages stretching from Batu Maung to Gertak Sanggul. The villages have retained its charm and personality, possibly for being far from the curious eyes of locals and foreign visitors. In this photo essay, my focus is on the Teluk Kumbar fishing village located at the south-east end of the island.

I am excited to share with you some of the images taken on a very bright and blue day. It was definitely a great experience and a good workout as well, especially for a nature-lover like me. The smiling faces of the local children made the day unforgettable. Looking back, I arrived at the scene at around 8.45am but not many fishing activities in sight. Most of the fishing boats were still tied to the shore and the village seemed to have not woken from the slumber yet or was it still too early? Well, as the sun rose, so did the inhabitants. First, it was the fisherman and then followed by children in groups. The children, especially, were a bundle of joy with their laughters filling the air. What a difference from the city kids; here, digging for shells and building sandcastles bring the most happiness to them. There was no need for any video game console or computer games but just simple games by the beach to put smiles on their faces.

Being kids, they were initially shy but a little coaxing went a long way. They smiled and waved; I smiled and returned the gesture, in thanks for the friendship that formed in that fleeting photographic moments.

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

An up-close shot of a fishing boat with a fleet of other fishing boats moored along the bay on the background. Most of the boats sport the classic red and blue combination, making them a striking sight from near and afar.

Off they go: Two fishermen starting their journey on a sunny morning. Who knows what the tide may bring? Will it be a good catch? Or will it be just barely enough to scrape through and feed the hungry mouths back home? These fishermen know that their fate lie in the fickleness of the weather and yet they strive on, propelled by hope.

With a vast blue backdrop and swirl of the clouds, I was taken in by the simplicity and serenity of this scene. The orange rooftop adds contrast and visual interest, thus anchoring the image in the eyes of the viewer.

A peculiar-looking coconut branch stretches out as though to reach a fishing boat. This image was taken just below the branch to lend a sense of perspective and depth to the overall image.

“This morning I’m not going to the sea”, this pakcik (uncle) said when I asked him if he was preparing to go out like the other fishermen. He wanted to fix his fishing equipment first, since the fishing nets had become quite entangled. There were a number of nicer-looking boats nearby for photographic purposes, to be honest. However, I chose to capture this image as my heart went out to the pakcik who, despite being in a less-than-favorable situation, had the look and determination to turn the tide around, so to speak.

A bird was spotted doing its own fishing along a stream which leads to the sea. Using my Tamron 18-200mm lens, I crept and got as close as I could to the bird. I shot more than 40 images of this bird alone, waiting to capture that split-second image of the bird with its prey in its beak. I tried and tried and finally, got the image I had been striving for.

While the humans are still lulled by the sounds of the waves, a pair of green beetles got ‘caught in the act’. Love is surely all around in this quaint little fishing town!

I just had to capture a portrait of this little girl playing in the sand. She was such a joy to capture and definitely melted my heart with her bright eyes and sweet smile.

A young boy showing off a fishing worm in his right hand (notice the length of the worm). To catch the worms, the boy munched and spat biscuits onto the sands (most probably as a form of bait). As soon as the worm appears, all he needed was a quick hand to pull up the worm. Sounds easy? Wait until you give it a try.

A self-portrait on the golden sands of the beach. It’s been quite some time since I last took a picture of myself and this silhouette is the closest I would get for now.

A fisherman spends his morning mending his net in the open and under a cool shaded tree, oblivious to the world around him, especially to the sound of my shutter clicking away while I got down low to take this shot.

A walkway of rocks and concrete slabs lining up the beach which provide a form of barrier to the incoming waves. When the tide is high, it is almost impossible to use this walkway. I was intrigued by the rough texture and repetition of the rocks and felt that it would make an interesting image.

The smiles say it all: A group of local children having a wonderful time at the beach, digging holes and building sandcastles. Despite not knowing most of their names, I could feel the bond that developed when they let me into their world in that flickering moment, That’s the beauty of photography; there is usually not much need for many words if you let your heart do the talking. Anyway, a big smile almost always does the trick. It’s hello and goodbye, my little friends!

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

So on last Saturday, I made sure that my mind was purely on Little India and anything else could wait. Covering the notable areas around Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Pasar (Market Street) that make up Little India in the heart of George Town, I was greeted by the sights, sounds and scents. The sights of the dhoti-wearing men, the saree-clad ladies; the sound of Indian music blaring from the shops selling Bollywood movies and traditional Indian songs from shops and street stalls. Above all, who could disregard the scent of spices and incense wafting through the air in a dizzying concoction?

My heart was led astray.

Here’s my story and the scenes captured. In the meantime, let me savor some of the things I brought home with me this time around. Hmmm, I think my camera smells rather spicy now from the walk around Little India. Well, spice is nice!

Meendum santhipom! Vanakkam!
All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

The imposing Mahamariamman temple, quite possibly THE icon in Little India. The temple is over a hundred years old with a charm that can only be best experienced first hand.

Lord Ganesha, brother of Lord Muruga, guarding the inner shrine. The Mahamariamman temple is rich in history and definitely rich in colors as well.

Brightly-colored sarees being lined up high on this saree shop, making them a bold and vivid advertisement to woo potential customers.

Standing among the sarees in his shop, I asked this ‘uncle’ if I could take a picture of him. He willingly obliged and his straight-as-arrow pose sort of make him appear like one of the mannequins behind him. I smiled.

A close-up look: Boxes of colorful incense sticks being lined outside an Indian wholesaler’s shop. Walking around Little India, I was made to feel welcome by the sweet-smelling aroma from the incense sticks that seemed to fill the air every turn I took.

An assortment of brightly-colored prayer garlands can be found at various shops in Little India

Not for the faint-hearted: I was very drawn to the cube-like shapes of the machine-cut meat. They remind me of the square-shaped melons that they had (or still have?) in Taiwan or China. The blood and contours of the meat add further drama to this scene, in my opinion. The butcher, Encik Tajudden, was very accommodating and allowed me to take several shots of him at work.

A street vendor with his array of goodies; candies, juicy magazines on the latest Bollywood gossips, fruits, ointments and other knick-knacks. I find it amusing that despite the space constraint, these vendors are able to lay out their wares in a very neat and presentable manner

One of the Indian bookstores found in China Street with a bright yellow signboard which caught my eyes almost instantly. The hunched figure of an Indian lady add a sense of silence and loneliness, perhaps from waiting for the shop to be opened

Two men walking along a giant motif on the street.. Street engravings, with embossed motifs of flowers and other similar-inspired designs, are quite a sight in Little India so do take note of them the next time you are there

Master craftsmen at work in a jewellery shop along Market Street. Although very much engaged in their work, they were still very welcoming and obliging with their smiles when I approached them

What is Penang without its food? Freshly-prepared roti canai and murtabak tempting the taste buds of anyone who walks by. Shot from the Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant which serves northern and southern Indian cuisine. A must-have quick tuck before heading off home for me

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

The three elegantly beautiful models, Danielle, Karen and Roxanne were a joy to capture. They looked stunning in their wedding gowns and having the iconic sites of George Town as the backdrop made the whole event even more meaningful.

My thoughts through the lens

Passion. Grit. Determination. If these words sound very familiar in the sporting world, I’m sure these words are applicable to the photography world as well and this article also serves as a tribute to all the photographers who braved the heat for those two days. Here is a sneak peek of the event through my lens and for now, I will let the images do the ‘talking’.
All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

Little India, along Market Street

Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade

Chew Jetty

Off Beach Street

A candid shot at Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade

Shooting in session

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

Continuing on my previous photo essay on arches and archways of George Town, the focus this week is on using natural and available structures or objects to frame some of the many famous landmarks in George Town. In this essay, I also intend to depict the inhabitants of the city by offering a glimpse into their lives and cultures from the daily activities to snapshots of one of the most colourful celebrations in Malaysia, the Thaipusam festival.

On hindsight, the images were taken on blistering days and searching for frameworks to compose required not only passion but also lots of perspiration as well. Nevertheless, it was definitely worth the while. Here is my take on George Town; captured from different angles and most of all, the conventional and at times unconventional methods to frame the subjects. I hope you will see the city’s attractions with a new frame of mind and a renewed zest for all things Penang, as I had.

An elderly man stopping by at his neighbour’s wooden house at Chew Jetty, Weld Quay. The Jetty is the biggest of the waterfront settlements in George Town.

Hello, world: An Indian man about to have his morning shave when he saw me and smiled. Captured along a row of old houses in Market Street.

Framing its own: The Masjid Kapitan Keling Mosque peeked from the arch of its similar-shaped gate carving.

Tanjung City Marina, Weld Quay. It is the country’s first inner city marina and strategically adjacent to the Penang ferry terminal.

A multitude of colors seen from a devotee’s window-like kavadi on the eve of Thaipusam ’09. Image taken up-close and personal while the devotees were taking a short rest during the procession.

A street dance seen from a low angle on the eve of Thaipusam ’09 near Market Street.

In black and white: Masjid Kapitan Keling viewed from a jewellery shop’s roller blind to achieve the conventional ‘frame within a frame’ look.

Eye-catching: The little girl’s eyes remind me of an Indian goddess’. This shot was framed off a boy’s shoulders during Thaipusam procession.

A cobbler working amidst his wares in front of an old building’s walkway at inner George Town

Royal Malaysian Customs (Wisma Kastam) with its reflection framed by a pool of water on the foreground. The Customs is located at Chinese Street Ghaut.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) seen from the doorway of Standard Chartered Bank at Beach Street. One of the oldest roads to be laid in George Town, it continues to play an important role as the main banking street of George Town

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

On this particular photo essay, I chose to focus on the arches and archways found at most of the buildings which have been strongly influenced by the Colonial and other distinct eclectic styles. Some of the images of the buildings may have been documented countless of times but I intend to shed some light as well on some of the ‘lesser-known’ icons and walkways in an artistic yet photo journalistic way.

As I walked around with my trusty Nikon camera in hand, I find the buildings more and more fascinating, even for a local born Penangite like myself. I’ve come to truly appreciate each structure; each archway and each column represents our past and I hope they will forever remain the bulwark of George Town’s rich legacy for generations to come.

An old house off Stewart Lane

Church of The Assumption, Farquhar Street

Wan Hai Hotel, Stewart Lane

In perspective: Sunlight streaking in to illuminate the corridors of Penang Free School

Penang Free School hall corridors, Jalan Masjid Negeri

An outdoor restaurant menu, Love Lane, Penang Georgetown

Colonial inspired arches in Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Hotel, Farquhar Street, Penang Georgetown

A row of archways taken along the interiors of George Town

The façade of Kapitan Keling Mosque which drew inspiration from the Moorish Islamic architecture. This majestic building is located at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

The main gate of Penang Free School (founded in 1816), Jalan Mesjid Negeri

The oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia (built in 1816): The St. George’s Church looking resplendent with its arches and columns.

A trishaw man strolls across a row of archways along Wan Hai Hotel, Stewart Lane.

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

Have you stayed in a place you would like to recommend? or one that you detest so much that you want to warn others about it? Malaysia Travel Guide is for you and other travelers. You can make it more useful by sharing your accommodation reviews. The more comments and reviews we have on the hotels in the database, the more you and other conscious travelers have to go on for making decisions.

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Have you stayed in a place you would like to recommend? or one that you detest so much that you want to warn others about it? Malaysia Travel Guide is for you and other travelers. You can make it more useful by sharing your accommodation reviews. The more comments and reviews we have on the hotels in the database, the more you and other conscious travelers have to go on for making decisions.

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Here are my free Penang Maps (click on the image or links). Some image of the Penang Maps will take a while to load due to the size of the image. I try to leave the resolution of the Penang Maps as high as possible so that it will be detailed. (I suggest that you open each Penang Map in a new window)

Penang Maps

Penang Fun Map

Penang Detailed Map (click on the mouse to zoom in )

Georgetown Detailed Map

Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang

Malaysia Maps
1. Johor Maps: Johor & Johor Bahru
2. Kedah Maps: Kedah & Langkawi
3. Kelantan Maps: Kelantan & Kota Bahru
4. Malacca Maps: Malacca Town
5. Negeri Sembilan Maps: Negri Sembilan & Seremban
6. Pahang Maps: Pahang & Kuantan
7. Penang Maps: Penang & Georgetown
8. Perak Maps: Perak & Ipoh
9. Sabah Maps: Sabah & Kota Kinabalu
10. Sarawak Maps: Sarawak & Kuching
11. Selangor Maps: Selangor, Putraraya & Kuala Lumpur
12. Terengganu Maps: Terengganu & Kuala Terengganu

** Maps sourced from : www.tourism.gov.my (Tourism Malaysia Official Website )