Last night I was looking through our pictures from our trip to Penang and realized there was no way I could fit everything I wanted to share in one post.  So as explained in last Travel Thursdays post, I started a “BEST OF” list to highlight the best parts of our travel adventures.  Today, I will follow this tradition and highlight the “BEST OF” Penang.  Hopefully this “BEST OF” list can provide some further insight into each travel adventure, or if anything, give you an idea of my favorite parts of each trip.  I may even pick one of the spots in my “BEST OF” list to write about in more detail in a later post, so stay tuned.  One example is my post on Char Kway Teow.

Please always feel free to drop me a line to ask any questions regarding our travels!

Leaving mainland Malaysia and crossing the Penang Bridge, one of the longest bridges in Asia, to get to Penang Island.

Stopping by the E&O Hotel, founded in 1885, was one of the highlights of our trip.  It’s so beautiful with its colonial charm.  Remember this post?

Sampling sweet treats at The Chocolate Boutique

Touring the Blue Mansion, otherwise known as Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.

When we spotted this billboard, we called the number and found a shop opened nearby.  We ran up to the window and ordered two boxes of these hand-made baked goods to go.  Plus, this man just looks so happy!

Visiting the temples throughout Penang was at the top of our list.  So we made sure to see them all.  Here are some photos from Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, the Buddist temple with Thai, Myanmarese and Chinese architecture.

Next stop – the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple

Then the Goddess of Mercy Chinese Temple

On to Khoo Kongsi – the grandest clan temple

And last but certainly not least, Kek Lok Si temple

At the end of the day we were tired from all of our sightseeing, but made one last stop to Gurney Drive.  This is a favorite for food enthusiasts and famous for the rows of hawker stalls offering a huge selection of Penang specialties.

What a great trip to Penang, often known as “The Pearl of the Orient”.

“BEST OF” LIST – PENANG, MALAYSIA

1.)  Walking the sidewalk behind the E&O Hotel, remember this post?
2.)  Sampling some of the 60 different types of chocolate at The Chocolate Boutique
3.)  Touring the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also seen in this post
4.)  Trying the hand-made goodies at GHEE HIANG
5.)  Visiting the temples Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, Dharmikarama Burmese Temple, Goddess of Mercy Chinese Temple, Khoo Kongsi and Kek Lok Si temple
6.)  Trying Char Kway Teow at Kafe Heng Huat, detailed here
7.)  Eating dinner on Gurney Drive