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Tour
Code : PEN/PCT (C) (Ex-Penang Hotel)
Departure : Daily
09:00am & 14:00pm (Duration : 4 hours)
(09:00am
OR 14:00pm) - Pick up at hotel lobby and depart for half day Penang City
Tour. Tour feature Khoo Ancestral Clan House,
Botanical Garden, Reclining
Buddha Temple,
Pewter Factory and shopping for local products.
Khoo Ancestral Clan House (Khoo
Kongsi) - Probably Penang’s most picturesque
building, the Khoo Kongsi
is made up of two buildings on opposite sides to each other. One building
serves as the ancestral temple while the other is used for staging plays
and operas. The Khoo Kongsi
is meant only for members of the Leong San Tong (Dragon Mountain Hall)
clan, whose forefathers came from Sin Kang village in Hokkien
province, China.
Construction of the Khoo Kongsi
started in 1894 and took eight years to complete. Its original design was
very elaborate meant to capture the splendour of the Chinese imperial
palace. Its seven-tiered pavilion, dragon pillars and hand-painted walls
engraved with the Khoo emblem was thought to have
even outshone the imperial palace itself. On the first night of its
completion, the Khoo Kongsi
caught fire and many said it was because the gods were unhappy with the
scale of its grandeur. It was then rebuilt on a smaller scale but it still
retains the distinctive architecture of the master craftsmen from China.
Botanical
Garden - This 30-hectare sprawling garden of flora and fauna is a favourite
recreation spot for locals. While the vibrant hues of Penang native fauna is the prominent feature,
the star attraction is the large number of macaque monkeys that greet
visitors from the entrance right to the heart of the garden.
Reclining
Buddha Temple - The world third largest
reclining Buddha which measures 33 metres in length, is draped in
gold-leafed saffron and reclines on a large crematorium. This Buddhist
temple is reminiscent of Bangkok
many wats. The intricate finish of the interior
in vibrant colours and designs is a sample of Thai architecture.
Pewter
Factory - Use of pewter was common from the Middle Ages up until the 18th
and 19th centuries. This metal, which is made from tin mixed with copper or
lead, is soft enough to be carved with hand tools, or patterned with
punches or presses. Malaysia
is at the forefront of the pewter production industry. Contemporary items
and decorative items like candle holders, plates, trophies, mugs, corporate gifts and children's toys are very
popular among local and foreign customers.
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Tour
Code : PEN/PHT (Ex-Penang Hotel)
Departure : Daily 09:00am & 14:00pm
(Duration : 4 hours)
(09:00am
OR 14:00pm) - Pick up at hotel lobby and depart for Penang Hill &
Temple Tour. Tour visit a major Chinese Temple and a trip to
the peak of Penang Hill.
Kek Lok Si - Perhaps the
finest Buddhist temple in South East Asia,
the Kek Lok Si temple
stands majestically on a hill in Ayer Itam.
Construction began in 1893 and was completed in 1905. Built in tiers, the
beautifully crafted agoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas took more than 20 years to build and was only
completed in 1930. It combines a Chinese octagonal base, middle tiers of
Thai architecture and a Burmese crown, reflecting the temple wide embrace
of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.
Penang
Hill - is actually made up of a series of hills which rise above the
island. The peak stands at 821 metres above sea level, which makes it a
cool getaway from the tropical heat below. The hill is accessible via a funicular
train which was first opened for use in 1923. The train operates in two
sections and passengers change railcars at midpoint. It takes about half an
hour to reach the summit and the train service operates at half hour
intervals. Upon reaching the summit, one is rewarded with a panoramic view
of Penang island. There are also old
bungalows, a hotel, bird park and walking trails which are worth checking
out.
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