Basically, the whole area is called Teluk Bahang. You'll need to register at the National Park Office first, then report to the office when you are back. You can collect the brochure (with trails' Map) and ask the staff for info at the office. Entrance to the National Park is FREE, but need to pay 5ringgit for the canopy walk.

While you are at the Teluk Bahang fishing vililage, you may want to speak to the locals and get some fishermen's contact number, in case you need to take a boat ride back later (very tiring after Muka Head Light House)...

Also, bring lots of drinking water and food! There's no food/drink stall inside the park.

Check out this site:
http://www.my-island-penang.com/Penang-National-Park.html

Enjoy your trip! If you still got energy, can try hiking in Penang. Lots of hiking trails... Botanical garden to Penang Hill, Moon Gate to Balik Pulau etc...

Take cab, RM 20 +/- 5.

Take bus, check Rapid Penang's website for journey planner.

Aiyah, once you hit the North-South Expressway, there's only the Rest & Relax stops la.. You can check PLUS website. Unless you are not using the expressway but driving via the old frederal road....

Even Bukit Tambun is one exit before the final exit at Juru toll...

Ya, that laksa is not bad, likewise the ice kacang. Btw, that is market's food stalls la - food court sounds confusing.

I would say the Balik Pulau laksa is good. So far, I've tried 2 different stalls in 2 coffee shops at the town. Both stalls sell the Asam laksa and the Siam laksa. I would asked for the mixed - a bit sour + a bit lemak. And the best drink in Balik Pulau - fresh nutmeg juice with sour plum. Yup, it's fresh from the nutmeg fruit, not the usual juice drink dilute with water.

This sounds worrying... I can't imagine how are you going to drive around Penang since you don't even know how to make your way to the NSE - make sure you head north, ok? This is not a joke, coz I've got one friend who drove at the wrong direction along CTE in Singapore before.

Have you tried google map? Or might need to get a GPS..

Yes, these day you can order nutmeg juice every where in town (in Butterworth too). But I'm doubt that those are from the fresh nutmeg coz the white juice is now available in bottle where one just need to dilute with water to make the drinks. The different between the while and brown is that the brown one is after boiling nutmeg flesh with rock sugar (using slow cooker).

The one at Balik Pulau town, is really fresh from the blender/juicer, no water added. I saw the blender and the remains of nutmegs at the back of the coffee shop. It is also very thick, and need to go with sour plum in order to make it "smoother".

Similiarly, the widely available "ambula" (ie buah kedongdong) juice is also from the bottle and dilute with water.

4WD at the Botanical Garden. RM15 per pax, return fare. Or RM60 for the whole 4WD if you do not want to wait for it to fill up.

If money is not the issue, go ahead, get the hotel at Batu Ferringhi - Rasa Sayang, Golden Sand, Holiday Inn, Grand Plaza Park Royal, Bayview Beach are great. Hard Rock Hotel's band plays till 2 am, can be heard from room. If staying at BF, then can also visit the night market.

FYI, you might end up swimming at the hotel's swimming pool. By our local standard, the sea is ok to swim in, but a lot of foreigners would think otherwise. Many of them also scared of jellyfish in the sea.

Not much changes about Penang's attractions. But the roads, some changes for the past 10 years -many one way roads now, so do expect to drive one big circle if what used to be just across the road or something like that. Also, when exiting Penang Bridge (ie reach the island side), if not familiar, one could end up at the Jelutong Expressway and drive all the way to the jetty (that's what happen to my cousin)... My cousin has also accidentally driven to Butterworth via Penang Bridge instead of following the exit to Bayan Lepas when wanted to go to Queensbay Mall from Georgetown. Ha ha, he's from Singapore anyway...

Yup, esp in town area. The streets are narrow, with cars parked at both side of the road, and car that stop to pick up/drop passenger, and bus stops too.

Sometimes, I think it's better not to drive to the town - take the free CAT bus.

Where can I find hawker centre or big coffee shop that has many hawker stalls that opens for LUNCH? (most of them open in the morning till late morning, some open in the late afternoon, or evening till night)

I always end up at Batu Lanchang market..

Haha, I'm local from the mainland side la. Been going to Batu Lanchang Market for many years. Thought local islander can suggest other good hawker food that opens for lunch.

As for New World Park, the food so so nia. If I am in the island late morning, I'd drop by Chowrasta market, plenty of nice food there too. And of course, if it's late evening or night, no problem la, hawker food is every where..

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Added on July 8, 2010, 8:21 pmYou asked about places to eat near Sri Sayang.. For my friends (KL/Singapore) that choose to stay at Batu Ferringhi, I would normally bring them to the Batu Ferringhi night market stretch. I find the place nearer to go to rather than heading back to town.

One popular food court there is called "Palm Beach". Many hawker stalls there, though the price is higher than the food in town, the food is ok. The Hainanese Poh Piah there is a must try. After makan, can jalan jalan at the night market. And later go to Hard Rock.


This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Jul 8 2010, 08:21 PM

Penang food trail, by the Penang govt:
http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/download2/FoodTrail.pdf

Gurney Park condo, there are a few private unit for rental, 3 bed rooms, fully furnished kitchen with utensil, and living room, RM200-250 per night.

Or, Sri Sayang Apartment, opp Rasa Sayan Hotel, at Batu Feringghi, the place a bit old though...

Went trekking at Teluk Bahang -Penang National Park + round island drive on Monday!

After dim sum breakfast at Anson Road, drove up to Teluk Bahang.

Took around 3hrs from the Park's main entrance to Monkey Beach, including lots of rest throughout coz got 5 senior citizens in our group. Some obstacles along the trail, challenging but fun. Had a simple picnic at Monkey Beach, then took a boat ride back to Teluk Bahang- 3hrs trekking, but only 5mins boat ride back!!!

Next, proceed to pekan Balik Pulau -fresh nutmeg juice and laksa.

Finished off the round island trip -drove along Jalan Balik Pulau -Jalan Teluk Kumbar -Lebuhraya Bayan Lepas/Bayan Baru - Jelutong Expressway - exit at Magazine Road - and had buffet steamboat at Macalister Road.

Those are privately owned unit, rent out to tourist for short stay, er, somewhat "ilegal"? Not allowed coz sked big group of people party there till late night and creates lots of noise...if other units' tenants complaint then all will be in trouble.

Should be able to accommodate 10 pax if got 3 bedrooms, some may also sleep on the sofa in the living hall..

Have a look at these:
http://www.haisoonprop.com/promotion.pdf
http://www.haisoonprop.com/desa.html

Sunway hotel Georgetown, IMO, better than Cititel.

I bet Tripadvisor favour Traders/Bayview Georgetown/E&O for staying in Georgetown, and if Batu Feringghi, Rasa Sayang/Holiday Inn/Golden Sand/Park Royal?

Location wise, Sunway is very near to food & shopping. Shopping - Times Square, Gama, Komtar, Prangin Mall, within 5-10mins walk (the nearest being Time Square). Food -New lane hawker food, and food stalls/coffee shops along Macalister Road, also, cheap buffer steamboat at Macalister Road.

Cititel, over at Penang Road, food, no problem, Red Garden food centre and some roadside stalls at night. But might need to take some form of transport to the above mentioned shopping centres, or expect to walk at least 20-30mins.

Have a look at Google Map.

Go for Traders if you can find good deal.

Sunway to Gurney(or reverse), RM10-12. Normally taxi driver would ask for RM15 or more, just make sure to haggle. Cheaper alternative is to walk to Komtar and catch Rapid Pg bus no.304.

If your parents are interested, they can catch the free shuttle service called CAT for sightseeing/or moving around Georgetown.

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Jul 30 2010, 07:32 PM