Komtar

Komtar Tower, or Menara Komtar Complex is Penang's tallest building and the sixth tallest building in Malaysia located in the heart of George Town, dominating the island's skyline. KOMTAR is an acronym for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak. When the skyscraper topped out it was the second tallest building in Asia after Sunshine 60 in Tokyo. Komtar was still Malaysia's tallest building for 3 years before it was surpassed by Menara Maybank in Kuala Lumpur in 1988.

Komtar is a multipurpose complex consisting of retail outlets, transportation hub and administrative offices for the Penang State Government. An acronym for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak, KOMTAR was named after Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the second prime minister of Malaysia, who officiated in the piling of Phase 1 on 1 January 1974. It bears the same name as Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak in Johor Bahru, built about the same time but on a smaller scale. The Johor Bahru KOMTAR only has 25 storeys.

The 65-storey tower is a 232 m (761 ft) 12-sided geometric block atop a 4-storey podium. The complex comprises office and retail commercial space as well as public and recreational facilities. It was designed by Architects Team 3 (AT3) of Singapore.^[5] and designed and constructed with local expertise, also a geodesic dome of Buckminster Fuller's design. The architect involved in the design of the building was Lim Chong Keat, the younger brother of Dr Lim Chong Eu.

KOMTAR Tower commenced construction in 1974 and at the time of its construction, Komtar is regarded as one of the cutting-edge buildings in Penang. KOMTAR was the vision of the then Chief Minister of Penang Dr Lim Chong Eu to revitalise the urban centre of George Town and usher the state forward.

KOMTAR occupies an 11-hectare site and is the single most ambitious urban renewal project undertaken by Penang Development Corporation, the development arm of the Penang state government. The master plan is divided into five phases for implementation.

Goat Farm in Penang

Balik Pulau Goat Farm is situated at a 5 acres land in Permatang Pasir, Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia. Our dairy goats are imported from Australia of the Saanen breed.  These Saanen Dairy Goats are organically fed with freshly cut grass, silage and kept in a modern climate controlled barn.

In our dairy milk production, hygiene is very important. This Penang Goat Farm uses minimal human handling and most of the processes are automated including the milking process.

Happy Goats Farm produces around 100 liters of fresh goats milk daily, which are mostly sold for direct consumption, made into yogurt (kefir), ice cream, goat cheese (chevre), feta and goat cheese spread.

Saanen Dairy Goats

Saanen goats are white or cream colored breed of goats, named after the Saanen valley in Switzerland. Saanens  goats are highly intelligent, clean, agile, friendly and among the largest of the dairy goats. This breed is sensitive to excessive sunlight and performs best in cooler conditions. Hygienically collected Saanen’s Pure Goat Milk is delicious and slightly sweet in taste.

Grass Fed Dairy Goats

All the Saanan dairy goats at Balik Pulau Goat farm are fed with Rosie and Napiar grass planted at our farm. Goat milk from grass fed goats have better nutritious value and goats consuming grass planted at our own farm will help to reduce contamination from diseases and worms.

Climate Control Barn

Happy Goats is the pioneer in goat farming using close house climate control barn. The benefit of using this system is these animals are not exposed to harmful virus and bacteria from other animal. By using this method of farming the farm are able to be kept clean with minimum usage of water and the animals would be in their natural environment as the temperature in the barn is kept cool similar to the weather in Australia. As such we are able to bring the best breed of Saanan dairy goat from Australia to our farm in Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia.

The advantage of having the best breed of goat will result in higher production of milk per animal, better quality of milk (no harmful bacteria), with good nutritious value and taste. All these benefits will be passed down to the consumer and for the first time in Penang consumers will be able to enjoy hygienically produced goat’s milk with high quality and good taste (without the goaty smell) .

Butterfly farm

Get in touch with nature at the Penang Butterfly Farm and experience their set of their new attractions such as The Tree of Life, Swing of Love, Cave of Mystery, Aqua Fun, Kingdom of Frogs, Biodiver-City Hall and more. Apart from dealing with butterflies, the Penang Butterfly Farm also showcases other animals and insects such as beetles, lizards, frogs and even snails.

Opened in March 1986, the Penang Butterfly Farm is presumably the first butterfly house in the Tropical Region. Today, they house an average population of 4,000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 species, along with other insects and small animals. They pride themselves in being a living museum to educate the public as well as a conservation and research centre to develop breeding methods.

The Penang Butterfly is open daily from 9.00am – 6.00pm (Last Entry at 5.00pm). Tickets are priced at RM 27.00 per adult (13 years & above), RM 15.00 per child (4 years & above), RM13.50 per senior citizen (58 years & above) and is free of charge for children 3 and below. A MyKad and MyKid holder are entitled to a 33.3% discount.it is fun.The butterfly is very Beautiful.come and visit Penang Butterfly Farm.

Balik Pulau

Town of Balik Pulau

Main street of Balik Pulau

Set among green rice paddies and fruit plantations in a peaceful valley on Penang Island, Balik Pulau is a great place to escape the maddening traffic of Georgetown for an afternoon or longer. Georgetown and its famous food may steal much of the spotlight, but Balik Pulau rarely fails to charm visitors who are willing to seek out a little local culture inPenang.

Balik Pulau literally translates to "the back of the island".

While Georgetown's sprawl dominates the northeast of Penang, Balik Pulau rests peacefully in the interior of the island. Putting a finger on any one thing that gives Balik Pulau such an enjoyable vibe is difficult. Balik Pulau's attraction could be the scattering of colonial-era buildings mingled with traditional houses on stilts or perhaps the smell of spices growing in clean air. Regardless, tourism meshes flawlessly with daily life in this sleepy agriculture district.

Unique Balik Pulau Foods

Anyone arriving from Georgetown will surely have one thing in mind: food. Freshly grown fruits and spices make for interesting twists on traditional dishes. Locally-fermentedbelacan - a pungent shrimp paste - lends a fishy taste to otherwise dull offerings.

• Durian: Balik Pulau is famous for its durian fruit. If you have any desire to try this foul-smelling yet addictive fruit, Balik Pulau is the place to do so. There are many species of durians grown in Balik Pulau, ranging from sweet to disgustingly bitter - do not sample just one! Read more about the amazing durian fruit.

• 
  Read more about food in Penang.Laksa: Different from typical laksa, Balik Pulau laksa is a rice noodle dish prepared in a savory, fish-based broth. For a different taste, try laksa lemak which is prepared with a sweet coconut cream. Read more aboutlaksa.
• Laksa Janggus: Made from cashew nuts, this dish is found in a restaurant of the same name on Jalan Bharu. Visitors are welcome to eat the cashew nuts growing from trees around this open-air restaurant.
• Other Food: When you grow tired of odd-smelling foods, go for one of the ubiquitousMalaysian Indian food restaurants found in town. Most restaurants have deliciousMalaysian noodle dishes as well.

Things to Do in Balik Pulau

Aside from eating, there are enough interesting sites scattered around Balik Pulau to occupy you for at least an afternoon. Most sites are spread over a six-mile area and arebest visited by renting a bicycle. Plan at least two hours to stroll the main streets if you forgo the bicycle.

Some sites to see around Balik Pulau:

• Belacan Factory: Visitors are welcomed to see how belacan shrimp paste is made. Look for the small factory on the eastern end of Jalan Pulau Betong; be prepared to hold your nose!
• Sustainable Organic Farm: Mr. Lui is a former engineer who gave up the office to run his own eco-friendly fruit and vegetable farm. He is willing to share his sustainable farming methods; make an appointment by calling 019-4714168.
• Fishing Village: Just one kilometer east of Balik Pulau is the tiny fishing village of Pulau Betong. Seeing the colorful boats and local men tending their nets is well worth the walk.
• Rice Paddies: The green rice fields west of town are picturesque and well worth a visit. Go west on Jalan Sungau Nipah for access to the rice paddies.
• Xuan Wu Chinese Temple: Constructed in the 1800s , this bright-red, Chinese temple is home to traditional Chinese operas in March and July.

Batu Ferringhi

Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
District	Northeast Penang Island
Government
• Local Government	Penang Island City Council (MBPP)
• Penang Island City Mayor	Dato' Patahiyah binti Ismail
• Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament	Zairil Khir Johari (DAP)
• Tanjung Bungah State Assemblyman	Teh Yee Cheu (DAP)
Time zone	MST (UTC+8)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed (UTC)
Postal code	11100

Penang Escape Theme park

Penang is a green island in more than one sense of the word. Beyond the concrete suburbs that hug the eastern and northeastern coasts, much of the island is in fact covered in jungle and the local government is keen to promote its environmentally conscious side. The ‘Cleaner Greener Penang’ campaign is visible everywhere, and there has been a huge effort in recent years to tidy up the streets, promote recycling and reduce pollution. Now Penang is championing the green cause in a whole new way with the opening of Malaysia’s first environmentally friendly theme park, Escape.
Located about half an hour out of Georgetown, in the jungles of the island’s northwest, Escape is not a theme park in the traditional saccharine-coated, plastic-fantastical sense. Forget about cuddly life-size cartoon characters, spinning teacups, replica fibreglass world monuments and rollercoasters. Escape offers a completely different experience, which eschews almost all the values of your typical amusement park.
Instead of trying to transport visitors to a land of fabricated fantasies, it draws you into the world that already exists around you. The theme at Escape is ‘natural’, and the emphasis is on connecting with others, as well as capturing a sense of adventure. Rising organically out of the surrounding jungle, the park aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The traditional thatched kampong-style buildings that greet you when you enter the park are the real deal, and the grass roofs, recycled water system and ‘human-powered’ attractions all help the park integrate into its natural surroundings.

Another major attraction is the Tubby Racer, where you can hurl yourself down a hillside in a large rubber tyre. On our recent visit we couldn’t understand why there were no queues, but the climb to the top, dragging your tyre behind you, obviously puts more than a few people off. It requires some stamina, but the buzz of the downward descent is worth it. Other popular attractions are the bungee jump platform, Atan’s Leap, as well as the Gecko Tower, where you can pit yourself against the clock, and other contenders, to haul yourself to the top of the tower as fast as possible.
There are loads of activities to keep children entertained, too, from negotiating the Tots Trail, foraging for treasure at the Discovery Dig, or squeezing through a series of tunnels and mazes in Foxy Burrow. An extensive play area will occupy younger children, and there’s picnic areas and even treetop day cabanas, which can be rented for between 50 and 150 ringgit per day and provide a quiet respite from all that activity and adventuring.

The feel inside the park is at once organic, but with nods to the traditional theme park in terms of the map, the names of the attractions and the general ambience. Hits from the eighties, nineties and noughties play over the park’s loudspeakers, and there is a food court serving canned drinks (4 ringgit), bottles of water (2.50 ringgit) and fresh fruit juices (5 to 6 ringgit), as well as various Chinese, Malay and Western snacks and meals including burgers, chicken rice, spring rolls, noodles and sandwiches, for between 8 and 16 ringgit.
The park works on a ‘no-cash’ basis for food purchases, so you will need to deposit money on a special card, for which you pay a deposit of 5 ringgit (you can top this up if you need to, and any unused credit, plus the deposit, is refunded at the end of your visit). No food or drinks can be taken into the park, but you can bring water bottles and refill these, and if you need to store bags and belongings, lockers can be rented near the reception area for 5 ringgit.

Entrance is 60 ringgit for adults and 45 ringgit for under-12s and over-60s. Three to four hours would be enough to get your money’s worth, although if you want to factor in some relaxation time and rent one of the cabanas, or if you just want to take your time and let the kids run around a bit, then you could easily spend the day here. Buses 101 and 102 to Teluk Bahang depart regularly from the bus station at Weld Quay, or a taxi should cost around 60 to 70 ringgit.
In 2014, Escape will be extended to include a waterpark and hotel, though whether these follow the same environmentally friendly theme remains to be seen. Regardless of this, the Adventureplay section offers a very active antidote if you have overdosed on too much Penang food and culture. The fact that it operates on such admirable principles, and is so different to anything else in Malaysia, is reason to visit in itself. Be prepared to expend a lot of energy and get very sweaty, but if you just need to let off some steam, this really is a rewarding way to do so.

Penang Second Bridge

 
  The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or Penang Second Bridge (Malay: Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah or Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang)  is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia (Batu Kawan) in Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia with Batu Maung on Penang Island. It is the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after the first Penang Bridge. The total length of the bridge is 24 km (15 mi) with length over water at 16.9 km (10.5 m), making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the longest in Southeast Asia. China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC), a main contractor for the second bridge was expected to start work on the second Penang bridge in November 2007 and complete the project in 2011, but the completion date was then postponed to May 2012, and later to February 2014.Construction actually started in November 2008. To reduce the cost of construction, its design was then modified to resemble the first cable stayed Penang Bridge. The bridge has been built with a large loan from the People's Republic of China to continue and maintain the economic relationship between China and Malaysia. The bridge was officially opened on 1 March 2014 at 20:30 MST and was named after the fourteen Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah and was assigned with the route number.

 Planning  
   In the year 1995, the idea to build a second bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia's Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and the 3rd Chief Minister of Penang's Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. In August 2006, the Malaysian federal government unveiled a plan to build the Penang Second Bridge in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. On 12 November 2006, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Penang Second Bridge was performed by the 5th Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Bridge
    
The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge is designed based on the double "S" curvy concept due to the geological reasons. The numerous "S"-like curves along the 24 km stretch are a requirement under the Road Safety Audit. It was to help motorists keep their attention on the road while driving.
The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge is the longest bridge in the world installed with High Damping Natural Rubber (HDNR) Bearing, an effective seismic isolation system that enables the bridge to withstand far field earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale. The bridge is the first in Malaysia to be installed with seismic expansion joints, which will allow movements during an earthquake

Bridge specifications

Overall length: 24 km (15 mi)

Length over water: 16.9 km (10.5 mi)

Main span: Length - 250 m

Height clearance (above water): 30 m

Number of vehicle lanes: 2 + 1 for motorcycles (each direction)

Targeted date to be opened to the public: 2 March 2014

Overall cost: RM 4.5 Billion

Average time taken to drive from Batu Kawan to Batu Maung: 20 mins

Proposed speed limit on bridge: 80 km/h (50 mph)

Percentage of local contents to be used: 6       

Penang Heritage

History of Kek Lok Si

The construction of the temple began in 1890 and completed in 1905. It was inspired by Beow Lean, the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street in 1887; he had served earlier in the Kushan Abbey in Fujian in China. The site chosen by Beow, a spiritual location in the hills of Ayer Itam, facing the sea, was named "White Crane Mountain". It was established as a branch of the Buddhist Vatican in Drum Mountain in Foochow in Hokkien province. Beow Lean was the first Abbot of the temple. The buildings of the temple complex were sponsored by five leading Chinese business people of Penang known as "Hakka tycoons". They were: Cheong Fatt Tze, his cousin Cahang Yu Nan, Chea Choon Seng, Tye Kee Yoon, and Chung Keng Kooi. Collection of funds for building the temple was also facilitated by dedicating the structures and artefacts in the name of the temple's benefactors.^[ The main hall, which was completed first, housed a shrine to Guanyin, in a recessed area where many other female goddesses called the Queen of Heaven, the Goddess of the Earth, and Goddess of Childbirth are housed; which is said to represent, on a miniature scale, the island of Potalaka where there is a large shrine dedicated to Guanyin in the China Sea. People compared this shrine to the Amitabha Buddha's Western Paradise and started calling it the "Kek Lok Si" ("Jile Si"). There are also many other shrine chambers, which have stately statues, all gilded, of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, saintly Lohans, guardian spirits, and Heavenly (or Diamond) Kings of Pure Land Buddhism.
The consular representative of China in Penang reported the grandeur of the temple to the Qing Government. Following this, Emperor Guangxu invited Beow Lean to Peking in 1904 and bestowed on him, 70,000 volumes (7,000 is also mentioned in some references) of the "psalms and other sacred works of Buddhism" and also presented him edicts anointing him as "dignity of the Chief Priest of Penang" and also declaring "the Chinese temple at Air Itam as the head of all Chinese temples in Penang". On the Abbot's return to Penang, a royal procession, carrying the edict in a rattan chair and the scriptures in pony driven carts, was organised leading to the temple complex. Prominent Chinese dignitaries of Penang in their royal mandarin attire accompanied the Abbot in the procession.
In 1930, the seven storey main pagoda of the temple or the Pagoda of "Ban Po Thar", the Ten Thousand Buddhas, a 30 metres (98 ft) high structure, was completed. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown (spiral dome); reflecting the temple's amalgam of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. It represents syncretism of the ethnic and religious diversity in the country. There is a large statue of Buddha donated by King Bhumibol of Thailand diefied here. King Rama VI of Thailand laid the foundation for the pagoda and it is hence also named as Rama Pagoda.
In 2002, a 30.2-metre (99 ft) bronze statue of the Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, was completed and opened to the public. It replaced the previous white plaster Kuan Yin statue which was damaged due to a fire a few years earlier. The bronze statue is located on the hillside above the pagoda. The statue is complemented with a 60.9 metres (200 ft) three-tiered roof pavilion (with 16 columns made of bronze supporting the pavilion), which was completed in 2009.It is the tallest Kuan Yin statue in the world. One hundred statues of the goddess Kuan Yin, each of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) height, are set around the main statue of the goddess. However, its height was restricted to avoid its shadow falling on the Penang State Mosque. This shrine also has other 10,000 statues of Buddha, apart from a statue of 12 Zodiac Animal Signs of the Chinese Calendar.
The temple complex has a large hydraulically operated bell, which tolls with a high pitch at frequent intervals. Wood and stone carvings are profusely seen in the temple. In front of each deity there is a cushion, impressive scrolls, and candles set in very attractive suspended lamps, and with a large number of priests in attendance.

Statue of Kuan Yin, inaugurated 2002, prior to the construction of the pavilion

History of Penang Hill

Captain Francis Light, founder of the colony in Penang, first plotted a horse track from the Penang Botanic Gardens waterfall up to the top of the hill in 1788. He cleared an area in order to grow strawberry, which was therefore known as Strawberry Hill. Its official name however was Flagstaff Hill, which is still reflected in its name in Malay, Bukit Bendera (literally "Flag Hill"). The name was a reference to the flagstaff outside "Bel Retiro", which was the residence of the Governor of Penang built c. 1789. The area is however widely known as Penang Hill. The hill became a cool retreat for the British colonists from the heat of the lowlands and threat of malaria, and many bungalows were built on the summit of Penang Hill for government servants and army. One of its earliest buildings was the Convalescent Bungalow built in 1803.
In the early days the only way to the top of hill was to travel on foot or horseback, or be carried on dooly (sedan chair). The first attempt at a mountain railway on Penang Hill began in 1897 but it proved unsuccessful. It was built between 1901 and 1905 but had technical faults. The Straits government then organized a new project to construct the Penang Hill Funicular Railway at a cost of 1.5 million Straits dollars. The railway was first opened to the public on 21 October 1923 and officially opened on 1 January 1924. The funicular railway led to a sharp increase in residential development as it become a location for the building of holiday villas and bungalows by Europeans and wealthy local Chinese towkays alike. It has also developed into a tourist destination.