If you point out Penang, the very first thing that involves thoughts, moreover meals, is the UNESCO World Heritage inscribed metropolis of Central George City—it’s the state’s declare to fame. However Penang is big, and there are different locations on the island value visiting, just like the suburbs of Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong—each off-the-radar locations for tourism that may be explored for a day, and even half a day. Excellent for individuals who’ve already ticked all of the locations to see in George City or these on the lookout for a facet journey from Batu Ferringhi.
UNDERSTAND TANJUNG BUNGAH & TANJUNG TOKONG
AN EVENING VIEW OF TANJUNG BUNGAH AND FARTHER OFF, TANJUNG TOKONG, IN PENANG |
Tanjung or Tanjong in Malay means cape, and these two jap seaside cities are principally upscale residential areas—house to most of Penang’s expats.
Tanjung Bungah, or Cape Flower, borders the well-known seaside city of Batu Ferringhi on its northern facet. And proper under it’s Tanjung Tokong, or Cape Temple, which sits proper beside the northern border of Central George City. Each Tanjung Bungah and Tokong are suburbs of George City Metropolis, which encompasses the entire of Penang Island.
HOW TO GET TO TANJUNG BUNGAH & TANJUNG TOKONG
RAPID PENANG BUS FOR GEORGE TOWN – TANJUNG BUNGAH – TANJUNG TOKONG – BATU FERRINGHI ROUTE |
Apart from hailing a taxi or a Seize Automotive, there are quite a few public transportation buses that ply the primary roads of Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah—Fast Penang buses 101, 102, and 104—that goes to Batu Ferringhi up north, and Central George City and Penang Worldwide Airport, down south.
TANJUNG BUNGAH TOURIST SPOTS
Most of Tanjung Bungah’s vacationer spots are positioned by the ocean, however a number of of those can be discovered on its hilly western portion. For simpler navigation, we’ll begin on the northernmost a part of Tanjung Bungah, taking place south the place its seashores hook up with its neighbor—Tanjung Tokong’s—seaside areas.
TIKUS ISLAND
TIKUS ISLAND, TANJUNG BUNGAH ~ MAP FROM GOOGLE MAPS |
One of many very first thing I observed throughout our keep at Tanjung Bungah was Tikus Island, a small islet positioned nearly a kilometer away from the coast of Tanjung Bungah Seashore. It actually interprets to Rat Island, not as a result of it’s infested by rodents, however as a result of assortment of clean massive rocks that make up the island which vaguely appears to be like like a profile of a rat when seen from above.
PULAU TIKUS OR RAT ISLAND ~ PHOTO BY CMGLEE FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS |
There’s really a seaside on the island and a tomb—the Shrine of Seyad Mohamed Kuddoos Oliyullah, an area Muslim saint, apparently. It’s a correct shrine with a jetty resulting in it. There’s, nevertheless, no common boat service or perhaps a tour that takes folks to and from Tikus Island. Attending to the island requires a kayak, and these could be rented from the Penang Water Sports activities Centre.
PENANG FLOATING MOSQUE
SUNRISE AT PENANG’S FLOATING MOSQUE ~ PHOTO BY SHEBALSO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS |
There’s the KK Floating Mosque and there’s Melaka’s Floating Mosque. Penang adopted swimsuit and constructed their very own floating mosque proper by the Straits of Melaka. Fronting a middle-eastern type façade blended with native motifs, it has a seven-story excessive minaret and a muṣallá prayer corridor that may accommodate 1,500 folks.
Like different floating mosques in Malaysia, it’s really constructed on stilts and solely seems to drift when the tide is excessive—and it’s much more lovely when it coincides with the rising solar.
TANJUNG BUNGAH PUBLIC BEACH
THE EXPANSIVE TANJUNG BUNGAH BEACH ~ PHOTO BY SOUMYADEEP FROM PIXABAY |
Earlier than Batu Ferringhi turned the go-to public seaside in Penang, Tanjung Bungah Seashore was the seaside for each vacationers and Penangites. It’s nearly two kilometers lengthy and has creamy white sand bordered by bushes, posh condominiums, and mountains past. Penang’s Floating Mosque can also be positioned on the western a part of this seaside.
TANJUNG BUNGAH MARKET
MORNING SCENE AT THE TANJUNG BUNGAH WET MARKET |
The largest moist market north of Penang, the Tanjung Bungah Market is a bustling two-story constructing housing a moist and dry market, and a hawker middle. On Tuesday nights, the grounds surrounding the market remodel into an evening market.
INTERESTING FOODS AT THE MARKET |
The market itself is kind of attention-grabbing, even for vacationers, with its plethora of native foodstuff. I discover their collection of recent and dry noodles and dimsums to be outstanding.
Its hawker middle is typical, however not that crowded. Individuals suggest the hokkien mee, hokkien prawn mee, and popiah.
PEARL HILL PARK
TANJUNG BUNGAH’S PEARL HILL PARK ~ PHOTO BY CMGLEE FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS |
For people who find themselves into brief hikes, the Pearl Hill Park is the proper course. Elevated 222 meters, its looping path meanders for about 5.3 kilometers with a view of the encircling areas of Tanjung Bungah and the Melaka Straits. The hike is pretty straightforward, with paved roads that may even accommodate bicycles. Remember to carry insect repellents although.
LONGEST MALAYSIAN FLAG MURAL
THE LONGEST JALUR GEMILANG MURAL IN THE WORLD |
Painted off the facet of an elevated highway alongside Tanjung Bungah’s major highway is Malaysia’s longest nationwide flag, the Jalur Gemilang or the Stripes of Glory. 541 meters lengthy and three.3 meters excessive, it was painted in 2003 by the Younger Muslim Sports activities Membership.
COLLEGE GENERAL SEMINARY
THE COLLEGE GENERAL IN TANJUNG BUNGAH ~ PHOTO FROM GOOGLE MAPS |
Situated on the foot of Pearl Hill is the historic School Basic Seminary. It was based in 1665 in Ayuthia, Siam—now Ayutthaya, Thailand—and has since moved to different elements of Thailand, Cambodia, India, and Melaka earlier than relocating in Penang in 1808.
PATRICK’S BEACH
TANJUNG BUNGAH’S PATRICK’S BEACH ~ PHOTO FROM GOOGLE MAPS |
Situated beside the Penang Swimming Membership, Patrick’s Seashore is a pocket seaside about 300 meters lengthy. It’s in all probability the least visited seaside in Tanjung Bungah, good for individuals who abhor the group. It may be accessed from the primary highway by Jalan Abbas.
PANTAI BEACH
PANTAI BEACH IN TANJUNG BUNGAH |
This seaside is usually known as Mercure Penang Seashore, Hompton Seashore, or BoraBora Seashore—relying on which resort it fronts. On Google Maps, it’s labelled as Pantai Seashore, however pantai in Malay means seaside—so, is it actually named Seashore Seashore? I doubt it. Despite the fact that I’ve really walked its 700-meter stretch, I nonetheless haven’t any clue as to its official identify.
PANTAI BEACH’S NORTHERN BREAKWATER |
It has the same old Penang cream-colored sand, however on its western facet the shore is replete with shells, so carry correct footwear. The seaside terminates on the east on the border of Tanjung Tokong’s Tua Pek Kong Temple.
TANJUNG TOKONG TOURIST SPOTS
Earlier than glitzy residences lined Tanjung Tokong’s shoreline, it was as soon as a quiet fishing village, and this really can nonetheless be gleaned from elements of Tanjung Tokong Seashore. It’s smaller than Tanjung Bungah, and like its northern neighbor, its vacationer websites can principally be discovered alongside the ocean. Should you proceed southwards, previous its border, there are two well-known temples, a Penang Thai and Burmese Temples, and a well-known hawker place, Gurney Drive Hawker Middle, simply previous it, which are literally a part of Central George City.
TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE
TUA PEK KONG STATUE AND HILL ENTRANCE IN TANJUNG TOKONG |
Tua Pek Kong is a Taoist deity that’s believed to bestow religious steering, wealth, security, and concord to its trustworthy. Tua Pek Kong, translated, actually means Grand Uncle. The deity is predicated on a Hakka clan Chinese language that unintentionally landed on Penang as he was crusing to Sumatra. It’s stated to be the supply of Chinese language migration in Penang.
The primary Tua Pek Kong Temple was constructed on the border of Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong after his demise. And tokong, which implies temple, is definitely the place Tanjung Tokong bought its identify.
THE TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE |
The temple itself isn’t that huge and a bit unremarkable, however discovering his bigger than life stone statue close to Tanjung Bungah Seashore was a little bit of a shock. I additionally noticed a closed off stairs resulting in a hill, in all probability a view level.
TANJUNG TOKONG BEACH
KOLEK BOATS ALONG TANJUNG TOKONG BEACH |
Immediately after Tanjung Bungah’s Pantai Seashore and linked by the Tua Pek Kong Temple is the crescent-shaped Tanjung Tokong Seashore. Littered by conventional blue and pink Malaysian kolek fishing boats, it echoes the city’s origin as a fishing village. The seaside has related options with its neighbor’s and stretches for about half a kilometer earlier than terminating on the Seri Tanjung Penang Promenade.
TANJUNG TOKONG WAVE BREAKER VIEWPOINT
THE BREAKWATER VIEWPOINT AT TANJUNG TOKONG ~ PHOTO FROM GOOGLE MAPS |
Jutting out 160 or so meters out into the ocean alongside Tanjung Tokong Seashore’s western portion is the View Level Wave Breaker. Created from boulders, it’s actually made to maintain the waters alongside Tanjong Tokong Seashore calm for the fishing boats that dock on its shore. It has additionally turned an area go to put for a grand view of the 2 adjoining seashores.
TANJUNG TOKONG WORLD WAR 2 RELICS
WORLD WAR II STRUCTURES IN TANJUNG TOKONG BEACH ~ PHOTO FROM GOOGLE MAPS |
Dividing Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong Seashore are a collection of small concrete constructions—pillboxes, bunkers, and a three-story lookout tower—constructed by the British in anticipation of the Japanese invasion through the Second World Battle. Japan did invade and occupy Penang in 1941, however these constructions stay, surviving the strafing and bombings on the island.
SERI TANJUNG PINANG PROMENADE
THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE SERI TANJUNG PINANG PROMENADE |
The place Tanjung Tokong Seashore ends, begins the Seri Tanjung Pinang Promenade. The park walkway follows the coast because it turns northward to the Straits Quay Marina. It then continues previous the marina and the shopping center, previous a bridge that connects to the unreal island being reclaimed parallel it, and into Metropolis of Goals.
EVENING VIEW OF THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF SERI TANJUNG PINANG PROMENADE |
It’s about two kilometers lengthy, good for strolling and jogging. The view of Gurney, Georgetown, and Butterworth is especially pretty through the evenings when the constructing are all lighted up.
STRAITS QUAY MALL & MARINA
STRAITS QUAY MARINA AND MALL IN TANJUNG TOKONG |
A swanky mall with swanky a division retailer and swanky meals locations—Straits Quay Mall & Marina is Tanjung Tokong’s twelve acres of swankiness. Managed by E&O Penang, it sports activities an analogous colonial period façade with the well-known lodge. It actually has 100 store heaps, quite a few bar and eating places, and even a performing arts theater.
STRAITS QUAY MARINA’S TOWERING LIGHTHOUSE AT NIGHT |
It additionally has a correct marina that may berth forty boats and a towering seven-storey fake lighthouse that homes E&O’s customer middle.