Top 10 things to do in Penang

By popular demand, here's the list:

1. Eat Char-Koay-Teow (fried flat noodles) - this special delicacy is so yummy because it is cooked with pork fat (lard) & eggs.
2. Eat O-Jien (fried oysters) - this is another egg cooked specialty dish.
3. Eat Roti Babi (pork bread) - this is a deep fried sandwich with minced pork.
4. Eat Curry Mee (noodles in coconut soup and curry) and Hokkien Mee (noodles in prawn based soup).
5. Eat Penang Chi-Cheong-Fun (rolled rice noodles with prawn paste).
   
6. Visit Kek-Lok-Si Temple - you can take the thousand step staircase from the base of the temple right up to the pagoda. Don't worry about the walk up as there are plenty to see. Along the steps are shops that sells ornaments, food and drinks, clothing etc. You will also pass a tortoise pond where you can feed vegetables to hundreds of tortoises.
7. Cross the Penang Bridge - It is a dual-carriageway toll bridge that connects Gelugor on the island of Penang and Seberang Prai on the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. Opened to traffic on September 14, 1985, the total length of the bridge is 13.5 km. It is amongst the longest bridges in the world, the longest bridge in the country as well as a national landmark. I managed to complete the bridge run in high school within 3 hours and almost fainted after the event!
8. Visit Gurney Drive - this is something like a small Shanghai Bundt. Facing the sea front, you will get plenty of breeze walking along the Gurney Drive side walk. You can find all the aforementioned food at the hawker stall areas.
9. Take the walk in downtown Penang - This is the best way to capture Penang’s mixed heritage. Old houses have columns or multi-coloured Peranakan tiles. The smell of incense drifts in the air amidst gold settings of Burmese, Thai and Chinese temples. The Khoo Kongsi is a traditional form of Chinese art with its delicately carved wooden panels. Other long-time occupants include elderly Chinese shopkeepers, colourful Indian food stalls and trishaws. Guided heritage tours can be found at http://www.journeymalaysia.com/islandpenangheritagewalk.htm
10. Visit relatives and friends - I was born and raised in Penang island. Always so little time to meet so many people!!
    

Here's a night shot of Gurney Drive & one of the Penang Bridge.