Penang Island lies in northwest Malaysia and its capital, George Town is home to several landmarks. Penang attracts tourists and travelluers from all across the world because of its natural attractions and panoramic views. As an amalgamation of the new and the old, it is here that you are sure to enjoy some great experiences that are not to be found anywhere else. Penang is indeed one of the most diverse and exciting spots on the plant. There is a lot to do and see here. How to enjoy it the most especially when you have just 48 hours?

Browse Georgetown hotels for your stay as they are known for their great vibes and are highly recommended. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the wifi works great. Moreover, these hotels are right next to the market hub and major attractions. Given the manageable size of Penang, one can certainly enjoy most of the island, provided they have a well-planned itinerary.

Day1

The first Morning After a good night rest in Berjaya Penang hotel or whatever hotel you choose in Georgetown, head for the George Town for a hearty breakfast. You can start your day with a trip to the butterfly farm, also known as Entopia. The lively vivarium has more than 15,000 winged friends as well as150 species of flora and fauna. It is like benign in a real Eden garden thanks to that rich flora and fauna and the colourful butterflies. Later you can check out the Tropical Fruit Farm that is located in wilds Teluk Bahang. Taste the fruits here that are simply fresh and delicious.

In the Afternoon You can enjoy some heavy-duty Malaysian-Indian fare and rest at one of the favorite restaurants in Tanjung Bungah. You can spend the afternoon learning about the Chinese culture at Khoo Kongsi, which is a Chinese clan house. Take a tour of their intricately-designed buildings and learn about the most distinctive clan in Malaysia.

Evening time Stroll along the beaches, and there are plenty of beaches in Penang that are simply most breathtaking. Head towards the northern part of Penang as most of these tranquil locales is found here. Enjoy breathtaking views and wide array of recreational activities such as windsurfing and parasailing.

At Night Explore Batu Ferringhi Night Market which is indeed a shopper’s paradise. Here one will find items of every kind and can try out their haggling skills to get the best prices. It is time for dinner, and one can return to George Town for some great food. There are many food courts and restaurants here.

Day 2

The second morning

Head for the Penang Hill the next day. You can reach it by climbing or can take the Penang Hill funicular train. Enjoy the experience of standing on the summit and look at the gorgeous scenery and panoramic views of Penang. Moreover, there are numerous attractions situated at the top such as Bel Retiro Bungalow and the Penang Hill Hindu Temple. Get some designs on your hands by the famous Penang Hill Henna Artists before you leave.

During the Afternoon

After spending some time on Penang Hill, you can have lunch at Penang Air Itam Laksa which is nearby and specializes in Assam Laksa. Take a trip down and head for the Penang Youth Park. This is your chance to familiarize yourself with the street art culture in Penang. You will come across budding street artists in the Municipal Park and streets.

in the Evening

Spend the evening at an outdoor art gallery cum bistro-strewn garden, the Hin Bus Depot. Be there in time as it closes by 7 p.m. Watch the local artists who have turned the place into an exciting arts hub. This is the right place to meet the young and fresh artists as well as get the feel of Penang’s current hip renaissance. There are several trendy wine bars nearby if you feel like having a drink.

Night time

Give yourself a relaxing break and head towards QEII. After all, that sightseeing, heritage tours and shopping in the versatile Penang, enjoy the last evening by the waterfront. Grab a drink and just enjoy the view.

ethannevelyn.com

You may also enjoy:

We are a family of four who love to travel, but when travelling with young kids there are many things you need to consider to ensure you have an easy and enjoyable stay. Things to think about – is your accommodation family friendly? Are there plenty of kid suitable activities available in the destination you are visiting? How much travel time will you have? This past spring, we decided to visit Germany and with lots of places on our list of what we hoped to see, we decided to split the trip between Berlin and Frankfurt. Our two kids (ages 5 and 8) are seasoned travellers, so luckily, they travel well (for the most part!). Here is a rundown of what we did, where we stayed, what we ate and what we saw during our fantastic trip to Germany!

Berlin

Germany

Where to Stay

Our first stop was Berlin and getting there was very easy. We flew direct from Stansted Airport and arrived in just 2 hours! The flights were very cheap as well! We chose to stay in Capri by Fraser Berlin – the Frasers hotel chain is a common favourite of ours as their serviced apartments give our family plenty of space and are the perfect blend of enjoying hotel amenities while feeling like you are in a home away from home.

Where to Eat

During our trip, we found some excellent restaurants that were well suited for kids and adults. A few favourites of ours included Alois S. in Prenzlauer Berg where we enjoyed a delicious brunch. With a selection of tasty tapas options, there was something to suit all our taste buds. We enjoyed potato omelettes with chorizo, smoked cheese and ham croquettes to name a few. At Alois S. they also have a lovely terrace which we sat out on while the kids played in the sandpit and enjoyed the ping-pong table. We had another couple of great meals at Restaurant Kneipe Giraffe and Restaurant Jolly.

What to See and Do

We were surprised to find there were lots to do as a family in Berlin and our itinerary quickly filled up. We had a memorable day out at the Berlin Zoo which is the oldest zoo in Germany since it opened in 1844. The zoo is home one of the largest collections of species in the world which is made up of over 20,000 animals including the Asian Elephant, Chimpanzees, Gorillas and there is even an aquarium! With plenty for all ages and a selection of eating options, you are sure to have a great day out!

As well as taking part in family-friendly activities, we also made sure we did a spot of sightseeing to keep our trip somewhat educational. We visited the Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate as well as the beautiful Reichstag Parliament building. There is also a wide range of excellent museums such as Museum für Naturkunde (Museum of Natural History) and Legoland Discovery Centre.

Frankfurt

Germany

After five days in Berlin, we decided to embark on a journey across Germany to Frankfurt. We took the train which took around four hours and was fairly simple. It quickly appeared that we had left a historic type city with lots of momentous buildings and were now somewhere far more modern with a skyscraper filled sky. However, this was refreshing and of course, it was exciting to see different parts of the country.

Where to Stay

Luckily for us, we were able to book into Capri by Fraser Frankfurt – another reliable and stylish choice for accommodation that lets us sprawl out with all our stuff in their spacious apartments. This hotel was also situated in a convenient and central location which made walking to places really easy.

Where to Eat

For a quick and easy meal that everyone will enjoy, Jamy’s Burger is a great recommendation. From beef burgers to chicken burgers and even vegan options, this place will please all tastes. For a fun meal, visit Kabuki. This teppanyaki style restaurant will provide a great time for the whole family. Sit around the grill and watch your food being cooked right before you! This is an excellent way to spend the evening in Frankfurt and the food was delicious!

What to See and Do

There is also a zoo in Frankfurt, but since we had just been to the zoo in Berlin we thought we would spend our time more wisely and visit other sights. The Junges Museum makes for an exciting day out! The museum has lot of hands-on displays, workshops and craft activities. The exhibitions are made especially for children based on historical and local events.

Make sure you pay a visit to Main Tower and enjoy the incredible city views from the observation deck. This is a fantastic way to see Frankfurt from a totally different perspective. After that, head over to the city forest where you can escape the hustle and bustle and get in touch with nature. This unique area within to the city is full of lush trees, nature trails and thrilling playgrounds for the kids. The playground at Scheerwald houses a large revolving sprinkler which is great for cooling off during the warmer days. Here you will also find a mini-golf course, roller-skating rink, ping-pong tables, a play area, football area and a basketball court. So, pack a picnic and enjoy a fun-filled day in the forest!

City breaks are not just for adults and can be thoroughly enjoyed by families and kids of all ages. With plenty to see and do, you won’t be disappointed on your family trip to Berlin, Frankfurt or why not visit both!

 

 

 

Mummy in a Tutu

You may also enjoy:

Money is tight for so many individuals and families at the moment. Every season brings its own expenditure items and many of us are thinking about our Summer holiday right now.

holiday

My dad was a very wise man. One of his key bits of life advice was that you should always take a summer holiday no matter how much money you have in the bank. He knew that holidays turn into memories that can sustain us in the most challenging of times. Now I am older, I will share my advice which is life for all of us is a series of ups and downs so we need everything to get us through the harder periods. Holidays help a lot not just at the time but in the coming weeks, months and years.

Here are my top tips for saving money whilst still ensuring a happy Summer holiday.

Travel

Consider different ways of getting to your destination. Which is the most-effective? Why just go ahead and use your usual mode of transport without checking fuel prices, fares and even things like car sharing schemes? Are you happy to go for no frills flights or rail journeys to save money? Can you book well in advance which often means cheaper tickets? Is it worth considering an indirect flight? Be travel savvy!

Accommodation

You can make magical memories anywhere so don’t rule out things like a camping or caravan break. Youth hostels are also an option which too many people think is only for the young. If you are looking for hotel accommodation, check out Groupon for some striking deals.

Food and drink

It is all too easy to over-spend on food and drink on holidays. Research can help particularly if you are going overseas. Find out whether you will be better off self-catering some or all of the time. Eating out in Europe and other destinations can be much cheaper than in the UK in my experience. Rather than worry about it all on holiday, get food and drink savvy before you go. Also remember that you can make great memories with a simple picnic.

Negotiate and shop around

There are some great money savers out there who negotiate on every transaction. Sometimes companies even expect this so it is worth a try particularly if you are booking late as many travel and accommodation providers will offer reduced prices rather than make no money at all.

Shop around because you might find that really can save you a lot of money. Falling for the first clever marketing offer is not the way to go when planning a holiday. Look at the slick words and images and then shop around to see if you can get something the same or markedly similar for a cheaper price elsewhere.

Prepare for emergencies

We all hope we won’t encounter an emergency on holiday. Make sure you have appropriate insurances in place just in case. Have some contingency money set aside. Ensure you know the basic driving and other relevant laws in the country you are visiting to avoid costly fines.

My Dad always used to research our holidays in detail and as I have got older, I realise that is because he was money savvy. He would always choose a hotel one street back from the beach rather than pay a premium for a sea view knowing we could walk to see the sea easily enough. It really is about checking every item of expenditure (including cash point withdrawals and mobile phone costs) in advance and working out how to cut costs.

Happy holidays and please do leave a comment with your top money-saving tips when it comes to Summer holidays.

 

 

ethannevelyn.com
My Random Musings

You may also enjoy:

Liverpool is a city with a strong history and a great culture. I used to visit the city with my Dad when he was working there and also once with a female friend who lived in nearby Chester. Later, I had to go to deliver training sessions in my own career.

However, it is one of those cities where I feel I have not really got to know it as well as I would like.

So for my next visit to the North West, I am going to research what to do in Liverpool One and have actually already made a start. The challenge is that there are so many fascinating events that I may need to keep going back for more.

Storytelling

As a writer I love anything that celebrates the power of the written word. Liverpool are putting  on a great event including book swaps, celebrity appearances. book reviews and competitions. Magic will be created with the reading trees so this is something that will appeal to all the family.

Accessible exercise

Our family is not the most sporty one in the world so exercise needs to be fun and easy to do. Greenbank Sports Academy is a centre of excellence in physical education, sport and recreation that is owned and run by disabled people. They are putting on special table tennis sessions and I reckon ever I could manage this fun way to add some movement to our Liverpool trip.

Art

I have always loved visiting art galleries. It is one of those things that somehow has disappeared from my life since becoming a parent. I want to get back to this lovely pastime and to take my daughter who is such an artist herself. The Tate Liverpool is on the Albert Dock so in a lovely location as well as giving us a chance to stop and stare at the works of famous artists.

Going crazy!

I have always loved crazy golf and it equally popular with all my family. I have so many fond memories of games by the sea and at Butlins. So I will head to Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf. It sounds superb with promises of a jungle swamp and a live volcano!

Food and drink

I love finding quirky eateries and Liverpool has so many to choose from. I plan for my trips to be active ones so we will need regular refuelling. I really fancy trying some Japanese food at Yo! Sushi where there is a conveyor belt allowing you to pick what you fancy. The restaurant chain is also the only one in the UK to serve Japanese Seabass.

Have you visited Liverpool? What did you enjoy most about the city?

 

.

 
The Pramshed

You may also enjoy:

Lookers, Motability dealers, have created just what us busy parents are looking for. They have devised some fun and creative ideas to maximise magical memory-making during your car journey. I’m all for anything that makes family car journeys less stressful.

As a child, I am sure I always behaved well in the car. In fact, I remember being shocked at the behaviour of my friends in the car when I travelled with their parents to events. I just don’t see the need to be bouncing around. Perhaps I was a boring child or maybe my Dad as a former police officer had made it clear to me what could go wrong when drivers are distracted

With my own children sibling quarrels are the worst thing at home or in the car. Apart from that they are pretty good and especially now they are that bit older.

As technology is so big a part of our lives today, it always good to have some traditional alternatives at the ready for trips in the car. Perhaps the below may be of use for you to use throughout your next family journey/

Hungry child?

Nobody is happy when they’re hungry and a young tot can panic when those hunger pangs strike. To preventing a tantrum wrecking your day out, keep a cool box in the front seat and pack this with a range of delicious, potentially healthy snacks, with a mix of drinks and treats. This is always a good way to keep the kids happy and if you inject new treats for them, that is also a great distraction technique.

Pack Wisely.

A good way of keeping your children occupied, is by keeping a bag full of all of their favourite things. This may include a range of items, such as books, colouring in items, pens and cuddly toys. With endless possibilities, your children will be spoilt for choice of what they can do!

Fancy a good read?

An audio book can entertain children of different ages and yourself. We used to do this a lot and should get back to the habit. It’s an easy way to learn without realising it and to stimulate children’s imaginations.

Preparing games!

When driving, there are an endless range of games to play with your children… One of which could potentially be “Yellow car”, in which you find as many yellow cars as possible. Why not switch this up and do it with your favourite colour? ‘Back seat bingo’ is also a popular one, in which you draw a grid for each player before setting off, and fill the squares with sites that you must tick off. So if you have a big drive planned, do some research of retro games that have stood the test of time.

I hope I’ve given you some tips to beat boredom during drives with your children.

How do you currently entertain your children on car journeys?

Cuddle Fairy

You may also enjoy: