David Bowden

Penang is a world-renowned holiday destination, famous for its soft sandy beaches and regarded by many as the food capital of Malaysia. Many visitors check into one of the first-class hotels and spend a wonderfully relaxing holiday chilling out on the beaches. But as Enchanting Penang reveals, there are many other attractions to explore. Parts of George Town, the state capital, are listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Here many of the traditional buildings are being restored, fusing the old with the new, to become cafés, restaurants, boutiques and hotels

There are also many other sights around the island. Take the scenic and historic funicular railway to the summit of Penang Hill, for example, and revel in the view from the top. From here you might take a walking trail down to the expansive Botanical Gardens at the bottom of the hill. Other sights to discover include a tropical spice garden, a butterfly farm, a remote national park, Kek Lok Si Temple and a snake temple with live vipers. Penang’s beautiful beaches include the strip of bays and headlands stretching from Tanjung Bungah to Batu Ferringhi. All resorts have restaurants, bars, spas and an extensive list of watersport activities.

Be it stunning beaches, ornate temples, unique heritage buildings or scrumptious cuisine, Enchanting Penang introduces all of the must-see delights on what will be a truly exotic holiday.

David Bowden is a freelance journalist based in Malaysia, specializing in travel and the environment. While Australian, he’s been living in Asia longer than he can remember, and returns to his home country as a tourist. When not travelling the world, he enjoys relaxing with his equally adventurous wife Maria and daughter Zoe.

• 260 x 215 mm (10 x 8”)
• 80 pages
• 10,000 words
• 180 photographs
• ISBN 978-1-912081-83-7
• £10.99 paperback