Penang One-Day Tour - #2: Penang National Park

Well, we did not really go into the park itself... we were only looking around for places of interest that my wife's cousin may add to the itinerary of the trip he was planning for the freshmen, so, we only lingered around the entrance area for a few minutes.

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The park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang) is located at the northwest corner of the Penang Island. If you come from Batu Feringghi, go straight (12 o'clock) at the Teluk Bahang roundabout; if you come from Balik Pulau (in our case, Pantai Acheh), take the 9 o'clock turn. It's a mere half kilometer (probably less) from the roundabout.

It's got a longish pier, on which you can wander "out to sea", so to speak, for a bit of the north-shore scenery. Which means sea, blue sky, and some green hills. Nothing very breathtaking, really. But it is nice in a quiet, away-from-the-city-hassle way.



The picture below shows the entrance of the park, as viewed from the pier.


And the pier is indeed kind of long...



Up to 10 people can hire a boat at RM 100 (round trip) to take them to what is called the "Monkey Beach" for some fun on the sand and in the sun. It is purportedly very nice and suitable for a family outing. For about twice that price, you can go to a further-away beach, Pantai Kerachut, where the beach has a steeper gradient (translation: not suitable for a family outing) and an infestation of jelly fish. A bit more adventure at the cost of life and limb. :-)