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For some people traveling to Malaysia means beaches, diving, cultural events (Thaipusam, Chinese New Year) or even shopping. However, some travelers don’t care about all this. They want to play “the game”: golf!
Malaysia has over 200 golf courses, some good, some not that good. Some golf courses are top notch. Like the Damai Laut Golf & Country Club.
A top notch golf course, with a top notch resort. Have a look at the golf course of Damai Laut
Seldom I found a hotel so surprising as the Good Hope Inn in Gurney Drive Penang. For a hotel so close to the main tourist area, it’s surprisingly easy to reach, close and …. CHEAP! Yes, it’s cheap. Cheaper then many hotels I saw in Malaysia with the same facilities. Plus, it’s well maintained. 
The rooms are all very nice, have everything you can want, from aircon, Astro TV to hot/cold showers and many rooms have balcony. Downstairs a nice little terrace with a bar open at night and for breakfast, all in all, an excellent choice with prices from RM 70 to around RM 200
Wow! What a party Thaipusam was. In an earlier post I already told you about my experience last year. This year was very different. Mr. Chandra and Mrs. Pearly took me at the very early morning to the main temple to see how Lord Muruga came out of the temple to the chariot before this would be pulled all the way to the Waterfall temple. It was fantastic. At 5.30am, still dark, people gathered just to wait for the deity to come. Mrs. Pearly and I found a comfortable place upstairs and saw the whole thing from above.
Then, after the devotees started to offer we left to the main street where people started smashing coconuts. This is part of the cleansing process and although it seems a waste, it has a ceremonial function.
Food was plentiful and free.
While we waited for the chariot at a certain place we observed an interesting thing: a Chinese Dragon with Lord Muruga, a Hindu God. Different religions and cultures go hand in hand at the Thaipusam.
We left around 11am only to come back in the evening. Now the chariot had developed to the entrance road to the Waterfall temple. It seems all people in Penang where now here. More food and free drinks (especially the sour milk tasted excellent and reminded me of my year in Indian when I had this almost daily).
Devotees were all on the way. But the main thing, for many at least would come the next morning. Mr. Chandra and Mrs. Pearly’s son would do the vow too. With an iron spike through his cheeks, a pin through his forehead and another through his tong he would go from the starting point to the Waterfall temple. We were again early. The son, in his early 20’s look concentrated although he later stated he was perfectly relaxed. He went for a ritual bath in the temple, got the piercings and went on the way.
I saw him an hour later after his journey. Perfectly happy and relaxed and no sign of wounds. Amazing.
We left to the main piercing area. Kavadies were build here. More people with hooks in the back and on the body. A surprisingly great amount of Chinese devotees where setting their things up. All in all an amazing experience.
Mr. Sing of the Horizon Inn told us he would open a new coffee shop in Teluk Nipah. We were invited to see his new shop. Curious as I am I attended the opening and indeed I was pleasant surprised. The shop has a range of good coffee products. Read more here
Pulau Payar is a small island, not inhabited, near Langkawi. It’s the only Marine park on the west coast of Malaysia. Diving is here for experienced and for beginners available. Have a look.
Arguably one of the best hotels in Perak and certainly one of the nicest golf courses (international standard, of course) in the whole of Malaysia. The Swiss Garden and Damai Laut is located opposite of Pangkor Island and an excellent hangout for the Chinese New Year.
The few times I spend in the Swiss Garden I enjoyed it very much. Nice rooms, excellent service, great swimming pool and on top, a great cuisine. Even the western dishes were excellent. It’s a great place to spend your Chinese New Year.
First we get the Thaipusam where Mr. Chandra will bring us around and explain what the Thaipusam really is. I got to admit, I am excited by the idea to have him with us!. You can still join, click here.
After Thaipusam, the Chinese New Year is the next big event that comes up. I was last year in Kuala Kurau to enjoy the celebrations there. Here’s the report and photos. But what about this year? I am thinking about having my Chinese New Year in Penang. Penang? No nice beaches there, only a lot of people and nothing interesting. That is at least what some people say. I disagree. Penang is a great place to spend your Chinese New Year, especially because there is a large Chinese population. Thus it is a great place to see how the Chinese here in Malaysia celebrate their most important day of the year.
But where to stay? Many hotels are already full. One however is very little known. The old world is still much alive in the Lone Pine Hotel at, most notably Batu Ferringhi! Yes, the most popular beach of Penang has its own hidden gem. Read more here
