Tanjung   Bungah

Tanjung  Bungah is one of the suburbs of Georgetown, the capital of Penang. It was known as a fishing village, but now it's populated by many commuters from Georgetown and people, who work in the hotels along the beach. In (our) wintertime these hotels have great offers for the tourists, who want to spend the wintertime on Penang. There are special rates in the hotels and the food in the local restaurants is cheap. That makes Tanjung  Bungah a good base to discover the island of Penang. You can do this on your own way: by taxi or by public transport.

Have a look at the best hotel reservations in Tanjung Bungah and save up to 75% OFF normal room rates. Who doesn't want that??? <click here>

 

Tanjung  Bungah is situated between Georgetown and Batu Ferringhi. It's no more a fishing village and large hotels are built along the beach. The beaches are deserted. Only when the (few) fisherman come ashore you'll see some people. Tanjung  Bungah has two swimming clubs: the Chinese Swimming club and the Penang Swimming Club. The last one was in the old days a private swimming club. Mainly patronized by RAAF and RAF services personnel, and not open to casual swimmers. Nowadays you still have to be members of the swimming club to get in. Tanjung  Bungah was hit on Christmas 2004 by the tsunami. The royal couple of Malaysia payed a visit to the area hit by the massive tidal waves in Tanjung  Bungah and checked on the floating mosque.

Tanjung  Bungah is unknown by the the large numbers of tourists. Most people wants to spend their holiday in Batu Ferrinhgi. On of the most beautiful buildings is the old, local Chinese temple. They are not used to see tourists coming. At the entrance they are offering the local people to buy a bundle of incense (RM2.-) to burn for their Gods. Inside there's open spot, where the rain can fall on your head. There are beautiful small altars and small statues. The pillars are beautiful painted with dragons. When we wanted to leave we wanted to buy some incense for RM2.- to take home. The was surprised to hear that, because most people buy incense to burn for the Gods in the temple. We left the temple with an extra, large spiral incense. For free; to take home. On the left: the friendly Chinese.

At the right of the old Chinese temple is the bus terminal of Tanjung  Bungah. Here you gan take the bus to Georgetown / Teluk Bahang or to the touristy night market (Pasar Malam) in Batu Ferringhi. In Tanjung  Bungah is only once a week a night market. At this moment it's on Tuesday. Please be informed. A the back of the bus terminal is the "wet market". "Wet Market" is a market, selling fruit, vegetables, tofu, spices, meat and fish, as well as meat, fish, crabs and lobsters. One of the latest attractions of Tanjung  Bungah is the floating mosque. It was completed in 2005. Every Friday a lot of people com from far away to pray in this floating mosque.

There are four hotels in Tanjung  Bungah. They have all three stars. They are situated between the beach and a busy road. There are traffic lights and a bridge for pedestrians to cross the road. Opposite the hotels there are some shops. In the evening there are local restaurants with delicious food. Be careful by crossing the road! The local people think that the "Paradise Sandy Bay" is the best of the four hotels. That's the first one you see on the picture (left). Behind that hotel is the "Flamingo on the Beach". After that one is the "Copthorne Orchid". All hotels are at the beach and they do have a swimming pool. The fourth hotel is teh "Tanjung  Bungah Hotel". That's not on the picture because it's close to Tanjung  Tokong. These hotels have always great offers for tourists. Rates per room, per night: about RM100.-

New and specially made for us, tourists, is the "Toy Museum". Inside the museum you'll see all kind of dolls to play with, but they are in a glass showcase. The dolls are from Sesamy Street to Kongfu Fighters. The museum is only to have a look. You can't touch anything, which is a pity for children. The museum is situated along the road in the old disco the "Copthorne Orchid Hotel".   The interior still reminds us at that disco with it's Egyptian design. We still can recognize the bar of the disco and there are even some Egyptian statues. The whole entrance is still Egyptian. The museum doesn't look professional. The fee is: Adults: RM10 Children: RM6