Penang Day 4!
We came back from our morning sojourn and spent the day indoors and ordered take-outs from Grab for lunch. Evening came and we emerged from the hotel to cross out another item on our bucket list. Penang Botanic Garden was on the list.
We researched online and could not find a single mode of public transport to get us there, so in the end we resorted to hailing a Grab car. The fare was RM21.00 (approximately USD/EUR5) and the ride took only fifteen minutes.
We strolled along its path enjoying the peace and serenity and drawing in the deliciously fresh air while contemplating whether to take the scenic route. In the end we opted for the “short course” and were done within half an hour.
Established in 1884 almost at the same time of the beautiful Taiping Lake Gardens — one of Perak’s main attractions — Penang Botanical Gardens date back to 1884 and were previously known as Waterfall Gardens from the large, sloshing source of water found within them. The first curator was Briton Charles Curtis — the Curtis Crest elevated walkway at the Habitat Penang Hill is named after him — who transformed a lush valley in an old granite quarry into these gardens at the foot of that waterfall. Even today, Penang Botanic Gardens maintain their original English-style design, with large open lawns hemmed in by hills covered with viridian tropical rainforest. The original colonial interest here was of course spices, but Charles Curtis was also interested in Penang’s native plants. He contributed immensely to the discovery and classification of Penang’s flora, and introduced many plants in these Botanic Gardens. During World war II, the Japanese used tunnels by the Botanical Gardens’ Lily Pond to store ammunition and facilities. In the 2000s, the Gardens expanded to reach 242 hectares of protected areas, a habitat for animals such as macaques, giant squirrels, and dusky leaf monkeys.
We will surely come back on day soon to walk the entire length of this marvellous garden, but for now a street food stall in Batu Ferringhi awaits.
Lastly, we feel that it is our civic duty to remind everyone that while masks are now optional outdoors, it is still mandatory indoors!
(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)
We do what we can to support local businesses, and it's always good to know that everyone here observes all related SOPs, it helps make us feel safer and reassured.
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