Relax Asia Tours

The most spectacular destination in Asia, Penang has stayed wonderfully nostalgic by retaining its old architecture, narrow alleyways, extravagant temples, lively street markets, authentic ethnic neighbour-hoods and a gracious sense of disorder.

Our second home is a unique and chaotic tropical island that is home to half a million people and literally oozes with culture, stunning scenery and the best food on earth.

The perfect place to relax and enjoy tai chi.

Staying at the luxurious Bayview Beach Resort in Batu Ferringhi, it's the ideal base for 12 nights of sight-seeing, shopping, exquisite dining, lazing by the pool and , for those who elect to do it , tai chi.

Our stay includes a full buffet breakfast each morning at the pool-side restaurant before enjoying tai chi exercises in the Resort’s tropical gardens.

We have created an itinerary that allows you to experience the incredible diversity of Penang and to delve beneath the tourist facade and meet the local people.

Penang Tour Itinerary

Depart Tullamarine Airport for night flight to Malaysia.

Day 1:

Arrive 6.30am at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. You will then take a one hour flight to Penang and transfer to the Bayview Beach Resort at Batu Ferringhi.

www.bayviewbeach.com

Rest of the day is free to settle in, explore the market area, walk along the beach or just laze by the pool. Group get-together late afternoon before our welcome dinner with host Sherine at the Happy Garden Restaurant.

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Day 2:

We begin the day with a full buffet breakfast at the Resort’s pool-side restaurant before meeting Tai Chi Master Lim Lai Leong.

Master Lim will provide tai chi training for our group on several mornings in the grounds of the Bayview Resort.

Tai Chi classes will be suitable for all levels, with John and Veronica assisting beginners.

Tai Chi training from 9.30 - 11.30am.

Those people who elect not to do tai chi can enjoy the Resort’s activities, laze on the beach or by the pool.

After freshening up, we are transported by mini-bus into George Town for lunch at one of our favourite restaurants, Passions of Kerala.

Today is our first opportunity to experience Penang’s rich culture as we visit historic Fort Cornwallis before climbing aboard Trishaws ( Rickshaws ) for a heritage tour of old George Town.

Travelling along the Esplanade we make our way past the rows of old Colonial buildings and then into Little India.

Visit the Sri Mariamman Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque and the amazing Jetty Clan Houses.

Our Trishaw tour concludes in Chinatown where we enjoy a bowl of Cendol ( sweet local treat ) before taking the Penang Road over-pass to Komtar.

Komtar is the tallest building and centre-piece of George Town. We take the lift up to the Observation Deck on the 59th floor for spectacular views over Penang.

We thought it would be fun to return to Batu Ferringhi on a local bus - a bit of culture shock.

Anyone wishing to look around the shops in Komtar or the modern Prangin Mall next door can do so before heading back to the Resort.

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Day 3:

Round Island tour - full day.

For those people who would like to experience tai chi with the locals we will make our way to the beautiful Botanic Gardens early in the morning to join our Penang friends.

We return to the Bayview for a hearty breakfast before

setting off around Penang Island.

First stop is the Burmese Temple and the Reclining Buddha ( said to be the third largest in the world ). We look at one of Penang’s most magnificent old streets ( Bangkok Lane ).

Our tour continues along Gurney Drive before heading south to the infamous Snake Temple. We will enjoy lunch at a huge bustling hawker centre before heading to the more sparsely populated west coast of Penang island.

The road winds through tropical rainforest, palm plantations and Malay kampongs ( traditional villages ). We will stop and explore a kampong and savour views of the Straits of Melaka from various lookout points.

A brief stop at the Titi Kerawang spice stall and ( if its flowing ) a short trek into the waterfall. Our last stop is the Batik Factory, a perennial favourite with all our tour groups.

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Day 4:

After breakfast at the Bayview we join Master Lim for two hours of tai chi in the tropical gardens.

You are probably ready for a free day to relax around the Resort - but if not - we have a few optional trips, including day tours to the Cameron Highlands or Langkawi Coral. You may even choose to join us for a motorbike ride along the west coast to visit a fishing village before riding over the mountains and down into George Town.

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Day 5:

Buffet breakfast at the poolside restaurant followed by tai chi with Master Lim ( 9.30 - 11.30am ).

After training we will drive through Tanjung Bungah to one of our favourite road-side hawker stalls for lunch.

We hope you will try the traditional Penang Nasi Kandar.

After lunch we will stroll through the interesting Penang Museum followed by an historic walk down Pitt St.

We will visit the oldest and most vibrant temple in Penang - Kuan Yin. We’ll wander past the Indian florist stalls and look through the ornate Yap Temple. From there we’ll enter Cannon Square and absorb the atmosphere of Penang’s most magnificent clan house, the Khoo Kongsi.

After the Kongsi we will meet up with a friend of ours, Theresa, who owns one of Penang’s most beautiful old shophouses. She’s faithfully restored it and included a huge collection of antiques. The house now serves as an upmarket café. We can enjoy afternoon tea there before wandering down one of our favourite streets - Armenian St to the former home of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. If we are lucky to catch her at home, we may get to meet the renowned Khoo Salma, author of several books on Penang.

You can then either return to Batu Ferringhi or spend some free time enjoying the heart of the Old Town.

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Day 6:

We are planning to head into George Town early this morning to join more locals for tai chi in a city park. After tai chi we will wander up through the vibrant early morning Chow Rasta market and enjoy breakfast at the Eng Thai Restaurant on Chulia St.

From there it's a one kilometre walk down Hutton Lane to meet Master Lim in the park for training this morning.

Lunch at EE Beng vegetarian restaurant. This is a locals haunt - they won’t believe it when a group of Aussies turn up but you’ll remember this meal forever - its that good.

After lunch we will tour the eerie Penang Graveyard with a few famous headstones and ubiquitous frangipani trees. It's a short walk along to the stately E&O Hotel which is worth a look through and then cross the road to the Garage, a collection of modern shops and cafes.

We can enjoy a refreshing drink before heading back to the Bayview in taxis.

Dinner tonight will be at the Long Beach Hawker Centre after which you can enjoy walking back to the Resort through the night market.

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Each evening , the 2 kilometre strip leading to our Resort comes alive with exotic market stalls and fantastic Restaurants.

Please feel free to join us for dinner each night. We will be dining at a variety of restaurants chosen for their superb food and relaxed atmosphere.

The evenings are balmy and our days often conclude at a local teh ( tea ) stall just watching the world go by.

Day 7:

This morning’s tai chi session will be in the Resort gardens with Veronica and John prior to breakfast. After breakfast we will set off for the Kek Lok See temple complex in Air Hitam.

This is the largest Buddhist Temple outside of China.

Day 8:

Tai chi again this morning with John and Veronica prior to breakfast.

Today we will head into George Town early enough to experience a couple of the local traders in action. We will visit old Mr. Lee the joss stick maker and a local coffee maker.

From there we will walk along two wonderful old Penang streets - Stewart Lane and Muntri St to catch the 11am tour of the magnificently restored Baba house that is Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. This is a great opportunity to glimpse the majestic bygone era of the Babas and Nyonyas.

Lunch at the Hang Chow Coffee Shop on Chulia St with hosts Hock and Fong.

After lunch we can stroll along Chulia St and Penang Rd with the chance to pick up a bargain at the Indian clothing shops, down silk alley or the best t-shirt shop in town.

Rest of the day is free to explore George Town or return to Batu Ferringhi for an afternoon dip in the pool and to freshen up for the evening.

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Day 9:

Breakfast at the Bayview followed by tai chi training for two hours with Master Lim, Veronica and John.

For the more physically active - transfer by taxi to Teluk Bahang and then a jungle trek along the north west coast to Muka Head ( Monkey Beach ). This quintessential tropical beach is only accessible by boat or a 90 minute jungle trek ( reasonable fitness recommended ).

Those not doing the trek can take the gentle boat ride .

Its a great beach for swimming or paddling and we will enjoy a picnic lunch there before all returning by boat.

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Day 10:

Early morning transfer to the Penang Botanic Gardens for tai chi with the local people.

After tai chi we will head into Kimberley street to meet up with some more local friends for Dim Sum. This is always a special time - great camaraderie, photo opportunities and priceless memories.

After Dim Sum you can enjoy the morning markets , nearby streets and shops or return to the Bayview for a relaxing afternoon.

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Day 11:

Breakfast at the Bayview followed by training with Master Lim ( 9.30 - 11.30am ).

This afternoon we will take a tour out to Teluk Bahang to visit the beautifully landscaped Spice Gardens.

Afterwards we continue on to the world’s first Butterfly Farm with its huge display of butterflies and insects.

There is also a great natural museum display and souvenir shop.

We then climb up into the hills overlooking the fishing villages , past the huge new dam and onto the Penang Tropical Fruit Farm.

You will get to sample several tropical fruits, some of which you have probably never heard of. We hope that you will sample the infamous Durian ( King of the Fruits ). We love it but its definitely an acquired taste.

We drive back to the fishing village of Teluk Bahang and take a walk out onto the fishing jetties to watch the sun setting over the Bay of glowing embers.

Tonight is market night in the village and the whole town turns out to sample the home-cooked Malay delicacies and browse through local wares.

This is not a tourist market but the atmosphere is heady and unforgettable. You may choose to sample the local food on offer or our bus will stop at the famous End of the World restaurant on the way back for you to enjoy some excellent seafood.

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Day 12:

Breakfast at the Bayview and then two hours training with Master Lim, John and Veronica.

Today is your opportunity to really soak up the rays by the pool or you may like to join John and Veronica for an informal, warts-and-all tour into the back streets of George Town. This will involve catching local transport and a bit of walking.

Our farewell dinner together with Master Lim will be at either the Happy Garden or Winston Coffee Lounge ( actually it’s a tin shed) in George Town.

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Day 13:

Breakfast at the Bayview. Rest of the day is free to relax, do some last minute shopping or revisit your favourite parts of Penang.

We will be conducting a walking tour through a Batu Ferringhi Malay Kampong ( village ). This is a great opportunity to see how the local people live in their traditional houses.

We may also wander up into Chin Farm if the waterfall there has enough water flowing down it.

You will leave Batu Ferringhi mid-afternoon and transfer to Penang airport for a 5pm flight to KL.

The international flight back to Australia departs just after 9pm. ( B )

Arrival back at Tullamarine is at 6.45am Thursday.

Itinerary is subject to minor alterations to comply with changes to opening times, infrastructure or torrential rain. The addition to the itinerary of some local festival events not listed here is highly likely.

You will receive an information portfolio detailing travel requirements two months prior to departing Australia.

This includes necessary travel documents, money, health issues, shopping, weather, clothing, contacts, suggested packing lists and travel tips.

We will also be holding a meeting of tour members in June so that people can get to meet each other and ask any questions about their holiday.

Cost Includes:

* Return economy airfares to Penang.

* All airport taxes.

* All transfers and taxes.

* Twin share accommodation at the Bayview

Beach Resort.

* Full buffet breakfast each morning.

* Seven lunches and three dinners.

* All sight-seeing tours, entrance fees and local

guides.

* Daily tai chi classes with Master Lim, Veronica

Greer, John Hanna.

* Tai chi in the park with locals on some mornings.

Cost does not include:

* Travel Insurance ( compulsory ).

* Any drinks, a few lunches and most dinners ( very cheap ).

Single supplement available: Extra $470.

For further information or bookings contact John Hanna or Veronica Greer - 1300 88 2813 or Click Here to Email us.