Things to see and do Northwest

The kongsi has a dual function. It enables members of the same family clan to gather together, and it serves as a temple dedicated to a family's ancestors. Penang has many kongsi, but the Khoo's is by far the finest. The Khoo, a powerful family from Fujian, built their kongsi in 1851 and added a temple in 1894. On the eve of its inauguration, after many years of work, the temple was destroyed by fire. Only the image of Tua Sai Yeah was spared. The fire was attributed to the anger of the gods at such a pretentious construction. The temple was rebuilt more modestly and completed in 1906. A major renovation was completed in 2017.

As you emerge from Cannon Square, it's a shock to discover this indescribable, glittering mass. In addition to its superb bas-reliefs, the courtyard features two lions, two imposing granite Sikh guardians and two even larger Chinese guardians. The main hall houses statues of Tua Sai Yeah and Ong Son Tai Sai, Yar Yar. To the left opens the ancestor worship hall, and in the third hall reigns Tua Peh Kong, ruddy and happy. Plaques on the walls bear the names of Khoo who have succeeded in their studies or careers. Black ebony furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl is everywhere. Opposite, the festival hall: this is where the bonzes gather for religious ceremonies and where wayangs are performed.

To make the most of the island's natural beauty, don't hesitate to call on the services of this agency, which offers a variety of environmentally-friendly activities. Our expert and attentive guides will take you on a discovery tour of the mangroves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sports enthusiasts can opt for kayaking or jungle trekking. Tours of varying lengths take you to discover the birdlife in the rice paddies, mangrove swamps and rainforest. A must!

The Monastery of Supreme Bliss, inhabited by monks and nuns, is considered the largest in Southeast Asia. The huge statue of Kuan Yin that dominates it from the top of the hill makes it easy to spot. The construction, completed in 1890, was the brainchild of a native Chinese monk who drew inspiration from the monasteries of his native region, while adding Burmese and Thai elements. The project took over twenty years to complete. Past the inevitable souvenir stores, you come to a disappointing courtyard with a miniature pagoda and a papier-mâché Buddha. Further on stands a sanctuary with, at its center, a large Buddha statue in the Chieng Sen style (^13th century), from northern Thailand.

The Hall of the Bodhisattvas: these are Buddhas who have renounced nirvana to remain close to humans, helping them by answering their prayers. They are considered saints. The swastika they wear on their chests is an ancient symbol from India. It represents depth of faith, longevity and strength.

The Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings: on either side of the room, these kings flank the laughing Buddha Maitreya, known here as Bee Lay Hood. The Four Kings are supposed to guard the winds and the gates of paradise at the four cardinal points. They crush under their feet the drunkard, the drug addict, the gambler and the prostitute to whom paradise is forbidden. The most astonishing is the celestial king who plays the lute while trampling his victim.

The Buddha Hall: surrounded by his two favorite disciples and others who were among his earliest pupils (known as the Lohans). There's also Kuan Yin on the left. The decor, dominated mainly by sober yellows, greens and reds, is extremely rich. The sanctuary is also very well maintained.

The Pagoda of a Million Precious Buddhas: its name is inscribed on the building's frontispiece. 30 m high, its seven storeys alternate between Chinese, Burmese and, at the top, Thai styles. A hundred-year-old cerberus nun guards the entrance and makes sure you pay the right amount. Then it's an exhausting climb to the top of the hill... where the view of the village of Ayer Itam and the hills is unremarkable.

Once back down, you can sample the vegetarian cuisine of the restaurant under the shopping arcade at the entrance. This long visit, which is generally much appreciated, takes some time, and requires a comforting break.

From the centre, the walk lasts from 20 to 30 minutes to the mosque located at the exit of the city. We cross a pretty garden, the Perak River and pass in front of beautiful colonial houses. The mosque is impressive and majestic, although ultimately quite small. It is commensurate with the wealth of the sultan, with a quantity of gold and marble. Its onion bulb-shaped domes are reminiscent of an Orthodox church. It is possible to walk around the main dome, but access to the mosque is restricted to Muslims only.

Information about the history of Penang and the various monuments of the city, to discover following the Heritage Trail. Unfortunately closed on weekends.

This temple was founded 100 years ago by a meditative and serene Chinese monk who lived there withdrawn for 20 years. The temple, still in operation, welcomes Buddhist monks and nuns. After climbing 246 steps, you reach the main cave where many statues are found. These cohabit with stalactites and stalagmites formed by limestone deposits. In a basin, turtles and carps sleep, symbols of longevity. A Taoist vegetarian restaurant is located at the foot of the temple and allows you to gain strength before the ascent.

On a limestone hill of 122 m height is hidden a vast cave containing 40 statues of Buddha of which the highest measures 13 m. This temple was founded in 1926 by Chon Seng Yee who discovered the cave. He was a lover of painting and had the various caves and galleries decorated, which are still being completed by pilgrim artists. After the main altar, steps lead you through the galleries until you reach an exit on the side of the cliff. A surprising view of the industrial area and the mountains awaits you a little higher up.

One of Langkawi's major attractions. This cable car takes you 708 m up to the summit of Mount Mat Cincang. The view of the archipelago, the Datai Peninsula and the Andaman Sea is breathtaking. The SkyBridge, an impressive suspension bridge inaugurated in 2004, offers a 100 m walk over the void. A footpath leads to the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls, which can also be seen from the cable car.

At the north-western end of the island, 1,126 hectares of tropical forest await you. It is very pleasant to walk along well marked trails. There are several hiking trails ranging from 1 to 6 hours of walking, which can be done alone or with a guide. Check with the park office for more information. Don't miss Monkey Beach and Turtle Beach, two beaches renowned for their beauty and their inhabitants, monkeys and turtles respectively. It will take you almost two hours to get there, and prepare water supplies.

Passed the ark on which its name is written, entering a red courtyard. The temple houses a beautiful altar with four statues of Killed Péh Kong, easily recognisable to its happy air and pilgrim's stick. Above the statues is a covered parchment parchment.

To go to the most famous Georgetown building, Dr Kongsi, you have to take Cannon Street, between the Yap Temple and the Chinese bistro, with, on the right, beautiful restored Chinese houses. We turn left under a vault named Cannon Square, which is the place where Dr Kongsi rises. On the left, facing the temple, a narrow lane overlooks Lebuh Armenian. The holes, visible in the walls, dates fighting between secret societies, around 1860. The windows were bouchées, because we were pulled from one window to the other, and, as the ruelle is not 2 m wide, you could not miss it! In order to restore order, the English were forced to bring the Singapore Sepoys to the barrel of the belligerents. Hence the name of Cannon Square.

Called the Cave of Legends, it displays verses from the Koran engraved on its walls. But the most famous legend tells that Garuda (the winged phoenix) prevented the marriage between the prince of Rome and the princess of China, so that the union of these two superpowers would not harm the small kingdoms of the world. So he kidnapped the princess to keep her in that cave. The proof is in the rock that looks like a sleeping princess. Accessible only by sea, the agencies that offer a tour in the mangroves of Langkawi stop here.

This 91-metre high waterfall is one of Langkawi's attractions. A large car park lined with shops testifies to this. From there, just go up the asphalt road and turn left into the forest following a prepared path to reach the foot of the waterfall. You can admire the stone wall and its seven natural pools filled with spring water from Mount Cincang. To reach the top of the waterfall, simply climb the 638 steps from the parking lot. Be careful, during the monsoon season, steps and rocks can be very slippery.

This is where the Alor Setar bazaar is held, in a huge hall with numerous stores. You'll find absolutely everything on several floors. On the first floor, you'll find edible goods, including spices, dried fruit and a few hawkers. As you climb the upper floors, you'll find bargains to be had in handicrafts (beautiful woven baskets) and textiles(batiks at attractive prices). As Alor Setar is not a very touristy town, prices are reasonable, but don't hesitate to negotiate.

Opened in 1905, this school is one of the most prestigious elite institutions in ancient Malaya. Some of the leaders of contemporary Malaysia, including former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, were educated here. Anthony Burgess, author of The Malay Trilogy and Clockwork Orange, also taught here for a time. Sons of wealthy families receive a thoroughly British education at this school, which professes the precept of "a healthy mind in a healthy body". Studies in English and intensive sports are compulsory.

Be sure to visit this unusual neighborhood to round off your historic tour of Georgetown. Located along Weld Quay, this collection of houses on stilts was built in the late ^19th century. Originally, the shoreline was littered with the detritus of wood, planks and firewood from various construction sites. In 1882, the local council undertook the construction of Weld Quay. Wooden piers were added for docking and delivering goods. Very quickly, houses were built around these pontoons, controlled by different clans. Each clan had control over the work (and workers) that took place on each pontoon. There were originally 7 of them, but one burned down and was never rebuilt. Comfort was modest, and running water didn't arrive until 1957. Until then, the inhabitants fuelled up by filling old kerosene cans and rolling them from the town to the piers. Even today, the six wooden pontoons belong to different clans. It's pleasant to wander through these mazes of wooden lanes, lined with houses, shops and Chinese temples, where a nonchalant atmosphere reigns. Chew Jetty is the most unspoilt, but also the most touristy. Venture instead to the other, more picturesque piers. Families have lived here for generations, and thousands of tourists pass through every year. Ask their permission before photographing them.

This is the pride of the Penangites, their tropical Bois de Boulogne created in 1884 by Charles Curtis on the site of an old quarry. The whole area, including the tarmac roads, is immaculately clean. The garden includes a 30-hectare domesticated tropical forest divided into 12 sectors. Orchids, ferns, bamboos and cacti stand side by side with century-old trees. Monkeys used to be a major attraction, but due to their numbers and aggressiveness, park rangers are trying to contain them at the entrance to the park. It is now forbidden to feed them.

This mansion bears witness to the rich heritage of the Peranakan, the first Chinese to settle in the Strait of Malacca colonies that include Malacca, Singapore and Penang. It was built at the end of the ^19th century as the residence of the former kapitan cina Chung Keng Kwee. Although not a baba himself, he ensured that his house was decorated in the Peranakan style. He was one of the richest men in the Strait at the time, founder of the town of Taiping, and he sought to impress the community. Initially, the house was home to the Ghee Hin secret society. The tour takes us through perfectly restored rooms that bear witness to unparalleled opulence. Styles blend to form a harmonious whole: Chinese openwork wood panels, Scottish ironwork, patterned English tiles, hand-blown glass chandeliers... The furniture is inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the woodwork gilded with fine gold. The house contains over 1,000 curios and antiques. Each new room is even more luxurious than the last, with a special mention for the games room, where you can guess the frenzied games of mah-jongg and poker that must have taken place under the light of the huge chandelier. The rooms are arranged around a flower-filled courtyard, where the monumental staircase leads to the first floor. You can round off your visit to this Peranakan mansion with a tour of the Chung Keng Kwee temple next door.

On the road to Datai Bay, this large waterfall is very poorly signposted, and that's a shame, because it's splendid. At a height of 200 metres, it rolls down the north face of Mount Mat Cincang in a series of three-tiered staircases that form beautiful natural pools. It's best to come at the end of the monsoon season, in October, when the water flow is at its peak. From the parking lot, a safe path leads to the pools, which are very popular at weekends. In the middle of the jungle, with the sound of the waterfall, you'll feel like an explorer.

A visit to this tropical fruit farm is both an educational and a tasty experience. You'll discover over 250 species from all over the world, most of which Europeans are unaware of. Depending on the season, you can sample rambutan, mangosteen, papaya, the mysteriousbullock's heart or the astonishing Buddha's hand, a variety of citron. The orchard covers more than 10 hectares. If the timing is right, try the famous durian, reputed to be Asia's king of fruits.