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The Botanical Gardens (monkey park), Penang
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The Botanical Gardens (monkey park), Penang

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The Botanical Gardens (monkey park) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Penang locals.
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The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): The Botanical Gardens
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  • Created in 1884, the gardens is spread over 30ha of forested hills and lush green tropical trees and plants. The garden has a wide collection of both local and tropical trees, flowery plants and ferns. There are also dozens of plant houses and nurseries, waterfalls as well as lily ponds scattered throughout the park. A popular sight here would be the mischievous monkeys which can be found dangling from the branches of the trees overhead or roaming freely in groups on the ground.

    The garden is a favourite spot for jogging, picnics & also wedding shoots. On weekdays, common scenes are groups in Tai Chi, Xi Gong, Line Dancing.. Weekend scenes - mixture of ages, students on school trips, family outings..

    Lots of good memories here for me since young.. taking part in art competition at the garden, dating days (lots of lovebirds during the evenings), picnics. about 10 years ago, the garden even keeps a pair of black honey bear.

    Opening Hours : 5am to 8pm daily
    Admission : Free

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  • Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
  • Phone: 604-2270 428 / 2271 354
  • Directions: The Gardens is located at the far end of Jalan Kebun Bunga, approximately 8 km from Georgetown city. You can reach there by boarding transit link bus No.7.
  • Website: http://www.sukpp.gov.my/KebunBunga/main.html
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Lovely walk in the park
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  • a smal but very enjoyable Vt meeting - Penang
    a smal but very enjoyable Vt
    meeting
    by Tattugran, 1 more photos
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    We met up with Audrey and her hubby and Pehsan (who organised it) and her friend Ed.after lunch they took us to the botanical gardens where we had a lovely walk around and Grump got chased by a monkey when he trtied to take photos of her and her baby.....it was funny

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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Botanical Gardens (Kebun Bunga) - Introduction
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  • A British legacy, now a Penang icon - Penang
    A British legacy, now a Penang
    icon
    by SLLiew, 4 more photos
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    One of the most popular tourist spots in Penang island is the Botanical Gardens. In Malay, "Kebun Bunga" means "Garden of Flowers".

    It has been known as the "Waterfall Gardens" because if you look at the sign that points to a waterfall, there is actually a high natural waterfall up the valley.

    There is a stream and a miniature Penang Bridge. There are locals having a picnic and kids wading in the water to catch small fish or watch water skippers.

    At certain season, many of trees will burst into blooms of flowers. There are ferns, orchids, cacti, palms but many are in cages because of the monkeys.

    Wild monkeys are found outside and inside the Botanical Gardens. Inside the Garden, you are not suppose to feed the monkey.

    There is a row of cannon ball tress at the entrance. Not to be missed. As well as a small nature shop and a formal garden with fountain.

    If you drive, you can park further before the Garden for free and take a 5 minutes stroll along paved trail or along the road.

    Bring an umbrella or hat if you are here in the hot part of the day. Many locals hike, jogged or exercise through out the day.

    There is a public bus that stop near the entrance but not that frequent. Or you can just walk from near the junctin of Burmah Road and Gottlieb Road where you will pass by the famous Hindu temple.

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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Sanctuary of Penang
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  • This garden is the another sanctuary for Penangites , offering fresh air , beautiful lush greenery and a cool hideout ! To me its a park rather than a garden !

    Many penangite likes to jog . walk or have a picnic in this place . There are many species of plants and flowers you can find inside , on top of the beautiful ever-changing landscape that you will see as you walk along. One of them is the unique Palm of Buddha fruit !
    The fruits size and shape looks like the hand of a human being ....bizzarre but real !

    There is also a Lily pond and cactus garden there ! There is also a small stream that runs through the garden

    There are many smaller trails which you can see along the main tarred road, there you can hike up to higher grounds to look at different scenery.

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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): A Botanical Garden where monkeys rule, not plants
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  • Ignore the sign and you could lose your icecream - Penang
    Ignore the sign and you
    could lose your icecream
    by Dxenion
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    Pick a nice clear day around late afternoon.

    Ensure your camera (video or still) is loaded and ready to go.

    Grab a comfy spot near the entrance - just inside near the shop is best, warm up the camera and wait for the action to start.

    Around dusk, monkeys (monyet) in huge family packs arrive from the tree tops in and around the park to participate in their favourite game of 'scare the tourist'. They're quite good at it too if you don't know what to expect or are easily intimidated by 2 foot tall animals with attitude!

    Despite the signs plastered everyone, there's the occasional tourist who think's it's cute to feed a wild monkey and that's when the real fun starts - well for the photographer anyway.

    The monkeys descend on the tourist mock charging them until they drop whatever it is they have (bottle of coke, icecream, chips) and the tourist runs off screaming. The monkeys then take off to the nearest post, fence or tree to enjoy their treat.

    Quite often the adolescent males will try their luck on anyone unfortunate enough to have food in their hand but are easily put off if you stand your ground.

    Oh and the gardens are nice for a picnic too. All the exotic plants are in cages which are only open for very limited hours during the day and are locked at ather times to keep the monkeys out.

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  • Address: Botanical Gardens
  • Directions: Either hire a taxi (approx $15RM) or catch the No 7 bus from Komtar to the Botanical Gardens.
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Look out - Canonballs overhead!
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  • There are a number of unique species of trees in the Penang Botanical Gardens. During the early days when this gardens functioned as part of the then Gardens and Forests Department for the Straits Settlements (i.e. the states of Malacca, Singapore & Penang), it was used in the cultivation of commercial plants such as spices, pepper, nutmegs, and cloves. The diligent curator of these gardens, a Britisher named Mr Charles Curtis, a tireless and diligent gardener obtained and planted seedlings from around the world - including the cannon-ball tree which was from Guyana, in Africa.

    The official Penang Botanic Gardens website describes it thus:

    A beautiful fast growing tree which reaches 25m in height. The leaves have a life span of approximately 6 months after which they are shed rapidly so that the crown is usually bare for a day or two.

    A remarkable flowering tree bearing large pinkish red, fragrant waxy flowers borne on tree trunk on long woody twigs. Later, followed by large reddish brown globular fruits, which attain the size of human head** and contain a mass of sour smelling pulp, take 8-9 months to ripen.

    Flowering continues for many weeks. Ideally suited in large gardens and parks.

    The cannon balls that I saw here and also in Bali were the size of large oranges or grapefruits, but certainlty not that of a human head!

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  • Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga, Penang
  • Website: http://www.sukpp.gov.my/KebunBunga/spetree.html
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Monkey antics
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  • The monkeys are a big draw at the Botanical Gardens. You will find them everywhere at the gardens.

    There are signs to say "Do Not Feed the Monkeys", but it was difficult to resist as they are quite cute, but do so at your own risk. Once my son threw them some peanuts, they continued to follow us around and even tried to grab the packet from us. Thereafter, we learned to keep our distance did NOT feed the monkeys!

    Having said that, they're quite good fun to be around-see the pics of this monkey drinking from a Coke can.

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  • Address: Penang Botanical Gardens
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Visit the Botanical Gardens
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  • The Penang Botanical Gardens are certainly worth a visit. With an easy walking path, you will find a veritable display of old shady trees that have been around since the days of Merdeka (Independence). Apart from the more common flowers such as pink ixoras, orange & yellow cannae lillys, multicoloured heliconia, varieties of orchids and other flowering shrubs, you can also learn about epiphites and other parasitic plants.
    It is common to see students and school groups visiting the Penang Botanical Gardens with their teachers to learn about the different types of tropical and sub-tropical plants.

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  • Address: Penang Botanical Gardens
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Dip your hot toes in the cool Stream
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  • have a break & rest your tired feet - Penang
    have a break & rest your
    tired feet
    by Wild_Orchid
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    The stream that runs through the Botanical Gardens is perfect for a little dip and children do often come here just to do that. If you are not equiped for a full dip, why not just take off your socks and shoes, and dip your toes in. It is a lovely way to cool yourself off and give yourself a break.

    Due to the mature trees and bamboo groves providing much needed shade, on weekends, you will find local families sitting on the grass for a little rest or having a picnic.

    Indeed, within the 29 acres of these lovely gardens, you will certainly find a way yo enjoy yourself.

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  • Address: Jalan Kebun Bunga
  • Directions: Not far from the Waterfall Cafe junction.
  • Website: http://www.sukpp.gov.my/KebunBunga/html
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    The Botanical Gardens (monkey park): Botanic Gardens
  • Tip Rating:
  • Spend some time at the Botanic Gardens if you can... You'll see some 'wild' monkeys playing around... Just don't take any food with you or they will attack...and don't get TOO close while taking photos...hehe...I know for sure then they will attack! ;)

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