Best Classes & Culture in Penang

Classes & Culture in Penang

Introduction to Cultural Classes in Penang

A vibrant island off the coast of Malaysia, Penang offer a wide variety of cultural classes that you can attend to learn and develop your personal skills in many different aspects. From cooking classes where you will be taken to learn more about the local spices as well as traditional cuisine authentic to Penang such as Nyonya, Malay cuisine to Chinese cuisine, tufting skills to improve your creativity by making many kinds of rugs based on your own creativity and even making your own beautiful terrarium by ordering DIY kit with home delivery in Penang. 

All of these classes will also bring you to learn more about the traditions and culture of Penang which will help you to appreciate more into the island’s past and culture. Other than that, cultural classes can provide in assistance your personal growth, where visitors would be taken to explore many different perspectives and worldviews, where every individual would develop another new personal skill that might be able to help in their future. 

Top Cultural Classes and Experiences

1. Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden

Get your exciting cooking class at Tropical Spice Garden which offers a unique experience for food enthusiasts which is a cooking class held surrounded by stunning spice gardens. Experience a hands-on class that allows you to learn the secrets of authentic Southeast Asian cuisine from Nyonya, Malay, Indian, Thai, and Asian Vegetarian Cuisine. 

But before that, you will be taken on a journey by exploring the lush spice garden where you will learn various herbs and spices that form the backbone of Southeast Asian cuisine. Gain many information and knowledge into the history and culture behind the spices, and dishes you made, then enjoy the fruits of labour by savouring the delicious meals you’ve created by yourself. 

2. Tufting and DIY Craft Workshops by OLO Studio in Penang

Create your own custom tufting from scratch and make the one-and-only design of DIY goods with your own hands. Learn the basics and discover the art of tufting, which is the technique that is commonly used in making rugs and wall hangings. Create the pre-designed patterns or make your own unique masterpiece, to your liking. Learn how to use the tufting gun to create a beautiful piece of art. 

At the end of the day, you will get to leave the workshop with your finished masterpiece to display in your home. Another skill has been achieved, which can also become a new idea for starting your small business! 

3. Forest in a Bottle Terrarium DIY Kit with Home Delivery in Malaysia

Get your green thumbs ready to create a Miniature Forest in a bottle with Home Delivery from Moonshop Gallery in Malaysia. Enjoy making your hand-made forests in a bottle terrarium that has recently become popular for its unique and low-maintenance way of bringing nature indoors. 

Here, you can pre-purchase a DIY kit that includes everything you need to create your own unique terrarium, delivered right to your doorstep. Follow the step-by-step guide provided in the kit to assemble your lush terrarium and enjoy the beauty of nature indoors, even in limited space. Besides, while arranging your terrarium, you could enjoy the therapeutic and relaxing tendency of this activity. 

Cultural Enrichment Through Classes

By participating in various cultural classes in Penang, you can learn more about Malay which is the national language of Malaysia, by communicating with locals and gain a deeper appreciation for their culture and way of life. Take the cooking class at Tropical Spice Garden, where visitors would be able to learn and delve into the flavours of Penang's cuisine, learning their traditional recipes and understanding the local spices and cooking techniques used on their traditional dishes. 

Other than that, cultural classes often involve interacting with locals, providing a chance to make friends with the other students, learn about the local daily lives as well as gain a deeper understanding of Penang’s culture from a personal perspective. As you get along with your teacher or your classmates, you can begin to share your own cultural experiences and perspectives with others, giving a sense of connection between one culture and another. 

Not stopping there, participating in cultural classes also influences a lot in your personal growth. Taking these kinds of classes also means that you will be able to achieve various new personal skills. From learning cooking skills, crafting your DIY rugs by tufting, or even making your own beautiful terrarium. All of these new skills you achieve can also grow into an opportunity to make small business ideas in the future. 

Locations Offering Cultural Classes

1. Tropical Spice Garden 

A breathtaking Garden that provides a cultural class, which is a cooking class where they would teach you everything about authentic Penang cuisine, from Nyonya, Malay cuisine, and Chinese cuisine along with the traditional spices used in each delicacy that grow within the vast garden of Tropical Spice Garden. 

With over 500 species of plants including a variety of spices, herbs and fruit trees, Tropical Spice Harden is an aromatic garden haven that offers gilded tours telling you all about the history, uses and cultivation of various plants. As has been mentioned above, the garden also offers cooking classes that you can attend as well as a butterfly farm where you get to observe a stunning collection of butterflies flying around freely in the air and a herbal bath that is perfect for your healthy skin and hair. Don’t forget about their gift shop where you get to purchase souvenirs and locally-made products inspired by the garden’s plants. 

2. OLO studio

OLO Studio is known as an exciting creative space in Penang that offers a variety of tufting and DIY craft workshops as has been mentioned above. The studio provides a welcoming and relaxing environment for both beginners and experienced crafters, where they get to unleash their creativity into some masterpiece that can be presented in the shape of rugs or other kinds of souvenirs, 

OLO Studio is more specialised and concentrated on the art of tufting, which is a technique that is known to create custom rug and wall hangings. If you decide to participate in the workshop held by OLO studio, you will get various benefits including guidance from the professional and skilled instructor as well as connect with the other crafters and share your passion. The workshop is offered at reasonable prices which makes it accessible to everyone who has an interest in the art of crafting. 

3. Georgetown

Georgetown is a famous city which has become one of the most popular tourist attractions not only in Penang but also in Malaysia. The city is well known for its well-preserved colonial architecture that is still beautifully maintained these days, as well as unique street art scenes and rich cultural heritage.

There are various spots that you should visit in George Town especially if you have an interest in the local culture and want to know more about them. From Colonial Architecture that is open to the public, like Penang State Museum, Fort Cornwallis and Cheong Fatt Tze mansion to the Night Market which always bustling with life where you can find numerous local delicacies, souvenirs and local products and even the famous Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple that is known as the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. You can visit all of those places that are abundant with history and culture under one city of Georgetown. 

Pricing and Packages for Cultural Classes

1. Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden

Get your hands ready to prepare your own lunch from scratch to recreate authentic and flavourful Southeast Asian cuisine under the guidance of professionals. You will get to know more about the local delicacies that are made with the spices, and herbs grown in the garden itself, making it fresh and bursting with flavour. The package class also includes an English speaking guide who is an expert in local spices which will explain all the things you want to know during your tour of the garden. 

Please be reminded that the classes are only available on Friday and Saturday. 

Available Tickets: 

• Cooking Class at Tropical Spice Garden starting from SGD 78.42

2. Tufting and DIY Craft Workshops by OLO Studio in Penang

OLO Studio might specialise in Tufting Workshop, but that’s not all. They also offer a Sand Art Candle Workshop package providing the Sand Art candle tools as well as all the essential oils and colours you’re going to need while making your custom candle artwork. 

For their speciality in tufting, OLO Studio provides wider options from 2-hour Tufting Workshop to 5-hour Tufting Workshops that are available to book. 

Available Tickets: 

• Sand Art Candle Workshop starting from SGD 16.36
• Tufting Workshop - 2 Hour Workshop (15x15 cm) starting from SGD 40.79
• Tufting Workshop - 3 Hour Workshop (30x30 cm) starting from SGD 57.14
• Tufting Workshop - 4 Hour Workshop (45x45 cm) starting from SGD 79.97
• Tufting Workshop - 5 Hour Workshop (75x75 cm) starting from SGD 112.61

3. Forest in a Bottle Terrarium DIY Kit with Home Delivery in Malaysia

Moonshop Gallery might nested in Penang state, but it offers the service of Forest in Bottle Terrarium DIY Kit that reaches up to west and east Malaysia. They offer several options of sizes in the Terrarium from small to large, and even a special edition series that are ready to decorate your room with lush greenery. 

Available Tickets: 

• Small Egg Forest DIY Kit - West Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 44.28
• Small Egg Forest DIY Kit - East Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 45.26
• [CNY Special Edition] Peach Forests DIY Kit - West Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 46.72
• Large Egg Forest DIY Kit - West Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 57.79
• Large Egg Forest DIY Kit - East Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 58.87
• [CNY Special Edition] Peach Forests DIY Kit - East Malaysia (Per Unit) starting from SGD 63.65

Aside from all those Cultural Classes mentioned above, there are still many more things waiting to be explored in Penang. Whether you are looking for thrilling activities, fun and relaxing activities, relaxation and rejuvenation, you can get it all in Penang.

If you would like to visit Penang soon, Traveloka is ready to help and guide you in booking some hotels, flight tickets, and even any other attraction that you want to experience. Enjoy your fun and memorable holiday in Penang with Traveloka! 

Other Recommended Activities in Penang

1. Visit The Habitat Penang Hill and enjoy the serene escape into the nature

Walk into the eco-tourism destination located on top of Penang Hill in Penang which is known for offering a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the island while exploring various outdoor activities. 

Take a leisurely stroll along the 530-meter-long curved canopy island, or explore the lush Mossy Ravine which is a hidden gem nestled in Penang Hill that houses a variety of flora and fauna including ferns, orchids and many other unique plantations. The Observation Deck is also another option to visit if you would like to indulge yourself in the scenic panoramic views of Penang Island and the lush greenery of the surrounding forests. 

2. Have a joyous adventure at ESCAPE Theme Park

Unleash your inner child and reminisce your childhood memories of playing with nature and exciting outdoor activities. ESCAPE Theme Park is another popular destination, especially among families who are looking for thrilling experiences and unforgettable memories together. 

This massive park features a Water Park where you get to cool off and have fun at the water park’s slides, or relax at the lazy river, an Adventure park that is full of challenging courses, a Kid’s Park where you get to take it easy and let your little ones explore the area, Eco Park and even a Night Park where you will be given a chance to explore the area even after the dark surrounded by special lighting and activities. 

3. Get to know various types of Butterflies at Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm

Ebark on a unique exploration at Entopia by Penang Butterfly, as the name says, you will be able to witness numerous exotic insects from around the globe through diverse ecosystems and species. 

Entopia Penang Butterfly is one of the largest butterfly gardens in Malaysia that houses over 15.000 free-flying butterflies with up to 60 different species lurking around the area. Besides the butterflies, you can also explore their beautiful garden with a wide variety of plants together with beautifully man-made waterfalls, and ponds which are created in order to recreate the natural habitat of those colourful butterflies.  

4. Take your little one to Teddyville Museum to take a look at various bears from over a decade

Visit the first and the largest exhibit of teddy bears from all over the world, displayed in various themed areas. Admire a wide range of teddy bears from antique vintage pieces to modern collectable bears and explore many different themed areas that showcase teddy bears in various settings such as historical events, fairy tales, and popular cultures. 

Take your little ones and let them enjoy the interactive exhibits that allow you to engage with the teddy bears and create your own stories. They even offer a Teddy Bear workshop where visitors can learn about teddy bear making and customize their own teddy bears and bring them back home as souvenirs. 

5. Take a leap into the mysterious 3D Trick Art Museum in Penang

Looking for a place that will serve your unique photoshoots? The 3D Trick Art Museum is the answer. 

3D Trik Art Museum is a popular attractions that offer a unique and interactive experience which is full of interesting optical illusions and mind-bending artworks that appear to come to life when viewed from a specific angle. 

If you plan to visit this amusing museum, don't forget to bring your best camera to take your unique photos while you interact with the artworks and become a part of the artworks themself. It is a great place to visit with your friends and family where you will leave with numerous experiences that will leave you amazed, new knowledge about the principles of perspective and optical illusions and memorable photos with your loved ones.