Special thanks to Penang 3D Trick Art Museum and TourDirections Penang for extending this attraction invitation.
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Besides culinary and cultural attractions, George Town is also blessed with many interesting museums. Among them is Penang 3D Trick Art Museum at Penang Street, just a short distance from the Esplanade.
This two-floor building offers a near-linear exhibit path that allows visitors to explore various 3-dimensional artwork of various themes. The tour starts at the ground floor right behind the ticketing counter. Depending on the visitor’s comfortable pace, the tour can take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete.
The first wall mural near the ticketing counter is the “Icon Of Penang”. This is an ensemble of Penang’s iconic landmarks including the Penang Bridge, Penang Ferry and KOMTAR Tower. The wall mural is painted in a way which gives the illusion that the objects depicted are three-dimensional.
Symbolically, the ticketed section starts with a view of a traditional Malay village, or “kampung”. Although Penang is one of the most developed states in the nation, there are still many villages especially at the mainland. Between palm trees, children entertain themselves with toys such as gasing (Malay top) and guli (marbles).
Unique to Penang, Clan Jetties along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld) are the remnants of Chinese fishermen who built their houses on stilts towards the sea. Wooden boats are a practical mode of transportation in this maritime society.
Yellow trolley buses used to ply the roads between Air Itam and the foothill station of Penang Hill. Unlike most motor vehicles, these buses run on electricity. Trolley buses have been phased out in the advent of diesel buses and gasoline cars.
The Penang Bird Park at Seberang Jaya boasts one of the best collection of tropical birds in the region. Colorful avian creatures such as parrots, flamingos and hornbills are featured in this spectacular aviary.
Opened in 1986, the Penang Butterfly Farm at Teluk Bahang is another interesting attraction. This walk-in butterfly habitat allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of these vibrant insects at close range.
The giant panda is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Native to bamboo forests in south central China, the number of these majestic creatures have dwindled due to deforestation. Fortunately, conservation efforts seems to be paying off. Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur is the temporary home of two pandas: Xing Xing and Liang Liang, as well as their newborn female offspring earlier this year.
Closer to home, the orang utan is another endangered animal in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Orang utan is one of the most intelligent primates, having the capacity to construct tools by trial-and-error and observation. In captivity, its young often form lifelong bonding with their human caretakers.
As darkness looms in the sky, the owl takes flight in search of food, thanks to its hyper-sensitive eyes. In addition, bats also forage at night by using echolocation to navigate in total darkness.
Ames Room is a popular example of optical illusion. Using forced perspective, objects can be made to appear larger or smaller than they actually are. The back wall and floor tiles are deliberated design to make the trapezoidal room appear rectangular. The right corner of the room is actually further away than the left corner.
Do you love the thrill of dangerous stunts? If so, press yourself against the giant dartboard while someone throws darts at you! Let’s hope that the dart does not hit the bull’s eye!
Have you wondered how illusionists levitate people by seemingly defying gravity? One way is by changing the direction of gravity! Have you figured out this trick?
It is fortunate to have this umbrella at the right place at the right time. Imagine the mess inflicted on our clothes if the umbrella were not there!
Want to be a celebrity? Bask in glamour as you take the red carpet walk during the Academic Awards! Smile!
Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film E.T. is one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing films of all time. This sci-fi movie tells the story of a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial called “E.T.”, who was stranded on Earth and has to avoid being captured by authorities. In one scene, the protagonist and E.T. escape on a flying bicycle. The silhouette against an oversized moon is one of the most memorable scenes on the silver screen.
This flying carpet appears to be suspend in mid-air, but it is merely an illusion created by the fake shadow “below”. This scene was taken from the 1972 Malay comedy film “Laksamana Do Re Mi”, directed and played by the late P. Ramlee, possibly the greatest figure in the Malaysian film industry.
The Japanese horror film “The Ring” in 1998 tells the story of a cursed video tape created by a supernatural being called Sadako Yamamura (山村貞子). In one of the most terrifying scenes in the horror film genre, Sadako climbs out of a television screen to kill her victims.
The classical Chinese novel “Journey To The West” (西游记) narrates the adventures of a Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) during his pilgrimage to the “West” (India). Along the way, he is protected by his three disciples: Sun Wukong (孙悟空), Zhu Bajie (猪八戒) and Sha Wujing (沙悟净).
For the more adventurous visitors, balance yourself as you race down a rope bridge suspended over a lava pit below! Watch out that several wooden planks have broken off!
One fatal misstep and you will fall into the deep abyss below! If only you can cling to a crevice on the wall…
The great white shark is trying to get in, and it does not look friendly at all! Quick, shut the window to keep it at bay!
We must have entered Jurassic Park, because we are being hunted by two T-rexs! Scurry into this cave before their vicious jaws reach us!
As if extinct dinosaurs weren’t enough, we are also attacked by another hungry reptile! Watch out the sharp fangs of this anaconda because it is determined to swallow us in whole!
A giant centipede? Where exactly are we? No time to ponder, we have to fend it off! Fortunately, there is a spear to keep the creature away!
Penang 3D Trick Art Museum is open daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm on weekdays, 9:00am to 8:00pm on weekends and public holidays. The ticket price is RM15.00 per adult, RM10.00 per child (12 years or below) and RM10.00 per senior citizen (60 years or above). For non-Malaysians, the price is RM25.00 and RM15.00 for adult and child respectively.
Name: Penang 3D Trick Art Museum
Address: 10, Lebuh Penang, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-263-1628
Business hours: 9:00am-6:00pm (Monday-Friday), 9:00am-8:00pm (Saturday-Sunday, public holidays)
Website: http://www.penangtrickart.com
Coordinates: 5.41975 N, 100.34166 E
Directions: From the Penang State Assembly Building (Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri), drive along Light Street (Lebuh Light). Right after Hong Leong Bank on your left, turn left to Penang Street (Lebuh Penang). Penang 3D Trick Art Museum is located on your right, near the intersection with Union Street (Lebuh Union). Street parking is available.
