Penang Botanic Gardens Waterfall, George Town

The famous waterfall and reservoir nestled in Penang Botanic Gardens are technically private property, but don't fret – you can still check them out with a little planning. Just hit up the Penang Water Authority or tag along with the monthly tours organized by the Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens, a non-governmental organisation.

Back in the 1960s, during Malaysia's showdown with Indonesia, they locked down the waterfall for safety reasons. But way before that, early visitors to Penang Island couldn't stop raving about it. They even set up the first water treatment plant in Malaysia right here in 1804, serving up H2O to around 10,000 people in Penang; moreover, they built an aqueduct in 1805 to funnel water to a reservoir near the port. Sailors loved the quality of the water, calling it "sweet" after it trickled through the ancient rocks of Penang Hill.

Today, only a small chunk of Penang's water comes from this reservoir – about 10–15% of the population taps into it for their hydration needs.