PENANG

Penang Tours | Penang at a glance |Penang History | Penang Attractions

PENANG AT A GLANCE:

The Island of Penang comprises an area of 285 sq km (177 sq mi) off Peninsula Malaysia's north-western coast, is the oldest British settlement in Malaysia and one of the country's premier resort areas.  What makes Penang Island really tick is the vibrant and intriguing city of Georgetown (population: 400,000) on the island's north-eastern coast.  This city has more Chinese flavor than either Singapore or Hong Kong, and in its older neighborhoods you could be forgiven for thinking that the clock stopped at least 50 years ago.  From its establishment as the first British trading post in the Far East in 1786, Penang is today a bustling city with a unique blend of the East and the West.  This is reflected in its heritage buildings as well as in the lifestyle, food and customs of the local people.  Penang needs little introduction to many visitors to Malaysia, having long been known as one of Southeast Asia's finest destinations.  Penang's outstanding beaches and exotic sights have made it one of the most popular destinations in the region.  Traditionally known as the Pearl Of The Orient, resorts of international standards have mushroomed along its beaches offering full facilities for rest and recreation.  Take one tropical island, add a luxurious beach resort, augment that with a significant amount of history, toss in a liberal dose of superb local food, and the result would be none other than Penang.  Lying at the crossroads of great civilizations, Penang, more than any other state in Malaysia, is the country's cultural melting pot.  In the early years of its founding, the island attracted people of all races from seemingly all points of the compass.  Penang today, like most of its counterparts in the country, bears the mark of an early history of successive foreign influences.  From the early Indian Civilization that took root in northern Malaya, to the Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British who came to this part of the world in search of spices and stayed on to participate in the lucrative trade.  For food lovers, a trip to Penang is a must!

HISTORY:
Originally a territory of the Sultan of Kedah, Penang was largely unoccupied until 1786.  According to the annals of history, Francis Light of the British East India Company was very captivated by the island's immense beauty.  Foreseeing its potential as an excellent trading port, he persuaded the then Sultan to concede the island to the British rule in exchange for protection against his Siamese enemies.  The task of clearing the jungle was given to Light.  Legend has it that Light filled cannons with gold and silver coins, blasted them into the surrounding jungles, and then sent workers out to clear the jungle.  It got the job done! Thanks to Light's far-sight, the island soon became a busy entry port for tea and opium trading between India and China.  Today's Penang combines the past and present.  It is possible to stroll down its narrow lanes and enjoy viewing colonial buildings, as well as modern development of roads and high rises.

ATTRACTIONS:

Georgetown:  Named after King George III of England, is the seat of the state's administration as well as the center for commerce, education, social activities and entertainment.  Georgetown is a compact city and it's a delight to wander around.  Set off in any direction and you're certain to see beautiful old Chinese houses, vegetable markets, temple ceremonies, trishaws, mahjong games and all the other to-ings and fro-ings of Asian street life.  You can still see the time-worn walls of Fort Cornwallis in the centre of Georgetown where the first Briton, Captain Light, set foot in 1786 on what was then a virtually uninhabited island.  He established a free port here and the stone fort was finished a few decades later.  The area within the fort is now a park liberally sprinkled with cannons, many of them retrieved from local pirates.  Seri Rambai, the largest and most important cannon has a checkered history dating back to 1600.  It's famed for its procreative powers, and childless women are recommended to place flowers in the barrel of 'the big one' and offer special prayers.  Penang has many kongsis (clan houses that operate partly as temples and partly as meeting halls for Chinese of the same clan or surname) but Khoo Kongsi is easily the finest.  The original building was so magnificent and elaborate that no-one was surprised when the roof caught fire on the very night it was completed.  This misfortune was taken merely as a sign that the building had been too grandiose, so a marginally less magnificent structure was built.  One wonders at the opulence of the original since the present structure is a dazzling mix of dragons, statues, paintings, lamps, colored tiles and carvings.  Kuan Yin Teng Temple right in the centre of the old part of Georgetown is nowhere near as impressive, but it's one of the most popular temples in the city and there are often worshippers burning paper money at the furnaces, night-time puppet shows or Chinese theatre performances.  For the best view of the city and the island, catch the funicular railway up Penang Hill which rises 830m (2,722 ft) above Georgetown and provides cool relief from the sticky heat below.  There are pleasant gardens, a hotel, a Hindu temple and a mosque at the top.  The view is particularly good at dusk when Georgetown, far below, begins to light up.  Most of the popular budget hotels in Georgetown are along Lebuh Chulia.  More expensive options line Jalan Penang.  There are plenty of Chinese and Indian restaurants, but be adventurous and try the succulent local dishes on offer from the street stalls, which appear at night along the Esplanade behind the Penang Library.  Other places to visit in Georgetown include Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple and Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, a Buddhist temple with one of the world's longest reclining statues of Buddha.  Trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes, food stalls, discotheques, night markets, department stores, and quaint pre-war shops together with a host of other places all combine to give the city its lively and colorful character.  A characteristic sight in Penang is its gaily decorated trishaws which offer tourists a fun way of taking in the island's sights at a leisurely pace.  For an exhilarating experience cross over to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, one of Asia's longest, or experience the romance of traveling on its famous ferry, once the only link with the mainland.  Take a refreshing drive up to the forest clad hills to enjoy the scenic beauty of the island.  On your way back, stop at Balik Pulau and sample its highly acclaimed durians and nutmegs.  As fabulous as its beaches are, some of Penang's deeper mysteries should also be experienced.  According to local folklore, the Snake Temple, dedicated to a Buddhist healer-priest, was inhabited by snakes that crawled out of the jungle on the night of the temple's completion.  The snakes are still there today.  The Kek Lok Si Temple, at Air Itam, is reputed to be the most beautiful and largest temple complex in Southeast Asia.  Its seven-story pagoda, over 90 feet high, is a harmonious blend of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese architecture and craftsmanship.  Other worthwhile stops are the delightful Penang Bird Park (on the mainland), the romantic peak of Penang Hill (take the funicular train up Penang Hill for a panoramic view of the island), the Butterfly Farm, the Botanical Gardens and the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve (crisscrossed with beautiful trails leading to isolated beaches).  A trek through the reserve's interior reveals rare flora, monkeys chattering in the trees, sea eagles surveying their prey, and maybe a glimpse of a Hawksbill turtle heading for the sea. 

TOURS ORIGINATING FROM PENANG: