Introduction - Penang
Selamat Datang !!! (Welcome in Malaysian Language)
Mix in the rich
colonial charm, Penang, is definitely outshine other places to be seen
as a travelers' or MM2Hers' paradise.
Widely known as the Pearl of the Orient, Penang is one of Asia's most
famous islands. Its natural beauty and exotic heritage have been
attracting curious visitors for centuries. Travel guides have referred
to it as " . . . a place of mysterious temples and palm-shrouded
beaches", while literary giant Somerset Maugham is known to have stayed
on the island and spun tales about the romance of the white planter in
South-East Asia.
Penang today is very much an amalgam of the old and the new - a
bustling port, a heritage city and an industrial base. Perhaps it has
more to offer per square mile than any other place in the world. For
sheer variety of locales, cultures and foods, Penang is hard to beat.
In it's capital Georgetown, modern skyscrapers rise from one of
Southeast Asia's largest collections of intact prewar buildings. Where
else can you find a century-old church, a Chinese temple, an Indian
temple, and a Muslim mosque all within a five-minute walk from one
another? Likewise, tall urban structures stand beside the red-tiled
roofs of Chinatown and "Little India" is just across the road, while
the Malay kampungs lie on the outskirts. The seamless melding of the
many peoples of Penang is best reflected in the delicious hawker foods
(available around the clock) and the adherence to traditions and
customs. Festivals abound throughout the year. |
