Travel Guide to Penang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia - Pearl of The West Coast

Once traveling over the Penang bridge coming from the main land, not just an island but a metropolitan city arises ahead. An island scattered with industry, housing estates and condominiums, but also an island with a long trading and exciting history and many of these elements can still be found when excursioning around Penang.

History of Penang

The Sultan of Kedah was convinced by the British captain Sir Francis Light to surrender Pulau Penang (Betel Nut Island) to the British East India Company. The first city was named after King George III, and Georgetown is still the major heart of the island. After 100 years of British occupation the island joined the Federation of Malaya in 1957.

Pulau Penang or Penang for short (sometimes referred to as Pinang) houses a multi cultural population of nearly 1,5 million inhabitants. Pulau Penang is part of the State of Penang which can be found in the North Western tip of Malaysia.

Georgetown booming heart of Pulau Pinang

Georgetown Is the main administrative and commercial district of the island. Its heritage and colonial history can be found on every street corner, as many building and sites are kept intact and withstood the passing modern times. Georgetown definitely a modern city wrapped in a historical package.

China Town and Little India are a must-visit district an exciting and well preserved area, and gives perfect insight into the lives of early settlers.

Hotels And Accommodations in Penang

Accommodation on the island is plentiful, whether one wants to be pampered in a five star hotel or resort or just basic or standard accommodation, Penang will comfort the travelers needs. Georgetown, Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi is where all the top class accommodations are found.

Food of Penang

Penang offers its own fine cuisine which of the historical background is a wild mixture from various cultures. And the seas surrounding the island bring fresh catch to every plate every day. Asam Laksa a spicy soup, and Char Kway Teow a noodle dish should not be missed. Coffee houses in Penang are called Kopitiam, and offer a wide variety of foods and desserts.

All over the island quality entertainment can be found, for nightlife the island offers plenty of pubs, clubs and restaurants, we recommend Upper Penang road, Gurney Drive and Batu Ferringhi.

Penang Shopping

Penang is definitely a shoppers heaven, the many shopping centers, bazaars and markets offer a wide variety of goods. Penang’s port brings the best from all over the world to this island of abundance. Jalan Penang, Lebuh Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Cambell, Batu Ferringhi and Chowrast Bazaar should not be missed.

Culture and Traditions

Pulau Penang’s geographical location brought a wide range of cultures and traditions to the island. The exotic culture is found in many heritage sites open to the public, to list a few; Kek Lok Si Temple, Fort Cornwallis, Dharmikarama Burmese Temple, Acheen Street Malay Mosque, City hall, Khoo Kongsi temple Complex, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Little India, The State Mosque, St. Anne’s Church and Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. Exploring the island the toursit will understand there are many more to be to discovered.

Recreation in Penang

However a large part of the island is changed into housing and industrial estates, Pulau Penang offers a wide range of fascinating natural attractions. Penang’s Northern shores are reserved for sun lovers; the pristine beaches offer idyllic sites and sceneries and stretch for miles, Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang are world famous and all water sports can be found here. But Penang also offers a National Park, Tropical Spice and Fruit Garden, Botanical Garden, Butterfly Farm and Bird Park. Penang Hill has to be done once in a lifetime, either hiking or taking the charming Penang Hill train to the 830 meter high summit, the views from this standpoint will awe everyone. The island also offers excellent Jungle trekking trails and absolute top notch gold facilities and driving ranges.

Museums on Pulau Pinang

If museums and galleries are preferred, Penang has plenty to offer too. Venues to put on the checklist, Penang Museum, Forest Recreation Park Museum, P. Ramlee’s House, War Museum, Toy Museum, University of Science Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery, USM ABN-AMRO Arts Centre.

Getting to Penang

Whether travelling by road, rail, sea or air, Penang will cater to every traveler’s needs. Penang International Airport connects to all major capital cities in the area. From Butterworth its only a small crossing by ferry, and sometime is faster than the congested Penang bridge. The island offers plenty of taxis, and within Georgetown small three wheelers are found called Trishaws, very smart and inexpensive way to get around town fast.

Pulau Penang, an exciting island with enough entertainment and leisure activities for every traveler. Tourists will go home, satisfied and with lots of stories and pretty pictures.

Clean Up Asia… Recycle or not to recycle?

It’s not unusual to walk along the street in Asia, a car drives past and opens the window and the next plastic bag comes flying past. Or a policeman under a “do not smoke” sign, opens his pack of cigarettes and throws away the plastic wrapping and the remainder of his previous pack of sticks. Kids playing in the field and all of them drinking soft drinks but the empty cans are left behind in the field. The amount of rubbish and trash found even around housing estates is incredible and enormous.

Especially with adults I have the feeling to walk up to them and ask them “do you have kids?” “Yes; fantastic, and in which world do you want them to grow up?” The world you are creating with your plastic bags, your rubbish and your cigarette buds, or a clean and healthy environment. Of course the answer is clear, but people do not seem to care less.

Asia Wake Up and Do Something About It.

It’s not only in and around the cities and housing areas that we see these practices, but when you are on the bus or driving the highways by car, and realize the amount of rubbish left behind by construction companies, its enormous.

What Can We Do About It?

Keeping the environment clean is so simple, and it all starts with you.

Put a small plastic bag in your car, collect your own rubbish and throw it away when you make your next stop at a gas station. Separating your house garbage, in organic, glass, wood, plastics and metals is so simple.

Recycling does not start at the recycle plan, it starts at every home.

One person’s rubbish is another person’s fortune. Every city should have a collection point or call-in center where you can report what you have seen and or found, so that at least it’s reported and action can be taken.

We all should be aware of a healthier and cleaner environment.

We can educate kids in schools by a clean education program.

Worldwide Eco Initiatives

World wide many initiatives are taken towards a healthier and cleaner environment. But Asia stays behind, way behind. And we all can wait until the government starts to take action, or we as individuals can take action.

In Belgium for more than thirty years kids go out once a year and clean up a certain area of the city, until it’s squeaky clean, The next day they all plant a tree, to preserve and give back to the environment. Over a schooling career of ten years plant ten trees each.

In Holland divers get together once a year and dive for rubbish, to clean, ponds, rivers and lakes. Tons and tons of avoidable trash is collected and send to rubbish plants around the country.

Take Action Today

Walk around your neighbor hood, and visually check for rubbish, you will be astounded, about the amounts. It does not take one or two individuals, it takes teams of adults and kids who get together and start taking action.

Nature always wins. Let’s not pollute our own environment. Do something, and start today.

Pick up that broom and start sweeping your own backyard.

You want to lead by example.