South East Asian Trips

Georgetown Penang Island 285 Sq. km (177 Sq mi) island of Penang, off Peninsula Malaysia's north-western coast, is the oldest British settlement in Malaysia and one of the country's premier resort areas. The island's beaches are touted as the major drawcard but they're somewhat overrated. What makes Penang Island really tick is the vibrant and intriguing city of Georgetown (pop 400,000) on the island's north-eastern coast. This city has more Chinese flavour than either Singapore or Hong Kong, and in its older neighbourhoods you could be forgiven for thinking that the clock stopped at least 50 years ago. 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 chequered 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, coloured 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 (2722ft) 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

Attractions

Cheong Fatt Tze, Fort Conwallis, Peranakan Mansion

While modern and commercial, Georgetown still offers visitors a glimpse into the past through its many preserved historical buildings, some situated in the middle of the city's tall structures and modern shopping areas.

As most of these heritage buildings are concentrated in Georgetown , one can walk a trail through the city in order to discover them. Also, don't forget to check out the Upper Penang Road for some exciting nightlife.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Leith Street was the winner of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation. This is an oriental and magical building centred on oriental culture, a reflection of Chinese life in the 19 th Century of little Penang. The mansion has 38 huge rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows of Chinese architecture to explore under a guided tour.

Fort Conwallis

Located in Light Street , the Cornwallis Fort was built by Francis Light, the founder of Penang , when he landed in 1786. Used to defend Penang from outside intruders, the fort was built in the shape of a star, but the only actual buildings still standing today are the outer walls, an ammunitions storage area, remains of a barracks and a harbour light. There are displays of old photos with historical accounts for visitors to see in the fort as well.

Peranakan Mansion

Located on Church Street (Lebuh Gereja), the Penang Peranakan Mansion was established by Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, one of the leaders of Penang and the Hai San triad that took part in the clash between Chinese gangs during the tin boom in Larut from 1860 - 1884.

The mansion is a homage to Straits Chinese culture, referred to as 'Peranakan', with a rich architectural blend of Eastern and French elements. Today, the mansion exhibits antiques and collectibles pertaining to the Peranakan culture in Penang.

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

Located in Canon Street , the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi is a heritage temple belonging to the Khoo clan that came in 1850 from China.

The temple is adorned with intricate ornamental carvings on the roofs, walls and supporting structures. The fine art and architecture was achieved with the use of fine quality wood and boasts Chinese craftsmanship.

The Queen Victoria Clock Tower

The Queen Victoria Clock Tower was built in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. A local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok, funded the construction of the tower which measures 60 feet in height. Unfortunately, the Queen had already passed away by the time of its completion in 1920.

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Located in Pitt Street , the Kapitan Keling Mosque was built and named after an Indian Muslim merchant named Caudeer Mohudeen, who was also a headman.

The temple boasts an elaborate dome minaret with Moorish architecture. This mosque is popular for prayers, everyday of the week. Visitors will need to remove their shoes when entering the mosque.

Kuan Yin Temple

The Kuan Yin Teng or Temple of the Goddess of Mercy in Pitt Street was built in 1801 by Chinese migrants. It is an ornate structure with meticulously-crafted dragons and lions which act as the temple's guardians.

This is probably the most popular Chinese temple in Penang , attracting hordes of devotees during festivals each year.

St. George's Church

The Church in Farquhar Street is the oldest Anglican Church in Southeast Asia and designed by a Captain Rober Smith.

It was built in 1818 with the use of prison labour. A memorial in the shape of a Greek temple sits on its grounds to remember Francis Light.

Penang State Museum

The Museum on Farquhar Street houses a collection dedicated to the paintings done by the military man Captain Robert Smith and a painter named William Daniell.

However, visitors can also see other things on display that reflect the Colonial heritage of Penang , including an old Penang Hill railway carriage, a hand-written Quran and ancient Malay weapons.

Upper Road Penang

This is the latest hot spot in Georgetown City for nightlife excitement. Most of the clubs, pubs and discos are concentrated in this spot with a variety of music from the eighties' to techno and pop to soulful R & B. Besides clubbing, another popular activity here is karaoke, where you gather in lounges with friends to sing the night away.