| 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. Manufactures of sophisticated
electronic goods compete for space |
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with wet markets and old temples. Where else can you
find a century-oldchurch, 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.
Should one wish to get away from the busy city, the
idlyllic beaches and soothing hills are but minutes
away, while the industrial free trade zone, the "Silicon
Valley of the East", and the international airport
are equally accessible.
Penang or its Malay name of Pulau Pinang is made up
of a turtle-shaped island, a total of 285 square kilometers,
and a strip of land called Seberang Prai on Peninsular
Malaysia about 48 kilometers wide.
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Since 1985, the island has been joined to the mainland
by the Penang Bridge, one of the longest bridges in
the world. Alternatively, travellers arriving from the
mainland can hop onto the ferry and take a 20-minute
ride across. There are also international flights that
connect directly to the international airport on the
island.
LOCATION
Located 5o north of the Equator, Penang, the only island
state in Malaysia is also known as the Pearl of the
Orient. The turtle shaped island, measuring a total
of 285 square kilometers, is situated on the north-western
coast of the Malay Peninsula at the entrance to the
Straits of Malacca. Bounded to the north and east by
the State of Kedah and to the south by the state of
Perak, it consists of the island
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Penang and a coastal strip on the mainland called Province
Wellesley (Seberang Prai). The island and mainland are
separated by a channel 3 km wide at the narrowest point
and 13 km at the widest. They are linked by the 13.5 km
Penang Bridge, the third longest in the world, and a 24-hour
ferry service. The urban centre is Georgetown.
CLIMATE
Penang's climate can be described as equatorial, a pleasant
mix of warm, sunny days and occasional cooling rain storms,
with August through November being the wettest months
generally. Average rainfall is 255 cms (100 inches) throughout
the year. Humidity is usually high, and the temperature
varies between 21o and 32o Celsius (70o to 95o Farenheit).
POPULATION
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| Penang
has 1.2 million people, more than half of whom live on
the island. The population is multi-racial, young and
almost equally distributed between male and female. The
racial breakdown is as follows: Chinese 59 percent, Malay
32 percent, Indian seven percent and others two percent.
LANGUAGES
Although Malay is the national language, English is also
widely used, particularly in business and the tourism
industry. As Penang was (and still is) a meeting point
of many cultures, other languages and dialects are also
spoken and understood – these include the various
Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien) and Indian
(Bengali, Hindu Malayalam, Punjabi and Telegu) dialects,
as well as smatterings of Thai, and some European languages.
The Alliance Francaise and Goethe Institute for example,
offer courses in French and German respectively. |
| RELIGION
The official state religion is Islam, but freedom of worship
is observed. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism,
Taoism and other religions are freely practiced –
Muslim mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and Christian
churches are commonly found throughout the island. Visitors
can expect to be amazed by the diversity and profusion
of festivals and other religious celebrations which occur
regularly throughout the year. |
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ATTIRE
Depending on activity. Generally you can't go wrong with
clothes made of light cotton or other moisture absorbing
fabric. Swim wear, sunglasses and sun block will come in
handy for days on the beach. Flip flops and strappy sandals
are the most comfortable footwear for walking and sightseeing.
Unless you can afford to launder your clothes daily, don't
bother with socks. Some classy establishments in Penang
observe a dress code, so if you plan on dining there, don't
leave that designer gown, suit and shoes behind. |
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