Penang

Our Malaysian foothold

Penang, or Pulau Pinang in bahasa melayu – the malay language – is called “The Pearl of The Orient”. That expression is not an exaggeration. The capital Georgetown is one of the best kept colonial city environments still existing in the world. Georgetown has been used in motion pictures, giving authenticity to turn-of-the-century themes.  Penang, with the capital Georgetown, or as most natives still spell it “George Town” is the perfect starting point for you discovering Malaysia. Penang is easily reached by air since it has an international airport, with train as the Butterworth station on the mainland side lies on the rairoad connecting Bangkok and Singapore, and of course by car using the interstate highway net. Penang is reachable from the mainland side either with a ferry or crossing the 13 km long Penang Bridge.
Penang holds the most fascinating mixture of everything. Culture, races and religions are blended in the most adorable way, and the food you can find in Penang has lead thousands and thousands of gourmets to visit this island over the years. Going out for a four course dinner will not cost a fortune, and that´s perhaps why most people in Georgtown eat out instead of at home. Perhaps though, it´s not the abundance of good restaurants that has caused Penang its reputation as the culinary hot-spot of souteast asia, rather it´s the Hawker stalls , small carts that surface in the city when night falls. They serve dishes like satay, otak-otak, mei or Nasi Lemak. Dishes with fascinating oriental names, lovely spiced up and for a very low cost. The hygienic standards are kept high. The food is prepared right in front of your eyes, and just watching this procedure is a treat! You will not get problems with your stomach eating out in the streets, that´s for sure!

If you want to have a nice bath, perhaps you will go for the silvery beaches of Batu Ferringhi. A trip with a fast boat to Pulau Payar, in the southern part of Langkawi, will give you the diving experience of a lifetime..
If you want to experience jungle trekking a trip through the Penang National Park is a must! The trip will lead you to Pantai Kerachut, and the Meromictic Lake – a fascinating body of water with sea and fresh water that never mix. The lake offers a playground for lots of species, among them the green sea turtle, and it will give you a deep and profound respect for the maritime life offered on this island.

So Penang has it all! Culture, wonderful beaches, fantastic food, experiences of wildlife and very friendly people! If you want Malaysia in a nutshell – this is the place to be. And your discovery of Malaysia – Truly Asia – has just only begun....