Penang travel facts

Penang was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but this is just the latest segment in the remarkable story of this historic island state. People flock to Penang for the gorgeous beaches, countless luxurious hospitality options, world-class golf courses and colonial treasures. But there are also remarkable natural wonders on this paradise island as well as countless constituent cultures adding to the unique ethnic mix that call Penang home.

History
Penang was dubbed Pearl of the Orient by European settlers but its original Malay name was actually Pulau Pinang, which means “isle of the betel nut” because of the number of shady betel nut palms that bejewelled the virgin paradise beaches. The modern history of Penang began when charismatic English captain Francis Light managed to swap the territory for the military protection of the British East India Company. Penang’s original ruler, the Sultan of Kedah, was under threat from Siam and Burma. For more on the history of Penang.

Cultural Legacy
Due to a hastily-imposed free trade status European adventurers and Asian traders came to Penang looking to make their fortune. The British encouraged immigration to help with the tin mining and rubber plantation industries and so Penang became a melting-pot of different races and creeds. Apart from sporadic outbreaks of violence relations between the different peoples on the island are remarkably friendly with Chinese immigrants speaking some Hindi, Indians conversing in Malay and so on. The most famous peoples of Penang are the Nyonya, Jawi, Baba, Eurasians and Peranakan. For more on Penang culture.

Weather
No visitor to Penang will go short on sunny weather with temperatures staying around 20-30°C all year round. The August to October monsoon does bring tropical downpours although these rarely last for extended periods with regular bright intervals throughout the day. However, the heat when mixed with 90 per cent humidity can still be draining so taking regular breaks, covering your head with a hat and keeping hydrated is the crucial. For more on weather in Penang.

Territory
Located on 230 miles north of Kuala Lumpur on Peninsular Malaysia’s northwest coast, Penang is the only separate island state in the country. Penangites, as locals are known, number around 1.5 million and come from all manner of races and dialects from around the world. There is a bridge connecting historic Georgetown, the capital of Penang, with the port of Butterworth on the mainland. A second Penang Bridge is expected to be finished by 2011. Penang Hill is the highest point of the island and can be reached by cable car or bus with superb views of the region.

Economy
Long been declared a free trade zone, Penang boomed all the way through the 19th century until the establishment of Singapore to the south reduced its vitality somewhat. Today it is not opium and brothels but electronics that form the mainstay of Penang’s economy. Key exports such as semi-conductors, medical devices, computers, textiles, jewellery and gold form the basis of the island state’s industrial efforts. And into the 21st century new enterprises such as medical tourism have begun to thrive.

People
With Penangites hailing from so many different nations it would be easy to imagine that the populace would be very divided, but this is not generally so. As the only state in Malaysia with a majority of ethnic Chinese there are many Buddhist temples with oriental religious ceremonies and festivals celebrated vehemently. But the Malay and Indian communities also exert huge influence on the day-to-day life of the island and produce their own food, style of architecture and language.

Language
Despite Bahasa Malaysia being the national language of Malaysia, English is spoken widely here with many visitors impressed with the linguistic proficiency of Penangites. But the Hokkien dialect, brought by early settlers from China’s Fujian Province, is what makes Penang unique, as the more widespread Mandarin and Cantonese forms are less prevalent. But different races often speak a few words of the other’s language, so if a Malay went to a Chinese market for some particular speciality then the business would generally by conducted in Hokkien rather than Bahasa.

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