The Penang music and dance scene is mainly based on the Kristang who are believed to have been a creole Eurasian ethnic group of people with Portuguese and Malaccan decent based in Malaysia and Singapore.

And in Penang, you will find the Kristang music and dance known as branyok which is mistaken for Malay joget which is believed to have developed from branyok.

The adoption of western musical entrustments and musical scales by native (tradional) Malay and Indian orchestras suggests that a strong Portuguese influence “jingkli Nona” is the most popular tune and is regarded as the unofficial “anthem” for the Portuguese Eurasians in Singapore.

Fado, the Portuguese music, is not part of the Kristang culture, since it originated in the 19th century, after most cultural links with Portugal were cut off.
The Kristang culture tends to have more joyful expression than the characteristic melancholic mood of fado.

Malaysia is a land of surprises, a multi-cultural nation with both bustling business districts and tranquil beaches. It is home to thriving gay population which is still emerging after years of remaining underground.

Whether you are looking for Penang-Beach, gay friendly accommodation, like a 5 star hotel, great nightlife or perhaps something a bit more homely, www.wotif.com/penang, is the site you should visit.

When you are traveling through Malaysia, why not pamper yourself and stay in one of Penang Spa Hotels which offer an excellent range of facilities, expert staff and heavenly treatments, just visit the above site. The following are some of the gay friendly you can visit in Penang, G. Hotel, Jerejak Resort & Spa, Sunway Hotel Georgetown, the Bayview Beach Hotel, the Gurney Resort Hotel & Residence and many more.

Another website that will give you all the information you need about fitness and saunas for men or any other related service and activities, is www.utopia-asia.com. It is celebrating 16 years of service to Asia’s gay and lesbian community.

Gay life in Malaysia in general, as in any other Asian countries, is blossoming despite the conservative religion-based discrimination and outdated colonial-era laws.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, was famously removed from office by trumped-up sodomy conviction that was reversed by the Malaysian High Court in 2004.

Came to Penang to have a quiet holiday and got bored of being it too quiet? Time to go to the most famous George Town and get entertained. The number of disco clubs and randomly hiding Chinese parlors with extremely cute Asian girls is incredibly high.

Whether you are craving for a cold pint of draft beer and willing to sit by the streets to watch people go by or dreaming of dancing being surrounded by beautiful Chinese girls, your best shot is George Town, it is literally the place to look for everything.

There are very few bars where you have to pay to enter and it usually happens only at weekends, in some of the places you may be asked to prove that you are over 18 years of age but that is only required if you would like to go to a nightclub (where may be some ladies of ‘unusual’ interest). Most of the places offer a very nice and friendly atmosphere with a great choice of drinks and food.

There are plenty of disco clubs where you can dance to the loudest beats of excellent music performed by local as well as foreign DJs. In case if you don’t enjoy loud music and would like to sip you drink in a quiet place or listen to live bands there are quite a few.

The most common and easiest thing to do to relax is to go to any bar, order a drink and the friendliness of local people will inevitably lead to a conversation, this is how most of travellers prefer to spend their evenings in George Town.

Penang truly has something mysteriously beautiful about the night time, as soon as it gets dark and the traffic slowly disappears you instantly begin feeling relaxed even in the middle of town sitting outside the bar with your shiny cocktail.

We all know how pleasant and relaxing we feel after a visit a spa. Penang offers a great variety of spas that specialise in all kinds of procedures aimed to make you feel on the top of the world.

Penang is an excellent place to get the kinds of massage that sometimes we just crave for. This fabulous island can satisfy even those who are looking for something really exotic. To a lot of use Javanese massage sounds exotic enough and the good thing is that you can have it at Penang. Sundanese, Balinese and Thai kinds of massage are also practiced around here and you can expect really decent quality.

If you didn’t know that just one single visit to Penang’s spas can calm your mind as well as make you feel extremely good and charged enough for the following trip, then it is truly time to try it.

Beauty hunters will be impressed with a wide range of rejuvenating procedures that can make your skin literally shine. Enriching your facial skin and lowering the stress levels does make a big difference and any woman who values her appearance should have a couple of visits to local spa.

Excellent relaxing music, brilliant scents and the atmosphere of total peace will definitely make you want to come back. If you have never experienced ultimate feeling of tranquility then you have basically no choice but to go and feel the beauty of the spas that by doing their best will ensure you will say: “Life is good” by the end of the session.

Andaman daze

Soak up the culture on this island that blends ancient Malay, Asian colonial and Chinese immigrant influences in one fascinating destination. Penang is a favourite destination in Malaysia, combining tropical beaches with sophisticated hospitality and historic interest.

Soon you’ll be able to experience all this virtually before you come, this travel blog on Penang is the beta version of a full online travel guide that will include colour pics and hundreds of pages of tourist info on the island. Trust us we’re Asian travel specialists.

Penang has dozens of good excuses to attract you; be it great beaches, water sports, intriguing culture, multi-cultural cuisine, lush tropical hiking trails, botanical gardens, crumbling old architecture, colourful festivals and exotic temples. Experience it all here.

Shopping
Whether you need to pick up a few essentials or a seeking out that perfect engagement gift, we’ve got the inside story… more

Hospitality
Everything from cheap rooms in hostels to the best luxury hotels in town plus spas, restaurants and nightlife tips… more

What to see
All the top attractions listed in complete detail including city tours and highlights for those short on time… more

Malaysian Culture
This diverse and wondrous land is begging to be discovered by cultured visitors with time on their hands… more

Living here
Complete guide to everthing an expat is every going to need for long-term stays in Penang… more

What to do
Whether you want to browse for gifts, indulge in some pampering, play sport or see the sights… more

Peninsular Malaysia
Guide to areas of the countries which are an easy leap away from Penang for when the city gets too much… more

Getting here
All your transport needs taken care of in one simple section including plane, train or taxi… more

Before booking your flights and accommodation you should try to find discount vouchers online. There are several sites now offering this popular promotions tool for savings and bargains and one UK site we can recommend is discountvouchers.co.uk