penang

Penang is the oldest British settlement in Malaysia, predating both Singapore and Melaka. It is also one of Malaysia's major tourist attractions. This is hardly surprising, for the 285 sq km Penang Island has popular beach resorts and an intriguing and historically interesting town which is also noted for its superb food.

Penang's major city, Georgetown, is often referred to as Penang, also known as the "Pearl of Orient". Georgetown is a sprawling, somewhat grotty Chinese city, steeped in history and with plenty of old character that is fast disappearing elsewhere. If you walk from the ferry to Chinatown, the main tourist centre around Lebuh Chulia, it would seem that Penang missed the development boom sweeping the rest of the country.

In the older parts of Georgetown the clock seems to have stopped 50 years ago, but it's an easy-going, colourful city full of crumbling old shophouses, bicycle rickshaws and ancient trades. The city has plenty of reminders of colonial rule, and its winding streets and old temples are always fascinating to wander around.

Most visitors to the island stay in Georgetown, which is well supplied with hotels, restaurants and all the facilities of a major city. However, high-rise apartments and industrial areas crowd the outskirts of expanding Georgetown, especially south towards the bridge and airport, and west to the beaches. For more info. please visit - http://www.asiatravel.com/peninfo.html

Some highlights of Penang ..

∙ Batu Ferringhi Beach ∙ Fishing Village ∙ Khoo Kongsi

No. 10 Nunn Road, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.

Tel : +604 226 3589 / 228 0752 Fax : +604 226 4340

Email : principal@scips.org.my ; enquiries@scips.org.my ; scipsoffice@scips.org.my

Website : http://www.scips.org.my