Monday, November 2, 2009

Overland Trip in Penang

Beginning location:



1) Macalister Road
- named after Norman Macalister - Governor of Penang ( 1807-1811)
-assistant to Capt. Francis Light
-a busy road with many eateries outlet
-a Church : St Pauls's church



2) KOMTAR ( Penang Road)
-Penang Road is the 1st road extended out from Georgetown
- taking the name of our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak .
Open in 1985
- Design by Dato Lim Chong Keat ( brother of former CM -Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu)
-
- KOMTAR - 232 metres height / 65 storeys high
-Ong Kongsi - 1st clansman of Ong of Hokkien State
-1894 / donation from Ong clansman in Kedah

-Kek Seng coffee shop located here/ good spring roll & food ( laksa and koay teow soup) , homemade durian ice-cream

-shops here- antiques /crafts/batik / rattan craft & furniture

-Chowrasta Market ( keelinga ban san ) Indian market



3) Transfer Road
- name signifies the transfer of administration of Straits Settlement from Penang to Singapore
- Penang police HQ
(opposite police HQ) - United Muslim Association & MCA branch
-Mailia Bakery - known as Bengali Roti by locals - a local favourite ( to dip into sup ekor, curry & toasted bread)

-Dato Koyah Shrine ( attributed to Syed Mustapha Idris)
-from Malabar, South India ( 19th century)
-able to heal sick people

-tasty roti canai ( an Indian Muslim flat bread cook with ghee)


Sri Bahari Road

-5 foot walkway ( using English tiles)
-Food & Restaurant ( Famous ones: Goh Swee Kee & Foong Wei Heong) -Chinese
-(Famous ones : The Ship) -Western (speciality : steak )

-1st Indian community settle here, joining with Argyll Road ( known as Bengali Street)


4) Upper Penang Road

-Cititel Hotel ( Located at the heart of Penang Road)
-Trishaws ( yellow in colour)

- Food courts & restaurants ;
-Nasi Kandar

-Roadsides stalls -nasi lemak, fresh cow's milk & oxtail soups.
- Church of Francis Xavier (Tamil)
-Catholic Information centre
- entertainment centre/ disco/pubs/ music and hotels e.g. Continental Hotel & Malaysia Hotel. - a place for hangout .
-Prominent one is the Uptown and Slippery Senoritas.
-very pack during Wednesday ( promotion ladies nite ) special for ladies that patronize here.

- every last Sunday of the month - they will have a small Sunday market known as Little Penang.
-things find here will be handicrafts, arts, old books of history, traditional cookies or kueh.

_ Ku Din Ku Meh house

-set up as a trading post.
- a residence of a prominent trader whom was appointed an ambassador for Setul ( now known as Satun , Thailand)known for founding modern Setul.
- and also conferred as "Phya Phuminath Pakti" by the Thai King - Chulalongkorn .
This means " The Devoted King"

- Fluent in Thai & Malay language

- to foster ties between Malays States and Siam ( now Thailand)


Jalan Faquhar

-Protestant Cemetary (1794)
-Francis Light, James Scott, Tomas Leonowens, Rev. Hutchings, James Richardson Logan, George Leith.

-32 Mansion (Leong Yin Fee mansion)
-owner : son of tin tycoon
-now it houses Itralain Restaurant.

-Penang Bowl - for bowling entusiast.


The Garage
-Once used to the showcase for British Leyland Company
-to display cars like Austin, Jaguar and Morris
-1920
-today it is used as an entertainment centre ( pub, discos & restaurants)
-Gloria Jeans coffee is one of the example.


5) E & O Hotel

-the Sarkies brothers met the Khaw family in Bangkok and was invited to open a hotel in Penang.

- established since 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers ( they are Armenians ) -this hotel category is Boutique Hotel , a separate class of its own.

-colonial style.
-Guest that visit this place is Sun Yat Sen, Charlie Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling
-at one time when the price of commodity falls terribly-many businessman came -E & O at that time offer meals on credit.
-this proves to be ineffective thus bankrupting the Sarkies.

-closed in 1996 for renovation and in 2001 reopen again -thus bringing about the glory days of E & O




6) St. Xaviers Institution -1852 by the La Salle Brothers -from France
- a place was to provide education for young boys .

Church of Assumption
- built by the Eurasian of Portuguese descent from Phuket Thailand.
-due to the persecution of faith in Thailand- they fled here under the invitation of Capt.Francis Light.
-Named after the Feast of Assumption due to the reason that they arrived here during that time.



7) Convent Light Street - 1852 by the French Sister Mission from Antwerp, Belgium - used to adopt children left at doorstep and bring them up according to the Christians upbringing.





8) Penang High Court - built in 1905 by the Straits Engineers -where criminal cases are tried here. Opposite the Penang High Court is the Logan Memorial built to remember the deed of 2 English lawyers that defends the rights of the locals. They are the Logan brothers Abraham and James Richardson Logan . ( www.my-island-penang.com/Logan-Memorail.html )
- the most prominent is that they defend the Indian sireh planters


9) Padang Kota Lama ( Esplanade )

- the first landing site of Captain Francis Light - here is location of the first British Fort in Penang - Fort Cornwallis built 1786

-Sri Rambai cannon captured by British in 1871
- able to see the Sri Rambai Cannon - orignially a Dutch Cannon . Notice the mark of VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company). All cannons are real and not replicas, however the cannons in Fort Cornwallis had never been engaged in any war before except of the Sri Rambai Cannon. Fort Cornwallis named after the Governor General of Bengal - Charles Cornwallis .( http://www.penang-online.com/pages/place-of-interest/fort-cornwallis.php )

- Esplanade field is used by the British for leisure such as cricket, lawn bowling and etc.
-however today - a stage was erected by the State Goverment for public functions such as
Hari Raya celebration musical & entertainmenr, Deepavali and Chinese New Year celebration.
- Occasion such as Chap Goh Meh, Bon Odori, Lantern Festival, Chingay , Malay Cultural dance and many other are held here.

-here is the City Hall -1903
-now use by MPPP ( Licensing and Urban Dept)

-next to City Hall is Town Hall- 1883
-Anna and the King was shot here
-1st Penang library here
-used to be a British recreation centre - games and indoor functions



10) Light Street- the Penang State Assembly Building - The Penang State Assembly Building, or Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang, is a public building built in the Anglo-Indian classical style. It used to be the Recorder's Courts and Magistrate's Courts, and formed part of the Central Police Station. At that time, all criminal court cases were heard at the Police Court, which was housed there. The Penang State Assembly Building was built in the early 19th Century, and renovated in 1874. An administrative block, now the Immigration Building, was added in 1890. , Bank Negara Malaysia, Penang Branch - Central Bank of Malaysia - a goverment financial institution governing over commercial banks in Malaysia.


11) Pitt Street ( Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) -known as Streets of Harmony due to the various places of faith existed here.

-The St. George Church,(The St George's Church was built in 1816 using convict labour, when Colonel J.A. Bannerman was the Governor of Penang. )

- The Temple of the Goddess of Mercy, (1801)

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple(1833)

and the Kapitan Keling Mosque (The Kapitan Keling Mosque was named after Caudeer Mohudeen,/ Cauder Mydin Merican the head of the Indian Muslim community credited to have built it around 1800).
http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/st_george_church_penang.htm
http://www.my-island-penang.com/Penang-Goddess-Of-Mercy.html
http://www.my-island-penang.com/Penang-Sri-Mariamman-Temple.html
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/kapitan-keling-mosque.htm


12) Chulia Street ,
- Little India
- here is where backpackers use to stay.
-majority of the backpackers some of them came from Thailand, Koh Samui to have a short stay to renew their Thai visa ( a Thai consulate in Pulau Tikus)
Antique shops and small restaurant. Hawkers stall are easily available and money changers centres concentrated here.
Little India - where spices are very much available.

-Also available is Indian / Hindu praying items. http://www.penang-traveltips.com/chulia-street.htm
-Nagore shrine-1800-Syed Sahul Hameed
-Teo Chew Association -1870 serve as Han Chiang school


13) Weld Quay - here is where the ferry terminal is located - also the station of Rapid buses that transport the locals to their respective places. We have buses going to the beach, Batu Feringghi, Teluk Bahang, Balik Pulau, Bayan Baru and even toi the airport Bayan Lepas. Not forgeting places like Air Itam and town centre. We have the City Hop In busese which is Free Of Charge that takes you to the town centre

Weld Quay was name after Federick Aloysius Weld ( a governor of Penang )

14) Clock Tower ( round about ) - Queen Victoria Memorial Tower also known as Jubilee Tower in commemoration of Queen Victoria's 60 years of Her Majesty Diamond Jubilee reign. It is 60 feet tall , built in 1897 by Cheah Chen Eok - a prominent millionaire in Penang. Completed in 1902.


15) Swettemham Pier- today is a landing place where tourist from cruise ships landed. Use to be a place where cargo are unloaded here. This is the place where a few movies were shot here. Namely " Anna and The King" starring Chow Yun Fatt and also the " Road to Dawn" - a story of Sun Yat Sen visit to Penang.

-Godowns along the road of Weld Quay

- the British Council

-currently under construction is the Boustead Hotel.
-History of Boustead - originally a shipping company. Started shipping in Penang first.



16) Weld Quay ( Clan Jetty)

- Along this Weld Quay, another pier is the Church Street Pier, and beside it is the marina for yatches,

- further down is where the clan Jettys are located- Chew Jetty -famous one. Others are Lim Jetty, Yeoh Jetty, Tan Jetty, Peng Aun Jetty, Mixed Clan Jetty, Koay Jetty, Existed since 19th century as people cannot afford to pay taxes for building house on land.

17) Jelutong Expressway
- built on a relaimed land. This road is built to ease congestion due to the heavy traffic in the town area. If we are going to the airport from Georgetown, it is adviasable to use this road. It also linked to the entrance of the Penang Bridge.


-the pride of Penang (longest bridge in SEA) - 13.5 km
-built by Korean (Hyundai Construction)
-Previous 2 lanes( upgraded to 3 lanes in 2008)
-a good communicating infrastructure between Penang and Butterworth.

-Annual events such as Penang International Bridge Marathon is held here.
.Participant as far as from Kenya, UK, US came here to participate.

-along this road - you will find royal palm and betel nut trees.

-newly erected is the image of runners to commeorate the PIBM as an eventful sports in Penang.


Here it can cut out travelling time by half. This road can lead us to the Queenbay Mall - new shopping complex.
-Year End Sales is held here to promote domestic spending to stimulate the economy/
prices are very reasonable and of good quality.

Open in July 2006



18) Bukit Jambul Round about - this location is the turning point of new township known as Bayan Baru . Up ahead road leading to the airport- discover many factories along the road. These are multi-national companies, basically manufacturing electronics parts. Penang used to be famous of producing these products.

- Access to the Penang Free Trade Zone - the manufacturing industrial was initiated by the former CM Lim Chong Eu.
He also founded the PDC ( Penang Development Corporation)

-Up ahead before PISA (Penang International Airport ) - Malay kampong houses /

Bukit Jambul Shopping Complex - patrons are mostly foreigners -especially Indonesians/Myanmars/Vietnamese

-Bukit Jambul Golf Course or Country Club is located.

Equatorial Hotel- to see the view of Penang. -good Japanese restaurant-Kampachi

PISA is a venue for international events -such PC Fair, MATTA Fair, Industrial Fair, Machinery Fair, ICT & IT Fair, Food Fair, Education Fair, Career & Job Fair.
-Also houses a furnitures Showroom & Car and accesories centre.

- also being used to hold grand evnt such as wedding and grand dinner.

-a Military camp - an army amoured car - used during emergency


19) Penang International Airport - this is Penang's international airport. Formerly known as Bayan Lepas Airport in which the name Bayan refers to a species of bird, while Lepas mean release or escape. According to a village tale is that there was once a man who had a bird which is a Bayan bird, he love it very much. One day he accidentally open the cage and the bird flew away. So he cried " Bayan Lepas" means the Bayan bird escape.

20) Snake Temple - One of the oldest temple in Penang - Built in memory of a Taoist monk Chor Soo Kong whoi arrived in Penang in the early 1800. Legends say that he give shelter to the snakes and the snakes always pay respect to him. The land in which the ntemple is located is given by David Brown, a British resident in favour of Chor Soo Kong who heal Mr. David Brown of his skin disease. The original name of this temnple is Temple of the Azure Cloud.


21) Gelugor, Batu Ugan, USM - location of the higher learning institution in state of Penang. An army base nearby. Also an entrance to the Penang Bridge. There is a sports and cultural centre - Gelanggang Budaya - nearby behind it is the boxing centre and also the Marine Department is located behind Gelanggang Budaya.

22) Recsam- it is known as SEAMEO RECSAM (Regional Centre Science And Mathematics) is the training centre for teachers for the subjects of science and mathematics.

SEAMEO - South East Asians Ministers of Education Organization

23) Greenlane - there is luxurious house on the left hand side of the road which is approx 1 million ringgit.
-The World Red Swastika Society - a Taoist Voluntary Organization -founded in China 1922.
-the movement is similar to Red cross but based on Buddhism & Taoism

-Lam Wah Ee Hospital - popular among Indonesians especially from Medan
-expertise good and cheaper


Also along this road is a Thai Buddhist Temple - Wat Pimbang Oon. There is a school Convent Green Lane - where Malaysia"s squash icon use to study here- Dato Nicol David. - a pride of Penang.

24) Batu Lanchang Road,- is the place where the United Hokkien Cemetery is located. This is the place where the Chinese deceased are buried here. Nowaday they are mostly cremated. Some of the cemetaries are more than 200 years old. The United Hokkien Cemeteries are the largest in Penang island. Here is also the location of the Home for the infirm - Little Sisters of the Poor - run by Christian missionaries ( Catholics) - Technical school- or vocational school.

25) Chung Ling school ( along Air Itam Road) - Starterd in 1917 and was shifted to this present location at Kampung Melayu in 1923. During Japanese occupation- several teachers and headmaster was executed for refusal to convert from Chinese to Japanese studies. Some say that when the Japanese came, some refused to move away as a result they are executed.
There is also an Indian temple - along this road. -

-A school that produce good student with excellent grades
-Chung Ling also had alumni society around the world -inculding United States.

-a Muslim orphanage for boys

26) Air Itam Indian Temple - known as Sri Ambarathur Temple
-





27) Anti-War Memorial Monument near at Air Itam round about- (1930 to 1940)



28) Penang Hill railway -



29) Kong Ming Chinese School, -



30) Air Itam - Market ( known as a market town)
-people will bring products to come over to sell here.
-The Balik Pulau Road (named because it linked to the Balik Pulau road at Balik Pulau town )
-during fruit season- bring durians, rambutans and mangosteen are on sale here.
-this the place where the locals make the morning marketing and shopping

-a lot of thing are available here particularally the household stuff such as cloths, kicthenwares, also food stuff such dried foods, cakes, eggs and many others. just name you will get it.
-hawkers stall are available here- especially the Hokkien mee, Koay teow th'ng and also the famous of all is the laksa ( a rice noodle with tamarind fish gravy) . It is garnished with ingredients such as mint leaves and torch ginger.
-laksa cost about 2-70 ringgit




31) Kek Lok Si - Temple of Supreme Bliss (one of the biggest in South East Asia)- 119 years old temple
-built by the same monk that founded the Goddess of Mercy temple in Kapitan Keling Mosque Road.
-the architecture comprises of Thais, Burmese and Chinese designs
-inside ( a liberation pond for tortoise , a giant Goddess of Mercy statue, a gigantic pagoda and the recently is the Pavillion of the Goddess of Mercy houses a 30.2 metre bronze statue in a 60.9 metre pavillion-cost 40 million ringgit )
-a vegetarian restaurant at the podium block before reaching the main temple.
-along the road there is also bazaar that sells souvenirs .

- lighted up during Chinese New Year .



32) Indian Temple- mini Thaipusam is held here. Local Indians community in Air Itam will normally come here to pray.


33) Along Air Itam Road- Hye Keat Estate / Air Itam Road - Jalan Kampong Melayu-




34) Penang State Mosque - Mosque was built with financial assistance from Penang prominent businessman ( late Dato Loh Boon Siew - the towkay of Honda motorcycle)
-designed by a Filipino
-built in 1980
-

35) Scotland Road - this area is near to the place of the residence of Penang first superintendent -Captain Francis Light ( Suffolk House)
-Along this road - Boabab trees ( this trees are brought in by the Britrish) - some of 200 years old and more.
- the Penang Turf Club - estd in 1852 - as a recreational place for British- horse racing

- here deep inside is a cemetary and crematorium for the Hokkien community.


36) The Penang Sports Club-

-Established in 1947, this Club has experienced a period of enormous growth and is by far the largest family club that houses many sporting, leisure and recreational facilities for its members.
- a land area of approximately 16 acres, the colonial building of the Penang Sports Club stands majestically amidst the greenery.
-the colonial ambience of yesteryears. The ongoing transformation of the Club and its unending growth, since its establishment in 1947, has ranked us one of the best sports clubs. There is no better time than NOW to consider joining and be a proud member of this Club.

37) Jalan Utama ( formerly known as Western Road) - a long stretch of bungalows and exclusive residence in located here. Considered as one of the Millionaire rows in Penang. The house of Sushi King /Texchem Corporation is located here -Jesselton Garden. Also the famous lawyer -YB Karpal Singh is located here too.
Here we can noticed the "kolam" drawn on the ground- for the annual Thaipusam festival .
The route to the Waterfall Road - near Botanical Gardens.


38) Botanical Gardens- a word of caution - do not feed the monkeys- they may get excited and attacked you believeing that you may have food for them.
- a place locals comes for excercise.
-a place for relaxation.
-currently under expansion programme. -enlarging the borders of the garden.
- for natures lovers-
- a batik shop
- a fruits juices store.


39) Jalan Gottlieb Road- this where the famous Chinese girls' school is located - Penang Chinese Girls School , in short " Peng Wah"
- a lot of outstanding students are produce here-

- Here we can find numerous restaurants such Korean, Japanese, Chinese as most expratraits will protonize here.

40) Mount Esrskine- Hong Seng Estate - Kwangtung cemetary-

- Name of Mout Erskine - Hokkien " Pek Hoon Sua" literally means White Cloud Mountain .
- A bomb shelter

41) Fettes Park- a new township - near to Mt. Miriam ( a cancer hospital) -

- Fatty Loh Chicken rice is famous here
-Pepper estate
- at the traffic light - a shopping complex -Island Plaza-
-a place for hangout-
-Gloria Jeans & Cold Storage

42) Gurney Plaza -Gurney Drive
-Restaurant - Oriental Seafood
- People relax here at night
-a hawker centre - at night
- a monument for commemorate tsunami
- Gurney Plaza - built by Capital Land - a developer from Singapore
-Parking is a problem. Best transport here is motorcycle.
- this place use to be a mangrove but had been develop into seafront for locals and foreigners

43) Jalan Pemenang - here is bsome colonial buildings converted into restaurant
- Golden Gate ( Steamboat) Matsuri ( Japanese Restaurant)
-turning to Jalan Kelawai -this place is populated with Eurasians and Thai communities.
-therefore we will sooin reach the unique place of worship that features the Thai culture.

-

44) Wat Chaiyamangalaram - Thai Buddhist Temple ( 1845)
-site was presented by HM Queen Victoria as good gestures - to 4 women trustees
- first monk- Porthan Kuat also known as "Strong Monk" is a person fond of laksa ( a rice vermicelli serve with tamarind gravy)
- a shrine is also made for him ( people still serve his shrine with laksa)
- a reclining Buddha -was 4 longest in the world. ( 1st - Burma, 2nd -Thailand, 3rd-Kelantan, 4th -Penang )

- Loy Krathong ( a Thai good wish festrival) & Songkran ( Thai new year festival / also known as water festival by some is held here)
-Wesak is also celebrate here


Dhammikarama Burmese Temple - founded and site bought by Nyonya Betong
-here we can find the sculpture of the guardian of the universe - Panca Rupa

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