Penang is a state at the north of the Peninsular by the west coast. It is made up predominantly of an island and some parts of the mainland in Seberang Prai which was formerly known as Province Wellesley. Known as the ‘food paradise’ of the country, its tourism industry here is one of the main attractions here and is one of the most visited states in Malaysia.
There are many things to see and do in Penang, its lush beaches are one of the most developed in the whole nation. Resorts and hotels can be found lining up the coastline for those who like the seaside. Its capital is Georgetown and is the most busy and commercial area of the state. Most people can find great food in around the town in within the pre-war architectural buildings and structures.
Historically, Penang was previously a part of Kedah, and Captain Francis Light came and built a fort there. After that, it became one fo the three British Straits Settlements together with Singapore and Malacca. It got its name from the local word Pinang which means Betel Nut and Tree, therefore coupled with the word Pulau, it means Betel Nut Island. The capital Georgetown got its name from King George the third and it was since then. The state keeps the highest population density in the country of which is made up mostly of the Chinese.
Most of the state’s income are derived through its tour and travel industry although there are many foreign direct investments located in around the Free Trade Zone from Multinational Companies like Dell, Intel, Motorola and Jabil.
The coastal areas in around Batu Feringghi is one of the most frequented areas of the island with resorts and hotels found all over. The Night Market here is one of the main attractions. One thing for sure one must try the food in Penang. Its Asam Laksa and the Fried Kuey Teow are the most original dishes here although one should not be limited to try out almost anything in Penang, which is bound to taste good and almost unforgettable.
Apart from the capital of Georgetown, other cities here include Bukit Mertajam, Nibong Tebal, Tasek Gelugor, Bandar Perda and Simpang Ampat.
* Penang Bridge International Marathon [48] - participants run over the the Penang Bridge (third longest bridge in the world) and along a scenic coastal highway. This is the only time of the year when the bridge is closed for several hours. The event will be held on June 24 this year (2007); the entry form can be obtained trough its official web site, the closing date is May 27, 2007.
* Penang International Dragon Boat Festival[49] has been staged annually since 1979 and has successfully attracted teams from all over the world including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and the USA. This year (2007), the event will be held from June 8 to June 10. Penang will host the 6th Club Crew World Championships (CCWC)[50] in 2008, the event is planned to be held at Teluk Bahang Dam in June/July.
