George Town
INTRO
George Town is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. The city was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light, a trader for the British East India Company, and it was named after Britain's king George III. George Town features impressive colonial architecture, reminiscent of the old days, vivid Chinese culture and gorgeous temples. Shopping, fine dining, sightseeing, night life, or just a relaxing stroll in the quiet streets of the city - George Town has all that and much more to offer to both locals and tourists. First time visitors are often amazed of how easy, tranquil and relaxed the whole city is - restaurants, cafes, small shops and even the big shopping malls hardly ever are fully open until noon. In 2007, George Town was ranked as the 10th most liveable city in Asia by Asiaweek.
City Profile
City: George Town
Country: Malaysia
Area: 150 km2
Population: 300, 000
Districts: 3
Mayor: Lawrence Archer
Language: Malay, Chinese, English
LOCATION
George Town is located on the northeast corner of Penang Island. Originally, it was built on swampy land that was levelled and filled. The area of the modern city is around 150 km2 .The elevation of George Town is just 4 metres above sea level.
TIME TO VISIT
Weather in Penang and respectively, in George Town varies very little throughout the year, so your decision when to visit the city most likely will not be influenced by it. Climate is tropical, with high humidity and temperatures varying between 22°C and 34°C. If you go to George Town between April and November, it is very likely to see a lot of rain. As there are so many religions and cultures mixed in Penang, there are an amazing numbers of festivals and occasions throughout the year. If your trip coincides with some of them, it will be a very pleasant and useful experience.
POPULATION
The population of George Town is estimated to be around 300, 000 people, spread over around 150 km2, which makes the city one of the most densely populated in Malaysia. The ethnic Chinese comprise 43% of the population of the city, Malays are a little more than 40%, ethnic Indians are a bit less then 10% of the 300, 000 inhabitants of George Town. The common languages in the city are English, Tamil, Malay and Peneng Hokkien, Mandarin is also increasingly spoken. The official religion of the state of Penang and its capital city George Town is Islam, but other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism are freely practised.
DISTRICTS
- Old town - the original commercial town was built between Beach Street, Light Street, Malabar Street and Pitt Street. By the early 1880's a new waterfront was created at Weld Quay, and subsequently, commercial buildings sprang up in the area. The historic commercial centre of George Town was segmented into trading and Banking areas. Today, a lot of the colonial buildings are well preserved, some of them were restored, and they give people visiting an enchanting glimpse of the good old days.
- New town - in central George Town, right next to the old commercial city centre, at some places even mixed with it. Do not expect glittery high-rises, huge shopping malls, heavy traffic and smog. Instead of them, the New town can offer you a relaxing stroll in the quiet streets and green parks, small shops, cosy cafes, restaurants offering local cuisine.
- Suburbs - if you want to get a better impression of the lifestyle of the native people, you can take a walk in the residential areas in the suburbs of the city. You will hardly ever see large mansions and posh houses - locals inhabit primarily small cosy 1 or 2-bedroom detached houses.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
- Fort Cornwallis was built on the site where the founder of Penang, Captain Francis Light, first landed on the 11th of August 1786. The construction of the fort was finished in 1793, soon it was destroyed by an invading army, and then rebuilt in 1810. The only actual buildings of the fort that are still standing are small Christian chapel, gunpowder magazine and the outer walls.
- Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion - located on Light Street, it is the winner of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation. The mansion has 38 enormous rooms, 220 windows, 7 staircases and 5 courtyards. The inside could only be seen by guided tour, and there is an option to stay overnight - prices vary from RM 250 to 700.
- Queen Victoria Clock Tower - the 60-feet tall clock tower was built by the local millionaire Cheah Chen Eok in 1897 and presented to Penang to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
- St George's Church - the oldest Anglican Church in South-East Asia, built with convict labor in 1818. The architecture of the building was designed by Captain Robert Smith. He was a military engineer whose paintings of early Penang can be seen in Penang State Museum.
- Kapitan Keling Mosque - built in the beginning of the 19th century, it was named after the Indian merchant Caudeer Mohudeen, who was also Kapitan Keling (headman). The mosque is used by worshippers five times a day, seven days a week - unlike most modern mosques that are mainly frequented on Fridays. During non-prayer ties tourists can get free tours - with their shoes off, of course.
- Kuan Yin Teng - built in 1801, this is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. It is decorated with marvellously crafted dragons and 2 stone lions which are said to be the temple's guardians.
AIRPORT
The major international airport serving the Malaysian state of Penang is
- Penang Bayan Lepas International Airport. Operated by Malaysia Airports, the port is one of the biggest and best equipped in the country. It is located on the southeastern coast of Penang Island, around 20 minutes by car from George Town. The major hotels in the city offer shuttles from and to the airport, a taxi ride is more expensive but very convenient and time-saving. http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
- Public buses - the public transportation system in George Town is not very well organised, to say the least. However, there are some bus lines that serve most of the major areas, and some of them could take you around the island itself. If you decide to get around George Town by bus, you need to be aware that public buses stop picking up passengers after 10 pm.
- Taxi - as the city is not very big, a ride within its boundaries should not exceed RM 15-20. Always check the fare, as cabs do not run meters. A taxi could be hired for a minimum of 3 hours. It is paid 25 RM per hour.
- Trishaws - an exotic way to get around George Town. Charge is around 30 RM per hour. Although, the number of trishaw peddlers has decreased substantially, the trishaw rides are more of a courtesy.
HISTORY
Penang was ceded to the British East India Company in 1786 by the Sultan of Kedah who received in exchange the military protection from Burmese and Siamese armies. In the same year Captain Francis Light founded George Town - the main city and the capital of the island. In 1946 Penang became part of the Malayan Union and two years later a state of the Federation of Malaya. The Federation gained independence in 1957, and became Malaysia in 1963. George Town was transformed to a city on the 1st of January 1957 by a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II, thus being the first town in the Federation of Malaya to turn into a city.
CITY LINKS
- Official website by Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board - http://www.tourism.gov.my/
- Trails of George Town - http://www.penang-vacations.com/penang-places-of-interest.html
- George Town Travel Guide - http://wikitravel.org/en/Georgetown_%28Malaysia%29
- Photos of George Town - http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/~net/photos/malaysia/georgetown/
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- Penang Medical College - http://www.pmc.edu.my/theprofessors.html