Saturday, 11 July 2009

If You Love Penang, Just Shut Up!

This is for those Penangites who just want to talk BAD THINGS about Penang. If you LOVE Penang, JUST SHUT UP! What do I mean? Stop throwing hatred at Penang or exposing all the unnecessary things that can cause Penang to turn upside-down or lose its autonomy! Penang has a greater freedom of land rights (another being Malacca) compared to any other states. As Penangites, we should keep and protect our Autonomy since majority of this state are Chinese or Peranakan Chinese, despite not being recognised as an Autonomous State (Sabah and Sarawak ARE the only Autonomous states in Malaysia because of the Non-Malay Majority). It is only here in Penang, there are more Indian Muslims than any other bloody states. Where else in the World Nasi Kandar comes from? Nobody will say it's from India, right? Obviously, NASI KANDAR IS PURELY PENANG DELICACY. It's then they brought it to KL and popular/commercialise it! I don't like people saying Penang is a hotspot for snatch thieves and pickpockets. They'll experience that even worse in especially Kuala Lumpur! In fact, people in Penang are more socially-concerned rather than of KL, where pick-pockets are regarded as a "common case". This no longer is a common case in Penang (it used to be). Penang is a safer haven and a catastrophe for petty and large-scale criminals. You'll know why...

Sunday, 7 December 2008

My Favourite (Own-Made) Wallpaper...


(Shot Using An Unbranded Single-Focus Camera)


(800 x 600)

Sunday, 10 August 2008

Why Penang?

Penang may be the mouth to many tourists worldwide, but still many hindered this fantastic island resort due to the fact that they do not know much about this island, or with the excuse that it's too remote.

So why Penang as a tourism destination?
It's the same question to the Penangites itself - Why New York or London? the destination is a long flight, but why all the trouble there? So, I'll use this opportunity to speak on behalf of Penangites, the reason New Yorkers or Londoners should come and visit Penang, same like we do to such cities.

Penang is an island that combines the greatness Heritage, Culture, Food, Leisure and Nature. Georgetown, the state capital of Penang is a combination of all those elements. Whilst visiting the sites of the UNESCO Heritage Areas such as the streets of Georgetown and areas near Weld Quay / jetty, experience the culture of the especially famous Straits State's Peranakan and Penang's famous Tamil Muslims. Try the famous dishes by these 2 unique cultures: Peranakan with the famous Penang Asam Laksa and Tamil Muslims with the famous Penang Nasi Kandar!
Take a break and head away from Georgetown to areas like Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah or Teluk Bahang to enjoy the sea and the sun, or enjoy nature at the Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang, Penang Botanical Gardens or the hills of Air Itam.

Transportation is not too bad in the state, despite the fact that buses are not too frequent, taxi fares are quite dear and driving is a headache in Penang by itself. Rapid Penang itself is a fantastic way to travel, and tickets may be as low as RM1.00 to about RM3.00 for a long distance. If you're not in a hurry, why not take the trishaw ride around the city of Georgetown... you'll experience a whole new world as cars zooming pass you, yet your world is a leisure ride.

Malay Language is the official language of Malaysia, and English is widely comprehensive by especially urban dwellers, but the strange thing is that the lingua franca for this state is Penang Hokkien! Even the Malays and the Indians know a bit of the common Penang Hokkien phrases like "Tang Che" (from the Hokkien sentence "Tan Chi Eh", pronounced 'Tongue Chee Air', which means Wait For A Moment) or "Ta Pau", pronounced 'Tar Pow', which means Take-Away.

There are some well-preserved secrets to this state, such as the Jewish Cemetery, the Russian Grave (Zemschug Grave Marker), Sam Poh Footprint Temple, St Joseph's Novitiate and the powerfully religious St Anne's Church.