Penang

I was born I a state called Penang and lived there for the past eighteen years of my life. My father is born and leaves in Penang for the past 54 years of his life while my mother was from Kedah but after her marriage with my father she also lived in Penang until today. I live in a town known as Seberang Jaya. Penang is a beautiful state and unique state in Malaysia. Although Penang is the second smallest state after Pelis in Malaysia but it is a magnificent place. Penang is divided into two parts one is the island another is the mainland and is separated by The Straits of Malacca. The island is joined to the mainland by the Penang Bridge which is the fourth longest bridge in Southeast Asia. There are many beautiful and unique cultures and landmarks in Penang.

Firstly, the Penang Bridge is a beautiful and magnificent piece of modern engineering. The idea to build a bridge linking Seberang Perai to Penang Island was suggested by the late Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia and the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, the second Chief Minister of Penang in the early 1970. Penang Bridge was planned during the term of third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn on the late 1970. On 23 July 1981, works Minister, S. Samy Vellu announced that Penang Bridge would be constructed using the cable-stayed concrete girder of the San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge instead of the steel-tied arch in the style of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Construction of the bridge officially began on 1982. On 3 August 1983, the Penang Bridge is officially opened by the forth Prime Miniser, Tun Dato Seri Mahathir Mohammad. It was on 14 September 1985, the Penang Bridge is opened for traffic. This bridge is also the host for an international event known as the Penang Bridge Marathon. This event is held since 1985. This is the only time where the bridge is closed for traffic.

Besides, the capital of Penang is known as George Town is another magnificent and historical place is Malaysia. Many interesting event occur in this historical city. The city is named after Britain’s King George III. One of the many events is George Town, became a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 1 January 1957, becoming the first town in the Federation of Malaya to become a city. George Town together with Malacca Town is the first cities in Malaysia to be granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Although George Town is a small city but it is considered as a metropolitan due to its high population. The city has a population of 1,253,748 making the city as the second largest metropolitan by population in Malaysia. If you are interested in history the historical city is the place. The earliest Malaysian history occurred in this place and its common and notable historical site is Fort Cornwallis. Besides that the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple is a magnificent building as it is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia and has the largest Kuan Yin statue in the world. Other interesting and mind blowing spots are the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Buddhist Khoo Kongsi and the Islamic Museum. Penang is also famous for its beautiful beaches, flora and fauna. Among the famous beaches are the Monkey Beach or known as Teluk Duyung. This beach is declared the National Park of Penang and is the smallest National Park in the world. There are 7 other beaches which is also declared as National Park of Penang and they are Teluk Bahang, Teluk Tukun, Tanjung Aling, Teluk Ketapang, Pantai Keracut, Teluk Kampi and Pantai Mas. The unique features about this park are that it contains a collection of habitats not found in other national parks in Malaysia and has magnificent meromictic lake, wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches. The meromictic lake in Pantai Keracut is the only lake meromictic lake is Southeast Asia and one of the two meromictic lake in the region of Asia. There is also a historical lighthouse in the park which is accessible through the far end of Teluk Duyung. This lighthouse was built in 1883 at a cost of £37,929 by the British, it is located 242 metres above sea level. Other famous and beautiful beaches are the Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.

Penang is famous for its festivals throughout the year. The cultural mosaic of Penang naturally means that they are a great many number of festivals to celebrate. The Chinese celebrate, among others, the Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival, Qing Ming, and the feast days of various deities. The Malays and Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Haji, and Maulidur Rasul while the Indians observe Deepavali, Thaipusam and Thai Pongal. Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are celebrated by Christians. The annual Saint Anne's Novena and Feast Day draws thousands of Catholics to St. Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam. Buddhists observe Wesak Day while the Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi. Many of these festivals are celebrated in a large scale and are also public holidays in Penang. Bon Odori is an annual event held at the Esplanade by the expatriate Japanese population. The Penang Government organises the annual George Town Festival which celebrates the city's World Heritage Site status with arts and live cultural performances throughout the month of July. The famous Pesta Pulau Pinang (Penang Fest) is a combination of trade expo, family-oriented carnival and cultural events held throughout the month of December since the 1960s primarily at the Pesta site in Sungai Nibong and other locations in the state

As one takes the first steps into Penang the food is the think one should not forget to taste as the state offers a wide mouth-watering, tasty and eye catching cuisines. Penang cuisine is the cuisine of the multicultural society of Penang. Penang, long known as the food capital of Malaysia, is renowned for its good and varied food. Penang was recognised as having the Best Street Food in Asia by Time magazine in 2004, citing that "nowhere else can such great tasting food be so cheap". Penang's cuisine reflects the Chinese, Nyonya, Malay and Indian ethnic mix of Malaysia, but also shows some influence of Thailand. It’s especially famous "hawker food", many served al fresco, strongly features noodles, spices, and fresh seafood. The best places to savour Penang's food include Gurney Drive, Pulau Tikus, New Lane, New World Park, Penang Road and Chulia Street, as well as Raja Uda and Chai Leng Park over on the mainland. Penang is also famed for its traditional biscuits such as the tau sar pneah. If one visits Penang there are a few dishes one should not forget to taste and they are Laksa Penang, Nasi Kandar, Char Kway Teow, rojak and cendol. The cendol is one of the food one should not forget to taste. Cendol is a dessert with green noodles in coconut milk, brown sugar and shaved ice. There's a very famous stall along the busy street of Penang Road near the "spider" pedestrian bridge leading to KOMTAR. Another not so famous 'cendol' stall is located just opposite to it.

As a conclusion, Penang is a beautiful, magnificent and historical state in Malaysia. Penang which is also known as the Pearl of Orient might be a second smallest state in the country of Malaysia but has a magnificent tourist attraction which is full of flora, fauna and many historical sites. It is not only famous for the tourist attraction sites but also its uniqueness in its food variety. As a resident of this state I am proud to be a part of it.