Penang

Posted on November 30, 2011

The modern history of Penang began when Francis Light of the British East India Company leased an island off the coast of a Malayan state of Kedah in 1786. What followed was 150 years of British rule, peppering its capital, Georgetown, with innumerous pre-war colonial buildings. With further cultural mix from the influx of Chinese and Indian immigrants amongst the indigenous Malays, Penang is listed in Patricia Schultz’s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die travel book.

Gurney Drive, a tourist hotspot and the location of a hawker stall congregation serving Penang’s famous cuisines.

A basket of shrimp shells being prepared to become the soup base for the prawn noodle soup.

Going down on a funicular that ferries tourists up Penang Hill, 833 meters above sea level.