Penang Hop On Free Central Area Transit (CAT)

Visitors to Penang can now enjoy a bus ride within George Town, the UNESCO World Heritage City, for FREE.

The Hop On Free Central Area Transit (CAT) ply the route between Weld Quay Jetty and Komtar on 15-minute intervals from 6am-12midnight.

Exploring the grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage City has never been this convenient now with 19 CAT stops in between all the famous heritage landmarks of Penang!

Climb onboard the CAT bus today and explore all the wonderful heritage sites of Penang. Take a tour to the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, Fort Cornwallis, Penang War Memorial, City Hall, Penang Supreme Court Building, Cathedral of the Assumption, Penang State Museum, Goddess of Mercy Temple, The Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Church Street Pier, Mahamariamman Temple, Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion, Francis Light's grave and many more heritage sites!

Download the George Town Penang Heritage brochure for more information. Download CAT bus route map here.

This project is initiated and fully funded by the Penang State Government for the convenience of Penangites and foreign tourists.

The CAT bus is managed by the Municipal Council of Penang Island (MPPP) and operated by Rapid Penang.

Source: http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/getting-around/63-getting-around/429-cat.html

NY Times readers choose Penang as No.2 must-visit destination for 2009

January 11th 2009

The New York Times

Penang has been nominated as No. 2 in The New York Times "The 44 Places To Go in 2009" as a result of Reader Recommendations. Penang has been categorized under frugal and foodie places to go in 2009.

The Pearl of the Orient, compared to the likes of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City has been labeled as one of South-East Asia's liveliest street-food scene.

Stating that adventurous foodies are now turning to Penang, which rules as the culinary capital of Malaysia, for deliciously chronicling pan-Asian flavors such as our flavorful Asam Laksa and Char Koey Teow which costs no more than $2 for a delectable meal.

Other places include Washington (fourth), Rome (fifth) and Metz in France (sixth). The newspaper ranked Penang in the 22nd spot while Phuket was placed 12th.

Besides the second spot in the overall readers’ ranking, Penang is also in the top 12 places in the frugal and food categories (both readers’ and the paper’s recommendations).

The New York Times said adventurous foodies are now turning to Penang, the culinary capital of Malaysia, where they are eating their way through one of South-East Asia’s liveliest street-food scenes.

It said there are city-run hawker stands everywhere and even refined dishes like char koay teow rarely cost more than US$2 (about RM7.20)

State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said Penang was chosen by the readers because of its good food.

“The ranking is a boost for the state as a tourist destination.

“Penang food is so famous that I know of Singaporeans who fly here just to eat,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the New World Park Chinese New Year programme at the food and beverage centre here yesterday.

A series of musical, art and dance performances are being held at the hawker-cum-cultural centre until Feb 9.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/18/nation/3055348&sec=nation

Cruise arrivals in Penang

Some 450,000 to 500,000 tourists arrived in Penang on cruise ships annually.

The guests will take a day tours to visit Penang's heritage attractions, shopping malls, and other places of interest. And most of all, to enjoy our local Penang food.

Sample of itinery from Star Cruise:

• Enjoy a scenic Trishaw ride along Georgetown
• Visit Wat Chayamankalarm temple with its Thai architecture housing a giant reclining Buddha
• Visit the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, built in 1805 with the Stupa and Sima Hall featuring several early paintings
• Shop for local products before heading to Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the finest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, standing majestically on a hill. Built in tiers, the temple culminates with the beautifully crafted “Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas”. Taking more than 20 years to build, the temple is set against beautiful scenic surroundings with many stalls selling trinkets and souvenirs.
• Take a guided tour of the Tropical Agro Farm where up to 140 species of tropical fruits and exotic spices are grown grow.
• Head to the Batik factory to witness the traditional techniques of batik painting using wax and dyes.
• Head to the Snake Temple, built in memory of a Buddhist priest and healer
• Finally catch a glimpse of the famed Penang Bridge – one of the longest bridges in the world before embarking the ship
• Visit the Butterfly Farm, a sanctuary for over 120 species of rare and exotic tropical butterflies complete with a hatchery and a “Preserved Butterflies of the World” museum.
• Arrive at Penang Botanical Gardens, located at the foot of Penang Hill and and view the many local species of flora and fauna . You may also come across monkeys in their natural habitat.

Arcadia Cruise arrived on Thursday, 29th Jan 2009 with 2076 passengers. The guests were given a rousing welcome at Tanjung City Marina in Pengkalan Weld. On hand to welcome them was state Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Commmittee chairman Law Heng Kiang.

We receive 2 to 3 cruises every week. This week's cruises arrival at Tanjung City Marina is as follows:

Cruise No. 1: Star Cruise ship Virgo

Date: 9th February 2009

Arrival Time: 12pm

Guests on board: 1,900

Cruise No. 2: P & O Cruises ship Aurora

Date: 11th February 2009

Arrival Time: 8am

Guests on board: 1,000

Source: http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/upcoming-events.html?task=view_detail&agid=186&year=2009&month=02&day=09

Art Exhibition - Stretch Your Imagination

Date: 7th to 26th February 2009

Exhibiton Title : "Stretch Your Imagination"

By: Malaysian & Singapore Contemporary Artists Selection Group

Venue: Penang State Art Gallery, Dewan Sri Pinang

Operation Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday (Close on Sunday)

Contact: 04-2613144

email: muzium@po.jaring.myThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Admission: FREE

"Stretch Your Imagination" art exhibition includes more than 100 artists from Malaysia and Singapore. The artists are divided into senior artists (60 years old above), middle-age artists (40-59 years old) and young artists (below 40 years old). 6 of the pioneer artists whom are officially recognises by The Singapore Art Museum ( Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Georgette Chen Ai Ling, Liu Kang and Lim Cheng Hoe) will be exhibiting their art works here.

Boundless Vision by Sandy TengXiao Xia (Artist, Masters in Arts):

The way of art values the spirit rather than the form. Every artist's greatest challenge lies in surmounting and shedding the simple image of shapes, and thus deducing the manner of communicating the essence within.

The artist's perspective is often one of aerial. (S)he sees what is obscure to the commoner's eye and performs what the hoi polloi cannot. It is a fight against the resignation to being bound by the worldly structure, for the cause of pursuing a vivid aspiration.

Artist: Mr Khor Ean Yee from Tanjung Tokong, Penang

Selected Award:

- 1st prize Flower Compeition, Penang, Malaysia

- Foreign Minister's Prize - Japan Modern Fine Arts Exhibition, Osaka, Japan

- Water colour paintings accepted in Summer Salon, England

- Gold Medal of Excellence - Jiangsu Water Colour Research Insitute, China

Artist: Mr Simon Tan from Jalan Sungai Pinang, Penang

Selected Award:

1991 - Excellent Award, Young Talent

1996 - Excellent Award, Cornucopia of Malaysia Art

2006 - 2nd prize, Tanjung Heritage

Artist: Ms Becky Choong from Bukit Mertajam, Penang

Selected Group Exhibition:

1997 - Women's Art Exhibition, Penang

2003 - The Dharma Protectors 'A Foiut Exhibition of Malaysia Renowned Artist 2003 Exhibition - Shan's Art Gallery 2; Kuala Lumpur

2008 - The 4th New Expression of Asian Art Exhibition, Henan, China

Source: http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/upcoming-events.html?task=view_detail&agid=184&year=2009&month=02&day=07

Lobby Lounge Theme Nights @ Evergreen Hotel Penang

Relaxing ambiance and surroundings with great live music brought to you by live band performance on every Monday to Sunday, while you enjoy the unbeatable Theme Night Promotions.

Every Monday －Country & Western Night
Happy hours all night long

Every Tuesday －Queens Night
Complimentary “Kiss Beer” for ladies accompanied by gentlemen (maximum 2 glasses per lady)

Every Wednesday－Twin Pleasure
Buy 1 get 1 free for House Pouring Brand

Every Thursday－Carlsberg Night
Happy hours all night long for Carlsberg Draught and Skol Beer with mystery gift

Every Friday－Wine & Dance
Promotion Wine - Get one complimentary bottle of wine with every
bottle purchased

Every Saturday－Meet Mr. J
20% off on bottle price for Johnny Walker Black Label,
Jack Daniel & Jim Bean.
On top of that, additional 1/2 dozen of Chicken Wing
will be hosted by us.

Every Sunday－Light & Easy
Buy 1 get 1 free for cocktail of the day

Evergreen Laurel Hotel
53 Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: (604) 226 9988
Fax: (604) 226 9989
Website: www.evergreen-hotels.com
E-Mail: htlopd@evergreen.com.tw