Trip Report by Lee October 2000
We have
just returned from a great holiday in Penang. I was out there as a young
RAF lad from 1968 to 1970 and this year I went back with my family.
Penang itself has changed very little except for the extensive development
around the airport. Back in 1970, south of Minden Barracks, which is
now a magnificent university, there was very little but the airport,
the Snake Temple and a great seafood restaurant at Batu Maung! On one
hand I was very glad to see that most of the streets, houses and shops
in Georgetown are unchanged but its all looking a little run down nowadays.
I dont mean that unkindly because I think it's wonderful that they havent
been swept away by modern high rise developments (like in KL) but I
hope there can be some investment to bring some 'colour' back into the
city. We stayed at the Lone Pine Hotel on Batu Ferringhi (never quite
certain how to spell that - there seem to be a number of options!).
A lovely hotel and the staff are just great. We did all the tourist
sights that I remembered from my early days and some new ones like the
Komtar - great views from the top. Sadly the staff at Penang Hill Railway
still manage to turn a pleasant trip into an unpleasant one by squeezing
a train load of passengers into each compartment! There I go, moaning
again. In summary it was a fabulous trip to a fabulous island. Malaysians
should be rightly proud. Happy Merdaka Day to you all. |