Georgetown is the capital of Malaysia’s Penang state; it has been named after the British monarch King George III and is located towards the North Eastern corner of Penang Island. Regarded as one of the most culturally alluring places in Penang Georgetown is famous for its architecture, history and unique people. About 220,000 people call Georgetown home while a further 400,000 inhabit the suburbs.
Apart from its historic and cultural attraction Georgetown is renowned amongst its residents and also among tourists as one of the finest places to live in Malaysia. In testament to this fact, Georgetown was voted as being number 10 in the most livable cities in Asia.
Though much of Georgetown’s population is of Chinese origin it was founded in 1786 by the British. Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company established it as a base for the company in the Malaya states. The island of Penang was bought from the Sultan of Keddah and Fort Cornwallis was established, this later became the nexus of the region’s trade and commerce.
The historic commercial centre of the city which was declared as a World Heritage Site has now been segmented into banking and trading areas, which includes shipping companies, export and import traders. The wholesale companies dominate much of Beach Street a fact that has been prevalent since the establishment of the city.
Among the historic attraction to be seen here is the British military structure known as Fort Cornwallis, St. George’s Anglican Church one of the oldest Anglican churches in South East Asia, Penang Museum and Art Gallery, Kuan Yin Temple built by Chinese immigrants and the Kapitan Kling Mosque which is one of the oldest mosques in Penang. Georgetown can be easily accessed by any Penang hotel, among hotels in Penang travelers should choose on that enables them to experience the culture of the region. A hotel in Penang that offers great access to the beaches as well as historical highlights is therefore a great choice.
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The island of Penang, Malaysia is dubbed as the “Pearl of the Orient” and considered as one of Asia’s most famous travel destination to date. This is not quite hard to imagine since Penang has grown into a beautiful city with modern architecture and yet still manages to preserve its historical value overtime, offering the best of worlds in one small area.
Captain Francis Light christened the island Penang or Pulau Pinang which means the “island of the Betelnut”. This name is most likely derived from the fact that betel nut palms are commonly found within the island. Penang’s population greatly reflects its diversity. You can find different races in this island coexisting quite peacefully with each other such as the Chinese, Malays, Indians and others.
RELIGION
Religion in this side of world is freely expressed and respected. The official religion in Penang is Islam but you can find temples and other religious grounds from different faiths such as Buddhist and Hindu temples.
ANNUAL FESTIVALS
Penang is a fairly busy island, always bustling with annual festivities of different cultures. If you are visiting the island of Penang, it is not uncommon to chance upon at least one festival taking place during your stay. Some of the highlights are Chinese New Year held every late January or early February which signifies the beginning of Chinese Lunar year and Christmas Day celebrated by Christians every month of December.
Other occasions held in Penang, Malaysia annually are: The Birthday of the Goddess of Mercy, Wesak Day or the birthday of Lord Buddha, Hari Raya Puasa which marks the end of Ramadan, Saint Anne’s Feast, Hari Raya Haji, Festival of Nine Emperor Gods, Malaysia’s National Day, and Deepavali in commemoration of the slaying of evil king by Lord Krishna.
CUISINE
Penang travel can never be completed without sampling its fine delicacy and cuisine greatly influenced by Malays, Chinese and Indians. There is definitely no room for picky eaters here since there is always something for everybody and food is really great, tourists usually come back for more. The most famous dish is the Penang Laksa, a tamarind-based fish soup filled with noodles. Penang Laksa is a very delicious and filling treat. Tourist can either choose to buy their food from “hawkers” of roadside stalls or get them at regular sit-in restaurants which nicely dotted the area. Gurney Drive is the famous food street where you will find hawker’s stalls lined up and selling best of Penang Food.
Some of Penang’s local favorites are:
Satay or Malaysian style kebab. Apom, an Indian paper-thin pancake. Apong, Nyonya’s folded pancake. Beef ball noodles Char Koay Teow, stir-fried rice noodles. Chicken rice, a complete meal of Hainanese rice cooked in chicken stock served with roasted or steamed chicken. Fried oysters for seafood lovers! Mee Goreng, an Indian fried noodle. Mee Suah Tau or vermicelli soup with flaked crab meat.
This is just some of the suggested food fare in Penang since this town is known for its excellent cuisine and their food list is virtually endless.
SHOPPING
Shopping is never a problem in Penang. Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak is the biggest, most famous shopping complex in the area. It is the tallest building in Penang and placed sixth in Malaysia. KOMTAR Tower is by far, the most ambitious urban renewal project of the city of Penang. Famous retail shops and shopping outlets are found in this one, massive building, a real one-stop-shop for shopping tourists.
BEACHES
Penang beaches stretch from Tanjung Bungah to Telok Bahang for miles and miles. The most popular beach front is the Batu Ferringhi which is quite busy during peak seasons. Other beaches that you can find in Penang are: Tanjung Bungah, Muka Head, Pantai Keracut, Pantai Acheh, Monkey Beach and Gertak Sanggul, all of which are beautiful sandy beaches where you can relax and have fun under the sun.
Georgetown is the capital of Penang Island and was declared by UNESCO in 2008 as a world heritage site. Georgetown has extensive list of sights to see, some of its famous tourist attractions are Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Leith Street, built in 1890. Fort Cornwallis in Light Street was built in 1793 and visit Penang Islamic Museum by Armenian Street. The Pinang Peranakan Mansion can be found around Church Street and also check out Queen Victoria Clock Tower which commemorates Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Penang is also the home of the largest bridge in Malaysia and one of the largest in the world, the Penang Bridge. Don’t forget to experience Penang Hill as well, a favorite spot among tourists which can be accessed through railway or by foot.
Your visit to Penang will be richly awarded by different cultures and traditions that one can only experience in Penang, Malaysia. If you need to get away from it all, Penang is the site for you since it offers places to explore on-foot and beautiful beaches to swim on. Cultural heritage permeates the air of Penang, right from the sight, sound and smell. Your visit will not allow you to go home empty-handed considering best shopping outlets for electronics, clothing and other products made from South-East Asia. Cultural diversity is also reflected with food choices available in this side of town. Penang truly feeds the mind and soul. With both modern and historical worth, it is safe to say that there’s always something for everybody here in Penang.
Nowal has been a freelance travel writer and photographer for almost 10 years now. His expertise lies in Asia Travel Guides. Penang Travel Guide is his recent travel guide to the island of Penang. The travel guide provides travel information and guide to Georgetown Heritage Sites.
Cancer is now no longer deadly. The cancer patients in Indonesia can have a longer life expectancy with the discovery of the plant “Rodent Tuber” (Typhonium flagelliforme) as a medicinal plant that can stop and treat various cancers and other severe diseases. It is A kind of tuber plants with a maximum height of 25 to 30 cm which only grow in the bush which are not exposed to direct sunlight. “This plant is commonly found in Java,” said Drs.Patoppoi Pasau, the first person who discovered the plant in Indonesia. This herb have been studied since 1995 by Prof. Dr. Chris KH Teo, Dip Agric (M), BSc Agric (Hons) (M), MS, PhD from Saint University Malaysia and also the founder of Cancer Care Penang, Malaysia. This Cancer treatment institutions was established in 1995 that had helped thousands of patients from Malaysia, America, England, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and various countries in the world.
In Indonesia, this plant first discovered by Patoppoi in Pekalongan, Central Java, when his wife ailed breast cancer stage III and should to undergo cancer surgery on January 14, 1998. After the cancer was removed through the surgery, Patoppoi’s wife had to undergo chemotherapy (chemicals injection to kill the cells) to stop the cancer cells spread. “Prior to chemotherapy, the doctor told us to get a wig because the chemotherapy would cause hair loss, in addition skin damage and loss of appetite,” Patoppoi explained.
Accompanying his wife during chemotherapy, Patoppoi continued to seek alternative treatment until he got information about the use of Lin Qi tea to treat cancer in Malaysia. “At that time I flied immediately to Malaysia to buy the tea,” said good biologist Patoppoi. When he was in a drug store in Malaysia, he accidentally saw and read book on cancer treatment, entitled “Cancer, Yet They Live” by Dr. Chris KH Teo issued 1996. “After I read the brief, I just bought the book. Once I found the book, I did not even buy tea Lin Qi, but went back to Indonesia, “Patoppoi recalled with a smile. By that book Patoppoi read efficacy of Typhonium flagelliforme.
Based on his knowledge in biology, this pensioner of Agriculture Department immediately investigated and found this plant. After contacting several colleagues at various places, his relatives in Pekalongan Central Java called back. Apparently, they found the plant there. After getting the plant and learn more, Patoppoi contacted Dr. Teo in Malaysia to ask for the truth of the plants he found.
After a few days, Dr Teo contacted Patoppoi and explained that this plant was really Rodent Tuber. “Dr Teo said that no doubt for use as a drug,” Patoppoi continued. Finally, with determination and prayer for the healing, Patoppoi began processing the plant in accordance with the steps in the book to be drunk as a medicine. Then Patoppoi contacted his son, Boni Patoppoi in Buduran, Sidoarjo to go find this plant. “After looking at the characteristics of this plant, I began looking at the river at front of the house and immediately I got this plant growed wild in the river,” said Boni who accompanied his father at the time. During consuming juice of this plant, Patoppoi’s wife recovered from side effects of chemotherapy she ailed. Her hair stopped falling out, her skin did not damage and the nausea didn’t disappear any more. “Even my mother’s appetite backed to normal,” said Boni.
After three months of taking the drug, Patoppoi’s wife got cancer checkup. “The test result was negative, and it really surprised us and the doctors in Jakarta,” said Patoppoi. The doctors then asked to Patoppoi what he had given to his wife. “In fact they doubt if they had the wrong dose of chemotherapy given to my wife,” Patoppoi continued. Having explained the story of Rodent Tuber plant, the doctors supported the treatment and suggested to expand it. Furthermore according to his wife who did not experience severe side effects of chemotherapy. And examination should be delayed three months to six months. “But for one thing, doctors did not want to support directly to use the plant as alternative medicine,” said Boni, laughing. After a while not contacted, based on increases of his wife, in April 1998, Patoppoi then contacted Dr.Teo by fax to inform that the plant was scattered throughout Java and invited Dr. Teo to spread the use of this plant in Indonesia. “Dr Teo then replied directly to us, but he did not know what he should do, because of long distance, “Patoppoi continued. Although Patoppoi suggested to translated his books into another language and distributed in Indonesia, Dr. Teo suggested both sides to work together and concentrate on real business helping cancer patients in Indonesia. Then, in late of January 2000 during the Java Post review of the death Wiryanto Wing, one of the powerful Java Post reporter, Patoppoi was surprised. Detailed data about the symptoms, pain, treatment reviewed in the Java Post, were the same as one experience of the colon cancer treatment described in the book. And experimental treatment was cured by the patient. “Then I immediately wrote the column in Readers Write of Java Post,” Boni said. And the response he received was beyond expectations. Within a day, could be about 30 phone calls. “Until now, there were about 300 people who come here,” Boni continued addressed at Jl. KH. Khamdani, Buduran Sidoarjo. The first patient was a patient whose Cervical Cancer early stages. After reviewing, the doctor said to have a surgery. But because not having the cost, he came after reading the Java Post. Having given the plant and how to drink it, not long time, the patient came back and reported that he did not need a surgery, because the examination results was negative.
Based on the very high public interest around, Patoppoi tried to meet Dr. Teo directly. With the help of the Director General of Drug and Food Control Ministry of Health, Sampurno, Patoppoi could meet him in Penang, Malaysia. At the Cancer Care Center’s office in Penang, Malaysia, Patoppoi get more information about the plant research in Indonesia. Apparently when Patoppoi got the book “Cancer, Yet They Live” revised edition 1999, his fax sent yet, and his wife’s experience in an effort to fight against cancer were included in the book. From their conversation, Dr. Teo recommended Patoppoi to establish representative Cancer Care in Jakarta and Surabaya. So officially, Patoppoi and his son were appointed as representatives of social institutions of Cancer Care Indonesia, which was also mentioned in the monthly bulletin of Cancer Care, which was at Jl. Kayu Putih No. 4. 5, Jakarta, tel. 021-4894745, and in the Buduran, Sidoarjo. Cancer Care Malaysia had developed a form of more sophisticated treatment. They had produced Rodent tuber extract in pill and tea powder combined with other various plants. “The dose required depends on the illness,” said Boni.
Actually, this treatment was also supported and tested by one of the senior doctors in Surabaya, in patients ailed kidney cancer. There were two patients who were treated by physicians who had served as director of one of the largest hospital in Surabaya. The first patient who ailed cervical cancer wasn’t given the treatment with Rodent Tuber, handled by fellow physicians who already had a reputation. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiology, the patient had hair loss, damaged and itchy skin, and always vomiting. But in the second patient who suffered from kidney cancer, doctors took care and gave themselves a Rodent Tuber pills to help the healing process of chemotherapy.
In this second patient, it was not found the effects experienced by first patients, even these patients looked normal. But this doctor declined to be exposed because this treatment had not formally studied in Indonesia. According to him, if his colleagues knew that he was cured by an alternative treatment, they would provide the predicate as a “too-kun” or doctor-healer. “This is an open gap between conventional and modern medicine,” said the doctor. Many interesting things happened to Boni for receiving and providing assistance to patient. There’s even a heavy addict of putaw in Surabaya, which eventually got addicted to the lung cancer. After receiving the verdict of lung cancer stage III, the patient was taking the pill and the tea from the Cancer Care. The result is surprising, since the drug could remove toxic drugs from the patient’s blood circulation and overcome the dependence on these drugs. “But, if addicts could neutralize the poison with Rodent Tuber, she should not do drugs anymore, because the resistance would arise. So do not be like buffalo, been wallowing bath again, “said Boni, laughing.
There are also patients who experience howled in pain due to cancer gnawing attack, because the painkiller medicine was not working anymore. After drinking juice Rodent Tuber given, a few moments later the patient is calm and no longer feel pain. According to the data of Cancer Care Malaysia, various diseases that have been cured are the various cancers and serious illnesses such as breast cancer, lung, colon-rectum, liver, prostate, kidney, cervix, throat, bone, brain, spleen, leukemia, bile, pancreas, and hepatitis.
