Saturday, March 24, 2012

PFS to celebrate its 200th year

Source: thestar.com.my

THE Old Frees Association (OFA) will be organising a dinner on March 31 to launch the Bicentenary Celebrations for the Penang Free School (PFS), which will be turning 200 in the year 2016.

Bicentenary committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim said the celebrations would begin this month as it was too momentous and historical an event to be celebrated in just one year.

“As the bicentenary is an important milestone in the history of Penang Free School, many programmes have been arranged from March 31 till Oct 21, 2016,” said Abdul Rafique.

About 400 Old Frees (alumni) and guests are expected to attend the dinner at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, where a commemorative book Fidelis will be launched.

OFA president M.S. Rajendren said the title of the book was extracted from the school’s motto Fortis Atque Fidelis (Latin for ‘Strong and Faithful’).

“This is an important heritage project for the PFS and the OFA where it contains records of the school’s glorious history, academic excellence, great sportsmen and rich traditions, as well as those of OFA which was founded in 1923,” said Rajendren.

The 208-page commemorative book will be priced at RM100 and is expected to hit bookstores nationwide soon after its launching on March 31.

The dinner also serves to raise funds for the Bicentenary Celebrations, among which are to establish a Bicentenary Scholarship, to be launched on Oct 21, 2016.

Abdul Rafique said the dignitaries who would attend the dinner include the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, Raja Perempuan of Perlis Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Toh Puan Majimor Shariff and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The prices for tables are from RM1,000 to RM5,000 while VIP tickets are priced at RM1,000 per person.

Tickets are sold at the OFA in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah which is open from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. For details, call the OFA at 04-2269290.

Penang Free School is the oldest English school in Southeast Asia, founded on Oct 21 in 1816 at a rented premises in Love Lane by Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings, an Anglican chaplain.

The school then moved to its first building in Farquhar Street which now houses the Penang State Museum prior to its present location in Jalan Mesjid Negri in 1928.

The now 196-year-old school has produced notable luminaries such as the country’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, legendary plague fighter and the first Malaysian Chinese Noble Prize winner Dr Wu Lien Teh, former Penang Chief Minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, actor and singer Tan Sri P. Ramlee and four-time All England badminton champion Eddy Choong.

Old Frees from all over the world are encouraged to provide suggestions to the Bicentenary Committee on ways to hold the four-year celebrations after they kick-start on March 31.

For details, email to admin@ofa.my.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Travelling by Rapid Penang 2

I have written on this topic before (refer here)

I wish to highlight a few services provided by RapidPenang which I find to be very helpful.



1. Rapid Travel Card and Rapid Info counter

2. Journey Planner

3. Rapid Passport
http://www.rapidpg.com.my/tourist-passport/http://www.rapidpg.com.my/tourist-passport/

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Heritage Hotels



Penang has an awesome blend of heritage of colonial and eastern designs in its architecture. Hence, it would be good to try out some of the heritage hotels especially in the historical city of George Town.

Here is the author’s list of Top 4 Heritage Hotels in Penang.

1. Eastern & Oriental Hotel
Address
10, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang.
Phone no.
+(6) 04 222 2000
Website
www.e-o-hotel.com


The Eastern & Oriental Hotel is the embodiment of both a special time and a special place. For well over a century, this remarkable hotel – known simply as `The E&O’ to generations of travellers – has stood as a testament to the grand elegance of the British colonial era.
In many ways, it has also come to represent Penang itself; its story inextricably woven into the island’s history, its traditions an indelible part of many a traveller’s treasured memory, its name synonymous with the magical island once known as The Pearl Of the Orient.

2. Hotel Penaga
Address
Corner of Jalan Hutton & Lebuh Clarke, 10050 George Town, Penang.
Phone no.
+(6) 04 261 1891
Website
www.hotelpenaga.com


Hotel Penaga, in the heart of GeorgeTown, Penang, Malaysia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel was converted from a cluster of 15 pre-war terraces and shophouses, facing Hutton Lane, Transfer Road and Clarke Street, into a heritage boutique hotel that maintains the character of the heritage zone while meeting the highest modern expectations.

3. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Address
14 Lebuh Leith, 10200 Penang
Phone no.
+(6) 04 262 0006
Website
www.cheongfatttzemansion.com


Though the lavish doors to the venerable Blue Mansion were first thrown open in as early as the 19th Century, the tradition of architecture and craftsmanship applied to the building’s construction dates much further back – a precipitous 3000 years to the Su Chow dynasty, to be exact. Built in the Hakka – Teochew style on sturdy foundations of Southern Chinese building typologies and materials, the Blue Mansion commissioned by Cheong Fatt Tze in the face of a trend in the construction of modern Anglo-indian abodes – stands today as a model of the traditional paradigm Chinese courtyard house.

4. 1926 Heritage Hotel
Address
227 Jalan Burma, 10050 Penang.
Phone no.
+(6) 04 228 1926
Website
www.1926heritagehotel.com


Built in 1926, 1926 Heritage Hotel once served as a home to the British colonial immigration officers and local administrators of Penang. The sense of nostalgia can be felt throughout the whole property as you enjoy spacious rooms, wooden interior, long corridors, balmy balconies, beautiful Victorian windows accompanied with pictures and photos of old Penang, luxurious comfort and the colonial charm of the staff in 1926 hotel. Surrounded by the Hotel, is the old city of Georgetown that was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light which is now listed under UNESCO heritage cities.

References:
1. http://www.tourismpenang.net.my/accomodations_heritage_hotels.html
2. http://www.1926heritagehotel.com/Room_standard.html
3. http://www.eohotels.com/thehotel.php
4. http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/reservation.htm
5. http://www.hotelpenaga.com/index.php

Budget Accomodation


For budget travelers, there will be no problem to find accommodation that suits your budget. And the budget accommodation in Penang provides quality services that will make your stay enjoyable.

Here is the Top 3 budget accommodation list of the author.

1. USM Guest House
Address11700 Usm Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia
Phone no.+(6) 04 6532 030
Websitewww.usm.edu.my




The University Guest House is located on a strategic and scenic hill site within the University Campus which many consider an excellent garden. It offers an excellent view of the Penang Bridge from the grounds while being within easy reach of the major business and manufacturing centres.

2. YMCA International Hostel
Address211, Jalan Macalister, 10450 Penang.
Phone no.+(6) 04 228 8211
Fax no.+(6) 04 828 1855
Websitewww.ymcapg.com



The Complex was initiated on 15.10.1987.  Mr. Geh Cheng Lok, 5th President, officially launched the building fund campaign on 28.09.1991.  The Building Plans were approved on 16.3.1992. The Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Complex was officiated by Bishop Denis C. Dutton, Chairman of Christian Federation of Malaysia on 9.9.1992.

3. Tune Hotels, Downtown Penang
Address100 Burma Road, 11000 Penang.
Websitewww.tunehotels.com



Tune Hotels Downtown Penang is strategically located in the dining and shopping hub of George Town, Penang’s capital, 5 mins from George Town’s heritage site and 5 mins from Komtar, Penang’s tallest building with a spectacular view.
References:
1. http://www.tourismpenang.net.my/accomodations_budget.html
2. www.usm.edu.my
3. www.ymcapg.com
4. www.tunehotels.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

City and Beach Hotels in Penang

City and Beach Hotels – Penang would not be complete without these hotels: – The city hotels would be a good complement to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Penang while the beach hotels would bring tourists close to the beaches of Penang. Here is the Top 5 city and beach hotels of Penang, according to the author.
1. Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa
AddressJalan Batu Ferringi, 11100 Penang.
Phone no.+(6) 04 888 8888
Fax no.+(6) 04 881 1984
Websitewww.shangri-la.com/rasasayang
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa offers vacationers an expansive luxury beach resort in traditional Malaysian style, nestled along Penang’s popular Batu Feringgi Beach. This iconic Penang beach resort offers its guests a luxurious accommodation option replete with an array of amenities whilst situated amidst impressive and majestic scenery. (credit:http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/penang/rasasayangresort)

2. Equatorial Hotel
AddressMagazine Road, 10300 Penang
Phone no.+(6) 04 262 2622
Fax no.+(6) 04 262 2526
Websitewww.shangri-la.com
Equatorial Hotel Main Lobby (credit:http://www.equatorial.com/pen/)
Set majestically 150 metres above sea level, Hotel Equatorial is the island’s only golf and convention resort – strategically and peacefully tucked away on a hillock. The 5-star luxury hotel embraces a splendor of contemporary design.  It houses 662 guestrooms and suites, each classically furnished and facilitated with state of the art in-room amenities. (Adapted from: http://www.equatorial.com/pen/)

3. Hard Rock Hotel Penang
 AddressBatu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang
Phone no.+(6) 04 881 1711
Fax no.+(6) 04 881 2155
Websitepenang.hardrockhotels.net
With a total of 250 guestrooms, there is nowhere more luxurious than Hard Rock Hotel Penang to spend your holiday. With a contemporary feel, all rooms are well-designed with guests in mind. With Wi-Fi connections, iPod docking stations and 32-inch LCD screen TVs, you can stay connected with your loved ones and be entertained 24 hours. Anything from intimate private meetings in Penang to spectacular banquets for up to 300 guests, meeting planners will receive extreme Rock Star service and an event everyone will be talking about. The walls in the Hard Rock Hotel Penang are adorned with images, memorabilia and icons reflecting the revolution that changed the face of music, fashion and arts. It’s a celebration of popular culture from the 50′s through the new millennium. Its fun atmosphere and clean, modern lines make this the ultimate ROCK RETREAT for all! (Adapted from penang.hardrockhotels.net)

4. Parkroyal Penang
AddressBatu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang.
Phone no.+(6) 04 881 1133
Fax no.+(6) 04 881 2617
Websitewww.parkroyalhotels.com
Located along the beautiful shorelines of Penang, our Batu Ferringhi resort is ideal for unforgettable honeymoons, fun family getaways and corporate workshops. At PARKROYAL Penang Resort, you can relax with contemporary facilities and servicesl ike the St. Gregory Spa, fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool and Koko-nut Kids Club. You’ll leave with nothing but happy memories.
To enjoy a truly authentic local experience, speak to our resort associates and they will share their personal recommendations for experiencing the best of Penang. Get tips on where to enjoy the best hawker food, how to bargain for souvenirs at the night market and where the most breathtaking stretch of beach is located. Be delighted by the amazing beauty of Penang when you stay at our idyllic resort. (Credit: www.parkroyalhotels.com)

5. Traders Hotel, Penang
AddressMagazine Road, 10300 Penang
Phone no.+(6) 04 262 2622
Fax no.+(6) 04 262 2526
Websitewww.shangri-la.com
Traders Hotel, Penang welcomes you to the heart of this fascinating and diverse city. With 443 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, gracious hospitality and outstanding dining options, this Penang hotel serves as an excellent base for exploring Penang Island. (credit: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/penang/traders)