Travel writers find George Town won’t strain their wallets

GEORGE Town is definitely doable on a budget with its reasonably cheap food and lodging options. The attractions in this Unesco World Heritage-listed city are also within walking distance of one another.

A group of 20 Malaysian and regional writers and bloggers found that out for themselves when they took part in a specially organised three-day and two-night tour under the theme ‘Budget Traveller Guide to George Town’.

Historic house: The writers and bloggers listening to a guide speak on the history of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

During the visit, the group visited various places of worship along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, as well as the Chowrasta Market, Penang State Museum, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Fort Cornwallis, City Hall and the Clan Jetties, among others.

They also feasted on tasty local hawker fare like koay teow soup, laksa, cendol and char koay teow and got a peek at how popiah skin and Nyonya kuih are made.

Local snack: Participants of the tour trying their hand at making karipap

Sabahan blogger Caroline Ng said the Penang laksa was one dish she would always remember.

In Kuala Lumpur, she had a bowl of laksa which she didn’t like and she was adamant she wouldn’t try the dish again.

She was persuaded to give the dish a try in Penang and enjoyed it.

“The one I had here was lovely. I never expected to wallop a whole bowl of it,” she said.

“This trip was an eye-opening experience, travelling around on a budget.

Unique sight: The budget travellers visiting the Clan Jetties

“At first I thought RM100 a day wouldn’t be enough for meals. But I ended up spending around RM25 only, and I ate about 10 times!” she quipped.

An Indonesian travel writer, who wanted to be identified by her pen name Trinity, said that although she had been to Penang before, this trip got her acquainted with many new sights and sounds.

“We were able to experience the culture of locals, to see and eat local things, not the touristy stuff.

“It is definitely value for money, you spend less but get more. Penang is well known among Indone-sians, but more for its medical tourism.

“We do not really go out and explore the island,” she said, adding that this was something she hoped to change through her writings upon her return.

The event was organised by Project Penang, a joint effort by the Tourism Ministry’s Penang Office (MOTOUR) and PenBlogger Online, with support from AirAsia and Rapid Penang.

Vintage clothing: Travel writer Derek Wong taking photos of traditional Nyonya attire during the group's visit to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion

According to MOTOUR Penang director Jaime Yeoh, the whole aim was to let the group experience the city in a practical way, in the hope that their subsequent writings would help provide prospective visitors with helpful travel tips and information.

The office has also come up with an informative map, detailing the attractions within the city, how to get there, and how best to organise an itinerary.

“With George Town selling itself as a heritage city, it’s important that there are also elements that are engaging, interactive and affordable, for visitors to experience.

“The younger crowds have the impression that the inner city is just old buildings.

“But behind the façade, there are many things to see and do. And we hope their writings will give tourists an informative guide on how to experience George Town,” Yeoh explained during a farewell dinner for the writers.

Hong Kong travel writer Celia Cheng reveals that her countrymen have a penchant for travelling, and she hopes her newfound insight would help bring those tourist dollars to Penang instead of elsewhere.

Echoing a sentiment expressed by tourists countless times over the years, most of the group members also feel that the island needs better public lavatories. - The Star

Penang a popular destination for tourists seeking to escape winter

GEORGE TOWN: The current hot spell may be a bother for locals but not for tourists from countries in the Northern Hemisphere who are arriving here in droves to bask in the sunshine.

Many of them are coming to Penang island to escape the freezing winter in their homeland.

Dutch tourist Peter Zoetelief, 46, and his wife, Danielle, 43, were spotted soaking up the sun on the beach in Batu Ferringhi.

The couple, who has been in Penang for the past one week, said they love the hot weather here.

Soaking up the sun: Dutch couple Peter and Danielle enjoying the island’s warmth.

“We believe our bodies are not suited for the cold weather in Holland,” quipped Zoetelief, who works with an airline company there.

His wife said this was their third visit to Penang.

“We simply love the island. The people are friendly,” she said as the couple waited for a boat to ferry them to Monkey Beach near Muka Head.

Martin Abrahamson, 21, and his girlfriend Marthe Duyrop, 22, from Norway, were also spotted enjoying themselves on the beach in Batu Ferringhi.

“It is always cold in my country. The sunshine here is a welcome relief,” said Abrahamson.

A check at major hotels showed many are already fully booked for the Christmas season.

E&O Hotel communications and public relations manager Mazeta Hassan said there was a surge of tourists coming to Penang from countries experiencing winter.

She said the hotel was fully booked from Dec 18 until the first week of January.

“Some 70% of our guests are from European countries while 30% are from Australia. They seem to enjoy the warm weather here. Many of them can be seen lounging by the pool throughout the day,” she said.

Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang Chapter president Marco G. Battistotti said the island was becoming more popular among tourists from northern Europe.

He said there was a 4% to 6% increase in the number of hotel bookings on the island between mid-December and mid-February.

“Many of the tourists hail from countries that have winter. A good number of them also prefer to stay in condominiums in Batu Ferringhi.

“Some hotels also have long-staying foreign guests during this period,” he said. - The Star

Seaview Bungalow Lot - Cheap & Good!

Bukit Gambier Bungalow Lot - Sea & Penang Bridge View
Good to build your own bungalow
Land Area: 8,500 square feet
Peaceful & quiet environment
Surrounded with new & modern Bungalows
Near all amenities like Tesco hypermarket, USM, eateries and etc
Priced to sell quickly

Click here to contact us, Penang I Property for more information or viewing

Sunway Bukit Gambier - Rare Oppourtunity

Sunway Bukit Gambier, you should consider it if you are looking for a terrace house in Penang Island. 3 Storey Terrace - spacious rooms & living room
Quality furnishing
Guarded
Original
Conveniently located at Bukit Gambier, near USM
Near all amenities
Hot property in this area.

Click here to contact us, Penang I Property for more information or viewing

Halifax expects British house prices to be stagnant for next year

LONDON: Britain's housing market is likely to stagnate in 2012, with low interest rates offset by a squeeze on household budgets, according to mortgage lender Halifax. In its outlook for next year, Halifax said it expected house prices to end 2012 in a range of down 2% to up 2%. Prospects for Britain's economy were “particularly uncertain” but the likelihood of the Bank of England leaving interest rates at a record low 0.5% for the foreseeable future would help support the market, it said. “Overall, we expect continuing broad stability in house prices nationally during 2012. Prices are again likely to end the year at levels close to where they begin with the market continuing to lack any real direction,” said Halifax economist Martin Ellis. However, demand for homes would be constrained by rising unemployment and the weak outlook for growth. “These pressures will come from a combination of subdued earnings growth, high (but falling) inflation, the substantial fiscal tightening that is taking place and an ongoing rebalancing of household sector finances with many families seeking to reduce their debts,” Ellis said. Meanwhile, Britain had 11% more houses valued at 1mil or more available for purchase in the third quarter than it did a year earlier, Investec Specialist Bank said in a report yesterday. Agencies

S’pore loses lustre, investors considering other options like Hong Kong

SINGAPORE: The heavier stamp duties announced last week may have already dented Singapore's standing as a major property investment destination while giving rivals such as Hong Kong a boost, said analysts. Britain-based consultancy Black Brick Property Solutions said it has received inquiries from Asian and overseas investors who had been thinking of investing in Singapore property, but who have been deterred by the new tax rules. Other property agencies said they expected more clients to ask about their investment options after the festive period. The new measures unveiled last week included an extra stamp duty of 10% on a home bought by a foreigner a move expected to dampen foreign demand while increasing interest in markets such as Britain and Hong Kong that do not have restrictions on foreign buyers. Camilla Dell, managing director of Black Brick Property Solutions, said: “Stamp duty can be significantly reduced in Britain if the property is owned in a company name. Buyers pay very little or no tax on the acquisition.” She added that the tax system was more favourable, particularly for overseas investors who pay no seller's or capital gains tax if they were not British residents. This gives them a tax break of 28% when they sell their properties. Julian Sedgewick, director of international residential sales at Savills, said: “London, in particular, could stand out because of the good currency exchange rate between the pound and the dollar”. The exchange rate is 1 to about S$2. Hong Kong is looking attractive too, because of the government's adoption of a non-intervention policy, meaning no restrictions are placed on foreign property investments. Its government also recently said it might reverse some of the property cooling curbs if the economic situation worsens. Another spin-off from the stamp duty move could be that foreign developers and agencies might get more aggressive marketing their properties here as investors in Singapore look elsewhere, said Chua Yang Liang, head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). Although local and foreign investors with a short-term outlook would have more of an appetite for properties outside of Singapore now, many analysts predict that the pool of foreign buyers in Singapore would not dry up. The Straits Times These include buyers from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and China. “Businesses are still investing in Singapore and the country is still considered an attractive place to work, live and visit,” said Chua. The Straits Times Singapore. - The Star

PLB Engineering sells land

KUALA LUMPUR: PLB Engineering Bhd's wholly-owned sub-subsidiary, Pelangi Sehati Development Sdn Bhd, has disposed of a vacant freehold in Seberang Perai Selatan to Chin Hin Land Sdn Bhd for RM22.183mil, it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia. - Bernama

PHT questions council’s way of tackling floods

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) is concerned over the approach taken by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to overcome floods in the state’s heritage enclave. PHT president Khoo Salma Nasution said it lauded the effort by MPPP to mitigate floods but what was of concern, were the methods and approaches adopted. “We are happy that the (local) authorities have listened to the people’s concerns. However, we have also received numerous complaints from the public over the scope of the implementation,” she said. Khoo Salma said that in the past few weeks, the PHT had received complaints from ratepayers about damage to private property and shophouses when the historic granite fonts were removed and discarded. “The excessive use of concrete to fight floodwaters is worrisome,” she said. PHT council member Rebecca Wilkinson-Duckett said that the use of box culverts had altered the natural drainage ecology in George Town. “The original brick and lime structures were permeable and allowed for underground water to flow into the drains. “The concrete box culverts prevent such action. The new drains also prevent smooth outflow of water from air wells of shophouses and have hampered PHT’s efforts to get owners to re-open their air wells.” It was reported that the state government was disappointed that a few heritage-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had complained about MPPP’s works to upgrade drainage in the heritage areas. State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said they should not have complained to the National Heritage Department without referring first to the council. He said that the NGOs had complained that the drains should not be upgraded as they were part of Penang’s heritage. “We are upgrading the drains because they are old and they cannot hold a heavy volume of water during the rainy season. This has resulted in floods. Flooding is a major concern to all. We are upgrading the drains to address the issue. The NGOs should consider this before lodging complaints,” he said. - The Star

It’s a walk down heritage lane in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: It was a different kind of hustle and bustle along Beach Street when families came in droves to cycle, stroll or jog in what is usually a car-jammed stretch in the city's central business district. It was Penang's first Car-Free Sunday, when all motorised vehicles were declared off-limits along this and other selected stretches in George Town from 7am to 5pm yesterday. Thousands turned up at the crack of dawn for the launching of the event by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, joining him on a bicycle ride through the inner city. The off-limit stretches for motor vehicles are Beach Street (from the China Street junction to the Union Street junction), Bishop Street and Church Street (both from the Beach Street junctions to the Penang Street junction) and the whole stretch of Church Street Ghaut. “The event is another milestone in the state's efforts to go green and fight climate change,” said Lim, adding that the streets are for Penangites to make their own every Sunday. Engineer Timothy Wooi, 51, drew a lot of attention when he came with a Penny Farthing, a bicycle with a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel. “I made it from recycled parts at a cost of RM800,” he said. Another cyclist Mubarak Omar, 63, brought along his nearly 50-year-old bicycle. “While I have a car, I still use this bike that I bought in 1962,” he said. Children and tiny tots were also having a great time with their cycles and tricycles, with parents taking leisurely strolls. Some young people were doing in-line skating and some were doing aerobic dances by the street. Businessman Liam Goh, 43, said it felt weird to walk along Beach Street without seeing any cars. “I plan to bring my parents here next week as it will be nice for them to stroll by the heritage buildings without fear of being hit by motor vehicles,” he said. - The Star

槟中廉屋将减半 郑两明：废27年政策乱象频生

(槟城11日讯)槟州房屋规划政策大转变，放宽发展商承建“中廉价屋”(LMC)固打需求，槟岛中廉价屋数量料将面对减半局面。 在奉行27年的房屋政策下，政府规定发展商在槟岛西南县建造超过100个单位下须承建30%的中廉价屋，然而以槟州首长为首的林冠英的州策划委员会(SPC)，早在去年6月28日已通过指示，对房屋政策作出大修订，包括放宽有关指示。 槟州民政党地方政府及房屋局主任郑两明出席于大街29号举行的非政府组织论坛研讨会后，如是表示。他说，槟州民联政府在去年6月废除了奉行了27年的房屋发展政策，是目前槟州发展乱象频生的肇因。 郑两明指出，槟州政府是于2010年6月28日通过废除奉行27年的槟州房屋发展密度政策，其中房屋密度不超过州政府规定的承建中廉价屋固打房屋计划，其密度从每依格30单位提高至87，而房屋超过政府规定的承建中廉价屋固打需要的房屋计划，密度从原有30单位提高3倍至120单位。 此外，更将西南县的中廉价屋固打从旧有举凡建造超过100个单位即须承建30%的中廉价屋，减一半至15%，减少发展商承建中廉价屋的数量。 他表示，槟州政府提高房屋发展密度已衍生各种发展乱象，如在槟岛北岸即出现房屋密度从原有的100多个单位突激增4倍至600多个单位。 他表示，在政府提高发展密度下将造成原有的基本设施出现不胜负荷情况，如交通冲击、排水系统及排污系统等，这也是为何一些原有的住宅区，开始针对高密度乱象发展进行抗议行动。他促请槟州政府悬崖勒马，灰复原有房屋发展政策。 绿色建筑发展费减双倍 绿色建筑发展费减两倍。 在州策划委员会通过的新指南，符合绿色建筑指数(GBI)的发展计划的发展收费将大大减少，以示鼓励，其中从设计至完成符合指数规定的计划分为两类，一是住宅区为5令吉，而商业类分为7令吉。然而，一般的发展收费将是每平方公尺为15令吉，商业区却是每平方公尺21令吉。 6地将成高密度禁区 在槟州政府2010年通过的房屋密度下，有6个地区将成为提高密度禁区。 上述地区，包括东姑阿都拉曼路（亚逸拉惹及布朗律）、杰瑟顿园、原有住宅区(established housing)及根据现规划及发展控制指南下的低密度区、乔治市世遗区、从洛306（丹绒武雅酒店）至洛97（Mar Vista）及丹绒武雅区、少过每依格30密度的丹绒武雅区。 在槟州策划委员会于6月30日通过的指南下，获准提高密度地区有三类，一是根据现有密度控制规划下拥有每依格30单位的地区、在市政局规划及发展控制规划下的一般住宅区（perumahan am），在市政局规划及发展控制规划下，最高密度高达每依格30单位的商业及一般旅游区。 槟从法治沦为“人治” 郑两明指出，槟州政府已从法治沦为“人治”，其中莫实得填海事件即反映出一切事只要林冠英说了算数。 他表示，槟州首长林冠英原先承诺授权莫实得控股公司在百安湾进行百依格填地，在当地居民反对下，林冠英才收回决定。而他表示，在地下国际会展中心计划下，州政府提供发展商额外1500单位密度发展，完全否决了本身制定的法律。 此外，他也表示，州政府积极推动的海底隧道计划并未列在地方发展蓝图下，再来是百安湾的填土计划却是在未进行环境评估报告下将土地转手私人发展商。他提及，上述政策已乖离了地方政府发展蓝图，也是浪费纳税人公款之举，并从法治沦为人治时代。- 光华