Penang
Penang is an island which is one of the states of Malaysia.
Penang is located on the northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia and is the second smallest state within Malaysia. Penang is one of the most urban centers in Malaysia and carries much of the same traditions as the Chinese. Many dialects are spoken; however, Mandarin Chinese is taught in school. Old Penang shows tourists stunning images of the slow-paced livelihood of the merchants and farmers typical of the Far East.
Arts and Culture
There are numerous local artifacts and cultural exhibits to be seen in the Penang State Museum. Interestingly, the building is actually half a building because the other half of the building was destroyed by Japanese bombing in WWII. One can see a bronze cast of Captain Francis Light, housed at Fort Cornwallis, an old fort in the region. Art lovers can visit the Penang State Art Gallery and the Pinang Gallery to see some of the local artwork.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia Museum and Gallery has a special section on wayang kulit, a type of shadow Puppet Theater. There is a performing arts section as well. Those loving music may want to check out the Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, a government sponsored youth orchestra and choir. Another amateur orchestra is the Penang Symphony Orchestra. Another lovely musical experience is the Fingerprints Chamber Choir, an a cappella group formed by vocal students of Penang.
Festivals
For those interested in culture at its finest, Penang has a festival called Chingay, held each year as part of Chinese New Year. It also has festivals honoring several Chinese deities. The Chingay highlights flag bearers who balance giant flag poles on their shoulders and toss them to each other. Another festival is the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival; it attracts competitors from all over the world and involves dragon-like boats dating back from ancient China.
Another colorful and exciting festival is the Pesta Pulau Pinang, held every year in December. It includes outdoor concerts, variety shows, food, exhibitions, pet shows and a beauty pageant. An interesting festival is called Thaipusam, a yearly religious festival celebrated by the local Hindus in order to commemorate the victory of Lord Murugan over demons. It falls on a full moon on the tenth month of Thai. This festival involves devotees wearing hooks and spears in their bodies without having the appearance of pain.