Attractions in the Pearl of the Orient: Penang is easy to get to and has a lot to offer to AFGM...

The island of Penang is known throughout the world as the Pearl of the Orient. It is situated off the Northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia. In the local Malay language the island is known as Pulau Pinang, which means the Island of Betel Nut.

Penang today is very much an amalgam of

the old and the new- a bustling port, a heritage city and an industrial base. In the capital, Georgetown, modern skyscrapers rise between one of Southeast Asia's largest collections of intact pre-war buildings. Chinatown, Little India and the Malay kampungs contribute to the urban scene and the seamless melding of Penang's many peoples is reflected in the many delicious foods available from hawker stalls and in the many festivals held throughout the year.

Access can be made through the international airport, with its easy links to many regional cities and beyond; or by road, across the massive Penang Bridge from the mainland town of Butterworth.

Tourism professionals in Penang believe that nowhere else in Southeast Asia can offer visitors a more peaceful and pleasing island. There are numerous beaches, fishing villages, nature trails, recreation forest and waterfalls to experience, and those who find the more touristy spots like Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi too crowded can retreat to more remote but no less attractive beaches at Muka Head, Pantai Keracut, Monkey Beach, Pantai Aceh and Gertak Sangoul.

Apart from its many beautiful beaches, Penang offers many other attractions. Past visitors recommend six must-see sights in Penang.

Fort Cornwallis was built on the site of the first British landing on the island, by Sir Francis Light in 1786. It was originally a wooden stockade but was rebuilt in stone in 1804 and its sights include the famous "Dutch cannon".

Khoo Kongsi Temple stands testament to the wave of Chinese immigration to Penang Island in the 19th century. The original temple was said to he so beautiful that it outshone the temple belonging to the Emperor of China. Sadly it was burnt down on the same day that construction finished, but was rebuilt on a smaller scale.

Kek Lok Si is a Buddhist temple built on a hillside in Air Hitam. The temple is on many tiers and took 20 years to build. It has a turtle pond, beautiful sculptures and shrines.

Penang Hill was originally developed by the British as a place where they could get away from the equatorial weather. There is a funicular railway that takes about half an hour to get to the top where the cool air is refreshing and the panoramic view of the island and the Andaman Sea is priceless.

Wat Chayamankalaram is a Buddhist temple that houses the world's third largest reclining Buddha, 33 metres long and covered in gold-leafed saffrom.

Sri Mariamman Temple is Penang's oldest Hindu temple. It was built in 1883 and has many statues of Hindu deities, the most famous among them being that of Lord Subaramanian. This statue is decorated with gold, silver, diamonds and emeralds.

Penang is an exciting and stimulating destination, and an ideal location for a conference. The glass industry in Malaysia looks forward to welcoming you there- see you in Penang!