Prewar houses in George Town

Pre-war houses/ buildings / shophouses - buildings built before the second world war. Refers to mainly buildings built in the 19th century and early 20th century. Many of these houses in the heart of George Town are use for commercial purposes (called shophouses)
.....more photos at heritage sites at mymalaysiabooks

Other heritage sites of Malaysia

Check out other heritages in Malaysia ........ here

Past and present

Approaching George Town at the cape, one sees SwettenhamPier with the backdrop of the city and the hills of Penang. Imagine this dramatic backdrop of the early days when there were hardly any buildings.

Nyonya or Peranakan Cuisine

Penang's food heritage
Nonya Cuisine is a blend of Chinese and Malay cooking styles, that originates from the Peranakans or Baba & Nyonya (Nonya) of Malaysia and Singapore. Nonya food from Penang, Melaka (Malacca) and Singapore differ somewhat in tastes due to other influences. Penang - influenced by Thai cooking, Melaka by the European and Malay styles.
Check out these local recipes here.

(Note: Baba and Nyonya: early Chinese migrants who came to the Malay peninsular from the 19th century & assimilated many cultural practices of the Malays into their Chinese culture - details in myPenang travel guide).

Cultural Festivals and Celebrations

Learn more about the cultural heritage of Malaysia at myMalaysiabooks

>> Cultural festivities in Malaysia
>> Learn the Malay language at our English-Malay language page
>> What's on the Malaysia 2006 calendar