Penang War Museum listed in Top Ten Most Haunted Sites in Asia by National Geographic Channel

Penang War Museum listed in Top Ten Most Haunted Sites in Asia by National Geographic Channel

Written by Administrator II

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 05:58

Dubbed as “Bukit Hantu” or Ghost Hill by the locals, the Penang War Museum carries a dark and cruel past. Built as a military defence fortress in the 1930s, it served as a British stronghold till it fell to the Japanese invasion during World War II in 1941. Shortly after, the army base became a camp for prisoners of war and hundreds of people were tortured and beheaded at the site. The war museum’s dark past and eerie atmosphere caught the attention of a National Geographic television programme called “I Wouldn’t Go In There” and landed a place in its top ten list of Asia’s most notorious haunted spots. Hosted by urban explorer and blogger Robert Joe (RJ), he tracks down true and untold stories behind these haunted sites. RJ’s hypothesis is that there’s always a real story, even more terrifying than the strangest fiction, waiting to be uncovered behind every haunted location and paranormal encounters. Acting as a detective, he uses modern technology and explores the places many fear to tread. The full list of ‘haunted’ sites explore by RJ are: the abandoned Tat Tak School in Hong Kong’s Ping Shan Village; Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan; an abandoned hospital at Clark Air Base in the Philippines; Gedung Lawang Sewu, a building complex in Semarang, Indonesia; the Green Island Prison in Lyudao Island, Taiwan; a mansion in Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea; the Temples of Ayutthaya in Thailand; Con Dao Island in Vietnam; and an old Portugese colonial outpost on Diu Island also known as “Isle of Ghosts”, India. Catch this exclusive feature of Penang War Museum on 23 August 2013 at 10pm on the National Geographic Channel (Astro Channel 553). For more information on the programme, visithttp://natgeotv.com/asia/iwgit.  The Penang State Tourism is also planning to organise a Halloween Celebration at the Penang War Museum on 31 October this year. The public are invited to join in the fun. The organising committee also welcomes any contribution of ideas to add fun and excitement to the event.

Popularity rise in George Town’s Boutique Hotels

Popularity rise in George Town’s Boutique Hotels

Written by Administrator II

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 05:45

The boutique hotel is now increasingly becoming a preferred choice of accommodation among tourists who come to George Town. From quirky little lodges to sophisticated private townhouses, George Town has it all. If you want to treat yourself to a little luxury retreat but prefer it slightly more low key, cosy and with a little charm thrown in, then you might want to check out these latest additions to the already unique collection of boutique hotels in and around George Town. Eight Rooms at Macalister Mansion promises pure luxury and comfort, and is situated on the upper floors of the self-contained colonial mansion. Each room is individually designed with its own unique art piece, nespresso machine, quality amenities and an adjoining glass bathroom suite. The food and beverage outlets sit on the lower floor of the mansion are branded as distinct rooms found in a mansion such as the Dining Room, Living Room, The Den, The Cellar and The Lawn.http://www.macalistermansion.com/eightrooms.html Romantic, Beautiful and Timeless are the three words that are used to describe Seven Terraces, a newly opened boutique hotel of 18 suites. A row of seven Anglo Chinese town houses were restored and converted into this elegant retreat with a fusion of Straits Chinese and modern design. Just a few minutes’ walk away is the ‘Street of Harmony’ on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, a stretch that houses the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mahamariamman Indian temple and the Cathedral of Assumption. http://www.seventerraces.com/ 23 Love Lane is a heritage boutique hotel set within a private walled garden and behind a beautifully restored Chinese Gate. The 10-room hotel is situated in the heart of George Town, a UNESCO heritage city. The hotel is divided into four heritage themes: the Anglo Indian Bungalow, the Straits Eclectic Building, the 1920s Jack Roof Annex and the Indian Shop House.http://www.23lovelane.com/ For a more nature friendly retreat, the Fig Tree Hill Resort is perfect especially to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Accessible through a 30 minute drive from George Town, the resort is nestled among the hills of Sungai Ara, overlooking a lush rainforest. It contains five villas of Thai and Balinese design and named after local tropical flowers; the Melor, Cempaka, Jasmine and Kemboja. Each villa houses a living room, dining room, private deck and can take up to five guests. For more information, contact 04-2642929.

Launching of New Book on Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee

Launching of New Book on Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee

Written by Administrator II

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 05:40

Date: 17 August 2013 Time: 5pmVenue: Pinang Peranakan Mansion A Penang-based architect specializing in heritage conservation, Tan Yeow Wooi has recently released his new book called Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee’s Shen Zhi Jia Shu and Hai Ji Zhan (Majestic Hall, Prestigious Mansion)and will be launching it in the Pinang Peranakan Mansion later this week. This beautifully illustrated book offers a unique insight into Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee’s life and how it found expression in the splendour of his architectural creations. Chung was one of the most remarkable personalities of nineteenth century Penang and Malaya. He was a millionaire philanthropist, tin mining pioneer, political leader, founder of Taiping and had left an indelible contribution to Penang’s cultural heritage. He commissioned two adjacent buildings, the magnificent ancestral hall Shen Zhi Jia Shu and the prestigious family mansion Hai Ji Zhan, that stand today as a lasting testimony to another age. Built at the end of the 19th century, the building served as his office and residence. Now called the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the restored buildings serve as a museum to offer a glimpse of the lifestyle and culture of the Peranakans or Straits Chinese.  Trained in Taiwan, Tan Yeow Wooi is a Penang-based architect specialising in heritage conservation. He has undertaken extensive research on traditional Chinese culture and architecture throughout Southeast Asia. He is the author of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi: The History and Architecture (2003). He has had solo photography exhibitions. Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee’s Shen Zhi Jia Shu and Hai Ji Zhan is on sale at arecabooks.com http://www.arecabooks.com/?product=kapitan-chung-keng-kwees-shen-zhi-jia-shu-and-hai-ji-zhan

Don't Panic! by Time Out Penang

Written by Administrator II

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 05:33

Guides are fun to read while you are chilling by the hotel pool, but to carry them around as you explore the city can be quite cumbersome. Worry not, Time Out Penang gives you the best of both worlds! Time Out Penang 2013/2014 is an A4, 150+ page glossy magazine-guide with an app and an online edition, presenting a typically comprehensive, honest and trustworthy account of Penang’s travel hotspots for the high-end tourists, business travellers, expatriates, and huge affluent local readership who enjoy and act upon what they are told by Time Out, whose motto is ‘Know More. Do More.” Get your copies from any major newsstands in Penang or click here to download the freeiPhone app and/ or buy the digital edition. The digital edition is available on all Apple and Android devices. You can also connect with Time Out Penang’s dynamic website and vibrant Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TimeOutPenang and Twitter https://twitter.com/timeoutpenang presence. The website features content from the guide, listings, local interest stories and up to date information on events and happenings around Penang.