A very well-kept secret jungle trail
5 min read
The National Park at Teluk Bahang is a favourite of Penang hikers and tourists alike. Its well-trodden track to Monkey Beach and the lighthouse at Muka Head can...
November 2026
Penang Monthly | November 2026 is out now. This month, we journey through Penang’s South Asian links—from the enduring energy of George Town’s Little India to the remarkable restoration of Wadda Gurdwara Sahib. Discover stories of Punjabi cha, Ganesha at the threshold, traditional trades, migration, literature, art and the people keeping living heritage alive across Penang. Because heritage is more than buildings and archives—it is found in the languages we speak, the food we share, the work we do and the memories we carry.
An avant-garde hotel for Pulau Tikus
4 min read
Michael Hanratty.Situated along the bustling Jalan Kelawai, in the heart of Pulau Tikus, is a futuristically designed building called G Hotel Kelawai. Uni...
Putting Pulau Tikus on the Map
15 min read
Affluent. Cosmopolitan. Convenient. These are words that are often used to describe Pulau Tikus, a township in Penang that is pretty much located in the middle of everything. It connects the north of the island to the centre and the south.
A heritage trail of nostalgia (and food)
4 min read
Growing up in one place and walking past the same things every day, you tend not to notice the beauty and uniqueness that are there right in front of you. And s...
A tribute to Marco Giovanni Battistotti (1966-2015)
3 min read
Marco was without doubt a “hotelier extraordinaire”. His achievements throughout Malaysia make an impressive list. However, it is here in Penang where he will, for many of us, always remain the “face” of G Hotel on Persiaran Gurney.
Highlights of George Town Festival 2015
11 min read
The Metamorphosis, Android VersionIn France sometime in the near future, as war rages in the background, Gregor wakes up one morning to find that he...
Living Hyphenated
6 min read
Penang Monthly talked to Omar Musa when he was in town for a two-month artist’s residency at Hotel Penaga to chat about identity, belonging and Russell Crowe.
Stories from some young Malay minds
4 min read
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, and in the case of Young and Malay: Growing up in Multicultural Malaysia, I couldn’t agree more. The spunk...
Malaysia’s troubled state
5 min read
Malaysia is currently in crisis. The ringgit seems to be on an inexorable downhill slide, ethnic tensions have deteriorated from uncomfortable simmer to open fl...
Medical tourism: A billion-ringgit industry for Penang
6 min read
Medical tourism, or health tourism, is defined as the travel of people to a foreign country for medical treatment. In an estimation by Nikkei Asia, the worldwid...
Putting them up for the night
5 min read
The record drop in the value of the ringgit is making Malaysia a cheaper destination for foreign tourists. Furthermore, it is encouraging Malaysians to have the...
Welcome to Penang
2 min read
2017-03-22The top three countries of origin of international visitors to Penang were Indonesia, Singapore and China. These three countries made up almost 71% of...
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