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I stay at Muntri Mews hotel for this coming night
After a 30 mn never ending trip in a lift (stopped between the 22th and the 21th floors of my hotel in KL), a 4h bus trip from KL to Penang (Nice Bus, 74 RM), + a 20mn taxi ride (30RM, mahal lah!) from the Nice bus stop to the 77 Muntri street in George Town, I reached Muntri Mews.
Friendly welcome by the Muntri Mews staff, with a glass of fresh water and a pot of hot chinese tea. Lovely and spacious room with a fusion retro-stylish decoration.
Then I learned 2 new words : Mew and Flashpacker.
What’s a flashpacker?
Here is the answer of the “chic hotel” Ryokan opposite Muntri Mews
” If you travel with your iPod, digital camera and laptop, you have officially placed yourself in the category of what we call flashpackers. If you are traveling on a budget, but you are looking for something a bit more upmarket and luxurious and as affordable as a hostel, you’re also a flashpacker.”
Both Ryokan and Muntri Mews target the flaspackers, but in different budget categories.
What are mews?
It was a place where you store the horse carriages.
“Muntri Mews” was formerly the stables and carriageworks of the street’s grandest terraces. Carriages were kept below while drivers and staff were housed above in 12 worker’s quarters. Read the rest of this entry »
WHAT?
Bicycle trail map creation with the Balik Pulau young cyclists from “Mountain & Village Crewz Balik Pulau”
The map will highlight the significant local attractions in cultural and heritage assets such as scenery, farm, cottage industries, food, which are only accessible by bicycle.
WHEN? June – August 2009 , Weekends ( depends on the schedule within the team which will be set later )
First cycling meeting 6 and 7 June ( Sat and Sun ) 8am -12 noon
WHERE? Balik Pulau and neighbouring villages in Penang
WHO?
Anyone who is interested in cycling in nature site and would like to share he/she knows through documentation to others
What criteria do I need to be part of the team? ?
Have your own transport to go to Balik Pulau and a bicycle to move around also you who like to share and work with young people
Call yoke pin at (+60) 4 -2633471 / +(60) 12- 3619113
or email arts_ed_penang@yahoo.com
See Art-Ed WEBSITE for more info
When asked 15 years ago about conservation efforts of historic Georgetown , Salma Khoo, director of Areca Books – a heritage and historical books publisher based in Penang – would answer, “What really matters to Penangites is food; they simply take their heritage for granted”.
In July 2008, international recognition was given to Penang when George Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site; completely transforming local perception. Melaka (Malacca) and George Town (GT) are jointly inscribed on the list as “The Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca [where] the influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Both towns bear testimony to a living multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, where the many religions and cultures met and coexisted”.
This recognition is an essential milestone for the handful of Penangites who have strived for years for the preservation of the tangible and intangible heritage of GT. Read the rest of this entry »
Take a stroll through the heart of George Town and immerse yourself in the Asian cultural blend
The “Street of Harmony”, a one-kilometer trail designed by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT, Heritage guides of Penang) is a good place to begin to experience the religious and cultural coexistence of Georgetown.
You can follow the trail on your own with the very clear and informative map (World Heritage Site Map of George Town) published in October 08 by Areca Books, or ask for a guided tour at the PHT office (about 50RM/hour).
The trails leads you through narrow streets framed by buildings representing the major world religions – Mosques, Hindu, Taoist and Buddhist temples, Anglican and Catholic churches – and rows of old shop-houses. It also takes you through the different communities and trade quarters, some still existing and alive like Little India; or those immortalised through streets plaques: Armenian street, Chulia street, Aceh street… Two other self guided heritage trails are available; the Historic Enclave walk and the Colonial Heritage walk. Check at the PHT office or on their website for the guided tours available. Read the rest of this entry »
Meet local artisans and craftspersons and support Georgetown’s intangible cultural heritage
One of my children’s favourite activities when we visit Asian cities is to watch artisans in their workshops. Most of the time we observe – after asking permission – and then we discuss the craft at hand with the craftsperson. We can easily spend one hour in a workshop. In George Town it is even possible to return home with an illustrated brochure to remind us of the craft process and the story of the craftsperson. These brochures have been designed and illustrated by some of GT’s students involved in the Anak-Anak Kota (children of the city) project undertaken by Arts-Ed in collaboration with Penang Heraitage Trust (PHT). These traditional trades – joss stick maker, signboard engraver, beaded shoes cobbler, goldsmith – are also located on the World Heritage Site Map of Georgetown (Areca book publisher).
Responsible Tourism and Travel in Malaysia 