Guillemard Railway Bridge, kelantan

" This railway bridge which was built across the Kelantan River in Kursial in the 1920s was once strategically destroyed by the British Armed Forces." 

Guillemard Bridge was officially opened by HRH Sultan Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Muhammad IV in 1925. The bridge was named after the British Governor and High Commissioner for the Straits Settlement at that time,  Sir Laurence Guillemard. Construction works for this railway bridge began in 1920 and was completed in July 1924. 

In December 1941, in order to prevent the advancement of the Japanese army, this bridge, which then supported both trains as well as road vehicles, was deliberately destroyed by the British Armed Forces, who later retreated south to Kuala Krai. But the ruined bridge was later reconstructed, and opened again for traffic on September 7, 1948.

Today, this railway bridge is used only for trains, and makes up part of the 'jungle railway' line that runs from Tumpat in the north, to Gemas in the south (in Negeri Sembilan).

George Town, Penang

" Penang's George Town is one of the most charming historical towns in Malaysia, filled with historical sites and a unique mix of different cultures living in perfect harmony."

Introduction
In the northeastern corner of Pulau Pinang (Penang Island), lay the city of George Town, the commercial and administrative centre for Penang Island. This city buzzes with a unique energy whilst successfully retaining a charming small-town feel to it. This is particularly true in the older areas of the town in and around Little India and Chinatown. Old shophouses, lovingly restored, grace the narrow roads reminiscent of the colonial era, with names like Lebuh Buckingham, Lebuh Carnarvon and Lebuh Bishop. The multi-racial mix that is the essence of George Town is also apparent in its street names – Lorong Madras, Lebuh Acheh, Lebuh Melayu, Lebuh Ah Quee, Lorong Ceti and Jalan Burma. If you know where to look, you'll see beautiful Chinese mansions, Indian temples, colonial buildings and Achenese mosques.

Penang is the only island state in Malaysia (Labuan Island, off the coast of Sabah in East Malaysia, is a Federal Territory rather than a state). And the highest point on Penang Island,Bukit Bendera (also known as Penang Hill), stands at 821m above sea level and is accessible from George Town through Jalan Air Itam. From the top of Bukit Bendera, one will have an excellent view of George Town, the Penang Bridge as well as the mainland Peninsula.

The best way to get a quick tour of George Town is with a trishaw ride around town – best done early in the morning when the sun isn't too hot! George Town is one of the few places in Malaysia where trishaw rides are still available for you to tryout.

Penang George Town

History
In many ways, Georgetown is the place where the history of modern Penang began. It was here that the British colonials established it's foothold in (then) Malaya, after they first landed on the shores of the present site of the Esplanade. George Town was named after King George III. Historical sites like Fort Cornwallis, was built circa 1786. In fact, George Town is one of three straits settlement in Malaya, the other two is Melaka and Singapura.

One of the best ways to get an insight on George Town's past is with the Penang Heritage Trailtour, which will reveal some of the most fascinating historical and cultural sites in George Town. Shipping and trading was the backbone of the economy in that era and the strategic location of Penang Island allowed Port Weld to thrive.

People 
The colourful mix of people with different ethnic backgrounds living in George Town owes partly to the colonial era when Penang was one of the premier trading posts in the region. The success of Port Weld attracted traders as well as fortune seekers from various parts of the region, including Indonesia, China, Persia, Burma and India who sought to make a new life here.

Today, George Town is practically a living museum where one can witness the various tradesmen at work - paper lantern makers, signboard engraver, bamboo blinds maker, traditional goldsmiths, songkok maker and many other trades. Alongside these traditional occupations, many of George Town's residents own private businesses, operating out of the many two-story shoplots scattered all around town. The food and beverage economy is quite big in Penang, as such, many of the locals in George Town run various stalls and cafes around town.

Food
If there's one thing that visitors to Penang will agree on, its the incredible variety of foods that can be found in George Town. And the best place to sample these different cuisines is at the hawker stalls found in Gurney Drive. This is where you'll find local favourites including the savoury pasembor, mouth-watering asam laksa Penang, chee cheong fun and char kuey teow. These dishes are simple and very affordable, ranging anywhere between RM3.00 to RM4.50 a plate. Another trademark dish that is popular in Penang is nasi kandar which can be found in one of the many Indian Muslim restaurants in George Town. 

Nearby Destinations & Attractions
 If you drive north along the coast, on Jalan Kelawei from George Town, you will find yourself passing through Tanjung Tokong, a beachfront stretch which comprises of a traditional Malay fishing village. This winding, though scenic drive along the coast will lead you to Jalan Tanjung Bungah, past the Toy Museum on the right, before joining Jalan Batu Ferringhi all the way up to the favourite destination for foreign visitors in Penang - Batu Ferringhi beach. If you drive south from George Town, along Jalan Jelutong, you will eventually reach the Penang Bridge.

Travel Advice 
George Town is a great place to do some shopping! But please remember, if you're buying goods from a street-side stall, do bargain for the best price! The street vendors are usually good-natured when it comes to bargaining and in George Town what matters most to them is that the customer goes home happy with their purchase.

Fort Cornwallis, Penang

" The fort was built on the site of Sir Francis Light's historic landing in 1786. Originally a wooden stockade, it was replaced with a stone and brick structure built by convict labour in 1804." 

Introduction
Fort Cornwallis - named after the Governor-General in Bengal, Charles Cornwallis – is  one of the most interesting historical landmarks in George Town, located close to the Esplanade, next to the Victoria Memorial Clock.

The fort's walls, roughly 10 feet high, are laid out in star-like formation. A stroll along the perimeters takes roughly 10 minutes.  Inside the fort, one can still see some of the original structures built over a century ago, including a chapel, prison cells, which were once used as barracks, a munitions storage area, a harbour light once used to signal incoming ships, the original flagstaff and several old bronze canons, one of which is a Dutch canon called the Seri Rambai, dated 1603. An interesting note about the Seri Rambai - some locals believe that this particular canon can have a positive effect on a woman's fertility. 

Today, this privately managed historical site is popular among visitors, equipped with a tourist information kiosk, cafe, an open-air amphitheatre, a history gallery, a souvenir centre as well as guides who can take you around the fort grounds and provide you with a glimpse of the fort's history.

Opening hours for Fort Cornwallis is from 8.30am to 6.30pm daily and the admission fees are RM3.00 for adults and RM2.00 for children below 12 years old.

The canon

History
One of the earliest structures in Pulau Pinang, Fort Cornwallis was erected in 1786, not long after he acquired Pulau Pinang for the East India Company, from the Sultan of Kedah. The site where the fort was built is actually the first place where Light disembarked from his ship in 1768. Fort Cornwallis was originally built of nibong palms, but was replaced in 1804 with a sturdier stone and brick  structure.

Although built for defense by design, throughout its existence, Fort Cornwallis served more as an administrative centre for the British, having survived without much threat of enemy attacks. Fort Cornwallis was once surrounded with a moat roughly 9m wide and 2m deep. Along the perimeters of the fort's wall, several canon bays were strategically placed overlooking the harbour in the north and the port activities along the eastern waterfront. In the 1920's due to a malaria outbreak in the area, the moat surrounding Fort Cornwallis was filled in.

The chapel located on the south-west corner of the fort is the first chapel ever built on Penangisland and was used by the British and Europeans living there. The first-ever recorded service, however was in 1799 when John Timmers wedded Martina Rozells, the widow of Francis Light.

Travel Advice
Fort Cornwallis offers the service of friendly and knowledgeable tour guides, dressed up in smart, red colonial soldier outfits, who can give you a quick and insightful tour of the fort grounds for a small fee. Without the aid of a guidebook or background knowledge of Fort Cornwallis' history, engaging these guides to take you around will be well worth the money!

Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

" Here is the place where the Malayan flag, at midnight on August 30, 1957, was hoisted for the first time in the country's history upon gaining independence from the British rule." 

Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) is appropriately named because it was at this place on August 30, 1957 at midnight, the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time in the country's history upon gaining independence from the British rule. The flag raising ceremony was held at the very spot where the 100-metre high flagpole now stands.

Underneath the flagpole area is Plaza Putra, an underground food, leisure and entertainment complex, as well as an underground parking bay. On the other end of the immaculately-turfed 8.2ha field lies a fountain area with elegant colonnades and colourful rows of zinnias and marigolds, a nice place to rest after a day's trip.

The beautiful view in Dataran Merdeka

Our Malaysia Flag

CHINA TOWN (PETALING STREET)

" Petaling Street or known as Chinatown among tourists is the centre of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown. The street is also affectionately known as PS among locals." 


Geographic Location
Petaling Street or known as Chinatown among tourists is the centre of Kuala Lumpur's original Chinatown. The street is also affectionately known as PS among locals. It is located at the Southeast of Central Market, bounded by Jalan Bandar, Jalan Petaling and Jalan Sultan.

Unique Features
To experience Petaling Street (Chinatown), you should go at night! It's a place that never sleeps. The jostling crowd and noise are part of the fun of visiting Petaling Street. Without these, it just wouldn't be right.

The street has actually been given a facelift. Gone are the uneven roads and broken pavements and the huge colourful umbrellas that protect the goods sold from wooden pushcarts. Petaling Street is now sheltered, with two large Chinese arches placed at both ends of the street to welcome visitors.

Petaling Street is a bustling market serving as a bargain hunter's paradise and one of the premier shopping areas in the city, which is distinct in oriental atmosphere.

It is famous for its makeshift bazaars or stalls; selling "very reasonably" priced goods like wallets, handbags, t-shirts, watches, shoes as well as dresses, sunglasses, shoes, fabrics and souvenirs. Petaling Street is also known for its jewellery shops with their fascinating variety of fine jewellery items beautifully crafted in gold and set with priceless gemstones.

Sunset at petaling street

Historical Background
The original Chinese Town centred on Market Square. As the population grew, expansion was constrained by swamps, hills and the river. High Street, now known as Jalan Tun HS Lee, became increasingly popular, as it was higher than the rest of the town and therefore less prone to floods.

Kuala Lumpur was a typical "pioneer" town at the turn of the century, filled with a rough and tough population that was largely male. For entertainment, there was Chinese wayang (opera) or bangsawan (Malay theatre).

The Chinese leaders provided for the community through associations, benevolent societies, temples and foundations. The wealthier and more ornate shophouses were built north of Jalan Cheng Lock, closer to the business centre.

                                                Many tourist comes in petaling street

Food

You are in food haven! Chinese food haven to be exact. There are many restaurants with a lot of delicious choices. Some of the restaurants here have been operating for generations! Patrons would normally be given a menu complete with pictures giving them a good indication of how their meal will look like.
The Hokkien Noodles at the corner of Hong Leong Bank is quite popular judging from the long queues of people waiting to place their order. Don't be disheartened. It is really worth the wait. Look out for Yook Woo Hin restaurant on Petaling Street. It is one the longest surviving family-run food places in KL.
Petaling Street is still a worthwhile place to visit for the food. If you wander into the side lanes, you will still be able to glimpse the old Chinatown, from the lane that sells funeral wreaths to the almost hidden wet market selling live poultry, seafood, and fresh vegetables.

One of the restaurant in Petaling Street

Historical View of the restaurant

Travel Advice
Bargaining here is an absolute must. Bargain hard! It's the ideal place to test your bargaining skills. Even in daytime you have great bargains. Petaling Street is not open for the traffic. It is a great place for locals to get some goods at bargain prices and certainly an eye-opening experience for tourists.

HISTORICAL SITES :CAPE RACHADO LIGHTHOUSE NEGERI SEMBILAN

" Cape Rachado Lighthouse or Rumah Api Tanjung Tuan is the country's oldest lighthouse, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century." 

The Lighthouse

If you happen to be in Cape Rachado (also known as Tanjung Tuan), take a short trek uphill from the beach, and you will find a classic, whitewashed lighthouse built on top of a fort-like foundation structure.

Believed to have been built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the lighthouse still holds vigil today. But the lighthouse is no longer just a vantage point to view trade or enemy ships sailing close to the coast. It now houses a revolving MEASAT Radar used for transmissions and communications.

To get to the top of the lighthouse, you must ascend a beautiful but narrow, spiral staircase with 72 steps. A stone staircase behind the lighthouse also makes access to the lighthouse easier. Once on top, you can enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree view of the coastline as well as the woodlands of the mainland.

Less than 40km away across the Straits of Melaka lies Sumatera. So on a clear day, you will be able to see the outline of the Sumatran coast in the distance, from the top of the lighthouse. Cape Rachado is also a strategic place for birdwatching, especially during the annual migration season which takes place roughly around September through October and March through April. Permit to enter the lighthouse can be acquired from the Harbour Master's Office in Melaka. 

In the past, Cape Rachado was renowned for its lighthouse on, but today, the site is a conservation area for migrating birds.

Cape Rachado is well known as a popular stopover point for migrating raptors especially honey buzzards. Other birds that stop here during their annual winter migration include swifts, hawks, and eagles, which can be spotted between September and March every year.

There is also a spot here where the legendary Malay warrior of the Malacca Sultanate, Hang Tuah, was supposed to have set foot.

The Building





view from the top 

HISTORICAL SITES : BUKIT PUTERI, KUALA TERENGGANU

" At the height of 200m above the ground, this hill on Jalan Kota gives a good view of the town." 

The fortress

View from Bulit Puteri

At the height of 200-m high above the ground, the historical Bukit Puteri is situated next to Istana Maziah; in fact, one can actually have quite an up-close and personal view of the Palace. Formerly a defense fortress built between 1831 and 1876 to defend the lands from enemy attack, Bukit Puteri also gives a great view of the Kuala Terengganu town.

What remains whole until now include a large brass bell known as ‘genta’, which struck and chimed different tone as a message like the breaking of fast during Ramadan to the surrounding townfolks, a family of canons, flagpole, a lighthouse, cemetery and a fort.

Visitors to this highest point in Kuala Terengganu will understand the significance of this stronghold in the past when they see the areas surrounding it.

There’s also a row of small shops selling local handicrafts and trinkets in Bukit Puteri – after the tiring climb, one can certainly feast their eyes on the many things sold there.