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WhyPenang?A BRIEF INTRODUCTIONto the Pearl of the Orient

WHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myPenang’s bustling streets still retain an old-world charm, and offer tourists rides on a traditional trishaw.IntroductionPenang, often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, has drawn manyto its sandy white shores.Known for its pristine beaches, rich historyand melting-pot of cultures, the smallisland has long been a crowd favourite withtourists, locals, and expatriates alike. Inrecent years, Penang has been recognisedas the sixth ‘Best Place to Retire Abroad in2016’ by CNN Money, and earned a place inthe ‘Top 10 Places to Retire in the World’ ina list by American travel magazine, CondeNast Traveler, as well as received praisefrom several international publications suchas the Lonely Planet and Huffington Post.ECA International ranked George Town asMalaysia’s most liveable city, and the eighthmost liveable city in Asia.Founded in 1786, Penang was first known asthe Prince of Wales Island. The island wasamong the first British possessions in theSouth-East Asia region, and has long kept itsassociation with the United Kingdom. In 1957,Queen Elizabeth II declared George Town a city,and is one of the oldest cities in the country,with decades of rich and colourful history.Penang remains one of the most visited statesin the country due to its unique character.The clan jetties, set alongside the serene ocean, are part of the Penang Heritage Trail.

WHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myWHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myEducationPenang has had a well established reputation as an education hub,with approximately 271 primary schools and 125 secondary schoolson the island.The very first English-medium school inSoutheast Asia was built in Penang in 1816,along with several historical Chinese schoolsthat are among the oldest in the nation. Threeof the oldest and most established schools inMalaysia – Penang Free School, St. Xaviers’Institution and Convent Light Street – are allon the island, and continue excelling in bothacademics and co-curricular activities. TheChinese schools are also very well developedand have historically attracted students fromChinese communities in Thailand and Indonesia.Among the dozens of national schools, thereare a number of international schools, amongstof which POWIIS is rapidly establishing adistinctive and significant reputation.There are also several tertiary educationoptions, with three universities, threePrince of Wales Island International Schoolpolytechnics, and a wide array ofprivate colleges.Touted as the ideal place for students,many have chosen to enroll in schools andeducational institutions within the island city.As it is not congested and over-developed,they have embraced the island lifestyle withopen arms and prefer this over large cities.The environment is also suitable for studentsas there are not many distractions, and theattractions are mostly educational in a sense.As an education hub, the safety of the residentsis well-prioritised. The island has volunteercorps to ensure the safety in neighbourhoodsand around town, as well as volunteer patrolteams. The police also regularly does bicyclepatrols, whilst events and celebrations arealways assisted by volunteer corps.HealthcareMalaysia’s healthcare is known to be amongst the best in the world.Expatriates and locals alike enjoy the greatheath care at low costs, and there are severalpublic and private medical institutions. Thehospitals have highly trained doctors and offervery affordable care.In Malaysia, medical tourism is booming.George Town and Kuala Lumpur are the maintwo medical centers in Malaysia, with bothcities serviced by a multitude of internationalairlines from around the world. With someof the best-trained doctors in Asia, most arefluent in English and have trained abroad,with the United States, Australia, and theUnited Kingdom being popular choices tofurther their medical education. Additionally,numerous hospitals in Penang have beenawarded the prestigious Joint CommissionInternational (JCI) certification. At the moment,there are around 8 JCI-accredited hospitalsnationwide, and Malaysia is proud to beamongst Southeast Asia’s first recipients ofthe celebrated certificate.Penang houses several of the best treatmentcenters in the country. The hospitals hereare have generally had high ratings, andoffer a comprehensive range of healthcareservices. Hospitals in Penang have receivedplenty of compliments, as patients praise theprofessionalism, and the affordable costs.Penang has also been a favourite choice formany, as there is little to no waiting time whenone arrives. A simple registration process willsuffice, and it is an almost hassle free process.There are plenty of hospitals and clinics inPenang, which include: Penang Adventist HospitalPantai Hospital PenangGleneagles Penang Medical CenterLam Wah Ee HospitalIsland HospitalLoh Guan Lye Specialists CentreBalik Pulau HospitalPenang General HospitalTanjung Medical Centre

WHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myThe Arts &Performing ArtsNot only famed for its centuries of history and culinary delights, Penanghas also made its mark in the arts and performing arts.The annual Hungry Ghost festival is celebrated widely in Penang when performances are held to appease the spirits.Within George Town, visitors may notice unusualcaricatures made up of wrought iron prominentlydisplayed on the walls. Huge wall murals alsodecorate the already vibrant scene of the capitalcity, and depict local culture. Ernest Zacharevic, aLithuanian artist, chose Penang to create a seriesof six wall murals in 2012. Since then, there hasbeen encouraging response in the form of localtalent and foreign artists who were invited tocreate new murals. Today, the sites are throngedwith tourists standing next to the beautiful muralsfor photographs.The art pieces may be categorised into: Works by Ernest Zacharevic. 101 Lost Kittens – 12 cat-related streetartworks by Natthapon Muangkliang, LouiseLow and Tang Yeok Khang to raise awarenesstowards stray animals in Penang. Urban Exchange 2014 and 2015 – Anurban arts festival organized by Hin BusDepot and Urban Nation that invites bothlocal and foreign artists to contribute to thebustling art scene in Penang. Marking Georgetown – 52 wrought ironstructures are sprinkled throughout Georgetownand provide historical anecdotes depending onthe location the structures are displayed.Penang’s unique artistic scene is known for its life-sized murals and the depictions of everyday life on the island.The art pieces may be found at: Orange Zone: Lebuh Ah Quee Lebuh Pantai Lebuh Gat Chulia Red Zone: Lebuh Armenian Lorong SooHong Gat Lebuh Armenian Chew Jetty Yellow Zone: Lebuh Cannon Lorong Lumut Lorong Toh Aka Green Zone: Lebuh Stewart Jalan Muntri Jalan Penang Leith Street Lebuh ChuliaPerforming ArtsNot only famed for its centuries of history andculinary delights, Penang has also made its markin the performing arts.The ‘Chingay’ parade was started in 1919, tocelebrate the birthdays of Chinese deities.Penang’s version involves participants balancingflags on their hands or foreheads, and has goneon to become fairly well-known in and out ofthe country. The annual Hungry Ghost Festivalin Penang features Teochew and Hokkienvariations of Chinese opera to appease thespirits. Additionally, Malay opera was developedin Penang, with influences from the Indian,Western, Islamic, Chinese, and Indonesiancultures. The traditional Boria dance also has itsgrassroots in Penang.

WHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myWHY PENANGwww.powiis.edu.myCultureThe Kek Lok Si temple, a seven-storey architectural wonder, is the largest Buddhist templein Malaysia, and is an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from several Asian countries.As a melting pot of cultures, Penang’s locals are made of a mix ofChinese, Indian and Malay residents, alongside a significantly largecommunity of expatriates who work and live here.The expatriates range from countries such asSingapore, Japan, Australia, the United Statesof America, the United Kingdom as well asa host of other Asian countries. The islandcelebrates several festivities annually, including: Thaipusam is celebrated on a grand scaleevery year, with devotees travelling to BatuCaves by foot, attracting over one milliondevotees and thousands of tourists. The Georgetown Festival is a month-longcelebration to commemorate the city’sUNESCO World Heritage status and hostsperformances, exhibitions and more. The Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta bringsforth hordes of balloonists from Belgium, theUnited States, Netherlands and other countries. The Penang International Lion Dance on Stilts competition is also held annually, andinternational teams from China, Hong Kong,the Philippines, and Singapore congregatehere to compete.The Eurasia Fiesta for the Eurasiancommunity in Penang.Penang International Green Carnivalwhich aims to work towards a cleaner,greener Penang.Penang also has a yearly Bon Odori festivalfor the expatriate Japanese population.The Thai community in Penang celebrateSongkran annually.Other celebrations include Chinese New Year,Mid-Autumn Festival, Hungry Ghost Festival,Qing Ming, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari RayaHaji, Deepavali, Thai Ponggal, Vesak Day,Good Friday, Christmas, Vaisakhi, and Easter.The Thaipusam festival is celebrated annually in Penang, and commemorates the occasion when Parvatigave Murugan a Vel ‘spear’ so Murugan could defeat the evil demon, Soorapadman. Thaipusam marksthe day of Murugan’s birth, and features chariot processions, and offerings to the Gods.

WHY PENANG?www.powiis.edu.myRecreationalActivities & FoodThe island is also a favourite haunt for foodies, who flock toPenang in droves.Recreational ActivitiesFamilies enjoy living and visiting Penang. Forshopaholics, a quick visit to the island’s manymalls and Batu Ferringhi’s shopping street mayreveal hidden gems, whilst foodies congregateall over Penang. The island’s serene beachesand sandy shores call to the sun-lovers, whilethe more adventurous visitors prefer to hikethrough national parks and gardens. There isalways somewhere to go and something to doin Penang!FoodThe street food is particularly famous, havinggained mentions as having the best street foodin Asia by CNN, the Lonely Planet and Timemagazine. The food incorporates Malay, Chinese,Thai, European, Indian and Peranakan flavoursinto the dishes, and also truly embodies thePenang culture. It is common to see touristsand locals alike snacking on Penang’s ubiquitousstreet food whilst exploring George Town andother parts of the island.Penang’s beaches offer a wide variety of watersport and beach sport activitiesfor the thrill-seekers, such as parasailing, jet-skiing, and riding on beach buggies.An evening at Gurney Drive’s hawker centre, where tourists and locals alike enjoy Penang’s famous street food on the seafront.Jungle trekking and hiking are popular recreational activitieson the island. There are several jungle and adventure trailsthat allow a glimpse into the tropical rainforest.Alongside the ubiquitous street food, many concept cafeshave opened in George Town for patrons who want to spenda sunny afternoon enjoying a latte.

The Registrar: 604 868 9820 Telephone: 604 868 9999 Facsimile: 604 868 9900Address: 1 Jalan Sungai Air Putih 6, Bandar Baru Air Putih, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang, MalaysiaAdmissions Enquiries: admissions@powiis.edu.my www.powiis.edu.myMTT Learning Academy Sdn Bhd (733077-D) Prince of Wales Island International SchoolA Member of MTT Groupwww.mttgroup.com.my

Penang has also been a favourite choice for many, as there is little to no waiting time when one arrives. A simple registration process will suffice, and it is an almost hassle free process. There are plenty of hospitals and clinics in Penang, which include: Penang Adventist Hospital Pantai Hospital Penang Gleneagles Penang Medical .