Stephanie Kee

Penang’s potential for plantation agriculture was obvious to its first settlers already soon after it was founded. It was hoped that cultivating crops for export to Europe would help cover administrative costs on the island.
Why was Penang the colonialists’ location of choice for expanding their agriculture enterprise and spice trade?

Surrounded by a quaint mix of 1980s terrace rows, mint bungalows and semi-detached houses, the unassuming Dhoby Ghaut village can be found at the confluence of Waterfall River and Air Itam River. The village, also known as “Vannan Thora Tedal”, was home to over a hundred traditional Indian laundry service operators in its heyday.
Today, only seven are left.

Move aside, hipster travelers – there’s another group of tourists bringing in millions for Penang. As many as 14 to 16 million people across the globe travel for medical reasons, be it for higher quality healthcare or affordability outside their countries of residence.

The job of a night soil worker has always been frowned upon by society, although they played an important role in the city’s sanitation development. This visionary Penang documentary film aims to dispel that taboo.

Seberang Perai has undergone much urbanisation over the last decade. This has led to concerns over land use: warehouses, industrial plants and housing have risen up in the municipality’s landscape, replacing its sprawling paddy fields.

Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest in Seberang Perai is an unassuming playground for birders searching for Penang’s winged wonders. Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the industrial city of Seberang Perai is the only remaining peat swamp forest in Penang.

If you are looking for a piece of the city’s colourful culture to bring home with you, head over to these locally-run art spaces by Penang creatives who are keeping the local arts scene alive.

Not only do Penangites have to deal with silly “Do you speak English?” type of questions from foreign tourists — they also get a slew of snarky comments and questions from out-of-towner friends and family.

Cat Beach Penang is the last resort for forgotten cats, as well as a place that teaches us to love our animals.

The George Town Festival 2017 picked up speed in the second week with more outdoor events that saw festival goers, both locals and international visitors, celebrate the arts.

Boey Chong Kee in George Town serves hearty Cantonese food accompanied with a trip down memory lane.

Packing can be a pain. When we prepare for a long journey, we have to select the things from our lives that we can fit into a suitcase. The same applies for the journey of life.

While many are carving out plans to initiate their own start-up or to earn their first million before the age of 25, many are also stumbling, trying to find their footing in this never-ending rat race.

Are you on a soul-searching journey? Here are three bold questions to ask yourself that will determine your next step forward.