Penang

Penang

By Bethany Whittington

Penang is a small island off the coast of Malaysia, and is therefore under Malaysian government. I must admit, this is not a country that I would have normally visited, and the reason I did go there was for my cousin's wedding, and I was a little hesitant to go there (mostly because there were cases of malaria and yellow fever found in the mosquitos that live there, and I am a walking mosquito magnet). But, having been there, I must say that it is quite a pleasant place to visit, even with having to wear 50 layers of mosquito-repellant because you're so terrified of contracting a disease, which luckily I did not.

The resort I stayed at was called the Golden Sands Resort, and it was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, when I visited there had been a sewerage leak into the ocean, therefore meaning we couldn't actually swim, which was slightly disappointing. But, the pools were perfectly okay to swim in, and they were lovely. The island itself is absolutely beautiful to visit, with magnificent forests and wildlife unique to Malaysia. Surrounding the resort were markets and an array of different restaurants, so if you're feeling adventurous I highly recommend visiting them for some great food and an interesting atmosphere.

The resort offers a large array of facilities, including a gym and tennis court. I found myself using the gym quite frequently (mostly because it was air conditioned), and it was great being able to run on the treadmill while looking out at the ocean and the lawns and pools of the resort. There is also a buffet breakfast served, and we mostly visited the restaurants outside for dinner.

The Golden Sands Resort

Things to keep in mind

• Like Malaysia, Penang is a country where Islam is its main religion. Because of this, bacon and pig-based products are not served in the hotel, as that is haram (not allowed). Instead of bacon, turkey bacon is served at the buffet, which I thought tasted just fine. However, there are surrounding restaurants that do serve pig products (i.e. bacon, pork, etc) if you so wish to visit them.
• Penang, like Malaysia, is a tropical country. That means a climate that is extremely hot and humid, so pack accordingly. I visited in the middle of summer, where it was extremely hot - especially while wearing formal clothes for the wedding. But, thats what the pools are there for, and you may find yourself refusing to get out!
• Like a number of countries surrounding Malyasia, it is highly recommended that you don't drink or brush your teeth with the tap water, as there is a chance the water could potentially be contaminated. It is completely fine to bathe in the water, but be cautious when using it for consumption. Free water is provided in bottles for you to use for drinking and brushing your teeth.
• As mentioned, mosquitos breed in large numbers in Penang because of the tropical climate. As such, its highly recommended to pack mosquito repellant, as the mosquitos are known to have yellow fever and malaria. There's no need to panic though, as with plenty of mosquito repellant you will be perfectly fine.