Penang Island - Old Peaceful town through centuries of Colonial war and World Wars

In the late eighteens, Penang Island was handed over, by King Abdullah Mukarram Shah, to Capt. Francis Light in an effort to negotiate England's protection of the area against threatening forces from Thailand and Burma. Such negotiation was never achieved, and Kedah (former Malay) lost the island to Capt. Light and England Eastern India Trading Co. Under Capt. Light's reign, Penang was allowed free trade and soon became prosperous the following couple decades, being the capital of Straits Settlements by the English Colony, among Melaka and Singapore. Main trading products at the time were spice, peppers,Indian garments, tin, paddle and opium.

After WW2, Penang was handed back to Malay and later became a state of Malaysia. To this day, this island - state has fallen behind economically in light of more competitive labor markets from India and China. Nonetheless, Penang itself still remains a land of history and cultural diversity.

Anecdote: In order to give immigrants to reclaim this heavily forested land, Captain Francis Light ordered his man to fire cannons filled with golden coins aimed at the far end of the island. Unluckily, malaria has taken lives of most of the primary inhabitants, including Captain himself.

Let's follow Caoka Garage on a trip around the island enjoying good food, beautiful scenery and be amazed at the hospitality of the local people...

And maybe get a small tat too.