WE first came to Penang 11 years ago and loved it. Penang was “just right” for us. It had everything for a restful holiday: greenery, beach and quiet. Every year, we came back to Tanjung Bungah for three months.

Every day we enjoyed watching the sunrise from our balcony. But after a few years the green hills started showing big holes and the first skyscrapers appeared. Then more towers came up along the beach and since last year no more sunrise from our balcony. Gone forever. Just ugly

towers, right next to our hotel and close to the beach.

Penang’s skyline is now almost like Hongkong or Singapore. We wouldn’t ever go to such city-states for a holiday. Now that Penang has lost most of its attractions, we decided that we have to start looking elsewhere for greenery and clean beaches. Next year, we’ll go to Thailand.

There are many tourists like us who will not come back. “Development” has killed the goose with the golden eggs.

Henk Hagenzieker
Elly van der Meijden
Zoeterwoude
Netherlands

Source: The Sun – March 17, 2010