Phase 1 Briefing and News

ITQ Online Journals

Briefing Materials

• BM 1-7: Phase-1 Learning Activities (Feb. 4 - Mar. 3, 2002)
• BM 1-6: NEW DATES of ITQ-4 Workshop (issued on November 28, 2001)
• BM 1-5: POSTPONEMENT of Phase-2/ITQ-4 Workshop (issued on September 25, 2001)
• BM 1-4: Getting To Know Your Peers
• BM 1-3: Administrative Arrangements and Pre-Departure Information
• BM 1-2: Important Things to Do Before Departing for Penang
• BM 1-1: Welcome to Phase-1 Workshop Activities

Administrative Arrangements and
Pre-Departure Information

• Venue Information
• Contact Persons & Addresses
  (University Science Malaysia)
• Workshop Travel Arrangements
• Workshop Accommodations
• Other Relevant Information
• Useful Telephone Numbers
• Things to See and Do in Penang
• About Penang and Malaysia
  Additional Web links to:
  • Maps and geographical information
  • Climate and local weather forecasts
  • Cultural information and etiquette
  • Local foods and restaurant guides
  • Tourists sites and more!

Workshop Details

Venue

The 4th Trainers' Workshop on "Improving Training Quality (ITQ-4) through Interactive Learning Technologies and Distance Mentoring" for Phase-2 will be held at Shangri-La's Golden Sands Resort in Penang, Malaysia, from March 4-20, 2002. You may use the following address as your contact for the duration of the workshop:

(Your Name)
c/o 4th Trainers' Workshop on
"Improving Training Quality (ITQ-4) through
Interactive Learning Technologies and Distance Mentoring"
Shangri-La's Golden Sands Resort
Batu Feringgi Beach
Penang11100, MALAYSIA
Tel: (60-4) 881 1911
Fax: (60-4) 881 1880
E-mail: gsh@shangri-la.com

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Contact Persons

University Science Malaysia (USM)

Dr. Ramli MOHAMED
Professor
School of Communication
University Science Malaysia (USM)
Penang 11800, MALAYSIA
Phone: (60-4) 860-4105 (o); (60-4) 657-5050 (h)
Fax: (60-4) 657-7736
E-mail: ramli@usm.my

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Travel Arrangements

Arrival and Departure

Kindly inform the contact person at University Science Malaysia (USM) of your flight arrival/departure details including flight number, date and time of arrival/departure so that arrangements for airport transfers can be made. Accommodation is available to participants from March 3-20, 2002. Please advise us if you wish to arrive earlier than March 3, 2002 or stay at the hotel after March 20, 2002.

Passport/Travel Documents and Visa Requirements

Foreign visitors to Malaysia must be in possession of valid passport/travel documents with a minimum validity of six months beyond the period of intended stay. All in-bound flights to Malaysia will provide visitors with a Disembarkation Card and a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF). TDF must be filled when you arrive and depart regardless of the amount of currency carried. Both forms are to be handed over to the Immigration Officer at the point of entry.

Please check your visa requirements with the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate (if available in your city/country) and/or contact Prof. Ramli Mohamed of the University Science Malaysia (USM), E-mail: ramli@usm.my

Health Regulations

No vaccination is required for cholera and smallpox. Visitors arriving from Yellow Fever Endemic Zones are required to present International Health Certificate showing Yellow Fever Vaccination. For more information on the Health Regulations, i.e., the countries in the Yellow Fever Endemic Zones, please contract the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate (if available in your city/country) and/or Prof. Ramli Mohamed, University Science Malaysia (USM), E-mail: ramli@usm.my

Airport Arrival Procedures

If you are arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), proceed to the Passenger Assistance Centre for onward flight to Penang (about 45 minutes flight time). Participants arriving at the Penang International Airport will have to pass through the following areas before meeting a USM representative at the lobby of the arrival hall.

• Immigration Counter
  Passports, Visas, Disembarkation Card and TDF are checked here and the respective documents noted and properly stamped.
• Baggage Claim Area
  Complimentary trolleys are available close to the Baggage Reclaim Area.
• Customs Area
  Please note that trafficking in illegal drugs carries the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.
• Lobby Area
  After clearing Customs, please proceed to the lobby area where you will be met by a USM representative who can be identified by a ITQ-4 placard. He/she will arrange for your transportation to the hotel. If for some reason, the flight is delayed or the USM representative cannot be located, you are advised to proceed to the taxi booth situated on the left of the Arrival Hall. Taxis at the Penang International Airport operate on a coupon system by which fares between the airport and various destinations are fixed. The fare for an air-conditioned taxi from the airport to Shangri-La's Golden Sands Resort is approximately US$ 8.00. You will be reimbursed by Dr. Ramli Mohamed for the transfer-in-charges upon presentation of the coupon.
• Currency and Banking
  It will be useful to have in hand some local currency when you arrive. The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is issued in notes from RM100 to RM2, and coins from RM1 to 1 sen (cents). The prevailing exchange rate between US dollar and Malaysian Ringgit is US$ 1.00 to RM3.80. As key entry/exit points, Kuala Lumpur and Penang Airports have currency exchange facilities. Major credit cards are accepted in cities and large towns. Banking hours are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 9:30 am to 11:30 am on Saturday. All commercial banks are authorised foreign exchange dealers, and licensed money changers are found in city centers and shopping complexes.

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Accomodations

Participants will be lodged in Shangri-La's Golden Sands Resort located on the northern coast of the island of Penang. The hotel brings together the elegance of the east, and the comforts of the west. 228 of the resort's 395 comfortable guestrooms and suites offer numerous amenities and a balcony to view the garden and sea.

Culinary pleasures are the "spice of life" at the Golden Sands. Italian, Continental and local cuisine are all available for a culinary evening by the sea.

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Other Relevant Information

Climate and Clothing

Malaysia has an equatorial climate with uniform temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 320 C during the day to 220 C during the night. Humidity is high and rainfall is common throughout the year. Light, comfortable clothing is ideal.

Electricity

Malaysian power supply is on a 240-volt, 50-cycle system.

Money Matters

• CNN daily currency converter

Registration

Registration will take place at the hotel lobby on Sunday, 3 March 2002, from 18:00 to 20:00.

Time

Standard Malaysian Time is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of United States Pacific Standard Time.

Tours/Cultural Orientation

A sight-seeing tour of Penang Island may be arranged. More information on this trip will be posted when it comes available.

Medical Insurance

The workshop organizers are not providing participants (including resource persons) with any insurance coverage. Thus, participants and resource persons should be responsible for their own insurance coverage (i.e., travel accidents, medical, etc.). It is strongly recommended that participants make their own medical insurance arrangements before traveling to Penang (and also later for Phase-4 to Bangkok). Participants should also bring their own personal medication used for minor sickness such as, cold, headaches, stomach indigestion, etc.

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Useful Numbers

Taxi Services

Car Rental

Airlines in Penang

Medical/Health Facilities

Others

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Things to See and Do in Penang

Georgetown and Immediate Outskirts

• KOMTAR (65-storey shopping/office complex) for a bird's eye view of Penang with a viewing gallery on the 58th floor)
• Acheen Street Mosque (seek permission to enter from mosque officials)
• Clan Jetties, Weld Quay (wooden houses on water front)
• Gurney Drive (food & sea-front)
• Cathedral of the Assumption, Lebuh Farquhar (Roman Catholic Church)
• Jubilee Clock Tower, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah (a 60 feet high tower, each foot representing one year of Queen Victoria's reign)
• St. George's Church, Lebuh Farquhar (1818, Anglican Church)
• Goddess of Mercy Temple (the oldest Chinese temple in Penang built in 1880)
• Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Kling Mosque, Dhammikarama Temple, Burma Lane, (Burmese Theravada temple)
• Penang Buddhist Association, Jl. Anson (for meditation/recitation of Buddha sutras)
• Sikh Gurdwara, Jalan Brick Kiln (Sikh temple)
• Little India, Georgetown (lively South Indian enclave)
• Nattukkotai Chettiar Temple, Waterfall Road (South Indian temple)
• Waterfall Hilltop Temple, Waterfall Road (Hindu temple complex)

Southeast

• Orchid & Hibiscus Garden & Reptile House, Bukit Jambul (rare orchids, hibiscus and reptiles, birds and a deer park in a lush green environment)
• Kampong Seronok, near Penang Airport (traditional Malay village)
• Teluk Bayu, Sungei Batu (cool tree-lined lake beside a beach)
• Penang Bridge (spanning 13.5 km, it is Asia's longest).

Air-Itam

• State Mosque, Jalan Air Itam (modern mosque capable of accommodating 5000 people)
• Temple of Bats (Bit Poh Tong in Hokkien), near bottom Penang Hill Railway Station (shrine to pay homage to the God of Prosperity)
• Air Itam Dam, Air Itam (popular with joggers)
• Village of Air Itam (superb street market in the mornings).

North

• Titi Kerawang, Teluk Bahang (freshwater pool)
• Recreation Park & Forest Museum
• Pinang Cultural Centre, Teluk Bahang (live performances & exhibition on local culture)
• Craft Batik Factory, Teluk Bahang (view intricate processes in batik manufacturing).

Mainland

• Penang Bird Park, Seberang Jaya (200 species of birds)
• St Anne's Catholic Church, Bukit Mertajam (French Gothic church)
• Mengkuang Dam, north of Bukit Mertajam (Penang's biggest dam & good for jogging)
• Bukit Mertajam Recreational Park, Bukit Mertajam (cool hill air and jungle tracks into the heart of the forest).

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About Penang and Malaysia

• Location
• History
• Climate and Clothing
• People and local etiquette
• Health and Safety
• Food and Drink
• Places to see
• Shopping
• Transportation
• Additional links

Location

• Map of Malaysia
• Map of Penang
• Geography

History

• Malaysian history (from Expedia)
• Brief history of Penang (from Asiatravel)
• More Penang history

Climate and Clothing

Malaysia has an equatorial climate with uniform temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 32 C during the day to 22 C during the night. Humidity is high and rainfall is common throughout the year. Light, comfortable clothing is ideal. It is advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.

• Four day weather forecast for Penang (from Yahoo)

People and local etiquette

• People of Malaysia (from Expedia)
• Etiquette and local customs (from Sino.net)

Health and safety

• Health and safety concerns (from Expedia)

Food and Drink

• Penang cuisine and restaurant recommendations
  (from Penang.insight - server occasionally unavailable)
• Description of Malaysian foods (from Expedia)
• Overview of cuisine in Penang

Places to See

• Penang attractions
  (from Penang.insight - server occasionally unavailable)
• Annual festivals in Penang
  (from Penang.insight - server occasionally unavailable)
• Places of interest in Penang (from Asiatravel)
• City sites in Georgetown (from Asiatravel)

Shopping

• Shopping in Penang (from Asiatravel)
• More shopping information

Transportation

• Local transportation alternatives (from Asiatravel)

Additional links

Check out the following online guides for Malaysia and Penang. Information from these guides was used in these pages.

• Expedia's Online Guide to Malaysia
• Penang information from Asiatravel
• Penang insight's local tourist guide
• Sino.net's Malaysian Travel Information
• Destination Malaysia - from the Lonely Planet

Official Malaysia Tourism Page

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Penang and Malaysia in Brief

History

PENANG, the Pearl of The Orient, is today the most culturally diverse East Asia holiday destination of choice. Established as a British trading outpost in 1786, Penang's rapid development as a trading port soon attracted settlers from throughout the region.

Today, Penang's historic capital, Georgetown, with a bustling population of more than 400,000, has the largest pool of heritage architecture of any town in the region.

Penang is essentially peopled by Asia's three major groups, the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Their cultural traditions flourish and their festivals continue to be celebrated. Combining the best of modern city conveniences and small town friendliness, Penang beaches, hill stations and old-world atmosphere transport its visitors to an exotic and gracious past - that is why 2 million visitors continue to visit the Penang Experience each year.

Geography

PENANG is one of the 13 states of Malaysia and is situated on the north-eastern coast of the peninsula.

It is bounded to the north and east by the State of Kedah, to the south by the State of Perak, and to the east by the Straits of Malacca and Sumatra (Indonesia).

Penang consists of the island of Penang (Pulau Pinang) and a coastal strip on the mainland called Province Wellesley (Seberang Prai).

The island covers an area of 285 sq. kilometres. Its shape resembles a swimming turtle, and it is approximately 24 km north to south and 14.5 km east to west. The island and the mainland are separated by a channel 3 km wide at the closest point and 13 km at the farthest. They are linked by the Penang Bridge and a 24-hour ferry service.

Restaurants

The endless variety of Penang food reflects the different cooking styles and tastes of its multi-racial population. There is a mouth-watering selection of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Nyonya (Straits Chinese) cuisine to sample, not to mention the irresistible local food from roadside hawker stalls.

Not to be missed hawker favourites are "Asam Laksa" (rice noodles in fish sauce), "Hokkien Mee/noodles", "Char Koay Teow" (fried flat noodles), and "Pasembor"(salad with peanut sauce).

Nyonya Cuisine includes "Mee Siam"(Thai noodles), "Otak Otak" (fish with spices steamed in fragrant banana leaves), "Kerabu" (salad), "Enche Kabin"(spicy fried chicken) and "Curry Kapitan" (chiken curry). The Nyonyas are also famous for their delicious cakes and desserts.

Heading the list of Indian food is "Nasi Kandar" of Indian Muslim origin. South Indian favourites include "Tosai" and "Idiapom" served with thick "Dhall" curry. Nothern Indian "Naan" bread with chicken "Tandoori" or chicken "Tikka" are also worth trying.

Chinese restaurants offer Cantonese, Szechuan, Hokkien, Teochew and Hainanese cuisine represented by foods such as "Dim Sum", rice porridge, chicken rice, a variety of noodles and the pungent diced chicken with dried chillies.

Malay food, typified by dishes such as "Sambal Tumis", "Masak Lemak", and "Sambal Belacan", are easily available. Another hot favourite is of course the local kebab, "Satay".

Shopping

Penang is a shopper's paradise, with hundreds of retail establishments located conveniently, in and around the city. The main shopping areas in Penang are concentrated in Penang Road, Campbell Street, Kapitan Kling Street, Chulia Street and Beach Street. Few places can compare with Penang for its variety of goods and reasonably cheap prices.

One of the biggest and most famous shopping complexes in the city is the Komplex Tun Abdul Razak or fondly known as KOMTAR. This 65-story complex offers some of the best shopping on the island. KOMTAR houses a labyrinth of boutiques, fast food outlets, restaurants, amusement arcades, and shops as well as two of the biggest department stores. On the 58th floor is the Tower Tourist Centre which allows visitors to have an aerial view of the whole city as well as cultural shows performed daily. A Duty Free shop on the 57th floor offers good shopping, and the souvenir centre is yet another place to get memorabilia of Penang.

There are also quite a number of newer and up-scale shopping plazas and boutiques located in the city center, and please ask the Workshop Secretariat for the exact locations.

Popular buys include pewter, cameras, hi-fi equipment, electrical appliances and a host of other items at reasonable prices.

Batik, the highly versatile fabric is available as individually designed pieces or as clothing, table-cloths, napkins, and furnishings. These may be purchased at factories in Telok Bahang and in souvenir shops at Batu Feringgi, specialist shops in Penang Road and most department stores and shopping complexes. Batik paintings can also be found in galleries in Penang Road, Leith Street and Batu Ferringi.

Room Rate:

The special, discounted room rate (as the hotel is one of the Workshop's sponsors) for ITQ-4 Participants will be US$ 45 per day.

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