The most famous hotel on Penang is
the Rasa Sayang. In 1985 it was pronounced to be "the best hotel in
the world" by the British Tourist Organizations. And we think it is! The
Rasa Sayang Resort has an excellent service and luxurious, traditional
Minangkabau-style guestrooms. All
with private balcony's.
When we came for the first time (1988), we were overwhelmed by such a
hospitality. When we lay down in the picturesque garden at the pool, they came
to you with cool towels for your hands or face. Another time they came to offer
you fresh fruit: pineapple, papaya, melon. The cool towels are disappeared, but
they are still offering you fresh fruit in the garden.
A new wing has been build (Garden Wing) with spacious luxury rooms. Also a
another swimming pool has been made, complemented with a slide from the three-storey
tree house. It offers all the tranquillity of a tropical paradise.
The Resort is nestled 15-acres of lush gardens, along the finest stretch of
the Batu Ferringhi Beach and just 20 minutes from Georgetown. There's a huge
selection of activities: you can play tennis on one of the three floodlit
courts, perfect your golf putt, and swim, sail or windsurf off the beach.
There are daily organized recreational and social activities, which include
jungle walks and golf putting sessions. At the health club, you can work out
on the latest equipment in the fully-equipped gymnasium or relax with a sauna,
jacuzzi or massage.
There are eight outlets for dining
of which the Japanese restaurant "Waka" is excellent. It
was pronounced to be one of the best restaurants in Malaysia several times.
After spending eleven years of our holidays, we are "houseguests".
This means, that we get a special treatment. We're invited for a special
"welcome home" cocktail
party, we get cake and beer on arrival. Sometimes they ask us for a day out.
To us: this resort has a special place in our hearts. It will forever
"the best hotel in the world".
Almost all the hotels in Penang can
arrange for day trips to a number of our nearby islands where snorkeling can be
done in crystal clear waters. The snorkeling equipment is provided especially on
the tours organized by Langkawi Coral which takes you to a beautiful coral
island called Pulau Payar. The sea off Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah is too
close to the merchant sea lanes and thus, not really suitable for swimming even
though the locals do that all the time. Penang is a very busy port and they pay
the price of progress. The presence of jellyfish in their waters (especially off
Batu Ferringhi & Tanjong Bungah) is "seasonal" but the problem is,
that no one can predict, when they will arrive and leave. Also these
"Portuguese men-of-war" (as jellyfish is often referred to) have
something in common with "Batu Ferringhi" which in Malaysian means
"Portuguese Rock".
