GEORGETOWN,the oldest British Straits settlement in Malaysia, has a wealth of accomodation options. Located on Pulau Penang, Georgetown is a must-see on the Lonely Planet circuit between Thailand, Cameron Highlands and Kuala Lumpur.
The Sarkies Brothers helped make Georgetown infamous. They would go on to build the legendary Raffles Hotel in Singapore and The Strand in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma (now Myanmar). Tigram and Martin Sarkie built the Eastern Hotel in 1884 no the seafront at the end of Jl Penang St. A year later they expanded the hotel and renamed the colonial grand hotel The Eastern and Orient. They advertised their hotel as "The Premier Hotel East of the Suez".
For many years the E&O existed as ground zero for social affairs in Northern Malaysia. Arshak Sarkie was a famous socialite - ushering in colonial officials, wealthy plantation owners and famous writers to the hotel. He is remembered fondly for dancing in the grand E&O ballroom with a whisky-soda on his head.
A tiffin lunch at Sarkie's corner in the E&O is where Penang's mondain can be seen during the week from 12-2pm. At 4pm, High Tea is served to a discerning coterie.
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