BALIK PULAU, PENANG

Balik Pulau is located in Penang and it is called as the Balik Pulau as in Malay, Balik Pulau means "the other side of the island". According to the Chinese, they call Balik Pulau as "the island behind the hills". The Balik Pulau is bordered by a long coastline on the western side and protected by high hills on three other sides. The Balik Pulau is a self-sufficient agricultural district situated in the Southwest of Penang Island. Balik Pulau is famous with durian, nutmeg, clove, coconut, and fruit orchard. Same as other district and state, Balik Pulau also have its early settlers. There are stories telling that during the early political, refugees from Thailand, the northern Malay states, and Indonesia emigrated to Balik Pulau in the 1800s and settled down in scattered villages on hillsides and river mouths. 

 

During that time, they fished, farmed the land and planted paddy, fruit, sugarcane, and coffee. The earlier settlers to Balik Pulau are thought to be the refugees that are escaping from the protracted wars involving Siam on 1786 and 1821. There are also refugees including Hakka, Chinese, and Phuket, Malays from the southern Thai provimces and Kedah are said to have fled southwards to Penang Island, some of them landing on the shores of Balik Pulau. In the early 1800s, the Chinese and Tamil labor was brought in to work on the rubber and coconut plantations and they stayed behind and took up residency in Balik Pulau. 

 

A later wave of migration to Balik Pulau occurred when the Japanese advanced into Georgetown in 1941 where Chinese residents from Georgetown fled to Balik Pulau in fear of the impending war and in fear of being branded communist by the Japanese. Balik Pulau is a traditional village that has a harmony and calm environment. Balik Pulau is famous with its Durian as it is known as the best fruit sources in Penang. Take a round at Balik Pulau might be very fun by using bike where you are able to feel the calm environment and view the paddy field and fruit plantation and seeing the old traditional houses at Balik Pulau.