Penang

[anshjain97]

May 2010 was a boring month for us- I had holidays and we weren't going anywhere- but we went to Delhi in APril. We had to go to Chennai for my brother's US Student visa appointment, so we thought of extending it- which may have meant Pondicherry or Mahabalipuram (seaside town between Chennai and Pondicherry- mainly famous for temples) but I wanted to consider somewhere else- and hello, Penang! Only because of cheap tickets (around US$140/EUR 100 return per person- that's great!) from Chennai to Penang.

In fact, I thought Penang was a nice place to visit- but it had FAR more to see than I had initially thought. We spent 4 nights there- and I would've loved to stay 2 or 3 more.

May end was hot and humid though. Besides the weather, it was a lovely place.

Penang is basically Malaysia's smallest state- at around 1000 sq km. Its capital, Georgetown, lies in the eastern/north eastern corner.

GEORGETOWN
This is a small city home to great colonial architecture and Chinatown and Little India- Penang is primarily populated by ethnic Chinese.

Seaside is the Fort Cornwallis, established in 1786. There is a good view over the cannons of the seaside.

Also around, in this colonial district, are the Town Hall, City Hall (don't ask me which is which) and the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower.




With virtually every exhibit about Penang is the blissfully air conditioned Penang Museum. (no pic though)

Chinese-influenced buildings in Penang include the marvelous Khoo Kongsi (a clanhouse; this one is of the Khoo clan). This version is the less ostentatious one of the original, which caught fire the night it was completed (in 1901)... It is amazing, though.





One of the busiest temples in Georgetown is the Goddess of Mercy Temple.


Cover your nose as you enter!

On the western edge of Georgwtown is a group of 3 temples, one is the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, one is a Burmese temple and one a Thai temple.





Malaysia is famous for its chocolate, and Penang has an outlet of Chocolate Boutique and one of Cocoa Boutique. You get a round of tasting (free) in both and then you're entitled to buy some expensive ones, but they're of good chocolate. Many incorporate spices/passion fruit etc.

It doesn't end here. I'll post more later.

[bixaorellana]

Cannot wait to see more! You really got some fabulous pictures -- so much variety.

What are the pink smoldering sticks made from -- rolled paper? Surely they can't be pure incense, can they?

Also the rather alarmingly pink reclining Buddha -- is it very old, plaster maybe, or newish fiberglass? It's so shiny.

The Khoo Kongsi is marvelous. I would so love to visit that.

Is the clock tower meant to be seen from the sea?

[bjd]

What a mixture of cultures and religions! I too was wondering about the pink rolled sticks.

Were there a lot of tourists in general or were these pictures taken at the main tourist attractions of the city?

[Deleted]

Wonderful photographs, Ansh! I have missed out or going to Penang so many times when I have been in the area, both in KL or Singapore. At first I avoided it due to its reputation in a lot of guidebooks as a 'boring seaside resort' but I later realized that I needed to see it. Unfortunately, I have not yet managed to do so.

[htmb]

Wonderful photos, Ansh. I'm looking forward to seeing more!

[anshjain97]

Thanks guys!

Sorry, Bixa, I can;t answer any of your questions- but I doubt the clock tower was meant to be seen from the sea- in any case, Fort Cornwallis served that purpose. The sea isn't very far though- the Superstar Pisces (cruise) was docked then.

Bjd, these were touristy areas, but the day we visited the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, it was Buddha's birthday- so very busy with locals as well.

Cheers.

[anshjain97]

I've not been to Langkawi or any other Malaysian place famous for beaches- but at least compared to the ones in Thailand- Krabi and Phuket for instance- Penang isn't that great. I mean, no one will really come specifically to Penang for beaches. But, they're not too bad if you're here- we went to the most touristy one- on the northern edge of the island- called Batu Feringgi. There is a night market there.


Now, let's move our attention to the centre of this lush island. You may have gotten some idea from the flight while landing.


Of course, it's a mix of urbanisation and greenery. I never promised you a completely natural paradise, did I? The island has a population of a million or so, they need their housing.



In the centre of the island is the complex of Kek Lok Si Pagoda. The above pictures were taken from there.




You need to wade through loads of shops to reach where the above two pictures were taken from. Then you take a small funicular to the viewpoint, where there's a statue of the Goddess of Mercy.


I'll post more later. Yeah, there's more.

[Deleted]

The Kek Lok Si Pagoda complex looks like it has all of the kitschy elements that I love in such places -- very colourful and with a million little details so that you never can see them all.

[anshjain97]

Indeed, Kerouac. While the Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho, Bangkok really stands out, the ceiling's and the wall's decorations, plus the smaller Buddha statues scattered about, are meant to be seen too.

Here are more pictures from Kek Lok Si Pagoda.

[bixaorellana]

Oh boy ~~ there's more!

Super pictures, Ansh. I love the one of the rooftops and the colors in the pagoda complex are lovely.

Any idea of the size of the Goddess of Mercy statue? It looks enormous.

[anshjain97]

Had not much of a clue but wiki says 30 meters.

[htmb]

I'm enjoying your wonderful photos very much, Ansh.

[anshjain97]

Thanks.

Penang is an island of many elevations and the highest hill is called Penang Hill. It is supposed to ofer great views of Penang but of course, the day we visited was not clear. Up there is a mosque and a Hindu temple.



There is a tram connecting the hill to the bottom which wasn't operational when we visited, so we took a jeep. Despite Penang's heat and humidity, the hill can be almost 5 degrees Celsius cooler than the surface. Enjoy the non a/c car ride up because the breeze is excellent and the turns can be nerve-wracking. They don't use jeeps but small SUVs.
Penang Hill is in the centre of the island- not far from Kek Lok Si Pagoda. ALso not far is the Botanical Gardens. You can take a tram ride around- the orchids are pretty nice. (sorry, no picture though)

Here is another picture of Kek Lok Si Pagoda:


And a view of Penang from my hotel room:

[anshjain97]

We were staying at Penang for 4 nights: 2 at the beach town Batu Feringgi and 2 at the main city Georgetown. From the northern town of Batu Feringgi we took a circuit of the island- some things such as the Cocoa Boutique and the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha I've already mentioned. But others:
Batik is a Malay/Indonesian style and it's used on clothes, there's a relatively touristy place where the make Batik and sell it.


If you're fed of too much culture and want nature, try the Penang Butterfly Farm.


Also around, is the Tropical Spice Garden. Lots of spices grow here, it's a place to walk around. Great to come to if you've had too much of towns and temples. Expect lots of humidity at both of these places!


Way in the south of the island, is the Snake Temple. It's not far from the airport.

[Deleted]

Snakes temples test my faith.

[lugg]

Great thread ansh, I really enjoy seeing your fab photos. Penang looksa fascinating place to visit . I hav only really seen Thai and Sri lankan bhuddist temples and the occasional chinese influenced temple in BKK . I wondered about the about the last pic in Reply#1 is that more Thai in style ? just that it reminds me of some statues in the Grand Palace Bkk

[anshjain97]

Hi, thanks. It does remind me, too, of some of the Buddha statues in Grand Palace, but I am not too sure if this temple is Thai style- I think this is the man Temple of the Sleeping Buddha, which, AFAIK, is not Thai style.

[questa]

I am exploring some of the older threads and enjoying memories that these places bring.
Penang is one of my favourites because of what I experienced there.

I arrived from Medan, Indonesia in a fast ferry (hydrofoil) and was suffering from a bad case of tummy troubles. I wanted to stay in the backpackers area but knew I needed a place with hot water. My LP guide gave me a name and as it wasn't far from the dock, I grabbed a rickshaw and got there.

Yes...3 storey, Chinese hotel...enter through side door as shops out front. Up a flight of stairs and explain my needs to man on the desk. Given a room, shower and bed.

Next 3 days I wandered around a bit but still felt poorly. The ladies in the hotel looked after me...cups of tea and cake, moved me to a quieter room without me asking, chatted to me in Indonesian/Malay.
There was a food market downstairs and the ladies would bring me naan and light foods til I got better.

After a while I noticed that all the cleaning was being done by a couple of men...the girls mainly sat on a sofa in the foyer chatting and laughing. Then I noticed that the little kiosk at the foot of the stairs only sold water, cigarettes, porn magazines and condoms.

I have never stayed in such a clean and friendly budget place. If you are ever looking for a nice simple brothel in Penang, I know one!

[mossie]

You really know how to pick them ;D
Just as long as you weren't expected to conduct any business

[questa]

I can see you are feeling better, mossie.

I would have been the least attractive female there...definitely the customer would want a discount!