A day of Temples, and metaphorical "jewels".
Exploring Georgetown on foot scratched an itch that I'd been working up for most of the cruise. Thanks to the recommendation of my world traveler coworker and friend, Bob Johnson, I left the tour group at our last stop, and used our remaining three hours in this port to find my own way back to the pier. I finally was able to take my time, and go where the path led me. Ahhhh.....
Penang itself is known as "The Pearl of the Orient". It lies on the north-western coast of Peninular Malaysia. Population is more than 1 million, a happy mix of Malays (32%), Chinese (59%) and Indians (7%).
Today we visited the Wat Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple of Thai architecture. Here there is a gold-plated reclining Buddha which is said to be the third largest in the world, at 108 feet long.
Gold leaf is applied to some statues by devotees
as a worship practice.
The niches behind the statue house urns containing the ashes of devotees.
Hey, they'll be having a Festival for my birthday this year!!
Next was the Chung Keng Khoo Mansion and Museum, rated by TripAdvisor as the Number One sight to see in Penang!
The Mansion was the home of a wealthy clan leader and mafia man, and still retains many original furnishings and rich details, even has its own temple...
... and it now includes a bead and embroidery museum in the rear wing, which features an extensive collection of beautiful vintage traditional Chinese beaded footwear and embroidered accessories.
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| I just loved how this man was connecting with this statue, outside the Mansion. :) |
Khoo Kongsi in Penang is an elaborate clan house built a century ago to house Chinese workers when they came to the region.
The Temple at Khoo Kongsi
A beautiful series of intricate Chinese paintings and calligraphy are featured in a gallery section at Khoo Kongsi:
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The Chew Jetty was our final stop, and here began my real adventure in Penang. These homes on stilts on the shores have been here for more than a century and are still now.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Started merely as a single wooden passageway, and slowly built up into a cluster of houses, the jetties perch above the water on stilts above the never ending, shifting tides.
This communal site is locked into a time zone by itself, disregarding the urban development that is taking place around it.
As a heritage town, Penang is rich with attractive historic sites and cultural events, but this inimitable settlement stands out as a truly unique living heritage. The name “Chew” is the surname (the first name) of the residents and that’s where the name was derived. Migrant families with this surname would live together in this area.
led me down a couple of other jetties which were not nearly as commercialized as the Chew. It was deserted and silent on the Tan Jetty, except for a lone fisherman at the very end, one guy sleeping in the opening of his dwelling, and, some silent bulldogs who welcomed my visit.
The spaces between the dwellings on the jetties were
some of the most interesting vignettes.
Some unique vignettes on the quiet front porches of the dwellings:
After lunch, I set out toward Little India. Along the way, I discovered street art here and there, quaint little shops, and just had fun, trying fresh coconut milk out of the coconut, making a wish for the Chinese New Year, and just exploring historic Georgetown! It was full of people, tourists mostly...
bustling and full of character, heritage, and a youthful energy all mixed into one great city.
I would love to be able to return and take it in at a slower pace some time...
I arrived back on ship about ten minutes before the "all aboard" call, which was a mere forty minutes before the ship set sail. Mom was relieved to see me! It was a great (HOT!!) afternoon.
One of my favorite days so far.
Goodbye, Penang, you are delightful!
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