Blogs from George Town, Penang, Malaysia, Asia - page 53

Arrived in Georgetown, capital of Penang, Malaysia, around 10AM, and took a taxi to the Traders Hotel. Walked around Georgetown all day. Visited the Penang Islamic Museum, the Goddess of Mercy Temple, and several of the kongsis, or traditional clan-houses, including Cheah Kongsi, Yap Kongsi, and Khoo Kongsi. The clan-houses are family-specific and serve as gathering places and places of worship for generations of families. We also got a tour of the Kapitan Kling Mosque, which was quite interesting, and the first time either of us had been to a mosque. We had to go to the education center to get a guide, who shared with us many different aspects of Islam. Walked down Lebuh Pantai, a street lined with old colonial buildings, which begins near the water. Across the water we could see the Malaysian ... read more

Templetastic I got a bus out of GT up to the Kek Lok Si Temple complex, a veritable tourist trap 30 minutes from the ferry terminal. It is a large and imposing complex, and it is clearly visible on the hillside from the village below. As you near the temple the street vendors get ever more touristy - practical goods like food and drink make way for the more profitable pocket sized buddahs and fake designer clothing. Eventually you break through to the actual temple which frankly I didnt rate. It was big, and complex and there were some nice features. But it clashed, the colours were often washed out and it seemed that statues had perhaps been randomly placed around. There were impressive views out across Penang Island though, and some parts were very impressive, ... read more

Thats right people. In our long travels around Malaysia we have met lot's of travellers, that had Pulau Penang in their plans but when questioned why they were going to the large island and the big city of Georgetown, they replied with an answer that they didn't know and they said that it was just a big dirty city with maybe nothing of any interest there. We said we wouldn't go! Well we did! But only because it was on the way to Langkawi via ferry. So as you know after our long transfer from Pulau Perhentian and a ferry to Georgetown, where we saw our first sightings of Ladyboys (our driver Nasir said "many, many, many ladyboys in Georgetown") we had food and crashed out for the night. The following morning we put some much ... read more

Do wanna go to Indonesia to do some surfin?! I really do but $$ & time is a problem! Oh why not! The german lads had been carryin there surfbaurds around for a few weeks & where v keen to find some waves. So we left Koh Phi Phi rough as, a ferry then a pain full minivan ride to Penang. (a 12 seata with us 4 & 8 other Asians + 2 surfboards inside, no roof racks!) We eventually got there and got a cheap guest house & did a bit of research on getting to indo. It was gunna be a mission to get there & cost too much, so lets go back to Thailand & the full moon party on Ko Pha Ngan! We stayed another night and toured the town, checked out ... read more

March 20th - 26th This weekend we finally did something I have wanted to do since we got here; go to Fort Cornwallis. The fort was established by Francis Light, a British trader who is linked with the Western colonization of Penang island. Since I am writing this a month after we visited it, and all our souvenier brochures are on their way back home, I can't tell you much more. The Penang tourism website has some good info. Also, this new site, Penang.ws, is a little more concise, not so touristy. The two Walks through Penang are a nice way to see downtown, and the fort is part of one. The fort is pretty nice looking. Some of the original buildings are still standing, as is a mysteriously lucky cannon. Supposedly infertile women come and ... read more