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Published: July 21st 2009
Night market
Cool caps and t-shirts. Aussie surf brand names at cheap prices. Dad reminds us that these goods are fakes. But who cares? They look and feel real to me. So, we buy some. There are also truckloads of cheap DVDs and computer games. Mum checks out the handbags and fashion stalls. Rohan scores a nodding toy giraffe.
We also eat at the Long Bay night food area at Batu Ferringhi. There are lots of tiny food stalls hawking everything from spicy Indian food to "Western" hamburgers. Somehow, I end up with spicy noodles again.
Bon Odori Festival
Are my ears playing tricks? Is that tune really "Waltzing Matilda"? Yes, but it sounds rather different on traditional Japanese instruments. People wander around wearing kimonos and happy coats. Today is a celebration of Japanese culture in Malaysia. It is happening in a seaside park in Penang's capital city - Georgetown.
The Chief Minister of Penang is dressed in ceremonial robes. He slips on a Japanese gown over the top. Then, he opens the Bon Odori Festival with a speech embracing cultural differences. He speaks of diversity, tolerance and harmony.
The first performance is by a
Japanese VIPs
Opening ceremonygroup of children from a local Japanese school. They beat drums and clap sticks. Next, Japanese Sea Warriors succeed in looking fierce. A group of Malay kids do a Japanese dance in their school uniforms. The girls are wearing head scarves in the local style (not Japanese clothes).
Chirpers at dusk - unmasked
We eat out the next night at an Indian Malay restaurant local style. A large TV screen is projected onto the fence. Fruit juices arrive with plenty of ice.
We hear a chirping noise nearby. Where is that sound coming from? This has been happening most nights for the last two weeks. Mum and Dad tease us about it. We ask where the noises are coming from. Mum and Dad just tell us to look around and find the answer.
Finally, we figure it out. Not birds, not bats, not cicadas. The creatures chirping away are lizards. Geckos running up the walls. They hide and wait for insects attracted by the lights. Zap! A sticky tongue scores a juicy meal.
We count four geckos snapping up insects and jostling for the best position under the lights. Meanwhile, my brother and I try
to get the coolest restaurant seat under the fan and get the yummiest food on the menu. Somehow, I end up with spicy fried rice again.
Eaten alive by fish
These fish love me. And I love them! My legs are dangled into a "fish spa". The fish gather round my feet and have a nibble. It tickles! Mum is cracking up. Her face lights up, then changes completely. It's a strange mixture of pleasure and pain. The biting doesn't hurt at all. At first, the constant tickling is hard to take.
The fish are battering our feet. And it tickles like C R A Z Y. Mum takes her feet out, and then puts them back in. We move over to a different pool with larger fish. We let them tuck in. These fish like to eat dead skin. Which is fine by me.
Dad drops his feet into the same pool. Fish flock from all over in a mad rush. There is a frenzy to feast on such huge feet. His feet are double my shoe size. Soon, everyone's feet are scoured clean and smooth by the fish. It really works!
Clan
From one clan to another
Our clan at the Khoo clan house house
Penang has a huge number of Chinese people.
Khoo Khong Si is not really a Chinese Temple. The ornate building contains ancient carvings and decorations brought over from China many years ago. The dedication and craftsmanship is truly impressive. We are shown around by a member of the clan who helps to run this family place. He is 22nd generation of the Khoo family. Therefore, his middle name must be "Boo". His son has taken the middle name "Teng". These names have been decided by ancestors many generations ago. The family unity is reinforced in many ways. For example, all university graduates in the clan are honoured with name plaques in a special room.
Super heroes
Indiana Jones has his whip ready for action. Superman looks strong and menacing. Lara Croft is raiding tombs. Spiderman crouches under the ceiling. This place is seething with action heroes. But they aren't saving the world. They are just standing around. They are all trapped in time in the Toy Museum.
We look for our favourite heroes. I find Thrall from World of Warcraft. Rohan finds Batman and starts singing the theme song. Benji finds Indiana Jones but he keeps
looking. Finally, he finds the glam
rock band he was after. But they are smaller than many of the other models. Benji is bigger than
Kiss.
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