Kota Cornwallis

Back to Malaysia. We were in Langkawi a few days ago due to the change in our itinerary (to keep us far from the civil war in Myanmar) and then we moved quickly to get away from the cyclone which is sadly devastating the region where we were just a few days before. That being said, we were in Penang today and Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia tomorrow.

Penang, on the northwest coast of Malaysia, has a population is 1.8 million in a tight 46 sq miles and the home to Malays, Chinese and Indians and Eurasians and Siamese. It has two parts: Penang Island where we were and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula connected by the longest bridge over water I ever saw (15 miles). George Town was established in 1786 by Francis Light to create trade in the area, became a British colony in 1867 and became part of Malaysia’s independence in 1957. Major languages are Malay, English, Hokkien, Mandarin and Tamil. Muslims make up over 45%, Buddhism 40%, Hinduism 10% (in overall Malaysia its 65% Muslim, 25% Buddhism, and 10% Hinduism).

In the 18th and 19th Century Penang was a major financial center with the first international bank to open a branch in George Town in 1875 and still remains the financial center of Malaysia.

We had been to Penang and done the “highlights tour” in the past so on this visit, with the help of Becky and David, who live here when they are not in the US or traveling, we decided take a self-guided walking tour. It was easy after getting lots of advice from Becky and following almost all her suggestions in this very walkable old city of George Town.

Starting at the clock tower right near the ship we began our adventure. On Kapitan Keling (Pitt) Street all the religions seem to live adjacent and in harmony. Muslim, Taoist, Hindu and Christian places of worship are situated right on the same street and reflects Penang's diverse ethnic and socio-cultural amalgamation. We visited 5 Buddhist Temples (Goddess of Mercy Temple, King Street Temple, Mahamariamman Temple, Toochew Temple, Yap Kongsi, and only were able to look at the Church and Kapitan Keling Mosque from the outside since they were closed .... as we realized how amazing this Street of Harmony really is. The rituals were wonderful and somewhat meaningful (even though we didn't understand them fully) to watch.

We also walked into a few of the many coffee shops, some old, some very modern, and visited a few gift shops. We walked through Little India and took in the smells, the sights and the dozen or more silk and fabric shops and the fire house. We then had an adventure as we walked down to the Chow Jetties where all the stores are built on stilts. That was most of our day.Read more