Penang – January 21st, 2018

Georgetown streets

Colonial BUILDINGS

Pinang Pulau – The Isle of Betel Nut

In 1786 Francis Light persuaded the Sultan of Kadah to sale this island to English crown and the island was renamed Prince of Wales Island with the capital – Georgetown – after King George the 3^rd. Penang quickly becomes a major trading port for spices, tea and silk. European, Malayan, Hindu, Arabs and Chinese cultures and unique heritage melts together in exotic bend of cultures, with temples, mosques and Chinese clan houses, listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

Many streets still have colonial style buildings and pre-war houses. Clan houses full of Chinese craftsmanship. There is also a temple of Reclining Buddha, very different from the one we say in Bangkok, but  also huge 100 meter (300 ft) long ad around is a temple of ten thousand Buddha’s, smaller once, but very impressive.

BUDDHA NAILS FROM mOTHER OF PEARLS

Reclining BUddha

 

 

 

 

Local cuisine, (which we are very much interested in).

Penang is known as the food capital of Malaysia with exotic flavors of Thai, Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern: IKan kemburg, mackerel deep-fried, Bak kut ten, which literary translates as: ‘meat bone tea’ and is actually a soup of meaty pork rib in broth of herbs and spices. Local beer are Tiger and Anchor – which we like very much.

Our tour today is going to be to sample local cuisine. We will visit Penang Cocoa Boutique to try over 300 varieties of chocolate where different rooms have different theme – “fruits”, “panned chocolate” Malaysian chocolate” (after the taste I will write more what I think about it, as everyone who knows me, knows how much I love chocolate.
Next stop will be Coffee Tree, home to Penang White coffee and Tea and we will be able to try local ‘cup of tea’. After we will go to Penang foodie corner – a place just for us!

Around 4 p.m. we boarded the bus and drove into Georgetown, while tour guide explained about the island, life on it, history of Malaysia and how all the religions live here in harmony. Official religion is Islam, but no one pressure anyone to observe it. Mix marriages very common and there is no judgment. Because of so many religions – there are festivities every few month and preparations for Chinese New Year are on the way – streets are decorated with lanterns and stores have special sales and open late. They have many Christian churches, so Christmas is very much celebrated. After Chinese New Year in February, comes Ramadan and after Indian celebrations – so according to city advertising – festivals are year around!

We saw some of those famous buildings I posted pictures before and very expensive hotels and mansions on ‘Milliners Road’, as well as those Georgian and Colonial homes. 1^st and oldest church and oldest Chinese temple.

Our 1^st stop was chocolate factory and kind-of museum. Mostly we were showed different cocoa they grow on the island and we tasted a lot of deferent chocolates – with fruits, with nuts, just dark plain one – I can’t say is was a WOW, but it was interesting to taste. There was a shop attached to the museum and many bought the product, but we had better chocolate – so, we just continue to taste… Next stop was all kind of local spices and candy. Most made from sesame. We love sesame, so after some tasting, we did get 2 packs of sesame candy – one with Cashew Nuts and one with pumpkin seeds.

Next stop was batik place we were show how they print and paint on the fabric. Unfortunately in all those places, explanation was very limited and short, they were more pushing people to buy their products. They did had some nice clothes, but prices were around $30.00 and we bought similar 2 days before for $10.00 – so, sorry, no deal!

Next 2 stops were – coffee and tea factory, where we tried so many different coffee and teas, I am all ‘tea-coffee’ out – don’t ask me to drink anymore! We also try local honey – but they sale it for $60/jar – I say it’s over prices big time!

The coffee they have is very interesting – they call it ‘white coffee’, but its readymade pouch with light ground instant coffee, milk powder and sugar – they add some flavor as well – coconut, fruits, hazelnut – but it’s not a real coffee…

Last stop was food market – very similar to Singapore: street vendors sale food they cook in front of you. Marker was in 2 sections – Arabic – no alcohol and Chinese. We were walking thought and testing, buying different food which was overall delicious, but I can’t say it was something we never saw before. Across from this very basic street market stand 7 story very modern mall with very expensive stores, like Prada, Gucci, Swarovski, etc., All with marble floors, modern toilets (you know how I like to check all kind of toilets), modern food court with Starbucks, Chili’s, Coffee Bean and McDonalds – say the least. We were looking for internet, so the only one we could connect fast and no password was McDonald, so we sat there a little to check emails, before we headed back to the bus… Small rain started to drizzle but the time we got back to the port and the time was around 8 p.m., but we wanted to walk around a little more, because just around the corner started ‘Little India’ and I wanted to check if I can get some Sari fabric. Stores were still open, but the prices were almost as in the US, so after checking several stores, I decided not to buy anything and we went back to the ship. By the time we unpacked and took a shower it was after 10 p.m. and tomorrow we have very adventurous day – kayaking on another Malaysian island – Langkawi.

Malaysia is basically archipelago: Malay Peninsula and contains many islands. There is 2 bridges connected Penang with main land – one is 8 miles long (on water) and another is 17 miles long – they look very scary to drive across the ocean…