Madam had decided that I needed more immersion into Malaysian culture before Christmas and it was decided (allegedly together) we would go to Penang. Now the original plan was to fly back to Kuala Lumpur to then fly to Penang. madness I thought - we could just hop on the ferry and take the trip to Penang from Langkawi which drops off round the corner from our abode. Oh i wish it was that simple.
The online booking system, was merely a reservation of the ticket. You had to find the ticket booth and dodge all the stalls selling corn - yes weird I know. You then get on the 'ferry'. I use the term loosely as what you see on the website is not what you get. The concept of health & safety just hasn't been translated here. All fire exists are blocked with luggage, who knows how many lifebelts they had, if any and god it was bumpy.
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| Clan Jetties |
At last we were in Penang, an island which the British held (WW2) until the Japanese came in behind them (yes it does sound like a panto) and they then thought it prudent to leave asap back to Singapore. The place is a hotch potch of cultures, nationalities, foods and madness. You have a 19th Century colonial style St Georges Anglican church sitting close by to a hawker market - a place selling all types of cuisine. The budget did not extend to staying at the E&O but we did sample their delights one day - not bad I say. Another day we went on a mad bus journey (over 90 mins) to see the bottom of the island and the 'war museum'.
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| Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clock |
Let;s just say an entrepreneurial chappie saw this ruin on top of a hill which used to be the British fortress to defend the island. It has been turned into a museum, cum paint ball park. The problem is it isn't really a war museum. Interesting stuff around but the 30 min hike up the hill to get to the entrance would dampen anyone's enthusiasm. Fort Cornwallis on the other hand was quiet interesting being the first port of call for the British and how they conducted their foreign policy with trade agreements all round Asia - quite amazing considering most people couldn't do that now a days.
What was amazing was the number of temples everywhere. Madam seem to have a thing for the temples and reckoned we could knock most of them off the list. The most spectacular was the Pinang Peranakan Mansion Ironically, in a lot of the temples, including the PPM, the iron pillars holding them up were made in Glasgow - ahh. Christmas Eve arrived and there was Madam and I standing in Penang airport waiting for our next part of our Festive Tour of Malaysia - Singapore!