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March 20, 2024
George Town (Penang), Malaysia


George Town, the capital of Penang Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Penang is a state on the northwest coast of Malaysia. Its capital is George Town, located on Penang Island. George Town is about 118 square miles, with a population of almost 800,000 people. George Town was also our port for the day.

Both Gail and Russell were scheduled to escort the three-hour “George Town by Trishaw” excursion. We thought it would be run to ride around (possibly with each other or next to each other) in pedal cab rickshaws. When Gail read the description, however, she learned there would be a one-hour walk during the excursion. Given the hot weather and her sore feet, she decided to change to the three-hour “The Art of Batik” excursion instead.

Gail ended up loving this excursion. She was able to get onto it because some other guests had cancelled. Each attendee was able to create their own batik design on a piece of cloth. While each project had been prepared with the individual guest’s name, the hosts were able to create a new project for Gail to work on.

Batik is originally an Indonesian art. It is a “wax-resistant” dyeing process. You draw designs (dots and lines) in wax with a stylus or stamp. The applied wax resists dyes. So you can soak your cloth in one color, remove the wax with boiling water, then keep repeating for multiple colors. Gail ended up with an absolutely gorgeous and unique piece of batik artwork, which is now hanging on our stateroom wall.


The Batik workshop


Batik is a “wax-resistant” dyeing process. You use wax and dyes to color your design.


Gail works on her batik project


The finished cloth, now on our stateroom wall

Meanwhile, Russell escorted the “George Town by Trishaw” excursion. As promised, the guests were able to ride around George Town in pedal cab rickshaws. Our guide told us that when Americans ride in trishaws, they are allocated one person per vehicle instead of two people. (Apparently, Americans are generally rather large people.) So Russell got to ride around in an individual trishaw.

The excursion took everyone to several scenic sites around George Town, including Khoo Kongsi (the grand temple of a prominent Chinese clan) and Chung Keng Kooi Mansion (the home of Malaya’s once-richest man). Guests were also able to walk around historic Armenien and Pitt Streets, famous for their street art.


The trishaws, three-wheeled bicycle rickshaws


Trishaws navigating through traffic


Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi is considered the grandest clan temple in Malaysia. “Leong San Tong” means “Dragon Mountain Hall.” The Khoo clan was one of the richest and most prominent in old Penang. Inside, gold steles commemorate each of the clan’s deceased forefathers.


Chung Keng Kooi Mansion, also known as Pinang Peranakan Mansion, was built in the 1890s by Chung Keng Kooi, a tin miner and secret society leader. He was once the richest man in Malaya, thanks to his (then) legal opium trading.


Armenien Street


George Town is famous for its street art, and Ernest Zacharevic (from Lithuania) is the most famous street artist. He came to George Town in 2011, and was commissioned to create some murals in 2012. “Kids On a Bicycle,” which incorporates a physical bicycle, has become a symbol of the town.


Sadly, some other Zacharevic creations, such as this mural of a cat, have not survived

We were smarter this time, and we made arrangements to meet back up after our excursions ended. We made our way (with some difficulty) to the local food market in Little India, where we had our now-usual lunch of spicy noodle bowls. We are getting the hang of this!


The George Town clock tower marks the entrance to Little India. The little round sculpture honors the betel nut.


The food market in Little India


Another clay pot spicy noodle bowl!


Yum! More exciting new flavors to try.

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