Pottering around Penang.

Saturday 13 October. Firstly, congratulations Cait on buying your first car. Today we were speaking to a young man who had also just purchased his first car and he was just as excited (see photo). As we reported yesterday, there is nothing spectacular about Penang, however you do feel that you have stepped back a century or so.  Although there is archaeological evidence of settlement dating back four or five thousand years, Penang’s extant history, both what you see on the streets and that which is displayed in the State museum, concentrates on the time from British occupation in the late eighteenth century (not dissimilar to Australia until fairly recently).  So this morning, after a hearty breakfast (although somewhat confusing in the ordering), we set off on foot, first a return visit to the Kapitan Keling Mosque for a short guided tour and photograph, then a look in the Goddess of Mercy Temple, a nineteenth century Chinese temple. After that we walked through the unremarkable St George’s Church, consecrated in 1819 and the oldest Anglican church in South-East Asia.  Continued on to Fort Cornwallis, where Captain Francis Light landed and established the first British fort in 1786. It contains many cannons lined up to repel invaders (and one pointing inwards for some unexplained reason), an empty chapel, a gunpowder magazine and views to the water. Then around the corner to the air-conditioned State Museum, which contains fascinating information and displays describing the ethnic diversity of Penang, particularly its indigenous Malays, as well as Chinese and Indian immigrants whose descendants now make up a large proportion of the population. From there we jumped on the bus to KOMTAR, a huge- multi-storeyed shopping complex. We had lunch: tom yum soup for John, Japanese crispy chicken and rice for Elizabeth, two fruit drinks and two ice-creams, total price about seven dollars Australian.  Then back into the heat to trawl through the Chowrasta Market, a series of alleys and walkways in the best Asian tradition.  Back to the hotel about 5.30pm and a swim in the hotel pool, followed by a cold drink pool-side.  It’s pouring rain now, absolutely bucketing down, so we’ll wait until it settles before venturing out for dinner.

One thing that has caught our attention is the number of dogs and cats around the streets.  Although they seem to be strays, they all seem to be in good condition and we have seen evidence of food being left out for them.  They are unobtrusive and we have not heard a dog bark (are you paying attention, Maddi and Sasha?)  We even saw a cat sound asleep on the top of a jewellery display case in the middle of a busy market.

 Tomorrow: more of Penang, including the funicular ride up to Penang Hill.