More images from day 9...

After spending some time at the Kek Lok Si temple, our driver takes us through the narrow street to next impressive temple of Wat Chayamangkalaram. This temple has the largest Reclining Buddha statue in the world, around 33 metres in length. There is also some exquisite statues of Devas and other mystical creatures around the temple grounds.

Kek Lok Si Temple

Golden Statue

Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple

Reclining Buddha

Exquisitely decorated statue

Just across the road, is the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple. This temple is the favoured venue for the Songkran festivities -Thailand's traditional New Year Day - celebrated in April. Absolutely beautiful, I wish we had a bit more time to have a better look around. But the tour must go on.

Burmese Temple

A visit to a pewter factory, where we purchase a gift for Tom, then onto an exclusive chocolate factory where we get to tryout some amazing chocolate.

This has been quite a day and we are glad to get back for a great cup of coffee and another swim in the hotel pool. Later in the day we take a quiet walk along Tanjung Bunga beach, down to the Floating Mosque. Malaysian first floating mosque which can accommodate up to 1,500 worshipers. 

The Floating Mosque

Day 9...

Today we are doing a tour of the Penang Hill and some of the temples around the city. Unfortunately we have to take a jeep ride up to the top of the hill as the funicular train is being upgraded. The ride up is amazing as the road is quite steep and narrow. A few monkeys appear on occasion.  It is quite a panoramic view from the top; it is a shame that there is a lot of haze covering most of the view over the sea and the mainland. A quick drive back down to the bottom to our awaiting driver, and we are off to our next destination of the Kek Lok Si Temple.

View from Penang Hill

Thirumurugan Temple, Penang Hill

Temple Statue

The drive to the temple takes us through the busy city streets, past the Chinese heritage Centre and the State Mosque. The Kek Lok Si Temple is an amazing complex, the seven-storey handcrafted “Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas was completed in 1930. The Pagoda is considered one of Penang most beautiful architectural wonders with its Chinese octagonal base, Thai middle tier and Burmese Crown.

The Pagoda

Inside one of the temples

We make our way to the Funicular train to get to the top to view the bronze statue of Kuan Yin which was completed in 2002.

Taking the funicular to the top

30.2m Kuan Yin Bronze Statue

completed in 2002

That's it for tonight, but there's more to come...

A few more images from George Town...

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Teochew Temple

Street Of George Town

Corner shop

Chinese Quarters

On July 2008, George Town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Founded 200 years ago, the city certainly has an impressive collection of historical buildings representing the cultural heritage of Penang's various ethnicities: Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Malays, Siamese, Burmese and Europeans.

We are surprise at the differences between the pristine colonial buildings and the Chinese Quarters with their narrow streets, lack of pavements and open sewers. At times, the noisy, busy streets and the varied smells are quite overpowering.

Further walking through the street of George Town before we find the spot to catch the bus back to the hotel. A nice swim in the pool to finish the afternoon off, then we get a bit adventurous and decide to take a ride on a jet ski. What a thrill, well worth the 60RM.

We go back to our little café for our tea, as yesterday the service is great and so is the food.

More images from George Town...

One of Fort Cornwallis many cannons

Penang Channel

Clan Jetty

A unique Chinese settlements along Weld Quay, with homes built along wooden piers that extend to the Penang Channel. the residents of each clan jetty are descendants of Chinese immigrants.

Clan Jetty

Statue in front of temple

Yap Kongsi Temple

Day 8...

Today after a hearty breakfast, we decide to take the bus to George Town to have a look around. It only takes ½ hour to get there and cost 2RM each. We start the Heritage Walk by the residence of Ku Din Ku Meh (1848-1932), a Kedah Malay who was the administrator of Setul.

Residence of Ku Kin Ku Meh

As we walk along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shad, we come across Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a grand and intricate estate built by one of the wealthiest tycoon of the turn of the 20^th century. The mansion is a fusion of Oriental and Western architecture.

Cheong fatt Tze Mansion

We walk past the Cathedral of Assumption, Penang State Museum and St George’s Church.

St George's Church

Then turn into Esplanade Road to checkout the Town hall and City Hall.

Town Hall

Quietly walking along the seaside, we come closer to Fort Cornwallis. This fort was built by Francis Light after his landing on the island in the early 19^th century; it served as military and administrative centre of the British east India Company, then was used by the Sikh police and now is a well looked after tourist attraction. We were surprise that the admittance cost was only 2RM each.

Clock Town seen from the wall of Fort Cornwallis

That is all I have time for tonight. I will be back tomorrow with more photos of our walking tour of the historic city of George Town.

Day 7...

Today we are leaving Singapore. We are getting picked up nice and early to catch our flight to Penang.  Another stamp on our passport and we are off. Smooth flight and great service once again. More security check and eventually we get to our driver, who is waiting to takes us to our hotel “The Flamingo” which has great rooms with awesome views and a great pool.

View from our room

We take a walk down the street to get our bearings and get a few things from the shops. The streets here, are certainly not as clean as in Singapore. The traffic is quite heavy and the pavements are not very wide; there are plenty of little roadside eateries, but I am not sure I would be happy to eat at any of them. The standing of hygiene is not quite the same as ours. We walk back to the hotel, taking a detour by the beach where to our surprise there are fishermen’s shack laying all along the beach, with their boats just anchored off shore.

Walk along the street

Fish hawkers on side of road

The hotel's pool

We go a short way down the road to grab some tea from one of the café along the street, not quite the cafés we are used to but it smells good and food taste delicious. 

Another short walk along the beach to watch the sun set, then back to our room for a well earned rest.

Our favorite place to eat