Port 22 Georgetown, Penang March 21, 2007

Buddha--Butterfly--Old Chinese
Mansion bedroom-- Family Temple
Tri-shore (sp?) Our group getting a ride!



Malaysia

We missed the excitement of Kuala Lumpur and its magnificent 88 story Petronas Twin Towers. So on our next port, Georgetown,Penang Island, we settled for a highlight tour of the island. We were taken to the Penang Peranakan mansion to sample the colonial Chinese life This 19th century town house displayed over 1000 collectable antiques in spacious colorfully decorated rooms. Then, no trip to South America, Africa or Asia is complete with out viewing a colony of brilliant live butterflies flying between equally brilliant flowers and plantings. After this experience we saw how batik cloth designs are made and of course we made some purchases: a pants for Barb and a shirt for Jim.

Our tour this day included a Buddha temple. This Buddha was lying down and was huge! Supposedly, he is the 4th largest Buddha in this position in the world. Then, we were taken off the bus for a ride in a tri-shore. That is how the word sounded to me. It’s a carriage for 2 (if you aren’t too large) positioned in front of bicycle that is powered by a man. We actually rode several blocks in the middle of town in this contraption! Our destination was again, another temple created and maintained by one Chinese family (for over 100 years).

All in all, Georgetown is quite a modern city. But they didn’t want to be another Singapore, so their high rises are in the suburbs – not the city!
Unemployment is low. Education is encouraged and if a child is bright-aided by the government. There are no welfare benefits.

When we return our home will have a dark Buddha head hand carved from rubber tree wood and a lighter one of mahogany in the seated lotus position with his hands displaying learning. These are Cambodian. All will accompany a Vietnamese wall hanging lacquer painting of a single Chinese horseman in tones of silver and gold. This means a major art rotation is in the offing.