J+L in Transit

Arrival in Penang

Penang is an island in Malaysia once colonized by the British. The British settlement of Georgetown is now the largest city on the island and in the greater metropolitan area including the mainland settlement of Butterworth. Malaysia is at heart a very multicultural place — the main populations are Malay, Indian, and Chinese. Malay people are Muslims who historically migrated to Malaysia from Indonesia. Malaysian Indians are mostly Tamil, brought as laborers to Malaysia by the colonial British. The Malaysian Chinese are historically businesspeople, merchants and traders. One of the first things we noticed in Georgetown is the mostly harmonious interaction between these ethnic groups. On the same city block you can find mosques, churches, and Buddhist and Hindu temples.

Penang International Airport

Disembarking the Plane

Our Little Plane from Phuket

Our Hotel, Heliconia

View of Georgetown from Our Window

Stall at a Malaysian Hawker Food Court

Asam Laksa, a Tamarind and Fish Soup and Hawker Food Specialty

A Very Malaysian Breakfast: White Coffee and Kaya Toast

Walking Outside Our Hotel

Campbell Street

Campbell Street is a major street in old Georgetown. There is a busy open market there when the weather permits, and there are many Chinese medicine shops and jewelry stores. Since we were in Georgetown on Thanksgiving, we went out to a nice Italian restaurant, Il Bacaro, on Campbell Street for Thanksgiving dinner. The restaurant is owned by two Italian brothers and the food was so good that we went there several times during our stay.

Entrance to Campbell Street

Looking Down Campbell Street

Chinese Medicine Shop, Campbell Street

Mystery Items for Sale at the Chinese Medicine Shop

Produce Stall on Campbell Street

Li Hing Mui Cart, Yum!

More Produce

Chinese Medicine

Durian Chips

Buildings on Campbell Street

Il Bacaro Italian Restaurant, Owned by Two Italian Brothers -- We Ate Thanksgiving Dinner Here

Real Italian Pizza!!

Amazing Gnocchi

Chianti

Tiramisu

Campbell Street at Night

Il Bacaro Had the BEST Italian Food... So We Came Back Another Night

...and Got Linguine

Pizza

...and Chocolate Lava Cake!

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Kapitan Keling Mosque is the oldest mosque in Georgetown, founded by Indian Muslim traders. The land was granted to the mosque by the East India Company in 1801. The beautiful current structure was built in the early 20th century.

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Minaret at the Kapitan Keling Mosque

Kids Studying at the Kapitan Keling Mosque

Little India

While visiting Georgetown’s Little India, we stopped into an Indian music shop. The guy working at the store was very passionate and knowledgeable about music and recommended to us several CD’s to practice yoga with.

A Hindu Temple in Georgetown's Little India

Flowers for Sale in Little India

Thank You, Namaste!

Indian Music Shop

Elsewhere Around Town

Georgetown has gained recent fame for its innovative street art. We saw giant cats, painted kids on a real bike, and many other art installations. There are also informative wrought-iron murals that explain the history of each city block in the old city.

You Will See Street Art All Over Town Explaining the History of Different Parts of the Old City

Mugshot Cafe Quickly Became a Favorite Coffee Shop

The Mugshot Cafe -- Best Bagels, Ever. They Toast Bagels in a Special Woodfired Oven

Coffee from Mugshot

Jackfruit Yogurt from Mugshot

A Mugshot Cafe Mugshot

Lots of the Chinese Shops in Old Town Have These Shades Out Front

Another Typical Chinese Storefront

Manapua Style Bread

Chinese Food

More Chinese Food

And Old Advertisement for Chinese Medicines

Ukulele Shop

Moustache Houze Coffee Shop

Inside Moustache Houze

The Coffee Has a Moustache...

...and So Does the Tea

Blacksmiths at Work

Kid on a Chair

Pork from the Famous Tek Sen Restaurant

Tofu from Tek Sen

This Man Hand Carves Traditional Chinese Shopfront Signs -- the Letters are Covered in Gold Leaf

This is What a Finished Sign Looks Like

A Hostel Somewhere in Georgetown

Georgetown Shop

Linley in Georgetown

Street Food

Banana Leaf Rice Street Food Stall

Banana Leaf Filled with Rice and Meat

Micke's Place, Malaysian Cuisine

Chicken from Micke's

Micke's Place Curry and Rice

Armenian Street

Armenian Street is in the heart of the UNESCO Heritage Zone of Georgetown. We saw lots of colonial architecture, souvenir shops, and just watched Malaysians living their daily lives.

A Really Well Restored Chinese Shop on Armenian Street

Another Chinese Shop on Armenian Street

Jawi House, Restaurant Owned by a PhD of Women's Studies and Prominent Malaysian Islamic Historian

Jawi House Entrance

Fruit is the Best Snack on Such a Hot Day

Roti Jala ("Net Bread"), a Malaysian Specialty

Roti Jala with Sauce

Homecooked Nutmeg Juice and Dried Plum Stand

Bike Shop, Armenian Street

Bike Shop Mural

Lin on Armenian Street

Armenian House Coffee Shop

Street Parking

Quilt Shop

Buddhist Temple, Armenian Street

"Two Kids on a Bicycle" Street Art

Yarn Cat

Another One!

Giant Kitty

What's With All the Cats in This Town??

The Clan Jetties

Seven clan jetties were built in Georgetown in the late 1800’s. Since then, one has burnt down — leaving only six. The jetties were built for loading and unloading ships, and each jetty came to be controlled by a Chinese clan. The rival clans were often not on good terms with each other, so they each needed their own place to do business. Over time, houses, temples, and entire small communities were built on and around the jetties. We visited the Chew Jetty, where people still live and work.

Buddhist Temple at the Entrance to Chew Jetty

Chew Jetty

Hey Tourists, People Still Live Here!

Fishing Traps Hanging at the End of the Jetty

Jetty Signage

Looking the Other Way Down the Jetty