VISITING KUALA LUMPUR AND GEORGE TOWN
Diary Notes from August 26th 2016 (Tuesday)
I caught my flight around noon to George Town in Penang. It was a safe flight that landed around 8:00 in the evening and then I caught a taxi to “Seven Terraces” Hotel. It was voted one of the best hotels in Malaysia because it has been restored and upgraded to a boutique hotel full of Chinese antiques. Their is a sitting room, the largest bathroom and shower in the world, and a bedroom upstairs.
August 27th (Wednesday)
I met my friend who lives in Georgetown for breakfast and he believes Malaysia is a first world country with a third world cost of living. Then I went on a taxi tour of the island and saw so much. My impression is that Malaysia is a wonderful country with all the benefits of the mixed cultures of Indian, Chinese, and Malay. Then I came back to the hotel and had a “Pork Bun” which is a braised 3 layer pork belly, carrots, cucumber, spring onion in a steamed mantou bun…very good with a beer. I went from the Library into the tea room and had 4:00 tea with some treats. It was very relaxing and I was glad to be back at the hotel. In the evening I walked around “Little India.” It was humid and warm in the evening as I walked around, but felt safe.
There is a lot of wealth here and where there is money there is culture and I like that attraction. There is also riding horses and ballroom dancing and salsa dancing clubs. Tomorrow I hope to go on a historical walking tour of Georgetown and then have dinner with Keith and his wife.
August 28th Thursday 2016
It is about 6:00 in the morning. Today I had a great breakfast at the hotel and then go on a walking tour and get some nice pictures. At breakfast, I felt gratitude for my life and made a silent thank you prayer.
This morning I had my tour of George Town with Joann. She was a wonderful guide and helped me understand Buddhism. All their Gods are friendly with each other and at times even share the same temple. They are integrated in their approach to life.
We also saw the sights and history of George Town and how tourism has shifted from the beaches to the UNESCO sights downtown. This has caused property values to skyrocket and threatens the huge hotel communities on the beaches.
In the afternoon I decided to give myself a treat…a foot and neck massage and was done here at the hotel by a guy in the lounge. I also went swimming in the pool. It was nice to get back into the water and do my laps. Tonight I go out with Keith and his wife for dinner and then China tomorrow.
KUALA LUMPUR
The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers, are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. These towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world.
The Twin Towers house the headquarters of Petronas, the national petroleum company of Malaysia. It was designed by the Argentine-born American architect Cesar Pelli in 1998
WELCOME TO PENANG
Penang is a Malaysian island off the Malay Peninsula in the Strait of Malacca. In George Town, the capital of Penang state, diversity is evident everywhere. Notable religious sites include the Chinese Goddess of Mercy Temple, the Buddhist Kek Lok Si Temple, Hindu Sri Mahamariamman Temple and The Kapitan Keling Mosque
GEORGE TOWN – A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
THE HISTORY OF STREET ART IN PENANG
In 2008, the historical core of George Town, Penang’s capital, was awarded a World Heritage Site title by UNESCO. In an effort to rally a campaign around the new title and forge a distinct identity, the Penang State Government hosted a competition called “Making George Town” calling for creative ways to make use of public spaces.
The Kuala Lumpur-based firm “Sculpture At Work” won the bid and crafted 52 iron rod sculptures illustrating long forgotten anecdotes of the streets of Penang. They now mark the storied roads of Penang.
After the construction of the Quay in 1882, the waterfront was developed with short public landing stages or jetties. Settlements grew on these foundations and they were used for the loading and unloading of goods and for the mooring of sampans (boats). Each jetty became identified and dominated by certain clans and more huts sprung up.